#one of those stories that catapults you into a ship head first

[garmanarnarr]

I wanted to drop in and let you know I've been reading your fics and love what I've read so far. I've never reached out to another blog before, I felt like I could here.

I'm not sure where else to ask this but I'm looking for a specific fic that I've read before and can't seem to find. The brain rot demands it 😅. If you'd be interested in helping I'd be very grateful.

Morty has graduated high school, now in college, and has had his growth spurt, now looking pretty attractive. He brings home hookups to try and get Rick's attention. One of the hookups is a guy with a similar name to Rick's. As morty is showing this guy the business he makes eye contact with rick but doesn't look away. He has this whole cocky attitude about it. I remember it being a little humorous.

Thank you!!

Firstly, that makes me so happy anon! I appreciate you reading my stuff AND love the idea that people feel comfortable sending asks :D in case it wasn't clear, i am all ears for rickorty/rick and morty ideas/prompts/whatever and enjoy folks popping into my inbox!!

Secondly, I don't think I know this specific fic, sorry anon :( The closest one I can think of is the VERY talented @dadvans brilliant college morty AU, though I'd definitely say,,, those stories aren't humorous in tone, at least to me haha.

Has anyone read a fic like this to help anon find it?? Thanks!

[evolutionsvoid]

The oceans are the perfect creators of legend and myth. An endless plain of blue that can be still as glass one moment then turn to a dark boiling storm of mountainous waves and unabated fury. A world that delves so far down that light cannot even reach, and gives home to creatures one would believe impossible. To travel this realm, to experience its vast loneliness and mystery, is to embark into one of the great unknowns. What fate does the sea hold for you? What will you find out in that blue void? The many tales that arise in dockside taverns will let you know that there are plenty of horrors and mysteries to be found out there. So many stories of great serpents and vast leviathans. Of ethereal ships and alluring maiden voices that come from inhuman throats. They are always fascinating to listen to, but there is certainly a bit of magic lost from them as the world grows more known. The strange beasts of the oceans have names now, and are mortal flesh like the rest of us. The bizarre phenomenon are understood and the mysterious grows more mundane. I would think that this knowledge has slightly dulled the luster of myth, but then there are times I think it makes it shine even brighter. Where understanding lets us realize the true beauty of these encounters, and how our dissections of these legends reveal something even more bizarre. One such species that comes to mind is the Ikuchi, a fabled serpent that slithers through the depths of the ocean. While the Ikuchi is not the biggest, most dangerous, creature out there, its body has certainly catapulted it to a mythical level in sailor's eyes. Whales and such have the great bulk that dwarfs ships and makes you believe in ocean giants, but the Ikuchi is one that makes you question reality. It is a beast of impossible length, its serpentine body seemingly stretching farther than one can see. Those who glimpse it slithering beneath their ships say that it has no end, never seeing a head or tail of this creature. Legend claims that it would take an Ikuchi hours to pass by a boat, though many don't stick around to truly test it. While I must say that this species does indeed have ends to it, that really doesn't rob the awe that comes from seeing a specimen in the flesh. It is still an insanely long creature, putting many land serpents to shame! They stretch onward for hundreds of feet, the sheer size making it almost impossible to get a real measurement. How can an animal even survive at such ludicrous lengths? How can it ensure its entire body remains unharmed by predators and nature if there is so much of it to protect? Even so, how long does it take nutrients and blood to make it from one end to the other?! The answer to those questions have turned out to be absolutely fascinating. The truth of the Ikuchi shows that my previous statements are wrong. I keep saying "a creature" and "an animal." I refer to it as a singular entity when, in fact, it is a massive colony of many. The Ikuchi is indeed a species, but every individual monster we see is actually a collective that is strung together in this serpentine form. A close look at a specimen reveals it to be made up of hundreds, if not thousands, of fleshy bulbs, sacs and tendrils. At first we believed them to be mere appendages and growths, but now we know that each individual piece is its own entity. All the parts are members of the colony that have specially grown with a purpose in mind, with a role to fill. Some are meant to help it swim, some grow to help it sift nutrients from the water, and others develop to defend the collective from harm. It is how such an absurdly long specimen can survive, as every inch of it is its own cluster of individuals that can live, eat and grow on their own. It is essentially like a caravan train that has no end, each cart with its own people and supplies who can fend for themselves and get what they need. This would mean that this "serpent" technically has no end! There is no true head or tail, just more individuals that happen to sit at the ends of the great chain. Indeed, the ends form special growths to help it navigate towards promising waters, but it is no true brain. If you were to chop the Ikuchi in half, the two halves would simply swim their own ways without any issue. That is pretty much how this snake-like form "reproduces," as a colony gets so long it eventually breaks into pieces. They simply get longer as more of these fleshy bulbs split and grow, more individuals joining the everlasting serpent. While it is a fleshy long chain, it isn't defenseless. It certainly would seem ripe for predation, what with no "head" to spot danger or obvious weapons to ward off attack. In truth, special individuals line the entire body that are capable of producing a fluid that turns water into thick choking slime. When a cluster feels a disturbance nearby, these pieces squirt out the liquid and coat the section with this goo. Anything that tries to bite them will get a mouthful of nasty gunk instead. Even the waters around this segment will be clouded with slime, clogging gills and throats of those who get too close. It has also been found that these agitated clusters will alert their neighbors, telling them to fire off their slime glands as well. This ensures that the predator doesn't just simply move down the line to a cleaner segment. It also causes the entire area to be quickly consumed by the slime, which I feel leads to the legends of this "serpent" being so great and deadly that the seas empty in their presence. This defense mechanism sounds pretty solid for foes in the water, but it doesn't seem so threatening to those above on the surface. Why would fishermen and sailors flee the presence of an Ikuchi, when all it does is make slime? Well, first off, an ocean of slime is not an easy one for a ship to move in. Rudders get stuck, oars get caught in the gunk, and sailboats are held fast by the floating patch of glue. As for fishing lines and nets, forget about those! Once they get swallowed by the goo, there is no getting them back. Even if you did, the cleaning would take days to get it all off! So people don't want to get stranded if one of these colonies below get agitated. The other thing is that this species is also worried about threats from above. If the source of irritation is on the top or surface, the slime is unleashed and also the segment of the creature will begin to rise and writhe. As it gets closer to the surface, it coils and loops, spreading more gunk and looking to entangle those that would dare threaten it. This is to get their foes covered in thick slime, which can sink seabirds and asphyxiate other creatures. If a boat happens to be near an angered Ikuchi, the slithering segment may find them and believe them a threat. One of the coils will land upon the ship and release its slime, hoping to choke this strange wooden beast. Though the sailors don't have to worry about drowning in goo, they do have to worry about the sticky glue that is starting to fill up their vessel. If they can't escape the segment fast enough, or can't remove the gunk quickly, their boat can be mired in this gooey bog and sink. If that happens, and you fall into this slime cloud, your chances aren't looking so good. It will slow your limbs and make swimming difficult, causing you to tire out quickly. Simple acts like getting into your boat or swimming to safety are difficult chores in this gunk, and many tend to drown when they lose the energy needed to keep them afloat. So thus, many are quick to paddle as fast as they can away from an Ikuchi, lest they suffer this fate. And it is not like you can just wait for it to leave, because that may take a couple hours!

It shouldn't come as a shock that this species is seen with some fear and reverence, as its sheer size is impossible to ignore. Some claim it to be a spirit of the ocean, while others suggest it is born from the souls of those who drown at sea. Its never ending body is often used as a symbol of eternity or for a path that stretches onward forever. I have seen it used on clothing and equipment of those who have sworn themselves to an eternal duty, and warriors tend to liken it to an unending march. As for the actual animal itself, it remains unbothered by most. Its flesh is watery and useless as food, and hunting one will only result in a slime logged boat. It seems for now that these massive colonies will be left to their mindless swimming, forever drifting in the void. It makes me wonder if they even know we exist, if they are aware of any of the life around them. Perhaps they remain ignorant to everything that isn't a direct threat, and somehow didn't hear the delighted squealing of a dryad seeing her first specimen slithering beneath her boat.      

Chlora Myron Dryad Natural Historian -----------------------------------------

“Ikuchi”

I know that the Ikuchi in drawings and paintings typical is an endless serpentine body with no head or tail, but I didn't think that would really look that good in my style. So here is the front end of one!

[kitkatt0430]

🍄🌍🤔🤡

🍄Decriscribe your wip/one of your wips in the format of “___ + ___ =___”  

Batman Returns + The Pied Piper of Hamelin = The Pied Piper of Central City

... that was probably too easy, though ;)

Lets see...

Sleeping Beauty + The Man in the Iron Mask = That untitled Star Wars fic I swear I'm gonna finish one day

Yeah, that works. :D

🌍What tags or warnings will your / one of your wip(s) need if you intend to share it?

There's not much to it yet, but I'm working on an Iris-centric Armageddon fic, so that one will likely need at least to be tagged for gaslighting given how Eobard is treating Iris there. Not really sure if re-writing reality counts as mind rape, but yeah... it's gonna be a heavy one, especially as Iris will be asking Barry about the daughter and son she saw them having together in one of her alt timeline visions. When she realizes all the Eobard's taken from her, Iris is gonna be so pissed.

🤔What’s a story you’d love to write but haven’t even started yet?

one of those Isekai manga style fic ideas I had. They're both poly fic ideas, so maybe I'll try to write one for March. :D

One is where Iris winds up in a super hero AU world and uses her knowledge of the game she loved before being catapulted into this new world in order to catch all the guys and gals since it's all rather suspiciously similar to the game's main plot.

The other is where Caitlin - while out as Killer Frost - gets hit on the head and remembers her past life where she played a super hero AU game suspiciously similar to the life she's been reincarnated into. Her past life experience helps her deal with her present day traumas and her resolution to lead a quiet life without becoming a villainess after all is challenged when she winds up saving the hero The Flash and outs him to the 'main character' of the game she remembers, Iris West.

The first is much more harem style, or intended to be at the moment, as a tribute to the genre. While the second one is Westhallen with some back up ships.

🤡How many Wips are you actively working on?

Actively? Um... three. Yeah. Let's say three. *side-eying a fourth fic that's innocently trying to slip in under the radar*

But I have way more that are inactive, don't ask, I refuse to count them all right now. *hides*

[ask-de-writer]

SULA’S SONG : Part 58 : A MOONSLESS NIGHT FALLING : A World of Sea tale (Work In Progress)

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Return to World of Sea

SULA’S SONG :  A MOONSLESS NIGHT FALLING        

Part 58

by

De Writer (Glen Ten-Eyck)

143741  words presently written, WORK IN PROGRESS

Copyright 2022

All  rights reserved. This document may not be copied or distributed on or to any medium or placed in any mass storage system except by the express  written consent of the author.

//////////////

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Users    of Tumblr.com are specifically granted the following rights. They may    reblog the story. They may use the characters or original characters  in   my settings for fan fiction, fan art works, cosplay, or fan musical    compositions. I will allow those who do commission art works to  charge   for their images.

All sorts of Fan Activity, fiction, art, cosplay, music or anything else is ACTIVELY encouraged!

///////////////////////

NEW TO SULA’S SONG?  READ FROM THE BEGENNING.  

PART 1 is HERE

//////////////////////

Captain Egil sat at a table on the afterdeck of the Sunrise, Captain Bendin's ship.  He had the nine men of the strike boat crews gathered about. He was actually using a parchment chart to show them the plan.

He pointed, “These markers show where the Corlis fleet is.  Our careful scouting has verified that they are staying there where Mikot's attack hit them.  They are busy salvaging all that they can.

“There are lots of Strong Skin and glue panels on those boats of his, poorly made as they were.  There is rope and cordage, even cloth for sails or other uses.  They might be able to get a good many usable catapults.  For them, it is all valuable.

“For us, it makes them perfect targets.”

He went into the details of how the strike should be carried out.

Reaching the end of his presentation, he beamed at them.  “Gentlemen, I have told you what we need to strike and why.  I will not tell you how to sail your strike craft, you have had special training and know that better than I.”

He had a smallish case brought over.  Opening it, he produced nine striking shoulder sashes with expensive edge trims.  He handed one red with black shadows moving across the satin, sash to each man.

“Karl deeply appreciates what you are doing for his cause.”  Holding up an ornate patch embroidered with a ship afire, he went on, “Your first mission patch to go on that sash.  You will receive it when the Sunrise picks you up tonight.  Follow the plan and you should be back to her inside of two hours after she launches you.”

While he was rolling up the chart and preparing to return to his ship, the Coral Reef, Captain Bendin approached him and looked about to be sure that they were in confidence before asking in a low voice, “You really mean for me to pick them up after they have done the attack? I know that many of them are, um, unsound.”

Captain Egil nearly snarled, “If you fail to pick them up, you will face my wrath first and then Karl's!  Yes, they are not sound but they are the best strike craft pilots to be found.  AFTER the strike, they will be Karl's men.  They will no longer have a choice, you see?”

Looking about at the shifting small clouds riding the wind and thinking it through, Captain Bendin nodded sagely.  “I do see it, now.  Karl is more clever than I would have been.  They will be bound to him by hawsers of loyalty after they have no other choice.  Very good, Captain Egil, they will be recovered with care and be Karl's true men thereafter.”

Captain Egil shook his hand before leaving the deck of the Sunrise and Captain Bendin, who had no idea that the same ties of loyalty would bind him too.

In the Council of Captains of the Corlis fleet, Captain Anderso was pointing out what they all knew but were not really comfortable with acknowledging.  “Wohan has already set.  Tonight, shortly after sunset, Carsis will set.  Only an hour and a half later, Dorac will also set.  After it is gone, we will have SIX HOURS with no light but the stars and the Long Nebula.”

Captain Drinkwater, the Council Head, interrupted, “We all know that!  What is your point?”

Anderso, irritated by the rudeness, retorted, “I mean that if the Borens are going to hit us, those six hours of darkness are their best time!”

Captain Drinkwater snorted, “That's obvious!  With the dark, they will likely try hitting us with fire-sloops again.  Maybe try some catapult runs at us.  Everybody have your lookouts watching for those red masthead and running lights that they use!”

Captain Maks raised his hands for attention.  “If you think that a fire or catapult attack is likely, then defending our upwind side of the fleet makes the most sense.  All of the outer tier on the east should be ships with a full compliment of catapults.  Those two facing sternward should be loaded and under tension.  Might have mains'ls at reef three so that we can deploy sails and swing out to attack anything coming down the wind at us.”

Some, remembering how Mikot's attack had been blunted by ships of the old Northern Group acting in concert to come about and return the attack, were signaling agreement.

The Dark Dragon's hailing drum called to the four ships of the Corlis fleet attack force.  Its oddly hollow sounding beats telling them, “Scouting complete.  Raft east west lays.  School of smaller craft both sides.  Cloud Raker, north side attack lead.  Moonsrise, follow Cloud Raker.  Target main, hullbreacher at waterline or lower.  Sink is need.  Is large vessel, meters 100 or so, must not sink.  Limit to rigging and mast if possible.  Ship slave or prisoner may have must save.  That Dark Dragon do.  Trained for task.

“Dorac's Dream, south side attack you lead.  Carlyle follow.  Orders same as for north.

“Dark Dragon take raft too.  Have weapons for work.”

Captain Allison drummed back, “After the first attack pass, we will swing back.  Take out any boat still afloat.  We will rescue any survivors in the water.”

Down far south, the little attack ship sat quietly, their one lookout, high on his well designed bosun's chair at the highest point of the whipstaff was calmly eating his ration cake and sipping water, kept an eye out for any sign of another ship.  Down below, the rest of the crew were carefully greasing their big catapult and making sure that the weapons for it to throw were easily accessed.  One was checking the stout worm geared cocking system.  Using it, two men could easily and surprisingly swiftly bring the huge torsion bow to full cock.  It took two men to safely handle the deadly ship killers but only one for the heavy hull breachers.

They practiced smoothly in anticipation of tonight's raid.

The moon Wohan was long set.  The sun set, in a glory of clouds, lit with gold and purple.  Dorac, the smallest and swiftest of the three moons was close to the horizon, heralding full darkness.

TO BE CONTINUED

<==Previous   Next==>

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Return to World of Sea

[hes-writer]

To You (4)

Summary: harry dates y/n to get closer to her best friend

Warnings: mild angst (what else lol), not a lot of dialogue for this one, and a bit of fluff

Word Count: 2775 words

A/N: I've had the worst writer's block for this series but then inspiration struck me at 2 am and I had the chance to write a lil sumthin sumthin for the next part :D

Read the full series in my masterlist (bio)

As I mentioned before, this story kind of goes backwards.

____

As self-deprecating as it is, Y/N couldn’t help but feel her guard lower with each fleeting glance at her phone. She didn’t mean to, really. It wasn’t as if she was bored out of her mind because she was the opposite of that. 

Going on her phone and tapping on Instagram was more of a distraction from studying if anything. She was hounded by piles of homework and pages of readings to do by the end of next week. It seemed that her brain was working in constant overdrive to try to remember the endless concepts and theories that were catapulted at her with no signs of stopping. Her eyes were straining from the constant stimulation from her laptop screen, and from trying to read the small letters plastered on the computer. 

Y/N was studying on her designated studying days, as usual. She was quite proud of sticking to the schedule, except for the few weeks that she opted to coddle herself in the confines of her warm blanket because that was around the time that she found out her boyfriend, Harry, was only using her to get close to her best friend, Louise. 

——

In retrospect, Y/N should have seen all the signs blaring right in front of her face all along. She gave herself facepalms more than she could count by the way she was—quite literally—blinded by love to realize that Harry’s feelings were nothing but a façade. That Y/N was nothing but a pawn in his game; a character to manipulate, disposable in order for him to get the woman he actually wanted. And Y/N had no doubts that her ex-boyfriend was treating Louise like a queen. 

Y/N wore red-tinted glasses while she was with Harry and she didn’t see the red flags rising every time he shaped their evening around Louise’s schedule. She thought that Harry was making such a good effort in getting to know the people close to Y/N’s life that he insisted on having Louise around whenever they hung out with her friends. 

Harry asked endless questions about Louise; from where she worked to what she was interested in—to which Y/N had foolishly answered, believing that she had found the perfect man to share her life with. But she should have known when he didn’t do the same for her other friends. Hell, he didn’t even do the same to her!

___

When Harry and Y/N were just friends, he didn’t bother getting to know her as thoroughly and comprehensively as he did with Louise. In fact, it could be argued that Harry hated Y/N when they were first introduced by—and this was ironic—Louise! 

Louise spoked highly and excitedly of ‘my friend, Y/N’ and with Harry being the loved-up simp that he was—wanted to please Louise by appearing interested in her friend. He guessed that he was probably too good of an actor (not to toot his own horn) because that meet up turned into a set-up. 

Louise had planned a date for her friends, Y/N was indifferent to it; she was even a little excited because she thought that Harry was sort of nice. Despite the fact that he was indirectly rude to her in their first meeting, Y/N didn’t hold grudges on people for their first impressions. She believed that anybody could have a bad day and that might just be the time when Harry was dragged by the arm to be introduced to her. 

Y/N understood if that was the case. She was not too keen on acting nice and friendly after a stressful day at work, or a hard study session at the library. So even if Harry was practically snarling at every word she said from his seat around the rounded booth table of the bar—she agreed to go on a first date with him. 

——

Harry was in shambles.

He got himself into quite an intricate mess trying to attain the woman of his dreams. He was such a pleaser that he was now contemplating inside his car, outside of Y/N’s address. Was this all worth it? Of course, it was. As much as Harry would like to say that this was part of his plan to make Louise his girlfriend, it really wasn’t. 

But that didn’t mean that he couldn’t use it to his advantage. 

It was a good thing that he was early—about twenty minutes or so. That was only because he was huffing the whole time Harry was buttoning the clutches of his dress shirt, shaking his head at the bathroom mirror and reprimanding himself for letting his lovesickness to get him deeper than he would like. But hey, the sooner Harry got to Y/N’s place, the sooner this ‘date’ would be over. 

So here he was, hidden in the shadows of the night sky and shielded by the heavy tint of his Range Rover. Palms were pressed on the lush leather steering wheel as Harry formulated how he could turn this around in his favour. He was already in Louise’s good books for even agreeing to this in the first place—why not make Y/N his own personal wingman?

Granted, that she didn’t actually know Harry well enough but maybe this date could reach Louise’s ears about how much of a romantic, perfect, and chivalrous gentleman Harry could be. That would surely make Louise like him, right?

Wrong. Absolutely wrong.

It was safe to say that Harry was feeling guilty the moment he decided to use Y/N in order to get to her best friend, but that ship sailed long ago when anger and frustration took over. Why in the hell was he so perfect to Y/N’s eyes that she had gushed about him to her best friend minutes after he had dropped her off?

Why did Harry have to knock on her door with a single-stemmed rose clutched in his fingers, doing a little bow to add humour when she opened the door? And what in God’s name possessed him to say that she looked beautiful that night in her pretty, deep green dress that he thought was absolutely gorgeous on her—but his heart was with another woman—fully knowing that it would look better on Louise?

“Why. . . just why,” Harry asked himself as he sat at a table with Y/N, Louise and her boyfriend, Dylan. 

That was what being romantic got him. That was where declaring Y/N as his unofficial wingman ended him upon. A double date with the woman he wanted with Y/N looking at him as if they’ve been together for years, when in fact, they had only known each other for a few weeks. 

Harry’s pride was too big to admit that this time; he couldn’t get the girl. And so, his bruised ego declared that this date was just another unplanned situation that would benefit him—somehow, someway—in the future. 

Wrong again. 

Because a month later,  Y/N was running off to her lecture with a bag strapped over her shoulder, leaving Harry a passionate kiss on the lips. He was quite ashamed to say that he enjoyed the affection, but not enough to ignore the throbbing of his heart

Harry wasn’t all in with his relationship with Y/N and he knew exactly why. For months, he had been pining for Louise and well, he ended up with her best friend, Y/N. Now that was just super unlucky for him. And he wasn’t usually a mean person, but Harry was very annoyed with fate (or destiny) for leaving with an ultimatum. 

First, leaving Y/N risking her tattling to Louise about him breaking her heart was a no-no. Second, staying with Y/N until she realizes that both of them were no good together. The latter was a much more pleasant choice, except the fact that it could take months for Y/N to acknowledge that she and Harry were both too different for each other. 

—— 

It was another four months later when Harry drew upon an epiphany very similar yet completely different from the ultimatum he had presided. 

Y/N was sure of her feelings more than ever, even dropping the ‘L’ word during a drunken stupor of wine and bubbly champagne. Harry was sure that she hadn’t remembered her confession the next morning because she never brought it up. However, those words that escaped her lips were enough for Harry to overthink each night one or the other slept over. 

Sometimes Y/N’s snores would serve as background noise to his serene imagination, wondering why the images of Louise and him doing couple-y stuff were now replaced with Y/N’s figure instead. 

He also pondered if his memory was so impeccable that he could hear Y/N’s laugh fluttering in his ears while she was sound asleep beside him or was it just because she released a chuckle every time he made a horrible joke?

(It was true. Y/N never left Harry hanging in the air with a questionable punchline of a head-scratching joke. Both of them knew that her giggles were pity laughs. Harry was thankful for it and Y/N just couldn’t resist painting a genuine smile on Harry’s face, looking so proud that he had made her laugh.) 

Harry was certain that his feelings for Y/N wouldn’t quite reach the threshold that he held her for now. But it seemed that he was getting a lot of his sworn predictions wrong lately. Sure, their first encounter (and the second, and the third. . .) were purely for satisfaction’s sake. A mere plot for Harry to build his boyfriend resumé for Louise. 

Harry wasn’t sure when his feelings shifted from civil and friendly to an ever-evoking, lovesick puppy. 

Maybe it was the way Y/N walked, straight into his heart and stole it, keeping it safe in her tender hands when she pressed a lingering kiss on his lip while she ran off to catch the bus. The way Harry would pout when Y/N forgot the routine she had set, resulting in him whining her name and sometimes chasing after her to get his much-needed kiss. He even started calling it his ‘good-luck charm’ because it seemed like without it; Harry came home more drained and tired than usual because nothing went right that day. 

Or maybe it was the way she giggled while reading something on her phone, laptop, or a book—even if it was for school purposes. How absolutely pleased he was to hear her melody of giggles, straining his ear to listen more closely and wanting to do nothing more than to hear it again because it was music to Harry. It usually ends with Y/N’s heaving breaths, begging him to stop tickling her. 

Was it because she was the most adorable little thing while she was asleep? No, it couldn’t be, Harry thought, even though the admiration in his eyes cannot be described as anything other than glazed over with love and affection with the way he stared at Y/N’s sleeping face. 

But why can’t he stop thinking about her when she wasn’t around? Harry felt like he was missing a part of himself as soon as he shut the door to his house because Y/N had to go to her own place. 

Why did a smile splinter his lips visualizing Y/N studying at her kitchen table with a topknot wobbling on her head and a pair of her thick-rimmed glasses slipping down the bridge of her nose? Harry still remembers the first time she asked him to redo the bun on her head, complaining that it was loosening and that she couldn’t focus when strands were haywire. 

Harry made sure to be extra careful as to not accidentally pull on her scalp, stretching the hairband around his fingers. 

Now, he only had a minute experience in hair styling, reminiscing to his long-haired days were he slipped his hair into a neat ball in a few seconds or less. But this was Y/N, his girlfriend, who had an adorable pout on her face. The finch between her brows deepening when she tried to understand the concepts written on the screen yet she would giggle when Harry would ask her, ‘Am I hurting you?’ and shake her head ‘no’. 

——-

So it was a bit questionable when Harry jumped at the chance to kiss Louise when the time came. 

She had just broken up with her boyfriend and called Y/N for comfort. However, Y/N was about to leave for an exam worth half of her grade and she couldn’t just not attend it. She may love her best friend with all of her heart, but not enough to waste thousands of dollars to redo a course because she missed the final exam. 

Hence, why Harry was sent in place of Y/N instead. And that was also how his plump lips managed to lock itself with Louise’s’ glossy ones. He should’ve felt guilt stab him right away when he tasted wet, salty tears on his tongue when he battled for dominance with Louise. 

Harry should have pulled away when his phone buzzed in his pocket; a message from girlfriend that she had just finished her exam and was ready to be picked up now so that she could give love and comfort to her best friend. 

Harry’s subconscious must have reminded him that this was the woman whom he had spent months pining on; desperately trying to make her his yet failing. And now that he had the chance to, he couldn’t stop. 

Instead of doing everything his conscience had practically yelled at him to do, Harry’s brain had buffered—his body numbed every nerve except the ones controlling his mouth because their persisting kiss was captured by a photographer hidden amongst barricades that Harry had failed to take notice of. 

Harry was sure that his presence was hidden to the best of his abilities, but he guessed that Louise’s hands had pulled his hoodie off in the midst of their make-out session, revealing his side profile and the unruly curls on his head. 

And that was how Y/N identified the image on her phone the time she felt her heart being ripped out and crushed into pieces. That, and the fact that Harry wore the same clothes she had seen him in before she left. 

____ 

And now, as Y/N paused her thumb from scrolling away from the image on her screen, the same pain and heartbreak still throbbed in her chest. 

She couldn’t seem to forget, as a lot of people say, what Harry did to her. Despite the fact that he was spotted outside her door, leaving boxed gifts of chocolate and flower bouquets a few minutes ago—Y/N simply didn’t have the capacity to sweep everything under the rug. 

The wound was still fresh—feeling air was enough to have her hissing, aiming to cover the cut in fear that it would become too painful to even ignore. For weeks, Y/N had to wallow in agonizing self-pity to remind herself that Harry didn’t deserve her or her love for him and now she was somehow ready to run back into his arms? 

She absolutely despised the way her hands twitched to send him a text. To leave him a voicemail or to simply tap his contact just to hear him speak to her again. Y/N was ashamed to admit that he thought about knocking on his front door just for another chance at seeing him again. An opportunity to ask him if he was happier with her (ex) best-friend—if Harry loved Louise more than he did with her. Or—and most of all—if Harry ever did love Y/N during their short relationship. Was everything just a game to him? 

She was doing good so far; she was strong enough to withhold from the urges of communicating with an ex. However, Y/N knew it was only a matter of time before Harry took extreme measures to speak to her, unlocking her door with the spare key she had given him. One day she would be met with his figure in the hallway with a sad smile on his face and three long-stemmed sunflowers in his hand and Y/N wouldn’t be able to resist him. 

Y/N hated herself for being so weak whenever Harry was involved. He was her Kryptonite; getting too close to him was what ripped her to shreds. 

___

Let me know what you thought!

____

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[mnictasbcl]

I’ll be forever young (with you)

For #dbhcolorsofdeviancy, prompt:

June 13th: Forever young @connor-sent-by-cyberlife

Rating: Teen

Characters: Connor, Hank Anderson, Sumo

Relationships: Connor & Hank Anderson, Connor & Hank Anderson & Sumo

Additional Tags: Fluff, Birthday, First birthday, Presents, Detroit bridge, Swearing, Hank is the best dad

Summary: August 15th, 2039. Connor’s first birthday.

He doesn’t think Hank will do anything that big for his birthday…

 And is proven very wrong.

(The final prompt for this event! I’ve enjoyed it very much :) )

Story below! Or, read it on AO3

AUGUST 15th, 2039

TIME AM 07:40:02

 Connor awoke to a ball of brown and white fur catapulting itself onto his bed.

Opening his eyes and fully coming out of the stasis, he realised that this was Sumo.

He ran his hands over his soft fur, receiving the wet slobbery kisses over his face, smiling. The Saint Bernard seemed particularly affectionate and excitable, the reason why eluding him as he was distracted by the fluffy cuddles.

But then, finally pulling himself away from the great dog and scanning his surroundings, he found out the reason pretty quickly.

Loosely strapped upon Sumo’s head was a colourful party hat, the words ‘Happy Birthday!’ printed on it in bold letters. Deducing that it wasn’t Hank’s birthday, it wasn’t Sumo’s…

The only other person in the house was him.

He chuckled, moving to pull the hat off the dog but he grumbled and jumped off the bed before he could do so.

“I didn’t think you’d find that comfortable, Sumo.”

The only reply he was given was a snort as the dog sniffed at the floor, nosing slowly out of his bedroom.

Connor shrugged. It made sense. It was a year since his activation day. Strangely… he did recall Hank paying extra attention and asking questions when he had mentioned he was almost a year old since being activated.

But he hadn’t viewed it as a birthday. Merely the day after his testing was complete and he was finally activated and shipped out on the same day for his first mission.

Of course, with the development of android rights, birthdays had been allowed for androids, even encouraged. Markus had celebrated his, he remembered, as he’d created a painting for him as a gift. So had various other members of Jericho.

Still, it felt… different to view this as a human celebration, of him turning a year old. The body he was in was technically not even a year old because he’d fallen off the rooftop on his first mission. He shuddered. It hadn’t been a brilliant day of birth, if humans called it that, that was for sure.

However, with help from people like Hank and Markus, he was beginning to accept his new humanity. Perhaps embracing his birthday would allow him to really move into the next stage of his life.

Besides, it wasn’t like Hank would do anything massive for the day, right?

 He walked out of his room and was met with balloons tied to the curtain poles, a banner proclaiming ‘Happy birthday/activation day, Connor!’, presents piled up on the living room table and Hank standing at the kitchen counter, a birthday hat askew on his head.

“Here comes the birthday boy.” Hank chuckled as he walked in, taking in his bewildered expression. “I know I probably went a bit… a lot extreme on this, but it’s your first birthday. You got to have a nice first birthday.”

Connor continued to scan over the room. “It’s…”

“I know.” He took a step towards him. “I know you’re still getting used to all your new-fangled emotions. But this doesn’t have to be big and stressful. Just a nice day where you can open some gifts and eat cake.”

He quirked a brow. “Did someone buy me a biological stomach, Lieutenant?”

“Smartass. Fine, I’ll eat cake. You can watch and drink a thirium pouch.”

Connor nodded. That didn’t sound too different. He followed Hank into the living room, sitting beside him on the couch.

“Alright…” Hank hummed as he looked over the gifts. “We’ve got a few things- a lot of things- from your friends at Jericho. One or two from the guys at the DPD… and me and Sumo piled some stuff together.”

Connor looked over it all with confusion, hands reaching out before pausing, reassessing. Eventually, he looked over to Hank for help.

“What… exactly do I do?”

Hank smiled. “They’re for you. Open whichever you want, but make sure Sumo doesn’t eat the wrapping paper.” He threw a slightly dirty look at the dog who was laying in front of the table, waiting. Sumo glared back at him.

Connor nodded. That sounded reasonable. Picking up the first gift, which was from Markus, he found even the tingle of excitement building in his chest, wondering with gratitude what his loved ones had chosen for him.

Markus had gotten him a book about fish, along with a selection of classical piano sheet music for him to play. Seeing the care put in, the thought about what he was interested in… was touching.

Tearing through the next few gifts elicited the same feeling. Everything was so thoughtful, even the Saint Bernard plush Sumo had ‘bought’ for him.

“Full of himself.” Hank jerked a thumb fondly at the dog when he opened the gift.

“It is very sweet, Sumo. Perhaps not as good as the real deal…” He bent down to scratch behind the dog’s ears. “But very cute, thank you.”

After everything was placed neatly back on the table, he thought they were finished. But Hank looked to him and proclaimed:

“Okay. I have one last gift for you…”

Connor tilted his head. “But I appreciated the things you have already gotten for me, Lieutenant. They were very generous.”

“This isn’t a thing.” He replied, getting up off the chair. “Come on, follow me.”

The android was intrigued as he was led out to the car. Sumo was put in the back, so he assumed it couldn’t be another vacation or they would have left him with the neighbours.

Still, it seemed like Hank wished this to be a surprise, so he looked down at the mini Sumo plush he had brought with him, stroking his fingers over the soft fabric. He chuckled to hear Sumo whining with jealousy from the back.

Connor managed to distract himself as such until the car pulled to a stop. Looking up, he found they were in the park.

Hank strode ahead of him once Sumo was on the leash, and he hurried to catch up. It didn’t seem like they were in the mood for sightseeing today, the scenery rushing by as Hank continued on.

But, just as Connor was about to inquire where they were going, he found himself at a familiar place. Looking out over the Detroit bridge.

Hank sat down on the bench, holding Sumo’s leash and patting the spot beside him for the dog to hop up.

“I remember this place.” Connor mused, standing beside the bench. Earlier in the day now, he didn’t look out at the stars twinkling overhead but instead the crisp summer sky. “You almost shot me here.”

Hank laughed. “If that’s what you’re asking; no, I’m not going to shoot you. That would be a shit birthday present.”

“It would indeed be rather unpleasant.”

“And illegal.” Hank added. “But… that is partly the reason I brought you here. Not the almost shooting thing. Maybe just the… almost.” He sighed.

“I wasn’t even gonna think about it; you were getting on my nerves, there was too much going on in my head… I was just going to shoot you. But then- you didn’t kill those tracis. And you stood there and told me you were afraid to die. This was the first place I realised that you were actually alive… and all the better for it, otherwise, where would we be now?”

Connor mulled it over. If Hank had shot him, it would have… well, severely halted the growth of their relationship.

“But I don’t want to think about that.” Hank continued on. “I didn’t shoot you. You had a heart. And now it’s your first birthday. In that year, you helped the leader of the android revolution… You pulled me out of whatever rut I’d fallen into. And honestly? I couldn’t see my life without you right now, son.”

Connor glanced to Hank as he paused. He didn’t comment on the way his voice had choked up, instead placing a hand gently on his shoulder, a sign of comfort.

“It’s really helped me, living not on my own again—no offense, Sumo. But just having someone in the house, you… Even if you are a pain in my ass sometimes.” He chuckled.

“What I’m trying to say is… Well, I know you’ve got your whole life ahead of you. A long life. A life where you’ll always look like that, where you’ll be forever young- and a while from now, you’ll be living a new life, without—” he looked up to Connor. “But right now, where we are? I like that. I don’t want it to go away. So that’s why…”

It appeared Hank had hit his quota for sappiness, as he simply held out a piece of paper to Connor wordlessly.

Connor took it off him, quickly scanning over it. It was a form. Official looking, with Hank’s signature at the bottom, and room for his…

“An adoption form?”

“If it’s too much, just tell me. I don’t want you thinking I’m some clingy old man but—”

He handed it back to Hank, his signature printed on it. “Thank you… dad.” The word was strange. It wasn’t likely he’d always use it- but the meaning then, the feeling it brought… it was the best birthday present he could have asked for.

Hank smiled back to him. “Great. Now, what about we get out of here? The view’s pretty, but it’s gonna get hot as hell later in the day and that cake back at home isn’t going to eat itself.”

Connor followed after him, back to the car. “Of course. I have heard, however, about this new android update which can install human mechanics such as eating…”

“I’m not saving you any fuckin’ cake, Connor. It’ll go old.”

“Like you?”

 Connor wouldn’t have it any other way. The small moments of genuine affection and feelings let out into the air… The regular day-to-day life of working at the DPD and bantering with Hank… Being forever young, one day, that all might end. But for now, he would live in the moment, and he would embrace it. All the emotions that would come with deviancy, whether good or bad, or even a mixture of both… He couldn’t ask for a better Lieutenant turned father-figure to help him through it.

[unexpectedreylo]

My Review Of “The Love Hypothesis”

Sorry about the tiny jpeg.  Spoilers ahoy.

As you know, “The Love Hypothesis” is the first big breakaway Reylo-fanfic-turned-published-novel hit, a tale that began life as “Head Over Feet” by EverSoReylo on AO3.  I have not read the original story but I have it downloaded; at some point I’d like to read it just to see what changed between the original fanfic and the novel.

That a popular fanfic became a popular novel, catapulting Reylo into the mainstream, has been quite exciting.  Now at least two other fan fics, “Landscape With A Blur Of Conquerors” and “True Colors,” are on their way to converting to novels for major publishers, while there are a few more kicking around that are original stories undoubtedly inspired by the ship to end all ships, all by Reylo fans/fanfic authors.

I am not a “chick lit” fan.  Had this had no connection to Reylo, I don’t think I’d ever read this book.  That said, it is very entertaining and deftly-written, and it accomplishes the most important thing you have to do in a romantic story and that is to get you the reader to invest in the couple.  Yes, “Olive” and “Adam” carry over a lot of the charm and chemistry from their Star Wars counterparts.  In fact, you really can’t help but see Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver play out their roles as you’re reading it.  It’s hilarious to see readers who had no idea of TLH’s origins post that they’re totally fan casting Adam as Adam Carlsen.  Well, yeah, of course.  

In case you’re unfamiliar with TLH or “Head Over Feet,” this contemporary tale stars PhD candidate Olive Smith who enters into a “fake dating” arrangement with Dr. Adam Carlsen, who’s faculty at Stanford University’s science department, after she grabs him and kisses him in view of her friend.  He’s trying to get grant funding released, she’s trying to convince her bestie Rose, er, Anh that she is over “Jeremy,” a man she dated very briefly so that Anh could date him with a clear conscience.  At the same time, Olive is trying to score a position researching pancreatic cancer at Harvard.  It turns out the man who can help make that happen is a close friend of Dr. Carlsen’s.  Olive and Adam make a show of their relationship, which includes putting on sunscreen, weekly Starbucks dates, cuddling, and so forth.  Both hide their “true feelings” from each other and lots of embarrassing things happen before the inevitable HEA.

I understand why this was quickly scooped up for publication.  Not only is it well-written, its heroine is in the prized STEM field and the author can write about science and academia from a position of expertise.  There aren’t a lot of books around like that, especially not romantic novels.  Plus I’m sure the publishers really liked the ready-made diverse cast; it’s pretty easy with the sequel trilogy crew and throwing in Stormpilot for good measure.

There are two things I’m going to be critical about.  One is the narrative eagerly checking off woke boxes and using woke terminology as though it gets extra credit points for them.  That annoyed me.  The other thing is the sex in Ch. 16-17.  Yes, I even read the bonus from Adam’s POV chapter.  I get it; we all think Reylo is hot and many fans are eager to see space wizards have hot erotic dyad sex in whatever universe.  It’s obvious these idiots Olive and Adam are in love.  However, I didn’t think the tone of those scenes really went with the overall lighthearted tone of the story.  It’s like watching a sweet rom-com with an NC-17 sex scene that gets the film banned in 27 countries.  I can see readers getting totally blindsided by those parts.  Personally, I would’ve used different language and toned down its explicitness a tad.  

But what do I know?  I haven’t written a NYT bestseller.  My stories don’t get 200,000 hits.  Agents don’t DM me.  No, I’m not bitter or jealous or anything.  *Drinks Mad Dog from bottle, cursing my lot in life.*

[kiddoryder]

Team Squad Fun Day

For my best friend @anitoonzforever hope you love the comission story I made you ^^

Gary was just looking at some news stuff on the computer. It was one of those rare times nothing in space is trying to kill them. He was actually graceful that for once him and his crew got a day off. Gary kept on looking on the computer until he saw a planet called Donetua and saw that the planet is opening  fair and it caused Gary to basically yell in excitement.”

 Gary - “Oh my god!! No way!!”

 All of that yelling causes everybody to come to the room where Gary is at. They saw him basically jumping up and down excited like a little kid. 

 Little Cato - “What is it, Thunder Bandit?”

 Gary - *excited* “There's a fair on this planet!”

 Trina - *confused*  “A fair?”

 Jemima - *confused* “What's that?”

 Gary - *surprised* “You don't know what a fair is?”

 Jemima - “Uncle Gary, up until I escaped, I never left the orphanage.”

 Trina - “I never to been to one either.”

 Little Cato - “Me neither.”

 Avocato - “Same.”

 Ash - “Well me and Fox did once. At least I think it was a fair.”

 Fox - “Yeah. We only were there to help Da-Clarence steal stuff. Do fairs involve rocket ships and death lasers?”

 Gary - “Uhh no.”

 Ash - “Then no. We have never been to a fair.”

 Gary “What?! You guys gotta be kidding me!”

 Jemima - “What do you mean, Uncle Gary?”

 Gary - “The fair is like one of the best places to be! It's like if a piece of heaven fell on earth and grew to show people its super awesome goodness.”

 Little Cato - “What do you usually do there?”

 Gary: *chuckles* “Oh where do I begin, Spider Cat? There is fun stuff like the athlete’s games, the Ferris wheel, roller coaster, bumper cars, prizes.”

 KVN - “Oh!! We can ride them together! Because Gary and I are best friends!”

 Gary - *push KVN away* “Get away from me you robotic demon devil!”

 Trina - “What about the food?”

 Gary - “The food is amazing there!”

 Jemima - “What do they have?”

 Gary - “Oh tons of great stuff! They got cotton candy, pizza, French fries, and many other stuffs!”

 Trina - “Sound good!”

 Little Cato - “Yeah. Makes me kind of hungry.”

 Jemima - *excited* “I wanna see it!”

 Fox - *excited* “Me too!!”

 Trina - “Why don’t  we go now? I mean there aren’t any evil guys to try and destroy us all.”

 Avocato - “That’s true. Who knows this could be a good day off?”

 Gary - “Exactly! This is like the golden ticket! A once in a lifetime trip to happy memory land!”

 Mooncake - “Chookity pok!”

 HUE - “I agree with Mooncake and Gary. This could sound fun. And with this new god like body, I can probably win lots of prizes.”

 Gary - “Then it’s settled. AVA, take us to Donetua!”

 AVA - “You got it Gary.”

 ()()()()()()()()()()()

 The Crimson Light speed up and make it to the fair. Gary is the first one to step out. His eyes widen in amazement: 

 Gary - *excited* “Come on, guys! Let's go!”

 Avocato - *chuckles* “ Slow down bud! Wait for us!”

 Jemima holds her father's hand. While she was amaze on the things the fair has, she couldn’t help but feel nervous. She has never seen so many people since her old home at the orphanage. 

 Jemima - *nervous* “You think it would be safe Daddy?”

 Avocato - *comforting* “I'm sure it is, baby. Gary wouldn't suggest it if it weren’t.”

 Trina - *look around* “It does look colorful.”

 Jemima - “And bright.”

 Little Cato - “There is a lot of people.”

 Avocato - “A ton of people so you guys better stay close to me, okay?”

 Jemima - “Okay Daddy.”

 Trina - “Sure thing.” 

 Little Cato - “You got it!”

 The Team Squad was walking around the fair. While they were close together, they saw Gary basically looking around and running. It was like watching a little kid who is excited to see Santa at the Mall. 

 Jemima - “Have you been to a fair before, Uncle Gary?”

 Gary - *nodding* “Yep. I loved them as a kid. My dad would take me here.”

 Avocato - “So what are we doing first?”

 Gary - “We can take baby steps. Since it all yours for the first time while I’m the ride master.”

 Jemima was looking around the fair. She keeps seeing rides like roller coasters, catapults, spinning rides and they all look too scary for her. Then Jemima sees a ride that looks interesting and not scary. 

 Jemima - “What's that, Uncle Gary?”

 Gary - Oh that's the merry go round!

 Jemima: There's horses on it! Can we go on its Daddy?

 Avocato - *smiles* “Sure honey!”

 Little Cato - “I'll ride with you, sis.”

 Trina - “Me too! It looks fun.”

 Ash & Fox - “Wait for us!”

 Fox - “I love horsy!”

 They head to the ride and Jemima & her brother pick out a beautiful horse. The horse was white with a gold mane design. Trina was on a black and white horse; Ash was on a pink and purple horse. Fox was on a brown horse with white spots on it. Fox got it and was able to sit on it despite his size and he was really excited. Jemima had a little trouble getting on her horse, but Little Cato lift her up to help her. 

 Little Cato: *holds his sister up* “Up you go.”

 Jemima - Thank you big bro!

 Little Cato smiles and climbs up to sit with his sister. At first the ride was doing anything, and they were confused. Fox was slightly bouncing in excitement and wanted the ride to go now.

 Trina - *confused* “So what does this thing do?”

 Gary - “It just goes around as the horses go up and down. It takes a few second to work.”

 Jemima - “Are you guys coming too?”

 Avocato - *shook his head no* “It's okay. We will watch.”

 Gary - “Besides, we need to take pictures of you kids!”

 Jemima and Little Cato smile as the ride begins to move. It surprised them at first, but then seconds later they began to enjoy it. 

 Jemima - “Whoa it's moving!”

 Little Cato - “Here we go!!”

 The ride began to move, and Jemima began to enjoy it. She never had fun like this in a long time. 

 Jemima - “Weee!!”

 Little Cato - “This is fun!”

 Fox - “This is the ride of my life!”

 They ride as the adult’s wave to the kids and take pictures. Gary smiled because he remembered the times, he would ride the Merry Go around with his Dad. It was one of his happiest memories. Even after his Dad died and burnt down his house, Gary would often sneak into the fair and go on the merry go around to relive those memories.

 Avocato: “I love seeing my baby girl and son so happy.”

 Gary - “Yeah it's so sweet.”

 Avocato - “This is the first time I've done anything like this. I mean the closest thing Little Cato and I did together was training. Sometimes I wish I can go back in time and act like a real father to him.”

 Gary - “Hey you are a real father to him. You took care of him and love him. Even died for him. That’s like ultimate dad love. It doesn’t matter if you didn’t do these kinds of things with him.”

 Avocato - *smiles* “Thanks man.”

 The kids have fun until the ride stops and they get off.

 Avocato - “Did you like that ride, sweetie?”

 Jemima - *happy* “Yeah! I like it a lot!”

 Little Cato - “It was pretty cool!! What other rides can we do next?”

 Trina - “Yeah! I got this awesome rush in my veins! It’s hard to ignore awesome rushes in veins.”

 Gary - “Well there are roller coasters.”

 Ash - “What are those?”

 Gary - A ride that goes up, down, and all around. It’s like a loop de loop of extreme movement.”

 Jemima - *scared* “Sounds scary.”

 Gary - “It's actually fun!”

 Avocato - *concerned* “Uh Gary? I think she might be too young for that kind of ride.”

 Gary - “Oh yeah good point. There's the Ferris wheel and that’s also one of my favorite rides.”

 Jemima - “What’s that?

 Gary - “It's like a big wheel that take you up and down.”

 Jemima - *nervously* “Is it safe?”

 Gary - “Oh totally. I rode on it all the time.”

 Avocato - “How about I go with you and Uncle Gary on the Ferris wheel while your brother goes with the others on the roller coaster?”

 Jemima - *happy* “Okay!”

 Little Cato - “Have fun Jemmy!!”

 Jemima - “Thanks! You are too.”

 The kids head to the roller coaster while Avocato and Gary  take Jemima to the Ferris wheel.

 Avocato - You ready baby?

 Jemima: *nods* Uh-huh!

 Gary - “Trust me you will love it. It’s also one of my favorite rides.”

 Avocato - “Is every ride your favorite ride?”

 Gary - “Not all of them. The catapult tends me freak me out sometimes.”

 They walk up to the Ferris wheel. It was big with beautiful light colors. Some people where on them and there were a few empty ones. Gary, Avocato and Jemima got on a red one and sat down waiting for the ride to be ready. 

 Avocato - “If you get scared you can hold my hand.”

 Jemima - “Okay Daddy.”

 Gary - “Don't worry. You got this Jemima, you’re a Team Squad: they can always face new challenges.”

 Jemima - *smiles* “Okay I'm ready!”

 The Ferris wheel moved a little meaning it was starting to get ready. Then the Ferris wheel slowly began to go up.

 Avocato - “Here we go!”

 Jemima feels excited at first but as the ride went higher, she started to feel nervous. She never was this high up since she was escaping the orphanage with Emma and the others. 

 Jemima - *nervous* “Oh we are really high…”

 Avocato - “It's okay, sweetie. You can hold my hand.”

 Jemima holds her daddy's hand tight as the go up to the top and it stops.

 Jemima - “Hey it stops!”

 Gary - “It's okay sweetie. It's normal for this ride.”

 Jemima - *scared* “Oh...okay that fine.”

 Gary - “Are you okay, honey?”

 Jemima - “I never been up this high...Expect the day I escape *start to get scared* It feels....so scary! *tears up* What if I fall off?!”

 Avocato - *held her hands tightly* Now don't worry baby you won't fall off. I'll always protect you.”

 Gary - “‘Me too. Whenever you fall down, we will always be there to help you get back up.

 Jemima hugged her dad tight and buried her face at his side. 

 Avocato - “We promise.”

 Jemima - “Thank you Daddy.”

 Avocato - “Aww you're welcome princess.”

 Jemima smiles at her father and Uncle Gary who smiled back at her. Gary then looked up in the sky. Sometimes whenever he sneaks here, he would go on the Ferris wheel just for a ride. When it stops at the top, he would always look up at the sky. When he looks up at the sky, Gary would always think of his Dad. He would remember the space stories his father would tell him and how they would pretend to have space adventures. Even though John died, Gary sometimes like to imagine that instead of John dying, he simply out there in space having lots of space adventures to protect the Earth. But he knows that this is reality and reality can sometimes be a real tearjerker. Then the Ferris wheel began to move again.

 Jemima - “It's moving!”

 Avocato - “Yep. We'll be down soon, Jemima.”

 Jemima - “Okay this isn't so bad!”

 Gary - “Almost there.”

 Then the ride stopped, and everybody got off. Jemima actually felt happy because despite being scared for a little bit, she actually had fun on the Ferris wheel. 

 Jemima - That was actually fun!

 Avocato: *picks her up* “You see? I told you it was safe.”

 Jemima - “Thanks Daddy! Thanks Uncle Gary!”

 Gary - “Anytime cupcake.”

 Avocato - “I wonder how the others ride were.” 

 Then they saw Little Cato and the others looked dazed. Their hair looked a bit messy, and they were wearing t-shirts. At first, they were quiet which slightly worried Avocato, Gary and Jemima. But then Ash began to shout:

 Ash - “That was the best ride ever!!!! The loops, the speed, it was amazing!!”

 Fox - “I feel like a part of me died, and another part of me have just been born!”

 Little Cato - “I didn't even care that I puke!”

 Trina - “Neither did it!”

 Jemima - *a bit concerned* “Are you guys okay?”

 Little Cato - *excited* “Are you kidding? We had a blast! Dad the ride was so awesome!!

 Avocato - “I'm glad son!”

 Trina - “And how was y’all ride?”

 Jemima - *happy*  “It was fun actually! Daddy, Uncle Gary, and I went really high and then really low and high again. It was so fun!”

 Little Cato - “That’s great!”

 Gary - *stomach growls* “Anyone hungry! 

 Jemima - “I am!”

 Trina - “Yeah I can grab something to eat.”

 Fox - “Yeah I'm starved!”

 Gary - “Well we can fix that! Come I'll take you to the snack place.”

 ()()()()()()()()()

 Little Cato - “What do they usually serve here, Gary?”

 Gary - “Stuff like cotton candy, hot dogs, popcorn, French friends, big pretzel, etc.”

 Jemima - “I want some cotton candy!”

 Ash - “Me too!”

 Gary - “Okay! After snacks we get to win prizes!”

 Jemima - “Oh yay!!”

 Avocato - “This is actually a good plan Gary.”

 Gary - “Thanks buddy.”

 Then they made it to the snack bar. Luckily for them it wasn’t full since there weren’t many people. Jemima’s eyes widen in amazement. She never seen so many snacks that look really tasty. Jemima couldn’t wait to taste them. 

 Jemima - *amazed* “Wow! Look at all the snacks!”

 Gary - “Yep! Get whatever you want, kiddos! The treats on me!”

 Trina - “Oh that's awesome!”

 Jemima: Thanks uncle Gary!

 They went to the stand. The others began to look around on what snacks they wanted. Jemima had a little trouble seeing, but Avocato picks her up so she can see better. 

 Jemima - *smiles* “Thanks daddy.”

 Avocato - “No problem baby. What snack do you want Jemima?”

 Jemima - *thinking* “Hmmm...I wanna try cotton candy!”

 Avocato: *chuckles* “You got it, baby.”

 Little Cato - “I think I'll try a corn dog.”

 Trina - “I'll get some popcorn.”

 Fox - “There's some cheese fries with my name on it!”

 Ash - “Ooh I wanna try the hot dogs!”

 Avocato: *smiles* “Alright kids, one at a time.”

 They all order the snacks. Then they went to a table to relax and enjoy eating their snacks. Jemima was amaze on how soft and pink her cotton candy food was. It even smelled really good and sweet. After a minute admiring her food, Jemima began to take a bite out of her snack.

 Jemima - *delightful* “Wow! This is super yummy!”

 Little Cato - *eating his food* “Yeah and this is good too! Hey sis, wanna trade bites?”

 Jemima - “Okay!”

 Jemima takes a bite of Little Cato’s corndog while he takes a bite of her cotton candy. Jemima eyes widen on the taste of the corn dog. Even Little Cato’s eyes widen on the sweet taste of the cotton candy: 

 Jemima - “Wow this is tasty!” 

 Little Cato - “So is this cotton candy!”

 Trina - “I wonder what snack Gary got?”

 Gary comes back with another dish in his hand. He sat down in his seat and when he opened the over, it was some funnel cake. 

 Gary - “Thought I'd get some funnel cake for you guys to share. It been one of my favorite cakes.”

 Trina - “Ooh it looks good!”

 They all take some bites. Jemima’s eyes widen like if she tasted the most wonderful food in the world. 

 Jemima - *amazed* “This is so good!”

 Fox - *amazed* “This is like heaven inside of my mouth!”

 Little Cato - “Yeah! I never tasted anything like it!”

 Gary - “You never had sweets?”

 Little Cato - “Oh I have. Just not funnel cake. Actually...I rarely had any sweets.”

 Avocato - “Yeah I guess I wasn't much of a cake person. Anything sweet in general.”

 Jemima - *confused* “Why not Daddy?”

 Avocato - “I don't know. Maybe I never ate a lot of sweets. I don’t really have a huge, sweet tooth.”

 Jemima - “To be honest, me neither.”

 Gary - “They never gave you candy?”

 Jemima - “Actually no. "Mom" didn't want us to spoil our meals and never gave us any.”

 Trina - *sympathy* “Aw man that's tough.”

 Jemima - “Actually not really. They had home cook  food meals at the orphanage. They were tasty though!”

 Gary -  “Well at least they fed you kids.”

 Jemima - “Yeah and we did have lots of  fun. I played with my friends all the time. *sighs* I just hope they're okay.”

 Little Cato - *concerned* “Aw don't worry I'm sure they are okay. I mean at least you guys escape.”

 Jemima - “Yeah. But I still miss them. In fact, you guys kinda remind me of my friends.”

 Gary - “We do?”

 Jemima - Yeah. Gary remind me of my big sister Emma.”

 Ash - “You have a sister?”

 Jemima - “Well back at the orphanage, we may not be related but we were all siblings to each other. Emma was like a big sister to me...Little Cato and Daddy remind me of Ray.

 Avocato -*touched* “Aww really?”

 Jemima - “Yes. You both care about me and help me when I'm scared. He the one who helped me escape.

 Avocato - *smiles* “Sound like a good brother.”

 Jemima - “He was…*smiles* But I still have a great brother.”

 Little Cato - *smiles* “And who's that?”

 Jemima - “You silly!” *hugs him*

 Little Cato - “Well I am an awesome brother. Before I met you, I never had any brothers or sisters.”

 Jemima - “Really?”

 Little Cato - “Yeah I was an only child.”

 Ash- “I didn't know that.”

 Trina - “So was I.”

 Gary - “Yeah me too.”

 Fox - “Same.”

 Ash - “I did have a sister once.”

 Jemima - “What happened to her?”

 Ash looks down in sadness. Jemima knows that when somebody look down in sadness and have a sad face, that means they lost them. She knows because she saw Emma and Ray had that look before when Norman was shipped away. 

 Jemima - *feeling bad* “Oh I'm sorry! I didn't mean to say anything!”

 Ash - *comforting* “It's okay you didn't know.”

 Gary noticed how everybody looked a bit sad when Ash mentioned her sister. Not wanting this to be the depressing fun fair, Gary stood up and said: 

 Gary - “Hey I know what would cheer us up.”

 He pointed to games where you can win prizes. It was a few feet away from them. The first game was a laser gun game where you have to shoot the moving target. 

 Jemima - “How do we play, Uncle Gary?”

 Gary - “Simple, you need to shoot the target to get a prize.”

 Jemima - *sad* “But I can't shoot.”

 Little Cato: *cracks his knuckles* “You let your big brother take care of that, Jemmy.”

 Jemima - “You can do it?”

 Little Cato - *cocky* “Hey, I've had years of practice.

 Avocato - *encouraging* “You can do it son!”

 Little Cato plays the game, and it was a bit difficult as first. But he didn’t give up because he wanted to win for his sister. Little Cato remembers the lessons his father taught him about focusing on the target and not let the frustration get the better of him. Then in no time, he wins. 

 Jemima - *happy* “Yay!!! He did it!!

 Gary - *cheering* “Way to go, Spider Cat!”

 Little Cato - “Thank you!”

 Alien - *bored* “Okay pick a prize you want.”

 Jemima looks over the prizes. They had some prizes like basketballs, laser guns, but some really weird ones like eyeball in jars, and weird screaming small aliens in cages. These prizes aren’t very fitting for Jemima. But she did a cute pink teddy bear with a pink bow. 

 Jemima - *happy* “That pink teddy!”

 Gary - “Okay! Can we have that pink teddy please?”

 Alien - *bored* “You got it.”

 He hands the teddy to Jemima. Jemima looked so happy and gave it a big hug.  

 Jemima - *ecstatic* “Thanks! *hugs Little Cato* Oh thank your big brother!”

 Little Cato - “No problem Jemima!”

 Ash - “My turn next!”

 Trina -  “Let’s do a contest!”

 Ash - “What kind of contest?”

 Trina - “We both play this game at the same time and see who wins first!”

 Ash - *smug* “Oh you're on! And this is for Little Cato too!”

 Trina - *confused* “Why?

 Little Cato - *confused* “Yeah why?”

 Ash - “Because I like you remember?”

 Little Cato - “Oh right.”

 Jemima: Good luck!

 Trina - *smug*  “Don't worry I got this!”

 They both play the game. They began to shoot the targets. Deep down Trina wanted to use her magic because she loves to win games. However, she remembers how her parents will tell to play fair and using magic in games is cheating. 

 Gary - “Go girls go!”

 Fox - “You can do it Ash!”

 Then the game is over. It shows that Trina beat Ash by one point. 

 Trina - *cheering* “I won!! Yes!!!”

 Ash - *dismayed* “Aw come on! You have magic!”

 Trina - *defended* “Well so do you!”

 Alien - “Actually all game booths have a non-magic barrier to prevent cheating.”

 Trina - “Oh well...I still won!”

 Alien - Alright, what will it be young lady? 

 Trina looked around the prizes. She didn’t really want a pink teddy bear because she not a fan of the color pink. Then she saw a snow globe that had a plant design in it.

 Trina - *impressed* “Ooh I want that one!”

 Then the alien gave her the snow globe. Trina smiled because she loves snow globes as long as she can remember. 

 Gary - “Good choice, Lady Magic!”

 Little Cato - “Let us see!”

 Trina show her friends her new snow globe. Everybody was amaze on how it looked.

 Jemima - “Ohh it's pretty!

 Ash - “It does look pretty cool.”

 Trina - “I always love snow globes. I love these things.”

 Little Cato - “Are they your hobby?”

 Trina - “Yep!”

 Jemima - “So cool!!”

 Avocato - “Anything else we should do Gary?”

 Gary - “How about we play some more?”

 Little Cato - “Is there anything else besides this one? It can get boring after a while.”

 Gary - “Well There's skeeball, basketball, and shooting galleries.”

 Little Cato - *amazed* “Ooh Let's do a shooting gallery!”

 Jemima - “Maybe you and Daddy should have a contest too!!”

 Little Cato - *smug* “Hmmm...Maybe I can take down Dad.”

 Avocato -  *smirks and chuckles* “Okay yeah? I could whup you with my eyes closed!”

 Little Cato - “So can I!”

 Avocato - “Alright you're on!”

 Little Cato - “Ooh I'm gonna beat you so bad!”

 “Avocato: In your dreams, kiddo!”

 ()()()()()()()()

 The Team Squad was now at the shooting gallery place. Luckily, it wasn’t crowded and not many people were in it. But they do practice shooting and see how many holes they can shoot in the target board. Avocato and Little Cato was getting ready.

 Jemima - “Good luck!”

 Then the game started and both Avocato and Little Cato began to shoot their board target. 

 Trina - “You can do it Little Cato!”

 Gary -  “Come on buddy!!”

 Little Cato - “Heh. Don't choke now, Dad!”

 Avocato - In your dreams!

 Jemima - “Who do you think will win?”

 Gary - “I say Avocato he got more experience.”

 Fox - *offensive*  “Hey, younger generations always win!”

 Ash - “Yeah it's true!”

 Jemima - “Do your best!”

 Then the timer beep and the game were over. Then the scoreboard shows that Little Cato and Avocato ended in a tie. 

 Alien - “It's a tie!!”

 Trina - *amazed* “Wow! You guys were awesome!”

 Little Cato -  “Thanks! It was fun!”

 Alien - “You both can pick out a prize.”

 Avocato and Little Cato began to look around. They saw how the prizes had some guns. While it looked cool, they already had lots of guns. Then Little Cato spotted a music player and takes it. 

 Little Cato - “I really like this one.”

 Avocato - “Nice. I think I'll take...That acoustic guitar.”

 Gary - “You play guitar?”

 Avocato - “I used to back when I was a teen.”

 Jemima - *amazed* “That's so co daddy!

 Little Cato: You never told me that?

 Avocato - *shrugs* “Eh. I kinda gave up on it after I grew up.”

 Gary - “Really how come?”

 Avocato - “Had too many things to focus on to do my hobby.”

 Gary - “Well now you get to focus on it again.”

 Jemima - “I'd love to hear you play, daddy!”

 Little Cato - “Me too!”

 Avocato - *surprised* “Oh really?”

 Gary - Yeah! It would be cool.”

 Avocato - *smiles* “Well okay.”

 Jemima - “Yay! It will be so cool!”

 Little Cato - “Yeah!!”

 Fox - “Come on, guys! I'm gonna try the strength game!”

 Ash - “Oh I know you will win that easily!”

 Fox - “Heck yeah!”

 He goes to play, and he was so strong he knocked the bell off the game. His prize was a big stuffed dog.

 Fox - *ecstatic* “Check it out y'all!”

 Jemima - *surprised* “That's a big doggy!”

 Ash -  “Nice job bro!”

 Fox - *hugging the dog* “I love this doggy!!”

 Ash - Now I need to find a game so I can get something too.”

 Jemima - *How about that one?”

 She points to the skeeball booth. She saw some people playing the game. They were winning tickets and getting prizes.

 Ash - *amazed* “Ooh that looks fun!”

 Little Cato - “Go try it!”

 Ash pick up the ball and threw it and it made in the hole and a ticket came out. Then she kept playing and more tickets came out. Ash kept on playing until the timer beep and she got lost of tickets. 

 Ash - “Hey look! Some paper came out.”

 Gary - “Those are tickets. You win more of those; you can exchange them for prizes. Now you get to pick a prize with them.”

 The alien took and counted the tickets. Then he said 

 Alien - “Actually she has enough for 2 prizes.”

 Ash - *cheering* “Yes! Yes!”

 Gary - “Alright! Okay pick your prize.”

 Ash picks out an action figure for her prize. Then she saw Jemima and got an idea. 

 Ash - “I have one more to pick so it's your turn, Jemmy.

 Jemima - “Really? I get to pick another prize?”

 Ash - “Sure! Go ahead. You deserve it.”

 Jemima looked around and had a little trouble deciding. She knows that she WAY too young to have a gun. Then she saw  a Pokémon plush  which was a teddiursa. 

 Jemima - “I like this one!”

 Ash - “Nice!”

 Jemima - “Thanks Ash”!

 Ash - “No problem. I felt like you needed a prize.”

 Jemima hugs Ash. Ash was a little surprised because nobody ever hugged her accept her brother and sister. But somehow, Jemima reminds her of a younger Harp and Ash hugged her back. 

 Jemima - “What do we do now?”

 Gary - “Have more fun if y'all want! We have lots of time.”

 Jemima - “Yeah! We can win more stuff!”

 Fox - “And eat more snacks!”

 Little Cato - “And more rides!”

 Gary - “Alright! Let's do this!”

 They all go have more fun and it was a blast.

Jemima got a couple more dolls, Avocato & Gary did some karaoke, & Little Cato and his friends rode more rides. For once in their life, they were having fun and not have to worry about no bad guys or anything. Then they were starting to get exhausted. 

 Gary - *exhausted* “Okay...How about We head home huh?”

 Everyone agreed at once. Jemima had her head on her Dad’s shirt but was starting to get sleepy.

 Jemima - *sleepily* “Mmmm…”

 Avocato - “I think this little one is tired the most.”

 Avocato picks her up and carries her as Jemima rests her head on his shoulder. Avocato smiles because it reminds him the time Little Cato was younger and whenever he gets tired, his father would carry him. 

 Avocato: *pats het back* “Poor thing is all tuckered out.”

 Ash - “Who can blame her after all the fun we had.”

 Little Cato “I don't. I had a blast!”

 Trina - “Yeah it was really fun!”

 Fox & Ash - “It was so awesome!!”

 Avocato - *smiles* “It was actually.”

 Trina -  “Thanks so much, Gary!

 Little Cato - “Yeah! We needed this.”

 Gary - *smiles* “Anytime Guys. I wanted you all to have some good memories like I did.”

 Avocato - “Well you defiantly gave us a lot of good ones. I've never seen my kids so happy.”

 Trina - “And I never had this much fun.”

 Fox - *smiles* “Neither have we.”

 Ash - “Like I'm gonna remember this moment forever!”

 Little Cato - “Me too and I know Jemmy will too.”

 Gary - “I think she had a great time out of all of us.”

 Avocato - “Her face was lit up the whole time. She loved every minute of it.”

 Gary - “Well I did want her to give a fun memory.”

 Avocato - “Well you did, buddy. And I can't thank you enough for that.”

 Gary - “No problem Avocato. After all we been through, I felt like we needed it.”

 They  smiled at each other as they went back to the ship. Once they entered the ship, everybody went to their rooms and Avocato tucked his daughter into bed and set her new toys next to her.

 Jemima: *sleepy* “Daddy?”

 Avocato - “Yes Baby?”

 Jemima - “Thanks for a great time. And tell Uncle Gary I said thanks too.”

 Avocato - *smiled* “No problem.”

 Jemima smiled and did a cute yawn. Avocato gave his daughter a kiss good night and left the room.

 Avocato - “Good night princess. I'm glad you had a fun time.”

 Jemima smiles and fell asleep as Avocato close the door. Then before he went back to his room, he saw Gary again and said:

 Avocato - “Hey man. I just wanted to thank you again. For the trip. We needed it.”

 Gary - *smiles* “No problem. After we all been through with Invictus and the Lord Commander, we deserve it.”

 Avocato - “Yeah we did. I just wish I did this stuff with Little Cato when he was younger...I felt like I wasted his childhood.”

 Gary - “Hey don’t say that. I mean I know it wasn’t perfect but at least he still has you. I still carry that happy moments I have with my Dad to keep going. Sure, the life burrito had some burnt parts...REALLY burnt parts, there was some good stuff too. It not too late with Little Cato and it’s definitely not too late for Jemima.”

 Avocato - *smiles* “Thanks man. I just want to be a good father to them. I don’t want go to back to where I didn’t spend much time with Little Cato and have him taken away from me for 3 years.”

 Gary - “Hey, those 3 years are really major bumps. But you managed to past them. You still can make these memories for both him and Jemima. They love you and you love them. And I know with me and the others, we can make these memories action pack and even heartwarming combine like a sandwich.”

 Avocato - “Thanks man. I know I can’t make that without you.”

 Gary - “Hey man. We are back to back for life.”

 They did the clasps of friendship. They vow they will always be in Little Cato and Jemima and the rest of their friend’s life and make amazing memories. Even if it really bumpy, they will get past it because they are a Team Squad. 

 Hope you like it ^^

[crystalgirl259]

How to Train Your Dragonblood 3: The Dragonblood Alpha Ch3

After Jay and Cole finally got Kai and Rocky to stop their little game of tug and war, they all flew towards the smoke to investigate it. Below them, the trees look like an orange, yellow blur below them and on any other day, Jay would be in awe. But as they flew further into the forest, however, the bright orange and yellow colors became a burned, gray forest. The place looked downright depressing. The trees were devoid of any leaves, standing like sticks among the ashes.

They flew through the burnt remains of the forest until they reached the ocean and saw a large and piercing structure of ice, with large protruding spiky icicles.

As they flew around the destroyed structure, Cole realized that used to be a type of trading post or battle fort. This fort looked like it was once a thriving outpost, complete with docks for ships, weapons, and what looked like cages. Jay really hoped they were for containing livestock and not something else. There were even raised docks for archers to fire. Despite Cole clearly identifying the fort as strong, something had reduced it to splinters and icicles.

At first, they thought it was an Ice Dragonblood, but judging but the size of the blast, it must have been an incredibly large and strong one.

They stopped in midair to take in the sight. Jay turned around to Cole, who shrugged helplessly. They had all seen Ice Dragonblood attacks before, but it wasn't just the ice that was strange. The way the ice shot out from the ocean suggested a Water Dragonblood, but the few scorch marks on the bits of wood exposed made Jay think of a Lightning Dragonblood, or possibly a Fire Dragonblood. Jay could feel Kai's hope through their link, but they both knew not to get too hopeful.

They had been disappointed in the past.

They flew closer to the massive hunk of ice, looping through a ring and around it until the man-made structure became more visible.

"What happened here?" Jay asked in horror, but none of his friends had an answer for him. As they kept flying around, the wood splinters on the ice made it seem as if the ice suddenly grew in the middle of a village. On the muddy ground around the ruins, two dragon-like footprints were seen. They looked to be around the size of the monster from the Dragonblood's Nest from five years ago, possibly even bigger.

"I really don't like this," Kai said through the link as he shook his head and Jay put his hand on his neck in reassurance.

"Easy, baby." He replied, but he couldn't hide his own unease.

"Jay!" Cole suddenly cried when he saw something down in the ice, but it was too late.

"Fire!" A man suddenly shouted from below as a net was launched from a trapped ship and Jay and Kai got out of its range just in time. Even though the couple had managed to dodge the net, Cole and Rocky were not that lucky. The Earth Dragonblood was caught in the net and they fell down. Cole was thrown off from the saddle during the sudden drop. The noirette cried out as he fell, but Kai to catch him in his claws. Rocky landed on the ground and men suddenly surround him, carrying shields and spears.

Rocky struggled to escape or transform, but the net seemed to be made from vengestone, blocking out all of his powers.

As the men closed in, Rocky launched rock spikes from his tail that struck a fallen mast. From behind the fallen mast, a man jumped out to join in the fight. The middle-aged man had messy black hair and sharp, sandy brown eyes with long sideburns and stubble around his mouth and chin. He wore a brown jacket with large pockets on the front and a patch on the right side, tan pants, and a black belt, and carried a brown whip. He was also wearing an eyepatch on his right eye with a necklace made up of large teeth from hunted dragonbloods.

"Watch the tail!" He shouted to the men as he leaped on Rocky and grabbed his snout and head spines, pulling him down. As the men tried to tie Rocky's legs, he grabbed a rope wrapped around his arm that he used as a muzzle when he was suddenly distracted by a loud roar in the sky. As he looked up he saw a red dragon crossing the sky above at blazing speeds. "Is that what I think it is?" He whispered as his eyes widened in shock and excitement.

"STOP!" Jay shouted as Kai flew lower with Cole still hanging from his claws. Cole growled in anger when he saw his friend in chains as he hopped down and ran towards his dragonblood, but was pushed back by the men holding up their weapons in a warning. Jay quickly stepped up, holding a flaming sword that he swung at them. They backed off in surprise and Cole took the chance to grab a random sharp stick from the floor.

"Back again?" The man sneered angrily at them until his eyes zeroed in on Kai, still in his dragon form, snarling and snapping behind them. His eyes widened in amazement as she stood up on top of Rocky, holding his left hand over his sword. "Well what do you know, that is a Fire Dragonblood." He smirked at Kai with a predatory stare. Jay's eyes narrowed as he kept his hand in front of protectively while the dragonblood bared his teeth at the hunters.

There was no way Jay was going to let these hunters hurt his boyfriend.

"Thought they were all gone for good." The man continued, sounding very pleased. "Looks like our luck has turned for the better, men; I don't think the Baron has one of those in his dragonblood army."

"Dragonblood army?" Kai mentally asked. Jay was also curious, but right now they needed to save Rocky.

"Look, we don't want any trouble." He tried to reason with the man but he laughed, mocking them, and carelessly gripped into one of Rocky's head spikes. Cole bristled, but fortunately, nobody saw it. The last thing they needed was a fight with their leader targeting Kai and Rocky still in chains while he and Jay were badly outnumbered.

"You should've thought of that before you stole all of our dragonbloods and blasted our fort to bits!" The man shouted angrily as he pointed to the remains of a structure that were impaled by ice. The other men holler in agreement, but the riders were even more confused.

"Wait, what are you talking about? You think we did this?" Jay asked in disbelief. The man huffed and placed one foot on Rocky's head as he scowled at them in contempt. Cole and Kai scowled right back and Jay gripped his sword tighter.

"Dragonblood trapping is hard enough work as it is without do-gooders dragon riders sneaking in to rescue them!" He shouted angrily, but this just confused the trio even more.

"What do-gooders?" Kai asked, but Jay said nothing as he and Cole shared a look before the ginger-haired man processed the whole sentence and turned around, sheathing the sword.

"There are other dragon riders?" He asked in shock. As far as he or anyone else from Ninjago was aware, they were the only ones who ride and co-exist with Dragonbloods. The people of Ninjago had tried for years to get the other islands to accept the Dragonbloods, but it was a painfully slow process.

"You mean other than your little thieving friend from last night? You tell me! You may have an all-powerful dragonblood on your side but we still have a quota to fill!" He sneered as she stepped down from Rocky and on the floor, slowly pacing in front of his people. "How do you suppose we explain this mess to the Iron Baron?!" The man demanded in rage and his people all shouted in agreement. As soon as he said that name, Kai visibly stiffened.

There was no way that fairytale was actually true.

He could swear he had heard that name before when he was just a hatchling, but everyone believed it was just a scary story their parents would tell them to make sure they stayed as far away from humans as possible.

"Kai? Do you know him?" Jay asked through their link, but Kai shook his head, confusing everyone but Jay.

"Never met him, but when we were little Mom would tell Nya and me of a giant human made out of metal trapping disobedient Dragonblood hatchlings and dragging them to the Cursed Realm to work as slaves in his monstrous forge for all of eternity," Kai explained, barely suppressing a frightening shudder. When they were little and told this story, Nya and her friends thought it would be funny to gather up and scrap metal lying around.

They then used it to make Kai think the Iron Baron was coming for him.

"Does anything you say make sense?" Cole growled, snapping Kai and Jay out of their private conversation.

"He's expecting a new shipment of dragons by tomorrow." One of the men said, looking torn between anger and fear. The man, obviously their leader, pointed his finger at the one speaking and nodded his head in agreement.

"The Baron doesn't take well to excuses." Another trapper wearing a hood added, batted his blade weapon at them.

"This is what he gave me last time I showed up empty-handed." The man said as he pulled down his coat and shirt to show them a scar burned into the front of his left shoulder. Cole, Kai, and Jay looked at each other mortified. "He promised to be far less understanding in the future."

"Look, we don't know anything about a dragon thief or an all-powerful dragonblood or your lunatic boss and his dragon army, okay?" Jay gulped nervously, not noticing as the man faintly nodded and other trappers behind them aim their catapults and crossbows at the two humans and Fire Dragonblood. "Just give us back our dragonblood and we'll go, you very strange hostile person whom we've never met."

"Oh, where are my manners?" He mocked as she bowed down and slowly clutched a knife strapped to his lower back. "I am Clutch Powers, the finest dragonblood trapper alive." He announced as he took the knife out of its sheath with a flourish. He looked up where the men turn a large crossbow. He smirked as he pointed the blade at Kai who growled louder.

"After all, it's not just anyone who can capture a Fire Dragonblood."

"Go jump off a bridge you one-eyed bitch!" Kai roared, even though Jay was the only one who understood him.

"This is my boyfriend Kai; he says we're going, now!" Jay snapped, standing protectively in front of his boyfriend, even though they both knew Kai could handle himself in a fight. All of a sudden, the hidden dragon trappers attacked and Kai barely managed to dodge the hit from the crossbows. At the same time, the men began to converge on them. Thinking quickly, Kai shot a fire blast at the ice above them. A large icicle broke off and fell down, causing the trappers to yell and duck for cover.

Clutch too was thrown off his feet.

Jay quickly activated the sword and the flames around it and quickly cut the ropes binding the Earth Dragonblood. With his dragonblood free, Cole, Kai, Jay, and Rocky fly away while Clutch got back up. By the time he was up the pairs were both back in the air.

"You will never hold onto those dragonbloods forever, you hear me? The Iron Baron is coming for them all!" He yelled at the top of his lungs furiously, as he started swinging around the knife. As they flew as fast as they could from the trappers, Jay looked back, concerned at those words...

****************

Back at Ninjago, Jay's friends were all flying around the island, having a playful race amongst themselves. It was just after lunch now and now that they were all refueled and well-rested, the riders and their dragonbloods were looking for anything to pass the time. Right now, that something was racing. Dareth cheered the loudest, currently in the lead, as the others chased after them. As they raced, Plundar and Adam suddenly flew near Ed and Edna's hut.

There Edna was trying to relax, scaring her and the few pigeons and seagulls perched on the porch around her.

The normally calm and sweet Edna grunted and shook her fist at the group of flies, but none of them paid her any mind. In the plaza, Cliff casually greeted the many villagers as he walked towards the forge, hoping Jay would be there. As he maneuvered his way through the crowd, he chuckled when he saw a small group of people either scowling or celebrating at the recent Dragonblood game. A few of them had placed bets to who they thought would win.

Honestly, Cole, Zane, and Jay, if he ever attended, were the only ones who actually won any of the games.

The others were skilled riders and fighters, but they always fought each other instead of focusing on the task on hand. As Cliff entered the forge, he saw Ed working on the grindstone.

"Any sign of him?" The village leader asked when he didn't see his son or Kai in the forge.

"He's probably flown off the edge of the world by now." Ed hummed as he walked next to a Wind Dragonblood in his dragon form and opened the mouth to work on his teeth.

"You sure you want him running the village? You can still delay your retirement." He continued, worried for both Cliff and Jay.

"He's ready, you'll see," Cliff promised as a roar was suddenly heard from outside the forge. Kai and Rocky soon landed with their riders, kicking up a cloud of dust. As soon as Cole and Jay jumped off their backs, the two Dragonbloods returned to their human forms. "Hahaha! Here he is! The pride of Ninjago!" Cliff exclaimed to everyone who could hear, grinning from ear to ear. Dragonbloods aside, his son was becoming more and more like a worthy heir.

Jay quickly took off his helmet and walked towards the two men, with Kai and Cole following close behind.

Rocky would have joined them, but after that close call, he wanted to spend some quality time with his mate and their hatchlings.

"Who finally decided to show up for work." Ed joked lightly as he made a few pretend swings of his hammer as Jay dodged with a smile. Kai and Cole smiled at the casual interactions of the three. Cole had never noticed how close Ed and Jay were but neither did they often banter like that in public. Despite it being five years, it was like a breath of fresh air to see the boy he had been ostracizing still so spirited.

"Sorry, got held up." Jay grinned as he followed his father deeper into the building, dodging any object hanging low from the ceiling. "Hey, um, Dad! Can I have a word?" He asked and Cliff looked positively pleased as he put his large hands over Jay's shoulders.

"Something you're itching to tell me? He grinned as he wrapped his arm around Jay and they keep walking.

"Y-Yeah, not quite the itch you're thinking off but yes." He replied as the Chief grabbed two aprons from a hook that he threw to his son and Kai. Jay put it back on the hook whereas Kai just dropped it on the floor.

"Ah, good man! Now lesson one, a chief's first duty is to its people!" Cliff happily exclaimed as they stopped at a post. From a hook in the wall hang numerous slates inscribed with Ninjago runes and Cliff took the one labeled forty-one.

"Well, can we just talk in private for a-" Jay tried to say but was interrupted as Cliff shouted out the number. People outside were yelling and one excited man was seen jumping up and down and waving his hands.

"It's me, that's me! I'm next!" He cheered as he ran up to the counter as Cliff turned to smile knowingly at his son, who held in an irritated groan. "Okay, okay! I want one of those high sitters with lots of spikes and a big storage compartment." The man squealed in excitement like a child on Christmas Day.

"Absolutely! You got it, sir." Cliff smiled as he wrote down the order and went back into the forge, gathering tools and materials and handing them to his son.

"Dad, this is actually a little more important than building saddles." Jay insisted.

"Yeah, you think you can stop with these little orders and listen?" Kai snapped, only to back off at Jay's glare. Thankfully, Cliff didn't pay Kai's comment any mind.

"Ah, lesson two; no task is too small when it comes to serving your people." He told the ginger-haired man as they got to a table with diverse instruments. Cliff began to look at them and dropped them in a box while Ed got Kai to re-light the forge's fire behind them.

"Dad..." Jay whined as Cliff pushed the box of supplies into his arms and he took it as they started to walk to another part of the forge. As they walked, Jay also grabbed several things that he placed in the box. "I really need to tell you about this new land we came across."

"Another one?" Ed hummed as Zane and Pixal appeared from his right.

"Any new dragonbloods?" The pale man asked in excitement as Cliff picked up a large piece of leather, looking completely focused on his task and unaware of the conversation going on around him.

"We didn't stick around to find out." Jay shuddered at the memory.

"Yeah, these folks weren't friendly." Cole agreed with a glare as Jay and his father stopped beside a big, wooden structure that was meant to represent a dragon's back. Cliff put the leather on it and began to inspect it.

"Aw, really? Your Fire and Earth Dragonblood didn't bring them cheering to the rooftops?" Plundar laughed at the scowls they all sent him.

"No, this was different." Jay insisted as he began to draw the outline of the saddle while Cliff pushed on a level that aligned the leather and the structure that it sat on. "These guys were trappers, dragonblood trappers." He gulped and all his friends seemed to freeze at that. Over the years, especially in the beginning, a few ships would attack the odd Dragonblood that was hanging around near the edges of the island, but when they saw the riders coming in to attack, they quickly fled.

That didn't make it anymore scary at the thought of one of their scaly friends suddenly being taken away, never to be seen again.

Jay often had nightmares about that, as did Kai.

"You should've seen their fort, all blown apart and stuck in giant spikes of ice, it was weird," Cole added, still really confused by it all.

"Do you think it was an Ice Dragonblood?" Pixal asked.

"It's possible, but there was something about how the ice was shaped that didn't look like the work of an Ice Dragonblood." Rocky suddenly said as he walked in with Adam. "There was also damage to the ships and scorch marks on the wood."

"So a group of dragonbloods?" Morro suggested.

"No their leader said it was one, all-powerful Dragonblood that attacked them last night, I've never seen anything like it; and worst of all, they thought we did it!" Jay cried in offense and shock. Sure they had an island full of Dragonbloods and a seeming one-of-a-kind Fire Dragonblood, but even they wouldn't just up and attack a base and risk any lives like that, human or dragonblood.

"You know, you kids are gonna get in serious troubles one of these days, not everyone appreciates this way of life." Ed reminded them all.

"Ed's right, son, best we keep to our own." Cliff agreed as he took the leather and walked over to a table with a giant saw, where he laid it down. "Besides, you have more important uses for your time once we make the big announcement." He smiled as he pulled a lever that activated the saw and rubbed his hands gleefully, thinking of seeing his son taking over as Chief. Jay didn't share his mood and stopped the machine to finally get his attention.

"They are building a dragonblood army." He said in a tone that showed everyone that this was no laughing matter. His serious tone drew the looks of the people waiting outside, and some even subconsciously held their Dragonblood friends and family closer. "Or-Or at least the guy they work for is... uh, Metal Barton or something." He continued, trying to remember the name Clutch told him but failed. As soon as Jay said that, Cliff's eyes widened and he shared a look with a terrified Ed.

"I'll bloody his fist with my face if he tries to take Tox!" Dareth exclaimed as he punched his fist in his hand as the overall mood dove in somberness. Ronin, Shade, and Tox all rolled their eyes at Dareth's declaration, knowing he was all talk. Nevertheless, Ronin shared his brother's determination, as did the others. Before Jay could say anything else, Cliff suddenly grasped his shoulders, pushing him back a step as he forced the ginger-haired human to look at him.

"Baron? Iron Baron?" He whispered in absolute terror, something Jay nor anyone else had ever heard in the chief's voice.

"Uh... Yeah, I think so." He nodded, feeling incredibly confused and uncomfortable with his father's sudden shift in moods.

"Wait! You know him?" Kai frowned, but Cliff didn't answer. He simply had a faraway look in his eyes as he gazed around in thought. There was only one thing to do...

[shadowsof-thenight]

Flashlight: Twenty-two

Story summary: This is an AU Two years ago, the love of your life walked out the door, breaking your heart into a million pieces. He had been unable to deal with his ptsd and you hadn’t been able to help him.Now that your best friend is marrying his friend, he’s coming back to town and you try to brace yourself for the reunion. Will you finally get closure?

Ship: Bucky Barnes X Reader

Warnings: Sadness, depression, mentions of trauma

Words: 2970 *** A/N: I do apologise for the gaps between chapters, I just didn’t want to put anything out that was half-assed. Writing this story has been increasingly difficult, but I still have a clear vision of what I want and need to have happen. This chapter will catapult the story into the final fase, so I hope you’ll all enjoy it.

As always a huge thank you to my wonderful beta, @gnomewithalaptop​, for helping me! Feedback in any way, shape or form is greatly appreciated! *** Masterlist                                              Story Masterlist ***

It felt like you had been hit with a hammer when you woke up the following morning, and you were grateful that the long weekend would give you an extra day to recover. Though sleep had found you quickly upon arriving home, it had been plagued with dreams, both sweet and terrible, and you had woken up several times—leaving you feeling exhausted. You tried to close your eyes again, but your mind was already racing with last night’s events, and you knew it would be no good.

Therefore you grabbed your phone from the bedside table and sent off a quick text to Maria and Sam, repeating your sentiments from the previous night; you were incredibly happy for them. Maria was quick to reply, thanking you and following it up with an inquiry as to your wellbeing. She was worried. Sam, however, remained silent. Of course, he had never been one to answer immediately, unless he happened to be holding his phone at the exact moment a message came. It didn’t matter. Your congratulations didn’t really need a response.

Then you sent a message to Natasha, telling her that you’d call her later in the day unless you expressly told you not to. Of course, you hoped she wouldn’t deter you—you needed to know how she and Clint were doing, and you wanted to let them know that you would always be there for them. Thankfully, Natasha gave a quick reply that she was okay and would talk to you later. You smiled and were just about to place the phone back on the bedside table when Wanda rang. She’d probably seen your activity on WhatsApp. You smiled and answered her, trying to sound as chipper as you could possibly manage.

After a short conversation where you managed to convince her that you were doing just fine, you finally got up and made yourself some breakfast, which you proceeded to eat splayed out in front of the tv, mindlessly nibbling as you flicked through the channels. Time flew by as you did so, eventually you stopped flicking and lingered on Investigation Discovery. It was dark and terrible—murder and tragedy—most of which didn’t really register with you, but it did quiet the thoughts in your head long enough to let your shoulders relax a little as you slouched on the couch.

By the time you got dressed, midday had come and gone, and you decided it would be a good moment to check your mail. You’d recently signed up on a few job-searching websites and were now casually looking for a job that you might enjoy more than the one you already had. Most of the daily emails you received from those websites went ignored, as work kept you busy, but perhaps now you could check out what was on offer.

You turned the computer on, and as it booted up, you walked into the kitchen and put on the kettle. With a hot cup of green tea, you sat down at the kitchen table and signed into your account. However, just as you were about to turn your attention to the screen, a knock on the door distracted you. Confused about who it could possibly be, you got up to open it; you weren’t expecting anyone. For a moment, you wondered if it could be Wanda, not convinced by your chipper demeanour on the phone. However, the surprise was big when the open door revealed Bucky. Stepping aside to let him in, you didn’t say a word—you just followed his movements with confusion.

“Sorry to barge in, but—“ Bucky started, cutting himself off and fidgeting with the set of keys in his hands.

You wondered if he’d suddenly realised how forward he had been by coming here and perhaps wanted to backtrack. Momentarily, you contemplated giving him the out he might’ve wanted, if only your own curiosity on what he might have to say wasn’t ever-growing inside of you. He had appeared closer to the man you had known most of your life—determination and a certain fierceness in his steps—and you were not about to let him slide back into the dark hole he had made for himself over the past few years.

“It’s fine. Sit down,” you offered, your mind spinning with all the things he could possibly want to say.

“Thanks,” Bucky said and walked towards the kitchen table. You remembered that was where he’d liked to sit most often. The couch was for actual lounging, he had said then. Bucky didn’t sit though. Instead, he walked past the table and stared out of the window beyond it. It was a good view, but you doubted he saw much of it. His stare seemed miles and miles away.

“I’m too restless to sit, sorry,” he said after a moment, looking back to where you stood by the door.

Shaking from your staring, you finally closed the front door and followed him into the apartment. Meanwhile, Bucky shuffled his feet in place, as if to prove the honesty of his words. Of course, it had been clear before that. You had already seen his shoulders raised high, shortly after he had started fidgeting with his keys. The only question was, was it the apartment that you had once shared that made him uneasy, or whatever he wanted to tell you?

“I was going to write you an email—to answer your questions—because words seem to come easier when I’m not looking into those eyes of yours,” he said with a rueful smile, which you returned. He had always spoken so complimentary about your eyes in the past, and it suddenly struck you that he had not done so since his return.

“But you deserve better. More. So before I knew it, I was outside your door,” he finished, and you smiled. He really was nervous, and it was adorable. Which only made it harder to stay aloof. And you really wanted to keep some distance. It was all too easy to wrap him in your arms once more.

“Should I leave?” he asked after a few seconds, and you chuckled as you shook your head.

“No, it’s okay. I just wasn’t expecting you.” You wondered how you might help him relax a little, but nothing came to mind. You’d truly lost touch with what made him tick.

“If it helps, until I rang the doorbell, I wasn’t so sure I’d come either,” he said with a shrug. 

“Nervous huh?” Captain Obvious, you thought to yourself, mentally rolling your eyes at the useless comment.

“Yeah, but you’re right. You deserve answers and I’ve had the entire night to think about it.”

“I would’ve been fine with a few more days, let you get some sleep,” you half-joked, and he chuckled at those words.

“I know, but I didn’t want to chicken out again.”

“I see, well, in that case, I’m glad you’re here, Buck,” you offered with another smile, before asking him if he wanted something to drink. Without waiting for an answer, you had already moved towards the kitchen and glanced back at him when no sound followed the question. He finally asked for water, and you brought him a glass.

“Can I read the email I was going to send…and you can say or ask anything afterwards?” Bucky asked nervously, not meeting your eyes as he spoke.

“So basically, shut up and listen,” you joked, and he blushed violently as he tried to tell you that that wasn’t what he meant. You laughed at his response and told him you were just joking, you’d listen.

“I’ve been trying and failing to give you the answers you need and deserve, so I thought if I tried to write it down, things might be clearer.” He took a breath and shyly looked up from his paper. True to your word, you kept quiet and simply smiled in encouragement. He nodded in reply and went back to his piece of paper.

“First of all, I am sorry. So terribly sorry. For all the pain, the uncertainty, and the anger I left you with. I never wanted to hurt you. I had convinced myself that by leaving, I’d make your life easier. I felt like a burden, and you deserved better.”

It took quite some self-control not to interrupt him at that. You wanted to shake him, tell him that he wasn’t the one that got to decide what you did or did not deserve. He took away your choice. But you kept mum, thinking you could shake him afterwards. Or give him a verbal lashing, whichever felt most fitting by the end of his speech.

“When I first came home from the hospital, I didn’t know if I wanted to live. It was so hard to adjust to life, and everyone telling me that I was lucky just made me angry. I didn’t feel lucky to be alive. I’d lost an arm and was in constant pain. I felt weak and broken and every time you reached out to help me, it made those feelings worse.”

A lump formed in your throat, and as you regarded the man before you, you realised how hard it was for him to tell you this. You blamed yourself that you hadn’t initially seen his depression. Or perhaps you hadn’t wanted to see how deep his pain ran.

“I didn’t know how to let you or anyone else help me. I felt unworthy of help. Unworthy of living. Why had Steve and I survived, when three other wonderful men had died? And Steve was still there, and I couldn’t really talk to him about it. I didn’t dare ask him if he felt the same.”

He took a shaky breath, and you fought the urge to reach out to him. You weren’t sure if that was what he needed. This explained the distance that had been created between him and Steve. 
Steve had struggled as well, upon coming home. He had the same survivor's guilt, but unlike Bucky, he had been rather open about it. He’d sought out professional help, gone to veteran groups. And he had chosen to volunteer with homeless vets. It was his way of giving back to a community that meant so much to him. You wondered if Steve was still struggling as well. He always seemed so put together, but he was only human. Pushing that thought aside for a later date, you focussed your attention back on Bucky.

“My therapist told me that what I was feeling was normal. A result of the trauma. But it felt so wrong, and I refused to acknowledge it. Which didn’t help, of course. I didn’t even tell anyone that I was diagnosed with depression. I didn’t want pity and I was certain that was all I’d get. But pretending that it didn’t exist made me feel like a fraud. It was a double-edged sword that I kept falling onto, twisting the blade deeper and deeper with no idea of how to get it out.”

“You kept reaching out to me, you were so sweet and gentle. As if I could break at any second. For a while that even made me angry.” He looked up at you again, and you tried to keep the tears from falling, but it hurt and you knew it was clear on your face when the pained expression on his face intensified.

“I had to get out. I was afraid I’d swallow you whole, drag you into that dark pit I was sinking into. You never lost your patience with me, and I just thought I would end up breaking you. My anger would be like a lashing, and my depression a coffin to suffocate you. You deserved better than anything I had to offer. You deserved a man full of life, uncomplicated and preferably with all his limbs intact.”

You gasped and finally reached to place a hand on his arm, squeezing softly. How had you missed the depth of his pain? And how had you managed to make it worse? That was certainly something you would have to figure out. Had your attempt to support him suffocated him? He had needed space, and whenever he made that clear, you clung to him even harder—it was suddenly so clear how your approach had been the opposite of what he needed.

“Despite my anger and the lack of effort to let you in, you kept trying. And the guilt added to my depression. It weighed so heavily on my shoulders, and it made me see that you wouldn’t leave me. I had to be the one to do it. I no longer knew how to speak to you. Never knew how to ask you how you felt. All I knew was that I couldn’t comfort you anymore, even though I saw your pain. And you couldn’t comfort me either. So I decided that I couldn’t be your fiancé anymore. I couldn’t be anything to you. So I left, like a thief in the night.

I thought you’d be relieved once I was gone, that you’d move on. That everyone would simply forget about me, happy to be rid of the burden I had become.” He took a deep breath, before adding;

“I was a coward, but I’m trying to fix that.” His voice broke and tears ran down his cheeks as he placed the paper down on the table, his eye averted, as if he was avoiding your expression, your response.

The silence stretched and your head was swimming. How could you possibly respond to this? It was quite a lot. Slowly, you sat down in one of the chairs around the table, staring at the piece of paper. It felt like an eternity that you sat there, neither of you uttering a single word and not even looking at one another.

Words evaded you, while tears flowed freely. You knew it had to be you who broke the silence. It had taken a lot of progress for him to share this letter with you in person, but it did not make a response any easier to give. Finally, you decided to do the one thing that had always come naturally to you. You stood again and reached forward, pulling Bucky into a tight hug. And he didn’t hesitate for long before returning it and holding on just as tight.

“I’m sorry for suffocating you,” you whispered when you pulled back from the hug a while later.

“You didn’t—“ Bucky started to say, but you cut him off with a wave of your hand.

“Yes, I did. You needed room to breathe, to work through it and I was too afraid that you’d slip and fall if I stepped back. I was holding on so tightly that I pushed you away.”

“No! It was all on me. I should’ve told you what I needed. Instead, I stopped talking.” It was soon clear to you that Bucky was willing to take all the blame, and though you appreciated the effort, it wasn’t fair on either of you to ignore either side of the problem.

“And I let you. I moved on assumptions, but you had changed and I no longer knew you as well as before. I should’ve made you talk—even if it wasn’t to me.”

Bucky chuckled a little ruefully and you frowned, tilting your head to the side as you wondered what had caused that action.

“So we’re both going to carry that guilt then?” he asked with a small smirk and you smiled.

“If only we had shared the load, but no, we had to be masochists about it,” you offered and gained another chuckle for your efforts. It was a nice sound to hear.

“And I am infinitely sorry that I turned to ignoring you as I worked through my own issues,” you added a moment later. Knowing now that it certainly hadn’t helped matters.

“I deserved it.” Bucky shrugged off your apologies.

“No, it was passive-aggressive, and we both know that never really helps.”

“Can I say one more thing?” you asked and he nodded. “You are not less of a man, because you lived through trauma—you know that now, right?”

He shrugged, and you felt another sharp sting in your heart.

“Bucky, you’ve been through something horrible. And you have a daily reminder as well. I cannot begin to imagine how hard that must be, but you are still worthy of love. In fact, I think that the fact that all your friends were eager to forgive your absence should tell you that you still are very much loved. Nothing can change that.”

He smiled at your words, clearly not entirely convinced, but you accepted victory in the fact that he didn’t try to fight your words.

“I think for now, I have to work on me, while you work on you,” you said with a sigh and a weak smile. “Maybe work on loving ourselves again, and find out who we are now.”

“Maybe reinvent ourselves a little,” he said, smiling ruefully. This wasn’t the ending either of you had imagined—but it was the end you both needed, neither of you could deny it.

“As long as you don’t forget one thing Buck; you are a good man,”

Hugging him close, you hoped to convey all the feelings that were swirling around inside of you. You loved him deeply, but you had both changed from who you had been together. Perhaps too much to fit back together. And for now, you both needed to walk alone. Who knew where you’d find yourselves once you’d gotten back to who you really were.

[wordycoward]

‘What Is Seen’

I didn’t think I was going to get this posted for a while because of editing time and work during the holidays, but I fell down some stairs and got to take three days off of work. It’s not worth it, I promise. Don’t fall down stairs, kids, it’s bad for your health.

This is also on AO3, if you'd rather read there instead.

‘What Is Seen’

Pairing: Roronoa Zoro/Usopp Characters: Zoro, Usopp, Luffy, Nami, Sanji Summary: Zoro wakes to one staring at him. He's certain that's because Usopp's avoiding him for events that played out over the last two days. He goes to confront the sniper, only to give them some much needed time alone to talk. Word Count: 2446 Chapters: 1/1 Rating: Teen for language. There’s also some “Usopp gets special bullet mix in his eyes” eye trauma, in case that’s not your thing.

--------

Zoro woke. He felt alone. His eyes opened.

Gone. The whole Going Merry crew was gone.

Shit.

Zoro’s eyes snapped to the ship’s head. His mind swore it would be vacant. Instead, Luffy was seated on top, straight-backed, crossed-legged, and faced towards the sea. Zoro’s captain was calm, composed, certain. Same as Luffy always was.

Tension exhaled through Zoro’s nose and closed his eyes. He sat up and stretched, arms above his head. He inhaled with a grunt. Fresh air and spices battled in his senses. He released them both with the last tendrils of his tension, no victor decided, but the signs of the ship’s cook lingered.

With those signs came the sound of paper handled by hand. It didn’t come from the kitchen, but from the small garden built above it. Zoro opened his eyes and glanced up. Nami was seated in her lounge chair, one leg over the other, her eyes on the newspaper in her hands. The small smile on her face told Zoro the crew was safe. Still, he frowned. Sure, Luffy, Sanji, and Nami were accounted for but that wasn’t the whole crew.

Usopp was missing.

There were a few placed other than the ship deck the sniper could be. His tools were missing, so a quick bathroom break was out. The lack of muffled chatter meant Sanji was working in the kitchen alone. Luffy’s presence on the ship’s head meant Usopp didn’t plan a grand kitchen break-in. The door to the water drawing system was closed, which meant Usopp wasn’t drawing water for a shower. All of that meant that Usopp had to be in the men’s quarters. Zoro’s eyes flicked to the door of the quarters. It was closed. His eyes narrowed.

Of everyone on that ship, Usopp should’ve been outside. It was a nice day out. The sniper should be on his crafting platform, hands busied with a new project. If not that, he should be seated on the rail, arms out, grin wide with an exaggerated tale spewing from his mouth. Or, if nothing else, he should be staring. He’d developed that habit too.

In the first week of boarding the Going Merry, they all found their spots on the ship. Zoro was no exception. After training the first day, he walked down the steps, sat against the railing with his back to the ocean, tucked his hands behind his head, and dozed. He returned to that same spot and slept there undisturbed until lunch three days in a row. The fourth day, though, he woke up before lunch with the feeling of being watched. He’d opened one eye and followed that feeling back to Usopp. The sniper was near the mast on his crafting platform, eyes frozen, body still. Zoro thought Usopp spaced off for a moment. Then Usopp realized he was getting stared at. Usopp’s body jerked. A squeak emerged from his flapping mouth. His eyes snapped down and stared at the project in his hands as if the makeshift bullet could get him out of the situation. It did, only because Zoro closed his eyes again. Usopp’s gaze didn’t return.

That day.

It wasn’t uncommon for Zoro to wake up to Usopp’s stare. Happened a few times a week, in fact. Then they fought Arlong’s pirates and it became more common. Went from a few times a week to almost every day. The days where there was no stare, Zoro heart Usopp’s voice or laughter tangled in the wind like an accessory to nature’s beauty. Those days he wanted to open his eyes and stare. Sometimes he did. Most of the time, though, he kept his eyes close and let the blend of nature and Usopp lull him a true feeling of safety. Usopp was loud. Usopp was happy. Usopp was safe. Everything was fine.

Two days before Usopp’s absence from the deck, Zoro broke the routine. He woke to Usopp’s stare, as he did many times before. Zoro opened one eye and stared back. Usopp answered with his usual jerk and screech before the sniper’s eyes darted down at focused on his project again. It was another bullet of some kind. It didn’t look like the normal lead balls he dealt with. Zoro could tell from Usopp’s shaking fingers that something moved inside that sphere. Water? Could be. Doubtful, unless he was trying to make a shot that would only work against Devil Fruit users, but nothing that size would ever help. Zoro kept staring, not to freak the sniper out, but to see what on earth the boy was making. Then Usopp froze. Zoro blinked. Brown eyes creaked up to meet Zoro’s green ones. Silence. Usopp shrieked. The sound catapulted Usopp back and nearly launched him off the ship. The bullet was smashed as Usopp’s hands clenched. Zoro laughed. Usopp yelled over his after and Luffy’s loud questions about what happened. He heard Nami mutter about the noise. When Zoro regained his composure, Usopp had his back to him. Instead of telling Luffy the truth, Usopp quickly strung together some story about sea monsters and how he’d used his new “hot oil shot” to blast the demon away. Zoro closed his eyes and didn’t say a word.

The day before Usopp’s absence, Zoro broke the routine again. When he sat down to nap, Zoro leaned against the railing, tucked his hands behind his head, and closed one eye. The other stayed focused on the sniper. Usopp sat with his legs crossed on his work station. Rather than looking back, his eyes were cast down to the new bullet shell in his hands. His fingers were steady as they smoothed the shell to the spherical shape it needed to be. Concentration wrinkled his forehead and pressed his lip against the top-left corner of his mouth. Usopp was quiet at first as he rotated the metal and smoothed it, rotated, smoothed, rotated, smoothed. A one note hum of approval emerged from Usopp’s throat and danced with the warm air. The note ended. Usopp’s hands lifted. With them came the sniper’s gaze. A smile grew on Usopp’s face as he rotated the sphere in his fingers. Usopp’s eyes flicked to Zoro. They zipped back to the bullet, freed. Then, stillness. Silence. Usopp’s eyes barreled to Zoro’s again. They locked. Zoro blinked. A second passed. Another. Usopp screamed. Zoro saw the wail propel Usopp’s head back so fast it smashed against the railing. He coughed out another scream, lower in tone, and snapped his head forward. Head met open hands. The bullet clattered on the deck. Usopp’s hands crawled like spiders to the back of his head. Zoro opened his other eye and watched Usopp tremble. Then, Zoro caught his gaze again. It was a glare.

“What the hell, Zoro?!” Usopp asked, “Why… why are you… staring… at me?” The words trailed off. Zoro’s eyes widened and took in Usopp. Sweat glistened off his arms, his chest, his face. Red blossomed against Usopp’s cheeks. Lips turned down against that redness as if the color itself was repulsive. Zoro felt the urge to close the space between them, reach out his hands, and—

“… what?” Usopp asked. Zoro swallowed.

“… you—” Zoro whispered.

“Don’t wrestle without me!” Luffy’s joyous wail smashed into Zoro’s right side. Zoro’s eyes released Usopp’s as his whole body flew across the deck and slammed into the wall next to the storage room. Luffy laughed. The flush from Usopp’s face gathered in Zoro’s chest. Rage bubbled from it and launched Zoro to his feet.

“You bastard!” Zoro yelled. He charged his captain. Luffy laughed. Zoro chased that laughter with a blind rage so profound he didn’t know how to stop it at first. Sanji’s call of food did the trick. Zoro watched Luffy run into the kitchen with Usopp only steps behind. Fragments of the moment they nearly had were whisked away in the wind. Zoro tried to piece them together again in the galley, but the second their eyes met, Usopp yanked himself free and started to tell one of his famous Captain Usopp fables. Zoro stole glances of the performance. He caught a smile here, a gesture there, but mostly noticed Usopp’s clear attempts not to look at him. The tale stopped only when Usopp realized Luffy ate all of his food. Zoro excused himself from the galley before the ensuing fight was over. Zoro didn’t try to get the sniper distance, but he noticed Usopp was scarce the rest of the day. Zoro was sure Usopp avoided him.

Perhaps Usopp was avoiding him still. Zoro couldn’t let that be a norm.

Zoro walked to the men’s quarters and opened the door. It was only lit by the sun, which, high up in the sky as it was, cast minimal light into the space. Without beams of light, the room remained fairly dark and cool. Usopp was there, as Zoro expected, but the view was anything but normal. The sniper was in his hammock, left hand on his eyes, right hand on his stomach. His chest rose and fell with each breath. They weren’t deep. Usopp wasn’t asleep. There was also a white cloth under Usopp’s left hand that stayed stable over the sniper’s eyes. That fabric looked damp.

“Hey,” Zoro said. Usopp jumped and squealed. Nearly flung himself off the hammock in the process. Probably would have if Zoro hadn’t sliced through the space between them and caught the hammock with both hands. The hammock stilled. Usopp grasped the lacing with trembling fingers. The sudden stillness caused the rag to slip. Zoro saw the red, inflamed eyelid flicker open. Zoro was sure it snapped shut before any clear vision could be made.

“Zoro, you bastard!” Usopp yelled. The sniper’s left hand reached to his eyes and put it back in place. “Scaring me like that.”

“You get attacked?”

Usopp sighed. Zoro felt Usopp’s right thumb skim the air next to his wrist as the hand moved back to his stomach. “Luffy ran into me while I was making another hot oil shot. Seriously, he should be more careful when people are working.”

“Why are you in here and not on the deck?”

“The light hurt my eyes, even through this fabric. Nami said I’d be better in here. Even had Sanji carry me even though I could have walked in here on my own.”

“Sanji…”

Zoro saw Usopp carried bridal style through the door by a whispering Sanji. Then Sanji set Usopp in the hammock. The whispered continued until the lips closed in to Usopp’s. They grew closer. Closer. Red heat surged through Zoro and cleared the image away. In its place, Zoro saw the real Usopp grimace.

“Yeah, nearly threw me across the room, the bastard,” Usopp growled. Zoro blinked, then smiled. His rage was smothered by the eye narrowing affection that twisted through him.

“Why didn’t you wake me up?”

“There’s no way to wake you up one you’re asleep.”

Lie. If Usopp had stared at him—

Right, his eyes.

Zoro’s eyes focused on that damp fabric. “So you can’t see, huh?”

“For now,” Usopp said with a growing grin. Usopp’s right hand lifted and pointed a thumb at the sniper’s own chest. “But once I’m healed, this hot oil shot will give me supervision so I, Captain Usopp, can accurately hit a target from any distance, even thousands of kilometers away!”

“Oh?” Zoro teased. “Impressive.”

Usopp chuckled and waved his right hand as if batting the word away. “It’s only natural for a brave warrior like myself to gain such powers. It was destined, after all.”

“But until you’re healed and this power comes, you can’t see, right?”

Usopp froze. “N-no, but wh-why are you asking? Wh-what are you going to do?! Zo—”

Zoro closed his eyes and leaned forward. His lips landed on Usopp’s forehead. Silence. Stillness. Heat rose against his lips. Zoro pulled back. His eyes opened. Usopp’s mouth was open, shut, open, shut, open. Sounds tumbled out, then words.

“Z-Zoro, what…?”

“You really thought I wouldn’t notice how you felt after I was stared at for so long?”

Usopp shot up. The damp rag fell. Wide, red eyes met Zoro’s. That panicked gaze stood out against the sniper’s steadily paling skin. Words tried to form, but the only thing Usopp managed was small fragments of words. That was, until Usopp’s eyes slammed shut, his head slumped forward, and a strangled scream left his throat. Zoro picked up the rag and placed it over Usopp’s eyes. Then, he guided Usopp to lie down again.

“Hey, you’re supposed to be resting,” Zoro whispered.

“Y-y-y-yes, but you… y-you…”

Zoro felt Usopp tremble. Nearly shook his whole arm. Usopp’s fingers reached for the cloth. The tips brushed against Zoro’s hand. Usopp flinched. Fingertips danced along the cloth edge.

“Y-you weren’t… supposed… to… do that…”

Zoro watched Usopp quiver in silence. Then he sighed. “Don’t move.”

Zoro grabbed the pillar closest to Usopp’s head and lifted his body up. Then, he eased his body onto the hammock. Usopp didn’t move, but his voice protected enough. The sniper stammered about falling, about the hammock not holding their combined weight, about the inevitable breakage, about the fall, about their impending injuries or death. Zoro ignored all of it as he slipped beside Usopp. Once the netting was stable, Zoro reached both arms over and picked Usopp up. Usopp’s scream was loud and lasted until Zoro put him down again. By that point, Zoro moved himself to the center of the hammock and settled. He placed Usopp on his chest, back touching his chest. Black curls of hair tickled Zoro’s chin. Zoro’s left hand moved to Usopp’s eyes and held the damp cloth in place. His right found Usopp’s, laced their fingers, and carried them to Usopp’s stomach. As Usopp trembled, Zoro kissed the top of his head. Silence. Usopp’s right hand tightened against Zoro’s own.

“A… are you sure about this?” Usopp asked. “I-I mean, I know there’s times I egg you own when you d-don’t want to play with me and Luffy and I-I cling to you when I g-g-get scared and you get annoyed about my stories a-and—”

“I’m sure.”

Zoro felt the tremors stop. He buried his nose into Usopp’s hair and closed his eyes. Usopp’s breaths lifted his right hand up and down. First they were fast, unsteady, borderline panicked. Then, the breaths slowed. When they were almost to a normal pace, Zoro felt Usopp’s left fingers slide across the back of Zoro’s left hand.

“Then… then I am too,” Usopp said.

Zoro smiled against Usopp’s hair and kissed him on the top of the head once more.

[spacesuitsforemergency]

The Rise Of Iron Maiden

Chapter 1: A Wizard, a Guardian, and an Avenger Walk Into a Bar

Word Count: 3.3k

Original Request by: @amateurwriterbigdreamer

Next Chapter: So, You Want to be an Avenger?

A/N: this ones Tye and Jaime heavy but I promise the next chapter is more centered around Y/N and Eduardo

“Lalo, did we really have to go all the way across town for coffee?” You asked as your boyfriend, Eduardo Dorado Jr led you into a small coffee shop.

“Trust me, princesa.” He grinned as he opened the door for you, before adding sarcastically, “It is worth the treacherous, enduring limo ride.”

You roll your eyes, but let him lead you inside. You both get coffee and pastries, then sit in the back table together. Ironically, L-O-V-E is playing softly from the little radio the barista had set behind the counter. You swear, Eduardo probably paid for them to play the song, it was such an Eduardo thing to do.

He rambled on about some petty argument he got into with someone at S.H.I.E.L.D, but you were busy thinking about luck. Specifically how it was on your side all those years ago.

When you were 13, some workers in Stark Industries’ science department had been testing a teleportation device, and somehow they teleported Eduardo Dorado Jr, Tye Longshadow and Jaime Reyes from another dimension. They tried for months to get them back to their reality, but it was no use. You were always around the lab, since it was owned by your father, Tony Stark. You had grown close to all 3 of them, being the only one in the building their age. You grew up together, becoming best friends. When they developed powers, and you were finally given a suit, Director Fury agreed to let you be an official team.

You and your father argued for weeks about it, but you won every single time. You pointed out that Spider-Man was your same age, so it wasn’t any different. He would say it was different cause you were his daughter, but thankfully you had inherited his stubbornness, so you became the rising hero, Iron Maiden. And yes, he totally helped you pick out your name.

You and Eduardo fell in love with each other, and had begun dating when you were 15. You were both charming and suave people, so at first you both thought that it was just all meaningless flirting. You had developed feelings for each other, and everyone saw it but the two of you. Rhodey and Pepper noticed first, Tony didn’t realize it until he found out you two were secretly dating for 3 months. It was quite sad really, he claimed to be the smartest man alive, and yet he couldn’t see his daughter completely head over heels for her best friend.

Your thoughts are interrupted when there’s a weird hum in the air, then suddenly the windows shatter. Eduardo jumps in front of you, shielding you from the broken glass. You both watch with your eyes wide as a giant ring shaped UFO lands in the middle of the street, causing clouds of dust to flood the streets. You quickly activate your iron suit, holding up a shield for you and Eduardo, the barista safely behind the counter.

“What the hell is that?” Eduardo shouts over the screams of people on the street, car alarms, and what seemed to be engines of some sort from the ring.

“I don’t know! But we need to go help!” You grab his hand, and he teleports the both of you out of the shop. You scan the streets, calculating how many people were around.

“F.R.I.D.A.Y, what is that?” You ask your AI system.

“Not sure, I’m working on it. Iron Man has landed in close proximity.” She responds in her strangely humanly robot voice.

“My dads here!” You yell into your com, Eduardo teleporting people away from the wreckage.

“Well where is he? A little help would be nice!” El Dorado says as he helps up a lady that fell.

You both shield your eyes as a strong gust of wind knocked into you, and you peek through your fingers to see men in blue and red robes. You spot your dad standing behind them, along with...Dr. Banner?!

“Lalo! Let’s go!” You activate your thrusters and fly over to join your father and the strangely dressed men.

“Y/N! The hell you doing here?” Your dad asks in surprise when you land next to him, El Dorado appearing on your other side.

“Doesn’t matter! What’s going on?” You ask, waving off the question.

“Yeah, what’s with the magicians?” El Dorado asks as they let the wind down.

“Or y’know, the giant ass onion ring blocking the road.” You gesture to the ship, then turn to your left. “Also, Dr. Banner?!”

“Hey Y/N.” He smiled awkwardly.

“Hear me, and rejoice. You are about to die at the hands of the Children of Thanos. Be thankful, that your meaningless lives are now contributing to...” a tall, pale blue man with no nose glides down the steps of the ship.

“I’m sorry, Earth is closed today.” Your dad calls over.

“Stonekeeper...Does this chattering animal speak for you?” The man gestures to your father.

“Certainly not. I speak for myself. But you’re trespassing in this city and on this planet.” The ‘stonekeeper’ says, before glowing oranges disks appear around his fists.

“Means get lost, Squidward!” Tony quipped.

“Wait, you guys are actually magicians?” Eduardo whispers to the Chinese man in robes, in awe of the orange shields.

“Shut it, kid.” The guys snaps as he copies his friend, and summons his magic.

“Bring me the Stone.” The man snaps his fingers, and a giant alien walks up behind him, dragging itself towards you.

“Banner, anytime now.” Tony mutters.

“I’m trying.” Bruce squeezes his eyes shut in concentration, only getting green up to his chin.

“Bruce, where’s your guy?” You ask, keeping your eyes on the aliens coming towards you.

“I don’t know, we’re having a thing.” He squints harder.

“We don’t have time for a thing, amigo!” Eduardo snaps, all of you stepping back cautiously as the giant alien gets closer and closer.

“Dude, you’re embarrassing us in front of wizards.” Your dad mumbles.

“Sorry man.”

“Kids, watch him?” Your dad glances at the both of you, before stepping forward and activating his armor. He grows a set of blasters, sending the big alien back to the tall and skinny one.

It steps forward, and motions upwards. A spike of the earth sends your father upwards, and the ground beneath you trembles as trees uproot from the pavement.

“Dr. Banner, if the rest of your green friend won't be joining us....” the blue robed magician turns around and creates a portal, you and El Dorado also falling through it.

You grunt as you land on the ground, and you recognize a park that was near by. Part of a car falls through the portal after being sliced off, and you catch it before it lands on all three of you.

“Catch us up, why don’t you?” You turn to Banner after tossing the car aside.

“Uh, the wizard with the necklace is Dr. Strange, the other is Wong. Don’t know who the aliens are. I’m back, long story.” Banner rambles. “Oh and there’s an evil overlord called Thanos coming for us.”

You all duck when something is thrown at you at full speed, and wince when you realize it was your dad. He plows into the ground, crashing into a tree and effectively knocking it clean over.

“Dad!” You zoom over, helping him up. “Are you okay? How we doing?”

“Good. Really really good.” He says sarcastically. “Banner! Do you plan on helping out anytime soon?”

“I’m trying, man!”

You see the big alien throw a hammer towards Bruce, so you catapult yourself over and knock both him and Eduardo out of the way, and the hammer splits a tree. The alien then runs over and picks up the hammer, going for Iron Man. It’s about to deliver a blow to your dads head, but thankfully a familiar spandex wearing nerd blocks the hit.

“Hi Mr. Stark!” Spider-Man says happily.

“Kid? Where’d you come from?” Your dad asks him.

“Field trip!”

You watch as the alien flings Spider-Man around, as your father tries to give him instructions. You notice a slab of concrete float past on the street, Dr. Strange passed out on it. The alien followed close behind, clearly controlling the ground.

“Guys there’s the wizard!” You alert them, already flying towards it. Spider-Man swings his way behind you, and Eduardo teleports along the street.

The alien begins to throw billboards and rubble at the three of you, which you easily dodge thanks to your training. Spider-Man gets knocked down, El Dorado quickly helping him up before continuing to follow your lead.

Suddenly a blue beam shoots to the ground, and the alien starts to float upwards, along with Dr. Strange.

“Aw shit!” El Dorado yelps when he realizes he’s also being pulled up.

“Uhh, Iron Maiden? Mr. Stark? We’re being beamed up!” Spider-Man says, as if you couldn’t see it.

“Hang on, kid.” Your dad says through the coms. “Y/N, think you can get them?”

“I’m on it!” You nod, blasting yourself into the sky after them. They thankfully don’t get beamed inside the ship, Spider-Man was able to swing them over to a flat part of the ship.

You rocket yourself up to them, seeing El Dorado press his com, and a mask wraps around his face. You curse to yourself, knowing Peter didn’t have one of those. You shriek when he falls, but see something fly up and hit his back. You look down, seeing Iron Man in pursuit of you guys.

“Guys, get back to earth.” He orders.

“But the wizard!” El Dorado protests.

“Yeah, we’re already all the way up here.” You say, using F.R.I.D.A.Y to check their vitals.

“Y/N Stark, get your ass back home right this second.” Your dad snaps at you.

“Oh, fine.” You grumble, then grab Eduardo. Peter webs onto the back of your suit, and you start to fly back down to earth.

“Wait, you’re actually listening to him?” Eduardo asks you.

“Of course not.” You scoff, watching and waiting for the perfect time to go back up to the spaceship.

You watch your dad cut a hole and go inside, then follow him in. You all sneak behind him, staying near the back. Peter looks back to a window, eyes widening instantly.

“Oh my god! We should’ve gone back to earth!” He whispers to you and Eduardo.

“Shh!” You both hiss at him.

“If we get caught, we’re blaming it all on you.” El Dorado shrugs.

•

“I am never listening to you ever again.” Tye kicks his friends shin.

“Ow!” Jaime swats his arm in retaliation. “This isn’t my fault!”

“Mmhmm.” Tye raises an eyebrow.

“Sing along boys! Come on!” Star Lord calls from the captains chair, bopping along to some song from like, the 60s or something.

“No thanks, Mr. Quill!” Jaime said politely, while Tye openly rolled his eyes.

“Please, no formalities.” Star Lord laughs. “It’s Star Lord.”

“Oh give it a rest, would ya?” Rocket shakes his head.

“I am Groot.”

“That’s so uncalled for! I don’t call you that!” Quill stares at the talking tree, offended.

Okay, so maybe this was Jaime’s fault. Him and Tye got a distress call down on earth, so they suited up and rushed to it. They didn’t expect to see a spaceship, or aliens wreaking havoc by smashing buildings and killing people. The aliens kidnapped a few people, so Jaime didn’t hesitate and grabbed Tye, flying after them. Despite Tye’s screaming and threats to murder Jaime, he boarded the ship in attempt to rescue the people. Then the ship got way too far away from earth when it went through a jump point.

Thankfully though, the Guardians of the Galaxy happened to be prisoners on the ship, and they helped bust them out. In return, Quill helped his fellow earthlings out by agreeing to fly them back to earth. But first, there was another distress call nearby.

“We are arriving.” Mantis alerts the rest of the team.

“All right, Guardians. Don't forget, this might be dangerous, so let's put on our mean faces.” Star Lord says as the Milano decelerates once they reach the coordinates.

A sea of bodies floats around, making Jaime and Tye momentarily forget about their petty bickering.

“What happened?” Mantis asks.

“Looks like we’re not getting paid.” Rocket mutters.

There’s a loud thump, Tye and Jaime’s eyes widen when they see the body of the mighty Avenger, Thor.

“Wipers! Wipers!” Rocket waves in disgust. “Get it off!”

The gods eye opens, everyone yells in surprise.

“Dude that’s Thor!” Tye shouts in disbelief.

“Who the hells Thor?” Gamora asked.

“That!” Tye and Jaime gesture wildly.

“Alright, Alright!” Star Lord stands up. “Let’s get him inside.”

Star Lord and Blue Beetle fly out and grab the god, dragging him into the ship. Drax and Tye (in his astral form) haul the heavy man onto a table that Rocket and Mantis cleared.

“How the Hell is this dude still alive?” Star Lord asked.

“Bro, he’s literally a god.” Jaime scoffs.

“Yeah, the guy cannot die.” Tye crossed his arms as they all stare down at Thor.

“Actually I think he can-“

“Nobody asked you.”

“Children, please.” Star Lord held a hand up to silence them. “We need to help this dude.”

“He is not a dude.” Drax piped up. “You're a dude. This... this is a man. A handsome, muscular man.”

“I’m muscular.” Quill says, clearly offended.

“Who are you kidding, Quill? You're one sandwich away from fat.” Rocket stares at the leader.

“Yeah right.” He scoffed.

“You have gained a little weight...” Drax says, before gesturing to his chin and belly.

“Gamora? Do you think I’m...”

“He is anxious. Angry. He feels tremendous loss and guilt.” Mantis informs the team.

“It’s like a pirate had a baby with an angel.” Drax says, almost dreamily.

“What is happening?” Jaime whispered to Tye.

“I’m still not talking to you.” Tye mumbled before sitting with Groot, and pettily glaring at Jaime from across the room.

The Guardians continue to dawn over Thor, bickering all the while. Mantis finally wakes him up, and he violently sits up and looks around. Jaime activates Blue Beetle, standing defensively with the others (besides Tye and Groot, who hardly even care to notice).

“Who the hell are you guys?” Thor asks, as everyone exchanged glances.

Jaime joins the other teenagers on the ship and watches as they establish who they are, then listen in horror to the stories of Thanos. He was headed straight for earth, their home.

Thor then shoved Tye and Jaime aside to get to a number pad near a door. They watch as he manually tried to figure out the code.

“What are you doing?” Quill asked.

“I’m taking your pod.” Thor says casually.

“No, you’re not.” Quill clears his throat, deepening his voice and suddenly having an accent.

“Uh...Quill?” Rocket stared at Quill in a teasing manner.

“Dude, did you just deepen your voice?” Tye snorts, him and Jaime laughing as Quill tries to make himself look bigger.

“No.”

“You are. You're imitating the god-man. It's weird.” Drax blinked in disbelief.

“No I’m not.” Star Lord put his hands on his hips.

“He just did the again!” Mantis gasped.

“This is my normal voice!” Quill protests.

“Are you mocking me?” Thor steps up to Quill, leaning down to glare at him.

“Are you mocking me?” Quill squeaked out.

“Stop it. You did it again.” Thor narrowed his eyes in annoyance.

“He’s trying to copy me.” Quill turned to Tye and Jaime as if to say ‘can you believe this guy?’.

“Sure, man.” Tye pat his shoulder.

“Enough!” Gamora snapped at the men. Her, Thor and Quill argued back and forth, trying to decide their next move. Finally, Rocket and Groot decide to go with Thor to Nidavellir.

“Boys, go with them.” Gamora orders.

“What? No way!” Tye immediately glared at her.

“We need to stop Thanos!” Jaime stands with his friend.

“Go with them! You’ll be safer than with us!” Gamora yells at them.

“No way, lady.” Tye crosses his arms and stood up to Gamora.

Everyone watched in tense horror as they had a stare down, nobody knowing who would strike first.

“Fine.” Gamora said through her teeth. “But don’t blame me if you get killed.”

“Whatever.” Tye grins in victory as she steps away.

“I bid you farewell and goodbye, morons.” Thor smiles before the pod takes off.

The Guardians break to plan, Tye and Jaime sit in the front chairs, after promising not to touch anything. It would be bad for the two inexperienced children to drive them into hyper space.

Tye ignores Jaime, still kinda pissed they were in the middle of space instead of at home at Stark Tower. They wondered if Mr. Stark had issued a worldwide search for them yet, or if Y/N and Eduardo had started threatening people to find them. This Thanos guy was coming right for their planet, which only added to their anxiety.

“I’m sorry I got us all the way out here, hermano.” Jaime sighs after awhile.

Tye raises an eyebrow at looks at his friend, seeing guilt evident on his usually happy face. Tye rolls his eyes and sighs, finally giving in.

“It’s fine, man.” He says. “I’m not really mad.”

Jaime raised an eyebrow.

“I am a little.” He shrugged. “But I’m not as mad as when Eduardo got us stuck here.”

“You’re still mad about that? This dimension is great.”

“Don’t you miss your family?”

“Obviously I do.” Jaime nodded. “But we’ve got one here, too.”

Tye nodded, and they both turn back to stare at the passing stars. They’re left alone for a long while, until the Guardians kick them out of their chairs when they arrive at Knowhere.

“You two stay here.” Quill orders Tye and Jaime.

“Man, we’re not useless children.” Tye rolled his eyes as he grabbed Jaime arm, following them anyways.

“You kid, are a stubborn little punk.” Quill balled a fist up in anger.

“So I’ve been told.” Tye nodded as Jaime activates Blue Beetle. “Chillax grandpa, we can take care of ourselves.”

“Grandpa?”

“Shut it!” Gamora hissed as they see some people up ahead.

Star Lord holds up a fist to signal for them to halt, but nobody pays him any attention and just walks past. Jaime follows Tye as they duck behind some rubble, and Star Lord gives them all orders. Drax becomes very angry very quickly, and starts to pursue Thanos. Quill motions for Tye and Jaime to grab him, but the destroyer is twice the size of both of them combined, so it was no use. Mantis reaches over and puts Drax to sleep, causing him to fall and alert Thanos of their presence.

“Gamora, Mantis, you go right. Boys, stay here. I’ll go left-“ Star Lord watches as Gamora charges at Thanos head on. “Your other right!”

Gamora stabs Thanos twice, then falls to floor in sobs. They watch as Thanos dies, but Tye senses this wasn’t the end.

“That was quick...” Quill says, surprised.

“Too quick.” Tye mumbles.

“What?” Jaime asks, but is interrupted by Thanos’ disembodied voice.

They watch as the scene bubbles away, and it’s revealed that the Collectors room is destroyed and on fire. Drax and Mantis leap at Thanos, but are disassembled. Tye and Jaime jump at him, but Thanos uses the power stone to knock them into a display case. Blue Beetle activates a blaster and shoots at the glass, but it bounces back and nearly hits both of them.

“Watch where you point that!” Tye yelped, shoving Jaime.

“Dude! Focus! Can’t you bust us outta this thing?” Jaime asked.

“If you can’t what makes you think I can?”

They look out to see Gamora in Thanos’ hold, Quill pointing an elemental gun at her. Thanos pushes her towards him, he shuts his eyes and pulls the trigger. Bubbles shoot out of the gun before it melts away, then Thanos and Gamora are gone.

[firesoulstuff]

Captain Canary + Soulmates have a set of coordinates where they will meet their soulmate

Read on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/12378978/chapters/62394961

It’s safe to say that when they decided to blow up The Oculus the Legends really had no idea what was about to happen to the universe. One thing none of them were expecting was to come out of the mission with the sudden appearance of coordinate tattoos on their wrists; all of them different.

“Oh hell,” Had been Rip’s groaning response to the tattoos. “This is one of those universes.”

“What do you mean?”

Kendra had asked and Rip, looking all suffering as ever, had sighed.

“In about half of the realities that exist within the multiverse people are born with a mark of some sort that is supposed to signify a soulmate. Apparently this universe was among them before The Time Master’s took control of The Oculus.”

Sara had furrowed her brow, crossed her arms, and taken a threatening step forward.

“Soulmates? Didn’t we just destroy The Oculus so we wouldn’t have any of this pre-determined crap?”

“We destroyed the Time Masters’ hold on The Oculus.” He answered her, meeting her glare. “But The Oculus itself is essentially time condensed. It doesn’t control anything, but it knows what will happen.”

That hadn’t been overly reassuring in the wake of Leonard’s death.

But, Sara learned to live with it.

The coordinate tattoos weren’t hard to figure out; they represent where two soulmates are supposed to meet.

At least, that’s what everything tells them.

It seems to work for everyone except for Sara, because she doesn’t have any coordinates.

She has a mark, but where everyone else has the latitude, longitude, and even letters for direction she has dashes. She has the degree symbols, the apostrophes, and the periods, but between them all where the rest of the world has numbers she has dashes.

“Maybe it has something to do with being at The Vanishing Point when The Oculus blew.” Kendra suggests before she leaves. “Mine and Carter’s coordinates don’t lead back to Egypt, or where we first met in this life. Instead it’s where we were first reunited after The Oculus.”

She nods along and gives an unconvinced “maybe,” but ultimately she isn’t sure believes Kendra. The rest of the team was at The Vanishing Point to, and they all have normal marks.

She tries not to think about it much, and as time goes on that gets easier. Of course there are exceptions, such as Ray and later on Nate’s easy reading of coordinates leading to them both knowing right away when they’ve met their soulmates.

Whatever, bigger problems, as always.

Actually, today her mark isn’t even on her mind. Today she is far more interested in relaxing and doing some maintenance around the ship, especially since Behrad is off with both Zari’s trying to explain the whole split timeline thing to their parents. So that’s what she’s doing, maintenance, on Gideon’s main console system to be specific, when she hears Nate yelp.

She growls, so much for getting anything done today.

“Uh… Sara?”

She’s already crawling backwards, setting down her wrench and getting to her feet. She’s bracing herself for whatever he is about to say.

But, instead of saying anything, he is pointing one shaking finger at something through the window pains.

She squints as she moves closer, her eyes trying to process the rather large shape suspended in front of them in the green and yellow of the time stream and then she gasps.

It’s a body.

More than a body, she realizes quickly, it’s Leonard Snart.

She reaches out an arm towards Nate, her fingers barely brushing his bicep.

“Call Ray.” She orders, though her voice is barely a whisper.

And her eyes do not move.

.

.

.

Ray comes, quickly, and between him in his suit and a very sturdy rope they manage to get Leonard brought on board The Waverider.

The atmosphere around the rescue is tense. Between Sara, Mick, and even Ray not wanting to get their hopes too high, and John and Nate knowing Leonard’s history with the team but not having been there for it, you can feel the air on the ship growing heavier with every passing minute even after Gideon confirms that this is their Leonard.

Something Sara really can’t believe.

She has Gideon double check twice, and then three times to confirm the lack of consciousness is really the only detectible problem with him. Ray and Nate start spouting theories right around then about how the temporal zone must have kept Leonard’s body in stasis all this time. They also argue about how he was never launched out of it.

Sara doesn’t have it in her to listen.

Eventually everyone but her clears out of the med bay. Mick is the last to go, but he does go, telling her Lita has a soccer game and he’ll check in again when he gets back.

Somewhere in the back of her mind it processes that in 2020 soccer season ended months ago.

She thinks about leaving too, but it would be cruel to allow Leonard to wake up alone so she pulls up a chair and sits in wait.

She doesn’t end up waiting for long.

It’s barely an hour before he starts to stir, his eyes scrunching before they crack open. He looks confused, and he starts to sit himself up but then he notices her, and he closes his eyes again with a sigh.

“Please tell me I’m alive.” He murmurs, and while she wants to laugh outright she thinks that might scare him, so she settles for a smirk.

“You’re alive crook.” She says, and the feel of that name on her lips makes it impossible to hide her genuine smile.

Good thing his eyes are still closed.

Her face does fall, after a moment, because he is alive but… Well, as far as they’ve been concerned, he hasn’t been.

She leans forward in her chair, her elbows balancing on her thighs and her hands wring together. His eyes are still closed, but she can tell he’s paying her his full attention. He’s listening, intently, even if he is too tired or embarrassed to look at her.

“How long do you think you’ve been out?”

He shrugs, and his eyes crack open, his expression thoughtful.

“A few hours, maybe a day.”

He rolls his head up against the back of the chair, craning his neck to look at her.

“How long was it really?”

She bites at the inside of her lip and glances down to her folded fingers for a moment.

“Four years.”

She watches the air leave his body.

He blinks and starts to sit up. She watches as he stares out into the med bay at nothing in particular. For a long moment the two of them sit in silence. In fact the silence lasts for so long Sara starts to wonder if maybe she should go and come back later; give him some time alone to process.

Except before she can bring herself to leave him he brings his eyes down to look himself over and his brows knit together with confusion.

“Who gave me a tattoo?”

She’s able to smile and emit a small laugh at that, at least until he pulls up his sleeve and turns his wrist out to show her his newly acquired marking, as if to tell her he’s serious.

The smile falls from her face.

No coordinates.

Degree symbols, apostrophes, and periods, but no letters or numbers. In place of those he has dashes, just like her.

Suddenly her mind is catapulted back to Kendra and how she said her and Carter’s marks represent the place they were first reunited after the explosion at The Oculus rather than where they first met before the wellspring was destroyed.

Leonard is still looking at her for an explanation, but his eyes drop down and she notices she has at some point grabbed hold of the cuff to her own sleeve, one finger dipping below it and running across the dashes marked there on her skin.

Dashes that suddenly make sense.

The temporal zone is everywhere and nowhere all at once. There is no way to mark this place on a map.

This place where she is reunited with Leonard for the first time since The Oculus.

“It’s a long story.” She says, and on a whim she does pull her sleeve up to show him her matching mark.

He looks surprised, but not like he suspects she did this to him.

“Cards?”

[thorne93]

Unforeseen Chasm (Part 56)

Prompt: Two sisters fall for men that are absolute enemies. The love they have could tear all of them apart, or it could bring them together.

Word Count:1991

Warnings: Language, infinity war plot continues, Note: This is by far the longest thing I’ve ever written (including my novels). It’s a collaboration with the amazing @mrs-dragneel-stark-solo​. It started as a funny “What if…?” and it evolved and got huge. This took two years to write. We are both proud and happy and we hope you enjoy it. It follows from Thor 1 to Endgame in the MCU. Some of the timelines may be off in order to fit certain people, and some characters may show up earlier or in different ways than they have in the movie. But for the most part, it follows the MCU. It also has a bit of crossover with some other Marvel characters throughout the story.

Masterlist for Unforeseen Chasm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Do you have a plan?” Loki asked, as if he felt you already had one. The two of you stood in your apartment. It was eerily quiet and calm. Part of you wanted to stay in there where it was seemingly safe. You just wanted to grab Loki, wrap your arms around him, and pretend like none of this awfulness was happening. But you knew that was wrong. The universe needed you, both of you. Vision needed you. 

“No. I don’t,” you answered shakily. 

“Then what are we do--”

“I don’t know, okay? They can help Strange with the time stone. We need to get to Vision and warn him.” It was hard to keep the absolute panic out of your voice. Thanos… you’d escaped him once, but that was just barely. You knew it wouldn’t happen again, not now that he had two stones. He was about to complete his mission. 

“And then what?”

“Then we fight. We protect Vision, and the rest of the stones at all costs. Loki, he can not get those stones, you know as well as I do life will cease to exist,” you pleaded. 

“I know. Call Steve,” he said and you frowned ever so slightly. Loki had never, ever called him by any of his names. It was either Captain, or The Patriot. 

But he knew this was serious. It was no time to beat around the bush or be clever. 

Finally, the spell broke on you of the horror that snaked through both of you and you called him. 

“Hello?” His voice sounded wary.

“Steve? Steve, it’s Y/N. Do you know where Vision is?” 

“I may have an idea, why? What’s going on?” 

“Thanos, the guy that took Loki and me? Brainwashed us. He’s coming to Earth. He may already be here. He’s sending his minions to find the infinity stones. One of them is already in New York, with Strange. Tony, Shannon, and Wong are helping protect it. Vision has the other one. Thanos already has two. He can’t get these other ones, Steve. He just can’t. He will end life as we know it.” 

“Alright. What do you need me to do?” 

“Get to Vision. Tell me where he is. I can help protect him.” 

“He’s in Scotland. Glasgow. They’re staying at a hotel in downtown. Hang on… Grand Central Hotel.” 

“Okay. Meet you there. Hurry. Call him if you can.” 

“Will do.” 

With that, you hung up and turned to Loki. 

“We need to get to Scotland. Fast.”

----------------------

You were able to take one of Tony’s jets and use its near supersonic speed to get you to Scotland in a matter of a few hours. You found the hotel but Vision, and you were assuming Wanda, weren’t there. You began walking the streets, hoping to find them, or Steve, when you suddenly you heard a scream. 

Shit.

You and Loki took off running toward the sound. Only to find Wanda get catapulted into a store window and Corvus Glaive slam a scepter down onto Vision’s head, trying to draw out the stone. 

“Hey, fuck bag!” you yelled, your dark energy flowing out of you, hitting him and knocking him off of Vision. Proxima raised her spear and chucked it at you but Loki caught it just before it hit you and he hurled it back at her, knocking her to the ground. 

“Go!” you screamed to Wanda and Vision. She nodded, grabbing Vision with her power and going over the tops of buildings. “You gotta go through me, Corvus,” you said with a smirk. 

“Too easy,” he said as he charged at you but you raised your hands and electrified him but he raised his spear and shot a spark of power at you knocking you off your feet. Loki tried to keep Proxima busy but at one point, they got away from both of you, fighting Wanda and Vision all over the city, on rooftops. By the time you flew up to the rooftop though, they were already fighting towards a glass ceiling, several feet away from you.

They crashed into a train station where you finally caught up to them, only to find Vision badly hurt, Wanda trying to protect him, and Steve across the tracks. You smiled at him and he stepped forward. 

Natasha and Sam suddenly burst onto the scene, where Natasha stabbed Corvus in the stomach and you wanted to applaud her, but now was not the time. The three of them worked to fight Proxima and Corvus until Corvus lied on the ground and he couldn’t stand. 

“We don’t want to kill you, but we will,” Natasha said as you approached them. 

“You’ll never get the chance again,” she promised, which lit a fire inside you. 

A beam of light came down and retrieved them, making you turn to Nat angrily. “You should’ve killed them.” 

“What good would it have done?” she challenged. 

“You have no idea what’s coming,” you said with accusation. “If we have any flicker of hope against Thanos, we can’t let his army get back to him.”

“I killed one of them, what more do you want?” 

“I want every one who is in alliance with Thanos dead,” you deadpanned as you got close to her. 

“Alright, alright, take it easy,” Steve ordered gently before getting between you and Natasha.

“I can’t, Steve. The fate of the universe depends on us stopping him. We can’t let any of them go.”

“Well, I didn’t see you taking any fatal shots,” he remarked. The comment made you stiffen and sigh. He was right, and that destroyed you. This was your fault they were alive too. “Alright. Now we need to get back to base.”

------------------------------

Steve, you, Nat, Vision, Wanda, and Loki walked into the Avengers Compound. Rhodey had been talking to Secretary Ross, the same man who sent most of your friends to jail. 

You immediately found Shannon. She was standing at a table, mumbling to herself. You didn’t see Tony and your heart skipped a beat. You approached her, bracing for whatever she was about to tell you.

“Look who's back!” She rushed to you and the others. “Are you guys alright?” She pulled back from hugging you and looked to see who needed healing. “Come here Wanda, let me get rid of that cut.” She got closer and cleared the cut leaving a little irritation.

You shook your head. “Shan, where’s Tony? Stephen?” Your heart was pounding, waiting for an answer, fearing the absolute worse.

She looked over to you and she held her chest and her eyes began to water. “Ton-Tony’s up in space and I lost signal,” she wiped her tears. “He went after Peter to get him off the ship and figure out what their plan was.”

You stood there baffled. “Wait. Shan,” you started, feeling a panic attack coming on. “Back up. How the hell did Tony wind up on that ship? And Peter? Parker? The fucking kid? He’s on the ship? And Stephen…” You choked down a sob. “Tell me they’re not all lost in space with that fucking Squidward asshole… What happened?” 

“One moment the three of us are fighting Maw and keeping Bruce safe, the next Peter swings in out of nowhere and is helping. Tony had him go after Maw because he took Strange and the time stone,” she was shaking really hard as she spoke. “Tony rushed after the two of them and had to enter the ship to get to them and I lost the signal once they were too far away.”

It felt as if all the blood had drained from you. “Stephen… is in the hands of Maw? With Tony and Peter and we can’t get ahold of them?” You started to really break down until Loki ran over and wrapped his arms around you, shushing you. He stroked your hair and kissed your head before pushing you slightly away from him. 

“Love, I know you're scared, but we have a problem. We need to address it, now,” he reminded softly, but sternly.

“You’re right,” you agreed, swallowing your tears. “Shannon,” you said before wrapping her in a tight hug. “I’m so sorry. We’ll find Tony, alright? We need to find Thanos first. He’s our main objective. Those three can handle that idiot Maw, okay?” You rubbed her arm, trying to keep her calm and refocus her, just as Loki had done for you.

“I know Y/N, there goes Tony again doing something crazy.” she tried to laugh but it made her cry more. “You’re right we need to focus.” In that instant she focused up and was in mission mode. “Alright this is what we know so far…” she went off to explain what she knew and let Steve continue.

“Alright, Y/N, Loki, you two spent the most time with Thanos out of everyone here, what does he want? What are we looking at?” Steve demanded once all the troops were rounded up. Bruce went to get cleaned up and Pietro had to be retrieved from his place in hiding.

“The biggest army in the universe,” you said without hesitation. “The only reason we didn’t win in New York is because subconsciously we didn’t want to. I’m not saying that to start a pissing contest. I’m stating it as a fact. With Thanos army alone, a monkey could win, but we didn’t want to.”

“Could’ve fooled us,” Rhodey remarked and you made a face of chagrin.

“So what’s his mission? What does he want?” 

“Annihilation. He wants to gather all six infinity stones and with the snap of his fingers, he can wipe out half of all life across the universe.” After Charles had removed your brainwashing a long time ago, he’d also somehow restored the memories of Thanos’s plans that you’d overheard time and time again on Sanctuary. Thanos probably removed them to make sure you didn’t betray him in any way. Now though, that knowledge was extremely useful and caused you no pain to remember it. You told the Avengers everything you could to help them. He had to be stopped at any and all costs.

“And he already has two,” Steve realized.

“Which is more than anyone has ever had, except for Loki and myself when we had the Tesseract and the scepter, but even then, they were in vessels. Now, the mind stone is on Vision’s head and Thanos crushed the tesseract to get the space stone,” you explained. 

“But back in New York we didn’t have Wanda or Vision,” Nat started. “Plus you and Loki are on our side now, right?” 

“Of course,” you said as if it was obvious. “You’ll have me, Shannon, and the rest of you. We have a chance, a better chance… but if we are facing Thanos himself… he’s like a rabid dog when it comes to these stones. He won’t stop until he has them all even Vision’s,” you solemnly told them as you peered at Wanda and Vision. 

They looked back at you with a look like they didn’t want to believe you but they knew that you were telling the truth.

“Then we have to protect it,” Natasha responded.

“No, we have to destroy it. I've been giving a good deal of thought to this entity in my head, about its nature. But also, its composition. I think if it were exposed to a sufficiently powerful energy source, something, very similar to its own signature, perhaps… its molecular integrity could fail,” Vision suddenly said, aiming it at Wanda.

“And you, with it. We're not having this conversation,” she remarked.

The next few minutes were spent debating on whether or not Vision’s stone had to be destroyed. You didn’t weigh in on the matter. This was Vision and Wanda’s choice. 

Finally, Bruce concluded that perhaps Wakanda would have the resources they needed to extract the stone, so that’s where everyone headed. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tag List: @essie1876​ @magpiegirl80​ @letsgetfuckingsuperwholocked​ @iamwarrenspeace​ @marvel-imagines-yes-please​

@superwholocked527 @missinstantgratification @thejemersoninferno @rda1989 @munlis @thefridgeismybestie @bubblyanarocks3 @igiveupicantthinkofausername @kaliforniacoastalteens @feelmyroarrrr @kaelingoat-blog @friendlyneighbourhoodweirdo @damalseer @heyitscam99 @yknott81 @sorryimacrapwriter @glitterquadricorn @xxqueenofisolationxx @little-dis-kaalista-pythonissama @bittersweetunicorm @alyssaj23 @sea040561 @princess76179 @thisismysecrethappyplace @sarahp879 @malfoysqueen14 @ellallheart @breezy1415 @marvelmayo @random-fluffy-pink-unicorn @cocosierra94 @hardcollectionworldtrash @capsmuscles @marvelloushamilton @paintballkid711

Loki: @lostinspace33 @ultrarebelheart @lenawiinchester @esoltis280 @tngrayson @wangdeasang @harrymewmew @jayfantasyatyourservice

UC: @lokis-high-priestess

[britesparc]

Weekend Top Ten #448

Top Ten Moments in The Secret of Monkey Island

This week was one of those weeks where I had a list all ready to go, and then I discovered something that made me throw the whole lot in the bin and write something new in a hurry. And the thing that I discovered is that it is, approximately, the 30th birthday of my favourite videogame of all time, The Secret of Monkey Island.

When I was a kid, I’d go round my cousins’ house and play on their Spectrum or their C64. I played the usual 8-bit hits of the era; Dizzy, Ghostbusters, Skool Daze, that really weird and probably insanely offensive Spitting Image beat-em-up… then I got my Amiga around Christmas 1990, and I figured games would be more-or-less the same but with more colours. I was wrong.

I got two games in short succession that utterly changed my appreciation for the medium: Lemmings and Monkey Island. The first was funny, inventive, colourful and characterful; a fiendishly difficult puzzler that nevertheless made you want to come back for more, because you just fell in love with the Lemmings themselves. It was like nothing I’d seen before, and felt impossible. Monkey Island, on the other hand, was not only better, not only more my cup of tea gameplay wise, but just blew the doors of my perception of what games were and what they could do. It was like an interactive movie before that was even a term; a living cartoon where you were the main character. A funny, wordy, witty adventure story, full of gags and references that I didn’t quite get but that I knew were smart and humorous (and there was lots of daft humour in there that I did get, too). It wasn’t just a case of being able to talk to people – I’d done that in stuff like Skool Daze – but the ability to solve problems, to divine solutions; to work out that you can drug dogs by smearing meat with dubious petals. And even when do did something like that, the game was irreverent enough to put a disclaimer on screen assuring you that the dogs were only sleeping. It broke the fourth wall, and I was only just old enough to understand what that meant in narrative terms; this was a game about gaming, about stories and adventures. It was filled with movie references (George Lucas even makes a cameo!). It inspired me to write into Amiga Power for help with a particular puzzle, and they printed my letter, but by the time it came out about three months had passed and I’d solved the puzzle on my own.

Monkey Island was the first game that I loved as much as the cartoons I watched or the comics I read; Guybrush and Elaine and LeChuck and the rest were the first gaming characters that I took to my heart in the same way as Bumblebee, Garfield, or Peter Venkman. I’ve said it before, but I’m not sure I’d love games the same way if I’d never played Monkey Island. It certainly changed the types of games I wanted to play; even though I’ve enjoyed my fair share of platformers, racing games, and shooters, it’s always the slower-paced narrative games that I come back to, the Fables and Mass Effects and Deus Exes of this world (even faster-paced games like Halo, Gears and Half-Life still grab me with their stories, as daft as they may sometimes be). Basically, Monkey Island made me a sucker for a dialogue tree.

Monkey Island was my gateway to a whole host of other LucasArts adventure games; Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, Sam & Max Hit the Road, Day of the Tentacle, Grim Fandango… Ron Gilbert and Tim Schafer were among the first names of games creators that I ever knew (probably the very first, in all honesty, was Peter Molyneux – I am British after all). It was a window into a much larger world, one filled with choice, consequence, non-sequiturs, and rubber chickens with pullies in the middle.

Anyway, to celebrate Monkey Island, here are my Top Ten moments from the game. See you next year for the Monkey Island 2 list.

How to Get Ahead in Navigating: I’ve gone about it before, but this simple, daft joke – swapping a guide book for an actual navigator’s head – blew my mind as a kid. It forced me to think differently about puzzles and comedy and how to approach the game. For little old me, it was a revelation, and just desperately funny.

How Appropriate, You Fight Like a Cow: a discussion of Monkey can’t be had without talking about the innovative swordfights; a wholly successful attempt to replicate the verbal parrying of a classic Hollywood swordfight, the insult-riposte dynamic also reinforced the puzzle mechanics of the game. Sublime.

Order Hint Book: Monkey Island was the first adventure game I played, so I didn’t realise at the time how innovative its gameplay was, because you could never get hopelessly, game-ruiningly stuck, and nor could you die. Except at one point, when you drown, but even that is a hilarious gag that is easily avoidable. The control verbs changing from things like “Pick Up” to “Decompose” is just tremendous.

Use Staple Remover on Tremendous, Dangerous-Looking Yak: Monkey plays fast and loose with game conventions, sending itself up in the process; the moment when Guybrush enters a room and is hidden from view, undergoing a series of preposterous and expensive-sounding adventures, which you only know about because you can read his actions in the sentence line as if you were still controlling him (“use… gopher repellent… on another gopher…”), is a phenomenal piece of comedy stagecraft, a game parodying games parodying itself, using its own architecture to tell a joke (as well as being a play on the whole “noises off” style of gag in the first place).

Ask Me About Loom: like I say, I’d never played an adventure game before; I’d never heard of any LucasArts (sorry, Lucasfilm Games) titles, apart from maybe Maniac Mansion. So the bloke in the SCUMM Bar with his “Ask me about LOOM” badge, who launches into an intense sales spiel when you speak to him, didn’t make sense at first. But when it clicked, the very idea of a pirate in this game directly referencing another game was fourth-wall-breaking hilarious genius; happening right near the start of the game lets you know what you’re in for.

The Rock: when you get to Monkey Island, there’s a puzzle where you need to use a makeshift seesaw to catapult a boulder onto a tree (or something). If you line it up wrong, you can sink your own ship (and presumably drown your mutinous crew). The first time I played the game, this is what I did; there’s another great gag where castaway Herman Toothrot turns out to have a ship of his own. But the second time I played through, I didn’t sink my ship, and sailed back with my original crew. This blew my mind; whilst obviously not at Warren Spector levels of emergent game design, the fact that you could actually change what happened, to have a different experience to another player, was phenomenal, and another one of those watershed gaming moments for me.

Men of Low Moral Fibre (Pirates): the trio of loitering pirates are funny in and of themselves, with their breath mints and Pieces o’ Eight and minutes from a PTA meeting. But what I always found really funny was that they are literally called “Men of Low Moral Fibre (Pirates)”; that’s what it says in the sentence line when you hover your cursor over them (an aside: Monkey Island and Lemmings probably taught me how to use a mouse). Again it was the game using the structure of a game to tell a joke.

Rescuing Otis: this is what promoted me to write into Amiga Power back in the day: how the heck do you rescue Otis from the jail?! There are delightful red herrings regarding files and whatnot, but the eventual solution – juggling acidic grog from mug to mug as you make your way through the town to eventually pour it on his lock – was a rare moment of fast-paced tension in a relatively slow game. Solving it on my own made me feel so clever at a tender age. And it’s funny! So great!

A Rubber Chicken with a Pulley in the Middle: ah, my beloved rubber chicken. Found early on in the game and used in a couple of puzzles, I don’t think I quite grasped the silly brilliance of it; as a kid you’re just more accepting of the surreal. Why does a rubber chicken have a pulley? It’s basically just so you can zip-line across a chasm; it’s a wholly functional, boring plot device. But it’s also a rubber chicken. It’s sublime comic genius. And then you cook it! Madness!

The Voodoo Root: I’ve not even mentioned The Ghost Pirate LeChuck yet (if I’m honest his best “moments” are in the sequel) but the finale of the game, when you’ve distilled your Voodoo Root and you’re dispatching ghosts left right and centre, brilliantly marries an epic adventure action sequence with the point-and-click structure of the game itself. But then you fight LeChuck and he boots you around the island, until finally you crash land on a soft drinks dispenser, and finally defeat him with… a can of root beer. Cue fireworks and a strangely romantic ending. Is it as good as the ending of Monkey 2? No, but nothing is. Literally nothing, in the history of the universe.

Wow, there we are. I never had room for the dance steps, the recipe, finding the treasure, defeating the Sword Master, or Stan. Stan! I didn’t have room for Stan! See, that’s how good the game is; I barely mentioned one of the greatest gaming villains of all time, and I didn’t even get round to one of the medium’s funniest supporting characters. Blimey.

Man, I love The Secret of Monkey Island. Ron and the rest of you guys: you done good. Thanks for the memories.

[bounty-of-apples]

Save Our Souls, They're All The Worth We Have Left

Relationships: Tomomi/Canach

Characters: Luna, Ashal, Tomomi, Canach

Tags: Minor Character Death (mentioned)

Ao3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/23149831

Summery: At the afterparty of Tomomi and Canach renewing their vows to celebrate 5 years of marriage, Luna gets rather drunk and starts telling stories about her and her brother's adventures.

“He must have been… Well, not much past being a sapling and I remember,” Luna giggles into her drink, her attempts to take a sip disrupted by her laughing, “I found him scrambled up a tree chucking water down at a very unimpressed Stalker who was clawing at the bottom, like a human flicking water at their misbehaving house cat!” She tilts sideways to lean on Ashal as she cracks herself up again, missing and nearly falling off the seat she’s perched crosslegged on – only the quick reactions of her twin saving her from face-planting the floor.

“Alright Luna, that’s probably enough alcohol and embarrassing stories for now.” Tomomi takes her drink from her and steps back as she tries to grab it from him, once more only saved from falling by Ashal’s hug pulling her back. “You’ve drunk enough for three Norns and I think you’ve given my squad plenty material to use against me for one night.”

She slumps back into her seat and pulls a face so childish, one his squad did not expect from her. It looks out of place on their Commander, most of them have only met her a handful of times, and its always been before, during, or after battle when she is high authority.

“Fine…” She drags the word out and sounds as if she’s ready to sulk, until something in her posture changes and her voice drops softer. “What if I tell you about the time he saved my life.”

His squad had started to gather themselves to leave, but she had definitely caught their attention again. They settled back into their places, spread across the floor in-front of her seat like she was a carer getting children ready for bed.

“It must have been, what, six years ago?” She looks up at Tomomi for confirmation, but he says nothing. He’s sat down with his squad and his husband, who’s come to join them after curiosity got the better of him. Tomomi has pressed himself into Canach’s side, seeking comfort from him before the story has even been told. “It was before the Pact had been formed, I was rising in the ranks of Whisper while my brother did the same within the Vigil. I knew what I was going into I wouldn’t be able to manage with just Trahearne, Tybalt, and myself,” Luna’s voice catches on Trahearne’s name and most of the people listening bow their head for a moment in memory of their late Marshal. All except Aurora, who’s gaze snapped up again at the mention of Tybalt – he was an old friend of hers but it had been so long since she had contact from him. “So I contacted Warmaster Laranthir and requested Tomomi and a handful of other soldiers he could spare to accompany us to Claw Island.” Luna reaches out to Ashal sat beside her and grips her twins hand tightly before continuing.

“We made it there in good time. We knew an attack was coming enough of Zhaitan’s spies had been found loitering nearby that we were well aware it was only a matter of time. Watch Commander Talon had become regrettably complacent in his time on Claw Island and didn’t think it was necessary to listen to us. We tried to warn him. We tried to save everyone… There was only a few at first, few enough that the Lionguard didn’t need our help to take them down. We cleared the beach with them anyway, and maybe thats where we went wrong. That fight was over so quickly Talon was even more sure of his decision that Claw Island was incapable of falling. But then came the ships.” Tomomi stands and walks away from the group, choosing to talk to the other members of Dragon’s Watch rather than relive the battle within his sister’s story.

“Built from bone and rot, they rose from the water bringing the stench of death with them. Their catapults bombarded us with corpses. Most of them stood up to fight, but a few just hit the ground and coated the floor in a thin layer of flesh. We fought off as many as we could and managed to sink one or two of the ships but it made no difference. The walls were overrun, we had to fall back. Talon was a stubborn fool who wouldn’t call the retreat, said that Claw Island had stood for nearly a hundred years and how they couldn’t fall. Took a fatal blow before he realised his mistake. I’m not saying he deserved to die, but out of everyone we lost that day, he’s the one I miss the least. A lot of good people could have survived if he’d swallowed his pride.”

“The Lionguard rallied in the courtyard with the few Vigil I’d brought, drawing the attention of most of the undead while Trahearne, Tybalt, Tomomi, and I fought our way around the edges to reach the beacons. At least if we all fell that day, Lion’s Arch would be warned and ready to fight. We made it, and with all the beacons lit we made the foolish mistake of feeling hopeful. With all our remaining forces gathered in the courtyard, it felt like we could fight our way out without having to lose anyone else. There was already so many good soldiers laying dead by our feet. That was when it arrived. We weren’t ready to face one of the dragon’s champions, no one had any idea what it could do. It came from the skies, crushing one of the outer walls as it landed and letting in the undead that were trapped behind it still. But the worst part was its breath. It spewed corruption like it was Zhaitan itself, crippling and blinding our soldiers as we struggled to retreat. And those of us that had already fallen… The corruption wove its way around their corpses and dragged them into servitude. We found ourselves facing people that mere hours before had been our companions.” As she talked, Luna’s glow had faded to a dull, almost sickly colour, which was made all the more obvious by her twin at her side glowing as brightly as any sylvari in the low lighting of the night should be. On hand was still tightly holding onto Ashal, and with the other she had pulled an amulet off from where it hung at her neck and was gently rubbing at the back, a habit anyone who knows her will have seen her do before when she starts to reminisce.

“Those of us who were unaffected did our best to carry the wounded, but it was clear we weren’t going to get to the ships at the rate we were moving, and it did not seem like the winged beast would let us sail even if we did make it. And then… Tybalt stoped and at first I thought he was hurt. But he turned to me and said that he haven't always lived bravely, but he thought he’d like to die that way. He asked me to believe in him. I trusted that bastard so much, he’d been my partner since I joined Whisper and the chaos we’d gotten ourselves into and out of with the other at our back… Of course I believed in him. He turned and he ran back towards the fighting, closed the gates behind him. Last I heard from him was his shout that he wouldn’t let them have us, and the fiercest battle roar any charr would be proud of. I tried to go back for him. Tried to run in after and take him with us, but Tomomi held me tight. He wouldn’t let me go and dragged me back to the ships along with the rest of the survivors, we barely had enough people to fill one ship, let alone the eight moored there.” Luna stands, a little wobbly from the remaining alcohol in her system, but the stance she takes is one they recognise. It’s a far cry from their captain’s sister sat telling embarrassing stories that she had been earlier in the evening, this is now their Commander stood before them once more, ready to address the soldiers that fall under her lead.

“I would have died with Tybalt that day, if Tomomi hadn’t forced me to retreat with them. I’d never have been here to see the Pact be formed, let alone take command beside Marshal Trahearne. But I can’t help wonder what could have been if Watchmaster Talon had listened to us in the first place. If there’s one thing you take from this story, be it that hubris will not only get you killed, but will get everyone around you killed as well. Or perhaps a fate worse than death, should there be dragon’s corruption involved.”

With that final statement closed, she gives a half bow and leaves them, her wolf having moved from where he was resting on the outskirts of the party to take his place by her side once more as she returns to her own tent. The mood is sufficiently brought down and Tomomi’s squad find themselves unwilling to part ways, instead finding comfort in each other’s presences and choosing to move their bedrolls out under the stars so they can all rest together.

Ashal departs not long after they set themselves up, moving off after her sister to see how she’s faring, and leaving Canach alone to think on the story he’d just heard. His husband had never even shared the information that he’d been at that first fateful battle, and it occurs to him now why he goes so quiet and uncomfortable when Aurora mentions her charr friend, the mechanic. Still, these are thoughts for tomorrow, and he sets off to find his husband so they may enjoy the comfort of a long night in each other’s arms and let what tomorrow brings be the problem of the future.