#one day (hopefully soon) i shall share it for the world to dread

[daemon-in-my-head]

Innocent poor old me; hey, let's write a cute little intro. What could possibly go wrong?

3 thousand words later: well somehow someone just nearly died. Nice. Now do it again.

[be-dazzled]

The Art of Falling

CHAPTER IV AT THE END OF THE AISLE

Gray Fullbuster, Juvia Lockser, Gajeel Redfox Alternative Historical Universe Genre: Old World Vibes, Period Romance All Chapters: Click here | Taglist

Writer’s Corner: Happy Holidays! I wasn't able to keep my promise on a monthly update but I am very much grateful that you still all stayed with me despite what I lacked. Thank you so much. This has been such a hard year but there were many good things that happened too. Especially, 2020 has been the year of ships, the Gruvia ship! & we just keep on winning. Ahaha. 

Anyways, After reading this update, please go spend some holiday fun with your loved ones! And if 2020 was extra bit hard on you, then I want to remind you that, it will get better. It always does. This too shall pass. I will pray for you whether you believe in the God I believe in or not, I will pray that you get through the darkest time of your life. I love you, my Gruvia family. Happy Holidays!

Masterlist

There was a polite knock on the door. Having the faintest inkling of who could be standing on the other side of it, Juvia quickly calculated the short trip from the stairs to the backdoor at the kitchen. She looked around the room for her mother and, not finding her anywhere of close proximity, Juvia started for her escape. Alas, as she was rounding the corner to the kitchen, Mrs. Lockser caught her hand and ordered her to attend to the door. She made an initial protest to no avail. The young Miss had no choice but to oblige her mother with palpable gloom.

It was not the gentleman, however, that greeted her by the door; not that she was expecting nor anticipating his visit. It was what appeared to be a messenger carrying a letter addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Lockser.

"Oh, Mr. Fullbuster, Mr. Vastia, I hope you lot like Caramade Franks." Mrs. Lockser's voice traveled and reached her daughter before her feet did. "I have risen early in the morning to– where are Mr. Fullbuster and Mr. Vastia?" inquired she, after arriving at the vestibule to find no fine gentlemen.

"There's a letter addressed to you and father. It is from Mr. Fullbuster."

"Oh dear!" cried Mrs. Lockser, who lost strength on her legs, having to put down the baked bread on a side table as she passed it, and sought support from the sturdy furniture. "It is because of your hostility, is it not?" Resting her hand over her forehead in a dramatic fashion, Mrs. Lockser wept a concern that traveled to every room of the house, "that he is withdrawing his courtship? Oh dear, Mr. Lockser!"

Juvia had only stared at her mother, finding her behavior unwarranted. For the very reason for her mother's woe was still in her possession – the sealed letter. Without ever opening it, Mrs. Lockser had bewailed an unfortunate conclusion. However, if it be true that Mr. Fullbuster found it wiser to withdraw his courtship, it was news well-received by Juvia.

"What is with all this noise so early in the morning?"

Mr. Lockser appeared in the hallway that led to his study, with lines formed on his forehead, unhappy with the sudden interruption in his morning reading. His daughters, the eldest and the youngest hastened down and crowded at the foot of the stairs, worried about the wailings of their mother.

"Oh, my dear Mr. Lockser. I am afraid we find ourselves in an unfortunate circumstance." Mrs. Lockser leaned her hip on the table, resting her hand on her chest in a poor attempt to feign poor nerves. "It seems that Mr. Fullbuster is withdrawing his affection towards our rude daughter."

Mrs. Lockser was greatly mistaken. The second daughter did not find such a circumstance so disheartening. It would only prove what Juvia believed – that the offered floras would last longer than Mr. Fullbuster's misguided affection – and Miss Juvia Lockser had no grievances being proven right. Nevertheless, the fretful daughter ought to put an end to this non-sense before her mother nursed a serious illness.

"Shall we not open the letter and confirm before you cry us a river, Mother?" If it was not so impolite to roll her eyes, that Juvia would have done.

Mrs. Lockser refused to receive the letter; afraid reading it would do her and her heart more harm than any good. She could not bear it when the town became aware, as they would be in a day or so, that the lone heir of Lord Silver Fullbuster had found her daughter unacceptable for marriage. Miss Juvia would not only become a pariah of the little town but her family would sink further down society and their reputation would be of no consequence.

"Oh, what shame it is!" cried Mrs. Lockser, running after her breath, "What disrepute shall befall our family only because I have raised my second daughter poorly."

"Shall we confirm it before you disown our poor Miss Juvia?"

As Mrs. Lockser wallowed in her grief, her husband paid her no more deserving attention. Instead, he did the wisest thing and proceeded to take the letter from his daughter and opened it.

"Dear Mr. and Mrs. Lockser, I will begin by expressing my sincerest apology for not having fulfilled my duty to be in your presence today," the letter read, "My dearest cousin-in-law, Mr. Vastia, received news of urgent business. He had no other choice but to return to Margaret Town as soon as possible. I was inclined to offer my services to escort him to the train station, as he believed it a faster mode of transportation than by carriage."

"Oh, what good news!" exclaimed Mrs. Lockser, who immediately recovered from her poor nerves. She leaned in to read the rest of the letter and had commented on Mr. Fullbuster's impeccable handwriting. "A true noble's hand, indeed."

The news, however, had the opposite effect on the young Miss Juvia. As her father continued to share the contents of the letter, Juvia hanged on every word, hopefully waiting for the news her mother dreaded.

"In order to make amends for my absence, my mother, in the heed of Mr. Vastia's wife, would like to extend an invitation for an afternoon tea in the Fullbuster Manor, if you will allow us such graciousness."

Mr. Lockser has yet to reach the end of the letter when his wife decided, with irrevocable conviction, that the visit must be paid no later than the morrow. In an instant, her legs miraculously regained their strength, as the mother of three could not even decide where to begin her preparations.

"We are never to make her Ladyship wait!"

She spat orders here and there and abandoned the newly baked goods, the ones she would have claimed as prepared by her own hand, and proclaimed, "Oh, we must head to town!" As she said so, Mrs. Lockser hastily gathered her daughters and nudged them upstairs. "Mr. Lockser, will you be as kind as to lend your family the carriage?"

"But why must we, Mother?" asked Juvia foolishly for she ought to know the design in Mrs. Lockser's insistence.

"Why you ask? To buy supplies!" Mrs. Lockser descended a few steps of the stairs to level with Miss Juvia; delighted for the opportunity to lecture, "because you do not pay attention to social decorum, my dear Miss Juvia, that you fail to recall the most basic of good manners." Mrs. Lockser lightly shook her head in disapproval. "We cannot simply turn up to the Manor empty-handed."

Juvia kept her silence and allowed her mother this little victory. A glance at her sisters, who seemed amused by the exchange, had her convinced that she was sensible to do so.

"Will you be joining us then, Father?" asked Eliana.

"I say this with regret," started he, "I am afraid I may not be able to do so today and the morrow."

"How dreadful, Father!" cried Juvia. "Allow me to keep you company then." Pretentiously asked her, seeking escape from the social obligation.

"My dear, Juvia," Mr. Lockser was never wary to make known, that even though his children had each their special place in his heart, amongst them, he held Juvia more closely, "humor your mother, just this once." requested he, and patted a hand on top of her daughter's head. For as it appeared, sooner rather than later, he may no longer be allowed this freedom.

After the preparations, Mr. Lockser returned to his books while his wife and their three daughters left in the carriage to the capital. They were met with several acquaintances and treated with sanctioned civility. To each one, Mrs. Lockser never failed to share her enviable news; and to some who were more than acquaintances, such as their neighbors also visiting, the private invitation she and her family were honored by the Lady and her lovely niece. To this embarrassment, Juvia attempted to remind her mother to be a bit humbler and feeling.

"I was merely responding to their inquiry," reasoned she, as the party continued on their path. "How was I being overbearing when I answered in all politeness?"

Juvia ought to respond in this way, "In all politeness and without humility. You were only being pretentiously modest while in all truth, Mrs. Lockser pronounced this piece of news so that the town would envy her covetable connections with his Lordship." Propriety demanded that she keep her silence and fall back in line with her sisters.

"I have never seen mother this high in spirits," mused the youngest Lockser.

Mrs. Lockser walked unapologetically on cloud nine that if her knees allowed, her extreme delight would have added a bounce to her every step.

"She is far much ahead of herself," replied Juvia, who eyed her mother's back with vexation. "I say she is foolishly counting the fowls before the eggs have time to hatch."

To this, neither Wendy nor the eldest had any response other than a shared, apologetic smile. So, Juvia opened a different topic to discuss on their way to Frankhurt Bakery, whose owner was an old friend of the Locksers.

"What a pleasant surprise!" greeted Mrs. Frankhurt at the door. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

Mrs. Lockser briefly introduced her daughters, although no introductions were necessary, and thereafter handed her good friend some list of baking supplies she would need for the Caramade Franks, ones Juvia knew her mother would have the cook make and claim as her own doing. After Mrs. Frankhurt called for the store help to gather the supplies in the list, Mrs. Lockser began on the real intent of her coming down. With no real interest in listening to the conversation, Juvia joined Wendy by the dessert glass case; left their mother to the leisure of discussing with her longtime friend the attention paid by Lord Fullbuster's son to one of her daughters.

"Oh, dear Mrs. Frankhurt! What good news have I to tell," exclaimed she, "What wonderful news it is!"

Juvia had come to Frankhurt Bakery since she was a child and for those years she frequented the shop, be it on her mother's orders or her own volition, the second daughter had come to know that Mrs. Frankhurt's business was the center of all information, whether there be truth to it or naught. Gossip in Magnolia traveled faster than the speed of light. In order to assure the widespread of the good news, that the Lord's son was seeking intimate connections with the Lockser family, Mrs. Frankhurt's was the place to light the fire.

"You need not tell me, my dearest friend. Such an important piece of information had been widely circulated in this town before you even set foot in it."

Just as Juvia had expected, the townspeople were now aware of Mr. Fullbuster's frequent visits. She was quite sure, without having to see her mother's expression, that Mrs. Lockser was very much delighted by this news; but not as quite as so when her friend inquired further.

"But do indulge me with the intimate details. Of whom, amongst your daughters, was the intention made known?" Mrs. Frankhurt leaned in, asking without lowering her voice and for everyone in the shop to hear. "It could be none other than your eldest, am I correct? For what man would dare look past the elegant Miss Lockser?"

Juvia, who stopped thinking about the decorated cakes altogether, strained her ears to listen for her mother's response. Quite the complete opposite of Mrs. Lockser's earlier alacrity, there was only silence. The only answer she could offer was continued mum.

"Oh, please, my dearest friend," cried Mrs. Frankhurt, "my poor heart cannot take all this suspense."

Mrs. Frankhurt's curiosity was not out of friendly concern. Nor was it out of the goodness of her heart; for Mrs. Frankhurt knew no 'goodness' unless she found it to be in her advantage. All she had was this unappeasable need to be the first to everything. With news as important as Mr. Fullbuster's choice of wife, it was necessary that she be the first to know and be the first to circulate.

Thus, in answering her friend, Mrs. Lockser hesitated. She was as certain as the rest of Magnolia that her eldest daughter would be the first to marry; but for some wicked reason, fate pulled to a corner and laughed. And so, at that moment, her main concern was the would-be endless guessing of Eliana's faults that made Gray Fullbuster look past her.

Juvia knew of this repercussion. She would not have kept herself in check if not for Wendy's loud musings about the decorated cakes. Despite herself and what was proper, Juvia would have run her sharp tongue and lectured both ladies about the dangers of foolish presumptions and baseless blathers. Instead, she had to bite her own tongue and, on the long ride back home, suffer through the gnawing feeling of guilt for having caused her sister's sullen silence.

...

The morrow came by and the family, except for Mr. Lockser who had to tend to the fields that day, was up early. They journeyed to the Fullbuster Manor at the crack of dawn, with no time to waste, no daylight to spare. It was Mrs. Vastia who greeted them by the door and accepted the basket of baked goods with all courtesy. As she welcomed the members of the Lockser family, her studying gaze lasted a tad longer on her cousin's object of affection. Juvia took notice but scarcely made anything of it.

Just like her husband, Ultear was a pleasant and agreeable presence. Her aunt, Lady Mika, on the other hand, was restrained by mere civility, to which Mrs. Lockser was either oblivious of or merely disregarding. She ostentatiously admired the dwelling and talked of it in familiarity that could have been easily mistaken as an imposition. Juvia's warnings were all in vain as her mother continued addressing Lady Mika with overbearing intimacy. The Lady was only being polite not to withdraw her invitation, which Juvia was certain she had already regretted.

The party was led to a dedicated tea room, of size thrice as big as the Lockser's parlour, where Lord Fullbuster was waiting with a little bundle of joy settled in his arms. He stood and paid his respects to each guest, introducing to them the child in his arms as the Vastias' only daughter. He then excused himself from the party despite Lady Mika's insistence that he stay.

"Ur and I don't want to be a bother so we will make ourselves scarce," explained his Lordship. "I will happily play with this one until I get one of my own," added he teasingly, casting a look long enough to make Juvia feel as if those very words were addressed to her.

Juvia grew ill at ease and chose to cast her eyes down to the floor, lest she revealed the effects of his allusion. Her effort was for naught; Juvia could not anymore hide the color of her cheeks as it was her own mother who agreed and made a pact on her behalf by saying she too hoped it would be soon. Juvia had yet to agree on the proposal of marriage and here came her mother promising Lord Fullbuster a grandchild.

"I will one day hold you to that promise, Madame." The Lordship bowed with genteel, a smile of satisfaction stretched his lips.

Just when Juvia thought she could not get more embarrassed; Lord Silver left the room mentioning to little Ur a promise of playing with her cousins from Uncle Gray in the future. Juvia could have sworn she was about to come down with a fever.

"My uncle likes to amuse." excused Ultear, who looked interested at the exchange more than anyone. "Why shan't we take our seats?"

Each guest took their stations at the lavish sofas. As they made themselves comfortable, Mrs. Lockser more than anyone, the help arranged the refreshments wonderfully on the card table. Mrs. Lockser's pride, the Caramade Franks, was unwrapped and she made sure to offer her Ladyship the first bite. There was short hesitation at the Lady's end but her position required that she obliged her guests. A request Lady Mika did not have regrets over. For if there was one thing Juvia had considered her family's saving grace, it was the bread recipe passed from her great, great grandmother down to the current Mrs. Lockser. Yet, before her mother mused herself or anyone else of her daughters being good bakers, Juvia made sure her Ladyship knew that the bread was prepared by their cook's hands.

After the quick dialogue, and a discreet scolding, Mrs. Lockser sought back the group's attention. Juvia could only admire their hostess' amiability as they were deduced to a mere audience with the rapidity of Mrs. Lockser's words. She only spoke of Eliana, of her good points, which the second daughter took no offense from. She knew it was more out of habit rather than an evil scheme. Juvia had long accepted that she had no good points worthy to speak of.

The conversation took a round to Ultear and her husband's business. The grateful Missus once again expressed her gratitude for the lovely presents. Without allowing the benefactor to respond, she jumped from one topic to another: delicate ribbons, intricate patterns, expensive gems and some others, to which Juvia never took a particular liking. Growing disinterested by the minute with her mother's monologue, she excused herself from the party to look for the privy.

Outside of the tearoom, Juvia found his Lordship playing with the lively little Ur and talking to her as if the child could understand every word out of his mouth. Juvia found herself entertained to see such a powerful and intimidating man conversing with an infant who seemed to have understood nothing; yet, very pleased with the little careless laughs she offered. Oh, what delightful sounds bouncing around the empty hall. She could listen to it all day rather than Mrs. Lockser's endless ramblings.

The enchanted young miss did not realize she was already staring until Lord Silver caught her eyes.

"Apologies for my intrusion, my Lord."

"I knew a simple tea party would bore a young lady such as you."

Juvia was mulling on the intent of his words when he continued.

"It's the last door on your left. Just at the end of that aisle." He pointed to a path lined by a number of doors on either side and lavish furnishings in between them.

Juvia could see how easy it would have been to get lost in that general direction but she said no other words to Lord Silver but her simple thank you, curtsied and then left the two to their privacy. As she reached the end of the said hallway, Juvia turned to the last pair of doors on her left, as was instructed, thinking it led to the lavatory, only to open them into a roomful of books.

The room was magnificently large. Its walls were all covered by towering shelves filled with books in numerous varieties. With a quick scan, Juvia decided it was nothing like she had ever seen before and her curiosity drew her into the impressive study. She only realized she was not alone when her eyes landed on a figure seated around a drawing table. In the middle of the room, nose buried in his book and a few others scattered around him, was Gray Fullbuster, oblivious of a new presence about to disturb his peace. It was a tad too late to make her retreat as Juvia failed to catch the door behind her.

The loud clack caught Gray's attention. He looked up from his book and, upon realizing who his guest was, fixed himself more properly and dignifiedly on his seat. Juvia started to apologize for her intrusion but Gray acknowledged her with a customary bow and then returned to his book.

Juvia felt in the least bit insulted but the gentleman's apparent disinterest did make her feel unwelcomed. And so, Juvia motioned to the door, about to make her leave when Lord Silver's words echoed in her mind. A simple tea party, he said, could not at all keep her attention. Juvia admitted truth in his words as she could only do her best not to let out a yawn in front of her Ladyship. It was then that she started to weigh her options. For how could sitting in dreadful silence be any better than suffering through an afternoon of her mother's endless tirades? One, she could manage not to offend the graciousness of her hostesses, and two, she could care less about offending this man. So, instead of letting herself out of the study as she initially planned, Juvia allowed herself to stay.

...

tags: @greenapplegrass @shampooneko @trizfn @anaken101 @gruviaftw11 @juviasblog @heademptyonlygruvia @unvalley @jetblackrevival @lannyathewitch @groovyah @jujumanga @suihime @myvatdafakthings​ @keepcalm-lovefairytail​ @shounenmangaotphell​ @loli-go​

[pink-imagines]

always be right here

request: hi! I have a request, I hope it isn’t too personal or specific. If you aren’t comfortable with it, i totally understand. My cousin passed suddenly about a year ago, and I’m still struggling a lot. I was wondering if i could get some comfort with Kirishima or Bakugo with them comforting the reader who had just lost a loved one suddenly? If not it’s okay! Have a good day!                (@godoftheroll )

a/n: i’m sorry for the late post, and i hope that it’s okay that i only did one character!

warnings: mention of death, tears

masterlist

requesting rules

The car stopped softly. Not like when you’re in a hurry to get to work on time but more like when you got home after a long day and almost don’t have the energy to get out of your vehicle. The seats were warm and outside the car was freezing cold. The snow had settled peachfully over the landscape, it looked pretty with all of the candles. It didn’t help the situation you were in however. You didn’t want to get out of the car, there was something that stopped you. If you didn’t get out of the car you wouldn’t have to walk to your dreadful situation and you wouldn’t have to accept the truth. “Y/N.”, the man sitting beside you spoke up. You gripped the wheel tighter and took a deep breath. When you looked beside you Eijiro stared back at you with soft eyes full of concern. “I know.”, you nodded and took off your seatbelt, “It’s nice in here though, isn’t it?” You tried to ignore the real reason as to why you didn’t want to step out. Eijiro knew this and you heard him let out a sigh at your words. It wasn’t an annoyed sigh, more of a worried one. Usually you would go to this event with close family, but considering the circumstances of the deadly virus plauging the world at the moment they couldn’t get there. You were closest to the destination so you went in their place. It was almost worse, not being able to get the support from the people who went through the same pain as you. Eijiro had his fair share of pain as well, and understood what you felt, but he wasn’t there when it happened. That made a big difference for you. “I’m sure they’ll appreciate the candle in the cold, don’t you think?”, Eijiro made light conversation, “Why don’t we go give it to them as fast as possible?” “I guess your right.”, you looked out of the window where the snow was still falling.

As soon as you foot touched the ground it was too late to return into the safety of the car. Another sigh left your lips when you closed the car door and pressed the flowers against your chest. They were white roses. White roses are a symbol of respect for many people, which was why you got them. “It’s sad people won’t really see them with all the snow.”, Eijiro commented. “It’s okay. They’re only meant for them either way.”, you looked down at your feet. “You’re right...”, he nodded and warmed up his hands with his hot breath, “Let’s go, shall we?” You nodded and turned to the cemetary, settling your eyes on one grave in particular. The two of you walked with careful steps to not slip on the snow. The bag Eijiro was holding with the candle and matches inside was making a bit of noise which helped to drown out your thoughts. Focus on the rustling...

When you stood by the grave meant for one of your close family members you stared at it for a while. The snow had covered it up a bit, so you bent down and brushed it off before placing the flowers beside the stone. “It’s been three years...”, you said, your breath forming white clouds because of the cold air. You didn’t say it to anyone in particular, that was why Eijiro stayed silent. He simply handed you the bag. Your cold hands took out the candle and the matches. You placed the candle where the gravestone would protect it at least a little bit from the snow and lit a match. “I miss you...”, you lit the candle, “... a lot.” As if the gravestone was an actual human you stroke it lightly before letting your hand fall, just like the tears on your cheeks. “Sometimes I still think your around.”, you chuckled sadly, “It’s a habit, I think. You were always the sunshine in the room, who could forget you.” With the sleeve of your sweater from under your coat you wiped away the tears from your eyes. “The rest of the family couldn’t come today like usual, but hopefully they’ll be able to come for your birthday.”, you nodded, “It’s kind of hard to get places when there’s a pandemic going on, but I guess you wouldn’t know anything about it. I brought someone though.” You looked back at Eijiro with a soft smile, which he returned. “He’s my boyfriend... Kirishima Eijiro. You know how I used to joke about how I’ll never find love?... you always told me to just wait and the universe would make it happen. You were right, I should’ve listened to you more...”, you sniffled, “I miss your voice. It might have been three years already but I don’t think I’ll ever stop missing it. I’ll never stop missing you.” With that, you stood up and backed up to Eijiro’s side and he wrapped an arm tightly around your waist. “You’re so strong, sweetheart.”, he softly kissed your temple. The part of you that wanted to stay in the car before had turned on itself and now wanted to stay in the graveyard instead. You leaned your head on Eijiro’s shoulder. “Do you want me to leave you alone for a while?”, he asked. “No. Stay with me... please.”, you whispered, as it was the only thing you could muster. “I’ll be right here. Always. Okay?”, he whispered. You nodded and turned so that you could cry against his chest. He rubbed your back in a comforting way and let you stay like this for as long as you needed.

When you walked back to the car you were tired from the emotions you had went through and Eijiro noticed it. “Want me to drive home? You can sleep in the car.” “That’d be nice.”, you nodded, “Thank you.” You stopped walking, and as you held his hand he stopped too and looked back at you. “Thank you for coming with me.”, you said and looked deep into his eyes. “Of course, sweetheart. I told you I’d always be right here, right?”, he smiled at you and took your face in his hands to kiss your forehead, “Let’s go home and I’ll make you dinner, how does that sound?” “Sounds lovely.”, you smiled back at him.

-

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[0x1ashtyn]

A Letter For You...

I forgot my diary when I went to get coffee today so I'm going to type. I'm trying to be happy these days. Even when things are crashing and burning around me, I'm smiling. I keep telling myself the answers and solutions are in my hands.. hopefully this will manifest into being true (see, positive talk aha). But even though I'm okay most days and aren't brought down by my thoughts it doesn't mean they still don't run wild. I'm thinking a lot as my life is in a shifting period. I've moved to the big (expensive) city. I've slept on my friends' couch and finally found a place (I can't afford) after my first Christmas away from home. I've been looked down on and called manic or irresponsible and even stupid for doing this so spontaneously. I came here with no plan, no job, nothing. I packed a suitcase and left. I needed to run, I finally understood that feeling now. I always thought of moving to the city when I was growing up. My best friend and I would plan it together in media class when we were 15, but I always planned it as a plan, not an escape. Life happens, unexpected circumstances arise, pain comes and sometimes doesn't heal as easily as a bruise does, it’s much deeper than that. For me there was blood, a lot of blood, so much that the only thing that could stop it was a 3-hour plane ride. A whole new life, a rebirth without physically dying.

So here we are. Today I've decided to share my deepest thoughts and struggles of growing up in the 21st century with you. Welcome my 20's. Here's my story, I hope it can comfort you and feel like we are in this together and you can find strength to carry on too despite every reason to surrender in defeat. I also hope that when I fall, you fall, we all fall, we can come here. I know and I'm sure you know the feeling of falling onto the cement instead of someones arms after a hard day. I will be your arms, and if you don't feel any of that, that's okay, I'm happy enough to speak up for the ones of us who can't. So, mock me all you want, I will wear the embarrassment proudly.

Here's the part that we all dread on the first day of school whether it's out of anxiety or just pure annoyance of this stupid activity, I shall introduce myself. A name to the fallen words. I shall not run from the mistakes and dark parts inside my heart with you guys, my name is Lina. I'm 21 and I can now proudly say I live in Sydney, Australia. I'm finally in the place I've always wanted to be. Living the "girl goes to the big city and becomes everything she's always been destined for" dream. I've been here 3 months now. It's currently 11:02 on a Thursday morning. I'm jobless. I have no source of income and I made the actual reckless decision to rent a place I can't afford. But like, if not now? when? I don't regret coming here, I would rather struggle here then where I was. I am thought currently studying so hopefully I will be able to find my feet soon.

It might seem empty, my introduction, but that's the point. It's that whole blank canvas thing, this is my new start. I guess I could tell you my hobbies and things like that but it really is true the whole blank canvas thing. Along the way somehow my body turned to survival mode and I've forgotten how to live. I've forgotten something as simple as walking. How? Literally it's the only thing that is certain about why we are here. Life. Living. I've forgotten. I don't know how to have fun, like what to do and things like that yes, but even if I get myself up and somewhere to do things, I can't even enjoy it or I'm left there constantly checking in with myself trying to figure out if I'm having a good time or not because I'm in this constant defence mode to the world. I can't let my guard down; I can't let myself be hurt again. Nothing has ripped my heart out more than when I first saw happiness in the flesh only to see the flame burn out before I could feel it's warmth on my skin. I haven't seen it since. It makes me wonder if it was all just a dream. An illusion I made as a naïve little kid. This could sound dramatic but if you've had this feeling you understand the arm bar you keep up ever since at moment. Not completely shut off by the idea of life but not completely jumping at the idea of participating either. So yeah, I don't have fun. I can't remember the last time I genuinely enjoyed myself so much to create a memory for later. It's okay, I haven't had fun in a while and I'm still alive. You can't really miss what you haven't had right. plus, school takes a lot of energy for me. I'm up at 6am and back home by 7ish in the evening. This is enough to keep me busy.

This is actually what inspired me to write today. I now have 2-3 hours a day with myself to think thanks to these long train rides and overly deep and emotional Korean songs I listen to on my way to school. I want to cry a lot these days. No particular reason as to why, the urge just creeps up slowly throughout the day until it's taken complete control over me before I can even realise it. By then I don't have a choice. I just let the tears go. I'm very much well aware it's okay to just cry. My heart must feel heavy for reasons undiscovered yet. So, I will let my body try fight it off naturally in tears before it gets out of hand just like it would with the common winter cold. I'm also at this point where I sit in coffee shops and whisper conversations to myself.... this is totally not good. I even laugh at my own jokes.. THEY ARE EVEN FUNNY. Like why am I telling myself jokes in the first place ? It's kind of cute in a way I guess.... maybe not aha. I need friends. I TOTALLY need friends. I've never been good at not really the making friends part, more like not good at keeping the friends part. I always leave so then I can't feel the heart break of them seeing my broken parts and not liking me anymore, seeing me as "too much of an effort" to be around. Now because of this I've never been close to anyone. I have never had a friendship last longer than 2 years because by that stage you should be getting to know each other on a deeper and personal level. The forming of a committed relationship as one may say. You know what that means, I am and have been professionally told I have an underdeveloped social cognition for someone 21 years of age. And fun fact, this is actually a narcissistic trait. I have learnt that just like everything else in the world even narcissism has a spectrum, so I'm not the whole "I'm better than everyone else" kind of narcissist, I just have more of the inability to socialise part which we all commonly know would come from the ‘superior complex’ associated with narcissism which THANK GOD I don't have. I’m slightly too depressed to ever feel that way.  So, I guess you could say I'm a little sad. I think we all are in this day and age. That's what I'm hoping this letter (?) can help with. Being alone in this world goes against all of our primal animal instincts. We are physiologically made, wired in our brains, to be in a pack, so without that we feel vulnerable and weak, as if we would not survive in the wild. So, I don't know, I guess if you are feeling the same, or in a similarly made structured boat, I guess I'm saying come here. Come to me, come to the others who I know will find this page because this here is the pack we belong in, it's meant to be. I will try my best to be a comfort for you to tell your stories to. Rip them out and give them to me instead, I shall take your burdens away happily and I'm sure others will too. We can be in this together. So, for now, read this, read it as a hug. Respond. Tell me your story, I want to hear every word you ever say. It’s beautiful. We shall grow together. This is a safe place for you to come to when you aren't sure where to turn. Use me. I promise I will be here and I will do everything in my power to turn your scars into works of art. Thank you for coming today and reading this. Have a wonderful morning, afternoon or evening. Hug yourself tight for me. And I mean it. It's not stupid. And I will talk to you again soon.

- Lina over and out.

[satonthelotuspier]

How Shall We Stop Dreams - Part 5

Chapter 4 of HSWSD’s AU, also uploaded to AO3 if u prefer to read there.

Follow the tag below to catch the other part’s if you missed them, enjoy some revelations and a Xicheng first kiss!

Lan Wangji sealed the house with silence talismans again. He moved quickly and didn’t join Lan Xichen at the table when he had completed his task as he had on previous evenings; he remained standing by the door.

“They’re demons” he informed as soon as the final talisman was placed.

Lan Xichen was silent for a moment. “I see” he said eventually, “What happened?”

“I beg Xiongzhang to wait a while” Lan Xichen’s eyes moved up to meet Lan Wangji’s.

“Who do we expect?”

“Wei Ying. And no doubt he will bring Jiang Wanyin” Lan Xichen’s eyelashes swept down to hide the expression in his eyes from Lan Wangji then.

“The pair are quick-witted and sharp. I fear we will find it difficult to hide anything from them at this stage with their suspicions piqued”

Lan Wangji had thought much the same, and had therefore wanted Lan Xichen’s guidance on what he thought they should reveal if pushed.

They would have to take Wei Ying and Jiang Wanyin into their confidence to some extent; even if they gave the two Yunmeng siblings no information the other two would have the power to destroy Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen’s hope of continuing to work unhindered by simply reporting them as suspicious to the Wens. They had no other option but to convince the two what they did here was righteous. And the only way to do that would be to trust them with some of the information at their disposal.

***

On the way back from the hall where they’d taken their evening meal Wei Wuxian told Jiang Cheng they had an appointment and instead of their own lodgings he walked to the Lan’s doorway and knocked. Jiang Cheng had been filled in on the generalisations of what had happened on their hunt by a still worked up Luo Qingyang and Mo Xuanyu. The latter had left after eating to go and find Wen Ning, who had received a very minor injury in his rescue. Wei Wuxian had also told Jiang Cheng about what they’d heard about the nightmares. It was clear everyone at the table was beginning to have concerns and ask questions. And that would probably also be true of the rest of the cultivators here.

Wei Wuxian knew Jiang Cheng was annoyed they’d gotten into trouble on the hunt, probably more at himself for being tempted into spending the day with Lan Xichen the Siren. They all knew he had followed Wen Qing’s orders, however, whatever the reason for it, and Wei Wuxian had tried to soothe him.

He wondered if there would come a point where he would have to lash Jiang Cheng to the mast for his own good; Lan Xichen seemed to have a worrying fascination for his brother, something that seemed to be returned.

While Lan Wangji had assured him he was pursuing Wei Wuxian out of like, he still couldn’t help but be suspicious of the Two Jades of Lan. It all seemed so...convenient? That wasn’t quite it. Scripted? Perhaps. Like the other two were following the plot of a novel well known to them and he and Jiang Cheng were just flailing around in the dark.

Whatever was going on he was determined he would come away with some answers tonight.

Lan Wangji greeted them at the doorway and Wei Wuxian made an effort to ignore how solicitous he tried to be.

Wine and tea had both been provided, and Jiang Cheng moved to sit at the table with Lan Xichen. Wei Wuxian collected one of the wine cups but chose to stand instead; which Lan Wangji mirrored after covering the door with a silence talisman.

Wei Wuxian noted the entire house was covered with them, which hopefully meant answers were going to be had.

Wei Wuxian looked Lan Wangji in the eye, (beautiful, and almost luminous, pale amber), “I held my silence as you requested on the mountain, Lan Zhan, but I believe you owe us an explanation now”

He nodded slightly, then said, “First please tell Xiongzhang what you saw happen”

“Alright” he agreed and gave both Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen a summary of what he had witnessed during the demon attack, “I assume that because Lan Zhan asked me to hold my tongue I saw what I thought I saw” he said in reference to the speed at which Wen Ning had moved across the clearing and how the spider demons had retreated at the sight of him.

“Wei Ying, the Wen Clan bloodline is demonic. Likely of royal demon descent”

“Demons?” Jiang Cheng exclaimed, and indeed, as an opening secret to share it was certainly a big one.

Wei Wuxian looked at Lan Wangji assessingly.

“Wen Qionglin was able to move so quickly because he is half-demon. He was able to drive the spider demons away because of his royal demon blood”

It was certainly an explanation. He wasn’t sure if he accepted it though. “And you’ve evidence of what you claim?”

Lan Wangji shook his head slightly.

“At this stage lets call it well-informed conjecture, Wei-gongzi” Lan Xichen said in his brother’s defence. “We have taken you into our confidence because you are quick and curious and would question the things you saw rather than accept excuses to explain them away. But we must ask you now to keep that confidence and allow us to work unhindered to verify our suppositions”

Wei Wuxian paced a little, his arms folded across his chest, as he considered their words.

“You think the nightmares are linked? That the Wens are causing them and using them for some purpose?” Jiang Cheng questioned Lan Xichen.

“They’re causing them, they occur in too unnatural a pattern to be otherwise. As to how, as yet I don’t know”

Wei Wuxian noticed Jiang Cheng seemed to want to say something else but was too unsure of himself to speak, “What is it, Jiang Cheng?” he pushed. Jiang Cheng often had feelings of inferiority and in front of the legendary Jades of Lan it made sense he wasn’t confident enough in himself to voice his idea.

“If you think they’re demons, what if they have a dream demon amongst their numbers?” he played with the wine cup in his hands, “I read in our sect library once that there was a dream demon so powerful he could force the entire cultivational world to experience a single dream”

Lan Xichen looked at Jiang Cheng with a soft look of admiration, then glanced at Lan Wangji, “It was thought the Zhao bloodline was destroyed. But it was also thought the royal bloodlines died out too. It’s not beyond possibility”

Lan Wangji nodded in agreement.

Score one for the Yunmeng boys.

“I want to access the Wen library” Lan Xichen told Lan Wangji as he rose from his seat and took hold of Shuoyue.

“Wait a moment” Wei Wuxian stepped forward and halted them both with a hand on each of their shoulders, “You still haven’t explained to us who made you defenders of the cultivational world” he said it mockingly, but some of the wind left his sails when the Lans shared a look; a whole conversation seemed to pass between them silently, before Lan Xichen made a gesture at Lan Wangji, then returned to his seat.

“Quite simply, Wei-gongzi, karma did”

***

Mo Xuanyu had wanted desperately to find Wen Qionglin to thank him for his assistance in the mountains. He had asked a Wen disciple where he might find him and he’d been lead to a house in the clan area of the Nightless City, with strict instructions he had to be escorted back to the general areas after his visit.

Mo Xuanyu bowed in front of the other man once he’d been admitted to the lodgings by Wen Qionglin, “I’m grateful to you for saving me. I know I’d be dead now if you hadn’t stepped to my defence. Thank you”

He felt hands at his arms and was pulled upright again, “Please don’t. There’s no need to bow to me” Wen Qionglin’s face looked panicked and embarrassed at the obeisance, “I’m glad to have helped, but everyone fought so hard to save us, it wasn’t just me”

“It was you who saved me, and I’m sorry you were hurt” Mo Xuanyu insisted; he indicated the few scratches and cuts that were already tended to, no doubt by his sister Wen Qing.

“It’s nothing serious” Wen Qionglin didn’t meet his gaze.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Mo Xuanyu was under no illusions he owed his life to this man, and he saw a lot of himself in the other. Wen Qionglin obviously didn’t feel like he belonged with his family who seemed to pay him no attention at all; he was nervous and shy, unlike any of the other bloodline Wens they’d met whilst staying in the Nightless City, and that was something Mo Xuanyu understood too well, he too was an outcast in his own home. He dreaded the thought of returning to Mo Village and his abusive aunt and cousin. The time he’d spent here with Wei Wuxian, Jiang Cheng and the others was some of the happiest and most carefree in his life, even if he had been in danger for some of it.

“Maybe you could stay and talk to me for a while?” Wen Qionglin suggested quietly, as if sure he’d be turned down.

“Of course, I’d like that” as Mo Xuanyu lowered himself to sit with the other he didn’t notice the burning expression in Wen Qionglin’s eyes.

***

“Were the things you said about your clan, and this Purpose, true? Were you playing with us?” Jiang Cheng asked Lan Xichen in a low voice as they searched the Wen’s library by candlelight. He had convinced the Two Jades to let him be the one to join Lan Xichen in his midnight raid on the library as there were thing’s he’d wanted to ask the other that he wouldn’t have been comfortable talking about in front of the more unwelcoming Lan Wangji.

“Every word is true” Lan Xichen informed him, “The only reason Lan Wangji and I were born is so that we can be in this place at this time, and take part in whatever events are taking place now in order to act and drive them towards the best outcome for the world”

“What are you meant to do?” Jiang Cheng asked, moving on to another section of the library. Lan Xichen followed.

“There’s no easy answer to that Jiang Wanyin; the best we can hope for is to act based on the principles our clan has instilled in us and hope the decisions we make are the correct ones”

That seemed dangerous to Jiang Cheng, “So in theory you could end up causing more harm than good?”

“I would hope not, otherwise why would we be chosen to undertake the Purpose?”

“Maybe it could happen, if the outcome is meant to be the bad one?” Jiang Cheng suggested.

“While your theory has merit I trust the Purpose is to bring about a positive outcome for the world. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if otherwise” Lan Xichen looked at him with a faint hint of amusement, “No one told me the Jiang Sect heir was a well-read philosopher as well as a powerful cultivator”

The comment caused a little thrill down Jiang Cheng’s spine, even if he didn’t agree with the words. “I’m neither. The powerful cultivator is Wei Wuxian, I just drag behind him. I read so much because I have to work twice as hard to achieve half as much as him”

“Jiang Wanyin, when I look at you I certainly don’t see a mediocre cultivator lagging behind his brother. Wei Wuxian is strong and smart, no doubt, but so are you. You’re in his shadow purely by virtue of your respective personalities. Wei-gongzi is bright and arrogant and confident and acts on what is in his heart, whereas you are careful and considering and take the long view. And while he may have the beating of you in many areas that doesn’t make you worthless. Wangji would be considered stronger than me in many things but my self worth isn’t linked to beating my brother in a sword fight, or a wrestling match”

Jiang Cheng was both thrilled and annoyed with the other’s words; that Lan Xichen thought quite highly of him was flattering, but the comment about having his self-worth linked to besting Wei Wuxian stung. Mostly because it was true, much as he disliked that part of himself. He had a rather large inferiority complex when it came to Wei Wuxian, much as he regarded him as a brother. The two emotional responses to Lan Xichen’s words balanced each other out so he made no comment.

Jiang Cheng’s attention was taken then by the faint trace of the thing they were looking for, “Here” he said and automatically handed Lan Xichen his candle as the other joined him in front of a seemingly ordinary looking bookcase holding, according to the labelling, romance books. He ran his hands tentatively over the disguising barrier. It was delicate, yet powerful and extremely clever.

“Don’t” Jiang Cheng said as Lan Xichen reached out a hand to touch the barrier himself, “It’s very intricate, if we push too hard it will feed back on us” he pushed a little of his qi out to highlight the barrier, using it to find the sigil that powered it. He identified the area he needed to work on and began to carefully unpick it.

“You have exquisite control over your spiritual energy, Jiang Wanyin” Lan Xichen complemented as the barrier flashed briefly before dissipating and in honesty he was feeling rather pleased with himself.

There was a large alcove revealed behind the false barrier, filled with shelf upon shelf of books and scrolls.

“This looks like a forbidden collection to me” Jiang Cheng commented and Lan Xichen hummed an agreement, moving over to begin examining the contents of the shelves around them. “What are you interested in particularly? Demonic bloodlines?” he asked as he took his own candle back and began to search.

“Mainly. If you see anything at all on dream demons that would also be useful, and royal demons. If we can identify which bloodline they belong to we might be able to use it to establish their intentions”

“Understood” they worked quickly but Jiang Cheng only found one scroll of any interest in all those he checked on his side of the alcove. He was about to report that to Lan Xichen when the other raised a finger to his lips and pointed to the lookout talisman that smouldered in his hand, linked to one he had placed on the door of the library. Lan Xichen blew out the candles and they rushed out of the alcove; Jiang Cheng thrust the scroll he held at the other and turned to begin rebuilding the barrier; he had a little time, Lan Xichen had also placed a distraction talisman that would keep lower level cultivators from entering immediately. It wouldn’t work for long; eventually it’s suggestive power would wear off and the disciples outside would carry on with their tasks unhindered but hopefully it bought them the time they needed.

Jiang Cheng had to redraw it again as the first time he finished it the barrier flickered and fizzled; he hadn’t used enough qi when activating it; luckily Lan Xichen was a calming presence by his side, he neither rushed nor hindered him and just allowed him to work.

“Well done” Lan Xichen breathed as the barrier glowed briefly into being then dissipated into it’s completely ordinary bookshelf disguise.

Lan Xichen took hold of his wrist then and pulled him over to the other side of the library and into another alcove, fitting him between a bookshelf and his own body as the door rattled a little. It wasn’t immediately opened.

Jiang Cheng tried not to move too much even though a shelf-ledge dug into his spine uncomfortably. He was embarrassingly aware of the length of the other’s body scant inches from his own and swore his heart might burst right out of his ribcage, and it wasn’t over the fear of being discovered. He suddenly didn’t care about that very much.

“Don’t worry Wanyin, I will protect you” the other said, barely louder than a zephyr in his ear. The soft caress of the other’s breath against his skin made him shudder helplessly and he couldn’t hold himself back from looking into Lan Xichen’s eyes any longer.

He was lost.

He’d known from the beginning he would be if he gave in to the all-consuming urge to meet Lan Xichen's gaze in the moonlight. And yet he still hadn’t been able to fight it. He probably hadn’t even wanted to.

The minimal difference in their heights put them virtually on eye-level with each other and he’d never felt a shared look so intimately before; like they gazed into each other’s souls.

Lan Xichen’s eyes lowered to his mouth and he leaned in until there was barely a hair’s breadth between their lips. He gave Jiang Cheng ample time to pull away if he didn’t want it, but Jiang Cheng absolutely did. He’d never wanted something as much as he wanted this kiss at this moment, in this darkened library, with the Wen disciples outside.

He let go of the shelf at his hips and caught hold of the collars of Lan Xichen’s robes, wishing he had the courage to close the distance himself, but inexperience made him tentative and all he could do was look pleadingly into Lan Xichen’s amber eyes, willing him to put Jiang Cheng out of his misery.

When the touch came it was feather-light; the gentlest of brushes before it vanished; he would have protested but the pressure returned almost immediately, this time more firmly. The kiss was a mirror of Lan Xichen’s personality; warm, reassuring, a little teasing, and Jiang Cheng’s lids drifted closed and his fingers curled into the material of the robes he held as he allowed himself to just follow the other’s lead and feel.

They barely even noticed the Wen disciples finally enter the library and search around to find the two in a heated embrace.

The Wens retreated soon enough at the sight of heaving chests and slick, bruising lips, with instructions for the pair to, effectively, get a room and not be found there again.

When they were alone again Jiang Cheng looked at Lan Xichen, not sure if he had enough braincells left to be angry.

“Did you kiss me just to cause a distraction?” he demanded softly, not wanting to admit to himself how empty that thought made him feel.

“Did you respond to me just to cause a distraction?” Lan Xichen countered, an unusual sharpness in his voice. His expression softened when he examined Jiang Cheng’s face in the moonlight. He cupped Jiang Cheng’s jawline, “This time there’s no diversion to be caused, does this answer your question?”  and he bent in for another kiss.

[takivvatanga]

what remains.

Brown paper bag. PATIENT PROPERTY. The top folded over one, two, three times, stuck down with a printed label. 

VAR ANAHID-REID, Assire. Date of Birth, NHI number, Address.  

Patient Deceased. NOK to collect written underneath in black pen.

These are the contents. This is what remains:

A crumpled feather, blackish brown. Damp.

8 hours remain.

“Mum, look!” Stella’s voice is insistent, serious. She’s fallen behind, easily distracted by her surroundings – she is her mother’s daughter. Assire checks her watch, turns around towards her daughter, her expression serious. Stella is crouched on the wet pavement, the hood of her coat pulled up over her head, dark curls spilling out in a stark contrast against the white faux fur lining. Sometimes Stella looks like Assire, other times she looks just like Jonathan. There’s hints of other people there, too. But most of the time, Stella just looks like Stella, and Assire loves her so fiercely that it hurts.

You’re the most impossible task I’ve ever tackled. You are the greatest thing I’ve ever done.

“What are you doing, Stella? We’re going to miss the train if you keep mucking around. Do you want to go to Emma’s house or not?!”

“Look what I found, Mum!” Stella raises a gloved hand, her breath rising in small white clouds. Assire responds with a stern look, an impatient gesture. Stella huffs a little but obeys, running towards her mother, her boots going splish splish splish on the wet ground.

“It’s for you, Mum. It’s from a bird.” She presents the feather with something bordering on reverence, and Assire accepts it without thinking, slides it through the top buttonhole of her coat.

“Why, thank you very much. I shall wear it with pride.” Stella beams at her, and Assire takes her daughter’s hand in hers.

“You have to wear it for the rest of your LIFE, Mum.”

“I will, honey. For the rest of my life.”

 A raffle ticket. Number 47. Carefully folded in half.

7 hours remain.

Barbara has a round face and kind eyes. Her blonde hair is cut short and her earrings glitter in the late afternoon light. Her house is colourful and noisy, in a perpetual state of activity. Herbs grow on the windowsill of her kitchen. Dishes are piled in the sink. Children’s drawings cover the refrigerator door.

“What do you say to Barb, Stella?” Assire’s hands rest on her daughter’s shoulders.

“Where’s Emma?” Stella bursts out, already kicking off her boots.

Assire rolls her eyes, her lips forming a silent apology. Barbara chuckles, turns on the tap, hot water rushes into the sink.

“It’s all good, it’s all good. No worries, eh? EMMA! Come down, Stella’s here!” The sound of light steps racing down wooden stairs. A blonde head poking through the kitchen door. 

“Hi Stella! Hi Stella’s Mum!” Stella’s best friend in the whole world forever and ever is small for her age and full of energy, a noisy, snot-nosed little kid with a big heart and an even bigger mouth. Assire is glad that her daughter has friends. She remembers what it felt like to be a lonely child.

“Stella’s Mum, do you want to buy a raffle ticket? I’m doing a fundraiser. So I can go to camp over the holidays.”

“Hello, Em”, she replies, letting go of her daughter’s shoulders. “Sure, I’ll buy a ticket. Today might just be my lucky day. Give me… number 47.” Emma squeals with excitement, produces a greasy booklet of tickets from the pocket of her jeans, flicks through, tears one out, passes it to Assire who hands over a crisp ten dollar bill in exchange.

“I don’t have change.”

“It’s fine, Emma.”

“Whaaaaa… THANK YOU! Stella your mum is cool.”

“You girls be good, okay? No staying up watching rubbish all night and Stella – you promise me to listen to Barb, please. Seriously, if I find out you made a nuisance of yourself, you know what that means, right? No more sleepovers.”

Stella looks up at her mother, nods quietly. “What time are you coming back?”

“In the morning, honey. Dad and I are going to pick you up in the morning.”

“In the car?”

“Yeah. In the car.”

“Bye, Mum.” Stella turns, opens her arms. Assire hugs her daughter goodbye. Neither of them know that this will be the last time.

 A mobile phone. Shattered screen. A smear of dried blood.

One hour remains.

sms: Jonathan

[txt] I’m just about finished thank goodness. You wouldn’t believe what these absolute incompetents did to their server I am SPEECHLESS

[txt] but that being said I’m really enjoying being in this building all by myself. It’s like being a ghost. The benevolent spirit of emergency server repair. It’s so lovely and quiet and there’s people’s things just sitting around and I can’t stop wondering who the people are that those things belong to

[txt] you still on track to pick me up? I’m so very much looking forward to having some time with just US. And I feel so bad for feeling like this because you know how much I love stella but sometimes I just miss when it was just you and me

[txt] can we go for a drive over the bridge? I love the bridge at night

[txt] really? I was so looking forward to us having some time to ourselves. Nvm you do what you have to do hopefully your shift improves. I’ll catch the train and I’ll see you at home I suppose. I might text barb and see if stella can stay at hers until after lunch we can sleep in and just BE at least

[txt] yes I’m sure! It’s fine seriously! I can look after myself, remember :)

[txt] I love you too. Very very much.

[txt] see you soon x

A train ticket. Single fare. Western Line.

Forty-five minutes remain. 

There’s no sense of impending doom. No oppressive atmosphere. No feeling that this is it, this is the end. Assire’s shoes echo on the subway stairs. She’s going to have to wait for a little while until her train arrives, but she doesn’t mind. Assire has always, in some strange way that she can’t quite explain, enjoyed the stations at night. Sometimes, they feel like sacred spaces, separate from the world above, existing in their own time, according to their own rules. She is disappointed when she finds that the platform is not completely deserted. A young woman wearing headphones sits with her phone in her hand, popping bubblegum against the back of her teeth.

An elderly couple, long distance travellers, judging by their suitcases, share a newspaper. Assire watches them with curiosity, wonders what it will be like to grow old, and all of a sudden there’s a dreadful thought screeching through her mind that she cannot silence.

What will I do, when I am old and he dies before me?

There is not a doubt in her mind that it is Jonathan who will die first. Everyone knows that women live longer, and his father died young, who knows what the burden of his genetic legacy will be. The thought grabs hold, cold and cruel and terrible, crushing her heart and constricting her throat. She scrambles for her phone, her fingers slick with sweat, it slips out of her hand, falls to the ground with an ominous thud. The screen shatters.

Shit.

The girl with the headphones looks up, grins, her expression pure schadenfreude.

Assire scoops up her phone, keeps walking. The lights at the other end of the platform flicker erratically, almost as if in warning. Assire does not recognise it, or else she does not heed it.

“Give me your wallet.”

“Excuse me?”

She never even saw him approach. He’s very young, almost still a kid, with big hungry eyes and a sad excuse for a beard dappling his chin. His hood is pulled right up over his head, his jeans are dirty, and he’s very thin. There’s an eruption of infected sores over his sunken cheeks, every part of his body seems to be in motion.

“You fucking heard me, bitch! Give me your fucking wallet!”

She should be scared. By all means, she should be terrified. But all she can see is a little boy, a desperate little boy. She has faced far greater fears than this. She shakes her head. She will not be intimidated.

“No.”

“You fucking bitch!” There are tears in his eyes. There’s a knife in his hand. There’s something sharp piercing her side, again and again and again and again. There’s something hot and red and viscous spilling out of her, dripping down her leg, blooming on her coat. There’s nausea, and dizziness, and a sound like a train approaching. There’s darkness closing in, clouding her vision. There’s the dirty subway platform floor, rising up to meet her. There’s a light. It’s beautiful.

 A set of torn and bloodstained clothes.

Sixty seconds remain.

She recognises him. Despite the fact that his face is obscured by a surgical mask, despite the fact that everything is all messed up, despite the fact that she cannot focus her eyes. She would recognise him anywhere. She would know him in death, at the end of the world. 

She is looking down on him, watching him work, his movements quick, frantic. His hands are shaking. She’s pretty sure that when a surgeon’s hands are shaking, the prognosis is unfavourable. Assire feels sorry for the person on the table, the person who is about to die. She doesn’t like this place. She remembers asking him what it is like, in theatre, remembers listening to him describe it, the way everything is deliberate, precise, orderly. This is not orderly at all. Discarded equipment litters the floor, there’s drips and machines and sharp metallic things everywhere. There’s a shoe on the ground, lying in a pool of blood. She has a pair exactly like that. They are her favourite shoes.

She can hear voices, but the words don’t make any sense. They don’t need to. This is nothing good. Assire knows nothing about medicine, but there’s blood everywhere, seeping out from underneath the sterile sheet covering the body person on the table, seeping, seeping, seeping. A river of blood that pours and pours and will not, can not stop. Someone pulls off the sheet, the sound of the machines rises to a crescendo. The person on the table is a woman. She looks familiar. Assire wants to get closer, wants to see her face properly. This is someone she knows!

“Excuse me. I need to look. Please. Let me look.” No one takes notice of her request. No one takes notice of her, full stop. Aren’t they surprised that she’s here, right in the middle of it all?

“Assire! No! Don’t you dare!”

He has noticed. He has noticed her, and he’s calling her name, and he is angry, so angry, and by all means he should be, she has no business hanging around in operating theatres!

“I’m sorry! Jonathan, I’m sorry. I just need to see, I’ll explain later. When you finish. When we’re home. I can explain. I don’t know how I got here but I can explain.”

He looks up, but he doesn’t see her. She knows he doesn’t. There are tears in his eyes and something else, a terrible, terrible grief and all she wants to do is to reach out and comfort him, to let him know that everything will be alright, she’s here

I’m here, I’m here!

and she’s both here, suspended above and there, on the table, in a pool of her own blood, not making a sound not moving not breathing not living it’s time to go but she doesn’t want to, she wants to stay!

I want to stay!

and it hurts, it hurts, oh God it hurts so bad until it doesn’t

It doesn’t hurt anymore.

It’s alright

Everything will be alright.

and darkness starts to close in on her but she’s not afraid of the dark this time, because there’s a light at the very edge of it and it keeps growing and pulling her towards it

The light is so beautiful.

and she turns around for what she knows will be the last time and she knows that this time he can hear her

I’ll wait for you. I’ll always wait for you. I love you. I’m sorry.

Goodbye.

@throatkissed  why am I like this

[tiaragqueen]

At Leisure

✂ Pairing: Yandere! Kim Taehyung x Noona! Reader

✂ Word Count: 1,8k+

✂ Trigger Warning: Mentions of possessiveness, seduction, Noona kink, dom! reader, hints of light smut

✂ This story is fictional and for amusement only. I don’t believe any of the members would do this in real life. As always, thank you for reading and I hope you have a good day!

Do not re-upload my writing to another website or use it without my permission.

[Edited]

***

Anon asked: “What about a sub!yandere!tae ?? No smut if you don’t do it joe want to.”

Sub! Tae might be my favorite thing now. That guy is a perfect combination of both dominant and submissive. And I kept blushing when I was writing this.

Song: BTS - House of Cards

If you like my writing, please support me on ko-fi!

“Grab me tightly and shake me, so I can’t snap out of it. Kiss me on the lips, lips. Our own little secret.” - Blood, Sweat, And Tears [BTS]

      “Noona!”

       There he went again.

        For the past thirty minutes, Taehyung had been trying to attract your attention to his deprived self. However, you kept ignoring him in favor of reading a new book that you bought yesterday. You had thought that he would quit after the third attempt due to your unresponsiveness, yet it merely fueled his determination instead.

        And you didn’t know whether you should be flattered or annoyed.

        Taehyung skipped towards you and plopped down beside you. You felt the extra weight on your lap as he rested his head and looked up to you with glittering eyes.

         “Hey, Noona.” he greeted innocently, as though he hadn’t been shouting your name earlier. You were sure the neighbors must have heard his constant calls due to his loudness. However, you decided to humor him a little. Who knows, he might grow bored and finally leave you alone.

         Even though it sounded a bit far-fetched for you.

         “Hello, baby.” you murmured, stroking his smooth hair. Taehyung closed his eyes in contentment and proceeded to nuzzle his face into your stomach. If he were a cat, he would be purring by now.

         “Noona,” his deep voice came out muffled against your shirt. Frowning, he leaned back and pulled the annoying clothes up to reveal a strip of skin. Satisfied with the little bareness, he hid his face again and drank in your natural body smell.

         He always did that, you noticed. You always thought you smelled terrible. It wasn’t like you bothered to wear perfume at home either. However, with how deep he took a breath, he made it seem as though he was inhaling a fragrance. Or crack. Taehyung always did look... deprived whenever he was unable to smell you.

        You admitted you were scared that he might be a bit too addicted to you. Sometimes you wondered what would happen if you, say, left him. What would become of Taehyung later? Would he still be the whiny man-child you grew to love over this past of few months? Or would he get depressed instead?

         It was highly probable since he seemed to adore you so much. But the thought didn’t bring you any reassurance whatsoever. Not that you planned on breaking up with him anytime soon, though. You were simply curious, after all.

         Not that he would let you leave him, either. But you were oblivious to it because as far as you knew, he was a charming man with the mentality of a three-year-old child. Possessive, yes. However, it was justifiable. We all feel a bit possessive to those we love, so why should he be any different? If anything, you should consider yourself lucky for having him as your boyfriend.

         If only you saw the darkness that clouded his eyes or the way his arms tightened around you whenever you talked to another person. Men or women, it didn’t matter.

         “Noona, I’m bored. Can we do something, please? Or maybe, we can watch the anime instead! Free! Iwatobi Swimming Club released the new season last night. So can we watch it together, please?” Taehyung blinked and smiled hopefully, assuming the cliché expression of ‘puppy look’. “Pretty please? With a cherry on top?”

         You glanced down at his – frankly speaking – adorable face. Any other day you would’ve loved to relent and indulge in his couple fantasies, but today wasn’t one of it. You had been giving him a lot of attention lately; it was time for some much-needed privacy.

          “Not now, honey. I’m busy.” You quickly dismissed him by averting your gaze back on to the new book.

          “But you’ve been busy since this morning! I just want to cuddle with you. Is that too much to ask?” Taehyung jutted out his bottom lip in hopes of appealing to you. However, you refused to budge.

          ��We can always do that later. For now, I want to have some ‘fun’ by myself.”

          A sheen of tears coated Taehyung's dark irises as he frowned sadly, head dropping like a kicked puppy. “Does that mean you no longer consider me as fun to be around?”

         The frown on your part wasn't out of sadness like him. It was more of a confusion and a slight surprise. You knew that Taehyung could be quick to jump into conclusions, but sometimes his assumptions were just plain ridiculous.

          “What? Of course, you’re fun, Taehyung,” you assured him, though you were aware that he wasn’t fully convinced with your statement.

          Any kind of displeasure that you expressed, however small it might be, would be taken at face value by him. That was when he would go ‘overdrive’; begging you to not abandon him with tears streaming down his flushing face. Once, he bought bouquets of your favorite flowers and snacks as an apology for whatever mistakes he’d done. And while you were flattered to know the depth of his love, you admitted that even it was a bit overboard. He feared losing you so much he was willing to do anything for you and had you weren’t as kind-hearted, you would’ve taken advantage of him.

          He would never know that you used him, anyway. And honestly, you didn't doubt that he wouldn’t care very much. As long as you were still his, everything else didn’t matter.

          “Then, why wouldn’t you let me have fun with you too?”

          Sighing, you resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of your nose. Even though you understood his need for affection, Taehyung couldn’t easily comprehend the idea of privacy sometimes. Everything else had to include him in it, otherwise, he would either throw a tantrum or sobbing his eyes out.

          “Just because I want to have fun by myself, doesn’t mean I’m bored of you, Taehyung. You know, I want to be alone too. I can’t always be with you at all times.” you explained patiently like a mother to her curious son.

          “Why? I want to be with you, though.” he whimpered.

          “I understand,” you patted his head affectionately. “But that’s the point of ‘me-time’, you know? So I can resupply my energy battery. You don’t want me to neglect you, right?”

          He shook his head, already dreading the thought of you ignoring him. It would surely drive him crazy, no doubt. Your voice was the greatest sound in the world – especially when you were cooing like this – and he wanted to spend the rest of his life listening to it.

          “Then give me a few minutes to read. After that, we shall cuddle on the bed.”

          Taehyung nodded obediently and got up from your lap, seemingly satisfied with your proposal. You watched his hunched back shuffled towards your shared bedroom and closed the door behind him with a long creak. The guilt weighed in your chest, but you immediately dispelled it. There was no need to regret something when he already accepted it. And besides, it wasn’t like he would go out anyway. He always used whatever free time he had with you, mostly asking you to coddle him.

          In a way, he was like your figurative child.

          You never thought that the first lover you had would be a sub. Constantly following you everywhere, even to the bathroom. In bed, he liked to give the reins to you. Taehyung believed one hundred percent that you would never hurt him, and obviously, you didn’t plan on abusing that trust any time soon. Such a man, whose face was enough to turn on many people at first glance alone, was rare to find. Maybe you would discover more had you tried hard enough, but why should you do that when you already had Kim Taehyung, the mysterious yet eccentric guy who most women admired? You’d be a fool to let him go when he had done nothing but giving you his blind devotion.

          The sound of a piano wafted softly into the living room. The door from your room opened, revealing Taehyung with messy red hair that was mussed to enhance his overall seductive look. A white button-up shirt clung on to his tanned body, with the first two buttons left loosened to display a glimpse of his broad chest. It was tucked into a dark and tight pants pressed against his full legs.

          You should've known that he would never settle on a simple promise, and you definitely shouldn’t have underestimated his determination.

          Despite that, you wouldn’t lie that you did enjoy the sight he happily bestowed.

          You could feel warmth traveled south into your nether region as you watched him lick those luscious lips of his. However, you still had the dignity to keep your words.

          “Taetae, no. I told you that I will cuddle with you later.”

           However, your warning fell on deaf ears. Instead, Taehyung purposefully sang the first line of House of Cards with a deeper voice than usual.

           “Insecure again, dangerous again.”

          Through your peripheral vision, you could see him slowly advancing. Once in a while, he would run a hand through his disheveled hair or bite his bottom lip. The way he did those things – not to mention, the way he practically made out with the toy microphone – prompted a rush of blood to color your cheeks.

          “So bad (why?) us, yeah.”

           You clasped a hand over your mouth, attempting miserably to conceal your heavy blush. “Taehyung, stop.”

           It was a half-hearted plea, he knew that much. That was why he smirked and continued singing as though he wasn’t trying to wreak havoc on to your poor heart.

           “Enduring more, holding out.”

           “Please, stop.” It was unfair of him to look perfect at seducing while you had to endure the mental breakdown he gladly gave to you. You weren’t sure if you could sit here any longer without indulging in your desire to simply tackle him and have sex right here and there.

           “So hard (hard), we can’t.”

           However, you weren’t exactly patient either. So before he could purr the next line, you already seized him down.

           “What’s this, baby?” you asked, chin lifted and eyes narrowed haughtily.

           Instead of answering, Taehyung merely smirked. He was provoking you, and you would make sure that he realized the consequences. You’d been dying to do that anyway ever since he stepped out with that kind of outfit.

           You nodded, running a hand down the expanse of his chest. Well, as wide as his shirt could allow. No matter, you would soon throw it away.

           “Are you trying to seduce me, baby?” you taunted. “Well, that just won’t do. Don’t think that you can get away after showing such a bold show on me.”

           “What if I want to?”

           “Oh? So now you’re challenging my authority?” You clicked your tongue, scowling slightly. “What a brat. It almost feels as if you’re looking for punishment.” Tilting his chin up, you bared your teeth evilly. “But if that’s what you’re looking for, then be prepare for a painful night ahead of you.”

           Taehyung's eyes lit up like a child at Christmas. It wasn’t the punishment he wanted, but the prospect of you finally spend your time with him. Nodding vehemently, he grinned. “Yes, Noona.”

[juleswolverton-hyde]

Unspoken part 5 (end)

Genre: Hybrid AU, fluff, (eventually) smut

Pairing: Wolf!Namjoon x Reader

Warning: Mention of cancer and death

Summary: Finding shelter from the rain in a bookshop owned by a hybrid turns out in a whole lot more than you could have ever expected.

A well-spoken wolf, one bookstore, and many untold tales.

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5

Masterlist

The scent of lemon-ginger tea over books scents the gradually disappearing darkness of the unconscious, mixed with the perfume produced by the physically intensive activities that had claimed every ounce of energy and now bring back a crimson blush to the cheeks, the memories still very vivid in the mind. It happened, a connection between human and hybrid like equal lovers, without letting anything stop us despite the severe consequences it may carry, not caring about anything but ourselves and each other. Even now as digits trace the mark between the shoulder and neck, needing the reassurance it was not a dream since it would mean losing the man that means everything to me, there is not a speck of doubt.

The exact time of day is unknown, though the sound of little birds chirping their lungs out in the gutter above the window serves as an indication it is morning. I roll over and face the bright sunlight illuminating the messy bedroom, emphasizing the damage done by our doing. Nails having made extra scratches in the mattress thanks to desperate attempts to remain conscious and please my mate, plastic bottle with an open cap on the nightstand, untouched after use, the drawer wherein it was stored still open and puddles of the excess liquid on the floor.

But the light also makes something else clear, which I come to realize whilst rubbing the sleep from eyes gradually regaining sight. A cotton white shirt, long and wide enough to hide the body, has been chosen to be my outfit by whoever has styled me, the press of similar material against the lower body. The question who did it is superfluous, since only one person could have done it.

Namjoon.

The thought of him dressing me after all we have done makes the corners of the mouth curl up in a soft delighted smile as his scent permeates the senses, the taken whiff making the shared moments before yesterday resurface, and an uncharacteristic girlish giggle escape. His heat has ended for the season, having found an adequate mate to carry his pups in me. A hand wanders down to the already slightly swollen stomach, his DNA having yet to mix with mine although that shall happen soon if it has not already.

Unnatural, disgusting, abominable. The insults that will be thrown at me when a return to the office is made form themselves in thought and yet I cannot care any less. This was my choice, the consequences mine to face. I could not come back at all, not being missed whether I am at the workplace or not from the moment the job as an editor was taken up. It sounds very tempting, saying goodbye forever to the hypocrites and lose the connection to an equally as narrow-minded place.

‘Oh, come on! Not again!’ the baritone voice of the kind giant yells in despair from somewhere on the storey that forms his home. The faint smell of burnt food mixes with the aroma that has come to feel like home and makes me rise immediately in wonder at what Namjoon is doing, praying he is hopefully not burning down the building accidentally.

However, a part of the curiosity is also caused by the strange texture underneath, not resembling that of the mattress I was unceremoniously thrown upon, concluding once eyes drift downward it was indeed not the bed but the collection of our torn clothes carefully arranged into a comfortable pile to rest on, a little nest. It seems he has forgotten I am not like him, do not need the same things in instances like these, but the mere gesture sends a warm loving sensation throughout the body because even in the aftermath of the mental fog he took care of me before himself. And, honestly speaking albeit with a rather confused feeling, it is quite cosy.

Laboriously, I manage to rise from the makeshift bed and onto stumbling feet, Namjoon having made sure walking is not without effort today, headed towards the source of agonized grumbles. The living room with its rosewood floor and broken white Victorian walls is simply furnished with only a monochrome chair, one with a frame made of braided walnut limbs and a seating formed by two fluffy cushions of which the light brown colour is reminiscent of the wolf’s hair, a couch in a shade of creme with a few pillows matching in tone and one more colorful and patterned atop a burnt orange blanket and a red oak grand coffee table with a succulent plant, a rug in various dark tones underneath. Below the windows and all around the space are books, either stacked in towers and put in corners, propped up against the wall, or neatly arranged in rows. Simplistic, a bit unorganized, but nevertheless very much him.

Every step forward feels strange, as if something between the thighs obstructs the motion. Inquisitive fingers slide beneath the borrowed shirt, past the edge of the black boxers with a paisley print toward where he took me, discovering an uneven surface which, after a bit more feeling and registering, turns out to be a, albeit fake of course, jewel. So that is what the intrusion was, to make sure our pups have a chance to be created.

‘How? How does this keep happening? What am I doing wrong?’ The pure frustration of failure after failure is more audible now that I am standing here and seems to be coming from the other side of the hallway connected to the living room.

Still a bit awkward, I head to the small kitchen where Namjoon looks as if he is fighting a losing battle yet refuses to give up, the birch countertops covered in flour and open metal bin beside the entrance filled with charcoal black discs that should have been pancakes, emitting a smell which strongly overpowers that of the refuse already in the garbage can. 

He is too occupied with figuring out the mistake to notice me sneaking in and wrapping my arms around his slender waist, trapping the fluffy chocolate milk tail sticking out from pink boxers between us and burying my face in it. ‘Morning, masterchef.’

He tenses at hearing my voice, rapidly turning around with dark eyes devoid of the lustful fog they were clouded by and now again those of the storyteller I have come to know, regarding me once he fully faces me, searching my figure for something and expression slightly faltering when the investigation is apparently finished. ‘Hey, Y/N,’ a long finger tucks an unruly strand of hair behind the right ear, a small smile on full maroon lips, ‘sleep well?’

‘Yeah, the nest you made was comfy.’ I chuckle when the tail begins to sweep pleased from side to side and his eyes light up at the compliment.

‘I wanted you to be as comfortable as possible. Being pregnant is already difficult enough as it is, if I have to go by Seokjin’s word as a doctor. Although, Yoongi’s mate also made quite a good case-’

The hand running through smooth ashen brown locks and over similarly toned ears stills the waterfall of chatter, ending it with a pleased hum. A gentle smile at the funny behaviour plays around the lips imprinted with the memory of his. ‘You’re rambling, dear.’

‘Right, sorry.’ A big hand envelops the hand in his hair and brings it down for a loving kiss. ‘Are you hurt?’

‘Hurt? I’m fine, perfectly alright.’ But then both our gazes drift to the body clad in the oversized shirt, loose sleeves fallen back to reveal the various slowly healing crescent moons on the skin, indentations where teeth had bitten down on the fragile surface of the neck never having been covered in the first instance. Fueled by the moment of heavy hesitation due to the questioning observing gaze, hands pull back the fabric to hide the still healing wounds caused by the one thing that will never be regretted. ‘It doesn’t hurt, Joon. I’m okay.’

Shaking fingers trace the inflictions left uncovered, fear and self-loathing dimming the light that shone so brightly in his gaze. ‘What have I- why didn’t you- shit, I shouldn’t have done this.’ They trace the mating mark. ‘All because I was jealous of my best friend, of him having a mate and I having nobody. I should’ve asked your permission instead of binding you to me without giving you a chance to deny it. To stop me.’ A barely contained sob escapes trembling lips, desperate to remain strong despite falling apart in front of one that means the world. ‘I’m- I’m so sorry, Y/N. I was lonely and-’

‘Shut up, you gigantic marshmallow.’ I punch his chest, almost unable to contain my own sadness upon hearing the regretful words denying everything we have built up thus far, our children that shall grow within. ‘Don’t you dare to undo this. Think about us, the home we can make. I may not be entirely like you, not needful of a nest, Hell, I appreciate you making it regardless of me not needing it, but I do need you as well as our kids.’

‘You can still walk away, baby. Clear me from your system before the pups have a chance to develop. I am bound to you, but you’re still free to do as you please. But I- I’ll always be here for you. All I ask is that it won’t influence our professional relationship as “Vilkas” and his editor.’ Strong arms pull me flush against a warm bare chest, speech muffled by hair. ‘Nevertheless, I beg you, don’t leave me.’ The grip tightens, squeezing the air out of the lungs but the body not reacting in a manner to do something about it, only tears streaming down the cheeks at the dreadful imagination of saying farewell to him and return to mere emails. ‘Please, even though you shouldn’t, please... stay.’

‘Dammit, stop talking. Didn’t you listen? I’m not going anywhere, Joon. Fuck ‘The True Telegraph’, fuck society’s standards. Just fuck it. I don’t regret becoming your mate nor will I erase you in any sense.’ Watery vision perceives the uniformly unclear eyes staring back into mine, uncomprehending of the promise to remain. ‘I love you, bookworm.’

A sad chuckle, a deep intake of breath before cushiony lips softly touch mine, gently moving against them whilst tears run freely and grand safe hands cup my face. ‘I love you too, Y/N. So, so much.’

After a few loving kisses, he lets go and immediately all the stress is gone, the severeness completely vanished from the atmosphere. With the sleeve of the shirt, I wipe both our tears away, caressing his cheek when the last drop is removed, a tidal wave of relief washing over me upon seeing him happier since the sight of him crying burst the heart at the seams. ‘Now, what were you trying to do that you woke me with your yelling?’

‘I was trying to make pancakes,’ he admits sheepishly. ‘To show you... I mean this,’ is shyly added, ears drawn back as eyes drift off to the kitchen massacre, a rosy flush on tanned cheeks and teeth worrying the bottom lip. ‘But it didn’t really work out.’

Sleeves are rolled up in a bit of a showy manner, hands set on hips and attitude emitting confidence. ‘Alright, big bad wolf, let me handle this.’

A smug grin dawns on Namjoon’s gradually brightening expression. ‘Big bad wolf, eh?’

Fingertips crawl up his chest, that begins to fall and rise a bit faster when they run over the warm skin, playfully grabbing his chin. ‘Too big actually,’ heavy breathing, digits grabbing the waist as possessively as last night, lip bitten by teeth cleared of scarlet, ‘but incredibly bad in the kitchen.’

Baritone laughter erupts after a quick peck, demeanour immediately transforming into the sweetness not led by primal instinct, fingers letting go and arms instead wrapping around my middle and not letting go during the cooking process, even when I tell him burns are inevitable if he keeps holding on to me whilst the pancakes bake in the pan on the sleek metal stove, head resting on the right shoulder and left ear tickling my right as eyes watch the proper process whilst the mind tries to remember every step for the future.

In spite of the wolf stuck to my back, restricting movements at times, breakfast finds its way rather quickly to two plates on the coffee table in the living room alongside two cups of lemon-ginger tea. Huddled together, one arm draped around my shoulders keeping me close and the blanket formerly arranged over the sofa now covering our bare legs, we munch on the meal that had been nothing but a disaster at his hands.

Halfway through the stack of golden brown deliciousness, the comfortable silence is broken to ask the question that has been plaguing the mind for a while, wondering as to what the answer can possibly be, but always coming up short on responses. ‘Why “Vilkas”? I mean, how do you come up with your stories? No wait, let me rephrase that.’ Namjoon’s low chuckle makes me raise an eyebrow at him, wondering what has provoked the reaction as the correct formulation of the inquiry is searched for mentally. ‘What’s so funny?’

‘Look who’s rambling now.’ A pinch of the cheeks, dimples showing with the affectionate smile, the words re-enforcing the feeling regret shall never touch what we have. ‘So cute.’

‘Shut up, I’m not.’ A pout and averted eyes rapidly change into giggling and a scrunched up face to withhold the laughter caused by the tickling of the fluffy tail crept under the big shirt as lips press lovingly against the temple.

‘Then why do you keep acting this way?’ The playfulness makes way for seriousness after an assault on the sensitive nerves all over the body, a moment of happiness to forever remember filled with cries of “stop” and not being given mercy. 

‘Alright, alright,’ the wolf breathes after a counterattack, stilling my hands on his sides in defeat, ‘you win, Y/N. But to answer your question, let me tell the part that was written before we began developing our story. 

‘I was taken in by an elderly scientist who had very much the same thoughts about hybrids as you, when he found me on a dreary autumn night in an alley beside a dumpster, abandoned in a basket and with only a blanket to protect me,’ his gaze wanders to the disheveled by the tickle attack burnt orange blanket on our laps, gripping it a bit tighter as he slowly begins the journey back in time to his childhood, when he was a mere pup in the cruel world, having no chance of survival whatsoever aside from being protected from the seasonal cold by the only souvenir from what had never been home. ‘Ben took me in, saying nothing to his colleagues about my true nature whenever he took me to the lab for medical examinations and simply because he liked having me close instead of home alone at the mansion in the countryside, always making sure the wolf side of me was obscured from sight by dressing me in clothes that would hide my tail and a beanie to hide my ears.’ 

The mentioned fluffy parts of the body lower sulking to the side, eyes still focused on the cloth, grip tighter to remain in control of the sorrow stirring within, darkened with the shadow cast by the inevitable debt one has to pay in the end. 

‘When he died, he wanted I continued with this bookstore, that was bought after his resignation to keep himself busy although it has always been me running the store anyway since he had become too weak to carry boxes with books whenever new shipments came in and to work in general. Despite never telling me, I could smell it: sickness. Cancer ate away at his bones, but nevertheless, every day was lived to the fullest. Until the very end.’ 

Trembling maroon lips, downturned corners of the mouth, shuddering shoulders. ‘He raised me like his own blood, the grandson he never had. Taught me everything I know, schooled me himself because ordinary schools were not safe, ignited my love for books and telling stories. Opened my eyes to the injustice done to other hybrids, those that aren’t as fortunate and are oppressed, as has always been the sickening way in cultures around the globe. I want to give them a voice, attempt to grant them the luxury of freedom I have had from the moment I was adopted. The people need to see, understand, we are more alike than society thinks. 

‘As you said when we met,’ our gazes meet, fingers entwine, an alpha and his mate getting to know each other, ‘I am human albeit with animalistic qualities that set me apart. As are they, and yet they are not allowed to speak their minds. That isn’t human, that is bestial and makes those who claim to be superior to us the true animals. However, thank God, there are still those like you, baby. Those who see us for who we are. That is why I have become “Vilkas”, which is the Lithuanian word for “wolf”.’ A bright smile at the humour creeps onto the severe expression slightly delighted by being with a peer. ‘Kind of an inside joke, but it seemed fitting.’

‘And your stories? Where do they come from?’

‘Insiders, mostly, people I once did a favour for, be it sheltering them from their owners for a bit or patching them up after whatever got happened that got them hurt, probably the underground pit fights everyone knows about but refuse to speak of. My old man supported this, maybe as a kind of compensation since we could not stop their owners from giving them their horrible future when the bargain was struck because one can never estimate what might happen to them in the future at the moment the contract is signed. 

‘Alas, Ben encouraged me to keep in contact with them, provide a safe haven where a friend is always waiting for them. That is actually also how I met Yoongi. Well, kind of. He was on his way to get his medication prescribed by our mutual doctor, Seokjin, and I my shots to repress the upcoming heat, having switched from pills that my old man could come by via work to this method since it seemed to work better. Anyhow, we started talking after I observed the still healing wounds covering his body, rapidly becoming friends. He told me about the pit fights and sex trade his owner got him mixed up in. I told him, when I was sure nobody was listening, about the “Vilkas” identity and he thought it was a noble cause, asking me to write down his story someday. Which I have.’

The snow leopard story, the last tale that was published before we lost contact and The Big Meatball threatened to kick me out of the office, despite the little presence I already have there. Eyes widen when they remember the epic chronicle, forever engraved in the mind due to the greater sense of heroism and action than in the others. ‘So that is his story, the one about the kidnapping and big rescue action.’

‘All the stories are true,’ Namjoon chuckles before nightly amused yet pained eyes drift down to his side, where small round scars grace the hip. Bullets. ‘Though the reference material shall always speak truer and be more memorable than the actual tale.’

Careful fingers trace the indents in the sun-kissed skin, envisioning the setting of the story and the wolf’s role in it. The mere thought of him hurt, bleeding thanks to some bastard playing gunslinger, has teeth grit against each other and the jaw tighten.

He sees the anger seething beneath the barely composed attitude and places a big hand over mine, gripping it reassuringly before raising it to kiss every finger and the wrist adorned with a dark pink and scarlet crescent moon, resting it against his cheek afterwards. ‘Don’t worry, Y/N. It was an accident. As soon as the smoke bombs had gone off, chaos ensued and it was every man for himself. I was never intentionally shot at, but that was only thanks to the plan. Otherwise, no, I don’t want to make you think of that. We all got out of it, unharmed. Okay, almost unharmed, since I had to be patched up, which Yoongi did whilst grumbling about how clumsy I am.’ 

I chuckle, reminded of the burnt pancake incident. He may be a wolf, but in the end, he is still a clumsy giant. Namjoon smiles a sheepish yet satisfied dimpled smile, either laughing at himself or happy he made me smile. ‘I know, I know, I’m a klutz. Back to the tale, I provided them with new identities which in turn were provided by Hoseok, a bartender at one of the dodgy hybrid clubs downtown. He’s also one of my people. They’re now somewhere safe. I visit them from time to time and their kids are the most adorable little things.’ 

A curiosity treks over his face for a second, followed by an unbelieving breathless laugh. ‘Your scent has changed. You’re… God, I am the luckiest man alive.’ 

His hand uncovers mine, coming to rest on the side of my neck and bringing me closer for a lingering loving kiss. ‘Our pups will be just as lovable, if not cuter.’ Thumb stroking skin heated by the wolf’s warmth, tail swishing to and fro slowly over the floor, ears turned forward. Contentment hangs in the air of our home, the knowledge of the pregnancy smelled out by the wolf before any real chance is remarked upon by myself enhancing the sense of joy. ‘I love you.’

Nothing is said in return, but the second tender peck says everything that cannot be put into a sentence, the embrace proving actions shall always speak louder than words, the scent of pancakes and tea making us want to hold on to the oath of staying in spite of whatever storm may come our way.

They say everything that was left unspoken.

[andrewmoocow]

Steven Universe Secret Wars chapter 10: Forever Fight as One (originally posted on September 23, 2018)

AN: At last the final battle against Thanos has come! It certainly has been a pleasure writing this for all of you to enjoy, and it also warms my heart to see so much love for it. Still waiting for it to be on TV Tropes though. But regardless, I hope you enjoy this and any more stories, Earth-2013 or not, to come! Until then, toodle-oo!

"Did you see how I annihilated Jasper there my love?" Thanos asked Death finally returning to his shrine on Battleworld's moon. "She put up quite a fight, but in the end she had to be put down. It's a shame as well, her gemstone would've looked marvelous on you. In fact, why don't I grant you the shattered remains of the other Gems as a present?" Lady Death gave no answer other than just a roll of her eyes, but the titan took it as a sign. "It may not be spoken, but I still count it as attention." he stated before he heard the rattling of chains and turned to discover Nebula, now free from her restraints and looking absolutely furious. "YOU!" "Nebula, I see you have managed to escape. Exquisite work, but not as much as when I would pit you against your sister." Thanos commended his daughter but he was met with a hateful laugh from his daughter. "You fool! Do you truly think Death will ever love you?! Besides, she's not the only one you should be concerned with right now!" "Let me guess, are you referring to the Crystal Gems?" Thanos wondered preparing to pummel her with the Gauntlet. "Not just those Gems," Nebula answered before looking upward. "them." Thanos had no idea what she was talking about before he turned around to discover a gigantic humanoid man dressed in purple & blue armor with a distinctive horned helmet. This titan was none other than the dreaded devourer of worlds himself, Galactus. "Thanos of Titan, we have come to punish you for your crimes against the universe!" Galactus boomed as several more beings of equal power stood alongside him. There was Kronos the god of time, the embodiment of the very universe itself known as Eternity, the physical forms of life, death, love & hate, the mysterious Uatu the Watcher, a pair of Celestials and the Living Tribunal. "Your abuse of the Infinity Gauntlet's power has gone too far Thanos." Uatu scolded the titan. "If this keeps going on, then the whole universe will become beyond saving! And all for to satisfy both your twisted delusions of balance and your love for Death." "Do you realize who I am? I have made the Diamonds my slaves, made a fool out of Mephisto, reduced one of Gemkind's strongest warriors to gravel and I also have a secret weapon hidden inside my moon!" Thanos bragged preparing to send them all off with a snap of his fingers. "Yet it seems your efforts were all for nothing." the Stranger declared bringing attention to a certain alliance of champions. "Look." The Stranger then produced a holographic image of the Crystal Gems, the Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Starfox, Silver Surfer, Loki and the Diamonds all marching toward Thanos's statue, ready for a final fight. "I never thought I would see the day the Crystal Gems would ally themselves with their former superiors, and I'm the god of time." Kronos commented. "It cannot be! This shall not stand!" Thanos boomed furiously, on the verge of snapping even. "I shall have to do it myself, and I refuse to let you interfere." With one finger click, the cosmic hierarchy found themselves fading into dust. "How is this even possible?!" Uatu exclaimed before he finally disappeared. "You can make us fade into dust all you want titan, but mark my words you shall receive justice!" Galactus shouted as he, along with the rest of the deities, finally disappeared. Nebula gaped in horror at the sight of such powerful beings falling to the power of her father before her shock turned to frothing rage and she charged at the titan with her arms as the only available weapon she had. Suddenly, the Luphomoid found herself grabbed by the neck and met with the furious glare of Thanos. He gave no word before carelessly tossing her as far as he can off the moon. "These fools dare take up arms against their savior, rushing head-on into their destiny." Thanos began monologuing to himself. "So I shall provide them with death only deserving of a true warrior. There will be nothing but dust and blood but in the end, balance shall stand triumphant." With a single gesture, Thanos's throne zoomed out of the temple and he sat down, with Death still by his side. Clenching his fist, the Space Stone created a portal that led Thanos down to Battleworld, where he hoped to settle things once and for all.

On the patchwork planet itself, the Ultimate Alliance charged across Battleworld toward the statue of their despised shared enemy. Led by Steven Universe, Captain America, Yellow Diamond, Star-Lord, Gamora and Starfox, this uneasy team-up sought to end the Mad Titan's reign of terror and keep the universe from falling apart under his gold-plated fist.

"Come out wherever you are big guy! You ready for a rematch?!" Amethyst challenged readying her whip. "Hold on there Amethyst, we still gotta hold the line til Tony and the others get there!" Cap explained before contacting his iron teammate through an earpiece. "Stark, how are you, Pearl, Bismuth, Lapis, Peridot, Thor, Rocket and Groot holding up?" "Doing okay Rogers. Still having a few difficulties though." Iron Man replied on the other end in the beach house before an explosion sounded. "I am Groot!" Groot exclaimed trying to put on the fire on his body. "Don't worry, I got you!" Lapis exclaimed putting out the flames. "So what are they building again?" Hawkeye wondered. "A god killer, Tony said." Steve replied ending the call. "Hopefully they get here soon. Thanos doesn't like it when a challenge is kept waiting." "Why are you so insistent that we shall win against Thanos? He's an all-powerful being with the Infinity Gauntlet for your information!" Yellow Diamond wondered showing concern for the outcome. "I've heard that you've defeated him time and again, but how?" With a small smile, Cap sat down at the foot of the statue. "That kind of reminds me of a story from my day. I was only a boy in a library where I learned what it truly meant to be a patriot." he stated. "I was reading a classic by Mark Twain when I discovered a sentence that struck a chord in me. It was so powerful that I memorized it for years to come." "What was that sentence?" Garnet wondered. "That sentence was, 'In a republic, who is the country?'." Cap answered. "'Is it the government which is for the moment in the saddle? Why, the government is merely a temporary servant; it cannot be its prerogative to determine what is right and what is wrong, and decide who is a patriot and who isn't. Its functions is to obey orders, not originate them.'" "What is he even saying? Who is this Mark Twain?" Blue Diamond wondered quietly. "'Who then, is the country? Is it the newspaper, is it the pulpit? Why, these are mere parts of the country, not the whole of it." "How is going on about some Midgardian scribe going to help us here?" Loki asked as the captain continued on. "'They have not command. They only have their little share of their command.'" Steve continued his story while standing up. "'In a monarchy, the king and his family are the country. In a republic, it is the common voice of the people. Each of you, for himself, by himself, and on his own responsibility must speak." Steven looked on eagerly as his hero proceeded. "'It is a solemn and weighty responsibility, and not lightly to be flung aside at the bullying of pulpit, press, government or the empty catchphrases of politicians.'" Rogers kept speaking. "'Each must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong & which course is patriotic and which isn't. You cannot shirk this and be a man." "Yeesh, Thanos sure is taking pretty long." Star-Lord remarked. "Yes, but what he's saying is true." Gamora responded. "'To decide it against your convictions is to an unqualified and inexcusable traitor, to both yourself and to your country." Steve stated almost at the end of his speech. "'Let men label you if they may." "He got all of this from Twain? Wow." Connie gasped in amazement sitting down next to her best friend. "'If you alone of all the nation shall decide one way, and that way be the right way according to your convictions of the right, you have done your duty by yourself and by your country. Hold up your head. You have nothing to be ashamed of.'" "So what are you trying to say Rogers?" Amethyst wondered. "What I'm trying to say is that it doesn't matter what anyone says, whether it be the politicians, the press, the mob or the whole world, when they say something wrong is something right." the captain declared. "Our fair country was founded on one principle, to have the right to stand up for what we believe in, no matter the cost. And when everyone tells you to move, it is your duty to plant yourself like a tree and tell them, 'No. You move.'" "And when that tree is planted, there will be someone to cut it down." the booming voice of Thanos suddenly sounded as he appeared from a portal on his throne with Death by his side. "By the way, you should be expecting company." he smugly added just as Nebula landed at the champions' feet, mangled and terrified. "Run everybody! Thanos is refusing to just sit around anymore!" she cried out. "He will purge you all no matter what!" "Enough is enough." the Mad Titan declared summoning his alien armies to his side. "Now we play this game my way." Thanos got up from his throne and descended to the ground preparing for the final battle. "Kill them all." The Chitauri, Sakaarans and Deviants readied their weapons and charged, beginning to clash with the Alliance. Although the champions had the strength of two super-soldiers, multiple powerful Gems, a gamma giant and many more to give them an advantage, the sheer number of the extraterrestrials proved to be just as strong. "Dammit, Stark and the midget should've been done ages ago!" Wolverine cried cutting down multiple Sakaarans with his claws while Vision disintegrated even more of them with a blast from the gem on his head. Quicksilver & Scarlet Witch combined their mutant powers to plow through an entire squadron of Chitauri and the rest tried to fight them off, but for the most part it seemed hopeless. "Someone, help me!" Falcon shouted before one of his wings was caught in a Chitauri glider. Just as quickly, he was freed when Drax tackled the Chitauri and stabbed it in the face, causing the glider to crash. "Dang, they're everywhere!" Ms. Marvel said standing back to back with She-Hulk, War Machine and Ant-Man. "Just hold the line until help arrives!" Hank exclaimed growing giant size and stomping on a few Deviants. Meanwhile, Steven, Garnet, Doctor Strange, Captain America and Yellow Diamond managed to find shelter from the attack. "I can't tell if you're insane or love risking it, but that speech from earlier was fairly powerful." the monarch commented. "But how are we going to succeed when there's so many of them?" "I've actually narrowed down multiple outcomes of this war and most of them end with us dying." Garnet explained adjusting her visor. "Only one has everyone alive and victorious." "Only one? How many other possibilities were there?" Steven wondered. "I calculate approximately fourteen million." the fusion stated. "This is only one of them." She kissed Steven on the forehead granting him a vision of one of those futures. He saw every last terrifying detail, from the deaths of Cap & Strange, to Thanos shattering Yellow & snapping his fingers, to his idols like Captain Marvel, Ant-Man, Hulk & Quicksilver and even friends like Amethyst, Lapis, Bismuth and Connie fading into dust. "We've got to make sure that good future is this one." the boy resolved after the end of the vision. "But that still leaves the question of what happens in the now?" "I know, because I can hear it." Steve stated gazing up at the sky as clouds began to form. "Hear what?" Yellow wondered and the captain only said one word. "Thunder." A bolt of lightning struck down on the battlefield, incinerating all of Thanos's minions who dared near it and Mjolnir came flying out of it, taking down the rest before it returned to the grasp of Thor himself, along with Iron Man, Pearl, Rocket, Bismuth, Groot, Lapis and Peridot, who was piloting their self-proclaimed godkiller using her ferrokinesis. The godkiller in question was built out of the Red King's warsuit for the main body and both a repulsor gauntlet & a copy of the Breaking Point as its weapons. Thanos stood in awe but was still sadistically eager to find a new foe as Peridot took the first step. "Hey Thanos, come and fight us you clod!" the little Gem screamed charging into battle with the others following suit, requesting that they have words with him. With a mighty yell, Peridot stabbed multiple of the titan's armies with the Breaking Point and blasting the rest with the repulsor gauntlet. Meanwhile Rocket rode on Bismuth's back shooting all that would try to cross their path. "Y'know, maybe Peridot ain't as bad as I thought!" the blacksmith commented doing most of the physical fighting for Rocket. "Yeah yeah, great big guy! Now throw me, I always wanted to try this!" Rocket shouted and she obliged, tossing the furry mercenary into the air as he fired at will before landing on the ground. "You gotta make me one of those Breaking Points sometime! There's some scores I need to settle." "Uh, how about no?" Bismuth nervously answered before smacking an Outrider in the face from behind. "Haha, oh you're gonna get me one someday!" Rocket declared as he went off on his own. "So I take it that's our cue to lead them all?" Yellow asked stepping out of hiding. "You bet it is! Ready Cap?" Steven boldly proclaimed turning to his hero. "Right Steven. On my mark!" Rogers stated and they both raised their shields to the air with a mighty battle cry of "Ultimate Alliance, assemble!" "So this is where our final bout begins?" Thanos wondered preparing to use one of the Infinity Stones. "Very well then!" With a clench of his fist, all time around him screeched to a halt and everybody frozen in place. Thanos took these precious moments to examine the uneasy collaboration that had assembled to eliminate him and began contemplating. "Who would've guessed the Crystal Gems would ally themselves with their former homeworld to stop me?" he muttered in deep thought. "It's like Kronos said, even he didn't see this coming despite being the god of time. Still, it seems most of them weren't as insignificant as I thought." Stepping toward the frozen Peridot and Lapis, the dark lord continued monologuing. "Despite her small stature, the Peridot is much more intelligent than I gave her credit for. And her terraforming comrade is unbelievably strong to compliment her." Then he stepped forward to find Connie fighting alongside Ms. Marvel, War Machine, Black Panther & Falcon. "This human on the other hand I'm quite surprised by. I didn't realize she'd be worthy to wield that sword." After some silence, Thanos clenched his fist and restored time to normal, to the confusion of the Alliance. "I'm sorry, what just happened?!" Connie exclaimed. "It must be the Time Stone! He's using all six of them against us, we have to stop him before he tries another one!" Doctor Strange exclaimed but he was too late, as Thanos made another clench and a wave of red washed over them, changing them into more unusual appearances. "Good Lord, what's with all this gold?!" Tony asked examining the current state of his armor. "At least you look somewhat normal, look at me!" Pearl exclaimed gesturing to her much more drastically different appearance. "I mean, my skin is all blue, my nose isn't as prominent, and look at my outfit!" "You're right Pearl, you look terrible!" Rocket cackled rolling on the ground, now wearing a green outfit while Groot looked more monstrous than normal. "Behold, I am Groot the invincible! Who dares to defy me!" the tree monster declared speaking more than just 'I am Groot' this time around. "I preferred you more when you only said three words." Gamora snarked. "Gamora, can you please cover up? There are children here." Garnet asked remarking on the warrior's now more revealing outfit while stroking her now longer, less square hair. "Would anyone be so kind as to stop Thanos from doing this to us? I seriously would prefer not lookin' like a male stripper!" Yondu exclaimed bringing attention to his equally revealing get-up. "HULK SMASH STUPID COSTUME MAKER!" a grayer Hulk roared charging toward Thanos and tackling him, ending the illusion and returning everyone to normal. "Oh finally, I thought I was going live with those awful boots forever!" Thor let out a sigh of relief as he was restored to his regular appearance. "Seriously, why the tiger pattern?" Lapis wondered to which her Asgardian friend replied with "I was going through a phase." "We can discuss questionable fashion choices later, look!" Yellow Diamond shouted pointing at Thanos, who had now freed himself from the Hulk's grasp and slowly marched toward the champions with a stoic expression and prepared to try the Gauntlet again. "With our combined strength, we can stop him!" Yellow then fired an energy blast at Thanos, followed by Blue Diamond, Doctor Strange, Vision, Starfox, Iron Man, Lapis, Silver Surfer, Thor, Scarlet Witch, Captain Marvel and War Machine joining her in trying to push the titan back. But he remained unaffected, using the Power Stone to project an energy barrier and continued stepping forth closer to the thirteen before smashing his golden fist to the ground and creating shockwaves that knocked every last one of them down. "You thought more would be merrier, but allow me to provide a counterargument." Thanos declared making the Soul & Mind Stones glow before he suddenly vanished into thin air. "W-where did he go?" Connie wondered confused at what Thanos had just done. Suddenly, she dodged an attack by what seemed to be the Mad Titan himself, but he looked much different. He was now more skinny and had the Mind Stone in his forehead, not unlike Pearl. Then more Thanos lookalikes spawned and attacked. One had a physique similar to Garnet and had the Space Stone in his left hand. Another was as tall as Amethyst and had the Power Stone adorning his chest. A third was as slender as Lapis complete with the Reality Stone on his back forming a pair of wings. Fourthly was a smaller Thanos clone around Peridot's height who had an Infinity Stone in his forehead as well, this one being the Time Stone. And finally was a Thanos double who had a shield just like Steven's and wore armor on his torso that exposed the Soul Stone on his stomach. "You say the people of your world believe in you Crystal Gems, but will they remember you?" he questioned as the other stone clones made their move. "Insolent coward, you aren't fighting for that blasted Earth or your fellow Gems, you're simply fighting to live!" the Thanos that embodied the Reality Stone scolded Lapis turning much of her water into insects that began crawling all over her. "I can run away sometimes, but this time I'm not running away from you!" the terraformer declared forming her water into ice and stabbing her opponent through his chest, poofing him as if he were an actual gem. Meanwhile, Peridot faced the personification of the Time Stone who had now formed limb enhancers of his own to gain an edge. "You can run from your past all you want, but at the end of the road your destiny shall come!" he declared blasting her out of the godkiller & sending her flying until she grabbed her mech at the last moment, making it tip over and crush the Thanos clone. "Well you can kiss my gravity connector big boy!" Peridot boasted before pulling down an eyelid with a taunting "Nyeh!" "Love can sometimes be your greatest weakness my dear fusion!" the Space Stone claimed catching a punch from Garnet. "Nobody had ever given me that, so no one else shall-" He was quickly silenced by Garnet who squeezed his head with her free hand and took the poofed Infinity Stone. "And you thought you were stronger than me." Amethyst & Pearl fought their respective counterparts, that being the Power & Mind Stones. Unlike their usually clashing personalities, the Infinity Stones fought and spoke in literal perfect harmony. "True harmony is the key to success." they declared in unison. "If you do nothing but argue, then your fate is as good as sealed." "Y'know speaking of harmony, I think it's time we brought a certain someone back into the fold." Amethyst remarked with a knowing wink toward Pearl. "What do you mean? Oh right, Opal!" Pearl suddenly realized. "It's just been so long since we last formed her, I've almost forgotten what it feels like." "What are they doing?!" Power & Mind exclaimed before they paid witness to the return of the archer fusion Opal, her steely gaze piercing straight through their forms and her bow at the ready. "Any last words guys?" she chuckled readying her arrows. They didn't even get a chance to speak before being put down by the tall fusion who then defused back into Pearl & Amethyst. "My comrades may have been eliminated, but the same shall happen to yours." the embodiment of the Soul Stone declared summoning the other stones to his side and fusing them all with himself, restoring Thanos to his whole self. "What else can you throw at me boy?" he challenged Steven. Then suddenly, he felt his arms being tied down by two sets of ropes. Turning his head from left to right, he found his bare right hand restrained by Amethyst's whips & Doctor Strange's Crimson Chains of Cyttorak and the other covered in his Gauntlet by water chains and web lines. "We're holding him down guys, now!" Spider-Man exclaimed before Garnet pounced Thanos, locking his head between her legs. Meanwhile Pearl & Bismuth gravely injured his bottom half with their respective weapons making him wince in anguish. "You got nowhere to run now Thanos. Either drop the stones & come quietly or face much bloodier consequences." Thor announced. "Like that one for example." Peridot, now back in her godkiller, leaped high into the air ready to stab him with the Breaking Point and finish him once and for all. With a mighty jab, the weapon's silver point wedged itself deep into Thanos's torso. "Who's the comic relief now Thanos?!" the little Gem snarled driving the weapon deeper, making the titan scream in pain. However in the midst of his crippling pain, Thanos clenched his fist and used the Power Stone to send everyone flying, freeing him from their grasp and his death. "Peridot." Thanos groaned using the Time Stone to heal all his wounds. "You are indeed correct, you're aren't as much of a buffoon as I believed you were." Stomping toward the damaged godkiller, he ripped Peridot out of its remains, leaving her legs scrambling around trying to flee. The technician thought this could be the end of her, but instead of being shattered, she was instead gently seated on the ground with a tousle of her tetrahedral hair. "When I am done, only half of your comrades shall remain." the titan assured her. "I hope they remember you." With that, Thanos turned his gaze toward the Diamonds. "But first, I have a score to settle with the both of you!" he declared. "I have tried to make peace all those thousands of years ago with Pink Diamond, yet your kind has refused to answer my pleas. For both that and your betrayal, I have no choice but to execute you." "What gave you the right to think you're strong enough to destroy us?!" Yellow cried preparing to strike Thanos down where he stood with her lightning. "This is for Pink you monster!" She stuck out her hand and zapped him, hoping to at least knock him unconscious but instead, Thanos condensed the energy into a sphere in his hand. "Is that the best you got?" With that, Thanos tossed the sphere at Yellow Diamond and electrocuted her, knocking the dictator to the ground barely clinging on to her physical form while she still could. "Oh my stars my Diamond!" her Pearl shouted rushing to her superior's side. "Please tell me you'll be all right!" "I'll be fine Pearl," Yellow groaned. "it's just that fighting Thanos took quite a lot out of me. I think I'm just going to lay down here for a while." she stated. "Two Diamonds down, two more to go." Thanos declared showing Yellow Pearl out of the way to step on Yellow's torso and preparing to smash her gem. "Even Diamonds should beware when bargaining with Thanos of Titan." Suddenly a wave of blue washed over Battleworld, bringing most of the Gems present to tears to the confusion of the superheroes. "Hulk don't get it? Why everybody crying?" Hulk wondered just as confused as his fellow Avengers. "I believe this is called pathokinesis Dr. Banner, aka the ability to control one's emotions." Silver Surfer explained to the goliath. "And it seems to be coming from a mourning, yet absolutely furious source." Thanos was quietly confused for a few moments, wondering why his crystalline opponents had dropped down in tears before immediately realizing what was happening. A positively livid Blue Diamond standing right behind him, and all Thanos felt was pure, unadulterated fear as the Diamond cast a gigantic shadow. "Your reign of terror has come to an end Thanos!" she yelled, her voice much more menacing than her usual soft tone. "Come, answer for your crimes against all Gems!" "I expected Yellow to be my first victim, but you shall provide a worthy substitute!" Thanos challenged her making the Stones glow. "Come and get me!" he shouted. Blue complied by spawning an orb of light that blasted him at full force with a hail of lasers, but the titan remained unharmed as he charged at full speed before propelling himself to meet the Diamond's gaze. The two of them clashed fists, sending shockwaves all across the patchwork planet and kept on brawling. "Is that how strong a Diamond is?! Have to say, I'm impressed." Captain America stated with a grin. "We gotta get outta here, this hunk 'a rock could go all Alderaan on us any moment now!" Star-Lord panicked just as they saw Thanos being tossed across the warzone right into his statue, making it fall over backwards. Miraculously, Thanos survived long enough to find Blue Diamond on the ground still righteously mad. "I am not done yet." Blue coughed barely getting up. "You will pay for everything you have done to us, our home and our people!" she cried. "Then what are you waiting for? Go on and finish me so that I can be with Death." Thanos beckoned her to land the final blow, eager to be united with his lover for all eternity. But instead, he punched her square in her gem, cracking it and knocking her back as well. "Oh no, Blue Diamond!" Steven exclaimed trying to rush to the Diamond's side before Lapis grabbed onto the back of his shirt. "Steven, I know you're a really nice guy, but can you leave Blue Diamond like this? I'm sure she's suffered worse." the water Gem tried to convince him, not even realizing he was gone before it was too late. "There you go, now find Yellow Diamond and a place to hide." Steven ordered Blue healing her gem with his spit. "W-why thank you little one." the Diamond said graciously. "You know, you kind of remind me of Pink Diamond in a way." Steven knew this was a good time to reveal the truth, but simply decided not to as Blue ran off to search for her sister. "If I cannot shatter any Diamond today, then I guess all that I have killed throughout our battles will have to suffice." Thanos mused before Steven stepped up in front of him. "But why?! What do you want to gain from killing so many people across the universe?" "Simple Steven, to save the universe and win the affections of Lady Death." the Mad Titan answered. "She told me that this universe was growing far too big. Too much of everyone, not enough to supply them." As evil as Thanos was, he did indeed have a point. "You mortals pride yourself on your resources to survive, yet time and again you waste them either for your own selfish gain or to destroy all who stand in your way." "So basically you're planning on 'saving the environment' in your own twisted way? Yeah, that sounds pretty accurate." Amethyst chimed in. "And then when the dust settles and all is well, I plan on perhaps taking up agriculture." Thanos continued. "But you can do that right now. Just take off the Gauntlet and we can take you back to Earth to start your own farm." Steven said. "I'm pretty sure that with time, Peridot & Lapis would love to have you as a roommate!" The boy's words fell on deaf ears as Thanos simply didn't pay attention to him, instead turning to Lady Death. "What do you say my bride? Will the carnage witnessed here in this war be enough to suffice our shared philosophy?" he asked the deity, grasping her hand and his knee on the ground. However, just when it seemed like Death was finally going to answer him after so long, it instead turned out to be one word that ensured that from here on out, everything was on a dangerous roller coaster ride to Hell. "No." This was something Thanos had never heard her say to him before, which made something inside him snap before roaring at the top of his lungs. "SO AFTER ALL THIS TIME, ALL YOU SAY IS NO?!" he screamed. "WELL IF I CAN'T HAVE YOU, THEN NO ONE ELSE IN THIS BLASTED UNIVERSE CAN!" The Infinity Stones then began to tear the universe apart in his fury as he used the Space and Power Stones to pulverize the surface of Battleworld's moon, revealing none other than the Cluster underneath. "Now you hideous geoweapon, kill them all!" He tossed the ball of Gem shards down to Battleworld in an effort to destroy the Alliance, but was stopped by Starfox who struggled to keep it from crashing. "Listen bro, she's never going to love you!" the Eternal groaned continuing to keep it above the ground. "Just stand down or there's gonna be big-" Before Eros could finish, Thanos instantly turned him into a stone statue before turning to the rest of the champions and charged toward them. "Steven, watch out!" Bismuth shouted trying to save the son of her former leader and put herself in Thanos's path, poofing her. In a blind fury, the Titan fired a gigantic energy blast at Nebula that nearly disintegrated her before she made one last effort to kill her abusive adoptive father by throwing a dagger at him. Thanos tore the dagger out of his torso & tossed it at Loki, stabbing him in the head and the god fell to the ground dead. "NOOOOO!" Thor and Gamora cried for their adopted siblings and tried to get revenge on Thanos. But his rage made him too powerful for just two beings to take on and within moments, they were on the ground horrendously injured. "What do we do now?!" Hawkeye exclaimed ducking for cover. "Simple, we try fusion!" Garnet commanded. "Steven, Amethyst, you try and stop Thanos! Pearl, you and me form Sardonyx to calm the Cluster!" "You got it!" the two short Gems saluted before they held hands and formed the portly fusion known as Smokey Quartz. "A human and a Gem?! How?" Natasha wondered. "We'll explain later, just let me take care of the grape for a while." Smokey answered before they charged at Thanos. "Hey wrinkle-chin, you feeling a little grounded?" Thanos turned to Smokey Quartz with a loud snarl. "Looks like you need some fresh air!" they joked tying him up with their yo-yos and tossing him around. "Hopefully you don't get dizzy!" However, their puns ended when Thanos shouted "Silence you brats!" and grabbed the yo-yos, the power of the Space Stone pulsing down the ropes before reaching Smokey Quartz, defusing them back into Steven & Amethyst. As Steven fell to the ground and raced to heal Thor & Gamora, he could hear the Cluster crying for help in his mind. "Please...help...us!" the shards all begged. "Thanos...making us...his slaves!" "I know what you are saying Cluster, but frankly you are too late." Thanos declared popping the bubble the Cluster was held in and unleashing the beast within. However, the forced fusion could barely recognize Steven and gave what he could make out as a thumbs up before it plucked Thanos off the ground. "What are you doing?!" the Mad Titan shouted being dragged & tossed around by the superweapon. "You are supposed to be my secret weapon!" "S-Steven...saved us! A-a-and we're returning the f-favor!" the Cluster exclaimed before it threw him in Sardonyx's path, in which she hit him with his hammer. "Thanks for the lift there big boy!" the eccentric showman fusion thanked it before she pounded Thanos to the ground. "You shall all pay for this!" the titan declared and he snapped his fingers, causing the Cluster to start glowing. "Someone...s-save us!" they cried out before exploding, making Gem shards rain all over Battleworld. "Did he really do that?!" Amethyst wondered as the shards fell from the sky. "And this is mine! This is mine too! Y'know what, all of these are mine! Gonna make me a fortune." she heard Rocket mutter while he caught whatever shards he could grab. "Y'know what, the Diamonds can take those Rose Quartzes back because I got's me a new venture!" "Rocket." Steven said glaring at the raccoon. "Okay okay, sheesh. Excuse me for wanting to make money." Rocket groaned dropping an entire armful of shards to the ground, but not before sneakily scooping a small amount of them up with his tail. "How's the view from down there big guy?!" Sardonyx called to Thanos with a hearty laugh, but the titan roared and fired another blast, ending her & turning her back into Garnet & Pearl. "Don't worry, Hulk got you two!" Hulk cried holding out his arms to save the two Gems before they landed in his giant green hands. "Thanks for the lift Banner." Pearl thanked. "No problem bird lady." Bruce replied. "But what can Gems do now?" With a snap of her fingers, Garnet knew what to do now. "Sugillite." she stated with a grin before leaping out of Hulk's grasp and standing next to Amethyst. "Sugillite?" the defective Quartz said before they danced and became Sugillite. "Hey Thanos, you want some of me creep?!" "We should help out too!" Connie suggested grabbing Steven's hand. "Right, come on out Stevonnie!" Steven exclaimed and they formed the fusion in question with Steven's shield & Connie's sword in hand. "Everybody behind me!" they commanded charging toward Thanos alongside the other champions, including a now out of hiding Yellow & Blue Diamond. Unfortunately, they proved to be too weak for Thanos who knocked most of them all down before moving onto Stevonnie. "You won't stop us when we're fused Thanos!" they declared, but they were wrong. Thanos grabbed both of them by the arms and slowly tore them apart, forcing them back into Steven & Connie. "As a matter of fact, I can." "Kids, let's try Stevoter!" Star-Lord cried and the two children agreed, racing into the space captain's arms & forming the part-Gem, part-human & part-Spartaxian fusion. "Ah sweet, laser sword is back baby!" Stevoter cheered charging toward Thanos in a bid to stop him while firing from their laser sword. "Need a lift?" Garnet suggested running alongside Stevoter. "You bet your ass we do!" they replied. "You try and get the Gauntlet offa Thanos and we'll handle the rest!" With that, Stevoter stabbed Thanos in the torso while Garnet tried to remove the Infinity Gauntlet off his hand. "How do you like me now?!" they shouted bashing the titan in the face with their Walkman shield, making it play various songs to further annoy him. "Boast all you want mortal, you're simply just pestering me!" Thanos boomed grabbing the sword by its blade and slowly removing it from his chest. "I know what game you're playing Steven. This is just a distraction while one of your lackeys takes away my gauntlet." "Wait, how did you know?!" Stevoter exclaimed in fear. "This has happened to me before, and I shall not let it happen again." Thanos declared, and with one last blast from the almost-removed Gauntlet, defused Stevoter & Garnet down to their base beings. Tumbling down on the ground, a now scruffled-up Steven found a barely conscious Captain America struggling to get up. "Cap! Don't worry, I got you!" he cried licking his hand to heal his idol. "Thank you very much Steven, but I feel like your mom's powers won't be enough for us here." Rogers stated getting up on one knee. "I've heard from the Gems about how you often feel inferior to Rose because of how much she's done for the Earth. I feel you on that one. Sometimes I feel that I'm just lost in a world that I'm no longer apart of, yearning for a good fight to keep myself away from living a normal life." "Why is that? You seem pretty fine now." Steven said before the captain stopped him. "You only don't understand because you're still a kid. Me, I've lost almost everyone while I was in the Arctic." he continued. "And as for parents, I'm pretty sure most of us can relate. Like for example, there's all the stories that Thor can tell us about his old man. But you, you're different. Rose may have done some questionable things in the past but you can change that by being your own Gem, whether it be a quartz or a diamond." Steve then held out his hand with a smile. "So then, are you ready honorary Avenger?" With tears filling the stars in his eyes, Steven took his hero's hand. "I'm ready Captain." the boy accepted before he hugged the captain, and he returned it causing them both to glow. Everyone else still present watched in awe as the shining mass grew larger and formed into a heroic, stalwart figure with a gaze of solid steel directed straight at Thanos. "Steven..." Pearl gasped in sheer wonder. "Steve..." Bucky added just as stunned. Thanos simply frowned at the sight of this new fighter, wearing a pink version of Captain America's costume with a yellow star on the chest, blue trousers, red sandal boots and carrying Steven's shield. "W-what? Did we just fuse?" the new fusion gasped in astonishment. "Well, no time to contemplate now!" "W-who are you?!" Thanos shouted as the fusion stepped forward while picking up a discarded Mjolnir from the ground. He then took a battle stance with the shield and hammer at the ready with a confident smirk on his face. "Call me the Captain." With a cry of "CHARGING STAR!", the Captain bolted toward Thanos at hypersonic speeds, bashing him in the face with his shield. "STARS AND STRIPES!" he added uppercutting the titan, sending him flying long enough to give orders to the others. "Fallback company, I can handle things from here!" "Wait, we can help!" Peridot exclaimed. "I SAID FALLBACK COMPANY!" the Captain reiterated yelling. The rest of the Alliance nodded and retreated, leaving the Captain alone with Thanos, who was busy recovering from the earlier uppercut. "Is that truly the best you can do? I'd like to see you try harder!" he shouted gesturing the fusion to bring it on. The Captain simply responded by putting up his fists and declaring "I could do this all day." With a single bound, the Captain rocketed high into the air and zoomed downwards with Mjolnir ready to pummel Thanos. When the Asgardian hammer connected to the Mad Titan's face, the result was a quick but massive thunderstorm that erupted all across Battleworld. Storm clouds began to form over the two before it began raining. Meanwhile far off in the distance, the rest of the Ultimate Alliance watched in awe of the final struggle between life & death. "Wait, Cap's just a human! How is he able to hold Mjolnir?" Amethyst asked Thor. "It's very simple Amethyst, he possesses a pure heart, noble mind and the spirit of a warrior. Forever courageous and with a sense of humility." Thor explained. "And it's possible Steven himself might be worthy as well." The two continued going at it like a furious pair of rival wrestlers or predators fighting over their prey, the Captain continuing to whale on Thanos with Mjolnir & both of his fusees' shields. Suddenly Thanos grabbed the Captain by the arm and flung him into the ground, losing his grasp on the hammer. "You're getting closer to the edge, yet you still refuse to yield." the titan muttered towering over his fallen opponent before walking away. "Wait here, allow me to retrieve the Gauntlet so that I can properly execute you." "NEVER!" the Captain screamed immediately getting up like he wasn't even hurt at all. "I won't let you hurt anyone else, whether they be my friends or anyone in our universe!" he shouted clenching his fist. "I'm giving everything I've got into this one last punch, so you better watch yourself!" Thanos said no words, instead pulling out his stasis gun in response to the fusion's last stand. The Captain charged at him with full force, teeth gritted and his fist preparing to attack. The spirit of all his comrades flowed through him, giving him even greater strength than before as their attacks collided. "FINAL...UNYIELDING...JUSTICE!" As a result of the Captain's punch going inside the stasis gun's barrel as Thanos fired, a gigantic explosion erupted dispersing the storm and attracting the attention of the Alliance. "I think that was Thanos's stasis gun!" Gamora exclaimed before Pearl shoved her out of the way. "Steven!" she cried as the champions all rushed to the duo's side. When the dust finally settled, all that was left were Steven, Captain America and Thanos all lying down on the ground. "H-h-he's dead! Thanos is finally dead!" Thor exclaimed taking back Mjolnir. "Let's just check to be sure." Natasha suggested just as their leaders awakened. "What happened? Am I dead?" Steven asked before Connie hugged him. "I guess I'm not, because you're here!" "So it's finally over, huh? A bit anti-climatic if I say so myself." Bucky remarked helping his best friend up. "Let's not speak so soon. Look!" Steve stated, bringing attention to Thanos slowly rising from the ground, his stasis gun now reduced to hunks of metal and face enraged beyond recognition. "I've had enough of all this! Once I regain my gauntlet, you will all pay for disgracing me!" However, where Thanos expected to find the Infinity Gauntlet, he instead touched nothing. "Where is it?! Where's the Gauntlet?!" he screamed desperately searching for it. That was when he heard someone slip it on and turned to realize who that was. It was none other than Steven. Steven felt himself surging with power over the entire universe, literally obtaining the ability to do as he pleased with the Infinity Gauntlet. Everybody gazed in shock and awe at the very sight of this one mortal boy carrying the single most powerful weapon in all of the universe, most notably Thanos who's astonishment turned to glee. "Yes, yes! This is just what I wanted!" he cheered in malicious joy. "A young apprentice to turn into my successor! What are you waiting for Steven, erase them all and we can ravage the universe as father & son!" Steven was put in a moral dilemma for a moment. On one hand, he couldn't bring himself to kill Thanos for that would betray his principles. On the other, he can't allow the titan to run free and wreak havoc across the cosmos. There had to be another way to keep Thanos in check without having to hurt him. Then with a bold, stern look on his face, he made his decision. "No." With a click of his fingers, things felt like they were being set right. Back on Earth, Lapis & Peridot's barn and Pink Diamond's palanquin were restored to their former states. All the planets Thanos had destroyed were pieced back together, including Homeworld, and the villains he had made join him resurrected. The cosmic deities were also brought back as well. A few bits of orange dust scattered about were brought together and formed into Jasper's gemstone, which was then immediately bubbled and sent back to Earth. Loki woke up to find he was now alive once more and the knife in his head gone. "What just happened?" he wondered before spying Nebula and even the Black Order revived as well. "D-did he really do it?" All of the Gem shards that made up the Cluster were reassembled and returned to their place within the Earth. Starfox let out a loud gasp as he felt himself rebuilt and un-petrified. "That's some kid." he remarked with a grin. Finally, Thanos felt himself turning to stone from the feet up and grinned at Steven. "So this is how it must end child. I must say, you made the right choice." he stated. "I hope we shall meet again someday Steven Universe. I hope they remember you." With one last satisfied grin, Thanos accepted his fate and let out a bright flash of light. The explosive flash blinded everyone momentarily. But even when their vision cleared, none are quite sure they should believe what their eyes see. Before them had stood Thanos, proud, powerful, ruthless and near heartbeats from victory. Now in that exact same thought moments later, stood the massive titan transformed into solid granite. With one last thought, Steven also spawned a black hole to get rid of Battleworld, sucking in the petrified Thanos as well potentially sending him drifting through parts unknown. Then the boy felt himself getting dizzy. "Oh, I don't feel so good. I think I'm gonna need to sit down." "We can rest later, we gotta vamoose!" Amethyst exclaimed. "Indeed, but what of the Infinity Stones?" Loki asked. "I suggest we divide them amongst ourselves so that they never fall into evil hands again." Thor suggested. "The Crystal Gems shall keep the Mind Stone while Lapis & Peridot shall take the Reality Stone." The Gems carefully removed their chosen stones from the Gauntlet, giving them to Steven & Peridot to bubble. "Meanwhile, the Avengers shall keep watch over the Space Stone, the Guardians get the Power Stone, Homeworld takes the Soul Stone and finally, Starfox shall keep the Time Stone." "Pearl, please remove the Soul Stone from the Gauntlet for me." Blue Diamond ordered her Pearl. "Yes my Diamond." Blue Pearl complied walking up to the intergalactic weapon to collect the Soul Stone and the others soon followed, also making sure to bubble Bismuth’s gem and the Gauntlet itself back to Earth. "So that's it then, we're some kind of Infinity Watch." Starfox commented. "I can roll with that." "Well what are we waiting for, let's move!" Spider-Man exclaimed racing to the Milano. "Apologies everyone, but I feel your ship may be way too small for us." Yellow Diamond stated. "We shall be returning with our own ships." With a single stretch of her arm, a much larger yellow arm appeared alongside a blue one. "I believe this is where we must say farewell." "Bye guys!" Steven exclaimed waving goodbye before Peridot shushed him and dragged him back to the Milano. "Farewell Crystal Gems." Blue Diamond said her goodbyes. "But next time we shall meet, it will be as enemies." Garnet and Lapis shivered at their former Diamond's threat before the Black Order appeared behind them. "Pardon us for the intrusion, but could we perhaps hitch a ride with you?" Ebony Maw asked politely, much to their chagrin. But they still had to be alive for them to eventually be put away. "One side maggot, I gotta fly this thing!" Rocket shouted shoving Peridot out of the way as everybody still present clambered into the Milano. "Okay, you don't have to be so rude about it!" Peridot exclaimed letting Rocket sit down. "All right, everyone hold on!" With that, the spaceship finally took off leaving Battleworld behind as it was fully devoured by the black hole, and started coming close to sucking them in as well. "You got anything that can make us go faster?!" Star-Lord exclaimed. "Makes me really wish this piece of junk came with ludicrous speed!" "Well, I guess this is the end." Pearl stated accepting their fate. "Any final words before we're all sucked in?" she asked the others. "I got just one." Amethyst answered. "Look!" She pointed at a certain red figure that had appeared in front of the Milano's large window. "Well, I see you're all fine and dandy after defeating Thanos like that." Mephisto commented. "Here, let me repay you for doing so." The demon started waving his hands in a pattern that caused a hellish portal to appear around the Milano, spooking the Crystal Gems. "What's going on, what's he gonna do to us?!" Steven cried. "Fear not, I recognize those hand motions from anywhere." Doctor Strange stated. "He is perhaps creating a portal for us to return to Earth safely." "But why? He's freaking Mephisto!" Parker shouted. "It's like he said, this must be his way of thanking us for taking care of Thanos for him." Kamala chimed in when they all felt the craft rumble. "Oh no, brace yourselves!" Steven and Connie closed their eyes tight and held each other close, fearing the worst as the starry background of space was replaced by pure red.

Before any of them knew it, they could hear the calm ocean waves and seagulls squawking over them. This had to be it. They were finally home. There was no doubt, only Earth could have a combination of those calming sounds. There was dead silence between the heroes as they departed the Milano with the Black Order still onboard. It only took a few days to struggle against Thanos, but it felt like years. Suddenly, all the people of Beach City came stampeding toward them, happy that their beloved Gems were in one piece. There were reunions all around. Connie's parents were ecstatic that their daughter was alive, Pumpkin raced into Peridot's arms and Greg brought Steven in for the first hug he had received from his dad in days. The townsfolk were also excited to meet the Guardians again and even more joyous to see the Avengers with selfies & autographs aplenty. "So little guy, how do you feel about your first Avengers mission?" Iron Man asked Steven. "It was awesome! I really hope we can do something like this again soon!" the boy answered excitedly. "I have to agree. It was nice seeing Rogers & Barnes again." Pearl added. "And it was also nice to meet all of you too." "Oh speaking of which, still have to ask." the captain remarked. "Do you still want to become Avengers?" he asked. "No, I think we're fine here in Beach City." Connie answered. "That reminds me," Amethyst declared pulling out her Avengers ID and breaking it in two. "I quit." "I suppose it's because the Crystal Gems are still your home?" Black Widow wondered. "Yeah, that's exactly what I was gonna say!" the small quartz replied. "It was fun being one of Earth's mightiest heroes, but the real heroes to me are my family." "So be it then." Thor said. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to bring Loki back to Asgard." he announced pointing to his brother, now rolling his eyes with a scoff. "As much as I hate to say this boy, thank you for bringing me back to life." "And if you'll excuse us, we also gotta go fork the Black Order over to Xandar." Star-Lord added. "I hope one day we can all meet again!" Mantis replied excitedly. "What about you Eros?" "Well, I've got nowhere else to go right about now. Mind if I tag along with you a-holes?" Starfox asked. "Sure, the more the merrier!" Yondu accepted the offer. "Though I think at this rate we might need a bigger ship." "Hey, mind dropping me off at Westchester on the way back? I think Chuck might want me for something." Wolverine asked his fellow Avengers. "We'll make a note of it Logan." Clint answered before they all turned to the Gems. "And we'll make a note to-" "See us again! We get it!" Peridot interrupted with a goofy grin. "All right then, Avengers back to base." Steve commanded, then he turned to his crystal comrades. "And here's an Avengers ID. Just in case, if you need us, we promise we'll be there." "Thank you Cap." Steven said gratefully. As everybody parted ways, Thor & Loki to Asgard, the Guardians to Xandar, Silver Surfer to parts unknown & the Avengers back to their home city, Steven looked at the ID he was given and smiled, knowing that this was an opportunity for more marvelous adventures to come.

And that, after many months of waiting, is the conclusion of Secret Wars! Thank you all so much so sticking by me and stick around til the end of the author's notes for a few special Marvel-style surprises. I've already got a whole 'nother trilogy in the works and hopefully you love it as much as Clod on the Run & this one, which I officially dub the Guardians Trilogy. Until we meet again true believers, adios!

"CRYSTAL GEMS RETURN!" the headlines of the Daily Bugle read, much to the chagrin of the Absorbing Man and his partner Titania as they were imprisoned on Ryker's Island. Carl tore the newspaper into paper scraps in a blind fury while Mary nonchalantly filed her nails. "Oh I'd love to get some payback against those crystal chumps, especially their brat!" "Oh chill out Creel. It's not like someone is going to just waltz in and offer us a chance at that." Titania responded before they heard a guard step in. "Creel, MacPherran, you got a visitor!" he shouted motioning for a silver-haired man to enter. When he met the gaze of the two criminals, he smiled and handed them a case file with a lightning bolt symbol on the tab. "I am Truman Marsh. I have a proposition for you."

Far across the country back in Beach City, Steven slept peacefully in his bed for the first time in ages with the Avengers ID given to him kept on his nightstand. He thought he was going to sleep easy tonight when he opened his eyes to find himself in the same black void that he had met Thanos in in his dreams. Fortunately, the Mad Titan wasn't there to greet him. "Greetings son of Pink Diamond." the voice of Lady Death said, much to the boy's surprise. "How did you know?" he asked. "Didn't Thanos tell you child? I know the name of every soul who has lived, died and ever will be. Yet when Pink Diamond was 'shattered', I didn't see her move into the afterlife." Suddenly a toilet started flushing and out of a door came a man in a red-and-black suit clutching his stomach in pain. "Oh God, definitely not eating 372,844 chimichangas in under an hour ever again!" he moaned collapsing on the ground. "Still better than those forty cakes. That is as many as four tens, and that's terrible." "Uh, who are you?" Steven asked squinting his right eye in confusion. "Aw goddammit! If I'm gonna cross over with Steven Universe, does that mean I have to resist the fanbase as well?!" the man shouted in disgust before looking at you, the audience. "And what are you still doing here? It's over, click away! Go find some Amedot or Stony fic to read!"

The Crystal Gems will return.