#i like to think that wrath's room and lab are some of the only few places in and around the casino with white or blue light ghldfkjhgk

[popfizzles]

Say whatever you like about Sloth, but she's very good at getting others to sit, slow down and relax.

And Wrath will occasionally take the time to do so. Not often, but occasionally.

A very "beauty and her beast" sort of situation...

[painted-flag]

OF FLOWERS AND DEATH - aemond targaryen

Epilogue: An Elf's Devotion

☾⋆⁺₊✧ dark elf!Aemond Targaryen x f!human!reader series. ✧₊⁺⋆☾ series masterlist. ☾⋆⁺₊✧ word count: 11.2k (ye have to suffer for yer smut) ✧₊⁺⋆☾ series warnings: 18+ Smut, Oral (f!receiving), PinV, nipple play, praise kink, creampie. ☾⋆⁺₊✧ Healing, acceptance, and the start of a new life.

You sat in one of the castle's many courtyards at a circular table under a stone gazebo. The day was still young and you could hear the birds chirping as they flew from tree to tree. The lanterns strung under the roof of the gazebo illuminated the space you were in. The elder trees, in their great beauty, shrouded all light. It was surprising how easily you had adjusted to the perpetual darkness. 

A near-empty teacup was balanced in your lap. Your forefinger tapped rhythmically against the rim as you stared out at the plants surrounding you. It had been odd for you to be sitting and resting. All you had done for nearly two weeks was work in your laboratory. The healers, Daeron, and you, had been working tirelessly in brewing large portions of the cure. 

While unable to participate in the blood part of the brews, you had been preparing all the ingredients and orchestrating all of the shipments that were being sent to the far reaches of the kingdom. Reports were sent back that showed that the potion was working on swaths of land, restoring what had once been dead.

It was only yesterday that the last of the sick hall patients were released. It had been emotional, seeing all the beds empty and knowing they were not dead but now free to live the rest of their lives in comfort. After that, Daeron practically pushed you out of the laboratory to take some time off. You did not like it but decided to listen to him lest you incur his brotherly wrath. 

Now, you were eating lunch with Helaena. On the table sat empty dishes, with only a few scraps of food left. The large teapot was empty and the remnants left in your cup had gone cold. On the table in front of Helaena were dragonflies in their cages. They were the ones you had gifted her when you first met. She stared intently at them, occasionally brushing the wooden cage with her finger. 

“I don’t think I ever thanked you,” You spoke. Helaena raised her gaze to meet yours with furrowed brows. 

“For what?” She asked. 

Your finger continued its relentless drumming against the porcelain cup, “For coming back after we met. If it weren't for you, all of this… well, none of this would have happened.”

“Yes, the world works in mysterious ways,” She wore a small smile as if she was thinking about something nobody else knew.  

“Thank you, truly, for allowing me to be here. I would have never been able to make a cure, or have met the people I now know.” You picked up your cup and placed it on the table. A small breeze rushed through the courtyard, eliciting a small chill. The once vibrant days of summer were coming to a close and the icy hold of winter began to creep into the passing days. 

“Then I should thank you as well. How is everything with the potions?” Helaena asked. 

“It’s good,” You paused for a moment, “It has been a busy two weeks. Everything is a chaotic mess and I’m not sure how long it will be until it all calms.” 

“I can only imagine. And Aemond, how is he handling the hunt for Cole’s spies?” Helaena leaned back into her chair.

You let out an awkward cough, “I wouldn’t know… We, uh, have not had any time to speak since the uprising.” It was true. You had been so busy with creating more potions, you had even spent nights in the lab. Your guest room had been long abandoned and exchanged for a cot in the corner of the laboratory. Hours spent hunkered over the pots and ingredients, overseeing it all.

Aemond had been working non-stop in hunting down any conspirer that colluded with Cole. He had been busy in his own right, as had you, but you would be lying if you said it did not hurt. There were brief moments when you would see one another in the halls, but there was never any time to stop and talk. Nothing but longing glances thrown across corridors. 

“My brother hasn’t been a good husband?” Helaena said. You shook your head at her words and shifted in your seat. The firefly lanterns above you glinted. 

“We are married, but we are not together.” You clarified. It was simply a union to save him from the brink of death. 

��Has marriage been given a different definition since I last checked?” She asked you. You wanted to laugh, perhaps match a jest to her words, but nothing could escape your throat. Aemond and your relationship had hit some kind of barrier. You were married, souls bonded, but there was an underlying issue. Distance had been given, and you could only assume it was Aemond’s attempts at keeping you at arm's length. He does not want you to get the wrong idea – that this union means anything beyond convenience. 

The crunching of feet on the ground and clanging of armour interrupted your tea time. At the entrance of the courtyard stood two guards who had opened the latticed doors to let in their king. Aemond stood a few paces away from the gazebo. His gaze was trained directly on you, a look of compassion across his features. You remembered just what kind of day this was. 

Today was not a day you had been looking forward to. The black dress that clung to your frame felt nearly suffocating. While only black in colour, it held a mix of stitched details and threaded patterns that were heavily nature-centric. It was beautiful and if it had been another reason for wearing it, you would have loved it. Facing the truth of your father’s death had been a path largely consumed by denial. One thing that made it hurt the most was no recovery of his body, not that there would be much given the years since his murder. You just wanted something tangible to mark his passing. 

Aemond had decided to hold a small funeral service with a marked grave in the royal cemetery. His plan was entirely unprompted, as you had never even indicated your feelings. He could have understood because of the union of your souls and how your emotions were fairly intertwined. Apparently for elves, sensing their bond's emotion was as easy as breathing. Unfortunately, because of your humanness, you did not exactly feel his emotions as an elf would. It only came with great concentration, something of which you had no time for. 

Perhaps, a better explanation for why he came up with this funeral was the simple fact of shared experience. He too shared the burden, grief, and inexplicable loss of a father, thus understanding that you may need certain things provided to journey through the grieving process. 

You took in a breath and got up from your chair. The wooden poles scraped against the stone flooring. Your feet took you to the stone steps of the gazebo and you proceeded to take a step. Aemond had moved forward and held out his hand for you to take. You hesitated for a moment, but gently rested your hand on his palm. It was warm and calloused, but inexplicably comforting. A surge of energy shot through your body. The hands that had joined were the ones cut in the marriage ceremony. 

He escorted you through the courtyard and down a few flights of stairs outside of the castle. Helaena followed, soon joined by Aegon, Daeron, Amara, and Liriel. You did not want to make a spectacle of it, choosing to only have those close to you attend. 

The royal graveyard was located just beside the giant elder tree that made up the castle. Graveyards had always felt weird to you. Tombstones and monuments were permanent markers of the impermanent. They represented, in some capacity, the inability to move on; yet all must one day. It was more odd, that despite the elvish customs of being so in tune with nature, they did not allow their bodies to return to nature after death – instead enshrining their bodies in stone. 

Your group stopped, coming in front of the stone for your father. It had his name, along with the years he lived and died. The stone was granite, reflecting a speckled mess of white, black, and gray. The sight of it caused tears to brim your eyes, but you refused to let them fall. Aemond’s grip on your hand squeezed a few beets in succession in a rhythm similar to the beating of a heart. He stood to your right. 

Aegon walked out from behind you and Aemond. He carried a bouquet of white roses in his hands and crouched to gently place it at the base of the stone. You remember learning white roses signify peace and hope, which caused the edges of your lips to curl up just slightly. Aegon was silent for a moment before he stood up and walked back towards you. He stopped to face you on your left side. Aegon’s arm reached out, placed itself on your shoulder, and then gave it a gentle squeeze. You looked at him and he gave you a comforting smile. You nodded, grateful for his support but unable to vocalize it. 

After he went to stand at your side, Daeron came forward and repeated the same process. He placed a bouquet of daises beside Aegons, paused for a moment of silence, moved towards you and gave your shoulder a small squeeze before joining beside his brother. Next was Helaena, who placed lavender on the tombstone. She repeated the same process as her brothers and gave you a squeeze of comfort. Amara and Liriel both had their bouquets; tulips and orchids. They gave a moment of silence and then each squeezed your shoulder and offered small smiles. 

By then, you were overwhelmed with the support. Aemond brushed his thumb over the knuckles of the hand he had gripped and brought a bouquet of elf azures from behind his back. He held them to you and you grabbed them with him. The two of you carried the flowers to be placed at the centre of the grave. You took a moment of silence and thought of the words you would want to tell him if he were here. 

You could speak to him about all the breakthroughs you had made in your research. Detail the extensive and life-changing move from the capital to a village on the outskirts. 

You would tell him of your chance meeting with Helaena and how that one choice to help someone in need radically changed your life. Meeting everyone after, Daeron, Aegon, Amara, and Liriel. You could look him in the eyes and tell him all those scary stories about Aemond were false; that he saved your life in more ways than one. Your father could know that you were safe now, cared for and happy.

Most of all, you wished you could tell him you loved him one last time. So, muttering with the quietest whisper, you spoke, “I love you, father.” 

Aemond and you stood up and moved back to stand in your previous positions. Aemond brought your hand up to place a comforting kiss on your hand. The action caused your cheeks to heat up and turn a bright shade of red. Your heart thumped faster. 

One by one, your friends each said goodbye and left you to have your moment at the grave. Aemond was the only one who stayed standing by your side as you stared at the stone. He kept his one hand locked with yours but used the other to reach up and brush some hair behind your ear. 

“Are you alright?” He asked you. 

Your gaze was locked on the stone, “I had mourned him long ago.” Aemond nodded at your words.  

“There is something else, rūklon.” He spoke. 

You angled your head to look at him and furrowed your brows. He tugged one of your hands and gently led you a short walk away from the gravestone. You walked amidst the burials of all the royal family members that came before. At the edge of the yard was a young tree, newly planted by the looks of the recently tilled earth around it. Young and just beginning to leave its years of adolescence. 

Another granite grave was placed just by the tree. It stood straight and gleaming in the light of the lit lanterns strung about. The two of you got closer and you could finally see the inscription on the stone surface. 

Aemond had given Lyra a place of rest in the royal cemetery. 

You sucked in a sharp breath at the sight. Your grip on his hand tightened as you looked between him and the gravestone. To be placed in the royal cemetery despite not being a member of the family was a great honour not afforded to most. Aemond had given it to two important people in your life. 

 “An elder tree sapling has been planted over her body. Soon, she’ll be as tall as the other elder trees with time. Big enough to join the ancestors and protect us all.” Aemond spoke softly. His words seemed to break the damn that you had built up to keep the emotions in. The water pooling in your eyes sprung forth as a sob ripped its way out your throat. Aemond moved quickly to pull you into a hug. One arm wrapped around your waist while the other cradled the back of your head and pulled your face in to rest on his chest. 

The two of you stood there while you cried in his arms. There was so much you wished you could change. You wanted to apologize to Lyra for how long it took you to find a cure. Aemond’s grip tightened as your sobs came out harder. You wanted your father, you wanted your mother. Aemond’s hand on the small part of your back moved rhythmically up and down while his fingers cradled your head and carted through your hair.

There was no way to track the time that had passed as you cried. It had finally been a moment where you could just let it all go. The build-up of days, weeks, months, and years swept over you like a storm; destroying the fortresses you had built in your mind to protect yourself. With careful grace, you pulled away. You sniffled a few times and then looked back to the grave. 

“Thank you, Aemond.” You said between tears. He shook his head and moved his hands to cup your face. There was unspeakable warmth in his touch. 

“You need not thank me, ‘tis only an honour both deserve.” His thumbs swiped at the salty trails of water on your face. Your eyes traced the stone and for a moment you thought of the image of the sweet little elf girl who always smiled in spite of the pain. The strength Lyra carried, without ever truly acknowledging it herself, inspired you. 

“Amara and Liriel should be waiting in your room soon to ready you for tonight,” Aemond spoke, “But if you truly do not wish to attend I can move it to another day.” 

It was unfortunate that the first day you had off, the day of your father's funeral, fell on the same day the weekly celebration the elves held. You had wanted to delay the funeral at first, but could not stand being stuck in limbo any longer. You needed to process and move on. There was no way you would be the cause of a delay in the elves' tradition – it had been that way for multiple millennia. You felt you had disrupted their lives enough simply by being there. Now that you were the wife to the king, it would be best to tread your case lightly. 

You did not think you could ever get over the simple fact that you were married. However, you did speak to Daeron about the contingencies of your marriage. It had been a long day of brewing and you were more delirious than conscious. He was in the laboratory with you after all the elf healers had left. You had confessed your worries about being stuck in a loveless relationship, but he had simply shook his head with a small smile on his face and told you to sleep. 

You had a strong urge then to chuck a glass pitcher at his head. 

“No, everyone deserves to celebrate this victory.” You paused a moment and then looked towards him. However, you could not meet his eye and instead looked at his forehead, “Could I be alone for a moment?” 

Aemond’s jaw tensed at your standoffish attitude but gave you a curt nod, “As you wish.” His body turned, but he halted for a moment and looked at you. His mouth opened as if to say something, but he choked it down and stalked out of the cemetery. 

When he was gone, it felt like your ability to breathe went with him. You wondered how long it would take for you to spill your guts to the king. Would this be your life from now on? Where you would be attached at the hip to the person you loved, but unable to act on your feelings because of your fear. It was nothing but the truth. 

You were terrified. 

If you chose to act on your feelings and confess to him, what if he did not feel the same? All Aemond had given you since you arrived were mixed signals. One moment he is saving your life and the next insulting you. At the time, you did not understand why he had acted that way. Now, as you came to truly see him, you understood that he was grappling with his past and trying to balance the kingdom in the midst of the spreading taint. 

In some odd way, your presence in the kingdom had reminded him of the prince that took his eye. His on-and-off attitude was nothing but his inner child and leftover naivety clawing for a moment to be seen. War-torn and violent, under it all was a child facing the death of his parents, protecting a kingdom, and dealing with a betrayal like no other. 

He wanted to be your friend. He wanted to run back to the comfort of a human like he had long ago but was left paralyzed by his past. 

Yet, his actions towards you have changed dramatically as of late. Aemond was kinder, tender even. He had shown you patience and understanding, guarding you with his life when Cole revealed his falsehood. Aemond had agreed to marry you and while it was to save his life, he could not have made that decision entirely on that. He was your friend and you could only hope it could stay that way. 

Perhaps, in time, he could look at you the way you do to him.

You fiddled with the jewelry on your wrist as you walked the halls of the castle. It had been hours since the funeral and you had spent that time in your room. You had left the graveyard shortly after Aemond and were greeted by Amara and Liriel. Despite becoming your friends, they still acted as handmaids to you. You wanted them to stop, for it felt weird to make them serve you, but they adored dressing you up so you let them. 

When you had gotten to your room, they had already laid out a multitude of dresses and jewelry. You were undressed from your black mourning dress and immediately ushered into the adjoining room to bathe in a myriad of oils. Amara insisted on some of her lilac-scented oils, but you opted for the azure scent. She left you to have some privacy and you slowly cleaned yourself. 

Over the next couple of hours, the two elves dressed you up in various dresses and colours, until finally picking one that suited you the most. Now that you were a part of the elven kingdom, you thought it only fitting if you dressed in the kingdom's colours. The dark emerald green dress you wore was light and flowy, the dyed linen freely brushing the floor. Careful and detailed embroidered patterns lined the ends of your sleeves, skirt, and around your waist. The same pattern of stitched flowery imagery outlined your neckline, which plunged in a v formation. 

Amara and Liriel had spent another large portion of time getting your hair ready and sorting through the polished jewels and metals that would adorn your wrists, fingers, and neck. You were glad they had not brought up the funeral and chose to distract you by other means. 

They left you to go to the celebration, but you stayed behind for a few moments to collect yourself. Now, you were walking through the halls of the castle towards the grand hall. As you approached the large oak doors, taller than your lofted old cottage was, two guards noticed you coming. They immediately got out of their standing positions and each grabbed a large wrought iron handle. They leaned back to pull the doors open, as the weight of the wood was heavy. 

Upon entering the grand hall, the band halted their music and the elves turned to look at you. Suddenly, you felt hot under their intense gazes. This amount of attention was uncomfortable and reminded you of your first few weeks in the kingdom; when they would look at you with curiosity. Now, the intensity of their gaze had changed to something different, better even. 

You could spot Daeron as he made his way through the crowd. When he broke from them and approached, he smiled widely at you and clapped. Like a tidal wave, all of the other elves began to clap as well. You heard a sharp whistle and spotted Aegon over by your friends sporting a wolfish grin.

“I was wondering when our star would show up.” Daeron jested as he took your arm in his to escort you to your friends. The clapping began to cease and the band went back to their jovial tunes. The tunes of their flutes, fiddles, and lutes echoed across the hall as the elves resumed dancing and mingling.

“Star?” Your voice wavered. The celebration had been held to commemorate the cure and the missed war. 

“This would not be possible without you,” Daeron spoke like his words were an obvious observation. 

“Without all of the healers,” You interjected, “Do not forget you and your workers' sacrifices.” 

Daeron nodded at your words, but kept his cheeky grin, “Of course, my queen.” The way he addressed you felt like a bucket of ice water had been poured over your body. The elf healers had used such a title to address you, but you quickly put an end to it. It felt like theft to take up such a role. By now, you had neared your friend group where Aegon, Amara, and Liriel waited. Helaena was perched in the back, having made the effort to come for just a moment despite disliking such large gatherings. 

“Do not address me as such until I have spoken to Aemond. We may be married, but it is not appropriate to seize such a title.” You reprimanded. Daeron released you from his hold and held up his hands in defence, but only returned with a quiet hum. 

“There she is!” Aegon placed his chalice down at a nearby long table, covered in large amounts of food for the feast, “Might I so humbly request a dance with her grace?” Aegon bowed and held out his hand, but his actions still held this joking manner that was refreshing to see. You disliked how he used your royal rank but nodded gratefully and took his arm. You waved goodbye to your friends as he escorted you to the dance floor. 

“Lovely night. I have ordered some of the oldest wine barrels to be brought out. It is high time they were used.” Aegon spoke as he placed one hand on your waist and held your hand in the other. It was a quick waltz, with rushed movements and interspersed twirls. 

“Like you needed such an excuse to drink them,” You teased, “Though, I must thank you properly. Everything that you have done for me, agreeing to help me with my father… truly Aegon, it helped immensely.” During your noon tea time with Helaena, you finally found the opportunity to thank her. Now, you felt it was only necessary to begin thanking everyone else. Aegon looked appreciative of your thanks but was uncomfortable with the praise he was receiving having not been too used to it. 

“Truthfully I had been waiting for a moment to strike at…” Aegon paused, unwilling to speak Cole’s name, “We were close, for a time. He wasn’t always so, well,” His lips moved to a frown, unsure how to continue speaking.

Aegon shook his head and gave you a gentle smile, “I am just grateful I can go back to what matters most, drinking. Staying sober during all of this was the hardest part.” Aegon joked. You could tell, deep underneath, that he used humour to cope with his struggles. He was skilled at deflecting. It reminded you of that glimpse you saw many weeks ago. How you escorted him to his room after a night of drinking and he confessed his feelings of inadequacy compared to his siblings. You had given him advice then. Did he even remember your words? 

Just as you wanted to bring it up again, Aegon spotted something from behind you and a wicked smirk plastered itself on his face. He spun you around one last time as the song came to a close. The two of you backed away and bowed. 

“Might I cut in?” Aemond’s voice was calm and you could feel his breath brushing against your neck as he stood behind you. You turned to see him standing before you, dressed in finer clothes than he normally would wear. These ones fit the occasion of celebration but were still dark in colour. This might have been the only time you saw him without his longsword strapped to his side. There was no need for him to display such defence anymore. 

“Of course, brother.” Aegon then looked at you, gave a quick almost imperceptible wink and walked away. The band began to play a slower, more calm song. Aemond placed both of his hands along your waist, his fingers brushing your sides soothingly. You rested your hands on his chest and felt the warmth emanating from him. 

“I feel as though I owe you an explanation,” Aemond spoke as the two of you began to waltz across the floor with the other dancing elves. 

“An explanation?” You questioned. Aemond’s eye was scanning the room. You could see it in his stance, he wanted to talk about something. Deeply. However, his posture held hints of nervousness. 

“I know our union may have been done in haste, but I need you to know that,” Aemond licked his lips, took a deep breath in, and locked his eye on you, “I–” He huffed. You could feel his fingers tighten just slightly as his gaze swept to the floor. You were unsure of how to proceed. You had never seen him in this state. 

“I’m not good at speaking about all of this.” He muttered with frustration. 

“You don’t have to be.” You gave him a gentle smile, “Aemond, king or not, you don’t have to always be perfect at everything.” 

His eye trailed back to you, scanning over your face. The shine of the blue reflected the gold light of the lanterns strung from the high vaulted roof of the hall. There was something almost unreadable on his face, but a moment of clarity washed over his features. 

“You’re beautiful,” He blurted out. You sucked in a breath at his compliment. Heat flushed over your face and your hands gripped the fabric of his doublet. Your heartbeat picked up. 

Aemond pulled you closer and spun you two, “I wish I could see you, truly.” You could see his cheek with the scar twitch, causing you to be more aware of his eyepatch. In all honesty, it was not something you noticed anymore.

“You already do, Aemond, more than anyone else has.” You gave him a reassuring smile. At this point, your heart was bleeding on your sleeve. You did not care to hide your affection anymore. You did not wish to hide a part of yourself from the person your soul was intertwined with. Aemond stopped dancing and the two of you stood amongst dancing elves. The song was in full swing, the elegant tune flitting about the room. 

“Come with me,” Aemond grabbed a hold of your hand, “We need to talk.” He tugged you through the crowd, expertly weaving his way so you would not bump into anyone. He was on a mission, his shoulders squared with determination. Aemond paid no attention to the elves in the hall who sent causal glances his way, watching on as their king and queen left the hall. It was slightly disappointing to leave the party early, but you knew there would be plenty more to attend over the course of your life here. 

He guided you through the dimly lit stone halls and up a flight of stairs. It was a repetitive process. You two would move down a hallway and then walk up a bunch of stairs. It repeated multiple times and you had begun to get a little tired. You were unfamiliar with this part of the castle. Your legs ached just slightly, but Aemond continued. You could feel the elevation increase. Finally, you came across the spiralling steps of a tower and Aemond walked up. His grip on your hand tightened to guide you up the stairs and make sure you did not slip. 

You happened across double doors. Aemond pushed one open and guided you into a large room. Quickly scanning the area, you came to see that it was one of the exact rooms you saw when you were in that unconscious state; Aemond’s room. The stone walls were adorned with tapestries, making it feel warm. Countless bookshelves lined the room, filled to the brim with various tomes. There were multiple areas with lounge furniture. On one end of the room was a raised section that held a hearth, a four-poster canopy bed, and doors that opened to a balcony. Rich fabrics and furs covered the bed and floors, adding touches of luxury amid the fortress-like surroundings.

He guided you up the raised steps and out onto the balcony. There, you could see the dark shapes of the tops of the elder trees. Above you, as far as your eyes could see, spanned a starry night sky. The stars looked like different sizes of salt grains spilled across a dark-stained wood table. They sparkled like the jewels that adorned your neck. You were struck by the sight and slowly walked to the end of the balcony. You leaned against the stone railing and watched with revered awe. 

Aemond moved to stand beside you. Unlike other times in the past, he stood on your left, so his good eye was on your side. Your hands traced the rough grooves of the stone. You glanced towards Aemond and found him already looking at you. For a brief moment, you felt as though you were transported back to that night at Lake Rosmagne when you and Aemond were sat around the campfire. The night he had opened up to you, and you to him. 

“Our union,” You spoke, “I know it was not a choice and I am sorry for taking it from you. But since then, it feels like there is a crack in our friendship. I’m sorry if it broke your trust.” 

“Why would it have broken my trust?” Aemond turned so his hip rested against the railing and focused his form on you. 

“It is a bond forged out of desperation. You had no option other than death. It was cruel to suggest it and even crueller to make you go through with it.” You reasoned. It was all out in the open now. The thing that had been bugging you for many days now, something that had kept you up most nights. 

“Did you hold a knife against my throat? Bind my hands and tie me to a chair?” Aemond questioned. 

You shook your head, “Well no, but-”

“I could have chosen to die on that field, like a king, a warrior, but I did not.” He interrupted you. You thought about his words for a moment. It still did not entirely make sense to you. In your kingdom, anything would have been done to save a king from death. Though, because of that, the king typically never fought on the field. Yet here, it was seen as dishonourable to make your people fight without joining. His death in battle would have been seen as a tragic, but kingly end.

“I apologize if any of my actions have given you the wrong impression. This is not my area of expertise.” He reached out with his arm and grabbed your hand and his thumb swiped over your knuckles. You welcomed the warmth his touch brought. 

“Rūklon, why do you think I planned to go to war?” He questioned, his voice soft and comforting. The area between your brows wrinkled. It was such an obvious answer so why would he be asking that question?

“Because you believed my kind broke the treaty and attacked your castle. They destroyed part of the research, so you were bound by duty to retaliate.” You answered. Aemond looked at you with a small smile, his eye shining. His head tilted down due to the height difference. It was like he found amusement in your answer. 

He slowly shook his head back and forth, “No,” Aemond spoke with gentleness, “I declared war because I thought their spies killed you. I didn’t give a damn about the rest. You did not force me into this union, I welcome it gladly.” His words were like a jolt of lighting that had hit your body, electrifying your limbs and shocking your brain. 

Your fingers tightened against the stone of the railing, “But you had no other choice. What I did…” 

“There is nothing you could ever do to hurt me or make me detest you. Rūklon, you could cut out my other eye and I would still only see you. You could cut off my ears, yet only your voice would remain in my head. You could run to the far corners of the earth and my heart would still call to you, guide me to you.” Aemond used the hand that cradled yours to pull you closer to him. He brought it up and opened your closed fist to lay on his chest, right where his heart was. You could feel the gentle thrum of the beats, picking up just slightly at your proximity. 

His eye looked into yours and with an overwhelming glint of pure devotion, he whispered, “You have conquered me. Wholly and truly.” His hand cradled yours delicately and he moved closer to you, nearly chest to chest. Your breath got caught in your throat. Your hands moved to rest on his forearms and you could feel tears brimming in your eyes. 

This was all you had wanted and more. You needed to mend the weird rift that had been created between you. You had thought, due to the circumstances of your union, that Aemond did not want to be that close to you. How stupid this had all been. Both of you were unsure and scared to proceed further as you both did not want to push the other. Your souls had intertwined, going so far as to share trepidation in confessing those feelings. 

You took a moment to reach up and cup his face, tracing the line of his scar. Your fingers reached his eyepatch. You halted your movement and hovered over the leather, waiting for his permission. Aemond tilted his head down in a curt nod. With his permission, you gently pulled it off and rested the leather on the stone railing. Looking back up, you saw the sapphire stone that sat in his socket. In the past, all you had seen was a storm of blue. Angry waves that crashed against the dark stone of his iris. Now, that had changed. With the sapphire, you could see the iridescent deep blue that reflected the glittering light of the stars. In it, you could see the universe. 

It was then that you understood what people meant when they said that eyes are windows to a person's soul. 

“I love you, Aemond.” You whispered delicately. Those simple words caused the elf in front of you to almost crumble. His one eye, brimming with unshed tears, closed and you watched a streak of saltwater come down his cheek and rest at his sharp jaw. His lips trembled almost imperceptibly. You wanted to cry with him, suddenly feeling all of his emotions through your bond. 

Slowly, Aemond’s arms wrapped around your waist, his fingers brushing the small of your back. Your hands that were tracing his cheeks dropped to his chest. He carefully moved forward and leaned in. Under your hands, you could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Aemond’s face got closer and you felt his breath brush your face. Both of your foreheads connected and your eyes fluttered close to savour the tender moment. 

“Avy jorrāelan,” Aemond spoke softly. You did not need to know his language to understand he had said it back to you. The delicate nature of his voice and the emotion in the words were all you needed to know. Even if the world plunged into darkness you would be able to find him anywhere. 

There, in the midst of your comfort, you felt his lips brush yours. Despite the skin being slightly chapped, it felt soft and warm. Your skin was flushed with heat and it spread throughout your body. Aemond's lips began to move with yours, slowly and gently. The action came as naturally as walking, as breathing. There was nothing else that mattered but that moment. 

His grip moved to your waist, tightening as he pulled you closer to him. The movement caused you to let out a hum and that spurred him on. His nose brushed your cheek as he turned his head to get a better angle and he became starved for you. It was like the wall that separated you two crumbled in an instant. All pieces of inhibitions were disregarded as you sunk into it, into him. A grumble made its way out of his throat and the vibrations were passed on to you.

Your heart was pounding and your hands were sweaty. You were nervous. This was not an area you had experience in and you suddenly felt like that would be a negative for him. You did not want to disappoint Aemond. 

The two of you pulled away, only slightly. Your noses were still touching. His eye opened and you looked into it. The blue had darkened significantly and with your hands on his chest, you could feel it rising and falling with slow, deep breaths. You moved your hands and the touch made him shudder. That alone sparked an unknown heat you had never felt before that budded in your lower stomach. You needed him, carnally. 

For a moment, all you two did was look at one another, eyes tracing every inch; learning, memorizing. 

“I need you, Aemond.” You could barely recognize your voice. Your body was overcome with instinct over mind, but you did not care. There must have been something in your words because it caused his breath to hitch and hold on you tighten. 

“Do you want this?” While his words were coated in arousal, you could still sense some insecurity. He needed your permission as much as he needed reassurance. 

You nodded, “Please, Aemond, touch me.” He wasted no time in connecting your lips again. Except this time it was not soft but desperate. Every emotion you had struggled with melted away as you succumbed to his fervour. Your hands could no longer stay still and so could his. They moved up to his hair and tangled themselves in the silk strands. You had always wanted to know what his hair felt like. Aemond’s own hands ran over the outline your your form, up and down. It was like he was trying to map out your body in his head – a way to permanently memorize every inch. 

Every moment, every interaction, each sliver of attention you both gave one another in the past culminated to this. Full, complete, and unencumbered trust in the throes of pleasure.

Your back dug into the high stone railing as he pushed into you further. A small bit of frustration began to bud in you. No matter how close he was, it did not feel like enough. Your brain could not think of much else, other than the complete need for more. One of his hands trailed over your ass and stopped at the back of your thigh. His fingers dug into the plush fabric of your dress as he lifted your leg. You caught on instantly and wrapped it around his waist.

There were little moments when you two of you would pull away to breathe, but they only lasted less than a second before you reunited again – a mess of wet lips and unquenchable fire. With your leg hiked up, he was able to press his crotch against your core. It lit up something in your lower stomach. His hand that held your thigh moved to grab the hem of your dress and hiked it up further. The crisp and cool night air hit your skin and it was then that you were able to truly feel how much your body had heated up in this moment. Aemond’s hands were not the only wandering thing. His lips trailed from yours and landed repeatedly against the flush skin of your face. 

It was like Aemond was gone, replaced with a starving devout worshipper pleading for any ounce of reprieve. His opened-mouthed kisses moved further towards your neck, nipping and licking at the skin. All you could do was release short bursts of breaths, where you could see the small puffs in the cool air. The dress had a low neckline, exposing a good portion of the skin. The movement caused your breasts to heave against the fabric and Aemond wasted no time in moving his attention to your chest. 

His hand that pushed back the fabric on your leg trailed the skin and moved closer to your core. He hesitated for a moment and pulled away, finally making eye contact with you. He gave you a moment to catch your breath from the intensity, resting his forehead against yours. Aemond was asking for permission and you shook your head in agreement. 

“Words, rūklon. I need to hear it. What do you want?” His words erupted some frustration from you. 

“Gods damn it, Aemond, please I’ve already said it. Touch me, please.” Your voice was horse with desperation. All he did was let out a small chuckle and smile. 

He leaned in so his breath brushed your ear and whispered, “I know, but you’re so easy to rile up.” Aemond picked up your other leg and hoisted you up. You let out a squeal of surprise. He was an elite fighter, training for centuries, but it still shocked you just how strong he was. Your hands rested on his shoulders and he wasted no time in kissing you again. With each step he took, your core rubbed against his. You could feel the hardness of his length brush a particularly sensitive spot through the fabric and let out a moan. 

As quickly as you were carried, was as quickly as you found yourself being tossed against the plush warmth of his bed, amidst furs and quilted fabric. Your hips hung near the edge of the bed. You sat up immediately, wanting to chase after Aemond’s lips, but he kneeled in front of you. His head was tilted upwards to watch you as his hands went to unlace your turn shoes. He carefully took them off, his hands caressing your ankles, but his gaze remained on you, wanting to drink up each time you squirmed at his touch.

It was almost painful the way he took his slow time in untying the ribbons that held up your stockings and pulled the embroidered fabric down. Whenever he would expose more skin, his hands would trail over and massage it gently in worshipping movements. 

His hands hiked up, and up, and up; pulling the fabric to bunch at your waist. You watched him visibly swallow as he took you in. Because you had believed you would be dancing for most of the night, you prepared for the inevitable heat you would be facing – by only wearing a light undergarment under your dress with no covering over your core. You reasoned that if you were going to be moving a lot, you would need the least amount of clothes to keep cool. 

Now, in the heat of this moment, you knew that even if you were wearing nothing, it would not keep you cool from feeling like the fire that roared in the hearth next to the bed. 

Aemond grabbed your hips to hang over the edge of the bed as he moved closer in his kneeling position. He manoeuvred your thighs to rest on both of his shoulders as he began to kiss and lick the inside of them, brushing so carefully against the soft skin. He moved up further to kiss the juncture between your leg and hip. 

He then moved his care to your lower stomach – what little of it was exposed due to the bunched-up dress. Aemond’s lips trailed the area that had lit up with heat since the moment he kissed you on the balcony. You could feel his lips form a smile as he moved further, so dangerously close to your core that had become dripping with want. 

Aemond hovered above you, looked up into your eyes, and whispered, “Let me take care of you.” Your breath caught in your throat as his hot breath brushed against your most sensitive spot. There was no time to react when you felt his tongue lick a strip along the length of your slit. The feeling, so sudden and new, had you fall to lay back with your elbows supporting your upper body. Short, quick gasps left your mouth. 

His demeanour changed completely, getting lost in his movements as he lapped at your juices. Aemond’s hands rubbed up and down your thighs. One moved up and under your dress, trailing across your heaving stomach and making a home at your breasts. The swipe of his finger against your nipple and the quickening of his tongue’s pace caused a surge of energy to shoot through your body and your arms could no longer support yourself. You fell back fully on the bed with your back arching. Your arms, which had once held strength, fell limp. 

Aemond seemed quite content to stay between your thighs. With what little control you had left, you managed to move your hands to his hair, tugging at the strands. That movement spurred Aemond further and he let out a low groan into your flesh. Still fondling your breasts, his other hand moved to your clit and began a steady circular motion. Your gasps turned to wanton moans. Thankfully, Aemond’s room was so far from the others you were glad, for surely with the balcony doors open someone would have heard. His tongue entered you, meticulously caressing your walls.

Your body began to tremble as the pressure in your lower abdomen began to intensify. Your thighs jerked to his motions, nearly grinding on his face. 

“A-” You could barely speak and huffed to get the words out, “Aemond I-” He had you on the verge of being undone and knew it. Each movement of his hands and tongue was carefully calculated as he quickly picked up on all the little motions that made you squirm. 

“So good,” Between the moments when he would take a second to breathe, he muttered against your skin, “You’re so good f’me.” 

It was inescapable now, the buildup. You were lost in the feeling of pleasure that hit you to a degree you had yet to experience. With a final gasp and loud moan, you felt the damn break. It was like falling despite being on a solid surface. Your eyes closed and your fingers tightened in Aemond’s hair as you were overcome with every sensation but somehow none at the same time. You shuddered, but he paid no mind as he continued his movements to help you ride out your high. 

Your skin felt warm and feverish. All of this was foreign to you, but you welcomed it. You understood why some people were so hooked on the feeling. If you could experience this with Aemond every day, you would stake your life on it and forgo the rest of the world. 

Aemond pulled away, though reluctantly. He grabbed your thighs that rested on his shoulders and gave them a quick squeeze before lifting them off and pushing you further onto the bed. Your knees still hung off, but it did not matter as you could barely feel your legs. He stood up and bent to hover over you, his looming presence making you ache for more. 

As if he did not just finish feverishly eating you out, he gave you a quick, chaste kiss on the lips with utmost care. While he did so, his hands went to your back and began to untie the dress. Thankfully, it was a light and easy-to-remove one. You watched the darkened expression of his heated gaze as the top layer of your dress was pulled away and exposed the thin see-through white chemise you wore underneath. 

It did not exactly leave anything to the imagination. You could hear Aemond’s breath hitch at the sight of you and when you reached up to cup his face his body shuddered as his eye closed for a moment. He grabbed your hand and kissed the inside of your wrist, feeling the pulse point thump faster at his actions.

As soon as his comforting touch met you was as quickly as it left when he pulled back. He worked quickly and diligently, unfastening his doublet and pulling it off with record speed. All you could do was watch on as he undressed himself. You were too stuck in the trance of his form. He kicked off his boots and was then left in nothing but his pants and a thin white loose shirt that tightened at his mid-forearms. You could see the small scars that littered his arms, the same pattern seen in the small area of the exposed part of his chest. 

You shuffled forward to plant your feet on the floor but still sat down on the bed. Aemond moved instantly to you, his hands hovering on the short hemline of your chemise. While maintaining eye contact, he pulled up your last layer and up over your head. He tossed it to the side, its existence quickly forgotten and not cared for. You were now completely bare in front of him and suddenly more self-conscious than ever. An uncontrollable feeling to cover yourself began to gnaw at your brain but was quickly quelled by the low groan that came from Aemond.

“So beautiful, ñuha ābrazȳrys.” He whispered as if caught in a trance. 

He moved to shed his layers as well, but you quickly covered his hands with your own. You wanted to help him as he did for you. It was a moment indescribable between you two. It was tender and calm but underlined with an intense feeling of desire that only grew with each passing second. You took his shirt off and observed the sight of his lean muscles. His arms, which you had quickly grown to love when they were wrapped around you, were composed of lithe muscle built over centuries of training that matched the composition of his torso. 

Since that first day in the throne room when you saw him perched upon his throne of tree roots and swords, you had seen him as nothing short of an ethereal vision. A haunting, striking beauty. Before you now, was the same person, but now softer and comforting. 

You could not help but get antsy and reached out to pull him to your level. Your arms wrapped around his neck, being engulfed by his free-flowing silk hair. Aemond seemed caught off guard by your sudden dominant movements but melted into your embrace. You met his lips in another hot, searing kiss that reignited the tense fire within your stomach.

As soon as he latched onto you, your hands trailed down the front of his chest. Your fingers felt the rise and fall of his breathing and traced the taught muscled skin further down. When you brushed his stomach, you felt him shudder. He started to plant open-mouthed kisses on your cheek and moved to your neck as your hands quickly moved to make work of the tie for his pants. Everything you did was heated and desperate but met with the same fervour as Aemond.

Once you untied the pants, Aemond quickly shrugged them off. It looked like it pained him to separate from you for only a few seconds. You did not have time to look, for Aemond picked you up from the edge of your bed and tossed you back. Your body fell against the lush bed coverings and your head hit the soft, plush pillows. Now further away, you could take in the full sight of Aemond.

The image of him there, unclothed and waiting for you, was enough to make you feel as though you had died. 

He got onto the bed, crawling until he was over you. Being caged in his arms was the safest you had ever felt. Just him and you in the warmth of his chambers high in the sky with nothing but the stars outside. 

One of Aemond’s hands trailed to your core, rubbing circular motions over your bud. You bit your lip to hold back the moans, but he instantly stopped after your reaction. His hand hovered over the area, so close you could almost feel it brushing you. Your hips moved up to chase that feeling, but he only pushed you back.

“Don’t bite your lip. Let me hear you, my love.” Aemond’s husky breath was enough to make you melt. You nodded obediently and he resumed his movements. You hummed with content, but was quickly ended when he stopped. 

You watched as his hand then drifted to his cock, gripping the base. It was already fully erect and you struggled to comprehend how it would fit. Surely, he did not plan on it all fitting, did he? 

Aemond guided his cock down to drag the head between your folds to gather the slick there before settling just outside your entrance. You sucked in a breath at the feeling, desperately waiting for him to move. One of his hands was still gripping your hip while his other forearm rested by your head. 

He slowly slid into you, gradually pushing forward. You let out a shuddered gasp and your fingers gripped the sheets below you. He did not rush, nor move with the frantic nature he had previously. Aemond was content where he was, enjoying that his slow pace made you come undone and desperate for more. He let out a low groan as he bottomed out. The intensity of the feeling, of being so full, had you squirming for more movement. You craved friction, really anything, that would send you into another spiralling frenzy.

Aemond kissed your chest softly a few times, “So fucking beautiful.” His silver hair fell like a curtain around you as he lifted his head to kiss you. It was a possessive, protective kiss. You ached for more, but he remained still in you, letting you adjust to his size. 

In an act of defiance against him, you move your hips up, chasing some sense of friction. Aemond hissed at that, his grip on your waist tightening. 

“Words, baby, tell me what you want.” His kisses that he left on your chest morphed into hot ones as he paid particular attention to one of your nipples. The new sensation had you gasp in surprise. 

“Aemond…” You huffed, “Please move.” 

He let out a short laugh at your pleading, “As you wish.” Aemond took his time in pulling out, dragging to the very last moment. He then pushed back in and set a steady pace of thrusts. You quickly became a mess of moans at the feeling of being so full of him. His kisses burned into your skin. Your arms wrapped around his lithe figure, trailing nails down his back. The scratching elicited a low groan from the back of his throat and his hips snapped faster. 

While his pace had increased, it still did not feel enough. You were not sure you could ever have enough of him. The stretch that his cock gave you was a good ache, one that spread out from your core. You could hear the low sounds that emanated from Aemond as he too chased the high he was feeling. You began to match his pace, moving your hips in rhythm with his. 

It was not intended, but you could not resist reaching out to cup his face and moan out, “So beautiful.” 

Aemond faltered at our words, his hips going still as he arched his head up from kissing your neck to look into your eyes. It was like he was searching for the truth, that you really meant the words you said.

“Say that again, rūklon, and I won’t be able to hold back.” He rasped. You wanted to meet his challenge. You had a habit of not obeying his authority, ever since your first days here. 

One of your hands moved up to tug at the base of his hair. The action caused something in Aemond’s eye to flicker with a mix of emotions – mischief, lust, and unadulterated love. 

“Then don’t.” Something in Aemond snapped. He dropped his hand that was holding your waist and moved the forearms to rest beside your head. He now fully caged you beneath him and something about that dominating move blew more life into the fire within you.

He gave you no warning when he lost it, thrusting into you with relentless speed. Your back arched at the change of pace. Air caught in your lungs and you could barely make any noise. Aemond was the opposite. He buried his head in your neck, kissing and nipping at the skin as he started to babble incoherent words in his language. 

The once stable movement he held began to unwind as he moved with reckless abandon. No longer did Aemond care for the perfect posture, but his brain chased any and every ounce of pleasure he could find. You could feel his emotions and it was all overwhelming. You could feel the care, the love, and the hunger he had for you. You were glad to know he could feel the same from you. Your cunt squeezed around him as the build-up in your stomach started to increase. 

Aemond could sense it and he moved a hand carefully down your stomach and towards your bud, moving his fingers with the pace he was going. His calloused fingers added another texture and sensation that had you moaning with every inhale and exhale. You were careening over the edge of bliss.

“You feel so fucking good. Gods-” Aemond moaned. His other hand connected with yours. They were both the cut hands from your ceremony. Something about the physical remains of your joined souls stimulated a sensation that overcame you both. You recklessly moved your hips up to chase more of it. 

“Aemond I-” You bit down hard on your lip, but that did nothing to conceal the sweet noises that left them. Tears pooled in your eyes from the pleasure. Aemond moved his head up to kiss you on the lips, both becoming swollen from the day's events. His thrusts felt better than anything and you wished to indulge in this for eternity. 

“Don’t fight it, my love, let go,” Aemond murmured between kissing you. You bit his bottom lip and it made him growl. Somehow, in a way that struck you as impossible, Aemond thrust faster. It was enough to send you toppling over the precipice. Your mouth opened wide as your head pushed back into the plush pillows. Aemond continued his pace, but it soon became a mix of fast and slow movement as he came. 

The two of you were lost in it all, each accepting the shattering moment. You both rode out your highs, moaning a mix of curses and each other's names. Everything mixed into a muted mess of sensations and sounds. You felt his body drop onto yours, sweaty and hot just like you. You clung to him, wishing to continue to feel that sense of closeness. 

Minutes of silence passed. Aemond breathed deeply to catch himself and you rubbed up and down his back gently, your fingers trailing over the battle scars and marks your very nails just made. It was almost beautiful to feel marks made out of love cover the ones from hate and aggression. If you had voiced that, Aemond would have likely said you applied that sentiment to all aspects of his life. 

He pulled off of you and moved to your side. You laid on your back, slightly angled to look at him as he propped himself on his side. You felt his arm wrap around your waist to pull you closer to him. The skin-on-skin contact was something you wished to never end. There, with the sounds of the crackling fire and the gentle breeze from the open balcony doors cooling your skin off, you felt like you were home.

You surveyed his form next to you. The muscular stature had some patches of scars from various training blunders and moments of futility on the battlefield. There, next to the abs on his stomach, was the scar that he had received from Cole. Your hand moved to trace it, suddenly caught in the memories of how close he was to death. 

“It does not hurt anymore. Just another mark from my life.” Aemond dismissed your worry and wished to provide comfort. He kissed your temple, letting his lips linger for a moment. He too moved his hand to your side, where the scar you had received from Cole was. For you, this was the first one you got. 

It was at that moment that something odd struck you, causing you to laugh gently. Aemond’s face scrunched up at your sudden outburst.

“We have two sets of matching scars.” It was both funny but also upsetting. Only one of those sets, the marriage cuts, were welcomed. The other, you could do without. But, without such hurt, you were not sure you and Aemond would be where you were in your relationship then. 

“That we do,” Aemond responded. His eye was trained on your face, unwilling to look away. You shivered, either from his touch or the cool breeze coming in from the outside. Aemond then grabbed the sheets from around you, pulling on the thin silk sheet and adding some plush furs on top. You hardly felt the need for them when his warm body next to yours was enough. 

Aemond shifted onto his back and let you rest your head on his chest. You used your fingers to trace patterns on his skin, relishing in the closeness of the moment. He stroked your hair, placing a kiss on the side of your head every few minutes. The two of you basked in the comfort of silence. 

For so long each of your lives had been nothing but chaos. Barrier after barrier flung in your way. It was good and rewarding to know there was nothing imminent. No need to rush and get something done, or sleep whenever you can for just a little moment of rest. 

Nothing existed outside the door of this chamber. No one but you two. 

Aemond interrupted the silence, “I’m afraid I will have to spend the rest of eternity between your thighs.” Despite the recent indulgence of your growing desire, his comment caused your cheeks to heat up. You were so flustered by his words as if he had not just made you see stars a few minutes prior. 

“And neglect your kingdom? Surely at some point, your guards would pull you away so you could serve.” You angled your head to look at him, poking fun at his words. Aemond rubbed your side, his hand trailing to the back of your thigh and dragging your leg to rest across his waist. He could not get enough of feeling you close to him. 

“I serve my wife before all.” Aemond spoke, “Every guard in this damn castle could try and pull me away.” You could hear the joking lilt in his voice and it was comforting to know how far you had come with him. Never in any possible time would you have guessed you would be close enough with him to jest.

“You think you’re a jester, my king?” You challenged. Aemoned licked his lips and you could see his eye darken with a familiar feeling of lust.

“Only for you, my queen.” He muttered before lifting his head to kiss you. It was slow and patient, indulging in every emotion you felt for one another. You let out a low, pleased moan. Taking advantage of your position, you moved your legs to rest on either side of his hips and sat on top of him. You could feel him smile into the kiss at your eagerness to be with him again. Your hands pinned his above his head and you deepened the kiss, urging for more.

Aemond was your everything. Your king, your friend, your lover, your husband.

Perhaps, now, you did not mind the title of queen, because it meant that you were his and he was yours. 

And that's a wrap on book one!

Since the early phases of planning, I have always intended to write two books. Now, this was written in a way that you could stop at the first one if you wished, but there are still some unanswered questions that will be addressed in the next book. (Such as Cole’s mysterious last words…)

The next one is an Aegon and OC centred book that I am super excited about! There will be moments with Aemond and the new Queen, but ultimately it will revolve around Aegon. It has been extremely hard to resist from immediately releasing it. 

As always, thank you all so much for the support. I did not expect to see so many people supporting it and for that, I am eternally grateful. If you choose to stick around, I’ll see you in the next book! <3 

BOOK TWO MASTERLIST HERE.

[quu-kii]

Ranking Crash Bandicoot Games by Soundtrack

I love video game soundtracks, and the Crash games have great ones overall. So for fun, I’ve decided to rank the games by their osts. I try to take various factors into account such as the volume of songs as well as their average quality (high volume of songs with high quality > low volume of songs with high quality), and I value a weaker soundtrack with a few tracks that I love higher compared with one where the overall quality is perhaps a bit higher but has weaker best tracks.

More detailed thoughts I have on each of the soundtracks are below.

Best Tier

1. Crash 2

Fav tracks: The Eel Deal, Hang Eight, Piston It Away

The quintessential Crash ost. The songs all have this punchy-ness to them, are catchy, and match the levels/areas they feature in perfectly. A big plus is how the death routes and bonus stages for each level type also have their own unique songs. It’s an ost I really appreciated just from listening to it while playing the game for the first time, compared to some other Crash osts where I really had to listen to them a bit more after finishing the game to appreciate them, like with Twinsanity and WoC (no knock against these osts though since I love them as well).

None of my individual favorite warp/stage/bonus/boss themes are from this game, but feel like I just need to put this ost at the top for how much I appreciate its overall quality and cohesiveness.

2. Wrath of Cortex

Fav tracks: H2 Oh No, The Gauntlet, Fahrenheit Frenzy

I love the electronic vibe of this ost as well as how each level has its own unique track. The style as well as the variety of songs make for a smooth and easy listen each time I put this ost on. The biggest weakness in the ost for me are the songs Banzai Bonsai and Tsunami (this one gets better in the later section though) which I just don’t like and wait to pass whenever I get to them in a listen of the ost.

Another weakness may be that there is not that feeling of cohesion or Crash-like feeling found in other Crash games (I somewhat feel like this could be the ost for any other game). This doesn’t affect how much I enjoy the music overall, which shows with how high I’m ranking it despite the issues I pointed out.

Excellent Tier

3. Crash 1

Fav tracks: The Lab, Heavy Machinery, Generator Room, Dr. Neo Cortex

This ost is amazing for how perfectly it adds to the atmosphere of Crash 1. Because of the atmospheric nature of the ost, the individual tracks are not as catchy compared to other Crash games. However, I still find them to be great compositions and very enjoyable to listen to overall. And I love the dark feel of much of the Cortex Island level themes. This game also introduces Cortex’s theme which I think is one of the best musical pieces in the whole series. This first version is my second favorite of his theme variations, and its dark tone fits well with Cortex’s more seriously evil nature in this game.

4. Twinsanity

Fav tracks: Rock-Slide Rumble, Slip Slide Ice-Capades, Classroom Chaos - Crash

The ost of this game is truly unique with how it is composed of only acapella songs. I actually did not appreciate the ost that much while playing the game and even found it annoying at times, but listening to it afterwards on its own I was like, “Wow, this ost is actually amazing.” The style of the music really suits the wacky, off-kilter feel of the Crash world and feels overall punchy kind of like Crash 2, the music styles being completely different notwithstanding.

For some reason I also find Rock-Slide Rumble to be one of the most emotional songs in the whole series. It gives feeling of finding a path of hopefulness when all hope seems to have been lost, or a feeling of beating the odds in a trying circumstance, or something similar. I’m not sure if anyone else feels this way.

5. Crash 3

Fav tracks: Dr. Neo Cortex, Pyramid, Prehistoric

It was difficult for me to place the ranking of this game’s ost since on one hand I find the ost kind of limited with less songs than other games. For example the bonus stage tracks are all variations of each other, and the same goes for the death routes, which is a downgrade from how Crash 2 had more distinct songs for the bonuses/death routes. The main melodies of both the Crash 3 bonus stages and death routes are great though despite the lack of variation.

And for the main ost, some songs I’m not overly a fan of, like the Arabian theme or themes for the non-platforming levels. However, for all these faults, I find the good songs in Warped to be some of my favorites in the whole series. For example, I find Cortex’s Warped theme to be the best variation of his theme and the best boss track in the whole series (and perhaps the best track period of the series). The Pyramid and Prehistoric level themes are also some of my favorite level themes in the series (Future theme is amazing too). The game also brings the incredible and iconic Warp Room theme which is basically the main theme of Crash with the amount of games it features in. The extremely high highs combined with shortfalls made it a difficult ost to place in a ranking, but I’ve tried to best I could with it.

6. Crash Bash

Fav tracks: Warp Room, Manic Panic, Loading

Such a great overall soundtrack. It’s awesome how most of the levels have unique themes with little repetition (this always gets plus points from me whenever this happens in a game, not just with Crash). The loading screen track is of special note with how awesome it sounds. Loading screens aren’t usually anything of note in other games, but here it is just because of the ost. The Warp Room theme is also amazing in this game and perhaps my favorite in the series. The tank level songs are especially catchy here, though my favorite minigame song would definitely be Manic Panic, which I love the dark feel of.

Great Tier

7. Crash N. Sane Trilogy

Fav tracks: Dr. Neo Cortex (CB3), Pyramid, Generator Room

When it comes to the N. Sane Trilogy ost compared to the osts of the original games, I just overall prefer the PS1 osts. The PS1 tracks just have this oomph to them which the remakes are lacking, even though the tracks are still enjoyable to listen to.

One track I actually find to be better in the remakes is the CB2 Hang Eight bonus level. There’s just this extra feeling of etherealness to the song when it gets to its peak in the remake version which I love so much. And one track I find the most butchered in the remake is the CB3 Prehistoric theme with how it’s missing those heavy drum beats from the original which gave the song a powerful feeling.

Besides the few outlier songs, my feelings on each of the three games’ osts is generally the same as what I already described with the PS1 games. And even though the remake osts are generally not as good to me, I’m still glad they exist since they just give me another well made modern rendition of the osts to listen to.

8. Crash Nitro Kart (console)

Fav tracks: Hyper Spaceway, Assembly Lane, Clockwork Wumpa

I love this soundtrack. I find it to be one of the most atmospheric osts in the series next to Crash 1 with this feeling of chill but also seriousness to it. It’s also cool how all the hub areas have different osts too compared to in CTR where all the areas have the same music but with a slight variation. I have to mention the title ost too, which is amazing with its bombastic yet measured feeling.

The standout here among the track themes is definitely Hyper Spaceway, which I consider as Velo’s theme and perfectly fits his threatening presence as well as giving the feeling of stakes and urgency in the final race. There’s this slightly more lighthearted feeling part to this serious song (:28-:42) which feels like it gives me insight into Velo’s character with how he truly has fun with the races. Another interpretation I get is that this part of the song almost feels taunting, as if it’s representing Velo playfully taunting the player.

A somewhat weakness with the ost is that as with other more atmospheric osts, the melodies are not as catchy compared to other games, but I still really enjoy it.

9. Mind Over Mutant (console)

Fav tracks: Bandicoot Sanctuary, Danger… IN SPACE!, Purple Fog

It’s hard to pick out individual favorite tracks from Mind Over Mutant as well as Crash of the Titans (console versions) since I kind of view both soundtracks as just single continuous pieces for whatever reason. Bandicoot Sanctuary definitely stands out to me here though. It’s the first theme you hear when setting foot outside Crash’s house and definitely helps set the mood of the adventure to come, and plus it’s catchy.

Overall I really enjoy the dark, jungle-y feeling of the ost which matches the more wild atmosphere of the games as can be seen even from Crash’s more feral looking redesign. The ost also overall has this rich, deep orchestral sound to it (I’d say it’s the closest to cinematic in the series) that I really like.

Very Good Tier

10. Crash 4

Fav tracks: Cortex Castle, Jetboard Jetty, Main Theme

I don’t know what to make of this ost even though I’ve listened to it in full at least like 100 times. When I think back on the ost while I’m not actively listening to it, I don’t find it too memorable. But when I’m actively listening to it I do enjoy it, and especially I find every song starting from Out for Launch to the end of the game to be bangers. One thing I do love is how each level has its own song, and this is the traditional-style Crash game with the most levels too, so there’s just a great amount of songs with variety to them to enjoy in an overall soundtrack listen.

I’ve read a comment before about how the weak feeling of the soundtrack might be due to instrumentation of the songs, like with the overuse of marimba, and I think I want to agree. It might be part of the issue at least.

Another issue is that I think there was an overuse of mixing Cortex’s theme in this game. It’s true that I think his theme is one of the best in the series, but it does leave a little less impact when the theme is overused, and both his boss themes here I find to be way below the level of any of his trilogy boss themes. Here’s a ranking of his main boss themes across the games by the way: CB3>CB1>CB2>>CB4(2)>CB4(1).

11. Crash of the Titans (console)

Fav track: Haughty by Nature, Temple of Zoom

Basically all of the same comments I had for MoM’s ost also apply here (I like the orchestral sound and dark mood), as both are extremely similar stylistically. It’s just I find this ost to be the weaker of the two.

12. Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled

Fav tracks: Drive-Thru Danger, Twilight Tour

I have difficulty ranking this ost. It has the CTR songs which I’m kinda eh about, but it also has the CNK songs which I really like as well as the original songs for new tracks. I’m trying my best to make the ranking compromise between these three components.

For the CTR remake songs, it’s actually a more even contest for me here between the remake and original compared to with the N. Sane Trilogy and the PS1 trilogy. For the trilogy I definitely prefer the PS1 osts, but here it’s not so clear. Probably the PS1 versions overall win out, but I like the fuller, richer sound of the remake osts too. And for CNK, I think I prefer the original songs here too, though the remake songs sound almost comparable, a big exception being Hyper Spaceway which sounds much better and more intense in the original.

For the new songs, I love Drive-Thru Danger and Twilight Tour is excellent as well. In general the new songs are just better overall compared to the CTR ones. They really did a great job for the music in these new tracks.

13. Crash N-Tranced

Fav tracks: Warp Room, Volcano, Egypt

This ost feels like a miniature Warped, with the same strengths and weaknesses. Basically the soundtrack is limited, but the highs are very high. The Warp Room theme particularly stands out for being an absolute jam and probably my favorite version of the Crash main theme. The rest of the songs are mostly just remixes of previous Crash songs, but very good ones. They also sound distinct from their original versions and don’t just sound like watered down versions of the originals (*cough* The Huge Adventure).

14. Crash of the Titans (GBA)

Fav tracks: Skull Caves, Lumber Camp, Dingodile

The ost for this game is shockingly good. In no way did I expect this out of a game in the series I never hear talked about. Each of the 15 stages plus the 4 bosses have their own theme, and they are great quality themes on the whole. This seems to be the GBA Crash ost with the greatest variety to the instrumentation and complexity to the songs as well. There is a bit of a dark flavor to the music overall which somewhat matches with how the console game also has this feeling of darkness to its ost.

Good Tier

15. Tag Team Racing

Fav tracks: Astro Land, Tomb Town, Bowling

This is a very oddball sounding ost with both acapella and orchestral elements that matches so well to the mood of the shady amusement park the game takes place in. I haven’t included any of the race track osts to my favs, but that doesn’t mean I dislike them. I just kind of like them overall and have a hard time distinguishing a specific favorite.

16. Crash Team Racing

Fav tracks: Overworld theme, Dragon Mines

Maybe it’s a hot take, but I’m just not that big a fan of CTR’s ost. All the tracks are fairly enjoyable to listen to while racing, but none really stand out to me as big favorites. I really like the overworld theme though, and it’s neat that it seamlessly transitions to slightly different versions for the different hub areas. And for track themes, I like Dragon Mines for the industrial flavor it has though. They got rid out the industrial sounding part in the background in the remake though, so I only really like the song in this version.

17. Crash Nitro Kart (GBA/N-Gage)

Fav tracks: Tiny Temple, Barin Ruins, Android Alley

The ost for CNK’s GBA version really surprised me with its quality. The songs are totally different compared to those in the console version. I still much prefer the console version ost, but this ost isn’t bad at all, and the songs are arguably catchier here. Something notable is that the US version of the GBA ost has songs that are cut off earlier that the JP version, which has the full songs (the N-Gage version also has the full songs). I have no idea why they did this, but I am considering the full version of the songs when evaluating the ost. The major shortcoming with the ost is that the songs are fairly short and repetitious, even with the full versions.

18. Crash Boom Bang!

Fav tracks: City 2B, City 2A

Just an all around solid ost with an upbeat, lighthearted feel to it, perfect for a party game. This game may have other issues, but the music is not one of them.

Ok Tier

19. Crash: The Huge Adventure

Fav tracks: Sewer, Dr. Neo Cortex, Underwater

Borrows most of its music from the original trilogy, though the songs here are mostly just watered down versions of the originals without much to make them feel distinct like in N-Tranced. I do really like the take on Cortex’s theme here with this extra cool drum beat part it has. The Underwater theme here is the one remixed stage song which really feels distinguished from the original, and I really like the version here.

20. Crash of the Titans (DS)

Fav tracks: Dingodile, Cortex’s Lab, Wumpa Jungle

This is the one Crash ost I hadn’t re-listened to even once after playing the game, since I just brushed off the ost as not good. When listening to it in full again for this ranking, I don’t think it’s that bad really. It’s fairly pleasant to listen to if not remarkable, has kind of this upbeat vibe to it, and brings to mind old flash games with how it sounds.

There are a few songs I like here, like Dingodile’s boss theme. Speaking of Dingodile, he has an excellent track record with boss themes. His themes in Warped, Twinsanity, Crash of the Titans (GBA), and this game are all great while having all different melodies, which is impressive to me. There’s also his remixed N. Gin theme in The Huge Adventure, which is pretty good too though not at the level of the others to me. Anyways, CoTT DS’s ost is perfectly adequate.

21. Mind Over Mutant (DS)

Fav tracks: World 5 level, World 5 map

A lot of this ost is just somewhat soft/weak sounding remixes of MoM songs, and those base songs are good so the soundtrack itself doesn’t end up being too terrible.

Meh Tier

22. Crash Purple

Fav tracks: Area 5 Tech Park, Boss Battle, Crashin’ Down The River

It’s an alright ost with a fairly lively tone to it and heavy on the use of bass in the songs. It feels like it’s sorely lacking variety in the sound and instrumentation.

23. Crash Nitro Kart 3D (Zeebo)

Fav tracks: Solar, Egypt

Listening to the zany main menu theme makes me feel like I’m about to go crazy. This whole game, soundtrack included, gives me big bootleg game vibes. There’s barely any songs here (5 total besides win/lose jingles), but two of the three track themes are pretty decent to me. I would have liked the Solar theme to be longer though since even though I like what is there with it’s chill space vibe, it’s extremely short and repetitive.

[lazydoodlesandfanfic]

A Powerful Mind (Avengers X Reader)

Characters: Avengers X Reader

Universe: Marvel, Avengers

Warnings: Violence, choking, fire

Request: Avengers x reader The reader has strong telekinesis powers and burns all of kingpin's and the mafia's money. The reader then decides to kill kingpin on the same day the Avengers is trying to arrest Kingpin by doing a sting operation. The r gets close to killing KP but both is arrested. Could the ending be the r has to be watched/mentored by shield. Could you please add in the lines "here comes the boy scouts" & "Listen here, You come at the king, you best not miss." Thank you

You were so close. You had him pinned to the floor, the room around you practically entirely on fire. You bet he could see the fire dancing in your eyes as he struggled to breathe, all while you didn’t have a single finger on him, your hands clenched by your side. It was wonderful really- the power of your mind. All you had to imagine was the air trapped in his throat and it happened. All you had to imagine was a wire sparking in some of his tech and a fire started that you spread to all his documents- all his hard work, poof. 

You didn’t even feel bad. Not one bit. This was Kingpin. He deserved to suffer. 

You’d been planning to go after him and sabotage him for a long time. You had nothing to lose and so much to gain. Originally the plan was simply to destroy plans for his scheme and stop him from hurting anyone else, and that was easy enough. You forced locked doors open without needing any of your own technology, and your only weapon was your mind. You forced any security out of your way, and as you walked into the main lab, all you had to do was tell the scientists to leave or face your wrath and they scattered. Kingpin, however, thought he could take you on by himself because he was so big and scary. When he entered, you’d already set fire to several computers. Your back was to him, but when you heard his heavy footsteps, you turned. “You have a lot of confidence for a kid. Barging in here like you own the place.”

“I really don’t think barging is the right word… strolled is a more accurate description, I think.” You told him, your mind still working hard, setting a computer on fire right behind him, it letting out a small burst of flames that startled him, which made you laugh. “I’m not scared of you. If I was you… I’d leave and keep my head down and hope I don’t come after you again.” You told him.

“Or what?” He asked. Your answer? You tore a desk that was bolted to the floor up and threw it at him. He ducked in time, missing it as it slammed into the wall, creating a large hole in the wall. He stood back up, now having a furious expression on his face, and cracked his knuckles. “Listen here, if you come for the King, you better not miss.” He threatened, and went to charge at you. You didn’t take the threat lightly, which led you to where you were now. 

He was pinned to the floor by an invisible force as a pile of documents and burning technology merged and the ceiling was becoming black with smoke. You made sure none of the smoke even came close to you to damage your lungs. You originally just planned to keep Kingpin there until he begged for forgiveness and promised to leave you, but then he called you names and threatened you more, which is when you started to choke him, and now you didn’t really want to stop. However, fate had other plans. 

The doors burst open, and you turned, seeing the Avengers. Kingpin laughed. “Here come the Boy scouts.” He mocked you as he continued to choke, though it was short lived as you clenched your fists tighter forcing him to shush, and the Avengers realised what you were doing, and you felt something hit you, knocking you down and out.

You woke up with a heavy head and feeling fatigued, so tired it took you a few minutes to process your surroundings and even longer to sit up in the bed you were in. The room was white, a perfect cube, with one wall being a full window, and on the other side of that glass was five of the Avengers; Thor, Natasha, Bruce, Steve and Wanda. You mildly heard yelling nearby, and as your senses gained strength, you identified it as Kingpin. Damn it. They’d arrested you along with him. 

Swinging your legs over and off the bed was a struggle, and you had to stop afterwards, lowering your head, almost feeling like you could fall asleep then and there. You heard a door open and then shut, and footsteps, and you didn’t have to doubt that they had entered. “What did you do to me?” You asked them, not looking up. 

“Well since we don’t know how strong your abilities are, we’ve give you a strong sedative- weak enough to keep you awake and aware, but strong enough to make it hard for you to use your powers to your full potential.” Bruce had explained to you. Your response? You focussed your eyes on the desk in the room, and flung it against the glass. No one was in the way- you just wanted to test your abilities. They all looked at it startled, as they realised that you were still strong, despite their best abilities. 

“Please don’t fight us. We don’t want to sedate you to the point that you’re unconscious.” Steve had asked of you. 

“I’m not stupid.” You responded, and the group took that as a promise to behave. “How long am I gonna be here? Are you gonna put me in some sort of container in the middle of the sea or something?” You asked.

“You’ll stay here until we can come to an agreement.” Natasha told you. You forced your head up, looking up at her. “We want to mentor you.” 

“You want… to mentor me? You’re offering me an Apprenticeship?” You asked, laughing like they were trying to jest with you. “Why?” 

“We’d been trying to find out how to get into Kingpin’s bases since they’re so heavily guarded, and you just sauntered in, destroyed his hard work and nearly killed him without lifting a finger. We weren’t planning a sting for a few more weeks, but when he heard about what you had done, we had to chase after you.” She pointed out. You shrugged at it, not seeing what she was trying to say. Sure you had done that. You could do it again. So what? 

“Your actions have been seen and heard all across the world, and we already know that organizations see you as a weapon, or a threat. They will either come to take you and use you against your will, or they will try to destroy you. By associating your name with us, it’ll make them leave you alone and give you more safety.” Thor explained. 

“So it’s either accept your offer or have to spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder? Who knew trying to stop a criminal ring would do that… fine.” You agreed. “What do you need me to do?” 

“Nothing right now. Keep your head low, you’ll do training with me so we can fully understand the depths of your powers. After that, since you’re so strong, you’ll probably only be called on in extreme missions and emergencies.” Wanda told you. Despite your exhaustion still, you reached up, shaking her hand. 

“Sounds good to me. Now when does this sedative wear off and when can I move somewhere where I don’t have to hear Kingpin’s whining?”

Hope you like it! If you have any questions, please send them in!

*Not my gif

TAGS:  @klanceiscannon14​ @waywardemo​ @marvelhoeingismyhobby​ @bellamyblakemorley @dummiesshort  @abbybills22​ @waywardemo​ @mutantjediavenger​ @theoraekensnotsosecretlover​ @alicedanganh  @rebellionofthecattle @courtneychicken  @graysonmalfoy​ @bellero​ @originalpottervengerlock​ @supernatural-pan​ @esoltis280​ @lena-stan-xavier​ @lady-of-lies​ @sebstanismylife​ @macbetheliza @mandywholock1980​ @cdwmtjb8​ @caswinchester2000​ @determinedpines​

[arcturusreads]

A prompt for you darling!!

Meredith and Hayes make their public debut as a couple and everyone at the hospital is shocked. Even their bosses and friends.

Of Telling The Truth - Merhayes

Ooft I struggled a bit with this one just because I feel like everyone in the hospital knows something is going to happen between them or at least their friends do but I hope you like this x

“Are you sure it was a good idea not to let your sisters know beforehand?” Cormac briefly looked over at his girlfriend, one hand on the steering wheel of his car and the other on her knee.

Meredith stopped chewing her lip to reply. “If we had told them then the entire hospital would have known within two minutes. Trust me, it’s better this way.”

Cormac hummed in agreement, trusting in Meredith’s judgement. “Alright, but if they come at me then I’m blaming you.”

Meredith laughed, “You aren’t telling me that you’re scared of Amelia and Maggie?”

“I’ve seen Shepard on a warpath with her residents when they mess up,” he shivered. “And Pierce…”

“Maggie wouldn’t say boo to a goose,” Meredith quickly argued but she had to agree that Amelia could be a little scary at times.

Cormac shook his head, “That’s what you think but I can bet ya that she’s like a honey badger. They look all cute and cuddly but the minute they’re aggravated, they go berserk.”

“Alright, babe,” Meredith placed her hand on top of his, still laughing. “I promise that I’ll protect you from my sisters if they decide to attack.”

The pair had been dating in secret for the past month and a half. Cormac being a more private person and not used to having his entire personal life known by the hospital staff hadn’t wanted to let everyone know from the get-go. There was also the fact that he needed time to process this relationship without the prying eyes of other people. Meredith was the first person that he had been with since Abigail and she’d been patient with him every step of the way. Never trying to push him and letting him take things at his own pace.

Cormac’s sons had known from the start that he was dating. It hadn’t been something that he wanted to hide from them, with the boys being old enough to understand what was going on. Meredith on the other, with kids much younger, had waited a little while to make sure she knew where this was going. She’d sat the kids down the previous night and told them that she was dating someone and whilst she’d been bombarded by a million and one questions about it, they didn’t seem upset or angry with the news.

After dropping the three of them off at school this morning and coming back home to grab her bag and some charts, Cormac had picked her up. The two of them had decided that it was time to tell their friends about their relationship. With Meredith’s kids now knowing, it wouldn’t be long before one of them let it slip to Maggie or Amelia when they came to visit.

“Are you sure you want to tell everyone today? If you need more time, we can always wait.” Meredith checked in with Cormac for the second time since he had picked her up.

“I promise you, Mer, I’m ready to tell them. I want to tell them. It’s been driving me insane having to ignore you at work.”

“As long as you know that you’re the reason we had to ignore each other!

Meredith had ended up realising what a huge flirt Cormac actually was after they started dating. The day after their first date he had walked into the attendings’ lounge whilst she was making coffee, wrapping his arms around her waist. They’d quickly jumped apart when they heard Owen’s voice approaching. After a few other close calls, Meredith realised that if they were going to keep this quiet, they were going to have to keep some distance between them whilst they were at work. It had ended up with them barely saying a word to each other, no longer popping into each other’s offices for drinks and trying to act indifferent when they did have to be around each other.

When the car had finally parked up, the two of them got out and Cormac walked over to Meredith’s side, lacing their fingers and giving her hand a squeeze.

“Alright, let’s do this.” Meredith stared up at the hospital, squaring her shoulders and straightening her back.

“You sound like we’re about to go to war, Meredith,” he shook his head, smiling, amused at her actions. “I thought you were the one saying that it would be fine.”

“I said my sisters would be fine… Bailey might be another story…”

Cormac winced; she had a point there. He hadn’t really been at the receiving line of Bailey’s wrath, but he had seen it and heard about it enough to be afraid. It wasn’t something that he was aiming for, and he held onto the hope that she would just be happy for them and that would be that.

The pair looked at each other and Cormac gave Meredith that immediately put her at ease. “Let’s go,” he whispered, placing a brief kiss on her lips.

Strangely they had managed to get all the way up to the attendings’ lounge with no one having seen them, and if they had no one questioned them holding hands.

“Hey, Mer.” Sat at the table, Maggie briefly looked up from her phone when she heard someone enter and quickly did a double-take. “Hayes…” she trailed off as she looked from their faces to the joined hands.

Confusion was evident on Maggie’s face, and she kept looking up and down from their hands to their faces. Realising that Maggie wasn’t saying anything anytime soon, Cormac let go of Meredith’s hand towards the coffee machine.

“Coffee for you both?” He asked grabbing some mugs.

“Please,” Meredith took a seat at the table with Maggie who was still looking between the two surgeons.

“Uh, yeah, coffee would be good.” Finally snapping out of her daze, Maggie was able to form a sentence. “Are you two…?” she asked trailing off pointing a finger between the two of them.

“Are we what?”

Meredith asked innocently.

“There was hand holding!”

“You’re a married woman, Maggie,” Amelia interjected as she breezed into the room. “Adults holding hands shouldn’t be too much of a shock to you.” She took the seat on the other side of Maggie, sitting opposite Meredith.

“You’re hilarious, Amelia,” Maggie deadpanned. “Did you know that there was something going on between these two?”

Cormac placed a mug of coffee in front of Maggie and Meredith before standing behind his girlfriend’s chair, one hand resting on the back of the hair whilst he took a sip of his coffee. His face gave nothing away but the proximity to Meredith was enough to confirm Maggie’s suspicions.

“Wait, the two of you are together?” Amelia stared at them wide-eyed.

Meredith took a long sip of her coffee before nodding, “Yup, seems like it.”

“But…”

“We thought you guys hated each other,” Amelia finished off Maggie’s sentence.

“What? Why?” It was Meredith’s turn to be confused now.

“You just stopped talking about him and you guys seem to dodge each other whenever you’re in a room together.”

Maggie nodded along in agreement. Both her and Amelia had been convinced that Meredith and Cormac must have had an argument or some kind of falling out because Meredith had suddenly dropped him out of every conversation. They hadn’t asked about it though, as much as Amelia had wanted to. Maggie had stopped her knowing that Meredith wouldn’t be likely to say anything even if they had asked her about it.

“So, you just thought we hated each other?”

Meredith felt Cormac press a kiss to her temple, “I’m just going to get changed, you ladies have fun with this.”

She shot him a glare in an attempt to make him stay but Cormac just gave her a cheeky grin, placed his cup on the table and walked away.

“I don’t understand!”

Maggie cried out after watching the small exchange.

Meredith couldn’t help but laugh at her sister’s reaction. “We’ve been dating for the past month and a half and the only reason we’ve been dodging each other in work is that we didn’t want anyone to know.”

Maggie nodded slowly looking slightly crestfallen. “You didn’t even want to tell us?” There was hurt in her voice that made Meredith's chest ache a little.

“It’s not that I didn’t want to tell you,” Meredith sighed, this was not the reaction that she had been expecting from Maggie. “It was just new and…” she trailed off, not wanting to air Cormac’s life out to everyone.

“And Meredith’s the first person I’ve been with since my wife so I just wanted to keep things quiet for a while whilst I got used to it all.” Cormac had walked in, pulling his lab coat on and saving Meredith from coming up with an excuse.

Maggie stood up suddenly, her chair screeching against the floor, “Get up,” she looked down at Meredith.

“Maggie, I’m really sorry that we didn’t say anything sooner but-“

“Get up.”

Looking at Cormac, Meredith slowly stood from her chair. Maybe he had a point about Maggie being like a honey badger. When she’d stood fully Maggie wrapped her arms around Meredith with a vice grip.

“You’re happy?” She asked still not letting go.

Relieved that her sister wasn’t angry with her, Meredith returned the hug, “I really am,” she whispered. “But you are cutting off my oxygen supply here.”

“Oh, sorry!” Maggie quickly let go.

Amelia walked towards them looking slightly awkward, “Look, I know we don’t usually do the whole hugging thing…”

Meredith laughed, pulling her other sister into a short hug which Amelia returned. “You deserve to be happy, Mer. I have to go clip an aneurysm but I’m coming to your tonight and you are telling me everything!” She ran out of the door before Meredith had the chance to object.

“I’m joining in on that!” Maggie squeezed her sister’s shoulder and grinned up at Cormac before leaving.

***

“Meredith Grey!” Bailey was storming down the corridor the moment she caught sight of her Chief of General Surgery.

Meredith quickly turned on her heel, attempting to get away from Miranda. Praying that a resident would call her, or she would get a page.

“Don’t you dare walk away from me, Grey. Schmitt! Schmitt, stop her from going anywhere!”

Panicking, Levi quickly stood in the way of Meredith’s path, arms outstretched. Every time Meredith tried to step around him, he moved quickly to stop her from getting away. As much as he respected Meredith, he was terrified of Bailey and the latter had the power to fire him.

Having finally caught up Miranda let Levi go and turned to face Meredith. “Do you want to tell me why I had to hear about your little tryst with my Chief of Paediatric Surgery from Richard?”

“Uhh…” Meredith had been planning on telling Bailey after Amelia and Maggie had left but her pager had gone off and she hadn’t had the chance. She’d naively hoped that no one would have found out before she and Cormac had the chance to tell Bailey and go to HR but she should have known better.

“Uhhh if all a rumour? Or uhh, I’m sorry Chief Bailey that I didn’t come to tell you and HR?”

“Definitely the latter. I was meant to come and tell you this morning, but you saw came into the ER!”

“Mhm,” Miranda pursed her lips looking unimpressed. “I’m surprised, Grey.”

“About?” Meredith asked.

“I didn’t think Hayes was your type.”

Meredith raised her brows, partially because she hadn’t expected Bailey to care this much.

“You guys were at loggerheads when he first started here. I’m pretty sure I remember you coming into my office and telling me he had too much of an ego to have a job here and that I needed to fire him?”

“I mean… I still think he has an ego,” Meredith was pretty sure that wasn’t a surgeon in existence who didn’t have a least a little bit of an ego.

“But you’re dating him?”

“I am. And I’m going to see HR in my lunch break about it.” Meredith quickly added on, making sure that Bailey knew that she was going to be doing things by the book. In this case at least.

Miranda nodded, “He treats you right?”

Slightly taken aback at Miranda’s concern, Meredith still couldn’t help but smile. “Better than I deserve.”

“He does anything wrong you let me know okay?” and with that, Miranda turned around and walked off before their chat turned more sentimental than she could handle.

***

“Were you ever going to tell me that you finally asked Meredith out?”

Jo seemed to appear out of nowhere as Cormac did his rounds in the NICU.

Not batting an eyelid at her sudden appearance, Cormac carried on looking through a chart. “I’m sorry?”

“Oh, don’t go playing dumb with me. The entire hospital knows that you and Meredith Grey are a thing. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me! I can’t believe she didn’t tell me!”

Cormac finally looked up at her, “My sincerest apologies Wilson but you seem to know now, so what’s the issue?

“The issue is that I just created a Tinder account for her, and I have four guys ready to go on a date with her!”

Throwing her hands up in the air, Jo stormed off and Cormac couldn’t help but look bewildered. He was definitely glad they had told everyone now.

[vv3nti]

i mean it — part one

jj maybank x reader

summary: jj would take the fall for any of his friends, he’s always ready to intervene and save the day. whenever y/n needed his help without question he was ready to move the mountains for her, he would do anything for her even if it meant giving up a lot himself. 

warnings: drug usage, soft jj, i didn’t read this over yikes

inspired by the netflix original series the society and the heart-warming scene of jj taking the blame for pope so he could keep his scholarship. there is a chunk of dialogue from the society— all rights to them. 

a/n: hello this is my outer banks side-blog you can find my other writing here at @nostalthicc​. send some request. 

you never want to be the one on the outside looking in but for y/n’s friends that precisely what they were going through. for the last hour or so, kiara, pope, and jj have been posted outside of y/n’s room door waiting for her to let them in and explain what’s going on. she was honestly an open person, so this caught everyone by surprise, what would happen for y/n to spend hours crying in her room? none of them knew what to do or what to expect; that’s why the pogues stayed at her door listening to the horrifying sobs, waiting for john b to get here with some food and drinks.

“what do you mean she won’t come out?” john b asked calmly as he pinched the bridge of his nose, pondering for a solution. food didn’t work, nor did her favorite drink. they needed to get creative because everyone was restless, and jj was ready to kick down the door- this was strongly disapproved by all the pogues. “okay, okay, listen. clearly, she doesn’t want all of us to see her right now, so we send one of us, right?” everyone nodded in agreement before all their eyes trailed to jj.

he rolled her eyes, gesturing john b to give him goods, it was no lie when it came to jj and y/n, the two of them had an unbreakable bond, and they were hoping that would help him get through to the girl. “i’ll call you in an hour.”

once the rest of the pogues were gone, jj slid down the wall, he knocked a few times announcing he was the only one left but still no response. after many failed attempts, he did the only logical thing to do, jj pushed a perfectly rolled blunt under the door.

a few moments later, he heard her hoarse voice. “i don't have a lighter.”

a smirk graced his lips, jj knew weed would do the trick, it always does. he was close to sliding his lighter to y/n, but an idea popped into his head. “if you want it, you gotta open the door.” he hesitantly spoke, hoping it wouldn’t cause her to inclose herself back into the room but to jj's luck y/n opened the door. it was difficult for him to take in her appearance, her hair was a disheveled mess atop her head, her eyes and nose were red from crying, tear stains ran down her cheeks, and y/n had a broken look in her eyes. jj hated seeing his friend like this, he would give anything to see a smile on her face instead of her dull expression.

"stop starring and give me the lighter." y/n held her hand out. "please." she added, not looking the boy in his eyes in fear of him asking her more questions. but she should have none better; this was jj.

"hey, wait, wait, wait." he began, getting onto his feet. "you don't get to lock us out of your room when you're clearly hurting and then act as though nothing happened. uh-uh y/n, not with me. you and i both know i don't work that way."

"well, maybe you should have let kie or pope stay because i have every intention of pretending nothing happened. i'm fine." a scowl was evident on your face, but he knew she was hurting and trying to push him away, he'd done it a thousand times himself.

jj drew a long breath before stepping into the room, noting she didn't try to stop him. "doesn't matter. i'm here, and you are not fine, so tell me what's up."

y/n wanted to tell him, she really did, but none of this was his problem, y/n knew jj already had enough on his plate and didn't need to be plagued with her difficulties- none of them did. she needed to figure this out on her own, the pogues wouldn't help her get out of this one. the smoke from jj's hit drew y/n out of her thoughts, she hadn't even noticed he had made himself right at home on her bed.

"okay, hit me." he leaned towards the girl, handing her the lit blunt. she declined, turning away and dragged her fingers through the mess on her head. "something's definitely wrong, you don't want to smoke. what's going on, you opened the door for my lighter but not to light the blunt? that doesn't make a lick of sense, not one bit. you know you have to light it to smoke it, right?"

his rambling was overwhelming the girl, she couldn't even begin to think when jj wouldn't shut up. of course, she knew she had to light the blunt, she wasn't an idiot, but the consequences that came with the blunt weren't worth it. before jj could send her into another spiraling break down y/n rushed to the bathroom, unintentionally slamming the door. little did she knew it allowed jj the perfect opportunity to get some answers, which he indeed found.

"y/n, i'm not playing this game again, open the door." he hissed while tugging on the doorknob. "the rest aren't here to stop me, i will kick this down." silence. "i know, y/n, i know you're pregnant, just come out."

"i'm scared," she confessed, a sob raking through her body.

"i know, sweetheart, but if you open the door i can help you, we'll figure this out, okay?" jj smiled triumphantly when y/n slowly appeared, but it instantly faded when he regarded her broken stance. quickly he swept her into his arms, holding her in a tight embrace as she cried.

y/n momentarily pulled away. "i fucked up bad, i fucked up so bad. what am i supposed to do?" jj didn't want to engage in such a touchy conversation until she had calmed down and was in the right headspace, so he held onto her tighter, rocking back and forth.

when y/n finally regained herself and dried all her tears, the two were able to sit face to face, one pogue to another, and have the awaited conversation. although y/n would admit it, she was relieved to have the weight lifted off her chest.

"it's not mine, though, right? i don't remember anything, but i've been pretty drunk in the past." the boy teased, earning a small smile from his best friend, a smile he has been waiting to see for ages. y/n threw a pillow at his face claiming this wasn't a joking matter, but jj didn't miss the giggle passing her lips. "seriously, do you know who the father is?"

"i don't ever want you to ask me that question again ." y/n was slightly offended he would even fix his mouth to mutter such a question, but she pushed her offensive away to reply. "just respect that one thing,  i don't want him in my baby's life, ever. that's the end of it, don't ever ask me that again."

jj apologized; those were not at all his intentions, but he was curious about who had landed the girl, not many others. he had a few ideas of his own; however, he chose to not further push the subject. he adverted his attention and proposed more simplistic questions, the basics; when did you find out? how did you find out? how are you feeling? do your parents know?

most we easy, straight-forward questions, yet one specifically caught notice. "yes, they know, i needed to ask my mom for guidance, they just want to know who the father is and i can't tell them, i won't tell them, but i fear what will happen if i don't."

"this guy, you really don't want him anywhere near you or your baby?" jj entreated, y/n replied with a nod. she could see the wheels turning in his head, which never resulted in a good idea. "then i'll be the father, i'm the father, simple."

y/n eyes grew the size of saucers, she had no words, no thoughts, all she could do was stare closely at her friend who wore a look of eagerness upon his features. y/n wasn't sure she heard him right. "no, you don't have to do that?"

"why not? jj counted.

she scoffed, rolling her eyes at his attempt. "this isn't like taking the blame for me when i almost blew up the chemistry lab-."

"-god, you owe me so much."

"i'm serious, this isn't a joke, jj." she tucked a few fly-aways behind her air. "it's big, and it's forever. you don't get to say that if you don't mean it." a mix of emotions were coursing through her veins; sadness, confusion, anger, gratitude, hatred. y/n couldn't pinpoint exactly which one, but they all were making her dizzy.

"you're my best friend, and i love you. of course, i mean it." jj placed a light kiss on the top of her head, he often made impulsive decisions especially when they involved the people he loved, but this one felt right. y/n felt right, she had done so much for him, and he was ready to do this for her and the baby. his baby. "i'd do anything for you y/n, and that'll never change, i will do everything to protect the two of you."

she watched with admiration in her eyes as jj explained all the details, she has a new level of respect and love for him, one that can never be replaced. y/n was content; finally, an emotion she never thought would plague her being after she found out the news, she was awaiting the future, but the future didn't have as glorious as plans as the pair hoped for.

jj had convinced y/n it was best if they told her parents as soon as they got home, he didn't want her to face y/f/n and y/m/n's wrath any longer. they were typical, uptight, materialistic kooks, and he had soon how disapproving they could be up close and personal. once they were informed, y/n and jj could better plan for the future, like a doctor's appointment as soon as possible. maybe it didn't go as smoothly as they planned, but at least it was over with.

"a pogue?" y/n's mother gasped, earning a stone-cold glare from her daughter. her father's reaction was much less surprising as if he expected the news. "as if you hanging around them wasn't enough."

"y/m/n, calm down." mr. l/n spoke in a somber tone, sure maybe he wanted to throw around some unkind words of his own, he was keeping his composure together for his daughter's sake. "that's not what we need to focus on." he began, scratching at his chin. "i'll make an appointment with dr. chen on the mainland, we will help you financially, but we expect you two to show some initiative as well."

y/m/n scoffed, her eyes zeroed in of jj, disgust was written on her face. she hated pogues because she used to be one and since she married y/n's father. y/m/n had wholly forgotten where she came from. "we'd be better off sending y/n to live with your aunt, you think he will be able to support y/n and her baby."

"-our baby." jj intervened. "you're not sending her or my baby away. i may be a pogue, but i know better than anyone how important family is, and i will assure i will do everything for these two." y/n's heart clenched as he spoke, she couldn't help but feel guilty for the way her parents were treating him when the baby wasn't even his. he shouldn't have to worry about providing for the baby, none of this was fair, and y/n felt ashamed for allowing jj to do this.

shortly after jj's rant, the two were able to get out of there and away from her mother. now it all came down to somehow explaining this the pogues. the entire drive to the cut y/n kept asking the boy if he was absolutely certain he wanted to go through with this, that there was still time to back out and live his life, but jj continuously assured her this is what he wanted to do, and he wasn't changing his mind.

the group had mixed reactions, which jj and y/n had expected. john b was mainly confused as to how this happened, the pair had never shown a romantic interest in each other, or a sexual one either. many questions plagued through his head, but john b decided to wait because he understood how overwhelming this is for his friends. pope was freaking out, going on about how a baby is a lot of work and it's presence throwing off the dynamic of the group. he shared his troubles with y/n's schooling as well as other minor concerns, pope sounded more like their parents than a friend. and lastly kiara, she was a bit leerier about the subject, she was a hard believer of the no pogue on pogue macking rule and with good reason to. what's done is done, and she made it clear she was the baby's godmother, this caused john b and pope to start bickering about how got to be the godfather.

y/n was happy with her friend's reaction, sure they may not know the entire truth, but the pogues treat her or act any different. it was merely another hardship they'd have to face together because it takes a whole village to raise a child, right? but no all good things last and y/n's pregnancy announcement spread very fast through the outer banks, and it may have caught a certain kook by a bit of a surprise.

[buglife]

Bend and Not Break - Ch 2: A Mission

Read here on AO3 :3

Monomon hurried as fast as she could possibly float to the palace, dodging various bugs and leaving the archive in a state of chaos. She didn’t even have time to tell anyone what was happening, just that she needed to leave and leave now. The messenger bug had delivered a letter with only a few sentences that stirred her into motion and sent her moving.

[Assassination attempt. Quirrel has been poisoned. Please hurry. - Ghost]

Poisoned? She figured they would tell her more details once she arrived, but it must have been serious. Pillbugs were notoriously resistant to toxins, at least, she knew that. She had to know since she worked with dangerous chemicals and suddenly had a baby isopod to care for. If it was public knowledge or not, she wasn’t so sure.

So either assassins figured out something strong enough to threaten the life of a pillbug, or they didn’t know and used something that her son could eventually beat on his own. She wouldn’t know until she found out.

Luckily when she arrived, the guard have known her long enough to just let her pass. The palace itself was in a state of lock-down, but she was so recognizable that she got through fast enough. To be honest, if they stopped her in any way, she wouldn’t hesitate to throw said guard around to make a path herself. The bedroom door was currently being guarded by Cloth and Ogrim, who gave her pained looks as they let her inside. They were Quirrel’s friends, and she was comforted slightly to know that they too were worried.

The atmosphere of the room was tense and thick. It was silent, save for the labored wheezing breaths of her son as he struggled to take in enough air. Ghost was sitting next to the nest, holding his trembling hand in theirs, occasionally reaching their head down to nuzzle his mask-less face. Another hand was being used to refresh a cooling enchantment on a wad of cloth, applying it to his head to hopefully bring their spouse a bit of relief. Quirrel looked to be in a bad way, trembling uncontrollably as Ghost did their best to try and soothe him, but it didn’t seem to be working. They finally turned their head after a while to look at her. She wasn’t all that shocked to see tears in the corners of their eyes, dripping long enough to leave long dark streaks on their face.

“Monomon…” Their ‘voice’ was desperate and afraid. “I don’t know what to do.”

She swallowed down a spike of emotion. It would not help here to suddenly lose herself to the rage and despair she felt at seeing her son in such a terrible state. “What happened?”

“There was an attempt on our lives. The ones involved are in the dungeon, but they had poisoned nails. One of them managed to cut him, here.” They moved a cover out of the way to reveal his bandaged side. The bandage was stained blue and faint hints of yellow. Already Monomon’s mind was racing through what could possibly match both the symptoms and the color.

“They managed to harm some civilians, none of the ones that were cut with the nails survived.”

“I see.” Her voice was soft. “Did you bring in any doctors?”

They shook their head. “No, I cannot trust any to try and not finish the job until the Knights have finished investigating.”

“A wise choice.” She floated over to lay a tentacle on the side of her son’s head. It was burning with fever and she winced. “Has he woken up at all?”

Another head shake in response.

Quirrel turned their head towards the tentacle on his head and mumbled something incoherent. She remembered the times when he had gotten sick before, when he was still so very small and fragile. She figured it was due to him being abandoned, and not getting the best start in life. She had carried him around in a makeshift pouch so that he would always know that he wasn’t going to be abandoned again. The times she sat up all night to apply a cool cloth to his head or fed him broth a teaspoon at a time drifted through her mind as she regarded her adult son, currently suffering. He made a sickly wheeze as she reached down her face to tenderly kiss his burning forehead.

She didn't know if he was aware or not, if he could tell he was surrounded by people that loved him, but she hoped he did.

“How much do you know about pillbug biology?”

Ghost seemed startled by the question. “Quite a bit, I would figure? He loves to lecture.”

“I know, but did he tell you about the resistances pillbugs have to toxins?”

They shook their head, looking back at their ill spouse with surprise.

Monomon knew that Ghost did not want or need a lecture right now, so she’ll keep it short and sweet. “Pillbugs are remarkably resistant to most things that would poison any other bug. Heavy metals, deadly plants, and even pollution. They have evolved to eek out nutrition from even the most terrible of sources and thrive where others can’t.”

“Does that mean he will be okay?” There was hope in that voice, and Monomon did her best to answer in a way to not completely squash it.

“It means that the odds are in his favor. He may come out of this by himself, but the chances increase dramatically if we somehow got a hold of a countermeasure, an antidote per-say. It will at least ease his pain.”

“How do you find such a thing? I don’t think the prisoners will want to talk.”

“Don’t worry, I have my ways. I will just need space for a lab an-”

“Whatever you want you will get.” They interrupted her. “Talk to Xena and Tiso, they are in the dungeons.”

“Good, then let us not waste any time.” She took one last moment to tuck in Quirrel a little more and try to make him more comfortable. It hurt her so much to see this, and she wanted nothing more to do that to stay here and care for him like she did so long ago. But, she had a job to do and a job that needed to be done quickly.

She turned and left, heading to the dungeons. The last thing she saw as the bedroom door shut was Ghost leaning back in to nuzzle Quirrel, practically climbing into the nest to hold him. She didn’t know of anyone safer for him to be around than his spouse, so with a renewed sense of hope and determination, she floated down the stairs. She had a job to do.

------

Quirrel didn't quite know what was happening. He had been with...someone, doing something out in the Capital. It was something important, at least, he thought it was. There were flashes of steel and colors and sounds and then a deep sickening pain before it went all black.

It had hurt. It felt like his lungs and heart were being squeezed in an iron fist. Thoughts became fractures of pain that kept shooting up to heights he didn’t think possible. Just when he thought he couldn’t stand it anymore, he had found himself somewhere else. He could feel and not feel, his numb body standing in the Fog Canyon and wondered how he got here.

Swatches of red streamed in through the mist to illuminate a facsimile of the Archives. He was standing outside of it, parts of the building floating off and smudging together. He couldn’t stare at it too long without getting a headache. He couldn’t even read the sign, the letters sliding together and twisting as he puzzled this development. There was a distinct lack of oomas and uomas, which tipped him off that something was very wrong.

He just couldn’t put a finger on it.

He would have been afraid, but there was something out there that seemed to give him strength. It was warm and heavy and he wore the feeling around him like a cloak on a cold day. It bolstered his spirit and he felt like he could face anything.

It was a strange sensation, it felt like there was a room full of people that were invisible. He tried to think on who they were, but he got only fragments of feelings and pictures that didn’t quite fit together. He figured it was best to not dwell on it, there was bound to be someone around that could help him.

He decided to just go inside. There was someone there that he knew that could tell him what was going on. He couldn’t think of the name, but he knew it was soft and green and filled him up with love. Again, faint feelings tickled the back of his mind, but he couldn’t figure out how to process it all. He approached the doors, which opened for him, and he walked inside.

The doors shut behind him and smudged together, fading off into nothing.

------

It sucked being in prison. The cricket leaned back on the stone wall in his cell, occasionally glancing at their missing arm. It stung and ached, and none of the guard or knights gave them anything for the pain. It wasn’t like he expected any, with the kingdom being lead by a monster and a traitor. By now it would just be the monster, he didn’t suspect the traitor would still be alive by now. Good riddance.

He didn’t quite know how long he was down here in his cell. Hours? He didn’t know. He was given water once and that was that, so it was impossible to hash out a timeline from that alone.

The door to the dungeons creaked open, and he couldn’t bring himself to care. It was probably time for him to die now. He knew what he was getting into when he volunteered for the mission. He just hoped that his death wouldn’t be in vain, and that his fellow bugs were closer to freedom.

His musings were interrupted when quiet footsteps approached his cell. What arrived was something he very much did not want to see.

Hollow the Kind, the sibling of the god king, stared at him with its one eye. It was deathly silent and its body was still as a statue. It was also a monster to him, the failed remnants of the previous god king’s folly. A vessel that was supposed to be completely hollow to hold the wrath of an angry goddess within that ultimately failed. It was dangerous and rarely that far away from its sibling, and for that reason he felt a pit of fear bloom in his chest. It continued to stare, narrowing its eye that seemed to look deep within his mind and soul, and he didn’t like that.

“The hell are you doing here? Here to finally kill me?”

The creature did not respond.

He was about to say something else when the vessel pulled out a key and opened the cell door. He knew he wouldn’t be able to escape, the vessel is fast and he doubted he’d get far. He still was going to make things hard on it though. Just when he was about to thrash around, it moved with frightening speed and grabbed him by the neck.

He gasped and tried to flail about, but with shackles on his legs and arm, he didn’t succeed in doing much. The prosthetic arm the creature had was hard and cold and he could feel the power in the mechanism. He couldn’t fight the grip as it pulled up to its full, terrifying height. It began to walk, and he was powerless to resist. He was being carried down a hall and it stopped in front of the door.

While Hollow was busy, Monomon was at work. She hummed to herself as she busied herself with her tools. Syringes, some vials of various components, and other odds and ends crowded the table. In a box on the floor held the nails of the assassins, now sterilized and deemed safe. The dried poison on the blades however, had been carefully extracted and reconstituted in another vial. She had taken the time to study it as her guest got ready to arrive. It was quite interesting, it was quite complex and she had trouble pin pointing the exact compounds. She could at least recognize a neurotoxin when she saw one and once again had to squash down her anger.

It was time for science.

The door to her makeshift lab opened and she turned her head just in time to see Hollow drag one of the prisoners inside. Actually, it was more like how one would scruff an unruly frog, as Hollow held him by the back of his neck so he had no chance of escape. “Let me go, you monster!” He shrieked, his single arm and pair of legs waving in the air and gaining no traction.

Hollow ignored them and all but threw the prisoner into the specially prepared chair. It was a padded chair on a swivel, with a thick metal bar on the end where someone’s legs would sit. Both that and the arms of the chair held several straps, and Hollow made quick work of immobilizing the prisoner. He grunted and wiggled against the straps, but to no avail.

“Wonderful!” Monomon clasped two of her tentacles together. “Thank you, Hollow dear, for bringing me the first of my very special guests!”

Hollow bowed his head to her politely. <”I will be outside”>, they signed.

“That won’t be necessary. There isn’t a single thing this worm can do to me,” She cheerfully responded. “This may take a while, why don’t you go up and check on your sibling? They could use a friendly face right now. Someone else can watch the prisoners for now.”

They glanced at the cricket strapped to the chair and seemed To mull over the suggestion in their head. Finally, they nodded and stepped out of the room, shutting the door behind them. The prisoner watched them leave and turned back to Monomon with a sneer.

“So, you’re going to torture me? Make me talk? Good luck, I’m not saying anything.” He huffed, having the audacity to sound bored.

“Oh no, torture has never been a suitable method of information extraction,” She informed him as she prepared a syringe. “This however, is science, pure and simple. If you don’t want to tell me what was in that poison and how to counter act it, then I’ll just have to figure it out myself. You get to be the very first volunteer to help me find that out! Isn’t that exciting?”

“You’re insane.” The cricket watched in dawning horror as she dipped the needle into the vial of poison, drawing a minuscule amount. “Why do you want to even save a traitor? He’s tainted by the monster! He’ll bring us down to ruin just like any other god and their allies!”

“Because, my dear boy.” She tapped the syringe to expel any bubbles in the glass. “That traitor, that you so call him, is my son.”

The seemed to throw the prisoner for a loop, and his mandibles that weren’t broken were open in shock.

She floated over, grabbing a little pad of cloth and alcohol, and began to clean the joint in his remaining arm where the chitin was the thinnest. It would not due to skip on protocol. “Oh yes, you and your ilk thought you were clever, trying to poison a bug that used to eat arsenic to freak out my students. You won’t be able to kill him this way, but he is suffering, and I do not like to see my son in pain.”

“Wait...wait!” The cricket tried to wiggle, but was helpless to resist as he watched the syringe come closer and closer to his arm.

“This was never to get you to talk.” She didn’t pause, plunging in the syringe and injecting it’s contents. “Like I said before, torture is useless. Science however, doesn’t lie, and I will get my answers, one way or another.”

His screams were wonderful as she pulled out some paper to take notes. What a fascinating reaction! She wondered what would happen if she added just a teeny bit of acid to the next injection.

You know, for science.

------

Tiso lounged in his chair, not bothered at all by the faint screaming that echoed through the dungeon. The person who was sitting directly in front of him, however, was very much bothered. The ladybug gulped audibly as they tested the ropes trying them to the chair. Tiso didn’t make things much better, humming to himself as he filled out some paperwork. He sat in silence with only the screams and the sound of quills on paper filling the cramped interrogation room.

“Wha…” The ladybug broke the silence, eyes wide. “What is that?!?”

“Monomon having fun.” He checked a few more boxes on the sheet.

“...The Teacher?”

“Yeah? Ya know, science lady?” Tiso gestured with the end of his quill. “Sounds like a lot of science is going on right now.”

“Am I…”

“Going to see her? Maybe.” Tiso leaned back and put his boots up on the table. “I doubt she’ll find what she’s lookin’ for with just one subject. She’s gonna need a few more for sure.”

“That’s crazy!” The ladybug switched from fear to anger. “You can’t do that to bugs! It’s evil!”

“You think that’s evil? Lemme tell you what’s evil. Evil is tryin’ to kill the two bugs who have done nothing except fix this broken fuckin’ kingdom.” Tiso leaned forward with a sneer. “You were there, you remembered how it was. The living dead roaming the streets, broken everything, a literal fuckin’ apocalypse. And they fixed it.”

“We’re trying to protect you all!” She scowled in return. “You were also there. You saw what happens when gods are in charge! How do we defend ourselves if our beloved ‘King’ were to suddenly decide to make our lives miserable just for fun? Or kill us all?”

“Because, they have friends, and family.” Tiso replied, leaning back again. “They are constantly reminded about how precious life is and how each action can impact them. The biggest one, being their spouse, that you lot tried to kill. And what do you think happens, when a god no longer has any ties to mortals anymore?”

The ladybug blinked.

“Yeah, I may not be the sharpest hammer in the tool box, but even I knew that!” Tiso huffed, feeling clever. “So you fucked up. I mean, colossally fucked up. If there was a book about the biggest fuck ups in history, you all would be on front page. “

She was silent.

“So here’s what you gottah do. You gottah fix this. You gottah tell me what you did, who told you to do it, and who else was in on it. You need to tell me everything. I can’t promise you anything except that I won’t give you to Monomon, but if you even wanna redeem yourself in the slightest, you’ll talk. And hurry the hell up, I got girlfriends to smooch.”

She took a deep breath and began to talk.

[ophiexb]

Defensive

Based off a prompt from @jatpficprompts from this Prompt Here.

“While the boys are alive, Luke is always the one to get sent to the principal’s office, in school. He’s not actually a bad kid, though. He just gets really angry when people are mean to Alex or Reggie and has gotten into more than a few fights with the bully. He even once broke a boy’s jaw (who ended up having to get it wired shut) for calling Alex some not so nice terms for being gay.”

-------------------

Luke...probably had the worst record out of all of them, and by probably he did. Between his grades and his disciplinary record there was no way the other was going to graduate without some serious intervention that he did not want. Better grades meant cutting way more back on practices and music, it meant less time to write, and less time to work on the things that actually mattered. This place was equivalent to a prison in his mind.

“It’s not that serious.” Alex said shutting his locker once all his books were packed up. “Bobby, Reggie and I all manage to keep up our grades and balance the band-and yes before you say anything I know you write the songs but Luke. They're not going anywhere.” Alex hummed. “The music is going anywhere, we aren’t going anywhere. You’ve got to graduate next year man.” 

“None of that’s going to matter! No ones going to care about any kind of diploma if they're famous! My music speaks for itself.” Luke countered. “And our band speaks even more and we’re going places.” He gestured dramatically as they waited for their other two band members. “And we’d be even better if school wasn’t in the way.” 

“You might not have any interest; but at least let us graduate.” Alex protested leaning against the wall of lockers as the people spilled into the halls and moved around. He could see them coming down and smiled waving the duo over. “I’m serious Luke, I actually really care about my grades.” He huffed. 

“Man; Ms.Hart assigned another paper. At this rate my hands are going to fall off.” Reggie groaned holding his hands up dramatically. “My wrists can only take so much more it’s going to impact my bass.” He added pitifully and Alex rolled his eyes with a gentle laugh. 

“Come on enough enough the papers can wait its Friday!” Luke beamed Friday meant band practice, it meant no homework and no studying that could wait for Sunday. He was radiant, gesturing for Bobby and tossing his arm around the other to pull his close.

“Alright alright-“ Bobby groaned, moving Luke off of him almost instantly to get to his locker. “I already told my Mom you guys were staying over and she's going to pick us up.” He laughed, the four of them heading out together with the rest of the school. 

Monday found Luke back in the office, his arms crossed over his chest and staring at the window with a blank expression on his face. “Lucas.” The man said slowly fiddling with his file. “This is the third fight this month.”

“It’s Luke.” He countered, finally giving the man some attention. His lip was split on the other side but overall he didn’t have any outward damage. “So what am I supposed to do Sir.  I told you last week that these guys keep hassling Reggie when he’s coming out of gym. Pushing him around and taunting him. I’m supposed to stand there? Just watch them?” 

“Well of course not, but violence isn’t the answer. You could go and get a teacher-Mr.Dennis was right in the locker rooms with the other boys….Mr.Patterson we’ve talked about this last time as well.” Luke could only roll his eyes.

“With all due respect sir; Mr.Dennis is useless. He lets them do whatever they want! He knows they’ve been coming after Reggie and he just tells them to stop and turns his back. I’m not going to let some punks keep hurting my friend.” He countered his fingers curling against the arms of the chair. He wanted to say a whole lot more but he was in enough trouble as it was, and the main anger had left him after the fight.

“Well I don’t know about all that, but this is your third fight this month Lucas, and don’t make me count up this year. You're treading a thin line to getting kicked out. I don’t want to see a bright future like yours ruined for something so simple such as using your words, and getting another teacher to help.” Luke’s mouth tightened into a thin line and he turned to stare back out the window again. “Your mothers here to pick you up. You can return Wednesday.” He sighed, climbing up to grab his bag tossing it over his shoulder and walking right past her to the car.

It gave him more time to write songs anyway. What did he care? Though-now the nagging feeling in the pits of his stomach came the entire time he was home. Because that was the downside to fighting. He couldn’t protect his friends anymore from home. No one would be there to stand up for them. It sure made it hard to focus on his songs until Alex called him after school to update him on the day.

Luke got better at hiding it after that, his attacks were more subtle and more calculated. He couldn’t get suspended because then who would protect the guys? Who would make sure no one messed with his friends if he was out? So he got better. He got smart about how he defended the moment, and sought his revenge later. The rumors were more than enough that much of the bullying and teasing had come to a halt for fear of Luke’s wrath. They were smooth sailing and Luke hadn’t had to have that stupid make better choice meeting in weeks.

Of course it didn’t last long; it never did for him. Something always had to happen and so damn close to their winter break. They were almost there and someone had to go and start something. At first it wasn’t a big deal, nothing serious. Until he started hearing the whispers. His mind zeroed in on the words from the other students before he was quickly moving through the halls. Ignoring their looks until he found them, laid eyes on them and that they were okay. Well physically okay. Alex was curled up, his fingers curled in his blond hair almost painfully. Reggie whispering softly to him and gently trying to unpry his hands from hurting himself. Bobby sat quietly to the side just rubbing soft circles on the drummers back.

“How’d they find out?” He demanded his voice sharp and Alex flinched slightly, and his anger left in a swoop. It wasn’t at Alex. It wasn’t at them and they didn’t deserve this side of him. “Lex…” He said softer moving to kneel in front of the other. “We can just-We can deny it. No one has any proof…” 

“They do.” Bobby said softly looking down for a moment and Luke’s brows furrowed looking at him and back at Alex. “A picture. Half the class has seen it.” By the end of the day they all knew the whole school would know.

Alex's breathing hitched and Luke shook off the trail of thoughts, his fingers gentle with Bobby’s to rub over the others shoulder a little. “Come on…” He whispered. “Deep breath Lex. We’ve got you.” He soothed, and Reggie finally got his hands to let go of his hair, and Luke quickly caught them before they could fly anywhere else. Before he could hurt himself. Pressing the others palm hard against his chest as they coached him slowly down.

They’d already missed more than half the day by the time Alex calmed enough to talk. His head laying on Bobby’s shoulder and face red. He looked worn, exhausted. “It was Tyler. From Science.” He whispered. “We’ve been lab partners since the start of the semester and he-“ He hesitated but Luke already knew. 

“The guy you liked.” He supplied softly. “The one who...who you thought liked you to.” 

“He asked to meet up after school yesterday.” Alex whispered his hands fidgeting but Reggie caught them curling his hands around his. “I said yes, foolishly. I should've known better, we were in his room and he asked me if I liked him. And I said yes.” His voice cracked. “He had his stupid baseball buddies in the closet.” He whined. “Luke my parents are going to find out there are friends with Tyler’s parents.” He rambled edging on the hysterics again. “Everyone’s going to find out-“ Which...was not great. Sure no one wanted for Alex to have to pretend and fake day in and out. But...but it was just a fact. A fact of life right now that being gay was dangerous. 

“I’m gonna kill him.” Luke hissed almost growled standing up abruptly. 

“Luke.” Alex protested quickly, his watery blue eyes looking at the other. “He’s not worth it. The damage is done already-It’s...you get in another fight there going to expel you it’s not worth it.” He shifted trying to untangle himself from the guys, but Luke could see. See the absolute distress and misery on the other face and knew he wasn’t going to let it go. For now he would. Only for now.

They got Alex to the studio, figuring the day was wasted anyway they’d take the detentions for missing a day and deal with it all later. Right now the focus was their friend, and his comfort making sure he didn’t see anyone else and he could fully calm down before going home. To come out. Because this whole ordeal jump started any plans or ideas Alex had for telling his parents he was gay. It had to come from him. Not some rumor-which mean right now….

Luke was going to kill Tyler Moore.

It really didn’t take much to set him off all over again. Coming into school the next day to see Alex. Trying to keep his crumbling life together because of this one asshole. It’s not a prank, it’s not funny. In Luke’s mind all he can think is this asshole has put Alexs life in danger. They watch the news, they see the media. It’s not funny-it’s real life and he’s pissed. 

Apparently the anger rolling off him is not enough to deter the other teen from approaching them in the hall. They’d been gathered around Alex trying to get an idea of how his coming out went, how he was doing when he heard the others' voices. 

“Luke.” Alex was already protesting. 

Luke was already moving, his eyes set on that smug face. With his letterman jacket and his group of friends behind him acting like they were better than the world around them. Like they weren’t slowly destroying an entire person. Not a care in the world for laughs right? Not on Luke’s watch.

“What you got feelings-“ Tyler didn’t even finish his sentence Luke was punching him hard across the jaw. Hard enough he felt the crack, saw the blood and he wasn’t done jumping onto the other and hitting him again. His group wasn’t behind him anymore-people like that aren’t real friends. All of them fled the moment Luke was on him. It took two teachers to pry him off the other boy, and Luke was yanking his bag up off the floor, shoving their hands off him.

“I’m going I’m going.” He snapped his eyes moving over to his friends. The wonder and amazement on Alex's face, on Reggie and Bobby’s face. Despite their protest Luke knew they appreciated it. That they could never tell him for fear of encouraging him getting in trouble. But having someone defend you to the lengths Luke went? It was pretty special.

It’s also how he ended up expelled the day before winter break. The catalyst to his relationship with his Mom finally dissolving and crumbling away. But his focus was pinpointed. It was zeroed in on his band, and his friends. He didn’t need anything else.

[faylor]

Poison

By @faylor for @gr-eet

Rating: General

Relationships: Peter Parker & Tony Stark

Characters: Peter Parker, Tony Stark

Summary: Peter and Tony are at a SI press event/dance/gala and Peter accidentally drinks a spiked/poisoned drink meant for Tony.

Additional Prompt: “Do you even care?”

“So what d’ya think, kid? Burgundy or black for the tie?”

The question hadn’t even fully registered to Peter as he focused maybe a little too hard at the scribbles of words and numbers in his notebook.

“Or do you even care?” Tony continued with a chuckle.

“Yeah, that’ll look good, Mr. Stark,” the teenager blurted without even for a moment breaking eye contact with his work.

“Okay, I think it’s time to take a break.”

“I’m almost done, Mr. Stark. I promise, just lemme...”

“Kid, you’ve got literally all weekend to finish your homework.” He took a few steps closer toward the couch where Peter was sitting. “And besides, you’ve gotta get ready, too, you know. T-minus 20 minutes before we gotta head down. Pepper won’t be too happy if we decide to show up fashionably late.”

Peter finally managed to tear his eyes away from his work to look at his mentor. “I know, I know. I just wanted to try and get all of this done so I’d have the rest of the weekend free.” He shrugged. He was going to be spending the entire weekend at the tower, which meant plenty of time in the lab to tinker around and brainstorm new suit upgrade ideas. But first, he’d have to survive a fancy Stark Industries party that was being held at the tower. From what Tony had told him, it was supposed to be some kind of charity ball or something, and that it would be a pretty fancy event. Suit and tie kind of fancy. Which, Peter admitted, he wasn’t exactly the most comfortable about.

Sure, he was at least sort of excited about it, but at the same time he worried about feeling too out of place. He was sure there’d be basically no one there he’d know, and definitely no one of his age. But Tony has asked him to come, so of course he would. Plus, he thought it might actually be kind of fun to meet some new people anyway.

“I promise, we’ll have plenty of free time even after you finish your homework. Now come on, kid. Let’s get you all dolled up, shall we?”

Peter rolled his eyes at Tony, a small laugh escaping from him. “Fine.”

After Peter got dressed in his probably way too expensive suit that Tony had gotten for him, he made his way back into the living room area.

“Um, Mr. Stark?” he asked, an almost apologetic smile on his face as he held out his neck tie. “Do you think you could maybe...”

“Sure, bud.” Tony smiled, stepping toward him and taking the tie.

Twenty minutes and a bit too much hair gel later, Peter walked out of the elevator behind Tony, his fingers toying with the hem of his jacket. He wasn’t exactly sure what to expect as they walked down a corridor and finally reaching a doorway. Peter’s eyes widened as they walked though it, finally seeing the event room.

The entire ballroom was decorated so nicely. All the tables were set toward the front, covered in fancy, white cloths with plate settings already in place. And everyone there was dressed as if they were attending some big Hollywood movie premiere. Peter was almost overwhelmed as he took all of it in. The only kind of parties he’d ever been to were house parties - well, one house party, that is - so this was totally new to him.

He hesitantly followed Tony as he made his way through the room of people until they’d made it to a table where Pepper was already sitting and talking to someone Peter didn’t recognize. Tony had pulled out the chair next to her, taking a seat as he placed a kiss on her cheek.

“Hey, there you two are.” She turned to Peter with a warm smile. “You look very nice, Pete.”

“The kid does clean up pretty nice, doesn’t he?” Tony added.

Peter chuckled, feeling his cheeks turn a bit pink as he tugged at the bottom of his jacket. “Thanks. The suit’s really nice, Mr. Stark, really.”

“Don’t mention it.” He waved a hand dismissively. “Now, why don’t you have a seat? Unless you’d rather just stand there to eat your dinner.”

So he took his seat next to Tony, placing his hands in his lap as he peered around the room once more. It was filled with, as he’d expected, people who he didn’t know. There were maybe one or two slightly familiar faces that he’d seen around the tower a few times though.

“So, um, do all of these people work for you, Mr. Stark?” he wondered.

“Some of them, yeah. Some are from other companies, too. Might have to introduce my favorite intern to them, huh?”

“Oh, um sure!” Peter smiled, his enthusiasm showing within his features. Okay, so maybe this night wasn’t going to be as bad as he’d thought. His eyes wandered again, scanning the sea of people for maybe even one familiar face.

He broke his concentration as one of the waiters had approached their table, tray in hand as he offered drinks to them. Peter watched as Tony grabbed a couple of the red tinted glasses and held one out to him. He hesitated, his brows furrowing slightly. Was... Was Tony actually offering him alcohol?

“Don’t worry, kid. These aren’t alcoholic,” Tony assured with a smile. “Just sparkling cider. I don’t think I’d ever risk the wrath of your aunt if she found out I’d let you drink.”

“Oh. Um, right.” He took one of the glasses from Tony, his lips quirking into a small smile. “Thanks.” He lifted the glass to his mouth, taking a sip.

The moment the liquid passed his lips, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. Something was wrong. He slowly swallowed the swig he took as he glanced around the room. Nothing seemed to be out of place. No one seemed to be posing a threat. So what had made his senses go off?

His answer quickly came in the form of lightheadedness, and he blinked as his eyebrows crinkled. Where had this feeling come from? It was getting worse by the second, too. His eyes darted around, his heart pounding as he found it increasingly hard to catch his breath.

“Kid?” Tony’s voice was brimmed with worry. Peter couldn’t decipher what was going on, but he knew it wasn’t good. And now his stomach felt like it was on fire. Was he getting sick? But it didn’t feel like any sickness he’d ever had before. This was different. Intense. Painful. Unnerving.

And now the room was spinning, the walls closing in on him as his throat refused to let go of his breath. This was bad. Really bad. But he couldn’t panic. He had to stay calm. He wasn’t dying. He wasn’t. Was he?

He turned to his mentor, head spinning at what felt like a trillion miles an hour, and his heart was nearly jumping out of his chest by now.

“Mssr Stark...” Peter slurred, his legs starting to turn into jelly as the glass slipped from his hand, shattering on the floor. “I... I don feel s-“

And then he was on the ground, blackness caving in on his vision as he choked on the air he’d been struggling to intake. Tony’s voice faintly echoed through his ears before it began to fade. Then, nothing.

A faint beeping coming from Peter’s left was the next thing he remembered as he felt himself slowly regain consciousness. Then the pain in his head began to come back, and he tried to figure out where he was.

But he found it almost impossible to open his eyes fully, because everything was so bright. Why was everything so bright? Wait, was he actually dead? Was this that metaphorical light that everyone talked about seeing when you die? But there was that beeping. Right. Not dead. So, in a hospital? But why? What had happened to put him in a hospital? He remembered the party, and seeing all the people. Then he remembered the drink.

The drink.

It made sense. Drinking from it had been the last thing he remembered before he’d gotten sick. Before he’d blacked out. But that had to be it. The drink had to have been spiked with something. But why? Why would someone want to poison him? Oh god... had someone figured out his identity? His mind raced through the speculations a bit too quickly for his still aching head, the train of thought only stopping once he’d heard the door of the room he was in opening.

He forced his eyelids open, blinking rapidly as he tried to adjust them to the light, and he’d noticed a figure moving toward him. His vision came back into focus, and he saw that the figure was that of Helen Cho. Okay, so he was sure that he was in a hospital now. Or, rather, the tower’s medbay.

“Peter?” Helen’s voice was soft as she spoke to him. “How’re you feeling?”

“‘M okay,” he mumbled, still feeling a bit groggy. “Head hurts.”

“I’d say it does.” There was a slightly concerned expression on her face. “Do you remember what happened?”

“The drink...” He paused. “Was I... poisoned?”

Before Helen could even answer, the door swung open again, and Tony came practically sprinting through it, worry plastered across his features.

“Kid?” Oh, he sounded so worried. Scared, even. Peter blinked again, his brows furrowed as he watched his mentor approach him. Peter’s mind jolted again as he remembered that Tony had also taken a drink from that same tray last night. Had he been poisoned too? But he was obviously fine. Did he even drink his?

“Mssr Stark? I- Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Pete.” Tony’s tone softened. “You really scared me, you know. I thought...” His voice trailed off.

Helen looked between the two of them before she spoke again. “I’ll give you two a moment. I’ll be back in a few minutes to run some tests, Peter.” She nodded at him with a soft smile before turning toward the door and making her way out.

Peter’s gaze turned back to Tony. “I’m fine, I promise.”

“I know, I just- I thought I’d lost you, Pete.” He ran a hand over his face, sighing. “Bruce and I ran some tests on that cider you drank, and... I’ll be honest with you, kid, you shouldn’t have survived. But lucky for you, your healing factor was fighting it from the beginning.”

“Oh...” His eyes dropped. “How long- Um, how long was I out?”

“About eighteen hours.”

Peter’s eyes widened. Eighteen hours?! How had he been out for that long? Sure, his healing factor worked better while he was sleeping, but it never knocked him out for nearly that long before. So it must’ve been really really bad. Even Tony had said he shouldn’t have survived it. Then his mind toyed with the idea of Tony having drank the tampered drink, too. Oh, he didn’t like that. Not at all. He couldn’t even imagine...

“I- Mister Stark? Did you... Was your drink poisoned, too?”

Tony didn’t answer immediately, his gaze falling to the floor for a moment before it found Peter again. “Yeah. It was.” He paused. “I’m assuming whoever did this was going after me, but they obviously didn’t care if you died too as collateral damage.” His voice wavered. “And I don’t know what I’d do if...”

“Mr. Stark...” Peter sat up slightly in his bed, his face scrunching for a moment as he felt a slight pain shift through his body. “You couldn’t have known.”

“But I should’ve. I should’ve had better security and been more diligent on checking the staff, because I could’ve lost you, Pete. And I couldn’t live with myself knowing I could’ve stopped it.” His tone was becoming feverish as he stood from his seat.

Peter felt his heart skip a beat at Tony’s words. He almost felt... guilty. But it wasn’t exactly his fault, was it? Should he have been able to sense that the drinks were spiked sooner?

“I’m sorry...”

“Kid, you don’t have anything to be sorry for.”

“I didn’t even sense anything was wrong until I’d already taken a drink... I should’ve-“

“Pete,” Tony cut him off, sitting himself on the edge of the bed. “None of this is on you. It’s on me.”

“Mr. Stark, I don’t blame you.”

“I know, kid. But I do. I should’ve made sure you’d be safer.”

“But it was a party. Usually those are pretty safe.”

“This one apparently wasn’t. But I’m gonna make sure that never happens again.”

“But I’m fine. You didn’t actually have anything to worry about.” Peter shrugged.

“I’m always gonna worry about you. You’re my kid, Pete. If something were to happen to you on my watch, that’d be on me for the rest of my life.”

His kid? Tony thought of him as his kid. Peter felt his cheeks warm at the concept, but in the best way possible. And it wasn’t exactly like Tony was his dad. But he was the closest thing Peter had to one. And now Tony had told Peter that he was his kid.

“I’m not gonna let anything happen to you. Not anymore,” Tony continued.

“I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“It’s alright, Pete. I’m just glad that you’re okay. You feeling any better, by the way? Helen said you’d have one hell of a headache when you woke up.”

“Well she definitely wasn’t wrong about that.” Peter chuckled, rubbing the side of his head. “But I’m feeling a bit better now.”

“Good.” He reached up to tousle the teenager’s curls, a soft smile playing on his face. “Now rest up, kiddo. We’ve got some time in the lab to make up for tomorrow, if you’re still up to it.”

“Yeah, of course!”

“And don’t think I’ve forgotten about that homework you didn’t finish, either.”

“That you wouldn’t let me finish,” Peter reminded him with a smirk. Tony returned it with one of his own.

“I think that poison’s obviously gone to your head. You’re making stuff up now.”

“Mr Stark!” Peter’s face turned to feigned offense, inciting laughter from his mentor.

“Get some rest, kid. I’ll see you in a bit.”

And so he happily did, knowing that Tony would be there for him no matter what. Knowing that he was his kid.

Tag List: @zissa93 @mala-sadas @romeoandjulietyouwish

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[atinybitofau]

[ateez] J O N G H O ⤑ couple au

THE “UNLIKELY” COUPLE

aka he’s not your friend but his friends are friends with yours and you know how that goes

• no you haven’t met the infamous Choi Jongho.

• but you have met Jung Wooyoung.

• who was childhood best friends with Kang Yeosang,

• that inevitably knew your college lab partner Jeong Yunho,

• to which, back to Wooyoung, IS your best friend.

• and that’s how your friend circle began.

• Jongho was a little more skeptical when it came to making friends.

• because he was known to be this young masculine overall HOT piece of meat everyone just pined over.

• being somehow hand in hand with amateur model Park Seonghwa,

• street race buddies with hot topic Choi San and even hotter chaebol Song Mingi.

• oh yeah,

• those four were THE epitome of millennial upper class.

• and who just so happened to be the beautiful mediator in all this?

• a man who knew ALL boys without even needing you technically,

• your lovely neighbor of 10 years Kim Hongjoong who just loved to knock on your door every night looking for food.

• which in terms of this moment sort of looks like,

• “So I saw your door was open and brought some friends for your famous chicken parm!”

• you turn over your shoulder in complete and utter stupefaction,

• wrapping your half naked body with your lazily draped robe.

• “KIM HONGJOONG IM BASICALLY NAKED YOU IDIOT!”

• so maybe the mediator gets too comfortable sometimes..

• being able to drag 8 hormonal men into your house unannounced being the definition of too comfortable.

• “OH MY GOD, PLEASE GET OUT!”

• they don’t by the way,

• Hongjoong smiling smug with a cold cup of water and 7 flustered faces around your kitchen counter.

• and here YOU come approaching from your bedroom calm and not surprised at the least anymore that they’re still here.

• not when Hongjoong has caught you walking around your house naked almost once a week.

• but this was your love story with Choi Jongho right?

• and he just so happened to be the only one blatantly lovestruck staring at you.

• your eyes move to Hongjoong in spite of your own fluster greeting them all with a bow.

• “I’m sorry you had to see that..” your comment’s broad but your glare is narrowed at Wooyoung and Hongjoong who can’t smiling. “You two.. I swear, I’ll have your heads.”

• “When and where?”

• you snark a strong growl at Wooyoung before he kisses you on the cheek. “Now can someone please tell me why 8 very tall and handsome men are crowded in my house at 6 in the afternoon?”

• your eyes catch Jongho’s yet again,

• like instinct almost, animalistic.

• he’s as beautiful as everyone says he is.

• charm oozing right off his face and body.

• you don’t know why the way he looks at you seems different from everyone else.

• maybe it’s all in your head.

• that a look like that wouldn’t be dawned on you in a million years.

• “Well Seonghwa stopped by my place.” Hongjoong nods towards Wooyoung. “Then this idiot and now the whole squad’s here. Who, to my knowledge, you haven’t been well acquainted with just yet.”

• you chuckle at that sitting comfortably at a seat beside him. “Well considering the circumstances, I think we can all agree that we’ve been acquainted. Albeit not so visually at ease.”

• “Oh no your boobs are great!”

• you can’t help but laugh at the defense mechanism a new man you recognize as Mingi uses.

• the boys you already know ready to cut his tongue off.

• “Um thanks?”

• you don’t want to.

• god you don’t mean to—

• but your eyes do it again.

• in a room full of 8 men,

• 4 of which you don’t know in general,

• somehow gravitating towards one in particular.

• “I’m sorry.” Seonghwa notices first the way your eyes find a center on his best friend. “I don’t think we’ve all met. I’m Seonghwa. That’s Jongho.”

• then there’s two men you don’t know left.

• but the one you’re thinking of has already past.

• “I’m San. And Mr. boob fanatic here is Song Mingi. It’s really nice to meet you, y/n.”

• you’re obviously gonna look at the four.

• and it’s only right that you properly introduce yourself.

• but the moment your body gets engulfed in Choi Jongho’s warmth?

• he’s a “friend of a friend” you feel will be of way more importance in terms of..

• comfort.

• “Jongho?” you reappear from your bedroom half asleep noticing the rest of the boys had left. “What are you still doing here?”

• “O-oh, well I didn’t want to leave without thanking you. And apologizing on everyone’s behalf.” he subtly rubs his eyes setting down a book he was reading before smiling at you.

• you sleepily smile back sitting a safe distance away. “That’s sweet of you. But you do know it’s almost 1 in the morning, right?”

• “Right..”

• you lay your head against your couch smiling at him still. “Are you sleepy? Do you have to drive home?”

• he chuckles awkwardly rubbing at the nape of his neck. “Honestly I lost track of time and I don’t think I’ll be able to drive home in this condition.”

• “Oh well my guest room’s empty.” you unknowingly offer. “If you want you can sleep over? If you’re too tired to drive, I’d rather have you sleep over than get into an accident..”

• he smiles at you tenderly.

• and it’s almost like you’re two star crossed lovers.

• but maybe it’s all in your head.

• that the world wouldn’t be taking your side this easily.

• “Jongho, is this okay?” you come into your guest room, back facing first trying to lift a big comforter. “I couldn’t find my other blanket so—“

• you gasp,

• hands flailing in the air when you’re suddenly face to chest with something very bare.

• and very hot.

• “Is this your way of getting back at me for seeing you earlier?” he sultry taunts.

• your eyes lock again with his and it’s definitely not just in your head.

• the way his eyes gaze into yours.

• how he’s undeniably caught love at first sight.

• “W-well unintentionally I think.” you mumble.

• he holds you balancing your hips. “I think you’re visibly at ease with the situation regardless if it’s intentional or not.”

• “Choi Jongho, how much has Hongjoong told you about me?” your lips quirk when his does.

• “Enough.”

• “And what exactly is enough?”

• he gets impossibly closer.

• and it’s clear being friends with who he’s friends with, makes his age almost unseeable.

• “He said you’re very predictable. And that you’ve asked about me too.”

• you hum back softly. “Has he told you exactly what I’ve asked?”

• “If he’d ever introduce me? If I’m busy most of the time. Or if the rumors about me are true.” he clears with a cloudy mind. “But I was more interested in the things you say about me rather than what you ask.”

• you grin half heartedly hand on his chest. “Flattery only gets you half of what you want.”

• “And if it gets me all of what you want?”

• “What is it you could possibly want with someone you just met today?” you study his expression when he gets even closer.

• “Call me crazy but I think I want you.”

• two weeks later and you two think you’re able to hide the relationship that somehow formed so fast.

• between two star crossed lovers.

• two close strangers.

• curiosity killed the cat, would be good to describe the both of you.

• having spent too many nights at his house because yours was too vulnerable to infiltration.

• falling in love with him in less than .2 seconds.

• crossing the line of “just friends” before getting-to-know each other passed.

• and it’s not that you didn’t want his friends to know,

• your friends too.

• it’s that if they did,

• meeting your new boyfriend who was a friend of a friend might be a little too convenient..

• “So where were you last night?” Wooyoung questions you first with Yunho and Yeosang eerily following with eyes. “Hongjoong said you haven’t been home for the past couple of weeks. Care to explain?”

• you poke at your food. “I’ve been picking up some extra hours at work.. why the sudden curiosity?”

• “Because Jongho’s been incognito for the past few weeks too.” Yunho teases. “That’s a little too much of a coincidence, don’t you think y/n?”

• “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

• Wooyoung cackles. “I knew it. I fucking knew you had a crush on that man child!”

• “Man child— Wooyoung. That man child has 5 championship belts around his waist and nearly 10 million bucks hiding in a bank account somewhere. I’d have a crush on any man with those kind credentials.” you attempt to brush it off.

• but Wooyoung knows you better.

• Yeosang and Yunho too.

• so what more with Jongho’s group of friends who know him just as much as these three know you.

• “You’re dating y/n aren’t you?” Seonghwa smirks at the younger who blushes at the mention of your name.

• “W-why do you say that, hyung?”

• “Because why else would you reach for your phone and answer someone else’s text?”

• Jongho snatches his cell from Mingi’s curious hands that sends San in a fit of laughter.

• and you two eventually come to realize Hongjoong is next.

• and you were definitely not gonna wait for his wrath.

• being the reason this friend of a friend relationship even happened.

• Hongjoong always trying to spoil you and protect Jongho.

• “Jongie~” you wrap your arms around your boyfriend who should’ve expected your warm welcome.

• how you’re always eager to get a kiss from him any chance you get.

• except he’s a little stiff this time around.

• 6 other men, unbeknownst to you, following behind him feigning obnoxious gags.

• “Ew oh my god.” Wooyoung playfully shoved the both of you out of the way. “Try to keep it pg for the kids, man.”

• you roll your eyes still smiling up at your flustered boyfriend. “You told them?”

• “More like they told theirselves. I didn’t admit to anything.” he chuckles waiting till the coast is clear to steal a kiss from your pouty lips. “But I’ll admit to feeling better knowing these fuckers found out.”

• you hold your hand to his chest before leading him into the crowd in your kitchen. “Where’s Hongjoong?”

• they face you in a disgusted manner as if not waiting to be fed by YOU in YOUR house.

• “On his way.”

• Wooyoung smirks. “Good luck.”

• Jongho hides you behind him as soon as he feels it.

• because everyone can.

• how shaky and rumbled the room got.

• by just one loud,

• “WHERE’S THAT LITTLE SNAKE AND WHO GAVE HER THE RIGHT TO TOUCH MY BABY?!”

• and of course.

• even though you’re the one precious girl in between two groups of unlikely friends,

• Choi Jongho was still the notorious baby.

• “yours” truly.

@atinybitofau

[magicalmonsterhero]

Danny Phantom (Live-Action) trailer

It’s the 17th Danniversary, so here is my take on a live-action Danny Phantom movie trailer.

(Shot of a birds-eye view of Casper High School. Cut to the teachers’ lounge as three ghosts, clearly intended to parody the Ghostly Trio, enter through the wall. Catching sight of a table laden with a smorgasbord of meats, they grin in delight, the fat one drooling and the short one rubbing his hands together. Just as they are about to dig in, the sound of someone clearing their throat makes them pause and turn around. Danny, in Phantom form, is hovering a short distance away.)

Danny: Yo, whassup?

(Irate at their meal being interrupted, the three charge at Danny, who simply does an aerial backflip over their heads. The skinny one snarls before lashing out with extending arms, but Danny avoids this attack as well.)

Danny: Ah ah ah, not without a hall pass!

(As the fat one inflates himself like a balloon and the short one belches out a cloud of smoke, Danny curls his hand into a fist and prepares to throw a punch. However, he stops upon seeing his hand glow with green energy. Raising his hand with the palm facing out, he blasts the fat ghost, who goes rocketing around and deflating.)

Danny: Whoa, sweet!

(Nickelodeon logo appears briefly. Cut to Danny in normal form, sitting with Tucker at a table in the Casper High cafeteria. The two are watching Paulina chatting with Star and Valerie.)

Female voice: Mind if I sit here?

(The boys look up to see Sam standing by the table, holding her lunch tray.)

Danny: Uh...sure.

(Tucker gives Sam’s lunch a ‘what-in-God’s-name-is-that’ look.)

Tucker: Do I wanna know what that is?

Sam: Vegetarian option. My idea.

(Tucker hastily turns to focus on his decidedly non-vegetarian food. Cut to the Fenton lab, where Jack and Maddie are trying to turn on the portal as Danny and Jazz watch.)

Jack: I don’t get it. The last one worked just fine.

Maddie: Don’t worry, I’m sure we’ll figure it out.

(They head upstairs, Jazz following. Danny is about to follow, but he catches sight of a white jumpsuit with black accents lying in a heap on the floor. Shot of a meter marked ‘Portal Charge’ filling up completely. Cut to Danny, now in Phantom form, looking nervous as he enters his room through the closed door. He lets out a sigh of relief and changes back to normal form, only to hear a crash behind him. Tucker is sitting on Danny’s bed, a broken plate and a mostly-eaten sandwich lying at his feet.)

Tucker: Are you...a ghost?

Danny: What? No! I...

Tucker: Dude, you walked right through the wall!

(Danny tries to speak, but only manages to stutter incoherently. Cut to a high-tech lab full of gadgets and gizmos, where Technus is hovering before a crowd of other ghosts, all in lab coats and similar attire.)

Technus: They called us crackpots to our faces while they stole the credit for our work, our blood, sweat, and tears! And those of us they couldn’t drive to suicide, they had disposed of like trash!

(He picks up a device resembling a high-tech flamethrower and pulls the trigger, releasing a bolt of electricity.)

Technus: Now, we’ll teach them a lesson they will never forget.

(Cut to Danny behind the Casper High building. He glances around to make sure no one's watching, then turns into Phantom form. Cut to Danny flying above Amity Park, clearly having a ball as he does a few loops, barrel rolls, and other aerial acrobatics. Swooping down beside a passing train, he waves to a couple of kids who are looking out the window. As he soars off, the kids watch in awe. Cut to Sam and Tucker in a large room with various bizarre gizmos and strange substances, as well as several weird-looking lifeforms in cages or glass tanks.)

Sam: What were these guys doing?

(Shot of two Guys in White attempting to stop a couple of Technus's henchmen from reaching a door marked 'Restricted Area,' only for the ghosts to pull out weapons. Shot of Technus grinning triumphantly as he holds a mechanical silver orb. Cut to Danny and Technus facing off.)

Technus: You picked the wrong side, boy.

(Shot of Danny carrying Sam as he flies down a hallway. Shot of Tucker hacking into a lab computer, the screen filling up as files are open. Shot of Danny blasting Technus's followers, trying to keep them away from the A-Listers.)

Technus: If you're going to protect these selfish, thieving pigs, then you too will face my wrath.

(Shot of Danny fighting back against a robotic monstrosity. Cut to title card.)

DANNY PHANTOM

(Cut to Danny, Tucker, and Sam sitting at a table at Nasty Burger. Tucker is holding a ketchup bottle like a microphone, Danny is covering his face in embarrassment, and Sam is just staring.)

Tucker: ...then Danny took a look inside of it

There was a great big flash, everything just changed...

(Sam facepalms.)

Danny: For the last time, Tuck, I don’t need a theme song!

(Tucker puts the ketchup bottle down and folds his arms with a huff.)

Notes

-In this take, Danny has known Tucker for some time, but Sam‘s parents previously enrolled her in several private schools, each one eventually kicking her out due to conflicts with other students. Since I’m not thrilled with her forcing her beliefs down others’ throats in ‘Mystery Meat,’ she’s not the one to incur the Lunch Lady’s wrath. -Considering that Vlad is Danny’s most prominent recurring villain, I feel that he is the type of villain who, as moviebob once said about Dr. Doom, is “too big to burn off in the first film.” (Mind you, I don’t know if I will compose any sequel trailers, but I think you get my point.) Since supertech features heavily in Spider-Man: Homecoming, I decided to go with Technus instead.

[thedreammweaver]

That Would Suffice to Make a Formidable Monster Chapter 7 (Burton-Schumacherverse Sci-Fi Horror au, riddlebird, sea monster/alien!Oswald)

Chapter 6 Chapter 8

Warnings: Thalassophobia tw, violent major character death, blood tw, viscera, gun violence

Bruce had been wracked with guilt all night and decided against letting Oswald be ‘dealt with.’ Harvey was getting equipment ready when Bruce came into the room where they kept diving suits.

“I can’t let you do this, Harvey. It’s murder.”

Harvey scoffed “Like how our friend Oswald murdered that oil rig crew.”

“That was practically self defense, he was probably scared-“

“Oh now you’re making excuses for it...unbelievable.” Harvey angrily continued getting stuff ready.

“I said I can’t let you do this.” Bruce went over to take the highly powered harpoon Harvey was intending to use but stopped when Harvey drew a gun on him.

“I’ll do what I have to in order to protect this country and this planet from that thing.” He said flatly.

“And I’ll do what I have to in order to stop you from taking what I consider to be an innocent life.” Bruce said continuing to advance. Without much hesitation Harvey shot the other man in the thigh. Bruce was sent to the floor, writhing in pain. Selina and Victor ran in, having heard the gunshot. Selina ran over to Bruce “What the hell have you done?!” She would’ve lunged at Harvey if he didn’t have a gun pointed at her. “I gave him a reality check. Does anyone else want to side with the monster out there?” He was met with silence “I didn’t think so.”

“So how do you think I should go about this?” Harvey asked Victor as he was getting into a diving suit. Pamela was going with him to make sure he didn’t accidentally harpoon an innocent creature. Victor felt bad about even answering but he didn’t want to face Harvey’s wrath “I don’t know, I think...I think for something this big with so much padding around vital organs the weakest point would be the eyes or ears..maybe the temples.” he said. Harvey nodded and continued getting dressed.

Ed woke up from his sleep with a start, in a cold sweat. He felt like his head was being filled with stuff he couldn’t and shouldn’t know, cosmic things he couldn’t comprehend. He got up to go shower off but as he entered the tiny bathroom attached to the small sleeping quarters he hit his head on the door frame. Usually he could just barely fit under without bending down. He rubbed his head as he pondered, had he gotten taller?

Ed still felt weird as he made it to the main room, he’d forgotten his glasses but found he could somehow see fine without them. “Where are Pam and Harvey?” He asked.

Selina looked down “They’re out..taking care of Oswald.”

“And you just let them go?!”

“Harvey shot Bruce for trying to stop him, what were we supposed to do?”

Ed paused “Wait. Really??”

Bruce winced as Victor was tending to the wound in his leg. Even though Ed was seeing it with his own eyes he could barely believe it had come to this.

The crew had moved to the main room, Ed was trying to distract himself from what could be happening to Oswald. That got especially hard when a message came up on the computer.

‘Why?’

“Ignore it.” Bruce ordered as he saw the concern in the others’ faces. The message started repeating rapidly until the computer crashed. “I think he did it.” Bruce mumbled, everything felt a little too still now. Bruce sighed in relief as he saw Harvey swimming back in the distance “Yeah, he’s coming back now.” Bruce said pointing out the window to the spot where he saw his colleague. Though as Harvey got closer it was clear something was off. He was indeed getting closer but he wasn’t moving and half of him didn’t seem to come out of the darkness no matter how close he got. “Oh god...” Bruce uttered as it became clear what was wrong. Only the top half of Harvey was floating back towards the ship, his intestines falling out in the water behind him. Selina gagged but managed not to vomit. Soon a shark swam by with the other half of Harvey in its mouth, another one came by to seize the top half and swim off. There were more sharks starting to circle, Harvey’s corpse having essentially chummed the water. Selina went over to the radio “Pamela, are you alright??” She could see that Pam’s vitals seemed fine, a little spooked but alive, Selina had to be sure though “Pammy, please tell me you’re okay.”

“Yeah, I’m okay.” Selina breathed a sigh as she heard Pamela’s voice.

“Where are you?”

“I hid in some kelp.”

“Okay, well, get back here. And be careful there’s sharks everywhere.” Selina warned.

Pam went to swim out of the kelp but some of it was wrapped around her leg. She huffed “I know, I know, I love you too but I have to go.” She tried to wiggle out but it wouldn’t unravel. She bent over to try and free herself with her hands “Please don’t make me cut you.” She mumbled, genuinely worried it would come to that but luckily she managed to get her leg out without hurting the plant. Relief was counteracting the anxiety she had about making her way back to the ship and she was starting to feel hopeful as she turned around and was met with...teeth.

Selina was looking out the front window anxiously, hoping Pam would be back soon. Bruce, against Victor’s wishes, was still not resting and was looking outside the front window as well. Soon the sharks reappeared outside but one had something in it’s mouth. It only took a few seconds for it to be obvious the thing was Pam, still struggling against the shark but not being able to bring herself to hurt it. Selina screamed and hid her face in Bruce’s chest as another shark came up and ripped half of Pam away from the shark that was carrying her. Bruce went over to the console about to try to get them out of there but he couldn’t before an alert came up informing them of leaks. As Bruce pulled up a diagram of the ship that would show damages it was clear that a panel had been pulled away on the side as well as some pipes. He was questioning why Oswald would only rip a small part of the ship when he could just crush them and it occurred to him that he wanted them to die slowly.

The group had relocated to the lab, wanting to be away from where the ship was flooding and away from the front which they figured wasn’t safe anymore since Oswald was obviously nearby and pissed. They couldn’t stay in the lab for long as the break in the pipes was making the sinks leak and had already filled them. Bruce was trying to keep everyone calm as he suggested they try to make their way to the two mini-subs the ship was fitted with, each could hold two people so it was enough to get everyone out. Selina rolled her eyes “Yeah right, like that thing is gonna let us leave.”

Ed was leaning on the table, he felt woozy.

Bruce was firm “We still have to try, I’m not going to let anyone else die-“

As if on cue Ed dropped to the floor and started writhing. Victor ran over to him trying to assess what was the matter. “What’s wrong with him??” Bruce asked. By Ed’s gasping and clutching at his throat Victor could make a guess but wasn’t sure “I-I don’t know, maybe some sort of anaphylaxis?”

“But we were all tested for allergies before we were sent down here, they wouldn’t have let him down if he had any.” Selina pointed out. Victor’s mind was doing gymnastics trying to figure out something to do before an insane idea popped into his mind. He hoisted Ed up and brought him over to the overflowing sink before shoving his head in it. “What the hell are you doing?!” Bruce ran over to shove Victor away from Ed and was about to take Ed out of the water before he was interrupted “Stop, look!” Selina said, pointing at Ed’s abdomen which was rising and falling normally indicating he was breathing. After a few moments Ed came out of the water, shaking it out of his hair. “I feel fine now..” Ed mumbled, a bit weakly.

[daily-dose-of-imagines]

HITMEN AU! | HEAD CANONS | 19+ [HAIKYUU!!]

𝔇𝔞𝔱𝔢 𝔗𝔢𝔠𝔥 [PART i] [PART ii]

Here we have the Date Tech HC’s~! ^^ After this school I’ll be doing Nohebi, Inarizaki, and then a handful of solo hitmen for hire before I officially start writing for this story~! Thank you all so much for your love and support for this AU~! I hope you all are excited for the main story~! ^^

» » Admin Ko

»»————-　♔　————-««

A group that’s well known for being hired bodyguards rather than hitmen. They’re seen as neither good nor bad, but rather a neutral that sits in the grey area of the dark shady dealings within the underworld.

Though they don’t take on as many hitmen jobs as most, they’re still one of the groups that has a high number of requests from popular celebrities to important officials.

Known for being the best ‘stone wall’ their defenses are impeccable and impenetrable. Practically everyday they’re evolving their tactics and skills to ensure that the fortress they’ve created won’t be disturbed or broken into if a moment of weakness happens to arise.

Though they did have a rough start with Karasuno, they’ve been able to mend the relationship between the rookies that caused the brief tear.

ʏᴀꜱᴜꜱʜɪ ᴋᴀᴍᴀꜱᴀᴋɪ

An outspoken male who isn’t afraid of saying what’s on his mind and choosing to strictly keep the order and hierarchy that has been established-- though he’s most often the one who shows the least amount of respect for his seniors.

Unsurprisingly, he’s seen in arguing the most with Futakuchi. Each argument varying in degree of legitimacy to pure pettiness over a simple assignment.

Despite his harsh and outspoken personality, he’s the second in command with the Date Tech team. Though he doesn’t show respect to his seniors, he shows-- or at least tries to-- the most respect to their leader.

He’s mainly known for his competitive spirit and desire to relieve stress via close combat. It’s not often that he’s sent out for a mission, and more often times than not he’s the one who handles the dirtier aspects of their business.

Besides being one of the best combatants at Date Tech, he’s known to give the best sorts of threats. Not only that, but he’s rather good at meandering his way through and out of a threat directed at him.

“Tch, damn pessimistic know it all bastard...”

Irritation clearly permeated the air as the tall lone figure briskly walked his way through the crowded Saturday party route. It was unsurprising that his target in question was in such a highly populated place, and despite what his group was known for the assassin couldn’t help but feel a rush of adrenaline surge through his veins.

The unsuspecting would always end up slipping up after all. With that in mind, the male in question couldn’t help but feel a smirk grace his features as he leisurely made his way into one of the clubs. A lucky day for him as the members of Aoba Johsai gave him an easy slip in to simply do his job. Though it pained his paycheck that he had to give a cut to them, he couldn’t help but still give them a miniscule sense of thanks.

After all, his target was in one of the VIP rooms with minimal to no guests. His smirk now blooming into a full blown grin, the male couldn’t help but eagerly make his way towards the room. His stress levels have been rising as of late, and he really needed to take Moniwa’s advice to punch it out.

His appearance is unsurprising to most if not all. With sandy blonde brown hair and deep brown eyes always fixated into a scowl or glare, he’s the perfect picture of easily irritated.

In comparison to all the members at Date Tech, he’s the one who garners the most attention as he’s the one with the most tattoos and piercings-- though in comparison to other hitmen he has the bare minimum.

A large and strong build that none can easily overtake, he prides himself in his physic and works with both Aone and Koganegawa to enhance and solidify their strength.

When it comes to having and s/o, Kamasaki is known to be rather prickly with them. For the members of Date Tech, it wouldn’t be hard for them to have a relationship that’s on the pure side-- yet for Kamasaki and his brutish ways he would much rather have someone who is familiar with the job he does. Both good and bad.

It goes without saying that once he falls, he falls hard and won’t hesitate to beat or even kill someone if they threaten to hurt his s/o.

ᴋᴀɴᴀᴍᴇ ᴍᴏɴɪᴡᴀ

The one who no one suspects to be the leader of Date Tech. As a soft spoken and kindred spirit, it’s a wonder how Moniwa has become the leader of a bunch of hitmen.

It’s only during a minor inconvenience between Date Tech and a company that the members of Date Tech truly understand why he was given the title of ldeader.

It’s to the surprise of no one that Moniwa is a decoy. As someone who enjoys interacting with people, he finds it easily-- almost amusing -- how he can weasel his way into someone’s life before squeezing all their secrets out of them.

In contrary to all the other leaders he’s met, Moniwa much rather prefers a shared hierarchy than the traditional one. A key example of this being that he actively seeks the advice and thoughts of his fellow hitmen. 

Though this does make many within his division question his motives and solidarity as a leader. (This is quickly debunked as those who end up questioning end up baring witness to Moniwa’s terrifying wrath.)

Inquisitive brown eyes searched anxious ones as the client before him nervously tapped his fingers against the glass table. Despite feeling the clear hesitancy of the billionaire seated before him, the decoy did nothing but offer a false sense of security.

Softly inhaling, Moniwa allowed the stone features he bore melt into that of a soothing and warm smile as cat like eyes mellowed to that of a understanding and kind therapist.

“I understand your hesitancy and lack of desire to hire us, but I can guarantee your safety from the people who are out for your head sir. You can trust me...”

Contrary to what many may think, Moniwa is one of the most innocent looking leaders within the hitmen business. With his wide eyes and fluffy black hair, he’s the epitome of the shy college student.

Like many others at Date Tech, he has little to no tattoos. The only thing that gives a glimmer of curiosity to those who meet him in public are the amount of piercings he has decorating his ears. 

Unlike a majority of Date Tech, Moniwa isn’t as bulky. He’s a lot more lean.

With his s/o, he’s an absolute sweetheart. Someone he’s fiercely protective over and wants them to have no ties to the harsh work life he’s used to.

Though if his s/o is someone who has dabbled with the fine line that his group is in, then he may make an exception for them to join his team.

ᴛᴀᴋᴇʜɪᴛᴏ ꜱᴀꜱᴀʏᴀ

Intimidating in stature, it comes to the surprise of many that Sasaya is the group’s tech expert. With his physic and strong build, many would assume that he’s one of the many who actively go out to field to protect clients. 

Instead, he’s behind the scenes helping with their transactions they receive whilst creating allies with other hitmen groups. 

Unlike the others, he’s at the very least supportive of the underclassmen in their group. Going as far as assigning them distinctive missions under Moniwa’s back. (Of course this garners a harsh smack to the hand by the leader and now all assignments are assigned after both Sasaya and Moniwa review them.)

Despite spending most of his time in the lab and keeping himself up to date with the newest and latest code, Sasaya actively participates in any sort of training hosted by his fellow peers as he finds it a necessity to at least be able to defend himself if an ambush were to arise.

The flickering of the screen and the consistent sound of typing filled the dark void as a haggard young male sat before a pile of unkept files. It had barely been a couple of hours since the last attempted break into their digital side and already the male was in the works of creating a new line of defense to ensure all of the information they kept was sorted safely and soundly within the 1′s and 0′s.

Letting out an irritated sigh, the male in question decided to finally push himself up and away from his desk. A stretch towards the right and he could slowly feel the knots in his back unwind at a torturously slow pace. 

“I suppose I should take up Futakuchi’s offer...”

With that, the figure eased his way out of the dark room he had crammed himself in and  towards the training facility a couple of floors down. The ache and desire to relieve stress in the form of fighting sounding much too pleasing to his ears as a sinister smirk formed on his face. After all, he was certain that Futakuchi brought in some fresh victims.

Intimidating to a fault, Sasaya-- despite being one of the shorter members within the group, is one of the more intimidating members as he’s usually seen with a serious or foreboding expression on his face. 

He’s a lot more built than one would expect from a strategist and technician, but he takes pride in being able to stump the assumer. 

Similar to the many members at Date Tech, he has little to no markings to his body. The only real significant one being the stud piercings he has on both earlobes.

With an s/o, he’s rather honest and respectful. He isn’t afraid to tell them the truth about his career-- though he’ll only do so if he feels a strong connection with them.

If he can, he’ll try his absolute best to keep them from getting involved with his line of work.

ᴋᴇɴᴊɪ ꜰᴜᴛᴀᴋᴜᴄʜɪ

One of the few juniors at Date Tech who holds little to practically no respect for his seniors. This is evidently seen as during almost every meeting hosted prior to an important mission, Futakuchi will make it his mission to be as annoying and problematic as he can.

Despite his easy-going and sarcastic attitude, he’s a brilliant close combatant and interrogator on the spot. Out of all the various hitmen group, Date Tech comes second to Nekoma in terms of gathering information; and this mainly stems from the fact that a majority of their close combatants are skilled in the art of beating the information out of their victims with brute force and psychological strategies.

Being known as the problematic and instigator of trouble within the group, practically everyone within Date Tech is aware that Futakuchi is fiercely loyal to the group and won’t hesitate to go out and crush rival hitmen group.

He does consistently question Moniwa with why their particular group dances the fine line between good and bad, but soon comes to an understanding after a nasty run in with a smaller hitmen group.

“Really? And here I thought you’d at least make this at least somewhat entertaining.”

Smug and clearly finding enjoyment in the situation, the light haired brunette couldn’t help but feel a smirk grace his features as he flicked the end of his dagger against the soft plush skin of his victim. 

The victim before him could only let out wretched pleas of forgiveness and that of sparing his life, though he knew fully well that wouldn’t be happening-- but it was good to at least have a little fun every once in a while. Besides, Moniwa couldn’t be upset with him if he brought back valuable information.

“How’s this? You tell me the information I ask for and I’ll gracefully spare you your life, but if I sense any sort of a lie I’ll rip each of your fingernails out. Alright?”

Tall and intimidating, Futakuchi takes pride in his sturdy yet lean build. Though when not in his work clothes he has the appearance of the sassy boy next door. Soft brown eyes naturally side swept and slightly rounded eyes. His appearance is deceiving to most-- especially when he begins to speak.

As the problematic junior at Date Tech, he’s one of the few who possesses at least a minimum of 3 tattoos. Smaller ones decorate his body, but the main three are located on his shoulder blades and the nape of his neck.

With an s/o, it’s without a doubt that they won’t be getting any sort of special treatment from the close combatant. He’ll be blunt with them, and at times can be insensitive to what he may say.

He wants his s/o to be in a similar line of work as he finds a relationship with someone with strong morals can prove to be rather disastrous. (He had witnessed a relationship go awry)

ᴊɪɴɢᴏ ꜰᴜᴋɪᴀɢᴇ

Quiet and seen mostly behind the scenes, Fukiage is a man of little words. He does as he is told and is to be known as a part of the intimidation squadron. 

With the newest members of Date Tech holding a strong grip with height and intimidation, a new path is carved out for Date Tech as the line teeters more towards a question in moral as they begin to pick up more jobs that require protection of corrupt officials.

Contrary to what many may think, Fukiage is one of the few snipers on the team. Though he isn’t as talented as many of the other snipers within the hitmen business, he holds a steady ground in being a silent and promising sniper.

Breath in, breath out. 

A reminder to himself to steady his heart as he narrowed his sights on the target before him. A simple mission at best. One that involved a sudden double cross to one of the clients they had. In all honesty, it had come as a surprise to him. Especially as their leader had been the one to assign him this mission.

So it came to no surprise that he felt sudden pressure. Yet even as he laid on the rooftop, he couldn’t hep but feel a sense of justice run through his veins as a sinister smirk form on his usually stoic features. Revenge never tasted so sweet. 

“This will hopefully serve as a reminder that Date Tech isn’t just some bodyguard business...”

Similar to Futakuchi, he holds a sturdy and lean build. Though he’s much more agile than the other despite his height, he poses as a strong threat with the insane amount of agility he possesses. 

Like many of the other members within Date Tech, Fukiage holds a stoic and stone like appearance to those who first meet him. A perfect addition for the group well known as the great defense. 

When if comes to his s/o, he’s patient and understanding of their possible qualms with his career choice, though he’ll most likely still actively pursue the relationship if they show signs of wanting to stay with him. Though similar to many others, he would rather have an s/o who has a similar job or understanding of what he goes through daily.

[cultureisdarkbeer]

Road to All Things: Chapter 10 Irrevocable

Road to All Things 

Tagging:  @season4mulder​ @today-in-fic​

Bacon sizzling. Her apartment filled with the smell and had Scully salivating. She opened her eyes and realized she had actually drooled on her pillow. The sheets on the other side were crumpled, but the bed was empty. Mulder was cooking. Scully tried not to smile, but she really couldn’t help herself. It almost felt like a dream,-too real to be real- but as she stepped in the shower and the hot water cascaded down her body, her sore muscles ached out the markings of Mulder’s path. It had been quite a night and very little of it was spent sleeping.

Dressed, Scully came into the kitchen and snagged a piece of the bacon. Salty and crisp, cooked to perfection. Mulder turned with the pan of scrambled eggs and scooped them up to carefully lay an equal amount in each dish. 

“You got up too early.” He looked up at her and smiled sheepishly. “I was going to make you breakfast in bed.”

Scully poured herself some coffee and sat down, taking an approving sip. She raised an eyebrow. “You want me to go back to bed?”

The corner of his mouth raised. “Well, yeah, but not for bacon and eggs.”

Scully ignored him, although his words resonated sharply in her chest,  and concentrated on eating her breakfast. Who knew Mulder knew how to cook breakfast? He surprised her every day. Mulder sat down beside her and started eating. The air between them was thick and alive. Every time their eyes met she felt their connection, only now it was concentrated into electrified intense explosions in her chest.

“You have plans today?” Mulder asked, grabbing the last piece of toast and using it to sop up his remaining eggs.

“I’m having lunch with my mother,” Scully replied solemnly, fidgeting in the chair and sending a fiery lock behind her ear. “I have to tell her. She knew I went through the procedures. It’s not a conversation I’m looking forward to.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“Mulder, I’m capable of telling her.”

“I know that.” He looked at his watch. “What time am I picking you up?”

 *

 Scully’s heels clicked loudly against the uneven pavement approaching her mother’s house. It was a cool day, yet Mulder had perspiration beading along his hairline.  “Are you nervous?” she asked. 

Mulder released a humored breath and pressed in the button to ring the bell. “Your mother and I are friends, what would I be nervous about?”

Not to anyone’s surprise, Maggie’s face glowed and her smile grew extra wide at the sight of Mulder. “Fox, how good of you to come,” she spurted merrily.

Scully helped Maggie serve lunch while Mulder squirmed in his chair, slurping his tea and as Scully could see, trying his best not to break anything. On their second trip to the kitchen and Mulder happily munching on a sandwich, Maggie cornered Scully between the sink and the drain rack. “So what brings the two of you here? Might there be some news?”

“Mom,” Scully started, but then cracked, not able to hold back the disappointment, “It didn’t take. I’m not going to be a mother.” Her mother had looked so excited that it almost broke Scully to see the features in her face fall and her shoulders slump. 

“Honey,” Maggie said, bringing her into her arms, letting her cry.

The ice maker thumped from the fridge alerting them to its presence and Scully sniffled. “I’m all right. I’ll be okay.” 

“Dana,” she said, as Scully backed away from their embrace. “You’re allowed to not be okay. How is Fox handling this? I’m here if either of you ever want to talk. It wouldn’t hurt to talk with a priest. Even a counsellor. There’s couples counseling..”

“Mom, mom,” Scully hugged her again. “Thank you. I know. Mulder and I don’t have that kind of relationship. We are good friends.”

“Dana, don’t be naive. You asked him to be the father of your child. He was preparing for that and now he has to accept that the outcome has changed. He’s not going to let on because he cares for you, because he’ll want to be strong for you, but he’s mourning too.”

Scully felt the wrath of her decisions needling its way inside.  “I-I feel like I disappointed you. You’ll have no grandchildren from me.”

“Honey, I have grandchildren and it’s not to say that you will never have children. God will answer your prayers in ways you may not be able to imagine. Never give up on a miracle.”

Scully squinted and tilted her head slightly.  “That’s the same thing Mulder said to me.”

“He’s a wise man, Dana. You should listen.” Maggie lifted the tray of freshly baked cookies and headed out to the dining room. “Let’s go, we’re being rude.”

Maggie poured the coffee and Mulder snagged two cookies. “Mrs. Scully, this was incredible. I almost can’t eat another bite,” he said with his mouth full, the chocolate oozing from the corner of his lips. He wiped it with his pinky laughing at his eagerness, using a napkin to clean the rest off his face.

After dessert and idle conversation, they stood to leave, Scully hugged her mother and walked ahead to the car. Maggie pulled Mulder aside. “I know this is hard for you too. I know you wanted this baby.”

Mulder tightened his upper lip and his shoulders drooped giving the appearance of a bird nesting on a branch. “I want what’s best for Scully. Right now I’m just making sure she knows I’m here and I support her.”

“I know, Fox,” she said, rubbing his forearm, her warm touch providing solace. “You and Dana are very good at carrying your burdens, but no matter the arrangement, your heart was preparing for you to be a father.” 

His eyes burned. Looking into Maggie staring woefully at him everything seemed very real. The pain cutting through his heart and mind, demanding attention, stinging with every breath he took. 

If Scully couldn’t have a child, then neither could he. The onesies, the star mobile, and the soft yellow blanket would remain tucked in the back of his closet to gather layers of dust. Maggie held out her arms, he bent down to hug her and leaned his head on her shoulder. Her comforting hand stroked his hair and squeezed his back. Breathing in her Wind Song perfume he could almost hear the mediocre wedding band and feel the pain from pinched cheeks telling him how much he had grown. 

She pulled back with a reassuring smile. “Don’t let this get between the two of you, Fox. God is listening and he will provide.”

 Days Later..

 A few drops of crimson on cotton and Scully had to draw back tears. It should not have been a surprise. The natural result of her and Mulder’s attempts. The answer to a prayer. She knew it would arrive eventually, but even though she was expecting it, she wasn’t expecting its symbolism to hurt so much. She was at work, in a cold metal stall of the lady’s restroom. Her body trembled as she sucked in a breath and headed out. There was no reason to get  upset anymore. There was nothing to be done. No baby. A future of great uncertainty.  

When she returned to the office, Mulder lifted his head away from his computer screen. “I’ve been researching reports of a vampiric witch roaming Olympic National Park.”

“Fangs and all?” Scully asked, suddenly amused, and relieved to send her mind elsewhere. That was what she needed, to focus on the work. “Acts like an ordinary person, has no discernible creature features,” Mulder explained and she could hear that underlying excitement. “At night, however,” Mulder said, putting a little sing song for dramatic effect at the end of his voice that put a smile on Scully’s face, “it prowls the graveyards in search of entrails so it can create a libation that allows it to shapeshift. If it cannot get the entrails it needs it hunts the bedrooms of the local townspeople.”

“And local law enforcement? What’s there take on this?”

Mulder picked up a pencil to twiddle between his fingers and propped his feet up on the corner of the desk. “Their take is it’s your run of the mill serial killer that is looking to distract everyone by imitating the myth.”

“Even if a vampire witch did exist, why would it need to shapeshift?”

Mulder sat up in his chair and leaned forward. “Those that believe, think it does so to combat being enslaved… by aliens.” 

Scully stopped reviewing her lab results and lowered the page to get a good look at Mulder to make sure he wasn’t putting her on. 

“I understand your doubts… and if you’re open to it, we could take a trip to Bali,” he suggested and Scully could see the emerald glow in his hazel eyes. “You could bring your snorkel and we could learn the roots of the lore.” Mulder rose from his chair to face her. He cupped her cheek and locked their eyes, gently swiping at the stain from one of the twin tears that had trickled down her face. “We can step away from this case if you’re not ready,” he said in low tones, “There’s another case within driving distance.”

Scully slowly shook her head and took a half step back out of his reach, her eyes lowering from his gaze. She stiffened. It was the first time they had touched since their night together. The first inkling either of them gave that anything at all had transpired between them or about their loss. With nothing left to do or say they just pushed forward. 

“There’s no need to travel to Bali. We’ll do both cases.” She joined his eyes only for a moment, raising the file in her hand. “I need to get these to the lab. There are further tests I’d like them to conduct and while I’m down there they asked for my help. Can you arrange our airfare?”

“Sure,” Mulder murmured  with a concerned look on his face that almost made Scully sprint rather than walk out of the office. All she really needed right now was to work.

 Ten Days Later...

 “Will you be eating tonight?” Mulder asked,  skulking around the back area of the office, rummaging through the cabinets. It was all very curious. Was he looking for something or hiding it?

“What? Yes, of course,” Scully answered, his questions as peculiar as his behavior. She walked over to where he was hovering and placed her notes from the last meeting in her drawer. His stare unnerved her, she could feel the pressure of his question like an overinflated balloon pressing against a bed of nails.

“I was thinking of ordering a pizza and I was thinking that I’ll probably have a few slices left over,” he said, cooly.

“I’m sorry, tonight is not a good night for me.” 

“Okay.” Mulder said, his bottom lip poked out past his top. “Another night.” He walked back to his desk and shook his mouse, taking the screen out of safe mode. Great, he was hurt.

“I’ve decided to start making healthier food choices,” she offered as an alternative excuse. It happened to be true. That and avoiding being with him alone at the late hours of the evening.  

“I can stop at the pet store on my way home. Pick up some rabbit food.”

He wasn’t giving up. She walked around his desk to hand him his summary notes and Mulder minimized his screen. A branding iron couldn’t have made her hotter then what he had been looking at. “No need to hide it. I saw the screen. Research?” she asked, tapping her foot with her hands at her hips.

He rotated the chair so he could look her dead in the eye, crossing his arms. “What if I can track down more vials? What if there is viable ova out there?”

She had been incorrect. A steam engine was hotter, and she could almost feel that steam rising from her ears. “And today you decide to pick up this crusade? You were there through everything that had happened with Emily and you never said a word.”

He ran a hand through his hair and scratched the back of his head. “You’re right.”

“You took that chance away from me.” Red lightning filled her sclera, her irises burning hot blue flames. “Tell me Mulder, have you really asked yourself why you agreed to be my donor?”

Mulder bolted from the chair. His jaw rocked and he lurched forward as if to challenge, but then left the office with her standing there, alone, wrapped in a translucent blanket of uncomfortable silence. 

 

That Night..

Scully’s knuckles dropped three solid thuds against the hard wood. Against all judgement and possessed by what she didn’t know, Scully stood fidgeting, excuses at the ready. She reviewed her apology speech in her head hoping he would forgive her earlier cruelty. The heavy brass deadbolt clanked back into its shell and Mulder’s door rushed open. He initially looked surprised, but as their eyes met, the tension before was replaced with a new heat. Her heart ached from the distance she had created. She needed to feel their impenetrable bond every time their eyes met. He sent a hand through her hair and pulled her into the apartment, kicking the door closed with his foot. Her back slammed against it so hard she lost half her breath. The other half was taken by Mulder as he covered her mouth with his and sucked it away. His long thin muscled body hard against her. His tongue demanding the fire from her body. He tasted like midnight and shadows, mysterious and sublime. The smell of rain, thunder, gunpowder. The Darkness coated them, an old black and white played softly from the television, pulsing its hues around them. Their bodies so immediately intertwined and so caught up in passion the clothes on the lower half of her body peeled off almost by telepathy. The hasty sound of his zipper burned her with desire. With a swift thrust, he was inside her, her nails digging into the soft cotton fabric of his shirt, hoping to withstand the pleasure of his cock hard and heavy, reaching into the most salacious and esoteric parts of her. Mulder was so thick and long that when he pushed all the way into her, she could feel the tip brushing the end of her, demanding even more, while his hard pubic bone pounded against her clit sending shockwaves of its own. He grabbed the curve of her behind and drove steadily into her sleek, tight canal, undulating his hips with solid, rhythmic thrusts. Oh that luxurious wonderous cock. It stretched her wide, and she melded so tight around it. Like everything else on Mulder, lanky and strong-willed and needing of her attention. And what she needed was their raw, rough, passionate connection to take her away from the peril and torment that had quickly become her life. 

Scully strained, desperate to thrust against him, to match his pace, but he had her pinned to the door. Mulder controlled the motion, controlled her pleasure, and she willingly surrendered, loving the devoted look in his eyes, the way his body shook in her arms as he did. The heat of their breaths filling the gaps between them, wrapping them inside a steamy cocoon. They were forgiving the other, caring and desperate to heal. What they both failed to express with words, their bodies could perfectly articulate; making it clear just how badly they yearned for one another. 

Mulder groaned, his fingers gripping hard into the flesh of her ass, pistoning in and out in a quick barrage of strokes. Without warning she skyrocketed to a peak, her muscles clenching and releasing in quick succession as she came hard around him. The sensations kept going, lingering, building again and Scully moaned aloud, the pleasure so intense, almost too much to take. A desperate sound that was almost a growl rose deep in Mulder’s throat and he quickly joined her. How she relished that feeling of him coming, the throbbing contractions at his base, vibrating his shaft to fill her hot and fast. 

He kissed her slowly, gently, his swollen lips brushing over hers again and again, pushing against them so his tongue could caress hers. A smile grew at the corners of his mouth as his lips softly departed. “Did you miss me?” he asked, smug and rhetorically. He headed to the bathroom and called out, “You’re not going to come and go, are you?”

Unbeknownst to him, Scully had already picked up the crumpled clothes at her feet and dressed. She wanted to say something, but she had nothing to say. She didn’t want to discuss it, she just wanted to leave. So she left, Mulder calling her name from the bedroom. She knew she was running from something she had to soon face, but what was she to tell him? That depression filled her the moment it was over until she was drowning in it? That the ineffectual absurdity of the act plummeted down like a cement block tethered to her ankle, sending her deeper towards the bottom until she was unable to see any daylight? The button of the elevator lit as her manicured nail caused it to recede. The floors denoted their names with each illuminated number and Scully’s shoe began to tap as if it might move it along. Nervously, she felt for her keys. When she didn’t feel the cold metal or hear their familiar jingle she checked her other pockets, over and over. Digging and patting. Shit. They must have fallen out on the floor in Mulder’s apartment. The hallway felt as if it had stretched walking back to number 42, her heels rapping a foreboding echo. The loud churning above the groaning radiator pipes she soon realized was the nerves of her stomach. 

The door not yet locked by Mulder, she turned the knob hoping to sneak them out, but Mulder poked his head from the kitchen. “I’m heading to bed, suddenly I’m feeling very drained,” he said, his tongue bulging the side of his right cheek.

Not quite sure how to proceed she followed him into the kitchen and watched him pour himself a glass of water from the faucet. Even though years had passed since his episode of grand hallucinations, he still hesitated right before he let it slide down his throat. He took another glass from the cabinet. “Water?”

Scully shrugged and Mulder filled it. The glass cool in her hand. He left her in the kitchen and paused before opening his bedroom door, turning his head to lock their eyes and send an irresistible electric pulse to her heart. “Coming?”

*

Scully woke to the rising and falling of Mulder’s chest against her back, their breaths falling naturally in unison. They were clasped to each other, Mulder sharing his body heat as easy as he shared his heart. Yet she felt like poison ivy covered her skin, and an invisible belt cinched at her neck. Lately, her eyes fluttered open in the mornings to his embrace or thoughts of him, his work dominated her, every opinion, hypothesis and theory, challenged and cross referenced by his own beliefs, and at night her body craved him, and in her dreams her mind played in a future it dared not venture in the light. Mulder had leaked in every crack and crevice of her life. 

Like a wolverine or stealth fighter jet, Scully stealthily snuck out of Mulder’s apartment without him stirring. By the time she drove across town and showered, she was already late. She picked out another turtleneck sweater, they were both tearing through their collections given their propensities to play Dracula on each other’s neck. Luckily there was never any exsanguinating, just a few bursted capillaries between good friends. Last night she didn’t recall either of them doing an imitation of a Hoover, but she preferred not to take her chances. Shuffling into her coat at 8:50am meant Mulder would have to cover for her if Skinner decided to request their assistance. Before even stepping into the hallway, a newspaper caught her eye. One she did not subscribe, but what grabbed her attention was the photograph and the article about God’s healing power. Down the hallway she scanned, but she was the only one blessed with the paper and no paperboy to thank.

Hours later, Scully returned to the office having met the miracle boy and his family, and the cigarette smoking man looking for a light and salvation. Mulder hadn’t returned, and most likely, if she had to guess, had gotten caught up with The Lone Gunman trying to trace the email address it all had originated from. That probably took them into who knows how many directions and conspiracies. She didn’t pick up the phone to dial Mulder and tell him of the experience she had this morning. Something stopped her. Was it that she wanted to deal with this issue without his overbearing perspective, or that she feared the Smoking Man might hold true to his threat of dying with the technology, or perhaps she was rebelling, their relationship smothering her as she struggled to understand how to live the rest of her life knowing now she would not bear children. 

Not wanting to deal with any of those possibilities, she picked up the phone. Then hung it up. That might not be wise to call him directly if it was a setup. Instead, she traced the number to see for herself where evil resided. 

The Smoking Man had not lied to her about Samantha being dead. Not this time around anyway. She believed him that he was dying after seeing him a few times. Was it that far fetched that at his deathbed he decided to leave those that remained a cure for cancer? Was it that unbelievable that he trusted her with the science and not Mulder? Armed with a wire and a need for her own answers she dialed the phone and left a message on Mulder’s machine full of half truths. It was a family emergency after all. She just didn’t say specifically which side of the family.

Mulder’s voice rang true into her answering machine, beckoning her with throaty emotion. It felt like utter betrayal to leave him in the lurch and plan a weekend getaway with his arch nemesis. It was almost like something outside of her body was driving her.

*

“Hello.” Mrs. Scully answered her phone and Mulder felt the pangs of dread if she didn’t know where Scully really was. The last thing he wanted to do was have her worrying, but he had to know.

“Mrs. Scully,” Mulder replied, “It’s Mu-Fox. How are you?”

“I’m just fine Fox, is everything okay? And please, call me Maggie.”

“Scully had left a message on my answering machine about a family emergency?”

“She did? That’s odd. No. I spoke with her two days ago. I asked her about you, did she tell you?”

“Not yet, but thank you. So you haven’t seen or spoken with Scully yesterday or today?”

“No. Do you think she is in trouble?”

“She didn’t answer her cell phone when I called, but she left a message on my answering machine saying she would be gone for a few days.”

“That is strange. She didn’t tell me anything about it. If I hear from her you’ll be the first to know.”

“It’s just not like her to lie to me.”

“It’s not another man, if that’s what you’re concerned about. There’s only you Fox.”

Mulder chuckled. “Thanks. My mind is at ease.”

“Just give her a little time, she’ll come around.”

“Okay, Maggie. Thanks.”   

 

Two Days Later..

How could she be so naïve? Three whole days. No contact. To discover she willingly went with him . Spent the night. His fists clenched against the steering wheel, he was a time bomb about to explode. He took a breath to calm himself. “Scully, I know you had good intentions.” He sent his tongue hard into his cheek, then wet his lips, shook his head. “I know how convincing he can be.” He gritted his teeth and wrung the plastic at the steering wheel. “I know all about believing his lies. I just- I wish you would have come to me.”

“I already explained to you that I couldn’t.” She looked at him and he nodded, sending his tongue back tight into his cheek. “This was something I felt I had to pursue,” she added, then looked back out the passenger window at the darkening sky. They were only a couple miles from her apartment. A few more traffic lights and they’d be there.

Hm. He squirmed in his seat and fought to keep his cool. “I would imagine. It’s a doctor’s dream to be able to cure any patient.” He paused and stopped himself from rolling his eyes. “For you to have that kind of power. Perhaps he knows you better than I thought he did.”  Mulder breathed in sharply, and held it a few seconds, shaking his head, then spewed, “Then again, you two have been seeing a lot of each other lately.”

Scully sat quietly, crossing her legs so that her back was almost to him. Her eyes were daggers, but she kept them pointed at the window. He instantly regretted his words, but he also couldn’t help but think, what if something irreversible had happened? Dammit he always had to push it. “You said he had inflammation on the brain?” he asked, trying to change the subject. 

Scully’s face softened and she sent her eyes to her lap. “Yes, from the brain surgery. He said he only has months to live. Sounds like the surgery was less than successful.”

“Unless it was too successful,” Mulder added. He tapped his fingers against the steering wheel. They should change the subject. “I read the emails between yourself and Cobra. At least The Smoking Man and Cobra. Cobra had quite a crush on you.”

“What?” Now she turned to face him.

“Yes, and the correspondence made it sound as though you might reciprocate.”

“Mulder, I knew nothing..”

“I know.. but for a split second, I almost believed that you did.”

“That must have been difficult.”

Mulder said nothing. Deciding against mentioning that once The Lone Gunman proved her email had been hijacked, his next picture in his mind was her being held against her will. How wrong he had been.  

“Mulder,” Sculled said, laying her hand on top of his, softening his edges. “Why am I still alive?”

He sighed and squeezed her hand. “I really believe the plan was for you to be killed. I think he looked into your eyes and it was just as you said. He longed for something he could never have. You made him a better person.”  He took his eyes off the road to look into her own. “I know how you’re able to do that.” He sighed again and looked up at the sky to see the stars still shining, blurring as his eyes welled up. He wanted to hold her close and push her away simultaneously.

Read more here

[snarkwrites]

mine | tim speedle | csi:miami

Notes:

Okay, so here’s the thing.. Those smutty one shots and the one shot I wrote at Christmas about Tim Speedle and an ofc who was an old girlfriend? They were originally part of this huge backstory I came up with years ago too and like.. Given that I’m posting the backstory in bits for Greg, I thought why not do the same for Tim. So, if you were ever wondering where the OC from the christmas one shot came from.. This is her. A little more thought out and less vague. Anything not explained there, or in the smut I’ve already posted and plan to post eventually, will be explained here.. Because fuckkit.. Might as well make this a chapter thing too...

Pairing:

Tim Speedle x OFC, Sylvie.

Warnings:

Uhh.. Angst and unresolved feelings at first. Filth you’ve all already seen but more to come.. Maybe a little action and suspense? because I have plans for this one, mhm.

Oh. Right off the bat.. Ya’ll are not gonna like Ryan Wolfe in here at first if I’ve done my job properly. Because as it went on the show, he’s gonna be... hard to warm to here. I chose to keep him in and have him, as well as Cardoza and others, working on the shift opposite of Tim.

Tagging:

@chasingeverybreakingwave​

@twistnet​ 

[ faq | tag list doc | soundtrack ] 

                                            ONE.

“Damn. Are you even gonna open this and humor a thought of going?” Eric waved around the class reunion invite that Tim had gotten in the mail and tossed on the counter. From across the room, Tim continued to dig around in the fridge, trying to find the case of beer he’d picked up on his way in.

He was refusing to answer the question.

Grabbing the case of beer, he sat them on the folding table they’d set up in the living room to play poker at and he took a beer out for himself, popping it against the counter, taking a long sip from the bottle.

Eric was already in the kitchen. Throwing together the traditional go to sandwich for their poker nights.

“Hey, that new guy’s not comin, right?”

“Wolfe? Yeah.. I think Walter with his big mouth invited him.”

“Goddamn it.” Tim swore, grumbling. “There’s just something off about the guy, I’m telling you.”

“Either way, it’s not our problem, man. He’s on the other shift, remember? Are you gonna answer my question, Speed, or do I have to drag the answer out of you, buddy?” Eric asked, giving Tim a pointed look.

Walter stepped into Tim’s apartment with Ryan coming into view right behind him. Tim’s jaw set and when Walter asked “Drag what answer out of Speed, man? What’d I miss?” as he wandered over to grab himself a beer and take a seat at the table, Tim shrugged. “It’s nothing, Walt. Forget Eric here ran his big fuckin mouth.”

“Doesn’t sound like nothin, you grouch.” Eric remarked, chuckling when Tim gave him what he thought was a silencing glare. As per usual, it did not work.

Ryan, the new guy, spoke up from over nearby Tim’s fridge, nodding to a photo booth strip held on by a magnet. “Is this your girl, Speed? Damn… you never mentioned you were seeing a model.” as he shook his head and let out a low and appreciative whistle.

Eric’s gaze settled on the photo strip and then back on Tim. Tim was all but trying not to explode. Getting defensive and touchy as he tended to whenever that particular strip of photos came into a conversation. He tried to give Ryan the subtlest shake of the head no, but it was too late.

Tim was already lost to thought, dwelling on the past.

Ryan eyed him, a brow raised. “Sore subject?” he questioned. Eric glared at Ryan and grumbled, giving Tim a silent look of agreement about the new guy. Tim nodded and smirked, mouthing back “Told you so, idiot.” before fixing his gaze on Ryan and shrugging. “Not really, no. We dated for a while.”

“High school and college.” Eric spoke up, ignoring Tim’s glare. “What? It’s true, right? That’s not just a while, Tim. That’s literally almost a decade, man.” 

“Are you going to let me answer the guy Eric,or nah?” Tim asked, giving Eric another pointed glare as he took the worn deck of cards and shuffled them a few times, starting to deal. When Eric went quiet, Tim continued. “I took the job here. We broke up.”

“The man is lying. What happened was he didn’t ask her to come with and she didn’t try to stop him. So they never actually broke up. They just lost touch. And if you got that invite man, maybe…”

“Invite to what?” Ryan asked, an amused look as he fixed his gaze on Tim. So far, he got the suspicion that neither Tim nor Eric were particularly warming up to him, but it didn’t really matter. He was there because Walter asked if he wanted to play a few hands. And given that of everyone they worked with, so far Walter was the only real welcoming member of the forensics team on either shift, he wasn’t about to turn it down.

If nothing, he figured, he could show Eric and Tim up in a game or two and then leave… Unless the current conversation and it’s effect on Tim Speedle proved to be too interesting and amusing to continue to pass up.

“Class reunion. If I wanted to go back and listen to a bunch of douchebag jocks talk about their glory days, I’d go.” Tim answered, grumbling and shifting around in his chair, wondering when in the hell they were all going to get off the subject.

“She might be there man, you never know.”

“Eric, if it were going to work out in the first place, one of us would’ve said or done something. We wouldn’t have just left it the way it was.” Tim pointed out. Turning his attention to his hand as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully, brown eyes carefully surveying the other men around the table.

He smirked when he realized that of them all, the only one who was really good at keeping a consistent poker face was Eric. Then again, Tim thought to himself, Eric knows me too well. He knows I learned how to read him like a book years ago. 

“She’s in Miami right now, actually. I saw her in the lobby of that high end hotel earlier today when our team got called to work that double homicide.” Ryan smirked as he just casually dropped the bombshell. Holding Tim’s gaze a few seconds. Trying to get a read on the guy, see if he might have a winning hand this round.

Tim nearly choked on the sip of Michelob he’d taken and eyed Ryan. The guy had to be trying to bullshit him. Probably to cover for his lack of a poker face, Tim mused, smirking at Ryan as he did so. “She lives in New York, buddy. You probably saw somebody who looked like her. I doubt you saw her.”

“Oh trust me… You don’t see a girl like that a time or two and confuse her with somebody else.” Ryan smirked right back, waiting on his words to hit the intended mark before dropping the bigger bombshell. “Her name is Sylvie, right? Because that’s what the frat boys hounding her for selfies and autographs called her.” 

Just the slightest drop of Tim Speedle’s jaw was enough to make Ryan’s entire night. At this point, he was just genuinely enjoying having a rib at the guy. It wasn’t a secret around the lab that Eric Delko and Tim Speedle were nothing if not tight knit. That’s why it surprised more than a few people when the two seemed to just welcome Walter with open arms and no hesitation. And yet, they went above and beyond to cop snide attitudes with both himself and another man he worked with, Jesse Cardoza.

Tim eyed Ryan, a brow raised. Then he just shrugged. “It’s your play, Wolfe.” he barely managed to unclench his jaw enough to say it, but he did. He hoped that his tone would clearly indicate that for tonight, the topic was over. Even though he knew already that no thanks to Ryan’s words, tonight was going to be a long one for him…

Was she really in Miami? Or was Ryan just being an asshole as per usual?...

,, he’s gotta be saying it to get a rise and more of the story outta me… that’s it... unless she’s here. She does travel a lot, man.. Your ma is always real quick to tell you about every single move she makes when you call back home every Sunday.” Tim shoved the intrusive thought out of his head and it was immediately followed by another. ,, It’s been years and nothing but silence. Neither of us tried to keep in touch and it’s not like we couldn’t... But.. she did come to you in the hospital that first few nights... if she wanted you to know she was there, she would have stayed, just drop the what ifs or you’re going to lose your goddamn mind.” 

Ryan made his call and Tim smirked, shoving some more chips into the middle of the table. “I see your King and raise you.”

Eric nearly spat his drink. He eyed Ryan, wondering if the guy had any idea of the wrath he’d probably just unleashed on himself by pushing buttons as openly as he had been. And he felt bad for the guy. Just because he worked with Cardoza, it didn’t necessarily make him the same.

He leaned in and offered up a quiet warning into Ryan’s ear when Tim got up to go and grab himself one of the Cuban sandwiches sitting on a plate near the stove. “You might want to lay off, Wolfe. Tim’s still hurting and bitter as hell about her, but too damn stubborn to do anything.”

“Which is fucking stupid, if you ask me.” Ryan answered, gazing across the room, smirking as he called out to Tim, “Hey, can I get another beer, man?”

Tim gave him the finger and flopped back into his chair, taking a few bites of his sandwich. “If you get up and get it, yeah. By all means.” Tim chuckled as Ryan gave him a dirty look, but after a little grumbling, he got up and grabbed himself a beer.

“What would you do if she was in town, man?” Eric was the one who asked the question.

Tim pretended not to hear him, but it wasn’t something that he wasn’t already wondering about himself. Did he even really need -or deserve for that matter, to do anything?

XXX

“6 am, sharp.”

“Rex if you remind me one more time about this stupid photo shoot, I swear to fuck, I’ll cancel. I came to Miami to relax. Not be hounded and have gigs booked for me. This was supposed to be my vacation, you’re literally not even supposed to be here.” I rolled onto my stomach on the hotel bed. The patio doors were open and the breeze blowing in off the ocean was relaxing.

Or it had been until Rex felt fit to show up and ruin things.

To be fair, I thought to myself, you’re the one who won’t just tell the guy that you’re not re-signing with his agency when your contract ends. But he seriously couldn’t take a fucking hint when I left on a red-eye and didn’t think he should know?

I was flipping through the television when I happened on a local news show. And they were showing an interview at Miami Dade PD about a pending case that was pretty huge in the media right now.

But that wasn’t what was catching my attention at all.

My eyes fixed on the five seconds glimpse I got of Tim as he hurried into the station. So handsome that I could feel my heart breaking all over again at the sight of him. I sighed and turned off the television.

I wound up on the balcony, staring down at the streets below. Wondering what he was doing right now.. Trying to imagine just how differently everything might have actually gone if I’d been braver back then. If I’d spoken up. Told him that I loved him and I didn’t want to lose touch or for us to be over.

I could’ve come with him.

And then I remembered the fear I felt the night my mom called me, fresh off the phone with his mom… The night I almost lost him.

And I remembered the feeling I felt when I finally made it to his side, a whole two days later. Seeing him lying there in that bed, hovering between life and death. The fear that he’d wake up and he’d want me to leave over-ruling every basic instinct in me that was telling me to stay. Take care of him. At the very least, get some closure. I didn’t deserve him then and the fact remained.

I don’t deserve him now, either. And too much time has gone by... I’d lost any right to tell him how I felt now. He probably had his own happy life. A better one. Who would I be to come in and lay it all on the line and destroy that?

If I’m being truly honest with myself here, I’ve never actually deserved Tim Speedle. And I’ve always known it. It’s why I had to let him go back then and a big reason why I was fighting myself so hard to keep from going to him now.

But I wanted him so badly. I needed him.

Everything felt wrong without him. I tried to move on, I tried convincing myself he was a high school and college boyfriend and my best childhood friend before that, but deep down, I knew.

Tim Speedle was, is and will always be, the man I love.

But I’m not good enough for him and hopefully, he’s moved on by now. God I hope he’s happy.

The thought had me taking a few shaky breaths and wiping away a tear that had been lingering in my eyes, threatening to roll down my cheek. I wandered back inside and even though I knew it wasn’t a good idea… I found myself searching his name.

Biting my lip as my heart skipped a beat or two when I realized that his phone number was still the same. And it was listed, not private.

I’m not exactly sure why, but I went to my contacts. And for a good ten minutes, I hovered over his name… I actually went as far as to pull up the conversation box and read over the last conversation we had. Before I realized it, I was crying again and that empty feeling was creeping back in…

,, you came all the way to Miami. You can’t keep living like this…” my brain taunted me. And then, another thought crept in, ,, if you wanted him, you shouldn’t have just let him leave without saying so. All you had to do was tell him you wanted to come. What, were you expecting some flowery proposal? For him to drop the chance of a lifetime for you? And what if he had, huh? What then? You know he would’ve hated you and by now, you two would be over… Nobody ever stays...Your own father couldn’t even be bothered to stick around, Syl… The man has probably forgotten all about you by now.”  and before my mind got any darker, I slipped off the bed and grabbed my favorite jacket. Maybe taking a ride down to the Keys would help me get this off my mind. Or driving a few blocks over, going to the beach to look at the stars.

All I did know was that suddenly, it felt like the very vast and open space in this 5 star hotel room was rapidly closing all around me.

[lyssismagical]

could you please write something irondad were peter gets caught sneaking out when he was supposed to be at home because he had gotten in trouble earlier in the day. thanks in advanced!

This kind of went on some little adventure away from this lol but hope you still enjoy :)

There’s nothing he can do but hold on as the two halves of the ferry fall away from him, held together by him and two webs that’ll snap any second now. The bad guys got away, civilians are everywhere, and there’s nothing Peter can do.

And then he hears it, the Iron Man suit arriving on scene to clean up the mess he made.

“Iron Man?” he calls out, keeping his voice pitched lower than his regular squeaky teenage voice. “Is there anything I can do?”

The cold Iron Man mask turns to him, eyes glowing blue. “I think you’ve done enough.”

It’s like the nail in his coffin.

See, his dad doesn’t know he’s Spider-Man. He doesn’t know what Peter does instead of going to Academic Decathlon and instead of band and when he’s ‘studying at Ned’s’. Tony doesn’t know and now that Peter’s gone and fucked everything up…

“Mister Stark!” he shouts, swinging to the top of the ferry just as the older hero finishes melding the halves of the ferry back together.

But he doesn’t even get an answer. The suit just stares at him for a second and then turns and flies back towards the city, leaving Peter by himself on the ferry.

Nausea rolls in his stomach as he shoots a web at the nearest helicopter, swinging hard towards the city as well. He doesn’t want to find out the casualties, doesn’t want to see the blame pointed at him, doesn’t want to know the FBI’s wrath.

His head feels split in two, the same way the ferry had been. He wants to see his dad, wants to be comforted and hugged and told that he’s doing a good job even if he messes up like he did today. He wants help, wants his worries about the alien tech to be heard.

But he doesn’t want Tony to know. He doesn’t think he could handle seeing the anger, the disappointment, the betrayal written across Tony’s face. He doesn’t want to know how that conversation would go. He can’t lose Spider-Man.

He finds himself sitting on the edge of a roof on the edge of the water, overlooking the mayhem out on the horizon.

“Is everyone okay?” he asks when he hears the telltale Iron Man suit landing behind him.

“No thanks to you,” Tony says, anger already coloring his voice.

The irritation snaps within him and he stands up, turning on the suit. “No thanks to me? I tried to tell you and you wouldn’t listen to me!”

“I did listen to you, but obviously you didn’t listen to me. Alien tech isn’t for some vigilante in a onesie to deal with. I was looking into it.”

“What was I supposed to do? Just watch them hurt people?”

He doesn’t know why he’s so angry, why his hands are shaking so badly, why he can’t seem to look the suit in the eyes.

But, like he’s sealing Peter’s fate, Tony steps out of the suit onto the rooftop, face set in stone.

“Mask off.”

Peter’s face crumples, he knows he’s made a mistake, made it too obvious. “Mister Stark- I- I don’t-”

“Mask. Off.”

There’s no room for an argument, so Peter tugs the mask off his head, letting his hair fall into his eyes as he ducks his head.

For a long few moments, nobody speaks, silence thickening between them.

And then, “This, whatever you think you’re doing, is done.”

“Dad, please, you don’t understand- I-”

“You’ve been lying to me for what? Four months? Five? Academic Decathlon, Band, weekends with Ned, afternoon studying sessions,” Tony’s saying, but Peter won’t look up, can’t look up from where he kicks at the ground, swallowing thickly. “So, yeah, I do understand, and you’re done.”

His lungs won’t expand properly anymore, but he still makes himself lift his chin, eyes trained on Tony’s tie, so he won’t have to see the disappointment on his face.

“I don’t even get to explain myself?” he says, voice small and young. “I don’t even get to try to talk to you? I- Dad, it’s-”

“I’ve been really lenient with rules for you, Peter.” Tony never calls him Peter. It’s always kid or some silly pet name. “The only rule I’ve ever had for you, one rule, is that you keep yourself safe. I never gave you a curfew, I never looked through your phone, I never made you have a guard or security detail. I’ve been so lenient. One rule, Peter, and you broke it.”

Peter runs a hand through his hair, tugging on the ends to try to think past the tears that threaten to fall. “Please, I-”

“No, this is where you zip it. The adult is talking,” Tony stresses. He lets out a humourless laugh and it cuts Peter deep to the core. “I gave you one fucking rule, Peter, one rule, and you decide to do the complete opposite? And you still expect me to give you the benefit of the doubt? That’s not how this works. You’re going to give me the suit and whatever tech you’ve taken from the lab, and you’re grounded until I say otherwise.”

There’s nothing Peter can say, no arguments he can make, and Tony steps back into the suit anyways.

“Happy’s waiting,” is all Tony bothers to say before he flies away.

Curling up in the backseat of the car, Peter cries. He just wanted to help and now his suit’s going to be taken and irrational fears begin to crawl up his throat and settle in his mind.

*“Homecoming’s in a few days,” Peter says. It’s been a few weeks since Tony found out he was Spider-Man and they’ve been walking on eggshells around each other since then. Tony’s been so busy with The Move upstate that it hasn’t even been hard to avoid him.

Tony looks up startled, he blinks a few times like he’s making sure Peter’s real and then he gently pats the couch cushion beside him.

Peter sits down, not on the cushion Tony offered, but the one over from it, leaving a wide space between them. He can feel Tony’s disappointment radiating off him and tears spring to the teenagers eyes that he refuses to let fall.

“I’m not trying to make your life miserable, buddy,” Tony murmurs quietly. “I’m not trying to be a bad guy here. But, kiddo-”

“Please don’t,” Peter says, eyes trained on the couch where he picks at a loose string. “I don’t want to talk about it. Can I have a break from being grounded to go to homecoming?”

Tony sighs heavily and something in Peter’s chest seizes expecting the worst, hating himself for even bothering to ask.

But, surprisingly, “Yeah, kid, you can go, but please, for the love of god, just have a normal night, okay?”

“What am I supposed to do when you took everything from me?” It’s snarky and Peter knows he’s just pushing Tony away to try to pretend he’s not hurt by all of this.

“Pete-”

“Never mind, I promise I’ll have a normal night. Thanks for letting me go.”

He ducks into his bedroom before Tony can say anything.

*It wasn’t his fault. He wasn’t planning on getting into trouble, he swears, but when his date’s dad turned out to be The Vulture? How in the world was he supposed to just get out of the car and enjoy the dance?

And then the warehouse collapsed.

He pushes the thoughts out of his head, choking down a sob as he stumbles away from the fires, maskless and bleeding and pain flaring in his body.

He wants his dad. He wants him so badly, but his phone is in Toomes’s car and he left his watch with Ned at school and he’s meant to be at stupid homecoming. Tony probably isn’t even worried about him yet unless any of it has hit the news.

Tripping through the sand, Peter lets out a quiet sob, desperation overtaking the fear of how angry Tony will be when he finds out Peter disobeyed every rule once again.

Webshooters empty, suit torn to pieces, mask gone, tech free. Peter’s running out of options.

And then, like a beacon of hope, a grim old gas station just over the edge of the beach and across the street.

Feet dragging and stumbling, blood trailing behind him, Peter makes it to the dusty telephone booth on the side of the gas station. He doesn’t have any money on him, but there are old coins left on the ledge.

The call nearly isn’t picked up and dizziness is washing over Peter to the point where he has to sit down against the brick wall, phone cradled in his burned and bloody fingers.

“Hello?”

“Dad?” Peter cries, dam breaking when he hears Tony’s voice. “I- I need help, please, I- I’m sorry, I-”

“Peter, baby? Where are you? I thought you were at homecoming?” Tony murmurs, voice soothing and gentle.

The teenager presses the phone closer against his ear, trying to provide any sort of comfort. He’s crying in earnest now, shaking and black spots dancing across his vision.

“I- I made a mis’ake,” he sobs, wanting nothing more than for his dad to make the pain disappear. “I- Dad, please, I-”

The sound of the Iron Man suit and wind rushing by the phone settles something within him, the desperate part of him, knowing his dad’s coming for him. Despite everything, his dad’s coming.

“I’m coming, okay?” Tony reassures. “I’m on my way and you’re going to be okay. We’re going to be okay.”

The last part is what gets Peter’s shoulders to relax for the first time since he became Spider-Man.

“Dad?” he repeats carefully. He’s using most of his energy trying to stay conscious, so he doesn’t make it past the one syllable.

“I’m coming, buddy, I’m coming. I love you, okay? I don’t say it enough, but I love you and I’m so proud of everything you do, you know that, right?”

Peter opens his mouth to respond, but the I Love You Too gets caught in his throat as his vision goes dark.

*When he comes to, the only thing he knows for sure is that he’s so fucking sorry.

He scrunches his nose and blinks his eyes open slowly, almost immediately closing them again when the pain washes over him.

“I know you’re awake, buddy,” Tony says, somewhere near Peter’s hospital bed. He squeezes Peter’s hand gently. “You feeling okay?”

Peter hates how quickly he crumbles, tears falling from his eyes and running into his hairline.

“I’m sorry, Dad, I’m- I’m so sorry. I- I-” He cuts himself off, swallowing thickly and squeezing his eyes tighter shut.

Tony’s thumb runs soothingly over his knuckles. “No, bud. I’m the one who should be sorry. If I had just helped you instead of grounding you. If I had just thought for even a second, you wouldn’t have been out there fighting Toomes by yourself… I just- I’m sorry, Peter.”

“S’okay,” Peter murmurs, words slurring as he turns his head into Tony’s palm. “’m I still grounded?”

Tony chokes out a teary laugh, thumb brushing across Peter’s cheekbone. “We’ll compromise, okay? But not until you’re out of a hospital bed… I just- The only thing I wanted was for you to be safe. That’s all I wanted. I needed you to be safe. So seeing you out there, on the ferry, I just… I don’t know. I trust you, I just, you’re my kid.”

“Just wanted to be like you,” Peter murmurs, opening his eyes and for the first time in what feels like a long time, looks at his dad. Instead of the disappointment, the anger, he’d been expecting to see, all he sees is love and adoration and pride.

“You’re so much better, kid.”