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makethatelevenrings · 5 months ago

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Western AU - Bruce Wayne x f!reader

Warnings: period typical misogyny, kidnapping/ransom, canon-typical violence, blizzards?

This is part of my 5k Follower Celebration! THANK YOU!

Mama wasn’t lying when she said the West was entirely different from the life you grew up living. From the moment you stepped off the train and into the blossoming town of Gotham, you were transported into a world you had only read about in the papers. When you first read the ad in the paper for a teacher, you hadn’t paid it any mind. But when suitors came calling and your father gave you a pointed look when Mr. Luthor came to dinner, you knew you needed to get out of town and fast.

The Gotham town council read your letter and sent their approval by telegraph three days after receiving it. You packed a trunk with books and clothes, but left behind the more sentimental and fragile items. This was your chance to escape your life for a year or two before you returned home to finally be tied down with a ring on your finger. With your trunk and carpet bag packed, you waved farewell to your parents and boarded the train out west.

It took four days before the train slowed to a stop at a small platform in the middle of a dust-filled street. You kept one hand on your straw bonnet as you stepped down, bag in hand. Two porters scurried down and dumped your trunk onto the wooden platform and promptly darted back onto the train. The train let out a shrill whistle and puffed out black smoke before it pulled away and headed out to its next destination, leaving you standing there like a fool.

The town council said one of their members would meet you at the train station so they could drive you to your accommodations, but you saw no one in front of the train station looking as though they were waiting for someone. Everyone in this small town moved slowly, something that was so different from life in the city. Panic rose in your throat and you glanced back at the train that was far gone at this point. Had you made a mistake?

“Woah,” a loud voice called. Two horses stamped to a stop in front of the train platform, pulling a flatbed wagon. A man pulled the reins one last time and then tilted his hat up. He peered up at you with bright blue eyes and a mischievous smile. Young, you mentally remarked. Younger than you, but certainly old enough to drive a wagon like a regular old pro. A much younger child sat beside him on the wagon bench, but he focused solely on the horses before him.

“You the new teacher?” he asked.

“I am.” You jutted your chin out and regarded him coolly. “And you are?”

The kid, because he was a kid, really, grinned and handed the reins to the child. As if he would be able to restrain two fully grown mares. The older boy hopped off the wagon and climbed up the stairs. He grabbed your trunk and hefted it up as though it weighed nothing and then lowered it onto the wagon bed before turning and offering his gloved hand to you.

“Dick Grayson,” he introduced himself. “My pa sent me to retrieve you. He’s stuck in a meeting, but wishes he was here to give you a proper introduction to the town.”

“And your pa is?” You gave his hand a firm shake.

“Bruce Wayne.” Ah, the richest man in Gotham. He had been the one to send the confirmation telegram and set up all of your accommodations for the year. The newspapers had spoken at length of the Wayne legacy and his wealth, but you were surprised to find out that he was located in such a remote town such as Gotham rather than New York or Chicago.

“C’mon, I’ll drive you over to the Gordon’s. That’s where you’ll be staying. They’ve got a spare room that most teachers stay in.”

You followed him down the steps and gratefully accepted his help into the wagon, sliding in beside the young boy. He peered up at you with a suspicious gaze and you merely raised a brow in response.

“Teach, this is Damian, my littlest brother. Don’t worry, he’s harmless.”

“I am not a baby, Richard.” His words were betrayed by the squeaky voice that escaped him and you smothered your smile with your hand, pretending to wipe dust out of your face instead.

“I’m sure you aren’t, Damian. Will you be taking classes this year?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He adjusted his hat and his green eyes darted towards your lap before back to your face. Your fingers twitched and you reached to the side he looked at and calmly extracted the frog he had placed on the bench, most likely in an attempt to scare you.

“Is this your pet?” you asked calmly. His eye twitched, just barely, and he extended his hands for the frog. It hopped from your gloves to his bare hands and let out a quiet croak. Settling back against the wooden beam of the wagon bench, you sniffed delicately and pointedly ignored the way Dick’s body trembled with laughter beside you.

“I’m excited to be your teacher this year,” you informed Damian. “All I ask is for you to respect me and I’ll respect you.”

He cradled the frog close to his chest and nodded, a little spark of begrudging respect growing between the two of you. You might be a city girl completely unused to this land, but you had dealt with your fair share of mischievous children. This wasn’t your first teaching bid, and you wouldn’t be scared off by a little frog.

The Gordon’s greeted you warmly. The father, Jim, was the sheriff of the town and Sarah, his second wife and stepmother to the children, helped him out sometimes as an informal deputy. When their oldest daughter, Barbara, wheeled out of the spare room and greeted you, you didn’t blink an eye. James Jr. was somewhere chasing lizards with some of the other school-age boys, Sarah explained, but you would meet him later. You and Barbara would be sharing a room, but that was fine by you. She was a pleasant girl and smart as all hell, you could tell just in a short conversation. Dick carried your things into the house and tugged Barbara’s braid like a brother teasing his little sister. The Waynes must be close to the Gordons, you determined.

“You must be tired,” Sarah said once the boys’ wagon pulled away. “I’ll let you get settled and Barbara will come get you once supper is ready.”

You thanked her and disappeared into the small bed. The mattress along the far wall would be yours and there were a few nails already put up in the wall where you could hang your bonnet. For the first time since you stepped onto that train, you had a chance to truly sit with your decision and breathe. Mama and Papa would write, but you weren’t sure how reliable the mail service was here.

Well, you decided. No turning back now.

The first day of classes would not resume for another week while families finished up their harvest and then moved closer to town for the incoming winter. You took the time to familiarize yourself with the town and its families, especially those with children you would be teaching, and your new school. The schoolhouse was a ten minute walk from the Gordons and it had been closed for the harvest season so there were a few things you needed to do in order to prepare. Cobwebs and dust seemed to take up every inch of space in the small one-room school so you located a broom tucked in the corner and opened every door and window to let sun in as you swept furiously. You were so focused on your task that you didn’t hear the approaching footsteps on the stairs or the gentle knock on the doorframe.

You did, however, hear a man clear his throat and greet you.

A surprised yelp escaped you and you spun around, raising the broom as some sort of makeshift weapon. The man raised his hands to show he was no threat and didn’t step further into the schoolhouse.

“I didn’t mean to scare you.” His voice was a rich, silky baritone and you swallowed as a shiver ran down your arms. He was tall and broad, his shoulders nearly taking up the entire doorway. His suit was expensive, you could tell by the cut and fabric. It was the latest fashion from the East, so he must be rich. His eyes captivated you for just a brief moment. They were bright blue and, despite his charming smile, his eyes were cold.

“No harm, no foul.” You set the broom against the desk beside you and clasped your hands in front of you. “How can I help you, Mr…?”

“Wayne. Bruce Wayne.” His eyes darted around the empty school and he stepped back from the doorway and extended his arm out. “Apologies, I’ve been cooped up inside all day. I’d much rather chat out in the sunshine.”

It was a polite way of protecting both his and your reputation and you appreciated. The schoolhouse sat on the far edge of the main road and the front yard was in full view of all the townspeople that walked to and fro the various buildings. There would be no danger of you being alone in a room with an unmarried man.

“I could use a bit of sun myself,” you assented. He moved back so you could walk out of the school without touching him and he followed you down the steps and onto the grass.

“I just wanted to come by and see how you were settling in,” he explained. “I’m sorry for taking so long. I had business in the next town over for the past few days.”

You nodded and focused your gaze on the folks walking into Isley’s Mercantile. “I understand. Everything is well in hand. The Gordon’s are exceedingly kind and the town is wonderful.”

“And is there anything I can do to help prepare for the school year? Any repairs needed on the building?”

“No, not that I’m aware of. If I come across anything, I’ll be sure to inform you so you can find the suitable tradesman to complete the job.” It was a fair assumption because surely, this well-off man wouldn’t be the one to climb to the roof to nail on a new shingle.

“Have you been made aware of the yearly schoolyard picnic?” The whole town gathered at the schoolhouse to ring in the new year the second Sunday after school began. It wasn’t a ton of time to prepare, but there seemed to be more work and less down time out here than there was back home. You spent your nights sitting by the fire at the Gordons working on decorations as the steady thrum of Barbara’s sewing machine became a familiar drone. The girl had a wicked way with any new technology her parents handed her and she could sew anything, it seemed.

“Yes, Sarah told me. I’ve already begun preparations.”

He gave a perfunctory nod and looked out onto the plains. “Well, I’m glad I was able to make your acquaintance. My children will all be attending school, so I’d like to apologize in advance.”

As if on cue, a squawk of indignation came from behind the school and two kids appeared from behind it. One was tall and gangly, as if he hadn’t grown into himself yet and only grew up, and the other appeared to be around twelve. The younger one held a book in front of him as he dashed away from his older brother. Mr. Wayne sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose as the two boys sprinted past, one gleeful and the other shouting for him to come back.

You merely reached out and caught the back of the younger boy’s coat. He stumbled to a stop and you reached down to pluck the book out of his hand before you released him. He opened his mouth to say something and you raised a brow in response.

“Tim,” Mr. Wayne said with a sigh. “Stop stealing Jason’s things.”

“That little fuckin’ brat,” Jason snarled when he joined the three of you. Mr. Wayne let out a pained wheeze at his language as you turned to look at the older boy. He was younger than Dick and older than Tim, so you’d place him around fifteen.

“I better not be hearing any language like that in my classroom,” you said sharply. He ducked his head and offered you a sheepish smile.

“Sorry, miss.” You accepted his apology by handing him his book. It was well-worn and well-loved by the way some of the pages clung to the peeling spine. You inclined your head to the object and then looked at Jason.

“Do you like to read?”

He shrugged his shoulders in that teenager way, as if having interests would automatically make him lose all credibility. “I guess.”

“I brought some books with me. I’d be happy to let you borrow them.” You turned your attention to Tim who was staring up at you with big blue eyes. “And you better not steal them from your brother. I’ll ask Mr. Wayne if you’re behaving at home or you’ll be stuck inside during recess with me. Do we have a deal?”

“Yes, miss,” he squeaked. You smiled to show him that you weren’t really that scary. “Alright, boys. I best get back to cleaning. I’ll see you all next week?”

“Go on to the wagon. I’ll be there in a moment,” Bruce ordered and the boys trudged off with minimal jostling and poking between them. He waited until they were out of earshot before he turned to you. “Usually my butler is the only person able to wrangle them.”

“You hired me for a reason, Mr. Wayne.” Turning back to the school, you glanced over your shoulder at him. “Have a good day.”

“Good day.” He waited until you were back inside before he headed towards the wagon. Alfred was the one to thank for hiring you. His butler truly was the smartest man alive.

It was easy to fall into a routine once the school year started. You were up with the sun and joined Sarah outside to collect eggs and milk the cows. She appreciated the help because it gave the chance for the kids to tidy up the house for her. After a quick breakfast of eggs and biscuits or hotcakes, you and the two children would start the ten minute trek to school. Barbara refused help with her wheelchair and you knew better than to keep bothering her about it. She clearly was able to move quickly without any help.

You balanced a few pails and baskets on the way to school. Books, lunch, sewing supplies, and more spilled from your bags. As you approached the town, kids dashed out of their homes and joined you three as you walked. You learned quickly that dust was a part of life here and you would be covered in it by the time the day ended, but you were also learning to get used to it.

The class came together in a boisterous, rowdy nature that you didn’t stop until your watch read that it was precisely nine in the morning. Then, you wrangled them all into the building with the clang of the bell at the front and a few shouted words, usually directed at the Wayne siblings who seemed determined to ruin their clothes before the day officially started. You counted the kids as they stumbled into the building and hung any scarves and caps up on the pegs nailed into the wall. Arithmetic, reading, writing, and science was on the docket for the day. A thirty minute recess would split the day, enabling the kids to eat lunch and also help out a bit with preparing for the picnic.

By the time the school bell rang at four, courtesy of Jason lifting Duke up to pull the rope, you resigned yourself to staying late tonight. Barbara and Jim Jr. went home with the promise of letting their parents know so James wouldn’t think the teacher got lost. Artemis wanted help with her recitation and Garfield needed assistance with his arithmetic. You also had a stack of slates to review handwriting practice before tomorrow and individual spelling lists to draw up for each student. You could probably do the last two back at the Gordon’s, but by the time the students left you in the quiet little schoolhouse, you were in the zone. You barely registered the sun setting until you finished your tasks and looked up to see the furnace had burned out.

Well, shit.

Gathering up your belongings, you figured that if you put a little pep in your step, you could avoid the drunks spilling out of the saloon and the coyotes that prowled at night. You turned to shut the door behind you, because there was no need to lock anything here, and promptly let out a scream of surprise.

“I haven’t got any money, if that’s what you’re after,” you exclaimed. A man in all black stood by the stairs, half-obscured by the shadows. A black stetson hung low across his brow and a bandana obscured the bottom half of his face, leaving the only thing visible were his eyes. All in all, he looked like the outlaws described in the papers.

Your eyes darted to his empty hands and then his waist. No gun.

Huh.

“It’s late,” he said sharply. His voice was rough and grating and deep, like the endless night sky. You let out a high-pitched laugh laced with incredulity and turned on your heel, stamping down the stairs and marching towards the Gordon’s.

He followed.

“I have no money. I have no jewelry on. And I certainly have no intention of going down gently so if you are so desperate, the saloon is over there,” you hissed. He didn’t reply but fell in step beside you.

“It’s late,” he repeated. “You shouldn’t walk alone.”

“So you decided to just tag along? Because I feel so safe right now, you nincompoop.”

When you whirled around to glare at him, he was gone. But you still felt as though someone was watching you the entire walk home. Sarah was seated by the fire when you blew in through the front door looking like a cat dragged out of hell.

“My god, what happened to you?” she exclaimed.

“Nothing, except some outlaw following me around like a bad omen. What’s that all about, huh?”

“An outlaw? You don’t mean the masked man, right?” She stood to make you a plate with the food still warming on the stove and you gratefully accepted it.

“Does he frequent these parts?”

The older woman chuckled. “Yes, but no need to worry. Don’t say anything to Jim, but that man has done more for this town than a lot of the so-called sheriffs who controlled the town before we moved here. This town used to be a lot worse. I was scared everyday when the kids were out of my sight.”

You settled in at the small wooden table and spooned some of the stew onto your spoon. “What do you mean by worse?”

Her eyes darted towards Jim Jr.’s sleeping form by the fire and sat across from you. “Like they were keeping girls captive at the saloon. Shootouts nearly everyday. The mortician could barely keep up. Gambling, embezzling, you name it, we had it. Gotham still has its problems, but Jim’s job is a lot easier with this outlaw out there.”

You blinked down at the bowl in front of you and considered her words. That man was known for his ability to take down criminals, and you called him a nincompoop.

Well, the west certainly was different from what you were used to.

The day of the picnic found you seated with the Gordon’s in their pew. You didn’t pay a lick of attention to the sermon and instead found yourself sending warning glares to the gaggle of Wayne’s who kept turning around to make faces at their friends. Good heavens, Mr. Wayne must be exhausted keeping up with all those kids. Well, his butler must be. You figured Wayne was too busy being a rich man to take care of all those kids, adopted or not.

The picnic went off without a hitch. You balanced helping serve food from the potluck the ladies of the town so graciously helped with and wrangling kids to make sure they didn’t scuff up their clothes or knees. You loved this job. It was only two weeks in, but you knew it to be true. You loved this job, these kids, this town, and the town welcomed you with open arms. The mothers adored the way you were eager to help while also making sure the kids behaved. The fathers loved hearing your tales of home back east, peppering you with questions about how the cities were booming with the fruits of the Industrial Revolution.

“You plan on going back at all?” one of the mothers asked. She loaded your plate up with cornbread and greens and you gratefully took it from her with a smile. Your gaze moved to track the movements of the kids playing with a rugged, ratty old soccer ball.

“After this year, who knows? I like teaching and if I go back east, I’ll have to get married and he certainly won’t let me be a teacher. If that’s the case, maybe I should just be a spinster.”

Before she could ask another question, a throat clearing caught both of your attention. Bruce Wayne offered you a tight smile and nodded to you both in greeting.

“I just wanted to commend you on an excellent event,” he said. You smiled politely in response and waited for him to say something else. The two of you stared at each other for a bit until he cleared his throat once more, said a farewell, and walked back over to his children where Dick Grayson appeared to be nearly choking on his laughter.

That night, with all the excitement over and done with, you finally felt like you were settled here. You finally felt as if you could breathe. Sarah and James sat by the fire and you excused yourself to step outside, a blanket wrapped around your shoulders to ward off the chill. You wanted to just take a moment to breathe in the fresh air and listen to the world around you.

That was the biggest difference between here and home. In the city, there was a constant stream of noise, whether it was wagons rolling over the uneven brick roads or the shouts of laborers and drunken men walking through the streets. Out here, sometimes the only thing you could hear was the chirping of crickets and cicadas, the occasional howl of coyotes, and the wind.

It was starting to get a bit colder from the blazing summer heat and you tightened the blanket around your shoulders. Sarah said it was only a matter of time before a blizzard swept over the plains and blanketed everything in snow. She took you to the mercantile to purchase some warmer clothes and also some yarn so you had a chance to knit some more socks and mittens. You weren’t a stranger to cold weather by any means, but Sarah said it could be both beautiful and dangerous if you got caught in it with no shelter nearby.

In the distance, a horse huffed and stamped its hooves. You looked in its direction and saw him slowly walking across the land. By him, you meant your outlaw. You hated that your mind instinctively called him “yours” because there was nothing about him that you could claim.

Despite the fact you weren’t making any noise, his head turned towards you. What a sight you must be in your day-worn dress, no shoes, and no hat. You didn’t care about impropriety at that moment. Who would gossip? It was just you and him.

The outlaw reached up and tipped his hat. You couldn’t stop the smile that spread across your lips.

Your eyes fixed on the stars above and when you looked back, he was gone.

The first blizzard held off just in time for Christmas. On one hand, the kids were safely at home with their families when the wind first picked up. On the other hand, Jim was stuck in town and Sarah had injured her ankle the week beforehand. So that meant morning chores fell to you.

“Keep a hand on the rope at all times,” Sarah repeated for the thirtieth time. You nodded as you wound a fourth scarf around your head and checked to make sure your mittens were snugly on. All you needed to do was follow the clothesline rope to the stables and barn, put out feed and hay, check to make sure the troughs hadn’t frozen over, and get back before you lost feeling in your fingers. The mercury in the thermometer said that it was below freezing out there and snow kept falling.

“If you don’t come back in thirty minutes, I’ll come for you,” she said as you moved to the door.

“No.” You glanced back at the kids behind her. “It won’t do them any good if both of us get trapped out there. I’ll be fine.”

And you were. The walk to the stables took maybe two minutes on a good day, but you were pushing eight minutes by the time you made it across. Snow whipped across your face and stung your eyes but you pushed through. Your skirts were getting wet and heavy by the time you stepped into the wooden structure and you were grateful for the reprieve from the elements. The animals greeted you with various cries as you made the way around their stalls, depositing food and a few snuggles as you went. There were enough eggs in the larder that Sarah told you not to bother collecting them.

Now came the return trip.

The snow seemed higher in just a few minutes, which was impossible, but your boots sank into the thick drifts and made it difficult to walk. Your skirts were dragging you down and at one point, you stumbled an-

Your hand slipped.

You blindly felt for the rope above your head and tried to quell the panic that rose in your chest. Each turn of your head was met with blustery gusts of wind and snow that veiled your sight with white and disoriented you. This was what Sarah was worried about. Getting caught in a blizzard can get you killed and they wouldn’t be able to find your body until the snow melted. Oh Christ, how would they tell your parents? A telegram? A letter? Or would someone ride with your body back home and tell them in person?

Something sturdy crashed into you and you stumbled into the snow but was quickly righted. You gasped as arms encircled your waist and hauled you up against a body. Your face pressed against a thick, black wool scarf that moved when the owner spoke.

“We gotta get you inside!” the outlaw shouted over the wind. You let out a startled, breathless laugh, and clung to him as he pushed his way through the snow. It was as if he were superhuman, the way he led you without fail directly to the Gordon household. He slammed his fist three times on the door and Sarah opened it, her mouth parting in surprise at the sight that met her. You were a sight, you bet, clinging onto your outlaw and soaked to the bone.

“Get her out of these things and get her warmed up,” he ordered. Sarah stuttered something out and ushered you quickly in. You hesitated though and looked back at the outlaw.

“Shouldn’t you be inside?” you asked. He was bundled up in as many layers as you were, but he wasn’t flinching from the cold like you were. He merely tipped his head towards you, turned around, and headed back into the blizzard. Sarah shut the door behind him to keep the snow and wind out and then focused her fretting over you.

“How did he even know I was out there? I couldn't see hide nor hair!”

“Came by the house to see if we needed anything, saw you were missing, demanded to know where the hell you went, and was back out the door before I finished speaking,” she explained. She unwound the various scarves off of your head and you blinked at the sudden wash of light over your eyes. “He comes by every blizzard to check on folks, but by golly, he moved out of here like a bat out of hell.”

He saved your life, you told yourself, but you didn’t want to say it aloud and give her a heart attack. Was there anyone out there waiting for him? Who was looking out for him?

As your frozen fingers began to warm up, you considered the empty expanse of your skin. You hadn’t even told him thank you.

The blizzard quieted down two days later and you thought you would never be so grateful to see the flat expanse of land that was the prairie. Getting to the stables and back was much easier now and you didn’t mind doing the chores now that there wasn’t a threat of death looming over your head.

However, snow still piled in drifts around the ground, causing school to be canceled for a few days. You sent along the message with Jim when he came by after the storm died down. That meant you were settled in by the fire with the two Gordon kids instead of trying to trudge through waist high snow to teach an empty classroom. Barbara leaned her head against your lap as you read Lewis Carroll aloud. Jim Jr. pretended to not listen as he played with some toy soldiers, but you saw him perk up a few times as the story progressed.

Your voice faltered as the sound of jingle bells filled the air. Sarah looked up from her sewing and shot you a confused look but you shrugged in response. The bells stopped and she got up just in time for a polite knock to sound on the door. Sarah opened the door to reveal Bruce Wayne himself standing there.

“Apologies for the intrusion,” he said in greeting. “But I figured I should make the rounds before another storm picks up.”

“Ah.” Sarah welcomed him in and you folded the corner of your page before setting the book down. Barbara huffed a little at your reading being disturbed but you ruffled her auburn curls and grinned. Mr. Wayne must have noticed her dissatisfaction as well because he looked back at the wagon behind him and whistled. A head of dark hair popped out from the wagon bed and Dick Grayson practically launched himself over the wood to get to his best friend.

“Mr. Wayne is kind enough to give each household a sack of flour and some shoes for Christmas,” Sarah explained. “It really eases the strain off of a lot of families in town. I’ve told him a million times that he doesn’t need to do it for us, but he insists.”

“Would you like some coffee and a cookie?” you asked. You didn’t even wait for his answer before you were moving to the kitchen to pour a cup for him. Mr. Wayne had been nothing but polite to you since you came to town, and you loved teaching his rambunctious kids, but you could tell that he was attempting to court you and you were having none of it. If you wanted to be a housewife and nothing more, you could go back home. Marrying the richest man in Gotham, maybe even the richest man in the state, would lock you in that gilded cage far too soon.

“Thank you.” He gratefully accepted the coffee and passed the cookie to Dick who promptly broke it in two, passed half to Barbara, and continued chatting with her like it was nothing. You hid your smile behind your hand at his kindness. Teen boys typically clammed up if you mentioned their manners and you knew from experience that he could be just as much of a hellion as his little brothers when he wanted to be.

“I actually have a gift for you as well,” Mr. Wayne said. You blanched as he extended a slim box in your direction and he saw the hesitation on your face. “It’s from the town council as an appreciation for your excellent teaching.”

Okay, that made it slightly better. You carefully accepted the box and opened it to reveal a lovely hat pin. It was simple but perfect for you. The slim black pearls would go well with most of your hats and you loved the way it reminded you of…

Well, it wouldn’t be well to dwell on him right now.

“Thank you. I love it,” you said quietly. He nodded in return and then checked his watchpiece.

“Dick, we have to head out. You’ll see Barbara and your teacher in a few days.” The teen sighed but complied without argument, something you figured was a feat considering he loved to argue with you on everything in the classroom. He was smart, quick-witted, and a pain in the ass sometimes, but he was also a great help with the younger kids. You relied on him and Barbara to help the others stay on top of their lessons, and he was great at tutoring.

“I have some books coming from home on the next mail train,” you told Dick as he started to head out. “I’ll let you two have the first look at the new science catalogs.”

He thanked you with a beaming smile and dashed out to climb back onto the wagon bed. With a polite nod in your direction once more, Mr. Wayne followed. You waited until their wagon pulled away before you closed the door and then leaned against it, a heavy sigh escaping you. Sarah snickered and you shot her a half-hearted glare.

“Jim didn’t tell me anything about the council pitching in for a gift,” she whispered when you joined her next to the stove. You nudged her ankle, the one not recently injured, and huffed out another sigh. At least he saved face by not admitting that it was, essentially, a courting gift. You opened the box once more and examined it. It was rather pretty, you thought.

Blasted man.

You returned to school once the snow started to melt. You were half a month into the new year and teaching the children about the proper usage of a participle phrase when you first heard the hooves. It was a common thing to hear horses and wagons riding by the school so you thought nothing of it until the horse stopped in front of the school and heavy footsteps sounded up the clapboard stairs. The door had a bit of a lean to it thanks to the crooked hinges and it scraped along the floor as it opened. You inhaled deeply and turned around to come face to face with a bandit.

This man wasn’t like your outlaw. No, he was something a lot more dangerous. A scruffy bandana hung around his neck, revealing his dirty and sun-leathered skin. His spurs clicked as he walked down the aisle between the desks, creating an ominous thudclick thudclick that sounded oddly like your heart.

“Now, this ain’t personal, miss teach,” he said in a soft, quiet voice that was so unlike the air of fear that dripped off of him. “I’m just hurting for some money and rumor has it, you got rich parents back east.”

Your eyes darted to the six-shooter on his hip and then back up to those dark eyes of his. The kids could run, but that would mean risking one or more of them getting injured. Bandits operate usually with a partner so even if the kids did get out, there was probably another armed man outside.

“If I go with you, you won’t hurt them?”

“That’s right. You and I will take a little trip to a nice cabin where we’ll wait until your parents pay the ransom.”

“I live with the sheriff. Surely he’ll notice me missing.”

The bandit grinned, a crooked and fearsome thing, and shrugged. “There’s a mighty big fight at the saloon right now. He might be late getting home.”

You accepted your fate then and there. “May I grab my hat?”

His smile quickly turned to a scowl. “Hurry up.”

Rushing around your desk, you grabbed your bonnet and hair pin, easily sliding them both into place before he grabbed your arm and dragged you towards the door.

“Now, kids,” the bandit addressed the children. “If you want your teacher to live, you’re going to wait until the little hand points at the six.” He gestured to the grandfather clock behind your desk. “Before you go and tell your mommy and daddy. If not, you’ll never see your teacher again. Can we do that?”

“They’re kids,” you spat. He chuckled and disregarded your concern, instead forcing you out to where two horses stood before the stairs. One man sat on the chestnut gelding, a shotgun resting over his lap, while the bandit hauled you up and onto the horse. As he settled himself behind you on the saddle, the first man leaned over with a strip of fabric in his hands.

“My ‘pologies, ma’am,” he said. “It’s for your safety, after all.”

You knew better than to argue as he stuffed some of the dirty fabric into your mouth and tied it around your head. Next, they tied your hands together with rope and you also knew better than to try and jump off a galloping horse with both hands tied.

The two men kicked the horses into a start and headed for the empty plains outside of the town. The air was dropping temperature and quickly, a sign that you knew meant an incoming blizzard now that you experienced one. Would the kids get home safely in time? Even if they didn’t, you knew the townsfolk wouldn’t let them freeze in the schoolhouse. Despite your best efforts, tears built in your eyes and dripped silently down your cheeks as they carried you further from the place you had started to consider as home.

The wind was starting to pick up when the horses slowed. A dilapidated old cabin sat abandoned, half shadowed by a craggy outcropping of rock. Its roof was caving in and you knew that, if a blizzard struck while you were here, you would truly freeze to death this time.

“Easy does it, miss. We mean no disrespect.” The man behind you helped steady you as the second man lowered you to the ground. You saw no need to fight considering you would get lost in the desert and either die of dehydration or freeze.

Wonderful.

But you had another plan in mind.

The man shoved you to sit in a chair that wobbled when you moved on it. He removed the gag now that there was no worry about you screaming and alerting anyone. He muttered something under his breath as he extracted a cigar from his pocket and lit it, sucking in the smoke with a heavy breath.

“Frankly, I thought this was a stupid idea,” he explained to you. “But Theodore seems to think you’ve got some money and frankly, we’d be much obliged. We’re trying to get to San Francisco and get us some gold.”

“There’s no more gold,” you muttered. “So you’re sore out of luck.” Your gaze darted around the dark little cabin in search of…there.

“What’d you just say?”

“I said there isn’t any more gold in California. Surely you’ve heard.”

He mulled over your words for a moment and then headed back outside, hollering something about “did you know there ain’t no gold in California?” Now was your chance.

You leaned forward and grabbed the shattered shard of glass from what you assumed was a mirror. Adjusting your grip, you hissed as it nicked your thumb. Blood trickled down your skin but you couldn’t worry about that right now. You used the glass to saw the ropes that bound your wrist and nearly wept in joy when it gave way. Reaching up, you grabbed the pin out of your hat and examined it for a moment. It truly was beautiful.

It’s a shame you were going to have to break it.

“Fellas? I think there’s a snake in here,” you called as you moved to stand by the door. You waited with bated breath for the door to open, the man’s hand curling around the wood and giving you a perfect chance to jam the hat pin directly into the top of his hand.

A howl of pain erupted from him and you dashed forward to grab the pistol from his holster. He lunged for you and you ducked under his arms, scrambling further into the small cabin and fumbling with the gun. You had shot only a couple times with your father, but you hoped the knowledge was still somewhere in your mind.

You cursed under your breath as you tried to get the hammer into place. The man was getting back to his feet and his buddy appeared in the doorway, his eyes widening at the sight of you holding a gun. He reached for his own when he was suddenly bowled over by a flash of black. A startled shriek escaped the man and you would have laughed if the situation was humorous at all.

But when a two hundred pound man with a hat pin is the only thing blocking you from the door and the horses and safety, there’s little to laugh about. A shot fired somewhere outside and you instinctively ducked, giving the man a chance to rush at you. You made a valiant effort at jumping over the broken wooden table, but the legs gave way and you tumbled to the ground. He hauled you up, yanking the pistol out of your hand, and dragged you outside where his buddy was currently getting his face beat in by-

“I’ll kill her!” The cold barrel of the gun pressed against your temple and a strong hand kept you firmly in place. Your outlaw stood, his blue eyes narrowing as he took in the sight before him. You looked to his hip.

No gun.

Well, how the hell does someone have a gun battle with no gun?

His gaze darted to the man’s right hand, his dominant hand that held the offending weapon, and you realized what he was piecing together. The same hand you had shoved a metal rod through minutes earlier. Which meant it was weak.

With a shaky hand, you extended three fingers. Your outlaw raised a brow and you let your eye twitch. Now was not the time for his attitude. Two fingers. He dipped his chin in an almost imperceptible nod. One finger. His feet shifted, his stance widening, and you clasped your fist shut and promptly went limp in the bandit’s arm.

He was so surprised by your sudden weight that he stumbled and dropped the gun. Your outlaw barreled forward, kicking the gun far away, and slammed into the bandit. You fell with them and went rolling along the ground, but by the time you were able to pick yourself up, both bandits were unconscious and bleeding in the dirt. Your legs shook as you finally got them under yourself and started to stand, but a hand grabbed your shoulder and stopped you from rising. Unlike the bandits, this touch was firm but warm. You met his steely blue eyes and swallowed against the sudden dryness in your throat.

“Your hurt,” he said quietly. He brushed his hand against the blood on your hand and you let out a breathy laugh.

“I accidentally did that. I was trying to use the mirror and…it’s not important.” His hand enclosed around yours, silencing the words from your mouth.

“You’re shivering.” He looked at the gathering clouds and cursed quietly. “We need to get you somewhere safe.”

“What about them?”

He didn’t pay the men any mind. “Sheriff Gordon knows where they are. I just got here first.” His hand moved to enclose around your bicep and he gently led you to his horse. “A blizzard is on its way and you need to be checked by Dr. Quinn.”

“What about you?”

Your question made him pause and he fixed his gaze on you. “What do you mean by mean?”

Despite the cold air, heat flushed to your face and you shrugged. “You could be hurt too. And you shouldn’t be in the blizzard, either. You deserve to be safe, too.”

He considered you for a moment and then his gaze softened, his hand coming up to touch your chin. “I’ll be fine.” With that, he bent down to help you onto his horse. Unlike your earlier ride, this was a lot more comfortable. He grabbed a blanket out of his saddle pack and then climbed onto the saddle. Your outlaw wrapped it around you and then grabbed the reins to direct his horse towards town.

You were too late, though. The snow started to fall only a few minutes into the ride. With no coat, hat, or layers, you were quickly growing cold. You tried to stop your hands from shaking but the tremors rose into your arms and jaw, creating an audible rattle that caught his attention. Your outlaw raised his hand and pressed your head under his chin to get you closer to him before he raised the edge of the blanket to cover you. He then wrapped his arm around your waist and encouraged you to get as close as possible, but it still wasn’t enough.

“There’s a cabin about a mile away,” he shouted over the wind. “A family that stays in town during the winter. We can stop there.”

You nodded, the cold making your brain feel a little numb. He shook you gently and pressed his lips against the shell of your ear. “Hey, stay with me. Keep your eyes open for me.”

“‘M sorry,” you slurred. “It’s cold.”

“I know. Just a little bit to go.”

You were barely aware of him pulling the horse to a stop and helping you down. All you could recall was the sudden warmth that bloomed from the fire as he tossed wood in. Your outlaw had laid you on the small threadbare rug by the fire and settled a few blankets over you. He crouched next to you and explained that he would put the horse in the stable and be back but to not, under any circumstance, fall asleep.

Stay awake. You can do that.

Or was this all a dream? It had to be. The whole day seemed unreal. Kidnapping, ransom, almost escaping, and then your outlaw showing up. It had to be a dream. But the rough wool under your cheek and the softness of the fur felt very, very real.

“Alright, up you get,” your outlaw said once he came back inside. He brushed the snow off of himself and kneeled down next to you to help you up. You leaned against the wood frame of the bed and glanced up through your lashes to study what little of his face you could see. He gently took your hand out from under the blanket and searched for any sign of frostbite. When he got to the small cut on your thumb, he left and returned with a small bucket of snow. Letting it melt by the fire for a bit, he used it to wash away the blood before he tied a small rag around your thumb to slow the bleeding.

“It can’t be too comfortable with that bandana on,” you said, voice soft and careful. His touch stilled at your wrist and you cursed yourself for being too forward. You turned your face away from his. “I’m sorry, forget I said that.”

Out of the corner of your eye, you saw his hand raise and you inhaled sharply as you realized what he was doing. The bandana fell away and you blinked away any remnants of this dream. You had half a mind to pinch yourself to double check.

“I…I’m sorry I lost that hat pin you gave me,” you blurted out. A smile widened on his handsome face and you were struck by how real the smile looked compared to the tight, perfunctory grins he gave the townspeople.

“I think I can buy you a new one,” Bruce Wayne replied. He removed his hat as well and you took in his face as though he was a well and you were dying of thirst. You had seen him plenty of times, but you saw him as Bruce or as your outlaw. Now they were both one in the same and it made your head spin a little. You reached out and then hesitated, but he nodded to encourage you. You brushed your hand along his jaw and then cupped his cheek, studying the tiny scars you could now make out against his skin.

“Why?”

He was expecting that question, you could tell. He let out a long breath and then explained it all. How his parents died in a wagon robbery, how the sheriffs in Gotham were so corrupt they did nothing to catch the men who did it. How he lived this double life while adopting orphans who stumbled into Gotham from various backgrounds. You listened intently. There was no judgment held against him. From what you had gathered from Sarah and others in the town, the vigilante was feared by criminals and welcomed by the townspeople. Gotham’s crime cleared up after two years of him patrolling the prairie and enforcing the laws in the saloon when the sheriff couldn’t.

“And why me?” The question poured out of you before you could stop it. His lips curled into one of those genuine smiles again.

“Only three people can wrangle my kids. Alfred, me, and you.”

“So that’s why you courted me?”

His lips pressed against your palm and you softened, your body becoming pliant as warmth, both literal and figurative, buzzed through your veins.

“No, that’s just what made me know it was the right decision.”

“Can we expect you back next year?” one of the mother’s asked as she filled a plate for another person. It was the end of school year picnic and you welcomed the chance to take a break from wrangling forty children everyday.

“I hope so,” you replied evenly. “I don’t have any plans of leaving.”

“We’d really love to keep you on,” she continued. “I know you said before that-”

“Jason Peter! Richard John!” You set the plate down and planted your hands on your hips. The two boys spun around with innocent smiles plastered on their faces. Damian and Duke wobbled dangerously on their shoulders and you leveled the boys with a glare that could melt ice.

“Do not drop your brothers,” you ordered. The older boys both nodded in unison before dashing off, the two littlest Wayne’s bouncing on their shoulders the entire way. You pressed a hand to your heart just as a little head of dark hair pressed against your waist. Curling an arm around Cassandra’s shoulders, you hugged her close to your side.

“Having fun?” you asked. She nodded but kept close, her nimble fingers playing with the ties of your apron. You smoothed a hand over her head and leaned down to kiss her hair.

“Nice try,” you whispered. “What is Tim and Steph getting into?”

She merely grinned and slipped away to follow her brothers. You apologized to the other ladies and headed into the school, somehow sure that the source of chaos had to be in here. But the schoolhouse was empty, aside from your books scattered on the desk. You took a moment to take in the room with a heavy heart. Gathering up your books, you stacked them up and left them on the desk. Maybe the next teacher would need it.

Two strong arms wrapped around your waist and you sagged back against your husband’s chest. Bruce pressed a kiss to your temple and frowned when he saw your face.

“Do you need the kids to carry these?”

“No, I figured the next teacher could use them.” He leaned back to see your face fully, his brows furrowed in confusion.

“Are you quitting?”

“I’m married, Bruce. For such a brilliant man, you do have your moments.”

He let out a huff of laughter and shook his head. “We have Alfred to take care of the house, dear. You can teach if you want to.”

“And Alfred’s okay with that?”

“I think we will have to physically pry him from the kitchen when it’s time for him to retire.”

A brilliant grin spread across your lips and you turned fully in his arms so you could fling your arms around his neck. “Oh, thank you! Thank you thank you thank you!”

Your husband, your outlaw, laughed and accepted your kiss with no argument. “Come along, Mrs. Wayne. It’ll be here next fall.”

You didn’t expect to stay in the west longer than a year. You didn’t expect to end up married with a gaggle of adopted children. You really didn’t expect to marry the richest man in town who moonlighted as a vigilante who didn’t carry a gun.

Well, Mama wasn’t lying when she said the West was entirely different from the life you grew up thinking you would live. You didn’t seem to mind.

#bruce wayne fanfiction #bruce wayne x reader #bruce wayne imagine #batman fic #batman imagine #batman x reader #5k celebration

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fishfingersandjellybabies · 3 years ago

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The Crown Found in Rose Thorns - fic

Characters: Damian Wayne, Dick Grayson, Talia al Ghul, Jon Kent, Cassandra Cain, Bruce Wayne Pairing: jondami Summary: “My name is Jonathan Kent, of the Kingdom of Krypton. And I’m here to marry Prince Damian of the Kingdom of Gotham.” A/N: I told @berryfartsart some medieval jondami headcanons inspired by the DKOS announcement and they cyberbullied me into writing the AU for it. (Kidding, of course.) Anyway get ready for some old fashion slow burns and smoopy goopy love~ (but like...eventually, this won’t be fast updated haha)

Damian huffed, crossing his arms, wincing as the Cassandra pulled the brush through his curls once more.

“This is a farce.” He droned. “A complete jester act.”

Talia chuckled, but didn’t look back at her son. Continued brushing her own hair.

“It’s going to be the same as the past three days.” Damian warned. “They’re all simpletons not worthy of my time, or anyone else’s.”

“Then I would at least like to remind you, my dear precious boy.” Talia hummed, effortlessly twirling her hair into a braid. “That I am not asking you to marry today. I am asking you to explore what traits might appeal to you, what kingdoms you trust, or don’t.”

Damian winced as his sister tugged gently at his hair, and scoffed. “It shouldn’t be up to me. My marriage is unimportant.” He mumbled. “You should be focusing on the heir’s marriage.”

Talia sighed, dropping her brush onto her vanity and standing. She stared into the mirror for a moment before leaning over and plucking Damian’s crown off its stand. She turned and slowly walked across the room, staring warmly down at Damian as she approached him.

“Richard does not have a threat hanging over his life.” She murmured, pushing his bangs back before carefully placing the crown on his head. “Richard does not need all the protection he can get.”

“And our brother already has a suitor.” Cassandra chimed in with a giggle. “That warrior princess from the Tamaranean lands.”

“Indeed.” Talia agreed. “So even if he needed any protection from something he could not handle himself, it appears he already has it.”

“Jason then.” Damian tried. He twisted to look at Cassandra. “Or you.” He sat up. “You’re already betrothed to that bard woman!” He turned back to his mother. “Why can’t we make a big deal about her nuptials instead!”

“Because her grandfather is not threatening to steal her away and hold her prisoner and eventually murder her for power.” Talia laughed, holding Damian’s face with a hand on his cheek. “And I am not above a political marriage if that means you have two kingdoms protecting you instead of just ours.”

Damian pursed his lips, ignored the heat rising through his face. “…And if I pick no one to attempt a courtship?”

“Like I said, my beloved.” Talia leaned down and kissed his forehead. “I am not above political marriage to protect you.” She smiled, eyes darting between his. “Even if you forever hate me for it.”

She stood back up, adjusted his crown, then Cassandra’s, then her own, and turned to glide out of the room.

The throne room was abuzz with citizens of the town, and even visitors who had come to try their luck and win Prince Damian’s hand.

Damian sighed as he followed Richard onto their altar. Scanning the room, he could already see no one of merit, and no one of interest. So it was going to be another boring, pointless, wasted day.

“This should be for you.” Damian mumbled again.

Richard snorted, plopping into his seat. “Sorry I found love on my own, little one. Without Mother and Father’s help.” He smirked. “Besides, you should be nice to me. I don’t have to sit here with you all day. I’m just here out of the goodness of my heart, and fondness for my poor, sorrowful, lonely little brother.”

“Piss off. You’re here to amuse yourself at my expense.” Damian rolled his eyes, sitting more politely in the throne next to him. “And so you can go cackle at my misfortune with our brothers later.”

“Nonsense. We cackle at your misfortune on a normal day too.” Richard promised with a wink. “How’s that growth spurt treating you anyway?”

Damian frowned, tugging at his sleeves. “…I have requested a new fitting with Alfred after today’s…festivities.”

Dick smiled again, running his fingers through Damian’s neatly combed curls. “Your clothes will fit for longer than a week one day soon, kiddo.” He let his fingers fall from Damian’s hair to his cheek. “…I’m not just here to keep you company, you know.”

“…Oh?”

“Mhm.” Richard nodded. Damian watched as his blue eyes darted around the room. “I’m here to vet your potential suitors. Make sure they are good enough for you, strong enough to protect you-”

“I can protect myself, thank you.”

“-and this is the fourth day of the festivities. No doubt your grandfather has heard of them by now. Someone has to make sure no undesirables have snuck in, or attempt to make a move.”

“Do you truly think he would be so brash?” Damian questioned. “Besides, this whole thing was Mother’s doing. So, I thought that was why Father keeps attending, to keep watch.”

“He is. But like I said, this is the fourth day. Enough time to get word and move to strike. And forgive me if I’d rather be safe than sorry.” Richard smiled apologetically. “So Father and I are in here, Jason and Cassandra are running the perimeter and Timothy is monitoring the guard towers.”

Damian sighed, staring out into the crowd once more. A few of the guests were glancing their way now. Giggling and falling back into their whispers. Some of the less modest ones outright stared, giving Damian as flirty a smile as they could.

“…Well, as much as I appreciate your concern, I’m afraid it will all be for naught.” Damian drooped in his chair and crossed his arms. “If today is anything like the past three, it will be the most boring day of your life, and nothing will come to fruition.”

“Never say never, little one.” Richard offered dreamily. “Love strikes when you least expect it.”

“Love.” Damian scoffed, glancing over as Bruce and Talia entered the room, hands clasped between them. “Who said any of this was for love?”

“Well.” Richard hummed. “It is because we love you.” He offered. “And we’re hoping not to make this an arranged affair. That we can find you happiness in a partner as well as protection. That’s why we want you to choose.”

“And if I never choose anyone?”

Richard blinked, then offered a smile. But it was sad, almost pitying.

Damian crossed his arms tighter, glancing towards their parents as the King and Queen sat next to them.

“As I keep telling you all, I can protect myself.” Damian mumbled. “And I’m content being alone.”

Richard kept his sad smile. Damian refused to look at him anymore.

Damian wanted to rip his hair out.

As he had predicted many times that day, it was just more of the same.

A blacksmith offering the best weapons, and the safest house on the continent.

A nomad promising a life of adventure and delicious foods.

A group of sisters offering as many heirs as they could carry, and their father as the sole brave knight to protect them all.

A witch and a wizard together, offering magic as protection and endless fertility to continue the kingdom’s bloodline.

A princess offering the best clothes and parties.

A duke who…wasn’t even sure why he was there. He was sent by his father, and didn’t even know Damian’s name.

A young woman who merely offered her humor and loyalty. She could make him laugh, and made it clear that was all she had.

Damian almost agreed to meet with her, if only because he appreciated her honesty.

The sun was dipping in the sky outside the western window, and Damian could feel his stomach starting to growl. He glanced to his brother, who had sat all but stock-still all day, doing exactly as he’d said he would. Watching the room, vetting the visitors. Making sure these potential suitors were good enough for his littlest brother.

“…How many more do you think Mother will have stroll through here?” Damian whispered. “I don’t think I can take much more of this mind-numbing torture.”

Richard chuckled. “I’ll give her four more, then push for a recess. Alright?”

“Thank you.” Damian breathed in relief, glancing out towards the room. The crowd had thinned slightly, with some parties departing when their candidate was politely rejected. Others were just the local townsfolk, remaining purely to stick their noses in royal business.

Talia called for the next suitor to step up, and on the far side of the room, Damian saw three people stepping forward. But before they could make it even a yard, one of the large doors across from the thrones groaned open.

“Am I late?” A male voice called. A wave of chuckles swam around the room, and even Damian found himself smirking.

“Depends on what you’re looking for, son.” Bruce called. Despite the normal nature of the interruption, Damian could already see both his father and brother had put their hands on the hilt of their swords.

“Apologies, Your Highnesses,” Alfred appeared behind the man. He sent a glare over his shoulder as he passed by him. “I had asked him to wait a few moments, but he clearly refused. I do hope we aren’t interrupting.”

“No.” Bruce waved to three people apologetically, who nodded and disappeared back into the crowd. “If he is here for Damian, then we can hear him out.”

“I am!” The stranger called. When he moved, the sound of armor clanked around him. “Um, yes. I mean. I am. I am here for Prince Damian.”

“…Though tardiness is not a good first impression, I must say.” Talia scolded quietly. Bruce gave her a gentle smile and patted her hand. “Bring him forward.”

“Great!” The man – young, by the sound of it, probably closer to a boy – called, leaping past Alfred. “I mean, uh, thank you, Your Highness. For the opportunity.”

Damian watched the man as he walked the long carpet forward, and he felt his eyes narrowing in curiosity. He had dark hair that seemed permanently windblown framing his face, and an awkward smile that almost seemed like it was about to burst from his face.

What really struck Damian’s interest, however, were his eyes. They were a sharp violet, a color Damian didn’t recall ever seeing on a human being before. They were fascinating. Beautiful, even, if he really had to describe them.

As he approached, Damian realized the man – boy, he truly was a boy – was around his age. Seventeen like himself at most, but more likely a year or two younger. What surprised him about that, though, was the armour he wore. While a sparkling silver and recently cleaned, Damian could see nicks and dents in it, even a few shadows that could easily be blood stains, if he got close enough to look.

Barely seventeen and already a battle-worn war veteran?

Attached to the shoulder plate of his armour was a brooch that fastened his bright red cloak together around his neck. It was gold, shaped like a freshly cut diamond, with a large S painted blue on the inside.

Damian didn’t recognize the coat of arms. And Damian knew all the coat of arms of every kingdom and town on the continent.

That was suspicious.

He glanced to his side again. Richard had not taken his hand off his sword.

The boy had reached their feet now, that large smile still adorning his face.

“Hello.” He said plainly. “My name is Jonathan Kent, of the Kingdom of Krypton.”

Talia huffed, raising her head. “And what are you here for, Sir Jonathan?”

Jonathan’s smile, impossibly, seemed to widen.

“Well, Your Highness.” He started, turning his head to stare directly at Damian. Damian found himself flinching under the intense gaze. “I’m here to marry Prince Damian of the Kingdom of Gotham.”

A wave of gasps rolled through the room, followed by an almost deathly silence. While they were all here to propose a courtship and future with the prince, no one had dared to be so forward! Just as no one should have. It was presumptuous and out of place. Everyone knew that. Everyone.

Bruce and Talia glanced at each other, and Richard had the gall to stifle a laugh in his fist.

But Damian.

He was tired, he was annoyed. He was fed up with this charade that had not only taken up almost a week of his life, but one he did not want to partake in, in the first place. He was fed up with people looking at him. Fed up with being treated like a thing, a prize.

So as his parents glanced at each other, and the court calmed themselves over the offense, Damian stood, moving to the front of the altar.

“I beg your pardon?” He spat, brushing off Richard’s fingers as he tried to grab him. “How dare you think I’d want to marry a nameless peasant such as yourself.”

“Well, past experience says you wouldn’t be that against it.” Jonathan shrugged, armor clanking. “But that also is a moot point, because I’m not a peasant. I’m Jonathan, from the Kingdom of Krypto-”

“I’ve never heard of it.” Damian declared. “And I know every kingdom here to the coasts. Which makes you a liar, dear knight.”

The moniker was all but sneered, but Jonathan just let his smile grow a little wider, a little…fonder.

Suddenly Jonathan glanced over Damian’s shoulder. “My father’s name is Clark Kent, but he also sometimes goes by Kal. You’ve fought at his side before, King Bruce.”

Damian whirled around to find his father nodding. “Indeed I have.” Bruce frowned. “I don’t recall him being from any kingdom though. He called himself a traveler.”

“A…recent development.” Jonathan admitted. “One we are still getting used to. But Krypton is his – our – home, and once the truth was discovered, they welcomed us back with open arms.”

“Your father is king?” Jonathan nodded. “Quite the…development, as you said.” Bruce murmured. He glanced at Dick, who shook his head. “He never mentioned a son.”

“He has two. Myself and my older brother, Connor.” A nervous chuckle. “He was…very protective of us as we traveled. Hid us in forests and with witches when he and mother had dealings in towns and villages. Apparently whatever ousted him from Krypton all those years ago, he was afraid we would be its next target.”

“None of this is relevant to today.” Damian cut in, whirling back around to face the suitor. “How long have you been under the title of prince?”

“A few years.”

“And in a few years you did not learn any manners?” Damian scolded, crossing his arms. “You do not enter another’s kingdom and demand someone’s hand in marriage.”

“I did not demand.” Jonathan countered. “I promised.”

Damian felt heat rise to his cheeks. “And who said I would choose you? How do you know I have not chosen anyone to court yet?”

“Past experience.”

“Past experience with who?”

“You.”

The room’s silence grew tense. Damian’s hands balled into fists.

“I have never met you for a second in my life.”

Jonathan lowered his voice. “Are you so sure?”

Damian narrowed his eyes, and opened his mouth to respond, but was interrupted by his mother.

“Damian.” She hummed. “…What do you think of this…gentleman? Are you interested in him?”

“I think he’s a complete buffoon.” Damian answered instantly. Jonathan chuckled to himself. “An arrogant, deceptive moron.”

Jonathan merely blinked. “Your Highness, that doesn’t answer her question.”

Damian felt a blush blossoming on his face. “You-”

“And if we’re going to marry within the year, perhaps you should answer quickly, so we can begin our courtship.”

“Again, who said I would ever want to marry you?” Damian demanded.

Jonathan shrugged again. “Well, so far, you haven’t said you don’t.”

Damian felt his jaw go rigid. This idiot. This disrespectful, uneducated boy who claims he fell into power. So sure of himself, so narcissistic. And he already thought Damian belonged to him? That Damian was already his?

That smile was still plastered to his face. It was mischievous, and held a secret.

Held a challenge.

Say no, it said. I dare you. Let me embarrass you in front of your court and walk away with your tail between your legs. I dare you.

Damian never could turn down a dare. A test. And if it was a challenge Jonathan Kent of Krypton wanted, it was a challenge he would get.

He wanted to court Damian? Fine. Let him court Damian. Damian would eat him alive. Emotionally tear him limb from limb. Send him crawling back to Krypton wondering why he ever even bothered with the youngest Prince of Gotham.

After a moment, Damian returned the smile, slowly walked down the altar steps, and moved towards the knight. Stopped only inches away, and stared up into those mystical purple eyes.

There was something in those eyes, Damian noted. Something just out of reach. Purposefully hidden. Hidden from everyone? Or just Damian?

This close, and Damian was reminded once more of the marks on his armor. The red shadows he’d noticed before, he could now confirm were blood. Old and flaking, and much more of it than he first realized. Not his own, Damian decided, based on their locations. Blood from others.

Mischievous…and dangerous.

(And beautiful!, his brain supplied. But he ignored that part. Stayed focused on the challenge at hand.)

He glanced down between them when he noticed Jonathan’s fingers twitch, like he wanted to reach out. Want to touch him. Damian let his gaze rise. Smirked, and reveled in the scene of Jonathan biting his lip, just slightly.

“Yes, Mother.” He whispered. But his voice was heard through the whole room. “I think I am interested.”

Jonathan kept his gaze. Whispered back, “I knew you would be.”

“Your arrogance will be the death of you, Traveler.” Damian hummed, turning away. He began back up the steps, was almost to the top, when he heard the quietest words ever spoken.

“No, I do believe only you will be, love.”

Damian spun back around at the tender sound, his face heating up. Jonathan was still staring, but now his gaze was softer, more adoring. Like he’d known Damian for years.

Like he really was here just to profess his eternal love and marry him on the spot.

…Curious.

Suddenly, a hand was on Damian’s shoulder, and he turned to find Richard above him, watching Jonathan as he tugged Damian back to his seat.

Talia began speaking to Jonathan, Bruce adding a word or two, as Richard and Damian sat back down. That look was gone from Jonathan’s face now, back to business as the queen set a time for him to return the next day to spend time with her son.

“…First impression?” Damian murmured to his brother. He felt himself twitching every so often, when Jonathan would glance his way.

“Honestly? Suspicious.” Richard returned. “I’ll need to look deeper into this history he’s claiming. See if Father and I can get a hold of Clark. Find out about the status of Krypton.” Richard paused, then looked over at him. “Are you honestly interested in him?”

Damian shrugged. “If not for love, then for my personal entertainment.”

“That’s cruel, if he’s genuine.”

“Do you think he is?”

Richard looked back. The knight was bowing to their parents now. Stood, and turned to the two of them to bow again. When he stood upright once more, he gave Damian a wink, then turned to walk back down the aisle and out of the room.

Richard clicked his tongue as Jonathan disappeared out the large door. Glanced at Damian with a sly smile. “…Ask me again after your first date tomorrow.”

Damian groaned and slumped in his throne.

#jondami #jon kent #Damian Wayne #dick grayson #Talia al Ghul #cassandra cain #bruce wayne #Princes au

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phantomchick · 4 years ago

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List of wips - aka struggles

Call Me A Jason Todd fic I started two years ago and still go back to poke at longingly, will the second and final chapter ever be posted? Who can know for sure.

I tell myself that I don't need Anyone (But the truth is no one needs Me) Another Jason Todd fic I haven't completed, posted two years ago for whumptober, it was the only day of whumptober I participated in, intended to be full of Captain Atom and Jason Todd interacting during the fall out of Bludhaven getting chemo'd but he doesn't show up in the first chapter and have you ever tried to read Infinite Crisis? It's a fucking mess. With this wip I have a close to justifiable excuse in that I refuse to write without knowing the canon, and reading through all the canon that's relevant is A Task.

The Monster in The Man A Merlin fic floating around my drafts, currently at a good bit over 5k wherein Merlin gets POSSESSED by an old enchantment gone mad. Written because a Merlin fic I read ended on a horror style cliffhanger and I couldn't handle it so I charged my way through the first 2k of a sequel and I've been adding to it ever since. Angst with a hopefully happy ending, if I ever frikking finish it.

The Dragon Lord In the aftermath of his father's death after Merlin inherits his father's dragon lord abilities he notices some minor changes to his interactions with his friends, the thing is that Merlin is a dragon lord and unusually what he hoards is people, things might just turn out the better for it.

Maelstrom A Naruto time travel fix it fic that wouldn't leave me alone until I got the first chapter out, ironically it has left me entirely alone since I finished the first chapter and I have no idea if inspiration for it will ever return or when that will be.

You Don't Know Anything Long long ago in a land of asks and a time of legend @paradise-runway sent me a fic request for "one where the other Bat boys find out the circumstances of Jason's death and resurrection and their reaction?" it has been lingering in my drafts haunting me ever since, someday, someday I shall fulfill what has been promised.

Of Curses and Covenants A longfic exploring the magical underbelly of Gotham's history, focuses on the intertwined relationship of the Wayne Family and the Zatara Family brought about by how often Waynes through the generations have ended up being cursed. I have an index of all the curses ready, the problem with this one is the plot and the story.

Vicki Finds a Bat (temporary title) Vicki Vale stumbles upon a still alive young adult Jason Todd at a wafflehouse on the way back from snooping into Cobblepot's latest criminal schemes. Convincing the young man to go back home to his loving father might prove more of a challenge than she thinks however. (will have a happy ending if I ever fucking finish it, for now it looms in my drafts like an unhappy gargoyle)

Hug Deficit A fic about Jason being touch starved and his family fixing it, hurt/comfort all the way, post resurrection.

Stephanie Brown and The Mansion of Man Pain Robin Era Steph, she and Alfred have pumpkin spice lattes together, it's their thing because I say it is. Includes, Alfred raised 5 boys counting Bruce, he's not sure how to handle a little girl and Bruce trying to dad plus Steph trying her best. Would be a lot easier to write if I was any good at comedy.

Another Time, Another Place Some twenty years or so after their death, Martha and Thomas Wayne appear in the middle of Wayne Manor's ground floor parlour room, the major problem with this? Not only are Bruce and Dick away, Alfred's on holiday in England! Which is why Jason as the eldest has been unwillingly nominated by his younger siblings to deal with the situation at hand. Martha and Thomas in this are heavily inspired by @unpretty's amazing portrayals in her fics with them.

- Queen Blackfire and the Lazarus Lord An au with Soulmate identifying marks: Jason Todd was having an okay time as de-facto leader of The Outlaws, a band of misfits and rebels with hearts of gold (or at least silver) saving the world the best they could and filling in the gaps the more straightforward heroes tended to miss while they were at it. Then he found out he was soulmates with the Alien Warrior Queen bent on declaring war on planet Earth if the Justice League didn't find her soulmate for her. Things with his friend, team mate and potential future sister in law Kori just got super awkward and the only good thing he can find about this situation is how angry (and protective? But maybe he's just imagining that) Bruce seems over the whole thing.

Side note: Kommand'r freaked out during the years Jason was 'dead' and accidentally brought peace to a huge chunk of space and intergalactic society via building up her empire after throwing herself into work to escape the grief.

- To Grasp The Hand of a Fox Naruto and Kurama travel back in time to save the world but unfortunately they land in the same moment that Kurama's just been put under a genjutsu by Madara Uchiha, Naruto has to make his way to Konoha and wake Kurama up before the villagers seal him away inside Mito. Can he save his friend in time to save them all?

Those Winter Sundays Mcu fic. Snapshots of Tony working hard for the avengers and no one noticing. Civil War Team Iron Man.

- Salvation Rides a Solar Wind Iron Man fic in a Science fiction / Western style fic where Tony's presence is described through the eyes of the aliens he helps. Au where the war with Thanos goes very differently. The type of fic that needs like 5 multi chapter fics in a single series to truly shine, hence why I will likely never finish it.

And We Break Away Again Jason goes back to Talia after Damian is brought back from the dead by Bruce. It's not that he begrudges his little brother his resurrection, the opposite, but he can't ignore what Bruce did to him by taking him to the magdala valley and he can't ignore what Bruce doing for Damian what he didn't do for him, (do for Dick, do for any of them besides the blood related one) means. So he decides to go back to the only person who ever seemed to understand why he wanted to avenge himself in the first place, the only person who seemed to agree that he had a right to be angry that he'd died at all, the only person he can trust to hold him together while he feels like he's falling apart that won't judge him against the heroic mold while they're at it. Not sure if this will be a oneshot or a series but we're going good Talia with this one regardless, DC's been ruining her lately but through fanfic all things are possible so fuck them.

Fan The Flames In the aftermath of a magical fire taking hold of the Daily Planet in Metropolis, Superman is missing, can Batman and the rest of the Justice League find their friend as well as the identity of the evil arsonist before Lex Luther does it first?

In a Whisper (In a Wish) Ichigo Kurosaki protects people, it's not just who he is, it's what he is, down to the core of his very soul. The only problem is, that a few weeks ago he sacrificed half his soul to protect the world. It aches inside where he knows something important used to be. When everyone he cares for is avoiding him and he's starting to feel more like a shadow than a person, that aches at him too and he can't help but wish, quietly, privately, painfully, to himself if no one else that things were different, that he wasn't so broken or so alone. But if wishes were fishes they'd fill a whole sea (just be careful not to whisper them within the hearing range of the Hōgyoku).

An Honest Conversation (Is A Bitter Thing To Crave) Jason kidnaps Bruce but things don't go as Bruce expects. First of all the reason Jason was able to kidnap him was because Stephanie of all people was his insider, why would she support someone Batman knows she's only met once. And second of all the reason he's been abducted - So that Jason can drug them both with the same substance. And when Bruce asks what he's doing this for Jason only responds, "We don't trust each other enough to have a truthful conversation otherwise" and refuses to say anything more while they wait for it to kick in. What will be revealed by this forced honest encounter on both sides? -

carrying the world on thin shoulders Midoriya Izuku deserves better from literally all the adults in his life so this is part whump part hurt comfort part fix it fic that sprawls out from time to time but it's pretty bad tbh, at some point I'll probably make it neater and give it something resembling a coherent plot. Hopefully. -

Trust Issues HP fic. Harry gets dosed with a potion that's supposed to reinforce your strongest survival instinct, the person who drugged him might've intended to be helpful but said potion happened to be at extra strength and he was given what would be a normal fix for the regular version but for this one is twice the recommended amount. Great.. The biggest problem about all this - beyond his internationally wanted godfather Sirius endangering himself by hiding out in a cave near Hogsmeade against all rational advice, his best friend Ron hating him, everyone in school besides his other best friend Hermione also hating him or avoiding him and the entire Goblet of Fire problem - is that he can't bring himself to trust anyone enough to tell them what's wrong.

Truth is Treason in the Empire of Lies A post marvel avengers story, thor pov probably, made because I like to dive into a pool of thor & loki sibling feels sometimes: Starts off as Thor regales his new human shield brothers with the story of his banishment and return to Asgard ending with Loki falling into the Void and the Avengers have some questions, questions Thor had not thought of, remarks on things that Thor doesn’t know how to explain away. After he goes to Loki’s cell and asks him some things he becomes more and more angry despite having no one he can punch > Gets drunk and criticises Sif and The Warriors Three after they try to calm him down > mention of Loki still being underage by Aesir standards during Thor 1 seeing as Thor was being crowned due to being of age in the movie > heavy inspiration drawn from queen regnant by peaceheather. “For while the Treason I detest, the Traitor I love still.” Currently just an outline.

Separation Split personality disorder Red Hood and Jason Todd, alternatively, Red Hood is a demon/parasite latched on to Jay. A lot of work necessary considering right now it’s currently just an idea inspired by a cool tumblr fanart.

A Trinity of Head Wounds The dcu trinity in the aftermath of a fight against some alien invaders (or something along those lines), whump, hurt/comfort, starts with them arguing, ends with them bleeding on each other in a friendship way, whole thing should take place in a single room on the watchtower and be a oneshot so it's gotta be a short and sweet one-two gut punch with the feelings which is difficuuult.

A Stark in The Stars an mcu fic, a really over complicated mcu fic, mostly because of Steve Roger's timeline fuckery, Tony's alive but he's not supposed to be, but so are a lot of people who were dead but aren't now you might say what with the snap and the blip. The thing is that Steve's timeline fuckery is making it so that everyone keeps getting confused between the two different timelines of events, obviously more confused the more that their characters were connected to the films/the events that were altered, the punchline of this particular fic though is that Tony's still alive and he's unaware of the timeline of events where he died. And as he's currently in space he's also unaware that everyone on Earth thinks he's dead (because why wouldn't they? he died in endgame after all). That makes this fic super tough to write because like ultimate unreliable narrator right here and not sure how to tie in the whole 'oh wait actually everyone on Earth thinks I'm dead because of the canon timelines' thing in or at what point of the story to do that at. The fuckery of it all gives me a headache. Plot is hard. Also all of that's basically background to the actual focus of most of the fic thus far which is Tony travelling around space in an Iron Man suit up until the point where it won't be background.

Magic Chained Merlin au. When you put magic restraining cuffs on Magic himself you don't just bind him you bind all magic the world over. It is therefore, infinitely lucky that Uther Pendragon never became aware of this fact.

A Child in The Cold bnha Midoriya deserves better also Recovery Girl and Aizawa have shit to answer for as far as I'm concerned.

#i have #so many #wiiiiiiiips #there's probably more hidden in various word docs but #blah #personal

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redroseworks · 5 years ago

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Batgirls Cowgirls Au aka The Gotham Young Ladies Gang That I wrote the other night and it's not very coherent but fuck it also I hardly know anything about cowboys though they were mostly not white or homosexual so that's fun

Gotham is in old Western Texas

Barbara Gordon was eighteen when she helped a local cowboy named Bruce and his son Dick chase an outlaw named Joker out of town

She realizes she can help people in ways no cowboy could

She becomes a cowgirl in secret wearing a bandana to hide her face and a hat to hide her hair.

Then Joker comes back when she's twenty eight

She gets shot and ends up in a wheelchair but dammit she wont stop helping to protect people

So when Cassandra comes into town two years later, she of course helps the poor girl

Cassandra, only fourteen at the time they meet, is the daughter of two outlaws; legendary Lady Shiva and the not so legendary David Cain. She was raised and abused by the latter parent.

Barbara takes her in as a ward.

But Cain shows up

Together Barbara and Cassandra defeat him

So Barabara gets to thinking and starts teaching Cassandra all she can

So they end up leaving town to help more people

But they return about three years later and end up saving eighteen year old Stephanie Brown from a drunken man

Stephanie worked at a saloon as a waitress (or the equivalent of a waitress back then)

Oh and does she want to join Barbara and Cassandra

Cassandra and Stephanie fall in love and Stephanie ends up stealing Cassandra's coat

Stephanie is also an interesting addition because neither Cassandra or my version of Barbara are white so they are limited by racist laws and opinions of others during the time period so Stephanie

The next year they help Harper Row run some cattle rustlers off her ranch outside of Gotham where she lives with her younger brother Cullen

Harper joins them and they use the ranch as a main base of operation

They end up helping women all over the state

Some of which end up living on the ranch

People start to call them the Gotham Young Ladies Gang

The au would also include Barbara x Dinah and Harper x Carrie

#red rose speaks #batgirls #cowgirl au #cowboy au #western au #stephanie brown #barbara Gordon #Cassandra Cain #Cassandra wayne #cass Cain #cass wayne #dc comics #oracle

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whumpbby · 5 years ago

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So I was thinking about the nanny!jay au. And I thought about this: if omegas making milk for their pack isn’t much of a thing anymore in this verse, that would bring some... attention to Jay if it ever came out. Like I’m imagining a scenario where maybe Dickie heard something mean from some other kid, or maybe he was injured in some way and he has the /need/ to get some milk and special comfort. That might bring some harsh comments with Dick as a 9 yr. old nursing off a male omega...

You are on the gold, anon! :O

Omegas are dry, because leaking boobs are a bother and in high society - where the presentation is everything - they are way too obvious at showing the pack’s and omega’s state, not to mention the way they make alphas act around them. Scent of milk is tempting - unclean! ugh! so low class!

Of course, many alphas that can afford it, use some sorts of stand-ins - either as ‘home help’ or as, well, escorts. Brothels.

In short, ‘wet’ omegas are considered low class, leaking breasts are an obscene image that should be covered and dealt with behind closed doors.

Due to that approach, Bruce had very little contact with omegas that made milk in his life - every time it was either a feeding mother or a streetwalker. Only when he was a part of the al Ghul pack in his youth, he had a chance to experience a wet omega and, honestly, that was the best time. Since these were his formative years and al Ghul are all about natural state of things, he was presented with omegas with their breasts full, bodies soft and open and comforting. It was heaven. Then he returned back to Gotham and living in Western Society where omegas were much more reserved and boobs were out of reach until you were going to pay someone for them.

And then, years later, Jason is dropped into his lap. An amazing young man, smart and determined, and so good with his pups. And now? His breasts are small, but they are plump and full, the scent around him is sweet and inviting, and comforting... and it’s his. The omega is his, because Bruce isn’t going to let him go:O

No, Dickie? Dickie was raised in the extended family that was close and he had nursed off of many omegas in his toddlerhood. It was an open environment, no one judged that stuff.

And then he became a part of the high class and suddenly mentioning in joy that his omega caretaker had milk is a reason for other kids to scoff? Yeah, that wasn’t a good day for anyone, because Dickie wasn’t going to take any flak for finally being happy=_=

#headcanon #nanny!jay #Anonymous

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eastonia-blog · 5 years ago

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I’m going to do a weird.

I know a whole lot of us are stuck at home due to the COVID19 outbreak and all our respective governments attempting to flatten the curve. So I’m going to break out my VAST library of fanfiction recommendations for you to read! Please bear in mind that my tastes in fics are not necessarily like yours so the following 15 Fandom reccs might be hit or miss. All ships and above T ratings will be tagged with brackets, all crossovers will be mentioned in those same brackets. Also, if I mention it’s part of a series, I’m not just recommending the fic I mentioned, I’m recommending the whole series. I’ve tried to recommend a different author’s fic each time. So! Let’s start with the 3 fandoms I mention in my blog description.

1) ATLA Fate Deferred (Zutara) Aang remains in the iceberg ten years longer. Sozin’s comet comes, the world keeps turning with no Avatar to save it, and by the time he’s finally found by a waterbender and her Fire Nation husband, a lot has changed. [Zutara established relationship full series rewrite; Now on Book II: Earth] Cheating at Pai Sho (Canon Divergence) “You said you were the Avatar!” “…I lied?” Aang doesn’t get rescued in episode two, and no one’s seen him go glowy yet… so he starts bluffing. Hard. Or: “The Avatar joins Zuko’s quest to find the Avatar.” In which Zuko doesn’t join the Gaang, the Gaang joins Zuko. The Undying Fire: Blood and Fire (First in the Undying Fire Series, eventual Zutara) Book 1. In which rescuing the Avatar from Pohuai Stronghold doesn’t end so well. It’s a tough life being a banished prince trying to get home, especially when the Avatar just wants to be your friend and keeps making everything confusing. Oh, and did Zuko mention he somehow healed the kid? Yeah, that happened. Stalking Zuko (First in the Stalking Zuko Series, eventual Zutara) Katara has developed a new hobby. At the Western Air Temple she takes to stalking Zuko. Much silliness and shenanigans follow. In chapter 20: Katara and Zuko return home to the others. Katara hates the F word and she comes to a decision regarding Zuko. Embers (Canon divergence) Dragon’s fire is not so easily extinguished; when Zuko rediscovers a lost firebending technique, shifting flames can shift the world… 2) Percy Jackson and the Olympians The Father (Percabeth in the GFFA, eventual Anidala) It all started with a wish, but because it was Percy Jackson it couldn’t have been a friendly goddess granting him a wish. No, it had to be Nemesis, goddess of revenge and balance. Now Percy and Annabeth are stuck in a strange new galaxy right when an ancient and powerful darkness finally begins to stir. Glass Figures (MCU Mashup) I lifted my gun, pointing it towards the minefield of shattered fragments, and kicked the small coffee table out of the way.Only to stare down at an awfully familiar face, which split into a somewhat lopsided grin. The intruder raised his hands in a mocking surrender. //“Long time no see, dude.” //I lowered the gun. “What the hell are you doing in South Peru?” //Or in which Clint Barton and Percy Jackson have a long personal history that starts in high school. All Together, Cousins (Canon divergence) When Thalia ran away with her toddler brother, Jason, she slowly gathered her cousins: she and her cousins being Big Three children. As Jason gets older and their motley group expands to six, Thalia resigns herself to the fact that she won’t always be the leader of the pack. As she accepts that, something more is coming, able to challenge even the gods above. A Crown of Golden Leaves (Historical AU) Annabeth, a Lady from the declining polis of Athens, must marry the Heir Apparent of Rome to save the rapidly expanding world from a threat even the gods couldn’t foresee. Deluge (Percy in the Arrowverse) Barry has to deal with yet another Metahuman that Zoom has pitted against him. But this ‘Metahuman’ is an unwilling pawn in Zoom’s plan and really wants to find a way around killing the Scarlet Speester. But how can he when Zoom is holding something against him?

3) DC Firework (First in the Sparks in the Dark Series) Orphaned and removed from the only life he’s ever known, Dick feels like there’s no light left for him in the world. His new benefactor, however, still sees something worth saving… Chronological beginning of the Spark in the Dark series. Iron, Fire, Mirror-Glass After a brutal confrontation with Bane, Bruce comes away with a broken spine and the certainty that his days as Batman are over. An unexpected discovery offers him another chance—but at what price? The story of a man who risks his soul for the sake of his mission, the dangerous creature he names Robin, and the unlikely partnership that will shape the legend of Gotham’s Dark Knight. Get Back Up There was a mole, one who played a long game. The team was betrayed, crushed. Robin nearly died. What are they going to do now? Only one chirped the answer. Get back up. WARNING: lots of talking, little action, many follow ups Five Times …Five times Damian thought of Dick Grayson as his father, and the one time Dick thought of Damian as his son. Future-fic. YJ characters will show up later. Batman!Dick and Damian as Robin. With guest appearances from Jason, Tim, Cass, and Steph. Unveiling the Mystery Series of one-shots about the team learning a little about Robin (Dick Grayson). With all the fics, I heavily suggest you also read what else these authors have to offer in their archive.

And now here’s the plethora of other fandoms I read fics in under the cut!

4) Harry Potter The Horse (Mature) Looking after a Muggle animal should be easy compared to saving Hogwarts from Voldemort. Harry and Draco might disagree with that. Featuring Luna, Marauders, peppermints and, of course, a tall, black, badtempered horse named Simon. The Potions Master’s Nephew An accident occurs and Professor Snape finds himself trapped in his fifteen-year-old body. Enrolled into Harry Potter’s fifth year, he is forced to hide his true identity. Girls, drama and teenage angst do not bode well with Severus. Keeping Up with the Grangers (Dramione, Mature) Mr. Malfoy, I invite you and your mother to tea next Tuesday, May 25th at 2o’clock to discuss recent events. Dr. Helen Granger //… …// He glances at the boxy too-uniform numbers flashing on the face of Richard’s radio. It’s nearly noon, and he should be getting ready to leave; but there is still a harsh tension in his shoulders and neck that he wants to work out before Hermione finds him. It is, after all, Tuesday; and while his Tuesdays were designated ‘tea with Helen’ days previously, they are now ‘lunch with Granger’ days, ever since the chance meet-up with the Weasel’s wife and the insufferable swot herself. Faceless (Dramione, Mature) New year. New love. New threat. A powerful enemy is on the rise, and Hermione Granger finds herself intertwined in a relationship with Draco Malfoy – only she doesn’t know it’s him. / / RUNNER-UP: Enchanted Awards Summer 2017 for Best Relationship Development

5) Devil May Cry And the Rest is Silence (Mature) The destruction of the Saviour wasn’t the end. Too many people had too much invested. An Uncle’s Thoughts Dante’s thoughts and feelings regarding one particular quarter-demon kid. Vignettes that span from the start of Devil May Cry 4 through Devil May Cry 5, and beyond. Fortuna’s Fool Events after DMC5 with flashbacks to the events we briefly see in DMC4SE only with Vergil telling Dante all about Nero’s mother. Family ties are so complicated, aren’t they? Family of Happenstance Some orphans have happy endings, getting adopted or finding their family. Having a demon slaying half devil for a father tends to throw a tiny monkey wrench in the process. AU Father!Dante, Son!Nero. Rated because hunters don’t exactly have clean mouths.

6) Power Rangers (Focus on Might Morphin’ and Dino Thunder teams) Of Love and Bunnies Set just after Dino Thunder. When Angel Grove announces another Power Rangers Day, Tommy takes the Dino Rangers to Angel Grove for a reunion with the original team… including Kimberly. TommyKim, JasonTrini, KiraTrent. The Reason (Part 1 of eclyptyk neo‘s Dino Thunder AU) COMPLETED. DT. AU. Years go by as Tommy Oliver becomes accustomed to his job as a teacher. A person from his past returns. The new ranger team grows interested in its outcome. How will these new changes between rangers young and old be? Sequel: Ordinary World Change of Hearts (Wild Force) PRWF: When Jindrax and Toxica set out to find themselves, they had no idea that their greatest adventure was only beginning. Chronology Conundrum DT/MMPR - After a strange mutation is released in Reefside, the five Dino Thunder Ranges find themselves thrown back into the past, circa 1995 Angel Grove. Somehow, they have to figure out how to make it back to their present without destroying it or themselves. And if they succeed, they must navigate the consequences of their actions in the past, while still protecting Reefside. 7) Merlin (Mergana leaning) The Other Version of Events What if Merlin and Arthur had met when they were children? What if a mysterious illness fell over Ealdor and Merlin was blamed? What if Arthur had actually felt sorry for him? What if destiny was thrown at them in a whole new way? AU, no slash, Bromance, A/G M/M… You get the idea. Flipping the Coin, Part 2 of Coins (2nd story in the Coins Sage but 1st multichapter) Merlin and Gwaine are sent on an adventure to discover their past and stay one step ahead of Morgana. Fearing for them, Arthur and the other knights set out to find them, but soon discover much more than they bargained for. Alt version Season 5. Sequel to “Two Sides of the Coin” Angst, Adventure, BAMF, Bromance, Redemption, Twists on Arthurian Legends. The King’s Legacy “I hope you are rolling in your grave brother, I will find your son, and I hope he is like you. I will ruin him and gain a lovely weapon in the process.” Cenred spat on the grave, “I win Balinor.” .Sequel posted. The Warlock’s Quickening (First in the Albion Cycle) Merlin might have come to Camelot to master his magic, not to end the Purge, but he’s not going to sit idly by while his kin suffer. Oh no. Whether it’s releasing a chained dragon, smuggling sorcerers out of the city, or trying to change Arthur’s mind, he’s fighting back. Now. Series rewrite beginning after 1X02 featuring Proactive!Merlin. AU.

8) Dragon Ball Under the Radar (Gohan/Videl) Gohan is living life as a secret superhero, but Videl is making it her business to find him out! How will Gohan manage her and Saiyan hormones? Will he fess up? Or will he try to live his life -puts on sunglasses- “Under the Radar”? *applause* Thank you! Thank you! And GOODNIGHT! G/V obviously. Rated T because adult situations and language in later chapters. COMPLETE! Golden God (Mature) To save the lives of millions, Gohan is forced to expose himself as a Super Saiyan, proving that his tricks are indeed very real. And it drives the whole world to insanity. Warning; becomes a little graphic goes as it on. Walking Towards the Sunset Bardock’s curse sends him to a mysterious place where weaklings are abundant and an odd trio claim to be his family. Eventually giving in, he stays with them to discover that Earth is more unlucky than Planet Vegeta. Impatiently waiting for his son’s arrival, Bardock has to survive a new life with his estranged family and a certain girl set on finding the truth. (Saiyaman-Buu Saga) Plus One (Gohan/Videl, Mature) Tired of being pursued by the gold-digging, glory-seeking, Satan obsessed freaks of the world, Videl will resort to the only method open to a celebrity like her to find Mr. Right. 9) Sailor Moon (Mainly SenshiShitennou) The Crystal Age (Rewritten) In an alternate version of Season 1, as a result of Beryl’s curse at the end of the Silver Age, Tuxedo Mask and the reincarnated Shitennou are fighting a losing battle to save the city and find the lost princess. Sailor Moon has disappeared, Sailor V is working on her own, and the other Senshi are still just ordinary girls. Sequel to The Silver Age. MxU, SxS. Please R&R. Hooligans It’s after Galaxia and time for University. The Senshi and Mamoru settle into life in Great Britain and meet some old friends. Inner Senshi x Shitennou and Usagi x Mamoru. Modern Timeline. Strong language, crude humour, hilarity and sexual situations abound, be warned, there will be some heavy angst later on too. Never Gone R A single choice can change the course of Fate: a choice, say, like waking up on time. If that choice were made, Chiba Mamoru would never meet Tsukino Usagi; but, he WOULD meet Unami Seiya and the burden of Terra’s future would fall onto his shoulders. Never Gone AU. The Dinner Hour (Part of The Dinner Series) It can be hard to be patient in the face of eternity. But good things come to those who search and refuse to give up on their dreams. R/J. (Sequels: Dinner And Again, Dinner at Last completed!)

10) Les Miserables (Warning: Enjonine ahead) When Apollo Met Persephone (1st of the 1830s AU) The revolution, or at least the first part of it succeeds. Enjolras confronts political and personal realities. Eponine is suddenly faced with more opportunities than she ever thought. Can they guide each other in a world that needs them as much as they need it? Les Choses Qui Sont Arrivées Après “You must flee Paris at once.” Enjolras and Eponine. The thief and the leader, the marble Apollo and the dark street girl… two wholly different survivors of the Revolution are forced together under a dangerous circumstance. Can they successfully fight their demons as well as each other? Neither of them knows quite what is going on, or what will happen when they figure it out. Teacher of Man The first time Enjolras and Éponine meet, it is their wedding day. (arranged marriage AU) My Best Friend’s Wedding Éponine Thenardiér always thought that Marius would eventually come back to her, until the wedding invitation came in the mail. Now she is going to do everything that she can to get him back from that blonde tart Cosette. Nothing goes according to plan and even her partner in crime Enjolras is becoming an obstacle. E/E. 11) Naruto Beginnings Naruto was six years old when he met the man who changed his life. …Now he’s kind of just hoping he survives it. An Inch of Gold (Part of the Legacy of Fire series) Team 7 is sent on a mission to investigate a disturbance outside of the village, where they encounter an unconscious girl in a crater. The mysterious Sarada insists she’s a shinobi from the Hidden Leaf trying to rescue her teammates. When the team discovers she possesses a Sharingan, things become even more unbelievable. [Part of the Legacy of Fire Series] Guilt of Innocence Uchiha Sasuke abandoned Konoha in his persute of power to join Orochimaru. However, this was only a cover story. In fact, on Tsunade’s orders, Sasuke is to act as Konoha’s spy within Otogakure. One agreement and his path had changed forever… Blind (SasuSaku) It was almost time, Orochimaru was going to take his body as a vessel. He hated being used…he refused to be used. With that thought, he took the kunai in his hand and slashed across his eyes.

12) Legend of Zelda (Zelink) The Conviction to Save The princess is dead. Those are the words being whispered in the streets. A great shudder sweeps across the land of Hyrule as news of its beloved monarch’s passing spreads like wildfire. In the midst of the ensuing chaos, a humble village doctor happens upon the body of a gravely injured young woman on the road. Legend of the Miraculous (Concepts taken from Miraculous Ladybug) A legend retold through many a tale, but when a darkness resurfaces after so long, Athena and Sheikhan Wolf must return again! Will Link and Zelda be able to combat this threat? and will they figure out each others’ identities? Come inside and take a look! Hit List AU. It all started as a typical day at Ordon High, until a sudden school shooting turns the life of Link Hero upside down. Now, surrounded by enemies, can Link save his friends and escape the school alive? (Edit 10/2015) Counting Stars Link finds himself caught in the middle of an elaborate gang war. Lucky for him, being a B-list superhero makes that predicament a tiny bit easier. / Modern AU ZeLink, inspired by Spider-Man. Under Revision! 13) Hunger Games Vox Libertas Due to things playing out a bit differently in the last few minutes of the Quell, the rescue also goes a bit differently than expected. Now Peeta has the responsibility of representing the Rebellion thrust upon him. No pressure. *AU Mockingjay. Part I of Dandelion in the Storm AU. Mainly Peeta POV.* Someone To Watch Over Me (Everlark, 1st in the Series) A HG rewrite. What would happen if Peeta was just a little bit bolder, and Katniss a little less emotionally confused? You’d be surprised. Let the Games begin. This is an AU, but I’ve tried to stay as canon as possible. Rated T to be safe. Enthralled (Everlark, Gadge, Mature) Thrall (þræll), n., a slave or serf in Viking Age Scandinavia. After a successful raid, Gale is rewarded with a slave girl: the Saxon noblewoman Madge. Meanwhile, shieldmaiden Katniss grows closer to captive monk Peeta. Gadge/Everlark historical AU with background Odesta and other pairings. Katniss, Vampire Slayer (Mature) “Into every generation a slayer is born.” the man droned out slowly, quietly, in a way that made her think he was quoting something. “One girl in all the world. A chosen one. She alone will wield the strength and skill to fight the vampires, demons, and the forces of darkness; to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their number. She is the Slayer.” // Haymitch mocked. “One girl in all the world. Ain’t I just lucky it had to be you.” 14) How To Train Your Dragon Becoming Lífþrasir (Hiccstrid) People often wondered what kept Hiccup going during those early years. When that single, most-treasured thing is taken from him, there is little left to keep him on Berk. The day Stoick returns, and the day before the best recruit is finally chosen, Hiccup leaves Berk; little knowing that he would one day return under … strange circumstances. H/A, R/F, rated for violence. HTTYD Easter Special Sequel to “The Unholy Offspring,” set after the season finale. When Alvin the Treacherous threatens Asgard with a rogue demigod’s help, Hiccup and Berk’s Dragon Riders must prevent an early Ragnorak. It doesn’t help that Alvin has learned to tame dragons, and that the only god that can help Hiccup is a sullen, suspicious boy named Mud. Happy Eos week, Hiccup! The Blacksmith’s Apprentice (Hiccstrid) AU. Hiccup never took the shot on that fateful night-and the war continued. Three years later, Berk is beset by dragon raids and hostile tribes while the boy who should have saved the island is merely the assistant in the forge. With only Astrid as his friend, fate gives Hiccup one more chance to end the war and become the hero he was meant to be. Hiccstrid. Snap (Hiccstrid, Mature) He was just supposed to fix her back, and she doubted that at first. She definitely didn’t expect to get dragged into the ethics of a girlish crush. Modern AU. 15) Star Wars Double Agent Vader The one where Vader turned double agent for the Rebellion about three years after ROTS, and Leia is now his primary contact with the Rebellion. Or, a man attempts to escape slavery by turning into one of his culture heroes, teaching his daughter how to do magic, killing people, and flower arranging. A New History During a heated battle, Dooku escaped into the past! Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker follow to stop him, but discover that Dooku went to the past where Obi-Wan is a young padawan to a very much alive Qui-Gon Jinn. Now, the two must go undercover to stop Dooku’s plans from coming to fruition in order to save not only the future, but also young Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn. Pulse AU for ROTS. As Padme’s life hangs in the balance on Mustafar, a stream of brilliant light causes Anakin to reconsider his choices. Jedi Shmi AU Shmi leaves Tatooine with Anakin and goes to the Jedi Temple.

#Stuff to do #while youre stuck inside #due to coronavirus #eastonia reccs #fanfiction recommendation

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skxtchyghost · 8 months ago

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them <3

#scarecrow #riddler #scriddler #jonathan crane #edward nygma #sketch #lyx' art #old western gotham au

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imagineclaireandjamie · 6 years ago

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It has been a long time since there has been a Vietnam AU update. It would be interesting to see Dougal after many years.

anonymous asked: Hi Gotham. Your Vietnam au has touched me. After watching the Ken Burns documentary I am floored by the amount of information that I didn’t know about the war. Would you consider doing a chapter where Jamie and Claire tell each other of their experiences on their respective battlefields? Thanks for continuing to give us these gifts!

—–

“You get irritated with Vietnam because it won’t leave you alone.”

- James “Butch” Morris, United States Marine Corps, who served in Vietnam 1969-1970

———-

Vietnam AU

Fraser’s Ridge,North Carolina

May 1975

The telegram arrived after breakfast.

Claire tipped the Western Union delivery boy for histrouble – he had driven the windingtwo-mile gravel road to Lallybroch – and frowned at the envelope.

“Everything all right?” Jenny appeared in the hallway, youngMichael on her hip, gnawing on a zwieback.

“I don’t know.” Claire held up the envelope to the light.“We weren’t expecting anything.”

“Well – Ian just left for the stables. Said he wasmeeting Jamie there.”

Claire pursed her lips all the way up the back path, mindracing in a thousand directions.

Fortunately Jamie was outside, polishing a saddle.

“Hey!” he smiled. “I didn’t expect to see you up here!Everything OK?”

Immediately his hand settled on her three-month pregnantbelly, caressing, cradling.

She couldn’t help but smile. “We’re fine. But I don’t know what this is…”

He tore open the envelope – hair so bright in the Maysunlight – and said a very foul word in Gaidhlig.

“It’s nice of you to host me, Jamie.”

General Dougal MacKenzie’s eyes darted around the sittingroom – taking in the old furniture, and the antique maps, and the issues ofNational Geographic fanned on the coffee table.

“Did Ellen paint that one?”

Claire’s eyes swiveled across the room, toward thewatercolor of the house, nestled in the pines.

Jamie sipped his whisky. “She did. When I was a boy.”

Dougal crossed his legs, the dozens of medals on hisuniform swaying slightly. “She did always have a talent for drawing. I’m sorryto say I don’t have anything she made.”

“She drew portraits of Jamie and me, and our Da. And aself-portrait, too – they’re upstairs, if you’d like to see them.” Jenny lookeddown at her nails, which Maggie had painted a vivid (if messy) pink.

“That’s all right – I don’t want to impose.”

“You’re not imposing, Uncle.” Jamie’s free hand grippedClaire’s tighter, his thumb tracing her wedding ring. “Only – it’s a bit oddfor you to drop in on us, out of the clear blue sky. I don’t ever remember youcoming to Lallybroch before. Even when Mam was alive.”

Ian reached across the coffee table to top up Dougal’stumbler of whisky. The general watched him, then turned his gaze toward Claire.His eyes narrowed.

“We’ve met before.”

She nodded. “We have. At the 91st Evacuation Hospital inChu Lai. I was a nurse.”

Dougal’s thick brows raised in surprise. “That’s right!You worked with a colored doctor.”

Claire clenched her teeth. “Joe Abernathy. He’s a surgeon– he’s back at his practice, in Boston. And I’m a doctor now, too.”

“She works with people who have suffered traumatic braininjuries,” Jamie explained. “She helps them heal. Like she helped me heal, afterI was injured.”

Dougal swirled his whisky, then took a deep gulp. “That’sone of my proudest days, Jamie – when I pinned that Bronze Star and Purple Heartto your chest. It’s a shame you didn’t re-up after that.”

Jamie bristled. “No it’s not. I was done.”

The general sighed. “I suppose I’m done, too, in a mannerof speaking. Ever since Saigon fell last month – I still can’t believe DuongVan Minh surrendered – I’ve had nowhere to go. I’m finally stateside, but I don’tfeel at home.”

Claire cleared her throat. “Get used to it, General.”

“Dougal, please.”

“Dougal – with respect,Viet Nam isn’t something you can leave behind.”

Dougal looked up at her – then down at her and Jamie’sjoined hands – then over at his nephew.

“Claire’s right. I’ve been back five and a half years –and I think about it every day.” Jamie sat up a bit straighter on the couch. “Sometimeswhen I’m out in the woods, the wind changes direction, and I catch a scent fromthe trees that takes me back to the rice paddies. Sometimes when Mrs. Crookburns the beans for our supper, I remember Elias Pound – he was a private in myplatoon, and he couldn’t cook over a campfire to save his life.”

“He has nightmares, now and again,” Murtagh added fromacross the room, Suzette at his side. “More so in ’70 and ‘71. Not unlike whatyou and me both experienced, Dougal, those first few years after we stormed thebeaches in France.”

Dougal nodded. “I understand. I just thought – ”

“No amount of experience or willpower will make it go away,”Claire interrupted. “You’ll have to deal with it, just like we have. Just likewe’ll continue to.”

Silence stretched.

“Are you stationed at Fort Bragg?” Ian pushed the plateof cookies across the table. Dougal took a shortbread.

“For the time being, yes. I can retire, now that the waris over. But God knows what I’d do – where I’d go.”

“What about your daughters?” Jenny asked gently.

“They want nothing to do with me.” Dougal closed his eyes,suddenly looking very tired, very old. “Their mother was right – I never caredto make the time for her, or for them. And here I am, wishing that there wasstill a war for me to go to. So that I don’t feel so empty.”

Jamie stood, then – and crossed the room – and lay agentle hand on the three stars on his uncle’s shoulder.

“You’ll always have a home here. And when you’re ready totalk, Claire and I will listen.”

Claire rubbed her belly, mind full of swaying palm treesand automatic gunfire and the scent of carbolic acid, watching silent, gratefultears track down General Dougal MacKenzie’s cheeks.

#chechzooo #;mod gotham #vietnam au

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lesbianharrowhark · 7 years ago

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my top fics of 2017

no one asked, but after seeing some lists and noticing most of my favorites weren’t on there, i wanted to make my own fic rec list for 2017. in terms of style, content, and original plot, these are truly the absolute best and deserve all the love. in no particular order, but bolded titles are my favorite favorites and *** are my favorite favorite favorites.

got the sunshine on my shoulders by hattalove @hattalove

five years ago, harry styles left his tiny home town to make it big as a recording artist. he didn't have much regard for what he left behind - a life, a family, and a husband, who woke up one morning to find him gone.

now, harry has everything he could possibly want: he's rich, famous, and adored by everyone he meets, including his boyfriend. but when said boyfriend proposes to him, he's forced to face the uncomfortable facts of his past - and louis, who's spent the last five years returning every set of divorce papers harry sent him.

(or, an au based on the movie sweet home alabama.)

Something Just Like This by kiwikero @icanhazzalou

Newspaper intern Harry Styles can't believe his luck when he goes from fetching coffee for his boss to writing about London's own superheroes, One Direction. Even better, he gets to spend time with the unfairly handsome Freefall, also known as Louis Tomlinson. Louis, who is way out of Harry's league and far too busy for a proper relationship—so how on earth is Harry supposed to tell him they're expecting?

***rivers ‘til i reach you by embodied @crossnecklace***

Louis can’t begin to understand how he’s always this close and still can’t manage to make Harry his. He stands up and gets another beer. AU. Louis studies astronomy; Harry studies Louis. They spend their summers on the water and it shouldn't be complicated (spoiler: it is).

Wanderlust by SexyAsswoMan @thesexyasswoman

As he splashed some water on his face, his mind drifted back again towards the strange picture. Why was he so drawn towards it? It wasn’t even a nice picture. It was jittery and blurry on the edges and just overall not thoughtfully taken. No one looked prepared. But maybe that was the whole reason why it looked so alive. It wasn't fair either that the boy in the picture was utterly attractive. Harry was a mess of tired brain cells.

He wiped his face with a tissue as he dragged his feet out of the restroom, closing the door lightly behind him. The water did not help at all because he still felt sleepy as he sighed in defeat. He really needed some coffee.

It wasn't until a warm breeze hit his face that Harry was forced to open his eyes. Did they crank up the heater or something? Even if they did, it still wouldn't explain the sudden breeze he was hit with. He was inside a bloody building after all.

Except when he opened his eyes, he wasn't.

He was now stood on a sidewalk.

What the actual fuck?

or,

Harry wanted to sleep, not get lost in a city he never visited, nor in the boy with sparkling blue eyes.

threadbare by kiwikero @icanhazzalou

Harry Styles was eight years old when Louis Tomlinson kept him from falling into a machine in a Manchester textile mill.

He was 18 years old when nothing, not even the threat of death, could keep Harry from falling in love with Louis.

One Day You’ll Say These Words by allwaswell16 @allwaswell16

Growing up together in Yorkshire has led to a lifelong friendship between Louis Tomlinson, the future Marquess of Rotherham, and Harry Styles, the heir to a viscount. When Harry suddenly inherits his uncle’s title and estate much earlier than expected, Louis must watch his friend struggle under the weight of these new responsibilities, including searching for a wife with a dowry large enough to save his estate. However, sitting idly by as Harry looks for a bride brings some unexpected feelings to the surface.

A friends to lovers story set in the Regency era.

***Manifest Destiny by casuallyhl @casuallyhl***

Harry and Louis had fallen into bed together again that night, mouths greedy and hands needy. And now every time Louis stops at Fort Kearney, even if it’s weeks in between, he and Harry spend the night together. The nights are always filled with heat and passion, and it gives Louis something to think on fondly as he rides across the western territories carrying sacks of mail.

They’ve never talked about it, and they’ve never kissed. Louis doesn’t know if he wants either of those things to change, but he knows that his presence in Harry’s life is sporadic at best. Probably best to leave things be.

Or, Louis is a Pony Express rider and Harry runs a station along the trail.

Howls Like A Beast (You Flower, You Feast) by indiaalphawhiskey @indiaalphawhiskey

France, 1754. Château de Versailles.

“You don’t love me,” Louis had said, utterly blasé as he callously fractured the heart of a Harry that was just barely eighteen.

“I do,” Harry had insisted pleadingly, green eyes already watering.

Louis had rolled his eyes, exasperated and flippant in the way only beautiful, young boys could be when faced with the affections of a baby prince. He had run his finger down Harry’s cheek then, had forced him to look into his eyes as he delivered the final blow.

“You’ll change your mind once you’ve seen more of the world,” Louis had teased, pressing a brutally delicate kiss onto Harry’s lovely, pure cheek. “Once you’ve been properly defiled.” He had whispered filthily, delighted by the gasp he heard, the frantic pink blush that had rested high on Harry’s cheeks, the power he had felt at knowing he could make the Crown Prince squirm.

***No One Like You by myownspark @myownsparknow***

Dear Niall,

I was glad to have the chance to talk with you again at the AHA conference. Your idea that the Musee D’Orsay Tomlinson painting is in fact not a self-portrait is an intriguing one, and I may have discovered something that will have a bearing on that theory.

Some background: as you may remember, I’ve been researching for a book I’m writing about Harry Styles. I’ve been in communication with Styles’ last living descendant, who is in possession of a trunk that her family believed to have belonged to Styles himself. It held some personal items she presumes to be his, including two unmounted paintings and a small collection of letters.

Upon spending the last few days in Provins studying these items, I believe there to be a connection between Tomlinson and Styles, and I would very much like your opinion.

Are you up for a trip to France?

Sincerely, Liam Payne

Where Liam and Niall are art historians discovering the truth about two nineteenth century painters on opposite sides of an artistic divide.

Barefoot in Blue Jeans by indiaalphawhiskey @indiaalphawhiskey

AU. Louis Tomlinson is trying desperately hard not to fall for his son’s au pair, but he can’t, for the life of him, remember why.

475. The hope that this fear is unfounded.

my top number one favorite fic this year that i loved so much it deserves its own spot:

***Yellow by 13ways @13ways-of-looking***

The city of Gotham turns blood red with a new, mysterious criminal element, a beautiful woman named the Blind Cupid.

She threatens to tear the fabric of the city apart, aided by her deadly protégé, the Cat.

Can Batman stop them?

Will he resist the bewitching allures of the Cat?

A Batman/ Catwoman AU

#sorry i didn't make a cute banner #i don't have photoshop on this laptop yet #fic rec #larry fic #please give these fics all the love #there was so much good fic this year wow #im shook by everyone's talent #long post #i didn't want to do a read more cause i want everyone to see all the fics #sorry not sorry #i hope i'm not forgetting a fic

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tristinai · 7 years ago

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Questions for the Blogger

Tagged by @captain-amoruca. Thanks ^^

Rules: answer 30 questions and tag 20 blogs you would like to get to know better.

1. Nicknames: Elle, Shi Hui/Sehye

2. Gender: Woman

3. Star sign: Aries

4. Height: 163 cm

5. Time: 00:54

6. Birthday: March 24

7. Favorite bands: My mind is blanking. I used to listen to a lot of Goo Goo Dolls and L’Arc~en~Ciel

8. Favorite solo artists: Wang Leehom, G-Dragon, Koda Kumi, Utada Hikaru, Lady Gaga, Hayley Kiyoko

9. Song stuck in my head: Sam Smith’s Stay With Me

10. Last movie I watched: Maybe Beauty and the Beast??? Saw it in theaters 3 times

11. Last show I watched: Gotham

12. When did I create my blog: I think in 2011???

13. What do I post/reblog: Bioware, Marvel, DC, Feminism stuff

14. Last thing I googled: Oh god people gonna hate me...”Anders Night Terrors romance side with demon”. Turns out, my maleficar!Hawke giving Feynriel to the sloth demon would end the Handers romance. Oops.

15. Do I have any other blogs: I side blog Shakarian and Kastle stuff

16. Do I get asks: I think only from mutuals, if I post prompts/ask me memes

17. Why I chose my url: People used to always tell me I eat like a “rabbit” because of vegan/vegetarianism so I was trying to be cheeky

18. Following: About 150

19. Followers: I think 230 something??? I am usually on my phone and I can’t for the life of me figure out how to use the app and I think it’s outdated but I can’t figure out how to update it and like...how do you find your follower count on the old version of the Tumblr app????

21. Lucky number: 66

22. Instruments: I can play guitar

23. What am I wearing: Tanktop and underwear

24. Dream job: Uni professor

25. Dream trip: Maybe visit...I don’t know. I’ve pretty much lived in all of the countries I want to live in and I think I’ve traveled to most of East Asia and Western Europe...

26. Favorite food: Been eating a lot of frozen mango lately. So good!

27. Nationality: Canadian

28. Favorite song right now: Sam Smith - Stay With Me. It, sadly, has been giving me plot bunnies to write an unrequited fic with one of my favorite pairings. Dear brain: Stop with the angst. Nice feels are better than sad feels.

29. Last book I read: I have gotten through a third of Paolo Cuelho’s Adultery. But last thing I read tonight was http://archiveofourown.org/works/12511540 (Cullrian/Modern Medium-Psychic AU)

30. Fictional Universe you’d want to join: As much as I love Thedas and the Milky Way Galaxy, I think living during the Dragon Age or post-Turian war wouldn’t be all that great. Maybe let me live on Themyscira? Then I can have a big, tough girlfriend who can teach me how to fight :)

I tag @starshipdreamr, @mordinette, @wickedgreenphantom and anyone else who wants to do this!

#memes #personal

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wolfarmystories · 6 years ago

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A Version of AU

(So I wrote this for my Creative Writing class; it’s a form of an crossover I wanted to do but never did (mainly because it’s so big with a LOT of fandoms). In the spirit of Never Before Seen, I present my Final Piece for that class X3

Fandoms: Power Rangers, Gotham, Hetalia, Numb3rs, Whedonverse, Harry Potter, Katekyo Hitman Reborn!

Characters: Oswld Cobblepot, Ivan Braginski, Charlie Epps, Tommy Oliver, Kimberly Ann, Tsuki Kokuryuu, Sabrina Nightshade

Category: Crossover AU

Summary: See Introduction

Introduction:

The city of Hyperion is a strange city, full of strange people and strange situations. Almost a sentient being in and of itself, the city contains all sorts; gangsters and police, angels and demons (both literal and metaphorical), gods and mortals (also both in the literal sense and in the metaphoric sense), those who are happy and those who are unhappy. Four libraries, one of which no one knows about. A high school. An university. The mansion owned by the Penguin Gang. The old estate kept by the Braginski Russian Mafia family. The police station and city hall and the Iceberg Lodge. And The End Bar.

This is the starting point: Ivan Braginski has lost his prized songbird and the thief? Oswald Cobblepot.

This is the problem: Ivan leads the Braginski family, one of the two most powerful families in Hyperion. Oswald is the master puppeteer who commands the Penguin Gang, the other powerful group.

This is the situation: In anger Ivan has declared war and split Hyperion down the middle. If his bird is not returned? Then he will destroy half of Hyperion and with it the despicable pest who took her.

This is the truth: Oswald wants power. And to get it he steals away the girlfriend of Ivan, the blind songstress Sabrina. And in doing so has started a war that threats all of the city. School is at a standstill as children, teens and adults alike cannot get to the university, high school, junior high, elementary without passing through warlines. The people making the laws are under Ivan's control but the people who would uphold those laws are Oswald's. The streets are unsafe. The people are afraid and confused. And in the middle of it, the only neutral ground is the bar owned by Sabrina's cousin, Tsuki. No one dares fights at The End. No one dares piss off Oswald by trying to take it for Ivan. No one dares claim it for Oswald under Ivan's watchful eye. And no one wants Tsuki or her workers to beat them to a bloody pulp by trying anything.

Peace is a forgotten dream...or is it?

With the tensions in the air...

And the chance for change standing on the shoulders of five individuals specifically...

Let us bring up the curtain and see how this grand old play will continue tonight; let the players take their stage and tell us their stories.

Begin the tale and with it, The End....

Ivan:

(Songs: This Means War (Avenged Sevenfold, especially important), Legion of Evil (OFF!), Throne (Bring Me The Horizon), The Red (Chevelle), Dark Side of Me (Coheed and Cambria), Destruction (Joywave), Never Giving Up (Of Mice and Men), This is War (Thirty Seconds to Mars), Angel of Darkness (Alex C))

Toris knew from the sound of breaking glass that things were not going to be easy or good today. Walking down the eastern hallway of the old manor he happened to glance at servants and allies, even Borsche the cat, running from the inner rooms. And it left him feeling more and more cold as he made his way inward; he didn't really want to do this but he really had no choice. Ivan was in the middle of picking the last of his priceless antique Russian lamp up off the table and shattering it like its kin when the door opened. Started to open; the lamp, originally meant for the western wall, made contact with the wood instead and there was a familiar shriek that told him Toris was on the other side. Normally terrorizing him amused the large Russian, making Toris squeal and cry, but it didn't amuse him now. Nothing was going to amuse him until he got his way and completely destroyed his enemy. "S-sir," Toris stuttered, sticking his head tentatively through the door, fear clear on his face. Ivan glared at him and put a hand on the heavy bible kept on the same table as the lamp used to. "Did you need something, Toris?" Toris frowned and bit his lip some before gulping and walking in. "Y-yes, s-s-sir-" "Toris," Ivan said and the smile that slipped onto his face did nothing to make Toris feel more calm. "Y-yes?" "You do realize what I will do to you if you don't stop stuttering right now, da?" Toris paled and nodded vigorously; the smile fell then. "What is it then?" "It's about, um," Toris said and hesitated; he knew what he said next might get him killed but Ivan himself had told him to inform him of any developments pertaining to the current situation. He gulped again, "The Penguin Gang." He barely evaded the book that came flying at his head and with wide eyes he stared at Ivan. The man was visibly fuming, his eyes narrowed and his form, still in the stance to throw the book relaxed only after another minute and he breathed through his nose, "Yes Toris? What about them?" "In light of your declaration of half of the city being blocked against them," Toris started, "Including the high school, university and food stores, the Penguin Gang has..." "Yes?" He sighed and put his hands behind his back, trying to stand at attention. "The Penguin Gang has attempted to break the blockade and in return have blocked our men from the hospital." There was a silence for a moment then a noise, more beast than man, more primal than human, erupted. Toris was shaken and could only look on with abject horror as Ivan once more resumed destroying his room. The Mafia boss kicked the table, demolishing it easily; curses and threats, all spoken in a quick Russian, filled the air, only joined with English near the end. "That little crippled pigeon; him and his entire gang of bastards, as if taking my songbird from me was not crime enough for them. Who does he think he is, a petty little jester trying to bite the king?" He growled and turned on Toris and suddenly it struck him that Ivan meant for him to reply. He tried, grasping at words but before any could leave his lips Ivan was on him, grabbing him by the throat and heaving him up pressed him hard again the wall. Toris winced and gasped for breath but it was difficult, so very difficult, and Ivan, smiling once more with a dangerous gleam in his eyes, spoke gently. Too gently. "Well then, Toris, if the deformed bird wants a war than who are we to say no to him, da?" He tightened his grip and Toris could feel his face heat up as his inability to breathe got worse with the pressure. Tears welled up in his eyes but Ivan did not notice; his attention was elsewhere. "Yes, we will teach that damned pest why I rule this city and he is but a fool, running around my feet." With that he finally dropped Toris and the underling gasped and gulped down air as much and as fast as he could. Ivan paid him no mind, walking back into the room. He made his way to the only standing chair and sitting down he continued to smile at Toris. "Tell our men this: Let no one through the borderline. No one. We have obviously been far too lenient. From now on anyone coming from the Southern portion of the city is considered an ally of Cobblepot and his Penguin Gang." Toris spoke before thinking, "Sir? Um, a few of the kids from the elementary, junior high and high school live below the border; what about-" "They are enemies of our family, Toris," Ivsn said with a sharp but kind tone; he smiled more, "You wouldn't want our family to be hurt more, do you? Not after they stole our lovely songbird." Toris paled but shook his head obediently. He had to ask though, "And, um, what of Tsuki and The End? It is-" He didn't know where the bottle came from but making contact with his face and shattering he screamed, falling to his knees in pain, trying to pull out the glass. Ivan spoke smoothly, "Do not speak of that woman. Now go get cleaned up; you look unsightly." Toris cried but managed, bleeding and weak, to get back to his feet and retreated from the room. Leaving Ivan on his own and the man brooded in his chair for a moment. Another bottle hit the wall and he growled to himself. He clenched the arms of his chair then getting up he threw it too. "I will win this war," he roared and resumed his destruction "I will reclaim what is mine and no one, not Cobblepot, not his damned gang, and certainly not that bitch Tsuki will stop me!"

Charlie:

(Songs: 21 Guns (Green Day), Imagine (The Beatles, especially important) I Wish You Peace (The Eagles), Dead Hearts (Stars), This is War (Thirty Seconds to Mars), Angel of Darkness (Alex C), War (Edwin Starr), Stop Children What's That Sound (Buffalo Springfield), Life on Mars (David Bowie))

Charlie was many things; he was a professor at Hyperion University, he was a consultant for the FBI, he was a math genius and he was friends with a lot of strange and interesting figures and he was bad at spelling (though he hated the mere idea of admitting to that) and he used to not believe in ghosts until one took up office next door to him at the University. One thing he wasn't was a soldier. The disagreements between the Braginski family and the Penguin Gang had always been there; two powerful mafia families in one city, it wasn't a stretch to assume they would be naturally at odds with each other. Territory disputes, arguments over rights, the occasional shootout; he wouldn't say he liked them, at all, but faced with the current situation Charlie found himself wishing for those days when things were somehow easily. But no, Oswald had to make things personal and now Charlie was witness to things that made the shootouts tame. Making his way from his home in the residential parts of the city, he passed: a member of Ivan's family holding down a teenaged boy wearing a suit and holding a gun to his head; a long line at one of the few groceries stores in what was now Northern Hyperion with shaking children clinging to their parents hands; the city hall boarded up but with windows ablaze with light as those inside tried to "wait it out"; Ivan's men patrolling Main Street where the border was designated, all to keep out their enemies, while in the background a young man looks around with fear in his eyes as he crossed the line, clenching a philosophy textbook to his chest for dear life. He almost felt like a monster for it but his heart hurt the most at the sight of the boy and he watched as the boy was seen and with wide eyes approached by the patrollers, guns held up. The boy dropped his book and Charlie moved to help him but felt a hand grab his wrist and looking at the owner, Amita pulled him along, dragging him really away. Her expression was stern but in her eyes was sadness no less than his. The University was in no better state.

In truth it could almost be called worse. There were a good number of students who lived in the nearby apartments and student housing yet the campus felt like a ghost town. Only a few came, only a few were brave enough even to try, and they scurried across the lands like frightened mouse. Not half because of the presence of the men who wandered the grounds with barely disguised intention.

Charlie was reminded of how most of the lecture halls had been "graciously and gladly offered to the Braginski family for use in first aid services and medical treatment". Translation as Charlie understood it; they took over the lecture halls, for tending to the injured yes, necessary with the hospital in Southern Hyperion, but notably it was for the members of the family. No civilian interestingly had been brought there... "Amita," Charlie spoke, his voice a bit a hoarse; having loud, angry discussions with the dean of the University for hours on end tended to do that, even if it was last night, tended to have an effect.

“Hmm,” she said; she knew without him speaking, “Charlie...”

“This isn't right.” He said this a lot. This wasn't right, this wasn't fair, this couldn't be. Hyperion University was supposed to be a bastion of knowledge, a sanctuary for those who wanted knowledge; he could still remember the noise of the campus only a few weeks before with all the students about and the excitement and the feeling of being in front of class and dealing with that. He remembered how it felt to watch his students be startled by some strange demonstration about some fact of life, like his lecture involving roulette and black jack....

But no, this was not how it was now. His school, his students, this was not what he wanted to see. And knowing that the dean did nothing but let it, allowed in the cause of the trouble...

Well, not the full cause. There was more and his chest started to tighten as he thought to himself something he didn't really much like himself. He didn't want to blame it on them, it wasn't their fault as more than it was his. Then that student from that morning shone in his face again and he looked at Amita, “We should have helped him.”

“He'll be fine,” she tried to reassure him, smiling in her gentle way, in her loving way; she kissed his cheek but it didn't make him feel any better, “They'll give him a warning and he'll find his way here.”

Warning huh? Like what; a lost finger? An arm? Maybe a bullet to the stomach, throw him back into the southern half, leave him to die, assume that he would be found and taken to Universal Hearts General. He didn't like the idea of the warnings and he shook his head, continuing to walk.

He walked down the halls. He walked through the buildings. He walked to his office and he walked to his table and Amita tried to follow until he grabbed a piece of chalk; he was starting to lose himself and he knew it wouldn't help any longer, having her there, “Go.”

His words were harsh but she knew they meant no harm; giving him a sad look she left the room, closing the door behind her. With that he started the same cycle.

P = NP.

P does not equal NP.

P versus NP.

The powers to which N is raised is made to be propotional to the set of problems known by the collective P.

But this was confusing.

Charlie didn't find math confusing. Charlie found math beautiful and simple and easier than humans and this problem, as complex as it really was, made his mind settle. He was not alone in his mind, there were thousands, countless numbers, but he counted them all and he tried to count them all. He put them in order and he tried to make order of chaos.

This was chaos. The warring was chaos and he hated that, because he couldn't count the humans and problems and situations and put them back in order and he couldn't fix any of it as easily as he found it easy to put together the numbers into a line. Even if P versus NP still refused to be solved.

It occurred to him he had class; he always had class. But he had so few students now; only one or two managed to get to the University now. Soon it would be none. Would he just do the problem then? Should he drown in the numbers?

He wanted to, he really did. He wanted to drown. But he remembered Amita.

No, not enough.

He remembered the school and the students. He liked them a lot; he loved the school. That's why he had yelled at the dean after all. That's why he had fought so much; he wanted the dean to tell the Braginski to get lost or at least help out the students who kept getting hurt too and he wanted them to let the students come to school. And no one listened.

That just made him dive deeper.

What about The End then? Not the end in the general, The End as the specific, the bar. He also liked the bar.

He didn't want to blame Tsuki for not talking to Oswald and telling him to fix things.

He wanted to go listen to come good music.

He wanted to do his math problems and listen to the music and talk to Tsuki and Tommy and everyone and see his brother...

Don had gotten hurt too; he wondered if Don had been taken to Universal Hearts or if he was forced to survive with what little was at the FBI medical wise.

This was getting out of hand.

He turned around and threw the chalk at the wall, breaking it. The chalk, not the wall. His mind was not focused, he was wild and uncertain and too many things were getting through and not enough was getting resolved and it hurt. He just wanted things to go back to how it was. And he wanted to help fix things. He liked that; he liked to help people. He liked helping Don with his cases. And he liked advising his friends about things in their life. And he liked being able to use his math skills to help others.

But nothing seemed to come to him; how can he quantify a conflict? How can he solve a war?

He rubbed his head, feeling it pound as too much was coming in and nothing seemed to be coming out, muttering to himself, “I can't handle this, I just can't.”

It all had to end. It just did. Grabbing his bag he ran out of the room, managing to open his door first of course; he'd try with the dean again, get him to understand, to see how this whole thing, just letting the family walk in and on them, was not helping anyone and especially the students. And then maybe he'd just go rest in Amita's office; she was soothing. And go to The End too, after work. Get everything in order and then the problem could be solved.

Right, that's how it's supposed to be, he told himself.

Tommy:

(Songs: Stronger (Kelly Clarkson), Welcome to the Black Parade (My Chemical Romance), The Plagues (Prince of Egypt), Bleeding Out (Imagine Dragons), I Will Not Bow (Breaking Benjamin), Dead Hearts (Stars), This is War (Thirty Seconds to Mars), Angel of Darkness (Alex C), Warriors (Imagine Dragons), Icarus (Bastille), Who We Are (Imagine Dragons), Ready Aim Fire (Imagine Dragons), You Want A Battle (Bullet for My Valentine, especially important))

Tommy got the feeling waking up that morning today was going to be a very exciting day. Kim was already when he got up and while part of him simply told him that it was because she had to go to the studio for early practice, he couldn't help revisit the night before. He threw the sheets off him and walking to the bathroom to shower before getting dressed for the day, his mind went over their conversation. Well maybe not conversation; more halfway argument. The two Rangers had tried the night before to help with some peacekeeping with their fellows and the police officers who weren't fearing Oswald or Ivan too much; the result was nothing that surprised him. A lot of fighting, a lot of temptations to call the Dragonzord on some idiots, and a lot more nothing; Kim was the one with the latter opinion. Tommy thought it a success that they managed to help some civilians and even broke up one fight between Ivan's men and Oswald's, but returning to their shared loft Kim was unhappy and Tommy was worried about her. The argument came of the same thing it always did though and standing in the shower he groaned, letting the hot water try to clear away the tension. It wasn't that he didn't agree with her on a level, it was hard not to, but no, he also didn't agree. As much as Kim was frustrated and anxious, with the barricades and fighting and violence and problems with getting anywhere or getting enough food, he refused to blame it all on.... From what felt far away a phone rang and snapped from his thoughts he quickly finished his shower, turning off the water and wrapping a towel around himself he walked out of the bathroom and grabbed the phone from its cradle, almost dropping, "Yea?" "We need you to come in early, Dr. Oliver," said the familiar voice; Principal Randall always sounded the same, like she was two seconds from going for the throat, "Get here by nine." Tommy frowned and checked the nearest clock; 8:30. He cursed silently, when leaving right then that was cutting it close but knew better than to argue. He was too tired to argue with someone else so soon. "Fine, I'll try." "Mmhm." With that the line went dead and he sighed. Yup, very exciting day. Tommy got dressed far more sloppily than he normally preferred; still struggling with his tie, why did he even wear these things anyway?, he got downstairs and fished his keys out of his pocket, climbing into his Jeep. Normally driving in was no trouble, he could get there easily in fifteen minutes but with the war going on... He got to Main Street and stopped. It always went like this: He would get stopped by one of Ivan's men, sometimes Oswald's on the way back, and asked what he was doing. He was tempted, strapped for time as he was, to just snarkily say "You know who I am, I'm the same science teacher you see everyday, that you will continue to see everyday and will likely never stop seeing everyday until either this squabble ends or I finally get killed in the madness." But that was not what he ever said; instead hr flashed his faculty ID, like he always did, and was allowed through, like always, and driving towards the high school, today more than ever, he wondered why. Why didn't he just tell them that? Why didn't he tell Randall to piss off when she asked for what she knew to be at the very least very difficult? He was Tommy Oliver, Power Ranger Extraordinaire, mentor as much as fighter; he stood down much scarier yet his tongue was stayed every time. Why was he feeling so subdued when he would rather be fighting tooth and nail? No answers, but of course; what answers could silence bring? And with that he drove into the parking lot of Solaris High School and tried as always to just find his damned parking spot. He managed to run inside with a few minutes to spare; Randall was waiting for him, but of course she was, and looking at him she raised an eyebrow before shaking her head. She approached him and from behind her he could catch Vice Principal Synder snickering, the little toad. Tommy straightened up as Randall fixed his tie for him. "You are to take over the in-school suspension room today." Tommy blinked, confused. "Something happen to Mr. Giles?" The librarian was usually in charge of that, being as he was one of the teachers who didn't teach a class regularly. In addition unlike Synder and Randall, also teachers without classes, he actually liked the students. "He said he had a medical emergency," Synder said with a sneer, "Probably faking it to avoid the students, not that I can blame him." Tommy really hated Synder, but he bit his tongue and looked at Randall; she was often no less unfriendly but she at least was more manageable. "I'm assuming you already got someone to fill in for me." She nodded. "Severus agreed to take your students for the day." Tommy winced, not sure if that was a good idea but knew it was better than perhaps others they could have chosen; he just hoped the foul tempered potions master didn't do anything to his poor students. He nodded and both the principal and vice principal left. He sighed; very exciting day. For whatever reason there were more students in in-school suspension today than he ever expected. Usually one or two, maybe three or four; ISS was after all a rather harsh punishment, only treated as a step below the final punishment of long-term suspension. Despite the wishes of the administration, expulsion was not something Solaris High School indulged in, something that made Tommy feel at peace at least; in his experience none of their students were capable of anything that could really make them worth really expelling. They could be troublesome, but full out criminals was not in them.

But this? By the time third period came around he had gotten what seemed like almost a full class of students and they ranged:

Kira had been playing outside, again, without permission. ISS for her, being her twentieth infraction of the same thing.

Conner had skipped class and upon being caught, getting into trouble with Ethan who also had skipped, both boys were sent directly to Tommy.

There was Buffy whose only crime seemed to be crossing Synder's path, like it was every day. Along with her was her friend Xander, looking mostly bored, and her friend Willow, who looked mostly scared.

Tommy was a bit surprised to see Kyoya, the head of the disciplinary committee, in there as well and the note he was handed, with a vicious glare from the young man, stated it involved violence. But of course it did.

There were students from all over the school and even a junior high student or two, like Kyoya; the junior high, Helios, was kept on the ground behind the high school so they did often share. But still by Tommy's count there were at least twenty students, almost enough to be the bare minimum for a class, a startling thought. He wondered what it was that was going on.

He was in the middle of telling Willow about the advancements in dinosaur DNA and categorization he had managed to make the other say over at the University when... BAM! The explosion shook the building and bits of the roof rained on them lightly; Willow almost was thrown to the ground but Tommy managed to grab her, watching as the rest of his students nearly fell out of their seats, the few sitting on tables clinging to their tables since there was really not enough chairs for this many students in the ISS room. Ethan, who had been working on some computer program on his laptop, and Kira, who had been practicing in the back, and Conner, who had been sleeping, all looked up and staring at him for a moment ran to the window. Tommy righted Willow and joined them.

It was not a monster attack, the four Rangers realized that immediately; it was much worse. Tommy paled and turned to the students, screaming, “Get out of the room, now!”

The students, startled by their teacher's sudden aggression, just blinked at him for a moment before rushing for the door.

All too late; as Buffy tried to open the door to let the others follow she was suddenly and unceremoniously grabbed. They wrapped their arms around her, holding her tight and Tommy was a bit surprised they even could hold the Slayer so well; more of the invaders rushed in and pointing guns at the students, managed to round up those who tried to run. Tommy felt his heart fall then another explosion and the wall he stood by started to crumble. Conner grabbed Ethan and Kira, pulled them back, only to end up in the huddled circle in the room where their classmates were; Tommy watched as more arrived.

They were dressed in black clothes, like the SWAT team uniforms but more military; he recognized the emblem on their outfits and paled. The Braginski family; it made his blood run cold looking at them, thinking about this. The family who ruled the northern half of the city right now, who should be protecting the school, was attacking it.

One man, official looking and heavily scarred, walked up to Tommy. He was taller than Tommy. He was bigger than Tommy. And he had a big gun in his hands unlike Tommy. Everything about him oozed intimidation and fear; everything in the glare Tommy gave him spoke of the utter lack of impression he felt at the giant before him.

With a sneer the man moved to hit him with the gun but Tommy moved to avoid it. He heard behind him the click of guns and turning his head he saw the guns of a few of the men in the school itself, who had entered the room, pointed. At his students. His heart fell again and he felt the gun of the big man slam into his head.

His vision swam. He could swear he tasted blood in his mouth, and for a moment he wondered if he was dead already. But no, there was still noise; he hear yells, orders and the sound of at least one student, he thought it was Kira but it might have been Ethan or Willow or maybe Kyoya, call out his name, “Dr. Oliver!”

“Insolent fool,” the man said, spitting and kicked Tommy over.

Tommy groaned but after a second was able to see again and after another second managed to get up, if only to sit up; he looked up and the giant was even more giant. “What do you want?”

“This place allows in the spawn of those flightless freaks,” the man said; of course he was talking about the Penguin Gang, Tommy thought to himself. Of course he knew it to be false but the problem was that the majority of the students did come from what was the southern half of the city now, and that was just as bad as being their kids in the Braginski's eyes, “The king says we should give you all a little lesson.”

“I wasn't aware of a change in curriculum,” Tommy muttered and got a kick to the head; now that hurt. But he was good at taking hits; he just spit out the blood, luckily no teeth, and looked up at the man.

He sneered, “You Southerners are all the same.”

“We Hyperions are the same,” said the meek voice of Willow and Tommy's eyes widened; he turned quickly, “No! Leave her alone!”

One of the men cocked his gun, pointing it directly at Willow's head and the young girl's face revealed the utter terror. Buffy started to scream and struggle but being slammed into the nearest wall in response she stopped, going limp; she was unconscious but it did not make Tommy feel better. Conner and Xander both moved to try and grab Willow but got their own set of guns pressed against the back of their heads and had to stop. Kyoya fumed and looked ready to pounce but one of the other students,sweet and timid Chrome, managed to get him to stop.

Tommy wanted to help them but he couldn't move from where he was; he couldn't morph with his morphers all in his bag by the teacher's desk. He couldn't even get up without knowing that they would likely shoot the students before he could do anything. He was powerless. And being a Power Ranger that was the worst feeling he had had in a long time.

He turned back to the leader of the group and looked up at him, “Tell them to leave my students alone.”

“They're worthless little birds, all from that jester's court; why should we?” the man said, “What is in it for us?”

Tommy did not have an answer to that. The man gave him one, smirking. “You. You're the leader of the Rangers in the city, aren't you? You're friends with Tsuki Kokuryuu.”

That did not sound good. “Tell you what; we'll leave your precious little students and your little school alone but you have to do one thing for me.”

“What?” Tommy asked, regretting it immediately.

“You will go and tell that woman to force the leader of the Penguin Gang to give back the girl,” the man said and crouched down to him, “I know she can do that; everyone knows that Tsuki and him are friendly. And rumor has it so are you and her.”

Tommy was quiet for a moment. But it was not because he was thinking. It was always this; even Kim thought it. Tsuki was the key, Oswald needed to give the girl he took back to Ivan, Tommy needed to tell Tsuki to do it... yet more than any of that he felt his blood boil more hearing the implications in the man's voice.

Screw safety; in a swift and angry movement he headbutted the man as hard he could, knocking him over. He then jumped up and turned to try and make sure his students were okay.

The other men had been distracted. Long enough for Conner to use his super speed to slam two of them into a wall. Long enough for Kyoya to grab his tonfas from his bag and beat another five to a bloody pulp within seconds. Long enough for Buffy to regain consciousness, or maybe she'd been awake all along, and getting free assist in the collective butt kicking. Kira grabbed a chair and smacked someone with it and Ethan used his armor skin to block some bullets before helping Conner slam into people, alongside a rather excited Xander screaming “Viva la Problem Children!”

Tommy could only stare. And after a second, laugh. The students were fighting back. The students he had worried about protecting only moments before were defending themselves. And he had been worried about not doing anything, had thought not to do anything. And for just that morning he'd been feeling subdued when students much younger, much less experienced, fought.

He kept laughing even as they took down all their enemies and the students stared at him. He then wiped an eye and walked over, walking over bodies, not the dead but throughly broken, and spoke, “Come on kids, we should probably take back out school.”

Tsuki:

(Songs: Angel of Darkness (Alex C), Welcome to the Black Parade (My Chemical Romance), Icarus (Bastille), It's My Life (Bon Jovi), Daughter of the Moon (Adriana Figueroa), Demons (Imagine Dragons), This is War (Thirty Seconds to Mars), I Will Not Bow (Breaking Benjamin), Bleeding Out (Imagine Dragons), Pompeii (Bastille), Our Solemn Hour (Within Temptation), Dead Hearts (Stars), Wine Red (Hush Sound), Truth Beneath the Rose (Within Temptation, especially important))

Jason had not yet come in for work when the others arrived. Roderich was helping Tsuki with some early housekeeping details and both looked up from their seats at one of the far tables to see Kim walk in first. Or rather stalk angrily; behind her Tommy followed, looking equal parts exhausted, worried, and upset, and not far behind Charlie and Amita brought up the rear. The former was looking drained and it left Tsuki wondering what was going on. Not that visits by her favorite teachers, and their lovely girlfriends, were uncommon; Tommy and Charlie often were the first customers she had of the night but this was different, that much was obviously. Tsuki stood up, brow furrowed in concern for the tension her friends brought with them. "Kim, Amita, boys wha-" Her sentence was cut short as Kim slapped her. The noise reverberated through the otherwise quiet room and Roderich got to his feet with wide eyes. "Kim!" Tommy yelled and grabbed her arm before she could do more, dragging her back. Kim simply glared at Tsuki who stood there, hand to her cheek, surprised and staring back at her as the pink Ranger spoke, "Fix this." Tsuki lowered her hand and as Roderich tried to move she held it up once more, this time to stop him. She directed Kim, "Fix what?" Her words were crisp and punctuated but she was angry; she knew what Kim was going to say before she could say it. It was pretty obvious; turning her gaze to the others she noted their own expressions. Charlie's surprise at Kim getting violent, the concern on Amita's face, and the anger in Tommy's eyes; it occurred to her that something was different in each of them, a decisiveness that made their emotions only more clear to her eyes. Something had happened in the last twenty-four hours. "Make that man stop this fighting," Kim said to her and Tsuki raised an eyebrow at her, "I know you can, Tsuki." "Roderich, could you give us a few minutes?" Tsuki asked head turned only slightly to address the pianist; he blinked then nodded his head before bowing out the room by way of the side door. Once the five were alone she sighed and took her seat again, pushing up her glasses to rub the bridge of her nose. "Now...I assume by 'that man' you mean Oswald?" "We know you're in communication with him," Kim said and frowned, "Tell him to just give the woman back and get this ended." "The woman," Tsuki started her gaze cold, "has a name." Spitting venom with her words Kim stepped back into Tommy in surprise of the aggression; he put a hand on her shoulder for a second then pulled away, walking over to stand between the two women. "Hey, lets be civil about this okay?" "But Tommy," Kim said. "No buts," he responded, head turned to look at her, "Now apologize for hitting Tsuki." Kim looked startled by this and she simply stared for a moment before sighing. "Fine, I'm sorry." Tsuki waved it off; honestly the violence had been far less annoying than Kim's calling Sabrina "the woman". Tommy smiled some and patted Kim's head, letting Charlie speak next, "Tsuki probably is in contact with Cobblepot-" "I am, I won't lie." He frowned her interrupting and she gave him a sheepish smile. He went on. "She is in contact with him but that doesn't mean she can just tell him to end this war and give Sabby over to Ivan." "My cousin is no bargaining tool," Tsuki said, taking a lollipop from her pocket and popping it in her mouth, "I'm not going to ask him to treat her like one." Kim frowned and stepped towards her, barred from actual close contact by Tommy. "Ivan and Oswald certainly seem to think of her as some prize, enough to turn the city into a war zone. Tsuki, you have to do something, anything! Everyone knows you're the only neutral zone, there has to be a reason for it." "Because I'll shove a pool cue up a place the sun don't shine if they try to start anything here?" Tsuki offered, eyebrow raised; no one laughed at her bad joke and she groaned, rubbing her head, "Look why would you think Oswald would do anything other than laugh if I tried to tell him what to do?" "You're friends aren't you?" Amita asked, speaking up finally and looked to Charlie for a moment, "He'd at least take your counsel to mind." "Yeah, what Amita said," Kim said, "Come on, at least talk to him; besides wouldn't you rather see the city at peace? Just tell him to give Sabby back to Ivan; I'm sure she'll be happier with her beloved than as a hostage." Tsuki's hand clenched and Tommy, noting, looked to Charlie before turning to Kim again. "Kimmy, maybe not that..." She looked at him in confusion. "What? She would be I'm sure; I mean it would be like taking me from you. I'd want to come back to; honestly I would fight to get back but I guess Sabby being the way she is-" "Shut up, Kimberly," Tsuki said her voice sudden ice; Tommy frowned and looking to Charlie the two men realized a danger the girls were not as aware of. Kim was taken aback by the harsh words and blinking she then turned back on her own coldness. "No, I won't shut up. I know she's your cousin and all but if letting her go back to Ivan will end all this fighting-" "I will not condone her being forced to go back to that monster!" Tsuki screamed, slamming her hand down on the table and the four jumped. She glared, though it was not for Kim or Tommy or anyone there; Charlie knew though, Tommy knew, and rubbing her head again in frustration Tsuki sunk into her chair, "Go." "Tsuki," Amita started, stepping forward but Charlie stopped her. She looked at him and he gave her a gentle smile, "Go on, wait in the car." "What about you Charlie?" She asked. "We'll try to reason with her," Tommy said and pushed Kim outside, Charlie leading Amita after him, "You two just leave it to us." Kim frowned and looked ready to argue but he closed the door and locked it. She stalked away from the door and Tommy sighed. "You're going to get an earful about that," said Tsuki's voice softly. He laughed bitterly. "Yeah well I'll worry about that later. Charlie, lets have a drink." The college professor blinked at his high school colleague and then followed him to the bar; Tommy jumped the counter and grabbed a bottle from behind. He didn't really care which bottle; he just wanted a drink. He was pouring it out when Charlie sat down and Tommy spoke, "Tsuki, get your grumpy butt over here and drink with us." She frowned and huffed, arms crossed. "No thanks, I don't want anything." "Wasn't an offer." "Not your alcohol to offer anyway." Yet she got up and dumping herself onto one barstool she grabbed the bottle from Tommy, the man hanging a glass to Charlie at that moment. "This is my good vodka," she said semi-sullenly. Charlie downed the glass in one gulp and winced. "That's really strong." "Tsuki likes it strong," Tommy said and making his way back to the other side of the bar he took a seat between the two and grabbed back the bottle; he poured out two more glasses, and refilled Charlie's. He picked his up, "Cheers." Tsuki and Charlie did the same and blinked their three glasses together before taking a drink. The Russian water barely burned her throat on the way down, or maybe she just didn't notice it as much; she stared at her drink and Tommy continued to use up her good vodka. Finally she spoke again, "I can't." "Can't what, buttercup?" Tommy asked pouring out another glass. "He hurt her," she said, continuing as if he hadn't spoken, "I can't just tell Oswald to give her back to him; Kim is wrong. She's safer with Oswald..." "I know," Tommy said nodding. Charlie frowned. "Tsuki, outside of the three of us and those three no one knows about what happened, of what Ivan did to her; Kim and Amita still think it was just an accident." Tsuki frowned too now and she stared at her glass for a moment, swirling it around; seeing the tears forming in her eyes neither man really thought. Tommy leaned over and wrapped an arm around her, Charlie getting up out of his seat to do similar. She held back any sobs very well. “That monster made my cousin....he is a monster and I do not care what Kim or Amita or anyone says. I am not telling Oswald to give her back to Ivan, not now, not ever.”

“We know, Tsuki,” Charlie said and awkwardly rubbed her back, “I know.”

Tommy sighed and pulled away, letting Charlie take over the physical comfort; he looked at the bottle for a moment before taking a big swig. The vodka stung a lot but it didn't much matter. “You do care, Tsuki. We both know you do; you love this city and you love its people and you love singing in this little hole in the ground you call The End and you love-”

He stopped then shook his head, “Kim thinks you are in charge here though which we both know is bullshit. You're not, any more than I am, any more than Charlie is. You're just a player.”

There was silence for a moment before with a solemn nod Tsuki shook off Charlie and grabbed the bottle from Tommy; she took a swig too then coughed. “Oswald's the one with power here; it's his choice.”

Frowning as he watched them Charlie then moved and took his place as the third member; he took his own large gulp of the potent vodka and muttered in the end, “Let's hope he makes the right one then...”

Oswald:

(Songs: Angel of Darkness (Alex C), Angel With a Shotgun (The Cab), Welcome to the Black Parade (My Chemical Romance), You Want a Battle (Bullet For My Valentine), Absolute Beginners (David Bowie), Demons (Imagine Dragons), For the Heart I Once Had (Nightwish), This is War (Thirty Seconds to Mars), Warriors (Imagine Dragons), Ready Aim Fire (Imagine Dragons), Cantarella (Miku and Kaito), Hand of Sorrow (Within Temptation), Memories (Within Temptation), Our Solemn Hour (Within Temptation), Dead Hearts (Stars), Swan Song (Within Temptation), The Plagues (Prince of Egypt), Oni to Musume/The Ogre and the Maiden/Demon and Daughter (Kaito, especially important))

It was time. Victor of course wanted to be the one to go; the master assassin was always itching for a fight and more so against the enemies of their gang. Or the allies. Or civilians; really anyone he came across. Of course he was a little twitchy because some time during the conflict he'd been commanded by the boss that no civilians were to be harmed, the bloodshed was to be kept to a minimum and to only fight if the other side initiated it. Personally he blamed the songbird. Oswald was frowning at himself in the mirror, taking stock of himself. He was short. His right foot was awkwardly oriented, a fact that made Oswald bristle. His hair, despite not having showered yet, looked wet and stuck to his head in awkward spikes. Dressed in one of his suits, not the finest he had of course but one of the nicer ones, he looked a little too much like a... "Penguin," he muttered to himself and scowling hobbled his way away from the offending thing. This would never work, it wasn't going to work. "Oswald?" A voice called out to him and he snapped away from his thoughts, head turning towards the doorway to his bedroom. Sabrina was standing there, holding onto the door frame. It occurred to him she still didn't know her way around the mansion yet and that she even made it here on her own was impressive. In addition he ended up noting the fact she wasn't wearing the short cut dress Ivan had her in back at his place; with a tinge of amusement and irony she wore instead a black suit, tailored to her form, her black hair braided over one shoulder. She reminded him of Tsuki in a way. He didn't realize he was smiling until she tried to walk over to him and stumbled over the slight hitch in the couch; it was then he frowned and moving fast as he could with his bad leg he tried to catch her. She landed against him and he, despite his own displeasure and the pain it caused, put enough pressure on his injured leg to keep both standing; he winced but of course she wouldn't see that. She turned her head up from his chest to look at him and blinked, "Oswald?" "You shouldn't be wandering around without an escort," he said trying to sound tough; why did she have to appear now of all times? Maybe it was a good sign... She pouted and pulled away. "I'm not a child; I do not need a babysitter." No, he said in his mind but not aloud, watching as she crossed her arms only for the mildest sign of panic to cross her face and she reached out to grab his arm, blank red eyes searching blindly for something she would never see; you're not a child. He smiled instead at her, in his awkward Oswald way and put a hand on hers, seeing relief wash over her face. No, she wasn't a child but she was a bit helpless. "Where are you planning on going?" She asked him, running her fingers over his sleeve. "What makes you think I'm going anywhere?" He inquired already guessing the answer. She smiled at him and slid her hand up to his shoulder. "This isn't one of your normal suits; it feels different, softer. Are you going somewhere fancy?" Fancy was not the word he was thinking of and he watched as her fingers moved to the small gem on his cross tie. She chuckled and stroked it gently, "What color?" He blinked then spoke, "Red." He saw her face light up and smiling lightly he went on, "A deep vibrant red, bright and shimmering in the light, akin..." Oswald caught himself and she looked confused. Biting his lip he spoke, "Blood. It looks like solidified blood, a tiny little blood stone." It wasn't entirely a lie, it really wasn't. It wasn't a lie but it wasn't the full truth. Sabrina though seemed to believe it anyway and smiled happily, "Bloodstones aren't pure red though, silly." "You have me there; its cuprite," he said and put a hand over hers, "I should get you back to your room." "You didn't answer where you're going," she said, blinking as he gripped her fingers. "Out; I'll be back soon," he said and pulled on her, leading her out of the room, "You just...stay in your room. Don't leave it again until I come back." He knew that wouldn't go over well; she made a soft whine and tightened her hold on his hand before speaking, "Can't I come with you?" "No!" He yelled it before he could think and turned on her; she was frightened by his voice, he could see it. And he thought back, back to when he first met her, when the thought to take her had first crossed his mind; that look in her eyes as Ivan had dragged her out of The End that night, sadness and a forced smile and fear. She was afraid of him now too and while only a few months before he wouldn't mind it, what did he care of the prize being afraid, no let her be afraid of him, now... Now it was empty and it hurt. He didn't want to scare her; he was going to go bring the war directly to the king's doorstep and it would not be for a prize, for the songbird or a woman or Tsuki's cousin. It would be for Sabrina. He pulled her to him, awkward, uncertain, but still and he entangled his fingers in her braid. "No, you stay here. Victor will watch out for you, I told him to guard the manor while I'm gone but you have to stay inside. Once I'm back..." Once this was over.... "Don't go," she muttered and he froze; her fingers clenched the front of his shirt, tight as she could but still so weak, "Please don't go. Don't go to him, don't give him what he wants; just stay here, please. I don't...want you to go, Oswald." Ivan didn't want him, Oswald thought though; he knew, she knew it. What the mad king wanted was not the jester who bit his legs and made him a fool but the songbird the jester stole, the princess with the quiet stare. And no, he had no intention of giving that to Ivan. Still his arms held her close and he did wish, a cowardly part, the part of him that was forever there and strong, to not go. To stay there with her. "I'll be back soon. You just listen to Victor and stay in your room; once I'm back we'll go to The End. We'll go see Tsuki and Tommy and Charlie and Jason and Alex and Roderich and everyone and you can sing for them and things will be...”

Better. He let go of her and before she could argue against his words, an argument he was not so sure right now he could win or would really want to deep down, he pushed her into her room. Locking the door he did his best to ignore her, to ignore her cries, to ignore her please. This had to be done and turned down the hall he noticed Victor approaching, the bald assassin looking at him with slight amusement. Oswald frowned, “Do not let her out of the room.”

“And don't let any of Ivan's peons near her room, right,” Victor recited by memory; as Oswald walked by him he spoke again, “I don't normally really care but I will say this I guess; be careful, boss.”

Oswald was stricken for a second by the concern, the sort of concern, then shaking his head he continued, calling back, “Tell the chefs to have dinner ready by four. I will be back shortly.”

Victor chuckled under his breath. He really didn't believe that, but if it made Oswald feel better, walking off to war as he was, to face down the big bad himself, then more power to him. It was finally time; could a flightless wobbling bird really take a mad king?

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