#one shot from carmine's POV it's KILLING ME

[applesjuice]

It's Wed here's a small WIP snippet to show you all why writing this fic hurts so much:

It hadn’t really hit Carmine that something was deeply, terribly wrong until Kieran’s hydrapple let itself out under a torrent of starfall, without a command from its trainer. Everything happened so fast. Terapagos scared her, Miss Briar’s obsession with it scared her. Kiki scared her. The way light bounced off of each surface of the cavern left her dizzy, terastal energy spinning out of control to Miss Briar’s shouts of excitement. Carmine couldn’t see through all the colors, heard only ringing through an eruption of light. Juliana was somewhere before her. Kiki was too. Then so was Miraidon. 

“It’s energy output is going haywire!” Miss Briar cried. She begged them to bring Terapagos under control. 

“We’ve got to get Terapagos under control!” Carmine repeated, almost in prayer. She sent out her sinischa and its chasen twitched visibly in fright. “C’mon, Kiki! You need to do something too.”

Juliana’s meowscarda was already in battle, and she stared at the girl for a moment. Unease again surfaced and floated throughout her, curling within her chest like the shower of petals dropping before her. Tears hung within Juliana’s eyes, wetted her face and visibly choked her. Carmine felt every bit of her fear that she hadn’t acknowledged welling up at them, stealing away all her words. 

Sinischa used Life Dew, and her eyes flicked to Kiki but he wasn’t there.

“It hit him,” she heard Juliana say. “The light, it hit him. I couldn’t– Miraidon. I wasn’t fast enough, and the light hit him.” She then made some vague, keening sound, and more light flashed overhead. The prism caught in it ate any terastal energy, stripping away all of their pokemons’ shine. 

Carmine’s sinischa fell, and she went breathlessly with it. Her eyes laid heavy on its ball. She called out in fear for her brother. “Kiki! You need to help her!” she cried. Her own tears were coming on quickly. Where was her brother!?

His hydrapple responded, placing itself before her as though she were its trainer. The smell of its syrup had her gut rolling, overly sweet and overly familiar like the whiff she got from her brother whenever it was they last hugged. Hydrapple stood at the ready but nobody gave it direction. 

“S-syrup Bomb!” she choked out. 

Juliana held herself stilly, hardly breathing, trying her best not to look at her with so much force that Carmine found herself faltering. One of Hydrapple’s heads turned to look at her. She reeled back from its slow, confused blink. Another head swiveled in search of Kieran, and she followed the line of its sight to its ball, sitting where five others had spilled.  

She leaned to the side, and vomited.

[ssa-daddyhotchner]

Undercover - Chapter 11

Chapter Selection

"Can you write the check." I said to Aaron putting on my clothes. He handed me a check and I go to the elevator, pressing the bottom floor. When I get down to the lobby there was security. 

Two guards standing outside facing the street and two more on the inside facing the elevator; two at the elevator standing on the sides. Seeing as they weren't there when we got here and with Emily assumption; I was going to agree that it was Carmines men.

I walk to the man behind the desk. Handing him the check I walked back into the elevator going to the penthouse. For some reason being down there was making me anxious. My chest was feeling tight and I felt like everyone was staring at me as the room felt like it was getting smaller.

I got upstairs and sat on the bed taking deep breaths. Tugging on my fingers like I was trying to pop them but they wouldn't, constantly pulling at them. Aaron came in from the bathroom asking is if was ok. 

"Yeah I'm fine just a little anxious." He put his hand on my back rubbing slow circles.

"I just got a call from one of Sean's friends, they said they'd try and hold the body for as long as they can before they have to go along with the funeral", I took his hand from behind me and held it in mine. ____________________________ 2 week later

The last few weeks were relatively the same as the previous ones. Carmine asking for a payment to be delivered to the front desk every week. We had given him a total of $600,000.

When Aaron and I were going to buy some food we noticed the guards were gone.

Aaron walked to the front desk. "How long has the security been gone." The man shrugged, "Few hours I guess." We walked outside getting a cab going to the store.

We came back carrying in the groceries into the elevator and to the kitchen. I walked upstairs and changed. "Mr. Hotchner what are you making today", I walked back downstairs and into the kitchen.

"Frozen pizza I don't feel like cooking." He put the pizza on the counter. "Has the team told you how Reid was doing." He nodded. "He's a lot better. He was planning on coming back in the next week."

I was about to say something went I heard the elevator, "Em is that you." I walked to the elevator; I was mistaken. I peered around the corner to see four guards walking in with shotguns.

They didn't see me; I signaled to Aaron. He nodded and grabbed the gun that was under to counter. I went back to Aaron and he handed me the other. We were hiding in the kitchen. Aaron handed me some suppressors and we put them on the guns.

I heard one of the men walking passed. Aaron snuck behind him; he wrapped his arms around his neck putting him in a choke hold. He let go and dropped the body.

What Aaron didn't see was guard by the stairs watching what took place. I shot and the bullet went straight through his abdomen. Seeing him fall, I left the kitchen making my way up the stairs. There was a guard hiding around the corner and he hit me in the head with the butt of his gun knocking me out.

My body hit the floor and there was a thud. Aaron cocked his head and was looking for me.

Aaron checked the bottom floor and saw a man on the balcony. He raised his gun and a shot rang out. The body dropped to the floor automatically. He slowly went up the stairs making zero noise; turning the corner he saw me laying on the floor and his heart dropped. He kept his gun raised and continued looking for the last man.

He looked in the closet, seeing nothing. He was about the step back out when he heard a gun cock right on his back. He took a deep breath and exhaled. He quickly lifted on his arm, his elbow hitting the gun and it aimed upwards, past Aaron's head. A shot fired hitting the ceiling.

Aaron turned around punching the man in the face. The last guard was the largest, he body slammed Aaron into a wall turning him and choking him. Aarons vision blurred as he slowly lost consciousness. _______________________ When I woke up I was in a room with no windows I looked around and saw Aaron laying on the floor in the corner. I crawled over to him still feeling weak, I shook his body till he let out a deep breath and rolled over. "Christopher plea- please get up", there was tear running down my cheek. I slumped over his body; rising and falling with his breaths.

I closed my eyes passing out. I felt a hand on my head and waist, when I got up Aaron was awake and holding me close. We were up against the wall. "Amelia... are you ok", turning my attention to him I nodded.

"Its my fault, I was so close. One of those fuckers choked me, I saw your body on the floor I didn't know if you were dead... there was blood." I hugged him tighter and we sat there waiting for someone to walk in; but no one ever did. We didn't know if it was day or night. By this time the team had to know we were gone right?

My shirt was slightly torn. I started to softly cry into his shirt, I felt a tear on my forehead; he was crying too. I told Aaron I was cold and he held me closer than I thought possible. He took off the sweater he had on and wrapped it around both of us.

Team POV

"Morgan, have you heard from Hotch or y/n today. I cant reach them." Garcia asked him.

"No Emily was supposed to check in. I haven't heard anything." Garcia started typing looking at the camera in the building. "I have four guards going in the elevator... from the looks of it." Garcia trailed off.

"What is it."

"They went to their penthouse... only one came down. He went through the back exit that goes to an ally. He was carrying Hotch and y/n." Morgan called Emily, JJ, and Rossi, "Guys we have a problem." They all took a trip to the penthouse going into the elevator and entered. They were met with 3 dead guards on the floor.

"They put up a fight." Rossi stated. JJ went up the staring seeing the droplets on blood on the floor from y/n.

Morgan walked to the kitchen seeing the food left on the counter and the man on the floor; he checked for a pulse, "He's dead." Emily walked outside on the balcony, "There's another one."

Garcia called Morgan, "There were trackers that y/n had me set up when she realized they were going to be targeted. They're blocking the signal but if they move I could get a location."

Rossi spoke up, "Where would they have taken them." "Carmine has multiple locations in his name but if he took them there they'd be traced back to him", Garcia said.

"Oh there was on place I know about thats not in his name but it does have some significance to him." Garcia stated.

"And that would be", Emily said from outside. "Y/n called me a two weeks ago; she needed someone to talk to... she didn't give me specifics but she did mention they took them out to some warehouse outside the city. She sounded drained when she spoke, I think they did something to them there." JJ walked down the stairs into the living room, "Then lets go there, it's the best lead we have."  

"See that would be a brilliant idea only she never said where it was and the trackers weren't installed until after that happened", Garcia said. "Babygirl I'm gonna need you to run warehouses in a 20 mile radius. He took them this morning its been 10 hrs. His business is in the city he wouldn't have gone far."

"On it, please guys find them." Garcia ended the call. "We gotta get local PD down here; run the IDs on our three John Doe's." Rossi said while calling 911; they all stayed and waited.

_______________________

Team POV Garcia calls Morgan, "I think I found it..." "Found what?", Morgan gets everyone together. "The warehouse, there was a place outside the city that was owned by the 

Avechis. Now they're an old family friend of the Stalones, like they always helping each other out. Don't even ask I already sent the address. Derek please find them."

Morgan hung up the phone and everyone went to the SUVs and drove to the address.

When they get there the search the area before they go inside. They walked inside after clearing the area and saw the dried pools of blood on the ground. They were layered as multiple people were killed there. "Do you think they're coming back", JJ asked Emily.

"The bloods layered; they've done this multiple times so yeah, maybe." Rossi pulled everyone out and set up a perimeter waiting for Carmine to come back with Aaron and y/n.

Y/N POV

I was laying down a with Aaron when I heard a bang at the door and what sounded like a lock. I shook Aaron awake and he looked around and was met with a man standing at the door. "Amelia get behind me." He pushed me off and stood up putting me behind him.

The man got closer and that’s when Aaron threw a punch hitting him in his jaw. He grabbed Aarons hands and cuffed them together. He sat Aaron down and went to me. "Chris put the chair there." "Chris you don't wanna do this." I said to him and he looked at me walking closer.

"Don't fucking touch her!", Aaron yelled; Chris dragged me by the arm sitting me down in a second chair and tied my hands behind my back.

Chris walked over to Aaron with a knife dragging it along his stomach pushing it in, breaking the skin. He took the knife away slicing his leg. Aaron took it stifling his pain, he sliced his other leg, blood slowly running down his thigh and calf. That's when he brought the knife to me, he ripped off my shirt and stared at me. Walking around seeing my body; he saw the scars on my back and he's started tracing them with the blade. I shuttered closing my eyes tight. "Hey Amelia don't pay attention to them look at me. Hey look at me."

I opened my eyes and stared at Aaron; Chris turned the blade around and cut my back using my scars as a guide. He re-opened them, hot tears making there way down my face no matter how hard I tried.

"Jacob!", Chris called out and other guy came in assuming it was Jacob. Jacob brought in a bucket of water, a car battery, and some jumper cables. I knew where this was going and so did Aaron. "Why are you doing this." I said to Chris, he grabbed me by the chin and made me look at him.

"Because we can sweetheart, now shut the hell up", Jacob bringing the cables to Aaron I spoke out again. "Stop! Do me instead don't hurt him....please." God did I hate fucking begging but I wasn't about to let him get hurt more than he already did. "Little slut wanna beg now... ok" Chris looked at Jacob then back at me.

"I like it when they beg", a smirk tugged at his lips. Chris brought the cable to me and pressed it against my abdomen. The electric shock coursing through my body, making me feel paralyzed. I couldn't speak; violently convulsing, he took it away, "Fuck it."

He brought it to Aaron, he shook unable to stop. His screams echoing throughout the room and through the hall; as Chris turned up the voltage. "Stop", I heard by the door. I tried to lift my head up but I couldn't, footsteps coming closer to me lifting my chin. Carmine was staring back at me, "Is the torture necessary... no, but why not; it's so fun."

He was getting a call right then. I couldn't hear the other person on the line. "Ok I will send a car to pick you up." Carmine hung up, "Well todays your lucky day isn't it."

"Cut them loose and load them up." He untied me and uncuffed Aaron kicking us out of the chairs; our bodies slamming into the cold concrete surface. Landing on my back, I rolled over and crawled over to Aaron; his cuts being worse than mine. I grabbed his face calling his name. I was dragged away by Jacob.

I was yelling and crying all of hit me, Chris picked up Aaron dragging him out. Going down the hallway there was multiple doors some of them open and closed. The others that were open had people in beds getting injected, others were cuffed to the walls.

We reached the end and I accepted the situation. I wasn't gonna leave without Aaron. Getting thrown into a truck they closed the doors and they started driving. I picked Aaron up sitting against the side of the car putting him in front of me trying to wake him up. I used the fabric from my shirt to tie off his leg. The blood still rolling down slowly.

The drive was long and I started to fade away the blood trickling down my back. Aaron had stopped bleeding completely. The doors swung open and the light was blinding. They grabbed us by our collars, and brought us into the warehouse.

I saw the knives on the ground and I knew what was about to happen. Then kneeled us in front of the 'future investors' and they picked up the knives bringing them to our throats.

"FBI put down the weapons now!" I opened my eyes and I saw the teams and swat flooding in. The couple dropped the knives and got on their knees. Emily ran over to me and helped me up, I said thank you then went to Aaron who was barley awake. "Aaron", I was fighting back tears. I pulled him into a tight hug and he hugged back.

Emily was staring at us along with Morgan, but Rossi just smiled slightly and walked away. I put Aarons arm around my shoulder and helped him up. He was wincing as we walked to the ambulance. They put him in the gurney and I drove to the hospital with him.

I passed out on the trip, when I woke up I saw Emily next to me. "Hey, your awake", she moved the hair off my face. "Where's Hotch?", I didn't care about anything I just wanted to be with him. "He's a few doors down. The cuts on his legs weren't to deep he just needed stitches and so did you." I tried to get up and I stumbled.

"What do you think you're doing", I looked at her in the eyes and left the room. I find Aarons room and Rossi is sitting on the couch talking to him. Dave sees me, "I'll give you two a minute." He leaves and take his spot on the couch grabbing his hand.

"Hey you" I let out a small, "Hi." I see a tear run down his face I quickly wipe it away, "I'm sorry." "For what?", he had nothing to be sorry for. "For us getting caught in the first place, I was so close to getting us out of the situation but I failed... if I had just been more careful and checked my surroundings that fucker wouldn't have come up behind me." I grabbed his chin.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, and we made it so it's ok. Alright." He nodded but I knew he still was going to blame himself. "Scoot", He moved over and I laid down next to him. My head rested on his chest is arms making me feel secure and safe. Luckily for us the team had left to the night getting some sleep.

____________________________

@mac99martin @donttellanyoneireadfanfiction @oreogutz @marie1115 @appleblossoms-posts

[hysterialevi]

In the Smoke pt. 7 (Cobblebats) Also thank you guys for 30 followers!!

From Oswald’s POV

I grabbed Falcone by the neck, squeezing hard enough just to make him struggle as he wiggled helplessly in the air, a dangerous, groaning creak emitting from the beam he was hanging from. 

“I don’t got all day,” I snarled at him, “and neither do you. This tower ain’t holding your weight forever, mate, and the GCPD will be here soon. So just tell me what I need to know before I lose my patience, and I might let you go.”

Falcone scoffed. “You expect me to believe that? You just blew my club to hell, and look at my men!” He gestured to the bodies lying around us. “They’re all dead! What’s stopping you from doing the same to me?”

I stepped closer to him and pointed my gun under his jaw, glaring. “Nothing.”

He still refused to comply, and kept his mouth zipped tight. I pressed the gun even harder into his skin, leaving a dent.

“You have the technology to hack into Arkham’s records,” I explained. “And you’re gonna tell me how to do it.”

“And what if I don’t?”

I chuckled. “Then you’ll be of no more use to me, and I’ll kill you. And once I’m done with you, I’ll go after the Waynes, and repeat the exact same process. You think you’re being a hero by defying me? All you’re doing is makin’ it worse for my other enemies...your friends.”

Falcone tried to turn away from my gun. “Why the hell are you even interested in that loony-bin? What could you gain from it?”

My eyes narrowed in anger. “Gain? I didn’t gain shit from that hellhole, but you clearly benefited from it.”

He still looked confused, so I decided to spell it out for him.

“...about twenty years ago, there may have been a woman who was part of a rich family. She had a loving husband, a piece of land that you stole...and a little boy. A son...who was left all alone because of what you did.”

Falcone took a better look at me, his mouth dropping open. “...no. You can’t be--” He blinked rapidly a few times, completely dumbfounded. “...O-Oswald?”

I grinned behind my mask. This was too fun. 

“I told you I’d come back one day, didn’t I?” I taunted. “That I’d destroy everything and everyone you cared about, and send your fortune spiraling down in flames.” I moved my pistol from his jaw to his forehead. “You’ve lived in peace for long enough, Falcone. Time’s up.”

Before I could pull the trigger though, a sharp pain suddenly stung my hand when something hit it, flicking the weapon out of my grasp as it was sent sliding across the floor. I whirled around to see who else was here, and prepared for another attack, only to spot an iconic Batarang sticking out of a nearby wall with its blade barely lodged into the sturdy surface. 

“Let him go.” A low voice said. 

Not too far away from me, lurking in the shadows, was a pair of glowing, white eyes. I smirked, spreading my arms out to my side.

“Batman!” I exclaimed, approaching him. “It’s. About. Time. You set a bomb off, you’d expect a visit from Gotham’s number one vigilante.”

He took a step forward in an intimidating manner, clenching his fists. “I said let him go.”

I glanced over at my bodyguard, Roland, who was standing somewhere off to side. “You hear that, Roland? That sounded like an order.” The blue giant came out of hiding and began prowling towards Batman, cracking his knuckles.

“I’ll crush him.”

“Now, now,” I stopped him, “have a little respect for the Bat. Think he underestimates you.” 

As expected, Batman said nothing in return and simply stared at me, observing the situation like a hawk.

“Listen,” I told him, getting his attention. “I doubt you came here for small talk. You’re obviously here to save Falcone’s arse, which we’ll get to in a moment, but my only question is...why? This man,” I threw a firm punch directly into the crime-boss’ gut, causing him to reel, “don’t deserve being rescued. He’s a bloody gangster--if you can call him that--and he’s been running away from justice for ages. I thought ‘Batman’ was all about justice.”

The vigilante grimly examined the scattered corpses. “This isn’t justice.”

“Pfft, what, and a courtroom is? You can take Falcone to jail as many times as you want, Batman--but he’s always gonna get out. And he’s only gonna go after more victims.”

Interrupting our conversation, the sound of police sirens started to near the club, and I could hear the speedy footsteps of police offers as they tried to break in. I retrieved my gun from the floor and let out a dramatic sigh, Roland blocking off the vigilante from me.

“So sorry this didn’t work out, mate. I’d stay to watch--I really would, but I’ve got a Wayne problem to deal with. Perhaps we can continue this at a later date.” For some reason, that seemed to strike worry in Batman.

I turned to Falcone. “As for him...”

Casually waving goodbye, I shot the rope tying Falcone’s hands to the beam, causing him to plummet immediately through the air with a frightened shriek. Batman instantly bulldozed his way past me and Roland, ignoring the original reason why he came here, and took out that grapple-gun of his, diving off the edge after Falcone. He really was crazy, wasn’t he?

Before either of them could make it back up here however, I decided to take this chance to escape and sprinted out of the club with Roland trailing behind me, evading the GCPD along the way. So, I may not have gained any information from Falcone as I planned, but at least I had a new weapon in my arsenal--and that weapon was waiting to meet me at this very moment.

From Bruce’s POV

I sat patiently in Oz’s office, waiting for my friend to return as I watched the news. So far, there was a recorded count of eleven deaths, and over twenty were injured and in critical condition. Whoever this Penguin was, he certainly caused a good amount of damage, and by attacking the Skyline Club so blatantly, it was obvious that he was trying to send a message. As for Uncle Carmine, he had been saved by the famed Batman, and was now being treated in Gotham’s precinct. As far as I could tell, he wasn’t as badly harmed as the other victims, but he was still in dire need for medical attention. Despite hating what he did for a living, I couldn’t help but worry a little for my uncle. He was still family, after all.

Shutting off the TV, I started to think about what Harvey said back at the café. As obvious as it was, I was still surprised that he actually admitted to being infatuated with me. I didn’t get a chance to respond to his confession, and to be honest, I was kind of grateful for that. Even if that bomb hadn’t gone off, I wouldn’t have known what to say anyways. I mean, Harvey was a friendly and compassionate guy--there was no doubt about that--but I just didn’t share his attraction. My mind was already occupied with fantasizing about someone else.

After a while of waiting, the office’s door finally swung open, revealing Oz in the entryway. He was only wearing his white v-neck right now, and his black coat had been slung over his shoulder. There was a deep, red gash on the back of his hand, and he looked like he had just gotten out of a fight. What happened?

A smile came to my face. “Oz, you’re back. Are you all right? You look like hell.”

Oz looked at me as if he were thinking about something. “Oh, this?” He lifted his hand. “It’s nothin’. Just had a run-in with Batman.”

I froze. “Wait, what?”

He didn’t elaborate much on the subject and simply carried on as always, until his brow raised with realization and he began wrapping a bandage around the wound. “Oh, that’s right...you don’t know about Penguin, do you?”

Was he implying what I thought he was? 

“Oz,” I said suspiciously, “...are you the Penguin?”

He grinned. “The one and only.” Cutting the bandage, he walked towards me. “I would’ve told you sooner, Bruce, but I was worried it’d scare you off.”

“I get that, but if we’re gonna be working together, we need to be honest with each other. All right?”

Oz nodded. “I can work with that. Anyways, we’ve got a lot of work to do. That debate is just ‘round the corner, and it’s the perfect opportunity to expose Falcone, Hilll, and your father.”

“How do you mean?”

“Think ‘bout it. All of Gotham is gonna be watching that night. The entire city’s attention will be on the debate. If we show the evidence there, there won’t be a man, woman, or child who don’t know about the mayor’s crimes.”

I was still a little lost. “But what evidence do we have?”

Oz raised a finger. “That, mate...is where you come in. Apparently, your father’s got access to the records and databases of...pretty much everywhere in Gotham. City Hall, the GCPD, you name it.”

He grabbed a chair and sat on it backwards, scooting closer to me. “I need you to find a way to pull up the records of Arkham Asylum, and send them to me. They’ve got an endless supply of security footage and patient files that could help us tremendously, and we can play ‘em at the debate. What d’you think? Can you handle that?”

I had no idea that my father had such resources, and I didn’t know how he was able to access so much information, but if growing up around criminals helped me do anything--it was being sneaky. I would have to keep a close eye on my father, and watch his every move, but also avoid suspicion at the same time. With enough patience, it was definitely possible.

“I got it covered.” I said.

He winked at me. I melted inside. “Thanks, Bruce. Well, I should get to work on preparations. In the meantime, you just focus on getting that evidence, all right? I’ll take care of the rest. Oh, also--” Oz shrugged, “--sorry for ruining your date with Dent.”

I chuckled. “It wasn’t a date, Oz. I mean, he likes me, but...”

He caught on pretty easily. “You don’t like him back, do you?”

I shook my head in guilt. “No.”

“Who do you like, then?”

My words got stuck in my throat at that question, and I felt myself blushing, but my silence alone was able to say more than enough. Oz grinned flirtatiously.

“Oh, I see. Well...can’t really blame you.”

“I should mention that arrogance is a huge turn-off for me.” I joked.

“Oh, but blowing up a tower on live TV isn’t?”

“You have a thing for theatrics. I respect that.”

He laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind. Anyways,” Oz stood up from his chair and headed for the door, “I’ll start getting everything ready. You just do whatever it takes to find those records, okay?”

“You got it.”

And with that, Oz was out and off to work once again, leaving me alone with one of the biggest tasks of my life. I assumed that my father would have some complex security system to keep out people like me, and I didn’t even know where to begin when it came to hacking. Though, he was away from home right now. This was a good chance to snoop around. I just had to avoid Alfred.

Exiting the office, I shut the lights off behind me and made my way out of HQ, wondering just exactly what the hell I was getting myself into. I loved my father, and the last thing I wanted to do was fight against him, but if he was going to keep harming Gotham like this, I didn’t see any other option. He had to be stopped. 

Even if it meant he had to die.