#if my heart was a compass you’d be north

[sombreset]

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[sailforvalinor]

“Ugh you got such high standards for men from Disney Princes—“ nah bestie I’m gonna have to pin that one on Owl City’s Ocean Eyes (2009)

[drowsystarlight]

Chibi!Reverb 2024: If My Heart Was A Compass, You’d Be North

@vin420’s art work

@snorlaxlovesme’s ao3 fic

My entry for Chibi!Reverb 2024!! I had so much fun finally getting to join reverb despite my really hectic schedule and the fic is GREAT fucking hallelujah

[daffi-990]

Tease Tidbit Tuesday

Tagged by @tizniz

Soooo … LA Lonely 🏙️ is done! I even have a possible title! -> if my heart was a compass you’d be north

I’m very excited to share this one with you all. It’s cute and has rom-com vibes 🥰🥰🥰

In celebration of finishing it (okay I finished it a few weeks ago but let it sit in my docs for a bit cos I was nervous about getting it beta read for some reason 😅), here is a snippet from the beginning of the fic.

Enjoy 😘

(Prev snippet here)

Buck is just about to head out when he sees him.

The man has brown hair, cropped a bit on the sides with more volume on the top. The hair on top is styled in a way that looks effortless, like he just rolled out of bed and ran his fingers through his hair to tame it and then went about his day. He’s laughing at something someone said, his smile wide and bright, cheeks an adorable shade of pink and the sound of his laughter has something pulling at a thread within Buck, begging him to go over and introduce himself.

He’s fucking beautiful.

Buck abandons all plans of leaving the bar and instead follows the tugged thread, weaving through the crowd until he’s standing at the table. Three pairs of eyes turn towards him and wow, the guy's eyes are gorgeous. They’re brown and deep like a warm cup of coffee and Buck wants to let himself sink to the bottom of their depths and drown.

Brown Eyes is staring right back at him, a curious glint in his eyes as Buck stands there, heart pounding in his chest.

"Hi," Buck manages to say, his voice coming out softer than he intended.

A smile tugs at the corner of Brown Eyes' lips, “Hey.”

No pressure tagging: @diazsdimples (my amazing beta ❤️ you the mvp) @hippolotamus @spotsandsocks @beyourownanchor6 @bekkachaos @wellcollapse @watchyourbuck @wildlife4life @exhuastedpigeon @elvensorceress @eddiebabygirldiaz @rainbow-nerdss @rewritetheending @thewolvesof1998 @theotherbuckley @the-likesofus @sibylsleaves @poughkeepsies @princessfbi @alliaskisthepossibilityoflove @actuallyitsellie @shitouttabuck @steadfastsaturnsrings @spagheddiediaz @queerdiazs @queerweewoo @devirnis @dangerpronebuddie @glorious-spoon @giddyupbuck @honestlydarkprincess @jesuisici33 @jeeyuns @kitteneddiediaz @lover-of-mine @lonelychicago @captain-hen @missmagooglie @monsterrae1 and as always, if you have something you want to share -> consider this your official tag 🏷️

[vin420]

Chibi!Reverb 2024: If My Heart Was A Compass, You’d Be North

My entry for this years reverb WOOO!!

First time ever participating in a fandom project like this, it was stressful but also fun and I’m so glad I could work with two amazing and hella skilled people on a story for my most beloved ship!!

[reverbmod]

2024 Posting Schedule!

Catch all the sweet Reverb content coming your way very soon!✨

August 16th - La petite robe noire with Artist @jadedkappa and Author @silluuuu

August 17th - Today is Special with Artist @lilliesofinspirationvalley and Author @blackbloodteeth

August 18th - You are my center when I spin away with Artist @mellancholy-morose and Author @chichirichick

August 19th - If my heart were a compass, you’d be north with Artists @drowsystarlight & @vin420 and Author @snorlaxlovesme

August 20th - These Promises with Artist @guacamoletrash and Author @justpocketchange and Author @chichirichick

August 21st - Pygmalion with Artist @worldismyne and Author @lilliesofinspirationvalley

August 22nd - A Bit of Bittersweet in the Bake with Artist @bearmageddon and Author @emotional-support-hufflepuff

August 23rd - Death Parties in Paradise with Artist @alcruid and Author @memethebum

August 24th - Carved Out Hollow Madness with Artist @actuallyimabird and Author @emotional-support-hufflepuff

August 25th - Resonance Resurrected / My Girlfriend is a Witch with Artist @moriohpissky and Author @kaen-ace-of-diamonds and Author @justpocketchange

August 26th - His Nine Souls with Artist @blackbloodteeth and Author @toweroftunes and Author shinracrimson

August 27th - Saudade with Artist @emotional-support-hufflepuff and Author @bcbdrums and Author @randomkidstarfic

August 28th - The Masque of the Red Death / The Red Masque of Death with Artist @not-so-scandalous and Author @sharks833 and Author @professor-maka

[atommadly]

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐋𝐄𝐅𝐓 𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐀𝐈𝐃

𝐑𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐃 ✓ not sure if you're down to explore this since it might be similar to 'sweetheart' but i've been trying to envision how jesse would react when she finds out y/n has a crush on harry. would it be: ㅡ "can't date my dad. my dad is off limits." similar to harry's comment on the sheer concept of cisco dating his daughter or ㅡ "as long as you also make him happy" maybe akin to harry's reaction when jesse said she wanted to stay with wally on earth-1 and y/n explaining that jesse shouldnt worry like "sure i have a crush on your dad but its not like he's into me" "who said i wasn't?" harry exclaims. y/n, jesse, team flash: :0

𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 | Harry Wells x Reader

𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 | Miscommunication.

Masterlist

Why was everything so complicated?

Was it really too much to ask for a normal life? Just a few years ago, you were a cybersecurity analyst, spending your days trying to stop viruses from infecting the systems of the company you worked for. You lived a simple, straightforward life. It was predictable. It was manageable.

But now? Now, you were working with Flash—yes, the actual Flash—running rogue operations for Star Labs. You were breaking the law every time you helped them, hacking into some of the city's most secure systems, tracking down metahumans, and sometimes even opening portals to different dimensions. Not exactly your idea of a “normal” day at the office.

And to be honest, that was almost manageable, too. There was something exciting about the chaos. Cisco was your partner in crime, and together, you helped Barry with his mission, making sense of the bizarre world of metahumans and fighting the occasional villain of the week. The people at Star Labs, Barry, Cisco, Caitlin—they had become your family. They made the insanity feel almost… normal. Well, as normal as it could be.

But then, everything changed. Zoom came. And with him, Harry.

Harry Wells was another version of the Harrison Wells you’d known before. This one wasn’t a villain in disguise for example. But he was still strict, sarcastic, and cold.

And yet, from the very beginning, you found yourself drawn to him. There was something about the way he carried himself, something almost magnetic in the way he spoke, even if it was often sharp or dismissive. He wasn’t easy to get close to, but for some reason, that made you want to try even harder. You couldn’t quite explain it, but every time he walked into the room, your attention was pulled to him like a compass pointing north.

But things only got more complicated when you learned about his daughter, Jesse. The look in his eyes when he talked about her, the fierce determination, and the depth of his love for her—it was impossible to ignore. He would do anything to protect her, to save her from the horrors of Zoom. And that, in itself, was enough to make your heart ache for him.

Harry had been on Earth-1 for four months, working alongside you and the rest of Team Flash to stop Zoom and save Jesse. Those months were the strangest, most thrilling of your life. And through it all, Harry became more than just a teammate. There was something about the way he began to soften around you, the way he looked at you differently as time went on.

There was a warmth to Harry that you hadn’t seen when he first arrived. It was as if, despite his strict demeanor and his constant focus on the mission, you were the one person who could pull him out of his shell.

You and Harry would exchange glances across the room, your eyes meeting in fleeting moments when the others weren’t looking. It was always subtle, never enough to draw attention, but it was there—the tension that neither of you spoke about. You’d find yourself looking for any excuse to be near him, whether it was to help with a project, to share a quiet conversation, or just to sit next to him during brief moments of downtime. You had no idea what he thought of you, but you could feel the pull. You wondered if maybe he felt the same.

But no matter how strong that connection was, there was always something else that stood in the way. Harry’s mission. Jesse. Zoom. The stakes were too high. You both knew it. And so, the tension between you remained unspoken, unresolved. Every day, you waited, wondering if today would be the day that something would shift, if Harry would finally open up or if you would find the courage to tell him how you felt. But the timing never seemed right. Not when the world was still at risk, not when Jesse’s life was in constant danger.

Eventually, you succeeded in saving Jesse. The relief you felt was overwhelming, and you were genuinely happy for Harry and his daughter. Their reunion was heartwarming, a moment that made the constant fear and exhaustion of the fight worthwhile. The way he looked at her, the fierce protectiveness in his eyes, reminded you once again why you had fallen for him. He loved his daughter more than anything and would do whatever it took to keep her safe.

But the threat of Zoom wasn’t over, not entirely. Even with Jesse free from his grasp, the shadow of danger loomed over them. Harry made the difficult decision to keep Jesse on Earth-1, away from the life she had known, where Zoom’s reach couldn’t touch her. It was a choice made out of love, but it came at a heavy cost.

Jesse struggled with it from the start. Losing her home, her friends, and the life she had built on Earth-2 wasn’t easy. She was uprooted and transplanted into a world that wasn’t hers, surrounded by people she barely knew. You could see the frustration in her eyes, the sadness she tried to hide but couldn’t completely mask. 

Harry was struggling deeply with the situation, and more often than not, he sought comfort in you. You became his anchor, the one person he could confide in when the weight of it all became too much. Whether it was late-night conversations in the lab or quiet moments over coffee, you were there to listen. He shared his worries about Jesse, his fears about failing her, and the guilt that seemed to cling to him no matter how much he sacrificed.

You offered him everything you could—advice when he needed it, reassurance when his self-doubt crept in, and a steady presence when the storm around him felt too strong. You encouraged him to talk to Jesse, to be honest with her about his feelings, and to try to bridge the growing gap between them. He listened, even if he didn’t always know how to act on it. But he appreciated you—more than he ever said aloud.

Sometimes, Jesse would watch you both from a distance. She wasn’t oblivious; she saw the way you and her father interacted, the way your gazes lingered just a moment too long, the subtle shifts in your voices when you spoke to each other. She noticed how you seemed to understand him in a way that few people did, how he softened ever so slightly around you. It wasn’t hard to see the connection building between you, even if neither of you had said anything about it.

But Jesse didn’t know how to feel about it. Her father was everything to her—he was all she had left. After losing her mother, she had seen firsthand the toll it had taken on him. He had closed himself off, retreating into his work, throwing himself into protecting her with a fierceness that often left him isolated. She didn’t think he’d ever let himself love again after that. It wasn’t just about you, specifically. Jesse couldn’t stand the idea of her father being hurt again.

Because inevitably, she thought, it would happen. No matter how close you and Harry seemed, you didn’t belong in their world. Sooner or later, they’d have to return to Earth-2. That was their home, not this strange, temporary life on Earth-1. When that day came, Jesse was convinced you’d break her father’s heart. It wasn’t out of malice—it was just the way things were. You’d stay behind, and Harry would go back to his old life, left with nothing but memories and regret.

Jesse couldn’t let that happen. She loved her father too much to let him risk everything for something that felt doomed from the start. And the more she watched the way his eyes softened when he looked at you, the more determined she became to put an end to it before it could go any further.

One evening, you were working late in the lab, your focus glued to your laptop as you tweaked a new security system for STAR Labs. You were deep in concentration, fingers flying over the keyboard, when you heard a soft voice behind you.

“Hey.”

You startled slightly, lifting your head to see Jesse standing a few steps away, looking hesitant. She wasn’t usually one to hang around the lab this late, so her presence caught you off guard.

“Oh, hi,” you said, blinking at her. “Didn’t hear you come in.”

She stepped closer, her arms crossed over her chest. “What are you working on?”

You gestured to the screen. “Oh, just reprogramming the security systems. I created a new line of code to optimize the motion detectors, and I’m building an app so we can get alerts for any intrusions directly on our phones. It should save us a lot of time.”

Jesse tilted her head slightly, her lips twitching into a faint, almost amused smile. “You sound like my dad.”

You chuckled, a little nervously. “Yeah, I get that a lot.”

There was a moment of silence, and you noticed the way Jesse shifted on her feet, her gaze flickering from you to the floor and back again. She was hesitating, which wasn’t like her. Jesse was usually straightforward, rarely one to hold back. Whatever was on her mind, it was something big.

“Speaking of my dad…” she started, her voice soft but steady. Her eyes locked on yours, and you felt a sudden tension settle in the room. “Y/N, I’ve noticed you’re… close to him.”

Your heart skipped a beat, and you froze, your fingers hovering over the keyboard. This was it. The moment you’d been dreading. Was she going to ask you if you liked him? If you had feelings for him? And if she did, what would you even say? You weren’t ready for this conversation, not now, not ever.

Jesse took another step closer, her expression hardening. “Actually, I don’t like it.”

Her words hit you like a punch to the gut, and you stared at her, stunned. You hadn’t expected that. Not the bluntness of it, nor the sudden coldness in her tone.

“Whatever you’re thinking, whatever you feel for him,” she continued, her voice firm now, “stop. Just… stop.”

You swallowed hard, your mind scrambling for a response, but no words came. You just sat there, staring at her, trying to process what she’d said.

She wasn’t finished. “Look, I know my dad can be… intense. And I know he trusts you, which is rare for him. But he’s been through enough. We’ve been through enough. And I can’t let you—” She paused, her voice faltering slightly before she straightened her shoulders and met your gaze head-on. “You can’t date my dad. My dad is off limits.”

With that, she turned on her heel and walked out, leaving you alone and stunned. The words echoed in your mind, sharp and heavy. You sat frozen for what felt like minutes, trying to process what had just happened. Jesse’s bluntness, her unwavering determination—it all left you reeling.

That night, sleep was impossible. You lay awake, staring at the ceiling, turning her words over and over in your mind. You can’t date my dad. It wasn’t just a demand; it was a line drawn in the sand, one you hadn’t even realized you were approaching.

The truth was, you loved Harry. There was no denying it, not to yourself. What you felt for him was real and overwhelming. It wasn’t some fleeting crush; it was deeper than that, something pure and unshakable. But the fact that Jesse had forbidden you from being with him broke something inside you. It hurt, and that hurt quickly gave way to anger.

What right does she have to tell me who I can and can’t love? you thought bitterly. But as quickly as the anger came, it was replaced by understanding. Jesse wasn’t just being possessive or unreasonable. She had lost her mother, and that kind of loss left scars. Maybe she wasn’t ready for her father to move on, to let someone else into his life. Maybe she was afraid of seeing him hurt again.

And the harsh reality was that she wasn’t entirely wrong. Neither you nor Harry had ever said how you felt to one another. You’d danced around it, lived in the tension of unspoken words, but neither of you had been brave enough to cross that line. What if Jesse was right? What if this thing between you was doomed to fail before it even began? What if starting something only to watch it fall apart would hurt Harry more than either of you could bear?

The thought left you hollow. You cared about Jesse’s well-being, and you respected her enough to take her words seriously, no matter how much they stung. So, you made a decision. As much as it hurt, as much as it tore at your heart, you would put Jesse first. You would give her the time she needed to heal and adjust. For now, that meant keeping your distance from Harry.

It wasn’t easy. The next day, when Harry walked into the lab, his sharp eyes scanning the room before landing on you, your instinct was to smile, to greet him as you always did. But you stopped yourself, offering only a curt nod before diving into your work. It wasn’t much, but even that small restraint felt like a monumental effort. You avoided lingering in conversations, kept your interactions strictly professional, and found excuses to leave the room whenever things grew too comfortable between you.

You could feel his confusion. He wasn’t blind; he noticed the shift in your behavior almost immediately. You could see it in the way his brows furrowed, the way his tone softened when he called your name, as if asking silently, What’s wrong?But you couldn’t bring yourself to explain. What could you say? That his daughter had forbidden you from even thinking about him that way? That you were stepping back, not because you wanted to, but because it was the only thing you could do to keep the fragile balance intact?

So, you buried your feelings, swallowing the ache in your chest every time he looked at you like he wanted to understand, like he needed to understand. 

At first, Jesse was relieved that you had taken her words to heart and respected her wishes. She had expected to feel triumphant, as though she had protected something precious. But as the days turned into weeks, she began to see the ripple effect of her decision—and the weight of its consequences.

She saw it in you first. You weren’t the same. The spark in your eyes, the quick wit and humor that always brightened the lab, was fading. It was subtle at first—your smiles didn’t quite reach your eyes, and your laughter sounded just a little hollow. But soon, even the energy you brought to your work seemed to wane. You still gave your all, but Jesse noticed the difference. It was like you were carrying a weight you couldn’t set down, and every day it dragged you a little lower.

But what truly shook her was how her father was affected. Harry wasn’t one to wear his emotions on his sleeve, but Jesse had grown up with him; she could read him like a book. The confusion in his eyes every time you left the room, the hesitance in his steps when he moved toward you, only to stop himself. He looked like a man who was lost, unsure of what he’d done wrong but too afraid to ask.

When you weren’t around, Harry’s behavior only made things clearer. Jesse often overheard him asking Cisco or Caitlin where you were or if you were coming back to the lab soon. His questions were casual on the surface, but his voice carried an unmistakable edge of longing. And every time he got an answer he didn’t want to hear—Oh, Y/N left for the day, or She’s working remotely this week—his face would fall just a little. Jesse could see it, even when he tried to hide it behind his usual gruff demeanor.

It hit her like a punch to the chest: she had done this. By asking you to stay away, she had hurt not just you, but her father too. The connection between you two was undeniable. Her dad didn’t just trust you; he relied on you. He looked at you the way she imagined he must have looked at her mom once, with a softness that she had rarely seen. And now, thanks to her, that light in his eyes was dimming.

The guilt grew heavier with each passing day. Jesse couldn’t help but reflect on who you were—the way you treated her, the way you had supported her father through everything. You weren’t just brilliant at what you did; you were kind, funny, and endlessly patient. You had never once treated Jesse like a burden, even when she was at her most difficult.

And now, despite how much it clearly hurt you, you had respected her wishes. You had stepped back, even though it was breaking your heart. It was clear to her now that you weren’t some fleeting crush or a distraction. You cared about Harry deeply, and from the way he was falling apart, it was obvious that he felt the same about you.

Jesse regretted everything. She had been so caught up in her own fears and insecurities that she hadn’t stopped to consider what her dad needed, what made him happy. And it was painfully clear that you made him happy.

One evening, after watching her father retreat to his workshop for the third time that week, his expression heavier than she’d ever seen it, Jesse made up her mind. She couldn’t stand to see him like this anymore. She had to fix what she had broken.

Late the next morning, Team Flash gathered in the speed lab for a training session. You had been busy working on a new diagnostic program but decided to drop in and see if there was anything you could help with.

Stepping into the lab, you scanned the room, your mind already buzzing with ideas. Before you could ask Cisco or Caitlin what they needed, Jesse entered as well. She spotted you almost immediately and walked toward you with purpose.

“Y/N, can I talk to you?” she asked, her tone hesitant but serious.

Your stomach flipped. Out of instinct, you shot a quick glance at Caitlin and Cisco, the two people you’d confided in about your complicated feelings for Harry. Caitlin gave you a small, reassuring smile, silently encouraging you to go. With a quiet nod, you followed Jesse to a quieter corner of the room, near a cluster of technological equipment Barry used for his speed tests.

Jesse stopped and turned to face you, fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. “Y/N, I… I wanted to talk about my dad.”

Your breath hitched, but you tried to play it cool. “Don’t worry,” you said quickly. “I’ve been keeping my distance, just like you asked.”

Her eyes darted to the floor for a moment before she met your gaze again. “Yeah, um… about that. I wanted to say I’m sorry for asking you to do that.”

You blinked, taken aback. “You’re… sorry?”

Jesse nodded, her expression conflicted. “I was scared. My dad doesn’t open up easily, you know? And when I saw how close you two were, I thought it wasn’t serious. I was worried you might hurt him—whether you meant to or not.” She hesitated, her voice dropping. “He hasn’t been the same since my mom died. It was hard watching him go through that, and I couldn’t bear the thought of him getting hurt like that again.”

Her words hit you like a weight to the chest. You swallowed hard, unsure of what to say. “I understand,” you said softly, feeling a deep empathy for her.

“But now,” Jesse continued, her voice steadying, “I see how much this is hurting him. And it’s hurting you too. I’m sorry, Y/N. I shouldn’t have interfered. If you want to… I don’t know… date my dad, I won’t stop you anymore. As long as you make him happy, that’s all I care about.”

For a moment, you just stared at her, processing everything she had just said. The apology, the admission, the weight of her trust—it was all a lot to take in.

“Thank you, Jesse,” you said finally, your voice wavering with emotion. “That means a lot to me. I… I really do care about your dad. I love him, actually. But…” You hesitated, unsure if you should admit the rest.

“But what?” Jesse prompted, her brows furrowing.

You gave a small, bittersweet smile. “We’ve been circling each other for months, and nothing has ever happened. I don’t think he feels the same way."

Before Jesse could respond, another voice cut through the air, making your heart stop.

“Who said I didn’t?”

You froze. Slowly, you turned toward the source of the voice, and there he was—Harry. He was crouched behind the equipment just a few feet away. He had been working on something, but judging by the look on his face, he’d heard every word of your conversation.

Your cheeks flushed bright red. “Harry?” you whispered, your voice barely audible.

“I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop,” he said, his voice steady yet laced with a hint of vulnerability. “But I need to correct something.”

Behind you, the chatter in the Speed Lab had come to a halt. Team Flash, ever nosy, had shifted their focus entirely to your conversation, watching the scene unfold with wide-eyed interest.

Harry took another step toward you, his intense gaze locking with yours. “I feel the same way, Y/N,” he admitted, his voice dropping lower. “I’ve felt it for months. I just—” He hesitated, his fingers flexing slightly at his sides. “I’m not good with words when it comes to… feelings. And I didn’t know how to tell you.”

Jesse stood nearby, a knowing smile spreading across her face. “Ooookay,” she said, raising her hands and stepping back with a playful smirk. “I think that’s my cue to leave. You two need some privacy.”

With that, she spun on her heel and walked out, leaving you and Harry alone. The tension in the air was almost tangible, thick with all the words that had finally been spoken and the ones still hanging between you.

You couldn’t take your eyes off him, your heart pounding like a drum. “Is it true?” you asked softly, your voice trembling.

“Yes,” he said firmly, his expression softening as his lips curved into a small smile. “I love you, Y/N.”

The world seemed to freeze at his words. For months, you’d dreamed of hearing them, but now that they were real, they felt even more overwhelming. “You… love me?”

“I do,” he said, stepping closer until there was barely any space left between you. “I’ve loved you for so long, and I’ve been a fool to keep it to myself.”

Before you could say another word, Harry reached out, gently cupping your face with his hands. The touch was tender, his calloused fingers warm against your skin. Then, without hesitation, he leaned in and kissed you.

The kiss was soft and hesitant at first, but it deepened as the weight of all your unspoken feelings melted away. You felt yourself sinking into him, your hands instinctively clutching his arms for balance as the world around you disappeared.

Behind you, the Speed Lab erupted in cheers and whoops of joy. Cisco’s loud exclamation of “Finally!” was followed by Caitlin’s laughter and Barry’s playful claps.

“About time!” Cisco added, his voice brimming with satisfaction.

But none of it mattered. The noises, the world—it all faded into the background. All you could feel was Harry, his arms around you, and the overwhelming sense of happiness that flooded your chest.

[oksana-moods]

Queens of Promise - Part 7

Summary: Between battles and treasons, a new emotion comes to play. And oh poor Wanda, she found herself a traitor.

A/N: Look at me keeping my promises, but have to warn you though, chapter 11 progress is slower than I had planned. But we’ll get there when we get there. Well, I am dropping hints to solve the big puzzle (at least I think I am haha), do you guys have any theories by now?

Trigger Warning: Violence, mentions of blood, death. Game of Thrones canon violence. Previous parts here

"Between heaven and hell"

#just because I love her smile in this gif Fury Valley – Improvised Campsite

You looked around the place and saw people arguing, while others tried to make any sense out of this madness.

Present in Wanda’s tent were only the ones both Princesses trusted with their lives. That being said, Lady Rambeau, Lady Danvers and Lord Barton were your companions while Wanda called for Lady Romanoff, Lady Dreykov and Knight Bishop’s presence.

Sir Barnes wasn’t attending the meeting for he had marched north earlier that morning with part of his men as to inform the King about the death of Lord Rogers.

The fireplace attracted your eyes, and the fire dancing drew your attention for what felt like a lifetime but, in reality, only minutes had passed.

Your head flew miles away from Fury Valley, for Lord Wilson was on his way to Triskelion to inform the Queen about the ambush and the failed mission of returning Lord Rogers to Sokovians’ care.

Queen Calanthe would be mad, for sure. This was unacceptable, how could a simple task go so wrong as this one had? In a span of hours, you had analyzed and overanalyzed the past events trying to find where your mistake was.

Some of the best soldiers, ones that you trusted with your own life, were tasked with the burden of keeping and protecting Lord Rogers. It was as though they didn’t even have the chance to stand a fight and oh she knew how skilled they were.  

You’ve been into many battles so far and had experienced some chaotic fights, but the attackers came out of the blue and easily outnumbered Taharrian and sokovian’s troops. It was messy and hectic, especially when you were trying not to die all the while making sure your nemesis wouldn’t get hurt as well.

Gladly enough, you were able to keep Princess Maximoff alive, otherwise this whole messed up situation would be even more chaotic. Suddenly, bile climbed through your throat as you thought about the possibility of Wanda’s death. It bothered you to no end and made your heart clench at the mere idea.

Why, though?

In terms of politics, it was only obvious what problems this would entail. If Wanda died this would mean extra violence from Sokovia. Because, if Loki were to die, no matter the situation, you’d wreak havoc to avenge your brother, surely King Pietro wouldn’t do any different.

In theory, protecting Wanda was a must. Firstly, to avoid more problems; secondly, chances were that you could warm your way to Wanda, therefore, you could try and ease the tension to stop the war for good.

However, deep down you knew these reasons were just the political Princess in you speaking. Deep down you knew there were ulterior motivations, maybe they weren’t clear to you just yet – or maybe it was clear, yet you kept in denial.

There was something about Wanda that pulled you towards her. It was something different from everything you ever felt, but somehow you knew she meant more than a possible acquaintance or possible not-enemy. To say Sokovia could be a friend was too much. Not-foe was good enough for you.

She shouldn’t mean anything to you, so why was she so important to the point your body would physically reject even the mere thought of her death? Why does your heartbeat lose compass when thinking about hers stopping for good?  

Angry shouts broke through your bubble of thoughts and your head surfaced back to the exchange going on the tent. Lady Danvers had her hands in fists and was ready to attack no one other than Princess Maximoff herself. While Bishop only listened and swapped few words with Barton, Maria and Natasha argued near the fireplace.

Lady Dreykov was massaging her chin and judging by the distance, the cause of her discomfort probably was Carol’s fist. Sighing, you got up to your feet and walked towards the others.

“This is your fault, Princess.” Danvers’ eyes were red, visibly distressed, she had lost good friends the day before and this was a wound too fresh. “You brought this to yourselves, and now it’s rubbing on us.”

“This is outrageous! And you should take your tone down a notch, I’m not your Lioness that allows you to speak as you want. I’m Wanda Maximoff, Princess of Sokovia and you’ll treat me as such.” The redhead spat back at the lady in front of her.

“My Princess is a respectable warrior, one of the greatest that I had had the pleasure to serve, now I can’t speak the same about you.” Carol growled, eyes screaming danger. Not that Maximoff was one to bother with threats. Spoken or not.

“Draw your sword, peasant, and I’ll give you something to talk about me.” Wanda countered and this threat was plain as it can be. “While you still have your head above your shoulders.”

Before Carol could do anything stupid and force Wanda’s hand, you stepped between both woman, hoping you could try and calm their nerves.

“As entertaining as it could be, I’m afraid we have more pressing matters right now.” You spoke alternating your look between your Captain and the princess. “And we have to work together if we want to get to the bottom of this problem.”

“Work together?” Lady Romanoff took one step closer to the three of you, and the others gathered closer as well. The assassin in front of you had her brows furrowed, possibly trying to think how sworn enemies could work together without killing each other.

“Precisely.” You replied now focused on the spy in front of you. “It seems we found a common foe and I don’t know about you, but I want to know who they are.”

“We already know who they are, princess!” Lady Danvers, though a little more collected, spat once again. “It’s probably the Kree that this woman, disregarding all the suffering in Noveria, called back to our lands.”

You flinched at the accusatory tone, but also at the pain coating every single word pronounced by your dear friend. You understood where she was coming from, it could be the Kree, indeed. However, the mercenaries, though ruthless, didn’t seem to be the type of men the northern barbarians would choose for a job.

“Refer to me as this woman one more time and I’ll teach you how to address to a princess properly.” The redhead barked and you saw her hand looking for the hilt of her sword. Wanda was on edge with the attack, of course, but she still got a short fuse.

Faster than you or anything you had to say, Carol threatened again. “You can shove your little title on your ass, Your Highness. You brought these barbarians here, I wanna see what you’re going to do now.”

Wanda growled, audibly, with her hand clutching around her sword dangerously. Their nerves were escalating out of proportion, so you did the first thing that came to your mind. Almost innocently, you placed your hand on Wanda’s shoulder as if trying to ground her, somehow.

For a few moments, she let it. Her eyes trailed to your hand and to back to your eyes for a few seconds until she figured this intimacy wasn’t appropriate enough for her taste and slapped your hand away, as one does with a disgusting fly.

“Carol.” Your tone was underlined with a warning and the woman looked at you. “I understand and respect your worries but you, of all people, know that the Kree wouldn’t hire some bandits to attack us. They’d do it themselves. And these guys bled red just as we did.”

You held Carol’s eye contact, until the woman relented and nodded at you. Her instance, in turn, shifted from dangerous-ready-to-attack to attention. She was ready to jump into action if needed but took a few steps back and let go of this argument.

Again, you tried, this time looking around the room as to emphasize your words. “Together. Is the only way to find out who set us up.” You were rewarded with some nods but soon Wanda found her voice again and dropped a bucket of cold water on your ideas.

“Bold of you to assume that I’ll work with your… scum.” She dropped her hands to her hips in a defiant pose. “We can fend for ourselves.”  

There were thousands of remarkable comebacks that you could throw her way, but you limited yourself to sigh. Taking a deep breath as if said breath could summon a little more patience, you commanded everyone in the room to leave. Taharrian or Sokovian, every single one of the presents obeyed.

“Ladies, gentleman, could you excuse us for a moment?” Your voice was soft, a simple request but still a command. Wanda was completely impressed with how easy her own people followed your demand.

It was impressive how you didn’t have to try, there was just this sheer confidence in your whole body as if this was a physical trait now. But if the redhead thought about it, your whole life you grew up knowing you’d be a ruler and your whole life you prepared yourself to stand tall before friend or foe.

Just like you had said to her, years ago, at King Tony and Queen Pepper’s wedding: “Enemies must see our strength. Flaws and weakness may encourage rebellion, we can’t afford that.” Wanda, for sure, saw the strength but something else.

Kindness.

You were sarcastic, yes. Extremely playful at moments that Wanda deemed inappropriate, not to mention the suggestions about intimacy that you insisted it should be public knowledge. However, she had never seen you speak unkindly with your subordinates and subjects, especially with hers.

Your strength relied, Wanda understood, not in your combat skills or obvious knowledge but because you were always kind and behaved as if there was no difference between ruler and ruled. And, more importantly, this wasn’t an act or a play to full or lure people into you.

It was simply who you were.

The power held by your eyes, scanning Wanda’s soul was too entrancing, maddening even. So the princess took one step back and busied herself with a cup of wine, not bothering to offer you one. Her body reacted strangely when you were close to her and all she needed right now was distance.

But she wasn’t getting any.

Wanda watched as Maria Rambeau stopped close to you on her way out of the tent and when your eyes were drawn to your friend, Wanda realized she could breathe again.

Your attention shifted from Wanda, who watched you like a hawk, to Maria, who had a not so satisfied knowing look on her face.

“I see the way you look at her.” Her voice was low as to not draw attention, especially from whom she was talking about.

You smiled softly, hoping this could settle some of her worries. It didn’t.

“Before you go and try to get into her bed, can I remind you that we’re at war and she is our enemy?” As last resort, Maria tried to knock some sense into your thick skull.

“Maria, have you ever seen me do something so stupid like that?” You asked, the face of seriousness, but she wasn’t buying. She knew you too well now.

“Dozens of times. Literally.” She hissed, letting you know she wasn’t amused by your attitude. “And I saved your ass a lot to know that when you want a woman, you get. But maybe, this time would be wise to avoid more problems with the Maximoffs.” You could see right through her scolding. She was concerned.

“I know what I’m doing, Rambeau. Trust me.” You flash her a sly smile as if this could help settle part of her worries, but a shake of her head as she walked out of the tent told you that she trusted that you would make something stupid. As always.

And you probably would.

Wanda Maximoff possesses an undeniable beauty that verges perfection itself and after the past few days made you realize that she’s way much more than a pretty face, for you saw not only her fighting skills but also how intelligent she was.

If anything, the woman you came to know was beyond extraordinary and she had you admiring her, drowning in those deep, green orbs without a single clue as to how pull back.

You took a long, deep breath and exhaled audibly as if this could clear your head.

“I know you don’t like us. Or trust us.” You started and after her eyes locked with yours again, you continued. “But these men killed Lord Rogers, so you’d think we lied about our bargain.” You spoke softly, Wanda was only a few steps away from you.

“You weren’t supposed to be part of the exchange, Princess. Think. Everything adds up.” You pleaded. “So many bandits? Only a few would survive this massacre and the news at Wolfgang would be that we killed Rogers even though we agreed with a truce. Even though you agreed with a truce.”

“Not to mention that those shady men looked awfully like the ones attacking your crops at Karov before this all began.” You added as an afterthought.

Your voice resonated through the tent while Wanda’s head spun. “How do I know that you’re not lying to me right now?” Then she looks at you once more. “How can I be sure you’re speaking the truth?”

The intensity poured from her eyes was breathtaking. Your stomach fluttered as if you were on your ship in the middle of a summer storm, even though your feet were very much grounded.

It was unsettling.

“You can’t.” Finally, you found your voice somehow. She turned to look at you again, alarmed this time, but your face was blank. No mockery, no deceit. “There’s nothing that I can do to make you believe in me. And there’s nothing that I can say to make you trust me.” You elaborated.

She remained still, simply watching your every more or word as if her mind eye could see the truth through your words. Then, you tried again.

“So, I say you gotta risk it, Wanda. That’s the moment you got to choose. You can get out of your comfort zone and get to the bottom of this pile of lies or keep your head stuffed in the sand like an emu and pray for everything to be okay again.”

“Spoiler alert: it won’t.” You added, running your hand through your hair restlessly.

Wanda snorted at your words more out of reflex while her heart pondered about their meaning. And the more she learned about you, the more she felt you were right and being nothing but truthful.

But old habits die hard. She was raised to hate your kind. Liberalists like you never paid attention to the traditional ways, never respected other sovereigns, always mingling with some other kingdom’s war.

In Taharr anyone who proved their loyalty to the crown and did great services to the realm were granted with a lordship or ladyship, this meant that a commoner could rise on the society disregarding other traditional families. Actions like these certainly encouraged rebellion, enviousness, she supposed.

Vision always mentioned how brutal the Taharrians were. Or how there’s always someone aspiring to take the Queen down. For they envy more power than they could get, boldened with titles that didn’t and shouldn’t belong to them. Commoners always aspired for more than they could have.

Wasn’t this line of thought right?

However, if the past few weeks taught her something was that her previous knowledge didn’t add up with what she was seeing.

Maria Rambeau rose from nothing, yet she was an outstanding warrior and clearly had the respect of her peers. She clearly had your respect. And she, definitely, didn’t look like someone who would scheme to bring the royalty down.

And even Wanda knew how devoted Lord Barton was, he treated you as if you were his own daughter and would lay himself on the ground if that meant you wouldn’t get dirt on your feet.  

Wanda sighed. She was tired. Tired of fighting, arguing, thinking, learning.

“Lord Rogers was my subject, just as the people affected by the heists.” Wanda’s eyes locked on yours and you saw, again, her protective walls closing around her. “My people, my problem. You have your truce. So, take your men to your south.”  

“These are my people too, not only yours Wanda. They are women, children and they deserve to live their lives without fear. War is our life, not theirs. Let us help you hunt down whoever’s behind this.” You were adamant on not letting her shut you out now. Only your combined forces and minds could make any sense out of this puzzle. “Let me help you.”

Still, she could not see it the way you did.

“You want to conquer us so you can have all the resources to yourself. The great, relentless Queen Calanthe who can’t be defeated surely wants to defeat the Maximoffs and get our lands. She’d become a legend, not that she isn’t one already.” Wanda spat the same speech she had been for the past years.

It wasn’t difficult to understand that Novi Grad as one realm again would have no match in this continent, maybe even in Westeros. Food, gold or spears, never ran low in Taharr and in Sokovia, imagine how giant their kingdom would be if their forces were combined?

Queen Calanthe had tried a diplomatic approach before, Wanda remembered. Still hurts. Her father and mother were interested in a peaceful negotiation, but fate got in the way before any real discussion could take place.

During their trip to south, as they were the first Sokovians’ sovereign in ages to be welcomed in Triskelion, the ship her parents were travelling in got lost in a storm and separated from the escort vessels, then when pirates attacked, they were outnumbered and did not survive.

If Princess Maximoff were to be reasonable your mother wasn’t the one to blame, much less you, not really. But she was emotional, her heart blamed the gods, the seas but specially the Taharrians for trying to reach out and solve your quarrels.

If her parents didn’t leave the castle, didn’t leave Wolfgang, they’d be safe and still alive. She wouldn’t have to take hard decisions if they were alive; Her and Pietro wouldn’t be orphans at a young age, and they definitely wouldn’t be alone for almost a decade by now.

The hatred, the blame… She knew this was repetitive, but your presence was making her feel ill.

She couldn’t breathe, there were shivers up and down her spine whenever you made eye contact and her body itched. Maybe you had sabotaged her wine, for she knew this was your doing, somehow, and for that she hated you.

“This war was your idea, your caprice, not ours. This is not about our ambitiousness, but this thick proud heads of yours that can’t see past your hatred.” You bellowed, exasperated at how blind and stubborn a person could be. How stubborn Wanda was.

“Stop.” It was her turn to roar, and it nearly startle you. “Stop talking. We are enemies, not allies and I don’t need your protection in my own land.” She shouted, stressing her words as she spoke as if this was a concept that was taking too long for you to grasp. A concept that you should’ve known already.  

You bit your tongue about the protection part.

“Can’t you see that I’m tired of your stupid face and poor excuses? Can’t you see that I hate you?” Wanda continued, barking her words so passionately and you knew she meant it, this was the real Wanda Maximoff, devoid of all her decorous layers.

“You barely know me, Maximoff. Why do you hate me?” Your reply came in a serene voice that was so soft that made Wanda’s head spin for a moment due the contrast. “For real, not this childish reference about our realms feud.”

You took one step towards her and saw Wanda’s eyes go down to your feet and back to your eyes. As if this action could make you stop walking. It didn’t. “Tell me why do you look at me the way you do, as if I had personally inflicted you pain? Even the way you pronounce your hate towards me feels personal. Why?”

Wanda’s body now shook and every single step you took closer only provoked waves and waves of this strange feeling that she didn’t have a name for. For the nth time, Wanda felt conflicted about her emotions, and she didn’t know what to do.

There was something powerful between the two of you and she always named it as hate. Though, inside her heart she knew this hate was different. She hated everything you made her feel. Hell, she hated the intensity which you looked at her right now.

Desire.

Everything she wanted, everything she desired was to hate you the way she’s supposed to. But she desires to learn who the real woman beneath your title is. Wanda desires to understand how can you affect her so much, without even trying?

Against better judgement, the redhead caught herself replying.

“Because you get under my skin, more than anyone has ever been. And for that I hate you.” Wanda’s voice was low, but still had an edge of something that made your skin crawl. “Because I don’t know why I want you to go further.”

You stood there, bewitched by her presence and words. Even in the poor light, her green orbs shone more than thousands of stars, and their power sent shivers down your body like never before.

Wanda Maximoff took one step closer, and you felt as though she was stealing the air. As though her powers included to freeze you in place so you could all but admire her perfections. Your chest was beating erratically and, though you tried, you couldn’t avert your eyes away from her.

Right in that moment, you were her willing prisoner.

Your mouth was dry, but you managed a few words. “I’m tired of fighting, Maximoff.”

With her, with Sokovia, with bandits, with enemies, with the foreign emotions she made you feel. You didn’t want to fight anymore. “I hate you.” As her hot breath hit your face, you could feel her voice burning with passion as she meant every word she spoke. Though, none of you knew that this feeling was not hate at all. Quite the opposite.  

“I hate you too.” Your voice was flat, but you couldn’t deny or pretend that your heart wasn’t hammering inside your ribcage. Especially now that you realized how close you were.

Until you weren’t.

As if in slow motion, you felt Wanda pulling you by the fabric of your tunic into her personal space and attacked your lips.

For a whole moment, you froze but a second later you kissed her back. As if acting on automatic, your arms pulled her into you by grabbing her waist, completely flushing her body against yours.

Then everything was Wanda. Her hair, her tongue, her mouth, her hands. It was as if she was claiming your very soul with such a simple action.

The princess gasped softly when her back touched the table behind her, allowing your tongue to slip past her lips. Your eyes rolled to the back of your skull when her tongue clashed against yours for dominance, and your heartbeat was so erratic that you thought your organ would explode.

It was a sweet battle provided by her soft lips and you, for once, didn’t mind in fight.

Usually, your senses wouldn’t be so slow to keep a track of your surroundings, but you were so drunk in her scent, so lost in her lips that took you a little too long to grasp a shift on the atmosphere in the tent.

Somehow, a voice inside your head screamed for you to break the kiss. Later you’d thank that voice.

As soon as you pulled back from Wanda, you saw two things: one, the redhead lips chasing after yours as to reconnect the kiss and two, a figure in full black with a dagger centimeters away from the two of you.

It was remarkable how fast your survivor mode kicked in.

With one hand, you pushed Wanda away from you, so her back arched further over the table. But before she could complain at your sudden harshness, she saw your other hand blocking the hooded figure from slashing her metal over your heads.

Quite out of character, Wanda screamed in horror before her head broke from her stupor and joined the fight.

You were skilled, very much so, you and Wanda knew this. But your opponent was faster, and far much more skilled. You dodged, threw objects, tried to block with anything you could find and counterattack with anything resembling a weapon, but this new enemy kept moving around the tent relentlessly.

Few cuts were already visible on your tunic, and you knew some of those had reached your skin, nothing life threatening, but if you kept this pace, this assassin would have you in shreds in minutes.

Wanda attacked and the assassin’s attention shifted to her, granting you time and space to attack with a fire poker. Though before you could do real harm, they turned back to you and counterattacked.

Helped by the furniture that got in the way, they had you pinned down and their dagger were centimeters away from your throat. Their hood only allowed you to see only their eyes and it was darker and colder than the northern seas at night.

They’d be your demise.

Then, everything seemed to happen at the same time.

There was a commotion at the entrance of Wanda’s tent and the assassin blinked right before you could see a piece of metal piercing their neck, then their lifeless body weighted over you. In shock, you realized, Wanda had just saved your life.

As you pushed the body off you onto the ground, you locked eyes with her, and you could see the despair flooding those green orbs that you grew so fond of. She was scared and your heart ached to comfort her, but you weren’t alone anymore.

Your moment was broken. Just as fast as it started.

Wanda dropped her sword as if the metal piece weighted a ton, her hands were shaken and her whole body shook with a sick feeling that she couldn’t control. Or understand.

She hated you, yet she had kissed you and her lips still tasted yours when the idea of losing you was terrifying.   

“Princess!” Maria Rambeau and Natasha shouted at the same time as they approached both women.

Lady Rambeau kneeled by your side and accessed your wounds. “Princess!” She patted your cheek lightly as to bring you out of your shock until your eyes focused on hers.

“I’m okay, Maria.” Your voice was low, almost as if you weren’t really paying attention at her. She followed your gaze and found that you had averted your eyes back to Wanda.

“She’s fine, Princess.” Maria reassured, thinking you were worried that Wanda got hurt.

Well, you were worried, but you were still trying to process everything that had happened in a span of minutes. You went from arguing to kissing to fighting for your lives and now her eyes burned your heart and soul.  

You nodded and let the past events fall to the back of your head, at least for now, for Romanoff’s voice brought your attention back to present as soon as it reached your ears.

“A Black Widow.” The assassin revealed, ravaging through the dead’s clothes as to find any clues.

That made sense. Only someone with that skill level could easily overpower you and Wanda at the same time. Only someone with spy skills could’ve entered the tent after strutting the campsite undetected.

Then, after looking on another pocket, the Sokovian spy found more clues to add to the pot. A golden coin unmistakably from Sokovia and a small pendant beautifully worked in a golden form of a lioness.

All eyes were on you.

“I’m afraid you’re their target, Your Highness.” Natasha voiced what everyone in the tent were already thinking. After all pockets were cleared, she got up to her feet and dropped both the pendant and the coin on the table.

Wanda took small steps towards the objects as if they were a menace. The implications were clear: someone in Sokovia wanted the Young Lioness dead and the prospect of your death made her sick in the stomach. Somehow, it felt as if she was responsible for your attack.

“Who would want you dead?” Maria asked to no one in special. It was more a question to herself, as if the action could help her find the answers of this entangled puzzle overflowing with odd things or facts that didn’t add up.

“Who doesn’t?” You retorted sarcastically, and the captain sighed, relieved that you were back to your common self, no longer lost in shock. “Wanda?” You asked tentatively and the woman locked eyes with you.

A sour taste impregnated her mouth and Wanda’s head couldn’t seem to stop replaying the scene of the assassin with their knife ready to slice your throat and the life out of you. The Scarlet Knight tried to focus, but her nerves got the best of her.

“I don’t know.” Wanda’s eyes were glossy, and she hated to be seen so weak. Not in front of Lady Rambeau or Natasha, but in front of you. “Please, leave.” She sobbed and turned away from you.

Romanoff’s head turned to her protégé, then at you and nodded. Silently asking you to comply with the Maximoff’s request.

You hesitated. You wanted to take the remaining steps that separated you from Wanda, so you could comfort her and hold her until everything was sorted and solved. But you didn’t.

In the end of the day, Wanda Maximoff was still your enemy, and you were a Lioness with a dead bounty over your head. Nodding back to Natasha, you left the tent without looking back.

As you walked away, Wanda felt a heavy cold blanket covering her whole body. There was a traitor playing the cards, that much was clear, but right then and there, she couldn’t help but think that she too was a traitor.

It was undeniable that there was a pull between the two of you, and she understood that her heart, somehow, harbored feelings towards someone she wasn’t supposed to. She was a princess from a realm with a deadly war against yours, her captain got killed after you took him as hostage, yet she couldn’t bring herself to think as she used to.

Traitor.

With the tip of her fingertips, she traced her lips and the redhead sworn she could still taste yours. It was exhilarating, disturbing, yet magical. One touch and the whole room vanished, one kiss and she forgot who she was.

Yes, she was a traitor. In her mind’s eye, this was unacceptable, absurd even. How one develops feelings towards their enemy? Fortunately, your home was far, far away from hers. Maybe with distance she’d come to her senses and her heart would stop betraying her reason.

Maybe with distance, she wouldn’t betray herself.

----

The next few days nothing really changed. Well, actually, your guard had increased in number and in patrols and even in your tent there would be a knight to protect you in case another assassin decided to show up.

Everyday Sokovians and Taharrians reunited in order to discuss their ideas or knowledge about this strange web of facts. And the sum of their info together granted them few answers.

For starters, they understood that Hydrarr had more participation in this mess than they previously thought, for Natasha tracked the dead Black Widow and learned that the woman lived in Cross Bones Village – Hydrarr’s Capital. With the wax and the assassin, this couldn’t be a coincidence.

Secondly, the group asserted that the bandits that attacked them several days ago were the same bandits railing Sokovia’s crops this whole time.

And third, the pendant with a lioness beautifully crafted in gold had an artist signature from Wolfgang Village, a man that only worked for the nobility in Sokovia and probably kept a record of his services.

So, this strange group of detectives formed by sworn enemies, realized that someone in Hydrarr or Sokovia, maybe both, was calling the shots in this dubious game of war. And this someone belonged to nobility with access to the castle and to King Pietro, for they knew where the entourages would meet to retrieve Lord Rogers.

Days had passed and though it was incredibly good to learn so many things about this war, you couldn’t shake away the memory of Wanda’s kiss.

Despite your attempts, Wanda never allowed you back into her tent for a private meeting. And after having your request denied twice, you understood the message, she didn’t want to be alone with you. She didn’t want to talk about the kiss nor to relieve it.

You respected her, of course. Even in your head this romance seemed farfetched, and this was saying something when you had your share of complicated relationships before. This wasn’t complicated, this was a girlish dream where one could find their soulmate and live happily ever after.

Real life was not a fairy tale.

As the meetings prolonged, you would always take your time to look at Wanda. To properly look at her. Somedays she’d show up dressed in confidence and others you’d see her puffed eyes or her strained smiles.

But there wasn’t a single day where you didn’t want to reach her and simply hold her body against yours. Touch her silk like skin, feel her warmth, feel her breath, feel her.

Much like a virus, the Maximoff impregnated and flooded your thoughts day and night. Though you had never felt like this before, you knew that your heart was inexorably falling. And there was nothing that you could do about it.

Unfortunately, there were still some mysteries to solve, and the increasing amount of snow was a somber reminder that their leads would run cold if they did not hurry. And that meant that they had to leave the camp and march their respective homes.

Only you couldn’t.

There was no way in hell that you would go back to Triskelion without getting to the bottom of this. The only problem was that the answers were guarded in Wolfgang, Sokovia’s Capital. You couldn’t just ask your unit to go with you, this would attract too much attention. Not to mention the danger and, of course, Wanda would never allow it.

You needed to go on stealthy mode. Luckily, you knew the perfect person for it. You only had to convince your guards to march south without you.

“Not going to happen.” Lady Danvers exclaimed as soon as you shared your plan.

“C’mon, Danvers, don’t start acting all serious and preoccupied now. You’re fan of action just as I am.” You intervened. “I just need you to stall.”

She snorted. “Do you have any idea of what your mother will do to me? Or my wife?” Carol ran a hand through her hair, and this was her tell-tale that she was already worried about the outcomes. She knew you too well, though, you wouldn’t change your mind.

“It won’t be your fault. Barton and I will march right after the Sokovians and everybody else will think I’m resting inside my tent.” You tried, you needed her help, otherwise Maria would think the Sokovians kidnapped you and would wrack havoc until she gets you back.

“Fuck.” Carol spat, then nodded. She hated being your friend. “But this is madness, Princess.”

“What’s the worst thing that can happen to me?” You opened your arms and looked around as to show her the place you were in, for in your head, a bounty was worse than death itself.

A threat like this is like breathing with a heavy rock over your chest. It’s breathing, but like hell uncomfortable. “Valar Morghulis.” You enchanted something that your years wandering in Essos and Westeros had taught you.

“Good luck explaining that to the Queen.” Carol kept her façade, but you knew she’d give in. She always did. No matter how much in trouble she’d get into.

You looked around, you didn’t have much time. The Sokovians would leave soon, and you wanted to go on their wake. Not too close as to not draw attention and not too far as to stay too exposed, alone in the woods that you and Barton knew so little about.

Captain Danvers sighed and cursed herself lowly before asking. “What do you think you’re going to do?”

“Clint used to be a spy and his stealthy skills are undeniable.” You began, the plan had one too many blank spots, and anything could go wrong, but you and Lord Barton knew about the risks. You were both going into this willingly and highly aware of its dangers.

“We’re going as commoners to Wolfgang Village, maybe stay a few days in a brothel as to keep a low profile while we’ll investigate the leads we have so far.” You shared your ideas, it looked simple, and you only hoped it wouldn’t get too complicated.

Carol’s hand pitched the bridge of her nose, as if foreseeing the possible outcomes of this absurd. “And you think they won’t recognize you at all?”

“Natasha Romanoff will help us. She’s aware of our plan.” You confided. It was astounding how easily was for the spy to agree with your plan, but you supposed that after losing her best friend, she’d want revenge and, in her mind, it didn’t matter who would help her get it.

She even tipped you about what gate you should use to access the city, for she knew they used to accept more gold than they should to let people inside the city without many questions.

“Does Princess Wanda know about this madness of yours too?” Carol inquired, voice far from the light tone she’s used to speak with. This is a death wish and she’s digging her own grave by indulging this foolish adventure.

Your eyes flashed with hurt, you didn’t have had alone time with Wanda, no matter how hard your heart craved for it. The kiss was a mistake, and the redhead was too intelligent, naturally she understood this. You, on the other hand, let the emotions get the best of you.

You wanted her still. Despite everything. Because of everything.

“Unknown.” You finally said. “I gotta go.” You muttered, after hearing the shouts of sokovians troops finally moving.

Carol nodded but hugged you before you could leave. “Please, don’t get yourself killed.”

“I won’t.” You smiled lightly at her and rushed through the trees where Clint was waiting for you with the horses and provisions, ready to sink in the craziest adventure ever.

A Lioness would enter the wolf’s den.

Part 8

Taglist: @californianwhiterabbit

[astrronomemes]

OWL CITY: OCEAN EYES STARTERS (PART II)

a collection of lyrics taken from Owl City’s Ocean Eyes album. change & alter as needed.

“I spend my coldest nights alone, awake, and thinking of the weekend we were in love.”

“I am right beside you.”

“We can go anywhere.”

“It’s hard to say that I’d rather stay awake when I’m asleep.”

“Everything is never as it seems.”

“The disco ball is just hanging by a thread.”

“Leave my door open, just a crack.”

“Please take me away from here.”

“I’m far too tired to fall asleep.”

“I’ll keep you warm.”

“You keep me warm.”

“And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.”

“I’ll do whatever it takes to change.”

“I lie awake, and miss you.”

“I’ll miss your arms around me.”

“I’ll send a postcard to you, dear.”

“I wish you were here.”

“It’s not the same without you.”

“It takes two to whisper quietly.”

“I haven’t slept in two days.”

“I’ll sit on the front porch all night.”

“When I think of you, I don’t feel so alone.”

“As many times as I blink, I’ll think of you.”

“I swear, I won’t forget you.”

“I wish I broke mirrors instead of promises.”

“There’s a bright light up ahead, and help is on the way.”

“I forget the last time I felt brave. I just recall insecurity.”

“Cut to the chase.”

“All my heavy hopes just pull me back down again.”

“The end is uncertain, and I’ve never been so afraid.”

“I don’t need a telescope to see that there’s hope.” 

“I’ll be out of my mind and you’ll be out of ideas pretty soon.”

“Let’s spend the afternoon in a cold hot-air balloon.”

“Leave your jacket behind.”

“If my heart was a compass, you’d be north.”

“I’ll catch you if you fall.”

“If my heart was a house, you’d be home.”

“All my clothes smell like you.”

“I still feel alone.”

[bullet-prooflove]

The North Star - Part Twelve: Got Your Back - Terry Bruno x Reader

Welcome to mine and @the-hinky-panda The Bronx universe featuring our favs Terry Bruno & Mike Duarte.

This story takes place several years after 'Blood Out'. Terry still lives in the Bronx and works in Manhatten SVU.

Following on from @the-hinky-panda story 'The Dog' Mike has retired from the NYPD on medical grounds due to seizures causes by the attack. He has a therapy dog called Bono and lives with @the-hinky-panda character Meredith.

Tagging: @mysoulisasunflower @legit9thlunaticwarrior @bbyxoo @the-adzukibean  @xoxabs88xox  @crazy4chickennuggets  @beardedbarba @wooshwastaken @justreblogginfics @im-just-a-mississippi-girl @storiesofsvu @anime-weeb-4-life @witches-unruly-heart

Part One: Moments (NSFW)

Part Two: Case of the Ex

Part Three: Her Worse Half

Part Four: Always

Part Five: Ask Me Again (NSFW) 

 Part Six: Degas

It happens quickly, too quickly but that’s the way it goes with these cases. You can spend weeks chasing a lead, trying to narrow down your suspect list and then before you know it your kicking down his door and slapping the cuffs on them. It’s a high, an adrenaline rush you can’t beat.

You feel that untapped energy surging through your veins even now as you stand in the locker room, pulling out your bulletproof vest from the hanger you keep it on. It’s new, with that fresh smell that comes with something that’s spent most of its life entangled in plastic. It was NYPD policy for a vest to be replaced every five years. You’d gotten this one over a week ago.

You already pulling it on by the time Sinclair enters the locker room. It fits snugly over the long-sleeved shirt you’re wearing, you’re adjusting the Velcro when he opens his mouth to speak.

“Sarge, can I talk to you a sec?” he asked quietly.

There was something about his tone…

You’ve only heard it once before, when he’d told you about the miscarriage him and Sharon had suffered. The two of you had been seated across from one another, separate desks but the same shared space, the way you’d been for the past five years. You’d known something was wrong, you worked with someone long enough, you learned to pick up on their moods and idiosyncrasies. However, you knew Abe Sinclair well enough to know when to push and when to give him space. The two of you were a team and he was the best partner you’d ever had.

“Is everything ok?” You asked him, glancing up as you re-holstered your weapon.

“You tell me.” He said pointedly, his gaze turning pointedly to the bruising that peeked out from beneath the sleeve of your shirt.

“It’s fine.” You said, shutting the door to your locker. The sound reverberated through the room as you tugged down the raised sleeve.

“You were kind of out of it the other night.” He said, taking a seat on the bench and rubbing his palms over one another. “You had me drop you off at Meredith’s.”

You said nothing as you sat down on the bench alongside of him.

“It was Russo wasn’t it?” Sinclair said quietly. “He hurt you.”

You sucked in a deep breath, your eyes raising to the ceiling so you didn’t have to look Sinclair in the face.

“Yea.” You told him.

“Russo’s that guy, isn’t he?” Sinclair asked, gesturing to the back of his neck. “That ex boyfriend you talked about.”

Another night, another secret shared during a stake out whilst dividing the last pack of peanut M&Ms you’d dug out of your stash. He’d asked you about the scars, and you found yourself telling him. You kept Paul’s name out of it. The blue wall of silence. He knew your ex had been an addict, suspected he’d been a cop, he’d seen the way Russo looked at you, acted around you. It wasn’t a hard deduction to make.

“Does Bruno know?”

You nodded before exhaling deeply.

“He took my necklace, the compass.” You found yourself telling Sinclair, gesturing at your throat. “Snatched it right off my neck, took it to SVU and rubbed it in Terry’s face.”

“It sounds like he’s trying to prove a point.” Sinclair said tilting his head towards you. “Guys like that, they’re always trying to prove a point. My question is where do you see this ending?”

You sighed.

“With me in the Captain’s office after this shift’s over.” You tell him. “I can’t let him do this to me, because I know the next step, and so do you. How many times have we seen the fall out from something like this?”

He knew what you were talking about, you’d stood over too many bodies of women who’d been brutalised by men who viewed them as an object, who’d decided if they couldn’t have them no one could.

“Too many.” He said, shaking his head. “I don’t want you to become another statistic.”

“Yea.” You told him. “I don’t either, that’s what I have to do it.”

“I’ll come with you.” he said, his hands coming to clasp your shoulder, it was a reassuring gesture. “This isn’t something you have to do on your own.”

You nodded, your throat feeling tight at the words that passed between you unsaid.

I believe you. I’ve got your back.

Love Terry Bruno? Don’t miss any of his stories by joining the taglist here.

Like My Work? - Why Not Buy Me A Coffee

[jaxcynsfanland]

You're the sky that I feel through And I remember the view whenever I'm holding you The sun hung from a string Looking down on the world as it warmed over everything Chills run down my spine As our fingers entwine and your sighs harmonize with mine Unmistakably I can still feel your heart Beat fast when you dance with me Circle me and the needle moves garcefully Back and forth If my heart was a compass you'd be North Risk it all cuz I'll catch you if you fall Wherever you go If my heart was a house you'd be home

[ciaossu-imagines]

♫ HE’S NOT A BOY, the like – he’s not a boy that you can change/nor should you want to/he’s not a boy that you can tame/don’t let it taunt you/don’t even try to run away/he wouldn’t stop you/he’s not a boy that you can chain/i know you want to

♫ THE BRIGHT SIDE, we shot the moon – hey i’m living full stride/i will get this right tonight/hey there’s movement in me that runs very deep inside/i’m just fine/i’ll be looking on the brightside

♫ HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO, frou frou – he’s gotta be strong/and he’s gotta be fast/and he’s gotta be fresh from the fight/i need a hero

♫ EXCUSES, the morning benders – i made an excuse/and you found another way to tell the truth/i put no one else above us/we’ll still be best friends when all turns to dust

♫ SIDEWALK SINGALONG, backseat goodbye – well we could take off each other’s clothes/or be best friends in the middle of the road/or we could just talk shit about tomorrow/and how it never adds up/well we could touch lips for the hell of it/it’s a nice day and we’re just kids

♫ CHEMICALS COLLIDE, boys like girls – i got a bit of a history/but you’re telling me that you don’t care/i’ve been a bit of a mystery/the only thing that I could find around tonight was you/so come on come on/you want to

♫ YOUR BODY IS A WONDERLAND, john mayer – we got this afternoon/you got this room for two/one thing i’ve left to do/discover me/discovering you

♫ DARTS OF PLEASURE, franz ferdinand – you are the latest adventure/you’re an emotion avenger/you are the devil that sells a/line of dark fantastic passion/i know that you will surrender

♫ GRAND THEFT AUTUMN/WHERE IS YOUR BOY, fall out boy – where is your boy tonight/i hope he is a gentleman/maybe he won’t find out what i know/you were the last good thing about this part of town

♫ I CAN’T LET GO, evie sands – though i’m just one of your lovers/and i know there are so many others/you do something strange to me baby

♫ ACCIDENTALLY IN LOVE, counting crows – well baby i surrender/to the strawberry ice cream/never ever end of all this love/well i didn’t mean to do it/but there’s no escaping your love/oh these lines of lightning mean/we’re never alone

♫ I MUST BE DREAMING, the maine – she thinks i’m crazy/judging by the faces that she’s making/and i think she’s pretty/but pretty’s just part of the things she does that amaze me

♫ NOTHING ON YOU, b.o.b. ft. bruno mars – they might say hi and i might say hey/but you shouldn’t worry about what they say/cause they got nothing on you baby

♫ WALKING ON SUNSHINE, katrina and the waves – i used to think maybe you loved me/now i know that it’s true/and i don’t want to spend my whole life just waiting for you/now i don’t want you back for the weekend/not back for a day no no no/i said baby i just want you back and i want you to stay

♫ ANGEL IN THE NIGHT, basshunter – even if i don’t know where to start/even if my love is tearing me apart/i just know that you and me/we were always meant to be

♫ LOVE YOU TILL THE END, the pogues – I just want to see you laugh not cry/I just wanna feel you/when the night puts on its cloak/i’m lost for words don’t tell me/cause all i can say/i love you til the end

♫ BOATS AND BIRDS, gregory and the hawk– if you be my boat/i’ll be your sea/a depth of pure blue just to probe curiosity/ebbing and flowing and pushed by a breeze/i live to make you free

♫ IF MY HEART WAS A HOUSE, owl city – circle me and the needle moves gracefully/back and forth/if my heart was a compass/you’d be north/risk it all cause i’ll catch you if you fall wherever you go/if my heart was a house/you’d be home

[izzyinsanity4]

Might as well Share my Little Lady: This is Coraldean Venture; My Welcome Home OC About to CopyPaste all their stuff from a google Document i have so

Coraldean Venture

“Equipped with her trusty hat and a satchel of gear. Coraldean Venture is ready for anything that comes her way. They’re an adventurer at heart and is always on the move. They always know where to go or where to find something. If you are ever lost; Coraldean is your go to adventurer.”

Archived materials that had been recently restored showed an adventurer of a very blue hue. Always associated with going to the woods. They taught kids their left, rights, north, south, east, and wests. They were normally seen helping Eddie with directions to where they need to go, circling and making paths of maps for the best way to get somewhere. They were shown in an episode every once in a while, as they weren’t a part of the everyday cast. Coraldean in a B-Cast or a Supporting cast that shows up that is only used for the convenience of an episode niche that can’t be filled in by other characters. Though they do appear in a lot of printed material, mostly about the cast of Welcome Home getting led to various places around the world by Coraldean. Some speculate that the popular versions of this book were ones that featured locations like New York, London, and Paris. She was located at the edge of the woods in her treehouse that looked right at Home, and Home had a good view of Home

Coraldean Venture has two main inspirations, with the major influence being Coraline Jones from the movie Coraline, but is also inspired a bit by Dean Winchester from Supernatural.

She lives in a large home out in the woods of Home that faces the Northern direction. Their house is Haunted by the many [Cursed/Blessed] artifacts that she keeps inside her larger than life home. She actually has three “helpers” servants that clean and cook; Compass Rose the Maid, Map the Servant, and Torch the Butler. Compass Rose is a She/Her. Map is a They/Them. Torch is a He/Him. You can normally tell what ghost you’re talking to based on the colors. Compass Rose is Pink, Map is Yellowish Beige, and Torch is Red. They’re kind of like the lil ghosts from Ghost choir if that's anything to pull reference from. She has the Supernatural help because she is usually out exploring plus the house is just too big to clean all by herself, and genuinely can’t cook for the life of her. You’d find her more often than not in her study working on many maps.

[morewoe]

The  story  she  wanted  to  give  him  was  one  she'd  read  years  ago,  a  man  battling  darkness  in  need  of  a  blade,  having  to  sacrifice  his  wife  to  create  a  blade  to  save  the  world.  And  the  wife  had  readily  bared  her  heart  to  him.  As  a  child,  she  had  never  understood  her  perspective,  to  sacrifice  life  for  a  blade,  but  now...  For  Alaric,  she  would  die  too,  because  looking  at  him,  she  sees  a  man  who  could  save  the  world.  She  always  had,  but  now,  with  the  obvious  strength,  it  was  even  more  clear.  He  loved  the  North  as  deeply  as  her,  held  regard  for  their  home  that  no  one  from  the  south  could  ever  manage,  and  she  told  herself  that  is  what  she  felt  fluttering  in  her  heart.  He  was  the  hero  from  stories,  the  lone  man  who  stood  in  the  face  of  darkness,  and  she  wanted  nothing  more  than  to  stand  by  his  side,  whatever  may  come.  And,  to  make  matters  worse,  he  seemed  to  even  like  her  company.  It  had  taken  time  for  her  to  realise  that,  that  he  was  too  kind  to  play  that  elaborate  joke  on  her.  He  withstood  her  fears,  listened  to  her  ramblings,  and  still  stayed.  He  had  become  a  staple  in  her  life,  steadfast  and  reliable,  like  the  rising  and  setting  of  the  sun.  "Well,  I  hold  more  regard  to  your  opinion  than  any  southern  liege,  twice  over. If  you  say  it,  it  must  be  true."  He  was  worth  a  hundred  of  them,  easily,  and  a  gentle  word  for  him  did  more  to  raise  her  spirits  than  anything  that  could  be  offered  elsewhere.

"Oh,  really?"  She  laughed,  false  outrage  filling  the  words,  as  though  he  could  ever  offend.  "Should  I  join  you  in  your  forge,  then?  Would  you  teach  me  to  create  weapons?"  She  would  happily  brave  the  heat,  the  noise,  knowing  it  would  drive  her  half  mad,  if  only  to  spend  the  time  with  him.  She  could  deny  him  nothing,  if  asked.  "There  are  plenty  of  things  I  cannot  find."  Like  the  words  to  express  to  him  how  dear  he  was  to  her.  A  way  to  make  him  understand  that  the  days  she  heard  from  him  made  her  heart  soar,  and  the  days  between  colder  than  any  winter.  Like  the  ability  to  picture  a  future  without  him  and  not  break  her  own  heart  with  it.  But  what  she  could  always  find,  no  matter  what,  was  him.  As  many  times  as  she  thought  he  might  find  someone  better,  he  was  always  there.  Her  compass,  instead  of  pointing  north,  just  pointed  to  him,  and  she  thinks  they  might  be  one  and  the  same.  She  lifts  her  hand  and  offers  it  with  a  gentle  smile.  He  could  move  away  if  he  wished,  for  she  is  ever  mindful  not  to  trap  him,  not  to  force  upon  him  the  weight  of  her  friendship,  should  it  ever  be  too  much.  And  she  takes  his  hand.  Alone,  in  the  godswood,  there  is  no  one  but  him  to  witness  the  burning  of  her  cheeks,  and  she  would  have  it  no  other  way.  “If  you’d  accompany  back  inside,  out  of  this  blasted  heat,  I  could  share  it  now.  Just  because  proximity  is  closer,  does  not  mean  that  you  can  avoid  my  opinions  on  books.  Besides, I  have  half  a  mind  to  think  the  gods  sent  you  to  save  these  weirwoods  from  my  presence."

❝ you need not try so hard , myra . i will always choose you ... ❞ and he would , wouldn't he ? in a heartbeat , he can and will say her name — myranda karstark , in all its glory . he thought of no one else , could not imagine a life without moments like this that they share . his feelings were like waves crashing on the untamed shores of bear island — white , fizzy , and larger than life itself . he stumbled , staggered , and fell into her arms ... not a shallow body of water , but thousands of feet of mysteries . myranda karstark enthralled him , pulling him into the depths of her wonder . and his heart , this darn thing , skips as he drowned . in this dizzying world , spinning fast beneath his feet , she had the power to m ake westeros stand still . thoughts of her brought life back into bones held only by surrenders and quick - fixes . ❝ i mean , you and ... your company . you know ? and you are far more interesting than anyone here , at least for me . ❞ he stutters still , feeling the corners and edges of his world shake as he looks into her eyes . he forgets how to focus , forces himself to find his bearing . he cannot fall over and make a bigger fool of himself . unable to speak and unable to stand ? how will he prove to house karstark that is deserving of her hand if they heard of the mess he's become ? it takes him a while , but ultimately it dawns upon him . finds the right words , the proper response . ❝ it's just the gods telling you to find other things to do , besides be in libraries . ❞ he jests , with a light laugh . teasing is futile , he wants to swallow it all back and linger at the warmth now clawing its way to his cheeks . ❝ but if there's anyone to find the rarest of things , it would be you . you're amazing ... ❞ the waiting is making him restless , but now is not the time . it will be sweeter when he can offer what no man ever could . a man of his word , a man who fulfills his promise . is that not the only kind of man fitting to make her his wife ? ❝ your skills at tracking down these one of a kind things , they're ... your skills are amazing . ❞ he's known her all his life , but why has he never seen her in this light ? where did she come from ? has she always been like this ? he thought his vision is as pristine as can be ... but maybe it's right to doubt it , among many other things .

[reverbmod]

Chibi!Reverb 2024 Partnerships

Claims are over and the 2024 partnerships have been newly minted by the mods.

Remember, partners, to keep your work quiet outside WIP chat in the Discord server and your partnerships. Happy creating~

And now, I present to you, your Reverb Class of 2024:

Pygmalion artist: worldismyne and author: lilliesofinspirationvalley

His Nine Souls artist: blackbloodteeth and author: toweroftunes and author: ShinraCrimson

Impostor (working title) artist: actuallyimabird and author: Emotional-support-hufflepuff

mad4u artist: mellancholy-morose and author: chichirichick

The Death Scythe Job artist: adonewithyou and author: anxietybard

Untitled artist: alcruid and author: memethebum

Resonance Resurrected, Maka’s Soul Retrieval Service artist: moriohpissky and author: justpocketchange and author: kaen-ace-of-diamonds

Saudade artist: Emotional-support-hufflepuff and author: bcbdrums and author: randomkidstarfic

If my heart was a compass, you’d be north artist: vin420 artist: drowsystarlight and author: snorlaxlovesme

The Masque of the Red Death (working title) artist: not-so-scandalous and author: Sharks833 and author: professor-maka

These Promises artist: guacamoletrash and author: chichirichick and author: justpocketchange

"La petite robe noire" (The little black dress) artist: jadedkappa and author: silluuuu

A bit of bittersweet in the bake artist: Bearmaggeddon and author: Emotional-support-hufflepuff

Once Born, Twice Alive (working title) artist: lilliesofinspirationvalley and author: blackbloodteeth

[distanceheld-aa]

steph: i don't have any feelings, i never feel anything, i am the Ice Queen and i am untouchable avery: walks into the room steph: