#kora rumbles

[korablick]

Opp didn't expected to be tagged but it's absolutely fine with me tho!! dw dw about it :3c

Latest damn thing i got into my phone and pc. I didn't included buildings that i was studying for the whole day bc i seriously can't look at them anymore lel

this one is just me for the past two weeks. no more context, i won't explain myself

@harrowharr0w @fishareglorious @momochiio @titaniumions my apologies if any of you already got tagged :'

Let’s play a game

Everyone post the most recent picture in your camera roll. You only get one sentence to justify yourself if you wish. This one is mine.

My boyfriend is rly good at Latin, so I was looking up how to say ‘I love you’ but found this instead :)

Your turn!

@bookmovietvworm

@myfairkatiecat

@i-am-a-fish

@valtsv

[korablick]

Day 2 of drawing Kakania until I get her Note: A lil late today bc i was busy with uni stuff. I also tried to draw face a lil differently

[eternalgoddessofart]

Chapter 4: No Sacrifice, No Victory Part 1

TW: Talks of Rape, violence, blood, death.

The night had passed as the dawn rose on the horizon. Rosalina was nuzzled into the seat, and though it didn't help, she tossed and turned the whole night. Her body was filled with worry for her brother, Mikaela, bee, and her parents. She was also worried for the new friends she made, the Autobots, mostly for a certain Autobot leader. From the short time they had spent together, she had grown a bond with him that she couldn't explain. It felt so right. It was the first thing in her life that just felt right. She always felt things were never right like she didn't belong in this normal life like Sam's or Mikaela's. But meeting Optimus made her life feel like it was starting to mean something. Like it was made to be a part of his and the Autobots.

"Kora, it's time to wake up." She hummed as she heard Optimus call her name softly. She felt the sun hitting her face as she slowly opened her eyes. She noticed that they were parked at the Griffith Observatory. "Do you mind climbing out, we need to check the glasses to see where the Cube is. Please." Optimus spoke softly as Kora looked at his Dashboard. She noticed his voice would always get a soft rumble to it that she enjoyed. That made her feel safe.

"Yeah, I'll get out, Optimus." With that, the door opened for her, and she hopped out. Getting a safe distance as she watched the other transform. "Please let this work." Optimus pleaded softly as he made sure to hold the glasses in his servos. Kora standing on the top of the stairs, watching them. "It will work it has to," Kora said as she could hear Jazz climbing onto the top of the observatory. "Fire it up, Optimus." Jazz spoke as Optimus shined a light through his Optics as a nap appeared on his ear, showing a glowing area where the cube was being held.

"The code on these glasses indicates that the cube is 230 miles from here," Optimus stated as Kora gave a small smile, knowing the mission would be complete soon. Would that mean...that they would leave Earth? That she would be left behind without the Autobots...without Optimus. It made her chest ache softly, but right now, the mission was what mattered, not her feelings.

"I sense the Decepticons are getting ready to mobilize," Ratchet explained. "They must know it's here as well," Ironhide stated as Kora looked up at the two bots, worried they could be right. "But what about Bumblebee? We can't just leave him to die and become some experiment for these humans. No offense, Kora." Jazz argued, not wanting to leave his comrade behind. "None was taken, I agree with you," Kora said, agreeing and looking up at Optimus waiting for an answer.

"He'll die in vain if we don't accomplish our mission," Optimus explained as he kept his back to Kora and Jazz as he didn't have the spark to see her face. Kora balled her fist as she felt the blood in the vein begin to hit. "So you let someone you care about, someone you have fought with, die?! Shouldn't you at least try?" She asked, her voice raising slightly as Optimus turned his helm slightly. His vents working as he felt frustrated. "Bumblebee is a brave soldier. This is what he would want." Optimus explained as he finally looked down at Kora, noticing for a moment her eyes shining with anger but also slight blue?

"How would you know what he wants!?" Kora screamed back as she had a stare-down with the mighty leader. The others watched quietly, not knowing what to do or even say. "Kora-" "No, don't even try to tell me to calm down! What if I was taken by your kind to be experimented on or even they used my body inappropriately. Could you leave me behind?" Kora asked as the air was filled with tension. Optimus just stared, not being able to say anything. Knowing he could never leave her behind. He couldn't imagine her screams of agony if the Decepticons ever captured her and defiled her. The mere thought made his spark burn with pain and anger.

"That's what I thought. I get it, as a leader, you make sacrifices. But how many do you need to do before everyone you care for is gone and you are alone." She states as she stares at him. No anger was in her eyes, just a look of concern, as she could tell he was truly thinking of her words. "Why are we fighting to save the humans? Their a primitive and violent race." Ironhide cut in to try to cut tension but Kora just snared as she looks at him.

"Were you guys any different? Autobot and Decepticons shared the same ideas but wanted to take them in different ways. One who which to bring everyone together." She looked at Optimus as she continued to speak. "And the other with force. It caused a war that destroyed your home. And I do not wish to see it happen to my world." Kora finished as she stared at all of them. "Kora is right." Optimus began coming closer to the small human girl.

"There are young humans. That still has much to learn. But I see goodness in them." Optimus spoke as he stared down at Kora. She looked up at him, giving a sweet smile as she placed her hand against a piece of metal on his leg. "Freedom is the right of all sentient beings." He finished as he fully faced us all, opened his chest, and began to speak. "You all know there is on only one way to end this war. We must destroy the cube. If all else fails, I will join the cube with the spark in my chest."

Kora watched as the light shined between his chest she felt her begin to tingle. What...was this odd feeling/ It feels so familiar. Before it could start, it ended as he closed it, and Ratchet spoke up, looking at Optimus in disbelief. "That's suicide. The cube is raw power it would destroy you both." Ratchet explained as Kora stopped breathing for a moment. "Optimus wouldn't do that...right?" Kora asked as she looked at the fearless leader, not believing he would. "A necessary sacrifice to bring peace to this planet and its occupants. We can not let humans pay for our mistakes." Kora felt the air leave her lungs as she stared at him in disbelief.

"It's been an honor serving with you all. Autobots roll out!" Optimus declared as everyone transformed. Kora climbed into Optimus as she stared out the window. She was quiet as she just couldn't imagine watching him sacrifice himself. The one being she felt a pure connection to, making it feel like she was home. She couldn't lose him. "You aren't going to do it." Kora said after a few moments of silence. "We have to save the earth, Kora. I need to save you." He admitted as Kora felt the tears she was holding back begin to fall.

"You shouldn't die for my planet. You shouldn't die for me I am not important." "Yes, you are. You are the most important thing to me. And if saving you and this planet means I am one with the All Spark, then so be it." Optimus said as Kora became even more annoyed. "You're a damn fool to think that. If you die, you think the Decepticons won't still take over the Earth. With that thinking, no wonder you lost Cybertron!" Kora screamed out in anger, but once she did, she regretted it. It was quiet as Optimus halted as he opened his door.

"Get out." Optimus said, trying to stay calm as Kora went to touch his dashboard. "Optimus, I didn't-" "I said get out!" He yelled as she flinched her hand away and gave out a small cry. "I...I'm so sorry...I just care so much..you make me feel at home." She said, getting out as She got into Ironhide and wiped her eyes. As they continued driving, "You didn't mean it, Kora you just wanted to prove something but let your feelings get in the way. He'll forgive you he cares too much for you." Ironhide stated as she just stayed quiet, nodding gently as they all drove to the cube's location.

{Optimus P.O.V}

As Optimus continues to drive, the silence consumes him. He was upset about the fight he had with Kora. Cybertron was a soft spot for him. He wishes he could've tried harder to save his home. To be the great leader he was chosen for. But even if he was upset, he was even more upset for yelling at Kora. He hated seeing her in tears and wished he wasn't the cause of it. He knew, in a way, that she was right. Even if he sacrificed himself, what would happen? Would the Decepticons still take Earth as theirs? The earth would still be lost, she would be lost to him and be made a slave to them.

"No...I won't allow that. I can't see your heart, sweet spark. I will try to find another way to save the earth. To save you, Kora...once I do, I will tell you my feelings. Just wait." He spoke to himself as he continued to drive. The earth would be his new home. Because with Kora there...home was already here.

[agl03]

Fandom Mama! Long time no ask. I am seeing stuff on Twitter about Chloe/Daisy being in Secret Invasion that I thought you would be best to ask you. Is she in it?

Hi Anon,

To my knowledge, NO, Chloe/Daisy will not be in Secret Invasion, she said as much in a recently interview. And before anyone yells at me, yes I know very well Marvel has NDA's, actors have lied, and and hides things all the time. But I still don't think we will see here, there is just no indication that the story or the MCU is going into Inhumans/Secret Warriors right now. And usually there is something, somewhere, that has leaked from set, just a little to hint of that surprise. I have heard none of those rumblings.

I wholly own I could be wrong on this one. I know there are people out there that are very confident she will show up. I've been on that I will die on this hill confident about a theory over the years too. I've hit and missed over the years, but like my overall track record on the whole theorizing and predicting things. For me the fun was in the predicting, research, discussions, asks, and metas.

I am not on the die on this hill with Daisy being in Secret Invasion.

Will I enjoy it if she doesn't show up, you bet! I'm so excited for this one.

Will I enjoy it if she does show up, you bet! I'm so excited for this one.

It will be really nice to watch a who can you trust kind of show and not be petrified about it and its fallout like I was during AOS.

If IF, Daisy does appear in Secret Invasion I can not emphasize enough that IT WILL NOT BE THE SAME DAISY WE KNOW AND LOVE FROM AOS.

I've well established in many asks that thanks to the time loop AOS is off in a whole other branch of the timeline about a forest away from where the MCU is now. And the show was running years behind where Endgame would up. So our, Deke's and whatever many time streams they spun off via the loops and making waves in the Season 7 timeline is off in their own happy little worlds. Fitzsimmons have HEA in Perthshire (they will pry that from my cold dead hands), Robo Coulson is off seeing the world, May is running the Academy, Mack is the Director, Elena is the top Agent with Piper and Robo Davis, and Daisy is an Astro Ambassador with Sousa and Kora (again you will take that from my cold dead hands).

If Daisy shows up she will have a completely new backstory that will fit with what the writers of Secret Invasion needed. No team family, different origin story, no Sousa, different attitude and personality, heck a different take on her powers could happen. We saw in Season 7 how changes to the timeline, big and small, could impact things down the line. Then there was the fresh take we got on Ghost Rider on the show, completely different than the one we'd seen on screen years ago. Robbie's story was adjusted to fit the AOS 4a storyline.

Robbie is also proof AOS is way off in its own timeline thanks to the Darkhold.

At this point I think its best for everyone to just settle in for the ride. Unless we get an ABC intern level of finale photo leak, rip rando intern we love you, we are likely not to get any confirmation either way until the show actually airs.

Its totally cool to hope for it if you want it. While its totally cool to be against it if you don't. And its fine to be in the middle and just be along for the ride like I am. As usual have fun with the theorizing and Manage Expectations. Please...don't make me dig through my blog for that post again.

[korablick]

absolutely

Will you take her offer?

[kwiiwi1]

Kora rot teehee 🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭 (eprocto warning fr fr)

Kora being the designated driver for Lavenrose's tour this time, and like having to drive the group up the country for a few performances on their tour

and the entire time he's bloated and gassy, his stomach keeps making constant empty low groans that sound like a dying whale, like bro prays to god several times that the layers of clothes he has on muffle the sounds of his upset stomach

then like while he's driving everyone's fallen asleep in the van and he's the only one awake and god he's so sore and stuffed and shit I can't hold it

and he's like "fuck I cant keep doing this anymore"

so he checks that the coast is clear before cracking the windows down a few (it's cold outside), turning on the aircon and carefully carefully starts ripping ass

it begins as small soft farts that sputter out against the chair and make small bubbly noises that kora can't help but moan at because it's so fucking relieving and it feels so good and shit

he keeps shuffling around in the chair as he slowly let's go while he drives, occasionally leaning forward in the drivers seat so that his poor tummy presses up against the wheel and he rips long hissing SBD's that make him feel all warm and toasty

occasionally fanning his nose when it wafts up because his brand suddenly becomes too overwhelming and groaning in disgust (fr this kind of shit makes me 😫😫😫😫😫)

his farts becoming more bassier and almost vibrating the chair as he continues ungh 🥴🥴🥴🥴🥴

Kora's so whiny and huffy as he does, panting quietly so as to not disturb the other 7 sleepy lovers in the van with him

and sometimes he has to burp, so he muffles it with a closed fist as they rumble out very loudly against his hand before he moves it back to rub his sore stomach

pressing his fingers in and around and up and down into the bloated organ as he whimpers in pain because he doesn't want to do it alone but he'd rather not wake up the others and embarass himself for the sake of getting cuddles and much needed relief

and eventually he stinks up the van with the smell of spoiled milk, rotten eggs and burnt coffee and the windows are all fogged up and he's so embarrassed but he can't stop because there's just so much to get out of his system 😫😫😫😫😫

like nerves + coffee + most of the shit they're eating on the road does not go well for Kora's tummy the poor dude

but eventually he figures out how to unfog the windows and mostly vent the van of the stinkiness from his dumb ass

meanwhile Harper's at the very back of the van probably going like

"omfg 😳😳😳😳😳"

because Kora has never been this openly bloated and gassy in front of the members and she finds it kinda cute and endearing but also not really yknow

[lvllns]

They’re bent over the small desk, hair falling over their shoulder in messy waves, when they hear the door click open.

“Five minutes,” Korazair mumbles, brows furrowing as they tap their finger on a missive spread out in front of them.

“My dear, that’s what you said two hours ago.” Sabir’s voice is low but that doesn’t stop them from jumping. Eyes going wide as they finally, finally look up.

The candles have burned down a few marks, dying flames flickering as they run the risk of guttering. Whatever weak light had been shining through the windows at the sun set is long gone. Only a cool darkness blankets the room now, soft moonlight sprawling across the floor. It has, quite clearly, been far longer than five minutes and he has, so graciously, left them alone for far longer than he should have. Far longer than he needed.

Korazair blinks. Rubs at their face and grins sheepishly at Sabir. “Apologies, I just...got caught up.” They scratch the back of their neck, gaze flicking to the door behind him. “You should have gone to sleep.”

He arches one brow, arms folding over his chest. “I was asleep. Then I woke up and found the rest of my bed still cold.”

They exhale slowly, sagging down in their chair as they pinch the bridge of their nose. “If I knew there was this much fucking paperwork involved in being Commander…”

Sabir snorts, his hands dropping to rest on their shoulders, thumbs pressing into the nape of their neck. There isn’t even a moment for them to be shocked at how he managed to move across the room without them noticing before he’s methodically working at a knot over their left shoulder blade. Zair leans into his touch with a quiet hum, eyes fluttering shut. He gathers up their hair. Twists it around until it’s neatly piled on the top of their head with pins he pulled from who knows where.

“It will still be here in the morning,” he whispers before pressing a kiss to their temple, fingers skimming down beneath the loose shirt they’re wearing to settle between their shoulder blades.

“Unfortunately,” they grumble, hissing when he hits a particularly painful knot. He makes a soothing sound. Kisses the back of their skull, and press down harder. “Ah, fuck.” They start to wiggle away but he catches them by the shoulder. “Sabir…”

“Hush,” he says.

Zair swallows and tries to glare at him over their shoulder but he just chuckles.

“You’re tense, relax.”

With a long, slow exhale, they drop their shoulders. Let their head tip forward until their chin rests against their chest. They don’t realize they’re softly hissing, a quiet rumble in their chest, until Sabir chuckles.

“Come to bed, my love.” He kisses the words into their neck, lips moving to find that spot behind their ear.

Zair groans. “Sabir, the light of my life, the honey to my suckle—”

“Oh, nope, don’t like that one,” he interrupts with a laugh, hands pausing their work, fingers resting along their collarbones.

Indignant, they whip their head around to playfully glare at him. “You don’t get to trot out your damage inducing dad puns—”

“Damage inducing?!” he sputters.

“—and complain about my experimental terms of endearment,” they continue, ignoring that he’s even spoken at all.

His dark eyes glitter in the dying candle light, and they can see the corner of his mouth hook in a small smile. “Damage inducing? Dad puns?” He scoffs amusedly. “I thought you liked my puns.”

“I love them, that doesn’t mean they don’t cause pain.”

Fingers drumming along their shoulders, he makes a considering sound before, “Kora,” his voice is gentle, and oh they are weak to him when he uses that name, “this will all be here in the morning, you need to rest.” They open their mouth and he gently slaps a palm over it. “Please.”

Zair opens their mouth to answer and finds themself ripped from the memory. It flickers, fades, Sabir’s face melting like wax behind the lids of their eyes. They whimper, keeping their eyes shut tight in an attempt to avoid dealing with their current situation. Their arm throbs. Pain rips through it, from the shoulder to the wrist. It feels like the bones are shifting, resetting. Shattering and reforming. An endless loop of pain.

It isn’t until they realize they’re trying to shift that they’re able to stop the unnecessary pain.

They press their forehead to their knees, broken arm carefully cradled against their body, and they lean against the wall at their back. When the footsteps stop right outside the cell they’re in, they remain silent. Easy enough to ignore what is probably a guard, come to taunt and tease and prod at emotional wounds until they get bored with Zair’s lack of reaction.

What they’re absolutely not expecting is to hear Sabir whisper, “Korazair.”

Zair laughs, the sound cracking in their dry throat. There’s no way this is real. Fluttering their eyes open, they roll their head until their temple is pressed against a knee. His form is watery, unfocused, and Zair blinks rapidly until it clears. He looks more solid at least, but the chances of him successfully sneaking down here are well below zero.

“Fever must be worse than I thought,” they mutter.

Sabir’s face falls as he frowns. “You have a fever?” He steps closer to the bars, one hand lifting as though he means to...to…

Zair shrugs. “Probably. I don’t know.” They return to staring at the ground between their legs, forehead to their knees. “Can’t really be bothered to check.”

“Your arm—”

“Is well broken,” they hiss, voice going sharp. “Syfyn made damn sure of that, at least.” Zair sits up. Lets their head fall back to rest along the damp stone behind them. “Why are you here?”

He sighs. Props a shoulder against the bars of their cell and shrugs. “I wanted to see you without a host of officials and guards and royalty to pick apart every word spoken.”

They go still as they watch him, body remaining loose and lax, a lie as they insist they’re not a threat. Bright gold eyes lock onto his face before they say, “Esme got you in here, didn’t she?” Sabir hesitates. Something nobody else would pick up, but it appears Zair is still intimately acquainted with his mannerisms. “Then who?”

“Trystan,” he says.

Zair nods. Says nothing else as they close their eyes once more.

The silence that settles is strained. Thick with tension. Part of them wants to break it, to snap it in half and cut their hands on the shards of it. They hear him swallow once, twice, before he exhales heavily.

“I’m going to get you out of here.”

They laugh until it turns into a cough. Zair winces as their arm is jerked, sagging against the wall while they try to catch their breath when it’s all over.

“I mean it.”

“Good luck,” they sneer, eyes rolling as they open them. “It doesn’t matter anyway.”

“I fought for you three years ago, what makes you think I wouldn’t fight for you now?”

Climbing to their feet is awkward and painful, they hiss when their arm bounces against their side. Taking the four steps necessary to be close enough to Sabir to smell him, to see his eyelashes in the dim light of the dungeon, is a monumental effort. They drop their head to the bars, their good hand curling around the chilly metal.

“Sabir, there’s a—”

“We are out of time,” Trystan snaps as they come skidding around the corner. “Syfyn is getting suspicious.” They won’t look at Zair and that stings worse than anything else so far.

Well, until Sabir reaches up and curls his warm fingers around their cold ones. His thumb drags over the ridges of their knuckles. “Kora—”

“Don’t,” they whisper, voice breaking, “please Sabir, don’t.”

He lifts their hand. Pulls it through the bars just enough that he can kiss their palm before releasing it. “Soon,” he speaks into their skin.

Zair shudders, the sensation flowing down their spine, and Trystan is dragging Sabir away before they can say anything else.

[themuselesswriter]

Museless Guide

Current Obsession: Bridgerton & American Horror Story

This will be a grand master-post to help everyone navigate around the blog and find out just what they’re looking for because sometimes, scrolling can be a bit too much.

⇼ ⇼ ⇼ ⇼ ⇼ ⇼ ⇼ ⇼ ⇼ ⇼ ⇼ ⇼ ⇼ ⇼ ⇼ ⇼ ⇼ ⇼

Museless On Sites

Wattpad AO3 Main blog Art blog

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Museless Tags Guide

Museless Roleplay - Museless AO3 - Museless Imagine - Museless Article - Museless Wattpad - Museless Traits - Museless Colors - Museless List - Museless AU - Museless Tumblr Fic - Museless Tumblr Oneshot - Museless Asks - Museless Reblogs - Museless Memes - Museless Faceclaims - Museless Rumbles - Museless Anti Universes - Museless Rumbles

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Museless Fandoms

Vikings - DC - On My Block - 13 Reasons Why - The Umbrella Academy - Cursed - Medici - Game of Thrones - Fear The Walking Dead - Teen Wolf - Marvel - Jungle Cruise - Disney - Good Girls - Station 19 - Grey’s Anatomy - Supernatural - The 100 - Bridgeton - The Last of Us - From - Titans - DC - Hilda - Raised by Wolves - Shadowhunters - The Witcher - American Housewife - Bridgerton - A Town Called Malice - From - Ugly Betty - The Addams Family - The Circle - Hazbin hotel - Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Legend of Kora - American Housewife - Happiness - Hilda - Harley Quinn - The Hunger Games - Motherland: Fort Salem - Helluva Boss

___________________

Museless Roleplays

Currently on hold aside from @otto-troy and @ftwd-the-real-deal

__________________________________________

Note: all photos are taken from google/ Tumblr/ Pinterest, if you find anything that is yours or belongs to someone you know lemme know to credit them, all edits are mine:’)

Work in progress…

[korablick]

The way i got scared-surprised when i received the tag ✌✌✌✌

I'm in love with your research!! I really like getting into the rabbit holes with details and symbolism of certain objects or character designs. Andd you are welcome into the rabbit hole abt guns and other weapons!! 🙏🙏

This post is a response to @korablick, who asked us to share our favorite r1999 women and what kind of guns/weapons they would use. And since I'm very predictable... let's talk about Isolde and Kakania and their guns!

First of all, Kakania. I'm not sure if the gun she used in the duel (the one Marcus warned her to not use because it was tempered) was her actual gun, but it seems to be a FN model 1910:

So... fun fact about FN M1910: it was the gun used to assassinate the Archduke of Austria and his wife in 1914, which sparked off the first world war. And it's hilariously ironic to see Kakania use this particular gun, because she did indirectly cause the first world war in the story.

Oh, and for some reason, this gun was used in a lot of assassinations. Which is a great (although niche) foreshadowing of Dr. Schwartz trying to use the gun to kill Kakania (way to be subtle, killing your opponent with the gun famously used to assassinate people).

Moving on to Isolde. I'm not sure how she came to possess a gun in the first place, but the story did mention that it was the gun she used to end Theophil's suffering (and after that, Heinrich's), so I think we can assume that the gun was originally her brother's.

I had a bit of trouble finding a clear picture of the gun that's not covered by her hands, but it seems like a Rast & Gasser model 1898:

Fun fact about Rast & Gasser M1898: it served as a standard sidearm for the Austro-Hungarian army in 1989-1918 and played a major role in World War I. Which makes it ironic if Theophil did own it, since the gun represents all the things that he opposed. And even if it wasn't his, there's still the irony that he and Heinrich were killed with the gun by Isolde.

Also, the fact that at the end of chapter 6, Isolde was carrying this gun that represents the military and the World War I, all while taking the center stage in starting the World War I herself?? I love it.

Look at these doomed lesbians and their guns symbolizing their contributions to the world war. I'm not sure if these were intentional, but if they were, Bluepoch, whoever came up with these gun details should get a raise.

Some disclaimer: I'm not a historical gun expert and these are just stuff I found after looking in wikipedia and random sites on internet, so it's possible that I got some stuff wrong or misinterpreted some things. If that's the case, please do correct my mistakes!

Also, I was only intending to do a short research about the gun Isolde and Kakania used... but I fell into a rabbit hole and this post came into existence (oops?). Thank you to @korablick for sending me down this fun rabbit hole and hope you enjoy my ramblings about the doomed yuri and their guns!

[korablick]

Day 8 of drawing Kakania until I get her

Note: I wish to be held too. And i need them to snuggle. Kinda late bc i wasn't able to draw my idea properly and i still don't really like this one either

Also, fun fact. I almost never draw in a whole canvas. Just somewhere in the corner

[hmuavery]

Car ride | Avery

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It's been a long few days. The boys and me are traveling to New York to visit Christina. We landed in New York a half and hour ago. We have a 3 hour car ride and we're all jet lagged.

Jack was sitting next to me, Zach and Daniel were in the two seats ahead, Corbyn was in the passenger seat, while Jonah was driving... him being the least jet lagged.

As the car rumbled down the highway, I leaned my head on Jack's shoulder. Jonah hit a bump and my head fell in Jack's lap. I didn't feel like moving but I couldn't sleep. Jack was asleep but his hand found it's way to my hair. He played with it as he slept.

He was wearing basketball shorts and hoodie, all the boys in the same. His legs have a few tattoos scattered, I traced them with my finger out of pure boredom. As my cold finger tip ran over the ink on his warm skin, I could feel him shiver slightly every now and then. After a few minutes I stopped. He groaned.

"Y/nnnn don't stop" he whined.

"But Jack, I'm making you shiver. My hands are so cold."

"But it feels good"

After arguing with a half asleep Jack, I continued to trace his tattoos.

"I love this one alot Jack" I said speaking softly. He nodded and dozed off again.

To bad this cutie was only my best friend.

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Hey hey! So I'm REALLY new to this app and have no clue how to work it yet lol- but I really like writing and I do have a Wattpad account that i write on most times but i wanted some more variety! N e wayzzzz follow me on there! My username is @/-jacks . Hope you enjoyed this and more to come!!

(Copy and paste from my WDW imagines two book🙃 )

-Kora

[the-silvr-speedster]

The Totally Crazy Adventures of the Astro Ambassadors

After they return from their six-month mission in space, Daisy, Daniel and Kora want just a bit of peace and quiet before they are shipped off on another space adventure. But Mack has other plans for them since they are needed for one more short mission. However, things might not go according to plan and without the extraction team, they have to rely on a teleporting device they've never used before.

Chapter 1: Just One More Adventure on AO3 or tumblr

Chapter 2: Welcome to Berhert on AO3 or here ↓

Hey guys! I hope you had a nice week. As promised, here is a chapter 2 of my story. Sorry for any mistakes.

I hope you like it. 

It was over sooner than she thought. When the light around them dissipated they were met by a lush green flora surrounding a small square in front of a…palace? Daisy wasn’t sure. The building was definitely huge but it wasn’t overly fancy.

“Welcome to Berhert,” Adlynn said with a friendly smile.

“I will see you to the meeting chamber where you will be joined by the Princess and some of her most trusted advisers,” Brodin informed them and led the way into the palace.

The three agents were looking around with wide eyes drinking in everything around them as they walked down the halls. Daisy also noted the number and positioning of the guards as they passed them on their way.

“Everything is so green,” Kora mumbled quietly. “They have plants everywhere.”

When they reached the meeting chamber, Daisy realized they lost Adlynn somewhere along the way. What a pity. She was starting to like her.

“Please wait here. Princess Daydra will join you shortly,” Brodin instructed them, offering them seats at the table, and then he left.

The trio sat down, Daniel by Daisy’s right hand and Kora by her left, as they looked around the chamber.

“What are we gonna say if they ask about our experiences with other timelines?” Daniel asked, furrowing his eyebrows in thought.

Daisy let out a long sigh. She wasn’t really sure about what to say and what to keep to themselves. Some people might be against time travel or meddling with a timestream. There were two people sitting next to her, people she loved dearly, that were taken out of their respective time period and she didn’t want to risk their lives by revealing too much in case Sagittarians would be enraged by such bold actions.

“I think…I think we could mention our time traveling missions,” she said at last, “but I don’t think it would be a good idea to mention that you two are actually from another time…or timeline for that matter.”

“Alright,” Daniel muttered giving Daisy’s fingers a gentle squeeze.

“How long will the meeting last?” Kora mumbled with her head placed on her folded arms on the table.

“You are always asking the same question, Kora.” Daisy said with an eye-roll. “How am I supposed to know that, I’m not a clairvoyant.”

“I just want to go back to bed,” she whined.

“Did you have a company in it or what? Surely you have to have enough sleep after four days off,” Daisy looked at her sister with interest.

“Just three days off. We spent nearly one whole day being debriefed by Mack and getting the reports ready,” she complained.

“Whatever. You are evading my earlier question? Did you have a company?” Daisy asked her again with a teasing grin and a raised eyebrow.

Kora mumbled something incoherently into her arm.

“What was that?” Daisy demanded, moving closer, her smile growing bigger.

But before she could actually get any coherent answer out of her, they were interrupted by the arrival of four Sagittarians. These were dressed differently from the members of the Royal Guard. Their clothes were more formal. The small group consisted of two men and two women. They remained standing in the doorway without a word of acknowledgment towards the three humans.

Daisy stood up, Daniel and Kora following suit, and was already contemplating speaking to them when a fifth Sagittarian entered the chamber, closely followed by Captain Brodin. This one was dressed in something one could only describe as a dress combined with an armor. Her black locks were falling freely almost to her waist in deep contrast to the fabric of the dress that was of red color. It made her look…royal. There was just one little thing that shocked all three agents. The woman wearing that dress.

“I am truly sorry for the little lie,” she told them while beckoning the rest of the group to have a seat at the table. “I just really wanted to have a peek at your world before we took you to ours.”

“So, I guess your name isn’t Adlynn,” Daisy commented, already knowing the answer.

“No, it is not. I am Princess Daydra. But Adlynn really is Captain Brodin’s second-in-command. I just borrowed her identity for a little while,” the princess explained with a welcoming smile. “Anyway, these are my advisers, Tobis, Desmon,” she motioned her hand towards both male advisers, then moving to the females, “Anahi and Thalira.”

All four of them nodded in greeting before sitting down at the table just across from Daisy, Daniel and Kora. The Princess took a seat in the middle of her advisers and motioned for the humans to sit down, too.

“I have to apologize one more time for not letting you land on our planet the other week. As I said, there was a misunderstanding. The military controlling the landing docks made that decision, not me. They forgot to let me know about your request to land and talk about an alliance,” Daydra explained with a hint of frustration.

Daisy shared a quick look with Daniel. Could it be that Daydra’s uncle made that decision? Did he not want her to meet up with them?

“We understand that…things like that can happen,” Daisy replied cautiously.

“So,” Daydra sighed contently dismissing the subject, “having that resolved, I think we can move to the discussion of our potential alliance. And, of course, our servants will get you anything to drink.”

As on cue, two servants stepped into the room and placed three glasses in front of the agents.

“Water?” Asked one of them.

“Yes, please,” Daniel said and the servants poured the liquid into their glasses. Then they moved to the other side of the table to offer the same for the advisers and the princess.

“With that out of the way,” the Princess announced, “let’s talk.

   ⁂

The meeting was going on for hours. They talked about so many subjects. The Princess was very interested in learning more about humans as well as the trio of humans was interested in Sagittarians. “What is Terra like?” “How many planets belong to your empire?” “For how long have you been exploring space?” “No offense, but does all men have a fin on their head?” (“Kora no!” “It’s alright to be curious. And yes, they do.”) They asked about technology, history, science, religion, politics, and then they slowly shared parts of their own stories, encounters with other alien races, and shared dislike towards some of them. They discussed time travel and multiple timelines or dimensions. With every passing minute, the alliance was becoming more and more real. All three humans warmed up towards the Princess as well as she and her advisers towards the humans.

“Which aliens had Terra the most problems with?” Daydra asked curiously.

“I would say that with the Kree,” Daisy replied, and tried to ignore the shiver that ran along her spine at the mention of them.

“The Kree like to cause problems,” the Princess sighed, “or wars. They even like to meddle with the internal politics of other empires.”

“To destabilize them?” Daniel joined in.

“Mostly. Their spies are very well trained. Sometimes it’s hard to tell whether the person in question is one of your own…or them,” Daydra muttered, a dark look crossing her eyes for a fragment of time but Daniel didn’t miss it.

“Seems like you are talking from an experience,” he commented, leaning forward in his seat.

“Terra is not the only planet that has an issue with them. But let’s move on some lighter topics,” she dismissed the ongoing conversation quickly.

Daniel realized that there has to be more to that. Whatever issue they had with the Kree, it might have been bigger than what Daisy and the team had to deal with in the past. And for some reason, Daydra didn’t want to talk about it. He wanted to ask more because they were about to become allies, therefore they needed to know more about the potential threats. If there was a possibility that their alliance could bring bigger problems with the Kree Empire to Earth, they had the right to know. He was just about to voice his concerns when the door into the meeting chamber flew open and another Sagittarian stormed into the room.

“What is this?!” He yelled unhappily, filling the room with nervous energy.

“Oh, hello to you too, uncle,” Daydra said casually, not even bothering to look his way. “We are just discussing the alliance between us and Terra with their emissaries from S.H.I.E.L.D. You certainly remember them. They stopped by over a week ago.”

“Why wasn’t I informed!” His voice rumbled through the air.

“Why should you be? You are not a leader of this empire. I am,” the princess finally looked at him with authority. “And you weren’t interested in hearing them out last time.”

Daniel shared a nervous glance with Daisy. So that was the ‘misunderstanding’ Daydra was referring to. Her uncle wanted nothing to do with them so he refused to let them land since the military is controlling the landing docks.

“Because I know they have nothing to offer us. They are just a nuisance that brings more problems. Just look at how many threats their planet received in the past years,” he kept talking angrily. Then he suddenly shifted his tone to a curious one. “So small, so insignificant, and yet a target of beings that are far more superior than them. I wonder, what makes them so special.”

Daniel caught how Daisy’s hand grabbed Kora’s under the table as it was starting to glow and whispered to her: “No.”

“They are far more advanced than we thought, uncle. Since you are already here, you may as well join us and see for yourself. But we are making the alliance official,” Daydra informed him sternly.

The man grumbled something angrily under his breath, pulled a chair from under the table and sat down, an unhappy scowl remaining on his face.

“Sorry,” Daydra said towards the agents. “Now, where were we?” She paused for a second, thinking. “Oh, right. I wanted to ask- “

“I heard a rumor,” Daydra’s uncle cut her off rudely, his gaze fixed on his hands. “A rumor about Terrans with superpowers. I thought that must be someone’s drunken fantasy, but…,” he paused and looked straight towards Daisy, “…is it, really?”

Daniel gulped and curled his hand into a fist under the table. He knew he wasn’t feeling anxious about this mission just for nothing.

“It’s true,” Daisy answered matter-of-factly, still holding Kora’s hand.

The advisers started to talk over each other in surprise, worry and excitement. Daydra’s uncle sneered, clearly satisfied. ‘Rumor my ass, he already knew about it,’ Daniel thought.

“Quiet!” The Princess ordered. “So, you really have super-powered individuals. How many?”

“Uh, we don’t know. Some people are just genius inventors and billionaires, some underwent an experimentative treatment, some were in an accident involving a radioactive substance whether it was man-made or alien…and for some…it’s genetic,” Daisy exhaled, trying hard to keep her voice neutral. “One way or another it is hard to know how many powered individuals we have.”

“That is interesting,” Daydra said carefully, “and exciting. Wow. Such a small planet with so much potential.”

“Yeah, the bad guys figured that out, too,” Daisy mumbled grumpily.

“So, Quake is really a Terran?” The Princess asked, leaning forward on her elbows. “I heard some stories but I know better than to believe everything I hear. Mainly when I don’t trust the source,” she added pointedly.

Daisy looked at Daniel anxiously and he moved his hand to grab hers, anchoring her.

“Yes,” she said moving her gaze towards Daydra, “Quake is from Earth.” Daisy paused, deciding what to say next. “As you can see, we are not so…insignificant.” She looked at Daydra’s uncle for a lingering moment.

“I heard Quake is quite dangerous,” he kept looking back at Daisy with an interest and knowing grin.

“Only when provoked,” Daisy let him know with a glare. Daniel smiled proudly.

“I think she’s cool,” Daydra spoke up and everyone turned to her questioningly. She just shrugged. “Anyway, before I was so rudely interrupted, I believe I wanted to ask which alien race did help Terra the most? Who are your best allies?”

“Probably Asgardians. Thor is a part of a group called the Avengers. They consist of different people…powered or not. They protect the Earth as well as S.H.I.E.L.D. does,” Daisy explained. “He helped us a lot and everyone loves him. That’s why we let them all stay after Asgard got destroyed.”

“Huh, so Asgardians now reside on Terra. Interesting,” the Princess said, lost in thought.

When it seemed like no one is going to say anything, Daniel decided to change the subject. “Uhm, the director was really interested in that teleporting device of yours. Could you maybe tell us more about it?”

“Ah! The interstellar and interdimensional teleportation device! That’s really something, isn’t it,” Daydra’s uncle joined the conversation enthusiastically.

Daniel could see how Daydra shot her uncle a warning glare which he seemed to completely ignore and continued, smiling triumphantly.

“Did you know that we hadn’t actually come up with the technology of it? No?” He asked with a raised eyebrow like he was expecting an answer. But he wasn’t, not really. “That is a great story to tell, isn’t it, my dear Daydra?”

“What are you doing?” She demanded keeping her voice level.

“Entertaining our dear guests,” he told her before his focus shifted to the three humans in front of him. “The device is modeled after a really old artifact that somehow came into our possession hundreds of years ago. It was Asgardian,” he whispered mysteriously like he just revealed some huge secret.

The agents shared a surprised look.

“It took us years to understand at least a bit of how it worked and when we did- “

“You stole their tech,” Kora spoke up, cutting him off. Some of the advisers seemed offended by the accusation.

“Which a friend of ours did, too,” Daisy tried to save the situation, looking from Kora to the Princess. “Honestly, we wouldn’t be able to travel through space if we didn’t get our hands on the jump drive from a crashed Confederacy ship. Our scientist then created his own version after he found out how it worked.”

“But Confederacy was destroyed by Chronicoms, right? And the jump drive is the most used tech in the universe for crossing long distances between planets. There’s no harm done in salvaging something from a crashed spaceship,” Kora tried to explain the difference. “Asgardians are still out there and they lost everything. Their planet, their friends and families, their homes, their tech. When they arrived on Earth, their only belongings were the clothes they were currently wearing,” she paused for a moment studying her hands. “I…I know how that feels…and now you say that you have something that belongs to them.”

“We didn’t steal it, Agent Kora,” Daydra was defending their past actions. “We came across it by accident.”

“Maybe, but you had it in your possession for hundreds of years and have never returned it,” Kora pointed out. “That…doesn’t sit well with me.”

Daniel could see the reasoning behind her words.

“And you were withholding the fact that you have powered individuals,” one of the advisers, Tobis, protested. “That does not sit well with us.”

“We would get to that point and tell you,” Daisy said, trying to remain calm.

“Really? Would you?” Daydra’s uncle asked doubtfully. “Then why haven’t you revealed your full identity, Quake?”

At that moment the advisers started to shout over each other in frustration and outrage. Daniel tensed up, looking at Daisy and Kora in alarm, getting ready to bolt if Daisy decided to do so. Then he was hit by a dark thought – they have no way to get off this planet if things go south. Sagittarians brought them here and only they can bring them back to Earth. This was a really stupid idea.

“How did it go this bad this fast?” Daisy mumbled, mostly to herself.

The Princess was trying to calm her advisers down but at that point, it wasn’t very likely. Her uncle on the other hand looked like he was enjoying the scene before him. Leisurely seated in his chair, he wasn’t doing enough to hide that satisfied grin on his face. Daniel was sure he was planning to disrupt the meeting and destroy the chance of alliance from the beginning.

“This,” his voice boomed in the chamber as he stood up, “is exactly what I’ve been telling you all along. My niece is not a good leader to our people. Just look at her reckless decisions. Allying us with Terrans? People, who can’t even be honest and who send a weapon of mass destruction on a diplomatic visit!”

“I beg your pardon!” Daisy raised her voice, offended.

“Augus is right!” Desmon called, hitting his fist into the table with force.

“No, he isn’t! This is what he always wanted. To turn our back on Daydra. He’s manipulating us!” Thalira tried to reason with him.

“But he has a point!” Anahi joined in.

“We can’t ally with Terrans!” Tobis spoke up angrily.

“No. No, we can’t. And we can’t let them leave, either. You told them too much,” Daydra’s uncle, Augus, declared.

“Is this a good time to start to panic?” Kora muttered quietly, leaning towards Daisy.

“We have no way to get out of here,” Daniel informed them, his brain running a hundred miles per hour trying to find a solution.

Daisy stood up and so did her two companions. She was staring at something behind the arguing group of Sagittarians. Daydra was talking to Captain Brodin hurriedly, clearly giving him some orders. A minute later he disappeared quietly through the door and she sent a small nod of reassurance towards the three humans.

“Will you really listen to him? The one who is secretly teaming up with our enemies just to have his way?” Daydra spoke to her advisers urgently, before looking over to her uncle. “Did you really think I won’t find out? After all those years?”

“I really didn’t want to be caught in the middle of this,” Daisy groaned, but stayed on high alert, waiting for any signal from the Princess.

“Tell me, uncle, what did the Kree promise you?”

But Augus just sneered at his niece. Then the doors burst open. Ten Sagittarian soldiers marched in and took their place at Augus’s side, waiting for his orders. The trio of agents took a small step back, calculating their chance at getting out of this.

“That doesn’t matter because they will give me even more when I deliver them Quake,” he revealed, sending a quick look towards Daisy. “They have some kind of obsession with her.”

Daniel looked worriedly at her, fighting with his instinct to shield her from danger. She can take care of herself and he would be just getting in her way. But he couldn’t miss the way she paled for a brief second at the mention of Kree.

“What gives you the impression you are going to catch me?” Daisy remarked with a self-conscious smile.

Few things happened in a span of seconds. Augus, with his lopsided grin, motioned for his soldiers to arrest the humans. The side doors flew open. The soldiers started to march towards Daisy, Daniel and Kora. Daisy raised her hand ready to quake them away. Captain Brodin and some of the royal guard came running into the chamber. The three agents finally received a signal from Daydra, who mouthed “run”.

They ran towards the side door where they were met by the Princess and the Captain.

“Follow us,” Daydra spoke and darted through the door. They complied without a second thought, being followed by Captain Brodin, who left his men to deal with the soldiers. However, they didn’t run far. When they turned the corner of the first corridor, they were met by another five soldiers. They immediately raised their guns at the group but didn’t get the chance to fire. Before their fingers pulled the trigger, they were hit by Daisy’s quake which left them flying into a wall.

Daydra turned around to look at Daisy, her mouth open in surprise, and a look of admiration in her eyes. “I really am a fan,” she said.

“Thanks,” Daisy replied with a smile. “So, what now?”

Daydra just motioned to follow her and started down the corridor.

“We are gonna get you home,” she said after a moment of walking. “We can deal with them. I have far more people on my side than my uncle has. I was kind of expecting him to stab me into the back, sooner or later.”

“I don’t want to doubt your decision, but we can help you,” Daisy offered as they neared another corner.

“We can handle this. I still want the alliance between us to happen, so I need you to get home safely,” the Princess paused, cautiously looking around the corner,” so we can discuss it again when things calm down.”

Daisy wanted to protest more but was distracted by a loud banging of boots on the floor of the corridor. She turned around so fast she almost got whiplash. There were almost twenty soldiers coming their way. Kora crouched down, sending a wave of fire along the floor. After the first four soldiers caught ablaze, Daisy sent a quake that knocked another eight. It was like bowling. But in this case, the cones were being replaced by the new ones more quickly as other soldiers poured towards them.

“We’ll hold them off!” Daydra announced readying her gun and checking her daggers. “Go!”

“There’s too much of them,” Daisy protested and caught a movement coming from another corridor. Two guards were coming to help them.

“I mean it, go! Straight ahead, the second corridor to the left,” she paused as she fired at incoming soldiers, while Kora set another two on fire, “and fifth door to the right. You won’t miss it. It’s double doors. When you get there take the teleporting device, it will get you home,” she continued and when Captain and the guards attacked the soldiers, she pulled the agents aside to give them specific instructions how to operate the device. “Good luck,” and with that, she readied her gun again and turned the corner.

Daisy, Daniel and Kora sprinted down the corridor in search of the device. They turned the corner of the second corridor as Daydra told them but as they reached the door four soldiers emerged at the end of the hall.

“Was it the fifth door on the right or the left side?” Daniel asked hurriedly.

“She said it was double doors,” Daisy said as she dismantled the guns of the soldiers with her powers.

“Well, there are two double doors on opposite sides,” Kora observed. “I think it was the left side.”

“Well, it better be ‘cause we won’t reach the other one,” Daisy muttered, seeing as more soldiers joined the fight.

“We are surrounded,” Daniel informed them. “They had to know we’ll come this way.”

Daisy opened the double doors and all three of them stormed inside the room. Daniel closed them quickly as Daisy and Kora hauled a table to block it. Daniel found a metal rod and put it through the handles.

“That’s not gonna hold them for long,” Kora said. “I have an idea.” She jumped on the table and proceeded to melt the door wings together.

“Kora that won’t help. There’s glass in the door. They can break through,” Daisy told her, trying to catch her breath.

“Right,” Kora mumbled sheepishly.

Meanwhile, Daniel inspected the room they found themselves in. It looked almost like some sort of a lab. But it was too clean like it wasn’t used in many years. No tools lying around or anything, really. At the other end of the room, just over one of the workstations was another sliding glass door. He was startled from his thoughts by loud banging on the door behind him.

“We don’t have much time,” Daisy told him, standing close to his side.

“Let’s check there,” he pointed towards the door.

“This really wasn’t how I expected today to go,” Daisy said sadly, walking next to him.

“None of us did,” Daniel noted as he stepped through the door, which opened automatically. “Just another day at S.H.I.E.L.D.” He looked at her with a small smile.

“Yeah,” she sighed, running her hand down her face, before turning around and calling out for Kora to join them. “That’s the device, right?” She pointed towards a sphere-shaped object on the table.

“Looks like it. Although this has a different color,” Daniel remarked, stepping closer to it.

“Maybe they design it in different colors, you know. Sort of like ‘This one is not matching the armor I am wearing today, so let’s take the green one, instead’,” Daisy grinned at Daniel, who smiled back at her.

“Or like ‘This is not matching with the mood I have today so I think we have to fabricate it in black too’,” Kora added, joining the two agents in the small room.

Both Daisy and Daniel shook their heads at the younger agent, amused smiles still playing on their lips. Daisy then picked the device carefully and Daniel and Kora got closer, forming a tight circle. The sphere reacted to her touch and blue lines appeared on it, almost looking like veins.

“So how does it work?” Kora asked curiously. “I wasn’t really listening before.”

Daisy rolled her eyes exasperatedly. “Just think of going home. That’s what Daydra said.”

They were interrupted by a loud crash. The soldiers finally broke through the door. The agents were running out of time.

“Okay, so, now or never,” Daisy said nervously, looking from Daniel to Kora.

“Home?” Kora asked unsure, her voice trembling a little as she could hear the approaching soldiers.

“Home.”

And everything disappeared in the blue light.

Next Chapter →

End note: Some chapters will be shorter and some will be longer depending on the particular story within the chapter. I am currently working on multiple chapters at once.

Anyway, that's it with the "intro" into the story. Next week we are diving in deep. So, until then, bye! Stay safe, guys! And as always, every comment, kudos or a reblog will make me very happy.

[acertainmoshke]

I don't know if I have a favorite movie at the moment, I watch a lot more tv. But 10 years ago, my favorite movie was Frozen. No, I was not a child 10 years ago. I was already an adult when I saw it in the theater. But I was having the worst mental health year of my life and related to Elsa and it immediately became my special interest for the next 5 years. And I particularly liked the Let It Go scene, the idea of being alone and free and shedding who you used to be. One of my clearest memories of that year is sweeping the bathroom at the county fair (where I volunteered) and dancing around singing Let It Go totally from memory, at a time when I couldn't seem to remember much for long.

Anyway. A scene I'm proud of from CitS. I'm proud of it because I think I managed to get Ko'a's voice childlike, unique, and make their odd interests clear in a way that doesn't make them feel like they're written as a mini-adult:

Bug hunting was dumb anyway. No, it wasn't. Ko'a loved bug hunting. But it wasn't as good as newspaper day. The others just didn't understand what it meant--a look at the world beyond the classroom, inn, and familiar little streets. What was happening and what mattered out in the world. If there was ever another war coming, Ko'a would be the first to know about it. The printing house was on Main Street, two blocks away from school, with the other shops. The door was propped open, and on the crate out front sat the largest human Ko'a had ever met. "Good afternoon, Le'obre!" They said as they stopped by him, leaning against the wall to give their legs a rest. "Ko'a!" Other children were afraid of Le'obre, but when their scowl broke into a brilliant smile Ko'a couldn't see why. "You're a little early today, aren't you?" "I ate lunch fast." "Ah! Do you have a coin for me?" Ko'a tugged at the bag hanging at their waist, nearly empty so it looked sad and deflated, and pulled out a single little kora-bit, a pie-like slice of metal the length of Ko'a's pinky finger. Proudly, they held it out to Le'obre with one hand and reached for the stack of papers in the street with the other. Ko'a never took the one on top, flipping three or four down until they found one still stiff from the press. They checked the front page headline--it was about a new trade agreement with Eng, not dragons--then tucked their prize under their arm and ducked into the dim house. It really did used to be a house, but all the inside walls were gone now, leaving a big open space dominated by the printing press, with stacks of paper and leather around the room, shadowy in what little light made it through the heavy dark curtains. Six days a week, the press made books. On the seventh, it made newspapers. And on the eighth, it took a break like everyone else. Oh, Ko'a knew the machine wasn't really alive. But it sure seemed to be at times, with its gears spinning and long spindly arms flying to press words into pages. The buzz-clack sound and the familiar smell of ink made Ko'a smile. Careful to avoid the moving parts, they ducked around to find Solas at his crank. Solas was an even older orc than Teacher Li'ones. His ink-blue skin hung off his bones like a too-large tunic. He had no hair at all, and only one remaining tusk. Ko'a suspected he had lost the other in the war, but it was the one thing they didn't dare ask about. Besides, in this one place, the war was no longer the most interesting thing they could ask about. "So, did you find someone to talk to about the shortage?" Ko'a asked as they hopped onto a crate of blank paper, as though it had been minutes since their last conversation instead of a week. "I did." His voice rumbled like thunder. "And? Who is it?" "Uh-uh. I am not having you pestering my source." "Fine. What did they say, then?"

Tag list: @amielbjacobs @rbbess110 @annothersummerofsleep

What's your favorite movie? Even better, what's your favorite scene within that movie?

Now, share an excerpt from your story that you're proud of, and elaborate on why.

[myriadimagines]

Characters: Reader x Diego Hargreeves

Warnings: —

Gif credit: klaushaargreeves

Spotify Prompt: 05. Passenget Seat (feat. Kora) by Clueless Kit: “You know this is who we are, this is what we do, driving in circles til’ we find something new, the only person I enjoy sitting in the car with is you.”

Word Count: 448

A/N: i ended up incorporating this song better than i thought i would woAh!! (spotify prompts are not open)

The car engine rumbles quietly underneath you as you and Diego cruise through the neighbourhood, your head tilted out of your open window as you feel the cool evening breeze against your cheeks. Diego lets out an impatient sigh besides you in the drivers seat, reaching out to adjust the frequency on his stolen police radio, and you can’t help but laugh to yourself as nothing comes from the radio besides from static

“This is ridiculous,” Diego finally speaks up, turning the car down a street you’ve already patrolled. “We’re just driving in circles now.”

“Isn’t that what we do?” you joke, trying to lighten the mood. Fiddling with the zipper of your jacket. “Until we find bad guys to stop.”

He simply waves his hand in response, not bothering to reply, and you roll your eyes as you settle back into your seat. The two of you stare out at the empty road, the dimly lit stores that line the streets and the pools of yellow light from the lampposts.

“Looks like it’s going to be a quiet night.” you remark, watching as as Diego drums his fingers against the steering wheel. He doesn’t respond, and you reach out to give him a soft nudge with your elbow as you tease, “That’s a good thing, Diego.”

“Stop goofing around,” Diego suddenly snaps, and you flinch as you frown at him. He’s more agitated than usual, you think, and you narrow your eyes at him as Diego continues, “If you’re not going to take this seriously, maybe you should go home.”

“Don’t talk to me like that.” you snap, and Diego presses his lips together as you shoot him a warning look. “We’re partners in this, remember? I know the drill.”

Diego doesn’t respond, the radio static combating against the heavy silence that fills the car. Finally, he quietly responds, “Sorry.”

You relax slightly. “It’s okay.”

“For what it’s worth,” Diego continues, turning to look at you with sincerity in his eyes. He looks vulnerable, softer, different that what you’re used to. “I’m glad you’re my partner in this. The only person I’d want to do this with is you.”

Before you can respond, a voice pipes up from the radio, and you and Diego instantly recognize the police code as a B&E. You turn to meet Diego’s gaze, smiling at him as a reassurance that you feel the same way, and he raises an eyebrow at you as he says, “You ready?”

“What’s the plan?” you ask, and Diego chuckles.

“Same thing as every night.” he responds, absentmindedly running his finger along the blade of a knife as he flashes you a grin. “Saving lives, baby.”

[gregorygerwitz]

under the stars

for Hauntober 2020. day nine: “stars” 

A night of stargazing doesn’t quite go as planned.

The sun was low on the horizon while they spread out a blanket in the grass, a few small rocks holding the corners down against a gentle breeze coming off the water. Between the cooler air and the already somewhat damp grass, they'd made the decision to grab a few extra blankets and pick out only the coziest sweaters for the evening's plans. For the first time in months, there was no alien invasion to worry about, no world ending crisis, no missions in space or time that demanded their full attention, and the sky outside the Lighthouse was clear, and spending a few hours with friends was what they all needed.

That, and there were some things that needed to be remedied about their out-of-time boyfriends.

With a sigh, Daisy laid down across the blanket on the ground as soon as it was flat enough, her gaze already aimed toward the slowly darkening sky. Before everything went to hell, she was the one who recruited him into SHIELD's whole mess, and they'd almost had the chance to be friends - and then she was off in space, and he was assigned to all but babysit her best friends' grandson. So, the situation had gotten a little complicated. "I don't get it. The stars have been around and they will be around, so why is it only our era of people who stargaze?"

Trevor smiled and sat down on the soft blanket next to her, shaking his head while he lifted his chin to look up. Some of the stars were already twinkling through the fading sunlight, and the sense of calm that came with the sight made it easy to relax his shoulders. "I mean, maybe they're not as cool to look at when you actually live in space, you know? That doesn't explain your boyfriend's weird stuff, but it does explain mine."

"Yeah, but you've had like two years to figure out all of Deke's weird shit, right? I've known Daniel for... six months? Almost seven?" She shook her head, her eyes moving from the sky to the man next to her. "We're still in the early stages. There's still so much we don't know about each other, and tonight is about getting to know each other a little more. All of us - I expect you to take this seriously, too."

"Leading a team is definitely going to your head. You're so much bossier, now."

They managed to keep straight faces for about ten seconds before descending into easy laughter.

-

It took a little over an hour for them to realize how the night was actually going to go.

"They're not coming, are they?" Daisy asked no one in particular, not that there were many options for who could respond.

"I doubt it. Sousa probably went to bed, and Deke is... do you think he's coerced Fitz into playing Remorath Rumble yet?"

"That's even less likely than them coming out here."

"Yeah, you're probably right. So... it's just gonna be us, then?"

A sigh was the only thing that broke the silence between them for the next few minutes, the twinkling stars far above them more than enough of a distraction while they sad with their thoughts. Over the course of the night so far, they had gotten closer, they'd been able to make jokes and tease each other in ways that hadn't been easy and comfortable when they first met. If the night was for bonding, they'd accomplished their goal, even if it wasn't exactly how they expected.

( "Hey, Kahn, you know what would be even funnier than Fitz playing a Framework video game?"

"What?"

"Kora playing a Framework video game."

"That sounds dangerous." )

[legolaslovely]

Warm

A/N: Huzzah for another almost 5k word Iolaus story! I love him to freaking pieces and apparently this is how I deal. And Thank you to @nerdbirdsworld​ for your precious help and encouragement, always and with this fic! Thank you to all of you friends who have never seen anything Hercules related and still religiously read these stories, it is so exciting for me and means the world. Sending you love! **MAKE SURE TO READ THE WARNINGS, FRIENDS.**

Pairing: Specifically Man Bun Iolaus x Reader

Word Count: 4,951

****Warnings: Violence- physical blood and gore, torture and torment of the mind more than physically? language warning, angst, reader near death, Ares and Strife being assholes, all ends in fluffity fluff do you guys know me AT ALL?

Summary: (Y/N) sacrifices herself to save Iolaus and the boys have to find her and save her.

A/N PS: A picture of my love for your viewing pleasure before we get on with the story now that you’ve read the warnings. Promise? Okay let’s go.

(Y/N) turned the crisp page of the herb and spice book she’d borrowed from Fiducious and reveled a bit in the scent that rose to her nose. After a bustling week of exams, drills and lessons, she finally had a few hours to herself to relax. She easily ignored the stiff golden twigs of hay poking into her neck as she lay in the silent loft of the barn. This was her hiding place where she planned to stay until she was so ravenous, her growling stomach forced her to walk to Kora’s for a well deserved treat. Or maybe she’d bargain with Iolaus to bring her something that would stick to her bones for the rest of the day. She turned the next page in the thick book.

“(Y/N)! (Y/N), are you in here?”

She groaned when she recognized Jason’s voice. Closing the book and rolling to the edge of the loft, she said, “Yes, I’m here.” She straightened when she saw sweat glistening over his forehead and neck. It seemed to magnify the red marks on his arms and knuckles that would soon develop into blue and purple bruises. “What’s happened?”

Around heavy breaths, he said, “Iolaus. Ares has Iolaus.”

The herbs and spice book was forgotten in the hay as she climbed down the ladder to the floor. In her rising panic, her foot missed one of the rungs and she hung by her hands for a moment before she leapt to the ground. “Are you okay?” she asked Jason. When he nodded wildly, she asked where Hercules was.

“Trying to find Chieron,” he said.

She shook her head, dashing to the south side of the barn where some of the cadets’ weapons were stored. “He has yet to return. Fiducious said he’ll be here for lessons tomorrow, but not before.” She threw her quiver over her shoulder, tightening the strap at her chest before grabbing her bow. Jason followed her out of the barn and called for Hercules who was soon running to their side.

“Tell me what happened,” (Y/N) said to Hercules. She took his hand and examined the blood over his knuckles. He ripped it away.

“I’m fine,” he said. “Strife and Discord, they lured him into a trap. They’re trying to get to me.”

“Where are they?” she asked, turning to the horses outside the stables. She flung a set of reins off a post and lifted them over one of the mare’s ears.  

“Hephaestus’ old cave. Where he stayed before he found the forge. Those are Chieron’s horses, what are you doing?” Hercules said, watching (Y/N) leap to the mare’s bare back.

The horse backtracked in apprehension, able to feel the distress in her rider. (Y/N) skillfully circled the post as she spoke. “I think he’d understand our borrowing them to save one of his cadets from the god of war.” She nudged the mare’s barreled stomach with her heel, but Hercules grabbed the reins. 

“(Y/N), just-just wait. We don’t have a plan-”

“We don’t have time to stand around and make plans!”

“One of your arrows won’t stop Ares,” Jason said.

“What are you going to do?” Hercules asked.

She whipped the reins out of his hand. “I’ll figure it out when I get there.” She yelled to the horse and squeezed her thighs around the healthy body until thundering hooves blocked out her friend’s protests. 

Her mind was blank as she rode through the forest. The wind played with her braided hair and bit at her bare fingers as she expertly weaved her steed through the winding trees, struggling to keep her balance on the bare, speeding horse. She dug her heels under the mare’s belly as she leapt over a fallen log and slowed suddenly to turn and leave her rider near the dark, stone cave. (Y/N) slid off, feeling her knees buckle as she hit the ground. She steadied herself, ran a hand over the mare’s neck and slapped her hind quarters, sending her back to the academy.

(Y/N) slid an arrow from the quiver over her shoulder and readied herself to fire. The ground was soft underfoot and she silently toed to the entrance of the cave where she crouched and peered into the darkness. She heard Ares before she saw him. 

“That little twerp is going to lead my half-brother right to us,” he said.

Strife was in the cave as well, (Y/N) recognized his high whine. “And then you’re gonna kill him!”

“No! You idiot.”  

(Y/N) barely heard what Ares said next, but she guessed it was some kind of threat mixed with a half-witted plan that wouldn’t go well. His voice continued to rumble and she took this chance to creep further into the cave. With her back to the stone, she peeked over her shoulder and winced once her eyes adjusted to the bright light shining from the ceiling in the center of the cavern.

There was Iolaus, drenched in sweat, grime and bruises. He dangled by the chains which were wrapped too tightly around his wrists, toes barely touching the stone ground. The bright light shone over his golden hair that covered his face as he leaned forward, exhausted and afraid. Helpless.

“We have a visitor,” Ares said.

The utter rage in (Y/N)’s veins was replaced by electricity, excruciating and scalding. Her limbs were thrust straight out from her body as she was lifted into the air by Ares’ power. It took all her strength to hold onto her bow as he brought her further into the cave and closer to him. One by one, her fingers flew open until only her thumb and forefinger grasped her weapon. 

“This is not who I was expecting,” Ares said, perfect white teeth bared and shining. 

Distantly, (Y/N) heard Iolaus say her name. His voice was thick with disbelief and weakness and it shot even more pain through her chest. Unable to move her body, she watched him out of her peripheral. As her strength was being drained, his was returning. His eyes burned with defiance and he wriggled and yanked at his bonds, renewed hope dancing in his features.

“Let her go!” he yelled.

Ares shook his head, rolling his eyes at Strife’s maniacal laughter. “This is too much fun.”

(Y/N) snarled through her clenched jaw, trying to pull her limbs back into her body. It was as if her hands were magnetically opposed to each other. She felt her muscles strain and tendons tear, tears welled in her eyes, but she managed to nock her arrow. Stretch, aim, loose, then straight into Ares’ hand. The electricity shocked through her anew before she landed on the ground with a hard thud, his power draining from her as he tore her arrow from his godly hand. He bared his teeth once more, this time without a smile. 

“How dare you!” He bellowed, throwing his arms back before sending his power her way again. She dodged the blue lightening, rolling to the ground and back to her feet. Again, he shot his storm toward her, but this time, she was shielded. 

“You were supposed to wait for us,” Hercules said from her side as he blocked Ares’ blow with his wooden shield from the academy. 

“Come on, Herc,” she said with a smirk. “I wait for no man.”

“Time, tide and (Y/N).”

A harsh blow sent the shield hurdling into the pair. They flew through the air until their backs crashed against the stone wall of the cave. (Y/N) gripped her ribs, gasping for air with flattened lungs. Through the tears in her eyes, she could see Iolaus frantically pulling at his chains. She darted to him, bent over for lack of air and dodging the flying blows from Ares as he fended off both Hercules’ and Jason’s attacks. 

When (Y/N) reached Iolaus, her hands found his sides, his arms, his chest, anything she could touch to comfort him. “Iolaus-” She hissed at the pain in her shoulder as she reached for the chains.

“Are you all right?” he asked, brows glued together and dimples showing in a wince of concern.

“Me? Just fine. Are you?”

He scoffed. “Just fine.”

She bit back another sharp, pained inhale and examined the lock above his head. “Can’t let you out of my sight for a moment, can I?”

“Let me guess, you were reading? Sorry to have disturbed you.”

“You owe me.”

“I’ll make it up to you.” He was smirking at her as if they were in the barn of the academy instead of in a cave with a vengeful and violent god trying to kill them. The curve of his lips soon fell. “Herc!”

(Y/N) turned over her shoulder to see Hercules roll in pain on the hard floor of the cavern. Jason was lying unconscious on the north side near the entrance. 

“And now for the brat,” Ares said, chuckling wickedly before holding his sparking, blue hand in the air.

(Y/N) spun to face him, standing in front of Iolaus. She nocked an arrow and aimed straight for the god.

“You can’t beat me,” Ares said.

Hercules tried to stand and fell to the ground, clutching his side with a bleeding hand. She was alone now, except for the suspended prisoner behind her. She retreated until her aching arm met Iolaus’ chest- solid and warm.

“Then let me take his place,” she said.

Iolaus roared. 

She dropped her weapon, wincing as her muscles twitched and shifted.

Ares grinned. “What a good little girl.” He snapped his fingers and Iolaus’ chains rang out as they dropped to the stone below her feet. 

She whirled, catching Iolaus’ chest as he fell to the floor. Shining metal shackles  appeared around her own wrists and she yanked her hands from his vest, out of his view.

“You can’t do this,” he said.

She smiled. “It’s already done.” She blinked, frustrated at her brimming eyes. “And besides, you’ll find me.”

“No one will find you where I’m taking you,” Ares said, but (Y/N)’s eyes never left Iolaus’.

He shook his head, golden curls shaking about. “(Y/N)-”

She lifted her fingers to his smooth jaw, ignoring the clinking chains. “You’ll find me.” 

“How do you know I’ll be able to?”

“Because I refuse to live a life without you in it.” 

She kissed him. He fell into it as if being suspended for that long affected his sense of gravity and he was being pulled by a new force. Something warm and soft and safe. (Y/N). He hated himself for closing his eyes because when he opened them, she was gone.

***

(Y/N) was also alone when she opened her eyes. All she could see was a galaxy of black. It took long moments for her eyes to adjust from Iolaus’ bright blue gaze and golden waves to the extreme darkness that now lie in front of her like a bottomless pit. She shifted against the heavy chains over her wrists and the metal glinted and clinked as she moved. A hiss escaped her when her back collided with what she guessed was stone. It was scalding hot, leaving sizzling skin in its wake. Tiny embryos of dread and panic grew into slithering demons that controlled her every thought as sweat dripped down her face and gathered in the hollow of her neck and the small of her back. Could Ares... did he actually have the power to bring her to Tartarus?

Her stomach flipped, begging to jump from her throat and escape, leaving her alone in this underworld. The already low hopes she had simmered to nothing. If she was in Tartarus, no one could save her, not even Zeus himself. She squeezed her fingers together, clicking the nails anxiously to stop her tears from catching in her throat. She couldn’t loose what water she had to useless tears. 

It was impossible to know how much time had passed- there wasn’t even a glimmer of light from the outside world- from any other world. She didn’t know if it was day or night, all she knew was that her exhausted, dehydrated body pushed her to lie down on the hot rock and sleep some time away. She rolled to her side, wincing at the shoulder injury she’d sustained trying to save Iolaus. Iolaus. 

She’d barely closed her eyes before cool hands were shaking her awake. “(Y/N)! Wake up.”

Her eyes snapped open, seeing first a glowing white smile and then brilliant blue eyes. She was lifted to her feet like a rag doll. “Iolaus?” She reached for his face. He was real.

“That’s my name, don’t wear it out,” he said. He smiled at her like a machine.

“You- you found me,” she said. His arms were like ice around her despite the onyx fire roaring behind them. “You’ve come to get me? To get me out of here?” Her fingers ran over the oasis of his full lips and she marveled at their frozen texture. Tears of relief streamed down her cheeks. “You came for me.”

“No.”

“W-what?”

He took her chin. “No one’s come to save you because nobody cares.” He grinned before his face froze blue with frost and cracked, shattering like glass and landing on her hands, cutting her. Wicked, thin fingers clamped onto her arms when she tried to run away. “They gave up on you. They will never find you.” Iolaus’ honeyed voice grew shrill with every word and his golden hair was scorched to black. 

“Strife,” (Y/N) spat. “Get away from me!”

With that, the god vanished but his maniacal cackling echoed off the stone around her as she curled into a ball and tried to think of the Iolaus she knew.  

***

Iolaus stared at the fingers he let (Y/N) slip through. He should have held on, sacrificed himself. He should have never left the academy that day. Then none of this would have happened, (Y/N) would be by his side as she always was. 

“She’s gone,” he said.

Hercules rolled off the ground and limped over to Jason who was finally coming around to consciousness. Harsh breaths and grunts echoed in the tavern as two glued themselves together and one fell further apart. 

“(Y/N)!” Iolaus screamed towards the sky with a force that burned his throat. “Bring her back! Come down here and fight me!” He picked up her bow and quiver, feeling where her hands had smoothed the wood about the grip. “Cowards! You’re all cowards!”

“Iolaus, we’ll get her back,” Hercules said with Jason leaning on his arm. 

“How? How do we even know where he took her? What he’s doing to her?” His voice shattered at the thought. He dashed out of the cave, ignoring his friends’ protests and the bright light that struck his eyes. “You had no right to take her!” he screamed. He looked to the bow in his hands- this thing that shouldn’t survive while she was gone. 

Footsteps from behind him pulled him from his thoughts. “Where’d he take her? Can’t you- you’re related, can’t you feel it or something?” he asked Hercules.

“He’s not telepathic, Iolaus,” Jason said. “And even if we knew where Ares went, how are we going to take down a god? It’s impossible.”

Hercules took the bow from Iolaus and studied it with narrow, judging eyes. “It might not be. Follow me.”

***

(Y/N) formed and slaughtered a hundred different escape plans as she sat in the burning darkness. The shackles around her wrists were her first obstacle. In her weakened state, she was unable to break them, unable now to even move them as uncounted hours passed without food or water. As long as she was chained to the rock around her, there was no hope of her escaping... Tartarus. She’d remember where she was and her plans would fizzle to nothing. No one could escape Tartarus. 

Then a soft click, scrape of footsteps. This was new. Since she’d been left here, she’d only seen various forms of Strife and he made no sound when he appeared. Was this Ares? Finally coming to visit her and torture her like he did Iolaus? Until now, he was leaving her alone to starve and boil. Her eyes widened and worked to see through the thick darkness but she was too exhausted to move and change her fate.

“There she is,” she heard in the galaxy of black fire.

A last burst of adrenaline rushed through her when she saw him. Again. But, no, it was impossible. It was only Strife.

“(Y/N). You ready to get out of here?” Leather creaked and tan skin glowed as Iolaus reached out to her. No. Strife reached out to her.

“Get away from me,” she growled.

“(Y/N)?” Jason asked.

Did Strife have the power to shapeshift into two different, complete people simultaneously? She studied Jason. He looked like himself, sounded like himself. But so did Iolaus, who was reaching for her hair. 

“I said get away from me!” she screamed. A hand clamped over her mouth from behind and she bit down hard, drawing blood and a curse from Hercules. No. Strife and Discord. This was all their doing. “Don’t touch me, Strife!”

“If they hear her, the plan’s ruined,” Hercules said.

She cowered from them, her chest heaving. Just as she was about to scream again, Iolaus took her shoulders. “It’s me, (Y/N). It’s Iolaus. I’m not Strife, we’re not here to trick you. We’re here to rescue you.”

“No. No one cares to- he said no one cares.”

“I care. We all care. Look at me, (Y/N).” He was smiling at her. It was different from Strife’s magic, mechanical grin. “It’s me,” he said, placing a warm kiss between her brows.  

Metal shattered behind her. “I got it,” Hercules said, holding the chains he’d ripped free from the rock that kept (Y/N) prisoner. “Let’s get her out of here.” He lifted her shackled hands, looping her arms around Iolaus’ neck so he could carry her.

“But we’re- how did you get here?” she asked, leaning her forehead against Iolaus’ neck that was hot and dripping with sweat- just as he should be. “How did you get to Tartarus? You didn’t-”

“We’re not in Tartarus, (Y/N). We’re in one of Morpheus’ dream worlds.” Iolaus stood, following Hercules and whispering, “We only have to get far enough away from Ares before Chieron will guide us back the way he did with Herc before, remember?”

She hummed, the sound losing pitch and breath. He felt the hot chains against his neck as her arms fell slack around him.

“Herc. Herc, we gotta get her out of here. She’s... we’re losing her.”

Hercules’ hand landed on her back that was soaked through. “We’ll get her out in time. Follow the plan.”

The three rescuers shared a look and a nod before Hercules led the cavalcade through the darkness. Iolaus, in the middle of Hercules and Jason, lost sight of their leader once he was out of arm’s reach. He focused, listening for the soft clink of Hercules’ belt to follow, the soft scrape of Jason’s shoes behind him, and the shallow, labored breaths of the one in his arms. Stay with me, (Y/N), come on, he chanted in his head, not daring to say it aloud, should Ares hear him and their plan be ruined.

The black nothing in front of Iolaus turned into glowing blond hair and a red vest when Hercules halted with a stuck out hand. Then he motioned, waved, and crept along the rock, careful not to touch the scalding surface. They were inching ever closer to the center of the burning underworld. Jason’s hand reached forward until Hercules looked back to receive his questioning eyes. Hercules only nodded. This was where they needed to be.

Iolaus diligently followed, the fury churning in his gut giving him the strength to hold onto (Y/N) despite his aching arms and the sweat beading and pooling in the corners of his eyes. There had been only a few hours between him losing (Y/N) and finding her again, and that was all it took for Ares’ torture to possibly take her life. She grew limp in his arms, as if her bones were melting in the heat. He chanced a quick look and winced at her hallowed cheeks and eyes and yearned to see her smiling at him again.

Once more, Hercules stopped. He turned with wide eyes. This was it. If the four of them could stay hidden here, in the epicenter, Chieron could guide them out of the dream world of Tartarus and back to the Academy. Hercules was the only one who’d done something similar before when Ares first brought him and the cadets to one of Morpheus’ dream worlds. However, the plan was for him to escape last. He set a hand on (Y/N)’s shoulder and nodded to Iolaus.

“You have to be calm and relaxed in order to receive Chieron,” Hercules had told him before they left the academy. “Jason and I will be there to guard you as Chieron guides you through the dream worlds.” Close your eyes. Be calm and relaxed. Listen.

Iolaus did as he was told. He forgot about the impending danger, the gods, the dream worlds. He concentrated on the weight of (Y/N) in his arms, her heat, her smile, her quips, her sacrifice. Distantly, he heard Chieron’s low, smooth voice calling his name. The intense heat of the onyx blaze started to cool, like clusters of clouds licking and kissing his skin, carrying him away. 

“Iolaus,” he heard. “Come this way. Iolaus. Iolaus. Just who I wanted to see. Just who I wanted to see. Iolaus.”

But he was pushed, shoved into the sweltering rock behind him and he felt his back sizzle and burn. He hissed, wrenching open his eyes. He was still in the dream world of Tartarus, and so was (Y/N). Bright blue light blinded him, until Ares came into view.

“Just who I wanted to see! Baby brother came to save his girl.”

Iolaus growled at that and squeezed his girl in his arms. 

“She has nothing to do with this. You want me. Let them go,” Hercules said, putting himself between Ares and Iolaus. 

“She gave herself to me. Voluntarily, might I add. She seemed quite excited to get away from you.” Ares laid out a hand that sparkled and danced with electric power. “We had fun with her, didn’t we Strife?”

The pale, lesser god materialized beside Iolaus with a loud, descending cackle. Thin fingers rolled down (Y/N)’s arm before Iolaus could yank her away and send a harsh kick into Strife’s side, forgetting the god would see it coming and disintegrate. Iolaus staggered until Jason caught him and steadied him. 

“They won’t get away with this,” Jason said lowly. 

“Actually, we will!” Ares said, sending a bolt of power shooting toward Hercules. The half god dodged it and rolled to Iolaus’ side, sending him and (Y/N) further into the epicenter. 

“Get to Chieron. All of you. This is between me and Ares.”

“No one else is sacrificing themselves today,” Iolaus growled, shrugging away Hercules’ strong hand. He glared at Strife who was floating in the corner, cool as ice, dancing and watching Ares as he summoned another ball of electricity. “Watch out, Herc!” Iolaus said, shoving Hercules out of the way of a hurdling blue globe with his shoulder.

He watched helplessly as Hercules ran and flipped out of the way of Ares’ hits. Every blow was focused to him, leaving Jason and Iolaus to carry out the rest of the plan.

“Give it to me,” Iolaus said to Jason. 

“You think you can do it?”

Iolaus passed the unconscious (Y/N) over to Jason who held her easily. “I know I can. She’s been giving me lessons,” Iolaus said, taking the bow off Jason’s shoulders and sliding a single arrow out of the quiver on his belt. Though he didn’t have time, Iolaus took a breath and ran his fingers through (Y/N)’s damp hair before he fell into his stance. 

Hercules was sent plummeting to the ground by one of Ares’ power balls. Strife was encouraged to giggle as Ares stalked closer to his brother, grinning and holding another threatening, life ending nest of fire. He kicked Hercules’ shoulder and he rolled on the ground in agony. 

“Gotcha, little bro.”

“I wouldn’t do that,” Iolaus said, barely moving his lips so as not to alter the arrow he had aimed at Ares. He closed his left eye and inhaled deeply as (Y/N) taught him.

“Have you learned nothing today? You can’t kill a god with an arrow,” Strife said, laughing.

“Not with an ordinary arrow, no. But this arrow has been dipped in Hind’s blood. Which will kill a god. Slowly and painfully,” Iolaus said, thinking of (Y/N)’s voice telling him to push his palm into the bow.

“Oh. Well, that is something,” Strife said, patting his fingertips against his cheek in thought. “Bye Unc!” He called before he vanished completely. 

Ares’ brows fell lower with his nephew’s disappearing act. He glared at Iolaus with a glowing hand. “No one can kill a Hind and survive. Hera would eviscerate you before you could leave her forest.”

“You don’t need to kill a Hind in order to collect enough blood to soak an arrowhead,” Iolaus said, arm aching from the strain of the bow after carrying (Y/N) through the dream world. 

Hercules rolled and stood, grunting on his way up. “You only need a drop, really. And I happen to be friends with one of the only Golden Hind’s left in Hera’s forest.”

Ares stepped back, eyes flicking from Iolaus’ arrow to Hercules’ smirk. “I don’t believe you.”

Iolaus stalked forward, arrow poised to loose. “Do you want to test me?” he ground through his teeth.

The blue sparks in Ares’ hand dimmed until they were extinguished. He retreated, eyes boring like daggers into Hercules’ taunting face. “We’re not done here,” he said.

“We never are.”

Only when he was sure Ares was gone, Iolaus returned the arrow to Jason’s quiver and tucked the bow around his shoulders. “Let’s get her out of here. Chieron will know how to help her.”

***

“How did you find a Hind in time?” (Y/N) asked, tucked into one of the beds in the Academy’s infirmary with her friends huddled around her.

“We didn’t,” Jason said.

Her eyes blew as wide as shields. “You lied! You tricked the god of war?”

“We just really hoped he wouldn’t call our bluff,” Hercules said. 

“That’s brilliant!” she said. 

Her eyes were even more brilliant, Iolaus thought. She was weak and thin, having sweat away some of her weight in the dream underworld, but her eyes were as bright and shining as ever. He watched her, clean and pale, leaning back on the pillows behind her. The over sized tunic hanging off her was quite different from her usual leather vest, and he wondered if this was the first time he’d seen her hair out of a braid. He could only compare her to an angel. 

“It was all Iolaus’ idea,” Hercules said, bringing him out of his daze.

“Something that clever could only come from Iolaus’ head,” she said, her laugh weak.

“Clever and conniving,” Jason said. 

A familiar bell rang out, alerting the cadets to their dinner. Hercules and Jason stood. “We’ll bring you some popovers,” Hercules said to (Y/N), shooting a hand out to keep Iolaus where he was.

Iolaus nodded, listening to his friends’ footsteps clicking and fading until silence remained. He coughed and turned, realizing he was staring at (Y/N) and she had raised a brow against his intense gaze. He reached under the bench, wincing from the burn he’d received only hours before. “I brought you this,” he said.

“Ah, the book you interrupted me from,” she said with a smile. It fell when nothing she did cracked his stern countenance. 

He sighed, bunching her blanket in his hands. “I can’t help but be angry with you. You put yourself in such danger-”

“I couldn’t stand by and let you suffer. Just the thought of it- it’s unbearable-”

“How do you think I felt when he took you away?” he yelled. He rocked on the bench, immediately regretting raising his voice at her. He wanted to give her space to heal and wrap her in his arms at the same time. She took his hand and his body fell still.

“I knew you’d find me,” she said.

“Well, you’re stuck with me now. I refuse to live a life without you in it.”

She sent him her usual smirk, but it grew into a wide smile that she tried to hide by turning her face away from him. He scoffed at her, proud of himself, and brought her hand to his lips. 

“It’s a good thing Ares didn’t call your bluff,” she said. “Even if you did have the Hind’s blood, you’d never hit your target with the way you lift your hand as you loose. I’ve told you, it sends the arrow to the left every ti-”

He set a knee on the bed and kissed her, sliding his fingers around the back of her neck to keep her close. He was warm- lips and hands, the way he should be.

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