#i had so much trouble fighting my cutting machine for this

[zongzhii]

Fun and friendly silverwolf sticker for the gamers in chat

[spider-jaysart]

Okay soooo, first time I'm doing something like this, but I wanna introduce a fave oc of mines today that I've been working on for a longtime now :)

Her name is Nadja Al Ghul-Wayne-Kent and she's a Damijon kid

(Click for better quality)

@camo-wolf @paladin-of-nerd-fandom65

The name Nadja means "hope" in Arabic. My very dear friend @theredheaded-stuff was the one who helped me pick it. And her hero name is Super Canyon, which is inspired by the Canyon Wren bird

(More under the cut)

(Edited some stuff on this post now btw)

Backstory:

After being inspired by the story of how Kon was created, a secret group of no good scientists, who just love causing chaos with many of their inventions, decided one day to create a mixed clone of both Damian and Jon, thinking they can do better than Lex did, so they collected both of the boys DNA's after one of their recent battles in public and got to work. Once their experiment was supposed to be done, they saw that their machine had actually created a baby girl instead of a grown, powerful clone like they had wanted, so they were ready to dispose of her as a failed subject, but were suddenly stopped just on time by Damian and Jon who broke into the place and kicked their butts after finding out that a recently committed crime they were investigating was caused by them. When they were done, the boys found Nadja and were surprised to find out she's a clone related to them both. They decided to take her with them and made her their daughter to raise together after that.

Personality:

She's helpful, stubborn, is as intelligent as Damian is, friendly but also tough when she needs to be, observant, sometimes a little too honest about things but doesn't always mean it as rude, courageous (a trait that can be pretty helpful sometimes, but also get her into really big trouble during dangerous situations too), a prankster, and very protective of others, especially her loved ones

Abilities and skills:

She has the usual Kryptonian abilities, which are flying, super strength, superhearing, superspeed, superbreath, ice breath, invulnerablity, x-ray vision, and laser vision that's purple instead of the usual red (because Lois has purple eyes, so it's something unique that was passed onto her that way). Sometimes they don't always work though and can accidentally get out of hand too since she's still growing and learning, but Jon aways tries his best to help her get better at using and controlling them. Nadja also uses many concentrating tips from Damian too for improvement, like meditating for example and other things like that, and he helps her practice them

And because she's half Kryptonian, she also has a couple of unlocked special abilities of her own too, which is invisiblity, the ability to phase through walls and objects, plus the power to also transfer the heat of her laser vision into the palm of her hands to burn who or whatever she touches and she can also let it absorb her whole body too if she wants, which makes her even more untouchable and at the same time lets her release a strong fiery blast around herself onto enemies or incoming threats (her body glows completely purple whenever she does this and if it's just her hands, the same happens to them too). Nadja hasn't been able to properly master these special powers yet though, only one of them, which is the invisiblity one

For skills, thanks to teachings from Damian, plus Talia whenever she visits her, Nadja knows how to use a sword and fight well in combat in case her powers aren't working the way she urgently needs them to during patrols and missions

Random facts:

She calls Damian Baba and Jon Dad.

She calls Clark "Grampops" and Bruce "Grampbats". For Talia, she calls her "Grandmother" and for Lois, she calls her "Grandmama".

Her best friend is her same age Cousin Dick II, the Son of her much older Cousin Jake Grayson and his Wife Meredith Robinson. In the Batfamily (besides Damian), she's close with all her Aunt and Uncles. And for the Al Ghul's, she also gets excited whenever she visits Talia and Ra's. And while she definitely also gets along a lot with her other relatives who are in the Superfamily, the person she's most closest to there (besides Jon ofc) is Kon, due to them both being created as clones meant for evil but turned out good instead, which got them to bond even more as Uncle and Niece.

Her voice sounds like Clementine's from Telltales the walking dead games, but specifically the version of it from season 2 for the tween age she's in right now.

She has messy hair like Jon when she lets it loose. Jon is the one who always has to brush her hair whenever it gets tangled up, since the steel strength of it is just too difficult for Damian to actually handle himself.

Nadja laughs at Damian's jokes all the time since she gets his dark humor and he loves that. They always laugh a lot about it together but when Jon's around, they're Iike "You wouldn't get it" and he gets all offended.

Jon passed his love for noodles onto Najda and Damian's usually like "That's not healthy!!" And tries cooking her vegetarian meals more often or healthy ones that Talia would used to make him back when he was a kid, just so that Najda will eat real food lol. Najda also really loves the meals that comes from Damian's culture too and gets happy whenever he makes them for dinner.

For nicknames, Jon will sometimes call her "Sweetpea", "Sugar cookie", and "Tootsie pops", while Damian calls her "Habibti", "Thamin" (meaning "precious" in Arabic), and "Galbi" (which means "my heart" in Arabic)

Damian matches his outfits with Nadja all the time just like Talia would always used to do with him when he was a little kid. He does this with Jon included too and they take pictures together.

When making her hero suit, Damian was the one who helped Nadja out in drawing the designs and brainstormed ideas with her. When she had finally found one she liked and was ready to make it, Damian and Jon could've helped her sew it and everything, but they didn't have many materials that she could use or a sewing machine either, only a regular sewing kit that they use to fix up their own suits whenever they get damaged, so they let her make it with Ma's help instead at her place when they visit her and Pa again, since she actually owned a machine and also had a sewing room filled with many useful materials. When asked, Ma didn't mind letting Nadja use her stuff at all and was instead delighted about it since it would just give them the chance to spend time with eachother while doing one of her favorite hobbies together.

And next time, while having their usual Mother and Son days out together, Talia helped Damian pick out the sarong skirt for Nadja while hanging around stores, since they thought it would be nice for her to have one. Jon was the one who bought Nadja the red sneakers while shopping together with Kathy, since it reminded him of Kathy's old purple, rainbow ones, but with a twist of red thrown onto it, which also reminded him a lot of his favorite old ones that he used to always wear as a kid too. Dick and Cyborg helped her insert digital tech into her cuffs, which lets out hologram screens that let her know whenever she's over using her powers since she's still mastering them and it does plenty of other useful things for her too.

Najda was also given a mask to go with her suit at first too since she thinks it's annoying to wear glasses in her regular life everyday, but then it got lost during a fight and some villains saw her face, so she was still forced to go with the glasses route in the end anyways.

As adults, Jon's a scientist and Damian's a veterinarian. Najda likes visiting both of her Dads at their day jobs after school and doing her homework there while they work. She always promises to behave and not get in the way and if she has no work to do, she'll help them out too, which they appreciate. She also loves watching what they do and let's them happily explain their favorite stuff about the job to her. She knows a lot about taking care of animals and science because of this.

Nadja loves music and making it too. She even thinks about playing rock music for a living when she grows up. Damian and Jon support her in this and buy her the instruments she needs and they also listen to her songs when she wants to show it off to them. Because of them being in a band themselves back when they were kids, Damian, Jon, Chris, and Jake give her lessons sometimes on how to better play her instruments.

Civilians and especially interviewers always question about how they had Nadja and just assume that she's adopted or assume that just because she looks more like Damian, she's probably from a secret ex girlfriend he had before being with Jon. The last one annoys both Damian and Jon so much, especially Jon since Nadja is actually his kid too and he gets jealous at the thought of the ridiculous idea. Both him and Damian hate these rumors and just want everyone to mind their own business.

[hd-wireless]

📻🎶 H/D WIRELESS 2024 - WEEKLY WRAP-UP #2

Welcome to our second wrap up of 2024!

Two weeks of posting have passed, and we have already revealed 19 absolute bangers for you, and there are plenty more hits still to come! Today we're not only thanking our creators but the readers as well!   🎉  Thank you all for being amazing!

As always you can listen to the prompted songs for the works we post on two playlists:

Click here for Spotify (many thanks to @evaeleanor for helping us out there) ❤��� And here for the YouTube playlist.

Please enjoy this week’s entries below the cut:

🎶 H/D Wireless Art 🎶

📻 MY FRIENDS SAY I SHOULDN'T SEE YOU ANYMORE [T, Digital Art ]

🎵 Song Prompt: bad idea right? by Olivia Rodrigo  🎵 Summary: Both Draco's and Harry's friends don't approve of their little... dalliance. But it's so hard to stay away from each other! Could this be a bit more than just casual?

📻 He Did IT! [Not Rated, Digital Art]

🎵 Song Prompt: No Body, No Crime by Taylor Swift  🎵 Summary: Harry: I think he did it but I just can't prove it, 'Mione!!  Hermione: And, what exactly did he do, Harry?  Harry: I-, I don't know! Something! He has to! It feels weird every time I look at him!!  Hermione: .....  Ron: ......  Ron: Mate...  Or, it's sixth year and Malfoy is definitely up to something! Why else would Harry's heart beat so fast every time the stupid git so much as looks at him!?!

🎶 H/D Wireless Fic 🎶

📻 Draco Malfoy’s Guide to Seduction (DISCLAIMER: not guaranteed to work on one HJ Potter) [M, 11,107 ]

🎵 Song Prompt: 'Push the button' by 'Sugababes'  🎵 Summary: Harry's gorgeous. Draco wants him.  Draco's exasperatedly trying to get him to get. the. message.

📻 karma is a (cat) [E, 8,714 ]

🎵 Song Prompt: Karma by Taylor Swift  🎵 Summary: Draco knew that his karma would come one to him one day and make him pay for all the mistakes he made during the war.  But he didn’t expect for it to have four legs, white whiskers, and a soft bushy tail.

📻 Kiss and Tell [E, 27,786 ]

🎵 Song Prompt: Kiss and Tell by Bryan Ferry  🎵 Summary: Sometimes, Harry really fucking hated being himself. All he wanted was to be left alone. That, and someone to share his life with. Was that too much to ask? Apparently so.  When Harry’s sex-life was plastered across the front page of the Daily fucking Prophet, he decided to get away until it all died down. Unfortunately, trouble had always known how to find him.  Would it be possible to forgive the unforgivable?

📻 When the Flood Comes [E, 10,340]

🎵 Song Prompt: Eat Your Young by Hozier  🎵 Summary: Nine years on from the war, Auror Potter is upholding the Ministry of Magic's rule of law.  Senior legal counsel Draco Malfoy is challenging it.  And absolutely nothing is as it seems.

📻 Never Getting Over You [E, 4,396]

🎵 Prompt: Attention by Charlie Puth  🎵 Summary: Harry finally gets the push he needs to fight for what he's lost after a breakup that no one wanted.

📻 Mermaid [E, 3,000]

🎵 Song Prompt: 'Mermaids' by Florence and The Machine  🎵 Summary: “Your magic,” Harry says. “It’s gone.”  “It’s a curse,” Draco says, sounding wry. “Courtesy of Aunt Bellatrix. Disown a Black, and you’ll take their magic away, too. Even if their family name is Malfoy.” “What could bring your magic back?” Draco laughs in his ear. “True love’s kiss," he murmurs. And then he turns in Harry’s arms.

📻 Us, infinite (unfortunately) [E, 77,287 ]

🎵 Song Prompt: All Things End by Hozier  🎵 Summary: It’s very fitting for how Harry’s life has gone thus far that he gets trapped in a time loop without rhyme, reason, or warning.  To make matters infinitely worse, the one other person stuck on the same hellish chronological ride is Draco Malfoy, git extraordinaire.

🎶 H/D Wireless Podfic 🎶

📻 [Podfic] Move, move [T, 54:30 ]

🎵 Song Prompt: Bar Italia by Pulp 🎵 Summary: She grabbed Harry’s hand, slipping something small into it and pressing his fingers around it.  “Dilectio. It’ll cheer you up. Make you feel like dancing.”  Harry gaped at her. Drugs. Ginny’s fucking giving me drugs?  At Stasis nightclub Ginny does indeed give Harry drugs. But it's all good: Malfoy looks after Harry, and Harry grapples with newfound enlightenments, not to mention a newfound fascination with all things Malfoy—one which persists even when he finds out what Malfoy's up to.

[thepiper0fhameln]

Hydra Trash Party Fanwork Recs

For the @tenyearsoftrash event. (Throwing this together quickly and life is getting in the way, so I may add more as the event goes on.)

—

Power Corrupts 

by SageGarnish Relationships: James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers, Peggy Carter/Steve Rogers Summary: Set post-Endgame, Steve Rogers is definitely in love with Bucky, but he's decided it can never be. When he returns to 1948, he marries Peggy, but is haunted by the knowledge that Bucky is currently The Winter Soldier, and has 70 years of suffering ahead. Steve knows he shouldn't damage the timeline with large changes, so he decides to start small. Surely it would be okay to simply infiltrate HYDRA, become Bucky's handler and make his suffering that much less. But he's not prepared for the allure of being in control of Bucky, nor of being able to make him orgasm with a command. My notes: A fantastic WIP that I will forever hold out hope may continue someday. But if not, just imagining where this goes does so much for me.

tear me to pieces, skin to bone (hello, welcome home)

by voxofthevoid Relationships: James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers Summary: This isn’t his Steve. This isn’t Captain America, and this sure as fuck isn’t the little guy from Brooklyn who was too dumb not to run away from a fight. This isn’t the Winter Soldier either, Hydra’s mindless machine. Whatever came out of all that, of the man who was all of those at some point in his life—Bucky’s not sure if it’s someone he wants to know. But it’s Steve.  Steve reaches out, one bear paw of a hand reaching for Bucky’s face. Bucky grits his teeth and forces himself not to flinch. He’s expecting another blow, maybe fingers pushing into his mouth, but what he gets is a finger tracing the cleft in his chin—the spot his Steve used to love to kiss. Bucky shivers at the gentle touch, caught off guard and floundering. He’s only more unsettled when Steve’s hand settles on his cheek, big enough to cradle the entire side of Bucky’s face.“Pretty boy,” Steve murmurs. “Should I keep you?” - Captain America is sent to hunt down a ghost. My notes: HTP-adjacent, role-reversal

A History of Birds

by OddityBoddity Relationships: James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers Summary: "You look like him," Bucky says. No prompting, no nothing. He just speaks, like this is a thing he does. "What?" Steve asks. He didn’t really hear it, too stunned by the fact that words were coming out of Bucky’s mouth to understand their meaning. "You look like him. So did Pierce." His voice is soft, gravelly from disuse. "Is that why they picked you?" Steve’s heart plunges like an elevator with the cables cut. “Buck, it is me.” The hard line of Bucky’s mouth softens just a little. “Sure,” he says.

End of the Line

by OddityBoddity Relationships: James "Bucky" Barnes/Alexander Pierce Summary: Alexander Pierce is an absolute horror of a human being and this is a troubling fic.

Home To Me (what makes it right is an unknown thing) 

by Ravening for Violencio Relationships: James "Bucky" Barnes/Helmut Zemo, Heike Zemo/Helmut Zemo, James "Bucky" Barnes/Heike Zemo/Helmut Zemo, James "Bucky" Barnes/Heinrich Zemo (minor), Helmut Zemo/Original Male Character (minor) Summary: Helmut Zemo grows up with the Winter Soldier by his side.

Tata brought the Winter Soldier home for the first time when Helmut was five years old. They had hounds on the estate, of course. Tata kept several breeds of hunting dogs in the kennel; had taken Helmut with him a handful of times to course hare in the spring and shoot pheasant in autumn. He’d let Helmut chase after the dogs as they’d crunched through the underbrush and trotted back with their prey, limp and bloodied, dutifully clasped in their jaws. Helmut was familiar with his tata’s pets, but none were as obedient as the Winter Soldier.

cover me in sweet gasoline

by ghostlygun Relationships: James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers, James "Bucky" Barnes/Hydra Agents Summary: It’s just Steve. You can hear him setting down the shield by the coat rack. It looks different now; they’ve repainted it in black and red, just like his uniform. He’s no longer Captain America. All of this feels wrong, and sometimes you can’t even stand his touch, but then he smiles at you, a warm, soft smile, and all your doubts melt away.

What'd I Miss? 

by SkadiLaughedFirst, Wish_I_Had_A_Tail Relationships: James "Bucky" Barnes & Brock Rumlow, James "Bucky" Barnes & Steve Rogers, Steve Rogers & Brock Rumlow, Steve Rogers & Sam Wilson, James "Bucky" Barnes & Steve Rogers & Sam Wilson, Jack Rollins & Brock Rumlow, Clint Barton & Natasha Romanov Summary: Rumlow's on his way back from a mission. He's tired and pissed off, and the whole thing was a pain in the ass, especially 'cause it meant he had to be out of the country while Insight was going down. He hopes everything went okay. Guess he'll find out once he turns his phone back on.

Attention to Detail 

by Buckminsterfullerene (AnonymousLeek) Relationships: Jack Rollins/Brock Rumlow, Steve Rogers/Brock Rumlow Summary: Jack overhears Brock getting hurt. After the attacker leaves, he offers comfort to his wayward commander. Whether Brock considers it comfort is another matter entirely.

to catch a fallen star 

by Spintwin for mikazure Relationships: Steve Rogers/Brock Rumlow Summary: In an alternate Captain America: The Winter Soldier timeline, where Captain America has been working for Hydra since 1945, the Lemurian Star mission sees Black Widow stealing Hydra software, revealing that Nick Fury knows that Hydra is working within SHIELD. Naturally, someone has to pay for this mistake, and that someone is Brock Rumlow.

Lamb and Martyr 

by Dira Sudis (dsudis) Relationships: James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers Summary: "You could, though," Steve said. "If you were willing to hurt me."

Daybreak 

by throttlegainwel Relationships: James "Bucky" Barnes & Steve Rogers Summary: Hydra uses the Winter Soldier to keep their captives in line by brutal means. One visit is usually enough to instill obedience. But this latest prisoner, Rogers, seems to have caught their interest in a big way.

Mindbeast 

by Defiler_Wyrm for Lies_Unfurl Relationships: James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers, James "Bucky" Barnes/Other(s) Summary: Hydra has captured something remarkable, and they must take remarkable measures to win its compliance: it’s breeding season for the monster, and they offer up the Winter Soldier to be its mate. The beast and the Soldier meet again, and again, and again.

[averagewriter-inthedark]

Love Across the Galaxy 🌌 | Helmut Zemo Imagine

Contains spoilers for GOTG Vol.3

Link to my Marvel masterlist

Characters & Pairings: Baron Helmut Zemo x Roman Goddess/Guardians!reader (romantic), The Thunderbolts—Baron Zemo, Bucky Barnes, Thaddeus Ross, Valentina Alegra De Fontaine, John Walker, Ghost, Justin Hammer, Taskmaster, Yelena, & Red Hulk (platonic), The Guardians of the Galaxy—Quill, Mantis, Nebula, Drax, Rocket, Groot, Kraglin, & Cosmo (platonic)

Content Warnings: profanity, light angst, fluff, mentions of death, fighting & violence, spoilers for GOTG Vol.3 (don’t read if you haven’t seen it!) | female!reader (she/her) | wc: 4.9k

Requested 📨 yes/no (rules for requests)

Premise: In which Baron Helmut Zemo, hater of the Avengers and desire to rid the planet of enhanced beings, becomes a member of the antihero team led by General Thaddeus Ross & CIA Director Valentina Fontaine where he meets the legendary group of misfits turned Guardians of the freakin Galaxy and loses his heart to a Goddess with a love for 80s music and talent for cutting of limbs.

Note: GOTG Vol 3 has permanently altered my brain chemistry and I cannot stop thinking about it. Truly the best film since Endgame & it’s inspired me cause I’m also back to loving Zemo again. I refuse to believe Marvel would give us a Thunderbolts film w/o Zemo so I will make sure he’s in this team.

After learning about all the Gods in Thor: Love & Thunder, picture you are Minerva, the Roman Goddess of Wisdom & War (Roman equivalent to the Greek’s Athena) and has cosmic powers similar to the Eternal’s Thena and has been with the Guardians since the events of the first GOTG film.

————————

Fall 2023

“I don’t see why we need these people to help us,” Zemo rolled his eyes, strolling beside General Ross with the rest of the team around them. Once outside the cool breeze hit him, ruffling the lapels of his coat as his eyes squinted from the bright light.

Ross lets out a tired sigh, “Because, Zemo, as much as it galls me to admit it this threat is far beyond what we can deal with. It’s not terrestrial and chances are these…” he had trouble coming up with the word, “let’s just say they’re more experienced for this situation.”

They all stop before the flight line. It’s clear all around them with no sign of an approaching vessel.

“Who are these guys again?” Justin Hammer popped some jelly beans in his mouth. John looks down at the file in his hands, making a face as he does.

“They call themselves…The Guardians of the Galaxy.”

“Oh God,” Bucky moans, immediately making mental notes to protect his mental arm knowing a certain talking animal was on the hunt for it. He was gonna have to sleep with one eye open.

Zemo raises his brow, “Friends of yours, James?” Bucky is not pleased by the assumption.

“I wouldn’t call them that.”

“Aren’t they part of the Avengers?” Ava’s tone is slightly disapproving. While Scott Lang and the Pym/Van Dyne’s helped her, she still got bad rep despite doing what she did to survive.

Zemo, not happy with the idea of working with Avengers, snatches the file from Walker.

“Not technically,” Ross replies while Zemo reads over the page. “They arrived with Thor in 2018 against the first battle with Thanos, remained an associate to the team while continuing whatever the hell it is they do in space, and returned in 2023 to defeat the purple bastard once and for all.”

“Did you fight with them, Bucky?” Yelena asks from beside the soldier.

“Yeah,” the memory appears in his mind. Specifically where he grabbed Rocket by the scruff and spun them in circles to cover more area as they fired off their guns. “Our interactions were brief…but memorable.”

The Baron had seen many things over the years, like the rest of humanity with the formation of the Avengers and reveal of intergalactic and enhanced beings, but to stay he wasn’t thinking, ‘what the fuck?’ by the picture in front of him would be a lie.

An earthling turned ravager, a blue mercenary, a woman with antennas, a genetically engineered raccoon, a living tree, a gray alien that could take down Thor, a man with a metal Mohawk, a telekinetic dog, and an exiled sword wielding Goddess. All misfits and outcasts, mostly space criminals turned superhero guardians of the cosmos.

Well….they were quite the bunch.

“They are not still with the Avengers, I take it?” Zemo wanders around, eyes lingering on the Goddess. White streaks adorned her natural hair color, eyes gold and lips painted with what appeared to be a permanent smirk. She wore a gold and white headpiece that had an owl extending its wings.

Name/Alias: Minerva, Goddess of War; Race: Deity; Planet of Origin: Caelum; Age: approx. 2500 yrs (39 Earth yrs); Occupation: Warrior/Mercenary/Defender of the Andromeda Galaxy; Allegiance: The High Council of Caelum (formerly), Guardians of the Galaxy, Thor, God of Thunder, The Avengers (formerly); Abilities: Cosmic manipulation, enhanced strength, agility, speed, & durability, thermal detection & mental teleportation; Specialization: artillery and battle strategy.

Ross let out a sigh, “only when the planet is about to go to shit due to an intergalactic threat. Which we’ve now got on our hands, but considering the Avengers are all on sabbatical I’m sending you in,” he checks his watch, “but I need all the extra hands and like I said, they’re experienced.”

Zemo stares at the blank sky, “How will we know they've arrived?”

“Believe me,” Ross mutters under his breath. “You’ll know.”

A loud rumbling noise caught everyone’s attention, gazes turning upward as a hexagon shaped breech in the sky revealed a very large spaceship in its wake, followed by the distinct lyrics of AC/DC’s ‘Back to Black.’

“Back in black. I hit the sack. I’ve been too long, I’m glad to be back. Yes, I’m let loose. From the noose. That’s kept me hanging about.”

“Oh my,” Yelena breathed out, hair flying back from the gust of wind. Zemo lifted a hand to cover his face from the leaves, as did the others, many wide eyed.

“I’ve been looking at the sky. ‘Cause it’s gettin’ me high. Forget the hearse ‘cause I never die. I got nine lives. Cat’s eyes. Abusin’ every one of them running wild.”

“Great song,” Justin voiced, grinning from ear to ear. The ship made its descent, music getting louder.

“‘Cause I’m back. Yes, I’m back. Well, I’m back,” it approached the tarmac, “Yes, I’m back. Well, I’m back, back.” wheels hit the tarmac, engine powering down but music still blasting, “Well, I’m back in black,” the ship doors opened, revealing steps extending to the ground, “Yes, I’m back in black.”

It was almost like a scene from a movie. Slow-motion if one will by how the Guardians exited their ship and stepped foot on the tarmac with AC/DC on full volume. All dressed in their new suits of red and blue leather with the Ravager flames on the chest.

Arriving in style.

Quill led with the rest flanking his sides. Drax munching on snacks while Nebula looked menacing and Groot towered over everyone. Cosmo had her tongue out in excitement, Rocket carrying his gun strapped to his back. Mantis’s chin held high, like she was on top of the world and Kraglin trying not to appear lost. Lastly Minerva was drinking a caprisun, Ray Bans covering her gold eyes.

Zemo tilts his head in amusement at the sight. He expected the Goddess, of war nonetheless, to have a more menacing approach like Nebula considering her reputation. But she was just as relaxed and laid back as Drax.

The Guardians walked several paces until they were directly in front of the Thunderbolts. It was then the music stopped, Ross being the first to address them. “You sure know how to make an entrance.”

Quill gave a smug grin, “We know.” Hands go to his hips, “You’re wearing a suit so you must be the boss man. Although I believe there’s also a boss lady we’re here to do business with.”

“Director Fontaine is currently occupied. She’ll be arriving in the morning.”

“I assume we won’t be knowing a damn thing until that happens, huh?”

Ross tightens his lips, “You assume correctly.”

“I told you we should’ve handled it on our own,” Minerva’s glances to Quill annoyed. Surprised by her voice, Zemo's eyebrows raised at her sudden input. Her accent was slightly Italian given her mythological origin is Roman.

Quill clicked his tongue, “We don’t have authority here, Minnie.”

“Midgard is part of the Andromeda Galaxy. Technically we should.”

Now the man was giving her a pointed look after Ross’s body language turned defensive, “I’d rather not get our asses thrown in Earth’s prison system. We go by the rules—the ones we established.”

Minerva grumbles under her breath, finishing the last remnants of her juice pouch, “Would’ve finished the job faster. They wouldn’t even know we were here.”

“Okay well, we’re doing things this way. We’re here as a team to work with a team. Right, Mr. Secretary?”

Ross’ disapproving eyes linger on Minerva, who in return rolls her own, before turning his attention back to Quill, “Yes. Now let’s move on shall we?”

He lets out a breath of relief, “Agreed.” Bidding a warning look to each of his teammates, they all wait for what the man in the suit has to say. Ross extends a hand to the people on either side of him.

“This is my team. All with different levels of skill and experience. Justin Hammer is our tech and weapons specialist,” Justin gives a wave, “Yelena Belova,” Ross points to the blonde in a white tactical suit, “former Black Widow and master assassin.” At the mention of Black Widow Rocket, Nebula, and Minerva all tense, faces becoming solemn at the memory of Natasha. They were the three remaining Guardians during the blip, becoming close with the Avenger.

“Ava Starr, she can phase through anything,” they all look impressed, finding the talent cool. “Antonia Dreykov, who we like to call Taskmaster.”

“Why’s that?” Kraglin asked intrigued.

“She has photographic reflexes and can mimic your fighting powers. Basically use your own moves against you.”

“Niceeee,” all the Guardians echo. Ross points to the two individuals in between Zemo and Yelena.

“Our super soldiers, Captain John Walker and I believe you all know Sergeant Barnes.” Bucky tightens his mouth with a curt nod.

“You still got that arm on ya?” Rocket muses, earning a nudge—well more like a kick—from Minerva. The rest of the Thunderbolts besides Bucky all become wide-eyed at the talking Raccoon…even though it said on the file he could.

But how the fuck else were they suppose to react to a talking raccoon?

All Bucky does is glare, “Don’t even think about it.” Rocket shrugs, “Worth a shot.”

“Why is that one carrying a giant frisbee?” Drax’s mouth is filled with Zargnuts. Walker, the man in question, becomes visibly offended.

“It’s a shield not a frisbee.” Zemo bites back a smirk at the soldier's tone. Not to mention the Guardians' reactions were priceless.

“A shield?” Mantis repeats confused.

“It’s a frisbee,” Drax mumbles.

“Like that circular object Minerva conjures to deflect attacks,” Nebula tiredly explains. Mantis’s mouth forms the shape of an ‘o’.

“And lastly,” Ross sounds just as exhausted as the cyborg, “Baron Helmut Zemo, former intelligence operative.”

“I am Groot,” Zemo’s attention goes to the tree alien, confused by his words. Minerva, seeing his expression, addresses it, “He says he likes your fancy cape.”

‘Cape?’ He thinks, but doesn’t comment on it and his perplexed reaction makes Minerva smirk. Instead Zemo says, “Well, I appreciate the compliment. Thank you.” Groot’s pleased, grinning wide like a child.

It’s then Quill’s turn to formally introduce the Guardians. The Thunderbolts bite back their own amusement at the nicknames and surprise of hearing the dog, Cosmo, speak through her suit with a distinct Russian accent. Afterwards Ross leads them all into the hangar, Minerva removing her sunglasses now that she was inside, allowing her gold eyes to be visible.

From there they all interact, awkwardly for the most part as they have no idea what the hell to do as they wait for further instruction. It soon becomes bickering and even challenging someone in hand-to-hand combat.

Well, what can you expect when a team of heroes meet a team of villains/anti heroes? Rivalry at its finest.

“Any day now, Quill,” Minerva groans, relaxing her stance. Across from her several feet away was Walker, confused by why she was taking so long to attack. They were standing in the middle of the squared off area with the teams surrounding them, but giving enough space to avoid being in the crossfire. Quill was scrolling through his Walkmen.

“What’s he doing?” Zemo whispers to Kraglin, eyes flicking back and forth from the human Guardian and the Goddess.

“Trying to find a good fight song. You know, get the vibes going.” Out on the square Minerva lets out a loud huff signaling her annoyance was increasing.

“Just give me another second—.”

“Quill.”

“I almost got it.”

“Pick a goddamn song!”

“Fine!” Quill shouts, randomly selecting the first one his finger hits. A second later Duran Duran’s ‘Hungry Like the Wolf,’ blasts through all the speakers attached to the Guardians arms. The antiheroes become perplexed, while also noting the song choice. Justin and Yelena started to bop their heads.

“Darken the city, night is a wire. Steam in the subway, earth is afire. (Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do)”

Minerva smirked, retaking her stance. As she lifts her hands, cosmic energy around her consorts to physical matter, taking the shape of a spear and shield in either hand. Wide eyes take over the Thunderbolts.

“Woman, you want me, give me a sign. And catch my breathing even closer behind. (Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do)”

“Wow,” Justin exhales. “In touch with the ground. I’m on the hunt, I’m after you.”

“That’s so cool,” Yelena muses, others muttering in agreement. “Smell like the sound, I'm lost in the crowd. And I’m hungry like the wolf.” Keeping his admirations to himself, Zemo watches the scene unfold in silence.

“First one to step or get thrown out of the square loses,” Bucky shouts over the music, “Ready….” Walker clutches the strap of his shield, Minerva twirling her spear once, “Fight!”

“Stalked in the forest, too close to hide,” Walker lets out a cry, charging at the Goddess. “I’ll be upon you by the moonlight side (Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do,” Minerva blocks his attack, pushing back slightly only to crouch to swipe at his legs, “High blood drumming on your skin, it’s so tight,” Walker dodges her spear, but fails to avoid her kick to his chest, sending him backward. “You feel my heat, I’m just a moment behind.” He brings his shield up in time as her spear barrels down at him. “Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do.”

They continue their one-on-one for several minutes, both coming close to getting the other out of the square and the song changing to ‘Cherry Bomb’ by The Runaways—a favorite amongst the Guardians. The entire time Zemo was mesmerized to say the least. Every move she made was effortless, showcasing strengths and ability to predict Walker's moves.

He hadn’t felt such attraction to a woman in so long. And here he was experiencing a feeling that was almost unfamiliar.

Ultimately Minerva wins the battle in what one would call a divine move. At the peak of the song, Minerva’s golden eyes glow bright resulting in the eyes of the owl headpiece to also glow and become animated. It takes form, coming to life and soars straight at Walker, throwing him off by covering his face.

“What the—uuugh!!” He’s flying through the air, back meeting the harsh ground with an audible groan. The owl leaves him, returning to Minerva and consorting back into a headpiece. When it does her eyes dim back to their normal hue. Her team broke out into whistles and hollars, meanwhile Walker’s were unimpressed.

“Guardians for the win!” Rocket cheered.

“I am Groot!”

“Never underestimate the power of Duran Duran!”

Minerva helps Walker up, “Not bad, soldier.” As she turns to head off the pad, her eyes lock with Zemo’s and a wink is sent his way. Heat rises in the Baron, glancing away to hide his smirk.

Oh boy, trouble was on the horizon.

Next Yelena went against Nebula. Their fight was even more intense and nearly ended in a draw. Eventually Yelena overpowered the cyborg and got her to step out of the square. It was a tie. Groot and Rocket teamed up against Ross in the form of the Red Hulk—which took a lot of convincing—the two claiming the win after fooling the General. Taskmaster beat out Quill, handing his ass to him which had the Guardians in a heap of laughter.

“I enjoyed that more than I should have,” Minerva teases, crossing her arms as she takes a spot beside Zemo. He glances at her, mirroring her expression.

“Not a common occurrence for your friend to lose a fight?”

She scoffs, “You’d be surprised by his record.”

Lastly Bucky went toe-to-toe with Drax, and of course Rocket had to yell, “Take his arm and give it to me!” And well….it ended with them tackling each other out of the square.They didn’t know who won at that point, so the teams were tied 2-2 initiating a debate on who should be crowned the best.

“Okay, let’s call it a day,” Ross announces, ending the squabbling between the groups. “Night’s upon us and frankly I could use a drink. We’ll return here first thing in the morning—7am sharp to discuss the threat and where to go,” he turns to Quill, “we’ve got sleeping quarters arranged for you all if you please. Otherwise my guess is you’ll remain in your ship?”

About an hour later, after both teams settled for the night, Zemo decided to take a walk around the flight line. It became a habit of his since joining the Thunderbolts. A way to clear his mind after a long day of briefings and training. He basked in the peace that came with being alone, but there were times he felt lonely and longing for company to share the peace with.

Ten years since losing his family and the pain never strayed. Yet, he managed to live with it. He accomplished his goal in 2016 when he tore apart the Avengers. Likely is to blame for the loss against Thanos resulting in half of the universe’s population turning into dust for five years.

Did he feel remorse for the consequences of his actions? Possibly. Did he regret it? No. At this rate he’s accepted the reputation he painted himself to be.

“Zemo, correct?” The sudden intrusion spooked the Baron, jumping slightly by the glowing eyes in the darkness. A moment later Minerva stepped into the lighting, eyes dimming to normal. She was still in her suit, though her hair was pulled back, white streaks seeping through the natural color.

“Yes, but you may call me Helmut,” he replied, nodding in greeting to the Goddess.

“Helmut,” she tests the name, “like the headwear people use when they ride bikes or spacesuits?”

“That’s one way to look at it, but yes I suppose so.”

“Interesting. What brings you out this late in the evening?”

He shrugs, “wanted to get away from the constant complaining of my comrades,” eyes go to the sky, “and I like to admire the stars.” Minerva moves to his right, glancing up as well.

“They’re much more incredible up close.” He peers down at her, not bothering to question her judgment. She lives in space after all.

“I bet so. I’m sure the view from here is nothing compared to what you’ve witnessed.”

She shrugs, “These stars you don’t even know if they’re still alive. It took years—possibly millions—for the light to reach Earth.” Zemo looks back up, focusing on the North Star.

“For all we know they burnt out ages ago.”

Their eyes connect, Zemo feeling a weight on his chest by the intensity of her gaze. It’s followed by unease when she says, “Natasha told me about you.”

Instantly he looks away, feeling an unfamiliar wave of dread. “Ah.” Here was a discussion he was not expecting, nor willing, to have.

But Minerva didn’t show criticism. In fact, her gaze and tone resembled understanding. “How do you do it?” The question took him aback.

“Do what, exactly?”

“Align yourself with people who go against what you stand for?” Minerva’s tone wasn’t condescending at all, only curious. “Most of your team are enhanced individuals—two are super soldiers to be exact. You went to many lengths to disband the Avengers and put an end to superheroes,” there’s a slight tilt of her head, eyeing the Baron with intrigue, “but you join a group consisting of people who fall between the spectrum of hero and villain where most are the exact thing you wished to eradicate. Not to mention led by two people you wouldn’t say you share similar moral values with. Why join them?”

For the first time in his life, Zemo was at a loss for words. Not a single word uttered as he tried to comprehend what Minerva had just confronted him with. How could he explain? Hell, he didn’t even know the real truth other than wanting to stay out of his cell. A big price to pay in exchange for freedom.

Minerva spoke again before he could respond, “I once committed an act similar to you,” the surprise is evident on Zemo, “Vengeance against those who were responsible for the death of my loved ones. It’s why I was exiled,” a frown appears, her attention returning to the stars. “So I understand you, probably better than anyone here. Understand why you committed those acts to destroy the Avengers. I don’t fault you for what you did—if I did it would make me a hypocrite. You’re not the villain Ross and the Avengers made you out to be.”

“How so?” His voice is strained, “what have you lost?” He didn’t mean to come off as defensive, but the conversation was bringing up emotions Zemo didn’t want to face.

“As Goddess of War all I knew was bloodshed. How to prevent it and how to fight it. Battle strategy was my domain, and the High Council knew better than to question my judgment,” she releases an exhale, “but Mars, the God of War and my brother, was my ultimate rival. He hated how much our father doted on me and agreed with plans I coordinated. It made him feel inferior. He’d do anything to prove himself.” Her tone remains neutral despite the painful memory surfacing.

Zemo remained quiet, picturing the scene as Minerva relayed it. Though stoic the Baron could see the pain and sadness lurking behind her eyes. Managing it as best she could for the sake of her friends. Who knows how many years it’d been since she lost whoever it was close to her. But the hole would always remain.

“To put it short,” she started again, bidding a glance, “Our home was under attack and his rash decision to slow down the enemy led to the death of my family—my husband and children.” Sympathy arose in the Baron, understanding her anguish, “An intentional move on Mars’ part because he believed I wouldn’t be fit to remain on the High Council after stuffing such a loss, therefore he would take my place as Head Commander of our armies and my father’s second Command.”

“He wasn’t exiled?” The question left Zemo before he could stop it. Confused by how the God avoided persecution for his crime, Minvera was shunned. “Your family was targeted.”

Minerva’s smile was bitter, “because their deaths were a result of war, the High Council viewed it as collateral. They failed to see Mars’ responsibility, believing he didn’t intend to kill them. So, I took it upon myself to bring justice. Not only to Mars but also the High Council.” Her smile fell once more, “I made sure they would pay. And they did, but it was far from over after finishing the job. Those who survived didn’t hesitate to throw me out to the wolves once I was contained.”

Zemo nods his head, “where did you go afterward if you don’t mind me asking?”

“I was imprisoned on Xandar for some time,” well they certainly had some things in common, “Once I escaped I became what your people would call a bounty hunter. Where it led me to meeting those clowns I now call my family,” she pauses before adding, “and escaping prison for a second time. Only it was to save the Galaxy.”

The laugh that escapes Zemo surprises him, “I guess it all worked out then.” Once more they lock eyes, twinkling against the stars shining down above.

“I suppose it did.”

Three Years Later

Zemo raced out the door the moment he awoke to rumbling that shook the foundation of his home. After three years he’d recognize the sound in an instant, only this time it was without warning.

An action that rarely occurred.

Throwing on his coat and house slippers, the clock read 2:30 am, flooding the Baron with worry. ‘What is she doing here at this hour?”

Usually when Minerva drops in she gives Zemo a heads up. A day or two’s notice, but recently he couldn’t get a hold of her and passed it off as the Guardians on a job. With the unexpected visit, so late at night, Zemo instantly knew something was wrong.

Hurrying out to the front lawn right as her ship landed, Zemo jogged to where the stairs extended. When they did, the doors revealed his Goddess, still wearing her suit, standing before him. Zemo noted the exhaustion painting her demeanor. Dark circles beneath her eyes, which appeared dimmer than usual, and scars indicating recently healed wounds.

His arms are around her the moment she’s within distance, her own around his neck, “This is a surprise.”

“Sorry I didn’t call,” the exhaustion was evident in her voice. Barely above a whisper causing Zemo to tighten his hold.

“It’s alright, darling. I’m just glad to see you are okay,” his hand runs along her hair, “wanna tell me what happened?” He hears her sniff, increasing his dread, “Close call?”

“Too many,” her voice cracks and there’s a pause. “We almost lost Rocket. We saved him thankfully, but then we nearly lost Peter. And I almost—,” she stops short, not wanting to relive her near death experience. “This was…it was too much for all of us, Helmut.” A kiss is pressed to her head, offering comfort.

“Let’s get you inside, mein schatz.” Zemo leads Minerva into the home, sitting her in the living room while he goes to put a kettle on the stove. Filling two cups of cherry blossom tea, Minerva’s favorite, he joins her in the living room.

After taking her first sip of the brew, Minerva removes the headpiece from her hair and makes herself comfortable before giving Zemo a play-by-play of the past three days. He stays quiet, listening intently but visibly reacts with each awful detail Minvera relays to him. From the unexpected attack from Adam Warlock, to the disgusting abuse Rocket endured at the hands of the High Evolutionary, to Quill nearly imploading in space had it not been for Adam’s change of heart.

Zemo’s knuckles turned white when Minerva spoke of what happened to her. Anger consumed him and he wished he had been there to protect her. Seeing his distress Minerva placed her hand on his, gently squeezing, “I’m okay, Helmut. I’m here now and we all made it out. There were many close calls, but we’re all alive and that’s what matters.”

Taking her hand, Zemo brought it up to brush his lips against her fingers, softly kissing her knuckles. “I don’t know what I would've done if I lost you, Minnie. I—-,” he stops himself to exhale, squeezing his eyes shut, “I would’ve found a way to fly across the galaxy to avenge you.”

“I know you would,” she murmurs, removing her hand but positioning herself in his lap. Arms snake around his neck, pulling him so they were inches apart. “I’d expect nothing less. Also I’d be a hypocrite considering I would do the same for you.” A playful smirk formed, “I was already plotting when Ross let you get captured by those bastards last year. Had it ended any other way, Ross would cease to exist.”

Zemo snickered, “I see we haven’t really changed completely despite our friends believing the opposite. Neither of us hesitating to return to old ways if it comes down to such circumstances.”

She smirks, “No, I don’t suppose we haven’t.”

“What a pair we are,” leaning in, his lips meet hers in a soft caress. Warmth seeping through his veins. That effortless high he believed he’d never have again after the loss of his family.

But he found it with a Goddess in the stars. Where love swept across the galaxy.

When they pull away after a moment, Zemo keeps his forehead against hers. Gold meeting brown. “I’m not sure I can let you go now, liebling. At least not for a while.”

“You never have to anymore,” her words have him startled, the man pulling away slightly to get a better look at her.

“What are you saying?”

Minerva’s gaze turns soft, though there’s slight nervousness, “After everything we all realized something. We found the family we were searching for, but some of us needed to find ourselves. Peter’s here on Earth to find his grandfather. Mantis is off on her own adventure. Drax and Nebula are on Knowhere to help raise the children we saved from the High Evolutionary. Rocket and Groot are leading a new era of the Guardians. And me,” she stops, emitting a gaze full of love that takes Zemo’s breath away. “I’d like to be here. With you, Helmut. If you’ll have me.”

If his heart could explode from the happiness Zemo was feeling it would. Tears were threatening to prick his eyes, the Baron willing himself to remain composed. “Oh, Schatz,” he croaked, cupping the side of her jaw. “I should be the one asking you that. Of course I’ll have you. I love you more than every star in the galaxy.” With that he kisses her, putting all his love and passion it causes her own eyes to water.

“I love you too,” she kisses him again. They remain on the couch, falling asleep eventually curled up in each other’s embrace. Their last thoughts filled with joy as they awaited the new adventure on the horizon.

An adventure just between them. A reinstated Goddess and a fully pardoned Baron opening the next chapter of their lives. Together.

[imeanwhynotbruv]

Soldier boy

Avatar twow au

(Ok yes I have to do my other fandoms but I couldn’t get this out of my head sooooo here we are again(ps anyone waiting for brother mine to update I’m sorry I’m trying😭 just can’t seem to write the chapter! But fear not bc I will!…..eventually)

(Also this is movie universal & Spider is the only human child/human born on Pandora bc plot)

•••

So the idea is that they didn’t manage to send all the humans back to earth because some of them escaped and started their own building thing, and these are basically the RDA and they took Spider with them.

So bridgehead develops a little slower and they’re constantly having mini battles with the Navi but they don’t really become a big problem until the movie time.

So no one in the RDA really wanted to raise Spider, and they were going to dispose of him. Then they had the idea of,

Oh wait a minute, this is Quaritches kid! We can use that!

So they start training him to become the best little human soldier from the minute he can walk. The way they see it, they can train him to be perfectly adapted to survive Pandora and have him be loyal to them. Besides if it doesn’t work they can use him as insurance with Quaritch when they bring him back.

So Spider grows up, learns how to fight (clean & dirty).

Becomes a fabulous climber and can move almost silently thus earning his nickname/ code name

Has amazing aim, both natural and because of years of forced practice.

Can hold his breath longer than most people thanks to years of training him to survive incase his mask breaks.

Maybe he can speak Navi pretty well thanks to them wanting someone to be able to understand the natives so they have him watch old science logs.

He pretty smart but most ppl think he’s dumb due to his lack of most formal education.

And despite how much they try to make him into an emotionless machine, it doesn’t work, like really doesn’t work. He’s a big softy who loves to joke around. He’s kind of learned to shut it down when he’s training bc it will get him into trouble, but sometimes he can’t help but laugh his ass off.

He learns a lot from watching the logs, he’s watched the same logs of Grace and Norm and Jake over and over again, supposedly to study them and learn how to defeat the enemy. But he ends up being fascinated by all the things he learns, starts become more interested in the natural ways of Pandora (bc the RDA never bothered to assume that he wouldn’t just automatically be loyal so they didn’t really try)

Of course from the minute he was old enough to wear a mask they had him do survival training in the forest.

At first it was just day time, then it became nighttime. Eventually they stared leaving him to survived. Then they would take him somewhere and have him find his way back before he was out of oxygen.

Spider learns to love these times, to feel at peace in the forest, of course he becomes the an even better climber, learns to navigate through the trees almost silently.

Then the Recoms are brought back and it’s Spider who helps them through the forest.

When they catch the sully children spider feels bad for Tuk as she looks so little and scared. The big softy in him can’t take that.

When Neytiri attacks, Spider helps free Tuk secretly, maybe he cuts her hands free, maybe he accidentally drops his knife within her reach.

When all hell breaks lose Spider makes a run for it, still ends up falling from an branch and passing out, BUT, it’s Jake who takes him instead of Quaritch

So this time is Jake trying to get info about the RDA from Spider, not harshly bc Jake can’t bring himself to really hurt the kid.

When the Sullys run they have to take spider (who’s already starting to like them) with just to make sure the RDA can’t find him and get all the information(no matter how little) he has about where they are, also that the RDA just think he’s dead and not that the sullys have a weapon to use against them.

Spider gets begrudgingly accepted my the Metkayina thanks to be able to hold his breath, without his mask, and because he’s a pretty good fighter thanks to his training

(Eywa also May have had some influence bc he’s still her special little human)

The just loads of adapting & realising that Spider didn’t have a childhood and doesn’t know how to not act like a soldier for the most part.

Every adult seems to not be okay with this at all because children are gifts from the great mother!!

So Soldier boy Spider gets his family & a fresh start, Jake gets a human son, and Neytiri……….Neytiri gets a headache

•••

So yeah that’s an idea I’ve had! Now that it’s out I can finally add more to my other stuff!

I actually really like this idea so I might do something more with it? Let me know if that would be something you’d like!

My asks are open and you are welcome to ask anything about this cuz I love other ppls ideas/thoughts

As always, I hope you enjoyed ❤️

[enzenwriting]

the feeling when

19 a runner a track star (written part! 1k words)

Perhaps it was the bustling corridors and muted blasting beat in the background which got Jake's heart rapid and mind hazy - or maybe it was the complicated feeling of performing in front of a large crowd again after several months of hiatus. Jake would like to believe it wasn't the latter, but deep down, he knew it was the ugly overwhelming feeling of nervousness.

After excusing himself from the group, Jake wandered off until he stood outside an empty corridor. His back is leaning on the wall, right-hand rests on his chest, trying to calm his erratic heartbeat. He doesn't really know how long he'd been there- or how long he needs to be there, but the few minutes of silence cleared his mind. In his head, he needs to be the "normal and cheerful Jake" for the rest of the boys. He can't be worrying them and be a burden with his emotions- they were already worried about the comeback. Jake knew he didn't need the others to worry about him now.

With a sigh, Jake pushes himself off the wall and with heavy footsteps, he's making his way back to the changing room. That was until his steps halts- and hears what seemed to be the sound of a thumping metal. Being the curious person he is, he follows the sound.

And lo and behold, it was you. You're in front of the vending machine, hand meeting the cold metal as you gently hit the side. Jake can see your brows furrowed, cheeks puffed and lips pursed -unimpressed with the machine.

The sight in front of him has his forlorn demeanour long forgotten. A giggle escapes after a smile appears on his face watching you fight the immovable machine.

"Why are you hitting the poor machine?" You jump at the sound of his voice.

"It's not what it looks like" You give him a side eye before you force your attention back on the machine. "This thing just ate my money and wouldn't give me my drink."

Jake laughs as you slap the machine one last time before you're scooping coins out of your purse again. He walks closer to you and he doesn't think you notice his movement with how much you're focused on counting the coins until your voice cuts through the silence. "Why are you here by yourself?"

"Oh-" he's taken aback and paused at your question. A pause too long that had you looking up at him. "Just went to the toilet before stage y'know."

"hmmm." your attention shifts back to the machine, not missing the way the corner of his smile trembles. Maybe you were overthinking but the way Jake looked at that very moment troubled you. Jake Sim, who normally bursts in confidence and smiles have never looked gloomy. "Busy comeback?" you mumble, feigning ignorance.

"Something like that… yeah." he sighs, eyes unintentionally falling on his shoes, not wanting to meet your eyes. "Just.. busy."

You hum again, this time that one which sound of acknowledgement. "You sound pretty busy too."

He doesn't know how to react, he thinks he's pretty good at hiding his emotions and you weren't even looking at him. "Here." He almost jumps at your voice and the sudden appearance of your hand, reaching a coin towards his hand. "Coin for a thought or whatever"

"It's a penny for a thought." He gives a dry chuckle, looking at the coin he accepted

"Okay. Whatever, Jakestein. What's in your head? You look really busy up there. If it was the normal you, you'd be calling me a psychopath every second. Where's the Jake Sim?" you wince, ready to fight the machine in front of you, failing to notice the red stain creeping up his ears.

"It's stupid but I'm just nervous okay? We haven't seen our fans in a long time and I don't know how they'll react to our new song and performance… especially the new choreography." his voice cracks. He looks up and he sees your eyes still focused on the drinks. Maybe you weren't even paying attention. Maybe it was a stupid concern.

"Which drink are you getting?" He's more confused than he's ever been.

The nervous sweat trickling down his jaw seems so irrelevant now. Maybe he was making it worse than it sounds- Maybe it wasn't even a concern in the first place. Absentmindedly, he slots the coin in the machine and presses the bright-lit button which reads Vanilla Latte. With a rumble from the machine, the drink drops and to both of your surprise, it doesn't drop one- but two canned Vanilla Latte.

"Nice, I'm taking the other one" You hand one to Jake

"Wait!" Jake stops you from opening the can. From what he remembers, you prefer your coffee bitter. "You don't like sweet coffee?"

You ignore Jake's words, opening the can and taking a good sip. "Hm? That's actually quite good."

"Reall?" Jake's jaw drops at your reaction, bright eyes filled with curiosity

"Yeah, and I'm sure the reaction will be the same with your comeback" You faces him for the first time. "You've got to trust people more. You might not think your fans will like it, but I'm sure they will."

Jake felt a mixture of relief, admiration and warmth washing over him. He hadn't expected such thoughtfulness from you at that moment. He could feel his expression and tension soften, unable to control the soft smile appearing. The realisation that you had been listening and worrying about him touched him.

Without a word, Jake gently reached for your hair, playing with the stray strands sticking close to your neck. "Thank you y/n"

Your heart skipped a beat, you can almost feel the warmth on his hand. Just as you're about to reach for his hand, you catch a shoe shuffling back in quick motion in the corner of your eye. All too sudden, you get chills and you're aware of your surrounding.

And before you're even able to say a word, you're on your feet running. You're running anywhere but closer to the corner of the drink machine. You think you're safe until-

"Y/n! Why are you running?" Fuck- you forgot about Jake Sim.

"Jake don't follow me" you whisper yell, avoiding corridors which had people in

"WHY ARE YOU RUNNING?"

"BECAUSE YOU'RE CHASING ME. STOP IT"

19 a runner a track star

Summary: Joining an already debuted group, you find yourself at the centre of attention, controversy and a series of unfortunate chaotic events every time a certain pup boy is in the sight. But Jake Sim can’t seem to stop following you?!

prev / mlist / next

an: not proofread!!! hi I’m back :)

Taglist! (Open! Please send ask to be join!🫶) @ineedaherosavemeenow @bubblytaetae @woneulz @kyuupidwrites @hoonvrs @nvmbheart @seungcheolswife @mika-t3t @theskzvibe @j-wyoung @haechansbbg @chaerybae @nujins @mimikittysblog @phenomenalgirl9 @zuzu-the-simp @invusblog @artstaeh @beomgyusonlywife @lovelypitasworld @elicheel @ilovewonyo @beeeb05 @mariji @en-minniesode @thesiriusmap @dneltrise @enhaz1 @jiaant11 @ikeu4life @whippedforbeomgyu @marvelahsobx @wonniestars @arizejkt19 (unable to tag in bold! Please check your blog settings!💖)

[naffeclipse]

Kind of bouncing off of the last ask you posted/answered, do the other glamrocks have parts in sleuth jesters? Besides Freddy, of course. What about the springlock and fnaf 1-4 models?

(Mainly asking about the springlocks bc I've been doodling an oc as if they were in the au and want to be at least a little accurate with their backstory, even if its just for funsies lmao)

For the glamrocks, I keep changing my mind about what they're doing as I don't have roles/storylines for them to be included in yet, except for one. I do, however, have plans for the Funtime animatronics in a possible Sleuth Jesters continuation, but that's all I'm going to say on that matter.

I don't have any thoughts on other fnaf models aside from what I mentioned above, so have fun with your OC! ♥

I have a lot of thoughts about Glamrock Bonnie for Sleuth Jesters, and oh boy, I'm gonna ramble about them here. Tucking it below the cut because it's a bit long! Content Warning for Pregnancy and Death.

Bonnie and Freddy were tight-knit and escaped into freedom together when animatronic rights were legally recognized. Freddy was very interested in politics and Bonnie set his sights on the justice system and the law itself. He studied and looked for every loophole and wrote as many letters as he had to, and finally managed to thrust himself into law school despite a lot of people not liking an animatronic among their students, but boy did he do it anyways.

He got his law degree and returned to the city with a lot of justice on his mind, alongside Freddy who was working his way into public roles within the community. Bonnie started working as a criminal defense lawyer and representing animatronics while navigating the very fresh, legal rights of his kind. He was helping everyone and anyone he could along the way.

There's a small story of Bonnie intervening on Sun's and Moon's behalf when they're unfairly hauled into a police station and interrogated because of Eclipse's gangster antics (before they join the police academy), but I'll save that for another time. In essence, Bonnie has met the celestial brothers. Sun and Moon like him. Eclipse does not.

It's amid these cases where he's fighting an entire system to give animatronics fair trials in a court of law that he incidentally meets a woman. She entered his office under the assumption that he was a divorce lawyer and seeking advice on how to go about such matters.

Bonnie's surprised by several things in this encounter, least of all the mistake of his specialty. Here's a human (pretty lady) who holds no pre-determined grudge or animosity toward his automaton existence, and she's rather occupied with her own troubles but very kind. When he explains that she came to the wrong place, she bursts into tears and confesses that she has no idea what to do because her husband abandoned her and she discovered not three days ago that she's pregnant.

Bonnie isn't one to shy away from complicated matters and the woman has been very sweet, so he comforts her. Ruby, as she later tells him when she's dabbing at her eyes with tissues, explains a little more about the situation. The good news is, Bonnie's certain she can get her marriage annulled as it was very recent and the circumstances are very dreadful. He gives her an address and a person to talk to, and he wishes her the best. As he watches her leave, he realizes that he would very much like to see her again, and Bonnie tells Freddy just as much later.

Freddy is supportive but also warns Bonnie to be careful. There are still a lot of people who aren't 'comfortable' with animatronics and it might be tumultuous to start a relationship with a human, if Ruby is so inclined, but Bonnie has never let anything stop him before.

Ruby was impressed by him despite the teary first meeting (much to Bonnie's delight and quiet relief). Though she was once bitten, twice shy due to her previous and now annulled relationship, and growing concerned that a man, whether organic or machine, wouldn't want anything to do with her since she's with child, Bonnie puts her fears to rest and promises that he will take care of her and the baby for eternity if she'll let him.

They become attached to one another pretty quickly. Bonnie is thoroughly smitten with his darling Ruby and supports their growing family. There are some incidents of outrage towards their relationship, some of which scare Ruby, but Bonnie's fur feathers are never ruffled even while he handles the verbal and sometimes physical reactions. Freddy is always there to lend a helping hand, too, and make sure Bonnie's family stays safe.

When Ruby has a healthy baby girl, Bonnie couldn't be prouder.

All the while, Bonnie is aiming higher in his career and sets his sights on becoming district attorney. He's certainly succeeded in enough cases to be considered for selection. It takes a staggering amount of time, but finally, when Freddy is running for Mayor, Bonnie has hope, and after Freddy wins, Bonnie is selected for district attorney.

Now in a great position to bring about change, Bonnie sees the city rotting with corruption and violence, and he knows exactly what he's going to do. He's going to pull injustice out by the roots.

He sets his sights on Eclipse and his gang.

This, one day, might be a little fic that I hopefully get to, but in short, Bonnie is the only one who successfully puts the mafia boss on trial. Eclipse finds it all very amusing, the court proceedings and whatnot, but Bonnie is the prosecutor and he intends to get Eclipse behind bars, where he belongs.

The tough thing is that Eclipse has never played fairly. With the vigilante and the detectives as witnesses among the spectators, Eclipse slips through justice's fingers and escapes punishment in a gloat to the city's legal system and as a testament to his power.

It's not long after that that Bonnie mysteriously disappears, leaving behind a wife and child. Rumors have it that Eclipse was not happy about being tried and they pity the brave but foolhardy district attorney for trying.

[staydandy]

Black Knight (2023) - 택배기사 - Whump List

List by StayDandy Synopsis : One legendary Knight called 5-8, meets a young Refugee named Sa Wol who dreams of becoming a Knight. 5-8 trains and mentors Sa Wol, helping him achieve his dream in a dangerous and harsh world. In 2071, toxic air pollution had devastated the world, leaving only 1% of the population alive. People rarely leave their homes and depend on respirator masks to breathe. A strict social stratification has been established in the deserted lands of the Korean Peninsula. Citizens, who have access to housing & amenities; delivery drivers known as Knights, who protect & deliver packages of the precious source of Oxygen; and Refugees who are left on the outskirts to struggle & fight to survive. (MDL) AKA : Courier | Delivery Knight | Delivery Driver

Whumpee : Yoon Sa Wol played by Kang Yoo Seok (left) • 5-8 played by Kim Woo Bin (right)

Country : 🇰🇷 South Korea Genres : Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Notes : This is a Full Whump List • Adapted from the webcomic "Taekbaegisa” by Lee Yoon Kyun • It really gives off Mad Max Fury Road vibes (in a good way) • There's a fair number of personal thoughts in the list below, but I think it just goes to show how much I liked the drama • I actually went though the trouble (& possibly causing my old af laptop to crash) of making a gif for a part 😆

Episodes on List : 6 Total Episodes : 6

*Spoilers below*

01 : (@ 1:22, ok, but it'd woulda been cool if this was a live qr code) … Yoon Sa Wol removes his mask & fights a gang alone (wins) … sparring … made to stand on his head as punishment, kicked over, something thrown at him, nosebleed … pushed out a moving truck (comedic) … shot in the head

02 : … continued from previous ep. ... Found, transported … bandaged, wakes, head pain (how TF is he even still alive?!), panicked, held down, knocked out with a shot of drugs (@ 7:12, I'm sorry, the bullet was stopped by his skull??!! how hard headed is he?! - is this kid Wolverine or an android?) … (@ 8:53 you'd think with O2 being scarce they wouldn't use an O2 eater like fire so much) … goes out looking for a fight, beat up with pipes & bats.. hits in the back of the head, collapses, passes out … comatose … pushed off a roof (accidentally - comedic) (@ 36:32 he's a Mutant! X-man! Wolverine for the win!)

03 : [flashback] 5-8 is knocked over by explosions.. in a fight.. shot … (@ 16:54 #O.O# oh my! lol *gif 👀) … [present] 5-8 & Sa Wol spar (Sa Wol gets his ass handed to him) (@ 17:39 he just likes slapping that doesn't he 😆) … Sa Wol is hit with baseballs from a pitching machine … [switching back & forth quickly between various training & competition scenes:] sparring in a boxing ring, in a O2 deprivation room fighting, & dodging baseballs.. [in O2 dep. rm:] heavily bruised, unsteady, O2 at 5%, head pain, ear ringing, traumatic flashbacks, chokehold … car crash

04 : Kickboxing match; bleeding, cut on his forehead

05 : Bruised, head pain, traumatic flashbacks, nosebleed

06 : Hit with the butt of a gun & knocked out … tries to fight, pinned down, knocked out with a shot of drugs … blood drawn … rescued, carried

More Whump Lists for this show: love-me-a-lotta-whump

[akiwitch]

Can you tell us a little about Summoning Trouble? Who is your favorite secondary character? And what is your favorite location?

Omg I CAN. (And share some art since I’ve been redesigning the cast!). It’s a cozy fantasy sent in a modern day setting but with magic.

Aaand cut time cause this got long oops

Summoning Trouble is the story of a small magical anomaly investigation agency called Thorn Street Investigations. The two pov characters, Wallace and David, run it together with their social media manager, Val.

They usually are dealing with remnants - leftover magic that has gained sentience and it’s mad about it. They trap it and purge it. Sometimes it’s an infestation of pixies or a slime colony.

David has a master’s degree in magical biology and is also insane, so he usually is doing all of the field work. He’s a summoner, but he does have a magic deficiency, so he has a little moth dragon named Thistle that keeps on top of it.

Wallace is half water elemental! He had a degree in environmental science and is very good at the research aspect of things. He cannot do any magic at all, but he can manipulate water. This is him, his hair is magic and glowy and very blue

Since David is limited in what he can do magic wise outside of summons and Wallace is like bringing a firehose to a water gun fight, they hire Lin at the beginning of the story. Lin is Val’s friend! He’s very anxious and reserved, but very sweet. He’s also a bit of a secret powerhouse.

He ties his hair back when it’s serious business time.

Immediately after they hire Lin, everything goes wild. Someone is trying to summon a demon (a war machine that’s been sealed somewhere below the city - Wallace is obsessed). David’s mentor retires, leaving him as the summoner of the area (a go between for magical creatures and magic users, but mostly it’s fishing house griffins out of the gutter sort of thing).

My favorite secondary character is Clarence! He owns The Sleeping Basilisk, the potion shop across the street from all of the problems happening. He’s kind of a dork and loves dad jokes. Plus he has a pet mini basilisk.

Favorite location so far is the aquarium cause…magic aquarium hello. But also Clarence’s potion shop. But there are a lot more locations in book 2 and probably 3! (Idk how many books I’ll write, I’m just vibing)

Thanks so much for the ask!!!

[jinx-on-mars-19xx]

Ragnarok

⚔️ All Previous Parts Here ⚔️

Dom x Colson (Yungblud x Machine Gun Kelly)

Warnings: future ABO, mpreg, PAY ATTENTION TO THESE! THIS CHAPTER IS ROUGH! BIG BAD/BIG SAD™️, Viking Col, fae Dom, threats, talks of murder, war, threats of death, violence, intense violence, some threats of sexual violence (against Dom), explanations of sexual violence (past tense about Col's mom), questioning if sexual violence happened (Dom), cutting, slashing, stabbing, bleeding, lots of blood, wondering if someone is alive, violence against Col, Col beaten and bloody, more slashing, description of throat ripping, body shifting, magic, not knowing if someone is alive, worrying over fetal death, pain and suffering, hurt/comfort ish (just wait), surprise ending, fear, PTSD, boys in love ☠️ rating: EXPLICIT ☠️ ideas helped by @iamnotanearthlingmotherfucker 🖤

The chieftain tried to sneak up to the meeting place he was expected at but he was sure they already knew of his arrival. He'd attempted to stay close to the trees and keep his steed quiet but he swore his rage was a beacon around him, heralding his return. There was a knot in his stomach from so much anger and fear- he was tired of being stepped on and treated as lesser and the enemy taking his family was the last fucking straw. He was looking for more than just Harald- he hoped he'd find both him and his uncle together since he was sure they'd been working as one, at least that's what Inga had led him to understand.

☠️⚔️☠️

The Viking was gathering his weapons for the meeting ahead when his aunt found him. She was fretting more than he was used to seeing her, she was always his port in the storm but something was truly bothering her. "Feilan, I beg a moment of your time. I know you're busy but it's… it's life and death I think." She rushed to say and he paused after placing a sword on his back. He stepped closer to her, his hand going to her shoulder to hopefully give her a little peace but she was a wreck and truthfully so was he. They were probably feeding off each other.

"What is it? Dom needs me." He knew it was more than just his thrall but he was having trouble facing the truth. First he had to find his boy alive and then he could deal with the extra passenger. Gods- he didn't know how to be a father. His own was dead long before he was gone and his uncle was... Shit would be too kind.

"That's just it. I believe it was Bjørn who wished to keep your thrall." She whispered and his heart sank. No. It couldn't be true. His uncle was a bastard sure but he was kin. Sure he'd tried to assault- Kol'son couldn't even finish the thought without growling, so many thoughts were racing through his mind. He'd always put that off to the man just being narcissistic and seeing the boy as lesser but he couldn't see it that way anymore. Pieces of a puzzle were trying to fall in place. "I believe- Odin help us- I believe my brother made arrangements to take the throne himself." Inga sniffled, tears welling her angry blue eyes. "I'm starting to wonder if he hasn't been fighting for it since he was a boy. Kol I think… I think he killed our family."

The man couldn't breathe, all the blood seemed to freeze in his veins. He'd been burning hot with rage as long as he could remember- a constant fire burning in his belly that smelted him into the Viking warrior he was but he'd never gone so cold with it. So much in his life felt like a lie. He was in his twenty third year of life but for the first time he knew he was finally seeing clearly. "Do you think he killed our men? You truly believe he's been orchestrating this for so long?" He was almost begging her to say she was joking, it would be a terrible joke but anything was better than finding out the man he loved almost as a second father had hated him so long. Had slaughtered his own kin.

"The girls have been trying to get more information but we could find no proof. I was going to wait until I had something but I can't wait. It isn't just Harald, it's him. I believe this was all his will. He wants your place as he did your father's. He's probably with him now, I doubt the agreement holds any truth, I fear they plan your death no matter what you agree to." She cried softly but stood tall and strong. Kol may have seen Bjørn as his role model but Inga was the one who raised him. She was who taught him to be who he became. "If you go I fear your death." She pushed again and grabbed for his hand but he shook her off and turned back to his horse.

"Inga I love you more than I can say but they have Dom. Whether I die today or not I'm not-" His voice broke, his throat trying to close around the words he feared almost more than death. "I'm not letting them hurt him or my child. If he wishes for my death he'll kill them as well just to destroy my line. I'm sorry, but I have to." Even when she called out to him again he shook his head. There was no way to stop him. He had to rescue his family.

☠️⚔️☠️

There were too many warriors for his comfort but any strong fighters when he had so few was far too much. He could see Harald on his throne in his great hall but there were so many people around. He had wondered why they went back to their own land but as he watched the bastard drink his fill as if he were already celebrating he knew the truth. They didn't want Kol's clan around to watch him be put to death, they'd already decided to kill him and if they did it on their ground then they could lie to his people. Bjørn could lie to them all. Again. There was never a bargain for him, there was no submission or die- they planned for him to perish that day- alone and broken, and his bastard uncle would step up in his place.

He prayed to gods he was having trouble believing in as he centered himself and stood tall. He couldn't see Dom or Bjørn for that matter but he was sure they were somewhere. Probably hidden away to be one more surprise knife in his back before they murdered him. He had been thinking he'd be dead without Dom but now that it seemed he might genuinely die he was almost at peace- as long as he made sure his family lived on.

He stalked into the room, his footsteps heavy and his anger so hot and cold he was positive it touched everyone he walked past. His fist gripped tight around the hilt of his blade and the roar around him fell silent as he jumped onto the table and pointed his sword at Harald's throat. "Where is my thrall?" He demanded, his voice booming and echoing off the walls in the quiet. Of course his enemy just arched a brow and leaned back, but he could see the fear around the edges. "What did you do with him? And where the fuck is my uncle? Bjørn! Get your ass out here. I'll take you both at once!"

"I see you've learned a few things but you are still so wrong, boy. I don't have your thrall or your uncle. I know not what you speak of." The other Viking sighed. For just a moment Kol let his gaze flick to the bitch he had almost married just to save his clan and the children he assumed were her siblings that were lined up next to her at the table. Gods he didn't want them mortified and cursed for life by seeing their father's blood spilt. Megna he didn't care for, but some of them were so young. "I swear Kol'son, perhaps I lied about much but I have no reason to lie now. Your death was not planned by me, Bjørn only offered me my revenge. If I helped him kill you he would pay me a tithe for years to come and he would take my daughter's hand- making both lands mine."

Kol didn't know what to believe or not so instead of speaking he pressed the blade tighter to the man's throat and tried to calm his rage enough to deal with the present problem. Harald must have seen something in his eyes because the jerk smiled and arched a brow. "Didn't you know? He's why you're an orphan. An only child. He's who slaughtered your men this week. He wanted to break you down for all you and your father stole from him. First your mother and sibling, then your father, now you. Either way I had my revenge as well. I didn't care how I got it but even I have to admit he's a dark fellow. Honestly you were for so long blessed by the gods boy- someone was always watching but your family was not so lucky. And… I worry perhaps your thrall has not been either." The last almost sounded true, as if he were so disgusted by truths he knew to have happened that he could only imagine what might have befallen Dom. It made Kol ill.

The Viking felt cold, every inch of his body broke out in a sick sweat, and his body trembled as his stomach soured. "You're saying he- he what? Took my brother from my mother's womb? Why are you telling me this?" He shouted, pushing the blade until it nicked the man's skin. He was so close to breaking but he needed the whole truth and he needed to bide time. Make sure the whole village was searched.

"So innocent. I'd heard stories about you and I had assumed you would be… quicker than that. Perhaps even darker as your uncle is. No, he didn't tear a child from her womb. He wanted- as I did- what he felt was stolen from him so he took it. Filled with rage and jealousy he took her- from what I've heard. With body and weapon until she was no longer as perfect as she once was. Even I shudder at the thought. Åse was lovely." Kol almost swung at that very moment but he knew he had to wait. It was destroying him not to see blood shed for blood. "I tell you not to torture you boy, although that is a bonus. I tell you the truth so you may face your gods honestly. I intend to send you to them today. You should not have come alone but all has been stolen from you hasn't it?"

"Hmm, not quite!" Kol'son heard a new voice behind him and a dark angry smile curled his lips. New footsteps filed in, almost thundering behind him, and he savored the look of apprehension turned fear on the man's face. One of the fae stepped up behind the chieftain and hopped on the table next to him- holding a sword so surely no one could tell he wasn't used to it.

"Harald, meet my fellow chieftain and prince of the forest- you know Modig don't you? The army behind us? Almost all fae. This would be the part where you grovel." The room froze, it felt as if the universe were holding it's breath and waiting for the human's answer before all Hell broke loose and all Kol'son could think was that he hoped to see his love again. Soon.

☠️⚔️☠️

Dom came to slowly. He tried to keep himself as relaxed as possible because his instincts knew he was in danger. If he woke carefully he could take in his surroundings and hopefully get a handle on everything. He kept his dark rimmed eyes shut tight because he knew they would reflect any light in the room and he was quite sure there was a fire near. He could hear a noise like a knife against stone and bile rose in his throat. The Bastard was still with him and possibly sharpening a weapon? Fuck. He tried to carefully test his body but he could feel restraints around his wrists and ankles- his body was bare, and his thighs spread. He couldn't tell if he'd been used yet, he still felt full from his mate and even when he clenched he wasn't sure. He just prayed the last and only person inside him was Kol'son.

"The pup is awake I see." Shit. He thought he'd been hiding it well but he supposed not if that drunken bear arsehole could tell. He didn't dignify him with an answer though and he kept himself playing dead- maybe the man was testing him. "If you'd just stayed a distraction for him I might could have left you alive but no- somehow my kin always beds freaks of fucking nature!" Dom knew in the next moment he should have opened his eyes but he didn't think he'd have been able to stop the backhand slap across his cheek. He might have dodged it enough to hurt less though, he wasn't sure. As it was his cheek split open against his sharp fangs and he choked on a mouthful of blood. The crimson stained his face as the Viking hovered over him with a small sharp blade that he teased in a line down the siren's shivering body.

"Wha'- wha' you mean?" He finally whimpered when the bastard held the knife over his stomach and pressed it hard. He could tell Bjørn had been holding it in the flame when it automatically seared his skin but he swallowed his scream to instead glare at him. He'd fight not to give him the satisfaction. He just didn't know how long they'd already been in there or what all had already been done to his body. He felt like he'd been asleep too long. He just hoped someone would find them soon.

"My whore sister spread her legs for any forest nymph that smiled at her, putting halfling blood in our family line. My fucking brother fell for a-" He paused his rant to spit on the boy's skin and that almost made Dom throw up. "I don't even know. I know she was wrong though, I felt it in her the day she died! I thought you would help me with my fate- distract that stupid boy from wanting to be chief but no! Even you're- you're-"

"Wha'? I'm wha'? You don't fucking know because you can't understand pure magic! You can't force ya way to the top Bjørn! You'll never be as good as Kol! You're jus' fucking jealous of 'im and the love he and ya bruv got. 'Ow dare you take 'er! Even if you kill me-" Whatever he was about to shout was cut off on a scream as Bjørn slashed a shallow cut straight down his stomach. It wasn't deep at all but it burned like hell and there was so much blood. It wouldn't kill him but without help he knew he'd scar.

"Don't you dare try to use that on me boy! Keep your mouth shut!" Dom hadn't tried to use his siren song- he hadn't even thought of it but he did after that. His throat felt raw, his soul not even a little bit in it but he had to save himself and his child. For Kol'son. The man growled, somehow fighting through the first note to wrap a hand around the selkie's neck and keep him quiet. "It doesn't matter anyway. Your master is dead by now. You're all mine little whore. All mine." With that horrid thought and the man's war worn face so close to his own Dom couldn't help but start to give up. The world went dark around him.

The door slammed open behind Bjørn and he turned fast, surprised to find his nephew bruised and bleeding and pissed behind him. "How- where did you- what the fuck? Why aren't you dead?"

Kol'son knew his uncle didn't mean to ask that, it was obviously too truthful and the bear of a man tried to pull himself together as the still true chieftain took in the room. His nostrils flared when a familiar scent filled his nose and so much new rage filled him he shook with it, his knees going weak. He'd fought his way through the other clan- killed Harald and so many others he couldn't count- only to realize Bjørn and Dom were nowhere to be found. The moment the others had laid down their swords and submitted to him he stopped the fight- leaving Modig and Tom in charge of what happened there. He had to find his mate and now he had. "Is he-" He clamped his jaw shut, he couldn't ask and he wouldn't trust the man's answer anyway but what scared him most was the crimson covering Dom's stomach. If this bastard killed his child-

"Nephew? Feilan?"

"You call me that again and I'll show you a fucking wolf! Shut the fuck up!" His voice was barely above a growl- in fact everything felt graveled and low as if his vocal cords had been ripped to shreds. He knew so much of him had been stabbed and cut, he was bleeding all over and most of his ink was in ruins but nothing mattered if Dom was d- if he was g- nothing mattered if.

"Your runes-" The Bastard gasped, literally falling to his knees as if about to pray and that was perfect for the chieftain. Kol walked forward, his sword landing steady on one side of his uncle's neck. It would kill him to shed kin blood but looking around he knew the man had shed so much more. He looked into those blue eyes so much like his own and shook his head. "I love you Kol." He had the balls to whisper.

"And I loved you as a father. But you took my father didn't you? You took them all?" His voice went soft. Small. For just a moment he was a boy of maturity again and Bjørn was cradling him close, telling him his father was gone. The last time they'd stood like this, the last time Bjørn had fallen on his knees was when he returned from battle and knelt to Kol- telling him he was chieftain now. Gods he'd been lying so long. So long.

Bjørn struck out, his upper body lunging to tackle Kol to the ground and just as when he was a boy they wrestled again- but this time it was real. This time it was for their lives. Kol'son felt empty besides a rage that was fighting to get out. Something had shifted inside him during his fight before. Something predatory. With every punch and stab and slash he felt it grow stronger. With every grunt it sounded more like a roar. Finally though his uncle landed above him, his hand wrapped tight around Kol's neck and he held a knife covered in Dom's blood against his chest. "The first son- you were supposed to be so special. All of you were! But every generation I swear you get worse. Look at you- falling for a nymph just like your kin before you! Wolves you are not!" A gash opened across the skin of Kol's chest and his next shout felt more animalistic than them all. He put every ounce of fear and pain and anger into it and screamed to the gods for his fate to change. He just didn't understand they were closer than he ever knew.

Bjørn scrambled off of him, falling on his ass and trying to crawl away as a light emanated from his nephew's wound. The cut glowed bright and brighter until all his blood seemed to shine pink it was so red and it followed through every vein in the Viking's body. The tattoo he'd watched his brother etch into Kol's skin was destroyed which he'd thought would be a good thing but no. "Oh- oh gods-" But whatever and whoever he was about to pray to didn't matter when claws sank into his throat and tore through his flesh.

☠️⚔️☠️

Kol'son blinked slowly, there was so much light around him he could barely see but at the same moment everything felt so clear. He pulled his hand away from the disgusting wet heat it was surrounded by only to see his uncle's lifeless body drop to the ground. His brows furrowed as he turned to wipe his hand on a discarded tunic, too sick at the thought of keeping that Bastard's blood on his skin. It hit him suddenly and all at once, his war was over- but at what cost?

"Dom? Shit! Dom?" His voice was shot and filled with tears as he crawled onto the bed and systematically cut each rope holding his mate. The boy was drenched in blood and limp in his hold but he got him free and pulled him close into his arms, covering his lover with his own fur. He couldn't even think about the fact that his uncle might have taken him- he couldn't smell the man's spend on him though so he tried to take comfort. However he wasn't sure why he thought that was something he could smell. "Wake up boy. I'm taking you back home. Come on. You have to wake up for me." His voice was wet and choked up but he couldn't stop begging those jade eyes to open. All he could do was cradle his prince close and carry him from the hell he'd been in.

The village gathered as he slowly walked home to their hut, he was pretty sure there was still a glow about him but he couldn't focus on anything but making his thrall wake. "No. Not thrall. Prince. Mine. My fucking mate. If you don't wake up I'll-" He knew the clan was hearing him curse the kid but it didn't matter. Everyone was around staring and some were crying but once he reached their home he knew everything would be okay. It had to be. He'd go mad if.

Once inside he laid his boy out so carefully above his fur and he straightened his limbs before finally petting through his hair. He sat on the bed next to him and something reminded him about their first night together when he sat in the same spot nude and waiting to be joined by the beautiful creature with the glowing eyes.

"Kol'son-"

"GET THE FUCK OUT!" His voice didn't sound his own. It was empty and amplified and he didn't care who had tried to talk to him- friend or family no one mattered while his future wife and child weren't here. The person ran off, shutting the door behind them. Even sitting his knees buckled and he slid to the floor, almost melting into a puddle of fear and pain. He'd been so terrified of his babe ever existing but now that they might be gone along with the only person he truly loved? He couldn't live without them. His ear pressed to his thrall's belly, he knew even without threat of death he wouldn't be able to hear anything- they were hours old- but he needed to be close. "Please- please fuck- just… just come back to me? I can't do this… I can't lose anyone else." Kol'son hadn't sobbed since the day he found his mother dead but as he closed his eyes he saw the scenes superimposed over each other. It was as if it were happening all over again. And finally- he let himself break.

"D- did someone say-" A soft voice sounded and the world halted- or at least Kol's world. There was a harsh cough before- "Fenrir?" The Viking ignored the pain and heat that rushed through him at that whispered name and instead he surged up over his boy to press his quivering lips to those plush perfect dark ones.

"You're here? Fuck! You're okay? Dom? Ástin min? Fuck-" His words sped fast as he left kisses all over Dom's blood stained face but he couldn't help it. Everything felt like a dream. "Gods I… I didn't think- I love you!"

Somehow the siren found strength to laugh at his puppy-like mate as the man kissed his face so much it felt like he was licking him. "I love you too. You're okay? Wait- wha' 'appened?"

"Don't ask."

"Daidí- oh wait." The selkie had started to chide his lover before the nickname he'd called him so long hit him and a happy bright smile curled his lips. He could tell something was happening and there was so much he was missing- his master was fucking glowing and he had a name loud in his head but first. "Daidí." He purred, pulling the chieftain close.

"I know." And Kol- with all his fear, smiled back.

Author's Note/Tags: @manicpixiedreamb0y @hollywoodxwhore @jaxbreaker @cole-way-iero28 @iamnotanearthlingmotherfucker 🖤

Eeeeep 😬 I'm honestly proud of myself after this one, we're near the end of part one. I worked so hard on this chapter and I really really hope you all like it! I promise smut next. Happy smut. This was a long and intense chapter and we ALL deserve a treat! 🖤☠️

[perspectivestarters]

Perspective's Sentence Starters; The Family Jewels by Marina (Part II)

HERMIT THE FROG

"I feel I'm watered down whenever he's around."

"I feel it coming on when I've been static for too long."

"You used to be so kind."

"I never knew you had such a dirty mind."

"I went to the doctors believing the devil had control over me."

"I was finding it hard to breathe."

"Finding it hard to fight the feeling."

"My heart just burst like a glass balloon."

"I was the wrong damn girl in the wrong damn room."

"They call him Hermit the Frog."

"Did you find your bitch in me?"

"Oh, you're abominable socially."

"You're just a little bit too much like me."

"She used to be so kind."

"Well, baby, I give you your dirty mind."

"I wanna tell you a secret."

"You can take your double-standard love and keep it."

"I can't help the devil likes to make my heart a double bed."

"I can't help he sometimes likes to come and rest his little head."

OH NO!

"Don't do love, don't do friends."

"I'm only after success."

"Don't need a relationship."

"I'll never soften my grip."

"Don't want cash, don't want card."

"Don't need money, don't need fame."

"I just want to make a change."

"I just wanna change."

"I know exactly what I want and who I want to be."

"I know exactly why I walk and talk like a machine."

"I'm now becoming my own self-fulfilled prophecy."

"One track mind, one track heart."

"If I fail, I'll fall apart."

"I feel like I'm the worst so I always act like I'm the best."

"If you are not very careful, your possessions will possess you."

"TV taught me how to feel."

"Real life has no appeal."

"I'm gonna live, I'm gonna fly."

"I'm gonna fail, I'm gonna die."

ROOTLESS

"I've got nowhere to go."

"I'm a stray cat on the roam."

"For something, somebody that reminded them of me."

"Running with my roots pulled up."

"Caught me cold so they could cut what there was left of love."

"I'm rootless."

"Tied to no community."

"No home-sweet and no sweet home."

NUMB

"I can't breathe, and I can't smile."

"This better be worth my while."

"I feel numb most of the time."

"Lower I get, the higher I'll climb."

"I got dark only to shine."

"Oh, it's a reasonable sacrifice."

"Forego families, forego friends."

"It's how it started, how it ends."

"I can't open up and cry 'cause I've been silent all my life."

"I'm in Hell."

"I need a friend, but I can't yell."

"I'm no good."

"All I care about is being number one."

"I'll light up the sky."

"Stars that burn the brightest fall so fast and pass you by."

GUILTY

"I was dreaming something dark."

"I left it dead."

"I'm a guilty one."

"They know what I have done."

"I'm a troubled one."

"I won't be forgiven."

"I know what I have done."

"I'm never forgiven."

"I was just a kid that you could not forgive because it's harder."

"I was just a kid and all I really wanted was my father."

"I left it bruised and black and lame."

"Spent years singing to forget."

"It all becomes clear."

"I've been sorry all these years."

SEVENTEEN

"Used to be a major scale, but the melody went stale."

"You're a rich little boy who's had to work for his toys."

"You've got all sensibilities of an upper class guy."

"No, I'm not your little slave."

"No, I don't twist and turn that way."

"You're always asking what is up with me."

"Could never tell you what happened the day I turned seventeen."

"The rise of a king and the fall of a queen."

"You were embarrassed of me?"

"Bet you wish I couldn't speak."

"You want a hassle-free life?"

"Go get your upper class wife."

"She's got all the personality of a lemon that has been truly sucked dry."

"You teach me how to behave."

"I felt you question the way I was brought up as a baby."

"You don't know fuck about my family."

"Never fell down like a princess."

"I used to kid myself in this dress that it was just how things were meant to be."

THE FAMILY JEWELS

"I can't break the cycle."

"Falling down like dominoes, hit by family jewels."

"Pass it down from kid to kid, the chain will never end."

"Will I see the end?"

"Don't you find it strange?"

"Only thing we share is one last name."

"Did I beat you at your own game?"

"Typical of me to put us all to shame."

"Welcome to the family jewels."

"Coal to diamond, sold to fools."

"Simmerin' sapphire can't keep his cool."

"I can't keep my cool."

"Family said that I decided to live a loveless life."

"Is it my fault we stay divided?"

"I got too much pride."

"You think I'm unfit?"

"Little did you know that I was cut for it."

"No glass slipper will ever fit 'cause I could never see a diamond in it."

"When we're in the dark, it echoes in your heart."

"When you're far away, it beckons me to stay."

[starshineandbooks]

Bottom of the river (long way down) Character intros [A-Z]

This is for my fic Bottom of the river (long way down). The masterpost for this can be found here.

There are some ocs but since the premise is Timetravel of the future kids it can't be helped.

Content under the cut

Agent Carolina

An ex-freelancer with an air of confidence. Carolina may join the party late, but she isn’t any less important. While she left without a goodbye, she dosen’t leave the others hanging. Ambitious and willing to get her hands dirty, she makes for a good leader. Her experience in combat is plenty helpful, too.

"The past doesn't define who you are. It just gives you the starting point of who you're going to be."

Agent Washington

Another ex-freelancer, Washington, is relearning how to live now that his entire world view has been destroyed. Having to recover from everything to do with the Meta and now facing the loss of half his new group is enough to make anyone feel stressed. He's going to do anything to get the rest of the team back safe.

"And that's fine. This is fine."

Aspen Church

Adopted child of Carolina and nonbinary. Calmer than the majority of their friendgroup and skilled in mixed martial arts, Aspen is always there to support their friends.

"Don't you dare ask how bad it can get, I promise you don't want the answer."

Ben Tucker

The oldest of the twins, son of Washington and Tucker. Ben loves some good fun and often gets in trouble. He can hold his own, though, between his wrestling ability and love of blades, he is anything but defenseless.

"Come on, I bet you can't back flip from there, chicken!"

Cassie Tucker

The younger twin, daughter of Wash and Tucker. She's always trying to keep her brother out of trouble, though she should really worry about her tendency to get into fights.

"Say that again, I thought I heard you ask for me to kick your bigoted ass."

Dexter Grif

Grif isn't inclined to do a whole lot unless he sees a benefit he likes. He's often next to Simmons, usually complaining and / or slacking off. He has a foul mouth and a love of snack food. This war and the rations are wearing on his will to do shit.

"I'm gonna spit on you, Simmons!"

Dick Simmons

Simmons is a cyborg with a tax machine for his butt and a kiss ass. Trying to deal with being promoted without warning and the loss of his commanding officer he falls into the comfort that is Grif. Or at least the bickering that Grif provides.

"See? That's what you get for arguing with science, you stupid bitch."

Doc

Doc is a medical officer with questionable methods of healing. A pacifist who has a homicidal A.I sharing his body, he has a lot on his mind. But he has a good heart and is trying his best to get everyone home alive.

"So what's up, is somebody hurt or what?"

Epsilon

An A.I. program that's all the memories of torture and pain from the original program he split off of and the man he was based on. Epsilon is often called Church, and has a smart mouth but a deep loyalty to the simtroopers and Carolina. He is an asshole alright, but don't let him fool you he's got a plan.

"My sincerest apologies, I had no idea you had turned into such a whiny bitvh while I was gone."

Franklin Delano Donut

Donut is the heart of Red team, or so he says. He has a way with words to make anything a euphemism. He's energetic and unashamed of his emotions. He swears he speaks Spanish but he really should leave that behind. Will his love of glitter end up being helpful this time?

“If I can’t beat off a room full of dudes, what have I been training for?”

Lavernius Tucker

Tucker is probably the most capable non freelancer in the group. He's a flirt with a love for his shitty catchphrase. Now, he's stepping up to fill a role because the others need a leader, and he guesses it's him.

"I have glorious calves and a miserable fucking life!"

Lani Grif-Simmons

The daughter of Grif and Simmons, she's got too much attitude. She has authority problems and only listens when she wants to. A mouth to rival any of the adults who raised her and an intelligence she often ignores. Lani is capable but falls victim to bickering often.

"Shut the fuck up, I didn't ask for your dumb ass opinion you dipshit."

Lopez

Lopez is tired of everything and everyone. He only speaks Spanish but understands everyone around him. He would be totally okay alone but no one will leave him alone. His creator is insane.

"eso es porque está loco."

Michael J Caboose

Caboose is not the brightest highlighter in the bunch, often deemed childish for his behavior. His thought process is impossible to replicate, and his love runs deep. He makes friends wherever he goes, but it is a hazard to his team.

"Do you think freckles would look silly in a hat?"

Sarge

The eccentric older man with roots in the south. He created Lopez, loves to fuck with Grif, and has a deep sense of pride. He adores his shotgun and really likes to tinker. It's a miracle he hasn't died.

"I wanna know what in the name of Benedict Arnold Palmer is going on around here!"

Violet Dufranse

The only daughter of Doc and Donut, she's cheerful and confident. She's got a real talent as a pitcher in softball amd will occasionally hurl things in self defense. Violet enjoys gardening and is often found near one of her dad's in her off time. While she prefers not to fight, she will.

"Can someone explain the grif cubes to me one more time? I'm still confused on the activation method."

Zach James

Caboose's nephew, he's calm and reserved. Zach is about to start his medical school after a year abroad, he wants to go to college with the rest of his friends. He's patient, but he has the same height his uncle does, very tall. He is the keeper of his friends and likes to maintain that he gets dragged into chaos.

"If you're going to be stupid, at least take the first aid kit. Please."

[shrinkthisviolet]

⭐

Gonna talk about a deep cut: in that very moment when i love him (i destroy him), a Peter & Otto fic I wrote after playing the first Spider-Man Insomniac game!

Peter & Otto is such a special relationship to me, I love it so much. The friendship, camaraderie...and the betrayal! They really make you hope that Otto can somehow avoid his fate, they get you attached to him, and that’s a remarkable thing. But you can’t...because not only is he doomed to become Doc Ock, but also...he's already tumbling down that path before he puts on the neural interface. Even before the game begins.

This is something that this video essay brings up, something I hadn’t even considered before (and really, that video essay is the main inspiration for this fic). Because of course, the most common mainstream telling of Otto’s story is in Spider-Man 2, when he is indeed a good man corrupted by the neural interface. But here...the sheer scope of his plans by the time Peter finds them means he's been orchestrating things from the very beginning. He was falling down the path before we even knew it—and of course, it’s because of his grudge against Norman Osborn that began when they experimented on Martin Li, a grudge that burst into bloom when Norman cut Otto’s lab funding.

So that’s key point #1.

The same video essay linked above brings up the idea of short-term vs long-term consequences, and how Peter will always make the choice that has benefits in the short-term (minimizes short-term consequences), and then take on all the blame for any negative consequences (as someone who falls into this trap a lot in my own life, that hit hard). Even with Otto, he says, “how did I let this happen?” Maybe if he got to the lab earlier, checked the machines better, paid more attention...

But a) he’s focused on the short-term (for the sake his own peace of mind, he has to be, but this is a flawed approach, his fatal flaw), which just keeps coming, and b) as mentioned before, Peter couldn’t save Otto, because he mistakenly assumes the trouble started with the neural interface. It didn’t—it started before, though ofc when exactly it started is unclear. It’s not something Peter could’ve saved him from, in any case. He realizes that here:

“Please, Peter,” Otto begged, “that wasn’t me!”

But it was. Peter knew it was. He wanted to throw it in Otto’s face: the files, the plans, all the stuff he’d found. That anger…it wasn’t simply occasional experimental frustration like Peter had initially thought. It was genuine rage and impatience…and Peter had been too naive to see it.

(Though ofc he still blames himself 🥺)

And that’s the focus of this fic, really: the scene where Peter walks away from Otto, but expanded. What’s Peter thinking during that scene? How does he reconcile it with May “when you help someone, you help everyone” Parker? Well...this is how:

When you help someone, you help everyone, May often said. But she also always stressed the importance of self-care, first and foremost. It was worth putting in the effort to try, she said, but you had to know when the effort was futile. When it was time to cut your losses.

Peter had never thought he’d encounter someone like that. Someone he was so desperate to help, who rejected all attempts for him to do so but fooled him into thinking he had a chance. Someone who wormed his way into his heart and shattered it bit by bit, until all he had left was a hole in his chest filled with shards.

Peter hates cutting his losses. But here...after trying throughout this fight scene and subsequent conversation to save Otto...he has to. Even as Otto begs him to come back and help him…Peter walks away. Though of course...he’s still Spider-Man. So what does he promise Otto?

“I’ll do everything I can,” he choked out, “to make sure you get the best care.” That, at least, he could promise. He did it for his Rogues, he could do it for Otto too.

Even now, he shows Otto compassion. He promises Otto will have the best care. Because that’s who Spider-Man is…even to the enemies that stab him in the back so viciously. Especially when, in their lowest moments, those villains still fall back on their bad habits and prove how little remorse they truly feel:

“And of course,” Otto continued, seeming relieved suddenly—probably something in Peter’s face, Otto had always been able to read him so, so easily, “you’ll rest easy, knowing your secret is safe with me.”

Because Peter lives by a creed. And most importantly, he and Otto have some key differences:

He lived by that philosophy of responsibility, by his uncle’s last words: with great power comes great responsibility. And for a time, he’d thought Otto believed the same. And maybe he did.

But Peter would never ever make the mistake of thinking the people of New York were in any way beneath him. Him having superpowers, saving them…it wasn’t out of any sort of arrogance or superiority. It wasn’t because he believed himself to be more than them.

It was because he believed them to be capable of more. Because, where most people looked around the city and saw lost causes and corruption and fear, he saw potential and hope and life.

What sort of hero would he be if he didn’t protect that life?

Otto believes in “doing what’s best for those beneath [him].” Peter believes in helping everyone, no matter what.

So this fic really ended up being part-Peter & Otto exploration, part-Peter/Spidey character study, based on some of the ideas presented in a stunning, moving video essay (linked in the 3rd paragraph). And I love it to pieces 💞

director’s cut ask game!

[radiantlyrey]

📔 <3

(for this ask meme...)

Thank you, friend!! <3

So way back when I was into Doctor Who a lot, I had quite a fun time thinking up ways to make crossovers with my other favorite shows. I have a whole document full of crossover ideas, but I'm going to focus on one in particular that I've always wanted to write.

This is a crossover between Doctor Who and Young Justice (specifically the cartoon that was on CN and is now on HBO Max, and specifically Season One). I'm going to share the plot summary I wrote up about 10.5 years ago, and then some sketchy snippets I have written as well.

The summary:

The Team (sans Kaldur [mostly because I couldn't figure out what to do with him...]) have been tasked with protecting Dr. Atticus Ellison, head scientist of the top secret Project Dometop.  Several team members on Dometop have gone briefly missing in the last month, and a few days before the Team’s assignment, the lab where Dometop is being held was broken into.  Dometop is apparently days away from a major breakthrough, and Ellison is paranoid about it being compromised or his person being abducted like the others on his team.  The protection detail at a museum gala goes fairly well until a sudden power outage causes the team to leap into action.  They find Ellison in a service corridor with a woman who entered the gala under the name Augusta Smith, but immediately gives herself up and confesses her name is River Song.  She claims that she’s trying to save the world, but no one actually believes her. Since the trouble is apparently at an end (River confessed to everything), Ellison dismisses the team to go about their business while he goes to the lab for a quick check on Dometop.  While the Team is debating what exactly to do about River, a report comes in of an explosion at the lab where Dometop is located.  After some doing, River convinces them to look into it, and once they’re inside, she basically takes charge and explains everything: Dometop is believed by Ellison to be some sort of alien technology fallen to Earth, and he’s partly right.  What he never guessed was that there was something alive in the little dome-topped machine he uncovered: what’s sitting in the middle of his laboratory is a still living but just barely non-functional Dalek, fallen through time or some crack in the dimensions to end up here.  River has been trying to  prevent Ellison’s team from fixing the Dalek enough to allow it to beam a message out to its fellows, and they have to act quickly to kill the Dalek before all of Earth is doomed.  (The Doctor makes a brief appearance, just in time for the dénouement.)

And now, a few snippets behind the cut... (these are mostly from the latter part of the plot, when River has convinced the Team that she's right and they're preparing to fight the Dalek)

“Nothing ever goes as planned. That's rule number eighteen, though I've told him a few times it should be closer to the top. It's practically his motto.”

“Told who? You keep mentioning this guy, who is he? Your boyfriend?”

She laughed. “Sometimes. It's complicated, believe me. The life of the time traveler.”

“The--what? You're from the--the future?”

“Oh, I'm from worse than the future. I'm from another dimension. This isn't the Earth I grew up with, though I have to say this one's a lot more fun.”

“I--but--how can you—”

“I wouldn't worry too much about it, dear,” she said, pulling another pick from the packet at her belt. “How I got here was complicated enough, and I can only hope the way's still open when we're done here. I wouldn't want to get stuck on the wrong side, I've still got a few things left to do and more than that, I hope.”

_

“You don't seem to understand. There is no negotiating with that thing. There is no helping it, there is nothing left to do but kill it before it calls more of them down on us and dooms the Earth. It has no emotion, none at all save for an ingrained and impenetrable hatred for all things that are not Dalek. If we don't stop it right here, right now, it could very well mean the end of the world.”

“You're... actually serious.” He glanced at the security feed again, staring at the weird little domed robot. It didn't look like much of a threat. If he was being honest with himself it looked kind of ridiculous, with the lines of half-spheres down its sides and the plunger and whisk-like instruments hanging limply from its front. Even its dome top was a little strange. But Dr. Song looked deathly serious when she talked about it, and given how she'd been proven right so far tonight, he was starting to think it would be a good idea to listen to her.

“All right. What do we do?”

“Follow my lead,” she replied as she keyed the entry code into the door. “And aim for the eyepiece.”

-

There was a deafening bang, then a silence. “Is everyone all right?” River called. “Any injuries?”

The nos came slowly, and soon they were all getting to their feet in the wreckage of the lab. The broken shell of the Dalek was sizzling faintly, and Artemis smelled something acrid under the scent of hot metal and spilled chemicals. She coughed as she got to her feet.

“So is it dead?” she asked.

“Yes,” River replied. “It should—” She paused suddenly, turning back towards the door with a frown on her face.

Artemis heard it after a moment--a low, wheezing, groaning sound that seemed to be coming from everywhere. She readied an arrow as the others scrambled into ready stances, but what happened next was... strange.

The wheezing sound grew louder, and a wind blew through the lab, scattering the remains of their battle. And against the wall, fading in and out slowly, was a tall blue box with a light at the top.

The box materialized completely, and the wheezing stopped with a low thrum. The box had two doors on the front, and a sign across the top that read "Police Public Call Box," though Artemis had no idea what that might be.

Then the door opened, and a tall young man in a bow tie and tweed jacket stuck his head out. He glanced at all of them briefly, but his eyes ended on River. "Hello, dear," he said, a little nervously.

River folded her arms. "And what sort of time do you call this?" She glanced at the team. "You all can stand down," she said. "This is an old and impossibly tardy friend of mine."

[angel-inked]

Silenced Fire, Chapter Five: Thorn in the side

Sorry about no wip yesterday, our drying machine quit and we had to move things out of the way to be able to get the old one out.

Anyway instead of a wip, enjoy another chapter of Silenced Fire.

(Previous, next)

Taglist: @vvkingofgaybisciutsvv @thequeenofthewinter @hecatemoon87 @wandawiccan60 @potter-solomons

Howard cleaned Forrest' cuts, scratches and scrapes. Making sure everything that is supposed to be inside his little brother stayed, well, inside his little brother. Finally Howard straightened his stance "Well Jack, we outta let Forrest tend to his lady friend here" he teased. Forrest didn't retort, he shot his brothers a glare causing them to hurry out of the room more so than they already were. "Just ignore them, there's a reason I'm the brains of this operation" Forrest grumbled. "Oh, they're quite alright. My sister would've done something similar" Rose replied, taking a seat next to him. Forrest felt his breath hitch, he was never the best at socializing. As he said, he's the brains of the operation, he prefers building stills and thinking up new recipes for the brothers to sell, he supposed he was a hand at talking his way out of trouble or a fight, two things that seemed to be one in the same to him anymore. "You okay? You look pretty beat up" Rose asked, cuping Forrest' chin with her hand and carefully tilting his head to get a better look at the freshly cleaned cuts. "Yeah, that's because I did get beat up, you're sister... um helped me" Forrest explained, purposely leaving out the whole Maggie shooting his attacker part. "Well, she was always good with that pistol of her's" Rose replied, staring straight ahead, the look on her face saying she was deep in thought. "Yo.. you know about that?" Forrest questioned. "Yep, Maggie told me herself. I'm not some wimp, ya know?" She smirked. "I.. I didn't think that for a second" Forrest stuttered, noticeably nervous, well, at least he thought it was noticeable. He wasn't actually sure if Rose noticed, she didn't seem to but he figured she wouldn't mention it if she did, after all she was trying to get Forrest to hire her!

"So, what made ya want to take this job?" Forrest asked, remembering this was supposed to be a job interview. "Well, ain't got nothing else to do, besides pretty sure Maggie wants me out of her house anyway" she explained, fidgeting with the fabric of her dress. Forrest narrowed his eyes and Rose seemed to notice his confusion "ya know that house that burnt up on the other side of town?" She asked. "That was you?" Forrest exclaimed. "Yep, my fiance bought the house but whoever built the damned thing didn't know much about wiring" Rose replied, leaning her chin into the palm of her hand. "Who's you're fiance? Maybe I know'em" Forrest said quietly, regaining a little if any confidence. "Millard, Millard Nullings" she replied, her bright expression wavering. Forrest knew Millard alright, they sat beside each other in school. He also knew that when the house went up in flames, Millard went up with it "I'm sorry for your loss" Forrest murmured, clearing his throat, not sure what else to say.

"It's alright, I mean it's not but it is what it is" she smiled. They sat in silence, that is until they heard a loud thud and the smashing of glass upstairs. Forrest rushed up the stairs and Rose followed, "Howard? Jack?" Forrest called, cursing Howard internally for taking off with his sweater with his brass knuckles still in the pocket. "We're alright" Jack exclaimed, Forrest rushed towards the sound of his baby brother's voice. Upon opening the door, he found his brothers cleaning up broken glass jars next to a knocked over shelf on the floor. "Howard backed into it" Jack explained. "No, you pushed me" Howard countered. "Did not" Jack spat. "Now both of you just shut up and clean up your mess, I don't wanna be hearin' anymore arguin', alright?" Forrest explained, a stern look was all it took to get the two grown men to silence their bickering.

"I'm sorry you had to see all that" Forrest mumbled, as he and Rose trudged down the last few stairs before landing on the barroom floor. "It's alright, at least nobody's hurt, well, let me rephrase that. Neither of you're brothers are hurt" Rose smiled, making Forrest bite the inside of his bottom lip. "Since we didn't get to talk much, how about you come back tomorrow and I can give you the run down on things" Forrest explained. "Really? Does that mean you want me for the job?" Rose exclaimed, a hopeful expression on her face. "Yep" Forrest nodded, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "Thank you so much, you have no idea how much this means to me, I mean I..." she trailed off. "Hey, save you're breath. You don't need to thank me, and I'll make sure those two knuckleheads upstairs don't interrupt us next time" Forrest explained, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Right, I'll see you tomorrow. Come on olive" Rose replied, calling the pit bull that followed along behind her loyally by name. As soon she was out the door, Forrest exhaled sharply and went back up the stairs to his office, he collapsed back into his chair. Why? Why did Rose make it feel like he was suffocating? He wasn't sure. She seemed so.. understanding, even when Howard and Jack made a mess of things. Damned emotions, Forrest thought he did away with those years ago, back when his mom.. well.

"Oh shit" Forrest sighed, running his hands through his slicked back hair. His brothers had been teasing him about his hair that morning, Howard couldn't understand why Forrest put that much effort into his appearance everyday, considering he wore his hat ninety-nine percent of the time. Forrest was meticulous about how he looked and presented himself, his mom had been like that. In 1931, this was what was expected of the women, but for a man, especially one with the background Forrest had, nearly unheard of. But, like with most things in Franklin County, Forrest was the exception, though he didn't much care what other people thought or who looked, he was mostly just trying to please himself. If he thought he looked good, he felt good. He usually was the most put together of the brothers, Jack is very casual and Howard usually looks like he got black out drunk, passed out then woke up and slapped his hat on his head. Howard always looked so thrown together, one time Forrest actually made him clean up because the three brothers were headed past the hills for a shine deliverie, a deliverie that wasn't a dive joint for once, this was one of they're higher paying clients, so Forrest figured that making an impression was a good idea, what he didn't account for was Howard beating the snot out of two police officers who caught the brothers with a four stack of shine filled wooden crates in the back of their truck.