#or they fell off during the fall and landed somewhere else

[chaotic-kitty]

THE BAD BATCH SPOILERS!!!!

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[fluentmoviequoter]

Confessions of a SWAT Team

Pairing: David 'Deacon' Kay x fem!SWAT!reader

Summary: You and Deacon fell in love with each other, but didn't tell anyone. When officers closer to your age begin flirting with you, Deacon grows distant and won't tell you why.

Warnings: angst, fluff, age gap (not specific but I imagined ~15-20 years, so reader would be late 20s?), Deacon is protective, some arguing, mentions of insecurity, reader is somewhat shy, I used the term "suicide bomber" once in passing. Luca, Street, and Hondo meddle. I think that's all!

Word Count: 2.9k+ words

Requested Here!

Picture from Pinterest

Falling in love with Deacon Kay was easy. Telling anyone, including the man himself, is not so easy.

Deacon Kay never considered the idea of skydiving to be scary… until he found himself falling head over heels for you, the newest recruit. When you walked in on your first day, confident of your skills yet willing to learn your place in the team and receive feedback, he felt something new. You were quiet and reserved, willing to learn, and each time he complimented your skills or offered an idea to make something easier or for improvement, you opened up a bit more. More than attraction, there was a deep need to get to know you, to protect you, to stay close to you, and, later, to hide his biggest secret from you and everyone else. Deacon Kay was falling in love but knew it was wrong.

At the end of your probationary period, you and Deacon have a deep connection, secrets and all. His need to stay close and protect you has only strengthened with time, but every time he looks at you, sees your youth, and pictures the bright future you could have, he tries to silence his heart and listen to his mind. You’re too young and could do so much better, he thinks.

Two months into working with 20 David, you were trapped face-to-face with a suicide bomber. With no protection and no escape route, you maintained a brave act while hoping, praying, that your gear would keep you alive. With three seconds left on the detonator countdown, you feel someone wrap their arms around you as their shoulder blocks your face. The force of the explosion knocks you backward, twisting in your savior’s arms to land on top of Deacon. You feel the pressure build in your eyes as you yell at him never to do that again. He can never know, but his protectiveness scares you because it puts him directly in harm’s way.

After the bombing incident, Deacon gets closer. He puts himself between you and gunfire, taking several shots to his Kevlar while leading you to safety. During a raid with narcotics, a cartel leader jumps on top of you, and you struggle for the upper hand until Deacon hauls him off of you, finishing the fight on your behalf. After Deacon protects you, he always takes you back to the station, placing a gentle hand on the small of your back as he leads you somewhere private. He tends to your wounds and reminds you that he’s always there if you need to talk.

You want to talk to him more than anything, but Deacon is a Sergeant II, and he’s older than you, and, most importantly, he likely frowns upon inter-team relationships. So, you bottle everything up. Forever.

“You think he’ll ever tell her?” Street asks as Deacon walks out, close enough to you that your hands brush with every step.

“He hasn’t even told us,” Luca points out.

“Maybe we should do something.”

“Their relationship is theirs, guys,” Hondo interjects. “We shouldn’t interfere. Yet.”

Street and Luca smile at the thought of intervening in the future and seeing their teammates happy. They know Deacon is single-handedly responsible for breaking you out of your shell, but they’d like to see it go one step further.

✯✯✯✯✯

“She’s gorgeous,” someone says.

Deacon’s brow furrows as he hears voices grow louder. He tries to focus on the computer before him, looking for blueprints for an entry raid.

“Care for a friendly bet?” a second voice asks.

Several young officers dressed in street clothes stop beside the door where Deacon is working. He can see them, but they haven’t noticed him yet. His focus wavers when he thinks he hears your name.

“Of course, we’re still talking about her,” the first guy answers.

Deacon’s focus shifts completely, turning to face them. They’re close to your age and attractive, but what bothers him most is how easily they discuss their attraction to you.

“If you suggest a ‘first one to get a date with her’ bet, I’m out.”

“I was thinking more we see whose pickup line lands better, then we let her choose. She’s not a prize, she’s a person.”

Yet you’re planning to use her as an object in a bet, Deacon thinks.

“Were you at the range yesterday afternoon? She was there. I can’t believe how good she is. 20 David is lucky.”

“For more reasons than one.”

Deacon clenches his jaw as they walk away, still comparing what they've seen of your shooting and fighting skills. He watches you in awe, too, but they have a shot to get close to you.

“Focus,” he whispers to himself, facing the computer.

“Hey, Deac,” you call as you enter. “Hondo wanted to know if you found the property record? Although, I’m still arguing that this is a waste of your talents.”

You stop beside him, leaning against the desk and smiling at him.

“Uh, yeah,” Deacon answers, trying to look anywhere but at your beautiful eyes. “I got it.”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m great. Let’s go.”

You nod slowly before following him out. Two men call your name, and you look over, tilting your head as they beckon you over.

“I’ll be right there, Deac,” you tell him, tapping his shoulder twice.

He nods, watching silently as you walk to them. They smile as they say something quiet enough that he can’t hear. There’s a small smile on your face, and Deacon thinks you’re introducing yourself.

Pointless, he thinks, they know more about you than they should. Not as much as me, though.

The thought catches Deacon off guard, and when he looks back up, the taller officer is openly flirting with you. You laugh and push a stray piece of hair behind your ear. Deacon missed his chance. He walks away while you continue smiling at them, seemingly enjoying their flirtations.

✯✯✯✯✯

You’re uncomfortable; these officers are 1) flirting with you while you’re still working and 2) way too young and immature for you. Forcing a laugh and moving your hand to your hair nervously, you glance over and only see Deacon’s back as he leaves.

“Well, I’ve got to go,” you blurt out, interrupting the worst pickup line you’ve ever heard, “but it was nice to meet you.”

“Oh, okay. We’ll see you around?” one asks.

“I’m sure we will, we work in the same building,” you answer before realizing that it sounds a little too much like an invitation to come talk to you again.

Rushing to follow Deacon, you enter an office behind him, and Hondo immediately starts talking. You stand by Deacon, but he doesn’t look over and roll his eyes at Hondo’s bad analogies like usual. Fiddling with your fingers, you try to focus but wonder what happened. He could have a lot on his mind, or maybe you did something wrong. You decide to give it some time and hope that it passes.

20 David spends the afternoon training, and when you get in the ring with Deacon, you expect it to go as usual. Typically, you throw a few punches and have to beg Deacon to fight back and make it fair. However, today, Deacon has no problem immediately giving you a full-force hit. You step back and catch yourself before returning the hit. You lose the sparring round, and Deacon climbs out without a glance in your direction.

When you see him later while preparing to go home for the night, you stay quiet. Part of you hopes he’ll yell at you or something - anything to acknowledge you, but nothing happens.

“Goodnight,” you say as Deacon leaves the locker room.

He nods without looking at you. Your heart feels like it’s in pieces on the locker room floor, and you take a deep breath before gathering your things to go home.

“Heading out?” Luca asks as he walks in. You nod, and he adds, “We’re going out for a little bit, want to come?”

“No thanks,” you say quietly, closing your locker gently. “See you tomorrow.”

Street opens the door from the other side and holds it, his smile falling as you duck your head and rush past him.

“What happened?” he asks Luca.

“Deacon,” he answers.

“Want to tell me why Deacon is slamming doors?” Hondo asks when Luca and Street exit.

“Is it just Deacon?” Luca asks knowingly.

“Should we do something now? That distance isn’t safe in the field and if she’s nervous around him…” Street trails off.

“We may have to. She’s not the only emotional one, though. Deac looked a little green on his way out,” Hondo responds.

“What now?”

“Let’s see how tomorrow goes. We have the gala tomorrow night, so something needs to happen. And soon.”

✯✯✯✯✯

 Sitting on your couch, you replay every event of the day. Obviously, you did something wrong, which is why Deacon is so eager for space between you. The only ‘bad’ thing that happened before he changed was the officers flirting with you, but you were still on time, so you didn’t do anything wrong.

If Deacon wants space, you’ll give it to him. It’s the least you can do.

The garment bag in your bathroom catches your attention, and you cross your fingers that the gala is enjoyable and not an evening spent avoiding and being avoided by the one man you’d like to dance with.

✯✯✯✯✯

“Hey, brother, you clean up nice,” Hondo taunts as Deacon approaches.

“You don’t look half bad yourself,” Deacon replies, a small smile tugging at his lips. He glances around but doesn’t find what, or who, he’s looking for.

“She’s not here yet,” Street says.

“What?”

Hondo shakes his head, and Street takes his cue, excusing himself to let Hondo and Deacon talk.

“What happened between you two?” he inquires.

“Me and Street?”

Hondo rolls his eyes before looking pointedly at Deacon. “You’re jealous.”

Deacon’s eyes stray from Hondo, locking on something behind him. Turning his head, Hondo laughs when he sees what is more worthy of his friend’s attention.

✯✯✯✯✯

Stepping into the large ballroom, you barely have time for a full breath before the officers from earlier sidle up to you and begin talking. You smile politely and nod, not listening to what they’re saying, as you scan the venue for Deacon. When you find him, he’s standing beside Hondo. Hondo steps away, and Deacon’s eyes lock on yours, his brown eyes wide as his jaw clenches. The eye contact doesn’t last long; Deacon turns his back to you and disappears into the crowd. Your heart and smile fall, so the men surrounding you switch tactics, openly complimenting you, though most of it doesn’t affect you in the slightest.

“Excuse me,” you mutter quietly, pushing between them to follow Deacon.

You deserve an explanation, and you’re going to get one. It takes a few minutes, but you find Deacon standing in front of a fireplace in what appears to be a private office off the back hallway.

“Deac?” you ask, wringing your fingers in front of your stomach.

Deacon doesn’t turn around, but he can see you in his mind (not that you ever leave), with your hair styled beautifully, an outfit that flatters you in every way, and glassy eyes and glossy lips. No matter what you’re wearing, street clothes, your uniform, or formal wear for a police gala, you always look perfect to Deacon. Tonight, though, you’re practically begging to be kissed breathless, to be adored, and if he looks at you, he won’t be able to restrain himself.

“What did I do?”

The question presents your insecurity and shyness, which take Deacon back to your first month when you could barely look him in the eye, and your answers had a five-word maximum. He rubs his hand down his face, hearing you shift behind him.

“Please tell me what I did to make you do this,” you plead.

“You didn’t do anything, I’m just working through some things,” he answers carefully, his back to you. “No big deal.”

“If it’s not a big deal then why am I losing you over it?” you snap, your growing anger overpowering your sadness and nervousness.

“You’re not losing me,” Deacon says, sighing.

“It sure feels like it, David.”

You never use his first name, and the moment Deacon hears it, he turns around. He sees you and loses some of his jealousy and anger but says what he needs to anyway.

“I just needed some space to think,” he replies. “Is that wrong?”

“Needing space to think and avoiding me are two different things.”

“I wasn’t ignoring you-“

“Then why did you leave? Why haven’t you said more than fifteen words to me in the last two days?”

“Why didn’t you talk to me at first?” he asks, his voice rising slightly. He regrets the question immediately but can’t apologize before you speak again.

“If this is what talking to you is going to be like from now on, maybe I never should have started,” you admit, dropping your head as tears gather at your waterline.

“You don’t mean that,” Deacon says quietly.

“Just tell me why. Tell me the truth.”

Deacon doesn’t say anything, and you bite your bottom lip as you think. Deacon wants nothing more than to grab your face, tug your lip free, and kiss you until you don’t talk to him, not because he created a rift between you but because he steals your breath. You’re all he’s ever wanted and more, but the idea still terrifies him. The rejection alone could kill him, but having to see you at work would be worse.

“If you want me to join another team or something, tell me,” you demand. “But I deserve to know why you decided I wasn’t worth the lack of space.”

Deacon’s eyes race to find yours. “This is not about your worth,” he answers, anger spilling through. Not at you, though; at himself, at the situation he put you in, and at those officers who have a chance at what he craves most.

“Then why are you acting like you hate being near me?”

“Because I cannot lose another person I love!” he yells.

You freeze, unable to form a reply. Deacon takes a deep breath when he realizes what he confessed. Your silence is worse than yelling at him.

“I’m sorry,” he begins.

“I love you too,” you whisper, a single tear breaking free when you smile. “I’m in love with you.”

Deacon steps forward, closing the physical and emotional gap. Taking your left hand, he raises his to wipe your tears. His hand lingers by your face as you smile up at him.

“I was jealous,” he explains. “Those cops were flirting with you yesterday and you looked happy. They’re closer to your age and you have more in common. It made sense for you to go for them, not me.”

“Deacon, I was uncomfortable, not happy. I turned around to find you and you were gone and then you just kept getting further away. I want you, Deacon Kay. No one else.”

“Care to dance with me?” he asks quietly.

“I’d love to. I’ve been wanting to all week,” you answer.

His smile grows, drawing your attention to his eyes as he leads you back to the ballroom. You don’t see any members of your team as you walk onto the dance floor. Deacon leads, letting you lean on him again, something you missed in the short time it was gone. The song ends, and you straighten, preparing to pull away.

“I want you too,” Deacon says. “But I don’t want to hide it anymore.”

“Then don’t,” you encourage, smiling as you tap his hand twice.

Deacon smiles and pulls his hands from yours, cupping your face and kissing you without hesitation. You slide your hands up his chest to rest under his lapel. Deacon feels your heart race, his thumb against the pulse point below your jaw, but his beats steadily below your hand. With each of Deacon’s movements, more of your breath, more of your life, more of you becomes his.

“Aye, Deac!” Luca yells from the crowd. “Way to go!”

“About time!” Street adds, leading a round of applause from the entire LAPD.

Deacon pulls back from you, smiling when you hide your face against his neck. He sees the flirty cops from earlier awkwardly clapping with the crowd. His hand rubs up and down your back, glad that everyone, you included, knows that you’re his and he is yours.

“Told you,” Hondo teases as he walks to Deacon’s side. “Green ain’t your color.”

“He only means figuratively, you look good in everything,” you mumble against his skin.

“Want to get out of here?” Deacon asks, his hands still on your back as he holds you against him.

“Please,” you reply, tapping his chest twice.

He leads you out, stopping you after you’re outside.

“Why do you tap me twice?” Deacon asks gently, his arm around your waist and his jacket over your shoulders.

“It’s the only way I could tell you without actually saying it,” you say with a shrug.

“Say what?”

“That I love you.”

Deacon smiles, tapping your waist twice as he moves you to stand closer to him.

His lips meet yours again, and when your hands reach his jaw, you’re not sure where you end or Deacon begins, and it’s perfect. Deacon Kay was easy to fall in love with, easy to be in love with, and he was absolutely worth the wait.

[eras-mus]

hi can i request jamil with a scarabia first year (platonic and male reader) who is his iago. like the reader is a beastman bird or just wears feathered accessories, is brutally honest as it is to be comical to others, knows jamil's true nature and is his partner in crime.

Birds Of A Feather

Jamil Viper x Platonic! Macaw! Male Reader

Summary: Y/n was one of the most extravagant students in Scarabia, from his beautiful multi-colored wings to his elegant outfits. Everyone knew him. How could you not? He was loud, funny, and left a trail of feathers. He seemed to be the opposite of his best friend, Jamil Viper.

★I love this idea so much!!!

★Takes place during the 4th book

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No one would have ever guessed Y/ns true intentions.

It just goes to show how misleading appearances are in this world.

At least that's what Yuu told themself as they walked back to the Scarabia dorm, sand in their shoes, betrayal lingering in the air.

"You look so beautiful all dressed up." That was the first thing Yuu ever told Y/n "Why are you dressed up?"

"I feel the most like myself when I'm dressed like this"

That moment would be the beginning of a friendship that was more valued by Yuu than Y/n.

As the group continued on their long walk back to the Scarabia dorms conversation of missed signs began.

"Kalim, did Jamil ever seem unhappy in your company?"

"How long had Jamil been working for your family?"

"How much work did he do?"

Most of these questions were answered by a sobbing Kalim, who had to take multiple breaths in-between each word, but there were some that Azul was able to answer, thanks to his extensive knowledge of every student on the campus.

"What about Y/n?" Yuu piped up; voice slightly cracking "Did he ever seem off?"

"And then Azul overblotted, because that's just the luck I have in this world-" Yuu sighed, recapping the events of winter break to Y/n. "And, like always, I had to take care of it myself because Crowley is never any help."

"I wish I could say I was surprised by Azul." Y/ns wings twitched slightly, a couple feathers falling stray. "He always seemed rather fragile, similar to Kalim in that sense."

Y/n had brought up his house-warden multiple times to Yuu. He would tell them how reckless and childish Kalim was, like a baby everyone had to walk on eggshells around. Yuu never saw the same dark look in Y/ns eyes like when he was talking about Kalim.

"Anyway-" Y/n spoke, switching back to his typical demeanor, "-What do you think of my hair, I wanted to try a new style to show off my new earrings!"

"I don't know Yuu, he and you were close, so wouldn't you know if there was something off." Azul made eye contact with Yuu, letting his words sink in.

"I can't recall..." Yuu replied, lying through their teeth. "He was always so honest."

"Well apparently he wasn't."

The group fell silent after that, soon everyone returned to their thoughts and reflections about the recent events.

It was a bright sunny afternoon, Y/n and Ruggie had decided to skip clubs to hang out with Yuu, Grim was taking a nap somewhere unknown. They were sitting in the shade of a tree near the Ramshackle dorm, laughing until they couldn't breathe.

"So, I was thinking about getting a haircut" Yuu started "Something super short, what do you think?"

"Maybe..." Ruggie trailed off.

"Absolutely not, no, never let that thought go through your mind again." Yuu's jaw dropped, while Y/n kept a straight face.

Ruggie burst out laughing, falling back, head landing on Y/ns lap. That moment was perfect in Yuu's mind. No stress. No Chaos. Just sweet bliss.

"I miss him" Yuu whispered to themself.

"Who? Y/n?" Kalim responded, appearing right next to them.

Yuu looked around to make sure no one else was listening before responding. "Yeah, Y/n."

"I miss Jamil..." Kalim sighed. "Ya know, him and Y/n were close?"

"Yeah, Y/n would always go to Jamil for help with schoolwork" Y/n laughed. "I always thought it was weird because he was a mediocre student, but he always promised that he was some sort of genius."

"I thought Jamil was my best friend" Kalim sobbed.

Yuu hugged him.

"I know how you feel." That was all Yuu could mutter out before crying with him.

[storiesbyrhi]

Witch!Reader x Bat/Vampire!Eddie Munson Series Masterlist The Grimoire The Timeline

Warnings: canon typical violence, horror genre typical violence, swearing, no beta, warnings updated each chapter.

Synopsis: No witch has stepped foot in Hawkins since 1845, but when Vecna opens the ground and poisons the town, a voice begins to call to you. Have you been brought back to this cursed place to heal the townspeople’s wounds, to save a hexed bat that always finds its way to you, or to redefine your history with a reunion 150 years in the making?

Chapter Summary: There are many different ways to heal. 3443 words.

1986

Forest Hills was not a quiet place to wake up to. This was likely because of the cavernous rips through the fabric of Hawkins, as opposed to being indicative of the residents’ natures. However, as soon as the sun rose, you didn’t stand a chance at a sleep in.

The bat was asleep when you checked on him. You wondered if he had got up during the night, like a bat should. Leaving him, you quietly put the kettle on and went about unpacking the few boxes and bags you’d arrived with.

When the trailer was as homely as you could make it, you sat cross-legged on the floor in front of the coffee table with a map of Hawkins laid out on it. You took a deep breath in and out, then held a long chain above the map. Secured to the end of the chain was a shard of clear quartz; a simple stone, but useful for scrying.

Focussing your thoughts, you watched the quartz slowly begin to sway from side to side. The movement picked up and it swung in a circle, then shot to a point on the map and dropped there. Picking up the crystal, you looked at the point. Forest Hills Trailer Park.

Trying again, the quartz repeated itself. Then, again. And, again.

You would not try a fifth time, leaving it be and reasoning that the crystal was picking up on you, since Hawkins was not used to a witch being on its land. At least, not anymore.

…

1845

The hem of your dress was drenched, splatters of mud flicking up and covering the fabric. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered. Nine years of violence. Nearly a decade of wasted energy, and this is what had become of the land your coven had called home since well before the French claimed ownership.

Back then, you’d lived off the land, co-existing with the Miami and the Potawatomi peoples. The coven learned from them, honouring their sovereignty. But later, there had been wars and treaties. A British take over. Death. So much death.

“Amabel!” It was your name then, something you changed often, cloaking your immortality. “Amabel. We must go. We must leave this place.”

They’d burned the field to the ground. Ash and dirt powdered the land. You stood in the middle of it all. That gnawing feeling you’d not been able to shake in years sitting in the back of your brain.

“If we stay, we will die. Our sisters will die. There is nothing more we can do.”

As the tears rolled down your cheeks, the clouds overhead grew darker.

Soon, within the next year, all that was left of the Native American tribes would be ordered out of Indiana. Your coven would be gone too, moved on, somewhere else, learning how to blend in with the people. Hiding magic. Writing history.

Your aunt crossed the field to where your mother was begging you to move. Thunder sounded out across the flatlands commonly known as Hawkins. Rain was imminent.

“Amabel. We do not have time for this. We have said our farewells to the wretched place. Come, now.”

Your mother took your hand and you fell in line behind the women.

…

1986

No witch had been near Roane County since 1845. Hawkins, though, had never been far from your thoughts. You had lived as Amabel for only a short period of time after leaving. Lustrating rituals gave each in your coven new names. Ora lived into the late 1800s, watching her sisters fall in love, have children, and pass the craft on. After Ora, another ritual christened you Sylvie. By the 1980s you had embodied the name you had offered to the bat when he woke up around midday.

“I guess you can’t tell me your name, huh?” you asked him.

As the bat crawled into your palm, you saw how the darkness had spread a little further across him. He seemed even slower than he had in the forest, and more willing to accept your human warmth. You raised your hand to your shoulder, letting the bat crawl and snuggle into the heat where your sweater met your neck. He clung to strands of hair and made the smallest of chittering sounds.

“So, scrying didn’t work… Which, you know, probably would have been too easy. Let’s consult the cards instead.”

The bat stayed nestled while you cut the deck and laid out a five-card spread on the trailer’s old carpeted floor.

“Do you want me to translate for you?” you asked the bat. “Our first card is… Two of Cups…” Two of Cups? “Card one represents the past, but… Two of Cups is the union of souls. True and lasting love… Maybe it’s…” But you were coming up short in your interpretation.

The second card, representative of the present, was Eight of Swords. Sighing with relief, that one made more sense.

The future was the third pulled card. Death. “Don’t worry,” you said to your friend. “Death doesn’t mean anyone’s dying. It can mean a lot of things… You know what, this is all messed up. I don’t… I don’t understand it.”

The messaging became even more complicated when you drew the Queen of Cups to represent the primary reasons for your current circumstances, and The Tower reversed for the potential of the circumstances.

“Right… Well… That’s all very… mysterious.”

You wanted divination to tell you why you were in Hawkins, what was calling you back to the town. Meaning wasn’t going to be handed to you. You picked up the cards and shuffled them into the deck.

“Guess all will be revealed,” you muttered.

Lunch was cheese and avocado sandwiches for you and fishing bait for the bat. Nowhere sold bat food, so you had to think outside the box. He seemed happy to have something other than fruit.

“Alright, friend,” you whispered to him as he ate. “You’re up next.”

While the bat chewed on worms, you laid out a bed of yarrow and rue on the coffee table and lit a blue candle. When the bat took your invitation to sit on top of the plants, you offered him a piece of jasper. He sat on top of it, making you smile.

“I hold you in my heart,

and wrap you in my love,” you began.

“Heal thyself, dear friend,

in this circle thereof.”

A sprig of yarrow was held to the flame.

“From earth I pulled this plant

as an offering I hope they receive.

Health and hearth,

and from sickness a reprieve.”

The yarrow burnt and the bat seemingly fell asleep on the bed of flowers. You sat with your back against the couch and waited until the blue candle was a dying flame and puddle of wax.

…

When the bat awoke, he felt different. Not only healed, his brown fur and pink limbs returned, but… aware. He flew from the witch’s alter and swooped through the trailer, looking for an exit. He was quiet and you were asleep, so he didn’t panic. Not at first.

There was no way out. No open windows or open vents. The best thing he could do was hide with a vantage point of the door and hope he could fly by you when you were on your way out.

The bat wondered where he was. Then, to his own horror, he wondered who and what he was.

…

When you woke, the sun was setting and the trailer was bathed in an orange glow. The plan had certainly not been to fall asleep. Sitting up, you looked for the bat on the coffee table, but he was gone.

That’s good, you thought. If he was not on the table, he’d made his way safely to somewhere else in the trailer. It meant he felt better. You figured he would appear when he wanted more bites of banana or wriggling worms.

Your second night in Hawkins was ordinary. Mundane, even. Sitting on the steps of your trailer, you ate Spaghetti-Os straight from the saucepan and listened. A witch’s ear is good.

The trailer park, more alive than usual with all its refugees and aid workers. The drone of the power plant not far away. Forests all around you, quieter than they should have been. There was a distinct decrease in wildlife in Hawkins, which filled you with grief. Over the train tracks, closer to town, the hum of people, machines, and despair.

You closed your eyes and listened harder. There was a pulsing coming from somewhere. You couldn’t pinpoint it. It wasn’t beneath the earth, nor above it. Everywhere and nowhere. It was him and his wild lightning and taste for suffering. You knew they called him Vecna. He wasn’t Henry anymore, nor a captive One. He had no name, an omen within itself.

It was hard to hear him and not interfere. It was worse to see the children soldiers in your mind, armoring up for a battle even the oldest witches could not predict. Was it an evil to not intervene? The lesser of the evil of giving him witchcraft.

You breathed out hard and opened your eyes.

Behind you, the bat had emerged from his hiding place. As he took flight, left through the open doorway you were sitting in, you watched his gothic form fly up and disappear into the gloomy purple night-time sky.

Smiling, you offered a small, “Slán agus ádh mór, a chara,” in a bittersweet moment. You already missed your bat friend.

...

In the morning, it was easy to find a place that needed your help. Hawkins High School’s gymnasium had been set up as a crisis center. Basic medical triage was offered and you didn’t even have to present identification or credentials. Once you’d introduced yourself and said you were a first responder, you’d been given a fully stocked first aid kit.

Minor cuts, bruises, and sprained ankles. You’d spent almost an hour picking glass out of one kid’s arm, healing the wound as you went so by the time he was bandaged up, he’d be almost entirely cured. Secretly you chipped away at the healing, nothing that could be considered miraculous. Just enough to ease pain and discomfort.

If nothing else came from the trip to Hawkins, this was all the justification you needed.

Mid-afternoon saw two teenagers come limping into the gym. You recognised them immediately from the visions your coven had seen. Robin Buckley had an arm pulled tightly around Erica Sinclair’s body, helping the smaller girl to an empty cot. You rushed over.

“What’s happened?” you asked.

“Leg! It’s her leg!” Robin yelled, then attempted to moderate her voice to the volume of the room.

Erica wasn’t actively crying but her stoic expression was a mask for the pain she was in. Tears streaked down her face and she took a sharp intake of oxygen as you pulled up the leg of her jeans.

“Can you help?” Robin asked, eyes on the door as she jittered on the spot.

“Do you need to go? She’ll be safe here.”

Erica snorted and rolled her eyes.

“I… They… No, no, I’ll stay,”

“Go,” Erica instructed.

You started to clean the wound, examining it. It was as if something had coiled around her leg, burning her in the process. A corrosive rope burn. Not the type of thing that happened in an earthquake.

“Lucas will kill me,”

“Since when have either of us listened to that nerd? And besides, isn’t Steve the babysitter?”

“Uhhhh, shit, okay. Okay,” Robin conceded. She looked at you. “Don’t let her die,”

“I’m not gonna die!” Erica yelled. “So, go.”

Robin nodded and left, bolting from the room. As soon as nobody was there to see her struggle, Erica let out a shaky breath.

“How old are you?”

“Eleven,”

“Pretty brave eleven-year-old,” you told her. She didn’t respond. “Strange injury.” Still, she said nothing. “How’d you get it?”

“If I told you, I’d have to kill you,” she replied, delivery measured and serious.

You smiled at her. “Hang around in this town long, something’s probably gonna beat you to it anyway, right?”

Erica eyed you suspiciously.

The wound wouldn’t need stitches or graphs or any Western medicine. It would need magic to heal. You could feel it in Erica. There was something bad in the burning. As you dabbed at her leg with antiseptic, you healed her in a way that was definitely a miracle. Before she could notice, you’d covered it with gauze and bandages, more than she needed.

“If you won’t give yourself a day to rest, then take a couple hours at minimum. Whatever is going on out there isn’t over. If they need you, they need you strong. A couple hours, okay?”

“Who are you? Who do you work for?”

“I’m… a healer… and I don’t work for anybody. I’m just here to help,” you answered, motioning to the beds of people around you.

Erica didn’t agree to the few hours, nor did she say goodbye, but you let her go and wondered if you had been so precocious and fearless when you were but a baby.

…

After one night in the tallest treetops near Forest Hills, the bat tried to rest, but his consciousness would not allow it. He was close to a panic, his new awareness keeping him from any animal behaviour. Instead, he watched you leave your trailer.

As you drove into town and spent the day helping and healing, the bat was never far away. Upon sunset, you returned home to find him sitting on your trailer’s doorstep. Whatever had changed in him, it was like you could see it.

You’d stopped walking, looked at him from a safe distance. “Hi,” you greeted, unsure what the bat was doing back. Maybe he was hungry. The eco-system had been disrupted enough that perhaps his food sources were limited.

The bat watched you as you took a step closer. Then another.

“Something’s wrong, isn’t it?” you asked him.

The bat hopped aside as you unlocked the door and followed you in upon invitation.

You put your bag down and sat on the couch. The bat flew across the room and perched himself on the edge of the coffee table directly in front of you. There was something eerie about him. Not threatening, not dangerous, but still very, very off.

“This might come as a shock, but I’ve never had a familiar. Or a pet. I don’t know what you want,” you told him. “But that’s… that’s not it, is it?” You thought for a moment. “Okay, well, I could take you to a vet… or we could…” Before you could finish the sentence, the thought shut you up. Could you really consult The Witches Who Came Before? After disregarding their previous advice? No. Not for a bat.

“I’m gonna make a phone call.”

The bat watched as you stood and walked to your bag, looking for the small notebook you kept for numbers and other important bits and pieces. Once you’d located Kelsey’s number, you dialed. Looking back at the fuzzy creature on the coffee table, you nodded at him. “She’ll know what to do.”

The phone rang only twice. “Hellllloooooo?”

“Hey, Kels, it’s-”

“Yeah, I know who it is. You’ve really pissed off some of the sisters,” she said with a laugh. “You really went back to Hawkins?”

“Yeah, I did. Look, I need your help,”

“My help?! Dude, are you trying to get me exiled as well?”

“I’m not exiled,” you replied, the inflection in your voice hooking up at the end of the sentence like you were asking a question.

“I mean… Not yet…”

“I’m not exiled. There’s a reason I came back. I’m meant to be here. But it doesn’t matter. This isn’t about Hawkins. I need your help with a bat,”

“A bat?”

“Yeah, like, the animal,”

“Yeah, no, I know the animal. Didn’t think you were chipping a baseball bat out of a tree. What are you doing with a bat?”

In order to not just survive but to thrive, a witch must adapt to each age of human culture. Sometimes though, one would find herself truly suited to a time or place. Take your coven sister Blair, for example. She mourned the end of the Elizabethan era and refused to modify her vocabulary or mannerisms. In line at Walmart, she was all ‘good morrow’ and ‘doth thou possess thine grape juice?’ Most though, were undetectable as agents of immortality. And, you and Kelsey, well anyone would have guessed you were modern women living in a second-wave feminism world.

“I don’t know. I just found him, and he was sick, so I did the burning yarrow healing spell-”

Kelsey stopped you. “Wait. Slow down. You did that healing spell on a bat?”

“Yes,” you confirmed, then waited for her to speak again.

Instead, she laughed. “You go to a town under the pretense of helping people and instead casting a healing spell on a bat?”

“It’s not pretense! I am helping people. But I have limited resources here, Kels. And the bat was-”

“Sick, yeah, you said. Well, there are spells for animals, but I’d have to go through some of the old grimoires. Why’d you even try it? You know human spells don’t work for ani-”

“It did work.”

Kelsey was silent on the other end of the line.

You’d been watching the bat for the whole conversation and he’d not moved once. He was like a statue. A very small and cute, but unnerving statue.

“What?” The humour had gone from Kelsey’s voice. “It can’t have,”

“It did… Look, it’s bad here. More than those kids can handle. I have to accept that, but the bat… I think that’s what had poisoned him. I didn’t have the grimoires or an entire garden and apothecary at my disposal. I cast the burning yarrow spell… And, whatever was wrong went away.”

Kelsey was quiet again. Then, “So, what’s the problem?”

“He’s… different…”

“What do you mean different?” You’d known Kelsey for all your different lives. That was fear in her voice, no mistaking.

“He seems… I don’t know how to describe it… Like he knows… or understands…” You really couldn’t explain it.

“I think you need to take this higher up in the coven,”

“No, I can’t. Why? What’s wrong?”

“Fuck,” Kelsey said under her breath. “Look, if that spell worked on the bat then it’s not a bat. It could have only worked if it’s human. Or at least, has been human at some point. And depending on which spell you used, you could have healed more than illness,”

“What do you mean?”

“Like, a hex or… something…”

“He’s definitely a bat,” you told her. “I’m looking at him right now,”

“But is he looking back at you? Like, does he see you? ‘Cause yarrow's not powerful to undo a real deal curse, you know? So maybe you just shifted things around a little. Knocked some human back into him. If you did, that’s kind of fucked up.”

Your blood ran cold.

The bat was not just a bat.

And the bat knew it too.

“How do I fix it? How do I help him?!”

“I don’t know! I’m not an expert in bats or curses or fucking up spells! I don’t think there’s even a spell to like… fix it. You’d have to write a new spell and hope you don’t torture it any more than you have.”

You’d started to cry, horrified at the thought of what you’d done to something… someone that had already suffered a hex.

“Look,” Kelsey said in a soft voice. She hated to hear you upset. “Magic is intention and will. You’ve got some big feelings now. Give it a try. If nothing works, call me again and I’ll come to you…”

“Okay,” you squeaked out.

“And, like, what if this is what was calling you to Hawkins? Maybe you were meant to go and right a wrong. Uncurse a bat…”

“Thanks, Kels. Thank you,”

“Don’t mention it… Seriously. Do not tell another soul that I’ve condoned any of this rebellion.”

You laughed and sniffled. “I won’t. Bye,”

“Bye, babe.”

You hung up the phone and walked to the bathroom to splash water on your face. At the vanity, you hung your head over the sink and let the water cool you. As you stood up straight and looked at your reflection, the bat swooped in and sat on your shoulder.

“We can do this,” you said to him. “I’ll fix it. I promise.”

End Note: A special shout to my friend @toomanyacorns for reading through the first few chapters of this story and for being a resource into all things history. Also, the timeline is posted and will be updated with each chapter, along with the Grimoire.

Fic Taglist: @kaitebugg03 @paranoidmunson @munsonsbait @idkidknemore @paprikaquinn @stardustworlds @loz-brooke @wyverntatty @vintagehellfire @dark-academia-slut @scarletwitchwhore @becks1002 @mrsdollardog @heyndrix @luceneraium @rosaline-black @devilinthepalemoonlite @goldencherriess @iamwhisperingstars @wiltedwonderland @blueywrites @breezybeesposts @jadehowlettthewolf @spikesvamp79 @foreveranexpatsposts @tortoiseshellspells @wingedpeachjudgegiant @stardustmunson @live-love-be-unique @fangirling-4-ever @reanimated-alice @b-irock @gh0stlybunnie @myown-worstenemy-2003

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[twilight-at-midnight]

How they would react to dating a ADHD reader

Edward Cullen:

• When he first met you, you were hard for him to read until he learned of you having ADHD

• Before the two of you started getting close, he would often find his gazing topaz eyes landing on you weather it may be in the school hallways or somewhere else

• It took a little courage for Edward to approach you to introduce himself properly, and when he does, he briefly apologizes for that as you have a few of the same classes together

• Edward is impressed to see that even though your mind works differently, knowing it can go a little faster than you can process sometimes, you have a strong determination of letting nothing stand in your way

• You enjoy learning new things everyday, one of the toughest challenges that come with having ADHD is how you can get distracted so easily

• Despite a racing mind, you do very well in school and your studies. When it came time for an important test, that’s where you get a little anxious because the whole class knows of your ADHD and found it amusing to mess with you during something like this

• You always managed to swing it and get a high grade, a higher one than most of, if not all the students that filled your classes

• You were one of the last few remaining to have yet complete a test. The boy sitting behind you swiped the stapler off the teacher’s desk and opened it like he was refilling it with a new package of staples

• You didn’t give it a second thought of it until you started getting hit with flying staples

• It was very upsetting to you, but lucky for you, this was also one of the few classes you shared with Edward and once he saw what was going on, he went to put a stop to it

• Right I’m the middle of that, the teacher had return from a short staff meeting and interfered before things got out of control

• The boy sitting behind you got in trouble and was sent to the principals office, he later comes out with a week’s worth of detention

• Because of that distraction, you didn’t get the chance to finish your test and it was the end of the school day. Thankfully, your teacher was kind enough to allow you to finish the test on the following day

• Edward took you home and because you were house sitting for your parents while they were out celebrating their anniversary with a big trip, you had the house to yourself and Edward spends the night

• He didn’t like leaving you alone

• For that time period, you put a movie on you wanted him to see. Though it was more than a movie, it was more like a documentary from Netflix based on a true story

• “What’s this called?” Edward asks, clearly missing the title of it

• “It’s that Last Breath documentary I keep telling you about.” You say excitedly

• “Can you tell me about it one more time?”

• “It’s about that commercial diver getting trapped on the bottom of the ocean without oxygen for over thirty minutes and survives.” You explain

• Edward doesn’t ask any more questions, instead, pulls you to his side as you both cuddle throughout the show. You were growing a little sleepy and kept dozing off, when you come to again, you briefly remember you fell back asleep at the part when the diver gets trapped and nearly left for dead

• You don’t remember falling asleep as you don’t wake up again until the following morning, still snuggled up to Edward’s side as he holds you close to him

• As strange as this may sound, Edward was the first to recognize this moment that you are his mate and he wouldn’t trade you for the world

• You don’t recognize it until he protects you from James

Benjamin:

• It took you a while, but after entering the second month of the new relationship with Benjamin, you inform him of having ADHD and he was quite surprised to say the least

• “Surprised” as in a good way, he could never think anything negative towards you, you are his mate after all and he wouldn’t trade you for the world

• There are times when you have moments of feeling insecure about what you have, but as soon as a bad thought crosses your mind, Benjamin always has something to say about it, he didn’t like you having those thoughts

• “Here’s what I want you to do, every time a bad thought of yourself comes to your head, tell it to go to back to hell where it came from.” With your mate saying exactly that, never failed to make you smile

• Benjamin becomes a little overly protective when it comes to certain things through ADHD such as knowing how you can get distracted so easily

• For example, you were best friends with Bella, and her birthday was coming so you wanted to do something special, you wanted to make her a homemade birthday cake and because you haven’t taken your medicine quite yet, you were a little over the edge

• Unfortunately for you, something had happened that made you forgetful about watching the time to check on the cake and of course you may have overreacted, but at the same time, you couldn’t help the way you feel

• What got you distracted was overhearing Rosalie and Bella in the living room nearby, Rosalie was getting rude towards Bella and you couldn’t take it

• You’ve tried to not think about it, trying to distract yourself with this homemade present but what Rosalie says next, set you off like a bomb

• “Happy birthday… human.” Rosalie says with slight venom in her voice

• You dropped the fork in hand and stomped to where the two were, coming out unglued to Rosalie, you may have sounded harsh, but there was a good reason for it

• “If you’re not going to drop whatever crap you have in mind, than I want you to leave my house!” You seethed

• Rosalie threw you a dirty look as Bella places her hand on your shoulder, right than Benjamin makes his appearance after hearing you yell at Rosalie and wanted to see what was going on

• “(Y/n)? Are you alright?” He asks

• “Just fine.”

•No one says anything until the smell of something burning from the kitchen fills the air as Benjamin asks what that was

• “Do you have something on in the kitchen?” He asks, than you remembered

• “Shit!” You growl, heading for the kitchen as everyone else follows behind

• You pull the cake out and set it down, seeing that it was as black as it could get, you got really upset and started blaming Rosalie for this to happen

• Your mind was racing, and it suddenly made you feel upset at everyone, not just Rosalie, you could fathom that this was really happening, out of all days why today?

• “What’s going on?” Benjamin asks fondly

• It took you a minute to compose yourself before giving an answer

• “I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but I don’t have a choice at this point. I was trying to make a birthday cake for Bella.”

• Bella couldn’t help but feel flattered that her best friend would go through all this trouble to do something special and nice for her. While at the same time, it hurt her to see you so upset and instantly had an idea in mind

• “I know doing this meant something to you, and I truly appreciate your effort you put into this, but I hate seeing you so upset.” Bella goes on

• You bring your hands to cover your face in case of tears decide to well up

• “Listen, how about all of us go out to celebrate?”

• “You mean that?”

• “Of course, I mean when is the next time we’ll all be together like this?”

• You smile as Benjamin wraps his arm around you, pulling you close to his side, leaning to whisper in your ear

• “It would be better than staying behind to mope around about this incident, (Y/n). Don’t you think?”

• “That sounds like a good idea.”

• “It’ll be my treat.” Rosalie says

• Benjamin’s purpose in all of this was to keep you from looking back on the incident as few hours earlier and he was more than successful of accomplishing that goal

• Now he represents it, all of you had gone out as suggested to Cheesecake Factory for Bella’s cake

• Throughout the evening, Benjamin held your hand hardly letting it go

• Being with Benjamin made you forget all the worries

• As his mate, Benjamin knew how to make you fall in love with him all over again. With your ADHD, he never considered judging you for it, and if anyone messes with your ability to focus on purpose, they had better watch it

• Messing with you meant messing with him as slight trouble begins to brew

• Benjamin couldn’t wait to love you for all eternity, you know, once he changes you into a vampire like you wanted

• You couldn’t wait to love him for all eternity, you look forward to what the future has in store for you both

• Nothing but happiness

***

@twilightlover2007

Please request!

Characters:

• Edward Cullen

• Emmett Cullen

• Jasper Cullen

• Carlisle Cullen

• Benjamin

• Riley Biers

• Jacob Black

•Aro Volturi

• Felix Volturi

• Caius Volturi

• Jane Volturi

• Alice Cullen

• Rosalie Hale

• Bella Swan

• Victoria

• Vladimir

[editorandchief]

Cosmic Cameo

Requested: Nah

Summary: Cara doesn't remember much of anything before that fall, but what she does remember might come in handy for what will happen next

OR

In which Cara Cassidy falls smack dab in the middle of the MCU and can't help but to get involved.

Warning: None

Blue, that's all there was. Blue of the sky, no blue of the water, the sound of it rushing into her ears, the cold all over her body.

'Why can't I move? Help, I need help. Someone help me! Please!' She screamed even with knowing no one would hear her.

She can't breath the pressure was too much she has to breath, there was no way the she would be able to swim to the surface and holding her breath was only delaying the inevitable.

'1....2....3.' Closing her eyes, taking a deep breath prepared for the liquid to fill lungs but, instead she is met with air. Her eyes snap open.

Blue, that's all there was not blue of the water the sky, the sound of the wind rushing past her head  pushing her hair forward, she was falling.

Stretching her arms forward in a useless attempt to grab something, anything, nothing. Once again knowing your going to die and not being able to do anything about it.

Its coming it had to be. The ground coming closer and closer. What would it feel like? Would it be instant? Better than drowning she figured.

screams of people watching helplessly from the ground grew closer and closer.

'1....2.....3.' Closing her eyes, preparing for the impact, the end.... Nothing.

Blue, That's what she saw, trying to get over the fact that she was seeing  anything at all. Blue eyes of a person standing above her, the sound of footsteps and monitors beeping around the room.

"Hello, ma'am?" The deep voice called. "Can you hear me?" It asked.

All she could do was blink, what else are you supposed to do when you're meant to be dead. Cara thought she should be floating face down in a river somewhere or laid out across the cement.

"Hello?" The voice called again. "Do you need anything? Are you hurt?" It asked.

"What do you mean is she hurt?" Another voice sounded from elsewhere in the room. "You should be asking that crater in the ground."

"Can you tell me your name." The voice called ignoring the previous statement.

"Where am I?" Was the first thing to come from Cara's mouth. Finally able to focus she looks to the man standing in above her.

"You're safe." He replied. " Can you tell me what happened?" He asked.

"When?" She asked confused.

"Before, during or after your fall from the sky." the other voice called.

"Tony." The first man chastised. "Do you feel hurt at all?" He continued.

"No, I'm fine." She replied taking a deep breath.

"My name is Steve Rogers. Can you tell me yours?" He asked.

Steve Rogers? Was this a joke or something? Did she land in the middle of Comic Con or a Cosplay contest or something?

"Funny." She scoffed.

"Ma'am?" He asked confused.

"I said your real fun-." Chris Evans, it was Chris Evans. "Where am I?" Cara asked again.

"Where do you think you are?" The other voice asked. That can't be... Looking over to the source of the noise, Oh My God! It's Robert Downey Jr. "Or Where did you come from? You can answer either." He said walking around behind her back.

"I came from..." Trailing off as her mind went blank. "I'm.... Where am I?" She reverts back to her initial question.

"You're in the the Avenger's Tower." Chris replied. "We found you and brought you here to make sure you were okay."

"That's a nice way of saying making sure she's not a threat." Tony interjected once again.

"Am I on the set?" Cara asked.

"What set?" Chris asked.

"Avengers." She answered.

"Yes, ma'am we are the Avengers," Chris confirmed. "Now we wanted to know if you could tell us how you fell." He asked staring intensely  into her eyes.

What was he talking about, did he think that she thought that the Avengers were real so he was trying to humor her, maybe he though she was crazy, but he brought up Steve Rogers first.

"What did you say your name was again." She asked thinking maybe she had heard wrong.

"Steve Rogers ma'am." He restated.

"And we're in New York aren't we?" She asked. "In the Avengers Tower." She continued.

"Yes." He confirmed.

"You're Steve Rogers," She states before turning her head around finding Robert leaning in a table watching her from afar. "And you're Tony Stark." She pointed out.

"You know me, I'm flattered." Robert says putting his hand over his heart.

"She awake." A new voice emerged into the lab, Mark Ruffalo. "Has she said anything?" He asked.

"Let me guess." Cara replied before any of the other character could. "Dr. Bruce Banner."

"Have we met?" He asked confused as to how this unknown woman knew his name.

"No but its not hard to to figure out." She replied. "So what's going on here, are you guys like methods?" She asked. It was pretty clear either one of two things was happening right now.

1.) She had hit her head walking down the street and some how ended up being found by Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downey Jr. in the middle of a rehearsal for the next Avengers movie.

But considering both Steve Roger and Tony Stark are very much unalive.

2.) She had been magically teleported into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and now she was stuck until she figured out her purpose in order to return home.

But considering that was crazy.

"You know I have a question." Robert says coming closer. "How are you not dead?" He asked causing the woman to give him a confused look.

"Tony." Chris glared.

"No, she fell from the sky and left a her sized hole in the earth." He continued. "And yet here she is talking and breathing."

"Wow if I didn't know any better I'd think you wanted me dead." Cara sassed to the older man.

"Don't take it personally." He replied.

"Kinda hard not to." She rebutted.

"It's just it would be nice to know who or what you are before we unstrap you and sent you off into the world." He informed. Unstrapped? Looking down at her hands for the first time Cara realized she was indeed restrained.

"what the hell?" She muttered pulling in the metal cuffs that appeared to be attached to the chair she was sitting on. "I don't suppose you'd take these off if I asked nicely would you?" She asked smiling up at the smug looking man with the goatee.  

"No." He answered,

"I guess were going with option 2." Cara mumbled.

Oh My God! I could save them, I could save Natasha and Loki and Tony if she had time, she could stop the Avengers from breaking up, she could save Killmonger from dying, everyone from getting dusted. But she knew she couldn't do that from here.

"I think there are something we need to discuss before those can come off." Steve states being as calm and collected as he was portrayed in the movies.

"Things like what?" Cara demand growing frustrated with the lack of mobility. "Why you kidnapped me? Why your holding me against my will?" She asked rhetorically.

"Well no," Bruce chimed in fiddling with a pen nervously. "Our line of questioning was going in a different direction."

"North, East, South...?" Cara sassed.

"What are you?" Bruce asked ending the remainder of her sarcastic remark.

"What do you mean?" She asked taken aback by the sudden question.

"What are you?" Tony repeated. "Alien? Asgardian? Angel?"

"I'm human." She stated plainly as it seemed to be the most obvious answer.

"Right," Tony replied crouching down slightly to eye level with the young female. "And regular human appear out of a portal and fall hundreds of feet at a thousand miles per hour and walk away with out a scratch?"

Leaning in closer staring straight into the eyes of the smug looking billionaire.

"You did." She smirked refusing to be the first to look away. From what she had observed from her many rewatching of the MCU was that you never back down first, and while Tony Stark was nothing to scoff at due to his sarcastic nature and witty references he definitely wasn't the most intimidating person she could be in this position with.

"Good point." He sighed out quickly standing back to full height. "Tell you what Icarus, how about once the list of human who have done that extends past you and I, we'll talk about getting those restraints removed." He shrugged turning his back before beginning to tap on some sort of screen.

"Stark now is not the time for your childish games." The Asgardian prince slightly scolded before approaching the restrained young woman. "I am Thor, son of Odin, prince of Asgard and Midgard is under my protection state you business in this realm?"

"..."

"Please?" The god questioned taking of his mask of intimacy with a slightly hint of a smile.

Cara couldn't help but smile back, it was moments like these that she couldn't help but see Thor as a puppy or a child. A 6 foot 6 puppy.

"Thor, son of Odin, prince of Asgard and protector of Midgard. 'Wow that's a mouth full' I have as much business in this realm as the man taking his morning jog through the park or the bird that is probably flying over the city. I'm just trying to live." She pleaded hoping she was pulling off the innocent look she was going for.

"Welp I for one believe lady..." He trailed off into confusion upon realizing he didn't know the name of the young woman currently being held in the room.

"Cara." She assisted.

"Thank you." Thor stated before turning back to his fellow avengers. "Lady Cara."

"Cara huh." Tony questioned. "I would have guessed something more biblical like Castiel or Lucifer."

"I'm not an angel." Cara groaned out shutting her eyes and throwing her head back in frustration. "And even if I was, what's it to you?"

"I'm sorry?" Steve asked.

"What I mean is I haven't done anything wrong, I haven't broken any laws or hurt anyone. You have no right to keep me here." She clarified.

"Look you may not know this but the last time a portal opened up and something came through it spelt bad news for everyone." Natasha spoke for the first time from her place near the exit.

"I think everyone knows about that, what I don't know is what it has to do with me." Cara said through gritted teeth. "I mean no offense but don't you people have better thing to do than to keep me captive? I know I do."

"Things like what?" Clint interjected. "Enslaving the human race?"

"Oh my god!" Cara groaned.

How was she ever going to save everyone strapped to this chair being held captive by the people who she was trying to save.

She had much bigger thing to deal with like Bucky, Thanos, Wanda, Ultron... Oh god how was I gonna stop Ultron, there was no way I could convince Tony Stark that he was wrong about anything yet alone his master plan to save the world. Maybe keeping the scepter away from him altogether.

But no Ultron means no Vision ,and what would no Vision mean for Wanda? I can't even imagine.

"Is there someone else I can talk to?" Cara huffs. "Maybe someone with a better pair of listening ears and a basic value for human right and freedoms. Nick fury perhaps?"

"How do you know who Nick Fury is?" Natasha asked coming to stand closer in an attempt to intimidate.

"I know a lot of things." She shrugged.

"I doubt that. Cause if you knew anything you would know Fury is de-."

"Hiding out after faking his death, yeah I know that too. Natalia." Cara informed holding eye contact with the former Russian spy.

"Who are you." She asked making sure not to waver her gaze.

"I'm Cara." She stated firmly. "And as much as you people want to see me as a enemy I'm an trying to prove myself an ally."

Breaking her eye contact with the red head to meet the eyes of the remaining Avengers in the room, before returning to Natasha.

"And I can prove it if you would just let me out of these restrains." Nodding toward her restricted wrists.

"I'm sorry." Steve replied causing the 24 year old you grow her head back in frustration. "But we can't take that risk."

Cara didn't remember the Avengers being so annoying before, what ever happened to innocent until proven guilty. She needed them to trust her but had no idea how to make that happen , pretty sure the truth would land her in some max security mental hospital.

There has to be a way to blur the truth and she knew just how to do it. No matter what how she got here or what may be different because of it she knew more than anything that these people loved to be right she would just let them think they are.

Taking a deep breath Cara prepared for the worst before saying it.

"Not even for Loki's scepter?" She asked and was not surprised when everyone in the room shifted their full attention to her even Tony who seemed content with ignoring her pleas for release.

"What did you just say?" Clint asked wanting to find the scepter more than anyone after living through the effects of it. 

"I know where it is." She tells him before looking around the room. "Look your right. I'm not human or at least I don't know if I am." She sighed in fake sadness.

"What do you mean." Steve asked.

"I mean ever since I can remember I've had these visions. A man falling from a train, a rainbow bridge, a ballet studio, an old man in a cave in the desert." Cara listed significant events in the lives of the heroes standing before her. "I never knew if they were real or if I was just crazy. I swear I have no idea how I came through any portal and I sure a hell don't know how I'm still alive, but what I do know is that I would never try to hurt anyone." Cara finished allowing her eyes to slightly tear up.

There was a collective silence among the group as they all attempted to figure out how this stranger knew so much about them. 

"I got it." Tony said breaking the silence. "There is a whole museum dedicated to cap and his old war buddies." Tony explained away your first 'Vision'.

"Anyone can study Norse mythology, Widow over there released all of shields files and my kidnapping is public record at this point but nice try." Tony finished with an unimpressed look on his face. She could feel the other members also start to accept Tony's debunking of her story.

'Damn it, think of something no one else would know something, anything!' She screamed at herself. 

"I think that is enough games." Thor said seeming to have changed his previous vote for your innocence. "Your attempt to fool us have gone on long enou-." Stopping once Cara started speaking. 

"I've looked forward to this day for as long as you have, your my brother and my friend. Sometimes I am envious, but never doubt that I love you."

"What is that supposed to be?" Tony asked.

"Loki." Thor replied not taking his eyes of the young mortal girl. "Before my coronation on Asgard. My brother said those exact words to me."

"You can't read that in a book." Cara smiled gently, but you can watch it in a deleted scenes video. Honestly Cara was just glad that it actually happened in this world otherwise she would look even more crazy. "So what about letting me go?" She tried again.

"Sorry your gonna have to do better than that." Steve approached arms crossed.

"Loki's Scepter." Cara states. "I can help you find it." She offered.

"How?" Thor asked.

"I've already told you how." She replied. "But you have to promise after I do no more restrains and I'm free to go." She attempted negotiate.

"How about no more retrains and we'll see." Natasha offered.

"How about no more restrains and I'm free to go."

"How about you spend the rest of your life in a super max prison?" The red head countered.

"you know Drakov is still alive right?" Cara asked shock spreading across Natasha and Clint's face before they quickly mask it with a glare. "How about no more restrains and I'm free to go."

"Fine." Steve spoke before the petty argument could continue. "No more restrains and your free to go after we have the scepter?"

"Perfect." Cara smiled nodding towards her arms and legs.

"Tony." Steve states, nothing happened as the billionaire pretends to not have heard the request. "Tony come on."

"What if she's lying?" Tony asked. "We're just gonna let her roam around my lab touching things."

"There are six of us and one of her." Steve pointed out.

after a few moments tony let out a groan before pressing a button causing the straps to retract, stretching her arms and rubbing her wrist Cara takes this time to look around the high tech laboratory.

"So." Tony begins. "Where is it?" He asked raising an eyebrow at the girl.

"Where's what?" Cara asked before Tony took a step towards her. "Okay, Okay fine." She chuckles slightly.

"Hey, I gave you a shot don't make me regret this." Steve reprimands.

"Okay, You would thing at this point in time you people could take a joke." Cara muttered looking towards the ceiling as if searching for something. "Jarvis?" She asked.

"Yes Ma'am?" The A.I. replied.

"Hey Hey you don't talk to Jarvis." Tony scolds. "How do you even know about Jarvis?" He asked.

"I'm not answering this question again." Cara deadpanned. "Jarvis can you bring me up a satellite image of Sovkia?" Cara asked.

"Right away ma'am." He answered projecting a holographic image of the small city inches from the her face causing her to back up a few paces.

"Good thanks now I need you to search the other perimeter of the city for heat signatures." She informs. "Anything moving in formation consistently." She added.

"Here you are ma'am," Javis responds. "This area has shown a consistent path of small heat signatures recorded footage from the satellite shows for about the last three months or so."

"And are there any significant power sources coming from the area near the or inside of the signatures path?" Cara continued.

"Yes, there is an abandoned factory building just inside of the heat signatures path though it is emitting a significant amount of power." Jarvis confirms.

Turning to face the group of super individuals Cara opened her arms up wide.

"Heat signatures are patrols, that building is where you'll find your scepter and a one Baron Strucker as well." Cara informed. "Any questions from the class?" She asked rhetorically, though that didn't stop Bruce from raising his hand.

"Yes, Dr. Banner." Cara called.

"These abilities you say you've had them all your life?" He asked. "And you had no idea about the increased durability of you body? Have you ever given blood? Has there ever been any unexplained anomalies in your D.N.A.? If its possible I'd like to run some tests on your blood and determine the limitations of you body." Bruce rambled on not really giving the girl a chance to answer any of his questions.

"Um....Yes, No, No, and maybe if you buy me dinner first." Cara replied. "But I kinda meant scepter related questions." She clarified. 

"So you saying that this building is where the scepter had been the whole time?" Natasha asked.

"Well not the whole time but it is there now." Cara replied. "So am I free to go?"

"After we get the scepter." Steve reminded. "But for now I think this is a pretty solid lead , so we'll hold off on the restrains for now but you can't leave this building. Am I clear?" Steve asked.

"Yes dad." Cara replied sarcastically receiving  a stern look in return. "Fine I will not leave this building."

"Thank you." He replied.

"We need to move on this now before H.Y.D.R.A. gets wind of this and moves locations." Clint says studying the hologram of the building. "Jarvis can you play back the perimeter movements for the last three months and let me know if anything has changed between now and then?" Clint asked.

"The movement seems consistent Agent Barton." He replied.

"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Natasha asked Clint looking away from the electronic display.

"Yep." He answered. "We land in far wood of the south side looks great." He continued.

"perfect, we shall leave immediately." Thor states walking towards the exit.

"Thor." Steve called stopping the god in his track. "Be need and plan of attack we can't just go in there guns blazing." Steve says.

"How would that be different from all the other times?" Tony asked.

"We can not wait any longer and risk loosing it again." Thor counted. "Lady Cara is an unlikely advantage that may not be around to assist again."

"He's right just because you miss the scepter doesn't mean I was wrong and doesn't mean you can keep me here." Cara agreed. "We have a deal." Cara was all for helping the Avenger but she was not going to be some sort of prisoner she had thing to do people to save just like them.

"I said once the scepter is in our hands." Steve clarified.

"It is in your hands and your letting it slip through your fingers." She rebutted.

"Hate to agree, like really hate to agree with E.T over here." Tony started. "But we have to move on this as soon as possible."

"Still not an alien." Cara added.

"Predator?" He asked.

"Fine," Steve caved. "Two day. And then we move, Is everyone okay with that?" He asked receiving nods all around.

"Great, better rest up Icarus." Tony called to Cara as he heads to the exit.

"For what exactly" Cara asked following him out of the lab and down the hall stopping and waiting at the elevator as who she assumed to be the other Avengers come to a stop behind her.

"For the mission," Tony said stepping into the elevator. "You coming?" He asked noticing no one was following. "This H.Y.D.R.A. base may be legit but you could still be leading us into a trap and if you are I'd like you to be as close to getting shot as possible." He smirked pushing on of the floor buttons.

"And if I'm not, cause I'm telling the truth." Cara insisted. "I'll be an unprepared civilian in an active war zone." Cara pointed out.

"Then you can wait in the jet." He shrugged as the lift came to a stop and the doors opened revealing the living quarters. "Besides I'm sure Widow wouldn't mind slipping in a quick lesson."

"Of course not." Natasha said walking past the curly headed girl patting her on the shoulder.

"yeah, I'd defiantly take you up on that if I was ready to die." Cara replied.

"That might actually be a good idea," Bruce stepped in. "it would be a great way to test your reflexes and pain tolerance."

"Or you could shoot me." Cara suggested. "Yeah I like that idea bet-.." She joked but was cut short as a flash of light flew across the room and hit her in the chest sending her hurdling into a wall.

heads snapped from the girl to the source of the attack only to spot Tony at the bar with the iron glove on one and and a drink in the other. Standing up from the floor Cara looks over her body, nothing seemed broken and nothing hurt.

"What the Hell?" She glared. "You could have killed me." She whispered mostly to herself checking running her hand over the back of her head before checking her palm for any sign of blood.

"Look at that not even a limp? Scratch?" Tony asked putting his glass down. "Is your shirt even slightly singed? Now that's what I call durability."

"I think we got the durability part Stark." Clint said walking over to the girl helping her to the sofa as she assured him she was fine. "She fell three thousand feet." He reminded.

"Just checking," He defended. "Never hurts to check, well it didn't hurt me or her." He pointed out.

"Your lucky I wanna keep you from dying." Cara muttered to herself.

"What?" Tony asked.

"Nothing." Cara sighed. "Nothing at all."

"Anyways," Tony said squinting his eyes. "Let's get you set up with a room and ready for that training." Tony said taking off down the hallway Cara rushing to follow.

"I'm still not doing that." Cara said slowing down as she falls into step with the older man.

Two days that was all, this was good right? It gives her a chance to get her plan together like how was she going to find  Bucky or maybe stop Scott from going into the quantum tunnel and missing five years of his daughter's life. However that was caused by the snap which won't happen if she could figure out how to stop Thanos.

"Here you go," Tony said stopping in front a door typing in a few numbers.

The door slides open revealing a quite luxurious bedroom with  various shades of grey covering the walls and floors.

"I hope this is up to you standards." Tony says following her in. "I mean it's not Asgard, but."

"I'm not from Asgard, Tony." Cara said rolling her eyes.

"Well, goodnight." Tony brushed off turning to leave.

"Goodnight?" Cara asked.

"Oh it's a term we use here on earth, before you go to sleep," Tony informed sarcastically. "and sleep is when us human close our eyes and our bodies recharge for the upcoming day." He finished.

"I know what sleep is." She counted.

"But we're still confused on the term goodnight." Tony pointed out.

"I just didn't realize it was night, I actually have no idea what time it is." Cara suddenly realized.

"The time is currently 11:46pm ma'am." Jarvis' voice flows through the room.

"thanks Jarvis." Tony answered before continuing on his way out. "Make sure to rest up cause there's no way that training with widow isn't happening." He called over his shoulder allowing the door to close behind him.

Looking around, Cara made her way over to the bed allowing her body to fall backwards and letting out a sigh.

'I'M SO SCREWED!" She shouts into the empty room. "when I chose M.C.U. New York over D.C. Gotham I didn't know this was going to happen."

All the things she had needed to do, the death she wanted to prevent. She couldn't even begin to think of a way to get into Wakanda to warn them of Killmonger, or maybe get to Killmonger and talk him out of trying to kill T'challa, Maybe stop King T'chaka from dying and the Avengers from falling apart.

There was no way she could remember all this and what if the changes she made weren't for the best... Would the T.V.A try to stop her?

Writing it down would be a disaster waiting to happen, if anyone found it Avenger or otherwise who knows what could happen.

"I need a shower." She muttered sitting up on the bed, running her hands over her face in frustration.

"I can get the shower prepared for you ma'am." Jarvis replied as running water sound from one of the closed doors in the room. "Do you have a preferred temperature?"

"Warm?" Cara asked.

"Warm water is typically between 110 - 90 degrees Fahrenheit." Jarvis informed.

"Ummm 100." Cara answered with a shrug, all these were problem she could solve tomorrow, for now the only thing on her mind was showering and getting to finally rest her mind.

[authoratmidnight]

A Spider Riders, idk, au?? idea?? that's been bouncing around my head.

I've been calling it "Oracle Touched"

So, like in canon, Hunter sees The Oracle as he falls into the Inner World. Obviously he has no idea who this woman is. She's a strange, beautiful woman with, what looks like spider legs(listen i have no idea what those things are that are waving around behind her back like spider limbs) floating around her.

He should be scared but something about her presence is comforting and he's not afraid. She never speaks but he still Understands. He reaches out to her as he falls, but everything is enveloped in light and he wakes up on the ground, as per canon.

Except, there's a strange, spider like mark upon the palm of his hand. The mark of someone's who is 'Oracle Touched'.

Shadow is the one who says this, having the heard the term before but he's not, really sure what that entails and frankly still thinks this is an Earthen trick.

Hunter ofc has no idea what this mark means, nor does he know who that lady was he saw. He does start to make the connection later when Corona brings up The Oracle but gets sort of brushed off b/c, why would The Oracle show herself to you, an Earthen??

Being Oracle touched means he does have a, different connection to her than anyone else (save for other Oracle Touched people).

For a while he doesn't understand it, or why he can sort of, FEEL her. He can sense and feel her presence more strongly, something he first notices when at the shrine at the Hill of Champions. That's when he REALLY realizes that yes he DID see The Oracle when he fell through. And OH these weird waves of emotion he sometimes feels are HERS. It's her sadness or joy or pain that sometimes flashes through him.

And this absolutely goes a long way in his drive as a Spider Rider, to stop the fighting. He's already a kind and deeply empathetic person so like, this only adds to it.

Aqune is the one to first explain to him what the mark is and what it means, as she too is Oracle Touched. Everyone who is Oracle Touched bears this spider like mark upon their body (Hunter's is on the palm of his hand, Aqune's is between her shoulder blades).

It's not until the whole, getting the first Oracle Key bit that it really sinks in what this connection means. He can feel her crying out as the shrine is broken into and they key removed.

Eventually, during the bit where he and Magma end up at that temple to the Oracle, Hunter learns more about being Oracle Touched. Everyone there is 'Touched' and bears the spider mark somewhere on their body (some hide it, some don't). Oracle touched are often more devoted to Spirit Oracle for, obvious reasons, though everyone's connections are different.

As might be obvious, Corona is also Oracle Touched being that she and Aqune are the Oracle's Handmaidens (her mark is on her upper arm and usually covered by those long sleeves of hers, which is why Hunter doesn't realize it for the longest time, coupled with Corona just, not telling him at first). Her and Hunter are definitely able to bond over this once Hunter realizes she's marked too and too a degree understands what he's feeling all the time. Cause that's GOT to be overwhelming as heck.

This also serves as an additional driving force for going to Nuuma.

Hunter going to the Invectid lands and meeting with Mantid is the first time since coming to the Inner World that he hasn't felt the Oracle's presence and it is so so disconcerting to him. He's grown so used to it at that point that it's like 'oh, oh something is missing and I do not like it'

Anyways ye. Oracle Touched Hunter Steele who has a somewhat more unique connection to the Oracle because of this fact.

[hqmillioncorn]

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

Poppette packed the very last things they needed into their bag and ran out the door to her room. Her dad was waiting to see her off at the front door. "Do you have everything?" He asked. There was a hint of nervousness to his voice. Poppette knew exactly why. It was probably because she was traveling so far away by herself There was probably the part where she was visiting the part of her family that had been purposely forgotten about because of the whole dragon blood thing. Regardless, Poppette assured him that everything would be fine and in turn her father agreed with her. "Besides dad I don't think the Warrior of Light has ever eaten anyone!"

Lalapril 4/2: Season i think its probably spring or something!

Cherrypit watched as a butterfly flew past and landed on a dandelion. It was a fairly windy day which threatened to blow the poor butterfly off the flower. Cherrypit crawled over to the flower and stared at the butterfly. “Hello! Butt fly!” He leaned in closer and stared.

The butterfly flapped its wings lightly. 

Cherrypit waved his hand at it, “Go way’!” he urged the butterfly. The butterfly refused to relinquish its spot for a few seconds before finally giving in. Cherrypit watched as it flew away, getting smaller and smaller. “Bye-bye!” The butterfly had already flown out of view by the time Cherrypit finished waving at it.

Then Cherrypit sat in silence for a few seconds, staring at the flower.

“Is anywa gonna ea tis?” He pointed at the flower and echoed a question that he had heard many times during dinner. Right before plucking the dandelion from the ground and sticking it in his mouth.

“Yummyy! Yummyy!!” Cherrypit chewed the flower in his mouth and looked around. His sister and this other strange person were still busy looking at the water behind him. 

Cherrypit would have happily joined them but the new person and Babycorn were talking about something that sounded kinda boring to him.

He would much rather run around and look at flowers and rocks and bugs and anything else that was fun to chase around. There was so much energy in him that had to go somewhere! He couldn’t just stand around talking! He had things to do!

Cherrypit finished eating his flower and crawled around the ground to look for any things that looked tasty. A Brina doll that had been following Cherrypit around since they had all arrived at their picnic spot walked carefully behind him. “Yip-yip-ho! Don’t wander off now!” She warned. 

The danger of Cherrypit running off was almost non-existent but it didn’t hurt to remind him to stay close once in a while. 

Cherrypit hunched over and sniffed a strange shaped looking rock. He lifted it up and revealed a wriggling worm that had been hiding away. “Womry!” Cherrypit yelled out and swiped at it. The worm burrowed itself underground to escape. 

“Bye-bye wormry!” Cherrypit gave the dirt a patpat and pushed himself up onto his feet. His clothes were pretty much caked in dirt now but that was okay because he knew that they would get clean later when he got home! 

Cherrypit decided he wanted to go and be with Babycorn again. 

But found himself surprised to discover that there was no one there. 

Before Cherrypit even had the chance to panic he heard the sound of splashing water. “Huah?” He ran over to get closer to the lake, with Brina trying her best to keep up with him. Once he reached the edge of the railing he knelt down to get a closer look at the water. 

Cherrypit grabbed onto one of the railings columns and the Brina doll grabbed onto his coat, making extra sure he didn’t fall in. He looked down to see the person he didn’t know very well standing in the water. 

“Oh! Hey Cherry!” She waved up at him. They were carrying Babycorn under one of their arms, just like someone would carry a popoto sack. Babycorn was soaked from head to toe. It was almost as if she had tripped and fallen straight into the lake. 

“Your sister just tripped and fell into the water! But don’t worry she’s fine! Just a little wet!” 

Babycorn crossed her arms and puffed her cheeks out. “I thought I saw something shiny in the water and I wanted to get a closer look!” She grabbed a wet leaf from her hair and dropped it back into the water. “Not my fault that some dumb fish jumped out of the water and pushed me in!” 

What had really happened was that while a fish really did come out of the water it didn’t push Babycorn into the water. Instead it had smacked Babycorn right in the face, causing her to lose balance and fall straight down into the lake. 

“Thanks for saving me Poppy!” Babycorn wiggled happily. She really was grateful. The lake was a scary place to be trapped in, especially because of all the different terrifying fish swimming around in it.

“Poppy?” Cherrypit didn’t recognize that name. He climbed up to the top of the railing and stood on it. The person he didn’t know was knee deep in the water, so they were really tall! Just like a lot of his other friends and if his tall friends were nice then maybe this person was nice too.

“Poppy? Poppy poppy poppy.” Cherrypit repeated to himself. 

Poppy giggled, as she started her walk back onto dry land. “Cherry we already met, remember? It’s me Poppette!” The Elezen plopped Babycorn back onto the dock and struck a pose.

She grabbed the brim of her sun hat and did a twirl around and despite her hat (and entire outfit really) being drenched in lake water, she was looking just as stylish as she had been on land. 

It was no surprise, since Poppette had made it herself.

Despite Poppette’s reassurance that they had met before, Cherrypit remained confused.

Poppette slouched, “ Aww…Do you really not remember me?” Their eyes started to water up. Had her first introduction really not made an impression on her new younger cousin? She had shown up early and everythiiing. 

Up on the dock Babycorn gave Poppette a reassuring pat on the back. “Don’t worry! Cherry probably doesn’t remember you cause he fell asleep a little bit after we got to your house!!”

Both cousins distinctly remembered the problems that Babycorn had run into getting to Ishgard. 

“I remember we had to help a knight with a monster attack. Then we had to help a little kid find a missing pair of earrings they lost. And then Cherrypit really wanted to make a snowman before we got there so we stopped and did that and then I ended up falling down into witchdrop again!” Babycorn laughed to herself. “It took me a long time to climb my way out of there!” 

“Woah!” Poppette was amazed, starstruck and even at a loss for words despite having way too many to say about this. “You climbed your way out of witchdrop all by yourself?! And you survived the fall?!” 

“Yeah! I’ve fallen in there lots of times!” 

“That’s incredible! No wonder you’re one of the Warriors of Light!!”

Cherrypit laid down on the railing, since he was small enough to. Something about Babycorn’s story sounded familiar. Especially the part about making a snowman and falling into witchdrop. Except he didn’t remember the part about Babycorn climbing out by herself. Instead he remembered calling Lunya by linkshell and asking her very nicely to help fish an unconscious Babycorn out of her precarious situation. 

He would have gladly gone down there himself but ever since they first re-visited Coerthas around seven years ago Babycorn had asked him to avoid using any of his powers there as much as he could. 

After that he remembered being really sleepy, since it was almost night. This didn’t used to happen. Ever since he woke up in that Old Sharlayan place, things had been just a little bit different. 

Cherrypit watched as Babycorn and Poppette ran back to where he was. Babycorn had shaken off most of the water off of her, though her clothes were still a little damp. It was a pretty hot day today so that was part of the reason Babycorn didn’t really mind all that much. 

Except that whoever’s turn it was to do laundry at the mansion was probably not going to be very happy with her. 

Babycorn walked up the Cherrypit and stretched her arms out. “Bebe!” Cherrypit jumped into Babycorn’s arms without even a moment's hesitation. “Can wa eat now?” He pointed at the picnic basket that had been carefully set near the patch of flowers.  

“Yeah! Of course we can!” Babycorn declared. Falling into the water had really made her hungry. Well, most of everything made her hungry but that’s neither here nor there. 

Poppette was so excited she skipped over to the basket ahead of Babycorn. She had made this lunch herself as a gift to the Starsinger siblings. In actuality it was a sort of apology gift to both of them for how her own family had treated them when they came to visit. 

That night Babycorn and Cherrypit had been yelled at and blamed for pretty much all of her family's problems. While it was true that they had fallen on some hard times ever since the end of the Dragonsong war, Poppette was adamant that most of those problems were not Babycorn’s fault, let alone Cherrypit’s.  

Poppette had herself, left the dinner in tears, running outside into the cold and convinced now more than ever that absolutely none of the heroes that she looked up to would ever want anything to do with her. 

Poppette carefully knelt down and opened the flap of the picnic basket she took out the picnic blanket she had made especially for today. It was orange in color and had patterns of all different types of mandragoras on it, one of Poppette’s favorites. 

In Poppette’s concentration and Babycorn staring absentmindedly at a dragonfly flying past her, neither of them noticed Cherrypit staring right at Poppette, his eyes starting to turn a slight shade of purple.

‘It was a cold scene. The wind was blowing colder than ever. The snow was almost up to Popette’s knees. A part of her blamed this all on Babycorn and Cherrypit. She knew she shouldn't but the snow was much too heavy. To blame all of this on them would make her no more right than her grandparents were.’

As Poppette began to unfold the picnic blanket she recalled more on what happened that night. 

Just as Poppette had given up hope, she turned around to see Babycorn calling out to her. She was carrying a sleeping Cherrypit on top of her head. By the time she caught up she was almost completely out of breath.

Babycorn tried to crack a joke about what had just happened but fumbled it so hard that the joke looped back around to making Poppette laugh about it. Poppette could barely bring herself to apologize for what happened. Especially since it was her who had invited the siblings here in the first place.

Poppette was sort of glad that Cherrypit didn’t seem to remember a majority of that visit. 

‘Why are you sorry!? You didn’t yell at me! Besides, I’m used to it! I’m just glad you and your dad are nice to us Poppy!’ 

Poppette decided then and there that maybe her visiting Babycorn would probably be the better move on both their parts and that was how this picnic plan came to fruition. Making sure to ask ahead of time what each sibling’s favorite food was a genius move on their part.

Poppette carefully knelt down, the phase of caring about her clothes was long past her, considering they were already covered in dirty lake water and mud anyway. 

“Do ya need any help?” Babycorn sat down and plucked a flower from the ground and took a bite of it. “Mpghh I’m realph good at picnics you know?” It wasn’t too long ago that she had put together a feast much like this for her friends at her own home. 

The only difference in this case was that Poppettes food was actually edible. 

Poppette’s eyes lit up. “I would love your help!” She dug into the basket and pulled out some cutlery she swiped from the kitchen of her home. It was the extra fancy kind. “Here! You can set these up! It’s easy I think!” 

Babycorn nodded, carefully taking the cutlery from Poppette’s hands. If there was anything in the hundreds of things she had learned over the years it was that plates tended to break very easily so you had to be careful. ‘Okay I got this!” Babycorn began to carefully walk her way over to the side. By taking the longest and slowest step known to man. 

“You don’t really need to be that careful!”

“I really do!” 

Lest she trip on another pebble and send an entire stack of plates careening towards the ground again just like last time she helped serve food at her friend's restaurant. 

“Surely you’re jesting!” 

“No, I'm serious!” 

Cherrypit blinked, his eyes were purple. 

‘The snow around Poppy began to melt as her father apparend next to her, assuring her that everything was going to be okay. The entire world felt just a little bit warmer. "That's right! If dad can change his mind then everyone else can too! I just have to believe!" Their family would be closer than ever after this!’

Suddenly Cherrypit’s concentration was broken by a familiar scent, the next time he blinked his eyes were back to their familiar white emptiness. “Woah!” He sniffed the air and recognized that smell immediately. “Choca!” There was no doubt about it! There was chocolate cake nearby!!

Cherrypit looked around. In front of him he could see Poppy with a plate in her hand and Babycorn lying flat on the ground. Clearly he had missed something because the chocolate cake he had sniffed out was now lying on the grass and surrounded by flowers. 

“I’m s-sorry…” Babycorn managed to muster out. She had tripped on her own foot and in turn had fallen backwards into Poppette, which caused her to drop the cake and then bump Babycorn forwards to falling on her face.

“Nooo! I apologize!! Forgive meeeeeeee!” 

Cherrypit didn’t know what was going on but he wasn’t wasting any time on eating his absolutely favorite food ever. “Choca! Choca!” He ran past Poppy and Babycorn with a high pitched squeal and used his tiny little hands to dig into the cake. He would have just bitten into it but he remembered Pancake telling him once that it was funner to eat using your hands. 

Babycorn sprang up from lying on the ground with a gasp. “Cherryyyyy!” Babycorn whined very loudly, “Save some for me too!” She ran ahead on all fours and used her own hands to start eating the cake. 

Poppette could do nothing but stare ahead at both siblings devouring the chocolate cake. “I’m pleased you’re enjoying it…?” She was happy they did but it was still a little surprising to see them eat it just like that. There was a warm breeze in the air and Poppette couldn’t help but giggle. 

“...You both are so funny.” 

Cherrypit heard Poppette laughing, turning to look at her he noticed the pretty hat on top of their head. He pointed his chocolate covered hat up at her and smiled, “Pre’yy haa! You have a pretty hat!!” Cherrypit moved his hands around his hair and imagined himself wearing a hat just like it. 

Poppette adjusted their sun hat. “You like it? I can make one for you when I come visit again!” 

Cherrypit smiled as wide as he physically could. “Yeah! Yeah!”

[ask-healthy-light]

With a quivering hoof, Boom struggled to cleanly write down the spell he wished to cast, and all he could think of, as he put the nigh unreadable note on the ground, was that his poor hoofwriting was clear enough to land him where he wanted to land; or at least, that it did not put him where he did not want to end up, tumbling into the Grand Volcano over the horizon, from whence smoke was rising.

From the paper lying on the ground before him, a portal opened, and Boom breathed a sigh of relief, as he found it was overlooking a cliff elsewhere in the area, with no sign of flowing magma nearby; but the strong smell of sulphur surprised him as he stepped onto the Great Volcano, and Boom had to hold his breath as the portal closed behind him, a moment before he realised where he was standing.

The scorching heat of the magma in the Volcano behind him was unbearable, and he flinched, and fell backwards, rolling down the Volcano's massive and steep cone, until he just managed to grab a small ledge; and he did not look down as he slowly pulled himself back up, biting through the pain of all his cuts and bruises he suffered during his fall until he laid flat on his back on the cooled lava.

While Boom waited for his wounds to heal, simultaneously searching for a place to hide, back in the Crystal Library in the Empire, Nox, Luna, and Celestia asked Amethyst for some of her time, since a friend had found a number of scrolls in a collapsed tunnel, in a cave in the Mountains; but as they were needed somewhere else, they asked them to look into the scrolls, so they went to her for help.

A smile grew upon Amethyst's face as she got up and asked the Princesses to follow her, as she knew they needed a place of privacy where they would not be bothered by anypony else; and as she led the Princesses further into the Library, asking them to gather some books she hoped would help on their way, she asked them what was so special about the scrolls, for she figured these were truly unique.

Around the Library, whither Amethyst pointed, books were gently grabbed off the shelves by Luna and Celestia, before they gathered these in a growing pile, as she quietly spoke about the scrolls with Nox; the Dragon-Pony told Amethyst that Light had travelled into the Mountains, following a path to the North, when they came across a cave, where they found piles of the damaged scrolls deep inside.

As a pile of books hovered behind them, Luna and Celestia were led into of a room far away from the area usually open to the public, which Amethyst reassured them was enchanted to be soundproof, just in case any students wanted a peaceful room to learn in; and both Amethyst and Nox closely followed the two Sisters, whereafter they shut the door, and laid the scrolls on the table to show Amethyst.

While the Sisters quietly argued over the right way to sort the books, the Librarian carefully took one of the scrolls, asking Nox in a lighthearted manner why her family was so adamant about sorting books, and, in a more serious tone, what the repeatedly written and hastily scribbled phrase meant, covering the scrolls, but, to her frustration, Nox could only answer her question about her family.

In turn, Amethyst spoke up and asked the Princesses to stop bickering like children, and to listen, for though she was not entirely certain what the repeated phrase meant, nor what the balance was of which the notes spoke, she recognised the manner of writing on some scrolls; but it would displease them to know by whom the scrolls were written, even if others would lift a weight off their chests.

Simultaneously, in the Royal Archives, Sunburst and Light, the latter of whom the Guards still kept an eye on, were searching for the oldest documents they could find, looking for anything that could help them translate the language the letter was written in; eventually, they found a book, in which was written a collection of correspondence between two Crystal Royals of Old, partially translated.

Even though the names were lost to time, they hoped it could help them…

(Thanks for reading! And if you enjoyed, please reblog! Thanks in advance!)

Send an ask or request! | Start at the beginning! | Next part!

Featuring: Nox Lunarwing from @nox-lunarwing Boomlord from @thedumbguywithaheart43

[homeahoy]

Raw Thoughts

Raw thoughts in A.M. 

Pairing: Bill x Reader

Setting: Modern University AU

Warnings: Angst, Enemies to Lovers, Smut (P In V, etc)

Click, “As you can see here the artist has used what appears to be sand mixed with paint to create a deeper texture, common during this period”.  Click, another picture appears on the screen and the Professor droned on about the use of texture in that one too.  God he was so bloody boring. Why on earth did you choose this elective?  Oh yeah that was right, your literature professor had recommended it. Apparently you need to expand your horizons and learn to appreciate other kinds of art. You were apparently too close minded about things, believing to write all you had to do was read other writers' works and form opinions. That and pull from life experiences which you according to your Professor were lacking in.  It was clear you had lived a sheltered life and had no trials or tribulations. Nothing, not even a heartbreak and it made your work stale. That’s what he had said, well apparently your Professor was a complete and utter tosser, was all you could think.  You were used to it though, being called things that is, only normally it was brash, arrogant and abrasive.  To be honest you didn’t care, you were just given your opinion and if people didn’t like it they could get lost.  

Under pressure to improve and at least get somewhere under your Professors tutelage you had taken Art History. You thought it would be a breeze. It would give you an overview of the different periods and you would be able to at least talk some game if your Professor asked you any questions.  But it was just so boring, you had no interest, it was stupid who cared about some musty old portrait of some minor important Lord or Lady.  Also if you heard one more word about the use of light you would scream. You tried your hardest to stay awake during the class but were begging to fail miserably. Your head jolted as it slipped off where it rested on your palm.  It startled you awake, as this happened you could hear some snigger. Looking around your eyes landed Bill Fraser, who sat there with a smirk on his stupid face.  You had had only limited interactions with the man but you were pretty sure who it was him who had laughed.  The first time you had met was when he was causing some argument in the library as you studied and had to tell him to get lost as he was disturbing your peace.  The next time was your very first day in this class, when he had pushed past you in the doorway to get into the lecture hall first.  From then on, he just seemed like he lived to get on your nerves every time you crossed paths.  Luckily it wasn’t too often, you a English Lit. Major and him a Classical Art one. If you were arrogant then he was most definitely annoying as all hell. 

God you would love to wipe the stupid smirk of his handsome face. That was something else that annoyed you as well. He was good looking and you were pretty sure he damn well knew it. Tall, slim built, bright blue/green eyes and cheeky grin that had plenty of the other student’s weak at the knee’s. The kind of guy who would never look in your direction.  You found them all pathetic. How stupid did you have to be to fall for just a pretty face.  You also had a feeling his accent was something they also fell for. “Oh isn’t it just quaint” You had actually heard one girl coo to her friend. This had made you scoff with laughter, which had resulted in one of them calling you a bitch.  Turning back to the front of the room where the Professor was wrapping up the class you silently thanked your lucky stars.  You began packing up your things, not that you had much, you rarely took any notes during this class.  You stood up quickly as you were all dismissed and made your way from the lecture hall. There was one other thing you hated about this class and it was the fact it was a late class meaning you were rarely home before seven pm.  Making it to the corridor beyond the lecture hall you heard your phone beep. Pulling it from your bag you saw it was your flatmate asking to meet up in the local bar, a place almost exclusively inhabited by students.  Shooting her a quick affirmative text you headed off. 

It doesn’t take you long to find your flatmate, her sitting at table with some guys, one of which had their back to you.  There was something oh so familiar about that back, the sandy brown hair that was always fluffy at the back.  Amy, your flatmate waved at you as she saw you approached.  You smiled and waved back, only that smile dropped when the male with his back to you turned round to see who Amy was waving at.  Urgh, was this some kind of sick joke.  Taking the only free seat you dumped your bag down on it and fished your purse out and gave Amy that come with me look.  Heading up to the bar you waited till she appeared next to you. “Are you kidding me” you asked her, “What?” she said in that faux innocent voice of her’s.  “You know exactly what, Bill Fucking Fraser and whoever that is” You said waving your hand in the direction of the table. You had ranted at Amy about how much you had disliked him and yet here she was having a drink with him. “Oh calm down and untwist your knickers. It’s his friend Pat who I am interested in and well, they came in as a pair and it couldn’t exactly tell him to beat it could I?”  You were about to argue that she could have told him to get lost but the barman appeared and took your order. 

Returning to the table you sat down and began drinking your vodka and coke. You downed almost half it in one go.  You were going to have to be drunk for this.  It was clear Amy had her eyes set on this Pat guy and if you really wanted to be a good friend you could at the very least put up with Bill for a few hours.  Amy and Pat fell into an animated conversation while you tried to avoid eye contact or make any kind of conversation with Bill, only Bill had other ideas. “Might want to take it easy there you don’t want to nod off again sleepy head”  You gave him him a whatever smile and down the rest of your drink, in a not so subtle fuck you manner. Man you would just love to slap his stupid smug face. Bill sits there smirking knowing he has gotten under your skin. It was just so easy to do. To him you were so easy to read and he loved that annoyed look you got on your face whenever he spoke to you or was anywhere in your vicinity.   He also liked staring at you when you concentrated, the little wrinkle between your brows was endearing. The way you always argued your point, even if it was wrong, was thrilling to him. You were someone who clearly knew exactly who they were and he liked it. There was only one problem, you were out of his league at least in his mind. 

As the night wore on it was clear Amy was planning on bringing Pat home with her.  Great, you couldn’t help but think to yourself.  Where were your noise cancelling headphones?  You were pretty sure they were under your bed, so you made a mental note to fish them out as soon as you got home.  Everyone still had drinks to finish when you stood up to go to the toilet. On your return you found the drinks abandoned and only Bill left at the table. Scowling you sat down “They’ve gone haven’t they?” You asked picking up your own drink and downing it.  Bill nodded as he said “Yeah, they leg it as soon as you were out of their sight, something about getting a head start so you didn’t ruin the mood”  You didn’t reply to this, you knew exactly what they meant. You would have slammed about your room bitter about not getting any yourself.  Still, you hadn’t expected them to leave you with someone you clearly disliked.  You didn’t want to go home now, you knew it would be hell having to listen to them. “Urgh!” you let out an exasperated sigh.  “What’s up? Well except being ditched” Bill asked.  Making a quick decision and deciding you had nothing to lose, you answered. “ Am trying to figure out what to do next as I don’t want to go home and lay in my bed while all I can hear is my flatmate getting railed by your mate” 

Bill laughs, it’s a full on laugh, one that’s catching and you can’t help but let out a laugh yourself. You were pretty sure it was the alcohol but the way he laughed was hot. Just how much did you have to drink? If you were thinking about Bill like that.  You knew you had been lying to yourself when you said you didn’t like him, okay you hated his manner but damn he was attractive. Shaking your head you tried to clear it of those kinds of thoughts.  Bill's voice interrupted you anyway. “You know you could come back to mine, it’s not like Pat’s using his bed. You could sleep there?” You know you should say no but it sounds like a good idea. It wasn’t like you had any classes tomorrow anyway, so it would be fine.  “Okay, but not funny business” you said, pointing a finger at him, eyes narrowed.  Bill just laughed again at this . God if he only had the chance he would take it. 

The two of you walked back to his student flat. It was only a ten minute walk and it would have been stupid to waste the money on a taxi. You had walked along swinging your bag about, clearly merry from the vodka you had been drinking, Bill watched with a grin on his face, thinking about how carefree you looked. “Drunk are we?” He asked. Shaking your head, you said “Nope, just happy I don’t have to listen to Amy wail while getting none like always” Oops you had an awful habit of over sharing when you have even had just one drink.  Giving you a confused look, Bill asked, “What do you mean like always?”  Falling in line with him you answered. “Well when you look like me and have this personality you tend not to get laid very often” Bill stopped in his tracks, were you serious? Stopping yourself you turned to look at him “What?” You asked. “Are you serious?  I’m sorry, but have you ever looked in a mirror?”  “Huh?” you said, screwing up your face in confusion, was he paying you a complement?  No he couldn’t be. “Whatever” you said waving your hand to dismiss what he had just said.  “How long before we get to your place I need to pee again?” you added. Bill shook his head at your dismissal of his compliment, clearly you didn’t see what he did. Sighing at the next part he pointed to a door just a few feet away and said “it’s just there the ground floor flat with the red door”  Spotting the door he is talking about you make a beeline for it.  

You wait impatiently for him to open the door and let you in. You run into the hallway and wait for him to shut the door behind him.  Only when the doors closed do you hear it. The sound of moaning and a headboard hitting against the wall.  You both look at each other with disbelief.  It had never occurred to either of you that Amy and Pat would come back here. “Fuck my life” you say. “Anyway we can figure something out in a second, where’s the bathroom?”  Bill points at the door directly at the end of the hallway.  “I’ll be in here” he says pointing to a door to the left as you walk down the hallway.  You quickly use the toilet and as you wash your hands you wonder what you're going to do next.  Get a taxi back to yours?  Sleep on the couch? Fuck.  Leaving the bathroom you enter the room Bill had indicated he would be in.  It’s clear it’s his bedroom, looking round you see him hastily trying to clear up. It’s pretty crowded, the double bed taking up most of the space, there is a built-in closet with the door shut and a dresser with all manner of things on top, the desk and chair by the window and covered in sketch pads and art books. It’s a pretty typical room.  Turning to face you Bill asks “So do you want to sleep In here?  Pat’s room is next to the living room and you can barely hear them in here.  I can take the couch.”  You can tell by his face he doesn’t want to take the couch and you really don’t want to either. 

You fidget with your bag strap, not quite believing what you're about to suggest. “We could just share the bed?” you venture.  “Only if you're comfortable with that” You add, holding out your hand in a if you're sure manner. It takes Bill about a minute and the sound of the headboard across the hallway banging again for him to make up his mind.  “Sure, just close the door quickly” You gladly comply, closing the door quickly.  Surely they must have realised someone else was in the house, if they did they clearly didn’t care.  Turning back to the bed and Bill, you drop your bag where you are, then kick off your shoes. You take off your jacket and hang it over the back of the desk chair. “Umm, do you have anything I could borrow to sleep in?” You asked, you didn’t really fancy sleeping in your jeans and shirt. “Yeah, just a second”, Bill heads to the dresser where he pulls out a large oversized t-shirt. “Will this do?”  “Yeah” you say, taking it from him.  Turning to face away from him, you unbutton your shirt and pull on the t-shirt, it drops down almost coming to your knees.  Why the hell did he have something this big?  Okay he was tall but still.  You pulled off your jeans and socks and placed them and your shirt with your jacket. Looking up you saw Bill had stripped down and was facing away from you.  “I’ve changed” you say.  On hearing this Bill turns and slips into the bed. You quickly follow.  Both of you staring at the ceiling. God this was awkward. 

Both of you lay there in awkward silence,  well as much silence giving the moaning has started up again almost at a fever pitch.  “Good god, how loud do they need to be?” You ask. Head flopping back into the pillows.  “Well and please don’t hit me,  we could beat them at their own game?” Bill suggests.  Turning to face him you say “Am sorry, did I just have a stroke?  Are you suggesting what I think you are?”   Looking sheepish Bill utters “Yeah”  Looking away you think for a second. Okay you hate this guy, yeah he’s hot but god does he annoy you. Plus it had been a while. What did you have to lose? You could just deny it had ever happened if he told anyone. No that wouldn’t work as Pat and Amy would also know.  Fuck it, just like your professor said you had to be less sheltered, okay this wasn’t what he meant but hey ho. “Okay” You finally agreed.  Cautiously Bill leaned over and pressed a kiss to your lips, his hand finding its way to your waist. Leaning into the kiss you let out a small moan, god he was a good kisser. Something that was making you not regret your decision in the slightest. Reaching your own hand up you tangled it into his hair, pulling him closer you deepened this kiss until it became a thrashing of tongues. 

The hand and your waist wandered lower, sliding up the hem of the t-shirt, and coming round to nudge your legs apart so he could stroke you through your underwear. His middle finger ran along the crease and pushed your folds apart so he could rub your clit gently through the cotton. Good god a guy who actually knew where your clit was, inside of rubbing your left outer labia and asking if it felt good. You released your grip on Bill’s hair so could return the favour, hand running down a firm chest, until it landed on the tent in his boxers. He was hard already. Gripping his length through his boxers you began to stroke him.  All the while Bill keeps up his assault on your clit. You can feel yourself getting wet, so wet in fact you're pretty sure you could take him, then and there. Moaning into the kiss, you finally break apart and say “I need more”.  Bill stops what he is doing to pull off the t-shirt and pull off your underwear.  He quickly makes a trip to his dresser while you make yourself more comfortable on the bed. 

Standing by the bed, he sheds his boxers and quickly rolls on a condom. He then climbs back in and nestles himself between your legs. “Are you sure you want this?” He asked. “Yes” you answer clearly. Hearing this he wastes no time before pushing into you. You keen at the feeling, the stretch, the feeling of fullness within you.  Leaning his forearms either side of your head, he begins to thrust into you. It’s a nice steady pace and you quickly match his rhythm. It’s not long before you’re panting his name like a mantra. Your legs wrapped tightly around his waist as he bucks into you. You claw at his shoulders as you try to keep your composure, but it’s lost. Bill captures your mouth in another kiss, mostly to dull the sound of your moans and his open.  He’s pretty sure if you keep moaning his name like that he’ll come in an instant.  It takes a while but you can feel the thrust get harder, more sloppy and know he's close, you can feel your own high come on thick and fast.  Breaking the kiss and tilting your head back you come hard, squeezing round him. Bill buries his face into your shoulder as he comes shouting your name.  Moving to the side he collapses beside you.  Running a hand through your hair, you can’t quite believe what you have done.  Shit, you have just had sex with the very guy you swore you hated.  Shit, shit, shit.  Okay you needed to stop thinking about it right now, you would deal with this in the morning.  After you both fixed yourself you drifted off to sleep, wondering what tomorrow would hold.

[skvaderarts]

Petrichor Chapter 61: Reprieve

Chapter 61: Reprieve

Note: Hi, everyone! I hope you enjoyed the last chapter and had a nice holiday! I am so sorry that this didn’t go up on Friday! I’m not going to lie, I was tired after doing chores all day so I went and took a shower and bundled up after I got out of the shower due to the cold weather and I 100% fell asleep for the night. My bad, everyone!

(-~-)

Outside, the world moved in a blur. The glass fogged from the heat within as rain battered every inch of the hull, slamming into it with such incredible speed that it appeared to both cover everything and be nothing more than a solid sheet of water all at once. It smeared down the metal and glass at unforgiving speeds as the locomotive hurried onward, unphased by its relentless assault, everyone within rendered blind to any details of the outside world.

But aside from a few passengers who made idle chitchat near the large picture windows to express their concern about the shift in weather with other travelers, most barely gave it a second thought, let alone a lingering look. They were focused on things such as their reading material or the pricy onboard meals that they’d been forced to pay for lest they go hungry while onboard the long trip.

Dante and Vergil were somewhere in the middle, just focused enough on the weather to notice it taking a continuous downward turn for the worst, but not paying enough attention to it to notice any of the finer details that hinted at just how bad the weather had the potential to become. Or, they weren’t discussing it at any length like some others were, at least. They’d been mostly quiet the entire trip, their minds on the task at hand a little else.

Maybe a little small talk could break the ice.

“You could drown in this rain, hu?” Dante said with a scoff. He was glad that they’d made it on board the train when they had. Just a little while after he’d overheard someone talking about potential cancelations for later that day. They were probably on one of the last trains willing to risk the journey in such inclement weather. And as if the universe itself had heard his very thoughts, only moments later the intercom crackled to life to make an announcement to the passengers onboard.

“Attention all passengers, please take your seats. If you are already seated, remain as you were. We will be decelerating in five minutes time due to potential track hazards. Standing is a potential falling hazard. I repeat, please take your seats. If you have any personal belongings or luggage that are unsecured, please secure them. If you require assistance, please notify a member of our staff immediately. Thank you. Have a nice day.”

Vergil looked up from his place in the corner of the back wall of the train next to the window, his eyes having long since drifted off towards the glass. He didn’t move an inch, but his eyes traveled upward in acknowledgment of the source of the sound before drifting back down and landing somewhere in the middle ground between his previous two locations. Dante shifted in his seat, not really expecting to receive a response, especially with an announcement going on. Everyone had gone quiet during it. Seemingly no one wanted to be the sucker who tried to talk through it only to be mentally murdered by everyone else in the car. But after another minute or two, perhaps to make sure that he didn’t start talking at the precise moment that the broadcast did a second run to make sure that everyone had heard them, Vergil moved ever so slightly, straightening his back so as to not develop a crick in it.

“Quite. We're headed right into a storm.” Vergil said almost too nonchalantly as the two of them watched most of the other passengers scramble to comply with the broadcast, nearly tripping over themselves to clean up food containers and move aside personal belongings in order to make room for everyone to sit. It was one of the most disorganized things that Vergil had seen in a good, long while. “... Why scrabble when a more orderly and methodical approach would be so much more efficient? Now everything is just in shambles.”

Dante couldn’t truthfully say he had the answers to that question. It was just one of those things that people did. The concept was mostly foreign to Vergil, but the devil hunter in red liked to imagine that his older twin had reacted in much the same way at least once in his lifetime. No one was as calm as Vergil was every second of every day. And he hoped that it was something his older twin could look back on and laugh about, at least. Even if only internally. He had enough negative memories to fill a museum exhibit on misery. There had to be a few good ones in there somewhere… 

“Couldn’t tell ya. Human nature, I guess.” Dante said with a shrug, adjusting his sitting position ever so slightly. The cushy seats they sat in were plenty comfortable, but when you did this much sitting back to back you started to get a bit stiff.

Vergil looked away, obviously dwelling on the task at hand more than anything else. And rightfully so. That was the whole reason they were on this train in the first place, after all. What else would even be capable of occupying his mind right now, such as it was? What else could be that important to him?  “Maybe so.”

Sensing that their current conversation wasn’t going anywhere, Dante decided to change the subject. There wasn’t much else to talk about anyway. And talking was just about the only thing either of them could do on this train. There wasn’t any music playing to listen to, and there were no complimentary reading materials anywhere. It was just dull.

“What are you so afraid she’s going to say?”

Vergil looked up at Dante as though he were going to ask him to reiterate what he’d just said before catching himself and seemingly reconsidering at the last moment. He then stared at his younger twin intently for what felt like an eternity before finally answering, letting out a long, tired sigh in the process. The anticipation was killing him.

“Everything I disserve to hear.”

His answer was so matter-of-fact. So certain. It was like a court sentence. He spoke with the resignation of a man who had just been handed the death penalty. It had occurred to Dante previously that his older brother was nervous and probably concerned as to how his former lady love might react to seeing him again after all this time, but now he understood something deeper. He was afraid she might hate him. He’d already decided that she was probably upset with him. And Dante couldn’t argue with that. Anyone probably would be. But there were a litany of simple words that when uttered from her lips specifically had the power to dismantle Vergil like a cheap piece of furniture. To utter destroy him. She was one of the few people in existence who’d opinion actually mattered to him, and he knew that she knew that.

When she spoke, Vergil listened. Even if he wasn’t ready to hear what she had to say. Even if he didn’t want to hear it. Because bother were better options than the reality where she never spoke to him again at all.

“Let’s hope so. Maybe she can talk some sense into you.” Dante said lightheartedly but with an air of kindhearted sincerity. He really wasn’t joking, if he was being honest. He genuinely did hope that they could find some semblance of closure over everything that had happened between them and maybe even start to rebuild some kind of meaningful dialogue once again. He didn’t know what shape their relationship was in any better than his brother did, but he was quietly sitting in the background rooting for them. He really hoped that they could work things out. He really did.

He suddenly found himself chuckling at the mental image of Vergil attempting to remain calm should he have been present for V’s birth. He knew with absolute, iron-clad certainty that Vergil would have demanded to be present for something that momentous, but he couldn’t help but almost choke back morbidly amused tears at the thought of how horrified Vergil probably would have been if he’d been there to see that. Quiet, but still horrified. True, they’d both seen more than their fair share of blood-soaked gore and viscera, but when it was your loved ones, it was different. It was personal. And the stakes would’ve been sky-high as well. High for everyone involved. What a ticking time bomb that entire scenario had the potential to devolve into… 

“What’s come over you all of a sudden?” Vergil inquired, noting the way that Dante had drifted off for a moment only to look as though he were on the verge of cracking up a mere instant later. There was obviously a story here, and with any luck, it might actually be interesting for a change. Even Dante had his moment.

“Nothing you’d find funny, that’s for sure.” Dante almost stopped there, clearing his throat as he spoke in an attempt to intake more air and speak more clearly for the time being, but when he saw Vergil raise an eyebrow ever so slightly he decided to double down. After all, Vergil couldn’t stab him on a train in front of all these witnesses, could he? “Just imagining what would’ve happened if you’d been there when she had V, that’s all. How you’d react to seeing that first hand.”

Vergil seemed almost confused by why that would be funny before the closest thing Dante had ever seen to nausea crossed Vergil’s face for a brief second before dissipating, indicating that he’d most certainly been onto something. This time he did laugh, albeit at a tempered volume, but nonetheless laugh he did. Vergil simply shot him a semi-horrified glare and rubbed his face with his hands. This was going to be a long train ride. Tomorrow morning couldn’t come any sooner.

“Just… Stop talking, Dante. I’ve heard enough.”

(-~-)

By all accounts, Gustave’s instructions had been spot on. When the pair of weary travelers had finally managed to make their way up the stairs to what seemed to be a reception wing of sorts, they had been greeted politely and shepherded off to another area within the structure via another tear of some sort, this time in the form of an archway similar to the one that their escort had departed through.

When they’d stepped through it, V had been surprised to learn that they were now at least a dozen floors higher up, specific doors and arches seemingly connecting to the appropriate location without needing to actually be on the same floor or side of the building as the physical location they’d been linked to. Something that earned an inquisitive nod of recognition from the young summoner. Now that was the sort of practical magic or sorcery or what have you that he could get behind. Very useful, indeed. Something to learn if that were at all possible, perhaps. He could think of many practical uses for such knowledge.

Shortly after they had been shown their temporary lodgings. It was a large room filled with natural light that shined through the almost stained glass-like arched windows on the far side of the room. Or perhaps “arched” was the wrong descriptor. They were round on the top, but their shape was more irregular than a standard arch; more pointed before becoming long slits with a conical shape that better aimed the light into the wall. And they were deep, well-like structures, almost as though they had been carved out of the mountain itself. Perhaps they had. The whole room was made out of a soft cream-colored stone. Different designs made up the walls and floors to offer variation, but this particular room and its adjoining balcony along with the coffered ceilings and their adjoining pillars were obviously made up from the same stone. Impressive. And very time-consuming. But in keeping with the rest of the structure, especially in regard to the giant vines that snaked through some of the windows and around some of the posts on the balcony.

The place was ancient. More so than V could properly quantify.

But as they’d spent the last few hours or so sitting in the room waiting to hear back on, well, anything at all, they'd both fallen silent. V couldn't say he was bothered by waiting, and Sirrus obviously needed time to collect himself after everything he'd been through that day, but as the duo approached their third hour, the young summoner was becoming concerned that maybe someone essential to their visit might have forgotten about them. But he wasn't willing to jump to any brash conclusions. After all, he had no way of knowing. He just found the situation strange as a whole.

“How long do you think we’ve been here?” V asked casually, his gaze following the flow of the mist that hung in the air outside. It seemed that all the water cascading off of the mountain that they were inside of created a mist as it traveled downward. And he was willing to bet it felt good. Too bad he didn't feel like going to check at the moment. His view from this side of the glass would have to suffice for now. Especially since the cool air in the room was indication enough that he was probably correct.

“You might be surprised to hear that the only thing that doesn’t fluctuate in this place is the time. It’s more or less the same here as it normally would be.” Sirrus said quietly, his tone similar to that of someone who was nursing a hangover. Soft, slightly hoarse, and filled with lingering regrets about whatever had landed him in this situation. He'd spent the last hour or so with his head back against the plush upholstered back of the couch they both sat on, his eyes slowly inching closer to being fully open as he stared at the ceiling in contemplation. Before that, V had filled him in on the rough details of what he'd been up to back in the forest like he’d asked. Sirrus had understandably fallen silent after that up until the moment he’d responded to V’s question. “That being said, you’d only find clocks in a handful of places here. Time isn’t something most of the denizens of this place care to acknowledge.”

V nodded in confirmation, more to his own benefit than anyone else. Sirrus could see him, but he wasn't looking directly at him at the moment. No, he was still looking at the ceiling, his mind in the process of recovery from the straight-up assassination attempt it had just survived earlier that day. “Is it fair to assume that spending this much time away from everything else in existence has that effect on them? Their perception of time has become skewed?”

Sirrus let out a faint chuckle before moaning in discomfort, clearly regretting his decision. It had been out of reflex more than anything, but that didn't soften the blow to his head in the slightest. He just got to deal with the lingering feeling that he really wished he hadn’t just done that, at least for the next minute or so. The feeling slowly began to dissipate and the throbbing subsided, allowing him to think enough to make an attempt at answering V’s inquiry.

“Yes, absolutely. When long-lived or immortal beings become focused on something with virtually no distractions, eons can pass before they once again acknowledge the flow of time.” Sirrus said softly, careful not to move his head in the slightest. The feeling of exhaustion and disorientation was finally starting to let up a bit, but it would still be a while. He would just continue to take it easy for now.

“I see…” V shifted in an effort to make himself more comfortable. He wasn't terribly fatigued from all the walking he'd done earlier that day, but he was getting there. It was creeping up on him slowly as he sat there, his muscles becoming more and more stiff by the hour. He was certain that if he sat here long enough they would fully atrophy. “Do phones work here?”

“No, unfortunately. They don't even have any here. No need for them.” Sirrus spared the energy required to peak at V, noticing the way that he was sitting. He looked genuinely out of sorts, but not in any way that he was used to seeing. No, his posture gave it away. He had a feeling he knew what the problem was.“You look cold.”

V chuckled softly. Sirrus wasn’t wrong, he was. The temperature in their current environment reminded him of a movie theater. Ever so slightly too cold for whatever you were wearing unless you were pouring sweat from being even a little overdressed. Those were your only two options. But he’d prefer to be cold as opposed to the latter whenever the decision presented itself. He could always warm up, after all. But you could only take off so much before it became a misdemeanor. Or worse.

“Remind me to actually fix your coat once we return,” Sirrus said, his focus squarely on something outside of V’s knowledge. His eyes were still partially closed, but he’d since he’d been recovering at a valiant speed since they’d made their way to their room several hours earlier, there was hope that would change in the near future. Perhaps it was the undisturbed peace and quiet. The sound and smell of rushing water were just far off enough to not be disruptive, and the ample plant life that infiltrated their dwelling from outside on the balcony were certainly soothing. Comforting, even. This was nice. Very nice. V almost wanted to take a nap. Well, that was incorrect. He did want to take one. But he had the feeling that the second he settled in to do so he would be interrupted by their meeting. And although showing up slightly tired might not be good form, showing up after having clearly just woken up was an even worse idea. He didn’t want to come off as disrespectful. Everything about this place as well as own his better judgement was ample proof of that.

But just as those thoughts entered his mind, there was a knock at the door. Sirrus gave them permission to enter and, to the slight surprise of the young summoner, it was a familiar face. It was Gustave. And if the look on his face was anything to go by, he had news. And V had no idea if it was good or bad. V hadn’t expected to see him again so soon. This was… a surprise. To be certain.

“I require a moment of your time,” he said as he entered the room, closing the door behind him. He paused for a moment, his attention on the door as the entire room fell silent. After an agonizing thirty or forty seconds or so, he turned around slowly, whatever he’d been waiting to have happen (or perhaps not happen) having occurred. He wore a look of absolute seriousness, his expression not so much bleak as it was grim. Whatever he was about to say was important. And he wanted to make that clear. 

“We need to talk. It’s of the utmost importance.”

(-~-)

Hi, everyone! I hope you liked the last two chapters! Let me know what you think in the comments, and I’ll see you next Friday on the 8th of December! Take care and I hope to see you again soon! Bye bye!

[knife-drawer-rp]

"Sounds like a plan to me," Although he's wandered around this planet for over a century, having a navigator is infinitely more reliable than trying to traverse between towns on this endless, shifting landscape by memory alone. With a "Hup!" And a quick heel tap onto the Tomas's side, the duo's journey continued. During the hours spent dipping over and under rolling dunes beneath the arid sky, conversation petered off into a more comfortable silence, cut into only by Rachael course correcting their travel. Vash had taken the time to put an earbud in from his Walkman-like device and quietly crank some tunes while keeping his other ear open to his travel buddy. Only a few breaks were taken along the way to rest their Tomas and to take some shelter from the harsh rays of the suns, but they were still on a time crunch! Eventually, they were led to what Rachael indicated was a marker of sorts (Vash had only been half listening, getting REAL into letting his mind wander off to the beat of whatever he was jammin' out to). The vague mention of it being the ruins of somewhere that failed to thrive got the outlaw's attention, however, "A town that failed t..." His voice trailed off and Rachael could see a glint of worried disbelief flash in the Typhoon's oceanic eyes. "No that can't be right..." Vash saw the map Rachael was showing her route on before, he didn't have to ask for her to hand it over as he urged the Tomas towards the town that... Did present itself as deteriorated ruins more so than the struggling, but earnestly attempting to survive town he remembered being in its place. It wasn't that long since he'd been back to visit. They had a Plant (even though it's silent now...). They had Tomas farms being established! They... They... They were all gone. A numbness fell over the man as his boots hit the sand with a muffled crunch. His brows furrowed behind his orange-tinted glasses as his footsteps carried him into the remnants of what used to be the town square. There were tattered remains of colorful textiles that were strung up between the cracked and dilapidated buildings. One of the townsfolk at the time of his first visit said it was their way of bringing some brightness to this dull, sandy world. His fingers easily broke through the weathered fabric at the bottom of one of such banners. It's not like he didn't know life out in No Man's Land was a losing game. That's why he's been on the move in the first place; To prevent excess human deaths and to help them create stability and build up from the ashes of the Fall. To help them survive the devastation that he and his brother caused over a century ago... But failure to thrive, the sheer, icy indifference of it sunk into the pit of his guts like he'd swallowed a mouthful of sand. Something in the sand caught his foot just a little bit as he'd carried out his despondent trek through the city, and when his gaze dropped to inspect it, he felt his heart sink even further. The memory of a little girl proudly showing him the dolly her mommy made from scrap clothing materials jumped to his mind as he bent down to pick up the dirty and slightly stained toy from where it had been left on the ground. That smiling face, missing both of her front teeth, loaded with more freckles than anyone could hope to count... Had been long gone from this place along with everyone else she never got to grow up with. Vash knew what house she lived in, where she would play with her friends and drag him into their little tea parties, where the kids' parents would gather to chat and catch up after a long day of work... At the very least, he would've hoped, if he ever found out the people here had moved on, that it'd have been of old age. Nearly 40 years have passed since that last visit, and the time spent away doing... His goddamn not-good-enough best... Weighed heavy on his aching soul. You must excuse him, Rachael, he's got a bit of sand in his eyes that he has to wipe away. It's almost like those glasses don't protect against grains tossed by strong gusts...

Rachael is met with a smile warm and bright enough to rival the radiance of the planet’s twin suns, “We can if you want to talk about how you said you acted so begrudging to huddle for warmth, but spent the whole night with your face in my chest!”  ... Girl you really did pout and shove your face into his pliddies (plant tiddies). “Anyways,” Vash starts, deciding that Rachael was probably too busy to pass the canteen, so he snatches it himself to give their feathery companion a good morning sip, “We should get a move on before it gets too hot out. Aaaand if we’re lucky, we might be able to find a Sand Worm or something to eat! Not exactly the best breakfast, but it’s better than starving.” With a few gentle strokes placed onto the Tomas’s neck after it finishes drinking, the outlaw begins the process of packing up the creature’s bags and putting the blanket and saddle back onto its back. He’s done this more than a few times and is rather efficient about doing so, staying remarkably calm whenever the creature started acting fussy. Once he was satisfied with prepping their steed, he offers a hand out to assist Rachael with getting onto its back for the continuing journey. He’d hop on after and take up the reigns once more. Adventure and that Plant in the next town over await with very little time to spare!

[neutronice]

Meeting Where I Am

There are still misunderstandings to get through, but I want to be the unpopular opinion of Victuuri here for a second. I don’t think Victor was in love with Yuuri when he got on that plane to Japan. I might even go so far as to say that his choice was selfishly motivated. He was feeling stagnant, bored, listless. He’d lost his motivation to fight (something he tells us in Barcelona).

Personally, I think this makes this story even more beautiful. Because it means that being around Yuuri is what made Victor fall head over heels. He showed up, knowing this cute Japanese skater idolized him. Drew up a short program for his own enjoyment (watching Yuuri seduce him on the ice), and basically threw on the charm that always worked before.

But... it didn’t work this time. Victor could tell that Yuuri worshiped the ground he walked on. He could tell that Yuuri was over the moon and would bend over backwards to do what Victor asked.

Yet he wouldn’t sleep with him. Not because he didn’t want to, but because Yuuri subconsciously knew that Victor viewed himself as the debonair man of the On Love: Eros program, seducing the most beautiful woman then moving on. Victor was going to cure his boredom by sweeping into Japan, taking Yuuri under his wing and causing him to win because of the way he idolized Victor. Then he was going to return to skating with a smile on his face that he turned the piggy into a prince.

But somewhere along the way, this plan changed. Yuuri’s earnestness changed it. Yes! He will work his ass off killing himself to land the jumps and do the spins and fight the ice. Yes! When he looks at Victor he gets a moony look on his face.

When Victor puts no limits on what Yuuri or Yurio can ask him for if they win the face-off, Yuuri wants to eat katsu-don. When Victor directly asks Yuuri if he wants him to be his boyfriend? Yuuri runs away (and tells the tale of a woman who was too pushy with her affections). Even as Victor is certain that Yuuri has a crush (the banquet helped with that), there’s no way for him to access it in real life, because Yuuri is not ready for that. Yuuri puts his true feelings on the ice before he acts in real life too.

It means that Victor needs to coach, not play at being a coach. It means watching Yuuri fight on the ice slowly melts Yuuri’s reservations in real life too. It means that Yuuri builds his trust in Victor as his coach, until he’s ready to test the waters of his first relationship off the ice. His declaration of love during the presser about the Grand Prix (that Victor is the first person that he wanted to hold on to) was that moment. When Yuuri said “I’m ready.”

It means that when Victor holds him, Yuuri is ready to be held. It means that when Victor kisses him, Yuuri is ready to be kissed. It means that when Victor shares a bed with him, Yuuri was ready for that too.

It means that... Victor fell for him. Hard. He was no longer the man in On Love: Eros. He was not there to seduce the most beautiful woman and move on. Yuuri believed in him as a coach, when it seemed like no one else on the planet took him seriously. And Yuuri forced him to take off the mask and open up, because Yuuri shut down any shallow overtures Victor made. The message? Yes, be my coach! It’s a dream come true and I will work myself to the bone to be worthy of you choosing me. But if you want me off the ice too, I only want the real you.

It was Victor’s revelation. Yuuri wanted no more and no less than the real Victor. I can only imagine, after a life of playing a part, how wonderful it felt to meet someone who loved you for who you were and side-eyed you when you played fake. For Yuuri, the real Victor was enough. Yuuri loved him when he stumbled, hell, Victor’s stumbles and vulnerability were often where Victuuri grew as a couple.

That to me is what made it special. That we got to see Victor’s demeanor change, from the playboy who stands naked in a hot spring and declares himself Yuuri’s coach (and is not taking himself as seriously as he should), to a man full of so much uncontained love that he can’t resist holding him, touching him, (basically getting engaged to him).

Yuuri forced Victor to take off the mask. More... Yuuri made it safe for Victor to take off the mask.

No wonder they were so deeply in love. Because... they got to be their real selves with one another, and those real selves were ultimately what made them both fall so hard.

[brunchable]

Part II - All The Wrong Buttons || Doctor Stephen Strange x f!reader.

Word count: 3.6K

Genre: Enemies to Lovers. Adventure. Action. Young Adult.

Warning: References to Multiverse of Madness. Mild profanity.

Brief Chapter Summary: You experiment with your powers during a mystical monster attack. Stephen discovers a new hobby, which is to constantly push all of your wrong buttons.

Strictly do not: claim, repost, copy, translate my stories anywhere else

Dandelions - Part II: All The Wrong Buttons

•••

You ended up at the rooftop so that you’ll be able to see a bird’s eye view of what was happening down there. You could feel a strong extra-dimensional presence, even if you can’t see it, you don't know how but you could almost feel it's intentions. You spotted Strange landing in the middle of the street, a block away from your building.

You exhaled slowly to calm yourself while taking your heels off, your plan was to jump your way from building to building where it was safer as you figured out how to work your powers, for the third time.

“Okay, you can do this, just don’t look down.” You motivated yourself and rubbed your hands together. You sprinted towards the edge of the building to gather momentum; the dress was dragging you down a bit. But as soon as you approached the edge, you peered down and screamed, "Oh shit!" To avoid falling down, you flung your arms about and leaned backwards.

You honestly didn’t understand how that man managed to throw himself off the balcony without feeling scared.

“Oof—” You fell on your butt and decided to rip the dress shorter with your newfound strength, “Let’s try this again.” You stood up and ran back to your starting point, remembering what your mother always said to you when you felt anxious.

You began by closing your eyes and concentrating on the sensation of your heartbeat, which you continued to do until it was the only sound you could hear. Almost immediately after you were able to regain your composure, you grew conscious of your power source surrounding you. You felt the wind start to rotate clockwise around you, its rotational velocity increasing the more you allowed it in. It was as if a charge was filling you up from head to toe, causing your eyes to glow a bluish-white colour as you opened them and your hair to transform to white and danced in the air as your strength increased.

You sprinted as fast as you could while simultaneously bending your knees to leap high. Wind erupted out of your feet as you launched yourself ten metres into the air, creating a broken crater on the cement below you.

You crashed on the roof of the second building, and it's clear that you're still getting your bearings, "Ow." You grumbled under your breath as you pulled yourself to your feet and began your sprint to the next structure.

You sprinted until you reached the edge, then expelled energy from your hands and feet to propel yourself farther into the air in a twirl. You were able to feel the energy in the palms of your hands, and a little voice inside your head subconsciously instructed you to utilise that energy to conjure up air currents that were powerful enough to support your weight and elevate you.

•••

Stephen’s brows wrinkled together as he spotted a young woman who appeared to be fleeing from something he couldn't see. She was desperately looking for somewhere to hide. The young woman ended up boarding an empty bus, which immediately began to deform, and the windows shattered as it rose into the air, giving the impression that it was being lifted into the air by an unseen force.

Stephen opened the Eye of Agamotto by first crossing his hands in front of it to activate the opening ritual. He then flicked his wrist to perform the magic that revealed the creature that was hidden in plain sight. People screamed in terror as a gigantic one-eyed octopus monster was unveiled with its tentacles wrapped around the bus.

Strange was able to deconstruct the bus into bits with a simple motion of his hands, which allowed him to locate the girl who was clinging to a pole. After being startled by what Strange had done, the creature took a step back, but as soon as it saw the girl, one of its tentacles made a grab for her. In an effort to stop the monster from capturing the girl, Stephen slashed his palm across the monster's tentacles in a diagonal motion. As one of its limbs touched the ground, it let out a painful cry as the pupils in its eyes constricted. At the same time, the pole came undone, causing the kid to lose her grip and fall.

Stephen grunted as he threw his cloak towards her as hard as he could.

‘What the fuc-’, You saw the creature from a distance, and the kid was flailing her arms, screaming as she fell to the ground. You propelled yourself to fly at lightning speed, eyes glowing brighter, and caught her at the last possible moment, outrunning Stephen's cloak in the process.

You flew and dropped the kid off behind Stephen, who was using all of his might to put the bus back together, trap the monster's tentacle inside the bus, and then dump the heavy vehicle on top of it. Stephen’s cloak flew past you and reattached itself to his shoulders.

Stephen whipped his head around to face you and the kid, "Watch out!" She screamed as she watched the monster hurl the bus towards the three of you.

Stephen materialised a buzzsaw and directed it towards the bus, where it severed the vehicle in two, while you projected a whirlwind accidentally caused by fear to deflect the pieces of the objects away from you and the kid, both of you hiding behind Stephen.

Stephen spun around to face you with a perplexed expression on his face after seeing you, but now with hair as white as snow, your eyes fading back to their normal colour.

"What? You're not the only one with cool powers. " You gave a shrug and followed Stephen's lead by shifting your focus to the child at the same time.

"Do I know you?" He questioned the kid as memories of her appearing in his dream began to flash in his mind.

Both of you were so distracted that you didn't notice the tentacle coming in to swat you and Stephen out of the way. You were flung across the street and into a café, which is where Stephen was knocked unconscious.

You rolled on your back after you crashed on the tiled floor, you gritted your teeth in pain and stared at the ceiling, wondering why you had brought yourself into this mess in the first place, “What was I thinking?”

The cloak that belonged to Stephen swooped in and leaned close to your face, as if it were inspecting you, before it made the decision to smack Stephen across the face several times.

When you saw a piece of clothing slapping the Doctor, you blinked and felt a little disturbed. You could hear the child scream as the enormous octopus was enslaving another man while it pursued her mercilessly. You bolted out of the cafe in an instant and soared towards the girl who was doing her utmost best to escape being struck by the tentacles that were attempting to slam her.

“Hold on tight!” You yelled as you reach out for her hand, whisking her off the ground and carrying her towards the first tall building you could find while barely dodging the monster’s attacks.

The monster let out an angry shriek and tossed the motorcycle at you. Fortunately, you managed to get the girl down on the ledge in the nick of time, before the vehicle collided with your back, forcing you to lose your balance and fall onto the balcony of a complete stranger, where you were pinned by the bike.

•••

Gargantos crawled towards the building where the girl was, still carrying Wong around like a ragdoll. Stephen sprung out of the cafe and conjured a sword, which he then threw at the tentacle that was restraining Wong.

When Wong was finally freed, he sprang to his feet and elegantly straightened out his clothing. At that moment, Wong saw Strange approaching from behind him and said, "Did you know it's a tradition to bow in the presence of the Sorcerer Supreme?"

"Oh, I’m aware of the customs.” Stephen responded, but he did not bow before Wong. At the same time, they conjured up a magical chain and used it to lasso Gargantos in an effort to draw the beast back, which didn’t work,“Whoa!” Stephen exclaimed as they got dragged up.

Gargantos seemed to be losing its patience and swatted the chains off, wrapping his tentacles around Stephen’s waist tightly, “Argh!” Stephen grimaced and struggled under Gargantos’ grasp. The cloak was able to slip out and cover the monster’s eyes.

Stephen extended his hands out in the direction of a street light, the cloak trying its best to conceal Gargantos' vision. The light was lifted off the ground by big purple hands that emerged from him. Stephen growled as he struggled to remove the lamp from the ground.

You were finally able to dismount the heavy motorcycle off of you and gained insight into what Stephen was attempting to accomplish. You pictured yourself creating blades out of the air that was spinning in your palm, and then you aimed them towards the cable attached to the lamp with the intention of severing it. As the cloak was thrown back, exposing the creature's eyes, Stephen launched the lamp in the direction of Gargantos, and stabbed it, using what was left of his strength to gouge its eyeballs out.

•••

You descended slowly and stealthily into an alleyway, hoping that Stephen would not see you since you didn't want anything to do with him or be discovered. You felt his curiousity or distrust when he saw you for the first time with your powers. You peered over the bend and saw that the girl was in a safe setting now that she was in the presence of the two sorcerers.

After having all of that adrenaline drained out of your system, you instantly felt the sting from your scrapes and grazes, and you told yourself, "Ugh, this is going to hurt even more tomorrow morning." You moaned while massaging your lower back as you decided to just casually stroll back to the party to get your car.

Stephen put his hand on Wong's shoulder to stop him from opening a portal, “Hang on a second, we’re missing someone else,” He searched for you while turning his head in both directions, but you weren't hard to locate since your naively walked around with your hair still white, “Actually, go ahead, we’ll meet you both at the cafe.”

“Who else are we waiting for?” Wong asked before entering the portal.

“Someone who probably has a grudge against me.” Stephen replied, as he eyed you.

"Okay, well, don’t take long. We have important things to discuss.” Wong took the kid with him and closed the portal.

Stephen secretly opened a portal behind you, and with one swift motion of his palm through the air, you walked through without knowing it.

Your gaze quickly shifted from left to right as you became aware of the changes taking place in your surroundings, "What the heck?" You muttered to yourself, confused about how your got there until you heard Stephen's voice.

"Going somewhere?" Stephen sang as he approached from behind you, cocking his head to the side.

After spinning around, you saw Stephen looking kind of smug in his red and blue sorcerer uniform, "Yes, I'm actually going home." You sent him an innocent grin and walked past him while purposely bumping him on the shoulder.

Stephen rolled his eyes and launched another portal towards you, which brought you right back to him. You wrinkled your nose as you realised that you were standing in the exact same place as if you hadn't moved at all.

Stephen turned around with an open body language, “I thought you said you were going home?”

"I am!" You let out a harrumph as you exclaimed, and then you stormed past him once again. You had the distinct impression that he was up to something, and it was starting to get on your nerves. You don't like being toyed with, particularly when there is a difficult way out of the situation.

Stephen bit his bottom lip, trying to keep a laugh from escaping as he sent another portal behind you. This time, he watched you step out of it with a passive-aggressive smile.

"Okay, you're taking the 'Do you believe in love at first sight or should I walk by again?' pick-up line way too seriously." Stephen laughed and shook his head in response to his own joke.

“A-ha-ha! Will you stop doing that?!” You faked a laugh and immediately dropped your smile. You sent him daggers with your eyes, the proud smile on his face was looking so punchable, “Don’t.” You firmly added with a hard tone as you began to walk.

Stephen shook his head to one side with a neutral smile, “Fine, I won’t-”

You walked past Stephen and bolted away from him, deluding yourself into believing that you could outrun the portal. You came to find that you were back where you began, standing in front of Stephen. You made an effort to control your temper by pinching the bridge of your nose and taking a deep breath.

“I won’t let you leave until you come with me, I can keep doing this to you for as long as I can. Trust me.” Stephen told you this as-a-matter-of-factly, referring to his time with his old friend, Dormammu.

You've finally found someone who is possibly more stubborn than you are, and it's given you a glimpse into how Eric must feel whenever you allow your own stubbornness to dominate you.

“Ugh. What do you want then?” You asked, feeling tired and frustrated because of his games.

“Information, it’s so obvious that you haven’t had your powers for that long considering the fact that you looked very lousy flying around.” Stephen paused and had the audacity to judge you, “I also need to know what masters you serve.”

"Well, for one, I’m not part of a cult.” You looked at him up and down, conveying the message that you were referring to him.

“I’m not part of a cult, (Y/N).” Stephen closed his eyes momentarily. For some reason, that word always triggered him.

You were surprised that he did remember you name but you hid that emotion to yourself.

“Then why do you dress like that?” You sneered at him.

Stephen scoffed and prodded the inside of his cheek with his tongue, his eyes slowly scanning your figure, just noticing that your feet were bare and the hem of your gown rested just above your knees, “I could ask you the same thing.”

You looked down at your attire, you completely forgot that you ripped your gown to make it shorter to make it easier for you to move, and you left your heels on some rooftop.

You felt heat creeping up your face. Feeling embarrassed, you pulled the dress down and snapped at him, "Quit staring you pervert!"

Stephen snorted, “Oh please, there’s nothing interesting to stare at,” That was a lie, “Just come with me.”

•••

You sat in a table of four with Stephen, his Asian master, and the kid from before, “I don’t understand why I’m here, I have nothing to do with her, I just met her today.” In a show of displeasure, you threw your hands up.

“I told you before, you need to give us information as well.” Stephen repeated himself.

America quietly chomps away her pizza and watches as you act like you’re being interrogated by the police, “You’re going to get a stomach ache.” Stephen turned his attention towards the kid.

“I’m from another universe, I know my stomach works the same as yours.” America spoke with her mouth full.

“I don’t, I don’t even know if you’re from another universe. Which is why I’m still sitting here waiting for you to enlighten us.” Stephen impatiently tapped his finger on the table as he and Wong waited for the kid to shed some light on the situation.

“Gotta say, of the two Doctor Stranges I’ve met so far, you’re not my favourite." When America spoke in Spanish, a squeek of laughter came out of you since you understood what she said.

Strange glanced at you and then at America, bemused, “Which means?”

America was taken aback and looked at Wong in disbelief. She continued to speak in Spanish, “He does not know Spanish?”

“I’m not sure he even enjoys speaking English.” Wong replied, and got a laugh out of America and you.

Stephen's face flushed a bright crimson as a result of his irritation, "Look, I left a very nice wedding to save a smart-ass kid from getting eaten by an octopus—”

“Who’s wedding?” Wong interrupted.

“Christine’s.” You butted in.

“You went?!” Wong leaned in, shocked to learn this information.

“Holy shit, you married Christine?” America straightened up from her seat.

"No, but he still has feelings?” You snorted.

“Yes I do, No I didn’t, YES.” Stephen answered everyone’s questions, starting with yours, and took a deep breath, “You need to explain to me what’s going on. Why was that octopus trying to eat you?”

“It wasn’t trying to eat her, it’s merely a pawn from someone who wants something from her.” You spoke up to correct Stephen.

“How do you know that? I thought you didn’t know her?” Strange leaned in, looking at you with suspicion.

“I don’t and I don’t know, I just felt it or …saw it.” You answered truthfully, your eyes fluttering as you questioned even yourself.

“So you're guessing? Is that one of your powers?” Stephen asked sarcastically.

You crinkled your nose, triggered by his tone, “What is your deal?”

“She’s right, it wasn’t trying to eat me, it was trying to kidnap me.” America backed you up, “Someone wants to take my powers for themselves.”

“What power?” Stephen asked, his tone dead serious.

“I can travel the multiverse.”

“What?”

“You can physically move from one universe to another?” Wong clarified with the kid.

“Mhm.”

“How?”

“That’s the problem, I don’t know how, I can’t control it. It only happens when I’m really, really, afraid. ” America looked down, clearly remembering something that made her feel sad.

Your head whipped up to look at the girl, knowing you can relate a little bit to her situation. It must be frustrating for her not being able to use her powers at will.

“Okay, and this other me? Did he know how to defeat these demons? ” Stephen nodded and asked further, his voice much gentler this time.

“Well, he said, there’s this book of pure good. He said that it could give the sorcerer anything they needed to defeat their enemies. ” America explained, Stephen’s face scrunching up again.

“The Book of Vishanti? That’s impossible, it doesn’t exist–”

"In fact, it does; I discovered it in the secret book—you'll see when you become Sorcerer Supreme." Wong nodded.

“You’re not the Sorcerer Supreme?” America furrowed her brows once more.

"No, I’m not.” Stephen said, in a quiet manner.

The Book of Vishanti? That name sounds so familiar to you, but you couldn’t pin down where you heard it before. You observed and listened to their conversation, now realising that they might have some useful answers to your own questions. You wanted to know why after all these years, your powers decide to manifest themselves now? You were getting lost in your own thoughts, and you weren’t aware that the subject had moved on back to you.

To get your attention and bring you back, Stephen waved his hand in front of your face. You gave a little shake of the head and swatted his hand with your own, “Tsk. Glad to have you back, Wong’s asking you something.”

“Sorry, I got lost in thought, what were you asking?” You raised your head and made eye contact with Wong.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you around before. Who taught you how to use divine elemental magic?” Wong asked, narrowing his eyes ever-so-slightly as he looked at you, his tone resonating with both interest and trepidation.

Stephen gave a little incline to his head since he very seldom encounters a conversation regarding magic of such kind.

Your eyes panned between the men and you shook your head, “No one, I just woke up one day and had them. I don’t know how or why—?” You spoke part of the truth. You can't tell them when and how exactly it appeared, you were afraid they might laugh at you.

Wong raised his brows at you, he wasn't convinced that you just woke up one day with those powers. He didn't buy it because of how your eye-contact with him wavered.

“Great. We have one who doesn’t know how to control her power and one who knows how to use it lousily. I don’t know which one is worse.” Stephen shook his head. He clearly felt stressed out that there were two of you with unknown powers.

You rolled your eyes, “It's probably your mouth.”

“We’re trying to help you here. You could benefit yourself by losing that attitude. ” A sardonic expression morphed on his face, and with his whole body now turned to face you, he was clearly prepared to argue.

You blew a raspberry and centred your attention exclusively on him at the same time. "Helping? You've done nothing except act condescending the whole time!" With the amount of tension that exists between your gaze and Stephen's, you might generate electric sparks.

“That’s enough.” Wong said calmly with authority and cleared his throat, “Ms.—”

“(Y/N) (L/N).”

"Ms. (L/N), I’m kindly insisting that you come visit us in Kamar-Taj after the kid proves to us that she is from another universe.” Wong insisted and referred to America with his hand.

You took a deep breath and looked up, jaw clenched, “Sure. Just let me get changed into proper clothing first.”

“That can be done. Where would you like me to open a portal to?” Wong asked and stood up while you did.

“The Plaza Hotel parking lot please, I need to get my cousin and my car.” You flashed him a tight-lipped smile. Wong acknowledged your request and opened the portal to the location you specified.

“See you later, Elsa.” Stephen purposefully waved at you in order to irritate you some more, and as the portal began to shut, you gave him the middle finger.

Wong gave Stephen an odd look since he was laughing softly to himself even after you flipped him off. It was unusual for Wong to find Stephen finding it amusing being blatantly disrespected, "Am I missing something?"

Stephen put an end to his laughter and shook his head as he said, "I told you, she has a grudge against me."

•••

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[teddy06writes]

You Didn't Need Us Then, We Don't Need You Now

Requested by this anon: "Okay I thought of this idea during Fundy's stream. Quackity and reader were engaged to Karl and Sapnap, but they left because of Karl losing his memory and Sapnap paying more attention to him. Quackity and reader then created Las Navadas to try and cope with everything that's happened to them. They created a little wedding area where they planned to get married with Sap and Karl. Flash forward to a year or two later, Karl and Sap stumble across Las Navadas and their two former fiancees. And they see everything they've done, including the little wedding area. which is perfectly designed as to how they wanted their wedding together. That's is as far as I got to the imagine in my head. If you could make a fic out of it that would be cool. If not at least you have this cute imagine in your head! 😊"

{Okay, so- so man feels, so many ideas. I haven't seen all of the Los Nevadas streams yet because I've got a lot of school stuff going on, but, I think I have a pretty good idea of what's going on. [also Slime from The Ground my beloved]}

Quackity x reader; Past: Sapnap x Karl x Quackity x reader

trigger warnings: maybe some swearing, slight descriptions of a panic attack, slight drinking

premise: After L'manburg was destroyed, two of your fiancées seemed to disappear. With just Sapnap left, you had been scared, but he assured you that the right thing to do was split up to try and find Quackity and Karl. And, well, you found Quackity, but when He found Karl.... something else had taken over, and suddenly Kinoko Kingdom was more important than finding you and quackity again. But thats fine. You and Quackity had been together in the begining, so what did you need from the other two? Las Nevadas could fill the void they left,,, and it did, until they happened to come knocking, right as you were finally moving on.

{Also, parental unit for everyone in Las Nevadas, I love it, brain is going brr so hard}

{also also, purpled is the forgotten eldest child of the server and no the ufo does not get blown up}

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"It's gone, (y/n) it's all gone," You said with disbelief, staring over the barren, ashy place that had once been L'manburg and El Rapids, "We couldn't stop him."

Sapnap took in a shaky breath, wrapping an arm around your shoulders, "We were never could have. Even if the supplies weren't destroyed."

The remaining people had already cleared out, but you had only now come to see the damage, having been forced away from the battle by your fiancées.

"I could have helped." You fell to your knees, still staring at the wreckage.

Sapnap could only sigh at the broken look on your face. You had lost the only home you'd ever known, but what had he lost? Well, for one thing, Karl.

Karl was still no where to be found, and now it seemed that Quackity had disappeared.

He fiddled with the purple band that circled one of his fingers, "Look- we- we need to find Quackity and Karl. Q looked pretty bad the last time I saw him, and Karl-"

Resolutely you nodded, dragging yourself to stand, "Karl is Karl. He'll be happy that his statue missed being blown up. I think its Q we should be worried about. This place- El Rapids- that was everything to him."

"Well- how about you go find Quackity, and I go find Karl. We're bound to find them eventually if we split up." He offered.

You studied the look on his face, "You're covering for him. What's going on?"

Sapnap only shook his head.

Crossing your arms you turned toward the hill, and what was left of the prime path, "Quackity has the deed to some land. North of Spawn. Meet us there once you kind K, alright?"

"Okay." He said softly, leaning over to press a soft kiss on your cheek.

"Be safe." You advised, already starting away.

~~

It didn't take you very long to track down your Fiancé, in all the time you'd known him (much longer than you'd known the others), he hadn't changed too much.

So, when you made your way through the twisted paths near Pogtopia, he was up on the ridge, sitting on the rock that had for so long, doubled as a bench.

"It's good to see you're safe." You hugged your arms to your body, trying to keep your voice from shaking.

As soon as you were sitting next to him, he was leaning on you, "He destroyed everything- all that work- El Rapids-"

"I know." You wrapped your arms around him, finally letting your own tears fall, "I know."

"What are we gonna do? I just wanted a place for us- I just- I wanted to make a place for us- all we asked for was recognition- and now the only place that saw was recognizing us is gone."

It had taken a while for Quackity to stop talking about everything that had been destroyed. Even then he kept asking, "But- Just wanted to make a place for you guys, how are we gonna do that now?"

"We can still make a place," You assured him, even as you yourself were unsure, "We'll make our own little country. So far out where no one will be able to blow it up."

He seemed to take to the idea quickly, and that night, as the two of you sat together in the camp that had been made within the caverns of Pogtopia, he talked feverently of the country you two would make.

He talked of buildings, of businesses, and of wedding venues. The plans he made up that night, they were almost enough to make you forget about what had happened to your home.

"What about that land north of spawn?" You suggested, letting your head rest back on his shoulder.

Quackity thought about it for a moment, "I mean- its just some desert, but I think we could make it work."

"Good, I told Sap to meet us there once he found Karl."

He nodded, "We'll head up there, and start getting everything ready, and then when they're ready they can come up."

~~ This was how three months came to pass, with the busyness of planning the new city, the beginning of construction, the meetings with Sam to plan for the new economic system that the new country would spread through the lands.

Yet you still felt off. It had been that long and Karl and Sapnap had never returned, something must have gone horribly, horribly wrong. It nagged at you, constantly, Drove you sick with anxiety somedays.

"(y/n)."

You looked up from the designs for the next casino you had been going over, "Sam! I didn't know you were visiting today! What can I do for you?"

"Uhhh, I wasn't planning on it, you better come out here- it's Quackity, we had been discussing- some things. I don't know what happened but when he passed back through-" The creeper hybrid trailed off.

You quickly stood, rushing passed him and through the hall to the courtyard where Sam had left him, gasping for breath and tugging at his hair.

In an instant you were kneeling beside him, "Breath baby, breath."

"They- he- George- Kinoko- Sap- left- on purpose-" He blubbered.

"Hey, Q," You took his hands as gently as you could, "look at me. Breath, breath with me. Come on, breath."

Slowly, he began to calm down, and by the time Sam was long gone he slowly began to explain what happened.

"I was heading back from talking with Sam, I saw George outside the prison. He kept talking about something- about- Kinoko Kingdom..." He sighed.

"Kinoko- what?" You asked, confused.

He let his head drop into his hands, "Karl and Sapnap.... started another country- called Kinoko Kingdom... they didn't even wait for us."

You felt your heart drop, if you hadn't been holding his hands yours would've been shaking, "What-"

Quackity could only nod shakily as he pulled you into his arms.

"I told him to come back here- I told- why didn't they-" You muttered absently.

The only noise in the courtyard was from the fountains, and the small sniffles from the two of you.

You were still in a state of semi-shock and sadness when you felt his arms tighten around you.

"We don't need them anyway. Las Nevada's can prosper without them."

~~ "Purpled? You want to get him in on this?" Quackity frowned.

You shrugged, "He's a mercenary, he could be of some help around here."

Your fiancé studied your face for a moment, "No, that's not it. Why do you really want him here?"

"Look, he's-" You sighed, "The kids been through a lot. He doesn't really have anything anymore, he needs somewhere, someone at least. We owe that too him at least."

After a moment, he nodded, "I haven't spoken to him since I paid him for his help with that egg mess. He- didn't seem to like me being around."

"I'll try to find him, he'd talk to me, I'm sure of it." You stood up from your seat at the table.

"You're going now?" He asked, following you across to the coat room.

You nodded, tugging on your boots, "If I want to make it through to the Greater SMP before it gets dark. I'll see if Eret will let me stay the night, then I'll head out again."

"Be careful." Quackity advised once you were ready.

You pecked at his lips, "I always am."

The journey to the Greater SMP went quickly, and after a nights stay in Eret's castle, you had made your way to the UFO, disappointed to find it seemingly abandoned.

"How the hell am I supposed to find him if the one place he ever seems to be is empty." You muttered, glancing around the base of the UFO.

You shrugged off your knapsack, dropping it to the side, followed by the sword that had been at your hip, and then you began to climb.

Even the inside of the UFO was completely empty, devoid of any chests, crafting tables, or furnaces.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

You jumped, turning to find Purpled, in full netherite, sword gripped tight in his hand.

"I- We've been looking for you." You fumbled for an explanation, holding up your hands in a sort of surrender.

He scoffed, "I already did a job for you people, I'm busy now."

"Not for a job Purpled!" You couldn't help but exclaim, "Some people actually try to find you for more than just that."

"Then what do you want?" He snapped.

"Did Q tell you about Nevadas?"

Purpled frowned, "Yeah, he mentioned it."

"Well, I think you should join. Come in on the project."

"Why the hell would I do that?"

You sighed, "Look, Purpled, you- everyone here, in this smp, they don't care, they don't bother to know you. You- you don't really have a place here-"

"You think I don't know that?" Purpled's grip on his sword tightened.

"So, If you come with us, join Las Nevadas, you can have a place- have people who care. You need people, Purpled."

"I don't Need anyone." He insisted.

You sighed, "Someday your going to have to see that that's not true. Please consider joining Las Nevadas, no one here cares, but we do."

"That's not true," He said bitterly, "You just need me to do another god damned job."

With a shake of your head you turned, preparing for the climb back down, "Purpled, this smp isn't kind to children, but I think it's been the most unfair to you. Out here your being forgotten, but you might not be if you join us."

~~

At the base of the UFO you were surprised to find a strange, slimly looking boy digging through your bag.

"Hey!" You yelled, "Don't touch that! It's not yours!"

He looked up and froze, realizing he'd been caught.

You snatched your things away from him, quickly unsheathing your sword, "Who are you?"

"Uhhhh, I'm a meat person- same as you!" He offered.

"You- you're- uh-" You sputtered for a moment confused, "Why were you touching my things?"

"Uhhhhh, Dap me up!" He said avoiding the question.

You stared at him for a moment, "I don't have time for this."

As you started back toward the prime path you heard him call, "Nice to meet you (y/n) from Las Nevadas!"

"How do you know my name?" You demanded, whirling around.

"Oh, I know a lot of things." He laughed, "I see lots 'a stuff."

You frowned, "Uh huh. I'm gonna- walk away now."

~~ A week had passed, and there was still no signs of Purpled, nor Fundy or Foolish, (both of whom Quackity had gone to speak to whilst you were away), coming to Las Nevadas.

You were sure that Purpled would come around eventually, but had no faith that anyone else would join Las Nevadas, until you had heard a strange noise in the night.

It had been a cross between a clang and a yell, and then almost like something being dragged.

You had been going over some of the contracts you had been preparing for if anyone ever did show up when you'd heard it, and your fiancé seem to be gone from his own office, and your bedroom even, so quickly you armed yourself with your sword before hurrying out after the noise.

The streets of Las Nevadas were still partially lit by street lamps as you hurried along, it didn't take you long to find your fiancé, just outside of city limits, pacing In front of a strange looking hole.

"What the hell are you doing?" You hissed.

"Hey! It's (y/n) from Las Nevadas!"

You jumped at the voice, turning to see that no, the hole wasn't green, that the same slime boy from before was sitting in it.

"You! What are you doing here?!" You exclaimed.

"Quackity from Las Nevadas put me in this hole!" He said cheerfully.

Quackity grabbed your shoulder, turning you away from Slime and the hole, "You know him?"

"He was trying to look through my stuff after I talked to Purpled," You explained, glancing back over at the hole, "Said he sees just about everything, uhh, as far as I can tell, he's like the hybrids- but- weirder."

"Nope! I'm just a totally goopless guy! I'm bones and stuff!" He called from the hole.

"Oh god we have crazy people here." Quackity muttered scrubbing a hand over his face.

You moved to crouch next to the hole, "What- uh- What are you doing here buddy?"

"Oh I'm just oozing around. Dap me up!"

Confused, you complied, nervously laughing as he grinned at the handshake.

"I found him spying in the restaurant." Quackity sighed.

"What's spying?" The boy in the hole asked, "I just listen."

"Yeah well tell me exactly what you heard or I'll ill you right now!" Quackity threatened, pulling out his sword.

He hummed, "Well, I saw you, and I saw (y/n) from Las Nevadas. And there was a green guy, and a purple guy. I know of a Red guy, dead guy but he's not dead anymore-"

Your breath hitched, "Dead guy?"

"Yeah, looked real ashy- maybe even ...sooty?..." He confirmed.

Quackity glanced back at you, "And he's not dead anymore?"

"No. He's weird now. Got gray hair instead of grey skin. Used to run a country- got blown up though."

"How much have you seen man?" You asked, incredulous.

He shrugged, "I mean, I move slow but I've seen a lot. Lately a lot of conversations about taking advantage of the ever so fragile human psyche through gambling."

"Holy shit." you muttered.

Quackity glared up into the night sky, almost looking for an answer.

Shifting closer too look at the boy you frowned, "What's all that green stuff?"

"Oh- those are just- my totally normal- human parts! I'm a person!" He grinned.

You sighed, "Uhh, look, what's your name? Like how I'm (y/n) from Las Nevadas, who are you?"

"Oh, I'm goop from the ground!" He smiled for a moment before realizing his mistake, "I mean- I'm a meat person!"

Quackity still seemed to be praying to the sky, not paying any attention.

"Goop from the ground," You muttered, slowly connecting the dots, "Well, uhh, goop, how bout I give you a regular person name?"

"A person name? Oh boy!" He laughed.

You thought for a moment longer, "How about- Charlie?"

Charlie grinned, somehow even wider than before, "Woah! I have a real human name! Like any other regular human meat person!"

"Yep, you do." You chuckled.

"And, to be clear, I definitely am one of those, and not a piece of goop, that's slowly come to the surface, hiding as a person!"

As you continued to talk with Charlie, Quackity seemed to come to a realization, "He's like an accidental spy!"

And, when you helped him out of the hole Quackity was quick to say, "Well, this- this- was- was uh a formal greeting! Yeah that's what we call them!"

"Wow!" Charlie mused.

The walk back to Las Nevadas was quiet, until Charlie turned to you, "(y/n) from Las Nevadas, if I'm Charlie- where- where?"

You smiled, "Do you want to be Charlie from Las Nevadas?"

~~

By the end of the same week, after having gotten Charlie fully on board, and slight agreement from Foolish, word finally came from Purpled.

You'd been working on the next phase of the whole Nevadas Project when Charlie rushed in, "(y/n) from Las Nevadas! There's someone here!"

You frowned, "Who?"

"Purpled from UFO!" He practically yelled.

Standing, you tucked your papers away, "That's perfect Charlie, thank you. Do you want to come with to help show him around?"

He nodded, following you out of your office.

Outside, you found Purpled, along with his dog, looking up at the casino in awe.

"Purpled! You came!" You called cheerfully.

The boy turned, a strange expression you couldn't read on his face, "What? No 'I told you so'? No 'I knew you'd come around eventually'?"

You shrugged, "I'm just glad you finally came."

He sighed, "It's not like they needed me anywhere else."

You put a hand on his shoulder, "That's alright, We need you here."

"They- I went to tell Ponk I was leaving," Purpled sounded too broken, too tired, "He said he was too busy to talk to me."

Before you could say anything, he continued, "I had a house, near L'Manhole. I- I uh blew it up, to see what would happen," His shoulders began to shake, ever so slightly, as he finished in a whisper, "No one even noticed."

In one quick move you wrapped an arm around his shoulder and pulled him into a hug, "It's okay Kid, it'll be okay now."

That was how your fiancé found you, standing outside the main casino, a teen all but sobbing into your shirt, Charlie looking on confused.

~~

And so, the time passed, Las Nevadas grew, and you and your new little family did along with it.

Quackity found it funny, really, your ability to bring people onto your side be connecting with them emotionally, and as he put it, all but adopting them.

Charlie still took up a room in the apartments you and Quackity staid in above the offices. Purpled would come over when things around the country weren't so busy, and you'd talk for hours, Foolish joining in some of the time.

Fundy, on his first night in the city, had broken down to you, the same as Purpled, but you'd helped him put himself together. Though Tommy, Tubbo and Ranboo didn't have official places in Las Nevadas, it seemed a chunk of their time was spent there.

Yep, that was your new strange family. You, Your fiancé and the kids but not really young enough to still be kids you accidently adopted.

Now, you reflected on this quietly, from the top of the needle.

"You okay?" Quackity asked softly, looking over at you.

You chuckled softly, "Can you believe that it's been two years?"

"No, can you?"

You shook your head, "You know, I've been thinking. A long time ago, you told me we were better off with out Karl and Sapnap."

He watched silently, as you pulled the other two rings that you had kept, holding them up by the chain they were strung on.

"Maybe- you were right- and maybe it's finally time to get married. Just us. We didn't need them to get here, we won't need them for anything else."

A small smile slipped onto Quackity's lips, "Would you marry me?"

"You already know the answer to that." You chuckled.

"So it's a yes?"

"Obviously." You scoffed.

"When should we have the ceremony then?" He asked.

"Right now," You mused, "We opened that wedding hall for a reason, right? We could get married proper, right now. It's already decorated the way Tubbo originally planed."

He laughed, "Let's do it tomorrow that way we have time to get like, notices out and shit."

You smiled, "Of course."

The sun had begun to set during this discussion, and you looked out over the peaceful landscape with a soft sigh, yes, this, this was home.

And even as you heard Charlie tripping and crashing his way up the stairs, the thought still filled your head.

"Quackity and (y/n) from Las Nevadas!" He exclaimed, "Purpled from Las Nevadas found some people by the border!"

In an instant, both you and Quackity were standing, "What were they doing?"

"Looking around, real weird like. Fundy From Las Nevadas said they might be here to attack us! I hope they aren't."

You followed Quackity past him and back down from the tower, drawing your sword as Charlie called out where he had left Purpled and the mystery people.

What you found was not what you expected.

Purpled stood, sword drawn and pointed at the men you least expected to see now.

Karl looked scared, tucked back behind Sapnap who was moving to draw his own sword.

Not another move!" You barked, moving to stand in line with Purpled.

Karl's face light up upon seeing you, "(y/n)! Quackity! I missed you!"

"Did you?" Quackity spit.

"Sapnap drop your sword." You commanded, not paying attention to the strange look on their faces, no one, and I mean no, pulled a sword on your family.

He frowned, "Wh- (y/n) don't be like that. I get it- but- why..."

"What are your intentions? Why have you come here?" You asked.

"We wanted to find you!" Karl said, "We missed you (y/n)."

"Uhh, that's (y/n) from Las Nevadas to you." Charlie said.

Quackity sighed, grabbing Charlie by the collar and pulling him back, "Sorry- he's been learning sass and sarcasm lately."

"Still, what are you doing here?" You pushed.

"We wanted to find you! You've been gone so long, we thought we'd go looking." Sapnap explained.

"We've been gone?" You scoffed, "You were the ones who disappeared."

Karl moved forward, grabbing your left hand, and Quackity's right, "We just wanted to come back, to finally get married."

You pulled away, slowly sheathing your sword, "You can't be serious?"

"What do you mean?" Karl asked, the smile just beginning to drip off his face.

"You fucking left us- We were just trying to make a place for the four of us to be safe and you left us! And now you want back? Out of the blue?" Your voice steadily grew louder, "You cannot show up here after abandoning us like that!"

Quackity gently took your hand, murmuring, "(y/n)..."

"No. They don't get to do this!" You turned to him, watching his face change upon seeing the mix of anger and sadness in your eyes.

"W- We'll talk about this tomorrow, away from the kids," He asserted, for once not earning any protest about age from Purpled or Fundy, "Charlie, you think you can take these guys on a tour of the place?"

He nodded eagerly, "This way this way!"

As Sapnap, Karl, Purpled and FUndy began to trudge after him, Quackity turned to you, "(y/n)?"

You just shook your head, pulling your hand out of his and starting away.

~~ Purpled had followed the tour party quietly, taking a page from Charlie's book and watching, observing everything.

He had seen the pain in your face at the suggestion of marriage, and the anger in Quackity's just upon seeing them.

So, he followed the men warily, watching the way Karl exclaimed about how he had built an Effile tower just like the one in the city in Manberg, and the way that Sapnap mentioned fondly how the décor at the wedding hall matched the ones you two had always spoken about.

Hearing it nearly drove him mad. Did they not realize that it had all been for them? That dreams of them arriving were the only thing that had ruled Your and Quackity's minds?

When Charlie had directed the group, which by now included some of the other tourists, past one of the bars, he stopped.

Inside, Quackity was slumped at the bar, a bottle of whiskey in hand.

"Drinking away your problems won't solve them." Purpled sighed, pulling the bottle away from him.

"We were doing so good without them. You know that Purp. But here they are, back and ready to fuck things up again. That's how it's always been." He muttered.

The boy shook his head, "They don't realize how destructive they are? Do they?"

"Never have." He sighed.

"Lets get you back home."

Quackity allowed himself to be manhandled into standing, and then led out of the bar, back toward the offices, and toward the apartment.

"(y/n) will figure it out. They always do." Purpled assured him, pulling open the apartment door and ushering him in.

"But they shouldn't have too," He sighed, running a hand through his hair, not bothered by the way his beanie fell to the floor, "They've dealt with so much without help. Yet they're always the ones to help us."

~~

Once he had wrangled Quackity into the bedroom, Purpled headed back out, finding Fundy at the base of the Needle, "They up there?"

"Yeah," The hybrid sighed, "Quackity?"

"Got drunk. He's- painfully coherent though." He winced.

Fundy ran a hand through his hair, "It's hard to believe one of the nicest people around is the one to fuck them up like this."

"Makes perfect sense to me," Purpled said as they began to make their way toward the stairs, "My first night here- I was having a hard time, because- the whole server acted like I didn't exist. (y/n) told me about how Sapnap and Karl had abandoned them."

"Did it seem this bad though?" Fundy asked.

"No- but that was before they turned up again talking about marriage."

By now they had reached the top of the tower, and Purpled could see where you sat by the ledge, feet dangling over. Quietly, they both sat down on either side of you.

"How's Q?" You asked quietly after a moment.

"Drunk, but back at your apartment, well supplied with water." Purpled reported.

You nodded, "And K and- Karl and Sapnap?"

"Waaay to blissfully ignorant." Fundy said.

Quiet held you three in silence for a moment, until at last Purpled sighed, asking, almost bitterly, "So- are you gonna marry them? You were going to once."

"Even if I did it wouldn't change anything here." You mumbled.

"Sapnap was talking about how cool it would be to come back and visit from Kinoko after the honeymoon." Fundy admitted.

Before you could say anything Purpled drew one of his knees to his chest, "I- don't- it feels like they'd be taking you away from us- I like it the way it is. Things are nice, and they're just fucking it up."

Fundy nodded, "As much as I hate to say it, he's right. If you people all get married nothing will be the same. I kind of liked having parental figures, I don't want them messing that up."

"They won't." You promised softly.

By god, if you hadn't already made up your mind, their words would've swayed you.

~~ After a while, you stood, "Let's go home."

They followed you tiredly, Charlie joining the mini procession at one intersection, telling you that Sapnap and Karl had gone to get a hotel room.

At the apartment, Quackity was sitting on the couch, already seeming more sober than Purpled had told you. When you sat next to him, his arms were quick to wrap around you, holding you like a lifeline.

Charlie took his place on the other side of the couch, Purpled curled up in the armchair, and Fundy dug around until he found one of the old projectors he'd left there, queuing up a movie.

"Hey, just like on Nightmare's days!" Charlie laughed, referring to the infamous 16th, where, just about every month it seemed you, Fundy, Quackity and sometime Purpled would have nightmares of the Manburg Pogtopia war, and everyone would congregate in the living room to watch one of Fundy's movies.

"Sure as hell feels like one." Quackity muttered.

And so you watched the movie, though your thoughts drifted, thinking of how you would deal with your reappearing ex-fiancés.

As you thought, you created a mini script in your head. Exactly what you would say came you.

"You didn't need us then, and we don't need you now."

Yes, you thought, leaning more into Quackity's side, thats what you'd say, after you talked about your new family.

(and the next day, you did just that)

[rays-of-fire-and-ice]

To Give You Shelter

BLEACH Anime Celebration - Day 1: The Rain

Rating: K+ / General with mild themes

Setting: a few months after the war against the Quincy

Synopsis: During the reconstruction of the Soul Society, Momo finds the time to visit the grave of a subordinate.

AN: And so it begins! Starting off the anime celebration with an angsty one! Although this idea is fairly similar to other things I’ve tackled, I’ve for a little while now, and these prompts along with this beautiful fanart by @rainfestive encouraged me to finally write it out. I hope you all enjoy it!

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Momo manages a smile as she places the plate of sliced nashi pear in front of the grave. She’s careful to not disturb the flowers lain in front, or the burning incense sticks that’s smoke swirls up toward the clouded sky. Leaning back, she rereads the name engraved in the stone: Hirose Fuyuka.

“I’m sorry I’m this late,” she says, “rebuilding the Soul Society has taken priority. Nashi aren’t in season right now, but I hope it’s still sweet enough.” She eyes the array of flowers, and her smile widens a fraction. “It looks like the others came before, it must have been on their breaks. They’ve been working really hard lately, we all have.”

The corners of her mouth fall. At the slight waver in her voice, she presses her lips together and takes in a deep breath.

“We have a lot to do,” she continues more quietly, “much more than I think any of us realized.”

A drop of water splashes on to the headstone. Another lands on a flower petal; several more hit the ground and her feet. Within seconds, a sheet of rain pelts down on to her.

It’s like having ice cold water dunked over her head. She finally registers the stillness around her. Something about the lack of noise and any movements makes her mind race. She’s become so used to rushing to meetings, overseeing reconstruction projects, and organizing teams for various projects within her division that a moment like this feels strange, and it creeps dangerously close to her heart.

She can already hear a voice saying she needs to leave now, to go back to working on reconstructing areas in the Rukongai or start writing up progress reports or give her captain an update, but she remains rooted to the spot.

All around her are the graves of those who fell in the war against the Quincy, and only today had she come to see one of twenty who had belonged to her division.

She bites the inside of her cheek, but it doesn’t ease the tautness building in her chest. She leans forward and bows her head, in shame and in grief and in apology to those who she hadn’t mourned for yet. Rain drips from her bangs and fingertips. A tear falls down her cheek, and it’s joined by another.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, she senses someone else is here, but it still comes as a surprise when a faint shadow falls over her. The rain continues to pour down, but none of it hits her.

Eyes widened, she looks to her side and gasps. Then, haltingly, she says his name. “Hitsugaya-kun…”

His expression shifts slightly, the frown in his brow softens in concern but his eyes also narrowing at the corners. “You really need to work on sensing reiatsu,” he says with no bite.

He’s drenched, hair drooping and uniform damp. It’s then she realizes what is sheltering her from the rain. If it weren’t for their surroundings or the heaviness in her chest, she might have smiled and said ‘That’s not what your haori is for, Hitsugaya-kun.’

Regardless, there’s something moving about seeing it held above her head. She remembers when he first wore it after being appointed as captain of the Tenth Division.  At first, she’d thought it looked strange on him, but she couldn’t decide whether it was because she’d been so used to seeing him as a seated officer or because of the rushed circumstances of his promotion. In the first few months it seemed to weigh down on him, his shoulders sometimes slumped and his strides slow and unsure. In time he wore it dutifully, always keeping it impeccably clean and never once needing to have it mended.

He'd been so diligent in wearing, in fact, that this has been the first time she’d seen him without it in almost a decade. There probably would’ve been a time when she thought he'd looked like the Toshiro who just graduated and got accepted into Tenth Division, but it’s not the case anymore. He’d changed, hardened by war in some ways, and burdened in much the same ways as her captain.

Seeing these graves of the officers who served and died under his command, she can’t imagine the magnitude of his thoughts and feelings right now.

She snaps out of revere when he says her name.

“Sorry, Shiro-chan, I’m just not used to seeing you without your haori on.”

The corner of his mouth twitches. “Well, you act as if I never wear one in the first place, seeing as you keep forgetting to refer to me as ‘Captain Hitsugaya’.”

She can’t manage a smile this time. “Sorry, force of habit.”

Whatever huff had built up in Toshiro deflates at her words. He sighs through his nose and turns his attention to the grave. “Who’s this?” he asks, tone soft.

“Hirose-san. She was my twelfth seat, and today’s her birthday.” She can sense him wanting her continue, but she isn’t sure what to tell him. “She, uh, really liked nashi pears, and she came to Fifth Division three decades ago. Maybe you saw her around sometimes? She had a birthmark on her forearm and wore a really long earring for a while. She had to give up wearing it through when it almost cost her in a battle against a Hollow. She only ever wore it on special occasions from then on.

“She did a lot of gardening, so chances are if you saw her it was when she working on the division’s gardens. She always asked me if she could get a group together to garden every few months. Sometimes I’d join in when there wasn’t much work that needed to be done. She even bossed me around a few times!”

Momo didn’t realize she was smiling until she finished. It was a small, nostalgic smile, but was a sign of the lightness lifting the weight in her chest.

“I can’t say I remember seeing her,” Toshiro says. “She sounds like she was a good officer.”

“She was.” In her peripheral, the incense sticks had long been extinguished, but thin, faint coils of smoke still float up into the air. Around them, all the graves shine dully with rain. “Everyone here was.”

Toshiro nods once, but otherwise doesn’t react.

“Are you here to visit someone?” she asks.

“I’ll come back later, when the rain settles.” He half turns to go. “I’ll take you to the nearest shelter.”

For all the war had changed him, that was something that never wavered in him; he always looked out for others, whether he showed it blatantly or not.

She smiles in gratitude as she slowly straightens and takes hold of the nearest corner of his haori. “There’s no need. Let’s go to the officer you’re here to see.”