#meanwhile... it looks like the squad has arrived safely

[eywaseclipse]

Written in the Stars Chapter 3: Rescue and Loss

Characters: Na’vi oc reader Tani, Jake, Neytiri, Kiri, Tuk, Lo’ak, Neteyam, Spider, RDA

Synopsis: Lo’ak, Spider, Kiri, and Tuk explore the site of the old shack, and get captured by the RDA Avatars. Mom, dad, Tani and Neteyam rescue the kids, but at a great cost. 

Warnings:  Angst, violence against children, major character death

Word Count: 3k

“I thought we lost them.” Jake’s eyes begin to tear. Neytiri sighs rubbing her thumb on his skin lovingly. “I understand. But you do not need to carry this burden alone Ma’Jake. We are a family. Sully’s stick together.” He sighs with a breath of relief. Grateful his mate is able to knock some sense in that thick skull of his when he needs it the most. “I know.” He nods to her. “Let’s get cleaned up.” She rises, taking him with her back to the tent. Unbeknownst to the Sully family, this war has only just begun.

Meanwhile at RDA Avatar Driver Space Station Base

The sound of a monitor slowly awakens Quaritch’s senses, a bright light burning into his skull. A slow arrival of consciousness flowing through his body. Blinking, a blurry figure hovers over him. A blue bald creature. “Colonel, hey, it’s me. Wainfleet. You’re awake.” With his military training and killer instincts he feels a surge of power radiate through his body, launching a heavy punch to this strange man. His body begins to thrash, as a fight or flight response. He feels multiple figures restraining his large body back into a glass wall. 

Screaming and scrambling fill his ears with sound. His senses on complete overdrive. “Colonel, calm down!” He hears in the background. He suddenly stops, realizing where he is. His hands fly up in defeat, “Alright, I’m cool. I’m cool.” Chest heaving with adrenaline he looks down to his hands; blue? He slowly lifts his head, to where the two way glass is, bringing himself to see this foreign reflection. “I’ll be damned.” He eyes himself up and down in this new body. An Avatar. He lifts his lips to reveal fangs, actual feline fangs. He scowls, immediately reminded of the enemy. “Well ain't that a bitch.” He snickers. His squad laughing in the background. 

He and the scientists run through a series of tests ensuring the success of his transfer to his new body. Now in zero gravity he’s instructed to pull a video log on the last known documentation of his human body. Watching his old self speak, his memories flood back into his brain like a light switch. “If you’re watching this well, that means I got my ticket punched.” The video goes onto explaining the fail safe of launching his own Avatar to ensure the colonel’s survival.

Selfridge appearing, explaining the memory drives implanted in the driver’s brain. “Oh you can kill us, but we’ll just regroup in hell. Remember the real enemy out there. Jake Sully.” His ears perk up to the familiar name. The hatred burning inside of him. He scowls to the monitor as the screen goes to black. Later that evening the squad prepares for landing into Pandora’s atmosphere. The mission is simple: Kill Jake Sully and everyone he loves. 

Next Day on Pandora

Lo’ak, Kiri, Spider, and Tuk all skip along the Hallelujah mountains, happily yipping and laughing amongst the clouds. The sky is clear and bright, the sun in the sky in a high noon. Lo’ak hears Kiri tease Spider. “Come monkey boy, keep up! My 7 year old sister is faster than you!” She laughs in his direction.

The group bounces from rock to rock making their way to the forbidden destination of the day. As they crawl their way down the canopy vines, they descend into the part of the forest that has been off limits to them ever since their mother and father won the battle against the sky people 15 years ago. A small voice breaks Lo’ak’s concentration. “Guys wait up! You’re too fast!” Tuk squeaks. Spider shakes his head in irritation. 

“Dude why’d you bring her anyway?” Lo’ak huffs. “She’s such a cry baby! “She’s all I’m telling! You’re not supposed to go to the battlefield. I’ll tell mom if you don’t let me come!” Mimicking her child voice. Kiri stands to defend her sister. “Hey! Don’t pick on her!” But Tuk is not bothered. Instead she sticks out her tongue waving her tail to her brother. “Mmmm!” She playfully teases. The destination is now in sight. “Bro look, there it is!” Lo’ak excitedly points to the helicopter wreckage.

Now covered in vines, moss and leaves, it looks hauntingly beautiful. Tuk gasps with curiosity as her older brother and Spider climb the branches to get a better look. “Are there any dead bodies up there?” Lo’ak and Spider share a mischievous look. “Bro, come on!” They hop down leading the way to the old shack. As they walk along the forest floor something comes into sight. Footprints. “What the hell?” Spider questions. 

They all share a look of concern. “Who’s do you think those are? Human?” “No they’re way too big for human.” Lo’ak says quietly. “Avatars?” Lo’ak looks at Spider with shock. “Yeah, but they’re not our guys.” He touches the boot prints softly, silently tracking. “Lo’ak what’re you doing?” Kiri interjects.

He shushes her so he can focus. “Shh. I’m tracking.” They follow his lead as he trails the footprints that go all the way to the shack. Suddenly there’s movement and sound. They hide behind the brush of the flora and fauna. “Holy shit.” Spider whispers in disbelief. Avatar bodies. A squad in military uniforms, circling the shack with their machine guns. Spider turns to Lo’ak “Dude this is it. This is the actual spot where your dad and my dad fought.” Their eyes lit with curiosity. Lo’ak sighs. “Shit. I gotta call this in.” Kiri rolls her eyes. 

“Are you kidding me? Dad is going to ground you. For LIFE!” She hisses. He ignores her comment, and presses his fingers to his neck comm. “Devil Dog this is Eagle Eye.” Jake, Neytiri, you, and Neteyam, on an afternoon ride, hear his neck piece come to life. Jake’s ears pinned hearing his son’s voice. “Eagle Eye send your traffic.

A silence falls to Lo’ak as he quietly braces himself for what he’s about to tell his dad. “I’m at the old shack. There’s Avatars in camou and carrying AR’s.” Jake’s heart stops, he swears this kid is going to be the death of him. “Who’s we?” He practically grits through his teeth.

He hears a soft sigh through the microphone. “Me, Spider, Kiri… and Tuk.” Neytiri and you suddenly gasp. Your heart now racing. “Boy you listen to me, you get the hell out of there right now, stay out of sight. Do not engage. I repeat, do not engage.” He hears Lo’ak’s “Yes sir.” Neteyam interrupts his thoughts. “Dad, come on, I know a way!” Banking right, they descend into the territory that he swore he’d never step foot on again. 

With complete terror coursing through your veins, you allow your adrenaline to drive your emotions assuming the worst. Your thoughts flowing into your Ikran, causing her to hiss with power. Your trance broken with Jake’s voice booming. “Land over to the branches.” Signaling for Neteyam to have you all to find a spot for regroup. With the Ikrans now mounting on the forest branches, you climb down to face your leader. It’s only 4 of you.

God only knows how many of the squad members there are. But you don’t care. Your family needs you. Eclipse now falling into place your heart clenches with fear. “Alright we’re going into a full mission rescue out there. Neytiri will signal the call, and Tani, you and I will make our way as a team and then split off to flank them on each side, copy?” You nod your head in agreement. 

“Yes sir.” Neteyam is visibly upset he’s not included in this scenario. “Dad what about me?” Jake turns to his son, “You stay with the Ikrans.” Neteyam gasps with frustration. “But dad, I’m a warrior like you, I’m supposed to fight!” Jake steps close to his son, “You stay to the Ikran. That’s a direct order. I’m not gonna say it again.” Filled with defeat, Neteyam retreats to the Ikran scowling. “Yes sir.” You wince at the interaction, knowing Neteyam is more than capable to assist, but Jake can’t take any chances. You and Neytiri turn to wait for his signal, and head out. 

Earlier Right After Lo’ak Calls Activity In

Lo’ak sighs, knowing that he very well might get grounded for life because of this. Him, Spider, Tuk, and Kiri slowly make their way back into the thick of the forest as quietly as possible. “Come on Tuk, hurry up.” Kiri whispers. They’re now a few clicks away from the shack, sensing they’re in the clear. When all of the sudden Tuk screams. “Drop your weapons! Hands up! NOW!” An Avatar member screams. Tuk’s kuru is pulled, as she shouts in pain.

Kiri lunges to her trying attempting to get her sister, but she’s not fast enough. Her own braid aggressively pulled, causing her to scream in agony. “Shut up!” A bald Avatar yells in her ear. Lo’ak and Spider are pinned as they drop their weapons.

Lo’ak hisses in pain reaching out to Kiri. A large Avatar circles around them with a disgusting smirk on his face. “Boss, look, 4 fingers. We got a halfbreed.” The bald alien smirks, holding Kiri’s hands into the air. Their leader walks up to Lo’ak squatting. “You, show me your fingers.” Lo’ak immediately defies the alien, bringing his hands up to him, flipping both middle fingers to his face. He snickers.

“You’re his aren’t you?” Lo’ak spits a vicious hiss into the air making the strange man chuckle darkly. “Oh you’re his alright.” Quaritch now seething with anger grabs a fist full of Lo’ak’s braids “Where is he?” Lo’ak speaks in Na’vi “Sorry I don’t speak English, to buttholes.” He’s met with another sharp tug to his head, releasing a second hiss. “Really?” Quaritch laughs. Kiri begins to mutter in Na’vi praying to Eywa. “Mawey calm.” She’s met with a harsh tug to her braid causing her to scream in pain. “Shut up!” She’s brought to her knees.

“Don’t touch her!” Spider pleads. Quaritch’s interest now on the human boy. He kneels eye level, “Miles?’ Spider huffs in defeat. Quaritch’s eyes squinted deep in thought. And then it hit him.“I thought they put you on a ship back to Earth?” Spider snickers to the blue man. “You can’t put babies in cryo dipshit.” 

Quaritch pulled back to reality, realizing where this boy’s loyalty lies. “Boss what’s the move, what’re we doing here?” Quaritch turns to the monitor his squad member is holding, pulling up the last memory of his human body, causing a new surge of anger radiating through his body. He calls in to his superior. “Iron Sky, blue on actual. Over.” 

He hears “Standing by for extract, over.” The Avatars get out handcuffs and bind each kid preventing them from escaping. The sky now begins to release rain into the night filled forest. Lo’ak hangs his head in defeat, when he suddenly hears the call. He knows that sound. Another yip rips into the air from the distance. Spider slowly turns to him, as Lo’ak nods his head in agreement. His mom and dad training him and his siblings for this, in case something like that ever were to happen. Rescue mission. He looks to his sisters, making sure they heard the call; they do. Bodies now tense, they anticipate for his mom’s and your arrows to release any minute. 

You and Jake make your way to the forest, tracking the bootprints that lead you to the kids. Neytiri is up ahead, pressed against the trunk of a tree. Now sounding off her call. She releases two more to ensure the kids hear. That’s your cue. Jake hand signals to you, you to the right, him to the left. Your heart is pounding through your chest, as you make sight of an Avatar figure right in your path. You quietly unsheathe your dagger, and slit his throat. He falls to the ground with a light thump.

Jake releases his tomahawk into the skull of an RDA member, not losing a beat of his stride. The group of Avatars now in your line of sight, Neytiri draws her bow. Kiri whispering into the air. “Shut up.” One of the Drivers hisses to her. Kiri keeps whispering. “I said shut up!” Suddenly whipped onto the ground, a hiss of an arrow shoots straight into the skull of the alien. “Contact made!” Rips into the air as the shouting commences. 

The Sully kids sink their fangs into the aliens, as they release them screaming in pain. Tuk runs to Lo’ak. Spider and Kiri, run making a break for it, as the live rounds of ammunition tear into the night lighting up the air around them. You and Neytiri now firing your arrows one by one into the demons. Jake thrusts himself into action, slamming his ax into the bodies of the RDA. “Agh!” You hiss into the air as your arrow makes contact with the enemy. Neytiri’s signature feathers, now in front of a cowering Quaritch.

“Is that you Mrs. Sully?” Neytiri’s eyes immediately widen with disbelief. “I see you’ve been busy making a whole litter of half breeds. Why don’t you come on out here Mrs. Sully?” She hisses into the air, fueled by raw primal rage. “DEMON! I will kill you as many times as I have to!” She spits. He continues to taunt her.

Unbeknownst to her, one of the RDA members has target locked on the back of her head. He brings his fingers to the trigger, ready to pull. As he releasees the bullets an arrow flies straight into the back of his skull, killing him on impact. Neteyam, huffing stands behind him as he makes his way to the fight. You’re releasing another arrow into the eye socket of a demon when you hear the shots closest to your left. 

You whip your head around to asses the damages, only to find Neteyam running to you. “What the hell are you doing here Skxqwng moron!? You are supposed to be with the Ikrans!” You yell in frustration. Just as he is about to respond, out of your peripheral you see another demon raise their gun, aiming fire.

You launch yourself to throw Neteyam out of the way, your body just barely escaping the bullets yourself. Jake right behind you two saw the demon just in time for his ax to be catapulted into his chest. You hear the remaining squad retreat to avoid major casualties, as you grab Neteyam from the ground. “You okay? Hey, hey look at me.” He’s still in shock, but completely unharmed. His small voice responds with “Yeah.” You bring him into a hug. 

“I should pluck your eyes out!” You  now grip his face. Jake meets you and him, to ask where Neytiri is. You whip your head to where you last saw her position, as you hear footsteps making way to your group; the kids. Neytiri now slumped to the trunk of the tree, with a hand pressed to her stomach. A stray bullet made impact, ripping straight through her gut.

You’re first to rush to her side, the panic now reaching your body as you grasp what’s happened. You bend down eye level to her, “Neytiri?” You say in a small voice. Her breaths quick and sharp, as she fights the pain. Her body heaving. You look down to where her hand is covering her wound, dark blood seeping down drenching torso, and loincloth. You hear the others circle in behind you. “No no no no.” Jake whispers in shock. Bending down next you he stares at his dying mate. 

Neytiri grabs her bow, shakily handing it to you. “Tsmuke sister, Take my bow. You must protect the people now.” She says in shuddering breaths. You hesitantly grab the wood, tears now flowing from your cheeks. “Mama?” Tuk squeaks from behind you. Kiri grabs hold of her baby sister, watching as her mother speaks. Jake takes Neytiri’s face in his hands.

“Hey, hey look at me. You’re gonna be fine. We’re gonna get you out of here okay?” His voice quivering with horror. “Ma’Jake, there is not enough time.” She says weakly. “You must be brave, for our children. You have strong heart.” As she brings her blood soaked hand to his chest. “You will find happiness again, both of you.” She whispers, as she looks to Jake, then you. 

Your body now quivering with your sobs, you pray to the Great Mother. “Please Great Mother! HELP US!” Neytiri grabs your hand, taking her final breaths. “Our Great Mother does not take sides Ma’Tani, she only protects the balance of life.” Your mind is racing, in complete denial. “Come here, children.” Neytiri beckons the kids. They slowly circle around their dying mother. “Be kind to one another, Agh!” She hisses in pain. “Mom!” Kiri shouts in fear. “Mom please don’t leave us.” Lo’ak begs. “You must take care of each other when I’m gone.” Her breaths now shallow, and quick, the life leaving her body.

You hear Jake’s quiet sobs over your louder ones, there wouldn’t be any way to get her back to medical tents in time. You await your worst nightmare. “Tani, I give you my-” Your ears perked, but she does not complete the sentence. You grip face, eyes wide with disbelief. “Neytiri? NEYTIRI! NO!” You shake her, silently praying she will wake. Her pupils now completely dilated, her body stills. Jake hangs his head low, as he watches you scream over his dead mate. “Mom?” Neteyam speaks beside you. You screech over her body cradling her head. Your heaving form violently shaking in tears. 

Your primal screams rip into the night sky. Lo’ak shocked, has never seen such visceral pain. He sobs onto his older brother’s shoulder as your continued hoarse screams solidify his reality. Jake numb himself, grabs your shaking body, “Hey it’s okay. We gotta get out of here. It’s not safe.” You mind desensitized to his words, continuing your screams.

It isn’t until Tuk touches your shoulder in desperation that you snap out of your trance. “Tani!” She cries. Jake touches his neck comms with a shaky voice, “Devil Dog to Norm. We need assistance on an emergency evac. Over.” Your sobbing form, turns to Tuk, your watery eyes meeting her big ones. You throw yourself onto her, squeezing tight. Lo’ak grabs hold of you both, hugging your bodies, as Kiri and Neteyam join in all desperately afraid to let go.

“This is Norm, I read you. Send your coordinates. We’re sending a heli out now. Over.” Jake states the coordinates to Norm, as you cry into little Tuk’s hair hiccuping. Your breathing begins to even out as you feel your body reach a paralyzed state. You hear the helicopter before you see it, the loud whirling of motors ripping into the forest canopy. You all look above, to see Norm in Avatar form with a few of the other scientists, lower a cage like contraption onto the floor. You look to your dead friend’s form, guarding her body, hissing at the aircraft. 

Jake touches your shoulder. “Hey it’s okay. They’re here to help, we need to get everyone out of here.” Your wet eyes, stare at him, with a slow nod you step away from Neytiri. Jake and you help Norm carry her to the aircraft, as they hoist her lifeless form into the sky, like an angel of death. Jake does an internal head count now that he sees his kids. “Wait where’s Spider?” He asks. Kiri begins to sob onto your shoulder. “They took him!” You and Jake share a concerned look. Just when you thought things could not possible get worse. The enemy has captured the human boy who knows all your operations. “We need to get out of here. Now.”

[cantsayidont]

May 1942. Since he's not pictured on this inventory cover, you might wonder, "Who is Mr. Baffle?" He's a debonair gentleman burglar, newly arrived from Europe (in the opening pages, we see him using the loot from his last robberies to escape a firing squad), who sets himself up as a society columnist in order to compile "a list of extremely rich people whose safes need opening!" Baffle is obviously a pastiche of E.W. Hornung's famous character A.J. Raffles, who had been featured in two different American film adaptations in the 1930s, first with Ronald Colman in 1930 and then with David Niven in 1939. Bill Finger and Bob Kane apparently favored the Colman version (as well they should — it's grand), as Baffle looks and sounds very much like Ronald Colman.

What does Batman do when confronted with such a charming and chivalrous gentleman thief (Baffle's nom de plume is "Charles Courtly")? If you've seen any of Batman's early confrontations with Catwoman, you may have an inkling, but let's take a look:

If you guessed "flirt outrageously," you were correct! Batman first encounters Baffle (who has not yet become Charles Courtly) when the Dynamic Duo stumble onto Baffle's first local robbery. Baffle finds this all smashing good fun, and Batman responds in kind. (Robin, meanwhile, takes it on the chin.)

Baffle then escapes, calling, "Adieu, old top!" to Batman.

The page above is also an example of a minor Batman trope I love: when Batman stumbles onto something completely by accident, but others, knowing his reputation, assume it's the result of some brilliant ratiocination, and of course Batman doesn't correct them.

If you're familiar with Ronald Colman, who had a famously mellifluous voice, it's easy to imagine him delivering all of Mr. Baffle's lines. Here's what Colman looked like in the 1930 film RAFFLES, BTW:

Colman's Raffles doesn't have Baffle's Van Dyke beard, but Mr. Baffle soon shaves his beard for his role as "Courtly," making the resemblance that much clearer.

Baffle goes on to do some more crimes, hits on Bruce Wayne's girlfriend Linda Page, briefly claims to be Batman (!), and then regretfully takes Linda hostage. This does nothing to dampen Batman's regard:

Note that Batman more or less lets Baffle escape, much as he generally let Catwoman escape during this period.

This was unfortunately Mr. Baffle's sole appearance, which is too bad, because it cries out for a followup that introduces Catwoman into the mix. (One can't help but notice that Bruce clearly has a type: slick burglars or jewel thieves who aren't TOO evil, but aren't too good either.)

[nysocboy]

Gemstones Episode 2.7: Holding hands among the yurts, and eating pizza for dessert

When you get tired of discussing sex: Whew, Eli's not dead after all, but he's in a coma. Jesse/Amber and Judy/BJ hug and cry at his bedside.  Kelvin is noticeably absent.  Then the siblings go out into the parking lot and throw up multiple times. followed by the partners.   Is this a common response to grief, or did they all have bad sushi for dinner?

Ok, we're not tired of discussing sex yet:  We cut to Keefe trapped in the God Squad's tiger cage.  There are several openings to look through, but he prefers the glory hole.This time, Sky (Joel Rush, top photo) pushes through, hitting him in the eye!  

Keefe collapses, screaming in pain, and starts to cry.  He has died and gone to hell, being punished for Kelvin's sins -- a veritable Christ figure.  Note that Keefe undergoes a symbolic death and resurrection in every season.

When the God Squad guys leave, Kelvin appears with food and toiletries.  Interestingly, Keefe calls him by the formal "Brother Kelvin."  He isn't sure that he wants a romantic relationship with this guy who lets him suffer in a tiger cage instead of saying "Game's over! Let Keefe out!" and calling security if the God Squad resists.  But Christ-Keefe doesn't even suggest release; instead, he advises Kelvin that he's as powerful as Eli, just as Jesus was as powerful as his Father.  

Beauty and the Beast:  In church, Jesse announces that Eli was gunned down while driving on Long Point Road. Trivia note: This is a real road in a suburb of Charleston.  It leads past the Seacoast Church, a megachurch that closely resembles the Salvation Center.

Afterwards, the family is at their post-church dinner at Jason's Steakhouse, when Kelvin arrives, wearing a dark purple robe, carefully holding his glass of orange drink. 

They yell at him for not being around late;y, but he isn't ready to show himself in public yet. "I am a beast!"  Jesse quips that the robe makes him look like the beauty from Beauty and the Beast.

Next they argue over who will fill the power vacuum left by Eli's absence, until Martin has had enough: "Can't you just be kind to each other? Self-absorbed, loud, arrogant fucking assholes."  That's about the size of it.

Kelvin agrees:"Y'all are a bunch of a-holes."  Jesse points out that he was talking about "you, too, dick-lips."  The term refers to lips that would be especially nice to have sex with: a call-back to the glory hole scene earlier, and yet another reference to Kelvin being gay.  

Jesse's Plan:  After discussing the possibility of blowing up Junior's house and having a heart-to-heart with Martin, Jesse reveals to the siblings his new plan: he'll tell the congregation and the news media that Eli is recovering, and give them his hospital and room number, so the listening Cycle Ninjas will know to where to strike again.  Except Eli won't be there: Jesse will clear the hospital and lay in wait, ready to gun them down. Can you really clear an entire hospital? The siblings think that it's a crazy idea, but he talks them into it: "Let's lie to the church like a fucking family." 

Cut to the ambulances and army jeeps moving Eli to the safe house. Which happens to be his own mansion; is that wise?  Judy, Amber, and the kids join him.

On the third day he rose from the dead:  Meanwhile, Keefe sneaks back to the God Squad compound and tells Keefe: "I'm busting you out of here."  

Wait. When Eli visited, Keefe was already in the tiger cage.  Then he was shot, and they announced that he was in a coma in the Sunday service.  IT'S SUNDAY AGAIN!  Has Keefe been in that cage for over a week?  That would be inconceivably brutal.  Besides it wouldn't fit with the Christ motif: Keefe has to descend "into hell" on Friday, and get resurrected on Sunday.   I think there is a problem with the show's continuity. 

"Are we taking back the house?" Keefe  asks.  I'd be asking a lot more than that, just before I called the police and my lawyer.

"We are ejecting," Kelvin answers. "We'll move in with the rest of the family in the safe house." They run hand-in-hand through the yard to freedom.

This is a significant scene: Kelvin admits that Keefe is a member of the family, and invites a public display of affection that establishes them as a romantic couple.  A scene ago he yelled at Keefe for trying to hold his hand.  Now he initiates it.  

Question: Keefe is wearing only a jockstrap.  Where do they intend to find clothes? Kelvin had to move their stuff out of the master bedroom suite,  but it would still be in the house, right? 

Pizza and Cycle Ninjas:  At the safe house, Keefe goes to work on embedding himself into the family.  First he advises Kelvin to visit his father (and calls him Brother instead of the formal Brother Kelvin).  Then he tries to distract Jesse's kids from the crisis with what he thinks are funny stories.  While they are eating pizza, he notes that as a young boy, he often had pizza for every meal, even for dessert. That's not funny, it's sad.  Where were your parents? 

They are not impressed. 

We cut to Kelvin visiting the comatose Eli.  He admits that the God Squad was kind of dumb, but he just started it to make Eli proud. And invite a lot of musclemen to the steam showers.  He prays, promising to "never succumb to hubris again" if  God heals Eli.  And Eli speaks!  A miracle! The end.

Oh, right, we still have 15 minutes to go.  Jesse, the men in the family, and the mercenaries waiting in the cleared hospital.   Four Cycle Ninjas appear, armed with rifles. One is shot, and the others flee.  Jesse follows, knocks a second off his motorcycle, and shoves a taser up his butt, enacting an anal rape. Gideon chases and subdues the others.  The end.

The full review, with nude photos and explicit sexual discussions, is on RG Beefcake and Boyfriends

[kuzann]

Guardian Moons AU: Team Flare Overview

Gonna add more to my silly Perfectworldshipping AU cause folks in the Discord were excited about it. So here’s more info on Team Flare in this AU! First post about the AU is here with general information on it. This post is kind of a work in progress since I’m sure I’ll think of stuff after posting and have to add it lol.

---

Main Mission & Recruitment

Lysandre founded Team Flare so he could have backup in the form of like-minded individuals for his alien-hunting endeavors. Are they gonna do anything bad to the aliens if they find them? Nope, they just want to know about them. They have a whole database of confirmed aliens, disproved aliens, and common hoaxes to watch out for, most of it accessible to the public so they can be aware too. If said aliens turn out to be a threat to Earth then they’d work to stop them, but otherwise they’re just out for knowledge and sniffing out hoaxes. The hoax debunking is important to helping normal folks feel safe when they sleep at night, so it’s also pretty important to Team Flare too.

Though it starts as being strictly about discovering aliens and uncovering associated hoaxes, Team Flare eventually branches out to pretty much all things paranormal. It’s partly because aliens/paranormal stuff just naturally overlaps, and also because some of grunts were able to win Lysandre over by talking to him about their paranormal special interests and he got excited. Team Flare divisions have special names when they deal with a specific topic and special uniforms: for example Spectral Flare is for ghost stuff, and they look pretty goth and have black and purple uniforms.

Anyone can join Team Flare as long as they’re a good team player and treat others with respect, thinking aliens and the paranormal are cool is just a bonus. It’s high-diversity as a result of this, with members from all manner of social strata and categories mingling together and vibing over their shared interest in the paranormal--or just having fun watching coworkers be passionate about said topic while enjoying the good pay and working conditions.

The Ultimate Weapon

Upon discovering the Ultimate Weapon’s existence, Lysandre decides that it must be destroyed in order to keep it from falling into the wrong hands and makes this Team Flare’s main mission. They keep this mission under wraps so the public won’t panic about such a horrible thing existing and so they can hopefully get rid of it before any shady organizations get any ideas about what to do with it. The plan is to get it to the surface and destroy it there, since detonating it underground could cause unanticipated collateral damage if there are undetected fault lines nearby that could cause earthquakes, so Team Flare is stockpiling energy sources on top of their typical work a bit like in canon but without the harming Pokemon part.

The protags get hints that something’s up as they help Team Flare with various other and related projects and are eventually told about the plan because they’ve earned enough trust with Lysandre and the team and they’re chosen students of Sycamore’s. Luckily they arrive just in time to help out when things go sideways during the finale too.

Unfortunately and unbeknownst to Lysandre until the very end, his discovering the weapon at all is in part a ploy by AZ to get someone else to do the hard work of raising it so he can move in at the last minute and seize it before it gets destroyed. Which he does. As Team Flare prepares to bring up the Ultimate Weapon and destroy it, AZ and his followers assault their base and are able to take control of it after AZ incapacitates most of Team Flare’s members. 

Science Division

The lead science squad of Team Flare have varying degrees of enthusiasm for the organization’s mission, depending on who you ask. Xerosic is here strictly for the good pay and the science and as long as he has those he’s happy. Aliana, Bryony, Celosia, and Mable, meanwhile, are big paranormal fans and they enjoy making gadgets to help Team Flare and going on missions.

Main Base

The main base is under the Lysandre Cafe, with the cafe itself being open to the public. There are regulars outside of Team Flare members(and Sycamore) who go there just to listen to the interesting gossip. Hex maniacs and psychics really like hanging out there, and they’re even a potential source of information on potential incidents that Team Flare pays attention to; anyone who is able to pass on accurate information gets free food and drink in return.

[dc-polls]

Part 20 - DC Madlib Adventure

Yes. He could feel it. The marmite, potent as it was, was worth it. Cheetah had infused it with fire powers and the energy pulsed within him.

But before he explored that, he looked back at Tim, who was doing his best not to get shredded by Cheetah's claws. Jason picked up the pickle jar and shook it. "You wanted me to eat these? Sure why not."

He popped the lid and ate one of those too. The vinegary brine didn't sit well with the marmite, but he toughed it out. And this one was quite unexpected. The energy it gave him felt like a smooth crackle in his hands. He reached out to touch the can of car grease on the table, and as soon as he did, he felt an instantaneous shift charge through the air. A sizeable explosion burst from nothing as the tin's particles cancelled each other out, forcing it out of existence. The force of it blew him back a few steps, but then he grinned, wide and giddy.

"Oh shit. I could have fun with this," he said. "But first thing's first. This book has got to go. I hate destroying a relic like this, but we can't risk it falling into the wrong hands."

"NOOO!" Cheetah shrieked behind him. She put everything she had into wriggling free, but between Tim doing his best to restrain her, and the oversized Bane pinning her to the floor, it was futile. All she could do was cry out. "Not the book! It's priceless! It's value is beyond your life!!"

"Yeah? Well its value is about to be zilch."

He outstretched his arms, charged up a blast and hit it with a fireball. Cheetah continued to scream and flail as the book went up in flames.

"Eh, while I'm at it let's get rid of all these too," Jason said. He proceeded to alternately fireball and anti-matter blast everything else on the table.

Cheetah cried out again, while Bane and Tim slowly morphed back to their normal forms. Luckily that meant Cheetah was still held mostly captive by Bane's usual strength. Meanwhile Jason looked down at his hands in disappointment. With the book gone, he too could feel his newly gained powers draining.

The silky anteater emerged once the coast was clear. "Yes! Powers fading! Can feel it! Feel.. normal... feel... eep eeep ep eep." With the spells from the book wearing off, the anteater had returned back to normal as well. No more heightened intelligence, no more talking. It huddled into a little ball at Jason's feet, and he picked it up, making sure to cradle it safely in his arms.

Then, completely out of nowhere the cavalry finally arrived, dropping in through the already destroyed ceiling of the Haunted Mansion. They were only moments too late to miss all the action! To Jason's surprise it was...

Next

[visionkept]

14.  STOWAWAY :  for one muse to find the other hiding on the same ship.

█ █ ▹   a comprehensive list of scenarios.      / /      CLOSED.    

                       It’s been TWO HOURS already. When do they plan to give up ?! 

Never. The answer’s never, or perhaps in a month or two, let’s see how it goes.

A MARCHING TROOP has been surrounding the city for hours, it’s safe to say that they have reached a dead end. The city ROARS their name, its guards look from one corner to another in an ATTEMPT to find their whereabouts. Almost every business had been notified of their presence, hanging wanted posters with their face on it, creating a commotion between Liyue’s citizens, mumbling and whispering as this foreign individual becomes one to be careful around.

How they manage to get themselves in trouble for the smallest things is still a big MYSTERY to them. But for the RECORD, this wasn’t meant to go this way.

For CONTEXT, Tomoya’s no CRIMINAL. At least not in the eyes of those with COMMON SENSE. They have come to the region of contracts as a follow up of their travels. One week ago they were nothing more than another RONIN from INAZUMA. Here and now, a week later, they are hunted for fucking the wife of a millelith squad leader. ( UNKNOWINGLY, of course, they had NO IDEA of her current marital status. In their defense, she didn’t say anything nor tried to reject them ). 

Caught mid act, the blond had barely time to get their pants on before escaping the scene. It’s one bitter memory that had gotten EXTREME consequences. Not their fault nor what they would have wanted. If the affected soldier wanted their head on a silver plate or to send them directly to prison to be never seen again. . .  that was up to him to decide but meanwhile, they had better things to do like ESCAPING for example !

                                You are only a dead man if they catch you !

Hiding here, in the ship of the so recalled CAPTAIN BEIDOU, the ALCOR, had to be the MOST risky move they have done since their arrival to the land of the GEO ARCHON. If they get DISCOVERED who KNOWS what they will do to them. SHIT, there’s no turning back now, is it ?

                            ❝ Where is she ? WHERE IS SHE ?! ❞

Tomoya holds their breath, motionless while guards check the harbor and the people in the area. The ALCOR is planned to sail for another hour or two, that gave them enough time to plan an escape that wll save their ass. Gosh darn, they are still looking for HER ! WAIT. . . . HER ? 

                                      ❝ SHE has to be HERE !  ❞

SHE. . . . SHE ?! Last time they checked they were no ‘SHE’. Or could it be. . . ❝ Got yourself on a big one too, huh ? ❞ Besides the boxes the blond used for camouflage, another individual could be seen hiding just as well. If they are correct, that’s the ‘SHE’ in question.

❝ Hiding ? For what did they accuse you of or let me guess, another BIG misunderstanding. ❞ Welcome to the CLUB. ❝ It’s okay, they can’t hear us. C’mon, talk to me for a lil. I’ve been here for an hour or two and I’m getting BORED. ❞

[anemoarchonhoe]

Imagine this:

The entire Genshin squad were preparing to come get you from Earth and convince you to come to Teyvat, but Albedo and Sucrose's dimension portal began to malfunction, causing it to suck everything in its close vicinity. Unfortunately for Venti, he was super close to the machine in his excitement to be the first to cross over and meet you, so he was sucked in immediately. He was caught off guard so he wasn't able to fight the vacuum that pulled him in. The others were quick to run and escape as the machine exploded and blew off Albedo's lab.

Everyone thought Venti died and mourned him.

"Ooh, ouch. That made me dizzy."

Venti held his head with a hand as he willed the dizziness away. This is almost as bad as a hangover after a fun night at Angel's Share, though as he continued to stay still, the faster it subsided. Once he has completely recovered, he opens his eyes and looks up from his position on the floor.

There you were, in all your glory. Wearing an office suit and seated on your swivel chair, infront of your glass table and computer. You looked like you were in the middle of a talk with your assistant when Venti arrived, and now you were both gawking at him just like he's staring at you, open mouthed.

You look... you look... absolutely divine. Powerful.

You snap your mouth closed and turn to your assistant, clearing your throat as your expression smooths itself back to cool indifference.

"Cancel all my appointments for this afternoon."

You turn to look at Venti and the look in your eyes made the bard blush a soft pink. Despite being fully clothed, he feels bare under your intense gaze. You licked your lips and smirked. Pink now turned to a furious red.

"...I'm afraid there's a huge change of plan." You chuckled.

SWEET DUMMY HOUSEHUSBAND VENTI WITH CEO!READER WHO SIMPS FOR HIM.

Venti is so pampered, all sorts of vintage wine being handed to him by you almost everyday. Any instrument he asks of you are immediately delivered, and you always seem so pleased with yourself when he kisses your cheek in gratitude. You take him to private islands you own when you feel like he's becoming a bit stir crazy inside your billion dollar home, and you let him experience things he never could in Teyvat, like riding a plane.

You, tired from all of your CEO work and talking with greedy rich people trying to curry favor with you, coming home to Venti and his sweetly simple dishes.

"But we have maids, love." You gently reminded him as you gently kissed his lips. "You didn't need to cook. You know you could just order them to do it."

"I know, my muse. But they'd never be able to put my secret ingredient on the dishes!"

"And what, pray tell, is that secret ingredient?"

Venti rubbed your noses together, his eyes sparkling with adoration. "Why, love of course! They'd never love you like I do."

You melted against his arms and he was all too happy to lead you to your chair and helped you in. He even fed you himself as he cracked silly jokes, lifting your mood. He even massages your shoulders, all the remaining tension leaves your body completely. He sings a song he composed while you were out working and you've never felt so loved.

You just know you'll never find another man like him, who never cared about your riches.

Meanwhile in his mind, Venti rejoices. He internally thanks the machine for transporting him safely in your world. Now, he's yours and you're his.

Here's hoping the others won't attempt to cross over again, so he could keep you all to himself.

Wanna buy me a kofi? : anemoarchonhoe

[kerokerogecko]

Killer Week Day 5

Killer x Reader

warnings: some violence i guess

notes: this was based on that one Harley Quinn scene from suicide squad 2. If you know you know.

♡

Rescue

Great. It happened again. Your past follows you wherever you go. And of course it followed you to the Victoria Punk. To the Kid pirates. 

As you looked around the jail cell you were in and messed with the handcuffs that were around your wrists your mind started to wonder, thinking about your first day with the crew. They knew who you were when they met you. Because of that Kid was adamant about you joining his crew. It was awkward at the beginning, you didn't trust them, they didn't trust you. You still wondered how they became so important to you. It was probably because of the second in command.

Killer warmed his way into your heart without you noticing. You weren't a fool, you knew what the heart's palpitations meant. And you knew that he felt the same, you guys just never had the time to say it to each other. And probably never would.

The sound of the cell door opening caught your attention, you looked up to see a guard grinning at you from above.

— Your time has come filthy rat. Our boss wants to see you and you better pay what you own him.

His shit eating grin disappeared when you kicked him in the gut. As he tried to recover from your blow you smacked the back of his head with your handcuffs. You took your time searching the man for your keys. 'They are probably too far away at this point anyway' you sadly thought to yourself. It wouldn’t be the first time your crew left you to rot in another ship, it probably wouldn't be the last. You sighed as your cuffs fell to the ground.

.

Meanwhile, on the Victoria Punk.

.

— CAPTAIN, SHIP AHEAD!! I THINK IT'S THEM!! 

A crewmate screamed from the crows nest and Killer’s heart jumped.

The fuckers had the audacity to sneak in on their ship and kidnap you in the middle of the night. Killer’s eyes were filled with rage, you were precious to him, he wouldn't lose you. Not like this. Not if he could do something. They spat on Kid's face and they were going to pay for it. No one touches a kid pirate and lives.

The Victoria was at full speed and when the enemy ship was within reach of Kid's devil fruit ability it was over for them. The men were ready, the whole ship was thirsty for blood. Killer was the first one to leap onto the enemy ship only to find… you.

You stood there, with your hands dirty and a pile of bodies on your feet. He was at a loss of words.

— Killer? — you asked, sounding just as confused as him.— What are you doing here? — you approached him, not believing your own eyes for a second.

— I- We came to… rescue… you. — he said, looking behind you at the massacre you did prior to their arrival. 

— You did? — your heart melted, you always had to look after yourself, no one ever came to your rescue, even when you needed it the most. And yet here they were, you looked at the Victoria and at your crewmates. Knowing that you were alright now. You're safe.

[navalcriminalimagines]

Birthday girl

I can't believe I did that, but here we are. This fits the "Multiple partners/gangbang" square from the Summer Bingo. With our favorite boys; Mike, Rafael, Sonny & Mike.

Words count: 3,9k

Warnings: Gangbang, p in v, creampie, spanking (slightly)

Sorry if there's any typos...

@thatesqcrush

You had a lot of hopes for your 30th birthday. Not just for the celebration itself but also in general. You thought that by now, you would be in a serious relationship, maybe with a kid or two, or at least planning on having one. You had many things you wanted to do before you were 30, but now that you think about it, you didn’t do much of those things. You’re actually far from it.

It just hurts to see people around you having their life together. Your best friend is married to a lovely man, she has a two year old boy and is pregnant with a second and she owns her business. Your sister - older than you - is traveling all around the world with her husband and their dog. And everytime you meet with your mother, it’s like she has to put pressure where it hurts. Every single time.

The only thing you can’t complain about is your job, and the people you work with. Being a detective at SVU is hard, it’s challenging, but you wouldn’t change it for the world. And you have the most amazing squad with you. Also, the most handsome men you ever met. Seriously. Mike, Sonny, Rafael, Nick. How could you not like your job when you see those faces 24/7?

You had expectations for your celebration party. You invited the squad to a beach house that you rented. They became your family, they are the ones you want to celebrate with. But little by little, it was falling apart. First, Amanda had to cancel since her sister is in town, and everyone knows Kim is a handful. Then, it was Liv turn. The day before, Noah got sick, so she decided to stay at home with him. That’s fair, Noah’s health first. And last but not least, your best friend and her husband canceled too. “No one to take care of the kid,” apparently. Is that what it is to have kids? Not having fun anymore? Cause if that’s it, maybe you don’t want one.

So, in the end, it’s just you and the boys. Not that you mind that thought at all.

You left early in the morning with Sonny. He offered to help you prepare the house, and go grocery shopping. “How’s the birthday girl?” he asked, gently as always.

“Kinda upset that everyone canceled. But I won’t let this ruin my day!”

“You’ll have fun anyway. We planned a few things with the guys,” he teased.

You spent the entire day annoying Sonny so he would talk. But he didn’t say a damn thing. Whatever they have prepared, you have no clue. It does stress you out a little but one thing is sure; you can trust them with your life.

Everything was ready when Mike, Nick and Rafael arrived. When Sonny opened the door to them, their arms were full. You saw booze, food, and gifts. Way too many gifts for one person. “What the hell is all of that?” you exclaimed when they dropped everything on the floor, in the living area.

“Everything we need to celebrate your 30th birthday. You will remember this weekend,” Mike said with a huge grin on his face. He walked up to you and hugged you softly. “Happy birthday Y/N,” he kissed your forehead.

Nick and Rafael did the same as Mike. Then, they quickly put their stuff in the bedrooms, before joining you and Sonny on the terrace, facing the ocean. The weather wasn’t the best, but you couldn’t care less.

“One rule for this weekend; not shop talk,” Nick warned and everyone agreed with it.

The evening started pretty smoothly. You were having drinks, eating the apéritif you and Sonny prepared earlier and chatting about nothing and everything. At some point, Rafael came back with a bottle of champagne and poured everyone a glass. “To our amazing Y/N,” he said, holding his glass in the air. “You probably have no idea what you mean to all of us and that’s actually what makes you even more lovable. We care about you more than you know. Happy birthday, querida,” he smiled and toast with you.

You looked at Rafael with puppy eyes. He and the three others know you’re not used to being praised like this, even though you deserve any less.

“This is nice! Mike, your turn,”

The sergeant obliged. He stood up and cleared his throat, “Everyone knows that me joining SVU was my dad’s idea, but honestly, I can’t thank him enough for making me. Cause now you’re in my life and girl, you won’t get rid of me. I can’t imagine my life without you, Y/N,” he paused, “and without those idiots either, but that’s not their birthdays,”

“You said it anyway,” Nick teased Mike.

“Shut up, Nick! Let him finish,” you elbowed Nick.

“Well, I was done actually. Happy birthday, honey,” he bent over to kiss your cheek and then toasted with you.

“I love you,” you mouthed to him. “Nick, now you can talk,” you were excited about this. The past weeks before your birthday hadn’t been easy, you overthink a lot about your life. You actually cried yourself to sleep the night before, but none of them know. Their words make you feel much better. You’re lucky to have them.

“Thank you, Ma’am,” he said before standing up, “We didn’t start on the right foot, you and me, probably because you never chewed your words with me and I hated it. But you were right on most of the things you ever told me. You’re - without a shadow of a doubt - the best friend I ever had. I can’t wait for us to fight like cats and dogs at the nursery home. Feliz cumpleaños, cariño,” he smiled at you and extended his glass so you could toast together, “Also, you’re hot as hell,”

It was an understatement to be honest, but Nick added this comment because he saw the tears forming in your eyes and he refused to see you cry on your birthday, because of something he said. Fortunately, it worked and you laughed instead of crying. “He’s right,” Rafael added with a wink. Of course, none of them missed how your cheeks turned bright red, even if you tried to play it cool.

“I guess it’s my turn now,” Sonny spoke and stood up. But he stayed silent for a moment, “What they said,” he simply said before sitting again.

Mike, Nick and Rafael immediately started to playfully boo him, “You suck man!” Nick exclaimed.

“You usually can’t shut up and now, that’s all you have to say?” Rafael teased him.

“Y/N should have the right to punish you,” Mike added.

“Oh yes, please! Can I punish you?” you eagerly asked.

“Oh honey,” Rafael grabbed your attention, “you don’t ask someone if you can punish them. You just do it,”

“I know, Rafi. But he’s a good catholic boy, remember? We can’t have him running out of the house, praying for our souls,”

“Y/N. You know Sonny is worse then all of us reunited,” Rafael said this so casually, he didn’t realize how it sounded.

“Dominick Carisi, you’re such a liar!” Mike shouted, “you told me you and Raf didn’t hook up!”

“Yeah well, about that? I lied,”

Sonny and Rafael exchanged sweet looks, while you were silently drinking your glass of champagne.. “Are you two dating or something?” Nick asked.

Rafael was about to say something, but Mike stood up in one quick motion and shouted even louder, “Oh my god!” The four of you looked at him, “I think what you should be asking, Nick, is if the three of them are a thing!”

One thing you hate about Mike is how he can read you like an open book. It was hard to hide from him, the night you had with Sonny and Rafael a few months ago. Now, there was no point to lie.

“I can’t believe you three hook up and didn’t say a damn thing,” Nick said.

“To be honest, I’m more offended about not being invited,” Mike added.

That’s how the night took a very different turn.

*****

“I think all the attention should be on the birthday girl,” Rafael said as he was unbuttoning his shirt. You and Sonny were kissing on one side of the couch while Mike and Nick were making out on the other side.

“Raf is right. To be fair, we have an entire weekend in this house,” Mike added.

In a matter of seconds, you were standing in the middle of the master bedroom, with the four men around you. “Mike and Nick need to know the safe word.” Rafael commented, and Sonny took his tongue out of your month to let you speak.

“Armadillo,” you said.

You can’t even begin to describe how you feel about all of this. Those four men just for you? All of their attention on you? That thought only could make cum on the spot. You had to remember the ground rules you had with Sonny and Rafael a few months ago, and the first one is not to overthink. You all know you can trust one another. You’re more safe with those four guys than with one single random guy.

Once the safe word was known to everyone, Sonny remained kissing you. You immediately granted access to his tongue, it was sloppy but passionate. Meanwhile, you felt a pair of hands taking off your top and another one taking care of your pants. “Matching underwear,” Mike commented, as he was the one staring, “You hoped for this, didn’t you?” You smiled against Sonny. You didn’t hope for a gangbang, but yes, you did hope to get lucky. But this was better than anything you hoped for.

“Of course, she did,” you heard Nick’s voice coming from behind you. He gently unhook your bra, freeing your tits and he didn’t waste a second before playing with them. Your nipples were already hard, craving for attention. “She knew she could have any of us,”

“Oh Nick, that’s worse than that. She knew she could have the four of us,” Rafael added, as one of his hands slided in your panties, feeling how hot and wet you were. “Guys, she is dripping,” he let the others know, and he gently started to tease your clit with his thumb.

As Sonny kept kissing you, Nick kept playing with your tits, and Rafael kept teasing your drenched entrance, Mike got undressed. You saw him from the corner of your eyes, and your attention quickly fell on his rock hard erection. He smiled when he noticed where you were looking and started to stroke himself. You locked eyes with him while tentatively trying to touch one of the guy's cock. Your hand landed on Sonny’s crotch and he groaned at the sensation, even through the fabric of his jeans. But Rafael used his free hand to grab your wrist. “Such a needy cock slut,” he said, right next to your ear.

“Maybe Sonny should replace his tongue with his cock,” Nick offered and he felt you nodding. So Sonny stopped kissing you, he briefly took a look at your swollen lips, and your naked body being taken care of by Rafael and Nick.

“Well, Mike, get closer,” Sonny said as he undressed himself, “She loves having two cocks in her mouth. Am I right, Y/N?”

Everything that was happening was too much, you struggled to find your words, so you nodded. But it wasn’t enough for them. “You want to hear you say it,” Mike said after he finally got closer to you.

“I--I want your cocks--” you moaned as Rafael finally entered your core with one finger, “in my month,” you moaned even more when Nick pinched both of your nipples, just enough to make it hurt, “All of them,” you finally added.

To make sure Rafael and Nick could still work on your body, Mike and Sonny stood up on the edge of the bed. Your face was right at their crotch. You took one cock in each hand, gently stroking them, “I think Mike should be first. I already know how your mouth feels,” you agreed and focused on Mike’s cock, but with your other hand still stroking Sonny’s. You softly licked the head, tasting the precum coming out, before taking him in your mouth. Mike let out a huge groan at the feeling, “Man, when was the last time you had a blowjob?” Nick joked.

“Way too long,” he managed to say.

You have to admit, it’s hard to give a good blowjob to a man, while two others are worshipping your body. But Rafael decided to withdraw his hand from your panties and quickly after, you felt a cold breeze as Nick’s hands and body drift away from you. “Don’t forget about Sonny, babygirl,” you heard from the other side of the room.

Your jaw is going to be sore as fuck in the morning as you opened your mouth as much as you could, to take both Sonny’s and Mike’s cocks in. Obviously, they can’t both fit in but it is mostly about playing with the heads and your tongue.

You jolted when you felt a very warm body against your back. You recognized Rafael’s smell. He was fully naked. He held your hips strongly, sliding his hard cock in your panties and stroking it against your ass. You felt his hot breath in your neck before he planted a few wet kisses there.

Your face was a mess. It was a mix of saliva and precum from both men. Your pussy was a mess too. You were so wet, you could feel it on your thighs. You kept sucking Sonny and Mike for a short moment before they made you stop. Mike got down from the bed and kissed you deeply, enjoying the mixture that was there.

Someone finally took your panties off, you don’t know who and you couldn’t care less. You were desperate to be fucked.

*****

The first to get inside you was Nick. You were lying on the bed, a complete mess already, and Nick got on top of you. He gently kissed you, teased your entrance for a short moment before sinking inside your pussy in a slow motion. “Fuck, you’re so tight,” he groaned as he bottomed out. He started to thrust you, slow and deep at first.

The sounds you were making were such a turn on to the four men. As Nick was fucking you good, you had no idea where Mike, Sonny and Rafael were, until you felt someone climbing on the bed. When you opened your eyes, you saw Rafael’s face above you and his cock was a few inches from your mouth. “Open that pretty mouth for me,” he said and you obliged. As Nick was fucking your pussy, Rafael was facefucking you. And this was a lot to handle. It didn’t take long for you to feel your orgasm coming up. Your cries were muffled by Rafael’s thick cock as you came, and it brought him an overwhelming sensation that made him groan hard. “Such a good girl, creaming my cock like this,” Nick said. He wasn’t far from coming either. He buried his face in your neck, and he felt your nails crashing on his skull. It took a few more thrusts before he loaded his hot cum inside you, crying out your name.

He stayed on top of you for a moment before pulling out, at the same time Rafael stopped facefucking you and you cried at the emptiness.

“Someone doesn’t like to feel empty?” It was Sonny who talked. He was sitting next to you and he pushed two fingers inside your pussy, taking Nick’s cum back where it belonged. Your body arched at the feeling and you moaned deeply. “So worked up already. But we’re not done with you,”

“You better not,” you laughed.

“Oh, she’s teasing!” Mike exclaimed. “Babygirl, when we're done with you, you won’t be able to sit for weeks. Everyone at the precinct will wonder what happened during the weekend,” he kissed you while Sonny added a third finger inside your core. You felt a second orgams building inside your belly.

“You better not come on Sonny’s fingers,” Rafael warned you, “You’re only allowed to come on our cocks,” you found him in the room and locked eyes with him.

You knew from his expression what he was waiting for, “Yes, sir,” you agreed.

“That’s our good girl,”

Then it was Sonny’s. The man has a soft spot for a good doggy style, so he ordered you to get on all fours and you obeyed. He stroked his cock between your ass cheeks for a moment before sliding inside you so easily. “God, you take us so well, baby,” he said as he started to thrust. He was faster than Nick, and you know from experience that Sonny has incredible stamina. He can rock inside you hard and fast for a long moment.

“You feel so good inside me,” you moaned, “Fuck, Sonny! Yes!”

“That’s right, take that cock, doll,” he said, slamming harder.

As you grabbed the sheets into your fists, you felt someone crawling under you. It was Nick. He laid down and brought your mouth to his in an eager kiss. Sonny kept fucking you, his hands were strongly holding your hips, so you understood it was someone else that spank you. Mike or Rafael, you didn’t know - although, you had an idea; Rafael does love to spank you - and you cried inside Nick’s mouth. Then you felt someone grabbing your arms to lock them in your back. Nick held you close against him, stroking your hair as your second orgasm hit you hard.

Feeling your pussy clenching around his cock, and hearing you cursing non sense, sent Sonny over the edge. He almost collapsed on you as he came deep inside you.

You felt the emptiness when Sonny took his cock out of you but it was quickly filled by someone’s fingers. You were just a pile of lambs on Nick, but you jolted when one of them curled two fingers inside your pussy. “You love that, don’t you? Nick’s and Sonny’s cum mixing inside you,” You don’t know if that’s Rafael that is fingering you but he’s the one talking. You were still catching your breath when the fingers were replaced by a cock teasing your entrance.

“Do you want to keep going, babygirl? We can st--”

“I didn’t say the word, did I, Mike?” you shot.

“Right. Then it’s my turn to fill that pussy,” he didn’t give you the time to answer, he shoved his cock inside your cunt.

“Oh fuck! Mike, yes!”” you cried.

Nick stayed under you as Mike fucked you hard. Mike’s short nails scratched your back as he went in and out of you. He withdrew completely before sinking back and bottoming down. He did that a few times, enjoying your noises every time he hit your sweet spot. “Damn, that pussy is so perfect,” he growled.

“It was made for us,” Sonny said.

On your left, you saw Rafael standing there, stroking his cock as he watched Mike fucking you. You extended your hand to replace his and he let you. “You can’t get enough,” he teased you.

“Never,” you grinned.

Mike grabbed your hair in his fist, bringing your back to his chest. That new angle almost sent you over the edge again. “Holy shit, this feels amazing,” you breathed out. You didn’t notice the look Rafael and Sonny exchanged. You sloppily kept stroking Rafael, while Sonny’s hand found its way to your clit. Mike had to hold you close to him as a third orgasm arrived.

Nick was still laying on the bed, an arm under his head. “This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s like my very own porn movie,”

“Get ready to take a new part in it,” Sonny winked at him.

“Working on it,” he said, stroking his semi hard cock.

Sonny chuckled before burying his face in your chest. He sucked on your nipples, and kept playing with your clit. “Jesus, fuck! I--I’m--coming,” you managed to say as your third orgasm hit. You held onto Sonny’s shoulder for dear life, Mike was slamming so hard and fast inside you, chasing his own orgasm. He bit your shoulder as he emptied himself deep inside you, adding his semence to Sonny’s and Nick’s.

You collapsed in Sonny’s arms and he gently laid you on the bed, next to Nick. Mike was catching his breath on the edge of the bed. “Water,” you managed to say.

Not that it mattered, but Nick seems to be the best for the aftercare. He gently stroked your hair, and planted sweet kisses all over your face. Sonny came back with water for everyone. All of this is more than amazing, this can’t be compared to anything you ever experienced before but you gladly enjoyed the water break.

As you were sitting on the bed, Rafael grabbed your face to kiss you. It was soft, almost loving. Your hands traveled his hairy chest as you granted access to his tongue. You fell on your back, taking him with you. “You okay?” he whispered.

“Never better. Fuck me, Raf,”

On the other side of the bed, Nick chuckled. “Three cocks, three orgasms and she is still asking for it. You’re such a pretty slut, Y/N, aren't you?”

“I’m your slut. To the four of you,” you smiled at him.

Rafael teased your entrance with his cock as he was kissing and nipping your neck. Your pussy was a wet and sticky mess. The other men fucked you open, Rafael slided inside you so easily. To be honest, he wasn’t far from coming already after everything he witnessed and you wrapped him so perfectly, it was overwhelming.

You moaned loudly in his ear, your nails digging in his skull. As he thrusted into you, he couldn’t help but to slap your thigh, since he can’t reach your ass for a proper spank. But you could reach his, so you returned the favor. It took him by surprise, so did the growl he let out. “Someone likes to be spank,” Sonny commented, before duplicating your action on Rafael’s ass.

Another spank, but this time from Mike. And one from Nick. You loved having all the attention from the guys, but you have to admit that this brings something else to you. Hopefully this will be repeated before you go back to New York, but this time, this will be an orgy, instead of a gangbang.

You bit Rafael’s bottom lip, as he thrusted fast and hard inside you. “Give it to me, Raf. I need you to cum inside me, just like them,” he crashed his lips on yours, as a hand traveled between the two of you to play with your clit. You were oversensitive, and exhausted, you weren’t sure you could have a fourth orgasm before it hit you. You wrapped your arms around Rafael’s neck, “That’s right, babygirl, let it go. Cum on my cock,” he said in your ear, huskily.

That was exactly what you needed to cum one more time. Rafael’s thrusts became sloppy as he chased his relief. Finally, he added his liquid to the mixture and collapsed on you.

*****

“I have to admit, I’m so glad everyone else canceled,” you confessed, laying like a sea star on the bed. Obviously, the four men agreed with you.

“Happy birthday, Y/N,” they all said at the same time.

Best fucking birthday ever.

[galacta-phantasma]

Writing masterpost

As it says on the tin, this is a collection of all my fics on AO3! It'll be updated when a new one is posted, but I'll still be making a separate post for each new chapter/story. Do note that fics in a series will just be listed under the series they're in, unless they're multichaptered

Pokemon:

once more, a bit to the left : 23/23 chapters. Dawn fails in the final fight against Volo, and is sent back to fix it... again. This is how Dawn deals with it all, and accidentally-on-purpose terrifying everyone in the process.

ingo & dawn arrive 15 minutes late with potato mochi : 3 part series detailing the return of Dawn and Ingo, with an accompanying laugh track

undead tracks : 2 part series. An incredibly short ghost!Akari and vampire!twins au

the only sign : oneshot. The only sign anything had happened was the clatter of a chair hitting the floor

PLA but dawn has a litwick : oneshot. au where everything is the same, but Dawn gets sent back with a Litwick as well, and causes some heart attacks along the way

blessed champion : oneshot. Yes, Dawn was strange. But she was their Champion and savior, and Sinnoh protects its own with a fierce love rivaling that of a mother Bewear. It only makes sense for those oddities to follow her into the past, where they were arguably needed most.

earth-shaking menace : oneshot. Akari recreates (discovers?) Earthquake. Rei wonders if its too late to change his name and flee the region.

space's burden : oneshot. Arceus and Giratina have plans. Dialga is acting strange. Palkia’s stuck in the middle, trying to keep everything from falling apart.

hilda gets trolled : oneshot. Hilda keeps running into this girl, and every time she forgets to ask her name. Yet she can't shake the feeling that she's seen her before... Meanwhile, Dawn is on vacation and traveling to Nimbasa City.

once more, rewritten and to the side : 25/25. A rewrite of "once more, a bit to the left". Dawn fails in the final fight against Volo, and is sent back to fix it... again (thanks, Arceus). This is how she deals with it all, and accidentally (read: purposefully) terrifies everyone in the process.

Kirby:

sparkling stars : oneshot. On a day like any other in Dreamland, Kirby looked up. This wasn’t really remarkable. What was unusual was the lack of anything to look at. The sky was a clear blue with not a cloud in sight. No leaves or petals or butterflies flew about with the wind. The sun shined as it always did - just in the opposite direction of where he was looking. He took a few steps back, blinking like he was making sure something was there. Then he smiled, and turned to run back to his home.

funhouse mirror : oneshot. Kirby stared into the eyes of a distorted reflection of himself. Void stared back.

counting tiles until sunrise : oneshot. Both he and Shadow were heavy sleepers, so this wasn’t a problem for them. It was a problem for Daroach, who had sensitive hearing and was a light sleeper.

like falling in slow motion : oneshot. Marx's sleeping schedule seems to change with the phases of the moon, and then hits him when he least expects it with a steel chair

The Ultimate Quest to the Grocery Store : oneshot. It's up to Dark Meta Knight to save the day... by going to the store. Unfortunately, life seems to have it out for him today.

wrath of the galaxy : oneshot. Galacta finds out Meta's been captured by Haltmann Works. Safe to say, they're not pleased about it.

How to Win a Date in Less Than 10 Minutes, a Short Guide by Dark Meta : oneshot. Dameta wants to ask a certain leader of the Squeak Squad out, but isn't sure how. So he does what he does best: apply force and hope for the best.

in what regard does the butterfly hold the bird? : oneshot. Galacta Knight and Morpho Knight were not always the feared knights they are today. A very long time ago, their names were Kirby and Meta Knight. Or: an au in which, due to space-time shenanigans, Kirby and Meta end up in the past and become Galacta and Morpho.

can't help falling (apart/in love) : oneshot. Gaining powers granted by Galactic NOVA, dying, bringing yourself back to life with the clockwork star's broken pieces out of sheer force of will, dying again, and being resurrected again has... interesting effects on Marx's body's sense of time. But even though it hurts, it's somewhat alright. Because Magolor will always be there to guide him back to the present.

Devil May Cry:

brought together by needle and thread : oneshot. It would make Dante happy if he agreed, and he could keep the props afterwards as a memento. The only problem is that he would be seen wearing the outfit in public. The logical thing to do, Vergil decides, is to draw Yamato and stab himself.

for my brother wears a stranger's face : oneshot. In a last minute decision, Dante summons his Doppelganger to bring Lady and Trish to Nero and V so that all four of them can escape, leaving him to become Cavaliere Angelo in Trish’s place. A month later, Nero helps V take down the Elder Geryon Knight while Trish searches for the Sparda. This is the aftermath.

Assassin's Creed:

these hands were made for... : oneshot. Ezio is a man drowning in blood. But a certain artist shows him that his hands can create more than just corpses.

they can fly, but they can't drive : oneshot. The most important thing for survival in the Rooks had nothing to do with how well you fought. It’s learning to avoid any road or sidewalk whenever either of the Fryes took control of a carriage. Or: How the Rooks collectively developed a 6th sense to avoid being run over by their bosses.

Resident Evil:

passing storms in your area : oneshot. Piers, a quiet day at home, and the start of it getting better

RGG:

love, twisting into infinity : oneshot. It's a devotion that goes both ways. For children of the night, nothing could be sweeter.

FFXV:

soul of eos : series. A fem!Noct AU where the Kings of Lucis have Aspects of magic they excel in over all others, and Noct's Aspect is that of the soul

the sky, the sea, the storm : oneshot. The waves crash over them, and together they go into the deep.

a fin-tastic morning : oneshot. When he was younger, Noctis once fantasized about carrying all of his lover's clutches at once, a fantasy he's glad died as soon as it was born. Now, a few years after taking Prompto's and Gladio's eggs, it's finally Ignis's turn.

in the salt and swell of the ocean : oneshot. Noctis receives a vision of his future self.

LOZ

wretched and divine : oneshot. It was never a question of if he would falter in battle, but rather when. It was as inevitable as the cycle of day and night, as the cycle of the moon and her faces, and yet still he hoped, he prayed, that it would be delayed. To a lesser battle, a kinder battle, where his pack was fit to burst and an inn to rest was only a few moments away, and his son would laugh the blunder off and return to the world with his next misstep far, far away. The truth, as always, burned.

[wearebothdrunk]

“You will always be an exception to my rule”

Pairing: Bucky x fem!reader

Word counting: 1787

Warnings: fluff; some fight scenes. 

summary: You go on a mission with Zemo, Sam, and Bucky to Madripoor, but things don´t go as the plan. 

A/N: I tried to rewrite Madripoor´s mission but with Bucky´s girlfriend (you) on it. Hope you liked it!!! Requests are open.

*gif not mine*

You and Bucky have been dating for four months. You and he met at one of your training sessions at the Avengers building. You were part of S.H.I.E.L.D., but you liked to break the rules too much, so most of your missions were to help Sam. You two were very close, so when you and Bucky started dating, Sam would tease you both and get very protective of you. "Y/N, Bucky has made a lot of enemies in his life, please be careful!" he would tell you.

Sam trusted Bucky, but he didn't trust his enemies.

You never gave much thought to that. You knew it wasn't his fault and that you could defend yourself.

With everything that was going on with the super soldiers, Bucky had to go on a mission to Madripoor with Zemo and Sam.

" I have to go to Madripoor tomorrow, babe" Bucky said putting your hair behind your ear.

"Okay. What time do we leave?" you said

"oh, you are not going is to dang-" you interrupted him

You gave him the look that clearly said don´t even try.

"6 AM," he said mumbling

" Okay, I'm gonna pack," you said, kissing him on the cheek.

* next day *

The four of you got out of the car, and when you looked up all you saw was a private jet right in front of you.

"Is this yours?" sam asked Zemo

"yes, now get in," Zemo said

you were still staring at the plane and smiling. You saw Bucky's eyes looking at you out of the corner of your eye. You looked at him and he smiled.

"Those sunglasses make you so hot babe," you said.  He smiled, looking down blushing, and kissed your hand.

You got on the plane. You sat in front of Bucky, Zemo in the other seat, and Sam behind you.

Zemo was explaining the details of the mission to you three. It wasn´t complicated, it was in and out, straight and fast. The only problem was being able to pretend to be someone else you never met, but you were trained for all kinds of problems, so you stayed positive.

"And you Bucky, you're going to have to bring back the person that you swear is no longer a part of you," Zemo said.

You looked confused at Zemo and then at Sam and then at Bucky. They were both silents as if accepting.

" No way! No fucking way you're going to put Bucky to do that-" you were interrupted by Bucky's comforting hand on your knees.

"It's okay," Bucky said, looking into your eyes to comfort you. You knew that he wasn't comfortable with the situation but you also knew that there wasn't much you could do. You clasped both your hands over his and he gave you a small smile. You looked at Zemo in a way that made him realize that you weren´t happy with the situation.

After three hours you finally arrived in Madripoor. Sam was the first to leave the plane, and right behind him were you and Bucky. Zemo was the last to leave the plane because he was saying goodbye to the butler.

"Shit, I forgot something! Go ahead, It'll be a minute" you said, getting back on the plane. You were alone with Zemo. You looked out the window of the plane and saw that Bucky was already inside the car with Sam.

When Zemo was going to the exit door you put your arm in front of him, blocking the exit. He looked at you confused. "Can I pass?" he asked you sarcastically. "If you do anything bad to Bucky or if you're in on one of your crazy schemes, I swear to God I will kill you the second I see you," you said, looking him right in the eye. He swallowed. "Don't worry, I won't stand in your way. Now can I leave?" you raised your arm and letting him pass.

The four of you were on your way to your destination. Meanwhile, you were already dressed for the mission and ready.

You entered through the bar. You and Bucky had to be strictly professional on this mission, there was no margin for error. The two of you could not let people realize that he was not the Winter Soldier. When you were passing the bar´s door, you felt a soft touch on the back of your hand, it was Bucky. It was killing you not to be able to look at him and tell him that everything was going to be fine and that he was safe.

After a few minutes, Zemo gave the signal for Bucky to attack. It was painful to watch. Fortunately, you were able to control yourself. When he was done, he looked at you making you feel calmer.

You went up some stairs towards a room that had a woman and 4 men. You looked around for exits in case things went wrong, but there were none. You then started to plan all the possible scenarios in your head when you were interrupted by the woman.

"A woman? In your super squad, Zemo? " she said.

"Don't worry, I'm not gonna kick your ass" you said

As you said this, two of the security guards started walking towards you, and then you heard Bucky taking a wrong step, the whole room heard. You kept looking directly into Shelby's eyes. She made a little movement with her hands to make the security guards standstill. 

She looked at Bucky and Zemo.

He fucked up the mission.

Shelby looked at Bucky rather suspiciously.

" Let's see what we have here," she said looking at Zemo and approaching Bucky. " A soldier trained by HYDRA to kill his enemies and who is controlled by a few simple words." she continued, grabbing Bucky's chin as if he weren´t a human. You felt your blood running throw your veins. She had zero right to do that.  " And to make it better, he has a metal arm.". She began to touch Bucky's metal arm. He didn't even blink. You felt your anger rising at seeing Bucky being treated like that, you just wanted to put a bullet in her head. Your fist began to close in order to control your anger. " If our deal still stands, I'm going to have to check my offer. I don't want some soldier trained for war, as you can guess, I'll have to check that this is indeed the winter soldier.". she continued.

Zemo seemed motionless and you and Sam were quite confused. You looked at Sam make him a sign that you used on your missions together. If this goes to shit, we have to step in.

She moved closer to Bucky whispering to him "kill her". Bucky looked at her but never out of character. You looked at Sam giving him the final sign. Bucky approached you, looking you straight in the eye and completely emotionless. Is this how he felt when he was the Winter Soldier? 

You looked at him a little scared, but you knew that he wouldn't hurt you. As he came closer to you the more your heart raced. 

Sam looked at the two of you so that he knew when his cue was. Bucky slowly took out his knife that was stuck in his belt. You looked at what he was doing and realized that you would have to protect him from the two security guards behind you. When he finally took the knife out of his belt, you turned around and punched the two men behind you. Sam did the same to the other two, and Bucky threw the knife towards Shelby who already had a gun in her hand. You and Sam had already taken care of the security guards.

" Let's get the fuck out of here," Sam said.

You went out to the back door because it wouldn't be long before some of the other security guards saw what was going on. As soon as you left the building you got into the car that Zemo had arranged for you to escape.

"Great plan," Zemo said ironically

" What did you want me to do?! kill her!? " Bucky said angrily

"Anything but kill Shelby!" Zemo said.

" Consider yourself lucky we didn't leave you thereafter what you put Bucky through. So shut up because we just saved your life" you said.

Zemo shut up.

You were sitting next to Bucky in the back seat. You put your hand on Bucky's thigh. "Are you okay?" you asked in a low voice. He looked at you and gave you a small smile. " Yes, don't worry.". You smiled at him and intertwined your fingers in his, leaning your head on his shoulder as he kissed you on the forehead. You spent the whole trip like that.

When you finally arrived at the hotel, the two of you went straight to the room where you were going to stay. You were super tired.

"I'm going to put on my pajamas and brush my teeth babe," you said to him

You then went to the bathroom leaving the door almost closed. When you came out you saw Bucky standing on the end of your bed with his hands clutching his head.

"Hey, Bucky, what's wrong?" you said worriedly.

"Nothing babe," he said not lifting his head.

you lowered yourself to his level. " I know you had promised yourself that you wouldn't be the winter soldier anymore. I'm sorry, maybe we should have done things differently and..."

"I don't regret saving you. I would never hurt you, not even for a mission. You will always be an exception to my rule," he said, raising his head and looking sincerely into your eyes.

You continued to look at him. You didn't know what to say. You never thought Bucky would be so sincere with you. You kept looking at him. "I love you, Buck," you finally said. It was the only thing that felt right at that moment. You just wanted him to know how much he meant to you.

"I love you too Y/N," he said.

He leaned over so that he could kiss you. You smiled.

"Shall we go to sleep?" he said

" yes, please!" you said.

You both got up. You leaned your head on his chest and hugged his waist. He pulled you into his arms and the two of you fell asleep. It felt like there was no one else in the world but the two of you.

like if you liked the story. 

if you want to repost my story, please send me message first!

[goodlucktai]

Hi! I love your works! 71 + 72 for Luffy and Jinbei?

PROMPTS LIST

71. “I’m going to protect you.”

smile again

x

As a watchdog journalist, Jinbei's work takes him everywhere. He isn't always in the best position to receive phone calls. Sometimes, depending on what story his group decides to chase after and what far-flung corner of the world it leads them to, Jinbei goes weeks without internet access.

By the time he gets news of the accident, Luffy has been out of the hospital for a month and Ace has been dead just as long.

Jinbei has to go home.

His colleagues-- a group of solid, hard-working people he's known for going on twenty years, has worked with on the field and off, in smoke and fire and claustrophobic office spaces-- are entirely understanding.

Tiger drives him to a small airport, the truck bouncing along a bumpy gravel road. There's a single, hastily-packed duffel in the bed of the pickup. Jinbei isn't even sure what he shoved in there, having only made one mindless pass through his room. He would have left without his passport if Hatchan hadn't shoved it into his hands on his way out the door.

"It may be time for me to retire," Jinbei says aloud. His mind is ebbing and rising like a tide, a vast ocean of grief. Thoughts go bobbing away like loose buoys before he can get a grasp on them.

All he can think of is the last video-call he made home, over a month ago now. Ace and Luffy, pressed cheek-to-cheek so they'd both fit in-frame, competitive in all things and unwilling to take turns, even as Jinbei laughingly promised he had plenty of time to talk.

They made him promise to call again soon. He meant to.

"Don't worry about us over here," Tiger says. His eyes are on the road, hands tight around the steering wheel. He carries Jinbei's grief like it's his own. "Just worry about your boy."

His boy, Jinbei thinks. Not by blood or by law, certainly, but by something less quantifiable than that. Those scrappy kids that spilled into his yard one muggy summer evening, hiding in the hedges from their well-antagonized CPS caseworker and somehow claiming a piece of Jinbei's heart from the moment he first laid eyes on them.

Ace was so angry back then, and Luffy was so easily frightened, and they clung to each other in a practiced way, as if they were so used to the world trying to claw them apart that they didn't expect anything else, even from a perfect stranger. They didn't seem to know what to do with kindness. Ace watched Jinbei like a hawk for weeks, long after Luffy warmed up to him. His trust, when he finally gave it, felt like a prize.

Jinbei was working long, unpredictable hours, and knew it wouldn't be fair to drag two children into his household if he couldn't afford them the time and care they deserved-- but after school? Weekends? Holidays? Those he gave up freely.

His days gained some semblance of routine again, for the fist time since he finished college. His kitchenware came down from the cupboard, the pockmarked kitchen table was often set for three. He made dinner at home, more than he ate in the office with his colleagues.

Hell, his colleagues ate dinner with him at home more often, too. Within an hour of meeting the boys, each of Jinbei's friends, to a man, would have taken a bullet for either of them, no questions asked.

The sense of structure did wonders for the brothers. With a safe place to return to when they needed it, and someone to fall back on, Ace stopped looking at every potential foster home as if it was a threat. Luffy came out of his shell, bolder with each new day. He made a friend in the village, a boy with vivid green eyes, and they hardly spent a moment apart.

They were finally placed with a couple who lived nearby. Shanks was wry and good-natured, and Benn had the patience of a saint. After a few weeks, when Jinbei asked how they were settling in, his worries were soothed: Luffy clearly adored them, and even Ace grudgingly admitted they weren't so bad.

And when the time came, and Ace applied for emancipation as well as custody of his brother, he had a small army in his corner. A patchwork family collected in little bits and pieces, ready to support him through anything.

"I will always be here for you both," Jinbei had promised him, countless times. "You'll never be alone as long as I'm alive."

"Thank you," Ace said, a little bashful. But he was so pleased, and so full of hope for the future, and he said, "I'll feel better, knowing someone's around to look after Luffy if I can't."

He immediately got shouted down by his entire strange extended pseudo-family for daring to suggest they'd ever let anything happen to him, and it made him laugh so brightly, and now the memory sticks like needles in Jinbei's throat.

Tiger hugs him hard before Jinbei boards the plane. In the back of his mind, where there is a tiny corner free from drowning, Jinbei can't help but wonder when he'll see his friend again.

He keeps thinking of that last video call. He can't remember everything they talked about. He doesn't think he said enough. He almost certainly didn't tell Ace everything he deserved to hear. Foolishly, he assumed there would be another time.

He's learned from this. He won't take it for granted any more.

"Call me when you land," Tiger says. "Give the monkey our love."

"I will," Jinbei replies. His heart is so heavy he doesn't know how he manages the steps onto the plane. He doesn't know how the pilot manages to lift them up from the tarmac. It's a wonder they aren't sinking, straight through the earth.

Nami and Usopp are waiting for him at the airport, wide-awake even though it's well past two o'clock in the morning. They're familiar to Jinbei from the stories Luffy has told him, from the numerous video calls they've bullied their way into over the years, and the handful of birthdays and holidays Jinbei was able to make it home for.

"Luffy wanted to come with us to pick you up, but he fell asleep," Usopp says, apropos of nothing, as they're waiting for their Uber. "Sanji said it was a small miracle, and Zoro looked like he was going to hunt us for sport if we even thought about waking him up, so--"

"He hasn't been sleeping, then?" Jinbei asks quietly.

"After he came home, he was on some pretty heavy meds, and he slept a lot," Nami says. Her arms are folded tight against her chest in the nighttime chill, her eyes trained somewhere far away. "But he had bad dreams and he would wake up disoriented. Now he fights sleep tooth and nail."

"We've all sort of become the insomnia squad," Usopp pipes up. "Thank god I'm not taking any classes this summer."

"Sanji's gotten really good at making lattes," Nami adds with a small smile. "Wait till you see his shiny new espresso machine."

"I'm like eight-five percent sure he stole it from the Baratie."

Jinbei listens to their chatter, feeling at once anchored by them and adrift at sea. It makes sense that they would be ahead of him. They've been here all this time, practically from the moment of the accident, facing it with all the bravery and endurance of sailors in a typhoon. Jinbei, meanwhile, had been living in an unchanged world.

For the last month, Ace has been dead. How many times had Jinbei thought about him? Mentioned him to a friend? How many times had Jinbei wrongly said his name in the present-tense?

The house is warmly-lit when they arrive, but quiet. An old blue Irish wolfhound greets them at the door, wagging his tail. Robin looks up from the papers she has spread out on the coffee table and smiles. Chopper is fast asleep beside her, his head on her shoulder. Behind them, Jinbei can see Sanji at work in the kitchen, shaping dough. Something is baking that smells of cinnamon and apples.

They weren't kidding about their sleep schedules being a mess.

"Hello, Jinbei. It's good to see you," Robin says. Her voice is soft, in deference to the sleeping teenager. "Luffy is asleep, but you can see him if you like."

"Please," Jinbei replies hoarsely.

"I'll take him," Nami says. "Usopp, would you bring his bag to the guest bedroom?"

"'Course," Usopp replies, but he makes a detour into the kitchen first.

Nami takes Jinbei's hand and leads him toward the stairs. "I feel really stupid about this, but I was so angry at you," she admits as they make their way up. "It's hardly the first time we haven't been able to contact you, and I know why that is. But-- I don't know, I think I was going crazy. I wanted Luffy to have everything he wanted. I wanted everyone who loved him to be here every time he woke up. So I-- so there might be some angry emails waiting for you, but please don't hate me for it."

"I won't even read them," Jinbei promises gravely, his heart cleaved clean in two. "I can't imagine how-- how hard it must have been. I-- if I had gotten the messages sooner-- "

"I know," Nami assures him, pausing outside a closed bedroom door. "Franky spoke to you like six hours ago, and you're already here. You dropped everything to be here. We know the kind of person you are."

She stands up on tiptoe to kiss his cheek, and Jinbei bends to accommodate her, the same way he does for Koala. Then Nami reaches out and pushes open the door.

Zoro is awake, sitting against the headboard with his phone in hand and earphones in, and his eyes are as bright and sharp now as they were when he was a child. He looks up when the door opens, and seems to relax when he sees Jinbei stepping in behind Nami.

"Go to sleep," Nami whispers, pointing at the second bed across the spacious room.

"Don't tell me what to do," Zoro replies, just as quiet, but he pulls his earphones out and extracts himself from the bed with all the exacting precision of a bomb disposal technician. Nami takes him by the arm, helping him get up so carefully that the mattress hardly moves. It's such a well-practiced maneuver that Jinbei thinks he honestly might cry.

"If one of you would stay for a bit, I'll grab a shower," Zoro says.

"Sure, stinky," Nami says, nudging him toward the door. "Jinbei?"

He nods, unsure of what he's agreeing to. Now that he's finally next to Luffy, nothing else seems to exist. He sinks into the chair beside the bed, only half-aware of Nami and Zoro leaving. Their murmured conversation is cut off by the closing door. The room is silent, save for the gentle, unobtrusive sound of Luffy's steady breathing.

He's lost weight since Jinbei saw him last. There are shadows on his face that don't belong there. He looks both older and younger than he has any right to, even now, when his face is untroubled and slack with sleep.

"Hello, little monkey," Jinbei says. His voice is quiet, but it still breaks. He's crying, he realizes, thick tears rolling down his face with abandon. "I'm sorry it took me so long."

He thinks of two little boys, spilling into his life on accident, taking up room in his home and his heart as if they always belonged there. They weren't his, not really, but he loved them anyway. Loves them still.

"I'm here now," he whispers. His hands are shaking. "I'm going to protect you, like I promised. I'm here, Ace. Please believe me, wherever you are. I won't fail you again."

[treenahasthaal]

Dark Times: The Story So Far

Dark Times

A Summary

Before I post any new content, I thought a brief summary may be called for.

Chapter 1: NetworkTwo years after the battle of Yavin, Luke is part of an X-Wing squad on a mission to destroy an Imperial Munitions factory on the planet Escaal. He is shot down, hides his lightsaber, and is rescued by the local resistance lead by a man named Dade, who Luke does not meet (or so it seems). Luke is hidden in safe house and his injuries treated. Unfortunately, his hiding place is discovered and after a chase he his shot, injured and captured and brought to the local Imperial prison where Interrogation Specialist Erwin Rhovan questions him using enhanced interrogation techniques and torture.

Rhovan finds Luke’s lightsaber at his crash site.

Vader finds out that Luke is captured and heads to Escaal to claim his son. However, just as he arrives and when Luke is near breaking point Rhovan reveals himself to be the leader of the resistance, Dade. Vader only has a few moments with Luke as during the transfer between the detention centre, Artoo causes the turbolifts to malfunction and Rhovan takes the opportunity to rescue Luke.

Chapter Two: Pale ShelterRhovan takes Luke to the Rebel base on Ra’imar where he is reunited with Wedge Antilles and the rest of Rogue Squadron. He is severely injured (do I sense a theme?) and receives treatment. We find out that Han Solo had tried to get to Escaal, but with the planet on lockdown (we know how that feels) it had been impossible. He and Leia board the Falcon to go to Ra’imar.

It turns out that General Rieekan knows Rhovan and that it seems that they had been friends. Luke and Rhovan are debriefed on the events on Escaal and it starts to become obvious that Luke is struggling with PTSD.

Luke senses that Vader and the Empire are on their way and tries to warn High Command. He lies and says that he broke during Interrogation and told Vader of the base hoping to give the Alliance time to evacuate, but it’s too late. The Empire arrives and lands forces with Vader leading.

Luke is placed in the custody of two rebel troopers, Haslam and Thecla. Before they can get to the evacuation ship it leaves without them. Against orders Luke persuades the soldiers to get to the hangers and an x-wing. However, by the time they get there it is ablaze from an Imperial bombing run.

Han and Leia arrive and join the battle, shooting down TIE Bombers and Fighters. Rhovan is evacuated.

Luke and the two soldiers are trapped on the planet with no way off. Luke realises that it is he who Vader wants and prepares to give himself up. Just before Vader takes him, however Artoo (Yay again!) lands in between father and son and with Thecla and Haslam’s help Luke gets into the fighter. Han brings the Falcon down and Thecla, injured by a flying lightsaber, is taken onboard with Haslam.

Again, Vader is left empty handed.

Chapter Three: RhovanThe surviving Alliance Forces head to Ardalii VI, a new base set up on the side of a volcano. On the landing pad Rhovan, now intrigued by Luke, watches as he lands and is arrested for disobeying orders; much to Han and Leia’s, and Rogue Squadron’s anger.

Rhovan is introduced to Mon Mothma. It’s revealed that Rhovan is from Chandrila. During their meeting she seems interested on what may have passed between Luke and Vader on Escaal and she explains to him that after Bail Organa died, Artoo Detoo came to her with a holographic message from the late Viceroy. Bail told her about Anakin Skywalker and Senator Amidala’s relationship and the birth of their children. She explains that Luke and Leia do not know of their relationship and no knowledge of the truth of their parentage. She is fearful that should Luke discover his true identity that he will join his father against them. She tasks him with watching them both, but particularly Luke, and if it looks like Luke may betray them, Rhovan is to kill Luke.

Luke is fully debriefed by a panel led by Major Ehlen Anders, on Escaal and the events on Ra’mar. It is decided that instead of a full court martial, Luke would be reprimanded for disobeying orders. During a brief, tense meeting, Rhovan returns Luke’s lightsaber to him.

Chapter Four: ConflictThe Empire is clearing up on Ra’imar and Vader ruminates on his past and on his illusive son. Palpatine makes contact and is unhappy, but gives Vader the task of moving refugees from the planet Cusrean to an old orbiting research facility. Vader is perplexed by the order, but it turns out that it is a trap for the Alliance. Fake intelligence will be passed to the Alliance that the facility is researching weaponizing a deadly disease. This will allow him to root out spies within the Empire, and set up the Alliance who will destroy the station and kill refugees, thus the Rebellion will lose support.

It ends with Palpatine savouring the conflict in the galaxy, and the potential conflict between Vader and Luke. It is revealed that Palpatine has a spy in the Rebel ranks who Palpatine tasks with reporting on Luke.

Chapter Five: A Legitimate Target Luke is not yet passed for active flight duty and is still grounded. Han does try to lift his spirits and suggests joining him on supply runs, but Luke declines. Instead he decides to train himself and finds a natural hollow (an old lava flow) surrounded by forest in which to practise with his lightsaber. He is watched.

The Alliance find out about the orbiting research station and the disease the Empire is “planning,” on releasing. They plan to attack, however they are short on pilots and Leia suggests allowing Luke back in the air despite concerns for his mental health. Rhovan backs her up and Luke is welcomed back to the squad.

The Alliance attack the space station, Vader’s forces defend it with the Darth Lord himself in the battle. The fighting is furious. Luke is given the task (the order) of firing the shot that will take out the space station; but all he feels in the Force is innocence. He hesitates, initially disobeying, but his squad are dying around him. He takes the shot and the research facility is destroyed.

The Alliance fighters turn tail and bug out, but Luke’s X-Wing is tagged and Vader tries to capture him, but Luke eludes him again and jumps out of the system. He returns to Adralii VI to find the place subdued and during a debrief of the mission he is told he killed over 20000 innocent civilians due to bad intel. Luke is devasted and is haunted because he enjoyed destroying the space station.

The volcano begins to spew ash and the base in locked down. Luke gets drunk with Han on the Falcon, but later he can’t sleep and leaves the ship. Thecla finds Luke wandering in the ash fall and takes him to the hanger and the rest of the squad. He dreams of watching bodies floating in space; one in particular upsets him. It’s a little girl tumbling in space.

Mothma and Rhovan discuss Luke and the possible danger he presents to the Alliance.

Vader senses Luke’s turmoil through the Force. He decides if he cannot get Luke through battle or capture then another path may be possible.

Palpatine converses with his spy.

Later Luke is helping with the ash clear up, when Han is given the task of taking Leia on a diplomatic mission to try and repair some of the damage done to the Alliance. Luke finds himself in the mess hall with the rest of the squad and the holonet is playing footage (from Vader’s ship) when the image of a dead little girl appears – the one from Luke’s dream. It is then that one of the squads mentions that the faulty intel came from Rhovan.

Luke, in a fugue like state, attacks Rhovan; drawing his saber on him before Wedge tackles him to the ground. Han helps remove Luke to the Falcon before returning to punch out Rhovan himself. Luke gets away from the rest of the squad and goes to his training places and loses himself in the Force as he trains. He has vision of a man standing by his grandmother’s grave

A search party is sent out to find him and secure him (and the squad for helping him get away). Thecla find him and they talk for a while before Luke agrees to go in with her. He finds Han, Wedge and the rest of the squad in lock up, too.

Rhovan meanwhile is perplexed as to where the Executor is going after Cusrean.

Chapter Six, Absolute: It turns out that Leia and Han’s proposed mission is to the planet Horaarn, who is one of the Alliances suppliers. They want to know what happened at Cusrean, and they want Luke to tell them. Luke agrees to go. However, on landing and after tense standoff Luke agrees to give himself into Horaarn custody.

Rhovan is sent by Mon Mothma to Horaarn. But is arrested. He is transferred to Vader’s ship.

Leia is given diplomatic rooms along with Threepio and Artoo. Han, Thecla and Haslam have to remain on the landing platform. However, they manage to get Thecla off the platform and into the city.

There is to be a public hearing at which Luke has to account for his actions. During this hearing Vader arrives and accuses Luke of murder and requests his extradition to Imperial custody.

Luke is taken back into custody (this time criminal proceedings), Leia loses diplomatic status and is return to the Falcon. On Horaarn it is guilty before proved innocent and Leia cannot find any Legal Representative who will take on Luke’s case. She has to do it herself, via hologram from the Falcon.

Luke has a “face to face,” with Vader where he confesses that he felt pleasure when he destroyed the space station. He tells Vader that he won’t win.

Meanwhile, the events on Horaarn are broadcast to the Galaxy on the holonet and the Alliance sends in the X-Wings to help rescue their people.

Stuck in the city, Thecla uses her comlink to contact her handler, revealing herself as Palpatine’s spy.

During a tense trial Luke loses and is given to Vader.

It is revealed that Rhovan has been reinstated into the Empire due his special status and codes. There is more to this man than meets the eye.

The Falcon and it’s occupants are ordered off planet and it’s a tense battle to get past the Imperial blockade, but Wedge et al, join the fray and the Falcon jumps to lightspeed.

Luke learns that his friends are safe and feels that he can face whatever Vader has in store for him as long as Han and Leia are safe. He is walked to Vader’s shuttle and as he steps on board he is faced with Thecla who is pointing a blaster at him. He tells her to “do it,” and Thecla shoots him in the chest.

Cradled in Vader’s arms and dying, Luke understands the visions he’s had, he hears Vader called him “my son,” and he dies after telling Vader, “I win, father.”

Dark Times: Interludes.A series of “quick” one-shots that takes us through the events of “Hoth,” during which Haslam dies and Rieekan is missing.

Leia grieves for Luke, has started a relationship with Han and in her dreams she hears a voice stating, “I am your master.”

Rhovan ponders is fate while thinking of Thecla now in his cells. Thecla, likewise, ruminates on events and on who she had really killed. Vader arrives and takes Thecla from her cell as the Emperor has a special task for her.

Leia remembers something that Threepio had translated from Artoo during her attempts to save Luke on Horaarn. While plugged into the Horaarn computer systems Artoo had been “forced,” to give information to a third party when a code from a previous owner was used. Leia askes the little droid about it, and after much protestations Artoo informs her that the code was Anakin Skywalker’s. He confirms that Anakin is alive and that it was he who used the code on Artoo. He confirms that Anakin was on Horaarn. Leia asks Artoo where Anakin was during Luke’s trial and is informed that he was in the court room with Luke and Leia realises that Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader as one and the same person.

And that Luke is alive.

Luke is indeed “alive.” He suffered a catastrophic brain injury through lack of oxygen, but his body was saved. Through manipulation of the midiclorians Palpatine was able to regrow brain tissue. However, Luke is comatose and vulnerable to Palpatine’s machinations.

Chapter 7, For Darkness Restores: Please go back to the start of this chapter as I have reworked and edited much of it. Sadly my writing is not what it once was… ☹

ooOOoo

Did I miss anything?

[ridiasfangirlings]

On In the Park drama cd Fushimi said that his job after Slate's destruction is to monitor ex Strains and how they proceed their daily from now on. One of the Strain he was tasked to monitor is baby Strain on DOB chapter 2. When he arrived on the baby's house, his mother was absent for urgent situation, for example his neighbor's friend got stuck or there's rain and she retrieves her and the baby's clothes. Unfortunately, she forgot to lock her door before she rushed out of the house, so when Fushimi came to visit, he saw unlocked door and vurnerable baby (or toddler) inside the house. He snapped and impulsively took the baby. Scepter4 members are like "Fushimi-san, did you just kidnap a kid?" And Fushimi refused to give the kid back because "she doesn't lock her door, means that this baby is not valuable for her and she didn't mind if he/she gets stolen."

Saru no that's kidnapping that's illegal XD So say Scepter 4's been monitoring the baby Strain pretty regularly, like they all feel a bit of attachment to the kid and want to make sure he grows up well. The kid's at least old enough to crawl now and say the mother has been expecting Scepter 4 to show up for the monthly inspection, however Fushimi got delayed a little and is running late. The mom is keeping an eye on her baby when some emergency happens outside, like a neighbor's house is on fire or something big and they're yelling for help. The mom quickly puts the baby down in his crib and then goes running outside to see what's happening, in all the commotion she forgets to lock the door behind her.

Shortly afterward Fushimi shows up, he knocks on the door and is surprised when it just swings open. Fushimi feels this slight chill, shrugging off the memories that are creeping up on him as he steps inside and wonders if the mom and baby left to run errands or something and what a pain that he came all this way for no reason. That's when he hears a cry from the other room and Fushimi realizes that the baby is still here. He looks around the house but there's no sign of the mother, just the child crying in his crib. Fushimi stares down at the kid, those memories swirling around in his mind now and he can't push them away, and impulsively he just reaches into the cradle and grabs the kid and leaves.

Cue a short time later the alphabet squad have returned from some mission and they find Fushimi sitting in the office with the kid on his lap. At first the squad figures he's just visiting, like Akiyama's all oh did his mother say he could come see us today and Fushimi's like 'no.' Everyone exchanges glances, Kamo asks where the mother is then, is she hurt. Fushimi says he doesn't know, sounding more annoyed because he totally knows how bad this looks and he's irritated by his own actions. Finally the alphabet boys are like 'Fushimi-san...did you kidnap a baby?' and Fushimi just stands up and snaps at them to shut up. The alphabet boys are like 'Fushimi-san...' and Fushimi sits down again, clicking his tongue and looking away as he mutters '...unlocked. The door was unlocked.' There's silence from the others and Fushimi says quietly that if the door was unlocked, that means there's nothing valuable inside and nothing that would matter if it gets stolen. And if that's the case, then the baby shouldn't be in that house, because they would leave the door unlocked that way.

The alphabet squad aren't sure what to say to that but luckily Munakata finally chooses this moment to make his appearance, crouching down to greet the baby. He wonders if the child is here to visit and Fushimi grumbles at him not to play dumb, isn't he going to say anything that Fushimi took a baby. Munakata says he understands Fushimi's reasoning, that Fushimi had only the child's interest in mind – children are valuable things after all, and something valuable must be kept safe. Even so, is Fushimi really so certain that the mother didn't find this child valuable. Fushimi's like she must not, since she left the door unlocked, and Munakata notes that even so this child seems smiling and healthy, not at all like something that isn't valuable. Fushimi says that doesn't mean anything, just feeding a kid doesn't mean you value it, and Munakata says indeed that is true but even so, maybe Fushimi should find out for himself first. Fushimi wonders what that means and Munakata decides to accompany him back to the mother's house.

When they get there the police have arrived and the mother is crying and hysterical, blaming herself for not locking the door and wondering what could have happened to her baby. Munakata looks over at Fushimi and asks what Fushimi thinks, does he feel the child should remain at Scepter 4 or return to his mother. The child meanwhile is all cuddled in Munakata's arms and suddenly starts reacting to his mom's voice, reaching towards her, and Fushimi finally clicks his tongue like fine I'm an idiot and I stole a kid are you happy now. Munakata puts a hand on his head and says he didn't intend to humiliate or chastise Fushimi for this – he thinks it's praiseworthy that Fushimi cared so much for this child, and that if there's ever a time that door becomes unlocked again the child will always know that there's someone he can go to and be protected.

[extremelyblackandwhite]

a very merry sebmas - day 3

pairing: destroyer!chris x reader

a/n: day 3, this time with chris from destroyer. hope you guys like it xx

holiday divider by @firefly-graphics​

there it was for the first time in eight months, the black citroen beaten outside the diner and he didn’t know if to feel happy or scared.

slapping some crumpled up dollars against the table, he exited the diner, walking straight inside the car where one of his handlers was waiting, feet up on the console of the car

he wanted to yell at his handler, yell at them for lying, for not allowing him any sort of communication with his wife who had just given birth the moment he left. he wanted to lash out at them, quit the undercover assignment and just return home but that would only make things worse.

“excited to speak with the mrs?” “just give me the goddamn phone”

eight months. that’s how long it took for them to allow him to call his Y/N.

it killed him not to see her, not to see his baby daughter, but he was smart enough to know if he tried he’d only be putting them in danger.

as the phone rang he started to think about what to say, what should he say? hey sorry for leaving an hour after you gave birth to our daughter? that is if she even answered 

“hello?” from the other line came the most melodic, beautiful sound in the world “sweetheart? it’s chris, please don’t hang up” “oh my ... chris are you okay? erin hasn’t told me anything and no one will tell me anything. i even tried the burea ...” “yes, sweetheart i’m alright. god, how are you? they’ve only let me talk to you now” “yeah i’m okay. my mother has been coming by quite a lot to help out with diana” “how is she? is she still as beautiful as i remember?”

chris could’ve stayed forever on the phone on her, listening to the love of his love tell him about how his baby girl was doing but his handler had different plans, warning him about the time he had left

“hey sweetheart, i have to go” “when can you call again?” “i don’t know, sweetheart” “do you know if you can make it for christmas?” 

chris sighed, feeling his heart break at the hopeful tone of her voice. he knew the answer, it was a clear no. not only had he missed bringing his daughter home for the first time but now he was also missing her very first christmas

“i don’t think so. i’m sorry, sweetheart” “it’s okay, chris, it’s your job” “i’ll make it up to you, i promise” “just come back home safely please” “i will” “me and baby diana will be waiting for you, chris.” “i love you, sweetheart” “i love you too, chris. stay safe” 

he turned off the burner phone handing it over to his handler who shoved it in his pocket “is there no way i can make it to see my wife on christmas? just for a few hours?” “not until you get the location of the drugs cargo” “c’mon man, i haven’t seen my kid since she was born” “work harder then”

he decided to get off the car before he punched the guy hard enough to knock of all his teeth, closing the door on him with a vice.

arriving back at the home, he sat down on the couch, opening a beer with the corner of a table. he knew he should’ve quit when he could, he should’ve just quit when she told him she was pregnant but he stupidly decided not to and now he was paying the price. 

“you look like shit man, what happened?” vince was one of the main men in the gang, someone chris had been assigned to become friends with. all he wanted now was for him to tell him where the drug shipment was being sent to so he could go home “some guy tried to pick a fight. idiot” “ah man, bottom feeders, always do that” “yeah” “cmon let’s go to lusty i’ll pay you a lap dance” “isn’t the new shipment coming in? last time we weren’t here mark lost his fucking head” “some guys are receiving it in the docks” score.

chris waited until they were in the strip club, something y/n would definitely never hear about, to text erin about it. 

god y/n was never to know the amount of time he was spent in this strip club or she’ll have his head on a platter

as another song was about to begin, his squad broke into the club, heavily armed which let them with no choice but to raise their hands up

erin was to one to pretend to take him in, opening the car door and immediately shutting it “great job, chris. took you long enough.” “bite me, erin.” “i’m guessing you wanna go home to y/n and diana” “i don’t want to hear about any undercover assignments until my daughter’s in college” “deal”

meanwhile y/n was walking around her fully decorated house, showing her baby daughter the baubles hanging from the ceiling

“and that one” she pointed to a big golden one “that one your dad gave to me when we first spend christmas together” baby diana cooed reaching to grab the bauble. y/n smiled at her daughter, kissing her chubby cheeks.

as she was about to hand her the christmas tree topper so she could put it on the tree, she heard someone walk up her door. looking around her opened the door of her under the stairs cupboard, laying diana on her belly there and grabbing one of her old tennis racket. 

as the knob of the door jiggled and the door opened, she readied herself to swing the racket into action 

“it’s me!” chris held his hands up “it’s me, lower the racket”

y/n didn’t even have time to process the fact her husband has a completely different haircut, was skinnier than before and had a few tattoos which definetely weren’t there. all she did was just wrap her around him and hold on tight “you’re here” “yeah, i’m here” “how long are you here?” “as long as you want sweetheart.” “but you said ...” “well, y/n, you better than everyone should know i’m very persuasive” “could’ve been persuasive earlier” “hey where is diana? is she awake?” “she’s in the under the stairs cupboard” “i’m sorry is our daughter harry potter now?” “well i thought you were an intruder and an intruder is not gonna check under the stairs” “why would an intruder come here?” “well christopher you have several enemies and as such i have several plans”

chris laughed, leaning to kiss her, tasting the chapstick she always had on before opening the cupboard, his giggling daughter on her belly. he couldn’t help but immediately pick her up, kissing her cheeks and tummy which only made her giggle more.  “did mumma put you in a little christmas outfit?” she only stared at him, leaning her head which she still could barely hold against his chest “she’s so precious” “i know. we were just about to put the christmas topper on the tree” “let’s do it”

y/n handed the little angel to diana who grabbed it with a might, holding it against her chest as chris walked to the living room where the christmas tree was. 

“wait, i have to film this” y/n grabbed the phone off her jean pocket, holding it front of her face as chris slightly rose diana who just dropped the angel of a tree, which was then fixed by chris.

he was home and he was home to stay. 

[nemesis-is-my-middle-name]

“I don’t think footprints are supposed to go across the ceiling like that...”

(kind of a tie-in to this set when arthur isn’t a part of the crime friend group yet - emphasis on yet)

“Be careful,” Mystery had warned them before they went in through the window, as he settled down on the balcony of the adjoining building. “There’s something else in there. Like you, but not like you.”

It’s too cryptic to make any use of right now, so Vivi and Lewis had put it aside for the time being. They crept silently through the occupied parts of the building, moving in sync without ever speaking, Lewis taking point as he followed the path his deadbeats had scouted out for them. Slowly they navigated their way into the vaults, where not even guards were permitted, and then they were able to relax and walk more normally.

It’s Vivi who breaks the cold silence, in a soft voice. “What did Mystery mean, d’ya think? ‘Like you, but not like you’?”

“Dunno how I’m supposed to know that,” Lewis answers. “Why?”

“Because, um.” She clicks her tongue. “I don’t think footprints are supposed to go across the ceiling like that...”

He stops and looks over at her, and then follows her gaze up. As she’d said, there's a pattern of boot-prints faintly visible on the darkened ceiling, like someone had tracked soot across it.

“Like you, but...“ With gifts like yours, but- different. He looks around, turning slowly until he and Vivi are nearly back-to-back. “I... I don’t think we’re as alone as we thought.”

For a while they both survey their respective ends of the shadowy hallway silently. There are paths that branch off from both, impossible to see down from this angle. Another person could have slipped down any one, and could be waiting behind any of them...

Lewis feels, more than hears, Vivi’s breath hitch briefly, and he can’t resist spinning half around. The hall seems still, from what he can tell.

“What?”

“I-” she shakes her head. “I thought I saw something. Just for a second - a shadow on the wall... but, I think I must have imagined it.”

He glances back up at the ceiling, taking in the direction of the prints. “Well, whatever- whoever it is, I think they’re headed the same way we are. Maybe we should just... keep moving.”

“Is there an alternate path we can take?”

A shrug. “I... we didn’t scout that far. I didn’t think we’d need one.”

“If it comes to a fight-”

“It’s two-on-one, we’ll be fine.”

“I know you don’t like to...”

“I think I’ll survive. And I’m not letting someone run us off this job.”

She nods, and relaxes from the fighting stance she’s crouched into. The two proceed down the hall again, this time more warily than before, checking every doorway before they proceed past it. Lewis can tell Vivi’s mind isn’t entirely on her task, but he keeps quiet about it.

“Like you, but not... that’s a weird way to put it, don’t you think?” she says finally.

He’d been thinking the same thing, kind of. “I know. Everyone’s Gifts are different. If they really are just another Gifted thief... any difference doesn’t seem worth drawing attention to.”

“But Mystery could feel, even from that far away...” she trailed a hand along the wall briefly. “Their magic must be...”

“Maybe-” he stops. “Wait, shh- we’re almost there.”

He inches around the corner slowly, focusing again on moving without making a sound. There’s the vault door, just as the client had promised, and the deadbeat had reported. But with a couple notable differences.

The client had sworn, up and down, that the door would be left open for them - it’s a requirement for hiring them, no tricky locks, because they’re good at what they do but they just don’t have a clean way to get past complex mechanisms like that. So the intimidating door is supposed to be open - and yet there it is, looking solid and impenetrable and extremely locked.

There’s also someone in front of it - someone he might have missed if he wasn’t looking closely, because they seem to blur into the shadows in a way that can’t be natural. Their back is turned, and they seem to be fiddling with a small part of the locking mechanism.

Lewis pulls back around the corner and takes a deep breath.

Vivi has the good sense to speak in a whisper. “Well?”

“I... think I found the one leaving the footsteps,” he relays. “They’re right in front of the door. It isn’t open.”

Her nose wrinkles, mouth curving into a scowl, and she smacks the wall lightly. “God damnit, what the hell?” she mutters, barely keeping her voice low. “They get to it before us, and now they’re locking it up?” 

“I don’t think it was ever open in the first place. I’m... pretty sure they’re still trying to get in.”

“Maybe... we’re early? They’re the one who’s supposed to open the door for us?”

“Why would they sneak all the way in here just to open it for some more thieves later?”

She groans. “So the guy who hired us just didn’t follow through. Unless...”

“What?”

“Maybe this is a trap.” She gestures at where the door is, through the wall. “They bait us with a nice easy job. Thief number three jumps us, and they get to turn us in for the reward money.”

“We were never supposed to get into that vault in the first place. That...” Makes perfect sense. “...would explain what they’re doing here.”

Neither of them speak for a moment, both looking out towards the hall, thinking the same thing.

“So... what do we do? Turn around and leave?” Lewis says finally.

“...no. I’m not leaving. Like you said, it’s two on one. And maybe we can capture them, and strip the vault clean while we’re at it.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m up for it if you are.”

“Oh, finally,” says a third voice, making them both jump.

It’s light and hoarse and, much like the thief had looked, sounds only half there somehow. Sure enough, when they both snap their heads over, the thief is standing there. It’s the first time Lewis has seen them from the front, and now he notices their mask is carved into a pattern that looks like curling smoke, one eyehole lit with a pinprick of green light. They’re crouched in something that isn’t quite a fighting stance but still feels distinctly threatening.

“You’re outnumbered,” Vivi says, summoning her sword. “Make it easier on yourself and submit now.”

“I’ll give fighting a try, if it- if it’s all the s-same to you.”

Vivi needs no further encouragement to swing her sword, a surprise strike that takes care of half their enemies before the fight’s even properly begun.

But Green dodges, hopping back and up onto the wall as easily as if he was just taking a step back. He brings one hand up to the side of his face, and the one lit eyehole flashes, and Vivi’s follow-up is abruptly halted mid-swing as she stumbles back a couple steps.

Lewis realizes he doesn’t have time to be worried about her, and calls his own weapon forth, darting in at Green’s side. Once again, he jumps easily, now perched upside-down on the ceiling.

Meanwhile, Vivi shakes off the psychic attack, and snarls to give a warning that she’s back in the fight. “Not- good enough!” she shouts as soon as she finds her voice, and sends a hail of icicles towards him, which he shatters with a swipe of his own weapon - a long dagger. 

There’s something about his fighting style that feels off, Lewis notes in the back of his mind. It takes him a moment to put it together, and then his gut twists. Blocking their attacks and dodging, but always moving back. He isn’t fighting to win - he’s just trying to escape.

Green’s dagger flashes in front of him as he blocks an attack, and without thinking Lewis catches the wrist in his own hand. Vivi takes the second of opportunity and lunges, knocking him back against the wall and pinning him there. In the dark, it takes him a moment to realize her sword’s pressed against his throat-

“Vivi, stop! We don’t want him dead!”

He sees Vivi’s posture shift a little, and both of them look over at him. He has no idea what Green’s thinking, but Vivi’s a mix of surprise and embarrassment. She eases off and gives a slight jerk of her head, silently indicating that Lewis should tie him up.

He tries his best to be gentle, though he knows the bindings burn. “Go for the vault. Then we’ll take the exit-”

An indistinct voice echoing down the hall quiets him, and he and Vivi dart a glance in its direction in unison.

“Shit, did someone hear us?”

“The- door’s open,” Green says, sounding half strangled.

Lewis looks to the vault door. “They must get an alert if someone leaves it...” he says as he realizes it. 

“Shit,” Vivi repeats. “Okay, screw the vault, we gotta go, before we end up with a whole squad after us.”

He’s on her heels towards the hatch that had been promised as an exit - but a noise behind him makes him stop. Green’s backing up slowly, obviously straining against the flickering bonds, and oh, there’s no way he’s getting out of here before the guards arrive.

It’s surprisingly easy to scoop him up and keep running. It costs him a few seconds, and he hears shouting just as he’s at the hatch, but by the time gunfire peppers the walls he’s safely through the exit.