#i just assumed everyone said it jame-son...

[astraeajackson]

OMG WHAT. WHO SAYS IT JAME-UH-SON. JAMESON MEANS JAME'S SON SO JAME-SON GUYS. RIGHT???

SETTLING THIS DEBATE

@book-nerd-emi @sweetreveriee

[justmeinadaze]

We're A Family Part 23 (Steddie X You)

Warnings: Dads Steddie/ Fem mom reader, SMUT, all the regular smut that comes with these three. ANGST, for me this is soft angst lol I said what I said. They run into the guys ex and Eddie deals with his emotions regarding her and the things she's said in the past, Ro struggles with the thought of her brother going away to college so the parents have to handle that. FLUFF, they love each other and their kids <3

Word Count: 3687

Series here

 Low whimpering and soft movements shook you from sleep as you rolled over to a sight you had seen many mornings in the past. Eddie was on top of Steve slowly riding him as the other boy softly smiled up at his blissed out face while languidly stroking his cock. You always wanted them to feel comfortable so you laid there quietly as you watched them like a work of art. 

“There you go, baby.”, Steve whispered. “Fuck, you take me so well.”

Threading his fingers in his husband’s hair, he pulled his lips to his own as Eddie panted against them. 

“Harder, Steve. Please.”

“Yeah? Is that you need, honey? I can do that for you.”

His large palms slide down the man’s back and grip his hips, thrusting up to meet his movements while he continued to bounce and roll his own waist above him. 

Both men smirked when they heard you heavily sigh, knowing you were awake.

“Good morning, sweetheart.”

“I bet it is.”, you tease as he bites his bottom lip. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“No interruption.”, Steve replies in his husky morning tone that you assume is what got the metalhead riled up. 

Lifting the boy from him, he turns Eddie to face you on his side as he wraps his arms around him, spooning him from behind as he slides back into his entrance and thrusts his hips at a steady but firm pace. 

After softly kissing your lips, the long-haired man rested his forehead on yours as he guided his fingers under your panties and through your core. 

“Fuck, baby, you’re so wet.”

Placing your palm over his own, you cling to him as he pushes his middle and ring fingers into your center, groaning when they clench around him at the sound of Steve’s heavy, strangled moans. 

“God, just like that, Steve. Shit.”, Eddie grunted as his hand matched the other boy’s rhythm.

“Oh, Eddie…”, you moan as his digits rapidly abuse your g-spot.

Taking ahold of his husband’s throat, Steve tilted his head back, kissing and nibbling on the man’s sweet spot as he thrust his release inside of him. While pumping Eddie’s cock with his hand, the metalhead folded into him as he came, trying to still focus on you as you guided his movements till your own release followed soon after. 

You watched with heavy eyes as they continued to softly kiss each other before pulling you closer to do the same. 

***

“Good job, Dylan!”, Steve cheered as his son hit the final homerun that ended the game with his school winning. You beamed as James clapped his tiny hands while Aurora danced in front of Eddie shouting her brother’s name in excitement. 

After the obligatory high fives to the other team and everyone congratulating him, your daughter ran down the bleachers meeting Dylan halfway and tackling him with a big hug as he lifted her off her feet.

“That was amazing, baby.”, you praise as he flashes you a big smile.

“Thanks, mom. Hey, Noah invited me to lunch but I told him I was hanging out with you guys today and I would ask if I could come over for dinner.”

“Is that a long-winded way of saying you want to spend the night with Noah?”, Eddie jokes making his son laugh as he nods.

“I’m fine with that, my love.”, you smile as you tilt up to kiss his cheek.

“Oh my god. Is that Edward Munson and Steven Harrington in front of me?”

The three of you recognized the female voice immediately as you froze in place by your car. Steve exhaled loudly as he turned first, coming face to face with their ex. 

“Hello Emily. Always a pleasure to see you.”

“Oh wow. Look at everyone in your family!”, she coos, her voice making you visibly cringe. “Is this the little boy I met before?!”

“Um, hi. I’m Dylan.” He extends his hand politely for her to shake making her giggle a bit too excitedly. 

“I don’t know if you remember me. I saw you at your talent show in elementary. My niece was the young lady who danced.”

“Ooooh yeah. I remember you a bit.”

“That’s actually why we are here now. She goes to the school you just slaughtered.”

“Well, Emily, it’s been great catching up. We’re just going to—”

Aurora cuts off her father as she wiggles out of her brother’s embrace and extends her own tiny palm to the lady in front of her. 

“Hello! I’m Aurora Munson-Harrington. It’s nice to meet you.”, she introduces with her big trademark smile. Before Emily can return the salutations, however, Eddie hastily lifted her in his arms, holding her away from his ex.

“Don’t touch my daughter.”

“Dylan, baby, why don’t you take Ro and James and get them buckled in, alright?”

Nodding, he grabbed the baby from your arms and tried to do the same with his sister but to his surprise his father wouldn’t let her go.

“Honey, it’s alright. Dylan won’t let anything happen to her.”, Steve soothed, comforting the man enough to release her from his hold. Rubbing his back, he tenderly kissed his cheek before turning his attention back to the woman in front of them. 

“I see you didn’t take my advice. I guess I was wrong though, huh. I mean it’s been what… ten years?”

“12.”, you reply with distain ready to leave her behind. 

“Was I also wrong about the genes? I’m guessing the girl came from Ed here? This is also new.”, she snarks as she points between the boys. “You two weren’t fucking when we were together.”

“Hm. Maybe because we didn’t feel comfortable being ourselves with you. Thankfully we found someone better. Come on, guys.”

As Steve tries to guide you both towards your vehicle, Eddie abruptly twists out of his embrace to face his ex. 

“My daughter is perfect. She’s smart, funny, beautiful, and very creative. She loves art and is incredibly kind almost to a fault. She’s not trash and neither was I. You made me feel like I didn’t deserve kids of my own but now I have three. Fuck you, Emily.”

Without waiting for her reply, he spins on his heels and marches towards the car.

***

Steve sighs from his spot on the couch as he watches Eddie lazily strum his guitar. He had been melancholy since everyone had gotten home choosing to remain in his own head for the time being. James was on the floor in front of him fast asleep as he sucked his thumb while you and Dylan were in the kitchen browsing for things online while Aurora nibbled on the rest of her lunch.

“This is a cute little place for you and Daisy. It’s right by the school to.”

“Can we afford it?”

“I don’t see why not as long as you two aren’t scarfing pizza every night.”, you giggle as he lightly shoves your shoulder. Your eyes scan over him taking in the young man before you. He had grown up so much and you still hadn’t dealt with the fact that soon he wouldn’t just be upstairs or in the living room but a few states away. “I’m going to miss you, weirdo.”

His grin grows as he circles his arm around you and kisses your cheek. 

“I’m going to miss you to, mom. I promise I’ll be here every holiday and a couple of weeks in the summer.”

“Where is Dylan going?”, Ro asked as she glanced your way.

“To college, sweetie, remember?”

“Yeah but… he’ll still be in the room next to mine…right?”

“Rara…”, her brother chuckled. “That would be a LONG drive every morning if I lived here. I’m moving in with Daisy to Virginia. I showed you on that map on my phone.”

Your mom Spidey sense began to sound off as her big chocolate eyes met yours before glaring at her brother. 

“Aurora, baby, it’s ok. Like he said, he’s still going to come visit us and—”

“NO! NO, YOU CAN’T LEAVE!”

Both men promptly appeared in the kitchen trying to assess the situation as it unfolded and began to spiral. 

“Ro, I don’t want to leave. I have to go to school—”

“Why do you HAVE to go so far away!?”

“I-I-I…”, he stumbled over his words as eyes pleaded with you guys for help. 

“Aurora, Dylan is moving with Daisy so they can go to school together.”, Steve tried to assist but it just made her huff as she jumped off her chair and slammed her little feet to the ground.

“I hate Daisy! And I hate you, Dylan! You’re mean!”

“Ro…”

Ignoring her brother, she turned and ran up the stairs banging her bedroom door shut for emphasis. 

“I got her.”

“No.”, Steve intercepted as he placed his palm on Eddie’s chest. “I know you’re not 100%. I can handle it.”

“Whatever.”, the metalhead sighed as he headed towards the entry way and threw on his jacket. 

“Hey, what does that mean?”

“It means, whatever, Steven.”

“I’m just trying to help.”

“Yeah, sure. As long as you’re the hero, right?”

“Eddie…” The man tried to reach for his arm to stop him but flinched when his husband pulled away angrily. 

“I can handle my kids. I can handle my parents and I sure as hell could have handled Emily!”

You and Steve watched with equally confused eyes as he matched his daughter’s tantrum, banging loudly out the front door. 

“Wait here, kid, ok?”

Dylan nodded at your instruction as you ran after Steve who promptly trailed frustratingly after the man he loved. 

“Eddie, what the fuck are talking about?! You did handle her today; extremely well in fact.”

“Thanks, Harrington. Glad I got your approval.”, he muttered under his breath, sighing as you skidded in front of him, blocking entry to his van. 

“Baby, you always shut down like this when it comes to her. I know you’re not mad at him or me. Just talk to us, Eddie, please.”

Tenderly, he kisses your forehead before firmly but gently moving you aside as he gets behind the wheel and drives off into the night.

##########

Eddie exhales heavily as he takes a long swig of the beer in his bottle. 

“Nick, another please.”

The man is startled when a hand pats his back and his son throws himself onto the stool beside him. 

“Dylan? How the hell did you get in here?”

“I don’t know if you noticed, dad, but this place isn’t restricted to people under 21 anymore.”, he smiles as he flashes him the big X on the back of his hand signaling he’s underage. “I don’t know if you two know this either but mom hates when you both leave like that when you’re upset. When you come home she’s going to pretend she’s not but…”

“How’s Ro?”

“I don’t know. She still won’t talk to me. Dad’s trying to calm her down but he’s having a bit of a meltdown himself. I mean the only one who’s not upset right now is James.”, the boy chuckles sullenly. “Can I ask what happened? Or does it involve taxes?”

They both laugh at the memory before Eddie leans back in his seat and stares into the void. 

“That woman we saw today… That’s Steve and I’s ex; the one right before your mom. It didn’t end well.” The metalhead told him the story they had told you many years ago after your first encounter with her. Dylan listened intently, absorbing his words and frowning when he told her about Emily never wanting his kids. 

“Fuck her.”, he swore making his father laugh as he spit some of his beer back into its bottle. “I mean come on. You’re a great dad and Aurora is absolutely wonderful.”

“Yeah, she is. You all are.”

“Can I ask why you felt like you needed to leave?”

Eddie sighs as he tries to figure out how to word what he’s feeling. 

“Growing up my parents made me feel like trash you throw away especially when my mom left me with my uncle. When we were dating Emily she made me feel the same. She wanted to throw me away and be with Steve. I, honestly, think you and your mom are the first people to not make me feel garbage you cast aside.”

“And Steve.” The metalhead’s eyes meet Dylan’s as he softly smiles. “Dad would have been that first non-Munson to do that.”

“Yeah…”

“And that makes you feel bad.”

“Jesus Christ, you little therapist. Yes, it makes me feel bad.”, he laughs. “Y/N has always been there and defended me which I love but Steve’s always gone that extra mile you know. Throwing himself on the preverbal sword so to speak. Usually, I just let him do his thing but, I don’t know, I guess Emily just really hurt me and I never really got to tell her to fuck off.”

“Why don’t you tell her now?”

Dylan gestures with his head and his father follows his eyeline just in time to see his ex sauntering their way. 

“I swear to God, like a fucking virus this woman. Nick! I’ll see you later.”, he announces as he throws money on the bar. 

“Hey Eddie. What are you doing out and about? Where’s Steve?”

“Steve is at home with our wife and other 2 kids. He’s spoken for Emily. Let it go.”

“Said the man who gave me shit in a stadium parking lot.”

The metalhead chuckles under his breath as he turns to face her. 

“See the only difference is Steve dumped your ass after you said everything you wanted to say. I never got that luxury. I came home from work and you were gone. I hope you know what you missed out on. All of my kids especially Aurora are amazing and my marriage between Y/N and Steve are way better than I could have ever dreamed. That could have been your life but you were too much of a selfish bitch to care about anyone except yourself.”

As both boys headed towards the parking lot, Emily drunkenly trailed behind. 

“Listen to you taking about marriage like what you have with of them is real.”, she spat. “Because of you, you denied Steve a real marriage with a real family! You’re the selfish one! I loved him, Eddie.”

“No, you didn’t. If you did you never would have asked him to abandon me!”, he growled. “We are best friends and you tried to split us apart. The fact that you thought he would even consider that shows how little you knew about him. Y/N never once tried to separate us and even encouraged our relationship allowing it to grow. I love him, Emily.”

Grabbing his son, he yanked him towards the van tossing him his keys. 

#############

When they got home, the house was quiet with most of the lights turned down except in the kitchen where you and Steve were sitting knocking back small glasses of alcohol you hid in the cabinet for occasions such as this. 

Dylan patted his father comfortingly on the back before running up the stairs to get ready for bed. 

“Eddie.”, you sighed in relief as you got up to hug him. “Are you ok, baby? We were so worried—”

The metalhead’s lips cut you off as he cupped your cheeks and passionately kissed you. 

“I told you once that after Emily, Steve and I thought we couldn’t do the shared partner thing but, sweetheart, I’m so glad we did. Everything we have is because of you. Our kids, this house, our jobs, even Steve and my relationship. You never once made us feel like we had to choose or discouraged it. You allowed us to be ourselves and I fucking love you for that.”

Tilting forward, you kissed him again, continuing to hold him tightly as he addressed his husband.

“I’m sorry I snapped at you. Steve, since I met you, you’ve always gone the extra mile for people you love. Sometimes… it makes me feel bad that you dive headfirst into certain situations allowing yourself to take those bullets for me.”

Coming around the table, Steve wrapped his arms around you both, bringing you to his chest. 

“I lead with my heart and I know it’s a strength and a fault. Eddie, I hope you know I don’t mind taking those so-called bullets. I love you both so much and those kids. I’d do anything for them and you. I hear what you’re saying though. We should have talked to Emily together. I should have talked to you about your parents. I should have asked if you wanted me to talk to Rara instead of just…being the hero.”

You both chuckle at his pronunciation of your daughter’s name before the metalhead lifts you in his arms and carries you to the bedroom. After yanking feverishly at each other’s clothes, you grin as he passionately kisses your lips, groaning into your mouth when he feels Steve between his legs eagerly sucking his cock. 

“That’s it, Steve, baby. Fuck.”

“Oh! I have an idea.”, you jump up eagerly, stumbling slightly as your tipsy legs carry you where you need to go. Eddie breathily laughs before focusing back on the other boy, petting his head as he swirled his tongue along his veins and across the tip making the long-haired boy’s eyes roll. 

Tapping on Steve’s shoulder, he glances your way and smiles at the strap on you have in your hands. Bouncing off the bed, he helps you put it on and watches with eager, lust filled eyes as you climb onto the mattress on your knees, tug on Eddie’s arm, and place him in front of you of you, wrapping your arms around his stomach as he sinks down on to the toy. 

His body folds into yours as you both moan and your lips trail along his back as he begins to bounce against you. Your own glassy eyes find Steve’s and he smiles, kissing your lips before maneuvering himself on all fours in front of Eddie as he waited. 

“Oh my fucking God. You both feel so fucking good.”, the metalhead mewls as he guides himself into the other man’s entrance. Your breath warmed his skin as you thrust your hips as hard as you could allowing the silicone inside him to hit his sensitive spot repeatedly as his own cock was being squeezed almost impossibly tight by Steve’s own warmth inside of him. “Fuck. I love you both so much.”

“Love you…baby.”, you panted.

Taking hold of his shoulder, Eddie brought Steve back to chest circling his arms around him like you had as the man’s palm covered his own while his head fell back. 

“Fuck, Eddie, honey. Just like that. You’re gonna make me cum.”

“Right there? I got you, sweetheart.” Quickly covering his mouth, the metalhead clung to the other man as he grunted loudly, ropes of his spend hitting the sheets in front of him. “I know, baby. I know. Jesus, you sound so fucking sexy when you cum.”

His words and Steve’s orgasm put you over the edge as your body trembled against his as the ball dropped and you whimpered into his back. Eddie soon followed, biting into the other boy’s neck as he released his seed into him.

Everyone fell sideways, panting as you tried to catch your breath. 

“Did you know they let minors into The Hideout now?” Throwing your arm over your eyes, you laugh hard as Eddie turns to face you with an equally wide smile, cupping your cheeks to kiss your lips. “Seriously…thank you…for everything.”

After a hastened shower, the three of you curled up in bed, murmuring soft praises and exchanging kisses till you fell asleep in each other’s arms. 

##################

“Hey Ro. You wanna play some basketball with me?”

Purposely ignoring her brother, your daughter folds her arms as she looks in the opposite direction towards the tv. Dylan hangs his head as he scoots slowly towards the kitchen where you were eating your lunch. 

“How long is she going to be mad at me?”

Placing a finger over your lips, you gesture with your eyes towards the living room and he follows your gaze just in time to see Eddie throw himself down next to his daughter.

“Whatcha doin’?”

“Watching tv.”

Her father nods as he pretends to stretch and glance towards the backdoor.

“You know it’s a gorgeous day and I think Dylan was going to play outside. Geez, I shouldn’t say ‘play’ like he’s six anymore. When your dad and I first met him we used to play basketball with him in the court right in the middle of the apartment complex. Can’t believe kid is going off to college.”, he sighs.

“I don’t want him to go…”

“I don’t either, baby, but you know what? He promised he would be here for holidays and your birthday. He’s also going to be calling mommy 24/7 because you know how much she loves you guys. Of course, we can go visit him and Daisy.”

Aurora’s bottom lip quivers as she continues to stare ahead.

“Sweetheart, you know he’s going to miss you and James as much as you both miss him. Your siblings and no matter where he is he’s always going to be there for you and love you just like me, mommy, and dada.”

Without saying a word, she jumped off the couch, running towards Dylan who placed the ball on the counter to open his arms and catch her as she jumped into them. After putting her back down on her feet, he took hold of her hand as they both smiled and ran outside to play. 

Eddie grins when he feels you lightly tug his hair, tilting him back so you could kiss his lips. 

“You’re a good man, Edward Munson.”

“Part of that is because of you Y/N Munson-Harrington.”

############

@adequate-superstar @kalinaselennespeaks @nailbatanddungeon

@dad-steddie @manda-panda-monium @alligator-person

@decadentwombatmiracle @katie-tibo @marsupiooo

@local-stoner-bitch @steamystrangerfics @lunatictardis

@adaydreamaway08 @hazydespair @actuallyspencerreid

@moviefreak1205 @waylandmorgernsternherondal-blog

@kik51199 @strngrlytn @idkidknemore @damon-loves-pie

@k-k0129 @micheledawn1975 @eddie86baby

@justmeandmymeanderingthoughts @3rriberri

@sashaphantomhive @chelebelletx @big-ope-vibes

@munsonzzgf @munsonmoonshine86

[naquey]

James Diamond Analysis

Because I did a Drake Parker analysis forever ago, and said I would do a James Diamond one once I rewatched BTR. I think that was like in july??? idk.

Ah, James Diamond, yet again another character who cares a lot about his appearance and chases girls throughout the canon show- Wait. Are we sure I'm not talking about Drake Parker instead??? I'm kidding, that's mean. I'm sorry. (No I'm not)

BTR establishes him as the one who wants to see his name up in lights, the one who wants to pursue a music career. He's the reason why Kendall gets chosen by Gustavo in the first episode. But to be honest, the show never delved deeper past the outer most level of his character.

James is the pretty boy who always carries around a hand mirror, has a lucky comb, and spends far too much time applying Barracuda Man spray to make himself smell nice for the ladies.

But underneath that, just who is he?

First, we gotta look at where he comes from. Duluth, Minnesota, but I mean his family life. His mother owns a beauty product company and his father... well we don't know who his father is. (Correct me if I'm wrong.) But we do know that he is a child of divorce. Like I said with Drake, divorce is hard on the child. But also James is an only child.

Maybe I'm just projecting or I'm letting BTR fanon get to me, but as much as Brooke loves her son, I don't think she takes him seriously. He wants to be a singer, he wants to be famous. Not many of the adults in his life take him seriously, I mean we don't see their school teachers outside of Miss Collins at the PalmWoods so I can only assume his teachers back at Duluth didn't take him that seriously either.

He's not established as the comedic relief, but it's still treated as a funny joke when James mentions anything about singing or fame. Like it's laughable that he wants something so bad. The only people that do take him seriously are his friends. I mean, Kendall made Gustavo make them a boyband for James because it was James' dream. He saw his friend get crushed by Gustavo and had to do something about it.

Which leads me to believe that James is essentially in Kendall's shadow. The friend who wants nothing to do with singing and music, is deemed the more talented one. Anyone else would be upset and hurt, and James is for a little while, but it doesn't effect their friendship. He may chase after girls, but his friends mean the world to him.

Maybe I'm projecting, but I think his friends matter so much to him because he grew up alone. Brooke is a business woman, and I don't doubt that she rarely looked after him. She loves him but it only comes off as Brooke loving him once he's gone. I could be wrong, and very mean, but it's my opinion. Take it with a grain of salt. I also understand that no parent wants to be away from their child, especially not across the country, but I digress.

To me, it seems like James would do anything to keep his friends by his side. Especially give up his dream. After Hawke gave him everything he could ever want, something was missing. James knew he couldn't do it without his bros. Their friendship is crucial to him, without them he has no one who truly understands him the way his friends do. He's not vain, or mean, or petty. He's a teenager who will do dumb stuff over the course of the show because he wants something that he can't truly have, so badly.

And honestly, I can understand that. Life didn't go the way he planned. His dreams were crushed on that audition stage but then his friend comes to save the day because they were there for him. Okay, sorry this is weirdly becoming a friendship analysis. Hold on.

James isn't taken seriously, outside of his friend group. Not by Gustavo, not by his mother, not even by Hawke. He was singled out because Hawke knew he could use James' dream against him. To everyone else around him he's just a loveable dork who won't be able to truly achieve his dreams. He's not given any merit, or the chance to prove himself. Yes, that's what I was trying to get to.

James was set up for failure before he even started. Not because his friends are the only ones who truly care, but because the adults dismiss him. It's a fleeting pipe dream. Gustavo literally said to him on that stage that James has no talent, that has to be a blow to his confidence. And maybe the reason why his character changes in seasons 3 and 4 is because he doesn't have that confidence anymore. He lost it because people no longer considered him an individual outside of the group.

(Are we 100% sure I'm not talking about Drake Parker? Okay, okay. I'll stop. I'll stop.) I've said my piece, food for thought I suppose.

[munsons-melody]

hi! i read your 'angeleyes' fic and it was AMAZING i was just wondering.. perhaps, just maybe, a part 2-ish where y/n and eddie actually have that picnic at lovers lake ?? i think that would be so cute and pure 🤭 or it could be a totally separate thing from the fic itself!

eeek i'm so happy you wanted a part 2!! sorry for the late response, i wanted to write the fic as perfect as possible before responding, i hope you love it!! <3

your song (angeleyes part two)

summary: you and eddie finally get your date at lovers lake

(part two to my fic angeleyes which can be found here)

pairing: eddie x female!henderson!reader

content: pure fluffiness

recommended song: 'your song' by elton john

word count: 4.4k

masterlist

i do not consent to having any of my works republished, translated, or posted to any other site except here. if you see my works anywhere but tumblr, it has been republished without my knowledge, consent, or permission.

-

after you and eddie reconciled in the back of the RV, you vowed to yourself that you would let nothing happen to him and he of course already told you that he would keep you safe no matter what

even when that meant reading his mind when returning through the gate. you had watched dustin climb through the rope into normal hawkins, before turning to eddie. he gave you a chaste kiss before helping you up and through the gate, but once through, you looked down to see eddie staring at where the demo bats were attempting to breach through the top of the trailer

"edward james munson, get your ass through this gate right now!" you screamed, knowing he wanted to go out there and keep fighting, be the hero he was destined to be

"coming" he mumbled, snapping out of his thoughts and looking back up through the gate to see you

once you reconvened with everyone back in the real world, you felt some weight fall off your shoulders, assuming vecna was dead, and you felt a sense of normalcy headed your way, however, that was not what happened

eddie was found and arrested within hours of being back in the real hawkins because a couple people spotted movement within his trailer

you sat on the cold hard chair in the waiting room of the hawkins police department. it had been at least an hour since eddie was taken back to the small cell they had in the back of the building. you sat there with your hands buried in your hands with dustin next to you, who was biting on his thumb nail out of pure anxiety.

the news had not gone public but you were scared that at any minute, angry mobs of people would appear, ready to rip him apart for something he didn't do

sheriff powell walked into the room, handing a file over to florence who sat behind her desk. you stood up, looking for some sort of sign that you would be able to go back and see him

"uh we need to ask you a couple of questions as well, if you wouldn't mind," he said, ushering you to follow him

"no, whatever you want to ask, you can ask me right here," you said, crossing your arms

"ugh whatever, uh, did he force either of you two into his murderous plans?" he started, flipping open a small notebook, clicking his pen with a frustrated sigh

it was obvious that since he took on the role of the hawkins sheriff, he never expected to be put in a situation like this and as the arresting officer, he was clearly stressed knowing he had the number one suspect of the murders in the building and only him and florence knew that he was sitting in the holding cell

"what? no! that's crazy, he is innocent!" dustin yelled

"son, you need to remain calm or we won't be able to get to the bottom of this," he said, rubbing his forehead in distress

"calm? you want me to stay calm? you just arrested someone who is more innocent than mother theresa! he was framed!" dustin yelled again, throwing his hands up to dramatize his point

just then, the phone rang.

"hawkins police department, how may i help you?" she said picking up the phone and placing it on her ear. she balanced it between her shoulder as she grabbed a piece of paper and a pen, writing something down

she muttered a couple of "uh-huhs" before hanging up the phone and standing up, walking over to the sheriff

"that was officer callahan, he just found some kids at the abandoned creel house, one of them with broken arms and legs like the others, she was taken to the hospital about half an hour ago" florence explained, and you looked at dustin

"is she awake? can she talk?" powell asked and florence shrugged

"they didn't say," she responded and Powell nodded

"i'll be back, you two stay here" powell said firmly, grabbing his sheriff hat and walking out the door

you nodded, and sat down again, tears pricking at your eyes feeling frustrated as ever

"are you guys hungry?" florence asked sweetly and you shook your head, rubbing your forehead

"you sure? cause i can go grab something next door, and while i do so, there's no one here to stop you from seeing mr. munson..." she trailed off

you lifted your head up, picking up on what she was trying to say. she would leave to get food and while she was gone, she was going to let you see eddie

"but what about-" you started and she shook her head

"i'm going to go get you two food, you two look famished" florence said again, grabbing her coat and purse and walking swiftly out of the door leaving you and dustin alone in the building

you would assume that there would be more officers working, but most were out patroling the streets or looking for eddie, unaware that the sherriff already brought him in

you quickly ran down the hall and turned the corner to see eddie sitting on the hard metal bench that was connected to the wall, his head in his hands

"eddie?" you said urgently. he lifted his head up to see you and instantly got up and walked towards the bars that divided the two of you

"y/n, how did you get back here?" he asked, linking his hand with yours that met on one of the bars

"florence let me back but that's not important, how are you?" you asked sympathetically

"oh you know, just peachy, i almost die defeating an evil force just to get thrown in jail for a crime i didn't commit" he said sarcastically. you knew he was using it as a defense mechanism to cover the fact that he wanted to cry and scream and punch a wall for being in the worst situation imaginable

"well i am going to do everything in my power to get you out of here i promise" you told him and he nodded, wiping away a tear

"oh eddie bear don't cry" you said, using his nickname you started to call him when you first started dating

"ew, eddie bear?" dustin said, appearing behind you

"hey at least she is being nice" eddie snapped back and dustin crossed his arms

"i am nice too! i'm here to help get you out," dustin told him and you sorta droned out as the two continued to bicker like brothers with one another

you both stayed with eddie for a couple more minutes before you heard the bell of the front door ring, signaling someone was coming in

"shit, okay, i love you, i'll be back" you said to eddie, disconnecting your hands and following dustin out of the room and down the hall back to where the desks were

florence came back in holding a large brown paper bag, giving you a small smile

"sorry im a few minutes later than i should've been, there was a long line" she said with a wink, handing you the bag

you thanked her as she took out one package of food and headed down the hallway, presumably towards eddie, and left the rest to you and dustin as you dove into the meal

you were almost done, snacking on a couple of leftover fries when both sheriff powell and officer callahan walked into the building and down the hall to eddie

you got up, following them, not caring if you would get reprimanded for doing so. they were both silent as you watched them unlock the cell, eddie standing up and looking at them with confusion

"mr. munson, under new evidence you are no longer under arrest for the murders of chrissy cunningham, fred benson, and patrick mckinney. you are free to go" powell said with a grisly voice

eddie slowly walked out of the cell, staring at the two officers incase they were to have a snap in judgment and throw him back in

"what.. what do you mean?" you asked as he walked to you, giving you a hug

"we cannot disclose much but, we found that there was another accident that occurred when mr. munson here was in this cell, which proves.." callahan started to say

"it proves he didn't do it since we had him detained here so there was no way he was able to get out and do anything" powell finished

you started crying, and your arms wrapped around eddie, pulling him in close

"thank god" you mumbled out, before it hit you

-

the next day you woke up in your bed, eddie next to you. after all the shit that went down, you were more than happy to be showered and laying in bed next to eddie who was no longer convicted of a crime he didn't commit

the two of you snuck into your room the night before as you were promised as of 12 pm last night, the news would be spread that eddie munson was innocent

you knew that even with the proof of innocence, people would still be cruel towards your boyfriend so you decided the best course of action was to let him sleep all day in a comfy bed, then take him on a picnic to lovers lake. it would be secluded and give you a chance to just be with him

you rolled out of bed quietly and walked out of your room and down the hall to the living room. you saw your mom sitting in her chair with tews sitting on her lap, watching the news

"did you see this?" she asked, motioning to the tv where you saw the headline underneath powell stating the new evidential facts

new evidence found in munson case - suspect found innocent

"yeah uh, i did see that, i actually picked him up from the station last night..." you told her and she gasped

"where is he now? he obviously can't go home" she asked

"now mom, don't get mad but he had to stay over last night-" you tried to explain and she got up, putting tews on the seat behind her

"he's here?" she said with a mix of a shout with a whisper, you gulped with a nod

"well, that poor thing! after everything he's been through! does he need anything?" she asked, and you were shocked

"oh uh, not now? he's sleeping but when he gets up he'll probably need something to eat and then i'm taking him on a picnic tonight," you smiled sheepishly

"oh good, well i do have to head to work soon but please make him feel at home, poor thing has been through enough" she told you and you nodded with an unsure smile

"yeah sure" was all you said as she walked to her room

you stood there, stunned. to be fair she knew you and eddie were dating and how close he and dustin were, but the whole situation of him being accused of something so heinous really freaked her out.

you checked the time and saw it was only about 8 am, your mom would leave in a few minutes and you knew for a fact eddie and dustin, who were both dead asleep, would probably not wake up till hours later

figuring you should do something of use, you decided to wash eddie's clothes, start prepping food for your picnic, and find some other things to busy yourself with

-

"how's max" you asked nancy. she was at the hospital with mike and lucas, and she called you after wondering where you went. you explained the eddie situation which she was thankful for, and updated the rest of the group for you.

"alive, but her arms and legs are broken and in casts, the doctors don't know when she'll wake up," she said as you heard her sniffles

a few tears started to fall upon hearing the news, and you nodded, thankful she was alive but praying she would wake up and everything would be okay

"how's eddie doing?" she asked just as you heard a door creak open. you looked around the corner to see eddie coming out of your room in just a pair of boxers

"speak of the devil, he just woke up," you told her as eddie wrapped his arms around you, the warmth of his body heating up yours

you continued to talk with nancy for a few more minutes as eddie slowly swayed you side to side. the two of you eventually said goodbye and you hung up, turning your body to face eddie

"hi baby" he said as you put your arms around his shoulders, nuzzling your face into the crook of his neck

"how'd you sleep?" you asked

"fucking amazing, such an upgrade from ricks couch," he said, kissing your forehead

you stood like that for a handful of minutes, enjoying the bliss of standing in each others arms.

"you hungry?" you asked. "yeah" he mumbled out. you went to move out of his arms but he wouldn't let you move

"baby i kinda have to go to the kitchen" you laughed, trying to worm your way out of his arms and he gripped tighter

"nope, cant let you go, i love you too much" he laughed as he fake wrestled you to avoid you leaving his arms

eddie and you fumbled to the floor, causing you two to burst into giggles. you hadn't heard his laugh in the longest time and it warmed your heart

"i've missed that" you said, leaning on your side to look at him. he propped himself up on his arm and out the other around your waist

"missed what" he asked, stroking your hip lightly with his thumb

"you, your smile, your laugh, everything" you giggled out

"i missed everything about you too" he said, using his hand on your hip to pull you close. he swiftly moved so he was hovering over you, slowly leaning down to kiss you

just as your lips touched, you heard a few footsteps and then a loud "what the fuck, get off the floor" by an annoyed dustin, who clearly just woke up

"sorry man" eddie mumbled out, and got up, and helped you up from the floor as well

you cooked the two of them breakfast, and munched on a few pieces here and there before dustin got up, putting his plate in the sink

"i'm going to get dressed and then head to the hospital to see max, can you drive me there?" he asked eddie, and he nodded a yes

"uh babe, where are my clothes?" eddie asked

"oh i washed and dried them for you, they should be downstairs, i can go get it" you said, kissing his temple in passing

you quickly got his clothes out of the dryer and brought them back up from the basement, going to your room and setting them on your bed

you went back to the kitchen, and started cleaning the dishes up, noticing dustin left the table

"i put your clothes on my bed" you said to him when he came up behind you and kissed your neck

"or we can make it even and you can lose your clothes" he suggested, kissing up your neck

you smiled, drying your hands on the small towel next to the sink

"oh really?" you smirked, as he kissed up your neck, you pressed back against him causing a small moan to emit from his perfect pink lips

"okay eddie im ready to go!" you heard dustin scream as he walked down the hall

"fucking cock block" eddie mumbled, leaning his forehead against your shoulder causing you to giggle

"go on, i'm gonna work on our surprise date" you said and he kissed your shoulder

"its not really a surprise if you tell me about it" he said, pulling away from you causing the chilly air to nip at your skin

"well i had to tell you cause you're gonna drive us there" you said smiling

"oh really?" he said, pulling you in for another kiss

"really" you said pulling away

"ew gross guys cmon im right here" you heard dustin complain. you giggled as you watched eddie flick dustins temple as he passed him on the way to your room

a few minutes later he came back out wearing his newly cleaned hellfire t shirt and black jeans, slipping on his shoes

"lets go" he said, keys in hand

-

after eddie got back, you two packed up food, and you honestly didn't care that you knew he knew where you guys were going

you had gotten dressed into a comfy sweater and jeans, knowing it was going to be a bit nippy when the sun set by the lake

eddie helped you push the picnic basket and blankets into the back of his van then helped you up into the passenger seat, shutting your door for you, always refusing for you to get it because to him 'a lady should never get her own door' and always insisted he did it instead

"so i think i know where we're having our surprise date" eddie said with a smirk, hopping into the drivers seat and shutting the door 

he turned on the engine in his van and started the usual drive from your house to lovers lake 

the radio played softly, and you turned your body to admire him, watching him focus on the road, one hand on the steering wheel, the other resting on the clutch.

"what's going through your mind pretty girl?" he asked, noticing you looking 

"nothing, just admiring how pretty you are," you smiled, and he stretched the hand he had on the clutch and moved it to your thigh

you put your hand on top of his, stroking his skin lightly before your hands intertwined. you felt the roughness of his calloused fingers graze over yours along with the metal of his rings that he refused to go anywhere without 

"you think i'm pretty?" he asked, a small smile tugging at his lips as he glanced over at you

"of course, god broke the mold when he made you," you said with a giggle and eddie rolled his eyes, a real smile stretching over his face 

"that's so cheesy" eddie said with a chuckle. the radio continued to play as you sat in comfortable silence

but it wasn't long before the two of you were talking about everything and anything as you usually would end up doing but you secretly loved it, to you it proved you would never run out of things to talk about 

before you knew it, you had arrived at your usual spot in lovers lake. it was a small, quiet area that you hadn't seen too many people in but it was perfect for the two of you. there was enough room for the van to be parked on the side of the road, and your usual spot sat in a clearing of bushes which provided some privacy which was nice. it was also close to the water which gave the right amount of ambience to your dates with eddie. it was a peaceful intermission from life everytime you came here and that's why it soon became your favorite 

of course during the break up, you were very upset you couldn't go there to think, just out of pure fear you were to see eddie here with some other girl. but you didn't know what was worse, running into him on a date with another girl in your spot, or seeing him there all alone and not being able to be with him sitting on the shoreline 

you and eddie took your stuff from his van and walked down to where you normally set the blanket and you had a sense of deja vu wash over you 

"agh i'm getting deja vu" you spoke, setting down the blanket which made eddie chuckle

"i just take it that if it was meant to happen before you're where you're meant to be right now" eddie said setting up the food, and you laughed 

"when did you become so wise?" you asked in surprise and eddie shrugged with a smile 

"somewhere on the walk from the car to here" eddie joked

-

the sun had set, the food was finished, and the music was playing from one of eddie's transistor radios he had from his van

you were leaning against eddie who was sitting against a tree, giving you the perfect view of the lake while eddie's arms wrapped around you 

the song on the radio changed and suddenly you were listening to the familiar tune of 'your song' by elton john

"ugh i love elton, but this song is so cheesy and overplayed" you complained to eddie

"can i tell you a secret?" he responded causing you confusion on his response 

"yeah?" you told him

"i actually kinda like this song" he said with a sheepish smile 

"what?" you said in surprise and he nodded, shifting his position to get up, offering a hand to help you up from your spot 

you stood up as he gently pulled you in close, your hands were on his chest as his arms snaked around your waist, and he rested his hands on your lower back 

he started to dance with you as the lyrics flowed, and your heart skipped a beat as he started to sing along

'I know it's not much, but it's the best I can do My gift is my song, and this one's for you'

he quickly kissed you between verses before he continued to sing to you, gently swaying you back and forth as you laid your head on his chest, putting your arms around his neck 'And you can tell everybody this is your song It may be quite simple, but now that it's done I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind that I put down in words How wonderful life is while you're in the world'

you started to tear up a little bit just from the amount of pure love for the man in front of you. he moved his head to get your attention just to sing you your favorite line from the whole song 

'yours are the sweetest eyes i've ever seen'

you smiled and looked away, blushing as he continued to sing along until the song ended and the two of you stood there in each other's arms, the radio switching to some other song while hearing the light waves from the lake splash onto the edge of the ground where you stood

"i guess its not such a cheesy song after all" you muttered, wiping a tear from your cheek

"guess not" eddie agreed, leading to another few minutes of silence of standing there with each other which was pure bliss after the hell you've encountered the past few weeks, before eddie spoke again 

"it's all true though" he said and you responded with an intrigued "hm?"

"the song, it's true for me. you make life the most wonderful thing to experience just because you're here with me, and i can't say it enough but i love you more than life y/n" he said, locking eyes with you

you gently cupped his face, kissing him with such passion you were sure it would break the world record for the amount of love shown through a kiss. he kissed you back, pulling you in close like he would lose you the second he let go. your hands tangled in his hair as your tongues explored each other's mouths like it was new territory. 

when you finally pulled away for air, eddie kept you close, leaning his forehead against yours and rubbing a hand on the back of your neck. he kissed your forehead lightly before pulling away, looking at your fingers entangling with his

he quickly pulled away and turned around before he whipped back around and got down on one knee, holding up the ring he always wore on his right hand. the one he stole from his mom's jewelry box when he was 12 but she ended up letting him keep it, finding it endearing he wanted to wear it

"y/n, this is a promise that no matter how stupid i am, that we always work things out, and we stay that way no matter what. i love you and never want to let you go and as a token of my promise, and my love and appreciation, will you please wear my ring and be mine again?" he asked, looking up at you, the lyrics of having the sweetest eyes you've ever seen coming to fruition with his chocolate brown eyes staring into yours

"eddie i-" you started to feel the tears fall down your cheeks as you stopped yourself, a small giggle coming from your mouth 

"i love you eddie, yes of course" you said as you stretched out your hand to meet his as he slipped the ring onto your ring finger. it fit a little too perfectly, causing your heart to flutter. 

he stood up, picking you up and spinning you around as you let out a laugh squeal combination, before putting you back down on the ground, holding your face as you leaned into his hand, watching his eyes look at you with a look of admiration 

"one day i'll write you my version of your song, and it'll be all for you" he said with a smile 

"will it include cheesy lyrics?" you laughed and he nodded

"naturally" 

fin.

[alien--cookie]

Just Stay

Summary: Pre-serum Steve gets sick and Bucky comes by his apartment to check on his friend

TW: Illness, mentions of death, mentions of period-typical racism, fever, bleeding from the ear, period-typical religious practices

Word Count: 1265

Co-Author: @ivyace

Taking the steps two at a time, Bucky made his way up to Steve’s apartment. He’d spent the day down at the docks, having dropped out of school to work like most kids. Not Steve, though. No, Steve had stayed in school, too sick to work. At least, too sick to do the manual labour that Bucky did.

Bucky knew that Sarah, Steve’s mother, already overworked herself at the hospital and now that Steve was sick…

He shoved the thought away and knocked, smiling up at Sarah when she answered the door.

“Hello James.” She looked like an absolute wreck - hair a mess, dark circles under her eyes. Had she even been sleeping?

Bucky’s smile faded into a more solemn expression as he nodded in greeting. “Evenin’ ma’am.” He walked inside, his stomach sinking when he saw Steve on the bed.

If Sarah looked like a wreck, Steve looked about ten times worse. The poor guy could barely seem to keep his eyes open. He was pale as anything, and his frail body was shivering violently, blood dripping down from his left ear.

God…

Bucky was snapped back to reality when a rattling couch escaped from Steve’s chest. He looked over at his friend, his chest tight with worry as he went over to him. “Heya pal.” He mumbled, readjusting the wet cloth on Steve’s forehead. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Sarah do the sign of the cross, clinging to rosary beads that she clutched to her chest.

If she was this worried-

“Can he eat?” The question left Bucky’s lips before he’d really even registered it.

Sarah shook her head and Bucky’s stomach sank. “I’ve been trying to get some water and broth into him, but he can barely stay still enough to eat. We’ve just got to keep him cool and hydrated, and hope the fever breaks.”

Bucky nodded as Sarah spoke, but his eyes didn’t leave his trembling friend. “I-...” He composed himself quickly. Brave. He had to be brave, for Steve. “I’ll go fill up his cup.”

He moved quickly, almost stumbling as he did, grabbing the empty cup by Steve’s bed. He filled it up and then came back, placing it down once again. In the time that he’d been gone, Sarah had knelt down beside her son’s bed, mumbling what he assumed were prayers in a language he’d come to recognise as Gaelic.

The woman almost never spoke the language, and Steve had said that it was to keep them safe. Fit in with everyone else. So Bucky knew that she must be stressed. Not that he blamed her.

Bucky cleared his throat, feeling almost out of place as he watched the two. “Is there anythin’ I can do to help ma’am?”

“Just stay, Jamie.” Sarah let out a shuddering breath as she spoke.

Bucky’s chest tightened so much he felt like he was gonna choke but he nodded. Right. Stay. He could do that. He forced himself to move to Steve’s side, sitting down beside the bed. “I’m here pal, it’s gonna be alright.”

Sarah reached up, wiping the blood away from Steve’s ear. The boy hissed through chattering teeth, letting out a quiet whimper, the sound full of pain.

Bucky felt a little like he was going to be sick, watching his friend suffer like this. “Has he ever been this sick before?” He couldn’t bring himself to look away from Steve, even as his expression remained solemn.

“When he was younger, yes.” Sarah’s voice was a lot quieter now. “But…”

Bucky didn’t pry further, biting his tongue with a nod. He didn’t want to upset Sarah more.

“You’ll take care of her, right? If-” Steve’s voice was raspy as he spoke, a hacking cough cutting him off.

“Of course-” Bucky began to respond, interrupted quickly by Sarah.

“None of that Steven.” Sarah sounded like she was on the verge of tears. “You just rest now.”

Nausea filled Bucky’s stomach but he fell quiet, watching with a breaking heart. He hated that this could very well be how Steve died. With all his problems… God… It didn’t take too long for Steve to basically pass out. It wasn’t an easy sleep, and Bucky watched as his friend tossed and turned, body soaked through with sweat.

No matter how much Bucky wanted to look away, wanted to leave and deny the fact that his friend was sick, he didn’t. He’d been asked to stay, so stay he did. For as long as it took, he would always stay.

When Steve finally woke, a good few hours later, an almost smirk slipped over his features, his gaze turning over to the two beside his bed.

“Not dead yet.”

Sarah almost sobbed, nodding quickly as she moved closer to her son, cupping his face to inspect his condition. Bucky watched, shaking his head with a fond smile at his friend.

It had been terrifying, watching Steve sleep for the hours that had passed. The stuttering rise and fall of his chest had been enough to make Bucky hold his own breath, praying that this world would spare his friend at least of pain if he’d passed.

“Sounds funny.” Steve muttered, tilting his head like he was trying to get something out of his ear.

Sarah just nodded, even as a frown formed across her face, “You’ve just been ill, time will tell.” She seemed to pause, hesitating, before she stood. “I’m going to get you some soup.”

Bucky watched as Sarah walked out before turning his attention back over to his friend. “You already look heaps better.” He spoke, trying to be at least somewhat encouraging. “And you ain’t shaking anymore. That’s something.”

“Glad I don’t look on death’s door.” Steve’s tone was light, joking, but Bucky knew his friend knew the gravity of the situation. Just how close he’d come. He looked towards the door. “No priest yet, she must’a had faith I’d be alright.”

Bucky frowned at that, following Steve’s gaze over to the door. “I reckon if it went on any longer, she would have.” He admitted, his voice soft so Sarah wouldn’t overhear from the kitchen. “Gave your ma a scare, that’s for sure.”

Steve nodded slowly, guilt passing over his features. “I know.”

“But she’ll be better now, ya know? Uh, now that you’re getting better.” Bucky quickly added, kicking himself internally. He didn’t want to make Steve feel guilty for something so out of his control.

Steve’s expression morphed to a frown but he nodded, his gaze going distant for a moment before it snapped over to Bucky. “You stayed here all night?” He seemed… confused?

Bucky shrugged. “Yeah, uh, ain’t gonna leave ya when you’re like that Steve. It’s not right. Besides, your ma asked me to, and she shouldn’t have been left alone.” He paused, expression twisting before he continued, pushing himself up to his feet. “I… would stay more, but uh, work.”

He shook his head and glanced over at the kitchen before looking back at his friend. “Rest, alright? Don’t do anything stupid until I get back.”

He was glad to see his friend smile at that, even if he still looked utterly exhausted.

“How can I? You’re takin’ all the stupid with ya.”

Bucky let himself form his own smile and he did a mock, two-fingered salute before turning towards the door. “See you later, ma’am!” He called out towards Sarah before he forced himself to leave the apartment.

Taking the steps, two at a time, Bucky’s chest was lighter now. Steve would be alright.

[lumosinlove]

Christmas Eve Will Find Me

One: Sirius

Salazar Headquarters

London, England

“This is the part that you’re not understanding Agent Black.”

Sirius had never been built for the cages of board rooms. Mahogany tables and whiskey glasses. Bottled water placed evenly at each leather chair. Suit and ties, pressed collars and eyeglasses that would show everyone in the room whatever files needed to be seen, privately. Sirius wasn’t build for the glasses, either. He didn’t like seeing the images so close, as if his very own brain had conjured them.

Especially not the one in front of him now. Familiar, but, then again, not at all. A ghost he saw every night, but never like this.

“Why don’t you try again then,” Sirius said to Lucius Malfoy, who sat opposite him, at the other end of the long table. His fair, nearly white hair was tied back low against his neck. Though he stared with dark eyes right at Sirius, they both looked at each other through the image screened in front of them. Through Remus’ brown eyes and bow of a mouth. Sirius was glad no pair of glasses would show the room how hard he was digging his fingernails into his palms below the table.

Malfoy drew an annoyed breath. “Agent Lupin, presumed dead after the Greece incident along with Agent Logan Tremblay—” He glanced to James, who was sitting very still. His usual glasses—a light, airy brown compared to these black frames—folded on the table in front of him. “Is alive.” Malfoy’s long fingers flicked. “For six months, Agent Lupin blinked out. Assumed dead. Now, there he is.”

The photograph had been pulled from a bank security camera in Athens. Remus wore no hat. He carried no bag. Supposedly no weapon, though it was hard to tell and Sirius had never known him to go without one. None of Salazar’s agents ever did.

“Right where we left him, it seems,” Malfoy said. “Greece. Athens.”

“And Logan?” James asked, leaning forward. “I—Agent Tremblay.”

“If we knew anything more, we would have said.” Malfoy had a way with coldness. “Would we have not?”

James said nothing. Sirius felt his stomach twist.

Something in Remus’ face was wrong. It was wrong. He couldn’t place it. Vacant. Shaken. No weapon, no phone. He’d looked nearly right up at the camera. He would never have done that if he was hiding, like Malfoy clearly thought.

“We bring him in.” Sirius’ eyes went to James again, who was looking back this time. “Agent Potter and I will make contact.”

Malfoy just shook his head and laughed. “So confidently said. Tell me this, then. Why did he not bring himself in?”

Sirius couldn’t deny that he had no answer. He couldn’t look away from Remus’ face. Too open. And if he was there in Greece—alive alive alive—where was Logan?

“No contact,” Malfoy said. “You will take a surveillance team. and you will follow him.”

“Follow him?” Sirius shook his head, just as James began to protest, too. “He’s not a target. This is Remus.”

“He is a target as long as I say he is,” Malfoy snapped. “He failed to report. He failed all protocol, and now, suddenly, here he is. Out in the open.”

“You think someone turned him,” James said softly. “That’s—that’s impossible—”

“Nothing is impossible,” said Lestrange from Malfoy’s left. Her curling hair fell elegantly over her wide-shouldered suit, but she was smiling as if this news gave her pleasure. “If he is no longer loyal, you can see why we would need to know, Potter.”

Remus. Remus, who he had thought he had lost. Who he had spent the last six months trying to bury without having a body or a reason. Remus, who he had never even gotten to kiss.

“Find him.” Malfoy arched his fair brows. “Find Lupin, Black.”

“And what?” Sirius said. “You already don’t trust him.”

Malfoy leaned his hands on the table. “If he is what I think he is, then you will kill him.”

+++

Sirius had a flat, but he wouldn’t have called it a home. James, at least, had Lily. Lily and their son, warm bodies and food to come home to, when he came home at all. Now, there was fried egg and ham sandwiches on the stove panini press, quiet jazz playing in the living room in the hopes of keeping the two year old Harry asleep, and Lily standing in front of him pouring whiskey—because he obviously looked like he needed it.

“Alive,” Lily kept saying. She set the bottle down hard. Her tears gained different intensities, but she hadn’t really stopped crying since they had told her. They weren’t supposed to tell her.

She had a dishcloth in one hand that was being used as a tissue, and a greasy spatula in the other. Her dark red hair was tangled, falling out of two braids, and she gave a great sniff before turning back to the stove.

Sirius gave himself a bit more Scotch. He shouldn’t have agreed to come for dinner. He needed to be alone. He needed to sit in his cold, black and gray, expensive as hell, too big penthouse and picture Remus’ face before that security footage.

It was wrong. Something about it was wrong.

“Alive,” Lily said again. “God bloody fuck. Fucking shit.” A sailor, she was, when Harry wasn’t around. She turned on Sirius. “And Malfoy really said—”

“Yes,” Sirius said.

And the sick part was, Sirius could feel the gun in his hand. He could feel how he would do it. Sometimes, Sirius tried to avoid seeing faces, or it simply needed to be done, sneaking up from behind. But he knew Remus’ nape. He knew Remus’ shoulders. Any part of him, any air movement around him, Sirius would know. He felt like he would know his blood. The blood that had been in the sea foam.

“You could never,” Lily said, and took a bite out of a slice of tomato.

He’d never get close enough to get a gun on him from behind. Remus had the instincts of lightning.

“You can’t, he has to know that.”

The second Remus looked at him, Sirius would be finished. Weak muscled and drowning. It didn’t matter what was in his hand, it didn’t matter what Remus had done. It didn’t even matter that he had left Sirius behind and in the dark. Sirius would need him, solid and real.

Lily was watching him silently when James walked into the living room from showering. His dripping hair was getting the neck of his t-shirt wet, and he looked just as grim as Sirius felt. Through the kitchen doorway, he saw him lean over where Harry was sleeping in his crib and reach down to stroke his hair.

“Well,” he said when he took the stool beside Sirius—and some whiskey, too. “Wheels up tomorrow night. We’re taking a red-eye.”

“They called?” Sirius asked.

“Hm.”

“I don’t understand.” Lily slid the sandwiches onto a serving plate and began cutting them in half. She reached for her whiskey and took a long sip, ice clinking. “Jesus. Do you want ice, Sirius?”

Sirius shook his head.

James couldn’t do it, either. Not if it came down to it. But, then again, he would do it just to save Sirius from having to do it. Sirius knew that. And if they found Logan…

“Finn,” Sirius said suddenly. He looked over at James, and Lily made a wounded sound. “We have to tell him.”

James paused from where he was using his shirt to clean water droplets off of his glasses. “Why the fuck would we do that?”

Sirius leaned forward. “Because—”

“One glimpse of Remus doesn’t mean that Logan—”

“But it could.”

“But it doesn’t.”

“But if it had been Logan we were shown on that screen, I would make assumptions about Remus, and I would be glad for that sort of hope.”

James fought through a beat of silence. Lily put a hand on his back. Sirius had seen James’ face in all sorts of ways. Easy, dinner party, happy. Focused, inches from death, or being caught.

“You should tell Leo,” Lily said.

Leo Knut. On their team, too. Hacker. Legend. So fucking young. Could get into absolutely anything.

“He probably already knows,” Sirius said. “Just because he wasn’t at the meeting, doesn’t mean anything. He’s a different department.”

James hesitated a moment before he admitted, “He found the footage.”

“What?” Lily exchanged a surprised look with Sirius.

“Leo,” James said. “He found the footage.”

Sirius sat up. “You mean they were still looking?”

James shook his head. “Not them. Leo.”

Sirius stared at him.

“Just Leo.”

“What…” Sirius swallowed. “Why would he…”

“I asked him to,” James said more quietly. His eyes darted to Lily. “Just…in case. But I’d given up hope months ago.”

It was a very James thing to do. Sirius shouldn’t have been surprised. But the thought of Leo Knut and his soft blue eyes keeping feelers out for two boys who were supposed to be dead made Sirius have to sit down. It was part of his job, sure, but Sirius had spent what felt like an eternity seeing Remus everywhere that he wasn’t. And Leo and Logan had been the closest. He knew how exhausting it was.

“He’ll be on our team, then. When we go.”

James nodded. “I’d say.”

“Good.” Sirius looked down at the sandwich on his plate. “That’s good.”

The next gap of silence was what movies left for something grand and encouraging and sure. We’ll bring them home. I know it. We’ll bring the goddamn love of your life home.

But James and Sirius both knew better.

[juniperpyre]

💖💚💙💕

💖: What is your biggest unpopular opinion about the series?

i don't get the draco love. he bores me. yes i think harry was bisexually obsessed with him, but that makes harry's character more interesting, not draco's.

to quote sirius, 'he should have died!' rather than y'know break death eaters into the school full of children

💚: What does everyone else get wrong about your favorite character?

i almost never see anyone talk about the abuse sirius faced in a way that is both logical and compelling. being at grimmauld place clearly puts him deep in depression and his mother's portrait is hateful and verbally abusive.

so like people often potray this super dramatic abuse where his parents were beating his ass day in day out, telling him he's a pos, and sirius was rebelling from day one. i just don't think that sirius would completely not share any of that with harry, knowing that harry is being abused. he would know better than anyone it would make harry feel better

sirius leaves because he hated his family's pure-blood mania. he also notes that his parents frequently said regulus was the better son. i think if they hit him beyond what was socially acceptable for the time he might've mentioned it here. a simple "my mother made it known with a good slicing charm" and a dark laugh.

i imagine sirius being parentified since he had to alter his behavior to keep his parents emotionally regulated. he wouldn't do it as often as regulus, but growing up with that norm would make it impossible to not internalize at all.

i have a short fic during his 4th year that explores this. i think he fought with his parents about politics and rules and the repressed lives they all lived. i also think he shared a lot in common with his mom, but that's total hc territory.

so idk where i'm going with this but yea writing abuse is hard ig

💙: Which character is not as hot as everyone else seems to think?

regulus black. maybe james? the way I imainge james is attractive to me, but the way harry is described I feel like neither of them are universally considered super hot (which I assume sirius would be). I think their personalities/the way they carry themselves probably does it. also the men I find attractive are not um the heterosexual ideal.

💕: What is an unpopular ship that you like?

i'm not sure what's unpopular. i have written some of the only fics with fabian/lily and narcissa/amelia and i do really like those pairings. prongsfoot gets hated on and in some ways it's starting to make more sense to me than wolfstar.

i loved wolfstar from like middle school and i see the chemistry. they have explored each other's bodies. but sirius is obsessed with james in a way he's not with remus. plus it's more tragic if lily was james' first choice and james was sirius' first choice and sirius (or james. or even lily!) was remus' first choice. and james was lily's first choice she gets everything she wants <3

[elvendorx]

I’ve noticed a lot of Wolfstar fics ignore that Sirius and Remus truly and fully believed the other was a spy. Remus was unaware of the switch because Sirius (and likely James and Lily as well since this whole thing would be their decision as the ones actually affected by it) did not believe Remus could be trusted. Remus spends 12 years wholeheartedly believing Sirius betrayed everyone he claimed to care about and everything he believed in, only changing his mind upon spotting Peter on the map; up until that point, Remus believed Sirius was guilty. I can’t recall off the top of my head if they ever say if Remus also suspected Sirius of being the spy in the First War or if it only happened post-Halloween, but it is entirely possible he did (which would help explain why James goes along with keeping Remus ignorant of the switch. If Remus has fallen so far to distrust Sirius and believe Sirius could ever hurt James, then I could see James thinking Remus never knew either of them at all). Regardless, I’ve never really seen Wolfstar fics address that Sirius and Remus did not have any faith in each other with the First War

(Tangentially related, do you know if they say if Remus distrusted Sirius during the war or if it was only after that Halloween?)

the distrust is a MASSIVE part of remus and sirius' dynamic and i think the fact that they could be part of a close group at school and still suspect each other of murderous and extremist ideals is HUGE. it suggests to me that they were never really that close or that their trust of each other was on the floor - or both. you don't just know someone for seven years and think "yeah they're probably spying for the other side" if you have a generally good relationship. especially if you're suspecting a friend over other members in the order that you don't know as well. this is why wolfstar, especially hogwarts or first war wolfstar, is absolutely wild to me. it crumbles. there's nothing to stick it together. i'm open to like a complex friendship between remus and sirius (because that's what it was) but there's quite an easy to reach line of how far their actual intimacy and endurance of each other's company goes.

and yeah, remus CONTINUING to believe that sirius betrayed james for thirteen years is another layer to this. i can see why he would, given the supposed evidence. but he didn't once question it? also remus perpetuates james and sirius' closeness when he talks about their teenage years so it's extreme to see and acknowledge that kind of bond and to still think that sirius would betray james. like how low is his estimation of sirius? i know that sirius and remus get on post-poa but i really think thats an "everyone else is dead or a death eater" situation. they're united in their lost years post james' death but i think they're still very much personal versions of that loss that they don't resolve or deal with together.

i don't think that james or lily directly suspected remus or truly believed he was a death eater but i think james definitely trusted sirius enough to go with his word, and i don't think either of them would be like "i trust him 100%" but i also don't think they'd be as far convinced that he was the spy as sirius was. i just think that they unequivocally trusted sirius and they put their son first.

also yes, this exchange in poa suggests it was a mutual suspicion at the same time during the war but it's not as explicit or as established as sirius' distrust of remus (which stands alone even if remus never suspected sirius imo):

"Remus!" Pettigrew squeaked, turning to Lupin instead, writhing imploringly in front of him. "You don't believe this, wouldn't Sirius have told you they'd changed the plan?" "Not if he thought I was the spy, Peter," said Lupin. "I assume that's why you didn't tell me, Sirius?" he said casually over Pettigrews head. "Forgive me, Remus," said Black. "Not at all, Padfoot, old friend," said Lupin, who was now rolling up his sleeves. "And will you, in turn, forgive me for believing you were the spy?"

the use of 'the spy' is significant here i think because remus wouldn't have believed that sirius was the spy if he had had no suspicion towards him prior to halloween 1981, he would have said 'traitor' or 'for believing you betrayed james and lily'. 'spy' suggests a longer standing trajectory of suspicion.

so maybe remus had a hint of suspicion that he felt was vindicated when james and lily died or maybe it was fully realised but i always got the impression that remus was more distant from sirius & james (and lily) post-hogwarts and this distance let things fester. idk whether i got this from suggestions in the text tho or whether i just think that's a likely occurrence that allows for james to go along with the suggestion that remus might not be completely trustworthy.

[weirdestbooks]

Secret States Chapter 10

Complicated Secrets (Wattpad | Ao3)

Table of Contents | Prev | Next

Why would Cuba not tell USSR about America's states? Cuba and America might have gotten along before and have started to get along again now, but they were still enemies during the Cold War. 

Perhaps America had threatened him, or Cuba never thought it important enough to tell USSR about, but… nothing about it made sense.

Everything was getting very confusing.

“USSR…already knew about America’s states? Are you telling me you didn’t know?” Cuba asked. 

“The USSR knew, but you never told me?” Britain asked, turning to James, an anger in his voice that made some of his former colonies shrink in on themselves. Russia ignored his outburst, focusing on Cuba.

But Britain was right about one thing. 

Why did the USSR know but not Britain? Why did the USSR never tell him? Russia was his father. He had a right to know!

And why did the USSR never use America’s state against him? It could have given them an advantage in the Cold War, could have been used to force America to back down since America seemed to care about them quite a lot.

Why did he never take advantage of that?

James looked strangely assumed, as Russia had never seen him be anything other than emotionless and firm, hostile and protective.

It was strange and unusual.

Russia didn’t like it.

Russia felt like he was having some sort of weird dream or maybe hallucinating. 

"How the fuck did the goddamn USSR know before we did?!" Canada asked, hands gripping the armrests of his wheelchair. Russia was grateful that he wasn’t the only person horrified and betrayed by that revelation.

"Yeah. You know USSR would do anything to one-up or hurt you. Why do such an idiotic thing like telling him about your states? You claim you want to protect them, but this seems like an awful way of doing so." Ukraine said.

"Alaska told him," James said. “It wasn’t us. But Alaska was curious, as the USSR is a relative of his and one who disliked the Russian Empire as much as he did. It was…it was back in the 1930s, I believe, so things between us weren’t tense then. It…obviously didn’t go as well as Alaska had hoped.

Russia exhaled, putting his face in his hands, trying to process everything. He lifted his head up after a few moments, pinching himself just to make sure he wasn't dreaming. 

It didn’t do anything. Russia was awake. What the hell was happening? Everything was so confusing.

Why didn’t his son tell him anything? Why was Russia left in the dark? They had always worked together so closely. Russia thought…he thought, even amidst all the tension the USSR had, that they were a team, that they could trust each other.

Had…had that not been true? 

Russia didn’t know what to think. He felt as if a large portion of his life had been a lie. 

"You and Soviet have never been on good terms, though. There was always some form of tension in your relations. Many other countries were the same way with your relations at that time, myself included. Why tell him and not me?" Britain said, sounding upset, still pushing that issue, as if everyone didn’t know he abused every colony he ever had control over. 

"Like I said, Alaska wanted to. He did it without talking to me about it. I found out later. When the Cold War started, I made Soviet promise to keep my states secret, and we both agreed to keep our subdivisions out of things,” James said.

Was that why USSR had never told Russia? Some misguided attempt at protecting Russia? But why did USSR agree to the deal in the first place? He had no reason to. All of the subdivisions could take care of themselves.

"How? How'd you get USSR to keep them secret?" China asked. James stayed silent, eyes growing a little bit distant.

"You aren't going to tell us, are you?" Ghana asked. James shook his head, snapping out of whatever trance he had been in.

“Oh, no, I don’t know what the deal is outside of the subdivision part. I wasn’t there, and America never fully disclosed all the details to me,” James said with a slight shrug, but his eyes flickered to Russia as he said that.

What did that mean? Was James lying about not knowing?

Did Russia have something to do with the USSR keeping America's states secret from the rest of his family and country? Or was James doing that to mess with Russia and confuse him?

Russia had too many questions and not enough answers.

"Yeah, so I never told Soviet about anything involving America's states. I was debating it, but I found out Soviet already knew about the states, which was a surprise. I thought I would have been informed of who knew about the states, James, so I would have known who I could talk about them with," Cuba said, crossing his arms.

"We’re a busy country," James responded.

"Well, still, it was a very unexpected surprise," Cuba said.

"I think Russia is also experiencing a very unexpected surprise." Philippines said, "And the rest of your family. I don't think anyone saw 'the USSR knows about your states' coming."

Of course, no one saw it coming! Why would anyone see this coming?

"Why the fuck would we have predicted that?" Britain asked. Philippines shrugged.

"Be creative. You know Dad's fucking crazy sometimes. It comes from his stubbornness." Liberia said.

“Once again, it was Alaska, not us," James said, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"This is very confusing," Rwanda muttered from next to Russia. Russia nodded, even though he didn't think she was looking for an answer.

"It's confusing because it's complicated." St. Kitts and Nevis said, probably louder than he meant to, as James laughed at the comment.

“Everything involving the states is complicated. Especially when you bring in New York and Delaware." James said.

Russia groaned. What earth-shattering secret did America have now? And why did all of his secrets seem to have secrets?

Russia felt like he would have been a lot more well-informed and less surprised if someone just told him these things.

It felt strange to have been left in the dark.

[scintillatingshortgirl19]

I want to clarify something re: my issues with the James Tartt storyline.

I've been seeing a lot of posts and comments talking about how everyone deserves a shot at redemption and that that should not mean "everyone but James and Rupert" - and I want to say I think those posts are absolutely correct. As a lifelong villain fan I actually have massive, massive issues with the concept of any fictional character being considered by fandom to be truly "irredeemable" (especially since that line seems to be different for every single person), and I often hate the ideas fandoms tend to pass around about what fictional characters do or do not "deserve," so I want to make it clear that my issues with James' implied redemption have absolutely nothing to do with whether or not I think he deserves it. I strongly believe addiction is a disease and that everyone - even abusive, terrible people - should get the chance to change. This is especially true of fictional characters, since exploring concepts of second chances and redemptions within a story doesn't pose any risks to real-life people.

That said, these are the reasons why I think this whole thing was absolutely terrible from a storytelling perspective.

There are stories that are served well by canon leaving some things offscreen and letting the viewer fill in the blanks, but I don't think that's remotely the case here. To do this story justice, they needed to give it time. They needed to give it at least a modicum of buildup. They needed to show us this journey, rather than just telling us about it in a brief, sunlight-doused clip and saying "be happy about this, damn it!" Seeing them happy and smiling together is an enormous leap that should've taken much longer to get to than the show implies, and as a result it feels extremely jarring. Jamie reconnecting with his dad is an incredibly messy and complex storyline that needed to develop over time, and it was a huge mistake to just gloss over it like the writers did.

Show me James hitting rock bottom and how he ended up in rehab. Show me Jamie's conflicted feelings about reconnecting with him. Show me Jamie coming to an understanding that not reconnecting with his dad is also a perfectly valid option, and that letting go of his fear of and anger at James is not dependent on Jamie giving James any more of his time or energy. Show me Jamie being fully, actively aware that no matter what he chooses, letting James back into his life is not necessary for Jamie to move forward and grow as a person. Show me Jamie putting up boundaries to protect himself throughout this process - physically and emotionally. Show me James getting to know his son as an actual person and not just an object to use for his own selfish ends. Show me the emotional journey of this father, ravaged by addiction and his own unprocessed trauma, learning how to love and take a genuine interest in his son for perhaps the first time ever. Show me Jamie talking to his friends about this and getting their opinions and support. Show me Jamie having sessions with Dr. Sharon so I know he isn't undertaking this journey without therapeutic guidance.

You could make the argument that all of the above is implied, and you'd probably be right. But at the end of the day, I maintain that this father and son journey needed to be given actual screentime - especially because James' abuse of Jamie was given so much screentime, not to mention the additional bomb that was dropped on us in Sunflowers about what James did to Jamie when he was fourteen (and then was never brought up again, leaving me to assume Jamie still has yet to even realize that that was an instance of sexual assault). James verbally, emotionally, and physically abused Jamie for years, and the story did not shy away from showing us the effects of that. The story of Jamie reconnecting with this man should have been a half-season arc at minimum, and they had no business showing us that without also showing us Jamie processing the trauma they told us about in Sunflowers.

And it's frustrating because the more I think about it, the more I love the idea of a story centered around a son and his abusive father reconnecting and the messiness of that father trying to become a better person and heal from addiction and the complexity of that son trying to reconcile his love for his dad with his need to fully recognize and process what was done to him. I would love an exploration of James' past - maybe his dad took him to a red light district when he was 14, too. Maybe that was all he knew, and he certainly hasn't processed his own trauma, so of course he did the same thing to his own son. Maybe the cycle of abuse goes back generations and generations, and James and Jamie BOTH get to break it, not just Jamie (although that could only be true for James in a fairly limited sense, considering the permanent damage he did to Jamie cannot be undone). Anyway, my point is that it all has the potential to be so, so compelling - but the way they executed it just felt so oversimplified and rushed and cheap, and also sent some really problematic messages.

Tl;dr: I do genuinely think that, given proper time to develop it, there could've been a way to do this story well. This was not it.

[jadelotusflower]

Stargate rewatch: 1x21 Within the Serpent's Grasp

We’re back in tarp city, quite a circle back to the pilot.

Daniel sans glasses once again, urging the team to go through the gate to the address he got in the AU. Jack still doesn’t believe him and Sam is concerned about a court martial, but Teal’c is immediately on board.

“In the other reality by the time I left Sara was dead, Carter your whole family was dead, hell I was dead, everyone was dead.” Interesting that Daniel specifically mentions Sara here, I wonder if the Jack/Sara relationship was something they were considering revisiting at some point.

The first use (I think) of the black BDUs by the team.

Is Daniel wearing contacts? At least in the earlier scene he had his glasses hooked on his shirt. I realise I’m harping on this but there doesn’t seem to be any continuity to Daniel’s vision.

Story by James Crocker (his only Stargate credit), teleplay by Jonathan Glassner, directed by David Warry-Smith.

Our first use of the Zat’nik’tel - unpopular opinion maybe but I love the Zats, they become somewhat of a crutch as an all purpose stun gun rather than the “extreme pain” they’re introduced as inflicting, but that’s how it goes.

Jack, Daniel, and Sam being floored by the ship accelerating but not Teal’c is a nice touch.

It’s Ferretti! Confirmation that he took over from Kawalsky leading SG-2. I always liked Ferretti, it’s a shame he wasn’t more of a supporting/recurring character in the show. In fact I don’t think we see him again after this episode? He’s off to get into prosthetics on Andromeda.

Some continuity issues with what Teal’c knows about the Ha’tak vessels in this episode compared to later on - his knowledge/experience really is dictated by the episode requirements.

The Jaffa turn on the big ol’ silver ball of communication and Apophis dials in to introduce his son Klorel. It’s a bit of a retcon from the pilot but I discuss my headcanon explanation in that episode writeup.

Daniel shifting into rage mode at seeing Apophis.

Also lol at everyone in their beanies but Jack. RDA really said nope, caps only for O’Neill, no exceptions.

The discussion the team has about whether to try and capture Klorel/rescue Skarra is actually a nice mirror of the one they have in The Nox - Jack and Daniel, being emotionally invested, are keen to do it despite the risk and are quick with justifications (Jack - it would be a strategic advantage, Daniel - they could try and reach Skaara), Teal’c supports them with his own tactical logic, while Sam appropriately questions the plan and makes sure there’s a contingency.

It’s part of why they make such a good team - each of them bring a different skillset and pov to each situation, and they have the respect for each other to talk it through.

Sam and Daniel plant the C4, and apparently Daniel’s glasses were clipped to his shirt after all, because he takes them out and puts them in a vest pocket for some reason.

For Daniel's snark about "uploading a virus to the mothership" the previous episode, it's kind of lol that their solution ends up being just blowing up the mothership - uploading a virus in the form of explosives.

Jack and Teal’c actually nab Klorel pretty easily in the end - it’s holding onto him that’s the problem.

“He is my father. He seeded the queen mother. He chose the host in which I will live out eternity. Apophis gave me life.” I suppose we’re meant to assume Amaunet is the queen in question but I really wish they’d done more with the familial relationships - both of the Goa’uld and human sides.

Alexis Cruz gives a great performance as Klorel, really pushing Jack’s buttons.

After Jack shoots him with the Zat, Skaara calls for both Sha’re and Daniel 🥺

Skaara is able to maintain a degree of influence over Klorel even when he regains control - afteraffects of the zat, Skaara’s strength, or because Klorel is a young Goa’uld not yet experienced in controlling a host? Perhaps all three.

Klorel gets Daniel in the hold of the ribbon device (but of course!), and Jack has to make the agonising decision to shoot Skaara to save Daniel’s life.

I mean, if I had a nickel every time a member of SG-1 has to shoot one of Daniel’s family to stop the Goa’uld that possesses them from killing him with the ribbon device…

Maybe it’s not that weird it happened twice, since Jonathan Glassner also wrote Forever in a Day.

“O’Neill, you must take action!” Why doesn’t Teal’c take action? Someone run over there and tackle Klorel instead of standing around watching Daniel’s brain get fried!

But of course it has to be Jack - Jack who brushed by Daniel in the pilot to greet Skaara, but has grown closer to Daniel since he joined SG-1; they started out only united by a common goal (find Sha’re and Skaara) but have started to develop a real bond. It’s the emotional climax not only of the episode, but the whole season in forcing Jack to chose between the lives of his surrogate son and his comrade and friend.

Added to this is the trauma of Jack being forced to stop Skaara with a gun - Charlie died in part due to Jack’s negligence around his gun, but Jack actively had to shoot Skaara here and that’s heartbreaking.

A nice mirror to the end of the last episode, with our team staring down at the Stargate framed by the control room of the SGC, and now they're staring down at Earth framed by the Pel'Tak.

[screwhope]

THIS WAS A TEST. hydra said as much -- go back in time &* secure our access to the tesseract. if she succeeded , she'd get information on her son -- on henry ; his name was henry mills. not only that , but she'd get a way to her realm -- where her family was from. thirty eight years of living on earth with no trace of a lineage , &* they'd be laid at her feet. it's no coincidence that this offer was made just a few days after telling winter &* steve the truth. hydra must have word that she's planning on escaping -- of turning against them. with powers rivaling wanda's , emma was one of hydra's biggest weapons. it made sense that they'd pull out all the stops to keep her on their side.

they hadn't said when. hadn't explained much of anything as they shoved her into a portal that dropped her somewhere in an alley in new york. based on her clothing , she could wager a guess -- 1930s or 40s. that was all she was given ; a quarter-sleeved dress in teal , curled hair that was pinned up in some high-maintenance updo , &* pointed heels that made her dearly miss her combat boots. she knew so little about hydra or the superhero world , even with her two decade stent working -- they knew that ; knew she'd have no trouble accepting a mission if she had no idea what she was getting herself into.

it's why she can't find words when she's helped up from the ground by a younger , far less brutalized version of winter. SHE CAN'T DO ANYTHING BUT STARE AT HIM FOR A FEW LONG SECONDS , emerald gaze melting in to something sad &* adoring all at once. she knew they had a past with steve -- no specific historical lessons were given on the subject. winter certainly hadn't known to tell her. she's been tailed by hydra ever since everyone came back from the snap -- they knew she'd turn against them eventually. the last thing she wanted was to leave a breadcrumb trail straight to winter. so she's never visited the museum. hydra hardly ever let her leave the lab once winter left. steve was easier to learn about -- hero of world war ii , the assumed fall of hydra at his hand , defrosted just before she joined in , once figurehead of s.h.i.e.ld. turned fugitive. TOP OF THE HIT LIST , NEXT TO WINTER. all she'd learned on her own about winter himself was things she could hear in passing out &* about from news papers or radios or phones -- james buchanan barnes , aka the winter soldier , has been cleared of charges. his name. all she really knew was his name. even that she'd only confirmed through steve -- BUCKY.

even then , she can't help herself as she breathes a name in a soft whisper --- ❛ winter. ❜ she doesn't linger long -- she knows better than to be completely off her game. LIE , EMMA. it was cold ; her gaze falls away from him to take in her surroundings , giving her a leg to stand on as she spots some snow. ❛ --- the winter ice. i slipped. i --- thank you. hurt like hell. ❜ she gives his hand a little squeeze , hesitating briefly before she releases her grasp on him. flesh hands ; both warm &* unscarred. ❛ --- what's your name ? i'm emma. can i buy you a coffee or something for stopping to help me ? ❜ HE'S NOT PART OF THE MISSION. he's not even in the army yet -- there's no way he's related to this at all. just a cruel dagger in her side to punish her for her time with winter. still. ❛ i insist. ❜

[dukeofdelirium]

I looked into Omer’s insta and he had posted that photo a while ago, not recently, and a few comments are like “I hope one day you’ll get your truth out.” I don’t know if he’s had some type of drama going on in his life, or if everyone is assuming something went on with Michael. There are a few that are annoyed that Michael is brought up every five seconds even though this was the kid that was “Little Michael” and according to Frank Cascio(?) Michael said that was his son (could have been a joke or something). Honestly, I just wish people like Wade, James, and Omer knew that it’s okay to work a 9-5, it’s okay to be regular. They don’t need a billion dollars to be satisfied, cause at the end of the day, none of the money in the world will clear their conscience.

Yeah but then he reposted it on Twitter once fans saw him auctioning MJ stuff so he’s either plotting something or intentionally feeding into the idea of it, just like he never stopped spreading rumors about being MJs kid among other things.

Idk if he’s going to accuse bc as far as I know he’s said nothing but still, he’s not doing anything to stop the rumor of it either

[eileennatural]

Okay but I would LOVE to hear more about Jamie having been called the (other) f word and still taking a beat for the concept to filter through.

okay i think jamie has almost certainly been called homophobic slurs before just based on. well the way he is treated by those around him? he's pretty much the only member of the cast who's masculinity is ever questioned or belittled (see: being called "soft" or "fragile" or "bitch" or "little bitch" or "pretty boy") also if a group of his friends/teammates all sort of assume he's gay (which they do) its not unreasonable that other people would perceive him that way too.

the main thing is though. his dad was VERY clearly concerned about jamie's masculinity/sexuality from at least his early teens. constantly telling jamie how to behave, making jamie AFRAID to be perceived as "soft", making him lose his virginity to a woman at just 14? these actions all read as very much "i'm afraid my son is gay and i need to 'fix' that" (also see: that one post abt how jamie only wears color when hes at richmond, never when hes playing for man city) i think james was probably pretty homophobic to jamie, regardless of whether jamie actually likes men or not (bc slurs aren't just homophobic, they're also emasculating/belittling in general)

why jamie wouldn't realize which "f word" had been said? i think in any real football game its probably not that uncommon to hear that kind of language from fans (from what i've heard, british football culture CAN at times be very hypermasculine/violent) BUT ted lasso takes place in a liberal fantasy world where almost everyone is nice to each other and would never call each other slurs so i think jamies confusion is just to highlight how extremely inappropriate and hateful the term is (like, he never would have expected to hear it in that context, so why should he assume that's what was said?)

sorry this is so long i took this ask an an excuse to speak at length about jamie + masculinity and ran with it

[envihellbender]

Hunt!Sebastian paying John a visit

Characters: Sebastian Moran, John Sims

Verse: The Magnus Archives, TMA AU of Sebastian Moran / Moriarty (MorMor)

[CLICK]

THE ARCHIVIST

[HE SOUNDS A LITTLE SHAKEN, AS IF HE IS PACING UP AND DOWN AS HE IS TALKING.]

I found a tape on my desk. I have checked and double checked with security and with the CCTV coming into the building and everyone coming in or out of the building is accounted for. Was it posted here? It wasn’t in an envelope or anything. Maybe Ma- someone thought they were being helpful. But he- they wouldn’t open my mail, would they? Anyway. Here it is. Statement of Sebastian Moran. Regarding how he met James Moriarty.

[CLICK]

SEBASTIAN MORAN

I found one of your little tape recorders, Archivist, so thought I’d give you something to listen to. You know me. Basher Moran. Moriarty’s Tiger. The most feared sniper in Europe. Prince of London’s Underworld. That one is weird I think, if Moriarty’s the king, that would make me his son? Anyway. Yeah. It’s me, and I hear you’ve been tracking down me and Jimmy, listening to all our victim’s statements and all that. So I thought I’d give you something straight from the tiger’s mouth. There have been quite a few stories about how I met my Jimmy. Urban legends really. Is this one of them or is this a lie just to get under your skin? Only you’ll be able to tell, right Archivist?

Let’s quickly skip through the really boring stuff. Yeah, yeah, son of Augustus Moran and a servant he knocked up in his house in India. He actually had quite a few bastards you know, for some reason he took a shine to me and that’s not the compliment you think it is. He was a faggot, pretended not to be, and whether I killed the fat cunt or not is a little secret you already know the answer to, Archivist. Anyway, I’m the best shot you’ll ever find. Spent most of my teens at a shooting range and didn’t get sped through the army ranks cause of my surname. When your as brown as me and your dad dun’t wanna talk about you a name as common as Moran don’t help. So. I get quietly discharged cause if a nasty event that don’t have anything to do with this story, but you need to picture me as being out Army in my twenties and making a comfortable living selling my services. With a gun, by the way, not my dick sucking lips.

The thing about sniping, is it’s mostly waiting. You set yourself up somewhere high up and out of sight, if you’re good at it you can be low down and no one will find you. Sometimes it’s just you, snacks, drinks, your headphones, and that spare empty bottle you brought to piss in. Audiobooks are great for that. I got through all Chuck Palahniuk’s stories that way. Anyway. Got distracted. So. Most people assume Jimmy hired me, and nah, course he didn’t. He doesn’t do anything like a normal person. First, it was messages in my phone. A text message from a number that didn’t exist and any time I tried to call it instead all I got was a loud screeching noise. The text itself was just a set of coordinates and a time. I decided to ignore it, and five minutes after the deadline, I got left a voicemail without my phone ever had been rung. Weirdest thing about that? It was my voice.

Yeah. Apparently I had rang myself and left a message threatening me about what I would do to my eyeballs if I didn’t pay attention to the next text message. So that was fucking weird. But message received. The next time I got some coordinates I went straight there. First ones led me to a tube station. And when I looked at the train times screen, there was a message for me instead. No one else seemed to see it. But I swear to God it said “Moran. Go to the payphone I’ve marked.” Which is fucking annoying. God damn treasure trail without the treasure. Anyway, so I found it, and clever fuck had written “hi” with a heart drawn on it. Fucking fag. So when I got to it, it started ringing. I answered it and this soft lilting voice was in the other end.

He gave me a job. A good job. With a lot of money. And I said yeah, even though I asked why he didn’t just tell me instead that of playing some stupid game. He giggled and said it was fun. Now I get it. That’s just how he works. When you’re running around anxious and confused he’s feeding off you. That’s just a small way he gets a quick snack. So we went on like this for a while, giving me job after job. I got a bit sick of it, and whilst yeah the Web is really fucking powerful. But. Well, I’m the Hunt. And finding shit is what I do.

So I laid low for a while and between and during jobs I started tracking down my Jimmy. He knew, kept making jokes about how close I was. Maybe he thought I wouldn’t make it to him, maybe he wanted me to, or maybe he didn’t care. Honestly, Jimmy might not even know. Maybe he didn’t think about it. But. Eventually I found myself just outside of this big fancy flat building. One of the types in zone one where the front is fancy as fuck and the back is meeting the quota for affordable housing. I don’t care, if they live in the shithole they can’t pay me. I took the lift up to the top floor. The huge, massive, modern screen door greeted me when I got out. He has a penthouse you see, and the dramatic fuck has a spider web pattern all over it.

I was planning on being subtle, but the moment I got to the top floor, I heard a lilting giggle. I looked up to see a camera pointed directly at me. He didn’t say a word, just ended up with a click to show the door was open. I walked in. His house is pretty great but I’m not gonna tell you shit that might lead you to him. You know what’s funny? I hate spiders. I hate them. I hate them so much of course I noticed their was a lot hanging around my flat since this started. But I didn’t think they had anything to do with Jimmy. His penthouse though? Let’s just say he’s gone all out on the theme.

Anyway. I mostly came here to kill time because gotta shoot one of your librarians. Just some dickhead who stuck his nose where he shouldn’t. By the time you hear this, you might wanna make sure someone goes up to clean up. I knew this would be a great way to distract you. Once the statement started you wouldn’t be able to put it down. Hope you enjoyed my story, mate. There’s plenty more where that came from. My Jimmy? He’ll be in touch.

THE ARCHIVIST

[CLICK. HE SIGHS.]

Statement ends. Carson Throw was found with a very clean gunshot wound through his temples. The bullet was found lodged into a book about spider webs. Hardly subtle. There wasn’t much of a mess. Carson was very wrapped up in jobs for James Moriarty, nothing special just owed him a lot of money from card games and he was slowly trying to work off. It seems Carson tried to get out before his debt had been paid. As for what Moran and Moriarty want with me… Only time will tell.

[CLICK.]

[mickimomo]

In Another Life

AU where Oni and Killmonger are siblings instead of enemies

Imagine how giddy I felt when I saw an image of KiKi and Michael. I just knew that I had to write this after that. 🥹 (source: just jared)

So, in this AU, Zuri adopts Erik after his father is killed, and he properly explains what happened and why his father died. And instead of abandoning him in the US, he takes him to Wakanda and raises him with his wife, who he was arranged to marry and eventually passes after having Oni due to complications a few years later. In the end, there's never a coup for the throne, and Erik is just eager to serve Wakanda and take care of his family. Maybe he eventually goes off to become a War Dog and then works with T'Challa and Nakia to start a program to help members of the Lost Tribe. 🤷🏾‍♀️ I'm just spilling my brain.

Here's what I wrote:

"Erik."

"Yeah, Uncle James?"

"Where's Oni?" He arched a brow as his adopted son walked into the Temple of Bast, covered in sweat and grit from all the chores he had been working on outside.

"Huh?"

"Where's Oni?"

"She's not in here with you?"

Zuri gave him a fatherly look as he plucked one last yellow leaf from the herb plant he was tending to and got up. "It's almost noon. I assumed she was with you." He furrowed his eyebrows.

A light bulb went off in his head when he realized what might be going on. "Ah. Well. She was." He laughed softly. "I forgot I sent her off to run a small errand earlier."

"A small errand?"

"To get some water from the river for the herbs."

Cebisa's eyes became saucers at the news. "On her own!?!"

"She's fine. She said she could handle it."

The short plump woman scolded the tall man with a few motherly pinches. "I swear, the two of you are the reasons my hairs are turning white."

"That's not our fault."

"Oh?"

"It's because you're getting old."

"Old eh? I only look old from all this stress!" She smacked him. "After all I do. I tell you. The children of this world are getting more disrespectful."

"I'm grown."

"You're not grown if you do not respect your elders."

"Now you know I don't believe that bullshit-"

"AH! AH!"

Zuri closed his eyes as Cebisa began to shout at his son in xhosa and dust him with red sand for cursing.

Erik took it like be always did.

A shit eating grin and a few chuckles that earned him more sand and a threat to wash his mouth out with soap.

Cebisa stormed as the young man bit back a chuckle.

"You need to do better." He opened his eyes to look at Erik. "Next time she will use your mouth as a soap mold."

"What about Oni?" He joked.

"It is your fault that she even knows profanity."

"My fault? She's in her 20s, Uncle James."

"Who was it that made Oni's first word a curse word?"

Erik bit his tongue when he recalled his little sister as a baby, casually dropping the f bomb and giving almost everyone in the room a heart attack.

And babies being babies.

She just kept saying it.

And he was the #1 suspect.

Uncle James never put his hands on him before, but he was really worried when that happened.

It took an entire month of learning other words to get that word out of her vocabulary, and curse words were forbidden from then on out.

"It's a sentence enhancer."

Zuri shook his head before waving him off. "Go help Oni, before I enhance you with more work. You know she's probably struggling making her way back in her gown and veil."

"Alright." He offered a small nod before retreating.

°l||l°l||l°l||l°l||l°l||l°l||l°l|💜|l°l||l°l||l°l||l°°l||l°l||l°l||l°

Erik found Oni cursing under her breath as she struggled to carry a vibranium pole with four large buckets of water up a hill.

Her lilac dress was soaked, slightly tattered, and the bottom was filthy with mud.

Her veil stuck to face with sweat, and her breath was labored as she slowly journeyed upwards.

"Did I just hear the Vessel of Bast curse?"

"Don't fucking start." She snapped.

"Ooooh. Wait till Uncle James finds out."

"N'Jadaka, I am too tired to argue with you."

"Well, you look like you went through hell." Erik chuckled.

"Victory doesn't always look pretty." She grunted as she slowly made her way towards him.

"I don't get why you always insist on taking the hard route." He moved forward to help. "I sent you off to do this hours ago. How long did you fight to get four buckets balanced on your shoulders instead of taking four trips?"

"All morning." She huffed before growling at his assistance. "I don't need your help!"

"Yes. Yes. You are strong and mighty." He imitated her voice before he poked her forehead. "But you're also soft and fragile."

"I don't like that." She huffed.

"It's called balance, sis. You can't be strong without weakness." He scolded her softly.

"I'm training to be strong. I can't afford to be weak."

"Yes, you can. You don't have to be strong all the time. You got the best big brother in the world. You know I'll fight the wind for you, if you ask me to." He laughed softly before sighing when he noticed her hands were bleeding. "But you have to give yourself breaks and ask for help before you hurt yourself."

"I don't need anyone's help, Erik." She huffed. "Okoye didn't get help when working to become General of the Dora Milaje. She worked hard and denied her weaknesses until she got it."

"Whoever told you that forgot to mention the parts where Okoye was sore and tired and wanted to quit and human." He narrowed his eyes. "And although you're a little different with Bast and shit. You need to remember that you are still human. At the end of the day, we all die, and we all have to go to the ancestral plane." He furrowed his eyebrows. "Are you trying to train so hard that you wake up with the ancestors?"

"No."

"Then you need to take breaks and ask for help. Got it?"

"Got it."

He grabbed two buckets off from each end of the pole before refocusing on her. "I promise, you've trained enough for the day. You need to sit down and smell some flowers or something." He glanced at her. "Something those colonizers do in those cheesy movies you and Shuri make me watch."

Oni snorted before smiling. "Like what? Bake a cake? Paint my nails? Go to the club?"

"The first two sound phenomenal."

"Hypocrite."

"Hey. I'm not the Vessel of Bast."

"And if I wasn't?"

"You still wouldn't be going."

"What!? Why not?"

"I promise, you will not find the love of your life in the club."

"I'm just going there for a good time."

"You won't find a good time there." He joked. "It's just a bunch of sweaty, musty, tipsy, horny, and high people." He wrinkled his nose. "Ever smelled vomit after someone crossed their liquor or urine because someone couldn't make it to the bathroom in time after drinking all night?"

Oni rolled her eyes. "Thank you for that. You somehow made the club sound less fun."

"As your big bro, it's my job to look out for you, annoy you, and kick ass when people try to come for you."

Oni took a deep breath and shook her head. "You say that all the time."

"Because it's true." He grinned. "Now come on. Uncle James was looking for you, and Auntie Cebisa was pressed."

"Pressed? What happened?"

"Dunno." He lied.

"I'm screwed."

"You won't be if we swing home first and get you patched and cleaned up."

Oni began to walk. "Then we better hurry."

He offered a nod before following after her. "I mean, that'll require you to shower quickly and not have a concert singing your little heart out for five hours."

"I do not spend five hours in the shower!"

"You're right. I shoulda said 10."

"It wasn't 10 either! It's always 30 minutes max, 10 minutes minimum!"

"Let me move away-"

"Move away!?"

"Bast will surely strike you down for lying-"

"N'Jadaka I swear-" She took a deep breath as he laughed at her irritation. "I'll be fast." She grumbled.

"How does that song you alway play on your speaker go-?" He arched a brow before he began to sing intentionally off key.  "We be all night- looooooooooOooooovvvEeeee."

"Shuuut uppppp, N'Jadaka!"

"LooooooOoooooooveeEeee."

She attempted a fast, but hard sweeping kick to his ankles and moved when he attempted to kick her back.

They both laughed and ran back home carefully (but intentionally), trying to trip one another.

Erik in this AU: