#nearly died laughing when i found this at the store

[cuubism]

Finally after two years of owning this computer I christened it with a single sticker and of course it was this cursed, presumably AI-generated bastardization of Good Vibes

Cood Vibbes be upon ye.

[sweetsreverie]

could you write a drabble where darry’s girlfriend is totally adored by the rest of the boys and she’s almost motherly to them?

bro... thank you for planting this idea in my head ♡︎

pairing: darry curtis x f!reader wc: 972 warnings/notes: none

You met Darry six months ago while you were at the grocery store. You were clearly having trouble trying to reach something on the top shelf and he offered to help you, retrieving the item and handing it to you with a charming, kind smile. The two of you ended up talking in the spice aisle for nearly ten minutes before you both realized that you had places to be. Darry had scribbled his home phone number on your grocery list before leaving. Since then, you mostly saw him on the weekends when he wasn’t working, or on the rare occasion that he wasn’t totally exhausted after work, you would see him for dinner.

It took a while for him to introduce you to his brothers, and eventually the rest of their little gang. But when he did, he came to notice that the boys treated you differently than anyone else. They seemed to respect you, and they didn’t really pick on you or mess with you like they did other people. That was also partially because you seemed to take care of them, and honestly you didn’t even think much of it. You just found yourself doing little things for them here and there. It started with you cleaning up Darry’s work boots one night, and then you ironed Sodapop’s work shirt one day while he was running late for work, and you’ve helped Ponyboy with his homework on multiple occasions when he was struggling through his math homework. 

It made Darry’s heart swell, especially when you took care of Ponyboy and Soda. Ever since their mom died, they haven’t had a female, or even somewhat of a motherly figure in their life. Darry could be tough on them, so having your gentle nature around was almost comforting for them.

Today you had the day off of work so you spent some time at the Curtis’ house. Darry was working so you tried to clean up the place to take it off of his shoulders. Besides, you sometimes spent the night with Darry and ate dinner with them, so you figure you might as well pull your own weight and treat the place as your own. 

“You know Y/N, this ain’t even your house. You don’t have to clean up after us.” Pony says while he sits on the couch and Johnny sits on the floor near the coffee table, and the two of them were playing ‘go fish’.

“Well- I stay here enough and eat enough of yall’s food, I might as well. And I don’t want Darry to have to worry about it when he gets back from work.” You explain as you wipe down the kitchen table with a damp cloth.

Ponyboy smiles softly at that before he looks down at the cards in his hand. “Well… I know that Darry really appreciates it. He probably don’t show it or say it, but… I know he does.” Pony tells you with a little nod.

“I just know he’s got a lot on his plate, and I don’t see you boys helping him clean up much.” You say, the teasing tone clear in your voice while you grin over at Pony. Pony’s expression turns sheepish immediately, and Johnny even chuckles at your playful scolding.

Later that evening when Darry comes home, you stand in the kitchen with him while you two wait for dinner to finish cooking. After a few moments, Darry turns to you as you’re leaning against the counter.

“You know, Ponyboy told me you scolded him like a mother today.” Darry says, and you groan and shake your head.

“I did not! I was just messing with him-” You insist, and Darry laughs.

“He knows that, doll face. I just… think it’s funny. You really do take care of us.” Darry says with a little smile while he reaches for your hand.

You think about it for a second, and you realize that you really do take care of these boys.

“Well… you’re my boys. And someone’s gotta keep some order around here.” You tell Darry with a grin. You hear the front door open, and you poke your head out from around the doorway to see Sodapop and Steve.

“Aht aht, don’t bring them dirty boots in the house. Leave ‘em on the porch.” You tell the two of them, and Ponyboy laughs as they turn back around and begin to take their boots off on the porch.

When you turn back to Darry in the kitchen, the man is just grinning from ear to ear.

“What were you saying about keeping order around here?” He asks jokingly and you can’t help but laugh.

“Hell, even Dally listens to you. You must have instilled some kinda fear in him or something.”

You laugh at that and shake your head, and you move closer to Darry so you’re tucked in his side.

“But… really. Ever since our folks passed, Pony and Soda haven’t really had… a woman to care for them, or like.. A mother figure. If you know what I mean.” Darry tries to explain, and you nod while giving him a little smile.

“I understand, Darry. Really- and… I’m happy to be that for them. I know I can never replace your mom, and I don’t want to- but… I’m happy to look after them. I know it's hard for you to do on your own.” You explain to Darry, and he lets out a quiet sigh while he looks down at you with an expression of admiration.

“Have I ever told you that I love you?” Darry asks, and you laugh softly.

“Yeah. Once or twice I think.” You tease him lightly before the two of you carry on with making dinner before the boys in the living room start getting too rowdy.

[confused-wanderer]

I know we all talk about Jason finding out Dick killed the Joker from Tim or one of the other batfam members, but what if:

One day he’s searching for blackmail material on a member just for fun and knows Damian keeps a list of all of them so he backs into the files and realised the folder with the heaviest inscription to unlock is one labelled “Contingencies”.

He opens it to find every single person in their family is on there and starts surfing through them. When he sees Tim’s he freezes, mentally filing away some horrific details for checking up on him later, Jason’s list is impressive but not much he didn’t expect…still concerned how he got the evidence though.

His fingers hesitate over Batman’s, and after thinking screw it what the hell clicks on it just to realise most of them are psychological, and had to do with Jason. One video showed Bruce as Jason remembered him from his robin days. He was pacing furiously in the Manor, tugging on his pocket square which for him was a high level of distress, before he went upstairs - to Jason’s room when he stayed there - and looked in. The change was sudden, Bruce’s shoulders sagged and his face grew into one of fondness, one he’d rarely seen before.

“I cant help it Alfred.. Scarecrow’s toxin.. I KNOW it isn’t real but.. I can’t stop thinking about it. What if -“ and Jason can’t really believe his ears, that was a fucking quiver in his voice- “What if one day it comes true?” “What was your worst fear Master Bruce?”.

“Jason..” and Jason flinches. “I.. I saw him die, and I was powerless. I cant lose him Alfred. I just cant.”

The recording ends, and it takes a while for Jason to realise he can’t breathe. He sends the file to himself and laughs bitterly, remembering what the fear toxin had shown him. Lucifer. It had shown him falling from Bruce’s grace, being his greatest disappointment. “Guess we both failed each other didnt we old man?”

After what feels like forever, when he can feel his fingers stop shaking his eyes drift over to Dicks.

Damian sure does adore him, wonder what the brats got in store for him.

Most of them were things he was sure Dick could handle, until a glitched file appeared which read “for EXTREME situations only.”

When he heard Joker laugh, Jason could’ve sworn he was in the cave. “Hello there old friend! Aww why the long face?”

Dick wasn’t facing the camera, but the sheer aura of destruction radiating off of him was enough for Jason to know Joker was in danger. Judging by his outfit and well- hair- this must’ve been years ago.

“Didn’t you like my..ah.. gift? It was quite the blast I hear!”

Dicks fists clenched. His usual smile was gone, replaced by a hatred so vile it could’ve rivalled batman’s glare. It was so odd.. seeing him so pissed.

“Well that’s what happens.. when birds get hit. They never see what’s right in front of them and then BAM!”

As his laughter rang out Jason heard Dick whisper something. It was so soft, quieter than he’d ever heard him and he found himself leaning forward.

“What’s that? How long he lasted? Well I counted everytime he screamed when I broke his bones so-“

“SHUT. THE. FUCK. UP!”

Jason stumbled back, nearly falling to the floor himself. Dicks voice was thundering, echoing across the cave.

What the hell had happened? Why was Dick so mad? Why wasn’t he smiling?

“You..killed him.”

And that’s when it hit Jason. Oh. This was after he’d died.

The joker was trying to say something, but Jason couldn’t hear him. All he could focus on was how Dick was behaving, how he was walking upto Joker. Jason had seen that before.

The intent to kill.

SLAM

The fight was brutal, and blood flew everywhere, mixed with the laughter and cries of the Joker while Dick yelled, YELLED so loudly he could’ve sworn the cave was shaking before the sound of a wet snap ricocheted and Dick went limp.

No.. no no no no.

He watched in horror as Dick stood up, drenched in blood and heaving. Dick had gone- no BEATEN- the joker for Jason.

But the longer he looked, the more he felt the Lazarus pit burning inside him.

The joker wasn’t moving.

Dick walked away, and in the shadows, with bloody fists and face of hatred could not see him as the Dick he knew.

“Dead.”

He looked up to hear Dick whisper to the thundering sky outside.

“I killed him Jason. The joker is dead. Rest in peace little wing.”

Jason’s feet gave out under him, and he crashed to the ground gasping for breath.

Never in his wildest dreams had he thought he had been avenged.

Never did he even think that Dick had only killed once… and only for him.

Part two of related series where Jason finds out Bruce nearly killed the Joker:

[redflagshipwriter]

Hot Ghouls in your area ch 5 part 1 of 2

Masterpost

Jason found himself back in the real world (the human world?) in fuckin Star City. Christ. Luckily, his electronics came on line. They weren’t fried, then. He looked up the nearest zeta tube and booked it over there, not eager to get caught in another hero’s city.  The worst part would be that Batman would inevitably smooth it out on his behalf and go growl at Queen for having the audacity to try to arrest him. Jason did not need to get bailed out by his asshole Dad, thanks. 

He wasn’t worried about Green Arrow and his crew per se, but it would be a shitstorm he didn’t need even if he managed to get out. 

Not when he was so laden down with books that he had unfolded both dufflebags stored in his suit, for fuckin sure. Sure, they’d make phenomenal weapons if he swung ‘em around, but the books deserved better than that. 

His comm forced itself on as soon as he came through to Gotham.

“You’re back!” Barbie said, breathless. “You’re alive? Right?”

Jason snorted. The street he stepped onto wasn’t fully dark yet. Patrol probably hadn’t started. “I’m alive,” he confirmed. “How long was I gone?”

“About ten hours,” she said.

Oh. Jason pursed his lips. It wasn’t dusk, it was dawn. “Tonight must have been fun,” he said lightly. 

She laughed darkly. “You’re about to find out how fun it was.”

He stopped in his tracks. “Hey, no-”

Oracle opened up a line to what was probably every vigilante in Gotham city. “Hood is back and safe,” she announced, gleeful about throwing him to the wolves. “He’s on 2nd and Grim, for anyone who wants to drop by and tell him how much they missed him.” 

Jason cursed a blue streak and started off at a dead sprint as he reached for his grappling hook. It was a lot slower than usual since he was swinging two enormous bags of books. …Could he even grapple with these? Goddamn. He’d be over the weight limit. He cursed even harder and put the hook back.

“Heading west,” Oracle said cheerfully, and then clicked off a bare instant before he manually mashed the damn power button on his setup. Nope, nope, nope, he was not dealing with this shit tonight. 

He made it about four blocks and was so goddamn close to a safehouse (one of Bruce’s, but he could put it on lockdown) when a wailing blue and black blur emerged from the skies.

“We thought you died,” Nightwing warbled at him. Jesus fucking christ, he had been crying. His face was wet. Jason tried to duck away but he was too laden. He struggled against the hold for a few futile seconds before he went limp.

Dick sniffled into his chest. 

“Shut up,” Jason said, shoulders nearly up to his ears. He didn’t need to hear any criticism of how he had handled that cult situation, or any grieving about how this had made people think of the time he got brutally beaten to death. 

“I’m not saying anything,” Dick mumbled. He gave one more squeeze before withdrawing. “Huge relief to see you in the-what do you have there?” He dove down into the bags of books before Jason could kick him away. He was already prying the bag open by the time he asked. Jason tried to pull it away but it was impossible to keep Dick’s grabby hands out of your business.

“He went to a library,” Nightwing announced to the comms, outraged. “We thought he was dead and he went to a library!”

Someone laughed loudly on the comms. The brat turned on his comms explicitly to scoff.

“Did you rob a library?” Dick’s voice went high. “There’s so much here!” He flipped things around. “There- these are the same book? Hood, why do you have so many copies of the same book?”

“They’re not the same,” Jason snapped. “Get your grubby hands off of them!” He took his things back and edged away, glowering at his dumb asshole brother. “If you came to gawk, you did it, so now fuck off. You can clearly see that I am fine.”

“Jason,” Batman rasped, like the goddamn creep he was. Jason spun to see that he’d come up from behind. He lurched closer. He looked like hell. His knuckles were bloody and his pulse was jumping in his throat.

“No names in masks,” Jason snapped. He put his hands up to keep Bruce at a distance. “That’s your own rule, old man!”

It was no use. He endured the bullshit while his dumbass Dad made sure he wasn’t dead again, but he drew the line at letting Bruce clutch him and probably sob under his sweaty cowl like a weirdo. 

“I should have stayed there,” Jason grumbled. He patted at Bruce’s back. “There, there, asshole. You’re fine.”

[justabigassnerd]

Protective Friend

Pairing - Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell x daughter!reader

Word count - 2,182

Warnings - physical violence, mentions of cheating, blood, angst, mentions of Goose, fluff

Summary - after someone picks on Bradley one too many times, you handle the situation and secretly impress your father

A/N - it's been a minute huh, y'all? I think I'm doing a bit better (no promises), so maybe I'll be uploading more fics. anyway I won't bore y'all with a long A/N so as per y'all, please send in requests, feedback, and enjoy

Growing up alongside the Bradshaw family, it was basically inevitable that you would become best friends with Bradley Bradshaw. After all, you’d practically known the family since birth with your dad working alongside your Uncle Goose and it had devastated you when Goose died, understanding the finality of it all even at a young age. After Goose passed you made even more of an effort to be a good friend to Bradley, doing your best to keep a smile on his face.

However, the kids at your school were not nearly as kind. They had found out that Goose had died one day during an activity in the build-up to the summer holidays where your teacher gave you the freedom to make Father’s Day cards to store somewhere safe until the day came and Bradley had innocently asked your teacher what he was supposed to do. When the teacher had crossed the room to crouch down alongside him to ask why he couldn’t write a card for his dad, some kids had overheard him saying that his dad was dead and apparently thought it was the funniest thing to them. The teasing started off light before it got worse, but you could tell it bothered Bradley all the same, especially given the sensitivity of the topic. You ended up telling your dad about the teasing and bullying and without hesitation, Maverick had gone straight to Carole to make sure she was aware as well. Carole, of course, wasted no time going to the principal and telling him about how he needs to be doing better in making sure the bullies get punished.

When the principal did nothing about it, nonchalantly saying he couldn’t control kids’ actions, Carole went and tracked down the parents of the kids who were picking on Bradley after you gave them their names. Once again, Carole reached a brick wall as when she spoke to the various parents of the kids, they just shrugged her off and said that both Bradley and Carole needed to stop being so sensitive over something that happened years ago and that a bit of friendly teasing wasn’t hurting anyone so according to them, Bradley simply had to man up and learn how to take a joke. It took everything within Carole not to slap anyone when she heard the same answer multiple times. Her son was being bullied and no one was doing anything about it when this was the time to step up and do something. She didn’t care if had been ten minutes or ten years since Goose’s passing, he was still Bradley’s father, and her son was allowed to mourn the loss he suffered.

When Carole next met up with Maverick and filled him in on what had happened, Maverick immediately offered to give it a try himself, more than willing to be assertive and to even drag Iceman into it if needed. Carole told Maverick not to worry about it, and that he probably wouldn’t get much further than she did, even with Iceman.

“Do you want me to sleep with their wives?” Maverick had jokingly suggested which resulted in Carole hiding her giggle as she lightly slapped Maverick on the shoulder.

“You wouldn’t dare.” She replied, continuing to laugh as Maverick shrugged jokingly.

“All I’m saying is I could give them the best night of their lives, end it then and there and then ruin their marriage. That’ll teach them for picking on Bradley.” Maverick says nonchalantly, leaning back against the sofa with a grin.

“Mav, I love you, but no you can’t ruin people’s marriages over this.” Carole says as Maverick holds his hands up in mock surrender, both of them chuckling lightly.

“It was a good idea though.”

A couple of days later, one Saturday morning, you managed to coerce Maverick into taking you to the local playground and when you asked if Bradley could come with you and so he walked you over to the house just down the road and asked Carole if Bradley wanted to come to the park with the two of you. Carole was of course extended an invitation to join you all, but she politely declined, saying she had housework she needed to do. Now with Bradley in tow, the three of you make your way to the park, entering the gated park and both of you immediately head over to the swings while Maverick sits himself on a bench just outside of the park, watching you play with a soft smile.

However, at the most crucial moment, Maverick found himself distracted by a pair of attractive women who smiled flirtatiously at him as they passed, deciding that since both you and Bradley were happily playing in the park, he had the perfect opportunity to strike up a conversation with them.

In the park, a boy that was in your grade named Johnny decided he wanted to pick on Bradley, calling over to him and once again picking on him for the fact his dad was dead the moment, he realised you had crossed the park to talk to another one of your friends.

“Stop it.” Bradley said firmly, standing from the swing and attempting to stand up for himself against the bullies.

“What are you going to do? Tell your dad?” Johnny said before eyeing the way Bradley’s hand clenched around something hanging on his chest.

“What’s that?” He then asked teasingly, eyes glinting with glee as Bradley took a step back, fist tightening around the dog tags that once belonged to his dad. With nothing more than a look exchanged between them, Johnny’s two friends put a hand on Bradley’s shoulders and forced him to the floor, while Johnny pried Bradley’s hand open and removed the precious dog tags from around his neck, inspecting them and chuckling to himself.

“Goose? What kind of stupid name is that?” Johnny says, reading the callsign displayed on the tags.

“Give them back!” Bradley cries out, attempting to get up and grab his dog tags but Johnny’s friends were quicker, forcing down on his shoulders harder to prevent him from moving.

Across the park, you had heard Bradley’s demand and so glanced over and immediately removed yourself from your conversation and immediately rushed over to Bradley’s defence, taking less than a second to realise what it was Johnny had stolen.

“Give it back, Johnny!” You say firmly, holding your hand out expectantly and gritting your teeth when Johnny just laughs in your face.

“And why would I do that?” He taunts, sniggering as he glances over at his friends who laugh too.

“Because you’re not going to like what I’m going to do next.”

Just as Maverick was bidding goodbye to the two women, making sure to give each of them a cheeky wink as they went, he turned to look back at the park and instead came face to face with a rageful-looking mother who had a boy alongside her who was holding a tissue up to his bleeding nose.

“What do you have to say for yourself?” The woman all but yells in Maverick’s face, barely giving him space to breathe, let alone process what she is saying.

“I’m sorry, what?” Maverick says, trying his best to calm the tension. He had recognised the kid instantly; you had pointed him out to your dad one afternoon when you had first told him about the bullying.

“Your brat of a daughter punched my sweet Johnny for no reason! I can’t believe you’d raise a child to think that’s okay.” The mother says, glaring at Maverick who takes a moment to glance over at you where you were crouching down alongside Bradley, clearly talking to him before taking a moment to look over at your dad with a worried expression.

“y/n wouldn’t hit someone.” Maverick says, getting up from the bench to be more level with the woman.

“She punched him!” She repeats, even louder and begins to get looks from people surrounding them.

“Okay, okay, cool your jets. I’ll speak to her.” Maverick says, waving his hand dismissively before crossing to the park gate, opening it and catching your eye before gesturing you over and waiting patiently for you to approach.

“Hi, dad.” You mumble, glancing down at your shoes to avoid looking Maverick in the eye.

“Hey squirt. So, I heard you punched that Johnny kid. Want to tell me what happened?” Maverick says, crouching down to be at your level and gently encouraging you to look at him. You mumbled something in response but none of it was audible to him.

“You gotta speak up kiddo.” Maverick encourages gently, reaching out and resting a hand on your shoulder and squeezing lightly, silently promising you he wouldn’t get upset.

“He took Uncle Goose’s dog tags from Bradley.” You say, a little louder so that Maverick can hear you. Upon hearing the reason you had lashed out; Maverick knew he couldn’t be mad at you at all, but he also knew he had to try and dissuade you from using violence in the future.

“Okay, sweetheart, you can’t punch people. I understand why you did it but if you’re ever in a situation like this, you come and get me, Carole, Ice, whoever. We’ll sort it out. I’m sure you did try but make sure you use your words. Punching people isn’t okay, no matter what it is they do.” Maverick says softly, watching as you carefully take in his words, nodding softly.

“Yes, daddy.” You say before Maverick gently pulls you into a hug.

“Go and grab Bradley and get ready to head back home. I’ll speak to Johnny’s mother.” Maverick says quietly before releasing you from the hug, letting you go over to Bradley then standing up and heading back over to Johnny and his mother.

“I didn’t see you disciplining your daughter. How do you know she won’t do it again?” Johnny’s mother says firmly, gripping her son’s shoulder and pulling him closer to emphasise the injury.

“I spoke to her, and she knows it’s wrong. But she did tell me that your son took something that was special to not only Bradley, but his family and my family too. And when your son clearly refused to give it back, she did what she thought she had to do. She won’t do it again, but I won’t say she wasn’t justified.” Maverick explains, folding his arms across his chest and raising an eyebrow as he anticipates her freakout.

“She hurt my son and you’re saying it’s justified?” The shock and horror was painted all over her face as she yelled at Maverick.

“I’m not going to lie to you and say she wasn’t justified in what she did. Your kid stole something special from Bradley and has been bullying him for a while. You have refused to teach your kid better so no I will not punish her for standing up for her friend.” Maverick says firmly, deciding then and there that the conversation is over and turning to find you and Bradley.

“Come on you two, we’re heading home!” Maverick calls over to you and Bradley and when you and Bradley rush over to him, he wraps an arm around each of your shoulders and ushers you away from the woman and her son and begins the walk home. First, you drop Bradley off at his house, both of you greeting Carole as she opens the door. Just before Bradley heads inside, and while Maverick is explaining what happened earlier to Carole, Bradley turns to face you with a small smile.

“Thank you for getting my dog tags back.” Bradley says softly, making you smile before hugging Bradley.

“You don’t need to thank me.” You insist gently, squeezing Bradley softly before releasing him from the hug and letting him head inside with Carole while Maverick wraps an arm around your shoulders and encourages you to head home with him.

When you make it home, Maverick guides you into the living room and asks you to stay put while he grabs you an icepack. He soon returns with an icepack in hand, sitting down alongside you and taking the hand you had punched Johnny with and placing the icepack on the knuckles, biting back a frown when you wince slightly.

“This should help with any swelling.” Maverick says tenderly, his voice quiet as he lets you hold the icepack in place.

“Are you mad at me?” You question quietly, eyes fixed on the icepack to avoid looking at your dad.

“No sweetheart, I’m not mad. I do wish you had handled it a little differently, but I can’t be mad at you for standing up for Bradley.” Maverick admits, watching as you finally get the courage to look up at him.

“I wish I didn’t punch him. But it was satisfying.” You say quietly, a shy smile covering your face as Maverick lets out a soft chuckle before carefully pulling you into a hug.

“Well between me and you. I think he had it coming.”

[smilesrobotlover]

Whumptober day 12- underground caverns

WOOOO did all this last minute so much so that I didn’t have time to make it any longer! Stay tuned for tomorrow to see what the deal is ;)

Warnings for a mention of blood and flesh and someone hurting his ankle.

~~~~~~

Two days had passed inside the small inn with everyone pitching in to help nurse Rusl and Leon back to health. To Rusl’s dismay, Leon had given up his breakfast and his coat the day they trekked up the mountain for him, and so the first knight was completely out of it, needing care for his lack of self-care. Not to mention the wound in his side that Rusl gave him when he was being controlled by the puppeteer.

With Ammon’s help, the injured men were healing well, with Leon acting more like himself as he recovered. Talon was also recovering, feeling much better and refreshed with rest, food, and knowing that Rusl was recovering well. Overall, things were looking up for the men, but Ammon was beginning to grow worried.

They were running out of rupees, which meant that they would be kicked out soon if they didn’t get more. And Ammon knew that they couldn’t afford to be kicked out. The red potions helped speed up Rusl’s recovery, but he still needed time. So Ammon decided to go out to try to make more rupees, with Linebeck, Benji, and Kass following to help him.

The village was crowded with its residents sitting or running around, and Ammon kept his eyes peeled for someone who would need assistance with anything. Normally, a person in need would give a handsome prize to those that helped them.

The men split up and began searching for ways to make rupees. Ammon helped a cat get down from a roof and fetched apples from the store for an old woman. He overall got ten rupees and five wildberries from it, which was better than nothing, but still not good. After selling the wildberries for fifteen rupees, he decided to search for the others, praying that they had better luck than him.

He found Linebeck first, who was angrily wringing out his overcoat by the fountain. Ammon walked up to him, confusion apparent on his face.

“What happened here?”

Linebeck huffed, laying his coat in the sun. “This guy had me dive into a river to get his stupid chest that he lost! I nearly died!”

“Oh.” Ammon stared at his coat as Linebeck began to wring out his hair.

“Then, the idiot gave me an egg for my ‘efforts’. An egg! What the heck am I supposed to do with an egg?”

“Just sell it.”

“And what will that get me? Huh? Not enough for what I went through! I won’t be able to keep the money anyways!”

Ammon rolled his eyes. “Linebeck we need the money to stay in the inn. What would you even need rupees for anyways?”

“You don’t need to know everything about my life!” Linebeck argued, handing him the egg. It was a golden egg to Ammon’s surprise, and he wondered if it would sell well. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Benji approaching them holding a big bag, looking smug.

“Please tell me those are rupees,” Ammon said, and Benji laughed.

“No, it’s even better than rupees!” Benji reached in and pulled out a seed. “It’s a deku seed! It’ll blind anyone when you throw it!”

Ammon stared, unamused. “Benji, we need rupees, not seeds.”

Benji stared back, glancing at the bag of seeds, before throwing own in front of Ammon. He wasn't lying when he said that it’d blind anyone, because Ammon couldn’t see a thing for a few seconds. When his vision returned, he saw Benji’s stupid face smiling at him, and Ammon glared.

“Don’t do that again! Now sell those so we can get more rupees, dang it!”

Benji pouted and put the bag of useless junk away. “They’ll come in handy someday! Just you see!”

Ammon rolled his eyes and glanced at the golden egg, handing it to Linebeck.

“This is golden, it could sell for fifty rupees at the minimum. Sell it.”

Linebeck huffed and got up from the fountain, trudging his way to shop while Ammon and Benji watched. Goddesses, it felt like Ammon was with his son when he was a teenager. Always distracted by anything that blew up and pouting over everything. An ache to see his son again suddenly appeared in his chest, but he pushed it away, needing to trust that his son will be able to protect himself. Right now, he needed to focus on his friends.

While waiting for Linebeck to return, Ammon spotted Kass walking towards them, cradling his left wing and looking upset. Ammon raised a brow and walked up to him.

“Are you ok?”

Kass’s eyes widened and he forced a smile. “Oh yes! I’m fine… I just… haven’t gotten any rupees.”

“You and everyone else. It’s alright,” Ammon said, turning to glare at Benji. “Benji, make sure you sell those so we can get rupees. Hopefully we’ll get enough for a couple of more days.”

“But—”

“Quit acting like a child and sell them! Right now staying at the inn is the most important thing, not having useless seeds!”

Benji huffed. “These seeds aren’t useless! I showed you what they can do!”

“Sure, they’re not useless if you want to flashbang someone. Sell them.”

Benji groaned and stomped away, leaving Ammon and Kass alone by the fountain. Ammon glanced at Kass and chuckled slightly, who was laughing as well.

“Sometimes I wonder if he’s secretly a child with facial hair,” the rito said, and Ammon nodded.

“I wonder that as well.”

“Excuse me.”

Ammon and Kass turned to see who was talking to them, and an older man was on the opposite side of the fountain, looking frazzled and nervous.

“Hello,” Ammon greeted, hoping that the man had rupees to offer.

“I heard you’re doing jobs around here, yes?” He asked, and Ammon nodded. “I have a job for you, and I’ll pay you a handsome prize for it! I just…I need help.”

Ammon and Kass glanced at each other, and they both nodded.

“Of course, what can we do?”

The man looked relieved and he pointed to the well to the side of town.

“There’s something wrong with the well. When I went to get water, I received a bucket full of blood and flesh!”

Ammon and Kass glanced at each other again, an air of unease falling between them.

“We depend on that well water, so please, find out what’s going on down there, and I’ll pay you!” The man pleaded. Ammon nodded, and rested his hand on the man’s arm.

“We’ll take care of it, do not worry,” he said, and the man smiled.

“Thank you, oh thank you! My home is right by the well, so knock on my door to tell me what’s going on.”

“Of course.”

The man smiled again and walked away, entering what Ammon assumed was his home. He let out a sigh and looked up at Kass, who looked nervous.

“Well, sounds like we have an opportunity to get more rupees, yes?”

Kass nodded, but he didn’t look any less nervous. “Yes, but that’s… horrifying. What could cause the water to turn to blood?”

Ammon shrugged. “It could be a dead animal. Or it could be something that isn’t blood but looks like blood.”

“Yes, but what about the flesh?”

Ammon hummed. “It’s most likely a dead animal in that case. Either way, I hope he does pay well. We could use the rupees.”

Kass nodded and glanced over, spotting Linebeck and Benji walking up to the two.

“How much did you guys get?” Ammon asked, and Linebeck huffed.

“Fifty rupees.”

“I got 25 rupees,” Benji jumped in, and Ammon frowned.

“How many of those seeds did you have?”

“Thirty.”

“Wouldn’t you have thirty rupees then?”

Benji huffed. “I kept some of them, ok?”

Ammon sighed and shrugged. “Well, that’ll buy us two more nights. But we just got a request to investigate the well, so we’ll be doing that.”

“Hopefully we’ll get plenty of rupees from this!” Kass said, and Ammon nodded.

“What are we needing to investigate?” Linebeck asked, and Ammon paused, knowing how the man got around blood.

“We’re—there’s something wrong with the water, so we need to fix it,” he said simply, and Linebeck frowned.

“How’re we gonna do that?”

“No idea, let’s go.”

Ammon led the rest of the men to the well, which looked like a normal well. But when Ammon looked down, he could smell a hint of the metallic smell of blood. No doubt that guy was telling the truth.

“Oh goddesses, what is that smell?” Benji asked, pinching his nose.

“Clearly whatever’s causing the bad water,” Ammon answered, and hopped over the edge, grabbing onto the ladder on the side. “Now come on.”

The other men followed reluctantly, and Ammon hit the bottom with a splash. He looked around where he was, feeling cramped inside the small well and wondering how all of them were going to fit comfortably. Benji landed next, his eyes narrowed as he observed the well.

“I’m no wellologist, but shouldn’t there be…I dunno…water?” He asked, kicking the shallow water before him. Ammon frowned and nodded, also feeling strange at how little water there was. He knelt to the ground just as Linebeck reached them, dipping his hands into the little puddles of water around him. Where he was expecting blood, he only got normal well water. Strange.

Benji nearly toppled onto him causing Ammon to fall onto his hands for support. He turned and saw Benji and Linebeck both staring at Kass, who was clearly taking up too much space.

“I–Um… I’m so sorry,” the rito mumbled, holding his wings close to him.

“It’s alright, Kass,” Ammon said, and Linebeck rubbed his head, staring at the stone around them.

“Yeah, but do we all need to be here?” Linebeck asked, leaning against the ladder. “Seems a bit crowded down here.”

“I suppose you’re right, Linebeck. I doubt we need everyone here. Two of you can go up above and wait.”

Linebeck stared at the ladder, as did Benji, and the two raced to climb it first.

“Get off!” Linebeck grunted, trying to shove him down the ladder, but Benji remained stubborn.

“I was here first!” Benji grunted back, the two fighting while Ammon stared bemused.

“Guys, I said two of you can go up, not one. There’s no need to fi—”

The step Benji was on suddenly snapped, and the short man yelped as he fell backwards, tumbling until he hit the stone wall. Except, to Ammon’s surprise, he didn’t stop rolling. Instead he phased through the wall and vanished before their very eyes. The men all stared in shock, it being silent for a long moment.

“W-what the f— did-did you guys see that?” Linebeck asked after jumping off the ladder, his hands in his hair. “BENJI! I’M SORRY, ARE YOU OK?”

It was silent for another minute until a strained voice from beyond the wall spoke.

“I think I twisted my ankle.”

The men all glanced at each other, and Ammon stepped towards the wall, putting his hand against it. Just like Benji, it went through as if nothing were there, and he poked his head through to see his friend laying on the ground, an uncomfortable look on his face. The two made eye contact and Benji forced a smile and a thumbs-up.

“So there’s a trick wall I guess,” he said, his voice sim pain. Ammon glanced down at his ankles and frowned, kneeling to observe them.

“Are you alright?”

“I don’t know, my ankle kinda hurts,” Benji mumbled, and based on the pain in his voice, it seemed like he wasn’t overreacting.

“Well, it’s best if you stay off of it for now—”

“Oh my.”

Ammon looked up to see Linebeck and Kass poking their heads through the strange fake wall, staring at the view ahead of them. He turned to look as well, noticing the large cavern right in front of him. There was more water, but it was a sickly green that shined against the torches lighting up the area. In the distance, a strange floating skull floated around, not noticing the group of men. Ammon stood up and drew his sword, a sense of dread overwhelming him.

“Come on guys,” he mumbled, stepping towards a platform within the water. He hopped over to it and gestured for the others to follow, though they only sat there.

“Ammon is—is the option to go back up still on the table?” Linebeck asked, his voice cracking, and Ammon frowned.

“No. There’s more than enough room down here, now grab Benji and get over here.”

“Why do I have to?”

“Because you’re the reason he’s hurt in the first place, now get over here!”

Linebeck huffed and stepped out from the wall staring at Benji as he was a pile of dirt.

“Get over here, baby,” Benji said with a grin, and Linebeck physically recoiled, grabbing him as if he were a piece of seaweed covered in slimy gunk.

“Why can’t you just be normal,” he grumbled, getting the man on his back and standing up straight.

“You did this to yourself. Now carry me, big boy.”

Linebeck groaned and clumsily hopped over to where Ammon was, and Kass finally did the same, still holding his wing gingerly. Ammon raised a brow but didn’t comment on it, only moving further into the cavern. It was strange at how such a place could exist underneath the village, and Ammon couldn’t help but wonder why such a place existed. It was empty save for the flying skull, and the occasional dripping sound rang out through the cavern. Ammon turned to the rest of the men and nodded, pointing down a hallway.

“Let’s go find whatever’s causing the water to be ruined.”

[phantom-dc]

Dad Hood - part 1

Danny is fighting Desiree. A giant monster tiger is attacking him. He dodges its claws and blasts it away with an ectoblast. Stupid tourists, making wishes at the fountain. This is not a little kitty, Desiree! Desiree taunts him, daring him to wish it away. The tiger pounces again, but it is caught in a Fenton net. Danny looks down. Thanks mom! Maddie reigns the tiger in. No problem sweetie! After the whole disasteroid thing, his life has become so much better! Amity Park knew who he was and accepted him. Thank god the rest of the world had no idea, otherwise the GIW would be after him! And with Vlad in space, Danny could finally live his half-life! Danny goes after Desiree again, defeating her. Jack is happy. Look at him. He's growing up to be such a great ghost hunter! He tears up. Sometimes I wish he was a little kid again, so he can hang out with his dad like old times! Jazz screams Dad no! But it is too late. Desiree grants his wish, enveloping Danny in purple mist. When it dissipates, Danny is gone. Maddie quickly uses her portal-zooka to pull Desiree into the Ghost Zone. Jazz is angry at Jack. Dad, what did you do? You know you can’t wish for anything near Desiree! Jack feels guilty, but he doesn’t understand. Even if Danny was made a kid again, shouldn’t he still be here? To hang out with his dad? Maddie becomes angry. Jack, did you forget that Danny was adopted? Jack thinks for a second. Oops.

Jason is tired. It had been a long patrol. First some thugs had been harassing his girls, then 2 dealers thought they could infringe on his territory, and after that he found a warehouse filled with penguins of all things. God, couldn’t that guy store his birds somewhere else? In short, Jason just wanted his bed. He gets to his latest safe house, one of the nice ones. He wanted to sleep in an actual bed tonight. Checking the alarms, he went inside. Taking of his helmet and jacket, he put them down on the chair. He gets a beer and throws of his shoes and shirt, forgotten on the floor. He puts the beer down and opens the closet, checking to see if this safehouse has pajama’s. Purple mist briefly rolls around his feet, but aside from a sneeze, Jason doesn’t notice due to fatigue. Picking Wonder Woman pants and a red shirt, he closes the closet and turns around. He stops. There’s a kid. In his appartement. The kid is holding his helmet, examining it. Jason tries to sneak up on him, but the kid notices him. Laughing, he runs off making Jason chase him. Jason needs the helmet back, it’s got explosives in it! Jason nearly trips over his shoes as the kid jumps on the bed. The kid tries to jump off, but Jason grabs him mid-air. Jason holds the kid up, taking away the helmet. The kid laughs, and Jason examines him. The kid has white hair and familiar green eyes. He’s wearing a black shirt with white overalls, and he looks about 5-6 years old. Jason asks him how he got inside. The kid shrugs. You don’t know? The kid says he can’t remember, but he doesn’t seem too troubled by it. He asks Jason if they can play more tag. Jason is confused: Tag? The kid squeals: TAG! And slips out of Jason’s grip, to his suprise. Jason chases after him again, yelling at him to come back, there are weapons in here! The kid just laughs. He tries to crawl under the bed, but Jason grabs him by the ankle, pulling him out. As he pulls him up, upside down, he notices something that shocks him. The kid’s eyes are full Lazarus green and glowing while he is laughing in delight! Jason puts the kid down, asking him to calm down. The kid still giggles, but sits down. First off; Who are you? 'My name is Danny!' Ok, Danny. You said you didn’t know how you got in here? 'Nope!' As in, you just woke up here? What’s the last thing you remember? 'Hmmmm. Nothing!' But you knew your name? 'Oh! Yeah I did! Weird!' Jason gets a bad feeling about all this. Do you know why your eyes are so… green? 'Oh! That’s because I died!' Jason was startled by how cheerily the kid said that. It makes his own eyes flash green as well. The kid is surprised at this, and climbs up Jason to get to his face. You’re like me! You’re dead too! Jason grabs him, telling him to calm down. Danny just keeps laughing. Jason sighs, putting Danny under his arm. He re-checks his alarms, but finds that none have been activated. Its like the kid just popped up! Jason asks if Danny has any place to stay. Danny thinks a bit, but can’t think of any place. Where are we actually? Jason is surprised the kid doesn’t know where he is. He debates his options. He could leave the kid somewhere, either at one of his shelters or with his girls. No, that’s a bad idea, the kid saw his face. He’d tell everyone. Maybe he could leave him with Bruce? An image of the 5 year-old in a Robin costume flashes before his eyes, tinting them green again. Not an option. So he can’t leave them with civilians, nor his family. Then that means… 'What’s this?' Danny is holding his taser. As Jason rushes to take it away, he just thinks that this is going to suck.

Next - AO3

[juvenillia]

~ happier ~ Simon 'Ghost' Riley x fem!reader [hurt/comfort oneshot]

summary: After Simon already had lost so much in life, he now had lost the last thing that kept him whole. Little did he know...

a/n: Hey babes, I just saw a tiktok sound about the "don't choose him"-trope and I thought that was so Simon Riley coded so yeah, here we go

cw/tw: mentions of trauma, death, jealousy, guilt, hurt/comfort, tooth rotting fluff, break up, happy ending

worcount: 5.9k (maybe I got a bit carried away lol)

》 Read on AO3 《 》Master Post《

It was a rather rainy September afternoon, the cold breeze brushing through his messy blonde hair as he stood in front of his apartment complex. The taxi just dropped him off a while ago, and since then he stood there. Starring at the entry, his hand clutching tight on his duffel bag. With a deep sigh his hand brushed through his damp hair while he inhaled the fresh autumn air through the simple black mask before finally stepping in. He didn’t want to come back. He didn’t want to leave but Price literally chased him away this time. The team just came back from a long deployment from God knows where, and he wanted to stay at base. Taking care of the aftermath as usual, but this time his Captain didn’t keep up with his coping mechanism and ordered him to go on leave.

He hadn’t set a foot in his apartment in the past nine months. Nine months filled with hard and bone crushing work to distract himself. Distracting himself from the void that washed over him as soon as the door behind him fell into the lock. He placed his bag onto the floor of his hallway when he saw the huge stack of mail behind the door. Invoices, advertisement, acknowledgements, all that kind of stuff. He didn’t even mind to flip through the envelopes, just threw them onto the kitchen counter. His place felt so different, nearly chaotic.

The plants died some time ago, nothing more than dry remnants in some soil. He opened the fridge, which was nearly as empty as this whole space felt like. A thick layer of dust covered everything. Another sigh left his throat before he pushed the crystalline door to the little balcony open, fished in his pockets for a fag. Pulling his mask down to ignite the cigarette. His glance wandering over the park next to the building. All the trees already wore a dress out of red and yellow leaves which danced in the wind. He could hear some children playing down there, some dogs barking. Somehow everything felt so at peace and still he felt nothing more than blank. He felt like a stranger in his own home.

He put the fag out and decided to tidy the mess up, before distracting him with whatever task he could find. He started with cleaning the whole place, disposing the dead plants and expired food he found in the last corners of the fridge. It took him some hours before everything was all over neat again. He then changed in some casual clothes before walking down to get some groceries for the time he had to stay here now. Always checking his phone for a message from Price, or Gaz or Soap. Anything that could make him return to his duties. Anything that would release him from the thoughts that started to haunt his mind. Thoughts he could easily dismiss as soon as he was on duty. When he was Ghost, but not when he was here.

“Mr. Riley?”, the old man from the store greeted him. He nodded in response, tired and exhausted eyes, yet a sincere smile on his lips. “Good to see you again, son.”, he chimed while starting to scan his products in. There was a huge supermarket around the corner, still he would always walk the extra meters to that indigenous small store owned by that old couple. “Haven’t seen you in forever. Must be happy to be back.”, Simon only nodded. A straightforward lie, but he didn’t need to tell him about the truth. He hated to be back.

Because everything was different to the last time. The last time he walked down this street he laughed while you complained about your coworkers. Clutching to the bag filled with the ingredients for some homemade cookies, and your favorite ice cream, while your hand was wrapped around his upper arm. When did all that changed? When did the world turned against him once more? That’s how he found himself walking that usual path back on his own. Left alone with the sheer thought of you, and once more his mind did haunt him. Replaying the image of the face when you told him over and over again in front of his inner eye.

But he understood your decision. He knew he was wrong for you, that you deserved so much better. He knew that he had ruined an angel. All the time waiting for him, just to be put down once more, when he couldn’t return home just yet. All the anxious calls before the deployment. The number of desperate messages he went through when he could turn his phone on again afterwards. All the tears you wasted for him. He just knew he would never be the man you needed, because you were so much better than him. And still he wanted nothing more than to be selfish and return home to you once more. The way his shitty apartment felt so much livelier filled with your laughter and complains. A privilege he had lost.

He remembered the day you told him about your decision like he remembered his morning drill at base. You mascara already smudged over your tear-stained face. He had promised to never be the cause of your crying and still he stood in front of you, feeling nothing more than hate towards himself, when you told him you couldn’t go on like this. “I love you, Si. I do… but sometimes love isn’t enough…”, your words echoed through his mind as he stood in the living room. Just on the same spot he stood on that fateful day. “What’d ya mean?”, he didn’t understand. “I mean… that I can’t be part of your life when you keep building walls around you.”, your voice was shaky between the sobs that broke out of your throat. “Wait... Love…”, his hands were nonstop shaking, something so uncommon for his so usual steady hands. Hands that were reaching out to you when you literally flinched away from him.  “I hope you can become happy. I really wish you all the best…”, the tears started to stream down your face as you picked up the bag, filled with the last few things of yours that still remained in his place. “I’m thankful for everything we had…and I hope you know that you’ll always be a part of me.”, you didn’t dare to look at him as you left his -your shared- place.

How was he supposed to be happy when you took all the crazy little things that made his life better with you? Anytime his phone buzzed that night his heart stopped for a moment, hoping that you changed your mind, but now you already left his life for more than eleven months. He sunk into the couch, just like that evening. Not daring to move an inch. Even if all fibers in him screamed to run after you, he sat there frozen. Respecting your decision and knowing it was for the best. It was the best for you, and he never wanted anything less than the very best for you. Even if it meant to break him once more. This evening was the loneliest night after the night when he lost his family. That night he lost the last thing that gave him a meaning. The last thread that hold his pieces together.

He pulled his phone out of his pocket and opened your chat. The last message still there, about eleven months ago. A bone crushing reminder of when you left his life. Just then he took noticed of your new profile picture. The pure soul you were, you hadn’t blocked him. He tapped it open and could feel his heart ache as he took in your features, a bright smile. A smile that had him mesmerized from the first time he witnessed it. Your hair neatly done and braided with a flower crown made from white roses. Your hand trying to cover your gorgeous smile. Then he suddenly took notice of something new. His heart clenched at the view of the little simple silver band around your left ring finger. A groan vibrated in his stomach. He stared at the picture, as a rope laced around his throat. It couldn’t be. He just cursed to himself.

He just wished it wasn’t true, but it just made sense. During the times when he raised his walls higher and higher you simply turned around to see the whole world and not only him. And there was someone that could treat you better than he ever could. That there was someone who would share his life with you rather than shutting you out. Someone who wouldn’t treat you as shitty as he did. Someone who wouldn’t take you for granted. Someone who wouldn’t make you cry, and still he wanted to be the person to call you his. He wanted that this smile, the smile that could brighten the darkest day, was aimed at him and not just some random dude.

He needed to make sure. Sitting up from the couch while leaning his forearms on his knees as he switched from the message app to his private Instagram account. An account Kyle forced him to create after one night in the pub. On that night when Simon maybe drunk a bit too much, he eventually had let slipped that he did meet you and Kyle was all alerted to get this to workout. So of course, he needed an Instagram account to seem more likable. And to be honest, Simon wanted to be likeable, for the first time he did care what someone would think of him. As long as that somebody was you.

The next morning he decided to go for a run and ran a few kilometers around the quarters. Longer than usual, but it wasn’t like he had anything better to do. All sweaty he stopped by a common coffee shop to get a well-made coffee before returning home. Just when he waited in line for him to order, he pulled his phone out once more. Starring at your name in his contacts. ‘Love’ was still written there. He never brought himself to change it. Because you still were the only thing, he ever admitted to truly love. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t notice a voice approaching him. Just as he felt a small hand gently on his clothed shoulder he flinched, looking up and were greeted with some way too familiar eyes. He blinked a few times, believing his mind would trick him right now.

His account didn’t contain many pictures, a few from nice landscaped taking from the different countries he had to visit, one of Riley and him, what served as your screensaver for a very long time. Well not anymore, he supposed. He searched for your tag, and he scrolled through the last pictures you uploaded. Nowhere was a hint of a new guy in your life. Except for the picture of your engagement ring and the dozen words of congratulations the comments contained. Some pictures of the recent books you read always placed aesthetical next to a cup of tea, a picture of you and your girls on a night out.

He just stopped when he saw a familiar picture. It was nothing more than you curled up in an armchair, wearing a black hoodie, his hoodie. You haven’t deleted it. He was still part of your life, as you had promised. You didn’t just delete him out of it. He pinched the bridge of his nose when he put his phone away. Fighting the urge to write you. But what should he even message you? Everything would be inappropriate and wrong. That it was his biggest mistake to let you go? That he was happy for your engagement? Nothing would satisfy his real emotions. He pushed all of those thoughts, all the pain down just like he was used to and let Ghost take over his mind. Cutting out everything around him, as his body forced him to rest. A dreamless night on the couch and still he felt miserable the next morning.

“Si?”, you smiled at him, as beautiful as ever and he stood there completely stunned. You still called him that sweet nickname, the short only you were allowed to use. “Hey…”, he breathed out while shoving his phone back into his pocket. Leaving his hands in his pockets, to scared you could see how nervous he was. Seemed like that he was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t realize he jogged all the way to the place you worked back when you two dated, and as it seemed like you still do work here. There was a silence clinging between both of you, while taking in each other. He looked tired, somehow older you noticed. You looked as pretty as he remembered. “Sir?”, the voice of the young barista dragged him back to the place he stood. “Yeah…uhrm.”, he ordered his usual coffee, and quickly added another hot drink – your favorite - before turning back to you.

“How are ya?” – “How are you?”, both of you said at the same time and a little smile tugged at the corner of his lips. All of that felt so familiar, and still vicious at the same time. But sorrow was something Simon was used to it, and if this pain granted him some time in your presence, he’d gladly accept it. “Wanna take a seat, or are ya on the run?”, you smiled at him and shook your head no, while taking a place at one of the tables. A table you often sat when he visited you during your work breaks. “So, how are you?”, you said calm, while sipping on your coffee. A weak smile playing around your lips when you realized that he even remembered the little flavor drop you loved in it.  

You had such a pure soul that you simply could sit down with him and talk to him, like he wouldn’t be your ex. Just as some good old friends catching up. It broke his heart even more. “Steady.”, he answered somehow distant. Trying to suppress all the emotions that started to boil in the pit of his stomach at your sight. You nodded with that sweet smile he knew too well, “Always the same, huh?” He nodded and at the same time he wanted to argue that he wasn’t the same. Not at all. “So, when’s ‘e big day?”, his sudden question let you swallow on your drink. He pointed at the ring on your finger, and you sighed. “Saturday, in two weeks.”, you only said. There laid something between your tone he couldn’t read, so he only nodded once more. “Didn’t ya wanted a white winter wedding?”, he kept the eye contact when you tried to avoid it at all costs. “Cannot have everything.”, you weakly laughed. A laugh that had hidden so much more below the surface. Simon caught how your voice changed and your hands constantly fidgeted with the cup, but he didn’t want to push it any further. The silence once more taking over the space between you. It was an awkward tension laying in the air. Still, he wanted to ask you so much, wanted to tell you so much, yet he couldn’t.

That’s when your phone went off, a sigh of relief but at the same time annoyance left your throat. “Sorry… need to head back. Before…” – “Before Mara lets the printer explode and Barry loses his mind.”, he ended your sentence and a vicious smile tugged at your lips. How could he still remember all those things. “Yeah… it was nice to see you, Si. Thanks for the coffee.”, the painful smile turning into a genuine one. He hummed in appreciation, as you stood up and putting the phone back into your pocket.

Just then he reached out to you to get hold of your wrist, gently but firm, just when you wanted to walk away. “Don’t marry him…” The phrase left his throat out of nowhere. His mouth faster than his brain could even process what he just said. He couldn’t carry this anymore, he let you go once, he wouldn’t commit to the same mistake a second time. You blinked at him in sheer shock. “Don’t do that to me…”, you shook your head, swallowing a thick lump in your throat. “Are ya happier?”, he breathed out, his tone bitter as his eyes starred into yours. Your brows furrowed. He knew how selfish his actions were, but he couldn’t help it. His thumb slowly stroking over the inside of your wrist. He needed to know. Only then he could accept it, only then he could try to let you go. “Simon…”, you mumbled, as your lips pressed into a thin line, biting the inside of your cheek.

“Answer me, love.”, his words rolled so carelessly over his lips. You couldn’t. Only starring back into those dark eyes that wouldn’t let go of yours, and felt tears prick at the corner of your own. Everything you could answer him, everything you wanted to answer him would somehow be a lie. You were happy, but that wasn’t his question, and he could read it in your eyes. He let go of your wrist, as he stood up from his seat. He would never force you to say or do something, he couldn’t make you love him. He knew that. But the soldier inside of him knew, that this fight wasn’t over. The way your eyes spoke volumes to him. The way he could feel your pulse quickened as his palm was still rested on your skin. A desperate sigh left his throat. Your silence told him more than you thought. “I’d walk through ‘ell to find a way to keep ya in ma life. Even if it meant to burn the whole bloody world down…”

You only stood there, your mind running a marathon of thoughts at the sincere words he spoke out so easily. A phrase that let your heart make a jump and at the same time it shattered. You averted your gaze, trying to hold back the tears. “Goodbye, Si.”, you simply stated while turning on your heel. You didn’t want to cry in front of him again. You didn’t want to admit what power he still held over you. You didn’t want to show him how you lied to yourself when trying to avoid answering his questions. That way you left him behind and went back to work. And once more he felt the sheer guilt laying on his shoulders. He didn’t see the hot tears rolling down, but he knew you too well. The empty silence greeted him like an old friend, and he went back to his place. Cursing himself for the whole interaction. Why couldn’t he just let you go? Why couldn’t he simply let you become happy? It should be enough for him, seeing you happy living the life your deserved and he would go after his drilled one, just like before.

But nothing was like before. You simply changed everything. He was a broken man when you met him on that cold night in January. Effortlessly trapping him in a lovely chat, a conversation that saved him, and still he tried to keep his distance. And you had nothing better to do than picking up all the pieces and built him back together. So much effort, so much energy and so much love you spent for him. Earning his trust and giving him a place for his soul to heal and rest. Creating him a place to call home. How couldn’t he hold on to what you had provided him with? Still, he was back in his apartment alone with his demons, and they teared him apart worse than ever. So he decided to send a message to his captain.

Simon R. [15:23]

Let me come back. I’m sure there’s something I can help with.

Captain Price [16:01]

No chance, Lieutenant. Use the time reasonably.

Captain Price [16:03]

That’s an order!

He literally threw the phone across the room. How should he use this time useful? Price should’ve known better. Simon thought back to the day when he told his captain about you for the first time, and he remembered the proud beam on his face. You were the first civilian Simon even mentioned around his team, you were the first one to meet them. So, Price knew that this time was nothing more than waiting in patience to return. But somehow his captain hoped for something different, he couldn’t have known that you were engaged and this time on leave was breaking him more than anything.

Simon R. [16:06]

Roger, sir.

There was nothing he could do, besides going after his usual habits. Morning runs, hitting the gym, cooking some quick meals, helping whatsoever neighbor needed something done in their home. Everything that would keep him busy was greatly appreciated.

The time passed by, and every night he found himself on the balcony. Thinking back to nights he spent here with you. You cuddled up in front of him, while he refused to smoke while you’d cuddle and you’d always just say, that you wouldn’t leave, so he rather just smoked if he wanted to or stop it in general. You never complained about his smoking, but you would keep teasing him about it and he would just pull you closer to him. He didn’t need those cigarettes when he could inhale your scent anyways.

Where did the downward spiral begin? When did he start to distant himself without even noticing it? Was it after the Las Almas incident? Was it after his teammate nearly died because of him? Was it when he realized that one day, he might not be able to return to you? He couldn’t tell and he tried to make it out eagerly. Searching and scanning in all your interactions for the mistakes he committed. Nightmares haunted him night after night and every day he got up and went after his choirs again. Waiting for a message from Price to draft him in sooner than expected. To finally get some redemption before the two-week mark was overstepped. He couldn’t bear that day, knowing what happened on that Saturday. Knowing that on this Saturday you’d be officially off limits, and he wouldn’t dare to ruin it anymore. This Saturday… this Saturday. Fuck, it was today.

Anyways he dared to look up your social media, seeing if he could catch a glimpse of the pure perfection you’d be in your pretty white dress. But there was nothing found. What wasn’t so unusual, you never were the person to openly show your life online so easily. Especially not after the two of you started dating. You became more reserved with information about yourself because Simon would always be scared that someone could use you against him. That way there was never a picture of both of you found on your social media pages. Just a little S with a heart in your bio. A bio that was nearly empty now. But today, you’d post something, he was sure. That day was something so freaking special, you needed to show the world how gorgeous you’d look. And with that you would show him what he had lost. But somehow you spared him with that. It was already noon, and nothing was found on your page. That’s how he went after his day, completely lost and in complete autopilot. Not even thinking about anything he did. Just existing, his body carrying him through the day and letting the time pass.

It was about nine when he got on the balcony. Still in his dark green pajama pants, and a plain white shirt, an easy black zip up jacket. No socks, no mask, only a fag between his lips. Exhaling a deep cloud of smoke into the night. Just then he could hear a buzzing from the living room. He sighed, another cloud of smoke leaving his lungs. Probably only a dumb meme from Johnny, an attempt to cheer him up, but maybe it was the long-awaited message from his Captain. So, he decided to head in, to pick up his phone. The fag still clutched between his lips. He tapped the screen of his phone and as soon as the screen light up he found himself paralyzed. The fag slipping out from his lips, which were parted in shock. The cigarette burning his hand dragged him back into the reality. He quickly caught the fag before burning the whole place down, and then opened the message. The message that came from you. His mouth went completely dry as stared down on the words.

He read over those lines over and over, he couldn’t get a grip what you wanted to tell him. What made you think of that occasion now?

Love [21:13]

Do you remember when Johnny bragged about that one French wine after Mel dumped him, and we spent your last day on leave driving from Manchester to Edinburgh picking him up, over to Dover just to catch a ferry to buy that stupid wine and the whole way back? Just that you got deployed to Toulouse afterwards and he could drink so much of that damn wine…

Simon R. [21:21]

Could never forget about it. It was bloody stupid.

A desperate chuckle left his throat. It was one of his favorites as well. The way you’d sing stupid songs with Johnny to sheer him up, trade dumb childhood stories, and the way your hand was always entangled with his. It made the world seem so much more peaceful.

Love [21:23]

One of my favorite memories, tbh

Simon R. [21:25]

What made you think of that? Especially today…

He sighed. He couldn’t suppress the turns his stomach took. Still, he couldn’t blame you, such a day could get someone emotional and nostalgic. It was somehow relatable. He already regretted his question.

Simon R. [21:26]

You must be tired as fuck after such a long day.

Love [21:32]

Well… I did imagine the day to be different…

Time suddenly froze. The little three dots signaling your typing made him anxious. He starred down at the screen, the fag long forgetting, the ash on the anyhow ugly carpet. His foot bounced repeatedly on the floor, while he not dared to avert his eyes. The time until your answer plopped up on his screen felt unbearable. His chest heavy like he had to carry a whole tank. He felt weak, small, just because of the time you needed to answer. 

Simon R. [21:33]

What do you mean?

Love [21:47]

Couldn’t do it…

His chest heaving as he starred at your answer. His trembling fingers typed and answer. Never letting go of the phone as he already pulled on some socks, before searching for his boots.

Love [21:48]

It wasn’t fair…not to me, but esp not to him…

Simon R. [21:49]

Where are you?

Love [21:50]

Remember where we met…the park by the cemetery.

Love [21:58]

Si?

And he was. He never was faster seated on his motorbike than now. He drove like a madman. Usually, he would let his thoughts process everything. Outlining a plan before jumping into something, but not this time. Not when he got a second chance right in reach. His mind was blank. The only thought that filled his brain cells were you. And soon he found himself in the park. The park where he met you for the very first time some years ago. The day that changed his life, and it once more gave him the chance to turn it around. His breath got caught right in his throat as he took your figure in.

Simon R. [22:00]

Don’t fucking move. Already on my way.

You were seated at the very first steps of a war memorial. The place where he met you completely random when he paid his tribute to fallen soldiers. An old habit he committed to anytime he returned save. It was snowing like hell, everything was white, just like the dress you wore right now. His feet carried him over to you, as you still looked down on the screen. His eyes were pinned on you, trying to burn this image into his brain and never letting go of it. That’s when you looked up and a tired smile tugged at your lips. He was so underdressed compared to you. Still in those pajama pants, because there was no time to change properly, when you were the most perfect dress, he could’ve imagined you in.

 “You literal broke a few laws while rushing here. Speeding, taking dead ends and stuff. You could’ve taken some more time. You know.”, you said while standing up. A teasing tone laying in your voice. You looked breathtaking, better than his wildest dreams would even allow him to imagine. A smile planted on his lips as he stood right in front of you. “Not a patient person.”, he breathed out while taking his jacket off to wrap it over you. It was still freezing cold, and he saw the goosebumps amongst your skin. “You’re reckless, Simon Riley.”, he came closer, just when you put his hands on his chest. The familiar body warmth creeping up your cold palms. His hands lingering on your waist, as he starred in your eyes and pulled you closer, just the slightest. “And yer stunnin’, darlin’.” A slight blush crept over your face, maybe due the coldness lingering in your muscles, but maybe it was because of him.

You were standing here like the whole opposites you were. He was the stern and strong soldier, casual and reckless. Solid as rock during the heaviest tidal wave. He was your protector. You were his princess with the purest soul and heart. The lighthouse that guided him home anytime he needed. Anytime he needed to let go of Ghost.

In that moment it felt like the world stopped spinning. Nothing else mattered. “Si…” – “I know ’s too much to ask for forgiveness ‘n I know ‘m not in ‘e position to ask for anythin’ at all…and fuckin’ ‘ell. ‘m not good at that kinda stuff…. but…”, before he could keep going you interrupted him. Forcefully pulling him closer to you by his shirt, until the gap between you was fully closed and you felt the familiar sensation of his lips against yours. Your eyes closed, as his calloused palm reached for your face and cupped your cheek as he deepened the kiss.

Just when you tried to pull away, he made sure that you wouldn’t go anywhere. His hand firmly steadying you in your position as he leaned his forehead against yours. Your whiny voice reaching his ears. “Just shut up already and take me home, alright I’m freezing my ass off.” A stupid grin planted on his face, which wouldn’t fade any time soon. “Anythin’ ya want.”, he said while placing his hands around your body before easily lifting you up what earned him a sudden shriek as you clung around his neck. Carrying you bridal style over to his bike. Always having a spare helmet for you in. That’s totally not how you imagined the day you’d first wear a wedding dress, clinging to the beefy back from Simon, one hand holding on to the gathered fabric hoping it wouldn’t cause any accident, the other tightly slung around him while he carefully made his way back. But you couldn’t ask for something more.

It took you some time to completely warm up again, you nearly spent the whole day in that damn park considering if you could just write him or not, and you definitive should’ve done it earlier. The cold clung to your muscles. After taking a hot shower and ditching the dress for an oversized hoodie from his closet and some briefs, you were now curled up in a blanket on the couch. Laying against his firm chest, brawn arms wrapped around you, scared that this could be a dream. Scared that you could vanish any second if he’d let you go. He never stopped to prepper the crown your head with kisses while you twirled his fingers with your own. A genuine silence hanging around that place, that finally felt like home again. Something he’d never let go of again. “To answer your question…”, you broke the silence while tilting your head towards him. Looking in his deep dark eyes. “I am happier now.”, the sweet smile returning to your lips before he placed his onto them. “ ’s everythin’ I could’ve ever asked for, love.”, he breathed out as you parted for a brief moment before closing the gap once more. Right now, he felt like a starved man, but nobody could blame him.

You were the only thing he ever wanted for his own sake. And nobody could blame him, that he already got you a ring himself, about two years ago to be precise, he just never found the right time to drop the big question. But after tonight, he was eager to do so at some point. Just giving the two of you some more time, to get back settled in. But you’d got a lot of time ahead, for anything to work out. Simon made a mental note, that he would never let another man try to accomplish what was his personal lifelong mission; to make you happy.

It was quite late when Simon woke up the next day. You still spread across his chest, clinging onto him, when he remembered how both of you fell asleep on the couch last night. He listened to you little snores as he started to believe, that sometimes the world could be alright. You made it alright, and a smile played along his lips. If enduring all the pain brought him back into your embrace, it would always been worth it. That’s when his phone buzzed, he reached out to grab it, careful to not wake you up.

He hesitated for a short moment, before he pressed the little camera icon on his phone.

Captain Price [12:19]

Maybe I do have a task for you.

Simon R. [12:23]

 image attached

Captain Price [12:25]

Forget about it. See you in two weeks, Loverboy.

Captain Price [12:27]

Give her finally that bloody ring…

Bonus:

John couldn’t suppress a chuckle when he starred down at his phone. The sweetest image plopping up when he shook his head in amusement. And with his reaction he immediately had a specific Scot emerge behind him, starring at the phone over his Captain’s shoulder. A bright grin growing on his face. “Was ‘bout damn time…”, he instantly pulled his own phone out.

Soap [12:31]

istg… Lt if yer choose Garrick as yer best man …

Soap [12:33]

I AM FOR REAL

Soap [12:34]

ach ‘nd tell lass I said hi!!

Soap [12:35]

I’m happy for yer <3

[shewhoworshipscarlin]

Olga (Ollie) Burgoyne

Olga “Ollie” Burgoyne, also known as Ollie Burgoyne-Calloway, was a singer and dancer specializing in Russian and other ethnic dances. She was also an actress and businesswoman who gained popularity during the Harlem Renaissance and left her mark as one of the most influential African American dancers and choreographers of that time.

Ollie Burgoyne was born in Chicago, Illinois, on June 13, 1879. She was part Russian and part Creole. Ollie’s cousin, Ida Forsain, toured Russia and specialized in Cossack dancing. Influenced by Forsain, Burgoyne debuted at age 17 in John Isham’s Oriental America nightclub in Chicago in 1896. In 1901, at age 22, she embarked on an eight-year tour of Europe (Germany, France, Denmark, Switzerland, Hungary, and Russia) with seven singing and dancing girls known as the Louisiana Amazon Guards.

In 1903, Burgoyne briefly returned to the United States and joined the cast of the operetta In Dahomey, which was the first African American musical to be performed on Broadway. After her performance, Burgoyne formed Duo Eclatant with partner Asher Watts. She also founded the Burgoyne Musical Company.

During her years in Russia (1904-1914), Burgoyne performed in many prestigious venues, including the Krestovskiy Garden Amusement Park (St. Petersburg) and the Aumont Theater (Moscow). She also made side trips to Odessa in what is now Ukraine, Athens, Greece, Istanbul, Turkey, and Cairo, Egypt. She opened the Maison Creole lingerie store in downtown St. Petersburg (Russia), where she employed a staff of 27. In August 1914, while Burgoyne was vacationing in Marienbad, Austria, World War I broke out, and she was unable to return to Russia and thus lost her businesses and properties there.

Between 1914 and 1929, Burgoyne continued to tour mainly in western Europe. Her specialties were Brazilian, Spanish, and Russian dances, which she mastered while traveling. She briefly returned to the United States during this period, where she performed in New York City, Chicago nightclubs, and Harlem’s Lafayette Theater. In 1925, Burgoyne produced two dance revues, Darktown Strutters, and Harlem Strutters, in New York. She also appeared in ten Broadway productions between 1926 and 1937.

In 1931, Ollie Burgoyne was named one of the eight major dancers and choreographers of the Harlem Renaissance, part of an elite group that also included Hemsley Winfield, Edna Guy, Randolph Sawyer, Asadata Dafora, Katherine Dunham, Charles Williams, and Pearl Primus. In April 1936, when Burgoyne was 57 years old, she appeared in the play Mississippi Rainbow, performed at the Lafayette Theater. In the later years of her life, Burgoyne taught dance and worked periodically in the film industry, starring in movies such as Laughing (1930) and The Timid Ghost (1937). With a career spanning nearly 50 years, Ollie Burgoyne died on April 2, 1974, in Oxnard, California, at the age of 95.

[sink-me-in-your-ocean]

𝔊𝔥𝔬𝔲𝔩𝔦𝔰𝔥 ℌ𝔢𝔞𝔡𝔠𝔞𝔫𝔬𝔫𝔰 V

Spooky season edition!

No specific prompt, just random Halloween shenanigans and general buffoonery with the nameless goons ghouls

Thank you @endhisbloodlineinmyesophagus for inspiration and scream laughing with me as I finished these!

No warnings; cut for formatting.

Swiss:

Once this ghoul learns about Ouija boards, no one can dissuade him from using one

You happened to have one that you had been too afraid to use

He begs and pleads to use it

Does not understand how to use it and does not want to learn

Asks WAY too intricate of questions

To no one's surprise, he gets impatient

“Swiss!” You slap his hands off the board again. “You can’t ask such convoluted questions, it would be impossible to get an answer!”

“What?” He shakes his head, “I just wanted to know how they died!”

“Yes, and that’s a rude question to ask.” He let out a huff so you continued, “Let’s just stick with ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions, shall we?”

“Fine.” He grumbles, placing two fingers back on the planchette. You follow his l4ead, holding your breath as he thinks of a question. “Did you like music?”

The planchette moves to indicate yes.

“See now we’re getting somewhere.” He bites his bottom lip in deep concentration, “What’s your favorite K-pop group from the last ten years?”

You wanted to throw your hands up in exasperation, but you settled for narrowing your eyes at him, “Swiss, really?”

“I did it again, didn’t I?” His expression went sheepish.

The planchette moves on its own, guiding itself to land over yes again.

“Shit, sorry spirit!”

The two of you ask a couple more easy questions before proclaiming the session closed, moving the planchette to “goodbye”. After closing safely and packing everything up, you give Swiss a playful smack on his shoulder and he just grins at you, knowing full well he deserves to be scolded.

-

Phantom:

He found a box of Halloween decorations and made the executive decision that it wasn’t nearly enough

After trips to several stores for outdoor decor, he tasks you with helping to put everything up

You two even make a spooky playlist to blast while you work

The decorations look amazing, but are very scary at night

By the time Halloween actually rolls around, kids are too afraid to come up to the front door to trick-or-treat

“Where is everybody?” He’s been pacing since three in the afternoon.

You check your phone: it’s quarter past six now and well-past dark. You pat his bat wing-clad arm, “Maybe the house is too frightening, sometimes when people go overboard the little kids get too scared.”

He squishes his face against the front window, watching groups of trick-or-treaters going up and down the street, kids that pass by do so in a wide arc, you were right: they were too scared to come up.

“I’ve gone overboard!” He exclaims. 

Before you can react he grabs the candy bowl and sprints out the front door, tearing down the pathway as the motion-triggered spiders drop down and animatronics all spring to life. They light up, scream, and cackle with voice lines as Phantom reaches the sidewalk and starts tossing candy out like it’s a sport.

Distantly, you hear him yelling, “I promise it’s not scary! Here’s the candy! I’m sorry!”

You cover your mouth as you smile. His enthusiasm is endearing to say the least. “There’s nothing for it now.” You say to yourself as you head out to join him.

You bring the rest of the oversized candy with you and two folding chairs. The two of you sit out front in your costumes and hand out candy to the trick-or-treaters until you run out of candy… because then Phantom starts giving away random things from the house, and that’s where you draw the line.

-

Dewdrop:

This ghoul wants to be an agent of chaos on Halloween

When you agree to go along with his mischievous plans, he shows you his plans

It’s basically just charcoal scribbles on a lined sheet of paper with random “X’s” on the page

He explains it’s his game plan, the map of where you’ll go to prank houses

When you ask about disguises, he is already prepared with ski masks and black gloves because he “doesn’t want to leave fingerprints”

You don’t waste your time explaining to the ghoul that his clawed fingers won’t leave fingerprints, instead nodding along with his antics

“Get back here!” A grumpy middle-aged man chases you and Dew across his lawn after you’d pelted his front door with eggs.

“Run!” You two split off into two different directions, following his plan perfectly and heading in a roundabout way towards the next victim’s house.

After stopping to catch your breath near some tall hedges, you straighten and walk briskly around the corner to find Dewdrop with his back to you. He looks on high alert, scoping out the area to make sure he can execute his pranks. 

Might as well sneak up on him and have a little fun.

“Get off my lawn!” You scream and tickle his sides and he jumps, shrieking and whipping around with the most scared look on his face you’d ever seen.

You fall to the ground, holding your side from the leftover pain from running combined with your inability to breathe from laughing so hard.

“That’s - you! You’re not - ugh!” He stomps his feet, mad as a hornet, which only makes you laugh harder.

As the steam eventually dissipates from Dewdrop’s ears, you rally him to TP the last two houses on the map with you. His devilish grin returns and he cackles as he puts all his effort into throwing the toilet paper rolls over the unsuspecting person’s trees. Meanwhile, you await the ideal opportunity to sneak up behind him again.

-

Rain:

He is in a rare wholesome mood, asking you to go apple picking

You sense an undertone of delinquency in his request, but you go along with it

Once at the orchard, you lose Rain immediately

You find him later, and he has an entire wheelbarrow full of apples 

He climbs from tree to tree like a wild animal

“Save some for everybody else, Rain!” 

Your warning goes unheeded by the water ghoul, and he scrambles up the branches up the next tree, “I have to get all the best ones!” 

After an exorbitant amount of money spent on apples later, you get home and make several gallons of cider and set it out in a giant punch bowl for everyone to enjoy. 

You took a swig of the beverage, expecting a crisp, refreshing taste, but you were instead met with the burn of alcohol. There was only one ghoul to blame. “Rain, what did you do to the apple cider?”

“Uh,” He makes an innocent face, but is unable to meet your gaze, “nothing.”

“It tastes weird, you definitely did something.” You scowl at him, poking him in the shoulder.

He throws his hands up in defense, “Twist my arm why don’t you! I spiked it, what’s the big deal?”

You glance around the room, much to your dismay you realize that everyone is on their second or third refill of the stuff.

“The big deal, foolish ghoul, is everyone is getting lit from what they think is apple cider!”

Because of Rain’s antics you punish him by making him help you clean up the absolute mess everyone left. Hopefully scrubbing the floors of sticky sweet juice will make him think twice before pulling such an idiotic stunt again.

-

Mountain:

No matter if it’s hot or cold on Halloween night, Mountain wants to be outside

He happens to be a great story teller

And you happen to be a great s’mores maker

Outside + fire pit + scary stories = happy ghoul

(& happy you!)

He gets a crackling fire started in a little fire pit as you arrange the blankets and pillows you stole from the couch, making the space comfy and nice.

You set out the s'mores-making ingredients and tools, and since it’s Halloween, you have some candy to use instead of just plain chocolate bars.

Mountain tells you a scary story about a creature summoned from hell to devour unsuspecting people’s toes. You listen intently as you toast the marshmallows on long skewers, cooking them to the perfect consistency and assembling a s’more for yourself and him.

“That story is true, you know.” He takes a huge bite of his treat.

You reply with your mouth full, “What?”

“That story is about Dew.” He speaks matter-of-factly. You want to laugh but don’t get the chance before -

Speak of the devil.

“Who took my peanut butter cups?!?!” The two of you flinch as Dewdrop’s shrill screech hits your ears.

“Shit, hide the evidence!” You and Mountain shove as many candies in your mouths as you possibly can just as Dew stalks outside, surveying the area, scowling, and heading back inside.

Now you two laugh so hard your sides hurt. Once you finally stop giggling, you resume toasting marshmallows together. Of course, you have to just eat the plain roasted marshmallows by themselves since the chocolate is all gone now. But the sacrifice was well worth it if it meant saving yourselves from a fiery wrath.

-

Cirrus:

Not-so-secretly watches you making stuff in the kitchen before asking to join you

After you taught her the basics she is basically a sweet treat expert

She doesn’t mind getting her hands sticky, but you do give her your black apron so she can protect her clothes

She is currently obsessed with making the perfect Halloween cookies

After already having created a plethora of treats, Cirrus now refuses to leave the kitchen, staring at the oven with the light on to intimidate the dough inside. “These ones are going to be the best out of all of them.” 

“You said that about the last batch, Cirrus.” You grin at her.

Ding! The timer goes off on the little pumpkin-shaped timer next to you and you get up to take the cookies out of the oven. 

The heat blasts your face but you’re a seasoned baker, Cirrus, on the other hand, keeps her distance. She hasn't liked the “evil” oven ever since she got a little tiny red burn on her thumb from a baking tray. A burn you promptly treated and covered with a Hello Kitty bandage.

You set the tray on a little potholder on the counter and glance around. Popcorn balls, rice cereal treats, caramel apples, Oreo spiders, and chocolate pretzels all sit on the counter staring at you waiting to be wrapped up.

“I think we should get these cleaned up before everyone gets home, what do you think?” You ask.

“Yes! I can’t have them gobbling up all the goodies like the greedy goblins they are.” She promptly gobbles a fresh cookie to emphasize her point.

Cirrus helps you package up everything nicely, using Halloween-themed containers, sneaking samples of every item at least once as you clean up. You both have to lock everything up so the rest of the siblings don’t come home and tear through all the snacks before you get a chance to have seconds.

-

Cumulus:

This ghoul has so much creativity and she has to get it out

You two decide to go to a pumpkin patch to find the ideal pair of pumpkins to carve

Cumulus picks out matching outfits for both of you, perfect for photo opportunities

With a couple of sweet fall drinks, you load up in the car ready to go

She drags you along to the patch of overpriced pumpkins 

“Hurry up! All the good ones will be gone!” She calls your name over her shoulder and skips quickly ahead of you into the fray of kids and young adults scrambling over pumpkins laying about on hay bales.

After much deliberation, Cumulus has chosen a perfectly round pumpkin for herself and a nice, tall one for you.

Later.

You’ve barely got the pumpkin guts out and your hands are covered in slime, wrists weak from the effort as Cumulus asks you if you want to see her creation.

“You’re finished already?” Disbelief coats your tongue.

“Well, yeah!” She pivots the orange pumpkin to face you, and you see the intricately carved cat and moon she has free handed. “This was so fun! Can I help you with yours?”

“I’d love that, actually.” You fling your hand to remove some of the sticky seeds.

You need not dwell in despair for long, as Cumulus will surely help you with the carving of your pumpkin. They look amazing all lit up on the porch at night, and you take a cute selfie with her to commemorate the occasion.

-

Aurora:

It’s a mistake to bring Aurora with you to the store when all of the Halloween candy and decor is out

She wants everything

Good thing you have Papa’s credit card…

Sooner rather than later you have a cart full of stuff and she’s still not satisfied, filling her arms full of goodies with as much as she can carry

“Oh can we get these too?” She holds up a pack of 50 cellophane bags, each printed with pumpkins, bats, and skulls.

“Put it in the cart.” You’d given up at this point on telling the sweet ghoul “no”.  

Finally satisfied with her menagerie of candies, snacks, decorations, Halloween themed pencils and miscellaneous items, you push the cart to the check out.

The cashier looks you up and down and sighs, being forced to scan all of the things Aurora picked out apparently is the bane of their existence.

She puts on the aux in the car, and you listen to “This is Halloween” from the Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack for the ninetieth time today while you shove the bags inside the trunk.

You two drive back home and lay everything out all over the floor, making a huge mess. It will all be worth it though.

Aurora shines as she hands out the goodie bags to all the trick-or-treaters on Halloween night. You smile widely until you hear Papa yelling from the other room as he discovers how much money you two spent.

-

I hope these make you ghesties laugh as much as I did ○( ＾皿＾)っ

[ladykailitha]

The Subtleties of Steve Harrington Part 4

The last part. Thank you all so much for the this story got. It was a fun thought experiment on people reacting to Steve not being straight.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

*

One year later

Steve loved going to Indy just to get Eddie his favorite chocolates. He loved that it took effort and dedication to get something Eddie enjoyed. They had found this place on one of their trips up here. It was a specialty chocolate shop that sold all sorts of sweets. Eddie’s favorite were the dark chocolate truffles.

Steve found them a bit too bitter for his taste, but Eddie loved the mouth feel.

So he slipped into the shop while Eddie was distracted at the nearby record store.

He stepped up to counter, trying to decide what he wanted to get for himself. He had just about decided when someone came out of the back.

“Welcome to Sweetie’s!” came the cheery voice. “What can I‒Steve?!”

Steve’s head snapped up and gasped. “Andy?”

Sure enough, standing in front of him was the first boy Steve had ever kissed.

“Holy shit!” Andy exclaimed and hurried around the counter to hug him. “How’s it been, man?”

Steve hugged him back. “It’s great. Really great.”

“Come sit, sit,” Andy said practically vibrating. “Mom! I’m taking my break!”

“Okay, sweetie!” a woman called from the back.

“So you’re the sweetie the store is named after?” Steve teased.

Andy blushed. “I tried to push for Candy Andy’s but she thought more people would come in if they thought it was feminine.”

Steve grimaced. “Sadly, she’s probably right.”

Andy sighed. “Too true. She’s only helping me get it off the ground, but once it’s full up and running, it’s mine.”

Steve clapped him on the shoulder. “That’s awesome. I’m glad to see you doing so well.”

“So what are you up these days?” Andy asked as they finally sat down at one of the table the shop had.

“Learning to be an EMT,” Steve said. “I found out I was really good at handling emergency situations and the thought of being able to help people just made it all the more exciting for me.”

“That’s amazing,” Andy said. “I heard about the earthquake. Did you lose anybody?”

Steve shook his head. “It was a near thing for a couple people I hold dear, though. One broke both her legs and blinded her and the other nearly died from blood loss.”

Andy winced. “Are they okay now?”

Steve nodded. “She’s getting to the point where she can make out shapes now and the doctors are hopeful that she regain the ability to see colors.”

Andy eyed him slyly. “And who’s the lucky girl?” Steve blushed so deep, it went from the tips of his ears to the vee of his polo shirt. “Or boy?”

Before Steve could answer Eddie flounced in and began nibbling on Steve’s ear, punctuating each bite with, “Bites you!”

Steve turned his head and kissed his lips.

“Ooohh...” Eddie crowed. “Kiss you!” And promptly melted into Steve’s side.

“Eddie?” Andy asked.

Eddie finally realized that there was someone else in the shop. He blinked owlishly at the person in front of him as he brain slowly turned back on. “Andy?”

“The one and only,” Andy said. He turned to Steve. “Looks you’re the lucky boy.”

Steve ducked his head. “He’s my everything.”

And it was Eddie’s turn to blush.

“So are you gay?” Andy asked Steve.

Steve shook his head. “Bisexual. I thought I was gay all the way through elementary and some of middle school. Realized I liked girls too.”

“After Stevie and I got together we learned we shared our first kiss with the same boy,” Eddie said with a grin.

Andy’s jaw dropped. “No way! Me?” He started laughing.

Steve nodded. “Apparently we have the same great taste in boys.”

Andy blushed.

“Sorry about what happened in your seventh grade,” Eddie said. “I sorry I ran and left you to deal with all that.”

Steve grimaced. “I’m sorry, too. For standing by and letting Tommy and the others bully you like that.”

Andy looked back and forth between them. “Holy shit, you two are serious! Guys I love you both, but Jesus. I never blamed either of you for what happened. It was all Tommy Hagen and we all know it.” Eddie and Steve shifted uncomfortably in their seats. “And apparently he got help after high school and did a lot of grovelling.”

Just then the door swung to the shop swung open.

“Hey, babe,” the person said, “they were out of turkey so I got chicken is that okay?”

Eddie and Steve froze, not daring to turn around. Andy beamed up at the newcomer.

“That’s fine,” he said. “Come say hi. A couple of our old classmates stopped by.”

The person cocked his head in confusion but came around the table to see who Andy was talking to.

Steve looked up first. “Hey, Tommy.”

Tommy looked over at Andy in shock and then back down at Steve who had another man curled around him like a teddy bear.

“Hey, Hagen,” Eddie said with a grin. “I see you worked out that internalized homophobia. Good on you, dude.”

“Holy fucking shit!” Tommy yelped. He looked between Steve and Eddie trying to force his brain to work out what was in front of him. “Are you two going out?”

Steve nodded. “Just stopped in our favorite candy shop to pick up this one’s favorite chocolates for our one year anniversary.”

Eddie blushed and shoved hair in front of his face to hide it. “Thank you, sweetheart.”

Steve pulled him in even tighter to his side. “Anything for you. You know that.”

“Back atcha, big boy!” Eddie crowed and kissed him.

Tommy slid next to Andy on the other side of the table, setting down their lunch. He ran his nail through a scratch on the table. “I didn’t realize you liked boys, Steve.”

“Ah.”

Eddie bristled a little. “You were his best friend for years and you didn’t notice?”  

Steve put a hand over Eddie’s fidgeting one. “It’s okay, sunshine. I hid it really well.”

Andy nudged Tommy’s shoulder. “Meet my first kiss,” he said pointing to Steve, “and my first boyfriend.” He pointed to Eddie.

“Your first kiss was Steve?” Tommy asked a bit mournfully.

Steve shrugged. “It was just one of the cute little kid things that happened on the playground in third grade. But he was so sweet.”

“That would have been before I moved in,” Tommy said, nodding. “That makes sense, I guess. Knew about the first boyfriend thing though...”

“Not your finest hour,” Andy said.

“Not my finest decade, fucking hell,” Tommy agreed. “Steve here figured out being a homophobic douchebag was shit well before I did. I had to be forced into therapy by the university I was going to when I had a breakdown in the middle of one of my classes before I did.”

Steve winced. “To be fair, it took some cognitive realignment on Jonathan Byers and Billy Hargrove’s part to enact that change.”

Andy and Tommy exchanged confused glances.

“He means he got hit in the head too many times,” Eddie supplied.

Tommy grimaced. “Yeah, I was there for the first one and heard about the second.”

“Sided with Billy on the second,” Eddie growled.

Andy frowned. “Who’s Billy Hargrove?”

“A bully transfer student,” Eddie explained, “from Cali that showed up their senior year and proceeded to make Steve’s life hell.”

“I think we established that I was an asshole,” Tommy said.

Steve gave Eddie’s hand a squeeze. “Eddie’s just overprotective of me.” He brought the hand to his lips and gave the tips of his fingers a kiss.

Eddie melted. “I just hate thinking about how alone you were and I didn’t do anything about it.”

Steve nuzzled his neck. “I don’t think I would have accepted your help. But thank you.”

Tommy smiled. “You guys are really good for each other.”

Eddie smiled at Steve. “Yeah, yeah we are.”

Steve coughed, blushing all the way to his ears. “So...how did this happen?” He waved his finger between Andy and Tommy.

“Well after a year of intense therapy,” Tommy explained, “where me and my therapist figured out I was a really repressed homosexual, I went on a journey of trying to make amends with the people I’d wronged.”

“Nice to know I didn’t make the list,” Eddie huffed.

Tommy winced. “You were just so unflappable I didn’t think it bothered you. Which is still shitty now that I think about it. It shouldn’t matter if it bothered you or not, I should have apologized.”

“Yeah, you should’ve,” Eddie agreed dryly.

Tommy nodded his head once. “So let’s do it now. I’m sorry I was dick from the moment I laid eyes on you until the moment I left Hawkins. You were so cool and knew exactly what you want and how to get it. I just couldn’t handle it I guess.”

Eddie’s eyes went comically wide. “You thought I was cool?”

Tommy nodded shyly.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” he cooed.

“Steve was my first crush on a boy, though,” Tommy said jutting his chin Steve’s direction.

Steve grinned. “I know.”

The entire table erupted.

“What?!”

Steve shrugged his shoulders. “Dude, you always tried get the shower next to mine in PE and basketball. That is not best friend/dude behavior.”

Tommy winced. “So why didn’t you say anything?”

“I figured you were bisexual like me and you were dating Carol at the time,” Steve explained. “I wasn’t about to break that up, man.”

Tommy cocked his head to the side. “Fair. Would have dropped her in a heartbeat if I had known it was mutual.”

“I like it better this way,” Andy said. “Being your first boyfriend.”

Eddie kissed Steve’s temple. “Me too.”

“Can’t argue with that logic,” Tommy said kissing Andy on the mouth.

Steve blushed. “I’ve learned arguing with Eddie is like pissing in the wind. Yeah, you’ve relieved yourself, but you’re the only one that got wet.”

Eddie cackled. “That is one hell of a way to tell me I’m better at arguing then you.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Steve murmured.

Andy stood up. “I’ll just have to eat this later, baby,” he said getting up. “My breaks over.”

Tommy stood up and grabbed both of their sandwiches, heading to the back of the store.

Andy slid behind the counter. “So what can I get you boys? It’s on the house.”

“You don’t have to do that, man,” Eddie protested.

“Nah, I want to,” Andy said with a huge grin.

“A dozen dark chocolate truffles and a dozen cherry cordials,” Steve said.

Andy laughed. “Coming right up.”

He got out a couple of boxes and folded them deftly into shape and added the desired chocolates to each box. And then after a moment of thought pulled out his smallest box and folded it into shape. He placed two chocolates into it and put it gently on top of the other boxes.

“They’re for Steve to eat,” Andy explained. “But they’re really for Eddie.”

“Oh no!” Steve moaned.

“What’s up?” Eddie asked confused.

“They’re sour aren’t they?” Steve bemoaned.

Andy winked. “Raspberry.”

Eddie blinked for a moment and then started laughing. “With much appreciation, good sir!”

“You’re welcome,” Andy said. “Stop by anytime. Maybe next time we’ll all do something together.”

Eddie and Steve shared a glance.

“I think we’d like that,” Steve said softly.

Eddie nodded and they walked out the door, dropping each other’s hands as they went back to the real world.

Later that night when Eddie and Steve were alone in their hotel room, Steve got out the raspberry chocolates.

Steve grabbed on and Eddie grabbed the other. They popped it into their mouths and with their silly puckered faces leaned in for a kiss.

They broke off laughing.

“I think I prefer non-sour kisses,” Eddie groused.

“Me, too,” Steve said, leaning forward for a proper kiss. They melted into each other, like the chocolate on their lips.

Steve let Eddie gently lay him down on the bed. “I love you so much.”

“Love you until the end of time, sweetheart,” Eddie murmured.

“Good.”

Having a boyfriend made it a lot easier for people to not assume Steve was automatically straight. There was still some confusion because sometimes people’s hetero goggles were too thick to see past the end of their nose. But Steve didn’t care about those people anyway.

Tag List: @awkwardgravity1 @maya-custodios-dionach @spectrum-spectre @wonderland-girl143-blog @estrellami-1 @evix-syne666 @artiststarme @justforthedead89 @swimmingbirdrunningrock

[myveryownfanfiction]

Sharpuary day 4: Firewhiskey

18+ MINORS AND THOSE WITHOUT AGE IN BIO DNI

tags: @illiana-mystery, @iobsessoverfictionalmen

warnings: drinking, swearing

"You look like you could use a drink." I said, putting the bottle on the table next to Aesop's arm. He snapped out of his thoughts, hand jumping to where his wand was. When he realized it was just me, he relaxed.

"Sorry." he murmured and I waved him off. Old habits died hard. "What's this then?" I smiled at him.

"Firewhiskey." I said as if it was obvious. He raised an eyebrow at me and I rolled my eyes. "I confiscated it off some sixth years. Black is already dealing with them. Let me keep it." Aesop nodded and waved his wand, two glasses appearing between us. I poured us each a healthy measure of the drink and pushed his within reach. “Figured we could do some…relaxing.” Aesop chuckled as he picked up the glass, looking at the amber liquid.

“is that what they’re calling it these days?” He joked. I shrugged and held my glass up.

“To another year at Hogwarts.” I said. Aesop nodded before tapping his glass against mine.

“To another year of resisting the urge to kill phineas nigellus black.” Aesop said with a smirk. I laughed. “Or the students dumb enough to cross any of us.”

“but especially him.” I added. We both took a long drink and put the glasses back on the table. “So anyone stand out as the bane of your existence yet?” Swirling the liquid around his cup, Aesop snorted.

“well garreth Weasley is back.” I groaned as Aesop chuckled at my reaction. “Nearly blew up his cauldron today. Had a little help from that new fifth year.” I raised my eyebrows in question.

“figs protege? Really?” I asked. Aesop nodded.

“I let them into my office to my personal stores to make an edurus potion. I figured they’d need all the help they could get after the troll incident in hogsmeade.” Aesop raised his eyebrows and set his lips into a thin a line. “Grabbed a fwopper feather on their way out and gave it to him. Boom.”

“Holy shit.” I muttered. “And to think I thought they only caused trouble in kogawas class today. Took off with Clopton. She asked me to help wrangle the two back and I’ll be damned if that kid isn’t a natural on the broom.” I shook my head before taking another drink as Aesop filled his glass again. He tilted the bottle at me and I nodded, watching as he poured the amber liquid into my glass.

“what were you doing out on a broom?” Aesop asked. I smiled at him.

“oh you know how the hippogriffs get when they have nothing to chase.” I said offhandedly. Aesop groaned, putting his head in his hands.

“don’t tell me you’re still doing that.” I smiled softly at him, glad to be one of the few that he showed concern for. “Black hasn’t found anyone else to do that?” I shook my head when he looked back up at me. “Fuck him honestly. He should have a long time ago. Please, for my sake and sanity, stop racing the hippogriffs on a broom.” I reached out and took his hand.

“I can’t promise that.” I rubbed my thumb across the back of his hand. “You know I can’t. But I’ll try my best.” Aesop nodded.

“I know.” He said. “I still worry though. Old habits and all that.” I nodded. Aesop drained his glass. “I think we’d better save the rest of this for a rainy day.”

“that might be a good idea. Wouldn’t want to be caught by black having gotten drunk on the job.” I agreed. Aesop vanished the glasses and I tucked the bottle back into my robes. “Are you going to the great hall for dinner or eating somewhere else?”

“I was going to go to my chambers for the night.” He said, raising an eyebrow at me. “Why?”

“want some company?” I asked, wrapping my arm around his. “Just need to drop this bottle off in my room and I can join you in yours.” Aesop tucked his arm closer to his body, tugging me closer.

“Sounds like a good idea.” He agreed before leading the way out of the dungeons.

[petertingle-yipyip]

LOOKALIKE - MULTIVERSE!READER

Pairing: None directly; implied multiverse!matt x multiverse!spidergirl!reader

Word Count: 2,447

Summary: Spider Noire, a female spider themed hero, and Spider-man’s partner. Yanked from her universe and dropped into a new one, she finds someone familiar but still different. // is this great? no. is it fun? eh. am i posting it anyway? yeah. //

This wasn’t New York. You quickly realized that when you nearly collided with a skyscraper in the path you were swinging, one that had been clear less than a blink ago.

Wel, maybe it was. But it wasn’t your New York.

The blocks weren’t set up the right way. Businesses that were on 11th were now on 44th. The bodega you and Matt always went to was replaced with a shoe store. Your own apartment building was now a Target.

With no idea where you were, you ran to the only place that seemed to be familiar. It was late so the chances that anyone was there were minuscule. He was probably out doing his work as the Kitchen’s vigilante but you had nowhere else to go.

You burst through the doors to Nelson and Murdock and found Karen sitting at her desk, a light on in either office to the sides. Your sudden entrance made her jump from her seat as you yanked the mask off your face.

“Thank God.” You sighed. “Is Matt here?”

“Matt Murdock?” She asked carefully.

“Yeah.” You nodded.

“No, he’s not here. I can get Foggy for you though, but um.. Who should I tell him is here?”

“What? Karen, c’mon. You know me.” Your brows furrowed.

“I’m sorry.” She let out a nervous chuckle.

“Karen, it’s me. Y/N Osborne?” The blank expression in her eyes made you continue, almost desperate to have her recognize you. “Spider Noire? Black and gold spandex suit?” You gestured to the suit you were still wearing. “I work with Spiderman and Daredevil all the time?”

“You know Daredevil?” Her brows raised.

“What is going on?” You let out a stressed laugh and pushed your hands through your hair.

“What’s going on out here?” Foggy came out and you were relieved to see at least he was the same.

“Y/N Osborne is here.” Karen spoke carefully.

“Osborne?” His brows raised as he turned to you. “You mean Y/N Parker?”

“Parker?” You laughed. “I’m not related to Peter, I’m related to Harry. Remember? We used to joke that Oscorp got me into Columbia.”

“The Y/N I knew was Peter Parker’s older cousin. She applied to Columbia but ended up at MIT instead.”

“Knew?”

“Yeah, Y/N died a couple years ago fighting the Hand.”

“The Hand? No, it wasn’t me that died. Elektra died that night.”

“Matt said you both did.”

“This doesn’t make any sense.” You mumbled to yourself. “And that- that- that kid on the billboard? The one who killed fishbowl guy. Who is that?”

“Spiderman?”

“C’mon, guys. Peter’s like my brother. I think I'd know if he was a murderer. That’s not Spiderman.”

“Yes, it is.” He nodded and took a few steps closer. “Are you okay? Is there someone we can call for you?”

“You’re not Foggy.” You said sadly and stepped backwards, fighting back the tears. “You’re not Foggy and I can’t find Peter and something is really wrong.”

“Ms. Osborne, wait.” He tried but you were already running out the door.

You yanked your mask back down and shot a web at the roof across the street. You ignored the shouts from the streets below. Some yelled for you to go home, that they hated Spiderman. They must’ve mistaken you for Spiderman because they yelled that you were a murderer. They hated you, but you had no idea what was happening.

You didn’t know Mysterio. You didn’t know why Spiderman suddenly looked different. You didn’t know why everyone knew Peter Parker was Spiderman. While everything was spinning in your head, your body reacted to something being thrown at you.

You dove out of the way and shot a web at it so you could fling it back at whoever threw it. When you looked over, you saw the familiar silhouette. You let out a sigh of relief before yanking off your mask.

“Thank God it’s you.” You breathed.

“I’m gonna need you to answer some questions.” Matt said firmly and you felt your skin buzz when you realized Matt was ready to fight you.

“Matt?”

“Who are you?”

“Not you too.” You said sadly.

“Who do you work for?”

You groaned loudly and knocked both fists against your forehead.

“Don’t make me ask again.”

“I don’t work for anyone! Why does no one believe me?” You shouted, watching as Matt began to walk slow circles around you.

“Fisk?”

“Who?” You asked in defeat.

“Yakuza? Did the Hand do this?”

“No, I-“ You groaned and flicked a quick shot at his feet. “Your pacing is making me anxious.”

“You need to tell me who you are.”

“Oh my-“ You complained before you dropped to sit cross-legged on the floor. “Y/N Osborne. You know me.”

“Y/N…” He said your name softly, as if he hadn’t said it in so long. “But she’s..”

“Dead? Yeah, I’m just as confused as you are… Something’s not right, but I’m not smart enough to figure it out on my own. I thought you could help, but obviously you can’t.”

“You’re not Y/N. Not the one I knew, at least.” Matt said carefully, kneeling to free his foot. The tension in your body had dulled and now you just felt lost. “Your heartbeat is different.”

“How?” Your head tilted and you watched as he pulled off the helmet. Overall, he was the same Matt you knew back home, but his hair was shorter and even though it was messy from the helmet, you knew it was probably styled poorly. That was almost enough to make you laugh but you found a small comfort in seeing the same eyes you knew. The same features, same expression, same inflictions in his voice.

“It’s stronger. You're stronger.”

“You said you knew me as Y/N Parker?”

“Yeah… And you couldn’t do this.” He gave a small smile as he gestured to your webbing. “You trained with Elektra and Stick.”

“Yeah, I knew Ellie. But I met her when I met you, back in college. At Columbia.”

“You’re so different…” He said softly. “You’re telling the truth but… You’re just not my Y/N.”

“Yeah, I’m figuring that part out.” You sighed. “You’re a dead ringer for my Matt, though. Perfect lookalike.”

He gave a small laugh. “I hope that’s a good thing.”

“It is.” You smiled softly. “But it isn’t. Just makes me miss him more.”

“Have you tried finding Spiderman?”

“Peter? I don’t even know how I found you.” You laughed nervously.

“Technically, I found you.” He teased and you mimicked him, making him laugh.

“I don’t even know if I’d find this Peter or the Peter I know. Hell, there could be five Peter Parkers floating around now.”

“I could help you.” He offered.

You glanced around the New York skyline and felt an odd sensation. It felt like a string, tugging you and it sent a strange feeling to the pit of your stomach. It sent a tingle across your skin and almost made you shiver.

“No… I think I have an idea.” You said distantly, attention still stuck on that feeling. You felt if you turned away, it would move and you wouldn’t be able to find it again. “If you can’t get out of that-“ You offered over your shoulder as you fixed your mask back into place. “-it normally falls apart in a couple hours.”

“Couple hours?” He repeated in shock. “No. Y/N, c’mon.”

“It’s fine. You’ll be fine. I gotta go.”

“Y/N!”

“Later, Daredevil!” You called as you stepped off the roof.

After what felt like an eternity of swinging in circles, you finally let your feet hit the ground. You yanked your mask again and slammed it at your feet.

“Goddammit.” You huffed and shoved your fingers through your hair.

You stopped on that rooftop and surveyed the nearby buildings, hoping to see a familiar figure in his trademark red and blue spandex. But you seemed to be alone, despite the way your head screamed that you were right.

“Where are you, Peter?” You asked the city, hoping the streets would answer or the lights would point you in the right direction. You didn’t really expect an answer so you jumped when you heard the voice.

“If you’re looking for a fight.” A tired voice came from behind you. You spun quickly with your fists ready, only to find a boy hunched over his folded knees that he clutched to his chest. “I really don’t wanna deal with that right now.”

“A fight? No, no.” You relaxed your hands and folded them behind your back instead. “I- I didn’t realize anyone else was up here. I’m sorry. I can go.”

“Doesn’t matter… I don’t care anymore.”

“Are you-“ You said gently, moving to crouch beside him. “Are you Peter?”

“Mhmm.”

“Peter Parker?”

“Unfortunately.” He muttered. “Who are you?”

“That’s a little uh, bleak. What’s going on, little Spidey?”

“Well everyone looking for me from another universe has tried to kill me so...”

“I’m sorry, another universe?” You repeated in disbelief but that seemed to be the most fitting explanation. “That’s what this is? Huh. Oh man, Pete’s probably loving this.”

“Well this Peter isn’t because tonight has been the worst night of my life and I want it all to be over.”

“Ah.” You nodded. “That seems to be the trend with Peter Parkers, apparently. The whole always having someone trying to kill you bit. My Peter deals with that all the time… Something really bad happened tonight, didn’t it?” You asked gently once you realized just how beat up he was.

All he could do was nod while he clutched his knees a little tighter.

“People call me Spider Noire, by the way.” You sat beside him and crossed your legs. “But most of the time, it’s Y/N Osborne.”

“Osborne?” He repeated quickly. Defensively, almost. “Like- Like Norman Osborne? The Green Goblin Osborne?”

“Norman, yes. But my dad was never the Goblin.” You defended immediately, putting your hands up in surrender. “He died of some sickness. They never tell the kid the details, especially if she’s not the one getting the company… No, that honor - along with the Green Goblin title - went to my brother before he died.”

“Oh…” He replied in a small voice. “What happened to your brother?”

“He died in a fight against Spiderman. Harry - that’s my brother - tried to kill me and his best friend’s girlfriend.. Dropped us down a clock tower. I managed to save myself but Gwen wasn’t so lucky… Kind of a shitty thing to do if you ask me but hey. It is what it is.”

“Against Spiderman…”

“Yeah, but I think it’s for the best.”

“Really?”

“I don’t think I could’ve forgiven him for what he did.” You confessed. “And even if he didn’t die against my Peter, I probably would’ve killed him myself.”

“You wanted revenge on your own brother?”

“To be quite honest, I don’t think he really saw me as his sister… I think he hated me and whatever made him snap just brought it to the surface. And I don’t look like my father so I have a theory that I was adopted but the only people who would’ve known are dead.”

“I’m sorry about your friend.” He offered honestly.

You thought it was kind that he would offer his sympathy to you, despite his clear suffering. You had seen the billboards and magazine stories that criminalized him. You received a handful of the hate and threats intended for him. You saw the news report of the demolished condo building from his fight. You saw the flash of Dr. Connors in his lizard form and the blur of a modified version of the Osborne glider. You knew he was going through hell in those moments, but he still offered you - a complete stranger from an apparently different universe - his kindness.

“Who was it?” You tried. “If you’re okay with me asking.”

“Hmm?”

“Tonight.” You shifted to face him. “I saw that there was a body recovered after a massive explosion during a Spiderman fight. Who did you lose tonight?”

“My Aunt May.”

“Oh no, Peter.” You said gently, putting both hands on his forearms. “I’m so sorry… I know what she meant to my Peter so I can only assume what she meant to you.”

“She was all the family I had left.” He whispered in a pained, broken voice. “How-“ He took a deep breath to settle himself. “How am I supposed to keep doing this without her?”

“I’m afraid I can’t help with that.” You sighed.

“She died because of me.”

“No.” You said quickly. You slid over to be on your knees in front of him to ensure you had his attention. “Peter, I promise it wasn’t your fault. I don’t care how the fight went down but it wasn’t your fault.”

“But it was!” He cried. “I told her- I told her to run. But she didn’t. She stayed with me and now she’s dead! And I couldn’t save her.” His voice fell to a whisper for the last line.

“Guilt is one hell of a burden to carry. Peter, you can’t allow your grief to become guilt because it will ruin you.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I saw it happen to my Peter.”

“What happened?”

“I can’t explain to you what he was feeling because I wouldn’t be able to tell his story right but I know someone who can… Do you wanna help me find my Peter? I’m sure he’d love to talk to you.”

“I don’t wanna do anything other than…”

“Other than what?”

“I want to kill Norman Osborne.”

“I can’t say I don’t understand where you’re coming from.” You nodded. “But you’re so young, Peter. You don’t want that type of blood on your hands, do you?”

“The world already thinks I’m a murderer.” He scoffed and threw his hands forward. “What difference does it make?”

“The difference is whether or not you are. Don’t fit into the narrative that the world paints for you.”

“Peter.” A girl said from behind you. You stood and found a girl and a boy, eyes locked on Peter and near tears.

You stepped away and let them embrace their friend. Your attention turned to a feeling from slightly above you and you turned to find your Peter watching. You let out a sigh of relief as he dropped down to embrace you.

But if you only knew how upside down that night would turn, you never would’ve gone out to begin with. Maybe then you would’ve been safe in your own universe.

[spibberboi]

Espresso

Ch. 1 - The Meeting

A/N: Heyo everyone! I hope you enjoy this one. I have some art propbably coming soon to go with it ;)

Warnings: n/a

He was running just about as fast as he could. After damaging the dam in the sinuses, Thrax knew he needed to get somewhere quick. He made his way down to the salivary glands, the virus was seeking some well-earned respite in the humidity and warmth of them. He ran through the alleys, bobbing and weaving through and around different bacteria before he finally decided the coast was clear. He sighed and started walking, his hands tucked in the pockets of his jacket as he did so. Thrax smirked to himself, laughing soon after that he had managed to get away with everything so far.

“This is too easy! Too damn easy.” He said to himself, grinning cheek to cheek as he did so. His senses were heightened when he heard the sound of running and whistle blowing. Damn cops.. already on my tail. He growled to himself, picking up the pace and soon entering through a back door into one of the stores that lined the alleyway. He carefully closed it and let out a sigh of relief as he looked around. Thrax noticed the shelves were lined with.. fabric? His eyes widened a bit as he looked around the place, noticing.. sewing supplies: threads of different textures and colors, needles of every type, silks, satins, leather, as well as some sewing machines and embroidering machines. Was he in.. a boutique?

“What in the blazes.. huh. Seems I found myself a place to get some new drip,” He said to himself, soon walking out through a curtain into the back room that held the stock of different clothings, then he started to look through them while chuckling. This stuff was really well made.. he picked up a shirt, looking at the tag for the price and grimacing. “Damn.. 200 cals? Shit, fuck that. Wait..” Thrax then read the label on the tag, chuckling. “Stomach acid resistant, water and saliva resistant.. interesting. This place knows what they doin’.” He hummed, soon setting the shirt down and heating up his claw before he cut off the tag.

Thrax then walked to a mirror that was there, smiling as he took off his coat and then his beaten up shirt. He looked at himself in the mirror, sighing as he looked at the scars on his chest. The self inflicted ones from when he was younger, craving to be something he just.. wasn’t yet. He ran the pad of his finger over one, smiling as he reminded himself that he was who he was today, he was himself. Shaking off the thoughts, Thrax picked up the new shirt and slipped it on. Old habits died hard.. he looked in the mirror again and turned this way and that to examine the shirt on himself. The virus smiled, satisfied with his new item and hummed to himself.

Just as he was about to put his coat back on, he heard the sound of heels stop just inside the room. His eyes widened and he looked over, backing up a bit. He tilted his head a bit.. this was no.. bacteria or cell. This was.. another virus.

Enji’s eyes widened as he looked on and he nearly dropped the pile of clothes he had in his hands as he stared. Another.. Virus? He swallowed, his ectoplasmic ears laying back as he started to back up a bit. Thrax held out a hand, trying to calm the other down. “Wait, wait wait.. I ain’t gonna hurt ya, doll..” he said, the hills of his brows furrowing together. It was.. odd that he was so gentle with this one. If it were any other species, he’d have them incinerated in a touch of his claw. But.. Thrax knew how hard Viruses worked, knew the hardships they faced between hosts.

The sage-green Virus looked on at him and calmed down a bit, his ears perking up some and his tail swaying gently. A tail? Huh.. Must be one of ‘em special breeds.. Thrax thought to himself, standing back up and lowering his hand.

Then it spoke, holding a more male voice, “You.. you’re the one that’s been causing all of this trouble, ain’t you?” He asked, staring incredulously at Thrax. “And ya stealing one of my shirts.” His eyes narrowed then and Thrax’s own widened. He didn’t know what species this was.. he’d never seen one before. Or.. maybe he had, a long, long time ago. Thrax cleared his throat a bit and spoke next.

“It didn’t have no tag on it.. ain’t stealin’ if it ain’t got a barcode, baby.”

The green virus made a bit of a face at the name and he set down the pile of items in his hands, stepping over and making sure his heels sounded menacing. “No tag? My guy, it’s right there.” And he picked it up in his hand and held it up. But since he was closer, the fox-like virus noticed how roughed up Thrax was, how tired he seemed. His expression softened a little bit and he crossed his arms then. “They’ve been hittin’ ya rough, ain’t they?” The sage-green one asked, crossing his arms gently over his chest. Thrax’s eyes widened a bit. This virus knew what it was like to have to high-tail it around a body, make their move before they needed to get out.

Thrax nodded a bit, crossing his own arms. “Yeah. Cells don’t like when viruses stick around too long,” He chuckled. The sage-green one did not smile though. “They don’t like it when you start to shut down a body neither. The hells ya think ya doin’ in here? Frank lives rural, you really think ya gonna survive once the body is dead and gone? Take my advice, kid. Get out while ya can so you can find another host quick.”

Thrax growled a bit at being called a kid. He always hated that shit. His mama always used to say it, and it always had an insult to go before it. His eyes narrowed and he shook his head, not wanting to delve into those memories when he was up against something of his match and he vulnerable. “Nah, I ain’t going nowhere. Not until I make my record,” And then he beamed at the other virus, showing off those dark and jagged teeth. The other virus grimaced a bit before he sighed. “Fine, it’s your funeral man. Also.. how the hell did ya get in here? I didn’t see you come in through the front.”

Thrax smirked some then, his hands moving to his hips rather than being tucked with his arms crossed. “Oh, I came in through the back, baby. Maybe you should keep a better lock on ya doors~”

The sage-green one narrowed its eyes at him. “Maybe you shouldn’t be sneakin’ in places you ain’t supposed to, boy.”

The crimson virus laughed a bit at that and stepped a bit closer. He liked this cat. He wasn’t afraid of him, and that sent a thrilling chill down Thrax’s spine. “My my.. you gotta pretty mouth. Ya certainly know how to run it too, don’t ya?” The other Virus back up a bit, not liking being so close but.. gods the way he smelled. Most cells and germs would find it absolutely abhorrent, but to him.. it was intoxicating. The sage-green one’s ears laid back as his tail flicked, shaking off that thought. “And you know how to be a creep. Now if you don’t want me to get angry and go yell for the cops, I suggest you get out the way you came.”

Thrax snickered a bit and collected his coat. His welcome was obviously gone and he stepped back a bit. “I guess ya right, baby.. it was a gas, but I better get outta here. See ya around- wait.. I didn’t catch ya name, Doll~”

The sage-green one huffed a bit, his arms crossing a bit tighter. “I didn’t give it. But, if you must know, it’s Enji. Enji Foxtail.”

Thrax smiled a bit as he heard the name, it sounded so nice to his ears. He committed the name and the face that went with it to memory, humming in satisfaction. “Right.. well, nice to meet ya, even if it wasn’t under the best circumstances, babe. Name’s Thrax. Remember it, ya might see it in the books one day~” And he was gone, swiftly making his exit through the back door again before heading on down the alleyway. Enji sighed a bit as he watched, unfolding his arms and resting his hands on his hips. “Christ what have you gotten into, Enj..” he cursed at himself, shaking his head.

Then, Enji looked over and noticed the sweater that Thrax had left behind. His eyes widened a bit and he stepped over, picking it up and examining how roughed up it was. He could fix this.. it wasn’t too bad. Then he leaned a bit, holding the sweater up to his muzzle before he inhaled the scent on it. Gods, why was it so intoxicating? Enji growled a bit at himself and folded the sweater up, walking to his office and tucking it away with his bag and then he went to get back to work.

[lena-after-dark]

Pairing: Possessed!Josh Lambert x Reader

Prompt: Imagine Josh's obsession with you coming to a head after his possession.

Requested By: Anon

Warnings: Stalking. Kidnapping. Detainment. Possession.

He didn’t know what it was about you. Maybe it was the sound of your laugh or the way you told stories. He always knew you were around, even before he saw you. He could feel your presence in a room and would immediately feel a wave of comfort. From the moment he’d met you, Josh had been completely enamored by you. He wouldn’t admit it, of course, and tried to keep his feelings at bay, but you were always on his mind. 

Josh wanted to be around you any chance he could; he’d sit with you during lunch, and offer to stay late to grade papers with you so you wouldn’t be alone. It never seemed like enough for him, though. When your car suddenly died, he’d give you a ride to and from work. He’d always make sure that you made it inside - occasionally sitting outside for a while to watch your shadow move through the windows.

Sometimes he found himself following you when you left, curious about where you were headed. Before long, he knew your routine well. He knew which grocery store you preferred and the cafe you’d meet your friends at. He even learned about your friends - just to make sure they were the type of people worthy of your time, of course.

All of the information that Josh had learned about you came in very handy for Parker Crane, posing as his host to try to integrate into the living world. Josh’s… infatuation with you was something that struck Parker right away. He was going to live a normal life, he decided, in Josh’s body. But could he truly, with the gnawing feeling that he had to have you near him prodding at him? It nearly drowned out the voice of his mother. The two mixed together - her insistence mixed with Josh’s obsession couldn’t be ignored for long.

Parker- no, Josh. He was Josh now. Josh decided that he would start a new life with you. You two would be happy. He’d make sure of it. You’d come to love him and you’d be a family no matter what.

“Josh, are you alright? I’ve been trying to reach you for days now. You look sick. Is everything okay?:

“It is now. May I come in?”

You already trusted him enough to let him in your home well after dark, and you didn’t seem to mind the bag he had with him, either. Josh grew ever more certain of his plan as you embraced him in a hug. He couldn’t help it - he buried his head in your neck and inhaled, taking in your scent. You pulled away, giving him a quizzical look. He didn’t acknowledge it.

He’d been sick, he told you. Had to be hospitalized, but everything was fine now. He continued to comfort you while you spoke - and even more so as he wrapped a chemical soaked cloth around your mouth, holding it there until you were unconscious. He wrapped you up in a dark sheet and quickly brought you back to his mother’s home, undetected. He’d keep you in the basement until he could make the other preparations.

It was difficult to say how long you were down there. Josh would bring you sustenance and let you up to relieve yourself, but it was difficult to gauge even with that how time was passing. He was quite attentive for a kidnapper. He’d brush your hair and bring you fresh clothes (had he taken them from your house?) He even brought a radio down, played low, to keep you from the silence. At times it would turn to static and you could swear you heard your name from the other side.

When at last Josh was himself again and you were released, the things that had to be explained to you were incredible to hear. Even when you were shown photo and video evidence, it was a lot.

“So… it’s really you now?”

“That’s right. Y/N, I’m sorry. I don’t know how or why you got swept up into this. I hope… well, I hope you’re alright.”

He knew he’d have to give you space, and that your trust would return in time. Tucker and Specs were the ones to take you home while Josh worked to clean up the remnants of what Parker had done. He stood in the basement, the rope that had held you in place in his hands. He looked at that spot you’d been kept in for a while, then down to the restraints that held you. For a moment, a thought crossed through his mind.

But surely that was just the last pieces of Parker’s psyche within him. Wasn’t it?

Originally posted here.

Buy Me A Coffee?

[chicago-pd-is-weird]

Alt Prompt 1: “Is this all a game to you?”

@the-three-shits-whump

Read it on AO3 via the link, or find it below the cut:

Hank sat in the cage, hands cuffed behind him, looking up at his two closest friends. He’d gone too far - again. Trudy had her arms crossed, tears streaking down her face. Al was leaning against the door of the cage, which was closed and locked, looking down as he picked at the skin around his nails.

Al sighed and spoke first. “You’re done.”

“Done? No. I’m just getting started. These guys deserve everything that’s coming to them, Al, and-“

“I said you’re done!” Al raised his voice, one of the rare times he did so. Hank deserved it. He looked at Hank, meeting his eyes with a dangerous glare. “Done! Forever!”

“You’ll have to kill me,” Hank said with a soft laugh. “Like putting down a diseased dog.”

“Is this all a game to you?!” Trudy cried, shaking her head and banging her fists on the cage. “Are you enjoying yourself?!”

“Very much so,” Hank replied, smiling as he stood, walking forward to meet her, face to face behind the chain link fence. “Yes, Dee, this is all a game to me. A silly little game. A fun little game. Murdering people, bad people, people nobody will miss - that’s the game. Killing them before they kill me.”

“Except you went too far this time,” Trudy replied with a huff, looking over Hank’s face through the holes in the fence. “Too far.”

“I only kill those who have to be killed. For the greater good.”

“What about the little girl?” Al asked.

“She got in the way! All I did was knock her out!”

“You killed her!” Trudy screamed. “You fucking killed her!”

“I knocked her on the head! It’s not my fault she died!”

“She had head trauma! It wasn’t just a blow, Hank, you bashed her skull in!” Trudy’s tears dropped from her face onto her chest.

“She’s not dead, she’s in the hospital.”

“On life support!” Al yelled. “She may as well be dead!”

“No,” Trudy said. “She is dead, because her grandparents decided to withdraw life support.”

“Then they killed her, not me,” Hank replied, shaking his head. “Her father would’ve killed her soon enough anyways.”

“That’s it,” Al replied, unlocking the cage. “That’s it. You are a sick animal. A deranged dog. You need to be put down.”

Hank chuckled. “Yeah, right. As if you’d do that, Olinsky. You couldn’t even handle Browning. Or, what about Pulpo? Advocating for his life? You don’t have it in you, O. How can you say that you’ll put me down when you can’t even put down some of the sickest criminals?”

“This isn’t revenge,” Al said, grabbing Hank and shoving him over to his Dodge Magnum. “This is justice.”

Trudy and Al pushed Hank into the trunk, taping his mouth shut, the closed it, driving hours outside of Chicago. The two drove in silence, considering exactly what they’d do, and how they’d do it. They needed to take care of the problem. They drove until they nearly ran out of gas, in which they stopped and fueled up, then drove more.

Finally, they stopped at some remote location near Green Bay, Wisconsin, but further north. Al stopped at a supply store, getting what he needed, just the way Hank had taught him.

The good old “Chicago necklace.”

It was just a few cinder blocks and a thick chain, but it was enough. He set them on the floorboards of the back seat. Trudy was crying silently in the second seat. Al got back into the car, sighing and taking her hand. “Want me to drop you somewhere? I can do this.”

“No,” Trudy whispered, shaking her head, squeezing Al’s hand. “For Jenny.”

“For Jenny.”

Al drove again, finding a secluded spot on the water. He found a small boat, paying under the table for it in cash, never to be put on the record. When everyone was gone for the night, he and Trudy got Hank out of the trunk.

Hank didn’t struggle. He didn’t even fight them, like they thought he would. He took it all without issue, getting onto the boat with Trudy and Al. He glanced between the two of them. He knew what was happening. It was evident by the looks on their faces. They’d already disarmed him, cuffed him, and made sure he couldn’t yell for help. The only thing left to do was kill him.

Once Al and Trudy were far enough out into the water, they looked at each other. The moon was covered by the clouds, making it so dark they could barely see one another, let alone anyone from the shore. Not to mention the fog that had started to roll in over the water.

Al stood up, taking the duck tape off Hank’s mouth for a moment, but didn’t say anything. Hank chuckled. “Want me to speak my last words?”

Al sighed, peering into the fog, as if he could see anything. Trudy spoke up, looking at Hank. “You don’t feel any remorse?”

“No,” Hank huffed. “I took care of the problem. She was collateral damage.”

“Then I know you’re really a monster. You’re not the man I met thirty years ago. You’re someone else. Someone… horrible. A man without a soul.”

“Call me what you will, Dee, I am what I am.” Hank shrugged.

Al turned around, tears rolling down his own cheeks now. “Fuck, Hank, I thought you’d at least…” He trailed off. What had he thought? That Hank would just come back to them?

“That I’d apologize? Feel sorry? Maybe even beg for my life?” Hank cocked an eyebrow. “You know me better than that, O. I’ve never begged and I won’t start now. Kill me if you want, but I won’t beg for my own life. I’ll live as long as I live and do whatever I do until someone else takes it away. I guess the question is are you gonna be the one to take it from me? Or will she?” He set his eyes on Trudy.

Trudy couldn’t help it. She slapped him, a hard, sharp slap to Hank’s cheek. “You’re a monster.”

“Yeah, I am,” Hank growled in reply.

“This isn’t who Camille would’ve wanted you to be.”

“She’s not here!” Hank yelled, lunging forward to knock Trudy over into the bottom of the boat. “She’s not here to dictate me! She left me! They took her away!”

Al grabbed Hank, pulling him off Trudy and punching him a few times until he was bleeding, then pulled him up and grabbed the chain, wrapping it around his neck.

Hank laughed. “Using my own technique on me, huh O?”

“Shut up,” Al replied.

“Stole it from me, like everything else has been stolen from me.”

“I said shut up!” Al pulled the chain right around Hank’s neck, making him laugh.

“Tighter, Al, I know you can. Choke me out. It’ll be harder to get the water into my lungs. A painfully slow death.”

Al shook his head, Trudy adjusting the cinder blocks so she could push them over the edge when they were ready. “I would never torture you like that,” Al replied, sighing again as he looked down at his former best friend, grabbing his revolver from his ankle and choking the hammer, pushing it against Hank’s forehead. “I’m not a monster like you.”