#name is too long not happening ((denny)) | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

olsenmyolsen · 1 year ago

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Ever Since Natasha Saw You (18+)

master list

dark master list

Post Black Widow Dark!Natasha Romanoff (Female Reader X Natasha Romanoff)

Summary: She was a hero. But to her, YOU were so much more.

Word Count: 6.1K

Content: Dub-Con, Obsession, Kidnapping, Stalking, Blood, Knife, Knifeplay, Mommy Kink, Feelings, Trauma, Death,

The Black Widow hid a secret.

She was in love with you. Sounds pretty innocent... right?

"Night Y/N!" Your coworker Daisy called out as you were still typing at your computer. It was Friday night, and everyone but you was already leaving. Leaving to be free of the thoughts of work for at least the weekend.

You had a marketing job in downtown Manhattan. Skyscraper. Cubicle. Long nights. That kind of job.

You liked it, honestly.

Sure, New York and the surrounding areas were dangerous. Hell, at times. But you had heroes and vigilantes to save you. You had first-hand experience in 2012 when you and your Dad were saved while out at your "I made it through University without killing myself" lunch.

Now, here you were 4 years later. Still in the city while your Dad left. But that was fine. Being on your own has been exemplary. Sure, you have some friends... coworkers, really. You went on dates! I mean, they didn't lead to much more. But you were going through life.

A cat! You have a cat. An orange tabby who only loves you for food...

Anyways! You were fine and finishing up work on your computer when a pop-up of World News showed up in the top right-hand corner of your screen.

What's New 3 Weeks After The Fall Of A Secret Organization Hiding In The Sky? Russia and the U.S. Remain Quiet.

You heard about the debris and strange things found over on that side of the world earlier this month. With that came the theories.

You rolled your eyes at most. But some were fun. Like aliens was a popular one. People online said it was a crashed group of green-shape-shifting aliens. Your coworker Lindsey swore by another that claimed it was a giant purple guy who crashed on Earth.

Yeah, that'll be the day.

You even had a friend of a friend named Darcy who said an Avenger was present to what happened, leaving you curious.

The Avengers, as far as you were concerned, were in trouble. Rumblings, sightings, and videos of two sides of the superhero group fighting at a German airport left many to speculate that this was the end. Plus, this coming weeks after what happened in Lagos and the murder of King T'Chaka made it all the more plausible.

So, if the rumor was confirmed that an Avenger was at the collapse of what many were confused about, it was... interesting.

But you couldn't dwell on that. You shook your head and closed out of the news to finish up your projected cost for the next wave of Roxxon Marketing.

As you walked out of your office building, you were unaware you were being followed.

It wasn't the first time you had been followed. Fuck it wasn't even the fiftieth time it had happened, but still you remained clueless. She thought it was cute at first how unaware of your surroundings you were. It always made her smile.

Because in one second, an innocent and pretty thing like you could be gone.

But she wouldn't let that happen.

Not by anyone else, at least.

You have to understand. She was your protector. Yeah.. Yeah, that's right! The one to make sure you got home safe. The one to take care of threats no matter how minuscule they might be. She also made sure no one got too close or even dared to ask you out.

You couldn't date. That would be unfair and very hurtful to the one who... watched over you...

I mean, you never wondered why suddenly Dennis never showed back up to work after asking you out to lunch, now did you?

Rumor was his family got sick, and he had to skip town. But we know about rumors now, don't we? I.E., purple aliens. Green shapeshifting ones. You get it.

Oh. Also. What happened to Dennis, you may ask?

I'll let you know when his body turns up.

However, all of this is to say that you were lucky Natasha Romanoff picked you.

She was back after being gone, having to deal with some family business. But she was back! For you! Natasha thought you should be grateful. She could be- SHOULD BE on the run right now, but here she was twenty feet behind you.

After tonight, you were going to know precisely who she was.

Natasha smiled as she followed you. She laughed as she saw how cautious you were of people even when you're on your phone like you are right now.

However, as cautious as you may be, it leaves you vulnerable. Sweet. Easy.

Natasha thinks you're too nice for your own good sometimes. Like you always see the best in people. It drives Natasha crazy the amount times she has had to stop because you stopped to help someone. A drunk. A homeless man. A- you get it.

As you and Natasha head down into the subway, she appreciates how your route hasn't changed at all since your first day of work many years ago. Yet she can't help but snicker at how you've never noticed her taking that walk with you. But then again, even with how cautious you are, you don't notice things.

You still haven't noticed the tiny cameras Natasha installed in your place. Or the amount of panties she's stolen. Or even the amount of times you've slept with her arms around your body. In addition to the hushed whispers and stolen kisses, she's left on your lips.

On top of that, you haven't noticed her feelings for you.

Natasha moves closer to you as you both are nearing your stop. With a plan in motion, The Black Widow can't help but smile.

Natasha takes another step forward and grabs onto the metal pole in front of herself to stop her movement when you look up and around the car. You stop when your eyes reach Natasha's green ones in a hoodie and jeans. You smile quickly before putting your head down, focusing back on your phone.

What you did just now was polite. You looked from your phone to stretch your neck and smiled at a cute blonde who just so happened to be looking your way.

That's what you thought.

To Natasha, you signaled her out.

With your eyes, you noticed her. After all this time, you did it! On tonight of all nights. It was a sign. It was meant to be!

Natasha smiled and stared at you, unaware.

When you finally got up to get off at your stop, you felt your arm being yanked back. When you stumbled back and turned your head to find a bald man older than your father looking at you like he won a prize, you pulled as hard as possible. But his grip was tight. "Where are you going, sweetheart?" He looked over your body, making you pull again.

How was no one stopping this man? Was no one seeing it? Did no one care?

The train car beeped, signaling the doors were going to be closing, and the man had yet to remove you from his grip. You were about to scream when the blonde woman from before grabbed your other arm, making you shriek in surprise. The woman acted fast and kicked the man in the knee hard enough to break it before rushing the two of you out of the train car just as the doors closed on three other men hitting their first against the door.

You wanted to wave them bye and flick them off, but your arm hurt. Not the one the man held.. But... but your other one. The one the woman held as she saved you.

"You, alright?" The blonde had a raspy voice as she spoke. It sounded familiar, but as you quickly scanned her face, you declared she must have that kind of face. (as if) But her eyes. Her eyes were one of a kind. Beautiful and a shimmering green you wanted to get lost in.

So lost that you almost forgot about the arm pain and the dizziness you were starting to feel...

"Yeah." You nodded to the blonde who had yet to release your arm. "I'm fine."

This was a lie, and Natasha, of course, knew that. I mean, she was the one wearing the ring that, with one turn of the gemstone, revealed a tiny needle. One that the blonde used to inject your arm with a sleeping agent.

"Are you sure?" The woman smiled as she asked you. Why was she smiling? You went to nod that you were indeed fine but found yourself more tired. Weaker even. "Oh, honey, you don't look so good."

Natasha smiled as she felt your body losing the fight. Natasha quickly looked around before wrapping your arm around her shoulder to make it appear as if you were a drunk friend who needed help getting home.

"Oh, Y/N, it looks like that guy must have really done something, huh?"

The guy in the group of men that she paid off.

Your mind was becoming black as your body went limp, and before you could ask her how she knew your name or who the hell she was, you took one last look at the blonde.

This time, you recognized who she was.

You went to speak but slurred your words as you closed your eyes, passing out in Natasha Romanoff's arms.

Getting you home was easy.

As Natasha unlocked your front door, she smiled, pulling you closer as you entered through the threshold between the hallway and your apartment. Natasha smiled wider as she looked around at what would become her place with you before looking at your limp, unconscious body. "We're home!"

Home was with you.

With a kick to the door, it closed behind you two as she hurried you to your room.

Once inside, Natasha was happy to find that not much, if anything, had changed since she last visited. She said hi to your cat, who purred at the sight of the blonde.

Natasha loved your cat and couldn't wait to be a good cat mom.

Natasha took you and gently placed you on the bed before looking around the room. She was looking for something. Natasha closed the bedroom door and went back, kicking the floorboard to the right of your end table, and up it flipped. She bent down and pulled out a small black backpack she stored two years ago.

Opening it up to make sure everything was still there. She knew you probably didn't even know that it existed. (You hadn't.) But Natasha had to be sure.

Dumping out the bag's contents, she was happy to see that nothing was missing. But she still took inventory. 5 Widow Bites. 1 Pistol. 12 Bullets. 1 Set of Handcuffs. 1 Knife. 3 Needles of the Sleeping Agent. 1 Burner Phone.

Finally, 2 very dry Nutri-Grain Bar.

Natasha kept the loaded gun, knife, and handcuffs out of the bag and placed it on the desk in the corner of your room. The bag moved to the edge of the bed—no point in hiding it now.

"Oh, Y/N!" Natasha sat next to your upper body, passed out on the bed. She spoke as her soft hand ran through your hair. It calmed Natasha. "You're so pretty, Y/N."

Natasha looked over your still-covered body before moving her hand down your back. "Here. Come on." She flipped you over onto your back and pulled you more onto the bed.

Natasha's eyes found your face. "Baby, I can't wait for the rest of our lives." Natasha bit her lip as she spoke to you. Hopefully, and giddy for the future. "We're going to be so happy." Natasha leaned down and planted a kiss at the top of your head. "You still smell like coconut. I still don't really like that shampoo, but I know how much you do." Natasha smiled as if this was a normal conversation before giving you another kiss. Just as one of her hands began to snake its way across your stomach before landing at your hip.

"I love you."

Natasha couldn't help herself. She smiled brightly as she said those words out loud to you for the first time.

Natasha's lips found the side of your face again and again. She always loved how soft you felt against her. Delicate. Like something Natasha wanted to cherish. Keep perfect. Forever.

But there was also that part inside of her. The side of Natasha that wanted to own you. Take that softness and fuck it out of you. Damage you. Hurt you.

Both were fighting for control.

Regardless, Natasha slid down the zipper of your unbuttoned jeans and slipped her hand over your black cotton panties. Moaning as her stomach flipped in the joys of touching you, feeling your heat on her fingers. Letting excitement wave over her, she cupped your pussy before dragging her index finger up over your growing wet-covered folds. "Oh fuck, baby!" Natasha moaned before looking at the side of your face.

Natasha smiles to herself. She leans over and kisses your cheek, and quickly removes her hand from your recently shaved pussy.

Natasha licks the little slick on her fingers off.

Natasha savored the taste before she laid flat on her back. Lifting her ass as she tore off the black jeans she was wearing along with her red panties. Choosing to keep her slightly raised pullover hoodie on, Natasha grabbed your left wrist. "I want you to feel me..." Natasha looked over and spoke to you. "I want you to feel how wet you make me, Y/N! How tight I am for you. I've been waiting."

With that, Natasha kept her eyes on your left hand as she moved it down her toned stomach. The tips of your fingers brushing over her skin, making her squirm in anticipation for what's to come.

Moving them further down, Natasha gasps as your hand gets pushed down onto the top of Natasha's bare pussy. "This is for you." She moans as she pushed your hand further down. Directing your middle and ring finger to her clit. "Oh fuck!" She moans and grows wetter at your unconscious touch.

"Keep going. Keep going!" Natasha directs your fingers to move in a circular motion. Before her mouth drops as your fingers get pushed over The Black Widows dripping pussy. She moans and grips your hand. "Right there." Natasha moves your fingers around her opening for you.

"It's for you, baby. Come on. I want you to fuck me!" She gives your hand one more push and bucks when your fingers easily slide into her. Natasha loudly moans while her left hand grips the comforter of the bed.

Your fingers feel perfect inside of her.

Natasha can't get over that.

She thinks you were made for her.

Slowly, Natasha starts to move herself against your fingers. Her hips working overtime. Only using her right hand to position your hand better. "Oh my God!" Natasha smiles as a shaky breath comes out. You're doing this to her. You're making her feel this good. You're fucking her right.

Natasha is rocking her hips up and down your slick fingers. You're pushing her closer and closer. "Oh god!" She grunts as she slams the back of your hand to feel you deeper, indirectly slapping her pussy and clit that, sends a wave of pain that morphs into pleasure. "Oh yes!"

Natasha does it repeatedly while her left-hand works on her clit. Her middle fingers pushes the bud of it up as she continues her circular motion. "That's it, baby! Make me cum! Make me fucking cum!" She turns her head to you and stares at your unconscious body. "You're doing so well, baby."

If you were awake right now, you'd feel Natasha's wetness run down your fingers. Into your palms. And down your wrist. You'd hear her moans and screams of pleasure as she makes herself cum with your fingers. "Oh my God!" Natasha Romanoff jolts up. "Y/N, I'm cumming! I'm cumming! Oh fuck! Oh, fuck, baby.."

Natasha rides her orgasm out and smiles when she falls back onto the bed. She turns and looks at your body. "You made me feel so good."

You're perfect.

As she catches her breath, Natasha gently pulls your fingers out and brings them up to her mouth. She marvels at the sight of you now covered in her before she takes her tongue and runs it over your fingers. Enjoying the taste of herself. "I can't wait to taste you." Now that we're together, she forgot to add.

Natasha insets your finger back into her mouth. Loudly sucking on them and moaning before shoving your fingers to the back of her throat, making herself gag on them. She repeats the action.

"Will you let me do that to you?" Natasha says after she's pulled them out and caught her breath. "Hmm?" She licks them again. "Will you gag for me?" She kisses your ring finger and twirls it around. "I wonder..."

Natasha kisses you one more time as she gently places your hand down and moves her body to lay half of it on you. "I wonder what you won't do now that you're mine." She takes your chin in her hand and moves it in her direction. "I can't wait for you to be awake. For us." Natasha deeply kisses your lips as her hand quickly pushes your boobs up. "But first." Natasha releases you and gets up from the bed. She takes off the rest of her clothes and tosses them into your now-shared laundry basket before moving to the desk where her belongings are located.

"I need to take care of a few things."

Slowly, your body starts to stir awake.

You go to move to your side but wince when you land on your arm. You are unsure why it hurts, but you are too stiff and tired to worry about that right now. But for some reason, since you're awakening, your body isn't going back to sleep.

Silent bells are ringing in your head, but you don't know they're there.

You groan and manage to flip your body onto its stomach. This position feels terrific, especially since you feel the coolness of the bedsheet against your body. You snuggle your face into your pillow- your eyes shoot open.

You don't remember coming home...

You open your eyes wider and take a look around the room. It's your room. You're relieved to see that but grow more worried at your nonexistent memory of getting home.

Plus, it looks like things around the room are off... you turn your tired back against the mattress and find yourself surprised to have another person in the room.

A blonde-haired woman wearing one of your college sweatshirts looking through one of your old journals... Once again, the alarm in your head is not alerting you. It's distant and faded.

"That's my shirt..?" Your groggy voice makes the woman look up with a smile.

To you, the woman's smile looks like a kid on Christmas morning.

To Natasha, she's testing out how you're gonna act.

"Hi!" The woman gets up with a glass of water from the chair at your desk. The action reveals to you that it looks like she's not wearing any bottoms, but you can't tell because of the length of her- your sweatshirt. The blonde rounds the bed and carefully gets on her knees before you on the floor. She looks kindly at you as your eyes quickly scan her face and exposed legs. "Nice to see you up." She says to you. Innocently enough. "How are you feeling?" She sweetly asks as she hands you the glass of water.

"I don't- I don't remember..." You say, making the blonde smile wider. "I was walking..." You struggle to come up with anything after that. It's like your mind went blank.

Why couldn't you remember?

You shake your head and take a few sips from the glass before the blonde takes it from you to place on your bedside table—a kind gesture on the outside. But the less you know about the pheromonal powder agent you just ingested, the better.

"Oh, honey..." The blonde lifts and places her hand on yours. The soft contact makes you feel warmer. However, the feeling of this being wrong is still unreachable to you. Natasha smiles when you don't pull away. The drugs from before and now are working. "Those men really did a number on you, huh?"

Men? You think as Natasha watches your face.

"You know you're lucky I was there," Natasha says as she rises from her kneeling position to stand in front of you. Now she towers you, and you feel her legs brush past your own. You don't stop her as she moves closer to you. She raises a hand and pushes some of your hair back. "A man grabbed you and wanted to hurt you, but I was there to stop them. But honey, I think they drugged you..."

Her touch and voice were soothing. She felt and smelled wonderful. You even did your best to not react to the pet name she gave you. "Dru-drugged me?" Once again, the bells should be going off, but Natasha knows exactly what she's doing. "Yeah, I got you off the train, but as we were walking, you started to walk funny. Your face got sleepy." She says this while looking into your eyes. She has her gaze fixated on you, and it pulls you in. "But you were smart." The blonde smiles down at you. "You made sure to tell me where you lived so I could get you home safe." Her raspy voice makes you smile, but her words are making you question if that happened... but you don't remember...

"Are you okay?" She asks as you're thinking. You look back up at her concerned face. "Yeah.. I- I was just trying to remember..." Natasha nods and moves her body in between your legs. Spreading them further apart. "What did you say your name was again?" You ask, making Natasha laugh. "I didn't. Good try, though." She places her hands on your shoulders. She's bold. "What's the matter? You don't trust me?" Something about the way she says it makes you feel sick and guilty for even thinking that you didn't trust her.

Natasha, of course, knows this.

"No- no, I trust you! I'm sorry!" You reach your hands out and place them on Natasha's covered hips. Natasha smiles at your action while faking a sad sniffle. "My name is Natasha." You look over the blonde and smile.

That's when it clicks.

"Natasha Romanoff." Natasha's frown turns into a smile. "Wow, you know who I am?" She fakes surprise and turns on the innocence. You nod with your mind, unable to think about anything else but her. "Wow! I got saved by The Black Widow."

Natasha watches as you process this faux information. Gosh, you look so cute. "I guess I was lucky, huh?" You look at her, earning a chuckle. "I just didn't want anything to happen to you," Natasha says, warming your heart. "You're too perfect." She adds in a low whisper. Something you catch that makes your brain fuzzy.

However, before you can do or say anything else, Natasha pushes her body closer to you. Carefully, she watches your eyes as she lifts one leg over yours. Placing one knee on the bed next to your hips before doing the same with the other. She smiles down at you as her bare ass finds itself sitting in your lap.

You feel her wet pussy on your tight black bike shorts.

"Is this okay?" She whispers as she brings her face close enough to yours to feel her breath on your ear. You inhale her scent and feel the butterflies in your stomach.

"More than okay, Natasha..." You find yourself saying. The alarms in your head have officially been silenced. You should be asking why she's doing this, why she's still here. You shouldn't be accepting her advances. But yet you aren't questioning her. You accept her actions with a smile.

She smiles back.

"You know..." Natasha leans down and kisses your cheek. "I'll always protect you." You feel a blush on your face when her soft lips touch your skin again. "I've loved you for so long, and now I get to show you." Natasha lifts her face away from you to look at your eyes flutter.

Natasha sees how defenseless you are now.

The drugs have all worked.

"You love me?" You question as you move your hands down from Natasha's hips to her thighs. The touch of her feels cool to your warm hands. You peer into her green eyes and see them sparkle. "For years, I've loved you." She unwraps her arms from around you and places them on your hands. She moves them up from her thighs to under what used to be your shirt. You feel the bend of her hips and the softness of the sides of her body as your fingertips brush past their way to her nipples.

She pushes your hand to grope her boobs.

"For years, I've wanted you, and now I have you. Don't I?"

Natasha slowly moves her hips back and forth, sending a wave of pleasure through her body as her wet clit brushes up and down the end seam of your bike shorts. She moans and whimpers while looking at you, waiting for an answer. "Don't I, Y/N?!" You push and pull her boobs as you look at Natasha Romanoff acting like a slut for you. "Yes. Yes, Natasha! You have me!"

"I'm yours!" You wanted to scream.

"Good girl." She whispers as she leans down and kisses you again and again. Her tongue pushing its way into your mouth. The taste of her is salvia is electrifying. The pleasure you feel makes you moan into her mouth. Natasha smirks as you push yourself deeper and closer to The Black Widow.

Natasha reaches down as you two fall onto the bed to places her hand in the middle of your bike shorts. She begins rubbing your core up and down as her hand pushes your legs open. "Come on, baby. Open up for me."

You nod with your eyes closed and feel Natasha's fingers slow down in speed as she now gently brushes her fingers past your wet clit seeping through the shorts.

Each time she touches it, you jump.

And then. Natasha pulls her hands away from you: nothing but the cool air touching the wet spot on your shorts. You feel needy and frustrated. You open your eyes to see Natasha on her knees, lifting her shirt off her body. Her blonde hair falls back into place right above her shoulder.

She smiles at you and watches as you take her in.

You feel your mouth become dry as you look up at Natasha's toned stomach. A set of abs staring at you. You move from her perfect breast and hard pink nipples to her shoulders and biceps. The definition in her arms makes you close your mouth to hold in a noise that would've been embarrassing.

You look up at her neck—a smile when you see a cute mole that was previously hidden. Finally, you bring your eyes to her face and the smirk on her lips.

"Can I take these off?" Natasha points down to your bike shorts. You nod, making Natasha internally laugh. The shorts were coming off no matter what your answer was.

You pull your head from Natasaba's gaze and watch as Natasha's left hand goes to the bottom seam of your shorts and lifts them up from your body.

Once again, her touch makes your skin flush with pleasure. It's as if you're addicted to her and her touch.

Natasha pulls her right arm from behind herself, and that's when you drop your mouth. "Na-natasha, what's that?"

"Did I say you can speak?"

You sit stunned as the knife in her hand comes closer to your body. You weren't aware that you couldn't speak unless spoken to, but... di- did Natasha expect that of you? Did she tell you, and you just forgot?

"Look at me." She sternly asks of you. "Not at the knife but at me." The movement of the knife doesn't stop when you pull your eyes to Natasha and her beautiful green ones. "What did I say earlier?" She asks. "Think real hard and then answer me, okay." Her eyes leave you as she focuses on the blade, meeting the bottom seam of your shorts. You keep your eyes on Natasha's face and hear the ripping sound of your shorts as she goes further and further up.

She stops at your hip close to the top seam when you decide to speak up.

"That you'll always protect me." Natasha smiles wide. You listened and answered her perfectly. Natasha smiles and can't help herself when she leans in and kisses you. "Good job." She says with care dripping from her lips. "What else did I say?"

"That you love me."

Natasha nods. "I do love you." She leans in and, with the knife still in her left hand, drags up the rest of the way. Her lips touch yours at the same time the blade cuts through your shorts.

Immediately, Natasha tosses the knife off the bed. It clatters on the floor, making you jump into Natasha's lips again. "Sorry." You say when she backs away. "It's okay." The blonde tells you. "As long as you know that I would never hurt you, right?"

"Right." You agree easily.

Natasha smiles as she pulls at the fabric resting on your pussy. The coating sticks to you as she pulls it further away until the string of wetness breaks mid-air. Falling back onto your thigh. "Did Mommy make you feel this way?"

She knows that she did.

But she wants to hear you say it.

"Yes." Natasha brings her fingers back to where they belong. "Yes, what?" She glides her middle finger over your pink mound. You moan and shudder.

"Yes, Mommy."

Natasha should've left soon after that night. But she couldn't bring herself to do it.

She knew her friends needed her help, but she couldn't leave you. She finally had you, and you had her. Why would she want to jeopardize that?

So as, the days turned into weeks to months to years. Natasha felt the pressure to run continue to build.

In contrast, as the days turned into weeks to months to years. You felt yourself falling deeper and deeper in love with the one who saved you. The Black Widow. The cute blonde hero who made you breakfast in bed. The woman who stayed with you. The one who whispered sweet nothings into your ear every night as you drifted asleep. The woman who saved the world repeatedly could now be there for you.

Natasha even let it be known that you didn't have to work anymore. She had an array of offshore accounts and wanted to spoil you, and you, in turn, let her.

You blushed when she looked your way and never got tired of seeing her smile. A goddess herself sculpted her body, and Natasha happily made sure you came for her. Only her.

"Hey, what's going on?"

You walked out of your and Natasha's bedroom after finding the bed empty to see her in the living room going over her weaponry. Something you didn't like, but you trusted Natasha with them. Knowing she would never harm you.

It was early afternoon, and after your morning trip to the farmers market, followed by some light grocery shopping, you came home to Natasha, waiting with some brunch and a board game.

You took a nap after that, and while you slept, Natasha made her decision.

"They need me."

You knew who Natasha was talking about. It wasn't a secret that you were dating Natasha Romanoff. Well, it was a secret to everyone else. But you get my point. You were dating a fugitive labeled that by the United Nations on account of the Sokovian Accords—an ex-Avenger who still wanted to help.

"What if I don't want you to go." You asked with hurt in your voice. You finally had the love of your life. Someone you weren't even looking for, and now she wanted to go?

"Baby..." She put her gun on the coffee table and made her way to you. Wrapping her arms around you as you wrapped around her body. "I don't want to go..." A white lie, considering her little weekend-avenging trips from time to time weren't enough. "But I have to. To protect us. To protect you." The truth.

"Rogers needs me. Plus, with Vision and Wanda running around trying to be a normal couple again. He really needs the help."

You nodded into Natasha's shoulder. You hated that she was right. "How long?" Natasha sighed. She really didn't know how long it would be.

"Give me two weeks, and I'll be back."

You deflated, and your heart formed cracks. You didn't want her to leave, and you didn't want her to go for that long!

Natasha started kissing your head and rubbing your back, and you didn't understand why until you felt the tears leaving your eyes. You were crying.

Natasha hated it. She hated hearing how heartbroken you were. But at the same time, she loved it. You were hers. And she was yours.

"I love you Y/N. I'll be back before you know it."

"I love you, Natty. Please be careful."

Natasha wasn't even gone for two weeks. In fact, her time with Captain and Birdboy lasted a mere pair of days.

On day 3, Vision turned off his transponder.

Within 48 hours, half of everything was dust.

When Natasha found the others at the corpse of the synthezoid. Two people ran through Natasha's mind.

Yelena.

And you.

"Y/N!"

Natasha screamed as she busted open the door to your shared space. She threw her useless phone onto the counter as she ran through the living room, still in her uniform. Passing by the TV that sat on the emergency broadcast. "Y/N!" She called out again as she stopped at the bedroom door. "Please be here. Please be alive.."

Natasha had tears in her eyes as she slowly opened the bedroom door. Her breath left her lips in a gasp before she blinked away tears that were escaping. She carefully made her way to the bed and sat down.

You turned over as you felt the bed shift. Then you opened your eyes when you felt Natasha's presence. "Natasha? Natasha!" You sprung up from the bed and collided into her body.

You both wept as the relief flooded your combined emotions. "You're alive..." Natasha whispered into your head before inhaling.

She grew to love your shampoo.

"I miss you." You said. "Don't worry, Detka. I'm here. I'm here." Natasha kissed the side of your head before leaning back and kissing your mouth.

God, she missed your lips and the softness of your cheeks as you tried to hide your blush.

"I miss you." You repeated, confusing Natasha.

"Babe?" She pulled back and held your head in her hands. Her green eyes scanned your beautiful face and saw nothing wrong until a speck of dust flew off your nose. "No.." Natasha whispered with pain. "Y/N." She kept your face in her hands as little by little. You ceased to exist. "Y/N!" Her hands started to be covered.

"I miss you."

"Y/N, please no! No! Please!"

"I miss-" "Stop it!" "Nata-"

"No!" She screamed and screamed as you vanished until she woke up thrashing in her bed at the compound. Alone. Gun drawn and ready...

"Whatever it takes..." Whispered by you... Is this the last thing Natasha always heard when she woke up from her nightmares..

Natasha looks around the room with bags under her red, dried eyes and chapped lips. She struggles every day to live. She hates herself for leaving.

She hates that the last thing you told her was, "be careful."

She is hurt. Alone. Scared.

She misses you.

Every day, she tries and uses her resources to find a way to bring everyone back. But so far, she's always coming up empty-handed.

The worst part is, is that even after three years of you being gone. Natasha never told anyone. You were a secret to everyone else.

But to Natasha, you were everything.

dividers by @/benkeibear & @/firefly-graphics

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f1girliefics · 1 year ago

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Only Us

Daniel Ricciardo x Reader

Warnings: Car crash, injury, broken bones description of possible open fracture

Summary: A simple race, a not so simple crash.

You were excited to see Daniel back on the track, his new contract with the Alpha Tauri team was a good sign.

You were very happy for him.

He wasn't home when the call came.

The person calling from the hospital explained one of his greatest fears over the phone, you were in an accident.

It was late, he should have been home, but as soon as he got the call, he got his keys and left.

“Mr Ricciardo?”

“Yes, who is this?” he asked the woman on the other end of the line.

“My name is Janet Frank calling from St Vincent's Hospital: Emergency Room, you are listed as the emergency contact for Miss Y/L/N.”

“What happened?”

“She was involved in a car accident. She is currently in surgery, but the police here would like to talk to you.” Daniel felt his stomach drop.

“I-I will be right there!”

He arrived about thirty minutes later, out of breath as he ran to the front desk.

“I’m here for Miss Y/L/N.”

“To your right down the hall, take a right, you will see the police there.”

“Thank you.” he said before he started to walk fast towards the direction he was told.

As he took a right he saw two policemen standing there.

“I’m Miss Y/L/N’s boyfriend.” he told the two officers.

“Mr Ricciardo?” one asked and Daniel nodded. “My name is Sergeant Dwight, this is my partner, Sergeant Dennis. Your girlfriend was in a car accident this early afternoon. A drunk driver rear-ended her, pushed her onto incoming traffic and she was T-boned. She was conscious when we arrived on the scene.”

Daniel thanked the officers and soon rushed to your doctor who explained that you were okay, they needed to do a surgery on your knee because it got broken and trapped. Other than that, you were alright considering the circumstances.

Soon, you were out of surgery and in a room, waking up.

You immediately noticed Daniel by your side, smiling at you as he held your hand, he said something but you couldn’t hear him.

“Don’t move too much.” he said as you groaned in pain when you tried to sit up. “You had a knee surgery.”

“Oh, yeah, I remember. I looked at it in the car and saw the blood and I think my bone was also sticking out.”

“Thank you for the visual.” he made a face and you smiled a little.

“I’m alright though.” he nodded acknowledging that you were indeed, still alive. Your voice did calm him.

“I nearly fell on poor Yuki when I got the call, he had to jump out of the way.” you laughed a little.

“I’m so high on painkillers right now.” you smiled and Daniel laughed, seeing your expression.

“I’m so glad you are alive.”

“Yeah, but you will have to nurse me, doctor said I can’t walk for months.”

“I am okay with that. At least you won’t leave my sight.”

“I’m okay with that.” you smiled as he laughed a little. He touched your face, his expression turned serious as he looked at you, you could see the weight from his shoulders falling off.

You knew how he was, all smiles as if he had no worries and yet, on the inside he worried all the time. Over his family, over himself and over you.

It was natural to him.

You could only imagine how much it hurt him to see you in a hospital bed with a fucked up knee.

“You couldn’t have done anything different.” you said, trying to reassure him. “Even if you drove me, we would both be now on a bed, and you had important meetings. It wasn’t your fault.”

“I still feel like as if I could have done something.” he said as he looked into your eyes.

“You couldn’t have. It wasn’t our fault. What’s important is that we are both here, alive and happy.”

“You are right.” he let out a long sigh.

You pulled his arm and he moved closer to give you a kiss.

Nothing mattered but the two of you.

You will deal with your knee, you will deal with getting a new car, you will deal with getting the other driver the time they deserve.

For now, it was only you two.

DO NOT STEAL, REUPLOAD OR TRANSLATE!

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onehelluvafan · 1 month ago

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IncuBlitz Part Two: Verosika

This is part two of a three-part analysis related to "Better Than Blitzo" (or "IncuBlitz" as I like to call him) and the look that he gave Blitz, right before he kissed Stolas.

Click here for Part One: His Tattoo, or keep reading to dive into Part Two: Verosika—how and why she could have orchestrated things.

Alright, this theory in particular was my main working theory and what I thought I would be giving evidence for in this analysis. However, after digging into it and following my own lines of reasoning, I’m considerably less sure of this theory.

But let’s go ahead and break it down. Starting with:

Is Verosika stalking Blitz?

I think at this point, it’s heavily implied that Verosika has to be stalking or keeping tabs on Blitz. The nature of the party itself, wouldn’t work nor be full of so many people if she wasn’t getting information on him somehow.

But at the very least, we know that the barometer for who is welcome at this party is pretty low, considering that Dennis is in attendance.

Because the only interaction we see him have with Blitz is a brief encounter during the Queen Bee episode. After Loona interrupts the two making out and Blitz finds out his name, he recoils, shoos him away, and yells, “Get away from me! I’m not fucking a Dennis tonight.”

This did appear to hit poor Dennis a bit hard, but it’s still a pretty low-stakes, low-investment encounter compared to the history that Blitz has with Verosika.

I did wonder at first if this was proof that she was having Blitz straight-up followed this whole time. Because not only was he only there to pick up Loona, but it’s clear that he hasn’t even been going to these kinds of parties in a long time.

But then my friend reminded me that Tex was at that party. And not only that, but he had explicitly asked Loona to go check on Blitz, at the time when Blitz was actively making out with Dennis.

Since he works for Verosika as security closely and often enough to be at the “I Hate Blitzo” party, I think it’s not too much of a stretch to assume that she heard it from him directly. Perhaps, when it comes to Blitz, he’s actually “paid enough to care.”

I think the night of the disastrous date at Ozzie’s is what brought Stolas to Verosika's attention, but she was clearly keeping tabs on Blitz since long before that.

The "Freshest Ex" Timeline

There’s been some discussion in the fandom about the timeline of Full Moon and Apology Tour not quite lining up because, during the duet, you can see on Blitz’s calendar that he has the 29th circled as the night of the full moon.

With the party taking place on Halloween, which is always October 31st, this has understandably led to some confusion about whether or not these two episodes are intended to be within the same 24 hours.

But based on the way that Blitz and Stolas talk about it and the text that Blitz almost sends that says, “I’m sorry for last night,” I think it’s clear that the events are canonically taking place back to back and that the calendars not lining up to just be a mistake or oversight. Or perhaps even an indication that time moves differently in hell.

So that being said, how could Verosika have known so quickly that they had "parted ways," given that it had just happened the night before and Stolas received the invitation sometime the following morning?

I think the answer is simply that she, or someone in her network, was there watching when Blitz was thrown out of the palace by Stolas.

It honestly seems like it would be super easy to know when he was there because, despite climbing in via balcony, he is seen to have parked right out front. Then when he is forcibly ejected, he yells “fuck” so loud that a group of birds nearby fly away.

That alone wouldn’t necessarily warrant the certainty of a dissolved relationship, if not for the fact that he usually spends the night. We can see from that episode that their entire encounter only lasted 5 minutes and he presumably drove off right after that.

So after an entire shopping spree of Blitz acquiring new sex toys before arriving at Stolas’, only to be teleported outside a few minutes later, yelling fuck, and driving off instead of spending the night, I can see why Verosika would feel confident in assuming that whatever kind of relationship they had, it was now over.

Alright, that out of the way, let’s move on to:

The Party

First, I want to cover how she could have orchestrated things, and then I’ll go into the why.

I’ll start with how she knows that Blitz is even at this party. There are several points at which she could have easily become aware. The first being when Blitz first walks into the party. Not only is he not in disguise, but he actively insults several people on his way in. It’s only after that we see him go over to the drinks table and take the tablecloth to disguise himself.

The second opportunity she had was when Stolas was singing on stage. At first, Blitz was pretty far back, but very early on in the song, he moves forward, almost to the edge of the stage. He spends the rest of the song, face tilted up as he watches Stolas, completely transfixed—not pulling his hood back down until near the end of the song.

The third opportunity she has, and the one that I think is the most likely, is when he follows Stolas into the house and approaches him.

If Verosika had also gone into the house after the song, she wouldn’t have been very far behind him. But even if she didn’t see him then, her attention could have been brought to the both of them, when Stolas reacts to Blitz by choking on his drink.

After that, Stolas proceeds to usher him over to a nearby side room. It is in this doorway that Blitz mentions the “apology tour”.

This is the moment that I feel the most confident about Verosika being aware of Blitz and being nearby. Because when they are talking later on the balcony, she uses that exact phrasing with him. I went back through the entire episode, and this moment in the doorway is the only time we hear the words “apology tour” until we hear them again from Verosika.

Fast forward to when IncuBlitz pops in and sweeps Stolas off onto the dance floor, and you can see Verosika, right in Blitz’s line of sight. He can’t have looked at Stolas and IncuBlitz without seeing her.

Not only does she not look particularly happy, but she immediately turns and begins to literally stalk up the stairs, her expression changing from that unfocused look to obvious anger.

This also leads me to believe that if she had become aware of Blitz earlier in the night, we would have seen something indicating that reflected in her expression at some point.

Then, when Blitz follows her to the top of the stairs and joins her on the balcony, she looks completely unsurprised by his presence.

So, to me, it’s clear that she was at the bottom of the stairs, intentionally in his line of sight, just waiting for him to approach her. Once she was certain she’d caught his attention, she then deliberately lured him upstairs so that their confrontation would be farther away from the party.

The Kiss

After they’ve talked for a bit and Blitz gives his actual apology, she is seen looking over the crowd and specifically brings Blitz’s attention over to Stolas and IncuBlitz, right before IncuBlitz checks that Blitz is watching and kisses Stolas.

For me, this created the possibility that she had intentionally brought Blitz’s attention to the two, specifically so that he could see them kiss.

After watching this a few times, I became considerably less sure, since it really does look from her expression like it was a coincidence or writing choice for telling the overall story.

Because if she had orchestrated the whole thing, I would have expected to see some smugness or satisfaction in her expression in response to Blitz's negative reaction.

Instead, it just looks like she's happy for Stolas, annoyed by Blitz, and then possibly even a little sympathetic as she gives him some advice.

The Cake

Lastly, is the slice of cake. I think most people agree that there is absolutely a metaphor being shown here. Be it “eat your heart out”, “have a heart”, her serving his heart up “on a silver platter”, or all three. But the thing that bothered me, was where the heck did that slice of cake come from?

Because the cake itself is below them on the main floor and we did not see her carrying anything when she first stalked upstairs. So logically, she would have had to either place that slice of cake upstairs in advance or have someone in place to bring it up to her during their conversation.

After further investigation though, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s simply “movie magic”. Because if you look at the cake, it doesn’t really seem like there’s room for a heart inside in the first place, nor do we see a heart or any other organs nearby the cake earlier in the night.

Then, when we see the cake again, from the top-down, the heart area appears completely unchanged and intact.

So, now that I’ve covered how she could have orchestrated things, let’s go over the why. With the biggest but simplest question being:

Why get involved at all?

At first, I assumed that it was just to get back at Blitz. Both for being a dick to her in general, but also for having the “balls” to show up to her party in the first place.

But when I looked through the footage of her in this episode side-by-side, I felt there was a different, more likely reason. And that was just to look after and take care of Stolas.

The first time we see Verosika on screen is right after Stolas arrives at the party. She walks up to him, greets him with enthusiasm, kisses him on the cheek, and asks in a gentle voice how he’s holding up.

She then takes him over to the cake, like any good hostess would, to give him something to interact with. She, of course, then proceeds to murder Blitz’s dick right in front of him.

I think she does this, to some degree, for herself but also to set the tone for Stolas, and encourage him to feel like he belongs there.

When he declines to slice into any of the cake, she immediately backs down but then proceeds to scream “fuck blitzo” to the crowd. I think this is to further make Stolas feel at home and like this is a safe space for him to express his anger towards Blitz.

Because not only does she have experience with being hurt by Blitz, but years of hosting this party has likely reinforced what she expects one of his “freshest ex’s” to be thinking and feeling.

So, it’s possible that she’s assuming Stolas is angrier than he actually is or she might be actively trying to encourage him to turn his hurt into anger.

When she encourages him to come onto stage and talk about his experience with Blitz, she calls Blitz a “cock sucking mother fucker” and then more gently asks Stolas to speak from his heart, specifically mentioning to him that they all “know how he feels”.

So, again, trying to make him feel like he belongs at this party and that it’s safe for him to express any kind of rage at Blitz that he might have.

Then, when he starts to become self-reflective in his song, her backup vocals with Tex try to shut down that line of thinking, saying, “No, no, no. He’s a mother fucker.”

I think this directly correlates with what she says later on in the episode to Blitz, “The worst part is, you make me feel like a bad person for still being angry at you.” And I think she just doesn’t want that for Stolas or anyone else who’s been hurt by Blitz.

And then of course, there’s Stolas crying.

Since we can reasonably assume that she was aware of Blitz, from, at the very least, the mention of the “apology tour” in the doorway, there’s the question of why would she not have intervened right away? Be it by her own self or through someone like IncuBlitz?

I think the reasons for that are two-fold. By confronting Blitz in front of a crowd, the most likely outcome would have been disrupting the mood of the party at best and at worst, ruining the party and possibly even future parties.

Because this would have made everyone aware of Blitz’s presence there. The one person that they are all at that party to be angry at and feel safe in their shared commiseration.

The other reason I think she didn’t intervene was because of the “reason” for his visit. The “apology tour”.

Stolas did not appear to be angry in that moment and was clearly consenting to Blitz’s presence when he pulled down the tablecloth to better hide Blitz’s face and guided him off to a room where they could talk.

Seeing this, she may have not wanted to risk getting in the way of Stolas actually being apologized to, since she herself is someone who deserves and owed an apology from Blitz.

IncuBlitz himself doesn’t intervene until Stolas is clearly no longer consenting to Blitz’s presence and the conversation that they are having. But I will go over that part in more detail during the final theory.

So, to me, Verosika’s interactions with Stolas suggest that she is just trying to comfort him, help him express his anger and hurt in a safe space, and encourage him to have a good time.

Now, on to one of the biggest reasons that this is no longer my top theory.

There is no other entry into that room.

In order for her to have walked in from the yard, seen Blitz and Stolas, followed them, overheard the mention of an “apology tour,” and have been able to send someone in after that, IncuBlitz would have needed to come into the room, after Blitz and Stolas entered.

Running back through the footage, IncuBlitz is clearly seen to already be in the room, when Blitz and Stolas first come in. Same wrist bandages and black heart tattoo on his lower back, though it does appear larger and a bit more faded when we see it the second time.

So, the only way he could have been sent in fast enough to already be standing at a nearby table is if there was another entrance into this room.

I went back and scrubbed through the entire party scene, even going so far as to draft an actual floor plan of the entire house on grid paper, and I am certain that there is no entry into this room other than the doorway that Stolas and Blitz passed through and sat next to.

So, with that in mind, I don’t see how IncuBlitz could have been sent in by Verosika, as a direct response to Blitz being at the party and engaging with Stolas.

Click here for Part Three: Just an ex??

#helluva boss #helluva boss analysis #helluva boss theory #better than blitzo #incublitz #stolitz #stolas #stolas goetia #blitz #blitzo #blitzø #verosika mayday #apology tour #onehelluvafan

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bridgeportbritt · 30 days ago

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Gianni's Residence | Del Sol Valley, Simerica

Jennifer: Hi, Mom! Hi, Dad!

Gianni: How's Del Sol living, DJ?

Dennis Jr: Ah, you know how it is - expensive!

Gianni laughs: I hear that!

Rainbow: This is a cute little fall spread, Gianni! I'm impressed.

Gianni: Why, thank you! An all-vegan spread, too. Let's eat, shall we?

Dennis Sr: I hope after this nice dinner, we have time to catch the big game.

Gianni: I don't know, Mr. Brown. Quarks vs Thunders? Can our friendship withstand such a match up?

Dennis Sr laughs: I can promise to keep the trash talk to a minimum. But only because I like you.

Gianni: I'm honored, sir.

Dennis Jr: Yeah, not me. I don't care how long I live in the Valley, I'm a Brindleton Bay Thunders fan all the way.

Rainbow: Can we have one dinner without it turning into sports talk?

Jennifer chuckles: Somehow, I doubt that.

Rainbow: Let's talk about something more interesting. How are you two doing? Do you love living in this ridiculously large house, Jenny?

Jennifer sighs: Back to those Thunders...

Rainbow: What? Fine, Gianni. Here's something I've been meaning to ask you. What do you think of Jennifer's tattoos?

Gianni: Her tattoos?

Rainbow: Yes! I'm so curious. You know, we didn't raise them to draw all over their bodies. But Jennifer had a little phase and now the girl's covered.

Jennifer: What? I don't even have that many!

Gianni: I like them. They're all really nicely done and she has a nice story or meaning behind each one. I think that's cool.

Rainbow: Oh, okay. Well, that's good. Still happy at least one of our kids is tattoo-less.

Dennis Jr nervous: Heh, right.

Jennifer: Why don't we focus on DJ the Tattooless and his little girlfriend?

Rainbow curious: Girlfriend?

Dennis Jr: I have no idea what she's talking about.

Jennifer: Sure.

Gianni: Jen, I think Xena needs to be let out. Do you mind?

Jennifer chuckles: I'll take any excuse to be excused right now.

Gianni whispers: Well, fam. I want to thank you all for coming, but I have an ulterior motive for why I had Jennifer invite you.

Dennis Sr: Do you know? What's on your mind, Son?

Rainbow: Hmm. This should be good.

Gianni: Well, you all know that I love Jennifer. She's honestly the best thing that's ever happened to me and our relationship has been progressing so well that I think it's ready for the next step. So... I'd like to ask you for your blessing to marry your daughter.

Dennis Jr: Woah. That's awesome, man!

Dennis Sr: Well, this is exciting news. Right, honey?

Rainbow: You want to marry our daughter?

Gianni: Yes.

Rainbow: Marry Jennifer?

Gianni: Yes...

Rainbow: Well, that's great news!

Gianni: Really?

Rainbow: Of course! My little girl is getting married! I mean, you have my blessing. Right, Dennis?

Dennis Sr: Yes, of course! You're already like family. I'd be happy to call you, son in law!

Gianni relieved: Whew! I am glad to hear that!

Dennis Sr: So, when is this all happening, son?

Gianni: The proposal? Well, I mean, we're all here and I can't think of a better way to propose that she'd actually like and not think was insanely over the top. So, I was thinking right here tonight.

Rainbow: Oh, Watcher! How exciting! I love that idea.

Dennis Jr: So will Jennifer. Congrats, man! Oh, snap. Here she comes!

Thanks to @haziewhims for these team name references lol

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idk6123 · 1 month ago

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The List (Dennis Reynolds X Male reader)

“Why did you make a list?” Charlie asks.

“Because I like to organize my stuff.”

The gang again have their usual antics. Today, Y/N is writing down names of men he knows he would sleep with or not. Standing behind the bar, he writes on a piece of paper, with the rest of the gang chatting with him.

“That is the most autistic thing I ever heard.” Dee comments.

“Then maybe you should be autistic because you’re life is a mess.” Y/N responds back as he continues writing names.

Frank frowns. “You better not bang me.”

“Don’t worry, you’re in the category ‘Avoid at all costs’.”

Mac leans a bit further in, eager to see the names. “How many of these categories do you even got?”

Y/N stops writing and lift up the paper, ready to read it out. “To best to worst, ‘Yes, please’, ‘Would be cool’, ‘Wouldn’t mind’, ‘I rather not’, ‘No, thanks’, ‘Gross, no’, ‘Avoid at all costs’, ‘I don’t like incest.’”

Charlie then got curious. “Well, where am I then?”

“You’re in ‘would be cool’.”

“Really?” Charlie smiles, feeling flattered. “Thank you.”

“W-Where am I then?” Mac asks, now feeling curious too.

“You’re in the same place as Charlie.”

“Yes!” Mac looks proud, before dropping his true feelings. “I-I mean, I would never fuck a guy. That’s gay.”

Dee cocks an eyebrow. “Then why did you ask?”

Dennis then leans at the bar. “Where did you put me?”

“’No, thanks’.”

Dennis gasps a bit. “No thanks? You don’t want to sleep with me?” He stares at his friend. “Really?”

“Yes.”

“So get me straight. You would rather sleep with Mac, and even Charlie, then me?”

“Yes.”

Dennis stares at the other man a few seconds. “Is there any chance you’re blind, or even retarded?” He let out an awkward laughter.

“No.”

“Have you checked!?” Dennis flips a bit out, causing everyone to flinch, until he calms down. “Give me that.” The psychopath yanks the list from his friend to read at it, seeing multiple names Y/N either knows or some celebrities. He then gasps. “You put Rickety Cricket wouldn’t mind!?”

“You’re missed reading ‘before he got ugly’.” Y/N says as he points at the list.

Dennis then gasps further. “You put Bill Ponderosa higher than me!?”

“That’s also before he got completely fucked up. You’re not reading the context.”

“I don’t care about the context! They shouldn’t be above me in the first place!” Dennis yells.

“It’s not true at all. I put the McPoyles in ‘I don’t like incest’, which is kinda impressive, since they’re the only ones I’m not related to.”

Dennis then let out an awkward, but also a maniacal soft laugh as he looks back at the rest. “You all hear that? I’m better than the McPoyles.” He continues to laugh, with some of the gang looking awkward at each other, clearly uncomfortable thanks to the mental breakdown. “I’m JUST better than them. Not Bill Ponderosa! Not Rickety Cricket! Not Mac and Charlie! Just them!”

“Aren’t you overreacting just-?”

Dennis then interrupts Y/N. “Why? Do you get a type for ugly men? Are you stupid?”

“You’re just not my type.”

Dennis laughs it off. “Not your type, huh? You’re saying that I’m not good enough for you?”

“Ye-”

“Well, YOU’RE WRONG!” Dennis instantly stops laughing and shouts, throwing the piece of paper aside. “Clearly, you got some dumb disorder in your brain, because everyone wants to be either me or sleep with me!” The blonde then walks away, visibly upset by the entire conversation.

Everyone looks a bit stunned, with Y/N looking back at the gang. “What just happened?”

The next day, Y/N is back working behind the bar. It doesn’t take long before the rest of the gang gets into the bar, one of them is Dennis. Y/N instantly knows something is up with him, as the narcissist is wearing more casual clothing instead of his regular wear.

“Morning.”

“Morning.” Y/N responds with a bit unease, as Dennis merely displays a charming smile.

Dennis then goes in front of the bar, leaning against it. “I just want to apologize for yesterday. I shouldn’t react the way I did. I-I just hope you realize…” Y/N raises an eyebrow as his friend acts hurt. “That it really means a lot, t-that you think of me like that.”

“Well, sorry.” Y/N responds, wanting to be nice, even if he can tell Dennis is pretending. “I didn’t mean to insult you.”

“It’s alright.” Dennis leans a bit closer. “I mean, your taste must be just next-level if you’re putting Charlie and Mac above me. You must see things that no one else can.”

“Right…” Y/N awkwardly responds. He then sees Dennis staring a bit unsettling at him, even if a smile is helping his creepiness. “What?”

“S-Sorry.” Dennis pretends to look flustered. “I just never realize how good looking you are.”

“Thanks…?”

“I mean, you’re so fit.” Dennis gives a charming smile. “I bet you work-out a lot. Speaking of which, can you help me get the booze into the bar? Since you’re so strong and all, I think you’re better at it.”

“Okay…”

Thus, Y/N gets at the back of the bar, grabbing the alcohol and bringing it in the bar. As he does, Dennis keeps complimenting his strength, while Y/N is more annoyed, his friend isn’t doing anything.

“Fine, I help.” Dennis gets over to one of the crates and tries to lift it up, only to struggle. “Shit. Y/N, can you help me?”

“You did fine last week.”

“I know. I just got a sore muscle.” Dennis stands back up, holding his arm and pretending to be in pain. “Luckily, I got you to help me.”

Y/N rolls his eyes, wishing he could’ve gotten a different job instead of working with Dennis Reynolds.

As hours passed, Y/N regrets making the list, as Dennis keeps bothering him, even if it is just some complements. All he wants is to work, and yet somehow always the gang never works. He accepted this, but he doesn’t accept being annoyed. It makes him a bit surprised when Dennis suddenly acts differently.

“I know you like fine, but I think you could look better.” Dennis then put a button-up shirt against Y/N’s chest without any shame. “Yeah, this looks a lot better on you. It matches your eyes. You’re lucky you got me. Don’t worry, I always got you covered when it comes to your bad fashion sense.”

As much as Y/N tries to ignore the weird insults while Dennis makes himself more worthy. Thus, during the rest of the night, the narcissist tries to impress Y/N by unusual means.

“Wow.” Dennis comments, leaning against the bar as Y/N tries to collect some glasses from a bar table. He looks back, catching that Dennis was staring at his ass. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to stare. You just got a great body.”

“Uh-huh.”

“But I think you look better.” Dennis then whips out skin-tight pants from behind the bar, with Y/N wondering if he always plans out his complements ahead. “I know your butt is important for you, so I got you these. These emphasizes your butt. It makes it look bigger and better, without making you look fat.”

“Oh… okay?”

“Try them on.” Dennis throws the pants to Y/N, causing him to have the glass fall on the ground, breaking it. “I want to see the results.”

“Dennis, don’t throw shit at me!”

“Oh, I’m sorry!” Dennis sounds too sincere. “I-I guess I was too eager to find out how good you look. No need to thank me though. Just keep in mind, whenever you need help with your outfit, you can go to Dennis Reynolds.”

Y/N sighs, putting the pants on the bar table and walks away, now needing to clean the glass shards.

When midnight arrived, Y/N just wanted to go to bed. Thus, while getting into his sweatpants, he’s ready to hit the hay. When he was about to do so, he heard a knock on his door. Once he gets over it and opens it, he quickly frowns.

“Oh no.”

“Y/N.” Dennis gives a gleeful smile. “It’s good seeing you- wow… you look handsome in sweats.”

“What do you want?”

“I just want to spend time with you.” Dennis put his arm on Y/N’s shoulder, who frowns a bit. “I want to get to know you on a deeper and personal level.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” Dennis’ voice deepens and gets closer. “Because you’re special, and I want you to know that.”

“Shouldn’t you be back at your apartment?”

“I rather be with you.” Dennis invites himself in, even closing the door behind him. The blonde then puts his hands on his friend’s shoulder. “Don’t you feel it too?”

“The feeling to want to go to therapy?”

“Yes. A therapy of love.” Dennis then focuses on a certain spot on Y/N’s face, which makes his friend feel anxious.

“What?”

“There is a spot on your face.” Dennis then grabs something from his pocket. “Do you want a tissue?”

“No.”

Dennis’ eyes begin to twitch as his face finally breaks. “Alright, this is how this is going to go. We have sex, you will love it, and you put me on the number 1 spot. Not just on the highest category, I want you to create a new category with just me called ‘Dennis Reynolds’. And then, when you love so much, you wish you can have more of me, but I won’t be there.”

Y/N raises a concerned eyebrow. “If I sleep with you, will you leave me alone?”

“Yes.”

With their naked bodies under the blankets, Dennis smiles a bit while Y/N looks stoically. The golden god looks to his side.

“And? Tell me you’re wrong.”

“Eh.”

Dennis looks irritable. “Eh? You think sex with me is eh?”

Y/N shrugs. “Had better.”

“Who then?!” Dennis shouts again. “Tell me his name and I promise you; I prove to you I can do better.”

“Yeah… no, I’m not going to do that.”

Dennis groans. “Well, what do you THINK I did wrong then?”

“Dunno.” Y/N shrugs. “You were a bit stiff.”

“Stiff? You think I am stiff?”

“Yes… that was the answer to the question you asked.”

Dennis groans. “You’re ridiculous!” He then realizes something. “Alright, clearly, I was in the wrong position. Let’s do it again.”

“No, I’m going to sleep.” Y/N says, turning his back and closes his eyes.

Dennis growls. “Fine! Tomorrow then!”

While the gang is again at the bar, they awkwardly see Dennis flirting with Y/N. Whether it’s putting his hands on his body, or ‘accidentally’ touching a personal spot of Y/N.

“Why resist it?” Dennis asks in a deeper voice, as Y/N is leaning against the bar, merely watching a YouTube video. “You, me, the best sex ever existed.”

“Not in the mood.”

“Well, I can change that.” Dennis says as he gets closer.

“I got a break in 2 hours. No sex before that.”

Dennis tiredly sighs. “Fine…” He turns around and walks away, into the office.

The gang then is ready to speak up.

“Did you had sex with Dennis?” Mac asks.

“Yes.”

“You didn’t think it was good?” Dee then asks.

“No, it was great.” Y/N cracks out a smirk.

The gang looks confused. “T-Then why are you-?”

“Because I have him on the hook.” Y/N clarifies, interrupting Frank. “You really think Dennis could ever settle, especially for a guy? Now, I can go to the best dates ever, all the while having Dennis believe he needs to prove himself.”

The gang looks impressed, especially Charlie. “You think that will work on the waitress?”

Y/N sighs. “No, because she doesn’t have to prove anything. Dennis on the other hand is a fragile and desperate man, exactly my type.”

#it's always sunny in philadelphia #it's always sunny in philadelphia x male reader #Dennis reynolds #Dennis reynolds x male reader #dennis reynolds x reader

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lenoraah · 1 year ago

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𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴

pairing - dennis hauger x reader

summary - reader and Dennis decides that even though they’re not together, they can still surprise each other on Valentine’s Day + named best friend action

a/n - this man doesn’t get enough love

★ ☆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

“I am not letting you mope around on Valentine’s Day again, you understand-”

Olive pauses as she walks into the couple’s apartment. She thought that while Dennis was gone that Y/n would be moping around wearing one of his sweatshirts and scowling while eating a tub of ice cream.

“What is going on?” Olive is left with a dumbfounded look on her face as she sits down on the couch.

Y/n has a giant grin on her face as she grabs two cans of sparking juice out of the fridge while humming.

Olive holds in a breath as she looks around the living room. There is vase of roses on the counter and coffee table. The heart vintage heart shape snow globe that she had gotten the couple is sitting on the window sill next to the strawberry candle.

Y/n is wearing beige linen pants and a baby pink sweater with a heart on the middle. The expression on her face makes Olive open her mouth with no sound coming out.

“What?” Y/n asks as she reaches for the TV remote.

“Why are you so happy?” Olive replies as she squints Serendipity being turned on instead of 10 Things I Hate About You or The Notebook.

“Because it’s Valentine’s Day and I will not let it be ruined again just me and Dennis aren’t together.”

Oh wow.

“You know what, good for you.” Olive pats Y/n on the back before opening her drink.

“I know,” Y/n smiles as she leans against her best friend’s side with a sigh.

The two get the middle of the movie before Y/n’s phone starts ringing. The sound makes both of them scowl as Olive pauses the movie and Y/n answers.

“Hello?”

“Hi baby, where are you?”

The sound of Dennis’s voice makes Y/n smile like an idiot. She twirls a piece of hair around her finger and Olive rolls her eyes.

“Home, with Olive, watching a movie.” Y/n leans the couch as she watches her best friend eat popcorn whiling listening to their conversation.

“Okay, I left something for you in my nightstand drawer. I got it for you a couple-” Dennis gets cut off by someone speaking in Italian. “I got to go, love you. I’ll call you soon,”

“I love you too,”

Y/n looks at Olive with her mouth open just a little before the brunette shoos the y/h/c girl out of the living room and into the couple’s bedroom. Y/n waste no time running into her bedroom.

Olive unpauses the movie and keeps sipping her drink before hearing an excited shriek.

“What? What is it?” The brunette spins her head around as Y/n runs back into living room.

Y/n holds a stuffed bunny in her hands with a pout on her face. Olive squints to see the petite gold watch around the pink bunny’s arm.

“Olive, look.” Y/n shoves the bunny in Olive’s face and Olive nods.

“Yes, very romantic, now please stop reminding me that I’m single and that you and Dennis have one of the most cheesiest relationships I know of.” Olive teases as Y/n unclamps the watch and clasps it around her wrist.

“I know, I know, ugh he’s too sweet.” Y/n says as she notices the engraving on the inside of the watch. It’s her initials and his together. Oh, the cheesiness and sweetness at the same time.

“You did something for him right?” Olive ask as she watches Y/n admire the watch with the bunny cuddled against her chest.

“Um, duh.”

————————————————————————

“Delivery for- Dennis Hauger.”

“Uh, thank you.”

The delivery man raises an eyebrow as he hands the confused Norwegian a bouquet of white roses with a card attached.

“Long distance?”

“Yeah, something like that.” Dennis smiles as he thinks about Y/n.

He thanks the delivery man before closing the door and squinting at the roses.

What was happening.

Dennis leans against the counter as he gently lays the flowers in the marble countertop. He carefully takes out the card without untying the flowers.

He can’t keep but smiling like an idiot as he reads the letter.

Dennis sighs as he gently touches the petals of the roses.

Here he was, thousands of miles away from his girlfriend. Unable to be with her and hug her.

But you know what, they’re making it work and that was that. That was they needed. A little sprinkle of affection and love.

And they both know that they were going to have so many moments together. So many Valentine’s Day to spent together and so many holidays.

They both knew that.

Dennis smiles faintly as he reaches for his phone, just can’t wait to hear Y/n’s voice.

#dennis hauger #dennis hauger x reader #dennis hauger imagine #f2 #f2 x reader #f2 imagine #formula two #original post #original writing

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catindabag · 1 year ago

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TBOSAS on Crack short take (56)

Casca: Ms. Price, could you get your weird dog off The Academy’s lawn right this instant?

Persephone: Sir, I’m sorry but I don’t have a dog.

Casca: That’s incorrect. He’s currently causing a scene outside my school.

Persephone: But sir, I’m being honest. I’m even allergic to them-

Festus: I think he’s talking about your crazy dad, Percy.

Persephone: My dad? But Festus, he’s at home-

Coryo: Creed’s right, Price. Just look out the window. Your crazy old man has been rolling around the lawn for hours.

Persephone: What?! No way! Let me see! *opens the window*

Nero: *is screaming and rolling like an angry toddler*

Coryo: Creed, are you recording-

Festus: Obviously.

Persephone: Sh*t! You’re right! My poor daddy’s acting like a madman again!😩 *runs out of the classroom to restrain her dad*

Festus: *sighs* Poor Percy Price.

Felix: What’s up with Nero Price though? Why is he acting like that?

Coryo: Well, according to rumors, Percy’s old man lost his mind when the rebels tried to starve us to death.

Felix: Is his madness permanent?

Coryo: Unfortunately, yes, it’s permanent. He doesn’t even go to work anymore.

Festus: True. Percy’s mama is now the sole breadwinner of the family.

Arachne: *scoffs* It must be because he’s a crazy canniba-

Coryo: Don’t finish that sentence, Crane.

Arachne: Or what, Snowy~?

Coryo: Or I’ll tell the whole school about the day you lost your precious ✨Sandwich Queen✨ title to Festus and Sejanus.

Arachne: You dare threaten me?!

Coryo: I’ll also publish the photos of you wearing an ugly neck brace-

Arachne: Go suck a di-

Felix: But seriously, what happened to the “Railroad Titan” Mr. Price?

Festus: Well, all we know is that he lost his marbles because of the rebels.

Urban: Was it the maid stew?

Coryo: Maybe? Who knows-

Io: Hey, guys, look! *points at Nero Price* He’s now barking like a dog at Percy!

Apollo: Cool!

Clemensia: Is that normal?

Festus: That’s just part of his madness.

Coryo: Yeah. That’s pretty normal for him to do.

Sejanus: Coryo, my love, why are you and Festus so nonchalant about this?

Coryo: Well, my love, you already know that Percy, Festus, and I have been childhood friends and neighbors since forever. So I’ve seen her crazy old man go wild a couple of times before.

Festus: That’s not even his final form.

Gaius: He has a final form?! That’s so cool! What’s his final form?!

Coryo: It’s when he wears his pajamas wolf onesie and howls at the moon all night long.

Felix: That’s so weird-

Androcles: I want to do that too!

Coryo: Yeah, no. It’s quite odd, but he literally thinks that he’s a real scary werewolf or something.

Dennis: What about your poor neighbors? How did they react?

Coryo: Oh, they hate it when he does that. However, it’s impossible to arrest him when he’s in his ✨werewolf mode✨.

Apollo: Can I be a werewolf too?

Diana: No.

Io: But why is it impossible to arrest one madman howling in the middle of the night?

Coryo: Because Nero Price bites like a rabid dog. Heck! He might even have rabies for all we know.

Festus: He can even easily tear out the limbs of a grown man.

Felix: That’s impossible-

Festus: Coryo and I have seen him do it before.

Coryo: And rumors say that he once tore off the head of a rebel who tried to kill Percy.

Lysistrata: In the name of self-defense, right?

Coryo: Sure. Let’s stick with that.

Urban: So what’s his weakness?

Coryo: His wife.

Urban: Really?

Coryo: You don’t bite the hand that feeds you, do you?

Urban: I guess not.

Felix: By the way, are we going to help Percy catch her dad or should we just leave her be?

Clemensia: Maybe we should call the Peacekeepers?

Urban: Or a dog catcher.

Coryo: Is crazy Nero Price running around with a stick in his mouth?

Felix: No.

Coryo: Then that’s a good sign.

Festus: Yup! Percy doesn’t need us to intervene. She can handle him herself.

Felix: Are you sure about that?

Festus: Bro, I’ve seen her wrestle a nursery of rabid raccoons before. She’ll be fine.

Io: Hey, guys, I think Percy needs our help. Her crazy father is now throwing mud at her.

Sejanus: Yo, he’s now stealing and throwing our bikes in the fountain!

Androcles: Sh*t! He destroyed my expensive skateboard!

Apollo: And my tiny scooter!

Coryo: Yeah, that’s a bad sign. Let’s go help her.

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windsweptinred · 3 months ago

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Oh I loved these questions @zigzag-wanderer thank you!

I'm going to do these one at a time, since this first answer completely got away from me and just stopped short of becoming a full on essay. 😅 I'll return to answer 25 in another post.

20. What do their family/friends think of their relationship?

What would Dionysus’s family think of Orpheus and their relationship? In general?... Look at the new toy he's brought for us to play with. 😅

It's probably going to depend on the god when it comes to the Olympians. Mortal loves are ten a penny in their family, here today, gone tomorrow. So some may have complete disinterest in Orpheus. I can imagine Ares for example, not giving a flying fuck about a little human musician, beyond taking part in the family betting pool of how long he's going to survive before being, (A) Transfigured (B) Abducted (C) Unalived or (D) All three.

Other gods may show slightly less indifference though. We know from Persephone that Demeter is a fan of his music. And wouldn't that just be too adorable, her fawning over him like a talented child at a family gathering. While Orpheus stammers and blushes and Dio preens. It's a powerful affiliation that may come in handy, considering Orpheus would have a significant target on his back when it comes to Zeus and Hera.

Orpheus is the first mortal EVER to successfully complete the ‘cave run’. A fact that's not going to escape Zeus for long. And one he's certainly not going to let stand. We know with Zeus, his modus operandi when it comes to complications is to obliterate them. And at the end of season one, we see Zeus backed into a corner and I believe, at his most dangerous/impulsive. Worse still, Zeus may plan on reiterating his lesson on love with an increasingly rebellious Dionysus. And we saw what happened to Dennis…

Hera would see this relationship as the perfect opportunity to fuck with Dionysus. She detests her husband's half mortal progeny and Dionysos being in love would be too much of temptation to wound him purely out of spite. They should count their blessings that she'd presently have bigger fish to fry.

Aphrodite is a fun one to contemplate. What the goddess feels about her youngest brother/grand nephew's?? love life, I imagine like her, is as changeable as the breeze. But Orpheus is such a little devotee of amore isn't he? He lives to love, he's got a tattoo in homage to her son Eros on each arm for crying out loud. That man needs love to breathe easy. If it wasn't for Dionysus and Apollo, (we'll return to that little nugget later) I reckon Orpheus could have easily received the patronage of the goddess of love. As it is, I reckon she'd have a soft spot for him. But most importantly, she'd know Orpheus’s heart was true. And on her more tender days, she'd find pleasure in knowing Dionysus was truly happy in the joys of her dominion.

I am devotedly wed to the lore that Hermes and Dionysus have a close brotherly bond. And a genuine love and affection for each other. So Hermes may be the only one of Dionysos’s siblings that considers the relationship on how beneficial it is for his baby brother. Not to say that's a particularly positive thing for Orpheus, having the trickster supreme tormenting him, in the name of deciding whether he's worthy. You have to pity the poor man for the kind of shovel talk the messenger of the gods, with his many, many, many talents, could deliver.

And now we get to Apollo…Oh, the complex cyclone of chaos that is the Apollo - Orpheus - Dionysus connection. In myth, Apollo and Dionysus have an equal level of importance/influence over Orpheus. Apollo is sometimes credited with giving Orpheus his lyre. Which could, in Kaos terms, translate as him handing Orpheus a god given talent/patronage. Orpheus was a devoted worshipper of the sun god. And I actually think this holds true in Kaos. I headcanon this tat…

... That leads off from Orpheus’s lyre tattoo, an intertwined music note, laurel leaf and a sun. Is Orpheus paying homage to Apollo. It makes sense for a musician to pay tribute to the god of the arts.

However, Orpheus was also a prophet (sometimes THE prophet) of Dionysos. Credited with spreading his worship. And wouldn't that be so on brand for Kaos Orpheus. If he fell head over tits in love with Dionysus, the first thing he would do would be write several hymns/chart toppers about how amazing his boo is. Would Apollo be romantically interested in/jealous of Dionysos’s relationship with Orpheus. Probably not, no. Would that stop him throwing a tantrum about his little brother touching his things/ taking his top spot on Orpheus’s list of bestest gods, also no. 🤣 Let the tug of war commence! … Hopefully with less destructive consequences than in myth.

What would Orpheus’s family/friends think of Dionysos and their relationship?

We really don't know much about who Orpheus has in the world coming out of season one, besides Riddy, Dennis (RIP baby) and his manager Calli. And while he could indeed have a close group of friends and relations, him being alone in the world, outside of this little close circle, goes a long way to explaining why Orpheus loves so obsessively. And how he and Riddy bonded in the first place.

Oh he has his fans of course, and I'm sure their adoration goes some way to filling an insatiable void. But, celebrity is its own curse, and all that love is loud but distant.) An ironic reflection of the gods own relationship with humanity. And indeed in some ways, his own relationship with Riddy… But that's a topic for another post.)

As for that tiny group who do know him on an intimate, personal level. You can see him clinging to them almost fanatically. He and Calli certainly have a relationship that seems to surpass ‘business’ and strays into the mother/son relationship of myth. And I reckon he overtly treasures that bond with Calli just as much as he did his love of Riddy.

So, since all he really has left is Calli, how would she feel about his relationship with Dionysus? Joy and exasperation I shouldn't wonder.

Joy, because you can clearly see how much Calli cares for Orpheus. The way she cradles him in his grief… That's her boy, blood relation or not. When ‘life is good’ for him, she finds joy in his joy, despair in his suffering. And seeing Orpheus happy again, in love again. And knowing what being in love means for his contentment. That's going to mean so much more than seeing a ‘client’ content. Plus who can't help but love Dionysus? Hopefully some of that affection will go Dio's way too, as that god needs some.

Exasperation as well, as we do see examples of Calli trying to shepard Orpheus in the right direction, with smoking etc. And Riddy, down to earth Riddy would have probably been an aid in this. As much as one can ever ground someone like Orpheus, Riddy probably did manage to on some level. Dionysos on the other hand…😅 I can imagine he and Orpheus would goad each other on and on, in every sense, to greater heights and excess. For better or for worse. Thoughts and prayers Calli, you're going to need them!

This is all based on Dionysos being introduced (atleast at first) under a human facade of course. You get the feeling in the world of Kaos, while people unequivocally believe in the existence of the gods. They're not too used to them wandering around amongst them. How Calli would feel about Orpheus dating the God of Frenzy, well, that's an entirely different kettle of fish.

I imagine somewhere out there, Riddy will smile, roll her eyes. Mutter something along the lines of, of course, it could only be the God of Excess with you Orpheus. And be immensely happy for him. If we're allowed nice things…Wrapped in Caeneus’s arms.

(1492 words… Jesus zigzag I apologise. 🙈 Thank you for attending today's lecture. I said they were my new brain rot, I think I've undeniably proven that to myself today. 😅)

#I wrote most of this instead of sleeping last night #Which was very silly indeed on a sunday #I am paying for it now #But I'm not sorry #orpheus x dionysus #orpheus/dionysus #kaos #kaos netflix #orpheus kaos #dionysus kaos #otp asks #asks answered #wine&song

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asurrogateblog · 8 months ago

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Cannibals, Pirates, and PhDs: How Did I Get Here?

I mentioned in some tags earlier that I’ve only actually been a real fan of Pink Floyd for under a year, and that the confluence of events that led up to it is pretty absurd. Some interest seemed to be taken in this, so I though I’d elaborate.

I didn’t know how to shorten this timeline and have it make any sense, so it’s... long. But idk, I think it’s pretty funny. If you’re nosy like I am this is for you.

My Backstory Timeline:

early childhood: my parents essentially mainline me and my little sister with The Beatles. I know almost no songs written past the 70’s until at least sixth grade. I develop a childhood crush on Paul McCartney, a joke that the universe really decides to play the long game on.

2014: my dad calls me over one night, and gravely tells me he’s been waiting to share something until I’m old enough. I brace myself to be told about sex or secret half-siblings. Instead, he tells me I need to listen to The Wall. Irritated at the idea of wasting an hour and half of my night, I nevertheless comply and go up to my room and put it on. I do not come back from this, clearly having inherited some sort of generational curse.

Around the same time, I am also secretly watching Hannibal every time my parents send me upstairs because Game of Thrones is “too gory”. This will trigger three important things: an interest in psychology, a love of horror media, and a classical music phase will train my attention span to last well past the three minute mark.

2014-2023: Over the intervening years, I become a casual fan of Pink Floyd, but make a deliberate point not to learn anything about the band. I like being able to imagine my own meanings for the songs. Also, I am motivated against this by a childhood memory of being deeply frightening by a picture of old Paul McCartney (LOL). I do not want that to ever happen again, so no learning.

Cut to April of 2023: I am finishing up my first year of my PhD program studying media psychology. I am in a bad place mentally, and am going through another horror movie phase to fill the hole. As a result, I get very into American Psycho. The main character, Patrick Bateman, is a fan of superficial 80’s pop music, particularly Genesis. I decide to start listening to Genesis to see if I agree with his tastes. While researching “best Genesis albums”, I come across The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. I listen to it, and am blown away. I had no idea that the Phil Collins band made music like that. This sends me down the prog-rock rabbit hole. I still won't learn any lore.

Summer of 2023: MEANWHILE, I am also going through another pirate phase. I have a fairly encyclopedic knowledge of 18th century piracy (and am still quite active in the Black Sails fan community). Around this time, I get really obsessed with this one random guy named Dennis McCarthy who was hanged in 1718.

I decide to work poor Dennis into a science fiction story I’ve been working on. The premise is essentially that the universe is an abandoned simulation, and a ‘glitch in the matrix’ starts to, among other things, bring people from the wrong time periods back to life. The format of the story is vaguely monster-of-the-week, in which the characters have to solve various problems caused by mistakes in the code. I think, “hey, you know what would be perfect for this? that fanfic I wrote about The Wall in high school.” Said fic (which that stupid fucking beatles movie stole from me) is about a world in which Pink Floyd never existed, but a wannabe rock-star discovers a box full of their records and decides to copy them. While he is touring his plagiarized version of The Wall, he realizes that the events of the album are starting to happen to him in real life. By working this concept into my new story, I go through another one of my periodical The Wall phases. It's in full swing when fall rolls around.

September of 2023: This semester, I take a grad-level narrative theory class in the English department. I decide it would be helpful to follow along with a specific example, so I choose The Wall. Using the terminology I am learning in the class, I start to realize that The Wall is…. incredibly narratologically fucked up. To help orient me, I watch the bootleg concert recordings, and the trick with the surrogate band sends me so out of my mind that I decide I must break my rule about never learning band lore.

This is where the two plot-lines converge. I don’t remember which came first, but around this same time, I think to myself “hey, if Genesis was hiding such an incredible album under the 80’s pop, what must Pink Floyd be hiding?” On that whim, I put on Piper at the Gates of Dawn, which equally sends me so out of my mind that I decide I must break my rule about never learning band lore. I needed to know what the fuck happened to get them from Piper to The Wall.

September-November: In the two months between the onset of this and finally making another sideblog, I dedicate all of my free time to learning as much about Pink Floyd as humanely possible (and writing a 20 page essay for that narrative theory class). As you can imagine, this is a lot to unpack all at once for someone who didn’t even know who Roger or Syd or any of the rest of them were. Luckily, I am over-educated enough to be a very fast learner. Aside from the band lore itself, I of course also fall in love with the rest of Pink Floyd's discography musically-speaking. Having this interest to latch onto genuinely pulls me out of my depression.

Cut to February 2024: I am really enjoying myself, and want to keep this going as long as possible, but I am starting to scrape the bottom of the barrel on Pink Floyd lore. I decide I need to feed the fire by supplementing with lore from another band. The Beatles seem to have a strong fan presence on tumblr, why not revisit a childhood favorite? The universe laughs at my expense.

That about brings us up to date. I have gone through so much character development over the last eight months, it’s crazy. Pink Floyd is definitely one of those things that is less of a “phase” and more of a permanent part of my mindscape. Weirdly enough, since I am studying media psychology, all of this has also been really good for my career? I never took an interest in -real- media figures (as opposed to fictional characters) before, and I feel like I have a much clearer sense of things now. It's definitely influenced my research, so whatever domino effect this has on my future is bound to get even funnier.

Anyway, that’s my backstory!

#it’s interesting re-examining how my relationship to The Wall has changed over time.#strange how you can love something as a kid but not really personally relate to it. and then you grow up and suddenly you’re like...#...oh shit. there -must- have been a door there when I came in #//#that makes it sound less fun than its been tho #god. i've had so much fun. im actually glad i took so long to get into band lore so I could learn all this -now-#i had kind of worked myself into a (very silly) mental spiral of 'what if I've run out of new things to discover'#and it's been so. idk... healing for me to realize all of this has been here the whole time #(clenching my teeth: ....emotional vulnerability....)#personal lore

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inbetweenknacksandnooks · 3 months ago

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Soldier 11 x F!Reader/GN!Reader. Long post. Self-indulgent. Not angst, but not quite fluff either.

I had the issue of getting caught up in the intro that Soldier 11 doesn't even show up until the end, so this is probably going to be more than one part, and I'll link another part if/when I make it.

I'm sorry! I swear I had an actual idea of what I wanted to do with Soldier 11, but Tumblr bunked my progress, so all my ideas turned into soup that my brain decided to spit out because it doesn't remember what it wanted!

C/W:

Almost 800 words before Soldier 11 appears

Around 2,180 words TOTAL

225 words of Author's Notes

Using [F/N] once

2nd person PoV

You get a knee injury, though it's not detailed

The reader character may or may not be annoying to read about =_=

I had a little too much fun with making little visuals.

I tried to do a mini-action scene.

Read if you want :>

Constructive criticism is welcome.

You remember when you first saw her.

You'd wandered into a hollow as a rookie raider. You'd never actually been in a hollow before, but you did train at the H.I.A club and got an S Rank against most of the enemies you'd probably meet in a hollow, except for the human-like entities and... the Expert Challenge enemies.

But that didn't really matter! You weren't going into a largescale hollow like Zero or the Cretan Hollow... you didn't even plan on going inside of a companion hollow. Just a tiny little sub hollow that had been newly established. Hollow 145184.

Was that the hollow's identification number? Why didn't it have a unique name? Did the numbers mean anything? If this hollow became bigger, surely it would be properly renamed, right?

In any case, the ethereals should be small and relatively harmless. Really, you'd be doing a favor for... whoever kept track of the hollows! If you raided and defeated enough ethereals the sub hollow would shrink, after-all.

Sadly, your raiding had borne no fruits of interest. 300 Dennies here, a few ether crystals there. Guess that's just what happens when you target something so small, it was either raided already by faster raiders and/or Hollow Investigators, or no one had left anything to begin with, as the area was so small.

Whatever.

It was just a way to get expierence anyway... and seeing as there was no hiccups, you could probably move on to bigger—

Bwooop! Bwooop!

Your bangboo blared. Looking at the screen on its face a warning was clearly seen.

Carrot Data Valid for:

4:51

Alright, five-minutes give-or-take, ticking down as you access your bangboo to find out where to go next.

"Alright Eggmuffin! Guide me out of here!" You encouraged giving the white, brown and yellow multiboo a small shove, which it gave a simple, "Ehn-nene Daah!" [Translated to, "sure thing! No shoving next time, though!"]

Time to go through barely-functioning buildings and stupid-crowded streets with debris, collapsed archways and bridges that you and Eggmuffin had to climb over, or sometimes struggle through.

Carrot Data Valid for:

2:16

Ah, but you both were more than halfway done! The exit was even on Eggmuffin's map!

Now in a clearing you're both set to sprint your way...

Home?

An otherworldly sound shook through your body, rumbling against your bones, you were paralyzed with fear as though a tiger had roared with the menacing energy of a caterwauling cougar.

Eggmuffin looked at you, and seeing the massive ethereal nearly crack the ground with its lunge at you, it tried to defend you, reaching into the pocket on its tummy and retrieving a bunch of ether-corrupted garbage at the massive crystallized beast, including food (why did they feel the need to pick it up in the first place?), various kinds of silverware and firecrackers from the festival a few days back.

At the very least this distracted the Ethereal long enough for you to recognize it as a Farbuti in the "Energized" state... you defeated the normal Farbuti with an S ranking in the H.I.A Club at least once, but fighting in real life somehow felt different, dangerously so Plus, the Energized variant was supposed to be harder to defeat.

A very stress inducing,

"Warning! Carrot Will Expire in Approximately: 1 Minute and 45 Seconds."

Was semi-heard by you, even throughout the loud popping of the firecrackers Eggmuffin lit via matches stored in their pocket.

Time to make a mad dash!

Gone with your stunned phase, you began to run, adrenalin pumping through every blood vessel in your body, grabbing Eggmuffin by their plushy body, you carry them in one arm, looking at the map on their screen.

58 Seconds

You could feel your lungs flare up in pain.

42 Seconds.

Eggmuffin was starting to feel a little heavy... did you get them new parts or something recently?

37 Seconds.

You try to maneuver around a wall, while the ethereal behind simply smashes right through it. The loud noises cause even more ethereals to your location. Smaller, but too high in number to risk fighting anything.

23 Seconds.

Right there! Right up ahead there was a brick wall belonging to a house. If she could just reach there you'd be teleported to safety like magic and probably go home to re-think this whole "Hollow Raider" thing.

11 Seconds.

...

4 Seconds.

...

Carrot Expired.

Too late.

As soon as you got to the wall you hit it instead of passing right through like a carrotless buffoon. Your right shoulder hit the wall, and Eggmuffin fell out of your hands from the momentum.

Out of breath, out of bangboo strength, and out of time.

The ethereals were approaching, and the biggest one pounced at you. And you closed your eyes...

Only to hear the sound of clashing metal.

Opening your eyes there was a girl with white hair in an orange and black military-looking vest.

Your conveniently-placed savior was here, and saved your arse so thoroughly that made you think twice about keeping up the snarky thoughts about the absurdity of the situation.

Nearly everytime she'd swung with the blade in her hands a generous amount of fire came from it, easily grouping up many of the smaller ethereals without much effort before they singed from it and fell.

Her attention turned to the Energized Fubuki, which was having a tough time hitting its bulky frame when the unknown girl could duck and weave out of the way of it's arms, which were at least the width of a 15 year old tree trunk with ease.

Then she landed a few loud hits and spun in a spiral like a hamster exercising on a blazing wheel.

Before you even knew it the one that had ruined your day, your raid, your carrot, had been vanquished.

And you were left staring at the woman that had done the deed.

Her visor hid most of her facial details, but you could at least see that she had reddish wood-brown eyes. The color of a shiny Zigzagoon or a redwood tree in direct sunlight.

Her skin was slightly glistening, sweat somehow looking more like sparkle on her.

"...ad. Please state your name and business here." Oops. Seems like you missed a few bits of her sentence while thinking about her.

"Mmn... erm... this is Eggmuffin..." you gave the name of the bangboo who'd been jostling your shoulder for the past minute or so. "And my name is [F/N]... what's yours?" Perhaps out of a strange nervous reflex, you gave the classic icebreaker-fingerguns with a neat snap to add pizazz.

The beautiful silver-haired lady sighed a short huff, like an exhausted horse. "As I have previously stated, I am Soldier 11, from the Defense Force."

Ah, nuts and berries, she had apparently said something important that you were too dazed to listen to... oh! Time to recover from this!

"Right, but that can't be your real name, right? Is it a code-word?" It wasn't until this moment that you realized you probably shouldn't be making snarky remarks to someone who could take down things that you couldn't.

'Soldier 11' sheathed her sword in a... backpack thing? Perhaps it was magnetized to allow it to stick and maybe there was a sulfer-and-metal, or flint-and-steel-like reaction that caused her sword to burn?

You have up snap yourself out from getting distracted because of how cool and amazing she looks! She's part of the Defense Force, so she probably won't like if she catches onto you being a Hollow Raider.

"It is not a 'code-word' for anything, nor is it a title. It is simply a statement. You may use it as my name if you wish." You're tempted to ask why she introduces herself like that, but it might be best to simply not know.

Soldier 11 scanned the area, staying quiet then pressed a button on her vest, "Soldier 11 to Captain Magnus–over."

"–aptain Magn—oldier 11—Over." A voice in static replied back.

"There is a civillain without a carrot found in area #329. Permission to diverge from the mission in order to escort her? I will be back to the Obol Squad within fifteen minutes."

"——on Granted."

Soldier 11 looked back towards you, where you'd been busily deleting the expired carrot from Eggmuffin just in case she'd decided to poke around your bangboo, which thankfully didn't happen!

"Follow me."

And so you did.

You couldn't help but wonder why she didn't need to ask where to go over radio. Was she seeing the instructions on where to go through her visor? Or had she actually somehow remembered when you're pretty sure that even the best Hollow Raiders were helpless without carrot-leading bangboo.

Hmm.

Everything started to look the same, and it didn't help that you hardly ever visited this district when it wasn't constantly shifting.

Maybe you were just tired, or beginning to corrupt but you're head was spinning and you're balance was off, so it was only a matter of time before you tripped over chunky rock from a nearby fallen tower and skinned your knee.

You let out a hiss of pain and examined your injury. Flecks of mini-pebbles could be seen embedded in the abrasion. This would be such a chore to disinfect later.

Soldier 11's eyes flick to the wound, " wipe it off and get up."

Arguably that tone made you want to get up even less, causing you to rest on your back a bit and close your eyes like a defeated turtle.

"Ehn! Ehn-nee!" Eggmuffin let out a panicked sound that you didn't bother looking at the screen for translation for. The bangboo wiped off the little bits of gravel in the knee and went around you to push you up by pressing on your back.

Not wanting to be a chore for the bangboo that was trying so hard, you sat up straight and let out a long drawn out groan of annoyance. "How far even are we? How much longer will it take?" Maybe if you just knew an estimate it would help.

Soldier 11 stayed quiet for a moment, tilting her head upwards as though there was an invisible map in the sky.

There wasn't, but you knew that already but still looked up anyway...

"It will take around 3 minutes and 31 seconds to reach the destination." Was she a bangboo in disguise with those calculations or something?

Still, 3:30-or-so wasn't that long, you could probably defrost 4 ounces of meat in the microwave in that time!

"Alright, alright..." you extend your hand to Soldier 11, trying your best to save energy by not getting up fully on your own.

Soldier 11 looks puzzled for a moment, but wordlessly helps you up and continues on the path.

Alright! Well maybe you could both talk and get to know each other! It would be like a speed date with dangerous monsters that make your date take a break for about a minute.

"So... what's the Obol Squad like?"

"That's irrelevant."

Yikes. You could feel your attempts at small talk going awry, and you didn't really know what else to ask apart from things like, 'what do you like to do in your spare time?' but you weren't entirely sure she'd talk about something 'irrelevant'.

Okay, then the next step. What would be relevant?

"Hey, so if I ever wanted to join the Defense Force... could I have a few tips? Or if I get lost again, what would you want me to keep in mind if I needed to fight off an ethereal?"

"Civilians without proper training should run or hide. If you have a bangboo with you there is usually a tracking device you can turn on to alert Public Security of your need for help."

"Oh, I see... and if I don't have a bangboo, or my tracking device is damaged?"

"Hide from ethereals and hope that passerbys can help. Also record your situation if you have the means to do so, by paper, recording tape, or other means."

Alright. Well that wasn't anything you hadn't already known, which was unfortunate. The bangboo's tracking device might be a useful tip, if you didn't already take it out of Eggmuffin to avoid getting tracked by... anyone that might want to arrest or confront a hollow raider like yourself when you made it big.

"You're almost to the outside. Just open the door of that building." Soldier 11 stopped, and gestured you forward.

"Oh... so we're at the end already?"

"Enn! Ehn-na naaa!" Eggmuffin bounced up and down and ran to the door, which seemed to belong to a two-story apartment.

"Affirmative." Soldier 11 relayed, encouraging you to go yet again.

"Right... then I'll be going out of the hollow!" You took a few steps towards the heavy wooden door, Eggmuffin trying to reach the round doorhandle. Your eyes were looking at Soldier 11, who in turn looked at you back. "Thank you."

"No thanks needed."

Soldier 11's eyes never left until she knew you were no longer in the hollow.

Author Notes:

This is based on the song Strange Sight, by KT Tunstall after watching Tinkerbell and The Legend of the Neverbeast... and crying... again...

Specifically it's based off of the first verse! You probably won't be able to tell even if you re-read this fic while having it in mind, which is fine. It was originally an animation idea translated to fanfic, so it probably wouldn't be very apparent.

I'll likely be doing the other few parts I have planned after we get to properly meet and interact with all the Obol Squad members, since my plan is to eventually have this reader character go join the Defense Force and eventually The Obol Squad.

Funfact:

This is very heavily based on an OC I made for the Obol Squad named Fawn, er, differences is that Fawn is more goofy and was never a hollow raider and never had a bangboo. She was just a civillain that got trapped in a hollow, rescued by Soldier 11 and is gay asf and brute-forces joining The Defense Force and The Obol Squad so that she can be closer to the one that saved her. She was initially placed in a different Squad I made up and makes lots of friends and stuff there and kinda just takes it all easy! She's so silly and I love her!

#fem!reader #zenless zone zero #zzz x reader #Soldier 11 x F!Reader #Nack's ZZZ canons #NackFics

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positivelybeastly · 1 year ago

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A Completely Unbiased and Totally Comprehensive Beast Reading List, Pt. 1

As a member of the first class of X-Men, the intelligently gifted Dr. Hank McCoy has been fighting for the peaceful coexistence between mutants and humans for most of his life, under the tutelage of Professor Xavier. Born with an enhanced physique, strength, and muscular structure, he has adopted the name Beast.

Well, hello there, friends! Welcome to a completely unbiased, totally comprehensive, not at all too long reading list that aims to show you the story of everyone's favourite Beast, from start to finish!

Origins

As one of the original X-Men, Beast features in almost every issue of the very first iteration of the team - but to put it bluntly, 60s X-Men sucks, and I want you to enjoy this character, so we're going to start with some aggressive curation.

X-Men Origins: Beast, by Mike Carey - a solo story that retells Hank's origins, including his pre-X-Men life, and an insight into his mindset, his relationship with humanity, and his first meeting with the X-Men. It also happens to have some rather lovely art, and a fantastic last page spread that expresses a lot of what makes Hank a brilliant character. X-Men: First Class, by Jeff Parker - a collection of mini-series that fill in the gaps between stories in the original run of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's X-Men, this run is extremely readable, and does a very good job of forming a cohesive characterisation of both Hank, the X-Men, and, particularly, Professor Xavier. You do not need to have any former knowledge of anything X-Men to read this run. Issues of Particular Note: (2006) #8; the meeting of Hank and Gorilla Man, who have a cute dynamic, and if you like Gorilla Man, you should read Agents of Atlas by Parker as well. (2007) #4; the foundation of Hank's friendship with Bobby Drake, aka Iceman. These two were thick as thieves all the way up until the late 00s. Giant-Sized Special; a collection of short fun little stories with varying art styles, featuring Hank on small solo adventures or in duos with the other X-Men. Finals #2; Hank deciding to leave the X-Men, and become his own man.

X-Men: Season One by Dennis Hopeless is a standalone graphic novel that aims to retell the early days of the X-Men from the perspective of Jean Grey, and features Hank fairly prominently. If you want to be more up to code on early X-Men history without dealing with issues of the 60s run, this would be a good place to do it.

And of course, Uncanny X-Men vol. 1. While I would not advise reading this run in its entirety, dipping your toe in to get some appreciation for what 60s comics were like and how far we've come isn't an awful idea. Issues of Particular Note: #7 Hank is momentarily abducted by a beatnik foot cult. No notes, this is just a funny situation that Hank ends up in. #8; one of the first instances of anti-mutant hysteria in an X-Men book, the first time Hank left the X-Men, and also the origin of his short career as a professional wrestler. #47; Hank and Bobby go on a double date with their girlfriends and get interrupted by superhero shenanigans.

Grey

With Hank having now left the X-Men, he has a rendezvous with destiny, and while this is going to be a very short period on our reading list, it's a very formative one for young Hank.

Amazing Adventures #11-17, by Gerry Conway, Steve Englehart, and Arnold Drake. Honestly, just read this entire run - you basically get a very well contained story that delves into Hank at a very young age, and while this may be a series from the 1970s, it's actually surprisingly modern in its approach to Hank as a character. It's also interesting to see the introduction of a more horror/wolfman aspect to Hank's character, which is largely due to the contemporary popularity of Werewolf-by-Night. It all caps off with issue #17, which collects a number of back-up stories that originally came from Uncanny X-Men, that tell Hank's origin in its uncondensed form. If you started with Carey's Origins book, these story beats will be very familiar, but it's interesting to see what parts were cut and which were preserved.

A companion story that goes back and revisits this very interesting period of Hank's life can be found in X-Men Unlimited vol. 2 #10, as one of the two stories contained there. Sliding somewhere in between issues of Amazing Adventures, it provides a modern emotional context for Hank's transformation, and I feel obliged to warn you that this is a very heavy story. If stories about depression, radiation sickness, or familial death are triggering for you, approach with caution.

Avengers

As you may have noticed, Hank has now changed from grey to his more familiar blue! This is due to printing limitations of the time, where attempts to render black or grey often ended up producing a shade that looked closer to blue. But enough of that malarkey, let's talk about everyone's favourite Bouncing Baby Blue Beast!

Avengers vol. 1, by . . . so many writers, but the most significant include Jim Shooter, Gerry Conway, Steve Englehart, David Michelinie, Bill Mantlo, etc. As the first X-Man to cross teams, Hank made history, and he quickly settled in nicely to the bitchy, high octane, absolutely bonkers world of 70s Marvel. Among other things, this is where he forms lifelong friendships with Carol Danvers, Steve Rogers, and, perhaps most importantly, Simon Williams. Honestly, this entire run has its ups and downs, but I'd recommend reading it from start to finish, just because it's fun, and Hank is so much fun in it. If you're more used to buzzkill Beast from the modern era, you'll be shocked at just how much of a kind-hearted goof he is here. Although, maybe skip the Korvac Saga. Issues of Particular Note: #137, which features Hank's initial tryout for the Avengers, with some story beats that will have particular resonance if you read Amazing Adventures or X-Men Unlimited, recommended above. #141, which sees the beginning of the origins of Patsy Walker, who you might know better as Hellcat, and who will become an important part of our story later. #148, which sees Hank embrace his disguise gimmick - while pretty much abandoned from this point on, it was arguably never going to get better than the trick he pulls here. Avengers Annual #6, which sees the origins of Hank and Simon's wonder-ful relationship. Whether you read them as friends or more, it really is a ton of fun to see just how quickly they glom onto each other as partners. #160 digs a little deeper into Hank's dynamic on the Avengers, and, if you aren't doing a full readthrough, this provides an interesting perspective on what Hank brings to the team, which is paid off in #163 and #164. Can you guess what it is? Yep . . . sex symbol. This is the origin of Hank McCoy, original mutant fuck machine, baybeeee. #171 sees Hank speaking Latin, being kind of a shit to Ms. Marvel, and being called a slut by Thor, which is kind of amazing, tbh. But Hank then proceeds to disappear for a bit, dodging the really rather awful Korvac Saga, so if you want to read more about our boy, you can jump right ahead to #178, where they make up for his brief absence by psychologically torturing him! Yeah! Love it! Next big issue of note is #188, where the Avengers get political, Hank gets to hold Ms. Marvel's laser gatling gun backpack, and press his nose against a plane window like a small child (it's better than I'm making it sound)! #194 has Hank at his best, to be quite honest, and is an all around nice little slice of life, quiet issue for the Avengers, for those of you who miss such things in comics. #206 features Hank speaking every language he knows for an entire issue, on . . . well, honestly, not even a dare, he just does it. #209, meanwhile is . . . heavy. Trigger warnings for the Shoah, the Holocaust, concentration camps, and a lot of dark subject matter, but it does showcase Hank at arguably his most heroic and his most tender. And then, finally, we reach the end of Hank's tenure with the Avengers, at #211, where . . . well, honestly? He leaves because his boyfriend is leaving. There's no other way to interpret it, that's just the text. He'll of course join the Avengers again, and is always active as a reservist, but for now, he's to move on to greener, more defensive pastures. In between these appearances, it's also worth checking out the absolutely iconic Dark Phoenix Saga. If you think you know this story from the adaptations in X-Men 3 or Dark Phoenix, trust me, you don't - this is the real story, as it should always have been. Hank only joins in on the story in the last third, but if you ever doubted his commitment to the X-Men, his friends, or the ideals of justice, look no further. And guess what, it's just a damned good story, starting at Uncanny X-Men #129 and going on to #138.

Hank also makes guest appearances in Uncanny X-Men #111 to #114, where he first properly meets the second generation of X-Men, though as you'll see, it's far from the most orderly or normal of introductions. For those of you who don't know about Chris Claremont and his predilections, you will learn - great writer, absolutely fundamental to the X-Men, but . . . hoo boy.

That's what I've got for you for the moment! I will be adding the next sections as separate posts, so that this doesn't get too long - feel free to check back here, or just keep your eyes peeled in the Hank McCoy tag, so that you don't miss the next section, as we move into the 80s proper! Also, I may be adding new issues here and there, as I remember things, so check back if you want to hear more about Beast's early years!

First || Next || Last

#outofmuffins #hank mccoy #henry mccoy #reading list #marvel comics #x-men comics #I promised I would do it!

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savemefromanepicoftimewasted · 1 year ago

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It's Your Burden To Carry

Detective Joel Miller X F!Reader

Joel wished he had the answers, to figure out exactly why someone was attacking innocent women for their own sick pleasure. It wouldn’t be the first time this had happened, and it definitely wasn’t going to be the last. A/N:this fic deals with VERY heavy topics, please read with caution! there is also an alternate ending so if you would like to read it let me know and i will post that seperately! warnings:mentions of murder, descriptions of murder, violence, gore, blood, death, crime scenes

Joel was tired, he’d been staring at the crime scene photos for nearly two hours at this point. Not to mention his phone had been going off since he took off at four in the morning, sending a text to the two teens that they’d be cooking breakfast for themselves. It was the usual for them, Joel would get called into the office when the world was still asleep, and the girls would wake up to another text from him. It was a painful reminder that he’d started to neglect them, that he’d chosen this life when Sarah was just four years old.

It paid the bills though, and right now that was the only thing that mattered to Joel, he could deal with everything else in due time. Tommy was often the one telling him to go home, that he could pick up the slack and call if there was a break in the case. When was the last time he’d had a full day off with no interruptions? Shit, maybe he did need to take some time off and come back to everything with a clear head.

“Been another murder, already got the area taped off,” Well, there went Joel’s hopes of going home for a few hours.

“Let’s go,” Joel threw his coat on, following behind Tommy and Bill as they made their way out to their cars.

The drive wasn’t long which unnerved Joel to no end, the killer was getting even closer to home, and there was no way in hell they would get close enough to Sarah or Ellie. Tommy had given him the quick rundown of what the cops had found during the drive. She was the youngest victim yet, at barely twenty years old. What kind of sick person chose people that were barely even adults themselves to murder?

“They’re trying to keep this one from the press, said she was mutilated when they found her,” Goddamnit, it really was too early for this.

“How bad?” Joel had seen some horrific scenes in his day, but this would land at the very top.

Tommy didn’t say anything as he pulled up beside Bill’s car, shutting off the engine with a quiet sigh. The air was thick with humidity as Joel slipped outside of the car, hopefully the girls were staying cool at home. As he followed Tommy and Bill down to the area, the scent of rotting flesh hit him full force. It was something he’d never been able to get over, the way it lingered on his clothes and skin hours after he left for the day.

They were photographing everything that looked like it could be evidence, from the body, to the small blood trail that led down to the body. It was draining him slowly, day by day Joel could only handle so much before he would break.

“We got a name?” Joel slipped on his glasses, making sure there weren’t any smudges so he could take a look around for himself.

“Found her purse nearby, her license says Lily Evans,” Bill held out the thin plastic card, waiting until Joel slipped on a pair of gloves to safely take the card.

She really was just a kid, or what Joel would consider a kid at least, just a few years older than Sarah and Ellie. No, don’t start thinking like that, focus on finding the goddamn killer and stopping them from hurting anyone else. The media were having a field day with the fact that no one had been able to catch the killer, comparing them to people like Bundy, and Dennis Rader. It wasn’t for lack of trying, they would spend hours scouring the crime scenes for any signs of a clue that would lead them in any positive direction.

“Jesus, girl didn’t even hit twenty-one,” Joel sighed, handing the license back over to one of the agents that was collecting evidence.

“You know that’s their schtick, they go after the girls that can’t defend themselves,” Tommy had made his way down to the body, eyes taking everything in.

The sight was nearly enough to make Joel sick, mutilated was too kind of a word to describe the horrors that lay in front of him. The other bodies had at least been intact, this one was clearly a personal vendetta.

“She’s got bruising around her neck, can’t tell if it’s from their hands or something else,” Bill knelt down further, carefully turning her head.

Joel recognized that type of bruising, it wasn’t something that was done to cause any true harm to the poor girl.

“That’s not from the killer, the marks are too far down,” Joel’s face heated up, what a way to announce that he’d been on both ends of those types of marks.

“That solves at least one of the many questions we have, but why cut her body apart?” Bill had always been the first at every crime scene, nothing prepared him anymore.

Joel wished he had the answers, to figure out exactly why someone was attacking innocent women for their own sick pleasure. It wouldn’t be the first time this had happened, and it definitely wasn’t going to be the last. Maybe he could get transferred somewhere else that wasn’t so intense. Sarah and Ellie deserved someone that could be home for longer than an hour a day.

“Found something guys,” Bill waved Tommy and Joel over, keeping enough distance to not disturb the evidence he’d found.

It was a white card, Joel’s name written in calligraphy across the very middle of it. Joel nervously reached out, gingerly picking up the card and turning it over. A photo of him and his two girls was pinned to the back. Whoever this was had gotten too close and now his family was in danger.

“Get this to evidence, I’m going home and getting the girls down to mom’s” Joel handed the card to Bill before all but sprinting to his car.

The drive over was nerve wracking, Joel’s heart was racing as he swerved between lanes to cut off a few more minutes of driving. What if he was too late and the girls were gone by the time he reached the house? Fuck! He parked haphazardly, yanking the keys out of the ignition before running to the front door. As he turned the door handle his heart dropped, it was unlocked. He’d definitely locked it this morning, right? He pushed the door open harshly, barely wincing as it slammed against the wall.

“Sarah?! Ellie!” Joel could barely hear anything over the heartbeat in his ears.

“Dad?” Sarah’s head popped out from the kitchen, brow raised as she stared over at her father.

“Grab your suitcase and pack a bag, you and Ellie are going to grandma Miller’s for a little bit,” Joel didn’t want to worry either of the girls, but right now his biggest concern was keeping them safe.

Sarah looked flabbergasted, the last time she’d seen her dad this scared was back when Ellie came into their lives and Joel was now outnumbered. This was completely different, this was a fear she’d never truly seen.

“Whoa, what’s going on?” She ran over to him, placing her hands on his arms to stop his frantic pacing.

“I just need you guys to pack a bag for me, please,” Joel wasn’t above begging, he’d done it many times before.

“Okay, I’ll tell Ellie,” Sarah headed up to her bedroom, stopping by Ellie’s and letting her know the situation with the very little information she had.

Today couldn’t get any worse, it seriously couldn’t get any fucking worse. What would he do if something had happened to them while he was out checking another crime scene? No, they were both fine and he’d make sure nothing bad happened to them. He’d be able to spend more time at the office without worrying if the girls were in danger at least.

“Alright let’s go old man,” Ellie plopped down her bags with Sarah following close behind.

“Go get in the car, I’m gonna lock up,” Joel waited until both the girls had left before following close behind.

A Uhaul truck caught his attention, was he finally getting a new neighbor after nearly a year since the Adlers had moved out? The house had been renovated from what Joel had heard from when he would get his mail. Okay maybe it was Sarah who actually found out but that wasn’t important right now.

“Looks like we got a new neighbor,” Sarah threw her bags into the trunk, helping Ellie with hers.

“We’ll make our presence known later today, for now let’s get in the car so we can go,” Joel ushered the two girls into the car, sending a friendly wave to the pretty…very pretty neighbor.

She waved back excitedly before rushing back onto the truck. Joel’s luck truly was running out, he finally gets a new neighbor but he’s too worried about work to think of anything else. Maybe he’d introduce himself when he got back home. Ellie and Sarah kept up a constant conversation as Joel drove down to his mom’s place. There was no way the killer would know where she lived, considering she lived more in the countryside. Shit this was not how he’d wanted his day to go, or his entire week to be honest.

“Now I’m gonna need you two to behave, you hear me?” Joel glanced over at Sarah, knowing that Ellie was also listening in.

“Yes dad, we’ll behave for grandma,” She’d never had anything bad to say about either of the girls, even when Ellie had shown up for the first time.

“Thank you,” Joel needed to keep his blood pressure from rising. The last thing he needed was to have a heart attack in the middle of solving this damn case.

The scenery on the drive was gorgeous, enough to help ease his mind for the time that he would be out of the office. Tommy could hold down the fort and get everything organized until Joel finally got back.

“I’m not gonna be able to stay, so if she’s not home use the key that she gave you okay?” Joel needed to get back as soon as possible, and right now he was still nervous.

“You know she’s gonna end up calling you to ask for answers,” Sarah was too smart for her own good sometimes, but that's besides the point

“Yeah I know, and I’ll tell her as much as I can later,” Joel pulled up to the house, waiting until the girls got out before bidding them a quick goodbye.

Everything would be perfectly fine, he just needed to get back and discuss everything with Bill and Tommy and see where they needed to go from here. Maybe he should stop by the house and grab something to eat, he was practically running on fumes.

Now if you had asked Joel how he managed to make the drive back without crashing, well he wouldn’t be able to properly answer as he wasn’t sure how he’d done that. The Uhaul next door was gone when he parked, was he really gone that long? Shaking his head Joel slipped out of the car, stumbling up to the front door. The new neighbor was standing outside looking through a couple of boxes.

“Hello! You must be Joel,” How the hell did she already know his name?

“Umm yeah, you our new neighbor?” Joel walked over to the edge of his yard, unsure of how she would feel with him in her space.

“I am, pardon my manners, my name’s Y/N,” Your face flushed as you realized you were staring at this man who looked like a walking zombie at the moment.

Joel liked your name, the way it sounded slipping through your lips so easily.

“Nice to meet you, and welcome to the neighborhood. If you ever need something don’t hesitate to stop by, just make sure the lights are on before you do,” Joel nodded and turned to head back to his house before you called out his name.

“Well if there isn’t a Mrs, do you think a date could be in order?” You’d never been so bold before, but something about Joel drew you to him.

“Well I might have to make an exception for someone as cute as you,” Joel smirked as you became flustered, maybe the new neighbor wouldn’t be so bad?

~~~

It had been nearly a week since Joel had dropped off the girls, and besides trying to keep himself sane during work, the moment he left and was reunited with you? Everything was finally alright. The two of you were practically inseparable after that very first date, even if Joel couldn’t tell you much about what he did for work. You understood of course, he was working with some very serious topics and didn’t want to upset you. You’d told him your boring job of being an accountant at one of the local law firms. While the job was boring the pay was wonderful and you were able to afford a house on a single income.

You had gone out to nice places, and had even gotten a midnight dinner at a local diner Joel took the girls to from time to time. You knew it was too early to really decide what the two of you were, but god you were infatuated with him. Joel on the other hand was ready to admit that he really liked you and wanted to move things along.

Neither of you said anything though, not wanting to rush the relationship and scare off one another. So here you were, driving home after yet another amazing dinner date. Joel was going to head into the office and see if there was anything new found at the most recent crime scene. He wasn’t holding his breath, but there was always that small sliver of hope that things would finally look up for him.

As much as Joel liked to call himself a gentleman, he didn’t hesitate to walk you to your front door after each date. Tonight was no different, even if you could feel his hand grazing your lower back gently.

“Thank you again, tonight was absolutely amazing,” You turned to face him, a bright smile on your face.

“Thank you for letting me take you out,” Joel leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to your lips.

You sighed softly into the kiss, wrapping your arms around his neck. The two of you stood there for what felt like hours, getting lost in the feeling of one another. Of course you didn’t want to pull away from the embrace, but your lungs were burning for air.

“Get inside before I get us in trouble,” Joel patted your ass, chuckling when you playfully slapped his chest.

“I’ll hold you to that, next time,” You pressed one final kiss to his lips before rushing inside.

Joel was on cloud nine, listening to the crickets sing their own songs as he made his way into the house. There wasn’t anything else that could bring down his mood, maybe they’d finally make a break in the case and he could bring the girls back home. He kept the lights off, heading towards the kitchen to grab a glass of water. As he reached for the glass he’d left on the counter earlier that day, a sudden pain spread through his neck. Reaching up he felt a syringe sticking out of his neck.

“Oh fuck,” Joel’s eyes rolled back as he hit the ground.

~~~

Joel’s head was pounding, vision blurry as he struggled to take in his surroundings. The last thing he could remember was going on a date with you. He’d dropped you off at your house before heading back to his own, Sarah wanted her teddy bear. Shit, did they know he was going to visit Sarah and Ellie? No, he’d been keeping their communication to a minimum because of what had happened.

His head whipped around as the sound of creaking floorboards caught his attention, so he was in someone’s basement. Glancing around the dim and musty basement Joel tried to take everything in that he could actually see. A washer and dryer sat in the far corner, a drying rack directly next to the two machines. Shit, there wasn’t enough to give him any idea of who this could be.

There was one thing that suddenly caught his eye, a coat he’d seen more times than not in the last few years. He’d given them shit for not fixing the rip in the shoulder, saying it would be ruined by the end of the year. Oh shit.

“I wondered how long it was going to take you to find out, but clearly you’re not as smart as you claimed,” Her voice sent chills down his spine, this couldn’t be happening.

“Lovely to see you as well,” Joel kept his gaze straight, refusing to acknowledge she was even in the room.

She snickered lowly, footsteps echoing as she came to a stop in front of Joel. A knife held loosely in her right hand should’ve made him more nervous than he was. This was how it was all going to end, he wouldn’t be able to tell Sarah or Ellie the truth.

“Why kill so many young women? What did they ever do to you?” Joel swallowed thickly, palms sweating profusely.

“It should’ve been obvious after you found the first body, why do you think Tommy was so unnerved around her?” Maria leaned down slowly, her presence was enough to make Joel feel sick.

“Anyone that’s sane is going to be unnerved around a dead body, don’t act surprised,” Maybe he shouldn’t be so snarky, but right now he was terrified.

Maria sighed, leaning away from Joel and the only light source she’d turned on. Joel was bathed in the light, giving him enough vision to see himself and a few feet in front of him. However once Maria had gotten far enough away he had no idea where she had gone, what was she planning on doing?

“He had been sleeping with her, each and every girl was a fucking bootycall for him because I was too busy with work,” Maria’s tone was venomous, she was murdering innocent women because Tommy was unfaithful.

“They did nothing wrong, if you’re going to be angry with anyone be mad at him!” Joel would defend Tommy with his last breath, but knowing he was the reason Maria had snapped? It sickened him.

Maria sighed to herself, setting down the hunting knife and slipping on a pair of thick black gloves. Shit, this was starting to get too real for Joel.

“I did confront him when I found out he’d slept with three different women, he got down on his knees and begged me not to divorce him. If he only knew what was going to happen,” Maria ran a finger along the edge of the blade, humming softly.

Joel grunted as he pulled against the restraints, blood pooling against the coarse rope binding his wrists together. The hold was loosening ever so slightly but he couldn’t do anything to let Maria know he was trying to free himself.

“He’s always been too proud to admit his faults, but Jesus, Maria, divorce would’ve been the more logical fucking answer,” Joel damn near screamed as his right hand was freed, grabbing the rope to prevent it from hitting the floor.

“And let him go after girls even younger? He’s a sick man, Joel, and the sooner you see that the better,” Maria turned back towards him, her eyes looked so lifeless.

“Then let me do my own investigation on him, get him off the street so he can’t hurt anyone else,” Joel would do whatever it took to get back to his two girls, begging be damned.

Maria’s smirk was enough to send the fear of God through Joel, how had he been so blind to see that she was behind all the gruesome murders. The knife suddenly caught his attention, a small flicker of light glinting off the blade before it was embedded into the soft plush of his stomach. Joel coughed violently, dropping the rope and struggling to free his left wrist. Maria had clearly not realized Joel’s wrists were free until he swung a fist towards the side of her head. He managed to hit her temple, knocking her to the ground.

Joel groaned, grabbing the handle of the blood and pushing up and off the chair he’d just been bound to. Maria didn’t move as Joel limped towards the stairs that lead up to the kitchen, maybe he’d gotten lucky enough to knock her out. Each stair brought on a pain that Joel never knew he could imagine. Just get out of the house and get to the station.

There was a set of keys sitting on the kitchen table, without thinking Joel grabbed them and ran out to where Maria’s car sat. All but throwing himself into the passenger seat, Joel locked the doors immediately. The last thing he needed was Maria managing to wake up and coming after him before he could actually escape. His vision was beginning to get spotty, darkening on the sides as he managed to get the car started and pulled out of the driveway.

If his calculations were correct he was only about a ten minute drive from the station, all he needed to do was survive until then and warn everyone about Maria. Joel wished he was in one of the cruisers, able to get through the traffic with ease. His shirt was nearly covered in blood, even though he’d left the knife in his stomach blood was pumping out steadily.

Joel could have cried the moment the station came into view, parking haphazardly as he threw the door open quickly. Getting out of the car was much worse than getting in, his body was growing weaker and he could hardly keep himself upright anymore. His face paled even more as he saw Sarah and Ellie inside talking with Tommy. Why the fuck were they were and not at his mom’s?!

“Tommy!” Joel’s voice was hoarse, hands pressed against the wound to help prevent anymore blood from seeping out.

Tommy’s brow furrowed as he stared out the double doors, eyes suddenly widening in fear as he noticed the state his brother was in.

Joel could barely remember the events that followed, his body slumped against the car as he waited for the end to finally come. Tommy had gathered as many officers as he could, running out to get Joel help and make sure he’d be alright. Sarah and Ellie were terrified, each of them crying as they watched Joel get taken away by ambulance. What the hell had happened to him, and what were they going to do until he was alright?

~~~

The sound of beeping is what caught Joel’s attention first followed by the absolute agony that was his right side. Was he finally in hell? Cause nothing could be worse than what he was currently experiencing.

“Gave everyone quite a scare there,” Tommy was sitting beside him, a cup of coffee held loosely in his hands.

“Yeah, well that’s what happens when your sister-in-law ends up stabbing you,” Joel said it so nonchalantly that even he was shocked.

Wait! He hadn’t gotten the chance to tell anyone that Maria was behind all of the murders!

“We already know, Joel, ended up figuring it out after you pulled up in her car. All the evidence was in the fucking basement,” Tommy was sickened by himself, he was the reason so many women were dead.

“She been taken into custody? I want to make sure that my girls are safe,” It was more than that, but Joel wasn’t going to spill any more information than needed.

“Yeah, they’re still scouring the house for anything else they might find. I’m a fucking suspect by the way,” Shit, that meant Joel and the girls were going to be questioned as well.

“Make sure they don’t go after Sarah or Ellie without me present, they’re still kids,” Tommy flinched at the word kids, why did that bother Joel so much?

Tommy didn’t stay long after Joel finally woke up, mentioning how he needed to be interviewed since the murderer happened to be his own wife. He was sure they’d come to interview him while he was stuck in a hospital bed, that way they’d get all the answers they needed. The stab wound wouldn’t be enough to prove he was innocent, people had done crazier shit before. As long as the girls were safe Joel could sleep a little easier.

“Hello?” You popped your head in the door, right hand resting against the doorknob.

“Hey, didn’t expect to see you,” Joel pressed the button on the side of his bed to help lift it more.

“Sarah told me what happened, I came over as soon as I got the chance,” You frowned as you walked closer to him.

The damage was hidden under the gown he had on, leaving everything to imagination except for the man who’d been dealt the wound.

“I promise it sounds much worse than it actually is,” Joel knew everyone was going to worry over him, especially Sarah and Ellie when they got to visit.

“You don’t need to act strong for me,” You grabbed onto one of his hands, lacing your fingers together before plopping down in one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs.

“Just being honest darling, I know better than to hide anything from you,” Joel was happy that you had come to visit, it was a nice break from all the pain and anguish.

Two FBI agents showed up, and as much as Joel tried to hide his shock, he could only keep it together for so long. The woman standing before him was someone he’d lost contact with after he went into the academy. Though he couldn’t be surprised she’d managed to work her way up to the FBI.

“Nice to see you too Miller,” Tess smiled at him, her hair was so much shorter than the last time they’d seen one another. “Could say the same to you, but I doubt this is what you’d call good circumstances,” Joel gestured to his side that was covered.

You were still holding onto his hand except now you were nervous on who this new person was, from the way they spoke to one another it was obvious there was a deep past. She didn’t keep up pretenses though, diving right in to asking Joel any and every question she could. He kept it straightforward, giving any kind of detail that would help in the case against Maria. It sent chills down your spin listening to the harrowing tale that was Joel’s near death experience. He of course acted like this was a normal tuesday for him.

“If we need any more information we’ll be in contact, stay safe,” Tess and her partner left with a quick goodbye, leaving you and Joel to settle back into silence.

Joel didn’t want to worry anyone, let alone you or the girls, and right now his biggest worry was making sure Maria was behind bars. There were other fish to fry, but that was the main one.

~~~

Joel was downright exhausted. From dealing with the murder trials, to having to go to physical therapy to help get more mobility in his right side. Everything was becoming too much and Joel was over it. Sarah and Ellie had come back from his moms when he’d been home for nearly a week, each of them taking turns yelling at him. He just reminded them that sometimes his job was deadly. They were still gathering evidence to charge her properly, most people were demanding the death penalty since she’d murdered as many as twenty different women.

Joel was thankful his name was kept out of the limelight, that no one had known he was related to the murderer's husband. It was more to keep Sarah and Ellie’s names out of the press and prevent anyone from coming after them as revenge. The families had poured into the courtroom, crying silently as each name was listed amongst the victims.

It wasn’t until the fifth day of trial that Joel was finally called up onto the stand to give his testimony. He told them everything that happened, images of his wounds being pulled up to show the jurors. It was a harsh reminder that Joel was even still healing as he sat in front of everyone, pressing a hand against his side as though the wound would reopen.

“Mr. Miller, is it true that you and your brother both work for the detective agency?” Maria’s lawyer was a scummy bastard, he’d given off bad vibes from day one. “Yes,” Joel wasn’t sure where they were going with their questions, as the defense was doing everything they could to make sure she didn’t go to prison.

“And is it true that you were always the first one on scene?” What the hell?

“Not always, sometimes it would be my brother Tommy, or other times it would be Bill,” Joel slid his hands down to his lap.

The courtroom was nearly silent as David, Maria’s lawyer, turned to face the jury. He had to have had evidence to disprove something Joel was saying.

“Now Joel, it’s no secret that you or your brother had an interest in younger women before,” Joel was taken aback, he hadn’t so much as dated since Sarah was a child.

“Objection!” Marc, one of the DA's, shouted loud enough to cut off David’s weird tirade.

“Stay on track Mr. Winters,” The judge even seemed annoyed with wherever David was taking his bullshit.

“Apologies, now if I may reiterate my statement, your brother had been sleeping with the victims prior to them being murdered, correct?” David turned to face Joel suddenly, a sickening smile on his face.

“Yes, Maria strictly went after those women because he had been sleeping with them during their marriage,” There was clearly some kind of bullshit statement he needed to make.

Everyone became tense as they waited for David to drop the bomb that was sitting on the tip of his tongue.

“And is it true you knew one of the victims personally?” Joel’s brow furrowed, he’d only known one of them from the diner he frequented with the girls.

“She was a waitress at a diner I take my two daughters to, we didn’t know each other outside of her employer,” David clearly had not liked his answer if the way he suddenly scowled was any answer.

Did he think that Joel was sleeping with all these random young women after his brother had? What kind of sick fuck did he take him for?

“No further questions your honor,” David quickly went and took his seat, Maria angrily whispering into his ear.

Joel stepped down from the stand, heading back to sit in his original seat while the jurors headed off for deliberation. With all of the families now knowing who Joel was, keeping Ellie and Sarah safe was going to be his top priority. What if they tried confronting him after the trial?

“The jury reached their verdict,” Marc leaned back to where Joel was sitting, whispering softly enough so no one else heard him.

Shit, that was quick.

Each juror took their original spots, standing up and waiting until the judge had been given the slip of paper that held their answers. Joel waited with bated breath, hoping the news would give him some peace of mind.

“In the charge of first degree murder of Lily Evans, we the jury find the defendant guilty,” The rush that fell over Joel was euphoric.

Each name spoken was followed by a guilty, all the victims that had suffered were getting the justice they so rightfully deserved. The families were crying louder, thanking the heavens their children’s deaths were not in vain. Joel couldn’t look at Tommy, to see the reaction he had after hearing the woman he’d loved was being charged.

The first thing Joel was going to do would be take a damn vacation and get the girls out of the town for at least a week. It was a good thing it was summer which meant they didn’t have to worry about school, but right now he wasn’t thinking about that. The clawing notion that there was something his brother was hiding still bothered him. He wouldn’t ask Maria what that meant, the last thing he would do is associate himself with a murderer.

“I’m gonna head home and see how the girls are doing,” Joel slipped his overcoat back on, fixing his tie so it looked more presentable once more.

“Alright, tell ‘em I said hello,” Tommy’s voice was void of emotion, nearly lifeless.

Joel didn’t waste another second before rushing out of the courtroom, narrowly missing the reporters that were waiting outside to get any information. He’d probably spill the beans to you after he saw the two girls and got a decent meal in him. Sarah had been worried about him since the incident, and now she could rest a little easier knowing he’d be home more. Maybe he could order in and they’d sit and watch a movie together. As soon as he pulled up to the house his entire plan was washed away.

You were standing outside with Sarah and Ellie, laughing at something one of the girls had said. Normally Joel wouldn’t be upset if his girls were talking to someone, as long as he knew about them or of them, but your relationship was too new. Had they heard about you through one of the neighbors? No, Joel had been careful not to kiss you while the two of you were outside at all.

“Dad!” Sarah ran over the moment Joel had parked the car, throwing her arms around his middle carefully.

“Hey sweetpea, you behaving like I told you to?” Joel hugged her a little tighter, letting her know he was here to stay.

“Yeah, Y/N’s been keeping us company for a couple hours since it got late,” That made sense, the girls were probably worried he wouldn’t be home again.

“Why don’t we go inside and order something for dinner, it’s been a long few weeks,” Even though he was beyond exhausted, Joel was going to make sure his girls were happy.

Sarah ran inside with Ellie, leaving you and Joel outside to talk. Well, Joel assumed that’s what it was at least.

“Hey there handsome,” You smiled up at him, pressing a hand against his chest. “Hey, they cause any trouble for you?” Joel needed to make sure everything was alright, parental instincts always on high gear.

“No they were perfectly fine, I wanted to keep them away from the news during the trial,” Well that was a relief.

“Thank you, it means a lot,” He would tell them eventually, but right now he wanted to put this all behind him.

Joel offered to let you eat with them, but you politely declined, saying that you had plans with a couple friends and would see him for your next date. Joel watched you until you were safely inside your house, pulling out his phone to order in some food. He might have gone overboard and ordered both pizza and chinese, but the girls deserved a little treat.

“Food should be here in a half hour, why don’t you guys get a movie set up,” Joel headed up to his bedroom, leaving the girls to their own devices.

He stripped down quickly, throwing on his comfiest pairs of sweats and a threadbare t-shirt that had definitely seen better days. Just because it had paint from before Sarah was born didn’t mean it had to be thrown out. He had talked with Frank about taking a couple weeks off once the trial was over, and now he was going to cash in on that.

“Food’s here!” Ellie’s voice was loud enough to carry up into Joel’s room.

Joel grabbed his wallet and headed back down to pay for the food so the girls could start eating and relax. He was surprised to see both delivery drivers already but it meant not having to get up multiple times to pay. Joel quickly paid for both meals, along with a hefty tip and handed the girls the food to separate. Ellie was screeching about how excited she was for the chinese, whereas Sarah was more excited for the pizza.

Joel let the girls make their own plates before getting any food for himself, they had gotten a movie ready to go while he was getting changed. He chuckled when he realized it was one of the new Star Wars movies that had come out recently. It was better to just let the girls choose instead of arguing for something else.

“Sarah keeps picking this movie cause she thinks Poe’s cute,” Ellie giggled when Sarah threw an eggroll at her.

“Shut up!” Sarah was nearly mortified, immediately shoving another bite of pizza into her mouth.

“Huh, he kind of looks like the ADA I met with today,” Joel was shocked at how similar they looked, the man was a real doppelganger.

Sarah’s head whipped around, he just opened a whole can of worms hadn’t he?

“No I’m not introducing you to someone I probably won’t see again for a while,” Joel scooped a forkful of rice into his mouth.

“Please? You won’t take me to meet Oscar Isaac so I have to make do!” Sarah wasn’t above begging to get what she wanted.

“I’ll take you to meet whoever this actor is as long as you don’t misbehave, got it?” Joel wouldn’t admit he’d bought tickets for the three of them to attend the con they had been talking about for ages.

“Thank you!” Sarah was all but vibrating in her seat.

Joel knew that he was doing the right thing, the girls would be much happier with the surprise that they were going. And once they got back home he would be starting his own investigation on the last person he wanted to do this to.

Tommy.

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