#just PRAYING that this isnt another Bring Them In To Kill Them Off situation

[maximusboltaqon]

now look. this probably means nothing. unless?

[circyexistforcontent]

hii!! for the team comp event, my boys (triple crowned kings) are xiao, albedo, kazuha and the wanderer (I named him Aoki btw <3 but u dont have to include this if u dont think its relevant) though sometimes I switch out xiao or the wanderer for cyno because im in love with him too and sometimes i need an element that isnt geo or anemo. all of them are triple crowned not for meta, but because they are my boyfriends (im super normal about them).

sorry if this was too much </3 take care <3

TEAM COMP: XIAO, ALBEDO, KAZUHA, WANDERER (FT. CYNO)

♥ Your team is just a spider web full of conflict. Xiao and Wanderer are always fighting, always trying to 1v1 each other and Albedo and Kazuha had to run away from multiple tornadoes caused by the two Anemo boys. Cyno is just waiting patiently for the two to just kill each other, or maybe weaken each other so he can finish them off himself. Sadly, nobody in the game can fully kill each other (I'll enhance that concept in another post).

♥ Albedo doesn't know if he should be relieved or tense at where he stands in your team, he knew being on your main team has high stakes but he didn't know they were this dangerous. He's glad his element is useful in your eyes and he strives to better his skills and talents to maintain his spot in your main team. He doesn't care about his other members, he may be acquaintances with Cyno but that's it. He wouldn't help him when Cyno has the possibility to replace him as well.

♥ Kazuha can only sigh when he hears the voices of his other two teammates. To be honest, he's worried about his place on your team. Considering your replacing your team members with Anemo visions with Cyno and his Electro vision. He wonders if he will be the next one to sit back and watch all his other teammates be graced by your divine will, it brings an inking sense of dread to his stomach to think about it. He just hopes he's enough for you to continue using him.

♥ Xiao doesn't like this. He doesn't like Wanderer. He doesn't like Cyno. And he doesn't like how his feelings make the situation worse. Is he lacking somehow? Why is he being switched with another spear user? These questions eat away at his brain every time he gets switched with Cyno, he observes from the sidelines and just stares at Cyno's fighting style. Is it the way he fights? Do you want him to fight more like Cyno? He might struggle with fighting his code but he's willing to do just that, so please use him more.

♥ Wanderer, or "Aoki" as you named him, is seething in anger and confusion. The first time you switched him with Cyno he had a full-on tantrum about it off-screen. He thought you abandoned him until he was put back on the team while he was having a mini pity party alone. He was confused, but he quickly snapped out of his confusion and continue doing his best. And then...it happens again. And it just repeats and he doesn't like that! You should keep him by your side permanently! Or maybe just replace that brooding yaksha since you don't need two spear users anyway!

♥ Cyno has been waiting for this moment, this moment where he gets to be one of your mains. When he's on the field he does his best on every kill, every domain, and every ley line challenge you may use him on to show you just how capable he actually is. Aside from that he is a chatterbox when you both are just exploring, he abuses his voice lines just to speak with you for longer. Even though it's a one-sided conversation, he will cherish those moments.

♥ A lot of fights happen, and weapons are always involved in the fights. Sometimes it's Xiao and Cyno, then it's Wanderer and Cyno, also Xiao and Wanderer, and then it becomes Cyno versus Wanderer and Xiao. All Albedo and Kazuha can do is watch from the sidelines and pray to you that they don't get involved in the fights.

[buckybarnesdiaries]

bucky barnes x reader. masterlist.

part 1 — part 2 (soon)

a / n. this is a series of 15 mini-drabbles to celebrate the 500 followers' milestone, based on one word for each story. this first part contains 8, and the next one contains 7. it was supposed to be posted one story per day, but by that way, it'd take me to last an eternity to post other works / requests.

words. 1.533.

warning, tags. none, just a bunch of fluffy and cute situations with bucky.

join my tag list.

necklace;

It was the first time since you started to date that Bucky had to leave for a mission. Neither of the two of you knew when he'd be back, and that got you worried than ever. You were conscious of what he did for a living when you met him, but you couldn't help but feel scared. Next to the front door of your apartment, Bucky left his backpack on the floor, leaning to cup your cheeks on his palms and kiss your lips tortuously slow.

“I'll be okay, (Y/N)”. He murmured keeping his eyes closed.

“You better”.

Your hidden threat made him giggle. The soldier felt goosebumps bristling his skin as your fingertips toured his neck blindly, just to put in place the chain of his necklace. But soon, Bucky stopped your moves to take it off from him and place his dog tags on you.

“I'll come back for them”. He promised, fixing his pale blue orbs on yours, holding your hands to bring them to his lips and place fond kisses on every knuckle of both. “I love you, don' forget it, okay?”

“I won't... How could I, Buck?”

eclipsed;

Bucky was sweating, still not believing he was about to get married to the love of his life. He was on the altar, waiting for you and surrounded by all of your friends in common. Steve had had to help him with a panic attack he had suffered while dressing up, thinking that maybe you could change your opinion at the last moment. He couldn't blame you. But all those doubts vanished at the second you crossed the huge, heavy doors of the church. Your beauty eclipsed him, wearing a white lace wedding dress and seeming like you floated over the floor. Just like an angel.

His heart jumped. His oceanic eyes got covered in tears. A giggle escaped his lips, stretching a hand towards you, still praying it's not a dream. And you noticed the tension and the nervousness running his veins, leaning forward to kiss his cheek with all the love you felt for your future husband.

“Can't wait to say yes”. You whispered into his ear, causing Bucky to lace his arms around you and embrace you tight and tenderly. “I love you, James, from now and forever”.

sunset;

After his most recent nightmare and walking all grumpy from one side of another around your house, you decided to cheer him up only like you can do. With reluctance, you managed to get him out of your apartment and drag him to your car. Bucky was like a child, cross-armed, lips puckered and frowning annoyed. He tried to hide the fact that he had another nightmare to not worry you, but you weren't stupid.

Thinking that glimpsing the beach throughout the large front window would make him feel happier, your boyfriend just reclined himself on the seat, causing you to roll your eyes. That mood changed as soon as Bucky was sitting on the sand, between your legs, tho. His back was resting against your chest and his neck was wrapped by one of your arms, watching fascinated the sunset on the horizon. He wouldn't recognize it, but he felt much better hearing the waves crashing into the shore, while you stroked his scalp tenderly using the tip of your nails.

“You're welcome, grumpy mummy”.

clingy;

You didn't want to drink, but Sam and Sarah wanted to celebrate that the family business was picking up. On another occasion, you wouldn't mind, but Bucky was there. So, when everything started to spin around, you lead your clumsy steps to the edge of the harbor, having a sit there and let the soft breeze help you.

“Stop”. You heard from behind.

“Uh?”

“You're stealing my antisocial personality”. Bucky chuckled, taking a seat by your side. “What's up? Why are you here all alone?”

“Truth or lie?” You asked tilting your head towards him, raising both eyebrows.

“Truth”. He scoffed as if it wasn't obvious.

“I'm too clingy when I'm drunk”.

“Can't see the problem there”.

You chuckled, shaking your head inevitably, causing him to pucker his lips with a funny grimace.

“What?”

“Tru—”.

“Truth”.

“I've been all night wanting to rub your beard”.

Bucky exploded in loud laughter, not believing your words until you put your hands on his jawline. “God... It's so soft”.

His laughs increased, causing you to burn in shame. “No more drinks for you, ma'am...”

But the fact was that he turned to you, so it could be easy to caress his face.

safe;

Bucky was deadly tired on the sofa, warmly cuddled between your arms. A while ago, he stopped to pay attention to the movie, turning his back to the TV to hide his exhausted expression on your chest. You placed the cozy blanket over your bodies, making sure it covered both of you, being aware that tonight you'd sleep there. You felt sorry just at the thought of waking him up, seeing him peacefully breathing and his face more relaxed than the last few days.

Shutting off the TV and stretching an arm above your head, you turned off the small lamp on the auxiliary table close to the sofa, before getting comfier by Bucky's side. Your boyfriend purred delighted, still sleepy, as your fingers got tangled on his hair and started to scratch his scalp slowly, urging you somehow to place a leg over his waist, so he could settle between both a little more closely.

“Feel better?”

“I feel safe”. He replied in a low breath, to exhale the sweet scent concentrated on your neck.

“You're safe, James. You're at home”. Your calmed tone made him sigh, snuggling you strongly.

stay;

You snapped awake because of some knocks on the front door. Tossing the sheets to a side of the bed, you grabbed the gun under your pillow. It was stupidity. If somebody wanted to kill you, that would be the last thing they'd do: knock the door. You walked slowly, step by step, through the main hallway aiming to the door, more than ready to shoot your assailant.

“It's... Bucky”. You heard from the other side.

Sighing in relief and closing your eyes for a split second, you left the weapon on the dinner table in the living room. Not doubting on opening the door, you couldn't help but raise an eyebrow when you noticed the reddened mark around his left eye and cheek.

“Can I, uh... stay tonight with you?” Bucky inquired, licking his upper lip ashamed, bowing his eyes down to his boots covered in dust.

“C'mon, Sergeant”. You invited him to walk in, using such a sweet tone, while holding his cold hand.

He looked like shit but felt much better when his arms got wrapped around your waist and middle-back, hiding his face into your neck. Kicking the door shut, you embraced him tighter to your body.

notebook;

You were lying on the opposite side to Bucky on the sofa, but keeping your legs tangled. It was a rainy evening with nothing to do and you decided to start to read the book you bought last week. Your boyfriend was silently doing something in a notebook. Maybe writing memories, maybe doodling, you didn't know. But the third time you caught him staring at you, you had to ask.

“What?”

“Uh... nothing”. He whispered focused on the paper in front of his eyes.

“Whaaat?” You kicked his right leg with your bare foot causing him to chuckle.

“Nothing!” Bucky replied using the same playfully tone of voice.

Putting the book on the coffee table, you sat up to lie on top of him, cuddling between his legs and resting your head on his chest. Glancing to the sketch of yourself he was drawing, you raised your heart-eyes to his. It was such a piece of art. The drawing and Bucky. Both.

“I learned in Romania. It kept me sane sometimes”. He confessed, leaning to place a kiss on your forehead. “I want to remember you forever”.

marshmallow;

“Truth or dare?”

Bucky narrowed his eyes, leaning on the table just like you did, challenging him. He was trying to read your mind to figure out which were your intentions.

“Dare”. He answered firmly.

“Put twenty marshmallows in your mouth”.

The soldier stared at you in silence, watching him lick his inner cheek and push it with the tip of his tongue. He nodded his head then, grabbing the plastic bag without losing eye contact, to start to place —one by one— the sweets into his mouth. In less than thirty seconds, he looked like a squirrel with his cheek swollen. Bucky squinted at you again, triumphant.

“Hold on, I need to capture this moment”. You laughed, catching your phone to take a picture.

When the flash went off, he spitted a marshmallow like a shotgun. And you couldn't help but laugh.

“C'mon, Bu—”.

You didn't finish the sentence, being hit by another marshmallow slightly wet because of his saliva. Your grimace turned into a funny disgust, grabbing it back to throw it to his face.

“You're like a five years old in a body fos— STOP!” You ended up giggling as he spitted you the third one.

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[plainvanillapotato]

the 100 diaries S3 E5

quarantine diaries: July 5 2020

Season 3 episode 5: “Hakeldama

ok but what are these sad excuses of hoods like theyre really just pieces of cloth that you can barely call a hood

“we bring them peace” immediately cut to bloody bellamy coming back from battle with dramatic music. was i meant to laugh at that because if so i did

“this land is ours now”...umm this sounds a lot like colonization

woah that a loooot of extras. clarkes face was kinda smiling like a dubious smile tho

but also that battlefield full of dead grounders just looked like a bunch of people planking

they attacked while they were asleep?! bitch that sounds a lot of like some police offices in the US...justice for breonna

ofc indra is alive. she has plot armor and thank god for that cuz we need more badass female characters like indra

“we can leave or we can die” isnt this exactly what lexa told jaha and the rest of the space people? i bet lexa wished that she killed these people when she had the chance and before she caught feelings for clarke. big oof on her part

also can we talk about how that was a lot of bullets needed to kill those people. my question is where the fuck did they get that bullets/ammunition bc like they dont have a gun factory now. it also just doesnt seem wise imo to use their limited supplies willy nilly like that 

pike handing bellamy jacket....pike said to bellamy wear something pretty. do i ship it? i mean fuck it might as well because idk 

bellamy with those crazy eyes. i cant. he said you need to wake up kane bitch im already woke

lincoln coming in with that menace face. thats some intense eye contact going on between bellamy and lincoln. honestly more chemisty between bellamy and lincoln than lincoln and octavia. like do the writers not actually watch the show?! 

also is octavia ever going to address that lincoln chained her up. like she got over that too fast. also can we talk about how lincoln went from saying one word to just freely talking. like looking back to when the 100 first got him and him not talking was ugh like its so dumb 

*after seeing the arkadia sign* “I didnt see that coming” lmao jaha did not like the name change

did that guy just shoot otan? and otan dies so easily? also why must people automatically shoot to kill bc when there are obviously other ways to deescalate the situation without killing another human 

sidenote: why wasnt jaha holding the bag in the first place cuz i think that would have prevented otan being shot and killed in the first place

ugh im still annoyed that abby is one of the 2 healers like they should really teach more people to be healers

murphy and emori be bonnie and clyde for real 

jaha looks like a school boy with that backpack but also jaha you need to work on your salesmen skills if you want to sell these people on the city of light cuz rn you sound like a crazy man. like even after your little spiel i still have no fucking clue what the city of light actually is

Wow pike really did go from teacher to chancellor but i mean stranger things have happened in the U.S. you know what pike spontaneously being put on the chancellor ballet is kinda like Kanye West announcing that he’s running for president 2020 

so the spacers really just killed those people and left their bodies right  near where they live thats gotta stink

oof emori wanted to go after her brother only to  find out that otan is dead...yikes

“They’re being interned” pike i dont think this is okay

you get that bitch lincoln but where was the signature headbutt?? but i guess this guy wasnt even worth it

what the fuck pike literally pointing a gun at a sick girl’s head. and also if youre going to threaten a girl let it be know instead of relying on abby to make others realize what youre doing

are they really fucking going to rope raven into his boring ass city of light storyline. bitch why?? but i guess the writers have no other options for her story

sidenote: ravens iconic red jacket is in a desperate need of a wash

octavia reuniting bellamy and clarke. bellamy had a shook face. wow octavia is the true bellarke shipper 

Yes bellamy you tell off clarke!

clarke said “I need you” the bellarke shippers must have been quaking!! and ooo bellamy said “you left me” aww bellamy :(

GOOO OFFFFF BELLAMY!!!! damn it Bellamy. stop it, stop consoling her right now. but oh that hand holding really must have been good for bellarke shippers but oop he tricked clarke. ngl i laughed

woah raven really just dramatically pushed some shit off the table and fucking jaha without saying a word and just placed that plastic city of light shit on the table and did a table tap for idk dramatic effect idk i just laughed at this 

Ok but if raven is really going down this city of lights story I FUCKING PRAY THAT FINN somehow shows up in the city of lights just for shits and giggles

Clarke turned on bellamy fast but really bellamy went down too easy

stop the hugging clarke and abby. lol abby remember when you were mad at clarke about the bombing but i guess when you mass murder a bunch a people makes everything chill now

what the heck john murphy? why must you put that blood on your face? did you learn that from lincoln? 

seriously emori youre waiting on murphy fucking murphy before you see out your brother. i guess water is thicker than blood to her

i love how automatically john murpy assumes the position of dead guy

really murphy saying “go float yourself” to grounders means nothing to them

lol this little ploy really backfired on murphy and emori. but good on murphy for not giving away emori maybe true love does exist

wow look at miller being an ally. i love it

blood must not have blood....ugh the writers really thought they were deep for that

what is this music choice with raven struggling to walk? but also like honestly raven you really could have it worse so chill 

really raven you gave in that quick?? finn better being up there like jesus arms open. but also how did she swallow that huge ass piece of plastic without water to wash it down??

that plastic pill really worked that fast?! and lol they had the music pick up the beat to match the moment

fuck its annoying ass red lady you know im kinda thinking that this red lady is a just a lesser version of the red lady in game of thrones.

wait so if she swallowed it does she poop it out and she just has to keep taking the pill or how does this work??

[legion1993]

OMG I’M ON FIRE!

AN: this is for @tephi101 for her writing challenge. hope this makes someone’s day!

pairing: Barry Allen x reader

prompt: phoenix

summery: there isnt one…

today was the big day, today you were gonna go watch the particle accelerator go off, of course you were supposed to go with your best friend but he had to stay late at work… one of Central City’s finest in the form of a CSI… 

it was a few hours before the particle accelerator going off that Barry called you to chat while he waited for case results…

Barry: “im so sorry i can’t be there with you tonight… i’m sure it will be a great experience for everyone…”

YN: “yes well you are just gonna have to make it up to me…”

Barry: “i might have a way to do that… but it will have to be after im done with this case… ugh the captain has the worst timing…”

YN: “its fine Barry, we all need to work overtime sometimes… but you are right it does suck that your not coming with… but oh well… c’est la vie.. im just deciding what to wear…”

Barry: “ooo do you still have that red and gold sequined dress?”

You rumage for a few seconds through your closet before coming across it…

YN: “are you sure about this?”

Barry: “yes of course i am… now you should wear it and can you do me a favor and order me delivery… im gonna be here for a while yet…”

you put Barry on speaker while you got dressed and then ordered his food… hitting the order button, paying for it like always, it was the normal deal…

YN: “done it will be there in 30 min, i told them to tell the captain that he is there to deliver food to Barry Allen… as per usual… now im gonna send you a photo of me in the dress…”

you stand in front of your tall mirror, and pose taking the photo… sending it to Barry you wait the responce… you could always count on Barry to give you a honest true and really opinionated complement filled opinion…

Barry: “that is totally a stunning dress on you, YN you look like one of those rich models… you should totally wear it more often… and you look beautiful… now im really sorry im not going with you…”

YN: “you know what forget what Captain Singh says come with me… come on Barry play hookie for a bit please…”

Barry sighed into the phone but choose his choice to not get fired…

Barry: “i wish i could but ill tell you what, you give me a call after the expo, and i’ll come by and we will do a slumber party movie time what do you say?”

YN: “deal… now do your job Barry and ill talk to you later… im just arriving at Star Labs..”

Barry: “i am really sorry about not being there with you YN this was supposed to be our night…”

the tone in Barry’s voice left you hot and bothered but also wondering if that tone you were hearing was actually Seduction in Barry’s voice. but Barry also knew how he sounded but also heard the flirtation and disappointment in your voice…

Barry: “ill talk to you after and please YN bring me back as many souveniiiers as possible.”

he hangs up the phone and you exhale as you place your phone in your pocket and walk inside. the place crowded, the room hot and sweaty, then it started, the room kinda darkened, the accelerator powered up, the power went out in the building except for the Particle Accelerator… 

there was a very very large explosion sound but you were backed into a corner, you were trapped, as the blast started to come away from the particle accelerator… people scattered you reached for your phone but was too late, surely by now Barry would see this on the news… 

Barry however waatching this on the news reached for his phone and tried you praying that you would have gotten out but no answer before he noticed the blast coming closer to his location… 

before he could react the particles in the beakers around the lab began to rise like a lava lamp, but some thing happened, this would seperate you and Barry for 9 months, with people in and out by both your sides, you woke up in the blink of an eye. 

a lady came into the room, seeing you going frantic, she was vitally prepared for everything… so your temper subsided as your body burst into flames and you faded into Ashes…

Caitlyn: “well i now know this one has powers… but what the hell happened….”

Cisco: “if its what i think it is wait an hour and she should be reborn from the ashes…”

Caitlyn: “like a phoenix..”

Cisco gave the thumbs up and Caitlyn turned on the fire sprinklers… case of another fire burst… when you woke again you were covered in ashes and very very confused…

Caitlyn: “hello, im Caitlyn whats your name?”

You put your hand to your forehead, you made your face to turn towards her, you suddenly fell back to the bed…

YN: “YN… my name is YN… has there been any word on a Barry Allen…”

Caitlyn calls for Cisco and Dr.Wells… who both come in to stand with Caitlyn…

Wells: “Hello YN, i’m Dr. Wells i understand you know Mr. Allen?”

YN: “yes he is my best friend… where is he? is he okay?”

Wells: “he is fine, he is still in his acoma, he will be just fine though as soon as he awakens… you and Mr Allen were the 2 that were brought here cause we felt your situations were unique… at the actual hospital they said that Mr. Allen is concious in his minds eye but they didnt have the resources to help him… so they released him to us here at Star Labs…”

you were not yourself, you had no idea of the horrors which would befall you, had you not gone to see the particle accelerator go off… had you been with Barry when it had gone off, what would have happened to both of you had you both been there…

YN: “i would like to see him please… i just want to say goodbye before i leave…”

Caitlyn: “you cant leave you dont even have control over what you can do…”

YN: “i can rise from the ashes, i was on fire wasnt i? i know that you are gonna say i shouldnt leave… i know that you guys are trying to help but i have been asleep for how long exactly… how long has it been? who knows that we are here?”

Cisco: “no one knows except for the hospital about the fact that we have Barry… no one knows we have you… but we will let you see Barry before we take you to the training center to help you control your powers which you need to do before you can rejoin the world. its been almost 9 months since the particle accelerator went off and nearly killed you…”

you were trying to hold back your discontent, your fear its been almost 9 months… what the hell happened that night you wondered… 

YN: “i dont know what everyone thinks ill do if i get out of here but i am not gonna loose control of my powers… i feel like a brand new person…”

thats when your hair turned red with fire and your eyes burning red with hatred… they looked at you with fear as you suddenly turned into a phoenix in it actual form and flew out of the door. 

thats the last time you were in star labs that was the last time you were in human form… before a month later should appear. 

that is when Barry woke up, he with the help of Star Labs learned to control his gifts and soon became The Flash… on the 10th month-anniversary of the explosion Barry was back at CCPD doing his job but got word from Star Labs about a firey attack downtown Central City. 

Barry (The Flash) went downtown and stopped at the sight of the fire bird (you)… 

Barry: “guys its a large firey bird…”

Caitlyn and cisco looked at eachother and only caitlyn spoke next…

Caitlyn: “Barry, you know the firey bird.. you need to strike it hard enough to make it revert back to human… other wise we may loose someone who means so much to everyone here… especially you..”

that was enough, that was all Caitlyn had to say, Barry ran up the side of a copper building and got enough speed to throw a very high voltage bolt of lightning directly at your firey bird-like form… 

you were not sure about what was happening… but you felt that bolt of lightning strike you through the fire and you let out a sound as loud as nails on a chalkboard…. 

you spotted the lightning you spotted the person who must have thrown the bolt… but out of all the respective things you had ever done, keeping your human side at bay all you wanted to do was cause trouble… 

you chased the lightning streak all the way to the airport landing no one around nothing destructive… thats when you heard it the small voice from below…

Barry: “i know who you are, please don’t make me strike you down…”

you instead spat a fireball at him… this answered his statement… this was what made him throw a very very large lightning bolt at you… you felt it corse through your skin, over your body, suddenly your human side started to surface… suddenly it was like you were once more normal…

you fell to the ground, you were now laying there naked and human… once you were on the ground barry sped to you, your form causing alarm in his brain… he picked you up bridal style and ran you both back to star labs. 

Caitlyn was in there like a dirty shirt, she shooed Barry out of the room while she worked… she not only put clothes on your body but she also stuck a meta cuff on your wrist which would subside your powers till you can control them… 

she hooked up your vitals and only could monitor them, once barry was out of his uniform he was at the door waiting to be let in…

Caitlyn: “come in Barry….”

Barry walked in the door and was instantly taken with your form… this sight brought tears to his eyes. 

Barry: “how is she?”

Caitlyn: “she will be fine as long as she wears the meta cuff, its gonna keep her from turning into a firey bird again… now ill leave you alone im sure she will want to see you when she wakes…”

Barry went to sit at your bed side… he held your hand in his own and only prayed that you would wake… but he whispered this…

Barry: “please wake up YN i need you to wake up… i need you in my life… i need you with me… so much has changed in both of our DNA’s and we have to do everything we can to survive this together… just please wake up, i love you…”

with that Barry placed a chaste kiss to your lips… and held your hand as he leaned his head on your hand… it was about 10 minutes later that your eyes fluttered open, you sat straight up with a sudden scream… this startled Barry, this brought him to position himself between you and the door right in front of you…

YN: “omg Barry i caught fire, i was covered in ashes, OMG what happened… the particle accelerator, they wouldnt let me see you… are you okay?”

Barry: “im fine, YN is that all you can remember?”

YN: “yes why what else happened?”

Caitlyn clears her throat from the doorway….

Caitlyn: “YN you freaked out at us here at star labs before Barry woke up, you turned into a Phoenix… you spoke as though you weren’t yourself… it is almost like a…”

YN(phoenix): “almost like she is 2 people… ya well im the Phoenix… as long as im able to speak right now… can i jut say that this cuff is really just a over glorified bracelet… so yes Caitlyn you are right she has duel personality… but she needs a way to communicate with me… as i do her… find a way to teach her how to control me, the fire and her emotions… otherwise the fire will consume her again…”

you fall back onto the bed and come back up a few seconds later, confused and afraid… 

YN: “what happened? why is everyone staring at me like i have 2 heads…”

Caitlyn: “YN do you know what D.P.D stands for?”

You had to think about it, knowing that whatever it stood for was probably gonna be tied to whatever just happened to you…

YN: “dual personality disorder.”

Caitlyn: “cisco can you bring up the footage from like 10 minutes ago and put it on the monitor beside YN… so she can better understand what the hell she is going through…”

the footage plays on the screen in front of yours and Barry’s eyes. your own body speaking for you, your eyes red like blood fire, your voice is not your own, and your body reacting not like you would.

you had to peel your own eyes away from the sight of your form on that screen, the voice, the screeching tones… you were mortified… you were not able to form words or at least that was your thought…

YN: “WHAT THE FUCK DID I DO? I SPOKE AS THOUGH I WAS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSON… WHAT TH…”

that is when Barry cupped your face  with his hands and kissed you with an ELECTRIC passion that stoked your FIREY BLAZE…

the sight in the room was enough to turn away the eyes of Caitlyn, Cisco & dr wells… Barry after 10 minutes of a severe make-out session pulled back now having a smile crossing both yours and Barry’s features.

Barry: “i can see that everyone has now always been right… we have always had a strong connection. i didnt see it in time. i can’t imagine my life without you now… share my life with me, share my conquest to save and find metas like you and me, people who were also affected by the particle accelerator… be my other half… YN Marry Me… Marry Me and Help Me Save The World!”

YN: “yes Barry what took you so long to ask…”

Barry could only kiss you once more except both of you falling to the bed in a flurry of passionate kisses.

[cdg174]

Call me Jane Doe: Chapter Two

Summary: Sam and Dean are torn about the girls nature, whether it’s good or bad. They debate if she is to be trusted or not while still not knowing her name. Even though they want answers on this mystery of a girl, the demon still amongst them needs to be interrogated for the missing woman’s whereabouts. Case unfinished takes their first priority. Y/N however lays back and does as the boys wish so they don’t turn on her right away. Although if they find out she still has the demon blade from saving their lives earlier, she is unsure of what the consequences will be.

Words: 1335

Masterlist

Dean’s pov.

I will never understand how someone who looks so young, could be in a situation so cruel and act so naturally through it all. Sammy and this strange, dangerous girl have just finished tying the demon to the chair situated in the middle of a devil’s trap. All the while I stand back, not by choice, stupid shoulder and watch. More so to keep an eye out for the girl, who looks human but due to her acts earlier, not fully believable anymore.

 “Sam wanna help me with this.” I call out, motioning my bad shoulder in his direction. 

“Yeah.” He long legs his way over and plants himself behind me, placing one hand lightly on my shoulder and the other holding the crook of my elbow. “On three…” I take a deep breath in. “One…” Click!

 “Aah! Every time!” I shout back and Sam laughs.

“You’re welcome.” He scoffs and begins walking. I look to the girl, who is circling the demon. I grab Sam’s arm before he’s too far.

“What do you think of her?” I whisper as he looks between me and the girl. “She can’t be human, not completely anyway. What do we do man?” I question. Sam looks over again, pondering.

 “Keep her close.” I open my mouth to interject but he continues. “She knows who we are Dean but we’ve never met her before. Usually anyone who knows us either wants to kill us or gives us a home like Jody. This girl is neither of those, not with invisibility and that strength. She saved our lives and she’s helping us still, so that only means one thing.” He looks at me expectantly. 

“She wants a favour. She needs something that we have. But… What is it?”

Y/N pov.

“We’ll have to figure that out later Dean, let’s finish the case first.” Sam whispers. Strength and invisibility aren’t my only talents but they don’t need to know I just tuned into their whispered conversation from twelve feet away. Some things are best kept quite, for now at least. I hear grumbling and switch my attention to the trapped demon.

 “Broken spine is waking up guys.” I turn towards Sam and Dean as they march over.

“You.” Dean points to me. “Go stand in a corner, out of sight and no talking.” 

“Are… Are you putting me in a time out? Really?” I complain.

“Go! No invisibility, just out of his sight.” He points to the demon.

“Fine, I’m going.” I almost laugh but remember I have to be quiet. I pivot on my feet and to make a show, I tiptoe all the way over to the darkest corner of the barn. When I look back, Sam is smirking and Dean is face palming. Within a second though the demon struggles in his bonds and all faces turn serious. Then it dawns on me, I still have the demon blade. I slipped it in the back of my pants before I grabbed the boys attention earlier. Hopefully they won’t need it because I want to keep it.

Sam’s pov.

That was entertaining. Something tells me those two will be at each other’s throats soon. No time to laugh at the thought now because dead man is opening up his pitch black eyes and he’s mad.

“So glad you could join us.” Dean brings out his flask and whisks some holy water on him. “That’s for my shoulder.” Not so dead now as his screams fill the room briefly. The demon looks around quickly after and his eyes open wide when he sees all his comrades dead.

“How did you pull all this off? You were down.” He nods towards Dean. “And you were cornered with no blade.” He claims, face full of confusion and fear. Blade. The demon blade, where is it? I pat myself down, slowly, so the demon doesn’t see. No blade. Well let’s pray we don’t need it.

“We have our ways.“ I say, putting on a slack face. Can’t let him see me nervous. “I’m sure you noticed by now someone is missing from your band.” I redirect the questions his way. “So where is she? What’s her name? Keep your answers short and to the point.” The demon give us a slanted smile.

“Whatever are you talking about? You’ve met my friends. There all taking an eternity long nap as you can see.” He looks body to body on the ground. “You’ve killed everyone with the answers to your questions. Might as well let me go now, I am of no use to you.” His eyes twitch as he looks back to us. Dean catches it too.

“You’re lying. Now it’s my turn to talk.” He walks into the circle and leans on his good arm looking directly into the demon’s eyes. “You might have bugged up one shoulder, but I’m quick to adjust.” Dean stands and reveals a very sharp pocket knife to the demon. “So start talking if you don’t want to join your friends nap time.” Black eyes gulps but keeps his mouth shut. “Alright have it your way.” He moves the knife along the demon’s collar bone, but puts no pressure. It glides down his left arm before Dean settles on the left hand. He looks into scared eyes right before slicing the back of the demon’s hand in one swift motion.

Black eyes screams. 

Dean’s pov.

“Harlow! Her name is Harlow!” The demon screams before hanging his head low. “She was the original group leader’s maiden. Had been for centuries.” He takes a breath. “When things go bad she usually flees far north. Last time she ran, she went as far as Alaska. Lady’s probably halfway there already. That’s all I know, I swear… All I know.” He quiets down, defeated.

“That’s all we needed Buddy. That simple.” I look at the bloodied demon now passed out in the chair. Not the strongest one out there, he squealed in the first twenty minutes, most times negotiation takes a few hours. Not much damage was done for once. I look up at Sam. “Finish it.” He nods and I move my gaze over to our mystery girl as Sam starts chanting an exorcism. At first glance she looks scared but when she realizes I’m staring, her face turns to stone once more.

“May I speak now Dad?” She says as sarcastically as possible. I roll my eyes.

“Why don’t you just help us get rid of the bodies? I’ve had enough for the day.” She laughs but nods anyway and walks over to the closest meat suit. Sam finishes the exorcism as she drags the body through the barn doors. “Why no demon blade? Guys neck is broken, he’s dead. Exorcism was useless.” I point out.

“I don’t have it on me. Pretty sure miss invisibility still has it.” Sam conquers.

“Wait… Oh no.” I turn and rush to the exit. 

“Dean… What!?” Sam calls from behind me.

“She wants something Sam and I sent her outside by herself with a demon killing blade!” I yell and I hear Sam’s gasp of realization. She took the blade. I run out the doors, Sam right behind me and turn the corner. Before I get another step in though, I nearly crash into the girl. Sam bumps into my back as I halt all movement.

“What’s the rush boys?”  She says nonchalant. 

“But we thought…” I cut off Sam’s words.

“Give it back.” I demand. “Now.” She frowns and stops to think a second but then reaches behind her and brings out the demon blade. In a moment, I snipe it out of her hand, staring angrily back.

“Well I guess now is as good a time as ever for real introductions.” She suggests.

“You know us obviously. So…” I pause. “Who are you?” I almost ask what are you but I bite my tongue.

“You’re gonna hate my response.” She states.

“Spill it.” Sam says annoyed and she smiles.

“Call me Jane. Jane Doe.”

Special mentions: @arazialotis @cyanpintglass@goldenolaf25 @when-innocence-is-gone@jaylynnaredsky @fallen-castiel @spnfanficfavorites @anothertimeinspace @klleexy @flare-chan003 @isnt-the-blog-youre-looking-for @imnotalosechester@mary-meee @yascalum @jsamstar @driadgoch@vvinch3st3r @kayarisa@misguidedconqueress @heeeeeether @messy-buns-and-shotguns @breathexxinxxthexxflames@ryantherandomhero @simirachel @supernatural-fangirl13 @lilypalmer1987 @beatlesobsessionlove @ultracleverthing @possesstiel @0806chung @anamarieswift2194 @mlechercat @elyraelyn @louiselamb12@caratala @theotherlostgirl @ryantherandomhero@dandycandy75 @anothertimeinspace@anamarieswift2194 @msrylf  @palominojacoby @the-imaginarium-of-life @trilloku-blog  @fandomking221b @nerdyalienhybrid1987@stephisapotatoe @chibofrefo-blog @5sos-wdw@jadepc @chibofrefo-blog @spngeronimo @eemeile​ @super-who-lock---trash​

[kristie-rp]

Promise

Triggers: Suicide mention, drug mention, overdose mention, prostitution, gun mention, kidnapping

“I’ll take care of you,” she had promised. She can’t regret the oath, but she does regret what it drove her to, the desperate need to prove she could keep the promise.

Kara gets into prostitution because her little brother is eleven when the last of their parents vanish. She is seventeen, and she knows enough to be aware that the big motivator in Blacklight is money, and when her dad ran out, this is what happens: there’s no point trying to force a payment from a man with his head barely above water. She knows without a body being found that he is dead. Kara has her savings, her college fund, and that’s it. It’s not enough for two kids to live off, and her part-time job at a clothing store isn’t going to keep them afloat, and no one she wants her brother anywhere near is going to hire an eleven year old.

So – so she starts to prostitute herself, an amateur working cheap by Blacklight standards. She learns how much to charge without drawing complaints, she learns how to balance senior year and ‘work’, and she learns that many clients will pay more for the thrill of her being so much younger than the average whore. Enable a fetish and the cash goes up, enough to pay for school, for food, for a roof. At eighteen she gets sole custody of Lionel, legally, without complaint. She fucks the judge to get it through quick, once they get caught by the system.

She spends too long in the bathroom, driving the water bill up and up and scrubbing her skin raw in an attempt to get clean. Lionel is twelve, and she’s learned enough now to know how to draw lines, how to enforce them without losing clients. He knows what she does, he knows how much she hates it, but she doesn’t bring her work home and he can’t complain, however much he might want to.

Eighteen is when the pimp for her district finds out about her working solo, cutting into his profits. Eighteen is when  Craig gets his hands on her, and really, he’s not so bad, except taking off some of her profits. She explains to him her situation, barely thinking it’ll work but convinced it’s worth a try – and he listens. He gives her specific times to work, promises he’ll take only ten percent, a fixed rate. It’s – it’s not good, but it’s not bad, she’s got repeat clients who are sleazier than Craig.

And then Faust finds out about her.

“So you’re the infamous Caramel,” are his first words to her.

She’s standing as still as she knows how, wearing something revealing beneath a heavy, cheap coat. She’s going for allure, even though she’s just a little too far from curvy for the effect to work as she intends; this is her ‘uniform’, what she wears when she’s out during the hours Craig assigns.

“I’m whoever you need me to be, baby,” she says. Her voice is a rasp, quiet, but not subdued. There is a confidence in her tone that many whores have lost by the end of their first year – but she cannot afford to become less of a person, not with Lionel at home depending on her, not with so many people willing to take advantage of her.

Faust circles like a vulture, and she knows she is being judged. She keeps her eyes partially shut, as though heavily lidded, and watches him with pursed lips painted  in a discounted dark pink. He’s not actually that old at this point, though definitely older than her – she guesses him to be around thirty, much younger than her year-dead father. He’s not bad looking, either. It won’t be a struggle to act like she likes it when he inevitably goes down on her, even if what follows is her usual routine of scathing hot water and too-long in the shower, worrying a brother who is getting more and more withdrawn in turn.

“I’ll pay you triple,” he says at last, “to stay overnight. I get twenty-five percent of your cut from clients who aren’t me.”

Kara raises a brow at him. “Craig might have something to say about that.” She doesn’t say that this is a rip off, that she’s not going to jump ship from her fantastic deal just because he offers better pay to start

Faust’s smile is soft, but there’s something in his eyes that stands out to her – something dangerous. Something that tells her this man is not a nice man, as if she hadn’t guessed from an awareness of who he is. “Craig can’t say much once he’s dead.”

Her blood runs cold, but she steps closer to him. He doesn’t back down; she runs a hand up his chest and grips the gaudy tie he is wearing, something only a Blacklight local would like. She doesn’t smile, but she peers at him from beneath the fake eyelashes she is wearing only for this meeting. The effect is that she is playing coy, with any luck. “Whatever you say, boss,” she breathes, and drags him down to kiss her.

She can never pick out individual moments of her time with Faust, not in hindsight. It’s either a self-defence mechanism or a consequence of everything blurring together.

After that first meeting with her, he puts a pimp, loyal to him and more obedient than Craig proved to be, in charge of the whores. The new pimp is an asshole in every way except physically; he does not do anything that might bruise. But the verbal and psychological, the demeaning, the ripping off all of them – Kara is the only one whose cut never changes, because she is not afraid to talk money with Faust, and she talked him into writing up a contract that means he takes a profit from her, not the new pimp, and only a set amount. It’s not good, and for the first time she wonders if maybe things with Craig were better than she thought – and those drained her of everything she had.

If she believed in gods, this would be about where she’d start praying.

She comes home the day of her brothers fourteenth birthday with a little cake and a spring in her step, for once. Faust has promised her the weekend off, written it into another contract in what she knows is both a power play and a source of amusement for him; his little whore with her obsession with promises being kept. She doesn’t care that he mocks her for this, because promises are the only thing she can keep.

“Hey, Li? You home?”

The front door is locked, but not deadlocked; she knows he is. He’s good at keeping safe, good at following rules a lot of people in Blacklight take for granted or ignore. Kara smiles to herself: it’s a Friday, and she doesn’t have to do any work until Monday, and this is going to be a weekend just for her and Lionel. She’s got some money stowed away, enough that they can rent a car – dads being long since gone – and get out of Blacklight, just for the weekend. Never has she been happier her brother is a summer born child; they can go somewhere with a pool, or somewhere on the sea. They haven’t seen it since the summer before their dad was killed, and it’s finally time – in her opinion – to move on.

The house is quiet, though. She figures Lionel has earphones in, because the budget ones that came with his phone are the best sound system they have. He saved for ages to get that thing, scrounging together the change from Kara sending him grocery shopping and the neighbours paying him to pay the lawn until he could afford a Nokia and a memory card, the better to store music on. He loves his music, and his dream is to go to a concert; there aren’t any on this year that he’s interested in, or she would be taking him to it. “Boys and their toys,” she murmurs to herself, fond. She’s been busy, forced to work more lately by Faust and the twenty-five percent, and she’s been looking forward to this for ages, both for the company of Lionel, and for herself. Too much Blacklight breaks people, after all.

She sticks some candles in the little cake, lights them and heads into the further reaches of the apartment. It’s a shoebox, but she can make rent more often than not, and they each have their own rooms, for better or worse. She starts humming the timeless classic in her usual almost-croak, long since over how a husky voice does not lend itself well to singing. Still, she sings anyway, a loud “Happy birthday to you,” that cuts off as she drops the cake in the doorway.

Lionel is collapsed on the floor, and she only prevents a fire because her bare foot stamps out the candles before the ancient carpet can catch fire. Her panic blocks out the stab of pain, and she dives to her knees beside her little brother, feeling for a pulse before grasping for his phone, dropped on a stack of pamphlets, dialling emergency services because it’s that or nothing, and she can’t handle doing nothing.

The paramedics ask her more questions than she can answer. Oh, she can answer the standard lot – medical insurance, none; patients name, Lionel Darcy St Claire; patients age, fourteen; patients date of birth, today; emergency contact, Kara St Claire – but when they ask her if he’s been showing symptoms of anything, she cannot answer. “I work a lot,” she explains, but it feels feeble to her ears, and she feels judged for this more than anything else.

Their weekend away turns into a weekend in the hospital, and the money she has saved to make the weekend worth more than most is set aside for hospital bills. Kara spends Friday night sitting vigil at his bedside, Saturday with her head in her hands and shoulders hunched, and Sunday is when someone finally decides to tell her what’s going on. There’s an excess of something in his system – something that usually results from an overdose of opioids , of painkillers.

“There weren’t any pills anywhere near him,” she says, something nagging at the back of her mind.

The doctor gives a tight smile, sympathy heavy in his eyes. “It can take a week or longer for the overdose to show any observable effects to others, especially if he’s trying to hide them,” he informs her. “This isn’t your fault,” he says, “but his liver is shutting down. Chances are that there’s nothing you could’ve done – we’ve had a lot of suicides lately. It’s unlikely that he will last out the week.”

It’s not reassuring, not at all. She gives the doctor a look that says as much, then closes her eyes. She wants to cry, but she hasn’t done that, not in years, teardrops burning away from the inside out under scalding hot water. She hears the doctor leave, but she stays there, still, with her brother and the beeping of the machines that are, apparently, doing nothing but delaying the inevitable.

She falls asleep in the armchair beside the bed, curled in on herself as though having any more warmth will make this all go away. When her phone winks onto standby after she has fallen asleep, it closes on a Google search result, the top few links showing they’ve been clicked.

is cremation cheaper than burial blacklight usa

Lionel, it turns out, has been having a much harder time than she has been aware. She reaches out to the boy she remembers as his best friend, and it is only herself, him, his sister, and two former classmates who liked having Lionel paired with them for group work come to the pathetic service she holds. She doesn’t believe in god or gods, never has, and while Lionel liked the idea of the comfort divine answers might bring, he didn’t believe either. So she can’t bring herself to hire some religious man to preach something she doesn’t believe, even if it might make the sting any less painful.

She leads the lot of them to the roof of the shoebox apartment she doesn’t need any longer but can’t bring herself to leave, high above the second-storey place she manages to afford. It’s a hideous rooftop, but the building itself is nine storeys, and the view isn’t awful. There’s a barbecue and some cushions discarded up here, an esky that’s more often empty than not, and on afternoons when Kara didn’t have to work and he found himself in the mood, they would sit up here and talk about nothing and everything.

It’s the place most attached to him that brings the least amount of pain, now.

“Don’t you want to say something? In his memory, or something?” the friend asks, when they’re standing there with the urn that holds all that remains of her brothers body. His name is Alex; he’s the most harmless person Kara knows, now. Certainly the most naive and the most delusional. His parents are moving the family to New Brightside, on the other side of Port Lyndon to Blacklight, before the end of the year, chasing job opportunities they’re lucky to have been offered. Kara cannot resent them for their escape, because she hates this city, this city that breaks the people who least deserve it; but she can add them leaving to the list of reasons she has started to write up about

Everything Kara wants to say has been said already, to a brother trapped in a medically induced coma until his liver finally gave out, because Blacklight is no different to America and doesn’t allow euthanasia.

“I remember,” she says quietly, “the summer before mom died. Li – Lionel was four. He was turning four, four years old, can you imagine? And he was – he was so damn happy. I was ten, I thought I was so damn cool, and I really, really wasn’t.

“We went to the coast for a long weekend, I think Independence Day fell on a Monday that year. And there were these teenagers there, probably – probably as old as you guys are now. Thirteen, fourteen, not old at all. I thought they were the most amazing people I’d ever met, and I was such a jackass to Li on the first day, wanting to impress them. Then, on that night, we had this little family campfire, just the four of us, and dad gave me this lecture about not being mean to my brother, about how it was my responsibility to look after him. About how I’d regret not being nice, sooner or later.

“And Lionel, he just – he got up and he sat next to me and he interrupted dad, this four year old, and he says, dead serious, ‘Kara just wanted new friends’. He didn’t hold a grudge at all, it hadn’t even upset him that I was such a – a selfish person. And I know, I know kids don’t understand that at all, they’d never see it as selfish, but usually, you know, the fact that they’re four gets to them first, and they’re all ‘my way is the only way’. But Lionel,” and she laughs faintly, bitterly, fondly; “Lionel just – skipped that stage. And it didn’t change. It never started.

“Blacklight needs more people like that,” she finished, swallowing, choking on the emotion welling up in her throat.

The service ends with everyone sad, the only dry eye Kara’s, and only because she forces it. She’s still clutching the urn, though she plans on emptying it. It’s useless to her, just another thing to decorate the apartment, but it feels more important than that. After all, it’s her little brother in her arms. So she shuts down the thoughts that have been driving her crazy, the ones insisting a pot of ash shouldn’t mean anything, that an unmarked grave would be worth more to her.

But it’s Lionel. He’s all she’s had for three years now, he’s the reason she’s a lower class citizen, and she promised she’d take care of him. She swore.

I’ve never broken a promise before, she thinks, and then flinches from the thought, closes her eyes to it, refuses to acknowledge it again.

She’s got work, anyway. This – this debate can wait.

Kara is three months from her twenty-first birthday when she finds out she’s pregnant.

It isn’t much of a discovery, really. It’s actually impressive it hasn’t happened sooner – she’s heard horror stories of clients and pimps sabotaging others’ birth control, which is why she takes her prescribed pills meticulously, always made sure she has a supply even when money gets tight. That’s something that doesn’t happen much, not anymore, she’s even got savings.

And, apparently, a child on the way.

Maybe I should consider those god things again, she thinks as she wraps and dumps the test. It’d certainly explain the number of things that are fucking with me.

Still – still. She’s been alone for long enough that a bastard child sounds like a good idea, or at least one she doesn’t want to dismiss out of hand. She puts a lot of thought into the technicalities, makes lists and checks them twice.

In reality, her mind is made up the second that little plus sign shows up – the planning comes with the knowledge that a whore isn’t going to make the kind of mother she wants to be.

“You have a daughter,” is what the midwife says, smiling warmly at Kara. Kara is exhausted, feels sweat soaked and disgusting, and there are textbooks at home she is supposed to be revising, unable to take time off even for this – she’s taken advantage of the break from whoring (“Can’t very well have you giving birth in the middle of a good fuck,” he had insisted, which was crass but meant she got time off from wor) to pick up the business course she found in the pamphlets in her brothers’ room, all those years ago. “Would you like to hold her?”

“Please,” Kara says immediately, tired and almost pleading, reaching for the infant. The midwife laughs, more open and affectionate than anyone Kara has spent time with in a long time, and gently arranges the baby in her arms.

“Have you decided on a name for her, yet?”

Kara hums. She’s staring at her new child, at her family, wonder in her wide green eyes. The baby has blonde hair on her head, like Kara’s, and her eyes, for the moment, are shut as she doses. She’s a beautiful little girl, bundled into the blanket and onesie the maternity ward provides. Kara is absolutely certain she’s never going to make anything this perfect again, and immediately feels immensely guilty that she’s stuck picking up on the whoring again just as soon as Faust tires of her sabbatical. All the more reason to finish this business course, to pick up on dreams she had back in high school, that, apparently, Lionel remembered in the week before he succumbed to his suicide attempt.

(She still doesn’t know what caused it, or what she missed, if she could have stopped it. She constantly faces what-ifs and dreams and nightmares of possibilities, subconscious images so realistic she wakes up waiting to tell Lionel about it – and then the memories hit and she curls back up, chokes back the emotion, refuses the tears she still hasn’t shed. But what-ifs are useless and the past cannot be changed: Blacklight breaks people. She has known this all her life.)

“Darcy Artemis St Claire,” she answers the midwife at last, leaning down to kiss her little girls forehead. Darcy feels right, which she didn’t expect, but it just – it suits the person in her arms, belongs to her in a way Kara has heard some mothers’ say is possible, but didn’t believe. The midwife says something about paperwork and vanishes to find it, pulling the crib over so Kara can put her baby to bed, if she chooses.

When she’s alone with Darcy, Kara presses her lips to the top of her babies’ head yet again. “You’re going to be brilliant,” she murmurs, almost silent. “You’re not going to have a life like mine. I’ll never let you feel alone, I promise. You’re never going to have to swear yourself to – to someone like Faust or Craig or anyone else. I swear, Darcy. We don’t know each other well yet, but we will, and it is going to be fantastic. I promise you.”

She should learn to keep her mouth shut.

Darcy opens her eyes more and more, and there’s something familiar in them. It’s only once Kara is forced to go back to work, cajoling the elderly neighbour into caring for Darcy for the few hours she has to be gone, that she figures it out.

She’s lying in bed with Faust, waiting for him to tell her she can get out, go home, collect her pay direct to a bank account she always transfers the money straight out of, when it comes to her. Darcy doesn’t have her eyes, but they’ve always been familiar. Kara has a lot of regulars, people she’s seen since coming back to work.

“She’s got your eyes,” she blurts without thinking, and immediately starts cursing herself out internally, more than she usually does. She promised Darcy she’d never owe herself to someone like Faust, and here she is, piquing his curiosity.

“I’m not giving you alimony. Keep your bastard child away from me,” he instructs.

She immediately wants to leap to her daughters defence, but she stops herself. She doesn’t want him in Darcy’s life, after all – she promised Darcy, and she’s never going to know that this one time, Kara didn’t defend her. “I don’t want your hush money,” she snaps, getting out from the bed he fucked her in.

She feels dirty, but that’s normal, after any time spent with Faust at all – any time spent working at all. She’s almost finished her course, though, and then she can work on starting a store, the way she wanted to as a teen.  She’s almost out. Finally.

Kara isn’t exactly counting down the days, but she is closer to relieved than she’s felt for a long time.

“What’s this I hear,” Faust says, speaking very slowly, “about you studying?”

He says it like it’s a dirty word, but it’s Kara who is alarmed. She’s got a contract with him that doesn’t say it, but everyone knows that once Faust has you, you don’t get out. The contract doesn’t say it, but everyone knows the rules: no studying, no betterment of yourself, no terminating your employment. Whores get out only once they’re too old to be appealing, businesspeople get out when they can payout more than Faust thinks they are worth, mercs don’t get out.

The exception is when they get dead.

Who told you, is the first question on her tongue, but she doesn’t ask. Even if he answers, it won’t do her any good. “It doesn’t say anything in my contract about me not being allowed to pursue other uses of my time, as long as it doesn’t impact my earnings. It hasn’t, therefore, you have no reason to be like this.” She folds her arms over her chest, the better to hide her fisted hands.

He laughs, long and loud and cruel. “Your contract means nothing. I maintain the terms because it amuses me, but if you are betraying me, Caramel, then you need to be punished. You’re nothing more than a particularly pretty slut, spreading your legs for whatever cash you can get your hands on.”

Kara hates that name, but she freezes, and cannot move. He raises a hand and two men come in, along with a woman she’s barely aware of, some other whore, one of the older ones – one of the broken ones.

“Do it,” he instructs.

The men get between the two women, but it’s the woman who catches Kara’s attention. She’s tiny and hunched and doesn’t have an ounce of confidence in her movements – and she’s walking right for the room where Darcy is sleeping.

“What are you doing?” Kara exclaims, lunging forward. One of the men grab her wrist, the better to prevent her from moving.

“You want to take one of my toys away?” Faust sneers. Kara has never wanted to attack him as much as she does now. “I will take yours. After all, she’s half mine, isn’t she? What was it you said – she has my eyes.”

In the other room, the woman must have picked up Darcy; the baby starts to cry. There are quiet shushing sounds, but they don’t work – Kara and the neighbour are the only people who can get her to be quiet, once she starts crying. Kara doesn’t know if it’s a temperament thing or what, but she doesn’t mind, not as long as she can get there to stop it. “No,” she gasps, then repeats it louder, wrenching out of the grip of the lackey, “No! Don’t you dare, don’t even think about it, I’ll – I’ll go to the police, or I’ll hire someone to get you, Faust, just watch me – get off me – don’t touch her!”

The last shout comes from the older whore showing the wailing infant to Faust. And – yes, okay, he’s the source of the sperm that made Darcy possible, but he’s not her father, and he looks at the baby as though she is some new plaything. Figures, Kara will think later, but for now, she is too panicked, too defensive, too amped up to do anything. “Stop that,” he tells Darcy, but if anything it only makes her cry louder. He rolls his eyes and dismisses both the whore and the baby with a wave of his hand, and Kara is reminded again of how offended she was, when she realised who made her daughter possible. “You, too. Stop it,” he orders, not even looking at the crying child. “The police won’t act against me, and no one you could find would dare go against me. I own this city, I own you, and now, I own your daughter.”

“Fuck you, Faust,” she spits, tugging ineffectually against the grip of the merc. One of them shifts behind her, not that she can see it, and lifts something. Faust nods in front of her, and she opens her mouth to keep protesting, to keep yelling, to talk sense into the man who is kidnapping a baby he wanted nothing to do with less than a year ago.

Only something soft goes over her mouth and nose, muffling her shouts, and when she inhales the air is sickly sweet. Her eyes go wider, and she’s at once disgusted and horrified and incensed, but it doesn’t mean anything. After all – she isn’t immune to chloroform.

His words are a premonition:

The police do nothing. He has half a claim on a child, and if she can’t keep it safe from one little home invader, clearly she isn’t fit for custody, and less than a tenth of the police force in Blacklight aren’t in Faust’s pocket –

She can’t hire anyone to help. She doesn’t have the money, and she doesn’t trust the sort of people she could hire, and one in maybe every two hundred residents of Blacklight would maybe consider doing something that will piss off Faust –

There’s no one who will volunteer to help. She knows people who might not like Faust’s methods, but they are quiet and constrained and won’t act against him, and she couldn’t ask them to anyway, not without becoming as bad as him (which, honestly, wouldn’t be that bad, if she got her baby back) –

His words are a challenge:

He says he owns her, but she refuses to be owned by someone who no longer has anything over her. He took her daughter, and she’s not powerful enough to right the wrong, not yet –

But he can’t do anything worse to her now, so why should she listen to a word he says?

“Y’know,” X says. He’s a hulking figure, leaning against the glass cabinet she’s  fixing the display of, completely at home in the meticulously kept almost-open store. “when we met, I didn’t think you’d end up at this point.”

“Yeah?”

“I mean, common whore – no offence – to the owner of a gun store? It’s almost a 180.”

Kara snorts, because that’s the best she can offer while she’s got her hands on an engraved Colt. She rests it gently on the cushion and slides the drawer shut, locking it tight before she looks up at him. “Says the guy who gave me the idea in the first place.”

“You were at a gun show, of course that’s why I thought you were there. It’s that or you’re a gun bunny.”

“That’s not a thing,” she says drily, because he’s been trying to make it a thing at least as long as she’s known him. He hasn’t succeeded, not yet. She’s not going to let him – at least, not around her. Not on her corner of this cesspool.

“It’s totally a thing.”

She scoffs hard enough that her throat feels raw, and almost chokes on nothing. He pushes the bottle of water on the counter towards her, raises a brow at her. “Thanks,” she says, once she’s got it down without coughing anything up.

“Don’t mention it,” he says. Then it’s his turn to laugh, and roll his eyes. “I have no idea what you’re thanking me for.”

There are a lot of things. She met X at a dark point in her life, and while things haven’t gotten any lighter, she still constantly feels as though she owes him. “Closing your shop to come help me open, obviously,” she says, but it’s only one of a much longer list.

He knows. The smile he gives her is soft, and he leans across the counter to tap her nose. “You’re going to figure it all out,” he says, “I know it.”

She manages a smile back at him. It’s hard to believe – but it means the world that he does already. Apparently, it’s just what friends do – and she’s been missing out.