#my fics: season 6

[potatobugz]

i'm ill ugghh i'm so ill

[amariram]

Sir Gwaine, Sir Percival and Sir Lancelot when at the banquet they see another foreign Lord hitting on Merlin in front of a very pissed Arthur.

[silver-stake-through-the-heart]

Fanon should play more with the season 6 dynamics instead of their annoying version of Dean with internalized homophobia who needs everyone else to hold his hand to realize and accept his feelings about Cas:

Dean clings to Cas despite Bobby's and Sam's warnings, and all the while Sam and Bobby are trying to manipulate him into settling down with Lisa, raising Ben and having a white-picked-fence fantasy.

Bonus point if Cas is some kind of scam artist in the fic.

[miriadalia]

How it feels to ship an unpopular or non-canon couple in Tumblr vs other media:

Please, Tumblr users don't make me regret posting this :')

[miss-sturn]

★彡[ʙᴇɴ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴇᴇᴋ - ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ]彡★

(p1)

Summary: Ben is in love with his best friend's sister. But he can't be with her like that. Word count: Just under 1.3k !! Warnings: Mentions of smoking, Light cursing! Just pure fluff :) A/n: Been wanting to write for Ben for a while! There are barely any Ben of the week fics!!

As she stumbled out of the bar, her laughter flickered like a neon sign.

Her flushed cheeks and lopsided smile lit up when her eyes met mine, as if she’d found what she’d been searching for.

“C’mon, let’s get you home,” I sighed, stepping closer and offering her my arm.

“No, I can’t drive!” she protested, throwing her hands up, only to lose her balance and fall right into my open arms.

I looked down at her, a small smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. Then, with an unimpressed raise of my eyebrow, I said, “I wasn’t asking you to.”

She squinted at me with mock seriousness, her head tilting slightly. “I’m not really drunk. I never get that… fucked up!” Her words tumbled over each other, betraying her claim.

“Uh-huh." I shrugged off my coat and gently draped it over her shoulders, the weight of it drawing a soft hum from her.

“I’m serious! I’m so sober!” she giggled, leaning into me with all the grace of a baby deer. Her head rested on my shoulder for a moment, and I felt her breath hitch before she exhaled softly, content.

Her fingers clutched at the edges of the coat, pulling it tighter around herself. “You’re warm,” she murmured, her voice quieter now, her defenses melting in the cool night air.

♪ I love to see you shine in the night

Like the diamond you are ♪

I subtly glanced down at her, trying to ignore the way her face glowed under the streetlight, soft and perfect, like it was carved just to make me lose my mind.

There she was, wrapped in my coat, her head resting lightly on my shoulder as we walked. Her warmth seeped through the fabric, and I was doing everything I could to ignore the way it made me feel.

Out of nowhere, she stopped and turned toward me. Before I could say anything, her arms wrapped around me, pulling me into a warm, unexpected hug.

I froze, my arms hovering awkwardly at my sides. What was she doing? Did she even know what she was doing?

“Thank you,” she mumbled against my chest, her voice muffled but sincere.

♪ Just hold me in the dark ♪

Slowly, cautiously, I let my arms fold around her, holding her close. It felt right—too right—and that’s what made it so wrong. She wasn’t just anyone; she was his sister. My best friend’s sister.

The unspoken rule had always been clear: stay away from her. She was off-limits, untouchable, someone I wasn’t even supposed to think about like this. But as I held her now, her warmth seeping into me, all I could think was how impossible it was to let go.

♪ No one’s gotta know what we doHit me up when you’re bored ♪

What if we didn’t tell anyone?

What if we didn’t have to?

The thought hit me like a whisper in the back of my mind, quiet but insistent. Memories stirred—ones I’d tried to forget but couldn’t.

The way she’d leaned in close during movie nights, her laughter brushing against my ear, making my pulse race. The late-night talks when everyone else was asleep, her voice soft, her eyes holding something unspoken.

And that time she’d reached out to fix my hair, her fingers grazing my forehead, lingering just a second too long.

I shouldn’t want this. I shouldn’t want her. She was drunk. But with her in my arms now, it felt like the only thing I’d ever wanted.

Her breath was slow, steady, like she was just as caught in the moment as I was. Then, she pulled away slightly, her eyes wide and innocent, like she had no idea how much she was driving me crazy. 

Her lashes fluttered as she looked up at me, her face glowing softly in the streetlight. She was so damn pretty, the kind of pretty that made my heart pound in my chest and my hands feel shaky.

Her eyes drifted from mine, down to my lips, and I felt the pull of temptation shoot through me. God, I could kiss her right now.

"Ben?" she whispered, her voice soft and almost fragile, as if she knew what was on my mind.

She tilted her head slightly, her lips parting just enough for me to see the faintest hint of a smile.

The moment felt like it was stretching on forever, and I could already feel myself leaning in, my breath hitching. But before I could make the move, a voice broke through the thick air between us.

“Need a ride back, Ben?”

I flinched, my heart pounding even harder. Curtis. My best friend. My fucking roommate.

Her brother.

He stood there, eyebrow raised, a smirk tugging at his lips. His gaze flicked between us, suspicion clear in his eyes. Shit.

That look should have been enough to stop me, to remind me why I couldn’t do this—why he would kill me if he ever found out. But in that moment, it didn’t matter.

I quickly looked back at her, just as she pulled away, her expression unreadable but soft. She didn’t say anything, but I could see the question in her eyes—What now?

Curtis broke the tension with a laugh. “What, you two gonna stand out here all night or are you gonna get in?”

I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. Saying yes would be awkward—he’d definitely notice. But if I said no, I’d be stuck walking back in the freezing cold, alone. I glanced at her one last time, guilt flooding my chest.

She smiled softly, like she understood. It was too dangerous. But damn, I wanted to give in.

I let go of her, the coldness settling in as I turned to Curtis. “Nah, I’m good,” I shrugged, trying to sound casual. “I need to be somewhere.”

Curtis raised an eyebrow but didn’t push it. I turned back to her, giving her a tight smile. “Bye,” I said too quietly, watching her slide into the car. My stomach twisted.

As the car pulled away, I shoved my hands into my pockets and sighed, the cold air stinging my skin. My mind was racing. What just happened?

I couldn’t stop thinking about her—how she felt in my arms, the way she looked at me. Her smile made me feel like I could do anything, even though I knew it was wrong.

Then it started to rain. Hard. Of course, it did. The universe had perfect timing when it came to ruining my mood.

I kicked at the ground, irritated, my feet splashing through puddles as I walked. I couldn’t stop replaying the look she gave me. I should’ve kissed her.

I wanted to kiss her. I couldn’t keep pretending like I didn’t feel this pull towards her, no matter how wrong it felt.

I pulled out a blunt from my jacket, lighting it up without even thinking. Maybe it was a stupid move, but I didn’t care. I needed something to numb the frustration, the confusion. 

The smoke filled my lungs, and for a moment, everything felt hazy. The rain poured harder, but I didn’t care. I kept walking, letting the buzz take over, the cold now just a distant thing.

taglist: @lolastrniolo @sturniololuv08 @chrislilcumslvt @lonleyheartsclub @shadowthesim

(lmk if you wanna be added!)

sneaky part 2 coming up...

[silkieluv]

It actually irks me that some people don't know the real meaning why Nadakhan called Jay 'canary' that one scene.

Like sure it was a pet name or something, but if you just do 1 google search you'll know that one you call someone a canary, you're calling them a snitch/blabber/rat/synonyms. Which fits the context perfectly. Jay goes to tell on Nadakhan to Flintlock so Nadakhan calls Jay a snitch which makes him so uncool (cuz who wants to hang with a snitch ;-;, not this pirate!) so Flintlock disregards Jay quicker than my dog's speed when I open his food box.

It is very silly though that a canary is a type of bird, and Jay is a type of bird. I find it so funny how someone there's a term for everything in every theme you could possibly imagine

So yes, while it's interpreted as a yucky pet/nickname for Jay, it's important to me that you know the actual meaning

[1doesnotsimplyhavejust1fandam]

Half questioning my memory of the post s4 era, half side eying a certain character, so correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think there was ever a time when the Buddie fandom fully took the single “Evan” from the season 4 finale as Eddie receiving “Evan” privileges from then on. From my recollection, fics stayed mostly consistent with their uses of “Evan” by Eddie, perhaps just with an emphasis on important moments (love confessions, Christopher’s adoption papers, wedding vows, NDEs, etc.) after the finale. And I had to stop myself from wondering why that is because I know why. We all know. Because nobody wanted to use “Evan” in fics when Buck had just told his parents that people who know him call him Buck. So Buddie fandom heard that, accepted it, and uses it only sparingly. In canon and fanon, even Maddie only rarely uses “Evan” anymore, and it feels even less common for her to use post-Buck Begins (if at all, actually). So the fact that Tommy and BT fans tend to use “Evan” (at least, this has been my experience) is so utterly jarring. Buck told everyone his preference, and I believe LFJ has spoken about being told to use only “Evan” when referring to Buck, so I simply do not understand anyone who believes that BT is in love already or endgame. Yes, it could go the “Buck gave Tommy ‘Evan’ privileges off-screen” route, but then why push it off-screen? It would be a major allowance made for a new love interest, and a significant step in Buck’s character arc. Yet we see nothing of the sort. So why would anyone believe that’s what happened? The last we heard, Buck had told his parents and everyone else to call him Buck exclusively, with the minimal exception of Maddie (who was, for most of his childhood, his one and only lifeline and confidant). That sort of history and characterization is not ignored if there is not something very wrong with the writers’ room. It was not even ignored by a significant portion of the fandom post-season 4, although Eddie gaining permanent “Evan” privileges would’ve been a strong indicator of a Buddie endgame (had an on-screen explanation of Eddie gaining this privilege been released). It was not ignored, and it did not change the nature of Buck in fic nor fanon. So why in hell is the same not holding true for a brand new relationship like BT?

[wisteriasymphony]

hi i haven’t watched miraculous in a bit, who the fuck is sublime?

ahhh, she's a leaked character from season 6 episode 3 who's a track runner with leg prosthetics. her whole episode involves marinette stalking her and maybe tampering with her prosthetics somehow? simply because she jogs with adrien in the mornings. she wants to befriend her lol

other than that, plus the fact that her mom is her trainer, her dad might be involved with making/repairing her prosthetics, and she's good enough to get medals/warrant sponsorships... we don't know much about her.

well. other than a very funny possible script leak that mentions she loves someone else, which seems to make her episode mirror Adoration much more than one would expect...

so, i've decided to give her more depth—below the surface, she's marinette's exact breed of insane, just on the opposite side. she salivates over the fantasy of someone watching her every move, of someone knowing every minute detail about her life. there's no clear reason as to why she's like this, just that she is.

[championofmyheart]

Hii!! So it's very close to christmas and i saw in your profile that you are a swiftie, so why not do a Jack Champion 'tis the damn season inspired fanfic (idk if it's called like this) and you can do it pure angst, but that ends in fluff (or no, that's on u) anyways have a great day and i think ur profile is gorgeous!

'Tis the damn season

Pairing: Jack Champion x Fem!Reader.

Summary: Jack goes back to his hometown for the holidays and reconnects with an old flame. (angst ++ slight fluff but not really...)

Wc: 1.5k

Author's note: Thank you so much for the request🫶🫶 I love this song so much, seeing this in my inbox made jump in glee. I was a bit confuzzled by how to start this in the beginning but I ended up working it out anyway. I hope it meets your expectations!!! ++ THANK YOU! I worked very hard on it hehe.

Remember to reblog in order to support small creators !!

The flickering light of the fireplace dances while casting shadows on the walls of your living room. Its soothing warmth snuck in through the cracks of the window you were sitting by and was a welcome contrast to the crisp air of winter's night. 

It served as a reminder of what was coming–or who was coming. The Christmas season meant two things for you, one less expected than the other: It meant exchanging gifts with family and enjoying their presence and it was also marked as the time Jack Champion would return. As if you weren't dreading this day enough, the doorbell rang. You didn't have to check if it was him. You knew how this went. 

Growing up, your family and his own spent every holiday together, starting from when you were both little. There was a feeling that came into flower as you grew up, one that pulled your gaze towards him, a warmth spread across your cheeks whenever you spoke to him. It wasn’t something he could ignore either and so, after one fateful dinner a realisation struck both of you. 

There wasn’t any way you could forget that night. He was curled up in your arms, his back facing you. You played with the curls of his hair, attempting to get rid of the tremble of your hands. It felt right, this felt right. 

The silence in the air hung heavy as the two of you processed the moment of tender surrender you had just shared. You broke the stillness with your words, “What does this mean for us…?” Jack turns to you his features are soft under the red glow of the Christmas lights peeking through the window of the room. Your breath catches in your throat–scared to hear his response, scared that he can hear your beating heart that chased after his own. 

“I don’t know” His voice is quiet, a murmur you can barely hear. 

He felt the way your body moved away from his own and missed its’ warmth, “You don’t know? What do you mean you don’t know?” You furrowed your brows in disbelief at his words. Jack calls out your name gently, his hand reaching out. 

A scoff left your lips as you sat upright, “You can’t not know, are you serious?” He followed in suite. “It’s complicated–” 

“It really isn’t” A deep sigh left his lips as you interrupted him, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Do you like me?” You ask, your voice coming out as a desperate plea instead of a question. 

Jack stays quiet, the words are lodged in his throat. He couldn’t say anything. As he responded with nothing but silence, you buried your face in your hands. “You can’t do this to me” you breathe out, your hands moving down your face to hold yourself. His arm draped over your shoulder, pulling you into a warm embrace, “I won’t, I’m sorry… I won’t” 

But he did. Every single Christmas since that night. He did. 

It was partially your fault, there was no denying that. It was impossible to refuse his advances, especially when he looked up at you with his big brown eyes, silently begging for your touch. His pleading look was irresistible, it left no room for rejection. This night was gonna be different though, you’re making sure of that. 

His parents welcomed him inside the home while you stared out through the foggy window. Your mind was cursed with the thought of him, it was as if he was engraved into the inside of your brain. It didn’t take long before you spared him a glance, only to be met with him already looking your way. 

The heat crept up your cheeks as he studied you, a faint grin on his lips. You return the smile even though you were betraying your inner turmoil as you looked at his pretty face. His eyes left yours, moving on to speak to your mother who was welcoming him with open arms. You felt a tinge of annoyance rise within you at this well-natured gesture from her, god, you were so salty.

Not a word would be exchanged over dinner. You had maintained a facade of normalcy the entire time, suppressing the heartache. 

You noticed there was something off despite everything going as usual. He was off. No longing glances, no shared smiles, and for once you thought that maybe this was it. Maybe he’d regretted everything you two had. A part of you would find comfort in letting go of this hometown fling you’ve turned into but the rest would be devastated, after all, you have spent years pining on him. Hoping one day he would run to you and finally accept the truth he has always denied: that he loved you. 

After dinner, you took refuge in your room upstairs. It was something you and Jack always did to pry off the aunts who would swarm you both with invasive questions about your lives. 

It was also the same place the two of you shared your firsts. A soft chuckle leaves your lips at the not-so-innocent memories. Suddenly, a few taps on the door pulled you out of your reverie, you looked up to see the devil himself, Jack, in the flesh. 

“Hey…” He was leaning against the door frame, his arms crossed a playful grin on his face. 

Maybe leaving the door wide open wasn’t a good idea. If you were the same girl from last season, you would have been beaming but you’ve had some time to think over the span of the year. 

Jack wasn’t stupid. He could tell something was amiss. You had been distant ever since he got there, he could see through your front. He calls out your name–the sound of your name rolling off his tongue causing butterflies to erupt–and steps inside, shutting the door behind him to offer a tiny bit of privacy in this full house. “What’s going on? Is everything alright”

‘No, nothing was right’ The words echoed in your mind yet you shook your head in dismissal. “Yeah, just feeling a bit sick, I guess?”

He raises a brow, not believing a word that comes out of your mouth. A weary sigh left his lips as sauntered towards you and settled to sit beside you, the mattress dipping under his weight. You stayed quiet, wishing this conversation would end. He says your name once more. “I’m fine, I swear” 

“No, you aren’t” His tone was firm as he spoke, leaving no room for debate. “Just be honest with me” 

“What do you think is wrong?” His eyebrows knit together, mouth slightly agape. “I.. How could I- I’m not a mind reader” He lets out a scoff, the sound escaping his lips in disapproval. 

“Can you just talk to me?” Jack pleads as you stand up to pace around the room. You wrap your arms around yourself, pulling at your clothes in frustration. With a deep sigh, you decide to be honest with him. 

You took a deep breath, “Do you really wanna know what’s been bothering me?” You began, finally fully facing him for the first time since his arrival. “It’s you, Jack” Your voice is heavy with the weight of your admission. His puppy dog eyes meet yours and for a fleeting moment you want to take back your words, take him into your arms and erase the pain you see in his gaze but you stand your ground allowing the words to spill from your mouth.

“This so-called relationship we have is wearing me out. It’s just fucking convenient for you, isn’t it? To have a girl waiting for you back at home while you run around doing whatever you want at your fucking job. You stick with me ‘cause I am that one constant in your life, the one the ‘road always leads back to’” You take a moment to catch your breath. “And you know I won’t leave because I am so in love with you. This isn’t a relationship, Jack. It’s a one-sided thing and that fucking sucks, man” Your voice trembles with tears threatening to spill as you confess the truth, laced with the poison of bitterness. 

There was tension in the air so thick that you could slice through it. Jack was left speechless. Your forehead creased, a desperate sigh leaving your throat. “I just… do you like me?” The question was so simple, so innocent and it was the same one he couldn’t bring himself to answer years ago however, this time he finally had a response. Jack gets up, approaching you, “I do… I swear to god I do, I’m sorry” He closes the space between the two of you, his eyes filled with a mixture of regret and guilt. 

He tenderly cradles your face in his hands, and you instinctively lean into his touch. “I’m sorry” He whispers, his thumb brushing away the tears that streamed down your cheeks. “I won’t leave this time” He promises, but the flicker of hope that burned in your chest quickly dissipated in the harsh light of reality; Jack Champion couldn’t afford to stay.

You found yourself giving in, pulling him even closer and inhaling his familiar scent. All the barriers it took a lot of effort to build seemed to crumble from the warmth of his touch. Maybe he couldn’t be yours forever, but for this moment, he was. This time, every Christmas, he belonged to you. 

And how could you ever refuse him? ‘Tis the damn season after all.

written by @championofmyheart ( @casimirsstache ) please do not copy, modify, or repost my work onto other platforms !! 2024

End notes: I hope you guys enjoy this one X3 I worked very hard on it. Thank you so much reading!!! Also ... This wasn't exactly proofread so apologies for any mistakes!!!

[shoopsthereitis]

artemisdragcn brought my ‘tis the damn season babies to life and i don’t think i’ll ever recover

Read on AO3

[mischiefbuckley]

I’m so excited for episode 5 and 6 now with how it’s been talked about in interviews lately like can’t wait to see what happens to both Buck and Eddie

[ozzo-the-wozzo]

I need to you guys to stay with me and imagine Adrien Agreste experimenting with what to wear after he quits modeling but being hopelessly lost on where to start so, after much consideration, he gets the brilliant idea to mimic his friends clothing aesthetics.

So naturally one week he’s wearing a backwards cap and baggy jeans in an attempt to mimic Nino who is ecstatic and another he’s wearing a lot of flannel which makes Alya roll her eyes and another him and Marinette are practically twins much to his delight until she gently tells him he only likes it because they are matching and he should probably keep looking until he finds something that is his own.

But instead he just keeps on mimicking classmate after classmate until he runs through them all and he starts talking to Kagami who’s figuring things out herself and doesn’t provide much to go off of and he settles on wearing suits until someone mistakes him for Felix.

So then he decides to move on from people and starts to look on Pinterest at Marinette’s suggestion and he copies the outfits down to a science but why does everything STILL feel not right? He decides it’s the website so he moves on and copies what he sees in magazines and in ads and it feels a little better but he also feels a little sick when he does it and why isn’t anything right and he’s twisting the ring on his finger so much it’s leaving a mark and hes pacing around the mansion and it has so many portraits and his dad is in all of them and why is he suddenly getting the feeling nothing he puts on will ever be right and why in the world does this stupid ring feel so heavy.

And so after a month of experimenting, he gets up in the morning one day and decides to try on the outfit he always used to wear and attempts to do his grown out hair the old way and looks in the mirror and stares at himself for a while. He slips on his sneakers and then the door rings and he heads downstairs to meet Marinette for school. As they’re walking he is still trying to decipher what he feels and he suddenly realizes that his dad would like this outfit a lot. He smiles to himself and tells Marinette and she smiles weakly and says she supposes he would and then avoids his eyes.

Adrien feels that familiar twist in his stomach that tells him something isn’t right, but when he tries to reflect on why that would be he’s only met with the same fuzzy memories of his father that he can’t quite sort out. He wonders if that’s where the unease comes from but then he shakes his head because those memories must be good because his father died a hero.

And so he wears the same outfit he always wore, ignoring the fact it feels a little too tight on him and that it makes his new ring feel heavier than ever.

[laurrelise]

peacefully scrolling through ao3 for a five + sibling bonding fluff fic because i was bummed about season 4 again and i suddenly come across…

………. mpreg five

[cecilysass]

Honest Man (1/3)

Read on AO3 | Tagging @today-in-fic

Chapter One

He almost never goes out to bars in Alexandria, and when he does, he’s typically in some kind of despairing mood. But Mulder isn’t despairing tonight. He’s hopeful.

It’s hope tempered with some reservation, of course. He’s not stupid—the other shoe can always drop—but there’s definitely a feeling that there could be less troubled paths ahead. If all goes well.

The pub is crowded, so he stands in the entrance scanning the room for her, feeling strangely awkward, like an adolescent boy. He jogged a little to get here at the time they arranged, and Mulder’s uncomfortably sweating now in his work clothes. He loosens his collar and tie.

She’s sitting with stately posture at a side booth, a menu propped in front of her. She spots him and raises a single hand.

He eagerly makes his way across the room, ducking in between the people making their way to get a drink at the bar, and slips into the seat across from her. “Hi,” he says. “Sorry I’m late.”

“I’m used to it, Fox,” she says, coolly amused. Diana slides him a menu. “It’s given me plenty of time to look over the culinary options here at the Honest Man Pub.” She draws out the name of the bar in an affected way, a little mockingly.

He smirks at her. “Come on. Who doesn’t like an Honest Man, Diana?”

“Who indeed.” She smiles tightly. “As it happens, I remember your taste in restaurants, so I’m not surprised.”

“Mozzarella sticks,” he says, pointing a finger at the menu enthusiastically. “You want to share some? I’m starving.”

“No thanks. I ordered a negroni.”

“Look,” Mulder gestures towards a woodcut illustration of Abraham Lincoln on the cover of the menu. “It’s Honest Abe, Diana. Trustworthy. You sure you don’t want a burger or something?”

“I’m really not hungry,” she says. But she, too, flips the menu over to look at it. She traces Lincoln’s face with her fingertip. “You think it’s supposed to be a reference to that story about chopping down the cherry tree?”

“That was George Washington.” Mulder sets the menu down and gives her a mildly admonishing look.

“What? I’m no historian,” she says dismissively. “And what politician has the luxury of honesty anyway?”

Diana’s not wearing her work clothes, he notices in surprise. Unless she wears a form-fitting black dress to work, and he doesn’t think she does. He chews his lip, wondering why she bothered to go home to change, especially because he’s pretty sure she lives in DC.

After the server passes by, and Mulder orders his beer and mozzarella sticks, he turns his attention back to her. “Well? What’s up?” He folds his hands on the table. “You made it sound like good news.”

Her cocktail is placed directly in front of her, and she murmurs a polite thanks to the server. “Potentially it is,” she says. “I need your help on a case, and I think if you do well, it could be … a step in the right direction.”

He tries to play it cool, even though this is exactly what he hoped. “My help? Did Kersh have a personality transplant or something?”

“This would be outside of official channels,” she explains. “At first, anyway.”

There are several cardboard coasters on the table with quotes printed on them in homey, old-fashioned typeface. The one nearest Mulder reads: “An honest man is always a child. - Socrates.” He pushes the coaster around the table with his fingertip, nodding slowly. “I’m listening.”

“There have been a series of credible sightings of unusual crafts flying low outside of Groom Lake,” she says in a low voice. She sips her drink, meeting his eyes. “I know you’ve probably been following it. Kersh doesn’t want Jeffrey and I to spend too much time there. But you could go.”

“Under what auspices?”

“It would have to be extracurricular.” She shrugs, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly. “You’ve done this sort of thing before, Fox.”

“Shiner Bock,” the server says cheerfully, setting a bottle down in front of Mulder. “Your mozzarella sticks should be out soon.”

“Thanks,” says Mulder. As the server darts off, he takes a slow sip, mulling over Diana’s words. “How would this be a step in the right direction?”

Diana leans towards him, her glass resting against her cheek. “Jeffrey and I have received some information about experimental craft at Groom Lake,” she says softly. “If we could put that together with your field work—and what you already have in the files—then we could have a report they’d have to take seriously.”

Mulder can’t help but feel excited, but he takes pains to mask it, chuckling cynically. “I’ve been down this road before, Diana.” He shrugs. “It never amounts to much. Plus, Kersh is already looking for any reason to chuck me out of the Bureau. This could easily be it.”

She reaches across the table and clasps his hand tight. “Not if I have your back.”

He frowns a little, confused by her meaning. She’s much more open to this than he expected. Still, his whole soul cries out to get back to working on the X-files. It’s almost all he thinks about these days. If there is a way forward here, he needs to hear all of it.

“We’ve always made a good team,” Diana points out. “We could be again. And this is your life’s work. You’re wasted in the bullpen.”

“Yeah,” Mulder says uneasily, “but what would—”

“I knew it.” interrupts a booming voice startlingly close to their table.

Mulder looks up blankly, and it takes him a half second to place the tall, pink-faced man towering angrily over them.

He knows Bill Scully’s face very well—associates it with some of his most emotionally vulnerable moments, in fact—but seeing it here in this Virginia bar, out of context, gives him a moment’s pause.

“I just knew it,” repeats Bill, his eyes narrowing. He squints down at Mulder murderously. “You’re not even worth … one of her goddamn pinky toes, you no good son of a bitch.”

“Bill,” Mulder murmurs, staring back. The man seems to be swaying slightly from side to side as he spits words out, as though he’s insulting Mulder on rough seas. “I didn’t know you were in town.”

Bill leans over, placing a palm flat on the table, and Mulder can distinctly smell whiskey on his breath.

“You have some nerve,” Bill hisses. “This is how you treat her? After everything you’ve done? Now you’re just out … on some date?”

Diana gives him a significant, questioning look, and Mulder straightens in his seat, his eyes scanning behind Bill’s back for a sign of who might be accompanying him. “I think you‘ve had a few too many tonight,” Mulder attempts genially. “You’re not making much sense. Why don’t I—”

“Why don’t you shut your damn mouth for once in your life?” Bill bellows. The group of young people at the next table looks over, watching them now, their expressions half interested and half alarmed.

Bill turns his attention to Diana, pointing one of his large fingers at her like a scolding father, even though Mulder is pretty sure Diana is at least Bill’s age, if not older. “What do you know about this guy, miss?” His words are definitely slurring. “How much did he tell you? Did you know he’s a dangerous sonofabitch?”

Diana smiles stiffly. “I’m safe, thank you.”

“Well, when he asked you out,” Bill says to her, gesturing sloppily, “did he mention he’s been fucking my sister for years? Destroying her life? Breaking her heart?”

He knows Bill’s drunk, and he knows Bill doesn’t have his facts right, but Mulder can’t help feeling the sting of shame over what he’s being accused of. Part of it, anyway. He hears himself inhale sharply by reflex.

Diana’s eyebrows have arched in surprise. She looks pointedly at Mulder. “Oh? Is that right? Who’s your sister?”

“My sister Dana,” Bill spits out, slamming his hand on the table for emphasis. “My baby sister.”

“Ah,” Diana responds conversationally. “You’re Agent Scully’s brother.” She seems unfazed by this information. “We both work with her, actually. Why don’t you join us for a moment?”

She scoots over in her seat, gesturing calmly to the spot next to her. Mulder doesn’t move, paralyzed with horror at the way this is unfolding.

Bill looks at Diana a moment, his jaw clenched, and then, to Mulder’s shock, slides in next to her in the booth, turning to direct his glare at Mulder.

For a moment Mulder just stares, slack-jawed, back into the man’s furious face. Bill seems to be waiting for something—for Mulder to explain himself, probably.

“This … isn’t a date,” Mulder begins, pointing between Diana and himself. “It’s work. And you need to understand that your sister and I aren’t in a romantic relationship either. Or a, uh, sexual relationship.”

Bill chuckles, shaking his head slowly, then abruptly changes mood, pounding his fist loudly and suddenly on the table and causing both Diana and Mulder to startle.

“Then why?” he demands, meeting Mulder’s eyes intensely in a way that reminds him, unsettlingly, of Scully. “Why does she do it? Why does she put up with you?”

“I … really don’t know,” Mulder admits miserably. “You’d have to ask her.”

“I know my sister,” Bill says, his features softening a little. “There are only … a few reasons why she would do it.” His tone goes cold. “Does she know you’re on a date?”

“No,” Mulder answers quickly, “but it’s not a—”

“I hate you,” Bill leans forward to whisper to him. “I hate you for what you’ve put her through. Now you’re cheating. On a fucking date. Jesus.”

“Yo, Scully,” comes a masculine voice from the bar. “Where’d you go?” Mulder looks around nervously, half expecting to see his partner, but of course the voice is calling for Bill. A group of men in their 30s and 40s, all with square shoulders and military haircuts, seem to be looking in this direction. Bill doesn’t even look back at them.

“You don’t understand,” Mulder says. He feels panicky and anxious. “It’s not a date. And Scully’s my partner, not my—”

“Jesus, shut the fuck up,” Bill groans. He slides out of the booth. “Don’t you ever get tired of your annoying-ass voice?”

He does, actually, more often than one might think.

“Bill, wait, are you—” Mulder stops suddenly.

He realizes what he was about to ask—are you going to tell Scully that you saw us here?—sounds completely at odds with what he has been telling Bill, what he has been telling himself. That question doesn’t make him sound like a partner out talking about work with a colleague.

It makes him sound like he thinks he’s doing something wrong, something he needs to hide.

The truth is that he does think Scully would be angry to know he’d met Diana here. She would be angry for a whole snarl of tangled reasons—and yeah, hurt, like Bill says. He doesn’t especially want her to know.

“Am I what?” Bill sneers, turning back around jerkily.

“Are you … okay to get home?” Mulder mumbles. “You have a ride?”

Bill gives him a look of withering contempt. “That’s none of your fucking business.” He turns and staggers back towards the bar.

Mulder watches him go, trying to swallow back his self-loathing. He realizes after a second that his fists are clenched.

“Fox,” Diana says in concern. “Are you all right?”

He says nothing for a beat, making a game attempt to pull himself back together.

“Yeah,” he says to Diana. He takes a fast swig of beer. “That guy—he, uh, just really hates me.”

“I gathered,” Diana says. She looks at Mulder appraisingly. “You seem to be taking what he says awfully seriously.”

“Well,” Mulder says grimly into his beer, “it’s just he’s not entirely wrong.”

Diana leans back in the booth, lifts her glass to her beautiful lips, and takes a careful sip. “No,” she says coolly, “he’s not.”

Mulder exhales raggedly. “Gee, Diana,” he says, “don’t hold back how you feel on my account.”

“He’s wrong about plenty,” she breathes. “He underestimates you, like most people do. But he’s not wrong that your work has hurt Agent Scully.”

“Don’t you think I know that?” he snaps at her. He pauses to compose himself. “I don’t want Scully to be hurt,” he says in a more controlled voice. “I never have. Her choices are her own.”

“And your choices are your own,” Diana says. Her eyes are dark and shining. “You know, Fox, I hope that if all goes well with this initial foray at Groom Lake, we might all be a little more ambitious in our choices.”

Mulder shakes his head rapidly, still rattled by the encounter with Bill. “Ambitious in our choices how?”

“Well,” she says. “Thinking longer term, I don’t know if Jeffrey is working out on the X-files. I think he might prefer to be elsewhere at the Bureau. And if he does… then I’d be asked for my preference in a partner.”

Mulder looks up quickly. “And you’d … want to work with me?”

“Of course,” she says, giving him an inviting look. “Who else would I want?”

There’s an uncomfortable pause. Mulder toys with a coaster on the table idly.

“Do you think they’d even listen to you?” he wonders. “They’re really not my biggest fans right now. Kersh in particular.”

She fishes an ice cube out of her drink, sucks on it a little. Then she meets his eyes, and there is a dangerous spark. “I can be very persuasive, Fox.”

Mulder’s fingertip worries the corner of the cardboard coaster back and forth, back and forth. He hasn’t asked the biggest question. “And what about Scully?”

“What about her?”

“I couldn’t … leave Scully behind in the bullpen.”

“Without you,” Diana says, sipping her drink, “she wouldn’t be in the bullpen for very long. They would give her a better placement in no time. She’s only stuck there because of you.”

Mulder’s eyes remain on the scuffed tabletop as he considers the truth of this statement. Scully certainly is only being punished because of her links to the X-files. Were she cut free from him, she probably would be given a fresh start.

“I don’t know,” he says bleakly. “I don’t know if I could even do it without her.”

Diana makes an exasperated hiss. “Fox,” she says. “Of course you could. What is this codependency you’ve developed? You weren’t like this before.”

Mulder rubs the bridge of his nose. “Diana, I–”

“Mozzarella sticks,” announces their server, his voice surreally peppy as he places the basket on the table. Mulder nods and smiles miserably, his eyes down on the fried cheese.

As the server walks away, Diana reaches over and places her hand over his. It’s light and soft as silk. “I could be the partner you need, Fox,” she says softly. “If you give me a chance.”

Her fingers now are caressing his hand lightly. Mulder’s taken aback. “I remember … how to calm you down,” she adds, almost a whisper. “How to reduce your stress.” She runs her fingertip down the back of his hand, a subtle but effective gesture. “And I’m not someone who is easily hurt.”

As opposed to Scully? he wonders. Is that what Scully is? Easily hurt? Is that why I’ve hurt her so much?

Somewhere to Mulder’s left there is a loud discussion at the bar. Despite Diana’s surprising advances, Mulder finds his attention drifting over there. He recognizes Bill’s voice, speaking loudly to the bartender, and looks for him in the crowd.

“I’ll tell you what,” Diana adds, reaching out with her finger to gently direct his chin back towards her. “Come over tonight.” Under the table he feels her foot brush against his calf, ostensibly accidentally, and she’s successfully got his full attention back. “We can discuss your Groom Lake fieldwork more privately. I can … convince you of everything else.”

Mulder closely watches her face, every nuance of her expression. “Oh yeah?” he says guardedly.

“Hey folks, you doing all right here? Need ketchup or anything?” The energetic server is suddenly smiling broadly next to the table, hands on his hips, and Mulder can sense Diana’s annoyance from across the table.

“We’re fine,” Mulder says, still staring at Diana, “but I’m going to need to get these mozzarella sticks to go. And our checks, please.”

“Coming right up.” The server obligingly darts away.

Diana’s foot brushes up his calf again, this time with less pretense of accident. “Is that a yes, then?” she says, the barest hint of a smile.

In the background, Mulder is aware of a flurry of activity at the bar—the bartender’s voice firmly declaring something about someone not being served any more.

He looks back at Diana, who looks very beautiful, curvy and enticing in the dress he now realizes was strategically chosen to showcase her body for him.

Then his eyes fall down to one of the coasters on the table. He reads it, then reaches down and picks it up impulsively, sliding it in his pocket.

“Diana,” he says, suddenly sounding more certain than he expects, “I’m going to have to get back to you.”

***

[freetobeafcknriot]

the more I think about it the more I don't get how the hargreeves siblings were the problem like sure, s2 and s3 were on them but it was cause-effect to the very first apocalypse in 2019 and literally none of that would have happened if reginald had been just a tiny bit less of a shitty father to begin with. i get that the 43 children were anomalies but how was it on them for just existing ?

[luthorswildflowers]

Lost love is sweeter when it's finally found

It was their reconciliation after everything with Lex and Leviathan that seemed to give Lena the courage to come out to Kara. She had been closeted for so much of her life that the idea of letting someone in past her walls had felt insane if not impossible. But Kara proved her wrong again, and Lena finally decided that this box would remain open, and she would embrace this feeling head on.

Her queerness was not the only secret she had wanted to concede to the blonde that evening, standing aloft on the Tower balcony together as the sun settled low over the city. This was one of those evenings, where the tenderness of their friendship seemed to pull at something more. They stood quietly together, their elbows touching as they gazed out over the sky beyond them. Lena could only focus on the quiet breath of her “best friend”, her heart hammering in her chest as she realized this was the time to lay herself bare. She had never felt so safe in her life. She was enveloped by warmth from a family that she had to remind herself that she deserved. And Kara was at the forefront of it all, her sunny disposition and bright, bright kindness that wrapped itself around Lena’s heart.

Lena had known for a long time that she was in love with Kara Danvers. It had just taken the pain of heartbreak and the fear of losing the one person she loved most for her to realize that she couldn’t go on any longer without Kara in her life somehow. When Lex had shown his true colors, Lena had known then that she was making a huge mistake, and she would fight until her heart shattered to get back that warmth in her life.

It had worked out eventually, they had taken down Lex together, sending him to somewhere unreachable where he could never hurt Lena, or anyone ever again. Finally, free from one of her lifelong torments, Lena had realized that she was free from that fear too. And it was that first night back together with Kara and their friends that had pushed Lena to decide that she was done letting her fear drive her actions.

As they stood on the balcony together, Lena took the plunge and dared to let her heart win out.

Just as she inhaled heavily to begin her confession, Kara turned towards her, eyes locked on her own questionably.

“Lena, what’s up?”

Lena exhaled dramatically, pulling her eyes away to gaze out towards the city again. “I wanted to talk to you about something,” she began, twisting her fingers together nervously. Her stomach flipped suddenly before she pushed her trepidation down and continued on. “It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while now actually.”

Kara rested her hand gently on Lena’s arm. “Is something wrong? Are you ok?” she asked, a bite of concern in her voice.

“No nothing, like that. I just needed to – well I just want to say something, and we’ve promised to be honest with each other now since everything happened. And I don’t want to lie to you or keep things – or I mean secrets from you anymore but umm, but –” Lena sighed heavily, throwing her hands up and spinning away from Kara. “God, I didn’t realize it would be this hard.”

Kara’s hands were on her shoulders, pulling gently until Lena turned back around. Lena looked up hesitantly into Kara’s eyes, calming slightly at the reassurance she saw in them.

“Whatever it is you can tell me. I’m here.”

Lena reached out for Kara’s hands, clutching onto her tightly as she breathed in slowly. She was thankful for Kara in that moment, the blonde seemed to have a second sense about her, knowing how to ease those around her with her confidence and consideration. Lena was drawn to it, and she tried to let the feeling embolden her.

“I want to. I really do.” Her heart still thundered nervously, and Lena noticed Kara’s quick glance to her chest as she picked up on the sound. Lena breathed deeply, her shoulders falling downwards as she stared at their joined hands. “I’m just scared,” she continued shakily. “So much has changed between us in the last year. I don’t want us to fall back to where we were before – before Lex. But I want to tell you because – well I trust you.”

Lena still wouldn’t meet Kara’s eyes, but she squeezed her hand tightly, hoping to convey what she was trying to say. Kara squeezed back and dipped her head to catch Lena’s eye.

“Lena. I promise, whatever you have to tell me, it won’t change anything between us.”

Lena chuckled at that, even more aware of what she was trying to say. The desire to tell Kara her other secret was not as strong as her desire to come out. Though she supposed that secret could be revealed in time. Hopefully.

“You might be eating those words in a moment,” she muttered.

Kara cocked her head at that, crinkling her brow in that cute way that Lena liked.

Heaving in a deep breath Lena fortified herself, squeezing Kara’s hands again. “I’m gay.” she said, spewing the words out in one breath. “I didn’t really know for the longest time. I guess I suppressed it before. I mean, I felt different growing up and you know my family isn’t the most welcoming. But being – gay – it just wasn’t even something I thought about or even considered. It wasn’t allowed. But a lot has changed and now when I think about it, it makes so much sense.”

She glanced down again and slammed her eyes shut. They were growing tight behind her eyelids as she took measured breaths.

Suddenly, she felt warm arms wrap around her shoulders and pull her forward gently. Falling into Kara’s embrace was as easy as waking to a morning sunrise. It felt natural and familiar, and she clung on tight as she welcomed the feeling.

“Oh Lena,” Kara said, hugging her as tightly as she could without crushing her. “Thank you for telling me and for feeling safe enough with me to share your truth.”

“I’ve been thinking about it for a while now. It took me some time to figure out. I haven’t told anyone else.”

“I’m glad you told me,” Kara said, squeezing her a bit tighter.

She buried her face on Kara’s neck, realizing that she was shaking slightly. She focused on breathing, and the two of them were silent for a few moments, easily settling into the familiarity of one another.

“What are you thinking?” Kara whispered eventually.

Lena sighed, pulling back a step to wipe the wetness from her eyes. “I don’t know,” she said truthfully. “I mean I was expecting you to ask questions, but I guess considering who you are and who your friends are, you have been through this before.”

“Do you want me to ask questions?”

“I mean, maybe? I’m not sure exactly. This is just all so new.”

Kara grabbed Lena’s hand again squeezing it reassuringly. “It’s ok to still feel nervous about all of this. I think I understand how you are feeling. You feel like you don’t know who you are anymore. Like you should still feel guilty for feeling this way. That maybe you might be wrong because it took you so long to figure it out. Something like that?”

Staring into Kara’s eyes, Lena nodded faintly, her face heating up at how true Kara’s words were.

“I thought you would think I was lying because I was with James so recently. It’s partly why I ended things with him. It didn’t feel real. Most of my life hasn’t felt real to be honest. I felt like something was wrong with me, almost as if I couldn’t feel things correctly or fully. Love never really made sense to me. Not until…” she trailed off at that, thinking about how she had finally come to this realization.

“How did you know?” Kara asked gently.

She breathed out all in a rush, pursing her lips slightly as she tried to put it all into words.

“Everything changed this last year. I’ve never felt so – so vulnerable with Lex around. You and I were on bad terms, and I was alone for the first time in a long time. I had a lot of time to think about myself. Also, Andrea was back and that brought up a lot of unresolved feelings from our youth. Her betrayal hurt me more than I realized, and I don’t know – it’s just –” she faltered, feeling breathless. “I think I loved her once…”

Her voice was strained, and she tried desperately to swallow down a sob. The pain from Andrea’s betrayal had lessened to a degree but her recent realization brought with it a new ache that she was still working to understand.

“Hey, hey Lena. It’s alright. You are not alone here.”

Lena nodded, closing her eyes and leaning into Kara again, who easily swept her up into another hug.

“Losing someone you love; that’s one of the hardest things to live through. Realizing you love them after it’s too late is even harder.”

“You say that as if you have experience,” Lena murmured into her shoulder.

Kara was silent for a moment. Lena could feel Kara’s fingers playing with the fabric of her blouse, clumsily rolling the cloth back and forth as she tried to stammer out a reply.

Lena pulled back softly, looking into her bright blue eyes. “You really understand then?”

When Kara didn’t reply right away, the gears in Lena’s head started turning, and hope flared in her heart so brightly it almost burned. Kara looked like she was warring with herself in her mind. She had a desperate kind of look on her face, as if she were fighting the urge to say something.

“Kara, how much of this conversation is you empathizing with me versus you relating to me?” she asked hesitantly.

Voice quivering, all Kara could say was “Lena.” And how she said it was like the word alone was the most precious thing imaginable. Something so tender and delicate you must hold it in your hands with the most reverent of touches. Something you cherish with a steadfast duty to protect above all else.

Kara said her name like a prayer.

She said her name as if she were in love.

Their breath seemed to mingle together with how close they had gotten. Lena pushed forward just a bit more until their foreheads were pressed together.

“Please, say something darling.”

Shaking her head slightly, Kara didn’t pull away. “I don’t want to make this about me. You were sharing something so intimate with me and I don’t want to take that away from you.”

“Please, Kara.” Lena said breathily. “Please don’t hide from me. You never need to hide yourself from me ever.”

A silence so long yet so short stretched between them, but Lena couldn’t take her eyes away from the woman before her. No matter how hard she tried, her heart belonged to Kara.

Finally, Kara broke the silence. “Do you think it’s ever too late to remedy our mistakes? Is it ever too late to tell someone that you love them?”

“We’ve both made mistakes. Sometimes you have to let go of the past and meet the future head on. Sometimes it takes losing what you love most to realize the truth.”

“And what’s the truth Lena?”

At the beginning of this night, Lena had only intended to share one of her secrets with her best friend. Now her heart was screaming at her to share her most precious secret. And Lena would be damned if she tried to lie to herself any longer.

“I love you Kara Zor-El. I have always loved you.”

Kara was pulling her in before she had finished speaking. The press of Kara’s lips to hers was everything. Kara kissed her with what felt like all the affection and devotion she could, wrapping Lena in the most gentle of embraces as they deepened their kiss. Soon, the soft press of lips became ardent, more urgent and heated as they melted into one another. Lena clung to Kara as tightly as she could, arms warping around her shoulders and fingers tangling in blonde hair.

Pulling back slightly, noses still touching, Kara paused for a moment, a huge grin spread across her pretty face. “I love you too Lena. I’m sorry it took me so long to realize.”

Lena pushed forward again, sweeping Kara up into another kiss. Kara’s hands quickly found her waist, squeezing gently as their lips tried to share every bit of devotion words could not. Small whimpers escaped Kara’s mouth and Lena couldn’t help but smile giddily into the kiss.

They clung to each other like that for a while, sharing kisses filled with more emotion than Lena thought possible. And it almost felt as if they were making up for lost time. Time spent draped in resentment and sorrow that they were just now learning how to shake from their hearts. She pressed her hips into Kara’s, leaving no space between them. Hands wandered as both of them explored this new feeling. Soon all Lena could think about was the feeling of Kara against her, the warmth that bloomed in her chest and the heat that started to pool in her belly.

Hesitantly, Lena pulled back, still clinging to Kara as she took a moment to catch her breath. Kara’s eyes were still closed, and Lena giggled at the blissful look on her face. The blonde opened her eyes and grinned, scratching her fingers up Lena’s back where her hands had unwittingly wandered.

“Hi,” she said as goosebumps erupted across her back and shoulders.

Kara smirked lightly, pressing forward once more with a soft kiss. “Hi there,” she said, pulling back enough to rest their foreheads together.

“You know, I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time.” Lena whispered.

“Me too,” Kara admitted. “And I don’t know about you, but I really don’t want this to be a one-time thing.”

Lena’s heart thudded wildly in her chest. Looking down at the organ in question, Kara placed a gentle hand there, feeling the rhythm as it beat loudly. Her touch was solid and steady, and Lena leaned into it. There was no going back. And she honestly didn’t want to.

“I don’t think I could survive without you in my life. I’ve never felt something like this before. You, me, together. It feels real, Kara. I want to try being “us” again. I want to see if we could be more.”

Her feet left the ground as Kara wrapped her arms gently around Lena’s waist. They were hovering off the floor, Kara’s strength more than enough to hold them both aloft. The sun had set below the horizon and the lights from the city twinkled around them in the cool evening breeze. Lena nestled her head into Kara’s neck, breathing in the warm scent that could only belong to the woman she loved.

“Forever,” Kara whispered into her hair. “Until the last star of the last galaxy in the universe fizzles into dust, I will love you forever.”

AO3