#pack it up everyone ramon gone

[adreamoverlife]

Thinking about this one wip i wrote before the attachments stream lmao personally i thought it could be a lot worse

[drowninginblox]

Amo vocé

A Pac centric hideduo fanfic

Although no one wanted to say it out loud, the truth was clear. This land was dreadful. After the fracturing of Quesidia island a few months ago, the residents were moved to a new island altogether. One that wasn't a hellscape, my purgatory, or a crushingly systematic institution like that prison they shacked up in for a few days. If you don't look at the bunny boys who hop from resident to resident to bother, this place is amazing. It was everything the old island was, but more beautiful and diverse. Pac, although apprehensive, thought this would be a good change for his family. A new start that he desperately needed, but with all the same bonds. He was hoping to explore it all with Fit at Ramon, but when Fit's deadline came and passed with no word of where he was, and all the eggs suddenly became bedridden with some kind of disease, it was obvious that plans were not going to be acted on for a long time.

Nowadays, Pac is held up in either his or Fit's house. The worry about Fit's- their son ravaged him. Combined with the fact that he hadn't seen Richas in weeks, it felt like his world was crashing down while everyone was living their lives. Was he really the only one Fit told about his mission? Why was no one else questioning where he'd been? Is he-

A knock interrupts his ritual passing. The following silence seeps into him as he rolls his shoulders. The mascot of this hell peaks through the window of the front door "Hola," Pac stiffens, sighs, and forces a small smile. "Oh, Cucarucho!" Welcomes aren't something that should be handed to the devil, everyone knows his name too well. But when he comes knocking, being a good host is always the safest option. Pac opens the door, giving the bear enough reason to make himself at home, investigating everything with his pristine spyglass. All the while leaving no room for questioning. "Hola. Bom dia. O que está fazendo?" Pac cocks a brow, feeling for his scythe in his bag. "Nada de fato. O que está acontecendo?" The bear continues in its search, only bothering with a "Classified."

An unsurprised eye roll follows. "Sim, sim, of course." He mumbles. "Não se importe comigo, não é como se eu morasse aqui." Unbothered by the fact that the island representative is tearing through his house, Pac ops to head to the garden. If not for a distraction from but another instance of his life falling apart.

Fresh air and rich soil weren't as effective as he wished when it came to distracting himself. He would have gone over to the "shit shack" that was Fitche's and Ramon's house, but he doesn't trust the damn bear for shit. "Fitche, volte para casa logo. Por favor…" He found himself fumbling to a rose bush. He hears the door open and close. Cucurucho's bubbles catch Pac's attention. "O que você quer agora, seu urso estúpido?" His hallowed voice surprised him. "Espero que você goste da ilha." They respond in a taunting, monotone voice before placing a box in front of the Brazilian. Pac's curiosity gets the better of him as he follows the bear's gaze.

Yet he's already gone.

He sighs at the plain-looking box. It was just a brown cardboard one with packing tape on it. No address of course, but there was a small message written on the top. "I hope you enjoy the island. :)" If his eyes could roll any harder, Pac would be blind. One huff and a decisive bite of the lip later, Pac ends up putting the box inside his house. In hesitating to put it on the table, he opts to leave it on top of the fridge. Out of sight, out of mind. Yet the question lingered,

[casspurrjoybell-19]

CLAIMED - Chapter 10

*Warning: Adult Content*     

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN... YOU DON'T HAVE OUR RESERVATION?" 

Beta Jaxson Ortiz winced at the harsh tone of the small man who was currently looking up at the host of the restaurant with murder in his eyes. 

Daniel Cahill's much larger husband looked at the host with an apologetic expression, his arms wrapped firmly around the smaller man's waist from behind as to prevent his Mate from pummeling the host with the black neck pillow that he clutched tightly in his hand. 

"Calm down, bunny. I'll handle this. Please just go and sit down, I don't want you to exert yourself... Especially not right now," Raymon Cahill told his husband gently, whispering the last part under his breath. 

Danny pouted for a moment at his Mate's words before nodding, giving the host one last glare before heading over towards Ortiz and Corey. 

The small man plopped down on the bench next to his smiling son Luna Berlin Cahill, who was holding his two tiny sons closely against his chest in a frontward facing sling. 

The little rascals had just learned how to shift to human judging by the screams and cries that had begun to emanate throughout the Pack House in the past few days. 

Alpha Oasis Amador looked thoroughly exhausted, his head bobbing as he struggled to remain awake and upright in his stance against the wall. 

Beta Ortiz could imagine that all of the insanity going on right now was stressing him the hell out, not to mention having a Postpartum Mate and Newborn Twins to take care of on top of Alpha Duties. 

The man was probably getting zero sleep these days. 

Danny cooed lovingly at his grandsons, all anger forgotten as he asked them who their favorite granddad was before slowly saying his name, as if the newborns were supposed to repeat after him. 

Simultaneously, In the corner of my eye, I saw Rayson slip the shaken host a 50 dollar bill, probably just begging the man to let us into the restaurant before his mate raised hell. 

Ortiz laughed the tiniest bit at that internally.

Berlin's crazy family was a welcome distraction to the insanity of Ortiz’s life at the moment. 

Luckily but his withdrawal symptoms were almost completely gone at that point due to his increased Beta healing but there were other, more stressful matters at hand.

"Daddy, you know they can't talk yet," Berlin giggled out, rubbing a knuckle against Hale Daniel Amador's tiny, chubby cheek, the baby yawning sleepily and eyes fluttering in response to his Dad's soft touch.

"Yeah, well I'm priming them, so that they will know exactly who is their favorite when they do start talking," Danny replied before going back to his task of teaching his name to the babies who were steadily falling asleep peacefully against their Dad's sweater-clad chest. 

A moment later, Raymon walked over to them with a smile. 

"They've got our table ready. We can go in," he said, grinning over at his Mate who bolted up from his spot on the bench, leading the way for everyone to follow him into the crowded restaurant as he chattered about how excited he was to finally eat something. 

Luna Berlin tapped Alpha Oasis's sleeping form, who quickly became alert and followed behind his mate as he tried to rub the sleep from his eyes with a thumb and forefinger. 

Pack Warrior, Tyrus Cahill followed closely behind, staring into space and probably thinking about his little Fae boyfriend, Daffodil. 

Meanwhile, Raymon hung near the back of the group with Corey and Ortiz, sighing and turning towards them while scratching the back of his neck nervously once his Mate was out of earshot. 

"Don't tell Danny this but I actually forgot to make the reservations. Luckily, the Manager was able to be bribed." 

Normally, AKA if Ortiz wasn't preoccupied with with thinking about his rapidly approaching death, he would have laughed heartily at the statement and given some witty response but all he could bring himself to do was grin halfheartedly in Ramon Cahill’s direction as they walked into the dining area of the restaurant. 

Ortiz scooted his chair in as everyone began to settle around the table, trying his hardest to ignore how close Corey's arm was to brushing against his since they all had to squeeze tightly together to fit. 

"We'll have the seven person family combo, please," Danny ordered, smiling sweetly at the waiter this time as he sat his black neck pillow down on top of the table. 

It was crazy how the man seemed to be attached at the hip with the item, as it was ever-present wherever he went.

"Thanks for coming you guys," Raymon said, looking around the table as he reached over to place a thick arm around his Mate, pulling the smaller man into his side and pressing a soft kiss to his temple. 

Danny leaned into his touch, his smile mirroring his Mate's as he looked around the table.

"Of course," Berlin exclaimed, one hand rubbing one of his pup's back as the baby slept. "I wouldn't miss this announcement for the world." 

Danny and Raymon's eyes turned curious as they looked over at their smallest son, searching for the meaning in his words.

"What do you mean? Miss what announcement?" Danny laughed nervously, pulling at the sleeves of the oversized sweater that he was wearing. 

Berlin looked back at his father quizzically, pursing his lips, his defined cupids bow poking out at the top.

"Erm... Your... pregnancy announcement?" Berlin spoke softly, as if he was unsure of what he was supposed to say. 

Ortiz jumped a little in his seat at a loud banging noise, looking over only to be met with the sight of Danny, face-down on the table as he groaned loudly.

"Raymonnnnnn, I told you they would find out," he groaned out, his head buried deeply in the black neck pillow as he sobbed hysterically into the fabric. 

Raymon didn't look phased in the least as he sighed, gently rubbing his Mate's back in a comforting gesture. 

Berlin's eyes were wide with regret as he looked over at his weeping father, his fingers pressed against his mouth as he realized he'd apparently told their big secret. 

"I... I'm so sorry," Berlin squeaked out, reaching over hesitantly in an effort to also comfort his wailing father. 

Raymon gave his son a sympathetic look but remained calm, mouthing 'he'll be fine.' and as if he had just read his Mate's mind, the small man slowly lifted his head from the table, a sniffling mess as they waved away the hands that reached for him.

"It's okay, Bubba. I just thought I was doing such a good job of hiding it," Danny wiped at his eyes, clutching his neck pillow to his chest with one arm as his other hand hand slid underneath his sweater to gingerly rest against his stomach. 

Ortiz’s eyes widened as his sweater slid up slightly, revealing the baby bump that he hadn't noticed at all underneath the huge article of clothing. 

"What gave me away?" 

Berlin breathed a sigh of relief as he realized his dad was just being his typical, dramatic self before he spoke. 

"Well... I don't exactly know. But you didn't even touch a drop of alcohol at the mixers or on the trip. Oh and remember when you cried for an hour when you were watching Hale because of 'the way he sneezed'?" 

Raymon covered his mouth, stifling a laugh at Berlin's words as Danny reached up to smack his Mate with his neck pillow.

"I guess you have a point," Danny sighed as he finished his playful assault on his Mate. "Well, I guess the secret is out. You are all going to have another brother," he exclaimed, smiling brightly even though there were still a few straggling tears streaming down his face. 

Pregnancy mood swings must really be insane. 

Ortiz had never seen someone vacillate between such extreme emotions so quickly. 

"Congratulations, Dad. Congratulation Papa," Corey's deep voice vibrated through the air, sending involuntary shivers down Ortiz’s spine. 

Oasis and Berlin also gave their congratulations a second later. 

Meanwhile, Tyrus, who practically face-deep in the bread basket, sent a simple nod towards his parents before going back to buttering yet another slice. 

He promptly turned to Oasis after he finished buttering to ask whether he knew when the food was going to get to the table. 

"You guys promise you aren't mad at me?" Danny replied, looking at all of his children with a quizzical expression, seemingly on the verge of tears again. "Oh Goddess, our grandkids are going to be even older than our baby..." 

"It's okay, Dad. I promise," Berlin comforted. "This is far from the craziest thing that has happened to our family." 

His words seemed to comfort Danny, who smiled in his direction. 

"You're right. I swear, whoever is planning out our lives must be clinically insane. This family is filled with craziness. I mean, look at us. What are the odds that every single one of us turned out to be gay?" he giggled out, rubbing his stomach gently and leaning up to kiss his husband's jaw. 

They all paused as two waiters approached their table, Danny's silly words effectively diffusing the tense atmosphere as steaming plates of Italian style pasta were placed in front of them. 

Tyrus didn't hesitate to begin as soon as his plate was set in front of him, tossing aside the bread to practically inhale the noodles and meatballs. 

Ortiz’s stomach churned uncomfortably at the thought of eating, afraid that he would simply throw the food right back up due to the amount of anxiety that still gripped him. 

He could feel Corey's eyes on him when he didn't reach for his fork, so for his Mate’s sake he opened the wrapped silverware and moved the pasta around the plate, similar to how he did with the eggs earlier this morning. 

"Speaking of crazy, how are you two going?" 

Ortiz stilled, as he looked up, meeting Danny's soft eyes as he placed a forkful of pasta into his mouth. 

The Beta cleared his throat and gripped his fork tightly at the question, a keen sense of deja-vu washing over him.

"We are fine," he clipped, unable to find the will within him to elaborate on their situation. 

Ortiz saw Oasis's eyes train on him in a knowing manner before he turns back to his pasta. 

"Are you sure? Because I heard that Fae boy... what’s his name again? Daisy?... No..." 

Danny trailed off, trying to remember the Fae's name until Tyrus looked up from his pasta, miraculously pausing his eating to mutter...Daffodil... before continuing to shovel forkfuls of the stuff into his face. 

"Oh right, Daffodil. Because I heard that he had some information about your situation. If you don't mind me asking, what was it?" Danny blinked obliviously, smiling at Corey and Ortiz. 

The Beta’s breath was caught in his throat, making it impossible for him to speak. 

No matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't get the words out.  

He was relieved when he didn't have to, since Corey piped up beside them, responding to his father.

"Daffodil said that there was another couple with our same situation," Corey began. 

Ortiz’s grip tightened on his fork as he continued, closing his eyes tightly as he anticipated his Mate’s next words.

"And that when they did not make a decision regarding their Mating, they eventually... passed away." 

A melancholy silence settled over everyone as the words left Corey's mouth, the gravity of the situation settling on the shoulders of everyone at the table. 

Ortiz didn't know how to react or what to say that could possibly diffuse the tension so he opted to just say nothing. 

"Well, dying isn't all that bad. Berlin and Oasis did it once and still came back, right?" Raymon laughed nervously, obviously also not knowing how to react but simply wanting to say something to dispel the awkward silence. 

"Right. They've got the Goddess on their side. So even if... if it does happen, maybe you can ask to come back as something super cool like... like... a black butterfly," Danny nodded hopefully, forcing a smile as he looked back and forth between the both of them. 

Ortiz went to respond but Corey beat me to it again, his voice a softer tone than the Beta has ever heard him use before. 

"Everything will be okay, Dad. We are not going to die," Corey said, looking at his dad reassuringly, although his face held no emotion... 

‘As fucking usual.’ 

"Ortiz is going to reject me." 

Ortiz stood from the table abruptly, his fork clattering loudly against his plate and his napkin clenched in a tight fist as a flurry of emotion flared throughout his body at Corey's words. 

The entire table was staring at him as he stood there, breathing deeply and forcing yet another lump in his throat down.

‘I...”

His voice cracked as he tried desperately to force something, anything to come out. 

He felt the loose cannon of his emotions come to life, a strong blast of anger flaring up in him as he turned towards Corey.

"Do you... Do you even feel anything?" he screamed out, releasing all of his anger in one fell swoop. "You're like some kind of black hole and ninety-nine percent of the time I don't even know if you even like me. How do you expect me to make a decision like this when you don't even have any fucking emotions?"

Ortiz’s chest heaved as he stared down at Corey. 

He was so, unbelievably angry in that moment that he didn't even notice when a glint of recognition that flashed through his eyes or the fact that the entire restaurant was now staring at him wide-eyed and confused. 

He simply threw his napkin down on the table, turned on his heels and stormed his ass right out of that restaurant.

He took a deep breath of fresh air as soon as he exited the turning doors of the restaurant, bending over to grab his knees as he clenched his teeth together tightly. 

He had never fought this hard not to cry in his life, not even when his father beat him within an inch of it. 

This wasn't for just the mere fact that the tether was straining hard against his chest.

No, this was a different kind of pain, one that settled deep into his bones, ripped through his muscles and tore his heart to shreds. 

A pain that made it hard to breathe, hard to comprehend, hard to do anything more than feel the gravity of the earth as it flung him around wildly on its axis, trying to find his direction in the sea of nothingness that he felt. 

He felt like a child again. 

Unsure. 

Afraid. 

But most of all, unworthy. 

He knew that it was wrong to yell at him. 

He knew that this whole entire situation all his fault. 

Yet, deep down there was some truth to the words he'd screamed at him.

Corey was just so hard to read, Ortiz genuinely questioned if he ever felt anything.

A large pair of combat boots appeared in front of  him and he squinted, forcing his eyes up to see who was in front of him. 

Tyrus Cahill stood tall, still chewing remnants of what Ortiz assumed to be pasta as he dangled his car keys from a finger.  

"Let's go." 

The Beta didn't have to be told twice, scurrying quickly after him as he turned to walk towards his car. 

Ortiz ducked into the passenger's seat, rubbing his chest painfully where the bond tugged. 

He knew that Corey had to be somewhere near the door of the restaurant as he was able to move far enough away to get into Tyrus's car. 

He found himself staring out of the window blankly as they sat, unmoving. 

"Contrary to popular belief, I'm not stupid." 

Ortiz snapped his head over to Tyrus as he spoke, his eyes swiveling to meet his as well. 

"I know that you have feelings for my brother." 

The Beta opened his mouth to say something to refute the other man’s statement but caught himself right before more word vomit spilled from his lips. 

Instead, he waited a long moment, allowing himself time to construct a more accurate, truthful reply to his statement.

"It's more complicated than that," he replied, although he was not able to speak above a whisper. 

He knew that if he did then he would inevitably end up in his first fit of tears since he was a child. 

"One of Daffodil's gifts is seeing. He can see someone's core emotions through touch. When he touched you and Corey that one day in your room, he saw the pain and turmoil in your heart." 

Tyrus’ gaze was soft as he held his and strangely, Ortiz felt somewhat soothed knowing that someone knew his secret, biting his lip as he continued. 

"Ortiz, the only way that you can allow yourself to be loved is if you love yourself first." 

The Beta painfully tore his eyes away from his, settling his gaze on his hands that rested in his lap. 

"But... I was never taught how to do that," Ortiz whispered, his voice cracking for the second time today as he fought to keep himself from falling apart at the seams.

"Then let Corey teach you." 

[stilloutofmyvulcanmind]

May Flowers Challenge Day 18

Prompt: “I won’t lose you too” + “I can’t imagine this world without you” requested by Anon

Pairing: Harry Wells x Reader

Word count: 1.1k

Warnings: Heavy angst in the first part, spoilers for The Flash Season 4 finale

“No! You’re not frying away what’s left of you!”

You rounded the corner into the workroom just in time to hear Cisco snap. “What’s going on? What are you doing?” You asked, looking between him and Harry.

“He wants to use the cap.”

“No! Harry, no. I won’t lose you too!”

“Help!” Harry slammed his fist down onto the table, then looked up at you, speaking softer now. “Help. Please.”

You didn’t want to. You didn’t want to give the okay for him to destroy what little of his mind he had left. But he looked so desperate you could barely stand it. You looked over at Cisco and nodded.

You took a step back as he placed the thinking cap on Harry’s head, fiddling with it to switch it on. Holding your breath, you waited to see if it worked.

“See? Nothing,” Cisco said.

Then suddenly Harry was on his feet, and you listened to him relay what Barry needed to do to Cisco and watched them hug. Cisco moved away to let you take his spot.

“Harrison,” you whispered, cupping his face in your hands. “I love you.”

“I know. I know.” Harry reached up, taking your hands in his. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. None of it. We’ll fix this, yeah? We’ll find a way.”

Harry just smiled.

You kissed him, and for a moment, he kissed back.

“Y/N-” It was only one word, but you knew. He’d reached his limit.

“It’s okay.” It wasn’t. “It’ll be okay.” It wouldn’t.

Harry slumped back down onto the stool, staring vacantly ahead.

Tears burned your eyes and it took every scrap of strength you had not to let them fall. A hand rested on your shoulder, squeezing. Cisco. Taking a deep, shuddering breath, you looked at him, “I’ll stay with him. Go. Beat this bastard.”

Cisco nodded and retreated to the door. He paused, looking over his shoulder at you both. “I won’t lose anyone else today. I won’t.”

“Good.”

Then he was gone, leaving you alone. Carefully, you removed the cap, fighting back the urge to smash into a million tiny little pieces and set it aside.

“We’re gonna win,” you told Harry, running your fingers through his hair to tidy it a bit. “You’re gonna help us win.”

“Stars so little. We shouldn’t be here,” Harry mumbled.

Closing your eyes, you wrapped your arms around him, holding his head against your chest. He didn’t react. 

A tear fell, landing in his hair. “I love you.”

Nothing.

~

You sat on the bed, knees curled to your chest, and sobbed quietly. You'd come here to pack a few things. You needed to travel to Earth-2 and talk to Jesse, tell her what had happened, only instead you'd found yourself just collapsing onto the soft covers you shared with Harry. Or used to share. You had no idea how things were going to work now. You were never going to leave him, he was the man you loved, and you'd long decided to stick by him through thick and thin, but with the way he was now? Things were never going to be okay or even come close to normal again. 

It was one of the reasons why you'd yet to drag yourself back up. Usually, you could've. It's what you were good at; holding things together when they tried their best to fall apart. Not this time. This time you could feel the parts slip through your fingers as they crumbled, useless to try and stop it. Soon, you'd scoop them up again, put them all back together as best you could and paint over the cracks with a smile and an assurance that you were fine, that you could cope. Everyone would believe you. The one person that was ever able to see through the facade was now mumbling gibberish to himself. 

Yeah, soon you'd patch yourself up. 

For now, you broke. 

It was impossible to tell how much time passed, but at some point, a rap on the door dragged you from your thoughts. The thought of facing anyone churned your stomach. Wiping your eyes on the back of your sleeve, you uncurled yourself and climbed off the bed. You were expecting Iris or Caitlin, maybe even both on the other side of the door. 

Harry stood there, and for a moment you thought you'd fallen into a twisted dream because he was looking at you like he knew you, as though he were aware and here of his own volition. 

"Y/N." The one word made your breath catch in your throat. It couldn't be. Could it? 

"Harry. You-" 

"I'm okay. Ramon- I'm okay."

You flung your arms around his shoulders, hands clutching at his jacket as you squeezed. Harry returned it, hugging you tighter than he ever had before. You clung to him, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall once more. "How?" 

"Marlize. She gave Ramon something to fix me. He explained, but I don't, I don't know."

Wait, what? 

Pulling back just enough to look up at him and frowned, "Harry how do you not know? Nothing's beyond you."

"There is now. It brought who I am back, gave me my memories, but the knowledge, what was up here," Harry tapped his temple, "that's gone."

You studied him a moment, playing with the hair at the back of his neck. "You're happier like this, aren't you?" 

"I was, at first. But then I thought about you. I'm not the man I used to be, the one you fell in love with."

He looked uncertain and it nearly broke your heart, "Harry...I didn't fall in love with what was up there." You pressed a finger to his temple then dropped your hand down to rest over his heart, "I fell in love with the man that was in here, and I see him more clearly than ever."

Harry smiled, no grinned the one that could light up a room, the one that used to be so rare, and placed his hand over his own. "I can't imagine this world without you."

"Ditto."

Using his free hand to draw you into a kiss, Harry pressed close to you, and in his hold, you felt every tension drain away. Resting his forehead against yours, Harry met your eyes, "Marry me."

"What?" 

"Marry me. I didn't see it clearly before, but I do now. You're my heart, and I love you, more than I've ever said. Yeah, marry me?" 

You laughed, ridiculously happy, and nodded. "Yeah. Okay. Yeah."

Harry matched the grin, picking you up off your feet and twirling you around. "I have to go back to Earth-2. I have to see Jesse. But then?" He asked, setting you back down. 

"Yeah. Then."

Another kiss. "Will you come with me?" 

"Of course. No matter what I'll always be by your side."

"I love you. I didn't say that enough, but I will now, I promise. I'll tell you every day. I love you."

Locking your arms around him, you held on as tightly as you could. "I love you too. I always will."

Like what you read? Consider buying me a coffee! (I’ll love you forever!)

[raywritesthings]

Happy Accident 2/3

My Writing Fandom: Arrow Characters: Oliver Queen, Laurel Lance, Felicity Smoak, Curtis Holt, John Constantine, Barry Allen, Iris West, Cisco Ramon, Caitlin Snow Pairing: Laurel Lance/Oliver Queen, Barry Allen/Iris West Summary: Felicity’s punch has consequences no one intended, driving Oliver to take drastic measures with their own unexpected result. *Can be read on AO3, link in bio*

It was difficult trying to move in all this wet leather that clung to her skin like it was stuck with glue. Being cold and uncomfortable was distracting in itself; she hadn’t had any physical discomfort in that other realm, hadn’t wanted for any material need.

But now she was here in the real world, she was pretty sure. Oliver had brought her back even though she’d thought that was impossible now. “Is that a Lazarus Pit?”

“Yeah. Turns out there were more.” He pulled a big, fluffy towel out of a pack that Laurel eagerly took when he crouched down to pass it to her. He stayed there, smiling at her in a way he hadn’t for a long time, a way that always guaranteed to turn her insides to mush. Laurel tried to find something else to distract herself with.

“Who painted my nails black?” She was really starting to worry about her dad’s mental state if this was what he’d chosen to lay her to rest in.

“...you did?” A vaguely familiar voice said in what seemed to be a question. Looking past Oliver allowed her to see Curtis Holt, the man that had helped them save Oliver’s life and rescue Thea and Felicity from Brie Larvan’s attack on Palmer Tech. Felicity was here, too, staring at Laurel with an unreadable expression on her face.

Constantine had circled around to stare at her as well. “Oliver, if something’s gone sideways, I need to know.”

“It hasn’t — it’s not bad. You were right, I couldn’t find Black Siren’s soul.”

“Oh, she didn’t have one? Color me shocked,” Felicity muttered.

To Laurel’s surprise, Oliver ignored her entirely. “But it turned out that, even though her soul had fallen out of our Earth’s vibrational frequency, Laurel’s hadn’t.”

“Wait,” said Curtis. “You’re telling us this is Laurel-Laurel? Like the good one?”

Laurel raised an eyebrow at that. Since when had she been a ‘bad one’?

“Yes,” Oliver confirmed.

Felicity’s mouth fell open. “Laurel body-snatched her own doppelganger’s body?”

“This isn’t my body?” Laurel asked, her heart — or someone’s heart — doing a funny lurch. She ran both hands down her face. Everything felt like herself, except — was there a hole in her nose? She had a nose ring now?

“Hey, it’s gonna be okay,” Oliver promised, his hands on her shoulders helping steady her. Behind him, Curtis and Felicity seemed less convinced.

“Oh man. Oh man, this is way beyond what I signed up for.”

“Why did you grab the wrong soul? You really thought it was a good idea to just mix and match people’s souls? This could be a disaster!”

“If everyone could shut it a moment?” Constantine demanded loudly, and they did. He nudged Oliver back a couple feet and stood over her, waving his arms and murmuring what to her basically sounded like gibberish under his breath. When he at last stopped, his shoulders sagged in relief. “For better or worse, she’s stable. An exorcism shouldn’t be necessary, and it’d be damn difficult to do since she is so compatible with this body.”

Laurel leaned slightly away at the word ‘exorcism’, but felt the tension leave her upon hearing the rest. She wasn’t totally sure how she felt inhabiting what was apparently a version of her body from another Earth. And really, what had happened to the other her that had led to Laurel inhabiting this body?

“How exactly did the other me die?” She asked. She had to assume the other her had died if they’d been trying to get her back with a Lazarus Pit.

The range of reactions was something to behold; from Oliver’s wince to Curtis squeezing his eyes shut and shying away to Felicity’s stiff, “There was an accident. But that doesn’t really matter, now, because… you’re back. The real you, this time. Kind of ironic considering she pretended to be you at first.”

“She did?” Laurel really wasn’t sure what to think from the bits and pieces she was learning about the other her – though she couldn’t help thinking that real was an oversimplification of what she was in relation to her doppelganger. Her doppelganger had been real, too, had lived and died. Was it right for her now to be living in her place?

Laurel didn’t want to be dead, though. Before she had died had been some of the best months of her life; she’d finally felt like she had everything to live for. She couldn’t and didn’t want to change that she was back, as selfish as it seemed.

“It’s a long story,” Oliver said. “There’s a lot we’re gonna have to catch you up on.”

“Wish I wasn’t used to that feeling.” Laurel shifted so that she could get back onto her feet — or her doppelganger’s feet. She didn’t know if she ought to keep reminding herself of that out of respect to the other woman or if it was just going to end up driving her mad. She was a little unsteady in the heeled boots she had on considering her feet were still damp inside them, and Oliver rose to his own feet to steady her, one hand on her arm, the other supporting her back. She smiled up at him a bit timidly; that other place she had been in was beginning to fade from her mind, and Laurel couldn’t help but to focus on the last conversation she remembered having in the land of the living until now.

“I’m going to need all of you to step outside while I place the protective enchantments over this Pit,” Constantine said.

They filed out, Laurel wrapping the towel tighter around her shoulders as she was met with cold mountain air. Oliver guided her to shelter against an outcrop of rock, one hand rubbing her back to help warm her.

“So what was the plan after this, exactly?” Felicity shouted to be heard over the wind. Laurel shifted to try and make a little more room for her friend to come stand with them, yet Felicity remained where she was using Curtis as a buffer.

“I was going to call a secure ARGUS transport,” Oliver said. “But we don’t need them now.”

“We do need a way to get a legally dead woman back into the US, though,” Curtis pointed out. Laurel found herself wondering why he was here. Not that she had anything against Curtis, she just would have pictured John or Thea being the third person to accompany them on this resurrection mission. Then again, she had no way of knowing how long it had been or what might have happened to Thea or John in the meantime. That was an unpleasant thought.

Oliver nodded. “Felicity, see if you can get a hold of Cisco.”

Their friend turned away to do just that. Laurel desperately wanted to know why there was still such a coldness between the pair, and why it no longer just seemed to be on Felicity’s side of things. And why had Oliver apologized to her about Felicity? Except it hadn’t been to her, it had been to some other version of her. Something had happened that no one seemed to want to get into right now. She’d let it go for a time, but once she was warm and in comfortable clothes, Laurel wanted to know just what exactly had been going on while she was dead.

Constantine joined them outside. “Well, you lot got a way back yet?”

“Working on it, John,” Oliver told him.

“Then I suppose this is goodbye for now,” he said. “Laurel, always a pleasure.” The man leaned in and gave her a light peck on the cheek, which Laurel couldn’t help noticing had Oliver grimacing. “You take better care of these Lance girls, Oliver, or I might have to steal them from you.”

“Well, Sara speaks for herself, but I’m happy where I am,” Laurel said before Oliver could try to speak up on her behalf. He looked mollified by her answer anyway.

Constantine shrugged with a grin. “Worth a try. Right then, I’ll be off. Good luck in your new life!” He turned and sauntered down the mountain path, only the trail of cigarette smoke left in his wake after a moment.

“Cisco says he’ll make the breach and that we just step through,” Felicity shouted. “He doesn’t want to come to Siberia, apparently. Can’t imagine why.”

“Step through what?” Laurel asked, but then her answer arrived in the form of a strange, blue, rippling circle of energy opening up just a few feet ahead of them.

“Oh, thank you,” Curtis said before promptly running through it and not coming out the other side.

“Ollie?” Laurel asked.

“Just trust me,” he said, taking her hand as Felicity went through next. Laurel nodded and walked through it with him.

She could see nothing but blue all around them for a moment, and then they had somehow stepped out into some sort of command center of a room with computers and metal tables. Caitlin Snow and Cisco were there, along with a woman Laurel didn’t know.

“Thanks for the pickup,” Felicity was saying as she rubbed her hands together. “I was not looking forward to going back down that mountain.”

“So what were you all doing out there anyway?” Caitlin asked. She froze as her gaze passed over all of them and stopped on Laurel. “Oh!”

“Uh, hi,” said Laurel. “I’m back.”

Rather than surprise or even happiness meeting that statement, however, Caitlin paled, the unknown woman reached for a gun and Cisco sent some kind of blast of that blue energy at her, knocking her clean off her feet.

“We’ve got Siren!” He called out.

“Hey!” Oliver rushed to her side, but to her own amazement, Laurel was already shaking it off and getting back to her feet with her fists clenched. Figured this was the kind of welcome she got when coming back from the dead. “Just give me a minute to explain,” Oliver was saying.

Laurel saw a streak of lightning rush into the room straight toward her, her fight or flight response kicking in of its own accord. Without her even willing it, she released a scream like she used to with her choker device. Except instead of it just producing a noise this time, she felt the power of it rush out of her in waves that impacted Barry and pinned him against the opposite wall.

“Laurel, Laurel, stop!” Oliver’s hand on her arm snapped her out of her fighting stance, and the scream let up.

She backed up a couple steps, one hand going to her throat. “How did I do that?”

“It- she could do that,” he answered. “She was a metahuman.”

“Oliver, are we sure she isn’t still — that maybe some of her is still in there?” Felicity asked, eyeing Laurel warily.

“John didn’t seem to think so.”

“Okay, is someone going to actually explain what we’re talking about and why Black Siren shouldn’t go back in the pipeline?” Cisco asked, loud enough to cut through what seemed to be a brewing argument.

“Because I’m not Black Siren,” Laurel said. “I’m me. And I didn’t mean to do that just now. I didn’t even know I could. I’m sorry,” she said to Barry, who was just struggling to his feet with the unnamed woman’s help.

“Well, thanks for the apology,” he grunted. “But I’m not following. You’re not Black Siren, you just have her clothes and her powers and look just like her?”

“Well, that’s what happens when Oliver decides to drop original Laurel’s soul in Black Siren’s body on a whim,” Felicity remarked.

The Flash team all looked suitably stunned. Laurel shifted a bit uncomfortably. She really didn’t know what the process was for accepting that you were yourself, but slightly not at the same time. Somewhere else, the body she had always known was still rotting away in a grave. Somehow she kept whatever contents might have been in her other self’s stomach at the thought.

“So… she’s our Laurel instead?” Caitlin asked at last.

“Yes,” Oliver seemed glad to answer.

Cisco was the first of the group to approach, scrutinizing her for a long moment. “What was the thing I asked for in exchange for the Canary Cry?”

“What did I say I’d do if you showed anyone?” Laurel answered with her own question. The others looked, if anything, even more wary.

But Cisco’s face split into a wide beam. “Can I hug you?”

Laurel, who had not been hugged yet since coming back from the dead, opened her arms obligingly. Cisco practically flew into them.

“We missed you so much! I love how no one from Star stays dead!”

Cisco’s teammates were all relaxing now that he had given the green light of sorts, and one by one approached her for hugs as well, though in the case of the woman who came up after Barry it was accompanied with a, “I’m Iris. It’s really great to finally meet the you the others have all told me about.”

“Thank you.”

“And you’re a metahuman now? I mean, this is even more awesome,” Cisco was saying.

“Is no one really going to miss the other me?” Laurel couldn’t help asking. A part of her felt she ought to stick up for her not-self.

When her question was met with a round of shaking heads from just about everyone but Oliver, she cringed. She could only imagine the worst.

“So how exactly did her soul replace Black Siren’s? And how are you gonna explain Laurel’s being alive? I mean, is she gonna resume living in Star?” Barry was asking Oliver. They were good questions, but Laurel was honestly starting to feel a little overwhelmed to consider it all. She still didn’t even know how long she’d been dead for.

“You look like you could use a shower and maybe some of your own clothes,” Iris noted. “Come on, I can show you where to find stuff.”

“Thanks,” Laurel said, catching Oliver’s eye briefly as she made to leave the room. He nodded, indicating he understood where she was heading, then returned to speaking with Barry. “So, when did you join Barry’s team?”

“Oh, I’ve known for a couple years now,” Iris answered her. “But I’ve known Barry since we were kids. We finally decided to give dating a shot a couple months ago.”

Laurel returned Iris’ happy smile with one of her own. “Good for you. Dating your best friend… it’s really special.” It had been one of the happiest times of her life before it was over.

But why was it starting to feel like Oliver didn’t think it was? Was it his happiness to have her back that she was misreading, or had something changed in a way she’d never dared to hope?

---

Barry gestured for Oliver to follow him out into the hall since Felicity and Curtis were already talking with Caitlin and Cisco. “So how exactly did this all start?”

“That’s a long story,” Oliver said with a sigh. “But I guess it started when Black Siren really did come to town. Prometheus, another archer, had broken her out and wanted her to pass herself off as our Laurel to mess with our heads, I guess. We ended up realizing it was a trick and capturing her, only Felicity let her escape to try and follow her to Prometheus,” Oliver explained, a frown on his face as he continued, “which nearly killed a security guard and led to Siren dying when Felicity sucker-punched her.”

Barry’s eyes went wide. Felicity had killed someone? He just couldn’t picture it. “And then?”

“And then, I… I don’t know if I can explain what watching her die again was like for me, Barry. My own team doesn’t even understand it. I called John Constantine, and maybe it was rash, but when he told me there were still other Lazarus Pits out there, I couldn’t just… not when my team was responsible. Not again. I know that sounds — she wasn’t even my Laurel—”

“No, I get it. I’ve met other versions of my loved ones, too. It affects you.” He could still remember holding Earth-2’s Iris close as her Joe slipped away from them at the hospital, a lump in his throat that had made it painful to breath. “And trust me, you don’t have to explain what watching something like that does, how desperate it makes you. I know.”

And the thing was, Barry thought he was starting to get something else, too. He had heard about Oliver and Felicity’s breakup last year a month or so after it had happened. When they had all met up to combat the Dominators last month, the two had seemed on good enough terms for a working partnership, but nowhere near the level of intimacy they had had the same time last year — when they hadn’t been fighting in one timeline, Barry supposed.

So when Oliver had told him about the dream world the Dominators had stuck him and some of the others in, that it had been a perfect life with his parents still alive and him about to be married to the love of his life, Barry had wondered at the time about the lack of a name. Part of him had assumed that Felicity had been implied, yet now he was starting to think that hadn’t been correct. Especially when Oliver and Felicity hardly even seemed cordial with each other now if Felicity’s sarcastic remarks and Oliver’s clear frustration with her actions towards Black Siren were any indication.

“Thank you, Barry,” Oliver said, drawing him out of those thoughts.

“Hey, you were there for me about Flashpoint. I am always gonna be in your corner no matter what the call,” he said. “So I guess you guys went to this Pit?”

Oliver nodded. “Yeah, we met John there and restored Siren’s body to life. When people are fully killed, their souls have to be restored separately. Laurel and I rescued Sara’s last year, but when I went in with John this time, there was nothing at first. He thinks that because she was on a different world to her own, her soul was lost to us.”

“Wow,” Barry said, making a mental note never to die on another Earth. “You said there was nothing at first?”

“Yeah. But then I heard a voice calling for me. It was Laurel. I don’t know how or why they were connected like that, how she knew I was there. But I am so thankful.”

It was hard to wrap his head around. Barry was a scientist first and foremost, no matter how strange the science in his life had become. He didn’t fully understand everything that went on in Star these days any more than they seemed to understand metahumans. Though who knew if that would change now that Laurel was one.

But if Laurel was alive again and Oliver was happy, then Barry supposed the rest of it didn’t matter much in the end how it had happened. Just that it had.

“What are you going to tell people? I mean, everybody knows she was the Black Canary.”

Oliver looked down. “I wish Evelyn’s actions hadn’t made me do that, now. I haven’t spoken to Laurel yet about what people know. We’ll have to figure something out.”

Barry nodded. Anything else he might have said, however, would have to wait, as footsteps announced the arrival of Iris with Laurel. His girlfriend had supplied Laurel with the full STAR Labs apparel line, it looked like, and the two were chatting away like old friends as Laurel towel-dried her hair.

“And there they are,” Iris remarked, smiling at Barry in a way that always made his stomach do funny flips. He couldn’t help but notice Laurel’s smile seemed to be having the same effect on Oliver.

“Feeling better?” He asked.

“Yeah, now that I’ve sort of taken stock of things.”

“Oh?”

“Well, other me clearly got into her fair share of fights judging by some of the scars I have,” Laurel remarked. “Kinda weird they’re in different places than mine were. Also, I have tattoos, now.”

“Really, where?” Oliver asked with a grin that had Barry’s mouth dropping open.

Laurel, for her part, just rolled her eyes. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“C’mon, we better regroup with the others,” was all Oliver said in reply, still grinning as he offered Laurel his arm. She took it, and the two headed back into the cortex.

Iris stepped up to Barry’s side and slipped her arm around his back, her head leaning on his shoulder. “Aw, I’m glad they’re still cute. Teenage me’s kind of having a freak out right now.”

“Yeah?” Barry shook his head. Iris and her magazines. He much preferred her writing. Together, they followed their friends back into the room.

Caitlin and Cisco had abandoned their conversation with Curtis and Felicity to come see Laurel again.

“We have some data on hand about the sonic scream already, of course, but it’d be amazing to get a full, comprehensive picture now that you’re the one in control of it.”

“Also, I’m thinking suit update. I mean, what’s a back from the dead party without presents? If you let me keep Siren’s suit for the measurements, I can have it ready by the end of the week.”

“Thank you,” Laurel said. “That’s really sweet.”

“It is, but you guys might be getting ahead of yourselves,” Felicity interjected. “Let’s not forget that Oliver kind of outed Laurel as a superhero last year.”

Barry winced as the smile dropped off Laurel’s face while she backed a step away from the group, away from Oliver. “What?”

“Yeah, right over your grave,” Felicity added.

“There was a situation with an imposter,” Oliver explained. “I was going to tell you. I just wanted you to have some time.”

“Well, she did need to know, Oliver,” Felicity argued. “I mean, I don’t even know if Laurel can come home with us, at least not publicly.”

“We will figure it out,” he said, his voice taking on a harder edge that Barry knew meant it was time for the other person to stop pushing. But Barry also knew Felicity tended to struggle with those sorts of social cues.

Sure enough, his socially awkward friend continued, “How? This isn’t exactly something you can take back. I mean, you had a statue built in Laurel’s honor — even if her doppelganger just destroyed it — and Quentin even confirmed he knew Laurel’s identity which cost him getting his job back—”

“My dad gave up his job?” Laurel asked, looking distressed at the prospect.

“It wouldn’t have been good for him to take it, Laurel, he needed the time in rehab,” Felicity said, and though her tone was a soothing one, Laurel did not look any calmer, and Barry didn’t blame her. 

There was something about the smile playing around Felicity’s lips that didn’t quite seem sympathetic and raised the hairs on the backs of his arms. He had spent enough time over the last few years with men who had claimed to have his best interests at heart all the while that they schemed and acted to hurt him, and he had gotten good at spotting the feeling. But why would Felicity of all people be giving him that feeling?

“That’s another thing, actually,” Felicity was saying the same time that Barry’s mind raced with these observations. “If Quentin hears about Laurel being back, he’ll want to check himself out in the middle of his treatment. You really did not think through the ramifications of doing this, Oliver.”

“Felicity, that’s enough,” Oliver commanded, causing everyone in the room to stand just a little bit straighter. Felicity’s mouth, which had opened again to speak, snapped shut. “What is done is done, and whatever the complications that arise, we will deal with. I would much rather live in a world where Laurel is alive and have some issues to sort out rather than a simpler one where she is not here. I’d have hoped you felt the same way.”

There was a stunned moment of silence where Caitlin, Cisco and Curtis all stood there gaping. Iris watched at Barry’s side, her slightly widened eyes the only giveaway to her feelings on the matter and Barry himself had little clue how he looked on the outside, only knowing that he would never have thought he’d see Oliver take that tone with Felicity; not since the disagreement they had had all those years ago when Barry had been brought in on the secret of the older vigilante’s identity.

Laurel stood at the midpoint between them, her arms crossed in a move Barry recognized was far more about shielding herself than it was about projecting power. Her disbelieving gaze slowly swept in Felicity’s direction, who scoffed.

“I- of course I prefer it! I just think you have a bad habit of making incredibly impulsive decisions without considering all the facts or getting the rest of the team’s consensus.”

Oliver didn’t even bat an eye. “Impulsive decisions like going behind my back and giving the recruits separate parameters for a mission that ran completely counter to my stated directions? Or like releasing a dangerous prisoner in the hopes she’ll lead you to her commander?”

“You- you did that, too,” Felicity declared. “Last year, with Anarchy!”

“Yes, and I was wrong! Which Laurel pointed out to me, privately instead of bringing it up in front of the team or our friends, something that in all the years we have worked together, you never fail to do,” Oliver shouted. He then squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head, voice returning to a normal volume as he added, “I didn’t like doing that with you, just now. I understand why you took those risks with Siren, what you are going through. I wanted to address it later, see what you needed to let the team keep working.” His frown deepened. “But you never have afforded me the same courtesy, and I am realizing that you never will.”

“Oliver—”

“I need to ask you to take a leave of absence from the team.”

“What?”

“Oliver,” Laurel said softly. “If this is about just now, I’ll be fine. I don’t want people kicked off the team just because they disagreed about bringing me back.”

“If it was just that, I’d consider other options. But this has been an ongoing problem I’ve made excuses for in the past, and that’s only compounded things.”

“What, because I make my own decisions and don’t just follow your orders? That’s enough to get kicked off a team I helped build?” Felicity demanded.

“I recruited you,” Oliver said. “I thought it would be a good idea to have an expert on the computers, but that does not make you an expert in the field. A woman died a few nights ago because of an impulsive attack you made on her after Curtis had already taken measures to neutralize her threat. When that catches up with you, when you can see past the anger and grief you are feeling over Billy and think about what you did, you are going to need the time off.” The anger had almost entirely receded, and it struck Barry now why Oliver was doing this; he was trying to be kind. “When you’ve had that time, we can talk. And that will include laying some ground rules about how the team is going to operate.”

Felicity nodded, her eyes particularly bright behind her glasses in a way Barry knew meant she was holding onto her tears. “Well, I can save you the time, because it is going to operate without me.” She turned and marched for the exit to the cortex, turning once to call over her shoulder, “Good luck with the recruits since they basically all hate you.”

She left a very long and awkward silence in her wake.

“Um, for the record,” Curtis began in a small voice. “While I don’t exactly hate — it’s a strong word, you know — but I do, at times, find you extremely difficult to work with, and I’m not sure how I feel about what just happened.”

“Then take some time off to figure it out, Curtis,” Oliver replied. “I need a team that can function as a cohesive unit. We are never going to defeat Prometheus when we’re too busy with infighting. Decide what’s more important to you, and then stick with it.”

Curtis gulped and nodded.

Oliver turned out to face the wider room. “I’m sorry that had to happen in your space, Barry.”

“No, it — well, it’s probably best we know the situation,” he decided. “I guess I just hope things work out for the best.”

“We should probably get home. All of us,” Oliver added, with a look at Laurel.

“What are we going to tell people?” She asked.

“That’s something I’m working on, but I know you’d rather be in Star than anywhere else.”

Laurel’s lips turned up in a small smile, and she nodded.

“I can get you guys back to your base to avoid bumping into anybody who shouldn’t know yet,” Cisco offered. “And I’m still gonna get started on the suit.”

“Thanks, Cisco,” Laurel said, walking over and hugging him again. Barry thought his friend was quite happy with that development.

A new breach was made, and the remaining Team Arrow members stepped through, the somewhat tense and awkward air in the room breaking as the breach closed.

“Well, that was… something,” Iris commented. “I hadn’t realized things were so bad with their team.”

“Neither had I,” Barry admitted. He had always viewed the Arrow’s team as a well-oiled machine, something to aspire towards. It was almost comforting to know they had their issues the same as his team had had theirs. Barry hoped it never came to a head the way things just had between Oliver and Felicity, though.

He couldn’t help wondering, however, if perhaps that had needed to happen. The last couple times Barry had seen Oliver, the other man had seemed tired, run down, and missing some part of that unbeatable drive he brought to everything he did. Now it seemed he had regained it with new vigor, and it didn’t take a genius to guess what had caused it.

Barry only hoped Oliver did figure out some way for Laurel to return to Star City officially, and as a free woman. He needed her just as surely as Barry needed Iris. And like Oliver had just proven, even death could be conquered in the face of love.

[locke-writes]

One Night

Author: locke-writes

Title: One Night

Prompt: She’s A Rebel - Green Day, Bucky Barnes (Musician!Reader x Music Journalist!Bucky AU) For: @thefanficfaerie​ ‘s 3500 follower celebration

Rating; T

Word Count: 3,137

Marvel Taglist: @lotsoffandomimagines​ @lgbtonystarks​

Bucky smiled softly as he watched you in the recording studio. He always enjoyed these moments as they were quite rare. For the most part when you were at home he'd never get to listen to what you'd been working on as you tried to keep full songs a secret. Sometimes he might be asked his opinion on a riff just to help discern if one note sounded better than another for any song you might be working on but you were very much a private person when it came to your songwriting. He found a humor in the fact that this was quite the opposite of you on stage as you'd often tease audiences with bits and pieces of songs currently in the works.

Although he might not admit it out loud Bucky certainly felt that at times he took his position for granted. Not everyone in the world could say they started a company with a friend they'd known since childhood and not everyone could say that it was their job that led them to the love of their life. Bucky always felt he owed it all to fate although Steve had a different opinion on that being part of the reason you and Bucky had met. Bucky stopped his mind from wandering and turned back to the story at hand, jotting down more notes for use when he returned to his office.

Sitting back down in his office Bucky began typing up an outline. He smiled as it felt sort of humorous for him to be writing this particular article. It wasn't just a piece on the anniversary of the your band's debut album or a teaser for the fact that you were working on another to be released later in the year, for him it was partially about the anniversary of when you met, the anniversary of when his life completely changed.

As he was typing he let his mind drift to the first meeting and subsequent thereafter.

The magazine had only been running for six years. It was no Rolling Stone but their readership was growing by the minute what with the fact that they had decided to make it readily available digitally as well as in print an idea that wasn't necessarily revolutionary but did help for availability. Steve had the idea to start the whole thing which Bucky was apprehensive about at first albeit now grateful for Steve pushing him into agreeing. From their apartment originally to now renting out a few floors in Stark Towers they'd risen fast.

Most of what he did on the daily basis was executive work. He didn't hate it but he preferred writing, Steve was more the artist having everything under control when it came to scheduling photoshoots and figuring out who was on the cover every week. Bucky wanted to be the writer, that's really all that he wanted since the start but you own your own company you've got to be the executive. This made the rare moments that either he or Steve got to work on something for themselves and not be stuck in meetings, all the more special. It meant moments where Steve came crashing into Bucky's office, all the more interesting.

"Tell me you don't have plans tonight and mean it." Steve shouted.

"I don't have plans tonight and I mean it" Bucky replied looking up from the outline of future issue topics.

"Good because I need you to take this story off my hands, something came up with one of the photographers and I need to take over which means I won't make this show."

"What's the story?"

"New band on the block, Battering Ram. An indie punk band that's doing a series of club shows in the city before they head on their first US tour. It's their debut album and I scheduled them for an interview. A real, who is the band sort of thing, nothing complex."

"Yeah I mean, have you cleared it with their manager or whoever you've talked to"

"Called him about an hour ago. I figured you'd say yes, told him I'd be giving you my ticket and press pass but that you'd need your name added to the list since it's a sort of, first come first serve show tonight."

Bucky nodded as Steve walked out, he glanced down at the ticket noting that doors opened at 7:30. He knew if anything he should be there at 5 for sound check but he knew it might be better to be there at the start of the show rather than before in an effort to get a real feel for who the band was.

Backstage at the club you were buzzing, excitement running through you. Everything seemed surreal and you couldn't seem to focus on the lyrics you'd been working on. The guitar techs were tuning everything up which meant you couldn't even play a little or work on anything new. You just felt lucky that you weren't the only one who seemed to be a bit nervous and filled with excited energy. Sam was going over the setlist spouting out lyrics as if he'd forget them on stage which you knew had never and probably would never happen. Thor was tossing drumsticks back and forth tapping out a beat on his knees while Nat was organizing and reorganizing all her bass picks.

The album had only been out for a few weeks but it had been gaining traction steadily, something you'd hoped for but never thought possible.

You'd all met through one another, Sam being friends with Thor because they met at some bar when it was open mic night. Nat had been your roommate who knew someone who knew someone who'd gone to college with Thor. None of you could have predicted that you'd hit it off nor that you'd all come together in such a way to form a bad that would actually have some modicum of success.

All of you were nervous in part because you wanted a great show but in part because you knew there was a music journalist coming. Well, not just any music journalist, the Bucky Barnes. You'd been reading the magazine he'd created since day one and now he was coming that night to see the show and interview you all. You just tried to keep your mind on the show all through soundcheck and then when it came time for the actual concert.

Part of Bucky's approach to covering new bands was to never read up on them or listen to anything before the show. He wanted a true first impression, he wanted the music and the stage presence to speak for itself not be built up in his mind because of something he'd already read or heard online. To say he was thrown by the number of people piling out the door was an understatement. The club wasn't large but it wasn't small either and he was sure that there were double the amount of people that the fire department would permit. He gave his name at the door and showed his press pass pushing his way up to the bar to get a better view of the stage.

Pulling out the small notebook that he'd placed in his pocket he began noting the stage. Minimalist was the right word for it. A banner with the band name and the instruments selected for the first song were already on stage. Bucky wondered if there would be more added, if maybe this was just set up for soundcheck earlier and hadn't been changed out. Twenty minutes later after getting caught up in conversation with a few fans who'd agreed to give quotes for the article Bucky was shocked to find that the stage hadn't been changed. This was just how it was going to be.

Sam ran out on stage first as always to introduce the rest of the band. You scanned the crowd looking at the size and you grinned. These were the places you'd first experienced the music that would change your life, you loved the fact that you'd get to share it with a crowd here. Maybe someone in the crowd could be influenced by what happened here on stage. You counted off in your head before strumming the opening chord.

Never in his life would Bucky admit too feeling foolish at the moment he'd first heard Battering Ram play. Never in his life would he admit this to you, but that's exactly what he felt in the first moment when the music washed over him. In that first moment, with that first song, he hated himself for not knowing about the band sooner. Punk was a finicky genre nowadays with a lot of bands trying to recapture early 70's punk but failing to find any originality. But here you all were with this sound that he couldn't quite describe. There were notes of Ramones, Black Flag and even X yet somehow you tossed that all on its head when you launched into a cover of Jolene which was unexpected by himself but apparently on the album as he heard whispers in the crowd of people not certain if that would be played.

He hated the fact that he actually had to judge the show at that moment. He hated it because he wanted to watch, he wanted to listen to opinion. And he wanted specifically to pay attention to you. There was something about you, he couldn't say what, but he was enthralled — entranced — by you. You didn't sing backing vocals like most guitarists, you just played. Sometimes you interacted with the other members of the band but mostly you just seemed to exist almost as a fixture of the crowd itself, either starting or ending the songs. You talked with the crowd, you played riffs of songs not performed and then you melted into the music.

Time was lost and before Bucky realized the encore had been finished you and the band retreated off stage. He slid through the crowd making his way past security to backstage where it was a whirlwind of movement, everyone checking off and packing instruments away. Coughing briefly he made himself known shaking hands. Water was handed out and he began a long line of questioning.

There were good and bad interviews in every reporters life. Sometimes there was little to work with, answers that didn't seem fully formed and no matter what prodding nothing could be produced to fill up the word or page limit that was set. This was a good interview, every member eager to answer questions. Bucky learned everything there was to know, from how everyone started in music to how you met, the horror stories of early gigs and when you realized that you had an audience. He asked about the album, about influences, about who wrote songs and why.

That night he learned you didn't sing because you sounded terrible but you wrote all the songs (a few with help), because lyrics seemed to constantly flow through your head. That night he learned that Sam sang because he'd been forced into choir as an elective in high school and figured out that he actually kinda liked it. He learned that Nat wanted to be a bassist not only because of the small amount of female bassists in the world but because she realized that all her favorite songs had great bass parts. Thor's nickname was the God of Thunder because he had tried and failed miserably to play soft beats on the drums but always gravitated towards the loud booming sound.

Bucky learned a lot that night, including the fact that he knew he wanted to ask you out. Physical attraction certainly didn't hinder what he felt but there was something there, something that he felt when you spoke that he didn't want to stop feeling. He'd ended up lingering backstage that night long after the interview was over, helping out break down the set, grabbing drinks with the band, and suddenly when the night couldn't have gone any better there you were, sliding a piece of paper with your number on it and telling him to text you sometime.

Sometime was later that night when he texted asking if there was any way you had time to grab dinner. You replied not even five minutes later saying that you didn't have a show the next night and was that too soon.

It wasn't too soon, in fact it wasn't soon enough.

Steve teased him the next day when they had a one on one meeting about the show. Bucky sped through the details and rushed straight into the fact that he had a date with you that night. Bucky knew that what Steve said about his inability to focus through the story was true and after Steve had left he began trying to work out just what he was going to say in the article He was pleased that the words seem to flow through him as he began writing but his mind kept wandering. Leaving work that night he practically ran home just to get ready and over to the restaurant to meet you for your date.

The first date.

The last first date either of you would ever have. Although Bucky didn't know it at the time.

Whatever he had felt the night before when talking to you alone, he felt it again when he saw you outside of the restaurant waiting for him. He almost asked you about it though he refrained in case it was something strange, something that you'd find odd. He'd learn later that no, you'd certainly felt it too.

That night you asked him about his arm, something Bucky found easy to speak with you about rather than the sense of fear he felt upon some explanations. You asked him about the magazine and was he terrified in starting it up. You asked him about the big things like where did he see himself in ten years and asked about the little things like his favorite color. He asked you about the band and did you ever think that you would be a musician for the rest of your life. He asked you about the guitars you played and why you continued to play the first guitar you ever owned. He asked you about your childhood and about everything he could think of.

If there wasn't reason to leave like the place closing you could have stayed talking to him forever. That night Bucky kissed you when he took you back to your apartment and if you could see the future through a kiss than you would have seen the rest of your life laid out before you.

Two nights later you had your second date as Bucky figured out when you didn't have shows. What shows you did have he managed to make it too, at one point bringing Steve along for you to meet. Steve didn't bother saying anything about what he saw that night to Bucky but he noted the way you looked at his friend and Steve knew, or at least he had a feeling he hoped was going to be right, that you and Bucky were it for each other.

In the two weeks that you were going to be in the city your time was split between the band and Bucky, not that anyone in the band cared. They saw that Bucky made you happy and they liked him, not just as someone who they approved of but as someone they didn't hate hanging out with. The last night before the tour you and Bucky decided to try and work through the long distance thing. Both of you were nervous but you knew that if you texted and called one another when you could as well as making use of the wonders of Skype dates then maybe everything would come together.

The story was published three weeks after the show where you'd met. Suddenly Battering Ram was climbing the charts and extending the tour from six months to seven. Bucky was disappointed it would be another month he'd have to wait to see you but he didn't care because he'd wait a lifetime for you. He told you this when you Skyped him to give him the news and all you could do was smile. Part of you felt like you were rushing into something with Bucky but another part of you felt like this was what you had wanted for your entire life whether you'd been aware of it our not.

He ended up meeting you at the airport when you landed after the last show of the tour. Dropping you off at your apartment he ended up staying the weekend. At the end of that weekend he ended up asking if you wanted to get an apartment together. You said yes.

Three days was the amount of time before you decided to live together and three months was the amount of time it took before Bucky decided to propose. He didn't have a ring, he didn't have a plan, in fact he didn't even know he was going to ask before he did. You were on the couch eating dinner and watching Netflix while he was in the kitchen grabbing a drink for you, you laughed at some joke and then the words were out there in the air. You were stunned and he was stunned but he repeated the words anyway, this time more sure of himself because he knew that this was exactly what he wanted.

That electric feeling that blew through him the first time you met, the feeling that coursed through his veins every time he kissed you. He didn't want to stop having that feeling. It felt surreal to him that you'd said yes to a first date, to a second, and to getting married. It felt surreal when the wedding was over and there was a ring on his finger, it felt surreal that you were his and he was yours for the rest of his life. It was something that Bucky would never take for granted.

Bucky saw a notification pop up on his phone, just you letting him know you were picking up dinner and asking if he wanted his usual from the Chinese place by the studio. He quickly sent back a reply and put the finishing touches on the story before sending it off to Steve to review and heading out of the office.

This was his life now, one he would never change for anything in the world. He had a job he loved, friendship he would never take for granted and most importantly. Bucky had you.

[annabethfuckingchase]

The Princess and the Half Bloods Part Three

Annabeth was of no use to anyone right now. It wasn’t a feeling she was familiar with. The boys didn’t need help setting up and Chiron’s set up was too advanced for her to operate yet. She’d never had reason to examine it before, but she vowed to look it up later. Either way, she couldn’t do anything at the moment, so she sat at the bar next to a portly man with graying hair, drowning his sorrows in what smelled like an entire bottle of whiskey. She scooted a little further away from him.

It was nearly time for the audition; Leo had just finished setting up his drum set, refusing help from anybody. “Leo Valdez is the only one to lay hands on this equipment,” he’d stated proudly when Annabeth offered to help. Jason took that opportunity to point out the other piece of Leo’s equipment that only Leo ever laid hands on. He responded in kind, asking Jason if he wanted the honor himself. Annabeth sighed to herself and thanked every god she knew that Chiron was too busy setting up the lights and sound system to hear their exchange.

The anxious feeling that she needed to be doing something only grew as they came closer to being ready for the audition to start. She was bouncing her leg against the barstool, hard enough that it moved her whole body. She was too keyed up, too nervous. She needed to calm down.

“I’m going to the bathroom,” she announced to no one in particular. The man sitting next to her lifted his drink to her and then downed the rest.

She made her way down the back hallway, bypassing the restrooms and continuing on to the back exit. She was already digging in the bottom of her purse as she shouldered her way out. Her fingers found the pack and she pulled it out, tapping the bottom against the heel of her palm. 

She’d just put the cigarette in her mouth to hold while she searched for her lighter when a voice spoke from the shadows beside her. “Need a light?”  Annabeth squeaked in surprise, whirling to search for whoever had spoken. Not that there was any doubt who it was.

Percy leaned against the wall of the bar, watching her. He held out a lighter. She relaxed her frozen posture and cleared her throat. “Yes, thank you.” She took the lighter and lit up, taking a long drag before handing it back.

“So class prez does have a dirty little secret,” he mused, pocketing the lighter.

“I’m not even class president,” she said, spilling smoke as she did. “And it’s hardly a secret. Except from my family of course. I am trying to quit, though. Not cost effective.”

“Good. Smoking is bad for you, you know,” Percy replied, reaching for his back pocket. “It kills your lungs.” He pulled out a pack of his own. “Gives you cancer.” Took out a cigarette. “Kills you slow.” Put it in his mouth. “It’s a bad habit.” Lit it and took a drag. “Filthy, really.”  Looked her over in a way that made heat blossom in her chest.

“Correct on all counts. But you forgot their way of making everything seem more manageable,” Annabeth said. “The grounding effect.”

“This is true. I’d pay quite a bit of money for that feeling. Well, more than I already do.”

“This is my last pack, then I’m quitting, I swear it. At least until finals, anyway.” Percy laughed, loud and deep. The rich sound wrapped around Annabeth and pulled the sides of her smile even wider.

“Maybe I’ll do it with you. At least until finals,” he winked.

“How does Rachel feel about your smoking?” Annabeth asked, curious. She’d never have guessed that Earth and health conscious Rachel Dare would date a smoker.

He made a face and looked down at his shoes, seeming to slump lower against the wall. “She’s not a fan, to put it lightly.”

“Oh.” Percy didn’t look back up at her, keeping his eyes on the ground. She didn’t know what had been said to make Percy look so glum, but she was sure it was her fault. Maybe he and Rachel fought about his smoking more often than she had thought. “Bet I can go longer without a smoke than you can,” she challenged in an effort to get him to smile again. Bets between them had been common when they were younger.

Percy remembered and immediately brightened, eager for the challenge. “You’re on, Princess.”

They counted down their last puffs together and put out their cigarettes at the same time. The bet was on.

It was considerably darker in the bar than it was outside, and it took Annabeth’s eyes a minute to adjust. When they did, it appeared that everyone had finished setting up. Percy took up position at the front of the slightly raised area in the back of the bar that served as a stage, with Jason on his right and Leo in the back. Annabeth watched from one of the tables in the middle of the bar and they waited for Chiron to take the chair opposite hers to begin.

“We’re going to start with a cover of Anthem Part Two by Blink 182,” Percy said into the microphone. Jason started playing right at the same moment Leo started hitting the drums, seeming to move at the speed of light. Then Percy started singing. “Everything has fallen to pieces, Earth is dying, help me Jesus….”

It was funny to watch Chiron’s face transform from annoyed and put upon to a kind of wonderingly impressed expression over the course of the song. Leo was on fire, slamming out the beat, and Jason laid down a beautiful harmony. Percy, of course, was perfect, belting out the song Annabeth had told him to turn down the night before, getting just the right amount of whiney quality into his voice that mimicked the original. Turns out that practice had been important after all.

They let the last cord reverberate around the room and fade away. The man at the bar clapped loudly and Annabeth joined a second later. Chiron schooled his face back to impassiveness. He showed his approval simply by gesturing for them to continue on with the next song. They played an original called Red is the Brightest Color. It was pretty obvious the song was for Percy’s redheaded girlfriend, not that Chiron would know that. But Annabeth did. It took her two seconds too long to start clapping at the end of that one.

They finished, watching at Chiron, waiting for the verdict. He was chewing on his bottom lip, eyebrows furrowed. Percy opened his mouth to break the silence, but paused when Annabeth held up a hand. 

Finally, Chiron relaxed his tense position and face. “Okay, okay, you won me over. You guys can really perform. You can play here. We’ll work out a schedule later, maybe you’ll draw in that college crowd on the weekends. Just don’t let it interfere with your schoolwork. I don’t need any angry parents getting on my case.” The boys whooped with joy, and Annabeth allowed herself a brief moment of celebration before getting back to business.

“Thank you so much, Chiron. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure they stay on top of everything. You won’t regret this,” she said, hugging him for the second time that day.

“I believe you, kid. Now beat it, the band playing tonight will be here soon to set up,” Chiron shooed her away.

The boys quickly started packing up, once again refusing to let Annabeth help. “This part isn’t your job,” Percy told her as they put the last of it in the back of Jason’s van. “How did you like the show?”

“It was great. I mean, Chiron approved so it must have been,” she said, checking the time on her phone. Only five fifteen. They had time to kill before they needed to head to Piper’s.

“I didn’t ask if Chiron liked it, I asked if you did.”

“Oh, yes. I mean, yeah of course. I loved your cover.” There was no need to mention that she wasn’t particularly fond of the original they had played. “Blink is probably my favorite band.”

“How does a girl like you end up liking Blink?” he asked in wonder. A girl like her? What the hell did that mean? She doubted he’d meant to offend her, but it came out sounding like an insult. Like she wasn’t cool enough to like punk music. She narrowed her eyes at him. He backtracked quickly. “No, I just mean you don’t seem like the type that would typically like them. Like you seem more like an indie or underground band kind of girl.”

“We did grow up together, Percy. We listened to The Ramones on repeat for hours together. Bought that Green Day CD to share in the bunker together. We were bound to have similar tastes in music.”

“Oh yeah we did. God, those were the days. I remember the day we bought that CD. You were so excited for it, and we begged our parents for half the money each until they relented,” Percy said, mind far away, in a different time.

“And I made us listen to it over and over until we memorized the lyrics to all the songs,” she chuckled. “I think I probably still remember every song on that album.”

“I definitely do. That was the album that convinced me to start playing.”

“It was? I didn’t know that,” Annabeth said, surprised.

“It was. I saw how happy you were listening to it so I decided to learn to play it for you. But then, well, you know….”

“But then,” she repeated softly. Then Luke happened. 

An abnormally dark look flitted across Percy’s usually cheerful face, but it was gone by the time Annabeth blinked. "Well Miss Manager, what's next on the agenda?"

Annabeth made a face. "That sounds like I'm not doing a good job. Miss manager, mismanaging."

"Oh yeah it does. Guess we gotta stick with Princess," Percy said with an exaggerated shrug. 

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Well Piper said no later than ten, so we should get there by at least nine to get everything in the house and set up. We have a solid couple hours before we have to do anything.”

“Let’s get some food then,” Leo said, coming around the side of the van. Annabeth hoped he hadn’t heard Percy call her princess. “I’m starving.”

“Cool, I’ll see you at nine then. I’ll text you the address if you give me your number,” she said, looking back at Percy.

“I don’t think so,” Jason yelled from the driver’s seat, the window down so he could hear the conversation. “It’s band bonding time. You’re coming with us.” He slapped the outside of the door twice.

“I’m not part of the band,” she objected. “Besides, I can’t leave my car here.”

“After pulling all this together for us there’s no denying it. You’re one of us now. Just gotta deal with it. Let’s drop your car off at home and then you can ride with us to the party. Then you can let loose a little, maybe actually have some fun. Jason is DD tonight since he has to take the van back so you can drink all you want,” Percy said. Then he frowned, considering for a moment. “I do still want your number, though.”

Annabeth waffled for a minute, weighing the pros and cons. Pro: she was actually getting along with Percy for the first time in a long while. Years, really. Con: the more time they spent together, the higher the chances of a fight breaking out. Pro: get to know the rest of the band better. Con: they might want to get to know her better too, which meant answering questions about herself. Pro: drink as much as she wanted without worrying about sobering up enough to make it home. Con: she’d be putting off her schoolwork for another night. Pro: food.

That last one won her over. “Yeah, let’s go get some food. And I should probably have all your numbers, actually.”

“Awesome, we’ll meet you at home then,” Percy said, jumping in the back of the van with the instruments and slamming the door as Jason gunned it, laughing as Percy lost his balance.

Jason, already knowing where Percy- and therefore Annabeth- lived, didn’t slow down to wait for her to catch up. They were all still in the van when she pulled up in front of her house, Sum 41’s Hell Song blasting out of the open windows. “There she is!” Leo yelled to be heard over the music. The side door to the van slid open to reveal Percy, crouching under the van’s low ceiling. 

“There are no seats back here,” Annabeth stated the obvious. She hadn’t noticed when they were packing the equipment up.

“Yeah, it’s an old van. Don’t worry, you’ll be perfectly safe,” Percy tried coaxing her in.

“I’m a great driver,” Jason assured her. She was extremely skeptical after having watched him pull out away from The Big House but climbed in next to Percy anyway. They sat on the floor, facing each other with their backs to either wall of the van. Jason lurched away from the sidewalk.

“Alright, give me your phones so I can put my number in,” she said once she was confident that Jason’s driving was decent. She still wasn’t a fan, but at least he wasn’t going to kill them all. They all obliged, and she programmed her number in, sending texts of their names to herself from each so she would have theirs, too.

They pulled up in front of a pizza parlor not too far from the school and Jason cut the engine. The sudden lack of music made Annabeth’s ears ring and her chest feel empty. 

“How do I open this?” she demanded after a couple unsuccessful tries to pry open the sliding door.

“Oh, you just have to jiggle the handle up and down. Here, I’ll show you.” He pressed close behind her so he could reach around her, putting one hand on her shoulder for balance. She stiffened under his touch and he let go quickly. “Sorry,” he mumbled, jerking the door to the side.

Inside the parlor it was dark and loud, clearly a college student hangout. They’d clearly come in the middle of the dinner rush. The place was nearly full and it took a bit of looking to find an empty table that was clean.They took a seat in the back corner booth, Jason and Leo on one side and Annabeth boxed in by Percy on the other.

“So, Annabeth,” Leo started. Annabeth sighed quietly, waiting for the inquisition to start. “Settle an argument for us.” Wait, what? “What do you put on your pizza?”

“Don’t drag her into this,” Percy warned, but he had a slightly smug look on his face, like he’d already won.

“Afraid you’ll be further outnumbered, Jackson?” Jason asked.

“Okay then, fine. Tell us, Annabeth, what kind of pizza do you prefer?”

“Extra cheese and that’s it. Same as you,” she answered, confused. Percy already knew all her favorites, and she his.

“Are you kidding me?” Leo groaned.

“That is the most boring option you could’ve chosen,” Jason commiserated.

Now she understood Percy’s expression. “I see, you hoped to use me as ammo against Percy’s pizza preferences. This didn’t turn out well for either of you, did it?” Annabeth laughed with Percy. “What do you guys put on your pizza?”

“Leo puts jalapenos on his, and Jason is a fan of Hawaiian,” Percy chuckled.

“Horrifying, honestly,” Annabeth said, faking disgust. 

“Fine, I suppose it’s one one half jalapeno and one half Hawaiian and one extra cheese pizza,” Jason shook his head in defeat.

“Sounds good to me. I’m going to go smoke before we eat. Excuse me, Percy,” she said, turning to face him.

“You smoke?” Leo asked, surprised.

“Not anymore,” Percy answered for her, a twinkle in his eye as he looked down at her.

“Oh, fuck, that’s right,” she muttered. She cursed herself for coming up with this stupid bet.

“You smoke and you say fuck?” Leo looked scandalized. “That class president front is just a lie then?”

“I’m not even the class president!” Annabeth said, exasperated. 

“You’re not? Wow, I should really figure out who the class president is then.” 

They were all still laughing when the waiter came to take their order. Percy put his arm on the back of the booth seat and Annabeth settled into a comfortable rhythm of getting to know the boys and letting them know her. She found herself relaxing, even without the help of a cigarette.

[digitech4starwars]

Introduction part 3

Spoilers for season 1 and season 2!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything recognizably Flash, all I own is my oc

Introduction Part 3

Jitters wasn’t usually packed around 9:30, most people having gotten their coffee earlier and were already at work, which is why the Team had decided that it was the perfect time to meet up there for coffee. It made Becky feel more at ease when there were less people around. It was Cisco’s turn to get the drinks, and he was nervous and embarrassed about it. “Cisco asked the new barista out on a date.” Becky stated, and Barry and Caitlin smiled.

“Yes, yes he did, and it did not go well!” Barry laughed.

“Where is Not- Dr. Wells? And Jay?”

“‘Not-Dr. Wells’?” Barry asked.

“Yes, Not-Dr. Wells. Where is he?”

“He stayed back at the Cortex because not everyone knows he’s not our Dr. Wells.” Caitlin answered.

“Oh.” She seemed to process that for a second before continuing. “And Jay?”

“No, not quite, Rebecca, Jay…Jay left. He doesn’t want to see Barry get hurt.” Caitlin explained, part of her worried that maybe Jay was right, and Barry wasn’t strong enough yet to take on Zoom.

“He’s gone, he’s back, he’s gone, he’s back, he’s gone, he’s back.” Becky said smiling to Caitlin.

“So, he’ll come back? You know that?” Caitlin asked, hoping to herself that she did know, because she really wanted Jay to stay.

“He’s gone, he’s back, he’s gone, he’s back, he’s gone, he’s back.” Becky repeated, though she frowned instead this time.

“I was just getting getting used to Jay being part of the team.” Caitlin sighed, though not complete sad anymore, since Jay would be back.

“Well, Jay is a hero. They always seem to show up just when you need them.” Barry said just as Cisco returned to the table with the drinks.

Setting the cupholder down Cisco leaned back in his chair and waved a piece of paper in the air. “Yo, beat that.” He told Barry who exclaimed at the sight of the barista’s number. “That’s how it’s done, young Padawan. Going on a date next week.”

“Nice! Things are looking up for Cisco Ramon!” Barry cheered as he grabbed his coffee. Caitlin rolled her eyes fondly at the boys as she grabbed her, and pasted the hot chocolate over to Becky.

“I guess so.” Cisco’s mood dropped a little as he continued, “still stuck with these powers, though. Just don’t know how to feel about them.”

“We both know things.” Becky smiled excitedly, “Now we’re both Delphi!”

“You don’t have to go through this alone.” Barry patted his arm reassuringly.

“And Rebecca’s right! Now you need a cool name.” Caitlin leaned forward with her head tilted as she playfully reminded Cisco that he was now a superhero.

“Oh, snap! You’re totally right.” Cisco looked to Becky, “But I can’t be Delphi because you’re already Delphi.”

Becky’s face pinched up in confusion again. “But there’s lots of caitlin’s, why can there not be lots of delphi’s?”

“Because Delphi is a name we gave you.There’s no one like you. Like we gave to Barry, because no one is like him.” Cisco explained, glancing at Caitlin for help.

“Remember how you explained to me how you see everybody?” Caitlin leaned forward as she tried to help explain to Becky. “How two spear mint plants may both be called spear mint, maybe even look similar, but one might have more leaves than the other, or a different pattern of leaves? It’s like that.The spear mint is still a spear mint, but it’s leaves give it a more specific identification. Cisco is still a Cisco, but he want’s a more personal identification. Like your cool name. All we’re doing is changing Cisco’s label when we’re together. He’s still Cisco, just like you’re still Rebecca, but we can call him something else, too.”

           “You’re comparing me to a spear mint plant?” Cisco asked, confused and wondering if he should be offended. Caitlin just glared at him, and turned back to Becky to make sure she understood.

           “So…I’m a Rebecca Taylor, but I’m Delphi. He’s a Bartholomew Allen, but he’s Flash,” the others looked around quickly to make sure no one heard, but the only other people in Jitters was a small group over in the opposite corner, too far to have been able to hear their conversation, and the barista’s at the counter, also too far away to hear. “You don’t have a special name yet because you haven’t bloomed yet, and he’s a Cisco Ramon, but he has bloomed and now needs a more specific label.”

           “Yes, but remember, we don’t use our special names outside of S.T.A.R. Labs, remember?” Caitlin chided softly.

           Becky’s eyes widened in horror before she bit the insides of her lips to hold them together and her hand started rapidly tapping her thigh.

           Barry leaned forward and placed his hand on the table in front of her to get her attention, but she just kept tapping anxiously. “Hey, hey, it’s okay, Becky. It’s okay. Everyone makes mistakes. You just gotta remember for next time. Okay?”

           “Sorry, Barry.” Becky whispered, though her tapping did slow.

           “I accept your apology. Now, let’s figure out the perfect name for Cisco.” Barry said, smiling at Becky as she lifted her gaze to the group again.

           “I gotta think about this one, ya know, cuz you know me, it’s gotta be perfect!” Cisco exclaimed. Barry hummed I’m agreement as he took a sip of his coffee. “Something that really sings, ya know. Something like…”

           “Vibe?” Barry suggested.

           “Vibe.” Caitlin tested it out, and nodded her approval.

           “Vibe.” Cisco smiled.

           “I can’t say it outside the Cortex.” Becky said, but she nodded her approval to the new name as well. “When will we be naming Caitlin?” She asked innocently.

           The group of friends laughed as they continued to enjoy their drinks, unaware that a they were being watched over by Harrison Wells.

[rawiswhore]

Bart Gunn x Fem Reader- “Do The Bartman”

I'm about to type perhaps the world's only Bart Gunn fanfiction.

________________________________________________________________

In 1998, the WWF has a new look, a new logo, a new era and a vast difference to the WWF of yore.

Stone Cold Steve Austin is now the face of the company, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Razor Ramon, Lex Luger, Kevin Nash, Sunny/Tammy Sytch and other 90's WWF wrestlers are gone, Isaac Yankem is now Kane, Hunter Hearst Helmsley is Triple H and no longer a classy 1800's Jane Austen gentleman, and Marlena is now Terri Runnels.

The WWF audience went from hardly holding up any signs throughout the 90's to the entire audience filled with people holding up signs and posters.

This year, you're really blown up in popularity in the WWF, making people forget about Sunny, guest starring on various TV shows, being considered for movie roles, being on the cover of non-wrestling magazines, and even making headline news.

1998 is your year.

It's the year the Attitude Era really began and blew up, the WWF began calling itself WWF Attitude and they really cranked the attitude up that year.

Even though this year there are many things in the WWF that are really going over with the audience, which includes yourself, there was something in the summer of 1998 during the Attitude era that didn't quite connect and go over with wrestling fans, even back then.

What was it?

The Brawl for All.

Where lower card wrestlers such as the Godfather, Johnny Maro, and other wrestlers that don't headline the WWF a la Stone Cold and the Rock box.

As in, do Muhammad Ali/Joe Frazer/Mike Tyson/Evander Holyfield boxing.

Except these wrestlers have almost no training in boxing and it doesn't involve ears being bitten off.

Even during the Attitude era, the Brawl for All didn't go over.

There is a certain wrestler in the Brawl for All who never did quite make it big in the wrestling world besides perhaps with the Smoking Gunns and sadly, the Brawl for All.

Who is he?

Bart Gunn.

The former partner to Billy Gunn in the Smoking Gunns and a partner in the severely short lived, one night only New Midnight Express.

Bart is the Marty Jannetty to Billy's Shawn Michaels.

Bart looks so much better now with longer hair, no facial hair, and without that cowboy look he had a few years ago.

He was pretty cute in 1996/1997, but Billy was the hotter one, and in 1998 he's gotten a lot hotter.

He looks like Val Kilmer and Randy Orton with long hair.

Since Bart has grown his hair out and shaved his face, you've gotten a crush on him, and even though he really wasn't used that much in the WWF besides the Brawl for All, now is your chance.

The Brawl for All is when people see him the most during his sexiest (in your opinion).

One night, in August of 1998, when Bart showed up for every Brawl For All, after a match he did was over, he walked back to the locker room, shirtless and completely sweaty.

When he entered the locker room, you were waiting for him in there, standing there topless, albeit a towel was hanging behind your neck and covering your breasts, and some short boxing shorts.

The camera showed you dressed in this outfit, and the males (both grown men and underage boys) in the audience offscreen got out of their seats and started cheering, going "yyyyyyyyyyyeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!".

You could even hear some of those corny "wolf whistles" in the audience.

You could hear the pops from the males outside, even if they were shown off screen.

"Well, aye carrrrumba Bart" you purred, walking up to him and your lips spreading a naughty smile, rolling the "r" in the word "carumba".

"Aye carumba, indeed!" Jerry Lawler shrieked. "Don't have a cow, Bart!"

You were standing right in front of Bart, your torso pressing against his torso, he looked surprised, his eyes growing bigger and mouth breaking out in a smile.

"Bart" you said, pressing your chest on his chest and your eyes looking up at him. "You're probably the sexiest man in the WWF right now".

Though, many women will beg to differ.

"Triple H grew that facial hair" you said, your eyes looking down at his chest and your index finger running up and down his sweaty chest. "That made me lose my attraction to him".

You stuck your bottom lip out and pouted in sadness.

"He is getting a little sexier now that he's shaved it this month" you admitted. "Though he's not as hot as he used to be".

Your eyes were eying Bart's body up and down.

Offscreen, some of the women in the audience got out of their seats and cheered, agreeing with you about how Triple H did lose his looks when he grew that facial hair.

"And Shawn Michaels hasn't been here during the majority of this year" you pouted, your face looking sad and glum, your eyes looking down at the floor.

All of the females in the audience screamed and shrieked their heads off, some of them going "yyyyyyyyyeaaaaaaaahhhh!!" and one woman shouting "You go, girl!".

"Though he has returned" Bart replied, saying that matter of factly.

Your eyes looked back up at him again, your lips breaking out into a faint little smile.

"But only temporarily" you frowned, your lips turning down into a frown (that rhymed) and your eyes looking down at the floor again.

Which is a shame, he got even sexier when he returned in the summer of 1998.

"And Billy Gunn has cut his hair!" you whined.

Why did Billy cut his hair into that silly little Backstreet Boys hair?

Plus, Rob Van Dam is back in ECW, the Hardy Boyz and Davey Boy Smith cease to exist, and even Bret Hart has left the company.

"But there is that cute little Val Venis" you mentioned, your eyes looking up at him and your lips widening your face to create a naughty, shit eating grin.

You and Val Venis are a match made in heaven, considering he's a ladies' man and porn star, and your character is a slutty nymphomaniac.

Some women in the audience even got out of their seats and cheered for you.

Many people would ship you and Val and say the two of you should form a tag team together.

Val is pretty hot, but he's kind of a butterface.

"But he's not as cute as you are" you purred, wrapping and draping one of your arms behind his head, your forearm resting across his shoulders, your voice sounding sexy and seductive.

Though your voice almost always sounds sexy and seductive, that's your character.

And speaking of Val Venis, you may as well say this...

"Bart, your last name is Gunn" you mentioned. "Does that mean you have a big 'gun' in your pocket?"

One of your hands was in between his thighs, grabbing onto his balls, although they were covered by his shorts and the camera was showing you and Bart above the forearms.

Bart looked down when he felt you grab his nuts.

He couldn't help but giggle sheepishly and embarrassedly.

"And is your gun cocked, loaded and ready to shoot?" you added.

People in the audience, both men and women, yelled and shouted when you said that.

You sounded like Triple H with his sexual innuendo in D Generation X.

Bart was speechless and didn't know what to say.

"Y'know, it's fitting you're a boxer in the Brawl for All" you purred. "Because you're a total knockout".

Ba-dum-tssssssh.

No, that sound effect didn't happen, but it may as well.

That joke is a classic corny dad joke.

"I may as well say that about her!" Jerry Lawler shrieked.

The camera then zoomed in to your face, where your face turned and you looked at the camera.

"I'm about to do the Bartman" you said. "And get bent!"

Wonder if the audience remembers that song and knows what it's referencing?

Everyone in the audience got out of their seats and cheered for you, not because of the Bart Simpson references, but because it's implied you're about to have sex with him.

Nobody better lay a finger on Bart (Gunn)'s butterfinger except for you.

The camera then zoomed out, now showing your head, neck and torso as well as Bart Gunn.

"You don't have to eat my shorts, Bart" you told him, both of your hands gripping onto the elastic waistband on your hips and pulling your shorts down. "But you can eat what's under them"

The camera didn't show your vulva or below your ass, but people could see you pull your shorts down.

Everyone in the audience, especially the males, got out of their seats and cheered their heads off, going absolutely nuts.

The camera then cut away from this, which definitely disappointed the people in the audience who hoped to see you and Bart get it on.

The whole point of this was to show some Bart Simpson-related sexual innuendo.

And next year, actually, at the end of 1999, when Stone Cold Steve Austin added beer to his character and gimmick, you, in a comedic moment, gave Stone Cold a white polo shirt, blue jeans, a box of pink donuts and a 6 pack of beer.

Why?

Because he, to you, looks like a redneck Homer Simpson with his bald head and beard, complete with his infatuation with beer.

Stone Cold Steve Austin and Vince McMahon is probably the most iconic feud of the Attitude era, and when you think about it, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Vince McMahon is like Homer Simpson and Mr. Burns.

Why?

Homer and Stone Cold are bald, bearded men who love beer, and Vince and Mr. Burns are Stone Cold and Homer's billionaire bosses.

[lfd072936]

Harlequin - Chapter 2

Word count: 2236

Summary: Arthur and Lola finally have a conversation. Can be read as a standalone.

Tagged: @tiredwritersworld and @trailerparkbarbiedoll

Chapter 1 link

Chapter 3 link

2.       The Good Laugh

The week went by like quicksilver as most days proved to be eventful, but Lola truly felt like she got the hang of it after a few days. She mostly did what she liked the most about this job: socializing with patients, listening to their stories or anything they rambled about. For her it was like looking into an alternative version of reality through someone else’s eyes. She also adjusted herself well enough to the morning rush of the hospital, arriving a bit early so she spent her last couple of minutes before clocking in at the staff’s room calmly looking at Gotham’s dark, grimy morning by the window while sipping her morning tea. The room was packed around the shift change even making the corner she was at a noisy place to be. Some were having their breakfast, some were playing cards on the table and some were just talking or rather trying to out scream the other groups. It didn’t bother Lola though, noise was something prison teaches you to tolerate, but suddenly she heard her name.

- How did your first week go? – she had no idea what the guy’s name was or how did he know hers, but she gave him a faint smile nonetheless.

- It went well. They’re a bit different than what I’m used to, but generally nice.

- Nice? – someone else from that table chimed in. – I’m sorry, but you can’t think of them as nice… it will be the end of you.

- I’d be more than happy to learn that the hard way.

- That is so eastern of you, but you’re in the west wing now. You don’t know what you’re in for. These guys aren’t here on their free will, most hate this place and will make you want to hate it too.

- So far I’m good – she shrugged, making everyone in the room roll their eyes, but at least they left her alone after that. She quickly finished her tea just in case, to avoid any other conversations someone might strike up with her. Honestly she tried to make friends here, chit-chatting from time to time, smiling at everyone, but she was repulsed by most of the staff. By how proud they were of their omnipresent cruelty towards the patients.

Lola was assigned to the cafeteria, mostly to patrol and to maybe help to feed some patients who were unable to do it themselves. She had to admit that the people looked much harsher in this part of Arkham, but she still could not imagine herself not being her kindest self with them, even if that will be ‘the end of her’. While looking around her gaze suddenly was met with Arthur’s. They were in the same room from time to time during the past week, smiling or giving each other a small nod, but she just never had the courage to walk up to him for seemingly nothing and star talking. Now here they were, her leaned against the wall, him alone at a table with an unlit cigarette in his hand and some mushy oatmeal in front of him. He was just causally staring. She greeted him with an awkward wave and a smile. Even from afar she could see his lips trembling into a slight smile, but he wasn’t giving her any reaction other than that. She decided to concentrate on the other patients and putting the time of their first real interaction into fate’s hands. Arthur leaned back in his chair, fidgeting with his leg, watching all the workers around him doing their jobs. As soon as the closest one to him was Lola, with a slight movement of his hand he knocked his tray off of the table, making his sad breakfast of oatmeal and soggy fruit salad land on the floor. Each nurse and helper sighed in exhaustion at the same time. A string of awkward eye conversation ensued where everyone stared at all the others with a hurrying look. Of course Lola was encouraged the most to do something since she was the closest in vicinity. She rolled her eyes, but did as the majority pleased. She put down the jug of water she was carrying and headed to Arthur’s table. When she got next to him, he gave her a big-eyed look as if he was saying sorry, but Lola wasn’t taking it.

- Is everything alright? – she asked.

- Yes… why wouldn’t it? – he smiled at her innocently.

- You knocked down your plate on purpose – he didn’t answer for a while, so she just sighed and knelt down to pick up what she could salvage, but she could see him leaning closer to her. The fact that none of her colleagues were alarmed by his movement goes without saying.

- Maybe I wanted to see you from a little bit closer – he whispered. His voice paired with his oddly attractive smell of cigarettes sent chills down Lola’s back, but she just looked straight back at him and let out a small chuckle.

- You know I work here, right? You can ask me to come by anytime.

- Well… - he said, but his voice was raspy as if he was trying to hold back laughter. – I’m free this afternoon.

- I’ll make sure to give you a visit – he suddenly blurted out in an oddly nervous laughter but he got a hold of it fairly quickly. She pretended like nothing happened, this wasn’t the weirdest thing she’d seen here. – See you then. – she smiled at him and turned around.

- Wait! – he said when she was a couple of steps away. – What’s your name?

- I’m Lola.

- Hello, Lola… I’m Arthur – he raised his arm and after a moment she shook his hand.

- Hello, Arthur. I like that name – and just like that she was gone from the cafeteria.

- Lola – he whispered to himself, while lightning his much awaited cigarette.

Both of them felt like afternoon couldn’t come fast enough. Lola was always fascinated by the man she’d previously known as Joker. As outrageous and shocking as his actions were on TV, she felt oddly attracted to him. As she was banned by her mother to participate in the riots, she only ever saw the benefits of the movement he started. And of course being the edgy teenager she was, she sympathized with the tormented man on screen, who finally had enough courage to stand up against his biggest torturer, society itself. From the comfort of her living room he could be seen as the good guy, but definitely someone to feel sorry for… and she always had a soft spot for that. As for Arthur, not only did he think that Lola was the most attractive worker in here (or patient for that matter of fact), but also she was the only one remotely nice. He didn’t hold it against anyone that they acted cold towards him, it seemed to be a must here, but he really wished they wouldn’t.

- He doesn’t want to come out right now, he does that sometimes – a nurse, Ramon answered Lola’s question about Arthur’s whereabouts. – Damn, I will have to get him his meds after I finish this – he mumbled more to himself, but she put it together. What a smart man.

- I’ll do it, don’t worry – she said, while patting Ramon’s shoulder reassuringly.

- You sure?

- Of course… I got you, man.

Although she was strictly forbidden to touch any medicine, she had faced no barriers obtaining them. No one questioned her authority in the matter.

Arthur’s door wasn’t locked, which surprised Lola given the serious safety measures, but this was not her main concern at the moment. Ramon could have been a little absentminded or just didn’t care at all. Her stomach curled up as she held onto the door handle. She pulled the door open and leaned against the frame.

- Knock-knock. – Arthur sat by his desk scribbling in his notebook, but once he heard her voice he turned around on his chair to face her.

- Come in… - he gave her a slight smile.

- May I sit?

- Sure – he said, but as she got near he closed up his notebook.

- I brought you your meds – he took the pills from her and before she could hand him the plastic cup of water she brought he already swallowed them like a thousand times before.

- No need – he shook his head, but she put the cup down in front of him nonetheless, in case he wanted to hydrate his weary body.

- Open – she ordered him.

- You don’t trust me? – he teased back.

- Just do it… - she chuckled.

- Aaa – he finally complied, sticking his tongue out, showing her how he indeed swallowed the pills. She gave him a small nod, but her eyes wandered down to his weathered notebook.

- What are you writing?

- Um… - he instinctively shuffled the pages even closer to him. – That’s private.

- Oh, alright… sorry. – Arthur looked at her for a while. She was so pretty and nice… like Sophie. But Lola had to talk to her, she couldn’t ignore him she said it herself.

- It’s just my thoughts and some jokes, nothing serious. – he couldn’t really put his finger on why he suddenly donned his confident persona, that he more or less built up in here for his old, coyer one. It was almost like he couldn’t do otherwise under her prying gaze.

- Jokes? Could you tell me one? – his face lit up, but he squeezed the notebook even harder in his hand.

- Yeah, of course… - he said unsurely. It’s been awhile since anyone was interested in the contents of his journal, especially the jokes. The other patients respected and feared his reputation enough not to tease him about it and the nurses just didn’t give a shit. – Okay… - he flipped through the pages quickly, trying to hide the crude cut-outs and drawings, unsuccessfully. The sight made Lola smile a little, but she made sure to force a curious look on her face instead. – Here’s a good one: People are like trees… - he glanced at her in anticipation. - … they fall down when you hit them with an axe. – after a moment of silence Lola burst out laughing. She was fully prepared having to force out a convincing pity-laugh, but this dark cleverness caught her off guard, making her laugh for real. Smile spread on Arthur’s face upon seeing Lola’s reaction. – Do you want to hear another one?

- Yeah, absolutely – she said, while still chuckling.

- What’s the worst thing about having a mental illness?

- I don’t know.

- Of course you don’t - he mumbled. She laughed again. – Wait, that wasn’t the joke…

- It still was funny, Arthur – his smile widened.

- Thanks… - he took a theatrical deep breath and started again. – What’s the worst thing about having a mental illness?

- What?

- People expect you to behave as if you don’t – she didn’t find this one funny, but forced out a small laugh anyways, not too loud because she didn’t want to mislead him too much.

- It’s funny because it’s true… - she said. Arthur couldn’t hide his happiness that she liked his jokes. – Not in here though… Could you imagine how surprised the doctors would be if suddenly everyone started to act normal? They wouldn’t know what to do. – now it was his turn to laugh.

- They’d probably send everyone to shock therapy, just to be sure – Arthur said thinking to himself and it made Lola’s honest giggle return. She felt like Arthur had no idea how funny he can be when he’s just being himself.

Suddenly this idyllic harmony of them just looking at each other, trying to memorize every detail of the other’s smile was disturbed by one of Lola’s colleagues stepping into the room unannounced.

- We’re gonna need you on floor 6, Page – there was no way for him to know how unwanted his presence was at that moment. Lola just came in to give Fleck his pills. didn’t she?

- Sure – she stood up. – Thank you for this, Arthur, I really needed a good laugh. – and she was already out of the cell, locking the door behind her.

He wanted to tell her so many things, but he also didn’t want to scare her away, this girl who seemed so innocent and angelic. Maybe if they got to talk again he should ask her about her life. God, he’d hoped this was real… the meds worked for the most part, but just over a month ago he hallucinated his friend Gary to be in here with him. Took him a couple of days and multiple hour-long “conversations” with Gary to realize that it was all in his head. He could feel his laughter emerge, but not the good one like with Lola, it was the one that caused pain and discomfort and chased away so many people. Just not her, if she’s real please not her. At least his condition hadn’t come out in front of her yet. BANG. Arthur let his head fall against his metal desk, while still laughing uncontrollably. And then again, and then again.

[dreamsparkle]

Sensualist Wells

For HarriscoFest2019 and the prompt Sensualist Wells.

Sensualist (noun) -

A person devoted to physical, especially sexual, pleasure.

Cisco Ramon / Harry Wells

NC-17 / NSFW

Dub!con kinda

This is my understanding of the prompt so sorry if I misunderstood. :) Please keep negativity to yourself please.

Harry's mind has always behaved like a well oiled machine. Nothing had ever slowed it down. 

Not even Tess. Being near her made his brain work twice as fast. He wanted so much to impress her, not just with his equations and designs  but with his plans for the future, to make her happy for as long as he is able.

Not even Jesse. Her first smile as a baby and his brain didn't stutter once. Instead it spread out every conceivable threat that could possibly harm this little treasure and how to neutralise it in an instant. He knew he would die rather than let anyone hurt a hair on her head.

But then there was Cisco. And he seemed to strangely have a different effect. Cisco was like an error in fluid code. To look at any part of him trapped Harry in a loop with no exit. 

He would be working on a design and be distracted by a flick of satin, black curls. His gaze drawn over against his will to trace along the pretty slopes that Cisco had so carefully crafted. 

It was just hair. Harry told himself annoyed. Everyone had it. In fact Iris had some that was very similar and he never found himself looking at her hair in any special way.

And instead of working, he found himself, for the next hour, trying to identify using logic what the difference was. Why Cisco's hair caught his attention when Iris' didn't. 

Why when he followed the curve around Cisco's ear he felt the strange bliss of taking a gentle turn in a car on a scenic ride and that beautiful sense of gliding.

---

Cisco wasn't exactly special to look at. Among even his group of friends, Harry doubted in a survey anyone would place him at the top in terms of looks. Even Cisco himself.

Yet Harry kept looking, despite logic.

If pressed, he would have to say Cisco's eyes were the most captivating part of him, if anything. Though he wouldn't be able to confirm why. 

They were brown, like the majority of people. Not especially large or small. If he were being unscientific he could compare them to chocolate. Not necessarily the color, though that too, but mainly the texture. That soft solid that melts under your touch. Cisco's eyes were soft and so much kinder than Harry deserved.

With that apt metaphor stored away he tried to get back to work. But now he had given himself a craving and he really wanted something soft and sweet, that melted.

Not something he eats very often. He doesn't really have feelings for the candy either way but he really wanted some now.

He went over to Cisco's secret stash, relieved he wasn't in the lab today. Underneath a pack of twizzlers and between two lollipops was a Hershey.

He brought it back to his desk and stared at it for a moment. Wondering where his sanity had left him. Still he opened it. Put a piece in his mouth. And rather than just chew it, he tried to savour it, for once.

It was soft; rapidly disappearing on his tongue. Turning creamy at the edges. He swallowed down the excess. Sugar so sweet, it was making his mouth water. He licked at what nub of chocolate was left and was overcome with the sudden idea of how it much better it would taste coming off of mocha colored skin. 

Harry inhaled the last bit in alarm, refusing to finish that thought. Knowing where it led. His cheeks were burning and he was left with a bitter taste in his mouth. He shoved the rest of the chocolate bar in his desk drawer out of sight. Easier then to erase the memory.

His heart was beating too fast and he was shamefully turned on. The feeling buzzing under his skin, painful and unwanted.

He stood up and went for a walk. Some Big Belly Burger might get rid of this leftover flavor.

---

Cisco was glaring at him. He'd probably correctly guessed who had stolen his chocolate and was showing how he knew by displaying a lollipop between two lips.

Joke was on him. Cisco's lips were sinful. Harry couldn't really deny that. Harry had thin chapped lips while Cisco's were like peaches and so easily turned red.

A full grown man should not be eating a lollipop. 

He was so unashamed about it. Harry supposed everyone he met liked him too much to pick on him for it. And it didn't look remotely feminine like Harry would have guessed.  In fact, when he was hacking for the Flash with fervor and that lollipop stick swung from one side of his mouth to the other so he could speak, Harry was reluctantly reminded of a cowboy with a toothpick clenched between unbroken enamel, all ready to fire.

He wasn't even putting on a show, really. It was a lollipop. He was eating it. End of story. Like he had no idea.

He probably didn't. Cisco. So modest. So unassuming. It irritated Harry to no end because Cisco was brilliant. So utterly mind blowingly beyond expectation. And he received less than a tenth of the recognition that he rightfully deserved.

He fought for credit when it came to who named the meta of the week. But single handedly discovering the plan to stop said meta in his tracks and it was suddenly all blushes and "Team effort, guys." 

Harry despised it.

The lollipop taunted him too. Stupid to be jealous. Yet he wanted to lick into that mouth and drag along his tongue, all dance like. Cisco's oral fixation was evident a mile wide. Harry bet his mouth was super sensitive. He bet if he sucked on one of those lips just right Cisco would shudder against him.

The real Cisco, instead, was reading something boring. His eyes were staring far off into the screen, expression blank while he rolled the lollipop over the tip of his pointed tongue. Truly bored then.

Harry broke to temptation and walked over before he could talk himself out of it.  He pushed the hand holding the lollipop out of the way.

"Harry, what?" Cisco said shocked as Harry leaned closer. 

"May I?" He asked but not giving anytime to respond, licked his way into Cisco's mouth. The younger man breathed in shocked but didn't stop him. Maybe too surprised. 

He immediately chased the taste of cherry. He captured Cisco's tongue and sucked on it like a treat. The noise Cisco made then was distressed but he still didn't move to push Harry away. Nor did he move closer.

His fingers found themselves twined in those sooty strands. And then he was kissing down from his mouth. His teeth biting into Cisco's jawline. Not too hard but hard enough Cisco maked a choked sound.

He pulled back. Cisco's eyes were open and so shocked. His mouth red from abuse and bite mark stood out sharply. He was so fucking hot and Harry could try and explain it forever but Harry knew his attraction wasn't normal. He shouldn't be this affected by a kiss.

Even now all he could think about was kissing him again and not complex plans on how that could come about. But thoughts of flashes of the heat under plush lips. Harry's fingers followed the curve from buttery soft hair down the warm skin of his neck. Cisco shivered.

He forced himself to let go, then stepped back. He escaped the room as quick as he could. Cisco only attempt to stop him a soft, "Harry."

---

Cisco gave up trying to mention the kiss after the third time Harry changed the topic. Though he kept watching Harry now and that was bad because Harry was still getting lost in thought about the most beautiful parts of him. He was quickly discovering that was every part of him.

His hand wrapped around a mug. A wicked quirk of an eyebrow. A flash of dorky teeth. A flamboyant wave of an arm to express a point. 

Those arms were gonna be the death of him. The cheap cotton of his comic shirts riding up over his belly and becoming tight over his upper arms as he stretched. Harry just wanted to touch. Wanted to get rid of that rough fabric and replace it with something deserving like silk.

---

Harry was working on something, for once not distracted because Cisco had gone to the lake for a picnic with the rest of the team. Harry hadn’t even seen him today and he was able to get on with some blessed projects he’d been procrastinating on.

That was turned on its head when late afternoon Cisco portalled into the lab and he was drenched through. Still dripping water from whatever had flooded him.

"Don't laugh." Cisco threatened when he saw him. "And no comments. Barry and Caitlin have already made plenty. Thank you."

Like Harry's reaction would be to laugh at this.

Cisco's clothes were plastered to him. His tiny white shorts were all but see through and dripping water droplets down thick thighs. Harry felt so parched. He swallowed painfully, mouth drier than a desert.

As Cisco left, Harry found himself following, almost compelled. He'd caught up and pressed Cisco against the wall to stop him. This time, Cisco was no longer surprised and kissed back right from the start.

Harry's brain was focused on other things rather than kissing. He licked a droplet from Cisco's throat then sucked hard to get whatever had already sucken beneath the skin. He tasted a bit like salt. Cisco gasped so prettily.

"This is what gets you back to that place again, seriously?" Cisco complained. He writhed as Harry's burning hot hands raised his shirt folded it up so he could feel the bottom of his stomach. The shirt stuck together so easily from being so wet. And Harry's hands were on his hips. 

Then Harry was kneeling. 

"Harry." Cisco said shocked.

The hands down to his thighs and his mouth replaced them on his stomach. Sucking a spot shiny with water. Cisco felt dizzy from the flush as all the blood in his body flooded down.

Those fingers gripped his thighs. Harry admired the give of them. Felt the give of them with his tongue and teeth as Cisco cried out above him. 

Hands were in his hair, yanking. But he wasn't about to be torn away from what he had been fantasizing about for months. Not when Cisco was responding so beautifully.

He pressed his entire face against that reaction that was tenting Cisco's shorts. Sucked more water from that wet, white fabric. Mouthing at what was hard and purely Cisco underneath. Because he wasn't wearing boxers. Of course he didn't. Why would he wish to help Harry's sanity any.

He was basically holding Cisco up now. His knees had gone weak and Harry was holding him against the wall by his grip on his thighs alone. He couldn't let go. 

So instead he almost broke his teeth undoing the top button of those shorts with his mouth. But it was worth it because now he got access to all that bare skin.

Cisco's cock rose to meet him. Mesmerising by the way it twitched. He pressed a long open mouthed kiss along the side of it. Cisco was making noise. Harry wasn't sure if it was English, Spanish or something not so comprehensible.

Dragging his tongue up the hot and hard silky skin, he wanted to suck. Lined up his mouth and sunk down. Smelled salty, musky. He was almost drooling from how much his mouth watered. 

Sucking and swallowing around Cisco's cock felt incredible and he didn't stop even when he felt Cisco try and squirm away from him.

He understood when his mouth was suddenly filled as Cisco cum.

Cisco almost fell over and Harry put one hand on his chest to and the other under arm under his bum to hold him up. He didn't release Cisco's cock and continued sucking until the younger really started struggling.

When Harry let go Cisco slid down the wall to the floor and when that wasn't far enough, wiggled to lying down on his back because he didn't have any energy or will to hold himself up anymore. 

Which was fine with Harry. The view was fantastic. Cisco's hair was fanned out like an ink spill. Eyes closed and red lips gasping. Tight shorts were stuck with water halfway down his thighs and his shirt was still rucked up revealing his belly button. His cock spent leading up to it. 

Unable to resist touching, he went for the area of stomach on show, thinking it was the least offensive to Cisco's overwrought senses right now. But was proven wrong when Cisco flinched and a hand pushed him away.

"Harrrryy!" He whined. "Knock it off." He pursed his lips in annoyance and Harry decided to take it as an invitation. Pressed a gentle kiss there.

Cisco didn't look annoyed at that but he looked vulnerable. Like he was trying to figure Harry out.

"You're perfect." Harry told him. It hurt Cisco's modesty and self depreciation of course. He could see it in the slight frown that formed. He wasn't accepting Harry's words anytime soon. But touching him was addictive so hopefully, maybe, he would be allowed to do more of that.

---

Cisco asked some questions, Harry answered as simply and awkwardly as he could and now they were allowed to kiss…and other things too.

Just not at Star Labs. 

That was fine. Harry could be patient but honestly as soon as they were at Cisco's place he would touch as soon as he was allowed. He was so horny all the time and he didn't know how long Cisco would allow this to go on before realising he could do better so he was taking full advantage.

He had to fight Cisco every time. The engineer wasn't used to the attention. Tried to make things equal. That Harry got the same attention too. Like Harry wasn't and hadn't always been a selfish bastard. As he sucked a hickey into a rather generous bubble butt, wondered how anyone could imagine he was getting the short stick out of this deal.

Cisco always caved in first. Once Harry had touched, tasted every part of him and he was raw like a string close to breaking from too many orgasms, Harry did his best to stop his compulsion and just held him close and breathed in the scent from his skin. But it was hard. Even after he was satisfied. Because it wasn't just about sex. It was about comfort. 

Trailing patterns over his skin while he slept. Feeling the slight rises on each breath. His mind jumped at being caught by these slight things. No calculations left to be made but his mind still found it endlessly fascinating. Instead of thought it gave way, for once, to feeling…

...and what he felt was happy.

[dochornet]

au where sally is the rich famous racecar who gets tired of racing and drives for miles and miles only to find a small town called radiator springs

nd everyone’s going crazy trying to look for her because!! the sally carrera is gone without a trace right before a tiebreaker race with her, chick hicks, and the king, but she isn’t actually worried about that

she’s busy schmoozing the hudson hornet’s son monty and not much else could matter to her. this nice couple named flo and ramone has taken her in, shes set to work on fixing up the abandoned motel, and this is finally something she can see herself spending her entire life doing

except monty mcqueen-hudson, who she’s fallen head over heels for, is very wary of racers just like his father. she tries her best to win him over and again and again they go out in secret, sally learns the town’s history and monty falls very much in love with this sweet racer from california

she recognizes the hudson hornet almost immediately and takes all the tips she can get from him. he wants her out and away from his son monty and she knows it, but this persistant racer isn’t leaving anytime soon and hud knows that too

sally gets a shiny new paint job, pretty white wall tires, lets lizzie fit her with an insane amount of bumper stickers, buys a can of fillmore’s oil and sarge’s surplus

monty fixes all the neon lights because he knows sally will love them, they play lizzie’s music and they’re still extremely saccharine

doc calls the press, monty loses it in anger and packs his bags to go see sally race in california, hud sighs and knows that his decision has been made very clearly for him.

he’s getting back into racing, and radiator springs has another, baby blue resident.

[queen-of-deans-booty]

Death Takes a Holiday- Part 2

Pairing: Dean x Reader

Word Count: 1,827

Warnings: typical supernatural violence, language, angst, blood, you know the usual

Author’s Note: I do not own anything from Supernatural. All credit goes to their respective owners. Any and all comments on these are appreciated. I really want to hear what you guys think about this one!

Feedback is the glue that holds my writing together.

Tags at the bottom

As soon as you woke up, your magic healed your aching headache, but the same thing couldn’t happen for Dean, unfortunately. The amount of magic you placed inside their body was only good enough to break them from the siren’s spell. Dean was laying on the motel bed while you held an ice pack to his head.

“It’s not fair,” Dean groaned.

“What’s not?”

“Your magic healed you of the pain. I’m stuck like this.”

“I can give you some more. Just enough to make it go away,” you offered. Before Dean could answer, the door opened and Sam walked in with a small notebook in hand.

“How you doing?”

“I'm in pain, that's how I'm doing. I think I have a concussion.”

“You want some aspirin?”

“No thanks, House,” Dean said as he sat up. Removing the icepack, you lightly rubbed his shoulders as a way to comfort him. “So, demons, huh?”

“Yeah. So much for miracles,” you scoffed.

“What the hell happened with Alastair?” Dean asked.

“He tried to fling me or whatever and it didn't work, so he bailed.”

“Well, how come he couldn't fling you? He chucked you pretty good last time.”

“Got not idea,” Sam said after too many moments of silence.

“Sam, do us a favor. If you're gonna keep your little secrets, I can't really stop you, but just don't treat us like an idiot, okay?”

“What? I'm not keeping secrets.”

“You think I believe you?” you asked as you moved to sit next to Dean. “I have the same blood running through my veins, don’t you forget. It’s one thing to lie to us, and it’s another to do it when I’m looking right at you.”

“I’m not keeping secrets,” he lied.

“Mm-hm. Whatever. So, did you go back and q-and-a the dead kid?” Dean asked, moving on.

“Didn't have to. Bobby called. He did some digging. He thinks you’re right. Local reaper's gone. Not just gone—kidnapped.”

“By demons? Why?”

“Listen to this,” he said as he opened the notebook and began reading from it. “And he bloodied death under the newborn sky—sweet to taste, but bitter when once devoured.”

“Swanky. What the hell's that mean?”

“Well, it's from a very obscure, very arcane version of Revelations. Basically, you kill a reaper under the solstice moon—tomorrow night, by the way—you got yourself a broken seal.”

“How do you ice a reaper? You can't kill death,” you sighed.

“I don't know. Maybe demons can. Where the hell are the angels is what I want to know. We could use their help for once.”

“It looks like we're gonna have to take care of this one ourselves,” you declared.

“What are we going to do? Reapers are invisible. The only people who can see reapers are the dead and dying.”

“Exactly,” you said with a smile.

“Now, before we go in there, I just want to say I know this is a lot to ask for,” you began as you led Pamela down the hallway.

“No, this is insane. I hate that you brought me out here for this,” she sighed.

“You’re the only one who can do this,” you sighed, looking at her sunglasses. Knowing there was only white eyes under that, you thought of something you could give her. “Do this for us, and I can give you what you want.”

“And what is that?” she turned to face you with her arms crossed. Deciding it was best to show her instead of telling, you pressed two fingers to her forehead. Thinking back to a spell you found in a witch’s grimoire once on a hunt, you began chanting the spell. If you can do magic without spells, just think of the power you have with spells.

As you muttered the chant, you moved your fingers from her forehead to yours, doing this over and over again until a white mist began forming between the two of you. Pamela didn’t know what was going on, but for a split second, she could have sworn she could see you right in front of her. Before the spell was complete, you took your hand away and stopped chanting.

“How did you do that?” she gasped.

“I can do a lot of things now. You do this for us, I’ll give you back your eyes.”

“I don’t like this, Y/N, I don’t have eyes. Castiel burned them out.”

“Do you want to see or not?”

“What do I have to do?” she asked with a sigh.

“Come on,” you walked to the door with her before knocking on it. The lock turned before Sam opened it, but Pamela wasn’t happy about this. She didn’t even know if she wanted this transfer or not. What she felt wasn’t good, it was black magic which isn’t who you are. You aren’t some witch who uses herbs and dabbles in black magic. You’re a light witch, all natural sources and energy. Tamper with that, and you can’t go back.

“I can't even begin to tell you how crazy you three are.”

“Well, Pamela, you're a sight for sore eyes,” Sam chuckled. She turned around before lowering her glasses.

“Aw, that's sweet, grumpy,” she said as she put the glasses back on. “What do you say to deaf people? Which one of you brainiacs came up with astral projection?”

“I did,” you said.

“Y/N, a word, please?” Pamela asked, and you led her to the other side of the room to get some sense of privacy.

“What is it?”

“I’ll help you, but I won’t do it for the eyes. I didn’t like the feeling I got when you did that spell. I can feel the power in your veins, and it’s good. It’s pure light energy, solid energy. That spell you did tampered with it. Once you go that route, all that good will be stripped away. Do you understand?”

“Yeah,” you whispered, trying to process her words.

“So, let's be clear,” Pamela said loudly, turning her attention to the brothers. Dean looked at you to see your brows furrowed worriedly. He knew whatever Pamela said to you made you look like that. “You want to rip your souls out of your bodies and take a little stroll through the spirit world? Do you have any idea how heavy-duty insane that is?”

“Yeah, but you know what you’re doing,” Dean sighed.

“Yeah, I do, and guess what? I'm sick of being hauled back into your angel-demon, Soc-Greaser shit.”

“We're talking the end of the world here, okay? No more tasseled leather pants, no more Ramones CDs, no more nothing. We need your help.”

“Please, Pamela,” you whispered.

Sam and Dean got the room ready for Pamela as she sat between the two beds there. Sitting in front of her, you stared at her with worry in your eyes.

“Why are you staring at me?”

“How did you know that stuff about me?”

“Sweetie, I know a lot about witches. Nasty things, but not you. I’ve read about witches like you.”

“So, there are others like me?” you asked with a hopeful tone.

“Witches that have been long dead. The only recent one I know of happened to be in the 60s,” she revealed, making tears spring to your eyes.

“That was my mom,” you muttered.

“Light witches are natural. They don’t tap into dark magic to do the things they can do. They use the elements around them, heal things, make things better. Can you heal?”

“Only if I concentrate,” you whispered. Sam and Dean pretended not to hear about this but they could, “and I can’t do a lot, only little cuts.”

“Keep practicing, and you’ll be mending broken bones and shredded flesh like it’s Sunday brunch.”

“Why am I the only one like this?”

“I can’t answer that. Maybe those Angels on your shoulder could.”

“Thanks,” you whispered, wondering if your mom could have told you this. Now you’ll never know.

“Alright,” Pamela addressed everyone in the room as she patted the beds, “Lie down and close your eyes.”

Getting on the bed, Dean joined your side as Sam got on the other one. Pamela started the spell, saying the words perfectly.

“Animum vult decipi, ergo decipiatur. Vis, vis, vis. Okay, guys. That's it. Showtime,” she said. Opening your eyes, you got up but didn’t feel any different. Looking at Dean, you shrugged when he sighed.

“Well, nothing like shooting blanks. What's plan B?” he asked, but Pamela didn’t answer. Frowning, you looked over at Sam until you heard breathing come from behind you. Sam was standing there which meant the spell worked. Looking back at your body, you studied your features.

“That’s what I look like?” you asked as you got up.

“I’m not complaining,” Dean smirked.

“You could have told me my hair looked like this,” you whined.

“Alright, so, I'm assuming you're somewhere over the rainbow,” Pamela talked into the air. “Remember I have to bring you back. I'll whisper the incantation in your ear.”

She got up and walked to Sam before whispering something gin his ear. Whatever she said made Sam smirk, and apparently only he could hear it.

“What'd she say?” Dean asked but he shrugged. Pamela walked over to you before whispering in your ear.

“Light witches always know the good thing to do. You’ll feel like you’re making the wrong decision but it’s in your blood to do right.”

“Thanks, Pamela,” you whispered.

“What did she say?” Dean asked.

“I’ll tell you later. Come on,” you said before walking to the door. Looking at Sam and Dean, you took a shot in the dark before taking a deep breath. “I hope this works,” you sighed before confidently walking through the door. Laughing, you turned to see Sam and Dean doing the same.

“This is awesome,” Dean grinned.

“We need to find Cole,” you said before walking through the town. On the way, you couldn’t seem to find any signs of death or demons. It was freaking you out, but maybe Cole had something to say about it. Stepping onto the sidewalk, you gasped when you saw a jogger headed straight towards you three. She didn’t seem to notice, and ran right through Sam.

“That was wild,” Dean grinned before smirking as an idea popped in his head. He stuck his arm right through Sam’s chest, and you did the same exact thing to piss him off. Sam looked at your arms before giving you both a stony look.

“Are we making you uncomfortable?”

“Get out of me,” Sam sighed. Scoffing lightly, you and Dean moved your arms before Dean spoke again.

“You're such a prude. Come on.”

Crossing the street, you walked all the way to Cole’s house only to see him in the window, staring straight at the three of you.

“There he is, we need to talk to him,” you said just as Cole flickered before vanishing.

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[starletwriting]

Killervibe Fic Week Day Seven: Fairytale

Word Count: 7.3k

Notes: This is so late I’m not even sure if I can consider it a part of fic week anymore, but I worked way too hard on this to let it go to waste. It’s 21 pages on Google Docs. It’s my longest fic for fic week. I’ve been working on this one for a while, so I hope you guys enjoy!

Warnings: guns, bullets, description of a gunshot, bullet wound. Cisco says fuck. like. exactly one (1) time. It could be a PG-13 movie. 

Tags: @thatkillervibe @shakesqueer-writes @narniasfinestavengingsociopath

~~~

They call her Killer Frost.

Cisco had heard the stories since he was a child. They told of a woman who was supposedly born from the ice, her body as old as the Earth itself, her immortal feet walking amongst the dirt and snow since the dawn of time. Her eyes have seen humanity rise and fall, her ears have heard the sobs of mankind, her fingers could either bless or curse with just one touch. She wasn’t a god, for people did not worship her. Rather, she was nature. She was the beauty of the snowy forests in which she lived. She was the harshness of blizzards and the delicacy of snowflakes. She was the calm before the storm, and the damage left behind once it’s gone.

Growing up, Cisco and his brother Dante would always ask to hear those stories again. Killer Frost fascinated them. Their mother would tell them the same story each night before bed, and each night they fell asleep in complete awe of the mysterious ice queen. 

Both boys grew up wanting to be an adventurer. They played with sticks in their backyard and pretended to be fending off any danger that might arise. Dante got a children’s adventuring kit from his parents for his birthday one year, much to his younger brother’s dismay. Cisco stole that kit from him so many times that it became partly his, despite Dante complaining each time. The brothers once found a stray cat in the woods behind their house, and they imagined it as a magical creature they had stumbled upon in their travels. They ended up befriending and adopting the cat, and Dante later brought the cat along with him when he moved out. 

When Dante started his first ever expedition, his parents were overwhelmed in their support for their son. They told everyone that would listen about what a great adventurer Dante would be, and how they simply couldn’t wait to hear about all the amazing things he’d find. And their pride wasn’t misplaced. Dante Ramon became a remarkable adventurer, admired by many, and the well-deserved winner of a few awards. He was the first person to get close to Bigfoot. He discovered a ring of faeries and brought back pictures to show it. He befriended some dwarves in Russia. He slayed a hostile vampire and saved a city in the process. 

It seemed that Dante’s great achievements became the topic of all of Cisco’s conversations with his parents. His brother did this, his brother did that. Dante’s name was his mother’s favorite word. She and Cisco’s father were bursting with pride and affection for their older son, while their younger son was lost in his brother’s shadow. The longer it went on, the more Cisco became aware of the fundamental truth: Dante could do no wrong, whereas he could do no right. 

Dante got married to a beautiful girl named Melinda Torres. His mother cried upon receiving the news of their engagement, his father patted him on the back in congratulations. Cisco was best man, and he gave a speech in front of everyone, looking back on past memories he shared with Dante and commemorating how far he’s come to become the man he is today. Cisco was happy to be by his brother’s side on his big day, but he couldn’t help but feel a lingering feeling of jealousy deep down. Not because of the marriage itself, but because it was just one more event with his brother’s name in lights. One more gathering in which everybody was looking at Dante Ramon, adventurer extraordinaire. It was just one more opportunity for Dante to outshine him.

But then, two years later, they received the news that changed everything. 

Dante had been killed by a pack of werewolves while on an expedition. His family had been told first, but the press found out in a matter of days. He had a funeral immediately. His family members, no matter how distantly related, came to say goodbye to the boy they had known and whose blood they had shared. 

While Dante’s family weren’t the only ones mourning his loss, Cisco mourned the most out of them all. He looked back on his childhood memories and remembered all the good times the two of them had shared. Every laugh, every playfight, every smile. The hours they spent playing together as kids. Cisco even looked back on their childish bickering fondly. He had lost his only brother, his childhood playmate, his partner in crime, his best friend. 

Except… Cisco lost those things a long time ago. They were all victims of his jealousy. Cisco not only mourned the loss of his brother, but he also beared the weight of his regret. He regretted letting his spite get in the way of his relationship with his brother. It was never Dante’s fault. Dante didn’t ask to be the favorite. He rightfully earned his praise. Now Dante was gone and Cisco was out of opportunities to reconnect with his brother, all because Cisco refused to let go of his childish envy when he had the chance. 

Two months after Dante’s death, Cisco got a call from his mother asking him to meet her at his childhood home. When he got there, he found her sitting in one of the wooden chairs surrounding the dining room table, with a cardboard packing box on the table in front of her.

“Come, sit.” 

Cisco sat in the chair opposite her. 

He had about a million questions. Why did she want to meet him here? Why did she want to meet at all? What was the purpose of talking to him now, after all those years of not caring? 

Despite all his questions, he only voiced one. “What’s in the box?”

“Open it.” She said. “See for yourself.” 

Cisco did so. Upon opening the box, Cisco gasped, and took out its contents to hold it in his hands ever-so-gently. 

“Dante’s adventuring kit. I haven’t seen this since we were kids.” Cisco said. “Where’d you find it?”

“It was in his room.” Mrs. Ramon spoke delicately, as if she was trying her best to stay strong despite her mourning. “Your father and I were going through his stuff and we found it. I thought it would be best to give it to you.” 

He went through its contents. A cheaply made pair of toy binoculars, a cheaply made flashlight that ran out of batteries years ago and never got a replacement, a handbook on the many different kinds of fantastical creatures out there.

“I want you to have it.” 

Cisco met his mother’s eyes with an incredulous expression, as if asking if she was sure. “You do?” 

She nodded. “You loved that kit as a kid. You and Dante, always playing in the backyard, always asking me for more stories about noble adventurers. You should have it.” 

“I couldn’t. It’s Dante’s.” 

“He isn’t here, mijo.” Her gentle voice reflected her own pain on the topic, but still she stayed strong. “Look, I know I haven’t been the best about encouraging your own aspirations like I did Dante’s. I’m sorry about that.” 

The apology took Cisco off guard. He wasn’t sure how to respond at first. Does he tell her “It’s okay”, even when it’s not? Does he tell her about all the times in his youth he cried into his pillow because he knew he would always be second-best? Did it take Dante dying for his parents to remember they had a second son? 

He decided against it, telling himself that his mother apologizing was a good thing, because it means that maybe the future will be different. So, instead he simply smiled. 

“Thank you.” He said. “I appreciate the apology.” 

“Are you still planning on becoming an adventurer?” 

Cisco shook his head. “That was a long time ago.” 

“You should.” She said. “It was your dream. You and Dante alike. Don’t give up on that now.” 

“I dunno,” He sighed. “I don’t want to steal Dante’s spotlight.” 

“You aren’t.” Mrs. Ramon met his eyes with a sincerity that he couldn’t explain. “Honor your brother by becoming an adventurer. Carry out his legacy. Finish what he started.” 

Cisco furrowed his brow. “What do you mean?” 

“What was the one legend that you and Dante always admired? The one that Dante dreamed of finding for himself, but never did?” 

His eyes grew as the realization dawned on him.

“Killer Frost.” The words came out as a soft exhale. 

Mrs. Ramon nodded. “Continue Dante’s life’s work. Find Killer Frost. Be an adventurer not in spite of Dante, but to remember him.” 

“Are you sure I’ll have what it takes?” 

“Of course you will. You’re my son.” She said. “The Ramon family needs an adventurer. I may not have supported you as much as I should’ve, but that changes now. I will encourage you every step of the way.”  

A smile grew on Cisco’s face. 

“Thank you.” 

Mrs. Ramon walked around the table to brush Cisco’s hair behind his ear and place a soft, motherly kiss to his forehead. 

“I believe in you, mijo. Go show the world what you’re made of.”

And so, with that, Cisco started his career as an adventurer. He started off small and built his way up. In the first year, he searched forests for elves and faeries, ventured out into the sea in hopes of finding mermaids, visited Nessie’s lake, and even found a wild griffin. Meanwhile, on the side he researched as much as he could about Killer Frost. He visited libraries and read ancient books about her. He discussed the myths with locals who live near places she’s supposedly been sighted. He’s looked up everything he can about every alleged sighting. The most recent alleged sighting happened about ten years ago and was told by a man named Bartholomew Henry Allen. Cisco grimaced. That’s an unfortunate name. He looked up Bartholomew in hopes of interviewing him for more information, only to discover that Bartholomew had died a few years back. He was killed by a man named Eobard Thawne. Cisco grimaced again. That’s an even more unfortunate name. 

It wasn’t until the December of Cisco’s second year being an adventurer that he decided he was ready to start tracking down Killer Frost. 

He gathered information from various alleged sightings in hopes of pinpointing possible places Frost could be. She stayed in snowy biomes, ones with thick forestation, natural wildlife, and high elevation. There was one place that had all of those things. Far up north were taigas covered in snow, with high steeps of rock in which many natural caves could be found. He figured that was his best bet.

So he camped. He packed his travel backpack with all the compact packing methods he had taught himself growing up, so that he could fit everything he needed into one large backpack. He bought a compact tent that folded itself into the size of a small purse, and he attached that to the bottom of his backpack. He knew a trick to fold entire outfits into compact rolls as to fit more into smaller spaces. He was sure to pack lots of winter clothes as well as miniature heaters and heating pads to prepare him for the biome. He brought food that wouldn’t go bad and that he could prepare easily without any extra equipment. He carried a knife for self-defense, and so that he could hunt animals in the case that he ran out of food. He made sure to wear silver jewelry to protect him from werewolves. After losing his brother to them, he wanted to be safe. 

With that, Cisco embarked on the expedition that would change everything. 

Days and nights blurred together. Cisco brought along a handheld notebook and a miniature pencil, and he logged each day he spent in the forest, or else he would’ve lost track. He adjusted to his camping life after his first week, and it got easier from there. When Dante was alive, he would tell Cisco stories of his expeditions, and he’d talk about how hard it was to live out in the wilderness for long periods of time. The past year had been consisted of a ton of time in the wilderness for Cisco, so now he finally understood what he meant. 

One morning, Cisco was inside his tent when he heard foosteps outside. He reminded himself to stay calm, and assured himself that it was probably just a deer. He grabbed his knife and held it out defensively, and prepared to open the tent flap and run out. He purposefully kept his breathing calm and slow, so that the animal outside couldn’t hear it. He ensured that he was still wearing his rings of silver and a silver chain around his neck, and then he opened the flap. 

The second he did, he screamed. 

It wasn’t a deer. It wasn’t werewolves or a bear, either. It was a woman.

Her hair was white as snow. Her lips were frozen and pale. She had no blood running through her veins, no heartbeat to keep her alive. Her skin was a ghostly color with a light blue undertone, like ice personified. Her eyes were a piercing white, as intense as the eyes of hawks but with the harsh cold of the Antarctic Ocean. And yet, they were staring at Cisco with fear and surprise and intrigue, all at once. 

There she was. 

The lady from the myths, the woman Cisco had longed to see in the flesh, the reason for this entire expedition, standing right before him. 

Killer Frost.

In Cisco’s head, the moment he saw Killer Frost, he’d be gasping in awe at her beauty, recording this incredible sighting down in his notebook, never to forget it. He definitely didn’t imagine himself holding the tent flap open with one hand, holding his knife in the other, staring her in the eyes, and screaming his head off. 

Cisco’s scream startled Frost, who was already greatly on edge. She started screaming as well, and she held her hands up defensively, her palms facing Cisco, conveying that she was ready to shoot ice blasts at Cisco at any given moment. 

Cisco never thought his greatest achievement would be standing in front of one of Earth’s most majestic myths while they were both screaming at the top of their lungs. 

Once Cisco registered that it was Killer Frost and not some scary werewolf, he shut his mouth and cut off his scream, but his mouth was only shut for a second before he opened it again, this time gaping at her in surprise. It was Killer Frost. The Killer Frost. The very being he had hoped to see.

He dropped his knife and it clattered to the ground. He didn’t mean her any harm. His mind was still processing. The wheels in his head turned as he stared at her, half-expecting it to all be a dream. 

For an ice queen, she was gorgeous. 

“What’re you doing here?!” She snapped. Her voice didn’t sound human. It sounded like ice and wind and harsh blizzards and deadly winters.

“I, uh-” Great. Cisco’s first words to the great legend Killer Frost and he stammers. “I came here to see you. I had heard the stories about Killer Frost and I wanted to see you for myself.” 

“I see.” She glared at him, as if she hadn’t just been screaming with him a moment earlier. “Leave now, and I will spare you.”

“I don’t mean you any harm.” Cisco raised his hands in surrender. “I promise.”

She scoffed. “You humans are so alike. You all say the same things, and they’re all lies.”

“I’m not lying.” Cisco assured her. “Here, I’ll show you.”

He gently kicked his knife out of the tent and it landed softly on the snow next to her feet. 

“That’s my only weapon.” He said. “Now it’s over by you. If I were to reach for it, you could stop me.”

Frost slid the knife behind her using her foot. “That was reckless. What’s to stop me from killing you?” 

There was a certain smug twinkle in his eyes. “Trust.” 

She raised an eyebrow at him. 

“You’re a very strange human.” 

Cisco laughed. “Believe it or not, I get that a lot.”

~~~

The sun was beginning to set along the west horizon. A fire crackled and danced before them, putting on a show of red and orange, burning the wood underneath it and forming a thin stream of smoke above it. They heard calls from a distant owl, but they couldn’t see where it was hiding. At one point, Cisco saw a white hare jump into a bush, and he smiled and commented on how adorable it was.

Cisco had invited Frost to stay at his campsite. She didn’t respond, but the fact that she still remained even hours later gave Cisco his answer. After Cisco had gone through so much to find her, the last thing he wanted was for her to leave. Plus, she made surprisingly good company. 

“You hurt yourself.” 

“What?” Cisco furrowed his brow. 

Frost pointed to a spot on his ankle, just above his shoe, where he had a few scrapes. They were enough to draw blood, but still, hardly an injury. They were already starting to heal. 

“Oh, that.” Cisco waved his hand dismissively. “I walked too close to a thorn bush this morning and it scraped my ankle.” 

She laughed. Her laugh was icy and inhuman, and yet at the same time, surprisingly warm and genuine. “Humans are so fragile.” 

“I guess we are.” He shrugged. “I never really thought about it. What about you, then? Do you not get injured?” 

Frost shook her head. 

“Huh.” He said. “That must be nice.” 

Cisco reached over and grabbed his backpack, and started rummaging through it. He pulled out a whole bag of granola, and started eating fistfuls of it straight out of the bag. Frost watched him with a raised eyebrow, her piercing eyes studying him up and down with an inquisitive look. 

“What’s that?” 

“Granola.” Cisco tilted the bag in her direction. “Want some?” 

She shook her head. “I don’t eat.” 

“Can you?” 

Frost furrowed her brow. “What do you mean?” 

“If you chose to eat, would you be able to?” 

“I… guess so.” She said. “Why?” 

“Do you want to try?” 

Still a bit startled from the offer, she hesitantly took a handful of granola and placed it in her mouth and began to chew. She made a face of disgust a few moments later, and spit it out onto the snow. 

Cisco couldn’t help but laugh. “Not a fan, huh?” 

“It tastes bad.” 

“Well, not all foods taste the same. If it’s the taste you don’t like, then you can try something else.” Cisco reached into his bag and pulled out some beef jerky he brought. “Here, try this.” 

She took the piece that he offered her and bit into it. She chewed it hesitantly at first, then slowly warmed up to chewing it at a faster pace, then swallowed. She ate the rest of the strip in a matter of seconds. 

“Yeah, that’s way better.” She said. “What’s it called?” 

“Beef jerky.” 

“Huh.” She blinked. “Eating is kinda fun. What else do you have?” 

“I have lots.” Cisco zipped his bag open completely and started rummaging through the contents. “I have apples, raisins, dried peaches, cereal, energy bars, instant noodles, instant rice-” He cut himself off when he accidentally knocked his wallet out of his backpack. “Oops.” 

Frost picked his wallet up off of the snow and brushed it off. “What’s this?” 

“My wallet.” He zipped up his backpack. “It holds money and other important stuff.”

She opened it out of sheer curiosity, and pointed to the picture on the inner flap. “Who’s that?”

“My brother, Dante.” Cisco said. “He died about two years ago. I’ve kept his picture in my wallet ever since. It’s my way of remembering him. Well, that, and becoming an adventurer.” 

“You became an adventurer to remember your brother?”

He nodded. “Dante was an adventurer. I’m continuing his legacy.” 

“Legacies.” Killer Frost scoffed. “I never understood that about you humans. Live your own life, not your brother’s.” 

Cisco faltered, unable to think of a reply. She hadn’t said much, and yet her words carried meaning. Cisco recalled a saying he heard once, “a life lived for someone else is a life wasted”. Frost’s words reminded him of that saying.

“Has anyone ever told you you’re very wise?” 

“I don’t exactly socialize with humans much.” 

“Right, of course.” Cisco said. “Have you ever had conversations, like this, with a human before?” 

She didn’t respond. It wasn’t the first time Frost had stayed quiet when Cisco asked her a question she didn’t want to answer. She was selective, one moment she’d answer any question Cisco asked, and then, radio silence. He didn’t necessarily blame her, but it was a bit frustrating with how unpredictable it was. 

“It’s getting late.” She said. “Doesn’t your body require sleep to function?” 

Cisco nodded. “It’s the curse of being mortal.” 

“Get some rest, then.” Frost stood up. “It’s time I left anyways.” 

“Hey, Frost?” 

She turned to face him.

“I’m glad you spent the day with me.” 

Frost met his eyes with a certain… regret. Worry. She hesitated for a moment before simply nodding and walking off without saying anything. 

~~~

The next day, the sun shined bright as Cisco walked across the padded snow, calling Frost’s name at the top of his lungs. He had ventured into the woods trying to find her, to no avail. 

A white weasel heard Cisco’s voice and dashed into a bush. 

“Hm.” Cisco stopped walking and turned to stare at the trail of footprints he had left behind him. “If I were a beautiful immortal ice queen, where would I hide out?” 

He decided to search for caves. He walked along large rock precipices, searching for any openings he could find. 

Eventually, he found one. It was a smaller cave, maybe about seven feet in height and eight in width. It was dark, and the pathway stretched around the corner, so if Frost was there, he couldn’t see her. 

“Frooooost?” 

The word echoed.

He walked further into the cave, and turned around the bend. He didn’t have to walk far. Right past the bend was a smaller round portion of the cave, about the size of a small hut. There she was, sitting with her back to the rock. She saw Cisco and her eyes widened to twice their size. 

“Hey, Frost.” He held up his bag of beef jerky. “I brought some beef jerky.” 

“What’re you doing here?” Her voice rebounded against the cave walls. Cisco could’ve sworn he felt the cave shake. “Go away!” 

The harshness in her tone took Cisco off-guard. All he could do for a second was stand and blink. “Oh, I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude-” 

She flicked her hand and a wall of ice grew in between her and Cisco. 

“Leave.” Her words were muffled from the ice, and yet still powerful. “Now.” 

He did so. 

~~~

Cisco stared at the roof of his tent. He had put up a small camping lantern the night before, and although he had turned it off, he hadn’t bothered it to take it down, even though it was morning and the tent’s walls were thin enough to let the natural sunlight through. He had wrapped himself up in a thick heat blanket and zipped up his sleeping bag so that it completely covered him, and yet he was still cold. He was eating from a bag of almonds, and was simply dropping them into his mouth from above. He missed a few times, and they fell onto his pillow instead. 

He had been awake for over an hour. He had moved around and gotten dressed and started his day, but he came back to his sleeping bag when he got cold.

Although he tried not to, he couldn’t stop thinking about his last interaction with Killer Frost. The fear in her eyes, the anger in her tone. The wall of ice between them.

Did he just blow his chances of ever seeing her again? Does she hate him now? 

Cisco shivered, despite the three layers he was wearing. He pulled the blanket closer to his face and curled up for extra warmth.

“Cisco?” 

The voice came from outside his tent, but it was not the location of the voice that got Cisco’s attention, but the person it belonged to. Her voice sounded icy and yet soft, inhuman and yet gentle. There was only one person it could be. 

Cisco crawled out of his sleeping bag and unzipped the tent. 

“Frost?” 

She was looking at him with a level of awkwardness that he never would’ve expected from a majestic immortal being. It was almost off-putting. 

“Can I come in?” She asked. 

He nodded, and so she did. Cisco zipped the tent back up, and Frost sat down with her hands in her lap. Unfortunately, her presence only made Cisco’s tent colder, so he got the blanket and wrapped it around his body again. 

Frost opened her mouth to speak, but a few seconds of hesitation passed before words came. “I got you these.” 

She opened her hand and revealed a few berries. They were coated in a thin layer of frost, but edible. 

“They’re Fayeberries.”

“Whoa.” Cisco gently plucked them from her palm and held them in his hand. “I’ve only heard about these in books. Do they really taste like your favorite meal?”

Frost nodded.

Cisco let the frost thaw and plopped one in his mouth. “They taste like my mother’s enchiladas. Cool.”

“I wanted to apologize.” She looked as if the words for difficult for her to say, but she spoke them anyways. “For how I acted.” 

“I just want to know why.” Cisco kept his voice even. “Did I do something wrong?” 

“No.” Frost shook her head. “No, not at all. It’s not you.” 

“Then what is it?” 

“You’re human.” She sighed, frustrated with herself. “And I didn’t want to make the same mistake twice.” 

Cisco furrowed his brow. “What does that mean?” 

She hesitated. “Do you remember when you asked me if I had known a human before?” 

He nodded. 

“The answer is yes.” Frost said. “It was about a hundred years ago, give or take. His name was Hunter Zolomon. He came into this forest, plentiful as it was back then, and he found me. We talked, and for a moment, I was starting to care for him.”

“What happened?” 

“The next thing I knew, there were fifty humans crowding the forest trying to find me and take me away from this forest.” Frost said. “Hunter had told them where I was. He didn’t care about me, he only wanted recognition amongst the other humans.” 

“That’s awful,” Cisco’s words came out as a soft whisper. 

“After that, I was convinced that humans were liars.” She said. “When I met you, I was hesitant. But you, you’re different. Honestly, the moment you tossed me your knife and made yourself vulnerable… that’s when I knew you weren’t Hunter.” 

“I’m not here to hurt you.” Cisco said. “And that’s a promise. I know some humans are awful, but I’m good on my word, I swear.” 

“I realize that.” Frost said. “You’re a very strange human, Cisco. And I want to get to know you.” 

Cisco couldn’t help the grin that was forming.

“In return, I promise to stop holding stuff back.” She said. “You can ask me anything.” 

“Alright,” Cisco thought for a second. “Do you have a name? I mean, besides Killer Frost.” 

“No.” Killer Frost said. “Names are a human concept. I am nature. The humans have come up with several names for me over the years. Killer Frost is just one of many things they’ve called me. The Greeks called me Khione. I was quite fond of that one.” 

“I read about that.” Cisco said. “The name ‘Killer Frost’ came from harsh winters.” 

Frost nodded. “I am everything ice is. The beauty of it, and the danger.”

“Did you used to be human?” Cisco asked. “Like in Greek mythology, when humans were turned into gods?” 

She shook her head. “I was never really born in the way you humans mean it. I was formed from icicles. I’ve always been like this. I don’t age, I just am.” 

“Alright, one last question.” Cisco said. “Does this jacket make me look cute?” 

Frost erupted into icy laughter.

“You’re cute for a human, Cisco.” 

Cisco found himself blushing. Why was he blushing? 

~~~

Frost frequented Cisco’s campsite often after that day. They talked daily, as they were the only ones keeping each other company in the vast icy forest. She invited him into her cave, and they could sit and talk, away from the biting cold of the forest. They would light a fire for when Cisco got too cold. Frost had no need for warmth, but she liked admiring the bright colors as the flames danced back and forth. 

“One of my favorite memories from when I was a kid is sitting by the fire on a cold winter day and drinking hot cocoa that my mom made.” Cisco said. “Campfires kinda remind me of that.” 

“What’s it like, growing up?”

“Uh, I don’t really know how to explain it.” Cisco scratched the back of his neck. “It’s something so normal that you kinda take it for granted. You can look back on your memories from when you were younger, but you can’t remember things from when you were super young. Like, no one remembers anything from when they were a baby.” 

“Why not?” 

Cisco shrugged. “Your longterm memory doesn’t start until you’re two or three or so.” 

“Humans are such a weird species. You need to eat and sleep to live, you grow up, and you don’t even retain all your memories.” 

He laughed. “I guess it’s weird, when you put it like that.” 

“I’ve been alive since the start of humanity.” Frost said. “Humans have such short lives compared to that.” 

“Well,” A smug-yet-silly grin grew on Cisco’s face. “You don’t look a day over 30.” 

“Huh?” Frost furrowed her brow. 

“Nothing,” He shrugged it off. “It’s a joke.” 

She smiled. 

“Sometimes I wonder what it’s like to be human.” She admitted. “I wish I could experience that, even just for a day. I get curious too, after all.” 

“Maybe you can.” 

Frost furrowed her brow. “What do you mean?” 

“I have a hat and a scarf in my backpack. I could give you my bushy coat.” Cisco said. “We could disguise you enough to pass you off as human. Then maybe we could find a local town. Explore a bit.” 

“Really?” A smile started to grow on her face. “You think it would work?” 

Cisco nodded. 

“There’s a town not too far from here.” Frost said. “If we leave in the morning, we could walk there.” 

“Then it’s a plan.” Cisco met her eyes with an uplifting smile. “Tomorrow, you get to be human for a day.” 

~~~

They had tied up all of Frost’s hair in Cisco’s beanie. Cisco had gotten the thickest scarf he had brought on the trip and wrapped it around her neck, propping it up so that it covered the bottom half of her face. He had an extra bulky coat which he had her wear, partly to cover the paleness of her skin, and partly because it would be suspicious to not wear a coat in this weather. 

“Here, I have contacts.” Cisco dug into his bag and brought out a box of them. “They’re the disposable kind, so you can wear them.” 

Frost held them in her hand. “What do you do with these?” 

“Put them on your eyes.” Cisco said. “It’s always tricky to do it for the first time. Here. Hold your eyes open.” 

He took the contacts and gently placed them on her eyes for her. 

“There you go.” He said. “I don’t have a mirror, or else I would show you how human you look right now.”

“Wow.” Frost exhaled, creating a soft puff of swirling snow. “We’re really doing this.” 

“We’re really doing this.” Cisco nodded. “Just don’t be suspicious, and don’t let anyone look at you too closely, and you’ll be fine. I’ll be with you the whole time in case you need me to cover for you.” 

“Thank you, Cisco.” Her eyes practically melted with gratitude. “It means a lot that you’d be willing to do this for me.” 

“Of course!” He said. “We will, however, need a fake name for you. I can’t exactly call you Frost when we’re in the town.” 

“Do you have any ideas?” 

Cisco thought for a moment. “Caitlin.” 

She laughed. “Why Caitlin?” 

He shrugged. “I dunno. It was just the first thing I thought of. Besides, I’ve always liked the name Caitlin.”

“Alright then.” She said. “Caitlin. It’s a nice name.” 

“Caitlin Snow.” He decided. “Because you represent ice and snow.” 

“Wouldn’t that be obvious?” 

He shook his head. “Nah.”

When it was time for them to head out, Cisco put on a thick coat of his own and gave Frost a pair of gloves from his bag to hide her hands. 

The walk didn’t seem like long, not to Cisco. They say time flies when you’re having fun. Sure, logically, the town was quite a ways away from Cisco’s campsite or Frost’s cave, but Cisco got caught up in telling Frost about his childhood memories that he didn’t even notice. He would tell her funny things that Dante used to do in middle school, and Frost would laugh in that way she always does, the laugh that always made Cisco’s heartbeat race. 

“There it is,” He spoke when they were close enough to see buildings. “Here’s your shot at being human for a day.” 

It was a pretty small town. The buildings were old and plain, and overall unimpressive. Wooden signs hung above the doors in order to differentiate one building from the next, because otherwise they were identical. Snow blanketed all the rooftops in the town, including the small well in the town’s center. Windows showed families inside, cuddled up next to the fire. Women were knitting, men were drinking, children were playing. 

“So this is humanity.”

“This is a very, very small slice of humanity.” Cisco said. “But, yes. It’s humanity.” 

They walked further into the town and discovered a snowman outside one of the homes. It had children’s gloves as its hands, implying that a child made it, maybe on their own, maybe with the help of a parent or two. Its coal smile seemed to be welcoming them into its home. 

“What’s that?” Frost asked. 

“That’s a snowman.” Cisco said. “Have you never made a snowman before?” 

Frost shook her head. 

“Huh, imagine that.” Cisco whistled. “You literally are snow, or at least the embodiment of it, and you’ve never made a snowman. Here, we need to rectify that.” 

Cisco pulled Frost off to a corner of the town away from the buildings, and started packing up snow to roll in a ball. 

“See, you get something like this…” He rolled it along the snow on the ground, demonstrating it for Frost. “And then you roll it until it’s big enough to be your base.” 

“Or you could do it the easy way.” 

Frost waved her hand, and a flurry of snow emerged from her fingertips and wrapped itself around Cisco’s attempt at a snowman base. It grew, and grew, and grew, until it was about the size of the base they saw on the other snowman, and oh-so-perfectly round. She made the torso and the head with two more perfect circles, and the buttons and facial features were made out of chunks of ice. It was the most flawless snowman Cisco had ever seen. 

“That works too!” 

She shrugged. “Magic makes things convenient.” 

“Y’know,” Cisco said. “Since I’m holding snow anyways, there is another time-honored tradition for having fun in the snow.

“What is it?” 

Cisco tossed the lump of snow at her.

“Snowball fights.” 

The snow erupted across her face, causing her to explode into her usual icy laughter. 

“Yeah?” She asked, still laughing. “How about this?”

She twirled her finger and created her own snowball from scratch, which she grabbed and held in her hand. She made playful eye contact with Cisco and smirked. There was a mischievous glint in her piercing white eyes as she threw the snowball at him. 

“You got it!” Cisco grinned, brushing the snow out of his hair. “That’s the essence of snowball fights.”

“Humans have so much fun.”

“Really?” Cisco asked, confidence twinkling in his eyes. “Then how come I have the most fun when I’m around you?”

Frost blushed a shade of light blue. 

“Here,” He fixed Frost’s scarf for her. “Let’s go see what this town has to offer.” 

They found a pub nearby, indicated by a worn-down wooden sign with faded letters that were hardly readable anymore. Cisco held the door open for Frost, and the two of them walked in. 

The pub was full of townsfolk. There were big, burly men with brown beards drinking beer at the far end of the bar, and they all turned to look at Frost and Cisco when they walked in. Frost gulped and stared at her feet. Cisco laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder. 

Cisco sat at the bar and gestured for Frost to take the seat next to him. 

“Do you want a beer?”

Frost furrowed her brows. “What’s that?” 

“It’s a human drink. It tastes awful and it messes with your brain, so you legally have to be 21 to drink it.” 

“Then why do people drink it?”

Cisco shrugged. “No idea.” 

He ordered a beer for himself. 

“I get the feeling that people are staring at me.” Frost muttered. “I’m not used to it, and I don’t care for it.” 

“Trust me, I’ve been there.” Cisco said. “Frankly, I haven’t seen a single person in this town that isn’t white, and that isn’t a very good look.” 

“Do you think they can tell that I’m not human?” 

“Nah. Humans are very good at seeing what they want to see. They’re just staring because we’re not townsfolk.” Cisco said. “And besides, whatever happens, I’ll be right by your side.” 

“Thank you.”  

Soon enough, the bartender slid Cisco’s beer to him. He took a few sips and turned to Frost.

“You wanna try some?” He offered. 

“Um… okay.” 

She took it from him and held it in her hands ever-so-delicately. The stares of the townsfolk sent chills down her spine. Closing her eyes as to tune them out, she hesitantly raised the glass to her mouth and went to take a sip. 

“Oh, no.” 

The dread in Cisco’s voice concerned Frost. She opened her eyes, and gasped. 

As soon as her lips had touched the liquid, it had turned to ice. And the whole pub saw. 

She turned to Cisco. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to-”

Cisco didn’t have time to reply. The men who had been sitting at the other end of the bar were now drilling holes in Frost’s spine with their glares. They packed a lot of hate in one look. Frost looked more terrified than Cisco had ever seen her before. They stood up, and grabbed guns from holsters at their waists that Cisco and Frost hadn’t noticed previously.

“Fuck.” Cisco muttered. “Run.” 

They scrambled out the door. Cisco grabbed onto Frost’s wrist and kept running. He turned behind him and saw the men from the pub following behind them. 

He felt his heart pounding in his chest. “Oh, god.”  

Not fast enough. An ear-splitting gunshot sounded in the air, and Cisco felt dread sink in his chest. The bullet flew through the air and perfectly hit Frost’s chest… then it kept going, leaving Frost unharmed. It was as if the bullet had gone through a cloud. 

“You’re immune to bullets.” 

She nodded. 

He let out a sigh of relief.

“Thank god.” Cisco said. “Okay, let’s get out of here before-”

Too late. By the time they heard the gunshot, the damage had already been done. Cisco’s breath hitched, cutting off his words as he fell onto his knees, clutching his now-bloody gut.

“Cisco!” 

More bullets flew through her head as she bent down to Cisco’s side. He was still breathing, but he was badly injured. She picked him up, flicked her hand and created a wall of ice between her and the men, and ran as fast as she could. 

She ran far away from the town, all the way back into the woods. She surrounded herself with trees and bushes, and every so often she tossed ice blasts behind her with one hand to ensure she wasn’t being followed. The further she ran, the more her fear solidified, and the more her eyes welled up with tears. They streamed down her face, but she didn’t care. When she was sure she was far enough away from the town, she collapsed onto her knees, and laid Cisco down in front of her. 

“I’m so sorry, this is all my fault, I wanted to go to the town, I blew my cover, I- I- I’m so sorry-”

“Hey,” Even when he was fighting the pain in his gut, he still managed to look at Frost as if she was the only thing that mattered in his life. “Don’t be sorry. I’m glad-” He winced. “I’m glad I met you. You… you gave my life meaning.” 

“No, no, no-” If she had a heartbeat, it would be pounding. “This can’t be the end, it can’t be-”

An idea popped into Frost’s mind. Her eyes widened, and she looked at Cisco with newfound hope. 

“I can save you.” She said. “I can make you immortal. Like me. But you have to be okay with it. There’s no going back. There’s no going back to your human life once I do it.” 

Fighting the pain, he reached out and grabbed her hand.

“Do it.” 

She nodded. 

Frost leaned down and softly, lovingly placed a kiss on Cisco’s lips. The moment the contact happened, Cisco’s lips froze over and turned a shade of blue. His hair transformed from its usual black into a white that matched the snow his head laid on. His bullet wound froze over and healed instantly. He let out a soft exhale, the last breath he would ever need to take. His heartbeat stopped in his chest, and his body heat dropped to freezing temperatures. He wasn’t alive anymore, but he wasn’t dead, either. 

He opened his chilling white eyes and sat up. 

~~~

They call him Frostbite. 

Children heard the stories. They told of a human who won over Killer Frost’s favor enough for her to make him immortal in the last second of his life. He walks with Frost side-by-side, hand-in-hand. They are equals, they are lovers, they are partners in crime. They were not gods, for people did not worship them. Rather, they were nature. They were the beauty of the snowy forests in which they lived. They were the harshness of blizzards and the delicacy of snowflakes. They were the calm before the storm, and the damage left behind once it’s gone. 

They were not married, for their bond was much stronger than marriage. They were soulmates, through and through. And, as long as snow and ice existed on the Earth, so would their eternal love.

[angelynrostrand]

Chapter 17

Summary:  To the outside world, nothing should connect shy girl Angel Monroe and popular boy Xavier Hazelwood. But that isn't entirely true. They both hold secrets. Behind both of them lie 2 separate wolf packs. Xavier is well on his way to Alpha status and running the pack. Angel is not a wolf but instead the last healer in the world. When the realization comes forward that they are connected by destiny, will they decide to fulfill it? Is their connection predetermined by fate or will they choose their hearts? Lives and packs cross and mingle while romance and conflict brews. The story of 2 opposite souls on a collision path. Will destiny win out? Even the most innocent face, has the darkest secrets.

Word Count: 2,445

“Are you ready?” My brother asks.

“Yes, push the button.” As my brother does, the tv screen illuminates with a picture of my father in France. We were able to get a hold on him. It took a couple of hours, but we finally got through.

“Hello, father.” We both say. My father’s eyes seem to have sunk into his face, his hair is thinning, the dark bags under his eyes have increased. He doesn’t hold the smile he always gives me. It catches me off guard, so Eric speaks first.

“Please update me about yesterday's event,” My father says.

“Well...in those videos I sent you earlier, it shows the crowd attacking Angel. Then one man grabs Angel causing a bruise on her wrist that is now gone. I have communicated with multiple journalists. They have apologized about their actions, but they want to interview Angel,” my brother states.

“Absolutely not. No one is doing any interviews!” My father yells through the audio speakers, causing us to jump slightly.

“I thought you would say so. That’s why I already declined them,” My brother says. My head snaps towards him. Why did he decline them without my input? I would never do that to them. I hate the spotlight, but I would like him to ask me before deciding for me. And interviews? This is the first I am hearing about this and of course he must report it to our father before telling me. I understand as an Alpha he has a duty to always report to his Elders but still, I am his sister. “Since she is still a minor, they cannot interview her, or talk to her without your consent. If they do, then we can sue them.”

“What about Ramon Sliva? The reporter who attacked Angel. Any news?” My father asks as he looks down at his own documents for reference. My head moves back and forth between the two men. They clearly do not need me. I still hold my tongue and wait like an obedient child, like I have been trained and told to do for years.

“I discovered he doesn’t have a direct company he works for, but both us and the school can report him for assault. It did happen on the school campus.”

 I break my silence. “No.” It came out a bit harsher than I meant. “I mean...umm...sorry I didn’t mean to yell. But I think we should just leave it. It will cause more drama for the news to capture. I’m fine. I’m not hurt. The bruise is already healed and I really just want to go back to normal.”

“Angel, he hurt you and we need to teach him a lesson,” my brother fights back.

“Eric, please. Xavier already beat him. I think the poor man has learned his lesson. He’s been through enough.”

“Fine. I will call the Midnight Pack for my thanks. Thank you, guys. This meeting was eventful. You are free to go.”

“Father, when are you coming back?” I spit out fast before he ends the call. “I just want you home. That’s all I want.”

“I don’t know. Maybe before Easter. We found a new clue about the attack from the secret society. If we stop, then we will lose them. Its nothing for you to worry about. Before I leave, I need to talk to Eric. Alone.” And that’s my cue to leave. I bow my head in respect and leave for school.

School is surprisingly calmer than it was yesterday. I guess the email did scare people into stopping their conversations about me. I can finally walk through the hallways as I did before. Invisible and safe. My life seems to slowly go back to normal. Once my father comes home, I can have my family back together. I just have to count my days for him. During my second class, all I can think is my father. I smile that he is coming back soon but the work has taken a toll on his body. I know if I am not around to boss him about his health, he won’t think about. I must remind him to take his vitamins and try to sleep 6 hours a day. I cook so he has to eat 3 meals a day. Lately, he has been so distant from me. Now I get he is just trying to protect me from those people. The evil people who want me dead. Once he comes back we can have daddy/ daughter day like we used to. Go out to eat, watch a play, and enjoy each other's company without his work interfering.

We have 10 more minutes left in Art class, and everyone is ready to leave. All their bags packed and each station is clean for once. Mrs. Miller, my art teacher,  walks up to me and catches me in the middle of a new wolf sketch. “Is that a new one?” She asks.

“Maybe. I’m not sure. It might be a little doodle to pass time,” I answer and smile up at her.

“I have always liked your artwork.” My eyebrows raise. “Don’t act so surprised. You always are on time with your work and bring in quality work. Unlike some people,” she whispers. I try not to smile too much.

“Thank you, Mrs. Miller. I try to do my best but thank you. I do love art and it’s not work when you love what you are doing.” I finish off with a smile.

“I agree, so I was thinking you should enter in this competition.” I look down to see a flyer she pushes across the table. “The theme is The Wild. The winner gets scholarship money for the college of their choice. I know it’s short notice but I think you can win. Also, you can’t say no. I already signed you up.”

“Mrs. Miller! Why?” My eyes stay wide and open for her next response.

“Cause I believe in you and this month hasn’t been the most kind to you. I think it would be a good distraction and it can be fun. You can do it. You just need a little push. Just read the requirements and the information. If you don’t want to, I’ll pull you out. Email me when you make a decision.”

The bell rings and students get up and race to their next class. I wait until the door is clear of students. I walk out with the flyer in hand. I keep my head down, reading it. Maybe Mrs. Miller was right. I don’t know. I study the paper and keep on bumping into people. “Sorry...sorry...sorry.”

“What do you have there?” The flyer is taken away from me. I look up to find Xavier.

“Nothing.” I try to reach for it. But he is literally a tree and uses his long arms to hold the paper above me. “Xavier! Give it back.”

“No, I want to see what it is. It has been holding your attention so well that you didn’t realize you bumped into me and then walked away.” He laughs, but still acts serious.

“Did I hurt your feelings?”I ask and he nods rapidly. I laugh when he reads the paper out loud.

“An art competition? I didn’t even know that’s was a thing.”

“Ya. My teacher mentioned it to me.” I finally jump up to get the paper. “She thought I should participate in it. I don’t know if I am going to.”

“I think you should. You’re talented and I’ll bet money you will win.” He says, looking down at the paper in my hands.

“Please don’t. Don’t do that.” We laugh as I put the paper in my bag. I will think about it later. “Where were you today? I didn’t see you all day.”

“Awe did someone miss me?” He asks. I want to say yes, but that will only encourage his ego. Of course, I missed him, but I don’t want him to know that. He realizes I am not going to answer so he answers my question. “I was a little busy this morning. I had to figure out my new transportation for the week.”

“Oh ya, no car this week?” I hold my smile and keep a straight face. “What happened?”

“I didn’t think my parents were serious but they were. But this is my new ride.” We both walk outside and he is parked right next to my bike.

“You got a bike. I got to say my bike is way cooler.” We both unlock our bikes and walk out with it.  I look at the very old and used a bike. Maybe a mountain bike? It has blue and silver paint across.

“Yup.” He pops. “I thought we could ride together. You always seem to enjoy riding it. I’m starting to think I’m missing out.”

He slightly blushes away so I can’t see. I think it is a cute idea for us to ride together. “You are missing out. Come one I’ll show you the ropes.” As we ride together there's a certain calming wind the brushes through my hair. The clouds are protecting us from the sun and I can never get enough of spring weather. During the ride, I realize Xavier has almost forgotten what is like to ride a bike. I laugh at him but still encourage him, he is doing a great job. We live in the deep part of the woods and lucky for us, we ride the same route to get home. We have to make our separate way on Madison Ave. We both stop before I have takes left turn and he continues going straight.

“So, I’ll see you later. Hopefully, by tomorrow you mastered the art of a bicycle,” I say.

“Wait.” He stops me from riding away. “I was wondering if you can help me with some homework? Please.”

“I don’t know. I have some work to do with Dr. Shirley,” I say, but he fires back with puppy eyes.

“I will behave. Unlike last night.” He waits for my answer. I want to say yes, but I don’t know if my brother will be okay with it. He did misbehave yesterday but I did participate in it too. “Please I need help and I won’t be a distraction.”

“Fine. Ya, you can come over.” I lost again to Xavier’s sweet smile and his charm. “Follow me,” I say as he rides behind me.

Every now and then I have to check behind me to make sure I didn’t lose him. Or to make sure he didn’t fall over. When we arrive I let him park this bike next to the cottage just like how I do every day. “I think you are getting better at riding.”

“I think you are too kind to tell me the truth. I am horrible. I haven’t ridden one since I was 12.”

“I mean you said it, not me.” I laugh and Xavier joins me. We walk in a back way to Dr. Shirley's office. While entering in, Trevor is nowhere to be found. “Where did he go? Stay here. I’ll be back. I point to him to sit down by Shirley’s desk. I walk through the small hospital but no luck until the further down I walk through I see then open door. It opens to the laboratory to make homemade medicine. “There you are. What are you doing?” I see Trevor studying a pot of dead plants. In his hand, a clipboard to write down notes.

“Hey, thank goodness you are here. Can you do me a favor...why is he here?” He points behind me. When I turn, I see Xavier being nosy again.

“Xavier, I told you to wait.” I walk up to him to turn him around. His muscular stature won’t turn around as much as I force him to.

“I got bored and this is way cooler than sitting,” Xavier says.

“Again why is he here?” Trevor’s question causes Xavier to give him a death glare.

“He needs to help with some homework, so I was wondering if he can stay for a while,” I beg Trevor. “He will be on his best behavior. Right?” I look back to Xavier.

Xavier gave up his glare and relax his shoulders. The only way for him to stay if he shows some respect. “Right. I will play nice for Angel.” I smiled down at my feet to hide the warming of my cheeks at his comment.

“You can stay. Actually, I could use your help too.” Trevor’s sentence catches both Xavier and me off guard.

“Oh, yea. You needed a favor?” I say.

“So Angel remember that tree you burned? A couple of weeks ago?” He asks me. My head hangs low from embarrassment as Xavier gasps and laughs. “Anyways it was spotted by a couple of hikers and they started to ask questions. Alpha Monroe wants it back to normal before people get really suspicious.”

“You mean the one just north from here. I saw it too when I went for a run. I thought it was from…” Xavier comments in but finally gets it. “Wait are you saying Angel cause that. My little mate set a tree on fire. She so tiny that’s… so funny.” He laughs in between.

At this moment I want to hide underneath my bed and die from embarrassment. Why would Trevor say that in front of Xavier? It’s not a secret anymore but Xavier is still new to this. New to my psychic lifestyle. Where I don’t mean to blow up things. It is going to scare him off. My face starts growing red and hot. With my head still low my long hair becomes a security blanket from both of them.

“Yes, I remember.” I give in. “I didn't mean to. I was stressed when it happened.” I try to explain to Xavier. “I didn’t do it on purpose. Whenever my emotions kind of get a little off-balance, it can affect the weather.”

“Like when we were on the bleachers and you made it rain.”

“Ya, like that.” I try to hide away.

“Anyways…” Trevor tries to break the awkwardness. “You gotta fix it.”

“Trevor, I don’t know where to start. I looked in my mother’s books there's nothing about reviving a tree after you kill it with lightning. While I was on bed rest, I researched. Nothing.”

“I have been thinking. Even though there’s not an exact spell for it, you need to blend your healing and earth powers into one ...somehow.”

This should be interesting.

[thecomicsnexus]

Crossroads

The Incredible Hulk #337. November, 1987. By Peter David and Todd McFarlane.

After getting injured by the Hulk, Betty Banner has decided to leave with her ex-boyfriend Ramon. As she packs up a bag at the hospital, she decides to leave Bruce a note telling him how she feels. However, as they leave the room a draft knocks the note off a table under a cart.

At that moment in Sparta, Illinois, the members of the X-Factor have defeated the Hulk by sealing him a massive chunk of ice. While they are waiting for SHIELD agents to collect the Hulk, Cyclops uses his optic blast to cut a hole in the ice so the Hulk can breath. Cyclops reflects over the past few hours that led to their battle with the Hulk, and is still uneasy about contacting SHIELD to collect the Hulk. Meanwhile, Clay Quartermain is leading a SHIELD crew to collect the Hulk. On board his ship are Samuel LaRoquette and Craig Saunders who insist to tag along even though they are still recovering from a previous battle with a Hulk. Quartermain tells them that their mission is to kill the Hulk, even if he is in the form of Bruce Banner. Regardless of these orders, Clay Quartermain does not like them and wonders how Bruce, or his wife Betty, would feel if they knew what his orders were.

Back in Illinois, the three members of X-Factor wonder if they should stick around and wait for SHIELD or to flee given their vigilante status when posing as the X-Terminators. Soon Quartermain and his soldiers arrive to pick up the Hulk. Clay thanks Cyclops for his help, but quickly stops Saunders before he can shoot the Hulk at point blank range. When Craig questions why they aren’t killing him right away, this blows their mission parameters in front of the mutants. Not willing to be party to murder, Cyclops questions this, and Quartermain offers them to accompany them back to Gamma Base to be part of the debriefing with Nick Fury. The X-Terminators agree and they are soon accompanying SHIELD back to base. Iceman remains in the cargo hold with the Hulk, ensuring that the brute remains in the deep freeze while being transported back to New Mexico. Iceman doesn’t feel that killing the Hulk is the right thing to do, knowing that Bruce Banner is trapped somewhere inside the creature.

At Gamma Base, Rick Jones confides his feelings about Banner being revealed to be the Hulk again to Doc Samson. Samson tells the young man that it was bound to come out sooner or later. When the Hulk is being transported on base, he suddenly breaks free because Iceman forgot to properly freeze him. Soon the Hulk is fighting it out with agents of SHIELD as well as the members of the X-Terminators. The combined efforts of the soldiers, Doc Samson, and the team of mutants is sufficient enough to knock the Hulk out again. When the Hulk is contained in bonds, the SHIELD Council is informed of his capture and order Quartermain to eliminate the Hulk once and for all. Elsewhere, the Hulk explains to X-Factor and Doc Samson that the government has created more gamma bombs and have begun testing them and that he must track them down and destroy the weapons. Meanwhile, Sam LaRoquette goes to Agent Trump, the second-in-command at Gamma Base because Quartermain has gone missing. He expresses his lack of satisfaction about keeping the Hulk alive and having mutants on the facility, Trump agrees and orders his soldiers to apprehend everyone.

Seeing that they are going to be silenced, X-Factor frees the Hulk and with his aid fight their way out alongside Rick Jones, Doc Samson, Armand Martel and Hideko Takata. When they get outside, the sun begins to rise triggering the Hulk’s reversion to Bruce Banner. It’s at this point that Agent Trump and his men surround them. Before they can eliminate everyone there is a sudden explosion, destroying one of the buildings on Gamma Base. Suddenly, Clay Quartermain pulls up in a high-tech van. Clay explains that he had a change of heart about eliminating the Hulk and has rigged Gamma Base to explode to cover their escape. After dropping the members of X-Factor off, Clay, Rick, Armand and Hideko discuss their next move. The last two members of the Hulkbusters decide to go their separate ways and pursue a relationship with each other. Banner, Jones and Quartermain then agree to work together to find the gamma bombs and shut them down. Bruce then asks what happened to Betty. As Rick and Clay struggle figure out what to say next, back at the hospital Betty’s note is found by a cleaning lady who things it is trash and throws it out.

Back at the ruins of Gamma Base, Doc Samson emerges from the rubble. Looking around he sees that the entire facility is in shambles and remarks that it has been such a waste

From Marvel Wikia

This issue is presented as the end of all the plots that started with Byrne, but I would say, not much actually ends here. Sure, it represents a change, but it is more of a middle point.

I give the issue a score of 8.25.