#no real new information here but it's always nice to see the guardian

[blackjackkent]

Quick look around the mind flayer colony area before, I assume, talking to Aylin to figure out how the hell to climb out of the Great Flesh Pit of Moonrise Towers.

A note to Gortash, sitting on a table:

This is not a surprise, necessarily, as we were already aware that Gortash has been climbing the social ranks in Baldur's Gate - Florrick referred to him as being responsible for some sort of automaton guard corps which was getting him lots of influence. Given what we know about him now, though, and especially given he now has control of Duke Ravengard, this is VERY concerning.

Also - I'm sure he brought the letter here from the city but I'm amused by the mental image of it somehow having been delivered to The Flesh Pit, Moonrise Towers, by some messenger who just was not paid enough to give a shit.

Some further exposition regarding the overall plot of the Chosen:

And... Ketheric's body.

In my banter post previously I had Shadowheart pulling the stone out of Ketheric's armor, but we do actually get a cutscene of Hector doing it which turned out to be more elaborate than I expected:

Narrator: In death, the body is cooling, but energy radiates from the stone.

A sudden low hiss, and a portal opens, a rip forming in reality behind Hector. He starts to his feet, fists coming up just a little slower than usual, betraying his injuries -- but then he relaxes, realizing that a familiar face is stepping through.

"Remarkable, truly..." the guardian mutters, looking at the stone in his hand.

He blinks at her, bewildered. He has never seen her like this, in the 'flesh' - outside the Astral Prism's pocket plane. He didn't entirely know it was even possible for her to leave it.

"And now the picture comes together," she goes on thoughtfully, her gaze lifting to meet his. There is a complicated expression in her eyes - satisfaction, or concern, or perhaps even pride. "The Absolute is neither god nor man. It is the elder brain you saw, held here by those three against its will. The crown it wears controls it, and these stones control the crown. It has been dominated."

She slowly circles Ketheric's body, looking down at it with narrowed eyes. "To master an elder brain... to subdue it..." She purses her lips worriedly. "Our enemies are formidable."

No question of that, Hector reflects ruefully. The guardian's analysis of the situation matches what he and his companions had already sussed out. There are more questions he has, of course, many more, but at least so far they are on the same page.

"How is it you're able to leave the Astral Prism now?" he asks. He is surprised to hear the heaviness in his own voice; as the adrenaline of the battle and the conversation with Aylin is starting to fade, there is nothing left but the purest, bone-deep exhaustion.

"A temporary reprieve," she answers - and he can hear that same exhaustion in her tone. "But a welcome one. With the brain on its way to the city, its influence here has weakened."

Not really as heartening a description of the situation as either of them would prefer, but at least it makes sense.

"What are these stones?" he asks next.

"The crown's markings suggest it was forged in Netheril, an ancient empire whose mastery over magic rivalled that of the gods," she says briskly. "It is a crown of domination. The stones were taken from its crest. They are Netherstones, imbued with the ability to control the wearer of the crown. The crown's Netherese magic must be the true source of the parasite's abilities. This must be what elevates their potential. And it must be the reason nobody could heal you." She purses her lips tightly around her jutting fangs. "If the crown can do this to the parasites, I dare not imagine what it is doing to the brain."

Hector grimaces. This confirms something else he'd suspected from much of the reading they've done in this place. And it means, most likely, that he will have to have a rather uncomfortable conversation with Gale very soon; of all of them, the wizard knows the most about Netherese magic... but it's also the type of magic that put the explosive orb in his chest.

"Do you know who our enemies are?" he asks.

"One of them I know," the guardian says thoughtfully. "Lord Enver Gortash - an arms dealer and slaver. A worshipper of Bane, the god of tyranny. The other is a mystery to me. But the way she spoke, it is most likely she follows Bhaal, god of murder." She looks down again at Ketheric's body. "Ketheric was a follower of Myrkul. Which means the Absolute is a front for the gods of death, and our enemies are the Chosen of the Dead Three."

Hector draws a breath and lets it out unsteadily. All of this is much as he already understood it (though he'd hoped the guardian might have some insight to provide regarding the Bhaalist Chosen), but somehow hearing it all stated in such plain terms, in the guardian's crisp, calm, matter-of-fact voice, is overwhelming all over again.

"What hope do we have," he asks softly, "if the gods themselves are involved?"

Under other circumstances, perhaps, she might offer him comfort. He can see a softness in her eyes that is pity, but there is no room for it in her bearing.

"Hope," she says, beginning equally soft, "is a luxury for those who have a choice. This is the battle of our lives, and the lives of everyone in Faerun. The army of the Absolute is marching on Baldur's Gate. Within the city, an Elder Brain brimming with power, ready to turn everyone within its reach into mind flayers. All it needs is an order - an order the death gods' Chosen are on the cusp of giving!"

Her voice has begun to increase in volume and intensity; she steps forward, stabbing a gauntleted finger against his chest. "We *must* wrest control of the brain from the Chosen before that happens. We *must* take their stones. Our chances of success are slim, but we must not fail. If we fail, everything ends."

She draws back, her arm pulling into a salute against her chest. "I will be your shield, but you must be the sword," she says gravely. "And when the chance comes to strike, you must take it - for there will only be one chance."

-------

She vanishes, leaving the group standing around Ketheric's body in a baffled little circle.

"Cheerful sort, isn't she?" Wyll says dryly.

"I feel inspired already," Hector comments, and runs a hand down his face with a sigh. "You know, I wish I knew her name. Or anything about her, really."

Karlach snorts. "I dunno. Real air of mystery to just show up, spout cryptic bullshite, and then vanish again. Always leave 'em wanting more, right?"

Hector rolls his eyes at her, but the comment does elicit a slight smile in spite of himself.

[slutforsnow]

U.A. High's Reaper

Word count: 1,504

Warnings: none!

Chapter 2

The car ride from the station to U.A. High was long and dreadful as the sun beat down on the windows of the police cruiser. It burned like hell, but she didn't mind it. It made her feel more awake. More alert in the new area just like how her real brother taught her.

'Always stay vigilant, no matter what.' That's what he always said. The peaceful silence that she was enjoying was soon interrupted when her legal guardian, though probably better put as parole officer, chief of police Tsukauchi cleared his throat.

"We're almost there, kid. Are you excited to finally go to U.A. after purposely getting expelled from the other hero academies you were accepted into?" He inquired, glancing towards her as he continued to drive.

"Being excited over something as minimal as going to a hero academy is pointless. I deserve to be in that building and you know that, Tsukauchi," She told him flatly and rolled her eyes, though knowing he couldn't see her commit the action. "Whoever got expelled, however, had good timing, I will admit."

"Ya know, a simple yeah or nod would've been sufficient," The officer commented, parking in front of the gate to the famous U.A. High. The 4 pillars of the high school stood tall, gleaming in the morning sun and almost blinding anyone who looked at the building for too long. This was it. The best hero academy the world had. It couldn't compare to the other hero schools, no matter the country. U.A. produced the Symbol of Peace, All Might himself. Just by All Might's presence alone, Japan's crime rate was down to 6%. It was miraculously low, compared to other countries like the United States of America; their crime rate was 20% and other places were even worse than that, especially the Middle East.

Following Tsukauchi's footsteps, Koton glanced around the entrance of it.

Nicely trimmed trees, very cared for concrete path and archways leading into the building. It almost reminded her of home. Almost. Not quite.

Sakura blossoms flew in the air as he led her to the principal's office, up the endless amount of stairs. As they traveled through the halls, Koton focused on the windows, watching the police cruiser down below until it turned into a teeny tiny spec and disappeared soon after.

"This could've been done faster if I could use my Quirk," She commented snidely, glaring at the older man's back.

"You can't do that, Shimura, you know that. You don't have your provisional license," He began, turning to face her as they got closer to the principal's office.

"But we're standing on U.A. property," She countered before he could finish. "Quirks are allowed to be used on any hero academy campus.”

“If I was your parent, you'd be grounded,” *Tsukauchi muttered with a sigh as he led her into Principal Nezu's office.

“Welcome, welcome Ms. Shimura!! My, it certainly is funny to see you here after getting denied!! I'm your new principal, Nezu!” The small white mouse said cheerfully. Koton raised an eyebrow at him as he waited for a response.

“Are you always cheerful this early in the morning?” She remarked snarkily.

“Oh for God's sake- Shimura, let me do the talking,” Tsukauchi grumbled, taking a hold of the conversation with Principal Nezu. A few minutes went by of hushed speaking before Nezu sent her off, giving her directions to her new class after informing her that her teachers had been informed of her 504 plan.

Koton walked out into the hallway, without bidding Tsukauchi a goodbye, before shutting the door and side-stepping into the shadows, fading into them before appearing in the hall where some of the main classes for first years were. Walking down the hall, looking at the doors, she stopped in front of 1-A. Rotating her left shoulder until she heard the normal crack, she sighed.

“They better not be some weakling. I don't have the time nor energy for this.” The dual-haired 15 year old blew her hair out of the left side of her face, blinking strands out of her eye and then slid the door open and entered it, earning stares from Class A.

“Oh, there you are. Class, this is your new classmate, Koton Shimura. She'll be replacing Mineta,” a disheveled raven-haired man said, facing his students as she stood in front of the board. “Go ahead and explain your Quirk then take your seat behind Midoriya.”

Giving the homeless-looking teacher a curt nod, Koton spoke.

“My Quirk is called Shadow Destroyer. I can manipulate the shadows into anything i want; a scythe or copy of a book for example, travel between shadows, make shadows creatures like shadow cats or raise dead ones,” *She bluntly told them, earning a few stares of shock. Expected. Not everyone in a super human society were big fans of heteromorphs or Quirks that seemed ‘creepy’. Not everyone in this current society had the innocent and childlike thinking of ‘wow!! That's so cool!! Can you show me?’ No. People had to be judgemental. Some of her new classmates seemed intrigued, but also a little scared at the idea of raising a dead animal.

Taking her seat behind Midoriya, she caught a glance of his notebook where he was scribbling down notes about her Quirk with little questions and theories about it. That was what gave her a sliver of hope in this world. The genuine curiosity that so very few had nowadays.

Once Mr. Aizawa left the classroom in the hands of his co-worker, Present Mic, Koton slid on her black headphones to muffle out his voice. He was too loud; it was excruciatingly agonizing to listen to him teach English. What an awful day to have auditory issues. Throughout the mornings classes, Koton kept quiet, taking notes and answering the questions when she was called on occasionally with an eye roll or scoff because she didn't want to answer or speak with these others like she was their equal. She was above them. A lord amongst them… and she'd make that known. No matter how hard she had to work to be seen as that.

When Midnight dismissed the class students for lunch, she reminded them to train extra hard during training for the Sports Festival which perked Koton's interest.

‘The Sports Festival? What in the name of Tartarus is that?’ Koton thought, tilting her head to the side. She grabbed her messenger bag, leaving the classroom and following Midnight until she was close enough to shout her name. “Ms. Midnight-!!”

“Oh? What is it, Shimura? Did you have a question about the homework?” The r-rated hero asked, smiling softly and happy to see her new & disinterested seeming student asking questions. Koton shook her head no.

“No, not the homework. The Sports Festival; what exactly is that?” She asked, confusion and interest lacing her words.

“Ahh, I forgot you were raised… differently. Well, the Sports Festival is a chance for the U.A. students to show off their skills in different battles and such to get internships all across Japan with different pros for about a week. Give you kids a taste of the real world as heroes for a week and come back to use what you learned going forward,” Midnight explained, leaning on the wall facing Koton who took in the information with a slow nod.

“But isn't that… kind of redundant? We're being trained to fight villains and to participate in that will just show villains what we can do and gives them time to exploit our weakness,” the younger pressed, finding the whole idea to be stupid. “Yeah, it's cool and a way to get scouted and recruited by pro heroes, but doesn't that also give villains a leverage because they'll know on a surface level how our Quirks work when we won't know there's? Like with the Hero Killer; he's taken out a lot of pretty good pros. It'd make more sense for the festival to not be broadcasted and instead be recorded and a copy given for every student to take home and review the footage with their families on a CD or something.”

Midnight nodded sadly, understanding her new pupils point of view. “It does, unfortunately, but no one's been willing to do that or at least attempt to change the way it's done. But… I do think that may change when you graduate, Shimura, you've got a good head on your shoulders. Others are excited for the Sports Festival but no one recognizes the dangers. You do,” the pro replied with a proud nod.

Koton smiled internally but nodded and stood up a bit straighter. “Thanks, Ms. Midnight.”

Bidding her a farewell, Koton made her way to the cafeteria to eat and make plans for training. She'd do it alone, of course, as she couldn't risk anyone else seeing her Quirk in action just yet. That could wait. They'd see what she could do after this wretched festival.

[thelediz]

Sonic Underground episode 38: The Art of Destruction

I’m watching Sonic Underground in search of inspiration to finish a fic I’ve been writing forever. It’s a sad state of affairs. See the recap of the first three episodes here, if you're interested!

The Plot (for want of a better word): Frustrated with Sleet and Dingo’s continued failures, Robotnik creates a new weapon known as ARTT. It can learn, it can think, and it’s the greatest threat the Sonic Underground have ever faced! How will our heroes make it through?

Or… Manic is having trouble finding the motivation to continue in the face of never-ending war. Can a new friend remind him why he fights in the first place?

Parental guidance warning: this episode gets kinda dark, my friends. It would not make it through current moral guardians.

We open this one on a reminder that Manic’s power over the earth is SCARY POWERFUL. He literally crushes an entire factory with a mountain. It’s… it’s a lot.

And then Sonic buries Sleet and Dingo to their necks in rocks. If said henchmen weren’t looking more annoyed than hurt by this it would also be… a lot. Combined with the animation that is making the triplets very edgy looking, this episode is uh… really going for an attitude here.

A very injured looking Sleet and Dingo report back to Robotnik, who introduces the eponymous ARTT: Artificial Robot Thought Technology. It looks like a tortoise without a shell. Sleet and Dingo are very relieved because they think it’s a joke. It’s not a joke.

ARTT has the ability to absorb other machines to turn into an intimidating mecha. Sleet quickly backtracks and asks when they’re supposed to start using it, but Robotnik informs him the robot works alone, and is replacing them. Sleet and Dingo are appropriately panicked.

We know what happens to people Robotnik doesn’t need anymore.

Meanwhile, Manic’s on a down despite their success, because no matter how many factories they take down, Robotnik’s still in power. But before the conversation can properly continue, Sonia shows them security footage of ARTT capturing some people and then threatening the hedgehogs.

On a meta-note, the audience can immediately recognise that ARTT will probably not end the episode entirely evil because it has a soothing male voice (think Zeta, if you ever watched the DCAU)(I LOVED The Zeta Project, for the record. Highly recommend if you can find it).

Manic continues his down by complaining that even if they beat this one, Robotnik will just build something else. And honestly, Manic, I’m not at war or any kind of resistance fighter, but some days… them feels, my dude. Too real.

Thankfully, Sonic’s skating past the emotional stuff (remember, this is pre-06's soft reboot. He’s not comfortable with complex emotions yet) by pointing out that ARTT has a tendency to dodge to the right.

They head out to try and track it down, and Sonic gets on Manic’s case for… not paying attention, I guess? They’re in the van and Manic’s sulking in the back, I’m not entirely sure why this is a problem, but whatever. It’s a bit of character work before ARTT attacks them.

Another bit of character work that would have been really nice twenty-something episodes ago – Sonic tells his siblings to go while he fends ARTT off, and Sonia hesitates in obvious worry. Manic has to guide her away.

Proof that ARTT is a thinking robot, it no longer always dodges to the right. Sonic escapes, but barely, with ARTT promising to learn how Sonic did it.

On the next mission, Sonic is running out of patience for Manic’s down. On another meta-note, this episode is very much drawing attention to another difference between early and contemporary Sonic: these days, Sonic would be both much more patient and much kinder, if he hadn’t already taken Manic aside to cheer him up. There would be a speech or three about teamwork and hope. It would be corny as heck. But in these earlier versions (and don’t let people tell you this was an American!Sonic thing, it wasn’t; it was a 90s!Sonic thing), this was VERY in character. Sonic used to hide his heart under many layers of attitude. Only Tails could get through it easily, and really only in AoStH.

But anyway, the point is ARTT comes after them, and is now blasting lasers. It’s another near-miss to escape, but Sonic dumps ARTT in… molten acid? Something yellow, glowing, and bubbling, and everyone assumes it’s destroyed.

They are wrong, of course.

Based on Sonia’s worry for Sonic in this episode, I really feel like this should have been earlier in the series. But Manic’s down would have been out of place earlier, as would his competence. This is a weird episode for Manic and Sonia, is what I’m getting at.

Sonia is now also getting frustrated with Manic’s down, though she encourages him to work through it with music, leading to some more of that awesome instrumental from the first episode (seriously. So Sonic and the Secret Rings, so awesome), but unfortunately it’s cut off by ARTT ambushing them. Luckily, ARTT is as enamoured of this music as I am, and demands the Sonic Underground play more.

The Song: The Sound of Freedom. More 80s rebellion pop-rock, and while it is not proper Sonic music, it isn’t terrible, and I wouldn’t mind hearing a full version of it. It also inspires ARTT to reconsider its whole deal and let them go.

I’m not entirely sure it was intentional, but the way Manic is animated and behaves in this sequence is… interesting. At the end of the song, he’s smirking as he says “do what you gotta do”, implying he knows it will have changed the robot’s mind, and as soon as ARTT lets them go, he is rushing to get out. Like I said, I don’t think it’s intentional because this is Sonic Underground and the animation is what it is, but it FEELS very magic-manipulative. Then, while Sonia and Sonic immediately want to bring ARTT into the Resistance, Manic maintains his distrust. Which is also weird, especially when compared to episode 33. He’s being very… thief-like. He ‘learns’ that he has to trust. Again, this FEELS like it should have been earlier in the series.

So next thing we see is ARTT helping the triplets on missions, and Robotnik orders Sleet to go destroy it. Sleet is very happy with this order.

The triplets are telling ARTT about the prophecy, and Manic is still on a down (and still. I get it) saying “it could happen twenty years from now! Why bother?” and again… so real. Much ouch. But while ARTT is grappling with this new existential crisis, Sonic gets a message from Cyrus that Robotnik’s captured Aleena. The audience calls trap, but because this episode should have been set in the single digits the hedgehogs believe it completely.

Shock. It turns out to be a trap.

The hedgehogs and ARTT get trapped in a trash compactor, and are only able to escape with ARTT holding back the walls while the triplets attack the back wall.

An interesting side note here is that Manic temporarily hesitates before adding his drums, with he and Sonic discussing that Manic might not be able to control the power levels. Again – Manic could have had SUCH AN ARC, PEOPLE.

So they blast open a wall, and it looks like everyone will get out, except ARTT can’t let go of the walls without getting smashed. He has a quick conversation with Manic, referencing Manic’s “what’s the point” line, and Manic learning that you have to keep trying even when things seem hopeless. Which is all well and good, except that ARTT points out he actually CAN’T let go without being smashed, but hey, at least he tried, and at least he made music, and…

Yeah, this show is dark sometimes. Don’t know if you’ve noticed that yet.

It ends with the triplets on another mission, Manic going EXTREMELY overboard with explosives in memory of ARTT. Which is… I mean, it’s literally a ten second scene, they can’t put a lot of commentary on it, which is commentary itself, but…

Just saying, Manic could have had a really distressing arc.

Come back tomorrow if you're interested for more!

[wh3nturtlesfly]

Set Him Free (Chapter 3)

First | Previous | Next

Relationships: Slow Burn prinxiety and logicality

Word Count: 2266

Summary: Roman returns to the kingdom, and retells his days story, while receiving some welcome (and unwelcome) advice…

Roman tapped his fingers atop the glass windowpane, gazing over the kingdom. A soft glow from the moon reflected over various shops and cottages, making the whole area appear microscopic compared to the castle he was currently sitting in.

Still, each of the commoners within the village below possessed much more freedom than Roman could ever wish to have. Being heir to the throne came with its wide array of rules and regulations, forming invisible chains that in the end left him strangled by his own standing.

He looked up, the vision of hundreds of stars shining within his eyes. Roman could watch the stars forever. They served as a small escape from the society’s restraints, temporarily setting him free.

As much as he enjoyed getting to be the hero, it was nice to be able to occasionally forget about the kingdom's expectations.

Roman allowed himself to be enveloped in the illuminations, each star pulling him just a bit farther from reality. He held a finger to the sky, tracing through intricate constellations and brushing his fingertips across vast galaxies.

One by one, he recalled the stories for each. Auriga, the swift charioteer. Draco, the fierce dragon guardian. Orion, the valiant hunter.

True heroes and villains, all captured permanently within the heavens. Legacies, all contained within stories painted in the sky. It fascinated Roman how lasting the arrangements were, spreading their tales generation to generation, and becoming immortal within thousands of illuminations.

He let the memories of failed missions and strict orders slip from his mind, leaving only the stars.

“Ah, there you are, your highness,” A clear voice cut through the silence.

“It's great to see you as well Logan.” He offered a smile, “butI told you that you needn’t use such formalities when addressing me. Roman will do just fine.”

“Alright Ro-, nope, I can’t do it. As both you and the queen’s advisor, remaining professional is of top priority. If you are searching for nonchalance, you should’ve remained on the streets.”

“Oh come on Lo,” a cheerful figure emerged from behind Logan, a bright smile painted upon his face, “You don’t always have to be serious, we’re still teenagers after all!”

“Exactly, eighteen is the perfect age to grow and step into the real world.”

Roman sighed, “I don’t think you’re going to sway him with this Patton. Send out any new letters today?”

Patton Aureole was the royal messenger, in charge of sending and receiving important information along with establishing relations with other kingdoms. His bright and kind manner made him the perfect face for befriending others, contributing to Elden’s many allies.

“Nothing was in need of sending today, but I did receive a letter addressed to all of us from Lunaris!”

Patton retrieved a cream envelope displaying a crimson wax seal. Both Roman and Logan perked up at this, eying the letter with anticipation.

“Well,” Roman began fidgeting excitedly, “Are you going to open it or what?”

“Magic word?”

“Please!”

“Alright,” Patton smiled, carefully opening the envelope and removing the paper inside. Roman and Logan leaned in, trying to catch a glimpse of the cursive covered parchment as Patton read:

Dear Roman, Patton, and Logan,

Greetings from the kingdom of Lunaris! I hope you all have been faring well. It’s been a long time since I last wrote to you all, so I figured I might as well write again! Things here have been going great since we last got together. Despite the constant lessons, Joan, Talyn, and I have found ways to occupy ourselves, leading to many. . . adventures. Talyn has managed to teach me some swordplay techniques so that I may be able to beat even you someday Roman! All while Joan has been helping me stay on task with my studies. They sure know how to manage time well, though I’m not sure that I can go through another poetry class without boring myself to death! As for you three, Patton, I left some new wax colors in the envelope along with a new stamp tip for you! I figured that light blue would be a fun color for you to try out when sending letters! For Logan, I enclosed a page I found in one of the palace books, indicating flora and fauna specific to this area, and Roman, though I don’t have anything physical for you, I wish you luck in catching that thief of yours!

All the best,

Thomas Sanders, Prince of Lunaris

Patton folded the letter up, removing the wax and parchment, then gently placing it back into the envelope. With a smile, he handed the book page to Logan who eagerly bagan reading.

Roman chuckled, a bold expression forming among his features. “Ha!” He exclaimed, “I don’t need luck! I tell you all, I was this close to capturing him today!”

“Sure,” Logan smirked, “And was that before or after you were pushed off a candle shop?”

“How did you find out about that?”

“Evelyn informed me after she returned from the market.”

“Darn.”

“Is no one going to acknowledge the fact that you were pushed off of a building?!” Patton knit his brows in concern, “Are you alright? Did you get hurt at all? Here, show me your arms, I need to check you for the plague!”

“I’m fine Patton,” Roman chuckled, “I caught myself before I hit the ground, and quite gracefully too if I may add.”

“I assume you didn’t follow my advice from your last exploit then.”

“‘Stop engaging in valiant banter’, is not advice Logan! I promise you both, I will arrest him one of these days, it's not my fault he decided to be dramatic today!”

Logan raised a brow, “Dramatic, how so?”

“Well, I did catch him as he was escaping from the top of the candle shop, though he unclasped that cloak of his and ran off before I could process what was happening.”

“It’s alright Ro,” Patton placed a reassuring hand on the prince’s shoulder, “I do remember a certain someone saying they loved a challenge.”

Roman flopped onto a nearby chair, “I suppose you’re right,” he mumbled, “though I just can’t figure out what I keep doing wrong!”

“Try looking at it from a different angle,” Logan proposed, “Find some way in which he must adhere to the scene you have created. Know your surroundings, and stay attentive, rather than simply jumping into action the moment a disruption is reported.”

“You know, that may just work…wait- I got it! You’re a genius Logan!”

“Naturally,” Logan smirked, pushing up his glasses.

“What’s your big idea kiddo?”

“You’ll just have to wait and see when I come back with the notorious Virgil Rayne in custody tomorrow! This plan is foolproof, I can sense it!”

“Foolproof, such as your plan last week, in which you disguised as a street vendor to gain and I quote, ‘inside intel’, ” Logan looked at him doubtfully.

“I played the part wonderfully,” Roman huffed, “you should’ve seen how many people became upset at me when I explained I wasn’t actually selling anything.”

“I’m sure you did a wonderful job!” Patton quickly reassured him. Logan resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

“Well, it's good to know someone believes in my expertise.”

“Oh, I have no doubt about your skills, though your ability to push aside the theatrics for logic is questionable. However, I have no doubt that you will be able to complete all tasks you wish to accomplish, as I know how dedicated you can be.”

“Y’know, I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me Logan.”

“Don’t get used to it,” Logan deadpanned, receiving a laugh from the prince in return.

A soft yawn caught their attention, and they turned to notice a very tired Patton, struggling to remain awake. Logan and Roman approached the drowsy messenger, smiles crossing both of their faces.

Roman gently nudged Patton’s shoulder, causing him to jump slightly, “You’re looking a little sleepy padre, you don’t have to stay here while we discuss strategy if you don’t want to.”

“No- I’m alright, I can stay, ‘m not even tired,” he mumbled, eyes fluttering closed before he could even finish his sentence.

The two practically melted at the scene before them, admiring the dedication of their caring friend. Roman retrieved a quilt from a nearby shelf, wrapping the messenger in a sea of soft peach fabric.

They then moved to a more distant corner of the room, careful not to disturb their friend with their discussions. Roman went through the day's events, describing each of his activities while Logan offered advice and the occasional critique.

It had quickly grown later as Roman finished up the last of his exploits for the day, and he eagerly listened to the last of Logan’s feedback.

“In all honesty, I believe you have more than enough expertise to fulfill what you have set out to do, now it all comes down to the mental portion. We must now work to improve your tactical intelligence.”

“I would be glad to,” Roman grinned, “though can I ask you a favor?”

“You’re the literal prince of this kingdom, I don’t think I’m allowed to refuse anything you ask unless refuted by your mother.”

“You know what I mean Logan. I just ask that you don’t tell my mother about the whole falling off the building thing.” He sighed, “She already hates that I’m head of the guard, so there’s no telling she would freak if she knew half the things I did out on patrol.”

“You have my word, I will not inform her.”

“Not inform me of what exactly, Logan?” A cold hand rested on the advisor’s shoulder, causing Roman and Logan to snap their heads around.

“Queen Elena- apologies, I didn’t see you before.” Logan nearly fell from his chair, scrambling to stand at attention.

“That would be your highness to you Mr. Sage.”

“Noted, sorry to be informal, your majesty,” Logan gulped, beginning to fidget with his fingers, “If you will excuse me, I’ll be directing Patton to his room so that you may talk to your son as I assume you desire to do.”

“That you will,” the queen responded, turning to the prince as Logan quickly shuffled out of the room, Patton carried in his arms.

Roman frowned as the door clicked shut, “You didn’t have to scold him like that.”

Elena raised a brow, “Is that so?”

Her words pierced like daggers, and Roman resisted the urge to shrink back. This was only his mother after all. She would never do anything to hurt him.

He squared his shoulders, meeting Elena’s eyes. No reason to be afraid.

“It’s just that Logan did nothing wrong. We were merely discussing strategy.”

“Well if there’s nothing wrong, why are we still discussing it?”

“Right,” Roman looked to the ground, “Apologies mother, we can continue.”

“Perfect,” She looked to Roman, the cold regalness slipping from her face as if it had never been there in the first place, “So dear, I trust your day was magnificent?”

“That and much more,” Roman mumbled, not fully meeting the eyes of the queen.

“And the streets?”

“Safe and protected, nothing out of the ordinary.”

“Oh good!” the queen sighed with relief, “You know how worried I get when you go out patrolling, especially with what happened to your father. I couldn’t bear to lose you.”

“I thought you said we weren’t supposed to talk about dad.”

“Indeed I did, which is exactly why we’re talking about something else,” The last words seemed to drip with an invisible venom as Elena pierced her son with a cold stare, though a second passed and she had transformed back to her noble self.

“Have you managed to come any closer in arresting that thief?”

“Almost, I believe I may know just what to do next time!” Roman struck a pose, happily reminiscing about the kingdom’s streets, lined with marvelous townsfolk and the perfect hint of adventure.

“Perfect, then I expect you to be successful soon. You must be prepared, you are coming closer to holding the crown more with every day.”

“I will. Thank you mother.”

“You are most welcome dear,” the queen stood up, heading to the door, “It’s getting late, and beauty sleep is an important thing, so I suggest you settle down for the night. Rest well Roman.”

“I will mother,” Roman muttered, meandering up a small spiral staircase and into his room. The white and gold door closed softly behind him, allowing the tension to slip from his shoulders.

He gracelessly collapsed onto his bed, taking in the soft comfort of the crimson sheets. Rolling onto his back, Roman turned his head gently to glance out yet another window. The stars came back into view, providing a reassuring comfort.

His mother hadn’t been the same ever since the king had died. Roman tried to convince himself that she was just trying to keep him safe, though with each conversation he felt more and more as if he was being controlled. There was no telling what the queen would think if she knew how exciting Roman’s days actually were.

He began to feel his body grow heavy, the exhilaration of the day finally catching up to him.

Closing his eyes, he imagined the stars growing into even more vast galaxies, stealing him away from the life of expectations and pressure.

Images of a world so beautiful, it seemed almost too good to be real. Each picture shone within his head as he finally slipped into his dreams, surrounded by the impossible illuminations.

[starmora]

I'm not deep into the gotg fandom so hopefully it's still okay for me to come in here and throw my support at the person who mentioned Gamora carrying Infinity War. While I don't keep up with everything the other day I did see someone saying she never had a standout performance like the other guardians and all I kept thinking was I don't know what version of the movie you saw but I'm pretty sure Gamora in Infinity War was some of the best performing I've seen in the mcu. I'm not a professional actor so I don't know all the different methods of the craft, but I feel like in vol 3 Gamora was probably one of the most difficult roles and Zoe nailed it. She had to throw out everything she used to inform the character and approach her from an entirely new angle and she didn't miss a beat. How anyone would think that's not a standout performance is beyond me.

Personally I think Zoe deserves even more appreciation because starting her character over at the very end already was going to make her job twice as hard and open her role up to scrutiny. Fans don't love to admit it but we will embrace male characters way more easily than female regardless of their actions. Like I love Rocket but being real he was in the mess that started at the beginning of the movie because he stole the batteries in vol 2. If a woman had done that fans would be talking about how it's all her fault and some would even say she got what she deserved. Of course that wouldn't be true but that wouldn't stop people from saying it. Lots of characters like Gamora deserve more love from fans

Since I'm not involved with fandom much maybe this has already happened but if not it might be good for James Gunn to speak about her role and the great acting since he had her character die and come back with all this complexity. It's not unheard of for directors to praise actors and prop them up. If people are taking shots at her role he should give her and Zoe some credit.

I think it’s more than okay for you to give your opinion here! It’s nice to get opinions from people outside our deep rabbit hole, but who still love gamora enough to have actual insightful opinions on her that, for some reason, everyone else seems to lack when it comes to her specifically.

I absolutely agree with you that Gamora was always important and always had a great role in the movies even though I do think gunn could have done more with her as a general rule. The fact that people just straight up ignore her entirely and then act like she didn’t have a significant part to play in these movies is absolutely infuriating.

And you are totally right about Zoe deserving praise for her performance. She really does not get the recognition she deserves and while I’m not a fan of avatar I hope they treat her better over there and she makes tons of bank and she just is generally given the respect she deserves that she never got here from marvel or in the marvel fandom

[lonliest-cat-blog]

I did a thing in English class. We had to create a fake news article for a short story we had read (Lamb To The Slaughter by Roald Dahl) and I decided to make mine like a wannabe detective tumblr post. I hope y'all like it and any criticism is welcome, just don't be mean since this isn't meant to be taken too seriously.

None of the names are real people, none of the events are real, this is a work of fiction for another work of fiction.

Original story here (YouTube video reading) https://youtu.be/fpyVl3XKVls?si=flbgRGpainxiTdhM

Is there more to the Mary Maloney story? UPDATE

By: lonliest-cat-blog, a curious teen who thinks stuff just doesn’t add up.

Original post here

I think that there are more details about Mr. & Mrs. Maloney and I am going to get to the bottom of it. Part 2, the interviews

As some of my followers and readers may know, lately I have been investigating the Mary Maloney case because I feel something is wrong and things don't make sense. Of course, I am a teen in highschool and am always open to opinions and help. I do my work respectfully and thoroughly while remaining in school, so updates may not be as frequent as I would like. I've done this before, such as the Andy Ortiaz case (Royals vs Guardians), & Doug “Pontiac Bandit” Judy (criminal) and his relationship with Jake Peralta (detective).

Two weeks ago I made an introduction to this case, saying what police have said about the scene, showing photos, evidence the public has access to, my main theory so far (Mary killed Patrick), and what my plan for the future is.

Since then I have conducted three interviews with the grocer, one of the cops at the scene, & their neighbour. Let's get into it.

Interview with the grocer, Samson Hutchison

When i reached out to samson he was suspicious of me for a moment, so I told him I was doing this for a school project, researching a recent case in our local area. He bought the lie and thought it was interesting, so we set up a meeting for Sunday, since his shop was closed. When I got there we made brief chit chat about my “project” and some of the details. I met his wife and she made us tea before heading out. I asked him a few questions about what his regular day is like, and if anything was different with Mary. “I open the shop around 9 and close at about 7, Ms. Maloney came in just before 6, so the shop was already pretty quiet, with only one or two others there. Nothing out of the ordinary. She was just getting a few things for dinner because they were too tired to go out.” he noted that it wasn’t very common for this to happen, but no cause for alarm or concern. He then said she seemed a bit anxious and as if she was trying not to show that; frantic. “She seemed a little off, however, as if she was paranoid. Looking around the room and watching the corners.”

He said offered her a suggestion of getting a cheesecake after she bought some potatoes and peas, and she said that he [her husband] would love that and rang up her items before leaving the store. “As I said before, nothing out of the ordinary. She bought some potatoes, peas, a cheesecake slice and left. When I offered her some meat, she said she had a nice big leg of lamb in the oven at home. She had obviously prepared it just a few minutes ago, as her hands had a bit of red on them, smeared and melted blood from the lamb I assume. Not quite sanitary.”

I asked him what questions the cops had asked. He said it was basically what I had asked him, and that I got the same information they did, as much as he could remember at least.

I left a few minutes after that, helping him clean up and saying goodbye to his wife on my way out.

I think this helps further my case. Him seeing blood on her hands is a weird thing, most people wash their hands immediately after touching and handling raw meat. She also seemed paranoid. Why would she if she was just getting things for dinner? I think there's more to it.

Interview with their neighbour, Sebastian Fedot

Just for some background, Sebastian lives in the house next door to the Maloney's and is 17.

Oddly enough he reached out to me after seeing my original blog post; saying he had some important information he’d like to tell me. We decided to set a meeting for Friday, after school.

When I got to the Fedots house he let me in and said his parents were at work for a few hours, so we wouldn’t be interrupted. We went upstairs to his bedroom and he told me some rather interesting details.

¨I was walking home from band practice and I saw Mrs Maloney standing behind her husband in the window. It looked like she was holding something but I only got a brief glimpse. About 30 minutes later I saw her leave the house muttering something; I was on the front porch so I overheard.” He paused for a moment before saying, “I don't know what I saw, but I think something happened.”

I asked him some more questions about whether he knew what she was saying or if he could recall any other details. Sadly, he couldn't and that was all he had to offer. Not long after I wished him farewell and went home.

Mrs. Maloney was clearly experiencing some strange behaviour, as we have gathered from the last few meetings, but we have more information now. What was she doing behind her husband? What was she holding? We’ll have to find out.

Interview with cop at the scene, Sgt. Jack Noonan

Before my meeting with Sebastian I stopped by the local police station and asked if I could meet with one of the officers to get a firsthand account. With a bit of pleading I was able to get a meeting with Stanley Noonan, Patricks friend, for saturday. I met with him at the police station in his office.

When I got there he greeted me warmly and offered some tea before we began chatting.

I asked him to tell me what happened, at least what he was allowed to. “Well, I feel terrible about what happened. Not only is it tragic, but he [Patrick] was getting promoted and would have to move soon. Sad he never got to do it. Anyways, when i got the call, of course I panicked; one of my beloved friends was dead. So we rushed over to the scene, inspected the body and asked her [mrs. maloney] what had happened. She was distraught, as any woman would be after losing her husband; we tried to comfort her, but she refused for most of it. After a while, when cleaners and detectives were starting to leave, she asked us to eat the lamb she was cooking. Insisted on it even after we said we shouldn't; said it’d be a favour. So we did and left not long after.¨ what was that last part? “Well that's all I can tell ya, sorry if i couldn't be more help.¨

I thanked him for his time and left.

I think I know what happened now.

End thoughts and theories

Here's the timeline: mrs maloney's husband came from work, he had big news to tell her, she stood behind him holding an unknown object, she left the house and went to the store frazzled, she bought a few small items, came home, found her husband on the ground, called the police, they checked the scene, ate the lamb in the oven, and left.

What we know happened: Mr Maloney came home and told his wife about a promotion, Mrs Maloney left her house to go to the store and when she came back her husband was dead. She called the cops and they did an investigation for a few hours. Before they left she offered them some lamb, they refused at first but then agreed.

So, here's my guess as to what happened.

Mr Maloney was getting a promotion at work and when he came home he told his wife, Mrs maloney. When she heard the news she was distraught and without thinking, grabbed a lamb leg from the freezer and knocked him over the head with it, killing him. Once she realised what she had done she came up with a plan to cover herself. She went to the store to buy things for “dinner” and came home to an ugly surprise. She called the cops, panicked, and scared. They came rushing and did a quick investigation of the scene. She offered them the leg of lamb so it wouldn't go bad and to get rid of the evidence.

I think I want to get more information on this before I continue. I'm going to see if I can talk with Mrs. Maloney and ask her some questions. The next part should be uploaded in a week or two, as it might take some convincing.

If anyone has any thoughts on the case and any theories please comment or message me! My email is in my bio and I can book an in person meeting if needed.

That's all for now, bye.

[ssadumba55]

Chinese New Year (Mei Lee X RedPanda!Reader)

Reader: Hi! It's me again, could you do Mei and a Red Panda!Reader celebrating the Chinese new year together? Platonic please. I believe young Mei was celebrating that from her childhood photos

A/N: I do not personally celebrate Chinese New Year, so I did some research into traditions that might be. I tried my best to be as accurate as possible and vague as possible, so if you celebrate you could imagine your own traditions taking place as well! If you want to see examples of the dress Mei and Ming wear for the ceremony, here is a link to the wikipedia page for it and here is a link to where I got the food information ! If I messed anything up, feel free to clarify/correct me and I will adjust the story accordingly! Enjoy!

“Come on, Mei! You’re going to be late!” Ming Lee called down the hall. She had no idea what was taking her daughter so long, but if she didn’t hurry up they wouldn’t be able to open the temple for the celebration and close it in time for their personal family celebration.

There was a bang from her room and Mei yelped. “Be down in a sec, mom!”

A few moments later, Mei appeared. She was dressed up for the occasion, they always dressed up but it was even more surprising for Ming to see her daughter now like this. Now, she wasn’t a little girl anymore, she was becoming a woman and it was making her a little misty eyed as she stepped forward to adjust her cheongsam.

On her shoulder sat (Y/n), her red panda guardian. The creature almost looked bored as they scanned the room, yawning slightly as if they would rather be asleep then out here. As always, Mei’s red hair was pushed back from her face and atop her head were her own red panda ears. She had chosen, however, to go tailless for the ceremony. Probably so she could fit into her outfit better.

“Mom, I look fine. Can we just go now? I want to get through this so we can get to the good part!” Ming had to admit, she agreed with her daughter on that part. While celebrating the New Year with the community was nice and she enjoyed hosting the ceremony, her favorite part of ringing in the year was celebrating afterwards with her family. And this year, Mei’s friends, Miriam, Priya, Abby and Tyler would be joining them.

“Me too,” (Y/n) yawned from Mei’s shoulder. Everyone could tell they were just here because Mei wanted them here, but if they could they would’ve chosen to sleep through the festivities.

They headed down to the temple to join Mei’s father and the rest of their community to ring in the New Year. The ceremony was long, dull and dreadfully boring in Mei and (Y/n)’s opinion. But it was necessary and something important to share, so they sucked up their distaste and pretended to enjoy it anyway.

“I want to go back to your room!” The red panda whined as they mingled with guests to the temple. “Call me back down when the spring rolls are out!”

Mei huffed. “No way! I have to be out here, so do you!”

The night went by agonizingly slow for the two of you. The real celebration would be up in your little apartment, after all these people left. But Mei was surprisingly cheery as she wandered amongst guests, smiling and greeting people she’d never met. On her shoulder, her companion slept, not able to keep their disdain for the events to themself any longer.

Eventually though, the temple did empty out and the two headed back to the apartment. It smelt amazing when they entered, Mei’s dad had left the celebrations early to start preparing dinner. While they waited for Mei’s friends to arrive, her red panda guardian hopped off her shoulder and sprawled out on the couch.

Finally. Some time to relax and enjoy the real meaning of the holidays.

Miriam was the first to arrive, she paused to pet (Y/n) on the couch and moved to join the family in the dining room. Priya and Abby showed up together, and Tyler was last, though no one was really sure what took him so long.

Once everybody had arrived, the red panda leapt from their spot on the couch to join everyone else in the dining room. There was laughter and chatter as food was passed around. The Lee’s explained to their guests the meaning behind Chinese New Year.

Mei’s guardian tried their best to steal food from the table when nobody was looking but as they got stopped once more by Ming, they looked around and took in everyone’s smiling faces.

This was surely going to be a night to remember.

Miriam waved some food inconspicuously to get the animal’s attention, and they licked their lips. Of course, it was going to be a night to remember because of the food too! They pounced on the food, gobbling it down.

What a nice Chinese New Years.

[seawitch62]

Vehicle problems? Lucky for you Taeil is here to help.

Yandere

Word count 853

 🔧   The mechanic 🔧

“Thinking of you is a poison I drink often.” ― Atticus

                  

A Gemini knows how to swerve you from your most stubbornly held convictions.”

- Linda Goodman.

                  ♊

"Are you sure?" She questions dejectedly. "Sorry but your 'baby' has a lot of problems", Taeil informs her. 

It all started with an oil change, Taeil being a good friend asked if the oil had been changed recently or if in fact oil had been added to the vehicle. "I know you never add oil," he told her in a playful scolding manner. It's true! That's what Jiffy Lube is for. "Jiffy Lube?" He said astonished, "they will rob you blind, let me do it! I'm free!". That's how it started a simple oil change. "Drop by my place and I will get it done" famous last words.

Taeil is delightful to watch tinkering with vehicles, he is witty and a wonderful conversationalist, when he is not chatting he sings, he has a voice the angels would envy. He seems to know his way  around the vehicle's  mechanics, his self assured attitude gains trust. It was a pleasant afternoon all in all. Taeil refused to take monetary compensation, "dinner?" The meal was nice, Taeil's smile an added bonus, he is such a good friend. I count my lucky stars. He is my best friend.

"Check engine light! What now?"

Luckily Taeil picked up the phone and he suggested I drop by his place so he could check it out.

Fiddling under the hood, he located the problem and was able to fix it quickly and with little cost. I can not take your money, I mean it was a few minutes work, dinner? So once more we enjoyed a delightful dinner.

Air! The tires need air, hope they are okay? As if my guardian angel was looking after me Taeil called at that moment, telling him the situation with the vehicle he once more suggested going to his place. Relief! The tires just needed air! Lunch? Sure!

"No! Not now baby!" Something is seriously wrong, the gears! First  second, where is third? Tears of frustration well up and trickle down.  "What the hell is happening?" Pulling off the road and calling Taeil, get over her now! Drive slowly! 

"Its the transmission," he states with brimming confidence. "No"

"Yea I'm afraid so". "Let me see what I can do, leave the vehicle with me for a few days". 

How many mechanics whilst working on your vehicle act as your chauffeur? Not many I guess! He is always here helping me, shopping or what not. He is amazing, and he still has time to work on 'baby'.

🔧

Two weeks, and all the things he has tried the vehicle is still not working. I mean he is helping me but…. I need the car fixed!

The look of hurt when I suggested I take it to 'a real mechanic' little faith, what you have no faith in my abilities? Insulted and now a little angry, after all the work I have done to help you? 

😎

"A new transmission?"

 "Of course I can do that! Just replace  it" he injected with confidence. Taeil went on to explain the how's, jargon lost on those not of the mechanical mind. Thousands! will cost a lot of dollars, I can do it! And a hell of a lot cheaper! 

◇

Dropping  by his place via a taxi, "I would of picked you up" 

Wanting to see the progress, it's been three weeks, surely he is close to being done.

Taeil convincingly tells  he had to order parts as many incidental parts were kaput and he needed new tools he explains.

Parts strewn across his garage, "maybe it's time I take the car to my regular mechanic!". 

"Regular mechanic? Are you cheating on me?" Joking? Is he joking? His eyes, his tone he seems aggravated. Angry!. Give me a week! 

"So it's fine if I work on your vehicle, up to my neck in grease and oil! But I can't drop by for a coffee and chat?"  

Ungrateful? Am I! Maybe so! 

How is he fixing the car when he is always with me? A month now! 

I miss my car, the convenience, the independence, now it seems I'm dependent on Taeil for everything!. So does he really know what he is doing?

🔧

Six weeks, it has been six weeks! I'm just going to have to tell him. 

◇

The garage looks exactly the same! Has he even worked on it? 

"Taeil I appreciate everything you have done, truly I have, but I think it's best I get the car towed to my mechanic"

The anger burning through his eyes turns to fury. 

"So you are cheating on me!"

"Cheating?" Completely lost and confused as to what he is talking about.

"Bestie" he states in a very clear, crisp sarcastic tone " you and your vehicle are going nowhere!" 

Laughingly, "in fact I have accommodations for you, all prepared" his cool eyes and menacing tone hit like a whip.

"Besties forever" he laughs, his tone dark and menacing.

[marauderundercover]

Crashed Dates (Day 2: Scarecrow)

Marinette grins at her boyfriend, swinging their intertwined hands back and forth as they walk around the pumpkin farm. It was so nice, finally being able to go on cute dates like this. They’d first started dating while he was in Paris on business, around a year ago. Sure, he’d made trips to Paris and she’d made a few to Metropolis, but it was different now that she had moved to Gotham. Now they were able to go on random, unplanned dates, instead of dates that had been planned for weeks. He was definitely worried when she first told him she was moving to Gotham, but she had reassured him that it would be fine. (Not that she had a choice in the matter, Tikki had informed her on her last trip to Metropolis that Gotham was sick, that it was calling out for help and that as the Guardian, it was her job to help it). Gotham was….interesting, but she’d settled in just fine in the two weeks she’d been there.

And so, when he had called her out of the blue to tell her he found a place he thought she’d love, she made sure she had enough layers and jumped at the chance for a day with him. So far, the day had been absolutely perfect. They’d drank hot apple cider, ate warm donuts, taken a trip around the farm on the hayride- everything was great. But for some reason, her amazingly stubborn boyfriend didn’t want to go into the corn maze. 

“Please! You’ll be my favorite person in the whole world.” She begs again, her grin quickly switching into a pout. She keeps pouting, leaning against his arm, until he sighs.

“Fine, we can do the maze.” He says and she cheers, standing on her toes and tugging him down slightly to give him a quick kiss. 

“You are the best!” She says, over enunciating every word. He just grins, giving her another soft kiss. 

“If we get lost, I’m calling the Demon Spawn to come get us out. Pretty sure he has a tracker on my phone.” Jason says, letting her tug him along towards the maze. She just rolls her eyes, grinning. 

“You know you’re secretly touched that he cares enough to track you.” She teases as they near the entrance of the maze.

“Yeah, yeah.” He grumbles, glaring at the scarecrow situated at the entrance of the maze. Marinette raises an eyebrow. 

“You have a problem with men made of straw?” She asks, legitimately confused by his reaction. 

“Geeze M, I knew you were new to Gotham but I forget how new.” He says, pulling her closer. She melts into him, still confused by his reaction, but happy to be close. As they walk through the maze, frustratingly running into deadends, Jason explains Scarecrow. Marinette decides that he’s number two on the list of villains she never wants to meet. Joker is number one. (Joker is also number one on the list of villains she wants to meet, but that’s because she’s always wondered what it would look like to cataclysm a psychotic clown). She’s just about to suggest they call Damian and utilize the tracker that was, undoubtedly on Jason’s phone, when the screaming begins. 

“There isn’t a haunted house here, is there.” Marinette says, her face pale. She wasn’t ready to be a hero again. She’d only defeated Hawkmoth a year ago. Just before meeting Jason. She didn’t want that part of her life again, not now. 

“No, no there’s not.” Jason says, eyes glancing around wildly. Marinette’s heart breaks at the panic on his face. She knew that, despite his tough guy appearance, he struggled. A lot. He had nightmares, constantly, mostly of the time Joker had kidnapped him (hence the whole, cataclysm Joker thing). Pushing down her own fear and doubt, she tightens her grip on his hand and squares her shoulders. 

“Come on.” She instructs, tugging him behind her as she darts through the maze, determined to get out. She stumbles over a rock and lets go of Jason’s hand in time for her to fall into a larger clearing. She curses as she falls, her palms stinging. 

“What have we here?” A voice says. Marinette sits up, staring up at a man in a scarecrow costume and suddenly, Jason’s fear, or rather, dislike, of scarecrows makes more sense. So much more sense. She glances around and lets out a sigh of relief. She’d let go of Jason quick enough. He wasn’t caught up in this. Hopefully, he could call his father. She wasn’t sure if the rumors about Bruce Wayne and Batman dating were true, but Batman was always quick to interfere if it was a Wayne or Wayne adjacent involved. 

“A girl who’s a little pissed that you crashed her date.” She retorts, standing up and brushing her stinging palms off on her jeans. She’d have to get the blood out later, which would be a pain. Better than having the blood on her palms mix with the dirt that also now covered her hands. 

“You’re either very brave or very stupid, little girl. Let’s see how you deal with my newest strain of fear toxin.” He says, and she lunges towards the man, not willing to go down without a fight. Almost immediately, a sharp pinch on her neck has her stumbling back away from the man as she tries to take in her new surroundings. 

She was back in Paris, but it wasn’t the Paris she had left. The city that was healing. Instead this Paris was underwater. Buildings were toppled over, and the moon was in pieces in the sky. She was back there. A place she hadn’t seen in person since she was fourteen, a place that had haunted her nightmares for ten years. She inhales sharply when she sees him. Chat Blanc. But instead of fear, she’s just angry. This isn’t real. It can’t be. Adrien Agreste was Chat Noir. And Adrien was….turning, she realizes that she can almost see him. Out of the corner of her eye, she can almost see Scarecrow, watching her. Waiting for her to react. Anger coursing through her, she charges the man, tackling him all the way to the ground. She pulls back her fist and punches him, repeatedly. 

“How dare you! How dare you use his face like that! You son of a bitch!” She screams as she hits, the roaring in her ears blocking out all other sounds. She keeps her focus on feeling the man she’s hitting, because the second she lets her focus wander, she gets sucked into her surroundings again. The way the sky just looks wrong. The odd haze over everything. And now, the corpses floating in the water closest to her. Adrien. Maman. Papa. She’s not scared, she’s pissed. Sure, those were her biggest fears and that’s definitely why she was seeing them all like that, but she’d already seen it. She’s lived it. They were gone, not coming back. And she sure as hell wasn’t going to fall down and break about it. Not when some asshole with fear toxin was running around randomly injecting people. Suddenly, something is wrapped around her and she’s pulled up. She kicks frantically, trying to get out of the steel grip she’s trapped in. She had to- what did she have to do? Another sharp pinch in her neck makes her eyes droop sleepily. She struggles again, barely able to hear the voice calling her name as she succumbs to the darkness.

---

Jason Todd feels like a major prick. He watched his girlfriend trip and instead of helping her up, he uses it as a distraction to try and call B. How the fuck was he supposed to know she tripped right into the Scarecrow? He’s cursing himself mentally as he rushes towards the ambulance. Replacement had texted him. 

Marinette was injected. At ambulances near front of farm

And Jason felt like shit. She’d never forgive him, not that he deserved it. He’d left her with one of Gotham’s biggest villains. His heart sinks when he sees the blood on her, and the oxygen mask attached to her face. Fuck. He’s almost to her, when one of the asshole cops stops him. 

“Excuse me, sir, you can’t go over there.” He says and Jason scowls. 

“Like hell I can’t. She’s my girlfriend, let me through.” He says, and the man shakes his head. 

“Family only.” He states. Jason’s about to argue, when a hand lands on his shoulder. 

“I still need to get a statement from Mr. Todd, if you’ll excuse us.” Replacement says, leading him away from the cop. 

“I left her.” He says, the second they’re far enough away. Tim frowns.

“What do you-”

“I mean, I left her. She tripped and instead of checking on her, I was a complete and total asshole and left her so I could call B to get his ass over here and solve the goddamn problem.” Jason says, feeling like even more of an asshole now that he’s said it out loud. 

“Did you see Scarecrow?” Replacement asks. Jason scoffs. 

“Of course not! You really think I would’ve left if I had?” He asks with a glare. 

“No, I don’t. So stop blaming yourself. I literally peeled her off of Scarecrow, she was beating the crap out of him. She’s gonna be tired and scared and confused when she wakes up. Just be there-”

“Jason!” Her terrified voice echoes out and Jason turns, sprinting for the cot he’d seen her on a minute ago. She had ripped the oxygen mask off her face and was looking around while arguing with the paramedic. 

“Ma’am please-” “Marinette!” Jason calls, and her face relaxes as she leaps off the cot and launches herself into his arms. He holds her as she shakes, sobs wracking her body. 

“I saw them.” She mumbles once she calms down a little. He frowns. 

“Saw who?” He asks. 

“My parents. Adrien. Their bodies.” She says, and suddenly, Jason has another name to add to his kill list. Being a complete asshole to all of Gotham, sure. Making his girlfriend see the bodies of those she’d lost? Nope. Now the bastard better hope he didn’t meet Red Hood in an alley. 

“God, Mari, I am so sorry. I’m so sorry I left.” He apologizes, his heart aching when she pushes him away. She frowns up at him and he winces, certain she’s about to break up with him. 

“Left?” She asks and he nods. 

“When you tripped, I swear, I didn’t know Scarecrow was there.” He says. 

“But you got Batman here.” She says and he jerks back. How the hell had she figured it out? When did she- “I know Bruce said he isn’t dating Batman, but honestly, I think he’s just in denial.” She adds. 

“I- what?” 

“Batman always comes when anyone in the Wayne family is in danger. Like, so quickly. And I know that Bruce says it’s just a bunch of rumors, like the whole ‘the butts match’ thing? But I also think that Batman is head over heels for Bruce, and your dad is just kinda clueless.” She rambles. Jason just laughs before pulling her into a deep kiss. She was okay. They were okay. He pulls back and grins at her, until he notices the blood again. 

“Shit, that’s a lot of blood.” He says, taking her hand in his to try and find the source. He glances at her face and raises an eyebrow at the blush that had taken over her face. 

“Oh, um, it’s not mine.” She mumbles. 

“Then who-” “Apparently I beat the hell out of Scarecrow. In my defense, that fear toxin sucked. And I was kinda pissed.” She says, frowning down at the blood on her hands. Jason takes one of his hands and gently tilts her chin up so that she’s looking at him again. He grins at her, giving her a short, soft kiss before pulling back. 

“I love you.” He says, and if the kiss she gave him in return meant anything, she felt the same way.

Next

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[plush-rabbit]

Mental Toll - Brothers.

Request: My mom kicked me out, her 15 year old daughter out of her house. And I've been staying with my aunt but everything is taking a mental toll on me . Can I get a Beel, mammon, Leviathan, or asmo comfort?

A/N: Sweetheart, I’m sorry for this. It can be all so difficult for you, but please take care of yourself. Remember that nothing is your fault, you’re a child, you’re gonna be okay. Please don’t keep these emotions bottled up (im also assuming this is comfort on your situation, so yeah)

-

Mammon:

You’ll always have a place with him. He’s taken on a guardian role for you and while he might have hated it at first, he’s grown attached to you. Your guardians in the Human Realm don't matter. They decided to leave you, so now you’re here with him and he isn’t going to abandon you anytime soon. Mammon may not know what to do when he finds you crying and unable to speak, but he cares and he’ll try to show that to you, telling you that you can bunk with him for the night- you get to take his bed and he’ll sleep on the couch, you don’t have to be alone.

He isn’t exactly the best at comforting, using a bit too many words only to come up short, but once that initial nervousness wears off, he’s comforting. He’s taken care of a child before- granted they were much younger, and was then put into the care of witches- he knows what a scared kid looks like. He’ll offer what he can to you and let you rest your head on his bicep as he listens to you ramble about what happened. He won’t ever push for you to talk, but it might help sort out all those feelings that are bubbling up inside of you.

Of course it’s difficult for the both of you. He isn’t too knowledgeable about the mentality and fragility of a human mind and emotions but he can assume to be essentially kicked out of a parent’s home can be rough. He’s dealt with it before even if he knew the risks. He remembers the nights of pain and agony, the silent suffering that was thick in the air, and the lack of self-care. He comes in with a small meal every day, grabbing random vitamins that he thinks might be good for you, and just lets you rest. You see a more hidden side of Mammon, the one that cares too much, that acts almost like a parental figure and have a comforting smile and gives nice hugs.

You aren’t free to rest forever. He’s also seen what that kind of damage that can do to someone's mental health. He won’t ever pressure you to go out and do something you don’t want to, but you do have to move from the spot on his bed. You can hide yourself in his room for as long as you want, but you can’t live your life stuck in a bed. He knows that that isn’t good for anyone. You’ll have all the space that you could want and need, but you need to also talk to him and take care of yourself.

It’s his role as your guardian to take care of you and make sure that nothing bad would happen to you- you being in the Human Realm makes no difference to that. You’re still under his protection and he’ll take care of you as much as he can. Mammon can be brash, and have his sin take over, but it isn’t all that he is. He can be selfless and take care of you and let you just relax around him. There’s no pressure put on you and he’ll protect you. He promises that- he’s a demon, he’s lived for a long time and he’ll live for an even longer time and as long as he’s around, he’ll protect you.

Leviathan:

Coming to Leviathan is certainly a choice. He cares- of course he does! But, he doesn’t know what to do. Of course he knows how it feels, but it was different and so long ago and buried under memories and the fictional world, that he chose to forget that. It’s different with you. You’re a child who’s crying and at a loss for a parent that left them and it must hurt. He’s awkward, but he’ll sit by you and have a hand on your back telling you to take all the time that you need. He’s always here in his room after all, so you can always find him.

In the beginning, he doesn’t know what to do. Surely, there should be words or tips online that could help him translate his words and feelings better than “that sucks.” An apology feels so fake and unsure and he doesn't want that for you. You deserve something real, an actual meaningful interaction that might help you but he comes up blank. He doesn’t know what exactly he should say, so he just lets you rest beside him as he tells you his own encounter with abandonment and what helped him.

He tries to make you feel better in a way that helps him- via distractions. It helped him and maybe it could help you. You like to spend time with him so you both must share some type of interest in common. He feels so proud of himself when he offers you to read his manga or play some of his games. It’s a nice distraction and depending on what you choose, it can be a great way to just open up emotions and see what could effectively help trigger just that blockade of emotions for the both of you. You don’t have to do it, but it proves to be nice to just immerse yourself in some fictional tale.

Eventually, he starts to read what you read once you’ve fallen asleep. You gravitated towards it for a reason and it’s easier to talk to you like that. You get to be the hero, the protagonist or whoever you want, and he knows the struggles that they go through. He can help through an outside glance. It starts off simple, just him mentioning comments, prying for information about why you like a certain character and then in just a blink of an eye, you’re crying. You opened up and he’s by your side.

Comforting you is a bit awkward, but what could he expect. He sits by you and lets you talk through your emotions even if it makes no sense- your words are garbled and out of order- but he gets the main point of it. Leviathan understands that you’re hurting and who wouldn’t be. You’re a child, and the love of a parental figure means a lot. He might not be confident to have that type of relationship with you, but he can certainly be a big brother who lets you come into his room and sleep in a futon that he has when you’re feeling particularly lonely.

Asmodeus:

His eyes are sad, the usual glow and glimmer dimmed and his smile once beautiful and stretched, it pulled into a soft frown. Even in sadness, he still looks beautiful. With a gentle pull, he brings you into his room, and lets you set your stuff down on the floor. Asmodeus holds your face in his hands and gingerly wipes away your tears. You’ve had such a long day and it’s no secret that he has the best bath in the house, so he lets you go use it in order to destress, just enough to clean yourself and have time to gather your feelings and thoughts.

The room is suited to him and to only him, but he figures that you wouldn’t want to be alone. He has to rid some of the extra pillows on the bed, rid of the stronger scents in the room in order to not congest you more, and just declutter his room a bit more. It’s suited for him, a demon who can and lives for the finer things, but for you, he needs you to be able to breathe. The sheets are replaced, the towel that he has set for you soft and fluffy and the clothes clean and smelling like the house, a much better scent than the stitched to your clothes. He sends it to you via magic, wanting you to come to him when you’re ready.

When you approach him, he gives you a comforting smile and pats the bed beside him. He grabs your hand and massages it slowly, telling you that he’ll be here for you if you need anything. You can talk to him or choose not to, and he won’t pressure you in the slightest. You can take your time to talk to him. He feels a bit bad that he can’t tell you that everything will be okay, he knows it will, so sure of it that he’d bet himself on it, but it isn't what you want to hear. You just need to know that he’s right there by your side.

For now, you’re okay. You’re safe in his room and he likes being an older brother- at least to a few. He likes to spoil people rotten, and he gets to do that with you. You get to have everything good and shiny. You’re going to be okay when you stick with him, because he won’t let anything happen to you. He’s going to be your new home, your new big brother.

The process is tough, and he doesn’t rush anything. It’s subtle with Asmodeus and being ever so careful with his appearance, he makes sure to take care of yours. Mental health is so fragile and he just wants you to be okay. He’ll offer substitutions if certain activities can feel a bit too difficult for you, but he doesn’t push too much. You still have to take care of yourself and it might feel overbearing, but he needs to take care of you.

Beelzebub:

Family means everything to Beelzebub. At the very end of it, it’s part of the core of who he is. He feels your pain and is empathetic when you tell him what happened and he holds you close, letting you rest on his bed as he sits on the edge with a comforting hand rubbing circles on your back. He’s a demon, he knows just how cruel others can be, and yet, to see someone hurt someone as young as you, it makes him sick.

Your tears hit him hard and he can only hug you as you cry into him about your situation. There are too many emotions inside of you and it must be so difficult for you to handle all of them and he wishes he could help take that away, but he can only hold you and make sure that you sleep in a position that won’t hurt your neck once the tears have tired you out. It’s the little things that he does for you until you come to him and explain everything to him, and he’ll listen and won’t interrupt.

During this time, he tries to not be imposing. He doesn’t want you to run from him so he’ll give you time to come to him when you’re ready. He checks up on you often, knocking on your door and entering with a few snacks. He’ll stay if you ask him and talk to you about mundane stuff. A part of him wonders if that’s really what you want to hear, but he can’t say anything different. He doesn’t know what it is that you want to hear and he doesn’t want to pressure you any further. Anyways, it seems like you like to listen to him during these moments. Maybe, he provides a nice distraction.

He’ll always make sure that he has his phone on him in case you need him. He’s told you before that you can contact him whenever you want, and that he’ll come running to you. He’s sure it’s his big brother instincts taking over. He may be the sixth brother, but it doesn’t remove the fact that he has a twin. It’s only by his power that he ranks sixth. With you, he can be a big brother and be the cool and caring type that takes care of you. You can always come to him whenever you need something and he’ll make sure to give you whatever you want.

It comes to no surprise that you two develop a strong bond and you start to stick to him and he welcomes that. He won’t leave you alone unless you ask him to and he always makes sure to include you in whatever activity he has. During lunch, he’ll sit with you and listen to you and he’s glad that you're starting to feel better around him. You’ve both grown quite attached and he tries to do good by you. Beelzebub will give you whatever you need because beside his twin, you’re the youngest in the family. He’ll reassure you that nothing is your fault, that you’re only a child and that you’ll be okay. You’ve been there for him and he’ll be there for you.

[ray-ray-writings]

Visiting Hemlock-Dream

This is a Dream x gn!reader in the dreamsmp! Small thing, hemlock is another type of poison. It is actually the poison that the Greek philosopher Socrates was forced to consume after he was found guilty in his trail. 

Masterlist here

This is a part two to Sweet as Cyanide (here), so if you haven’t read that yet you can check it out . Don’t worry. I’ll wait…..

All good? Okay here we go!

Y/N is finally able to visit Dream in prison. 

Y/N’s POV

“Are you sure about this? You know no one would blame you if you never wanted to see him again,” Niki questioned, a soft hand resting on my shoulder. I had to force myself not to roll my eyes and scoff. Instead, I settled for a fake shy smile and a small head nod, “I know Nik. But I really want to see him. I know I shouldn’t but I can’t help it,” I explained, hoping desperately she would leave it at that. Niki gave me a pitiful smile as she nodded, giving my arm a tight squeeze. “I know what you mean… I’ll be right here when you get out,” She assured, wrapping her arms around me in a quick hug before taking a few steps back. “Thanks Niki. I’ll see you in a bit,” I claimed softly before turning toward the prison. I took a deep breath before making my way to the entrance. 

I let out a deep breath as I reached up and pressed the button, letting Sam know I was there. A noise sounded letting me know I could enter and pass through the grid. I was greeted by Sam at his desk.  “Hey Y/N” Sam greeted me, holding a stack of papers. “Hey Sam,” I greeted back, my eyes scanning around the place. “This looks really nice,” I complimented the warden on his build. “Thank you!” He beamed, handing the papers he held to me. “These are just waiver you need to sign. They basically say that you release the prison from all responsibility if you get hurt and that that responsibility falls on the prisoner you are visiting.” He explained, handing me a pen. I hummed and quickly scanned the documents before signing them. 

Sam quickly took them and tucked them away in his desk before standing up and moving out from behind the desk. “Alright. We’re good to move on.” I followed him out of the room and into a room full of chests. “Please put all your things in this chest here,” He asked, motioning to a chest near the door. I gave him a nod before quickly emptying my inventory. Once I was done, I turned and proved to Sam that there was nothing left on my person. Sam gave me a smile and a nod before we moved on once more. 

My excitement grew as we walked down the path I had only been down once before. My hands seemed to shake at the sight of the lava wall that hid my boyfriend from my view. “Hey, if you’re too nervous to do this, you can turn back around. You don’t have to see him,” Sam comforted, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. He was taking my excitement as nerves… good. I took a deep breath and gave him a shy smile, “I’m okay Sam, really. I want to see him,” I assured the tall man. “Okay… Do you want me to stay here with you or go back to the cams?” Sam questioned, still unsure if he should leave me alone with ‘the monster’. “You can go watch on the cams. I’ll be fine, even if something were to happen you could be back here in a flash,” I claimed with a small smile. 

Sam gave me a small nod, “Alright, here you go.” Sam reached over to the wall and pressed the button that controlled the lava. Slowly, the lava stopped falling, revealing my love. I felt my breath catch in my throat at the sight of the blonde boy that had my whole heart. The iron bars fell allowing me free access to Dream. Sam gave me a pat on the back before he disappeared out the door. 

I wasted no more time and ran to Dream. A smile, a real smile, formed on his face as I raced toward him. Our bodies crashed together with the swift motion, my arms wrapping around his neck, his around my waist. I squeezed him tightly as I buried my face in his neck. I couldn’t help the tears that fell from my eyes and onto his skin. “I missed you so much bub,” I cried into his neck. “Shhh, love,” he murmured, rubbing one hand up and down my back, holding me close. 

“I missed you too. I’ve been so lonely here. I’ve missed your sweet words, your gorgeous face. I miss waking up next to you every morning. I love you so much,” he muttered into my ear, pressing a kiss to my temple. His words shocked me a bit. Yes, I love Dream and he loves me, but he almost never acted like this. “I’ve missed everything about you. I miss your kisses and cuddles. I miss the way you’d threaten everyone for even looking at me in the wrong way. I’ve missed going to sleep next to you, cuddling and waking up the same way. I love you so much too,” I muttered back. 

Dream pulled away slightly, just enough to face me before crashing his lips into mine. My eyes fluttered closed as I completely melted into the kiss and into my boyfriend. I missed my love so much. I missed feeling his lips on mine. His gentle touches, his sweet smiles, his manipulation of everyone around us. He’s mine and I am his, no matter what and no matter where. 

Dream was the one to pull away from our kiss. “God I’ve missed that,” He announced, grinning from ear to ear. I couldn’t help but giggle and return the grin, “I’ve missed that too.” Dream slowly unwrapped himself from me, but quickly reached out and took my hand. He walked me over to his bed. He let go of my hand before sitting down on his bed, resting his back against the wall. I raised my eyebrow at his actions but he simply patted his lap telling me to sit down. I giggled and rolled my eyes at the action, but obeyed. I quickly moved my legs so that there was one on either side of his thighs and I sat on his lap. Once again, my arms moved to wrap around his neck and his came to wrap around my voice. 

“So,” Dream began once we got settled, “How’s it going out in the free world?” Dream asked, teasingly. I could tell that he was both asking about the server, but was also making a joke about the fact everyone thought that I was now ‘free’ from his control. “It’s all fine, I guess. You were right. Everyone began coddling me the second that prison door slammed behind me. I’ve been staying with Niki because they think going back to our house is too painful for me,” I informed Dream, who simply scoffed and rolled his eyes. 

“The more important thing though,” I started, lowering my voice a lot as to not have it picked up by the cameras, “I can’t get a hold of Technoblade. No one has seen him, or at least not that they’re telling me. I went to his house and he wasn’t there, I went to Phil’s house and he said he hadn't seen him. But I’ll keep looking. I’m going to get you out of here.” I promised my boyfriend quietly. Dream’s brow furrowed, “That’s really odd. Especially since Philza hasn’t seen him… He must remember he owes me that favorite. But you have my full trust, love. I know you’ll make me proud.” 

My heart swelled at his words. It was so comforting to hear that. Even though weeks ago, he promised me it wasn’t my fault he was here, I could help but still feel guilty about it. Especially because I had to pretend that I was happy he was gone. I didn’t respond with words, instead leaning forward and pressing my face into the side of his neck and pressing a small kiss there. “I love you.” “I love you too.” 

The rest of the time we spent together was in that position.  I told him about all the new structures that were being built around the server. I told him about how everyone was working together but there was definitely still some tension. Dream didn’t seem surprised at that at all. Dream told me about his days at the prison. He had a small clock gifted to his by Sam. He admitted to me that he would sometimes throw his clock out of his cell into the lava so Sam would come in and bring him a new one, allowing Dream to have some form of human contact. He got three meals a day, but he claimed none have ever been good as my cooking, that made me blush. Dream spent most of his day thinking about me and the things he would be doing if he wasn’t locked up. He kept a little journal in order to keep himself sane. 

In a much quieter tone, Dream also told me of the little things he’s noticed about the prison. How the lava always takes a few seconds before it begins its descent. Dream told me he knew that the redstone sometimes would misfire and Sam would have to take the time to fix it. Sometimes it only took a few minutes but there were also times he’d be gone for many hours. Dream also spoke of where he thinks the elder guardian that causes mining fatigue was being held. I listened very carefully to what he was telling me. Sam is an excellent builder, even better engineer, but nobody was perfect and it sounds like to me that Dream was slowly but surely finding Pandora’s Achilles heel.

It felt so good to be in Dream’s arms again though, even in this circumstance. In the many years we’ve been dating, I’ve never been away from Dream for that long before and it was really hard. Which explains why I was so excited for this visit… But alas, all good things must come to an end. 

“Times up Y/N…” Sam called softly from the platform behind us. I looked over my shoulder and gave the man a nod in acknowledgement. I turned back to Dream, leaned forward and pressed a swift kiss to his lips. “Goodbye my love,” I whispered to the blonde man, tears threatening to fall again from my eyes. A smile appeared on his lips, “Goodbye love,” He returned at the same level. I slowly got off of my boyfriend and walked away from Dream. Once I was out of the cell, I turned back around to face Dream, who had also stood up from his bed “I’ll be back soon,” I promised the blonde boy who remained in his cell. A small chuckle left his lips as the iron bars enclosed him once more, “I’ll be here.” 

With that, I took a few more steps back to stand next to Sam. I gave my boyfriend a small wave as Sam pressed the button to make the lava begin pouring from the ceiling. I could see Dream's sad smile as he waved back at me and then he was gone. 

“You okay?” Sam asked gently, a hand resting on my shoulder. “Yeah,” I sniffed, reaching up and wiping at my eyes, “Yeah. I’ll be fine. Thank you for letting me see him,” I thanked, changing the topic. Sam gave me a soft look as he nodded, “Of course. You’re always welcome to come back. I can even show you around to other rooms if you ever want.” I nodded at his words. “That sounds really cool. I’d love to see them. I’d love to see this whole place,” I told him as cooly as I could. The one thing I could not do right now was raise suspicion. “When we get back to the front desk we can set a time and date!” He offered cheerfully. Once again I nodded, this time a bright smile beaming across my face. “I’d like that. 

I couldn’t help but mentally chuckle at the situation though. I don’t know why after all this time everyone still thinks I’m just so sweet and innocent. Sam offering to show me around like a father would show his child around his work place on bring your kid to work day simply confirmed that thought even more. Little does he know how hard it’s going to bite him in the butt. I’m going to get my boyfriend out of this Pandora’s Vault…. If it’s the last thing I do. 

There you go! I hope you enjoyed! If so, be sure to leave a like! Maybe even reply or a reblog?

[alyssadeliv]

The Forgotten One

First       Previous

Chapter 4

Everything hurt. Her body felt as if it was on fire, her limbs were heavy and her head was pounding, she tried to open her eyes and understand her surroundings, but they refused to cooperate so she sought to use her other senses to identify where she was, even in a lot of pain she couldn’t forget her training, so she remained calm until she knew what she’s dealing with. It only takes her a couple of seconds to remember what happened. The attack on the League, the Temple crumbling to the ground and her being trapped under it. After that it was a void, so she must have passed out at some point.

She could tell she wasn't still trapped under the rubber because she could feel the softness of a mattress under her and not the hard temple training grounds, it was either nighttime or she was in a room without windows. She couldn’t hear a thing that indicated that there was another person with her, but she can identify cars in a far distance, so she must be close to a city. She feels cared for, so rules out being captured for now. 

She isn’t sure how long she laid there, but streams of lighting start to appear somewhere above her from what she can see with her closed lids. The sun is up when she finally can open her eyes.

She is in a bare room, that must be used as storage from all of the boxes around. She’s in an attic in an elevated part that contains just the bed, an iron stair makes way into the second part of the room, she can see from her position that the only way out is through the trap door on the floor, although she can assume that the lighting coming from above her must lead to a balcony. She feels better now, her pain is gone and her limbs ultimately start to obey her again. She had just sat up when the trap door started to open.

She prepares herself for what is to come, she does not have any weapons and she’s not sure she can beat another assassin in a fight in her current state, even with the pain now gone. To her surprise is her godmother that enters the room she’s resting in. She carries a plate with food and a glass of water. She has a warm smile that Marianne has only seen a couple of times, normally reserved for birthdays and celebrations, but still reassures her that she’s safe and cared for. 

“It's good to see you’re finally awake. Gave us quite a scare”

“Where am I?”

“Safe” With her tone she can tell that the conversation is over, so she simply accepts the plate that is offered and starts to eat what's been given, a tasty sandwich with a red tart at the side. If it was any other person that came into the room she wouldn’t have been so quick to accept the food, but she knew that her godmother would never hurt her, she was one of the only people she trusted with her life, like a second mother to her.  

“How do you feel?” Sabine asks only after the food is gone. 

“Surprisingly fine. The pain is gone and I feel normal again. How is this possible? Where are we? How long was I out? What happened with the League? What happened to Damian? Is he here? Is he safe?” The questions jump out of her mouth before she can control them. Rambling has always been a trait of hers, one that she thought to be long under control. But given the situation, she can’t blame herself to look after answers. 

But Sabine calmly answers every one of her questions. She doesn’t get into details about the attack but she understands that one of her grandfather’s star pupils betrayed them and orchestrated the attack to take the Demon Head power to himself and rule over the Order of Assassins. Sabine and Master Fu were together at the Temple when it all started and went to look for her, only to realize that she must have thought the same and went to look for them. They saw her being crushed by the falling debris, and they were the ones that dug her out. 

She died. 

That piece of information stays in a loop in her mind. She died. Master Fu brought her back. Being brought back to life wasn’t impossible, she knew that her grandfather had been doing that for centuries, but he needed the Lazarus Pits for that, and she knew the symptoms of someone that used them, she had seen them first hand from her grandfather or when she was in charge of training a recruit that her mother had taken pity on. She was only ten, and the boy 13 at the time. One of her most proud accomplishments. Her grandfather was so proud of her for training the next generation, even if the boy was technically older than her. She knew the symptoms and she definitely wasn’t brought back using these methods.

“Master Fu will arrive here shortly, he can explain it better”

“Where is here? Where are we? Where's Damian?” She’s desperate, she needs to know where her baby brother is. That he is safe. “Please tell me he’s here!”

Sabine has a heartbroken expression on her face, and that's all the confirmation she needs. The tears roll down her face before she can stop them. All her efforts had been in vain, Damian wasn’t here. 

“We are in Paris. He’s not here, but he’s safe” Her godmother tries to reassure her, she dries the tears in her face and strokes her hair trying to comfort the distraught girl. “He’s in a safe place as well, your mother made sure of that. But for now, you can’t go after him, Master Fu will explain why, you just have to trust me when I say I only want what’s best for you”

She then proceeds to tell her best-kept secret so far. She’s married, and they are at her husband’s house, above his bakery. She tells her of how in one of her missions she met the love of her life. But because of her, she knew she couldn’t leave the League just yet, she needed to be there for little Marianne and her bright smiles, to make sure the League didn’t kill the kindness in her. She always visited Paris after a mission. It became some kind of ritual, and no one ever questioned it. Her husband, Tom, knew about her lifestyle and knew that she couldn’t just leave her goddaughter behind, he respected that, even loved how caring his wife was. Sabine begs Marianne to not be guilty that she couldn’t have a better kind of life because of her.

“The best thing in my life is knowing that I helped raise the most selfless and kind woman, I’m so proud of what you become. Never forget that.”

By the time Master Fu finally arrives she’s just so tired. But her need for answers is bigger, so she allows her godmother to guide her to the living room. When they get there she’s surprised, to say the least. Her master is there, but he is not alone. He’s accompanied by two very anxious Kwamis.

“Marianne is so great to finally meet you! I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long!” Tikki, The Goddess of Creation addresses her. But she stays there stunned. She grew up learning about these entities, preparing for the moment she would get to meet them, but there she stays, unable to properly function. So much has been happening in the last 24 hours, and she feels like she’s in shock.

“Great job sugar cub, you broke the kid” Plagg, The God of Destruction comments.

“She’s probably just surprised to finally see us, don’t be rude”

It feels surreal to see these mystical creatures just bickering like children in her godmother’s husband’s living room. She almost feels like she’s dreaming. Feeling her discomfort, Master Fu decides it is better to address the situation.

“Come sit Marianne. It’s time I give you some answers.”

For the next hour, she learns a part of history she never knew about.

Her Master calmly explained to her that by the time they were able to release her from the ruins of the temple, it was too late. But something in him knew there was still hope. Because she was Tikkis chosen, her soul takes more time to disconnect itself from the physical world, so The Grand Guardian did something that wasn’t wrong but still considered taboo. He asked Tikki to use her energy in order to anchor her spirit back into her body. He didn’t use the wish from the Miraculous, so it wasn’t as dangerous. That had only been done once, somewhere when the pharaohs were still in power. One of the Guardians had fallen madly in love with a woman chosen by Tikki, but she got sick and died. Consumed with grief he ordered the Kwami into bringing her soul back.

Because it had happened so long ago they didn’t know the reaction it would cause in her already existing powers. So, for now, it would be better if she stayed in Paris, close to her Master’s, where she could finish her training and receive guidance if needed. They still didn’t know the situation within the League, so it was best to lay low for a while.

So there she stayed. For a whole month, she lived with her godmother and got to know the man she called her husband. It was funny, that the super badass and strict woman everyone knew would turn into the warmest person when around the baker. Marianne could tell they loved each other very much just by the way they looked at the other. In the League love was not something that happened very often. So it felt nice to be in contact with something so pure. 

She also kept going on with training, just like Master Fu said they would. It was as if her life was completely new but completely equal to what it was before. She would wake up early, eat something, normally delicious made by Tom, and go to where her master was living, a massage parlor that served as a disguise from his real job as her teacher. They would start by meditating and then move into physical training. It was different, Fu wasn’t so young anymore so now she tended to train alone. She missed her brother so much that it hurt. Knowing where he was but not if he was okay. She wished that there was a way for her to contact him, but knew it would be safer if she didn’t. Just knowing he was with Father makes her feel a little better, she remembers her Mother’s stories of the fearless Batman, so if the time comes she knew he would be safe.

Nothing out of ordinary happened so far, her powers kept the same, maybe a little more intense, but nothing she couldn’t handle. But they were confident that there would not be any other side effects so far. Everything was back to normal, or that’s what they thought.

Imagine their surprise when on one of their meditation sections the both were suddenly overwhelmed by the intense energy that they received. It was dark, nothing like she ever had felt. 

“Master, what was that? I have never felt something like it” Her teacher looked like he had seen a ghost, pale and with an anxious expression

“I’ve only felt this type of energy once. We must prepare, something bad is on our horizon. It’s time to activate your miraculous”

“What? Are you sure Master? Please tell me what is going on!” She pleaded.

“The Peacock and the Butterfly Miraculous, a long time ago, when I was just an apprentice, were thought to be lost. This was when The League and the Order were constantly at war. Some of my fellow disciples got greedy. They wanted the power the Miraculous had to offer, they thought themselves worthy of wielding their power and destroying the League of Assassins. There was a fight, and the first Temple of The Order was compromised. Some of us escaped, but we lost a lot. That day… I felt the same type of energy. I believe somewhere in this city, someone is preparing to cause chaos. We must be ready for when it happens.”

“How do we do that?”

“We need to find the Cat Miraculous wielder”

Next

There is a little easter egg in this chapter, let’s see if anyone can tell what it is! The taglist is still open so feel free to ask to be tagged! Please tell me what you thought of this chapter, I’m dying for some feedback

Taglist:  @macncheesemonster @jumpingjoy82 @silversaphire12 @jinx-jade @swiftie-miraculer13  @greatcatblaze @megaafangirl @ramos123 @theamityislife @maskedpainter @toodaloo-kangaroo @nyx-in-line @ketchupqueenboiiii @iamabrownfox @lozzybowe @user00000003 @kashlyn @msshadows97 @ira-sairain @stackofrandomstuff @myazael @frieddonutsweets @asrainterstellar @our-preciousss @laurcad123 @nyaabinch @rverfades @thefangirlwholiterallydies @astoriaandromeda @unnamed2357 @little-lady-bird @imdaqueenie

[p-artsypants]

Crushed

Stuck under a collapsed building together, Chat Noir and Marinette have a heart to heart.

Ao3 | FF.net

I originally wrote this as a secret santa gift, but it strayed too far from what the giftee wanted, so I did something else. I decided to finish this anyway, and I hope you like it!

—

This akuma attack was not going great. He called himself ‘Bomb Voyage’ (“Like in the Incredibles?” “Yes, Chat. I do believe Hawkmoth ripped that name.”) And he was blowing things up right and left. 

When the Lucky Charm bullhorn fell into her hands, she had some sort of plan in the works, but it all fell short at Chat’s shout. 

“My Lady! Look out!” 

The building right in front of her, mere feet away, exploded suddenly, the only clue being Bomb Voyage’s finger point. 

There was no time to run. No time for Chat to scoop her up. Only impending destruction and carnage. 

So Chat leapt, his arms wrapping around her head, and tackled her to the ground as the rubble rained down. 

It felt like ages of pain before things settled. They both coughed out lungfuls of plaster dust that still hung in the air. It was mostly dark, with a scant bit of light from above. 

Chat was squished, but he pushed up on his arms and felt Ladybug move slightly. 

“My Lady?” He asked. “Are you alright?”

“My leg hurts. I may have sprained my ankle. How are you?” 

“I took a brunt force to the back when the building collapsed. It hurts, but...I can’t really feel my legs.” 

“Chat...” 

“Though, that could just be bad circulation. I’m in an awkward position.” 

Ladybug’s earrings chirped. 

“Crap,” she muttered. “I used my lucky charm. Do you think you can cataclysm your way out of here?” 

He twisted his neck in an effort to look around, though the dust of the rubble was still thick. He looked towards the light source above them, able to see where it was coming from, but it looked several feet away. “Negative, my lady. I think we might need some outside help for this one.” 

She bit her lip nervously. “I don’t hear anymore explosions.” 

“That’s good. Right? Maybe Hawkmoth thinks we got crushed and stopped his akuma.” 

“Yeah, that’s great…unless he’s got someone waiting to take our Miraculous’ off our corpses when we’re dug out of here.” 

“Ever the optimist, hmm?” 

“It’s my talent,” she smirked. Her earrings beeped again and she turned her ear toward Chat. “How much time do I have left?”

“Looks like two minutes.” 

“Great…”

“I can close my eyes.” He offered. They were basically nose to nose, and her hands where trapped below his arms, so she couldn’t reach up at all. 

“I…I don’t know…”

He raised his eyebrows. “You don’t know?”

“We need to find a way out of here,” she switched topics. “Or find a way to contact emergency services to get us out.” 

“My baton is still on my back, if you can reach it.” 

Ladybug groped around blindly, feeling for the staff. 

“That’s my butt.” 

“Oh, sorry.” She blushed, and then moved her hand up. Once she found it, she held it out to her side as she could see the screen. “I’m about to detransform, but I have a cookie for Tikki in my purse. As long as it’s still there, she should be able to recharge before they bust us out of here.” 

“I didn’t even think about that,” Chat winced. 

Ladybug dialed the number. 

“112, what’s your emergency?” 

“Hello, this is Ladybug and Chat Noir. We’re in a bit of a pickle.” 

“How can we help, Ladybug?” 

“A building collapsed on us, and we’re pinned and can’t get out. We’re on Rue de Lappe, not far from Bastille.” 

“I’ve got your location on my map. I’m sending the fire department your way.” 

“Is there any sign of the Akuma?” 

“We’ve gotten similar calls about being trapped, but they stopped coming in a few minutes ago.” 

“Thank you. I’m going to extend Chat’s Baton out through the rubble so they can find us.” 

“Alright, I will pass that information along. Good luck, Ladybug!” 

“Thank you!” Carefully, Ladybug aimed the Baton towards the little hole to the surface, and extended the staff, the top breaking through the topside. 

“And now...we wait.” Her earrings beeped again. 

“So...you don’t want me to close my eyes?” Chat asked for clarification.

“I’ve been thinking...if I’m the guardian, and something happens to Plagg, like he gets sick or something, you need to be able to find me out of the suit, you know? It’s just you and me...” 

“Does that mean you want to know my identity?” 

She grimaced. “I should but—“ 

In a flash of pink, Marinette remained, looking sheepishly at him. “...I need a little time to come to terms with this.” 

His eyes were impossibly wide, staring at her, drinking her in in the scant light. “Marinette? Marinette Dupain-Cheng?” 

“Howdy?” She squeaked. 

He squeezed his eyes shut.

“Chat?” She asked, fearfully. 

“Sorry,” he whispered. He opened his eyes again, and his lip wobbled. “I just—I’m trying really hard not to cry.” Despite this, a tear fell from his eye and landed on her cheek. 

She tried not to cry herself. “Are you that upset?” She whispered. 

“Upset?! No! How could I ever—Marinette, I’m thrilled beyond belief! If it was anyone else—“ he clenched his eyes shut again, as more tears started to fall. “I admire you, and trust you, and respect you more than anyone else.”

“Chat...”

He smiled tenderly. “You know, I had hunches. I was almost completely certain until Kwamibuster, too!” 

That made her wince again. “Oh Chat, you know I didn’t mean to lie to you...” 

“I know, I know, at the time, it was too risky.” He continued to smile, his tears subsiding. “I know this isn’t ideal, but I’m glad I get to see you now.” 

“Kinda makes Evillustrator funny, huh?” 

He laughed. “You’re right! I forgot about that! Hey! You called yourself cute!” 

“I am cute!” She pouted. 

“You are cute,” he agreed, taking her in. “I’ve stared at your face a lot, but you look so so different without the mask.” 

“It’s the glamour,” she elaborated. “That extra bit of magic that makes it hard to connect the dots.”

“I know how it works,” he smirked. 

“Right...sorry, this is just...weird.” 

“Good weird?” 

“I feel naked.” 

“You just say the word, and I’ll get naked with you.” 

She threw him an unamused look. “Don’t be gross.” 

“Sorry, I can’t help cracking jokes around you. Although, I’m sure you were wishing I was secret mystery boy right now instead, right?” He waggled his eyebrows in an attempt to hide his heartache. “So who is it? It’s Luka, right?” 

It was like she had her mask on again, cheeks red as a tomato. “No...it’s not Luka.” 

“Oh...aren’t you guys dating?” 

“Not anymore. We did, for like a week. If you could even call it dating. He just came over to my house during my downtime, and played his guitar while I worked on commissions and stuff. It was nice and all...but I prefer the piano.” She looked away. 

“Piano, hmm?” He smirked. “You know, I’m an excellent piano player...and the real mystery guy is too?” 

“You can’t laugh.” 

“I would never.” 

“I doubt that,” she said flatly. 

“I promise, I know you don’t like people shallowly. So whoever it is, I know it’s genuine.” He smiled softly, encouragingly. 

Marinette screwed up her lips and admitted, begrudgingly. “Fine. It’s Adrien. Adrien Agreste.” 

The sound that Chat let out was not a laugh. But it wasn’t a great sign. It was like a wheeze, but a gurgle. 

“What’s wrong?” 

“I just...” he blinked several times, trying to convince himself this wasn’t a dream. Ladybug was Marinette! And she had a crush on him! “I...am surprised, is all. I didn’t know you were...close?” 

“I sit behind him in class. He’s one of my best friends. Our best friends are dating, so sometimes we end up being third wheels together?” 

“Oh. And this is the same guy as before?” 

“It’s always been Adrien.” 

Chat hoped she couldn’t hear the pounding in his chest. “Oh...even when Glaciator hit? When I found you sad on your balcony?” 

“Yep. He was supposed to meet us for ice cream, and he didn’t show...I kind of told Andre that love was bogus, and that’s why he got akumatized.” 

Chat laughed at that. “Aww, it’s okay, Marinette. I’m sure he had a good reason for not showing up...” 

“I’m used to it,” she said dully. “His father is a huge pain in the ass. I used to respect him, but now...he’s a jerk. He constantly holds Adrien’s freedom ransom to make him do stuff. It kills me! You know when I was in New York?” 

“Yeah?” 

“I had to beg his father to let him go. It was a class trip, and he was the only one not allowed to go! Just because his father is so concerned with his safety.” 

“Can you blame the man? We’re currently trapped under a pile of rumble.” 

“But as soon as I’m out, I’ll lucky charm and cure everything! Poof! Sprained ankle gone! Whatever’s wrong with you, gone!” 

“What do you think your parents would do if they found out you were Ladybug?” 

Marinette thought for a moment, and answered honestly. “Probably be sort of angry, and worried. But I think they would understand. They respect us a lot, even after my dad got akumatized.” 

“Don’t remind me.” He groaned.

“What about your parents?” She asked. 

“My mom would have been excited. I think. Worried too, but excited for me. But my father...well, he’d rip off my miraculous and make sure I never saw the light of day again.” 

“That bad, hm?” 

“I’m not exaggerating. I’m in the same boat as Adrien, extremely sheltered.” 

“I’m sorry,” she smiled softly. “I didn’t know.” 

“I didn’t really want you to know. Chat Noir is supposed to be my safe place, my wild and crazy side. I’m afraid if I start talking about home, I’ll admit things that civilian me doesn’t want to.” He exhaled, his chest bumping with hers. “God, it is just so easy to talk to you. Now more than ever.” 

“Really? You know me that well?”

“I know enough. And maybe it’s just because I’ve got you pinned and you can’t go anywhere.” 

She laughed at that. “Well, we’ll probably be here for a while. And...I still want you to hide your identity for a while, but if you want to talk about your life a little more, that’s fine.”

“You sure?” 

“Yes. It really is time for us to know who each other are, I’m just...not ready.” She huffed, and his bangs fluttered. “This was unavoidable, but let’s plan for your reveal, so I can be emotionally prepared.” 

“You won’t be. You will cry.”

“You say that with an awful lot of certainty.” 

“Trust me, when you behold me in all of my unmasked glory, you’ll cry.” 

“Alright. Can’t wait to prove you wrong.” 

He smirked. 

“Chat? Are you shivering?”

“Uh…yeah, kinda.” 

“Are you cold?”

“Not…not exactly. I’m holding up a lot of rumble so it doesn’t crush you…and I’m pretty claustrophobic.”

“Why didn’t you say anything earlier!?”

He laughed, but it lacked any mirth and was filled with quiet panic. “Uh, just…you know…trying to stay calm.”

“What can I do to help?”

He exhaled shakily. “I don’t know, but talking about it isn’t helping.” 

“Okay, well, why don’t you keep eye contact with me, and…let’s just talk.”

“About what?”

“I know you’ve got a whole list of questions you’ve been dying to ask me. Now’s your chance.”

“Damn it!” He nearly shouted. “I had a whole notebook full of questions I wanted to ask you, but it’s at my house!”

“Well, you know where I live, so you can ask me some other time if you want.”

“Deal!” He screwed up his lips. “But first, since you mentioned it, Weredad.” 

“Oh god…”

“Why did you say you were in love with me?” 

She winced. “To be quite honest, I thought you were going to find out who I was…and the poor excuse just flew out of me before I could think through the consequences. I didn’t think my dad would overhear anything, and I didn’t think you’d show up for brunch.” 

“You didn’t think I’d show up? Me? The biggest gentleman in Paris?”

“Okay fine, I hoped you wouldn’t show up.” She rolled her eyes. 

“Now that I’m thinking about it, there’s a lot of shenanigans that could have been prevented if—hold the phone, how did you do Multimouse?!” 

“Fox miraculous,” she shrugged. 

“The Fox! Of course!” 

She laughed, his reaction calming her nerves. “I understand what you mean now, it’s easy to talk to you. It’s always easy, but I didn’t notice until you said it.” 

He wouldn’t meet her eyes. “You don’t always feel that way.”

“I mean, I get frustrated with your jokes when I’m trying to be serious, but that doesn’t mean—“ 

“That’s not what I meant.” 

“Oh?”

He swallowed thickly. “Civilian me…you…you have a hard time…” He trailed off, not looking at her face. 

“Chat?”

“Did you ever tell Adrien? That you…you know?”

She tilted her head at the sudden topic change. “Uh…no. I tried, but it was never meant to be. Every time I did, something would go catastrophically wrong.” 

“Like what?” 

“Like...I gave him this scarf, right? For his birthday. And I forgot to sign it initially, so I snuck into his house and left a sticky note on it. Somehow, it still managed to go wrong, and he thought it was from his dad.” 

Chat stared at her, wide eyed. “And you never told him?” 

“No, he was happy believing that it was from his dad. His happiness is all I want.” 

It was hard to describe the look on Chat’s face. Almost pained, but still full of love. Like seeing something so precious it brings you to tears. “You did that for him? You really love him that much?”

She looked away, “Unfortunately.” 

“Why unfortunately? Is he a jerk?”

“No, not at all. I just…I know he doesn’t love me back. ‘Oh Marinette, you’re such a great friend.’ ‘I’m so glad I have a friend like you.’ ‘Please stay my friend forever!’” She shook her head. “That boy has me firmly friend-zoned.” 

He winced, “I’m sure he didn’t mean it like that. He probably really really likes you, and just wants you to know how much he appreciates your friendship.” 

“And that’s another reason I can’t confess. He doesn’t have a lot of friends, and I don’t want to ruin our friendship.” She groaned. “I sound so pathetic! It’s so stupid.” She shook her head. “I wish I had your bravery.” 

“My bravery isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. It’s gotten me hurt pretty badly, after all.” 

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize,” he smiled at her softly. “You feel how you feel, and I just hurt myself.” He gnawed at his lip. “Actually…can I ask a really dumb question?”

“I don’t see why not.” 

“You don’t have to answer it…actually, no. I shouldn’t ask at all. Nevermind.”

“Well now you have to ask,” she chuckled. “I’m curious.” 

He rolled his eyes. “Okay, but don’t hate me.” 

She nodded him on.

“Why…why did you go out with Luka if you knew I loved you? Do you also like Luka? Or…are you just that…repulsed by me?”

Marinette’s mouth fell open in quiet shock, and she inhaled some dust. She turned so she wouldn’t cough in his face at least. 

“Sorry,” he tried to sooth. “I told you it was stupid. You can date whoever you want…” 

She cleared her throat, and then wheezed out. “You just wanted it to be you.”

“…yeah…”

“Chat,” she leaned up to tap her nose against his. “To say I have absolutely no feelings for you would be a lie.” 

He looked hopeful. “Really?”

“They’re still developing. But I noticed thoughts I have about you sometimes. Missing you, thinking you’re cute…but Luka was the safer option at the time. I was trying desperately to get over Adrien. Luka and I weren’t really friends first, so if it didn’t work out, it wasn’t a big loss. But with you…” She looked into his eyes, an insurmountable amount of pain and unsaid words just beyond his reach. “I could lose everything.” 

“You won’t lose me, My Lady.” He said softly. 

“Oh kitty,” she moaned. “I…I never want to lie to you…but there’s something that I haven’t told you. Something I should have a long time ago. I just…don’t like thinking about it.” 

“What is it?”

“Chat Blanc.” 

At her hesitation, he prodded her on. “What’s a Chat Blanc?”

Her whole face tightened, lips curling into a thin line, eyes squinted hard, and brow furrowed. “It’s…he’s your akumatized self.” 

“What?” He breathed. “But I’ve never been akumatized.”

“No, not anymore. You see…Bunnyx helped with it. Somehow, the event of me signing a gift to Adrien triggered a series of events that got you akumatized. I don’t know what the correlation was, but…you knew my name, and you said our love destroyed the world.” 

“The world?”

“I hate thinking about it,” she winced again. “The whole of Paris flooded, the Eiffel tower knocked on it’s side, the moon exploded. Everyone, including me and Hawkmoth, turned to dust. You cried when you saw me. You asked me to save you, but you also wanted my earrings, wanting to fix everything yourself. So we fought.” 

“I assume you won, if you’re here.” 

“Yeah...the Akuma was in your bell. Your all white bell, on your white suit, with your white hair and blue eyes...” she shuttered. “I still see you like that in my nightmares.” 

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” 

“I didn’t want to mention it. I didn’t want to worry you, and I didn’t want to remember. I knew I should have told you sooner, though. I’m sorry.” 

“...I understand.” He swallowed and exhaled in a whoosh, all the debris above them shifting. He moaned, ending with a hiss. 

“Chat?”

“Sorry, I moved and realized that I’m a little more hurt than I thought.” 

“What’s ‘a little more hurt’?” 

“Uh…I think I’m…I’ve been impaled?”

“What!?”

“It’s not that bad, the suit took most of the pain. I just…am having a little hard time breathing, and I thought it was from my claustrophobia, but I think something is lodged in me.” 

Very carefully, Marinette reached up and felt along his back. A lot of debris was laying flush to his suit, but as she moved her hand around, she noticed he felt wet and sticky. 

“Yeah, I think you’re bleeding, kitty.” She said so sadly. She touched where the wound was and he cried out in pain. It was his lower back, by his spine. 

“I’m sorry!” She pulled her hand away. 

“S’kay,” he hissed out. “God damn, that hurt.” 

“I promise, as soon as we get out of here, I’ll magic you right as rain. Just...just hold on, kitty.” 

He opened an eye to look at her, still fond through his pain. “Are you panicking?” 

“Yes! I was worried when the building collapsed, but now I’m on the verge of pure panic!” 

“I must admit, this is not how I expected today to go.” He breathed slowly, the pain subsiding when he held still. “Actually, I didn’t imagine this happening when I found out who you are. You being Marinette is like…the cherry on top of a diarrhea sundae.” 

“Do you like cherries?” 

“I love cherries.” He whispered. “I got grounded today.” 

“Oh.” 

“I was having lunch with my father, a rare treat. My friend texted me and I answered without thinking. My father became upset that I would do something so ‘rude’. He said if my friends were more important than him, then he shouldn’t bother eating with me. Then he took my phone.” 

“That’s the kind of assholery that I’ve come to expect from Adrien’s dad. You’re in that boat too?” 

“Unfortunately, yes. Come to think of it…he’s probably the reason I got akumatized in that other timeline.” 

“You think so?” 

“It’s a hunch. I don’t often get upset about things, but when I do, it’s usually because of him.” He sighed, ending with a wince. “That’s something I haven’t admitted to myself until now.” 

“Kitty...” 

“I didn’t mean to bring that up...” 

“It’s okay. I’m glad you did. I want to be able to support you where you need it.” She could see that he was spiraling into depression, and quickly sought to remedy that. “What was your daydream like? When you would find out who I was?” 

A twitch of a smile took his face. “I knew I would spend a long time staring at you, memorizing what you look like without the mask.” He took a shaky breath. “And I thought, when we decided to share our identities, it would be because you finally fell for me. So there was a kiss. And a lot of roses. It was sappy...but it made me happy to think about it.” 

“Can I ask...what it is that you love so much about me? In case you don’t know, there’s a lot of differences between Marinette and Ladybug.” 

“I know,” he smiled. “But there’s plenty of similarities. Your strength, for example.” 

She laughed. “Chat, Ladybug can throw you across the city. But Marinette couldn’t even lift you.” 

“I bet you could! We should test it later! But I meant your strength of heart.”

“You sound like an anime character.” 

“Well, it’s important to me.” He blushed. “You aren’t wishy-washy. You don’t cater to the voices around you. You do what’s right. You want justice. Even when akumas and civilians tell us to go or step down, you get up and fight.”

“I do that?”

“Yes. The day you stood up to Hawkmoth, and you promised Paris that you would fight for them until the end? That moment, I said, ‘no matter who that girl is, I love her.’ And even now, it hasn’t stopped. I may even love you more.” 

“Chat…” She sniffed. “I…I care about you so much. And I know that if Adrien wasn’t in view, I’d fall for you hard and fast. But I can’t.” 

“I know, Marinette. Just knowing…that maybe someday…”

“All the more reason to get rid of Hawkmoth, right?” 

He nodded, a tear slipping from his eye and landing on her cheek. “Today sucks.” 

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s really not your fault. And I’d much prefer that you were here, under me, than being alone. I’m handling my claustrophobia a lot better because of it.”

“I’d much rather be under you too.” 

He gave her a smile, and then snorted with a little blush. “Oh my lady…”

“I thought we were being mature.”

“Me? Mature? Come on.”

“Yeah, I should have known better.” 

“You’re beautiful too,” he added. “I’ve always thought so. As Ladybug and Marinette. I saw you with your hair down once, and it’s haunted me ever since.” 

“You saw me with my hair down?” She questioned, trying to ignore the hot blush on her cheeks. 

“Yeah, it looked really nice on you. I know it’s not practical for crime fighting, but…” 

“Maybe for a patrol,” she offered. “When things are calm.”

A smile graced his face as he sighed deeply. 

The pile above them shifted, and Chat let out a cry of pain. 

“Kitty?”

“This sucks!” He moaned, leaning his forehead down to her face. “Sorry, whatever is in me moved, and I really felt it.”

“Please don’t apologize, Chat. If anything, I should apologize, you took the hit for me!” 

“My Lady…you didn’t do anything wrong. If I can help it, I will never let you get hurt.” 

She closed her eyes, trying not to cry. “It breaks my heart that you would do that. I don’t want you to be a meat shield, I want you to be my partner.” 

“You said it yourself. Once we’re out of here, you’ll do Miraculous Cure and set me right. So I’ll take the hits if I have to.” He sucked in a harsh breath. “Even if it hurts like a bitch.” 

With her hands trapped at her sides, she couldn’t reach up and wipe his tears away. So she opted for the next best thing. She leaned up and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you for protecting me. I know you’re going to say it’s your job, but I really do appreciate how much you look out for me.”

“I love you, Marinette. Of course I’m going to protect you.” 

She shook her head slightly. “How can you just say that so casually?” 

“Why bother hiding it? You know already. I’m not going to bottle it up.” 

“I just…wish I could do that. With Adrien. I wish I could walk right up to him and say, ‘I love you, you magnificent human being’ and crush my lips to his perfect face.” 

Chat hid his blushing face in her shoulder. “You should. I bet you’d make his day.” 

“Yeah, or he’d freak out, and sue me for sexual harassment, and then I’ll be the laughing stock of the school, no, all of Paris! The whole world, maybe!”

“Do you often catastrophize?” He chuckled. “I’ve heard you do it before.” 

“Usually only with Adrien. I just…don’t want to mess things up.” 

“I don’t think you will. I know Adrien. He’s a nice boy. He won’t turn you down.” 

“You can’t possibly know that.” 

“Call me a psychic.” 

She scoffed. “Whatever.” Then she shook her head. “Whether or not you’re confident he won’t reject me…I don’t think I’ll ever tell him. I’ve tried to get over him, but I just look at him and melt all over again. I’m sorry Chat.”

He was quiet, his face resting next to her head, cheek against her ear. After a moment of contemplation, he asked, “hey, you like pink, right?”

“Oh? Uh, yeah.”

“I’ll do it tomorrow. A dozen pink roses, maybe some red and white in there too for flavor.” 

“You’re doing what tomorrow?”

“I’m going to reveal my identity tomorrow.”

“After all that? What about Adrien?”

“Don’t worry about him right now. I’ve been thinking. If you and I know who each other are, in a crisis, we’d be able to communicate better.” 

“What do you mean? What kind of crisis?”

“I’m just trying to imagine what happened with my akuma. If there was a problem with my father or miscommunication, we could better solve it without identities in the way.” 

“Okay, yes…” she considered. “But please don’t get your hopes up, okay? I would love to spend time with you out of the suit, but I won’t fall for you instantly.” 

“I suppose you’re right. After all, how can I compare to the amazingly handsome Adrien Agreste? Well, he won’t be a problem for much longer.” 

She frowned. “You say that like you’re going to kill him.”

He laughed. “No no, Bugaboo,” he said fondly. “Look, everything will make sense tomorrow, I promise…as long as I don’t bleed out down here first.” 

“You’re acting really jovial for someone with a mortal flesh wound.” 

“Tis a scratch.” He breathed a shuddering breath. “Or so I hope.” 

“Ladybug! Chat Noir!” A male voice called from up above. 

“Ugh, finally,” Marinette muttered to herself. “We’re down here!” She called. 

“We’ll get you out as soon as we can! Any injuries?” 

“Chat has a…bit of a scrape.” 

“An ambulance is on the way!” 

Marinette didn’t want to tell him it didn’t matter. Once she did the cure, he’d be right as rain. 

Right?

“Marinette,” Tikki piped up. “I’m all set, whenever you are.” 

“Alright. Tikki, Spots on!”

The pink flash only helped the first responders locate them quicker. 

“There’s the baton!” His voice sounded closer. The light above was distorted by a rain of plaster, before it was replaced by flashlight light. “Hello?”

“We’re down here!” Ladybug called, moving her arm under Chat. 

“Can either of you move?”

“Chat’s pinned, but I might be able to wiggle out, with some help.”

“We’ll get a sling. We might be able to pull you up and out.”

“Once I get my arms free, I should be able to cast the cure and set everything right.” 

“Great plan, Ladybug! We’ll have you out in a minute.”

Ladybug nudged Chat’s nose with her own. “I’ll cast it as soon as I’m free. Can you hold out that long?”

“I’ll have a dozen pink roses. And I’ll wear something nice, like a sweater. Or maybe a dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up. I heard the ladies love that.” 

“Chat?”

“I’m trying to focus on something else instead of being trapped.” He explained. “Sorry, I might not be very useful for the next few minutes.”

“Okay,” she kissed his cheek. “You do what you have to.” 

The fire department lowered a strap attached to a chain into the hole. “If you can maneuver that under your arms, we can pull you out.”

Using Chat’s Baton, Ladybug was able to pull the strap closer. Very slowly and carefully, she wriggled it under her armpits, careful not to jostle Chat in the process. 

“Jewelry could be fun. I know she doesn’t like it when I’m extravagant, but surely she would cherish it if I gave her a ring.” He had his eyes shut tight, his brow furrowed. 

Ladybug gave Chat a pitiful look. 

“Alright, I’m ready!” Ladybug called to the rescue crew. 

She was pulled out from under Chat. Though, she had been supporting his lower half, and he sank to the ground as she slid away from him. This jostled the debris violently, and he cried out in horrible, agonizing pain. It was the worst sound she had ever heard. 

“Chat!” 

He kept howling, sounding like he was being ripped apart from the inside out. 

Ladybug pushed on the piles around her, hurrying to get free. 

The moment she broke the surface, she called for her Lucky Charm. 

It was a rose, and she teary-eyed through it up into the air, and called for the cure. 

The explosion of Ladybug’s surrounded her, mending her ankle and silencing Chat’s cries. 

She touched down on solid, undisturbed concrete, and turned to find Chat face down on the ground. 

“Kitty!” She cried, voice cracking as she rushed to him. 

He pushed up on one arm. “I’m okay, My Lady. Just a little winded.” 

“Are you sure?” 

He stood slowly and stretched. “Yeah. All cured.” 

She hugged him. Tight and sure, maybe squeezing a little harder than she should. 

“Bug, I can’t breathe.” He chuckled. 

“Sorry, I just...”

He hugged her back. “I’m never going to turn down a hug though.” 

Her earrings beeped. 

“Are you both alright?” Asked the EMT on the scene. 

“We’re all better,” Chat assured. “Thank you for your help!” He gathered Ladybug close to him and put an arm around her waist. “We gotta go though!” 

Ladybug only had a second to realize what he was doing, before she was lifted off her feet and into the air. 

“I can travel myself, you know. I still have time.” 

“Sure,” he shrugged. 

He carried her all the way to her balcony, before setting her down. Her transformation ran out just as they landed. 

“Thanks for the lift, Kitty.” She scratched under his chin. But as she looked in his eyes, she saw tears. “Chat?” 

He sniffled and hugged her again. “Just...a sucky day. I wanted to hug you in privacy. I know how you get when people assume things about us.”

“Well, it’s different when you’re getting handsy and when you need comfort from a traumatic experience.” 

“I never get handsy,” he argued. “I just like to be close. I’m touch starved.” 

“Well, from what you told me today, I believe you.”

He laughed mirthlessly, and pulled away. “I really do feel better now.” He reached up and cupped her face, letting his thumb trail across the apple of her cheek. “No matter how bad this day was, it will never taint the absolute elation of finally seeing you.” 

“Chat...” she blushed. 

“I must be the luckiest man on Earth. Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Ladybug, all rolled into one. I can’t believe it.” 

“Two transformations and you still don’t believe me?” 

He smiled. “My brain believes, but my heart never gets so optimistic.” He cast his gaze away. “Even if you...change your mind...” he mused. 

“About what?” 

“Nothing. Never mind. I’ll just...see you tomorrow. With a dozen pink roses.” 

“I’ll get a vase ready.” 

He reluctantly pulled away, like tearing himself from her was physically painful. He hopped up on the railing of her balcony, and with a little salute, he hopped into the night. 

“I’m proud of you, Marinette.” Said Tikki. “It had to be hard being that honest with him. 

“I didn’t really have a choice. I can’t imagine how much worse that experience would have been for him with his eyes closed the whole time.” 

“It’s over now. And tomorrow, you’ll know who he is too!” 

Marinette whined. “I don’t know if I’m ready for that...” 

“It’s a little late for that. What? Are you going to run at the first sight of flowers?” 

“I might.” 

“It’ll be fine. Marinette, I know who Chat is. And I promise, it’ll all work out fine. Great even. Just, take a shower, and go to bed. Then you can wake up early and mentally prepare yourself.” 

Marinette chuckled as she dropped back down into her room. “What would I do without you as a life coach?”

“Sleep through most classes.” 

“It was a rhetorical question.” 

—

In the morning, with the extra sleep Tikki had urged her to get, Marinette rose and dressed. 

Then the nerves turned on. 

“What if I just fake sick?” 

“Don’t you dare! You’d hurt his feelings!” 

“You’re right...but I really do feel like I might throw up.” 

“Just relax. You’re going to love this.” 

“If you say so...” 

After breakfast, Marinette wandered over to school leisurely. Tikki would say she was stalling, but Marinette would disagree and state she was simply taking advantage of being early. 

At the front steps, students were gathered. No roses. In the courtyard, teens milled about. No roses. In the locker room, her locker was devoid of anything that wasn’t supposed to be in there. 

“Well well well,” said Alya, with too much bravado. “Lookie who’s early!” 

“Yuck it up. I was tired and went to bed early last night.” 

“You sure you aren’t eager to see Adrien today? He looks pretty cute in that button up.” 

In all the confusion surrounding Chat, Marinette had honestly forgotten about Adrien. Her. Forget about Adrien. Perish the thought. 

“I mean...it would be a bonus.” She muttered. 

“Well, he’s up in the classroom. If you were wondering.” 

She wasn’t. Or hadn’t been, until now. But it seemed that Chat wasn’t ready to reveal himself yet, and Marinette still had time to prepare. 

She ascended the steps and headed to the classroom. 

What she wasn’t expecting, was seeing Adrien standing there, sunlight filtering through the window to make a halo in his hair. He wore a black button up shirt, sleeves rolled up, and had a dozen pink roses in his hands as he talked to Nino. 

Dare she hope? Dare she dream?

She just stood in the doorway, staring, before he noticed her. 

“Good morning, Marinette.” He smiled at her, looking warm and inviting and…nervous?

“Goo-goo-good morning, Adrien.” She stumbled. She glanced down to the flowers, then up to his face. “Um…those don’t happen to be for me, do they?”

With a twinkle in his eye, he smirked. “Why? Just because something is pink, you think it’s for you?”

She deflated. “Haha, right…that was really forward of me.”

With a pleasant hum, he leaned in and whispered in her ear. “I’m just messing with you, My Lady. These are for you.” He placed the bouquet in her shell-shocked hands. 

“My...?” She breathed. The word was just a whisper, barely heard by even him. 

His smile was broad and gleeful, squinting his eyes and coloring his cheeks. “Mmm-hmm!!” He hummed eagerly as he nodded. 

Marinette had to shut her eyes as a sound like a laugh and a sob burst from her lips. Tears started immediately, and there was no way to stop it. 

“I told you you would cry,” he teased. 

“You jerk!” She blubbered. Then she tossed the flowers at a confused Nino before throwing her arms around Adrien, and sobbing into his shoulder. “I love you, Kitty.” 

He squeezed her back. “Do you really? Because I’m getting mixed signals.” 

“You’re awful. You’re wonderful. I’m a mixed bag of emotions. Just hold me.” 

“Can do!”

As other students came in, seeing the couple embraced, they gave them thumbs up and congratulatory back pats. 

And then Lila entered. 

She halted, hid her sneer, and said, “oh no! Marinette! What’s wrong? Why are you crying on Adrien like that?” 

He patted Marinette’s hair. “Happy tears, no worries.” 

Marinette refused to let Lila ruin this moment. It was far too perfect. Adrien was far too perfect, the flowers, her kitty...

Mustering all her strength, she hooked her arms under his, turned and spun his into a dip. 

“My lady?” He breathed, in awe. 

“You’re the love of my life. I should have kissed you yesterday. I definitely wanted to.” 

“You did?” He smiled drunkenly. 

“Yes, like this.” And she slammed her lips to his, kissing him just like she had in her dreams. 

Adrien let out a contented little mewl as he tangled his fingers in her hair. 

The class went wild with roars and cheers. 

Before she could drop him, Marinette righted Adrien. “Sorry, I just...wanted to do that for a while now.”

Adrien nuzzled her cheek with his nose. “Oh don’t worry, Bugaboo. You can smooch me whenever.” 

Nino made a gagging sound. 

“Oh, well I’m very happy for you guys,” Lila feigned a smile. “But Adrien, are you sure your father will be okay with this?” 

Chloe, who had known this was coming since she saw the roses, stood and stalked over. “Okay, you’re done. Bye!” 

“Chloe, I’m just trying to be rational...” 

“And Adrien is the most deserving person for a happy ending...even if it’s with Dupain-Cheng.” She cast Marinette a glance and rolled her eyes. Then she looked back at Lila. “Though, he could do worse.” 

This made Marinette and Adrien giggle. 

Lila scoffed. “Fine! Make me the bad guy! But don’t come crying to me when Gabriel tells you to break it off!” 

Adrien whispered in his new girlfriend’s ear. “Even if my father makes Adrien and Marinette break up, Ladybug and Chat Noir follow their own rules. It might not be the most fun, but we’ll make it. Then, once I’m 18, I’ll propose.” 

Marinette laughed, kissing him swiftly. “Oh my sweet kitty. Let’s take it slow for a little while. We have the rest of our lives to be that insufferable couple.” 

Alya, who had come in not that long after Marinette but stood quietly in the door, finally spoke up. “Adrien, I couldn’t bear to tear you away from your Princess. So I’ll take your seat.” 

Adrien just grinned in gratitude and hugged Marinette. “This makes that building collapse yesterday totally worth it.” 

“Does that mean...you had a crush on me?” She teased.

“No, my Lady, I fell for you.”

[gale-gentlepenguin]

Gale Reviews: Miraculous World Shanghai: The Legend of Lady Dragon

Spoilers below.

-OH some lore!

-Wow for Shifu, his students got bought out.

-OMG ITS THE JERK IS THE GUY AT THE END OF THE NY SPECIAL. Interesting

-BABY FEI!

-HE DIED! WTF

-She got robbed. So she failed badly

-Like the intro to this. Damn its crisp

-So Marinette is living her best life right now. Love that ladybug and chat noir bonding.

-Marinette gotta deliver a gift to the post office for her uncle.

-ADRIEN IS IN SHANGHAI!

-Marinetter got a lot of information on Adrien, some of which I'm question means of which she acquired. XD

-So Marinette realized she could use the gift delivery as a chance to maybe meet up with Adrien. That isn't really that bad. Its actually really clever.

-Gorilla is best boy.

-Adrien just wants to spend time with his dad. F*** YOU Gabriel.

-Oh damn! Gabriel has the Prodigious! And apparently its more powerful than the miraculous? WTF. Nooru knows about this

-Gabriel of course sucks and won't listen. Because Gabriel is a desperate whore.

-what do you MEAN 15 years ago? Gabriel how deep is this evil hole

-Marinette honey no, I love her. but wow. Her parents are so happy tho.

-Marinette's parents are the best. STOP SALTING THEM.

-Her uncle is so happy to see her.

-Marinette, APPRECIATE YOUR UNCLE!

-I love The uncle.

-Gabriel is such a jerk. Adrien just wants to spend time with him.

-Oh wow the restaurant looks great.

-CHENG LORE! ALSO SABINE IS SO CUTE AS A KID.

-SABINE'S REAL NAME IS XIA PING! I am so happy to know this!

-He is making good points. She could get lost.

-Marinette tracking him. also Kwami speak all languages. Neat

-I just realized... did neither ladybug or chat noir tell each other that they are out of Paris?

-Adrien out with his dad (Gorilla) for walk is precious.

-PROTECT GORILLA HE IS A BEAN!

-Oh Gabriel being a jerk. what else is new?

-How does Gabriel know about this all? I am so confused.

-Fei is back. She is strong. Also She is a kind person.

-Oh no... she is actually trying to rob people.

-Oh she can disguise herself.

-And GABRIEL STILL SUCKS

-PLAGG is still Plagg. I missed seeing plagg.

- So if Marinette had stayed at the restaurant and chilled with her uncle. ADRIEN WOULD HAVE SHOWED UP. This is what happens when you are TOO THIRSTY!

-Marinette found him.

-and Fei just robbed her. Like HOW DID MARINETTE GET ROBBED SO EASILY?! Marinette is confirmed easy mark.

-Marinette she just robbed her don't help her

-and marinette just realized she is LOST IN SHANGHAI!

-Oh damn Fei is kicks butt.

-Adrien is so happy Marinette is in Shanghai! Thats so sweet. The Uncle ships it. The Bird ships it.

-Adrien you are a sweet bean. But I want to sock you for calling her just a friend.

-HOLD UP, HOW CAN GORILLA HAVE AN EAGLE action figure. Isn't this special suppose to take place between season 2 and 3? I am so confused.

-Marinette is lost, and she is lost.

-ADRIEN BONDING WITH HIS FUTURE IN-LAWS

-Adrien just confirmed she is always late.

-The old lady trying to help. Thats so nice.

-Fei, that guy is the d-bag that screwed over your adoptive dad!

-Guy is such a d-bag

-So Fei was being a jerk.

-Oh they are trying to return the necklace.

-Oh Fei speaks French, how convenient

-Fei feels guilty. GOOD

-Goriila is a bean.

-OH THEY ARE WORRIED.

-ADRIEN GONNA SEARCH FOR HIS FRIEND! YES! MARICHAT TIME.

-Chat noir transformation remix! Nice.

-They are making the police efficient here.

-Well Fei is gonna keep feeling guilty about this.

-Chat noir making Parisian heroes look good.

-Fei is gonna feel super guilty about this.

-THE PARROT IS SENTIENT!

-They found the earrings.

-Fei is pissed.

-Tikki found Marinette.

-Fei got fast hands

-Fei redemption arc now.

-OH NO, THE GUY REALIZED IT.

-Fei gonna fight them.

-THE GUYS FROM EARLIER!? They are great.

-Chat noir calling ladybug out of concern for marinette. So cute.

-Gabriel is such an a**hole. He remembered Marinette but not his own son.

-Fei revealing origins now. Oh damn.

-The guy is the one who ruined everything.

-Liar revealed. What a shock (not)

-So this guy is gonna be akumatized. Well he is a jerk. Gabriel knows how to pick em.

-FEI! KICK HIM AGAIN!

-King Money?! NICE NAME.

-Oh damn King Money looks boss as heck.

-Ladybug is finally here.

-I saw that sigh. You love your kitty Ladybug.

-That ladynoir is so strong.

-Fei is pretty boss.

-Oh no! THEY GONNA OPEN THE VAULT.

-I love that vault. The cave looks sweet.

-The guy realized it, kind of a smart man.

-What was Hawkmoth planning for 15 years?!

-Oh damn that power! Oh snap.

-The dragon guard look sick.

-Hawkmoth pulling a baller move with that. Like "B**** I aint fighting your guardian."

-Ladybug on the scene.

-Fei unlocked the power.

-WOW LADY DRAGON LOOKS REALLY COOL. And the Renlings looks kind of cool. Prodigious seems interesting.

-Renlings, the spirits of Human values. And, most of them look better than the Kwami, except plagg. Plagg is the best.

-Oh wow so they have neat requirements.

-SHE CAN SHAPE SHIFT! AMAZING

-I WANT THE PRODIGEOUS

-Only noble people can use the dragon.

-Revenge aint noble

-CHAT NOIR TO THE RESCUE!

-HE AKUMATIZED THE DRAGON GUARD GUY!

-Yan Woshi! OH DAMN, HAWKMOTH BE PLAYING FOR KEEPS!?

-This akuma maybe one of the best ones yet.

-HE LOOKS SO COOL.

-PLOT TWIST! HAWKMOTH ACTUALLY CARES ABOUT HIS SON FOR ONCE! I am shook.

-HAWKMOTH GOT THANOSED. So Hawkmoth cares instantly loses. XD

-"Is that good news or bad news?" Chat noir, you are right. But thats your dad

-RUN ITS NOT GODZILLA!

-Ladybug and Chat noir getting their butt kicked.

-Fei also getting wrecked.

-Zag confirmed furry

-Fei just left them high and dry.

-And Chat noir is dead! ANGST.

-Ladybug gonna talk some sense into her.

-The mascara smeared. Thats real sadness.

-Cue power of friendship talk.

-Fei saves her with the power of friendship.

-dragon v. dragon fight!

-Oh I like this lucky charm.

- Yaloshi is his name now? (these subs are confusing)

-Oh snap, the power of team work! And fighting in the belly of the beast.

-THAT LADYNOIR HUG.

-They tied up the guy.

-Fei should have killed the guy.

-Meishi is adorable.

-I LOVE THIS LITTLE CONVERSATION. THEY ARE GONNA PRETEND TO RACE. and then show up later.

-Oh fei, marinette AND Adrien are celebrating his birthday. Thats cute.

-They BOTH SAID IT! I Cant even! (also I see you Adrien, you aint slick)

-The boys crushing on Fei.

-Adrien has such soft looks for Marinette.

____________________________________________________________

So overall. The beginning was a tiny bit cringe, but not as bad as the trailer made it out to be.

I really liked Fei. She grows on ya. And I liked Lady dragon. I liked the renlings

I will say it is a better special in terms of Lore and plot than the NY special. It was lacking in the love square interactions that I wanted. But they were still cute when they had them. I do think there are a few plot holes, like Eagle being an action figure. WHEN DID THIS SPECIAL TAKE PLACE. (Edit, found out it was an animation error, NVM)

Also, now the elephant in the room? Was the special racist?

The answer is, no.

It wasn't racist, so we can all calm down about it?

So I give it an 8/10

The lore being my favorite parts.

[anigerrrr]

Girl’s Talk

Natasha Romanoff x Carol Danvers

Word count: 1.5k

Summary: Kamala is introduced to Yelena, and she’s also the biggest fan of her sister’s ship- CarolNat.

Warning: Fluff, Protective Yelena, Kamala ships CarolNat, Slight Thor/Loki(mentioned)

a/n: Just random pieces written after having my covid vaccine yesterday lol I’m not sure how will Marvel deal with Kamala’s superpower in the upcoming series so I only mention a bit of it. Enjoy!

/

“Ok, can anyone tell me why we always have a new kid in the compound?”

Yelena puffed as she entered the compound a bit later than usual, and she saw her sister, Carol and an unfamiliar teenager already standing there.

She came over to join them, gazing at the new girl with distrust.

“Yelena, did you just call yourself in the third person?” Carol teased, and she shrugged suggestively to the redhead who actually couldn’t hold her laugh back for this moment.

“Ha, is it some kind of 90’s joke?” Yelena retaliated. Apparently the younger blonde didn’t get enough sleep hours last night, it always resulted in her grumpy reactions to anybody. “If so, Captain, you really need to update your comedy list on Netflix.”

“Hey,” Natasha chuckled amusedly between the two blonde women as Carol protested, “just because I aged slowly, it didn’t mean I’m out of date.”

“In case you wanna know,” Natasha raised one brow and showed her support to the blonde Captain- “She actually likes to watch The Tonight Show during our dinner time.”

-by telling their sort-of secret aloud. It’s not gonna harm the redhead spy herself, though.

“What?” Kamala finally had a chance to let out her voice, “you can’t tell me the mighty Captain Marvel, my idol, watches late-night talk shows when having some spaghetti. It’s simply out of character.”

Carol frowned, “excuse me?”

“Ugh, ok.” Yelena opened her mouth with hesitation. “No, not ok, I don’t get it. Did you just call her- ” her head was pointing to the other blonde woman, “- your idol ?”

“Am I supposed to feel offended?” Carol mumbled nearby Natasha’s ear, lowering her voice to avoid any foreseeable conflict for now.

“Um, yeah.” Kamala rolled her eyes to the much taller woman standing right in front of her, and her voice sounded genuinely fearless. “Can’t you see that? She’s Carol Danvers!”

Natasha grinned back at the blonde woman, and only teased quietly, “see, someone really has a crush on you.”

Carol blushed in the tiniest way, opening her mouth slightly but had no idea what to argue. Our Captain couldn’t even tell if the redhead was seriously jealous. Fantastic.

“So you like the name or the glowing part?” Yelena hummed, and tried to hide the little noises from her stomach out of hunger.

“All of them, I guess?”

“Oh, I got it now.” The younger widow turned to her sister, and was not surprised that Natasha had been checking on her already. “We’re having a superhero fan tour here.”

Yelena wanted to get her breakfast as soon as possible, so she tried to be nice and not to get involved in this duty. “Enjoy your day then, just don’t touch any fluffy things around here. The cat can literally swallow people, and the raccoon will shoot you in the head.”

“What? No!” The brown haired girl shouted, “I’m not here for a tour.”

“Yelena, she’s a new member in the team- ” Agent Romanoff finally introduced, and took a quick glance at Carol with a playful smile. “- another one with super power, yes.”

“…wait, what?”

“Not that kind of power to control thunder like Thor or to trick like Loki- by the way, aren’t they a lovely couple?” Kamala explained a little bit, and suddenly changed the subject triggered by her interest.

“Ugh, it’s not officially announced.” Natasha was surprised to hear the little girl’s words, a status that not many people had learned about- even in the avengers’ team.

Impressed. Yelena stared at the kid and thought, still needed her breakfast, though.

“New kids.” Carol shrugged, “we’re actually talking about tomorrow’s mission.”

The redhead immediately started glaring at the blonde Captain.

“You’re leaving for days? Tomorrow?” And Yelena tiled her head to her older sister. She’d better not be the last person to know this.

Clearly someone had forgotten their domestic plan for tomorrow.

“Well, not ‘for days’,  I’ll be back before you know it. At least that was the plan.” Natasha looked a bit…nervous, but not speechless. By her side, the Captain who’s in charge of the mission seemed to be awkward for a minute, and they shared a look of silent communication.

“Yelena, you’re welcomed to- ”

“Uh- uh, no. I’m not interested in being the third wheel in your mission date. Besides, I’ve got my own thing to deal with as well. Just remember to pick me up at 8, and feed Fanny before you leave the house, it’s your turn.” Yelena shook her head quickly like nothing’s gonna convince her, and the other young superhero goggled upon hearing some keywords.

“Wait, you two are dating? ” Kamala asked in excitement, “oh my god, CarolNat is real.”

“Well, it’s- we’re…” the blonde Captain suddenly stuttered, “we’re close, yes. That’s true.”

Natasha rolled her eyes back to show her feedback towards Carol’s explanation, and refused to make any eye contact with her sister who just accidentally sold their privacy to the newest avenger.

“Oh, I thought that was your superpower.” Yelena shrugged to the two older women, kind of feeling sorry for the coming out declaration she made for them. “Like, telling the lovebirds in a group of people.”

Kamala gave her a ‘seriously?’ look, “nobody owns a superpower like that.”

“You never can tell.”

“Ok, things got a little tense here.” Carol tried to calm them both down before they made a wrong impression on each other. “It’s time for breakfast, how about I make you guys some really nice omelette?”

“Oh God.” Natasha sighed exaggeratedly, but she didn’t deny the purpose. When Carol turned, she just pushed her sister’s shoulder and forced the younger blonde to follow. “C’mon Yelena, you love eggs.”

“I never said that.”

“Wow, Captain Marvel is making me an omelette…am I dreaming?”

“Never had a nightmare before?”

“Yelena!”

*

“So…”

A half hour later, Yelena was staring at her plate and trying to figure out why it’s not like a normal ‘omelette’ she had seen on television. “In what universe an omelette looks like this?”

“Well, it’s not that bad.” Natasha took a bite of hers, perfectly ignoring the fact that it resembled more scrambled eggs rather than an omelette.

“Stop being rude- ”As they both saw Carol and Kamala on their way to the table, Natasha squeezed her sister’s hand and ordered softly, “and tomorrow I promise to buy you the expensive tweed coat you always stare at in the display window.”

“Huh, it’s exactly why I really can’t stand to undergo a mission with you two. Deal.” Yelena sounded mockingly but she didn’t mean to embarrass her anyway. “You turned weak, Natasha. You knew it, right?”

Natasha only hummed in russian as a response (something like ‘you’d know that when we spar’ ), and grinned when Carol sat next to her as usual. The blonde Captain was finally done with cooking everyone’s breakfast and Kamala had surprisingly finished hers, only sipping a glass of apple juice.

“So, how did you meet?” Said Kamala, aka the newest avenger with extraordinary attention to the secret pairs around the base, “how long have you been dating- I wanna know the whole story.”

“Here we go.” This was the best reaction for Yelena to ‘stop being rude’.

“Well, first of all, I won’t deny or admit any statement of it…” Natasha cleaned her throat and started, her sweet butter sandwich was left on the plate.

“We’re apparently colleagues.” Carol promptly interrupted with a shrug, which made the redhead widen her green eyes in disbelief.

“I met her after the snap, and during the five years, the feelings just kinda grew on us.” The blonde smiled gently as she took Natasha’s hand, “after the end of the war, we started hanging out once a month like normal people, later on it began to be once a week as my main works in space were separated to the new-trained protectors and the Guardians. That’s it.”

Kamala was literally speechless, looking like she just got the best Christmas gift for this year.

“If you kiss her like those cliched soap operas now, I’m gonna kill you both.” Yelena did like the eggs, but obviously she wouldn’t say it. Instead, she ate it up and mumbled her statement after hearing the shorter version of their romance.

“Yelena.” Natasha raised one of her brows, reminding her who’s in charge on this table. And their deals .

“Alright, just kidding.”

“Can I take a picture when you do that?” Kamala immediately stood up and asked Carol, it seemed no one actually cared about the debriefing of tomorrow’s mission anymore. “-when you kiss Black Widow.”

Her Captain was flushed, “w-what?”

To save her partner from the short circus situation, Natasha rolled her eyes and pulled Carol’s arm all in a sudden. All Kamala could do was open her mouth widely in amazement, and tried hard not to scream like a fan who was completely out of control.

Natasha left a rough kiss on the corner of Carol’s lips, her blood red lipstick stained slightly on it.

“Satisfied?” She said with an impeccable grin, leaving the flummoxed blonde behind her.

“This place is harmful for my heart.” - the newest superhero from Jersey City claimed.

“You’re gonna get used to it, kid.” - and the former widow from the red room finally agreed with her.

“I should have stopped leaking the key information.” - the blonde Captain knew it deeply that Natasha’s not gonna take it easy on her tonight.

[local-spoon-does-a-thing]

Found ( Part 1/2)

[(Bayverse) Optimus Prime x Reader)

A/N: Okay so this takes place during Transformers: Age of Extinction. When I was younger I loved the movie (mostly because it had dinosaurs) but once I re-watched it...yeah, it was meh for me. In my opinion, first film was better than the sequels. Anyways, I thought “hey, what would happen if reader was separated from Optimus then reunited after all these years?” And so, I did it. I’m dividing this into two parts since I don’t want to make this too long. The second part is mostly going to be the interaction between reader and Optimus. Also, the reader is like in early or mid-twenties.

You can find the second part here!

Summary: 5 years have passed since you last saw Optimus Prime, your guardian. Since then, you’ve traveled with the Autobots and went in hiding with them. Just as you were about to give up hope, Optimus summons the Autobots.

Warning: Angst, angst, angst, angst, spoilers for T:AOE

It’s been 5 years since you last saw Optimus Prime. Leader of the Autobots, your guardian and best friend. In the aftermath of the events in Chicago, you thought that everything would somewhat go back to normal. Hunting down more Decepticons with your teammates, going on missions together, having Optimus scold you for not doing your homework. Though of course, nothing would be the same without Ironhide. His death absolutely destroyed you. But greater matters were forced to be looked upon, such as the public starting to see the Autobots as a threat, which was very stupid considering that they saved the whole damn world, NEST disbanding, the ‘Bots having to be on the run, and finally, Optimus disappearing from the team. With your long time contribution to the team, you were hunted down as well. Cemetery Wind demanded information about the Cybertronians, every single piece of detail, but you didn’t let them. Now with you being wanted and labeled as a fugitive, you could never truly return to your normal life. Your future dream university? Say goodbye to that. Your friends and family? You left with Bumblebee, not wanting to put any of them in danger. If they were, then you knew that their blood would be on your hands and you just could not accept that.

You supported Bumblebee when he was suddenly assigned as the commanding leader of the Autobot refugees. Despite them belittling and discouraging him, you stayed by his side. You always wondered what Ironhide would’ve done. He would’ve probably done things his own way. What would Ratchet do? You missed the grumpy medic and him meddling about your health. And Optimus...you missed him. A lot. You missed the times where he would be off-guard by some of your witty jokes, you missed how he would let you sleep in his alternate form whenever you dreamt of Decepticons, you missed his rare laughs and chuckles. You really, really missed him. As time went on by, you noticed that even Bumblebee was changing. He grew a bit more mature, but you knew that the responsibility of being a leader was too much for him. He missed Sam, and you did too. Though you two were only neighbors at first, you grew close and became siblings with one another. After his run-in with Cemetery Wind, you knew that he wasn’t coming back. At that point, you were growing hopeless. You tried getting along with Hound, Drift, and Crosshairs throughout the years, but you were too tired to hold up a conversation with them. Luckily, they reluctantly accepted you as a comrade.

As everyone was changing, you noticed that so were you. You were no longer joking around as much as you used to. You became quiet and serious. Yes, you would still give out encouragement and words of optimism to not let the flame of hope die out, but lately, it started to feel and sound fake. Were you trying to convince the others to not give up or were you trying to convince yourself? For the majority of the last 5 years, you tried believing that Optimus and Ratchet were still alive, just in hiding. Your poor heart simply couldn’t handle the weight of indescribable sorrow if news broke out that the two were gone. You’ve already witnessed Optimus die once and you couldn’t do that whole thing again. Hope was something that you needed but it started to become something that you could no longer grasp. When your dying flame of hope was at its last breath, that’s when he came in. The voice you haven’t heard in a very long time.

“Calling all Autobots. Calling all Autobots.”

It was Optimus Prime, calling from the radio. Bumblebee abruptly stopped the drive, causing you to almost hit your head against the steering wheel. After you hissed out his name, you turned to the radio in disbelief. Were you hearing things or was this reality? Bee then started to mess the radio until Optimus’s message was playing on repeat. No. Way. This was actually happening. You didn’t even have time to gather your thoughts before Bee started redirecting his coordinate and driving to where his leader was located, at full speed. Your heart was pounding and you were starting to feel the adrenaline rushing in. Reality still had yet to sink in. Everything was starting to get overwhelming, even if only a couple of moments had passed by. This was real. This had to be real.

You clutched your stomach and nibbled the bottom of your lip. This was supposed to be a great thing and it was! Then why did you feel sick to your stomach? You’ve heard of people throwing up from nervousness. Was this what you were feeling? Why were you nervous? You wanted to see him, absolutely! But after all this time, after all these years, were you even prepared? What if it was just a false alarm and you would get trapped by Decepticons or any other enemies? What if Cemetery Wind had already got him and tried to use him as bait? That last thought had almost made you puke right then and there. Whether you were ready or not, it was time. 

You watched as the rest of the team had already met up with Optimus. The color of his alternate form made you stare at him with wide eyes as all the memories of you two together flashed for a second. Your jaw slightly dropped open and so many things ran around your mind. You were so out of reality that you hadn’t even noticed Bumblebee already transforming out of his alternate form and perching you on top of his shoulder. As he walked towards him, you watched Optimus’s transformation one last time and as always, it never ceases to amaze you and put you in a trance.

“Humans have asked us to play by their rules. Well, the rules have just changed.”

His deep voice filled your ears and for the first time, you relaxed. You could never forget what he sounded like, even during your darkest moments when you had tried to forget in an attempt to get rid of the pain that tore your heart to shreds. Words could not do justice to how you were feeling at this exact moment. The moment when you were finally reunited with your long lost guardian. Bumblebee gently let you down from his shoulder and as the team argued and bickered, all you could do was stare and not move. If this was a dream, then you never wanted to wake up. After an eternity of staring, Optimus’s optics met with your [e/c] orbs and you swore that you saw his breath hitch. 

You weren’t the only one that was worried. During Optimus’s time away from the team and trying to stay hidden, there was not a single thought where he would not worry about you. He always wondered if you were okay and...still alive. It broke his spark every time he imagined that you were dead, six feet underground. Or worse yet, if no one had even known where your body was. He thought that once he would get out of hiding, and he knew that he would one day, the first thing he did not want to hear was that you were either found dead or missing. He hoped that you were out there, having a good life and spending your time in university. Until he went to slumber, until the day that he would be found by Cade Yeager, he yearned for the day where he would get to hear your jokes one last time.

Here you were. Alive and still moving with Bumblebee and the others. His expression softened ever so slightly and he felt a big weight being lifted off of his shoulders. He took a long moment just looking at you. You’ve certainly grown and he knew that you were no longer the bratty teenager he grew to love. Sadness washed over him when he realized that he didn’t get to see you grow up as he was absent for the past 5 years. Questions went in and out, but they were going to have to be asked later. He gave you an ever so slightly ghost of a smile and a small nod.

We can talk later.

You snapped out of your trance once Crosshairs and Hound pointed their guns towards the strangers that you had failed to notice earlier. A young lady, a man who seems to be her father, and another boy.

“Stop, Hound- both of you! They’ve risked their lives for mine.”

For a long time, you stood in the same spot Bumblebee had put you. It was like you had forgotten to move. But once you started to walk towards Optimus and the three strangers, each step made your knees feel weak. Nothing was fully sinking in, yet you continued on. You held out your hand towards them and went on to introduce yourself.

“Uh, hey there. The name’s Cade Yeager and this is my daughter, Tessa. I assume you’re with the other…’Bots?” The young girl next to him gave you a shy smile and a small wave before the boy came in.

“Oh and I’m Shane, by the way. Nice to meet you.”

You shook the three people’s hands and gave a small but welcoming smile. At long last, you finally got to meet some humans that weren’t hunting you down and trying to kill you. It felt so refreshing to interact with someone that wasn't an alien, car transforming robot.

“[Y/N], and yeah, I’ve been traveling with the Autobots for umm...a few years now or so. Also, I just want to thank you for helping Optimus. Seriously, you have no idea how grateful I am, along with the others as well.”

The way you spoke of Optimus’s name gave you a foreign feeling. Later during the straggling years, especially recently, you rarely spoke of his name since whenever you did, it always gave you an uneasy feeling in the pit of your stomach. But now, you were able to say it with ease after knowing that he was okay. Cade gave you a smile and scratched the back of his neck.

“It’s no problem at all, really. I saw the way you looked at him and I’m glad that I could help.”

Optimus stared and observed you during your whole interaction with them. There were so many things to say and so many things to discuss with you. Though as he promised, he would have to do that later. Your hair was a bit of a mess, your clothes were a bit dirty and there were some torn bits here and there from all the battles and run-ins you had with the enemy. If he were to look closer, he would be able to notice scars that have been implanted onto your skin. Gashes, cuts, bullet wounds; they were there. He tore his gaze away from you and looked towards the rest of the team.

“Autobots, we will remain here and recharge for the rest of the day. Once everything is settled, we will discuss further plans with Cade Yeager.”

And so, the whole team went to settle down for the day. To your despair, you had little time with Optimus to discuss pretty much everything that had been going on. He had wanted to talk to you as much as you wanted to talk to him, but he was already occupied with what Bumblebee, Crosshairs, Hound, and Drift wanted to tell him. All the reports and notable news about Cemetery Wind and some bickering between the team. Meanwhile, you tried to distract yourself by helping the Yeagers and Shane set up a camp. Drift had been more than helpful by chopping wood from nearby dead trees with his blades. Before you knew it, night had fallen. Hound was able to set a campfire by using measures that were too extreme for your taste. You sat down beside Bumblebee, staring into the crackling fire. You quietly listened to the conversation that was going on beside you. The Autobots spoke of any possible refugees that had come within the years while Cade was being the typical overprotective dad. That almost made you chuckle. It reminded you of your father whenever he saw you hanging out with a potential love interest. God, when was the last time you had even thought about your parents? You wondered how they were doing and if they were still kicking. You wondered that if you were ever to come back to them, would they ever forgive you for running away and scaring them to death? Your heart ached as you thought more about them. If you could just give them one message that told them that you were okay, that would be enough.

Suddenly, you looked up when you heard Drift talking shit about Bumblebee once again. Almost simultaneously, both you and the giant yellow robot rolled your eyes before he stood up from his seat and approached the giant blue robot.

“He’s like a child.”

“This child is about to kick your ass.”

“He brings us shame.”

It didn’t take long for the two to start brawling. You crossed your arms and legs and sighed as you watched the two of them getting it on. Normally, you would’ve tried to stop them and diffuse the situation, but you were just too tired. Too much has happened in one day and you deserved some rest. Plus, Optimus was here now. He could handle them. Then, you noticed the three other friendlies move towards your side, taking a couple of steps back behind you. You heard the girl Tessa comment on what was wrong with them. Ironically, that was your first thought that came into mind when you first met the refugees. Glad that you weren’t the only one.

“Lockdown is hunting us and humans are helping. We need to know why.” Optimus spoke.

“Listen, I don’t know why, but I have an idea about who.” Cade replied.

That led to you watching a couple of clips that he managed to snatch from a drone. Just as you thought that things couldn’t get worse, it did. You watched as Ratchet and Leadfoot had met their demise by the humans attacking them. Ratchet...the grumpy medic you became very fond of, one of the very first Transformers you’ve met. All the missions you went with him, all the meddling you had to put up with from him, and all the scolding he gave you because he cared about you. Though you weren’t as close to Leadfoot as you were with Ratchet, you knew that he was a good ‘Bot. Two of your closest friends, down and out. Ratchet and Ironhide, both who never got to peacefully pass away. You hung your head low as you rested your elbows on top of your knees. Your hair fell in front of your face as silent, bitter tears fell to the ground below you. “Savages” as Hound had called him. And he was right, that was the exact word that  had described how the humans were in the footage. Ratchet had even begged that he was a medic and an Autobot. Your blood continued to boil even once the footage was finished playing. 

Quickly, you wiped away the tears by harshly jabbing your knuckles into your eyes and looked towards the others as they continued to discuss what was happening. Cade mentioned that the headquarters were located in Chicago and had offered to help them with the mission. He told how if he didn’t help them, then they wouldn’t be able to get their normal lives back. Funny thing was that once you’ve associated yourself with the Autobots, there was no way your life was going to fully revert back to its normal self. You and Sam knew that all too well.

“Autobots, I have sworn to never kill humans,” Optimus said, “but when I find out who’s behind this, he’s going to die.”

This old robot always manages to catch you off-guard. In all the years you’ve known him, you have never heard him say anything with a threatening voice. A scary one, in fact. To you, he was the calmest person you knew. Calculated and dangerous, but he was calm. He defined a true leader. But he was going to kill humans? Just before he declared that statement, he admitted that he swore to not kill humans. You knew that he was enraged with what Cemetery Wind and KSI had done to his close friends and you didn’t blame him for wanting to kill someone responsible. It just seemed so off; so out of character. It was jarring.