#i had trouble coming up with some stuff but she helped me :) yay

[2021-good-actually-58b-1]

another entry!!

NEON YELLOW

as an opposite to neon violet, he grew tired of being the weakest link on the team. he constantly got in the way of green and red's rivalry and it always ended very poorly for him. at some point he started to observe violet as someone who knew how to survive. yellow became a lot less reckless and a lot more cunning, learning to use people for his gain. he had this trait (albeit very much unexplored) of risking everything for the sake of getting something important to him and to him only. yellow disposed of means that could potentially kill him (again) and started to work towards a goal, carefully and slowly - to defeat the strongest neon and prove himself worthy (mainly to himself. no one really expected anything of neon yellow).

meanwhile violet became softer and softer, slowly letting go of her careful and distrustful personality. during one of the years before the main events set, yellow managed to dispose of violet as his competitor. only once. she never let him get close to her again. after white arrived into heaven, violet immediately warned him about how dangerous neon yellow has become, but she wasn't able to prove anything because of the chapter 4 events. yellow put up a facade for his best bro and teamed up with him, because only with allies stronger than him was he able to get close to uncovering the book of life. he knew nothing about it before white's return. white still proved to be the most important person in his life.

red was not watching yellow very closely. that proved to be a mistake. he tried his best to hide his presence as an ally of white and green and he succeeded. she did not expect him to appear in the third temple and, as a result, was not able to kill him when the confrontation happened. she only managed to fatally injure him. slowly bleeding out, yellow was the one to get his hands on the book of life first

and he ran with it.

he abandoned unconscious green who fell through the third temple's floor and injured white who was forced to fight red. not sure what to do with the artifact without the book of death (that now belonged to neon red) he attempted to destroy it, drowning it in the glass ocean, leaving one page for himself. the book remained intact but had to be searched for. yellow ran further and further away until the injury became unbearable. when that happened he attempted to write his name on the page, but it was very much fruitless without the inkhorn (since i dont know if theres a punishment for writing in the book without the inkhorn i wont speculate any further). he bled out somewhere near the heaven's edge. his body was not found. his mask and the page he saved appeared in the cathedral immediately after.

yellow's mask is a hare, symbolising his inspiration by violets personality and his instinct to run away after getting what he wanted to get. his theme would be mg2019 175 from neon white demo soundtrack. his symbol is a heart.

[thatsmzbitchtoyou]

A Very Cutesy, Very Demure Halloween -Oneshot

I'm pausing "The Witch and The Doctor" to post this little Halloween blurb that was requested. Happy Halloween my darlings!

Word count: 875

Bucky never did quite understand the point of Halloween.  He knew it came from an ancient pagan holiday called Samhain, and the whole idea of the veil between the living and the dead being thin that one day of the year.  He was sure that to some extent it was something to remember those who had passed on, but it had turned into this big, commercialized production that he didn’t like.  That, and considering his gory, troubled past, he couldn’t understand the appeal of slasher or horror films.

But watching Y/N teeter dangerously on a dining room chair as she pinned up more lights and long garlands of fake Autumn leaves along the common room ceiling, he couldn’t help but smile.  “Careful, Y/N,” Bucky laughed, walking over and steadying the chair, his hands moving up to hold her hips.  

“Oh, ha!” Y/N laughed, glancing down at him as she placed the last bit of garland just the way she wanted.  “Thanks, Buck.”

He helped her get off the chair, watching her step back and inspect her handiwork.  “Is decorating for Fall really worth risking your well being?” he smirked.

“100%,” she answered, winking at him.  “Autumn is the best time of the year.”

“Are you a horror fan?” He asked, trying to gauge her reasoning.

“Oh, no, not me.  I’m a wuss when it comes to horror films.  I’m more of a cutesy, tamed version of Halloween lover,” she shook her head as she bent over to grab more things out of her decor box.  “More Hocus Pocus than Ghostface, you know?”

“Hocus Pocus?” Bucky asked.

Y/N dropped the decor she was holding, looking at him incredulously.  “You’ve never seen Hocus Pocus?!” she asked loudly.

“Uh…no?” Bucky said, a little nervous at her reaction.

“OH MY GOD!” she screamed.  “We are watching it tonight.  Clear your calendar.  You have no plans.  Do you understand me?”

“Yes, yes ma’am,” Bucky smirked but nodded seriously.

“Good.  Now help me put the rest of this stuff out,” Y/N said, a terse tone in her voice that left no room for argument.

Bucky helped Y/N put up the rest of the Autumn and Halloween decorations she had in her boxes, being extra careful and diligent in putting them in the exact spot she instructed him to.  By the time dinner rolled around he helped her get a soup going, then sliced some french bread that they crisped up in the oven to dip it into the soup.  She got some cookies and drinks ready and they sat down in front of the TV in the common room that was above the fireplace, which she promptly turned on.  “For the vibes,” she said with a happy grin as she turned on the movie Hocus Pocus.

Bucky enjoyed the movie.  It was a little corny at times, and he didn’t understand all the references, but he liked it a lot, almost crying at the sweet, family moment at the end.  When it was over and “I Put a Spell On You” played again over the credits Y/N turned to him with a serious look.  “So?” she asked.

He smiled at her.  “I loved it,” he said.

Y/N squealed, her smile wide as she clapped her hands.  “Oh yay!  It’s so good, right?  Not too scary or anything.  Spooky but in a chill, happy way.”

“Exactly,” Bucky agreed, sitting up and turning to face her.  “Today has been fun.  Thank you for including me and sharing it with me.”

Y/N’s smile softened, her eyes twinkling in happiness.  “No problem.  I’m glad you liked it all.  It’s my favorite time of year, and I haven’t been able to really relax and celebrate it for a while with, well, you know, all this,” she said, gesturing to the Avengers Tower around them.  “Hopefully I can get to an actual pumpkin patch this year.”

“Can I come with you?” Bucky asked.

Y/N smirked teasingly at him.  “You wanna tromp around a pumpkin patch, in the freezing Autumn breeze?”

“As long as it’s with you, then yes,” Bucky said, slightly leaning toward her with his own smirk.

Y/N’s eyes widened at his words, her smile slipping in shock.  “Really?” she asked quietly.

“Really,” Bucky nodded, leaning forward again until he could reach and nuzzled her nose with his.  “We could make it a date.”

“A date?” Y/N whispered, her eyes fluttering at how close he was.

“If you’ll have me?” Bucky implied, arching an eyebrow at her.  “Then I could take you on a walk around Central Park to see the changing leaves with a pumpkin spice latte?”

Y/N smiled widely again, nuzzling his nose back.  “That sounds perfect.” 

Bucky angled his head and grazed his lips over hers.  “Then it’s a date.  But, I don’t think I can wait for that first date kiss.”

“Me neither,” Y/N said, then surged forward and kissed him.

Bucky immediately responded, kissing her back passionately as he wound his arms around her waist, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.  He felt elated at finally getting to this point, thanking the spooky powers above for giving him a spooky girl as his Halloween treat.

[ladykailitha]

All My Roads Lead Back to You Part 12

Hello! Sorry this is late, but I had to take this week super slow because I went and sprained my middle and ring fingers on my left hand tripping and falling into a wall. The hand is mostly better, but it still twinges a bit.

Edie is going through some things, Eddie gets lost, and Steve learns where Harri gets his name.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11

***  

Steve got home and found Edie at the counter munching away at cereal.

“You do know cereal is breakfast food, yes?” he asked as he went to the fridge to pull out the stuff he’d need to make dinner.

“Cereal is a state of mind, Dad,” Edie said, grinning around a mouth full of milk and Frosted Flakes.

“You’re going to spoil your dinner,” Steve said with a glare.

Edie cocked one eyebrow at him and he sighed. “Yeah, all right. So how was school?”

“Algebra is still the bane of human existence,” she murmured. “I just don’t understand it. I can do the geography portion of the syllabus just fine. But when it comes to algebra, I just...” and then blew a raspberry.

Steve grimaced. “I’m sorry, honey. I’ve explained it, Uncle Dusty explained it a different way, and Aunt Robin an even more different way than that and if you’re not getting, I don’t know what to do.”

Edie sighed. “I talked to Mr Olsen and he’s just going to have me take geometry next year instead of forcing me through another year of hell.”

“Are you going to get enough math credits to graduate if you do that?” Steve asked.

Edie sighed. “Probably not, so summer school it is. Yay!” she said waving her hands sarcastically.

“We’ll get you through this,” he promised.

“I know,” she murmured. She looked over at the counter where Steve had put aside enough food for an army. “You skip lunch again?”

He rolled his eyes. “No. Half of this coming with me to the office because Callen, one of the techs’ mom is going through chemo and he forgets to bring lunch.”

Edie looked at the food on the counter and back up at him. “It’s not for you?”

Steve sighed. “No. You’re not going to get hung up on this again are you?”

She shook her head. “I just worry about you, you know.”

He sighed again. “I know you do, but you don’t have to worry about this. You remember what Dr Rushing said, right?”

Edie heaved out a sigh of her own. “I know. It was a one-time thing. It’s never happened before and it hasn’t happened since.”

“Good,” Steve said firmly. “Now help me chop these vegetables.”

She drank down her milk and put her bowl in the sink. She got out a knife and the chopping board and got to work.

“Anything exciting happen at work today?” she asked.

Steve’s spine stiffened and went completely still. “About that, honey. Has your mom tried to get into contact with you recently?”

Edie frowned. “I guess about a month ago. She wanted me to be a bridesmaid at her wedding. But I thought she was trying to trap me again, so I just ignored it, why?”

Steve let out a shuddering breath and told her about his afternoon. “So I’m calling the school and letting them know that she is in town and isn’t allowed anywhere near you, okay?”

“God, I swear that woman is like a bad penny,” Edie muttered. “She just keeps coming back.”

Steve nodded. “Violating the order is bad, and she will get in trouble for it. But she hasn’t tried to physically harm either of us, so I’m not sure what the police can even do.”

Edie nodded back. “I wish she would just go away. Because apparently not even finding another man to scam is enough to get her to forget about us.”

“Nothing warps the mind quite like greed,” Steve agreed. “I’ll talk to a lawyer about what more we can do about her, just to set both of our minds at ease. There must be something more we can do.”

*

Eddie was lost. He was sure Dustin told him to take the second elevator to sixth floor to meet up for lunch. But now he was starting wonder if Dustin had said the sixth elevator to the fourth floor.

Fuck.

And then he saw his savior in the form of a single glass name plate. He wrenched open the door and went up to the desk.

“Hey, so I was wondering if–” he began.

The woman at the desk cut him off by tapping her sign. Eddie’s eyes followed her finger and went, “Oh.”

He started signing instead. “My sincerest apologies, fair Vanessa! I should have been paying better attention. I was wondering if you could point me in the direction of Dustin Henderson’s office. I am meant to be having lunch with him, but I have sadly lost my way!”

Vanessa giggled and pressed a button on her desk. She signed back. “I could, but I’m pretty sure he’d take you if you wanted.”

Eddie frowned and signed back. “Who?”

She pointed behind him and he turned. There leaning against his now open door, was Steve. He had his arms crossed and was smiling fondly.

Eddie turned back to her and blushed. Vanessa raised an eyebrow.

“This idiot is on the wrong floor,” she signed to Steve. “Can you take him to Dustin? Tell him to stop letting his experiments run around the building unsupervised.”

Steve laughed. “Come on, Eddie. I’ll get you to where you need to go.”

Eddie signed “Asshole” to her before turning around and following Steve. Her laugh echoed down the hall.

“You have a mean receptionist,” he told Steve as the walked down the hall.

Steve grinned. “I know, isn’t she great? I love her.”

Eddie gulped and shoved his hands in his back pocket. “Didn’t know you were the kind to date the secretary, Harrington.”

Steve laughed. “If I tried that, her husband Nick would make sure my next hearing aid exploded.”

The knot that had formed in Eddie’s chest loosened. “I didn’t see a ring when we were signing, so I wondered.”

Steve nodded. “That’s fair. But he can’t wear one doing his work, so she told him that she wasn’t going to wear one either.”

“Is he deaf, too?” Eddie asked. He knew from Dustin that the company liked to hire hard of hearing and deaf individuals.

Steve shook his head. “One of my best interpreters, though. They came as a packaged deal. I can’t live without Vanessa and Dustin trusts Nick implicitly, I do too.”

Eddie smiled. “It seems like you two have made quite the company here.”

“It absolutely was a team effort,” Steve replied. “Dustin could MacGuiver that shit from his mom’s basement, but he couldn’t get people to listen to him about the technologies.”

“Whereas you could smooth talk a snake out of its skin?” he said, ducking his head and looking up at Steve slyly.

Steve laughed. “Something like that. So it worked to both of our strengths.”

He stopped at a door and then opened it. “Hey, Dusty! Look what I found wondering the halls like a lost puppy.”

Dustin’s head shot up. “There you are! Why didn’t you just message me on your phone, dumbass?”

Eddie flushed in embarrassment. “I thought I could figure it out. But this place is huge.”

Steve laughed. “Well Bo-peep, now that I’ve found your sheep, I’ve got to get back to work.” He jerked his thumb behind him. “Also Vanessa says to keep a tighter leash on your experiments.” He winked at Eddie who protested loudly.

“Hey,” Dustin said, glancing at Eddie quickly, “if you wanted you could come with us to lunch.”

Steve paused at the door and looked to Eddie. “If you don’t mind...”

Eddie shook his head. “You are more than welcome, Stevie.”

Steve felt that familiar swoop in his stomach at the old nickname. “Then sure. Where were you guys thinking of going?”

“Sushi!” Dustin said proudly.

Steve rolled his eyes. “I’ll pass thanks.”

Eddie cocked his head to the side. “Not a fan of raw fish, sweetheart?”

Steve’s stomach swooped again and he really needed Eddie to stop with the nicknames and endearments otherwise Steve wasn’t going to have much of a stomach left after a single lunch the way his stomach kept hollowing out.

Steve shrugged. “I’ve tried all kinds, including the cooked kind and it’s just not my thing. You two have fun though.”

Eddie may have panicked a bit because he blurted. “We could change the restaurant.”

Steve smiled sweetly. “I wouldn’t want to ruin your fun. I’ll just pick something more my flavor on Monday.” He waved goodbye and they waved back.

As the door was closing Steve could hear Dustin ask Eddie, “What happens on Monday?”

*

Steve was in his office when there was a knock on his door. He had taken out his contacts and pulled out his glasses, the beginning of a migraine floating just beyond the horizon.

He had been chugging water and had long since downed pain killers to stave it off. But he could still feel the pressure building behind his eyes.

When the knock came he looked up to see Eddie standing at the door with a take away box and smile.

“I come bearing gifts of the apology variety,” he said holding up the bag.

Steve’s shoulders sagged. “You didn’t have to do that. I would have grabbed a candy bar or something later.”

Eddie grinned. “It was Dustin’s idea, I am merely the messenger.”

“Why is everyone fussing about my eating?” Steve sighed.

“He said you tend to overwork and forget to eat.” Eddie raised an eyebrow.

Steve shoulders slumped. “He’s right. Sorry. It’s just that Edie’s been going on about my eating habits lately and it’s set me on edge.”

Eddie walked into the room and set his prize down on the table, sliding it over to him. “They got a reason to worry?”

Steve pulled the styrofoam box out of the bag and hummed happily when the scent of sesame chicken hit his nose. He pulled out the chop sticks and dug in, suddenly ravenous.

After a moment or two of stuffing his face, he shook his head. “Not really. Which is why it’s weird, it’s come out of nowhere.”

“You been eating less lately?” Eddie asked, leaning forward on the desk, having pulled up a chair up close.

Steve cocked his head as he thought about it. “I mean not really. Like yeah, sometimes I’ll work through lunch, but I always make sure to grab something later. It’s not disordered eating or whatever they’re calling it these days.”

Eddie nodded. “Anything that’s happened recently that maybe put her on edge and had her latch on to your eating habits?”

Steve scoffed around a bite of chicken. “You mean other than this really great guy I used to be friends with suddenly coming back into my life via his seventeen year old rockstar in the making?”

Eddie grinned. “Other than that, yeah.”

Again Steve gave his question the weight it deserved before shaking his head. “Nothing I can think of.”

Eddie threw himself back against the chair with a heavy sigh. “You got me then man. I don’t know.”

Steve smiled. “At least you tried.”

“Speaking of my rockstar in training, how’s your rockstar in training?” Eddie asked.

“Other than the fixating on my eating?” Steve asked. “She’s fine. Her mom tried to fuck with us again. Sent her packing via cops and lawyers. Hopefully she’ll stay away this time.”

Eddie winced. “Look, I love the name Edie. It’s beautiful, but who the hell names their daughter Edith anymore?”

Steve huffed out a laugh. “I know, right? I fought hard for Lilian. Or even just Lily. But no...it had to be Edith. I think it was a family name or some such bullshit.”

Eddie rolled his eyes. “God, I think that honestly makes it worse.”

“Hence Edie,” Steve agreed. “So how did you and your husband come up with Harri. Edie said it’s spelled uniquely. With an ‘I’ instead of a ‘Y’?”

Eddie huffed and rolled his eyes. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

Steve tilted his head to the side. “I think Dusty or Nancy said it was after some prince or something.”

Eddie shook his head and ran his tongue over his teeth. “Yeah no. That’s official story. Prince Harry was born to the Prince and Princess of Wales two full years before Harri was even conceived. And when people started guessing that with Jay being English, we just didn’t bother to correct them.”

He grabbed the plaque that had Steve’s name on it and turned it around, covering the last five letters of his last name. It now read STEVEN HARRI.

It took Steve a moment before his eyes went wide. “And Jay was okay with that?”

Eddie shrugged. “It wasn’t Steven or Stephen with a ‘PH’. And I didn’t know your middle name.”

“Why?”

“Why what?” Eddie asked. “Why is my son named after a guy who’s name I’ve never spoken aloud in twenty years?”

Steve pursed his lips together and then licked them. “Yeah, man. That.”

“Jay wanted to name him after the man that save my life,” Eddie said softly. “But I was still mad at you about missing Brian’s funeral. Which I now know was because you thought Edie was being born, even if she waited a whole other week to finally make it.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I couldn’t make something up. Not with it in newspapers who the Hawkins hero was. So we used Harri.”

Steve finished his food and threw it away. He wiped off his hands. “Anyone ever guess the real meaning behind the name?”

Eddie shook his head. “Maybe Jeff. But no, everyone else thinks we were British snobs.”

“Well, I’m honored,” Steve said. “Not just because you think I’m a hero, but because Harri’s a good kid. I’m guessing he doesn’t know.”

Eddie shook his head. “I’ve got a letter from Jay that he’s going to get on his twenty-first birthday that will explain it. The surrogacy, his birth, his name. All of it. I wanted to tell Harri sooner, but Jay made me promise.”

Steve nodded. “He’ll probably still be angry. But at least a twenty-one, hopefully he’ll be be mature enough to understand why.”

Eddie slapped the desk with his palm. “That’s the hope.” He looked at his watch. “I’ve got to go. Harri’s got a dentist appointment. See you on Monday?”

Steve grinned. “Yeah. See you on Monday.”

***

Part 13 Part 14  Part 15  Part 16 Part 17  Part 18  Epilogue

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[regarding-stories]

Some looking back and some rounding up

So, a while ago I did a selection of series I was watching this simulcast season. And some other stuff. Here are my updated thoughts on several of them - plus more other stuff! Yay, other stuff!

...

Dead Dead Demons DeDeDe Destruction

I can say I'm interested where the series is going, but there are two factors stopping me. Following an unfolding catastrophe by itself would already be a downer. But particularly this year, I am really not inclined to watch scenes of cutesy aliens being brutally murdered over and over. First I banned the series from watching at mealtimes, but now, with 11 episodes already watched, I haven't picked it up in quite some time.

GIF by animescreencolle

2.5 Dimensional Seduction

Turned out exactly as I expected it to be - an enjoyable watch all in all, a cute collection of blushing included. I find two downsides with the season:

Unrequited love interest / girl #2 was absent from half the season in spite of being spotlighted in the credits. My guess she was a bit of a filler right from the start, but seldom has a character been sidelined so hard. When she reappeared at the end I actually found she had grown as a character, being some necessary counter-pole to the airhead main girl. (Sorry Ririsa, but your commonsense is entirely absent. The total focus on Ririsa is less surprising when you know (only) her name is in the Japanese title, though.)

GIF by a-titty-ninja

There were... probably two... episodes that were almost entirely composed of internal dialogue that was highly repetitive and stretched out far too long. Yada yada I love all cosplayers. Change of heart. It was tiresome. There's a limit to how much internal dialogue is good in this kind of anime.

I had fun, though.

Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines

I thought this would become a harem comedy or at least have some harem vibes, given the narrator-protagonist we follow around is a dude surrounded by girls with widely differing hairstyles and personalities (and he actually tries to help them all).

I'm gladly surprised how much time this show takes to actually follow along the three titular losing heroines, though. It seems to be very willing to explore their struggles - first with their respective love interests, but now also expanding into shy bookworm's struggle to find friendship, acceptance, and a place in the world she can trust.

GIF by senjo

This focus is reflected in the credits sections which vary and focus on the girl currently taking the spotlight. Bonus: The show has some great music.

I still think that inevitably the protagonist's kindness will lead to a second round of falling-in-love trouble, especially given that girl-who-never-stops-snacking seems to already fill the girlfriend role in most aspects.

Still, loving the attention to characters, emotional scenes, some drama, and it being outright charming, funny, and delightful - this is so hard to wait for each week!

Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian

Ended up watching it, and it's a fun diversion. It actually works quite well as anime!

I still think the MC and his sister are absolute jerks when it comes to pranks. And the time he spent in Russia is even more sidelined than in the light novels.

Pseudo Harem

Now for an entry I picked up late. The basic premise is easy - there's a girl named Rin with a crush on her Senpai in drama club. To overplay her cowardice and blatantly flirt with him she invents a series of characters she portrays based on tropes/stereotypes (Imp-chan, Tsundere-chan, Cool-chan, etc) that her Senpai is absolutely enthralled with - so it becomes their own private thing (and probably a bit of a love language).

It surely helps the character is the most adorable little thing ever and voiced by the same voice actress as Yor in "Spy x Family", lending her this particular quality that is a bit timid and easily lured into blushing embarrassment.

The only downside I see to this series that can make you seriously go "Squeeee!" is that it overly focuses on only two characters and hence is more like a gag-comedy manga in terms of plot than an unfolding story (though it has elements of both). The anime certainly transports the whole thing way better than the original manga which I sampled at random before the show was picked up but I found a bit lacking.

Not sure why Senpai and his family (at least his mom) have constant "I lack sleep" eyes...

Days with my Stepsister

In hindsight, a chore with nothing much happening. Girl who is a loner who only relies on herself becomes stepsibling with boy who is a loner who detaches himself from everything. They fall in love.

Which is what you see mostly not happening for a dozen episodes as you watch them asking themselves questions and denying their feelings. And lots of inner monologue.

(Can't find a GIF for this under the English or Japanese title, so tumblr seems to have spoken...)

The show aims for an elegic, nostalgic quality, but it sometimes feels just slow. It is better, though, than shows that stall the plot with over-the-top drama. I watched it to end, after all. The end of the season is such that I find it hard to relate to her as a character, given how he discovered her feelings way before him. (I get that this is a heavy conflict for her, though.)

Side characters are almost entirely sidelined and mostly there to further what little plot there is between the main couple. And it wins the prize for the worst way to draw eyes in female characters, I thought at times she was having a mascara accident when it turned out it was still part of the eye.

Solo Leveling

Didn't expect that one, huh? I was rather annoyed by the hype, as I sometimes am, and had a preconceived bias about what the show is, well, about.

So glad to be wrong!!

The premise is much better than anticipated. Instead of this being about a game, it's about events unfolding that have game-like characteristics underneath. Except the protagonist is the only one to find that out after many years of this going on and hence in a unique position to improve his station in life - though through a very risky, painful means.

The show is well-paced and gorgeous in general, though also gory and overly dramatic. It pulls it off so well, you're on the edge of your seat rather often. And it manages to pull you in for the ride first.

The main criticism I have of this one is that the human side of the MC is... too passionate, focused, and a bit unconvincing. Come on! There is this girl desperate to go out with you but you're not only too consumed in feeling like a loser to take her up on it when you're failing, you still have no clue when you're succeeding! I don't buy into this level of onesidedness. (I guess the "hero" is destined to be with the ice queen we see portrayed so often. But season 1 has zero contact between them and they live in completely different worlds.)

A very harsh show, gore-wise, and more than a tad cruel. Be prepared.

Haganai - I Don't Have Many Friends

It's hard to have an opinion on this one. I read on in the manga because the show leaves off somewhere in the middle. And I must say, it really really has flawed characters - and displays them in all their misconceptions.

At one point I thought I almost got it - when the manga turned against the whole "rumor" and "reading the mood" and the mood turning on people culture. It was nasty how the group-think blamed one girl for the fact a dude had a stupid crush for her instead of the other girl. Of course she contributed to it - not through encouraging the dude like she was accused of (so she was essentially slut-shamed, I guess), but because her response was so horribly tone-deaf as well.

But when you read the defense her friend conjures on the spot, it's no better. So is the author himself horribly tone-deaf or is he meaning to portray characters that are so strongly flawed? I couldn't decide.

There's more of this - like the male lead thinking this girl attracting so much attention and supposedly super smart (but lacking any commonsense) is some sort of goddess. It's hard to tell if that is his flawed thinking or partially the author's? Because she's very flawed, and in turn the anime constantly makes fun of her - including playing a "moo" sound whenever she runs towards someone because, you know... dare I say it? Cow udders.

So it's a flawed show with a desperate amount of fan service and flawed characters, but I was still interested in where these characters would go. And it can be quite funny and/or sweet at times. It doesn't exactly inspire me to read the light novels, though.

My First Girlfriend Is a Gal

Now here's an anime that had some issues that had little to do with the actual story. Boy asks gal out on a dare and she actually accepts - apparently she had a secret crush? Whatever gets the ball rolling.

What the show does make clear is that she as a person/character is very different from the hyper-sexualized image some guys seem to have of gyarus. It actually mostly is a sweet and rather harmless romance with typical anime hijinks - let's go to the onsen (hot springs), MC gets to see her in a yukata, etc. And in this regard the show does fine.

However, the anime version specifically is turning what probably were very short scenes in the mind of the MC into long "censored" sequences, entertaining - at length! - the exact same mindset the character herself so noticeably disproves. While I only started reading the manga picking up at some point towards the end of the show, I don't see the same there. It nowhere takes as much focus. It's clearly a device the anime makers seem to have come up with.

I also have failed to find so far the story arc the show's only season ended on. The whole late story arc was so confusing in the end, not even I was sure what was supposed to happen between them versus what happened. It was a whole lot of "you should have known better" and "I'm disappointed in you" that I couldn't quite follow.

If you look past the blatant "sex sells" treatment the anime got, you find a nice enough story mixed with very silly and unrealistic hijinks. Not exactly destined for greatness, but it's worthwhile (and quite long-running, actually).

My Stepmom's Daughter Is My Ex

While I'm watching shows I originally had no interest in, this one turned out to be quite decent. The setup is interesting - boy and girl have a middle school romance between nerdy loners that breaks up when they can't cope with change and the communication needed to keep the relationship up. Shortly after the breakup his dad marries her mother, with neither knowing they used to date.

The show varies between different territories. On the one hand it plays with the lingering feelings, especially hers towards him. A lot of the show's humor and premise is based on this, and frankly, it's quite sweet.

What sold me in the show much more, however, is the introduction of a third character into the equation. Another girl who loves the boy - but most of all she treasures the friendship and connection she has with him - more so than "having to have him" or "being the only one." She just is happy to connect to this person - and a romantic relationship would be a bonus.

First the other girls think she is naive and hasn't admitted her feelings. But in the end, her take on emotions, feelings, and love is more mature than frankly most people's (in the show or outside of it) - including the mother of the newly formed family. Her character seems entirely believable and is an interesting expansion of what characters exist in these kinds of stories. She's also a wonderful combination between clueless and having a deep understanding of what love actually is. Brilliant!

The show then proceeds to portray as much the failed relationship as their current one, highlighting the need for personal growth and going beyond the past. The middle school romance isn't portrayed much at first, but as its realities are laid open, we understand how much of the current situation is rooted in them having been socially inept people - or simply kids growing up.

While doing all of this it's a lighthearted show full of banter and little silly situations, and people trying to guess each other's true motivations and feelings. Which makes it a really good take on the premise.

[fromtheboundlesssea]

HotD Season 2 Episode 1 Live Watch Thoughts

Yay recap! I missed you Emily and Milly!

The recap really does make it obvious that Alicent thinks she is following Viserys’ will.

Mysaria you did nothing to put Aegon on the throne. You did diddly squat that season.

I’m still blown they had Rhaenyra’s coronation at her daughter’s funeral.

Now onto the actual episode.

Ooooooo this opening is SOOOOOO MUCH COOLER!

I think it’s showing off what will happen during the season? Last season?

Opening is soooo much cooler than season 1 and all of Game of Thrones!

I beg you HBO! Keep this style of opening next season and all season!!!!!!

Love the contrast of the epicness of the opening to the quiet forest with a crow flying upon the wind.

“Duty is sacrifice” okay Cregan—mister I will show up last minute.

What has the seven kingdoms done for you really?

Was that SARA?!?!?

Is that adding to the watch from lore in the books or…

Random Stark boy be cute though.

Thank god they let Jace’s actor have his natural curls. So much better than that wig.

Cregan really is missing a beard. I think that is what is odd about his appearance.

The Conqueror went North to the Wall? I can’t remember that happening.

Jace… he bent the knee to not let his people burn. It wasn’t because they necessarily believed in the Targaryens and their right to rule.

Jace’s actor is 100% going to be used for Jon Snow faceclaims and gifs from these scenes.

I guess they are going to delete Sara, which kind of sucks tbh. I wanted Jace to have some conflict where he follows in his mother’s idea of lust and duty or goes against it.

“The mother grieves as the Queen shirks her duties” so like Viserys

Call him out Rhaenys. You deserved better when it came to your children.

Rhaenyra has no battle experience on her dragon and Syrax has no battle experience either. Aemond would not be in any trouble.

“Would that you were the king” OOF. He is going to be rattled by that for sure.

Power to Rhaenyra for not scorching Storm’s End tbh.

Honestly, I love the Velaryons so much. I wish we had more content about them in the shows.

I like that Corlys does seem to care about Luke. I just wish he showed just as much care about his granddaughters. I don’t think they’ve had any scenes together thus far.

So, is Alyn Corlys’ son in this or are they making no familial connection? And he married Baela and had an affair with her niece doesn’t he?

Oooo the same gate Otto left Alicent is the same gate the Green soldiers seem to come.

Love the scorpions. I wonder if they were suggested by Criston or if they just had them. They’re Dornish inventions right.

HELAENA MY GIRL! Is that a golden dragon you’re making?

JAEHAERA! MY CHILD!

Aw! Aegon checking on Jaehaera first before asking about Jaehaerys.

Okay, wow. Okay, having Alicent being eaten out. I wish their first time would have been after B&C where they are consumed by a need for comfort.

Interesting how we see Criston put on his armor after and Alicent helping him with his armor (giving him his cloak where Rhaenyra took it) and her clocking his shift in title and setting a boundary as opposed to Rhaenyra allowing him to assume (not fully blaming her btw).

JAEHAERYS! MY OTHER BABY

Aegon smiling at Jaehaerys 🥰

Tyland trying to be kind with he little prince while being annoyed.

Not Alicent blaming Tyland for the interruptions. 🤣

Here comes our new war criminal.

Aegon giving Aemond a place in the same way Viserys gave Daemon a place.

Me too Aegon. I am also like that when Otto talks.

I wish they gave an explanation of the balls. Have they given any in the BTS stuff?

Yes she was indisposed Larys you perverted creep.

Alicent definitely does not like that Larys chose her new staff. It feels controlling.

Why does Rhaenyra have ash on her face?

Appropriate fear of dragon.

That cgi of Rhaenyra getting off Syrax was awkward. Was that just me?

I hope they give Emma better writing this season, because they are an excellent actor.

RHAENYRA BUNCHING UP THE CLOTH TO HER BELLY!!!! 😭😭😭😭

Not Aegon and his crew sashaying in.

Interesting having Aegon being shown to handle matters of the kingdom before Rhaenyra is shown doing so. It’s an odd choice, especially him initially wanting to be helpful.

Hugh? However you spell it? Is it the dragon seed? Just a common name?

Interesting how we do not see him getting cut.

Starting Aegon as listening to the smallfolk in a way Rhaenyra dismissed is also interesting.

Love Aegon ready to dismiss Larys.

No Aegon do not listen to him. Yes I think Otto is not the best person, but Larys is not the best person to listen to either.

I wish we saw Alicent with the children or her with their things in her room.

Alicent defending her kids. That’s right. Because Otto has seemingly done nothing for those kids. He could have taken them under his wing.

The idea of men silencing the voice of mothers in the rearing and council of their children!

Rhys is such a good actor and I have to think about how he was also Mr. Lovegood.

Goats!

Hello Mysaria.

Man. This dynamic between Daemon and Mysaria is definitely giving off book Tyrion and Shae with his immediate act of ready violence.

Man, the idea of the Kingsguard not knowing what to do during Targ x Targ violence spans a the centuries huh.

Wigs are definitely a little better looking.

BAELA! RHAENA! MY DARLINGS!

Rhaena’s wig is soooo much better!

Daemon definitely does not like being silenced. How does it feel to have be treated in the same way Viserys treated Alicent?

Let my girls (Baela and Rhaena) have lines!

The way Jace’s voice is cracking!

Why do I feel we are not going to get any of the similar comforting moments between Alicent and her children? They are allergic to showing positive motherhood with he Greens.

Change in Joffrey actor.

Where are Aegon the Younger and Viserys?

Wish we got to see more of Rhaena interacting with Luke.

AND JOFFREY THROWING IN THE TOY!

Will rhaenyra hold any regret or kinder thoughts/prayers for Jaehaerys in the way Alicent does for Luke?

Same shore that Tyrion and Davos came in on maybe?

Why is Daemon coming in himself? Surely he would be able to just go inside himself if he was going to be traveling through the passages (although I don’t think that’s what’s going to happen in the show)

I guess this is Blood and Cheese.

And the rats were there while Viserys reigned, Daemon.

And they are really going to make the death of Jaehaerys an accident. Is everything going to be an accident in this show? Not let anyone but the Greens be held accountable.

Oh, so Daemon probably told them to go after any of the other Targaryens in the keep if they couldn’t find Aemond.

Like seeing the different types of map this episode.

And I feel like the show has changed Aemond’s characterization because we don’t have Alicent and Aemond directly talking.

Good. The line comes before B&C and not after.

Fabian is so hot. I need him in another period drama—OH him and Olivia in an adaptation of Persuasion by Jane Austen. It would SLAY

Nice to have Otto actually talk to his grandchildren in a way that isn’t violent or outright condescending.

If the rat catcher knows everything about the keep, wouldn’t he freaking know where Aemond is?

And if he’s going through the passages, again why couldn’t Daemon do it?

DOGGY! Little scruffers!

Ugh. I’m not excited for this and how they’re going to change this. (Although I get not wanting to put child actors through difficult situations)

And people were complaining about people paying no attention to the rat catcher, but we saw rat catchers wandering the hall throughout the episode in the background. So it’s not like it would be unusual for them to be there. And someone does notice them. But they’re servants seemingly doing their job. Why would people notice them wandering the castle.

And Aegon is being so casual on that throne.

Okay, but could they not have just waited for Aemond? Come back later?

And that is a cool as heck mural on Aemond’s wall.

I don’t like this. I don’t like this. I don’t like this.

Why does the maid look vaguely like Emma Stone?

NO HELAENA!!!!

Helaena struggling! 😭

I’m surprised they didn’t just kill them both?

THE TEAR!

Baby!!!!!! The necklace!

NO! This is worse!!!!!

Why is the maid not getting someone!!!!!!!!

The sounds!!! NO I DONT LIKE THIS!!!

This is so much worse than Luke!

WHY IS Helaena not screaming!

Why could they not have Helaena say her son’s name?!?!?

AND THATS THE END?!?!?!?

It should have ended with Helaena screaming instead of that!

And I’m glad the Alicole sex scene wasn’t intermixed with the killing of Jaehaerys. How people were describing it made it sound like it was.

Promo Thoughts

Now we see Aegon the Younger and Viserys.

Destroy that stupid Lego set Aegon!

Good! Yell at Daemon!

I wish Addam had white hair! I wanted more Velaryon face claims.

Is Laenor just never going to appear again?

Looks like Baela and Rhaena will do things next episode.

Hopefully we will have Alicent comforting her children in the same way Rhaenyra comforted Jace.

[love-walkingonsunshine]

Babysitting Holly

The guys help Mike babysit.

Babysitting Holly

Mike, Will, Dustin, and, Lucas agree to help Mike babysit Holly. That was his other punishment for stealing money from Nancy and also had to sell two boxes of his stuff. He thought it was unfair since only a couple of bucks. Mike didn't want to babysit but he got in some trouble at school too. He talks back to one of his teachers who was being rude to Will. But he was happy his parent like his friends.

Will was the first one to arrive and then it was Dustin and Lucas came at the same time. They all went to the living room. Mike was sitting with Holly she was drawing a picture.” Hey guys.” Mike was glad they were here. His mom walks into the living room.” Okay, guys we are leaving your father and I, will be back at midnight, and Nancy out with her friends.” She smiles.” Holly is in bed at 9 and I order pizza it’s on the table.” She left to go to a party with her husband. After his parent left they went to go eat.” Come on Holly time to eat.” He told her and she got up to follow them to the kitchen.

Mike got paper plates and some Coke out for them. Holly got juice she wasn't allowed to drink pop yet. Mike got Holly food first.” Go sit on the couch okay.” He told her and she nodded and walked back to the living room.” Once Holly goes to bed we watch scary movies.” Mike told them. Will wanted to watch the shining. They all agreed they would watch that after Holly went to sleep. They return to the living room to watch TV and eat. Holly was sitting on the couch as Mike told her to. Mike sat next to her and Will sat on the other side. Lucas and Dustin sat in armchairs. Holly was eating her pizza. She did ask if they would watch a movie with her. She hasn't watched one in a while.

“ I tell you what after dinner you get ready for bed and we watch a movie.” He messes up her hair. Holly fixed her hair”. Will beat him up he messes up hair.” She told him and Mike was laughing Holly always had a crush on Will. He laughs and pretends to fight Mike by pinning him down and they laugh too hard.” Yay Will you got him.” His five-year-old sister cheers.” He laughs and Mike gets up.” Oh, you think that's funny huh.” Mike picked Holly up and tickled her sides and her stomach. She laughs.” Mike no.” Holly giggles and he tickles her underarms. She wiggles around and laughs then he stops. He set her back down on the couch.

“ You guys are mean you didn't help me.” Holly pouted.” Sorry Holly we can't beat the tickle monsters.” They all said.” You are done eating Holly?” Mike asks and she nods.” oh okay go get ready for bed and brush your teeth okay.” Holly listened to him and then got ready for bed. Mike got up and threw her plate away. He looked at the clock it was about 7:30. Holly came back down five minutes later. After Dustin, Lucas, Will, and Mike got more pizza they looked at the movies they had.

Dustin found Fox and the Hound, 101 Dalmatian, ET, Beauty and Beast, sixteen candles, Winnie the Pooh, Pete the Dragon, and , in the last movie, he found Robin Hood. Holly picked 101 Dalmatian which Dustin was hoping would be Robin Hood. But he put the movie in for her. Mike made popcorn. He gave everyone a bowl. Holly only ate one slice of pizza she wasn't very hungry. But Mike got some more healthy snacks too. They all got comfortable and watched the movies. Holly snuggles up to Mike. He smiles and puts his arm around her.

After halfway through the movie Holly falls asleep. Lucas turned off the movie. Mike picked Holly up brought her upstairs and put her to bed and the guys followed. Mike got a TV in his room for his last birthday so they always watch movies in his room when they stay over. Mike put Holly into her bed tucked her gave her favorite teddy bear and turned on her night light. When he was about to leave her room Holly woke up for a second.” Love you, Mikey.” She sounded sleepy.” Love you too Holly go back to sleep.” He smiles thinking she isn't too bad. Holly cuddles into her blanket and falls back to sleep.

Mike went back downstairs to clean up and then went back to his room. Lucas, Dustin, and Will had their sleeping bag ready and changed for bed. Mike went to the bathroom and brushed his teeth and got changed for bed. When he was done he went into his room and put shinning in.

They were all exicted to watch the movie and all 4 of them were scared once the movie was over they watched Fox and Hound and fell asleep before Nancy and his parent got home. Mike woke up late the next morning. Karen told Mike that Holly said all the best babysitters ever. Will, Lucas, and Dustin came downstairs and Karen made them all breakfast.

It ends up being a fun night for all of them.

Sorry if this not very good

[kirkethewriter]

Hi there. You can call me Kirke. I'm an aspiring writer and I want to dedicate this account to show you my process in writing.

Here are some little facts about me:

• I'm from Poland (so my English is not perfect but still good imo)

• I Got a cat and a dog

• for my writing I inspire by cartoons, anime and stuff that happens to me irl

• Fandoms I'm in: Miraculous, Hazbin Hotel, Helluva Boss, My little pony, Brawl Stars (lore; I don't play anymore), Kimetsu no Yaiba, Sailor Moon, Spy x Family, Apothecary Diaries, The Amazing Digital Circus, The owl house

I Got 2 projects in mind but I don't know with which one should I start. (pls help me decide)

1 - Miraculous rewrite (need a title for this)

As we all know Miraculous has a lot of potential. Is it used properly? Most of the time, no. So, I decided to get to get my hands on it. Boy I made A LOT of changes. Here are some of them:

• For starters Marinette has a younger brother now. (The kid from Sandboy ep was to cute to let go of his character so I made him Mari's brother) (Yes need a name for the kiddo)

• Sabine kept her og name (Xabing) (that's how I will reffer to her from now on)

• Master Fu was NOT the one to destroy the temple (it was one of his ancestors) (from then on the box was passed down to generations of Fu's family) (poor Wang is like a twin to that ancestor [that will be inportant])

• Rewriting some characters entirely (for ex. Grandmaster Su-Han, Zoé, Mayor Bourgeois, etc...) (They were done too dirty)

• Chloé gets her redemption arc. (This shit will be long)

• Different villains each season with different motives (yay)

• "Lila" craves herself to "I'm bad at lying" insteed of "I'm always telling the truth"

• More lore with the Tibet

• Miraculous have more than 1 one powers (Ladybug and Black Cat miraculous have around 4, others have 3)

• Yes, there will be redesigns

• Oh, back to Wang his married to Marianne in this AU (someone certain will not be happy but can do nothing about it :3)

• The chinese miracle box is now split in 2 (The Mother box: Ladybug, Black Cat, Fox, Bee, Turtle, Peacock and Butterfly and the Chinese box: The chinese zodiac kwamis)

• I'll put an OC here and there (school especially) (Thomas why 4/5 teachers for an entire school)

• Taking stuff from previous concepts (like Quantic kids, Felix having grey eyes, some character designs, etc...)

• Making the characters slithly older (so that they're in high school)

2 - White Raven Library

(Totally not taking place in the same universe idk what you're Talking 'bout)

"White Raven Library" is about a society of people who were declined being a hero and wanting to get rid off the hero CEO (the shortest I can put it)

Teenage Diana always wanted to be a hero. Having a Mother that works in the police force and a paralized Father only made these aspirations stronger. One day she finally decided to do and rejister as a Hero in OHH (Official Hero Headquarters). The girl was physically fit, didn't had troubles with the law, passed the enterance exam flawlessly and had a few aces up her sleeve. But... she was declined. "There are stronger and more fit then you hun". Diana left dissapointed and walked around New York aimlessly. She walked that far she has gotten to the quieter part of the city. She stopped at the "White Raven Library". Knowing she didn't had anything else to lose she went in and tried to read in peace. Unfortunally the anger from the OHH was still there. The librarian who was quiet from the beggining finally asked what happend. Diana splited it out and as it turns out Henry had the same experience as her. He was also declined. After that, a little cheered Diana came back home. At night she Got a text from an unknown number that said "It's Henry. Come to the library. It's not a thing to talk about on chat." Confused and hesitant the girl decided to go there. Turns out the library is a meeting place for "The Ravens" - a Group of people in different age who were declined being a hero and now try to rebel the hero system. Raven's main target is Philip Newton - a billioner who's the CEO of the Hero Society. "A cowardly prick who's afraid of his own worker's" [heroes] they say. Diana decides to join them and that's how the wild adventures begin...

That's all I think. Feel free to give your ideas in the comments. You can also give me critic about my work if needed but please do it in a non hateful way. :)

[bandtrees]

for the warriors ask game :D

🗺 : first map you ever watched?

🖼 : first amv/pmv you ever watched?

(I used to watch MAPs religiously those are my jam)

yay thank you! warriors ask game except the questions are all weird and niche as hell!

know: my memory is bad. i've been into wc for... well over a decade now, so these are probably not accurate xP my first warriors video was i believe a spoof video about ashfur and squirrelflight, but my first map and amv? uhhh unsure!

🗺 : first map you ever watched? - i didn't actively watch maps as a small kid, or at least i don't think i did? the first map that i entirely remember watching was during my second major warriors phase by the time i was closer to... 15 maybe?? as opposed to my earliest memories of wc which are from when i was 10 or younger lol. little fang, which is making me genuinely super misty eyed to rewatch, it's just so so good, from the style to the designs to how well it gets into jayfeather and his family with only animation and music, the composition of every part is so good, the designs, all of it. the sole reason little fang is one of my favorite songs to this day it might, miiight, have also been evelyn evelyn? that one was certainly one of the first maps i ever watched that stuck with me. the dovewing kinnie has entered chat

🖼 : first amv/pmv you ever watched? - i cannot remember. i watched sooo many amvs as a kid. not my FIRST amv, probably, but one of the earliest i recall is ashfur's revenge, which is delighting me so much to rewatch. this one was formative for me, i miss the style of flash-animated warriors amvs that (obviously:() aren't around anymore. i also have such a soft spot for tigerclaw is not one of thunderclan, one i was thinking about the Entire Time i was writing the exile scene in spottedfur's pride lol. i still love it so much, this is my first time rewatching it in like... a decade, im sure. its so good. im kind of blown away as i rewatch these that they ARE as good as they are, cuz i feel like it's common in the warriors fandom to treat old amvs as some cringeworthy lost art (in general i have strong opinions on how (unintentionally)cruel the internet starts being to things as soon as they enter "nostalgia" territory) - but there's still, like, genuine talent in these. there's a reason these amvs were as popular as they were, and not because we were all cringe 10 year olds who didn't know better, lol. also reminds me of tigerstar and the dog pack(be prepared) - which is one i have the most vivid memory of watching on my family computer, hehe. in general i love corvus katana's stuff, past and current oh my god i will never get this ask posted because i keep remembering ones that helped, like, form a lobe of my brain growing up. HOW TO SAVE BLUESTAR'S LIFE YOU WILL ALWAYS BE FAMOUS!!!! I AM TOTALLY NOT CRYING REWATCHING IT. YOU ARE. YOU ARE. cant believe i had a phase where i hated bluestar - i think everyone did because they spontaneously realized she was imperfect, immoral even at times, and made mistakes but hadn't developed the media comprehension to realize she was... actually meant to be complex and troubled and not just a perfect leader. god. bluestar. god. god. g (im also gonna use this question as a chance to gush about old amvs that i remember that are unfortunately lost to time: a hollyleaf one to hurricane by thirty seconds to mars (!!!! THIS ONE WAS SO FORMATIVE BUT IM LIKE 80% SURE ITS LOST MEDIA), bluestar heart heart head (PLEASE tell me im not the only one who remembers this one!!! i was devastated to learn it wasn't iconic or reuploaded anywhere (as much as i also think, again, in the nostalgia-sense, people act entitled to things like old amvs or people's art or whatever else)), NIGHTCLOUD GIRL WITH ONE EYE CHANGED MY LIFE?and... probably more of course that aren't coming to me now xP

i. didnt expect to ramble as much as i did with this? i just can't put into enough words how formative warriors amvs and the like were for me growing up :'DD they were my major start for digital art and animation (something i did a lot when i was younger but fell out of over time, but god i'd love to animate again, maybe do a classic wc amv to spottedfur's pride or something lol)

thank you for the question! I am so incredibly normal about warrior cats.

[wgc-productions]

YESSSSSS ask meme! 4, 8, 9, 17!

Yay!

4. Is there a specific episode that was especially fun to work on?

For me "fun" can mean two things when it comes to making art. It can mean that everyone was at the top of their game, because watching people be good at what they do is such a pleasure to me. If we are going with this understanding then Small Victories 207 (which comes out today) is the one. It's one of the few episodes where the very first time the cast did it it was perfect. Loved that.

The other meaning is that me and the SV team just had a blast making it regardless of performance. And I think that is kind of harder to get a lock on because we record three episodes a night and they all sort of blend together. I will say, though, that, for this season, 205 was fun to record because Cody Smith was there and I just get a real kick out of what he does with Aaron. Plus 205 is my favorite episode this season and it was great seeing it turn out so well.

8. Pick a character from your show and put together an outfit you think they’d wear.

I'm going to pick Marisol because she has protagonist privilege.

I'mma be honest, I haven't really thought about this, but I think because Marisol (in my mind) is rocking serious "teenage boy or queer woman" realness she is probably dressing like Whoopi in the late 80s/early 90s. Like so:

9. If your show was a different genre what genre would it be and how would the plot change?

This could just be because I'm in my Buffy bag right now, but I think Small Victories could work as a low-fantasy slice of life series. It's already got that magical realism edge anyway with the Host and The Stranger, but I think if we leaned into it and made Marisol an wizard who had real trouble coping with a difficult past and abused her magic powers and is trying to figure out how to live in the world without using her magic because she is afraid of what she is capable of it could be very interesting.

It would be a little more monster-of-the week though to meet the demands of the genre. She would probably have to pick up some sort of detective/fixer-esque job in order to fit into the conventions and each week she would tackle some new mystery while struggling with her ability to manage her powers and atone for the messed up stuff she did when she was sick off magic.

And of course we could still have the rest of the cast. Nina would be the child of a pair of high mages but instead of following their path to rule over others she decides to move away and help teach advanced magics to people who advanced magic is kept from, which would rain down the ire from the higher ups thought her parents choose to protect her from it.

Nina is drawn to Marisol because Marisol is a skilled wizard despite the lack of training. The two find that they in fact really do like each other and they grow to love one another, but after Marisol snaps she disappears and Nina is left confused and hurt. The series could start with that distance, but Nina can be wrapped up in cases because she has useful skills and a heart tuned into justice. As time goes on their bond develops and becomes more complex.

Oliver could be a wizard too, but I think it'd be fun if there were other species so the world could be richer. Ollie could be an elf or troll or something like that and instead of going to college he instead is expected to, as all people in his culture are expected to do, become more integrated with their specific culture, which would explain the sort of distance he and Wizard Marisol would have.

Aaron would still be the boyfriend, but instead of a "Drug Dealer" he is a practitioner of more serious dark magics that he and Marisol used to indulge in. He handles the magic fine, but Marisol has trouble keeping anchored while using it, and so their bond is severely strained when she stops using magic altogether. He would still be a pianist though, cause I think that's a fun fact.

And all four of them could be a team and solve the mysteries and there would probably be overarching plot lines that betray some greater conspiracy in the world.

I will say, though, this would probably have some different things to say about addiction because Magic would be apart of her and suppressing parts of yourself due to fear is not a message I would want to put out in the world.

You know I've never thought about this before, but the more I write it I think that would be fun in a fanfic AU kind of way. But also I like the idea of a wizard detective. It just feels fun. Who knows maybe I'll flesh out this idea over on the WGC Patreon. I want to practice working on longer shows anyway.

17. What’s something that inspired your show?

Okay, back when I was a teen there was this webseries called Carmilla that came out. And I loved it very very much. And then the production company (KindaTV) dropped this other show called Barbelle which is a semi-whimsical webseries about a musical duo, Barbelle, that is made up of this couple (Alice and Veronica). However, by the time the series starts they are broken up because of a lot of reasons, but a very big chip on Alice's shoulder is the fact that Veronica has very serious problems with drugs and alcohol.

It has two seasons, and the ending of the show is pretty melancholy I'll be honest, but when I was watching this show back in 2017 it struck a pretty deep chord. It was just such good writing and so compelling.

I hadn't been watching it when I started writing Small Victories in March 2019, but when I think about it now I can definitely see that some of the things I was/am doing in SV were influenced by Barbelle.

[slowdancingtorock]

Ireland - Day 31

Did I overreact yesterday? Probably. Has today confirmed my worries? Kinda. We (the 3 of us) went to the National Museum with a grand total of 4 adult students. At least the museum was somewhat interesting and I had a good time there.

We got back early so as to avoid trouble with public transport and that was a good call seeing as the next 3(!) trains were either canceled or delayed. We also browsed some shops after we brought the students back to find some souvenirs. We didn't find anything we liked but I did find a book. The office walls and the mugs I have to wash and carry around all day have Seamus Heaney quotes on them and when I saw a book with his poetry I couldn't resist. I am not immune to propaganda. At all.

Anyway, I got to chat with the only other German intern who is here (I genuinely didn't know she was here nor that she was German - she literally has the opposite schedule of me). Apparently she not only has to be here for 5 months (good God) but also gets ordered around to do the most stupid shit I have heard of for most of the morning as she doesn't have any breaks to take care of. Like "Go to the shop to buy a new cable" or "Go water the plants" type of tasks. Ridiculous. She seems somewhat fine with it and I really shouldn't do anything on her behalf without her permission but I really wanna help her out :(

Maybe I can get our Dean to let her come with us on the trip tomorrow as we'll going to be Guinness Storehouse (the school will pay the entrance fee for us employees, yay). Looking forward to that, a little at least but since I don't like Guinness there is not that much hype. However, a whole bunch of students signed up for it so maybe it won't feel like a total waste of time going there.

Because we returned to the office so much earlier, I also got to chatting with some of the teachers and they are all quite some characters; one is a 50-something year old dude who talks a lot but uses questions instead of phrases like "You're quite tall, aren't you?" or "I forgot my pen in the classroom, didn't I?". Love him. Also, one is apparently sorta famous on IG but not for teaching but for modeling (slay, Queen) and she showed some really bold outfits, lol. Then there is also that other guy who is prolly in his 30s, who loves cursing in a monotone voice (" Morning, assholes") and expresses his love by insulting you, that's a rough thing to get used to, at least for me. But they're all mostly fine, I think we all just bond through our dislike of some of the people in administration. Healthy office culture here.

My song of the day is Revolution Radio by Green Day. I listened to it on repeat today, 'cause I totally forgot how much I love that song. Also, I feel a little rebellious today what with me being unhappy about my one colleague's situation and also I watched The Order Season 2 and the characters got their fears stolen and did a whole bunch of rebellious and reckless stuff so yeah, it does fit fairly well.

[sibillascribbles08]

Pray tell what is the ninjago s10 you wrote in your head 👀

Waaah okay this is a touch of an essay and is kind of full of OCs sorry ???

Anyway it was lame AF to me that the show built up so much hype around the oni and then they were the lamest villains ever like okay they have freaky paralyzing smoke and what else?? They got disintegrated by a tornado of creation this is so lame what.

SO a few things I would go about tweaking, and this is keeping everything up to s9 canon btw not changing things around in there (I have other versions where I tweak that stuff lmao)

So first, Leader of the oni is actually scary as fuck, Queen of the Oni to be exact, yeah that's right the FSM had two moms who are now divorced. I have art of this lady on the blog (Queenie is her usual title) and while she's often seen as just six ft tall an elegant she can get massive sized so thirty feet <3 She's powerful, because she has every kind of magic oni can learn at her disposal and this includes mind control, illusions, transformation, gravity, all that jazz (My essay on how the elemental powers are split between oni and dragon origins is something for another time). Anyway she can p much just paralyze people with her mind if she needs to when she walks into a room.

The invasion just starts with her, because while most of the oni have been hiding away in the departed realm like the show states, she's actually been hanging around in Ninjago for ages. In fact, surprise, she was disguised as the Empress the whole time. Let Harumi find all those books about the oni masks so she'd open a portal and summon Garmadon.

Cept that wasn't Garmadon, it's another oni in disguise, and this is why he's so fucking OOC, except he ditched his post and is now kinda hiding from her.

Hang on I'm getting on a tangent here, ANYWAY she reveals herself to specifically talk to Lloyd and try to get him on her side, because family and all that, and while Lloyd obviously hesitates the Queen is pretty convincing and may also be threatening his friends lives so he surrenders and Queenie activates his oni blood which like, doesn't make him evil but does make him a little more inclined to get into trouble lmao.

And NOW the army comes through, poison oni are the ones setting off the smoke causing paralysis. The ninja are scrambling for a plan and while doing this start recruiting the other elemental masters to help. Detail details, two other things happen. Wu travels back to the first realm to find Firstborne, believing she's the only thing that could stop Queenie. Meanwhile the oni disguised as Garmadon (named Efri) gets found out and forced to travel through the departed realm to find the FSM for help (he finds the real Garmadon along the way and some of the past EMs (including Cole's mom, Jay's birth mom, OG Ice Master, Dr. Julien, and even Morro) (Everyone is here YAY)

More details details, the elemental masters are trying to keep the oni contained, trying to get Lloyd to stop helping Queenie (Lloyd: Guys don't you get it, we wouldn't even have to fight if you'd just LISTEN to us) And big climax everyone gets back from their respective adventures and crashes in the middle (FSM doesn't come back btw he's a bitch who says no my problem and Garmadon tells him to go fuck himself)

Big epic fight montage which eventually cuts back to a 30ft Queenie fighting Firstborne but while they are like, fighting, they are also arguing like a divorced couple and Lloyd is standing there like lmao wait ???? you two seriously just need marriage counseling ARE YOU SERIOUS?

Basically by listening Lloyd figures out that A) Queenie and Firstborne got divorced because of a rift the FSM sort of caused (not entirely his fault but he was the spearhead). B) The war left a lot of scarring on both sides. C) The First Realm looks like SHIT because with the oni gone, so was the balance, causing the land to turn to ruin despite dragons being considered creators they had no idea how to maintain the environment.

Lloyd gets the help of the other ninja, turn into this giant fusion spirit thing just to stop Queenie and Firstborne from fighting and tell them to GET THEIR SHIT TOGETHER YOU TWO ARE HOW GODDAMN OLD TALK SHIT OUT LIKE ADULTS.

So they do. Not everything is fixed but it's a start. Oni are allowed back in the first realm to start fresh (a few stay in ninjago). Lloyd has a lot of new powers to learn how to deal with. A lot of ninja get closure talking to ghosts (yay?)

UUUH The end, I know it's missing some details but summaries and all that.

[aspiringsophrosyne]

Episode 3: The Sunken Tomb

Oh, you can hear and feel the floor clinging to your shoes as you try to find your seats. Don't get stuck, you want to sit down, because you don't want to miss the end of this one.

The Good.

Even though it doesn't give her any good news, it makes sense that Pike would be checking up on Emon. And it's a smart way to let us see what's going on there.

~~~

Like Matt Mercer, I also appreciate Vax's background Rogue shit.

Magic

Again, I have to praise the diversity of the magic. Undoubtedly, one reason they've trimmed down the number of spells everyone can use from the stream is because it makes it easier to give each caster or caster type a unique aesthetic. As noted, Keyleth's healing looks very different from Pike's, Scanlan's offensive magic looks different from Keyleth's, and so on.

Here, Zahra and Kash get to join the club. Zahra, as the first and only warlock this team will most likely encounter, shows off an almost bloody red power that's inexplicitly ominous; Kash's golden spears are reminiscent of Pike's holy weapon abilities, fitting for another cleric.

~~~

I was sure they wouldn't keep the Kash/Keyleth kiss, but I like that they replaced it with light-hearted flirting.

~~~

Yay, Grog's beard's finally here. And, of course, the episode wouldn't have been complete without the cast ragging on Matt's choice of names. And if you keep an eye on Percy while Zahra's giving Vex shit, you can see he's not happy. Love the little subtle things. Zahra's eye twitch, in particular, made me grin. 

~~~

The idea to flashback to the twins' childhoods, specifically here, was brilliant if sadistic. Since I knew how this episode was ending, I knew the flashbacks were there to twist that knife even after titmouse had already stabbed us with it. The transitions from past to present are very smooth and make it very clear that all of this is on both twins' minds as they traverse the Sunken Tomb.

~~~

The allusions to the Calamity on the walls...oh, that's the good stuff.

~~~

The jokes aren't bad in this episode. Maybe I'm just a sucker for this kind of setup. Vax warning everyone to be wary of traps, only for Grog to immediately set one off, plus Vax's face afterward, hits my sweet spot. 

Grog and Pike

I like the little things that come up here and there that remind you that the gnomes can sometimes have trouble where the others wouldn't. Pike getting in almost over her head before her best buddies helped her out was a neat little example: and her adorably hyping up Grog's new beard while everyone else was looking around was the cherry on top of their interaction. 

God, I love having Ashley and Pike there all the time. Pike and Grog were always a fantastic duo when she could be there, and we get to see more of that in the series.

For example, adding in that of all people, Pike specifically notices something's off about Grog while he's wielding Craven Edge. Even though the sword did end up drawing her blood in the stream, Ashley wasn't around enough for Pike to notice on her own. So this change up, alongside Pike and Grog's more frequent shenanigans, fits in well.

And it serves as suitable foreshadowing.

The Fight

The altercation with the Adaro is a good one. Titmouse knows how to keep the fight scenes from getting stale, so we get in some good brawling (with the Adaro dragging our heroes underwater, adding to the danger) and then an impressive display of water magic. Also, yay for Trinket! He gets to be badass here. 

Zahra and Vex's belligerent saving of each other is a treat. And, of course, that's the music that plays when Scanlan's surfing with everybody on the hand. Of course, it is.

~~~

I like to think that one of the statues in the Tomb is of the Champion whose death started the Clay, Dust, and Stone families.

Kasha and Zahra

Will Friedle is still throwing out the funny lines. 

One thing that warms my heart is that I noticed this version of Kash is more upbeat than when we first met him in the original. I figured it was just a blending of how his personality developed later in the stream equivalent of this episode until I realized the common factor is Zahra. Kash is more upbeat in the stream's Sunken Tomb and this episode because he's been traveling with Zahra. 

I was even surprised when I noticed he still had the scars on his arms from Kash's original backstory. I wasn't happy to see them (because fuck Vesh) but I did appreciate the incorporation of the detail.

The Twins

There really isn't enough I can say about Laura and Liam's acting here. They pull off the younger twins with competence, and Vex's audible reaction to being hit by the Matron's trap sounds weirdly perfect. It's not easy to sound like your sentence got cut off after you were lifted off your feet by an arrow of pure death magic to the chest, but Laura manages it very well.

And, of course, Liam O'Brien. Liam O'Brien, goddamn you, why must you break my heart into such tiny pieces on the regular? Those last seconds of the episode hurt, even though I knew what was coming! That unreserved broken weeping after the sound cuts back in, right before the credits....ugh. 

I hadn't even noticed until the Q&A that this whole episode was without ambient music until that last moment, and when I realized that, I was impressed, and those final few moments hit even harder in hindsight. 

The Bad (or at least not great)

Nitpicks

When Percy suggests Keyleth turn into a bird to save Scanlan, she exclaims "A bird? How does that help!?"

I don't know, Kiki. But you thought it was a pretty useful form just an episode ago, without anybody having to suggest it. And you turned out to be right, so you'd think it'd be something you'd consider worth using again.

They could've had her yell to Scanlan from off screen that she was going to do that and was going to save him, only for Kash and Zahra to beat her to the punch. Or have Percy suggest a creature she didn't just use so she could refuse it for a reason that made more sense. Just some ideas.

~~~

I feel like there was a missed opportunity for a comeback in Vex and Zahra's snark-off.

Zahra: Ooh, a broom. Marvelous. Oh, you have such a keen eye for value.

Vex: Well that's why I used to work with you, Zahra dear.

Just saying.

~~~

We didn't need Zahra and Kash to verbally spell out their plan to let Vox Machina trigger the traps instead of them. Just have them hang back and give the other adventurers a "Oh no, after you." only for Grog to trigger the traps that he does. Maybe have a shot of Zahra and Kash looking smug and conspiratorial right afterwards.

~~~

I think instead of this:

Vex (saving Zahra from an Adaro): That was a close one, darling.

(some fighting)

Zahra (saving Vex from an Adaro) Wasn't that close.

This would be a little better:

Vex (saving Zahra from an Adaro): That was a close one, darling.

(some fighting)

Zahra (saving Vex from an Adaro) Not as close as that was.

~~~

It's not a hundred percent clear to me whether the incident with the tiara is the straw that broke the camel's back that made the twins leave Syngorn for good or not. The next episode suggests this is the case; future episodes could clear it up further.

I would've preferred us not to see the final straw, though. It leaves us wondering how bad that could've been if Syldor's treatment in the flashback wasn't enough to make the twins flee for the Material Plane. 

~~~

Maybe this is morbid, but I think we could've had a few more seconds of Vax shaking Vex's body before we get the shot of his tears hitting her face. I just think it would either take him a little longer to realize what had happened to her, or it would take him a little longer to accept what had.

The Younger Twins

While flashbacks to the twins' childhood were an inspired choice, the execution could have been better.

The intended idea seems to be that Vax remained in the same spot where he and Vex separated, while Vex spent enough time in the woods alone to field dress, skin, butcher, and cook the meat of the deer she killed, as well as witness the natural light change at least once.

However, there are some issues with how this plays out.

Firstly, although the spot where they separate appears similar to where Vex finds Vax later, no unique landmark unambiguously denotes it as the same one.

Secondly, if Vax had stayed in that place for more than a day or multiple days, it would've been natural for Vex to have been shocked and commented on it aloud. This would have made it explicit to the audience what Vax had been doing. Or rather not doing.

As things stand, the intended idea is muddled.

One thing they could have done was establish that the twins had previously built a tree stand or treehouse in the forest. Vex is a hunter, so that would track....if you'll pardon the pun. This structure would mark Vax's lack of movement, but it could give us more than that. Before Vex blows up and leaves him, we could've had Vax explore it and reminisce about things they brought up there or did there before. This would show the audience that the kids run out into the woods rather frequently, and that, by extension, Syldor pulls this kind of dickery rather frequently too.

Then when Vex comes back to the tree stand/house and sees Vax still there under it, she can say something like "Have you not moved from that spot since last I saw you!? It's been days!!" only for him to run up and hug her, leading into "Do not go far from me."

This one was a doozy, next one we deal with the aftermath. Make sure you get to the next theater on time. You won't want to miss what happens next.

[theoriginalmarke]

THURSDAY THORNS

I tried to put up our shiny new tent yesterday. I noticed there were footprints on the box, meaning some idiot had stepped on it, but I was hopeful it was still okay. It wasn’t.

It’s supposed to pop right up in two minutes. I took it out of the box and went to work. After about 20 minutes of fighting it I came inside and watched a couple of videos of people putting it up to see if I was doing anything wrong. I checked and rechecked the directions. I said bad words.

I finally noticed two bent poles. One was on the center hub and the other was a leg that was twisted backwards. Ugh. Luckily a neighbor was able to help me to stuff it all back into the bag, I’m not sure I could have gotten it myself.

Kitten had to go to Costco anyway to pick something up so we loaded the tent up and headed into town after she got off work. They took it back with no problem, but it took them about 15 or 20 minutes on the phone to find out if they warehouse could send us a new one without going through the refund/reorder process. 

They are sending us a new one. Yay. Fingers crossed that it isn’t damaged too.

We stopped for a belated Valentine’s dinner at a place we haven’t tried before. I call it “upscale casual,” meaning you pay too much for comfort food. It was pretty good though, and everything is fresh. 

Now if you’ll excuse me I have a Thursday to do. 

I love you, baby. "You fill my life with laughter, and somehow you make it better... Ease my troubles, that's what you do." MWAH!

Y’all have a great day, and come play bingo at the Elks tonight.

[eugenedream]

this one was dead dove do not eat so im gonna put my notes under the cut - not everyone wants to see

I usually completely skip dead dove stuff but imma give it a go and see how we go

I already don’t like Phil

hmmmm what did he do to mum?? Or did she always not trust him??

so phil organised the institute as a favour for dad - OH MY GOD did he send her thinking she would be assigned as his omega once she was done???? Is he pissy bc he thinks she is meant to be his??? OH MY GOD SWEET JESUS

on another note…there’s a registry of omegas??? is that like institute only? it isn’t is it? it’s a national list to identify them isn’t? oh man

OH kate told john…ooooooooooooo pookie is about the loose his shit - well…had to use logic there. I get it, take out the threat and then we’re all good. But Phil could still just kill omega or do worse. What’s to stop him once Shepard is caught? He’s like to kick up and run away with her bc he doesn’t want to get caught.

Please tell me Phil doesn’t know about the contraceptive implant - if he does the worst possible thing here then the implant is the only glimmer of hope here - if he does know (which probably) then he could take it out and…i don’t wanna even go there

Need help?? Are we calling Alex??? - YAY ALEX pookie boiiiii

So Shepard’s plan is to get the boys to find omega - but bc they didn’t she’s in trouble- yeah that plan worked out real well for ya there Price - you can take out the big bad threat but she might die thinking you don’t love her - even if you do get to her what’s to say you can all come back from this

FARAH POOKIE GIRLIE - pookie couple???

oh my god, is he carving out her mark??? Can they do that?? WHAT THE FUCK??? - what are the implications of that? Is the bond still there? It can’t just be a physical tie right?? - oh okay sent gland - but my questions still stand what would happen if a mating mark was cut out??

Let’s not go yelling at Christine okay Jonathan, oke??? - she’s not at fault here - omega should have been left with a trained guard or something

Oh god has she skinned her wrists and hands to get out?? Nvm don’t tell me. That’s one thing that really makes me feel vomity - okay maybe she’s snapped out of the ties - makes me feel a lil better

ooh how well is ghost going to do with the sight of omega like that and distressing?? oooooh interesting and nervy

Oh she’s cutting throats oh okay go girlie we love a feral moment

oh is Si gonna scruff her??? I think you mentioned something about there being a situation in which she might need to be scruffed - he did it

Will he tell her he scruffed her? She mentioned to Price that it was kind of a fear for her right? Made him promise to never do it? Ooooh I don’t know, she’s not gonna remember anyway. Maybe we just don’t tell her? She’s probably gonna feel it though right?

Im gonna go read some fluffy chapters now pooks - and maybe clutch a teddy bear

But excellent work - really gripping and paced really well - there was never a too much too fast moment - nicely balanced ❤️

Cherry Red, Crimson Blood

Chapter 34: The Whole Truth

Summary: In life, we will be confronted with difficult choices. Sometimes you won't know you've made the wrong choice until it's too late

Pairing: Poly 141 x reader

Word Count: 12,582 words

Warnings: Dead dove: do not eat, Angst, graphic violence and torture, mentions of predatory behavior towards a minor, Phillip Graves is a major creep, lots blood and injuries, kidnapping and its aftermath, hostage situations, anxiety and panic attacks, language, very explicitly described torture, ‘mega gets hit a lot, choking, biting, ‘mega gets stabbed with an ice pick, author can’t write COD missions, vomiting, lots of heavy emotions, detailed descriptions of pain, guns, background character dies on screen, descriptions of guilt and grief, lots of POV changes, some descriptive language of gore and blood at the end, rehashing of ‘mega’s injuries from the last chapter, a lot of angst and very heavy content.

A/N: This chapter deals with some pretty heavy content. Please, please, please read and heed the warnings. I have included content warnings for the more graphic parts before they happen, so if you don't want to read those, you can skip ahead to the next part. I suggest taking breaks if you need to, read it in installments if necessary. And I cannot stress it enough, please heed the warnings.

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“Hi darlin’.” His grin widens like he’s happy to see you. “Been a long time.” 

You squeeze your eyes shut for a moment, your brain still sluggish. You feel sick as you try to process, try to figure out why and how. You try to move your arms again, but your wrists are stuck, hands burning as you pull. You desperately want them free, desperately need them free. 

“Easy,” Phil says, putting his hands on yours, pushing them flat against the arms of the chair. They’re warm and calloused, the same hand that had been on your face a few moments ago. “You’re gonna hurt yourself. More than you already have been.” He lifts your left leg, making you groan quietly as a deep ache throbs down to your foot and up to your hip. 

Running. A gunshot. Pain.

“He had strict orders not to harm you.” Phil says, adjusting the bandage wrapped around your calf. “Don’t worry. We got you all fixed up.” He sets your leg back down gingerly, his touch lingering for a moment before he looks back up at you. 

“Why?” You croak out, trying to make sense of what happened. 

Corporal McKinney broke into the barracks and chased you into the woods. He shot you and drugged you and now you’re here, restrained in a chair staring at a man you haven’t seen for years. A man who was once your dad’s best friend. 

“A lot has happened since we saw each other last.” He says, pushing himself to stand. “I left the Marines after a few years, formed my own group of military contractors. Invited your dad to join, but you know how he is. All honor and duty and serving the country. Of course, you haven’t seen him in quite a while, have you?” 

You stare up at him, starting to get scared. You never liked Phil. There was always something about him that put you off. He always stared too long, always sat too close to you. He always greeted you with a hug that lasted too long, squeezing you too tightly against him. He was sweet on you in a way he wasn’t with anyone else. He could be intense, brash and almost downright rude sometimes. He was a firm believer in traditional packs too, even if he never spoke about his own pack, his own omega. He had to have one, if he was as dedicated as he said. 

He was far too much like your father. 

Phil was always kinder to you, though. Softer. Not quite as callous and bellicose as your father in public. He was polite, always happy to lend a hand, always glad to roughhouse with your brothers to get their energy out. You saw the way your mother looked at him though. Perhaps her apprehension bled into you, those dormant omega instincts picking up on something she was projecting. 

He made you uncomfortable, and she knew it. 

What could an omega do, though, in a world where they don’t have opinions, they can’t argue, they can’t disagree. Your mother never said anything because in the world your family existed in, the world Phil existed in, she couldn’t. 

“He was so angry when he called.” Phil continues, staring down at you. “Ranting and raving about how his oldest daughter betrayed him by presenting as an omega. He couldn’t stand having such a useless child in his perfect pack.” You flinch at his words, even though you heard your father spew those very words after your presentation firsthand. 

“He called you?” You ask, the pieces starting to come together as your brain finally snaps fully into awareness. You knew he called someone, but you hadn’t thought it would ever be Phil. 

“Of course.” Phil chuckles. “We were good friends, pals, buddies. He knew I could help him.” A shiver runs down your spine. You know what he’s going to say next. “So I did. I have some contacts in some high places, people who owe me favors. So I made some calls, pulled some strings, got you into FIOT immediately, with some strings attached of course.” He leans down so you’re almost face to face. “I wanted you. They put a note in your file. You wouldn’t be placed in the registry when you were old enough, you would go to me and my pack.” 

Bile churns in your stomach as you process his words. It all makes sense now. The stares, the hugs, the closeness with your father, your rapid enrollment in an institute that can take weeks to process applications. It was all so you could be his. Something he’s wanted from early on. 

“You would have been mine,” He pushes himself up straight again, starting to pace back and forth in front of you. “If the fucking CIA hadn’t gotten involved!” You flinch as his voice raises, the frustration starting to darken his scent. “They froze your file, made the claim null and void. All for what, their little initiative that never really existed in the first place?” He huffs out a laugh, a smirk tilting his lips. “Small world, though. Who knew we’d be seeing each other again after so long.” 

He steps closer, looking down at you. You hold his gaze, suddenly feeling afraid. Even though you know him, even though you spent a good part of your childhood around him, you’re afraid of him right now. Your mind starts to revert back, the urge to lower your eyes, break eye contact like you’re supposed to flashing through your mind. 

Don’t stare alphas in the eyes. They’ll take that as a challenge. It’s not your job to challenge them. Your job is to be subservient. 

You would have been subservient to him if the CIA hadn’t gotten involved. You would have been under his control, bowing to him and his will. You’d have pups by now, at least one. He’d always talked about having a big pack with lots of pups someday, always glancing at you when he said it. 

You’re going to vomit all over him. 

It’s not just the truth that scares you, though. You’re being held captive here. That thought has registered in your mind now, the reality settling in as you get over the shock of the last few minutes. Corporal McKinney kidnapped you from base, and now you’re restrained in a chair surrounded by unknown alphas. Phil isn’t going to help you, take pity on you. He’s not here to be nice, to have a little chat and catch up on life.

That possibly ended as soon as he was denied what he wanted. 

His hand cups your chin, holding your face up as he looks down at you. His thumb is rough as it strokes your jaw, a tickling feeling starting in the back of your mind again. There’s an almost bittersweet look in his eyes as he holds your gaze. You refuse to lower it, refuse to give him that satisfaction. “You’ve grown up a lot.” He says, his hand sliding down your neck to the collar of your shirt. “You always were cute, though. I knew early on you were going to be an omega. You were far too...calm and compliant compared to your brothers. Always so polite and eager to please. You can tell if you pay attention, you know. Those dormant instincts start to show themselves long before presentation.” 

His hand pulls your collar to the side, revealing your mark. His eyes harden as he stares at it, his lips turning down into a frown. A shiver runs down your spine as the darkness in his scent intensifies. He’s not holding you hostage just to tell you about what could have been, what direction your life might have taken. He’s here for a reason, and you know your pack is involved. Something has happened, something behind the scenes, something John was looking into. 

“What’s going on?” You ask as he releases your collar, taking a step back. 

“Well, you’re being held hostage.” He says, like it isn’t already obvious. “You’re...shall we say...leverage to ensure your pack follows orders.” 

You blink at him. You haven’t heard from or spoken to your pack in weeks. You should be relieved that they’re apparently still alive, but what if you had been right and they don’t want you anymore? Why would they take you if your pack has abandoned you? Or did they take you to ensure they wouldn’t...

“Laswell stuck her nose somewhere it shouldn’t have been.” Phil says, crossing his arms. “It’s only so long before your pack finds out. Let’s just say...they’re not going to be happy about it. So, to ensure they don’t do something impulsive and reckless as they are known to do, you’re going to play hostage.” 

You gulp as you stare up at him, suddenly feeling very afraid. Your scent spikes in the air, clouding it with the bitter scent of anxiety. It was the plan all along. You knew it even if you hadn’t been told outright. Deep down you’ve always known it wasn’t about strengthening packs. It wasn’t about studying how an omega would increase or decrease the efficiency of military packs. With the events of the last few months, the idea had started to form in your mind. You know you weren’t alone in those thoughts. John and Simon were digging into the cameras for a reason. They were put up for a reason. 

It was always about control.

That was the point of the initiative. That was why they put cameras up, that was why General Shepherd was so invested in the state of your pack and if you had been mated. He needed to ensure you were close enough to them so if something happened that wasn’t supposed to, you could be used against them. 

You’re nothing more than leverage. 

Your scent spikes in the air, clouding the room as reality sinks into you. Something happened that caused this. Something called your pack away to isolate you, to leave you vulnerable. They wanted you alone as a contingency. 

Something did happen. 

Now you’re here, being held captive by a man you used to know, a man who could have been your alpha had things not played out the way they did. The thought has your stomach churning. How far will they go? How far will Phil take things? Could he be merciful because of your history? Or will his ruined plan make him more ruthless? 

You’ll be punished for something you can’t control. 

Phil makes a soft sound as he looks at you, shaking with fear in the chair. “Don’t be scared. As long as your pack does as they’re told, I won’t have to hurt you.” He turns the light back to face you, nearly blinding you. “Now, smile for the camera.” 

They’re safe. 

It had been close. A rough position to be in, but they managed it. He never doubted them and their abilities, but four against nearly fifty with no backup were not good odds. He’s been in tighter places before, and while he had his doubts, he is grateful Johnny and Simon were sent in when they were. Even if it was a bit suspicious.

“All accounted for.” John says as he sinks down onto one of the jump seats next to Kyle. 

They’re all battered and bruised from their final fight. He’s ready to get home, ready to get back to you. From the sound of it, things were not going well, according to Johnny and Simon. He has a lot to make up for, a lot of apologies to make. 

“Fucking Russian PMCs.” He says, speaking to Kate over the comms. “It’s not a coincidence Kate.” 

Kate lets out a sigh that crackles through the comm. “No, it’s not. My team and I came across some information while we were digging into the cameras.” 

“What information?” He asks slowly and carefully. He doesn’t like being kept in the dark, especially when it comes to his pack. Especially when it comes to you. 

“Not just information on the initiative, but information on General Shepherd.” 

“What information?” He asks again, slower this time as Johnny and Simon move in closer. 

“Shepherd was the one that sold those weapons to AQ and the Russians.” 

John looks at the other three members of his team. He knew something was wrong, something was off about the way Shepherd had acted while informing them about this mission. “He wanted those missiles found and destroyed so he could cover his own ass.” He says, his stomach starting to twist. He doesn’t like the way this is going. 

“But we found out the truth before you could find all the missiles.” Kate continues. “He sent you on a wild goose chase to give himself a chance to escape.” 

John’s hand tightens into a fist. “Where is he now?” 

“He’s gone dark. Totally off radar.” 

John pushes himself up to stand, the adrenaline pumping again. “I’m going to find that bastard-” 

“John.” Kate says, cutting him off. “There’s something else.” 

The twisting in his stomach intensifies. There’s a bad feeling tickling in the back of his mind. He doesn’t want to entertain the dark thoughts that are brewing. “What?” 

“They took your omega.” 

His stomach clenches, his breath catching in his lungs. The other three shift on their feet, all of them stepping closer. The scent in the plane thickens, anger and confusion mixing into a toxic cocktail. He hopes he heard that wrong, that there was some kind of interference in the connection and his brain made up the words he missed. “Repeat that.” 

“They took your omega.” Kate says again.

He lets out a long breath, his muscles tensing. He’s had a bad feeling tickling in the back of his mind for the last few days. Something was wrong, something was off. He should have known it was all a ruse. Why would AQ and the Russians store a missile in any of the places they had been sent to in the last week? It hadn’t made sense, and he had wanted to voice his doubts, but the consequences of a missile being launched because they decided not to look in one place was greater than his own perceived doubts. 

They had been right though. 

Of course it had all been a plan. Of course there had been something fishy about it. He’s hardly ever wrong. He’s been praised on his instincts on the field and off. He should have known. Pulling Simon and Johnny when they did should have been enough evidence, even if they had been needed in the end. 

“You’re positive?” He knows she is. There’s no mistaking something like that, there’s no doubting it. 

“There’s a video.” Kate says, John’s stomach dropping. “I’m sending it to you now.” 

John pulls out his phone, his fingers white as he holds it up. He’s angry, beyond angry. If they’ve laid a hand on you...if you’ve been hurt because of his own failings, his own inability to see the truth...

He clicks on the video when it comes in, a familiar face popping up on screen. “Hi boys. Been a while.” 

“Fucking Graves.” Johnny growls, his hands closing into fists in anger. 

“I have a little something of yours I think you might be interested in.” He turns the camera around, your face popping up on screen. You’re restrained in a chair, wrists red from the zip ties, but there’s a glare on your face, looking as mean and threatening as you can. There’s a bruise on your cheek and what looks like a healing cut on your lip. Someone hit you. 

“Smile for the camera.” Graves says, a bit too cheerfully. 

You don’t smile, your glare sharpening as the camera gets closer to your face. There’s still fight left in you. Whatever has happened hasn’t been too bad. Yet. 

“Let’s make this simple.” Graves says. “You stay away from Shepherd, and I won’t have to hurt this pretty little face. She is pretty, isn’t she?” 

You shift in the chair, your leg lifting before you kick outward. 

“Ow, you little bitch.” The camera jostles for a moment before it’s straightened back up, a hand shooting out to wrap around your throat. There’s no sign of any struggle, the glare still prominent on your face. “Feisty thing. Gotta keep up with those wild boys somehow.” 

The hand tilts your face just slightly, showing the mark on your neck. It is you, not that John doubted that from the beginning. It may have been almost two months, but he wouldn’t forget your face that easily. 

“Like I said,” Graves continues. “Follow your orders and she’ll be released unharmed.” 

The screen goes dark and John resists the urge to throw his phone. He shoves it back into his pocket, turning towards the wall of the plane. He throws his fist against the metal as hard as he can. It hurts, but he can barely feel it over the rage burning hot in him. 

“Fucking Shepherd!” He shouts, rearing back to throw his hand against the wall again.

Graves has his omega. Graves has his omega and now you’re being used as leverage. They’re all being played like puppets. 

A hand catches his fist before he can punch the wall again, easing him back. “Easy.” Kyle says, trying to soothe him as best he can. “We have proof of life, we know that she’s alright for now.” 

“For now.” He growls, looking around at the members of his team. “But for how long?” 

“They knew we’d go after Shepherd as soon as we learned the truth.” Simon says. “This has been in the plans for a long time.”

“They’re trying to get us to make a choice. Focus on getting our omega back while letting Shepherd escape, or go after Shepherd and let our omega be tortured.” Kyle says. 

“Those fuckin’ wankstains.” Johnny says, shifting on his feet. He’s angry, the bitter scent filling the enclosed area of the plane. They’re all angry, angry at those responsible, and angry at themselves for falling for it. “They were usin’ us the whole time.” 

John lets out a long breath. It’s a hard decision to make. Go after Shepherd and cut the head off the snake, or go after you and let the person orchestrating all of this escape. Graves won’t stop, even if they do manage to take out Shepherd. He has his orders, and he will follow them, with or without Shepherd pulling the strings.

There might be a second contingency. They kill Shepherd, you die too. 

No matter what, you won’t be safe. If they go after you, Shepherd escapes and if they try to hunt him down later, he’ll use you again, or worse. They don’t have to kill Shepherd, though. They have proof he’s a traitor. He can be brought to justice if he’s caught. Death is too gentle of a punishment for what he’s done. He deserves to rot in prison for the rest of his life. 

They have to make sacrifices for the good of the world. 

“We’re going after Shepherd.” He says, taking a deep breath. “None of us will be safe if we don’t.” 

“That’s dangerous, John.” Kate says. “We don’t know how far Shepherd or Graves will take this. You know how Graves is. He may not be able to be stopped, even if Shepherd tells him to.” 

He takes a second to breathe. His pack is silent, all three of them staring at him, waiting for him to make this decision. He is pack alpha, he is their Captain. They do what he tells them to do, follow his orders no matter what. Kate is right, this is a risk, but sacrifices have to be made. Hands have to be dirtied to keep the world clean. 

He just hopes you’ll forgive him. 

“We’re going after Shepherd.” John says definitely. 

“This is a bad idea, John.” Kate warns him. 

“It’s the only option we have. They’re trying to draw us away. It’s a risk we have to take.” He can see the apprehension on his packmate’s faces. They’re all feeling it, the drive to go after their omega, but deep down he is right. They’ll never be safe until Shepherd is taken care of. Going after Graves only removes one small piece of the puzzle. The job always comes first. 

“Get us locations, places he might try to dig in and hide.” He says, heading towards the cockpit. “We’ll find this arsehole and kill him ourselves. 

***

Kate lets out a sigh as the comms close off. It’s a mistake. She knows it is. The guilt is eating her alive. She fell for this, she brought you into this, and now you might get hurt because of it. How she didn’t see the reality has shame burning through her. They were all blind, all led astray, all fooled by the red herring. 

There was never an initiative. It was never about strengthening packs. It was always about control. They wanted a way to control packs. Shepherd knew if the secret ever came out, there would be no stopping the consequences. Legal or illegal, retribution would come for him if the truth was revealed. 

This was his way of stopping it. 

That's why the 141 were the guinea pigs. 

They are the most dangerous threat to Shepherd, and he handed them a way to control them under the guise of strengthening packs, experimenting on how their dynamics and efficiency would shift with an omega added in. Even worse, they all fell for it. 

John is making a mistake. Graves won’t stop so long as Shepherd knows they’re coming after him. The last thing she wants is for you to get hurt because of their decisions, their mistakes. Shepherd won’t order Graves to kill you. That’s too much of a risk. It would give the 141 nothing to lose, and that would put them at their most dangerous. 

Will Graves listen to that order? 

She can send out a team to get eyes on Graves, find his position at least. That way, if things do take a turn, she’ll at least have a direction to point them in. 

They were all too trusting and ignorant. You’re innocent in all of this. 

It’s her fault. 

They’re going to need help. 

Christine can’t sit still anymore. She can't take it. It’s been almost eighteen hours since your disappearance and there’s been nothing. No word, no news. She knows you’re alive. Kate had confirmed that, but that hasn’t eased the burning questions eating away at her mind. What is your current state? Who took you and why? Where is your pack and are they even aware of what’s happening? 

She’s been sitting and twirling her thumbs. She can’t bring herself to do any paperwork, any research. What is there to do besides sit and worry? She doesn’t have a patient to take care of because she lost the one she was supposed to watch. 

She huffs out a breath, pulling her phone out of her pocket and dialing Kate. If Kate won’t call, she’ll call herself. Kate’s probably busy though, so Christine can’t blame her too much for not calling. She’s probably so far from the front of Kate’s mind right now. 

The phone rings twice before Kate answers, sounding tired and disheveled, just as much as Christine feels. 

“Laswell.”

“Kate, I need to be there.” She doesn't hold back, doesn’t try to make small talk. There’s no time for it. She knows how Kate is doing, and it’s not great. 

“Christine, I don’t know if I can take that risk.” She says. 

“I need to be there. I can't take sitting around here anymore, and when you find her, she’s going to need someone she knows there, someone that knows how to take care of her.” Christine lets out a breath, the relief of getting her thoughts out taking some of the weight off her shoulders. 

Kate sighs, but she has to know Christine is right. She’s not sure what state you’re in, and depending on how bad it is, and where your pack is, you’re going to need her. Even if you think she was behind this. “I’ll have a plane ready to go in thirty minutes.” 

“Thank you, Kate.” She says, letting out a sigh of relief. 

“Don’t miss the flight.” 

Christine hangs up, gathering a couple things from her office before closing and locking her door. She nearly runs to her barracks, packing a bag quickly. She’s not sure what to bring, or how long this will take. She’s not even sure exactly where she’s going. 

She hurries to the airfield, phone in hand. She’s not sure where the plane is or which one she’s taking. She’s just relieved Kate is doing this for her. 

Her phone buzzes as she reaches the tarmac, making her puse. She lets out an annoyed sigh before answering the call. 

“Of course you have to call at the worst possible moment.” She says. 

“I’ve always had the worst timing.” Alex’s voice comes through the speaker, and she can almost hear the smile on his face. 

“I can’t talk long. I’m about to board a plane.” She says. 

“I know. We’ll pick you up on the tarmac.” 

She blinks in surprise. It’s been years since she’s seen her brother, months since she’s spoken with him. Ever since he retired from Delta Force, his regular calls have been happening less and less, and they’ve reached near radio silence over the last couple years. Now he’s involved in this too? 

“Kate called in a favor.” He continues, and that’s all she needs to know. “We’ll see you in a few hours.” 

“Yeah.” She says, tears brimming in her eyes as she smiles. Despite everything, she’s glad she gets to see her brother again. Glad she has some support in this. Your pack will be mad. They’ll blame her. She’s not afraid of them, but she knows Alex will stand behind her no

**Content Warning: light torture, ‘mega gets punched, further injury to previous injuries, panic attack**

Your hands are starting to go numb. The constant attempts to free yourself from the zip ties isn’t helping, but you’re beginning to get twitchy. Your omega is scratching at the back of your mind, begging to be free, but you know you won’t survive it. The room is full of armed mercenaries, and you’re sure if you tried to take out Phil first, you’d be pumped full of bullets before you could even do any damage. 

He’s leaning against the wall far too casually, staring at the phone he’d used to record the first video of you. His explanation had been simple. Your pack stops going after General Shepherd, you don’t get hurt. The longer they chase Shepherd, the more Phil gets to torture you until they decide your life is worth more than Shepherd’s. 

Will they choose you over Shepherd? What if they’ve already decided to abandon you? What if your fears were right and they’ve given up, and that’s why they were gone so long? They won’t care what happens to you, if they have written you off as a burden, as a loss. They’ll let Phil torture you to death and they won’t even blink an eye. You’ll just be another casualty. 

It makes your stomach hurt, the idea of your pack letting you die. Even the idea of someone who had once been a friend of your family being so cold towards you has nausea bubbling in your belly. He doesn’t care. His only worry is money, not the past. He doesn’t care. He’ll do the bidding of whoever offers the highest price. 

He lets out a sigh, pocketing his phone as he pushes himself off of the wall. “Looks like your boys don’t follow orders well.” He bends down, putting his hands on his knees so he’s face to face with you. “They’ve decided to leave you here with me. Looks like Shepherd was wrong. They don’t really care about you as much as everyone thought they did. Makes me sad, them abandoning you so easily.” 

You try to ignore his words, try to convince yourself he’s doing it on purpose, trying to mentally break you. Yet you can’t deny those words play exactly into your doubts, your fears. Have they really left you here, choosing Shepherd over you? Would they decide to do that? How easy had that decision been made?  

Tears blur your vision as you stare up at Phil, your eyes burning as you try to put on the bravest face you can. You won’t let him have the satisfaction of knowing he’s getting to you, playing into your fears. 

“Unfortunately, that means I have to hurt you.” He stands up straight, staring down at you for a moment before pulling his fist back, hitting you across the face. 

You see stars for a moment, your head snapping to the side. The left side of your face is numb, the taste of metal flooding over your tongue. You’re bleeding, blood pooling in your mouth. A hand grips your chin, pulling you back so you’re sitting up straight in the chair. You stare up at Phil, the fear fading away to anger as you glare up at him. Your face is throbbing, and you know it’s going to swell and bruise later, more than it already has thanks to Corporal McKinney. 

Traitorous bastard. 

They all are. 

“I do feel bad for hurting that pretty face.” He says, stroking your jaw with his thumb. 

The movement is impulsive, the anger becoming too much. You spit the blood in your mouth in his face, the droplets splattering across his skin. He turns his head away for a moment, bringing his other hand up to wipe at the blood. 

“That wasn’t very nice.” He says, looking down at you. 

“Fuck you, you fucking creep!” You yell, kicking at him with your bad leg. 

He releases your face, catching your leg easily. He pushes his thumb against the bullet wound, all the fight leaving you as pain tears through your body. You let out a scream, trying to pull your leg away but he won’t let you. He holds his thumb there as you scream, the tears streaming down your face. 

“Okay, okay please! Please stop!” You beg, the pain radiating up into your hip and side. You can’t take it anymore, your brain starting to go fuzzy as you hyperventilate. 

He releases your leg, his hand wrapping around your throat to lift your face. The tears are streaming down your cheeks, mixing with the blood from the cut on your cheek. There’s no sympathy, not even regret in his eyes as he stares down at you. 

“I don’t want to hurt you, but if you can’t behave, I’ll have to do just that.” He releases you as you continue to hyperventilate, your eyes starting to glaze. You’re distressing. Will Phil help you? Will he do what he has to do to keep you alive? If you die, there won’t be anything stopping your pack. The entire plan will be over. They’ll go after Shepherd, then they’ll hunt down Phil. 

Cold ice water hits you in the face, shocking you back into clarity. Phil is holding the cup of water he’d been letting you drink from periodically. You blink at him as water drips into your eyes, your breaths hitching but far slower than they had been. You’re awake and aware now. 

You didn’t even know it was possible to do that. 

“Don’t distress on me now.” He says, putting the cup down. “We have so much ahead of us.” He moves around to the back of your chair, bending down until his breath hits your ear. “Besides, you make me help you out of distress, I might not be able to stop myself.” 

Your eyes pinch closed as his lips brush the shell of your ear before he stands back up, tears mixing with the icy water still sliding down your face. 

Christine nearly runs down the ramp once the plane has stopped on the runway. She’s jet lagged and worn out after eight hours of worrying, but she’s eager not only to finally get some news on you and your status, but to see her brother for the first time in a long time. 

It’s not hard to find him. 

“Chrissy!” He grins, hugging her tightly. 

She has half a mind to complain about the nickname she’d endured her entire childhood, but she can’t find it in her as she hugs her brother tightly. She’s missed him, more than she realized. Their jobs have kept them busy, her with her medical studies and practice, and Alex with...whatever it is he does. 

“It’s been far too long.” She says, pulling away from him. She’d love to stand there and hug him for an hour, but she can’t. They have more important things to do. Time is of the essence, if her worst fears are true. 

“A lot has happened, a lot has changed.” He says. 

She looks him over, spotting the more noticeable changes in comparison to the last time they were face to face. “You could say that.” 

“We can talk about it later.” He turns to the other person with him, a woman. “Christine, this is Farah.” He introduces her. “Farah, this is my baby sister Christine.” 

“Nice to meet you.” Farah says, shaking her hand. 

“You as well.” Christine looks between them for a moment. She knows that look in Alex’s eyes as he looks at Farah. 

“We should get moving.” Farah says, ignoring him. 

“Laswell has moved off the grid.” Alex says, opening the driver’s side of the SUV. 

Smart, if things are as bad as she thinks they are. 

Christine gets into the back, letting out a long breath. She’s closer now to finding out what’s happened to you. The guilt is still eating her alive. If she just hadn’t left, if she hadn’t believed the phone call, put it above your safety. 

Things might have been worse if she had stayed. 

“Kate filled us in about everything.” Alex says as he drives away from the airfield. “At least in regards to the pack and your involvement.” 

“There’s some things she’s not telling us.” Farah says. “Though if things are as bad as they sound, I don’t blame her.” 

“I don’t know much of anything.” Christine says, staring out the window as they drive out of the city. “I feel like it’s my fault. If I hadn’t left her alone...” 

“It’s hardly your fault.” Alex says, glancing at her in the rearview mirror. “If this was all planned, there wouldn’t have been anything that would stop it from happening.” 

“They might have done worse if you had stayed there.” Farah says, speaking Christine’s own fears aloud. 

“I wish I could see her. Make sure she’s alright.” Christine says. “If something happens to her...” 

“From what I hear she’s a hardy omega.” Alex says, trying to comfort her. “She’s withstood a lot. She can survive the 141, she’s probably giving them hell as we speak.” 

**Content Warnings: light torture, choking to the point of almost passing out, blood, very detailed descriptions of pain, non-fatal stabbing**

It’s getting hard to breathe. Phil’s grip around your throat is getting tighter and tighter, less and less oxygen getting to your bloodstream and your brain. Your mouth has an almost permanent metallic taste as blood drips down your chin. Blood stains Phil’s arm from where you bit him, teeth marks red and angry looking from where they broke the skin. 

“You fucking bitch.” He growls, jaw clenched. “Your alpha should have taught you some manners.” 

His hand squeezes tighter, cutting the air off entirely. You begin to panic, tugging against the restrains with your raw, cut up wrists. Black dots begin to dance in your vision, your legs straining against the zip ties keeping them attached to the chair. Your hands and feet are going numb, your entire body tingling. This is it. You’re going to be choked to death. 

He holds his hand there for a moment, letting you struggle before he lets go and you suck in a gasp of air. You slump over in the chair, blood splattering on the floor as you cough, your throat raw and sore. Tears burn in your eyes as you heave, trying to get the oxygen flowing through your body again. 

Phil bends down to your level as you sit there, head hanging as blood drips from your mouth. Your tongue is raw from how many times you’ve bitten it. It’s impossible to tell how much time has really passed. There’s no windows in the room. The only light source is the cracks around the door behind you. Even then with the bright light in your face constantly, it’s hard to tell anything anymore. 

“Feisty still, but everyone has their limits.” His hand cups your chin as he stands, lifting your face to follow him. His hand holds the back of your head up as he wipes at the blood under your nose and on your chin almost gently. 

Tears stream down your cheeks as you stare up at him, unable to even care anymore that his hand is so close to your neck. All he has to do is move it down just slightly and squeeze and you’ll be unaware of anything around you, at the mercy of his bidding. 

That would almost be a relief. 

He dumps another icy cup of water over your head, keeping you from slipping too much into a panic. The cold water stings the cut on your chest and the one on your arm as it slides down your shoulders. You’ve lost the ability to feel the throbbing in your calf, numb to most of the pain in your body. 

Why haven’t they come for you? Where is your pack? 

Have they written you off for good? Was finding Shepherd more important than you? 

Phil’s phone goes off, your stomach dropping. He stares at the screen for a second before turning back to you. 

You shake your head, the tears cascading down your cheeks. “No,” You start to shake. “No, please-” 

“You know I have to, darlin’.” He moves behind you, tugging on your hair to keep your head up as one of his men stands in front of you with a phone in hand. 

He counts down on his fingers before pressing record. 

“Seems you boys still can’t follow orders. Your omega sure wishes you would.” Phil says as he reaches around your head, holding your chin in his hand. He tilts your head back making you look up at him. “Don’t you, darlin’. Tell them. Tell them how much you wish they’d follow orders.” 

You’re still crying, unable to stop as you stare at the camera. They really have given up on you. They’ve deemed you unworthy of saving. They’ve let you sit here and be beat up and tortured all because they put the job first. 

They really have given up on you. 

Are they even watching? 

“Please,” You croak out, half begging your pack to care, half begging Phil to have mercy. 

“Since you can’t seem to bring yourselves to care about your own omega,” He shifts slightly, someone handing him something behind you. You catch a glint of metal, your heart rate picking up. You’re panicking, breaths coming in shaky gasps. You know he can do worse. He’s threatened worse, but what is he going to do? “It seems you need a little more...motivation.” 

You try to wiggle out of his grasp in panic, wrists bleeding again from tugging at the zip ties. They’re coated in your blood, your leg throbbing but you don’t care. You need to get away, get free. “No, no-”

You let out a scream. 

It’s sharp and piercing, but nowhere near the sharp pain in your neck. It fires through your very nerve endings, making you aware of the very cells in your body. It shoots up into your brain, igniting every neuron in your brain. Your very blood feels like it’s boiling, your skin on fire from the pain. Every inhale feels like you’re breathing in sand, and every exhale is like glass shards dragging through your lungs and up your throat. The tears streaming down your face may as well be slicing through layers of skin, every wound pulsing and throbbing with a new kind of angry vengeance. 

You’re sobbing, nearly choking on air as the pain continues to pulse in your body. It’s too much, every sensation inside and outside of your body meshing together in an agonizing harmony. 

“Shhh.” Phil tries to shush you as he bends down, his cheek resting against the side of your head. “I know, I know. You’ll be alright.” He presses a kiss to the side of your head before letting you go limp in the chair. 

Your scream still hangs in the air even after the video ends. 

It’s otherwise silent in the room, all eight of them feeling the weight of their decisions on their shoulders. The scents in the air are full of pain and regret and guilt and anger. 

“Was that fatal?” Kate asks, breaking the tense silence. 

“No.” Christine chokes out, her voice shaky. Her hands are trembling where they’re tucked against her sides. Her arms are crossed over her chest, trying to bring herself some kind of comfort after what she had just watched. “He went for the scent gland. It’s not a fatal injury, unless you go too deep, but he knew what he was doing.” She swallows the lump in her throat. “It’s just incredibly painful.” 

Her words hang in the air for a moment, all of them still trying to process what they had just seen. 

John slams his hands on the table, all of them jumping. “I fucking told you.” He says, his voice laced with the deep growl of his alpha. “I fucking told you Kate, she should have been flown out here as soon as you made the call.” 

“I know.” Kate says, undeterred by his anger. She’s seen it many times, though she’s rarely been on the receiving end of it. “I know, I made a bad call. None of us knew they would take it this far.” 

“But we knew something was going on behind the scenes.” John says, still radiating anger. “All precautions should have been taken.” 

“There was no guarantee her being here would have stopped them. She might not have been any safer here.” Kate says, trying to ease his anger, even though she knows it’s completely warranted. “This goes far deeper than we thought it did. Even before this plan was set into motion.” She waits a moment, letting the air settle. “A year ago, a convoy was smuggling missiles and other weapons into the Middle East in an off-the-books operation. The convoy was attacked and the missiles and arms were stolen by a Russian PMC group. The operation was conducted under the command of Shepherd, and the soldiers in the convoy were all Shadow Company.” 

“That’s how Graves is tied into this.” Kyle says. 

“It goes deeper than that.” Kate says, pulling up a file and displaying it on screen. “The missiles and weapons being smuggled weren’t being sent to aid allies in the Middle East. Shepherd sold them to AQ and the Russians. The PMC group that attacked Shadow Company was hired by Shepherd to make it look like an ambush.” 

“Fucking weasel.” Simon growls. 

“I don’t know how much Graves knows, or how much he helped hide the entire operation, but his ties to this go even deeper.” Kate says, and they all shift closer. “Graves has history with your omega.” She says, pulling up an old photo. “We combed through one of her brothers’ Facebook pages. Found an old photo of her dad with Graves. They served on the same base when her family lived in Texas before Graves left to join MARSOC. She would have still been a child at the time.” 

They stare at the photo, Graves clearly identifiable as he stands next to another man, beers in their hands. There’s two other boys in the photo, young and grinning at the camera. Standing in front of Graves is a little girl, a happy grin on her face. They’re all in various combinations of red, white, and blue. 

4th of July, they assume. 

“That’s how she got into the institute so fast.” John says, staring at the photo. He’s never seen a photo of your father before. You must take after your mother. “Graves pulled the strings.” 

Kate nods. “He did, but under the condition he would be the one to claim her when she grew old enough. The CIA wiped out that claim when they froze her file.” 

The 141 all shift on their feet, sharing looks. John feels a sick twisting in his stomach at the implications. Your position in the photo suddenly makes sense. Anger burns in him, deep and bubbling like magma. He’ll kill the bastard. 

“This is revenge then.” Johnny says. 

“In a way, I think.” Kate says. “We took away what he wanted. Graves wasn’t going to pass up this opportunity. He’s not afraid to get his hands dirty.” 

“This all is what the initiative was created for.” Christine says, leaning against the table. “A contingency in case this all was uncovered.” 

“A way to control us.” Kyle says. 

Kate nods. “Yes. It was all a plan to give the 141 a weakness, a way to be controlled should the situation arise. In this case it just so happened to be the uncovering of his traitorous arms deals.” 

“We were all pawns in this.” Christine says. 

“We let them walk right in and take control like that.” John says, turning to Christine. “You let them walk in and take our omega.” 

She turns to face him, undeterred by his agitation and anger. “I did what I thought was right at the time. I got a call from one of the front desk workers in the med center saying that someone was waiting in my office for me.” She explains. “They wouldn’t say who it was, and the whole thing felt off. I knew whoever would be visiting me was not going to be friendly, so I felt it was safer to leave her in the barracks than take her with me and risk something happening in a place she doesn’t know well. In the barracks at least she’d know places to hide and barricade herself.” 

She takes a deep breath, still facing down John fearlessly. He’s coiled tight like a spring, ready to jump at any moment should he deem it necessary. It’s those protective instincts, the knowledge that his omega is somewhere else, taken unwillingly and being tortured feeding into that need to fight. 

“My office door was open when I got there.” She continues. “I always leave it locked. I went in prepared to fight, but I was attacked from behind. Hit over the head and drugged with something fast acting, something that would keep me incapacitated long enough for him to strike.” She stares up into his eyes, projecting her scent just a bit to try and get him to calm down. “We all made mistakes here, things we thought were the right choice at the time.” 

She’s not wrong. They all know it. They had just seen proof of it.  

“The assailant?” John asks, turning back to Kate. 

“Corporal McKinney.” Kate says. “He was in Shepherd’s pocket from the start. Someone who could watch first-hand. Someone who could sneak into the barracks unnoticed without many questions. He was likely the one that put the cameras up.” 

“Fucking wanker.” Simon growls. “He approached her once in the mess. Early on. Tried to introduce himself to her. Backed off as soon as I intervened. Never tried again, at least that we know of.” 

“She never mentioned him.” Christine says. “Or anyone else on base that might have tried to approach her.” 

“Where is he now?” Kyle asks. They’re all angry, frustrated. How had they not seen this happening? 

“Local police tracked his car to an abandoned airfield not far outside of Hereford.” Kate says. “He was dead inside. Police ruled it suicide.” 

“I’m sure it was.” John says. 

They all know it wasn’t. 

“Shadow Company likely picked her up from there with orders to stage a suicide.” Kate says. 

“One less loose string to worry about.” Simon says. “Covers their tracks in England.” 

They all go quiet. How this had all happened right under their noses? They’re all guilty of falling for it, for being too trusting in a world they know they can’t be too careful in. Allies can turn on a dime and become enemies. Betrayals can be easily bought. Things can turn downhill within a blink of an eye. They’re supposed to be prepared for the worst, ready for every possibility. 

They had written this off as a conspiracy, and now their omega is paying for it. 

“We need a plan.” Farah says, breaking the silence. 

“We can’t let Shepherd get away.” John says. 

“We cannae just leave her.” Johnny argues against his alpha. It’s a brave thing, considering his alpha’s current mental state.  

“I don’t know how much more she can take.” Simon backs his beta up, the desperation and pain on your face still visible in all of their minds. 

“Let us go after Shepherd.” Alex says, offering up a solution. “He’s obviously watching for you to come after him.” 

“We can move undetected.” Farah agrees. “He’s less likely to expect us. You need to focus on your omega. Shepherd will show himself again eventually.” 

“Do we have a lead on their location?” Kyle asks, turning back to Kate. 

She nods. “We do now. I sent a team out to try and track location through the videos and where they were being sent from.” She pulls a map up on screen. “We have a location.” 

“Texas.” Alex says. 

“He took her home.” Christine says. 

“We have a plan then. We go after Graves, Farah and Alex start tracking Shepherd. Kate is eyes in the sky for us.” John says. 

“She’s going to need medical attention as soon as possible.” Christine says. She looks at Kate. “Where is the nearest military base from their location?” 

Kate types on her computer. “Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth.” 

“Get me there and I’ll be waiting. She’s going to need someone she knows.” She says, looking at John. “She’s not going to just let anyone close to her after this. She may not even let you close.” 

John stares down at her for a long moment. She stares back unflinchingly. She doesn’t get intimidated easily, not after years of dealing with institutes and alphas alike. 

He lets out a breath, staring down at her for a long moment before he nods. “I trust you.” 

“Short reunion this time.” 

“I’m just glad I got to see your face again.” Christine says, looking up at Alex. 

“Things are...complicated.” He says. “Maybe after all of this is over we can go and get some coffee. Talk about our lives...as much as we can.” 

The corner of her mouth twitches up in a smile. “I’ll hold you to that.” 

Alex pulls her into a hug, holding her tightly. “You’re doing good work, Chrissy.” 

She shakes her head at the nickname, but she holds him just as tightly. “I’m trying to.” 

Alex pulls away, squeezing her arms. “I’d say you are. You care a lot. To the point some might call it a character defect.” 

She scoffs, slapping his chest playfully. “Not like you’re much better.” She glances at the car where Farah is waiting patiently. “I’m happy for you.” 

“Oh, we’re....” Alex blushes to his ears. “We’re not...” 

She gives him a look. “Mhm sure.” She looks up at him one more time. “Be safe.” 

“As best I can.” He says. “Take care of yourself. Don’t be too hard on yourself either.” 

“I try not to be.” She squeezes his hand before stepping away. 

She watches the SUV drive off, stomach churning with nerves for both of them. Shepherd is dangerous, but Alex has fearlessly faced down danger since he was a kid. He’s always been brave and determined, loyal and unafraid to do what he thinks is right no matter what. She trusts him to take care of himself, she trusts Farah to help him, even if she only met the woman today. 

She trusts them both to take care of each other. She trusts them both to help put an end to this. 

**Content Warning: Blood, vomiting, 'mega forces herself into a panic attack**

Your body aches, muscles screaming. You can’t take much more. Your cheek throbs painfully, swollen to the point you almost can’t see out of your left eye. The pain burning from your neck makes the other pain in your body nearly irrelevant, nearly nonexistent. It’s like electricity, burning through your very cells. Every movement seems to make it flare, makes the electric shock jolt through you. The burning pain that follows makes you whimper, a pathetic choking sound squeaking out from your bruised throat. 

The pain makes you nauseous, vomit staining the front of your shirt and pants. It’s mostly bile and the little food you’ve gotten since your kidnapping. 

Nutrient bars, meant to keep you fed and nourished for a short period of time. 

You may never be able to eat them again. 

“Fuck.” Graves curses, staring at his phone. “They’ve backed off.” He steps up to you, looking down on your pathetic form. “Looks like your boys do care about you after all.” 

Do they? Are they really coming for you, or have they simply given up chasing Shepherd because they lost all their leads. Will they come for you, or will they leave you here to rot? What will Graves do then? Try to take you as his own omega? Kill you out of anger? 

Your stomach churns and you can feel the bile rising. 

You vomit again, the warm liquid splashing into your lap. You can’t lean far enough anymore, not without the risk of not being able to pull yourself back up, not with the pain burning your every movement. You can’t even lift your head anymore, your body weak and battered and bruised. There’s blood everywhere, on you and on the floor. You can still taste it in your mouth, mixing with the sourness of bile. 

Graves gives you a disgusted look before turning to the others in the room. “Duran, Lewis, keep watch. The rest of you come with me.” 

He leaves the room for the first time in what you assume is days. For once the cocktail of scents begins to disperse, all but two of the alphas finally disappearing. Where they’re going or what they’re going to do, you don’t know. You can’t bring yourself to care either way. You just want to go home. You want to see your mother again, your brothers and sisters, even your father would be a welcome sight after this. You want your alpha, you want him to hold you, to take you in his arms, keep you safe.

He abandoned you. He left you to suffer like this. 

Your breathing picks up as you sit there, chin to chest as you stare at your bloody shirt. The smells in the room are awful, the scents no longer there to block out the sour bile and metallic stench blood. Tears are streaming down your cheeks, pink tinted splatters dripping onto your pants. What are you going to do now? What are they going to do to you now? Will they keep you alive long enough for your pack to arrive then kill you in front of them? Will they torture them too, make them watch as the life slowly leaves your eyes in revenge for chasing after Shepherd? 

A sob rips through your sore throat up out of your lips. 

You just want to go home. 

You just want to be free. 

You can be. 

Distress. The final defense. The last ditch effort omegas have to save themselves. Distress will lead to your omega taking over, and if nothing else, a quiet death you won’t even realize is happening. Your body will give out and you’ll be safely tucked into the back of your brain, comforted by your instincts. You won’t have to worry anymore. You won’t have to care. 

If nothing else, the pain will be over. 

I’m sorry. 

You begin to breathe heavier, ignoring the pain in your body as you push yourself to hyperventilate. The alphas behind you might do something, might try to stop it. They could, but would they even know how? Would it even work if you got too far? They’re not your alpha. They can’t comfort you, bring you back from the edge without forcing you. Will they even bother? 

You tilt your head to the side, putting pressure on your injured scent gland. You sob at the pain, the burning flowing straight into your very cells, making them scream. You push through it, your wrists twisting against the zip ties, digging them further into your already damaged wrists. The pain pushes you to a point of panic, your heart rate through the roof. You can feel it, the tightening of your muscles, your joints locking into place. 

You’ve never done it purposefully before, but in this state, it’s not hard. 

They left you. They’ve abandoned you. They’ve given up. It’s all your fault they left. They’re not coming for you. You’re not worth it. 

The thoughts send you down the spiral, the edges of your vision starting to go dark. You’re floating away, hands and feet going numb as your wheezing, shallow breaths block the oxygen from getting to your brain. You’re sinking, your body floating as you begin to retreat into the back of your mind. The cage is open, your omega soothing you as you drift off, curling up in the back recesses of your mind. 

You’re safe now. She whispers. 

There’s no going back. 

You’re going to get out. 

Even if you have to do it yourself. 

The last breath you remember taking is shaky, making you cough before your vision begins to fade to grey, then to black. You’re getting out of here no matter what. You’re going to go to sleep. If you fail, you’ll never know it. Your death will be quick and gentle and you’ll never know it happened until you’ve moved on to whatever is next. 

You won’t remember any of this. That’s your only consolation. 

Your vision fades to black as all memory and awareness leaves you. The last thing you remember is the snap of the zip ties around your wrists as they break. 

“Graves has moved with some of his men to the western building. It’s likely the hostage is being held in the eastern building. Gaz and I will go after Graves. Ghost and Soap will try to secure the hostage.” 

“Keller is on her way to NAS JRB as we speak. They’re on standby for medevac.” 

“Stealth is our priority. They know we’re here, we risk losing the hostage. Quick and quiet, take them by surprise. The faster we do this, the sooner it will all be over.” 

**Content Warning: blood and slight gore, someone gets shot offscreen, some gorey and explicit imagery towards the end**

He’s not unfamiliar with high stakes missions. It’s his specialty. He’s cool and calm under stress and pressure, which is why he gets chosen for them. He can detach easily, get the job done and then go home and forget. 

So why are his hands shaking? 

This isn’t a high stakes mission, not like one he’s used to doing. The stakes are higher, higher than he’s ever had before. It’s not just eliminating some faceless target, it’s not just rescuing some faceless hostage. 

It’s rescuing you. 

He hates that you were involved in all of this. He hates that they all fell for it, blind to the truth, blind to Shepherd’s traitorous actions. They refused to entertain those conspiratorial thoughts, and now you’re paying for it. He knows why Price made the decision he did, he understands the logic behind it. 

He hated it, though. 

How far would Graves have taken it if they had chosen to go after you first. Would things have gotten this bad? Or would he still have hurt you, tortured you just out of sheer anger for what happened between the two of you? He wouldn’t give up just because Shepherd told him to stop. He’s ruthless and uncaring of who he hurts and why. He gets his orders and he completes them, no matter what, so long as whoever is giving those orders can pay a high enough price. 

How much did he get for this assignment? How much did he settle for once he learned you were involved? 

Far too much despite that fact, most likely. Maybe he should become a merc. Less rules and more money.

It’s not a bad idea. 

He lasers his focus on the building as they creep through the trees, moving silently. Two against however many are inside. It was impossible to tell with how many were moving between the two buildings constantly. 

He brought the whole squad. He planned on putting up a fight regardless. 

At least they have the element of surprise on their hands. 

“We move silently through the building.” He says as they approach the door. There’s two guards standing outside. “They know we’re inside, things could go downhill quickly.” 

“On you, LT.” Johnny says, taking point beside him. 

“Drop one, I’ll take the other.” He says, aiming at one of the two Shadows guarding the door. 

It’s quick and quiet, their bodies slumping onto the damp dirt. Simon scans the area before moving forward to the door. It’s unlocked, Johnny pushing it open slowly to check for a trip wire. 

None. 

Sloppy, or perhaps on purpose. They can’t be too careful. Shepherd will have let Graves know they’re not on his trail anymore. He’ll be expecting them. 

They split up, combing the bottom floor of the building. He takes out two more Shadows, checking every room for a sign of their target, but they find none. 

“Second floor.” He says, waiting at the base of the stairwell for Johnny to join him. 

“You think she’s in here?” Johnny asks as they creep up the stairs, careful not to make too much noise. 

“Well, we’ll find out.” 

It’s far too unguarded to where they’re holding you. Graves will have assumed they’d split up. He must have moved most of his men to the western building to put up as much of a barricade as possible. He can picture Graves standing there, the smirk on his face as he holds a gun to your head. Will he take that risk, shoot you in front of them and give them nothing to live for? Or will he use a knife, letting you die a slow, painful death in front of them? 

Or, maybe he moved them to the western building to make them think that’s where you are. Focus their attacks there so they leave you behind. He gets cornered, he send the word to kill you before any of them can get to you. 

More red herrings. 

He pauses before he reaches the top of the steps, taking out the shadow standing down the hallway. They split up again, looking through rooms at the top of the stairs, making their way down the hallway. 

One of the doors is open, and he silently motions for Johnny. He counts down silently in his head before rounding the corner, rifle up as he scans the room. His stomach churns as he looks inside, taking a couple cautious steps forward. He’s seen a lot of things in his time, done a lot of things, but this is different. 

“Screaming Jesus.” Johnny says, lowering his rifle as he steps in behind Simon. 

There’s blood everywhere. 

It’s coating the floors, leaving a sticky residue as it dries. It’s the room you were in. He recognizes it from the video, and the bright light in the corner is a dead giveaway. The chair in the middle of the room has been broken, the wood of the arms snapped off and splintered. There’s four bloody zip ties on the floor, along with several instruments on the floor including the ice pick. 

He wants to shove that into Graves’ eye for what he did to you. 

There’s two bodies on the floor, one of them dead in a pool of his own blood, the other choking as blood seeps onto the floor under him. He steps up to the shadow, putting his boot on his chest and pushing. The Shadow lets out a groan, coughing up blood. 

“Where the fuck is she?” He growls, staring down at the quickly paling face. 

“Fucking bitch went crazy.” He chokes out. “Went running.” 

Simon steps back, pulling out his handgun and firing two bullets into the Shadow’s head. 

“Price, we found the room.” He says into his comm. “The hostage isn’t here. A half-dead Shadow said she bolted.” 

“LT.” Johnny says, motioning to the door, the only other exit from the room. There’s a bloody handprint on the door, one too small to be one of the Shadows’. 

“I think she managed to get out.” He says, staring at the handprint. His stomach drops, his hand tightening around his rifle. He glances down at the bodies, throats cut and faces bloody. “I think her omega took over.” 

“You and Soap go after her. She’ll do the one thing she knows to do, the one instinctual thing she can do if she has nothing to fight.” Price says. “We’ve got Graves cornered.” 

Simon pushes the door open, cool air flowing into the stuffy room. There’s bloody shoe prints heading down the stairs. He can see the rapid turn on the concrete below before they head off towards the trees. 

“I’ve got a trail.” He says. 

“Go.” Price says. “Simon...you know what you have to do.” 

He does.

He motions for Johnny to follow before hurrying down the stairs. The longer they delay, the further you’ll get. He doesn’t doubt some Shadows followed you if you made that much of a ruckus. The more time they waste, the more dangerous things get, and not just because they might lose you or the shadows might catch up. 

He races towards the treeline, rifle in hand, but there’s no one else standing guard. Price and Gaz will have taken care of those in the other building, and those that were outside probably went after you. 

He slows once they break the treeline, trying to catch any hint of your scent that might be left. His only hope is that you’ve left a trail. He’s a tracker, he knows what he’s doing. His senses are stronger, more in tune. He can find you. He can track you down. He has to. 

The guilt is eating him alive. If something happens to you, he’ll never forgive himself. He’s right here, so close and yet so far. You’re running on borrowed time and there’s only so much of it left. Eventually you have to slow, eventually your body will start giving up. Will it be too late then? If a Shadow finds you when you can’t fight back...

“Dead Shadow ahead.” Johnny says, motioning to the slumped over body ahead of them. “We’re on the trail.” 

“Let’s hope she left more markers on the way.” He says, kicking the Shadow, but the stab wound in his neck is all Simon needs to know. “Keep going straight.” He says, continuing on the path they’ve been following. He needs just a whiff, a hint of your scent. Something. 

They come across another dead Shadow, this one off to the side of the path they had been following. He turns, making an adjustment before moving forward. Johnny keeps close, both of them watching for more Shadows, or for any glimpse of you. All they can hope is they’re on the right path. 

He nearly sets off in a run as he hears a sound ahead. It’s a yowl, almost like a mountain lion. It sends a tingle down his back, his alpha blaring warning alarms. A threatened omega is a dangerous thing. Fierce and protective of themselves, capable of great feats and lethal if you get too close. 

It’s you, no doubt. 

Price had been right. 

He has no choice. 

He pushes forward, his steps quick as he makes his way through the bushes. He spots you near a boulder, trying to fight off a Shadow. He’s got the upper hand, using his size against you. You’re getting tired, your movements slowing. Simon aims with his rifle, a shot to the head dropping the Shadow. You drop into a crouch, surveying the trees. You’re covered in blood, a knife in your hand as your wild eyes search for them. 

“Distract her.” He says to Johnny. “Make yourself as unthreatening as possible. I’ll go around and get her from behind.” 

He doesn’t even wait for an acknowledgement before he’s moving, slipping around to the side of the boulder. Johnny steps into the clearing slowly, holding his hands up, talking to you quietly.

“Easy, kitten. Ye know who I am.” Johnny is careful not to get too close, his steps slow as he moves to the side, getting you to turn. “We’re just here to help ye. Get ye home and safe.” 

You’re holding the knife up, brandishing it at Johnny. Simon isn’t sure if you’ve ever thrown a knife before, but he doesn’t put it past you to try in this state. 

He hopes Johnny’s reflexes are fast enough. 

He slips out from behind the boulder as you pause, wasting no time as he races up behind you and grabbing you before you can bolt or go for Johnny’s neck. You let out another yowl, struggling against him as he wraps an arm around your chest. Your teeth sink into his arm and he lets out a curse, but he doesn’t let go. He lets go, they won’t get another chance. It’ll be too late. 

He doesn't want to do it. His mind flashes back to his father and mother, one of the few times his mother fought back. It hadn’t lasted long before her body went limp, practically a ragdoll in his father’s hold. Simon had grabbed Tommy and ran, barricading them in his room. They didn’t want to see what was going to happen next. 

He doesn’t want that kind of control over you, he doesn’t want to put you through that trauma. The disorientation, the fear, the confusion. That must have been what it felt like after being sedated during your heat. You had been sick for days, crying in Johnny’s room. He had heard every sob, every attempt to soothe you. 

He put you through that. He made you face that down despite the fear on your face as Johnny escorted you to the med center. 

And now he has to do it again. 

He has to this time. He has no choice. His only other option is to let you die. Price will never forgive him. Johnny won’t even look at him again. He’d betray them worse than you did, worse than Shepherd, worse than Graves. 

You never really betrayed them in the first place, though. 

You were afraid, untrusting of them, unsure because of your past. He had been foolish to blame you, foolish to think it was somehow your fault. You acted out of fear, out of terror. How you must have felt in those moments when that beta showed up, when you faced down Shepherd alone, when you returned to find your space invaded and those cameras all over your room. They weren’t there to protect you, they weren’t there to support you. They left you alone and you hid it from them because you didn’t know any better, because you were so afraid. 

He’s a goddamn fucking prick he’s been. 

Tears blur his vision as he tucks his free arm behind you, shifting your position just enough so he can get his hand around the back of your neck. You kick out with your legs, releasing his arm, your head tilting back in a last ditch, instinctual effort to protect yourself. 

His eyes squeeze closed as you let out a yelp, his fingers digging into the back of your neck. It’s hard enough it will leave a bruise, but he has to be sure. It’s the only thing that might save you. It’s his only option, his only chance to keep you alive. 

“There you go.” He says quietly into your ear. “Need you to relax for me.” 

Your body goes limp in his hold, head resting back against his hand as he holds you there. Your muscles twitch as the tension leaves you, eyelids fluttering before they close. His arm stings where your teeth had sunk into his skin, hard enough to draw blood, but he doesn’t care. 

“Keep resting.” He says, easing his hand from the back of your neck as he shifts you in his arms. “Gonna get you somewhere safe.” 

You’re like a ragdoll in his arms as he lifts you up, cradling you against his chest. You’re warm, hair sticking to your forehead. 

“Call it in.” He tells Johnny, his eyes still glued to your face. “We need that medevac now.” 

“Price, we got her.” Johnny says into his comm. “We need medevac stat.” 

You look so peaceful despite the blood soaking your body. Partially yours, partially the Shadows you killed in your escape. You look like a gruesome painting, a gorey depiction of an omega pushed too far. Something they’d put on display in a museum, a photo that would win prizes in celebration of such a natural state caught on camera. It would be circulated for decades, something talked about centuries from now. 

A raw view of humanity’s inner beasts. 

He can’t stand it, seeing you like this. They did this to you. They are the reason you’re like this. They made the bad call in the end, they put you through this. You won’t forgive them, not after everything. You went weeks without them, without a word and then this happened. Innocence tainted in the blood of the guilty. The bloodstained omega held in the arms of the blood-tainted alpha. He should be the one covered in their blood. He should be the one carrying the weight of torture and desperation on his shoulders. 

The guardian dog covered in blood in the name of protecting his innocent sheep. 

How he’s failed you. How they all failed you. 

He pushes past the pain, past the grief, past the guilt and the horror of what they did to you, what they put you through. 

They’ve got you back. You’re safe. 

It’s over. 

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[starlightnighteve]

Chapter 10; Going Solo

After going to the sanctuary the next day rolled around quickly. Eve comes into work with a pleasant ray to her. She greets everyone on her floor with a smile, and makes her way to see Grey already working. Eve pulls out her seat. Grey turns at the movement.

Eve gives a big smile to Grey as she seats herself beside him. "Good morning, Grey~!" She cheered as she looked at him.

Grey seemed almost unaffected by it. He casually looks away, so he can hand her the morning brief of what was on the agenda. "Ah, morning Maestro. You seem cheery from the sanctuary, still. That's good... Got a mission to prepare for tonight. We just got word."

Eve looks at the list of what they had written for any leads or new cases. "Alrighty! What's the mission?"

Grey turns in his seat. He leans to one side facing Eve and looks down at the paper, pointing out to Eve parts. "Remember the one hacker from the previous base with the 'bug' problem? We also found where this information was going. Luckily now, all we have to do is catch this last rat. We'll have to interrogate this one further to see how they knew about the facility."

Grey pulls up from his screen a file with the name and information to show Eve. He turns his monitor a bit so Eve could see better. "Suspect is Victor Moore, you could certainly call him a small 'crime boss'. Moore was in a family business till he was removed for reasons unknown. He's got money and now influencing a gang that deals with a lot of bad stuff. Drugs, weapons, anything illegal, and in high demand. This information could be dangerous in the hands of a guy like him."

Eve's cheerful expression became wide-eyed worry. "Not good at all... What are we going to do to stop him?"

Grey knew when he told her, she'd ask that basically. "Good question, indeed. We can go about this in a few ways. We could try to infiltrate a bar he runs. He was recently spotted there, and that's how we found him. Think you can talk to him?"

Eve tilts her head curiously. "Okay... do you really trust me to talk-it-out with a bad guy? Is he normal? I can't fight him with powers, right?"

Grey oddly looks away, also not really favoring the idea. But, they had to. Grey needed Eve's help for something he's not the best with, surprisingly in their field. "Well... Ahem, it's not to put you on the spot, but you're at least going to be a lot more approachable than me for this. Maybe you could undercover. Act like you're a singer that wants to perform at his bar, then get him alone for a second to arrest him. Just dress in a disguise, and don't give them your name. I'll be able to reach you, if you get into some trouble."

It sounded like Grey couldn't be beside Eve to help, as he's usually been. Now, he's distanced, and Eve will have to handle leading the investigation. She'll have to use her improv skills, and charm, to survive on her own.

Eve slumps into her seat and sighs tiredly. "Sigh... Why do I have to go to a bar?" She pouts, since she definitely wouldn't want to be alone either. Eve didn't go to bar's or drink. She also was a performer for a younger audience, her personality just didn't fit the bar seen. Bars were only fun for her if there was a band, or if she'd perform.

Grey turns more deadpanned. He walks through a small plan, so his partner gets more of that jist. "Just get in, spot the target, get or follow him to where there's less people. Don't act like yourself. You naturally act like a disney prince. Where black instead of white and light colors. Don't act so kind and righteous, you don't want to become an easy target. You'll see characters at the bar from formal, to even grimy. So, just don't look too inconspicuous with that...."

Eve surprisingly sounded excited and focused. She raises her arms, and balls her fists together determined. "Okay! I'll dress dark, and pretend I've got problems I can't handle, and I want to sing about it! Yay~!" Eve then cheered as she flew her arms up excitedly.

Grey feels like he's regretting this idea already. "Definitely hope you can act the part too, quietly...."

Eve chuckles at her partner's remorse. "I'll try my best!"

Grey will just have to take Eve's word for it. This was Eve's expertise. "Good. We'll have earpieces, so we can partially communicate. I can help you, if you hesitate at all."

This was pressure on Eve to perform and act, but that's her skill set. She won't use her usual gimmicks. Eve's going to channel something she's not shown in front an audience. Eve was going to go dark.

__________________________________

(Warning; Strong language)

The two finish the rest of their work, and prepare for Eve's undercover mission that night. A new an anxious task ahead, and crooked people to follow, but Eve had to disguise herself amongst them to find out what they were planning. They had plenty of time to strategize first, and know when, where, and who to look for.

Grey is in Eve's apartment, hanging out with Sameer in front of Eve's bedroom door. Though Eve and Grey weren't off the clock yet, the two outside had been waiting patiently for Eve. She was just needing a moment to change for the mission.

Eve opens the door after some time. "'Kay, Grey. Do I look ready?" She hushed her voice in a low and calming tone.

Both Grey and Sameer look widely at Eve's transformation. Her hair was slicked down with gel, and bangs slightly parted to one side. She leans on the doorframe with her elbow that barely holds on a large leather jacket. Her other hand out on the door.

Eve threw on whatever black articles, and celestial jewelry she had from different costumes. Although very covered, under her jacket she rolled her shirt sleeves, and hints of white ink showed on Eve's pale skin. A rare detail to see, which was something interesting about her that fit the look. Grey lands his gaze back at Eve's face. Her eyes were done with a smokey, wet look, she wore a glossy sinister smile, along with heavy raised eyelids peering at Grey from under her lashes.

Since Grey laid silent, Eve speaks up again, almost sounding bored, or annoyed. "Got something to say, or are we just standing around?" She chuckled at her own joke, using the fake persona.

Eve strides out and idles in front of Grey. She gives him a thumbs up, and presses a hand to her ear. "Earpiece is already in, let's go." Eve turns to the door, and Grey snaps out of his silent glaring, and follows behind.

As Eve goes to head out, she spins around, waving and smiling cheerfully. "Bye Sam~! I'll be back later! I'll miss you!!"

As Eve turns back around, Grey eyes her sternly. His cold eyes peer light into Eve's after she locks up her door. Even with the makeup and a different outfit on, Grey just sees Eve through it all. "Okay, start acting now. You're too loud for looking like that right now. All I see is your goofy self still."

Eve tilts her head innocently, still smiling sweetly. Even with dark makeup on she was radiant as she giggled out the door. Grey leads her down to where a car was parked outside the apartments. They head to the bar. They talk about the plan, and if anything were to happen. After looking and going over all the exits, Eve heads in, while Grey hangs outside in case the suspect leaves.

The bar was dimly lit, pool tables being played filled the bar with clatter and ambiance. An empty stage was on the opposite side of the entrance. And for decor, despite being a bar, it was decorated like a casino room just with shady deals in the corner booths, rather than people on slot machines. Eve walks in, the checkered tile making her steps much louder in boots. She goes straight to the bar, and takes a seat.

"Hmm...." Eve scans the small drink list. It held the specials she's never heard of. She doesn't know any drink names besides obvious ones. She tries not to, but couldn't help but be a little nervous, especially out in the open alone.

Eve sits at a bar owned by the suspect. It was a smaller crowd occupying the bar, since it was early in the weekday. It wasn't because of her outfit, but her natural looks caught a few eyes coming in. She would burn her glaring eyes at anyone that looks at her pass, as part of the act.

Eve waves at the bartender. She speaks shortly, and tries to have less character in her voice. "Hey, I would like to order but I'm bored of some drinks. Do you have anything that won't hurt my voice? I'm a singer, I don't want to be with a trashed voice in the morning...." She lies, at least about the drinking ordeal.

The bartender nods, then the corner of his lips perk upwards. "I could also give you something not so strong maybe. We have a few cocktails that don't sting goin' down."

Eve bangs on the counter with her hand, acting excited at the idea. "Perfect, then I can drink a lot of them, right? Heh heh, just kidding. Surprise me!" Her look and act, fitting enough as a punk rocker.

The bartender takes a moment to prepare a drink. They soon hand Eve a small glass of a colorful liquid. She idles it, while she brings out a burner phone, pretending to act distracted.

The bartender doesn't leave, but just leans on the counter facing Eve. He eyes her, looking oddly at her. "So, a singer, ya' say? Would you sing somethin' then?"

Eve gives a bored scoff, and chuckles. "Heh, like what? Anything? I'm from overseas, so my music originally wasn't in English. But... Give me a guitar, or something to play, and I got you."

The bartender looks over Eve's shoulder and shouts directed over to a booth in the corner. "Hey V! Can I spare an instrument from the stage? This girl's gonna play somethin'."

Eve slowly turns her head to one of the corner booths. She spots a man, also a woman by the man's side. His face looked like the suspect she was looking for. It was the one who the hacker tried to give secret information from government facilities to. He glares at Eve coldly, but then chuckles.

Eve stares at the suspect from the counter of her eye. The suspect, Victor Moore, stares coldly at Eve. Then, he waves a hand and acts nonchalantly. "Hm, why not, but it better be good then."

Eve raises her glass to the suspect, trying to act like she doesn't know who he is. "You'll have to be the judge. Don't worry, I can sing, my genius however, is a little out there..."

Eve brought the drink to her lips after toasting to 'Mr. V' in the corner, as thanks for his permission. She didn't drink it, but tasted it and pretended to drink. It still left a terrible taste in her mouth.

Eve is handed an acoustic guitar moments later and was ready to rock, acoustically, that is. "Thanks." She at least tries to keep a bit of politeness for allowing her request. Her plan had just worked out perfectly, finding and calming getting the suspect's attention.

Eve starts to play something, a few chords and then she used her voice as a harmony till she found some lyrics to sing towards the end.

Victor had gotten up shortly after Eve stopped with her playing and singing. He eyes Eve wildly, then tries to act unamused as he spoke. "Good enough. Got to say, you're mighty beautiful in appearance as well..."

Eve's ear buzzed instantly after the suspect's statement, and Grey's voice spoke into her earpiece.

'Please don't you dare fight him, Maestro. Change the subject.'

Eve mentally nodded to herself as she eyes around the room nervously. Her eyes fall to the woman in the corner, and Eve points her thumb towards her. "... I'm more interested in the innocent thing over there, bud." It was impromptu, but hopefully a good end to that conversation.

The man looks behind him, and looks back, oddly smiling at Eve. "Her? Heh, you got a fine eye, we can certainly share, huehehe. Thing is... she's one of my 'special' girls, I can't just leave my belongings with others. She's got a pretty price for that head of hers... Unless you're still interested...." He raises a curious brow.

Eve raises a brow, curious but she didn't think she wanted to know what she meant. However, something didn't feel right when looking at the young woman. She didn't not look happy to be there. She even looked scared as she hid in the booth only peering over occasionally with a worried look.

Eve decides, despite her worry, someone else there seemed more scared and out of place than Eve. She'll play along for now till she finds out who that woman is. "Well, can the girl come up here? She's got legs, doesn't she?"

The suspect quickly snapped his fingers and waved the woman over in a quick notion. The woman hesitantly gets out of the booth and stands by the man. Grey speaks again. This time, Eve spots small movements from a window, likely Grey hiding.

'What's going on? I'll try to find out who that woman is....'

With a bit of security even outside, Grey was most likely behind something out of sight. He had his work laptop if they needed information to help Eve. But, he still tried to be close, as much as he could on the sidelines. Grey was on alert for Eve in case of an emergency, and if he needed to pull her out.

Eve places a finger under her chin and narrowed her eyes, staring at the woman. "Hm... Yeah, her looks could drive anyone crazy, but I don't get what's so special about her." She dropped her hand and shrugged. She looked away unamused with her head in the air.

Moore nods and smirks, seemingly understanding. But, he immediately goes emotionless and serious. "Heh... I think it's best if you don't ask anything else. She's here, you can look, but not touch." His brows furrowed closely together, scowling at Eve. He'd be best to stop talking, or rid her from the bar already.

Eve teased in a sinister, yet teasing tone. "Dawww, I'd buy her a drink first if I was going that far~. It's a girl, you can spot those anywhere outside." Eve's voice went deadpan at the last part.

Moore goes red with anger as he snaps at Eve. "SHE'S NOT JUST A GIRL- She's got a lot more to her for her price! Want to know more, you pay a fee. Interested still?" He presses on, waiting for Eve to back down as she should, or see if she'll regret trying to push his hand.

Eve just waves her arms up and shrugs. "Hmph, well I got money from being a singer, traveling overseas, and all. Cash for a girl, I'll buy into it if it's that special." She sounded disgusting to herself, which worked with her persona. Eve didn't want to make a deal, but she'd figure some way to get either Victor, or the girl alone.

'Maestro! You don't have to get involved in a private matter. I'll figure out who she is! We'll handle that! You need to not provoke, or make any deals with them!"

All while Agent Grey spoke, Eve took her time rummaging in her bag. She sighs aloud. "Mmm... sigh. I only have some cash right now, but it's yours, if I can see something worth my while..."

Moore just quickly glances at how much she had, then tosses it back to Eve, and scoffs. "This... is barely enough to even bribe with..."

Eve complains in an outrage, trying to purposely provoke him. "Well that's all I got on me. You think I'd carry all my cash on me?! How'd I go home if I don't have money for a taxi? Or pay for my drink?!"

Moore shook his head disapprovingly. It felt like a waste of his time discussing private information. Especially, if it's just because someone likes one of his girls, and not because of whatever they could do that was special. "Whatever... it's not enough. I'm done here..."

Eve tires to keep Moore attention. She couldn't give up now on know more about whatever this deal was involving the woman. "W- wait! What's a girl gotta do to get your lips to run? You've already intrigued me. Why back out now, after telling me all about it?"

'Stop this, Maestro.'

Grey's voice cut through like a doubtful inner-voice. Eve shouldn't be angering the suspect, or anything else she's doing.

Moore annoyingly waves off Eve and turns his attention away. He gave his last word before going back to the booth with the girl under his arm. "You're just a girl. This is nothing for you to meddle in. Think you can weasel into my business, because you're wanting something out of it?"

Eve flat out did. More than that suspect imagined. Trying to think of what she could give, besides the amount of money, Eve's eyes lit up with an idea. "Oh! How about a trade of sorts. I'll sing and work at your bar for free, for the girl. How about it?

You know what they say, curiosity killed the cat. And, Moore might not let Eve go, if he showed her. Seeing that this girl won't stop bugging him, the suspect finally gives in to Eve's demand. He just lets his fiery eyes ignite a sinister smirk on his face again. "Hm... Fine. I need more than just your word, but I'll give you a sneak peek, as interest..."

Moore gets close to the woman. He places a hand firmly on her shoulder, and leaning over the other shoulder speaking. "Ever hear about people with rare abilities?"

Eve's eyes light up, shocked. Of course, she would know about abilities, out of anyone there. But, the suspect also knew perhaps. She tried to play along to see where he was going. "Ah- abilities? I'd have to see it to believe it...." She lied.

Moore still felt annoyed, though he figured Eve to have not heard what powers, let alone have them. "Okay, fine. See here, then... You know what to do." He growls the last part in the woman's ear, she fidgets and shakes in fear.

'This is not good... If he's selling that girl, he's selling abilities....'

It seemed something much more sinister was happening. Moore has his hands on a lot of rare stuff, and making illegal businesses with a lot of secret items, information, and people too. Making his business far more dangerous than normal gangs.

The woman holds out her shaking hands slowly and Victor grabs them both tightly with one hand. He takes out a knife, and Eve jolts. He proceeds to cut the wrists of the scared woman. When Eve was expecting her blood to come out, it was a blue, shiny liquid oozing out. As the woman holds in her tears and a yelp, she brings her hands to her and cradles them as something feathery falls off of her. She then unraveled her hands and blue, crystal-like flowers and petals bloomed.

The suspect puts the knife away, and chuckles, looking over for Eve's reaction. "Isn't she beautiful?" Victor said.

Eve mutters quietly in shock. "Magic... crystal flowers?" Seeing what was exactly going on now, Eve's eyes twitched as she arose and waltzed up to them. She leans over to gaze at the woman closely, and with traces of sadness in Eve's eyes.

"Hmm... yes, very." Eve says plainly and unamused. She wasn't looking at the flowers, but at the girl. Eve's cover starts to break the more she gets angrier, but she tries not to show.

Eve had a new plan come to mind. One that was not her original mission, but a mission to help this woman. "Alright then... How much?"

'What?! MAESTRO, REFRAIN!! Don't accept ANY deals from that criminal!'

Grey tried to rebuttal, but Eve ignored him.

Moore smiles wickedly. "Heh, hundred thousand." He knew the price was way more than what Eve would have. It would be almost impossible for her to pay.

Eve's eyes went wide for a moment, hearing the price. Eve couldn't go through with it, only figure out another way to free the girl. "Psh, so expensive for a girl who's got a choice of her own too."

Eve scoffs, she pushes the man's shoulder and takes the woman's arm to bring her closer. "Can't she choose too?"

The suspect flings Eve's hand off the woman's, and pushes her away. He gets in her face, while he yells. "Hey! She can't, so get the hell away from her!"

Eve bravely goes back to the lady, this time holding her tightly so they wouldn't be parted so easily. She lifts the woman's chin to focus on Eve solely, and smirks, as if satisfied. "Hey, princess. Are you scared? Do you want me to help you out?" Eve paid no mind to the suspect, or anything, besides the woman.

The girl takes a large gasp and whispers, "P- please....", as softly as her trembling voice could allow.

'Maestro? Can you hear me?'

Eve did hear him, but she wasn't going to let him stop her. Moore tries to free Eve's grip from the woman to no avail. Eve chuckles to herself, then looks and smirks at the suspect. "Heh... It's settled. This woman... is coming with me." Eve said simply and plan, for such a tall order.

Moore had enough of Eve's nosy questions and ridiculous ideas. "Like hell, you're gonna take her. You're getting on my last, fucking, nerve." He pulls out a gun and points it at Eve's forehead. She looks at him with the same plain and cold expression.

Even when staring down a barrel pointed to her head, Eve was calm. Rather annoyed, but calm given her life being threatened. "I'll be taking her with me no matter what..."

Eve looks down, and then throws a stool at the suspect. She also throws one over the bar at the bartender. While they try to evade it, Eve grabs the woman a bit forcefully, so that she's embracing the woman tightly. Then, suddenly disappearing into a flash of light that darted across the room. She tucked the woman hostage under a table for protection, then darted back.

Moore regains, and looks around for Eve. She just then ran along the edge of the bar, acting as a diversion for the innocent girl. The suspect aims his gun, but then Eve dives behind the bar. The bartender rushes over to her huddled, but gets immediately kicked over to the other side of the counter.

The suspect yells at top volume. "What the-?! Everyone! Over here, and kill this stupid bitch!"

As if she hadn't already drawn attention to herself, now security and thugs are rushing over to them. She couldn't use too much magic, or her abilities. At least normal patrons were fleeing, with a few left a part of Moore's gang. Still, she could only try to fight with whatever she had up her sleeve.

In that case, Eve reached for her utility belt and grabbed a few fire capsules. A group of thugs ran behind the bar and saw Eve hiding. Eve ran out from behind the counter and threw fire capsules onto the ground. The flames roared up, and the suspect, along with a few others rushing Eve, then retreated away from the vibrant fires.

The suspect aims again through the flames, but Eve lunges out, fluidly taking out a bo staff and disarms him quickly. The fires move around Eve, even though they had no effect under her control regardless. She didn't want to ruin the act yet.

Commotion and uproar are as loud as the roaring flames. Eve swiftly spins and dodges at ongoing attacks, along with a swirling fire around her like a barrier. Fire twirled around her staff, and Eve combated the onslaught of people.

Eve got a blow to the face that left her dazed for a moment. She couldn't regain her stance. The fires disparate as Eve suddenly stops her control. After a few missed dodges, Eve kept getting hit and knew she needed to take control quickly.

One goon unfolded a pocket knife and swiped repeatedly at Eve. Eve threw a capsule right between her feet, and she was able to draw the others away again. With Eve outnumbered, dozens to one, and with little magic she was using. Eve tried her best to hold her ground. At least everyone was so focused on her, the hostage was slowly fleeing, whenever the coast was clear. At least Eve was saving the girl.

Moore yells, with something oddly in his enraged eyes. "ENOUGH!!"

Moore didn't have his gun out, but he ran and tried to make a break for Eve. She bats a fist away from the suspect, when suddenly his hands turned black, and the sleeve she was holding practically melted away in her hand.

Eve leaps away, shocked. Looking at the suspect, his arms were uncovered, turning black, with dark plumes of dark smoke coming from his eyes. They stand apart, till Victor decides to make another try at attacking Eve. She can just tell, she didn't want to touch his arms. Or, her gloves and appendages would burn right off. She makes sure to attack lower, so she won't get badly injured.

Eve also couldn't hold out without using her powers now. In a flash of light, any swipe or punch Victor threw, Eve dodged. She swipes down low at the suspect's feet, and he falls. Eve was about to knock him unconscious, till footsteps sounded too close behind. She turns as more of Moore's thugs come running in to help their boss.

Eve quickly jumps back and holds out her hands. She suddenly glows, and her hands make a ring, and blast a grouped-up pack following. They all fell to the ground, but we're still conscious. Eve fans her hands away from each other, sending light-beams around the bar.

Victor Moore exhaled a tired and fed-up gasp. He sits, then stagers up. Eve suddenly flashed by him like a shooting star. Moore processed what was going on, then baffled. "What... THE HELL?!"

Eve looks back and scoffs at the suspect. "Ha! You have a power too? I got unlimited... You won't stand a chance."

Moore grit his teeth, venomously spouting. "One touch and your whole arm will disintegrate! Fucking try me bitch!" He tries to run after Eve, as she's flying around the room.

'MAESTRO!!'

Grey finally interrupts, seeing that Eve's getting way over her head challenging the whole bar and bar owner. He was about to run in, or leap through the window. something, anything to get Eve out. Eve wasn't responding to Grey, he couldn't be much help with her ignoring him.

The suspect rushes at her with his toxic arms. Eve suddenly halts and confidently stands her ground, challenging him. "Oh, try to touch me. Fat-chance you can get near me." She then throws out her stone figures, and they all form a wall in front of her, along with a bit of smoke.

Moore continues to run in, grabbing at a tall stone figure, and watching it stay motionless. Its reactionless state initially shocked him. He kept his hands gripping the statue's shoulders as it slowly started to decompose thin layers of the stone's surface. Till, the stone statue grabbed the suspect suddenly, and held him up by his shirt collar.

The suspect became scared, grabbing the stone figure's wrists with his hands so that they would let go. But, it didn't easily till the wrists Moore was making contact with started to crack. Then, the statue threw Moore as far as it could across the bar.

The group of statues disburses, charging and attacking thugs. Eve jumps onto a table still standing upright, and calls out the suspect, as he's achingly standing back up. "Hey!! So you like flowers? Why don't I show you more!!"

Eve takes a leap and topples onto one guy and runs off. She slides on the floor, wiping a petal that was in a small pile on the ground from the woman. Eve halts, and places it on the ground again. She suddenly feels a large surge of power and places both hands on the floor. The ground beneath her shook slightly and a layer of blue crystals sheeted the ground and trailed into a curved tree-like figure sprouting from the ground up. It suddenly continues to cover the floor in a bigger circle around the base of the tree, trapping feet and anything on the floor around it.

Eve screams angrily, and it's as if her voice was cracking and shattering the tree, shards of crystals were sent as projectiles toward enemies. Eve roars in outrage. "How DARE you trade this girl. She's not an object! I'm taking you all in. You'll be arrested for buying information from hackers, and selling girls with powers!"

The gang started to lessen, given most were running away. A few people ran up to Moore. It seemed to Eve that they were trying to get the suspect to leave.

Eve ran after them, screaming as she tried to catch up. "You're not going ANYWHERE!! Get back here!"

Eve throws more fire capsules onto the ground, then disburses the flames far to form a large circle around the group. Everyone inside the circle, including the suspect, was trapped. No one could escape the colorful hellfire, moving statues now surrounding them, or Eve running in the center of the ring, who was controlling it all. She was throwing all her tricks out to fight. She keeps her statues close so that their brute strength could take on the crowd if she was getting swarmed in a tight ring.

With all the enemies still remaining, people started attacking, multiple at a time. Eve and her statues try to fight them off. Unfortunately, Eve got hit a few more times, with everyone too close to the counter. She swipes at one, but another punches Eve right in the face, again. She took a step back and had a statue behind her protect her as she was falling back a bit. She spits out an iron taste from her mouth coming from a now open cut on her lip.

Eve crushes a capsule in her hand so that flames swirled around her, so she was untouchable. Eve taunts them by spinning around to dodge, and weaving through enemies while setting them aflame. Eve yells, with the bitter fiery in her veins. "... You make me sick. Criminals like you should be locked up!" Surprisingly, it seemed just a lone, ability-user single-handedly overthrew the whole gang slowly. The gang now fought a downhill battle.

The flames grew, a bit too much. Fire started on the ground, then traveled to curtains, chairs, and the whole structure, till it was burning up. Everyone was or had run away. Many shouted and panicked. One voice here from a thug yelled. "RUN!! Bust the windows before this place burns up!"

The smoke and flames had caused everyone to escape to safety. Eve couldn't chase them all, but she could at least try to arrest the main suspect. Eve's eyes glowed and her heartbeat slowly stopped. Suddenly, she wasn't breathing, yet she was still functioning as if normal. As if breathing was no longer required, and she didn't need to breathe in the contaminated air.

Eve was about to run after the main suspect when a small voice caught Eve's attention. It was the hostage that the suspect had around them.

The same woman was behind the bar as everything around her was on fire, the flames threading closer to her. She couldn't get off the ground it seemed. The smoke and heat were causing her to almost blackout. "H- help...." The woman closed her eyes after using all her strength to speak.

Eve halts and spins right back into the raging fire, flying over to the woman. Eve crouches down and bats the flames away with a powerful gust around them. Eve lifts up the girl slowly. The woman couldn't move or even properly breathe.

Eve didn't breathe as she kept using her power to lack the need for air. Eve could still speak a little, which only sounded like a whisper against the flames. "I'm sorry for getting you in harm's way. Please, Miss. Hold on just a bit longer."

Eve decided to pick up the woman and carry her in her arms. Looking at the surroundings, the exit door was trapped in fallen debris. She had to look for another exit or any route out like the others. She charged for the closest window, which sadly wasn't an already broken one, but it was the quickest way out. Eve crashes through and lands on the ground. She tried to make sure the woman didn't get the ground's impact. The woman started to cough, and gasp for clean air. Luckily she was okay, Eve was relieved.

As Eve tries to get up, along with helping up the woman that was on top of her. Eve continues to carry the woman. She walked around to the front of the building with the suspect in her arms still, as the building was slowly going down in flames. She hears footsteps running over as she turns the corner of the building. It was Grey. He gasped, and let out a relieved, tired sigh. "Oh my GOD, Maestro!!"

Eve didn't process fast enough, as she stared blankly for a moment till Grey rushed over to her side. Backup had arrived and surrounded the scene up front, thanks to Grey's doing. Vans rounded up affiliated suspects. Hopefully an ambulance was on sight as well. With the hostage weak in her arms, Eve needed to get the woman immediate medical attention.

Grey puts a heavy hand on Eve's shoulder, and lowers his head down. "You're alright...." He let out another relieved exhale.

Eve looked down, she went against Grey's warnings, yet he wasn't yelling at her. "I'm so sorry, Agent Grey. I put myself and a victim in danger. I promised not to-" Eve looks over the woman's head to see Victor restrained and sitting on the ground.

"Oh... you caught him! Thank the stars!" Eve beamed, happy, and relieved herself. She had worried the suspect was going to get away.

The suspect looks up at Eve, highly annoyed, as he's suddenly forced up by S.O.U officers, and walks to the squad cars. Outside the flaming building, backup had waited and was gathering all the escaping suspects. No one ended up being able to escape after all. It ended unexpectedly alright. With only property damage, no fatalities, and all were being arrested on sight.

Grey glares at Eve impatiently, with his tension building up. He snaps at Eve. "Grr... Put the girl down already!! I need to make sure you're both okay!" Grey couldn't think about anything but Eve's condition right now. His partner had just been cornered by bad guys in a burning building, and she's acting as if nothing happened.

Eve blinks surprised, indeed seeming oblivious to her own injuries. "Oh... sure. I feel fine though. How about you, Miss? Can you stand?" She asked the woman facing her. Eve wanted to make sure the lady was alright first, before trying to stand. Eve didn't check for anything broken yet.

The woman's face became flushed, wildly blushing, and stumbles in her words. Her eyes were now wide, staring at Eve. "Ye- ahem- yes..." She coughed, from the aftermath of the smoke in her lungs. Her voice sounded a little irritated and dry.

Eve carefully put the girl down. The hostage wobbled, then stood. With the woman out of Eve's arms, Grey's able to get close to his partner. He grabs Eve's shoulders to face him. "Look at me... You're lucky you got out particularly unscathed besides some cuts and bruises... Jeez! Don't do that again, you hear me?!" Grey looks at Eve's disheveled state, and the more he did, he got more snappy.

Whether it was the adrenaline, or that it was over with, Eve giggles. She decided to give a wide, toothy smile. "I'll try, I'll try~ Luckily, everything worked out in the end!"

Eve felt something trickle down her face. She presses a hand to her cheek and sees a bit of blood. She did hurt and ache everywhere, but it was like she was able to tolerate it. It just became uncomfortable, and worth the sacrifice of her own well-being.

Grey rubs his face tiredly, then stares back down at Eve and wipes her cheek, and cleans her lip with his shirt sleeve. Grey huffs frustrated. "God, you're so unbelievable... Listen to me next time. And, get out when it's too dangerous!"

Grey frees Eve's cheek, and she blinks widely, flashing her big blue eyes. "But! I'm so 'unbelievably' good at my work, right? Hehe, just trying to lighten the situation." Eve smiles like an innocent child. Grey tries his best not to have his head burst from frustration.

The woman that had been around the suspect came up to the partner agents. "Um... Miss? Th- thank you, f- for saving I- me. I- I can't thank you enough or... pay you back for it. B- but, I'm so sorry for getting myself trapped there...."

Grey focuses back at the girl, coolly. He responds, sternly asking the woman to explain. "Could you tell us a bit why you were there?"

Getting nervous again, the hostage jolted at Grey's question. She sheepishly answered still, being honest, though she didn't want to reflect on it. "He was keeping an eye on me, so I wouldn't escape. I heard the man sold women, some had powers like me... He then kept threatening me to be sold off, or have my arms burned off, if I misbehaved... Like others that tried to run..." Her eyes go into pure shock as they flush with tears. Her tears were a special wonder too. They looked like blue pearls that floated down weightlessly and bubbled on the ground.

Eve looks down at the pearls, then back up at her. Eve tried to give her a smirk, but it physically hurt a bit too. "Well, you're too good for a man like that, now aren't you? You truly do have a beautiful power. You have the ability to make Crystal Philiris flowers, also known as soul flowers. You make a natural ingredient for spells and potions, it's hard to find those naturally, nowadays. Also, I don't think they saw how purposeful you really are. No one knows how to use those flowers besides 'magicians'."

The woman looks utterly confused. Although she heard her clearly, she didn't understand what Eve meant. Of course, the woman knows nothing about magic or what she can make exactly. "A... what flower? F- for who?"

Eve realized she was getting too excited, and over her head. Eve nervously waves her hands frantically, explaining. "Sorry, probably confusing to spout random stuff... It's rare and very useful for good things. They missed that part when seeing your ability, just how special you TRULY are."

The woman gets close to Eve, almost pleading. "I- I can give you as many flowers as I can make, I- if they're that important!"

Eve jolts back a bit surprised. She then scratches the back of her head and thinks aloud while looking off into space. "Oh, my... I might ask you for 'one' if I need it for something. They are really expensive, or daunting to make... B- but regardless, what I mean to say is that we don't need flowers, but a moment of your time. We need you to come with us for questioning regarding what happened. This information and event are part of a classified case, since this is secretive information from most of the world. Powers are to be hidden, because they can cause, or attract dangers. You're not in trouble, but maybe you'll have to start a new life, to prevent this ever happening again..."

The woman was speechless. She stood there as more pearls streamed down from her eyes, not from fear, but from finally being free again. The overwhelming events had gotten to her. Finally able to process things, but still scared of the unknown of what will happen next. She was freed, but what was after, the woman had no idea.

To Eve, and Grey's surprise, the woman suddenly stumbles close to Eve again. The woman held her chest tightly, face lit up at Eve's. "I- I'm so sorry you were h- hurt because of me... Y- you're my hero." She sweeps, although afraid, there was relief in her sad sighs.

Eve's eyes go wide and mouth agape. She shakes her head suddenly and then coughs into her fist, trying to act cool. "-?! I- it's nothing. You looked so scared back there... You're just an innocent bystander that didn't deserve any of this. I'm sorry you had to experience all of that."

Even Grey looks weirdly between them, feeling like a third wheel to something. But, all three went to the first responders to get aid for both Eve and the woman. All the thugs and the suspect that ran were contained and quickly fled the scene silently in squad vans and cars. Grey took a work car they used to take the woman to the hospital, to talk further about what happened.

___________________________________________________

The agents had interrogated the witness, she easily complied with Eve, before dozing off after an eventful evening. The woman from the incident was already asleep, and recovering quickly in a special agency hospital for the night. After questioning Victor Moore, they take him to a containment cell, in the prison ward below the building.

Although this case was coming to a close, Eve didn't hear the last say from Grey about her actions. Both Grey and Eve just clocked off from a late shift, leaving the unit back to the apartments.

Grey shouts, even though Eve was right next to him, he wanted her to feel his fury. "When I say refrain, that means refrain! Don't you ever pick a fight with another suspect alone! You hear me?! What if you died?! You could have gotten burned to death, or paralyzed!..."

Grey went on, and on, walking back as they reached the elevator inside their apartment. Eve chose to not use run to the stairs like she usually does. She could walk up to the higher floors, not well, but she contemplated as Grey kept scolding her.

Eve tiredly replied, combing her hair with her fingers so that it was less gelled. "Again... I can control flames, but yes, I completely understand..."

Grey looks away and crosses his arms as he huffs angrily. "The building could have, bloody, collapsed on you! And also!... I'm so sorry that this was my fault..." He looked down as his voice became saddened, and his gaze dropped.

Eve whips her head to Grey. "Huh- what?"

Grey faces Eve, even though a part of him didn't want to. His expression was also dreary as he spoke. "It's my fault you were there in the first place on your own. I pushed you to go...."

Eve gawks surprised but then waves her fist angrily. "Wha- THEN WHY ARE YOU YELLING AT ME?!"

Grey waves his arms out ironically the same. Shouting at the same volume. "BECAUSE YOU STILL COULD HAVE DIED!!"

They argued to Grey's floor, Eve held the door open for them to keep yelling at top volume, even departing.

Eve lightly places a hand on her heart, and the other waves away from her. "LOOK!! I'M FINE!! SO LEAVE IT FOR NOW!!" She didn't look fine, but it might have been the adrenaline that was still running through her.

Grey just left it at that, so that they could stop standing around arguing. "Your- you- grr... FINE! But be ready for tomorrow, because you're not leaving my sight till further notice." He practically growled the whole time with his teeth grinding in frustration.

Grey had a deadly presence to him. Anger, now brooding on their whole fight. His voice was raspy and snarling as if he were a wild animal. His eyes were cold yet so full of anger. A look any other agent, or anyone besides Eve, would be cowering terrified. She wasn't and had never been afraid of her partner. Besides his order for her to leave Japan, nothing he did intimidated her.

Eve scoffs, and then shouts at Grey, mimicking him as a child would. "FINE! I've had enough of you nagging for one night. I need to check on Sam. Goodnight...." She mumbled a lot quieter. Then, Eve stopped holding up the doors, and she crossed her arms annoyed. At least she can get Grey off her back now.

Grey realized something after her last statement and turned facing the elevators again. "Oh-? W- wait!" Grey lunges quickly and catches the door from almost closing. He instantly slides it back open, to Eve's discretion.

Eve looks at him surprised. But, Eve then became annoyed and snapped. "What?!"

Grey doesn't snap back, but his voice drew out a bit sorrowful again. "Sam... will see your bruises and will know something happened. You're still hurt."

As if she had forgotten, Eve took a beating. "Oh, right..." Eve assumed, Grey could tell she doesn't like worrying Sameer. She had almost forgotten about her visible injuries.

Grey turns back around. He doesn't look away but just starts walking. "...Quickly, I'll just patch you up, then be done with for tonight."

Eve steps out of the elevator and follows Grey. Grey stops halfway through the hall, and Eve halts suddenly. Eve didn't know what room, or even floor until now.

Grey unlocks his door and holds the door out for Eve. Eve looked around when entering. Of course, there was a lot of grey. But, most of his furniture was white and black, with a grey kitchen, and grey wallpaper.

Eve turns to Grey, also not knowing where to go or sit. She makes light conversation, which didn't really seem appropriate given the circumstances. "Oh. First time being in your apartment. It's nice...."

He wasn't looking to show Eve a house tour. He just wanted the quickest place to patch his partner up. Grey walks to his kitchen and searches a cabinet under his sink. Grey spoke as he was occupied with getting her a first aid kit. "Well, thanks... I guess. Here... I'll just sterilize and ice. Cover it with bandages at least for the night. I'm sorry, but please take off your jacket and roll up those er-... weird sleeves..." Grey walks over, looking at Eve again in her torn up disguise.

Eve luckily didn't have many cuts on her body, mostly just lots of bruising all over. Some were open and bleeding slightly. First responders only cleaned her face up and checked her for anything severe. Yet, after some time Eve's skin opened back up and was bleeding much less than before. It still was enough to be contaminated by the open air. Grey starts by cleaning up Eve's face. He tries to move to Eve's jaw, lightly turning her head. Something loud pops, and she sneers in pain.

"Jeez...." Grey sighs, now just ghosting his hand over Eve's jaw to check her. "Are you sure you're okay...? We can check with a doctor if you might have a concussion..."

Eve closed one eye cringing from the sudden pain. It wasn't that bad compared to her injuries, however. "Yeah, I'm fine. Things are just throbbing like crazy."

Grey tiredly scoffed at his partner. It was her reckless decisions that got her hurt. "Seriously, be more careful next time. I was this close to running in there after you at so many points, but with backup, and you causing a ruckus-... Please, Eve. Just don't try that again." He sighed, and moped the last part, looking away.

Eve jumps up from her seat, and cheers happily. "I will~!"

Grey takes hold of Eve's chin lightly, then tries to speak. "Hold your face still... you're making this difficult." Something, or someone, was making it much harder to clean her up as she moved around.

Eve moves from Grey's hand and attempts to grab the antiseptic, and gauze from him. "Hehehe, I'll just do it. You're tickling me too much, with how gentle you're being."

Grey huffs, pulling the cotton and kit away from Eve. "Well, I was TRYING to make sure it didn't sting too much."

Eve rolls her eyes at Grey, and chuckles doubtfully. "Heh, please... I just got ganged up in a fight to save a girl, I've dealt with machines knocking me down so many times, and rebels have cornered me before. A little bit of stinging is nothing, and you can do whatever you need..."

Eve then closes her eyes, sitting as still as she could with her lips relaxed, and head tilted upwards. Of course, she's positioning her head still so she can get help cleaning the bleeding on her face. Grey took a moment, observing her soft yet bruised features. He spends a moment longer looking at her hurt cheek, her cut lips, and her heavy lashes that covered her eyes.

Then, Grey goes back to thoroughly cleaning and dressing Eve's wounds. He puts a patch on her cheek, and leaves the one on her lip, hoping she won't open it anymore. Grey keeps his hand under Eve's chin, looking at her fair face contrasted with smeared makeup, and dark welts under cuts and bruises. Eve had been through a lot tonight.

Grey suddenly gets up and walks off to the other side of the room with the first aid. "Oh- okay. Get some rest, and we'll talk in the morning...." And with that, they were finished.

Eve didn't seem to mind her cautious partner, and sees herself out. She turns and a small smirk forms on one side of her face. "Thanks, Grey. I'll use a healing water when I get back. Goodnight...."

Eve walked up the stairs slowly at her own pace. She passed a few floors till she got to hers, and thought. She wondered how the mission would have gone differently. She didn't know if what she did was good, or bad.

Eve opens her door and Sam is right there to greet her. Before he could really tell, Eve instantly greets him, a bit raspy and tired even though she was being cheerful. "Hey Sam... I kind of had a crazy day, but I'm alright! Got in a bit of a fight with an enemy but we got him." She smiled at Sameer while watching for his reaction.

Eve sits down so she could pet Sameer's head. He suddenly got on his back two legs and sat upwards and onto Eve's shoulders gently. He licks Eve's face and one of her hands that was bandaged from being cut by some broken glass.

"Sam?!- hehe, ahaha! Stop, that tickles! Haha, cut it out! I'm alright Sam, I'm right here, all in one piece!" Eve smiles and brings her furry friend into a big hug.

A lot has happened since Eve became an agent, and Sam still couldn't get past when Eve was hurt. He couldn't stand it if Eve were to get hurt as bad, or worse than tonight's fiasco. Sameer's never seen her so beaten up. But, she was still smiling, and still alright. Still there to greet Sam, wake up with, and eat with. Sameer is happy, and relieved he gets to experience it all, for another day, and more. Eve was right there after all, and all that mattered was that they were together again. 

[cursestothemoon]

yay for the open requests! I really reallyyyyyy love your Harry's older sister hc, could u pretty pls do more? like their brief life as a family with lily and james, then to the dursleys and then at war, so on. I agree with the anon that did the request, harry does needed a bigger sister❤️

aH I LOVED THESE REQUESTS

YOU GUYS CAN READ THE HEADCANONS THIS ANON IS TALKING ABOUT HERE

ok so this is L O N G i need to add a keep reading tab

alright so let's talk about harry's older sister

so lily and james did not plan you

they were straight out of hogwarts

just having fun

and suddenly lily is having morning sickness and james running into a store to buy a pregnancy test (or whatever the wizard equivalent would be 😗)

james would be so nervous the weeks leading up to your birth

he already knows that you aren't even here yet and there isn't anything he wouldn't do for you

and when you are born

he swears he'd never love anything as much as he loves you

his little girl

this sweet little lump of baby fat that was born with eyes just like his

he'd put his glasses on your little baby face, and he could laugh for hours at the way they just barely sat on your little nose (a miniature version of his)

your chubby little baby hands are his favorite

when you'd plan your hands on his face or wrap your hand around his finger he'd melt

Lily would joke all the time about how she carried the baby yet James is constantly hogging her

I think james would have some serious separation anxiety

Lily would also have trouble leaving you to go do something but she knew that you getting to see other people would be good

james is NOT a fan

and you were a big daddy's girl

"it's going to be alright, darling, uncle Padfoot and uncle Moony will take care of you."

and you'd respond with sad baby talk, something along the lines of 'daddy' and 'wanna stay with you' and you'd get all teary eyed

it's a whole dramatic scene

youre crying

james is about to cry

Sirius is quite literally trying to sob silently into his hand because you just look so sAD

and remus and lily are just

😐

because you guys do this eVERY TIME

there was one time james got back into the car with lily after dropping you off and he was unusually quiet until he kinda just whispered out

"It just feels like i'll never have enough time with her, like one day i'll wake up and suddenly she's not mine anymore."

his tone gave Lily the worst chills, his tone and the fact that she felt the same though never voiced it

honestly

i don't think harry was planned either

he kinda just happened

and they were like

you know what, yes.

so you were two when harry was born

and you LOVED your baby brother

he was so small

so cute

and he had your mum's green eyes

from the get go you were very protective of your little brother

james thought it was the cutest thing

ok ive been avoiding it

but we need to talk about October 31 1981

you were upstairs with our mum and harry

james was downstairs cleaning up from dinner

that was when there was a knock on the door

assuming it was peter, uncle wormtail, james was quick to go open the door

grabbing his wand for protection was the last thing on his mind

the thud of his body was loud

he was killed before he could even open his mouth to warn Lily

the door to Harry's nursery flew open and it all happened so fast

there was screaming

bargaining

a sudden flash fo green before Voldemort turned to harry

his cold, pale hand pushed you out of his way

the prophecy had said nothing about you, so he didn't care for what happened to you he just needed to kill harry

which obviously backfired

half the house was blown up

he was gone

harry was crying

and you just wanted your dad

you found your way downstairs, just barely making it down the steps

lily and james had never let you go up or down the steps on your own

only to come face to face with your dad just lying on the ground motionless

his eyes were still open

now i want you guys to think of the lion king

you know the scene where simba finds mufasa's dead body and just lays with it because he doesn't know where else to go

you just wanted any kind of comfort you could find

so with tear streaks going down your face you slayed next to your dad, getting as close as you could, hoping he'd just wake up

sirius is the one who finds you, asleep next to james' body

it was rather rough for sirius

and he could hear harry crying somewhere upstairs

you wake up to uncle padfoot trying to keep in his tears as he takes in the scene before him

you're just glad to see a familiar face

you run over to him, tears freshly falling as you wail about how daddy and mommy won't wake up

you also gently pull james' glasses off his face and keeping them in your small hand

keeping them safe for him later

you knew he didn't like to sleep with his glasses on

eventually hagrid shows up

you guys know the story

but i will say

it takes a lot for you to leave uncle pads and go with this big strange man

youre basically heaving as you beg to stay with sirius

and forcing you off his hip and onto the bike with hagrid was the worst thing he's ever had to do

even for a two year old, youre eyes held such a strong emotion of betrayal

sirius would never forget it

the dursley's were not fond of you and harry

you had james temper and stubbornness

harry was just a 6 month old baby

doing 6 month old baby things

for the first month you'd ask for james, lily, uncle moony, uncle padfoot, even uncle wormtail on a daily basis

until one day petunia just snapped

you had asked about sirius, or as you called him uncle padfoot, and petunia lost it

she started to shout, her hand coming out to strike your cheek as she told you that no one was coming

not now

not ever

you never asked after that

over time you forgot about sirius and remus and peter

you forgot about the song your dad would sing every saturday morning when making breakfast

or the way your mom would hum when she brushed your hair

all lily and james had become were familiar scents and the same pair of eyes you'd see in your dreams (though for a long time you just assumed they were your eyes, they looked enough like yours)

and you grew up always feeling like you were on the wrong side of a billowing curtain

you and harry grew up only having each other

you were very protective of him

and dudley hated it

because you had James art for pranks

and his art for rarely getting caught

unfortunately for you petunia and vernon didn't need evidence to incriminate you

you were often on the receiving end of disciplinary swats and missed meals

and you'd often take harry's punishments for him

you and harry were also forced to share a room

or cupboard

you let him decorate it with all his things (he didn't have many)

and you guys shared a bed up until you got your hogwarts letter

which that was kept very quiet

you got the letter

and petunia and vernon were just glad to be able to send you and your pranks away

you weren't allowed to tell harry

but you did anyway

secretly

you didn't tell him all the details but you told him that you were going to a school far away and you'd be back whenever aunt petunia let you back

going to school was interesting

you didn't know anyone

bUT HAGRID WAS ALSO THERE TO HELP YOU AND BUY YOU YOURE STUFF AND HE BOUGHT YOU YOUR FIRST WAND

you still have james' glasses

you put them on when youre nervous

so youre sitting in the train

first day

you don't know anyone

big round glasses sitting on your nose as you look out the window barely able to see what's going on

james was as blind as a bat

on the train you spend your time reading your new books

absorbing all the material

you were not going to just walk into this new school of mAGIC not knowing aNYTHING

by the time you got there you were at leas base level with most subjects

some were easier to catch onto than others

as long as you didn't let the logical side of your brain do too much work

within the first week you'd find out about your parents

curtesy of older gryffindor kids who knew your last name and were just amazed by the story

oH ALSO YOURE IN GRYFFINDOR

AND WHEN MCGONAGALL READS YOUR NAME SHE GASPS TO HERSELF

BECAUSE

Y/N POTTER

she remembers when james had written to her with the news of Lily's pregnancy with you

and how he was nervous you'd come out just like him and he wouldn't be able to handle you as well as she had, he was asking her for advice

and when you walked up to sit on the chair she nearly dropped her scroll of parchment and pulled you into a hug

you looked just like him

dark hair

pale skin

same eyes and eye shape

and same habit of picking at the skin around your thumb nail when nervous

the hat announcing you were a gryffindor was very overwhelming for her

then she realizes you

are e x a c t l y

like james

and merlin is she tiRED OF THIS SHIT

ok so at this point i am going to direct you to the other headcanon (linked above) if you want a more fred x reader approach 

continue here if not

so youre on the quidditch team

and youre a natural 

let me tell you

you just have the innate ability 

much like james

and at first they had you as a seeker

and you were good

but you excelled as a chaser 

i also firmly believed that there was a practice broom that james had carved his name into

or maybe just a ‘J.P.’

that was the broom you'd practice on

even use for games before you got your own broom

ok so

let’s talk your relationship with harry 

you made sure you were the one to tell him what happened to your parents

as i said it was your first year when you fond out about what happened 

the gryffindor student had told you what they knew

and you went to professor mcgonagall pretty distraught 

you were near tears as you practically begged her to just tell you what happened, you wanted the truth 

because all your life your aunt and uncle had told you that your parents had been killed in a car accident 

needless to say 

you didn't want harry to find out that way

but you also knew he was noticing the stares

the whispers

so you told him on the first night

he had already been put into gryffindor and was getting ready for bed when you are up to his dorm 

bECAUSE IT’S CANON THAT GIRLS CAN GO UP INTO THE BOYS DORMS AND BOYS CANT GO UP INTO THE GIRLS DORMS AND I WILL CITE THE PARAGRAPH IF ANYONE NEEDS

and you kinda push out ron, neville, and dean 

but yeah thats how he finds out all the details and such 

ok so you and harry are sUPER CLOSE

and you are very 

v e r y

protective of harry 

you'd do anything for the kid 

wHEN YOU FIND OUT ABOUT THE WHOLE SORCERER’S STONE FIASCO 

YOU ARE LIVID

because harry is your baby brother and you love him so much and don't like seeing him hurt 🥺

as harry grows older he gets a bit more

embarrassed 

about having you protective over him

and im pretty sure i mentioned this in the last headcanon post 

but yeah he’d be like 14 and you'd be 17 and he'd just

“stOP this is so emBARRASSING”

what a little dweeb

ok leTS TALK ABOUT SIRIUS 

BECAUSE YOU AND SIRIUS WERE CLOSE WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER

HE WAS UNCLE PADFOOT

YOU LOVED HIM

until your fifth year (harry’ third) when you were told he betrayed your parents and got them killed 

youre in the whomping willow when with harry, hermione, and ron 

its a lot for both of you

because sirius is seeing his goddaughter who looks just like james, and his the same fire in her eyes as his bestrfriend

his b r o t h e r 

and youre seeing the man who was responsible for your parents murder 

again 

it was A LOT

i have a feeling you, JAMES POTTERS DAUGHTER, would just lunge at him 

and youre crying

trying to hit him

hurt him like he hurt you

just anything to bring pain upon this man

and sirius is having flashbacks of when you had ran to him from next to james’ lifeless body 

and how different everything had been just days prior to October 31 1981

upon finding out the truth 

scammers is now wormtail

peter ‘little bitch ass’ pettigrew

you and harry are immediately forming this connection

this sort of dependency on sirius 

within a few minutes

because he is the only living connection you have to your dad 

apart from yourselves of course

but eh was the only reminder that james potter was a real man 

and lily potter did exist 

and there was a time where your family was complete 

it never crossed your mind that any more misfortune could strike 

not now 

not when you finally got back your uncle pads

and then you guys walk into the moonlight, the full moon light

everything flips instantly 

you guys are back to square one 

i like to think you have a very big part in getting sirius free 

so you guys know what happen in between prisoner of azkaban and order of the phoenix 

and this headcanon is already getting very long and we haven't even gotten to the wAR YET 

so we are doing a little time jump

order of the phoenix 

your last year

you are living with sirius in grimmauld place 

petunia and vernon kicked you out once you turned 17 after finding out that was the legal age in the wizarding world

you and sirius are close 

super close

i mean he is like a father figure to you

he is uncle pads again

oOO AND OK 

SO 

AFTER FINDING OUT HIS DAD AND HIS BROS 😤

WERE ALL UNREGISTERED ANIMAGI 

OBVIOUSLY YOU WANTED TO BE ONE TOO 

youre a gazelle 

it just makes sense

father figure sirius is not happy when he finds out

uncle pads, however, couldn't be happier

its finally starting to feel like a family again

you and harry have sirius 

aLSO REMUS

icon

anyway

everything is falling into place

you and harry are filling the james sized hole in Sirius’ heart (not completely but it’s better)

and he is doing the same for you two

you and harry love your uncle pads

then the battle in the department of mysteries happens 

youre there

you see it 

you watch as bellatrix hits sirius with a curse 

youre not sure which 

nothing too serious you hope, and seeing that he’s still standing he should be fine 

but then he stumbles

she's stunned him perhaps 

and he makes eye contact with you

there was a look so final, so sad

yet so relieved in his eyes as you watched him fall through the veil

remus grabbed harry

tonks held you

if she hadn’t been you knew you would've thrown yourself into the veil after him

its a whirlwind from then on let me tell you

so we know what happens

all that fun stuff 

the war hits

harry, hermione, and ron leave

youre left with the weasley’s 

it’s hard being away from harry

not knowing if he was ok

if he was even alive 

you guys finally reunite at shell cottage 

bill calls you the second he sees harry, hermione, ron, and dobby apparate in front of his house

you were quick to pull harry into a bone crushing hug 

keen on never letting go 

because after all he is still (and always will be) your baby brother 

you guys are all at the battle of hogwarts

oK WAIT

SO

YOU REFUSE TO LET HARRY WALK TO HIS DEATH ALONE

ALSO YOUVE FIGURED WHAT HE PLANS ON DOING BUT NEITHER OF YOU HAVE SAID ANYTHING

NOT WANTING TO ACCEPT THAT THIS COULD BE THE LAST TIME YOU GUYS SEE EACH OTHER 

AND THE RESURRECTION STONE COMES OUT 

BOTH YOU AND HARRY ARE HOLDING ONTO IT 

AND SUDDENLY

SIRIUS 

REMUS 

THERE ALL THERE 

EVEN A WOMAN WITH RED HAIR 

AND A MAN WHO LOOKS PAINFULLY FAMILIAR 

ok so hear me out 

i think harry enjoyed looking at pictures of james and lily

but you didnt

you didnt want to see everything that was taken from you

so you weren’t super aware of what your dad actually looked like seeing as you avoided pictures of him and your mom like the plague 

but you just knew 

and james was standing there

beaming

and he just looked so proud of you and harry 

so did lily 

she was the first one to say something 

“Your father and I are so proud of the both of you”

and you just broke down 

james right there with you 

he watched as you sobbed, choking on your cries 

and he couldn’t do anything about it 

he couldn’t hold you or comfort you

he couldn’t be a dad 

and it broke him

as much as it could break a dead man 

“you’ve grown so beautiful, darling” he'd smile sadly

his voice seemed to bring back all of your memories once lost 

“have you always been here, with us?”

“always.”

“typical, your father shows up and everyone forgets about uncle padfoot”

both you and harry laugh at that 

but the mood was somber 

harry then speaks up

“does it hurt?”

it was the first time either of you had confirmed that you both knew what was going to happen 

“dying? not at all, quicker than falling asleep.”

“will you stay with me?”

“until the very end. 

james is the one who answers, looking teary eyes at his son

and you know you cant go any further 

harry has to do this alone 

its quite symbolic actually 

the one time you'd let go of the reigns 

removed the protective arms you had around your baby brother 

he’d die 

but you had to do it 

so everything goes as planned 

harry dies

comes back

we love a resurrecting king 

and the war ends 

when you got back home from the war 

let’s say you are still living at grimmauld place seeing as it was left to you 

the first thing you do is go through old photos with harry 

any and everything you can get your hands on 

you see your mother’s sparkling green eyes

the same eyes your brother had 

and your father’s unruly mop of curls 

the same wave pattern in your dark hair 

everything finally felt right 

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@pogueslandia

@vsawyer1989​

@lifeofkaze

@siriusement

@erinruby003

@maybesandohnos

@onlyfreds

@fullofsourgrapes