#much in the grand scheme of things and he asks them to be Avengers

[existential-crisis-of-the-mind]

Small Talk (Jason Todd x Reader, Pt 1 of 2)

Jason frowns as he looked down at his drink. A cup of steaming hot cocoa you had prepared for him, insisting it will warm him up.

His frown deepens as he glances at his fingers wrapped around the mug. Knuckles which were bloody and bruised an hour ago now carefully bandaged in ointment and gauze.

If it were up to him, he wouldn’t bother wrapping his wounds. They were surface level, didn't need stitches. The dried blood would serve a reminder of another target taken down. He wouldn’t bother taking any painkillers either and certainly not bother fending off the cold with a warm drink. None of that matters in the grand scheme of things.

His eyes then flit to you, sitting on the couch beside him, blanket wrapped around your curled up form as you distractedly flit through TV channels. 

Jason knows you’re not paying attention to the screen, it’s all just static and white noise. He can tell by light frown lining your brow, the way you bite your lip and the tautness in your shoulders that you’re worried. Worried about him, but unwilling to voice it. Probably cause you’d been bluntly dismissed the last couple times you raised your concerns.

Because Jason doesn't have the privilege to acknowledge his pain, doesn’t have the time to sit in his feelings nor reflect on his past. He's had to forego all that if he wants to move forward, to seek justice. At least his brand of justice anyway, drenched red in revenge as it may be.

But you, you stubbornly insist on being soft, on treating his wounds as if he’s delicate, making space for his feelings as if they matter, tolerating his outbursts without judgement or ire, staying in spite of how much the sight of his battered and bruised body coming home scares you.

It’s not like you know all that much about him to justify his antics. He’s not exactly disclosed his past beyond the fact he’s cut ties with his family, hasn’t really told you all that he gets up to as Red Hood. And his standoffish personality? A supposed byproduct of being resurrected only to realise you were abandoned by daddy dearest, though he’d rather not go down that rabbit hole.

So he can’t help but wonder why you choose to stick around. Why you put up with a caustic man like him, surely his sarcasm and occasional witty remarks don’t balance out his other self destructive tendencies.

“(Name)” He calls out, waiting until your eyes are on him before he continuing

“Do you feel sorry for me?”

The question hangs in the air for a moment, almost as if you need a moment to register that’s what he really asked.

“What?… What do you mean Jason?” your expression conveying genuine confusion at his out-of-the-blue question.

“You heard me” He mumbled gruffly, internally warring with the uncomfortable atmosphere he's created but also unable to sit with his doubts any longer.

“Do you pity me? Is that why you stick around and play house?”

He knew that last bit was uncalled for, but it was hard not to feel that way when his mind whispered those cruel words. That you felt sorry for him. Saw him as a broken man, damaged goods.

He knew that’s how the few people still in his life viewed him. A young boy subjected to trauma at the hands of Gotham’s most nefarious villain, turning to a life of revenge and vengeance... too far gone to see the light. An 'anti-hero' who needs to be stopped. Captured and contained.

Except how others perceived him didn’t quite bother him, not like he held any of them in high regards, especially not Bruce. Yeah okay, he was still bitter at how quickly everyone seemed to resume their day to day routine in his absence. Not like he had any evidence of them trying to avenge him and he sure as hell wasn’t going to give them the benefit of doubt.

But you, well you were different. You weren’t a part of his previous life, you only had the (dis)pleasure of meeting reborn Jason Todd. The jaded, sardonic Jason Todd, who was done with the world and all it had to offer. 

And yet you smiled at him. Cared about him. Worried for him. As if he’s deserving of any of those sentiments, as if even though you don’t fully understand him or the things he does, he still matters.

You seem to accept him in a way he’s yet to accept himself, and that thoroughly confuses him. To the point where the only conclusion his mind can offer is that you pity him. 

So here he is. He’d like to think this is him laying his cards on the table, but really he’s just an archer looking down the tall castle walls he’s built around himself, waiting to pierce an arrow through the one good thing he’s got going. Cause it’s just too good to be true. 

He’s not going to put a label on what he feels towards you, not just yet. Not when he doesn’t know where he stands with you.

He raises an eyebrow as he crosses his arms, curious but defensive in his stance as he braces himself for what you have to say.

He sucks in a quiet breath as your lips part. As much as he’d like to think he’s prepared for the worst, the possible reality where you do view him as damaged goods would definitely sting. 

His eyes flit back to yours regardless, he’s no coward after all.

—————————————————————————

Gotta love the random burst of 1am inspiration disrupting my sleep schedule. Let me know what you think of this! Part 2 is likely going to be dual POVs for maximum angst  

[writtenfangirl]

Miracles

WOWZA THIS IS A DOOZY

I’ve written longer fics but this one’s pretty long too! 7623 words long.

Anyway, ENJOY!

“Why do you hate me?”

Y/N looked up and blinked in surprise, the paper she was sketching on momentarily forgotten.

“What?” Y/N managed to say cooly.

“You hate me. And don’t deny it,” Loki said quickly when he saw Y/N open her mouth to refute Loki’s statement. “You speak to me in clipped tones and you have never, not once, looked at me with anything but contempt in your eyes. What have I done to deserve your ire?”

Y/N pursed her lips before she slowly closed her sketchbook, her pencil stuck between the pages. She gathered all her strength as she stood up, raveling her breath like spun thread before she met Loki’s deep penetrating gaze.

There was fire in her eyes, a searing well of hate so deep that it took him aback. Loki could have drowned in her hate as easily as it could have burned him.

“2012,” Y/N said evenly without so much as a hint of heat in her tone. “74 people were killed in the Battle of New York. In the grand scheme of things, 74 lives lost are pretty good odds considering that millions of people lived in New York. We were told to be grateful to the Avengers for saving our lives. It’s hard to be grateful when everyone I loved died that day.”

And before Loki could react, Y/N had walked away.

It seemed, her ire was well deserved.

“So you hate them as well?”

“What?” Y/N asked, no longer bothering to hide the irritation in her voice. Her brow furrowed in annoyance, her lips slightly parted as air whooshed in and out in controlled even breaths. Her sketchbook was once again momentarily forgotten with Loki breaking through her once peaceful reverie.

“You said, ‘We were told to be grateful to the Avengers for saving our lives. It’s hard to be grateful when my whole family died that day.’ Those were your exact words.” Loki said, pulling up the chair across from Y/N despite her deep scowl telling him not to. “Your words imply that you hate the Avengers and, by extension, my brother. If there is anyone to be blamed for your family’s demise, it should be them. Their inadequacy caused the death of 74 people. And yet, here you are, a part of the very institution you despise.”

Y/N was such in a deep state of shock that for a moment, she forgot to be angry. Was he really blaming the Avengers for her family’s death? Then the rage began to settle in her. Her blood became hot, her skin suddenly feeling the hard bristles of anger poke within her as if her emotions were fighting for release. “What? You think I would blame the Avengers for what happened to my family?” She released a harsh bark of laughter, one that had Loki’s hair rising on end.

“I would have assumed—“

“You assumed wrong,” Y/N said viciously, any sign of mirth in her face replaced with cruelty. The fire in her veins was singing now, a savage song of nails and broken glass that had Y/N’s breath hitching in her throat.

She could throttle him, she thought. She could actually wrap her fingers around the god of mischief’s neck and squeeze as hard as she could and no one would be the wiser. The compound was currently empty with the rest of the team off on a mission, leaving only Y/N and Loki alone in their base of operations. Y/N had thought that with the compound being as large as it is, it would be more than easy to avoid Loki but it seemed, the god of mischief was eager to seek her out. If she killed him now and buried his body in the woods, no one else would know. She could kill him and she would do it with alacrity, she thought to herself.

Judging by Loki’s earnest face, he seemed oblivious to Y/N’s murderous thoughts. Maybe he just didn’t care.

Y/N took a deep shuddering breath. Even though Loki deeply unsettled her, he was still Thor’s brother. Thor likely wouldn’t appreciate it if Y/N went and offed his brother. In a fair and even fight, Loki would likely be able to fend Y/N off all by himself but Y/N rarely fought fair. She was a survivor and if there is one thing every survivor knew it was the futility of trying to fight fair. Life was never fair and a person should never limit their options by trying to be honorable. You fight with everything that you’ve got with anything you can reach and with whatever thing you can do, consequences be damned.

She stood up abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. She packed her stuff as she spoke in the hopes that maybe keeping her hands busy would mean that she would be unable to kill Loki.

“The only person to blame for New York is you,” Y/N huffed as she slammed her sketchbook shut. She gave Loki a steely glare. “The Avengers were the good guys. You weren’t. If there is anyone to blame for what happened to my loved ones, it would be you.”

And she walked away one again before Loki could say anything.

The chair across from her scraping against the floor had Y/N’s eyes rolling so hard, she was sure she saw her brain inside her head. Only one person would bother her while she was trying to finish her sketching.

“Loki, I would like to be left alone, please.” She said the words coldly, her voice unflinchingly hard. She kept her gaze steady on her pencil as it moved around the page, the shavings darkening her fingers as she used it to shadow and shade her drawing.

She really didn’t want to deal with Loki right now. Any time Loki came to speak to her, her memories attacked her, consuming her very thoughts until all she could think about until the wee hours of the night was her family. Reliving those memories were a special kind of torture Y/N wouldn’t wish on anyone, not even Loki.

But Loki didn’t leave her alone. Instead, he sat in the chair across from her, silent.

Y/N didn’t so much as acknowledge him. She couldn’t make him leave, that much was true, but she could ignore him.

“I wasn’t myself.”

Y/N’s pencil stopped on the page, her eyes still wholly focused on her drawing but her ears trained on the god before her. She waited for a breath and then another, her mind counting the seconds before Loki decided to speak again.

“I wasn’t myself when I attacked New York.”

Y/N glance up at him, an unreadable expression on her face. Loki’s face seemed impassive, his mouth set in a tight line, his eyebrows without any creases. But his eyes, so impossibly blue, swam with an emotion Y/N couldn’t describe. There was sadness there, yes, and perhaps there was even a little bit of regret but most of all, there was anguish.

Yes, that had to be it. Anguish. Anguish so deep and haunting, it was like seeing a tortured ghost in a haunted house. It would have been frightening had it not been so sad. She’d only seen that look on someone’s eyes on one person before and it was every time she looked at herself in the mirror.

He wasn’t even looking at her. His eyes were downcast and faraway, his mind in the thrall of whatever unpleasant memory made him look so haunted.

“I do not know if you are aware of the history I have with my brother but I can guarantee, it had not been easy.” Loki said, his voice even, betraying none of the sorrow in his eyes. “When we fought for control over Asgard, I fell off the rainbow bridge and found myself in Thanos’ presence. He…” Loki hesitated, his eyebrows creasing. He cast a glance towards Y/N and when he saw that she was listening intently, he continued. “I was tortured. The knowledge of how long I was tortured was kept from me. A hundred years could have passed and I would never know. All I knew from my time with him and his brood was excruciating pain. There isn’t a day that goes by when I do not regret my actions in New York but they were the actions of a scared and broken man. It does not excuse me, I know but I am sorry, for whatever my apology is worth.”

Y/N often imagines what grief would look like if she decided to draw it. She could easily draw happiness, it was sunshine and flowers in bloom, the thawing of ice as spring began to awaken. She could draw anger, all broken glasses and smashed windows and fire consuming everything it touched. She could imagine envy, silken green sheets that wrapped around a person’s throat, stealing the breath out of a person’s lungs. She could even draw sadness, the image of a sputtering flame, smothered by a torrential rain. But she could never imagine grief. It was hard to imagine something abstract to compare it to when she saw grief in her face every day.

Right now, if she tried to draw it, all she would see was Loki’s face. His face turning soft, almost disheartened, a singular tear falling from his eye, as solitary as he most likely felt.

It was the first time Y/N saw him without any hint of his usual bravado and somehow, that thawed something in herself.

Her own eyebrows furrowed, a frown dashing the once impassive expression on her face. She gently closed her sketchbook before her hands reached across the table and clasped Loki’s hand around her own. He looked at their clasped hands, his skin pale against the darkness of the pencil shavings in her hands and Y/N could almost note the exact moment when hope crept in his face like a trickle of water.

“I forgive you,” Y/N said softly.

And before Loki could say anything, Y/N was already on her feet, rushing towards her room in an effort to hide her fast beating heart and the rock that lodged itself in her throat.

Forgiveness was no easy thing, of that Y/N was certain. It left her breathless, the memory of the event, sitting in the kitchen table, Loki’s mournful eyes, replaying itself in her mind like a movie.

She has forgiven him. She was sure of that.

But the anger that had become a leech in her life suddenly didn’t know where to go.

It felt like a beast trapped under her skin, a slithering monster constricting around her heart, fangs pierced through it and continuously pumping out copious amounts of venom, filling her with wrath.

It was funny how her powers manifested itself as fire, flames consuming everything around it. Her rage felt like that. Fire consuming anything good she could ever feel, would ever feel, in her life.

With a scream of rage, her arms swung, the fire that erupted in her fingertips flying through the air in a graceful arc that hit the target square in the chest in an explosion of sparks and flame. It consumed the target, its heat licking at the plastic of the dummy until it became a melted mess on the floor.

“Someone’s angry.”

Y/N spun, her anger momentarily forgotten as she stared at Loki, who’d been watching her from the entrance of training room.

“I must admit, it’s nice to see your anger directed at something other than me.”

Y/N turned her back to him, another crackle of flame erupting from her fingertips as she hit another plastic dummy with a blast of fire.

“Silence,” Loki noted as if Y/N’a silence was the most fascinating thing in the world.

Loki’s voice was starting to become grating. She wanted to be alone, as she always wanted to be when she was training.

Unfortunately, Loki didn’t get the memo.

“I thought you’d forgiven me.”

Another dummy went up in flames.

“I have,” Y/N said, her tone clipped and devoid of emotions.

“And yet, you are upset?” Loki’s words ended in such a way as if he wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to know the answer to his own question.

“Not with you.”

It was the most Y/N could say before she sent another dummy into its burning grave.

“Then with who?”

Y/N sighed. She wasn’t sure why she was so angry and in truth, she wasn’t really angry at anyone. She just needed an outlet to release all of her negative emotions and she’d rather kill plastic dummies than hurt any of her friends in a sparring session.

Y/N turned to Loki, ending her session for the day. Hurting defenseless dummies wasn’t doing anything for her rage anyway. “I just have a lot of negative emotions and I needed an outlet. Better I hurt these dummies than my friends. I’ve burned them enough times to know how painful it is to fight with me.”

“Have you burned my brother too?” Loki asked with a wry smile.

“Him more than most,” Y/N answered with a small smile of her own, “he always thinks he’s some kind of indestructible god so he always steps up to the plate whenever I need to train with someone. Unfortunately for Thor, fire hurts more than lightning. He’s been burned so often, it’s a miracle he isn’t covered in scars.”

“Asgardian skin is tougher than you Midgardians think.”

Y/N simply shrugged. “My sparring partner needs to be more than just indestructible. They need to be fire proof.”

At that, Loki seemed to smirk. “Perhaps I can be of assistance. Has my brother ever told you of what I am?”

“Frost giant, right? Not really Asgardian.”

Loki nodded. “I am a prince of Jotunheim. It lends me abilities that most do not have. We are creatures of ice, you see. Your fire would have no effect on me.”

Y/N raised an eyebrow. “What are you trying to say?”

“I’d like to offer up my services as your sparring partner. If you’d have me, that is.”

Y/N considered this. Though she’s forgiven Loki, there was no denying that she was still upset with him. After all, she is only human and she lost her family because of his actions. It would take a saint or even an angel in order to truly forgive Loki for everything he’d done.

And she was anything but an angel.

“Alright then,” Y/N said as she walked towards the center of the room, “let’s see what you got, Loki.”

Loki seemed surprised at Y/N. “You wish to train with me now?”

“No time like the present. Now are you going to fight me or not, Loki?”

Loki stared at her as if wondering if she was truly serious. After finding Y/N’s face devoid of heistation, his pristine black suit transformed into full Asgardian fighting leathers as he walked towards Y/N, his skin shifting into a frigid blue, his eyes an enchanting red.

Y/N didn’t so much as blink at the strangeness of his alien form. She’d seen scarier and stranger aliens and Loki’s vaguely humanoid features was enough to remind her that underneath all of the strangeness was still Loki.

“You should know, Loki, I don’t let up,” Y/N said as she crouched, her body poised and graceful like a jungle cat.

“Let up?”

She often forgot that Loki and Thor were Asgardian, unfamiliar with Earth’s little turn of phrases. Seeing his brows brought together, his faced scrunched up in thought at her words had a wry smile stretching her lips. “It means I don’t stop until I win.”

At that, Loki grinned. “I should hope not. I would like a worthy fight, after all.”

“You never did say how you got your abilities.” Loki’s voice filled the quiet space, sucking Y/N out of her reverie.

Her eyes snapped towards him, heavy with lethargy. “What?”

“Your abilities. Midgardians aren’t born with the ability to control fire.”

Y/N’s eyes snapped towards the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the flurry of snow fall from grey sky. Loki and her sat on one of the expensive couches Tony purchased for the compound, a roaring fire crackling on the fireplace, their only source of light. They were alone again, the compound empty save for the god of mischief and the peculiar human. The team had decided to spent the holidays in their respective homes and with Y/N being alone and Loki refusing to come home to Asgard for the winter solstice, the pair had been forced to spend the holidays with each other.

It wasn’t as unbearable as Y/N initially thought. After the hours they’d spend training with each other, Y/N’s contempt at being around Loki had thawed. It wasn’t gone by any means but it wasn’t as bad as it was before. She can have a civil conversation with him now without feeling the urge to stab him in the chest.

She couldn’t remember the last time she spent Christmas with someone other than herself and if Y/N was being honest with herself, it was nice to not be lonely for a change.

Today, she woke up feeling better about herself in days, good enough that she even had the energy to put up a Christmas tree.

Well, she only had half the energy and so the tree was bare on one side and the side that did have decorations was a little disorganized but in Y/N’s defense, she hadn’t decorated a tree in years.

In fact, despite how unappealing the tree looked, it looked pretty against the orange light of the crackling fireplace and the backdrop of the falling snow.

“I don’t think you’d like the story of how I got my powers,” Y/N muttered, leaning forward to grab her mug of mulled wine. It had gone cold quickly despite the roaring fire but it wasn’t anything Y/N couldn’t fix. Her hands easily warmed up the beverage, heating it up until steamed danced in the air before her.

“I am bored and I will welcome any story you tell no matter how horrendous you think it to be.”

Y/N glanced at him, her previous feeling of tiredness melting away. She suddenly felt on edge by Loki’s words. What was it about Loki that had alarm bells pealing in her head despite her best efforts to remain calm?

She took a sip of her mulled wine, the alcohol like a shot of liquid courage straight to her veins. She placed the cup back down to the coffee table before facing Loki, who was looking at her with a peculiar expression.

“If I tell you this story, you have to swear to me that you would never repeat whatever I say to another person.” Y/N’s eyes flashed in severity, one that had Loki’s interest piquing.

Loki simply nodded, his own face losing the once mirthful expression upon seeing Y/N’s own seriousness.

Y/N took a deep breath, a faraway look gleaming in her eyes as she began to tell her story.

“I was always ambitious when I was a kid. I had big dreams for myself, the biggest dream being that I could follow into my parents’s footsteps. They were scientists, you see. The best in the world. So good in fact that SHIELD gave them grant after grant to continue their research. They were thermonuclear scientists. My parents thought that they could find a way to infuse the power of a nuclear bomb to people.

“I always thought their jobs were so cool. I strived hard to be as good as them, as smart as them. I graduated high school at the age of 15 and college at 18. I received my PhD for Physics and Chemistry when I was 22 and I worked under my parents ever since.

“On the day you attacked New York, I was away on business and on the way home for my birthday. They planned a party for me, my parents, my sister and even my friends were all there. Everyone that I loved was in our little loft, waiting for me to arrive from the airport after my plane was delayed. Then you attacked and they died and—“

The ball that lodged itself in Y/N’s throat left her silently gasping. Talking about New York, about her family and her friends, about how much she lost that day, always brought a fresh wave of tears in Y/N’s eyes. It didn’t matter how many years have passed since the genesis of her grief, her grief was a monster lodged in her heart, hissing and spitting poison at anyone who tried to dislodge it.

Something in Loki’s eyes shifted. He reached for her and Y/N briefly wondered if being comforted by Loki was what she wanted.

Before her mind could make up a response, her body acted instinctively. Her body seemed to cave in, allowing Loki to briefly touch her cheek to wipe away the solitary tear that rolled down her cheek.

“I’m sorry,” Loki whispered, his eyes full of sorrow tinged with regret.

“Anyway,” Y/N said hastily, wiping away her eyes despite Loki’s frown. “I threw myself into my work and completed my parents’ life work. Unfortunately, there isn’t a long line of people willing to be turned into a nuclear explosion and so I buried myself underground and experimented on myself. Not exactly something I recommend. After three days of pure agony, I emerged and became a completely different person. Contacted Nick Fury as soon as I realized what I became and I’ve been working with the Avengers ever since.”

Loki was silent for a while as he processed Y/N’s words. “How do you do that?”

“What?”

Loki frowned, as though to say, isn’t it obvious? “How do you act as though your past doesn’t haunt you? I saw you when we first met. You hated me. There is no other word for the fire in your eyes. But you never said a word to the others about how you felt and even after I stayed here, encroached on your space, pestered you with questions about the past that you would rather forget, still you never said anything to the others in the hopes of relieving yourself. Why is that?”

“I distinctly recall yelling at you several times.”

“You said plenty to me but not to them. Not to your friends. Not to the people who could easily cast me aside and turn me away whether Thor wants them to or not.”

Of all the things he could have asked, that was the one she least expected. She lifted a shoulder in response. “I don’t know. I’ve spent a lot of my time dwelling on the things I wish I could change. The past… it sucks and it’s messy but I can’t do anything about it anymore. I can only control the now, change the today. I figured, since you joined us, you’d want to change too. Who am I pass to judgement on you because you want to change?”

Loki looked as though he wanted to argue with her and so Y/N spoke again before he could. “Enough talk about me. Tell me about you.”

If Loki was jarred but Y/N’s sudden change in topic, he didn’t show it. But she did get the lingering sense that their conversation wasn’t over.

“You wish to know about me?” Loki said with an eyebrow raised in question.

She nods. “It’s only fair, I think. I say something about me, you say something about you.”

Loki seemed ti hesitate before he spoke. “What would you like to know?”

“Do you have a girl back home?” She didn’t really want to know but it was the only thing her mind could conjure up at the moment.

“A girl?”

“Or is it a boy?”

Loki grinned at that. “Neither. I have no one. I am… alone.”

“Really?”

“Is that so hard to believe?”

Yes. No. Y/N wasn’t sure. Loki was handsome, too handsome really. Thor once told her that the Royal family was good looking, even by Asgardian standards and though Y/N had never seen Odin or Frigga, she had to agree with Thor the first time she saw Loki. Not only was Thor incredibly good looking, but Loki was too. But he was also the god of mischief and he couldn’t have been too popular back in Asgard.

She shrugged. “I figured there has to be at least one person you’ve fallen in love with before.”

“There has been a few individuals,” Loki said slowly. Like he’s picking out the right words to say. “Near immortality is too long to bear it alone. But, as of this moment, no. I don’t have anyone. Do you?”

At that, Y/N let out a derisive snort. “I’ve never even been kissed before.”

Loki’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “I find that hard to believe.”

“Well believe it because it’s true.”

“I don’t understand,” he said with a quizzical frown, “I have seen how you act when you think no one is watching and your soul, despite the anger that resides in you, is one of the purest I’ve ever met. Surely someone else has noticed you.”

Y/N quickly stamped down the warm heat that blossomed in her chest at Loki’s compliments.

“I’m not exactly beautiful. I’m pretty much average in the looks department.”

“You Midgardians and your shallow definition of beauty,” Loki said with a frown.

She raised an eyebrow, almost in challenge. “Why? Do you think I’m beautiful?”

“Yes.” The word tumbled out of his lips as quickly as if he were saying the sky was blue. Like it was an absolute truth of the universe that couldn’t be contested. The sun was a giant ball of gas, the grass is green and Y/N was beautiful.

Fighting the rising blush in her cheeks, Y/N shrugs again. “I’ve never really found anyone worth it before.”

“Oh?”

“I want love, I do. I want the kind of love that could stop war in its tracks. The kind of love that is both the disease and the cure. I want the kind of love that could cheat death and breathe life into the earth. I want the kind of love that people write about in books. But I’m not stupid. That kind of love doesn’t come too often and I refuse to settle for less. I know what I deserve. I am not afraid of loneliness but I am afraid of wasting my time.”

“I thought you humans believe that it is better to have love and lost than to never have loved at all?“

“Most people do,” Y/N said as she took another sip of her mulled wine, ignoring the creeping flush on her cheeks. “I don’t.”

A thoughtful look passed over Loki’s features as he contemplated her words. Y/N wasn’t entirely sure what that meant so she continued sipping her mulled wine, still warm in her hands.

The quiet was nice. The crackling of the roaring fire, the warm scent of the candle she’d previously lit filled the room with the scent of Christmas. If she closed her eyes, she could almost imagine the laughter of old Christmas mornings with her family filling her.

For a moment, she almost forgot Loki was there and it was his voice that startled her out of her reverie.

“Do you think I’m a good person?”

She peered at him through a single eye, past her lashes. Despite the blur, Y/N could see that Loki’s eyebrows were furrowed into a frown, his mouth almost pouting as he looked at her expectantly.

“Does it matter, what I think?”

“It does to me.”

That had Y/N’s eyes snapping open.

“Your opinion of me matters very much.”

“Why? Why do I matter?”

Loki raised his shoulder in a shrug. “If someone who I’ve hurt—have taken everything from—can still think I’m worthy of redemption, then perhaps, I am.”

“God, what is with you and Thor and worthiness. I’m going to have to have a talk with Odin about drilling worthiness into his sons heads.”

“Y/N.”

She let out a sigh. “Alright, if you want my opinion so badly.”

“I do.”

Y/N let the mirth from her face drop. “I think everyone is worthy of being redeemed, even you. Especially you. We’ve all done things we’re not proud of. Shame coats this building thicker than paint. All of us who have ever lived in this building, have done things we regret and yet people call us heroes. Imagine how much they’d love you when they forgive you.”

“Do you think they can forgive me?” A look of hope filtered through Loki’s face, lighting up his features. Against the orange glow of the crackling fire, it made him look beautiful.

“I think that if I can forgive you, then they can too.”

Slowly, the Avengers began to trickle back into the compound. She greeted her friends with open arms, feeling lighter than she had in days.

Spending the holidays with Loki was a more pleasant experience than she initially thought it was going to be. After their… talk (it was more like a heart to heart, really) Y/N could comfortably be around Loki without wanting to tear her hair out of her head or cry or punch something.

In fact, in the rare occasions she could find some time for herself to draw, Loki was there, watching her in silence. Sometimes, he’d bring a book with him, a Midgardian book more specifically. Y/N wasn’t sure what he was reading, as Loki always magicked the book’s cover away into a generic leather-bound tome but he seemed to be enjoying it.

It was a little awkward at first. Truthfully, she found the parallels of their past situation hilarious. Wasn’t it only 6 months ago that Y/N was yelling at him for the murder of her loved ones at this very table? But it’s been nice, too. Quiet. Almost peaceful.

And that’s where they sat today, Loki and Y/N. It had been a grueling week of mission after mission and Y/N was thoroughly exhausted. So much so that Steve had even ordered her to stay in and rest while the rest of the team dealt with the problem alone.

Not that she was complaining. Time alone was rare and though she wasn’t technically alone, what with Loki mere inches away from her, it was still time she treasured.

He was reading again. His eyes scanning through the words on the page, his face almost earnest as he devoured his book. The sound of the pages of his book turning sliced through the quiet scraping of Y/N’s pencil against her sketchbook.

She’d been staring at him for the past fifteen minutes, her sketch momentarily forgotten, her eyes trained on the Asgardian whose eyes were furiously going from one end to the other of his book.

She wondered how long she’d have to stare before Loki finally realized that she’d been watching him.

Apparently, long enough for Y/N to grow impatient.

“Loki, what are you reading?” She asked, head cocked to the side in question.

Loki tore his eyes from the page almost reluctaantly. “Pardon?”

She fought a wry grin. “What are you reading?”

His once open face, turned sharp. Red tinged his cheeks, his smiling lips suddenly pursed, his eyes wide in… was that embarrassment? “Nothing.”

Oh it’s definitely something. “Loki, you look like a fourteen year old kid who was caught shoplifting. What are you reading?”

Loki slammed the book shut, schooling his face to be as still as stone. The only thing giving him away was his reddened cheeks. “Nothing of your concern, Y/N.”

“Ah. Is it smut? It’s okay if it is. I promise not to tell.” She said in an attempt to goad him into some kind of reaction.

But rather than reacting the way she thought he would, Loki’s brows pulled in puzzlement. “What is smut?”

Y/N wasn’t sure she wanted to particularly describe that to Loki. “Never mind. I’m not sure I’m ready to get into that with you. You’re reading a Modgardian book?”

“Yes.”

“Do I happen to know this book?”

Loki narrowed his eyes at her and she watched, almost in amazement, as he stood up and walked away without another word.

“Are you seriously just going to ignore me?” Y/N called out, almost gobsmacked.

“Enjoy your sketching, Y/N.” Was Loki’s only reply before he disappeared from the dining room and into the living room.

“And then, he just walked away from me like a petulant child!” Y/N exclaimed, her hands flying everywhere as she recanted the story to Wanda and Natasha. “It was the weirdest thing ever!”

Natasha smirked. “Sounds like someone I know.”

“Oh please,” Y/N said with a derisive snort, “I have never walked away.”

“I don’t know about that, you do it quite often,” Wanda chimed in teasingly.

“Yeah, Y/N. You tend to avoid confrontation.”

“I do not.”

“Suuuuure,” Natasha said before shooting Wanda a knowing look.

“Besides, who even taught Loki about Earth’s customs and literature.”

“I did,” Wanda said, causing Y/N eyes to snap to her in surprise.

“You did?”

“Yeah. He came to me for help. He said he wanted to get to know Earth more. I lent him some of my books.”

“What were the books you lent him?” Y/N asked, a morbid sense of curiosity seizing her.

“The classics. Austen and Shakespeare to name a few,” Wanda replied with a shrug. “I lent him some modern books too but all I had were romances. I even managed to get him to read the bible. I wasn’t sure if he’d be interested but he took them from me anyway.”

A giddy smile spread across Y/N’s face at the thought. “You lent him romance books?”

“And the Bible?” Natasha’s eyebrows shot straight to her hairline in surprise.

Wanda nodded. “I did. He didn’t really like the Bible but he seems to be enjoying the romance novels. He gives it right back after he’s done with them so he can start another one. Finishes about three a week. I’m actually running out of books to recommend.”

“I didn’t realize he’d like reading romance books,” Natasha quipped.

“Neither did I.” And the grin that spread through Y/N’s lips could only be described as mischievous.

“You could have told me you liked reading romance books, you know,” Y/N fought the teasing smile that threatened to erupt from her lips.

Loki feigned indifference as he glanced at her from the top of his book. “I haven’t the faintest clue what you are talking about.”

“Jigs up, Loki. Wanda told me you’ve been borrowing books from her.” She pulled herself a chair, sitting down next to Loki, the image of casual grace.

“Now I understand your previous irritation with me upon my interrupting your reverie,” Loki muttered with an eye roll.

“I didn’t take you for a romantic,” she said, ignoring his jibe.

Loki didn’t so much as react, his eyes focused intently on his book.

“It’s alright, you know,” Y/N continued, ignoring Loki’s indifference. “I like romance books too. I enjoy them immensely.”

Y/N could almost feel Loki’s hesitation. “I quite like Austen.”

“She’s one of my favorites. My mom’s too,” Y/N grinned. “Though I prefer Pride and Prejudice to my mom’s Sense and Sensibilities.”

“I’m partial to Pride and Prejudice as well,” Loki said evenly. “Though I find many of its characters irksome.”

“Lemme guess. Mr. Collins, Lydia and maybe even Lady Catherine?”

“To name a few.”

“So what possessed you to start reading Midgardian romance novels?” As she said this, she maneuvered her chair until she was facing Loki, her legs coming up to rest on his lap almost absentmindedly.

If Loki was bothered by Y/N’s sudden feeling of comfortableness around him, he didn’t show it.

The seconds that passed before Loki spoke again had Y/N briefly wondering if she should repeat her question. “You once told me that you want the kind of love people write about in books. I wanted to see what that love meant.”

Of all of the things Loki could have said, that was the one Y/N least expected. “What? Why would you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Care about what I want.”

“Truthfully, I do not know,” Loki’s face was troubled, as though the very idea of caring about Y/N was concerning to him. But then he smoothened his expression with finality, as if in the span of a few seconds, he had come to accept that he truly cared for her.

Y/N didn’t know what to make of it and she ignored the fluttering butterflies that roiled in her stomach.

“I have come to care for you, Y/N,” Loki’s voice was soft and low, like Y/N was some wounded bird with a broken wing who needs soothing. He leaned forward earnestly, encroaching on her personal space. “I do not know when my heart decided to care for you or even why. I do not even know how you have accomplished where so many others have failed. But I do know that I care for you.”

“You care for me?” Y/N echoed dumbly.

“Most ardently.” Loki’s hand reaches for her, his knuckle brushing the hollow of her cheeks before his thumb glided across her open lips. “My body craves you, do you know that? It seeks you even when my mind does not. Every time I enter a room, I find myself looking for your familiar figure. When you laugh, it is the sound of my world hurdling through its axis. And when you smile at me… not even the explosion of a thousand suns could describe the warmth that burns in my chest at the sight of that smile.”

Y/N’s mouth was still hanging open at Loki’s words, her eyes wide and gobsmacked.

“I once thought you beautiful,” Loki’s eyes darted to her lips. His pupils were blown, the black like an island in the middle of a vast sea. “Now I know there are no words in any language to describe what you are. Your Midgardian customs, they are foreign to me. But I would gladly become a scholar and learn them all if it means learning you.”

Y/N had to swallow down the lump in her throat. Her tongue darted to her lips in an attempt to stave off the dryness but Loki’s heated gaze turned burning at the sight of her tongue.

She didn’t like how he made her feel, not after he said those things to her. But she would be a liar if she ever said she wasn’t the least bit affected by them.

She was too affected by them.

If this is how Lucifer felt before he fell then, my god, Y/N would have rebelled against Heaven too.

But rather than saying anything, Y/N quickly pushed Loki away, swiping her legs out from his lap and ran out of the dining room.

She left the matter alone and now it is a festering wound ripe with infection.

Loki’s been stealing glances whenever they were in a shared room and so she’d spent her free time holed up in her room, only leaving when her needs call for her or her job demands that she leaves.

She hadn’t spoken to Loki in a week and when she told Wanda and Natasha what had transpired within them, all her two friends din was smirk at each other.

“What?” Y/N demanded, her face pulled in a scowl of annoyance.

“Just that you proved us right again.” Natasha said nonchalantly.

“You ran away from him. That is avoiding confrontation.” Wanda added.

“I didn’t run away.”

“Pretty sure you did.”

“Nat!”

Nat raised her hands placatingly, further irritating Y/N. She was sitting by the desk in Y/N’s room, watching as Y/N wore the carpet down with her pacing.

“You can’t avoid him forever,” Wanda said.

“I know that,” Y/N said with a groan as she plopped on her bed next to Wanda. “I don’t know what to do.” Right now, all she wanted to do was hit something and with her avoiding Loki, she didn’t have her favorite sparring partner. It was enough to drive her nuts.

“Why not be truthful?” Natasha suggested. “How did Loki’s confession make you feel?”

Natasha’s question was enough to give her pause. She hadn’t actually thought about her emotions all that much.

Truthfully, Loki’s confession had her emotions racing. She couldn’t understand how she went from hating him, to reluctant allies, to liking him enough to be friends to this. Though, she wasn’t entirely sure what this was.

How did Loki make him feel?

There was only one answer to that question and upon realizing her feelings, she ran out of her room, ignoring Natasha’s irritated grumble. “There she goes again.”

Her feet ran throughout the compound, searching room after room for Loki’s familiar figure.

She felt like a thousand butterflies were ready to burst from her chest. Like laughter had been bottled up inside her for years and was finally yearning to be uncaged. Hers was a monster finally feeling the sun on its face for the first time in its life and she didn’t want to cage it again.

She skidded to a stop upon seeing Loki’s familiar figure, resting on one of the dining room table chairs.

The golden light from the setting sun hit him from all angles, casting him in a glow that softened his features. His body was relaxed, his breathing even but his eyes were far away. Y/N wasn’t even sure he noticed her watching him. But despite how quiet she was, something broke his reverie and his eyes slid towards her. It lit up in surprise at the sight of her and he stood up quickly. Loki’s lips began to form the first syllable to Y/N’s name but she interrupted him before he could.

“You make me feel alive.”

Loki paused, Y/N’s words silencing him.

“I am not a poet,” Y/N said, ignoring her fast beating heart, eyes focused on the man before her. “I don’t know how to use words like you can. I don’t know how to describe how I feel but I do know this. When I’m with you, I feel alive.”

Loki’s eyes widened in surprise at her words. He took a step towards her, one that had Y/N taking a step back, hands flying up to stop him. “I’m not done.”

Loki simply pursed his lips and let Y/N continue.

She took a deep breath before continuing. “When I’m with you, I feel alive. And… it scares me. I have never felt this way about anyone before and a part of me hates that of all the people I could have fallen for, it was you. You, who have hurt me more than anyone in this universe has. You have the power to hurt me even more than anyone ever will. And it scares the living crap out of me. I am terrified.”

Loki took another step forward and the look in his eyes had Y/N taking a step back, arms held out before her. As if to placate her, he bowed his head, attention to his feet but his ears still trained to her.

Without Loki’s penetrating gaze, the words came easily. They tumbled down from her lips like the dying leaves of autumn, falling slowly at first before you look up and realize just how bare the trees look. “I am terrified of the hurt and the pain. I am scared that you’ll make me feel alive and once you leave, you’ll leave me for dead. I can’t do that again. I can’t lose people like that again. But I am so tired of running. If I’m not too late and you’re still willing to try out whatever this is, then I am too.”

Ignoring her thundering heart, Y/N took a deep, shuddering breath. “You can say something now.”

But Loki stayed silent and Y/N’s pounding heart sounded like war drums in her ear.

“Loki?”

At his name, he looked up grinning like devil. He threw his head back, eyes trained to the ceiling, as if silent prayer. His lips were moving silently, saying words in a language Y/N couldn’t decipher. The glow from the windows made him look like an angel and it left Y/N breathless.

He finally met her eyes and his expression was lighter than she’d seen it in days.

“Loki, are you praying?” Y/N asked curiously.

“I am,” Loki confirmed as he closed the gap between them. “I do not believe in your gods but your words may finally convert me to religion. It’s nothing short of a miracle, I think, to hear you say what you said.”

“Funny you say that, I keep thinking you look like some kind of ethereal angel.”

“Angel? Darling, I am the furthest thing from it.” Loki was so close now, Y/N could feel the permanent chill emanating from his body.

“I know. I still think you look like one.”

He clasped his hands around her, that light smile on his face never leaving. It had the heart in Y/N’s chest thudding so fast, it was almost hard to count the beats.

“Thank you,” Loki said and Y/N knew nothing could wipe the grin off of Loki’s face at this very moment. “I am still unfamiliar of your Midgardian customs but I believe that in a situation such as this, confessions of love end in a kiss. May I kiss you?”

That elicited a laugh out of her ans Loki’s already light expression became even more joyful. “What I would do to hear you laugh like that everyday.”

“Yes, Loki. You can kiss me.”

And so he did.

[kyouka-supremacy]

also here is your excuse to do beast sskk as well :)

Thank you so much for asking them I owe you my life,,, this is going to be long. Doing Akutagawa here and Atsushi in the next post.

Favorite thing about them: Akutagawa's real, authentic struggle to be good. His struggle to conciliate the inhuman Beast in him with his genuine striving to be good. I think it's a very beautiful way to depict a real and universal struggle of every man. He's just very sympathetic in his trying so hard to be a good person and how more often than not fail at it, which is very endearing to read about. He's just a very human character in his very beastliness. I think trying to be good despite his very own nature and even fight against his nature to be a better person is endlessly admirable. Akutagawa's character in Beast is an expanded, more elaborated on and mature, and overall better version of the same struggle Akutagawa faces in canon, and I love it.

Least favorite thing about them: Sometimes I do have the impression that when writing him the author gets lost in the very loop of not good → tries to be good → is still not good → is inherently unable to do good. I wish I could elaborate on this better, but I need to reread Beast to do that. Just... Sometimes it feels like the author themselves doesn't know which road to pick between “man is inherently unable to do good” and “you aren't evil, you just haven't had you chance to be good yet”. There's a primary example for this: the act of brutally slaughtering the men who killed his friends Akutagawa commits at the start of the story is repeatedly framed all over the novel as something deplorable, mindless, and simply unmistakenly evil; and I deeply disagree. I can't agree with the story when it tries to frame Akutagawa as evil because he killed the men who killed his friends, because I see how that action wasn't moved by evil for evil's sake, but rather by the deep, inextricable love he felt for his family. And someone argues: but the reader is supposed to pick up on this inconsistency! A critical reader is supposed to see how since the start, Akutagawa has never been an entity of pure evil. But... I don't think it's the case, or at the very least that it was something intentional onf the author's side. For a very simple reason: Dazai and Gin say otherwise. And those two are the characters we're supposed to trust. Dazai, because he literally can't speak false in bsd (sorry. But c'mon. You know how the author writes him. Everything Dazai says is true and just and irrefutable). Gin, because in the story she takes on this very role of showing how much pain and suffering Akutagawa's inextricable evil causes. When Gin says :

If you really wanted vengeance—if you really wanted to avenge your friends—you would’ve come up with a plan before attacking. You would’ve stood by until your wounds healed, researched your enemy, and patiently waited for your chance. But you didn’t do that. You left me behind when I was injured and rushed right into battle without so much as a plan. It was like you were enjoying the flames of revenge. [...] If I’m wrong, then prove it. Convince me. Prove to me that you had some sort of grand scheme that day. Prove to me that you didn’t just want to destroy the world you despised like some wild beast.

we're supposed to believe her. I wholly doubt that passage was put there for the reader to say “she's wrong” at all. But it's also true that when Kunikida later says “You’re not evil, [...] You just don’t know who you are yet”, he directly contradicts that. So you see, Beast as a story itself in my opinion struggles to conciliate its need to prove Akutagawa as intrinsically evil and its belief that everyone has its chance at good. Which... I don't really blame it for, it objectively engages with complex philosophical themes it's hard to delve into, especially when coming from a place of the nihilism the author more often than not has been bearer of in the bsd story.

(Didn't want to spend this many words on this but it's really a complex subject you can't properly explain by keeping it short. That said, I love Beast Akutagawa infinitely more than what I dislike of him lol.)

Favorite line: Everything he's ever said 😭😭😭 His monologues are all very good, the struggle to become human so real and easy to relate to. “Until that day I become human, I will continue to run, howling loudly” may be my favourite.

brOTP: Akutagawa's relationship with Kenji in Beast means so much to me......... They're one of my favourite duos in the whole franchise, I really like the two of them together. I like to think they will become work partners in the future (well, I know for sure anyone in their sane mind in the agency is going to keep Akutagawa and Tanizaki from becoming partners LMAO). Then, Oda and Akutagawa (Oda cares about Akutagawa so much and AAAHH), Akutagawa and Tanizaki's relationship is heartwarming in its own weird way, and in general really Akutagawa & the whole ada is just the best. THEY are the found family of bsd, the only of that kind. (Side note, I love Ryuunosuke's relationship with Gin, and I love how Beast emphasizes on how much they love each other, but ough, I have so many issues with how Gin is written in Beast... Please please forgive me Akutagawas. I just think you deserve better writing.)

OTP:

DUH

DUH

DUH

DUH

(They're my favourite bsd ship ever okay. I like them a lot.)

nOTP: I wouldn't say I have any notp for him, but I do quite struggle to picture him with anyone who isn't Beast Atsushi (´；ω；｀)

Random headcanon: He helps out at Kenji's farm whenever it's harvest time. In general, I like to think he carries on the lessons of humanity he learnt during his ada quests arc. I like to think he also pays visits to Oda's children (his little siblings), plays with them and tutors them and so on. They're his chance of being a good older brother where in the past he failed.

Unpopular opinion: He's the cooler version of canon Akutagawa LOL

Song i associate with them: Usseewa by syudou, cover by hyozan ft. flower. A while ago, I happened to tell my sister that the song made me think of Beast Akutagawa, and she went “Really? But isn't he stupid?”, lmao. She was right, but the reason I tend to associate the song with him isn't the honor student and successful businessman parts, as much as the unrestrainable rage the song expresses, the frustration, the hatred towards everything in the world, the finding notions such as “rightness” and “stupidity” equally meaningless. The carelessness for hurting other people. The underlying feeling of loneliness. It's more about the vibes, really.

Favorite picture of them:

Favourite panel from the manga:

Favourite illustration by Hoshikawa:

Favourite illustration by Harukawa:

Send me a character?

[positivelybeastly]

Plot Wishlist

General:

Any X-characters, but especially Storm, Shadowkat, Cyclops, Iceman, Jean Grey, Abigail Brand, Havok, Dazzler, Colossus, Mr. Sinister, Charles Xavier, Magneto, Sabretooth, et al.

Verse specific plots below.

Feline Hank:

Decimation/Utopia-era plots, perhaps including a PTSD recovery arc for Hank after his torture at the hands of Norman Osborn. Poor guy was literally having flashbacks at the drop of a hat and the best he got was a 'you're the rock, so idk just cope better' speech - would love to dive into this.

Fun, shippy things! Hank is a loveable fella, but utterly bereft of actual self-esteem - tons of ego and bluster, but self-esteem? Wrong house, miss - and I love to see him reconcile the often inflated mental portrait he has of others with his diabolical self-image.

Mutant cure. Hank has a vial of it just sitting in a freezer. All it takes is one particularly bad day.

Post-Intervention Hank:

Anything with any X-character, diving into the period of time between All-New X-Men and Krakoa. Hank screwed up, majorly, and his emotional state is ridiculously fractious - engage with him on this! Force him to change! Or let's have blazing arguments! Let's do both, fuck it!

Inhuman + Kang interactions! Hank was only with them for a short period of time in the grand scheme of things, but I dearly love that he made friends during his time here, and it breaks my heart that he felt like he couldn't go back after Inhumans vs. X-Men.

Avengers:

Defenders interactions! Especially Isaac Christians (Gargoyle), Patsy Walker (Hellcat) and Heather Douglas (Moondragon). I love this team - they're such a weird, kooky team of misfists and emotionally damaged individuals.

Threnody. I'm tired of talking about her as the first brick in the wall for Hank's downfall - let's talk about her as a character, let's engage with the situation, let's call Hank out, let's let him off the hook, let's do something with it!

X-Force:

Any and all members of the Quiet Council, perhaps a thread making sense of Beast's numerous karma houdinis. My portrayal of X-Force Beast diverges from the cartoon character you've seen in Percy's books, but I still want to engage with the situations he must've found himself in and write them like an adult. Let's get political, let's get complicated, let's get cruel, why not?

Any and all interactions where an old friend asks Beast what the hell he's doing and what happened to him. I just want someone to care that Beast has hollowed out his soul and decided it's easier to not care.

Irredeemable Beast:

Pretty much anything, but the tone of this verse suits Fall of X-themed plots and character development over all else. I have an in-progress fic about this verse that I'm working on - I can't tell you how overjoyed I'd be to talk about it with someone. Let's talk redemption, let's talk punishment, let's talk justice, let's talk masochism, let's talk death wishes!

Dark Beast:

Any Age of Apocalypse characters.

A duplicate Hank, tbh!

The guy's a stinker, abuse him, please.

Battle of the Atom:

Any of the time displaced X-Men, future X-Men, or members of the Jean Grey and Charles Xavier School faculty. This version of Hank is so broken and so tragic and so pitiable. Let's engage with that. Let's talk about the future, let's talk about optimism, let's talk about broken faith and mind control and hatred.

President Blaire. If you know, you know.

And obviously, all of the X-characters mentioned above, or hell, any member of the extended X-family, would be much loved as an intersection with all of these plots!

And keep in mind, if you aren't one of these characters, that doesn't mean any of this plot material is off limits to you! Message me, ask me, let's work something out. I crave good character dynamics, hmu. I want to write with you, or I wouldn't be here.

[thebibliomancer]

Essential Avengers: Avengers West Coast #54: THE TROUBLED EARTH

January, 1990

Wasp: "My stings are useless against the Mole Man's creature, Hank!" Dr Pym: "Torch, help us!" Robot Human Torch: "Don't worry, Dr Pym, the Avengers have only begun to fight!" US Agent: "All of you, shut up and fight!" Wonder Man: "The five of you can't do it alone! It's time for Wonder Man to take a hand!" Iron Man: "It'll take more than rubble to keep Iron Man out of action!"

Hah.

Fantastic Four #1 homage.

With the Human Torch playing the role of the Human Torch.

And look at US Agent criticizing everyone else's performance when he's never around.

I guess the Avengers West Coast are fighting Mole Man for Acts of Vengeance. If the Avengers ever have, I don't really remember it.

Good job, Acts of Vengeance! Finally an Avengers matchup that hasn't happened yet!

Last times in Avengers West Coast: Everything keeps happening to Wanda so now she's catatonic. I don't blame her. She's had her husband disassembled and then put back together different. She's been stuffed with racism goo. Her children were eaten by a devil-worshipping Hollywood phony and then turned out to be devil chunks. And she keeps having to participate in bad event comics.

Also, a secret conspiracy of top villains and the Wizard have schemed a scheme but actually it's Definitely Loki's scheme to destroy the Avengers and other heroes by wearing them down fighting fights they don't usually fight.

Doom robots sank Avengers Island. The U-Foes attacked the Avengers West Coast Compound. Freedom Force Attacked Avengers Park (the original location of Avengers Mansion before it was moved to an island). And now the Avengers are being confronted with a rogue Fantastic Four homage.

Stuff just keeps happening.

For example, this.

Wonder Man and Iron Man happen to be flying above the city when this happens.

Actually, they're looking for the U-Foes from last time. So that plot line gets carried at least this far before the Avengers get side-tracked by giant monster attack.

Honestly, when a giant monster starts smashing things up, you do have to put some stuff on the backburner.

Iron Man flies up at the monster. Since knocking it over with repulsors could cause more damage, Iron Man instead zips underneath the monster and lifts it into the air.

Why, yes, the Iron Man armor can lift that much.

You're pretty cool, Iron Man.

Although, one hopes he's lifting by the stomach and not by the monster junk.

US Agent shows up, for once, and asks why Iron Man doesn't just kill the monster.

Iron Man: "That might be a trifle rash, don't you think? We've both read enough science fiction stories, I'm sure, to know this might be a confused alien... even an extraterrestrial child."

I legitimately like this moment. It's a good point to make.

And it's a good contrast between both Iron Man and US Agent and US Agent and the real Captain America.

Iron Man decides to dump the giant monster in the off-shore shallows. And he has to use his repulsors to quickly make a wall of sand to keep the resulting tidal wave from flooding the area.

Another good moment of thinking the situation through.

Meanwhile, Wonder Man has found the giant hole the monster clawed its way out of and decides to follow the tunnel to find its origin.

The robot Human Torch shows up to join him.

Wonder Man asks if he's okay from last issue, where he got irradiated pretty badly. But Jim Hammond repeats his claim from last issue that radiation doesn't do much to his robot body.

It's actually lucky that robot Human Torch showed up. Because it gets pretty dark pretty quickly as they fly down the giant tunnel.

While they go, Wonder Man muses on the differences between the Vision and the robot Human Torch. They're made out of similar stuff but Jim Hammond is so lifelike it's hard to believe that he's a robot man. While Vision always sounded so cold and robotic, even when his brain worked good.

Huh. In Byrne's grand new vision for, uh, Vision, I wonder why that is.

Arguably, Dr Horton was just better at programming brains than Ultron. Heck, in Vision's original backstory, that was true. Ultron had to bring in Professor Horton to work on the Human Torch body since Ultron wasn't up to snuff.

It's funny that Hank Pym will later become known as the god of robotics, for creating Ultron, which led to Vision and Jocasta and others. When Hank Pym's method "cheats" by using human brain patterns while back during World War II Professor Horton was just able to create a robot brain that behaves indistinguishably from a human.

Ain't it sad, Hank?

Anyway, once Wonder Man and Human Torch hit about a mile down, they start seeing beasties.

Who immediately start attacking.

Because Mole Man told them to.

Hi, Mole Man.

Meanwhile, above the Rocky Mountains, an Avengers quinjet on autopilot flies Dr Pym, Wasp, and Scarlet Witch back to the west to rejoin the rest of the team.

Annnnnnd.

Scarlet Witch is catatonic again.

She came out of it in West Coast Avengers #53 when Dr Pym lied that Vision was in danger. And she was fine(ish) during Avengers #312. But after they left Vision behind in New York, Wanda just went catatonic again.

I WONDER WHAT THE COMMON CONNECTION IS?

Anyway.

Unpacking what's wrong with Wanda has to wait.

The Quinjet just got into a traffic accident.

Geez. They lose so many Quinjets.

Tricephalous really just appears out of nowhere. The autopilot tries to dodge but the Quinjet still gets clipped by the back toes of the giant beastie.

And by clipped I mean half of the Quinjet gets sheared off.

Geez.

I sorta wonder how Tricephalous knew to find them out here. It's not like the Giganto Iron Man just dumped into the sea knew where the Avengers were specifically. It just emerged into the city and started smashing stuff.

That's a huge difference from a flying monster intercepting the Avengers' exact flight plan in miles of open air.

And if it wasn't intentional, what was Tricephalous doing all the way out there?

Hopefully questions to be answered later.

The Quinjet crashes because that's what happens when it loses its top half.

Dr Pym tells Wasp he'll shrink Wanda so Wasp can carry her to safety. But Hank can't safely shrink anymore so he's planning on dying, I guess.

But then the Quinjet gently floats above the ground instead of impacting in a giant explosion.

Hank speculates some kind of magnetic field just. Set the Quinjet down.

He's not going to question it.

HE SHOULD BUT HE'S NOT GOING TO RIGHT NOW.

BIGGER PROBLEMS TO DEAL WITH.

Dr Pym: "Quick! Take Wanda! Get her to cover! There's one last chance we may have against this monster!" Wasp: "Hank... What are you going to do...??" Dr Pym: "Don't ask questions, Janet. And for god's sake don't distract me!"

Sigh.

Remember how I complained that Wasp, a veteran Avenger and proven leader in her own right, has been jammed back into the role of Hank Pym's sidekick?

Anyway.

Hank shrinks Tricephalous.

Just makes him a tiny li'l monster.

With that taken care of, Hank instructs Wasps to go over to a ranger station they can spot about a mile away and arrange transport.

Meanwhile, Magneto lurks in the woods.

Because, duh. Was it going to be anyone else once the Quinjet was gently set down with magnets?

Magneto muses that his daughter and Dr Pym will be perfectly safe in Magneto's care.

I don't know whether that means he's going to magnet them away someplace or whether he's just magnetically keeping bears away.

How did Magneto know to be here?

Magneto also thinks he's the true mastermind of Acts of Vengeance, just like how every one of the top villains and Wizard think they're the mastermind but really Definitely Loki is the real mastermind.

Meanwhile, back underground in California, Wonder Man asks why the heck is Mole Man hassling the Avengers. Doesn't he usually just bother the Fantastic Four?

Look, just because we have a Human Torch and almost hired the Thing once and just because Mr Fantastic and Invisible Woman were Avengers once doesn't mean we are the Fantastic Four!

Is what Wonder Man would have said if he were cool.

But it's none of those things. Mole Man is mad because Wonder Man and Iron Man attacked Monster Island!

Mole Man: "I had returned once again to my former home, seeking peace in this troubled world. But you so-called superheroes were not about to let me find the tranquility I craved. Miraculously, I survived your assault. I chose, then, to strike back with the mightiest creatures of my subterranean realm. With Giganto, the largest creature ever to walk the land. With the flying Tricephalous, dispatched to attack your comrades in the east."

Okay. So Tricephalous was just flying cross-country to attack the East Coast Avengers and happened to cross paths with Hank, Wasp, and Wanda.

And then they happened to crash near Magneto.

Pretty contrived.

Jim Hammond, robot Human Torch speaks up to vouch that the Avengers definitely haven't attacked Monster Island.

Humorously, this whole time Mole Man was assuming he was Johnny Storm until Jim spoke up and didn't sound like him. Now he's thinking its a weird, not very good imposter. But he doesn't particularly care either.

Back above ground, Giganto starts walking back towards the beach.

Iron Man tries to think of a new plan while US Agent ignores Iron Man's request that he show some restraint.

So US Agent wheels around his sky-cycle and then hits the accelerator to blast the Giganto in the eye with the rocket exhaust. Then he wheels back around and flares the engine again to do the monster a startle.

While narrating everything he's doing just so we know what it is.

Very kind of you, US Agent, talking to no one.

Then the monster smacks him out of the air and it is

So

CATHARTIC.

I'm sad that Iron Man saves him from plummeting to his death. But Iron Man is a nice guy like that.

US Agent: "Ugnn! Didn't even see it start to move! How..." Iron Man: "I'll make you a deal, Agent. If you don't say 'how can anything so big be so fast'... I won't say, 'I told you so!'"

Ha.

Meanwhile, underground.

Wonder Man and the robot Human Torch have been fighting Mole Man's smaller monsters for a while. Long enough that Wonder Man's costume gets torn in that leading man way.

You know, to show off his chest but still over one shoulder like he's Tarzan.

But now Wonder Man decides "enough is too much!" and declares that the Avengers had nothing to do with the attack on Monster Island and to prove it, he's going to let Mole Man murder him!

He's really just going to stand still, not defend himself at all, and let Mole Man do whatever.

And this will prove he doesn't mean Mole Man any harm, right?

Although after blasting Wonder Man repeatedly, Mole Man stops. Why would the guy take so much punishment if he's not telling the truth?

He doesn't necessarily believe Wonder Man but there's a shred of doubt now that someone is playing him for a fool. And he doesn't like that.

So Mole Man blows a whistle and up top the Giganto retreats back to the ocean like Godzilla.

Iron Man is able to detect the signal with his fancy suit sensors and figures big guy has been called home.

So he drops US Agent into the ocean so can follow the Giganto under the water and sees a giant hole where the guy must have burrowed back underground.

Well, that solves that.

Later, back at the Avengers West Coast Compound, the Avengers listen to a news report about Congress debating a super powers registration act with one ear while also discussing the happenings with Captain America with the other.

Hank has looked at all the supposed isolated incidents plaguing superheroes and connected the dots.

Someone is out to destroy the Avengers.

There have been attacks on other heroes but those attacks have been less organized compared to the ones on the Avengers which seem to keep targeting their headquarters.

The attack that sank Avengers Island, the U-Foes attack on the Avengers West Coast Mansion, the attack on Avengers Park (although that one wasn't actually part of the conspiracy so never mind).

Dun dun dun!

I mean, we already knew this but I'm glad the Avengers have caught up to the audience.

Next time, Avengers #313, where the conspiracy starts to unravel with barely any effort from the Avengers.

Follow @essential-avengers for more words arranged in sentences and paragraphs that talk about Avengers and Avengers but in California. Like and reblog maybe.

[scottxlogan]

Steve Rogers/Tony Stark Master List

One Shots/Short Stories  

Caught in a Moment (Pairing: Steve/Tony, Rating G)  Tony surprises Steve by pulling him into a dark hallway for a kiss.

Not Alone (Pairing: Steve/Tony, Rating G) Tony finds himself in the midst of a panic attack when Steve arrives to offer up his support.

The Road We’re On (Pairing: Steve/Tony, Rating M)  A year after the battle against Thanos, Tony is struggling with the aftermath of his heroic actions as his body serves as a reminder of the changes in his life. On a day when he’s lost inside of himself thinking about what’s left of him, Steve finds a way to remind Tony just how incredible he is. The two share some quiet time with each other and reflect on the journey they’ve taken together to reach happily ever after.

Reflection (Pairing: Steve/Tony, Rating T) In the aftermath of battle, Tony finds himself reflecting on his place in the universe and how small he feels in the grand scheme of things. Lost in his thoughts and facing down his demons, Tony finds that he’s no longer alone when Steve arrives and shows his support for his teammate.

Study Session (Pairing: Steve/Tony, Rating M) Steve's hosting a study session for his chemistry class for his apartment, but the only chemistry he's focused on exploring is the one he has with Tony.

The Blind Date (Pairing: Steve/Tony, Rating T) After a dry spell in his dating life, Steve reluctantly agrees to go on a blind date that Bucky has arranged for him only to discover that perhaps it could be the key to finding his soulmate along the way.

Tonight's The Night (Pairing: Steve/Tony, Rating M) Steve's feeling very lucky when on his return home his husband Tony has a surprise in store for him sure to heighten the possibility the night has to offer them.

Roommates (Pairing: Steve/Tony, Rating T) Tony and Steve had one simple rule between them from the moment they became roommates when it came to their relationship. No fooling around with each other. However, when Tony is left remembering a night when he and Steve threw caution to the wind and decided to bend the rules between them, Tony discovers that getting back to what they'd planned isn't so easy. With Steve spending more time with his handsome friend Thor, Tony fears that perhaps he's lost his one shot at finding something real with his good guy roommate.

Forbidden Awakenings (Pairing: Steve/Tony, Rating E) Tony Stark's life was headed in the right direction until one dark night in Central Park fate had other plans. Steve has a dark secret he's been struggling to keep, but when an old enemy turns his life upside down and Tony's world comes crashing down around him leaving Tony struggling for answers it appears that everything is about to change.

The Unexpected Kiss (Pairing: Steve/Tony, Rating G) Steve and Tony's estrangement from one another after their break up is taking its toll on the team, so when Clint approaches Steve and asks to practice his new tattoo artist skills on Steve, Steve and Tony soon learn that their teammates have an ulterior motive meant to get them talking again.

So Close (Pairing: Steve/Tony, Rating M) Steve regrets his decision not to go to Malibu with Tony, but is it too late to let Tony know just how much he wants to work things out between them? With Bucky's help, Steve rushes to the airport to stop Tony from leaving his life, but will it be too late?

The Darkness (Pairing: Steve/Tony, Rating E) Post Avengers: Tony's haunted by nightmares of his near ending during the Chitauri invasion. Fighting to contain his anxiety Tony slips away to the lab where Steve soon follows and the two find their way to a tender conversation before experiencing a passionate night together in each other's arms

One Step Closer (Pairing: Steve/Tony, Rating E)  Tony Stark was pushed into popstar fame by his ambitious father early on, but over the span of more than two decades Tony has seen the highs and lows of stardom hitting rock bottom in more ways than one. Through it all there was always one person that Tony felt was his saving grace. Steve Rogers was always the one that got away and no matter how many times they tried to cross that line into love they couldn't quite get there. As Tony's once close friend and brief roommate, Steve turned Tony's world around in all the right ways until fate intervened and they were pulled in separate directions. Now fresh out of rehab on his 45th birthday and looking to keep from making the same mistakes, Tony reflects on his past and follows his heart to new beginnings hoping that it's not too late to find his way back to Steve in his hopes for a second chance.

The Quest (Pairing: Steve/Tony, Rating T) Archaeologist Steve Rogers finds himself in the thick of danger and adventure after teaming up with his former mentor's son and current sidekick Tony Stark to chase down a rare treasure set to unlock all of humanity's mysteries along the way.

Out with the Old... (Pairing: Steve/Tony, Rating M)  AU: Alone on New Year's Eve in 1989 in New York City, Tony decides to go all out in throwing a solo party for himself until sexy cashier Steve offers him a better alternative to a night of drunken loneliness.

The Journey (Pairing: Bucky/Steve/Tony, Rating E)  Steve and Tony decide to take a special trip for their anniversary together. To spice things up they decide to gift each other a vacation with Bucky who is ready and willing to be what they need to make their anniversary even more memorable. Will it prove to be exactly what they needed to strengthen their marriage or will they find something more in their playtime with Bucky?

What If We...? (Pairing: Steve/Tony, Rating T) Caught up in deciding what to do about the problem of the Phoenix returning to the world again and causing chaos, Tony offers Steve a suggestion to prevent a war between the Avengers and the X-Men from happening. It sounds like the perfect plan, but along the way Tony finds that perhaps there's something more beyond saving the world with Steve that he's looking to find in their conversation.

Sweet Dreams  (Pairing: Steve/Tony, Rating T) For years Tony abandoned the idea of ever finding his soulmate, yet somehow after he's hit with a panic attack at one of the worst possible times and Steve comes around to comfort him, Tony discovers that perhaps his soulmate is closer than he thinks.

A Journey Through Time  (Pairing: Steve/Tony, Rating T) Post endgame after Tony's death Steve makes the decision to go back in time to travel to the past to see Tony in the hopes of changing what's ahead for them. Together Tony and Steve share a touching reunion as Steve's journey leads him closer to fixing the mistakes of the past and being close to where he's always wanted to be.

After The War (Pairing: Steve/Tony, Rating M)  Weeks after the battle with Thanos, Tony finds himself in a place where he's left feeling uncertain about himself and what remains of the man he once was. Lost in his struggles, Tony tries to sort his thoughts out, but struggles with his new life until Steve offers him a reason to get lost in a welcome distraction.

The Gift  (Pairing: Steve/Tony, Rating T)  Steve and Tony share a moment together after Steve puts his new artistry skills to the test in bringing to life a tattoo design he created for Tony.

Jealousy (Pairing: Steve/Tony, Rating T) For some reason even though it's been a while since Steve and Tony have been together, Steve can't shake the sudden burst of jealousy he feels in seeing Bucky and Tony getting along with one another. Steve knows it's for the best that his best friend and former lover are at peace with one another, yet Steve can't shake the unsettling ways it feels to be on the outside of things with Tony knowing that Tony's still the only one in his heart.

Wrong Turn (Pairing: Steve/Tony, Rating T) Tony reflects on the five times that Steve made a mark on his life while Steve takes a moment to consider the one time Tony made a mark on his.

New Awakenings (Pairing: Steve/Tony, Rating T) After the battle against Thanos the world faces the end of Tony Stark, but Steve Rogers can't and won't accept that fate. When Steve takes matters into his own hands by revealing a secret part of himself to save Tony, what will the future hold in store for them?

Only In New York (Pairing: Steve/Tony/Bucky, Rating M) Tony grudgingly agrees to go out on a blind date in the city that Pepper has set up for him. In doing so Tony meets devastatingly handsome artist Steve Rogers who is catching Tony's eye in all the right ways. When a series of mishaps and misunderstandings brings Steve and Tony closer to one another, will it prove to be the spark they need to fuel the fire between them or will fate have other plans with Steve's sexy roommate Bucky in the picture?

Mixed Signals (Pairing: Steve/Tony, Emma/Steve/Tony, Rating E) After a battle in New York City, Steve is thrilled when Tony invites Steve to join him on a romantic vacation, but Steve's excitement soon fades when he fears Tony doesn't reciprocate Steve's feelings and desire to have more than friendship with his teammate. When Tony and Steve arrive on the island paradise together, Tony's decision to throw a party and flirt with his guests on the island leaves Steve longing for anything, but playing Tony's wingman. Things are anything but what Steve hoped for until a sexy stranger arrives and encourages Steve and Tony to share in something beyond Steve's imagination that will not only open his eyes to pleasure, but bring him closer to the one man he's determined he can't live without even if it means exploration and stepping outside of his comfort zone to make his dreams a reality.

Through the Darkness (Pairing: Steve/Tony, Rating E) Looking to get a little alone time with Steve, Tony weaves a fantasy with his lover not only to heighten their pleasure together, but help him work through his own fears after the time being locked in the nothingness of space had stolen his serenity. In Steve's arms, Tony finds a way to experience a new freedom through his kinks in the love and safety his lover's arms.

Like We Never Left Series

Like We Never Left (Pairing: Steve/Tony, Rating T) Steve is furious that he's partnered with his ex-lover Tony on his new mission, but being a top spy Steve's determined to work to get the job done regardless. When old feelings resurface and Tony drops a new bombshell on Steve, all the rules change. After the mission proves to take a wrong turn, Steve and Tony are forced to face the truth that maybe what they once shared together isn't just a distant memory between them.

Just like that...Back To Love (Pairing: Steve/Tony, Rating T) Super spy Steve Rogers reflects on the mission he and his work partner/on and off lover Tony Stark put behind him and what it means to their future moving forward where matters of the heart are concerned.

[themculibrary]

AO3 Fics Masterlist 4

Links Last Checked: April 13th, 2024

part one, part two, part three, part five, part six

5+1 Pepper and Natasha (ao3) - in_motu_proprio pepper/natasha E, 11k

Summary: The five times Natasha relieved Pepper’s stress and the one time Pepper relieved Natasha’s.

Adagio (ao3) - Lurkz pepper/natasha, pepper/tony, implied steve/tony T, 31k

Summary: It was supposed to be just an assignment. Falling for the person she was supposed to protect wasn’t really in the plan. But when do plans ever stay the same?

a line that goes all the way (ao3) - napricot steve/bucky E, 45k

Summary: "About six months after he left Bucky in cryostasis in Wakanda, Steve got a text from an unidentified number: He is awake and well, and wants to see you."

Steve and Bucky reunite and reconnect, with some help from modern technology.

A Marriage of Inconvenience (ao3) - WhinyWingedWinchester loki/tony, natasha/thor, odin/frigga M, 80k

Summary: Forced into an arranged marriage with Prince Loki of Aysgarth, Tony knows that he is not the ideal husband to the son of a king, but he still hopes that he might find true love with his husband like the stories he loves to read of adventures and happily-ever-afters.

Prince Loki, however, does not wish to be married, and he makes this clear to Tony even after their vows have been said before the priest. Life is no better for Tony in Castle Aysgarth than it was back in Iron Reach - he is as unwanted by Loki as he was by his father.

But slowly, things change. There is a steadily growing affection between them, something that might, perhaps, grow into more and Tony can only hope his love for Loki might one day be returned.

But then an assassin strikes unexpectedly, pirates attack, and Tony very well might be living an adventure from one of his books, but it looks like happily-ever-after might be too much to hope for.

Amaryllis (ao3) - paperstorm steve/bucky E, 70k

Summary: So do I remind you of someone you’ve never met, a lonely silhouette? And do I remind you of somewhere you want to be, so far out of reach? I wish you’d open up for me, ‘cause I want to know you … amaryllis bloom. // In 19th century Europe, Bucky and Steve are members of neighboring royal families. Steve is the heir to a throne he does not want, and Bucky is the neglected third child waiting to be married off and forgotten about. Trapped in unhappy lives by seemingly immovable circumstances, they find a way out in each other.

Barnes Family Motors, Inc. (ao3) - phlintandsteel bucky/tony E, 68k

Summary: In a world where alphas legally own omegas, Bucky is just a small time mechanic from Brooklyn who gets lucky in a poker game. Tony is an omega whose life is fraught with abuse, until his luck suddenly takes a turn for the better.

In the grand scheme of things they may only be able to make little differences in the lives of those around them, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth making them. After all, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Better When I’m With You (ao3) - thelilacfield wanda/vision T, 69k

Summary: He’s had a number of firsts. Virginia Reed, his first crush. Wanda Maximoff, his first kiss. Eve Simon, his first heartbreak. Mandy Fournier, the first girl who said yes when he asked her to dance. And he’s becoming increasingly certain that Sam Wilson is his first love.

Vision writes a letter each time he has a crush so consuming he can’t forget it. They are tiny pieces of his heart, written out for his eyes only, a way to say goodbye.

Until the day they’re sent out.

Cheeseburgers, Tech and Steve (ao3) - LagLemon steve/tony E, 97k

Summary: Steve’s known that there are other worlds out there; he just hasn’t paid much attention to them. Living with Bucky and helping out the Avengers is a full time job, and he doesn’t have time to daydream about things like that when he can hear about them at work. When they get called in to investigate the appearance and deaths of Incubi and Succubi civil war survivors, they find that a portal has been opened between their two worlds. Wanting to do the right thing, Steve offers to go through and talk to those in charge - only he didn’t count on getting stuck on the other side of the portal.

Once he’s back on earth, though, he’s got a whole new problem on his hands. An annoyingly brilliant Incubus has followed him back and he’s left to deal with the mess all by himself.

Countdown (ao3) - ShesLikeTexas steve/tony, pepper/happy, bucky/natasha E, 96k

Summary: Mob Boss Steve Rogers kidnaps Tony Stark and gives him 365 days to fall in love with him.

Demonique (ao3) - BetteNoire (WeAreWolves) steve/bucky E, 39k

Summary: “Oh come on, Steve. You look at me like you want to put me on a pedestal and worship me. You look at Barnes like you want to tear his clothes off with your teeth. Tell me why you two aren’t...?” Peggy smirks at him, because of course this amuses her greatly.

Steve fidgets, trying not to blush. “Peggy, I can’t—“

Peggy steps closer. “Steve. Is this an American peculiarity? Because in the British army, as long as you’re discreet, that sort of thing between two men is fine. I mean, some of our greatest war heroes, and so on.”

“It’s not... that...” Steve cringes.

It’s Bucky’s tentacles.

And how badly he wants them inside him.

Dishonor On Your Cow (ao3) - mandarou steve/bucky E, 111k

Summary: “Sergeant Barnes?”

“Oh, hell no, don’t call him that, man,” Sam warned.

“Captain Fuck Off!” Barnes shouted over him. “Fight me!”

Steve didn’t know whether to laugh or just slink away. He managed to combine the two by pacing two steps and snorting instead. Like a bull.

“I’m gonna need you to calm your ass, Barnes,” Sam said as he went limp again, obstructing Barnes’s struggling under him. “This is so undignified. That is Captain goddamn America.”

“Captain goddamn America!” Barnes repeated, louder. And angrier.

Steve cleared his throat again. “I’ve been looking for you,” he told Barnes.

“I hope you brought lube this time!” Barnes shouted.

Hipsters get Remembered, Legends Never Die (ao3) - sara_holmes bucky/clint E, 89k

Summary: Bucky Barnes is a broke millennial hipster and one-armed veteran who somehow ends up as a science project for Tony Stark, a PA for Steve Rogers and a fling for Clint Barton. What even is his life.

In the Home (ao3) - aloneintherain T, 68k

Summary: The Avengers have been infected, turned violent and aggressive against their will. And Peter, the only one unaffected, is trapped inside the Tower with six feral teammates.

“Natasha,” Peter says cautiously, “what happened here? Steve attacked me, and if there was ever a sign that something was wrong, it’s having the embodiment of Truth, Justice, and the American Way throw you across the room—”

Natasha comes closer, her stride controlled. Nothing necessarily out of the ordinary, but there’s something in her face, in her eyes—

Natasha lunges across the space, and slams into Peter, hard.

Mr. Stark’s Home for Idiot Teenagers (ao3) - sturionic T, 98k

Summary: In which Tony Stark learns object lessons about love, sacrifice, death, friendship, and parenthood; and makes his peace with the unfortunate reality that his penthouse will be crawling with asshole teenagers every weekend for the foreseeable future. Follows canon…loosely. Ahem.

Pythagorean Expectation (ao3) - trickdaggers steve/tony E, 182k

Summary: Steve turns, feeling his heart fall out of his chest at the figure walking towards them. This has to be a dream. A nightmare— one that Steve has definitely had before.

Tony Stark walking towards them does not compute. Even with his eyes shrouded by orange-tinted spectacles, there is no mistaking that lopsided grin and casual strut onto the field even from a distance. Steve’s head is swimming with questions. Tony holds so much notoriety right now that it would be near impossible to keep him transferring teams a secret, especially considering the team he would be leaving is owned by his own family.

(Aka, the fic in which Steve and Tony are rivals both off and on the baseball field— until they aren’t. And it’s also in the 90s, because why the hell not.)

Straight on till Morning (ao3) - Sineala steve/tony E, 109k

Summary: Tony Stark resigned his commission in Starfleet five years ago, after a disastrous away mission, and he swore he’d never go back. He just wants to be left alone to build warp engines in peace. But the universe has more in store for him than that, as he discovers when Admiral Fury comes to him with an offer he could never have expected and cannot possibly refuse: first officer and chief engineer aboard the all-new USS Avenger, a starship of Tony’s own design. What’s more, the Avenger’s captain is Steve Rogers, hero of the Earth-Romulan War. Believed dead for over a century, Steve is miraculously alive… and very, very attractive.

But nothing is ever easy for Tony. As he wrestles with his secret desire for his new captain and his not-so-dormant fears, another mission starts to go wrong, and Tony becomes aware that Steve has secrets of his own – and the truth could change everything.

stress relief (ao3) - romanoff steve/tony E, 84k

Summary: They don’t love each other. They barely even like each other.

That Moment Divine (ao3) - synonym4life steve/bucky E, 61k

Summary: “‘S okay. It don’t have to mean nothing,” Bucky said, trying to convince himself as much as Steve. “‘S just rutting. Just a bit of rutting.”

His lips were so dry, his mouth too, and his throat, but the rest of his body felt like hot languid liquid was flowing through it. Steve swallowed, licked his lips. Maybe Steve’s mouth was dry too?

One hot summer, when Bucky and Steve are fifteen, the line between their friendship and something new that Bucky can’t quite name blurs. It is only years later that the line disappears completely and Bucky can finally put a name to that something.

What We're Not (ao3) - wickedthoughts steve/bucky E, 7k

Summary: Bucky's afraid and Steve's determined.

(Or, Bucky's afraid of what he wants and Steve's determined to show Bucky how much he loves him).

While You Were Sleeping (ao3) - Brenda steve/bucky M, 45k

Summary: Bucky wakes up from cryo to find himself in a world without Steve - and that's just the beginning of his problems.

[adlbeay]

I wanted to talk about the themes in the Walk in the Dust event. The story of Arknights has always had a high level of thematic consistency, but it’s especially prominent in this event. I feel like a lot of the discussion of the story in certain places comes down to “lore” and surface-level plot details, so I wanted to get this out there somewhere.

The two big ideas that are covered in Walk in the Dust are that of revenge and the homeland. Let's talk about revenge first. Long post and story spoilers under the cut.

In the beginning, we are introduced to Elliot, aka Passenger, who by the time we meet him, is an aimless husk of a man. He is utterly empty inside despite being the most powerful figure in the Reefsteep black  market, with vast wealth and political influence under his thumb. Having completed his decades-long quest to slay everyone who was involved in betraying his teacher, he has no more goals for his life. After killing  the Lord Ameer of Ibut, the last of his targets, he realizes that the revenge he had been pursuing was ultimately empty, that the weapons he built and the schemes he engineered to that end no longer moved him. Even the death of the Lord Ameer didn't matter one bit in the political landscape of Sargon.

As for the Sargon army... We live in different times now. The ruling  Padishahs simply care not about what is happening here in this barren  wasteland. My guess is that it matters not to them whether it's the  father or the son that's in charge. Actually, to tell the truth, it  hardly matters to me either.

Ultimately, no one cared if the Lord Ameer was murdered or simply  died in an accident, not even Elliot himself. Sargon continues to be exploited by the Columbian military and the ruling Lords. Professor Thorne remains dead. His research, once entrusted to Elliot to prevent  it from becoming a weapon of war, has nonetheless been used by Elliot  himself to bring even more death. Now, 22 years later, Passenger sees  finding Kal'tsit as his only path to salvation, so that she can once  again give him a purpose like she did when she rescued him the first time.

Folinic's mom, Lillia, also shares the same kind of story. Her husband was killed in Chernobog when the count decided to purge the researchers working on the sarcophagus device. Among the children of the families broken up by this incident are Lyudmila (later Crownslayer), Alex and Misha (later Skullshatterer), and Luisa (later Folinic). Lillia finds Kal'tsit after months of searching, intending to take revenge on  Grand Duke Vanya not just for her husband, but also for Luisa, who never got to know her father because of it. Kal'tsit tries to talk her out of  it, even during the final phases of the plan, but Lillia's mind is set.  She entrusts Kal'tsit with taking care of both Luisa and Lyudmila, as  she knows she won't be able to come back to live a normal life after  this. And... she succeeds. Although it is Kal'tsit who ultimately administered the poison, their plan works flawlessly and Duke Vanya is finally dead.

Except it still ended up being completely meaningless. The Grand Duke was in a glorified nursing home already near the end of his life, and if Kal'tsit didn't kill him then some other conspirator from the Ursus  political backstage would have done it anyway. He was already crippled and blind, and as we find out during the confrontation with the Emperor's Blade, even Kal'tsit only agreed to Lillia's plan because it  defused the conspiracies of other powerful figures who would have used  the Duke's death to spark another rebellion. The only thing that Lillia ended up accomplishing was making sure that Louisa would grow up without both a mother and a father, and Lyudmila would never get the answers she really wanted about her family's death. And, although she ended up not doing it, she was even also planning to go back to Chernobog to kill  Sergei, Alex and Misha's father, for his betrayal.

And this carries on through the future outside the event. Crownslayer ends up joining Reunion because she thinks it will give her the answers  she wants and avenge her father. Folinic almost lets her anger at Atro's death get her into a confrontation with Wolumonde. In the end, Crownslayer is stopped by Kal'tsit and Folinic is calmed down by  Suzuran, but we might be able to imagine what would have happened if  they managed to carry out their vengeance.

The theme of homeland is one that's intrinsically tied to Kal'tsit and has at least a bit of relation to the broader story outside of the event. It's harder to talk about since it's not clearly  split into individual stories like previously, but there's at least one character that exemplifies this theme the most: Old Isin.

Old Isin is appropriately to his name, old as rocks. He remembers being a servant to some lord of a long-lost city that very few even know once existed, and spends his time telling fortunes while trying to seek out people who, like him, also share that past. According to Kal'tsit, the city's people were scattered when it was destroyed, and now only Isin even remembers the origin of the name "Reefsteep". Even then, Isin only has vague memories, and believes it to be his unforgivable sin that  he has forgotten so much about the city.

Old Isin originally helps Kal'tsit and Elliot because he hopes that  she can help him remember about the lost city, and thus absolve his  "unforgivable sin". And Kal'tsit indeed does help him. Isin begins to recall the conquests of armies a thousand years ago, something even with  his age he should not have been a part of, much less remembered.  Kal'tsit dispels the illusions clouding his memory, and reveals that  what Isin remembers is only the stories that the padishah recounted to  him, that the glory of his old city was only a memory of another memory. In truth, the city in Old Isin's memory was merely a stepping stone for the padishah's ambition to conquer the uncharted deserts, and was abandoned just as easily when that campaign failed. His homeland's glory was just an illusion created in his mind by the padishah's charisma.

Which brings us to the Emperor's Blade. Wherever he stands is the dominion of the Empire of Ursus. Whatever he does carries out the Ursus Emperor's will. Or at least, that's how the Royal Guards imagine themselves, single-handedly carrying out their homeland's legacy. Kal'tsit lays it out clearly:

Kal'tsit: Tell me, what does the current Ursus Emperor think of the Pine Valley affair? Or do you mean to tell me the seeds of that uprising, the origins of the crisis were all the will of the Emperor? Feel free to keep deceiving yourself, but the truth is the young emperor is unaware of the events that transpired there. You believe he has no  need to know. You... all of you seek a bygone era. You are just caught up in the former emperor's grand vision!

As does Patriot in Chapter 8:

Patriot: I fought with your fathers. Your strength and tactical acumen are no less impressive than theirs. But you look at the Ursus of those times with rose-colored glasses. What you see is nothing more than your wild fantasies.

The Royal Guards are described in not too unclear words as soldiers  who probably believed too much of their own grandiose affect. They are unparalleled fighters, to be sure, but it isn't hard to infer that those words about executing Ursus's will and each Royal Guard being his own nation are words intended to strike fear into their enemies rather than  statements of any real truth. Indeed, if you know anything about the internal politics of Ursus, the idea of "Ursus's own will" can be seen as more of a nostalgia at a bygone era when Ursus was, or at least seemed, united in conquest under the previous Emperor. The perceived glory of their homeland is what motivates the Emperor's Blade, but like with Old Isin, the truth behind it is shaky at best.

We also have the contrast between the retired veteran at Pine Valley  and Grand Duke Vanya. While talking to Witte, the veteran cuts off one of his own fingers, claiming that the scars he has suffered in Ursus's wars, once considered symbols of his glory and honor, were ultimately meaningless, and he wants this self-inflicted wound to be his only legacy to Ursus. At the same time, the Grand Duke is postulating about how the seeds he had sown in the winter would give birth to beautiful flowers. Even though his actions and the crimes he committed never bore fruition, he is convinced even in death that Ursus's soil will bloom.

The issue of a real or imagined homeland, and its loss, is also  shared by the Sarkaz as a whole not only in this story but in the main story and many other events. It's even arguable that Rhodes Island's mission to help the Infected was originally inherited from Babel's goal of establishing a stable homeland for the Sarkaz. After all, as pointed  out in many places, the Infected and Sarkaz share much of the same discrimination.

Sarkaz Mercenary: Home...? How could us devils... us Infected possibly have one... Kal'tsit: The Sarkaz have tried to rebuild 'Kazdel', their home for centuries, though they have never succeeded. Everyone has a different idea as to what the term 'homeland' means, but as it stands right now,  Kazdel is perhaps as close as you can get to the term's original meaning.

And in Twilight of Wolumonde:

Armed Infected: We’re going home? To what home?

Mudrock: Kazdel. There may be no place for Sarkaz outside of Kazdel.  But in Kazdel, there is a place for you. Not because of tolerance. But because there is... nothing there. Kazdel... is where the homeless go. A land of rootless people.

So what does all this have to do with Kal'tsit?

In the ending cutscene, Passenger asks Kal'tsit whether this "Rhodes  Island" is yet another passing persona to be used to accomplish a goal and discarded when it's complete. Like the persona of the Trusted  Advisor, or the Servant, or the Laterano Cleric, will she abandon Rhodes  Island as well? Kal'tsit initially puts up a front saying he has no  right to ask, then bluffs about having thousands of answers, but is pushed by Passenger saying he'll even accept a lie. In one of the only times we get to see Kal'tsit faltering, she actually has no answer to this.

Unlike the other characters we see throughout the story, Kal'tsit has no homeland. No matter how fake or illusory it is, Old Isin and the Royal Guard have something to believe about a place where they can belong. The nobles in Victoria, as incompetent as they appear from the outside, are dedicated to defending the peace of their home despite having no ruler. Even the ostracized Sarkaz can ultimately go back to Kazdel, as unpleasant as that might be. But while Kal'tsit wanders the earth to keep the homelands of others from falling into chaos, she has no homeland of her own to go back to.

In one of the trailers for Chapter 9, we hear a recording from Theresa, addressed to Kal'tsit: "I hope this Rhodes Island can be a place to call home, a place you can always return to."

[itsany62]

SteveTony - Alternate Universe

Here are some Alternate Universe fics that I love. Don't forget to leave kudos and nice comments in every fic!

Food for the Heart, by LagLemon, 14 k >, Cooking, No Powers.

After being introduced to a gourmet food on a budget blog by Pepper (a gift for her elderly, cheapskate mother) Tony starts cooking again. The recipes are good, but the blog owner is even better. Still, Tony isn't so sure Captain America, the guy who runs the blog, can compete with Hot Bagboy, the gorgeous blond who works at the grocery store.

"Free to Good Home" by Captain_Panda, 7 k > words, Alternate Universe - Animals.

"Oliver and Company" AU.

There's a great big world outside the box.

But it's a dog-eat-dog world, and Tony's just one cat. Then a stray dog comes along, looking for a friend.

A Day In Principal Stark's Office, by nannersmelo, 10 k > words, Steve Single Parent, Director Tony.

Tony Stark has his hands full with not only Stark Industries, but also his beloved mother's life project: The Maria Stark Academy, and as he enters his office in order to deal with a ferocious mother whose son was apparently assaulted by one of his brightest students, he was sure this day would culminate in nothing but a heinous headache. Little did he know - he was in for one hell of a surprise.

I Am the Night by gottalovev, 6 k > words, Alternate Universe - Vampire, Vampire Tony Stark, Wizard Steve Rogers.

That's it. Tony is doomed. He rolls on his back, crosses his wings over his belly and closes his eyes. He'll await death here, misunderstood by the world to the bitter end.

C is for Calculus and Compromise, by heydoeydoey, 11 k>, Gifted AU, Post-Divorce, Angts with a Happy Ending.

Steve's just trying to give his prodigy daughter a normal childhood. Enter a meddling school administrator, Tony Stark, and too many lawyers.

tell you my love for you by jelliebean, 22 k > words, Alternate Universe - Normal High School, Based on Love Simon.

A guy at Shield High comes out on tumblr, anonymously. Tony thought he was the only gay guy on campus--not out, because of Howard--and sends him an email.

“Hey, Flying. Same here. I’ve got a secret too, and it’s like I’m hiding who I am, every day. From everyone. All the closest people to me. But I just can’t tell them. I’m gay, too. It feels like I’m putting on this mask, this shell of who I think they want me to be. Even though I don’t think my friends would judge me. I don’t know why. I just. I’ve got a secret. –Shell”

The guy seems great--amazing, even, and then Hammer has to step in and ruin it all.

Mergers & Acquisitions by Robin_tCJ, 33 k > words, Angst, sex as currency.

Steve Rogers is the CEO of the Rogers Corporation, which he built from the ground up. When he learns that Hydra International is making a bid for a hostile takeover of Stark Industries, he decides he has to do what he can to stop Hydra from overtaking the market and becoming an unstoppable, unethical conglomerate. Tony Stark asks for something Steve isn’t sure he should give, but he does it anyway – and it completely changes everything. But when Hydra keeps coming, Steve and Tony realize there’s more to this than they’d realized.

Meeting the Monsters by itsallAvengers, 23 k > words, Alternate Universe - High School, Alternate Universe - Creatures & Monsters.

Tony's at public school with kids his age for the first time in seventeen years, and he is determined that this year is gonna be his year. He's going to make friends. He's going to be popular. People will like him.

Unsurprisngly, none of that actually happens.

He does sort-of-maybe fall in love with a vampire in his class that everyone is terrified of, though. So... there's that.

(I Want You To See) The Darkest Side Of Me by ann2who, 45 k > words, Alternate Universe - No Powers, Alternate Universe - Fusion, Post-World War II.

In Monte Carlo, Steve meets the wealthy widower Anthony Stark. It’s love at first sight—at least for Steve—and he can’t believe his luck when Tony asks him to live at Stark Mansion, his large estate in Malibu. Never in his life had Steve thought something like this was possible… never had he been this happy. However, soon Steve realizes that Tony is still deeply troubled by the death of his first wife and haunted by the many ghosts she left behind. The longer Steve lives in her shadow, the more he understands that… He can never be what Tony’s wife had once been for him. And Tony might never truly love him.

Gift With Purchase Remix by sabrecmc, 43 k > words, Alternate Universe - No Powers, hooker Steve, Sugar Daddy.

Gift With Purchase Remix wherein Steve actually is a hooker. But for a Really Sympathetic Reason.

The Little Glass Screwdriver by ann2who, 19 k > words, Cinderella AU.

When Prince Steven is forced to find himself a bride, true love gets in the way. As the night of the grand ball unfolds, the prince meets a mysterious knight who might just change his entire life in a way he could have never imagined.

**Cinderella AU**

Covered in Lines by royal_chandler, 3 k > words, Alternate Universe - Student/Teacher, Alternate Universe - College/University, Age Difference.

He can’t lose sight of pale, deft hands that gesture on transitive verbs, an ink-stained thumb edging underneath Tony’s ribcage with an affection that can only be called dangerous.

half-wild and glimmering by deathsweetqueen , 15 k > words, Alternate Universe - Western, Prostitution.

“Give me a drink, Tasha,” Tony sighs as he lands in front of the bar. “I’ve had one hell of a day.”

Natasha raises an eyebrow. “Have you really?” she asks, loftily, sliding a tumbler of whiskey along the well-polished wood.

Tony lets his head hang, the sweat beading on the back of his neck. “You wouldn’t believe what I’ve had to put myself through today,” he sighs, wearily.

“I would not know. You will not let me work the rooms,” Natasha retorts, her voice a little strained, busying her hands in a dirty glass.

“I don’t let you work the rooms ‘cause you’re liable to kill anyone who touches ya the wrong way and we can’t lose that much of our business,” Tony reminds her, wryly amused, sipping at his whiskey. He shakes his head at the burn. “We peddle flesh, darling, not death.”

peers, fears and holiday cheers by jacobby, 24 k > words, Parent Tony Stark.

“He’s only two years older than you,” Tony finally says when the silence becomes too much to bear.

“Dad, Teddy is turning twenty-seven next year.”

“I am not dating your husband—”

“I’m not implying you are. I just want you to be...aware that he’s practically the same age as my husband.”

AKA

Tony Stark's new boyfriend is only two years older than his adult sons. Telling them is one thing, introducing them is another. What Tony doesn't expect is that the past always has a way of catching up to him, of biting him in the ass when he least expects it. Well, at least they're all together for the Holidays. What more can he ask for?

A Higher Form of War by sabrecmc, 292 k > words, Alternate Universe - Fantasy, Historical Romance.

Tony is a King with a surprising number of people out to kill him. Steve and the rest of the Avengers are fighting for Pierce's rebellion and end up with Tony as their prisoner. Oops.

you can call me babe for the weekend by complicationstoo, 10 k > words, Alternate Universe - No Powers, actor Tony Stark.

Tony left his small town for Los Angeles after high school, leaving behind everything to pursue his dream. Ten years later, he comes back for the first time and finds that some things are impossible to let go of.

Lord, What Fools These Mortals Be by iam93percentstardust, 72 k > words, Alternate Universe - Theatre.

Famed director Phil Coulson brings Shakespeare’s beloved play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, to Broadway. This production though comes with a twist: a brief but passionate love affair between the faerie king, Oberon, and his attendant, Puck. In the roles of the two star-crossed lovers, Coulson casts America’s darling Steve Rogers, fresh off his third Academy Award, and Broadway royalty, Tony Stark. Steve quickly finds himself falling for the quick-witted and sarcastic actor but Tony is dating the stage manager. Unwilling to come between the seemingly happy couple, Steve steps back but all isn’t right behind the scenes and Tony may need him when everything falls apart.

and so we rebuild by raeldaza, 26 k > words, Alternate Universe - Star Trek Fusion, Soulmates, Mutual Pining.

Sometimes, a voice whispers: you will never atone for your mistakes.

Tony believes that, believes it so strongly some days he drowns in it, but he still tries. Tries through Starfleet, tries through inventions, tries through missions. Then, one day, he meets his new Captain, and things change.

and teach this heart (how to beat with light), by starklystar, 40 k >, AU Hospital, Single parent Steve.

Eight years ago, at a funeral with a baby's cries ringing in his ears, Tony Stark decided to turn his life around. He's a genius, billionaire, philanthropist. What's so hard to adding 'doctor' to that list? And after that, it can't be that hard to add 'husband' and 'father' too, right? But the past has a way of haunting even the very best of us, and in any universe, Tony Stark and Steve Rogers have never had an easy love.

Featuring: drama, chaos, Peter's scheming, meddling friends, and doctors learning again that the heart can never be as simple as four chambers and four valves.

Catching Lightning in a Bottle by sabrecmc, 120 k > words, Alternate Universe - Sweet Home Alabama Fusion.

College student Tony meets janitor Steve at MIT and they fall blissfully in love, until Howard happens and things fall apart. One divorce paperwork snafu courtesy of the ever-helpful Jarvis, and ten years later, Tony has to get re-divorced from Steve.

This does not go as he imagines.

Or, the Sweet Home Alabama AU that no one--well, okay, a few of you--asked for.

The Night Shift by weethreequarter , 16 k > words, Alternate Universe - Hospital.

Welcome to the Emergency Department of San Antonio General where Dr. Tony Stark joins the team fresh from his most recent tour in Afghanistan and - much to the consternation of the other staff - strikes up an instant rapport with Nurse Steve Rogers. Meanwhile, new resident Bruce Banner refuses to give up on his patient, and Dr. Sharon Carter learns something from her own patients. Throw in a pissed off hospital administrator, Clint using the coffee pot as a mug again, and a major car crash and you have, well, just another night shift.

Cake It Till You Make It by ChocolateCapCookie, 10 k > words, Kid Fic, Alternate Universe - Bakery.

Steve Rogers and Tony Stark have a lot in common. They're single parents, they own rival bakeries at the center of town... and they both hate each other's guts.

When a mix-up at Peter and Morgan's school has both fathers scrambling to prove they're the better baker, they do the mature, adult thing and compete in a bake-off. Between the mixing and the creaming, the baking and the icing, Steve and Tony find that hate is actually not that far from love.

Looking for Heaven by foxxcub, 31 k > words, Alternate Universe - Regency, Marriage of Convenience.

When young Lord Anthony Stark learns Steven Rogers has enlisted in the army, he thinks he's seen the last of his tiny, headstrong, haughty stable boy. But four years later, Lord Stark gets an unexpected visit from Steve, whose mother has fallen gravely ill and into financial ruin. Even more unexpected, Steve agrees to a shocking proposal: they will marry, giving Steve the necessary funds to save his mother, and Tony the much-needed reprieve from harassing would-be suitors. It is a business arrangement, nothing more. But as time goes on and circumstances arise, Tony begins to learn that keeping his heart away from his husband is easier said than done.

just a guy, standing in front of another guy by theappleppielifestyle, 12 k > words.

“It’s not real,” Tony says, still smiling, jaw twitching with effort. “The fame. It’s - I’m just a guy."

(Or, Notting Hill AU, with a twist.)

Mother of Exiles (A Titanic AU) by BladeoftheNebula, 21 k > words, Alternate Universe - Titanic Fusion.

“You’ll never guess what just happened!” Steve said, taking a deep breath to try and calm his breathing. “I met someone. A guy from first class.”

Dublin 1912: Steve Rogers is barely making ends meet, living in the tenement slums of Dublin. But a stroke of good luck gives him and his best friend the chance to change their fortune. Two tickets to America on board the RMS Titanic.

The Devil You Know by shetlandowl, 17 k > words, Alternate Universe - Detectives, Alternate Universe - Author/Novelist.

Best selling author Tony Stark revives the bodice ripper genre for a modern audience. From frisky gay cowboys to ravenous lesbian pirate queens, he consistently delivers riveting thrillers full of romance, drama, and the filthy, unapologetically kinky sex that has become his trademark specialty.

Tony has everything a man could dream of - horny, adoring fans, and boatloads of money. Or that's what he thought, until Detective Steve Rogers walks into his life and turns it all upside down.

Bears and Mountains and Lumberjacks Oh My! by justanotherrollingstony (adoctoraday), 24 k > words, Alternate Universe - No Powers, Lumberjack Steve Rogers.

It was supposed to be easy--go meet the reclusive artist and buy some art. And then came the broken down car. And the snowstorm. And the lumberjack with a face like a greek god. So yea, Tony is stuck in a cabin in the woods with a hot lumberjack till the storm clears. Could be worse.

Series: A Furious Vexation by Annie D (scaramouche), 18 k > words, Alternate Universe - Post-Apocalypse.

A Steve/Tony post-apocalypse AU that exists pretty much just for the smut.

That Feline Beat by Tito11, 5 k > words, Alternate Universe - Animals.

Presenting Steve and Tony in the Aristocats!AU

Tony and his three kittens have been kidnapped from their fancy Upper East Side apartment while their owners are away and deposited on the mean streets of Harlem. Unsure of where they are or how to get back home, they'll have to rely on street cat Steve to guide them. Will they get home safely? Will Tony's fear of abandonment cause him to drive away the best tomcat he's ever known? Only time will tell.

do you fondue? by calciseptine, 16 k > words, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting.

Tony has done crazy things in the name of food, but falling in love with Steve Rogers really takes the cake.

a glimpse of heaven's love by parkrstark, 13 k> words, Alternate Universe - No Powers, Terminal Illnesses.

The child begins to empty his pockets. He starts to count coins on the counter. Tony huffs a little impatiently as he realizes most of them are pennies.

The cashier actually humors the kid and counts along with him. They reach 3 dollars and 54 cents before he shakes his head sadly. "Sorry, kid. There's not enough here."

The kid sounds close to crying. "I need these paints for my Papa. It's Christmas Eve and these...he doesn't have any. The doctors said he doesn't have long. I want him to have these. In case he meets Jesus tonight, I want him to paint one more time. Please."

Tony takes a step forward, arms still full of toys he's buying just because. He can cover this child's gift for his dying father. Money. Money is what he's good for.

"I'll buy them."

--

Or, the Christmas Shoes AU no one but me asked for.

If you survive first impressions, you're good to go by itsallAvengers, 3 k > words, Parent Tony Stark, Alternate Universe - No Powers.

The first time Peter Parker-Stark sees Steve Rogers, he may or may not be standing in direct path of the man's motorcycle.

His daddy is really not going to be happy about that one.

A Rat-ional Conclusion by BladeoftheNebula, 6 k > words, Alternate Universe - No Powers, Alternate Universe - Veterinarians, Parent Tony Stark.

He had a strong flurry of patients throughout the morning and by the time it rolled around to noon, he was just about worn out.

He walked out into the reception, stretching until he felt a satisfying pop. “Are we done?”

Bucky checked the screen. “Just about. One more before lunch - a rat, singular.”

Steve breathed a sigh of relief. Hopefully straight forward then. “Great, let me know when they-”

He was interrupted by the bell over the door and looked up to see a little girl cradling a small animal carrier, being shepherded through the door by easily one of the hottest men he’d ever seen in real life.

Oh wow.

Tidal Pull by sabrecmc, 97 k > words, Octopus Tony Stark, Alternate Universe - Shipwrecked.

After the American Civil War, Union soldier Steve Rogers takes a chance on an opportunity to sail with the Stark Trading Company down in the Caribbean. During a terrible storm, his ship is lost. To his surprise, he survives, and ends up stranded on an island that isn't quite as deserted as he first thinks.

Or, a reverse Little Mermaid tale where Steve has to fall for the fish-man.

Twelve Days by elysianprince, 22 k > words, Alternate Universe - No Powers, Alternate Universe - Ghosts.

In which Tony finds himself in a town that looks like it crawled out of a Hallmark Christmas movie, trying to sell an inn he didn't know he owned, all while dealing with Steve Rogers, the resident ghost who has returned to haunt the inn each December during the twelve days of Christmas for the past seventy years. Tony has only one logical solution that benefits them both: break the curse that binds him - but falling for a man almost a century old wasn't among his plans.

She kissed me by S_Horne, 1 k > words, Tony Stark Needs a Hug, Howard Stark's A+ Parenting.

“Your mom kissed me.”

Steve blinked awake and lifted his head from his pillow to look over at the silhouette in the doorway. “What?”

“Your mom,” Tony reiterated. “She kissed me.”

“Yeah,” Steve said simply, “she does that.”

[platoniclokiimagines]

okay so I just found this blog and I *live* for platonic relationships. I was wondering how the avengers would react to loki being BEST friends with the reader? they've been friends for centuries, it was never really brought up before, avengers are in the distrustful/warming up phase after New York happened. reader just shows up one day, thor says she's a friend, but she's really close with loki? Loki is being nice? [sorry if too long or too similar to something else the idea wouldn't let me be]

WC: 797

Rating: G

TW: None

A/N: This is kinda short, but it’s sweet and to the point, and also maybe bonus points for being kinda funny? Anyways, I hope you enjoy~

When Thor had invited you to come to Midgard to see aboutjoining with the Avengers, you had been torn. On the one hand, you had neverbeen anywhere but Asgard, and while you wanted to see somewhere new andexperience what life would be like among the mortals, you were a little worriedthat you wouldn’t fit in and would be out of place amongst everyone else.

But on the other hand, you really wanted to see your best friend.

In the grand scheme of your life, you supposed it reallyhadn’t been that long since you had seen Loki, but even ten years was a longtime for an Asgardian to go without seeing someone they cared about, and sowhen Thor asked you the second time to come down, even if it was just for avisit, you said yes.

And now here you were, standing awkwardly in the middle ofthe room while a dozen other people studied you with varying levels ofcuriosity, desperately hoping the attention would be off you long enough sothat you could find Loki to say hello.

“Everyone, this is Y/N. She’s a friend from home. I thoughtyou all might like to meet her, and see what she can do. There’s nobody quitelike her on the battlefield.”

You blushed a bit, and waved a hand dismissively. “Hardly.I’m just tiny and fast.”

That got a couple of laughs out of a few of the otherswatching you, and you relaxed a little, feeling a little less self-conscious.

“Well, Y/N, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Steve. I’m not… surehow much Thor told you about all of us, but we’re very happy to have you hereas long as you want to stay.” He extended his hand, and you took it, shaking itlike how you’d seen Thor do when he’d come in earlier.

“…I appreciate it.” You nodded once, and glanced around theroom, which didn’t go unnoticed by Steve.

“Something the matter?”

“Just… looking for someone.”

“Oh, yeah?” Steve smiled pleasantly at you.

“Yeah. Do you know where Loki might be?”

That seemed to surprise him a little bit, and the rest ofthe room went silent as they looked back at you.

“…is that a problem?” you asked, confused as to why theywould have a reaction like this to someone they work with.

“No problem. We just… As I’m sure you know, Loki’s madesome… questionable decisions, in the past, and let’s just say our trust hasn’tbeen earned yet.” A redheaded lady spoke from where she stood leaned backagainst the wall, and you nodded slowly.

“I get that. Loki’s the God of Mischief, I’d be surprised ifthey hadn’t been up to some deviousthings.” You smiled tightly, hoping to diffuse the tension you’d inadvertentlycaused, but before anyone could say anything else on the matter, you heard afamiliar voice.

“Y/N?!”

In true Loki fashion, Loki had appeared seemingly out ofthin air next to Thor, and you beamed at them, immediately running to greetthem as they did the same. You practically collided in a hug, laughing at howridiculous the two of you must look.

“Loki, it’s so good to see you! It feels like it’s been ages.” You couldn’t stop smiling, absolutely thrilled to have your best friend back.

“I agree.” They drew back then, holding you at arm’s lengthas they studied you. “Look at you, you look well. Healthy.”

“I am. And better, now that I get to see you again.” Therewas so much that you wanted to say, but you hesitated when you noticed Steveand several of the others watching the interaction with bemused interactions.“…is something the matter?”

“No, I just… don’t think anyof us have seen Loki behave this nicely.” Steve actually smiled a bit atthat, and you had to, as well.

“My brother has alwayshad a soft spot for Y/N. Like the sister we never had.” Thor nodded in acomically sage manner, and you couldn’t help but to roll your eyes, alreadyanticipating the bickering you were about to witness.

“Yes, well, Y/N would have been much better to grow up withthan you, you big oaf.”

“That’s not fair, we did everythingtogether,” Thor whined, pouting dejectedly.

“Yes, and I still like her better. Think about that for awhile, yes?”

“Look, you’re bothidiots and you’re both loved. Stop fighting or I’ll drop-kick the both of you,”you declared, effectively ceasing their arguing.

“Yes, Y/N,” they replied in obedient unison, almost too innocent smiles on their faces, andthe room erupted into laughter as the redheaded lady approached you with agrin.

“Y/N… I think we’re going to get along great.”

[valwentinefics]

Altruism Ch.1 (Zemo x Reader x Bucky)

A/N: Here it is ya’ll, my thank you for 100 followers series! I know 100 isn’t a lot in the grand scheme of things but I’m just a random girl who’s super insecure about her writing, so having 100 people who like it is really exciting for me! Thank you! 

This chapter is just setting things up, don’t worry there’ll be more romantic things in the next chapter onward.

Masterlist

Warnings: spoilers for tfatws ep 3

Y/n walked into the mechanics garage with soft careful steps, not sure if she had gotten the right address. She glanced down at her phone, double checking. Yep, this was the right place. The garage smelled of gas, the scent almost making her dizzy as she approached the bickering voices that bounced off the concrete walls. It took a few moments to recognize them, but once she did the tension slipped out of her body and she closed the pocket knife she had been wielding. She walked around a car and to the two men, who didn’t acknowledge her presence if they noticed it. 

“I don’t like how casual you’re being about this, this is unnatural.” Sam looked around, exasperated. “And where are we man, what does Y/n have to do with this?” He questioned, giving Y/n a small nod hello that she returned with a friendly wave.

Before Bucky had time to speak, the click of a door opening rang throughout the garage, turning everyone’s attention to the shrinking shadow of a man approaching, only to be revealed as Zemo once he pushed past the clear plastic divider. Sam looked shocked, moving forward swiftly to confront the man.

“Woah...woah, woah, woah! Hey! What are you doing here?” Asked Sam, held back by Bucky. 

“Did he not tell you the plan?” Asked Y/n. “Bucky you need to tell people your plans, it's rude to not.” Y/n scolded, feeling bad for Sam having to be shoved into this. She side eyed Zemo as he approached, side stepping closer to the arguing men to get away from him.

“I didn’t want to tell you because I knew you wouldn’t let this happen!” Bucky explained as if that was a good reason to hide something so big.

Y/n watched as Sam and Bucky bickered about Zemo, wishing she had the guts to say no to people. She was a pushover, and saying no to a friend just felt rude, especially a friend like Bucky who was for the most part alone. It was perhaps her fatal flaw, her inability to say no to someone in need. It made her a great nurse and an even better friend, but a not so happy person. Sometimes she wished she could just yell no to the next person who asked something of her, but the fear of saying to outweighed her need to have alone time to rest and feel better.

“If I may…” Zemo began to say something, taking off the prison guard hat. Y/n had to admit, objectively and not out of her own opinion, he looked good in the uniform.

“No!” Shouted both Sam and Bucky simultaneously, fed up with him already. Y/n could see why they needed her around now, they would lose their patience with him quickly.  

“...Apologies…” Zemo said, looking down. Y/n almost felt bad for him. Almost.

“When Steve refused to sign the Sokovia accords you two backed him. You broke the law and you stuck your neck out, for me. I’m asking you to do it again.” Bucky said to both Y/n and Sam.

“And I will Bucky, don’t worry we’re friends, I have your back!” Y/n smiled at him, wanting to turn around and leave. She really didn’t want to do this, but they were friends after all and that meant sticking her neck out for him.

“I really think I’m invaluable-” Zemo began, clearly not learning his lesson from the last time he spoke.

“Shut up!” Sam sighed, tired of Zemo already. “Okay if we’re going to do this, you don’t make a move without our permission.”

“Fair.” He replied

Sam looked at him, he also seemed like he didn't really want to do this “Okay Zemo… Where do we start?” 

Zemo smirked a bit before leading them through the plastic divider and to a room filled with many old and expensive cars. Y/n was too focused examining them to listen to what the others were saying, figuring she would just figure it out eventually. She walked around an old red car, admiring how shiny it was despite how long it must have been since it was driven. She was too focused on admiring it to notice Bucky's approach.

“Thanks, for saying yes. It means a lot.” Thanked the stoic man who put his hand on the side of the car, only to pull it away when Y/n gave him a pointed glare because he would smudge it. 

“Anything for you Bucky, you know that.” Y/n smiled at the super soldier. “But are you sure about this? About Zemo? He could turn on us at any minute.”

Bucky nodded. “I’m sure. We need him Y/n, he’s our best chance at taking down the Flag Smashers.”

Y/n sighed. To be honest she sympathised with the Flag Smashers, having just become accustomed to a new normal, only to be kicked out of their new homes and tossed onto the streets, but she didn’t voice her opinion to Bucky, she knew he’d disagree

“Whatever you say Bucky…” Y/n sighed, looking down until Bucky’s hand touched her shoulder. He was about to say something when Zemo’s voice interrupted and his hand jerked away.

“We’re going to need to scale a ladder of lowlives, first a mid level fence named Selbie that I still have a line on, from there we climb.” Zemo stated, holding a jacket and a light brown leather bag in his hands. He glanced back to the three people behind him, Y/n throwing Bucky a nervous smile before rushing to follow Zemo.

-

“So all this time you’ve been rich?” Sam asked as the four approached Zemo’s private jet. Y/n was shocked. From how he dressed last time she saw him, Y/n had assumed he was just a normal middle class man.

“I’m a baron Sam. My family was royalty until your friends destroyed my country.”

Y/n felt shame deep in her body as Zemo greeted his pilot and they boarded the plane. She didn’t know much about Zemo. She didn’t know his motives for doing what he did to her friends, but she did know that as a result of her friends actions his country was destroyed and she felt terrible. She sometimes at night still felt the pain of the wounds of the sokovian citizens burning into her skin as she took them from them. 

That was her power, to take the wounds from others and give them to herself with only slightly accelerated healing to compensate. Y/n became nothing but a glorified nurse to the Avengers, only receiving words of thanks for her efforts and nothing more, other than Bucky and Steve of course, they were above and beyond making sure she was okay, especially Bucky. She had long accepted that the other Avengers were too busy to truly make sure she was okay like those two had done, but it and the pain she could still feel from the Sokovian incident were both factors in why she retired after the Avengers own civil war.

She looked up from her lap, finding herself in the seat across from Zemo, who was watching her with his head slightly tilted. She must have been lost in her thoughts for a while as per usual, seeing Sam doze off and Bucky with headphones in looking out the window. Y/n crossed and uncrossed her legs, looking around the plane with nothing to do. She was too nervous to bite the bullet and start a conversation with Zemo. Luckily for her, he spoke up. 

“We’re going to Madripoor.” Zemo stated, his voice causing Y/n to look him in his eyes. “You seemed a little out of it while I was explaining it, I assumed you would like to know.” 

Y/n was hesitant to reply, not knowing if she should be having a conversation with him. “Thank you.”

Zemo took a sip of what Y/n assumed was champagne judging from the glass. “If you don’t mind my asking, what were you thinking of?”

Y/n didn’t see a reason not to tell him, letting out a small sigh. “I was thinking of Sokovia…” Zemo’s head tilt looked as if it was encouraging her to go on. His eyes had a strange way of making it seem as if she was the only person in the world when she spoke. “My power… I used it a lot back then… I tried to do the best I could to help the civilians.”

For a few moments  Zemo looked as if he was looking through Y/n and back at that day before replying, snapping out of whatever mindset he was in for those moments. “Your power. Is an interesting one, but I’ve always wondered… You do so much for other people. What do they do for you?”

-

Tag list: Let me know if you would like to be added

[miraculan-draws]

Big Boy Word Dump!

I am going to try to keep my thoughts organized, so bear with me and we will get through this as a team: I have some things to get off my chest about depictions of ~Achilles~! I have many Opinions! And these ARE largely opinions, there’s no one retelling or person I’m tryna rag on, just general stuff.

1. From what I understand, the Iliad starts at the end of the war. The conflict between Achilles and Agamemnon is recent at the intro. To my knowledge, Achilles did not sit in a tent playing the lyre for a decade. He was a regular ol general like the others, just a bit harder to kill. But he did fight. Even in Hades Game, which is like, a little TOO noble of an Achilles, there’s a line that Patroclus has to Zagreus to the effect of “Did he ever tell you about the war we fought in? The war that I fought in, I should say. He refused to take up arms.” And like yeah he did! For a petty reason! But only after near a decade of fighting. Achilles did not drag on the Trojan war for ten years.

2. He has the loyalty and the confidence of the Myrmidons. (In book 16 when they are under Patroclus’ command, part of his rallying speech asks the men to win glory in Achilles’ name, and to show Agamemnon that he was wrong not to honor him. They rally to that.) Both Achilles AND THE MYRMIDONS want to immediately go back into battle to avenge Patroclus. I feel like I see people portray this as a mad Achilles demanding too much of reluctant and weary soldiers, but if anything the only ill the Myrmidons speak of him is when he tells them no, they need to rest. They are mad at him only when he doesn’t let them keep fighting.

3. The other generals care for Achilles, at very least enough to feel sympathy for him in mourning. Food is brought to him, they try to persuade him to eat and to sleep. Someone sits with Achilles for an entire night holding his hands so he doesn’t try to hurt himself. He spoke harshly out of grief a few times, but even Agamemnon, whose conflict with him was literally the groundwork for the story, is one of the people trying to comfort him!! Like I only mention this because I feel like I see a lot of stories where Achilles is absolutely alone if not shunned as soon as Patroclus is dead.

4. This one is like, very outside-looking-in, but like those were very violent times, and the culture is steeped in it in a more honest way than the violence in our own stories. It’s brutal, and they don’t bother to hide carnage. I’m leading with that to say in the grand scheme of Greek Heroes, Achilles isn’t all that extreme? Like yes Homer goes out of his way to describe like legions slain, but given the context it reads to me as NOT “Achilles is a cold blooded monster” but as “Achilles was unstoppable.” (I would also like to point out that Hektor, on the field after killing Patroclus, talks of taking his head on a pike and feeding the body to dogs. He moved to do it! He doesn’t get to, because Greater Ajax [I believe it was him] approached him on the field.)(Later, at the death of Hektor, Achilles specifically spits out a line or two about leaving Hektor to the dogs.)

5. The tabboo of defiling a corpse in Greek Myth is directly tied to the Underworld. Funeral rites/pyre/being buried were required for a soul to pass on. If they were not, they would be trapped on the surface as a ghost. That being said: It seems like everybody fuckin does it anyway?? Like so MANY myths have someone decapitated and mounted on a pike, dismembered, left to rot on the field, refusing to allow someone ELSE to give funeral rites, etc. Did Achilles take it a lil TOO far...? Yah lol. But he wasn’t the only dude to have ever done something like that.

ALSO LOOK AT YOUR SOURCE!! IS IT GREEK OR ROMAN?? ROMANS MADE ACHILLES MORE AND MORE A VILLAIN IN ALMOST EVERY RETELLING!! The tone shift in descriptions of Achilles from The Iliad (Homer, Greek) to his mentions in The Aenead (Virgil, Roman), to The Achilleid (Statius, Roman) is like someone dumping cold water on your head. 

This is SO MUCH, I am SORRY but !! Achilles is not a shining example of heroism, and I think collectively we all got tired of seeing him depicted as a knight in shining armor. So much so that it almost feels like everybody overshot it in the opposite direction. He’s a weird and fascinating gray-morality character to me, and I feel like he looses his OOMPH if you scrub him clean OR villainize him.

[seimeinotaka]

Rêverie (An OberonXGudako fic)

MASSIVE LOSTBELT 6 SPOILERS INCLUDING OBERON'S PROFILE AND BOND CE

Summary: Oberon has been unexpectedly summoned to Chaldea. He wonders why he is even there as he reminisces what happened in Avalon Le Fae. But it seems Ritsuka isn't leaving him alone, much to his annoyance.

Thanks to jellyfishy for beta-reading this!

Once again, the story has major spoilers for LB6, Oberon's profile and Bond CE, as well as important plot points of Solomon, LB1 and LB5.

There's implied one-sided love, mentions of heavy topics such as loss, and mentions of deceased characters.

"Master, Master, you've gotten better at this!"

"Thank you, Gogh! I've been practicing a lot using the tips you and Oui gave me. Even Jeanne Alter praised my background, hehe!"

"Hey, I said it was passable. Pas-sa-ble!"

Ritsuka Fujimaru has been drawing something in the cafeteria, surrounded by many servants that come and go. No one asks what she is doing, they all seem to know or if they don’t, they don’t bother to ask.

It is so bothersome. Annoying.

So many people surrounding her, like an ultraviolet lamp that attracts all the bugs. Never mind that they end up getting zapped the moment they ever dare to touch it.

The people, the sound, the merriment, it all annoys Oberon, who only watches in silence as he eats some ice cream with melon.

To be able to smile like that, even after discarding all of those stories...Oberon doesn't hide a crooked smile. In the end, the lostbelts are no more than faint dreams doomed to end, forgotten by the winners, the panhuman history citizens. Ritsuka Fujimaru isn't different. For her, it's like reading the doujin the swimsuit berserker is making. Once the pages are closed, the story ends and it ceases to exist. She can choose to forget.

Truly detestable.

-

Oberon stares and then walks away, just as Ritsuka lifts her face. She looks around, the feeling of being watched faintly breaking her concentration.

But in the end he doesn't say a word as he leaves.

-

“Hey, you keep looking at Master!” Jeanne Alter slams her hands on the table where Oberon is sitting. Said Master is working again, too enthralled talking with Gogh to notice Jeanne Alter slipping away to talk to him.

“Does it bother if I do?” He gives her a crooked smile as she huffs and scowls. Though of course her face turns slightly pink.

“Tch, of course not! It's just your stare is getting on my nerves! Wouldn't you get distracted if someone is looking at you intensely?”

“I am a creation, not a creator. I wouldn't understand what you're saying. Besides, I wasn’t looking at her or you anyway,” he says mockingly.

“Hmph, whatever you say. Leave when Master is drawing, what she is doing is very important and I won't let you make it messy.”

“Hah, a page of your little comic? As if you need a lot of care. But fret not, I am certain that with your keen insight and guidance it will be something so memorable, up to the level of the famous writers here in Chaldea.”

“You bug...Bring it, I will burn you to a crisp! Moths do like fire, don't they? Surely you will feel at home then!” Jeanne Alter laughs. “I'll let you know that it is something so impressive that it would make you cry, if you're capable of that anyway.”

Though her Saint Graph right now is one of a Berserker, it seems the insight of the Avenger still exists deep within. After all, only those who are similar can recognize each other. Fake recognizes fake. Emptiness recognizes emptiness. Hate can only recognize hate.

Though come to think about it, Ritsuka has always been writing, he noticed she kept a small book on her, during quiet times. Perhaps a diary of sorts. It wouldn’t be surprising, to record everything she has experienced, as the writer of the winning history.

-

When we die, we'll become like those stories. Our lives are stories that might be discussed and forgotten, so it's not that different from your midsummer night dream.

A dream you forget once you wake up from your slumber.

“You're a tsundere,” Ritsuka says flatly as she rests her chin on her hand. She even dares to give Oberon a shrug and a smile, as if she can tell the truth between the lies.

“Ah, you're annoying.”

“That's exactly what I'm talking about, hehe!”

An obnoxious smile continues to be on her face, and he simply looks at her with unveiled disgust and apathy.

“Why am I even here?”

“Well, you answered the call, so you can only blame yourself for that.”

“What.”

“The rayshift system call can be refused. That's an inescapable truth. You lie a lot but there are some truths in your words. Or actions in this case. You wanted to be in Chaldea, even if you don’t want to admit it.”

“Ah there it is, your virtuous nature shining through. One day you'll be fooled by someone who is pretending to be your ally...ah, my bad, that has already happened, isn't that right? Maybe you should learn your lesson.”

“Ah, yes. But it doesn't change that you are here. And because you lie often, that means I can just take it whatever way I like. You'll just deny it even if I'm right. But you can't deny we get along pretty well!”

“We do not!”

“See, that's a lie!”

“Ah, I'm going to the cafeteria! Don't follow me!”

Yet we thrive on dreams, don’t we?

“How long do you think I've been in this business? Have you interacted already with some of the servants here? I can tell you don’t mind my company.”

“I quit, I'll break the contract!”

“So, one cube or two?” Ritsuka dares to offer him the sugar cube container, even holding some tongs, just to put the amount he requests in his cup.

“You really want a poisoned tea, right, wonderful Master?~”

Even if they are something that doesn’t exist, we yearn for them, even to make them a reality. No matter how impossible. No matter how painful.

That is why we can never get rid of them.

Even if we forget once the veil of dawn has ended, something of it remains.

-

“There's so much that is subjective. For example, you were Artoria's Merlin, weren't you? For a moment you were Merlin, that was her truth. There's different Merlins, I mean we have different Artorias here from different eras and classes. You were a different Merlin than the one I know.”

Ritsuka is busy trying different colors. Oui and Gogh got into a discussion on how to best get the tones she was aiming for, and they even went to do some research on their own. The reds of a forest seem familiar yet not quite right, not that Oberon was looking at the notebook.

It has to have a dreamlike feeling, that’s what she wanted, but that’s not easy to pour into a painting.

“What we see as a lie or as truth, it changes with our perception. Your lies and my truths might be different, but it's ok. In the end we have only one perspective. That's why lies and truths can mix, that's why contradictions exist. I mean, that is why you are here.”

“Here's some advice from the bottom of my heart, don't quit your day job, Master. Stick to the world saving and leave the philosophical dissertation to virtually anyone else.”

In the end, does the truth really matter?

Something that can change when you close your eyes. Something that is as fleeting as a moth's life.

Would anything change in the grand scheme of things?

To protect Ritsuka, Chaldea forged a story, one where Romani Archaman was at fault for everything that happened.

To the world that is on the verge of disappearing, that became the truth.

To everyone in Chaldea, the truth is that this girl worked harder than anyone to protect this world.

That was what Sherlock Holmes said once they met. Oberon didn’t like him, but in a way he seems familiar. Holmes is a great detective, but since he keeps everything to himself, he might be wrong the entire time until the last minute.

So it’s not like Oberon can take him that seriously.

Even so, he told him the story of the great journey before Panhuman History was at risk by the Alien God. A story of which he was somehow aware, but it seems different when it is told by someone else.

To Oberon, it was a story of selfish survival. A fitting story of those who fight in the mud to continue existing.

To Holmes, it was a story of humanity bravely fighting to avoid destruction. An unlikely event that might have inspired others. Or rather, that is how the Leonardo Da Vinci from that time would have framed it, since Holmes isn’t an author and the current Da Vinci is someone different now.

The events are there, what changes is our perception of them. Perhaps this is where truths and lies take root, the lie of today becomes the truth of tomorrow.

The lie allows the fake existence to continue even when the dream has already ended.

But in the end, everything will fade, so nothing really matters.

-

"Well, I don't know if it has a meaning, but doesn't that mean you can give it your own? Just like how I can take your lies the way I want."

"Aren't you a simplistic one? No, perhaps it is that kind of thinking that has let you get this far. What a naive Master Chaldea has. Though it helps you accomplish your goals. "

He is not sure why they are taking tea while chatting, but here he is. Perhaps it is to hide his annoyance, the Master won’t stop until she gets what she wants anyway, so he is just avoiding a pointless squabble.

"You can think whatever you want~ and in any case, even if the feelings of today will be nothing in the future, that doesn't mean they are worthless. Because they affect the you of today and that is the moment when you are alive.”

The joy of living, that is something Oberon can’t understand nor tolerate. It angers him.

Of course, he is an entity of the abyss so how could he comprehend that?

The will of self-destruction, the cessation of existence. That something is so fundamentally wrong that it must wiped out, for there is no way to fix something that crooked.

Faerie Britain wished for him because it had to be wiped away from all records, because it had no way of being salvaged.

Therefore, he can only listen to those words.

(Perhaps it is the envy of not having something? Perhaps it is the bitterness of no longer having something to do, to dream for? Or simple ennui that no matter what, in the end it doesn’t matter?)

Ritsuka ignores his silence, as she continues.

“I don't know but for someone who likes stories you don't seem like you're actually enjoying them.”

“Would you enjoy a story where you fade away like everyone in the lostbelts you have erased? Ah, my bad. Surely, as the winner you can afford to disregard those stories. Silly me, of course you would be able to believe that as the victor you can claim to be the true history. Panhuman history is in the end mankind's right path, after all, and everything else can fade into the abyss.”

Her smile is complex, almost a facade. From one angle it looks like a forlorn frown, from the other a faint smile. She plays with the spoon on her table.

"Hmmm, I wonder..."

 Dr. Roman, we finally beat the British Lostbelt. It was unlike any other places we were, and I keep thinking of Percival's words...

   I wish you were still here.

The sacrifice of someone can mean the whole world for a single person. The sacrifices of millions can become a mere statistic, a simple cold number to show how bad an event was. In the end, it doesn't matter.

What was once lost will never come back.

The void left in one's soul will never heal, it only becomes more bearable with time.

But even so, that lingering pain is the proof that someone was alive, that they left a mark on the others they met as one looks at the twinkling stars and reminisces of the never-happening-again past.

“Did you know the true opposite of love isn't hate but indifference?”

“Haaah? Perhaps you didn't think so but I was being honest about my suggestion. Thinking too much will only hurt your head. You should only focus on what's in front of you.”

“Whether you love or hate, you end up putting a lot of attention to the object of your affections, but if you're indifferent to it, it ceases to exist. Perhaps your hatred of everything is because there's something you cannot afford to lose.”

Titania was the wife of Oberon in Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream. She was the only one who could accept the king's eccentric personality.

But in reality, she was just a creation for the story, a being who was never real.

Of course, there isn't a person like that in the world.

Someone who accepts a hollow entity like me.

“I don’t know, if Arjuna Alter was able to come to terms with his own humanity, well...nevermind. I was just thinking aloud.”

(Ideals are just that.

A concept not belonging to this world.

It is when you reconcile with the flawed reality that you can grasp your happiness, the one you have.)

“Heh-Hahahaha, that's rich, Master!”

This is so sickening.

Only Titania could have loved(tolerated) such an unpleasant existence. Only Titania could have loved(tolerated) a being born of hate, a destructive force whose only purpose is to rend everything to ashes.

But the fact is, Titania doesn't exist. This means no one could accept someone like him.

That is the unpleasant truth.

That is why people are entranced(poisoned) by falsehoods, lies to sweeten the body and protect the soul. It's a sweet elixir to hide from the harsh reality, the ultimate end of the journey of everyone, a pointless, worthless life. Because at the end of the dream, no matter what one has accomplished, it doesn't change the finale of this story and it is doomed to be forgotten. 

Just as the one princess from before, who also fell in love with the Fairy King. The one who tried to give fire to his cold body. But he didn't notice this, not even when her snow body had ceased to move, a protection of love.

So in the end, if it's not acknowledged, it is the same as it never had happened.

“Tell me, does it matter to you? Are you going to tell me you know how I feel? That you understand what I'm going through? Come on, tell me your important story, that everything is going to be alright as long as I'm not alone-”

“I can't. I don't know how you feel. Even if we had suffered the same, I wouldn't know how you feel.”

Her words or her smile, the same as before. He doesn’t know which but it cuts him short.

“All I know is the pain of losing someone important to me, but that's not what you're feeling, right?”

The Titania I wish for doesn't exist in this world. The Faerie Britain that gave birth to me no longer exists, even if I have accomplished my goal. 

I am merely a dream whose purpose has been fulfilled and thus, the curtain shall be down as I exit the stage.

The things I yearn for are merely dreams. Even so, I hope, because I saw it existed for someone else. For another Oberon, not the one I am.

The illusion of happiness, the hope of a love.

I don't know how it is to not be Oberon, the lying king. The king without any other purpose. The villain that has exited the stage having won, but now even that victory is pointless.

Then, why am I still here? 

“For what it's worth, I like you. You're nice company, lies and all.”

“You’re an odd one.”

“I've been told that often.”

“It's not a compliment, you have no taste.”

“You know, for Panhuman history I am the hero, ensuring our world survives. But to everyone else from every lostbelt erased...I am the worst of the worst, the villain that destroys their world.”

Ritsuka traces the notebook on her hands. The contents of the rest could be disclosed but Oberon doesn’t open any of the other pile of notebooks, so they all lie on her bed.

“Patxi cursed me for showing him a world that he thought was happier than his.”

Tears fell from her eyes as she smiled weakly. “I wonder if that was ever the right choice.”

“Panhuman history isn't the perfect utopia you can imagine. Humans seek hatred and war, there's suffering and agony. While some can lead happy lives, there's so many who can't even enjoy a warm meal or think of a future. Kirshtaria saw that, he wanted to make a better world because ours was so imperfect.”

“Why are we still going?”

“Why was ours the correct one?”

“Even now, I don't know. And I'm not sure if I'll ever know. Any justification might seem a rationalization, something to feel less guilty for killing all those people.”

“That is why I cannot forget, I cannot let the history of those lostbelts be erased. Even if I'm the only one who remembers,” her grip on the notebook tightened, “I can never forget them.”

Like a dream, one time Oberon caught sight of what she was drawing, finally reaching the dreamy red hue she long sought, depicting the autumn forest Oberon knew and hated.

The words depicting what happened in Faerie Britain, the stories of Artoria, Morgan, of Barghest, Baobhan Sith and Melusine, of Aurora, of Mike, of Ector, of Knocknarea, of him.

“Even if the rest of the world forgets, I cannot. That's why I want to record as much as I can. I caused them to disappear, remembering all of them is the least I can do.”

“That's guilt for you.”

“...Yes, I can't deny that. I've caused many people to suffer, that is why I cannot stop.”

“You're an idiot. Pursuing a fleeting dream that will only cause you to hurt, as your heart tears itself apart with these thorns you surround yourself with.”

“I guess. But someone has to do it right? But even so…

“I enjoy the moments with everyone here in Chaldea and I can say I'm happy.

But I also feel deep sadness for everything that I have done and continue to do.”

There are many contradicting truths, woven into each other.

Like overlapping threads in a beautiful(horrible) story.

“I could think Panhuman history is the correct one because it was there. There was a reason why it was chosen.”

“And if there isn't? If there is truly no meaning to your journey? That the reason your world was chosen was a mere whim of fate, a sudden lucky roll of the dice? That there is nothing special to your world that makes you worthy of the title of proper human history?”

“Then I guess I will have to make it so that there is one.”

“And if you can't?”

“Just because I can't doesn't mean I shouldn't try.”

“Trying doesn't mean you will succeed. Morgan tried her hardest, but in the end, she still failed, crumbling in despair as her Faerie kingdom burnt to ashes.”

“Well, that will come bite me when the time comes, but for now, that’s all I can do, right?”

In the end, as long as it entertains, does it matter?

What is the purpose of a story? To bring joy(tears)? To break one from that moment of boredom, of despair, and heal the soul even if just a little?

And in the end, does it even matter?

-

“I like this Saint Graph more.”

It’s been a long time since he has donned the clothes as King Oberon. Once the façade was over, once he could ascend, he has never worn anything but the colors of the depths of the abyss. Anyone else would think they are unsightly, hateful, depressing.

After all, the warmth of King Oberon’s butterfly wings makes children smile, makes people trust him. His monstruous limbs right now are not enchanting.

“I thought you were a butterfly girl. And I have been wearing these ever since, why are you even saying this up until now?”

“I just wanted to say that. I like the fluffy cape and the butterfly wings, but you sound less pained right now. And this outfit is cool too.”

In the end, perhaps Titania isn't meant to be someone who brings the sun to your eyes, with laughter so contagious that she makes the bitterness of a day go away. She's not a neverending warmth on a cold winter, nor a guiding bright star up in the dark sky. She's not the simple to your complicated, the light to your dark, the smile to your frown, the opposite of your miserable existence that brings joy to your life. An illogical being that accepts you in spite of your incompatibility. 

Was I wrong all along? 

A companion when watching a wonderful(decadent) play.

Someone who walks by your side in a crumbling world.

Someone whose company makes the poison more bearable and hell, tolerable.

Someone who simply loves me for who I am. Who gazed at the abyss, saw the void yet didn't run away.

Ah, this is so laughable, an amateur terrible tragicomedy, a hideous play with no sickeningly sweet ending.

(Perhaps it is because Titania is a wretched creature herself. Or perhaps because Titania's wings have been torn off that she understands a small fragment of you. Even if true understanding is a lie, a pipe dream. Titania has seen her own hell and can sympathize with yours, with the emptiness and resentment you hold. Not fearing it, not judging it. Just accepting you as the flawed existence you are.

If that is the case, then there is nothing beautiful about Titania.)

But even so...

"...You are..."

"Did you say something?"

"No, nevermind."

Ritsuka smiles as Oberon looks away. He grumbles about the cramped space as he hoards the bed, swatting a mosquito away while she writes in her diary. The boring stories she writes that he doesn't care about even if his fingers have traced those letters.

But even so, he stays.

Ah, love is a bothersome thing.

-

Thank you for reading!

Now, OH BOY WHERE TO BEGIN. Title comes from Debussy's Rêverie. I wanted to play with it, seeing that Oberon's Bond CE is called Pavane for a Dead Princess, which is the title of a melody by Ravel. I am sure it is no coincidence. Both Ravel and Debussy were considered the cornerstones of Impressionism in music, however, they both HATED being labeled like that.

Pavane for a Dead Princess is one of Ravel's solo compositions for the piano. However, unlike what the title implies, Ravel specifically said that it wasn't meant to be a melody of a funeral, but he wanted to evoke the idea of a princess dancing to the pavane. However, some people didn't really listen to him. So in this case, I think that rather than to see Oberon's CE as a funeral to Blanca, it is a way to celebrate her story, even if it didn't end on the happier note we would have wished. You can listen to it here

Now Rêverie is by Debussy and it's meant to feel like a dream, hence the name. The melody became a massive hit, though Debussy later hated this piece because he felt that he had written better pieces but this one was the one that made him famous. Since it was written when he was young, he felt he was still lacking a lot, but the melody became one of his most popular compositions nonetheless. I think that story ties nicely with what we perceive vs what others perceive. You can listen to it here

Now onto the actual fic, I had this vague idea when part 3 was released, especially after all the spoilers about Oberon's true identity. I really wanted to get him, and I was super lucky. In between getting him, his profile and bond lines being translated, I just got possessed to write this as a way to honor and thank him for coming home AND to give him a sort of happy ending after Avalon.

Oberon in that bed is thanks to that comic on Twitter where he is eating chips without any care and the kind reminder of his voice lines that in spite of him constantly complaining, he spends an awful lot of time on our room. Hehehe.

Best of luck if you are pulling for him! And once again, thank you for reading!

[yourmcu]

Friday, I’m In Love

Pairings: Tony Stark x reader

Summary:

In which the reader is an Avenger and she just geeks out when she sees a bunch of musical instruments at the compound and Tony just fallsinlovewithherstraightaway because of her personality and music taste

Word count: 2,562

A/n: (moved to the end of the fic!)

Warnings: u have nothing to worry about :) fluff!

read it on ao3!

gif not mine! credits to the owner^^

“I’ll drop this off at your room before I hit the hay, Tony mentioned about giving you a tour of the place first.” Clint patted you on the arm and walked pass you with your bags.

You nodded and smiled, really appreciating his help. You’ve been sorting things out at your apartment with Clint all day. “Alright, thanks. I owe you one.” You heard him say something along the lines of ‘buy me donuts’ before he was out of sight.

“Agent L/N, you’re finally able to join us,” Tony gave you a playful smile, finishing his drink to walk over to you.

You were officially one of the avengers, and now officially moving in. It’s been a few months since you assisted the team on a particularly huge mission. It was not planned of course, after that you started helping out when they needed it, and they thought you’d fit right in.

“Tony,” you gave him a small nod and a kind smile. “And please, call me Y/N.” The billionaire then offered you a drink but you declined.

“Good, didn’t think you’d be much of a drinker,” Tony stated and gave you one of those charming looks that would literally sweep any girl right off her feet. “Has anybody told you that you’ve got pretty eyes?”

The comment surprised you but then again, you remembered who you were talking to. “Stark, if we’re going to be working together you better cut the crap.” You laughed.

Tony raised an eyebrow, thinking that you probably ran into Pepper first before coming up. The small talk led to Tony’s said compound tour. He was making jokes here and there, even revealing secrets about the others that you didn’t need to know about.

After some time the both of you reached the last floor, the one that had your bedroom. Tony was still talking but your  gaze was glued to the black, shiny piano out in the balcony. Why was something so grand and probably expensive doing in plain sight where someone could just swoop in and steal it?

“Earth to Y/N,” Tony waved a hand in front of your face. He stopped when you came back from your trance. “There you are. That’s a secluded, little balcony. It’s a great place to let off some steam or just to take a break for a while.”

“That’s nice,” you murmured. “You... uh, you play?”

Tony spun around to look at you again. “Play?”

“Yeah. The piano, I mean. It’s a good looking piano.” You admitted.

“Oh. That’s what you were ogling? For a second I thought I was a bad and boring tour guide,” he chuckled. “I wouldn’t say I do. It’s a specific model my mother used to own and...”

You waved him off and smiled lightly, not wanting him to explain further as you already understood. It might kill the mood. It’s been a while since you’ve run your fingers through a set of piano keys, you realized, but you were also shy to ask Tony if you could play it sometime.

“Alright, just call for Friday if you need anything, or call Friday to call me,” he joked when you finally reached your bedroom door. “After you settle maybe you could stop by the lab? I could really use your help for something - it’s in your area of expertise, you know?”

“Sure. Tomorrow’s good?”

“Sounds great.”

You nodded and thanked him for the tour, and he gave you a salute before walking away.

----

“Good morning, metal man.”

From inside the Iron Man suit, Tony turned around to see you leaning against the wall beside the door to the lab, a cheeky smile on your face, one cup of coffee in each hand. He was certain that he pulled another all nighter, not even realizing that it was morning until you greeted him.

Surprised by your presence, the iron helmet swiftly revealed his tired face, then he opened up the chest plate of his suit to get out of it completely. “Time?”

“It’s six. I didn’t think you’d be working this early,” but you noticed the circles around his eyes. “...or you didn’t stop since last night.”

“Nope.” Tony snatched one of the cups from your hand and gulped it down. His eyes slightly widened when he realized you snuck in some bourbon in there.

He also couldn’t help but look at your nightwear. Slightly shabby sweatpants and a large band shirt. Green Day, he noticed. They weren’t bad. Heck he could’ve sworn he heard one of their songs on the radio once.

“You said you needed me for something?” You recalled, walking over to his computer. You were an all in one package: you practiced a lot of fighting as a teenager, now you trained with Natasha or Steve, so you knew a decent amount of hand-to-hand combat. Originally you were supposed to major in arts, but switched to the science stuff, engineering, so you knew a thing or two about building things. You also took interest in coding. Plus, Fury admitted to like your wit, one of the reasons why he wasn’t against you joining the avengers.

Tony just wanted you to try and make the security systems around the compound more tight, more secure. He’d do it himself but he wanted to see what you can do. You were the newest part of the team, of course he’d be curious about you.

You pushed yourself away from his desk, humming at the green bar slowly filling up in the monitor. “That should take a while,” you crossed your legs and looked up at the genius billionaire. “You’re awfully quiet, Tony, I think you need some sleep.”

He rolled his eyes, smiling. “I’m getting back to work.”

“Hey no, I’m serious. You need to re-”

You cut yourself off when you saw a beautiful, six-stringed instrument that hung from the wall when you turned. Tony wondered why you abruptly stopped talking and looked at you.

You got up the chair and carefully removed the electric guitar from the wall. You cringed a bit when you felt the rusty strings on your fingertips. Clearly this hasn’t been played in a while.

But nonetheless, you thought it was beautiful.

“You’re looking at it like it’s the love of your life,” Tony pointed out.

“Do you not know what this is?” You gestured to the instrument. It was a Gibson, 1960 Les Paul - its color scheme being cherry red and black. It greatly reminded you of Brian May’s red special-

Anyway, you sat back down, running your hands through the fret board a couple times to get used to the rusty strings, also tuning some that were out of tune. Then you pulled out a small pick from your pocket.

“So you just carry around a plastic plectrum everywhere you go, huh?” Tony heaved himself up to sit on top of his desk in front of you.

Playing a few sets of chords made you reminisce about your high school years. You were the type that brought a guitar everyday to school back then. “It’s a habit,” you chuckled. “When did you start playing?”

“Oh, no. I just collect them. I know a chord or two but that’s it.”

You laughed. Of course, he was a billionaire. “I could teach you if you want.”

Tony crossed his arms and playfully raised an eyebrow. Is this your way of flirting with him, or was it just an innocent offer? “Why, you a professional or something?”

“No - well, if I stuck to my original career choice, I should be.” You shrugged.

“I’ll be the judge of that.” Tony made a mental note to himself to ask you more about that specific topic later on.

“Fine,” you giggled. “Name a band and I’ll play a song.”

He pretended to think. “Dunno, AC/DC.”

You slid your fingers up a bit to the higher frets to play the intro to ‘You Shook Me All Night Long’. It’s your personal favorite from that band. The guitar doesn’t sound as exciting as it is when it’s plugged in, but you manage to pull it off. You then played the opening riff a couple times then skipped to the chorus.

Tony watched your hand as you hummed along the chorus. It was a great song, yet simple chords, simple until you get to the solo part. He thought you played it beautifully but he’d never admit it to your face.

“C’mon, it was just one song, am I that good?” You teased when you saw a glint of amazement in his eyes.

“Please, anyone can play that song.” Tony rolled his eyes, grinning. Then he pointed to your shirt. “Green Day.”

You repositioned your hand on the frets, playing the fingerstyle to the band’s song ‘Minority’. “I’d never wear a band shirt if I didn’t know the band. That’s downright embarrassing.

“What’s your genre, Stark? I’m guessing a lotta rock?” You stopped playing for a bit to look at him.

“You could say that. But if I think it’s catchy then it’s going on my playlist,” Tony responded. “You can keep that guitar, by the way.”

You looked at him with wide eyes. “I can’t. This - this model is expensive. The brand’s expensive-”

“It’s three grand.” He told you like it didn’t matter to him.

“Exactly! It’s expensive!”

“Boss, Miss Romanoff is on her way down.” Friday’s voice rang throughout the room.

On cue, Natasha walked in wearing her usual sparring attire. “Y/N. You were supposed to meet me at the gym half an hour ago.”

You cursed, getting up and hanging the guitar back up the wall earning a glare from Tony. He really did want to give it to you. “Sorry, got caught up. Uh... I think it’s done, Tony,” you rambled and pointed at his computer, green bar already full. 

Natasha lingered at the door after you ran up to change. “I know you have a lot of those displayed around and I’m telling you, hide them.” She was referring to the guitar.

“Why?” Tony hopped off the desk and began working again.

“Mainly because she turns into a huge music geek, but I’m assuming you love it.”

----

Tony had a stressful time doing work one night. He’s in the middle of a suit upgrade and he just can’t seem to put it together right. Maybe he just needed a moment to breathe and relax.

So he went to the balcony, a glass of his preferred alcohol for the night in hand.

He wasn’t that surprised when he saw you in there too. After the first time you came over his lab you started coming over regularly, just to talk about random stuff, music and bands, assisting him with anything he needs assisting with. The both of you became close. You could catch and snap back whenever he made a smart remark, and when he would shamelessly flirt with you, you’d just play along, you don’t get insulted or take any of it too seriously. That’s probably why he likes you so much.

This time you sat in front of the piano, playing chords and doing random scales. Tony admired you quietly from the entrance of the balcony. You did look pretty peaceful humming along, he even found it adorable when your eyebrows furrowed when you accidentally hit a wrong note, sometimes you’d shake your head slightly.

You were definitely something else. As time passed, Tony realized his feelings for you only grew and grew. He even started listening to all the songs you recommended, which were all amazing, even though at first he wasn’t used to hearing songs without an electric guitar on full distortion.

“Sorry. It was just so tempting.” You giggled. You pat the vacant part of the piano seat next to you. Tony placed his drink on top of the piano before sitting down.

You began playing a new song and he was very much relaxed by it. He remembered that time he got to ask you why you didn’t grab the opportunity to play music professionally.

“Well why didn’t you?” Tony asked.

You shrugged, fiddling with his custom made Iron Man guitar. “People judged me. Told me I’d never make it as a musician, that it was just out of luck for the famous ones out there now. It’s fine honestly, I liked other stuff anyway. After that I started training, y’know, became a spy...”

“You know how The Cure’s ‘Friday I’m In Love’ is upbeat?” You asked as you transitioned to a new chord. Tony hummed. “I found a slow, piano version the other day and I... learned it. I think it’s pretty.”

“Let’s hear it.”

You smiled. You were always flattered when he wanted to hear you play songs.

Tony looked at your hands swiftly playing the piano keys, up to your face concentrating on what chord was next. You only learned it by ear, you were sure you’d mess up at some point.

“I don’t care if Monday’s blue,” you hummed. “Tuesday’s grey and Wednesday too...”

You believed your singing voice was shit, so you just did this thing where you hummed- but also sung the lyrics as you played. Tony believed differently though. He thought your voice was beautiful.

“Thursday, I don’t care about you... it’s Friday, I’m in love,” You glanced at Tony for a moment and then returned your attention to the piano keys when you saw that he’d been fully listening to you.

“Monday you could fall apart,” you fell into your own little world again, high-fiving yourself in your mind when you nailed that chord progression.

Whereas Tony was sure that he was falling for you as moments passed.

“Tuesday, Wednesday, break my heart...”

The way you sung that last part made him feel things. It was just so soft, warm, damn, he wanted to make a move now.

‘Do it! You won’t have a chance like this again.’ A voice inside his head told him.

“Thursday doesn’t even start, it’s-”

You did an entirely different chord, messing up the song. “Oh god, that was horrible.” You laughed, closing your eyes and putting your hands around your stomach to contain your laughter. “But it was a good version, don’t you th-”

When you went to look at Tony, you were immediately cut off by lips pressing to yours. He cupped both sides of your face to gently deepen the kiss. He didn’t want it to be forced but seeing as you weren’t pulling away and you started to kiss back, he didn’t stop.

You were shocked to say the least. It was so fucking cliche but it was happening. Tony Stark was kissing you, and you liked it. Well of course you did, who wouldn’t? Maybe because it felt like it had meaning, not because he’s just lusting for you. It felt like your heart was about to leap out of your chest and there were actual butterflies inside you.

“Friday, I’m in love.” Tony finished the lyric for you after he pulled away.

“Are - are you-”

“I might have to kiss you again just to shut you up.”

But this time you beat him to it. You wrapped your arms around his neck and kissed him, and you felt those darn butterflies again.

“It’s about time, sir.” Friday spoke.

----

so this is just a pure music-related imagine and also I’m sorry if you don’t like the band(s) mentioned (bc it’s an x reader), or have a different guitar preference, or play a different instrument or have a drastically different fav genre, etc.

(AND YES I THOUGHT THE TITLE WAS PERFECT FOR THIS SINCE IT’S A SONG AND HE HAS AN A.I NAMED FRIDAY)

[ohmygoodnessgraciouss]

Can you do a loki x stark reader, when they go to vomir for collecting the soul stone

Oh my gosh, I loved this idea!!  Actually, I’ve thought about this idea quite a bit.  I wrote it in 90 minutes, so please pardon any errors that are in this.  I’ll go back and edit it later!  I hope you enjoy it! <3 

Warning: A lot of angst. A lot. Though that should be assumed when you read "Loki x stark reader" and "Vormir"

The wind rushed past you as you walked up the steep mountain with Loki on Vormir.  “I’m assuming this is where we’ll find the stone considering there’s nothing else on this planet,” You spoke, frustrated by the amount of climbing it involved.  Loki chuckled, placing a hand on your back to steady you once you had stumbled. 

“Be careful, love.  We have plenty of time.  We can’t lose you now when we’re this close to bringing everyone back,” He smiled.  

You let out a breathless laugh.  “You’re kidding, right?  You can’t lose me this late in the game.  We may not be able to bring Thanos back so he can see how he lost, but at least we can spite him in the afterlife.  That oversized grape deserves that much at least.” 

Loki said nothing as the two of you finally made it to the top of the mountain.  It was colder up there, not as windy, but the air forced a chill down your spine.  Loki took notice of it, but said nothing, knowing you would play it off as usual.  If there was one thing you were good at, it was playing off anything as a joke even when it was serious.  

When you both noticed the figure in the distance you prepared to fight.  Loki held up his hands defensively, getting ready to use magic.  You held up your gun, one that you designed with your father years ago, prepared to attack.  The figure slowly glided over to you.  

“Y/N, daughter of Stark, Loki, son of Laufey,” You noticed Loki’s grimace.  

“Who’s talking?” You asked, waiting impatiently for the figure to lift his cloak.  The man looked up, giving you a good look at his face.  Your eyes widened as you realized who it was.  “Red Skull?!  But people said you died!” 

“You know this person?  Er, well, Red Skull?” Loki asked, looking at you.  You nodded. 

“He worked with HYDRA during World War II.  When he tried to use one of the infinity stones he disappeared.  How are you here?” You demanded.  

“The stone banished me here, leaving me to guide others to a treasure I cannot possess,” He spoke slowly, carefully.  It felt like he had said it many times in the past, to other wandering travelers who dared to take the stone.  

“Right, right,” You said sarcastically.  “It’s probably for the best you’re here, where you can’t hurt anyone anymore.” 

“You have spoken many truths in your lifetime, Stark, but that one is a lie.” He said, gliding towards the edge of the cliff.  You and Loki looked at each other, giving one another a worrying glance, before following Red Skull slowly.

“The Soul stone holds a special place.  It requires a very specific price to wield it, to understand its true power.  To acquire the soul stone, you must lose that which you love.  A soul for a soul.” He spoke, turning to look at you and Loki.  

Your blood ran cold as you looked at Loki worryingly.  You could see the heartbreak in his eyes as he watched your reaction.  “Give us a minute, will you?” Loki asked, turning towards you completely.  “Y/N, this is our only chance,” He said, placing a hand on your waist. 

“One person, to save trillions of lives.  In the grand scheme of things, one life is insignificant.” You said, thinking out loud.  Your eyes teared up, knowing this would be the last you’d see of Loki. 

“Y/N,” He wrapped his arms around you, “Don’t do what I think you’re doing.  This is not goodbye.  Not for you.” 

“What do you mean?  One of us is going to have to die for this, of course I’m saying goodbye,” You looked up at him, the tears blurring your vision slightly. 

“Don’t you dare even try jumping off of that cliff, love.  You have a family to go back to.  You have every reason to be there when everyone is back.  You’ve done nothing wrong.” 

“You have Thor, Loki.  Thor needs you.  He’s lost everyone he’s ever loved, his home.  I don’t want to think about what he would do without you.” 

“My brother will be alright.  I need to make sure you’re alright too,” He watched tears fall down your cheek, embracing you quickly.  He placed a gentle kiss on top of your head. 

“And you think I will be if you’re gone?” You asked, angrily.  You placed your hands on his shoulders, pushing him away slightly.  It was your perfect opportunity to place a shocker on him without him realizing it.  In case anything went wrong with your plan, you had to be ready.  Whatever it takes.  

“Y/N, let me have this,” Loki begged.  “In the past 12 years, all I have ever caused is chaos, death, and destruction.  This is my chance to redeem myself of that.” 

“You’ll have other chances when you’re alive and well.  C’mon, Loki,” You laughed lightly, “I’m a Stark.  This is the coolest way to go out.  Not even my dad could top this one.” 

He smiled sadly at your poor attempt to lighten the mood. “Not this way,” He said.  

“Loki, what’s the one thing you’ve never been able to successfully do with me?” You asked him, breaking from his hug completely.  This one would hurt.  It hadn’t even been a minute and you already missed his embrace.  You didn’t want it to be the final one.  

“Stop you from doing what you wanted to do?” He guessed. 

“Exactly that.” 

“Well, unfortunately for you, I will do that this time.  You aren’t going off of that cliff.  I’ll make sure of that.” 

You stayed silent for a minute, watching the cliff.  He saw the broken look in your eyes.  He knew that everyone claimed the eyes were the windows to someone’s soul, but now, now he truly understood what they meant.  

You looked back at him, realizing he had been watching you that entire time.  “It’s now or never, Loki.” 

Before he could respond, you leaned in and kissed him.  It was a kiss that expressed everything you felt about him.  It was filled with the love you had for him.   

He couldn’t react, as you pulled away, activating the shocker on him.  Electricity ran through his body, keeping him practically paralyzed as you stepped away, ensuring he couldn’t grab you.  

You smiled sadly as he watched you with betrayal in his eyes.  “Thor told me that you would fall for that again.  I’m sorry, Loki, but you have to bring the stone back to them.” You started walking backward, watching him fight the shocks, looking for where you had placed it on him.  

“No!  Y/N!  Don’t you dare!” He yelled, desperately.  Tears began to run down his cheeks.  They weren’t out of physical pain though.  You could tell it was emotionally destroying him that you were doing this.  He would recover though.  He’d move on. 

“I love you,” You said, before running and jumping off of the cliff.  

~

The next thing Loki knew, he was sitting in a shallow body of water.  There was something heavy in his hands.  When he looked down at it, he noticed it was the stone, glowing brightly.  It was like it was mocking him, reminding him of what he was unable to do.  

Loki smashed the stone down into the water, causing a large splash.  The stone continued to glow, radiating power.  He looked at the band around his wrist and looked further up his arms.  There was the shocker.  He pulled it off, rotating it in his fingers.  

Looking back down at the band, he pressed the button, sending him back to Avengers Headquarters.  

He saw everyone around him, smiling with joy at the fact that they could gather the stones.  It felt cruel.  

Thor noticed Loki’s broken look first.  “Brother, what’s wrong?  Where’s Y/N?” He asked.  The others quieted down quickly, noticing her disappearance as well. 

Loki continued to look down at the stone, ignoring everyone.  “Reindeer games?  Where’s my kid?” Tony asked, fear and anger present in his voice. 

Loki walked off of the platform, placing the stone on a nearby table.  

“She got the stone.” 

But at what cost? 

[catxsnow]

PROM DATES

Request: Hey, could I request a batmom where the topic "prom" comes up (idk how) and batmom says she never went there and regrets it and batfam makes her her "own" prom and she dances with all of her sons.

Warning: fluff

A/N: This was so freaking cute!! I loved writing it, all the fluffy feels 

GIF not mine

Word count: 2.4k

Bruce Wayne's kids didn't get along. They fought, argued, and even threatened to maim each other. However,  they would also die for each other, avenge each other, and fight anyone that tried to hurt them. They had a messed up family, but if there was one thing that they could agree on, it was how much they loved you.

Each Robin grew up with you in their life. You were there to support them, help them when needed, and be the person to look to when they needed guidance. They might not have been your own kids, but you loved them like they were. Bruce loved you for that. It was a crazy family that you had formed, but you wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

Alfred had worked far too hard for you family. He never showed that the work was ever too much for him, but you knew that when you offered for him to take the day off and relax that he appreciated it more than you could imagine. You decided that it was your time to clean the massive Wayne Manor.

Hours of washing and scrubbing as your family worked themselves away down in the cave. It was nice having the place to yourself. Music was blasting and you were able to dance around without any of your kids teasing you for it.

By the time that you reached the study, you had found an old album of Bruce from high school. He looked far younger than he did now. Stress free, no wrinkles, still the same smile that he gave you now. He looked handsome, but that never changed with his age. You couldn't stop yourself from flipping through the album to see what his life was like before you.

He seemed so different back then. Sports, hanging out with his friends, being irresponsible. You didn't think Bruce was ever capable of that. It was when you reached his senior prom pictures did you stop to admire. He looked better than ever with his suit on and a smile on his face. No lines of stress or thick scars were on his skin. 

"(Y/N)!" You nearly jumped as you name was called out. You were far to engrossed in the album that you hadn't noticed Damian and Tim exit the cave. They looked excited to see you - as they always did. Tim moved to stand behind the chair you were sitting in and Damian stood at you side.

"Bruce looks so different," Tim looked at the pictures in shock. Damian analyzed his father, at that age he looked the spitting imagine of Damian. "His prom date doesn't even compare to you. Who was your prom date in high school?"

"I never went to prom," you sighed. High school was a long time ago, but you still regretted not going to your senior year prom. Getting to dress up and get your hair done, it was something that you never got to experience. It had been decades and you still missed not having that night.

"No one ever got around to asking me and all my friends had dates already. I didn't want to go alone," you explained to them. Tim placed a reassuring hand on your shoulder. He had seeing you upset about things - especially so mundane like this where there was nothing that he could do to fix it.

"It seems lame anyways," Damian scoffed. He didn't enjoy the idea of wearing a fancy suit just to stand around in some gym with half-ass decorations and people who didn't wish to be there. To him, it was pointless. But he could see that this night meant something to you. He didn't want to see you upset about it.

You suddenly closed the album, not wanting to think anymore about your own past anymore. Tim and Damian looked between each other. It didn't take being the son's of Batman to realize that you were upset. You kissed the tops of their heads and ushered them to to the kitchen for lunch.

Tim and Damian walked far behind you and paused to glance at each other once more. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Tim asked.

"For once, yes."

><

All week you had been suspicious of your family.

For the first time in a long time, Jason had come home without your request. Dick was more giddy than normal. Even Damian seemed to hint at a smile every time he looked at you. Whatever they were scheming, you wanted no part of it. Last time they had those looks, a prank war nearly broke out.

Saturday morning, Bruce had offered to take you out for brunch. It wasn't very often that you got to lavish on dates, but he claimed that the media needed to see you out and about together - you were just happy to spend time with him. He also encouraged you to dress fancy since the place you were going to was rather expensive.

You loved getting dressed up for him - mostly because you got to hear the endless amount of compliments from him.

Brunch went as you expected it to. Delicious food, pictures from the paps, and the best kind of company with the man you loved. No matter the time or place with Bruce, you always loved getting to be with him.

He took the long way home, wanting to show you the new development that WE was working on. It was going to be a beautiful new building that would help thousands. You were always amazed at what Bruce could come up with. He held you hand the rest of the drive back, gazing over with love in his eyes.

There was a hint of a smile on his face as he drove up to your home. Something had been up with him all morning and you still weren't sure what it could have been. Nonetheless, you graciously accepted his hand as he opened the door for you and walked up to the doors of the Manor.

"What's with you?" You stopped him. You hand rested on his chest while the other was still intertwined with his own. "You look far happier than you ever are."

"Am I not allowed to be happy when I'm with my beautiful wife?" Bruce leaned down to kiss you again. You smiled into it, even more so when he pulled away. Only with you, did Bruce's gaze ever soften. "Come on, let's go inside."

Bruce pushed open the front doors and you were nearly taken aback with shock. Your front entrance no longer was the spotless floor that it usually was, but instead, was covered in classic high school decorations. A picture backdrop was in the far corner, a balloon arch right as you walked in, there were even streamers hanging from the high ceilings.

You felt like you were back in high school again. However, it was the decorations that caught your attention, it was how beautiful and handsome your adoptive kids looked standing in the middle of the foyer. For the first time in a long time, everyone had gathered together, just for you.

Dick, Duke, Tim, Jason, and Damian were in the best suits they owned. Their hair was styled and the all had gleaming smiles as they watched your expressions. Steph and Cass were there as well, both of them in gowns that looked so perfect on them that they looked way more grown than you ever remembered them being.

"What's all this for?" You asked. You broke away from Bruce's hold and did a full spin of the room to see everything that they had done for you. Finally, you had seen the prom poster with the year that you had graduated hanging up. "You recreated my prom?"

"You said you regretted not going," Tim spoke up. He looked over to Damian, who had been the one to help him get everything set up for you. "We wanted to let you have that special day, too."

Tears brimmed your eyes at the idea that they had gone through all of this just for you. Getting everyone together was hard enough as it was, you had no idea how Damian of all people was able to swing something like that. That was the thing, they all loved you enough that they didn't have issue to clear their plans for the day just for you.

Damian was the first to notice the tears in you eyes. He broke the formation that they had and approached you. He looked up at you for a brief moment before latching around your waist. You knelt down so that you could be eye level with Damian instead. He didn't say anything, but you knew what he had on his mind. "I love you too, Damian," You kissed his cheek.

He went back to his original spot and just as he did, music started to play. You had just noticed Alfred standing off to the side with a record player by him. Bruce stuck his hand out for you to grab, "May I have this dance?"

"Of course, my love."

Your afternoon had gone nothing like you expected it to that morning. The surprise of having your kids recreate something so irrelevant in their lives, just for you, warmed your heart. The conversation about prom with Tim and Damian had been so short, you never assumed that they even thought twice about it.

You were wrong, very wrong. They had managed to create you the perfect prom. They even played all the same music that was from your year, it was incredible. You had finally gotten the prom that you wanted, and this was far better than what it would have been in high school.

With this, you had the chance to dance with each of your sons, and the love of your life. Dick had been the most giddy to ask you to dance. The second that Damian had brought the idea up to him, he was all for. You were the most important person in his life growing up, he would do anything to make you happy.

Dick was grand and dramatic as he twirled and dipped you. As the oldest, and having known you the longest, he wanted to make the best first impression of your prom. You were laughing and smiling the whole time he danced you around.

Jason didn't look overly thrilled to be there, but his attitude changed as he danced with you next. Growing up, you were always his biggest supporter. Even now, with Bruce opposing all of his new morals, you still saw that excited little boy in him. For him, you were his voice of reason, you respected him in a completely different way than the rest of his family.

It was moments like those did Jason realize just how lucky he was to have you in his life. When your song ended, Jason had pulled you into a tight hug, muttering words of thanks quiet enough that the others couldn't hear. No matter what he did, he always wanted your praise.

Tim had been next. "I can't believe you did all this for me," You told him. "I don't think I can ever thank you enough, this is... this is beyond incredible."

"Of course I did it for you," Tim smiled. He spun you around in your dance before continuing. "I think if Damian and I can agree on something then it must be very worth doing. We love you, (Y/N). You're the best adoptive mom we could ever ask for."

"As crazy as you kids are, there's no other family I'd rather be in," You agreed. As the dance ended, Tim kissed the top of your head and allowed Duke to take his spot. Duke grinned as he grabbed your hand.

He always felt like he didn't have the same kind of connection with you as the rest of the kids, but he couldn't be more wrong. Duke was an excellent kid, and you were so beyond proud to say that you had a part in making him who he was today. "You look so grown up in that suit."

"I am grown up," Duke argued. He was. All of them were. They weren't the young Robin's that showed up broken and alone to your home. They were all - besides Damian - grown up. You wanted to hold onto Damian's youth forever, you feared the day that he would leave you and Bruce.

Finally, it was Damian that offered his hand to dance. His hair was slicked back and he looked just the image of Bruce. The older he got, the more you saw his father in him. "Thank's for doing this, Damian. It means a lot to me."

"It wasn't difficult," Damian tried to play it off. He was much shorter than the rest of your dance partners, but he had more skill than the rest. He didn't twirl or dip you, but you swayed around the entire 'dance floor'. "I'm happy that you're enjoying yourself."

As the last song ended, you were left feeling happier than you had in ages. Seeing all your kids together, getting along and chatting? That was all you wanted in your life. You hated seeing them fight, but you knew that they all had their reasons - as well as their reasons against Bruce. As much as he wanted to keep them safe, he was too hard on them at times.

Bruce joined you once more, snaking his arms around you from behind and kissing along your jaw and cheek. You looked around the room at everyone. Tim was dancing with Steph, Cass with Duke. Damian and Dick were chatting while Jason was talking to Alfred. This had been the most peaceful your home had been with everyone in it.

Bruce spun you around so you were facing him. His hands were low on your waist and he pulled you as close as he could. Once again, there was a loving smile on his face that was reserved only for you. "Today was perfect, Bruce."

"I'm glad," Bruce kissed you. He did a dramatic dip in the middle of the room, gaining the attention of everyone else. Dick had snapped a photo just at the right time. That picture would be better than any high school prom picture you would have had all those years ago. "I always wish you to be happy."

"I'm always happy when I'm with my family."