#luna actually outside in a city: what the actual hell | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

yourfangirlfriend · 4 years ago

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It’s Nothing Serious - Chapter Seven

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Five and a Half

Chapter Six

A/N: Hey. Been a while. Here’s an update and a loose promise I’ll be better? Also thanks for all the notes, comments, and messages recently! I forget who wanted to be on the tag list, but comment and I’ll know for next time!

“It’s not serious.”

You pinch the bridge of your nose.

“Mother.”

“It’s not. You’re really overreacting.”

You curl your fingers into the bed of your palm and feel the bite of your nails digging into the flesh. “It’s cancer.”

“Psssh.”

You want to throw the phone across the room. Instead, you screw your eyes shut and lean back against the wall.

“Do you have an appointment soon?”

“You know I don’t like hospitals.” She says just as you see the deadbolt to your apartment flick unlocked. Javi pushes in seconds later, looking just as tired as you feel. You give him a little wave.

“Well weigh that dislike of hospitals against your dislike of death,” you say, turning away and putting your hand on your hip. You don’t want to burden him with this, but you see his eyebrows perk up anyway. Shit. You lower your voice. “Can’t Dad sit with you? Or Luna?”

“You worry too much.” She chides.

“You don’t worry enough!” You scold into the phone. You feel a hand around your waist and turn just in time to get a kiss on your forehead. It calms you down.

Sighing, you regain your composure. “Mom? Please promise me you’re going to go back.”

“Well of course I’ll go back, Bean, but really, I don’t want you worrying about me.” Somewhere in the background, you hear a crash behind her.

“Mom?”

“It’s just your father. He’s putting up shelves for the crystals and I think he fell. Can I call you back?”

You sigh. The only thing your mother is worse at than soothing your anxiety is calling you back.

“Yeah, sure.” You say. “But actually call?”

“I always do.”

“Hmm.”

“Bye Bean, I love you.”

“I love you too,” you say before you hear the line go dead. You put the phone back on the hook and drop your head, trying it to calm yourself down. From the couch, you hear Javi perk up.

“Sounds like you had a worse day than me.”

You look up and give him a weak smile. “We’re having a lot of those, recently.”

How long are honeymoon periods supposed to last? You would have at least guessed six months. That only seems fair, given the seven months of angst and hookups that preceded finally, finally being able to admit to one another that maybe this meant a little more than you led on. You would have taken three months, even- three months of everything just being calm and quiet and nice, where the most stressful thing to happen is burning dinner because you’re too busy fucking on the counter.

You moved to the wrong fucking city.

It wasn’t even a week after your drunken exchange of I-love-yous that it began. All those bodies piling up once more, only this time the cops and their allies were giving just as good as they had got. Bodies from both sides seemed to pile up in higher stacks all around you two. Three days hadn’t passed without you having to calm down one of your students -or worse, one of your fellow teachers- over recent events. It was getting to you, too, if you were honest. Javi had warned you against going out like you once did, and as much as you hated it, you knew he was right. You thought of the friends of friends who had disappeared or died, caught in the crossfire or in the consequences of their poor decisions. The more you heard, the more you wanted to lock yourself in your apartment, hidden away from the chaos of the outside. You managed to see your friends at work but meet-ups outside had dwindled severely. Alessa found out she was pregnant and didn’t want to risk it. Lisa’s brother-in-law got caught in between two sides of a gunfight and couldn’t work any longer, so she was helping them more around the house. Maritza was the only one who still tried to go out, but it was a rare occasion you could even gather everyone up for a dinner at home.

Maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad if you could have spent all this new, anxious free time with Javi, but if anything, he had picked up your slack when it came to existing in the outside world. Since Los Pepes had entered the picture, the man worked around the clock. Sometimes you would go the whole evening without seeing him, only to be awoken to the feeling of his body falling on the bed next to yours. While he still insisted on driving you to work every morning, he had begun staying at the office later and later, sometimes not returning until 2 am. The fire and anger that once fuelled him seemed to have died out, and the poor man is running on fumes. You could see it when you both woke in the morning in the dark circles under his eyes and the uptick in cigarettes he had been smoking. You try and take care of him - bringing him coffee in bed, rubbing his shoulders when he sits up, lost in his own thoughts. He appreciates it, he tells you as much, but no matter how hard you try he’s still as weary as ever when he finally comes back to you.

You don’t want to add to that. You know that what he’s seeing at work must be leagues beyond your little pep-talks and lonely evenings, and you don’t think it’s worth mentioning even if it has started to take its toll on you. You miss your friends. You miss days at work where the kids are sunny and mischievous, instead of withdrawn and scared. Hell, you miss your boyfriend- it feels weird calling a man his age that- you’re supposed to be in loved-up bliss, but instead it seems the universe decided to throw you another curveball. You overcame the intimacy issues only to come face to face with this bullshit not days later.

And now your mom is sick.

Javi gets up from the couch and comes to stand beside you, his tired hand dropping down to take your fingers. You smile at the effort, which seems small, but you know takes so much for him these days. You reach up to wipe a stupid tear out of your eyes.

“Swear she thinks she could cure this with sage and essential oil,” you try to joke. He doesn’t say anything, only runs his thumb along your cheek bone and tilt your chin up to look at him. You try and give him a smile before another year drops down your face. Frustrated, you press your hands into your eyes and let out a groan.

“Fuck.” You say. You drop your hands and look back at him. “I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry for, huh?” He asks.

You shake your head.

“I don’t…I don’t know.” I’m sorry I can’t be soft and happy for you when you come home? I’m sorry that he has to spend all day on the front lines and come back to this mess? “Things have been rough lately. I don’t want to add anything to your pile.”

“It’s not my pile that’s getting added to,” he pulls you against him, pressing a kiss against your head once more. You close your eyes and let out a sigh. “You okay, hermosa?”

You nod, pulling away just enough to look him in the eyes. “They caught it early. She’s just stubborn. She’ll go, though. Her dad was an oncologist. She pretends like she doesn’t know, but…” you shake your head. “Fucking parents, huh?”

“Yeah,” he says, reaching out to push a loose curl behind your ear. “Fuckin’ parents.”

You relax into him, letting your head dip down into the dip when his neck connects to his chest. He brings his arms around you to keep you there. The two of you stand like that for a moment, two idiots swaying to the silence of the world’s chaos.

“You’re not bad,” you sigh against him, snuggling in deeper. “For an alcoholic cop.”

He chuckles. “Agent.” He combs his fingers through your hair. “You’re not bad for a teacher who lets strange men finger her in a supply closet.”

You hold a finger up. “One time.”

He catches your hand and brings your fingers up to his lips, kissing the tips. It’s enough to make you melt.

“I am sorry,” he says, placing your hand against his chest and holding it there. “About your mom.”

You sigh. “What can you do?”

“Do you need to go back?”

“I’d never hear the end of it if I did,” you pull away from him and make for the coffee table, where you had set out two drinks for Javi’s arrival before your mother had called. You pick them up and extend one to him, and he takes it gratefully, dropping onto the couch next to you. “She’s convinced I worry too much. Me, her brilliant daughter who chose to live in the middle of a war zone,” you purse your lips. “Sorry,” you say.

He shakes his head. “You’re right,” he leans forward to set his drink down on the coffee table before resting his elbows on his knees, bending forward in a pose of contemplation. Sensing the shift in the air, you sit up and run your fingers along his back.

“Javi- I didn’t mean…”

He shakes his head again. “This thing…it’s a fucking mess. All of it.” He sighs. “Sick of seeing fucking bodies.”

You reach for something to say to comfort him, but you know there’s nothing. Instead, you scoot closer to him, resting your chin on his shoulder.

“Have you thought about it? Going back to Texas for a while?” He asks.

You shake your head. “She doesn’t want me to. And neither do I,” you reach up and lace your fingers through his, unclasping a worried hand. He turns to you, his eyes flicking up and down your face.

“You shouldn’t stay here because of me. You’d be safer.”

You blow a raspberry. “Don’t flatter yourself.” Sensing he took the joke to heart, you nudge him with your chin. “I’m here because I want to be here. With the kids. With you.”

He turns back to face forward, and you’re unsure if he’s satisfied with your answer before he speaks again.

“If anything happens to you…” he shakes his head. It forms a pit in your stomach.

You reach out and press his hand against the center of your chest. When he looks at you puzzled, you smile. “See? Still beating. Think that’s a good sign.”

He sighs, but not without a small smile on his face. Taking advantage of the moment, you reach out and take him by the chin, pulling him in for a long kiss. When you break away, his hands come up to pull your face back to his, and you can’t help but smile as he presses his lips against your mouth and begins to trail down your neck.

“Yeah,” he says, kissing the pulse point that makes you shiver. “I think it’s a good sign.”

You’re not great at taking care of yourself when you’re stressed out. Who is, really? You hope he hasn’t noticed, though, the way the bags under your eyes have darkened to match his or how much more quickly you seem to go through liquor bottles. You want to think he doesn’t notice- that he’s too focused on other things, but it’s getting harder to pretend. You try and rally your energy every time you see him. You want to be this bright spot for him in the middle of all this chaos and violence. You cook, you clean, and you go down on him like you want to live the rest of your life on your knees. You smile. You joke. You try to be pure sunshine in the bullshit he’s caught in.

But now your mom’s sick. And, fuck, you’re empty.

He must notice it. He has to see it when he comes home to you, and your house is a mess. He has to hear it when you spend the next few weeks by the phone, arguing with your family- Luna is too busy with the baby to go home, your father doesn’t want to believe it’s real, and your mother-fuck! - she keeps telling you not to worry. Not to worry! Like the few times she calls, she doesn’t tell you offhandedly how much worse she’s getting. Like you’re not trying to keep yourself from telling her how you hear gunshots every night, or how you can’t go a week without seeing a dead body. Like you’re not protecting everyone from your feelings because surely, they have it worse. You know everyone has it worse. How do you compete with cancer and being a foot soldier in the war on drugs? You’re just some teacher. You’re just some lady in over her head. Like everyone else in this country.

Maybe it was just a bad day when he came home that Wednesday. For both of you. One of your students’ siblings had died the day before, and you had spent the majority of the day trying not to cry alongside an eight-year-old. You had been trying to reach your mother for days, but the calls kept getting picked up by the answering machine and you couldn’t come up with any other way to say, “please call me back and tell me you’re okay”. When you finally came home, it was to a messy house - why are you so disappointed? it’s been a disaster for weeks- and you barely have enough energy to kick a few things out of a sort of path. You check your messages, willing there to be one overlooked recording of your mother’s voice assuring you she’s doing fine before her scheduled surgery, but the tape is woefully empty, just as it was yesterday and the day before. You pick the stupid machine up from the table and throw it to the ground.

You chain-smoked three cigarettes by your window, zoning out into the ether as night descended upon you so gradually until it was suddenly dark. You thought of your student, the one who came home to a massacred older sibling, and your stomach cramps. Before you can stop yourself, you imagine your mother in the same position they described to you that morning- spread out like a starfish on the floor, eyes wide open and dull as they stare up to the ceiling, a halo of blood around their head. Your throat itches and you light a fourth cigarette.

When you went to the refrigerator, finally, but discovered upon opening the door that you had once again forgotten to go grocery shopping. The only things that stared back at you were three-day-old pasta leftovers, some eggs, and a few beers.

“Fucking idiot,” you said to yourself.

You pulled out the carton of eggs and had begun to whisk them together when you heard the door creak open. You turned around to call out a greeting but bit your tongue when you saw his face. A deep scowl marked his otherwise handsome features, and he had already lit a cigarette before coming in.

“Hey,” he said as if he was annoyed with you. You tried to ignore it, focusing instead on the eggs in front of you. He made for the couch, stripping off his jacket as he walked.

“Fuck!”

You turned around to see him wavering, trying to regain his balance. He reaches out and grabs the edge of the counter, but it’s stacked so high with papers that his hand slips and he’s falling back onto the floor- but not before hitting the back of his head. You run around, dropping to your knees beside him as he pulls a bloodied hand from the back of his head.

“Hang on- “you run to the sink and grab a wet towel. Jogging back to him, you reach out to nurse the area when he snatches the rag out of your hand.

“I can do it myself,” he says. “Why is your fucking answering machine on the floor?”

You feel stupid and lost for words, like a child who just got scolded. You hold your hands in front of you.

“I want to help- “

“If you want to help, why don’t you clean the fucking apartment?” He snaps.

Your eyes widen. He’s been grumpy for weeks, surly even, but there’s an extra bit of venom in his voice tonight. Before today, maybe you would have called him on it, snatched the rag out of his hand, and told him to go fuck himself, to go to his place and bleed over his own towels.

But…fuck you’re tired. You have been hanging by a thread all day and the only thing that was keeping your eyes dry was the thought of curling up with him tonight. Maybe if one of the many, horrible things hadn’t happened today you would already be kicking his ass out, instead of standing there dumb and speechless, taking this abuse you don’t deserve.

So, you let him have the rag. You turn back and walk to the kitchen and keep making the eggs.

He has it worse. He has it worse.

You two eat dinner in silence. You can tell he’s not pleased with the meager meal, but he just grunts and shovels it into his mouth. You barely eat, picking at little bites like a bird. Instead, you think about how chemotherapy makes people lose their appetite, and wonder if your mother can eat right now. You imagine her too-long blonde hair must have begun to fall out, and for a moment you think you can feel the sickly strands tightening around your fingers. It’s all-encompassing, and you don’t hear when Javi tries to get your attention.

“Eloise!”

You jerk your head up, your blank face meeting his. He frowns.

“I said do you want a drink,”

“Oh,” you say, softly. You shake your head. “No.”

He rolls his eyes and pushes up from the table, going to the liquor cabinet. When he pulls the doors open, his head drops, disappointed.

“You’re out.”

“Oh?” You turn around. He turns and sends you a look.

“Yeah.” He says

“I forgot to go to the…” you wave your hand.

“Seems like you forgot to do a lot of things,” he sighs. You frown, a bit taken aback by his annoyance. But yet again, you bite your tongue. He sighs and walks towards the table, snatching up his keys.

“Where are you-?”

“To get some from my apartment.” He says. He swings the door open with too much power, and when it falls closed with a crack it makes your shudder.

Across the room, the phone rings.

You scramble to your feet, nearly tripping over that same answering machine that had claimed Javi. You yank the phone off the hook, shoving the phone to your ear.

“Mom?” Your voice is like a little girl’s.

“What?” The male voice says. Your shoulders deflate.

“Sorry,” you say, pressing your hand to your forehead. You look up as the door to your apartment swings open again, and Javi walks in with a storm cloud over his head, whiskey clutched in his fist. “He just walked in, hang on.” You hold the phone out to Javi. “Steve.”

He lets out a sigh and walks forward, taking the phone from your hand. In a daze, you walk towards the kitchen and begin to clean up the few dishes you dirtied, your mind zoning in and out of reality. You don’t notice you’re just standing with the water running until a hand comes from the corner of your eye and switches the tap off.

“Stop watering the pipes,” Javi says. He walks back to the table and lights a cigarette, sitting down and kicking his feet up. You turn back to look at him.

“Everything alright?” You ask.

He scoffs. “No, it’s not fucking alright.” He takes a drag and blows a plume of smoke out. He looks up to you, his eyes darting to the glass he left by your hand. He makes to sit up.

“I’ll get it,” you say, and you pick it up, walking over towards him. You’re just about to hand it to him when your ankle gives, and you drop the glass, spilling his drink over his pants.

“Goddammit!” He yelps. He looks up at you - and you know it’s not you, you know he’s had a bad day, you know there’s so much on his plate- but the snarl he has feels like a punch to the stomach.

“I’m sorry, let me- “you reach for the napkins you thought were on the table before realizing you forgot to buy those, too. Your hand flails around you as you’re caught in your anxiety.

“You’ve done enough,” he grumbles, pushing up and walking past you to pull a rag from the counter.

You’re not sure why hearing him blotting his pants behind you does it, but you feel it immediately. That hot, wet trail down your face. And once that first tear is loose, you know you can’t stop. Suddenly, you’re silently weeping, snot and water running down your face as your shoulders shake and you reach up to try and hold yourself.

You let out a long breath, but it comes out as shaky, and the sounds from behind you stop.

“…El?”

You begin to paw at your face but realize it’s a lost cause. Shaking your head, you ignore him and walk back to your bedroom, closing the door behind you before dropping against the wall.

You were doing so well. You hadn’t cried, you hadn’t screamed at him during his shittier moods, you had been an angel. You pushed through all of this bullshit, hoping that, even though you couldn’t compete with his life, he would notice. He would realize how much of toll your own, lesser bullshit had begun to take on you, and had some sympathy. More than that, you had hoped he would appreciate it- how you never pushed him to take care of you, how you were always there for him with a meal and warm arms, how you were soldiering on for him through all the stress. You wanted him to think you some sort of martyr, a girlfriend who was pushing all her needs down to take care of him when he needed it most. If he was emotionally unable to reciprocate, he could at least fucking notice.

But he didn’t. He was too up his own ass, too busy at work, too concerned with being the only person in this relationship with problems that he didn’t even fucking see how much your teeth nearly cracked every time you faked a smile for him. You were mad at yourself, too- you had folded into this smaller version of yourself after making excuses for him, and now you had the gall to be sad about it? You had paved this path. You tried to protect him from your pain, thinking it was kind, when really you were coddling him.

You feel anger rise in your chest. You clench your fists in your hands, and you’re about to scream into your knees when you hear the soft knock on the door. Furled by anger, you stand up quickly and swing the door open to see a much softer looking Javi in the doorway.

And that takes the wind out of your sails. Instead of laying into him like you wanted, you let out a pathetic sob. Immediately he’s pulling you towards him and you’re caught in a tight hold as you sob into one of his nicer shirts.

“El,” he says softly, and you choke out another sob on his shoulder. Carefully, the two of you descend to the floor of your bedroom as he keeps his hold on you, tracing his fingers up and down your back as you continue to cry against him.

His tone is soothing as he circles through what little he can say - “baby” and “I’m sorry” and “it’s okay”. As your cries come to a slow, you pull away from him and try to wipe your face.

“Baby,” he says again, reaching out to touch your cheek. You dare to make eye contact, and, fuck, it breaks your heart. He looks like a little boy who just realized he had crossed a line. You let out a pathetic little hiccup as you wipe your eyes again.

“I’ve tried- “you stutter on your words as your tears keep falling. “I- I know it’s hard for you, really fucking hard, I know my d-day to day can’t compare to the shi-shit you see,” you try to take in a deep breath. His hand runs down your arm. “But I’m not doing okay. And I’ve tried to put that aside to t-take care of you, but - fuck, I need- “you feel yourself begin to hyperventilate. Fuck, you haven’t cried this hard since you were a kid.

“What do you need, baby?”

“Fuck, Javi, my mom is dying!” You yell. “She’s dying and I can’t get a hold of her. And every day I have to go to the school and hear more awful fucking stories about other kids’ families dying. I have to let them think I have any kind of answer when I fucking don’t! I’m just as lost as they are! I’m in my godamn thirties and all I want is to hug my fucking mommy, too!” You huff a few more breaths. “But I can’t, so I pretend. And I come home to you, and I- fuck, I love you so much, and I don’t want to burden you or make you take care of me when you have it so, so much worse but today- “you swallow, your mouth dry from crying - “today she was supposed to go in for surgery. And I haven’t heard anything. I spent all of lunch not eating because an eight-year-old, a fucking eight-year-old! Was telling me that she found her brother with a gunshot wound between his eyes. And I can’t do anything to help her! Just like I can’t do anything to help my fucking mother who won’t even call her daughter back to leave a message to say ‘hey! I SURVIVED SURGERY’. And maybe if I hadn’t had all of that I could put up with your shitty moods like I have been for weeks because I know it’s hard and I know you have it worse but today I just-I fucking couldn’t! I couldn’t do it! I couldn’t take YOU yelling at me when all I wanted was for you to fucking- I don’t know! Pull me in your lap and pet my hair! Ask me how my day was! Ignore my dirty apartment the way I’ve ignored your passive-aggressive moody bullshit for a month because you understand I’m not doing the fucking best right now! And I need the person who loves me to fucking act like it!” You fall forward, sobbing again. The arm on your shoulder drops, and you expect for a moment he’s going to get up and leave you to cry into the night. Instead, though, he scoots back until his back leans against the footboard of the bed. You look up in time to see him open his arms.

“Come here,” he says.

Too eager, you scramble over to him as he pulls you against him, petting your arms and face as you keep weeping against him.

“I’m sorry,” he says. “I do see it. I do. I promise.”

You hiccup and he pulls you tighter.

“I know you have it worse- “you start.

“Stop,” he says, pressing your head against his chest.

You keep crying over the next half hour as he whispers sweet things to you. When you’ve exhausted yourself, you drop your head to his lap, fading in and out of consciousness as his fingers comb through your hair, soft and comforting. You don’t quite remember him urging you up and into bed, but by the time you’ve regained your senses somewhat he’s pulled your back against him, tucking his nose into the nape of your neck.

“I’m sorry,” you say softly. He shakes his head.

“You don’t have anything to apologize for.” He says. “Go to sleep, hermosa.”

You do.

The next morning is quiet. The two of your dress quickly and rush out the door, having slept past your alarm. He tells you briefly he’s got a lot on at work today, and you take it as a sign you’ll be walking back this afternoon. You nod and give him a quick peck before running up the stairs to the school, at least somewhat happy to have avoided talking about last night.

So, you don’t expect it when you leave the school one afternoon and see him waiting for you outside, his arms crossed on his chest, aviators on, posed in front of his car like he’s in a film. You fight the urge to smirk when you drop down to the final step and his mouth jerks up at the corner.

“You look like a cliche,” you deadpan, walking up to give him a quick kiss. Only, it’s not quick- you try to pull away tastefully, but he takes you by your waist and pulls you into a deeper kiss. You give him a swat on his shoulder but return it regardless, luxuriating in the attention. It feels nice.

“Get in the car,” he says when he finally pulls away. You tilt your head.

“You takin' me somewhere?”

“Not if you don’t get in the damn car,” he swats your ass, causing you to shriek, before beginning to walk around the front. Despite yourself, you smile as you clamber in.

You don’t ask questions throughout the whole drive, but you admit you’re a bit disappointed when you just pull back up to your apartment building. You try and mask it, hopping out of the car and waiting expectantly for him to come around and join you. He climbs the stairs quickly, beating you to the door to hold it open.

Without thinking, you reach for your keys. It’s almost muscle memory now. You haven’t been to his place for any real time in months. You think it reminds him too much of work.

Except, now he’s nodding you over to his door he’s begun to unlock. You come to stand by him, eying him as he fiddles with the lock. As the bolt clicks, he smiles, then turns to you.

“Close your eyes,” he says.

“Really?”

“Fuck you. Yea really.”

With a small grin on your face, you make a show of daintily closing your eyes. You see a flash of light- him waving his hands in front of your face. Convinced you really have your eyes closed, you hear the door open, then feel a warm hand taking your own. You walk inside, blindly stepping after him until he drops his hand, and you feel his hands come to rest on your shoulders.

“Alright,” he says.

You open your eyes, and it takes you a while to realize what he’s even made a fuss about. In front of you are two plates with a single sandwich and a side of potato chips. You’re kind of annoyed for a second- when you surprise him, it’s always with a cake or really good head, never just dinner. Dinner that’s basically a sandwich.

You turn to look at him before noticing that the apartment has been cleaned up. You swivel around, taking in the sight, noticing the repaired answering machine has been put carefully back on the side table. You haven’t seen your home this clean in a while, and you realize that he must have done this, too. You start to say something, but he’s already pulling out your chair for you, urging you to sit down. Lost for words, you drop yourself into the seat and watch as he comes around to sit in front of you. He waits for you to say something, but when you don’t, he begins.

“It’s not much,” he says finally. “But you were right. I’ve been a dick, and I’m not the only one with shit on my plate.” He rubs the back of his neck. “When my mom was sick…I should be better to you. For you.” He bites his lip. When you still don’t say anything, he continues. “I’m sorry, El. You’re so…good, and I’m…” he shakes his head. You reach out your hand, covering his. There’s a flash of a smile across his face. “I called sick to work. They were having me doing bullshit paperwork, anyway. Murphy can handle that.” He clears his throat. “It’s uh, not much, but a rich guy owed me a favor, and he had a smoker. I had some old rubs from Señora Garza, the one with the hands? My dad sent me them from back home a while, and I know it’s not going home, but I know you miss the food- “you reach forward and pull the top of the sandwich off.

Brisket.

You look up at him, and you start to cry.

His face drops, alarmed. “Oh- no, baby- “

“Javi,” you wipe a tear away. “This is- this is - “you bend forward and let out another small cry. Immediately, he’s on his feet, coming around to kneel beside you. Just as he’s about to say something, you lean forward and catch his face in your hands, pulling him in for a kiss. It’s long and warm, and when he finally breaks away, you’re rewarded with a bright smile.

“You like it?”

“I love- I love it.” You say, running a hand through his hair. “This is very sweet.”

He looks down, pleased with himself. You lean forward and press a kiss to his forehead. He reaches up and takes your hands.

“I…I really love you, El,” he says, not quite daring to look you in the eyes until he’s finished his sentence. “I just hope you know that.”

You nod before pressing another kiss to his lips. “I do,” you say. “Even when…I do know, Javi.”

He nods, and the two of you sit there, blissed out together for a moment before he lets out a breath.

“Well, you better eat. Fucking thing took six hours to smoke, better not let it get too cold.”

You let out a laugh as he stands and comes to sit across from you. With a smile, the two of you eat. It’s not the perfect approximation of the food back home, but it’s enough to fill you with the comfort you had been craving for weeks. Javi watches, proud of himself as you lick the remaining sauce off a finger, smiling at the flavor.

“You did good, Peña.” You say, flicking your eyes back to him. He smiles, tossing the napkin down between the two of you before making to stand. He walks over and extends a hand down to you, and you raise your eyebrows.

“Is there more to eat?” You ask, somewhat hopeful. It’s impossible, but if he found a way to get a malt shake down here too you think you’d have to spend the next three weeks with his dick in your mouth.

“Something like that,” he says, urging you up. You send him a playful look as he reaches behind you and pulls the zipper to your skirt. With strong hands, he pulls your underwear and skirt down to your ankles, dropping to his knees to let you step out of them. With a twinkle in his eye, he smiles up at you.

“Go sit on the couch,” he orders. “And keep your knees apart.”

Turns out his surprises come with pretty good head, too.

A/N: Idk if this is of any interest but in my head Eloise is played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge. But of course, you cast her however you like!! She’s yours, too

#it's nothing serious #narcos #narcos: tv #javier peña #javier peña x reader #javier Peña x oc #fic

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smorgasbordofobsessions · 3 years ago

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liveblog: kingsglaive final fantasy xv

some absolute king put the movie to the internet archive - thank you. of course, i hope i'm watching the right thing haha.

regis honestly just so -chefs kiss-

it's crazy how long the wall around Insomnia was up

love when the niffs fuck up a royal gathering

young ravus! love it

ravus yelling for regis to help them :(

wow this flashback is different than the one in the anime

luna's clothes are different

but the acitons are te same

so not that different

getting some lotr the two towers vibes from this battle scene and i'm here fo it

and i LOVE this dude's invisible power nice

nyx's voice sounds so familiar!

nyx: i'm worth the wait

loving him already

but i'm liking seeing the way all these warriors are interacting with each other. can definitely tell they've spent plenty of time in each other's pockets

oh the cerberus!! i really liked that entrance

oh wait, no, what fun daemon is this?????

in love with the way nyx is using the warp

now i can ask the question: where the fuck are they? clearly not in insomnia, unless this is set during noctis' rest? but it can't be since this is 12 yrs after lunafreya became a prisoner...

hm, it'll get explained to me

nyx is nothing without the king. please remember that nyx

hm, yes, we love king regis

an envoy from niflheim????

oh it's ardyn!!!!!

god, yes, yes, yes, we love ardyn

oh he's delicious i loe his grandstanding

oh he mentioned noctis, that's a no-no

oh??? ardyn proposed noctis and lunafreya to get married??

oh this is so fucking great wow thank you ardyn

hm so this one insomnia soldier doesn't like nyx, how nice

oh shit night life in insomnia??

whatever the music is is banging

i missed his name but the dude makes sense

but where did these kingsglaive soldiers come from if they're outsiders?

i love a strategic meeting

especially because of how you can see regis actually tremble from weakness

also, gotta say, it's amazing that regis has the strength to support the wall and the kingsglaive

hm regis accepted the truce

who the hell is clarus?? i know who he is, but more like where is he, so who is he in regis' little posse

commencing operation: infiltrate tenebrae

lunafreya looks GREAT

oh hello ravus

"whatt you believe does not concern me"

god, knowing what i know about ravus, it must've hurt him hearing his own sister call him a lap dog to the empire

they have cartoons????

going back a bit, wonder what was up with the van that crow saw. bit suspicious

mm what a sexy car

i fucking KNEW it was an audi

"what good will you be without the king's magic?"

oh that IS clarus okay

yo they really just came in and said "we'll take lunafreya thanks"

hm.. i have suspicious feelings about lunafreya

like maybe she's ardyn??

"my duty is my destiny, your majesty. i'm prepared to accept whatever my come to pass"

goddamn

oh so crow's defintiely dead

i keep missing his name, but this dude is so torn up over crow's death he ripped off the kingsglaive insignia

hm, so the dude is going rougue, and wow, that was overheard by three other glaives

eve of the signing ceremony...

doesn't that mean that noctis and co have left already, actually?

yes, it must, because regis wanted freya to meet noctis

so, yes, the freya in insomnia is absolutely... not ardyn

crutch dude has now joined a rebel group - i just hope he did some vetting and isn't about to talk to niffs

who is that general in the armor?? hm, interesting

oof nyx with that round bubble butt

lunafreya is missing, how nice and convenient when the treaty signing is about the happen

regis ordered the kingsglaive to go save lunafreya, nice

god, one of regis's last acts as king :(

"for hearth" "and home"

that's actually a nice call and response

god, i'd love to be a legilimens so i could read regis' thoughts. he must know what this is probably gonna be his last day on eos

the hoods are very asassin's creed and i like that inspiration

hm what fun whisper was that to the niff ambassador

oh wait that dude is the niff emperor my bad

hm, yes, we love double talk

mm sexy kills yes

god, yes, the game's afoot!

octopus in teh airship? kinky

we love traitors

oh wow the crystal has been deactivated :(

honestly though, humungous props to niflheim for diong this. like this is a BRILLIANT politcal move, it really is

yes we fucking love regis and clarus fighting together!!

"then let us once more into the fray, old friend"

WE ARE HERE FOR THAT!!!

so sad the outcome though :(

ouch, clarus!!

"we have broken the wall. all that remains is the break the city"

100% correct emperor

nyx is so exasperated by lunafreya

yeah this dude in the vest - like he thought he was gonna somehow be great under niff rule??

oh hello there ravus

ravus put on the ring and, hm, he wasn't found worhty

nyx is fighting the super souped up general

and it JUST occured to me that the reason why nyx sparks when he uses magic is because it's not his

so this is how luna got the ring okay

we love parallels

regis's last stand :(

:'(

oh so the crutch dude didn't do any vetting at all because he only found out that the other refugees were working with niflheim

slacking bro

but, now yo can do what you want and bring refugees into the city

idk why any one would that that niff would keep its word, but that's besides the point

hm, no airbags?

"true power is not something that is found by those who seek it. it is something that is found by those who deserve it."

crutch dude being called 'hero' = irony

haha this traitor put the ring on, idiot.

though lunafreya baited him a bit but i support that

wow this ring got passed around like a hot potato

I WANT TO KNOW THE CONVERSATINO IGNIS HAD WITH THE LUCII KINGS!!!!!!!

nyx has been found wothy - until dawn

crutch dude's name is libertus

libertus threw away the pills, good job!

oh ehll yea the statues are moving!! i iked seeing that in thhe game

caught way caught up in watching the movvie

i absolutely loved the fighting. all the moving parts were done amazingly well and the effects and graphics were stunning

honestly a great fight. truly enjoyed that.

though, both libertus and luna know what nys is definitely come with morning's light, it's nice of them to be optimistic

luna doesn't fit in with the other people but separate paths yes

okay nyx was aaron paul, regis was sean bean

i knew nyx's voice was familiar

what a good movie! i really enjoyed that

love that it helps flesh out what happened prior to signing day, and also showed us how good the kingsglaives are in combat

i liked that everything was so tense and there weren't too many motivations for why people turned traitor or fighting - everything came down to fighting for home (minus niff as a whole but that's an empire so given)

also, liked seeing how the ring got passed around,and seeing ravus try it on, though it was told to us in game he had

overall, good! the backstory provided was great and really does help develop the game more

#ffxv #liveblog

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pretoriafics · 4 years ago

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Russian Roulette - Pt. 4

In this series, you will find: Alternative Universe, Soulmate plot, Angst, Fluff. In this chapter, you will find: Things finally make sense, and now you can fight. Word count: 2.069 Pairings: Reader x Platonic! Scott and Stiles Original characters of this chapter: Haytham, your brand new mentor. Warnings: English is not my main language <3 Yeah, it was based on Russian Roulette by Rihanna Russian Roulette series: Chapter Three | Chapter Five RUSSIAN ROULETTE MASTERLIST TEEN WOLF MASTERLIST

It wasn't hard to find the address the lady wrote you. That address took you to the limits of Beacon Hills, in a lonely and old church on the top of a hill. The wooden doors were open, so you came in.

"Hello? Mr. Haytham Conwell?"

You aren't seeing anybody. Actually, the church was pretty silent. Maybe you came to the wrong place...

"I've never seen you here."

You turn and see an old man, with an eyeglass on his face. He seems so confused as you.

"Oh, hi, good morning!" You give him a smile "I'm (Y/N). Do you know where I can find Mr. Haytham Conwell?"

"I am Haytham Conwell, lady. What do you need in the lord's house?"

Oh, you found him!

"Someone told me you can help me to find answers."

"What kind of answers?"

"A few friends of mine were hiding a secret, but now..." You let out a long sigh "I think this secret is worse than I thought. I mean, maybe you'll think I'm insane and-"

"Who sent you here?"

His expression became darker and, despite thinking about how an old priest could help you, you tell him the story about the ginger woman at the restaurant. Haytham's eyes become wider, scared.

"Show me your arms." He said, commanding.

You look at him, completely confused. What does he want to see in your arms?

"What?"

"Now!"

It was your turn to widen your eyes. You take off your jacket and show your empty arms for him. Haytham narrowed his eyes. To see your arms wasn't enough for him.

"Follow me." He ordered.

Without saying any word more, you'd followed him through the spiral stairs, going upstairs. He pulls an old key from his pocket and opened an old wooden door, revealing a huge library. Haytham points to a mirror that was close to a few tables.

"Go there, to the mirror. I need to see your back."

You blink your eyes repeatedly, without understanding why he needs all of this. Well, considering that a lot of things you don't understand have been happening, you had just obeyed him. You stopped in front of the mirror and Haytham stopped close to you, pulling your shirt a little up.

"Ha! I knew it the moment I saw you! The Devil's Mark!"

Your eyes go to the mirror.

"Oh my God. I haven't seen it before."

It was red lines through your spine, just like someone had slid nails on your skin. However, that lines were forming a quote. Haytham read it.

"Ad Lunae Lumina!"

You pull your shirt down, scared.

"What does it mean?"

"It means 'In the Moonlight', in Latin. Selene let a mark on you. More will be appearing with the time. Your mark is still being created. When it finishes, it will be like this."

Haytham pulls his shirt up and shows you his mark. However, his marks were different: Instead of red lines, he had black lines - just like a tattoo, with the same quote as you.

You sat on the chair close to you. What the hell?!

"What are all of this? I can't understand!"

He pulls his shirt down and sits in the chair in front of you.

"One step at the time, child. I think you should learn the basics first. The ginger woman was the only strange thing you saw?"

You denied with a shake of your head and begun to tell about the things that happened on the night of the party. He hit the table, making you jump in the chair.

"Werewolves!"

"I thought werewolves were just Hollywood things."

"No, they're not. Stay away from that friend of yours, stay away from Derek. They are Devil servants. I know it, I've been fighting against these creatures my entire life."

"But they saved my life!"

"They just want to kill you themselves! Never, ever, believe them. Come on, I'll show you something."

He got up from the chair and begun to walk between the bookshelves while you were following him. Haytham stopped in front of a huge bookshelf. He pulls a book, and both bookshelves open like a door. You'd never thought things like that would be in a church.

"Wow."

When the secret door was open, you saw an entire gun arsenal. Guns, grenades... Haytham has even swords! He looks at you.

"I'll give you a few books. You'll come here every day. I'll teach you to defend yourself and things you need to know about werewolves. Do you know how to shoot with a gun?"

"...No."

Haytham took a dagger and gave it to you. Then, he took a small gun.

"I gave you a silver dagger. Silver can harm them. This gun has silver bullets. Come on, I'll teach you to shoot."

"He's outside, and he wants to kill us!"

Scott wasn't sure about what else he could create to hide the fact that he, Lydia, Jackson, Allison, and Stiles were trapped in a school with a crazy Alpha. So, he lied and told that Derek was trying to kill all of them.

Desperate dominated the entire classroom they were trapped in.

"I'll call the police." Said Lydia, taking her phone.

"No!"

Stiles went in her direction, but Jackson held him. Suddenly, someone knocks on the door.

"Scott, I'd heard your voice. Open it! I'd received your message, what the hell is happening?"

Damn, it was you! Scott's heart almost stopped while he runs to the door to open for you. He pulls you inside of the room and closes the door.

"I- Hey! What are you doing?!"

"Keeping you safe!"

"Safe of what?"

"I didn't send you that message."

"...Oh. We're in trouble, aren't we?"

"Yeah."

"Fortunately, I'd brought my gun."

"Your- what?!"

You take the gun you earned from Haytham.

"My gun."

Stiles widened his eyes, while Allison let out a long sigh of relief.

"Thank god!"

Stiles comes close to you and Scott.

"Where did you got this gun? It's from Sebastian?"

"Maybe. Or maybe not." You gave them a smile "Who's trying to kill us?"

"Derek." You heard Jackson say.

You looked to Stiles and Scott. You have been visiting Haytham since last week, so you had learned a few things. You know, now, that there's some Alpha killing people in the city - the same who had tried to kill you. Considering that Scott and Stiles were there, and considering that you saw Derek's car outside, all you can conclude that was the Alpha was in the school.

"We thought that maybe we could get out of here through the ladder." You heard Allison say, pointing to the door close to you. Then, Lydia completed the info:

"But it's locked. We need the keys."

You cross your arms.

"Do you guys know where the keys are?"

"I know." You heard Scott say.

"Okay, here's the plan: You, you, you, and you," You said, pointing your finger to Stiles, Jackson, Lydia, and Allison "You stay here because we need to be discreet. Scott go take the keys and I'll cover him."

Allison got a step forward.

"No, he can't. It's too dangerous!"

Scott goes to Allison, trying to calm her down while Stiles goes talk to you.

"(Y/N) let Scott take the keys alone. You don't know what are you dealing with, you don't understand."

"Yeah Stiles, I know about what I'm dealing with. It isn't Derek."

Stiles looks at you, with his face becoming pale. Scott, with a completely terrified Allison in his arms, looks at you with the same amazement. That moment, they realized you found out the truth you were looking for. Then, you look for everyone.

"Someone should call the police. It will make him run."

Yeah, it could make sense. The Alpha wouldn't do anything with a lot of humans around. It could attract too much attention and too many hunters.

Lydia took her phone and begun to call someone. You opened the door and walk to the corridor, loading your gun with some bullets. Scott came and closes the door, and now you were completely alone with him.

"How did you found out about everything? It was from that day in the woods?" He asked, curious, while you were walking with him.

"Yeah, kind of. I met a guy who taught me a few things. He thinks you're a killer or something, but I disagree with him. You saved my life. I owe you one, puppy." You said, giving him a sweet smile. He smiles at you too. "Who's your Alpha?"

"It's complicated..."

"Oh. Got it. Where Are the keys?"

"I think it's here." Scott opens the door to the gymnasium and points his finger to the stands. "I'll take the keys. Wait here. Shout if you need something."

"If I need protection I'll shoot." You smiled at him. "Don't worry about me."

Scott goes to take the keys under the stands while you watch the environment around you, with your gun in your hands. A few seconds later, full of tension, you heard Scott.

"Found it!"

"Okay, come back, and let's get the hell outta here."

Suddenly, the stands began to close. Your heart almost stopped, while you look around, looking for something that could help Scott.

"Scott, hurry!!"

You saw Scott run in your direction, trying to escape being smashed by the stands. You gave him your hand and when he finally holds it, you pull him. Both of you fell on the floor, and the stands close.

"Damn!" You said, putting yourself on foot "You okay?"

"Yeah, you okay?"

"Yeah." You let out a long sigh "Let's go."

You and Scott began to walk in the classroom direction but, then, you saw the Alpha. It was on four paws, roaring for both of you. You took your gun up, ready to shoot, but Scott put his hand on your arm.

"Take the keys and go."

"No, I'll not leave you."

"You haven't a chance against him, you'll die!"

"But I have special bullets and some tricks."

"(Y/N), please, there's no time to be stubborn!"

The Alpha got a few steps forward and let out a roar. Scott fell on the floor, yelling in pain. He was in mutation. Damn. But you had an idea.

"Hey, moron!" You yelled in the Alpha's direction. You pull the trigger, shooting against it. He deflects of the shoot, stop roaring. Scott stopped to yell and seems like he's still under control. "This is for my lost high heels!"

You shoot again, and you hit it that time. The bullet got into the leg of the Alpha, and he let out a roar for you, in angry.

"Yeah, you know you're in trouble." You said, with your eyes narrowed. "Do you want more wolfsbane bullets? I have a lot of them to you."

Then, you shoot again, and surprisingly the Alpha back off. Scott stands up, with a heavy breath, and you shoot against the Alpha again. You shoot one, two, three times. It deflects again, letting out a low roar, looking at you. It was a warning, and you knew it.

"You know you have a problem bigger than Scott, don't you? That bullet will kill you."

Yeah, the Alpha knew about it. In a way to save itself from death, the Alpha turns itself and runs out of school. The battle has ended that day, but the war wasn't even close to being won.

"You okay, Scott?"

He was breathing heavily, but he nodded positively.

"Stay here." You said, unsure about how under control Scott was "I'll go to the classroom. Just try to stay calm. You can't lose control, okay?"

Scott nodded again, trying to stay calm. Then, you walked into the classroom's direction and opened the door. Everyone's was looking at you, scared. Allison was the first one to talk.

"Where's Scott?"

"He's fine but nervous. He needs some minutes to breathe. It's okay, guys. We can go now."

All of you heard the police coming. Relieved, everyone got out of the school quickly and terrified. While you were looking for the boys running out of school, again, you remembered the words of that ginger woman.

This truth will change your life forever, and your life will become a truly Russian roulette, girl.

Yeah, you felt a taste of it. But you know what? You kinda like this action.

#teen wolf imagine #teen wolf imagines #teen wolf fics #teen wolf fanfics #teen wolf fanfic #scott mccall x you #scott mccall imagine #scott mccall imagines #scott mccall x reader #scott mccall x y/n #derek hale imagine #derek hale imagines #derek hale x reader #derek hale fanfics #derek hale fanfic #derek hale x you #derek hale x y/n

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everybodyscupoftea · 4 years ago

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idk you yet: next up forever

reggie peters x oc

and if you’re broken. you’ll make your own thing

There was nothing quite like the rush of playing in front of a large crowd. Reggie loved the band’s chemistry in the garage they used to practice in or the energy of small crowds they played for in the back rooms of record shops while they were trying to make it big, but there was no feeling greater than playing a stadium full of people screaming their name.

Luke loved it too, he ate it up, and he was always on fire, always at his best, which in turn fueled Alex to match his boyfriend’s energy, and Reggie could just feed off of them. When they got signed to their first big label, Reggie could just remember Luke’s flushed cheeks, his, “This is going to be great, guys. We’re going to be great.”

“Legends, even,” Alex added.

Which Reggie thought maybe was a bit much, they were still young, still largely untested, but he loved the enthusiasm. Bobby was a bit more chill, probably the most levelheaded of them all, and the least driven by emotion, but even he was vibrating with excitement.

Then they started planning for a tour. Reggie hadn’t even realized a national tour was possible while they were still teenagers. Hell, he didn’t even realize releasing a full album was possible.

“Boy bands do it all the time, think about One Direction,” Bobby told him quietly while Luke chattered on to Alex about songs he’d written that he thought were perfect for a first album. Reggie was grateful Luke wasn’t the one to read his facial expression that clearly was showing some sort of doubt.

The first tour was incredible, smaller venues, but they sold most of them out. Sunset Curve was new and people were curious. The second tour was where it all became insanely real. Reggie can remember the day Luke ran into the garage, beaming.

He flopped on the couch, which wasn’t unusual, and propped his head up on his hand, “So, I talked to Drew today.” Their manager.

Alex hummed, sitting down next to him, “What about?” If Luke had gone and made decisions without the rest of them, he was the most likely to react in a way that wouldn’t hurt Luke’s feelings, but would still remind him that they were a group.

“He thinks we should do a world tour after releasing our second album.”

Reggie’s eyebrows shot up. He knew they were big, he knew they were popular in a few countries overseas, but he didn’t know they were world tour big. The other two boys were also shocked into silence. Their second album was fairly close to release, they’d released a single for it the week before, but a world tour already.

“Holy shit,” Bobby mumbled, and then a few seconds later, “holy shit!”

“Yeah!” Luke was practically shaking as he jumped to his feet and onto the table, “Guys, this is it. We’ve made it.”

Reggie snorted, “Okay, well, we don’t know that the tour’s going to sell.”

“It’ll sell,” Luke clearly had the confidence to carry the rest of the group through it, which Reggie could get behind. He couldn’t quite shake one of his mom’s lessons growing up: temper your excitement because things rarely go as planned.

So they got to work. They put the finishing touches on their second album, which did extremely well, some of the songs flying up the charts to the number one spot for a few days. They announced their tour, a few weeks later the dates and locations. Some arenas sold out within minutes. When they found that out, Luke bragged, not hesitating to throw in, “I told you so,” every time it came up.

They planned a show, put together a list of their favorite songs off both their albums, worked out effects they wanted to put on something fun for their fans. Reggie was a lot more hands on in that process, not the most gifted with tech, but was the most interested in actually looking impressive outside of just the music.

Then they had to find an opening band. Someone who they could get along with, someone smaller that they could help get exposure. Reggie found them first, on YouTube, a couple called Double Trouble, also based in Los Angeles. After watching a few of their videos, Luke approved wholeheartedly and got Drew to contact them. Double Trouble was ecstatic, and thus, the details were finalized.

And the tour was great, they started in the South and worked their way up the Midwest, hit a few cities in Canada, down the East Coast and ended up home along the West Coast for a few shows.

Reggie was constantly exhausted, it felt like a daze. Travel, play, adrenaline rush, eat, crash, repeat. And everything was great, they played consistently well, and after a few shows, he thought they really got the routine down pat. It worked really well for them, and the boys were thrilled with all the choices Reggie made.

The only problem was that it got lonely. He felt like he was surrounded by couples. Luke and Alex, Julie and Flynn, Bobby and his girlfriend that showed up every so often when she could get off work. Reggie was truly the only one alone. Which was fine, they were busy, but sometimes, sometimes the loneliness was heavy.

It all built, crushing him slowly as they crawled their way through tour, more and more dinners after the show feeling like a double date he was just crashing while Bobby stayed in to FaceTime his girlfriend.

October

When it finally overflowed was after their show in San Jose. It sold out, most of their California shows did, and that one was especially incredible to him. The fucking SAP Center. He knew a lot of their fans were Californians, that’s where they got their start, but he wasn’t prepared for that.

They went to a local place, something small that they likely wouldn’t be recognized much at, and once again, he got the double date vibe. The couples talking lowly amongst each other, relaxed and comfortable, while Reggie picked at the straw paper on the table and stuck it to the condensation on his beer bottle.

He wasn’t sure if it was the fatigue that made him snap or just that the weight of his loneliness got too much to bear, he was out of his seat before his brain caught up and mumbled for them to get him something takeout, that he was going back to the bus.

Luke started to protest, hopping out of the booth to grab his arm, but he must’ve seen something on Reggie’s face that caused him to reluctantly drop his arm. Reggie wasn’t sure what expression he had, but it must’ve been something raw to make Luke give up that easily. Eyes burning, he shoved his hands in his pocket and left the restaurant, desperate to crash in his bunk and sleep it off.

Shoulders slumped, Reggie headed back toward the arena, staring at the cracks in the concrete as he walked, not wanting to attract even the slightest bit of attention. That’s when it happened.

William pretty much kept to a routine. It was easier for him, especially during the season, and it kept his dog happy. There was something that night, some anxiousness about the upcoming season maybe, that had him out and about after dark, walking Luna down the sidewalk near the arena.

There had been more traffic than usual that night, he wasn’t sure why, maybe a concert at SAP, but he wanted to see it. Before fans flocked there, and before he was contractually obligated to show up and be on top of his game.

It was something he did in college too, sat in the bleachers right before the season and soaked in the stillness of the rink. The calm before the storm. He couldn’t get into the big arena, not without keys and a certain level of clearance he didn’t have, but he could walk around, using the facade of taking Luna on a walk as his reason.

He almost ran into the boy, more focused on staring at the buildings around him than the sidewalk. It was late, he assumed no one would be out, clearly he was wrong. Luna barking and pulling on her leash snapped him out of his trance, confused as to why she’d be freaking out.

The boy obviously hadn’t seen him either, hands shoved deep into his pockets, staring at the ground, and giving off huge leave me alone vibes. William almost recoiled, he looked so sad. But maybe sad wasn’t the right word. Morose maybe.

Luna could tell too, he thought. She was pretty perceptive like that. William only had to consider for half a second before giving in. Dogs always cheered people up, right? He let her pull him over until he was right in front of the boy who stumbled back at his sudden appearance, startled look on his face.

“Sorry,” William said quickly, trying to look as apologetic as possible, “didn’t mean to startle you.”

The boy shrugged, staring at him inquisitively, eyes narrowed as if he was trying to figure him out. It made him a little uneasy, but he figured maybe the boy was a hockey fan.

“Can I pet your dog?” he asked quietly, staring down at Luna where she was practically chomping at the bit to get to him.

“Yeah, of course!”

William took the time to study him while the boy squatted down to pet her. He was cute, William realized, and looked slightly familiar, though he couldn’t quite place it. Maybe he was from the area or lived in William’s building.

The boy was gentle, murmuring quietly to Luna while stroking her head. He couldn’t be sure, but William thought his shoulders started to lower where they’d been defensively tensed around his ears before.

Luna jumped up, resting her two front paws on his knees, and licked his cheek, drawing a soft laugh. William immediately wanted to hear it again, he was entranced. Soon, too soon in William’s opinion, the boy was gently lowering Luna back to the sidewalk and standing back up.

He cleared his throat and gave William a small smile, “Thanks. Dogs fix everything.”

“I agree,” William answered quickly before taking his chance, “I’m William by the way.”

“Reggie,” the boy answered, holding his hand out for William to shake. He did happily, trying to keep the shake out of his hands as excitement started to build.

“You from around here, Reggie?” he asked, genuinely curious and not wanting to let him go.

“Los Angeles actually.”

William couldn’t stop the frown, totally unsure why Reggie looked familiar. He hummed, “Sucks, NorCal is 100% a better place to live.”

Reggie laughed, “Oh yeah? Seems a bit biased.”

“Totally unbiased,” William crossed a finger over his heart, “I’ve been there.”

“So you live around here?” Reggie crossed his arms.

“I do. A few blocks away.”

“Seems a little late to be out and about.”

“Luna wanted a walk,” William told him, and in a rare state of perfect honesty, “plus was feeling a little anxious.”

“What about?” Reggie asked before flinching, “Oh God, I’m so sorry. That was super intrusive, feel free not to answer that.”

William laughed, “Oh nothing, nerves over a new job.”

“Ah,” he nodded a bit knowingly, “stage fright.”

Narrowing his eyes, William nodded slowly, “Something like that.”

A comfortable silence lapsed, and Reggie’s eyes started to droop a bit. He blinked a few times and let out a sigh, “I should probably get going. It’s been a long night.”

“Me too,” William smiled wryly, “should attempt to get at least a little sleep before I have to be up early.”

“Feel that.”

Just as soon as Reggie went to side step him, to walk away forever, William blurted, “Wait.”

Reggie froze, head snapping up to meet his eyes, “Yes?”

“Can I,” he drew in a breath and gathered his courage, “could I get your number?”

Tilting his head, Reggie looked him over, William could see the carefully masked surprise, “Um, yeah, sure.”

William beamed, and held his hand out for Reggie’s phone. Eyebrows raised, Reggie passed it over. Typing in his number, William couldn’t help but add a shark emoji. Maybe it was a bit on the nose, but he thought it was at least a little funny.

Reggie wrinkled his eyebrows, but texted him to make sure William had his number too. His stomach swooped as it popped up on his screen.

Hey it’s Reggie

“Thank you,” he gushed, trying to mask his excitement a bit, “I’ll text you later.”

Reggie smiled, and it seemed genuine, “I’m looking forward to it.”

Reggie was oddly nervous. He’d never met anyone quite like William, the boy who either didn’t know who he was or didn’t care. Laying in bed, he passed his phone back and forth between his hands, waiting for a text that didn’t seem to be coming.

Did he hallucinate William out of pure tiredness, he wondered, scrambling to check. Nope, he’d sent a text. Maybe William fell asleep as soon as he got home. Or forgot.

A voice in his head that sounded oddly like Alex suggested, ‘text him’ which seemed a bit absurd at first, but the idea started to grow on him. Thumbs hovering over the keypad, he eventually came up with something simple.

Hope you made it home okay

The response wasn’t immediate, but came pretty soon after.

Just made it, was about to text you

Reggie smiled goofily, and stared at the message. Shaking his head, he knew he needed to respond.

Guess I’m just faster.

The next text from William was immediate.

Doubt it. Just more impatient.

Reggie snorted.

Also true.

The typing bubbles appeared and disappeared a few times while Reggie waited with baited breath.

So what are you up to?

Reggie hesitated, should he tell this boy who he was or keep it vague?

In bed, probably going to sleep soon

He figured it was probably the right move when William texted back.

Same, got an early morning tomorrow. It was nice meeting you though, talk tomorrow?

Reggie’s stomach actually fluttered, he didn’t even know it could do that.

Sounds great

He fell asleep with a smile on his face and when he woke up, phone pressed to his chest, battery dangerously low, there was already a text from William and a picture of Luna attached.

Good morning, hope you slept well. We sure did.

Reggie sighed, thankful that it wasn’t all a dream.

I did, thanks. Good luck with your new job today

William didn’t text back for a while, but Reggie didn’t really expect him too. He knew not every job was like his, so he figured William wasn’t allowed his phone much at work. Which was fine, he’d just wait with a little ball of anxiety in his chest until he got a response.

It turned into a routine after that. William always responded at the weirdest times. Sometimes in the afternoon, sometimes at night, and sometimes in the morning. Reggie never could pin down his schedule, just went with the flow as they worked their way through the western states.

The boys were never really sports guys. If they did keep up with anything it was basketball. But one night, out of pure coincidence, Reggie found himself on a channel playing a hockey game. It looked interesting, and one of the teams was the Sharks which he faintly remembered played at the arena they’d performed at the night he met William.

Maybe he could talk to William about it later, he seemed like the type to be into sports. So Reggie settled in and texted him, unsure if he’d even get a response.

You a hockey fan?

And then a few seconds later after a brutal hit.

I wasn’t but this is kinda fun. I’m sure you’re a sharks fan, they look good

He took a liking to a particular player, number 23 that the announcers kept calling Harris. Reggie found himself at the edge of his seat as the other team started to come back, the Sharks struggling to hold their lead.

“Come on,” he muttered under his breath, nervously checking the clock, “so close.”

He pulled his phone out as the other team called a timeout.

If you aren’t into hockey you should check this out, I’m so invested

The game started again and he put his phone down, paying full attention to the TV. He tapped his knee as the last minute of the game stretched out, totally confused why the other team’s goalie just dipped, but invested nonetheless.

When it ended, he let out a relieved breath as the Sharks managed to hold on and win. Reggie stood up, shaking out his fingers which he didn’t realize he’d been clenching into his pants. He walked away from the TV, needing a break, and went to find something to eat.

Their cabinets were sparse, so he left the bus, wandering to the nearest grocery store to pick something up. His phone buzzed a few times, no doubt William texting him back, and he juggled the items in his hands to fish it out of his pocket.

Hockey’s cool. Probably my favorite sport. Picked a tough game to watch though. Calgary is pretty good this year, but the Sharks will get it figured out

Reggie chuckled and typed out his response with one hand while he waited for the people in front of him in the checkout line to move.

You seem like you know your stuff

The typing bubble appeared and disappeared for a minute straight, oddly reminiscent of the first night Reggie texted him, before the next text finally came through.

Yeah, hockey’s been part of my life for a while

After setting the boxes down and paying, Reggie responded.

Long time fan then. Always liked the Sharks?

Reggie didn’t get another text for a few minutes and figured it was one of those nights William was working.

Nope, liking the sharks is a new development. Started when I moved here

Stirring the pasta, Reggie nodded and decided to text him back when he sat down to eat. It never happened. He’d left the TV on accidentally, and when he sat back down on the couch, the men on screen were breaking down the game.

“William Harris in particular was impressive tonight. He really stepped up on the penalty kill, that game would’ve been a loss if he hadn’t played like he did.”

A picture of his William popped up on the screen. Well, Reggie was pretty sure. He didn’t quite look like he did when Reggie met him, and sure he’d only seen William that one time, but he was pretty fucking sure that was him.

Hands shaking, Reggie exited their text thread and was hitting FaceTime before even realizing what he was doing. It took William a few rings to pick up, and he smiled, looking a little surprised.

“Why are you on my TV? Or at least I think it’s you,” Reggie blurted, not even saying hello.

William blinked, surprised, “What?”

Reggie flipped the camera to show where they were still talking about this Harris player he’d been enamored with during the game. He watched William’s face carefully and saw the resemblance to the guy on the TV.

William winced and put on an apologetic smile, “Um, because I played well tonight.”

“Mhmm,” Reggie muttered, still shocked, “and you didn’t tell me, why?”

“I thought you’d figure it out. That’s what the shark emoji was for.”

Staring at William incredulously, Reggie managed, “In what world do I make that connection on my own?”

William smiled sheepishly, “Maybe it was a bit of a long shot. But I mean, it’s not a big deal, right? I’m still William.”

Reggie took a deep breath and relaxed back into the couch, “I suppose, yes.”

“And by the way, you’re not off the hook. You didn’t tell me you were a famous musician.”

“Oh God,” Reggie shut his eyes, “I totally meant to. I just couldn’t ever find the right time.”

“How about, ‘hey William, I know I seem normal but I’m actually famous and definitely way out of your league’? That would suffice in my opinion.”

Sitting up, Reggie glared at him, “Hold on, if anyone is out of anyone’s league, you’re definitely out of mine. A professional athlete, are you kidding me?”

William scoffed, “And you have fans all over the world, I just have fans in the United States, mostly in San Jose.”

“But you’re hot,” Reggie countered.

“So are you,” William argued and set his jaw stubbornly.

Reggie sighed, “Fine, we’re both hot. But, I’m not sure what this means.”

“It doesn’t have to mean anything,” William sounded desperate, “we’re just two guys, right?”

“Right.”

“And we like each other, right?”

“Right,” Reggie repeated.

“Then let’s just be two guys who like each other. Not two relatively well known guys.”

Letting out a breath he didn’t know he was holding, Reggie nodded, “Okay, I think I can do that.”

William was silent, both of them soaking in it, and Reggie sat up, “You look exhausted, I should let you go.”

“Wait,” William protested, “I want to see you again. When are you free?”

“I probably can’t make it for a while,” Reggie admitted, “Maybe mid-November if you have some off time.”

“November we have a homestand, I can definitely do that.”

“I’ll send dates.”

William blushed, “I’d like that very much.”

“We should FaceTime more,” Reggie mused.

“We absolutely should.”

When they finally hung up, Reggie immediately hunted down his laptop to start googling hockey rules. If he was going to (hopefully) date a hockey player he should start learning about the sport.

He didn’t think William would hold it against him if he didn’t, but hockey was clearly something the other boy was passionate about, and the least he could do was support him. Maybe the next day he’d be a bit embarrassed about the texts he’d sent, but for the night, at least he’d be preoccupied enough.

Over the next few weeks, Reggie started to watch Sharks games, every one he could, and the ones he had to miss for shows, he’d watch highlights after, all the time looking for his favorite player. William was good, Reggie knew that from the praise he got in the media, but one night he started looking up William’s highlights particularly. Found some stuff from his stint in college hockey and fell down a rabbit hole. He pulled out his phone.

You’re like. Insanely good.

The response was quick.

Ha. Thanks

Reggie scoffed.

Not joking. I’m looking at your college stuff, you went high in the draft. Maybe I was right about out of my league.

William sent back screenshots of his playlist, a few Sunset Curve songs thrown in the mix.

I’m not the only one insanely talented.

Reggie’s cheeks heated up and his palms started to sweat.

Mostly my bandmates honestly

He could almost hear the tone William would use if they were talking over FaceTime, he’d used it many times before.

Lies and slander. I’ve watched videos too

Reggie got that fluttering in his stomach again, and he actually went to look at dates, something he’d been putting off, checking the Sharks’ schedule to see if there were any days that matched up.

Hey, how about November 14?

William FaceTimed him instead of responding. His cheeks were flushed, “Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

“Yes, absolutely. Fuck yes,” William breathed.

For the first time in a while, the loneliness crushing Reggie started to lighten. He knew his bandmates would start to notice, he knew Alex at least was confused about why the fuck he’d started watching hockey, but for the time being, William was his.

It wasn’t a secret really, not a dirty one. But Reggie shared almost everything, and he wanted something for himself. For once. With a happy sigh, he walked over to his bed and flopped down, smiling widely when one last text came in.

I can’t wait

#reggie x oc #reggie peters #reggie julie and the phantoms #bi reggie #idk you yet series #julie and the phantoms

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redheadscribe · 4 years ago

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Fate Winx Saga Review

This is the Winx Club

This isn't

Ah Winx Club, I remembering waking up early in the morning to watch it on Saturday, I thought that it was a cool show and my favorite character was Bloom during the first three seasons when it was under 4Kids. I thought that the characters were cool, the setting was pretty awesome as well and overall it was fun. Years later I was pretty shocked that it is still going on though from what I heard it has lost a lot of it’s quality with season eight being a mixed bag and an okay art style. Now Netflix has acquired the rights and there were two separate shows that they produce.

The first being World of Winx, an animated spin off show showing the girls hiding out on earth helping people and dealing with an evil version of Tinkerbell? In all honesty I was a little confused like how was this a spin off? Was it a spin off from season four as Roxy is a supporting character in this universe? That part confused me but overall it was a pretty good show but at this point I don’t think Winx Club fans wouldn’t mind a reboot that got the She-Ra treatment. Needless to say Winx Club is a popular show that was big in Italy and other countries but it is not what it used to be. Especially when we have this show to talk about Fate: A Winx Saga.

When I first saw the trailer I was pretty confused because none of the shots in the trailer reminded me of Winx Club. Also none of the characters were recognizable as they white washed and replaced Flora, and also white washed Musa. The only three characters that were recognizable were Bloom, Stella and Aisha. However there personalities have changed so much that I can’t even say that this is a faithful adaptation. I know in adaptations there has to be certain changes that you have to make because either to budget or they can’t fit it in and some stuff has to be cut. The least the show could do was get the fashion right, I mean the only one who should be wearing red is Musa while Bloom is the one that wears different shades of blue. Then again the fashion overall is a big joke and they really should fire the costume designer as I looked and she has had no experience dressing up teenagers. Rants out of the way lets see how they butchered the characters.

Let’s start with the leading Pyromaniac herself, Bloom. What the hell did they do to my girl? As a fellow redhead myself it is safe to say Bloom was the one I lean towards to the most even though I did see myself in Tecna, and Flora. Bloom is a stuck up bitch in this show and has to make it all about her, which was one of the problems in some of season four and later on. She is also unbelievably gullible and really stupid. She basically believes anything that Beatrix, a psychopath and a known liar about the whole Not Domino city, yeah I don’t care about the name of this said city in other world. She is a problematic Pyromaniac something that cartoon Bloom season 1-3 would be horrified about, and surprisingly bland.

Now, this Bloom could have worked if there were either more episodes or just better writers. Think about it, she is a girl who discovers that she has these unknown powers and when her emotions get the better of her and harm her family she could be a little distant and closed off. She is angry and confused because she doesn’t understand what is happening which can lead her to feeling a lot of emotions. Though I do hate the fact that they ruined Mike and Vanessa but I forgot that this is a teen drama and as a teen drama parents are assholes, it is the law of teen television. There could have been a nice arc of Bloom dealing with the fact that she has been lied to her entire life, feeling angry and betrayed but then going back to the Bloom we love from the first three seasons as she realized that she was the same person, she just now has a place where she can feel at home while also having awesome fire powers. However we got the worst of Bloom that is shown post season five.

Now lets get to Stella, and I will try my best to contain my rage when I am writing this. Did a person who worked on this show really thought that it would be a great idea to change Stella and make her Diaspro? You know we could’ve added Diaspro and Stella in the same show, she and Stella could’ve been friends due to the two girls being royalty, but then both Stella and Sky would realize that she is a toxic person and break away from her. This is not Stella and the cartoon Stella wouldn’t be caught dead in some of the outfits that she was wearing, maybe the last episode outfit but that’s about it. They could’ve done something with her wardrobe, they could have her dress up as a old woman when her mother was around trying to impress her, and then dress up in clothes that the original Stella is known to wear. Stella is a stereotypical mean girl and there is nothing nuanced about her portrayal. This is not Stella this is Diaspro with Stella’s name.

Now let’s get on to Aisha, she is a fine characters but this isn’t Aisha as she has none of Aisha’s personality she is not even a princess of Andros and well she has no story outside of helping her white friend. Aisha was a standout of season two and had one of the best character entrances in the series. She doesn’t get a story of her own and she is relegated to just being the best friend that get’s Bloom out of trouble. The actress Precious Mustapha deserves way better than what they are giving her.

Now it is time for everybody’s favorite white-washed duo Terra/Flora and Musa. There have been videos and posts that are going over how stupid Netflix and Rainbow for doing this. Just to give everybody context, Musa’s appearance is based off of Lucy Liu and Flora is based off of Jennifer Lopez. I think that speaks for itself in how Netflix and Rainbow screwed this up especially when there are plus size Latinix actresses they could have casted. Now let’s get into their character, weirdly enough they are the ones that have the most interesting friendship dynamic, Terra is a fine character but she is not Flora and Musa is a lot more cold hearted and instead of being a fairy of music she is a mind fairy who is an empath. Now music in a way can evoke emotions and connect people on a deep level but her empathic powers are so undefined. Terra is a fine enough character and her family is pretty interesting.

Now lets get into the boys, Sky, Riven, Dane, and Sam. If there is one thing that I could applaud the show is that anyone can be a fairy or a specialist, it’s just a pity that they excluded the witches. Then again the witches do get the short end of the stick even in the cartoon. Sky is bland, and the actor only ever had one expression throughout the whole show. Riven is, well Riven has always been a jerk but cartoon Riven had some more well likable features than TV show Riven. Dane, he’s fine I would have liked him more if he wasn’t taking so many stupid pills when it came to Riven and Beatrix, boy he needs to find a better man to crush on becuase, Riven is not worth it at all, even if I didn’t like his performance I could definitely see him crushing on Sky way more than Riven. Sam is a fun character and I was glad to see a male fairy added to the school but that’s all I can say about him the boys are okay. If there was one thing that I enjoyed about World of Winx is that they didn’t include the boys and there was nothing lost from it, it was just the girls kicking ass and taking names.

There is not much to say about the school staff and Dowling is a fine character that is a lot like Faragonda, only really ever helps Bloom and reassuring her she is special. I wish there was more done with Terra’s father and all but nope any positive family interaction is bad in a teen show. Overall the school staff, I don’t think that we can even call them a school staff they were a joke.

Now let’s get into the villains, if there is one thing that fans of the first four season can agree on is that the villains were always a standout for each season one. That being said the only effective villain is Beatrix, even though they could have just done the Trix. Let me just say this, The Trix were a great villain for the first season and well they went downhill like the whole cartoon show. Also what is the deal with Rosalind and Sky’s father. To be fair Sky’s dad in the cartoon show has always been a jerk but a jerk that raised a psychopath like Beatrix is too much. I am a little nervous about how they will do if they actually introduce The Trix, Lord Darkar, and Valtor or even the Wizard’s of the Black Circle. Needless to say the villains were just bland.

That is if they actually even use the villains from the cartoon show because so far we have the rather bland Rosalind, I just don’t care for her and there is no need for her to be in the show, Daphne does not deserve this. Then there is Sky’s father and I don’t care and Luna and wow does every teen show have to have terrible parents. How is a cartoon show from the early 2000s is more diverse and interesting than this? I just don’t care at all about the villains except for Beatrix.

There is also the fact that the show is only six episodes and that really does hinder the show as the show could’ve used more episodes to flesh things out then maybe just maybe this show would’ve been interesting. I also see that there are some writers and producers from the Vampire Diaries that are attached to this project and well that explains why some aspects of the show seems dated. Overall Fate, is a bland show that definitely does have better writing than Riverdale but that is not saying much. The characters are bad, and the fashion is terrible something that was a main aspect of the show. The world is generic getting rid of the epic sci-fi fantasy world and Rainbow should’ve just rebooted the animated show.

#fate winx club #winx aisha #winx musa #winx sky #winx stella #winx bloom #winx club #netflix

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turning-dreams-into-chaos · 5 years ago

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Banished (Part 48)

~Banished Master~

Word Count: 10K

~Master~

*Based off episode 4x03 of the 100, The Four Horsemen*

Bold Italics are in Trig!

Previously...

Lexa?

You couldn’t believe your eyes and you shouldn’t have because the moment you blinked, she was gone. No one else having seen anything. You cleared your throat, blinking your eyes a few times more as you looked around, your sights landing on the rover in hopes of what? That your deceased friend would be there?

Clarke and Bellamy started walking away but your feet were planted in place. Bellamy paused, seeing you not move. “You coming?”

You looked at him, nodding your head. “Yeah… yeah, I’ll catch up.” You told him. He didn’t say anything as he kept walking taking glances back at you.

You brought your hand up to the back of your neck, feeling the spot where the flame was inserted. The flame? Lexa? The voice?

What the hell?

---

Since Clarke’s speech, the amount of working getting done has increased, everyone wanting to help save themselves for the end of the world. It made you a little mad. When they were asked to help before the threat of death looming over their heads, all they wanted to do was relax, but now that there’s a possibility they would die and suddenly everyone wants to be useful.

Clarke and you followed Bellamy to where Raven was working, you helping push a cart with Clarke as Bellamy spoke. “Two meals a day for people working as hard as ours, we won’t make any friends.” You stopped moving the cart as you entered the room, glancing up at Raven to see sparks coming from her welding.

“If there’s one thing our people understand, it’s rationing.” Clarke sighed and you both began unloading. You handed Bellamy some of the rations, receiving a nod before he took the food from you and Clarke. “Besides, once we close those doors, it’ll be one mean a day for the next five years.”

Raven groaned as she stopped her job, turning around to look at the three of you. “Try one meal a day every other day. Hunting parties are coming back with less and less.”

“What about preserving meat?” you asked ducking your head and handing Bellamy a bag of corn. “Niylah said she’s been busier than ever.”

Raven nodded. “We’re preserving more meat than ever, but it’s still not enough.” She told you. She looked between you and Bellamy, sending you both a small glare. “Without a way to make water, growing our own protein like we did on the ark isn’t an option.” She shoved her helmet into your hands and pulled off her gloves, shoving them into Bellamy’s. “Remember that when we’re starving.”

Bellamy looked to you, seeing you bit your tongue from making your remark. “I won’t be starving because I won’t be inside.” He told you all as you furrowed your brows and looked at him.

“The hell you won’t.” you snapped at him, earning a sigh from him. “No. Bellamy stop. We both made the choice okay?” He hesitated before nodding his head, looking into your eyes as they soften. “Okay. And Raven?” you said, turning to the mechanic. She looked at you, crossing her arms in front of her chest. “Despite everything, we made the right choice. Try and see that.” She scoffed at you, shaking her head.

“Clarke, did you make the list?” Raven said, ignoring your comment as you looked to Bellamy, shrugging your shoulders bitterly. He felt bad for you, you were just trying to get Raven to stop taking it out on him.

“No.” Clarke answered quick. “What about drinking water?”

“Don’t change the subject, Clarke.” Raven objected, moving on the other side of you to get closer to Clarke and whispered. “We need to know who’s on the inside of these doors when the radiation comes.”

You listened in on them, helping Bellamy stock the shelves. “We don’t need to know now.” Clarke reminded her and you heard Raven scoff before a man came over the PA, requesting medical help at the front gate.

You all exchanged looks of worry before heading to the front gate. There was a crowd already forming, a line of guards in the front aiming guns as you and Bellamy lead the way, pushing through the crowd. The sight met in front of you wasn’t what you were expecting.

A few grounders stood there, well, collapsed on the ground as you arrived. You stayed back with Bellamy as Clarke moved forward. “Nyko?” She asked as the man picked his head up.

Miller grabbed Bellamy’s arm. “What if it’s another grounder attack like they did with Murphy?” He asked. You winced, remembering your time in Lincoln’s cave throwing up and in pain.

You looked to the grounders, not recognizing any signs of that sickness on them. “It’s not.” You told them, earning look from both boys.

“How do you know?”

“Because I know.” You ended the conversation, not wanting to explain how you knew of Grounder attack tactics to them. You pulled your eyes back to the grounders, stepping forwards to Clarke’s side. “Luna?” you questioned, recognizing the woman as she doubled over in coughing.

She looked up, meeting your eyes before looking to Clarke. “Please don’t turn us away because of what I did to you.” She plead.

“What happened?” You asked her, noticing what looked to be burns across her skin.

“The sickness.” Nyko grumbled as he looked down to the young girl he laid on the ground. “We lost 40 more on the way.”

You gasped as Abby came pushing through the crowd, Doctor mode ready as she held her bag, holding a napkin to her face as she got closer. You felt Bellamy’s presence beside you as you stared at the little girl, watching her cough violently.

Abby knelt down, removing her hand as she reached out to the girl. Clarke knelt as well, whispering to her mom. “What is this?”

Abby hesitated and turned away from Floukru, speaking to her daughter as you, Bellamy, and Raven who had caught up just before Abby had, overheard. “Fever, lesions, vomiting. It’s ARS.”

“What’s ARS?” Bellamy asked the question on both your minds.

Abby looked up and fell back on her heels. “Acute Radiation Sickness.“ The three of you who stood back shared looks. If Floukru was hit by Radiation, time was running out faster than you thought. Abby began examining the girl, checking out the burns and blisters on her face. “When did the symptoms start?” She asked.

Luna shook her head with her admittance. “Not sure. Right before the fish started dying.”

“The fish are dying?” Raven asked, wanting a clarification.

“Floating on the sea to the horizon in every direction.” Nyko told her. She looked to Clarke before Abby started standing up, pulling them with her.

“It’s not contagious. Let’s get you to the med bay.” She and Raven began leading them to the med bay. They left a girl, someone the sickness had taken as you crouched down to her, Bellamy and Clarke following you.

You pushed the hair out of the face of the girl. Bellamy watched you, hearing you sigh and close your eyes. “It’s already here.” Clarke pointed out as you nodded, feeling the fear in your stomach increase.

---

Octavia sat in Polis, right outside where she had been staying. The crowds around her separated as she looked up, seeing a hooded figure approach her before stopping. She stood up as he pulled off the hood, revealing himself to be Roan. “It’s not safe for you to be here.“ She reminded him and put away her sword. “What do you want?”

“For you to handle something for me the way you handled Ambassador Rafel.” He spoke quietly and didn’t hear Indra come outside until her boots scuffed against the ground. He looked to her, seeing her stare. “We should talk alone.” He muttered under his breath to Octavia.

Octavia denied his request. “If you can’t trust Indra, you can’t trust me.”

Roan didn’t say anything as Indra approached. He was about to leave before realizing Octavia was his best choice. “The Flame’s been stolen.” He told the two women. They knew the effects losing the Flame had on Roan’s ruling. If the Flame got into the wrong hands, everything could fall apart. “Just now. From my quarters while I was training.” He filled them in more.

“How could you be so careless?” Indra growled at him, receiving a side eye from the King.

“We need to lock down the City and search everyone.”

“We can’t.” Indra stopped Octavia’s idea. “If word gets out that he’s lost the flame, the other clans will question his rule, Trikru loudest of all.”

“Then I will be forced to answer their questions with my army.”

“Or we can just find it.” Octavia sighed and picked up her sword again. “Where do I start?”

“Whoever did this got in and out of the tower without being seen. To risk it, she’d have to care more about the flame than her own life.”

“She?”

Roan nodded. “The new Flamekeeper.”

Indra narrowed her eyes. “Perhaps you should look closer to home. You’re not exactly beloved.” Indra and Roan went back and forth

“My people want an Ice Nation King.”

“The ambassadors don’t.”

“The ambassadors are cowards and know I’d have their head. The keepers of the flame are fanatics. I’d do it myself, but my guard won’t let me out of their sights.”

“I’ll handle it.” Octavia assured him, glancing behind him and stopping her mentor and the King’s argument. Roan and Indra watched her walk away, a sour look upon the woman’s face.

“What’s wrong? You’ve made a killer.” Roan spoke in a hush tone. “In the street, they’re calling her Skairipa. Death from above.”

“I’m so proud.” Indra said sarcastically.

“You should be.” He cut her off. “One kill to prevent thousands? That’s good politics.”

---

In a cave not far from Arkadia, Murphy and Emori were pulling traps out from the woods. “You said there would be food.” Murphy grumbled, bringing in his third empty trap.

“There should be. These woods have always been good to me.” Emori moved a few longs, checking the cave ground. “Now there’s not even bugs.”

“Well, fortunately I’m not hungry enough for that to be upsetting yet.” Murphy went over to his girlfriend, taking a seat next to her and staring at their fire. “I actually kind of miss Polis.” He admitted, warming his hands up. “They had this drink there, it was sweet, made from sheep’s milk.”

Emori felt jealousy sitting in her stomach. “Ontari gave you this?”

Murphy’s jaw clenched. “Yeah.” He nodded. “I told you it wasn’t all bad.”

“You told me you were trying to survive.”

“I was.”

“What else wasn’t bad, John, sex?”

“Emori, I don’t wanna talk about this.” He told her, not wanting to relive memories of the things Ontari forced him to do.

“Fine. Then let’s not.” Ontari almost growled at him before getting up and storming off.

“I didn’t have a choice, ok? Emori!” He called after her as she stopped, turning back to look at him. “I didn’t have a choice.”

Emori looked into his eyes, lit from the fire in front of him as she nodded and moved closer, throwing a piece of wood into the fire but staying on the other side from Murphy. Murphy sighed, letting his head fall before he pushed himself up and grabbed his bag, heading to the entrance as Emori stood up. “Where are you going?”

“I’m going to Arkadia. I’m a better thief than a hunter.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“No.” Murphy denied her as she stepped forward to him. “I’ll draw less attention alone.” Emori’s face fell as Murphy cupped her cheek and kissed her goodbye. “Tonight, we feast.” He promised her, seeing her smile before he walked out of the cave.

---

“You okay?” You asked Bellamy as you both headed to the med bay. His shoulders were tense before he looked at you and felt himself relax.

“Yeah. I’m fine.”

You stopped him from blowing off his feelings, pulling his arm to stop walking. “Bellamy.” Your stern tone made him look to you. “You know Raven’s just giving you a hard time. You made the right choice.”

Bellamy nodded and bit his lip. “We made it together.” He finally admitted as you smiled, glad he was finally coming to terms with the fact he wasn’t the only one to blame. Walking into the med bay, you were greeted with coughs, someone vomiting up blood as you paused in the doorway with Bellamy. Abby and Jackson were across the room, talking about taking medicine from Raven’s lockdown supply.

Scanning across the sick, your eyes landed on Luna reaching for a bucket, spitting up black blood as you rushed over. She let you grab the bucket and pull her hair back as she spit up. Bellamy helped you, grabbing a napkin to wipe her face once she was done.

She sat the bed, her legs dangling off the side as you handed the bucket off to someone. Luna looked terrible, the radiation sickening her as she muttered to you and Bellamy. “Do you think I deserve this for refusing the Flame?”

You were shocked by her question, exchanging glances with Bellamy before he shook his head. “No one deserves to suffer.” He told her.

Nodding your head, you tugged on the sleeve of your shirt. “The radiation would’ve came anyways. It had nothing to do with you.” She looked up at you.

“This is all my people.” She glanced back at Clarke and Abby, seeing them in a discussion. “Can they save them?”

The truth was you had no clue. “They’ll try their best.” Bellamy assured her, seeing the look in your eye. Luna didn’t say anything else and Clarke walked away from her mother, heading towards you and Bellamy.

“Tell me something good.” She sighed as you shook your head.

“It depends.” You began, seeing her raise her brow. “How much do you wanna talk to Raven?”

The three of you headed to the computer room where Raven was currently working, pulling up charts of the Radiation’s path. “This is Luna’s rig.” She pointed to the middle of the water where you and Bellamy had mapped. “If the fish in these waters are dying, basically we’re screwed.” She thankfully didn’t try to hide it, giving it to you straight.

“I thought ALIE said we had 6 months?”

“We don’t.” She grumbled back to Bellamy.

“Well then how long do we have?” Clarke asked her, looking through the computer screens.

“It’s hard to say.” She began, telling of how Radiation is carried through the currents. “Based on new data, I’d say we have two months of survivability, maybe less.”

“Two months?” You blurted out stunned. “There’s no way the Ark would be ready in two months.”

“It’ll be close. If we triple the man hours and work around the clock, we should be able to achieve a hard seal before the black rain comes.” She didn’t seem that confident as you listened. “We just have to choose who lives here.”

“We’re not talking about the list again.” Clarke cut her off.

“We are running out of time. We have to make a plan for the day the door closes, drill for it, make sure only the survivors have guns, agree on protocols for dealing with the people who are pissed they aren’t chosen.” Realizing she was almost yelling, Raven took a deep breath. “You asked me to be in charge of rationing. I’m doing it. But choosing who lives or dies in your specialty.” You were about to speak up for Clarke, knowing how difficult this decision would be for her, but the sound of a rover starting up rendered you all quiet. “No one’s scheduled to take the rover.”

Making way outside, Bellamy went first to the rover, seeing Jaha in the drivers seat and knocking on the window. “Get out.” He sighed and pulled open the door but Jaha made no move.

“I need to make a run.”

“All supply runs go through me.” Raven reminded Jaha. “And shouldn’t you be working on the patch in sector 5?”

Jaha turned the engine off and stepped out of the vehicle. “A patch to a ship that can only save a hundred people?” The four of you stood in front of him, worried of the secret getting out. “I’m an engineer. We don’t a have a way to generate water, the harder number would be 400.” He looked directly to Clarke. “Can you really sentence 400 people to their deaths?”

“We don’t have a choice!” She yelled at him. You immediately grabbed her shoulders, stepping in between her and Jaha until she calmed down. You looked over her shoulder, seeing people staring as you cleared your throat and looked to Jaha.

“What can you offer?” You spoke quietly yet harsh, needing to know whether Jaha was down to help.

“What if I told you there might be a fallout shelter, less than a day’s drive from here built to sustain thousands.”

“We’ve been through the chancellor’s files.” Raven scoffed. “All bunkers considered for the 100 were listed as compromised or unviable.”

“Those were government bunkers.” He reached back into the rover, pulling out a tablet and handing it to you who stood in front of everyone. Bellamy, Clarke and Raven looked over your shoulder as you all read the article.

“A doomsday cult?”

Jaha nodded. “That’s right. The Second Dawn.”

“They built a bunker?” Clarke questioned as you swiped through the articles, skimming over readings about 12 seals and about the arrival of the apocalypse.

“Their whole theology was based on riding out the end of the world.”

“So why didn’t you consider it earlier? Why not for the 100?” You didn’t look up as you spoke, checking the date of the article written years before the end of the world the first time.

“We couldn’t prove it existed and before now we didn’t need it.” Jaha told you, watching your thumb swipe across the screen again before pausing.

“You found it.” Your question was more of a statement as Jaha smiled. He didn’t confirm your suspicions but said it remains unsure until checked out.

You turned to Raven, tilting her head as she scoffed. “No way. We need that rover for hauling pieces of a three-ton patch we’re building.

“But think about it Raven. A bunker that could save more than a hundred, it could save everyone.”

Clarke was debating, unsure whether they could risk it. “If he’s right, we don’t need a patch.” She muttered.

Raven held herself back, looking between the three of you. “Can I talk to you guys for a second?” You nodded, following her off to the side away from Jaha. “You can’t really be thinking this is a good idea. Need I remind you Y/N, what happened last time Jaha went looking for salvation?”

“Of course, I remember Raven!” You whisper-yelled at her, running a hand over your face. You were the one having nightmares about voices you definitely never heard before.

Bellamy put his hand on your lower back, keeping you in check. “Raven, if that bunker is real, Y/N’s right, it could save a lot more than 100 people.”

“If it’s not, then we lost another day.”

“If it’s not, then I’ll make the list.” Clarke promised her. Your mouth fell open as you turned to Clarke, meeting her eye and nodding, happy she’s taking your side on this. Raven wasn’t happy, telling you all to do what you want and storming off. Once she left you turned to Clarke.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet, if Jaha fails-“

“I’ll go with him.” You assured her. “And if Jaha fails, I’ll help with the list. I’ll help you decide the 100.” Clarke seemed unsure as she looked over to Jaha standing next to the rover, watching the 3 of you.

“I’d appreciate the help.”

Bellamy wasn’t going to let you go Jaha alone. “I’ll drive.” He volunteered as you gave him a smile and said goodbye to Clarke.

---

Jaha moved around to the other side of the Rover but you shook your head, pointing to the backseat. He chuckled and climbed in the back as you sat in the passenger’s side. Bellamy drove the rover out of the camp and a few minutes later Jaha was passing the tablet back up to you, a video loaded on the screen.

“The end is coming.” The man on the screen, Bill Cadogan began. “Hear me as I say this. The end is coming and it’s coming soon.”

“He gave this speech two weeks before the bombs.” Jaha told you and you turned the screen, allowing Bellamy to see as well.

Cadogan went on, telling the crowd the world was turning on them and the only way they could be saved was to join him. “From the Ashes, we will rise.” Cadogan finished as you and Bellamy and you began getting worried.

You passed the tablet back, looking at the older man. “Please tell me you have more than this.”

Jaha swiped through the articles, finding the one he needed. “In the two years before the bombs, Cadogan sold off most of the Second Dawn’s real estate holdings, generating tens of millions of dollars.” You glanced back at him, seeing him finally settling on the article. “There was one thing he didn’t sell.” You took the tablet again. “I found this autobiography. It’s his childhood home. His father built a bunker there to save his family.”

“So, what of it?” You beckoned him to get on with his story, looking at the picture of the house.

“I think Cadogan used the church’s money to expand it.”

“He grew up there. Maybe he kept it for sentimental value.” Bellamy shrugged. You nodded, not understanding what was so special.

“His father beat him almost daily in that house. He hated living there.”

You froze at Jaha’s words, feeling Bellamy’s eyes on you as soon as the words crossed his lips. It was silent in the rover, your hand beginning to shake before you let out a breath. “I would’ve burned down the house.” You told them and put the tablet on your lap. “I think Jaha’s right. Why keep someplace like that if you’re liquidating everything else?”

“The bunker’s there I can feel it.” Jaha seemed so sure of himself. Bellamy’s eyes were looking between you and the front window, making sure you were alright before speaking up.

“This guy sounds like a religious fanatic to me.”

“Maybe.” Jaha agreed slightly. “Or maybe he was just a leader willing to do whatever he needed to save his people.” You and Bellamy met eyes before you looked down at the cottage like house, feeling the rover speed up underneath you.

---

The gates of Arkadia opened, Miller and his father taking guard before seeing a grinning Murphy.

“Look who’s back.” Miller said, putting down his weapon. “Thought you ran off with your girlfriend.”

“You jealous Miller? There’s enough of me to go around.” He joked as Miller’s face fell. “Although I’m sure Bryan would kick my ass.” Miller tried to hide his sadness at the mention of his boyfriend, their fight still fresh in his mind.

“You here to stay, John?” David asked Murphy, diverting the attention off his son.

Murphy shrugged. “Till something better comes along.” He moved past Miller, bumping shoulders with the boy who yanked his arm away. Murphy moved through the camp, avoiding everyone’s eyes as he made way to the food storage room. Raven was welding once again as he snuck in, taking his backpack off and slipping between the shelves. He grabbed some food, a few packages of meat, some vegetables, just enough where he assumed no one would notice. When Abby walked into the room, he ducked behind the shelves, peaking his head out only to listen in.

“I already told Jackson we can’t spare anything.” Raven grumbled at Abby as she pulled her helmet off. “Especially not antiradiation meds.”

“We’re talking about 7 doses.”

“That’s a quarter of our supply, Abby! A supply that had to last us 5 years on an irradiated planet.” Murphy’s spirits fell, realizing he hadn’t known about the impending doom bound to fall upon them. “We’re gonna need every one of those pills. You know that Abby.”

“You’re right. We put you in charge of the pills, it’s your call.”

“Will it work?” Raven interrupted her. “Can you guarantee the medicine will save them?” Abby stayed quiet. “You can’t because you know Delactivene needs to be used within 24 hours of exposure. It’s on the damn label.”

“The rate of effectiveness goes down, but that doesn’t mean it won’t work. We have to try.”

“No.”

“There’s a child with them. At least give me enough for her.”

Raven shook her head softly. “I’m sorry but we can’t waste our supply on a long shot.”

“If we can save one life, would you call that a waste?”

“Even if it worked and we could save them today, they’ll be dead from radiation within two months.”

“You tell yourself that if you need to, but the radiation isn’t killing that child. You are.” Raven waited until Abby was out of the room before letting a tear fall from her eyes, feeling the weight of their deaths already on her shoulders. Murphy sighed as he watched her, waiting until Raven’s blowtorch was going and she wasn’t paying attention before sneaking over to the medicine.

Abby sat in the med bay, Luna and her people were all variously wrapped in emergency blankets, coughs filling the room. She had no clue how to help them without the Delactivene and even with it, she wasn’t sure it would work.

Murphy walked in, holding the bottle in his hand and looking around the room. He shook the bottle, holding it out in front of Abby. “You were looking for these?” He said as Abby saw his offering and became confused.

“Where did you-“ she stopped herself, taking the bottle from him as Jackson walked up. “Never mind.”

“I didn’t know how much you needed, so I took it all.” Abby and Jackson just stood there. “What are you waiting for? Go. Be doctors.”

Abby passed the bottle to Jackson. “Give it to the child first and if it works, you give it to the others.” Jackson nodded, heading over to the little girl. Abby turned Murphy, hesitating before speaking to him. “I’m glad you’re back John. I was worried about you.” Murphy smiled at her, blushing as he thanked her.

Abby patted his arm before helping Jackson with the girl. She supported her head, telling her it was okay as the girl looked worriedly between the two doctors. Luna laid on the bed next to her. “Adria.” She whispered out. Adria, the little girl, turned to see Luna reaching out to her and joined their hands together. “It’s okay. You can trust them.” Luna told the girl who listened, taking the pill she was offered and downing it with water. She coughed a little but swallowed the pill down as Murphy watched on.

“What about the others?” Nyko asked once Adria was laid down.

“We’ll monitor Adria closely for the next few hours. If her symptoms improve, we’ll treat the adults.” Jackson informed him.

“Thank you.” Luna mumbled, still holding Adria’s hand. Abby smiled and put her hand on top of theirs before pulling away, looking at Murphy as Jackson chuckled.

“His father got arrested for stealing medicine to save him.” Jackson was impressed. “Who knew he had it in him.”

Abby’s smile only got wider. “I did.”

---

The street of Polis was packed like always as a woman walked through them, a mask covering her face and a hood over her head. She paused in her walk, looking around before pulling the stolen Flame out of her pocket. She wasn’t aware as Octavia watched her, following after her once she started walking again.

She headed towards the temple but Octavia was stopped on the way, a man jumping in front of her. “Where are you going, sky girl?” He snarled at her.

“Be smart and back off.” Octavia pushed him out of the way. Before he could attack her again, Ilian stepped in, glaring at the man.

“No. We’re here for the tech. That’s all.” He reminded him.

Octavia listened in. “What’s the point?” She asked Ilian.

“ALIE used tech to control us. Without it, no one will ever take over our minds again.” Octavia backed away, shaking her head as she chased after the thief. Ilian sent his people to follow her, knowing Octavia would lead him to what he wanted.

The thief entered the Temple, pulling off her mask and hood as Octavia snuck in behind her. “So, you’re the new Flamekeeper?”

“This is a sacred place, leave before you get hurt.”

“Give me the Flame and I will.” Octavia told her, reaching her hand out. The thief was taken back.

“It does not belong to you or your red-blooded King.”

Octavia unsheathed her sword, cocking her head. “I can’t let you leave with it.” The thief fired back, telling Octavia she didn’t have choice. Octavia swung her sword at her, determined to return the Flame.

The Thief was getting the upper hand, blocking all of Octavia’s punches. “Good technique. I know it well.” Octavia noticed the Flame sitting in her necklace before swinging the thief’s legs out from under her, bringing her to the ground and holding her sword in the air.

“Stop!” Indra called from the side of the fight. “Put down the sword, Octavia.”

“She has the Flame.”

“She’s my daughter.” Octavia was shocked as she dropped her sword, moving off of Indra’s daughter and reaching a hand down to pull her up. She didn’t take it, helping herself off the ground instead. The girl glared at Octavia who ignored the look, looking at Indra instead.

“I’ll talk to Roan. If we give him back the flame, I can convince him to show mercy.”

“Azgeda knows no mercy.” Indra muttered, walking to her daughter. “Give me the Flame, Gaia.”

Gaia stayed defiant of her mother’s orders, refusing to give up the flame. “It’s around her neck.”

“It’s nothing. A totem she’s worn since she joined the faith.” Indra shrugged off Octavia’s discovery. “You are interfering in matters you don’t understand.”

“Wrong. I’m a Flamekeeper. I’m honoring my faith, a faith you once believed in.”

“Don’t question my devotion.”

“A devoted follower would die before giving the Flame to an unworthy king.” Octavia watched as the mother and daughter went back and forth, arguing for their side. “You pervert our faith. Heda would be ashamed.”

“I’m doing what’s best for trikru. You would understand if you had stayed and done your duty.”

“I was called!”

“My daughter was not meant to wander the earth looking for Nightbloods!” Indra felt her blood boil as she tried not to yell. “My daughter was meant to lead armies. My daughter was meant to lead our people.”

Gaia stayed quiet, biting back tears as she turned away from Indra to Octavia. “It looks like you’ve found your daughter.”

“Roan sent me here to kill you.” Octavia told Gaia, reminding them both of the situation at hand. “If I don’t come back with the flame, he will send others.”

Gaia picked her head up. “If the spirit of the commanders deem it my time, then so be it.”

Indra didn’t want to imagine losing her daughter after how long she’s gone without Gaia. She stared at Gaia as Octavia tried to talk to her. “Indra, tell me what to do here. Without the flame, the king is vulnerable. We will need to fight to keep him on the throne. If that’s what you want me to do, I’ll do it for you.”

“I can run.” Gaia offered.

“He’ll find you.” Indra cut her off. “Don’t throw your life away.”

Gaia let tears fall down her face. “That’s what you said the day I left. You still don’t understand.”

Pounding erupted on the temple door, the three of them inside jumping at the sound. “Looters. If they find the Flame, they’ll destroy it.” Ilian led the charge outside, cheering at every push of the door. “I’ll take the tunnel.” Gaia told them.

But Octavia had a different plan.

The looters entered the temple, Ilian leading the way as he kicked open the door. His men encircled Octavia, Indra and Gaia. “Drop your weapons.” He told the women. “We just want the tech, no one has to get hurt.”

The three of them paused before dropping their weapons. As soon as they did, the men behind them grabbed them and restrained them all. Gaia grabbed the pack on her hip, trying to keep the men from taking it.

“Give me the pack!” One man yelled as he reached for the bag, but Gaia pulled it away.

“No!” Gaia yelled but he got it anyways. “Give it back!” He passed it to Ilian who barely needed to dig around to find the Flame. He held it in his fingers. “Please! It’s not tech! It’s the spirit of the commanders!”

Ilian walked past the three, placing the Flame upon a surface.

“Ilian, you don’t have to do this!”

“Yes, I do.” He mumbled. “For my mother.” He whispered before screaming, lifting a mallet in the air and swinging down on the Flame. The piece split apart, sending chunks through the air. The men cheered, the women watching on as they pushed over columns in the temple, dust and debris flying everywhere.

Octavia, Gaia and Indra waited until the looters were gone, satisfied with the job. “They’re gone.” Octavia told them as she kicked over a cabinet, the Flame box sitting underneath as she picked it up. The broken pieces still sat on the surface as Octavia brushed them into her hand, showing them to Gaia. Gaia lifted her necklace from her chest, the totem that once sat there now destroyed. “Sorry about your necklace.”

Gaia held up her hand, the perfectly intact Flame sitting in it as she shook her head. “Don’t be. It was a good plan.” Gaia smiled as she took the Flame container from Octavia. “Thank you.”

Indra watched as Gaia put the Flame back. “You got what you wanted.”

“So did you.” Gaia responded before her mother walked out of the temple. She did as well, leaving Octavia to follow after her mentor.

“Indra.” Octavia called once they were outside. She saw Indra try to hold back her feelings. “She’s family.” Octavia sighed.

“Roan will still want her head.”

“Not if he doesn’t know it was her.” Octavia walked off, heading to speak to Roan.

---

Raven took a break from her work, turning off her blowtorch and pulling her helmet off for air. As she relaxed, she noticed the medicine cabinet and the broken glass protecting it. She stormed into the med bay, ready to yell at Abby but Murphy stopped her before she could get further than the entrance.

“Now’s not really a good time.” He told her. She narrowed her eyes at him before pushing past, getting Abby’s attention who was standing next to Adria, the poor girl wheezing as she struggled to breathe.

Before Raven could get far she spotted Murphy’s bag, the preserved meat he had stolen sitting inside of it as she scoffed. “Once a cockroach, always a cockroach, huh?”

“Seriously Raven, now’s not the time.”

Abby grabbed the bottle of stolen medicine, moving around Jackson to come to Raven. “We only wasted one dose.” She told the girl and handed over the bottle before returning to the side of the dying girl. Raven watched from the other side of the room as Luna held Adria, whispering the final words the young girl would hear as she died.

“Think about the waves, my love. Can you hear them? Gently lapping beneath us. We’ll be with the waves soon. Your fight is over.”

---

It was quiet as Bellamy kept driving the rover, very little conversation being made since your first one. As soon as the rover was parked, you climbed out, using your flashlight to see past the trees. Bellamy was by your side, as you followed Jaha, leading you down a slope in the dark.

“How much farther?” You asked Jaha, shining your light all around you. Jaha stopped himself, holding up the tablet in the air.

The image on the tablet matched the dark scene in front of you enough in his eyes. “This is it.” You nodded your head, feigning impressed with the sight of nothing in front of you. “If anyone’s entitled to a lucky break, we are.” You and Bellamy didn’t say anything as you looked at him, both of you hoping this was going to work. “You hear that?” Jaha asked, making you listen but only greeted with the sound of silence. “No insects.” Bellamy and you wore matching faces, both showing worry. “What is it.”

“Luna said the fish were dying.” You told Jaha.

“What are the things that eat the insects and the fish going to eat now?” Bellamy filled in the gap.

You let out a chuckle. “So much for a lucky break.” You mumbled before walking forward, shining your light on the ground. “Jaha, what are we looking for?”

“The bunker would be at the lowest point in the ground.” You sucked in a breath and nodded your head.

“Anything structural, be careful.” Bellamy called to both of you as ventured farther away.

“Aye, Aye, Captain.” You smirked over your shoulder, seeing Bellamy smile before you continued to search.

Jaha watched the exchange, waiting until you were out of sight. “She’s lucky to have you.”

“Who?” Bellamy asked him as he furrowed his brows.

Jaha only chuckled at him. He used his flashlight to gesture to you who remained unaware of their conversation. “She’s come a long way from the young girl I knew.” Bellamy didn’t say anything, watching you search for the bunker. “A lot of that’s thanks to you.”

“No.” Bellamy interrupted him. “That’s all her. Everything she’s gone through, she got herself through.” Jaha stopped his searching, realizing Bellamy had as well to watch you.

“You keep her centered.” He told Bellamy. Bellamy shook his head, finally looking away from you.

“You’ve got it backwards.”

“Still blaming yourself for that army.” Jaha didn’t need to be in Bellamy’s head to know what he was thinking. “You’ve made mistakes, but your intentions were pure. Every choice you made, you made for your people, for her. Even shooting me twice. As long as that’s the truth, you don’t need redemption.”

“You better hope so.” Bellamy said breaking Jaha’s speech.

“And why’s that?”

“Well, if you’re wrong, and there is a hell,” Bellamy paused, taking one glance over to you, “Then I guess Y/N and I will see you there.”

“Bell! Jaha! I think I found something!” You shouted, looking back at the men to see them in conversation and Bellamy looking at you. You blew off any weird thoughts you had as you beckoned them over to the bunker entrance you found.

Bellamy finally caught up, looking down at the stairs before beginning his way down. “Stay behind me.” He told you as you nodded, helping him pull the leaves and tree branches out of the way. “Watch your head.” Bellamy warned you as you ducked, seeing him having paused to make sure you were good. You sent him a grin as he kept moving, pushing through the cobwebs blocking the room.

“Is this it?” You asked moving some of your own cobwebs out of your face and off of Bellamy. You moved towards the door, Bellamy’s light on a skeleton sitting right on the ground buried in webs as he squatted.

He noticed a pendent, picking it up and dusting it before turning it over. “From the ashes, we will rise.” He read, glancing back at you and Jaha. He stood up, handing Jaha the pendent. “Not this guy.” He motioned to the dead guy as you bit your lip, agreeing with Bellamy with the tilt of your head.

Jaha turned the thing over in his hands, roman numerals written on the other side. “The 11th seal. Their faith was based on 12 seals, followers can level up by unlocking them one at a time. Only those who reach level twelve could achieve salvation.”

This was the bunker. You moved your flashlight around the room, seeing the door sealed shut. “Think that’s why they didn’t let him in?” You asked, motioning to the door.

“I was right.” Jaha whispered, quickly moving to check out the door.

“Wait, what if they’re still in there?” You asked Bellamy. His eyes widened.

He started pounding on the door. “Hey! Is anyone there?” he yelled but no one answered.

“I guess not.” You mumbled. If no one was in there, and no one came out, where did everyone go?

“It’s still sealed.” Jaha said as he ran his flashlight up and down the door’s edges.

“There’s no locks or handles.”

Jaha nodded. “That’s because it was designed to be opened from the inside.

“Right and why wasn’t it?” you asked rhetorically.

“How about from the outside by someone with a rover?” Bellamy sent you a smirk as your frown turned into a grin.

Well, this should be good.

Jaha tied the rover to the unopened door and Bellamy hopped in the drivers’ seat as you stood outside the rover. Within just a few minutes, something broke.

“Was that it?” You called out.

“I don’t know.” Bellamy told you, stepping out of the rover. “Let’s go check it out.”

You all made way down once more, Jaha leading the way and sighing when he saw the door open. “It worked!” He told you both. You followed him inside, the room far to dark to see in even with your flashlights. Bellamy pulled a flare out his pocket, lighting it up and shining it into the room, lighting the bunker up with the red light. You stopped squinting, finally able to see but you wished you hadn’t been able to. Skeletons covered the floor as far as you could see, blood not only covering the ground but the walls and dripping down from the ceiling. “This can’t be.”

“It wasn’t sealed. The radiation would’ve killed them in days.” Bellamy said, sending Jaha a side eyed glare. “This won’t save anyone.”

You stayed silent, looking up to Bellamy and both of you know exactly what this meant for your salvation.

---

The door to the Throne room opened to Octavia marching in, a sack in her hand as she marched up to Roan at the Throne. Roan dismissed his guard, leaving him alone with Octavia. Octavia waited for the door to close before dropping the sack on the ground and uncovering the chopped off head to Roan.

“He was one of the looters. You were wrong about the Flamekeeper.” Octavia lied to the King, passing this now deceased man off as the thief.

“And the Flame?”

She reached into her back pocket, pulling out the broken necklace pieces and handing them to Roan. “Destroyed before I could kill him. I’m sorry.”

Roan took the pieces, holding them in his hand before tossing them into the fire next to him. “It’ll be more dangerous now. More people will have to die to keep me in power.” Octavia nodded. “Not that that bothers you, Skairipa.”

“People fell in line behind the Flame. Now they’ll fall in line behind the sword.”

“Let’s hope your people find a way to save us before they have to.” He told her, his rule slipping out of his fingers. “Get out.”

---

Emori was sleeping as Murphy arrived back at the cave, jolting her from her sleep as she smiled at Murphy. She pushed herself out of the little bed she had and Murphy hugged her the moment he could.

“John, what’s wrong?” She asked once she pulled away.

Murphy sighed, looking down at her. “It looks like we may need my people after all. There’s a storm coming and when it hits, we need to be on the right side of that door.”

Emori’s eyes were wide as she understood. “So… we make ourselves useful.”

Murphy grinned, happy she was catching on. “Yeah. Exactly. I’ve already started working on Abby. Come on, I’ll explain on the way.” He kicked out their fire and the couple were on their way to Arkadia.

---

It was another silent drive as Bellamy took the three of you back to Arkadia, ready to break the news to your friends. As soon as Bellamy parked the rover, you spoke up.

“I’ll go tell Clarke. Help her make… the list.” You started to climb out of the rover before Bellamy grabbed your hand.

You let him pull you back into seat to look at him. “We’ll get through this.”

You let yourself smile and nod. “I know. You promised, remember.” He tried to smile, but it didn’t last long and neither did yours. Of course, Bellamy remembered the promise he made you a few days ago, the only problem is he had no idea how to keep it.

You finally got out of the rover, looking around to all the working Arkers before heading inside to find Clarke. You stopped by her room first, seeing no sign of the girl before moving onto the Chancellors Office.

Clarke was sat at the desk scrolling through a tablet with the door wide open as you leaned against the doorframe. You knocked on the door, the blonde’s head shooting up but she calmed when it was only you.

“You’re back.” She stated the obvious, picking up on your sad expression. “What happened?

“Raven was right. The bunker… failed.” Clarke stayed silent, really hoping you and Bellamy would come back with news that she wouldn’t have to make a list of 100 survivors. You looked around, seeing the mess Clarke had made on the desk and table. “Have you been in here all day?”

She nodded. “I’ve been going through medical records, trying to figure out who’s life is worth more.” The last part of her sentence obviously gave her stress as she buried her head in her hands, rubbing her temples.

“Well then. What can I do?”

She wasn’t really expecting you to keep up your offer, especially not after just getting back. “You don’t-“

You shook your head to stop her. “I put my faith in Jaha, it didn’t work. I said I’d help you, so stop being so stubborn and let me help.” She seemed to appreciate the help. “Thank you. Now what am I doing?

“I’ve been going through archive files all day, trying to figure out who’s healthy and who’s a liability.” She told you as you grabbed another tablet, taking seat on the couch. “Why don’t you go through and make a list of everyone’s jobs. We need people who have the abilities to-“

“Keep people alive?” you finished for her, seeing her send you a tight-lipped smile. You started your search through everyone’s files, ignoring the unimportant parts as you documented what they had to offer. You sighed as you headed to main list of files scrolling through for the next group. You didn’t get very far before the name of a group of files got your attention.

Floated: 2140-2142

You paused, your thumb sitting over the file. People floated between 2140-2142. That was your parents. You snuck a look up at Clarke, seeing her preoccupied with jotting down some of the 100 as you clicked the group open, names of all the deceased popping up by last names.

You scrolled down to your last name, stopping as soon as you saw your parents’ names written on the screen. You must have been still for a little too long because Clarke had looked up, seeing you frozen.

“You find something?” She asks you and you scramble to close the records, feeling like you were getting caught doing something you weren’t supposed to.

“No, uh nothing.” You told her once the files were close. “Just spaced. Long day.” You lied. She nodded, understanding for she had a long day herself.

“Well, feel free to get some rest.” She told you. You shrugged, pushing your parents to the back of your mind.

“I’m fine.” You assured her even though you weren’t sure of it yourself. For the last week, since you had slept in Bellamy’s bed, you’ve woken up quite the number of times to that same voice in your head. You didn’t know where it came from, but you assumed, from seeing Lexa, it had something to do with the Flame. You glanced up at Clarke. If anyone knew anything about the Flame side effects, it was Clarke, right? She was the one who was in a relationship with Lexa before she died. “Hey, Clarke?” She looked up at you, expecting a question about the files. Instead you sat there, regretting not thinking about the question before hand. “Did Lexa uh, ever mention voices? In her head?” Clarke was taken back by the question about her ex-lover, shifting in her seat as she thought about it. You regretted the question as soon as you asked it.

“She didn’t mention anything.” Clarke was straightforward as you nodded, adverting your eyes. “Why do you ask?”

You stayed quiet. If you told Clarke, what would she say? What’s even happening? Would she even be able to help? “I think the Flame’s messing with my head.” You blurted out, closing your eyes in fear of Clarke’s reaction.

When Clarke didn’t say anything, you slowly peaked one eye open, seeing the girl staring at you in confusion. “Messing with your head how?”

You let out a lengthy sigh. “I don’t know. I just, I’m hearing voices- well, a voice so far. I’ve never heard him I don’t think, in my life.”

“And you think the Flame-“

“There’s more.” You continued. She let you continue. “That day Bellamy and I went to Ice Nation and you made the speech, I saw-“ You stopped yourself, biting your tongue. If this was just in your head, should you be telling Clarke? Especially as she’s putting together a list of 100 people for the new world.

“You saw?”

“Lexa.” You finished. Clarke’s face hardened as she looked at you.

“That’s not funny.” She told you, turning back to her list. You were confused, watching her blow it off.

“Clarke, I’m not being funny. I saw Lexa that day, the night before was the first time I heard the voice.” You tried telling her, putting the tablet down and moving towards the desk.

She watched you, studying your actions before giving in. “These… side effects,” She called them, “They started a week ago?” You nodded. “And you didn’t tell anyone?” You shook your head. “Why not?”

You guffawed. “Oh yeah and say what? ‘Hey, remember that time we stuck a computer chip in my brain? Yeah I think something went wrong because now I can hear a man saying my name and I saw my dead friend.’ People will think I’m even more crazy than they already do.”

“You can’t hide this stuff, Y/N! Your brain is important! If the Flame is giving you side effects then you should’ve let my mom and I know.”

You bit your lip, knowing Clarke was right and you shouldn’t have waited so long. “I know. I’m sorry. I just figured there’s more concerning issues at the moment than what’s going on in my head.” You moved back to the couch, settling down with a groan as Clarke watched you.

“Well, can you hear the voice now?” She asked.

“No, usually it happens when I’m trying to sleep. That’s why I haven’t been getting a lot lately.” You told her, continuing your work on your tablet. “Can we just forget I brought this up, at least for now, just until we finished this list?”

Clarke fulfilled your request, both of you working in silence until you let out a yawn a few hours later. You laid down on the couch completely and continue working. Bellamy had shown up eventually, grabbing a tablet and joining you as you started to fall asleep.

You started to shift in your sleep, unknown to Clarke and Bellamy that the voice was making himself known once again. Bellamy looked down at you, shrugging off his jacket and wrapping it around you. In your sleep, Bellamy’s scent filled your senses, unknowingly making his way into your thoughts as the voice quieted, letting you get in a quick nap.

Clarke was finishing up the list, 98 spots taken and 2 more remained. She looked over to Bellamy, his head falling to the side as he sat on the floor by your head, falling asleep himself. 2 spots left, 3 people in the room.

She turned to the paper, knowing what she had to do.

99. Bellamy Blake

She looked at the last spot, glancing at you before looking outside. If she put her name down, she sentences someone else to death.

She started crying, trying to keep it quiet for the two of you to sleep, but Bellamy heard her and pushed himself up. He spared a glance at you, seeing you face the back of the couch before he walked over to her.

He glanced down at the list, seeing his name as number 99 and spot 100 wide open. “If I’m on that list, you’re on that list.”

“Bellamy I can’t.” She cried out.

“Write it down.” Clarke shook her head. “Write it down or I will.” When Clarke still didn’t move, Bellamy took the pen from her and wrote her name.

100. Clarke Griffin

He hadn’t scanned the list before he wrote it, only knowing Clarke hadn’t put her name down because that was who Clarke was. Letting his eyes read down the list, he felt his heart stop.

“Where’s Y/N?” Clarke didn’t say anything, looking at the list as he asked again. “Where’s Y/N?”

“Bellamy.”

“No. Why isn’t she on here?” He tried to keep himself quiet, but like Clarke and her tears, his voice woke you up.

“Bellamy.”

“Add her. Take my name off and give my spot to her.” He looked to you, feeling his voice crack as Clarke shook her head. “Do it!”

“I can’t!” Clarke tried not to shout to loud, trying not to wake you as they both remained unaware you were listening in. “She’s a liability.”

Bellamy scoffed. “A liability? She’s a liability?” He didn’t know what to say, if anyone deserved to be in the list it was you. You were one of the strongest people he knew, he wasn’t going to let you die, especially if he had to live knowing he was alive instead.

“She’s unpredictable. She could go off and not think about the outcomes. She could create a hostile environment.” You laid on the couch, listening to who you thought was your friend list off reasons as too why you couldn’t be allowed to live. “She’s my friend and I know how you feel about her, but 5 years with the knowledge of what’s she’s done and how’s acted is a long time.”

“You don’t know anything about what she’s done or what she’s been through! I promised her, Clarke. I promised she’d make it through this.” Bellamy slammed his hand on the table and it took everything in you not to jump at the surprise. It was silent for a minute and you heard Bellamy’s deep breaths. “Just take my name off and replace it with hers.”

Clarke stared down at the list. She picked up the pen, crossing out a name and replacing it with yours.

98. Y/N Y/L/N

They both looked at the list, the recently crossed out Kim Ginsberg was now replaced with your name.

“If I’m on the list, you’re on the list.” Clarke repeated Bellamy’s words. You waited for Bellamy to object, knowing if both Clarke and Bellamy were on the last and you were on the list… you just took someone’s shot at survival. Someone who deserved it much more than you. “What now?” Clarke asked Bellamy.

“Now we put it away and hope we never have to use it.”

Clarke smiled. “You still have hope?”

Bellamy looked at you, watching you seemingly sleep peacefully with his jacket as a blanket as he smiled. “We still breathing?” Clarke looked between you and Bellamy, enjoying the soft expression on his face before he turned away from you and squeezed her shoulder. “Get some sleep.” He told her. She nodded as he left, pausing by your side for a second before moving out of the room.

You listened for Bellamy’s footsteps to disappear and heard what sounded like Clarke folding a paper. You slowly turned over, making a little bit of noise as you sat up to let Clarke know you were awake. She was alarmed when you woke up, hoping you had just woken up.

“He’s right you know, you should get some sleep.” You told her as Clarke let her head fall.

“You heard all that.” She wanted a confirmation as you nodded, making her feel even worse. “How much?”

“Enough to know that you need to take my name off that list.”

“Y/N-“

“Don’t. You were right.” You told her. “As much as it hurts to hear, you’re right.”

“What about Bellamy? He’d never forgive me.”

“He’d get over it.” You assured her. You hoped he would. He had to because there was no way you were taking someone else’s spot. You knew Clarke wouldn’t change it right away, but you weren’t going to give on it. “You’ve been in here all day?” you asked her again and received a nod. “So, you wouldn’t happen to know how Floukru’s doing?”

As soon as you brought it up, Clarke and you started towards the med bay. You decided to wear Bellamy’s jacket, finding it comfier than yours at the minute and still smelling like him. You followed Clarke as she entered first.

You both stopped as Clarke slowed down, looking at the dead all covered by blankets. You listened to Luna, hearing her speak to the recently deceased.

“From water you were born, to water you return.”

You pushed past Clarke who stopped to wake her mom as you approached Luna, careful to respect her distance. “Luna?”

She lifted her head, walking in the dark to you, but the moment she stepped into the light, you were shocked. The radiation burns on Luna’s skin were almost gone unlike the rest of her clan, she was still alive.

“Impossible.” Abby whispered once she woke up, seeing what you were.

Raven woke up as well, coming to stand next to you as Clarke stood on your other side. “We didn’t treat her.” Raven pointed out, not believing the radiation burns would subside like this.

Abby checked her over, feeling her fever go down. “Her body’s rejecting the radiation all on its own.” She pulled up a chair for Luna, letting her take a seat. “I’d like to run some tests.” Luna nodded and gave Abby permission. She called Jackson over and the man was as surprised as the rest of you all to see Luna getting better. “There’s only one variable. There’s only one thing that separates Luna from the others.”

Abby looked her daughter, waiting for Clarke to catch on. Once she did, she gasped, turning to see you with wide eyes, having figured it out as well. “Nightblood.”

You all looked at Luna, her eyes moving between yours and Clarke’s as you let out a single chuckle. “From the ashes, we will rise.” You said, repeating the mantra you’ve heard so many times that day.

---

You laid in your bed that night staring at the ceiling. The days events replayed in your brain on a loop, starting from Raven telling you there was only 2 months left before the end of the world all the way to finding out your salvation might not be a bunker or the Ark, but the blood that ran through a living person.

You tried to get to sleep, thankful the voice wasn’t coming back, but maybe that was because you weren’t tired. In all honesty, one aspect of today’s events stuck with you the most.

You climbed out of your bed, slipping your shoes on and grabbing Bellamy’s jacket you still hadn’t returned. No one was in the hallway as you stepped outside, sneaking through the halls until you arrived at the Chancellor’s office. You entered the password on the keypad, hearing the door unlock before you slipped inside. You looked around, finding the tablet you had used earlier on the couch right where you left it. You picked it up, the device powering on and lighting you up in the dark as you swiped through without a care in the world. You opened the Floated file, scrolling down once again until you saw your parents name. This time there wasn’t Clarke here to stop you.

You opened up their files and they popped on the screen simultaneously. You stared at the faces of your parents, a pair of faces you hadn’t seen in10 years. You felt yourself tear up as you fell onto the couch, bringing a hand up to your mouth as tears started down your face. You looked at their pictures just a little longer before moving onto their information. You didn’t need to, in fact the moment you did you wished you would scroll back up and see their faces again, but then something in your dad’s file caught your eye.

Infertile

You looked again, and again, and again until you read the word 100 times but it still made no sense.

The light to room, the one you left off, turned on as you jumped, looking towards the door to see Clarke standing in front of it.

“What are you doing here?” She asked you, noticing the tears in your eyes as she got closer and she began to get worried.

“Clarke? What’s this?” You turned the screen, letting her see your parents’ information on it.

She squinted her eyes. “I’m not sure.” She got closer, making out your parents’ name on the screen before she was even seated. “Is that your parents?”

You nodded your head, wiping away your tears. “Yeah. Yeah it is, but what I want to know is why the hell it says my dad can’t have children.”

“What are you talking about?” Clarke stopped you, knowing however you’re reacting right now was not good.

“I’m talking about this!” you shouted, shoving the device into her hands. You got off the couch, pacing around the room as she read the file, trying to understand. “Clarke, I’m not a doctor. I don’t know what all this is, but he can’t be infertile, right? I mean, he had me!”

“No, no, of course.” She assured you, helping calm your freak out only a little. “It could have been updated after you were born.”

You nodded, taking slow breaths before Clarke’s face fell into one of confusion, looking back at the device. “Clarke?”

“They test before that, for infertility.” She mumbled, remembering her learning of the testing before she was arrested. “If your dad was infertile, he would’ve been tested before you were born.”

You couldn’t process this. You stopped pacing, looking at your friend and talking as slow as you could. “Clarke. What the hell are you trying to tell me?”

“We should talk to my mom.” She tried to rush out of the office, but you grabbed her arm, refusing to look at her in fear letting your tears run loose again.

“Just say it.” You whispered, wanting her to just get it over with. “Say it Clarke!”

“Y/N-“ You snapped your head to her, not stopping the tears as Clarke swallowed back her fears. “Ok.” She began. “Ok…. I think- I think your dad was infertile before you were conceived. I think- I don’t think your dad is your real father.” You didn’t know what to do, you could only stand there listening to Clarke tell you the one thing you were absolutely terrified of. Clarke’s heart ached for you. “I’ll get my mom. She’ll know.” You didn’t feel yourself let go of Clarke, but suddenly she was gone and you were all alone. You could feel your breathing start to increase, your head spinning as you feel to the ground, pulling your knees to your chest and letting out every sob you can that racked through your body. You couldn’t breathe, but you couldn’t focus on that because there was one thought rushing through your head.

Who the hell were you?

A/N: I love feedback!

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thanksjro · 4 years ago

Text

More Than Meets the Eye #21- Situations in Which it is Appropriate to Stab Your Roommate

You know what’s generally considered bad for your health?

Getting fingers stuck into your brain meat.

Tailgate reveals himself to be immune to Tyrest’s “fall down on the floor” signal, because his hearing’s gone to complete shit due to Cybercrosis. Tailgate then turns off the “fall down on the floor” signal, allowing everyone back up. Tyrest dislikes this turn of events every much- so much so, in fact, he’s turned into a Nazgûl out of sheer rage.

Rodimus, feeling a bit bolstered by the fact that he’s gotten his hands on one of the massive guns the Legislators dropped, tries to talk a big game at Tyrest, before being reminded that a lot of their party is still at risk of dying, by way of their souls cheese-wizzing out of their heads.

Tyrest, now using Tailgate as a hostage, tells everyone to back off so he can go hang out with the Guiding Hand, otherwise he’s gonna poke holes in Cyclonus’ morality pet. Tailgate screams for Rodimus to fire, finally revealing that he’s been dying this whole time. Rodimus has a weird moment where the plot overrides his knowledge of his situation as a character, as he claims shooting them both is unnecessary, as it looks like someone’s already working on it.

Not sure how he saw the gun and not the man it was being held by. And Minimus has some fucking explaining to do.

Outside, Star Saber is yelling about everyone being unworthy of God’s grace, save for himself, because Real Bastard Hours are 24-fucking-7 with him around. Cyclonus decides that he’s going to deal with the stress of not being able to find his dying roommate through violence, and agrees to a religiously-inclined sword fight.

Star Saber has a good start, sucker-punching Cyclonus in the chin, holier-than-thou as he goes. Cyclonus turns the tables however, when he uses his remaining helmet horn to gouge one of Star Saber’s eyes out, revealing his fashion statement to be a deadly weapon in its own right.

Then we get a taste of Cyclonus’ personal brand of faith.

That’s a mighty high opinion of Tailgate you got there, pal. Quite the jump from “I think you’re pathetic.”

Unfortunately, having this little character moment gives Star Saber enough time to warp the hell away from Cyclonus’ Nazgûlian wrath.

Back with Zombie Bullshit Part 3, we get some friggin’ answers.

Minimus looks super tiny here, but remember that he’s still at least ten feet tall. This is not a man you can invite inside your house for a tea party.

After Minimus’ head got crushed, he had to Alien chest-burst his tiniest self out, which allowed him to grab that gun that’s as big as he is and shoot Tyrest in half. Rodimus has to be reminded again that people are still dying, including Brainstorm, which is weird, because he made it seem like he was forged a few issues back. Perceptor runs off to try and parse the Killswitch, and Pharma offers to help, striking a weirdly sultry pose as he does. Everyone ignores him, because that’s just what happens when you become evil and cut your old coworker in half hotdog-style- you get ignored.

Off in the corner, Swerve is talking to Tailgate about the fact that he didn’t tell anyone he was dying, then makes a joke about his impending demise, because Swerve has a lot of trouble handling serious situations. No one has helped him pop his nose back into place, either. This entire team is just falling apart.

Skids stares blankly at Ratchet and First Aid as they check to make sure all the cold-constructed ‘bots are still dying- they are- then remembers that he’s supposed to be watching Pharma.

Prowl only hires the best, clearly.

Skids runs for the portal, with First Aid right on his tail because there’s a gotdang score to settle, and also Rung for some reason. They find Pharma chilling in the tunnel, completely unable to get through to the other side, not because he’s guilty, but because there’s a forcefield in place.

Of course, because Tyrest was an engineer, and you can always find a running theme with everyone’s work, Rung theorizes that the forcefield is working with Aequitas rules, and actually can sense guilt- not of the legal sense, but of the personal variety.

Which sort of implies some unfortunate things about the Aequitas trials as a whole.

Skids starts sinking through, whereas Rung is hitting a wall. Rung, the hell you got to feel guilty about? What sort of horrors have you inflicted upon the world, you skinny creamsicle of a man?

Skids, people are dying. Can your personal nirvana not wait until after this galactic-scale crisis is resolved?

While Skids fucks off into the portal, First Aid’s taking care of Pharma, as Rung watches and has a Nam flashback to issue #6 in the distance.

Sometimes I wonder if First Aid is somehow aware of how Eugenesis went for him, and that’s why he’s so aggressive all the time in MTMTE.

With his revenge exacted, First Aid finally has that breakdown that’s been a long time coming.

You know what we haven’t had in a while? Gratuitous religious imagery.

“They call it the Eugenesis Code. Has something to do with intellectual property, I dunno.”

So this move they’re about to pull might kill Rodimus, and is for-sure going to annihilate the half of the Matrix they have. Bummer. Perceptor goes to finish setting up, leaving Rodimus and Minimus alone to discuss that thing Getaway brought up about Ultra Magnus luring the Lost Light to Luna 1.

Over on the floor, Tyrest isn’t dead, because of course he isn’t, and enacts the homophone game with Swerve and Tailgate as he relays an order to the Legislators.

Outside, all the Legislators stop whaling on Whirl with their swords and start parroting prime numbers at the sky.

Back with Rodimus and Minimus, it’s revealed that Magnus/Minimus/Miniminimus DID lure the Lost Light to the moon, but it was to have Tyrest yell at Rodimus for being a crappy captain. He didn’t know that Tyrest had gone completely bonkers.

The worst part is that Minimus doesn’t know the half of all the bullshit Rodimus has pulled since the end of the war.

No wonder Rodimus was so upset before the funeral- Overlord was partially his fault.

Prowl, prior to the Lost Light’s launch, had wormed his way into Rodimus’ brain, convincing him that an Autobot Phase Sixer was absolutely necessary for the safety of everyone. He, along with Drift, Brainstorm, the Duobots, and eventually Chromedome, assisted in what culminated in one hell of a bad day.

Rodimus would really prefer if this whole space-crucifixion didn’t kill him, because he’s feeling like he’s got a lot to make up for. Which, yeah. I’m guessing all of Tripodeca’s friends are going to be mighty sore about this whole thing once it comes to light.

And that’s a series wrap on Rodimus!

We get a brief intermission, as we find out where exactly Skids got to. It’s… somewhere. Not even he’s sure. He tries to ask for directions, but it would seem there’s a language barrier.

It really speaks volumes to Skids’ sense of self-confidence, that he’d see a giant ball of technicolor light and decide he’s gonna go try to talk to it.

Back at the current crisis at hand, Rodimus screams some more, the Matrix shatters alongside any hopes of finding the Knights of Cybertron, and Ratchet has himself a little smile, because that did the trick.

The reason we aren’t seeing Crankcase in this set of panels is because his head wound was also spewing oil, and he looks super nasty right now. Well, nastier than any of the Scavengers usually are on a day to day basis. They regularly drink corpse juice, they can’t NOT be nasty.

Unfortunately, we aren’t out of the woods yet, as that whole Legislator thing still needs to be taken care of. They pour into the room, throwing Swerve along with the steel door, as he shrieks in terror.

Back outside, Cyclonus and Whirl are having a little breather up on the edge of the smelting pool, since all the Legislators they were fighting went inside. Whirl, who is looking just awful, brings up that little deal he cooked up in issue #19, where Cyclonus would stop trying to murder him if they got through this fight. It’s important to remember that verbal contracts aren’t binding, and that Cyclonus didn’t agree to anything.

And that’s a series wrap on Whirl!

Actually, no, Cyclonus was just daydreaming. He agrees to put the past behind them, then shoots off to go find Tailgate.

Back in Legislator City, things are getting dicey, as Rung screams for Skids to come back, because if nothing else, he knows he can depend on Skids when the chips are down.

Skids, playing to Rung’s expectations, vaults over Pharma’s headless body out of the portal, and starts kicking ass. In the background, some creepy tentacle nonsense pulls Pharma through the portal. This, surely, will never come up again, nor will it be a major plot point down the road.

Because Tyrest decided he was going to play fast and loose with the law, Minimus has no idea what “one one” is meant to refer to. Tailgate decides that cram school did serve a purpose after all, and books it towards that massive computer off in the corner. After a bit of combing through the index, he finds what he’s looking for and makes a few choice edits to the Autobot Code. The Legislators freeze in place, and Tailgate reveals that he’s just completely voided a section of the law.

Just off panel, Minimus barely contains the urge to pop Tailgate’s cubic little head off of his neck. Not that he’d have much time to do it anyway.

Smash cut to the next day, where Tailgate’s laid out in a dark room, Cyclonus sitting by his side. Chromedome is also there for some reason. Rung is nowhere to be seen, despite him likely being a better fit for this situation than the guy whose husband died less than a week ago. Chromedome leaves, because this is a very intimate moment between these two guys who are roommates.

Tailgate, who has developed an honest-to-god “guy-who-is-going-to-die-by-the-end-of-the-movie” cough, tells Cyclonus that he made him something, and it’s waiting in their room for him. I’m going to guess it’s a macaroni art picture of the two of them fighting a dragon.

Tailgate has literal minutes to live, and Cyclonus just sits there, Nazgûling with grief, until Tailgate decides that NOW is the time to reveal his hand.

…Well, there’s the answer to the Babygate question.

Tailgate’s come to the conclusion that all his wanting to be important and a hero was a bit misguided, because as it turns out, it kind of sucks when it’s your final act in the world of the living. He really would have preferred to do just about anything else with his last days, even if it had been just chilling in his room with Cyclonus.

Tailgate asked Cyclonus off-panel to do him a solid and kill him before the Cybercrosis did, a plea which Cyclonus couldn’t agree to. Then he gets a call, and the tension of the scene is somewhat ruined by some goofy-ass cinematic parallels.

Where the hell is Tailgate, that Cyclonus has to book it down the hall to make it to the medibay? That isn’t clear, but what is is that Tailgate has the rottenest luck in the world; they figured out a cure for Cybercrosis, but his case is too advanced for treatment to be effective.

Cyclonus thinks that this is a major bummer, but thanks Ratchet for trying anyway. Whirl tries to talk to him, and he better watch out, before that little deal he made gets thrown out the friggin’ window.

Tailgate hits the final two minutes, as Cyclonus returns, sword in hand.

And that’s a series wrap on Tailgate!

…That was almost a sincere one, you know. Tailgate was supposed to die here, in an earlier draft of the story. He didn’t, because Roberts realized it would completely nerf Cyclonus’ character development. I can’t even begin to imagine who Cyclonus would have been if both the Rewind/Chromedome thing hadn’t gone over well, AND Tailgate got offed.

Later on, Ultra Magnus is back in action, Minimus Ambus having redonned the armor to reassume his position as S.I.C. of the Lost Light. He discusses the changes that have come about as a result of their time on Luna 1 with Rodimus, who’s pretty bummed about the whole situation. A quick rundown of all the nonsense that happened:

The mystical portal to the Guiding Hand no longer works

Hot Spot faded out and won’t come back on

Ambulon is dead

First Aid is very sad about Ambulon being dead

The ship is falling apart

The only person who seems to have had any sort of a positive experience is Brainstorm.

…James, did you put that baby inside that robot?

Anyway, so yeah. Luna 1 sucks butt. One star, would rate zero if I could, I don’t care if it has sweet rocket thrusters strapped to the back of it and is super mysterious, and might potentially be an idea pulled from the delightfully earnest Children of a Lesser Matrix.

Later on, Magnus makes his rounds, stopping by Cyclonus and Tailgate’s room to check the vibe. Turns out that stabbing sick people is considered medicine on Cybertron, at least when you’re using a Great Sword to do it.

Whirl had the awesome idea to slap Cyclonus’ weird spark energy into Tailgate’s frail body, so it could kickstart his heart and give him enough time to actually get treated for Cybercrosis.

Ultra Magnus is impressed, and perhaps a bit concerned with how easily Cyclonus was willing to risk dying so that Tailgate could potentially live. So much so, in fact, that Cyclonus gets an achivement- he’s finally collected enough good karma to be allowed to have friends!

Looking mighty fresh-faced there, Cyclonus. And is that a new horn? Someone’s got a plastic surgeon on speed-dial.

No, this is actually the gift that Tailgate made him, the one he was working on in Hoist’s workshop back in issue #15, just before the Overlord attack. The one we never got to actually see, probably because it would be very easy to tell what it was and who it was for if we had. The set up for our slowburn romance has to be just so, no shortcuts allowed.

#transformers #jro #jro punches me in the face #mtmte #remain in light #issue 21 #maccadam #Hannzreads #text post #long post #comic script writing

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amarabliss · 5 years ago

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Oaths and Hearts - 22 (Ignis Scientia/Reader)

You fell through a rift into the fade fighting the demons you swore to protect your world from. When you popped out you were no longer in the lands of Ferelden instead trapped in Insomnia. The gracious king allowed you to say recognizing power when he saw it. One thing led to another and now you were part of the procession of the prince to his wedding years later. Before the final battle, after years of fighting, losses, and love…your friend…your king…Noctis has asked you to change it all…

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20 Part 21

Note: IT HAS BEEN FOREVER! But rereading everything I found my spark! I hope you all enjoy as this story continues! Much love!

You twisted your hands together as you looked out at the gathering crowd. You absolutely hated being paraded in front of people. Even being the Inquisitor, you only did it if it was absolutely necessary.

“You’re going to be fine.” You looked over to Luna stepping over to you. She was the perfect image of grace and nobility in her long ivory dress, “You look beautiful…”

“Luna…” You took in a deep breath shaking your head, “I don’t know how to be a queen…I barely knew how to be a lady…”

She gave you a bright smile as she tried to be reassuring, “But from what I understand you led a people to victory. It’s just like that…but a little more glamorous.”

“Yeah...” You looked down to the dress you were in. You weren’t sure what to make of the rich multi colors. It felt more like a battle garment, “I’m not sure if I’m greeting the people or going to war.”

“A bit of both honestly. You look amazing.” Luna took your hands in hers making you look to her face, “And you’re going to be fine.”

You sighed shutting your eyes, “There’s no going back after this, is there?”

“No…today everything changes for everyone.” Luna looked down taking in a deep breath, “Noctis and I will be by your side the whole way. We’re not going to abandon you.”

“I know Ignis will be relieved to hear it. He wants Noctis to rule…he desires to serve him.” You looked at her with concern, “I just hope the people understand why we’re doing this. Do you know what they’re doing right now?”

“I do…and all I can say it is something every king must do. It’s something the gods require for all in the Lucian…I promise it’s nothing to worry about.” She rubbed your arms frowning, “You’re so cold…”

“Ma’am…” You looked over seeing Tor approaching you, “his majesty, he’s requested your presence before everything gets started.”

Luna smiled at you when you looked at him, “You’re going to be fine. Go to him, reassure him that everything will be fine.”

You stepped forward giving her a hug, “Thank you, Luna.”

“Oh…Uh…” She smiled putting her arms around you, “Of course…we’re family after all.”

That’s right they were family. You kept reminding Ignis and Noctis that they were brothers…but it also connected you to Luna. It was strange how a year ago you barely had anyone to call family and now you were getting family left and right.

You stopped in the hall outside of the throne room leaning against the wall briefly. Tor was at your side instantly, “Ma’am?”

“I just got a little dizzy.” You put a hand to your head before giving him a smile, “I’m alright.”

“You’ll forgive me if I don’t necessarily believe you.” Tor smirked a little bit, “I do know how much of a pain in the ass you are…”

“Hey…” You pouted a little.

“And if I didn’t trust you…” You both looked over to Ignis walking down the hall. You felt your heart flutter seeing him in the royal uniform, smile planted firmly on his face, “I’d be warning you that you’re talking to your queen…”

“Forgive me sir…” Tor bowed slightly, “I just happen to know my charge very well.”

“As do I.” Ignis reached out taking your hands in his. His eyes twinkled as he looked into yours, “Tor, could you give us a moment…Ulric is looking for you, he’s inside with Noctis.”

“As it is my duty to protect and serve him, I will head that way…you have about five minutes…” Tor bowed again leaving you both in the hall alone.

You smiled hearing Ulric squeak with excitement that his favorite playmate was back just as the door shut, “He’s been alright?”

“Perfect. I’m sorry we had to go on alone for a moment.” You sighed feeling him scrutinize you, “Kingly duties…”

“I’m fine.” You squeezed his hands before pulling his arms around you before embracing him, “You have much more important things to worry about today.”

He rested his cheek against the top of your head, “You and Ulric will always be my first priority.”

You let out a heavy sigh shutting your eyes, “And I love you for that.”

“Are you sure you’re alright?” He whispered rubbing your back gently, “I’ve noticed you’ve been more tired lately.”

“We have a one year old who runs us both into the ground.” You murmured back to him, “And my husband is a king, who I am always worrying about. It’s a full-time job juggling you two.”

He pulled away looking into your eyes with the greatest affection, “Hmm…I suppose my guess is wrong then if you feel that strongly about it.”

“Guess?” You squinted at him confused.

“Never mind.” He smiled before he kissed you, “Are you ready?”

“Do I have a choice?” You reached up adjusting his cape before running your hands down his arms stopping when you saw the bracelet on his wrist, “I thought they said no…”

“If there is one thing Noctis has truly taught me…” He smirked a little happy that he was still able to surprise you before he laced his fingers with yours letting the bracelet he made for you gently rub against his, “I am the king…and I get what I want...to a point…”

“Your majesty…” You looked over to Tor holding Ulric in his arms as he stepped out from the throne. He winced a little as he pulled on a braid, “Ah…um…it’s time…”

“Ulric…” Your son looked over to you when you spoke. You smiled when his eyes got big and he reached for you and Ignis make soft mm-ing noises, “Come here…”

Tor handed him over to you with a smile, “Thank you ma’am…”

“It’s karma for that jab earlier.” You chuckled as Ulric grabbed your necklace amusing himself already. You glanced at Ignis who had paled a little bit, “Hey…”

He looked down to you as you both began walking into the throne room, “This is when it all begins…”

You didn’t get a chance to ask him what he meant as they announced you both. All eyes fell on your family as you approached the level below the throne. You looked out at the people who stared at you whispering to each other.

Ignis gained your attention as he squeezed your hand as Noct stood up from the throne to speak, “Thank you all for gathering with us today. It has been…a hell of a couple years.”

Laughter rippled through the crowd and you made eye contact with Gladio across the way with Luna. He smirked pushing Prompto with his elbow as the blonde began snapping pictures. The squabbled, but only for a second as Noctis continued.

“I cannot thank any of you enough. Each and everyone of Insomnia’s citizens…new and old…have put forth effort into making our city a home again.” Noct smiled a little, “We’re still fixing it…we’re still growing…I have no doubt that we will achieve everything and more.”

The crowd applauded and he raised his hands to silence them. His face became a little serious, “I now have some news that…well I’m not sure how everyone will take it, so I’ll tell you how I did.”

He looked over to Luna with such love and sadness, “Recently, it has come to my wife and I’s attention that we’re unable to have children…I was heartbroken. Devastated that I couldn’t fulfill the one thing I have dreamt about since I understood what becoming a king meant.”

Your eyes shifted from him to Luna who also looked crestfallen as Noct went on, “Though I suppose…I always knew even if I had children…my calling was to leave them, after all I’m supposed to rid the world of its darkness…it’s strange how fate works…”

“But then I found out I have a brother.” Noct looked out to the crowd, he chuckled, “At first I was hurt…My father, King Regis, how could he have done such a thing? He was a great man, sacrificed his life for his people, inspired others to do the same…Thankfully…he didn’t betray anyone, but instead followed an archaic rule to ensure the line of Lucis continued…”

“But he was only in the same position I am now. So, then I was excited by the prospect of having an older brother.” He smiled glancing over to Ignis, “Yet…in our own way we still developed that relationship with one another, and ironically my brother has been doing my job long before I was mature enough to care. Both jobs actually…He has always protected me, as older brothers do. He has guided me, offered me council when I didn’t know what to do, and single handedly ensured the Insomnia will prosper for the next thirty years.”

“I’ll have you know…” Noct began to step down the steps leading to Ignis, “He doesn’t want to be king. Even now he is loyal to me and would have me remain on the throne until I’m old and grey, despite the fact that it is his birthright to be where I am. Now, you’ll ask me, then why tell us? Why does it matter?”

“Lucis needs a king from the Lucian line to protect it’s borders. I can’t give you that, and I won’t subject any retainer to do what my father did.” He paused on the final step, “Instead, I am abdicating the throne to my brother Ignis Lucis Scientia.”

There is was. The people hummed excitedly at the news. You could feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand up nervously as you scanned the crowd.

Noct stepped next to Ignis looking at him as an equal, “You all know him already. You know he is capable. You all know he has no other care then to see Insomnia prosper. I hope you will accept him as I have…”

You heard Ignis take in a sharp breath as Noctis took a step down from the level you were on before he dropped to one knee bowing his head. Soon Luna walked over to his side doing the same. Then Gladio and Prompto. Tor and Cor behind you, and soon the whole room. You had felt this before, back in Skyhold, and even that did not compare to the allegiance you felt in this place.

You squeezed his hand one final time before taking a small step back leaving him to the stage he needed stand on. You watched him taking in a deep breath before he raised his head, “Of all the things my father prepared me for, being king was not one of them. No Roderick Scientia, he raised me to be a man who worked for the king, at his side, with his people…”

He stepped forward offering his hand down to Noct and Luna as he spoke, “I would be a fool to change that now, despite having a crown.”

“Your majesty…” It was clear to you by the look on Noct’s face that this was not how it was planned.

He raised them both up to their feet before stepping past them looking out at the people, “I have given this a great deal of thought…I will wear the title king to protect these lands…as will my son, and his children, and so on and so on…I will teach this line of Lucis to be one with the people…not above it and we will work side by side with you as our former King Noctis has done so.”

“Traveling with you and watching you grow into the man you are was and still is my greatest honor and privilege.” Ignis turned to Noct smiling, “So, I hope you will stand by my side brother and work with me to make this city into a bright and brilliant star to shine in this world. Not as someone who is obligated to serve but as someone who would want to. As I wanted to be by your side.”

Noct smiled looking at Luna who beamed giving him a nod, “How do you say no to an offer like that?”

“I’m happy you see it my way…” He turned back to the crowd addressing them with confidence, “I know you have so many questions. I will answer them if I am able to…I cannot guarantee that nothing will change under my rule, but I can guarantee that my goals align with Noctis’. As he said we worked tirelessly to create a plan for Insomnia together. One that you all have already approved of.”

“I have taken the oath all the kings have before me.” He took a deep breath in taking a step forward to drive his point, “So let it be known now if the gods deem me unworthy…”

You felt your heart quicken as he pulled out the Ring of Lucis. He looked over to you giving you a nod and you felt yourself tense up. That ring made you feel uneasy. Like it was a curse. You wished he didn’t have to do this, but you knew there was no other way.

He turned away shutting his eyes he pushed the ring onto his middle finger. Brilliant light blinded you and you quickly covered Ulric’s eyes as you held your breath. Slowly the light began to fade and Ignis stood there his hand held out before him.

“Come to me…” His voice was a low whisper as he summoned forth the Sword of the Father. He took several large breaths as he held the sword in his hand. There could be no doubt to anyone that he was the heir to the throne.

Slowly the crowd erupted into thunderous applause. The rest of the ceremony was purely ceremonial. Passing of the crown…pictures…changing of the guard from one king to the other…more pictures…You found yourself felling dizzy again. You took in a deep breath turning to Tor, “I need to leave.”

He looked at you with concern nodding as he discreetly guided you out pressing his earpiece informing everyone of the change. As soon as you were out in the hall you handed Ulric to him before stepping away taking in several deep breaths.

“Ma’am…I think we should take you to the infirmary…” He watched you as you leaned against the wall. Ulric began to fuss pushing on Tor to get away.

You shook your head, “I’m alright…I think…I think it might be this dress. It just feels so…tight…”

You pulled at it trying to make it breath, but it didn’t seem to give. Finally, you felt hot bile rushing up your throat. You barely made it over to a planter before Tor started radioing for medical to come meet you in the hall.

It wasn’t long after they arrived that you saw Ignis rush out into the hall. You were finishing with Tor asking him to lay Ulric down for a nap before you saw him. You shook your head sitting on the windowsill drinking some water as they checked your blood pressure, “They shouldn’t have bothered you…go back, do what you need to do.”

“I am exactly where I need to be.” Ignis told you as he began rubbing you back in a soothing circular motion.

You looked up at him as the medic spoke, “Everything seems fine now, but I think you should see a doctor just in case. Get a full work up.”

“Of course…I’ll do that tomorrow and I’ll take it easy the rest of today.” You told them as they took their bag away packing it up, “I’m sure it’s just the dress.”

You looked up at Ignis as he let out a half laugh, “It’s not the dress…”

“Oh really?” You glared up at him, “If it’s not the dress…then what is it?”

He smiled at you before taking a seat once the medic moved away and he spoke softly, “You are…pregnant.”

You stared at him your mouth falling open and closing several times before you kept it shut looking away. You could feel his smile washing over you as you thought about it. Finally, you turned to him tearing up, “This is not how it’s supposed to work…I’m supposed to know, and you’re supposed to be the one surprised…”

His hands took your face wiping away the tears, “I have had my suspicions for a while…”

“Well…I didn’t…” You felt yourself getting more emotional by the moment, “What are we going to do?”

“I imagine there is some sort of guideline and announcement protocol…” He moved some loose hair behind your ear, “Let me worry about that. You just need to focus on you and Ellie…”

“Ellie…” You smiled at him, “What if it’s a boy?”

“Eli…” He smirked before he kissed you. You pushed him away, “What?”

“I just vomited and … it’s not really…” You paled a little.

“Oh dear…uh…” He stood up with you as you rushed once more to the planter, “Is this normal?”

“…uh…” You stood up slowly wiping your mouth with the back of your hand, “Yes…I’m assuming…I was in an airship for a majority of Ulric…”

“Well I can promise you two things…” He came to your side guiding you down the hall, “There will be no airships and I will be by your side the entire time.”

“I like the sound of that.” You smiled at him leaning into him, “I like the sound of that a lot.”

“At least one good thing happened today.” He sighed putting his arm around you, “I can remember all of it now with this news.”

“Don’t you need to alert the masses that you’ve gone missing?” You looked up to him.

“I have.” He looked down to you, “Gladio is informing everyone that I’m tending to the queen and will return once I’m done escorting you back to our room.”

“Already asserting yourself I see.” You took in a deep breath clearing your throat as another attack swelled on you.

“Oh my love…” He stopped you before scooping you up into his arms, “I am going to be so worried about you…”

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mguelrvera · 4 years ago

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( diego tinoco, cis male, he/him )╰ ✧ ˔ ⭒ magic is in the air ! oh wait - that’s just my old friend, MIGUEL RIVERA, the NINETEEN year old SHOE MAKER. they’ve lived in rome pines for ages, so everyone knows that they’re DETERMINED and DEFIANT, just like MIGUEL from COCO. they may not have any magic in them, but the neighbourhood sure knows them from their CALLOUSED FINGERTIPS & STARDUST EYES. apparently, they are CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC about meeting these magical citizens from pastoral city, so let’s just hope they will get along with their new neighbours…⭒˔ ╮

❁ THE STORY

on the evening of august the 13th, 2001, there was much cause for celebration in the rivera household: a new baby boy, born with one single dimple and wailing as if he needed the whole world to hear what he had to say. miguel rivera was the first child of proud new parents enrique and luisa - but he was far from being the first child of the rivera family, and there was absolutely no way he would be the last.

a family of historic shoemakers, the riveras have been running their little shop in the bustling streets of new costa luna since before anyone currently alive can remember. the site’s pretty much gone unchanged since the foundations were first put down: and thus, neither has the adjoining house. it’s not the smallest piece of real estate in rome pines, especially when compared to, say, the nearby studios, but it’s far from being big - especially for a family of, as of nineteen years following miguel’s birth, just about 13, excluding the few more relatives who would come by to work and eat just about every day. although it admittedly made rivera get-togethers much less a logistical nightmare than what many other families would have to go through, sharing a room with three cousins on a floor with one plus a sister more never made privacy a real option for miguel, and it made being the closest thing the current riveras had to a black sheep rather difficult growing up.

he didn’t want to stand out - and, if his abuelita was the type to cut even the tiniest bit of slack with any family tradition, he likely wouldn’t have at all. aside from how close-knit they are and how long they’ve been around, there’s one other notable thing about the riveras - their attitude towards music. it’s the one piece of family history miguel’s never been fully clear on, for whenever he tries to raise the subject, or hell, even mentions even the word music at all, there’s a slamming of whatever’s been held by his abuelita against whatever surface is closest and a quick changing of topic by whichever other family member can manage to string the words together first. his whole life, miguel has been led to feel he’s the only one who has an issue with not knowing why the ban’s there - but then again, as far as he knows, he’s the only one who’s ever had a problem with the ban being there at all.

there was a time, long ago, when miguel would’ve been perfectly happy to follow in his family’s rivera-made boot steps. when he was little, he did all he could to sneak next door into the upstairs workshop, and it wasn’t an uncommon sight to find him making toys out of whatever leather and canvas scraps he could get his tiny hands on. he was resourceful, and even at that young an age, he had a mind for putting things together, one that his family all knew would do well for him once it actually came time for him to join them - though his plans all changed once he got to school.

up until then, he’d had pretty much no idea what he was missing - though he may have been enchanted by the odd busker or tried to make his parents linger around shops longer so he could finish hearing whatever song was playing over the loudspeaker, for those first few years of his life, he’d been content not having music as a part of his life, a thought that baffles him now. it wasn’t until his year got a lesson playing with some instruments as a teamwork exercise that he realised what he’d been deprived of - though at first, he’d been embarrassed into the realisation when he couldn’t tap out a tune of a song everyone else seemed to already know. once he’d had the song played to him, though, he was pretty much instantaneous in picking up the melody, and that shame quickly turned to not just pride, but a feeling he couldn’t quite place with a six-year-old’s vocabulary - a sense that, for the first time, he was... complete.

when he got home, he was able to keep practicing tapping out the tune for all of five minutes before his abuelita heard him, and it was at dinner that night that it was announced he was going to be joining his cousin rosa in getting new shoes sorted out in their shoeboxes, the first step to becoming a proper member of the workshop. if he’d been told even a day before, he would’ve been bouncing off the walls with excitement - but it’s hard to find a step in one direction something to be happy about when you’ve just found out you’re on the entirely wrong path.

though he did dutifully get to work when he was in the rivera house, he made it his mission to find as much music as he could whenever he was outside of it - a challenge that was difficult at first given he was hardly let out into even the back garden on his own, let alone the whole city, but one that quickly grew easier with age. whenever he was sent out to run an errand, he’d dawdle as much as he could in the hopes of even picking up a note that he could follow, and if he was ever at a friends house and saw any sort of instrument or cd player, he’d not-so-subtly hint that he wanted to listen to something.

though he was never known for his brains, it was still at school where he really thrived musically - once he was old enough to take proper music classes, he was always the most attentive student in the room, and it didn’t take long for his teachers to take a shine for him. it was one in particular who saw his potential, asking him to stay back one lesson for a chat - and though miguel had been terrified he was about to get into trouble, instead, he was played a song, handed a guitar, and told to repeat it as best he could. it took him a few tries to get it down, but within the hour, he was able to pluck out the closest sounding notes even without knowing their proper names or orders - and though he technically shouldn’t have been allowed to join the middle school band for at least another year, he was given an invitation right then and there. he wasn’t able to practice at home, not even with the vague mockup of a guitar he’d once made out of a scrap of leather and some string as a kid, but he was able to catch up fairly quickly in rehearsals despite it.

at the end of each year there was a concert, and it soon became the thing he looked forward to most in the world save his own family holidays. given all the band members had to do was just hand a written invitation to their families, it was easy for miguel to throw his out on his walk home and just lie on the night and say he was at a friends house - though it was a ruse that would be discovered in his second to last year of middle school. at rosa’s graduation just a few nights before, his music teacher and band coordinator had spotted miguel and came over to talk to him about some final adjustments for the song he would be playing, and when he noticed the rest of the family beside him, he’d casually asked whether or not they were coming - it took all his abuelita’s strength to not explode right then and there.

miguel was grounded the second they got home, and the next morning his father had to ring up the school and say he’d very suddenly come down with the flu and wouldn’t be coming in for a few days, including the day of the concert. from then on out, all of miguel's classes and extracurriculars were checked off by his abuelita, and he was promoted from just packing and arranging to properly working the register of the shoe shop, a job that would take away all his free time and hopes of properly getting outside. he was devastated.

since then, miguel’s been hard at work keeping up the family business, going between his familiar position at the register to starting on actual shoemaking upstairs whenever the business day’s been quiet. he’s still as close to his family as he’s ever been, and he knows he’s not working the worst job in the world - but that doesn’t stop his heart from aching for the chance to play music again. unable to join any more bands or take any more music lessons, he spent his highschool years just watching from the sidelines and hoping, as he did as a kid, to stumble into the playing of any sort of song whenever he was out of the house. when he graduated, he’d had a faint dream of going to axiom university to study music composition, but he knew it was one that wouldn’t come to fruition - the business was successful, yes, but with almost two dozen people to support financially, there would never be enough for him to go, let alone go undetected.

he hasn’t let himself be fully deprived, however - though it’s certainly never been easy, he’s more and more regularly started sneaking out or taking detours to the jazz club and karaoke bar, and though he hasn’t really been able to perform, it’s filling the gap he’d only discovered was there back when he first tapped out that quickly-learned tune as a first grader. it’s one of the riskiest things he’s ever done - but for music, he’s learned, he’d take any risk in the world.

❁ THE PERSONALITY

miguel is, above all else, a determined kid. never doing anything by halves, he’s a hard worker, with no dream in his mind being unattainable - though he may be overly ambitious, he wouldn’t be pursuing his goals if he didn’t think he was able to, and is willing to put up with the most menial work just for those fleeting moments of progress down the path he actually wants to follow. though he is devoted to his family, he seemingly has no problem lying to or hiding things from them, much less breaking their rules, but in his mind he only does it because it’s the only way he’ll ever be able to do what he’s supposed to do - play music. though some may call him arrogant in his self-confidence, he’s not so sure of himself that he’s entirely reckless or impulsive - not usually, anyway. more often than not he will try his best to think things through and stick carefully to his own plans and alibis, there are times where he’ll just do something on a whim, though it’s usually in times of stress. he has been known to be stubborn, and it takes a lot to change his mind about something. while he is very self-assured and tries to be realistic about his plans, he is somewhat idealistic and can be let down by his own nerves when reality smacks him in the face. aside from his being goal-oriented, miguel is a very caring soul - though he doesn’t always agree with them, his family is the most important thing to him, and he’s just as devoted to his outside friends as well. it’s not just people he cares about - his hard working nature is just an extension of his general passion, and none of the passion he holds leads him to being a particularly stoic kind of kid. on the contrary, he has no problem displaying how he really feels about something unless he’s actively trying to get away with something, and even if he doesn’t vocally say it, he’ll usually be unable to stop himself from expressing with his face - he feels with his whole self, and it shows. he can never just let something go once it’s brought up, and he’ll do whatever he can to see any problem resolved if he knows he can do something about it.

❁ HEADCANONS

growing up, miguel’s favourite person in the world was his mamá coco - though he wasn’t massively excluded, his four cousins were able to be more connected to one another on the basis of being siblings, so until the birth of his baby sister socorro, she was the person he’d spend the most time around

although he loves all music, guitar is absolutely the thing he’s most drawn to and excels at - it’s his dream to properly own one, though it’s likely not one he’d be able to achieve until he’s able to move out

though he is practical, miguel was never really known for his intellect like some other kids are, and pretty much the only reason he enjoyed school was because he got to hang out with his friends and occasionally pass by a music lesson. with that being said, he has a brilliant memory, and though even with music he’s not that great with things like sheet music or the names of notes, he’s able to learn very quickly by just looking and listening, something that’s also translated into how he learned to make shoes

❁ MISC

pinterest & wanted connections zodiac: leo sun, gemini moon, & scorpio rising myers-briggs: enfp (the campaigner) enneagram: 7w6 (the enthusiast) alignment: neutral good

#actually my name is miguel ( ABOUT )#fantasiafalls:intro #if you saw me accidentally post this a few minutes ago when it wasn't done no you didn't <3

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tuff-and-fluff-archives · 5 years ago

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The Virtue of Silence

Word Count: 1163

Warnings: None

Summary: Junkrat sets a world record by nearly ruining Valentine’s Day two entire weeks before it begins, and Ruby learns there’s just as much risk as there is reward to dating an unhinged convict with a bad case of never shutting up.

Ok so I wanted this to be a comic but I was too tired and it woulda taken too long and some other third excuse, so here’s a fic instead! I was going for a more light-hearted and silly tone, and while I don’t think I quite succeeded, I still had fun. I was also trying to write something less than 1000 words, but uh... I think it’s pretty clear I didn’t manage that. *looks off into the sun wistfully* Maybe some day...

Ruby plopped down on the couch, a bowl of spaghetti in one hand and the television remote in the other; usually she would be dining at the table across from her boyfriend, but Junkrat was out on yet another one of his heists. If she remembered correctly, he and his partner-in-crime Roadhog had ventured to Paris, but that was, unfortunately, all she knew. It was unusual for Junkrat not to share all the details of his latest schemes with her, and even though Roadhog had reassured her that he would be keeping the reckless Aussie safe, she still felt uneasy about not knowing exactly what kind of trouble the two would be getting into.

She flicked on the TV before tossing the remote aside and picking up her fork, twirling up a clump of spaghetti as a series of commercials played until at last, the program she wanted began.

“Tonight, on A Moment in Crime…”

Ruby knew that this particular show tended to keep up-to-date on criminal events, so if Junkrat and Roadhog had already finished their heist, she’d be sure to hear about it here. Sure enough, their mugshots appeared on screen, and Ruby perked her head up as she shoveled a forkful of spaghetti into her mouth.

The overdramatic narrator continued, “These notorious criminals have spread destruction and mayhem across the globe, but could the pyromaniac known as Junkrat… have his own romantic flame?”

Ruby froze mid-chew, her eyes going wide and spaghetti dangling from her mouth as she focused intently on the TV, praying that this story wouldn’t be going where she thought it might be. The screen changed to a video- with the unstable quality making it clear that it was recorded on a phone- that showed the two Junkers together at the outdoor seating of a cafe, with Junkrat in plain view and Roadhog sitting with his back to whoever was recording. Junkrat was mid-ramble about something, and as the audio cut in and Ruby heard his far-too familiar voice, she felt her blood run cold.

“-d’ya think, Hoggie? I just know that Roobs is gonna love this place!” Junkrat spoke far too loudly, not even noticing that he was being recorded. “It’s a bit posh f’me, but she’s been goin’ on about doin’ somethin’ special fer that whole Valee-Day thing, so I think I’m alright riskin’ looking like a tall poppy, long as I can get me girl ta smile!”

The audio lowered, and the narrator spoke over the video. “This footage, uploaded just hours ago, was taken at a shop outside the Cabaret Luna in Paris. The explosives-obsessed Junker seems to be discussing plans for a supposed date with an unknown person whom he refers to as ‘Rubes’. The criminal goes on to talk about methods of traveling to the city of love with this mysterious person, before the brave witness who uploaded the video is noticed. Viewers should be warned that the following footage may be frightening to some.”

The audio of Junkrat’s voice came back in. “-wish I could be up on the bird-boat with her, but I’m pretty sure I’ve made it on the no-fly list by now, heheh, so I guess we could just meet up here.” As he kept rambling, his eyes wandered towards the recorder until he made eye contact with the camera. He had to do a double-take before he finally noticed that he and Roadhog were being filmed, and the cheery grin on his face quickly turned into an angered scowl as he stood up in his chair and stomped his boot onto the table with his fists raised. “Oi, the fuck d’ya think you’re doin’, mate?!” Junkrat quickly reached down for his frag launcher, which was placed beside the chair he had previously been sitting in.

The video became incomprehensibly shaky as the person recording began to flee, repeating “merde” between panicked breaths as Junkrat shouted for them to “get the hell back here”, and the video stopped just as an explosion went off behind the recorder. The screen freeze-framed on the last second of footage and slowly zoomed in to create a dramatic effect as the narrator spoke up again. “The uploader luckily managed to escape by running into a neighboring store, but the footage they posted gives us a startling view into the personal life of these violent criminals.” The show cut back to a still shot of Junkrat from the video just presented as the narrator continued, “Is it possible that this wanted convict is actually involved in a romantic relationship? Is there someone out there insane enough to partner themselves with a pyromaniac like Junkrat? Or is this simply the delusional ramblings of a madman?”

The show cut back to Junkrat and Roadhog’s mugshots. “As always, if you have any information about these two dangerous men, or any knowledge of the unknown person, again, referred to as ‘Rubes’ in this video, please contact us today. Remember, crime doesn’t pay, but we-”

Ruby had to shut off the television before she could hear more. She stared forward blankly, her spaghetti weakly hanging from her pursed lips as she processed what she had just seen. She didn’t even have the energy to bite down, as all her brainpower was immediately going into panicking as hard as she could. She wondered if this was how omnics felt when they short-circuited; her mind was just piling one bad thought on top of another, leading to a never-ending wave of fear washing over her. Damn that man and his big mouth…

***

“Oh, Roooobs!” Junkrat shouted as he burst through the front door to Ruby’s apartment, throwing down his frag gun and the sack of stolen goods in his hand as he held his arms out expectantly, waiting for his girlfriend to run from around the corner and jump right into his arms as she had always done before. Instead, he saw her slowly move out from the kitchen with her arms crossed as she leaned her shoulder against the wall.

“Welcome back, Jamison,” Ruby spoke in an alarmingly calm tone with a nearly unreadable, but clearly unhappy expression.

Junkrat immediately broke into a cold sweat at the use of his full name as Ruby stared him down. “Er…” he put his arms down just a bit, “i-is there somethin’ wrong, sweets?”

Ruby simply glared at him harder, making him panic and hunch down as he looked at the floor and nervously rubbed his hand. What the hell had he done? Did he forget to say goodbye before he left? Had he eaten the last of one of her favorite snacks and put the empty box back? Did he leave the toilet seat up?

“So,” Ruby said, “you go to any nice cafes while you were in Paris?”

Junkrat snapped his head back up as his eyes went wide. “How did you know?”

Ruby rubbed her face and sighed. “Jamie, my dear. We need to discuss the importance of thinking before you speak…”

#don't worry things turned out ok #i just rly like the idea of the media trying to poke their noses in me and jamie's relationship #like lemme love my crazy bf in peace wow #hope the end doesnt come off as too mean hfjshxb #ruby's writing #self shipping #self ship community #oc x canon #fictional other #self shipping community #💜: blushing bomb crush #🐷

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giveamadeuschohisownmovie · 5 years ago

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Hypothetical plot outline for season 1 of Hulu’s Ghost Rider series

Before we start, here is our main cast:

1) Gabriel Luna as Robbie Reyes / Ghost Rider

2) Lorenzo James Henrie as Gabe Reyes, Robbie’s younger brother

3) Jose Zuniga as Eli Morrow, Robbie’s uncle and the main antagonist of the season

4) Jessica Parker Kennedy as Lisa Gardner, a detective and Robbie’s main love interest (at least as of season 1)

5) Derek Mio as Kenshiro “Zero” Cochrane, a hacker who befriends Robbie and eventually becomes his go-to tech guy (the “Cisco Ramon” of the show)

6) Josh Segarra as Hamilton Slade, a college professor who is dating Lisa Gardner, thinks Ghost Rider is a menace

7) Becky G as Alejandra Jones / All-New Ghost Rider, a woman whose soul becomes bonded to Eli’s after making a deal with him

8) Malese Jow as Sister Sara Yang / The Caretaker, a warrior nun who reluctantly joins forces with Robbie in order to battle the supernatural

Now, the episodes. Since this is the first season and Marvel might consider costs in making the series, I thought that 10 episodes would be a reasonable amount.

Episode 1: Still Angry

* A plot: Introduction to all the main characters. Robbie is a loner who helps a local church during the day and goes out as Ghost Rider at night. The opening scene is of Robbie destroying a local gang. Gabe Reyes is going to a nearby college, which is the real reason why Robbie moved to Texas. Lisa and Hamilton also volunteer at Robbie’s church, which is how Robbie develops a crush on her, despite her being in a relationship. Hamilton is friendly to Robbie but you can also tells he’s the “jealous / possessive boyfriend” type.

* B plot: Sister Sara Yang, also known as “The Caretaker”, arrives in Texas with the mission to capture the Ghost Rider for the Catholic Church. She recruits Rising Tide hacktavist Kenshiro “Zero” Cochrane by blackmailing him (“if you don’t help me, I’ll report all your cybercrimes”).

* C plot: Alejandra Jones is trying to cross the border from Mexico to the USA in order to find her long-lost father. In the episode stinger, we learn that she’s being stalked by a ghost, who we’ll learn later on is Eli Morrow.

* The climax of the episode is Sister Sara confronting the Ghost Rider. The two fight and Robbie easily defeats her. Instead of killing her, Robbie spares her when he realizes she’s not evil. Sara asks why and Robbie just tells her to leave and never come back.

Episode 2: A Good Man

* A plot: Robbie tries to go back to his normal routine but is confronted by Sister Sara and Kenshiro. Gabe, who is fully aware of his brother’s nightly activities, tries to convince them that Robbie is a good man but Sara is unconvinced. Sara says Robbie needs to prove to her that he’s a good man or else he will have to come back with her to the Vatican City. Robbie proves he’s on her side by taking down a gang of human traffickers and saving all the people they captured. All the people who Robbie saved bless him, calling him an “angel of vengeance”. Sara and Kenshiro leave, with Sara’s faith shaken and unsure of continuing her mission.

* B plot: Lisa and Hamilton go on a date where they discuss the Ghost Rider. Hamilton hates the man but Lisa thinks he’s a hero. Lisa tries to pry into Hamilton’s past and he tells her bits and pieces but stops short of going into his “family legacy”. Curious, Lisa asks and Hamilton rudely tells her to “stop digging”.

* C plot: Alejandra tries crossing the border but the cartel suspect her of wrongdoing (she was framed by another person). The cartel kill her on the spot, leading to her making a deal with Eli Morrow. Episode ends with her becoming the second Ghost Rider.

Episode 3: The Other Rider

* A plot: While patrolling one night, Robbie hears about a horrifying incident on the other side of the border. A Ghost Rider-like monster led a massacre of a cartel, leaving barely any survivors. As he investigates, he comes across Lisa, who is also on patrol that night, and Sara, who was investigating on her own. Survivors of the cartel attack the three of them, with the cartel shooters wanting payback. Robbie, Sara, and Lisa fight them off and Robbie drives all of them away to safety. Robbie drops Lisa back at the police station and drives away with Sara. Robbie tells Sara he wasn’t responsible for the massacre and Sara believes him.

* B plot: Gabe is at college, where he meets Kenshiro. They mostly have a humorous subplot, with Kenshiro trying to befriend Gabe since he has no friends in the area and that Sister Sara told him to get close to the Ghost Rider’s family. We learn more about Kenshiro and Gabe’s backstories. We also learn that Hamilton Slade is one of Gabe’s professors but is unaware that Gabe’s brother is the Ghost Rider.

* C plot: Alejandra wakes up in the middle of the road, not sure of what she did. Her plot is mostly just learning that she’s now bonded to the soul of Eli Morrow and that he has some control over her. She gets into a fight with some truckers and accidentally kills them due to Eli’s influence.

Episode 4: The Big Man from Down Below

* A plot: This episode is mainly backstory. Robbie and Sara make it back to Robbie’s church, where they discuss last night’s events. As they come up with a plan to track down the second Ghost Rider, we go into some flashbacks which explains what Robbie has been doing since AOS season 4 without actually referencing AOS. Flashbacks include him taking the Darkhold to some unknown hell dimension, a fight scene with some gang that he wipes out, dealing with his dark legacy, and meeting Mephisto for the first time (who says Robbie’s soul is damned). At the end of the episode, Robbie and Sara decide to officially team up since they have the same goal of catching this other Ghost Rider. With Gabe and Kenshiro, the four of them form “Team Ghost Rider”.

* B plot: Similar to Robbie’s plot this episode, we go into Eli Morrow’s backstory. Alejandra learns, from Eli, that he was turned into a Spirit of Vengeance by Mephisto. When Alejandra asks why, Eli chooses not to tell her. We learn that all Spirits of Vengeance have similar stories to his, implying that Robbie’s Spirit of Vengeance became that way because of a deal with Mephisto. We see Alejandra become the All-New Ghost Rider at the end of the episode and she steals someone’s motorcycle.

* C plot: Lisa tries to explain to her superiors what happened last night. Her superiors tell her that Ghost Rider killed a bunch of people on the other side of the border but she’s convinced that Robbie wasn’t responsible. Hamilton also tries to tell her she’s wrong, leading to their first fight.

* End episode stinger: Alejandra/Eli opens up a portal to an unknown dimension and a group of demons come out. Alejandra/Eli says, “Welcome to Earth”, ending the episode.

Episode 5: Hell Hath No Fury

* Main plot: Robbie, Sara, Kenshiro, and Gabe start investigating the second Ghost Rider while also trying to dodge Lisa, who tells them that GR is wanted for the massacre. She’s part of the investigation but it’s clear she thinks GR is innocent. The investigation leads them to a survivor, who Robbie tracks down. The survivor, who turns out to be the person who framed Alejandra and got her killed, says that Alejandra was murdered by the cartel, then the Ghost Rider showed up and killed everyone. The team finds out that Alejandra’s body was not among the dead. Sensing the dark aura in the area, Robbie puts the pieces together and realizes Alejandra made a deal with the devil. When Sara asks how does he know, he gives her a look that says that his situation was similar. He also points out that the attack happened immediately after Alejandra made that deal, as if the devil was waiting for her.

* Main plot (continued): After interrogating the survivor, Team Ghost Rider is confronted by the All-New Ghost Rider. Alejandra Jones, fully under Eli Morrow’s control, says that she needs to speak with Robbie. Robbie and Alejandra/Eli battle it out for the first time but the fight between the two Ghost Riders leads to a stalemate, even with Sara, Gabe, and Kenshiro’s help. Lisa and the rest of the police arrive, leading to a shootout between them and Alejandra/Eli. Alejandra/Eli kills most of the police force but Robbie is able to save Lisa in time. He creates a portal and takes Lisa away from the scene, but Alejandra-Eli orders her demon henchmen to go after them. Episode ends on that cliffhanger.

* Subplot: Hamilton Slade finishes up a class and we see him in his private study. As he looks through his photo albums, he comes across a picture of a burial site. Immediately, he shuts the book away, disturbed by the memory. We get a flashback to the moment when the photograph was taken and it’s revealed that Hamilton found the burial site of his ancestor, Lincoln Slade, who was a predecessor of the Ghost Rider.

Episode 6: Like a Woman Scorned

* A plot: Picking up right after the previous episode, Robbie and Lisa emerge on the other side of the portal. It’s revealed that Robbie took them back to his scrapyard in Los Angeles. Although Robbie tries to hide his identity, he realizes he needs Lisa to trust him and turns back to his normal self. Lisa is surprised to find out Robbie is the Ghost Rider and says he should’ve just told her. As they talk, Alejandra/Eli opens up a portal outside the scrapyard. One of the main demons, nicknamed Hive Mind, has mind control powers and takes control of several L.A. citizens to form an army. Robbie and Lisa fight the mind-controlled army but are hesitant to actually kill anyone. Eventually, the fight comes down to Robbie and Alejandra/Eli and her minions. Lisa leaves, with Robbie telling her to find “Father Reyes”. Alone, Robbie puts up a good fight but is overwhelmed and defeated. Before Robbie passes out, Eli (through Alejandra) reveals himself and says that he’s gonna finish what he started.

* B plot: Sara, Gabe, and Kenshiro are battling Alejandra’s demon henchmen (the ones who didn’t cross over to Los Angeles). During this battle, we get backstory on Sara. It’s revealed Sara was once a normal nun who had an interest in the supernatural. One night, she fends off an attack by a vampire, partly due to her studying on how vampires worked. Impressed by this, the church offers her a place in their top-secret division dedicated to hunting supernatural monsters. Also during this fight, Hamilton Slade, who is driving at this time, accidentally gets involved when a demon attacks his car. Kenshiro rescues him, thus bringing Slade into their group.

* Side note: For the B plot, Gabe starts reflecting on Alejandra Jones. From what he knows about her, he says that he’s sad that she was killed by the cartel and was turned into a Ghost Rider. He questions why she would be wreaking havok. Gabe’s interest in Alejandra Jones will be important later on.

Episode 7: Tio

* Cold opening dream sequence: Robbie wakes up in the church and sees (to the audience’s surprise) Chloe Bennet. However, she introduces herself as the Ghost Rider, revealing that the Rider took the form of Daisy to talk to Robbie. Daisy and AOS is briefly referenced. Daisy-GR tells Robbie that he’s in way over his head and that it’s rethinking their deal. Robbie says that he can beat Eli but before we can go any further, Robbie wakes up from his dream.

* A plot: Robbie wakes up on some desert planet. Alejandra-Eli is there. They have a chat where we learn that Eli is planning on building a portal machine with the help of the Darkhold. Robbie asks why and Eli says that he wants to open a portal to hell large enough to allow Mephisto’s army to go through and conquer Earth and turn it into a new hell dimension. Robbie realizes the truth; not only was Eli Morrow turned into a Spirit of Vengeance by Mephisto, he was now Mephisto’s lackey. Mephisto is planning on conquering Earth. Robbie says he’ll never give up the Darkhold but Eli says that he already found it, revealing that Hive Mind used mind control on Robbie to make him give up the location of the Darkhold. Robbie and Alejandra-Eli fight but Alejandra-Eli escapes back to Earth, leaving Robbie stranded on the desert planet.

* A plot (continued): Robbie tries to make a portal back to Earth but realizes that Alejandra-Eli took his chains with her/him. He starts to wander around, trying to figure out how to get back home. As he does, he’s visited by the “ghosts” / hallucinations of Lisa, Gabe, Sara, and Kenshiro, who urge him on. He’s also visited by Daisy-Ghost-Rider and his parents, who we haven’t seen until this episode. Fueled by pure hatred and anger towards his uncle, Robbie uses the resources around him to find a way back home. He collects iron ores from the desert and uses the Ghost Rider fire to make a makeshift Sling Ring. He crosses through the portal, pissed as fuck.

* B plot: Sara, Kenshiro, and Gabe try to calm Hamilton Slade down, who is hysterical since being attacked by a demon. While dealing with this, police reinforcements arrive and arrest the four of them. They’re brought to the police station and questioned on what happened. While being interrogated, a werewolf attacks the police station, killing several people. Sara, Kenshiro, Gabe, and Hamilton work together with the police to kill the werewolf. After taking the werewolf down, the head police chief lets them go, realizing he has a whole city to clean up.

* C plot: Lisa finds Father Reyes, who is revealed to be Robbie and Gabe’s estranged father. The two talk, with Lisa saying that his son is a hero (without actually saying that Robbie is the Ghost Rider). Father Reyes agrees, although he’s worried about his son. Father Reyes and Lisa talk about Robbie and we learn more about Robbie’s childhood.

* End episode stinger: Alejandra-Eli is seen holding the Darkhold. Eli starts making plans to build a machine that could unlock a portal to Mephisto’s hell dimension. However, Alejandra briefly takes over, revealing that Eli doesn’t have as strong of a hold on her as he thought.

Episode 8: The Phantom

* A plot: Robbie reconnects with Team Ghost Rider, who are all tired from battling the demons. He also brings back Lisa from Los Angeles. Before he goes back to his team, Robbie chats with his father. Father Reyes reveals that he knows Robbie is the Ghost Rider (“You can’t fool me, son”) and that he figured it out several years ago. He also says that he doesn’t think Robbie’s soul is damned, despite Robbie claiming he made a deal with the devil. He says that Robbie is using his powers to fight the forces of evil and that makes him a warrior for God in his eyes. Father Reyes also says that he thinks Robbie hasn’t fully explored his powers, indirectly hinting at the Penance Stare (will become important later on).

* A plot (continued): With the whole team together, Robbie says that Alejandra/Eli is planning on building a machine that will open a portal to hell. He also tells them that Alejandra/Eli is working for Mephisto, who turned Eli into one of his minions in exchange for Spirit of Vengeance abilities. The team starts making a plan to destroy the portal machine, send Eli back to hell, and reclaim the Darkhold. However, Hamilton Slade doesn’t trust Robbie. He leaves the group with a plan to expose Robbie as the Ghost Rider

* A plot (continued): However, the team stops Hamilton in time and in an angry fit, he reveals that he despises the Ghost Rider since it’s his family legacy. His ancestor, Lincoln Slade, was a Ghost Rider but he abused his power. Robbie says that the Rider isn’t evil, it’s the user. He says that he’s using his powers to fight evil and that he’ll do whatever it takes to stop Eli Morrow and any other villain with plans to destroy the world. Robbie’s conviction to his mission is what finally convinces Hamilton that Robbie is a hero and abandons his plans.

* B plot: Alejandra’s battle for control over her own body gets heated as she tries destroying the portal machine whenever she’s in control. This leads to a surreal sequence where Alejandra and Eli play a game of mental hide-and-seek, with both of them fighting to be the dominant personality. Alejandra gets the upper hand near the end of the fight but, sadly, Eli overpowers her. Now in full control, Eli says to his henchmen, “The woman won’t be a problem anymore”. As he says this, he learns that his machine is close to finish.

Episode 9: Wrath

* Main plot: Picking up right at the end of the previous episode, Team Ghost Rider tries searching for Eli Morrow, realizing that he could be anywhere around the world. Robbie, knowing how he hid the Darkhold, begins retracing his steps to see if he could stumble across a clue on where Eli is. This leads to a sequence where Robbie and the team confront a demon named Hoss, who was keeping the Darkhold with him. When the team asks why Robbie trusted the book to Hoss, Robbie says it’s because Hoss is a collector whose personal vault is near-impenetrable. Hoss is also a demon bounty hunter, taking monsters back to hell just like Robbie, which is another reason why Robbie trusted him (although Hoss took demons back for pay).

* Main plot (continued): At first, Hoss claims that someone broke into his vault and stole the Darkhold. However, after some investigating, the team learns that Hoss backstabbed Robbie by giving Eli Morrow the Darkhold willingly. Hoss says that he wants Earth to becomes a hell dimension, leading to Robbie beating him up. Robbie forces Hoss to give up Eli’s location, which he does.

* Main plot (continued): The location turns out to be the old Momentum Labs. Eli Morrow, seeing that Robbie and his allies have found him, sends his demon army out to stop them. The rest of this episode consists of confrontations. Robbie battles and kills Hive Mind, avenging his previous defeat. Sara and Lisa team up and kill several demon minions. Kenshiro, despite being a non-fighter, manages to use his wits to take several demon minions down. While this is happening, Gabe tells Hamilton to wheel him to Alejandra. Hamilton questions him and Gabe says that he wants to talk to Alejandra.

* Main plot (continued): Hamilton takes Gabe into the heart of Momentum Labs without telling the rest of the group and they confront Alejandra/Eli together. Gabe appeals to Alejandra’s humanity and even to his uncle. He asks Eli if he wants to be Mephisto’s servant for the rest of his life and for the first time in the series, Eli doubts his plan. This moment of self-doubt leads to Alejandra resurfacing. She quickly tells Gabe and Hamilton to destroy the portal machine before Eli activates it since the portal will be self-sustaining once activated (meaning, destroying the machine won’t do anything). Alejandra also says they need to kill her before Eli comes back. Unfortunately, Eli does return and, angered, he turns into the All-New Ghost Rider and attacks Gabe and Hamilton.

* Main plot (continued): Robbie enters the scene just in time and the two Ghost Riders fight again. This time, with the help of Sara, Lisa, and Kenshiro, Robbie defeats Alejandra/Eli. However, before Robbie can burn Eli, “Alejandra” comes back and begs for mercy. Gabe stops Robbie and “Alejandra” begs them to save her before Eli comes back. But this turns out to be a ruse. It’s Eli pretending to be Alejandra. Eli activates the portal machine and the episode ends on the massive cliffhanger of Mephisto’s demon army ready to attack Earth!

Episode 10: Ghost Rider

(Season finale time! If you’re still reading this, I just wanna say, thank you, you’re a real trooper)

We start off right at the end of the previous episode. Robbie immediately destroys the portal machine but realizes that the portal is self-sustaining. Team Ghost Rider flees Momentum Labs as Mephisto’s demon army starts swarming Los Angeles. Things are going bonkers as police and National Guard come in to battle the army of darkness. As this is happening, Eli/Alejandra slips away.

The group barricades themselves in an abandoned office and Robbie says it’s his fault that Eli managed to activate the portal and he’s the only one with the ability to close the gate. Robbie tells the group to leave but they tell him that they’re with him to the end of the line. They make a new plan; Robbie and Sara will fight their way back to Momentum Labs to close the gate, Kenshiro will be their “guy in the chair” as well as search for Eli/Alejandra, and Lisa and Hamilton will take Gabe and flee the city.

As they prepare to exit the building, we get some interesting interactions. Lisa breaks up with Hamilton, saying that they’re better off as friends, and Hamilton wonders if it’s because she has feelings for Robbie. Hamilton tells Robbie that he’s surprised that he went from despising the Ghost Riders to working with one. Gabe tells Robbie that he needs to find a way to spare Alejandra since she’s an innocent in all this. Sara says to Kenshiro that she was wrong about Robbie and that he’s a warrior for God. Kenshiro admits that he has a huge crush on Sara but Sara says they can’t be together since she’s a nun.

The groups head out of the building. To summarize what happens, Robbie and Sister Sara battle their way through the demon hordes back to Momentum Labs. Robbie gets his “Thor: Ragnarok” moment and goes HAM on the demon army as heavy metal music blares in the background. He manages to close the portal with his chain, foiling Eli/Alejandra’s plans.

While this is happening, Lisa, Hamilton, and Gabe try to flee the city. Demons attack them and while fighting them off, Hamilton is fatally wounded. He tells Lisa that he loves her as he dies in her arms. After closing the portal, Robbie catches up with Lisa and Gabe and learns about what happened to Hamilton, enraging him. Kenshiro, who was guiding both groups this whole time, tells Robbie where Eli/Alejandra is, leading to our final confrontation.

Similar to Luke Cage season 1, Robbie confronts Eli/Alejandra while several bystanders watch. The two Ghost Riders go at it, with several big moments such as Robbie destroying Eli/Alejandra’s motorcyle, Eli/Alejandra destroying Robbie’s charger (temporarily, the car comes back of course), and so on. The fight eventually ends with Robbie defeating Eli/Alejandra and ready to destroy them.

Just then, Father Reyes’ words come back to Robbie and, for the first time in the whole series, Robbie uses the Penance Stare on Eli/Alejandra. Eli’s soul is burned by this but Alejandra is spared. Robbie is unsure how he knew he could do that and Sara suggests that “God gave him the power”. Battle ends with Alejandra thanking Robbie as she’s arrested.

Cut to several days later. The team attends Hamilton Slade’s funeral. Sara and Kenshiro decide to stay in Texas as Robbie’s main support team. Gabe also embraces his role as a member of Team Ghost Rider. Lisa is the last to join, saying that she always believed in the Ghost Rider. Robbie comforts her, telling her that he’s sorry for her loss, and Lisa thanks him for that. There are some signs of romantic feelings but nothing too blatant since Lisa is in mourning.

Robbie sees that the news are calling him a hero. Robbie doesn’t see himself that way and he rides off into the night, off to battle another demon.

As he rides off, we quickly cut back to Alejandra Jones, who is in a holding cell. In the cell’s mirror, she sees Eli Morrow looking back at her. He’s still there but it’s clear he has no power over her anymore.

The episode ends with Robbie riding off into the night...just as a motorcycle starts to follow him. We’re not shown who is following Robbie. Is it Johnny Blaze? Is it Danny Ketch? Is it Carter Slade? You’ll have to find out...in season two!

tagging (sorry, i know this is a long post): @angel-starbeam, @whistlingwindtree, @lostinthespeedforce, @agentmilayawithshield, @happilyshanghaied, @acerobbiereyes, @isisparker, @shutyourmoustache, @clarasghosts

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