#imbecile outer sleeves

[gogmstuff]

ca. 1828 German Princess by François Joseph Kinsoen (Bowes Museum - Barnard Castle, Teesdale, County Durham UK). From Wikimedia; fixed crinkles in background with Photoshop 1399X1860 @72 971kj.

[platypanthewriter]

Cthulian Stargazing

Day 6 for the Harringrove April Prompts!  Steve’s dad is an evil cultist, but Steve’s just there to run errands.

The folks at the Hawkins Lab were just too newfangled, from what Steve’s dad said.  It was no wonder the monster had gotten out—you had to tie down your sacrifices for one thing, and draw containment pentagrams, for another, or actual Hell would break loose.  

Steve basically agreed, having attended the seminars—mostly to lurk around and eat free bagels—and having heard the “Whoopsie, I smeared it—” from somebody dipping a paintbrush into a bunch of blood in a jar.  That tended to be followed by the lashing of a huge tentacle, and the flapping of robes as the screaming, incompetent novice was scooped into what his dad called the “Nether Dimension.”

Given his grade in Geometry, Steve wanted nothing to do with anything that required diagramming, so he stayed politely back fetching bottled water, or grabbing strewn pages of spells as they scattered in a fell and poisonous wind.  He tried to ignore the occasional pained shrieking—they’d all assembled to summon Elder Gods, after all, and even if all thirteen hooded figures hoped the tentacles snagged somebody else’s ankle, it stood to reason it had to grab somebody.  They couldn’t always count on somebody answering their “Revenge!  Wanted: Willing Sacrifice to Demonic Powers” ads, after all, no matter how many times Steve’s dad had him change the font to be more eye catching.

It was a summer job, was all, until the day they brought in Billy Hargrove. 

“He was poking around the Steelworks,�� one of the hooded figures said.  “Fell through a portal.”

Billy squirmed in the duct tape they’d cocooned him in, spluttering and growling around his gag, and Steve winced behind his mask.  “Uh, ah,” he whispered to his father.  “He hasn’t signed the waiver, has he?”

“Don’t be an idiot,” his father hissed back.  “As if anyone would look for him here.”

The other twelve’s robes fluttered as they bounced in excited agreement, and Billy gave a muffled yell, kicking like a beached trout.  

“Um,” Steve said, grimacing, and wishing his father wasn’t evil.  He envied Tommy Hagen, who had a normal dad, who sold tires.  “Uhhhh, what if he’s been, like, drinking Everclear?  He could...poison it?  Or something?”

“Don’t be an imbecile,” his father shot back.  “Cthulhu’s not going to get indigestion.”  

“I should get the duct tape off him, at least,” Steve tried.  “It, um.  Might be like eating sticky peanut butter, you know?”  To that, his dad agreed, patting his shoulder approvingly.

 Billy thrashed like a homicidal mermaid some more, snarling as Steve drug him into the bathroom by his ankles.  “They’re mostly at the sacrificial site,” Steve whispered, tearing the duct tape away from Billy’s denim-carpeted hide.  “There’s just me and my dad and his dad here, lemme get a look outside before you—” try to sneak away, he’d meant to say, but Billy beaned him from behind as he peered out the bathroom door, clonking Steve’s head into the wall, and Steve didn’t even get the chance to say “Wait until my dad isn’t right outside.”

Billy shrieked insults as they drug him into the elevator, and Steve groaned, rubbing the back of his head, and sighed heavily.  He staggered over to the altar—his father’s sect didn’t believe in bookshelves, only altars—and poked at the books with a rubber glove he’d found in the janitor’s closet.  He was fairly sure they were written on human skin, in blood, and he wasn’t touching that, so he flipped through clumsily with the huge yellow rubber gloves until he found a familiar diagram.  He fished his cell phone out and took pictures of the text, and then sighed again, and called Nancy.  

 She stared around at everything, asking “Wait, a what now, a cult?!” as Steve shrugged, grimaced, and rubbed the back of his head.  At his embarrassed silence, she shook herself—still side-eyeing him—and had him help her steal bags of flour from the cafeteria, rig up molotov cocktails with the liquor in his dad’s office, and blow every window of his dad’s building out in explosions of fire.

“Are you gonna be okay,” she asked, staring at him still, as they stood in the parking lot, and ashes fell around them like snow.

“Just a couple things left to do,” he said, sighing, as they listened to the fire trucks approach.  “Can, uh, can you talk to Hopper?  I have to go, um, they’re, y’know, sacrificing somebody.”

“Holy shit,” she breathed, nodding, and shoving him towards his car, and he coughed his way through the smoke.  With the light of the burning building, it was harder to see how the stars were aligned overhead, bright and ominous.

 He parked a ways away from the hill with the sacrificial altar, and pulled on his robe and mask.  He could hear high-pitched screaming, and he grimaced as he climbed, and elbowed his way through the circle of chanting cultists.

“Is that you, Fletcher?!” Steve’s dad asked, and Steve nodded, waving as he tromped up the hill, his robes flapping in the ominous wind.  “Dammit,” his dad said, “—can’t you ever be on time?”

“Mmnm,” Steve said, not wanting to blow his cover.  They’d gotten Billy into a white shift, and between his curls and his long lashes, he looked the part, except for the smear of blood over his face where he had some of a cultist’s fingers in his teeth.  He had another one by the hair as she tried to cuff his wrist to the table.  

The bitten cultist was the one screaming, and Steve grinned to himself, shaking his head as he surreptitiously checked the diagrams, hiding his phone in his sleeve.  He paced around the blood-drawn circle—his dad had told him long ago that they could use chicken or pork blood, so he was fairly sure the blood wasn’t Billy’s—though it might be the screaming cultist’s, Steve thought with satisfaction, watching red drip off the side of the altar.  

“Allow me,” he said, to the one trying to get her hair loose from Billy’s fist, and she let Steve grab her hair, and yank her loose.  Billy grabbed for his face, and Steve jerked back, glancing up to see the stars pulsing faintly as the chanting heightened, and the circle lit around them.  

He stepped away to Billy’s ankle, glad his dad was too archaic-minded for locks, and fiddled with the clasp.  “This isn’t even done up right,” he said loudly, unhitching it so Billy could move, and then pushing Billy’s foot back down.  Billy’d gone still, his eyes narrowed at Steve’s mask.  “He could have kicked it open,” Steve said, squeezing Billy’s ankle, hard.  “I better check the others,” he said meaningfully, digging his fingers in so Billy couldn’t move, “—so he doesn’t get away.”

Billy must have gotten the message, because he didn’t move, aside from biting down harder.  The cultist’s screams turned to gibbering shrieks, and Steve stepped around to unclasp Billy’s other ankle, as Steve’s dad started to chant.  The circle lit from below, its beam meeting the light of the aligned stars overhead, and Steve ran to shove the bitten cultist away, and unclasp Billy’s cuffed wrist as his body arched, glowing form within, and he yelled FUCK at the top of his lungs.  

“Come on,” Steve hissed, yanking Billy off the table.  He fell in a pile, shuddering, as Steve’s dad yelled, and Steve shoved Billy as hard as he could through the line of cultists—they shouted and grumbled, like a flock of crows—and down the hill, so he fell and rolled.  Steve dropped to a crouch in the confusion to lick the edge of his robe and scrub it hard at the inner circle of blood, and as the line scrubbed away, the ground cracked.  A chasm opened as Steve scrambled back, and he could hear the dude Billy had bitten screaming more as he fell.  The rest of the crowd fell with him, shrieking.

Steve stumbled and fell down the hill, grabbing for the white shift that was all he could see in the shifting, malevolent light of the burning stars, and the red light flickering as tentacles rose from the depths of the earth.  He could hear his dad yelling at him as he staggered away, his arm around Billy, before his dad’s voice suddenly cut off.  

“What the fuck,” Billy was panting, “—what the fuck, what in the fucking fuck—”, which was fair.  He stumbled against Steve, staggering through the woods, probably barefoot, now Steve thought about it.  He grimaced, as the earth shook again, and the roar of the creature they’d summoned blew the leaves up around them.  It had probably hit the outer containment circle, Steve thought, from the way its cries shook the earth.

“Here,” he said, yanking Billy’s arm over his shoulder, and pulling him up onto his back.  “Hang on,” Steve shouted, over the cacophony.

“What the fuck,” Billy yelled into his shoulder, clinging like a koala, and Steve took a few steps under the considerable weight of Billy Hargove, weightlifter, and regretted many of his life decisions.  “The fuck did you do,” Billy shouted, and Steve hefted him up higher, staggering along as the stars burned like suns, lighting their path.  

“Just smudged it some,” Steve hollered back, forcing himself along until he got to his car, and he could tip Billy back into the passenger seat.

“Smudged what,” Billy shouted, nearly overbalancing Steve to stare back at the stars.  “What was that?!” The massive tentacles lashed nearly up to the sky in the flickering, rising greenish light, and Steve shrugged, walked around the car, and climbed in.  He turned the key.  

“Should clear up in a couple hours,” he said hopefully, and Billy stared over at him.  Steve handed over his phone.  “What’s it say?” 

Billy squinted at the photos, his eyes wide and horrified, as Steve flung his mask and robe into the backseat, and hit the gas.  “...looks like the portal will close,” Billy said, and Steve nodded.  

“Okay,” he said, white-knuckling it as the ground shook.  “Okay.”

“Are there more of those assholes?” Billy asked, staring back through the window, and scrubbing his hand against the blood drying on his chin.

“Yeah, there are,” Steve sighed, then bit back a grin, and glanced over.  “...you wanna blow up their headquarters?”

“You had me at ‘blow up,’ Billy said, crossing his legs on the dash, and smirking up at the too-brightly shimmering stars.

He had blood on his teeth.

The other Harringrove April prompts I’ve done

[pernatius]

Lost in Space Part 9: Ch 3

Previous

Summary: Syco and the unnamed Space Explorer question their choices.

Lost in Space on Tumblr

Lost in Space on ao3

Their arm springs towards me. My sword goes right through them. The book I had let go of several moments ago, the one I could not read, shakes. The unknown figure before me grunts as their hand begins to shake as well. A jerk later, and the book goes flying towards them. They catch it. Quickly, I realize they are a known figure. He is Sakhra’s brother. Ex-brother? I am thousands of light-years away from that desert planet, so why is he here? Does it have to do with Sakhra’s reasoning for not coming with us? I hope he’s okay and that his brothers and sisters do not cross paths with Syco anytime soon because when you are desperate you no longer care. I should do something about that. He trusts me. I should end it before the boulder hits the ground, but it's my stupid humanity that stops me from doing so. Emotions help you see, but it also keeps you from doing anything of substance. I am not strong enough, Ojos. I am sorry.

Two sets of eyes, who now have eye bags underneath them, seemingly stab me. Then, look down at the now open book. It’s not even a minute before their eyes finish scanning through it. Closing it, Sakhra’s ex-brother opens up with, “Another unrelated one, but not completely useless.” 

He slides the book in his sleeve before scanning around the circular wall of books around us and turning back around to the opening behind him. I opened my mouth as he looked both ways, watching out for any guards that may be around, so I could press for answers. Just like then, his steps are precise, gentle. It’s an excuse. I do not want him to stop. I want to know where he is going. I want to know what interested him in coming here. I want to know if I am making the right choice. 

A broad-shouldered figure causes the stairs in front of me and the column my four-eyed leader is hiding behind to creak as he walks down it. He waves his flashlight across the hallway. It passes through me, and not too long after, he does as well. Turning the corner, the once cultist heads up the stairs. I do as well. When landing on the second floor, he goes right into scanning the books that have been carelessly scattered all over the walkway. Three of them are balancing on the handrail. Soon I am leaning over them as the cloaked figure proceeds onwards. Right when I am about to lose sight of him, I also scan. A million books. There have to be at least a million books on the first floor alone. Even if Shiitakee tried to validate Saamuki's theory, one that is “going to change everything”, we would not come close to finishing the first floor. A month and we would barely make it halfway. I wonder how Saamuki is doing. By now, Shiitakee is back on the ship drooling and snoring, waiting for us to come back after just flipping through three books, but he is not useless. Apparently, not. I do not know much about him. He’s known Syco for a long time, years, yet Syco trusts me more than him. Why? Unlike Commander Knox, Shiitakee has not proven himself to be untrustworthy. He has not snitched on us peeking in on The Commander being on life support. Maybe there is more to his whining. I hope this all is not another convoluted plan for Syco to see just how small his inner circle has become. Shiitakee is with our unconscious bodies, after all. I stretch and yawn as he becomes interested in a book with torn and stained pages. 

He is pressing his hands and sliding them across a dead-end by the time I stop trying to reason my realizations. There is a third floor. I saw it from down there. So, why is there a dead-end? His middle and index fingers glide across it, collecting dust and causing a spider to skitter away. He flicks away the grey spot on his fingers and leans closer to the trail he made. The figure, now triumphant, has to move behind a large stack of books when footsteps close in. I think I hear him cuss. Another broad figure, though this one is slender, comes this way with a flashlight. Pointed on the wall, he spots my companion’s handiwork. He steps towards it, squinting. "Hm." He waves his flashlight around. The universe works in mysterious ways, it seems. If I am being honest, I have to say I love it sometimes. Most of the time, I hate it. Now? Well, I am not sure. His watch blinks green. It vibrates with a soft buzz. He leaves and leaves my relieved, cloaked companion to wander back to the wall and fiddle around some more with it until a click is heard. A chunk of the door slides inwards to the left. Somehow the room beyond looked darker than outer space. As soon as he steps inside, the door begins to slide back into place. I follow, going through half of the closing door. Another click. The door shuts, locking us in darkness. Then, locking us with an illuminated staircase thanks to the flashlight he pulled out of his sleeve. I wonder what else is up his sleeve. 

Against the winding staircase are two brick walls. Among them are paintings. Dust makes it hard to see who or what is painted. It’s not like they’re important to the mission, but one of them catches my eye. Five scratches, a claw, tore through the face of a well-dressed man with a scowl and a balding head. I touch the torn cotton page, press against it, and I, thankfully, find out the deed was done much time ago, but this means its cause is lost to time. I do hope it stays that way. I do not want to confront its cause anytime soon. Although, the universe has an odd way of connecting me with people I would not ever think I would be in the presence of. 

I certainly would not have imagined being in the presence of that. This floor is just like the others. Books had been mindlessly placed wherever on nearly every crook and cranny. Although, besides being a lot smaller than its predecessors, this one has the added bonus of having a statue of a caped figure pointing towards the window. The statue has a faceless mask. Rounding it, as my companion mutters about his plea to find what he is looking for while shuffling through book after book, I see that same symbol that was all over that town square, a circle with a dot inside, directly plastered at the center of the statue’s cape. I step back and grip the handrail. Turns out I am not the only one discontent because he too is not any better at finding out what he is looking for. Pacing back and forth, he mumbles something. He nearly trips on a book while doing so, which he kicks away. Eventually, he squeezes the bridge of his nose with his index and thumb, using the hand of the arm I stabbed days ago. Then, proceeds to groan but is cut short by the opening of another entrance. All four of his eyes widened. He throws himself behind one of the many stacks of books. 

A secret door slides inwards from the statue's podium in the corner of my eye. A striking figure with a faceless mask and a cape appears in its doorway. My eyes dart back and forth from this newly arrived figure to the statue. Both are one and the same. 

The figure bends down and seizes the book my companion had just kicked off the ground. They turn to me. One minute into this figure’s arrival and I am already getting a bad feeling about them. They turn and stride towards me. Their cape trails behind them. I really thought they could see me. I should know by now it would be impossible because I trust Saamuki, but it is just the vibe I get from them that causes me to think so irrationally. Of course, they do not notice me even as they step next to me. Upon gripping the handrail with one hand and throwing the book to the first floor with the other, which fell with a deafening slam, I find out why the library is the way that it is. Swatting the side of the cape with the newly freed hand, they groan while lowering their head. Their voice is deep, but there is a bit of femininity to it. “Those insolent imbeciles.” Tightening their grip on the handrail, I hear friction. I think I hear a crack. Maybe the wood beneath their terrifyingly big hand split. I am not sure. I am too weary to check.

Raising their head up, but with hunched shoulders now, they continue, “At least I have this place, the only place left in the universe where I can finally be alone and away from those bastards.”

Magically, a parchment appears in their free now glowing golden hand. With a deep inhale, they then proceed to write down the reason for their annoyance. It goes as follows: “It would be ignorant of me—a failure of my due diligence—to dismiss my duty within the council. Therefore, I understand each of us is in charge of distinct positions. However, at times, our positions must blend into one another as those occurrences involve imprecise issues. (This should be common sense to the others by now. Apparently, not. I presume they do it on purpose.) I seek out fallacies, although it is nonsensical to say such as it is an obligation. I was born to feel this way. Refer to ‘On the Creation: Between Mortal and God’, edition five if confused, or dare I say, forgotten. My duty, in the summary of chapter eleven of the previously mentioned book, is to provide reasoning and logic to the Lords of the Universe.”

I froze. I can not make a sound, and I for sure can not do anything with this information. Right here. Right in front of me stands the point of this all. Before I barked, and now I can not bite. The Lords of the Universe are the executives of the universe and commanders of Watchers. They are the reason why Syco dehumanized me. Most importantly they have my people. Their cape and the vibe they gave me make sense now. Supposedly, I am to confront them soon enough. I want to do something, anything but run away. I can not, though. I could touch them, and they can not touch me, I hope. My computerized sword would not do much good. One blast and I would just be teleported back to the ship, thousands of light-years away. It is useless, so I have to remind myself to remain silent. My companion tries to do just that as they raise their head from the small wall of books. Because the Lord is still facing away, they proceed to get up and move towards the secret door we came out of. He is quiet as per usual. The Lord continues to scribble down on their parchment, but they stop once he reaches where the door should be. 

“Ah, the famous knife-wielder I have heard so much about.” He freezes. The Lord, turning to him, has the parchment fade away with the fading of their glow. “And before you ask, yes, I did know you have been here since I stepped foot on this floor. I did not react until now because you were of no danger to me. You still are not. You as well, human.” I pull both my dagger and staff out. The Lord lifts their hand. Continuing, “There is no need to become barbaric. I plan to let the both of you go after a brief interrogation.”

[glorifiedsnickersbar]

Farthest North

Chapter 19 - Brainwashed

Word count: 1345

         "You're insane!"

Alaska accused with a pointed finger, staring at her reflection. 

         "How many times could you have escaped? Look at yourself," she scratched her exposed arms after folding up the sleeves. No blood hit the metal sink, but her father made her swear not to use self harm as a means to escape her inner battles. She may not have had the best father, but he would care from time to time... "He suspects nodhing, yet here you are, enjoying yourself? It is despicable. You're attacking friends! He vants dhis!"

What looked like a rash on her arm grew as she rubbed her skin, not raw, but close. She stopped herself before she broke her promise to her father, instead holding tightly to the edges of the metal sink.

         "Stay strong..." she told herself, "Dhe oders vill come, dhey vill... dhey vill, trust me! Dhey vill come."

         "Mein schatz*?" Third called from the outer hallway of the Nazi bunker, "My dear you've been holed up in zhat rest room for half hour by now... I am vorried."

Worried? A heartless man was worried? Highly unlikely, but the World War 2 super power was... His little girl wasn't even speaking to him, though he had passed by multiple times just to see how she was doing. A hand went to a bandaged arm, multiple burned swastikas forever embedded on his skin. He added one more that morning, for not thinking of placing his ring back in Germany's pocket, or at least on his dresser top, as if his son had forgotten it. But no, it was in his own pocket. He couldn't afford for her start breaking down now, they were so close! He couldn't afford another disappointment.

         "Alaska, please," he rested a hand on the door, "come out..."

With a heavy sigh, Third Reich hugged the woman before she could protest once the door was opened. He looked to the metal sink, seeing dents where her grip became too tight. Once he let go, the genocidal man placed a gentle hand on her cheek, Alaska's skin burning, as hot as the Auschwitz fires.

         "Your North star is glowing my dear," he frowned, "Vhat does zhat mean?"

Alaska was silent as her breath came out like smoke, a dark comparison to the condensation of winter puffs.

         "It means Juneau is burning."

~.~

     America ordered for troops to carry as much water as they could. Canada ensured them safe passage of his borders so they didn't have to take the long way to Alaska's capital. Juneau was going up in flames, and while no calls had come, America was going to help. He only knew of it because the fires had started to spread into Canada's land. But as quickly as the fire came, it was gone. The Navy and Airforce came back saying it was taken care of long before they had arrived. America seemed to have forgotten that Alaska had her own military now, and fully capable citizens. 

         "This kid's insane!" Australia declared, a coughing fit coming soon after, "Crickey, not even I can handle a few fires. My people are going nuts!"

         "She's gone through this before Aussie," Canada told him, "she knows what to expect, you had no clue this was coming."

The Country nodded, sighing. 

         "South America isn't going to let me live this down, I can tell 'ya that!"

Australia being both a Country and a Continent, had the ability to travel to another hidden world. He was the odd one out, of course, since most hate conversing with their younger separations of their land. They found them intolerable.

         "Why not ask South Pole for help?" America walked through the door, his military uniform still on.

         "First:" he let out another coughing fit, smoke coming up in plumes, just like Alaska, "It's Antarctica, he doesn't like that nickname. Second: He's melting, dude, I can't do that to him."

     The two Countries talked with their younger brother, until China called the eldest about Alaska's whereabouts. They found her. So with a regretful 'goodbye', America left, Canada close behind as Australia gave them his best wishes in finding the grown State, and bringing down the Nazi menace once and for all. A nurse came in with a fresh jug of ice cold water, and despite his current state, Australia couldn't help but flirt just a little. He might be burning, and in pain, but that didn't stop him from having joy in his life. The nurse left with a giggle, leaving him alone... so he called U.K.

         "What have you found?"

     The father sighed, looking between the Countries who had shown. Ukraine wasn't too excited about this entire fiasco about to go down, neither was Belarus, but they were determined to save their older sister. Russia and Germany were determined to get in the Nazi bunker found deep within what used to be East Germany, the boy, now man, who embodied it's unification was furious that his twin sister was used like that. Who would expect a Nazi bunker where USSR used to reign? It enraged him, and brought faint memories of her murder after the fall of the Berlin Wall. 

         "A Nazi bunker, very well hidden, several feet under ground," U.K. finally answered, "Bloody sneaky, Third is," he admitted, "but America says he'll have it opened within th-"

A loud creak interrupted the conversation, though short, and everyone peered from their hiding places to see what was going on. 

         "Covards," Third huffed, "How long vill you hide like Jews hide zhier money bags?"

         "Why I oughta-!"

America held back Israel, who made a drastic change into his war gear. Germany had to hold him back too, reminding the Country that Third Reich failed.

         "Give us back Alaska!" America ordered, the circle of Countries closing in to surround him, but the dead man just laughed.

         "Or vhat? You'll nuke me? Vait, nein, zhat's zhe short vun."

         "Dhey're all short Dhird."

The surrounding Countries looked to the still open door, eyes going wide, jaws dropping, several gasps resounding as they saw the grown State reveal her war clad self. She wore no hat, the fire that enveloped her North Star would have burned it, her military blouse held a cape of pure mountain goat fur on one side, while the other was short sleeved, blisters plainly shown yet they didn't seem to bother her as they oozed a slick, clear substance. White pants came down to her ankles, light dress shoes as black as fresh ashes. This was what she looked like after declaring war. This was what the others knew to fear... her sharpened teeth gleamed in the sunlight, a sudden unbearable heat to those who watched, even as shivers ran down their backs when this she-devil looked their way.

         "Al-vays stuck in dhe shadows of dhe great vuns." she chuckled lowly.

         "Alaska, please," America dared come closer, "He's brainwashed you. He'll invade just as he did everyone else he made a treaty with!"

         "A variable I have contemplated," she nodded soberly, expression now blank.

         "Facts don't lie," Germany stood next to his friend, joined by Russia and Japan, "My fazher cannot be trusted."

         "Ah, but neizher can you!" Third Reich cheered, "Russia, your fazher abused her. You vould have done zhe same! America, you abandoned her! Left her to fend for herself, abused her resources! Canada you're nozhing but a selfish dummkopf**, vanting nozhing but more land and resources. But vait, vhat am I missing? Oh, ya***, of course! Alaska is prime military support for every single vun of you!"

Everyone flinched... 

They all realized it. Alaska was perfect for any military. Land, resources, anyone with military power there had power over the U.S., Canada, even Russia. They were all selfish, everyone knew it, but not this time.

         "And vhat have you done Dhird?" Russia huffed, "Besides kidnap her and manipulate her to do your bidding?"

     The Nazi menace smiled wider.

         "I gave her an escape."

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

* Mein Schatz - My treasure (German)

** Dummkopf - imbecile, or idiot (German)

*** Ya - yes (German)

[pluckyredhead]

dance along the light of day

This is for @puzzleboat for the RAICES fundraiser! She requested Damian Wayne/Jon Kent futurefic because I tricked her into shipping it, muahaha.

Dawn was coming. Damian slipped deeper into the narrowing shadow cast by the gargoyle above him and adjusted the frequency of his earpiece. It buzzed with static until he found the right channel and voices came through, tinny but clear and safely uploading to a remote server.

“...don’t want to talk about this here,” the mayor said.

“Well, I don’t think you want to invite me to the next shindig at your mansion, so we’ll talk about it here.” Bobby Falcone. The idiot of the Falcone family, but smart enough to get the mayor involved in his attempt to break out from under his uncle’s control with gun running.

Father had told Damian to stay away from the Falcones, that he would handle them, but in two days the streets of Gotham were going to be flooded with assault rifles souped up with Apokoliptian tech. Damian didn’t plan on waiting.

“Fine,” the mayor gritted out. “What do you want?”

“I want to make sure that you’ll do what I need, and keep the cops out of Crime Alley while my boys are working.”

“I already told you I would.”

“What about the commissioner?”

“Don’t worry about Gordon. I’ll keep her busy.” There was the scrape of a chair, the major standing up. “You’ll be able to sell all the guns you want, Falcone. Just don’t forget my cut.”

Damian smiled into the waning night. Gordon would have handled the Crime Alley drop either way, but this evidence would get the mayor out of office and Bobby Falcone behind bars within a week. “And that’s how it’s done, Father,” he muttered.

“...What was that?” the mayor said.

Damian froze. Had they heard him? They hadn’t heard him. They couldn’t have heard him.

Falcone’s face appeared in the window. “Shit, it’s one of the Bat-brats!”

Okay, Damian conceded mentally, reaching for his belt. They’d heard him.

“Which one?” the mayor demanded.

“I don’t know, he’s got like a hood and shit. It’s one of them all right, though.”

“Well, stop him!”

Damian ignored the urge to correct them with his name, since he didn’t have one at present. Twenty-three was just a little too old to still be Robin, and none of Father’s lesser assistants had felt like vacating their own titles - not that Damian would slum it by taking one of their names anyway.

Instead, he shot a grapple line to the gargoyle above him. He’d gotten his evidence; he could leave.

“SHOOT HIM!” Falcone screamed at his men, who leaned out the window, firing wildly at Damian’s swinging figure.

“No!” the mayor shouted. “Not here!”

Damian would have reassured him, if he were prone to reassuring anyone, let alone politicians too imbecilic to even be effectively corrupt. Falcone’s men were terrible shots, and besides, he was Damian Wayne. He wasn’t about to be taken out by a couple of goons with -

A bullet severed his grapple line.

Tchh.

Damian scrambled for his grapple gun, knowing even as he did that it was no good. He was eight stories up and out of range of any holds. He spared half an instant to be smug about the fact that his evidence was secure in the cave. He’d done well. Father would have to give his suit the most prominent memorial case, and Todd could choke on it.

“Whoop!”

Strong arms snagged him out of the air, and a familiar face beamed at him. “Hey, buddy. Thanks for dropping in.”

Damian blinked once, twice, his blood pounding in his ears. “Jon?”

Sure enough, it was Jon Kent’s brilliant smile above him, and the unmistakable feeling of steadiness in his hold. “Yep. Don’t worry, I’ve got you.”

“You’ve got me?” Damian repeated, incredulous. “Who’s got them?” He pointed to the mobsters gaping out of the window after them.

Jon sighed. “I haven’t seen you in two years and you’re still not thanking me for saving your life. Hang on.”

He zipped up and dropped Damian on the roof, then flew back down after the mobsters. Damian gaped, indignant. “Hey!”

“Hay is for horses!” Jon sang out after him.

“Don’t you quote your grandmother to me, you giant hayseed,” Damian muttered, knowing Jon could hear him. He secured another line and flung himself down off the roof and back in through  the window.

Jon had already knocked out most of the mooks, and only Falcone and his glass jaw were left for Damian. Damian clocked him, then turned to Jon, who had that distant look that meant he was using his X-ray vision. “Mayor’s running for it a couple flights down.”

“Let him go,”  Damian said. “I’ve got all the evidence I need.”

Jon nodded and jerked a thumb at the unconscious mobsters. “Want me to drop them off at the precinct?”

“No, I’ll let Gordon know to come pick them up.”

“Cool.”

Before Damian could protest, he found himself scooped up and flown back out the window, up towards the pinkening sky over Gotham. “Where do you think you’re going?” he demanded, uncomfortably aware that there was little he could do to stop it.

“Home,” Jon said. “It’s nearly morning. You need sleep.”

“No I don’t.”

“Yes you do.”

Jon’s jaw had that stubborn set. Damian sighed and gave up. “Anyway I don’t live at the manor anymore. I’m an adult. I have my own apartment.”

Jon’s mouth twitched. “Paid for by…?”

“Put me down.”

“Never.”

Damian rolled his eyes and directed Jon to his apartment. “I thought you were in space.”

It was only partially true. Jon had done a gap year exploring Rann and Thanagar, helping out with relief work after the war, and then a year at Crucible Academy, earning credits that could hopefully be snuck onto an Earth-based transcript. But he’d always planned to come back today. That was, not that Damian had been keeping track, but he’d known the approximate day and of course Drake talked to the clone a lot. Not that Damian cared. But precision was important. As was taking into account any potential wildcards like a half-Kryptonian lummox swooping in out of nowhere. As events had proven. So Damian had been right to keep track of the date of Jon’s return, to the small degree that he had. Which was very small. Infinitesimal.

Anyway.

“I was. I got home a few hours ago,” Jon said.

“What are you doing in Gotham?”

For some reason, Jon laughed. “What do you think?”

He alighted on Damian’s balcony - terrible for Damian’s secret identity, but it was early enough that no one would be looking out their windows. Damian stepped back and thought.

“Father and I have most of the usual threats handled,” he said. “Is it one of yours? LexCorp did just expand their Gotham offices…”

“Damian.” Jon leaned against the railing. His voice was inexplicably soft. It annoyed Damian. “I came to see my best friend. I missed you.”

Damian huffed. Trust Jon to say something ludicrous and embarrassing like that out loud. “You haven’t changed a bit.”

“Yeah?” Jon asked. “My mom says I’m taller.”

Damian took off his mask and appraised Jon with a gimlet eye. Jon was taller by at least two inches, which was also annoying, considering he’d already been taller than Damian. He was broader, too - the Superboy shirt that had probably fit him loosely before he’d gone into space was tight across the shoulders and chest. His biceps bulged beneath the sleeves.

A breeze scudded the clouds away from the rising sun and tossed Jon’s always-messy hair into further disarray. In the pink light of dawn Damian could see the ghost of new dark stubble on Jon’s chin; the freckles he’d somehow managed to get in outer space scattered across his nose; the shine in his ridiculous violet eyes. The way he smiled at Damian, fond and knowing and strangely excited, made Damian feel simultaneously like he wanted to run away and like he wanted to stay right where he was forever.

Jon had left as a boy. He wasn’t a boy anymore.

“You’re taller,” Damian admitted, and then, without any permission whatsoever from his brain, “I missed you too.”

Jon’s smile went even wider, like Damian had just made coming home worthwhile. Damian’s heart gave a funny leap inside his chest.

Oh.

Oh, no.

This was going to be terrible.

[txskax]

"Wait, these are hella cute questions"(do them all)

((whoms’tvem sent this???))“Fantastic now that others are learning about me....”

1. Who was the last person you held hands with?... had to think a bit but I believe my close boy Ji

2. Are you outgoing or shy?Too outgoing but I will be shy once I realize3. Who are you looking forward to seeing?My pet rabbit4. Are you easy to get along with?Kind of? most people view me as intimidating5. If you were drunk would the person you like take care of you?I fucking hope so, but I have a strong feeling he would get drunk too6. What kind of people are you attracted to?I don’t have a specific type, but I am into the gentle souls7. Do you think you’ll be in a relationship two months from now?Not really.. if I do its going to be open8. Who from the opposite gender is on your mind?... The girl from the bakery down my street9. Does talking about sex make you uncomfortable?No.10. Who was the last person you had a deep conversation with?my dearest Ji?11. What does the most recent text that you sent say?you can choke on my dick for all I care, I want my money now12. What are your 5 favorite songs right now?Billie Eilish - When the partys overBillie Eilish - IdontwannabeyouanymoreTodrick Hall - No place like homeIndila - Derniere DanseIndila - Tourner dans la vide13. Do you like it when people play with your hair?Kind of?14. Do you believe in luck and miracles?No.15. What good thing happened this summer?I got laid16. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?Yes17. Do you think there is life on other planets?Perhaps, thats 2am talk18. Do you still talk to your first crush?.... No I hate him ... despise is better

19. Do you like bubble baths?Yes

20. Do you like your neighbors?I am never home but they are respectful, sure21. What are you bad habits?Smoking, drinking, cracking my knuckles, fighting22. Where would you like to travel?Paris23. Do you have trust issues?Yes24. Favorite part of your daily routine?Making coffee and looking out my apartment window as the sun rises25. What part of your body are you most uncomfortable with?My freckles, cheeks... I always have makeup on.. second hated is my hair, i perm is straight26. What do you do when you wake up?Do some yoga to get active then a swim, then have a quick breakfast and shower before work27. Do you wish your skin was lighter or darker?neither I like my tanned skin28. Who are you most comfortable around?Ji again29. Have any of your ex’s told you they regret breaking up?I wish he was on his knees now begging30. Do you ever want to get married?not really.. im not marriage material31. Is your hair long enough for a pony tail?It used to be! I had it out to waist length now I cut it into a messy beach wave bob thingy... but i guess a teeny tiny ponytail works32. Which celebrities would you have a threesome with?The rock,  Chris evans, Chris hemsworth. anyone know them? tell them to hmu, I am ready to be cucked33. Spell your name with your chin.asxdiunb Z ...perfect assdumbz34. Do you play sports? What sports?I play volleyball recreational and sometimes archery 35. Would you rather live without TV or music?Without tv36. Have you ever liked someone and never told them?No.. I am straight forward with my feelings37. What do you say during awkward silences?Nothing, I will sleep 38. Describe your dream girl/guy?Dream girl.. she should have this heart of gold, a smile that just makes the sunrise like shit,  a warmth to her that autumn spices cannot provide.. Dream guy... same thing.. preferably older than me, so like 35-40s? I am already 3139. What are your favorite stores to shop in?Brand names? dunno, depends, usually bargain stores are fantastic40. What do you want to do after high school?I am done high school. I had dreams to work as a nurse or marine biologist, but I ended up getting a degree to become a jeweler 41. Do you believe everyone deserves a second chance?3 chances, one time is a mistake, the second is a learning progress, the third one if you fucked up then you are an imbecile 42. If your being extremely quiet what does it mean?Over thinking or being over analytical, usually if its after an argument its a seal that I am no longer friends/family with you at that exact moment, forgiveness is not given.43. Do you smile at strangers?sometimes44. Trip to outer space or bottom of the ocean?Bottom of the ocean45. What makes you get out of bed in the morning?The fact that there is food in this world I have not tasted46. What are you paranoid about?Nothing really47. Have you ever been high?yes48. Have you ever been drunk?yes49. Have you done anything recently that you hope nobody finds out about?Now if i elaborated on that everyone can figure it out, can’t fool me today!50. What was the colour of the last hoodie you wore?Pink51. Ever wished you were someone else?All the time52. One thing you wish you could change about yourself?I wish I was just born in a different family and was just a better child53. Favourite makeup brand?Mac? Dior? not sure54. Favourite store?Not sure55. Favourite blog?Design for Mankind, the author writes good essays and works56. Favourite colour?Neutrals57. Favourite food? Melomakarona Its a Greek sweet more than a meal 58. Last thing you ate?Stifado - Again a Greek dish, which is a stew of meat , herbs, tomato and onions59. First thing you ate this morning?Cereal, Cheerios60. Ever won a competition? For what?No61. Been suspended/expelled? For what?Funny story, in my design class some girl pissed me off and so I sewed her sleeves to the fabric she was working on

62. Been arrested? For what?Killing63. Ever been in love? Sure64. Tell us the story of your first kiss?Stupid as I was I thought it was love and so it felt like it would be as a fairytale to every 12 year old girl.. I hate it now65. Are you hungry right now?STARVING66. Do you like your tumblr friends more than your real friends?The hell is tumblr?67. Facebook or Twitter?Twitter68. Twitter or Tumblr?Twitter69. Are you watching tv right now?no70. Names of your bestfriends? I don’t have any, ever since immigrating to asia I never bothered much and those that i am close with are horrible influences i chose to stick by71. Craving something? What?Dick Yogurt, maybe some rice and baked beans72. What colour are your towels?Dark grey72. How many pillows do you sleep with?6?73. Do you sleep with stuffed animals?No74. How many stuffed animals do you think you have?None75. Favourite animal?Penguin76. What colour is your underwear?Right now? Black77. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate.. especially dark chocolate78. Favourite ice cream flavour?Chocolate chip mint.. you hate it? well then you are a fucking tool79. What colour shirt are you wearing?A beige sweater/hoodie80. What colour pants?Black leather skinnies81. Favourite tv show?Taboo82. Favourite movie?Mad Max83. Mean Girls or Mean Girls 2?Mean girls 84. Mean Girls or 21 Jump Street?Mean girls85. Favourite character from Mean Girls?Mrs. George86. Favourite character from Finding Nemo?Dory87. First person you talked to today?Ji88. Last person you talked to today?Probably Ji as well89. Name a person you hate?My first ex90. Name a person you love?Myself91. Is there anyone you want to punch in the face right now?My ex, and my filthy clients92. In a fight with someone?Not at the moment93. How many sweatpants do you have?20 pairs94. How many sweaters/hoodies do you have?20 pairs95. Last movie you watched?Venom, it wasn’t bad96. Favourite actress?Audrey Hepburn97. Favourite actor?Jason Statham98. Do you tan a lot?Yes, naturally i am already tan so i just go darker99. Have any pets?A black rabbit with otter fur (meaning the fur looks like velvet)100. How are you feeling?Hungry, horny, sleepy and shit.. so just peachy101. Do you type fast?yes but i am lazy to send102. Do you regret anything from your past?Running away from home which was in Greece to come to Korea and live with an aunt and now going no where by dating old as fuck geezers for high income money103. Can you spell well?yes104. Do you miss anyone from your past?Not really105. Ever been to a bonfire party?Yes106. Ever broken someone’s heart?yes107. Have you ever been on a horse?yes108. What should you be doing?working but I am here with this long ass interview109. Is something irritating you right now?not really110. Have you ever liked someone so much it hurt?Yes111. Do you have trust issues?yes112. Who was the last person you cried in front of?No one sees me cry113. What was your childhood nickname?Ada, DiDi114. Have you ever been out of your province/state?Yes115. Do you play the Wii?No116. Are you listening to music right now?yes117. Do you like chicken noodle soup?YES118. Do you like Chinese food?Yes and not the noodle but literally everything119. Favourite book?House of leaves120. Are you afraid of the dark?

No121. Are you mean?Sometimes122. Is cheating ever okay?NO NEVER123. Can you keep white shoes clean?Yes124. Do you believe in love at first sight?No125. Do you believe in true love?I am very iffy on this one126. Are you currently bored?yes127. What makes you happy?sweets and snacks128. Would you change your name?I would to maybe Adonis or Basil129. What your zodiac sign?Leo130. Do you like subway?I dont like sandwiches too much131. Your bestfriend of the opposite sex likes you, what do you do?Probably nothing, tell them that the feeling isn’t mutual respectfully132. Who’s the last person you had a deep conversation with?Ji133. Favourite lyrics right now?“If I love you was a promise, would you break it if you’re honest?”134. Can you count to one million?yes but why?135. Dumbest lie you ever told?I dont really remember136. Do you sleep with your doors open or closed?closed

137. How tall are you?177 cm138. Curly or Straight hair?I like straight hair on myself139. Brunette or Blonde?Doesn’t matter140. Summer or Winter?winter141. Night or Day?night142. Favourite month?October143. Are you a vegetarian?no144. Dark, milk or white chocolate?doesnt matter but dark is preferred145. Tea or Coffee?both146. Was today a good day?has not ended but its boring147. Mars or Snickers?Snickers148. What’s your favourite quote?“Find a way to smile and never let it go”149. Do you believe in ghosts?No150. Get the closest book next to you, open it to page 42, what’s the first line on that page? House of leaves‘Spreta latet silvis pudibundaque frondibus ora protegit et solis ex illo vivit in antris;’ (not the full thing)

‘So she was turned away, to hide her face, her lips, her guilt among the trees;’