#if you must know the train of thought leading up to this moment went

[fictionadventurer]

With all this history reading, I have to be very careful not to let it spill over into interactions with ordinary people.

I had a slow moment at work the other day, during which I started thinking about various prominent 19th-century politicians who never became president (as you do). Then I went out by a coworker and I was so close to blurting out (to someone with whom I have never had the slightest personal conversation), "What do you think would have happened if by some miracle Stephen Douglas won the 1860 election?"

Thankfully, I caught myself just in time. But this just proves what a vital role you guys play in giving me an outlet for this stuff in a way that lets me preserve my veneer of sanity.

[foldingfittedsheets]

The mattress company I worked for the first time no longer exists. It was long ago eaten and assimilated by a bigger company. But when I started it was an incredibly intense five weeks of training. I was told I was extremely lucky to be selected, and I was. From a pool of a hundred applicants only fifteen of us made the cut to entering the training program.

The course covered how to talk to customers, how to ask open ended questions, how to close a sale, and product knowledge. I learned a lot, and truthfully my greatest takeaway was a lot of social scripts that I could use in other areas of my life.

We also had a midterm exam and a final. Both included a roleplay element with a trainer and a written portion. They told us when we started that the course was challenging but it was still a shock to come in after the midterm and realize half the class had failed.

I was named valedictorian of training- a dubious honor as it meant I’d done the best in the class, but popular lore had it that valedictorians struggled the most on the sales floor. Lo, I struggled.

Not because I wasn’t good. I was. But because my manager set out to systematically destroy my self esteem. Every sale, every interaction I had was scrutinized and criticized.

If I sold a bed with protectors, moveable base, and pillows he’d ask why I hadn’t managed to sell pillow protectors too. His first trainee had thrived on being challenged and he’d never bothered to learn a different way to coach.

It was wretched. My performance started strong but nosedived after a few weeks with him. My trainer, a man I loathed for stonewalling me in my interview, came in to inform me I was on new hire probation. If I couldn’t get my sales numbers up I’d be let go.

His actual phrasing was, “When you have a bandaid do you like to rip it off or pull it slowly?”

Since it was eminently obvious why he was visiting and because I thought it was condescending I sweetly informed him that I liked to soak my bandaids in hot water so they come off on their own.

He was briefly startled at this derailing but then got on with the bad news. I signed some forms stating that I understood my job was in peril.

I went home furious. I thought long and hard about why I wasn’t succeeding and how frustrated I was with my manager. I came in the next day and my anger had crystallized into a cold sharp edge.

My manager opened his mouth to address the probation and I snapped, “Just leave me alone. Go in the back if I have a sale. If you must address a serious issue then you will give me praise on two things I did right and present it as a compliment sandwich. Otherwise just say good job and shut up. Your constant nitpicking just makes me anxious and I do worse. Back off.” Belated and begrudging I added, “Please.”

He raised his eyebrows in dim surprise but I’d gauged him well. He backed off. Dutifully he’d meander into the back when I had a sale and praised me when I closed it. I resented knowing it was only because I’d demanded complimented but they still boosted me up. My numbers skyrocketed, I landed my first split king sale, and I exited probation with flying colors.

The trainer came back in to congratulate my manager for turning things around. To my gratification he gave me credit for setting him straight and said I’d taught him a different way to lead. My manager would often genuinely praise that moment when I’d stood up to him, impressed with my stubborn refusal to fail and my insight into what would help.

My biggest takeaway from the whole thing was just that people need positive reinforcement to succeed. Praise people for doing a good job. If you’re ever in a position where you need to criticize someone put it in a compliment sandwich instead of just saying the negative.

[rebelscums]

Angel (Qimir x Jedi reader)

Part One of Angel

Ratings: Angst | Fluff

Summary: After the death of your master you begin to question the dark side and just who keeps appearing in your dreams…

The ringing in your head only grew as you opened your eyes. Your vision was blurry, but you knew that you were hanging from something… You drained your neck up to realize that it was a tree. You were stripped bare from your robes and something dropped slowly down your forehead past your nose… Blood.

“Master?” Your voice cracked as you called out to her.

The air felt thick and the smell of blood grew stronger, but you could hear her to your right.

“You must whisper, my padawan.” She whispered in the same predicament you were in, “It is hunting.”

“What is?” You whispered confused, hurt, and you knew you had a concussion, “What is going on?”

“They betrayed us and now they are offering us to the beast they fear from this jungle. It has already taken the other. We must remain vigilant and strong as we find a way out of us.”

You looked around, the moonlight brightening the forest floor just enough to see all of the blood and bones scattered everywhere.

Hours had passed as you both struggled to get out of your bindings without falling to the ground. You realized quickly that the tribe you were trying to help had drugged you heavily making it even harder to escape.

With the luck of the force, your master unblinded herself and swung over to one of the large branches on your tree.

“Stay still.” She requested as she began to untie your bindings, “Once you are free we will make a run towards the north river. Our shop is just across the river.”

“Okay.” You whispered as you began to feel the rope loosen.

“Almost…�� Master Runh went to untie the rope. You were almost free… Almost.

It was so quick that you could barely see it grab your master between its large jaws and drag her down to the forest floor. Her screams echoed throughout the night as she yelled over and over…

“Run!”

Tears streamed down your face as you watched her get torn apart. Struggling to free the last not so you could help her… Save her… You needed to save her. You were so close.

“Master!” You cried out as her final breath left her body and through your tears you saw something or was it someone standing beside the beast over your dead master just watching you…

You jolted awake in your room with a startled gasp. It took you a moment for your brain to let you know that you were safe and it was only a dream, but but the wetness on your cheeks had let you know that you had been crying.

You quickly wiped your tears and went to the fresher to compose yourself. It had been a couple hours since you have been in hyper drive and you knew you would arrive to the next planet soon.

That means you had a bit of time to talk about your dream to Master Sol… Maybe he would have an answer for the mysterious figure.

“Master Sol.” You drew his attention away from the map he was looking at from where he sat at a table.

His tired eyes were now trained on you, a calm look on his face as he greeted you with a smile. He was an ever present and diligent master and you silently thought of how lucky Jecki was.

You have been missing master Runh dearly these days. She was a great master, someone that you could count on for anything. She was wise, and strong, and brave too… She aided and guided you as you grew up, leading you down the path of the Jedi. You were grateful to her for everything she has done for you. You believed in what it meant to be a Jedi.

Until she was killed a few months ago.

It wasn’t her fault, the two of you were betrayed and sold out by the tribe you were trying to help… It shook you to your core, leaving you with nightmares and sleepless nights. You could still hear her screams, see her body be torn to shreds by that horrible beast… A beast you barely ran away from with your life.

You remember it’s sharp claws digging into your right side, leaving you with a painful reminder of that night.

That was when the urges of darkness started to rise. A growing pain that settled in the pit of your stomach and rose to your throat almost like a scream. Your calm temper had grown shorter these days and with no other master willing to take you in during your last few months of training as you were too old and they were looking for someone with a more pliable mind.

You remember scoffing as you stood in the council room, an annoyed look suddenly spreading across your face. Not one free master would take you in so you could pass your trials. You almost threw a chair at the weak minded fools.

That was until you were placed in the care of Master Sol. He had graciously stepped up and offered to take you under his wing along with his current padawan. Master Runh was a dear friend of his and he refused to let her padawan be casted out.

“Yes?” He asked.

“My anger towards what happened to my master…” Your voice lowered into almost a whisper, “I feel as though it is getting worse.”

His gaze turned concerned as he lowered his voice, “I know what have you experience has been painful, but rage will only lead to the dark side. It was not your fault young padawan and I know that you will overcome this tragedy with great strength.”

“Thank you master, but my dreams…” You shivered as you remember them so vividly, “It’s always the same every night, but last night was different… It felt as if my master was warning me of someone.” You whispered, “There was…” A dark figure standing above my masters body.

My explanation was cut short as his former padawan butted into the conversation, “We’re nearly there. I was hoping you and I could talk before we go find Master Torbin?” Osha asked master Sol.

A torn look spread across his face as he tried to choose who he wants to help more… The sinking feeling in your gut at him looking back at Osha sealed your fate.

He started to say, “Maybe we could…” continue this another time.

It was the same thing you heard before and you raised your hand to stop him, “It’s alright. I should probably go get ready anyways.” You stood up from your seat and Osha quickly took your place.

“Another time.” He said again, an urgency in his voice.

You didn’t spare him another glance as you walked away, “Sure.” You knew you wouldn’t talk about it again.

You thought back to the figure in your dream as you followed after the group. Yord fell into step with you as he kept a watchful eye out.

“Your lost in thought.” He mentioned which seemed to work in snapping you out of your daze.

“I’m just worried for master Torbin.” You lied and a part of you hated the feeling, but you felt that it was necessary to keep the figure to yourself for now. At least until you can find out more about it.

“Mae has already killed Master Indara.” You continued, “Who knows what she is capable of.”

“The Jedi do not judge someone we do not know.” He said and his words twisted a not in your heart, “But I am confident that we will get to him in time.” He glanced at you, “There is no need to worry.”

His confidence made you cringe. How could I not worry when there was a Jedi killing assassin on the loose? Is no one here concerned? You thought.

It was safe to say that Jord’s plan to confront the mystery man was stupid.

“Or we skip that and she just talks to him.” Jecki said, “If he’s Mae’s accomplice, we can send her in. She can talk to him and we can record and monitor the conversation that way we have a lead on Mae plus we also get a confession from him. Seems like the most logical way.”

“That sounds like the better option out of the two.” You agreed.

“I’m in.” Mae nodded her head as she stepped forward.

“We will follow your plan padawan. It’s a good one.” Master Sol agreed.

That was all that was needed to spring into action on our mission. You watched as Osha stepped into the shop.

“Hello there.” You could hear her say over comms.

“Oh… Hello.” His voice sounded… Chipper. It seemed that he was happy to see her. Maybe he and Mae do know each other on a deeper level?

“Hi…” Osha’s voice trailed off as she seemed unsure of what to say.

“Hi?” His tone now held confusion to it.

“Come on Osha.” You muttered praying to the force with words of encouragement.

He continued sounding concerned, “You alright? You’re back so early?”

“I wanted to see you…”

“See me? Oh?” His light chuckle sent a pleasant chill you didn’t know the exact reason for, “Mae… Are you okay? Did the poison work?”

“That’s it.” Jecki looked up from the comms ready to go, “That’s all we need.”

“Pull her out.” Yord stated taking out his lightsaber.

You also made motion to grab your lightsaber, ready to head into the shop and confront the mysterious man before Sol put his arm out to stop you.

“Wait!” Master Sol’s sharp word had you, Yord, and Jecki all freeze in place. The four of you paid closer attention to the comm.

“You’re acting so strange…” The man spoke through the comms. There was a pause, as if he was assessing something about Osha, “Wait.”

Please don’t figure out she’s not Mae… You thought with worry.

“You killed Torbin without the poison.” He assessed with a light tone to his voice, “He will be so pleased.”

That seemed to be all Master Sol needed to hear as he said, “Go.” And pushed his group towards the man and Osha.

He was different than you expected him to be. A good way perhaps… He was easy on the eyes for a smuggler or was he a dealer? You weren’t sure. What you did know was how quick he was to sell out Mae.

You stayed partially hidden behind Jord. Your hood was up and your hand remained on your lightsaber as the stranger continued to explain himself.

“Wait wait…” He stumbled over his words as he tried to explain, “That isn’t my thing. This is her. I didn’t know what she was going to do with that stuff.”

“If you cooperate. We will consider letting you go with a warning.” Master Sol walked around him, assessing if he was a threat.

The man clasped his hands together, “Okay! Thank you! Thank you sir, ah… Please don’t do the memory wipe thing or whatever it is you guys do.” He held his hands up in surrender as he followed Master Sol’s movements.

You studied his movements, they were graceful compared to the nervous way he spoke.

“What is your relationship to Mae?” Was the first question Master Sol asked.

“I’m just her supplier.” He explained quickly walking around the room and using his hands as he spoke, “Yeah, I started out gun running for the hits and now I supply people like her with what they need. For the right price.”

He seemed to calm but too fidgety at the same time as if it were almost forced…

“Well maybe you could supply us with the truth.” Jord’s voice was stern and left no room for debate.

You hid further behind his stance as the man turned around. Not ready to reveal that you have been studying him intently to see if he was telling the truth or stalling for time…

“Who is he?” Master Sol asked.

The man gave him a confused look, “Ah… I? I thought he was with you?” He asked pointing back at Jord.

You couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped past your lips, but quickly stifled it as his amused gaze tried to find your behind Jord’s frame.

Master Sol didn’t find it funny as he continued, “Does Mae have a master? Is someone training her?”

“Listen I have no idea what’s going on with that girl.” He stepped towards Master Sol, “All I know… Is that she wants revenge on four Jedi.”

The room fell silent as a grave realization settled… Four Jedi was stationed on Osha and Mae’s planet and Master Sol was one of them…

His eyes widened as an idea sparked, “If you want to get to her, she’ll be back here tonight. I’m holding some things for her.”

“Jord. Secure the perimeter. Keep an eye out for Mae.” Master Sol ordered, “Jecki get to the ship. Mae, you are coming with me and…”

Your heart beat quickly in your chest as Master Sol looked in your direction, “You will stay here and make sure that he does not try to escape.”

“But—“ Your pleas were left unanswered as he gave you a look. You bit your tongue and nodded, “Yes master.”

“Good. Let us go.” Master Sol stated, “Mae will be here soon.”

You watched with a knot in your stomach as your group left. How could they just leave me here alone with a stranger? You thought as you clenched and unclenched your right fist to try and keep your nerves at bay.

You tried to take a calming breath. You are a Jedi. You can guard an unarmed man. He couldn’t hurt you. This will go smoothly without any problem… You squeezed your eyes shut as the screams of your master rang through your ears.

You were alone then too… You but your biotin lip, grateful that your hood hid your face as you stared longingly at the door. You didn’t want to be left alone with a stranger… You couldn’t handle it, not again. Your breathing began to pick up, something that the stranger noticed immediately.

“So…” He spoke in an airy tone in an attempt to lighten the mood and get your mind off of whatever you were thinking about, “Who might you be Angel?”

[shokosbunny]

CRAVE - chapter four

nav 𝜗𝜚 ⊹ ‧₊˚

masterlist 𝜗𝜚 ⊹ ‧₊˚ • previous 𝜗𝜚 ⊹ ‧₊˚

chapter warnings: mild angst, reader going through it

by the time you reach the apartment that yuji and megumi share with some second year boys, you're drenched, shaking, sniffling, and a million percent ready to break up with your no good, mannerless, sorry excu-

“y/n?” a soft voice says, cutting off your hateful internal monologue.

“yuji,” you murmur back, as the pink haired boy immediately has you wrapped in a towel before you're fully in the door.

“oh, you poor thing,” he fusses. “you must be so cold. i had yuta put another towel in the dryer, so when-”

“yuta lives here?!” you interrupt, dumbfounded. in your defence, none of you ever went in depth about the intricacies of your living arrangements, and you have never been to yuji’s apartment until just now.

“yeah,” he replies, his brown eyes glittering with amusement. “why? excited to see him again?”

“no!” you vehemently deny, but the look in yuji’s eyes compels you to tell the truth. “....maybe. but he can't see me like this, i look like a-”

“too late,” another voice interjects, emerging from the hallway. this voice is smooth and intoxicating.

“yuta,” you breathe out, clutching the towel that's wrapped around you like it's your shield.

“y/n. what happened?” he asks as he approaches. yuji steps back and disappears, probably to the room he shares with megumi. in the meantime, yuta has an arm around your shoulder as he leads you to the biggest couch in the living room.

“just got caught in the rain at the wrong time. my place is farther from where i was. i hope you don't mind.”

yuta immediately shakes his head. he thinks you look adorable, but has enough sense not to vocalise this thought when you're probably in a horrendous mood. “no, no. it's fine.”

silence falls for a few moments before he speaks up again, tentative. “couldn't you call your boyfriend to pick you up?” he asks, his gaze inquisitive but not prying.

you shake your head. “his phone was dead,” you lie. you don't even know why you're covering for that bastard.

“shame,” yuta responds. you get the sense that he doesn't give a single shit about your boyfriend, but has the decency to keep it to himself.

“yeah,” you nod. yuta’s arm that rests around your shoulders hasn't moved, and the warmth from his body is seeping through the towel and into your bones. he’s holding you like you're something fragile, worth keeping safe.

you don't remember the last time naoya held you like this outside of a sexual context.

the thought makes a tear trickle down your cheek. then another. then another. until you're fully crying in the arms of a boy you only properly met less than a week ago.

“shh, shh, it's okay,” yuta coos softly, pulling your face into his chest and gently stroking your hair. this only makes you cry harder, because here you are, comparing this sweet boy to your no good boyfriend. you then feel even worse, because why are you in the arms of another boy when you have a boyfriend?

yuta is stuck. he doesn't know if he's making it better or worse, but you aren't pulling away so he has to be doing at least one thing right.

he hopes.

“i lied,” you confess tearfully. you don't even know why, but something about the pure warmth radiating from his soul gives you the inexplicable urge to be honest. “naoya’s phone didn't die. he t-told me to meet him and th-then he blocked me and left me stranded on purpose cuz he was mad at me for blocking him after my birthday.”

“oh,” yuta exhales, holding you tighter, but still making sure to be gentle. from everything he's heard about that boyfriend of yours, he can only conclude that he must be a motherless egoist who gets off on making other people miserable.

but again, this is neither the time nor place to express that.

“i’m s-sorry for dumping all th-this on you, but i just f-felt like i had to tell someone,” you continue, snapping yuta out of his train of thought.

“don't apologise,” he reassures, the gentle caress of his hand in your hair not ceasing. “let it out, pretty. i’m here.”

pretty.

you don't remember the last time naoya called you pretty.

it’s always 'hot' or 'sexy' or something along those lines, but never just…pretty.

there's zero reason to stay with him. and after today, the number of reasons to stay with him are in the negatives.

what are you gonna do?

next 𝜗𝜚 ⊹ ‧₊˚

tags: @toniseweje @tsukuhoe @itsafairytalekay @ayla-1605 @moncher-ire @rikaroses @starrysho @blu3-l0v3r @number0netrash @zayuriluvs @susiekern @mikamii25 @vorfreudevortex @q2uq2u

[deaddovedecadence]

Title: The Beginning (sunshine verse)

Warning(s): threats of violence, manipulation, possessive and obsessive behavior

Summery: Jason has finally been brought home, only to meet his newest sibling. They have a talk

Jason wakes up in a familiar room. It's a perfectly tidy room, no specks of dust anywhere, a perfectly ordinary room, but it feels dangerous anyways. He isn’t cuffed down but it feels dangerous anyways. He takes a look around the room, noting the unbarred windows (probably electrified) and a door he knows leads to the bathroom. The room to leave the room is perpendicular to his bed so he shifts, moving so that he can see who comes in and face all threats directly. For a long while there is absolutely no movement, and eventually his body relaxes itself, even with his mind screaming danger.

 He’s been here before, escaped from here before, been (loved) hated here before, and he is foolish enough to think that escape will be an option for a long while. Security will be up for sure as well as it’s six incredibly well trained people (Dick, Cass, Tim, Damian, Bruce, Alfie) against him, and he’s been out of the game for a while. For a moment, he’s reminded of Dick, who’s rebellion is still the stuff of legends in the crime community, and the cops that try ever hard to catch them.He wonders what this will be considered, a rebellion or a temper tantrum. He was there when Bruce and Dick finally fought it out. Both of them still carry the scars. Will it be like that for him, or will they trap him in a golden cage?

There’s a knock on the door, and he’s more surprised than anything else. The knock, while polite, is unfamiliar, not matching the cadence of any of the others. Dick’s knock, twice in a row before a pause, is bright and cheerful, Cass climbs through the window, Tim’s, thrice,  rapid and soft, Damain’s, continuous, loud and quick, Bruce’s, four times, slow and thudding, and Alfie’s once, a gentle warning. This knock is thrice, rapid and not too loud. The knock comes again, unchanging. He has no choice and he knows that, but at least his damnation can be on his terms. “Come in,” he snaps, and the door opens. He’s unsurprised when the figure is unfamiliar. The figure is on the taller side, with dark brown skin and a warm smile. “Hey Jason,” the figure says, “I’m Duke, I use they/them pronouns.” Duke’s accent is all gotham, thick and weaving into his words, like taffy getting caught on its stretcher. 

“Why’d they send you? Testin’ the new meat on me?” Duke’s smile stays warm even though their dark brown eyes flare a bright vivid yellow, and the light levels in the room drop for a second. Jason can’t help but startling because he’s facing a fucking meta. “I’m his newest adoptie, and if you must know, I’ve already completed testing and my time as new meat.” The implications of that remain unspoken. Bruce went and adopted a fucking meta while Jason was gone, huh? That’s a thing he doesn't have words for. 

“May I sit on the bed with you?” Duke says politely, gesturing to the bed. What the fuck is going on here? There is no one in this family that asks for anything so why is the newbie doing it? Jason ends up just shrugging which Duke takes as a yes because suddenly there’s another person on the bed, arranging into a sort of criss-cross that reminds  Jason of Dick. 

“Why are you here?” he demands, sharp. Duke shrugs, “family thought you’d do better with someone that hasn’t met you ‘stead of someone you know ‘cause I’m more like to be neutral and calmer with you.” It’s not a bad way of thinking about it and the kid ain’t even wrong. If Bruce or Dick or anyone else was in here it’d probably be a screaming match already. Duke arranges more on the bed, and fixes Jason with a look that reminds him exactly of Alfred. “There are three things that I’m here to go over with you but I figured you might wanna know we got your friend in the next room over.” he pales, thinking of everything his family would do to his friend, the person that dragged him away from crime and gave him a way to bring them down. Because of his carelessness, his friend is in the next room over, the perfect leverage to keep him complaint, to keep him here, all because he was stupid. 

“This can go two ways,” Duke says calmly, “I give Dames the go ahead to do what he wants with your little friend or you and I make a deal.” It’s a good offer, especially considering how his family is, actually it’s almost too good. He narrows his eyes at Duke, who sits serenely on the bed. “Okay, cut the bullshit. Why are you offering me anything?” he snaps, and Duke smiles. “It’s pretty simple actually. You are a member of my family, and that means that I want to help you. Plus helping you and your friend benefits me in the long run.” Simply put, but still, it feels like there’s something that Duke isn’t saying. “What’s going to happen to them?” he says, referring to his friend. Duke pulls out a phone instead of answering, scrolling through something before looking up at him. “They woke up asking for you. I gave you your options. Do with them as you will.” 

Jason doesn’t like this. “If I made a deal with you,” he says carefully, “they stay safe.” Duke nods. He steadies himself, and says the damning words. “I want to make a deal,” 

And Duke smiles.

-

The second that Duke leaves Jason’s room, Dick is all over them. “How is he?” Dick asks, bouncing absently on the balls of his feet. Duke gestures to the door, signing ‘Jason hear us. Kitchen now.’ Dick nods and follows after them, humming something to himself, and chewing on his nails. Duke doesn’t sit down when they get to the kitchen, bustling around and prepping something, probably tea, for themelf.

 Out of all of them, it’s Duke who’s taken to Alfred’s lessons the best, learning everything from new ways to cook to the best ways to hide poison in a drink. Like most of his siblings, being subtle does not come naturally to Duke and Alfie has taught them the more subtle nuances of things, ranging from soup spoons and good manners to the proper spoon and/or fork for taking out someone’s eye. 

At Duke’s raised eyebrow, Dick sits, leg bouncing under the table. Duke sits down after their tea finishes, holding a steaming mug. “What did he say?” Dick demands. Duke takes a sip of tea and begins, “first of all, you owe me. I was right about Jason reacting better to me than you.” Dick settles a little bit, laughs, “okay, okay petit, we’ll head to the beach this weekend. Tell me about our brother.” 

Duke frowns, “He agreed to make a deal with me to keep his friend safe.” There’s a but there and he knows it. “What’s wrong?” Duke shrugs, “He’s planning an escape already, I can see it in his eyes.” For all of Jason’s abilities, his eyes have always been very obvious. 

“What are you planning to do?” “I already laid the groundwork.” 

“What do you want for their safety?” Jason demands, all cornered prey animal, obvious in the slant of his teeth, in the way that he tenses. In contrast Duke is the predator, aware that it’s prey is cornered. “Let’s play a game. I’m going to flip a coin, you’re going to call it midair, and for every one you get right, you get to ask me a question. If you get it wrong I get to ask you a question.” Jason takes it in, trying to see if there’s a way that he can get out of it before he nods. 

Duke flips the coin after showing him both sides. They flip it in midair, and Jason calls heads, “Tails.” Duke says evenly, not gloating or teasing like Damian or Tim would. “What’s your question?”

It’s a small, calm smile given to him and yet this is the first time that Duke has ever felt like a threat. “Where did you spend your time?” It’s an oddly easy question to answer, not prodding or pushing like someone else would. He shrugs, “I went pretty much everywhere that Bruce doesn’t have business in. I wanted to see the world on my own terms,” without Bruce’s influence, he doesn't say. Duke nods, and gives him a little smile. “Okay, let's go again.” 

Again he’s shown both sides of the coin before Duke flips it, and he calls, “Heads,” midair. It comes back down and when Duke shows it to him, it releases as tails. “Fuck,” Jason snaps, and Duke’s serene smile does not waver.  “Why the police?” Duke asks. Another easy one, “I wanted to make sure that even if I went missing, they’d know, they’d do something.” Duke snorts, and then looks almost soberly at him. “Your entire police force answered to Nightwing.” He can’’t help the horror that courses through his body at the idea that he was never safe, that he never had a chance to get free. 

“Why are you telling me this?” He snarls, and Duke, doing something that seems to have become a trend, smiles serenely. “Because you deserve to know, and the others didn't want me telling you.” 

“Did he really believe that?” Dick snorts. Duke nods. “I’m almost disappointed in him. He seems to have forgotten all of his training.” See Duke excels in several things but most of all they fuck with the truth in a way that almost no one else in the family does. Even Cass sometimes has problems understanding if they’re telling the truth because Duke bends it just enough that his body language reflects the idea of truth when that isn’t the full story. 

“Last time, “Duke says cheerfully, showing him both sides of the coin once again. “Pick your poison.” It’s thrown up into midair and Jason pays careful attention the to amount of flips and calls, “tails,” right as it’s coming down. Duke gives him a steady grins and opens his palm to revel, “heads.” It takes everything in Jason not to start swearing. 

He feels watched, like his skin’s been pulled back for Duke to see all the scars as the meta considers his final question. “Why are you so afraid of being considered bad?” Not fucking easy. “You tense up when I mentioned our siblings, and from what I know you left bruce because of your morals.” He stops, and tries to put into words something that Duke will never be able to understand. 

“Have you ever been so happy that you’d do anything to continue that happiness?” Duke nods, “I have, yes.” Jason snorts, “well that was my life before I realized that my happiness comes from the suffering of other people, that I’m only good in bruce’s eyes and to everyone else I’m a monster. I didn’t want to be a monster so I left.” 

To his surprise, Duke does not make a noise or call his reasons stupid like Tim or Damian would. They just nod, and say quietly, “Thank you for sharing. Your friend will be safe until you attempt to escape.”

As Duke leaves, Jason realizes that Duke says until, and not if.

“Our brother is fucking stupid,” Dick says, “he fucking left because he thought that he was bad, just ugh. I want to stab him for that.” Duke, calm as always, reminds him, “Jase was older when Bruce took him in. Don’t you remember how much trouble you had with me?” It’s enough that Dick stops holding his knife like he’s going to go upstairs and hurt something (or someone). “You were trouble but at least you were logical about your protesting. Jason is just being stupid.” 

That gets a soft laugh from his younger sibling. “Well perhaps changing our guest will help Jason change too.” 

A feral smile, “you might just be right about that petit.”

[kewwie-pie]

Let's address the blue suited elephant in the room!

I want to preface this by saying, of course, what Prosciutto does to pesci isn't okay in the slightest. He's a grown man who should keep his hands to himself, but i do want to talk about the scene itself and how araki has addressed this in the new la squadra lore drop.

If you've ever read or watched part 5, you must be familiar with pesci and proscuitto. The dynamic these two shared was quite unique, considering that at the time Araki wrote these two, we didn't really see two minor antagonist banter and interact with each other in the same way they did.

People who like La squadra have especially taken a liking to the dynamic Pesci and Proscuitto share, but one thing that we don't really talk about or acknowledge is the fact that proscuitto hits / manhandles pesci. So let's talk about it!

When you think of Prosciutto, your first thought might not be kind and doting. However, Araki goes on to emphasize that prosciutto is too soft on Pesci and praises him too much.

"This makes it a total of FIVE TIMES he supported pesci in an hour."

"People might wonder if Prosciutto was being over protective"

This makes sense in the context of the episodes, and Araki also goes on to state Prosciutto cares very deeply about pesci, to the point his love is deeper than that of a mothers love.

Araki tells us readers that the only time prosciutto has used the "stick treatment" was when pesci got ambushed by Mista but he quickly brushes it aside by highlighting the fact prosciutto was brave and grabbed the gunslinger risking his own life to save that of pesci.

"My prized hook and line" written by yoshihita okita, does a reversal of what araki has shown us. Instead of pesci constantly being praised by proscuitto, pesci gets scolded multiple times throughout the short story, and it is only at the end that we see proscuitto praising pesci for doing the right thing. This signals a turn in how proscuitto views his subordinate.

--

Prosciutto's actions and Pesci’s Reactions

Now, this is where the novel differs from what we see in canon and where I start to project some of my own thoughts and feelings on these scenes. It's not exactly a one to one comparison, but it'll do.

Leading up to the impact in the anime, we see pesci praising prosciutto on how amazing he is for disguising himself as one of the passengers. Even though pesci nearly got himself killed, he still excitedly walks up to prosciutto. So when prosciutto hits him, he looks genuinely confused because he didn't expect that to happen. THIS makes sense in combination with what araki has told us.

Prosciutto is overprotective and praises pesci too much because he deeply cares for him and his safety. Of course, pesci would feel comfortable walking up to prosciutto. He hasn't given pesci a reason to make him feel otherwise. However, the stakes are much higher than normal they went on this train knowing they'd either come out victorious or die trying to obtain their goal. But pesci still doesn't act like it, and so in the heat of the moment, prosciutto hits him, which gets followed by the 5 times of praise Araki loves to mention.

In the novel, Prosciutto doesn't actually hit Pesci, but he does instinctively cover his face out of fear of being hit. This doesn't exactly contradict what Araki has told us, but this pesci is much more fearful of Prosciutto, which would make sense because this takes place when pesci has freshly joined the team and hasn't really realized which buttons he can and cannot push.

(I think it's also important to keep in mind this wonderful short story wasn't written by Araki himself, so obviously, the way the characters interact and behave aren't going to be 100% accurate. However, it did get approved, so it's up to you to decide whether or not you want to accept this as canon or not)

--

What happens after?

In the novel, there's not really anything that happens after because nobody's getting hit, so we're going to be focusing on the anime.

If you've seen the episode, we all know what happens after. Prosciutto starts giving pesci pep talks and praising him and touching foreheads invading pesci's space. This exclusively happens after Prosciutto hits him. Why is that? Why do that after decking pesci in the face?

Well, it's because pesci lost the confidence he had after being scolded so harshly by his mentor. In the anime, the difference between before and after isn't very noticeable because pesci has been changed to come across as more meak and shy. But in the manga, pesci goes from a playful and cocky newbie to a meak and anxiety filled mammone in almost an instant. THAT is why prosciutto goes overboard with the praise and PDA. He's aware of what type of impact it has on pesci and tries his best to steer pesci back in the right direction with kind words.

--

(I'd place some examples here but I've reached my limit unfortunately)

Conclusion

I'm not really sure how I want to end this, but regardless of how you see pesci and proscuitto's relationship, I think it's very important that we continue to have fun and mess around with their dynamic as two characters in our favorite show. You can choose to ignore that prosciutto has done this, or you can choose to come up with your own explanation for his behavior, but at the end of the day, we're all here to have a good time.

Thank you so much for taking the time of your day to read this <3

[khunyuki]

"I've lived my life with blade and you always in my mind"

ꜱɪᴅᴇ ꜱᴛᴏʀʏ: 𝚏. 𝚁𝚎𝚜𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚃𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜

Synopsis: When younger Hoshina Soshiro realized what exactly puberty does to a boy leading to him having dreams about his fiancee every night, feeling extremely guilty when he sees her the next day.

Pairing/s: Hoshina Soshiro x Fiancee!OC

Note/s: It's been a while! This is kinda short but I hope you like it. Pretty mild I must say

Warning/s: Suggestive Content

Masterlist: TOC, Previous, Next

< It all started with an accidental peek >

When you're training with someone, it's only natural to attack your opponent and defend from any incoming strikes. And when you're sparring with Hoshina Soshiro, you know that he will not go easy on you even if you're his fiancee. Uzui Kagami knows this full well, having been his training partner whenever possible starting from a young age.

With every hit of his wooden sword, she tries to block it with her own as she looks for an opening to strike back.

CLACK CLACK CLACK

Getting pushed back by the intensity and speed of his hits, the wooden sword slipped out of Kagami's grip to the ground. His sword on her neck as she brought her hands up in surrender.

"I lost again. I don't think I could ever beat you Soshiro"

She admitted her defeat with a defeated smile as he brought the wooden sword back to his side. Kagami lay down on the ground in exhaustion, quite unladylike but too tired to care at the moment. Soshiro let out a chuckle as he wiped off his sweat with a towel. There were towels and refreshments prepared for them at the side.

"Well of course, I've been practicing my family's swordsmanship style since I could remember. No way you're beating me at this so quickly"

He showed her his tongue as he passed her a towel. She pouted as she sat up and took it, wiping her own sweat, clutching it in her hands after.

"If we spar using my family's swordsmanship, I am confident I could win though"

"Of course you will. You're already getting better at using Hoshina style swordsmanship, I guarantee you can be my equal in a few year's time"

He said it with so much confidence that it makes her believe that she'd actually be able to do so one day. It was enough to make her speechless and flustered as she hurriedly stood up and went to get some water, fanning her face as she does so.

A mischievous grin appeared on Soshiro's face when he saw a glimpse of her red ears, and how hard she tries to fan her face. He followed closely behind her and when she reached out to take a bottle, his hand suddenly appeared beside her. It was then that she's made aware of the presence that was so close to her. His face drifting next to her own as he took his own drink.

"Why is your face so red?"

He casually asked as if he didn't just pressed his body against her back with his other hand on her shoulder to get a drink. She clutched her bottle and towel to her chest as she watched him gulp down the drink, sweat trickling down his adam's apple. She was mesmerized by his beauty until she snapped out of her thoughts back to reality once she saw him looking at her.

"That... You— Ahh!"

She hurriedly opened her own bottle and made a mess because she was clutching it too tightly. Water splayed all over her face and training garb, even the towel in her hands wasn't spared. This earned her a sudden burst of laughter from the man beside her. Water was supposed to cool you down but it just further heightened her embarrassment.

"You look like a wet chick"

There's absolutely no way that the towel that absorbed most of the water could clean her up so she discarded it aside. She couldn't help but puff her cheeks at the male still laughing, clutching his stomach. It really isn't helping him as he imagined her like that.

"It's not funny!"

She crossed her arms as she turned away from him, clearly choosing to be more upset than embarrassed. Soshiro, thinking he might've went too far, tried to stop laughing though it would still leak out.

"Seriously, why are you so clumsy—"

He said as he passed her his own towel to she reluctantly accepted. She still have a pout on her face as she wiped herself down. She wondered why he suddenly went silent after laughing so hard but that was none of her business at the moment.

Soshiro just drank some water yet why is it that his throat was still so dry? He could feel the heat rising to his face as he remembered what he saw when she took his towel. Their training outfit was by no means thin despite being white so imagine his surprise when he saw a glimpse of baby blue sticking to her outfit.

He couldn't help but take a peek again, this time seeing her pat the area between her collarbones dry. This was the first time in a while he's ever looked at her closely, this time her body particularly. Was that always there? That small bump on her chest? He knew his fiancee was a girl and treated her as such but this is definitely the first time he realized... Ahhh she really is a girl...

"Is there something wrong?"

She asked, covering her chest with his towel naturally. She knew he's looking at her, she doesn't know exactly where he's looking with his eyes always closed. Though she knew it must've been something serious if he's uncharacteristically silent so suddenly.

"I'm going to the toilet"

He said as he ran away, leaving her alone and confused. For the rest of the day, he avoided her the whole time until she went home. His older brother only laughed at him muttering something like youth.

On the night of summer vacation of their first year of middle school, Hoshina Soshiro suffered from the nightly visits of a succubus donning the face of his fiancee.

=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=

< An unknowing touch >

"Why are you avoiding me?"

Kagami caught her fiancee off guard when she suddenly appeared beside him without a sound. He was taking a book of a shelf in the school library when she surprised him by suddenly appearing. The sudden jolt of his body was proof of that.

"I'm not"

Is what he said but avoided looking at her face when he does. This seem to drive her nuts as her mind went into overdrive, thinking of various reasons why he'd avoid her. She keeps thinking that maybe she did something wrong or if he's starting to hate her too.

"You're lying"

She pinned him on the shelf when he tried to escape, the books shaking from the sudden disturbance. Soshiro's heart is beating so fast as she'd never done this before. The sudden kabedon puts their bodies in close proximity that their chests are touching when he tries to escape. Her head looking down so he couldn't see her face, if she looked at him now she'd see his red face.

"Did I- Did I do something wrong? Is that why you're avoiding me? Do you... Do you hate me now?"

She bit her lip in hesitance before asking him. Her voice cracking a bit before ending it all in almost a whisper. He only glimpsed at her face and immediately regretted his actions brought upon him by puberty. Her trembling lips, her furrowed brows, and brimming eyes filled with insecurity, doubt, and evident hurt. He could sense that there was something dark and borderline scary in her gaze but it was instantly gone the moment it appeared.

"I don't hate you, you didn't do anything wrong. It was me"

He grabbed her arm as she prepared to leave, apologizing so fast. He went too far and he admits to himself that he hurt her with his actions. He won't forgive himself if something as stupid as this destroys their relationship.

"I did something wrong to you"

She looks at him urging him to continue but what exactly can he say? There's no way in hell he'd blurt out that he kept on dreaming about them doing stuff, keeping him up every night. He's definitely guilty about it but he felt even more guilt at her almost making her cry.

"I saw something that day"

What does that have to do with anything, Kagami thought. She frowned her brows in confusion as she tried to remember the day he started avoiding her. They were sparring and she lost then she went to get water where he teased her, in embarrassment she spilled water on herself and...

Her eyes opened wide at the realization. She covered her chest as she looked at him with a bright red face for confirmation to which he nodded without looking at her. Let's say it was her avoiding him now instead of the other way around.

<- Previous Next ->

[kindaasrikal]

Garmadon is probably my favourite example of how intrusive thoughts are like.

Is he a little yellow (black?) lego man with cup hands? Yes

Is he also someone whose suffered from intrusive thoughts and desires that he does not want to do since young, and due to suffering through them for so long his resolve eventually broke to these thoughts as he became the one thing he never wanted to be? Yes, yes he is.

For decades upon decades he had to sit with thoughts and desires he knew was bad and had to actively resist against. Dealing with intrusive thoughts is not easy, seeing as it depends on a persons will power, their own self acceptance and awareness on who they are, and how persistent they can be.

With Garmadon, he had to deal with the shame knowing that everyone most close too him knows he has these thoughts and desires and that can way down on a persons self esteem and will/resilience, especially when you seem to be surrounded by someone seemingly ‘perfect’. No one actively shamed Garmadon for having these thoughts (from what i know, though Wu definitely hasn’t) but he probably had more thoughts about how everyone must be mocking him. With the intrusive thoughts getting worse as he grew older, and as his responsibilities grew heavier, there were a few times where Garmadon’s morals and resolve wavered.

Now remember, Garmadon probably already was a grey character (light grey) without the venom strongly influencing him because of the world he grew up in as well as having horrific thoughts since young, which could lead to a sense on normalcy of the content of them. Which could’ve led him to his actions and overall personality being incredibly light grey. The times he wavered were few in between, and i can’t list them all off since i haven’t read the comics, but the most notable one was when he went to go train under Chen.

The reason he might’ve done so could be a few. Due to Chen’s evil nature, he might’ve thought that it might help him in easing and handling these thoughts better. Or it might’ve been a lapse in judgment, or his morals tipping slightly to the darker side.

After all these sort of moments where he almost tipped to the darker side, something just had to give and push him over the edge of finally breaking his already weak grip on his will power to resist against these thoughts, and whatever it was broke it well. He attempted to steal the golden weapons, Kill Wu, and unlock his Oni side, despite having a baby and a wife at the time. And thats not to say Garmadon doesn’t care for those three. He’s shown time and time again that he does. He cares for all three of them and loves them as family. Yet, that doesn’t stop the grip of his intrusive thoughts, nor the easing of suffering mentally once he stopped pushing it down. He’s shown he cares for Wu like how a brother would (like a little shi, though i would say that Garmadon is much more willing to kill Wu then the other two), and he’s shown interest in Misako as a lover (no, i will not forget that straight up grin of his) and how he hasn’t actively sought her out to harm her, and how he has held back against Lloyd, only ever grew and broke free of these thoughts and desires because of Lloyd, and only ever found his true self and freedom and acceptance because of Lloyd.

Garmdon is very much capable of capable of holding back his evil desires and wants when he is given the right reason too, and that reason has always been his family as his SON. His BABY. THATS HIS KID.

But, Garmadon may have special genes and magic powers, but his brain is like any other humans. He was no longer able to fully resist the venom in his veins nor the thoughts in his head as strongly as he used too, because he is no longer young. He is an old man whose whole life was spent resisting a side of him he was horrified at, yet a side of him who he would never be able to truly hide nor resist, when that terrifying demon in his head is still a part of him.

I would like to say though, that while the intrusive thoughts themselves were evil and horrible and straight up terrifying, Garmadon himself never was that kinda person. Theres a reason why Lloyd is his son and why Misako chose him, and why Wu still respects his brother so much. Garmadon is a good person, in a situation he cannot control and a brain he cannot stop. Intrusive thoughts are not things you willingly think, they’re like a stampede of people running up to the microphone to give their own bright ideas all at once, all of the time, and you’re the only audience they talk to. Garmadon was subjected to that since he was a child, and that isn’t easy. The fact that he lasted so long, so many decades, resisting against them and holding himself true to his ideals and true personality is mesmerising to witness and think about. And to think that he can still resist, and then understand and grow with that side of him into a healthier and happier person who is trying, is definitely something he and everyone he ever grew close too wished for, for a very long time.

[peachy-panic]

Wrong Place, Wrong Time (pt. 1)

DO NO HARM.

Whew. After months (almost a year?) of marinating this chapter, I've decided to cut it in two. Thought about titling this chapter: Shit Hits The Fan. Enjoy!

WARNINGS: BBU setting, struggles with bodily autonomy, recovering alcoholic, mentions of violence

Jaime hits the ground with more force than he expects. His back takes the brunt of the fall, and for a moment, he is rendered breathless. A few weeks ago, the impact might have triggered a memory of real violence. Now, he gulps in a few deep breaths, feeling the grass at his back, until Ezra’s face eclipses the sunlight overhead. 

“That was better,” Ezra says, extending a hand. Jaime takes it and lets himself be pulled to his feet. 

“I can’t seem to stay on my feet,” Jaime huffs, frustrated. He swipes an arm across his face, pushing aside the hair that clings to his forehead.

“You’re doing fine,” Ezra says. “Getting knocked down is half the process of learning.”

Jaime grimaces. “I must be learning a lot, then.”

Ezra grins. “You are,” he says, sounding like he might actually mean it. “You’ve already improved from where we began. For now, take five and drink some water.”

“I can go again,” Jaime insists, already rocking back into his sparring stance. 

“We have all day.” Ezra grabs Jaime’s water bottle and pushes it gently against his chest. “You’ll burn out quickly if you don’t pace yourself.”

At the finality in his tone, Jaime relents and collapses back onto the grass. He downs half his bottle in one go. 

It’s been over a month since Ezra offered to teach Jaime how to spar. At first, the idea unsettled him in a way he couldn’t pin down. He didn’t understand the point of it. Ezra knew more than most how little Jaime’s ability to fight mattered; it isn’t an imbalance in physical strength that keeps him in his position. It is the law, the society, and the institutions decades in the making that hold the end of Jaime’s leash. Something about learning the art of self defense and knowing he is never allowed to exercise it feels more cruel than not learning at all. 

One session, Ezra had wagered. Train with me once and see how you feel.

The first time, Sebastian stayed to observe at Jaime’s request, perched on a piece of exercise equipment in Ezra’s basement gym. Jaime, who spent the week leading up antsy and nervous, watched with rapt interest as Ezra wrapped his hands. 

They started slow. 

The first time Jaime hit the ground, the room went silent. In the split second of shock and pain, a flare of violent memories flashed before him: a handler shoving him onto his back, his foster father slamming him up against the hallway wall. Distantly, he heard Sebastian’s voice break through the budding panic. “Maybe we should call it a day?”

Something about that—the grounding reminder of where he was, who he was with, and that the choice was his to walk away—snapped him back into his body. Ezra watched him from where he stood several feet back, not coming to his side and not saying anything in response to Sebastian’s concern. Instead, he watched Jaime, waiting to see what choice he would make.

The choice was his.

Jaime pushed himself onto shaking legs, nodding once to Sebastian before meeting Ezra’s unwavering gaze. “Let’s go again.”

Ever since that day, Jaime has taken to training with a level of enthusiasm he didn’t realize he was still capable of feeling. There is an itch for it under his skin when he wakes up some mornings. When he stretches, he relishes in the way his muscles burn from their previous session. On his morning runs, he thinks through new techniques Ezra showed him and commits to perfecting them next time they meet. 

On the evening after their third sparring session—Jaime still sweat-damp and shaking from exhaustion in the passenger seat of Sebastian’s car—he realized that this feeling was familiar. It was a sense of liberation he hadn’t felt since he last sprinted across a soccer field under the stadium lights, since the night he tore off across the backyard of a party with Derek at his side, high on the revelation that he might want to kiss him. It was the realization that training with Ezra made Jaime feel in control of his body for the first time in a long time. And that is a gift he can never repay. 

Ezra sinks down onto the grass beside him, uncapping his own water bottle. It’s almost embarrassing how he barely breaks a sweat against Jaime. Maybe one day he’ll give him a run for his money. 

From the screened window above the kitchen sink, Jaime can hear laughter from inside the house. He titled his head and smelled… something? Sebastian and the others insisted they would take care of dinner tonight and leave Jaime and Ezra to their workout. Jaime doesn’t know much about Sam and Aria’s skills in the kitchen, but…

Ezra smiles at him, nodding his head toward the sound. “How do you think it’s going in there?”

Jaime shrugs and lets his head fall back, enjoying the sun on his face. Spring is starting to blossom, slowly but surely, and it’s the first warm day of the year. “Nothing is on fire,” he says. “So it can’t be that bad.”

****

“Cilantro can substitute oregano, right? They’re basically the same thing?”

“No,” Sebastian and Aria say at the same time. Sam’s expression falls. The frown paired with the 1950s-housewife-style apron creates quite the endearing image.

“It’s not too late to order Thai food,” Aria mutters, pouring herself another glass of wine. Sebastian chuckles around a swig of lemonade. 

He didn’t make a big deal about staying sober these last few weeks, but he’s pretty sure Aria clocked it anyway, judging by the way she has kept the bottle out of arm’s reach of him all evening. He pretends not to notice. She pretends not to notice him not noticing. 

It’s been a good day. 

He can tell Jaime tried to hide his enthusiasm about a return visit all week. He never asks him about it outright, but his demeanor visibly perks up at any passing mention of Saturday dinner at Sam and Ezra’s. Sebastian offered to take him over there before work on any given weekday so that Jaime didn’t have to spend the day alone in the house, but that’s where his enthusiasm waned. Jaime isn’t quite comfortable enough to be alone with anyone except Sebastian, but Ezra comes close, he thinks.

It’s good. It’s so good to see Jaime like this—surrounded by people who care about his well-being, expressing more autonomy than he has ever been allowed in Sebastian’s presence. It’s moments like this that tempt Sebastian into believing that it was worth it, slogging all these months through the misery of WRU, just to bring him to Jaime. To bring Jaime here.

And maybe it was worth it so Sebastian could meet the others, too; his first friends in a very long time. 

They are laughing when the front door opens, so none of them hear the unexpected entrance until Julian Hernandez is suddenly standing in the doorway.

The room goes silent. Sebastian nearly shatters the glass in his hand to keep it from slipping to the floor. 

“You need to leave,” Sebastian says, the panic overriding any facade of politeness.

Julian, who is skeptical of Sebastian on his best day, says, “Excuse me?”

“Shit,” Aria says, stepping up beside him. “Jules, he’s right.”

Julian looks around, taking in the sight of all of his friends there without him, and Sebastian thinks he sees a quickly masked flash of hurt pass through his expression. “You asked me to take a look at your transmission last week,” he tells Sam. “I brought my tools.”

“I did say that,” Sam says. “But I didn’t mean tonight. I’m sorry. This… isn’t a good time.”

His mouth presses into a thin line. He glances over at Aria. “Yeah,” Julian says. “I can see you’re busy.”

“It’s not like that, Jules.” Aria insists. “Tate’s—” she starts to say. But it’s too late. It’s too fucking late. 

Because then the back door slides open and Jaime steps through, trailed by Ezra. They’re mid conversation, murmuring quietly. Both of their shirts are soaked through with sweat, clumps of hair clinging to their foreheads. Jaime is smiling—honest-to-god smiling—and Ezra is laughing at something he said, until his eyes meet Julian’s from across the room and he goes still. He puts a hand on Jaime’s shoulder. 

“Fuck.” It’s Julian who says it, a breathy whisper as he realizes the clusterfuck he has just set in motion. 

It’s the last sound in the room before shit hits the fan. 

Jaime is the last one to spot the new presence in the room, and when he does, his entire body locks up. The blood drains from his face, making his pale skin nearly translucent. His knees hit the ground before anyone can intervene. 

****

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[whatwooshkai]

number three :D

Blades is hiding.

Yeah, he's not afraid to admit it. He'll hide all he fucking wants.

The only summons he's been giving over the past vorn have been either for random medical check-ups or more interrogations by the enforcers. And they're still having him train on a strict schedule, even though his "team" has been reduced to a solo endeavor.

A voice crackles to life over the P.A. system. "Someone find Blades, please." The voice sounds resigned and more tired than anything, lacking the usual professionalism but keeping the conciseness.

Blades curls closer to the crates he's hunched behind, knees-to-chassis, doing his best to angle his rotors so they're not visible.

They stick out so far behind his back.

The scar between them aches when he twists. Stupid rotors, stupid alt mode. He misses his wings, even though he barely had them. Helicopter is a stupid alt mode anyways, with stupid fragile rotors that could break at a moment's notice.

An odd, aching part of Blades- the one that lives in the gaping hole in his spark- desperately wants to go home.

But he is home. Or at least, the only living quarters he's ever known.

Unless home is with his gestalt... in which, he doesn't need that many more reasons to be convinced to go join them.

"Found ya."

Blades looks up from his hiding spot to meet the tired optics of one of the security-for-hires, who's doing his best to offer an inviting smile. His field brushes Blades', so he snaps it close to his frame.

Blades can't remember his name, they cycle through guards too often. Or at least more often when they used to, after a top secret government project turned into a glorified sparkling-sitting job.

The guard taps a beat on the crate he's leaning on. "You comin'?"

Blades just glares at him.

The guard sighs heavily, before walking around and reaching out a hand. "I don't wanna fight you, kiddo. Let's make it easier on both of us, alright?"

Blades doesn't move, but he lets the guard grab his arm and haul him to his pedes, then lead him down the hallway towards the Supervisor's office.

The Supervisor is an intimidating mech- black and gray plating, purple optics, and a faceplate twisted in a perpetual scowl. He must be three time the size of Blades.

Streetwise used to guess that the reason he went by the Supervisor is because he had a really stupid or embarrassing name that wasn't intimidating at all, instead of just being "classified" like he claimed.

Doesn't matter what Streetwise thinks now, though.

Blades squares his shoulders and walks into the office with his helm held high, keeping his rotors tucked close to his frame to hide their minute shaking.

"Blades," the Supervisor greets in his dark, intimidating voice. Blades frowns at him. "You're hardly a sparkling anymore, I thought you would have outgrown being a nuisance by now."

Blades, wisely, does not say anything. The less of a fuss he makes, the sooner he gets out of here.

"As you know, the Defensor project has been discontinued," the Supervisor continues, shifting slightly in his seat. "And therefore our funding for it has stopped. More specifically, our funding for you has stopped. So you are no longer of use to us."

Blades' tanks drop to his pedes. He knew this would happen eventually, but he thought they'd at least wait until the enforcers found out who- who- who's responsible for Blades no longer having brothers.

He's not even that being that much of a nuisance! He's following directions, goes to the places they order him to, shows up to training, all the stuff they need him to. He doesn't even hide half the time!

"You have three options," the Supervisor says, pulling Blades from his thoughts. "You can attempt to fend for yourself on the streets of Protihex, but you will not receive any help from us, financial or otherwise. You may join the military, which we do encourage. Minimal paperwork and it keeps you in the system."

Blades is going for the streets. He is not joining the military, he is not-

"Or," the Supervisor adds, "you can attend the Rescue Bots Academy."

Oh. That actually... that actually might not be so bad. That's a few vorns of schooling, and by that point, he could get a job and fend for himself, right? He wouldn't even half to finish. Just live there long enough to get himself on his pedes and to make sure he can get as far away from this Primus-forsaken facility as possible.

"I'll go to the Rescue Bots," Blades says, the static in his audials drowning out everything besides the Supervisor's, "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure." Blades shutters his optics. "Send me to the Rescue Bots Academy."

[theyhavetakenovermylife]

Stake Out (18+)

2003!Leonardo x reader

A/N: I know SuperQuest is in the BTTS season, but I couldn’t help myself.

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

You and Leo are still frustrated after having been interrupted a few hours earlier. So you decide to use this stake out to your advantage.

Warnings: Public sex, face fucking, rooftop sex, Leo trying to focus.

All characters are aged up.

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

The night stretched endlessly over the city, like a dome of inky blackness adorned with the glimmering jewels of stars. The distant hum of traffic and the occasional siren created a white noise that surrounded you, but in the stillness of the night, it was as if time itself held its breath. High above the bustling streets, Leonardo and you crouched silently on a familiar rooftop, your eyes trained on the rhythmic heartbeat of the city below. Or on a certain warehouse to be specific. A warehouse owned by members of the Purple Dragons.

A few hours before you and Leonardo had started your stake out, Donatello had managed to get information that Hun was waiting for a delivery. What delivery he did not know, but Hun had seemed stressed over his messages, leading Donatello to believe it must be important.

But it was what you and Leo were doing before Donnie called out of the leader in blue, that stayed in your mind, taunting you as time went on. Making out on his futon bed with his three fingered hand down your pants. He was just about to reach your core when Donnie started yelling about a delivery to the Purple Dragons.

So there you were several hours later, on a rooftop with your ninja boyfriend, still incredibly turned on from your heated make out session in his bedroom. But your boyfriend didn’t show any signs of frustration. His keen eyes were scanning the street below, analyzing every moment.

As the night deepened, so did the unspoken desires that simmered beneath the surface of your skin. You sighed in frustration as your mind started wondering what could have happened, if you and Leo hadn’t been interrupted. How Leo most likely would have fingered you, while telling you to keep quiet with his family just outside his bedroom, in the big open living area. Leonardo knew that sigh of frustration. It was one he had heard many times, during the countless nights he had teased you near the point of begging. Leo’s usually reserved demeanor softened under the celestial gaze, his attention drifting more towards you instead of the warehouse.

The subtle shift did not escape your notice. A mischievous smile crept up on your face. Leo also knew that smile. He knew it way too well. And whenever he saw that smile, he usually loved what came along with it. You and your dirty ideas never seized to amaze him. But as much as he wanted to give in, and do whatever you had thought of doing on that roof, he had to stay focused. He was on a stack out, a mission.

But as you crawled towards him, and placed your lips on his with a passionate kiss, Leo’s focus had to fight against the burning desire that had builded in him for several hours. He broke the kiss to look you in the eyes, surprised that he already was out of air.

“You know I want to, (Y/N). I really fucking want to, but I have to keep an eye out. They said Hun would get a delivery tonight”, Leonardo said slightly breathless, nodding towards the warehouse on the other side of the street.

“Who said you had to look away?”, you asked innocently. Leo looked at you in confusion, but as soon as you started to tie your hair back, he caught on. He got comfortable on the roof, making sure he still had a full view of the warehouse, while being covered by the shadows. You got down low, your face mere centimeters from his slightly pulsing cloaca. Leo was biting the inside of his cheek as his gaze flickered between you and the street below.

Leo’s grip on the roof edge tightened as you started licking around his cloaca. As you looked up you saw his mouth fall open, letting out a silent moan. You continued licking, deciding that this was the way you would make him drop. Teasing him like he had teased you so many times before.

Leo chuckled, biting his lips and shook his head slightly, eyes still on the warehouse. “You little tease”, he breathed out, one hand finding your head, stroking your head with his fingers.

As you continued licking around his cloaca, you started working on the buttons of your pants, struggling a little before pushing them down your legs. Leo caught himself staring at you in your blue underwear, thinking of what he would have done to you in his bedroom if he had seen them there. He mentally slapped himself before looking back to the warehouse, only to gasp as he felt himself drop into your mouth. The cold air around his pulsing erection taunted him, as you sat up to take your hoodie and t-shirt off, leaving you in a black bra. Leo wanted to strangle Hun. Had he not decided to get a delivery that day, Leo would have had you begging in his bed wearing that bra several hours ago.

Leo felt your warm tongue glide up his shaft, making his vision blurry for a short moment. He looked down just in time to see you take his head into your beautiful mouth, your eyes shining innocently at him. Innocent, as if you weren’t sucking and licking his dick on the rooftop of New York City, just opposite a Purple Dragon's hideout.

You took him all the way into your mouth, gaging slightly as he hit the back of your throat. How Leo fucking loved the feeling of you gagging on his dick.

While still keeping half an eye on the warehouse, Leo took your hair into his fist, before raising your head and his hip ever so slightly. You relaxed your throat, knowing full well what was about to happen. With small rapid thrusts, Leo started fucking your mouth, still deviding his attention between you and the street. Both of you knew that had this been happening in his bedroom, he would not be holding back at all. Just simply telling you to be a good girl and keep quiet.

You grasped for air as Leo pulled his now soaked dick out of your mouth, enjoying the sound of your heavy breathing as he gave himself a few tugs.

“On your back”, Leo breathed out, getting up on his knees as you laid down, keeping an eye on the still quiet warehouse.

Using your hoodie and pants as a pillow, you got comfortable on the ground, opening your legs wide enough for your turtle boyfriend to position himself between them.

With one arm of the roof edge, Leo held himself up high enough, not letting the warehouse out of sight. The other hand went to his shaft, giving it a few tugs before gliding his head between your wet folds, feeling you jolt slightly as he pressed against your clit.

Leo looked down for a few seconds, making sure he was aligning up with your entrance properly, catching a quick glance at your eyes. Pupils just as blown out as his, your lips parted, watching his every move with anticipation. There was no doubt in Leo’s mind. Once this stake out was done, he would take care of you probably in his own room.

Leo fought to keep his eyes open as he pressed into you. His mouth slightly open, letting out a low groan at the feeling of you around him. The hand he had used to position himself, was now on your hip, keeping you in place as he slowly made his way in, making sure you took him as far as you could.

Once he had made it all the way in, he settled for a moment, making sure you had adjusted to his size before he started moving. You started whimpering, even at his smallest movements, prompting Leo to place his hand over your mouth, gradually speeding up his movements.

You moaned into his hand, holding onto his arm to keep yourself grounded as your mind started fogging up in pleasure. Your breast bouncing inside of your bra, the small sight of it almost making Leo go wild.

As Leo’s thrust became faster, his eyes would flicker between you and the ever quiet warehouse on the other side of the street. He managed to catch a glimpse of your hand sliding down to your clit, rubbing yourself as he continued to thrust himself into you. He breathed out a curse, closing his eyes for a few seconds, before looking back down on the street. Still nothing. How badly Leo wanted to give up on that warehouse so he could focus on the feeling of your cunt, squeezing his cock tighter as your fingers started to move faster against yourself.

As Leo felt his climax slowly reaching, his thrust became more and more erratic. The was something deeply exciting about fucking you on the rooftop, knowing that the Purple Dragons could find the two of you if you were a bit louder. It did unexpected things to Leonardo’s head, just like the feeling of your walls closing further around him, letting him know that you too were about to cum.

“That’s it, baby”, Leo mumbled, keeping a weak eye on the goddamn warehouse. “Cum for me, (Y/N)”.

And that was all it took for you before you came hard around his dick, fighting to keep quiet. If it wasn’t for the fact that your boyfriend was the most talented person you had been with in bed, you would have been embarrassed.

It didn’t take long before Leo came too. His hips shuttering and he let his streaks flow inside you, one by one, riding out both of your highs, enjoying the warmth you provided him.

He pulled out and moved to the side, careful as to not be seen by the people on the other side of the street, when his t-phone gave a little notification. He looked at it, while you started putting your clothes back on.

“You gotta be joking”, Leonardo mumbled irritatedly as he read the text on the small screen in his hand.

“What is it?”, you asked.

“Hun’s delivery was just the newest copy of SuperQuest and it got canceled”, he growled frustrated. But as soon as Leo had said those words, a smile started creeping up on his lips, all frustration disappearing. “You know what this means right?” He took your face in his hands, bringing it close to him, making you giggle. You had a feeling you knew what he was talking about. “I can do this all over with you again in the lair, and this time be able to watch you”.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”, you asked with a teasing smile. “Hun could be up to something else”.

“Hun can go and fuck the Admin Wizard for all I care”, Leo said, getting himself ready to leave. “Now, get your clothes on so I can take it off of you again when we get home”.

[danikamariewrites]

Heya!!! Can I please request some Cassian x reader? ❤️

Punches

Cassian x reader

Warnings: slight angst and typos

Flipping onto your side to face Cassian you reach out to hold him. Your met with cooling sheets where your mate should be. Your eyes flutter open to see Cassian’s side of the bed empty. The sheets pushed back haphazardly, his pillow scrunched and at an odd angle.

Sitting up you look toward the bathroom for him. But the door was ajar and the light off. You were starting to get worried. Cassian never left in the middle of the night without telling you. You reached out to him through the bond that connects you. Getting to his side of that sweet golden thread you hit an impenetrable wall keeping you from his emotions.

Now he was starting to scare you. Throwing yourself out of bed you put on your slippers and bathrobe to go look for Cassian. You don’t know what made you go up the training ring. Maybe it was your instincts telling you where Cassian was most likely to be. It was either up here or the kitchen at this hour.

Climbing the last few steps the sound of Cassian’s grunts and fists against the training dummy reached your ears. You sped up your steps at the anger you noted in his agitated sounds.

Usually the sight of Cassian shirtless and sweaty would turn you on but this worried you. His wings were tucked in tight to his back. He swung wildly at the dummy. Each punch looked like it would could someone. Cassian even took the time to out in his training pants and boots.

You slowly approached your mate, clearing your throat and making your footsteps loud so you wouldn’t startle him. When Cassian got like this he could be a little unpredictable. You knew he’d never hurt you but you wanted to make sure he could snap out of whatever anger was consuming him.

As you got closer Cassian sensed you. He landed one more hit on the dummy, sending it flying across the training ring. His arms went limp at his sides while his hands curled into tight fists. Like he needed to be ready to attack at any moment. His chest was heaving by the time you stood in front of him.

“Cass,” you say softly. He whips his head to look down at you. A pained expression decorated his beautiful features, making him look rougher. His face was wet from sweat and tears. His usually bright hazel eyes dull from whatever was weighing heavy on his shoulders. You slowly bring your hands up to hold his face as you wipe his tears away with your thumbs.

“Cass what’s going on?” He lets out a shuddering breath, bringing his forehead to rest against yours. A small sob escaped his lips. His arms wrapping tightly around your torso. You run your finger through his messy hair, slightly swaying him as his tears dripped on your neck. With each warm drop you felt your heart break for him. You wanted to take away Cassian’s pain like he does for you.

The two of you stay like that for a while. When Cassian pulls away from you he wipes at his eyes and clears his throat. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” “It’s ok.” You coo at him, rubbing his arm lightly. “Do you wanna talk about it?” He nods lightly. You lead him over to one of the benches next to the ring. Your hand never leaving his arm.

Cassian clears his throat again before starting. “I had a nightmare. And it wasn’t a normal nightmare, it felt too real. We were fighting Hybern and he took you from Velaris. It didn’t matter how I just had to get you back. But I was too late.” His voice broke at the end causing your vision to blur from unshed tears.

Cassian was crying again. Cauldron this must have messed him up. Cass rarely had nightmares and when he did have them they weren’t pleasant. This was the worst one he’d had since Hybern.

“He…he did it right in front of me too. Laughing while I held you. When I woke up I was so afraid you wouldn’t be next to me. I watched you for a while. You were so still I thought…” he let out a deep sigh, his eyes screwing shut to try and shake off the memory. “Then you moved and I was just so happy you were alive. I even put my head on your chest so I could hear your heartbeat.” You moved your hand down his arm to intertwine your fingers. You squeezed once, pulling his hand up to kiss his bloody knuckles. He didn’t bother to wrap his hands when he came up here.

“I’m here Cass. I’m not going anywhere. You wanna know something? I know you’d never be late. You have always saved me when I needed you and nothing would keep us apart.” Cassian pressed a soft kiss on the crown of your head, breathing in your scent. “Thank you,” he whispered.

“Let’s get you cleaned up and we can go back to bed.” You whisper back. “I’ll even make breakfast when we eventually get up.” Cassian lets out a breathy laugh as you both stand, heading back to your room where you’re safe and nothing can hurt you. Because you’d be in Cassian’s arms. And he’d never let anything happen to you.

[intimidating-fettuccine]

It's a stupid question, but... have you seen those romantic cliches where the new person ends up getting lost in a new/unknown place, and suddenly meets a person who already has experience in that place and asks for help?

So I wanted to know if you could write a scenario/headcanons where the reader has just arrived at the mansion, but ends up lost and ends up meeting Jason who was just passing by and ends up asking him for help?

~jason simp anon

Pd: It's a pleasure to be back :D

Welcome back! I thought this ask was very cute, so thank you for sending it in, and I hope you enjoy :)

The path to the mansion can be a bit tricky for those not used to it yet. While there is a clear path, it often gets covered by leaves and branches from the many trees spanning above, and it certainly doesn't help that there are other paths that lead to different places. While you had done a pretty good job working your way through the forest, you'd found yourself at a three-way split in paths and were unsure of which one to take. Luckily for you, your unsuspecting knight in shining armor also happened to be on his way home. Unfamiliar with your figure, he'd questioned you what you were doing, quite suspicious of you, but the minute you'd turned around and smiled at him eagerly he felt all of his hesitation melting away.

You informed him you were a new hire at the mansion (even showing him direct proof from some paperwork Slender had given you in advance), but that you weren't quite sure how to find your way back. Ever the gentleman, Jason readily agrees to guide you on your way and thus begins your journey with him. While he tried making conversation to appear polite, Jason soon found that he actually quite liked your company and that he was enjoying himself while spending time with you. He made sure to drill into you the correct route, even showing you the discreet markers the other creeps use to make sure they don't get lost. The forest floor gets quite bumpy, and so at one point he even offered you his arm to hold so you'd be more stable, and of course, you accepted, leading Jason to wonder why it was that he was so happy having you hold onto him like that. As you drew closer to the mansion, he found himself growing a bit sad, as once you arrived he'd be quite hard-pressed to get alone time with you once more. He wasn't even looking forward anymore, walking beside you with his eyes trained on your face, watching your expressions and developing a fondness for you he wasn't quite used to.

Good things must come to an end, however, and you soon reach the front gates of the mansion, slipping in easily thanks to Jason's help. You thanked him for guiding you all the way, and he bowed lightly, telling you it was his pleasure. What he wasn't expecting, was for you to eagerly give him a quick hug, thanking him again before entering the mansion ahead of him, calling out that you didn't want to be late for meeting up with Slender today. Jason couldn't help but stand there for a few moments, his hand resting over where your head had pressed into his chest, missing the warmth of your body already. He felt truly peculiar, unsure of how to process how you had such an effect on him when you'd just met, but he merely dismissed the idea to go about the rest of his tasks for the day. It wouldn't be until the end of the day arrived, when you finally located the entrance to his workroom, that the bubbly feelings he'd been pushing down all day since meeting you would float back up. You told him you stopped by to chat and tell him about how your first day went, thanking him again for this morning, and wishing him goodnight. He listened with rapt attention to everything you were saying, forgetting himself and anything he'd been doing up until that point. He felt a bitter sadness in his chest as you turned to leave, but he wished you goodnight all the same, although he called after you to please visit again. The smile you gave him as you cheerfully said you would nearly make him fall back, his body unsteady. He must be going mad, he thought to himself, to be affected so easily by someone like this, but as he watched your retreating figure run up the stairs, he decided that it might not be such a bad thing.

[i-heart-hxh]

I love you meta posts! I've been curious to here other peoples opinions on whether or not Killua every truly believed that Kite was alive. Part of me believes he just went along with Gon not wanting to admit it to himself.

Thank you so much, and this is a great topic to dig into!

To truly understand the answer, we need to back up a bit.

When Pitou appears in front of Gon, Killua, and Kite, Killua knocks Gon out and flees at Kite's urging, as well as out of his own terror. However, almost as soon as Killua flees, he realizes they screwed up by coming along with Kite to NGL in spite of the warnings they received:

After he flees, Killua encounters Knov and Morel (along with Netero), fellow Hunters who he can tell are very strong. He's mocked and insulted for his decision to flee and told he's a failure.

Killua is aware of his own tendency to flee when faced with an opponent beyond his ability to handle. He isn't aware of the needle at this point, however, so he likely interprets this tendency as simply his own personal failing--something that makes him unworthy of someone like Gon, who pushes onward no matter what obstacles are in his path.

He must have been worried about what Gon would say when he woke up--after all, Kite is Gon's mentor and someone who means a lot to Gon. Killua was beating himself up for what happened, both their decision to go along with Kite and his decision on both of their behalf to flee. I believe Killua thought Kite was dead at that point. It's a reasonable expectation because he saw Kite lose his arm, and he was overpowered by the sense of how strong Pitou was.

And then Gon wakes up, and rather than criticizing or being upset with Killua, he thanks Killua for making the decision to flee and expresses this very naive but overpowering optimism that "Kite is alive!" and they just have to go back and save him.

Killua is not naive like Gon is. He's someone who strategizes based off the reality of a situation rather than hope and belief that things will work out, and it makes him someone who flees when he feels he can't win (in his view, of course the needle is a big part of this). He doesn't see himself as able to become someone like Gon, who can force reality to his own will even when the odds seem insurmountable.

But here, he lets himself believe in Gon's words in spite of everything. Because he wants to believe that Gon is right. Because he wants to believe he's not the person he was beating himself up for being and that there is hope in the situation after all. That his decision wasn't wrong. That Gon can save him again and continue to lead him into the light, rather than the darkness he grew up in and knows he still harbors within himself.

He buys into Gon's perspective also because he can't stand looking into Gon's hopeful face and telling Gon what he strongly suspects: That Kite is dead, that there's no hope. Gon wouldn't accept that, Gon might reject Killua if he says that, and Killua doesn't want to dim Gon's light.

Killua was never allowed to be a kid--he grew up training, killing, working. It was only with Gon he was finally able to act his own age, play, be a normal kid like he wanted to.

And here, he lets himself be a little naive and accept Gon's perspective, let himself have faith in the world and the boy he loves.

So, ultimately I think his cynicism and realism collapses in the face of Gon's "light," but I think Killua has moments throughout the arc where doubt starts creeping in in spite of that. He pushes it down because of all the above reasons. By the point his view of the situation reaches a breaking point, it's like Gon is a boulder rolling down a hill and gaining speed, and Killua isn't able to stop him until it's very nearly too late.

[longlivedelusion]

Hiker's Delight

Summary: Bucky takes you on a hike. That's it. That's the fic. Boyfriend! Bucky x Reader. Established Relationship.

Warnings: Just fluff and some mentions of post- Hydra trauma, but nothing too crazy. Will proper edit later!

A/N: Quick lil fic I wrote cause I've been just wanting more boyfriend! bucky, domestic life vibes. I need fluffy and comforting energy rn and this is that. Enjoy!!

Masterlist

I make my way up the hill, huffing as I grab onto a nearby rock to pull myself up.

Bucky's behind me, not out of breath at all, the damn super soldier and his stamina and-

"Hey, you doin' ok?" I hear from behind me, Bucky leaning against a nearby rock.

I nod, looking back ahead as I haul myself up. "This is just a bit more intense than I thought, I'll be okay though." I let out another grunt and I push another step. He's stayed behind me the whole time even though I'm going at a snail's pace, according to him I'd probably drop off and get lost if he lead the way.

"You sure you don't want-"

"No. You are not gonna carry me. I'm gonna finish *grunt* this *huff* damn hike with my own two feet." 

We pull forward, the slopes getting a bit more steep than I expected, which had me nearly sweating by the time we reached the edge. I looked up at the towering cliff knowing my arms were like jello, but I had to, needed to-

Bucky knelt down and held his hands out, a makeshift lift as he looked up at me. He quirked his brow.

"I can-" I start.

"Stop being stubborn and take the help doll. This cliff is a bit of a bitch, if you can't tell." He said waved his arm at the cliff to make a point.

I don't say anything and just sigh, knowing he was right. No use being overly stubborn about this. I prop my foot in his hands, griping where I could on the rock in front of me before Bucky said "Ready? 1... 2..."

And then I was up, the top of the rock pressed against my stomach as I hoisted myself over the rest of the way. I crawled forward, legs starting to feel a bit like jello now that I was on the ground. 

I watched as Bucky followed right after, easily pulling himself over like it was the easiest thing in the world. He stood up with ease, clearly not dealing with same jello legs as I just kind of collapsed on my back and took some deep breaths. 

"Ugh, this damn body. Why must it betray me so." My dramatic ass said.

"Because you just went on a pretty intensive hike with barely any training even though I offered to have you train with me for like 2 months."

My noodle arm managed to raise up and wave him off, "Semantics."

He chuckled, taking a seat beside me and brushing the sweaty strands of hair off my face. "Want some water?"

I nod, eyes closed as my breathing stedied, my body starting to relax and calm down from the overexertion. I heard a bottle cap untwist, making me open my eyes to see Bucky with some water in hand. 

"Come on, you can prop up against me if you want." He said, hand gently helping me upwards. I push myself up and shift over, my back now facing the soldier's chest as he hands me the bottle.

"Oh fuck that's good," I sigh, taking a long swig before passing it back over to Bucky. It takes me a moment, but after I blink a few times I finally realize the view before me.

Directly in front of us is the most beautiful mountain range I'd ever seen-- massive trees lining the edges of the mountainS, an eagle soaring overhead, and a huge, crystal blue lake smack dab in the center. So cut off from civilization, this untouched land surrounded my mountains and only Mother Nature as its mistress.

"Wow, this is-" I start, eyes wide as they tried to take in every detail. The lighting, the shades of green, the textures--all of it... "breathtaking."

"I'm glad you like it." Bucky said softly, his voice a soft tickle behind my ear. His arms wrapped around my waist, tucking me in a bit closer to him as I sat in awe.

"Even though I'm not the biggest hiking fan-"

"Huh, couldn't tell." Bucky joked.

"-oh hush. I was saying, even though I'm not the biggest hiker, I'm really glad you asked me to do this." I reached for his hands on my waist and gave them a small squeeze.

"Thanks for coming. I'd only ever been here alone before, and it was for a mission. So I'm glad I get to actually enjoy it, and with some pretty decent company while we're at it." He kissed the side of my head, a smirk pressed against my hair.

"Oh decent huh? Just decent?" I looked over into his blue eyes and saw they were already looking down at me. That shit-eating smirk plastered on his stupidly gorgeous face. "Says the man who practically begged to take me here."

He shrugged, "I don't remember begging."

"Oh? So all that whining and bribing with takeout was just a lapse in memory then?"

"Probably." He said, the nonchalance to his voice making me wanna shove and kiss his sarcastic ass all at once..

So I settle with a boop his nose and a scrunched smile. "Cheeky." I turn back to the view before me, settling back into Bucky. As I reached into my bag and pulled out the small lunch I'd packed prior, I heard a grumble behind me. "Hungry?" I ask.

"Just a bit." He chuckled lightly.

I pulled some of the sandwiches and some fruits out, grabbing one for myself and handing the other to Bucky. "I can't think of a prettier place I've ever eaten," I said, mouth half full as I took a bite of my sandwich.

He reached for some blueberries, arms brushing past mine as he hummed and popped them in his mouth. "I need to take you out more then. Can't let this be the peak of our relationship now can I?"

"I mean, as long as I can actually physically get to these places ok I'm down. My stubbornness can't handle another hike like this, or I'll try to climb Everest of something next time."

"Eh, Everest is overrated anyways." He said, taking another bite of food.

I turned around in shock, "Seriously? You climbed Everest?"

He had a cocky smile on his face as he nodded. "Yup. Was kidding about the overrated thing though. Impressed?"

"Um, yeah I'm impressed! But when, how, what was it like?" I rambled on. I couldn't believe this man I'd come to know and love still had stuff like this just to learn about. A whole lifetime to know. 

He put the bottle down, thinking for a bit. "About ten years ago, when I was still in..." He hesitated. Hydra. Something we both knew, understood in... Different ways. It didn't need to be said. "I remember bits and pieces, but it was cold as hell and windy. For a second there though, at the top of the mountain, I looked out and was me. Bucky. I didn't remember the last time I had been myself like that, and I just didnt know what to do but take a deep breath in, look out at the mountains. I sat there for... Fuck knows how long."

I set down my food and reached for his hand, my thumb tracing over the back as he spoke. "Is that why you like hiking and climbing so much?" 

He nodded, hand turning and holding mine. He looked at the metal hand below him intertwined with mine before he spoke. "It can always pull me out of whatever headspace I'm in, I don't know. When shit doesn't work and the day feels like hell, being out here just... Helps. It reminds me of who I was or could be. I don't know." He shrugged, looking away at the view.

I squeeze his hand, eyes tracing back to his face. "I think I can sort of understand. Not the hiking or climbing but... Being by the sea does the same for me. Helps me remember that I'm alive and here."

He nods, his gaze still in the horizon. "It's like, no matter how fucked up the world gets or I get, nature doesn't judge. She justs gets it and doesn't care. Doesn't care about who I am or what I've done."

"Because she just sees chaos and order and gets that both are important." I add, fingers still tracing along the side of his face slowly. "The rest of it doesn't really matter."

"Exactly."

We sit in silence for a moment before I shift Bucky's face towards me. His eyes lock onto mine in silent question. 

"Thank you for bringing me here. And sharing this with me."

He smiles as he leans down, a small kiss pressed against my lips before he let his forehead drop to mine. "Happy to."

"So where to next?" I ask, pulling back enough to look at him. "Another mountain? The desert? A tundra?"

"Actually, " he said, that cocky smile gracing his features again. "I got the perfect spot already in mind."

[skyward-floored]

Downfall iau, more of Twi's escape. I've got another fic finishing up what's going on with him, but the transition felt weird, so consider this part one (or two? since there already was a part... hm. well anyway).

This is Wild's pov just for reference, since he just refers to himself as Link.

(The bit before this)

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Link had no idea what he’d been thinking.

Actually, no, he knew the answer to that— he hadn’t been thinking. At all.

He’d seen a super run towards him and Zelda in those dull-colored sleep clothes everyone had, looking terrified and harried with his hands cuffed in front of him, and while Link’s first response had been to cover Zelda (of course), he’d looked into terrified blue-grey eyes that were panicked and obviously in pain, and his second response...

Had been to tug the super into an empty office as quickly as possible, and then help Zelda lie to the authorities as to where he’d gone.

And he was now helping said-super remain standing while Zelda tried to pick the lock of her father’s office.

I must be crazy.

“Almost got it,” Zelda murmured, her tongue sticking out a bit as she worked. “It figures today is the one time he doesn’t forget to lock his door.”

“That... happen a lot?” Twilight rasped, and Zelda shrugged.

“You’d be surprised,” she said, and Twilight hummed weakly in response. A twitch ran through him moments later, one he tried to hide, but Link was still holding him up and felt it plain as day.

Concern ran through him; he didn’t know how often Twilight was shocked on a daily basis, but even the people most used to it couldn’t handle several in rapid succession. And Twilight had been shocked once on the way here and at least twice before that.

Link didn’t know how much more he could take.

“Got it!” Zelda finally whispered with a triumphant smile, and Link wasted no time in pulling her and Twilight inside and immediately re-locking the door.

It was a nice office, if a bit stuffy. Zelda’s father didn’t spend much time here so it was neater than other spaces he occupied, which Link at least was grateful for. There was less to disturb, which meant less evidence they’d ever been in here.

Link pulled Twilight over to a chair while Zelda gathered her tools, Twilight sinking onto the cushion with a groan of relief. He was still tense, likely expecting another shock, but he looked better once he was sitting at least.

“Okay, this shouldn’t take long,” Zelda reassured, crouching at Twilight’s side. “I’ve disabled these before. Just let me know if you think another shock is about to go out, it could be bad depending on where I am in the process.”

Twilight nodded, and Zelda got to work.

Link stayed standing while Zelda worked, his hand kept near his weapon. The door may have been locked, but he still kept his gaze on it in anticipation of any threat, government or otherwise. At least they were safe from security cameras in here.

Link’s eyes went wide at the thought, and ice slipped into his stomach. The hallway they’d been traveling through mere minutes ago was filled with cameras. It was only a matter of time before someone checked them and saw him and Zelda helping Twilight.

Which would lead to Twilight being found, an eventual “accident” involving Zelda, Link would be arrested, or worse—

“Something wrong?” Twilight asked, voice raspy.

Link swallowed. “Security cameras. The hall outside is teeming with them.”

Somehow Twilight got paler. “That means they probably know where we are.”

“If not now then soon,” Link replied grimly. I can’t believe I forgot about the cameras, way to remember your training—

“I might be able to erase the feeds for the past hour or two,” Zelda spoke up, chewing nervously on her lip as she worked. “But it’ll still be sketchy, and if somebody already saw them...”

“You two should go,” Twilight whispered, looking terrible. “If you’re seen helping me then—”

“Not until I’m done,” Zelda said firmly, pulling something out of twilight’s band and setting it aside. “We still have some time. We can wait.”

Twilight went silent, and Link went back to watching the door, small clicks and fiddling sounds coming from Zelda’s hands. Link began plotting a route towards the control room in his head, going over what he knew of the security and how best to bypass it in a nondescript manner. Zelda’s status might help with that, but it would be too suspicious to bring her down there before they erased the footage. He could go alone and just race past mostly everything, but he didn’t know nearly as much about technology as Zelda did.

Maybe she could stay back and radio him the instructions... yes, that should work. He’d run fast enough that the cameras wouldn’t pick him up, and she could instruct him from somewhere safe. The shift would change soon, that would be the best time to plan their move.

Link inwardly sighed. This really hadn’t been what he’d been expecting to do when he’d woken up this morning.

Twilight suddenly stiffened behind him, and Link turned towards him. “Shock coming.”

Zelda’s eyes went wide and she rapidly finished screwing with something on Twilight’s wrist, her fingers flying. The band sparked to life, and Zelda jerked backwards with a small gasp of pain, clutching her hand. Electricity raced through Twilight yet again, and his back arched as he let out a cry, falling from his chair.

He convulsed violently on the floor, and after quickly making sure Zelda was okay, Link dropped to a knee beside him, knowing he couldn’t touch him yet, but preparing for when he could. Twilight screamed again, electricity shooting through him, and bile rose in Link’s throat at the blatant cruelty on display.

This was what they were trying to stop.

Twilight abruptly fell limp, twitching just a little, and Link put a hand on his arm, steadying him while he took his pulse again.

The beat felt erratic, and Link thought he felt it skip a beat, though he couldn’t be sure. Twilight whimpered, sweat on his brow, and Zelda hurriedly knelt beside him, taking Twilight’s wrist again and worked on finishing what she’d been in the middle of. Her face was white as she clutched her tools, and Link was beyond grateful she’d disabled the shocking mechanism in his own band ages ago.

“Surely he’s reached the limit by now,” Zelda whispered, Twilight’s breath softly wheezing. “I thought three was the max for one day.”

“It’s only a guideline. Technically there isn’t one,” Link murmured back, still feeling Twilight’s pulse. He’d passed out, but his pulse seemed a little stronger. “You might get a reprimand for doing it more, but nobody really cares.“

Zelda’s mouth pressed into a thin line, and she focused even more intently on her work, conversation silenced. The only sound was of Twilight’s rasps, and Link stayed close to his side, studying him a little.

Twilight looked about average height, which meant he was taller than Link was. He seemed like he would normally be quite a force to be reckoned with, muscled and broad-shouldered, and despite how pathetic he looked at the moment, Link could tell he’d be a tough fight. He wondered briefly how old he was, then realized he’d been not paying as much attention to the door, and fixed his gaze back on the handle.

He needed to focus. Things were getting tricky, and he didn’t have time to be distracted if he was going to keep everyone safe.

Twilight’s breath had settled closer to normal, and his eyes had reopened when Zelda finally exclaimed in victory, replacing the tiny panel she’d pulled up with a smile.

“There. I disabled the shocking mechanism. It shouldn’t be a problem anymore,” she explained happily, and Twilight closed his eyes again, letting out a wobbly sigh of relief.

“Thank you. Thank you so much,” he breathed, swallowing, and then taking in a deeper breath. He began to carefully sit himself up, and Zelda steadied him when he grimaced, but he made it up, and leaned against the desk behind him with a conflicted look. “I... you two should really get going. I don’t... want either of you to end up in my position.”

“I agree,” Link said, and tilted his head towards the door. “We need to move fast if we’re going to have any chance of keeping this a secret.”

Zelda sighed. “You’re right, as always. You should be able to rest here for a little longer,” she directed at Twilight, but he shook his head, gritting his teeth as he tried to stand on his shaking legs.

“I need to get moving... people will be coming in for work soon.”

Zelda sighed, but nodded again, and she extended her hand towards Twilight’s as he managed to get himself upright.

“I’m sorry we can’t help you more,” Zelda apologized, and Twilight took her hand and clasped it.

“You’ve done plenty. I can’t... thank you enough,” he said, eyes shining with gratitude. “Though... I have one small favor to ask.”

“Yes?”

Twilight swallowed. “The arrest order went... out for my whole family. I don’t doubt that they had enough time to get away, but if they didn’t... could you give them a message from me? O-only if you see them.”

“Of course,” Zelda reassured, and Link nodded.

“Okay. Well... Infrared and Malanya are my brother and mom,” Twilight said quietly. Link twitched an ear at the familiar names. “If you see them, just... tell them the beast is still divine. They might have two kids with them too, blond, fairly young. Go by Wind and Four. They won’t understand, but they can pass it on.”

“The beast is still divine, got it,” Zelda nodded. “We’ll pass it on if we can.”

Twilight smiled at them, still trembling, sweaty and pale and barely standing, but determined. “Thank you again. I owe you two.”

“You don’t owe us anything,” Zelda assured as she packed up her tools, giving him a small curtsy.

“Just get yourself out of here,” Link added quietly, and Twilight nodded, taking a wobbling step forward so he could shake Link’s hand.

Link shook it back, and Twilight smiled at him, and even though the edges were strained and Twilight looked a bit like death walking, it was a nice smile. Link briefly wondered if they were friends now.

“Nearest exit is up the hallway and to the left, it’s after you pass this especially big poster on the wall. It should be easy to find,” Zelda said, and Twilight nodded.

“Up the hall, to the left, after the big poster. Got it. ...Good luck with the cameras,” he said quietly, and Zelda nodded.

“Good luck to you too. I hope you make it somewhere safe,” she said worriedly, and Twilight smiled, and nodded in return.

Link checked the time on his band, then quickly explained his idea to Zelda while she helped Twilight to the door. This goodbye was taking much too long. Twilight would be okay. He was certain of it.

Zelda agreed to his idea as he quickly laid it out, though she was worried what would happen if he got caught. Link waved away her concerns, reminding her they didn’t have time for a better plan, and she agreed with a sigh.

“You’d better not get caught,” she said with a huff, though Link could hear the worry in her voice. “Either of you.”

“I’ll be fine,” Link said at the same time as Twilight, and they exchanged somewhat bemused looks.

Zelda cracked a worried smile. “Prove me right, then.”

They didn’t speak any more, Link turning one way down the hall while Twilight went the other. Link looked back at him before he ran off, the other hero leaning on the wall for support, his steps determined despite how they shook, and sent up a quick prayer to whoever was listening that he would make it.

Then he raced off down the hall, making a beeline for the computer control room.