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keeroo92 · 4 years ago

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Breaking Point

My SFW contribution to @jackpot-dantezine, where Dante falls apart on the way to confront Urizen.

Word count: 1,909

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The air hung stagnant around him, oppressive and unnaturally warm. Shades of red and brown, grey and a sickening green encroached up the walls. When he called the smell, “hot garbage”, he’d been far too kind. Veins pulsated a stern drumbeat as Dante stepped forward after his two female companions.

“Bet you both I bag the first Queen!” Lady taunted. Trish responded with a cool smirk and a quickened pace, but Dante’s mind was elsewhere.

What if it was Vergil?

Dante had his doubts, despite what the weirdo client told him. What were the chances, right? Vergil’d been gone for years, stuck in hell after their last meeting. Getting back here, let alone in good enough shape to pull off this bullshit, was a longshot.

Still. His brother had a way of popping up and causing trouble.

The first boom of battle ricocheted off the nauseating walls, reminding him where he was and what he still needed to do. He’d better catch up. Thinking about shit wasn’t his style; killing demons was.

Time for a good ol’ fashioned beat down, that’d get him out of this funk.

Dante cracked his neck, hands twitching to grasp the twin handles of his beloved Ebony and Ivory. The staccato thud of his boots mirrored the thudding of his heart, hastening as he got closer to a fight.

He turned a bloody corner just in time to see Trish deal a death blow to a Hell Judecca, its skeletal arms dissolving into ash as she spun to find her next prey. Her signature yellow sparks glowed brightly from her hands, her body dashing across the blood-stained ground to strike a pair of Antenora. Show off.

“That puts me ahead by two, Lady! What, are you taking a nap?” the blonde called.

“Not even close!” Lady replied, firing her bazooka straight down the throat of a Caina.

Dante grinned and picked a target, spinning on his heel as a scythe hunted his flesh. Too easy. He twirled Ebony and shot the ugly bastard in the face behind his back. Why did all demons look like the ass end of a bad burrito, anyway?

Eh, who cared?

His heart lurched. Vergil would. When they were children, Dante’s brother never ran out of questions about the nature of demons. He’d asked everything imaginable, from how they fought to how they multiplied.

Dante tried not to think about that part.

And for every question Vergil asked, their dad had an answer. He’d stop whatever he was doing to explain, smiling proudly all the while. Like Dante wasn’t even there. It used to annoy him, but now the memory only brought bittersweet longing. What he wouldn’t give for them all to be together again…

“Dante, duck!”

Leather snapped as Dante instantly dropped to a crouch. A stream of fire licked his flesh, a Hell Bat above screeching its displeasure at the near miss. Annoying bastard. He never should've let it get so close.

I gotta keep it together, he thought cynically, or the girls will get on my case.

Plus, banter always helped keep his mind from visiting its darker corners.

The man in red summoned a smirk and fired a few rounds, his bullets poking holes in the bulging orange belly overhead. A sound not unlike a whoopee cushion signaled his success. Nice.

“Sayonara, sucker!” he crowed, watching as the bat’s leaking body propelled it into a wall to explode. “Let’s call that one twenty points.”

“No way, lazybones! You don’t get extra for making fart noises,” Lady called with a scowl.

Dante raised his hands in a placating gesture as soot settled to mark the deaths of their foes. He hoped Ver- Urizen sent a few more their way; he needed to warm up before kicking the king’s ass. Maybe he should stretch, just to keep his blood flowing.

Dante sighed and shook his head. He’d never hear the end of it.

It turned out he didn’t need to worry; as the trio progressed, they encountered wave after wave of demons, all vying for fresh blood. Trish and Lady didn’t falter, picking off one after another as Dante did his best to stay on task, but his mind kept drifting back to his brother.

For decades, Dante held only anger at his twin for not being there, for forcing their mother to search for him. To a child, the immature logic made sense. If Vergil hadn’t run off, things would’ve turned out differently. Simple cause and effect.

But time dulled the blade of his rage, and a broader understanding of life took hold. Any number of choices may have changed the outcome of the attack, but obsessing over it wouldn’t change what happened.

None of them had the power to predict the consequences, or to change them. All he could do was keep fighting, and hope that by doing so he spared other families from sharing the fate of his own.

If Dante was being honest, the constant battles tired him. His body didn’t move like it used to, and the first aches of middle age warned him it was time to slow down. He couldn’t chase demons forever, and part of him didn’t want to. It was a lot of work.

It might be time to leave it to someone younger.

Then again, what the fuck else was he going to do all day? The only thing worse than being tired was being bored.

And the thought of retiring while Vergil was still out there somewhere, doing who knew what… it didn’t feel right, as if the balance would shift to the demons and they’d go unchecked. As a descendant of Sparda that gave a shit about humanity, Dante felt a certain responsibility to bear the weight of defending them. It was what his dad would’ve wanted.

What his mother would’ve wanted.

Besides; if he didn’t, then who would? Nero sure as hell wasn’t ready, not yet.

But above all else, if it came to a fight to the death, his brother deserved to go at the hands of his family. Someone who understood what he’d gone through and all that he’d lost. It was Dante’s responsibility, and he damn well wasn’t hiding from it. Not this time.

The thought left a hollow ache in his chest, a bitter sorrow he desperately wished he could ignore. If there was any alternative, any chance of helping his brother instead of ending his life, Dante knew he’d take it. That he had to even consider killing Vergil showed how twisted life could be. It made him want to scream.

“Aw, shit,” Trish said, breaking his rambling thoughts. A quartet of Nobody’s waited in the next clearing, scurrying back and forth like excited cats. Perfect timing - Dante hated these guys.

And he really needed to kill something.

He flew at the demons with a cry of fury, drawing all four to him as he pulled Rebellion out. The girls followed in his wake, but he saw nothing save the nearest mask as his blade struck home. It left a deep crack in the clay, but the prick backed off before he had the time to kill it.

He really hated these guys.

“Lady, finish him!” he cried. The other three were already swarming him. Damnit.

He dodged a stray arm and slashed at another as a blast reached his ears. The grotesque floor shook from the force and Dante roared, unleashing a vicious series of slices at the stumbling Nobody closest to him. It whimpered and tried to back off, but he refused to let it go that easily. Rebellion’s heavy blade sank deep into the creature’s core, splattering hot blood on its fellows and its killer alike. Two down.

Two to go.

There were days he didn’t see the point of it anymore; no matter how many would-be demon kings he took down, there’d always be another, and the peons were even worse. Useless, feral things, their only desire to destroy and kill.

It only added fuel to the fire of his rage. He needed to get closer.

Dante sheathed Rebellion and pulled at the thread of dark energy connecting him to Balrog, summoning the metallic pseudo-armor even as he threw a powerful punch. A rapid kick followed, his feet cracking against the reddish mask of the third nobody. He’d kill it before it fought back.

But a fiery blast on his left hurled him to the side, the last demon cackling as he fell. Years of getting pummeled proved their worth as Dante rolled with the blow, using the momentum to get on his feet a beat later. He grimaced and flipped a finger at the laughing jerk.

“Is that all you got?” he shouted. Who knew if it understood.

It screeched and slammed a limb at him, slashing at his chest. He stepped aside and brought his arms together, crushing the appendage and tugging the beast closer for a solid headbutt. He punched and kicked, again and again. Demon blood splattered his face, each drop like a balm to his wrath. The chaotic battle surrounding him faded away; it was just him and the demon and the sounds of his strikes pulverizing its desecrated body.

“Dante?” Lady called, her voice barely piercing the fog of his anger. He ignored her and punched the Nobody in the face again. “Dante, it’s dead. You can stop hitting it now.”

How many people had this one killed? How many families did its hunger shatter? For all Dante knew, it might be the bastard that killed his mother. He punched it again.

“Dante, come on…” Trish said.

Maybe this was the demon that left nothing but smears of blood on the playground outside. Or the one that tore through a local grocery store, or that small house where he found those god awful husks. Another punch. He didn’t notice his female companions coming to stand beside him.

“Dante, knock it off. We need to keep moving,” Lady said, her palm coming to rest on his shoulder as he pulled back for another punch. Trish mirrored her.

The edges of the creature’s face began dissolving, a fine grey powder all that remained. Dante’s panting breath sent the dust aflutter as he slowly lowered his arm. His jaw ached; had he been gritting his teeth the whole time? Fuck.

Better crack a joke, something to keep it light.

“So, that’s what, four points to me?” Dante said. Both women shot him fierce glares.

“What the fuck, Dante?” Lady began.

He wiped away the blood still clinging to his face and sighed. “It’s nothing.”

“Didn’t look like nothing,” Trish chimed in. “You good?”

The red-clad man released the tendril of energy connecting him to Balrog, the blood-stained metal vanishing a beat behind. He didn’t know what to say. His rage still flickered within him, an ever present ember waiting for the right moment to flare into an inferno. It might give him an edge; it might consume him.

Talk about a double-edged sword.

It didn’t matter what was happening in his heart or what it did to him. There was a big ass demon tree growing in his city, ugly bastards swarming the place and who knew what else. It was his job to clean up the mess, no matter who made it.

Dante snorted. He was, in essence, a janitor.

He cracked his neck. It was time to clean. “I’m good.”

#fanfic #my writing #dmc #devil may cry #dmc dante #dante sparda #angst #one-shot

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orangeflavoryawp · 4 years ago

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Jonsa - “Red Curtain”

My first modern Jonsa piece. Definitely a different voice than I usually use, but loads of fun to write.

If you’re interested in the accompanying playlist at all, here you go.

Red Curtain

Chapter One: No Take-Backs

“He’s pretty sure he left that closet at least half in love with her.” - Jon and Sansa. Summer’s for lovin’, after all.

Oh, and crisis. That, too.

Read it on Ao3 here.

Part 1 | 2

* * *

"No, no, but you see, gravity doesn't matter here," Theon argues. "You're up in space. It's like a fucking swimming pool up there, just, you know, minus having your trunks hauled halfway down your ass every time you surface."

"Theon, it's not gravity keeping your jizz in your dick," Jon laughs, reaching for the ice bags Robb hands him over the edge of the pickup truck.

Robb heaves another bag over. "This is literally the dumbest conversation you two have ever had."

Jon points at Robb accusingly. "Hey, okay look, I can guarantee you this isn't the dumbest conversation Theon's ever had." He swings the offending finger over to Theon in point.

"Dude, how do you know how that shit works in space? You ever been?" he defends, fumbling with one of the coolers.

Jon rolls his eyes. He hadn't really expected he'd be arguing the finer points of masturbating in space when he got up this morning, but in hindsight, he probably should have, considering the day's company.

"I'll be back with the beers," Tormund calls out, coming around the truck as Robb jumps down.

Jon tosses him the keys in answer. "Grab some spritzers, too."

"You got it, Buttercup," Tormund says, winking, climbing into the driver's seat.

After a glare his buddy's way, Jon looks back to find Robb and Theon staring at him with matching smirks.

He shrugs. "What?"

"Spritzers?" Robb asks, closing the truck bed with a cocked eyebrow.

Jon grabs the cooler handle opposite Theon's hold. If he's lucky, maybe he can upend him. "Your mom likes 'em," he mumbles. And then he throws an arched brow Robb's way. "Actually, your dad, too."

"You're such a fucking suck-up," Robb laughs, shaking his head, piling in what bags of ice he could fit into the cooler.

"Your boyfriend's kinda cute, you know. He's not staying?" Theon asks with a nod sent back at Tormund as he peels off in the truck.

Jon throws a swing Theon's way and he guffaws in answer while ducking, before nearly dropping his end of the cooler, scrambling for balance.

Serves the fucker right.

Between the two of them, they get the cooler up the driveway. Robb trails behind them with a bag of ice on each hip, looking every bit the expectant father he is. "Tell Tormund to come by. He always makes a party more eventful," Robb goads.

"You mean more expensive," Jon throws back.

He's still paying off that bill for the pool table Tormund wrecked back at The Crow, after all. And yet, it's him who gets all the dirty glares from the bartenders now.

And really, what's up with that? It's not like he's the man's mother.

Jon shakes his head, glancing back at Robb. "Anyway, he's got a shift tonight."

Theon wrinkles his nose. "The brewery?"

"Yeah."

Robb mock pukes.

"What? It's a good gig," Jon defends.

"It's where you met Ygritte," Robb points out, shifting the ice over his hips.

Jon refrains from rolling his eyes. Only barely. "She's not a bad person. We were just... bad for each other."

"Ever heard of that river in Egypt?" Theon quips. "De-nile?"

Jon throws him an exasperated look. "Why do you hate her so much anyway?"

Theon's smirk instantly dips into a frown entirely too somber for such a face. "She borrowed my copy of 'The Thing' and never gave it back."

Jon actually laughs at that one.

"See!" Robb butts in, "Those are the worst kinds of people. She's a taker, man. What you need is a giver."

"Someone like Tormund," Theon supplies cheekily. "Seriously though, what is it with you and redheads?"

Jon drops his half of the cooler weight for a brief moment in response, just before catching it again, and Theon's yanked hard left with the motion.

"What the fuck, man?" He rubs his shoulder, glaring at Jon, but Jon's too busy laughing, before he stumbles over a sprinkler head when they dip off the driveway. "Agh, fuck, that hurt."

"Karma's a bitch, Snow," Theon taunts. "And she's my bitch."

Jon opens his mouth but Robb cuts him off, ushering them off the driveway. "Guys, left – go left. We gotta take the cooler round back anyway. Dad's already in the yard."

So they shuffle left, crossing over the Starks' large front lawn toward the side gate to the backyard.

"Watch the zinnias," Robb directs.

Jon and Theon stop simultaneously to look back at him.

"Dude," Theon deadpans.

Robb comes up short, glancing between the two, shifting awkwardly with the ice in his arms. "Mom will kill you," he says in answer.

"Do you want to carry this thing?" Jon asks with a pinched brow.

Robb brushes past them toward the side gate. "Just don't step on them. Come on, come on."

They trudge onward, and Jon really does roll his eyes then because of fucking course he still takes pains not to step on the goddamn zinnias.

Maybe Robb was right. He really is a suck-up.

They make it to the gate and drop the cooler, thank god.

"Dad! Dad, open up," Robb yells over the gate, rocking back and forth from foot to foot with that cold ass ice at his sides.

"We brought your shit!" Theon hollers, and Jon throws a smack to his chest in reprimand.

"Ow," he draws out dramatically, a hand to his chest.

Robb frowns at the gate, the gate that isn't opening. He wiggles the ice higher up his hips. Stares hard at the fence.

Theon cocks a brow at him.

"Call him," Robb says, chin jutting toward Jon.

He reaches for his phone, hands flattening over empty back pockets. "Shit, it's in my bag." The bag he left in Tormund's truck.

Theon makes a similar show opposite him.

Robb throws his head back with an exaggerated groan, dropping the bags down on the top of the cooler. "I'm not picking that shit back up again," he swears, an unexpected shudder rippling through him when he's suddenly ice-free. He clamps his hands over his chest, his t-shirt already damp and sticking to him. "Shit, my nipples," he curses.

Theon barks a laugh.

"Look, I'll call him," Jon says through a laugh. "Where's your phone?"

Robb shoos his hands away. "I got it, I got it." He pulls his phone from his back pocket, dials, waits a moment. "Yeah, Dad, we're here." He glances to the gate. "No, it's not open." He ushers toward Theon to try the latch.

It swings free as soon as he tries the handle.

Robb glares at the offending gate. "It's open," he mutters, hanging up.

Jon cocks a brow at him. "We cool to go in or...?"

"Yeah, they're coming," he assures, pocketing his phone.

And then Jon catches sight of Ned Stark coming down the long stretch of grass lining the side of the house. He's in checkered shorts, a short-sleeved button down, flip flops that squelch at his heels with each step, and Jon hides a chuckle behind his fist, because he fucking loves this man, summer fit and all. And then Benjen comes around the corner behind him, dressed similarly, jogging to catch up, a hand raised in the air in greeting and before Jon knows it, it's a rush of hugs, and claps on shoulders, and a kind of rough jostling that makes him beam, a rowdy tousle of welcomes, smiles stretched wide.

He misses this. God, he fucking misses this. The only family he ever truly felt a part of.

And then that useless, familiar guilt ripples through him.

The thing is though, he thinks his mother would have appreciated the closeness he feels with the Starks. After all, she and Ned Stark grew up living next door to each other for fifteen years, near as siblings as anyone could be. And then years had passed, and suddenly they were all adults, and maybe Ned made some better choices, and Lyanna hadn't. Maybe all of this was supposed to be ancient history. And he doesn't really know if history is supposed to be a lesson, he really doesn't. And he doesn't fucking care. Because his mom did a hell of a job with what she had, and he loved her, more than he knew he could love anyone, and she was good for him, she really was, right up to the moment that she died.

She never stopped being good for him, really. Even after she died – when Ned Stark wrapped his arm around his trembling, nineteen-year-old shoulders at the funeral, let him cry into his perfectly starched collar, took him home to a warm house, gave him some hot soup and his first glass of whiskey, told him stories about his mother that had him laughing as hard as he'd been crying just earlier – that was his mother right there. That was his mother bringing Ned Stark, and all the rest of them, into his life full force. No take-backs.

It's not something he thinks too hard about most days – how his first real birthday party, when he was seven years old, was a cowboys versus dinosaurs theme, because he and Robb Stark, the stupid, loudmouth boy next door, had gotten into such an argument weeks before (and they've never really settled that one since, to be honest.) Or how the boy across the street, Theon fucking Greyjoy, had knocked on his door in the middle of the rain, holding up the tail-end of his pet iguana with a look of exasperation far older than their eleven years with a sigh of 'He keeps getting into my sister's bathroom'.

And he tries not to think about the day he attempted to teach Arya to drive in his busted up Jeep and became witness to such road rage that had him shrinking in his seat, fingers curling around the hand-hold along the roof, or the way Bran quietly demolishes him every time they play a round of Modern Warfare, sipping his perfectly iced root beer with a hint of superiority, or the way Rickon had wailed when animal control took away that stray dog they'd found in the park, huddled under a bush, whining and licking at its broken leg. Or how Sansa had –

Jon swallows thickly, mind fizzing out.

Because he remembers how Sansa helped him pick out a new suit for his first day at the firm, when his nerves had been frayed all to hell. And he remembers how she helped him sneak Robb back into the house through her bedroom window, nagging the whole way through, when he and Theon had gotten her brother drunk for the first time in highschool. And he remembers back in middle school how she helped mend the jacket his mother had given him because he didn't want her to find out that he'd ripped it riding bikes through the construction site she'd warned him to stop playing in.

And sometimes, when he least expects it, he even remembers the morning after his mother's funeral.

After spending the night, he'd been sitting out on the Starks' front step just before dawn, his hands linked between his knees, mouth fuzzy from the whiskey Ned had given him the night before, and he remembered looking up at the sky. Barely a cloud in sight. This pretty sort of blue, just on the verge of daybreak, and he remembered absolutely hating it. Wanted to throw something up into that stupid, pretty blue, make it crack and break, blow a hole straight through it, watch the pieces trickle down.

And then Sansa pushed the front porch door open.

He'd turned back to look at her, squinting in the half-light. She was standing there in the same sweatpants and tank top she'd gone to sleep in the night before, holding an opened yogurt in one hand, a spoon in the other, keeping the door open with her hip.

He's sure he'd meant to say something, but nothing really seemed to be worth saying right then, so he just looked at her. She watched him a moment, like she was still deciding whether to step out onto the porch entirely or not, and then she offered a light quirk of her lip and let the door slip off her hip and shut behind her. She sat down beside him and started to silently eat her yogurt.

It was that probiotic shit he'd seen her eating dozens of times before, lemon flavored, and it was so normal suddenly – here – the morning after his mother's funeral, sitting next to Sansa Stark at the crack of dawn.

She looked at him, lip caught between her teeth. "Want some?"

And he'd let out a breath finally, all the anger bleeding from him instantly. He shrugged, a chuckle leaving him. "Sure, why not?" He opened his mouth and she spooned a dollop in obediently.

It tasted terrible. And he must have made a face, because her lips tipped down in an imperceptible frown and then she was glancing back at her yogurt. "It helps with indigestion," she said despondently, turning the tiny carton around in her hand, peering at the label.

And then Jon laughed, only it hurt. So maybe it wasn't a laugh at all. All he knew was that his eyes burned, and he couldn't look at her, and the air built up in his chest and it wasn't leaving, it just felt like choking, and he was sure he was laughing now, awkwardly loud and clipped off at the end, like his own tongue hadn't expected it, and then he was pressing his knuckles into his eye socket, like he could dig the very tears out if only he could clench his fist hard enough.

The sky was so stupidly, frustratingly blue.

And his mother was dead.

"I think it's supposed to get better with time. Easier, I guess," she said quietly beside him.

Jon looked at her, brow crinkled. "What?"

"Missing her."

He frowned at that, stared hard at the half-eaten yogurt held in her limp hand as she glanced out over the lawn.

She looked at him, and her eyes were blue, too. And maybe that was supposed to mean something, but it didn't. It didn't mean anything.

"You believe that?" he asked her.

She shrugged, an earnest look on her face. "It's what everyone says."

"Sure." He looked back to his hands linked between his knees, pressed the toes of his boots into the wood beneath him, just to feel it. "I guess."

"I'm sorry she's gone." She dipped her spoon back into her yogurt but just twirled the tip of it around languidly. She shook her head, and she looked so unbearably sad. Too sad for any seventeen-year-old to ever look. "I'm so, so sorry, Jon."

His tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth. "Yeah, me too."

Maybe she caught the quiver in his voice. Or maybe she'd just grown tired of playing with her yogurt, hands fiddling with the spoon. Fuck if he knew. But she looked at him then.

Jon turned to look out over the lawn where the lip of the sun had just begun to peak over the houses across the way. "I don't - " He caught the break before it could fully form, swallowed it down, tried again. "I don't really know how to talk about it," he admitted. Because it was true. "Not yet."

She gave it a moment, and then, "Okay." And he figured she'd leave then. But she didn't. Or maybe she just didn't know how. But he – he –

"Can you..." And then he looked at her again, caught sight of the new sun slanting over her face, and it was bright, too fucking bright, and she raised a hand up to shield her eyes, squinting at him, and he wanted to laugh again, but he didn't know how to make it not sound like crying. So he simply cleared his throat. "Can you just sit with me?"

Sansa's hand lowered, one eye still squeezed shut from the light, her mouth dipping into a frown. But it wasn't the sort of frown she'd always given him before, like the one she wore when he spilled soda over her homecoming dress, or the one she wore when Arya chose go-karting with him over swimming lessons with her, or even the one she wore when he punched Joffrey in the middle of the hall her sophomore year. No. This one was softer at the edges. And maybe it was just the morning light coming over the neighbors' roofs. Maybe it was just him being uselessly sentimental. But for some reason, her frown didn't bother him this time. Didn't bother him at all.

And damn. Was that supposed to happen?

Jon swallowed thickly, throat parched. "Will you just sit with me?" he managed again.

She set her yogurt on the step, forgotten. And then she braced her hands back on the porch ledge behind her, palms going flat over the wood. She nodded, the frown settling out into a thin, unassuming line. "I can do that," she said softly.

Jon took a breath, let it go. And then he was sure. Sitting there, staring at Sansa Stark at the ass crack of dawn, the day after his mother's funeral –

He was sure.

This was not supposed to happen.

But then, the morning passed, and so did the months, and one day Jon woke up and realized he was doing alright.

So no, he doesn't think his mother would begrudge him this happiness. Even though he misses her every damn day.

Benjen's hand on his shoulder now steadies him, and the merry-go-round of memories settles into a low hum in the back of Jon's mind. There'll be plenty enough time to get sentimental later. It's the Starks' annual cookout, after all. The first day of summer – when they stay up to the crack of dawn to greet the new season. It's got something to do with their family way back when or whatever. Making it through the night, a celebration of life, and all that cheese. Catelyn tried to explain it to him once but he was nine, and really, could she blame him for zoning out? Anyway, afterward, he'd just turned to Robb while they sat at the kitchen island, Catelyn pulling chicken nuggets out the oven for them, eyes wide as he whispered in awe, "She lets you stay up all night?"

Robb had nodded smugly, grabbing for the ketchup bottle with bravado, and after dinner at the Starks, Jon went home to beg his mother to let him join the party that year. She had an unofficial invitation herself for years, anyway. Why couldn't he?

Jon can now safely say that this annual cookout of theirs is the longest commitment he's ever made in his life.

"Your mother's in the kitchen," Ned tells Robb.

"Ooh, is she making deviled eggs?"

"When has she ever not made deviled eggs for this thing?" Theon interrupts.

Ned only offers up a hand and a raised brow in a gesture that easily says True. And then he's nodding back toward the front of the house. "Use the front door. You know how she is." He reaches for one handle of the cooler, Benjen already going round the other side.

"Yeah, yeah," Robb waves off. "Shoes off in the foyer and all."

Ned gives a smile, lifting then. "Why don't you boys try to give her a hand?"

Jon feels suddenly nauseated at the idea of traversing a kitchen where Catelyn Stark is wielding any kind of sharp cutlery. "Where are the girls?" he manages to gulp out.

Stupid gulp.

Ned shifts his knowing smirk his way. "Arya and Lyanna are somewhere about, I'm sure. Jeyne's at the store getting the grill meet with Sansa and Margaery."

Okay, so maybe his palms get suddenly sweaty, and maybe his jaw ticks, and maybe he gives a disinterested shrug (a very disinterested shrug, yes, very disinterested), but dammit, she wasn't supposed to be here this summer.

"Oh," he gets out.

Oh.

Like a fucking idiot.

"Jeyne's at the store?" Robb asks, brows furrowed.

Oh thank god for overprotective Robb. Jon feels infinitely less under the microscope when the collective attention shifts to him instead.

"What, does she plan on carrying that all back herself?" he asks, huffing.

Ned blinks at him. "Like I said, she's with Sansa and Margaery."

"She's nearly eight months, Dad."

Theon claps a hand on his shoulder. "Dude, she's pregnant, not incapacitated."

"You're gonna be incapacitated pretty soon, I swear to god."

Ned rolls his eyes at his son, hefting the cooler up with his brother on the other side. "Calm down, Robb. If you only knew some of the things your mother did when she was pregnant with you," he starts off, smile twisting.

Benjen barks a laugh at that. "Ned, do you remember when she – "

"Oh god, let's not do this, please," Robb groans, face pulled back into a grimace.

Ned just shakes his head, smile wide. "Go help your mother." And then the two older men shuffle off back into the yard, cooler and ice bags held between them.

Jon shoves his hands in his pockets, thumbs hooking at his belt loops. "So?"

Robb pulls his phone back out. "Give me a sec."

Theon throws his head back in a dramatic sigh.

But Jeyne picks up pretty quickly it seems, because Robb perks up instantly at the sound of her voice on the other end. "Jeyne, hey, babe. Dad said you were at the store?"

Jon pretends not to listen in.

Robb pouts. "We could have gotten it, babe. You know I brought Jon and Theon back today. You didn't have to – " He silences, pout turning into a slight purse of his lips. "Yeah, I know, but – " Another silence. He huffs. "Your feet aren't hurting?"

Jon grins wide at that, try as he might to smother it.

In a way, Robb and Jeyne have become a strange sort of model for Jon these last years. Not a bar, per se, but an example, at least. That much, at least, for sure. It's one of the things that threw his relationship with Ygritte into such stark perspective. Where their relationship was enduring, his was combustible. Where theirs was comfort, his was a trial. Where theirs was honest and open, his felt like a never-ending minefield.

And now: "Your feet aren't hurting?"

Jon wants to laugh. It's such a simple, unloaded question. But Robb may as well have said 'I'm in love with you' and it'd have meant the same thing.

So yeah. Not a bar. But a hell of a lot closer than he's ever gotten to it himself.

Theon lets out an impatient groan at Robb's phone call. Robb only glares at him. "Okay, babe. Yeah. That's fine. But wait, uh, can you pick up some of those chips I like? You know the ones. The onion thingies. The – yeah! Those! Get me some funyuns." He smiles blindingly. "Thanks, babe. Oh, and tell Sansa not to make you carry everything!" He stops, frowns. "I mean, it's not like she's – " Robb stops again, looking down. "Alright, I'm sorry, babe. Yeah. Yeah, okay. Love you, too. See you at home." He hangs up.

Theon immediately makes a whipping sound, gesture and all, a crooked smile breaking over his features, and if Jon hadn't valued his life so much, he might have done similarly. As it is, Robb is only trying to strangle Theon at the moment, which is fine by him.

"Sansa's coming?"

There. He said it. He asked.

Not so fucking difficult, after all.

Robb stops his attempt at throttling Theon to look over at Jon. "Of course, she's coming. It's the annual Starkfest." He gives him a disbelieving face.

Jon's brows hit his hairline. "I'm sorry, the what?"

"Starkfest."

Jon shakes his head as though clearing his ears. "Yeah, still didn't get that."

"Come on, doesn't it sound epic?"

"Sounds lame as fuck to me," Theon pipes up.

"That's your problem, Theon. You think your opinion matters."

Theon gives Robb a dramatically wounded look, hand to his heart. "Oh spare me, cruel viper."

Robb throws his hands in the air. "What? Bran likes it."

Theon drops his hand from his chest. The look, too. "I'm sorry, but Bran is most definitely not the measurement of coolness here. What are you on?"

"I think Bran's cool," Jon says on a shrug, hands still in his pockets.

"Okay, you've forfeited your right to speak in this convo," Theon says.

"Oh come on," Robb says. "'Starkfest' is perfect."

"I thought she was staying at Margaery's this summer," Jon says before his courage can fail him.

And fuck, are his palms still sweating? Jon bites off a growl of frustration at himself. Fuck that shit.

Robb blinks at him. "What, Sansa?"

Jon nods. Maybe because he's afraid of saying more.

"Yeah, she is, but she's not missing the cookout. Brought Margaery, too. They've been staying at the house for like, four days now. Heading back south tomorrow though. I hear they're going to a concert down in White Harbor before they get back to Marg's."

Jon furrows his brows at that. "She's leaving tomorrow?"

Robb nods.

"She's not staying up with you guys?"

Robb waves him off. "Ah, don't worry about it. She never made it to sunrise before, anyway. Always passed out at least an hour or two away. She'd probably appreciate the sleep more, actually," he shrugs out.

Jon purses his lips. "Right."

And all at once, he's wondering if she still keeps her hair long. If she still carries that dragonfly keychain on her phone. If she still pulls at the edge of her skirt when she's nervous.

If she still hates him for last winter.

Jon clears his throat, nodding back toward the front of the house. "Your dad said Arya was in?"

Robb smiles at him, thankfully oblivious to his desperate change of subject. "Yeah, she's not taking summer classes this year. Come on."

And then they're making their way back across the front lawn. Jon still takes care to avoid Mrs. Stark's zinnias.

He wonders, briefly, if Robb isn't the only whipped one here, but he doesn't think too long on it.

They're just fucking zinnias anyway. So maybe he just cares too much about the things he shouldn't. Attaches to things that give no promise of attachment back. And damn, there's some psycho-analytic bullshit somewhere in that mess, if he looks hard enough, but he doesn't.

He's gotten pretty good at loving the transient, after all.

Sansa Stark shouldn't be any different.

It's not really something that needs another look, he finds. Not then. And not now.

They make it to the front door before he can linger long on it, and then Robb is jiggling his key into the lock, and then he's pushing the door open, and then he's hollering Arya's name into the open foyer. Something about it sends Jon to beaming.

Home.

He's home.

Thunder seems to come down the stairwell. Jon looks up to find it's Arya. He barely opens his arms in time. She launches herself at him, jumping into his arms, winding her legs around him.

"Jon!" she cries, ecstatic.

And oh fuck!

"Arya, fuck, my back! My back!" Jon nearly crumples from her attack, stumbling against the end of the stairwell. "Holy shit, get off me," he chokes out beneath her bone-crushing hug.

She slips from him effortlessly, huffing a strand of hair out of her face. "Old man," she grouses, punching at his shoulder with affection. She grins up at him, crooked and earnest.

He softens at the sight. "You're getting too old for that."

Arya rolls her eyes. "Or you're just getting all rickety."

"That's my vote," Theon says at his side. He opens his arms wide for Arya with an expectant smile.

"Ew," she deadpans, one hand settling at her hip.

"Missed you too, runt," he says, ruffling her hair.

"Oh fuck off, Theon." She shoves his hand away, but he just brushes further into the house.

"The boys back from school yet?" he asks into the open foyer.

Bran suddenly crosses the threshold travelling from the dining room into the den with his face almost adhered to his phone. "It's summer break, dumbass." He promptly disappears around the corner.

Theon plants his hands on his hips. "Ah, that's a yes, then."

"Hey, babe, your Dad wants you and Rickon to help get all the pool stuff out of the shed," Lyanna Mormont says then, coming down the hall toward them before sidling up beside Arya with a hand at her waist.

Arya swings an arm around her shoulder. "Lyanna, you remember my brothers," she says, motioning to the three in the doorway.

"Unfortunately." Lyanna grimaces, and it makes her already dour face even more so. And yet, her hand at Arya's waist is tender, her glance toward her girlfriend softened somewhat, and Jon has learned by now to keep his smile in check.

He watches Arya's hand curl around Lyanna's shoulder and wishes for nothing else in that moment but many more such years ahead of them.

"Good to see you're still in high spirits, Lyanna," Robb smiles brilliantly at her.

"Yeah, well, you're not my brothers, thank god, soooo," she smacks her lips, turning to Arya. "Babe, you gotta get Rickon."

And just like that, the moment is shattered. Jon heaves a sigh.

"Rickon!" Arya yells up the stairwell behind Lyanna's head.

"Arya, what the fuck?" she snaps, hand to her ear.

She shrugs down at her girlfriend. Footsteps thump at the upstairs landing. "What?" an annoyed voice calls down, only a pair of socked feet in view as Jon cranes his neck up the stairs without success.

"Dad wants you."

"I'm not falling for that again."

"Fine," she says, shrugging, steering Lyanna into the kitchen. "But the boys are here."

Silence for a beat, and then the socked feet take a few cautious steps down, and Rickon's head pops out beneath the second floor obscuring the rest of the stairs. His eyes go wide. Smile, too. "Jon!" he beams, bounding down.

And fuck, it's a man coming down the stairs now, not some socked feet or a boy he remembers, but a fucking beast of a man. Jon teeters back, shooting straight from his lean. "Rickon?" he asks, eyes wide.

The boy – man – jumps the last three steps and comes hurtling toward him, arms wide. Jon opens reflexively, afraid he'll be mauled otherwise, and Rickon slams into him, rocking him with his hug. It warms something instantly in Jon, even if the teenager's head now sits higher than his own. He frowns at that a moment, pulling back to look at him.

Theon claps a hand on his shoulder. "Shit, Rickon, what have you been eating?"

Rickon smiles down at Theon.

Holy shit, he's smiling down at Theon, Jon realizes in horror. And then he squints at Rickon's chin. "What is this peach fuzz?" he laughs, letting the boy go, fingers flicking at his baby beard.

Rickon slaps his hand away good-naturedly. "You've been gone too long, man."

"Clearly."

"No hug for me?" Robb asks with a mock pout.

Rickon levels him with a dead stare. "You were literally here this morning."

"Doesn't mean I don't miss you," he croons, looping an appendage around Rickon's neck and tugging him into his chest.

"Oh god, no, stop it!"

"Come here," Robb smooches, wrestling with him through the hallway toward the back of the house. Rickon's protests drown out somewhere past the hallway bathroom.

The smile comes easy and wide along Jon's face.

Home, he reminds himself.

No take-backs.

#jonsa #jonsa fic #jon snow #sansa stark #red curtain #modern jonsa #my writing #got fanfic

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mego42 · 5 years ago

Note

i totally agree with you about annie and rio being bi, so i thought if you wanted to, maybe you could write a fic about them talking about their common experience. i would love more sibling in law camaraderie! but i feel like the only way rio could truly be that vulnerable is if he were high. would love to read about them high together! thank you in advance! #highwhilebi

Oh my god, anon, I wish you could have seen my face when this came in because yes.

I hope you don’t mind, but I’m taking this as an opportunity to also write a little something for @nickmillerscaulk because she is the actual best and it’s literally the least I can do to say thank you.

I hope you both enjoy 💖

“Where’s your sister?”

Rio straight up, like, materializes in the kitchen, startling the fuck out of Annie and making her drop the chip bowl she’s refilling.

“Jesus, fuck,” she says, scooping a handful of potato chips off the floor. Five-second rule, right? Besides, Beth keeps the floors clean enough to eat off of. Literally. “You should wear a bell.”

He doesn’t answer and for a second Annie thinks—hopes?—maybe he’s disappeared as silently as he appeared. But, when she looks up he’s still there, staring at her and the floor chips, clearly horrified.

Feeling thoroughly judged, Annie belligerently pops a chip in her mouth, gratified when his look of horror intensifies.

“What are you doing here?” she asks, chewing noisily just to be obnoxious and tossing the rest of the handful in the trash. Yeah, fine, it’s gross.

“Where’s your sister?” Rio asks again, ignoring her question.

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” Annie retorts, grabbing some salsa out of the fridge.

She realizes that it’s probably unwise to taunt the crimelord in her sister’s kitchen, but it’s not like anyone would ever accuse her of being wise. Which is kind of annoying, actually, because she is in many ways, but it goes unappreciated.

Besides, it’s not like he’s going to do anything to her. She likes to think it’s because in the past year since he and Beth have stopped actively trying to kill each other, Annie and Rio have become...not friends, but cordial enough that she hopes killing her would at least be awkward.

Except, she’s not stupid. He runs a gang for Pete’s sake, awkwardness is not a barrier to him, you know, taking care of business. The real reason Annie’s relatively sure he isn’t going to do anything to her is Beth. Annie’s perfectly safe as long as he wants to keep doing whatever it is he’s doing with her sister.

It gives her the shivers, honestly. She can’t believe Beth—Beth—is into it, him. The whole situation is so weird.

Annie gathers up her snacks and supplies and heads back to the couch and TV, dumping it all on the ottoman Judith had sent over ages ago that’s still serving as a makeshift coffee table. Beth had finally started replacing her furniture—that Rio stole. And that’s another thing, they have the weirdest foreplay Annie’s ever seen, and that’s saying something given some of the people she’s hooked up with—but was doing it slowly.

The couch was one of the first big pieces she’d bought before even a bed. Which is another weird thing, actually, given that Beth’s finally getting some on the regular. You’d think she’d want someplace more comfortable than an air mattress to—

Annie sits bolt upright, feet flying off the ottoman, nearly upending the salsa and chip bowl. Oh god, is this their sex couch?

Her eyes fly to Rio, still hovering like an awkward lurker by the kitchen door, glaring like it’s somehow Annie’s fault that Beth’s not here. Which is rich, him holding anything against her, when she’s the one over here sitting on the sex couch.

Oh, fuck it, she thinks, dropping back onto the cushions. It’s not the grossest thing she’s ever sat on by a mile.

“I don’t know when she’ll be back, she ran out to help Ruby with some church play costume emergency,” Annie relents, fishing around for the remote. “I can tell her you came by, or you can hang out, whatever, just stop hovering. It’s creepy.”

She crows, triumphant when she retrieves the remote, but it ends in a squeak as he sits down on the other end of the couch. She’d invited him to stay because that’s what people do, she didn’t think he’d take her up on it.

But, okay, sure, he’s here. The scary-ass gang banger her sister’s boning until the cow’s come home is chillin’ with Annie on an ugly ass floral couch Beth picked up at the ReStore, thumbing through his phone like this is all perfectly fine and normal.

Annie never wanted her life to be predictable, but this is a left turn she never saw coming.

Shrugging to herself, Annie hits play and dips a chip into the salsa. Nothing left to do but lean into it, apparently.

“M’watching Shitt’s Creek, by the way,” she says around a mouthful of salt and tomatoes, bizarrely satisfied when he looks over at her with a pained expression. “It’s about this family—”

“Yeah, I fuck with it,” he says, looking back at his phone as he casually upends Annie’s mental picture of him and what he’s into like it’s nothing.

“You do not,” she says, crunching down on another chip for strength.

“What?” His eyes flick over to her. “It’s good shit.”

“I know that,” she says. “It just doesn’t seem like, you know.” She waves in his general vicinity. “Your thing.”

“Yeah, well,” he shrugs, going back to his phone. “What’s that sayin’ ‘bout judgin’ books by their covers?”

Which, ouch. Annie doesn’t judge. Okay, so she judges but not like that. She knows better than anyone how deceiving appearances can be.

She digs around in her purse for her bowl and her weed. The whole situation is way too surreal for sobriety without being called out for being shallow and judgmental by her sister’s crime husband.

He raises an eyebrow but doesn’t say anything when she pulls out her pipe. Not until she packs it and pulls out her lighter.

“You sure you should be doin’ that in here?” he asks, which is just—no.

“Okay, first of all,” she starts, waving a hand in his face. “I don’t care what you guys get up to, you do not get to tell me what to do in my sister’s house. Ask Deansie how that worked out for him.”

He smirks a little, and Annie can’t help grinning back. What can she say? Deansie sucks ass, and she appreciates anyone who recognizes that.

“Second,” she continues, calmer now. “He’s got the kids for the week, so there’s plenty of time for the smell to dissipate. I brought a candle.”

“Besides—” Now it’s her turn to smirk. “It’s not like there’s all that much furniture to absorb the smell.”

Rio laughs at that, bobbing his head in acknowledgment of her point, and Annie squirms a little, pleased at his approval and annoyed that she’s pleased.

“Now shut up and let me watch my show.”

She hits the bowl a few times, loving the warm, loose feeling that spreads in her head. It’s too bad Beth won’t smoke with her, it’d do wonders for that stick in her ass. Though, who knows, maybe she likes the stick. Beth’s a total fucking mystery to her these days.

Annie laughs a little to herself, and Rio looks over, curious.

“Want some?” She asks, offering him the bowl and lighter. She isn’t expecting him to take her up on it. If nothing else, he seems more like a joints or blunts than glass kind of guy. But she is apparently entirely shit at predicting anything about him because he takes it from her and lights up, smooth and easy like he’s had plenty of practice.

They smoke in silence for a bit, passing the bowl back and forth until it’s tapped, and Annie’s feeling pretty warm and fuzzy. She grabs the chips and salsa, moving them to the couch between them for easier reach before snuggling back into the cushions. She nudges the potato chip bowl at him, dipping one into the salsa and popping it in her mouth.

“What?” She asks at the look he gives her. “It’s good. People act like you can only dip tortilla chips in salsa, but really they just lack vision.”

He shrugs and grabs a chip. The satisfied hum he lets out when he tries it makes Annie downright giddy after all of the shit Beth and Ruby give her over her weird condiment and food combos.

“You know what else is good?” She asks, recognizing a kindred spirit and lowering her voice conspiratorially. “Syrup on potatoes.”

He dunks another chip and chews slowly as he considers her insight.

“Yeah, I could see it,” he says after a long moment.

“My man!” Annie shouts, throwing up a hand for a high five and nearly upending the snacks.

He laughs, and for a second, Annie thinks he’s going to leave her hanging which, unsurprising but a little disappointing, she can’t lie. But then he raises a hand and taps it to hers.

It’s probably the weed, but it feels like she won something and makes her absurdly happy. She turns back to the tv, smiling a little wider when she sees Rio pocket his phone and settle back out of the corner of her eye.

They watch a few episodes mostly in companionable silence, sharing the chips and occasionally cracking up, and it’s...weirdly nice? Like hanging out with a friend which is a total mind fuck to be entirely honest.

She doesn’t know if it’s the weed or the weird level of comfortable they’ve inexplicably achieved, but he must be feeling it too. It’s the only possible explanation for what happens next.

“Gooood,” Annie groans, slouching down a little on the couch and pressing a throw pillow over her face.

“Hmmm?” Rio’s pretty boneless himself, the second rotation seems to have done the trick.

“I just, I can’t even look at them,” she says, waving a hand towards the screen where Ted and Alexis are having a moment. “It’s too much concentrated hotness.”

She flings the pillow away, realizing after she let go that she’d more or less thrown it straight at his head, but he lazily bats it down on his lap, so that’s fine then.

“You ever have that? That thing where someone is just like, too hot, and it ruins your life a little?” Not waiting for an answer, Annie studies the tv. “Alexis more than Ted for sure, but I would gladly bone down with either of them in a heartbeat. Fuck, I forgot how horny weed makes me.”

It’s like her brain catches up with her mouth all at once, and she freezes, replaying everything that’s just come out of her mouth.

“Okay, for the record, I know how that sounded, and I was not hitting on you,” she says, staring straight ahead and blushing so hard it feels like her entire face is on fire. “I want to be extremely clear on that.”

She hears this sort of wheezing sound and seriously wonders for a second if she just freaked out so hard she burst something. But when she darts a glance to the side, she sees Rio’s got a hand over his face, shoulders shaking, and she realizes the wheezing noise is him. Laughing at her.

Like, really laughing. Nearly helpless with it, honestly.

It’s so unexpected, so different from how she’s ever seen him, it snaps her all the way out of her embarrassment. She literally feels her jaw drop, which is something she always kind of thought only happened in like, tv shows.

And he just keeps laughing, it’s like once he started, he can’t stop. After a minute, Annie shrugs and goes back to watching the show, helping herself to more chips and trying to remember if she’d seen any of those mini pizzas in the freezer.

Eventually, Rio calms down, dropping his hand, and Annie glances over, attention caught by the movement, and he’s smiling at her kind of fond and shit, which is weird but also weirdly nice? She feels like she could get used to him liking her. Maybe even like him back a little. He’s pretty chill when he’s not like, threatening people with guns and death and stuff.

He’s got good taste in tv, anyway. Snacks too.

“So, Ted and Alexis, huh?” he asks and, right. What with the unexpected giggle fit she forgot she kind of came out to him.

“Yeah, you know,” Annie gestures at the screen, a little apprehensive. It’s been so long since she’s explained her sexuality to anyone. She’s totally chill with it, but she forgot that squirmy little edge that comes with saying it out loud no matter how little she cares what the other person thinks of her. “I like the wine, not the label.”

But Rio just nods, like it’s a foregone conclusion. “Yeah, I figured that part, I meant that’s what does it for you?”

“I mean, not that it’s any of your business,” Annie says, electing to ignore the fact that she started this. “But yes—wait, what do you mean you figured?”

“The jumpsuits and shit,” he says, frowning like it’s obvious.

Which like, yeah, she dresses to advertise sometimes, but the assumption gets under her skin.

“That’s ridiculous,” she shoots back. “How would you like it if I just, you know, called you out for your gigantic bisexual nose piercing?”

He’s smiling at her again, that sort of fond, sort of amused, sort of I-know-something-that-you-don’t smile that’s really fucking obnoxious, to be honest. She absolutely zero percent understands Beth’s thing with him, he’s so—and then the other shoe drops.

“Oh my god, wait, you’re…?” Annie trails off, not wanting to assume a label.

“Yeah, I guess I—” Rio pauses and squints at her like he’s trying to decide something. “I like a few different types of wine.”

“No shit,” Annie breathes. “Does Beth know?”

Not that it would matter to Beth, obviously, Annie just really loves the idea of knowing something about her sister’s boyfr—no, fuck buddy? Please, like Beth would have anything that crass, she probably thinks of him as her lover, the nerd—that Beth doesn’t.

Rio just looks at her though, eyebrow raised and fine; apparently boundaries are still a thing. Or so he thinks, he doesn’t know how persistent she can be yet.

“Whatever,” she says, putting the chips and salsa back on the ottoman before turning full body towards him, tucking a foot up on the couch and plopping the remaining throw pillow in her lap to lean on. “So, do you feel me on Ted and Alexis? Who’s your type?”

He huffs a laugh, closing his eyes and scrubbing a hand over his face like he’s already regretting saying anything.

“Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell meeeeee,” Annie whines, nudging him in the leg with her toe. “You might as well get it over with, I’m not going to stop.”

“I like—” Rio cracks an eye at her, looking her up and down, and Annie does her best to look trustworthy and supportive. “Patrick.”

Annie’s jaw drops, again. “Darkhorse pick, man! I did not see that coming.”

His shoulders bunch up, and he starts to sit up, so Annie thumps him with the pillow until he settles back down. “No, no, it’s great, I love it.”

She stops, cocking her head and studying him. “That actually makes a bizarre amount of sense. He’s got that same bouncy, wholesome, fuck-with-my-people-and-I-will-end-you-but-politely vibe as my sister, now that I think about it.”

Rio frowns like that’s something he hadn’t considered before, and Annie’s absurdly pleased to have upended his mental equilibrium this time.

“Damn, gang friend,” she says, grinning wide. “I think we’re having a moment. I will be honest, I did not see this coming.”

He laughs again, sort of reluctant like he doesn’t want to, but Annie can see a little bit of a genuine smile teasing around the edges of his mouth.

“Admit it,” she says, poking him with her toe again. “You like me.”

He rolls his eyes, dropping his head on the back of the couch and looking at her. “Don’t push it, yeah?”

“Fine, fine,” she says, turning back to face the tv. “I’ll let it go for now.”

They watch in silence for a minute before Annie gets an idea and has to forcibly tamp down on her grin. She starts to hum a little under her breath, getting a little louder when she sees him look at her out of the corner of his eye.

“You’re simply the best,” she sings, collapsing into giggles when he smacks her with the pillow she’d flung at him earlier.

***

“What the hell happened here?”

Annie nearly kicks the plate of crumbs—the only evidence of the mini pizza feast she’d made them—off the ottoman as she startles awake to find Beth standing in front of the couch, hands on her hips.

Her face is flickering as she tries to look stern but clearly wants to smile, and Annie realizes she’d passed out with her face against Rio’s shoulder and—oh god, she’d been drooling on it.

She shoves off of him abruptly, wiping her chin and sticking her tongue out at him when he grins at her.

“Nothing,” Anie says, opening and closing her mouth like it will help clear the moss that’s grown all over it while she slept. “Just watching tv.”

“Oh yeah? You’re friends now?” Beth asks, failing to hide the hopeful lilt to her voice like they’ve given her a birthday present or some shit.

“Yeah, I mean, what can I say?” Annie glances at Rio with a shrug. “He’s better than all the rest.”

She cracks up all over again when he pushes her off the couch.

#good girls fic #rio + annie #brio fic #kind of that tag feels like cheating tbh #nbc good girls #fic prompts #asks #anon #my fic #bless you anon this was so much fun

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dazzlingfantasiesblogs · 7 years ago

Text

Hurricane P42

Happy x REader

Warnings/Triggers: 18+ Only. If under 18 Kindely un-follow me please!

Notes: Enjoy my loves! Bold = Dream

Tags: @moodygrip @mywhitehatisbigger @jenny885 @trippinjenni @camobighairnboots

Pics and Gifs are not mine!!

Happy kissed your cheek ad held your hand. It felt like he had not seen your beautiful eyes in forever. “YONA! Grab Kozy and your brother please!” you yelled in your sleep waking up. He looked at you confused and a huge smile across his face. He kissed your lips before you could come to grips with what was happening. “Happy.. where is Yona?” He looked at you confused. “Our daughter…” A smiled pulled at his lips. You closed your eyes against and opened them. You looked at your hands and didn’t see the extensive crow tattoo on your arm. “It was a dream..” you whispered to yourself. “Your awake..” He kissed you again. “How long have I been asleep?” you asked trying to slowly sit up. “48 hours..” Happy stood up, getting in the bed with you. He hugged you close to him. The tears started streaming down his face again. “Hunny..” you tilted his head towards you. You pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “I am ok. Promise.” He nodded. “Who is Yona? What did you dream about?” you smiled as you told the whole story. From beginning to end. You explained how it felt so real that is why you didn’t understand when you woke up. “Only thing hun.. I would die with in seconds of you dyeing.” He pressed the kiss to softly to your lips.

It took twenty- four hours before you could go back to the Montana clubhouse. You stepped off the truck that Happy drove from the hospital. He held your waist and tightly to him. “Y/N!” you looked up to see Lorenzo standing there. He sprinted towards you, Happy growling at him slightly, letting you go. HE grabbed you in his arms, holding you so tightly it hurt. You hugged him weakly. “Why are you here Lorenzo..?” He pulled back slightly. “SOA called me.. Well Kozik did, trying to find who is trying to hurt you.” You looked at him confused. “Why you..?” He laughed a bit. “I have an in with detectives.” You nodded, your feet giving out under you. He quickly held you up, picking you up in his arms. “Give her to me..” Happy eyed him. Lorenzo smirked a bit. “Lorenzo.. don’t start shit..” you said weakly. “I can still shoot you two..” You said sleepily. Lorenzo gently transferred you to Happy. He watched as you slid into Happys chest, almost falling asleep.

Happy gently laid you down on the bed, discarding your shoes and socks. “My love, do you want some water or something?” “Water is fine..” you said half asleep. “Prospect!” the young man appeared in the room. “Watch over her. If she wants you to do a fucking handstand you don’t question it!” Happy said roughly. The prospected nodded sitting in the chair next to the bed. “I can take care of myself.. he is a person too..” speaking weakly. “He is in training..” Happy spoke calmly to you. The prospect thanking you quietly.

Waking up a few hours later, your eyes opened to Lorenzo sitting next to you. “Hey..” you said tired. “Hey hun..” he brushed a few strands of loose hair off your bandages. “So.. I hear you two are back together..” He said hesitantly. “You have been dying to ask that question huh?” Lorenzo laughed a bit nodding. “I hurt you and I am so fucking sorry. I still want to be your friend..” laughing he sounded like a kid who got in a little fight on the school grounds with his 1st grade girlfriend. “Lorenzo shut up.. you know you will forever be my best friend and first love. You know that.” He smiled down to you kissing your cheek. “There you are..” Happy walked in not too enthused. “Where is the prospect?” “I said he could go.” Lorenzo stood up fixing his suite. “Fucking snake..” Happy snarled at Lorenzo. “Enough!” You stood up holding your hands up. “Happy, Lorenzo will never, ever be out of my life. He was my first love and I will always be there for him as he has been for me. Yes.. we hooked up and got close when everything went down. Like everyone he made a mistake. Lorenzo, quit taunting Happy.. for the fucking love of the heavens.. please..” you looked to both men and they nodded curtly. Sitting back down on the mattress Happy sat next to you. “Are you hungry?” Lorenzo asked. “No.. the meds they gave me makes me not hungry at all..” Happy sighed a bit nodding.

Happy held your waist as you walked downstairs to the reaper table. “Where is Sammy and Trina?” “With Chibs. We thought it would be better to get them some where safe..” Lorenzo spoke. “Thanks.” You agreed. Sitting in the chair, Happy handed you a glass of water and your pain pills. You took them quickly. “What do we know..?” you asked calmly. “Honestly.. not much. We traced the parts of the bomb from Charming. So it is local.. We have prospects at your house..” Jax spoke up. “What about Gemma and everyone?” he smiled a bit. “Safe house.” You nodded sighing. “Why did I bring this mess to your door step..” you mumbled. “Doesn’t matter. Your family and it was on another charters soil. We will figure it out.” Nodding you finished the water. “Happ.. can I have a cig?” He nodded taking one out, lighting it for you. “Do you remember anything from before the bomb went off?” Lorenzo asked sitting on your other side. “Yeah.. a sweet scent. Nothing like the perfume I or anyone close to me wears.” Lorenzo nodded. “Cheaply made that is for sure.. it smelt…” you eyes widened. “Like something a crow would wear..” you spoke angrily.

Two days later you where back in Charming. Walking into Cara Cara you slammed the door open. Lorenzo behind you. You decided to not bring Happy into it till you where sure it was her. Ima was sitting on the chair. “Not sure if she is dead.. bitch deserved it.. cant have two good looking guys..” you grabbed your gun from your back waistband. Lorenzo grabbed it putting a finger to his mouth. He showed you his phone that was recording the conversation. “Thanks to Angela from the Montana charter for helping. She had slept with Happy in the past so she was fine with it. Hell I didn’t tell her to plant a bomb. Just said to scare her a bit. She seems so fucking fearless.” You closed your eyes in annoyance. You nodded to Lorenzo. “Wow, attempted murder is a hell of charge.” Ima shot up looking at you, like she seen ghost. You walked over to her, she stood up backing away scared. “What is going on?!” Luann ran out from the office looking at the scene in front of her. Lorenzo caught her to not brake you two up. “She and some other girl almost killed Y/N in a car bomb..” Lorenzo said lowly. You grabbed Ima by the throat. “You think Happy is a huge killer? Hunny you do not know me..” you drug her outside and slammed her to the cement. Lorenzo sent the recording to Happy.

Twenty minutes later Happy showed up with the rest of club. He went to go after Ima and you held him back. “She deserves to die!” he yelled. “No. She doesn’t.” you spoke up looking back at the girl. “She got the shit beat out of her, she got what she deserves. Lorenzo is putting her in a mental hospital till she gets her shit worked out. Trust me, facing her fears will be worse..” walking away you sighed a bit feeling a huge burden be lifted as you walked to the Audi Lorenzo had rented. The cops showed up and took Ima away. “Why not ride with me?” Happy asked grabbing your hand. “I am dizzy.. plus.. Angela was apart of this..” he grinned. “I..” “Happy it is fine.. I just don’t feel stable enough to ride on a motorcycle.” He nodded looking at Lorenzo. “Thanks..” Happy grunted his way. “She loves you.” Lorenzo said nodding to Happy. “She needs to rest. She waisted a shit ton of energy kicking the shit out of her.” Happy chuckled looking down at you. You gave him a small smile.

Kozik walked into your tiny house seeing you asleep on the couch again. He frowned a bit. You had not gotten much of your energy back. He called the doctor to ask him a few questions. “Sis..” Kozik shook you gently. “Hey bro..” you weakly got up. “Are you pregnant?” Kozik asked a bit nervous. “No..” you laughed a bit. “I checked. The side effects of the medicine are just that strong.” He nodded hugging your tightly. “Lorenzo has something for you..” you looked at him confused. You seen Happy and Lorenzo walk into the house. Each walking over and covering an eye. You followed them to your porch. “1, 2, 3!” Kozik yelled out. You seen the light shine and your eyes focused on a huge black jeep wrangler with bright blue interior. “WHAT THE FUCK!!!” you screamed. The boys all chuckled. “We pitched in a bit. Kozik and I did the interior.” Happy smiled at you. “Hugging and kissing each of them you walked off the porch. Opening the door you still felt slightly nervous you would hear that beeping sound. Quickly you ignored the feeling seeing Kozys own bed in the back. You seen it was all decked out with a back-up cam and huge stereo. You sat on the seat and felt how comfortable they were. “For your road trips.” Happy smiled to you. You looked at him and kissed his lips. “I love you..” you hugged him tighter. “I love you too baby.. you will never know how much.” He said pushing his forehead to yours. “You all are a heaven sent! Lets go for a ride! Kozy come on!!!”

Driving around, you found a mud pit and skidded the Jeep in the dirt. All the guys laughing as you spun fast. “Hell yeah sis!” Kozik yelled holding onto the side handle. Stopping you laughed at how amazing the Jeep was. You where going to miss your old one, but this was a start of something new in your eyes. “I want a pic of all of us..” “Y/N..” Happy said cautiously. “Please..” you knew he hated Lorenzo, but you needed one of them all. They nodded as you grabbed your new phone and shot an amazing photo of you, Happy, Lorenzo, Kozik and Kozy. “Thanks boys.”

Two months Passed

You felt the needle press to your skin and you immediately calmed down. The buzzing noise of the tattoo gun was always a welcoming sound. “Are you sure?” you looked at Happy. “I can always cover it, if it is ugly.” Happy snorted, knowing you where getting under his skin. He pressed the needle to your back leg and you didn’t flinch. “You have no clue how hard it is to focus on this while touching you..” he groaned dabbing the needle in ink. Grabbing the paper towel to wipe the ink away he started to outline the photo. “Are you sure you want this.” He stopped again. “Yes Happy. You drew it for me. Now fucking tattoo it.” HE loved getting you worked up when he was giving you a tattoo, knowing you couldn’t move to hit him. He pressed the needle further, watching every movement he made. You closed your eyes relaxing into the pain even more, it often making you tired. Happy looked up and seen you sleeping slightly. Smirking he pulled the needle away and grabbed a handful of your ass. “Wake up, no sleeping on the table. Or I stop and fuck you right now.” He said grinning. “That hardly sounds like a punishment Mr. Lowman.” You knew you struck nerve when you said that. ‘Y/N I am warning you, or this tattoo will never get done..” you nodded and laid back down letting Happy finish the tattoo.

After you stood in the mirror, you where so impressed with the art work that he had done. “THANK YOU BABY!” You ran to him hugging him from behind as he cleaned the machine. “Your welcome Hurricane.” He looked up to you. “Someone is getting a blowjob tonight..” He laughed a bit at your wittiness. On the back of your leg he tattooed the picture of you, Trina and Sammy since you didn’t have one of them. You kept looking at his work, constantly amazed by his skills. “Your so talented..” you whispered. “Well.. thanks.” He shrugged. “I can barely draw a stick person.” He laughed a bit. “Well you can sing, run a business and kick peoples asses. While keeping me tamed.. Id say that is talent. I remember the stick figures you use to draw on the love letters. They just where all a little different.” Walking over to him he wrapped his hands around your waist. “About that blow..” you kissed his lips to shut him before he could finish it. Grabbing his hand your brought him to the loft, shoving him on the bed.

Hearing Happys phone go off he sighed annoyed. Answering you waited. “We gotta go!” he yelled standing up. “what is wrong?!” “Kozik got shot!” you jogged downstairs to your Jeep. Happy getting in the passenger side. Kozy getting on his bed.

Skidding to a halt you didn’t even park the jeep. You ran into the hospital. You seen the whole club in there. You stepped forward slowly. “He.. he is gone..” Jax spoke slowly, tears in his eyes. “NO!” You screamed falling to the ground…no.. no.. no.. You got back up and ran to the room that was his. Unsure how you were even moving. Shoving the curtain back you ripped it off the hooks. You seen he was still hooked up to the monitors. “No..” you grabbed his hand tightly. The tears wouldn’t stop falling as you held your brothers hand. “Kozik!” you shook him. “Kozik.. brother you cant leave me!” you yelled louder. Your body fell on his as you cried your heart out. “Please take me with you…” you yelled at the top of your lungs. Happy tried to grab you and you shoved him away. “You cant.. you cant leave me.. please.. no…” you squeezed his hand.

Hearing a beep you looked up at the monitor. The nurse that stood there looked at it wide eyes. “I don’t believe.. “ Soon the monitor went of. Showing a heart beat. You stepped back as a swarm of nurses ran in. The alarms got louder as you shot up from you slumber.

You grabbed your phone calling Kozik right away. “Morning sis. It is fucking early, what’s up?” “Where are you?..” “Home..” He said tiredly. You ran to your Jeep, not even waking Happy. Driving to Koziks you pulled in quickly and used your key for his house getting in. Seeing him sitting at his dining table, your eyes where covered with tears. “Sis.. whoa what did that bastard do.. now.. Let me go get my gun..” You tackled him hugging him tightly. Holding onto him for dear life. “You.. you got shot.. I seen it… brother… you cant leave me..” he rubbed your back gently. Sometimes you had such realistic nightmares they terrorized you to no end. He rubbed your back holding onto you. “I am here sis..”

Kozik felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. “Hey Hap. Yeah she is here. She had a dream I got shot and died, then came back alive.” Hearing him say that you hysterically started crying. “Sis.. shh honey I am here..” He held you tighter. “Alright. See you in a bit.” Kozik hung his phone up. “Man when you have these dreams they really fuck with you sis..” He brushed the hair out of your face, rocking back and forth. You squeezed him tighter not letting him go. “Let me at least get my coffee..” He said dragging you two to grab his cup.

“No! Don’t you fucking touch him!!!” you screamed out loudly. Waking Kozik up since you shared the studio apartment. He went to your side of the bed and shook you gently. “Sis..” he felt your body was sweaty. He seen you face slightly red and flushed. “Sis!” He yelled again. You shot up looking at him terrified. “Brother!!” you jumped on him hugging him till he couldn’t breath. “Brother…” He set his face against you neck and rocked you gently against him. His scent calming you quickly. “I am here… I am fine…” you sniffled into his shoulder. “It was terrible.. It was so terrible… there was blood everywhere…” “Shh..” he pressed a kiss to your temple. “I am not going anywhere. Someone’s gotta keep you in check..” Kozik gently set you back down on your bed. “No.. please lay with me.” Kozik smiled and nodded. “I feel like we are sleeping in the shed again..” He chuckled as you wrapped your self in his chest. He kissed the top of your head humming so gently. “I love you brother..” he smiled against you head. “I love you sweet heart.”

Happy walked into the house seeing you holding on to Kozik for dear life. Honestly it was like a damn cartoon the way you where holding onto him. “Hunny, he is ok..” Happy gently spoke. HE tried to loosen you grip and you held tighter. Sometimes dreams where a reality and if that ever happen you prayed you would die too. “Happy leave me alone..” you nuzzled into Kozik. “Your acting like a child.” “No!” you said pouting. “She is fine, she has done this before.. Kinda funny actually.” Kozik nodded moving more hair out of your face as you held onto him. “It should not make me jealous, but it does. She has never held onto me like that before.” “Haha, well when you have known each other for as long as we have, the sheer thought of losing the other drives one mad.” Kozik put the coffee to your nose to taunt you. “If you want some, you gotta let me breath..” “Fine..” you loosened the grip on him and grabbed his coffee drinking it. “Why not wake me..?” Happy asked as you finished Kozks coffee. Him looking at you slightly annoyed. “Because.. when that dream happened it was real, like the one I had when I got hit in the head. I could not distinguish the two. So when he went and answered the phone I couldn’t believe it. I think I ran like seven red lights thinking back..” you mumbled. “Sis..” Kozik chuckled. “Don’t scold me on how I drive mister outlaws!” you pointed your finger at the both of them. “Well, he is alive and well.” “Kozik..” you looked up to see Lily walking out in a big t-shirt rubbing her eyes. “Shit sorry bro..” “No.. its ok Y/N.. Kozik said you had a bad dream and I fell back asleep..” She yawned. You walked over to her giving her a hug. She hugged you sleepily and walked to sit in Koziks lap. “Well babe, lets let the love birds be.” Happy smirked to Kozik. “Plus.. mom called. She is making homemade tamales. She asked if I wanted to come over. I told her I was with you and she threated if I didn’t bring you over today she was going to slit my throat…” Happy groaned thinking about his mothers comment. “Well, your lucky I love you and am not vengeful, because honestly I’d love to see that.” Kozik and Lily chuckled. “Well.. bye brother.. please do not go on any dangerous mission.. Lily make sure he listens please.” She smiled at you nodding. You kissed Koziks head and then Lilys. Happy nodded to them, Sliding a hand around your waist.

After taking a shower and getting back to reality you looked over yourself in the mirror. “Mmm… lets call mom and take a rain check… I need my girl..” Happy whispered in your ear, licking down to bite your ear lobe. “Better be careful with how much we do the deed Mr. Lowman. No matter what birth control I am on.. Yona is gunna happen if we keep going at like we do.” He chuckled a bit. “You know I wouldn’t mine having a kid right now with you..” you froze. “No. No kids. I got way too much stuff to do in my life yet.” You felt his chest rumble against your back with a laugh. “Alright, alright..” He kissed your neck before going downstairs. “We taking the bikes or jeep? Or both?” “She wants to see Kozy so we can take your Jeep.” Nodding you slid on a pencil skirt and a nice blouse. Sliding on some flip-flops you and Happy walked out, getting Kozy situated in the back.

#happy #happy lowman #herman kozik #kozik #Soa #soa imagine #sons of anarchy #sons of anarchy imagine

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meerkatheart-blog · 8 years ago

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One more Fantasy AU thing. Oh these are fun to write.

This time we are introduced to who will soon be our lovely Butterfly. She’s a wicked cool fire-starter (inspired by the book by Stephan King) and is basically a badass. I hope you all like her. She’s really going to piss off the Queen if she keeps this shit up though.

Oh boy she is a real bitch though. This is a while before she meets her ‘dads’ so she’s nasty. The ‘dads’ help her cool down a little.

(Warning: Spontaneous human combustion, foul language, death, all that good stuff. Just watch out, because it’s there)

Simple, ravage, burn, leave.

That was the plan.

That was how it always went.

That was not how it went.

Started out great, his men behind him, the new prince of Boreatis was on his way to yet another outpost. Jaimey, it didn’t sound like a strong name. But it struck fear in the hearts of those who dared revolt against his Queen. Good.

His mount was strong beneath him. His soldiers followed loyally, death awaited those who paused. His Queen was feared. Better feared than loved, that was always a good mantra to live by, when you weren’t that nice of a person to begin with.

Queen Juno loved no-one.

The outpost was coming up ahead. Spies had been sent earlier in the week to inspect the place. They had this planned relatively well. As much as their fearless leader loved senseless violence, they still had to be somewhat tactical about this.

After all, they could always go all out after they defeated everyone, while keeping the leaders for a good old fashion head-chopping for his Queen. That would please her. She might even give him a nice ‘reward’ for it. Oh that sounded nice.

When they came close to the entrance, something was wrong. It was quiet. It was too quiet. His mount sniffed the air; it gave no signal that life was nearby. That left ambush out of the question.

Jaimey turned, barking orders to his men “Check the west and east ends, report back to me when you’ve found something. The rest of you, with me!” They followed on, a third went west, a third headed east, the rest trailed behind him. He had gone from 18 men to nine. He might not even need them.

As they came through the thicket, there was a strange stillness in the air. The place felt dead. Silence from miles around. The trails leading into the outpost were overgrown and up kept.

Something else was concerning. Not a bird in sight. If there was death, there would at least be vultures. The skies were empty. No crows, no ravens, not even a pigeon, no nothing. It was as if they feared this place. The commander kept his guard up. This did not look good.

It was a little while before they reached the outpost. It was as he figured from the trip, empty. The buildings were covered in moss and vines, the fire pits were cold, the guard towers empty. This shit hole was abandoned. Those bloody scouts were dead the minute he got back to the castle.

“Alright! This place is empty, let’s..” he paused, his mount growled.

“Commander…”

Jaimey silenced him with a hand. “Shut up!” he said harshly. “That stench…”

The smell was awful. It was something he had smelled many, many times before. A smell that was often a direct result of raids like this one, the smell of fire. The harsh, awful smell of burning hair and flesh. Something was burning.

Jaimey turned his wolf and headed off into the direction of the smell. His mount was fast approaching the eastern side of the abandoned settlement. Men trailed behind him in confused, but loyal procession.

They had reached lower eastern side of the outpost. Great god, the smell was overpowering. Jaimey pulled back on his mount, causing him to stop mid stride. His men stopped behind him, out of breath, weak bastards. They all paused a moment, the smell was awful and growing stronger as they progressed forward.

As they neared the next clearing. That’s when the voice spoke. A harsh, raspy voice that rattled through the trees like rattling pins.

“I’ll wrap you up in a linen sheet, and kiss you goodnight.”

Jaimey drew his knife, more out of indignant protest at the voice’s promises than fear. How dare some foul creature taunt him. They came through the clearing; this was apparently the residential part of the outpost. The smell of fire and death was intense and harsh.

There she was.

Standing in the center of the clearing. Looked like a girl, maybe in her early teens. She was no more than maybe 5’ high. She was a red shirt and brown trousers that only covered her to the lower part of her thighs, other than that, she was bare. Her arms were somewhat thinned out, but her body and legs looked strong, like a warrior.

Her hair haunted him though, red. Red like fire. It brought back memories, memories he almost wished he had forgotten. Thankfully, hers was straight and much more scarlet than the curly blaze in his thoughts. It drifted to her mid back and seemed to wave without source of wind. For now, it covered most of her face, except her lips and nose.

Jaimey looked at her and stated firmly “This is the royal army of Queen Juno, surrender or face death.” Normally he didn’t warn people, but it was just one girl, it would be a waste of energy just to slaughter one stupid kid

She ignored him, her hands twitched, but she ignored him

“Look, kid..” he said harshly “Either put your face in the dirt or I’m going to…”

“Oh you’ll what?” that voice… “You going to sick your army on me…baby?”

Jaimey pulled back a little, his wolf growling loudly. His hair standing straight up on his back. This could be bad.

“What’s the matter, darling? You seem a little edgy.”

“Shut up! I am going to kill you if you say that again.” He said, spitting at her

The female laughed, taunting and unafraid. Her body was slowly tensing. The heat was building up in the area around her. It was starting to sting Jaimey’s eyes and cause his mount to shake his head. Everyone was slowly backing up.

“Oh darling, I don’t think you understand what you’re up against…the rest of your men certainly didn’t.” Her head was slowly rising. The scarlet curtain parted before their eyes. The eyes that sat in the face of this creature were a brilliant shade of orange with pure black pupils. Lips were a shade of red that rivaled her hair. Tiny red spots that resembled freckles dotted her face.

She raised her arms out to the side, nails extending into claws on her hands and feet, lips spreading to reveal a set of canine-like teeth “I’m a real bad girl…”

“Oh my god…” One of the soldiers said

“FIRE-STARTER!!” The warning shot through the air like a bullet.

The creature flexed her whole body fore-ward and the whole area around them burst into flames. A blaze tens of feet high and hotter than any man-made flame. There was no way out of it.

Jaimey looked back at the grinning face of the monster that now had them all trapped in this furnace of hell. “Get her!” he yelled, pulling his sworde “You’ll die for this!”

“Ooohhh, I love a tough guy.” The fire-starter said, clearly both amused and even slightly aroused by his tone “But, baby, I’m afraid you and I are going to be the only ones getting out of this one alive.”

“What are you talking abo…” he was about to ask…the rest of his men. A sudden scream ripped through the air as one of his soldiers burst into flames before his eyes. Before crumbling to ash where he stood.

One by one, the fire-starter spontaneously combusted soldier after soldier who dared approached her. They wouldn’t get much better mercy from him anyway. That was the cost of the rule of their Queen. Death was an obligation, not a consequence.

Before he even had a chance to draw his sword, it was just him and her. “Got you all to myself now, baby.”

Her body had completed it’s transition by now. Her limbs from the elbow and knee down were now dark and more closely resembled a dragons rather than a human, with dew-claws sprouting from her heels. A long skeletal tail with a scorpion end grew from her tail-bone. Scales trailed from her hips upward to her rib-cage. Two ram-like horns sprouted from the top of her head and curled upwards behind her, each one about two feet long, three smaller, spike-like horns grew just above her forehead. Her whole body radiated heat.

His father used to tell horror stories about the fire-starters that once rampaged Olya. They laid waste hundreds of villages. They used to frighten him into behaving. Now, he realized why. He was not afraid of much, but these were old-world creatures, they lived by different rules. Killing her was not an option with what he had on hand.

But he was certainly not going to die like this. He held fast to his sword “You stay back!”

“Whats wrong, my love? Are you afraid of me?” She swayed her hips and whipped her tail at him, bowing low to show her admirable set of breasts. Female fire-starters were infamous for seducing men and leading them in the middle of the woods, all just to set them on fire for the hell of it. The sad part was, it might have worked, had he not had other things in mind.

He looked around, searching for a chance to escape. Making sure to keep one eye on her. A firm grip on his mount. “I’m afraid of no one!”

The fire-starter purred “Oh but darling….” She crouched low “..you should be.”

To be fair, he didn’t think she would lunge at him. He figured she would just light him ablaze and forget about it. Her claws dug into him and flung him off his mount, the fire parted for them. Then closed, sealing him in a section of forest with her.

He reached for his sword. But she was fast, she latched onto him, claws piercing his wrists and the talons on her feet pinning him by the ankles. Her tail poised to strike. Damnit!

He snarled at her, she grinned at him.

“I could kill you, you know. I could be a hero…the slayer of the wolf rider. They would throw parades in my honor. They would praise me like a god.” She taunted, her teeth inches from his face “Then I would go to your castle and I would your precious Queen…burn to a crisp before she even had a chance to mourn your death. I could burn her whole bloody castle to ground…and not a thing she could do about it.”

He would have spit at her if his mouth wasn’t dry as a bone, he struggled, but her magic was over-powering. Runes glowed where her claws dug in, keeping him bound. She was from the old world.

“But I won’t. I want you to think of me, I want her to think of me. My people will never fear you, or your Queen. We are from a world you cannot comprehend. When the time is right, I will come find you again…I will catch you…” Then she growled “…and I will drag you into the depths of hell.” She pressed one thumb under his jaw-line.

There was a searing, unspeakable pain. Then she took to the sky and she was gone in a burst of flames.

The flames died and his mount quickly rushed over to him. He sat down loyally beside his rider. Jaimey groaned and sat up. Rubbing his wrists where her claws had dug in. Then he looked around at the carnage, all this destruction and it hadn’t even been him that caused it. Little bitch, he’d find her again.

He picked up his sword, and paused. In it’s glint, he saw the reflection of his jaw where she had put her thumb. There, just under the left side of his jaw, a small butterfly shaped burn now adorned his collection of scars. That rotten little bitch.

#MH #fantasy au #awesome now both kids are introduced #I really like butterfly #she's viscious #i loved playing around with her #she's gonna be fun #she calms down a little when she meets her dads #I don't know too much about Jaimey so I had to wing it #I kinda picture him an asshole #so I wrote him as an asshole

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ihaveavengersbedsheets · 8 years ago

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Traitors: Chapter 1

I lied, I’m gonna post the first chapter. I’m super excited about this one and I’ve been writing for a while so I decided to go ahead and post the first chapter before finals kick in for me! This is my first Bucky fic and it’s a kinda like a gang war AU I suppose. I hope y’all enjoy it! If you’d like to be tagged then please let me know! Tags: @always-an-evans-addict @sinfully-lustful-darling @faye22 @hallotom @tomhiddlesgrouptherapy @toc1985 @marriedtotheking @jeelicious78

“He doesn’t tell me anything, Evie. I went out there with nothing and almost got killed for it!” Natasha cursed and nearly knocked over the glass of whiskey next to her. Evie held on tightly to her glass and listened sympathetically to her red haired friend. “I’m one of the best people in Shield, if your father was still alive this would’ve never happened.”

“Woah, Nat, too far.” Evie chided calmly. Natasha’s eyes widened then shook her head apologetically. “Look, Uncle Alex leads Shield now and we’re all just gonna have to deal with it.” The other woman sniffed in laughter before taking a sip.

“Yeah, easy for you to say. You’re not in the gang, you’ll more than likely be left alone whenever the war comes about.” Nat replied and Evie crossed her arms over her chest.

“It seems you often forget about the target that’s always on my back. Dad might be dead but I’m still worth a lot to Uncle Alex and Uncle Nick.” Nat nodded and downed her drink. “I can talk to-“ “No this is my fight, not yours. You just focus on staying safe out there. Hydra would love to have you.” She abruptly got up and walked out with frustration still on her shoulders. Evie hated that she really couldn’t help her friend but was also annoyed at how Nat sometimes treated her like her life wasn’t completely ruined by Shield too. She decided to stay a bit longer and try to destress more before heading back outside of the world.

“We’re closing in ten, hun.” The barkeep said, sliding in his headphones as he wiped down the bar.

“Thanks, I’ll be out then.” She grabbed her purse and walked out, the chimes ringing as she did so. She walked down the sidewalk with the eerie feeling of being watched and reached in her purse to try and grab the small pistol she kept.

However, once she was away from the windows, her hand was snatched away from her purse and a hand clutched over her mouth.

“Look what we got boys! Won’t the boss just be so happy with us?” She was pulled into the alleyway right next to the bar. She kicked and screamed, constantly ramming her elbow into the stomach of the man behind her.

“Will someone please get her to fucking stop?” The man behind her yelped out and pushed her to the other man in the group. “For fucks sake!”

“Leave me alone, you pricks!” She yelled and backed away from them. One of them seemed to taunt her with her bag. She looked around her for something, anything to use as a weapon but she was shit out of luck. She started to scream again but one of them pulled her own gun on her.

“Make another sound and you won’t see Nick Fury or Alexander Pierce again.” He threatened and her back hit the brick wall. Her heart was racing and in that moment she was brought back to when her Dad was shot right in front of her by the masked man.

Suddenly, the man with the gun was picked up by the throat and the gun went off. A bullet embedded itself into the wall next to her and she jumped violently with a scream. He was held up against the wall by a man with longer hair, whose gloved hand crushed the other’s throat quickly. The remaining two came after him but they were no match as they were quickly disposed of with the butterfly knife the man had pulled out. Blood spilt from their throats, their eyes widened and they fell to their knees before finally passing.

Evie finally forced herself to breathe as she stared at the man who had saved her. He looked over at her with his head hung low.

“Are you alright?” He asked in a dark and exasperated voice. She didn’t answer, she just kept staring at him. “Evie, are you alright?” “Yes…how do you know my name?” She asked.

“EVIE!” She heard Nat yell. The man turned and she finally saw his profile before he ran behind her to climbed on the dumpster and base jump to the roof using the opposite wall.

“Wait!” She called out but he was already long gone.

“Evie, are you al-holy shit.” Natasha breathed and looked around at her. There was no one Evie could’ve done this, she couldn’t crush a man’s throat. When she looked to see if her friend was alright, she was looking up at the top of the building. Nat ran over and made Evie look at her. “Are you okay?” “I’m fine.” She barely whispered.

“Who helped you? Who did this? Was it someone from Shield?” Nat interrogated frantically, knowing someone heard the gunshot and screams that she heard as well.

“I-I don’t think so. How did you hear everything?”

“I felt bad about what I said and I was coming back, don’t you tell anyone that. C’mon, I’ll call the clean-up crew. I’m taking you to Mr. Pierce’s.”

Evie didn’t know how or when, but she’d find the man that saved her life.

XXXXXX

“Alright, thanks Scott. Tell Peter for you guys to bring their bodies in. We need to find as much shit on them as possible.” Nick ordered over the phone. Evie sat on the couch while Alexander was busy making a glass of scotch for himself. “This was Hydra, without a doubt.”

“Of course it was, they want war.” Alexander scoffed. “They could’ve at least gone after Rogers or Wilson, the ones that actually work for us. I can understand killing Marcus but trying to finish off his daughter? This is a low blow, even for Hydra.”

“Why now though, why would they want war now?” Nick asked.

“Hey, why are we talking about this and not the fact that she was fucking attacked?” Natasha sassed and Evie sent a pointed look her way. The two men shared looks before walking into the living room where the young woman was patiently waiting.

“Evie, are you sure you’re alright?” Nick asked and knelt down in front of her, the leather of his jacket squeaking. “They didn’t hurt you too bad, right?” “No, I’m fine, Uncle Nick.” She answered with a soft smile. He nodded and stood back up, scratching under the elastic of his eyepatch. Alexander leaned against the walk way of the modern living room and took a sip from his drink.

“Not trying to undermine how capable you are, but someone must’ve helped you. Romanoff told us one of the men’s throats was crushed. Do you know who helped you?”

Evie didn’t know what she should do. The man seemed so familiar to her and she knew if she gave them any intel then that could diminish any chance she had of finding him for herself. It was already going to be difficult getting the gang off of her back enough so that she could search for him.

“He was masked.” She lied. “I didn’t see his face or anything.” Alexander cursed under his breath and took another sip.

“Honey, are you sure?” Nick asked with his arms crossed, looking quite intimidating.

“I’m sure, there’s nothing I can tell you that would help you.” She replied. If there was one thing her father taught her, it was how to be a good liar. Marcus Swinton was a good man but was never the most honest, he couldn’t be.

“I want you to stay here for tonight. Romanoff, go check her apartment and make sure nothing’s out of the ordinary. Now.” Natasha nodded, squeezing her friend’s shoulder before stalking out of the expansive house. “Evelyn, do you think this could be the man that killed your father?” “No, I don’t believe so.” She responded and Alexander ran a hand through his hair.

“We’ll find him, it’s what we do. I’ll see if V can pull anything from surveillance cameras.” Nick entailed. “Evie, if you remember anything we need you to tell us when you do.” She nodded and stood up to go to the guest bedroom where she could finally be able to breathe.

“Miss Swinton, would you like anything?” Renata asked meekly, peeking around the corner of the doorway.

“No thank you.” She responded. With a short nod, Renata closed the door and her shoes echoed against the floor. “Okay…okay Evie. Brown hair, shoulder length…” She closed her eyes, resting her hands behind her head. “Tan skin…” She remembered she saw the left side of his face. “Blue-ish eyes, strong jaw, strong brow.” She remembered gloves on both hands, he was planning this. He knew this would happen, but how? If he was part of Hydra why would he save her? If he was part of Shield why wouldn’t he tell Alexander or Nick about it? Hell, anyone in Shield knew who she was! He could’ve told the kid, Peter, and it still would’ve gotten around. There was no way he was just a civilian, no way in hell if he knew her name.

A knock on her door made her snap back up to seated position, Renata walked in with some pajamas folded neatly in her arms.

“Are you sure you’re alright, Miss Swinton?”

“I’m fine, Renata, thank you again.” She walked out and Evie quickly stripped and switched into the button up pajamas.

Evie looked down at the bed, she couldn’t remember the last time she got a full night’s sleep but maybe after the exhausting day she could finally get one.

XXXXXX

“Evie! Get behind me, now!” Her father barked, grabbing her arm and pushing her to the ground. She couldn’t recall when it happened, she didn’t even hear it. She knew it had been a cloudy day and had just finished grabbing coffee with her illustrious father. While she couldn’t hear, she could feel. She could feel the spray of blood on her own body as a single bullet pierced through her father’s chest.

“Dad!” She finally screamed out as he fell backwards, his hand twitching towards her as he gasped for breath. She crawled over to him, vaguely aware of people running away and screaming around her. “Dad, no, stay with me!” He looked down at the hand that covered his wound and back up at his daughter.

“I’m sorry, Evelyn.” He whimpered and tears fell through the crevices of his crow’s feet. He held her hand tightly and she held back with both, before he fell limp and passed away. She breathed hysterically, shaking, making the asphalt dig into her bare knees.

Black boots stomped in front of the body, the clanking of a gun against metal resonating through the air. She forced herself to look up from the still warm body to see a masked face holding a sniper. She still held her Dad’s hand tightly, as if he would wake up to protect her. The masked man reached for the knife at his side, slinging the sniper around his back. She couldn’t look at the killer’s face for long, just a quick glance, but she saw one thing for sure before she was pulled up by her wrist by the assassin.

Evie woke up covered in sweat and panting like a wild dog. It had taken her a while to get to sleep, it didn’t take her long for her to have the flashback. Her hands shook as she pushed off the covers in an attempt to get to the bathroom faucet to splash water on her face. After finally pulling herself to it, she looked up at the mirror as water dripped from her chin.

She didn’t remember his face, but she saw the one thing she would never forget.

The metal arm.

#Bucky Barnes #bucky barnes fanfiction #Bucky AU #Sebastian Stan #sebastian stan fanfiction #ihaveavengersbedsheets

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ask-the-phan-site · 6 years ago

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The Anchor King of Vanity

>It’s time.

Time to show him real news.

It’ll be the story of the century.

Heh heh! I can see the bulletin now.

Then let’s get going!

>Mona becomes our van and we drive off to take Chaz Monerainian’s heart.

>Meanwhile in the studio of A. Nigma High School, Chaz was once again hogging the camera and poor Tina Kwee is nowhere in sight.

So Principal General Barrage is now asking all students, teachers, and even our visitors to assemble in the gym to find out who sent me, Chaz Monerainian, that Phantom Thieves calling card. This is Chaz Monerainian and this has been Chaz’s Corner!

>With that, the broadcast ended.

News Team Member 1: Are you sure it was wise to kick Tina out of the News Team, Chaz? What if that calling card is because of how your treat her.

News Team Member 2: He’s right, man. What you’re doing does seem a little... Villainous.

Chaz: What can I say? In the media game, you do whatever it takes.

>The two News Team members just stare at him. Then finally, they just sigh in defeat and leave to get ready for the assembly.

Chaz: Well that’s how my father said it.

?????: Then yer father’s an idiot. No wonder yer so messed up.

Chaz: !

>A red wave passes over him. When it was over, Chaz was now in a castle where there was a room full of mirrors, a throne, and on that throne was an apple, clearly poisoned.

???????: You put others down just for your own popularity.

???: You claim that you’re a piece of art, but all I see is a mess.

?????: You have a dark heart that limes for the spotlight. But we’ll be taking both.

>Suddenly, ten mirrors broke open and we step in... I hope this doesn’t mean 70 years bad luck.

Joker: Target: Chaz Monerainian.

You are suppose to spread the news of what really happens at your school, but you talk more about yourself.

Yer a lyin’ piece of shit that you would push anyone just to get all the fame and glory.

You even hurt a girl who wanted to do her job to the best of her abilities to satisfy your own desires.

You even once criminalized the man she loved for attention.

As thieves of justice, we cannot allow this to go on any longer.

You will pay for your cruel ways and your vanity.

Spirit: Tina’s future depends on us taking your distortion and making you see the error of your ways.

Mona: We will take your Treasure and succeed in our mission.

Joker: We are the Phantom Thieves and we will take your heart!

Chaz: You can’t do that. I kind of need my heart to make me a great news caster.

Panther: You’re anything but great. You’ve completely replaced the news with your show. How will anyone know what’s really going on at A. Nigma High?

Spirit: I’m surprised Barrage is letting you get away with this.

Chaz: That’s because he recognizes talent when he sees it. Even without that robotic eye of his.

Queen: No. It’s because he’s doing his job. But we’re going to remind him that he has to enforce the rules on all of the students. Including you.

Spirit: Now you’re going to know what it’s like being a Detentionaire. Look like Lee Ping and Biffy Goldstein are about to have some company.

>With fury growing inside him, Chaz’s eyes become a gold color.

Shadow Chaz: You dare speak to your king like this!? I shall have your head on the chopping block for this. Mirror mirror on the wall, help me defeat these thieves once and for all.

>With that, the Shadow changes his form.

Oracle: Persona!

>Necronomicon scans the Shadow.

Oracle Got it! Oberon is weak to Nuclear moves.

Queen: This is my area. Persona!

>I change Personas.

Joker: Persona!

Noir: I’ll help too just in case. Persona!

Spirit: Me, too. Persona!

>Spirit summons his Persona, Tokebi.

>Oberon uses Summon.

Oberon: Now, my dear fan, let us broadcast a very special edition of Chaz’s Corner!

Skull: In your dreams, pal!

Queen: Right. Soon, your little fan here will see the truth about you. Let’s go, Johanna!

>Johanna uses Freila on Oberon. It knocks him down. Queen passes the Baton to Noir and Milady uses Psio on Titania. However, she dodges it. Thoth uses Taunt on Titania. It enrages her. Milady uses Psio on Titania. It got her this time and it was more effective since Titania was enraged.

Noir: Time to punish them!

>After the attack, Oberon and Titania were still up. Still enraged, Titania attacks me. Oberon uses Nocturnal Flash. Luckily, it missed all of us. Johanna uses Marakukaja to raise our defense. Thoth uses Freila on Oberon. It knocks him down. I pass the Baton to Noir and Milady uses Psio on Titania again. It knocks her down again.

Joker: Let’s do it!

>After the attack, Oberon and Titania are still stand. Titania was now weaker. Then, Tokebi uses Zionga on Oberon. He didn’t get shocked this time. Titania, still enraged, attacks Spirit. Oberon uses Brave Blade on me. It takes a lot of health out of me. Luckily, Johanna uses Diarama to heal me. Then, Thoth uses Psy Wall on Queen. Milady uses Tetrakarn on Spirit. Tokebi uses Zionga again on Oberon. This time, it shocks him.

Spirit: You’re free to attack, Queen.

Queen: I’ll see to it.

Joker: So will I.

>Titania hesitates and Oberon is disabled from Shock. Johanna uses Freidyne on Oberon. It knocked him down and was super effective because of the Shock. Queen passes the Baton to Noir and Milady uses Psiodyne on Titania. Titania is gone. Noir attacks Oberon. Luckily, she didn’t get Shocked. Thoth uses Freila again. Milady uses One-shot Kill. And Tokebi uses Assault Dive. Now Oberon was getting weak.

Oberon: This is the story of the century! I won’t let you take this from me!

>Oberon uses Maziodyne. It leaves me Shocked.

Spirit: Don’t worry. I’ll handle it.

>Queen and Noir defend themselves and I am unable to move. Tokebi uses Baisudi on me and cures me of the Shock.

Oberon: You little shit! I’LL KILL YOU!

>Oberon uses Brave Blade on Spirit. Luckily, the Tetrakarn protects him and the attack reflects back at Oberon. It was a critical hit.

Spirit: Here goes nothing!

>After the attack, the Shadow resumes his normal form and a familiar light comes out of him.

Mona: And here we have the Treasure!

>I take the Treasure. It was a toy microphone.

Chaz: All I’ve ever wanted was to become a reporter just like my father and his father before him. I wanted to do whatever it takes.

Noir: Even if it means making others miserable? Even pursuing your dreams shouldn’t be done at the expense of others.

Queen: You have to better plan your future to make sure that it works out for everyone and not just you.

Chaz: ...

Crow: A real reporter tells only the truth of what is happening in their community and not just with themselves. You need to think more clearly before you decided what should be shown to others.

Joker: From now on, tell the truth when it needs to be told and don’t make it all about you.

Chaz: ... Okay. I’ll think twice before I decide what I should talk about before I get on the air. I’ll even apologize to Tina for giving her the boot. I promise as a Monerainian.

>With that, the Shadow returns to his true self.

Mona: We’ll hold you to that.

Spirit: I hope it works. Tina really needs this.

It will. Don’t worry.

>With the Treasure in our possession, we leave the now disappearing Palace.

>In the school gym, Principal General Barrage had gathered everyone, including us, to find out who sent Chaz the calling card.

You maggots know why I called you here! One of you sent this to the school news room! (begins brandishing the calling card) Just because it’s not in your handwriting doesn’t mean we can’t identify you. Later after I dismiss detention, I am taking this to Public Safety Canada where they have experts in this sort of identification! So these Phantom Thieves had better turn themselves in now if they wish to avoid not only expulsion or being fired, whichever the case may be, but also an arrest!

>Suddenly, the gym doors open and in comes Chaz Monerainian. He slumps all the way to the stage.

Barrage: About time you showed up, Mr. Monerainian!

Chaz: I... I have something to say... I’ve been... Taking advantage of my position as senior anchor of the school news team... I’ve been manipulating information to gain more popularity to be more like my father. I even... Ruined Tina Kwee’s chances for my own gain... I’ve abused my status to even make the goodest of students look bad.. (begins tearing up) I’m nothing but a bad lousy reporter! I’ve ruined everyone’s lives! How... How could I possibly... Pay for all this!? (sobbing)

>Chaz was on his knees sobbing like mad. As for Barrage... He was a different kind of mad.

Barrage: WHAT IN TARNATION HAPPENED HERE!?

>Everyone just stared for a moment in silence.

Barrage: Fine! I’ll give the guilty party one last chance. Step forward or pay the consequences!

(whisper) This looks bad.

(also whispering) Not to worry. Me and Biffy came up with something.

(also whispering) You’ll love it. Watch this.

>Futaba presses something on her phone and a projection screen comes down. Then, the Phantom Thieves logo is projected on it and Futaba’s altered voice is heard.

Hello, A. Nigma High School. I am Phantom Thief Alibaba and we had just taken the heart of Chaz Monerainian. And also, by the time you are watching this, we are already half way out of Canada. So go ahead. Send that calling card to be examined, it won’t do you any good now. They don’t even know how we did it. This Alibaba, out.

>The message ended. Barrage was furious, but knew the message was right. In his frustration, he crushes the calling card.

Barrage: What are you maggots all looking at!? Assembly dismissed!

>Everyone came out and were either talking about what happened out loud or on their phones.

I can’t believe the Phantom Thieves actually did it.

Can’t really say Chaz didn’t deserve it. The way he flaunted his popularity like that.

Now the guy’s just as cursed as we are. Something I really won’t forget while I’m at Horizon.

Alright, y’all. Back to class.

(chatting on her phone) OMG, what a waste of time. I was in the middle of setting up an appointment at the salon. Oh well, I’ll just go back to tormenting Biffy. I know it seems wrong, but I just love his company. But still, the Phantom Thieves were here at our school?

I know. I kinda reminds my of dad’s movie: Ace Von Chillstein in High School Thieves Guild. I wonder if I’m the main character in this brand new story... Am I the one they call Joker?

(noticing them texting each other even though they’re right next to each other) You know, there are a couple of seats with your name on it that need to be filled. So I suggest you hurry.

You know what I just realized. All this Phantom Thief business happened when those students came here to look for people interested in transferring to Horizon High.

You’ve noticed that, too?

Are you sayin’ that there’s somethin’ suspicious about them? You better not. There’s no way they’re guilty of something. Like that Yusuke guy. I know he seems weird, but he’s gotta style that’s definitely earned my respect.

You’re so compassionate, Chopper. I also love that about you. (sighs) It’s really going to make me miss you while you’re in New York.

Chopper: Don’t worry, Beth. Me and Emmett will be staying at my uncle’s place there. And I’ll message you everyday. You’ll away be in my heart, babe.

Beth: Aww, thank you. You’ll always be in mine.

Irwin: Oh, brother. What do those two see in each other.

Grayson: You’ll understand when you have someone for you. For now, let’s just head to class. It looks like Barrage is heading this way.

(translating skater slang) Heh! What a great prank! ... It is a prank, right?

Who knows, bro. Those P Thieves aren’t like a lotta people. They’ve actually changed a few hearts.

Including in New York. Like that octopus teacher at Horizon.

And let’s not forget Spider-Man and Norman Osborn’s son... I mean, Peter Parker and Harry Lyman.

Fred (Blonde Skater): Speaking of which, you sure you and Ted wanna go to that nerd school?

Ned: Me and Ted do love being Skaters, but we wanna give something new a try.

Ted: Besides, we get to go to New York. Now I can show up my damn cousin, Chris.

Ned: That, too.

Zed: Okay. Just don’t forget, we’re always bros and since I just got my license (which was not easy since I keep almost crashing during my driver’s test), it’s only an 8 hour dive.

>The four skaters fist bumped.

I’m glad to see such close and devoted friends are willing to go a long ways... Just hope you have travel papers and passports. Now you better get going. Classes are starting again.

Phantom Thieves, You've taken my heart But nothing will tear Our bond apart

How was that?

Rud the Drummer: A little forced, but very true.

Cyrus: It’s a working progress.

Goob the Bassist: I’m sure you’ll get it soon, Cyrus.

Skeeter the Guitarist: Hopefully before the end of this summer.

Rud: You know I still think it’s a bit of a shame that we’re using that science school as an excuse to get to New York.

Cyrus: Can we help it that Ross Caliban saw our number one hit, Go It Solo, and liked it so much that he asked us to come over to New York to perform a collaboration?

Rud: I guess.

Cyrus: Relax, guys. I already know enough science to help us at Horizon. No cheating this time. It’s just plain old studying.

Goob: And you can count on us to help you along the way.

Cyrus: I know... Thanks, guys.

Grr!

Cyrus: Okay, okay! We’re goin’! Jeez, since when did the Tazelwurm care about education?

>In a classroom.

Aww, man, we’re awesome!

It’s just shame Holger was in class when Phantom of Thieves did heist.

Lee: Maybe next time, Holg.

Wait until the after school report, this will be the story of the century.

Just try not to go overboard like Chaz.

Tina: You can bet on that.

It looked like your principal was serious about turning in the calling card.

He had a complicated past. Military.

Alright, settle down! Class is about to start!

Lee: Sorry, Mom. I mean, Mrs. Ping.

>Suddenly, the door opened.

I hope I’m not disturbing class.

Mrs. Ping: No we were just about to start.

Lee: Why are you here, Dad?

Mrs. Ping: Principal Barrage said that school will be closing early today. So your father’s treating us to lunch at a restaurant today... Now take your seat! As for you visitors, go keep my husband company outside.

Sure thing, Mrs. Ping.

>Me, the Phantom Thieves and Dr. Ping leave the room.

You’re wife sure is tough.

Dr. Ping: I know... But that’s one of the things I love about her.

I know the feeling.

Strength can be a fine character trait.

Indeed it can.

Ann: (laughing) Get a room, you two!

I think this heist was a good one. We got to learn a bit more about our Reserved Members. Just like with our last heist.

I just wish someone would actually let us know that they wish to join the Reserved Team as well instead of relying on luck from our heists.

I’m sure something will come along. Just wait.

Dr. Ping: Same here... In the meantime, why not join us for lunch? I’ve got enough for everyone, even Lee’s friends.

Ren: Sure. I guess we have time.

>We go with Dr. Ping to the parking lot to wait for school to be out.

>Another successful heist.

#phantom thieves of hearts #heist

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mcvfd · 7 years ago

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S04E01: History Channel Arena Combat

The gang get alien abducted, and their new boss is a real jerk. Kanye tries to flirt. Averlyth meets Bane. Everyone dies. (They got better!)

TL;DR: After a bit of downtime following the Thieves Guild competition, the gang is abducted by the History Channel, brought to the future on a space station and forced to fight in an arena combat reality show. After being beaten to death, they wake up in a prison cell, and the security chief taunts them with the idea they will be forced to fight and die every night for a television show, only to be cloned and forced to do it all again the next day. But one of the other gladiators wants to enlist the gang to help her send everyone back to their proper timelines — by blowing up the space station.

Background

We were gonna fight Assault Bae for stealing all our money but instead we kinda agreed with him and put him in charge.

What happened during the month of downtime?

Averlyth: Going with other gangs (continuing to inspire fear) on missions, acquires 3 contacts in other gangs that could hook us up with stuff in the future.

Carlos: attempted to train various crows in town to pickpocket the townspeople and bring him trinkets. Now he has crows that occasionally get him what he wants and also occasionally alert the police instead.

Kanye: spent his time acquiring knowledge, trying to learn how to make his weapon stay on fire. He's gained a new respect of fire ever since the flamethrower (and maybe also the Burnie Cinders thing). He now has +1 to attack and damage with a single weapon.

Nissa: Trying to improve skills, acquires 3 information tokens that she can use arbitrarily in the future (she “happens to recall” a factoid).

Satura: Trying to learn magic from the Ragin’ magin’s because she already fights well. Through intense training and memorization, she has gained an additional prepared spell. She has learned ensnaring strike.

Um: His therapist said to join a group, would make life more fulfilling. Spends the time trying to be a better person (or more neutral than evil).

One day we're all abducted by aliens (cannot confirm on anal probe).

Session Start

Abducted and sold to a gladiator arena! 3 dozen combatants, gravity isn't quite the same, and there's no sky, only stars and planets.

The "arena" looks as if it used to be a park. There is a sealed door at the far end, with flaking paint saying "Cargo Tunnel". Another marks "Elevator is closed" with a glowing red lock, another "Airlock" is barred up tight. There's "Security".

There's a sign behind us, with scrolling text and a grid of moving images. The text contains pictograms, from possibly hundreds of thousands of players.

A halfling we immediately dislike announces our presence ("The famous Multimaster County Volunteer Fire Department") on the History Channel Fighting Show Thing, every "bird" (camera drone) turns towards us, many crude gestures and cheering faces go down the screen, and we roll for initiative.

There are 36 dudes. Carlos Fears 3 of them and they make a beeline for the opposite direction. Nissa shoots a long-distance fart, perfected from her time in a library. 3 dudes will run into it.

Kanye wields a glaive, and makes his way up to the front of the group. As enemies approach within 10 ft, he gets an opportunity attack. Averlyth summons bees - all enemies that come near us will have disadvantage. Um climbs up the side of the arena.

2 guys bulldoze through the fart cloud, one stays there, retching. Someone throws a spear at Um (misses), a couple gets hits on the group.

Carlos makes a run for the Security tunnel and tries to Fear the guards. 4 of them appear afraid and go down the tunnel, 2 of them pull out janky hand crossbows and don't look skurred.

Nissa rides Kanye because he had a harness on (he was expecting it ), with such a flourish that people are stunned. She drives him around, he pokes at people with his pole arm. Averlyth keeps bees up, but maybe backs away from Kanye a bit as a precaution.

Um sneaks up on one of the security guards successfully, cracks one of the guards on the back of the head with an arrow, dropping him to his knees.

People aim for Um but miss, Kanye is hit by a long sword, Averlyth is hit by a dude, Nissa is hit a few. Guard pulls out a pistol and shoots Carlos.

Carlos chucks a lightning-style chromatic orb at the mofo; his armor is smoking, he staggers against the wall, but he hasn't gotten down yet. Carlos considers running down the hall, but the risk is too great.

Nissa criticizes someone's mom, Kanye tries to play good cop and bad cop at the same time by himself. Everyone is successfully weirded out, he's intimidated one of them into running away.

The sign has been circling us; in addition to the jeering and booing, there's some laughing faces. Averlyth heals everyone back up to max, and the faces are now mostly booing. Um takes another shot at the guard, but misses.

Averlyth gets hit by 2 guys, loses her concentration and the bees go away. Everyone gets hit a bunch, the announcer comes up, saying we haven't had a strong opening, asks who wants to place bets.

Carlos bets 1000 on the group because he has the band fund. The system disallows this action. Then he chugs a health potion and sends a goddamn fireball at the entire group of gladiators. One third of the dudes are dexterous enough to only take half damage. No one is dead, but some people are pretty unhappy, although the crowd is putting in fire emoji. Carlos tries to a cartwheel and falls on his face, but he sells the landing.

Nissa goes for the guards, hitting them but they're still standing. Kanye goes for a backflip - Nissa is all prepared to catch but then Kanye whiffs it and then twists around to make it look good maybe.

Averlyth creates 3 duplicates of herself after also chugging a health potion, but makes it harder for people to hit her. Um shoots a guard in the ass.

People finally hit Um with spears after he's been taking potshots all day. Two guys bring Averlyth down to 0 despite the clones, keep hacking away at her after. Kanye gets pounded, Nissa is damaged hard, Carlos is also unconscious now.

Miraculously, Carlos immediately wakes up at 1 hit point, starts apologizing to everyone that's ever wronged him, promises to be better, then shoots yet another fireball at the gladiators. They're fucked up, but still not dead yet.

Nissa kills the sad one with depression. Kanye gestures to Carlos that he would like to leave for unicorns and spa day. Carlos vaguely registers the signage while basically dead and gives him the OK. Averlyth remains slumped over.

Um tries to shoot a guard and misses; guard tries to shoot him and misses. Then more people shoot Um with a spear and now he is more spear than people. Everyone in the group is dead except for Kanye who's spitting blood at everyone at 1 health.

The biggest orc we've ever seen walks up and knocks Kanye out.

(fade to black)

Individually, we come back to awareness as we fall to the ground in a metal room, falling out of a container filled with pink goop. We're taken to a communal jail with everyone in the group. Everyone is recovering much faster than expected, though also naked.

Old mean looking elf, Security Chief Karen Krull approaches the cell; her guards throw our armor through the bars, she chastises them rudely for some random shit. Kanye shoves his scroll of pedigree into her face, she says she knows who he is. Carlos asks if we're free to go. Karen says no. Carlos asks if we can watch TV. Karen says no. Carlos asks if we can just like maybe not go back to the arena, Karen starts questioning his sanity, then entertains herself, mockingly asking if we really don't know what's going on. Carlos says he knows what's going on, but his friends don't.

Karen reveals that we are 3000 years far in the future, that we are the worst people in history and people hate us, but notes that we might not know yet what we did. Nissa sees no vents or holes in the cell, Um doesn't recognize the lock on the cell. Kanye roughly tries to familiarize himself with the security chief, Averlyth notices that the guards were a variety of species.

Um comments that we didn't see any magic, but it's probable there are still magic users in the area. Nissa sees graffiti under a bench - it's the same sign that Averlyth keeps drawing everywhere (she swears it isn't her handwriting).

DM: "I'm not going to make you roll for this, you would get it from contextual clues-"

Carlos: "It's just a penis"

The symbol was put into the wall by a former prisoner, seemingly carved by a weapon, but unmistakably the gauntlet of Bane. What's strange is that the icon is hidden, usually it's out in the open to inspire fear and all that. Averlyth investigates the sign, and then communicates to Bane under the bench. Um also goes under the bench, notices Averlyth's eyes have rolled back in her head, surprisingly doesn't kick him out. She has sent out a message to Bane; usually, it's a one-way message, where the god gives you a sense of approval or support as appropriate, but this time she immediately finds herself in a dark room, before Bane. Bane says something godly like:

Bane: "Averlyth? How the fuck are you here?"

As it turns out, Averlyth had become known for being his best supporter, and people still fear Bane because of her. She also supposedly died centuries ago. He promises her to support her if she needs his help as the connection starts fading away. She wakes up, stammers that she thinks she just met Bane, then suggests to Carlos that he should worship him.

Guards escort us back to the entrace of the arena. At first, no one has noticed us, and the mobs are going after each other. We investigate around the arena, see a cargo tunnel that we could clear out with an hour of concentrated effort. Carlos proposes to turn Kanye into gas and put him through a crack so he can start clearing it out from the other end, but before we can start, the giant female orc walks up to us, introduces herself as Tiffani and apologizes for the first impression.

Kanye greets her back in Orcish. Tiffani is delighted by the small person we have trained to speak Orcish. We pretend we weren't looking for an exit and she says she wants to introduce us to her "small friend". While walking with Tiffani, everyone avoids us, practically diving out of her way.

She takes us across the arena, where some people are guarding a small female human who is not particularly well armored. She is counting things or talking to herself? Then seems glad when Tiffani comes back, introduces us to Marge Zuckerberg. She asks if we know what's going on, Carlos says he does but his friends don't.

She says she needs us to destroy the portal; Averlyth asks what the portal is and then she's mad that Carlos said we already knew what was going on, proceeds to explain that the portal took us from time. She says that it will put us in a position to reset everything back to before the portal was accessed.

After frustrating Marge with "too many questions", we finally agree to help her blow up the portal. She details the security (the fact that there are no cameras in the cells) and the existence of a security hatch underneath the bench, Kanye asks if we've done this once before. She elaborates in real big words why it's not Groundhog day.

The group plots.

#recap

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