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yall-batman-fanfic · 2 months ago

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The One Thing I Can’t Sacrifice | Bruce Wayne/Batman & Clark Kent/Superman ft OC!Magician

Synopsis: During the events of The Death of Superman. Clark Kent/Superman is torn between his duty to protect the world without bias and admitting to Lois the truth of his identity. As he goes back and forth about it, he approaches the last man who the JLA would ever ask for dating advice.

“Now, let’s check in with Dana for Entertainment Weekly with the going ons on the limelight, Dana?”

“Hey, Carol, right across the harbor, billionaire-philanthropist and no-longer-playboy, Bruce Wayne, has just opened a new school under the Wayne Foundation with the help of his girlfriend, Symbologist and Art Historian, Professor Vivian Pryor.

“Pryor is said to have donated a large sum from her latest book publication to the Wayne Foundation to help build the school and provide the materials needed by the teachers and students. In its first grand opening, Gotham’s celebrity couple was found teaching in a couple classes and giving a helping hand, and…”

The screen shifted from the video of Vivian teaching the children in the classroom, to a shot of Bruce and Vivian getting caught kissing at the hall by a random stranger’s phone. They immediately broke the kiss when they heard the laughter from the kids and then Bruce’s ward, Dick Grayson, throwing a chalkboard eraser at Bruce’s head.

“...and reliving some high school fun, if you know what I mean. Next up, it looks like one of the Kardashian are—”

Lois turned down the volume of the T.V. in the office and rolled her chair to the desk behind her, to Catherine Grant. “You know just because Wayne’s going to be our boss, doesn’t mean he should be getting more fluffy-screentime with his girlfriend.”

Cat scoffed. “It looks like Perry wants to be on the new boss’ good side. Nothing bad about that, it would mean he won’t forget us from his roster. It’s always good to have the big man upstairs's favor, you know.”

Lois laughed. “I thought you were an atheist, Cat.”

“Well, the man signs my checks, and who isn’t devoted to money, right?” Cat then paused on her work and turned to Lois to ask,“Don’t you think she’s a bit too young for him?”

“Six years isn’t that far off, right? I mean, they’re both adults now so no problem there.” she shrugged. “And I don’t have anything against her if she has a certain type for older men.”

“And the fact Bruce Wayne is the last eligible bachelor in Gotham,” Cat sighed. “And come on, it’s Bruce Wayne. The guy’s been a billionaire since he was a kid.”

Due to unfortunate circumstances, Lois wanted to add but kept it to herself.

“Didn’t they break-up though?”

“They never officially said they did,” Lois went back to her desk. “But if they did, it looks like they’re doing fine. But… would you go back together with someone who just adopted a kid? I mean, how would that work, right?”

“I think it’s going well with them,” Clark spoke up from his desk. “I’ve been getting something from contacts that Vivian Pryor is seen with Dick Grayson around Gotham. She even picks him up from school too.”

“But what about the kid, how is he with that arrangement?” Cat asked.

“He doesn’t seem to mind,” his phone started to ring. “Excuse me, I got to take this.” He quickly got up and left for the exit.

“Must be important,” Cat told Lois. “Don’t you have an interview later with the big S?”

“Yeah, I do. Why?”

“Because that,” Cat pointed to the television that showed a live feed of a bank robbery made by some gangs wearing tech that’s far too high-tech for a regular gig. Then, in the middle of the battle, Superman appeared and single-handedly apprehended the gang. “Looks like your interview is going to be pushed.”

“Yeah right,” Lois got up from her seat and took her bag. “I gotta get going too. Considering Superman’s already in the scene, I should meet up with him at STAR Labs soon.”

~ * ~

Vivian sighed as she watched Dick be escorted by the Headmaster down the hall to where she was standing by the receptionist of Gotham Academy. The boy had a frown on his face and only looked at the ground as he walked up to her.

“Thank you, Headmaster Wilson,” she said as she took Dick under her wing.

“This is very unconventional, but Dick insisted that we contact you instead because Mr. Wayne is busy for the day,” the Headmaster said but from the looks of it, he didn’t believe it at all and only gave the boy a pass by calling her.

“Yeah, Bruce is swamped at work now.” Not exactly a lie, he was busy in Wayne Tower and with the Justice League. “I’ll take him home… and about his suspension…”

“It was a misunderstanding, and we’ve talked to his teacher about it too. Ms. Carols won’t be using that as a slur again.”

“Hey, Dick, how about you wait over there,” Vivian pointed to the bench far enough so he wouldn’t hear what she was going to discuss with the Headmaster.

“Viv, let’s just go,” Dick muttered.

“It’ll only take a minute, kiddo, then we’ll head to my place first.” Reluctantly, Dick went to the bench. Turning back to the Headmaster, Vivian said in a softer voice, “I don’t think, after this, Dick and Ms. Carols will be in good terms.”

“I assure you, Professor Pryor, our teachers are professionals and they put the students first—”

“I know, and I don’t doubt that, but we’re human, Mr. Wilson, and I think it would benefit him and her if Dick were to transfer to another class. He’s a smart boy and really good with making friends.”

Mr. Wilson sighed. “I understand your point, Professor Pryor, but you’re technically not the boy’s guardian. We can’t take that request unless this is brought to us by Mr. Wayne. We’re already making a huge risk by letting you pick him up when you’re not—legally—his guardian.”

“I know… but if I do talk to Bruce about this, will you consider?”

Mr. Wilson thought for a while then said, “He’ll need to make a good and convincing point for the transfer.”

“Thank you, thank you so much! I’ll go talk to him about it.”

After a quick goodbye, Vivian went to Dick and took his bag from the bench and said, “Come on. Let’s go, we got a bus to catch.”

“You didn’t bring a car?” Dick asked, feeling more guilty now that he found out she had to commute all the way from Gotham University to fetch him.

“Bruce drove me to work earlier.”

“I’m not sorry about what I did. But I am sorry for making you take the long commute and make you miss work.”

Vivian sighed, she squatted down to meet Dick’s eye and took his hands. “It’s okay. I’m here for you, kiddo. Okay?”

“Are you telling Bruce?”

Another sigh. “Yeah, because technically, I’m not your guardian. And if it weren’t for your cool Headmaster, this is considered kidnapping. Let’s go.”

The two of them walked down the pavement, leaving Gotham Academy, and went to the bus stop where, just in time, a bus appeared. They got in, Vivian paid their fare, and sat at the farthest seat. From the window seat, Dick watched as the bus passed Gotham Academy and later the other buildings in the block.

“Today’s actually…” Dick trailed off.

“I know, Alfred told me,” Vivian took his hand. “You shouldn’t have gone to school if you didn’t want to.”

“I thought I could handle it, but then Ms. Carols called the class a circus because we were being kids and were playing around… and not in a good way too. I just snapped.”

Vivian took his hand and held it tight. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault,” Dick slouched on his seat and rest his head against Vivian’s shoulder. “Can I stay over at your place for a while?”

“I have to ask Bruce about it first, kiddo.”

“Please.”

She wrapped an arm around him and brought him close. “Okay, I’ll tell him.”

~ * ~

Later that night, as Dick slept in Vivian’s bed, a knock came to the condo’s door, and without checking who it was—she didn’t have to since the magical seal on the door didn’t show any sign of threat in the area—she opened the door and found Bruce standing there holding take outs.

“He’s asleep,” she told him.

“You’re not,” he said and then gestured to the bag he held. “It’s your favorite… and his.”

Stepping aside, Vivian lets him in and opens the lights at her kitchen so they could unwrap the food on the counter. Bruce maneuvered around the area with familiarity, he knew where the plates and forks were, the glasses, and her bottle of scotch. He got her alfredo pasta from the restaurant in Little Italy.

“I’m sorry if I overreacted earlier,” Bruce began as he set down her plate.

“Well, if you ask me, you reacted just right for a parent whose kid was picked up from school by a stranger,” she chuckled.

“But you’re not a stranger.”

“Being your girlfriend doesn’t automatically make me Dick’s guardian.”

“I think they should consider… if you want to.”

“I like Dick, he reminds me of my brother and sister.”

“Both of them?”

“Oli is sweet and calm, Livia is active and would get into fights. I’d say Dick’s the best of both worlds.”

Bruce took a fork full of pasta and only when he swallowed did he say, “Then maybe we should consider getting married so you can be Dick’s legal guardian.”

Vivian laughed. “Yeah, and when the press asked us why the quick wedding, what do we tell them? Because of Dick?”

Bruce also laughed but deep down it wasn’t just about Dick. He couldn’t imagine another person spending his life with someone other than her. He told her then, when he begged her to be with him again, he didn’t want this to end. She makes him happy, he makes him feel alive, and content. She was pulling him out of the pit he’s been in since his parents’ death.

“So, about his teacher,” Bruce began.

“I don’t have anything against her, but after today I think it’s best if Dick moves to another class. It’ll be hard for both of them.”

“You’re right… did you tell the Headmasterabout it?”

“I did but…”

“You’re not his legal guardian to make the request.”

“Exactly, you’re learning fast, Wayne,” she ate another twirl of pasta and then some garlic bread.

“I’ll talk to the Headmaster about this. In the meantime… Maybe time off from school would be good. Let him rest tomorrow.”

“Today was the anniversary…” Vivian trailed off.

“It is… and I still haven’t…”

“Hey Batman,” Vivian caressed his cheek. “Don’t be too hard on yourself.”

Bruce smiled softly, he then took her hand and kissed her palm and just nuzzled his cheek in her hold, relaxing in her warmth and the comforting feeling of her magic that spread from her body to his. Leaning down, Bruce kissed her lips before saying, “I still have time before I head out for patrol. I’ll set up the sofabed for us.”

“Warning. It’s not as soft as your bed in the manor.”

“I’m sure I can manage, besides, you’ll be with me.”

~ * ~

“Okay, next up, the operating budget for the fiscal year,” Cyborg went on with their meeting agenda. It was another Justice League meeting, and it was one of the rare times when everyone was present—Green Lantern, the Flash, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Wonder Woman, Hawkman, Superman, and Batman. Since it was the last few things on their agenda, most of the heroes were already standing rather than sitting down. Batman was ready to leave once Cyborg finishes up the agenda.

“Utilities are above what the UN cleared for funding, guys,” said Cyborg.

“I’ll handle it. Move on, Cyborg,” said Batman.

“Wonder Woman merchandise did very well this year. I can step up when the Wayne Foundation falls short,” said Diana.

Batman paused and then turned to Diana, “You’re kidding, right?”

Does she know that one of Wayne Enterprises’ subsidiaries is selling those merchandise? Then there was the fact that Vivian has issued another check to donate to the Justice League if ever they need some extra funding.

“Okay, okay. Let’s just agree we have this covered. What else?” Barry said.

“Just the Excalibur incident. Only three bodies recovered,” said Cyborg.

“I’ve got my guards investigating the impact area,” Aquaman reported. “S.T.A.R. Labs wanted some rock samples.”

“Alright, if that’s it, we’ll meet next Thursday. Same Bat-time, same Bat-channel.”

“I won’t be here,” Batman spoke.

“Why?” Wonder Woman questioned.

“Yeah, if I can be here, you can be here,” said Flash.

“Dude, it takes you all of three seconds to get here and back!” Green Lantern told the Flash.

“Two at most, but point taken.”

“I have a meeting with the Headmaster at Dick’s boarding school.”

“No way!” that got the Green Lantern’s attention. “Batman has parent-teacher conference? That’s great!”

“Are you in the PTA too? Tell me you’re in the PTA,” Barry grinned.

He was but he won’t tell them that. In fact, Vivian’s been part of the PTA meetings and has been a huge help with setting up for Founder’s Week too.

Then, with balls of steel, the Flash got up, had two fingers at the back of his head and mimicked Batman’s deep voice as he said: “I’m Batman. We need more chaperones for homecoming. Who has to be convinced to sign up?” He laughed nervously as Batman glared at him. “I’m just joking, I think that’s great… is he still glaring at me?”

“For your information, I am and so is Vivian. That’s also the reason why I won’t be able to attend next week,” Batman told them. “She can’t stay at Gotham Academy without me during those meetings.”

Barry and Hal turned to him.

“Holy shit!” Hal said.

“Hold on, they let your girlfriend into the PTA?” Barry raised a brow. “How?!”

“She’s very convincing.”

At that comment, Superman turned to Batman a little surprised about Batman’s transparent relationship with his girlfriend of—what? Three years, counting the time they were on an unofficial break.

“We could’ve just pushed the meeting back to that evening,” said Cyborg.

��Ah, can’t. I’ve got rehearsal dinner that night,” said Barry.

“Is he in a play?” asked Martian Manhunter..

“He’s getting married. Somehow,” said Batman.

“Yup, married the next day,” the Flash couldn’t help his smile. “Limos, banquet hall, DJ, the whole shebang. Just immediate family, you understand?”

“Then I guess I should tell Vivian to stop looking for wedding gifts,” Batman smirked.

“How did she—right, you knew and you told her… but hey, just because it’s an intimate wedding doesn’t mean we’re not welcoming presents!”

Batman only hummed response.

“Does Iris know?” Superman asked.

“She better. She picked the date,” Barry told him.

“No, I mean, does she know about you?”

“Are you kidding? I told her ages ago.”

“Oh, geez, Supes. You can’t drop a bomb like that on a honeymoon,” said Aquaman.

“But aren’t you worried?”

“About what?” Flash raised a brow.

“About bringing her into your world? The dangers, the sacrifice…”

“Clark, that’s what marriage is all about.”

As Clark sat there, contemplating, the rest of the Justice League went to congratulate Barry.

“This calls for a toast. We got some beer in the fridge. Don’t worry, we got some milk for you, Bats,” Hal teased him.

Batman only hummed in annoyance.

They got up to head to the breakroom and have their celebration, but Batman made an excuse to head back to Gotham. The others whined, Hal even said: “Hey, Bats, no one wants a clingy boyfriend.” But they didn’t stop him. As Batman went to the door, Superman followed him.

“Bruce, can we talk?”

Bruce turned to him, thought for a moment, then agreed.

They went to the roof of one of the highest towers in the city and stood there to watch over the place as they spoke.

“What is it about?” Bruce asked him.

“You know, of all the members of the League, you’re the last person I expected to be so transparent in your relationship,” said Clark.

Bruce sighed. “If I could help it, I might have done what you’re doing now. I would have hidden it from her for as long as I could until she decided to… but that wasn’t the case.”

“How did you tell her?”

Batman turned to him, he looked him in the eye as he said, “I didn’t. She found out?”

“What?”

“There’s something I never told the League. Vivian has magic. She’s a witch, Clark,” when he saw that the Kryptonian was stunned to silence, he continued. “She didn’t find out using her magic, she found out by herself.” A smile crept to his lips as he remembered her words. “But she hadn’t, the same thoughts would be running through my head right now… how will I keep her safe? Will I only bring her more danger if I tell her the truth?”

“And?”

“But then I remember. When we were captured by Deacon Blackfire, it was Vivian who saved me from the mob from getting torn to pieces. Despite having lost practice in using her magic, she used her magic to save me. Then she kept proving it to me as I visited her as Batman. She was practicing in her condo, studying old spellbooks, casting simple spells…

“I only realized later that it was her way of telling me that I don’t have to worry about her. She can protect herself. Then, in one of my visits, she slipped and called me by my name. And I ran. I didn’t contact her for a while.”

“The unofficial breakup,” Clark realized.

“Exactly, but I went back to her, and she took me back. She even took in my ward as if he were her own.”

“And what about the danger, are you worried about that?”

“Everyday, but Vivian Pryor is one stubborn woman. She’s a force all on her own… and Barry’s right, that’s what marriage is all about.”

Clark smirked. “But you’re not married, Bruce.”

“I’m not… yet.”

“Can I quote you on that?”

“No.”

~ Many Days Later ~

Superman was dead.

The news shocked everywhen when they saw the end of the battle between that alien monster against the Justice League. As a member of the Justice League, Batman was present during the funeral and stood alongside the others, amongst the crowd, behind the fence, Vivian and Dick accompanied Clark Kent’s parents as they mourned the death of their son.

The tragedy of it all, the Kents weren’t even allowed to go near the tomb as they were just “civilians”.

Later that night, as they returned to Gotham. Vivian went to the cave after consoling Dick, he did just witness the hero he idolized die, she went to the cave where Bruce has been making himself busy since their return.

He’s been working tirelessly on a machine after a rigorous workout to punish himself for not being enough to save Clark. His friend.

“Bruce,” Vivian touched his shoulder, startling him from welding the steel plates. No words said, she only opened her arms to him. Bruce put down the tools, removed the gloves and the goggles, and fell to his knees and wrapped his arms around her. Vivian held him, running her hand through his sweaty hair, and let him feel what he was bottling up inside.

“I can go find him—”

“No,” his hold on her tightened. “Clark was a friend. One who I care about but no… I won’t risk you, Viv. No more traveling to the land of the dead.”

“Not even for your friend?”

“No. Not when it means risking your life to do it.”

Vivian got down to be at his level and pressed her forehead against his.

“Then let me stay here with you, and mourn with you.”

#fanfic #dc fanfic #batman fanfiction #bruce wayne #batman #batman x oc #bruce wayne x oc #batman and superman

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rodolfoparras · 8 months ago

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I typically get very painful cramps and not much helps it😔💔 so I've learned to just do whatever my brain says I need for comfort and also let myself rage at silly things to feel better😋 I also learned painkillers don't help me much cause the amount I need to take to help the pain😭😭😭 bro I was on another planet😭 my friends sent me clips of me playing the game and you could tell I was not using my brain in the slightest💀

So yeah I gotta rawdog my period cramps😧

But !!!

I love Wren so every much, would love to draw him but I have the worst art block everything looked so bad😭💀 I sorta made a picrew of him? It's not that accurate as he's more grey, older, has shark teeth and his tail isn't so cat like but I worked with what I had💪

https://cdn.picrew.me/shareImg/org/202409/6453_09Fe4KRf.png

And I liked the idea of the all white ethereal glowing look so I'm making another X-Men oc!!!

https://cdn.picrew.me/shareImg/org/202409/6453_J7nNpcUh.png

Have nothing besides they go by Seer, non binary and they're sorta on Magnetos side (Their opinion of him suffers greatly as he sacrifices Rouge in the first movie :< ) They're like 19 and are basically Wren's little sibling !!! They grew up on the streets together, Wren would always take all the hits and cruel things people did because of their mutations :(

While Wren hates humans, he also doesn't want whatever innocent humans there are to suffer because of all the mean ones.

Seer, however, despises humans and can't see how they're worth saving because they witnessed everything those mean people would do to Wren but also never saw any other humans trying to stop or help. But Seer does start realizing Magnetos methods are a bit extreme.

Siblings on opposite sides😔💔 good angst trope but !!! Wren and Seer still text and call frequently, neither go out on missions either so they rarely get hurt or have to fight. But even if they did, both already told Charles/Magneto they refuse to fight each other and they also don't want them to get hurt :<

Wren would absolutely take a blast aimmed for Seer 😭 also Seer loves showing Magneto their favourite music/memes and Magneto is just... So lost??? He doesn't understand. But they're kinda like a silly grandpa grandchild duo. Seer gets along with Mystique a little more, she keeps more up to date with the trends😋

But back to the sillies !!! (Wren, Scott and Logan)

Wren doesn't sleep much, he doesn't really need to so he just doesn't ( He had to stay awake as a kid to keep Seer safe :< Wren can't bring himself to sleep because what if someone needs him?) So Wren just watches like those stop motion lego cooking videos while Scott is cuddled up to him, Logan somewhat cuddled but with his back turned so his claws don't potentially hurt Wren and Scott. Even though Wren would be fine, with Scott sometimes sleeping halfway on top of Wren, Logan doesn't wanna risk hurting him :<

But Wren always gives Logan extra cuddles since Scott always wakes up before Logan :> and Scott and Logan aren't huge on cuddling each other😭 like every so often they will but their love language is bickering and shoving each other🙄

One night though Wren actually lets himself fall asleep after Scott insisted he should at least try and bro he was knocked out🔥🔥🔥 passed out with his face buried in Scotts tiddies (me next me next!!) Wren still doesn't sleep much but if he does, his face is buried in Logan or Scotts tiddies🙏

-🌱

Sugae bee with all due respect I think I’m obligated to fight your period cramps there’s no other way around it I’m loading up my fists and it’s me against the devils river

Sugar bee the picrew is so cute!! I love love love his eyes and the little unicorn horn it’s the cutest combo ever 😭😭😭 and the all white x man is just as beautiful!! I think my favorite is the hair style and the horns!!

I cannot say I know much about the actual x man lore of the story to pitch in my thoughts on their backstory but I do have to say I love protective sibling tropes on opposite sides sm!!!! Especially when the show is about them meeting in some kind of middle ground!! And also it’s kind of sweet how wren has some sympathy for good humans while seer doesn’t have any towards any human because humans have always been so unkind to their brother

Also I love my two silly men getting loved by a wonderful little dude🥹 all three of them deserve all the cuddles in the world and I’m glad they’re getting it from each other 😤 AND WREN EVEN GETS RO SLEEPY IN LOGAN OR SCOTTS TIDDIES?? WHEN IS IT MYTURN

#alec answers #🌱 anon

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chromatophorium · 2 months ago

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Holding onto desperation: project announcement.

I keep holding onto comforts. Projects of fandoms that entertain me and keep me creatively (and sometimes intellectually) engaged. I must lessen their hold, if I want to hold onto desperation. I think. Desperation. Or the feeling of spiting the thing that makes you feel desperate? No. I think desperation isn't a passive feeling. Desperation doesn't equal hopelessness or passiveness. Desperation for something better than what is to come. We all need to hold onto one of those feelings, those that don't let them entertain us to death. For some it is hope in itself, for some it is spite or righteous anger. I think for me the strongest of them might be desperation. Maybe. It feels stronger than the longing for comfort right now, so I need to hold on so that I am not entertained to death.

I need to express and get people to understand what is to come if we don't do things. I need to funnel the energy that I want to spend on crafting stories and world into something that doesn't make passivity in me or others. I need to capture the gaze and engagement and turn that engagement towards the audience themselves. I need to evoke desperation, anger and spite. And that the comfort is not in the hands of the powerful, but by the side of the people down here with you.

Letting go is hard. But I need to let go of my comforts currently. I must, right? They've been preoccupying me. I need it to hold on to desperation. Maybe turn working on this into a comfort/vessel for the energy I spend on my other projects.

Okay. Also. I need to start small. Publish things small. Make it visible while it isn't done and get portraying. Get people seeing. I am going to make it visible. I need to engage people. I need help. Probably.

Okay. so what's it going to be? An original story. Featuring a human and a robot/robot analogy and a relationship and changes and a betrayal. It has to feature a bad ending. Or bitter sweet? Well. an arc has to end badly. Solutions... okay. the solutions isn't the betrayer. but it has to be tempting. But clear that it would only make things worse. Breaking a depending on the tool of the powerful but depending on other people. God this is going to be some angsty shit. Co-dependent, hah. not really. Not really co, but seemingly co. Okay. there is going to be visual art. there is going to be banter. there is going to be memorable designs and character traits. chatchphrases? idk. cahtcphrases are hard to do right. THE META ELEMENT! Oh yeah. Okay. Office like? Yeah. In-world story telling device. creating video content oh. yes. YES. FUCKING YES. Create a mystery too, maybe. as to who they're talikg to/adressing with the content. Oh it also ties into the thing. the abstract work creation on the social medias. FUCK YES. Okay. maybe one more meta element? of like, isekai nature? to convey the comforts. the yearning for comforts. but also totally not fully isekai, more ready player one -ish in set up. Normal world also gotta be engaging, sci-fi but maybe magic system in world? or magic system in world that changes a lot but also allows the second meta narrative? Gotta sort out the genre and setting. Look man. We gotta like. look we need to... okay. we gotta make isekai comforts good but also the potential relationships after betrayal be good too.

Hook. hook. ve gotta get a hook. odd couple can be starting hook-ish. But maybe there is a hook in the setting? I don't know. A magic system hook is often a cool engaging thing? Like, the way it twists the world were familiar with.

eye. eye imagry? yeah. could be cool and thematic.

OKAY. Okay. how do I structure my work thoug. At leat one hour of work on this per day. Put hte alarm ther enow.

SO yeah. this was more of me rambling. So yeah. I think. Maybe. still holding on a bit. Got it's hard. But I need to become obsessed with my own OCs. make them blorbo. and most of all. hold on to desperation. becasue it's coming. the bad stuff is coming. It's creeping in bombastically now.

OOOhoho... we can have a prophecy of doom or something int he setting. nice.

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starlessskies94 · 4 years ago

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Consequence (Joel Miller x OC)

Summary: What if Joel survived his injuries from the Abby and Fireflies attack but ends up with really bad amnesia. He can’t remember his wife, Ellie, or the Outbreak; only before. How will his family bring back the man they once knew?Pairing: Joel Miller x OC Note: An update? Could It be? After all this time?...Yes. It is I! I come with a thousand apologies for taking so long to update. I didn't plan for it be so long but with Covid and going back to work during Covid and family stuff, I just haven't had the time but I'm back my lovelies and I really hope this chapter doesn't disappoint :)

Chapter Seven

Tommy woke up late for the first time in weeks; he didn’t often sleep in but given his late night chasing lost cattle through the town after they’d somehow managed to escape the paddocks; he figured he more than deserved it. Maria had woken him when she made to leave and insisted he stay put while she made a start on the morning checks. She kissed him goodbye and they promised to meet later for lunch together.

The morning air was crisp and fresh as he stepped down onto the path, his jacket zipped tight to fight off the dwindling cold. The snow had long since melted and there were clear telltale signs of Spring fast approaching in Jackson.

And while the cold wasn’t as biting as it had been, there was still the odd chill that needed to be shielded from with a layer or two.

It wouldn’t be long before they were preparing for a new harvest to grow throughout the year. The sacks of seeds and planting equipment appearing all over town as families began to prep the soil and start their planting as the wildflowers poked their heads through the ground to bask in the warming sunlight.

Tommy made his way through the streets heading straight for his brother’s house. It was still hard to believe that it had been a whole two months since Joel’s attack.

Two whole months since his sister in law had lost her husband; his niece, her father. And unfortunately for all of them; it didn’t seem like Joel was making any progress to getting his memories back. He tried to help of course but his brother, being the stubborn grump that he was, had only pushed his younger brother away, insisting he was capable of handling the trauma alone.

He hated seeing his brother struggling, especially when it seemed that some details were coming through. It was little things but it was better than nothing. The only problem was, it was things Joel seemed to dismiss without a second thought.

Tommy honestly believed if Joel focused on them, they’d help process bigger things. Though it certainly hadn’t helped matters that the older Miller had stopped going to his weekly check ups to help his mind improve. The head of the infirmary had voiced her concerns to Tommy a few days earlier. His constant dismissal and disregard for their importance to his slow recovery; not just frustrating the Doctor but also Tommy himself.

He just hoped he could talk some sense into his big brother.

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He knocked but no answer greeted him as he stepped inside the house. It was quiet but clean. Each room meticulously organised and tidied to within an itch of its life. He figured this was what Joel must have been filling his days with over the past few weeks. The sound of muffled hammering caught his attention, leading him up the stairs to Joel’s workshop room. The door slightly ajar. Tommy had barely entered the room before Joel acknowledged him.

“What do you want, Tommy?” Joel grunted without even bothering to turn around. Tommy just shrugged silently, his hands awkwardly stuffing into the front pockets of his jeans.

“Well good morning to you too, just stopped by to see how you’re doing.”

“As good as I can be I guess.” He muttered as he continued to work, never taking his eyes off the wood in his hands. It felt nice seeing his brother once again taking an interest in an old hobby that he had enjoyed before his injury. It felt like maybe they were finally heading in the right direction. But Tommy had to hold off, he didn’t want to push anymore than was necessary. He knew Joel well enough to know that if you pushed too far; Joel would only push back twice as hard. “Right, sorry... whatcha making?” Joel hobbled back a little from the table, giving Tommy a better view of the work in question. The long neck and the four legs beginning to take shape made his heart skip. The older man had always had a talent; that was for certain. The horses he made were always magnificent. The wolves and the deer along with any other animal the people of Jackson had asked for; were always made with utmost care. And it seemed this work of art was no different.

“I think I meant for it to be a giraffe before... everything. Figured I might as well finish it. Hell if I know who it was supposed to be for.”

“Ellie.” Tommy whispered.

“What?”

Tommy took a second for his brain to catch up with his words as he quickly cleared his throat and tried not to fidget too much. “It’s just...uh.. that it’s her birthday in a couple of months and she always liked giraffes, maybe it was meant for her?” He offered nervously. Joel just hummed casually. With a quick dismissive shake of his head and a sigh; he moved the half carved giraffe onto a nearby shelf along with his other unfinished projects. Turning to face his brother, his arm reaching out to grab his cane to steady his balance.

“Yeah, maybe...maybe Ada asked me to make it for her to give to Ellie as a gift.” He wondered out loud, stopping Tommy in his tracks.

“You talked to her?” He asked almost a little too quickly. Causing Joel to frown slightly in response at his brother’s unexplained eagerness.

“Who Ada? Briefly, why? Am I supposed to know her or something?”

“You guys were...friends I guess…” Tommy replied weakly. He knew he had to be cautious here, baby steps. They were moving into uncharted territory when it came to Ada and Ellie. Joel had only just started to accept the life they had lived in Boston as smugglers and that was before he had even had the courage to bring up the Fireflies. He needed to steer clear of things deeper than that for now and ease into the conversation he wanted to have. But his patience was starting to run thin. “Look, the reason I came by is because I was talking to Elizabeth and she said you’ve stopped going to your check ups.”

“Oh not this again Tommy!” Joel snapped, his brother rolling his eyes in frustration as Joel hobbled away from his work space and further towards the door. But Tommy was quick to stop him, stepping in the threshold and blocking Joel’s exit.

“Look I know I don’t understand what you’re going through but-”

“You’re damn right you don’t!” He yelled. "You have no idea what it’s like Tommy; to lose years of your life in an instant. Forget everything you’ve done and the people you used to care about. I don’t see how bitching about how shitty this is to the damn Doctor is going to help!”

“But you’re starting to remember things Joel! That’s a big fucking deal!”

“How?! All I’m remembering is crap no one cares about! How are horse’s names gonna help me? Or how I take my coffee in the morning? I couldn’t even remember holding my little girl in my arms after she was shot! Oh but thank the lord I could remember what colour shirt I was wearing when it happened!!”

With every word Joel got closer, his nostrils flaring in anger as blood continued to boil. But Tommy never backed down, squaring up to his big brother wasn’t unusual and certainly wasn’t the first time they’d been at odds on how to handle something. Joel’s eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched.

“It’s been two months Tommy...two months of this and it ain’t getting better any time soon. This ain’t your problem so just back off!” He hissed between gritted teeth.

“You can’t just push me away Joel, I want to help. I’m trying but you’re just being so damn stubborn.”

“Then leave, I didn’t ask you to babysit me. And I sure as hell don’t need you sticking around outta guilt.” The words stopped Tommy dead.

“What?”

“I might not remember what happened but I know enough from what you told me about Boston...You survived because of me. All those years I took care of us. Just like when we were kids. So what? You feel like you owe me? You gotta take your turn to take care of me now? You can keep it baby brother because I don’t want it. And I didn’t ask for it.” The words spit venom with every ounce of bitterness Joel had in him. And Tommy felt his lip snarl in response. The ungrateful bastard; he thought coldly, after everything he’d done to keep his brother alive on the way back to Jackson after the Fireflies had almost beaten him to death and this was what he had to say in response.

“How do I know the people who did this weren’t after you. I mean they did a pretty good number on you too right? Big brother to the rescue to save your sorry ass; yet again! You think I want to live like this?! Huh?! Trapped in a life of a man I don’t even know. A house full of memories I can’t even goddamn remember!”

That was it, Tommy was done. Joel was frustrated and angry, he knew that. He understood that. Of course he did. But to blame him for this?! How the hell was that fair? His hands shook in pure anger, chest heaving as he held back his punches as much as he could. He stumbled away from the door. His trembling hand reaching up and running through his beard in a poor attempt to calm himself.

“You know what screw you! Screw you Joel! You wanna give up, you wanna feel sorry for yourself? Fine! I’m done. You give up on your family-”

“Family?! What damn family? There’s no one left Tommy! Sarah is gone!”

“She ain’t the only one you got!” Tommy cut off without thinking. Joel’s face dropping at his brother's outburst. The younger man’s eyes widened in shock as he realised what he’d said. But it was too late to take it back now. And Tommy knew that. They both did. Perhaps now was the time to tell the truth.

“You want to know who your family is Joel? Take a look in your damn attic.”

Tommy uttered the words into the thick silence left between the two men. Before turning on his heel to leave, never giving Joel a chance to answer. Leaving the man to stew in his confession. He just hoped that somehow...Ada could forgive him for this.

#joel miller #last of us joel #the last of us part 2 #The last of us part ii #ellie williams #joel and ellie #joel x oc #joel x reader #fanfiction #StarlessSkies writes

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vanilla-bean-buttercream · 5 years ago

Text

I Might Have Adopted Two Ten-Year-Olds

Pairings: N/A (There is some Sleepmas, but it’s not the focus) Characters: Virgil, Remy, Thomas, Janus, Roman, Logan, Emile, two very annoying OCs you will probably never see again Chapter warnings: This chapter talks about religion a lot so if that bugs you tread carefully, implied child abuse, parents using their religion as an excuse to denounce neurodivergence, guns, gunshot wounds, blood, attempted kidnapping, threats of violence, intrusive thoughts, antisemitism, like a lot of antisemitism, this is long so mobile might not like reblogging it Word Count: 8,838

Summary:

“Don’t make me change my mind.” Janus paused. “I’m going to need to do some digging. Perhaps it’d be easier to pay off the foster care system Remus is currently in. That way, I can remove him from the situation and get those two back together.”

“And then what? Throw them out into the streets?”

Janus didn’t answer. Virgil watched Janus for a while before his brain finally connected the dots.

“Wait, you’re going to adopt them, aren’t you?”

Ao3 Link

The last bit of sunlight disappeared as Virgil sat inside the limousine. He kept an eye on his target and searched for any sort of opening that would make any of this easier. So far, from what he could gather, a man and a woman lived there, and there were no other kids besides his target.

“So, what are you waiting for? Go in already.”

Virgil let his head slowly tap against the window as he heard Remy’s phone texting behind him.

“You know, you’re always welcome to actually help me instead of judging me.”

“Babe, please, do you even know who I am? Judging people is like 100% of my life.” Remy put his phone in his pocket. “But seriously, kidnapping is not as hard as you think it is. Well, at least, it’s not if the parents don’t have a gun.”

“Greeeeat.”

“And besides, we have Roman. Use that to your advantage to make the kid come willingly.”

“This is so wrong.”

“Uniting two twins who were separated is wrong?”

Virgil didn’t answer. Instead, he said, “But what if they’re keeping them apart for a reason? What if Remus is actually like this monster of a kid and hurts Roman, and Roman makes excuses for his behavior all the time, and the reason they separated Remus from Roman is because the two of them were better off apart and-”

“Whoa, someone was reading up on foster care.” Remy shook his head. “Yeah, babe, I don’t think that’s the case. I think it’s something else.”

“What makes you so sure?”

“People are shitty.”

“Well, yeah, but like… nevermind.”

Remy lowered his sunglasses. “I have excellent intuition, babe, and you know I’m right 99% of the time.”

“Yeah, I don't know why else Janus would keep you around, shorty.”

“Fuck you.”

Virgil couldn’t hide the smirk on his face. He waited until the last light downstairs flipped off, and the whole house went dark. Well, at least it did, except for the flicking light upstairs, which was conveniently Remus’s bedroom.

Remy opened Virgil’s car door for him and motioned for Virgil to step outside. Virgil sent him a glare before he exited the car and scooted across the lawn.

Searching for an open window was a lot more difficult than Virgil thought. In fact, all of them were locked. Great. How was he supposed to get in now? Virgil groaned as he realized he’d probably have to pick the lock on the front door.

Kneeling down and using his flashlight, Virgil inserted the bobby pin and maneuvered it around. It wasn’t the first time he picked a lock, but this lock gave him nothing to work with. With a light curse, Virgil pulled out his tools and stared at the knob.

“Whatcha waiting for?”

Virgil jumped out of his skin and turned around. He hissed through a whisper, “God damn it, Remy, don’t sneak up on people like that. You almost gave me a fucking heart attack.”

Remy didn’t respond. Instead, he took the tools from Virgil’s hand and stuck them into the keyhole. In two minutes flat, he had the door unlocked, and he pushed it open with that stupid shit-eating grin on his face.

“You gonna need my help for the rest?” Remy asked. “Janus never said I couldn’t help. Just that you had to do it.”

Virgil hesitated. He looked into the dark house and sighed through his nose. “Well, I mean…”

“Say no more, babe.” Remy walked into the house like he owned the place. Virgil followed him in, and he gently closed the door behind them.

The house itself looked normal enough. There was a couch, a television, a set of stairs, a bunch of pictures with that phrase “live, laugh, love” on them, and-

Oh. Oh wow. Those were a lot of crucifixes.

“Do you think they’re Christians?” Virgil asked.

“I don’t know, babe, because Jan’s Catholic and even he’s not that cross obsessed,” Remy said with a shrug, “but I’m not religious so-”

A door opened upstairs, and Remy and Virgil held their breath. A light flipped on, and the two of them darted behind the couch. To their relief, however, the footsteps traveled down the upstairs hallway and didn’t notice there were two kidnappers in their living room.

“Remus,” a gentle voice spoke. “Remus, honey, stop playing with the lights.”

There was no answer for a few seconds.

“Remus! Stop.”

“I can’t.”

“Yes, you can.”

“No, I can’t.”

There was a scuffle, and then an ear-splitting scream. Remy flinched, and Virgil covered his ears. A bang, the sound of something falling and smashing, and the sound of a bed heavily sat on followed suit.

“Remus, stop! Control yourself.”

“NO! Let me go! Let me go! I have to- Only ten more flips! Please!”

“You can’t let him control you. You have to let it go.”

Remus started screaming at the top of his lungs. Remy shared a look with Virgil, who wondered how the neighbors didn’t call the police for doing whatever the hell they were doing to Remus because it sounded like the poor kid was being tortured.

After about ten minutes, Remus either tired himself out or got over whatever made him upset. The hissed sound of someone in pain followed a low growl of a voice.

“Don’t let the devil into your head, Remus. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Remy let his head thunk against the back of the couch. He mumbled, “Well, I guess that answers the religious question.”

Virgil chose not to comment.

Eventually, footsteps walked from one side of the house to the other side, and the light in the hall extinguished. Virgil and Remy held their breaths and waited for their cue.

“Oh, John-” a woman’s voice- “are you alright?”

“I’m fine. He didn’t get me that bad.”

“Your arm is bleeding! Don't tell me it’s not that bad.”

“I know. I know, but it’s going to be worth it. Eventually, we’ll chase the devil from him, and he’ll be a normal kid on the right side again.”

Remy hissed, “Yeah, I don’t know what the fuck’s going on, but I don't’ think it’s the devil.”

Virgil couldn't help but nod his head in agreement.

For a moment, the house settled into silence. Only if you listened carefully could you hear a child’s crying. Remus was either very good at hiding his emotions or chose to do it so he’d be left alone.

Slowly, Virgil and Remy moved from behind the couch to the stairs. They made sure not to disturb the adults in the house and headed straight to where they assumed Remus was.

Remus’s door was closed, but they didn’t miss the way the light clicked off just as they reached the top of the stairs. The bed bounced like someone took a flying leap onto it.

Silence.

Remy motioned for Virgil to open the door. Virgil swallowed, controlled his breathing, and slowly opened the door.

The room itself was practically spotless and very, very white. White walls, white carpet, white bedspread, a white curtain that flapped in the breeze of an open window. The only bit of color was the brown furniture in the room, which was a nightstand, a table, and a dresser. A lamp with a lopsided lampshade sat on the nightstand, and a table with all sorts of art supplies neatly stacked on top of each other stood by the window.

Remus must’ve covered up his head because all Virgil could see of him was the lump of his body under the blanket. He could hear the kid’s harsh breathing, and for a moment, he wondered if he was really doing the right thing.

Slowly, Virgil tiptoed into the room. His hand shook as he reached out and gently shook Remus’s body. He didn’t miss the way Remus flinched at his touch.

“I stopped,” came Remus’s small voice. “I’m sorry. I stopped.”

Virgil looked over his shoulder at Remy, who looked like he was using an abnormal amount of self-control right now. Virgil’s head turned back to Remus. He chewed on his lip, formed his words several times in his head, and opened his mouth.

“It’s okay.”

Remus sucked in a breath. He let out a low whine, and Virgil swallowed hard.

“Go away,” Remus spat.

Virgil replied, “I want to help.”

“No! Go away. You’re not real.”

“Remus-”

“I said go away!”

Virgil shushed him. If Remus kept yelling like this, his foster family was going to come in and see what was going on.

“Come on, Virge, what are you waiting for!” Remy hissed. “Grab the kid and let’s go!”

Virgil didn’t think before he pulled Remus’s blanket away. In a moment, he had a ten-year-old kid latched onto him. Remus scratched, bit, hit, and kicked everything he could find. Virgil fell backward with a yell and crashed into the wall.

Remy leaped forward and grabbed Remus around the chest. As if he already knew Virgil was going to screw up, he pulled a cloth presoaked with chloroform from his pocket and shoved it over Remus’s mouth. Remus continued to flail and kick wildly.

The hall lights turned on.

“Shit,” Remy hissed. “We gotta go.”

“Go where?” Virgil whispered.

“Remus? Remus, what’s going on in there?”

Remy motioned toward the open window. Virgil stuck his head out, and his head spun as he spotted the ground below. He drew his head back and hit it off the top of the split window.

“I can’t go down there,” Virgil snapped.

“Why not?”

“I don’t- heights.”

“Or for crying out loud, Virge. There’s a roof below the window. Use it.”

The sound of a gun clicked behind them. Thankfully Remus stopped struggling enough for Remy to move. He shoved Virgil out the window.

Virgil screamed as he fell onto the slanted roof. His body rolled, and he barely had enough time to grab the gutter as he fell. The gutter gave way from the roof, and it slowly lowered Virgil enough that he could drop down. Virgil landed on the ground with a soft grunt.

Once Virgil realized Remy nearly killed him, he snapped, “Remy, what the-”

The lights to Remus’s room turned on.

“Who are you? What are you doing in my house?”

“Oh my word, Remus!”

“Drop the kid. Now.”

Virgil couldn’t breathe. Remy's silhouette still stood in the window. How he hell were they supposed to make it out of this?

“Hey, easy pops. I just wanna help,” Remy’s voice said.

“Help? Abducting a foster child is helping? I don’t know what kind of help you think we need, but I think it’s you who needs help. Back away from the window before I shoot.”

“No! You’ll hit Remus!”

“Mary, get out of here and call the police.”

“Wait, Mister, can’t we just talk about this?”

Virgil didn’t know what to do. He paced back and forth on the front lawn. Did he leave Remy? Did he call Janus and tell him what happened? Did he go into the house and help? Would he even be any help? It was his fault Remy was trapped inside with a man who apparently had some sort of gun.

Virgil spied the open door. He saw a woman coming down the stairs, the same woman that pushed Roman out of the doorway the other night. She caught eyes with Virgil on the front lawn. Virgil made a mad dash to the door and stopped it right before she could close it.

“John! John, there’s another one!”

Virgil cursed. The woman pushed equally as hard on the door as Virgil was, causing a stalemate that would probably break the door before Virgil was allowed inside.

“Mary, are you alright?”

“No!” she grunted as she pushed on the door. “He’s hurting me!”

“Bullshit,” Virgil snapped. He got a burst of strength that forced the door open. The woman screamed as Virgil got the upper hand. She bolted for the phone. Virgil chased after her. The two fought for control of the poor electronic device caught in the middle of a life or death game of tug of war.

Remy’s voice called out, “Look I don’t wanna hurt you, so why don’t you just drop the gun and let me go.”

“Don’t shoot!”

Wait, what was Remy doing? Virgil froze long enough for the phone to slip out of his hands. The woman slammed the phone’s end as hard as she could into Virgil’s head. Virgil let out a sharp yell, and he staggered backward. The woman pushed him, and he fell into the couch behind him.

“You stay there or I’ll hit you again!” she threatened.

Virgil rubbed the sore spot on his head. He could already feel the lump forming. He heard the woman dialing 911 before he could react.

A gunshot sounded above them, as well as a grunt in pain. Virgil and the woman both jumped.

“John!”

“I’m okay! We’re both okay.”

No. NO.

Virgil tried to stand, but the woman used her foot to kick him back down. He heard Remy quietly hiss a curse above them.

“Hello, this is Mary Johnson at 1320 West Tammy Street. I have two burglars in my house trying to kidnap my son.”

“We’ll have someone down there right away to help,” he heard the other end of the phone say. “Is anyone hurt?”

“I don’t know, but my husband has a gun, and I think he already shot one of them.”

Virgil cursed under his breath. How the hell were they supposed to get out of this?

A minute later, Virgil heard police sirens outside the house. That was insanely quick. These people must have the police department wrapped around their little finger, or maybe it was because she mentioned her husband had a gun. Still, whichever it was, they were fucked. Completely and utterly fucked.

The police car stopped outside, and a single officer came to the door. They caught sight of the woman practically sitting on Virgil to keep him still.

“Oh thank goodness,” she sighed in relief. “Please, help my husband. He’s upstairs with my son.”

“Will do,” the officer spoke. He hurried up the stairs and disappeared. Tears of fear pricked the edge of Virgil’s vision as his entire body started to shake. He wished he knew what was going on.

A minute later, the officer came down the stairs with a rather complacent Remy in handcuffs. Remy walked with a slight limp in his left leg. Virgil caught the officer’s eye as he helped Remy down the last step.

“I’ll be back in a minute for the second one,” the officer said.

Virgil watched Remy carefully. Why did he give up so easily? Where was that scrappy ball of terror he watched take down several people on the sparring mat?

Virgil caught Remy’s eye from behind his sunglasses- wait was that a wink?

The officer took maybe a minute to come back for Virgil. He readied a pair of handcuffs, and the woman moved off Virgil’s chest. Virgil sprung to his feet, but the officer grabbed him by the wrist and pulled.

“Now, kid, please don’t make this hard on yourself,” the officer spoke. His grip was surprisingly light for someone who was about to throw Virgil in the back of his car. Virgil twisted, but the officer grabbed his other arm and locked it behind his back. He grabbed the top of Virgil’s left arm and gave a light pull.

“Thank you so much, officer,” the woman said. “And you, I’ll pray that you find Jesus and let Him into your heart.”

Virgil had enough time to scowl at her before the officer pulled him out of the house. Virgil did his best to try and struggle to get away, but the officer kept him going. Either it was Virgil’s imagination, or the officer picked up his pace when he heard more police sirens.

The officer put Virgil in the back of the car and slammed the door shut. With Virgil’s hands behind his back, he couldn’t stop himself from losing his balance. Thankfully, Remy caught him.

With both hands.

Wait.

The officer closed his door and sped down the road with his sirens flashing.

“That wasn’t bad for your first try, Virge. Could’ve gone a lot worse,” Remy said. He twisted Virgil’s shoulders and moved Virgil’s wrists so he could see the cuffs. “Thomas, babe, watch the corners. We’re both not wearing seat belts right now.”

“Sorry, Rem. I just wanna get off this street as fast as I can.”

“What are they going to do, arrest us?”

Virgil heard a lock click behind him, and the cuffs fell from his wrists. Remy pulled the metal away and put it into his pocket.

“You know I can’t blow my cover.”

“I know, babe. Sorry about all this.”

“One of these days, I’m going to make you fill out all the paperwork.”

Remy waited until the officer stopped at a stop sign, stood, and leaned between the seats. The officer turned his head just in time to catch Remy's lips.

Virgil found his voice as the two parted, and he mumbled, “Okay, what the fuck is going on?”

Remy fell heavily into his seat, and he leaned his head against the headrest. He answered, “Virgil, I’d like you to meet Officer Sanders.”

“Please, just call me Thomas,” the officer- Thomas- answered.

“He’s been working for Janus for years now covering up our shit. In my opinion, Janus doesn’t pay him nearly enough.”

“Wait, so you’re a corrupt cop?” Virgil asked.

Thomas shrugged. “Yeah, I guess you could say that.”

“Corrupt and sexy. I love bad boys.”

Virgil caught Thomas’s blush in the rearview mirror. He looked from the mirror to Remy, who had this stupidly lovestruck look on his face.

“Wait, are you two-”

“Dating? For the past two years,” Remy answered. “Though Thomas and I knew each other for a while. He's been saving my ass since I started playing for Janus’s team.”

“Hey, you’ve got me out of a few scrapes as well.”

“Don’t be modest, Thomas.”

“I’m not being modest. It’s the truth. Remember when I was bleeding out at that jewelry store robbery? Or the time when Smith found out I was dealing with Janus? Or the time when-”

“God, shut up before I make you.”

“Is that a promise or a threat?”

“Both.”

Virgil hid his face in his hands. Thomas let out a light laugh, and Remy hissed. Virgil caught sight of Remy’s leg, which was sluggishly bleeding onto the backseat.

“You okay back there?” Thomas asked.

Remy let out a light laugh. “Just a flesh wound. He only shot my leg.”

Virgil snorted. Only.

Remy continued, “It’s not even that deep. It was a fucking BB gun. You would think if he’s going to protect his family that he’d have something more deadly, not a weapon you give a kid.”

“Remy-”

“I’m just saying.”

Thomas let out a long, exasperated sigh.

Remy turned to Virgil, “And what the hell were you doing, babe? What, was she babysitting or something?”

“Shut it, Remy.”

Remy giggled. He stared up at the car ceiling and continued, “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.”

“I will end you.”

“A middle-aged woman with a phone gets attacked by a sixteen-year-old streetfighter. The ending will shock you.”

Virgil back slapped Remy’s arm with his hand, and Remy laughed harder. Thomas shook his head and slowed to a stop at a stop sign. Virgil put his cheek in his hand and stared out the window. For a while, the ride died down into a comfortable silence.

Remy clicked his tongue and mumbled, “Though, you know, Janus is gonna be mega pissed when he finds out what happened.”

Virgil sucked in a harsh breath through his teeth.

How was he supposed to tell Janus he screwed up this bad? Worse, how was he supposed to tell Roman?

Virgil let his forehead rest against the window glass.

“Yeah, I’m screwed.”

The office held no noise as the three entered the building at 1 in the morning. Remy looked over at Thomas, who stared back. The two of them seemed to have a conversation Virgil couldn’t hear.

That’s okay. Virgil was having too much of a screaming match in his own head to worry about them.

“So, you think Janus is awake?” Remy asked. “Bet he went to sleep with the kid.”

“You think he would?” Thomas asked.

“Mmm yeah. He wouldn’t just let Roman run around by himself. And besides, you should’ve seen them earlier when they were watching Disney movies together.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it.”

Remy unlocked Janus’s door. The quiet office was dark save for the computer light. Huh, Janus usually turned that off.

“You two go up and tell Jan what happened. I’m going to shut down his computer.”

Thomas gave Remy a look but didn’t argue. Virgil swallowed hard. His entire body started to shake as he walked up the stairs. Thomas put a hand on Virgil’s shoulder, making Virgil jump.

“One step at a time, kiddo,” Thomas said.

Virgil scowled. “I’m not a kid.”

Thomas answered with a smile. The two of them continued up the stairs. Hopefully, Janus was asleep and Virgil would have to deal with this in the morning.

The door at the end of the stairs towered over Virgil. All the blood ran out of his face, and it started to tingle. He couldn’t move his hand from the railing to turn the handle. Lucky for him, Thomas did. The door cracked open. Now, if only Virgil could get his legs to move.

Thomas moved around Virgil and went in first. Knowing Thomas was in there alone gave Virgil enough courage to follow him in. What was Janus’s room going to look like? Were there going to be trophies from his victims all over? Would there be a blood-stained carpet? Would there be people tied up in the corner begging behind a gag to escape? Virgil squeezed his eyes shut as he climbed the last step. Slowly, slowly, he cracked an eye open to peek.

Well, whatever Virgil expected to see when he walked into Janus’s room was not… this.

Piled on the bottom of the bed was a group of pillows. Two people were curled together, and it took Virgil a moment to realize it was both Janus and Roman. Their foreheads were pressed together, and Janus had one arm wrapped protectively around Roman's waist.

For a moment, Virgil forgot how scared he was, the feeling of awe taking over his heart.

“Maybe we should come back later,” Thomas whispered.

Virgil nodded his head in agreement. He and Thomas backed out of the room. Thomas closed the door, and Virgil practically fell down the stairs trying to get as far away from Janus as he could.

“Hey, Thomas, come here,” Remy whispered.

Thomas walked down the rest of the steps, his brow raised in curiosity. “What’s up, Rem?”

Both Thomas and Virgil stood behind Janus’s computer chair. Remy leaned back, his eyebrows lining his sunglasses.

“Anyone at the precinct hear of a virus called “Unknown” in people’s inbox?”

Upon closer inspection, the email that Janus was using had three different emails, all with sender “Unknown” and no subject.

Thomas hummed before he replied, “No, nothing that I’ve heard.”

Remy gave a hummed reply before he hit delete on all the messages. “Better safe than sorry. I’ll tell Jan about it when I get back.”

“Back?” Virgil rose a brow. “Where are you going?”

“Thomas’s house.”

Thomas’s eyebrows rose to his hairline. “Wait, you are?”

Remy stood from the computer chair. He pushed it in and slowly walked over to Thomas. Thomas didn’t back away.

“You roughly locked me in handcuffs earlier today and you think you’re going to get away with it?” Remy grabbed Thomas’s tie and pulled Thomas down to his level. “That’s unacceptable babe. You can’t tease me and then expect me to sleep peacefully tonight. At least, not without your permission, sir.”

Thomas smirked before he closed the gap between them in a kiss.

Virgil gagged before he hurried toward the exit. He could hear Remy and Thomas laughing at him as he headed toward the third-floor elevator.

Virgil never felt so thankful to have a bed. He collapsed onto it, not even bothering to get out of his clothes. He did, however, kick his shoes off.

Within moments, Virgil forgot he even had shoes.

Virgil woke up to the sound of his cell phone ringing. He groaned. What time was it? Virgil flipped over onto his back so he could grab the phone in his pocket. Virgil blinked at it.

6:30 in the morning. He only got like 5 hours of sleep. Great.

However, seeing Janus’s name on the screen made Virgil wake up pretty quick. He hit the answer button and brought it to his ear.

“What?” Virgil’s tired voice mumbled.

“Hey Virgil-” Oh, Roman- “did you sleep well?”

Virgil rubbed a hand over his face. “Not really, no.”

“Oh. Did you have a lovely evening?”

Virgil stifled a yawn. “Eh.”

“Can you come up to my office? There’s something I’d like to discuss.”

Virgil blinked. What?

“Wait, no, can you come to Janus’s office? We need to discuss.” Roman giggled.

If Virgil listened closely, he could hear Janus talking to Roman on the other side of the phone.

“Aren’t you a little young to be practicing to be a crime boss?” Virgil asked as he sat up a little straighter.

Roman didn’t reply. Virgil narrowed his eyes. The other side of the phone crackled, and Janus’s voice spoke next.

“I know you’re probably tired from your endeavor last night, but I believe you have something to report to me.”

“Oh,” Virgil’s stomach filled with dread.

“And I know Roman wants to hear all about it.”

Virgil’s stomach flipped. “Uh-”

“Good to hear. I expect you in my office within the next fifteen minutes. Don’t be late.”

The phone clicked off before Virgil could argue. Virgil stared down at the phone. Did Janus already know? He wouldn’t put it past him. Janus had an odd way of finding out everything that went on in his ring.

Virgil looked in the mirror, realized that “tired” was just how he was going to present himself today, and walked out of his room. As he was leaving, he turned the corner and bumped into someone. Paper scattered everywhere.

“Shit, sorry,” Virgil mumbled.

“It’s alright, Virgil. I should’ve watched where I was going.”

Virgil swallowed hard and scampered to help pick up the papers thrown all over the floor. That’s right. Emile would be way more active today. Great.

“You okay there, Virge? You look awfully tired, and-”

“I’m fine,” Virgil growled. He shoved the papers into Emile’s arms and hurried down the hall.

“Oh, okay,” Emile’s voice called out. Virgil didn’t wait around to hear the rest of Emile’s statement. He pressed the elevator up button at least five times before the doors finally opened.

Virgil let his whole body fall against the elevator. How the heck was he supposed to tell Janus about everything that happened?

The doors opened, and Virgil walked out. He headed toward Janus’s office, his body going numb once again as he headed to the door. Virgil’s hand shook as he rang the doorbell.

“Enter,” Roman’s voice called through the intercom. At least he was having a fun time.

Virgil slowly opened Janus’s door. Roman sat in Janus’s chair once again, and Janus hovered over the back of it. However, Roman leaped out of the chair as soon as Virgil closed the door. He looked around, then deflated.

“Where’s Remus?” Roman asked.

Virgil swallowed hard. “Uh, I… he’s…”

“You didn’t get him, did you?” Roman asked.

Virgil couldn’t look Roman in the eye. He slowly shook his head no. There was a pause before Janus's voice spoke.

“Roman, would you go upstairs for a moment?”

"Um, I’d like a witness,” Virgil argued, but Janus’s cold glare cut him off. He bit his lip hard enough to draw blood.

“But I want to know what happened,” Roman whined.

“I’ll tell you all about it when I get upstairs. Virgil and I need to discuss an adult topic right now, okay?”

Roman crossed his arms. “I’m not a little kid anymore.”

“I know you’re not, but I promise I’ll tell you all about it when I get upstairs.”

Roman held out his pinky with an irritated scowl on his face. Janus sighed, his lips pulled into a soft smile, and looped his own pinky finger around Roman’s finger. It seemed to satisfy Roman for now, who climbed up the stairs. All sound silenced.

“And no sitting on the top stair, you sneak,” Janus called out.

A high pitch squeal answered before Janus’s door slammed closed. Again, all sound silenced.

Janus’s harsh sigh followed seconds later. He sat down in his computer chair and cracked his knuckles. Janus looked over his computer monitor before he gave a strict, “Sit.”

Virgil didn’t realize he sat down in the chair. His whole body tingled, and he couldn’t swallow the lump in his throat.

Janus pressed his fingertips together. All he did was stare. Virgil wasn’t sure what he wanted more: Janus to get it over with and kill him already or keep staring just so he could have a few more seconds to live.

“So, the job went well, I’m guessing?” Janus asked.

“I can ex-”

Janus held up a hand. Virgil blinked. He couldn’t believe Janus could stop people just by holding up a hand until he experienced it himself.

Janus spoke, “You don’t need to explain. Thomas forwarded the police report he filled out to me for my approval at four-thirty this morning. I’m guessing you know who Thomas is by now. Apparently, you not only alerted Remus’s family that you were in the house, which is going to make it more difficult for us to get Remus out, but you also got Remy shot. What do you have to say for yourself?”

Virgil swallowed hard. He opened his mouth to reply, closed it, and tried again. “I didn’t know what the fuck I was doing. How the hell did you expect me to pull this off? You should’ve just had Remy do it.”

“Maybe I should have.” Janus rubbed small circles on his forehead.

Virgil got a burst of courage in his chest before he shot back, “I don’t know what else you were expecting. I don’t have training in this. Did you really think I could just kidnap a kid?”

“You had no problem picking that money out of my pocket.”

“Kidnapping a real-live-fighting-back human being is not the same as pulling a wallet out of someone’s pocket. I have a shitton of practice at pickpocketing. Do you know how many rich fucks I’d pickpocket every week?”

“I can only imagine.”

“And besides, I didn’t make it out of there without being injured either. The kid attacked me like a wild honey badger.” Virgil lifted his jacket sleeve up to show the multiple scratches and broken skin underneath. They weren't deep, but a few teeth marks were red and visible. Not to mention, his head still hurt and probably had a huge bruise on it from where the woman hit him on the phone.

“Alright,” Janus said and let out a long sigh. “Alright, Virgil.”

Virgil’s head snapped up. He watched Janus deflate into his chair as he held up his head with his thumb, index, and middle finger.

“I’ll fold. Maybe sending you in was a bit harsh on my part.”

“You think?”

“And then what? Throw them out into the streets?”

Janus didn’t answer. Virgil watched Janus for a while before his brain finally connected the dots.

“Wait, you’re going to adopt them, aren’t you?”

Janus’s eyes snapped over to Virgil. His eyes were neither cold nor warm, and he let out a giant huff. Virgil couldn’t help the small crack of a smile that pulled at the edge of his lips.

“I’m right, aren’t I? You’re thinking about adopting Roman and Remus.”

Janus snapped, “Don’t think this means I’m going soft. I don’t see an option where the two of them can be together unless I pay the police department to free their father. However, it’s not like I know the kids are going to be safe after it happens. All it would take is one more wrong glance, and he’d be thrown back into jail, and I don’t want to keep paying bail for someone they keep throwing into jail on purpose.”

“Can’t you just get Thomas to do something about it?”

“Thomas can’t be everywhere, Virgil. Besides, while he’s not the only officer I have wrapped around my finger, I can’t control them all, or else this city would be run a lot differently.”

Virgil quieted at that. He stared down at his knees and let out a long sigh through his nose.

Janus thought for a moment before he continued, “Do me a favor and watch Roman for the rest of the day. I’m going to be terribly busy, and I don’t… you know what, why don’t you introduce him to Logan and Emile?”

Virgil’s head snapped up at that. His mouth must’ve opened in shock because Janus walked over and gently closed his jaw with a finger. His finger kept tipping Virgil’s head back until they were staring at each other straight in the eye. Janus studied Virgil a moment before he spoke.

“And, if you think this means I’m going to go easy on you the next time I give you an assignment, I’d start writing your will now.”

Virgil swallowed hard, but he had to admit, the familiar feeling of dread didn’t carve as deep into his stomach as it had the first few times Janus threatened him like this. Perhaps he was just getting used to it.

Janus let go of Virgil’s jaw, and he walked toward the steps. He continued, “Wait right there. I’m going to get Roman now.”

Virgil did as he was told. The clock ticked the silence away. Eventually, Roman slowly stomped down the stairs, a disheartened look on his face. He glared over at Virgil, and Virgil shot back a glare of his own.

“Make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid,” Janus instructed.

Virgil glanced from Janus to Roman and back at Janus again. He stood, and after following Roman out of the room, Roman bolted toward the elevator.

“Hey!” Virgil yelled. Roman didn’t look back. Virgil took off after him, leaving some very confused gang members staring at the odd sight. Roman crashed into the elevator doors and repeatedly hit the down button. He squealed as Virgil grabbed him around his waist.

“Let me go! I knew I shouldn’t have trusted you. You lied! You lied to me!”

“Roman-”

“You told me you were going to get him back!”

“I know! Don’t you think I tried? Remus beat the shit out of me when I tried to grab him, okay? It’s not like I didn’t try here.”

Roman froze at that. He panted in Virgil’s arms. The elevator door dinged, and the doors slid open. Neither Virgil nor Roman moved.

“You probably scared him,” Roman mumbled.

“Yeah, I know I did.”

“He didn’t mean to hurt you. He just didn’t want to be taken away again.”

Virgil didn’t answer.

“I should’ve gone with. I should’ve been there. He would’ve come if I was there.”

Virgil let out a long sigh. The elevator doors slid closed, leaving Roman and Virgil alone to talk this out. Virgil answered, “I know, but it was too dangerous.”

“I’m not a little kid anymore. I can handle myself.”

“I know.” Virgil bit his lips, “But Roman-”

“You’re still going to get him back, right? You’re not just going to leave him with those villains, are you?”

“No, Ro, we’re gonna get Remus back. I promise. I’m just… not going to be the one to do it.”

Roman sighed through his nose. Virgil let his grip slip bit by bit until he was sure Roman wasn’t going to run. He hit the elevator down button, and he waited.

Once the elevator doors opened again, the two of them stepped inside to meet the rest of Roman’s new family. Hopefully Roman would be satisfied with them for now.

It took a while, but Janus eventually found the information he was looking for. After paying off the foster care organization a bit more than he would’ve liked, he was now strolling toward Remus’s foster family house to give the “good” news.

He knocked on the door and respectfully pulled his hat off his head, placing it on his chest.

The front door opened, and the woman at the door smiled.

“Good evening, Mrs. Johnson. My name is Samuel Summers, and I’m here to speak to you about your housing of our dear Remus Cooper.”

The woman’s eyes widened, and she swallowed hard. Her finger tapped on the door frame as she asked, “Is this about what happened seven nights ago?”

“I’m afraid so,” Janus responded.

“But, there’s been no incidents since. Remus has been adjusting well, and my husband and I have made sure to make sure no more evil can enter our house.”

“With all due respect, ma’am, I’m sure you are doing everything in your power to keep Remus safe. I do, however, need to come in and present to you with another issue that is connected to here.”

The woman curled her lips. “Oh, this is about Roman, isn’t it?”

“It is. Can I come in? I feel I should probably be speaking to you and your husband instead of just you.”

The woman thought for a moment. Janus was sure she’d slam the door in his face, but to his surprise, she opened the door a little wider and offered him a spot inside. The first thing Janus’s eyes settled on was all the crucifix in the house. He raised a brow. Well, these people definitely weren’t Mormons.

“Can I get you any tea?” Mrs. Johnson asked.

Janus shook his head, a small smile on his face. The woman asked Janus to wait there as she climbed up the stairs to get her husband. Janus checked his phone.

Footsteps came down the stairs, but they didn’t belong to either of the two adults. Instead, Janus came face to face with a young boy who looked just like Roman only with straightened hair, most reminiscent of those kids you saw in old movies. He even wore a sweater vest and tan slacks.

“Hello, Remus,” Janus greeted.

Remus stared at him for a moment, looked down, and climbed back up the stairs. A few seconds later, Remus came back down the stairs, only this time, he came the entire way. He still stared at Janus with a distrustful look.

“How do you know my name?” the kid asked.

“Roman told me.”

The kid’s eyes widened. Before he could say anything, however, the two foster parents came down the stairs. Janus rose to his feet to shake Mr. Johnson’s hand. Mrs. Johnson caught Remus’s eye, and she pointed toward the stairs.

“Remus, go back to your room. The adults are going to have a little chat.”

“No, please, Mrs. Johnson. I implore you to keep Remus here. I want him to be part of the decision as much as the two of you.”

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson shared a look. They sat down on the couch, sandwiching Remus in the middle, and Janus took the single rocker on the other side of the table. Leaning forward, Janus folded his fingers together and gathered his words carefully.

“Now, I have read Remus’s file since I came. Remus, you suffer from something called Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, don’t you?”

Remus blinked at him and looked at his foster mom for confirmation.

“That’s what the doctor told us, yes,” she answered, “but we don't’ think that’s the case.”

“Remus has these ticks,” Mr. Johnson continued, “where he thinks something bad is going to happen if he doesn’t do something a certain number of times. Usually, it’s just flipping the lights or fixing the buttons on his shirt six times. Nothing harmful really.”

“As compared to OCD which is a cleaning disorder?” Janus deadpanned.

“That’s right. Heck, I’m a little OCD myself sometimes,” Mrs. Johnson laughed.

Janus sucked in a calming breath through his nose. “So, if it’s not Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, like the doctor said, what do you believe it is?”

“Obviously the devil has gotten inside Remus’s head,” Mr. Johnson explained. “Flip this light switch 30 times so your brother doesn’t get shot like your mom. Mental images of raping Mary while sitting at the breakfast table. Pick up this knife and stab someone with it. What else could they be?”

“We think it’s because his mom was,” Mrs. Johnson whispered, “you know.”

“Not a Christian?” Janus asked with a raised brow.

“Exactly. Thank goodness we’re on the same page.”

Janus monitored Remus, who grew more uncomfortable as the conversation went on. He wished he could give the child some comforting words. No amount of “not all Christians” was going to make up for this mess.

“Alright, so what about Roman? How does he fit into all this?” Janus asked.

Janus didn’t miss the way Mrs. Johnson glanced down at Remus from the corner of her eye or the way Mr. Johnson put a hand over Remus’s to rub circles onto the back of Remus’s hand with his thumb. Remus didn’t look at either of them or acknowledge the touch. In fact, he pulled his hand back slightly.

“Roman was very emotionally manipulative,” Mr. Johnson explained.

Janus raised a brow. “Emotionally manipulative how?”

Mrs. Johnson continued her husband’s line of thought. “Not only did he tell Remus it was okay to have these thoughts, but he would start spewing that Jew nonsense-”

“With all due respect,” Janus said through his teeth as he leaned forward. He took another calming breath. “I would prefer if you didn’t refer to it as “Jew nonsense” when the whitewashed man hanging above your head was, in fact, Jewish.”

That seemed to shut the two parents up. Remus’s eyes widened, his shoulders perking a bit at Janus’s support. Janus pretended to look over the bullshit papers that Emile helped him compile, and he sighed through his nose.

Janus continued, “It’s come to our attention that this household may not be the safest environment for a black Jewish child, and we regret to inform you that Remus will be relocated into another environment that will help him grow into a-”

“Now wait just a minute here,” Mr. Johnson said as he leaped up from the couch. Janus followed him with his eyes, but nothing in his body posture suggested intimidation. Mr. Johnson wagged his finger as he continued, “How dare you come into our home and tell us that we are not doing everything in our power to help Remus? You know nothing about us. You don’t even know that Jesus saw Jews as incomplete and-”

Janus pulled the crucifix out from under his shirt, successfully shutting the man up.

“I go to Mass every Sunday, so please, Mr. Johnson, don’t preach to me,” Janus cooly replied.

Mr. Johnson sat back down on the couch, his fists shaking. Mrs. Johnson’s mouth was wide open, her hand raised to her chest like she was going to pull out her own crucifix but had none. Remus, on the other hand, looked like he was just given a million dollars.

Janus addressed Remus as he spoke, “Go pack up your things if you have any. We’ll be leaving as soon as you’re done.”

“Wait,” Mrs. Johnson said, his eyes filled with tears. “Don’t we get a say in this? I don’t want to give him up. I took him in when no one else did. I-”

“You do agree that Remus deserves love and support, don’t you?” Janus interrupted.

“Of course.”

“And you became a foster parent to give him the best chance he could have, correct.”

“That’s right.”

“Then you know, as a foster parent, that it’s your job to do everything in your power to give Remus the life he deserves. That’s what foster parents are, Mrs. Johnson, and if this environment isn’t suitable for him, surely you above all else would know it’s your job to place Remus in a home that works for him, and clearly, this household is not working for him.”

Janus turned his attention to Remus and continued, “But I did say this was Remus’s choice too. That’s why I wanted him here. Remus, what do you want? Do you want to stay here or go somewhere else?”

Remus was out of his seat before Janus could finish his sentence.

Mrs. Johnson broke into hysterics on the couch, and her husband sent a dirty look to Janus. Janus stood, and he took a deep breath. He put his hat on and straightened out his suit.

“Even the Devil can quote scripture, but that doesn’t mean he understands it. I’ll pray for God to grant you understanding in the fullness of His word,” Janus said as he tipped his hat. With that, he followed Remus up to his room with the smuggest smile on his face.

Remus would’ve bounced all over the back seat if Janus didn’t strap his seatbelt on. The kid didn’t shut up since the minute they got in the car. He talked about anything and everything, from his mom to Roman to his dad to his interest in art to his love of trains. Janus listened intently. He couldn’t hide the smile on his face.

It’s amazing what a little support would do to bring someone out of their shell.

The only time Remus stopped chattering was when they pulled up to the “insurance” building. His mouth dropped open, and his nose pressed up against the window.

“This doesn’t look like an adoption center,” Remus said.

“You’d be correct,” Janus responded.

Remus turned to him, his eyes wide and mouth searching for any sort of word to say. Janus opened his car door.

“If you’d like me to get Roman and you wait here, that’s-”

Remus was out of the car and running up to the rotating door before Janus could remove a foot from the car. Janus watched Remus run around and around and around the rotating door. A few people on the street watched the child and shook their heads. Janus sighed through his nose.

Well, he signed up for this.

Janus waited until the door let him in and jumped in with Remus. The two of them went around in a circle before Janus pulled Remus out of the doorway, who giggled the entire time.

“Can we do that again?” Remus asked.

“Another time. Right now, there’s someone who wants to say hello to you.”

Remus gasped, and he took off toward the elevator. Janus chuckled before he pointed Remus in the right direction, toward the hidden elevator in the locker rooms of the pool. Remus bounced so much the elevator shook.

Suddenly Remus stopped, and Janus watched as the once bouncing kid bit his lip.

“What’s wrong?” Janus asked.

Remus scratched both hands through his hair before he answered. “Thought.”

“What is it?” Janus asked. Remus looked hesitantly at Janus and turned his gaze back to the elevator doors. Janus continued, “It’s okay, Remus. You can tell me.”

“I just thought about the elevator crashing and we both die before I can see Roman.” Remus looked up at him expectantly, as if waiting for Janus to shame him for his thought.

“That would be unfortunate, wouldn’t it?” Janus answered.

Remus nodded his head. He started buttoning and unbuttoning the shirt under his sweater vest. Janus didn’t comment. He’d have to speak to Emile about what to do about that. Or better yet, Cassie. Surely Remus would benefit from a black therapist.

The elevator doors opened, and Janus motioned for Remus to walk out. Remus entered the hallway. A few people having a conversation in the middle of the hall stopped and turned to face them. Janus put a hand on Remus’s shoulder, and he led him down the hall. The people moved to the side. Remus didn’t miss the way the people weren’t watching him. They were watching Janus.

“YES!” a voice shouted down the hall, followed by several other voices.

“Roman,” Remus whispered. He snapped his head up at Janus, as if to make sure he was right. Janus gave a nod of the head. The two of them hurried down the hall (well, more like Remus ran and Janus walked fast to keep up with him) and stopped when they came across a cracked open door.

Janus pushed the door back. On the floor sat Emile, Virgil, Roman, and Logan, all playing the board game “Sorry.” Roman had his back to them, his hands raised in the air. According to the four red pieces in his home, he just won. Emile, Virgil, and Logan all looked up at Janus and Remus, all with varying expressions of shock and interest.

“Hey, Ro, turn around,” Virgil said, a smirk on his face.

“Oh, no, I’m not falling for that trick. You’re going to switch the board and say you won or something,” Roman growled.

“Roman,” Emile coaxed, “please. You’re going to want to see who just walked in the door.”

Roman rose a brow and twisted his head as far as it would go. When he caught sight of Remus, his jaw dropped, and his back straightened. Remus charged forward, and Roman squealed in delight. Remus hugged Roman so tight they fell over into a ball of giggles rolling on the floor.

Janus would deny his eyes teared up at that, even if the others were just as awestruck.

After Roman and Remus calmed themselves, they sat side-by-side, practically melted into each other. Their hands never left each other’s palms.

“Thank you,” Roman said as he beamed up at Janus. “Thank you for bringing Remus back to me.”

“I do keep my promises,” Janus said. He caught Emile’s eye and mumbled, “usually.”

Emile rolled his eyes.

“So, now what?” Remus asked. “Are we going to go to a home together? You’re not going to separate us again, are you?”

“Of course not,” Janus answered. “I was… actually, I was going to speak to Roman about this when I got back, so I… Roman, Remus, I have a question for you.”

The two boys held their breath. They didn’t take their eyes off Janus. The curiosity in the room piqued, and everyone’s attention hung on Janus’s next words.

Janus continued, “I want the two of you to stay here, with us.” He paused. “With me.”

“You mean, you’re adopting us?” Roman asked.

“Only if you want me to. I did say this was your choice, and-”

“YES!” Roman and Remus both shouted at the same time. It startled Janus, who blinked his shock away. Both boys stood and barreled into Janus’s legs. Janus held onto the doorframe to keep his balance. His lips floundered as he searched for an argument to play devil’s advocate.

“Roman, don’t you think you should think about this first?” Janus coaxed. “I mean, you’ve only been here for a week. Is this really what you want?”

“Yes,” Roman answered without hesitation.

“And Remus, you’ve only known me for an hour,” Janus argued. “You don’t even know me. Don’t you-”

“I know you’re good,” Remus answered. “I can just tell. Besides, if Roman likes you, then I like you.”

Janus opened his mouth to argue further, but he closed it soon after. He glanced up at Emile, who didn’t say a word. Instead, Emile pretended he was more interested in shuffling cards. However, Janus could see the wide grin on his face.

“So, do I call you daddy or sir?” Remus asked.

Virgil burst into hysterical laughter. Emile snorted and bit both of his lips to keep from laughing. Logan raised a brow as he glanced between Emile and Virgil, as if waiting for either of them to explain what was so funny.

Janus let out a long, tired sigh. He looked down at both Remus and Roman, who looked up at him like two lovestruck puppies.

“Janus,” he answered. Even he couldn’t keep the smile off his face. “Please, just call me Janus.”

#sanders sides #janus sanders #virgil sanders #remy sanders #roman sanders #remus sanders #dr. emile picani #logan sanders #totally not despicable dee au #janus is a very tired catholic #virgil has no idea how to kidnap kids #remy does but he's not helping #not all cops- you're right Thomas Sanders would Never #roman really wants his brother back #remus really doesn't like his family #emile's not saying a word just side-eyeing the heck out of janus #and logan is confused please help this poor child #i projected a lot more onto janus than emile because my salt towards these types of parents is heavy #June 2020

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mammoney-honey · 5 years ago

Text

Summoning Circles: What to Offer the Brothers GN!MC

MC doesn’t need to set up anything to summon them since they have their pact but sometimes its just nice to add a bit of drama. It’s also a good way to get the brothers to accept Just Because gifts. So what would would MC lay out as an offering for their favorite demon in their pentagram?

Lucifer

Lucifer is hard to get gifts for because hes a man of few words and fewer guilty pleasures

MC does their best to keep an eye out for things he does like and finally sets things up when they feel that Luci needs a bit of a break

They mostly offer things that would make for a good date night but with one small exception: special gourmet dog treats

He won’t admit it, he says Cerberus is just a well trained guard dog, but that big boy gets only the best and MC knows that Lucifer will appreciate the gesture

The rest is all about setting the mood so Lucifer couldn’t possibly say no to staying

The first thing to accomplish this is the finest bottle of hellfire aged wine, a special request put through to Diavolo for whatever he thought Lucifer would like most

And to accompany a good drink you need some good food as well. A charcuterie board supplied with recommendations from Barbatos and Luke. The little guy should be called a mouse rather than a dog with how much he loves cheese. It took a long time for him to stop talking about it

One of the things that MC looks most fondly on of their time with Lucifer was quiet nights in listening and dancing to new music. They didn’t always share the same tastes but they were always willing to give it a go

So MC would find a vinyl, the only thing Lucifer would listen to the purest that he is, of their most recent favorite song or band so that they could share it with him

The last thing offered is that which Lucifer would want above all else as his own, MC

They can think of nothing else that would gain Lucifer’s attention more than offering their full and complete self. His pride could never allow him to deny taking MC when they offer themselves so willingly

He appears in full demon form, he can’t think of who would be ballsy enough to try and summon him and he has to pull back on his full power once he sees its MC

“MC, my dearest love, the pageantry is appreciated but overall unneeded. All you ever have to do is call my name, all I wish is to hear my name on your lips. But now that I’m here lets make sure you are screaming it”

Mammon

He is another one who is hard to gift things to but for the opposite reason as Lucifer. He likes too many things, wants everything and so it makes it impossible to tell what would actually mean something to him

MC tries their best to lay out things that will show how much they love and appreciate their favorite demon

Money of course is the first thing that is set out but not just spare Grimm or human cash

No, MC will put gift cards out for Mammon’s favorite places or for a date that they can have together. It feels more personal that way and they hope it shows that they pay attention to the things he likes

Mammon has a wardrobe to rival Asmo’s but he insists that it all has to do with his job as a model. Gotta keep up appearances and all that yanno. Hes just a label whore though and everyone knows it

He also just melts at the idea that MC might be thinking of what he would look good in so if they put out a new outfit or accessory, even if its just new sunglasses or a belt, he just about explodes

He will scoff and say that hes not sure if human styles are really his thing but of course puts whatever it is on quickly

Next would be a very special edition of the TSL dvds, a directors cut that even Levi couldn’t get his hands on. He has watched it with MC so many times he could practically recite it but they were always borrowing from Levi so it was about time to start wearing out their own copy

The last two things are more personal, something that shows just how much MC thinks of and misses being with him

The first of that is MC’s favorite set of pictures they took with Mammon, a silly photo booth strip that captured their first kiss. MC had surprised him on the first snapshot and it showed a progression of him getting redder and redder before finally kissing them back

Lastly is a page from their diary, as intimate an offering as they can possibly give. Its from a day where the longing for Mammon was at its strongest and filled with sweet words of how much they miss their first man

Mammon is freaked out at first thinking he is being summoned by another witch and is confused to see MC before taking it all in

“H-hey you don’t have to go through all this. I mean of course The Great Mammon won’t say no to the the things he deserves but ... b-but you only ever need to say my name, there is no where I’d rather be than with you”

Levi

Levi has a bad habit of just buying whatever he wants but considering that he has so many fandom’s its not hard to find some piece or another he doesn’t have

MC feels like his brothers don’t give much thought to his gifts though, just typing in a name they know and getting whatever they find. They want to give him something more personal and can’t just be bought and shipped in two days

MC starts to watch a lot of craft, cooking and cosplay YouTubers to try and put everything together themselves. It felt more genuine that way at least to them

MC tries to keep things diverse, hitting a couple of Levi’s favorites but mostly avoiding anything Ruri related since they are afraid of messing it up lmao

Instead they focus on the anime’s and games that they watched and played together. Almost like a collection of inside jokes that they are using to summon him

The first thing MC sets out is a prettily decorated plate of macrons, doing their best to replicate the colors and flavors described in the one bakery time management game they always played

MC also went through Levi’s super secret fanfiction accounts I will fight you he is totally a fic writer because he has so many self inserts and fix it fics and wrote out comments for every single thing he had written. They printed them out not because they didn’t think he read them but to show that they were the ones that left them

Along with the comments MC also created art for Levi’s most beloved OC, creating cute enamel pins of them in chibi form with the cannon character he paired them with

The last two things came as a sort of combo, a couples cosplay from the romance anime they had watched together. The protagonist had been a shut in otaku who had found his soulmate when they were reborn into his world and Levi had latched onto him immediately

It had taken a lot of blood sweat and tears trying to get both of the outfits cannon perfect but damn it MC was not going to settle for anything less

At one point they forgot they were making it for Levi and just got caught up in the the drama that was finding the perfect buttons and trim color

Overall they were so proud of the sewing skills they just wanted to call on him the moment they were done so he could see but they got a hold of themselves so they could set up what they had planned

Levi was summoned into the circle still wearing his headset and fingers tapping at a controller that had been left behind

His demon side comes out at having been cost a serious match from the sounds of it but his anger turns to confusion at seeing MC and then into wide eyed amazement at all of the things in front of him

He started to gush about every single thing he saw before he realized that MC was there beaming at him

“You went through all this trouble to prove that you aren’t a normie and yet you summon me this way?? J-just say my name like you’re supposed to! I kind of like hearing you say it anyway ...”

Satan

Satan surprisingly doesn’t like being the center of attention and thus doesn’t really like surprises or receiving gifts. He also doubts that anyone understands him enough to give him what he wants cocky ass that he is

The idea for the things to set out in his summoning circle came to MC when discussing love potions with Satan and Solomon one day. They were talking about how smell plays such a strong part and Satan let slip some of the things he might smell after MC listed some of theirs

So while MC doesn’t have much, well any, experience in magic or potions they do want to try to stir up those feelings those smells produce in Satan

The first thing he had said came as a surprise to no one, the smell of parchment and ink

MC used each of them as their own separate offering on the pentagram. They used a fancy new calligraphy quill dipped in green ink that matched his eyes to write a long love note for him

The ink was still wet on the parchment that they set down and left the quill and remaining ink as the second gift

The next thing he mentioned was another one MC expected: tea leaves

So MC just walked into their local tea shop and let their nose lead the way. Anything that caught their attention or made them want to keep smelling they bought, creating their own special blend just for Satan

It wasn’t necessarily something that Satan would say for himself but MC had started to burn different candles in their room when he would come to rant when he was angry, trying to find a scent that he could associate with being calm when they helped him work through the anger

Whatever candle seemed to work the best is the candle that MC sets out for him. Probably something woodsy, pine or balsam or even sandalwood. It brings back good memories for MC, kissing all those worries of his away and hopes it does the same

The last item is one that made MC blush when they heard Satan admit it, he had liked the scent of their shampoo

He hadn’t said that specifically but he had closed his eyes and described a scent that he couldnt place but that he adored and when MC was taking their shower that night it clicked

It might have been a little lame, leaving a bottle of shampoo out for Satan but MC knew that when he realized what that scent he loved so much was that he would get the cutest blush

They weren’t disappointed when they summoned Satan. He hid his shock of being summoned this way well, taking his time to walk around the circle and examine each offering. He immediately knew where they had gotten the inspiration and teased them about being such a sap

He stopped when he got to the shampoo though, not sure how that fit into the equation until he smelled it. It dawned on him and there was that blush that he tried to hide by turning his face away

“You always did like to make things difficult on yourself didn’t you? I’m only ever a call away for you kitten. Now come here and let me really breath you in, you’re simply intoxicating to me and I can’t stay away.”

Asmo

Asmo is never shy about when he doesn’t like gifts that people have given him but he has only ever cherished what MC has gotten him. Every small trinket and gift he has on full display in his room and he will wear something that MC got them when he misses them the most

He also will do it when he wants to bother his brothers and show off that MC simply lavished him in gifts (Mammon and Levi are the only ones who fall for it lmao)

So MC decides to offer Asmo things that will allow him to parade around their love for him, things to keep them close when MC isn’t there

The first thing that MC gets Asmo is new nail polish, a color that they agonized over finding because they wanted it to match his eyes perfectly

Asmo has a very organized planner, its how he keeps track of all the events he is invited to, when he has dates, who hes slept with, who hes going to sleep with and everything in between

MC commissions custom made stickers for him so he can decorate the pages of his planner even more. Specifically a whole sheet of cute stickers of them together he could use for when they planned date nights

The next thing was something for Asmo’s room which he was always changing and refreshing so it looked forever interesting for Devilgram pics

MC gets a large print of Asmo’s favorite picture of them together and puts it in a beautiful frame that perfectly matched his favorite decorating style. Perfect to show to the world that Asmo was their favorite demon and that they looked so good together

And so they can take even more pictures of themselves together MC buys a Polaroid camera for Asmo. His phone will always be his favorite thing to take pics on but this way they could have them printed instantly and it continues to let him be trendy

Lastly MC gets Asmo a necklace. A dainty rose gold chain that he can wear with practically everything and with a diamond accented heart shaped locket that could easily be tucked away if needed. It was an enchanted locket, thanks to the help of Solomon, and it warmed when MC was thinking of him

Its the first thing Asmo grabs and quickly puts on, showing it off for MC

“Oh MC you are simply the cutest thing I have ever seen~ I’m sorry I don’t have something to give you in return. I hope the fact that my heart beats only for you will make up for it, now come here I’ve been without kisses too long.”

Beel

Its SO hard not to just grab whatever is in the kitchen at the time and throw it in the summoning circle and call it a day for Beel

But he is more than just his hunger and MC is always striving to show him that they understand that

It was harder than expected, just because asking anyone what Beel might want always got them food answers. They thought Belphie might be helpful but only got told “he probably just wants a nap ... its what I would want”

MC starts to think of all the most special moments they had with Beel, trying to think what about them made them so memorable and they knew for a fact that it wasn’t the food

The first thing they come up with is a banner that MC made to cheer him on at one of his games. It had gotten a little tattered and torn because it had rained that day but they just couldn’t let it go

Mostly because Beel after winning had ran up into the stands and kissed them for the first time. It wasn’t as if they hadn’t ever kissed but they had always been the one to make the first move but this time Beel had come to them. Of course in the biggest gesture possible

It was cheating a little bit offering a cookbook, it was still food related, but it felt better than putting in actual food

This particular cookbook was special to MC too, they had spent several months trying to recreate one of the recipes from it down in the Devildom when MC didn’t have it. Even their D.D.D had been no help in finding the human world dish they were trying so hard to recreate

It had finally been Beel who had found someplace that sold the food they had been craving. He had even been able to bring it back completely untouched just so that they could have it all though he didn’t complain when they offered him several bites from their fork

MC pulls the next thing from their own shelves at home, a well read copy of Lord of the Flies. The spine cracked and little notes about their favorite parts scribbled in the margin

It was one of the human novels that Satan had and one of MCs favorites from school. Beel had caught them reading it and thought the title was ironic but the more he watched MC get engrossed in reading the more curious he got

He eventually asked MC to read it to him, he actually liked books even if most didn’t take him for the type it was just that he had a hard time actually reading himself. He always got distracted by food but audio books always worked well for him when he was working out, it turned out to be even better when MC read to him when he was eating

It was the best of both worlds for him and he found the story actually pretty funny, slightly worrying MC but they figured they couldn’t blame a demon for getting enjoyment out of a story like that. He did find their lack of food concerning though so at least there was that

One of the things that Beel often complained about when MC was living in the devildom was that when he went to go eat they weren’t always there. Sure Beel would ask them to tag along whenever possible but it didn’t always happen. He would call them from the kitchen at times and tell them that he missed them

MC was sure the other brothers would have something to say about it but knew that Beel would genuinely enjoy the next thing MC offered. Amagnet with his favorite picture of them. It was MC caught in a candid he took, mid bite in a dessert he had made them and his hand could just be seen wiping some whipped cream off MC’s cheek

It was a way that Beel could have MC with him at his favorite place every time

The last thing that MC laid out was something that was inspired by Beel. He had once given them a coupon for a free meal by him and they had thought it was just about the cutest thing ever

They made him a whole coupon book of favors ranging from cooking any meal he wanted to recording his workouts for him and of course lots of coupons for hugs and kisses

Beel isn’t used to being summoned at all so hes slightly disoriented when he finds himself suddenly in the human world. As soon as he sees MC though its nothing but smiles and he doesn’t even notice the gifts until after

“MC did you know I was thinking about you? Sometimes I just say your name and hope you will appear ... so if you ever think of me just say my name. I want to be here, even if its during dinner”

Belphie

Belphie is not one to beat around the bush at all. He is a creature of habit and just wants more of the same things that he already has. Dont fix something if its not broke right?

So its fairly easy to fill his summoning circle with things that he loves, just adding to his ever growing collection of happy nap time things

That isn’t to say that MC just grabs whatever blanket or pillows they have laying around, they still want it to be special for him

So yes the first two things they offer to Belphie is a pillow and blanket, there was never going to be anything else but MC spent a long time putting their love into finding just the right ones for him ... and still couldn’t find what they wanted

MC used this as an excuse to create something themselves for their sleepy boy. They dived deep into youtube and pintrest and spent more money than they care to admit on materials until finally they made what they wanted

The first was a quilt large enough for three cause the twins like to make MC a sandwich in a cow print pattern that matched his pillow and demon form marks, lined with the softest fabric she could find that was the same purple as his eyes

His pillow was another quilted design, this time of a cloudy night sky with a sleepy cow jumping over the moon. MC stitched his name in pretty gold thread on the back long with a sweet ‘I love you’

There was one last fluffy thing to give to him, this one MC knew he would probably scoff and tease them about but they couldn’t help it. They saw the angry looking cow plushie and just could not walk away

They have actually been sleeping with it when they miss him most and even if he doesn’t like the plushie the fact they have slept with it so much will make him a bit fonder of it

Even though they were pretty sure that Belphie knew every star in the sky MC couldn’t help but get a book with stories about the constellations. He might already know them all but they thought that he might still enjoy hearing them read to him as he drifted to sleep

The last thing MC has to offer him is also star related. A star map of the day that they made their pact. It was the day that MC had fully forgiven everything that had happened before and their relationship had truly began

When Belphie was summoned he was half asleep but knew who it must be even in his sluggish state. He gave a big yawn and looked around at all the things around him

“At least things are already set up for the perfect nap, including having you. MC next time just say my name alright? Its much more of a drag this way ... and I want to know when you are dreaming of me”

#obey me #obey me hc #obey me lucifer #obey me mammon #obey me levi #obey me satan #obey me asmo #obey me beel #obey me belphie

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wiypt-writes · 4 years ago

Text

Stark Spangled Banner

Ch24: Like The Old Man Said…Together. Part 2- Walk It Off

Summary: The Avengers track Ultron and it’s a race against time before the AI can put his plan into action.

Pairing: Steve Rogers x OFC Katie Stark

Warnings: Bad language, Smut (NSFW) violence and crazy assed robots. Oh and “Something dramatic, I hope!”

A/N: This chapter now includes additional content! @angrybirdcr has done it again girrrrrl

Disclaimer: This is a pure work of fiction and classified as 18+. Please respect this and do not read if you are underage. I do not own any characters in this series bar Katie Stark and the other OCs. By reading beyond this point you understand and accept the terms of this disclaimer.

Chapter 24 Part 1

Stark Spangled Banner Masterlist // Main Masterlist

“Ultron knows we’re coming. Odds are we’ll be running into heavy fire, and that’s what we signed up for, but the people of Sokovia they didn’t. That’s why our priority is getting them out. All they want is to live their lives in peace, and that’s not going to happen today. But we can do our best to protect them and get the job done. We find out what Ultron’s been building. We find Romanoff. We clear the field and keep the fight between us. Ultron thinks we’re monsters, and that we’re what’s wrong with the world, but this isn’t just about beating him, it’s about whether he’s right.“

Steve certainly felt like he was right when he descended down the ramp and the first thing he saw was a huge mural of himself on a wall to his right. If he hadn’t been so concerned with the word, ‘fašista’ scrawled across it, he might have given some consideration to the fact the art work was pretty good. He looked at the painting, before turning and tossing his helmet back into the jet, almost hitting Katie as she walked down the ramp. Frowning she looked at him, spotted the paining and gave a sigh. She knew that would have upset him.

But whether they liked Captain America or not, the people of Sokovia were getting his help and that of the rest of the Avengers too. Thor and Bruce went underground to Strucker’s base to find Natasha and the Vibranium, Tony and Vision went off to locate where Ultron was and confront him so that Vision could do his part. The rest of them focussed on the evacuation, if this was going to end in a fight as it always did, then it was best to get the civilians out of the way as soon as possible. Steve dispatched Clint to a rooftop to oversee events from up there and Katie headed off with Wanda to the bridge that led out of the city. She could feel the younger girl’s panic even though she did well to try and hide it

"Do you see…the beauty of it? The inevitability. You rise, only to fall. You, Avengers, a meteor. My swift and terrible sword. And the earth will crack with the weight of your failure. Purge me from your computers, turn my own flesh against me. It means nothing. When the dust settles, the only thing living in this world will be metal.”

They seemed to be fighting forever, and Sokovia was getting higher and higher. Just as everything seemed lost and the group looked to be faced with an impossible decision after Tony pointed out that the only thing he could think about was blowing the city before the impact radius got too big. Steve was adamant he was not leaving the city with one civilian on it, when Katie smiled sadly and turned to him.

“I didn’t say we should leave.” She swallowed, and she could feel Natasha looking at her as well from where she stood on her right. Katie turned to Steve, as he looked down at her “There’s worse ways to go.” she said responding to his silent question, her chest heaving resigning herself to the fact that they might not make it out of this alive, surprised the thought didn’t frighten her more at that point.

“She’s right,” Natasha agreed, and Katie turned to look at her. She shrugged and nodded out at the clouds “Where else are we gonna get a view like this?”

“Glad you like the view, Romanoff.” All three of them started at the very familiar voice that came through the coms. “It’s about to get a whole lot better.”

That’s when the helicarrier came right into view and Katie smiled, her eyes filing with emotion as she felt the relief swell in her chest.

“So this is your ‘something dramatic’?” She quipped and Fury gave a hum of confirmation.

“Nice, right? Pulled her out of mothballs with a couple of old friends. She’s dusty.” Nick Fury said nonchalantly. “But she’ll do.”

Katie looked round and noticed that Pietro had joined us, looking at the ship.

“Fury, you son of a bitch.” Steve spoke in almost a whisper while shaking his head.

Fury let out a whistle before responded to Steve teasingly. “Ohhh hooo, you kiss your mother with that mouth?”

Their fight led them to protecting the Vibranium Core that was situated in a church which was in the dead centre of the City and of course Ultron followed them. As The Avengers surrounded their precious charge, Thor yelled out to the AI.

“Is that best you can do?”

Ultron picked his hand up, and what seemed like a million robots began to advance towards them.

Katie groaned, and looked at Steve as he turned to look at Thor, annoyance all over his face. “You haddda ask.” He deadpanned, his Brooklyn accent coming out as it often did in these situations, and Thor at least had the decency to look sheepish.

“This is the best I can do.” Ultron continued on. “This is exactly what I wanted. All of you against all of me. How can you possibly hope to stop me?”

“Well, like the old man said,” Tony stated, and Steve turned to look at him over his shoulder, “together.”

Hulk then let out a loud roar as the swarm of robots attacked.

The robots began running into the church by the hundreds it seemed, but everyone was ready. Arrows, fists and Steve’s shield flew, repulsors, guns and shock sticks fired, speed and red tendrils of power ripped them apart from the inside, lighting flashed and the Hulk smashed. Eventually Ultron joined the fray and Vision flew at him. Ultron punched Vision into the wall but he retaliated by using the mind stone in his forehead to shoot at Ultron making him stagger back and out of the church.

Vision didn’t let up as Thor, Tony and Katie joined the android with lightening and repulsor beams respectively. The Starks surged their arms forward, unloading all the power they had in their suits and the 4 of them combined melted away the outer layer of Vibranium that covered Ultron, which was when they stopped. He could be taken out easily now.

“You know, with the benefit of hindsight – ” Ultron began to say but Hulk roared then punched him so hard he went flying across the city.

Hulk growled at the remaining robots who immediately turned and ran away.

“They’ll try to leave the city.” Thor called out.

“We can’t let them, not even one.” Tony spoke frantically, calling on their other eye in the sky. “Rhodey…”

“I’m on it!” He announced over the radio. “Oh no, I didn’t say you could leave…War Machine coming at you.” there was a pause as Vision flew in to help, phasing and ripping one of them apart “Ok, what?”

“We gotta move out.” Steve spoke as those of them left on the ground re-grouped. “Even I can tell the air is getting thin. You guys get to the boats. I’ll sweep for stragglers…”

“I’ll come with you.” Katie said. For some reason she didn’t want to leave him, or more to the point him to leave her. Steve looked at her, and he understood, he really did. If there was a chance they were getting separated he really didn’t want to take it but he wanted her on that carrier, away.

“You go and make sure everyone gets out. I’ll be right behind you, I promise.”

He’d never broken a promise to her yet, so she took a deep breath and nodded.

“What about the core?” Clint asked while turning to look at it.

“I’ll protect it.” Everyone turned to Wanda, giving her a worried look. “It’s my job.” She clarified nodding to Clint. Clint inclined his head towards her, before he turned to leave.

“Nat.” He said as Steve started to usher everyone bar Wanda out of the church. I threw one last glance over at Wanda before Katie turned to Steve.

“Be careful.” “I always am.” He grinned.

“Liar.” She muttered watching him go, before she took off again, looking down at the devastation on the ground below. This was far worse than New York. Far worse than Washington. It was horrendous, and Katie wasn’t sure how the people of Sokovia would ever recover.

Clint skidded the car he had been driving to a halt by the lifeboats and Katie landed besides them. There was a roar and she glanced to her left, noticing the huge form of the Hulk throwing around debris of the various robots.

“We don’t have a lot of time.” Clint looked at Natasha meaningfully.

“So get your ass on a boat.” She shot back, jumping out of the car.

Clint and Katie then set off, ushering the last civilians around them onto the last boat as they went. Katie spotted Thor stood a little to her left, his head turned over to his right as Steve appeared from inside a building.

“Thor, I’m gonna need you back at the church.” Tony said over the coms.

Thor nodded despite the fact that he couldn’t see Tony and then looked at Steve, breathing heavily. "Is that the last of them?” He asked him.

“Yeah,” He answered instead, quickly looking around at the evacuations taking place, spotting Katie and Clint boarding the boat “Everyone else is on board the carriers.”

“You know, if this works, we maybe don’t walk away.” Tony mutterd quietly, cutting Katie out of the coms temporarily so as not to worry or upset her.

“Maybe not.” Thor agreed in a whisper.

At that point Clint sprinted back past them, but before either of them had time to follow him to help a hail of gunfire suddenly erupted where they standing. Steve held his shield up just in time and Thor dived to the side to avoid the bullets that had luckily been fired in a straight line between them all.

But it was Katie who noticed first what had happened. As the dust settled she saw Clint stood, with a little boy in his arms. He’d clearly tried to shield him from the bullets but it was Pietro that was standing there with bullet holes riddling his torso, the blood seeping through them.

“No.” She muttered her pleading growing more frantic as she flew over to where they were stood “No, no, no.”

“You didn’t see that coming?” The blonde man attempted to joke weakly then wobbled before falling face first and Katie caught him as she landed, just before he hit the ground. She laid him down gently and looked him over.

“FRIDAY, life signs.”

“Negative.” The AI’s voice was tinged with sadness.

Katie bowed her head slightly before my face plate slid back and she looked up at Clint. The pair of them exchanged a glance before Steve knelt down and closed Pietro’s eyes.

“I’ve got him.” He said gently, as he bent down and picked up Pietro as easily as if he was a small child. The three of them headed back to the airship, Clint with the little boy in his arms. Once on board, Steve lay Pietro down gently on the floor, where Katie sat by him, her suit making a clunk as she slid to the floor. Clint groaned as he lowered himself onto the row of seats behind her. Someone walked over to see if they needed any medical help but Clint waved him away.

“No, no I’m fine.” He groaned, lying down across a few seats, his hand resting on the metal shoulder of Katie’s suit. “Oh it’s been a long day…”

Steve stood on the rock for one final look round, he couldn’t see anyone. But then, with a lurch the city fell with huge force and he turned and gave a jump, grabbing onto the platform of the ship as the city fell. He pulled himself up onto the deck and stood up to see, lightning flashing from the sky. As he watched, the city of Sokovia exploded from the inside out crumbling to pieces and raining down heavily into the ocean below.

He turned to see Katie was stood a few feet away, looking down.

“Tony? Thor? Wanda?”

When none of them replied she looked over Steve, biting her lip.

“They’ll be okay.” He nodded, although he wasn’t sure if he was trying to convince her or himself.

There was a slight lurch as the ship they were stood on docked with the hellicarrier and they turned to help Clint but he was already walking, carrying the body of Pietro with him. Katie jumped down onto the tarmac, deactivated her suit and made her way over to Maria Hill who was stood with another agent, directing them where to take the walking wounded, medics running onto the ships to deal with the more seriously injured in situ.

“You guys alright?” She asked as they walked over to her. Katie nodded and then spoke again into her coms. It was a relief to see Wanda’s red hair sat on the deck a few yards away from one of the ships, Vision having pulled her out of the city in time.

“Any news from the others?” Steve asked. Maria sighed.

“Natasha is on the bridge, Banner, I mean the Hulk, he got her out in time but…he went off in a jet after Ultron…I got nothing from Thor or Tony…”

Katie turned to look out over the sky, the airborne dust making her cough slightly as she scanned the clouds, waiting for a sign or anything from her brother.

“He’ll be fine.” Steve dropped a hand onto her shoulder. “He always is.” “One day he won’t be.” She turned and looked up to face Steve

“Maybe, but that aint today…” A familiar voice rang in her ear and she let out a sigh of relief as her brother spoke. “Kiddo, put the beer on ice, I think we just won again.”

*****

Refugees crowded every corner of the flying base, sitting in the halls, huddling together, terrified. The dust in the air meant SHIELD couldn’t connect to their mainframe or satellites, and the internet-based translators were down. Every person on board who knew even a smattering of any Slavic language was being recruited into helping settle the homeless Sokovians.

Fury was meeting via telecon in one of the conference rooms with the Sokovian political leaders, who were not pleased at being dragged from their homes in Novi Grad in the wee hours of the morning only to then watch their nation destroyed. So with Fury busy, Steve and Katie had to tell Tony about Bruce.

That hadn’t been fun at all. Her brother had struggled back to the helicarrier, with barely enough power left to make the landing, Thor hot on his tail, soaked to the skin and staggering with a nasty head wound. Steve helped him inside where he was led to a medic bay and they had all retreated to the comms room where Nat was stood in a corner, staring at a blank screen.

“Where’s Bruce?” Tony demanded as soon as he got his helmet off. “We’ve got to figure out…” He trailed off, seeing the expression on Katie’s face. Then his eyes flashed across to Natasha. The woman hadn’t moved a muscle in ten minutes, standing in a corner and staring straight at the wall, back to the rest of the room.

“Tony.” Steve’s voice was heavy. “He’s taken off. We can’t reach him.” “And I don’t think he wants us to.” Katie added. She had barely finished her sentence before Tony bolted across the room to the computer banks, heedlessly shucking off bits of his armour as he went.

“No.” He shook his head, fingers flying across the keyboards. “No, I can find him. I can do this, I can bring him home.”

“It was cloaked.” Natasha’s voice was very even, with absolutely no inflection. She didn’t stop staring at her wall. “Your own cloaking devices. And SHIELD’s secret tracker was disabled in the fight.”

Tony’s hand slipped, hitting a bunch of things Steve was sure he hadn’t meant to. Swearing hopelessly, he stared blankly at the useless screens.

“Why?” He demanded, very quietly, the furious brokenness in his voice made my heart ache for him. “Why would he…?”

The unfinished question hung heavy in the dusty air. Steve was the one who answered.

“Because,” he said, swallowing. “When you’re in the air, and you’re carrying something that will destroy everything you love, that’s all you can do. You do go down, and you take it down with you.”

Tony’s hands curled into fists, anguish in his snarl. “This isn’t the same as your golden boy sacrifice play, Cap. No bombs on that Quinjet.”

“No, no bombs.” Steve gently squeezed Katie’s shoulder as he noticed she’d been about to chastise her brother for his venomous jibe, and he shook his head softly as he dragged his gloves back on over his bruised and bloody knuckles, flexing his hands. “Just himself,” he finished quietly.

“Veronica failed, Tone.” Katie said gently, understanding at once what Steve was getting at, Bruce’s actions suddenly making sense. “He didn’t want to come to Sokovia and I guess, well he didn’t want to risk hurting anyone again, and he saw a way out.”

Natasha turned on her heel and pushed past them, her eyes wet as she made for the door.

“Nat.” Katie turned to watch her go. She shook her head, signalling she wanted to be alone as she left. Katie looked up at Steve who hung his head sadly.

But there wasn’t time to think on it. Fury arrived at that moment, clearly pissed at something. He explained to the group that after the explosion that tore Ultron’s plans to shreds, he had been set to take the helicarrier to a refugee camp in a nearby country but the Sokovian officials had refused, insisting they be set back down in what was left of Novi Grad. Steve nodded and told Fury to do as they wanted.

“This wouldn’t have happened if it hadn’t been for us.” Steve’s jaw was set, and his arms folded. “We owe it to them Fury, like it or not.”

Fury hadn’t liked it, at all, but he didn’t have much say in the matter - not when Steve had that look on his face.

“This isn’t going to be nice.” Steve muttered as the pod had descended back to the ground.

“I know.” Katie said. “But we face it together, right?”

Together they strode off the pod, not really knowing where to start. Novi Grad was an absolute mess. Most of the city had been torn up by the roots, and the rim that was left hadn’t escaped unscathed either. Buildings had toppled from falling debris and the initial ground-shaking wrench. Water and electricity were out, phone lines were down, and the streets were clogged with cars and people. Children choked on the thick air as parents tied whatever cloth they could find around tiny mouths, trying to protect their lungs.

It was thankless, numbing work. Most of the civilians avoided them, casting wary glances out of the corner of their eyes. A few swore or spat, some cried, but after a while it began to get difficult as a particular group started to get violent, screaming as they threw things at the four Avengers. It didn’t cause much damage to the Nova or Iron Man suits, but the rocks soon started getting bigger. Katie heard a yell and turned to her left to see Steve stumbling forward, hand clamped over the back of his head. He fell to his knees and Katie moved over to him, dropping besides him.

“Shit.” He mumbled as she heard Thor give a roar.

“Let me see.” Katie looked at him and Steve winced, shaking his head.

“I’m fine.” He got to her feet, hand still clutching at the back of his head.

Katie glanced up at Tony, who had completely lost his patience.

“Ungrateful brats,” he snapped loudly after the young hooligans who had immediately scarpered after Thor’s show of anger. “Look, why don’t you head back to the carrier, see what the next step is?” Tony curled his gauntlet clad hand over Steve’s shoulder as his face plate retracted. Katie looked at her brother, thankful for his suggestion.

Steve shook his head, but even as she did so she saw him sway a little.

“Sweetheart, you’re bleeding.” She whispered gently, and he looked at his hand. “At least let’s clean you up.”

Steve didn’t want to go, but he gave into her as she whispered “Please.”

“Five minutes,” he relented at last, and allowed her to lead him away.

*****

As Katie shed her suit, Steve sat on a chair in one of the hellicarrier kitchens, one of the few rooms that wasn’t being used as a makeshift hospital or treatment bay. There were no spare medics so Katie grabbed some gauze, antiseptic and a couple of steri-strip bandages. He would heal pretty fast anyway.

“You know you should have had your helmet on.” She said gently, suddenly realising he hadn’t had it on for the entire time they had been in Sokovia having tossed it back on the jet when he saw the graffiti picture of himself when they first landed. He shrugged and didn’t reply, but he flinched hard when Katie lightly touched the lump at the back of his head.

“Sorry…” she said gently as he waved away her apology, head bent as she cleaned the blood off his hair.

“Doesn’t hurt as much as what they were calling me.” He mumbled, and Katie paused.

“Which was what? I didn’t hear them.”

“Fašista.” He shrugged. “Fascist.” His shoulders slumped and sudden angry tears stung at Katie’s eyes, but she blinked them back and swallowed the hot anger swelling in her throat. This was a man who had put his life on the line countless times to fight the very things that people were calling him. She leaned forward, slipping my arms around his neck, connecting them in front of his chest as she bent to lay her face against his cheek.

“At the risk of sounding like an old man, everybody’s so young these days,” Steve said at last as he turned his head to face her “Has it all been forgotten, or have I really become…?”

Katie cut him off, her eyes on his, faces inches apart. “They’ve forgotten,” she assured him firmly. “You know those people, they can’t begin to imagine how things were back then. I find it hard at times and that’s after you told me so much. We never lived through it, never knew what it was like. History books and lessons can only do so much, Love.”

Steve’s fingers laced between hers. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” he whispered heavily.

"But that’s why there are people like us, people like you. You will always remember, and because you do, you help us do our best to keep the rest of them safe.”

She pressed a gentle kiss to his lips before she straightened up and continued to tend to the wound on his head. It wasn’t as deep as it had looked and was already starting to heal. She checked to make sure there were no fragments of the brick left behind and when she was satisfied she dropped the bloodied gauze into a bin and turned to face him.

"I shouldn’t have taken Banner.” He said, and Katie took a deep breath “I knew he was low, but he said he wanted to come, he wanted to help find Nat.”

“You can’t blame yourself for his choice,” Katie reminded him. “He’s a grown man…” Steve didn’t say anything more about it, instead he stood up and took a deep breath. “Come on, let’s go see what’s happening.”

*****

It took almost two days for relief services to arrive at Sokovia. Steve felt dirty, tired and desperate for a hot shower and his own bed and he wasn’t alone. None of The Avengers had changed in 2 days. All their extra equipment had gone on the missing Quinjet with Bruce, including the change of civilian clothing everyone tried to keep on hand. But their discomfort paled into insignificance when he glanced over at Wanda as they landed at the tower. Katie guided her up to the spare room, ensured she had what she needed and then instructed her if she needed anything else, all she had to do was ask Friday, who would contact her immediately. Wanda nodded and Katie left her to be a lone for a while.

When Katie got back to her floor Steve was already in the shower, and the bed had never looked so inviting, which was why she couldn’t wait to get into it. Stripping off her filthy cat suit and her underwear she walked into the bathroom which was filled with steam and stepped into the shower behind Steve, her hands straying round to the front of his chest and she pressed a kiss to the back of his shoulder, laying her head against his back. He didn’t flinch, he simply grasped her hands in his, pulling her closer and dipped his head slightly as she nuzzled into his shoulder, the grime from the last few days whirling down the plug hole as the water rained down on them. Without speaking, Katie grabbed his shampoo, and gently as she could massaged at his hair. Steve gave a soft moan, relishing at the feel of her nails on his scalp, happy to bliss out for a moment. He turned to face his future wife, tipping his head back to rinse his hair off and smiled tiredly as he dropped his head to kiss her softly.

“Turn round.” He said gently, and she did as she was told as his hands wound into her hair, repaying the favour. She leaned back into his touch, the intimate moment also serving as a perfect relaxer so much so that she didn’t object when things started to get a bit heated. This was always how things went with them both, they sought solace in one another, the physical relief of losing themselves with someone they loved was how they coped, how they stayed grounded, reminded themselves that they weren’t alone.

His hands travelled down her body, her back pressed to his chest as his fingers reached between her legs, finding her spot. She moaned, arching back into him as his other hand caressed her breast, his arousal pressing into the lower part of her back and she lazily rolled her head to catch his mouth. As the hot water cascaded down onto them he took her to the brink before he spun her round and lifted her easily, pressing her back onto the cool tiles. He thrust into her without warning and she groaned, her hands gripping his shoulders as he began to pump in and out, his head falling to her collar bone as he gave a soft nip. With each roll of his hips Katie felt her pleasure beginning to mount, soft moans falling from her lips as she dropped her head to his shoulder, the feeling in her stomach beginning to overwhelm her.

“Look at me, Doll” he said gently, and she opened her eyes, emerald gems locking onto his as he saw her mouth open, lips part in a soft cry as she came, a deeper groan bubbled over in her throat and her head slid backwards. Steve would never get tired of seeing her like that, ever. It was the most arousing thing in the world to him. His pace began to quicken and he followed shortly, the tight bands in his stomach snapping as he pressed her harder against the wall as he rode out his release.

When they had finally finished in the shower the pair of them were almost dead on their feet. They dried off, Katie shucked on one of Steve’s T-shirts and clambered into bed with him. Neither had any idea what time of day it was but neither cared, the blackout blinds sent the room into darkness. Katie lay her head on Steve’s chest, his hand slid up the cotton of his shirt and he gently ran his fingers up and down her spine.

He managed to do it about twice before the pair of them were out for the count.

***** They both had nightmares that night. Katie woke first, gasping for air as she relived the moment on that rock where she had thought for one horrible moment they were done for, until Fury had shown up. After getting her a glass of water, Steve had held her until she’d fallen asleep, waked from a bad dream which, for some reason didn’t seem to take him anywhere near Sokovia. Instead, he was back at that moment he plunged into the ice.

And the dreams continued for them both for the next few nights. Katie’s were always the same, but Steve’s persistently catapulted back in time to various points during the war. It was unnerving for him but mostly, they were just that, bad dreams…until one night, for the first time he could remember, he suffered a full scale hallucinating night terror.

Having actually managed to sleep soundly so far that evening, the first Katie knew something was wrong was when Steve was pinning her down against the mattress and shielding her from something.

“Steve.” She croaked gently, blinking the sleep from her eyes. He didn’t respond other than to simply flatten himself against her further, right arm curled around her head.

“Stay down,” he ordered firmly.

“What’s going on?” She asked softly, still coming round from the sleep he had roused her from.

“Air strike, men in the hall.” He said, turning to her. "I’ll head for the door, cause a distraction. You get to the bathroom, get in the tub, cover your head.”

She listened intently, then realised what he had said. Air Strike. He must have been dreaming he was back in the war again. She let out a breath and relaxed, reaching up to take his face in her hands.

“Stevie, nobody’s there. Everything’s quiet.”

“You can’t hear them?” He looked at her frowning.

“Sweetheart, do you trust me?”

He nodded. “With my life, you know this Katie…”

“Baby, I promise you - there’s no air raid, nobody in the hall.”

For a moment, Steve just stared at her, his face wracked with confusion. Then, swallowing hard, he closed his eyes. After a moment he raised his head to look around before his face fell back on hers as her thumbs gently moved in long arcs down the sides of his face.

“Steve?”

With a shuddering breath, he pulled himself up, reaching for his shield by the bedroom door. Picking it up he listened for a moment before throwing the door open and he walked out into the hallway. Katie sat in bed listening to the sound of various other doors being opened and shut as he meticulously swept the whole of their floor, checking windows and closets until he ended up back in their room.

His back and chest were both glistening with sweat. He looked at her, his eyes wide before he went into the en-suite and she heard the tap running and the sound of water being splashed against what she assumed was his face. She gave him a few minutes before she followed him, where he was stood leaning forward, forehead pressed to the mirror, chest and shoulders heaving.

“Stevie…” she said gently, as she slipped both her arms round his waist, pressing a kiss to his bare, clammy shoulder. Her touch seemed to do the trick as he took one deep breath and turned to face her.

“Did I hurt you?” He asked his eyes looking at her as the palms of her hands spread across his lower back.

“Of course not.”

He wrapped his arms around her and she lay her head on his chest and felt his heartbeat as it gradually evened out. Neither of them spoke for a while.

“Your dreams, they’re getting worse.” Katie said gently.

“It’ll get better.” He finally managed. “You know it’s been bad before. It will fade after a while.”

Katie knew from experience that everyone dealt with traumatic experiences differently. For example, Tony suffered panic attacks and went completely off the rails post both his soiree in the Afghanistan cave and New York. She tended to take a lot of things as they came and worry about them for a while but after screaming and crying would then give herself a kick up the ass to either change things or deal with them. Steve’s worry seemed to manifest itself two fold. He would either be suffering from the inability to stay calm and therefore would exercise, pounding out frustrations on either the pavement or the punching bags. And then there was this, the nightmares. Normally Katie would wake with his jostling but if she didn’t, he would always shake her awake if he needed her, as that was the agreement they had. She would then help him back to sleep either by talking or they would engage in some other un-coventional means of therapy until both of them were spent and satiated enough to return to slumber.

Katie gently took his hand and led him out of the bathroom turning off the light. As they reached the bed he waited until she was in it, pulling the duvet up over her before snagging a pillow and turning to go.

"Where do you think you’re going?”

He shrugged. “Thought I’d camp out on the couch. I don’t want to keep you awake.”

“No way…” She said, throwing back the duvet “Come on.”

He sighed and climbed in as she opened her arms for him to settle his head on her chest, gently stroking his hair as he swallowed, his breathing steadying as her touch soothed him.

“Where were you this time?” she asked

“Azzano… I think.” He sighed “To be honest with you, I saw so many things, the dreams now…they all blur into one.”

“You wanna talk about it?” He took a deep breath. “It was just loud, and I was in a building and I couldn’t get out. It was so real. When I woke up I knew where I was. I knew who you were, but I just…I dunno…”

They lay in silence, Katie continually stroking his hair as he nuzzled into her closer. She kissed the top of his head and was pleased when about 10 minutes later she heard his breathing start to lower and his head became heavy. He had managed to drift off.

*****

The next night he woke with a start, but that was it. There was no walking or hallucinating, he merely woke from a bad dream and climbed out of bed for a glass of water. When he came back, there was no talking, but he sought solace in his girl in another way, his lips kissing her hard, his hands reaching out and roving over every bit of her body he could find and he fucked her, hard, losing himself completely. They lay afterwards, sweaty foreheads pressed together and Katie simply held him close as they both came round. Eventually he moved off, pulled her to him and they fell asleep, limbs tanged around one another, his hold tight.

The next few nights he was peaceful, and Katie was hopeful that the terrors had passed, but then, four nights after the first incident he broke his hand.

Captain America could put his fist through a two-by-four with nothing worse than slightly reddened knuckles - but Steve Rogers’ hand hadn’t been in a fist. Katie had woken to his hoarse cry of “Buck!!!”, in time to see his outstretched, fingers slamming straight through the plasterboard and into a metal stud in the wall as he flailed out of bed, reaching for a man who had fallen some seventy years earlier.

Katie scrambled over the bed like a shot as he was yelling out for Bucky again and again as he knelt among scattered pieces of plaster and wood, his left arm buried inside the wall up to the shoulder.

"Steve,” she tried, but he didn’t respond, eyes fixed in a thousand-yard stare, face crumpled with an agony that was more than physical, breath hitching and ragged. She felt the tears spring into her eyes and she was just about to ask FRIDAY to send Tony to help when she heard the door to their penthouse burst open and a few moments later Thor strode into the bedroom dressed in a pair of black sweatpants, hammer in his hand.

“I heard the Captain yell, and…” he trailed off as he took in the situation at a glance and then crouched next to Katie.

“He’s dreaming…” She said gently, “He’s dreaming about Bucky, his friend, falling…”

Thor frowned absently, brushing his fingers across the captain’s temples as though he was trying to work out a problem. Then abruptly, he rose and was gone, moving almost silently through the darkness.

Whilst he was gone, Katie managed to gently work Steve’s arm out of the wall. His broken hand lay twitching in her lap and she was horribly aware that they would need to set the bones before they healed wrong. Thankfully, Thor wasn’t gone long, and he was not alone when he returned, hand firm around Wanda’s shoulder. The girl’s eyes were wide and her hair was tangled - obviously she had been sleeping.

“Thor,” Katie began to protest as she glanced round at Steve. The last thing he would want would be to come back to reality in the middle of some kind of impromptu party.

Thor held up a hand, pausing her even as he turned his full attention to Wanda

“Do you see?” he asked gravely. “Do you understand now what The Vision told you?”

Trembling, Wanda shook her head even as she went to her knees beside Steve. He was still unresponsive, but his breathing was beginning to laboriously even out and Katie knew he was fighting for control. She started to sweep her hand up and down his back in long, firm strokes in the hope it would bring him back round.

Thor knelt too, sounding as though he were some kind of instructor. “When you allowed Stark’s fears to work against him,” he began patiently, “you found his weakness and dug deep.”

Wanda nodded slowly.

“Our Captain carries a grievous burden as well,” Thor continued, “He has been sorely wounded and works to heal, but your incautious workings have torn his memories open.”

“Thor…” Katie shook her head gently as a horror stricken look crossed Wanda’s face.

“I am sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t know. How can I fix it?”

For the first time, Thor hesitated. “My brother would have known,” he admitted in a low voice. “He had the skill, when it pleased him to use it.” He paused again, and then continued, hesitating slightly. “You must consider carefully, and proceed as seems good to you.”

Biting her lip, Wanda looked up at Katie, her stricken eyes locked onto hers.

“If you can, remind him where he is,“ Katie said gently. “Just bring him round?”

Hesitantly, uncertainly, Wanda pointed and curled her fingers before Steve’s face and closed her eyes. Tendrils of red light flickered from her hands to his temples, and Katie tensed involuntarily. For a moment, nothing happened. Then Steve’s eyes flew open, and his uninjured hand darted up faster than sight to lock around Wanda’s wrist, breaking the connection. She squeaked, startled, and froze.

“Steve…” Katie touched his arm causing him to flinch. It took him a second and then he seemed to realize where he was and what was going on. He let go of Wanda’s wrist, and looked around at Katie, then Thor hovering behind the young Sokovian, and finally the familiar surroundings of their bedroom. Eventually he looked back at Wanda for a long moment before nodding once.

"Thanks.”

A tear slid down her cheek. “I’m sorry,” she whispered hoarsely. “I tried to put everything back in place, but I don’t know how.”

“Can’t fix everything,” he assured her, with a twisted smile. His old Brooklyn accent came out very strong in this unguarded moment. “And I wouldn’t wantcha t’ try. There’s things in my head you shouldn’t ever hafta see.”

Wanda wrapped both her arms around herself. Her eyes still looked haunted. “He was like your brother, wasn’t he?” she quavered.

Steve bowed his head as Thor dropped a gentle arm round her shoulders.

“We have all lost brothers,” he rumbled, looking at her. “We know your pain. You do not face this alone.”

Katie could feel Steve was quivering, exhausted beyond words though he wouldn’t show it for the world, and all she wanted to do in that moment was to bind up his hand and then put him to bed. As she looked up to suggest to the others they might want to go she was surprised to see Wanda had squared her jaw with determination and she reached out once more.

“I can fix this, at least.”

Steve’s hurt hand suddenly glowed with red fire. He jumped, surprised, and then watched with fascination as the crooked fingers began re-align themselves. When the bones were straight again, the fire flickered out, and Wanda staggered to her feet to go, Thor right behind her.

“You ok for a moment?” Katie asked Steve and he nodded. She followed the two of them into the hall and gave a short groan as she saw the door that led to the stairs (which were never used) had been completely kicked off its hinges.

“Sorry.” Thor said, picking up the heavy door “I heard the screams and…well, I didn’t know what was going on.” “Just prop it up as best you can…I’ll let you out in the elevator.”

He propped it up, and dragged the sofa over towards it for good measure.

“I really am sorry…” Wanda whispered, tears in her eyes.

“I know, and so does he.” Katie said, giving her a hug. “He will be fine…” Her attention then turned to Thor as she gave the God a hug. “Thank you.” “Any time Little Stark.” He breathed into her hair, before the 2 of them stepped into the elevator.

Katie looked around, trying to think about how they could explain a broken door plus a hole in the wall to Tony, then she realised she didn’t care. She headed into the kitchen, rummaging through the first aid kit for an elastic bandage to keep his fingers straight and wrapped up safely whilst his fast healing worked its magic.

He was sat on the side of the bed when she re-entered the room, his injured hand cradled in his other.

“Here…” she said, and she gently took his hand as he surrendered to her ministrations.

“Is Wanda ok?” he asked gently.

“Yeah, but I’m more concerned about you.” she said, laying his hand down gently onto my lap. “Baby…” “I’m sorry.” He whispered softly, laying his head against hers.

“What for?” “This…for scaring you?” “Stop it.” She looked at him sternly “I love you, you idiot, I just want you to be ok.” “I will be…” he smiled softly, his lips catching hers “Given time.”

The next day, Katie dragged Steve out for a walk in Central Park, but first she spoke to Tony about the door and the wall. He was surprisingly sympathetic, and didn’t mention the issue to Steve once. By the time Steve and Katie returned home that afternoon both were fixed, the only evidence any repairs had taken place was the smell of fresh paint and plaster which lingered in the apartment for a few days. What thankfully didn’t linger further were Steve’s night terrors. Katie didn’t know what it was that Wanda did, but his bones healed straight and it seemed that his mind had healed somewhat straight too. Whilst he persisted with the odd bad dream, they were getting less and less frequent, and there was no repeat of the two hallucinations he had suffered which was a relief to her, as she knew with time and patience and rest, the dreams would stop as well.

**** Chapter 25

**Original Posting**

#stark spangled banner #steve rogers #Katie Stark #steve rogers fanfiction #steve rogers fic #steve rogers x ofc #steve rogers x original female character #steve rogers smut #chris evans #chris evans characters

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alfafilly · 4 years ago

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New Year New Me

I want to make a small New Years Resolution this year aimed specifically towards my role in the Sly Cooper fandom. It’s gonna be kinda long and venty so warning!!

As a bit of backstory, I haven’t been in a fandom/actively drawing fanart since like... 2012 maybe? Like in terms of drawing fanart for the same series routinely. I went through a really stupid phase where I thought fanart was a waste of time because I had been hounded over and over again by peers and those I looked up to that only ORIGINAL © DO NOT STEAL content mattered. I looked down on fanart and used every excuse to belittle fanartists. I dunno if this was also in part due to the last fandom I was in being extremely toxic (that being the Invader Zim fandom. Booooois them 2006-2008 deviantART IZ days were something else) and my college experience constantly telling me “fanart in your portfolio is stinky bad no do that” (which is hotly debated btw).

Anyway... jumping into the Sly Cooper fandom has been extremely positive for me and helping me shed a lot of that negative attitude. Dare I say there was character development?! And while, for the most part, Sly fandom isn’t that toxic, there are elements of it that have caused much chaotic negativity within me that I am hoping to get rid of.

Maybe it’s a result of my former opinions about fanart, but I have always felt a sense of inadequacy, or as if I NEED to make my place in the fandom for me to be relevant and to matter. I have vented about this in the past. My first fanart piece was a compilation of my interpretations of the cast, and it was well received, and everyone talked about how they wanted me to draw more characters, to see more designs, etc. Which is why I said I wanted to redesign ALL the cast because the people DEMANDED IT!! This could be my way of placing myself in the fandom!!! HELL YEAH!!!

But it didn’t make me... happy, I guess? I DO enjoy redesigning, but when I do it under my own terms, with no pressure. I think coming out of art school made me put on blinders and tell myself what I used to believe in: “If you’re going to waste your time on fanart, better make it good. You know, people can hire you if you show good fanart! These redesigns could get you a job in the industry! You gotta ONLY do work that will benefit your end goal and nothing else!!”

This often made me feel extreme guilt when I started drawing more of my Arpeggio content, or my Arpeggio AUs because despite how much fun I was having, that little voice in the back of my head was saying “No!! Stop drawing that!! Draw stuff that everyone will care about besides just you!!! You’re not going to get anywhere with this!! Drawing sexy Arpeggio won’t get you a job in the industry KJSNJKGNSKNGKJNAJ!!!!”

This mentality also crafted some uhh... extremely negative competitive attitudes towards other artists in the fandom. Certain artists would piss me off every time they posted to the point I would have to block them to stop seeing their work just to prevent these feelings. There is a notable artist I won’t name, but they do Sly redesigns too. I was fine with them initially, but after they blatantly stole one of my designs without crediting me I was LIVID. I called them out and they did apologize and changed the design, but every time I saw their work from then on out I had this insane urge to “beat them”. It was a sick competitive game. I felt jaded they ripped my design and kept getting popular anyway. TBH it’s rather petty and I am trying not to harbor any ill will towards them because I don’t think they meant anything by it and the design was rather insignificant in the whole scheme of things. But I still have them blocked or muted everywhere because I am still struggling to ignore that great urge every time I see their designs to drop everything I’m doing and draw my own redesigns out of unhealthy spite.

And I’m only briefly going to go over the god damn Deceit of Thieves drama. Apparently they are still making it into a legit game? They have a Patreon apparently and are posting stuff about it? I found out about that and the same sort of fiery rage filled me. But this was much less personal. Sure, I had given a critique to them but I honestly wanted the game/story/whatever to flourish? After seeing their poor reactions and being attacked by their white knights, my taste towards them grew bitter and I think my fellow Sly fans having the same bitterness fueled me to flat out grow a hatred for them. That’s kind of awful? I never expected to want another member of the fandom to have their project fail. What kind of asshole am I for wanting that?? I don’t want that. I want them to learn from their mistakes and make something great. Not hold some ridiculous resentment. I can decide not to support them if I wanted, but wishing failure is a whole other horrible thing.

So realizing this I knew I needed to... change my perspective on how I see myself in the fandom and how I process my feelings towards it. I don’t want to be here to produce soulless portfolio worthy content. I don’t want to compete with other artists or wish them ill. I just want to draw some god damn fanart of a series I love and that makes me happy!

I’m posting this here as a way to hold accountability to myself and be honest. I started drawing Sly stuff again in 2017 so it’s been an issue appearing on and off the last 4 years and that’s... sad. It needs to end! I appreciate everyone in the fandom who has supported me in my endeavors, as ridiculous as they are. I can’t believe drawing and writing about a dumb bird man and cat lady and throwing my stupid OCs into the fray for my favorite childhood game has made me learn so much about myself, my work, and gained me so many great peers and friends. I definitely don’t want to stop any time soon! And I apologize profusely if I ever hurt anyone in some way because I lost sight of that (or was just a dick for whatever reason).

Thanks for your support, and I hope 2021 will bring me loads more positivity into my content!!

#sly cooper #vent #rant #text post

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anime-lover-forever-1127 · 4 years ago

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The Sadist’s Nurse {Okita Sougo} - 1.This Is Only The First Chapter And I Can't Think Of A Title. How Am I Gonna Survive The Entire Fanfiction?! Well Good Thing This Is A Gintama Fanfiction, So I Can Do This

This Is Only The First Chapter And I Can't Think Of A Title. How Am I Gonna Survive The Entire Fanfiction?!

Well Good Thing This Is A Gintama Fanfiction,

So I Can Do This ^

Disclaimer - (Cause fanfiction is tricky ground and I hope not to offend the creator of the original story and get sued)

I do not own "Gintama", it belongs to its original creator Hideaki Sorachi - or as we may know him, the Gorilla (If you did not get that reference, then I'd like you to stop, and ask yourself - Are You A Real Gintama Fan?) . This is only a fanfiction that I was inspired to write by the original work. Please support the official release. Most of the media - such as the art and illustrations, gifs, video's, etc. used in this fanfiction - are from the web. Thus, most of them aren't mine (because I really, really can't draw) unless mentioned. To fit the story, images are also edited by various apps and websites. So they aren't mine, just edited.

Also if you own a picture or Video that I found online, and you either want your name added, or me to take it down. Please contact me and we can talk it out. P.s. I also ask that you do not copy my work and publish it onto any other website.

If you're gonna use my idea, please ask me (If you ask nicely, I for sure, will agree). If I don't contact you within a week, then just assume I'm giving you the all clear and go for it. Just remember to credit me.

I will be writing out scenes even if my Oc isn't in them. As long as she's mentioned, or influencing the characters in some way. Or maybe because it influences the story. This may seem a bit annoying. But that's just how I write. I like to embed my characters into the story line. Because of this, most of the dialogue/scenes will come from the original work.

I may not get all the references in the story - because I haven't watched all those anime - so sorry if I butchere those those ones. (It goes without saying that I don't own any of those as well)

*****

Warnings: Spoilers for episode 5

Today's Special

Never let your best friends get lonely...

Keep disturbing them

~ Unknown

*****

Akira watched her brother mutter to himself as he spied out the window.

"Okita wake up." Hijita said, balling up Katsura's wanted poster up and hitting the sleeping man on the head with it. The main reason he did that being that he didn't like how at home he looked sleeping on his precious baby sisters lap.

Akira stopped running her hands through the man's soft locks as he got up.

"I'm surprised that you could sleep through that explosion." Hijikata said.

"Explosion?" Sougo questioned. "Did you let the terrorists attack again?" He asked, pulling down his sleeping mask. "What's your problem, Hijikata? You need to apply yourself. Take a page out of Akira's book."

"Me! You're the one who needs to take a page out of her book and stop sleeping on the job." Hijikata shouts, grabbing his sword's hilt. "They can blow up all the Amanto for all I care. I'll let those fishes swim for a bit before I'll reel 'em up… and cut their necks." He drew his sword, pushing his palm against the flat side of the blade. "It'll be a proud moment for the shinsengumi. I'm looking forward to this fight."

"If that's settled. Then let's head back to the base and we can decide what action to take there." Akira suggests.

*****

"Oh? So we finally found them?" Kondo asks.

Hijikata nods, "Yes. Yamazaki is following them right now. It's only a matter of time before we discover their base, Kondo-san."

"Yeah. But it wouldn't be the first time we've thought that. We gotta be careful or they'll slip right through our fingers again." says Akira, as she leans against the door frame.

"That's fine. We'll just have to be careful. Goodwork, Toshi."

"It's too soon to thank me." The vice-chief says, he turns around to look at their boss. "Save it for after we've killed them!"

"That is smart. You know it's just like the saying goes. It's never a good idea to count your chickens before they hatch." Akira nods.

"That's right." Konod agrees, "The Shinsengumi only give credit after distinguished military service. We, the Shinsengumi, belong in battle. " Kondo nods.

Hijikata smirks, "You're the chief. I'm only following orders."

"I'm counting on you, Toshi." Says the older man.

"We'll in that case. I better go check the medical stock and get the room ready." Akira says. "Someone around here, and by that I mean me, has to make sure you idiots don't bleed out and kill yourselves."

*****

Akira watches from the sidelines as a Shinsengumi unit charges forward, her brother and childhood friend at the helm. Leading the attack.

"You're under arrest!" yells Hijikata, kicking the door down. "Come quietly, you terrorist scum!"

"It's the Shinsengumi!"

"Oh no! Run away!"

And other similar shouts were heard from the room.

"Kill them all!" Hijikata shouted, pointing his sword forward.

"Actually Aniki. We should take some of them alive. I highly doubt that this is the entire army." says Akira, coming up to stand beside the two commanding officers.

"She's right you know Hijikata-san." Sougo says, and never one to miss out on an opportunity to annoy the older man, he adds, "I feel bad for Akira-chan. Always having to pick up her oniisan's slack."

"Why you-" Hijikata starts to growl, only to be cut off with a slap to the head.

"Hey. Why did you do that?" He asked, rubbing his head.

"Because well you two are here, bickering like children. The enemy is getting away." Akira answers, her hands on her hips. "Now go, before I decide to hit you with something a lot harder."

"Fine. Let's go Sougo."

*****

Within minutes there were injured Shinsengumi members coming to Akira to get their injuries looked at.

"You can continue to fight." She says to a member of the 2and squad. "Oh, and well you're out there. Can you please try to capture one of the Jouishishi members alive. We could use a bit more intel on their future operations. oK."

"Of course Akira-san." The man nodded, picking his sword up and running off into the battle again.

Seeing no more people, Akira poked her head around the corner to see all the members standing outside a barricaded door.

Seeing that the fight was practically over, she walked over to the group of men.

"This again? Where do they think they're gonna go?" Akira wonders, as one of her fingers tap against her cheek.

"Who knows what's ever going on inside those terrorists' heads." A Shinsengumi member answered.

"Hey, come out. We're really going to fire this time." Sougo shouted at the door. His thumb and pointer finger holds his chin, as his arm rests on the palm of his other hand. "Hijikata-san, our evening soap rerun is going to start soon."

"Did you remember to set our VCR?" Akira asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Geez. I forgot." He answers.

"Great. Note to self. Don't give you that job again." pouts Akira. She then turns around to the men and shouts, "Come on people. Let's wrap this up. We have 45 minutes to get back to the base. So let's finish this up today ladies."

"Dam. I didn't know she could be so mean." One of the newer members mumbles.

"Yeah. I thought she was known for being nice."

"She usually is. But since you two are new here, you don't really know her and you haven't seen anything yet either. Wait till her favorite store is selling strawberry cake. Then you realise how mean she can truly be. She'll tear you the shreds and then sew you back up together again. There are a couple of unwritten rules in the Shinsengumi. Ones that you'll have to learn if you intend to survive here." Another one answers.

Getting sick of the mutters, Hijikata shouted, "You heard the women. Let's get this over with. Prepare to fire!"

Just as the explosive was about to be launched, the barricade broke open from the other side as three people jumped out.

"Wh-what are you doing?! Stop them!" shouted Akira, surprised.

A puffy silver haired man continued to charge forward, holding something round in his hand. "If you want to stop something, then stop this bomb, please!" He said.

"You have a bomb squad, don't you?"

"He's got a bomb." Someone shouted.

As the group of men in black ran away from the trio, Akira simply grabbed the vice-chief and first division captain and pulled them to the side and let the group run right past them.

"Normally i'd say that we should stick around and help them out. But I'm dying to see who killed Gyuki. If we go now, we can make it right before the opening credits finish." Akira smirked.

"Don't we need to stick around?" Toshi asks.

Raising an eyebrow, Akira fires back, "Do you wanna stick around?"

"Hell no" The two men answer in unison.

*****

Legend/translation:

Aniki - Your own older brother, not to be confused with oniisan, which means someone else's older brother.

I also feel like I need to clear up the topic of her hair colour. It's mostly black, but under certain lighting, it looks brown.

I also understand the difference between a doctor and a nurse. And, yes, she really is a doctor. But let's all be honest, 'The Sadist's Nurse' has a much better ring to it then, 'The Sadist's Doctor'. It honestly just rolls off the tongue better.

You can read the other chapters of this story (in order) on Wattpad, Quotev, Fanfiction.Net, Ao3, or Webnovel - Under the username Animeloverforever1127 (Under the same title of course). Or you could shuffle around my tumbler, (I’ll try to keep my tags constant) but I’d go with the first - just seems like a lot less work.

#The Sadist’s Nurse {Okita Sougo} - 1.This Is Only The First Chapter And I Can't Think Of A Title. How Am I Gonna Survive The Entire Fanficti #The Sadist’s Nurse {Okita Sougo}#okita sougo #animeloverforever1127 #gintama hijikata #gintama #kondo #yamazaki #akira

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hedjblogr · 4 years ago

Note

If you count your Clones as your own characters, what is their preferred day to wind down after a stressful day? What kind kind day is stressful for them? If you don't, the same questions but for your sylvari. - moonlit-grove

CRACKS MY KNUCKLES this is gonna get long i am doing ALL my clones i made in GW2 not just my GW2 character ones

so in birthday order:

oh god ahah sometimes i forget i have a character called Armored Temmie. they are VERY stress when they cannot pet hoomin......... petting hoomin.... reliev STRESS!!!!! (in seriousness, being a temmie is very hard when you work at an interdimensional café and your boss is having you deliver donuts to scarlet briar in an attempt to divert the course of history. helping people out outside of work helps them wind down immensely)

Steben Uwuninu is just a lil boy! he’s a lil mans! (he’s a pre-Lapis Steven Universe AU i RP with a buddy, some tragedy in his backstory but he has the best family) sometimes he gets stressed when there’s a problem he can’t solve, and likes to unwind with video games, making music and exploring!

Tesco Value Eir (my first GW2 character clone!) is stressed out by the burden of her legend even if it’s not technically hers and likes to unwind through some lower-stakes hunting, or by doing some ice carving. and petting her many, many dogs, all of which are called garm. :thonk:

oh hey we’re getting into the Legacy of Kain clones now (the next 3)

Scion Kain gets stressed out when Raziel is getting himself into trouble (this happens often) and when things stop going to plan (this happens more often than he’d care to admit). he de-stresses by being a pain in everyone’s ass, reading and discussing ancient cultures and philosophy, going on rampages, and spending quality time with Raziel (which often just means being his personal pain in the ass)

Priestess Umah is just stressed all the time because the weight of vampirekind rests on the shoulders of a TOTAL ASSHOLE,,, but she unwinds through gentler exercise (soft martial arts type stuff), meditation and a bit of light reading. despite being fucking stacked and fighty as hell she prefers mental pursuits

Dionisie Audron is a weird one bc he’s both a clone and an OC for reasons i can’t go into 🤫 but i’ll talk specifically about the clone side of things. he finds it very stressful when people are not taking their jobs seriously and being thoughtless... and he finds massages, reading, and meditation very relaxing. also baths! he loves baths. nice smelling bath with some candles and incense and the stress just melts away

Goodwill Trahearne is my trahearne clone and while i don’t have a ton of stuff down for him, the most stressful days for him are the ones where it’s made clear just how much is expected of him - when the day’s work is through he likes to settle down with a good book, maybe pet a sylvan hound, and fall asleep in his chair because he stays up way too late and forgets to sleep until his body forces him to

Discount Canach is my canach clone, who i do have very solid answers for. his biggest stressors are when he can’t control a situation, when it’s completely out of his hands - for example, when a certain IDIOT TRIBUNE decides to RUN IN SWORDS BLAZING and NOT STOP AND THINK OF A PLAN. and he also gets stressed out when a planned controlled situation falls apart despite his careful planning. this can be something as big as a mission or as small as a half hour delay getting something/someplace on his worst days. he can be very high strung at times; the worst part is he’s very conscious of this

if he gets a chance to unwind after a day that’s just completely fell apart, one way he blows off steam is through snark actually! mutual snark is the best. it’s like a gentle venting of pressure. this man’s a damn pressure cooker, if you take the lid off too fast he’ll blow. gotta let him vent gently and slowly. he’d never admit it aloud to many but he also likes bathing, even if that means having water dunked on his head/ (people like doing this to him for some reason. something something watering their cactus.) he hates it less than he lets on. physically cooling down cools him down mentally too!

wew sorry that one got massively long but listen i have a lot of thoughts and feelings about canach specifically

OKAY next clone is Rythunk Brimstud who’s a rytlock clone... ish. i’m still playing with this idea rn but i actually had the idea that he might be one of rytlock’s younger cubs in an au where rytlock dies for some reason?? and he ends up invoking him as a spirit through the mists. and gradually uh. letting his late dad take over his body so he can continue his work because he feels like the world needs rytlock more than they need rytlock’s cub. 😥 (rytlock isn't actually super happy with this!! he's kind of pissed!! it's a constant struggle)

but yeah uh rythunk finds that whole living up to expectations thing stressful. he’s charr, and in the thick of it, and having to be both himself and his dad. every day is stress. he likes playing guitar to destress, and he’s actually pretty good at it! so a day where he can get a lot of guitar practice in is good, maybe just find a nice cliff and jam out to no one in particular

next on my clone list is Could Be Caithe... any instance where she's expected to work with others is stressful even if she's trying harder now, trust is a two way street and she's painfully aware she has not earned everyone's trust back yet and may never. and relying on others is hard.

but, if she gets to spend time exploring with no stakes, or listening to music, or any time spent with aurene - that's something very relaxing and relieving to her

Maybe Malomedies is my next clone - and to elaborate, he's somewhat divergent because he was blighted by Trahearne as a result of dying due to a series of very unfortunate events :> which is why his colours are off the shits and he looks quite different from his canon counterpart

his interests are much the same though! he loves stargazing, talking to others about the machinations of fate and the different constellations he's discovered and what they mean - in his own culture and other cultures! and different constellations other people have discovered too!

forgiving as he is, anything that brushes too close to his past trauma still causes stress. he can't set foot near inquest anything, and it's good to have patience with him if he's near or in any asuran settlements. it's gonna be a bad day if he has to deal with anything like that, or anything related to the branded for that matter. certain visions can also just set him off to a really bad start as well; he's had a habit of seeing deaths lately. :-)

and my last real clone, Precocious Aurene. she's actually a sylvari avatar for Aurene to explore relatively incognito and spend time with her family without causing a stir! and to just kind of... be a kid.

while in this avatar, it's stressful if people start getting hints of who she is or guessing - because the last thing she wants is for it to get out that she's doing this at all. and if the All is particularly loud, or an area is particularly intense with magic, it can become a little overwhelming for her

however part of the beauty of this disguise is it IS her stress relief - she doesn't have to be an Elder Dragon. she can just be... herself. she can just be a kid. she can experience the world like everyone else does, and anything she can do is wonderful

ooookay i think that's everyone! 8)

#hedj talks guild wars #needed this ask because i woke up miserable today wheeeee #Anonymous #i don't know if i 100% properly interpreted this question but have this tasty lore anyway

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imaginesbymk · 5 years ago

Text

PINK + WHITE.

—chapter nine ; with heat & wet skin.

summary: teresa’s permanent resignation from the peaky blinders leads her to a whole new chapter of working in an art museum. but little did she know her best life would be butchered some time later when her former lover tommy shelby gives her no choice but to return to the peaky blinders after they make new enemies, with the leader, of all people, being the man teresa fell in love with one night after a wedding reception back in post world war; luca changretta.

pairing: luca changretta x OC x tommy shelby

tags in this chapter: swearing, implied nsfw, drinking, mentions + drug use

[ chapter index / meet my oc / wattpad link ]

MASON was quick on his feet when he was given the slightly odd request Teresa had asked him to do last minute. It had nothing to do with the gallery or with separation of last minute business meetings to be scheduled in the margins of the diary. It was just that he had to safely track down a dangerous man. Luca Changretta was still in England, hot-headed with a plan.

Teresa loved fur shawls. Though she detested how the cheap ones she could afford wore out from time to time, from the "fur" falling out like leaves from a tree in autumn, or even its colour turning from new to depressed (and even she grew so envious over the women who wore the luxurious, expensive ones at parties). Tommy Shelby never bothered with buying her what she wanted, which she was fine with, but one man with the Italian genes spoiled her with one that she kept in her closet. A grey-ish white. Teresa often takes one look at it, before sliding it over to reach the silky see-through shawl when she is simply relaxing in her home. At parties she debated even thinking of taking it out, but then there was the other shawl that was made of black fur, and it closed together with a silver clip to keep her shoulders warm.

The fur shawl was just like the painting she avoids at her own work. Both were so beautiful and timeless, both sharing personal meaning. But tonight, it finally saw light from staying in the wardrobe closet for too long. Teresa held it out in front of her, then clutched it in her arms.

The bar was built together with grey walls, none sound-proof. On the other side you could hear the jazz band playing music for the party, or footsteps from the owner or a bartender heading out back for more stocking of gin. If you were on that side, you'd hear the giant doors spring open from the doorman that allowed Teresa to enter inside. The man at the counter watched as her dress fell all the way down to her heels, not too long so she wouldn't trip. Her hair was in its curls once more, and wrapped around like comfort was the fur.

She reached a booth and set her purse on the table. "White wine."

"Ma'am-" the server goes.

"A man will be joining me very soon." Teresa made a smile, as the unescorted woman if Luca were to not show up. Had she imagined if Luca burned the invitation letter she mailed to his hotel, or simply tossed it away, in future to be used as scratch paper, or even as a roll up (if Luca is one of the many people that did snow), she may have just wasted her time getting dolled up just to not be served at her booth.

"Last time I met up with a woman at a bar, she proposed a deal, and lied straight to my face."

She shot her head up.

Those eyes.

Looks like her night wasn't going to waste after all. "Are you talking about Polly?" She watches as Luca Changretta helps himself on the other side of the booth, the same server coming over to Teresa with her white wine.

Teresa waited while staring down at Luca's own glass being poured with four fingers of whiskey. Luca glanced at Teresa's outfit, not answering her question. "You're wearing the shawl I got you? I can't believe you still have it."

"What, like I got rid of it? Why would I give it to someone else who would treat it like a rag?"

"Hm." Luca took a sip. "So, why did you summon me here? Actually, I know the answer to that one. You're a businesswoman, as we both know. You invited me here to propose some kind of deal, eh? Like I got the time to spare one more fucking thing before I go do what I came to England to do?"

"I know about the vendetta, Luca." Teresa began. "And I know the deal you made with Polly, which was a lie, by the way. I know about that. What I also know is that you don't just plan on crushing the Peaky Blinders. You have more on your mind. You're so greedy that you would want to overthrow Alfie Solomons as well. If he were to betray Tommy with the deal you made with Mr. Solomons, you know you and your men would come after him as well and take over his business."

Luca nodded. "I had a feeling you knew. I had a feeling Tommy Shelby brought you back to Birmingham, no?"

"I know your patience is wearing thin, and you're done giving people more time. But then there's me."

"Right, forgive me," Luca places a hand on his chest. "Why not talk about the royalty in front of me as well? What could she possibly request for this time?"

"I wanna know why I was never sent a Black Hand."

Luca laughs, trailing his fingers around the rim of his glass. Whatever Teresa said or did, she definitely wasn't laughing. Nothing seemed funny to her on her end. She did, however, miss that laugh of his. It was more of a chuckle, but she loved it like it was honey in hot tea. "Let me tell you something. It's best to stay out of this, right? Since you resigned, messing with us is like throwing stones at the devil."

"I'll play in the snow with the devil to prove you wrong."

Luca scoffs harshly. "So you're one of those people that snorts white lines just to feel good?"

"That was just my own figure of speech, Luca. I don't do Tokyo," Teresa replied. She cringed at the habit Arthur and Michael carelessly picked up on. "It's everyone's thing now, but not mine."

"That makes two of us." He took another sip. "I'm doing you a favour here, Miss Griffith. Stay out of this and do your own thing."

"There's no need for you to call me that," she comments.

"Why the hell not? Formalities are a thing of the past now?"

"You're talking to me as if we just met. We had something together."

"Yeah, had."

Teresa gave a glare, grabbing her wine. Luca smirks. "All right. Whatever you say. Jesus, kid. You're so fuckin' difficult."

"Kid," she scoffs at his remark. "And Ada Thorne is on your list and she doesn't get her hands covered in blood. So why wasn't I included?"

"You feel left out?" Luca snickered.

"I just wanna know why. I know damn well you haven't forgotten about me. Even if what we had to you was just for pleasure, you found out that I was once a Peaky Blinder."

Luca stares. "You wanted out because you felt like it would devour you forever, so I respected your wishes. You told me why you threw in the towel. And I know you're not a Shelby, you don't wanna be a Shelby."

The server comes up to them. "Sir? Ma'am? Would any of you like to hear the specials tonight?"

"No, thank you." Teresa smiles.

"More whiskey," Luca says. "And for the lady, she'll have more wine." Teresa raised her brows. She didn't mind more wine, would she care so much about knowing her limit before it was time to wince at the tab?

"I forgot you love whiskey," Teresa points out.

"Italian whiskey," Luca made a hand gesture. "As I was saying... have you thought long and hard about this, as to why I'm here? As to why I want Tommy Shelby dead, how I now want everyone dead?"

"Your father." There was a pause between the two. The jazz band transitioned their music to a much slower song this time, and it started easing the nerves in both the former couple's systems despite the volume of alcohol consumed. "Arthur Shelby killed your father. John Shelby killed your brother Angel."

"If things didn't happen the way it did, my men and I would be cozying up in New York counting stacks by stacks."

"And I wouldn't be seeing you here," Teresa added. "Almost ever again," Teresa thanks the server for the excess wine refilling in her glass, then Luca's. "Now can we talk about the giant elephant in the room?"

Luca furrows his brows.

"I know why you left, Luca. I know it's been five years, but you really just packed up and left. I've never seen you so frantic until that day when you were running to the train." Not even an eye bat. "I grew miserable ever since."

"Can I say this?" Luca leaned forward, placing the cuffs of his tailored suit that it laid flat on the tablecloth. "Whatever emotion you saw in my eyes on that day, whatever it was, it was for the sake of being alive for my family. Someone's gotta help keep the business up and runnin'. None of it works if I'm not there."

Teresa stares at Luca. This man wasn't wrong. It wasn't like he was running everything in his family all on his own. His father led the family in Birmingham that Angel was a part of, even his mother lived with them, but what makes New York so important and comforting to Luca must have felt like a whole outlet of anything he ever accomplishes, how many Tommy guns he can hold and keep in his home like picture frames, how many men he has to hire from Sicily and America just to help kill one family. All of that was justified when he boarded that train to the Liverpool docks.

"Oh," Teresa straightened her back. "So much for being the big, bad capo."

"Be careful," Luca warned, pointing a finger at her. "Don't question a gangster's honour."

"You know I crack jokes here and there," Teresa's lips curled into a smirk as it reached the rim of her glass.

"So do I," said Luca.

She looked down at his hands that rested on the table. His experienced, non-scrawny hands that had a black hand tattooed on his wrist, one with a crown, and maybe some other new ones Luca got over time. She used to kiss all of them, even the one on his neck that was a cross. His right hand was wrapped with big, gold rings on two fingers, except he only kept his ring finger free of anything, that was something she wanted to bring up. "You got all those rings on your fingers but not a wedding ring.

"Not like you got one on yours, either. Unless you took it off before coming here," Luca jokes.

She shakes her head. "I've been too busy to fall in love with another soul. But you? You didn't tie the knot with Viviana back in New York?"

Luca scowled, knowing Teresa hadn't forgotten about that woman as he did. "No. I still see her occasionally."

"Yet you haven't done anything with her? Never bothered to find anyone to satisfy your mother?"

"My mother says any woman from New York or even from the old country would do."

"What did you say, after?"

"Mamma, you're killin' me.'" Teresa had to chuckle at that, Luca smiled at her. He then looked around the bar, seeing how more of the guests had gotten up to dance with their dates as the jazz music cranked up their higher tunes like a machine. "Don't tell me we're gonna be sitting here all fuckin' night. You wanna dance, Miss Tour Guide?"

The nickname he gave to her the first time. Did he really sit in front of her and tell her he couldn't remember everything they had, then? "I'm a little rusty," Teresa declines.

'We gotta stretch our legs somehow. I ain't even see your whole getup for the night."

Teresa had no problem getting up from the booth. She stepped out so that her heels were shown as well, and she placed the fur shawl down on her seat so her shoulders were out. The dress wasn't purchased by Luca, but by her, and she felt like a Grand Princess, like a little girl playing with their mother's dresses and makeup. She was never too insecure about her looks since it never bothered her, but she felt beautiful, and she wondered if Luca will still ever see her as beautiful whether or not she is clothed in front of him.

Luca kept on staring. "Then perhaps we can head somewhere else," he suggests. "Somewhere we're both quite familiar with."

How and why didn't matter, the young man who looked to be around Arthur Shelby's age paid no second thought to his surroundings as he aggressively snuffed the thick lines of cocaine that formed on the ledge up his nostril. He begins wiping away any excess off his face, exiting the balcony seats just as the Italian mobster escorts Teresa inside the dark theatre to their respected spots.

"You're a lover of theatre," Teresa spoke quietly as the show resumed to its first act.

"If you dress like one, you are one." Luca hooked his leg over the other, folding his hands on his lap.

It was silent, not the awkward or tense silence, but silent to respect and see the performance. Silence or absolute noise, the stage was the latter. The good kind of noise. The skimpy dancers twirled with batons, the man and woman playing the perky main lovers belted the note they must have spent days and nights rehearsing over and over.

Luca knew there would be performances every night back in New York City. There was always something to do and somewhere to go, otherwise you'd be glued to your chairs at home.

The show was about to end, and Luca, for the first time in God's glorious mysterious time, took Teresa by the hand and curled them together on his lap, his eyes were fixated to theatricality in front of the hundreds of people.

Teresa reacts, slowly looking down. It was nearly dark, but she could feel the giant, lumpy rings from his fingers bump into hers. He always held her hand during a show, and would only let go to join the applause when a number came to its big finish, or when the grand finale brought hypnotic joy and bliss in each audience member's senses like himself that he just had to give the standing ovation.

But just as the audience erupted in deafening applause, cheers and whistles, Luca and Teresa remained the only two members seated, their hands still holding.

HIS hotel room was neat and tidy before he left, now the sheets on the giant bed wrinkled like aged skin when Luca held Teresa down to remove her stockings. She missed his touch. The feeling of being pinned on a bed as he dominated over her, practically tearing what she wore for the occasion just to see her underneath as a sight for his sore eyes, it was definitely there, and her heart pounded.

"Luca," she breathed out a moan. He kissed her softly, now only responding with pacing movements, from positioning her to grabbing the protection from the nightstand drawers. Though he was careful with the dress and fur shawl that was set on the office desk he sat in earlier, within seconds her brassiere was tossed on the floor. With the help from Teresa, she managed to undress Luca from head to toe by just sitting up, and he was now unclothed from the fresh tailored suit his uncle made back in Mott Street.

They kissed again, and Luca went in.

+ me writing "smut": 🧿👄🧿 but ooooo shiiiit their “business” meeting was quite a night lol.

#pink+white #luca changretta fanfiction #luca changretta x oc #luca changretta #luca changretta fanfic #peaky blinders #peaky blinders fanfiction #peaky blinders fanfic #tommy shelby x oc #tommy shelby fanfic

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dear-yandere · 4 years ago

Text

—ask collection!

a collection of mostly very old chats and sweet asks that i never got around to answering! thanks for the patience and love!!

beware, fairly long post... woops....

chat asks.

darling: Eu-jin is best boy. Change my mind.

vanya: i am physically incapable of fulfilling that request, how dare you do that to me... i’m biased since he’s my own oc, but i would die for my (very best) boy eu-jin... who can resist such a gentle yandere that loves you so whole-heartedly?

that reminds me! he’s actually based off of kuroyuki and gekkamaru from the otome nightshade, so if you want similar characters by any chance, do check them and the game out ♡

darling: I was watching the dub for Part 5 of JoJo's Bizarre adventure yesterday...Mista called himself Daddy and I like- sdfghjfgsdhnhnmj!! My heart can't take this--

vanya: WAIT HE DID???? i’m not even big on daddy kink and reading that made me go 😳 this is vital information to know... what episode was this??? for research purposes, of course. gotta perfect my yan! mista, after all~...

darling: for yandere songs, have you heard of the major to minor covers by chase holfelder :O? the way he delivers the lyrics in some songs (betty, all i want for christmas), added with the key changes to minor, is really fantastic, and gives a stalker-ish vibe imo! and he's a really good singer in general

vanya: i have!! a good chunk of them are actually on my personal yandere playlist, so i end up hearing them frequently when i’m writing!! i haven’t been keeping up with his uploads recently, so ‘betty’ is completely new to me and just, wow???????????? this man is an absolute god send for us “romantic” horror fans... ♡

this ask gave me such a lovely idea, though, darling: assigning yandere types/mbti based off each of chase’s minor key covers. i think i’ll do that just for you. ♡

darling @blossomiich: I reread some of your old character interaction asks and saw the one with Jotaro hugging his Darling after a panic attack and the elephant seal plush reminded me of the iconic C H O N K Y ringed seal plushie that was kinda trending and I can totally imagine Jotaro having one of those >w< that's so adorable!

vanya: i honestly don’t remember that interaction, but then again i don’t remember most things hmghng so i looked it up and

j...just imagine star plat hogging it and not letting joot cuddle with it 🥺 the duality of man...thank you for this cute image...

darling: Umm, sorry for asking this. I'm just curious because of your bio language in your header. Are you Chinese too, perhaps?

vanya: no worries!! i’m mixed guyanese (indian, chinese, & possibly black and/or portuguese), but my family only celebrates (or rather, acknowledges?) our indian descent, since the majority of our family is predominantly east indian.

my header is actually a quote from a danmei novel (and one of my all-time favorite fandoms), tiān guān cì fú (heaven’s official blessing)!

darling genki stan anon: Omg you're writing for free now, i didn't expect that one lol. It's a cute show innit? Not a nagi stan but I feel like nagisa has that kinda unsnapped personality that would make him peak delusional yandere material lolol like oikawa but less threatening and without his head being up his own ass 😂. Hope you're doing well!! -gsa

Gdjsjs im such a fool, i think my last ask said something about not thinking you'd write for free when i literally just pointed out kisumi on your sideblog LMAO my bad 😅 😂 also ill hold back on the gen chan requests because ive already asked so many in the past! Thank you though 🥺. Also feel free not to post this, it can just dip into my onesided chats with my lil flower 💐 so long as you receive them im fine 😌 -genki stan anon

vanya: nagisa isn’t my favorite (kisumi is), but gods if he wouldn’t make a great yandere. honestly, out of the iwatobi boys, nagi is probably the most unhinged. i wouldn’t peg him as delusional, at least not at first; i think he’s very lucid and knows exactly what he wants and how to manipulate people in order to get it!!! kisumi is fairly similar now that i think about it... i might... have a type...

please feel free to send in gen-chan requests whenever you want!!!! i’m kinda super asocial, so it’ll take me a while to answer, but i love getting asks from you since you’re so sweet and excitable!!! your little flower reads and cherishes them all!! 🥺

also darling genki stan anon: Sorry for spamming you with asks hdjkdks, u dont even need to reply im just kinda brain empty venting here whether you recieve them or not 😂 i just needed to confess that while yes i am #1 gen simp, and he is undoubtedly my fave oc of yours but that Ilya tentacle smut had me very much so highkey kinda 👀, had to re read the genki oral style drabble to bring my head back. He dont even need to worry about luca bc that man a thot. I think therin is a thot too but like lowkey, a classy thót -gsa

vanya: omg i’ve kept this one for forever mnmghngh i might’ve even answered at some other point, now that i think about it... but i just 🥺 gosh i hope i find my muse soon, because i really wanna write you a genki fic 🥺 hhhh

the ilya tentacle smut was so in character for that boy... i have no clue how to write monsters, much less tentacles, but i’d honestly do anything for him 🙏 kinky russian boy...

therin is definitely a classy thot, the kind that only bangs the finest concubines then turns around and slut shames you for banging the very same prostitutes gbfmngnfg rules don’t apply to him, in his kingdom...wish that were me tbh ✊😔

sweet asks.

darling one: i've read almost all of your dazai and chuuya fics and i love them so much!! your formatting is also super aesthetic just a question, i saw on your kofi that you also draw so i was wondering if you drew all the header arts?? bc they're all super pretty :) have a great day!

darling two: Just wanted to say love the writing and the way your format your posts is so aesthetically pleasing. One day I hope my posts looks half as good as yours because I legit can't get over how pretty and organized it looks.

vanya: omg thank you so much!!!! one of my bffs, yue, is to thank for the formatting and aesthetic choices, really! if you wanna see more of her aesthetic formats and posts, she actually runs a few blogs! you may know her as @milkscafe, formally @milkaaton! i adore her and her aes choices so much 🥺

as for the headers, i don’t draw 99.98% of them! i have drawn a couple, but they’re so few and far in between since i almost never finish my art wips haha... my older posts are lacking proper credits because i’m an absolute idiot, but i’m slowly working my way backwards to credit them all where possible! they’re all indeed super pretty!!!

have a great day yourself, my love!!

darling: THEY’RE NOT BAD CONTENT, I LOVE THEM ALL

vanya: this was in response to a now-deleted lil blurb but i kept it in my inbox because i wanted to say i love u very much and seeing this ask each time i open my inbox makes my heart skip a beat ♡

darling: Listen I love your writing, you inspired me to start it myself! I've always loved to write, and read of course but your style and concepts just stick with me. If you where to write something besides Yandere content/fandom content and started your own series? I would read the shit, out of it. I'm always nervous to interact with my favorite writers because you know, I'm afraid of the impression I'd leave but I just wanted to say this anyway! 💞💞💞🔫😳

vanya: wowowow fgfnmgnfmngfg that’s such a high compliment my brain just gmfnbgmnf go boom fogjfngnfg and thank you for the interaction, us writers truly appreciate it no matter how awkward or nervous you think you may be / come off!!!

darling one: As a writer, your post struck a nerve with me. I don’t send feedback to writers I like nearly as much as I should (and certainly not as much as I’d like in return as a writer). So, as such, I’m going to start doing that when I can, starting with you.

You are an incredible writer. You were one of the first yandere writing blogs I found and you’re still one I check in on regularly to see what you have been working on. You can portray a sense of suspense and intrigue in a natural way that many other writers - published ones included - struggle with. You delve into the darkness without it feeling forced, and you have an amazing grasp on the psyches of the characters you write for (which is a quality I adore in writing and strive toward myself).

I’m not great at ending these things so I guess.. you keep doing you? Because the you is great and I appreciate it.

darling two: hey. i'm here to tell you that from the bottom of my heart i love you and your writings. i really admire your writing skills. you inspire me. one of your posts once saved me from a nervous breakdown. thank you for everything you do. you're a wonderful person. good luck!

darling three: I wanted to tell you that thank you for writing such wonderful beautiful writings and that you take time to edit and write I hope you are taking care of yourself 💖❤

darling four: Thanks. I was having a hard time and deleted all my apps, but as soon as i opened my phone my first instinct was to look at your blog and i got my motivation back. Thanks (:

darling five: Hi ! I just wanted to say I really enjoy the stories you write and how they are detailed so well ! Stay safe and I hope you have a good day/night ! ლ(╹◡╹ლ)

vanya: ahhhh, these are very old asks mostly dating back to my “tumblr writing community is dying” post, and i’ve kept them this entire time because i’m just so starstruck. i have no clue how to reply to compliments, so i’m not sure what else to say besides that these asks made me very happy and got me through a few insecure moments!!! i’ve actually been feeling a little down about my writing recently, mostly because of lack of motivation / inspiration, so revisiting these really warmed my heart, so thank you truly ♡ i’m certainly keeping the originals in my inbox until the end of time!!

darling @monstrously-obsessed: psst, this local cryptic mom thing send all of their love for you 💕

vanya: your local herbo says she loves you very much momster 🥺 mwah

also, to the anon worried about my safety:

thank you so much for pointing that out!!! it hadn’t even crossed my mind when i made those ocs, so i appreciate your concern! i was contemplating revamping those two as is, so this is a great place to start! thank you again!!

#asks collection #not a fic #vanya rambles #[ vanya LITERALLY rambles ]#[ life's hard when you're this asocial i swear fgmnfgnmfg ]#[ now to answer concept asks ]

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apharine · 5 years ago

Text

Sightseeing

Chapter 1

Pairing: Siane x Nanu

Fandom: Pokemon

Rating: T

Read on AO3

My writing commission info!

Summary: Siane hadn't meant to wind up in Alola, under Nanu's care, while she recovered from a mysterious illness that left her prone to weakness and collapsing. But now that she's here and getting stronger, she wants to see more of Ula'ula than just the rainy skies and the Po Town wall by Nanu's police station. And who could be better suited to give her a tour than the Kahuna of the island himself?

Notes: Siane is the wonderful HybridDragoness’ OC and she is amazing! This fic is a commission for Hybrid and I’m honestly so honored to have been able to write for Siane and Nanu bc I love them so much! Hybrid is a really talented artist and you can find her art of Siane here! You can also find Hybrid on Twitter and AO3 under the same handle as on Tumblr!

_____________________

“Is every day like this here?” Siane asks, gesturing vaguely out the window at the grey and looming clouds. It’s already started to drizzle, and she’s sure that by the afternoon, it’ll be pouring. Because here, on Route 17, where she’s staying with Nanu in his police department-slash-home, that just seems to be what the weather always does.

She’s hoping that Nanu will just say that it’s been an unusually bad stretch of monsoon season weather for the last….four weeks? Five? Siane’s a little foggy on exactly how long it had been, and she has the sudden feeling that time has been getting away from her while she’s been so weak.

But Nanu smirks, sipping at his coffee - black - and lowering the newspaper he’s reading, his shocking crimson eyes meeting hers from across the small kitchen table.

“Pretty much,” he responds easily. For a moment, Siane is sure he’s watching her for a reaction, but all she does is blink and look at him closely in return. He’s an odd one to figure out, in some regards - he reminds Siane, oddly, of some of the Pokemon she’s worked with as a conservator, back home. More specifically, he reminds her of the ones that don’t like humans very much.

Except…there’s that light in his eyes, that light that he thinks he conceals. He thinks he’s so surly - and sometimes he is - and he thinks he’s negative in a way that puts her off. But Siane notices the little gleam of curiosity about him, and she knows exactly what it means. She’s seen it before, and she’s seen all the Pokemon with it come around, in the end.

“So,” Siane says, finishing her breakfast and sitting back. “The whole island’s like this?”

Nanu, who had been about to return to his newspaper, sets it down and sighs. A Meowth cries, brushing against his leg, and he automatically reaches down to pet it. Siane’s lips curl into a slight smile at the sight.

“No, of course not,” Nanu returns. “There’s a lot of variety on Ula’ula.”

Siane raises her eyebrows encouragingly.

“Like?” She prompts.

“There’s Malie City, of course, where the weather is typically nicer. We’ve got Hokulani Observatory - they picked their site on Mount Hokulani because it’s above the city lights and it’s almost always clear there. There’s the Haina Desert, too, and the Ula’Ula Meadow just off this Route, which is covered in flowers,” Nanu says, ticking things off on his fingers as he goes.

“Wait - an actual desert? On this island?” Siane says, gesturing again out the window vaguely with a little snicker. It’s nearly impossible to imagine that there can be a place on this same landmass that isn’t absolutely smothered in rain and puddles. “You’re sure you’ve got that right?”

“I better,” Nanu grumbles, picking up the Meowth and setting it in his lap. “I’m Kahuna of ‘this island’, after all.” He does little finger quotes as he speaks, and Siane can’t resist the way her smile grows on her face at his unintentional antics. Nanu notices, though, and frowns at her. “What?”

“Well,” she says, careful to deflect. She’s learning that being too directly friendly with Nanu often puts him off, and she really doesn’t want to put him off just now. “I was just kind of thinking…I’m feeling better these days.”

“You nearly passed out before your shower yesterday,” Nanu says sardonically.

“Yeah, but that was like, the only time I had an issue all day,” Siane says, waving his concern off. Sure, he’d had to catch her, but still - she was doing better, and she hated feeling - or admitting to being - weak. “Don’t give me that look. I know I need to get more of my strength back. But I also need a change of scenery. I’m pretty sure I’m going to wind up with a Vitamin D deficiency here otherwise.”

To her surprise, Nanu actually makes a little snort through his nose that she thinks is supposed to be laughter.

“Vitamin D deficiency or not, you’re in no shape to be going galavanting around the island alone,” Nanu returns, his voice holding a little of that biting edge that he seems to think is so off-putting.

“I know,” Siane shrugs easily. “That’s why I was hoping you’d come with me.”

Siane watches as Nanu takes a sharp breath in, his crimson eyes flashing.

“I have - things to do,” he mumbles, suddenly deflating and looking away.

“I thought it was your day off today,” Siane prods. She knows she’s being a little pushy - there were plenty of friends back home who would be quick to point that out in a moment like this - but she also knows it’s the only way she stands a chance at getting her way. And she needs to get her way. She needs to be stronger - not only for herself, but for all Aedis, too, and she won’t get that if she stays inside this police station forever.

The Meowth in Nanu’s lap jumps off and scampers away, interested in something across the room.

“Yeah. It’s my day off. Doesn’t mean I don’t have things to do around here,” Nanu returns, though the biting edge to his voice is gone.

“I can help you with whatever needs to be done tomorrow,” Siane offers.

“Oh? Then we could just as easily tour the island tomorrow,” Nanu quips, his eyes narrowing.

“I guess we could,” Siane acquiesces. “No reason why it’s gotta happen today, right?” Somehow, the ready admission seems to put Nanu off a little, though he covers it quickly and well, years of his police training likely kicking in at a moment’s notice.

A long silence stretches out between the two of them, and Nanu takes a sip of his coffee, his red eyes drilling into her. Siane tears her eyes away from the Kahuna, instead looking out the window again. The rain had picked up a little, and she traces one particularly fat raindrop as it rolls down the window, gathering other droplets in its path. As easily as she’d admitted that tomorrow worked just as well as today, spending another day doing nothing feels intolerable to her spirit, which is just bursting to be free.

“We can go today,” Nanu finally speaks up, setting his drained coffee cup down on the table.

“We can?” Siane says, her head whipping around to allow her gaze to refocus on Nanu. She could swear that the edges of his lips are turned up just the slightest bit - though it’s hard to see for sure at this distance.

“Yeah. You got me, girl. No reason I can’t do my stuff tomorrow, either, I guess,” the grey-haired man says. Siane’s foot bounces just a little in excitement, and her chest feels like it could explode at the thought of sightseeing and adventure.

“Well - thank you,” Siane says, a grin spreading across her features. She stands to clean her dishes and get ready to go, but immediately, a wave of dizziness hits her. She’d stood a little too fast, though she’s able to conceal this from Nanu by putting her hands flat on the table to brace herself. With the eagerness written all across her face, she’s pretty sure the move just comes across as excitement. “I promise you won’t regret this - we’ll get through everything you need done tomorrow. I’m actually really excited about this, you know. I finally get to see Ula’Ula, and my tour guide is going to be the island’s own Kahuna!”

A crooked smile flashes across Nanu’s face for a moment.

“Finally get to see the island, huh? Didn’t know you’d been wanting to go for so long,” he comments, arching one eyebrow.

“I’ve mentioned it, like, three or four times before now,” Siane laughs, standing up straight now that the dizziness had passed. She gathers up her dishes and sets off for the sink, flashing a teasing smile over her shoulder at Nanu. The man gathers his dishes and hovers close to her as she walks; he clearly doesn’t trust her on her feet just yet, which Siane figures is just as well at this juncture.

“Didn’t really think you were serious when you were saying that stuff, since you couldn’t make it to the door if you’d tried,” Nanu returns dryly.

“Well, I was,” Siane says. “Serious, that is. And I really am excited about this. So thank you again.” She affixes the Kahuna with her best smile, and this time, she definitely sees the way his fingers fidget just a little on his coffee cup.

“Hm,” Nanu says. “You’re welcome, I guess.”

As Siane moves off to the side to put her rinsed dishes in the dishwasher, he scrubs at his coffee cup with a sponge, trying to get the ring of black out of the bottom and trying even more desperately to convince himself that he had agreeing to this just because he didn’t want her to keep bothering him about it. It had nothing to do with the fact that he felt a twinge of pride when he thought of all the radiant locations across the island - his island - or that he wanted to see the look on this young woman’s face as she took them all in.

You could have let her go alone, a small voice insists in the back of his mind. Send Honchkrow with her. She’d be fine, and Honchkrow could fly her home if she were to have a problem.

But the thought of Siane, crumpled on the ground and hurt, alone, in a strange place, makes his heart clench a little. And why shouldn’t it? His job - both as a cop and a Kahuna - was to protect people. Whether Nanu liked it or not, he was a protector, and the young woman currently telling him she was going to go find some shoes for going out in had landed herself squarely in his protection.

“You’re going to want to change your clothes, too,” he calls after her, putting his coffee cup in the dishwasher. “The rest of Ula’ula is a lot sunnier and hotter than it is here.”

“Okay!” Siane calls back, and Nanu allows himself to smile a little to himself as he scratches the ear of a Meowth who’d come up to nuzzle at him on the counter.

Whatever the reason he had agreed to play tour guide for the day, he has to admit that he feels a little excited about it, too.

***

“So, Kahuna,” Siane grins, standing under the eaves of the police station to stay out of the rain. Nanu glances up from the device he’s trying to operate - apparently called a ride pager - and affixes Siane with what should be a withering gaze, except that she’s in too good of a mood to find it anything other than amusing. “Where to first?”

“If I can get a Charizard to come, we’ll be going to Malie City first,” Nanu grumbles, turning to frown down at the device again. “Pretty sure I just - there we go.”

“You use that thing often, huh?” Siane asks coyly, and Nanu’s eyes flit back up to her, a sharp expression in their red depths - but it vanishes quickly, as soon as Nanu realizes Siane’s teasing is harmless, playful, even.

“Usually I just fly on Honchkrow if I’m going any distance, but I can’t ask him to carry both of us,” Nanu explains.

“Makes sense,” Siane says, shifting on her feet a little. Nanu’s surprised to find himself taking a step closer to her, just in case that little weight shift was a sign of any impending wooziness. But no - she seems steady on her feet, and he’s just worrying too much. “You know, I am a flying-type specialist. I’m sure Fearow could carry me.”

Nanu frowns at this.

“No. I’d feel better if you were on the Ride Pager Charizard. They come with this, kind of a saddle thing,” Nanu explains, trying to gesture with his hands to indicate what he was talking about. “You’ll be safer on that.”

The unspoken implication of the hazards of Siane’s unpredictable weakness hangs between them for a moment.

“So what’s in Malie City?” Siane finally asks.

“Well, there’s the Malie Garden, and the architecture is pretty spectacular in the city. It’s right on the ocean, too, so you’ll get to see that. Plus I figured we could pick up some takeout to have for lunch later,” Nanu shrugs.

“Yeah? Like, a picnic?” Siane asks, sounding a little excited. A lopsided smile pulls at Nanu’s lips, but he smooths it over in a flash.

“Something like that. Mount Hokulani isn’t far from the city, so we can take a bus to the observatory if you’d like,” Nanu continues, thinking through his last-minute plans for the day out loud.

“I wanna see this desert you claim exists here, too,” Siane says, giving Nanu another teasing grin. Nanu only frowns at her words.

“The desert is halfway across the island, Siane,” he says. “And the conditions there are harsh. Neither of us are really sure how much you’ll be up to…”

Siane’s face falls, and to Nanu’s surprise, he actually trails off instead of hammering his point home, like he usually would. He grimaces and glances away, scanning the cloudy skies for any sign of the Charizard he’d called. Nothing yet, of course.

“We’ll see how the day goes,” Nanu concludes. Even as he continues to look away from the young woman by his side, he’s surprised to hear himself softening his own words for her.

Must be getting soft in my old age, he thinks to himself, grimacing again.

A long silence stretches out between the two of them, but Nanu can sense the way she continues to shift her weight a little, clearly regaining her sense of anticipation for the day ahead. Nanu is happy to stay quiet and listen to the rain, which pours off the eaves over them and trickles to the ground in great drops.

Finally, he sees a winged figure approaching through the clouds - Charizard. He puts one hand up to wave it down, though he knows it’s likely unnecessary - all Ride Pager Charizards know the Island exceptionally well. Siane looks to him, then back to the approaching Pokemon, and decides to mimic him, waving it down as well.

Hmm. Cute.

Nanu’s eyes widen at the thought. Had he - had he just thought she was cute? No. Acerola was cute. Meowth was cute. A grown young woman relying on him for safety and protection could absolutely not, under any circumstances, be cute.

Charizard lands with a happy roar of greeting, and Siane’s eyes light up at the sight. She glances over to Nanu, a brilliant smile on her face, and exclaims,

“Are you seeing this? He’s got a saddle! And I’ve never seen a Charizard so orange before! Their faces are different in Aedis, too!”

Before Nanu can reply, she hustles over to the Charizard, approaching him politely and letting him sniff her while she continues to coo over him. Nanu rolls his eyes, but ultimately smiles to himself. If she thinks this is exciting, she’s gonna have an amazing day ahead.

#nanu #kahuna nanu #officer nanu #nanu x oc #siane #siane oc #pokemon #pokemon sun and moon #commission #aph writes

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