#never wanted children and still feel like if i met him id adopt him in a second | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

avaritia-apotheosis · 3 years ago

Text

Phantom Children Ch. 8

What's this? An update! Massive thanks to my betas for helping me get through this chapter <3

In Which: A few answers are given to the family and Danny is rudely awoken

[Side note: If you wanna know the general ages of the batfam, its listed in the AO3 version. I also talk about katanas in the end notes ^-^]

AO3 | Prologue | 7 | [ 8 ] | 9 DAMIAN INFORMED TODD—and Drake when he arrived on his bike sometime later on—that the boy whose face is plastered across the monitor was neither a picture of himself nor of Father.

Drake took one glance at the monitor and sighed, pressing his fingers against the bridge of his nose. “Just when I thought this day was getting better.”

“What, did that café on 5th finally let customers supersize their drink?”

“God that would be the dream, wouldn’t it?” Drake sighed wistfully. “Nah, but I did get a lead on where some of that stolen Cadmus tech might’ve ended up. I was gonna spend the night following up on it, but I guess we have to deal with,” he gestured to the monitor, “whatever this is.”

Todd leaned against the edge of the computer, arms crossed over the red bat insignia on his chest. “What are we dealing with this time, brat? A clone? An alternate universe counterpart? Magic shenanigans?”

Maybe. Perhaps. All of those were perfectly valid conclusions for the enigma that was Daniel James Fenton. (Why Fenton and not al Ghul? Or even Wayne?)

Damian, too, was a genetic experiment; a ‘test tube baby’ as Drake put it at times. Damian was born for greatness, created to be perfect. The perfect soldier. The perfect assassin. The perfect heir. Was this boy—Daniel—like him as well?

A failed one, then. Perhaps the precursor to Damian’s own existence. But that would not explain why the boy was allowed to exist for so long. His grandfather demanded perfection, especially from those of his own blood. If the boy was a failure, he would have been eliminated immediately, not sent to live with some eccentric scientists in the Midwest.

Damian was not naïve enough to think that his mother and grandfather did not keep secrets from him. On the contrary, he expected it. The League of Shadows dealt in secrets as often as it did in death. Certain information was worth its weight in gold, whether it was given or buried away.

But he could not help the sharp pang in his chest. A lightning strike, quick and electrifying at the notion that they kept secrets about their family from him.

His father’s face flashed in his mind. The shock turned into a slow, dawning horror. That flicker of light, of recognition, as he scrutinized the contents of the flash drive and cross-referenced it with a public database.

And grief.

Damian recognized the grief.

Alfred, too, nearly dropped his tray of fresh-baked cookies when he stepped in front of the monitor. His usual unflappable demeanor was momentarily broken at his father’s whispered “Sixteen years. Alfred— he’s sixteen years old.”

His father knew of the boy. He was allowed to know of Daniel when he was not allowed to know about Damian.

------

Grayson returned to the cave with a distinct lack of energy in his step. His mask dangled off the tips of his fingers, chin angled downwards and covered largely by his hand. For a split second, their eyes met. Grayson shifted his gaze away, scratching the back of his neck. Father told him, then. Damian wondered how much Father revealed to his favorite son.

Damian clucked his tongue and buried himself deeper into the chair, arms crossed and pointedly looking away. If it was not for his accursed ankle, he’d have headed out to the training ring to take his frustrations out on the dummies.

“Oh, thank god you’re here, Dickface. Damian’s completely out of it.”

Damian shot him a look. “Shut up, Todd.”

“Leave him alone, Jay. Is Tim back yet?”

Drake emerged from the changing room in a dark green shirt, a fresh cup of coffee in hand. He took one long sip before exhaling. “Yeah, I’m here.”

“O-kay…” He pressed his hands together, mouth thinned into a grim line. “Uh, hey Tim, glad to see you back safe. Bruce is coming down soon to explain some things.” He let out a deep sigh, carding a hand through his hair. “This kind of thing would probably be better with the girls around, but I—god, I don’t know.”

Todd raised an eyebrow. “Don’t know whether to call Steph and Cass in Hong Kong, or don’t know what’s going on?”

“Yes.”

------

When Father arrived, Pennyworth following dutifully behind him, it was with an aching slowness in his gait. His steps measured and precise, preternaturally quiet as he made his way to stand by Damian’s chair. Damian sat up straighter, shoulders squared and back an inch away from the backrest. The rest, even Todd, stood at attention; an ingrained habit among Robins and an amusing instinct even among the senior heroes of the Justice League when it came to facing the Batman.

His father kept a steady hand on Damian’s shoulder, and Damian, shamefully, leaned into the touch; his head inclined towards his father’s hand so much so that he could feel the ends of his hair being pushed up slightly as he brushed against his father’s forearm.

He spoke with his usual monotone, as if he was heading a Justice League meeting as opposed to unveiling the secrets surrounding that boy. He brought forward the few photos they obtained from the flash drive. “A few weeks ago, we were alerted of suspicious movement from the League of Shadows in Amity Park, Illinois. Their objectives are, as of now, unclear, though it appears to be tied to the death of Amity Park resident, Daniel Fenton.”

One photo was a standard ID picture people get for their driver’s license, the lighting deliberately horrible so that any attempt to look decent would always end in failure. Another photo was a little better; a candid scene of him chatting with two others his age, a Caucasian girl in gothic-style clothes and an African-American holding a sleek, but still very outdated PDA. His blue eyes crinkled at the corners, hand reaching up to his face to stifle a laugh. There were other photos like this, some candid, others posed. At the forefront of each, a boy that looked too much like his father, too much like Damian.

His father glanced at the photos. He shut his eyes and when he opened them again, he fixed them on some distant stalactite in the Cave. “Around six months ago, Daniel was pronounced dead in a vehicular accident. A body was present, but according to police reports, he was identified via his driver’s license as opposed to any kind of DNA profiling.” He leaned over Damian’s chair to pull up a profile of Masters. “Our source—Vladimir Masters, mayor of Amity and a friend of the Fenton family—indicated his belief that Daniel is actually alive. I am inclined to agree.”

“He’s your son, isn’t he,” Drake said, more of a statement than a question.

Father gave a curt nod. “I cannot say for certain until I can perform a DNA test, but I highly suspect that to be the case.”

“First the demon spawn, now this. Great.” Todd made a hand motion towards the screen. “You know, Bruce, not knowing you have a kid once might be a coincidence, but twice? How do you do that?”

“As of three hours ago, I was still under the impression that my son never made it to term.”

“What?”

“Over sixteen years ago I was involved in a mission that put Ra’s and I on the same side. During that time, Talia and I entered a relationship that resulted in a pregnancy. Though initially ecstatic, she eventually led me to believe she miscarried the child and pushed me away. For what ends, I do not know, but trust me Jason, if I knew—” He paused, the hand that was not on Damian’s shoulder curled into a tight fist.

Father pinched the bridge of his nose. “Why she hid it from me then doesn’t matter. Why Talia wants him back now is important. Judging from Daniel’s records, he was adopted into the Fenton family as an infant and has since lived a seemingly normal life as a civilian. His adoptive parents, Jack and Maddie Fenton, are brilliant scientists and engineers focused on the field of paranormal studies. Eccentricities aside, they have zero connections to the League of Assassins or any other concerning parties.”

“So why now?” Dick asked, shifting his concerned gaze from Bruce to the static picture of Danny’s tired smile. “Why, after all this time, decide that now would be the best time to recover him?”

------

Danny’s experienced plenty of rude awakenings before, but waking up at the ass-crack of dawn to avoid his kidnapper-slash-assassin-slash-biological-mom launching a surprise attack takes the fucking cake. He can’t believe he’s saying this, but thank god for all those late night ghost attacks that conditioned him to be a light sleeper. And, of course, the League’s insistence that everyone be in optimal condition regardless of how little sleep you actually got.

Danny kicked Talia off of him, ripping his blanket away before scrambling to his feet. Seriously, if the universe decided to spontaneously give him powers again, he’d really like an upgrade to his ghost senses, please and thank you. Something that works on humans and not just ghosts. Like spidey-senses. He’d really, really like some spidey-senses.

“Your reaction times have improved considerably,” Talia said.

He eyed the katana sheathed beside his bedroll. “Thanks. Who could have guessed that constantly challenging someone to a spar in the unholy hours of morning would make them paranoid to sleep too much? Really, how am I supposed to grow taller at this rate? ” If he could just get it--

She smiled, taking a step forward. “Prepare yourself.”

“Heh.” Danny stepped further away from Talia, keeping his back to the mouth of the cave. One hand stretched in front of him and the other, coated in a green light, was kept hidden behind his back. “Am I actually gonna get some answers today?”

“Let us make it interesting. Last 10 minutes against me and I shall tell you more about your brother.” Talia twirled her blade. “If you happen to draw blood, you may ask any one thing of me.”

“Anything?”

“Within reason.”

His face caught between a grimace and a smile. He’d rather be sleeping right now, but if he had to be awake, then he’d better make the most of it. “Deal.”

Talia’s smile dropped. She veered her body to the right, barely dodging the streak of bright green that whizzed from behind her. The ectoplasmic energy that surrounded the katana bled away as the handle connected with Danny’s outstretched hand.

She quickly glanced back at Danny’s bedding. Beside it lay an empty sheath. “You have telekinesis?”

He shrugged. “It comes and goes.” Yeah, no way was Danny gonna admit that seven-out-of-ten-times he forgot that he had telekinesis. Besides, that shit was hard to do when he wasn’t Phantom.

“A surprise attack from behind is a sound strategy, Daniel. Though it’ll take a lot more than that to harm me.”

Danny pointed to the side of his cheek. “Are you sure about that?”

Talia frowned. She reached up to her face. Her fingers brushed against her cheek and came away with a thin streak of blood.

Danny grinned, pointing his blade at his opponent. “First blood goes to me.”

------

Fact: most fights don’t last long. An average street fight could last anywhere between 25 to 40 seconds, and sword fights rarely last over a minute. Like Talia said, the goal of a fight was to end it with as few injuries to oneself as possible. Humans, even the most skilled ones, can rarely last long in a fight. Prolonged combat is suicide; it makes you tired, makes your muscles heavy. It’s nothing like what Hollywood would have you believe.

Even with Danny’s own enhanced stamina and Talia holding back, he couldn’t last a full ten-minute spar. If Talia didn’t finish him within twenty-five seconds, then he’d fall by his own human limitations.

But the goal wasn’t to spar continuously for ten minutes.

He only had to last that long.

Danny sprinted out of the cave. The sun barely peeked out of the horizon, a thin line of deep orange breaking apart the wide expanse of blue-black sky above. He couldn’t see shit; great news since that meant there’s a good chance Talia couldn’t either, but that doesn’t fix the fact that he can’t see.

Nearly stumbling on the ice, Danny veered to the left. The edges of the lake stopped at towering rocks twice Danny’s height, leaving little room for cover. Though if he remembered correctly, there should be a few crevices here and there to hide in.

“You’ll have to be faster than that, Daniel.”

Shit—

Danny stopped. He brought his sword up to parry Talia’s strike and twisted away, putting distance between them.

Well, so much for just avoiding her for 10 minutes.

He adjusted his grip, keeping his sword steady and eyes trained on Talia as they circled each other. Danny lunged with an overhead strike. Talia used one hand to block the downswing by gripping his wrists. She thrust her sword forward, the tip harshly poking Danny’s abdomen.

“Less than three minutes.” Talia let his wrist go, Danny’s arms slumping to his sides.

He sighed as he sheathed his sword. “Damn, I thought I’d last longer than that.”

“You made a good effort,” Talia assured him. “Putting as much distance between us at the beginning was a good strategy. You recognized the win conditions immediately and attempted a battle of attrition.” She placed a hand on his shoulder. “I am very proud of you habibi, especially as you managed to draw first blood.”

A warmth grew in Danny’s stomach at the words, heating his cheeks. Sheepishly, he scratched the back of his head. “I wasn’t entirely sure that would work, honestly.”

“It was clever; half a second later and you might have even killed me. You are an al Ghul through and through” She brushed his hair out of his face. “What would you like as your prize, then?”

Danny’s heart clenched. He frowned, dropping his arm to his side. If I was such an al Ghul, then why didn’t you keep me? The question lodged itself in his throat, stifling his thoughts. It was something he’d been wondering for a while, actually, in the moments of solitude he had at the compound. Talia, during their training, would always remark at his potential. How talented he was, how adaptable he was, how much greater he would have been if he had been trained at a younger age.

Well then, why wasn’t he? Why did she give him up?

But each time he tried to ask, his tongue would turn to lead and the moment would pass, the question still left unsaid and simmering at the back of his mind. A Pandora’s Box that held none of the world’s evil but all of Danny’s possible shortcomings.

He could ask the question now.

He could.

He didn’t.

“Why did you take me?”

Talia tilted her head. “It is because you’re my son.”

“No. Not that. It has to be something more than that. You had sixteen years to come back for me—or, hell, you could have just never left me.” His breath hitched, fingers mussing his hair and hiding his eyes. “Why else did you take me?”

“It is true that there was more than one reason why we decided to retrieve you from Amity Park. One of which is because you are my son and an heir of the Demon’s Head.” Talia stilled. The dark skies of dawn made it impossible for him to read her. “The second reason was to protect you.”

“You kidnapped me…to protect me?”

“Knowledge of the ghosts of Amity have spread through the more insidious parts of the world. There are many out there who would pay exorbitant fees to study one of you or to use you.”

Use him? What did she mean by—

Oh.

Ghosts—Amity Park’s brand of ghosts—were a new element that the world had to contend with. Amity Park might have a crime rate of zero but that wasn’t the case everywhere else. Theft, assault, murder; the world was rampant with crimes and criminals clawing their way to the very top. Having ghosts, even ones with the most basic powerset, would be a huge advantage.

“There’s no way that would work,” Danny insisted. “Most ghosts just want to be left alone, and the ones that want to wreak havoc would never work with humans. The only reason they even work with halfas like me at times is because they still consider us as ghosts.”

“If my sources are to be believed, ghosts might not even get a choice.”

Danny’s blood curdled in his veins.

No.

Someone’s found a way to control ghosts.

#danny phantom #batman #danny phantom x batman crossover #dp fic #phantom children.txt

73 notes · View notes

softforklave · 4 years ago

Text

The Big Klave Fic Rec

Reginald Hargreeves does everything he can to learn about the Umbrella Academy’s powers, but Klaus is the one who finds out why they have their powers. No one expected the answer to be “we’re fallen angels” but here they all were. This is for my lovely @cemeteryklaus I hope you enjoy this! You will not run out of klave fics on my watch ;)

I have excessively been reading klave fics since s1 came out in February 2019, when there was only one page under the Klaus Hargreeves/Dave tag on ao3 (before our King shared his full name on Twitter). There are currently 2056 fics on ao3, and I can (un)fortunately say I have read almost all of them (what am I doing with my life?). Klave has been blessed with so many talented writers, so this is quite the list. Many of them have written more than one fic (some even over 50!), and since they are all amazing, it would take ages to list them all. Therefore, I have decided to recommend authors who have written two or more klave fics and linking to their the umbrella academy ao3 works page. Go read all of their works, and I can guarantee that every single fic is wonderful! And dont forget to leave kudos and comments, our writers deserve all the love and appreciation that we can give them!

I also highly encourage people reblogging with their favourite fics, if you want to show the writers some more love or if I have forgotten your favourite fic (you can also dm me if you want me to add it on)! I have tried to @ the authors, but sometimes it can be hard to find the right blogs. Please let me know if I have tagged you wrong, forgotten to tag you or dont want me to tag you, I will remove the @ at once! I will try to update this as I continue to excessively consume klave content (though this is limited to ao3 and tumblr), so please come back to this list for more recommendations. Happy Reading! <3

Authors (2 or more klave fics)

A - B

a_nybodys /// accidentallyanoctopus /// actuallymaxie ///admirabletragedy @admirabletragedy /// aelisheva /// AliNear /// Allandnothing /// allthempickles /// Ama /// Anglophile_Rin @anglophile-rin /// aubrey_writes /// aye_of_newt @aye-of-newt /// bacondoughtnut @spookybeez /// Becca_Hay /// Bendy_CA @apocalypse-gang /// bennybentacles @bennybentacles /// blazeofglory /// Bluebacchus @bluebacchus /// bluetigerlillies @frogsarebxtches /// brionylarkin @brionylarkin

C - E

CaptainAmericaoftheTardis /// CharryWotter /// covenofthearticulate @codenameseance /// CowgayKermit @cowgaykermit /// crisecardiac @thistlemoth /// Cyane /// Dancinbutterfly @dancinbutterfly /// dandelyre @dandelyre /// deargalileo/// deathishauntedbyhumans @deathishauntedbyhumans /// discohargreeves /// Doctor959 /// Dog_Bearing_Gifts @dogbearinggifts /// Drhair76 @handcoversheart-76 /// dyllpickless @dyllpickless /// electric016 @electric016 /// Eternal_Peace_Is_Overrated @flowercrownsandbooks

F - K

Faetality @faetxlity /// forestdivinity (ForestDivinity) @forestdivinity /// forthekidswhoaintgotnosoul @prime8svevo /// FrazzledSquidz G33kinthepink /// ghostbythesea @gay-poster-child /// goldieknocks @goldieknocks /// Hemitreunited @hermitreunited /// hippieklaus @hippieklaus /// hujwernoo /// iamnotalizard @lizard-overlord /// ilikeshipment @theseance1968 /// intheflowers /// Karturtle (karturtle) @karturtle /// Katplanet @katplanet /// KawaiiCommunism @kawaiic0mmunism /// KindaCool @kindasickkindacool /// klausmoon

L - P

lastyoungrene-gay-de @lastyoungrene-gay-de /// livid /// LiviJoyann /// livtontea @zontiky /// loves_buckybarnes /// Lyviel @justatiredghost /// Majure @fanthings /// Mars_and_Moon /// mieczyhale @mieczyhale /// momebie (katilara) @charmingpplincardigans /// noodlerdoodler /// MusicLover19 /// Nyctae /// obscurityofphylum /// ohmygodwhy @gaycinema /// Opal_Lakes /// @opal-lakes /// ophelibob_writes @a-human-pippin-took /// Papapaldi @wykart/// perceptuallydisorganizedwriter /// PickledBeef @pickledbeefwastaken /// polarkai /// princejoopie @princejoopie /// punk_rock_yuppie

Q - S

queenbaskerville /// QueenOfAllCorgis /// rumbleroarsslumberingcubs /// Scalliwag @sscalliwag /// seancequeen @seancequeen /// sehn_sucht @sehn----sucht /// SerpaSas @queenbeyondthewalll /// Shadowscast /// Shamefulshameless @shameful-shameless /// Sharpworksamurai/// shipNslash /// Siriuspiggyback @cowboyklaus /// Smallswritesstuff @mychemicalxmen /// smile_it_will_get_better @smileitwillgetbetterbitches /// softforklave @softforklave (shameless self promo) ///spookyfbi @spookyfbi /// stuckinmybook /// Squintern @chinchillinator /// squishitude @squishitude /// sunriseseance @sunriseseance /// sunshineklaus

T - Y

tealeavesandtrash @carry-on-my-wayward-hobbit /// thefangirlingdead @thefangirlingdead /// TheMadHatterOfficial /// thetreasuerhunter @yeah-klave /// tjstar @i-seeaspaceshipinthe-sky /// TobiBooneTheSmallSpoone @tobiboonethesmallspoone/// TotallynotRemus @totallynotremus /// TwistedIllusions @courtneytarynofficial /// twosidedcoin /// VeteranKlaus @veteranklaus /// wildeism @knifecatklaus /// writer_inthe_dark /// yukiawison /// zweebie

Fics (authors with currently only one klave fic)

Placeholder by Ace_Chey (mrs_sakuma) @cheydoesfandom

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A FIRST DRAFT WIP, EXPECT MISTAKES IN SPELLING, GRAMMAR, AND TIMELINES after NaNo I plan to edit and republish a cleaner, more complete version in 2021 ~~~

When Klaus sees the news that their father is dead, they’re feeding their seven-month-old daughter, Grace Kelly Katz, one year sober, and finally back on T (prescribed this time). Their siblings still haven't met Dave, let alone Gracie, and Klaus can't bear the thought of introducing them, not now, under these circumstances, so they go alone. But when the family reunion becomes complete with Five's sudden and bizarre arrival, not from 45 years in a wasteland, but directly from the lunch he ran away from 20 years ago, they realize things are going to get more complicated and they might not be able to put it off any longer.

Words: 58,217 Chapters: 36/? Status: Hiatus

Snapshots of a Life Well Lived by Ace_of_Spades_400

One week into Vietnam and the briefcase is broken. Klaus is never going home. He's just going to have to make the most of his life here, now.

Words: 13,960 Chapters: 3/3 Status: Complete

Run for miles just to get a taste by Agf

Dave comes back to 2019, and Klaus has some memories best exorcised with new ones.

Words: 1,666 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

Not a Replacement, Never a Replacement by AndThenHeGotKnockedUp

Klaus hasn't piloted a Jaeger in years. He hasn't wanted to without Ben. He's spent all that time wandering far, far away from anything having to do with the Academy and kaiju.

Unfortunately for him, the world is ending, and Luther doesn't give him a choice.

(Pre-Klave! Will have a follow up in the future.)

Part 1 of the UA PacRim Fusion series

Words: 2,625 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

soldiered together by Anonymous

"... I was foolish enough to follow him all the way to the front line."

Words: 2,993 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

know tenderness by applepandowdy

Klaus wished, more than anything, that they had just had a bit more time.

Words: 1,266 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

whatever words I say, i will always love you by ariya167 and bigembarrasingheart @ariya-167and @bigembarrassingheart

Dave kissed Klaus first, but Klaus kissed him back.

Words: 921 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

if i could choose anything in the world (id pick you every time) by aseriesofessays @macroglossus

"Would you have come back?"

He thinks about a farm.

Words: 588 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

The Boy and The Ghost by Astheroid

“Look for me. Promise me Dave, promise you’ll look for me at the Umbrella Academy!”

Dave never knew what those words meant, the parting words of the man he loved, and they made absolutely no sense.

Until thirty-four years later when he found his purpose.

“Our world is changing. Has changed. There are some among us gifted with abilities far beyond the ordinary. I have adopted six such children. I give you the inaugural class of the Umbrella Academy.”

or story of ghost Dave finding thirteen year old Klaus and swearing to protect him from all evil.

Words: 4,494 Chapters: 2/? Status: WIP

new year, new me (things always turn out how they’re meant to be) by Astronomical_Aphrodite @aesthetic-antheia

When they travelled back through time, Klaus wasn’t expecting to be the only one who remembered.

Part 1 of maybe by next January

Words: 80,770 Chapters: 18/20 Status: WIP

Five times Klaus dies in Vietnam and comes back, and One time Someone else does by BabyPom

Klaus can't seem to die, at least not permanently.

Words: 1,169 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

How The Hollyhocks Bloom by batcavemasquerade

In which Klaus Hargreeves, a retired pacifist, is dumped headfirst into the Vietnam War. Klaus never comes home and his brothers and sisters claw their way back to him, one by one, after the end of the world.

AKA: The siblings go back to the 1960s to regroup and to get a few measly moments of goddamned peace and quiet, and find Klaus serving in the Vietnam War, different and sober as can be.

Words: 24,035 Chapters: 16/20 Status: WIP - Chapter 16 is the new chapter 1. For the rewrite, read from 16 and upwards.

i hope you know you're my desire (i hope you know you're the one) by beezran

It must be fate when Dave puts his hand on Klaus’ cheek right as Klaus starts to ache for his kiss.

Kiss me.

His touch makes Klaus stand up straighter and edge closer to him.

“You’re beautiful, you know?” Dave says, and even with all that they’ve been drinking, Klaus knows it isn’t that what’s talking.

“Kiss me,” Klaus actually says it. He can’t take it back, and he doesn’t want to when Dave is looking at him like that.

Dave’s breath ghosts over his lips and Klaus keeps repeating it in his head like a prayer.

Kiss me. Kiss me. Kiss me. Kiss me.

Or he might have said it, he’s not sure when he’s so caught up in the feeling of Dave so close to him.

Words: 22,708 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

Arcane Incidents of Anoxia by Bellovebug

Klaus dies.

Klaus dies, and Dave can't breathe.

He forgets what it's like, the feeling of oxygen entering his lungs, the sensation of carbon dioxide exiting them.

He remembers, though, the stories Klaus used to tell. He remembers that joke he'd made about that briefcase he always carried around being a time machine. He remembers the tall tales of a family of superpowers, a less than stellar father. He remembers the stories he'd spun out of thin air, of time travel and a disappearing brother and a talking chimpanzee and a robot mother.

(He remembers the true story he'd told about seeing ghosts.)

He only learns once he opens that mysterious briefcase under Klaus's cot that all of the stories were true.

Every one of them.

Words: 22,075 Chapters: 4/? Status: WIP

life is full of pain, i'm cruisin' through my brain by bigembarrassingheart @bigembarrassingheart

Bullets whizzed past his ears, and he would have screamed but he already was. Klaus grabbed Dave’s face, stroked his cooling cheek, rested his head on his shoulder like he did when they had nights alone. There had to be some life left in his body. In any second he would feel the heave of his chest. He had to.

Klaus takes a pit stop before going back to the future.

Words: 1,188 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

found by burlesquecomposer

Klaus’s right hand is Dave’s favorite one to hold. As long as they embrace hello, Dave says, they’ll never have to say goodbye.

But war is a bitch, and Dave is the one who gave him an excuse to charge into it head-on.

Words: 2,628 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

You Drew Stars Around My Scars by caliibee

“Does it hurt?” Klaus asked softly, running his fingers over Dave’s face and down his neck. He trailed down his chest, mindful of the deep-set wound that always sent a shock through his heart no matter how many times he’d seen it. Dave caught his hands and brought them back up to cup his face.

“No, not anymore.”

Words: 792 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

The Umbrella Academy: Winter Soldier by chiquitasdave and ratsbaby (orphan_account)

Luther lands an uppercut to the jaw, sending the soldier flying, and Diego’s moving before he even lands. His grip on Klaus tightens and his mouth opens to say something, anything, to pull him back to the safety of the car they crouch behind, but Klaus beats him to the punch. He leans forward to better watch the action, to cheer his brother on (or clean up his remains, depending on how this goes), and stops cold as the soldier pushes himself to his feet again.

Klaus' first thought is that he’s beautiful. Klaus’ second thought is that he knows him.

The threat of danger is sensed and signals fire to tell the brain, no, not yet! We weren’t meant for this! He can’t take it now! The body reacts to stop him, but Klaus steps forward anyway. He ignores every impulse because he knows him, because love makes him stupid, because he has to.

Klaus takes another step forward.

‘Dave?’

‘Who the hell is Dave?’

Words: 13,120 Chapters: 3/10 Status: WIP

I Could Not Be At Rest, I Could Not Be At Peace by CosmicJourney @cosmictapestry

With the apocalypse delayed, there's now ample opportunity for Klaus to open up to his siblings about his past. There's also ample opportunity to try and conjure Dave. Unfortunately, one of these has to take precedence over the other.

(Season 1 AU)

(Sequel to "I'll Find Sleep, I'll Find Peace")

Words: 52,274 Chapters: 10/10 Status: Complete

Sick Of Losing Soulmates by CrazyAngel

"Do you think the universe fights for souls to be together? Some things are too strange and strong to be coincidences."

Back in 2019, things are the same but also different. The Hargreeves have messed with the timeline way too much and some things clearly aren't the same — like giving the chance for Klaus to meet Dave again. Klaus knows nothing about reincarnation or if it was really he and his brothers fault for this, but he'll take the chance anyway. Even if this Dave is blind now.

Part 1 of the Right Back Where We Started (Again) series

Words: 26,417 Chapters: 6/6 Status: Complete

Admist the Chaos by crazynadine

Ten months. Klaus spent ten months in Vietnam, fighting a war he didn't belong in, falling in love with a man he didn't deserve.

The long and convoluted tale about how a time traveling junkie and a disillusioned solider found love amidst the chaos of war....

Words: 87,700 Chapters: 10/10 Satus: Complete

The beginning of something by DoctorProfessorSong @doctorprofessorsong

The Hargreeves siblings find themselves in a future they barely recognize. Their father is alive. Their home is occupied by a mixture of strangers and familiar faces calling themselves The Sparrow Academy. None of them are friendly.

But it's all going to be okay. Five has a plan to restore the timeline. The rest of the siblings just need to sit tight and lay low. Just don't wander off. How hard can that be?

A continuation of the story from S2 because I am impatient for more. This one is gonna get real dark but I promise I am going to give the Hargreeves a happy ending.

Words: 52,548 Chapters: 18/18 Status: Complete

take me out, baby by downpours @fourhargreeves

For someone who spent a decade running from the debts he owed, Klaus spent an alarming amount of time trying to recompense Dave for loving him.

Words: 6,802 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

Your Song by eithergayorgayer @yerbluues9

"And you can tell everybody, this is your song."

In which Klaus can play piano and sing and decides to serenate Dave who is watching from above.

Words: 3,578 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

Hands by GoldenBones

Late at night after the disco when everyone else is asleep, Klaus kneels at Dave’s bunk and whispers a silent prayer into Dave’s hands. In a rare moment of peace against the harsh Vietnam winter, Klaus holds Dave’s hand against his face and tries to sleep.

Words: 1,640 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

Ink and Dirt, Eggs and Orange Juice by HappySeaNinja

It’s a quick job on an overcast day, in and out, smooth like coffee, and the only hitch is in his voice when he says goodbye. There’s dirt under his fingernails, ink on his stomach, and a lingering shot of whisky on his tongue.

Really, it’s all that’s left.

Non-linear moments in Klaus and Dave's relationship across seasons 1 and 2. Please don't read unless you've watched all of season 2 as there are spoilers.

Words: 4,631 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

oh love, i'm there in memories by hellchoirs

"If only there could be an invention that bottled up a memory, like scent. And it never faded, and it never got stale. And then, when one wanted it, the bottle could be uncorked, and it would be like living the moment all over again."

Words: 1,536 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

To Have a Home by heterophobe

Dave Katz is a simple man. He values kindness, honesty and strength of character. As someone who is queer and homeless, he also has a fairly substantial distrust of law enforcement.

This is why—when a twig of a man, with kohl-lined eyes and a vibrant pair of purple tights, sprints across the alley-way he’s seated in, skids to a halt at the corner of a dumpster, and balls himself tightly out of view from the street—Dave doesn’t make a move to flag down confused-looking uniformed officers that follow him into the mouth of the alley.

It’s also why—when said officers approach him, and ask him if he’s seen anyone come by—he takes one look at the man’s pleading eyes and shakes his head mournfully. “No, sorry officers.”

OR:

As told through a series of non-linear snapshots, Dave and Klaus come to know one another.

Words: 3,346 Chapters: 2/15 Status: WIP

Dream A Little Dream of Me by idkpeachystuff

"Klaus, thinking back, had always thought that was a strange term. Making love. He wasn't actually certain why. Sex had always felt like...well, sex. Fucking. Nothing entirely special or intimate that he felt had the effect on his heart like nearly everyone had made it seem it should be. And despite how utterly and disgustingly cliché it sounded, that was of course until he met Dave."

Klaus wakes before Dave on their last morning together, on a weekend out in town that is, leaving him with one of his only options to remember everything that had happened the night before and realizing that he was deeply in love, and no matter what, he was never getting out

Words: 3,015 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

projected stars across the night sky by iheardarumor (sonicraptors)

The best nights he’d ever had in his life were spent at his side.

Words: 1,496 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

Late Shift at The Umbrella Café by intravenusann @jeffgoldblumsmulletinthe90s

Klaus and Ben have the afternoon shift together almost every day. But not every day are the customers as nice — or as hot! — as this new Dave guy.

Or, in other words, a story where Klaus gets his life together enough to get a boyfriend.

Words: 45,563 Chapters: 6/6 Status: Complete

Need Some Advice by Jenni4

Niki wasn’t used to anyone asking her opinion, so she was surprised when Vina walked into work with an extra energy drink and slid it to her. “Need some advice.”

Niki raised an eyebrow and opened the can and took a big gulp. Vina had been sitting next to her at the call center for exactly two days now. “What makes you think I’m qualified to give anyone advice?”

Vina shrugged out of her jacket and took her seat. “You seem to have your shit together.”

Niki almost choked on her laughter at that one. “That’s so far from the truth but…”

Words: 5,192 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

Farewell by JuliusQuasar @juliusquasar and LittleRit @littlerit

Day 20: Shipwrecked

Part 10 of the LittleRit's MerMay Fills 2021

Words: 100 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

a life so demanding by kaijugore @kaijugore

"He was still carrying the war in his heart, how was he supposed to talk about that?"

Ten months. 304 days. 7,300 hours. 438,000 minutes. It would never ever ever be enough time.

Part 1 of the i am (not) afraid to keep on living series

Words: 1,861 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

the sugar rush, the constant hush by kamisado

The scars across his body mark a treasure map of mistakes. Tiny shrapnel scars and rosy-red roadrash, a lifetime of being thrown to the ground by Academy training and the real world. The ivory line tracing across his jaw, almost invisible. The tattoos and the traintracks, the pockmarked puncture wounds scattered like a horrifying constellation across his body.

He’s so tired.

[a klaus s1 character study]

Words: 3,801 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

By The Firelight by keatches @klauzoleum

They share a long look, their lips still tilted in small, secret smiles.

“I’m Dave.” He extends an open palm, skin callous but inviting. Klaus reciprocates with a clap of his own hand against his.

“Klaus.” He tilts forward as the bus jolts, trundling them away to disaster. The briefcase knocks against the heel of his boot, but Klaus absentmindedly nudges it aside.

The five significant times Klaus spoke to Dave. The one time he never will again.

Or, how they fell in love.

Words: 14,681 Chapters: 6/6 Status: Complete

in midnights, in cups of coffee by klausgraves

Dave is just trying to keep his bookstore open, and the stoned hottie that keeps wandering in and talking at the air really, really isn't helping.

Words: 7,316 Chapters: 3/? Status: WIP

Sehnsucht by KimbaSprite @pokemonmasterkimba

Day 26: Longing

What was supposed to be a casual night out takes a turn for the weird when Dave encounters a mysterious stranger stranded on the beach. His sister keeps telling him he needs to meet new people and make connections, so why not with Klaus? Even if he is so attractive that Dave feels he may get sick from nerves alone.

“Hey, my eyes are up here. Careful, or you may get lost in them.“ He looks into Klaus’s eyes as instructed and hmm. Yeah, wow.

Klaus bites his lip in a way that is definitely attractive, and Dave wonders if he realizes what he’s doing to him. Probably. Probably. Klaus seems like the kind of person who knows just how powerful they are.

All at once Dave finds himself sympathizing with old-timey sailors; he could see himself risk drowning just for the chance to exist in the same space as Klaus.

Words: 8,585 Chapter: 1/1 Status: Complete

I'll Never Let Them Hurt You (I Promise) by LaceratedLullabies

But whatever apocalyptic future Dave found himself in couldn’t be worse than the present. His world had already ended. - On February 21st 1968, Klaus Hargreeves dies in Vietnam. A heartbroken Dave follows his last connection to the man he loves: a time-travelling briefcase. 50 years out of time, Dave has to deal with a changed world, his aborted grief and a tortured Klaus who doesn't know him yet. Oh, and the impending apocalypse.

Words: 13,851 Chapters:7/? Status: WIP

I Will Follow You by lostonthisisland @distilledspirit

After Dave's death on the front lines of the Vietnam War he's pulled through time to witness important points in Klaus' life.

Was going for a 5+1 format, but it's a bit looser than that. So, in other words, 5 times Dave sees Klaus and 1 time Klaus sees Dave.

Words: 6,693 Chapters: 2/2 Status: Complete

i get down on my knees and pretend to pray by marinersapptcomplex @wavesknowshoress

He was quiet, for once, standing silent and breathing in the air around him. There were tears in his eyes.

Words: 2,044 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

Soulmates by Meilena

"Klaus was twelve, as high as a kite, and in fact, did know why his soulmark looked so thin and light."

Everyone has a soulmark, which is where the name of their soulmate resides on the skin of their left forearm. Klaus has one too, only his is a little different.

Words: 853 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

(Feels Like) Heaven by Melivian @melivian

When Klaus wakes up in the afterlife, he can't believe his luck. Somehow, despite his checkered past and wobbly moral compass, he's made it into the Good Place, where he'll spend eternity with his dream soulmate in a dream neighbourhood.

Only there are two problems. The first is that he's pretty sure the architect of this neighbourhood has the wrong person. And if she catches on that Klaus doesn't belong with all the heroes and philanthropists here, he'll be sent to the Bad Place.

The second is that for the residents, this dream is starting to feel a lot like a nightmare...

Part 1 of the I slithered here from Eden just to sit outside your door series

Words: 23,496 Chapters: 5/28 Status: WIP

Hello, Goodbye by michaelfalls

His eyes stare where Klaus can’t see. His soul goes where Klaus can’t follow.

Words: 2438 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

come on, baby by myeyesarenotblue @myeyesarenotblue

“Dave, my sister has powers,” Klaus says, matter of factly, bobbing his head up and down, “She’s had powers this whole time but my asshole father decided she was too-” and he looks down at the notebook, does finger quotes with one hand, “- 'uncontrollable' and 'dangerous’ to use them.”

“Powers?”

“Yeah.”

“As in- superpowers? ”

“Yeah,” Klaus says, and then- “I have to tell her," and then- "Wanna come with?"

Words: 5,081 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

your fingers weave quick minarets by nerdsandthelike @nerdsandthelike

According to Five, they have an apocalypse to stop in the future and here Klaus is fifty years too early trying to get in the pants of some probably straight GI who Ben keeps reminding him looks like Luther before the protein shakes. Because he’s not Allison, Klaus decides to put that particular observation waaaaaayyy to the side.

Words: 6,615 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

My Heart Is Playing Hide-And-Seek (Wait And Count To Four) by nessbess (orphan_account)

Klaus had spent what felt like a lifetime searching for Dave after he died in 1968. But Dave found him first, long before that. Klaus was five years old the first time he appeared.

Words: 11,908 Chapters: 8/? Status: WIP

Five and Dave's Life Changing (Life Saving) Field Trip by neuronary

The little boy, who Dave could now see was not as little as he’d first thought, shoved a tin mug at him. “Drink this.”

Dave drank. It tasted sickly sweet and slightly citrus-y. “Who are you?”

“Five.” The boy’s scowl deepened at Dave’s confusion. “Klaus’ brother.”

Or, Five saves Dave's life to stop Klaus from moping. From Dave's perspective, a very grouchy, sleep-deprived twelve-year-old kidnaps him and he finds it much more entertaining than he should.

Inspired by Lyviel's 'Fixes to the Timeline'

Words: 1,728 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

breathy on the bits by Nucci @maundering-marauder

“So Fivey, tired of the school boy chic?” Klaus asked with a manic grin, “Because do I have so many ideas for you.”

“As long as it’s warm, I don’t really care.”

“Warm, check” Klaus noted, miming checking a box with his finger, “Any other demands?”

“No sequins,” Five replied and blipped out of the room.

---

Or, Five’s tired of wearing the Academy uniform and Klaus offers to help. As is wont to do with the Hargreeves, emotions and miscommunication ensues.

Words: 8,702 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

The Collision of Your Kiss by orphan_account

Klaus spends ten months in Vietnam.

Dave is why.

Words: 4,505 Chapters: 1/1 Status: discontinued

pieces (skin to bone) by orphan_account

The first time Klaus dies, he is thirteen. He dies again at seventeen, eighteen, twenty-four. By his fifth death, he has resigned himself to the blackness that awaits him. Not that he much cares: anything would be better than this, even blissful oblivion, even floating in blackness until his mind decays, and, like Five, he starts seeing people where there aren’t there, falling in love with a mannequin or a fleck of dust in his eye.

Dave won't come to Klaus, so Klaus decides to go to him.

Words: 2,128 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

in the mountain of the crouching beast by patrocluus

Dave catches his eye later, when they’re sitting next to each other in the bumpy truck, men jostling into each other on all sides; the corner of his mouth quirks up a little, just enough to make Klaus’ heart jump in his chest. He doesn’t remember the last time someone looked at him like that: like they have a secret to share, and that secret is the most important thing in the world, even if that world seems to be ending around them.

Or: It's 1968, and deep in the A Shau Valley, Vietnam, Klaus meets a man who feels like home.

Words: 8,203 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

in the january rain by phcbosz

And all Klaus has left to prove that any of it happened and wasn’t just one fucked up dream is a pair of bloody dog tags, a tattoo on his arm, and the taste of ash sticking to the roof of his mouth.

Words: 5,226 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

Dancing to the Rhythm of a Different Drum by PlaneJane

Klaus escapes from one terror, and finds himself in another: the A Shau Valley, Vietnam, 1968.

"They kissed at midnight, breath heavy with liquor, the first brush of Dave’s lips making Klaus weak at the knees. Giddy at the gentle way Dave took his face in his hands, like Klaus was something precious."

My Klaus and Dave backstory, because the show didn't give me enough.

Words: 1,498 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

His name was Dave by punkspiders

Klaus reflects back upon his time both in the Vietnam War, and with the man he loved more than himself.

Words: 1,654 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

How Not To Propose by RhubarbDuck

His life follows a monotonous routine: wake up, smoke, go to the same shitty grocery store, space out for eight hours and occasionally stock shelves, more drugs, rinse, and repeat.

His life was, at some point, a little more exciting (if exciting meant going on a week-long bender and waking up in a cell with the worst headache he ever experienced). After a couple weeks in jail and the threat of a rehab that he could never attend, he met Dave. Honestly, Klaus couldn’t remember his life before Dave. Dave was kind and understanding and way too put together to be with a fuck up like Klaus, but for whatever reason he seems to love Klaus- or at least he tells him so twice a day.

American Ultra AU

Words: 19,824 Chapters: 5/? Status: WIP

The Moments We Had by RosyPages @thesevenumbrellas

A series of moments between Dave and Klaus as they fall in love during the war.

Words: 2,044 Chapters: 3/8 Status: WIP

In the Dark by runrarebit

So they're back in the past, they're thirteen again, Ben is alive, Vanya doesn't remember, her siblings are suddenly treating her differently, better, and all of a sudden she and Klaus are bonding- Klaus who is still trying to be clean and sober- except things are never easy, are they? There’s their father to contend with, once more alive and at the height of his power over them, and there’s secrets, always secrets, always in danger of getting out, and after their father decides that a clean and sober Klaus is a Klaus that can resume his training Reginald Hargreeves just might not be the scariest man walking the halls of the Umbrella Academy- even if only one person can see him.

The thing about Klaus is that, even trapped, in the dark, he is never alone. Never alone. Never. And the past he's been running from ever since he was a small child might just now be something he can’t escape from.

Words: 61,243 Chapters: 18/18 Status: Hitaus

well, the clock says it's time to close now by rythyme (pugglemuggle)

The first time Klaus falls in love, it's in the middle of a war. Fate really does enjoy cruel irony.

Or, a series of vignettes from the ten months Klaus and Dave spent together in Vietnam.

Words: 3,788 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

Fancy Seeing You Here by Saccha @sacchariwrites

Dave miraculously survives being shot in the chest, and is present when Klaus gets in a fight at that vets bar.

Written for EnKlave Fest.

Words: 1,891 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

Valentine’s Day in Vietnam by salvador-daley @salvador-daley

A hungover Klaus awakes after a night in the arms of a young man from Dallas

Words: 1.7k Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

In the Dark of the Night by sassmaster_tiresias @i-will-fong-you

The flashlight is still on, peeking out between the folds in Dave’s comforter, and Dave remembers how frantic Klaus had been to turn it on.

He remembers how he couldn’t even really see Klaus when he’d first woken up, his beautiful face obscured by the darkness. Then, he remembers the Christmas lights in Klaus’ room—strung in a haphazard zig-zag up the wall beside his bed, the soft glow that was present every time Dave had been in that room.

“The lights,” he says.

Words: 2,437 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

War is Hell by sauropod @occult-criticality

Klaus' hands were still filthy with dried blood and muck as he fumbled at the clasps, the combination lock on the top. Desperate, blind hope had his heart going a mile a minute. The dial still read that seemingly random set of numbers it had the first time he opened it on the bus, what felt like a lifetime ago.

0213-18-02-1967

“Please.” Klaus choked. “Please work.” He opened the briefcase.

Words: 80,813 Chapters: 21/? Status: WIP

New and Familiar by Snabby

If you told Dave a year ago that he had a loving (if a bit crazy) boyfriend, in a relationship which he didn’t have to hide, he wouldn’t have believed you. Although that thought isn’t as crazy in comparison to being in the future and the fact that his boyfriend, can not only see ghosts but was raised in a crazy cult-like superhero family.

In Dave’s opinion, the oddest thing out of the whole family is Five

So he was a little shocked and confused when Five popped in front of him.

“I need you to get a decent fucking cup of coffee” shoving his little finger in Dave’s face

----------

Or Klaus and Dave pretend to be Five's parents so the poor little dude can get coffee

Words: 1967 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

It's a Piece of Cake to Bake a Pretty Cake by StardustInYourEyes

Prompt: Flour fight in the kitchen Klaus and Dave's attempt at making a cake

Words: 2,535 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

i just wish that you were here, now by sapphictomaz

Immediately after the Season One finale, Klaus finds himself back in 1968, and is forced to so some soul-searching while dealing with the rest of his siblings and the memories he has of Dave from the first time around.

Title from "Wish You Were Here" by Marianas Trench.

Words: 4,055 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

face to face (and a thousand miles apart) by shadowlancer_95 @shadowsofmoonracer

His strides were long, and shaky as he stumbled through the darkness, relying on the barest threads of memory to Allison’s house. The cut on his lip stung in the cold night air, his throbbing cheekbone a mere shadow of the agony in the hollow cavity where his heart used to be.

Or,

Klaus, after his second (and most disastrous) meeting with Dave.

Words: 1,799 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

i wore his jacket for the longest time by sharkhette

So, maybe Klaus wasn’t in his right frame of mind. Maybe he hadn’t been for a long time. But Dave was dead, and that meant Klaus should be able to conjure him, one way or another. The traditional method of cleaning up his act and sitting around to wait hadn’t worked, so it was time to get imaginative.

Klaus just wants to see Dave again, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen, no matter the cost. Includes conversations with Ben, Diego, God, a surly preacher, and gratuitous references to certain MCR songs.

Words: 7,252 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

His oxygen belongs to Death by Sophiethegeek

He can almost taste their bloodlust on his tongue, feel their rage heavy in his breastbone. They’re bad today, and it’s safe to say he’s having a very bad day as a result. Each swipe is sending icy pain across his skin, making him shiver. God, he’s cold.

He closes his eyes, pretending not to hear the faint roar of the snarling, crying, screeching mass around him. Why did he think sobriety was a good idea? Christ on a cracker, this fucking sucked.

Or: After hopping around time, and returning to the day of the apocalypse that never was, Klaus falls apart slowly, then all at once.

Words: 91,661 Chapters: 8/? Status: WIP

Love You, Sugar by spaceysev

There’s a reason Klaus can’t listen to Total Eclipse of the Heart anymore, and it’s got everything to do with the only man who was ever allowed to call him Sugar.

Words: 3,828 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

musical preference by sourcheeks

“Of course you don’t like country.”

“I never said that,” Klaus replied diplomatically, even though it was true.

Words: 227 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

Wings of Feathers and Wax by TerezFox8989

A look at the morning after their first time.

Hell, he always considered it a personal victory if he could put a name to a face after, which had suited him just fine. Sex had always had a means to an end, he used and was used; drugs, food, sleep, alcohol. But never this...not mornings after wrapped up in each other talking about family.

Words: 1,534 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

One Night in Saigon by terracotta_heartbreak

They're drunk, they're in a Saigon Hotel, and Klaus is smoking on the bed, but that's nothing new. But it's such an odd thing to be alone together, that doe-eyed strange man who never made sense here, and the soldier who'd fallen for him, for all those eccentricities. How are you meant to make sense of each other in the 60s, in that musky haze of war, drugs and the sounds of political blues rock?

Words: 2,011 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

Just One in Thousands by TheArchaeologist @ancientstone

Take the idea that Five is followed by all his victims from his time at the Commission, and take the idea that Five is responsible for Dave’s death, and what do you get?

Pain.

Pain is what you get.

Words: 1,351 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

Dancing with a Ghost by TheBestofEverything

"Would you like to share this dance with me?" Dave asked quietly.

"I'd love to," Klaus smiled as he took Dave's hand in his.

(Klaus is finally sober, and he conjures Dave.)

Words: 664 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

Bad Enough for You by thehoundisdead

Dave can be bad. He doesn’t want to be but he can. He wants to spoon Klaus; to gather him up tight enough against his chest to hold all of his pieces together, to let him relax for once. He wants to take a bath with him and shampoo his hair and make him breakfast in bed and wrap him up in his softest blanket. But that’s not what Klaus wants, at least not yet. Dave has a strong suspicion that Klaus has never been treated softly by a partner. So, bad boy.

based on the song bad enough for you by all time low

Words: 8,757 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

The Way Light Swallows Shadows by TheSevenUmbrellas (RosyPages) @thesevenumbrellas

Dave is a vampire hunter who has never hunted a vampire in his life. Klaus is a vampire made for a war that ended before he was even born. When ten years of peace are put at risk after the death of a hunter, they’re both faced with the possibility that maybe the war isn’t over after all. Separated from their respective sides, Dave and Klaus have no other option but to depend on each other to get home before a war can tear their lives apart.

Words: 5,932 Chapters: 2/24 Status: WIP

Tag, You're It by totallyevan @totallyevan

Dating in Vietnam was never easy. Klaus and Dave have to watch out for everything, but thankfully they know their way around the system. Things escalate quickly and the only witness is the moon.

Words: 11,116 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

something so magic about you (so tragic about you) by Tremble

Snippets of their live in Vietnam or Dave slowly finding out that Klaus is nowhere near ordinary. --- This was originally suppose to be a 5+1 thing, but uh that didn't happen. oops

Words: 6,625 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

21.02.1960 by Uglyfrogboi

It was funny how time worked, how it was both only a couple of weeks ago yet it was also exactly nine years in the future. Why is he mourning a day that hasn’t technically happened yet? It’s a simple answer really, that was the day he thinks he last felt anything other than that horrible, thick, smothering, emptiness that seems to follow him around. Today, nine years from now, is the day that his world ended.

How Klaus deals with being dropped in the past, ten days before the anniversary of Dave's death.

Words: 3494 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

you're getting on my (optic) nerves by untrustworthyglitch

Klaus Hargreeves is many things. He's a former child superhero, an estranged brother, a drug addict, a frequent flyer at the local rehab facility. He can talk to the dead and never seems to die and loves a good thunderstorm.

He's also blind, but he wasn't always.

Part 1 of the blind!klaus (hazy, but hopeful) series

Words: 6,375 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

Scarlet Song by UrsaCentum(phantomviola) @flecket

Klaus isn’t a big fan of Hell.

drabble written for TUA AUgust 2021 Day 25: Angel/Demon

Part 6 of the Ursa's AUgust Fills 2021 series

Words: 100 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

never felt so high (think i'm coming down) by wewhofightmonsters

“Dave,” he whispers, and he leans down to press a kiss, light as a summer breeze, to Dave’s forehead, “Dave, I’m a fucking idiot. I love you back. I love you back.” And as he says it, he knows it to be true, and that small, closed up part of him that has languished in the dark and the constant haze of drugs, unfurls and stretches out towards the light. “I love you back,” he says again, in wonder.

(Klaus and Dave, and second chances)

Words: 24,536 Chapters: 8/? Status: WIP

Curl Conditioner by wormbcy @nastyworm

Klaus tidies up his supplies and puts it all back in the cabinet, and then hums to himself in thought.

"Hey Dave, space for another in there?"

Words: 6,524 Chapters: 1/1 Status: Complete

would it be enough (if I could never give you peace) by ZJpotter

The Hargreeves' and their sixties love.

Chapter 2: Klaus, bugs, and the definiton of home.

Words: 2,909 Chapters: 2/2 Status: Complete

#klave #klaus hargreeves #dave katz #tua #the umbrella academy #fic rec #Happy new year noelle! May 2021 be filled with klave!

263 notes · View notes

nekoannie-chan · 5 years ago

Text

Regrets

Pairing: Steve Rogers X Mutant! Reader.

Word count: 1545 words.

Summary: Steve had made a decision, but another fact will make he realizes it was the wrong one, can he fix it?

Warnings: some smut references, nothing explicit, mention of deaths of characters, angst, sad.

A/N: This is my entry to the @distractedgemini‘s Kay’s Decade of Music Writing Challenge with the song prompt #35:

“Someone like you” by Adele.

And my entry to the @kitkatd7 ‘s Kits’ 250 Writing Challenge with the dialogue prompt #1:

“Don’t you understand? You were her happy ending”.

And my entry to @jtargaryen18 ‘s 30 days of Chris.

My native language is Spanish so I wanna improve my writing skills in English if you notice any mistake please let me know and I will correct it.

I don’t give any kind of permission that my fics be posted in other platforms or languages (I translate myself my work) or the use of my graphics (my dividers are included in this), I did them exclusively for my fics, please respect my work and don’t steal it. There are some people here who make dividers that anyone can use, mine is not this type, please look for the other’s people. The only exception is the ones I gifted ‘cuz now belong to someone else. If you find any of my works on a different platform and is not one of my accounts, please let me know. Reblogs and comments are always welcome.

DISCLAIMER: I don’t own Marvel’s characters (unfortunately), except for the original characters and the story.

My other media where I publish: Wattpad, Ao3, ffnet.

If you like it, please vote, comment, and give me feedback to improve my skills and reblog.

youtube

I heard that you're settled down That you found a girl and you're married now I heard that your dreams came true Guess she gave you things, I didn't give to you

2005

You came into your house after returning from school, everything was supposed to have changed, the mutants no longer had to hide, and weren't taken to the Garland Detention Center.

"I'm home," you said after closing the door.

There was no answer, maybe they didn't hear you.

"Mom, Dad," you called as you walked down the aisle.

It was strange to you that they didn’t say anything, you returned to the hall, maybe they left you a message there and you hadn't seen it yet, there was no note, probably something had happened, some last-minute mission, although it was rare that you hadn't been warned.

While they weren't your biological parents; Clarice and John had adopted you after yours were killed by the Purifiers when you were a baby, although the fact that you were adopted didn't care much because you were happy with your family, even your last name was Proudstar and they love you as her daughter.

But when you entered the kitchen, a scream came out of your throat; there were their bodies, you could tell at first glance that they had tried to defend themselves, even though it was not enough.

"No! Mom! Dad!”

You tried to move them, you were hoping they'd still be alive, even if they were badly hurt, you didn't get the idea that they were dead.

I heard that you're settled down That you found a girl and you're married now I heard that your dreams came true Guess she gave you things, I didn't give to you

"There's someone here," a woman said.

You didn't even hear when someone came into your house; for a moment you thought they were your parents’ killers who had come back or listened to you.

“Are you Y/N? Y/N Proudstar, Clarice's, and John's daughter? The woman questioned.

You nodded, you didn't know if to trust, you didn't even know who that woman was, within seconds a man came into the kitchen.

"When did you arrive? Fury asked you.

"About 10 minutes ago," you replied scared.

"You'll come with us, Coulson, accompany her to take her belongings and help her," Nick said.

"What? I'm not going anywhere, I don't even know who you are, how can I be sure you're not going to do me the same as my parents?”

"We are S.H.I.E.L.D. we received your parents' message asking for help and that we take care of you.”

“How do I know they are S.H.I.E.L.D.?”

Your parents had told you everything, yet without proof, you couldn't believe them.

Fury and Coulson showed their IDs, they weren't lying, you sighed, you went to your bedroom followed by Coulson and you started storing things in suitcases and backpacks, they hadn't specified any item limits on you, so you'd take as much as you could.

Old friend, why are you so shy? Ain't like you to hold back or hide from the light

I hate to turn up out of the blue, uninvited But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it I had hoped you'd see my face And that you'd be reminded that for me, it isn't over

2012

You walked as fast as you could, that day you were late, you were carrying the report of the last mission you were gone to.

You didn't pay attention around you, so you crashed into something hard, you thought it had been against a wall, because of the impact, you fell.

"I'm sorry, miss, okay?” The ‘wall’ said to help you lift.

"Captain, I'm sorry, I didn't see it," you apologized.

Steve help you pick up the leaves, within a few seconds Coulson showed up.

"Agent Proudstar, the report," he asked.

"I was already taking him to his office right now," you replied.

"I see you've met, your next mission will be together," Coulson said.

You knew who Steve was, but you remembered he didn't know who you were, you still didn't show up.

"Agent Y/N Proudstar," you said, smiling.

Never mind, I'll find someone like you I wish nothing but the best for you, too "Don't forget me, " I beg I remember you said "Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead" "Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead"

2018

"I know we've lost a lot these days, but you remember I was going to ask you something the day Bruce called us. You know when Thanos...”

"Yes," you answered while you were accommodating some things

Steve took your arm to stop and pay attention to him.

"What's going on?”

"Marry me," he asked.

"Just like that? Are you sure? I mean, you always told me you wanted Bucky to be in...”

"We try to get everything back to normal, Thanos is dead we can't do much, but we can try to be happy and get on with our lives, it seems like that's all we can do.”

"I think it's going to be enough for Nat to be there," you said.

He took your answer as if he ‘I do’ and kissed you.

You know how the time flies Only yesterday was the time of our lives We were born and raised in a summer haze Bound by the surprise of our glory days

2023

You looked down, you knew Steve had told you a lie... or worse he had lied to you all that time.

As soon as he left you started running towards the trees, you didn't want to know anything anymore, if you could... If you could... you probably would have done the same thing and prevent your parents from being killed.

“Y/N!” Bucky called you.

You didn't listen to him, you kept running, you wanted to go as far as you could, you'd like to somehow forget everything and Bucky finally caught you, grabbed your arm, and stopped you.

"He's gone, he went with Peggy," you started sobbing.

Bucky hugged you, he didn't know what to say or do to comfort you, he knew what you were saying was true.

"He left us... Bucky, he left us...”

Yes, Steve had left them, but Bucky didn't understand exactly what you meant, you hadn't even had a chance to say anything, you didn't know now what to do, the feeling was a thousand times worse than when you lost your parents.

I hate to turn up out of the blue, uninvited But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it I had hoped you'd see my face And that you'd be reminded that for me, it isn't over

1947

Steve peeked into the door of the house where Peggy was living.

He saw her pass, at least now he was sure he hadn't got the wrong house; he needed a few more minutes before knocking the door and that's when he saw Daniel kissing Peggy and after the couple split up, she took the baby from the crib.

Peggy found her right partner after Steve had ended up on the ice...

Steve stayed a week in that time, it would probably be a month after the last time he had seen them...

You didn't expect to be welcomed... but he would do his best to recover what he had ruined.

Never mind, I'll find someone like you I wish nothing but the best for you, too "Don't forget me, " I begged I remember you said "Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead"

2019

"Orphanages are full," you said while you're taking the last picture you'd been taken with your parents.

"Everything is complicated," Steve replied, and he was reading the newspaper.

"We should adopt some or some of those little ones, I was very happy when Clarice and John adopted me," you said looking at the picture.

"You think they're going to let us? We’re superheroes, I don't think they want to expose children to danger," Steve replied, taking his eyes off the newspaper.

You kept thinking for a few minutes, Steve was right, you didn't know exactly if another threat would show up, no one knew.

"You're right.”

"But we can do some," Steve proposed, approaching you.

"Captain," you said seductively.

Nothing compares, no worries or cares Regrets and mistakes, they're memories made Who would have known how bittersweet this would taste?

2023

Steve returned to where he belonged, took everyone by surprise, as soon as they heard the machine activate Bruce and Bucky immediately went to see what was going on, Bruce had installed it at the Compound in case it was necessary, they feared it would be some other enemy, no one expected him to return, as soon as they saw him a sepulchral silence took over the room.

Bucky decided to take him outside, no one dared say what had happened.

“And Y/N?” Steve asked

Steve had immediately noticed your absence, Bucky bit his lip, and he didn't know how to explain it.

"Buck, and Y/N? I know she must be angry...”

"She didn't make it on the last mission," he finally confessed.

"What?”

"Something went wrong and...”

Steve turned around and started walking inland from the Compound.

“DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND? YOU WERE HER HAPPY ENDING…!”

Steve didn't keep listening to what his friend was saying, he went to the base and went straight into the room that you and he shared, and if he hadn't left... if it hadn't been so hollow head... you'd still be alive.

He opened the drawer of your nightstand where you kept the photos, he wanted to see you, he saw that something flew out when he took out the album and it was frozen as soon as he saw the object.

She took the positive pregnancy test, the day he left, you seemed so nervous, so you insisted that he wasn't the one to return the Stones.

There was only one way to get you back, this time I wouldn't ruin it, he took some things from the room and headed to where the time machine was.

Never mind, I'll find someone like you I wish nothing but the best for you "Don't forget me, " I beg I remember you said "Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead"

2010

You knocked on Fury's office, you were sent to call, and you thought it was for a new mission.

"Agent Proudstar, I'm glad you came," Nick said.

“What do you need a Director?”

"This is Steve Rogers, Captain America," Fury said, pointing to Steve.

"Captain, I'm Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Y/N Proudstar," you introduced yourself smiling.

Your smile, Steve had missed her so much.

He stretched out his hand to greet you and smiled, he was going to fix everything that had happened, he would love you again and no mistakes this time, and he was going to make sure you were happy together.

Never mind, I'll find someone like you I wish nothing but the best for you, too "Don't forget me, " I begged I remember you said "Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead" "Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead"

#Kay’s Decade of Music Challenge #kits250challenge #30DaysofChris2020 #Steve Rogers #steve rogers one shot #steve rogers fic #steve rogers fanfiction #steve x reader #steve x you #steve x y/n #captain america #captain america fic #captain america fanfiction #captain america one shot #captain america x you #captain america x reader #captain america x y/n

72 notes · View notes

venmomejoy · 5 years ago

Text

The Lucky Ones

Idk if this has been done before but it's an actors au! All characters and relative plot belong to Nora Sakavic!!

Read it on Ao3 here

part two / part three / part four

Neil would never get used to the attention. The small amount of fame afforded to him as the lead character in the small town's production of Hamlet was stifling.

For him, it was instinctive to duck, to hide, to run at the first sign of recognition. Making himself unnoticeable was a habit beaten into him in childhood, his mother's fists compelling him into inconspicuousness when her warnings could not. Her lessons lingered in his mind even months after her death, urging him to grab the first ride away from here he can find and run every time he stepped onto the stage. He could almost hear her screaming at him, almost feel her phantom fists as she punished him for disobeying her. She had made him promise he would never act again, and he had broken his word.

If this even counted as acting. Theater was fine, but Neil longed for the screen. He had tasted screen acting as a child and fallen in love with it, and no matter how she tried, his mother could never entirely curb his craving. She would beat him black and blue every time she caught him taking a second look at a poster for a new movie or lingering when he heard people discussing a favorite show, but he could not help himself.

He hadn't planned on acting again, but when his mother died, he had felt stranded. He didn't know how to go on without her. Through all the years of running, of moving to a new city every few weeks, of fake names and boxes of hair dye, she had at least always been with him. Now that she was gone, he was entirely alone, and he did not know how to do it by himself. He found this town, got a new ID, and let himself drift. He knew it was stupid and reckless and all kinds of dangerous, but the acting was the only thing that felt real. So he let himself stay here for a few months, let himself audition for the play, let himself stand in front of the crowd and be seen. He promised himself he would be gone as soon as the show closed.

He hadn't anticipated that day coming so quickly. Despair started to creep in; he wasn't sure he was ready to let go of Neil Josten quite yet, although it seemed he had no choice. Tonight was the final showing, and all of the seats were full, although there couldn't have been more than fifty. Neil knew that most people in the audience had probably already seen the show- nearly all of them came to see family members perform or to "support the community"- but it still didn't lessen his nerves. He scanned the crowd for the tenth time, checking for any familiar faces, any sign he needed to bolt to the nearest exit. His father and his men hadn't caught up to him since they killed his mother, but that doesn't mean he is in the clear, especially since he's stayed here far too long. Yes, a move was overdue.

Neil let himself get lost in the performance, immersing himself in someone else's life, someone else's story. His eyes still constantly flicked to the wings, to the crowd, to the catwalks, anywhere someone could be concealed, waiting to catch him off guard, but he let his brain shut off beyond the basic actions to confirm his safety, so customary they hardly took a second thought. Adrenaline thrums through his veins as he recites his lines, as he contorts his features into rage and despair and grief. He morphs himself into his character, allowing himself a reprieve from existing inside his own mind for a few hours.

The performance ends far too soon. As Neil runs out for his bow, the cheers rise to screams. He knows he is a good actor, if a little out of practice. He smiles, taking it all in for the last time. He knows he won't be acting again. He already took too big of a risk by staying here this long.

Neil can't bear to see the set torn down, the theater cleaned and closed, so instead he sits in the dressing room, waiting for everyone else to leave so he can change out of his costume. The brutal scars marring his chest would draw too much concern, so every night he waited until the cast cleared out before changing into his street clothes. Some of his castmates tried to make idle conversation with him, but most knew he was not much of a talker and leave him alone. He watches them all leave, a couple inviting him to some sort of afterparty, which he promptly declines. If going up on stage was stupid, going to an unfamiliar location and getting engulfed in a large crowd was even stupider.

When his last castmate left, Neil basked in the silence as he quickly changed and then waited for the crew to finish as well. He needed to shower and brush his teeth before he went back to the house he was squatting in, but he did not need anyone to know he was utilizing the theater's facilities. It would raise too many questions.

The sound of the door swinging open had Neil raising his head, eyes tracking his director's movements closely as he strode over to him.

"That was a great performance Neil, one of the best I've seen from you." He took a seat on the couch next to Neil, causing every muscle in his body to tense. His director was one of the most even-tempered people Neil had ever met, but he'd seen enough aggression from middle-aged men to not trust a seemingly calm demeanor.

"Thank you, Mr. Hernandez," he replied stiffly.

"Your talent is promising. Would you ever consider making a career in the arts?"

Neil just shrugged, casting his gaze to the floor. Telling Hernandez that acting was not an option for him would open up a can of worms that Neil could not afford. He couldn't tell him that he would be leaving first thing tomorrow, taking his meager belongings and heading to another state, becoming another person, so his best option was indifference.

"Well, maybe this will help you make up your mind. There's someone here who wants to talk to you."

Neil's eyes shot to Hernandez, alarm bells sounding in his head. This was his worst nightmare. He had been found, he had been found, he had been found-

He pulled his duffel bag over his shoulder as he stood, already making his way towards the nearest exit when someone cleared their throat loudly from behind him. It was too late.

Neil turned around, hands still gripping his bag as he stood poised to run, and met the eyes of the stranger. The man was tall, likely in his late thirties or early forties, with honed muscle visible where his arms were crossed over his chest. His face was hard, but his eyes were searching as he scanned Neil from head to toe. He was unfamiliar, but that didn't mean he was harmless. Perhaps his father had gotten a new lackey. "Who are you?" Neil asked.

"He's a director, Neil. He wants to recruit you," Hernandez said.

Neil scoffed. "Please, the population of this town is barely five hundred. No one recruits here."

"He sent out an open call, looking for someone to cast in his show. You fit the description pretty well, so I sent him some videos of you during rehearsals. He came to watch you tonight, to see if you were good enough for the show. I didn't mention it to you because I wasn't sure anything would come of it."

Neil couldn't believe what he was hearing. He hadn't even seen anyone take any videos of him during rehearsals. His panic was steadily rising. "What?"

The man stepped forward, and Neil unconsciously stepped back. He noticed, his gaze hardening as he looked Neil over again, searching for something different this time. "I don't have time for this," the stranger said. "We start filming in three weeks, and the actor we had set up for this role fell through. You have talent, kid. All you have to do is sign the contract and your set for two seasons with us. If we get renewed again, likely more."

Neil did not know what to say, so he just stared at the man, assessing the sincerity of his offer. The director just stared back, unfazed by Neil's blatant scrutinization.

After moments of silence, the man sighed. "Look kid, The Foxes is a incredibly popular show. Signing with us could jumpstart your career.”

Deafening silence rings through Neil’s head as that name hit him. He thinks his heart has stopped beating. "You direct The Foxes."

The man- who he now recognizes as David Wymack- only nodded. Neil knew all about The Foxes. The first season of the show was a hot mess, barely scrounging up enough support to get renewed for a second season. But it did. And when esteemed actor Kevin Day joined the cast, the show started rising in popularity.

Kevin had been raised in Hollywood, adopted at a young age into the Moriyama family, one of the most powerful names in filmmaking. Tetsuji Moriyama was arguably the most famous director on the scene, so when he took in Kevin and his nephew Riko, he raised them to be formidable actors. The two were as close as brothers. Tetsuji gave Kevin and Riko small roles in his productions when they were children, and as they grew older, the two starred in almost all of his work. Most notably, the two were costars on Evermore, an immensely popular fantasy show. Riko played a young boy who was adapting to his new life as a vampire, while Kevin played his best friend, still a human, who helped him adjust. The show had a huge fanbase- it was easily the most popular show on television right now. But in the middle of filming the fourth season, Kevin and Riko vanished from the public eye. No one knew what had happened to them, what they were doing, but when they resurfaced, it was discovered that Kevin had shattered his hand in a stunt gone wrong. Tetsuji decided the show could not halt production to wait for Kevin to heal, and instead wrote him out of the rest of the season, saying he would return for the fifth season when he was fully recovered. Kevin all but disappeared, not saying or doing anything while he recovered. Until Kevin decided not to renew his contract. Two months ago, Kevin had announced that he would not be returning to Evermore, and was instead signing with Wymack on The Foxes. His fans were devastated. Many were angry at him, feeling betrayed at his leaving. Others were intrigued by this new project, his first apart from Riko. Either way, the move brought a lot of attention to The Foxes. Kevin not only brought a fanbase with him when he began the show, but he pushed his costars to work harder and hone their acting skills, making the following of the show grow exponentially.

Neil hadn't seen Kevin since he was ten years old. Neil had started acting lessons when he was four, had even been in a few small productions in his childhood. He assumed it was his father's attempt at getting him out of the house while he did his business, and Neil was happy to go- every time he was present during his father's dealings he ended up with a beating. One day, his father took him to rehearse with some kids. He had never met Kevin and Riko before, but Neil was happy to make some friends. He had never really been allowed to have any friends, so he was excited to finally have some kids to interact with. With the help of an older man who guided them, the three spent a few hours going over scenes, trying the lines with different emotions and figuring out how they all worked together on-screen. But their rehearsal was cut short when they were forced to watch Neil's father tear a man to ribbons. His mother had taken him and left the next morning.

There was no conceivable way Neil could accept Wymack's proposal. He had garnered too much attention as it is performing in a small town's theater production. The last thing he needed was his face to be broadcasted all over television, his name tacked on to a credit list. Beyond that, the media is up The Foxes's ass, what with Kevin on the cast. He cannot afford that kind of notoriety. His father would find him in an instant. And if Kevin recognized him? He could not risk Kevin giving him away.

"Please leave me alone," Neil said.

"We need to fly you out tomorrow if you're going to be halfway prepared when we start production. It would be best if you sign tonight," Wymack pushed.

"I'm not signing anything. I'm not working with you."

"Why?”

"I won't work with Kevin."

"Aw, hear that, Kev? The rookie doesn't like you," a sardonic voice drawled from behind him.

Every bone in his body seized at the implication of that statement. If Kevin was here-

He whirled around to meet the dark green eyes of Kevin Day. He was significantly taller than Neil, at least six-foot to his five-three, with a good fifty pounds of muscle over him. And he was blocking the only other exit. Neil had not noticed Hernandez leave the room until now, acutely aware of his compromised position. There was no way for him to escape. Neil just stared at his old friend, barely breathing as he waited for recognition to kick in, for the realization to dawn on him. But nothing came. Could it be possible Kevin didn't recognize him?

It made sense, he supposed. Neil had seen Kevin grow up, his face plastered on every magazine and television screen he saw, but Kevin had not seen Neil since he was a child. That, coupled with the brown hair dye and the brown colored contacts he wore may have been enough to slip under Kevin's radar.

"Jesus, Andrew, can't you be polite for ten minutes? We're trying to sign this kid and you're going to scare him off," Wymack's incensed voice sounded from behind him.

"Oh, come on, Wymack, he doesn't look like the type to be scared of little old me now does he?" Neil broke his stare with Kevin to look at his companion, only to find Andrew Minyard's eyes already boring into his own, a manic smile plastered on his face. He would have recognized the blond actor anywhere; he had made quite a stir in Hollywood.

Andrew was the first person to turn down a role with the Moriyama's. Riko and Kevin had found him, had seen his work in other projects and knew he had potential. When they approached him with a part on Evermore and a chance to join their little clique, they had never even considered he would say no. Working with Tetsuji was a straight shot to stardom. But Andrew instead signed a contract with Wymack, who had agreed to cast his twin brother Aaron and his cousin Nicky as well.

Neil turned back to Wymack. "I'm not signing anything. I'm leaving now."

"I'm going to let you reconsider." The first words Kevin spoke to Neil in eight years sent chills down his spine.

Neil turned towards him again. "I've already given you an answer."

"Why won't you sign?" Wymack questioned. "From what your directer said, you've got nothing keeping you here. In the three months he's known you, he said he's seen no friends, no family. Said your parents never answer his calls, something about them having a long commute to work, that they barely even see you. Why not join The Foxes?"

Neil couldn't very well tell him the truth, so he told him the first plausible lie his mind provided. "I'm not near good enough to work with Kevin. And I'm only used to stage acting, I don't know how to perform for television."

The first lie would have been reason enough, but the second one needed to be thrown in to keep his story believable. He had told Hernandez he had only done a few plays previously, not wanting to raise any suspicion. If Wymack had spoken to his director about him, he had likely been told this. And anyone who had only done a few plays would be concerned about switching to screen acting, so Neil played the part.

"Both unimportant," Kevin said. At Neil's surprised look he continued, "You may be inexperienced, but we saw your performance tonight. You have talent. Now stop wasting our time and sign the contract."

How had he missed Kevin Day in the audience? He must have been hiding in the back, trying to avoid being recognized by any fans. Still, the misstep unnerved Neil. "There are plenty of actors with talent who would be thrilled at this offer. Why not ask them?"

"Like I said, we've seen you perform. We knew you had talent from the videos your director sent us, but it's not just raw ability. You throw yourself into your role like it's all you have left. You don't just channel the emotions, you become the character. Actors with that kind of passion are rare, and are the only kind worth bothering with."

Neil couldn't stop the pull in his chest, begging him to accept, no matter how foolish an idea it was. He was not ready to give up acting, but pursuing it would bring him closer to the man he had spent his entire life running from. Signing with Wymack was as good as signing his death sentence. But it was a shot at living, at truly living for the first time in years. The acting was the only thing that felt solid now that his mother was gone, and he wasn't sure if he could survive without a tether.

If Kevin didn't recognize him, perhaps he could indulge himself, just for a little while. He didn't have to stay for the full two seasons; at the first sign of trouble, he'd run. Perhaps he could base his plan off of Kevin- at soon as Kevin started remembering, started asking questions, Neil would know it was time to go. Because if Kevin remembered, if he started digging into Neil's past, he would clue in the whole host of people after Neil on his whereabouts. If they didn't discover them on their own.

"An answer tonight, Josten." Wymack clicked the pen, holding it out to Neil in offering. Neil stared at the pen, every ounce of self-preservation screaming at him to be smart, to take his bag and get the hell out of this town, to blend back into the shadows. But another voice, a voice he had been repressing for far too long, was making itself heard: desire. Desire to act, desire to be settled somewhere, desire to be real.

He could always run. That's what he told himself as he took the pen from his new directors proffered hand. That what he told himself as he signed his name along the dotted line, the name of a person who didn't really exist, but was going to try to for as long as he could. That's what he told himself as he felt his throat closing in as he realized how he had disregarded everything his mother had worked for, died for, with the quick stroke of a pen.

"Perfect," Wymack said. "We'll pick you up here tomorrow so we can fly to L.A. and get started." Neil couldn't think of anything to say, so he stayed silent.

Kevin handed him a thick stack of paper with "The Foxes: season three, episode one" printed across the front. The script. "Start reading it now. We have a lot of catching up to do if you're going to be ready by the beginning of production."

With that, he strode from the room. Andrew followed him, stopping only to flash Neil that same grin, raising his hand in a two-fingered salute. Neil couldn't contain his eye roll.

After the two actors had left the room, Wymack held back for a moment. "You made the right choice, kid."

Neil almost laughed. If only he knew how wrong he was.

Notes: Hello everyone!! I’m not completely happy with this but I'm publishing it anyways because bad writing is better than no writing, or at least that’s what I’m telling myself :) I’m going to write more chapters on this fic, so I hope that someone likes it!!

21 notes · View notes

kimmybear12 · 4 years ago

Text

abuse

A lot of people when they hear domestic abuse first thing they think of is violence. when I go on tiktok which isn't very often the videos I see about abuse is violence for the most part anyway, i suffered from domestic violence for almost 7 years. Everyone used to say just leave but it wasn't that easy unfortunately I lost a lot due to the abuse. I'm writing this in hope that it may help someone going through this or similar, i also know i may get a lot of abuse but unless you go through it you cant understand.

I met my ex husband while at schools back then I didn't really pay any attention to him it was only by chance several years later I met him again. I was 21 when we met again we became friends and several months later a couple. What I hadn't realised at the time was that he was slowly getting in my head he made me feel like I was the most amazing and beautiful woman in the world. we got married at 22 and I fell pregnant, that's when it all began, at first it was sly comments like “ you look fat” or “ what you wearing that for?” then in the same breath he’d apologise. In April of that year my brother died at 21 he didnt come to the funeral with me and got diagnosed with depression.

In June of 2007 we had a son things seemed to get worse from there, he’d make sure I was with him constantly if I saw my friends he would ring make excuses for me to come home. In 2008 his abuse escalated to him shoving me and raping me, he excused the sexual assault because we were married it wasn't rape I was his wife and could do what he wanted to me. In November of 2008 I had another son, I felt now there was no escape he’d even made me cut off all ties to my family so I couldn't go to them. By this point social workers were involved, I couldn't say anything to them I was too scared, his family treated me just as bad his brother used to slap me and he allowed it to happen. In 2009 his gran died and I was pregnant again that's when the violence started. While i was pregnant he’d only push me, after having our daughter the violence escalated he’d always hit where you couldn't see arms, stomach, legs. By time 2011 came i was severely depressed to the point where i wasn't living I was surviving.

He’d say I was bad mother I should kill myself my brother died just to get away from me, I started to believe him i would only go out take kids to school I didn't talk to friends then that’s when I got the news that killed me. I know I'm gonna get a lot of abuse for this but unless you have been in this situation you cant understand, social services took my kids away. After that I had no escape i was under his roof 24/7 only leaving to see the kids. I ended up in hospital due to fainting he only let me eat bread it was while at the hospital a nurse saw my injuries. I had cigarette burns on my skin cuts on my legs bruises and even a healed fracture.

it was only then I realised if I didn't leave id either end up in a worse state or dead. I had to stay in hospital for 3 weeks and under the care of mental health nurse due to my depression. I pressed charges against him but he claimed he wasn't right in the head which the judge bought so only got a suspended sentence while i was recovering I had to make a decision the hardest decision of my life, I knew i wasn't in the right frame of mind to care for my children and there was no way in hell him or his family were gonna have them. That's how i came to the decision of putting them in care and signing over my parental rights to the social services. Not a day goes by that i wish i had seen the signs that i wish i got out years ago. My 2 youngest got adopted together they write once a year and my eldest I see every week.

In 2014 I met my now fiancée it took a while to trust him but hes been nothing but supportive of me, in 2016 we had our son who is now 4 he is with me and my fiancée i still sometimes get the bad thoughts that im no good but with the mental abuse i suffered it may never go away but i have the support ther if i feel like that. It took being with my fiancée to see not all men are the same that what he did to me wasn't my fault. and if anyone is going through this abuse its not your fault no matter what he says.

thanks for reading

#abuse

3 notes · View notes

angelenentrenamiento · 5 years ago

Note

Hi! I think I remember reading that you were reconnecting to your Mapuche roots. Are you reconnecting as a (recently) disconnected native, or as a mestice? Not trying to be intrusive—asking as an emigrant Latino that has no one to relate to.

A little bit of both?

My maternal grandparents were forced to unlearn their culture at a very young age (my grandfather is afro-andean and grandmother is mapuche) and were both orphans and adopted by non-native people then they can be taken to the capital of Santiago so they “be included to society”. My grandmother still remembers some things about her culture, as she was adopted a little bit older while my grandfather has no memory at all. Today is actually a Mapuche holiday (We Tripantu) that my grandmother would mention she’d celebrate with her community much younger dancing, bathing in the river at night, and sharing food with others like ají de cochayuyo, guiso de mote etc. She later stopped doing that because it was uncommon with the family she was with (that treated her like a nanny and never an actual daughter). After the the years my grandparents met and they both had similar stories, except grandfather was from the North of Chile and my grandmother from the South. They met in the Stgo. Sadly they forgot about their traditions but raised both of their children (my mom and uncle) always telling them to reconnect to their roots (they never did) and as another generation passed, my grandparents thought the little fire would die out. My grandmother when I was younger would always tell me to be proud of my Indigenous ancestors, of her, my mother and me. For my ancestors were weichafes (warriors) to keep their family still alive with it’s tradition and culture. When we moved to the USA my mother always felt awkward when it was time to put her race/ethnicity on her taxes because they had the Native American option but not Indigenous which made no sense to us because we were never Americans in the first place OR Latinxs, so she’d put native american latinx since we aren’t north american natives, same goes with her brother. Coming back to growing up, my grandparents, especially my grandmother, would remind us to be proud of where we come from, to one day hopefully one of us we’d reconnect. Growing up in the USA I despised being a poc, in this case, indigenous, because they’d think that I was an indigenous person from North America, which I’m not. So they never took me or my families identity serious and just slapped the latinx label on us.

Now for my father, I barely know anything about his family. I don’t speak to him, he doesn’t speak to him, but he’s definitely Mestizo. My paternal grandparents didn’t want anything to do with us so I don’t know any information about them, but my grandmother was very white passing while my grandfather wasn’t. My dad, being married to an Indigenous woman, has still been super racist to other Indigenous people and it sickens me, which is why I rarely ID with his part of the family despite having his last name and still living with him.

In 2019 I actually sat down and started investigating more about my mothers side and know more about my grandmother’s community. With my grandmother’s guidance, I was helped a lot with her information. Unluckily, my grandfather cannot provide much, since he was adopted very very young. I too want to reconnect with his roots at some point, learn and observe but I don’t think I can ever join in something unless I’m personally invited by someone else in the Andean community. Same goes with being Mapuche. I’ve just observed an learned with as much respect as I can give. I followed so many Mapuche activists and I feel so happy and connected with all of this. My grandmother has even bought me kultrun earrings and a little pendant (that I sadly lost). I feel like I was given it because I earned it and it felt so amazing having something be gifted by her. An ex who is also Mapuche gifted me thse kultrün earrings made of copper and it made me so genuinely happy. My grandmother wants to gift me chaway earrings but I’m. hmmmmmmm because mostly theyre used by women and I’m not a woman. Right now I try my best to learn the language and give myself patience as reconnectin with something that was almost forgotten forever is hard. I remember reading one post made by another Indigenous person who’s family story was similar to mine, they said, “Reconnecting and reclaiming your Indigenous ancestry is an act of revolution but it must always be done with respect”.

I do acknowledge I have privileges that not all of my community has. Like for instance to this day, a lot of Mapuche people in Wallmapu are forced to leave their homes so big companies can take their land and profit off of them. They fight day to day and have that struggle that I don’t. It sickens me that this type of injustice happens even after 500 years. They haven’t stopped fighting. Just a few weeks ago, a man was murdered for proctecing his land, also Mapuche. He was from Collipulli, where my grandmother was born and it hurt. It hurts that probably the other siblings she never met that stayed that probably have met their demise or still are going through all of this just to live. I don’t have to worry about that and neither does my family.

If you ever need help in anything, I can recommend some great Indigenous activists if you want and if you took the time to actually read all this, thank you

6 notes · View notes

wickedblue34 · 6 years ago

Text

The Whisperer Ch.2

You woke up early the next morning. After taking a quick shower and throwing on a comfortable pair of shorts and a large shirt, you sat down at your kitchen table with a bowl of cereal in one hand and the files Jackson had given you in the other.

To say you were shocked at the contents, would be an understatement. Inside, there were only two pages. The first one was labeled 'Fighters', and the second one was labeled 'Baiters'. Picking up the first page, you began reading through it.

FIGHTERS - BTS PACK

Note: Refused to become riled up by BAITERS from the same pack.

Kim Namjoon: Age 24

Breed: Siberian Tiger Hybrid

Sex: Male

Type: Lead Alpha

Traits: Very protective over pack. Becomes very aggressive when dealing with humans and hybrids outside of pack. Best fighter for underground ring under Bang Shihyuk. Never lost a fight. Kept in top fighting condition. Only shows submissive tendencies to Lead Beta. Spends most of his time with Lead Beta.

Min Yoongi: Age 25

Breed: Black Wolf Hybrid

Sex: Male

Type: Second Alpha

Traits: Very aggressive when dealing with humans. Sleeps most of the time. Seems non-aggressive with hybrids in pack, but can become aggressive with other non-submissive hybrids. Second best fighter under Bang Shihyuk. Rarely lost fights. Would be severely beaten and starved for a week whenever he lost a fight, but otherwise would be kept in top condition. Shows only shows submissive tendencies towards Lead and Third Alphas and Lead Beta. Spends most of his time with Third Alpha and Lead Omega

Jung Hoseok: Age 24

Breed: Cheetah Hybrid

Sex: Male

Type: Third Alpha

Traits: Although he can more aggressive than the Second Alpha, this hybrid isn't as strong, and therefore has lost more fights than the others. Was beaten and starved after every loss. Only becomes aggressive when he feels threatened. Less quick to rile up than the other two fighters but when that occurs, all handlers and non-pack Hybrids beware. Easily frightened. Very fear aggressive.

Side note: Has been seen as gentle and playful with pack members, but can become aggressive towards humans and non-pack hybrids. Only shows submissive tendancies for lead and Second Alphas and Lead Beta. Spends most of his time with Second Alpha

You felt sick at the fact that those poor hybrids were used in an underground fighting ring. After reading through to the end, you got up and cleaned your bowl and spoon. You needed a moment to process, and had to mentally steel yourself to be able to continue. A few moments later, you sat back down, already dreading what you would find on the next page. With great hesitation, you once again began reading.

BAITERS- BTS PACK

Kim Seokjin: Age 26

Breed: Maine Coon Cat Hybrid

Sex: Male

Type: Lead Beta

Traits: Mostly Non-aggressive. Only been known to show slight aggression with other hybrids. Was used under Bamg Shihyuk as bait to rile up non-pack fighters before fights. Would get beaten and starved often. Spends the most time with Lead Alpha

Side note: While normally submissive, this Beta has been known to show dominant tendencies over all pack hybrids. Has also been known to care for everyone in pack.

Kim Taehyung: Age 23

Breed: Ring-Tailed Lemur

Sex: Male

Type: Second Beta

Traits: One of the least aggressive in pack. Fearful of Humans and non-pack hybrids. Known to be a trouble maker, and was often beaten for causing incidents with other hybrids under Bang Shihyuk. Was used as bait for non-pack hybrids before fights. Shows a playful side with pack members. Shows mostly submissive tendencies. Only dominant over Omegas, although he has been known to show submissiveness to Lead Omega on occasion. Spends most of his time with Lead and Second Omegas.

Side note: Shows interest in children.

Park Jimin: Age 23

Breed: Silver Fox (rare)

Sex: Male

Type: Lead Omega

Traits: Most submissive out of pack. Only shows aggression when severely enraged. Shows intense fear of Humans and Non-pack hybrids. Was used as main Baiter under Bang Shihyuk for non-pack hybrids. Beaten and starved daily for no determinative reason. Shows extremely submissive tendencies to all. Known to spend most of his time with Second Alpha, Second Beta, and Second Omega.

Side note: Shows signs of severe Separation Anxiety, and often refuses to eat since entering shelter. Only through the coaxing of Second Alpha or Lead Beta, will he show any interest in eating.

Jeon Jungkook: Age 21

Breed: Red Panda Hybrid

Sex: Male

Type: Second Omega

Traits: Least submissive out of the Omegas. Very fearful of Humans and Non-pack Hybrids, and can become fear aggressive. Used as bait for Non-pack Hybrids. Was beaten and starved often for a lack of cooperation, as well as for no determinative reason. Shows submissive tendencies to all, but has been known to show occasional dominant tendencies over Second Beta and Lead Omega. Spends most of his time with Second Beta and Lead Alpha.

Side Note: Very stubborn. The most Mischievious out of pack.

By the time you had read through the last page, you had tears streaming down your face. You couldn't help but compare what you saw yesterday, with what was described in the file. Bile rose up your throat as you thought about it. You closed the file and sat back in your chair.

'Those poor men. No wonder they acted the way they did yesterday.' You thought.

However, something you couldn't understand was why they reacted to you the way they had. You knew that they could probably smell your heritage in your scent, but that didn't explain their unusual behavior.

If everything in the files were correct, then it didn't just make sense that they'd reacted that way.

You were part hybrid, but looked fully human. From what you'd read, yesterday should have went much differently.

Even with your 'gifts' as your co-workers called it. In theory, the hybrids should have still at least been wary of you, if not slightly or overly aggressive. Not practically throwing themselves at you, nor being so eager to protect you from the percieved 'threat' in the way they'd done.

Even all the other hybrids you'd met had at least appeared skeptical of you at first, due to your scent. They couldn't understand how you smelled slightly of hybrid, but looked fully human. Especially after finding out that you didn't own a hybrid yourself.

You were shaken from your thoughts as your phone rang from where you'd left it in your room. Glancing at the time on the clock, you saw it was barely noon.

You jumped up and went to answer your phone. Checking Caller ID, your heart jumped in anticipation when you saw Jackson's name. He preferred texting, and rarely ever called you unless it was important or he was in a hurry. You immediately answered.

Hello?

Hey, Y/N. I'm sorry to call you on your day off, but I need you to come down to the shelter as soon as possible.

Your heart jumped into your throat at his anxious tone.

What's wrong? You asked. You heard him give a long sigh.

It's the hybrids from yesterday. They're going crazy.

What do you mean? What happened?! You felt your nerves begin to build as you awaited his answer. Your heart ached as you heard a lonely sounding howl in the background.

'He must be near their room.' You thought.

You jumped when you heard a roar. Jackson cursed.

They are all just whining and crying. The larger ones have been roaring and howling, but when anyone comes near the door, they seem to act more aggressive than normal. They wouldn't even let me feed them. As soon as I opened the door, they tried attacking me. And what's worse, the little fox keeps scratching and howling at the door. They all sound so sad that it's even breaking my heart. I don't know what to do anymore. We've tried everything we could think of, but nothing is working. You're my last hope. I'm afraid that if they keep this up, they're gonna end up either hurting someone or themselves.

As soon as Jackson started speaking, you lurched into motion. You quickly donned clean underwear, a t-shirt and jeans. You had just buttoned your pants when he finished.

I'm on my way. Give me twenty minutes. You said before bidding farewell and hanging up.

Running to the door, you threw you hair into a messy ponytail. You hurriedly put on your socks and a pair of tennis shoes and grabbed your phone, keys, and purse on your way out.

Practically sprinting to your car, you drove as fast as traffic and the law would allow. Finally, after what felt like hours, you pulled into the shelter's parking lot.

Filled with anxiety, you threw your car in park, cut the ignition, and all but ran into the building. As soon as you entered, you heard the multiple whines, whimpers, roars, and howls. Their woeful noises caused your eyes to fill with tears as you took the few twists and turns to get to the adoption area where your office, and coincidentally, the hybrids' current room resided.

Sliding to a halt in front of a startled Jackson, who stood right outside the observation room, you took a moment to catch your breath, panting lightly.

"Damn, you weren't kidding, were you? Are you okay?" He spoke, slightly concerned at your frazzled appearance. You nodded.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just got really worried when you called." You stated once you'd managed to catch your breath.

Both of you were stunned when the room in front of you want eerily quiet as soon as you spoke.

A whine, followed by frantic scratching, broke you out of your shocked state. Motioning Jackson to the side, you walked up to the door. The scratching ceased when you turned the knob.

Turning to Jackson, you smiled reassuringly before slowly opening the door.

Upon entering the room and closing the door behind you, you suddenly found yourself surrounded by hybrids. Before you could even open your mouth to greet them, they pounced.

You became slightly dizzy at the speed in which you found yourself on your back, with all of the hybrids on top of you, trying to nuzzle into any part of your body that they could reach.

You giggled as the fox, who you now knew to be Jimin, fought his way onto your chest, licking wildly at your neck as he whined in excitement.

Yoongi, who was the closest to Jimin, joined in, licking your face.

A few minutes later, the hybrids seemed to have calmed down a bit, so you tried to sit up. Unfortunately, you were being weighed down too much.

"Alright guys, let me up. This floor isn't very comfortable." You said.

They all moved quickly moved off of you. Standing up, you walked to the opposite wall to the large sleeping mat that had been provided in the room. Sitting directly in the middle of it, you moved so that you could rest your back against the wall, with your legs stretched out in front of you.

As soon as you stopped moving, the patiently waiting hybrids were once again upon you. Jimin reclaimed his place on your lap, sitting so that he was leaning against your stomach and chest. Taehyung jumped on your left shoulder and wrapped his tail around your upper arm for stability as he laid down. Jungkook and Jin clambered on your lap as well, sitting on either side of Jimin. Yoongi laid down and placed his head on your right thigh, with Hoseok repeating his actions on your left. Namjoon moved to sit beside you, leaning into your right side and placing his head on your unoccupied shoulder.

Suddenly filled with contentment as you looked at the hybrids now peacefully resting on/against you, you smiled, resting your cheek against Namjoon's head as you once again alternated between petting each of them.

After a while, you must have dozed off, because you were startled awake by the door opening. Immediately, the three larger hybrids sprung up into standing positions, placing themselves between you and the newcomer.

"It's just me, guys." You heard Jackson say as he craned his head inside. Namjoon, Hoseok, and Yoongi proceeded to snarl, growling even louder.

"What's up?" You asked, trying to calm the three now-shaking hybrids in your lap by stroking their fur as you cautiously watched the other three. You felt Taehyung burrow himself between your neck and the wall, nuzzling his nose into the back of your head.

"Uh, well, I um, I wanted to talk to you about something real quick, if you don't mind." He said nervously, keeping a wary eye at the three standing hybrids.

At this, the four smaller hybrids latched onto you even harder, whining and whimpering. The larger three collectively took a step back, moving closer to you, with their ears pinned back.

"Oh, um, alright. Just give me a minute. I'll meet you outside." You nodded. Jackson returned the gesture before closing the door once more.

The moment the door clicked into place, all seven hybrids whined, looking towards me with big sad eyes.

"It's okay guys, I'll be right back." You reassured as you slowly peeled the smaller hybrids off you.

It took you a bit, mainly because Poor Jimin would latch back onto you as soon as you released him from your grip, but eventually, you were able to escape the room.

You were immediately greeted by the sight of a sniggering Jackson. Apparently he'd seen your struggle with the surprisingly strong fox.

Rolling your eyes at his childishness, you spoke.

"What did you need?"

Jackson cleared his throat.

"Yeah, um, about that.... Why don't we sit down for a minute." He said, gesturing to your desk.

Nodding, you moved to sit in your office chair, as he sat across from you on the other side of the desk.

"Am I in trouble or something?" You asked cautiously.

"Wha-no! Not at all!" Jackson said, waiving his hands frantically in front of him.

"O-kay, then what is this about?" You were confused, and became slightly anxious as Jackson stuttered for a second, scratching the back of his head nervously.

"W-well, I know this is kind of out of the blue, but after what happened yesterday, I got to thinking about something. Today just kinda confirmed and cemented my decision." At your enquiring nod, be continued.

"We've had those seven hybrids for a week now, and none of them have reacted to anyone in a way that's even close to the behavior they've shown to you. In the time they've been here, not even I have been able to more than put their food inside their room before getting lunged at. I was beginning to worry that we'd have to think about sending them to another shelter, but I was afraid some of them would get put down if I did. But now, I have a new, albeit unforseen and highly unusual, alternative." He paused.

"Which is?" You prompted.

"You." He stated.

"Me?" You asked, pointing to yourself in confused disbelief. He nodded.

"Yes. If you'd be willing to help, that is." You didn't even have to think twice.

"Anything. What do you need me to do?" You asked, leaning towards him unconsciously as you awaited his answer.

"Adopt them." He said seriously. He cut me off when I opened my mouth to speak.

"I know it's asking a lot, but as they are, no one would want them, and I trust you to treat them right. I really feel like you could do some good with them. I mean, they already trust you, and with this weird bond thing y'all have going on, I honestly don't think they'd take too kindly to anyone else. If money is an issue, I can help you out. I can help provide food and clothes, and anything else they'll need. Please, at least think about it." He said quickly.

"Are you done?" You asked, raising an eyebrow. He nodded sheepishly.

" I was gonna say yes. I'd love to adopt them. I have plenty of room at home. Four extra bedrooms, and a large enclosed backyard for them to play in. I even have a pool for Namjoon to play in. The others as well, if they'd like. And while I appreciate the offer, money is no issue. I have a lot saved up." You said.

"Really?!" Jackson asked, excitedly.

I smiled. "Yes really! I was thinking about it on the way home last night, and to be honest, the thought of them getting split up, or sent to another shelter bothers me as well. And I agree. I'm not sure what type of bond we have, but its definitely already a strong one, if today is any indication. I was actually going to speak to you about it when I came in tomorrow, but ya know." You laughed as Jackson beamed with relief and happiness.

"Are you sure, though? You read the files, right?" He asked, suddenly serious.

"Yes, I'm sure, and yes I read the files. If anything, that just makes me want to help them even more." You said, determinedly.

Jackson nodded.

One hour and many signatures later, you walked back into the observation room, only to be bombarded once again by seven hybrids. After giving each one a bit of attention, you spoke up.

"Listen guys, I have something important I want to talk to you about." At this, all seven backed away and sat down in a semi-circle around you. You crouched down so that you could look them all in the eyes.

"I just got through talking with Jackson, the guy from earlier. He owns the shelter, and has asked me an important question. I'm about to ask you the same one." You paused to see their reactions, inwardly cooing at how each of them cocked their heads as if to say 'get on with It'.

"Would you like to come home with me? Would you be alright with it if I adopted you? All of you."

The next thing you know, you're at the bottom of a very wiggly hybrid pile.

"I'll take that as a yes." You huffed, before giggling in happiness.

~~~~~

A little while later, you'd once again escaped the observation room. This time, you were in search of Jinyoung, the shelter's Vet.

You needed to make sure that all of the Bts pack were healthy enough to be taken home today. You also needed to know when to be on the lookout for the Alphas' ruts and the Omegas' heats. For the safety and wellbeing of themselves, and you.

After finding him in his office, you were happy to hear that while some were still under weight and had mild bruising and soreness left over from before they were saved, they were, indeed, healthy enough to be taken to their new home.

You also received the necessary info about their heats/ruts. As you were leaving his office, though, he left you with some upsetting news.

While they were in the underground rings, every one of the hybrids had been given high doses of special (illegal) pills that suppressed their human sides to the point that they were stuck in their hybrid forms. They would remain as such until the medicine completely worked itself out of their systems. The length of time that would take was very hard to pinpoint, so Jinyoung was unable to give you more than the rough estimate of anywhere from one to six months for all of them, if not longer.

While it upset you, you tried to brush those feelings off. You were going to be bringing home seven new companions. It was a time to be happy, not dwelling on things you had no control over.

Shaking your head, you smiled. You had seven new friends to take home.

@im-emo-motherfuckers @btsenchanting @boononx @vannilacake @mrcleanheichou

#hybrid bts #bts hosoek #bts namjoon #bts ot7 #bts #bts v #bts jimin #bts jungkook #bts suga

494 notes · View notes

cristinablackthornkingson · 5 years ago

Text

Shadowhunters Short Story #58. Baby Lightwood-Bane #4.

It is a chilly February day in 2016 when Magnus and Alec Lightwood-Bane receive the news that will change their lives forever.

It has been two years since Magnus and Alec adopted their youngest child and first daughter, Anna Catarina. Anna is almost two now and has remained a very happy, content little girl. She idolizes her brothers and is best friends with little Mina, as well as Clary and Jace’s daughter Lucie and Simon and Isabelle’s son and daughter George and Jessie.

Right now Alec is sitting in a room that he and Magnus made into a type of schoolroom for the boys (and Anna when she’s older) working on some history with Rafe, though Alec takes Rafe to The Institute to train, he works on the academic side of his (and Max’s) education here at home, often with help from Magnus. Max is in the living room finishing up a lesson with Magnus and Anna is in Magnus and Alec’s room, taking her nap.

“Okay Rafe, can you tell me the story about the first Shadowhunter? What was his name, how did he create Shadowhunters, stuff like that?” Alec asks, pulling the textbook away from Rafe so he can test him on what they just learned.

“Uh well he was a mundane in the 11th century and he was a crusader, and he was really worried about all the demons coming in through the void, so one day on his way to Constantinople he met a warlock- like papa- and asked him to summon Raziel at Lake Lyn. He did and when Raziel was summoned, Jonathan begged him to mix his blood with his to create a new superhero race of people who could defeat the demons. Raziel saw that Jonathan had good intentions so he agreed and then gave him to The Mortal Instruments- like Uncle Simon’s band’s name!- then Jonathan used the cup to turn his sister Abigail and his best friend David into Shadowhunters. David and Jonathan were inspired by the story of Jonathan and David in the Bible, so they took that story and created a ceremony where they took eachother’s blood and spoke the oath and put the runes on each other and became the first ever parabatia, but their bond was broken later when David became the first Silent Brother- like Uncle Jem use to be a Silent Brother- and that’s really all we know.” Alec smiles proudly at his son, he was sure to pass all his exams in a few years with flying colors, he could do wonderfully at The Academy if he chooses to go there when he’s older.

“Good job buddy, but remember when you’re writing about this in your tests don’t mention anything unrelated like how Uncle Simon’s band is also called The Mortal Instruments and that Uncle Jem use to be a Silent Brother, okay?” Alec gently says. He doesn’t mind Rafe’s brief diversions from the story, but an examiner certainly will.

“Okay, I just got excited, sorry.” Rafe quietly says, feeling embarrassed that he got distracted like a little kid .He’s almost 10 now, he’s a big boy, not a little kid anymore, like Max who’s still only 8 or Anna who really is only a baby.

“It’s okay buddy don’t be sorry, you know I don’t mind you adding in little things like that, but an examiner who doesn’t know us and our family won’t understand it’s relevance and importance and could mark you down, okay?” Alec gently says. Rafe nods his understanding. “Alright, I think that’s enough for today, how about you?”

“Uh-uh.” Rafe agrees.

“Come on, lets go see if your papa and Max are finished, then I’ll wake Anna up and we can go to the park if you like.” Alec says, closing the textbook in front of him.

“Uh-uh! Can we have pizza for dinner, please?” Rafe begs, turning his big brown eyes to his dad, knowing Alec can never resist his eldest child’s puppy dog eyes.

“Well I’ll talk to papa but I certainly think you’ve earned it today, and I’m sure Max has too.” Alec says, ruffling Rafe’s hair as they walk out of the schoolroom.

“I’ll go ask papa!” Rafe exclaims, darting out to the living room before Alec can say another word.

When Alec steps into the living room he sees that Magnus and Max have finished their lesson, and both boys are asking for pizza for dinner, so Alec quietly slips into his and Magnus’ room and make his way over to the crib by the bed, where Anna is sitting up, rubbing her eyes. He gently scoops her up and snuggles her close, breathing in her scent and pressing a kiss to her cheek.

“Hi baby.” Alec whispers, as Anna clutches his shirt and buries her face in his chest. “Oh sweetheart are you still tired? Did you have a nice nap?” He softly says, rubbing soothing circles on her back. “Come on, lets go see your brothers and papa, that will wake you up.” He grabs her pacifier from the crib and makes his way back into the living room, which has now been cleared up. The minute Anna sees Magnus she perks up and reaches for him. Magnus smiles broadly at his daughter and takes her into his arms, smoothing her hair down and kissing her forehead.

“There’s my girl, I missed you.” He softly says.

“Papa’s girl aren’t you Anna?” Alec says in an amused tone, lightly tickling his daughter’s cheek, causing her to squeal with laughter and squirm away from him.

“You just love being with papa because you know I’ll dress you in something amazing while your daddy would stick you in the first thing he found, isn’t that right my sweet Anna banana?” Magnus lightly says, holding her above his head which makes her scream and giggle with delight. Magnus loves having a little girl to buy adorable dresses and outfits for, there is such a small selection for fashionable boy clothes, especially when those boys are 10 and 8, but for a 2 year old little girl, the sky’s the limit.

“I just don’t understand the point of putting her in a designer outfit when she’s only going to end up getting half of her meals all over it and ruin it.” Alec says, as Magnus settles Anna back onto his hip. “Our daughter is the messiest little thing alive, you know that.”

“Yes but at least she’ll be fashionably messy when I dress her.” Magnus points out.

“She’s going to end up like Jace if we’re not careful.” Alec teases. Magnus gives a fake gasp of horror and covers one of Anna’s ears.

“Don’t you dare say such a thing! You’re going to confident like papa, right Anna? Not an arrogant fool like Uncle Jace.” Magnus coos. Anna smiles up at him in delight and clumsily claps her hands.

Half an hour later, the little family are walking toward the local park, Alec pushing Anna in her stroller, Magnus at his side and Max and Rafe running up ahead. As they walk, Magnus’ phone begins to buzz in his pocket.

“Hello?” He answers a few seconds later.

“Hey, it’s me.” Catarina’s voice comes down the line and a smile breaks out on Magnus’ voice.

“Oh Cat! Good to hear from you! Listen, Ragnor, Tessa and I are going out next week, do you want to come?” He asks, as Alec walks ahead a little bit so as not to listen in on Magnus’ private conversation.

“Id love to however I actually called about something in specific.” Catarina tells him.

“Oh what’s that?” He asks.

“Well a few weeks ago the hospital asked me if I could work on the maternity ward for a while, cover maternity leave ironically. A couple of weeks ago a young girl was admitted with bleeding, thankfully she and the baby are fine, but I grew close with her and got to talk with her a lot. She’s only 16 and not ready to be a mother yet at all, she’s planning to place her baby for adoption, I showed her yours and Alec’s profile and she took to you straight away, she’s not in hospital anymore but we keep in touch and she’s always asking me things about you and Alec, she really wants to meet you, if you’re interested.” Magnus stops dead in his tracks when Catarina finishes her story. Not long ago he and Alec agreed that they would like to extend their family for the last time. At one point in time Tessa had been an adoption consultant and helped bring together many children and parents, so she helped them create a profile book, which she then took a few copies of to give to any clients she and Jem got who were looking to place their child for adoption, and Catarina took another bunch to do the same.

“R-really? We only made up the booklet a few months ago.” Magnus says in a breathy tone, beginning to walk again and running a hand through his hair.

“I know but it can happen very quickly, I know with Max, Rafe and Anna you all found each other by fate, but with a profile book to show expectant mothers and adoption consultants it can happen much more quickly.” Catarina explains. “You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”

“No! We do! I mean, I’ll have to speak with Alec about it but I’m certain he will want this as much as I do, what’s the mother’s name? Is she mundane, Nephilim,what?” Magnus asks.

“Her name is Molly Bridgestock, she’s a Shadowhunter, from a very high up, proud, old Shadowhunter family. Her parents threatened to kick her out if she didn’t give up the baby, when I heard this I offered for her to stay with me or offered to contact Tessa, see if she and Jem could help, but Molly says she’s doing this adoption on her own terms, she loves her baby but she knows she can’t give them the life they deserve, though I do worry how her parents will react when they find out you’re a Warlock and you and Alec are a gay couple, Molly is completely fine with it, she was awe-struck when she saw Alec’s picture, truth be told I think she has a little crush on your Consul Ligthwood.” Magnus laughs lightly, not surprised that this young girl has a crush on his gorgeous husband, he can’t understand how everyone in the world isn’t in love with Alec.

“That doesn’t sound like a good home for any child, is Molly safe?” Magnus asks in a concerned tone, more than willing to take in both this young girl and her child, if need be.

“She says she is but I just don’t know, her parents are very ‘traditional’ if you know what I mean.” Catarina tells him.

“Yes unfortunately I do. I’ll talk to Alec and get back to you, in the meantime can you give Molly my number and address and let her know our door is always open for her? We would take Molly in and help her raise her baby herself if she wants.” Magnus softly says, wanting to do all he can for a child in need.

“Of course, talk to you soon.” Catarina says, before hanging up.

Over the next half hour or so, while Max, Rafe and Anna tire themselves out in the park, Magnus explains the whole situation to Alec. Alec agrees to meet Molly and adopt her baby if that’s what she wants, or to take her in and help her raise the baby, either, whatever she wants.

Magnus calls Catarina back and arranges a meeting with Molly for a few days from now, at their home.

Three days later, it is a bright, breezy day, oddly warm for the middle of February. Alec has just gotten back from dropping the kids off with Maryse, while Magnus stayed behind to make sure everything was perfect for Molly’s visit. She is due to arrive any minute now, and he and Alec are doing everything they can to stay calm.

At 2:00 p.m. on the dot, there is a light knock on the door and Magnus and Alec exchange nervous glances, before Magnus goes to answer the door. When he opens the door, he is struck by how young the girl standing in front of him looks. According to Catarina she is sixteen, but she barely looks it, with brown skin, long black hair falling around her shoulders and bright green eyes, she looks like she should be preparing for her first Clave Exam, not preparing to have a baby.He can’t help but think that this could be his daughter or one of his nieces in the near future, and his heart goes out to this young girl, who is doing this alone with no support from her family. He doesn’t understand parents who turn their back on their children, no matter what his kids do he will always, always love them and support them.

“You must be Molly.” Magnus says, smiling warmly at the young girl standing in front of him.

“As far as I’m aware.” She replies with a grin. ‘Sarcastic, Rafe is going to love her.’ Magnus thinks to himself.

“Come in and make yourself at home, we’re so glad you wanted to meet us.” Magnus says, guiding her into the living room where Alec is waiting.

“I’m glad you agreed to meet me, I’ve considered a few other people as parents to this baby, but when Catarina showed me your profile book it just felt right, I mean the idea of my baby being raised by The Consul and The High Warlock of Brooklyn is pretty amazing.” Molly says, her hand resting on her protruding stomach.

“I’m glad you think so, though our kids often seem to think we are the worst dad and papa in the world because we won’t let them have chocolate for breakfast, I don’t know why we let their aunts and uncles look after them anymore honestly, their grandmother feeds them properly but Alec’s brother and sister seem to only feed them junk.” Magnus says in an amused tone.Though really he can’t complain, the last time he and Alec looked after Mina, Tessa had nearly throttled him when he sent Mina back hyper as hell.

“You’ll have to excuse my husband being a hypocrite Molly, a few weeks ago we were looking after one of our nieces and Magnus gave her basically all the chocolate in the house, her mother almost killed him when she found out.” Alec says in an amused tone, as Molly and Magnus walk into the living room. Molly laughs lightly and says

“Can’t say I wouldn’t do the same, are your other children here?” Magnus indicates for her to take a seat.

“No, they’re with my mom, we thought it would be best if this first meeting is just the three of us, but if things work out you can meet them another time.” Alec says.

“Alright.” Molly says with a smile and a nod. “I don’t have that many questions for you, just one.” She adds.

“What is it?” Alec asks, grasping Magnus’ hand in his.

“Would you be okay with the adoption being open? Or at least semi-open? I want to be a part of the baby’s life, I want to be able to visit him and watch him grow up, and be there for him to ask questions when he’s older, and I don’t want the fact that he’s adopted to be a secret from him, I’m not saying I want to be his mother or anything, but I’d like to be like an Aunt to him.” Molly quietly says. She knew from the minute she found out about the baby that she couldn’t fully part with him forever, she knew placing him for adoption was the best for him, but she couldn’t hand him over and never see him again, though that’s exactly what her parents want. They wanted to send her away for the duration of the pregnancy and arrange to have the baby adopted out themselves, a closed adoption. They claimed it was for Molly’s sake and to save her reputation but she knows better, she knows it’s for their sake and that they’re ashamed of her and her baby,

“Yes we are absolutely fine with that, we never personally set out to have closed adoptions with Max, Rafe and Anna, it just worked out that way really, we know nothing about Max’s parents, he was abandoned, Rafe’s parents were killed in the Dark War with Sebastian, and Anna was abandoned too, but we’ve always been open to any form of adoption.” Magnus explains. “My friend Tessa Carstairs use to be an adoption consultant, she can help with the legal side of things.” He adds. Molly smiles and visibly relaxes.

“Okay great, you can ask me any questions you have now.” She says, glad to have at least one worry off her mind.

“You said ‘him’ when talking about the baby, do you know you’re having a boy?” Alec asks in a hopeful tone. He’d like to know if he and Magnus are going to have another son or daughter, he’ll be thrilled either way but he would like to know before the baby is born.

“No I don’t know for sure, I just have a feeling he’s a boy, but if you two want to find out I’m happy to ask Brother Enoch at my next check up.” Molly replies.

“How far long are you?” Magnus asks, trying to calculate by the size of her stomach, even though he knows that’s not very accurate. When Tessa had been 6 months pregnant with Mina, Magnus had thought she was full term and asked if she was far from her due date, Tessa had almost killed him. It’s surprising Magnus is still alive, the amount of times he’s done something to warrant leaving Tessa ready to kill him.

“5 months, I’m due at the beginning of July.” Molly tells them, rubbing her bump.

“I’m sorry if this is a sensitive issue and you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but is the father in the picture?” Alec gently asks. Molly blushes and shakes her head.

“No, I-I don’t actually know who the father is, it was a one-night stand, I don’t remember his name, what he looked like or anything, so you don’t have to worry about him.” Molly quietly says in a tone of embarrassment.

“You don’t have to be embarrassed Molly, these things happen, it doesn’t make you a bad person or anything.” Magnus gently says.

“I’m sorry I brought it up, I didn’t mean to upset you.” Alec softly says.

“No it’s okay, you have a right to know.” Molly says, taking a breath to ward off the tears.

The three of them continue to talk for another hour or so, getting to know each other and their situations.

“Well.” Molly says an hour later, once they’ve spoken about anything and everything. “I made up my mind before I even met you, I’m choosing you as my baby’s parents.”

“Thank you, we promise we will give your baby the most amazing life, and you can be as involved as much as you like.” Alec says in a strained tone of joy.

“I know things aren’t great at home, you could stay with us if you like, you can stay for as long as you want, we have the room and we could take care of you and the baby.” Magnus offers, unable to not offer help to a child in need.

“That’s very kind of you but I actually recently moved out of my parents house, I’m staying with a friend and their parents are extremely kind and good to me.” Molly says. Magnus relaxes at this, knowing he won’t have to worry about his child and the mother of his child as much.

“Well I’m glad, but please know that our door is always open, before and after the baby is born.” Magnus gently says. Molly smiles broadly and says

“Thank you, I appreciate that.” That night, for the first time in months, Molly is able to sleep peacefully, knowing her child is going to have the most wonderful life, being raised by two of the kindest, most caring people she has ever met.

Over the next few months, Magnus and Alec tell their friends and family about the baby and start to prepare for their child’s arrival. Shortly after meeting Molly, she invited them to attend her 6 month check up with Brother Enoch, where it was confirmed she was carrying a boy. Max and Rafe are thrilled at the idea of having a little brother, though Anna isn’t too sure about it yet.

Alec insists on decorating the nursery by hand, not allowing Magnus to use his magic to fix it up. This is the first time they’ll have a new-born, Max was almost 1 when he was adopted, Rafe was 5 and Anna was a few months old. This baby will be days old when they bring him home, and they’ll get to be there for his birth, get to hold him and love him straight away.

While Tessa was helping Magnus, Alec and Molly with the legal side of the adoption, she offered to deliver the baby, having spent years as a midwife (Alec wondered if there was anything Tessa hadn’t done.) and delivered hundreds of babies, including her own grandchildren. Molly happily accepted and ended up having the majority of the rest of her prenatal check ups from Tessa.

They decide to name Ragnor and Tessa as the baby’s godparents. Ragnor was surprisingly good with children, Mina absolutely adores him and is always asking about her Uncle Ragnor and it never fails to make Tessa, Catarina and Magnus laugh, to see their foreboding, grumpy green friend, wrapped around the finger of a little four year old.

Right now, its the last week in June, and Molly is due in just two weeks and Magnus and Alec are gathering together just a few last things for their son. They picked out a name a few weeks ago but decided to keep it a secret until the baby is born.

Currently, Alec is sitting at the kitchen table with Anna in his lap, scribbling on a piece of paper, while he talks with Clary, who is sitting across from him at the table, with her and Jace’s newborn son Stephen, asleep in a sling across her chest.

“So how’s Lucie adjusting to having Stephen around?” Alec asks, knowing that his little niece was not too happy about having a brother, when Clary was pregnant.

“Really well actually, she adores him. I was painting the other day and had Stephen on a blanket on the floor beside me, I looked over at him at one stage and found Lucie curled up beside him, telling him stories, it was the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen.” Clary says in a fond tone, looking into the living room, where Jace is standing with Lucie on his back, her arms linked around his neck. Lucie is such a daddy’s girl, she has Jace wrapped tightly around her little finger and has done since the day she was born. Jace is a big softie when it comes to his kids, he’s happy to sit and have tea parties all day with Lucie, and he loves to sit at the piano with Stephen and play for him. Often on sleepless nights, Jace will take Stephen downstairs to the music room and play for him until he falls asleep.

“Hopefully Anna warms up to her brother just as well, Max and Rafe can’t wait to meet him, but Anna isn’t too sure about him.” Alec says, running his hand over his daughter’s blonde curls.

“I’m sure she will, Maryse was telling me the other day how jealous you were of Izzy when she was born.” Clary says in an amused tone.

“Oh no, did she get out the baby pictures again?” Alec asks. Maryse loves to tell embarrassing stories about Izzy, Alec and Jace to Clary, Magnus and Simon, and the kids love hearing stories about their parents as little kids.

“Of course, I never realized how much Jessie looks like Izzy, if you put a baby picture of the two of them side by side you could hardly tell the difference, and Stephen is his dad’s twin.” Clary says.

“And Lucie is your twin, Jocelyn showed me your baby pictures the other day, when she and Luke were looking after the kids for us for a while.” Alec says with a smile. Little Lucie has ginger red curls like her mother, as well as her pale skin, freckles, green eyes and her bone structure, all she got from Jace it seems, are his eye shape, mouth shape and nose shape.

“Ugh of course she did, Stephen I promise I’m never going to be as embarrassing as your nana okay?” Clary coos, dropping a kiss to her son’s curly blonde head.

Just then Alec feels a hand on his shoulder, and twists in his seat to see Magnus standing behind him.

“Hey, you okay? You look worried.” Alec gently asks, taking Magnus’ hand from his shoulder and pressing a kiss to it.

“I just got a call from Tessa, she and Jem are with Molly, she asked them to come around because she was bleeding a bit and having pains but she wasn’t sure if it was labor or not and didn’t want to worry us if it was nothing, but Tessa’s checked her over and it is labor. They’re at the Basilias.” Alec’s eyes widen and his heart begins to race, their son is going to be born in the next couple of hours, they’re going to be parents again.

“You guys go, I’ll call mom to come pick up the kids and Clary and I will stay with them until she gets here.” Jace says, coming up to stand beside Magnus.

“Really? Are you sure?” Alec ask, trying to keep the panic out of his tone.

“Positive, now go, you don’t want to miss your son’s birth.” Jace says, taking Anna from Alec and lightly shoving his parabatia toward the door.

Magnus and Alec quickly gather a few clothes and such for the baby and quickly portal to The Basilias,which is now located in New York.

When they arrive, Jem is waiting for them to show them to Molly’s room.

“Is Molly alright, is the baby alright?” Alec asks in a frantic tone filled with worry. Jem smiles understandingly, having been just as anxious and worried when Tessa was in labor with Mina.

“They’re both fine Alec, Tessa gave Molly a painkilling spell so she’s much more comfortable, there are no problems with the baby either, come on I’ll take you into Molly.” Jem calmly says, gesturing for Magnus and Alec to follow him.

Jem leads them into a sterile white room with an en suite bathroom, a bed,a few chairs, a tray by the bed and a nightstand. Molly is half lying half sitting in the bed, propped up by a mountain of fluffy white pillows, dressed in a white and blue hospital gown. Tessa is standing beside her, talking quietly to her.

Magnus and Alec stay with Molly throughout the rest of her labor, while Tessa and Jem come in from time to time to check up on her and the baby.

When it comes time to push, Tessa sits at the bottom of the bed, ready to deliver the baby, Jem stands off to the side so that he can be on hand if anything goes wrong but he’s not so close that he’s crowding Molly, and Magnus and Alec stand on either side of her. Molly grips both Magnus and Alec’s hands in hers, drawing strength and comfort from them being there. She is just so glad she isn’t doing this alone.

Her labor is long and painful and as the time goes on, the painkilling spell begins to wear off and Molly begins to feel almost everything, while growing more and more tired, feeling like it will never be over.

“Oh God I can’t do this anymore.” Molly weakly says, as the contraction eases and she leans back into the pillows, grimacing in pain.

“Of course you can, I know how difficult this is for you and how painful it is, but you are so close, I can see the baby’s head, you’re almost there now.” Tessa gently reassures her.

“You’re doing so well Molly, like Tessa said it will be over soon, then your life can go back to normal, you won’t have to deal with all this pain and morning sickness and all that anymore.” Alec gently says, squeezing her hand encouragingly, trying his best to be helpful. He’d never been present for any birth before, he had no idea how to comfort a laboring mother. He knew he should’ve asked Jace for advice, even though he was more of a wreck during Lucie and Stephen’s births than Clary was. Maybe he should’ve gone to Jem, or Simon.

“I just want it to be over.” Molly weakly says in a teary tone, her breath hitching in her throat as another contraction hits.

“I know darling I know, and it will be soon, and it will be all worth it, I promise you it will, I know this isn’t a typical situation but you will get to be in your baby’s life, you’ll get to hold him and love him as much as you want, while carrying on with your own life, knowing that he’s in good hands.” Magnus calmly says, rubbing soothing circles on Molly’s back. He can’t imagine how bittersweet this moment must be for her, not long from now she’ll get to meet and hold her baby, but she’ll also be placing him with someone else, unless she changes her mind at the last second, which is something Magnus has been worried about for the last 4 months.

At 4:21 p.m. on the 16th of June 2016, Molly gives birth to a beautiful healthy baby boy, who looks just like her, with tanned skin, a mop of black hair and vibrant green eyes.

“By The Angel, he’s perfect.” Alec says in a breathy tone, gently stroking his son’s bloody cheek, once Tessa has laid the baby on a blanket on Molly’s chest.

“Molly you did so well, you are absolutely amazing biscuit.” Magnus softly says, gently squeezing her hand and brushing her hair back from her face. Normally Magnus reserves that nickname for Clary, but he has a feeling he and Molly will grow to be as close as he and Clary, and the nickname suits her.

“Thanks.” Molly says in a breathy tone, still trying to catch her breath, feeling as though she’s just run a marathon.

"Hello little one, your siblings are going to adore you, and your grandma is going to spoil you rotten.” Magnus quietly says, turning to look at his son.

“Anna is going to be so mad she’s still the only girl.” Alec says in an amused tone, knowing how much Anna wanted a sister, she thought it was only fair that the baby be a girl, since she already had two brothers.

“Do you want to hold him?” Molly asks, once Tessa has helped her wrap the baby up to keep him warm.

“You hold him first Alexander.” Magnus says. Alec carefully and expertly gathers the baby into his arms, and is instantly brought back to the first time he held Max, then Rafe and then Anna. Holding his son he feels a sense of peace settle over him, and somehow he knows that his family is complete.

“Hi baby, I love you.” Alec quietly says, taking the baby’s tiny hand in his and pressing a kiss to it.

“What are you going to call him?” Molly asks, as Magnus joins Alec and slips an arm around him and their son.

“You tell her.” Alec encourages his husband, stroking the baby’s hand with his thumb.

Magnus looks from his baby to Molly and proudly says

“Henry, his name is Henry Jonathan Lightwood-Bane.”

“Oh, after our Henry?” Tessa quietly asks in a tight tone, as Jem slips an arm around her waist in an attempt to comfort her. Magnus smiles sadly and nods, grieving for his old friend.

“Yes, Henry was one of the greatest friends I ever had, he was a wonderful man and I can only hope my son grows up to be like him too.” He quietly says, looking down at little Henry in Alec’s arms.

“He’d be honored Magnus, and with parents like you and Alec, you can be sure he’ll grow up to a wonderful young man.” Jem kindly says, which makes his wife tear up even more.

“And you say you don’t have a way with words, James Carstairs.” Jem laughs lightly and presses a kiss to his wife’s temple and whispers to her

“Well it seems we’re going to have to come up with a different middle name for our son.” Making sure that Magnus and Alec aren’t looking, Tessa rests her hand on her belly and softly says

“Nathaniel, William Nathaniel.”

Just a few hours later Magnus and Alec head home with Henry, with promises to send Molly lots of pictures and an open invitation for her to come visit whenever she’s ready.

That night, back in Magnus and Alec’s loft, little Henry lays sleeping soundly in his bassinet by his parents bed, while they try and settle Anna in her new room. Half an hour after being put to bed, little Henry wakes up and starts to fuss when he realizes he’s alone. Just then two figures materialize either side of his bassinet. On his right is a tall thin man, with kind hazel eyes and wild ginger hair, dressed in a white shirt, a red waistcoat and black trousers. On the left of the bassinet, is a small thin woman with flowing brown hair and kind brown eyes, dressed in a flowing teal evening gown, that looks like it’s from the Victorian Era.

“Shh little one you’re alright, don’t cry sweet boy, you’re safe.” Charlotte Fairchild soothes the baby, reaching out to stroke his cheek.

“He’s beautiful.” Henry Fairchild quietly says, marveling at the tiny creature in the bassinet, bringing him back to when his boys were little.

“Oh he really is, I can’t believe it’s been so long since our boys were this little, or our girls for that matter. Oh Henry can you believe they named him after you?” Charlotte asks in an excited tone. She and Henry had been shocked when they learned this little boy’s name from Will, who would often come and go to see Mina and Kit. Henry was and is honored and delighted that his old friend still thinks about him and has named his son after him.

“No I’m still rather shocked, but delighted. I’m so happy for Magnus Lottie, he was so miserable for so long before he met Alec.” Henry softly says, smiling down at the little baby.

“Me too, Alexander is so like Gideon, and he looks so much like Will, it must hurt Tessa terribly.” Charlotte says in a concerned tone. She’s always looked out for her Tessa, and has always worried about her, even though Jem has always been there to keep her safe and Tessa is more than capable of protecting herself.

“Our Tessa is stronger than that, she has learned how to cope with her grief, the sight of anything that reminds her of Will no longer drives her into despair and she’s happy now too, now she has Jem, Christopher and Mina.” Henry says.

“True enough, now we better get this fussy little boy settled, if he’s anything like his name sake he should be dead to the world in no time, isn’t that right sweet boy?” Charlotte coos, smiling as the baby grabs at her hand and stares up at her in awe. Henry smiles warmly at his wife and says

“Where did you think Matthew got his ability to sleep through anything, from? But you’re right as usual Lottie, you should sing to him, our four always loved when you sang to them.” Henry suggests.

“Well it’s been years since I’ve sang a lullaby, but I suppose I could try.” Charlotte shyly says.

In no time at all, Little Henry starts to drift off to the sound of his Aunty Charlotte’s voice, while his Uncle Henry sits beside him and holds his little hand, assuring him that he’s not alone.

63 notes · View notes

daemoninwhiteround2 · 5 years ago

Note

Hi I’ve sent whumpbby this question too, but I wanted to know what headcanons and ideas you two would have about a Jason Todd raised by Leslie Thompkins and how that would happen.

hmmmm

(I’ll preface this by saying that I am not very familiar with Leslie at all, most of my knowledge of her comes from very quick, occasional appearances, like she has in n52′s RHatO)

well I think it’s safe to say that considering their circumstances, Jay would have been fairly familiar with Leslie and her clinic by the time he was living on the streets. Leslie wouldn’t be a doctor and director of a free clinic in the worst part of Gotham if she didn’t genuinely care about people. but there’s also a certain amount of detachment necessary in being a doctor who doubles as a surgeon and a bunch of other health professionals. she wouldn’t call herself the maternal type, she’s never wanted children or heard her biological clock ticking or anything like that but.

but Jason Todd’s little face. how brave he is when he comes in with a broken arm and dirty clothes. how he jokes and chatters the whole time she sets it, even as his voice gets high and tight with pain because he refused any injected painkillers (she had seen the track marks on Catherine’s arms, had treated her for occasional drug-use related issues, had passed her pamphlets on drug use and withdrawal and rehab even though the both of them knew that she wouldn’t, couldn’t, use them) and pills didn’t take much of an edge off but the arm needed to be set. how she knows that he’s homeless, that he’s doing his best to avoid both getting caught up in the gangs or in Gotham’s too-often horrendous foster care system. how that’s always a tragedy, but when she thinks about how much Jason used to ramble on about school and how hungry he aways was for knowledge, how he always wanted to be told what she was doing, it feels like even more of a tragedy than usual. how he sometimes manages to coax the smaller kids in with him, how he plants himself between them and the world as though he intends to drive off anyone else who tries to hurt them.

how big his heart is.

she’d looked into the requirements for foster parents years ago, when Thomas died. his son was taken in by the family butler - she remembers Alfred coming to the hospital a few times, he’d seemed a kind enough person, if reserved - and so she never followed through with it, but.

she’d met the requirements then.

she’d probably still meet them now.

(lol, sorry, this turned into a fic about Leslie and not our collective son, Jason Todd. I think a Jason raised by Leslie would paradoxically be calmer than canon!Jay, because she’d definitely encourage him to go to therapy (and not figure that violence was the best therapy like some people) but he’d also be more passionate, because while Jason Todd will always care deeply about the people of Gotham, once he’s adopted with Bruce, he only really interacts with them in structured events or through violence, but with Leslie he’d see both the horrible and the good.

since Leslie treats Batman and co., he might still become a superhero, but I think in a much more support capacity than frontline/tank/first responder. I think there’s a good chance that he’d end up becoming some sort of health care provider, likely a therapist or nurse rather than a doctor. in either case, he’d definitely be a qualified first aid provider. Jay has a big heart and I think he’d prefer to be in a position where he can interact with patients a lot, rather than just seeing them for surgery/diagnosis and then leaving. he’d place more importance on his civilian ID than his superhero, and I think he’d be prone to trading between them based on which he thinks will get the best response.

canon!Jay bounces between being a planner and impulsive based on who writes him and how much they like him, but when his plans are upset he tends to react with violence (IT’S ALMOST LIKE IT WAS A PATTERN OF BEHAVIOUR INSTILLED IN HIM AT AN EARLY AGE). I think Leslie!Jason would be quite introspective. healthcare is problem-solving and I think he’d find it hard to break out of that mindset.

he might die young, but definitely not because he goes off chasing Shelia. I can see a big battle going down in the Narrows and Jason getting caught in the crossfire because he keeps going back for one more person.

(here’s a mental image: Batman having to bring the broken, dead body of her son to Leslie and say I’m so sorry, I couldn’t get there in time.)

also he definitely dates Dick at one point because I am predictable and love JayDick)

#dae talks #jason todd #Leslie Thompson raised Jason Todd au #dc #batman #Anonymous

23 notes · View notes

takeachanceff · 5 years ago

Text

Chapter 28: Falling Apart

Luna

“I don’t believe this” David said to her. Luna smiled widely looking down at the child before her. “David this is a sign God has blessed us with a baby don’t you see?” She started. “We’ve been trying so hard and now we have what we’ve been wanting so bad and now we do. They just dropped her right on her door step” she said.

She started to cry and squirm in my arms as I held her. I took her out the wet blanket that she was wrapped in. I checked to see if she needed to be changed and that was root of the problem. “David are prayers have been answered” I said with a wide grin.

“Babe how many people just drive through this neighborhood dropping of children? “ David asked her looking at the child. We’ve been trying for months to get pregnant and things just haven’t been working. Now this happens.

“It’s a rarity but it was meant to be” I smiled looking down at her. David shook his head. “Im gonna clean her up. You must be cold being out there by yourself” I said heading upstairs.

.............

A couple hours went by and David ran out to get the baby some diapers and fresh clothes. I couldn’t imagine just leaving my baby but I’m glad someone left this baby on my door step. David came back with everything and sat the bags next to me before sitting on the couch with me. “How old do you think she is?” He asked.

“She’s still pretty tiny so I’m guessing 2 or three months you got the right size diapers right?” I asked.

“Yeah i did um so i guess we gotta go about naming her and adopting her” he suggested.

“I’ve been thinking of a few names but nothing has stood out yet” I said trying to think of a few names for her. “I was thinking Ava or Willow” i said just throwing out a few of the names I was thinking of.

“Hm She doesn’t look like a willow to me” David said as he held her little hand. “I don’t see you coming up with any ideas”

“Peyton, Mackenzie... I don’t know” David laughed. “I’ve never been good with names” he said as the bay looked up them both and her surroundings.

“She’s very curious” I pointed out.

I can’t wait to start this new journey.

Aaliyah

We hurriedly got into the car to catch the flight. I was anxious and I prayed that my baby was in tact. My nerves wouldn’t settle. I felt Trey put his hand on my knee to calm my but when i looked over at him by the way he was clenching his jaw. He was nervous too. The ride to the plane hanger was silent nobody dared to speak. Once we arrived, Trey and I quickly boarded taking a seat anxiously. I put my seat belt on wanting to rush the pilot and skip all the extras. “You got anymore of that weed?” I asked. Trey chuckled some and shook his head.

“I do but I don’t think it’s good for us to rely on substances to calm ourselves” he said as he scratched his beard. I sighed knowing he was right.

What am I thinking? This isn’t me at all.

“I know I’m just everywhere” I admitted before rubbing my temples. Trey nodded in agreement though he didn’t say I knew he felt the same. The plane finally took of and headed to our destination. I needed to see my baby. I needed to hear her laugh, see her her smile. I needed to hold her.

....................

The plane landed in Richmond International Airport where our driver was waiting for us. We quickly got off the plane and headed inside the car. Trey got the details of where Mia could be. They got the address and headed there quickly. The drive didn’t take long surprisingly the neighborhood was in area full of row houses. We pulled up to house where one of Treys spotters saw the car drop off something. We got out the car putting up our umbrellas to go knock on the door. We rang the door bell and knocked a couple times.

“I swear this nigga better be right?”Trey mumbled as we both waited for someone to answer the door. Someone looked out the window before they opened the door. “Can I help you?” An older gentleman asked greeting us.

“Hi this may seem like a weird question but was a baby dropped off her early today or last night?” Trey asked the man. He was hesitant to answer before he spoke up. “Uh yes please come in” he said inviting us in. “Babe who is it?” A female voice asked coming from another room in the house. “Sorry we should’ve introduced ourselves, my name is Aaliyah and this is my husband Trey we’re looking for our daughter. We were told she was here” I said since Trey was always straight to the point.

“Your the baby’s parents?” He asked.

“Yes we are” Trey said trying to hide his frustration. The lady came into the room where we assuming it was his wife she had Mia in her arms. I sighed in relief knowing my baby was okay.

“Can we help you?” She asked as she held Mia.

“They’re the baby parents” he said to her.

“Prove it” she said causing Trey to scoff at her words. “Prove it?” Trey asked before they could say anything I spoke up.

“She has a birth make on her left leg it’s looks like a heart. She has a mole on her right her cheek. She’s allergic to soy and she’s jaundice” I said to her. The woman looked at me before confirming the first two things that i said.

“You felt guilty so you come back after you dropped her off like she was trash” she said instantly pissing me off. I haven’t slept in a few days so both of us were bound to say anything.

“I didn’t drop her off here lady.. My baby was taken out of her crib while she was taking a nap. I haven’t slept in days because I didn’t know where my child was “ I explained feeling myself getting angry before taking a deep breath. “I just want my baby home that’s it” I said damn near begging.

”I’m not just gonna hand her over... unless you take a DNA test” she said to us.

“Bitch what?” Trey said furiously.

“If she’s your daughter take a DNA test” she shrugged.

“No fuck that give me my-“ Trey started.

“Fine” K said feeling Treys stare on me.

“Liyah you agreeing to this bullshit?!” He semi yelled.

“All we got is time Trey, if she wants science to make her look stupid then fine I’ll take a DNA test to prove that I laid down and conceived her and carried her for 9 months” i said irritated with all this but if this is what it takes to bring my daughter home then so be it.

Melina

It’s been a couple days since Jason was released from jail and it’s been quiet —too quiet. He still wanted us to head out Miami to stay with his uncle while he handled things here. Our flight leaves tomorrow so we just been laying low so no attention would be bought to us. I didn’t want to leave him but there’s nothing I can do. We put Justin down for his nap and he tapped my leg making me look at him. Jason took my hand and guided me to the bathroom closing the door turning the shower on. We looked each other in the eyes as he pulled me closer to him.

“I be so caught up in everything that I never get a chance to really look at you “ he started. “You’re still as beautiful as the day we met” he said running his fingers through my hair.

“When we bumped into each other in the hallway or when I almost hit you with my car” I said making us both laugh.

“Oh yeah you did almost run me over” He said making us both laugh. “Regardless, over time you’ve become more and more beautiful” he said making me blush.

“I know you didn’t just bring me in here to talk” I said to him leaning against the bathroom sink. He licked his lips and smirked as his eyes roamed my body. He lifted me up and put me on the counter. I put his shirt over his head before he threw it on the floor. He then pulled me closer to him by my legs as he began to strip me out of my clothes.

I kissed his lips deeply as he wrapped my legs around him. I unbuckled his pants to release his hard member. He circled my clit with his thumb in making my head go back in pleasure. My hormones were all over the place because of this pregnancy. I ran my hands down his chest lightly scratching it. Jason left kisses on on my neck making me moan. Gradually making his kisses lower he stopped paying special attention to my small baby bump. Feeling his fingers spread my second set of lips anticipating his tongue. I bit my lip as i watched him glide his tongue on my wet center making my head go back in pleasure. He picked me up taking us into the shower as he made love to me. We took it slow it felt different—it was passionate like he usually did it. He fucked me but made love to me at the same time. His strokes were deep and long as held me up against the shower wall. My moans were heard throughout the bathroom but not too loud that they would wake up Justin.

After our session in the shower, we changed and just chilled together. “I’ve been thinking” I said breaking the silence. He looked down at me giving me his full attention “About what?” He asked.

“I’ve been putting our son on you a lot and you’re right I work way too much to even spend time with him. I was thinking that maybe we can start sending him to day care, so he can spend time with kids his own age. On weekends we can both spend time with him ” I mentioned to him making him smile softly.

“You always been a hustler I love that about you. I like that idea I think that be cool let’s take it day by day” Jason said before I kissed his lips. “So round two or?” He asked with a raised eyebrow making me chuckle. “That’s how I ended up pregnant cause of multiple rounds with you” I smiled.

“I don’t see nothing wrong with that “ Jason said with a big grin. Before I could say anything else my phone started to ring, I answered the phone without looking at the caller ID. “Hello?“ I answered.

“May I speak to Melina Hennigan?” The voice asked.

“This is she who am I speaking with?” I asked with a confused look. Jason had a look of concern in his face as the phone conversation continued.

“My name is Jessica Griffith I’m from the coroners office. Mrs. Hennigan I’m calling regarding your father Carlos Perez” she started. I could feel my heart sink into my stomach. “I’m sorry to inform you that your father was found dead in an abandoned warehouse. We’re reaching out to you to see if you could identify the body. Could you come down to the morgue and do this?” Jessica asked as I felt the room go into slow motion.

I couldn’t get words out.

My father is dead.

“Mrs. Hennigan?” She said catching my attention again.

“Y-Yes I can do it” I finally got out holding in my tears.

“Please come by our office in a hour. I’m sorry for your loss” she said before handing up.

“Baby what’s wrong?” Jason asked. I couldn’t answer all I could do was cry. I just wanted him to let me live my life without the bullshit. I didn’t mean anything I said to him now he’s gone....

....

Jason drove me to the morgue to identify my father. He kept an eye on Justin while I headed inside. They took me to the back with Claire whom they called also. Instead of showing us his body they took a few pictures of him. They took into a small room that dimly lit with old green chairs. The table held old magazines from 2008 or something. We took a seat as they placed the pictures on the table just from the first one they sat down I recognized the scar that was on his left arm. He got it in a bar fight while in college. The slightest bit of hope of this being a mistake had been thrown out. Once they were finished, the detective finally spoke up. “Do you guys recognize any of these markings on Mr. Perez’s body?” He asked.

Claire’s crying filled the room leaving me to speak. The tears threatening to fall from my eyes burned the rim of my eye lids. “Yes, yes that’s him” I said getting choked up before I cleared my throat.

“Mrs. Hennigan, we believe your father was murdered. Do you know anyone that would want your father dead? Did your father have any enemies?” He asked her.

I couldn’t even begin to process all of this. I felt like I was going to throw up. “Rickey....” i said getting out as the detective wrote that down. “And what’s his last name?” He asked.

“Rickey... Satchel...” I said feeling myself go numb as they wrote it down.

“What relation did they have to each other?”

“Rickey use to intern for my father when we were in high school... Things were starting to get bad ... I know he killed him” I said. The detectives looked at each other as I continue to stare at the photos of my fathers body.

If they don’t catch him I’m gonna kill him myself.

They let us go and Claire continued to cry her eyes out. I had no more tears left to cry. I got into the car not saying a word. Jason wiped the tears that finally came out. I needed to be open with him about everything.

“Rickey killed my father” I mumbled. Jason nodded clenching his jaw. “I know...” he said tapping the steering wheel.

“I have to tell you something” I started gaining his attention. “I hated my dad for what he made do... I should’ve just told you”

“Tell me what Mel?” He asked looking confused.

“Remember the very first time i was pregnant?” I asked making him nod his yes. “That night you came to see me and you were asking about the baby and I told you I lost it. You asked me how... and I lied to you. I didn’t miscarry....” I said feeling myself starting to cry again. Jason sat back and licked his lips.

“What do you mean you didn’t miscarry” he asked.

“Please don’t hate me” I said feeling my chest get tighter. “I-I got an abortion because my dad told he was gonna cut me off if I didn’t. I also didn’t know if it was yours or Rickeys since it wasn’t long after he raped and it freaked me out” I rambled. Jason was quiet as he looked straight ahead not looking at me which broke me more than I realized. I cried hard clenching my chest.

“Mel...” he started. “I don’t hate you. If I’m being honest with you. I was scared that the baby wasn’t mine became of what he did to you. I just kept my head up speaking it into existence that the baby was mine. Even if it ended up being his I still would’ve supported you because that wasn’t your fault. I still would’ve been with you and my love for you wouldn’t have changed” he said.

I wiped my eyes as he spoke. “I know to pops hated my guts and didn’t want us to be together but I’m glad you stuck with me. You gave me beautiful son and you’re carrying my second child and you’ll be the one to carry our whole football team” he said making us both chuckle. “I’ll always have your back” he said making me smile through my tears.

“You handle the arrangements for your father and I’ll deal with Rickey”

#aaliyah fanfiction #trey songz #aaliyah #aaliyah fanfic #trey songz fanfiction #trey songz fanfic

6 notes · View notes

lizartgurl · 5 years ago

Note

So I'm sure this has been asked but, What is Emma's relationship with her siblings/batfam? (Including Bruce)

Bless you Anon this gives me the excuse to post these aesthetics I made forever ago 😁

Richard is her little brother. The only blood family she has left. He hasn't always been there for her, but she's always been there for him and it feels wrong whenever he shuts her out or she doesn't know what's going on with his life. Still, sometimes all they need is a night flipping off the rooftops of Gotham and Bludhaven and it feels like they've never fallen out of touch. No matter how many terrible decisions he makes, she loves him with all of her heart.

Bette was the first friend she made after her parents died, so she really clings to her. She likes having friends she can trust with her secret ID. Bette is her worst impulses and the best of her control personified, she can tell Bette anything and Bette will encourage her to do things that are kind of stupid, but keep her from doing the truly stupid stuff. As far as Emma's considered, Bette is the greatest hero she knows.

Honestly, Babs was always more Rick's friend than hers. Emma was surprised to find out that Barbara had become Batgirl (because Bette was already Bat-Girl haha) but she definitely came to respect her the more that they worked together, especially when Babs became Oracle.

Emma's relationship with Jason more or less started to spite Rick. They'd had one of their arguments right on the heels of his last big fight with Bruce and Emma really tried to replace Rick with Jason when he appeared, but she quickly came to realize that she loved Jason not because he and Rick were so similar, but because they were so different. She took training him very seriously and, of course, blamed herself when he died. After he came back and everything calmed down, Emma wondered if they really had replaced Jason with Tim, or if they could have done better by him. She wonders if those are questions that still need answering at this point, or if she should be happy that everyone still wants to be a family again.

Emma was determined to keep Tim safe when Bruce agreed to start training him as Robin. She always let him know how proud she was of him and that he could talk to her if he needed help with anything, but admittedly, she thought he'd lost it a little when he said that Bruce was lost in time rather than dead. She has never forgiven herself for disbelieving him, and as such they have not been able to become as close as they were before Bruce's supposed death.

With Stephanie, Emma was always ready for more girl power. By this point, she was an experienced teacher, so she was able to be more precise in her teaching, which left time for the two of them to come up with new techniques and moves to use together with Steph's wit and Emma's powers. She enjoyed having Steph around to the extent that she'd adopt Steph herself if her mother wasn't still around. Steph is jealous of Emma's powers and how "hot" she looks, so Emma started buying them matching clothes and trying out makeup looks together. On quiet patrol nights, they can often be found in a milkshake shop with two cookies and cream with extra whipped cream.

Cass was always Barbara's daughter before she was Bruce's, but Emma was thrilled to have an actual sister. She knew a good bit of sign language from studying it in school, so she and Barbara would talk with Cass while the others were still learning. Instead of teaching this new Batgirl, Emma actually got a few pointers in stealth from Cass, as well as having Cass correct her hand to hand combat technique from time to time. Emma attends every one of Cass's dance recitals, and tries to encourage her other passions outside of crimefighting because she knows from her own lifetime that being a hero isn’t all you have to be, no matter what you’ve done in your life.

With Duke, it's a similar situation to Steph. But with Duke, Emma isn't sure what to define their relationship as because they know that his family is alive and out there, and Duke wants to find them more than anything. She'd hate to squeeze his family out of the picture or make Duke feel like he has to choose because she struggled with honoring her deceased family while also wanting to be part of her hero family. As the only two metas in a family of nonpowered vigilantes, they enjoy teasing the others together. "Oh you can't blind Riddler in the middle of the night?" "Too bad you can't taser Joker from a dragon's-eye view." She helps him train and control his light powers, and she won't deny she likes having another meta in the family. She loves Duke, but she's afraid to get too close to him because she knows they'll find Duke's parents one day, and she doesn't want Duke feel like he has to choose between his mom and dad, or her and Bruce.

Emma met Damian when he was three and was then sworn to secrecy. Talia didn't want Ra's to discover that she had the son of Batman, but she trusted Emma to help her hide him until he was older, when it was safer for him to come out into the open as the son of Batman. He was so quiet back then, with big, intelligent, brown eyes and a small smile that Emma was rewarded with if she was patient enough. After helping Talia escape the Shadows, Emma and the others didn't hear from Talia, or Ra's, for years until Talia brought Damian to the cave. Talia and Damian had been discovered and Ra's had taken him into custody of the Shadows, where he was trained to be an assassin. This twisted him beyond recognition from the sweet little baby Emma had met. She tried to love him like Talia needed her to do, but the only thing that would soften Damian was her cat, Justice. Dick also had the ability to be more patient than Emma, so Damian still prefers him over Emma, but if he just needs to sit without being bugged by Richard's endless questions, he'll hole himself up in Emma's room, where she'll put on any kind of music and Justice will hop up and lay on Damian's lap until he's okay again. Emma knows that his bratty stubbornness is an act hiding the sweet little boy she met all those years ago, but it still drives her insane.

Bruce, like with each of his kids, loves Emma in his own way. Unlike her relationships with everyone else, Emma isn't sure if Bruce really loves her. She knows that he hates to show emotion and that he puts on a mask to protect himself and those he cares about, but she doesn't feel like she's close with Bruce. She's looked up to him and a mentor, for guidance and protection since she lost her parents and she absolutely craves having a parental figure to do those things for her, but she can't help but feel like her neediness will drive him away, especially now that Bruce has so many other kids who need him, Emma supposes, more than she does. Bruce has yet to notice this, but he does love Emma. She is the oldest out of all the children he's mentored, she's been with him the longest, she has the most experience, and she's not afraid to call him out on his stupid, compassionless ideas, so he relies on her more as a partner to help him protect Gotham more than seeing her as a child who also needs his help and care.

4 notes · View notes

astorystrangerthanfiction · 5 years ago

Text

a story stranger than fiction 002

ive felt alone a lot of my life, im a left handed pisces, this world wasn't built for someone like me, its always been a constant battle to get people to understand me, I think at some point I gave up trying, and adopted the moto your either with me or against me, ive held my friends close to me, kinda made every friend a brother or sister, im 33 years old now and don't know anyone I can trust, which is probably why im writing this instead of talking to someone,

we touched abit on the relationship with my mother, but I also have an older sister and a father, I have 2 biological brothers, both of wich are more like me than id like to admit, we all ended up in juvy the same age for the same charges and we all grew up in different homes, ive met one of my brothers hes a half brother, same mother, my biological father named my older brother, my bio father is filipino and ive never met him, infact he doesn't know I exist, his name is ricardo rubiano, and I pray one day we will cross paths, so we both know that each other exists, ive heard many stories of why he doesn't know me or didn't raise me, non of which I know are true, so that's been a hold on me for many years, I had so much anger towards my bio mother, but never really came to terms with it until I met my bio mother in 2013, I took one of my oldest friends who I thought was my brother for life, we met in juvy many years ago, turns out he never really was my friend, but that's a story for later.

I geuss what im trying to express is why ive had very little trust towards people I know and why ive learned to deal with feeling alone. my sister is a pretty amazing person, with a huge heart and a kindness that she inherited from the family I grew up in, my father, well to me hes superman, hes the most loving caring person in my life and the greatest male role model you could ever ask for hes always had my back through all of my life, and I couldn't ask for a better father ever, the only man ive ever seen stronger and as loving and dedicated to his family is his father who is my grandfather, my grandparents have been married 61 years raised 5 amazing children and a family so strong I don't think ill ever experience that bond and dedication ever in my life again,

my actions and choice drove a wedge between my sister and I my mom and I used to fight so much everyday it made my sister move out when I was 12, and I think that was what pulled me from my sister, she was my best friend as a child, and when she left was the first time I felt alone, and because of that I think was one of the first walls I put up towards my family, I don't blame fuck I dunno if I could have delt with me at that time to be honest,

my dad he was gone a lot he took a job that made him be away for weeks and months at a time, and so I think I started a lot of fights with my mom just so she would call him to get me to calm down, its not that I don't understand now why things had to be the way they were but I didn't as a child. and with that drove a steak between me and my mother, I don't blame him he always did his best to keep this family togather, and im glad he did, because there was a lot of healing in my family after I left home and im shocked he managed to keep it togather as well as he did. and still have the love for me he does today as he always did, and that ill never be able to repay.

I just wanted to give you a better understanding of my family so you don't think my mother is some sorta enemy. she isn't, she did her best raising a demon she did without understanding the genes I came from.

thanks again for reading

to be continued

1 note · View note

nikkigrand · 6 years ago

Text

I started this so long ago and really have no idea where I was going with it. Essentially, Sakura is from a normal civilian AU, dies, and wakes up in the shinobi world and thinks she’s gone insane. Basically, it’s civilian Sakura reacting to the shinobi around her. If you want to adopt it, please send me a message!

Mentions of infidelity and M/M.

Sakura was having a shit day.

She supposed there were more eloquent words to describe her current situation; but as she kneeled in the ruins of her once prized and expensive porcelain china—a precious family heirloom passed down from her mother, whose own mother had gifted her after receiving it from her own mother, and so forth until its initial reception—with tears drying on her blotchy face, she reasoned that no other word would suffice.

Her day had been absolute horse shit.

It was a Tuesday, a normal day by any means, and Sakura had woken up the same way she’d been doing for the last four years: she’d risen with a smile at 7 o’ clock sharp, brushed her lips against the soft skin of her darling husband’s forehead (who then turned around and tried to coerce her back to bed with strong arms and affectionate kisses peppered along her shoulders that soon turned heated), rushed to the bathroom with promises of later, babe!, did her usual morning routine, had a nutritious breakfast of overnight oats and egg whites with a side of fruit, and then left to work.

For about two and a half years now, Sakura had gotten used to the motions of starting up her expensive white Range Rover (a gift from her husband’s wealthy parents), to taking one last glance in the rearview mirror to make sure her makeup was perfect, before driving to her job as a clerical assistant at a law firm in the city.

She was a glorified secretary and though Sakura didn’t necessarily like her job, it paid the bills while she pursued her Doctorates in pediatric medicine and that was good enough for her. Some might—and have—argue that her husband was wealthy enough to support them both until she finished her studies, but Sakura came from a low to mid income family and felt uncomfortable with the idea of not working for what she had.

Besides, she would be graduating in two semesters and starting a paid internship at the hospital under the tutelage of the city’s most decorated and awarded pediatric surgeon, Senju Tsunade, so it wasn’t like this job was for forever. Sakura had fought tooth and nail—or rather, studied until her eyes melted out of her head—to get noticed by the prestigious and hard to impress woman, and it was by sheer stroke of luck that she had managed to make a favorable impression with her research on child cancer.

So, by all respects, today was supposed to have been an absolutely normal and optimistic day like all the rest. Greeting the gate guard with a smile, Sakura had pulled into the parking lot of the well-known Uchiha & Sons law firm, parked her car, grabbed her tote with all her daily supplies (i.e. her lunch, her laptop, important case files, etc.), and made her way to the entrance.

Upon entering the large and extravagant building, Sakura waved and smiled at employees stationed at the welcome desk as she flashed her ID before entering the elevators. The inside was purposely surrounded by mirrors and, as per routine, she dutifully looked herself over to make certain that not a hair was out of place.

The law firm’s CEO, Uchiha Itachi-sama, was a firm believer that presentation of one’s self was key and Sakura agreed. If you dressed like a slob, people would assume you were a slob—at least, that’s what her mother always told her—and Sakura was pleased with the day’s choice of a white textured top, high waisted navy trousers cut at the ankles, and gray suede pointed pumps.

The elevators pinged as she arrived at her floor and Sakura took one last look at her long, perfectly curled hair, adjusted her necklace, and fingered her diamond earrings before taking a step out towards her desk.

As per usual.

Sakura had always taken comfort in the boring routine of her work life because it was so very easy compared to the stress of medical research on top of school work. So imagine her surprise when she came upon a cardboard box on top of her neat and tidy desk.

That had certainly not been part of her routine, and neither was being told by a mousy coworker that she had been ordered to meet with her boss as soon as she arrived.

Apprehension had risen in her chest high enough to smother her confusion and Sakura had nervously shuffled her way to the elevators, mindful of the sympathetic stares thrown her way. It had felt like a funeral procession.

As the doors to the elevators shut, Sakura wrung her hands anxiously at the thought of meeting her boss. She wasn’t stupid; she knew what cardboard boxes on people’s desks meant, but she hadn’t a clue as to why it was on hers.

She knew for an absolute fact that the CEO thought her a model worker and, frankly, had a bit on a crush on her. In fact, it wasn’t even a secret that Itachi-sama pined after Sakura the way a schoolgirl fawned over a crush. He was awfully attentive of her actions and, while his flirtations were subtle, Sakura knew as well as she knew that the sun was hot that if she ever divorced her husband, Uchiha Itachi would come running with expensive flowers and diamonds to woo her into being his.

As if that would ever happen.

Therefore, she had safely assumed that he wouldn’t be the one letting her go; which was odd in and of itself, considering that all lay-offs would have to be approved by the CEO or directly sanctioned by the CFO.

Which, as Sakura soon came to learn from her boss’s secretary’s apologetic words, was the case.

Uchiha & Sons’ CFO—a dazzlingly beautiful but surly man by the name of Uchiha Sasuke—had never really liked her. She’d only officially met him once, but it appeared that once was enough, for when she saw him again two months later he had treated her like the dirt beneath his designer shoes.

At first she thought he disliked how much Itachi-sama fawned and showed preference over her—it was rather unprofessional, and it was no secret that Sasuke had a bit of a brother complex—then she thought he disliked her charismatic and friendly nature, but after a few insults thrown her way, she figured that some people just didn’t need a reason to hate someone.

In fact, he had such little regard for her that he didn’t find it worth his time to fire her himself.

But now, as she picked herself up from porcelain shards that bit into her skin with as much dignity as she could possibly muster, Sakura mused that she had been fucking naïve.

She had returned to her desk and set about packing up her belongings in silent shock, unable to look at her coworkers who were staring at her humiliation in pity, as if she needed the damn job to live.

She would admit that she was a bit sad to go—mostly because she would miss her friendly coworkers and despite being a married woman, she quite liked Itachi’s attention and found it flattering—but she was also glad that she’d be able to spend more time with her wonderful husband—her husband who shone like the sun, whose eyes held all the world’s oceans, whose smile lit up her life.

So, though she had been a bit gloomy as she got into her car and bid the firm one last good-bye, she saw the silver lining in the prospect of affection and intimacy waiting for her at home.

Driving out the city towards her lovely house, Sakura’s thoughts had danced with the image of Uzumaki Naruto’s smile when she surprised him at their home. She imagined how he’d sweep her up into his strong arms, declaring how great it was that his Sakura-chan was home to make him ramen at all hours of the day before she called him an idiot and reminded him that she was competing in a body-building show and needed to watch her carb intake if she wanted to come first in bikini—again.

As usual when thoughts of her sunshine boy came to mind, Sakura had sighed lovingly like a lovestruck fool. She and Naruto had met as children when he’d scraped his knee after taking a tumble from a slide and, being the loving and innocent child that she was, she had rushed to him to brush away his tears and lay a sloppy kiss on his dirty cheek to make him feel better. When he’d looked at her like she was crazy, she had explained with all the wisdom of a five year old child, that, “Mama says kisses make booboos feel better!”

After seeing her point, he’d asked her name, she’d learned he was Naruto, and he then proceeded to grab her hand, drag her up to the highest point in the playground (which so happened to be the slide) and declare to all who would listen that he was going to marry her someday.

Sakura had been so embarrassed she had punched him in the nose.

Such was the start of their odd friendship.

A few years later, at the age of twelve, Naruto moved away to another city and Sakura was devastated. He was her best friend and, though she didn’t return his affections, he was her everything.

It was really no surprise that when his family moved back 7 years later, he was still her everything. Except by that time they had both loved and had their heartbroken in return enough to realize where their love truly lay.

Obviously with each other.

Needless to say, when Uzumaki Naruto made Haruno Sakura his wife at the age of twenty, it was with the promise of forever; and on this Tuesday when she had woken up, she had loved him with the same ferocity and passion as the day she said, “I do.”

So, clearly, something must have gone horribly wrong in their seven years of marriage to warrant her currently shaking hands and stomach churning with burning rage and agony in her silent home, right?

You’re not wrong.

See, Sakura had parked her car in her driveway with a bright smile, had glanced at the Maybach coupe across the street with an appreciative whistle (they lived in a wealthy neighborhood, but a Maybach was still a Maybach), and had opened the side door to her home quietly because it was 10 in the morning and, of course, Naruto would still be asleep.

She had set her box of items down on her kitchen island, slipped off her shoes, and quietly made her way to the master bedroom to pounce on the love of her life to wake him up with kisses.

Except, where there was supposed to be silence, there were grunts and hisses and moans and other wanton noises that would, under any other circumstances, make her blush.

The closer she got to her room—her room with her bed and clothes and perfumes and jewelry and her husband—the louder the noises became.

She had pressed her back to the wall next to the closed door, her heart pounding and feeling like she was going to be sick. A cold sweat broke out along her lower back, her hands shaking as she pressed them to her mouth to muffle her gasps that were quickly dissolving into sobs, and she gingerly leaned her head against the wall.

She recognized the sounds of pleasure coming from behind the door, knew them as well as the back of her hand, and for a moment she had the fleeting hope that perhaps he was doing it to himself. Naruto had a voracious sexual appetite and she knew that he masturbated constantly whenever she wasn’t available—which was a lot.

But when a low mewl pierced through the silence of the hall, one that Sakura absolutely did not recognize, she purged herself of such delusions.

Now, you must be wondering why she hadn’t burst into the room right then and there to catch them in the act and humiliate them the way they humiliated her; but in a stunning moment of clarity, Sakura questioned whether it was wise to burn that image into her mind. It wouldn’t make her feel better, for she knew without a doubt that her heart was broken and her marriage was over, but then again…she had a burning need to know who was behind that door.

After all, she hadn’t ever suspected that her darling Naruto had been entertaining a mistress.

Was the knowledge worth the lasting pain? Would seeing it with her own eyes make it more real?

The sounds from her bedroom reached a crescendo and she pushed off the wall resolutely. Sakura could either hold the upper hand in catching them unawares, or she could wait in the living room until they left the (her!) bedroom and met her knowing eyes.

But she couldn’t exactly tell how long they’d been in there and how long they planned to be there—she’d only been gone for two hours, after all—and that awful pain was giving way to a deep, corrosive anger.

Could she stand to sit on her couch, or at the dining table, and wait for them to finish with all of these tumultuous emotions churning and raging in her gut? Could she stand to listen to another second of their rigorous lovemaking? At this rate, they were going to make a hole in her wall and, Lord, she was seeing red.

Because how dare they?

She could place all the blame on Naruto, but she knew for a fact that whoever was in there would have noticed Sakura’s vanity, her display of perfumes and jewelry and trinkets.

God, did she wear her perfumes when she wasn’t around? Did that unknown woman take her Louboutin heels and Hermes bags for a spin while the madam of the house devoted her time to her research? Could she have possibly, at some point, worn her mother’s pearls?

And Naruto—her dear, precious, loving, perfect, darling Naruto—had been so affectionate that morning as he begged her to come back to bed, even as he planned to see his mistress as soon as his wife left. He had been so passionate when they had sex the night before; and as he whispered familiar declarations of love against her lips, she had been none the wiser.

Worst of all was the fact that they were fucking on her bed! Her parents’ wedding gift!

The thought and speculations made her chest heave with fury and disgust and Sakura had pushed off the wall ferociously before facing the door with flaring nostrils and clenched fists.

How fucking dare they!

With the type of strength that would have made her workout partner—her dear friend Hatake Kakashi from medical school—proud, Sakura kicked open her bedroom door hard enough to make it slam against the wall.

The two bodies on the bed cried out in alarm as they separated and struggled to cover themselves with silk sheets and Sakura could only stare, aghast, at the other occupant of the room.

Even sweaty and completely disheveled—hair sticking out in unruly spikes, cheeks flushed with exertion, and what was clearly semen on his chest—Uchiha Sasuke looked the definition of beauty.

And, boy, did that piss her off.

Not as much as the fact that they were having dirty, dirty sex on her bed did, though.

“Sa-Sakura-chan!” Naruto cried, his blue eyes as large as saucers. “It’s not—“

“Shut the fuck up,” she said, her voice icy as her eyes remained glued to the other male in the room. “And get dressed—both of you.”

She felt no sympathy for Naruto when he flinched at her words, as she had never cursed at him and spoken to him in such a manner, and the Uchiha had the audacity to glare at her.

When no man made to move towards their discarded clothing—well, one man, because Naruto slept in the nude—Sakura turned her cold glare onto Naruto.

“Now, Naruto,” she spat and again, neither man moved.

Patience gone and fury mounting, Sakura screeched, “I said, get up and get fucking dressed!”

She grabbed the closest thing to her, which so happened to be a priceless, one of a kind Lalique Bacchantes crystal vase, and threw it at their heads. It shattered over the headboard and both men lunged out of bed to avoid the raining glass. Her chest heaving with ill suppressed rage, Sakura paid no mind to their nudity as they stared at her with various degrees of shock.

Pity; that had been a wedding gift from her darling in-laws.

Unable to withstand looking at their faces any longer, Sakura spun around on her heel and marched out of her bedroom. She had no idea what she intended by making them get out of bed in the nude, what was even the point?! All she had seen were hickeys and scratches and bodily fluids and penises and, oh god, she felt sick.

“Sakura!” Naruto called after her as she made her way to her discarded heels. She heard him trip as he no doubt tried to pull on some sweat pants and her lips pulled into a tight line.

Hastily gathering her things to go—to go anywhere but here, Sakura turned around at the sound of her husband’s approaching foot falls. He looked as beautiful as he always did, and the plain panic in his face almost made her burst into tears, but then Sasuke came from around the corner and she held her ground.

His hands reached out to her in supplication. “Sakura—Sakura-chan, please—“

“When?”

Cobalt eyes blinked in confusion and Sakura hissed, “When did this start?”

Both men looked distinctly uncomfortable and avoided her gaze but, surprisingly, it was the Uchiha who answered, “Two years ago.”

It felt like her whole world had been ripped from beneath her feet, and as her knees threatened to give out from under her, Sakura gripped onto the kitchen island to steady herself.

Two years they had been having this sordid affair. For two years she had been the loving wife, believing her husband to be loyal and faithful when he apparently found pleasure in someone else. It didn’t even matter that it was with a man—she knew that Naruto was bisexual—what mattered was that he had been unfaithful, disrespectful, and lied to her.

From between gritted teeth she spat, “How?”

At this, Naruto took a step towards her but her hand quickly curling around a crystal candle holder stopped him in his tracks. “Listen to me, Sakura-chan—“

“How, Naruto?”

She followed his Adam’s apple as he swallowed nervously before recanting the tale of how, two years ago, he had gone to surprise her at her office with lunch. He hadn’t found her because, in true Naruto fashion, he had forgotten that she had taken that day off to devote her time to her research and was at the library. On his way out, he had bumped into Uchiha Sasuke and as they exchanged insults, sparks had clearly flown. It started as meeting for simple drinks, then lunches and dinners, then going over to his place to check out his dojo, and then it somehow dissolved into a sexual relationship.

He gracefully spared her the details of how that all started out, but couldn’t she see that he still loved her? That he loved them both and wanted to be with them? He had never meant to hurt her! He only felt lonely as she was always so busy and worked so much and Sasuke understood him.

But as he spoke, all Sakura could think about was the fact that it all made perfect sense as to why Sasuke disliked her so much. It was clear as day that the Uchiha was in love with Naruto; she could tell by the way he gently curled his hand around the blonde’s wrist when he blatantly became distressed. All she could think about was how she had complained to her husband each time the Uchiha insulted her or treated her poorly and he had known why and lied.

Directing her glare at the Uchiha’s hand, then at his face, she said, “So this is why you had me fired.”

Naruto glanced at the Uchiha sharply. “Teme! You had her fired?!”

Sasuke narrowed his eyes at her but said nothing; which was fine for Sakura because she turned her attention to her darling husband.

“I want a divorce.”

And Naruto, her star-shine and heaven, looked stricken as the words fell from her lips; were she a weaker woman, she would have taken them back. Of course, divorce had never been a thought in their heads—why would it? They loved each other—but Sakura was a woman scorned with a broken heart and had no such sympathy for the deep hurt painting his face.

Naruto shook his head, hands reaching towards her once more as he took a step, and his voice was thick when he said, “You don’t mean that, Sakura. Y-you don’t mean that.”

Nodding as she took a step back, closer to her china cabinet, Sakura nodded as her gemstone eyes narrowed. “I do. I will be going to a lawyer today and serving you with divorce papers as soon as possible. As this house is currently under my name, I expect you to vacate the premises as soon as possible. You may return to gather your belongings when I am not around.”

She saw how deeply her words hurt him, but he continued towards her, eyes imploring her to forgive him as he said, “We didn’t want you to find out this way.”

And it was like a flip was switched.

Awful, empty laughter filled the kitchen as Sakura stared at him incredulously. In the back of her mind, she noted that she was quickly dissolving into hysterics.

“Find out this way?!” She parroted, her eyebrows hiked up in disbelief. “How else did you want me to find out?!”

Sasuke looked incredibly uncomfortable, but he moved to stand next to his lover as the small woman lost her marbles.

“What,” She breathed, “Did you want me to find out over dinner? Is that it? You wanted to break it to me over a nice glass of Dom Perignon?”

Naruto’s lips pulled into a frown as he shook his head. “Sakura-chan—“

“Get out.”

He blinked at her, uncomprehending, and she had had enough. Reaching behind her, she grabbed the closest thing to her and threw it at his head. “Get out!”

Uncaring of the fact that she was hurling her precious, irreplaceable China at her lying, cheating, deceitful husband and his lover, Sakura continued to rage. Fat tears carved their way down her cheeks as she launched plate after plate, teacup after teacup, at their stupid faces.

The words “get out!” and insults were a mantra on her lips until both men scurried out of her house, half-dressed and covered in small scratches from where porcelain had shattered on their skin. As she crumpled to her knees, sobs wracking her small frame, she watched from the wide open front door as the love of her life and the love of his life got into the Maybach across the street and drove off into the sunset.

In the mess of her own making, Sakura curled into herself and wept for all that she had lost and how, despite everything, she still fucking loved that man.

And this is where we find her, picking herself up from heartbreak and gathering the pieces.

Sakura looked around her and grimaced at the mess she made, her heart breaking a little more at the thought of her mother’s inevitable tears at knowing the loss of such precious heirlooms, but she squared her shoulders and made her way to the guest bathroom in the living room.

There was no way she was going into that master bedroom today and she was definitely calling a cleaning service to get those soiled bed sheets burned. Turning on the lights to the bathroom, Sakura winced at her reflection. She looked an absolute mess with her eyeliner and mascara running down her face and her blotchy skin showing from beneath her CC cream.

Going back to the kitchen to grab her makeup bag from her tote and returning to the bathroom, Sakura set about removing her makeup and reapplying it. She was not going to walk into that law firm looking like a basket of misery. Reaching under the sink, she grabbed a spare curling iron and fixed up her hair. It was unfortunate that Uchiha & Sons was the only damned law firm in the city that handled rapid divorce cases, but she was going to walk in there with all the pride she possessed in her body and her head held high.

She was going to be strong. She was going to look Uchiha Itachi in the eye and tell him she wanted to divorce Uzumaki Naruto on the basis of infidelity and she was going to tell him the details with a straight face and even voice and she was not going to cry.

She ended up sobbing as soon as she saw the poor man’s face.

Itachi hurriedly closed his door behind her as he ushered her to the couch he kept in his office. Reaching behind her, he grabbed a tissue box and set in on her lap before brushing petal soft hair behind her ear as he settled beside her.

His kindness made her cry even harder and her cries turned to gasping sobs as she told him about her morning and how his brother was fucking her husband—or maybe her husband was fucking his brother—for the last two years and how much it hurt and she wanted Itachi to draft up divorce papers as quickly as he could.

By the end of her wailed spiel, Itachi looked a little green but he nodded as he moved to his desk to pull up the standard divorce template on his desktop. His hands hovered over his keyboard as he leveled apologetic eyes in her direction.

“I was not aware that you had been fired,” He said, his brows furrowing. “Had I known, I would have never let it happen. On behalf of the firm, I apologize.”

Sakura sniffled as she dabbed at the corner of her eyes. The apology was only a formality; it was common knowledge that she could sue for being wrongfully terminated from the work place, but by apologizing, Itachi had technically righted their wrongs.

Except that Itachi was sincere; she could feel it from where she was sitting and it made her feel a little better that there was at least one man who wasn’t scum.

“It’s not your fault,” She sniffed, sending him a wobbly smile. “You didn’t know what Sasuke was up to.”

At the mention of his little brother, Itachi’s face darkened but he said nothing. He returned to typing and things were quiet for a while. It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence, but Sakura knew how these things usually went and wanted to get it out of the way as soon as possible.

“I want nothing.”

Itachi turned his head and blinked at her slowly. “Pardon?”

Swallowing, Sakura wrung the tissue between her shaking hands, her eyes focused on the anxious twisting of her fingers. “I want nothing from him. I don’t want his money, I don’t want the house, I don’t want the cars or the properties or the furniture. I want what’s mine and mine alone.”

Itachi’s brow furrowed in confusion and Sakura was struck by how handsome he was. She always knew the man was attractive—it was a fact of life; the sky was blue, the grass was green, and Uchiha Itachi was gorgeous—but she knew it in an objective manner. Now, because her heart was hurting for comfort, she was aware of him and felt awful.

Someone as kind as Itachi deserved better than being her rebound.

“Sakura,” He started gently, his hands folding on top of his desk, “You know you’re owed half of the estates because of the affair. You’d be well off for the rest of your life. Why wouldn’t you want that?”

Sakura sighed, lips pulling into a frown. “Because I don’t want any reminders of him. Besides, that’s not even his money—it’s his parents’ money. I want this to be a clean divorce. To hold onto those sorts of things, to be paid alimony by a man I no longer want in my life...I think it’d be too much.”

Looking into his eyes, she found understanding and Sakura smiled sadly. “You know what I mean?”

Nodding, Itachi went back to typing away at his desk top. “Very well.”

Twenty minutes later saw Sakura with a draft of divorce papers slipped neatly inside a manila envelope. Itachi handed them to her with instructions to serve them to her soon to be ex-husband. She could either serve them herself, or she could get someone else to do it. A part of her balked at the idea of seeing Naruto again, but a larger part of her wanted this over and done with.

Once the divorce was finalized, she was planning to move somewhere far, far away from there to settle in some obscure city where no one knew her and maybe adopt three dogs and become a spinster and maybe yell at rowdy neighborhood kids who stepped on her petunias and—

“Sakura.”

Itachi’s velvety voice cut through her miserable thoughts and she glanced at him guiltily, as if he could read her mind, and was surprised to find him so close. He was only an arms’ distance away and Sakura could smell his wonderful sandalwood and rainwater cologne and she shivered when his large hand fell gently on her shoulder.

Far enough to be proper, close enough to show interest—such was the way Itachi flirted with her.

Tilting her chin to look him in the eye, Itachi held her gaze as he said, “Whatever you need, I’m here for you. Do you have a place to stay?”

Sakura nodded, her hand lifting to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. “Yes, I was planning on renting a hotel for the night—“

“Unacceptable.”

Mouth going slack, Sakura could only watch as the man before her moved back to his desk to hurriedly gather his things into a satchel before pulling on his suit coat.

Unable to help herself because she was so very confused, Sakura blurted, “What are you doing?”

Itachi chuckled softly as he walked towards her stunned figure. “I’m offering you a room at my house and driving you there. Is that to your liking?”

Sakura almost groaned but held it in. It was sweet of him to offer her a place to stay, but she barely even knew him. Yes, there was a form of mutual attraction but Sakura was still very much in love with her ex-husband and felt sort of sick at the thought of being with someone new. Plus, Itachi was being too forward and she had a feeling it was uncharacteristic of him. There was always something about her that clouded his judgement.

Besides, she needed some time to herself.

“Oh, Itachi,” She sighed, not noticing how the man stiffened at the way she said his name, “That would be great, but I really need time to myself. Is that okay?”

Despite feeling a little disappointed, Itachi nodded and she gave him a hug as a reward for his kindness before she left. It wasn’t every day that a handsome multi millionaire showed such interest in you, but Sakura needed time.

A lot of time.

Feeling tired as she made her way to her car—which was parked across the street now that she wasn’t an employee and the visitor’s lot was packed—she wished she had taken the time to switch out her heels for some flats.

When Sakura had been four, her mother told her to look both ways before crossing the street; and you’d think that 27 year old Sakura would remember that, or at least remember to not stop in the middle of it, but nope.

Sakura, a grown woman of 27 years, crossed the street without looking, stopped in the middle to adjust her heel, and was promptly hit by a truck.

It was the fly to her already shit day, but what made it worse was that when she finally awoke from what she was sure was death, she was laying in the middle of a forest with no clue as to how she got there.

Waking up in the middle of nowhere with her head hurting like she’d just been hit by a truck—which actually happened—was not on Sakura’s bucket list. Things like skydiving, owning a chinchilla, and ziplining through the rainforest were on her bucket list.

Standing on wobbly legs, she groaned as her head pounded with each step she took. She could tell she was still in her grey pumps and she really wished she had switched them out for some flats. Turning around in a circle, she tried to find her tote, but she couldn’t find it anywhere and that meant she was without aspirin.

Fortunately for her, she still had her phone tucked into the back pocket of her trousers. Pulling it out as she gaged her surroundings, Sakura figured she was probably in some park somewhere. She didn’t know how she got to said park, but she’d save the panicking for when her brain didn’t feel like it was hosting a mosh pit.

All she had to do was open her phone’s GPS and figure out what nature trail she was on and make her way back to her shitty house to grab some clothes and rent a hotel.

However, Sakura quickly discovered the absence of cell phone reception and no amount of waving it around like an idiot would magically make a bar appear. Sakura huffed in frustration as she crossed her arms over her chest—her relatively unharmed chest. She’d dwell on the fact that she was hit by a truck later because, clearly, she was in a predicament.

Sakura had no idea where the hell she was.

Not for the first time, the pink haired woman wished she had learned something more useful in Girl’s Scouts than selling cookies - like telling North from South, for instance.

Maybe this was some type of messed up Heaven; one where new souls had to find their way out of a labyrinth to the pearly gates. But Sakura thought that couldn’t be right…she still felt the urge to pee.

Sighing, she went behind the nearest bush and relieved herself. Once done with that, she picked up a nearest stick with a leaf at the end, closed her eyes, tossed it in the air, and opened them when she heard it hit the floor.

The leaf pointed to the right, so Sakura pivoted on the ball of her foot and started walking to what she thought was eastward.

Glancing at her phone, it told her that she had been walking for about five minutes before she hit a well traveled road and she blinked upon looking towards the skyline and not seeing any skyscrapers. She couldn’t even hear any cars!

Licking her lips, Sakura wished she had some water and walked up the road in hopes that she’d encounter someone who could tell her where the heck she was. Her feet hurt like hell, and though she so badly wanted to take off her heels, she knew the one rule of wearing heels out in public: ‘Til Home Do Us Part.

She rolled her ankles a few times and she was just about to curse the rule to Hell when she came upon the biggest gates she’d ever seen. Staring at them in blatant wonder, Sakura noted how they looked like the gates from that Jurassic Park movie and she quickly spun around. Shutting her eyes, she counted to ten before peeking over her shoulder at what most definitely should not be in her city.

Unless they were the gates to Heaven…?

But these gates sure looked dingy…and somehow, she thought that Heaven’s gates would be a lot shinier and clean.

Taking a step closer in contemplation, she didn’t hear the warning shout until they were upon her and she cried out when the biggest dog she’d ever seen came barreling into her and knocked her to the ground.

As she lay there, stunned, sea glass eyes staring dazedly up at the sky, she wondered in what damn world she was in that random men fell from the trees with mutant sized dogs crashing into unsuspecting women.

Uchiha Shisui hated being on a team with Inuzuka’s. They were loud, didn’t really like being ordered around, and their ninken listened to no one but their masters. At least, that was the case with Inuzuka Kiba. Outside of a mission, he quite liked the kid, but outside of village gates, Shisui found him to be a nuisance. Formidable shinobi he may be, but professional he was not.

Such was the case when Kiba goaded Genma into a race back to the village. You’d think that two jonin would be over such childish behavior, but this was not the case. Both men took to the trees and Shisui shook his head as they disappeared. He would normally be in the middle of the tomfoolery, but he was annoyed at the fluke of a mission they were sent on.

There had been a startling large burst of chakra outside the gates before disappearing completely and the three, by virtue of being in the Hokage’s office at the time, had been sent to investigate. They’d found nothing and it was puzzling that something that powerful had simply vanished.

Shrugging, Shisui combed a hand through his curly hair. Well, it was no sweat off his back. They investigated and there was nothing there, that was the report he’d give the Hokage.

Pumping chakra to his legs, he quickly caught up to them with the speed he was famous for and Konoha’s gates were coming up on them fast.

Kiba whined that he’d cheated, but Shisui only smirked. That was until he caught sight of a petite figure standing in front of the closed gates and he shouted Kiba’s name in alarm.

It was too late.

Akamaru crashed into the poor girl with the strength of a boulder and she fell back with a pained shout. Jumping of the branch he was perched in, Shisui quickly made his way to her side.

“Are you alright, miss?!” He asked as he came around a whimpering Akamaru and was struck dumb at the sight of her.

In his defense, it wasn’t every day that you saw someone with such coloring as her. She gaped up at him in clear shock, unmindful of the way her hair laid in disarray and dirt streaking across her cheek.

With her odd petal pink hair, eyes as green as emeralds, fair skin and even fairer face, Shisui thought her the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Even disheveled and confused, mouth hanging open, she looked every bit a forest nymph.

He chanced a glance at both Genma and Kiba and found both staring at her with clear wonder. So it seemed that they, too, were not immune to her beauty.

“I’m sorry, but did you just jump out of that tree?!” She cried, eyes darting to him and then back to the tree he came from. “And land all the way over here?!”

#sakura haruno #up for adoption

23 notes · View notes