#phoenix like 3 months later: he's in pain... and no one's on his side......... | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

phoenixblack89 · 3 years ago

Text

Fera Ingris

Chapter 3: Whiskey Kisses

Here we go again peeps!

And its a SMUTTY one!!!

@lilythemadqueen @autocon23 @darylsgirl @boondoctorwho @browneyes528 @writingdeadangel @pandoratriestowritestuff

The group quickly ran into the building, the bright lights harsh on their eyes after the darkness of outside. Phoenix and Daryl were the last to enter, shooting off arrows and bolts into the approaching undead, until finally they ran out and ducked into the building pulling the doors closed behind them. The group looked around as a man near the control panel spoke.

"Anyone bit?"

Rick stepped forward as Phoenix sagged slightly, her energy drained and her left hand giving sharp jolts of pain. Daryl held her waist lightly to support her as the pair half listened to the doctor. Nodding along to the blood test when given a look from Rick.

"Forgive me but she doesn't look in the best shape... You are absolutely sure she's not infected?" Dr. Jenner questioned as he led them to the elevator, after the men had done a very quick retrieval of their bags from the vehicles. Daryl glanced at Rick and gave a slight nod at him.

"She got hurt. Her hand needs treated properly. We tried but we're ain't doctors." The crossbowman growled, pulling the girl closer as he felt her shaking slightly. "It's infected, I think."

The doctor gave a grimace as the elevator began to move slowly downwards.

"I'll take a look, we have antibiotics so she should be right as rain in no time."

********

Everyone was stood around as Dr. Jenner took blood from them, Phoenix paced just outside the room nervously. She didn't want to have to give blood. But she knew she couldn't refuse and risk being thrown back outside. The anxiety was getting the better of her, she knew it was only a little blood then she could relax and enjoy their new found safety.

But the idea of being touched by some she didn't know, a man no less, didn't exactly sooth her.

Daryl leaned against the doorway and watched her. He could feel the pain and worry coming off the girl like the heat of the Georgian sun in August. He slowly walked over and took hold of her and spun her to face him. His eyes burrowing into hers as he slowly pulled her into his chest, offering what little comfort he could. The simple and thoughtful act breaking the dam on her tears.

She cried quietly into his chest as he rubbed at her back awkwardly. A moment later she pulled back, wiping her eyes and giving him a tiny nod as she stepped out of his space. Daryl, like her, didn't like to be touched and she respected that.

Phoenix pulled herself to her full height, back straight and face blank as she turned and pulled off her long, leather coat and her arm braces. She passed her coat to Shane as she passed him, pulling the purple ribbon that held the wrist of her sleeves together loose to pull it up her arm. Tattoos she had hidden from the group slowly coming to light for the first time in months as she sat down in front of the doctor - a vast expanse of multicoloured stars gracing along her left forearm to her elbow and a twisted almost burnt looking scar around her wrist.

Eyes blank, lips pulled into a thin line as he wrapped the pressure cuff over the injured hand and up her arm. She hissed as the cuff tightened and she felt the man's hand wiping at the crook of her elbow with antiseptic. Her knee bouncing up and down rapidly as the doctor gently tapped her arm, Daryl moving to her eyeline and glaring at the doctor's back. He knew she would need his reassuring presence once this was over. Her eyes met his as she grew more and more rigid as the man continued to touch her skin. She let out a sharp yelp as the needle pierced her skin and closed her eyes, breathing heavily as her blood was taken.

"There all done. I'll take a look at your hand in a little while. Whose next?"

Phoenix shot out of the seat and to Daryl's side, hiding slightly behind him. He looked over his shoulder at her as Andrea sat down, the pair moving to lean against the wall on the other side of the room. The silent pair watched as the blond woman almost fell after the process, Jacqui quickly catching her and explaining they hadn't eaten in days.

Jenner smiled and lead the group to a large canteen, telling them to help themselves. Daryl and Phoenix helped themselves and retreated a little way away from the main group, the girl feeling better for having her sleeve fastened tight with the studded leather cuff and coat on once more. Almost as if she was wearing armour and no one could hurt her if she had it on. Daryl nudged her shoulder lightly, nodding at her plate to get her to eat. She gave him a tight lipped smile and pushed a piece of food into her mouth.

The food was stale MREs but it was food and tasted delicious on her tongue after so long of not eating. She soon had finished her plate and grabbed a second and a 3rd before she stopped. Daryl smiled as wine began to be poured for the group and grabbed a bottle and settled into the spare chair at the table, Phoenix sinking down beside him. The group laughed and enjoyed themselves at Carl's antics and Daryl saying Glenn was to continue drinking until his face was red (which was achieved in a rather short time).

Phoenix glanced at their silent host and he raised his head in question. She pointed at her hand and stood up, Daryl looking over his shoulder as the doctor followed her out of the room. He led her to a lab and gestured for her to take a seat with her hand on the table. He busied himself with putting on gloves and pulling out some medical equipment.

"So... How did this happen exactly?" he questioned, eyes flickering to the door way where Shane, Rick and Daryl stood; as grateful as they were for the shelter they didn't trust the man alone with the young woman. Phoenix swallowed as she pulled off her brown leather fingerless glove, hissing slightly through her teeth at the stabbing pain shooting up her fingers to her arm. The doctor looked at her expectantly.

"Hunting accident. Fell down a hill carrying a buck. Landed on the twat's antlers... My own fault. Snapped the antler free from its head and went back to camp." She shrugged as if it was a everyday occupation for her to be injured in such a way. "Pulled the bastarding antler out and passed out. Next thing I know is a burning pain in my hand. The others burnt it shut." Jenner grimaced at the description of the group's rather drastic options.

"Only thing they could do." She growls out as he pokes and prods at the sealed wound, pus oozing out of one of the edges slowly. The doctor gathers up some of the pus with a cotton swap and spreads it onto a slide before taking it to a microscope and peering at it.

"Any allergies to medications?" He questions without looking up. She shuffles in her seat and nods.

"Penicillin. Amoxicillin. Anything ending with Cillian."

"Good job I have access to other options then. I'm gonna to give you an injection of long lasting antibiotic. And some oral ones too. Take them for the next two weeks. Should be okay and gone by then."

He smiles at her, preparing a syringe of clear liquid before reaching out for her arm. She reluctantly pulls her sleeve up as far as it can go and winces as the needle picks her skin. The cold sensation of the liquid entering her arm makes her shudder as he rubs at her skin. He smiled sadly and settled down on the chair opposite her with the surgical tools beside him.

"Let's get this clean up properly then we can re-join your friends."

The next ten minutes are painful to say the least, Jenner squeezes as much of the infection out of her hand through a small cut he places on her wound before flushing it with sterilised water and alcohol before bandaging it up tightly. Her hand throbs and burns slightly, making her shake it almost constantly to stop her itching it like a dog with mange. She raises from the chair and follows the trio at the door back to the rest of the group.

Daryl gives her a half smile as he hands her a shot of whiskey he'd found. The wine being passed around happily between everyone.

Then Dale ruins the moment asking about where all the rest of the doctors and workers are.

The group growing solemn and dire as Jenner explains the ones who hadn't left the building had opted out of life before leading them down to where they'd be sleeping. Glenn and everyone's mood lifting once the announcement of hot running water was heard. Phoenix and Daryl paused at a door and entered slowly. Daryl dropped on to the sofa and patted the seat next to him.

"Ya okay girl?" He asked as she slowly rubbed over the clean white bandage on her hand as she sank into the comfortable plush cushions. She nodded slightly and gave him a smile.

"Feel better now I've got a full stomach. Whiskey's probably helping a tad too." She gave him a side long look as he raised the bottle to his lips and she found herself watching his Adam's apple bopping as he swallowed. Her heart suddenly sounded louder than ever in her ears as her heart started to quicken. "The meds are kicking in probably too."

"Good. Wouldn't... Wouldn't... Erm... You're the only one I trust. Apart from Merle." He stuttered, cheeks reddening with embarrassment and the alcohol. His hand found its way to her thigh and his thumb ran gently and hesitantly up and down. His eyes followed its movement as her eyes found his, her lips suddenly feeling very dry as she ran her tongue over them. Daryl shifted his weight closer to her and smiled slightly.

"You really okay?"

She swallowed thickly, the air beginning to grow hotter around them as she reached for the whiskey. She gulped down a mouthful, a drop of the liquor slipping down past her lips to roll down her chin, neck and dip below her shirt. Daryl's eyes following the droplet on its journey, his heart pounding in his chest and his jeans growing slightly tighter at the sight, noticing her nipples showing just slightly against the fabric. His blue orbs slowly trailed down her body to her chest, which heaved against her tight form fitting shirt. Every breath tightening the fabric more snuggly against the large breasts underneath.

He eyed how her nipples grew harder and more prominent and licked his lips. His hand gripped her thigh tighter as his and her breathing sped up unconsciously, he moved closer and his other hand took the bottle placing it on the floor beside them before reaching out slowly to take her face gently into his hold.

"Daryl..." she whispered as they both leaned closer to each other, their gaze fixed on each other's eyes as they shifted slightly. His body eased over her's as she laid the length of the sofa. Her legs falling open to allow him inside her thighs, their faces within inches of each other but still not touching. Daryl lowered himself completely over her, his weight held up by his arm, muscles tense as their hips brushed against each other lightly.

A small gasp released from her lips as she felt his aroused member brush her core. Daryl smirked and closed the distance between them to kiss her plump lips.

The kiss started hesitantly for the both of them, Daryl softly grinding his hip into hers.

The girl slowly moving hers back to take his slow and torturous thrusts. Daryl pulled back and gazed down at her as he sped his thrusts slightly and increasing his weight against her core to apply more pressure, watching as her eyes fluttered and a moan escaped her lips.

Phoenix opened her eyes, pupils blown wide with desire and growled. Her hand grabbed harshly at Daryl's neck to pull him into a passionate kiss, which caused him to buck even hard against her. His hand reaching up her shirt to manhandle her chest. He growled at the tight fabric and began to pull at the hem in anger. She pushed him up slightly and unclipped her under-bust corset and threw it to the ground, reaching behind her for the shirt zipper with one hand and shrugging her jacket off with the other. Soon enough she was shirtless underneath the man, his eyes hazy with alcohol and lust.

Daryl ground his hip into her harder and faster, her quiet moans turning him on even more as he began to assault her chest with his hands and mouth. The squeals of the children's laughter growing louder outside the room as they ran up and down the corridor outside the room.

Phoenix ached her back as Daryl grazed her nipple through her bra with his teeth. His hand slowly stroked down her ribs to her mound, to rub hard against the denim. Her breaths coming faster and faster as the coil in her gut tightened. She looked at him as he raised his head in question, his thumb playing nervously with her button. She nodded slightly as his thumb dipped below her waistband, gently and slowly moved south. She pulled him into a passion kiss as his hand sheathed itself inside her jeans, his fingers spread deliciously over her panties feeling how wet they'd grown over his actions.

She moaned into his lips as their tongues battled against each other. Daryl groaning as he worked up the courage to actually touch her under her panties and explore her body more fully. His cock strained against his jeans, his hand already damp with her desire.

BANG!

The door buckled as it was hit forcefully by something. The noise causing the pair to break apart.

The moment between the two completely ruined and broken.

Daryl ducked his head and quickly backed away from the girl, his fingertips tingling slightly with the echo of her wet panties lingering on them. He sat up and left the room quickly. Phoenix gulped down air and rose to a sitting position slowly. Her lips and chest felt raw from Daryl's kiss and her clit ached in a pleasant throb as her desire slowly ebbed away. She ran her hand through her short spiky hair as tears slowly graced her cheeks.

"Fuck my life!" She whispered, pulling a t-shirt out of her bag and throwing it over her body. She sobbed silently as her heart slowed and she remembered the feel of Daryl touching her.

*******

Daryl stomped into the canteen, grabbing another bottle of whiskey and intended to drown himself in the strong liquor and forget his worries and self loathing for at least the night. His cock still hard and aching in his jeans as he tried to push the memory of Phoenix's taste from his lips. He walked quickly to the shower and stripped and climbed inside. The warm water ran down his scared back in ripples, the sensation almost feeling like the girl's fingers as he had thrust himself against her. His hand slowly trailed down his chest and stomach, despite the water he could still feel the lingering dampness of her arousal coating them. He threw back his head against the tiles with a dull thud as his palm wrapped around his hard thick cock. He sighed loudly as he began to pump himself slowly up and down, his mind picturing the beautiful curves of the girl he'd ran from.

He felt her smooth skin under his hands as he felt down her stomach to her jeans, popping her button and unzipping them as his tongue swirled around her nipple. Her nails digging into his biceps and hair as her moans grew louder. His hand cupped her body and ran his tongue down her neck, discovering a spot that had her gasping as he slowly pushed his fingers into her wet hot pussy. His thumb grazing her clit making her legs quiver against his arm.

His fist moved faster and faster over the head of his cock, precum leaking and his chest heaving letting his imagination take hold fully -

Phoenix pulled his head up and crashed their lips together as she began to cum all over his fingers, her walls tightening and pulsing over and over as wave after wave of pleasure rippled through her body. His name falling between their lips as she dragged her fingernails down his back over his shirt. He groaned and reached for his jeans pulling his thick dripping cock out and lining up with her slick hole, glancing at the woman below him questioningly. She gave a tiny nod and pulled him back to her lips as he slowly pushed inside her. His hand gripped her hip hard as she moaned. The heat, tightness and pleasure coating his cock was too much and his, somewhat, inexperienced body couldn't hold back. Thrusting deep and fast, the couple were soon moaning in tandem. Their body crying out for orgasmic bliss, nails dragging along skin and hands pulling on each others hair. Lips crashing against each other over and over until finally Phoenix milked his cock for everything he had.

Daryl came over his hand with a muffled groan as sweat slicked his hair to his face. His chest heaved underneath the now lukewarm water and he squeezed his eyes shut. Feeling woozy and relaxed for the first time in a long while before a surge of guilt ruined his mood. She was his friend and here he was using her image for his own sick pleasure. Sure they had kissed and she seemed to enjoy it but it was surely only the alcohol and drugs making her feel that way. Daryl snorted in disgust at himself and looked down at his scared chest.

Like any girl would wanna be touched by a monster like you he thought rinsing his hand under the spray and grabbing the soap before quickly scrubbing himself clean as he could.

*********

Phoenix wiped her tears and picked her bag up to head to the showers. She reached the door and jumped back as it opened before her. Daryl shifted his weight as he opened the door to the showers, not noticing straight away that there was someone in front of him. When he looked up, his face grew red in embarrassment then shame. He could see clearly the tear track along Phoenix's cheeks and how red and puffy her eyes had become. He felt like a complete arsehole for making her cry.

"Ain't a lot of hot water left." He muttered, head down as he passed her. His head was beginning to clear from the alcohol buzz and he headed off to find another bottle to drown his sorrows in as the girl stepped inside. He heard her sob as the door swung closed and felt his heart breaking, wishing he could just turn around and do what he wanted to and take her in his arms and kiss her again.

But he couldn't

He shouldn't!

He wouldn't!

But he knew, deep down inside, that he most certainly would.

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

Phoenix groaned and stretched her back, it clicked and popped several times as she awoke. Her head hurt. Her neck felt itchy as did her chest then she remembered why.

Her and Daryl.

Whisky.

Kisses against her skin.

The way he'd rushed out after the bang to the door.

Fresh tears welled in her eyes as she slowly sighed. Her mouth tasted like shit and she was dying for a smoke. She pulled on her boots as her vision swayed in front of her eyes. The world seemingly to tilt to one side.

"Fuck it." She muttered, finishing dressing and shoving her belongings back into the small duffel. Her hands brushed the rosaries on the top of the pile and she pulled them both over her head, under her shirt where they rested against her stomach next to her own silver rosary. She zipped the bag and placed it on the sofa before venturing in search of the rest of her group, throwing two of the pills Jenner had given her into her mouth and swallowing them dry.

She reached the canteen and stifled a laugh at the sight of Glenn, clearly nursing a massive hangover. She nodded to T-Dog as he handed her a plate of eggs and sunk into a chair, crossing her right leg over her left to balance her plate on and tucked into the food hungrily. A short yelp and a curse was heard from the hallway as Daryl stumbled into the room. He'd been successful in his mission last night to drown his sorrows and was now paying the cost.

His face paled as his eyes grazed over the girl's form. Her eyebrow raised in question as he too wolfed down a plate of eggs. She whistled lowly and Daryl's head flew upwards, the hunting signal they'd come up with questioning him without asking out right

You okay?

He let a small whispered whistle come out in reply

Yea. You?

The girl smiled sadly and nodded. Daryl shrugged and ducked his head again. Guilt twirling deep in his gut making his headache worsen. He finished his eggs as Dale began questioning Jenner about the count down clock. Jenner lead them all to the main console room and explained that the virus was unstoppable and in order to protect the world that once the countdown reached zero the whole building would implode, an explosion that set fire to the very air itself.

Daryl glanced at Phoenix as she shook with unshed tears, his hands on his head and he walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist letting her head fall into his chest.

"I'll get ya out. I fuckin' promise." He whispered so only she could hear. Shane and Rick walked over and he followed them, reluctant to let the girl be by herself but followed them down to the generators. They returned and the fight broke out. Shane telling everyone to grab their stuff and that they were leaving. Phoenix ran to her room and threw her bow and quiver around her shoulders, grateful she'd chosen to leave her axe and second duffel in Daryl's truck.

Daryl paused outside her door and waited for her to hurry up as she shoved a blanket into her duffel. She stood up and paused in her actions and swallowed thickly. Daryl took a step closer to her and grabbed her hand pulling her back to the main room. His crossbow bouncing off his back at his quick pace.

Rick was trying to reason with Jenner to open the door. Shane started shooting at the monitors and the kids cried loudly.

Phoenix had had enough.

She reached into the inside of her jacket, pulling the Berretta out and marched up to Jenner. She pushed him back against the console and pushed the silencer into his forehead.

"You open those goddamn doors! Suicide, what this is! Is a great big whooping sin mate and I ain't gonna go down South cos of you!" She snarled, pulling her rosaries out and making sure the man caught a glimpse of the deadly look in her eyes. Her lips curling back as she snarled like a wild animal in his face. Daryl and Rick gently pulled her arm back and away from the scared man and she allowed it. Holstering the weapon again and joining him at taking an axe to the door.

"Let us out. We got to take that chance." Rick stated.

"I can't." He whispered. "Those doors are made to withstand a rocket launcher." he said looking over at Daryl, who had been bashing at the doors with a fire axe. Daryl saw the look of defeat on Phoenix's face for a second before charging at Jenner, axe raised.

"But your head ain't!" He snarled as Shane and T-Dog intercepted him. He stormed back to the door and started smashing the axe into it more forcefully. Phoenix slumped down at the bottom of the ramp and tears ran down her face once again, her mind wishing her boys were with her but not at the same time. She just wanted to hear their voices, feel them wrapping their arms around her again, making her feel safe and welcomed and loved. But she wouldn't wish this fate on them. Not in a million years.

Rick was talking to Jenner and the man finally relented and the metal doors slid open. Daryl grabbed her arm and yelled to the rest of the group. They charged up the stairs two at a time and exited into the building's main lobby.

The doors wouldn't open and Rick, Shane, T-Dog, Phoenix and Daryl all beat against the doors with their axes or guns. Shane shooting off a few rounds at the glass only to duck as the bullets bounced all around them.

Carol slowly approached Rick, digging into her handbag and pulled out a grenade, explaining she'd found it in his pocket when she washed his clothes that first day of camp. Everyone scrambled for cover.

Phoenix stood behind a pillar with her back pressed tightly against it, Daryl running to stand against her. His weight shielding her and forcing the pair to be almost in the exact same position as the previous night. She ducked her head into Daryl's neck, feeling him gulp and shiver slightly.

Down boy he thought, willing his cock, which twitched in excitement, not to embarrass him in this moment. The window shattered, the noise echoing loudly in the empty lobby. He glanced down at Phoenix's grey-blue eyes and felt his mouth go dry.

Later his brain told him, once more grabbing her hand and pulling her after him and out of the building. Swinging his axes at the walkers coming closer. Phoenix ducking the blade when it swung back towards her. The pale blue Ford truck grew closer and closer.

Daryl threw open the door and Phoenix climbed in, Daryl throwing himself on top of her in his haste. She grunted at the unexpected weight on top of her and glared up at him. He smirked back and leaned onto his elbows to take his weight off her as his cock decided once again to twitch at her closeness.

God dammit Daryl! Get a grip of yaself! He thought, noticing how his beard had caused a slight rash on her neck and the underside of her chin.

"You're staring." She whispered at him as he glanced out the window. He nodded and ducked his head down towards her's. She swallowed and their eyes met. "Daryl..."

"Fuck it. Might die in a second." Daryl said, more to himself than her. His hand wove into her hair and he pushed their lips together roughly.

It was a desperate, soul crushing kiss of two people who thought they were about to die.

She sighed as her hands rushed to his hair and tugged it, pulling him impossibly closer.

It was nothing like the previous kiss that were tender and full of longing.

The truck rocked as the CDC imploded, the pair barely noticing as their tongues began to battle once more.

A moan escaped between their lips as Daryl unknowingly pushed his throbbing, hard cock right up against the girl's clit. He pulled back as he realised what he'd done and glanced through the window at the building. Hearing Rick honked his horn to signal to ride out. He cleared his throat and sat fully in the driver's seat, allowing Phoenix to pull her legs up from under him to seat herself on the bench further away. She refused to look at the man and glared out the window, willing her tears away.

Her heart still pounding and knowing Daryl was still hard and waiting to be pleased next to her.

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#Fera Ingris #PhoenixBWrites #twd fanfiction #TWD x bds fanfiction #twd daryl #DarylDixon #daryl dixon fanfiction #daryl x oc #the walking dead fanfiction #daryl dixon smut #daryl x oc smut

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allie1804-fan · 3 years ago

Text

Kerensa

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5 , Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8

Chapter 9

The Griefcast Record

Keanu got out of the taxi at Whistledown Studios and headed in. Cariad and the recoding team greeted him and they got set up with teas, biscuits and a box of tissues on the table

“God, it’s just like a therapist’s room!” he joked

“Best to be prepared! They might be for me anyhow” she laughed.

Before we start though, can I just spend a moment being a fangirl and just say how amazing it is for me to meet you. There are so many films of yours I love – and my kids adore Duke Caboom!”

“ahh yes, Canada’s Greatest Stuntman” he boomed - “that was a fun role”

“and so perfectly cast right?”

“Yeah yeah I guess. I’m glad they picked me from the roster of Canadians they had lined up!”

“Ok, so thanks for letting me just gush for a moment! Are you ready?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be!”

“First tell me the story of how we managed to get you as a guest.”

“Ok so right, so errm my friend Kerry is the link. I was filming in Cornwall this past year and uh, after we wrapped I was so charmed by the place that I decided to stay and rent a place for a couple of months down there. Kerry was my landlady and one day I came across her walking along the beach, tears streaming down her face and she was listening to your show which she highly recommended to me. I admit it took a bit of persuading to listen, given the crying thing!, but she told me it was more reassuring and uplifting than upsetting. Anyway, so sorry, this is turning into a shaggy dog tale!, so I did give it a go, really loved it

“Oh thank you”

“So then one day we were discussing an episode about baby loss, something we had in common and had talked about before and she said I should do the show. Now THAT took a lot more thought and persuasion, but she said it would do me good and there would be the angle of the man’s perspective and being someone with a public profile going through loss and you know yada, yada yada so here I am, finally!

“That’s amazing and thank you so much to Kerry for listening to the show and for your persuasive talents in getting this lovely man here today. So Keanu, as you know we always start with this question. Who are we remembering today?”

“Today we’re remembering my daughter Ava who was stillborn 23 years ago this year.”

“Ok so would you mind telling me a little bit about what happened.”

“So, ahh, it was in the spring of 1999. The Matrix had just come out and my life was pretty full on. My girlfriend Jennifer became pregnant around that time. It was unplanned and I’ll be honest, I wasn’t super happy about it at first, but she wanted to keep the baby and I said I’d support her, you know, and as time went on I was more excited than worried about becoming a dad.”

“And how was the pregnancy? How far along was Jennifer when Ava died?”

“Everything seemed fine, she, Ava was growing and developing normally. Jen was healthy. Then I was away filming, a god awful project as well! And, Um, ahh, give me a minute” Keanu cleared his throat and took a drink of water.

“I swore I wouldn’t do this” he said gesturing at himself tearing up, his voice cracking slightly “but sometimes, the memories can be, uhhh, very powerful, very vivid”

“Yes you can be taken right back like it just happened can’t you, however long ago - you know I’m 20 plus years out now and still very occasionally I can be catapulted back there. So, everything looked good but you were away, filming - and I’m sure it can’t have been an awful film”

Keanu snorted

“I assure you it was!, yes anyway, Jen went for a last check up at a little over 8 months and uh, there was no heartbeat. Ava had died and so I flew home and she had to, you know, give birth in a maternity unit, hearing all the other babies being born - I mean they have to do it there because you still might need, you know, that expertise and they tried to keep us private but those places they get busy and she had to go through all that with those sounds sometimes breaking through”

“Yes I hear that that is a common experience here in the UK too and one that SANDS, the still birth charity is trying to address. It’s interesting your choice of words: “she went through that”, presumably you were there so didn’t you go through it too?”

“Yeah, yeah - I guess, I just meant that it was worse, more traumatic mentally for her and obviously physically too”

“Sure sure, but awful for both of you nonetheless”

“Indeed, it was” Keanu paused a moment as though something important had just occurred to him “and she was beautiful too you know”

“awwwww” Cariad moaned sympathetically

“she was beautiful, perfect and warm, just silent, still”

Keanu looked up at Cariad, his eyes filled with tears once more and they both just sat for a moment, taking in the pain of his loss. Eventually, Cariad started the conversation again.

“And did you both hold her? Did the hospital staff help you, you know, to say goodbye to her?”

Yeah yeah, we did hold her. They left us be for a good amount of time, they took prints of her hands and feet and a photograph. You know they were supportive in that way, especially as we knew already, you know, that she had died, they were prepared. I don’t think we were, I mean I don’t think you can prepare for that, right? Your brain won’t let you, not really.”

“Yeah yeah, we talk about that a lot on the show, there are people who say it’s better when someone dies of an illness so you know it’s coming whereas with a sudden death you suffer more shock but I still think there’s a degree of shock you experience even when you have some warning.

“Yeah yeah and it’s so stupid, we’re all just so dumb because death is coming man, to us all but we just don’t want to think about it!” He chuckled

“So are you someone who thinks about death a lot?”

“Yeah yeah it’s always there in the back of my mind, spurring me on to do things, make that film, write that script, build that bike!”

“And do you think that’s because of losing Ava?”

“I don’t know, no not really, well maybe a little but that’s come more with getting older I think - I didn’t really have that reaction at the time”

“So what was your reaction, how did you grieve for Ava?”

Another chuckle came from Keanu.

“A more appropriate question might be how didn’t I grieve for her, at the time I mean!”

“Oh?”

“Hee hee you’re like a therapist, leaving the gaps for me to fill!”

“Some of my critics say I interrupt too much and start talking about me so…..”

“We’ll that’s not very nice is it? And also not true!”

“Thanks - Comes with the territory I guess, so please, go on, fill the gap”

“What was the question again?”

“It was about how you did or didn’t grieve for Ava after her birth?”

“Mmmm well we buried her, in the new year, she was born on Christmas Eve, which is uhhh, another tricky thing about it”

“Oh that’s awful, death on high days and holidays just adds another layer right?”

“Yeah yeah. They do - so um after that I went to Georgia to shoot a movie!”

“So you threw yourself into work then?”

“Yup, my trusty friend in times of crisis. In fact I did, let me see, 1, 2, 3, yes 3 movies in the next year and then started training for the Matrix 2 and 3 so I guess the answer is I put my feelings in a tightly locked metaphorical box and didn’t open it for quite some time!”

“And was there intrusion from the press , I guess this is pre the days of the internet being so developed and social media but how was that side of it?”

“Yeah there was some, you know photographers with long lenses at the cemetery”

“God! I can’t imagine”

“Yeah pretty low, right but in a way because of the taboo of stillbirth, people, you know interviewers and stuff, didn’t ask me about it. I mean I would sometimes say “no personal questions” but at other times that hasn’t stopped people.”

“Oh like what?”

“I’m thinking of when River, River Phoenix died, even if I said I wouldn’t answer anything personal they would still ask how I felt, did I miss him. I mean, fuck! Oh sorry I can swear right?”

“Swear away, sure, and god, fuck yeah, that deserved it. I mean obviously that’s a bit of a contradiction coming from me given we’re here and I’m making you talk about private things but”

“But I agreed, that’s the deal here, it’s not the deal to segue from “how was it jumping onto a moving bus to “how do you feel about your best friend dying!”

“Absolutely. So you said you dealt with it, but much later? What about Jennifer, how did she cope?”

“Umm, I don’t know - I mean what’s normal in that situation? She cried, she wailed like a wounded animal. Her mum moved in. I was away and not there to support her like I should have been. We weren’t really a couple either by then. We were going to co-parent but not as a romantic couple you know so it was complicated. To be honest I think a little bit of her died right then - and then she died herself the following April so you know, what you see before you is the last man standing of that family unit that might have been.”

“Woo that’s tough. You’ve really been through the mill as it were.”

“Yeah, yeah but you know I AM still standing. I’m lucky.”

“And how did Jennifer die?”

“Car wreck”

“I’m so sorry”

“Thanks, me too”

“So how is that, being the only one left? Some people talk about losing key people as losing their witness.”

“Yes! That’s it, exactly. Now it’s just me here to remember Ava, to remember her coming in and out of this world”

Yeah yeah that’s hard. So you said you dealt with it later? How did that come about?”

“Midlife crisis I guess - when I turned 40, I had a bit of a meltdown, you know, wondering about my goals, what I had or hadn’t achieved. I basically “ran away” alone to Paris on my 40th birthday, to escape any awful surprise party! And you know, I quietly fell apart in a vat of wine! When I went home my friend Janey was just like “Keanu, it’s time, time for therapy!”

“Ahhh it’s great isn’t it, big fans of that on the show!”

“Yeah I guess, I mean, ahhh I wasn’t that comfortable taking the lid off but yeah it did me a favour and helped sort my shit out. And a lot of the guilt and pain of losing Ava was gone through belatedly during that process”

“And why did you feel guilty?”

“Mmmm well I think I started to think I was a curse - my sister had been sick with leukemia, Ava had died, Jen had died, River, others as well and I felt guilty for that stupid film I was working on when it happened! So yeah, there were lots of rocks to lift up, inspect what lay beneath and deal with my emotions.”

“Well you seem like you have your shit sorted now”

“I’m a work in progress!”

“So now you’re, 23 years on, how do you remember Ava and Jen now.”

“Well it’s hard to forget the day for Ava what with it being Christmas Eve. I sometimes visit their graves - after dark if I can to avoid being hounded”

“What has the world come to when a person can’t be left in peace to visit a loved one’s resting place”

“Yeah it’s fucked up right?”

“Precisely.”

“And what else? , well I do have one little thing that my friend Alex who’s an artist, made for me. It was because of something she said she did to remember her lost loved ones. She would get a Christmas ornament that in some way represented the person and hang it on her tree at Christmas. So she made this beautiful little stained glass bird to hang up on my tree or in the house if I don’t have a tree which sometimes happens. So, uh, Ava’s name in Latin would mean bird or bird like so that’s why she did that, yes so I always think of her then and you know I would think about where she would be at a given point like when my friends kids have started school again after summer break I would think “oh Ava would be starting you know kindergarten or elementary school etc.”

“And do your family share in that?”

“Yeah, yeah - especially my mom. She has no grandchildren so yeah she remembers and we’ll have a moment sometimes yeah but it can be lonely, not having the other parent there who shares the same loss.”

“Yes I’m sure it is. Grief can be very lonely sometimes. Well, Keanu I really can’t thank you enough for coming on my little podcast and sharing your experience of baby loss and loss in the public spotlight with us today. Thank you so much for telling us about your beautiful baby girl Ava and her mum Jen.”

“Thanks for having me - I know this might sound weird, but it’s been a pleasure talking with you and remembering them today so, thank you and thanks to Kerry who suggested it. She said it would be good for my soul and she, as always, was right!”

@fortheloveoffanfic @omg-imagine @iworshipkeanureeves @toomanystoriessolittletime @ladyreapermc @paperplanesandwallflowers @patric9

#keanu reeves fanfic #keanu reeves fanfiction #keanu #keanu reeves #keanu reeves ofc

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swearwolf-writes · 4 years ago

Text

Merlin: Magic for the Masses

bcs magic isn't evil and this is my personal comfort fic

[CROSSPOSTED ON: AO3]

Season 1

AGES:

MERLIN:17-18

ARTHUR: 20-21

MORGANA: 22-23

GWEN: 17-18 (YOUNGER THAN MERLIN BY MERE MONTHS)

MORDRED: ~10-11

The Dragon’s Call

Valiant

The Mark of Nimue

Gwen finds out Merlin has magic (bcs he somehow knew her father was better) and keeps his secret

The Poisoned Chalice

Gwen sees the scrying lights

Lancelot

A Remedy to Cure All Ills

The Gates of Avalon

Merlin talks to Morgana about her seer abilities and promises to keep her secret

The Beginning of the End

Uses magic to save Mordred

Helps Arthur smuggle Mordred away

Excalibur

The Moment of Truth

The Labyrinth of Gedreth

To Kill the King

Le Morte D’Arthur

6 MONTHS PASS

Season 2

AGES:

MERLIN: 18-19

ARTHUR: 21-22

MORGANA: 23-24

GWEN: 18-19 (A FEW MONTHS YOUNGER THAN MERLIN)

MORDRED: ~11-12

The Curse of Cornelius Sigan

The Once and Future Queen

The Nightmare Begins

Tells Morgana of his own magic and now they’re boys

He can help her to an extent but they both need some help and so want to go to the druids together (bcs she’s got magic and he’s somehow Emrys although she doesn’t know the name yet) but he has his duties with Arthur and so she goes alone

Merlin find her with the druids during the panic in Camelot

They keep each other’s secrets (even if she doesn’t know Merlin is Emrys just yet)

Lancelot and Guinevere

Beauty and the Beast

Arthur sees Merlin with the mirror and asks him how he got the mirror down there without any rope

And voila the moron’s magic is revealed and it is then that he realises Merlin uses his magic to save his butt whoops (but he doesn’t tell Arthur about Morgana’s abilities bcs that’s not his secret to tell)

But still doesn’t believe Merlin when he mentions that she’s a TROLL

The Witchfinder

Arthur kicked Merlin’s magic book under the bed and says it’s all clear bcs he doesn’t want anyone to be executed bcs no one got hurt with the magic and it was just a bit of fun

Merlin: “We know Aredian set Gaius up and then he’s coming after us-”

Arthur: “Us? Us who?”

Merlin: “I can’t say bcs that’s not my secret to tell”

Arthur: “If you know another sorcerer-”

Merlin: “Then what? What, you’ll execute them?”

Arthur: “I- I mean, no, but-”

Merlin: “But what? If it doesn’t matter with me then why should it matter if anyone has magic?”

The Sins of the Father

Morgana shows Merlin the bracelet Morgause gave her and he can feel the magic in it and lo and behold: she’s a sorceress too

Their mother, Lady Vivienne, was a sorceress and as was Morgause’s father that’s why Morgause was given to the High Priestess of the Old Religion but Uther thought that as Morgana had one non-magic parent, she would not develop abilities (he was wrong)

Merlin tells Arthur it was a lie to stop him killing his father but then reveals the truth once Arthur could not get to Uther and he also reasons that while it was Uther’s fault, no one was to blame as he didn’t know what’d happen (and was too headstrong to listen) and Nimue had no choice but to comply, on pain of death

The Lady of the Lake

Sweet Dreams

The Witch’s Quickening

Morgana tries to tell Merlin the plan but he stops her

Merlin: “I’m the future king’s manservant - plausible deniability is my only saviour right now. I will not aid you nor will I stop you but if I think innocents will get hurt, I will stop you.”

Morgana: “I would expect nothing else.”

Ignores Kilgharrah

Helps Mordred escape safely bcs he was innocent and brainwashed by a fanatic “I will not forget this”

Morgana tells him, after the fact, that she let the fanatic go bcs he just wanted to free magicfolk

They continue their training in private bcs insomnia via dragon

The Fires of Idirsholas

When Morgana sees Gwen sick, she tells Merlin about Morgause as soon as she gets the chance

Merlin tells Morgana about how she’s the source of the curse albeit unknowingly but the only way to save everyone is if she dies but they need to figure out how to save her so she took the hemlock and poisoned herself

It still hurt her bcs yk it’s poison so her telepathic pain was still a thing and Morgause came along and she took her after stopping the curse

The Last Dragonlord

1 YEAR PASSES

Season 3

AGES:

MERLIN: 20-21

ARTHUR: 23-24

MORGANA: 25-26

GWEN: 20-21 (A FEW MONTHS SHY OF MERLIN)

MORDRED: ~13-14

The Tears of Uther Pendragon 1

Merlin is so sorry that she had to poison herself and was so glad she was back

Arthur thinks there’s a thing between them meanwhile Morgana thinks there’s a thing between he and Arthur and Gwen

Morgana knocks the guard out and wipes his recent memories but she’s still not the best at her magic so he was just injured so Morgause spells him from afar to kill him bcs Morgana is not a murder even if she does hate Uther

Morgause: “You should have killed the guard”

Morgana: “I will not be like Uther and kill anyone who irritates me - he was in my way but simply following orders”

Morgause kidnaps Merlin but Morgana asks her not to kill him - he might just be a servant but he’s well-liked and popular - people will notice

The Tears of Uther Pendragon 2

Magic jokes with Arthur yay

Tense Mergana

Morgana: “You know I don’t wanna hurt you but this is to help our people so please don’t get in my way or whatever I have to do, I’ll do it.”

Merlin: “I’d expect nothing less”

More magic jokes with Arthur feat. armour

Morgana and Merlin fight in the crypt and use magic causing the ceiling to cave but Merlin saves her bcs “you’re my friend” but uses magic to break the staff while Morgana runs to safety and takes the credit to keep up appearances

Morgana: “sorry Merlin but our people come before us and they deserve better”

Merlin: “if that’s the case then why should our legacy to better ourselves begin with the massacre of innocents?”

Morgana: “it may be wrong but what other beginning do we have other than the slaughter of our own people, our women and children? Innocents weren’t supposed to get hurt but that was Cenred’s army not ours - the skeletals were only supposed to attack knights fighting us”

Goblin’s Gold renamed Gnome’s Gold

Gaius: “Gnomes are mischievous but not always dangerous in nature so long as they get what they want: gold. They have often been known as guardians of treasures, of mines and of precious stones.”

Merlin tells Arthur and Morgana about gnome!Gaius (separately)

Gets his butt kicked by Arthur when he sees that Merlin didn’t undo the donkey curse immediately

Merlin: “sorcerer’s magic and gnome magic are two very different things- how was I supposed to know it wouldn’t fully do the trick-”

Gwaine

Arthur: “I could’ve beaten them on my own Merlin, I didn’t need your help-”

Merlin: “well if not mine then certainly Gwaine’s at least-”

Arthur: “shut up, Merlin”

The Crystal Cave

Morgause is the one who was supposed to kill Uther bcs Morgana doesn’t want to kill anyone

Arthur gets her jewellery instead of a knife bcs Merlin actually tells him the prophecy

Morgause fails lmao

When Morgause tries to kill Merlin, she steps in and ends up needing the infirmary so Morgause runs

When Morgana and Merlin find out her lineage, they tell Arthur bcs ‘wtf?? I have a sister? You’re older so ig you’re the heir??’

The Changeling

Merlin tells Gwen and Arthur about lil changeling Elena and they’re like wait he/she knows??

Elena is a respectable thembo by the end of it all

The Castle of Fyrien

Merlin uses magic to light a campfire in front of Morgana, Gwen and Arthur to which again there’s the whole wait you know stuff

Morgana: “and you’re okay with it? After everything Uther says about magic users?”

Arthur: “I know Merlin and he has a good heart even if he is an idiot. And the druid boy wasn’t evil either, he was just a child. Merlin’s shown me that magic isn’t evil but instead just a tool and it’s the person using it incorrectly that should be punished rather than magicfolk as a whole.”

Morgana: “so you disagree with the ban on magic?”

Arthur: “So what if people use magic to do their chores faster? They’re not hurting anyone. It would be like condemning every person who’s ever owned a sword bcs they might hurt someone.”

Morgana: “how long have you known?”

Arthur: “since Father tried to marry a troll”

Morgana: “and you never said anything to anyone?”

Arthur: “it’s not my secret to tell”

She goes back to their side and saves Arthur from Morgause’s fire but it blows back and knocks her over so she wants to make sure her sister’s okay but gets pulled to safety by Merlin

~ later ~

Merlin: “Why did you save Arthur? You could’ve let him die and left Camelot without an heir but you saved him; why?”

Morgana: “bcs he protects you. If he was protecting a knight, I still wouldn’t trust him but you’re just a servant and yet he protects your life and our secret. Arthur is a good man and I don’t want any bloodshed - if we can give our people peace again with Arthur, I will stand by him.”

Merlin: “thank you.”

Morgana: “this does not mean I stand by Uther - I will still fight against his tyrannous ways every chance I get.”

Merlin: “I’d expect nothing less”

The Eye of the Phoenix

Morgause gives Arthur a bracelet while disguised as an old woman “for good luck on your journey” and Gwen sees her real face in a puddle

Tells Morgana about it and they, along with Gaius, look for some way to counter the spell (and thus Morgana reveals her magic to Gwen)

Love in the Time of Dragons

Merlin doth be a snitch but they believe Alice when she says she has no choice and they try and help her as best as they can (Arthur is a sweetheart to old people (no offence, Alice-))

Queen of Hearts

Morgause tries to break Arthur’s heart and cause the rift between father and son by manipulating a young sorcerer into doing all the stuff that gets Gwen tried for magic

Dragoon and Arthur deal with stuffs but this time, he knows it’s his personal dumbass

Morgana helps with the anti-aging potion for Merlin bcs magic squad!!

The Sorcerer’s Shadow

The Coming of Arthur 1

Sir Leon is made immortal (by accident) by the druids who save him with the Cup of Life

When Morgause finds out Leon lives, she finds out about the Cup

Gwaine catches Merlin trying to heal Arthur and thus finds out about his magic too

Morgause rules with an iron fist and threatens to kill her and everyone else if Morgana doesn’t become queen and her mouthpiece bcs “you betrayed me sister so your life means nothing to me. And these peasants are mere cockroaches - whether they live or die, I don’t care - in fact, if they die, our people could live here in Camelot but regardless, those poor, innocent villagers’ blood will be on your hands, sister. Now, yield.”

The Coming of Arthur 2

Gwen tells everyone of how Morgana is just as much a prisoner as she was

Morgana uses magic to help fight Morgause but hurts her and despite everything “she’s my sister - I abandoned her once, I will not do it again. I will ensure her safety and ours in the process - rule well, brother” and she leaves with her sister using magic

1 YEAR PASSES

Season 4

AGES:

MERLIN: 22-23

ARTHUR: 24-25

MORGANA: 27-28

GWEN: 22-23 (A FEW MONTHS SHY OF MERLIN)

MORDRED: ~15-16

Morgana becomes the High Priestess of the Triple Goddess

The Darkest Hour 1

Kara’s mother, Ealdgyð, was helping Morgause bcs Morgana was forced to leave her when she began attacking her, all faith in her younger sister lost

Morgana was back in Camelot but yk “I couldn’t kill her- she’s still my sister- I’m sorry”

Knowing how much Morgana hated him for the things he did still left Uther crippled, even upon her return

Ealdgyð opened the veil upon Morgause’s death and she, Merlin and Morgana all passed out and saw the vision

Emrys was Morgana’s destiny and Ealdgyð’s doom

Emyrs’ identity is protected from Ealdgyð (and later Kara) by the Triple Goddess bcs they may be followers of the Old Religion but they perverted the peaceful nature of druids and so lost that information which was most valuable to them

Agravaine, being loyal to Morgause, now reports to Ealdgyð and tells her about their plan

Merlin and Morgana both want to be sacrifices to the veil

Merlin: “it’s my destiny to protect Arthur”

Morgana: “but this was my sister’s doing and therefore it is my responsibility to undo”

The Darkest Hour 2

Morgana tries to heal Merlin from the Dorocha but is unable to

Morgana continues on the quest with the knights while Lancelot and Merlin go their own way

Agravain on Ealdgyð’s orders knocks out Gwen bcs she convinced the council to reduce rationing the lower towns

The Wicked Day

Merlin tries to save Uther for Arthur’s sake but Morgana refuses to try

Morgana (to Arthur): “I am sorry you’re losing your father but he literally massacred our people - I will not save him”

Uther still dies but they noticed the pendant and want to find and take Ealdgyð’s head but they don’t know who she is bcs she’s smart

Arthur: “Magic will one day live freely in Camelot once more but not today - it is easier to find one sorcerer among no others than one from hundreds and despite your hatred of the things he did, you must know what this person did was wrong”

Morgana: “find them and bring them to justice, not for practicing sorcery but for committing murder”

Arthur: “of course”

Morgana is all for Arthur being the king bcs she knows after everything with Morgause and Cenred, the people would never accept her as queen but at least this way, her people stood a chance

Aithusa

Arthur doesn’t plan on destroying the egg but doesn’t really care what happens to it so long as Broden is captured

Morgana goes with the knights as magic is her lineage too and they will keep her secret

Merlin tells them of the Druids warnings about the trap bcs knight squad knows the magic squad secret (that they’re ✨magic✨)

He and Morgana witness the birth of Aithusa who immediately takes a liking to Morgana

His Father’s Son

Ealdgyð allies herself with Annis after Caerleon’s death

Morgana hints at Arthur to get Gwen flowers

At this point Morgana is just as strong as Merlin as they train together

A Servant of Two Masters

Ealdgyð takes Merlin

Thinks Dragoon is Emrys

The Secret Sharer

Ealdgyð: “I do this, not out of spite, but to ensure my daughter does not have to live her life as I did, afraid and in hiding”

Lamia

Morgana searches with Arthur and Agravaine

Lancelot du Lac

Ealdgyð will not have some common non-magic child take her throne and title (believes it is rightfully hers as magic is superior and she is the chosen heir of a high priestess (Morgause))

Merlin uses magic freely in front of those who know

Frees Lancelot’s soul but cannot stop Gwen’s banishing bcs Agravaine

A Herald of the New Age

Merlin tells Arthur about the Druid boy and Elyan’s situation but they need to figure something out bcs knowing intimate knowledge of magic wouldn’t help their case

The Hunter’s Heart

Arthur: “Well what am I supposed to do, Merlin? Tell the whole court we’ve been committing high treason for years - they would think us in league with the other sorcerer and take our heads”

Gwen avoids the sorceress smartly bcs she has brain cells

Morgana: “Do you think I’m happy about all this? I’ve been planning their wedding for years - who wouldn’t want their closest friend to become their sister?”

~ while on the hunt ~

Morgana: Wait a minute, you like Mithian-”

Merlin: “what no-”

Morgana: “you’re doing the thing”

Merlin: “what thing? I don’t do a thing.”

Morgana: “yes you do, It’s that thing you do when you think Gwaine isn’t looking”

Merlin: “shut up-”

Morgana: “oh this is gonna be fun”

Arthur calls off the hunt when Merlin tells him the deer is really Gwen but he and Mithian can’t be gone long so he and Morgana help after dark, Merlin being a physician and helping her wounds and Morgana turning her human again

She spills the beans and reveals the sorceress’ name as Ealdgyð and that Agravaine is definitely in league but they had to proof and couldn’t just accuse the king’s uncle especially given that they’re only a servant and an exile

The Sword in the Stone 1

Ealdgyð and Helios attack Camelot on Beltaine

Morgana is captured

Ealdgyð (to Morgana): “You betrayed our people”

The Sword in the Stone 2

Morgana is made to starve “like so many of our own have bcs of your precious family”

Ealdgyð: “You, Arthur Pendragon, are in fact worse than your father. You pretend to be a man of peace while upholding an unlawful law that has killed countless women and children”

Aithusa stays with Morgana but Ealdgyð is saved by random folks who think her simply a lost, hurt woman

3 YEARS PASS

Season 5

AGES:

MERLIN: 26-27

ARTHUR: 28-29

MORGANA: 31-32

GWEN: 26-27 (A FEW MONTHS YOUNGER THAN MERLIN)

MORDRED: ~19-20

Arthur’s Bane 1

Mordred is on Ealdgyð’s side bcs she’s Kara’s mother (eventually realises she’s wrong bcs what kind of mother drags her child into war)

Morgana and Aithusa stay with Gwen to help protect the castle bcs “the knights already have a sorcerer - if something happens here, Gods forbid it, you will need someone”

Merlin tells Arthur of the seer’s vision to which he reminds the young warlock that Morgana was supposed to also be their fate and yet she was saved and so will the boy be

The group is captured by Ealdgyð and here we meet Mordred

Arthur’s Bane 2

Mordred tries to get food to Merlin and Arthur but cannot ‘sorry, Emrys’

‘I said I would not forget what you did for me and I meant it’ and so Mordred tells him about the Diamair

They fight the Saxons with Mordred secretly helping them escape

Merlin: ‘thank you Mordred’

Mordred: ‘just returning the favour’

Merlin is attacked by a druid Saxon who he knocks out

~ confrontation time ~

Arthur: “We want to help you, Ealdgyð, but when you attack and enslave our people, it doesn’t exactly give us much confidence in you.”

Ealdgyð: “Liar! You force Morgana to hide away and to forget who she truly is-”

Arthur: “Actually she’s at the castle protecting everyone bcs we know that magic isn’t evil but your hatred, Ealdgyð, has made you evil.”

Ealdgyð: “If you are so good and kind, why do you not lift the ban on our people?”

Arthur: “Finding one sorcerer, you, amongst few is much easier than finding you amongst countless others. We have not persecuted any magic users since my coronation - the law is just there in name and once you are gone, it will be removed once and for all.”

Ealdgyð: “So you think killing me will make our people love you?”

Arthur: “I don’t want their love, only their forgiveness but you killed the king and that is high treason, regardless of magic.”

Mordred stabs Ealdgyð when he hears their conversation bcs o hey she’s nuts and yk he’s not evil :)

~ later ~

Merlin: “Actually, Arthur, Gwen and some of the knights know I have magic.”

Mordred: “When did he know?”

Merlin: “A couple of months after you and I first met. It’s actually quite a funny story-”

Arthur: “Merlin, shut up-”

Merlin: ‘I’ll tell you later.’

Mordred calls Merlin Emrys around Morgana and she’s like eh?? and he’s like yeah, druids call him Emrys and she remembers the prophecy but keeps her mouth shut bcs ‘wtf? My destiny?? lol no’

The Death Song of Uther Pendragon

Morgana does not join the pair even tho she was his ward bcs Uther was Uther ew

~ before blowing the horn ~

Arthur: “If something goes wrong, you can help, right?”

Merlin: “Maybe. But magic involving the dead isn’t something I typically deal with.”

~ during the crazy shite ~

Arthur: “Are you certain?”

Merlin: “What else could’ve escaped the horn but the person summoned by it?”

Arthur: “I refuse to believe that my father’s ghost somehow attacked a knight”

‘Poetry’ is still a thing bcs Arthur didn’t want to tarnish his father’s respect name but wtv

He spills the beans to his dad that he knows of Merlin’s magic and that if it wasn’t for him and Morgana, everyone would probably be dead so fuck off :D

Another’s Sorrow

Ealdgyð disguises herself as Hilda

Mithian and Merlin and Morgana flirt bcs they’re bi nightmares, or yk, bi-ghtmares

Plus more flirting between Merlin and Gwaine ft. panicked bi!Merlin

Morgana goes with Mithian and Arthur upon Merlin’s injury and fights Ealdgyð

Morgana: “3 of us and one of her, I like our chances”

Merlin: “But she’s growing stronger fast”

Mordred: “and so long as we keep studying and training, we’ll still be stronger”

Merlin teaches Mordred and Morgana physician stuff bcs bonding

The Disir

~ training montage ~

Arthur: “Next time try combining your sword skills with your magic”

Mordred: “but that’s not a fair fight-”

Arthur: “you’re a druid. Magic is the first tool you were born with and it’s our birthright to use it. Plus in a war, magic will help us”

Merlin still worries whether he’s too young to be out fighting with the rest of em

Arthur: “he’s a sorcerer - he has an inbuilt defence system regardless of whether he has his sword. He’ll be fine - and honestly, Merlin, you’re not his wetnurse or his mother.”

Merlin: “prat-”

Arthur: “what was that?”

Merlin: “I called you a prat, my lord”

Arthur: “I will not bow to the Triple Goddess for I do not follow her. But please, my friend is a sorcerer, a druid and a follower of the Old Religion. He is innocent. Spare him, please.”

Mordred is spared bcs they were impressed Arthur would risk their wrath but bcs he didn’t bow to them, his fate is still sealed

The Dark Tower

Ealdgyð kidnaps Gwen

Merlin, Mordred and Morgana do cooperative magic to try and find Gwen but to no avail

So they all go to the Dark Tower together f is for friends who do stuff together, u is you and me-

They use magic and swords to hack at the overgrowth but again, to no avail

He tells them all of Queen Mab and leads the way

Morgana saves the falling Merlin from impaling himself on the sword

~ psychological torture time ~

Ealdgyð: “My sweet child, you know Camelot is doomed if Arthur and Morgana are to rule. Arthur longs for the old ways and the security of his father while Morgana wants a magical revolution. They will tear the city apart in their wars and countless will die.”

Gwen: No, no, that’s wrong- you’re lying-”

Ealdgyð: “And yet you know I am right bcs if Arthur was not still waging his war against magic, I would be safely with my daughter but instead she is made parentless by the Pendragons and if Arthur is to continue having his way, my daughter will be made an orphan.”

Succumbs to Ealdgyð

Elyan still died unfortunately

A Lesson in Vengeance

Merlin uses magic subtly to save Arthur so Gwen doesn’t notice

The knights arrest Merlin for sorcery even tho they know he wouldn’t do it bcs who else could have

He still doesn’t tell Arthur about Gwen’s brainwashing bcs to accuse the Queen is a serious accusation

The Hollow Queen

Gaius tells Arthur the truth about Merlin going to save the young girl in the Valley of The Fallen Kings instead of the usual tavern business

(flashback) Sarrum took Kara hostage and forced Ealdgyð to comply for her sake and they were kept separately for the two years, only getting to see each other for mere moments

Merlin reveals to Daegal that Arthur knows of his magic and one day, magic will be commonplace in Camelot once more

Morgana agrees with Arthur that Merlin hasn’t got a girlfriend but Gwen teases her and asks if she’s jealous

Morgana: “of course not- in fact, I’m happy for him” but yk she’s lowkey jelly

With All My Heart

The Triple Goddess responds best to women so he (disguised as the Dolma (who is a pretty young lady might I add), not that it mattered bcs he’s is a he/she/they enby and I stand by that) and Morgana summoned the Triple Goddess (thank fuck that Morgana is Her High Priestess)

Morgana, Merlin, Mordred (having saved them mid-journey and then joined them), Aithusa and Arthur take Gwen to the Cauldron of Arianrhod

Mordred stays behind to try and cover their tracks, physically and magically, but is caught by Kara

Kara: “why do you stand behind someone who kills our people?”

Mordred: “Arthur has never killed any of us-”

Kara: “he stands by the law that put me and my mother through two years of hell! He is evil and if you cannot see that, you are not the Mordred I once knew and loved.”

Mordred: “Kara, please-”

Kara: “no-”

Mordred: “Kara, he knows! He knows about my gifts and he has not once even scorned for using them. The ban on magic is only up because we need to stop Ealdgyð from killing everyone-”

Kara: “why do you immediately forsake my mother? She is the only reason I am still alive, no thanks to you. The Pendragons are the reasons why we have been running for our lives our entire lives. And they are the reason why countless more children will never reach their truest potential and will never know who they truly are. Yet you still blame my mother who has done nothing but protect our people-!”

Mordred: “Your mother was going to kill everyone in Camelot just to spite Morgana! I still believe in the cause, Kara, but I do not believe in her and her ways!”

Kara: “We are druids and magic is our birthright!”

Mordred: “And druids are a peaceful people but Ealdgyð? She perverted our ways and has used the darkest magics, hurt countless people and all bcs she wants the throne. I will not join her so please, for the love of the Gods, don’t make me fight you Kara.”

Kara: “Tell us, tell me, who Emrys is and we won’t have to.”

Mordred: “Never.” *knocks her out w/ magic* “Forgive me, my love.”

The Kindness of Strangers

Ealdgyð thinks Alator a traitor for supporting the mighty Emrys who refuses to help their people in their time of need and so the torture begins

Merlin still doesn’t tell Arthur about the Alator-and-Finna-of-the-Catha situation bcs he’s busy yk and so tells Morgana and Mordred bcs it’s magic stuff so it’s their business too

He and Morgana go to find Finna

Merlin still attacked but Morgana stays with Finna and fights Ealdgyð and Finna is saved and on their side (bcs she is a Bendrui and they stand by Emrys, always)

The Drawing of the Dark

Mordred tells them it was Kara not some deer but still let her go

~ Later ~

Merlin: “why didn’t you stop her?”

Mordred: “how could I have?”

Morgana: “your magic is strong”

Mordred: “if you caught the love of your life after she killed someone, would you want to turn her in?”

Merlin: “you said it yourself, she killed someone”

Mordred: “she’s never wanted to hurt anyone. She only does this for her mother”

Morgana: “do you think she’d hurt her if she disobeyed?”

Mordred: “think about it this way: she practically raised me, called me her son in every way but blood and yet she now wants my head on a pike almost as much as she wants yours”

Arthur and Mordred patrol together (bcs they’re knights) w/ Merlin (bcs he’s Arthur’s) and find Kara and Mordred is shooketh at how bloodthirsty Kara has become

She is much confused when Merlin deflect the knife magically and he uses magic to bind her in front of them and no one bats an eye bcs she fr thought Mordred was bullshitting about Arthur being chill with it

She tries to kill Arthur again and does not take the chances he kept giving her for Mordred’s sake

Kara: “why do you continue trying to help me? You, who puts our kind through hell everyday.”

Arthur: “I want to make things better for all our peoples including you and yours but that cannot happen while your mother continues to attack, plague and kill our people, innocent people.”

Kara: “you’re lying - my mother would never hurt innocents”

Mordred: “we can show you”

Kara: “how?”

Mordred: “we were at the battle - you know the memory retrieval spell?”

Kara: “of course”

*le spell*

Kara: “that can’t be right- this must be some trick-”

Mordred: “Kara, look at me, look at me. You know me and you know I would never trick you like this. We did the spell together, out loud, and you can hear my thoughts so listen now. I did not trick you and we are not lying to you”

Kara: *crumples* “then the people I’ve hurt, the people I’ve killed-”

Arthur: “you were simply following orders, trying to make your parent proud; I know what that’s like. You are not to blame and you can save so many others if you only help us. Please.”

Kara: “to hear a king say please is a strange thing indeed.”

She comes back to the light

Magic squad is weirdly big considering the laws at this point but Camelot needs all the help they can get

Ealdgyð realises Merlin has magic bcs of the miraculous things that happen around Arthur and yk it’s too much to be just some coincidence plus she was keeping an eye on her daughter and saw Merlin deflect the knife and he is what keeps the magic squad together and she can only use the Gean Canach very few times bcs ‘tis rare

The Diamond of the Day 1

Merlin tells the knight squad and magic squad about his loss of powers and that he’s gonna go get them back somehow

Kara snitches that Eira is a spy for Ealdgyð and she gets dungeon time

Merlin, Gwaine and Finna go to the Valley of the Fallen Kings while Mordred, Kara and Morgana stay behind and protect Queen and kingdom

Ealdgyð knows Merlin will go the Crystal Cave to regain his powers

Gwaine stands guard at the cave mouth while Finna and Merlin go in but Finna has to stop and stay with Gwaine after a moment

Merlin: “this is a journey I must make on my own”

Gwaine: “could’ve told us that before we came out into the woods with you”

Merlin: “you’d have come with me anyways”

Gwaine: “yeah, you’re probably right”

Ealdgyð leaves after Gwaine sleeps with invisibility and silencing spells on to mask herself from Finna (who’s on watch at that point)

The Diamond of the Day 2

Merlin comes along looking like himself instead of Dragoon bcs there was no time to waste on disguises

The magic squad are beating Ealdgyð bcs yk there’s: Emrys, the High Priestess of the Triple Goddess, a Bendrui priestess and two highly skilled druids against Saesons

Merlin beats Ealdgyð and before she dies, Kara and Mordred get to say goodbye

Ealdgyð: “I’m sorry it came to this- all I ever wanted was a better life for you both and instead I dragged you into a war”

Kara: “we understand and we’re sorry too - we should’ve at least tried peace”

Ealdgyð: “that’s my fault”

Mordred: “and it’s our too. We could have insisted on it but we just blindly followed instead of talking to you”

Ealdgyð: “I’m so sorry my boy”

Kara: “rest easy, mother. Magic is returning to Camelot and we will be free once more”

Mordred: “goodbye Ealdgyð”

Post Battle-of-Camlann

Arthur (29) repeals the ban on magic

Kara (22) is formally pardoned bcs of her role in the Battle of Camlann bcs she saved Arthur’s life

Merlin (27) is Court Physician first and Court Sorcerer secondly after Gaius retires bcs mans is old af and Finna is Court Sorceress (and she still studies under him)

Alice returns and she and Gaius finally marry

1 year post Battle of Camlann

Arthur (30) and Gwen (28) have a daughter, Avlyn Pendragon, 1 year post-Battle-of-Camlann

Takes a year for Morgana (33) and Merlin (28) to finally get together and start courting

2 years post Battle of Camlann

Kara (23) and Mordred (22) marry

4 years post Battle of Camlann

Arthur (33) and Gwen (31) have a son, Cadwr Pendragon, 4 years post-Battle-of-Camlann (Avlyn (3))

Gwaine (33) and Percival (31) marry and we’re gonna pretend homophobia ain’t a thing bcs this is a comfort fic not a whump fic

Leon (37) starts courting Mithian (31) (idk y but they fit really well for some reason imo) and married after 6 months

5 years post Battle of Camlann

Merlin (32) and Morgana (37) marry and Hunith is very happy for them

Merlin (32) and Morgana (37) have twins, Morfydd and Ywaine

12 notes · View notes

pastthevaulteddoors · 4 years ago

Text

What if, in book 3, instead of running off after Pettigrew and Sirius on the map, Remus had the forethought to rush to Snape for the wolfsbane potion. I mean, it was nearly sunset, he would know he couldn’t confront his past friends if he turned werewolf. Snape follows Remus in secret when he rushes out of his office once Remus drank the potion.

Therefore, Remus would never have went batshit crazy when the moon hit his eye (like a big pizza pie).

More under cut because this went far longer than I meant it to.

In the chaos of the transformation, Pettigrew tried to transform into a rat but a mindful werewolf-Remus put the rat in his mouth and held him there like a jail cell. When Snape comes out of the stump, he freaks out at first, but then remembers the wolfsbane potion Remus rushed him to finish. Not trusting either man, Snape demanded that Harry and co. get to the castle for help (partly to keep them away from harm aka werewolf and Sirius).

Remus almost decides to crush rat Pettigrew in his mouth but overcomes that murderous desire so Pettigrew is alive when help arrives. After a few minutes of a Mexican standoff of Snape, a werewolf, a fugitive, dementors, and auroras, Pettigrew is forced to reveal himself. Now with evidence, the Ministry doesn’t send Sirius to the dementors when they take him into custody, but hold him for questioning.

In the end, Sirius is cleared of all charges. Remus still resigns once Snape gets petty and reveals his condition, but when Harry goes to check on his favorite teacher, Sirius is there with him as he’s packing up. Sirius explains how he is going to immediately try to reclaim his family’s home and start knocking down walls and bad memories. When he has approval and proper enchantments done on the house, he’s going to take Harry in.

Remus says he’ll be staying with Sirius, to help with the house and, well, the two have thirteen years of pain and trust issues to overcome.

That’s the first time Harry realizes that these two were perhaps closer than friends.

It only takes a month into the holidays before Harry is invited to Grimmauld Place. Although not blood related, being godfather does include its own veil of protective magics. (Although Remus and Sirius are very British about showing affections to each other, it doesn’t take Harry long to realize that not only are the two on a road to emotional recovery, but the affection between them is definitely romantic love. Not to mention that they share a room and no one says anything about it.)

Anyway, Harry has a great summer with his new family. Sirius goes out a lot for interviews and aims to reclaim his name in society. He also gains an emotional support dog that looks suspiciously like a grim (it’s not a magical beast, it’s legit just a dog trained to assist Sirius after 13 years of Azkaban induced PTSD).

Remus obviously wants to work but is shunned loudly by the public, so he remains at home most days. Harry can tell he’s upset about not being able to find a job and ‘be useful’ he once heard him say, so Harry asks him for defensive lessons. It sparks joy in Remus to teach again, and when Ron and Hermione visit, they let him give them a lesson or two. (To be fair, he’s a kick ass teacher so who wouldn’t want to be tutored by him?)

Otherwise, Remus spends his days fixing up the house and talks of some day creating a house for wayward werewolves. With Sirius’ backing and inheritance, it would be possible.

Year four is as it should be, only Sirius is there to support Harry, and, since he’s a public figure, defends his godson in the daily profit when Rita Skeeter writes her columns. Remus never shows up, as he is not family and he does not want to stir up trouble with everyone knowing his ‘condition.’

Year five, Harry never goes to the Dursley’s and goes directly to Grimmauld place, which has had a huge face-lift since last summer. Remus put a lot of work into creating a home for them. It does become the Order of the Phoenix’s headquarters but still they don’t let Harry in on what’s going on.

Around his birthday, Mrs. Weasley asks the trio to pop over to the store to get eggs since she and Ginny need them to make Harry’s birthday cake. Harry suspects they’ll come back to a surprise party, but does’t probe and lets himself get shoved out the door. Down an alleyway is when they’re attacked by dementors.

Of course, he is not expelled because Dumbledore interferes.

Towards the end of the year, within the Department of Mysteries, Sirius has long since learned to trust more and his wits are about him. He doesn’t get distracted by Harry’s James-like dexterity and therefore is able to get out of the way of Bellatrix’s avada kedavra spell. However, he does become gravely injured to where Harry thinks he’s dead.

He lives though. Because.

Year six is basically the same, but the Order still meets at Grimmauld Place and sometimes the trio is allowed, if only for their own safety. Life is not unbearably dark and grim.

During Christmas, Remus has to finally get firm with Tonk’s flirting that accidentally outs him and Sirius. Only a few didn’t catch onto their relationship so it’s not really too big of a surprise.

I almost want to say some Drarry happens in year six, what with Harry with a new outlook on life, and mentors that wish the best for him. Harry reaches out to Draco until the boy crumbles. When Draco doesn’t kill Dumbledore and Snape does, Harry takes Draco to the Order with him for protection. Shortly after, Mrs. Malfoy deflects as well and goes into hiding at Grimmauld Place. Mr. Malfoy remains a coward at Voldermort’s side.

Year seven, the trio set out on their journey to find and destroy the horcruxes but with the support of his family. Harry is able to use the broken mirror as intended and thus ends up in less deaths. No dead Dobby, or Hedwig, or Mad-Eye, or Tonks, or Remus, or Fred because they were able to communicate and prepare better for the attack. (and damnit I love happy endings!)

When the dust settles and the world starts to right itself, Remus and Sirius finally marry properly. Remus opens his House for Wayward Werewolves. Harry accompanies Draco back to the manor where he is now the head of house (since Mr. Malfoy died... because he was trash) and helps him rebuild.

A few years later, Harry and Ron quickly become dissatisfied with being aurors. Harry decides to become the next DADA teacher. Ron goes to assist his brothers at turning the joke shop into a cash cow as he does in canon, except, ya know, Fred is still alive. Because of course he is.

With Hermione rising in the ranks at the Ministry, she’s able to overturn a lot of backwards thinking and laws on non-Wizards. Therefore, Remus returns to Hogwarts. Maybe as the librarian or transfiguration teacher.

Sirius is a dandy and never gets a real job. Surprisingly, Sirius and Draco become close as in-laws and are fearsome elites amid the magical community. Not fearsome like Draco’s dad was, but in a ‘yes, we’re elites and we’re going to use our power to help those in need. House elves you say? You bet we’re in for the cause!’

...

I... dunno what just happened.

It’s a Harry Potter time of year.

#harry potter #drarry #draco malfoy #sirius black #remus lupin #wolfstar #i've never shipped drarry until this moment #be proud of me younger self

29 notes · View notes

myonechicagoworld · 4 years ago

Text

CHICAGO FIRE – LEAVING THE STATION (S01E08)

Matt Casey: Why the hell are you studying Japanese?

Mouch: I read online that once you turn 50, your brain starts to

atrophy unless you keep it in shape.

Leslie Shay: I think that train’s already left the station, Mouch.

Joe Cruz: Say something in Japanese.

Mouch: I just started

Peter Mills: Hey, uh, where’s Herrmann?

Matt Casey: Tony Robbins seminar.

Otis Zvonecek: I got 20 bucks says in two weeks, you won’t be

able to string along a sentence.

Joe Cruz: [chuckles]

Mouch: Easiest money I ever made.

Otis Zvonecek: Done. What’s today?

Gabby Dawson: Um, 29th.

Matt Casey: Ah, damn it.

Gabby Dawson: Everything all right?

Matt Casey: Yeah. No, I just forgot something.

Chief Boden: Hey, everybody. We have the pleasure of hosting a

couple of visiting firefighters again. This is Gavin

and Presley. They will be observing over the next

couple of shifts.

Lieutenant Casey, Lieutenant Severide, and… the rest

of the knuckleheads.

Gavin: Hey guys, thanks so much for allowing us to be here. And let

us know if there’s anything we can do to help out.

Mouch: Whoa, whoa, whoa. Was that a Canadian ‘out’ I heard?

Gavin: Yes, sir. Toronto.

Presley: We both just finished our probationary period.

Mouch: You know what?

Uh, welcome aboard, guys.

No offense, but someone else will have to give you the

tour, ‘cause it ain’t gonna be me.

[door closes]

Matt Casey: Ignore him.

[alarm blaring & beeping]

(Over PA): Truck 81, Squad 3, Ambulance 61. Injury on the blue line,

Logan Square Station.

[sirens wailing, horn blares]

[sirens stop wailing]

Chief Boden: (over radio) Be aware, men, the third rail could still be

hot.

Matt Casey: You heard him, guys. Everyone keep your eyes

forward. Let’s do this the right way.

Chief Boden: (over radio) Main, do we have a hold on the

(into radio) blue line power at Logan Square?

Dispatcher: (over radio) Stand by. We’re waiting for confirmation.

Conductor: I think I hit someone.

Matt Casey: (into radio) Chief, we might have a victim on the

tracks. (over radio) Conductor thinks he hit

someone.

Chief Boden: (into radio) You and Mills walk back down

(over radio) toward the tunnel. Mind that third rail.

Matt Casey: (into radio) Copy.

Joe Cruz: All good.

Dispatcher: (over radio) CTA confirms power has been shut down.

Chief Boden: Cruz, we got the all-clear. Throw the chain.

Peter Mills: Yo! Hey, I see somebody!

Joe Cruz: Three, two, one, go!

[power sizzling]

Chief Boden: (into radio) Main, we still have power on the

southbound track!

Victim 1: Please, help me.

Matt Casey: (into radio) His leg’s stuck in the axle. I need this rail

turned off.

Chief Boden: (over radio) We’re working on it, Casey.

Matt Casey: My name’s Matt.

Victim 1: [exhales] Jacob.

Matt Casey: What happened, Jacob?

Victim 1 (Jacob): My sister Kayla and me went into the subway

through an access door, just to look around

but it locked behind us [panting] We were…

we were trying to get out through the tunnel.

Peter Mills: I’ll go.

Victim 1 (Jacob): [panting]

Matt Casey: (into radio) Chief, there’s another kid in the tunnel. Mills

is going (over radio) inside.

Chief Boden: (into radio) I have two victims on the track. I need that

damn power off now.

Peter Mills: Kayla!

Call out!

Dispatcher: (over radio) Supervisor has confirmed power has been

shut down.

Chief Boden: Cruz, throw the chain again.

Joe Cruz: Three, two, one, go!

Power’s off!

Kelly Severide: What’s his name?

Matt Casey: Jacob.

Victim 1 (Jacob): [groans]

Kelly Severide: Jacob, my name is Kelly. We’re gonna get you out

of there, alright?

Gabby Dawson: Let’s get that pressure dressing ready.

Kelly Severide: There we go.

Alright, right there. That’s good.

Peter Mills: Kayla!

Kayla!

[saw whirring]

Victim 1 (Jacob): [groans]

Kelly Severide: This is gonna hurt, buddy.

Victim 1 (Jacob): [groans]

Kelly Severide: Okay, buddy, hang on, hang on.

Victim 1 (Jacob): [groaning in pain]

Gabby Dawson: Watch his head.

Right here.

Hey, Jacob?

Victim 1 (Jacob): My… My sister…

Matt Casey: We’re looking for her now.

Leslie Shay: Alright, pressure dressing’s in place. Let’s go.

Gabby Dawson: One, two, three.

Victim 1 (Jacob): [groans]

Matt Casey: (into radio) Mills.

Gabby Dawson: You’re gonna be okay, Jacob.

Matt Casey: Mills.

(into radio) Yeah, we, uh… found the victim. I need two

body bags, more lights, latex gloves.

Two teams scour each side of the tracks. Call out

whatever body part you find.

Hey… You okay?

- Title Screen -

Chief Boden: Department counsellor.

Wasn’t easy what we saw today and there is no

shame in reaching out to talk to somebody.

Matt Casey: Hey, take a seat guys. Make yourselves at home.

Gavin & Presley: Okay.

Chief Boden: Hey.

Act right.

Mouch: Copy that, Chief.

So how’s that socialised medicine working out for you

guys?

Joe Cruz: Mouch.

Mouch: To get your tonsils out, I heard you got to wait in a line

around the block for the same doctor who just finished

a colonoscopy.

Otis Zvonecek: You’re the only guy I know that could have a beef

with Canada.

Mouch: Let’s just say I got a snoot full of how things really work up

there.

Nothing against these two but pull that curtain back a little

bit. You might be surprised at what you find.

Matt Casey: Yeah, uh, again, you can ignore him.

Joe Cruz: [laughs] Mouch, you are out of your damn mind [laughs]

cutscene

[shower water running]

[buzzer sounds]

Joe Cruz: (over PA) Shay, you got a guest on the apparatus floor.

Leslie Shay: I thought you were going home.

Clarice: Well, Daniel’s not back from Phoenix until later today, so…

you want to have some lunch?

Leslie Shay: It’s not a good time, Clarice. I got to get back to…

Clarice: Look, it’s turkey and brie with cranberry, from Martinelli’s.

Leslie Shay: I thought they closed.

Clarice: They opened up again over in Forest Glen.

Leslie Shay: [chuckles]

Clarice: Mmm.

Here, here, here, feel this.

Leslie Shay: Whoa. What is that?

Clarice: It’s his elbow. Wait… or no, maybe it’s his foot. That is

crazy, right?

Leslie Shay: Yeah.

Did you guys pick out names yet?

Clarice: (sighs) No, we are still in the middle of negotiations. Daniel

really wants to name him after his father.

Leslie Shay: Oh.

Clarice: Gilbert.

Leslie Shay: Oh.

Clarice: Yeah, I know.

I remember when we used to pick out baby names.

Leslie Shay: Yeah.

Yeah.

Clarice: Look, maybe I shouldn’t have said that.

[alarm sounds & buzzes]

(Over PA): Ambulance 61, difficulty breathing.

Leslie Shay: I got to go.

Uh… thanks… thanks for lunch. I…

[clears throat]

What? I can’t eat a sandwich?

Clarice: Hi, Gabby.

Gabby Dawson: Hi, Clarice.

[siren wailing]

Lady 1: [tearfully] She had a seizure, then couldn’t breathe.

Leslie Shay: Grace, can you hear me?

She’s responsive.

Gabby Dawson: Has this ever happened before?

Lady 1: No. I mean, yes. Sh-She’s had a seizure before.

Gabby Dawson: Is she taking any anti-seizure medication?

Lady 1: No, the doctors never found anything.

But she has Celiac disease. She’s… she’s been on a gluten

free diet for the last two months.

Leslie Shay: Diminished lungs.

Gabby Dawson: Okay, let’s get her to Chicago U.

Lady 1: No.

Gabby Dawson: Ma’am, we got to get Grace to the hospital.

Lady 1: Not Chicago U. My father died at that hospital. Please don’t

take her there.

Gabby Dawson: Okay, fine. Lakeshore. But we got to go now.

Hey. Easy, Grace. Easy.

Victim 2 (Grace): I don’t like the way it smells.

Gabby Dawson: You don’t like the way what smells, sweetheart?

Leslie Shay: Six year-old girl, respiratory distress, history of

undiagnosed seizures.

ER Doctor: Exam room two. We’ll take her from here.

Lady 1: I’m right here but we… [continues indistinctly]

Oh my God. Please don’t… please don’t hurt her.

Gabby Dawson: Something’s up with that chick.

cutscene

Kelly Severide: Works better if you turn on the heat.

[rubbish bag rustling]

[metal clanging]

Peter Mills: [sighs] [breathing shakily]

[sobbing]

cutscene

Matt Casey: Hour, hour and a half, tops.

Chief Boden: Okay, I’ll have Cruz cover truck until you’re back.

Matt Casey: Got it. And I’m sorry about this. You know this isn’t my

style, but…

Chief Boden: Handle your business.

Matt Casey: Oh, uh… keep an eye on Mills for me.

Chief Boden: Yeah, sure.

Gabby Dawson: Hey, quick favour?

Matt Casey: Sure.

Gabby Dawson: Shay and I feel a little weird about this call we just

went on.

We need someone to pull some medical records

for us. So I was wondering if maybe Hallie could

do us a solid.

Matt Casey: Yeah, uh, the only thing is me and Hallie are taking a

break, so…

Gabby Dawson: Right. Got it.

Say no more.

And I’m sorry to hear that.

You’re calling Kendra.

Leslie Shay: Ugh.

This is gonna cost me a dinner or two. I mean,

guaranteed she asks me to dinner, and I really

don’t want to hear about her drama…

[clears throat] Hey Kendra.

Yep. Yeah.

Uh, huh. Okay.

Alright, thank you so much. And hey, this conversation

never took place.

Yeah.

Friday? [clears throat] Um, can I get back to you?

Thanks.

Uh, so Grace was taken to the ER twice in the last six

weeks for seizures… no mention anywhere in her

record of Celiac disease.

[alarm sounding & buzzing]

(Over PA): Truck 81, Squad 3, Ambulance 61. Heart attack victim,

Dearborn and Elm.

[sirens wailing]

Man 1: Frank’s dead!

He must’ve had a heart attack or something. One minute,

he was fine.

He was dropping branches to me. And the next thing I

know, he’s just hanging there.

[branch creaks and starts to break]

Chief Boden: Cruz! You get that aerial up in that tree now.

Joe Cruz: I can get close but there’s a lot of branches. I don’t see a

clean path.

Kelly Severide: Well, then we make one.

Vargas!

Jose Vargas: On it.

Presley: Won’t you need a Stokes basket?

Chief Boden: That limb’s not gonna give us enough time. We rig a

two-to-one pulley system. We bring him down the

fast way.

Vargas: Got it.

[chainsaw buzzing]

[siren wailing]

Vargas: Path is clear.

Firefighter: Here we go.

Chief Boden: When Severide drops his line, you take up the slack.

When he cuts the old line, it’s on you.

Victim 3 (Frank): [groans softly]

Kelly Severide: Hey! He’s alive!

[branch continues to break]

Gabby Dawson: Get him down here fast.

Kelly Severide: Agh! [groans]

Chief Boden: Hadley, move. Get his back.

Kelly Severide: [grunts]

Grab it! Grab that rope!

Otis Zvonecek: Got it, Kelly.

Chief Boden: Tie it off.

Kelly Severide: [grunts]

Mouch: Set.

Victim 3 (Frank): [whimpers]

Chief Boden: Load is yours.

Steady.

Hadley: You okay?

Kelly Severide: Yeah, fine. Just… Let’s get on the ground.

Leslie Shay: Easy, easy.

Gabby Dawson: Watch his head.

Leslie Shay: There we go.

Alright, he’s breathing… shallow respirations.

Gabby Dawson: Hey, he’s carrying candy. He could be a diabetic.

Leslie Shay: Yep.

Gabby Dawson: Let’s check his blood sugar.

[machine beeping]

Leslie Shay: Okay, it’s low… below 20.

Gabby Dawson: I’ll give him an amp of D50.

[indistinct radio chatter]

Victim 3 (Frank): What happened?

Leslie Shay: Okay, sir, you’re gonna be okay. Your blood sugar

dropped. Are you diabetic?

Victim 3 (Frank): Mmhmm.

Leslie Shay: Okay.

cutscene

Lady 2: Hey Matt.

Matt Casey: Christie.

Jim.

Man 2 (Jim): Matt.

Lady 2 (Christie): Sweetheart, do you remember your Uncle Matt

from Thanksgiving a couple years ago?

Matt Casey: Hey Violet.

You’re so grown up [chuckles lightly]

15 years… that’s crazy.

Lady 2 (Christie): I still miss him

Matt Casey: [exhales deeply]

Lady 2 (Christie): Well, we’ll, uh, let you have some alone time.

Matt Casey: You don’t have to go.

Lady 2 (Christie): No, it’s okay. We were just leaving. We’ve been

here awhile.

I guess I’ll see you in a couple weeks.

Matt Casey: Yeah, I’ll see you there.

cutscene

Chief Boden: We’ve all been there. It usually happens first few

months after being on the job. Right now, you

have nothing to compare it to.

But you will.

The longer you work, the more good you do… you’ll

be able to take days like this, put them into context,

and then move forward.

Peter Mills: It’s just that afterwards, I’m… I’m looking at Mouch

telling stories and Cruz playing video games. I don’t

know how they do it.

Chief Boden: Everybody has their own way in how they deal with

things. You will get on the other side of this, Peter.

You know what? Take the rest of the shift off.

Go easy.

I’m serious, though. Talk to someone. Counsellor’s

available.

So am I. So is your Lieutenant. Okay?

Peter Mills: Okay.

cutscene

Otis Zvonecek: [chuckling] Oh yeah, it stays with me. For sure.

Thank you, dude.

My buddy, Eddie, over at 61, ‘sworn to secrecy.’

Uh the Canadians? Guess where they’re from?

Mouch: Canada.

Otis Zvonecek: Cleveland.

Mouch: What?

Otis Zvonecek: Herrmann put ‘em up to it.

Mouch: Oh that sneaky son of a bitch. He’s the only one I confided

to about me and Canada and this is what he does to me?

Otis Zvonecek: I don’t know what Herrmann’s end game is in this

prank but if you’re asking me, I say we beat him

to it.

Mouch: Yeah.

Otis Zvonecek: Yeah?

Mouch: Yeah.

Otis Zvonecek: Yes. All right.

Joe Cruz: Hey Shay, you got a visitor again.

Gabby Dawson: Ugh, Clarice again?

Daniel Schwartz: Her husband [clears throat]

Leslie Shay: Nice to see you.

Daniel Schwartz: I’m looking for my wife and my unborn son.

Would you be kind enough to point me in the

right direction?

Leslie Shay: Yeah. She’s been staying with me a couple days.

Daniel Schwartz: So, in the light of the fact that you have zero

boundaries, I will tell you now very directly

that if you think I’m gonna stand…

Leslie Shay: Daniel, you might want to bring it down a peg, because

this is your problem.

Daniel Schwartz: Right, you… you have nothing to do with it.

Leslie Shay: She came to me as a friend needing a place to stay.

So I, as a friend, took her in. I sympathise with what

you’re going through and I wish I hadn’t been brought

into this, but if you keep coming at me like you’re

coming at me, I’m gonna tell you to kiss my ass in

two seconds.

Daniel Schwartz: [sighs] What can I do? This is my family we’re

talking about.

cutscene

Peter Mills: I can’t get it out of my head. Just… I can’t get it out of

my head.

Ingrid Mills: There was a time when your father couldn’t either.

And his way of fixing it was to just shove it down.

And then that turned into shutting off a part of

himself. It’s the part that makes us human.

Peter Mills: Then what do I do?

Ingrid Mills: Walk away. You come back to the restaurant. I don’t

want you to become a block of ice. And having seen

that in your father, believe me, you don’t want that for

yourself.

It’s not who you are. Hmm? Just… come home.

Peter Mills: [sighs]

cutscene

Kelly Severide: Anna. Hey, it’s me. Look um, I need a refill…

uh somewhat urgently.

I know, I know, I know (stammering) I-I just… I…

can you please just help me out?

I can’t. I… I don’t have the time.

I could… I could pay you for them, if that’s easier.

Anna? Hello?

[sighs]

cutscene

Leslie Shay: Oh, she’s pissed.

Hey, Kendra. Thanks for doing this.

Dr. Kendra: I thought I was done.

Leslie Shay: Ah, well, you know…

Gabby Dawson: Anything on Grace Wilkinson?

[keys clacking]

Dr. Kendra: Yeah, she accidentally swallowed some turpentine.

Leslie Shay: Her mom told us she had Celiac disease.

Dr. Kendra: Uh, mom told us she was doing some painting and left

the turpentine out by mistake. We pumped the girl’s

stomach, then moved her upstairs for observation.

Leslie Shay: She didn’t want to take her to Chicago U, remember?

Could be hospital jumping to hide abuse.

Gabby Dawson: Abuse that she’s causing for attention.

It fits. That would explain the mom’s behaviour,

the inconsistent symptoms that Grace is having,

that smell that she was talking about…

Dr. Kendra: Munchausen by proxy? It’s quite rare.

Gabby Dawson: I don’t really care what you call it. That woman is

poisoning her own kid. I want this reported to

DCFS. Right now. Will you back us up?

Leslie Shay: Dinner, Friday… on me.

Dr. Kendra: I’ll get the number.

Gabby Dawson: Four years ago [exhales], my old partner and I

reported this girl with cigarette burns all over

her arms and legs to DCFS, and the investigation

was a mess of red tape from beginning to end.

They eventually sent the girl back to her father

and that same week, she died of a brain bleed

from a beating he gave her. That ain’t happening

again.

cutscene

Kelly Severide: Hey, Mrs Mills.

Ingrid Mills: Hello Kelly. Chief Boden’s office is this way?

Kelly Severide: Yeah.

How’s Peter doing?

Ingrid Mills: He saw a girl cut to pieces today. I believe you all did.

How are you doing?

[door opens]

Chief Boden: Ingrid, uh… it’s been a long time.

Ingrid Mills: Yes it has.

Chief Boden: Uh, please, have a seat.

Ingrid Mills: No, I won’t be long.

Peter’s not like Henry.

Chief Boden: No one expects him to be.

Ingrid Mills: He does. And Peter’s got this whole idea of living up to

his father’s memory.

But that is not the life I want for him.

Peter’s not coming back to 51.

Chief Boden: If that’s what he decides… I’ll abide by it. You have

my word.

Ingrid Mills: You’re not hearing me. Peter’s time as a candidate…

is done. I’m asking you to respect my wishes. Now,

you owe me that at least.

cutscene

Joe Cruz: I can tell you this soup already smells like socks, Otis.

Otis Zvonecek: Oh, just wait till it hits your taste buds, man.

Gavin: Listen, if we’ve done anything to offend you…

Mouch: Oh, no, no, no. Eat up. Enjoy your free American meal.

Presley: Is Peter coming back?

Matt Casey: Of course. He’s just clearing his head. Today was a

tough one.

Otis Zvonecek: Here we go. Dinner’s served.

Matt Casey: What the hell is this?

Otis Zvonecek: Borscht, baby.

Mouch: [sniffs]

[grimaces]

Otis Zvonecek: Mama’s Sunday night go-to.

Matt Casey: [slurps]

Otis Zvonecek: Huh?

Matt Casey: [grimaces]

Otis Zvonecek: Eh? It’s good right?

Matt Casey: We’re ordering in.

cutscene

Kelly Severide: [groans]

[footsteps approaching]

Chief Boden: Hey. Nice job up there in that tree.

Kelly Severide: Thanks, Chief.

Chief Boden: What up with your arm?

Kelly Severide: What’s that?

Chief Boden: I said, “what up with your arm?”

Kelly Severide: Tweaked it a couple days ago lifting weights.

Chief Boden: Looked like more than a tweak.

Kelly Severide: Really, I’m fine.

Chief Boden: Okay. I see it again, you’re going in for an x-ray,

for your own safety.

Kelly Severide: No. Yeah, absolutely.

cutscene

[door opens to bunk room]

Gabby Dawson: DCFS looked into the Wilkinson girl’s case…

not gonna pursue.

Let’s take a ride.

[ambo door opens]

�� [door alarm beeps]

[ambo door shuts]

Leslie Shay: Listen, all I’m saying is, I told you after your suspension

hearing that I’d pull up on the reins if you started to go

sideways. This is me pulling.

Gabby Dawson: We’re just having a friendly conversation.

Uh, Mrs Wilkinson, sorry to bother you like this.

Uh…

Lady 1 (Mrs Wilkinson): You’ve got some nerve… fabricating lies

against me?

Gabby Dawson: Lies? You want to talk about lies? What was that

today… a seizure related to Celiac disease or

accidental ingestion of turpentine?

Lady 1 (Mrs Wilkinson): This is harassment, and I’m calling my

lawyer.

Gabby Dawson: You should call your doctor, because you need

help. You are poisoning your own daughter.

We’re not gonna stand by…

Lady 1 (Mrs Wilkinson): You have no idea how miserable your life is

about to get.

[door shuts and locks]

cutscene

Chief Boden: I’ve been on the phone for the last hour, getting my

ass handed to me, and there wasn’t a damn thing I

could say in your defence, because what you did

was dead wrong.

Gabby Dawson: Chief, she’s poisoning her daughter.

Chief Boden: Did you talk to the DCFS?

Gabby Dawson: Yeah, but…

Chief Boden: But nothing!

You let them handle it. What you don’t do is go

knocking on doors, start throwing out accusations.

Do you not get it, Gabriela?

Leslie Shay: It’s not just her, Chief.

Chief Boden: I will get to you in a second.

Answer my question.

Gabby Dawson: Yeah, Chief, I get it.

Chief Boden: Do you not like your partner?

Leslie Shay: I like her very much indeed, Sir.

Chief Boden: Well, she’s a hothead. What you do when you have a

hothead for a partner is you talk them out of doing

stupid-ass things that can get them into serious

trouble.

Gabriela, this, um… crusade that you are on, it ends

now. You take one step further, there will not be a

suspension hearing. There will be a good-bye party.

You two, my office. We need to talk about Mills

cutscene

[bells chiming]

Kelly Severide: [exhales]

Elise Mills: Hey Kelly.

Kelly Severide: Hey.

Is your brother here?

Elise Mills: Last we talked to him, he said he was gonna go for a

drive but I haven’t heard from him for a while.

Kelly Severide: Yeah, he hasn’t been picking up his phone.

Elise Mills: I’ve never seen him like this.

Kelly Severide: Okay, well, if you talk to him, could you tell him that

I stopped by? I just wanted to check on him.

Elise Mills: I will. Thank you.

cutscene

Leslie Shay: You have to go home.

Clarice: To what?

Leslie Shay: To a husband who’s at least owed an explanation.

Clarice: Okay, but I just… I didn’t even realise how unhappy I was

until you showed up at the baby shower.

Leslie Shay: You don’t get to come back married and pregnant

saying that you miss me.

You walked away. You broke my heart. And hey, that’s

the way it goes, but this isn’t good for me right now,

Clarice. I’ve been fooling myself these last few days.

Clarice: I made a mistake.

[knocks on door]

Leslie Shay: [sighs]

Clarice: Okay, if that’s Daniel, I’m just… I’m not here. I will leave.

I will go home. I will. But just not right now, please.

Corrine: Hey.

Leslie Shay: Hey Corrine.

Corrine: I texted you a couple times.

Leslie Shay: I know. I’m… and I’m sorry. I’ve just been dealing with

something.

Corrine: Is everything okay?

Leslie Shay: Fine. Yeah, it’s fine.

Corrine: It’s just… I think I left my earrings here.

Leslie Shay: Oh, I’ll find them and I’ll get them back to you.

I’m sorry. Just… now is really not a good time.

Clarice: What was that?

Leslie Shay: Nothing.

Clarice: Okay, um… I’m gonna go.

Leslie Shay: Okay.

Clarice: Look, I didn’t mean to bring up any bad memories.

Leslie Shay: I don’t have any.

I just can’t go back.

Clarice: This should’ve been ours.

[door opens & closes]

cutscene

Peter Mills: [sighs]

Ingrid Mills: See, this is where you belong, baby.

Peter Mills: Just give me a little room, mom.

cutscene

Mouch: Alright everybody, gather round.

We’re gonna trade t-shirts and patches in a bit but first, a

little competition.

The first one of you to climb up to the top gets a CFD

jacket. Sound good?

Gavin: That jacket’s mine.

Presley: Yeah, we’ll see.

Mouch: All right. And… one… two… three!

[water splashing]

Mouch: [laughs] Take that back to Cleveland, boys! [laughs]

Chief Boden: What the hell are you doing, Mouch?

Mouch: They’re not from Canada. Herrmann put them up to it.

Gavin: We’re from Canada!

Mouch: [laughs] No, no, no. Otis said… Otis… Oti…

[alarm sounds & beeps]

(Over PA): Ambulance 61, respiratory distress. 26 Orchard Street.

Leslie Shay: That’s Grace’s address.

Chief Boden: Hit it.

[siren wailing]

Housekeeper: I didn’t know what to do!

Gabby Dawson: Grace. You okay?

Housekeeper: In here! In here.

Gabby Dawson: [exhales sharply]

Leslie Shay: Doxepin, 150 milligrams.

Gabby Dawson: Oh man.

[zipper opens]

Gabby Dawson: Uh, why don’t you take Grace back into the living

room?

Housekeeper: Come on. Come with me.

Leslie Shay: Shallow breaths, rapid pulse.

Gabby Dawson: Alright, let’s get her to Lakeshore.

I’ll start an IV in the rig, you get an order to push

bicarb.

[exhales] She’s gonna be okay, Grace.

cutscene

[knocks on door]

Otis Zvonecek: You wanted to see me, Chief?

Chief Boden: That time you put all that hot sauce in Hadley’s

burger, that was funny.

Otis Zvonecek: Oh, I can’t take credit for that, Chief. I got that from

Dumb and Dumber.

Chief Boden: And the other time you put the blow-up doll in

Herrmann’s bunk, that was equally funny.

Otis Zvonecek: That was all me.

Chief Boden: Today, that was not funny. I mean, breaking balls is

one thing. But those men… they did not pay their

own way and drive ten hours...

[door closes]

Chief Boden: ...to come here to be the butt of a joke. When we

have a guest in this house, you will treat them as

such. Do you understand me?

Otis Zvonecek: Yes, Chief.

Chief Boden: So now you’re gonna walk back out there like the man

I know you to be.

You’re gonna look ‘em in the eye, shake their hand,

and apologise, because when they go back home

and their men ask them what the CFD were like,

they will be able to say we are stand-up.

[door opens]

Connie: Chief. You need to get to Lakeshore.

Chief Boden: That’ll be all.

cutscene

Mouch: And she couldn’t get into the United Stated, so I agreed to

meet her in Toronto. An immigration attorney there was

going to facilitate her American citizenship. I gave her the

five grand for his fees… never saw either one of them

again.

Joe Cruz: Well, yeah, but if she was Russian, why hate on Canada?

Mouch: Two extra weeks I’m up there getting the run-around from

various government agencies. I end up at the Canadian

anti-fraud centre.

Want to know what they said?

Buyer beware. And didn’t the weasel behind the counter

get a little chuckle at my expense?

Gavin: Mouch, on behalf of the commonwealth of Canada, we

apologise.

Mouch: I appreciate that.

[door opening]

Presley: Lieutenant?

I-I don’t want to get in anyone’s business here, but if I

may...

Matt Casey: Please.

Presley: Only because I was recently in Peter’s situation. Uh, I

received a call that involved… an infant mortality. And

uh, it-it really got to me. Uh, but our Lieutenant at the

time… he did something that really helped us out.

cutscene

Chief Boden: She’s on a ventilator now, and dialysis to help clear

the doxepin.

We just have to wait and see.

Man 3: Are you Gabriela Dawson?

You’re the one who accused Nina of poisoning our

daughter?

Chief Boden: Sir, your wife…

Man 3: You did this! You did this to her!

Chief Boden: Gabriela… I notified the Union, just in case the cops

want to talk to you. You need to be ready.

cutscene

Matt Casey: Mills, it’s Casey. Listen I know lots of people have been

talking to you today, uh, but before you make a

decision, I want to show you something. I can swing

by the restaurant after shift. And, um, please, just trust

me on this.

[cell phone beeps]

cutscene

Leslie Shay: Don’t worry, we’ll get through this.

[door opens]

Man 3: It’s all right, sweetheart. Tell her what you told me.

Girl 1 (Grace): She made me drink it.

Gabby Dawson: [sighs] It’s okay.

It’s okay, sweetie.

cutscene

Mouch: You really outdid yourself this time, Otis.

Otis Zvonecek: I feel horrible.

Mouch: Well, you should.

Otis Zvonecek: And what’s worse, they were so classy about it.

[sighs] So you were in love with that woman?

Mouch: Nah.

Lesson learned though.

Lesson learned.

[liquid splashing]

Otis Zvonecek: Oh those dicks.

cutscene

[knocks on door]

Corrine: Is Shay here?

Kelly Severide: She’s not.

Corrine: I just want my earrings.

Kelly Severide: Um… come on in.

[door closes]

Kelly Severide: You want a beer?

Corrine: Sure.

You know, I don’t know why she’s been so opposed to

calling me back.

Kelly Severide: She’s been going through some ex-girlfriend drama.

Corrine: See, all she had to do was tell me. I’m not looking to bring

any drama to her life. I’m just looking to have some fun.

Kelly Severide: No, I hear you. Keep it short and sweet. That’s my

policy.

Corrine: Exactly.

Kelly Severide: Hmm.

[cell phone vibrates]

Kelly Severide: Hey, it’s me.

Leslie Shay: Hey.

Kelly Severide: Um, real quick, Corrine… Um do you have any

claim to her?

Leslie Shay: Kelly, why?

Kelly Severide: Because if you do, then I’ll walk her to the door.

Leslie Shay: [scoffs] Knock yourself out.

Kelly Severide: You all right?

Leslie Shay: Have fun.

[kissing sounds]

[buttons ripping]

cutscene

[car door shuts]

[knocking on door]

[door opens]

Man 4: Lieutenant Casey.

Matt Casey: Gary. Thanks for letting us stop by.

Man 4 (Gary): Yeah.

Matt Casey: This is Peter Mills.

Man 4 (Gary): Hey, how you doing?

Peter Mills: Hey, nice to meet you.

Man 4 (Gary): Come on in.

Make yourselves comfortable.

Matt Casey: Thank you.

Man 4 (Gary): Sophie, Lieutenant Casey is here!

Matt Casey: Their last house burned down a couple years back.

We responded to the call.

How’s she doing?

Man 4 (Gary): She gets her learner’s permit next week. Can you

believe it?

Matt Casey: Sophie’s driving?

Man 4 (Gary): Well, not till next week, she’s not.

Matt Casey: [chuckles]

Girl 2 (Sophie): Lieutenant Casey!

Matt Casey: There she is.

Peter, this is Sophie.

Peter Mills: Hey.

Girl 2 (Sophie): Come on, I want to show you something.

Matt Casey: What have you got?

What is this?

‘Second place, girls sectional finals.’ Congratulations.

Girl 2 (Sophie): Thanks.

Peter Mills: Sorry.

Girl 2 (Sophie): Don’t be. I don’t mind. Lieutenant Casey pulled me

out of that fire.

[chuckles] I’m alive.

- end -

Definitions:

Tony Robbins = American author, coach, motivational speaker, and philanthropist

CTA = Chicago Transit Authority

Axle = A rod or spindle (either fixed or rotating) passing through the centre of a wheel or group of wheels.

Colonoscopy = An exam used to detect changes or abnormalities in the large intestine (colon) and rectum, During a colonoscopy, a long flexible tube (colonoscope) is inserted into the rectum. A tiny video camera at the tip of the tube allows the doctor to view the inside of the entire colon.

Celiac disease = A chronic digestive disorder resulting from an immune reaction to gliadin, a gluten found in wheat, barley, rye and sometimes oats. It involves inflammation and destruction of the inner lining of the small intestine and can lead to the malabsorption of minerals and nutrients.

Diminished lungs = Normal lung sounds are decreased and harder to hear.

Respiratory distress = Respiratory failure characterised by rapid onset of widespread inflammation in the lungs. It occurs when fluid builds up in the tin, elastic air sacs in your lungs. The fluid keeps your lungs from filling with enough air, which means less oxygen reaches your bloodstream. This deprives your organs of the oxygen it needs to function. Symptoms include shortness of breath, rapid breathing, and bluish skin colouration.

Stokes basket = A device used to both immobilise as well as transport a victim over terrain.

Two-to-one pulley system = System consisting of two pulleys (wheel on an axle or shaft that is designed to support movement and change of direction of a taut cable or belt or transfer of power between shaft and cable or belt) with a rope running around them to lift a load. Using two or more pulleys reduces the amount of effort needed.

Amp = Ampule is a small sealed glass capsule/vial containing liquid, especially a measured quantity ready for injecting.

D50 = Used in emergency care to treat hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and to manage coma of unknown origin. An amp of D50 is 25 grams of glucose in a 50ml prefilled syringe (50% glucose). An amp of D50 provides 5 times the amount of glucose in a normal adult’s blood.

Turpentine = Fluid obtained by the distillation of resin harvested from living trees, mainly pines. It is mainly used as a solvent, and as a source of material for organic syntheses.

Munchausen by proxy = Mental health problem in which a caregiver makes up or causes an illness or injury in a person under his or her care, such as a child, an elderly adult, or a person who has a disability (See the Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her mother Dee Dee’s case for a famous example of Munchausen by proxy)

DCFS = Department of Children and Family Services

Doxepin = Medication used to treat major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, chronic hives, and trouble sleeping.

Bicarb = Sodium bicarbonate is an antacid used to relive heartburn and acid indigestion.

Stand-up = Loyal; that you can rely on to defend you

Dialysis = Procedure to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys stop working properly. It often involves diverting blood to a machine to be cleaned.

Girls sectional finals = Basketball tournament

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what-is-your-plan-today · 5 years ago

Text

Stark Spangled Banner Ch 41: Drops Of Jupiter

Intro: For the first time ever, The Avengers lost. Thanos did exactly what he said he was going to do and wiped out 50% of all living creatures. Friends and family are gone and so are the stones, meaning there is no way to bring any of them back. Our heroes are scattered, fractured and broken. And the world has changed forever.

Steve and Katie now have to navigate this ‘new world’, and start to rebuild their lives, a Phoenix from the ashes… because if they don’t, Thanos might as well have killed them all.

Warnings: Bad Language words. Smut (NSFW) No under 18s.

Pairing: Steve Rogers x OFC Katie Stark

Stark Spangled Banner Masterlist

August 2018

“New Asgard huh…” Tony smiled from where he was sat in one of the comfy chairs at the other side of Katie’s office, feet up on the small coffee table “I like it.”

“I’s beautiful, Tone.” she smiled, and it was. Led by a woman called Valkyrie (known to Bruce) the Asgardians had arrived on Earth a few weeks after Thor had left. Rhodey and Steve had instantly been onto the UN to find them a place to stay, which was a small town outside of Norway, where the entire population had been pretty much decimated in the Snap. Over the following months Katie, Steve and the remaining Avengers had helped them set up a home, giving them technology, funding, materials, anything they needed. Steve and Katie had visited regularly and Katie was especially pleased to see them making so much progress with the Village.

“How’s Thor?” Tony asked.

Katie’s expression grew dark “Still an asshole.”

“So you’ve not made up?”

Katie shook her head, sighing a little. The memory of what had happened was still painful…

They got the call from Valkyrie one Sunday morning at the end of July. Thor had turned up in New Asgard out of the blue and locked himself away in one of the huts. When anyone tried to talk to him he was getting aggressive, so Valkyrie had done what she thought was best, called Katie. Which was why, a few hours later, her and Steve were stood outside the hut Thor had locked himself in.

Katie banged on the wood of the door “Hey Thunder God, it’s Little Stark…come on, open up.”

Nothing.

“Kick it in.” she said after a moment’s pause, looking at Steve.

“I’m not gonna kick his door in!” Steve frowned.

“Steven!” “No Katie, absolutely not.”

They were spared any further argument as the door opened.

"What are you doing here?" Thor asked, turning away and the two followed him in. His hair was a little longer and he looked worn, a fresh scar adorned his face along his temple and Katie was surprised to see he also had a back eye. Where he had been was anyone’s guess.

“Came to see how you are.” Katie said “We were so worried about you.” “I’m fine so you can go.”

“Really?” Katie looked at him “We come all this way and that’s the best you can do?”

“No one asked you to come here.” he glared at her.

“Yes, actually they did!” Katie sighed “Valkyrie called. You know, you shouldn’t just lock yourself away like this. Your people are out there, they nee-…”

“Oh shut up.” Thor snapped, rounding on her.

“Woah, okay, okay.” Steve stepped forward, one arm crossed over his chest, the other held in front of him, palm outstretched “There’s no need for that…” “Don’t start with me!." Thor roared, pulling himself to his full height, chest pressing against Steve’s as the two men stood facing one another.

“Hey, stop it!” Katie said, pushing an arm in between them hastily and moving Steve back, as strong as he was he didn’t stand a chance against the God. “Come on.” The two men stepped back, Steve sighing and running a hand through his hair.

“Thor, I understand how you’re feeling, we all-“

“No, you have no idea what I’m feeling." Thor snapped, raising a shaking finger to point at Katie.

"Are you kidding me?” Katie pinched the bridge of her nose “Are we back to this?”

“Back to what?”

“The I lost more than you argument. We all lost!” Katie took a deep breath, “And God knows we’ve all blamed ourselves too but we can’t keep doing that and letting it stop us from trying to move forward because if we don’t try and make something of what’s left-” she swallowed and shook her head a little “-well we may as well have died with the other half of the universe.” She stepped forward and placed her hand on Thor’s arm. “Take a look around outside, your people have built a life here, a home. Life is moving on, slowly, but it is.”

Thor snorted. “Maybe that's because for you and them nothing has changed." He shrugged nonchalantly. “They get to build things, carry on doing what they did on Asgard and you, well, you and the Captain can still lie in bed at night, fucking each other, maybe trying to make another baby to replace the one you lost and-”

Steve stepped forward at that point, the red mist descending, and he didn’t care if Thor pummelled him to pieces, he was not having him speaking to his wife like that. But before he could get his shot in Katie had beaten him to it. The sound of her fist hitting Thor’s nose cut through the God’s shouting like a crack of thunder. Steve knew the impact would hardly have shaken Thor but the shock made him stumble backwards nonetheless. To stop her doing anything else, Steve wrapped his arms around her as she glared at Thor, her entire body trembling with anger.

"You’re out of order.” Steve shot a glare at Thor, before he steered his shaking wife out of the hut and back to the jet where she started to cry angry tears.

With a sigh he gently kissed her head and then looked at her “Lemme see your hand”

She held out her right hand and Steve took it in his gently, extending her fingers and she gave a yelp.

“I don’t think it’s broken, probably badly bruised, but you did hit The God of Thunder in the face.” Steve chuckled, moving to the back of the jet for an ice pack “Probably not your smartest move.”

“I won’t be speaking to him again until he apologises.” Katie sniffed “But enough about that, tell me, how’s the house going?”

“We’ll be ready in a fortnight.” He smiled “Kiddo, I can’t wait for you to see it. The lounge is amazing, just like the Cabin Mom and Dad used to take us to in Aspen”

“That was hardly a cabin!” she snorted, “It was a four bed Chalet!” “Yeah well you get what I mean, log fire, cosy living area, that sorta stuff.” he smiled. “Pepper has been in her element, picking out all the décor, and that reminds me.”

He stood up as he reached into his pocket and handed his sister a white envelope.

“What’s this?” “Open it and see.” He smiled.

“You set a date?” Katie gasped, looking up at him her eyes wide as she read the invite “That’s, wow, it’s... “ “5 weeks, yeah.” Tony nodded. “You and Spangles ain’t the only ones that can plan a wedding in a hurry.” he paused, before blurting out “Pepper’s pregnant. Only 4 weeks or so.” There was a moment where Katie looked at her brother, his brown eyes looking back half nervous, half excited. She knew why, he was worried what her reaction would be, but how could she be anything but happy? She gave a yell and jumped up, throwing herself into his lap, like she had done many a time as a girl.

“Oh Tone, that’s amazing!” she hugged him tight only releasing him when the door opened and Pepper walked into the office.

“You told her already?” she paused, looking at Tony who stood up, causing Katie to do the same, shrugging like a sheepish teenager.

“You know what he’s like!” Katie grinned at her, “He never could keep a secret! congratulations Pep.”

Pepper beamed at the brunette “We wanted to tell you first, especially after…well...” “You can say the word.” Katie smiled softly “It’s fine. Honestly I’m really pleased for you.” And she was. Frankly, it was the best news she had heard in ages. A little ray of sunlight in all the darkness and hurt of the last few months, or years even.

“We actually have something else we’d like to ask you.” Pepper nudged Tony who stood up.

“What, oh yeah. So, obviously in addition to your bridesmaids duties, yes bridesmaid...” he said as Katie’s eyes widened, his words registering in her brain “We’d like it if you would sing for our first dance.” “Me?” she frowned.

Pepper nodded.

“I err-.” Katie took a deep breath and looked at the two people in front of her. Her family, their faces expectant and she knew she couldn’t refuse.

“I’d be honoured.” her voice cracked with emotion as the 3 of them shared a hug.

**** Steve took off his utility vest and dropped it back into the box in the locker room.

“Good work today, Cap.” Rhodey smiled, clapping him on the shoulder. Steve looked at the man, and a smirk crossed his face.

“Thank you, Sir.” Rhodey groaned “Don’t call me that, man!”

Steve snorted. The fact that Rhodey was now technically Steve’s superior, being a Colonel was a source of great amusement to Steve even if Rhodey didn’t particularly like it.

“So for your first two weeks exercise how you found it?” Rhodey asked as Steve pulled off his t-shirt.

“Surprisingly familiar.” Steve said, “It’s kinda nice actually being able to be in the army and not be Captain America. I didn’t really get chance before they chose me for the experiment.” “I know what you mean, it’s been a while since I was anything but War Machine. Feels good to be back doing something basic you know, anything to help. And I still get to fly around in the suit when Natasha calls me.” Steve smiled. He hadn’t touched any of his Captain America uniforms since that day almost four months ago when Thor had killed Thanos. Upon return, he’d made it perfectly clear he had no intention of leading what was rest of the Avengers initiative, relinquishing any control he had over to Natasha but promising to help out if he was needed. He had, however, eagerly taken Rhodey up on his offer to work in the army with the government, doing what they could to help rebuild.

Their first task was re-establishing the Armed Forces and Emergency Services cross states in an attempt to help gain some form of control over cities and places that were vastly becoming overrun with gangs of criminals and vigilantes. It was easy work for Steve, something he could do and throw himself into. He found it simple to slip back into following orders and the physical exertion of the work was also something he relished.

“Yeah well, still wearing a uniform.” Steve smiled, gesturing to his army issue camo pants and pale green top. Accompanied by a utility vest, gun and other standard issue army items it made him feel like he was right back in the forties again.

“Feeling a little bit nostalgic Cap?” Rhodey laughed and Steve gave a chuckle

“Sorta.” he nodded “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret anything that happened but…”

“I hear ya.” Rhodey smiled, understanding immediately what the man meant “How’s Kiddo coping with you being away?”

“Well, it’s not like we aint done it before. I mean when I was at SHIELD I could be gone for days, even weeks, just not really for the last few years.” Steve shrugged, smiling. “But I won’t lie, I’m looking forward to getting home tomorrow.”

“Three year anniversary huh?”

Steve nodded “Doesn’t seem like five minutes since we walked down the aisle” he said.

“Time flies when you’re having fun.” Rhodey said and Steve gave a smirk at the sarcasm before heading for the shower cubicles.

Savannah was stifling in the August heat, and Steve was happy to step under the almost icy stream of water after turning the dial as cold as he could stand. His thoughts strayed to his Katie, the past two weeks he’d been apart from her felt like years and he was ready to get home now. He was glad that she’d been keeping herself busy. Top of her priorities was the Stark Industries Decimation Equity fund (affectionately dubbed SIDE) that had been set up to help people who needed it following the snap. She was also taking over more control in the company as a whole, now Tony and Pepper had withdrawn almost completely from Stark Industries, instead acquiring a house approximately forty miles upstate from the Avengers facility by a lake and were channelling all their energy into renovating it. It was a lot of responsibility for his wife, and Steve had worried about it being too much for her at first but, like with anything, she’d thrown herself at it and seemed to be enjoying it.

He still wasn’t impressed with Tony’s decision to back away. Whilst he understood his brother-in-law’s reasoning, he didn’t agree at him simply shirking what Steve believed to be his responsibilities. But when he’d voiced this to Katie the pair of them had ended up in the middle of a blazing argument where Katie had accused Steve of saying the things he was simply because he wasn’t on good terms with Tony. And, despite his protestations to the contrary, she’d hit the nail on the head. Their relationship was pretty much as bad as it had ever been.

Tony had left the compound a few days after Thor had killed Thanos, without so much as a word to any of them bar Katie and Rhodey, something which had gotten Steve’s back up immediately, and since then there had been no contact at all, allowing the bad feeling to fester. Steve knew Katie was right. They should both swallow their pride and attempt to get onto a more civil ground, if nothing more than for her sake, but something about Tony made that stubborn little kid from Brooklyn rear his head and Steve point blank refused to make the first move, much to Katie’s annoyance.

After his shower he headed out for a few beers at the mess with the Unit before he crossed the camp back to his private quarters, taking another cold shower as the temperature was disgusting, before calling home.

His face lit up when he saw his wife, lay back on her pillow, and her mouth drew into a grin as she looked back him. At times like this he thought Face Time was the best invention ever and over in New York, his wife had to agree as she looked at her husband who was frankly now more of a fucking snack than he had ever been in his life. His hair still remained a little longer on top, but it was shorter than it had been in a long time, swept back of his face, and there was now a short beard-slash-good covering of long stubble framing his jawline again much to her delight.

“Hey, Kitten.” he beamed at her and she smiled back.

“Hey Soldier, how’s Savannah?” “Hot.” he mused.“Sticky.” She raised her eyebrow and sniggered and he rolled his eyes before laughing “You have a filthy mind.” “No sex for 2 weeks, can you blame me?” she pouted

“Well I’ll be home tomorrow and then I can solve that particular problem.” “Promises, promises.” she arched an eyebrow as he laughed.

“Anything happening at your end?”

She bit her lip “Tony and Pepper have set a date for the wedding.” she paused. “And Pepper’s pregnant.” “Wow.” Steve hadn’t been expecting that. He took a deep breath “That’s…” he trailed off. “I think the word you’re searching for is great.“ Katie raised an eyebrow.

He studied his wife’s face for a moment, wondering how she was really feeling about the situation but as ever she could read him like a book. She rolled her eyes and looked at him

“I’m fine, Steve. In fact I’m over the moon for them both.”

“Sorry.” he sighed “I just worry about you sometimes.”

“I know.” her face softened before she changed the subject “What time are you home?”

“Early evening.” He said “I’ve got a few things to tie up here with Rhodey and then you and me are going to celebrate the first wedding anniversary we’ll have had not on the run.”

“I got you a present.” she grinned at the thought of her lunchtime shopping trip earlier that day. In a way it had felt odd wandering down the high-street looking for what she had bought. The Government were encouraging as many people to continue to trade as possible, to keep the economy turning over and, well, because people still needed things. But what she’d bought wasn’t needed, in fact it was completely unnecessary, but still… “Can’t wait.” Steve grinned, before he let out a sigh, “God, Honey, I’ve missed you so much.” “I missed you too.” she smiled back. They made idle chat for another hour or so before they called it a night, and both settled down into a comfortable sleep happy in the knowledge they’d be back together the night after.

******

Katie was setting the table on the veranda outside the next evening when Steve walked through the door. He dropped his bag to the floor as she threw herself into his arms, and he chuckled slightly at the greeting before she pressed her lips to his.

“If I get a welcome like this every time I’m away for a few weeks I should go more often.” he quipped, arching an eyebrow. “Errr, absolutely not.” she said stepping back, pouting slightly before she smiled

“Happy Anniversary Mrs Rogers” he smiled at her and she grinned before she kissed him again.

As was their own little tradition now, they had always given gifts associated with the length of time they had been married. This year-3 years-was leather which Steve thought was kind of fitting really. Leather was durable, but showed the scuffs and marks like battle scars, just like both of them. Mind you, there was no scuffs or marks on the black biker jacket and matching belt Katie gave to Steve, nor the blue patent Laboutin Platforms he gave to her. They cooked dinner together, and settled down to eat on the patio, watching the August sun set over the banks of the river. It was peaceful, intimate and so fucking normal that it felt incredible to the Soldier, just to be there. He told Katie about the work they had been doing over the last fortnight, and whilst it had been hard going, he was reasonably optimistic about the way the Government wanted to proceed. In turn she told him about the latest project that SIDE were undertaking.

“Just in Manhatten alone there are more than five temporary shelters taking kids in." Katie said as she leaned back in her chair.

“So you want to open permanent ones?” Steve tilted his head slightly and she shrugged.

“If we need to.” Katie rubbed her temple “For the time being I’ve told the team to get the number of shelters currently operating across the US, orphanages too they'll most likely still be in operation. Then we can see what we can do. My main worry is there are kids out there alone, scared that need finding and helping.” “Yeah, but you can’t just go knocking on doors looking, just in case.” “Why not?” Katie asked. And Steve had to admit, he didn’t have an answer. She let him flounder for a moment before he noticed she was smiling and he’d been had.

“No door knocking just yet. We’re going to get a list of people who were snapped that had children and then go from there.”

Once they had finished they cleared the dishes up and Katie headed off to get ready for bed. Steve wasn’t far behind, and when he walked into the bedroom, pulling his t-shirt over his head and tossing it aside, he stopped dead, his eyes widening and his lips parting as he took in his wife’s appearance. She was stood leaning on the doorway to the en-suite, waiting for him, wearing a crimson red lace bra, matching French style knickers and those fucking heels he had bought her.

Jesus Christ.

“Cat got your tongue Captain?” she purred. He closed the distance between them in three large strides, his hands tight on her hips as he looked down at her.

“Fuck me.” he said softly, before his lips slammed onto hers as he hauled her up, her legs wrapping around his waist.

“Yeah, that was kinda the idea.” she murmured as he dipped his head, his teeth grazing her collar bone as his lips moved up to that magic spot behind her ear. He deposited her gently on the bed, crawling over her and dipping his tongue into her mouth. His lips moved to the curve of her cleavage which was even more enhanced than it usually was by the underwear and he nipped at the top of her chest, making her moan.

God, he was hard, Katie could feel him through his jeans and that made her ache for him even more. He moved to the side slightly, one leg pushing hers apart as his hand crawled up the inside of her thigh and slipped inside the lace panties, gently to her centre and she let out a soft groan, biting on her bottom lip.

Steve made a noise in his throat when he felt how wet she was, his hand gentle but firm as he cupped her centre, before slipping two fingers inside her, his mouth hovering over hers. She closed her eyes again, and she felt him smirk into the kiss as she let out a shaky groan, her hands skirting to the buttons on his jeans and undoing them. He sat up, pulling her legs so she slid further down the bed and gently hooked his fingers into her underwear, pulling the garment down. He reached her ankles and took one in his hand, kissing it.

“These stay on.” he murmured, gently tracing his finger over the top of her shoe. Katie bit her lip and grinned as he stood up, rid himself of his jeans and boxers before he dropped back down, his fingers moving to the top of her bra, pulling the cups down enough to free her breasts and set to work, gently rolling one nipple with his fingers, the other with his tongue. Katie groaned again, and could feel him now, hovering at her entrance. It was exquisite.

“Stevie, please.” she moaned.

“What do you want, baby?” he asked, breathlessly, as his lips nipped at her ear.

“You..”

That did it. The familiar growl rolled in his throat and he pushed into her drawing a quivering groan from her lips as he began to move, gently at first, gathering pace as he went. He watched her face carefully, her body moving with his as he trust into her over and over, his eyes locked onto hers. He dropped his head to kiss her, deeply, giving a little whimper as she rotated her hips before she pulled back a little and pushed on his shoulders. Steve obliged, cupping each cheek of her ass as he rolled over onto his back, bringing her with him. Katie shifted on top of him, as she reached down to help guide him back into her, a noise that was almost a squeak bubbled from her mouth. Steve let out another groan as she sat upright and began to shift her hips in slow-moving circles, her hands pressed hard into his ribs. His fingers dug into the skin on her hips and he moved his head slightly so that he was half sat up, his mouth taking one nipple into it. She let out another low keen deep from her throat, the change of angle and feeling as he worked her chest was divine. When he fell back down again, his hands pulled her down to meet him as he thrust upwards, letting out a growl, his short thrusts keeping in time with her rhythm which was now growing quicker as she could feel herself beginning to go.

Katie leant forward to kiss him again, his tongue tangling with hers as she pushed down hard, her whimpers mingling with his sighs and grunts of pleasure. Katie could feel him starting to lose his rhythm as well now and as he pushed upwards, pulling her down hard, her orgasm hit her and she let out a cry of delight as she tightened around him, her walls fluttering against his cock. The sensation of it was enough and with a loud groan and one final thrust he came, hard, stilling as Katie collapsed forward on top of him, taking a deep breath.

They were both sweaty and out of breath as he brought his hand up to gently stroke her hair which was now all over the place.

“Just when I think I know you inside out Mrs Rogers, you still manage to surprise me.” he whispered as she bent over to kiss him.

“Well I like to keep you on your toes.” she smiled, her tongue lazily sliding against his. “Speaking of which, can I take my shoes off now?”

***** October 2018

Despite Katie’s protestations to the contrary, Steve refused to believe that Tony and Pepper actually wanted him at their wedding. She had tried in vain to convince him to go but at times like this he was so stubborn and, ironically, the only man on the planet that could rival him for pig-headedness was Tony himself. So now she was doubly pissed at him. He knew that, and if he hadn’t already he would have certainly guessed it anyway by the way she was currently throwing things into her bag after hardly speaking a word to him since the previous night.

FRIDAY informed her that Happy was here to collect her and Katie closed her small carry case. Steve sighed and went to pick it up for her, fully intending on carrying it to the car, but she beat him to it, swatting his hand away.

“I got it, its fine.” she said a little curtly as she did up her jacket. “Baby, c’mon, don’t leave on a bad note.” He pleaded, following her into the living area. “You know I get that you might think Tony doesn’t want you there, but I do.” Katie’s voice was quiet as she levelled him with a look. “And I was kinda hoping that would be enough to make you swallow your pride for once in your God-damned life” His face fell, the expression on it almost made her relent and apologise. Almost. But the Stark stubbornness in her won out and she simply left it at that, slamming the door behind her.

Steve felt like shit. Absolute shit as he stared at the place his wife had been stood a few moments before, the noise of the door banging shut still echoed round his head. With a sigh he swiped at his face with his hands before he headed into the bedroom, changed and wandered down to the gym to work off some frustration.

**** Katie glanced at her reflection. The bridesmaid dress she was wearing was an Alexander McQueen, as was Pepper’s dress, her favourite designer who hadn’t been dusted. It was a deep, burnt gold, almost brown to look at with a hint of a shimmer, perfect Autumn colours. The dress was plain, with a sweetheart neckline, the bodice drawing in her waist and the skirt was floor length, with a slight flare to it. Her hair was twisted up and she wore a white gold headband which was studded with diamonds and pearls, her mom’s necklace that Tony had given to her on her wedding day sat flush to her collar bone. But all that aside, what she really loved was her make-up. It was all autumnal colours, eyes lidded under a burnt orange which had a slight golden shimmer to it setting off her green and amber eyes to perfection, and the contouring was amazing.

Smoothing down her skirt once more, she looked down and stepped into her gold Jimmy Choo heels and stilled as a familiar voice spoke.

"You look beautiful."

Her head shot up and Steve’s eyes locked onto hers in the mirror before she spun round to face him stood in the doorway.

“I thought you weren’t coming?” she frowned.

"I wasn't.” he said shyly, stepping into the room “But, after you left yesterday I thought about what you said and you’re right. So I spoke to Pepper and well, here I am.” Katie looked him up and down. He was dressed in his blue suit and underneath it he wore a light green shirt and tie more or less the same colour as her dress, along with his shiny dark brown oxfords. Exactly the outfit she’d picked for him and left at the front of the closet just in case. With his hair immaculately styled, short stubble impeccably trimmed and a nervous smile on his face, he looked absolutely gorgeous.

“I’m so glad you came.” she managed, all anger forgotten as she stepped forward and he met her halfway.

“I hate it when we fight.” he muttered, gently kissing her, his strong hands on her back, pulling her to him. “I’m sorry, Doll.”

“Look what the cat dragged in.” a familiar voice drawled and the pair of them turned to see Natasha leaning in the doorway, 2 flutes of champagne in her hand. She looked stunning in a knee length figure hugging bottle green dress.

“You look great Nat.” Steve offered, surprised to see a faint tinge of red flushing up the blonde’s neck and cheeks as she smiled and uttered a soft thanks before she looked at Katie.

“Came to let you know that Tony’s here.”

Steve took a deep breath.

“Right, ok, erm…” Katie tugged on Steve’s hand and took a glass of champagne off Nat. “Come on.” “Where are we going?” Steve frowned. “To see my brother, the pair of you need to get this out of the way before the ceremony.” “Baby, I-” “Don’t argue with me Steven.” she retorted, leading him down the stairs and out into the Autumn sunshine, across the lawn which was sporting a banquet tent and down the small path which had been lined with a gold carpet. Tony was stood at the end, under the arch which led into the tent where the reception would be held, directing people. As the Weather was nice, the actual ceremony was going to take place at the end of the wooden jetty. People were already settling on chairs on the banks of the lake.

Steve felt, and looked, like a deer in headlights when he caught sight of Tony. Katie squeezed his hand and whispered for him to relax as Tony, who had seen them approaching, started striding over to meet them.

“Scrub up well, bro!” Katie said to him, taking in his dark grey formal tail suit, ivory patterned waistcoat and ivory ruffled tie. Rhodey, who was stood directing guests to the seating area, was dressed the same, only his tie matched Katie’s dress. Tony had made a point to request no military uniforms at all be worn. Something Katie had been inclined to agree with. Their fighting days were over.

“Errm, shouldn’t you be with Pepper?” Tony asked, dropping a kiss to his sister’s cheek “You look beautiful by the way.” “Thanks. Your gorgeous bride is just having her hair finished off and then I’m going to get her in her dress, but I wanted to come and see you first, we both did.”

“It’s a err, beautiful house.” Steve cleared his throat as he spoke and looked around. He’d never been before, and he felt ridiculously uncomfortable right at that moment for being a complete jerk. He should have done this months ago. "Well, it’s a bit like you Cap." Tony replied, his eyes locking onto his brother-in-law’s. “Ancient, but nothing a little modernisation couldn’t fix.”

Steve let out a chuckle and took a deep breath. "Tony, listen, I want to apologize. For everything.” he took a deep breath “What went down in Siberia was, well it was harsh, and I was out of order. I should have told you about your parents. I'm sorry, I really am."

Katie held her breath, she knew how much that would have taken for Steve to apologise, so heartfelt as well and she knew he wasn’t doing it just for her. As she stood watching, she saw Tony bristle and she stiffened slightly.

"You should be." Tony sniffed, but just as Katie was about to chastise him she saw his face soften, "But all that's in the past now. You know, I get that Barnes wasn’t in control of his actions but I still can’t-” he stopped himself and took another deep breath ”Look, it doesn't matter now, so let’s just say I understand why you did what you did even if I don’t agree with it. And I’m sorry too, Cap.”

Steve took a deep breath and gave a small smile “I missed you Tony.”

“Yeah, well, that goes without saying because I’m so incredibly missable” Tony shrugged before he smiled “I missed you too, buddy.”

The two men shook hands before Tony gave a small huff and pulled Steve into a slightly awkward embrace, the two men clapping one another on the back.

Steve felt like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders. As much as he had tried to deny it, Tony was like a brother to him and he had missed him. Plus he knew how much it had hurt Katie them both being at odds. And he just wanted his wife to be happy and to move forward past what had happened. As he looked over Tony’s shoulder he saw Katie watching them both, her eyes shining an she mouthed a thank you to Steve before she took a deep breath and turned to Tony.

“Right, now that’s done can I leave him with you whilst I go do Bridesmaid stuff?” she spoke with a smile on her face that her two best boys were finally over their spat.

“Yeah, go ahead, in fact, I have just the job for you Spangles.” Tony nodded, and the two men strode off, Tony’s hand in between Steve’s shoulder blades as they walked. Steve looked back at his wife as she strode across the lawns to the house before he turned his attention to Tony as they headed towards the lake.

*****

The wedding was beautiful. Steve knew he was biased but he seriously thought his wife was the most stunning woman there. As she walked down the aisle first, arm linked through Rhodey’s she caught Steve’s eye from where he was sat in between Banner and Natasha and he smiled at her, a genuine smile which she returned. When it was time for Pepper’s entrance, Steve glanced at Tony and couldn't recall a time where he’d seen the man so happy, so emotional.

The small ceremony was conducted and it was time for Steve to perform the task Tony had given to him-signing the witness register along with Happy. It was a small gesture, but one which meant a great deal to the Captain.

The rest of the afternoon passed in a bustle of photos, drink, food and speeches. Tony’s was slightly self-indulgent, as always, before he gushed about his new wife. Rhodey told plenty of stories about them growing up, and then it was Katie’s turn.

“As all of you here know, Tony brought me up from the age of seven.” Katie cleared her throat, glancing round at the various faces in the room. “Our parents died and suddenly there he is, twenty-one years old with a business to run and a pain in the ass kid sister to look after.” She scratched at her head. “My childhood was happy, I wanted for nothing, and that was all down to you.” she locked eyes with her brother “Tony I don’t tell you this enough, but I really am grateful for everything you did and everything you gave to me, least of all the absolute, unconditional love I have always felt from you.” Her eyes were beginning to water but she refused to cry. “I know we have had our differences but you always told me that you could never be prouder of me if you tried, and I want you to know, that the feeling is mutual. I love you, not just as my brother, but as the best substitute father I could have wished for. And it makes me so happy to see you here today, after everything, with the woman that finally made an honest man out of you.” A few more chuckles, but Tony’s eyes were now wet with tears as he glanced up at her.

“Pepper has been a big part of my life for almost twenty years now, and I couldn’t think of anyone else I’d be happier with as a sister-in-law. But, you do know what you’ve let yourself in for right?”

Pepper laughed and nodded.

“Good, because he’s your problem now, good luck!”

Katie sat down as the room erupted into laughs and Steve pressed a soft kiss to her lips, gently wiping at her tears before they could ruin her make up.

As the night closed in, the Marquee was strung up with lights and wooden benches giving the place a warm, welcoming ambient feel. Far too soon for Katie’s liking it was time for the first dance. Tony clearly hadn’t told anyone she was performing as many puzzled faces peered up at her as she took the microphone in her hand and cleared her throat with a nod to the keyboard player who struck up the opening notes to Eta James “At Last.”

Tony’s face split into a grin as he offered Pepper his hand and the new Mr and Mrs Stark took to the dance floor, applause and camera flashes filled the tent as Katie sang, watching her brother and his new wife dance closely. In turn, Steve watched his wife as she sang, her voice as powerful and sultry as it always had been, her eyes shining softly as she was watching Tony and Pepper revolve on the dancefloor. As customary, people began to join them and Steve turned to Nat.

“May I have this dance ma’am?”

Natasha studied him for a moment before she smiled and slipped her hand into his, where he took her into a polite hold and steered them around the dancefloor, catching Katie’s eye causing her to smile.

When the song finished everyone turned to her and she flushed a little, giving a shy smile before she cleared her throat.

“I’ve got one more.” she said, and Tony frowned as he looked at Pepper who met him with an equally puzzled look, but when the band started to play Tony’s face slid into a huge smile as Katie winked at him, before she once more began to sing.

Now that she's back in the atmosphere With drops of Jupiter in her hair, hey She acts like summer and walks like rain Reminds me that there's a time to change, yeah. Since the return from her stay on the moon She listens like spring and she talks like June, hey, hey

Tony looked up at her, his eyes shining as he tossed his arm over Pepper’s shoulders, everyone in the tent gently swaying along to the song.

But tell me, did you sail across the sun? Did you make it to the Milky Way To see the lights all faded And that heaven is overrated?

Tell me, did you fall for a shooting star? One without a permanent scar And did you miss me While you were looking for yourself out there?

The upbeat part of the song kicked in and everyone hit the dance floor, Tony clapping Steve on the shoulder as once more he started to dance with Natasha. He rolled his eyes as Tony simply grinned, whirling Pepper away.

Now that she's back from that soul vacation Tracing her way through the constellation, hey She checks out Mozart while she does Tae-Bo Reminds me that there's room to grow, hey Now that she's back in the atmosphere I'm afraid that she might think of me as

Plain ol' Jane told a story about a man Who was too afraid to fly so he never did land

Katie was now completely lost in the song that her and her brother had sung together so many times. She allowed the memories to wash over her as she sang, suddenly back in his convertible mustang cruising over the Golden Gate Bridge, then again dancing round in shorts and a bikini by the pool, then she was back in the kitchen, aged 17 both of them holding wooden spoons to their mouths as make-believe mics. She sang out note after note and as she launched into the final chorus. Tony, who knew the song was coming to a big crescendo had stopped dancing to start winding the crowd up as she belted out the last bit of the song, eyes closed as she dipped slightly, hand extended by her side.

And did you finally get the chance To dance along the light of day? And did you fall for a shooting star? Fall for a shooting star?

And now you're lonely looking for yourself out there

The marquee erupted into a cheer and Katie smiled to herself, handing the mic back to the singer of the band who thanked her, drawing another cheer from the crowd. Steve walked forward and offered his hand to his wife to help her walk down the small steps from the stage.

“You amaze me every single day you know that?” he said, his lips brushing her ear as the band struck up into a soul song and he lead her towards the bar for a drink. She beamed at him, cheeks flushing from the singing and the adrenaline that had been pulsing through her veins at the fact she’d been stood on a stage, singing in front of a group of people for the first time since her drama performances at University. He dropped a kiss to her cheek and she moved her head to catch his lips softly.

“Kiddo?” at that she spun to face Tony, who didn’t say another word, simply pulled her into his arms and squeezed her tight, kissing the side of her head. She held him back, happily resting her head against his shoulder. He eventually released her, and then turned to head off over the dance floor to greet someone else.

“I saw you dancing with Nat.” Katie slid her hands up Steve’s chest as he ordered a beer and a gin and tonic, his jacket and tie now discarded on one of the chairs behind him.

“Jealous?” he arched an eyebrow, his hand settling on her hips.

“Not in the slightest” her hands connecting round his neck. “I thought it was one of the sweetest things you could have done. She’s been so down lately.” “She seems ok tonight.” he turned, watching the woman in question as she stood talking to Bruce “Maybe she just needed reminding that there’s still life to be lived.” “That’s very philosophical of you, Captain.”

“I have my moments.” He grinned, looking back down at Katie, his hand on her hip pulling her closer. “Are you still staying here tonight or coming home?” “Undecided.” she teased, her hands resting on his chest, muscles broad and tense under her fingers.

“Well if you come back with me I’ll do that thing you like.” his short beard scratched her cheek as he spoke softly into her ear.

“That’s blackmail.” she looked at him.

Smirking, he kissed her softly. “I know.”

She did go home with him, and Steve was about as gentle and tender that night as she could ever remember him being. His lips were soft as he made sure to cherish every single part of her body. His hips rolled against hers, keeping them locked together, hands entwined together as he gently pinned them at either side of her head, eyes locked onto hers as he took her apart, piece by piece.

They lay there afterwards, Katie’s head resting in its favourite place on his chest, his hand gently running up and down her spine as she slept. Resting his head against hers, he closed his eyes on what had been a pretty amazing day in all honestly. He and Tony were back on an even keel, and being surrounded by people at the wedding he couldn’t help but marvel at the love, friendship and happiness that had been present at the event.

He hadn’t ever thought he’d see it again on that scale after the snap, and it gave him faith that, just like he had said earlier, there was still a good life to be lived.

*******

January 2019.

Steve pulled his jacket collar up against the snow and trudged across the car park towards the store entrance. A soft, white blanket covered the cars that lay abandoned after the snap, something he knew that the Government was going to have to sort at some point. Heading into the shop, he noted that it was reasonably busy compared to how it had been the last time he’d popped in a few weeks ago. He supposed that was a good sign. Grabbing a basket he headed straight for what they needed- milk, eggs, bread, bacon, fabric softener and tampons (ok, so the last weren’t what they needed, obviously, more what Katie needed). She’d laughed when she had given him the list and offered to go instead, but he was a modern man now, they’d been together for almost six years, married for over three, he could deal with buying his wife tampons, right?

Now he was making a mental note, as some woman was slyly eyeing him as he grabbed a box, to remind his wife it’s a fucking good job he loves her…

He whizzed around picking up the rest of the stuff and was heading to the till when he heard a loud shout. Spinning round on autopilot he saw one of the security guards chasing someone, a kid dressed in a pair of dirty jeans, a jacket that was far too thin for the weather, and a baseball cap, down the aisle. Steve let out a sigh. Shoplifting and petty crime had rocketed as people struggled to make ends meet following The Decimation. As the kid neared him he gently held out an arm to stop them passing and the child, a girl, gave a loud yell and looked up at him angrily.

Instantly his heart leapt into his throat. Granted, it was a few years since he had seen her at the last Stark Christmas Party, but he’d recognise those brown eyes anywhere.

“Gerrroffff me!”

“Emmy?” he frowned and she paused her struggling to look up at him and he removed his hat “It’s me. Steve.” “I know you are.” she blinked, and then began to struggle again.

“Stop it.” he said, voice full of authority and he turned to the security guard. “What’s the problem here?”

“Caught her down the aisle back there, shoving packs of chocolate and chips into her backpack.”

“Ok, but has she actually committed a crime yet?” Steve asked “I mean, nothing has left the store. If I pay for it…” “No but she was gonna!” “But she hasn’t actually?” The security guard let out a groan. “Look pal, you’ve no idea what it’s like trying to keep this place straight.” “Oh believe me Sir, I do.” Steve mumbled, before he glanced down at Emmy. She was small, her cheeks pinched like she needed a good meal. He looked up at the man “I’ll pay for the items and then ensure she’s dealt with.” “Dealt with?” The Security guard frowned before he looked at Steve properly and then his eyes widened “Holy shit, you’re Captain-” Steve cut him off, holding his hand up. “I assume that’s an acceptable proposition?”

“Of course Captain Rogers.” he nodded. Steve shook the man’s hand and then turned to Emmy.

“Give me the bag.” he said, gently. She looked up at him before she sighed, handing it over. Steve tipped it out onto the conveyor belt at the till. A few bars of Hershey, some kettle chips, toothpaste, soap.

“Have you been on your own since, well, since it happened?” he asked.

Emmy shrugged “Foster parents both dusted. Not that I care like, they were horrible. Better on my own.” Steve stiffened slight as he handed over some cash to the assistant. He studied Emmy as she packed her things into her bag. He couldn’t leave her like this.

“No one’s better on their own.” he shook his head. “Listen, I’ll give you 2 choices. You either come back to the compound with me for something decent to eat, or I can take you to one of the shelters.” “And if I refuse to do either?”

“Okay, three options.” Steve raised an eyebrow at her sass “I turn you back over to Mall Cop over there and you can be handed into the police.”

Emmy snorted at his film reference before she looked down and plucked at something on her coat. “Is Katie…” “Yeah, she’s there.” .

“Suppose coming to see her wouldn’t be so bad.” the small girl shrugged. Steve smiled, picked up the bag of groceries and gently went to place a hand between her shoulder blades, to steer her towards the car, but he stopped dead when she flinched violently to his touch.

“Hey, it’s okay.” he said gently “I’m not gonna hurt you.”

She looked at him, with an expression that made her look far older than her years and rolled her eyes whilst giving a snort “Yeah, that’s what they all say.” Frowning, he shoved her comment the back of his mind. That was something to tackle later.

*****

Lucky alerted Katie to Steve’s return home as he shot off the couch next to her and headed to the door before it even opened. Katie glanced over the back of the sofa and did a double take as Steve headed in with a familiar face in tow.

“Emmy?” she gasped, getting up off the sofa. The girl smiled a little and allowed Katie to pull her into a hug “What are you doing here?” “He kidnapped me.” Emmy glowered at Steve who rolled his eyes as she stood up from where he had crouched down to greet Lucky.

“That’s crap Emmy and you know it.” he said sternly. “She was stealing.”

“Emmy!” Katie frowned.

“Look it was that or starve.” she shrugged.

“Starve? What? Wait, have you been…” Katie let out a groan as she realised the implications of what the kid was saying. “Oh, honey you should have found someone, got help!” “Better on my own.” She repeated, kicking the floor with her dirty trainers. “And you can’t keep me here ya’ know?”

Katie looked down at the girl. She would be 11 now, but she looked a lot smaller than she should be for her age. Katie glanced up at Steve who nodded to the kitchen.

“Listen, I was gonna cook dinner so at least stay for some food?” She asked. Emmy shrugged.

“Suppose so, what we having?”

“Pot roast.”

“Got any mash?” the girl’s eyes lit up and for a brief second Katie saw the cheeky eight year old kid she had last seen a few years back.

“I can do mash.”

“Okay I’ll stay.” Emmy agreed before she looked at them both, a little sheepishly “could I have some hot chocolate, like they used to do at the parties, please?”

“Sure I can manage that.” Katie smiled.

After settling her on the sofa, Lucky jumping up besides her, Katie retreated into the kitchen and gently shut the door before she set about making a Emmy the hot chocolate she had requested.

“What happened?” Katie looked at Steve who sighed, crossing his arm.

“The Security guard at the store was chasing her after he caught her stealing. Chocolate, chips, toothpaste and soap.” Steve shook his head “She’s been on her own since the snap, said her foster family all disappeared.” “Shit.” Katie sighed stirring the cocoa powder and a square of chocolate into the hot milk.

“Yeah but,” Steve gently moved to hand Katie the marshmallows out of the cupboard, “she said something odd, about her being better on her own and she practically jumped out of her skin when I touched her. When I told her I wasn’t gonna hurt her, she said ‘that’s what they all say’”

Katie’s hand slipped at little as she contemplated Steve’s words, and she reached for a cloth to wipe up the liquid she had spilt. “You don’t think…” “I don’t know.” Steve sighed “But I couldn’t just leave her.” “No, course not.” Katie shook her head, reaching up to touch his face. “Just one of the many things I love about you ,Rogers.”

He gave a soft smile.

“I thought maybe we could give her a good meal, get her cleaned up, she could stay here tonight and then we can figure out what to do.” Steve shrugged. His wife smiled at him, and grabbing the mug, she stood on her toes and gave him a kiss.

“You know,” she said, opening the door to the kitchen, “you might not be Captain America anymore but you’re still a hero.”

The three ate and then Katie convinced Emmy to have a shower and settled her down in the spare room, promising her that neither of them were mad at her. Once she was convinced the eleven year old was asleep she returned to the living room and snuggled down next to Steve who had poured her a glass of wine.

“She ok?” he asked.

“Yeah. Out like a light.” Katie sighed “I’m so glad you found her.” “She mentioned you wrote to her.” Steve said softly “Why didn’t you tell me?”

She shrugged “I dunno, I just… sorry.” she trailed off, her fingers running around the rim of her wine glass. “I care about her Steve, I always have.” Steve let out a soft breath and kissed his wife’s head. Her compassion never failed to amaze him.”

“I know.” he sighed a little, “she looked so lost. I can’t believe she’s been on her own for so long.” “Yeah well not anymore.” Katie scratched at her nose. “This is exactly why we need to sort those homes out. I mean there are hundreds of kids out there like that.” Steve nodded and took a long pull from his beer.

“Just seems so shitty.” Katie carried on “That she’s had two foster homes now and, ok, the last one doesn’t sound like it was so great, but we’re gonna shove her back in a home and…” She trailed off, tears in her eyes. Emmy deserved so much better.

“Well,” Steve turned his head to look at her “I’m sure you’ll make sure she has a good place for when she has to leave.” Katie stayed silent for a moment, before she took a deep breath and decide to just go for it and voice what was on her mind.

“What if she doesn’t?”

“Doesn’t what?”

“Leave”

“What, you mean, she stays here?”

“Would that be so bad?” Katie asked, “I just, I dunno, Steve, I can’t…” She trailed off. She’d thought about fostering the girl before but never really brought it up because of their circumstance really not being appropriate, but now, with them both being pretty much retired from the Avengers, maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea.

Steve looked at his wife, the hopeful look she was giving him made him want to kiss the life out of her. He knew she loved the little girl, she’d always had a soft spot for her. Would fostering a kid for the time being be such a bad idea? It would mean changes, a lot of changes and they would be inheriting an eleven year old pre-teen, with an attitude to boot. But, they had the room and Natasha was always on hand as well...

Maybe this was just another little way they could give something back.

“Why don’t we ask her tomorrow?” Steve suggested. “If she wants to stay then maybe we can look at it, at least until something else turns up.” “You mean that?” Katie looked up at him and he nodded.

“Yeah.”

With a teary smile she shifted so she was led on top of him and reached up to gently cup his jawline with her fingers.

“Thank you.” she kissed him softly. Of course Emmy wanted to stay. And after a fortnight of her being at the compound Katie and Steve made the enquiry into fostering her on a more official basis, which was easier than it would have been pre-snap, officials keen to rehouse children with people that were willing to take them in.

The first month was full of teething problems. Emmy had refused to go back to the house she had been living in, screaming blue murder when Steve had suggested they collect her things. So Katie had taken her out shopping for clothes and bits and pieces that she needed. Then she had refused to try anything on in the changing rooms. Ever patient and recognising the signs of trauma and panic, Katie had calmed her down and told her they would simply take the clothes home and that it wasn’t a big deal. It transpired, after a tearful confession later in her room, Emmy was simply frightened that they would see the marks on her back left by the belt her foster father had hit her with and she had broken down, Katie simply laying with her until she fell asleep.

She also had nightmares and would often wake up screaming, but wouldn’t let Steve anywhere near her to comfort her. He didn’t take it personally, not after he knew what she had gone through with her foster father, but it did upset him somewhat to think that she could be afraid of him. As time went by she became a lot more comfortable around him, but still wasn’t really happy with any physical contact from anyone bar Katie. Steve simply respected her boundaries, Katie assuring that she would come round eventually.

Emmy found a friend in Natasha, the young girl spending a fair bit of time with the woman, often Steve would find them in the gym, Natasha teaching her some boxing move or other. Steve wasn’t completely sure it was a very good idea, but he left them to it as Emmy would come back to the apartment gushing about what she had learnt, keen to show them both her ‘moves’ as she called them. It was those moments that they both enjoyed, the signs of a cheeky young girl flashed through.

Maybe more surprising, however, was how much she took to Tony. Katie said it was because they were the same mental age, which Pepper had vehemently agreed with. Tony simply treat her like he would anyone else with his usual sarcasm and bluntness and she was fascinated by anything the inventor would show her when they visited the lake house. Turns out she had a real knack for technology, and the two of them set about on a project, building a small remote control robot which Lucky wasn’t quite so sure about as the dog would run away, bark, come back, and run away again whilst Emmy cackled away from her vantage point on the stairs where she controlled it.

Alongside this, Katie was still working on setting up homes for other kids through SIDE, and when she came home saying that there was a place for Emmy at the most recent one, the Rogers were both forced to face the reality that, whilst they had meant the fostering to be a temporary arrangement, neither of them wanted Emmy to be placed back into care.

So at the end of April, they made the fostering arrangement permanent.

Which was why Steve now found himself in a hardware store with a ridiculously hyper young girl, picking out a colour to paint her bedroom in.

“I don’t want pink.” Emmy frowned, looking at the colour chart on the wall.

“Well, what do you want?” Steve asked patiently.

“Purple. I think. Maybe a lilac.” “Okay there are some over there.” he nodded and she crossed the aisle to study the colour.

“I think I like this one.”

Steve nodded. “Good choice,” before he found the tin with the correct shade in and dropped four onto the trolley.

“Alright, that’s that done.” Steve said, looking to her “You wanted a new lamp too?”

“I don’t need one…” she began. “No, I know, but you wanted one.”

Emmy’s face lit up and she nodded so they headed over to the light display. Her eyes went wide as she made her way straight over to a tall lamp, the shade of which was made up of strands and strands of small silver stars.

“I love it.” she said gently. Steve nodded, picked a boxed one up off the shelf and dropped it onto the flat bed trolley.

“That was easy.” he smiled.

“Please can I get some fairy lights for round my bed?” Emmy asked timidly “We told you kid, whatever you want, well, within reason.”

With another face-splitting smile, Emmy selected some fairy lights. And a rug. And a few new cushions. And a throw. And a new bed for Lucky who seemed to have taken up permanent residence in her room when she was in there. Several hours and a couple of hundred bucks later they were on their way home after Steve had been cajoled into taking a detour through the drive-through for a burger.

“Hey!” Katie greeted as they walked through the door, Emmy carrying the cushions, Steve lugging everything else “Wow, you buy the whole store?”

“Is it too much?” Emmy asked, nervously “We can…” “No, I’m teasing honey!” Katie chuckled, dropping a kiss onto her head. There was a moment and then Emmy burst into tears.

“Okay,” Katie sighed, taking her hand “Come on.”

Steve watched, feeling slightly useless, as he couldn’t help comfort the girl. He followed as Katie led her to the couch and he sat on the arm chair as Katie patiently sat Emmy down and waited until she had stopped sobbing. Lucky jumped up besides her and pushed his face into hers, licking away her tears as she wound her hands into the dog’s sandy coloured fur.

“I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry about.” Katie assured her “Do you wanna talk about it?” “I’ve never had nice things.” The little girl wringed her hands together and looked up at Katie from underneath wet eyelashes. “And when I did, then my foster brothers would break them and then he would hit me because I didn’t look after them.” She never used her foster father’s name. It was always he or him. Steve clenched his fists and felt the nerve tick in his jaw.

“You know we would never hurt you Emmy.” he said, leaning forward, fighting the urge to reach out and tuck the hair that had fallen over her face behind her ear. “And no one else is gonna hurt you whilst you’re here.”

She wiped her eyes and gave a small sniffle. “I know.”

“So, how about we dry those tears and you help me make dinner?” Katie looked at her “Whilst Steve-O puts your things in your room.”

Steve let out a playful groan as Emmy giggled “I really wish you’d stop calling me that.”

Katie stuck out her tongue as he rolled his eyes and stood up, slapping his thighs with his hands. “The pair of you are a monumental pain in my ass.” “Language!” Emmy shot back as she smirked at him and he gave a snort, picking up the items they’d bought and taking them into her room.

Whilst they were in the kitchen Steve set about fixing up her lamp, the fairy lights, threw the new throw and cushions they had bought on her bed and set the remote for the flat-screen TV they had had installed on the wall on her nightstand. He called the girls to come and look and Emmy’s face was a picture, her eyes lighting up as she saw her room. She glanced around and looked at Steve, then to Katie, then back again.

“We can start painting over the weekend-” Steve began but was cut off when the girl threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing her forehead to the top part of his stomach. Steve paused for a moment before his hand gently fell to the back of Emmy’s head as he stooped and gave her a hug back, looking up at Katie who was smiling from her vantage point in the doorway.

“She’ll come round in time…”

His wife’s voice echoed around his head as he dropped a soft kiss to the top of Emmy’s head and smiled at Katie. That was just another time in a long list of instances his wife had been right.

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#stark spangled banner #steve rogers x original female character #steve rogers x oc #steve rogers #captain america #tony stark #iron man #natasha romanoff #black widow #mcu #mcu fanfiction #marvel #marvel fanfiction #avengers fanfiction #avengers #fanfic #fancfiction

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phoenixdaneko · 4 years ago

Text

Major BNHA Arcs Headcannons

These are basically just Headcannons for where Phoenix was/How she participated in the arcs for BNHA, cuz I realized I only defined a couple of the arcs.

@jackalclot

~~~~~~~

Sludge Villain/Entrance Exam Arc:

Alright, to preface this, I tried to figure out where Aizawa lived, and I could not find it. So, for the sake of the childhood friends thing, we're going to say he lives in Musutafu.

Phoenix moved in permanently with Aizawa and Mic at 6 years old.

She ended up going to the same elementary school as Izuku and Katsuki, that's when she met them. (Couldn't find the elementary schools name either).

Despite the fact that Izuku was quirkless, and Bakugou seemed to hate him, she remained close to both of them. She liked to hang out with both of them at the same time, and though the two didn't get along, Bakugou was at least a little bit nicer when it was the three of them. Individually, she hung out with Bakugou more often than Izuku.

Once they were all in Aldera Junior High, she tried to keep them from fighting, but she often got placed in different classes than the two. She split who she'd eat lunch with.

She was not present at the sludge Villain incident. She did hear Bakugou's remark about the swan dive off the roof. She did grab Izuku's notebook and dried it off best she could, and that was one of the few days she walked home with Izuku without Bakugou. She split off from Izuku before the tunnel where he got attacked, walking back to her house.

When she got home and saw the news of the sludge Villain, she rushed to check on Bakugou and Izuku. She checked on Izuku first, and after verifying that Bakugou was alright, she ripped into him for what he said to Izuku. She refused to speak to him for a week after said incident, and even after the week was up, it took her another month to go back to normal.

When the three went to the entrance exams, she wished Izuku luck, believing in him, but got dragged away by Bakugou. She had to stifle laughter upon hearing her Papa's voice announcing everything, and was the only one who responded to him. (Mic thanked her for that when they were home.)

When Izuku started muttering about Mic, she did laugh out loud, and got yelled at by Iida, though she was angrier that he insulted Izuku.

She was in a completely different battle center than the others, and racked up a good amount of villain points, but most of her points were rescue points. She did not know about the rescue points, and she thought she had failed until the actual letter came.

She briefly met Kirishima here, as he was in her battle center. He had destroyed a chunk of debris coming towards her, and they exchanged names before running away.

A scar came from the entrance exams, she overused her quirk with her orange fire, and it left a small explosion scar on her upper chest. She tends to forget it's even there as it's rather faded.

Quirk Apprehension Test Arc:

This one is short. Phoenix didn't do anything to stand out, landing somewhere in the middle of the rankings, though she was surprised to see Izuku having a Quirk. She tried to catch Bakugou and keep him from going after Izuku, but it didn't work out for her. She snickered when Aizawa grabbed him, and she was one of the last ones to leave.

When Momo spoke about it being a lie that he'd expel the class, she had to keep from laughing, as she knew how many classes he'd expelled before. She was just glad he saw potential in Izuku.

As she tries to be prepared, she gave Aizawa another bottle of eyedrops and a hug before rushing away.

Battle Trial Arc:

This is where Phoenix met Shouto! She got placed on Ojiro and Hagakure's team, and managed to get herself unfrozen after he had frozen the building. She gave Shouto a fight before he captured her with the capture tape and secured the weapon. She did yell at Bakugou for how much he hurt Izuku during his trial, and it shocked their classmates by the fact he didn't attack her and just listened quietly, considering how brash he was with everyone else.

U.S.J. Arc:

Phoenix was warped to the downpour zone in the USJ. This was one of the worst areas for her, as it is an area constantly filled with rain and wind. Her quirk was no use to her here, and she got warped to a different portion than Tokoyami and Koda. She had to rely completely on her own skill. She mostly just ran from the villains she encountered, but one did manage to leave a rather large cut on her back.

She made it back to the center the same time all might had arrived, and saw Izuku, Tsu and Mineta carrying Aizawa. She almost broke then and there.

She made her way to them, picking Aizawa up on her own, burying her face in his scarf as she cried. The man who had taken care of her for almost 11 years, her dad, was broken in her arms.

When the medics arrived, she refused to leave his side, and ended up at the hospital with him. When she was asked about it later, she used the cut on her back as her excuse.

She also berated Izuku for being reckless while she was there.

She helped mummyzawa get around.

U.A. Sports Festival Arc:

Nix practically begged Aizawa and Mic to allow her to stay in the booth with them as they did commentary.

She explained that she didn't want to have her name announced, because if someone happened to recognize her last name, they might recognize her as the daughter of her father and his company, and didn't want anyone to think she was getting an unfair advantage. This was partially true, the real reason was the fear that someone would recognize her last name and connect that she was the Yakuza heiress, and out her to the school.

Aizawa made her participate in the obstacle course, but Mic never talked about her, and she didn't make the cut off. She then did sit in the commentary booth, she just didn't say anything, and just napped in Aizawa's sleeping bag.

She did watch her friends battles, and after Shinsou had lost, she went to talk to him, showing him her secondary Quirk, and that's how they became friends.

She figured she would just do her work study with Aizawa.

Vs. Hero Killer Arc:

Surprisingly, Phoenix got an offer from Endeavor, and despite having talked to, and becoming friends with Shouto, and knowing how Endeavor acts, she did accept the offer, if only to offer Shouto moral support. And she had learned that Aizawa was giving Shinsou training.

She wished Shinsou luck before she left, and boarded the train to Hosu with Shouto.

She did learn more about fire shooting techniques while internshipping with him.

Both Shouto and Phoenix got the location from Midoriya, and despite being extremely worried for her childhood friend, she told Shouto to go without her, sticking with Endeavor.

As they continued to fight, she got another notification, this time from Shouto. Without a second thought, she rushed to help. She had learned how to propel herself with her explosive flames by studying Bakugou, and it aided her in getting to them quickly, but burned both arms past her wrists.

As she got there, she managed to give a blast of fire, buying enough time for the effects of Stain's quirk to wear off, and as they went towards him, Stain flung a knife that struck her in the burned area of her left arm.

She had to keep herself from screaming by biting her tongue so hard it bled, and kept the knife in her arm, hiding her arm underneath her cloak.

Once Shouto learned about that, he was even more worried about the hand crusher thing.

She got lectured at the hospital the same as the boys, but after the police were done yelling at them, she got up and yelled at them for being reckless.

(She ended up getting 3 lectures from all 3 dads once she got back.)

Final Exams Arc:

She studied on her own for the written portion of the exams.

After much consideration on the account of the teachers, Phoenix got placed on the same team as Momo and Shouto, facing off against Aizawa. This was because this was the only team that she'd work well with and wouldn't detriment.

Aizawa knew both she and Momo needed to work on their confidence, so they got placed together. Aizawa was as ruthless as ever, but they all did pass.

After the exam, Aizawa acted like she was in trouble, and after they were out of earshot of the class (with Mic watching to make sure no one was eavesdropping), he checked that she wasn't hurt.

Training Camp Arc:

This was not a good one for her. She had fallen asleep on Aizawa's shoulder on the way to the camp, so when they got to the cliffside, she was still half asleep, leaning on Todoroki for support.

She didn't see the ground falling out from under her, and tumbled down the entire mountainside.

She ended up with sticks in her hair and scratches across her arms and face, but ignored the pain to fight.

She basically forgot about her wounds until they got to the lodge, and almost collapsed. She fell onto Bakugou, and he ended up holding her up until she got inside and Mandalay took her to get her scratches cleaned.

She was completely fine, and she was in the hot springs that night, except she just stayed underwater until she ran out of breath, took a breath and repeated the process. She didn't even notice the Mineta situation.

During training, she had to work on harnessing different aspects of her hellfire quirk, and practiced her White Noise quirk on Aizawa. However, she overused her White Noise quirk quite often, which left her drained.

I know it's kinda cliche, but she did end up getting kidnapped, as well as Bakugou. She was paired with the two for the scare game, and helped Tokoyami with Dark Shadow. Already rather exhausted from using her quirks all day, Bakugou ended up deciding to pick her up, carrying her on his back.

Compress managed to snag them both at once, along with Tokoyami.

Basically, she got taken alongside Bakugou.

The reason the league had decided to snag her as well as Bakugou, was because Shigaraki had noticed how close she was to Aizawa during the USJ attack, and as she is the heiress to the Grim Yakuza, they figured they'd be able to sway her to their side easily.

Boy, were they fucking wrong. They tried to threaten her, but she was only half alert, and basically responded to their threats with a "Bet, do it." Once she was fully alert, she just kept her mouth shut, no matter what they did.

She ended up propelling herself with Bakugou, and grabbed onto Izuku as they flew away.

When they met up with Momo and Todoroki, she ended up leaning against Todoroki, holding onto Bakugou's hand as they watched All Might fight. She almost cried, but kept it in, squeezing Bakugou's hand to keep him grounded as best as she could. She ended up crying about the fact later.

She also holds guilt about possibly being the end of All Might, but she refuses to let it show.

Provisional Hero Licence Arc:

Phoenix did end up getting her license. She was with Shouto, but had ended up on her own. She focused on rescuing people and getting them protected in the middle of the fake city.

(I didn't have a lot to do for this one.)

Shie Hassaikai Arc:

Phoenix, after getting kidnapped, was under strict watch by Aizawa and Mic, both worried about their daughter.

She ended up interning with Aizawa, and she was present during the Shie Hassaikai raid, despite Aizawa trying to talk her out of it.

She saw the pictures of Eri and immediately felt a connection, and she was determined to save her. She got stopped farther back, but blasted through as many walls as she could to help Izuku and Mirio get to Eri.

Once the mission was successful, she basically rushed to go meet Eri, and the two clicked pretty quickly.

She had only met Nighteye briefly, but she was shaken up to hear about what happened to him, and it added onto the list of people she felt like she ruined. She holds this guilt with her.

(I just wanted to have Nix take a part in saving Eri,,,)

Remedial Course Arc:

Nix is not part of this one,,,

UA School Festival Arc:

Nix can sing, and she can kinda dance. She plays a couple instruments, but she didn't have one that wasn't already taken.

As she didn't want to take the spotlight from Jirou, she ended up staying with Eri and Mirio during the performance.

She and Eri tried candy apples together.

((I just wanted some fluff))

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spellnbone · 5 years ago

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7 years, 3 months, 1 chance

Location: Greengrass Manor Time: Evening, December 10th Status: Closed, for: @rylandgreen

Seven years of sharing a room with someone makes you believe you know them well. When Ryland had disappeared, Edgar had been one of the first to raise questions. But Edgar was also always the first wishing to answer such questions in good faith, with hope, with too much trust in people. To call him naive would be too much of a stretch, but when it came to people, he did want to believe in the good in them until the very last proof -- or the firm opinion of someone he trusted just as much. In Ryland’s case it was Caradoc who told Edgar to quit dreaming and start seeing the truth. Ryland had switched sides, as to be expected from a Greengrass, that was just how it was, please let us focus on more important matters. And Edgar had done as he was told, ignoring the pull in his veins telling him that seven years of sharing a room with someone couldn’t just be for nothing. Couldn’t make you so wrong about them...

It was only when the rumors had come, months later, quickly proven to be facts, that Edgar raised his questions to Caradoc once more. Ryland Greengrass hadn’t been seen on their side for quite a while either. Either he had left the country, fled -- but why, if it was to escape Death Eater, not tell the Order? -- or he was-... Edgar refused to imagine it. And indeed. Emma Vanity, having heard a thing from someone who had heard a thing from someone who had definitely not meant to hear a thing, then brought the spark of hope. And then, after visiting the Greengrass manor, not just the proof but also the plan: 10th of December, debutante ball, everyone out!

On the 8th, it was proposed to the Inner Circle, by the 9th the plan was a firm one, taking into consideration people staying at home after all, maids and footmen, Phoenix Tags, warning wards, normal but black magic wards, and of course portkey in and out. The only thing lacking was the question of: Who? When the 10th came around and the question was still not answered, Edgar thought about seven years of sharing a room and grasped his wand tight.Peter Pettigrew -- quiet and quick by nature -- and Emma Vanity -- knowing the Greengrass manor better than Edgar -- joined. Assigned? Voluntarily? The lines blurred. In that moment, when he gave a firm nod and the three of them reached for the portkey, he had no time for lines. For reconsidering trust. He had mistrusted the wrong person for too long already, and he was not about to make the same mistake again. “And remember, we'll attract less attention if we don't act like intruders,” he told them, right when they landed in the bushes behind the manor. “If servants see you, Pettigrew, act a beggar, news boy, messenger. Anything. Don’t activate the tags, or your presence will be brought to the Greengrass family. Emma, you just say you got the debutante ball dates messed up and came here to bring a present to the daughter. Lie, relax, don’t bolt, don’t wait for me to get out and home. We don’t have much time, we shouldn’t lose it, but we mustn’t look in a hurry.” The last bit was not at all according to the plan the Inner Circle had come up with, but the lines of right and wrong were blurred. The last thing they wanted was to be surprised by someone who lived there and react with panic... It was best to be prepared for such a thing and know to react casually. “Trust your instinct.” And don’t trust others.

Which was why, when Emma and Pettigrew left to make sure no one would get near the basement, Edgar hoped they’d be quick in thinking in case some Greengrasses had remained home after all. Because other than servants, those people wouldn’t trust them either. Edgar didn’t let himself dwell on that. He followed Emma’s description down to the basement, all the way to where she had stopped searching, and further still. Only that here, he turned off the light of his wand and used it to detect wards instead, activated his Phoenix Tag, and silenced the sound of his footsteps. And more importantly: he stopped looking. The basement was, like Emma had described, not like the labyrinth-like catacombs in the House of Bones, but who knew if special wards had been placed in places where only strangers would walk into as a form of security system. Thinking logic into your path and searching everywhere could be a threat. So Edgar remembered how often had he gotten lost in the House of Bones catacombs. How often had he found out by closing his eyes and singing a song to keep his mind off his steps? This was the same thing. Except that now he didn’t sing, he listened.

Once upon a time, many, many centuries ago, people believed that people who shared their truths with each other also shared pieces of their soul. A trade that was not easily undone, as the fusing of soul pieces was invisible -- even if the book he had read this in had visualized it like colourful clouds around the person’s body. Two lovers would get so close, share so much, that their clouds would melt together and become one, and upon breaking up, forcefully removing oneself from the other, the soul-cloud ripped apart. Not neatly, though, not in a way that each soul returned to its owner, but with remaining pieces of the other forever tied to your own soul as well. And pieces of your own soul, now living with the other person forever. That was how they explained the pain of heart break. And while Edgar had never been this close to Ryland, and certainly not felt heart break over him, seven years of sharing a room certainly had to lead to small trades of truths, no? And so Edgar closed his eyes and listened to the pieces of his own soul that had to be here somewhere, wherever Ryland was.

The tugging in his veins guided him to a wine shelf he would’ve never though to check, and despite his mind telling him this couldn’t be it, he tapped his wand against it, and indeed, instead of green sparks, red sparks fizzled out. That the normal unlocking spell wouldn’t work was to be expected, so Edgar tried a few others, most of them some he made up himself and which wouldn’t cause wards specifically crafted to activate upon noticing the typical unlocking spells, and eventually, click. An entrance gave way. Before taking a step, he took a breath, eased out his breath. Everything within him told him this was it, but, or perhaps therefore, his mind was spinning wild ideas of danger. He had to cancel them out. And when he managed, he went in. And there he was. Ryland Greengrass, already on his feet, fitting the gaunt surroundings of his cell, eyes on whoever would come in.

It was only in this moment that Edgar realised how relief was not something to be felt today. Not now while they had yet to get out. Not later, when the mission would be proven successful. How long had Ryland been here? How much earlier could they have gotten him out if his last name hadn’t made them think he could be a traitor? Was he well? Would he recover? Would he forgive? Edgar pushed all those thoughts aside, grasped onto what needed to be done first: He held up his Phoenix Tag, knowing Ryland would recognise it, while his gaze -- veiled by the spell -- jumped through the cell-complex to see if perhaps others were here as well. He’d also have to check for more wards, possibly some attached to Ryland himself. For now, all that mattered, was that there was no one else, and he could speak: “We’re getting you out.”

#ryland #ryland 1 #december10th #m:emma #m:peter #m:caradoc

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hoshisstuff · 5 years ago

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Wrightworth Omegaverse recs?

Can anyone out there recommend some good Omegaverse fan fiction featuring Wrightworth/Narimitsu or Klapollo? I’ve read everything on AO3 and I’m dying for more.

Below are some good ones if you’re looking for it yourself (to be updated as I find more). Please be aware that most of these are NSFW.

Wrightworth/Narumitsu:

“Exposure” by Bella_Luugosi on AO3.

Alpha!Phoenix, Omega!Miles, ongoing

After Engarde's trial and Maya's release, Phoenix wonders if his newfound trust in Miles might extend to something more than friendship, this time without Miles running off to Europe right after their date.

Phoenix is an alpha, and the worst thing he can imagine is that Miles, who he believes to be a beta, won't countenance dating someone with a secondary gender. But Miles has a long, difficult history to contend with, and a secret he's trying desperately to keep.

“Overheated” by Write Anything Agency on AO3

Alpha!Miles, Omega!Phoenix, ongoing

Heats can be trying on everybody, especially the Omega. Yes, there's lots and lots of sex, but doing nothing but breeding for days at a time is physically and mentally exhausting. And they can sometimes happen without warning, which is something Phoenix has never had to deal with until this point.

A more realistic look at an Omega heat cycle, where instead of just displaying the sexy parts, we get to explore the not-so-sexy parts as well. 'Cause, when you really think about it, nothing sounds more painful than an Omega's heat. Or an Alpha's rut, for that matter.

“A Series of Firsts” by Write Anything Agency on AO3

Alpha!Miles, Omega!Phoenix, ongoing

This fic consists of snippets of Phoenix and Miles's relationship with each other, detailing the important "firsts" of their relationship. From first kisses to first ruts, it'll all be covered in here!A companion piece to "Overheated", but you don't need to read it to understand what's going on.

“Believe Me When I Say I Love You” by Write Anything Agency on AO3

Alpha!Miles, Omega!Phoenix, ongoing

In the span of seven far-to-short months, Miles Edgeworth had gone from a single alpha to a bonded father of one. Beginning to date Phoenix by itself would have been enough of a change for him, but he’d barely had a chance to live that life before it all got ripped away from them.

Almost three months after Phoenix's disbarment, Miles finds himself in Germany struggling to balance his newfound family with his career. Unable to relocate permanently to the US, he's forced to make a sacrifice that he really doesn't want to make.

Takes place after A Series of Firsts, but before Overheated. You don't need to read either of those to understand this fic, but it adds flavor.

“Alpha, Plus or Minus Epsilon” by Aris Merquoni on AO3

Alpha!Miles, Beta!Phoenix

Phoenix has never dated an alpha before.Miles Edgeworth has just asked him out.

Phoenix isn't going to let a little thing like differing biology get in the way of their relationship, no matter what surprises are in store.

“Away Childish Things” by Aris Merquoni on AO3

Alpha!Miles, Beta!Phoenix

Miles Edgeworth spent a lot of effort getting his alpha instincts under control. Manfred von Karma taught him what it was to be a perfect alpha, and he'd never considered that he should act otherwise.

Of course it was eventually going to come crashing down around his ears. Fortunately, Phoenix Wright is a beta who, for better or for worse, doesn't care in the least about perfect alpha behavior.

“Omega, Plus or Minus Epsilon” by Aris Merquoni on AO3

Omega!Miles and Beta!Phoenix

Miles' heat hitting around Christmas has never been a problem before. He's always been able to take suppressants and ride out the season in a fog of medication.

This Christmas is a little different, and the fact that Phoenix Wright has turned his world upside down has all kinds of repercussions.

“Five Greek Positions Phoenix and Miles Found Themselves In” by Aris Merquoni on AO3

Various configurations

It could have gone a lot of different ways; here are five of them. Scenes from five different universes, where Phoenix Wright and Miles Edgeworth still have to figure out how to relate to each other.

“Au naturel” by sabinelagrande on AO3

Alpha!Phoenix, Omega!Miles

It comes natural, and as far as Athena is concerned, that's a good enough reason to do it.

“Determinism” by sabinelagrande on AO3

Alpha!Phoenix, Omega!Miles

It takes Phoenix forever to find out, but it never really mattered in the first place.

“Howling for You” by Milesphoenix on AO3

Alpha!Miles, Omega!Phoenix

Phoenix's heat comes sooner than anticipated and Miles is all too happy to help his mate through it...even if it means providing what is needed in the middle of the woods.

“Two Years” by Moorglade on AO3

Alpha!Phienix and Omega!Miles

Miles joins a pottery class, makes a friend, goes to therapy and has some overdue realisations.

“Change” by Sleepy_fan on AO3

Alpha!Miles, Omega!Phoenix

Shortly before his "disappearance" Alpha Edgeworth sleeps with Omega Phoenix.

“A Summer Day Long Overdue” by Skylarium_Rose on AO3

Alpha!Miles, Omega!Phoenix

The wedding of Miles Edgeworth and Phoenix Wright has been a long time coming and it's finally here! But a lot of work has to go into making sure it's the best day they've ever had and completely deserved.

Which means they're going to be some...bumps along the way

“The Serendipity of Fools and Family” by Skylarium_Rose on AO3

Alpha!Miles, Omega!Phoenix

Sometimes life just happens and it sucks. But sometimes, love does too and that make it all the more worth wild. Phoenix and Miles experience this in their usual way, unconventionally, and still make it out alright with more people to love than before.

Klapollo:

“Strange Days” by Saevam on AO3

Alpha!Klavier, Omega!Apollo, hasn’t been updated in years but still a great read

He was a Beta. A regular old Beta, who shouldn't be aware of the Alpha mating season. Nor should he be attracting the attentions of a high pedigree Alpha such as Prosecutor Gavin.

Apollo was pretty certain that when he went to bed the night before he was a regular old Beta. However, considering how many Alphas’ heads he’s turning this morning, things are definitely starting to look strange.

“Stranger Stories: A Strange Days Series” by Saevam on AO3

Alpha!Klavier, Omega!Apollo

A series of short stories that take place before, during, and after my Ace Attorney Omegaverse Story: Strange Days. Strange Days is the Main Line Story for this AU, so while it is not necessary to read Strange Days, the intention of this is to be a collection of side stories that don't exactly fit into the story of Strange Days. This collection will offer insights into the characters and further world build for this Omegaverse AU series.

“Neglected Feelings” by ShikoMora on AO3

Alpha!Klavier and Omega!Apollo

Learning his mate was supposed to be Justice, Klavier fled to Germany.

Now, almost 3 years later, Apollo is no longer willing to accept his return.

“Let me tell you how the sun makes me sing” by Skylarium_Rose on AO3

Alpha!Klavier, Omega!Apollo

Apollo never really had more than one friend and that was fine. He just needed someone to go to get away from the Troupe for awhile.

Klaiver was given expectation on who he should befriend and just went against his parents' wishes altogether.

Somehow they find each other and it becomes a worthwhile friendship and more for the both of them.

Stories of Apollo, Clay, and Klavier having fun, being semi-normal, and just handling life.

#ace attorney #wrightworth #narumitsu #phoenix wright x miles edgeworth #ace attorney fanfiction #aa fanfiction #phoenix wright #omegaverse #omegaverse fanfiction #Alpha Miles Edgeworth #Omega Miles Edgeworth #Alpha Phoenix Wright #Omega Phoenix Wright

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petri808 · 5 years ago

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Soul of the Dragons

*note* this takes place as if FT 100 never happened. AU canon divergence. Nalu. Includes OC characters. 13K words slightly angsty, and the ending is a cliffhanger of sorts Sorry! if I ever have time I may do a part 2 maybe.

Ever since they’d dealt with Acnologia, life in Fiore had calmed down so much that it gave them a lot of downtime to focus on other things. For Lucy, that meant her writing and a year ago not only had she got a book published, but they also recognized her as a new writer. Her friends all went about life like normal, taking jobs and missions for the money, with new relationships blooming around them. She was so happy for her friends Levy and Gajeel, whom two months ago found out they were expecting a child. Even Gray and Juvia had stopped dancing around their feelings and come clean.

Things seemed idyllic at the Fairy Tail guild.

But as she arose that morning, just like many mornings, there was always a nagging emptiness still needing filling. Lucy wasn’t sure when this really started, but maybe it was because of all the happiness she was seeing around her. As she looks over to the empty side of her bed, Lucy closes her eyes and curls around her pillow. Seeing all the blissful couples made her heart clench. She was happy for them, but she wished she could beone of them too. Was that so wrong?

With a groan, Lucy files away her pain and starts her day. She had promised to help Levy in the archives search for a book on lost solid script spells. Promises made, are promises kept. Shorts, tank top, pony tail, keys, done. Lucy checks herself in the mirror one last time and heads out.

“Thought you two could use something cool to drink since you been at it for 3 hours now.” Mira places a tray with lemonade on a worktable. “Any luck so far?”

“Nope.” Lucy plops on a couch and grabs a cup.

Levy joins her friend and takes the second glass, “Looks like I’ll be taking a trip to the Magic Library after all.”

“That sounds like a good idea,” Mira smiles sweetly, “What do you think?” The bar maid waves her hand in front of the blonde, “Lucy, what do you think?”

With still no response, Levy shakes her friend, “Earthland to Lu!”

“Huh?!” she snaps back to the scene, “Were you talking to me?”

“Yeah but seems like you’ve got other things on your mind.”

“Err, kind of.”

“Wanna talk about it?” Mira asks as she grabs her tray.

“Nah, I’m all right; it was just for a new book idea.”

“Okay, well I was just telling Levy I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take a trip to the magic library to do more research.”

Lucy throws on a smile to ease their concerns, “Yeah that’s a good idea.”

“Well, I better get back upstairs, good luck girls.”

“Thanks for the drinks Mira.”

As soon as Mira leaves the room, Levy turns to her friend, “Lu, I know you’re lying. Now, what’s on your mind?”

“Nothing, I swear!” Lucy waves her hands in the air to wipe the slate clean, but when Levy raises an eyebrow she groans, “Damn it, you know me too well Lev. It’s about the guy I have a crush on okay, and it’s driving me crazy.” She slumps back, “I see everyone else moving on in that department and…. and I’m thinking maybe I should too. I mean if he’s never gonna see me like that then I’d just be wasting my time waiting.”

“Oh man,” Levy hugs her friend tightly, “I didn’t realize you were feeling like that.” She lets go, but keeps her hands on both of Lucy’s shoulders. “It’s really up to you what you want to do, but I think he cares about you in that way, just doesn’t know how to tell you.”

“I don’t know…” Lucy looks down and plays with her fingers. “It’s true he always wants to tag along on all of my missions, and he keeps dropping by my apartment uninvited but yet whenever I mention or hint about a closer relationship he digs out. Something's gotta be up. In fact, I’m thinking he follows me because he feels I’m not strong enough to do anything on my own.”

“Now that’s just anxiety talking, Natsu of all people knows how strong you are.”

“I hope you’re right and he doesn’t know how to approach me. Still wish he’d figure it out sooner rather than later,” Lucy rolls her eyes.

Levy laughs and sits back, “Gajeel had to think he was dying, I had to think he was dying for us to realize what we meant to each other. I’m not saying I hope it came to that, but especially with guys figuring out their feelings…” she chuckles again, “it’s almost like you have to slap it into them!”

Lucy snorts at the sight of the bluenette sitting there so serious with her hands on her hips. She laughs too, “Gah, you’re so right. Men, I swear will be the death of us.”

“Why don’t you come with me to the magic library, and no boys allowed.”

“Eh,” Lucy shrugs, “why not.”

It took a day to convince Gajeel to let Levy go since he was being overprotective about her pregnancy. After begging, pleading, and the promise of staying in touch by lacrima, two days later the girls finally found themselves neck deep in dusty, ancient, piles of books. Registers had sent them to the most promising section of the library but even with magic reading glasses the task was time consuming. So, while Levy scans through a couple stack’s they had discovered, Lucy wanders nearby.

Two rows over on a bottom shelf, she comes across an old text with a key symbol on its binding. ‘How curious,’ she wonders, not expecting anything special from the almost washed-out burgundy colored book. Lucy flips it over and reads the faded title, ‘Hmm, Elemental Fairy Keys, this sounds interesting.’ She shifts the magic glasses down from her crown, opening the book to its first chapter. The more she reads, the wider her eyes grow with excitement.

Rushing over to where Levy had entrenched herself in a book, “Oh my god Levy you need to hear this!”

The poor girl almost jumps from being startled, “Where’s the fire?!”

“This book talks about Celestial Keys that represent four Fairy Elemental spirits! I’ve never heard of it before,” Lucy opens to a specific page and points as she reads while Levy looks from beside her, “see, it says there is a red key for the Fire Fairy Phoenix, a purple key for the Air Fairy Pegasus, a green key for the Earth Fairy Draco, and finally a blue key for the Water Fairy Hydrus.”

“Those are Celestial spirits?”

“Yes, these are constellations too, just not as well known as the Zodiac ones.”

“That’s pretty cool!”

“Oh, I know who I can ask!” Pulling out her key, “Open Gate of the Southern Cross! Crux!”

“You called my dear?”

“Hi Grandpa Crux, could you tell me more about these Fairy Elemental keys?” Lucy shows him the book she found.

“Hmm, I haven’t seen those used in oh, half a millennia.”

“Do you know why?”

“Well, because only the king can grant those keys to an owner so, he holds them in the Celestial World.”

“But why? What’s so special about them?”

“They are more powerful than the Zodiac keys.”

Both Lucy and Levy’s jaws drops as they turn to look at each other, “M-more… powerful?!”

“I wonder what I’d have to do to earn them,” Lucy blurts out.

“For that you’d need to speak to the King.”

“Okay.” Lucy smiles. “Thank you, Grandpa Crux!”

“You’re welcome my dear.”

After Crux disappears back to the Celestial World, Levy turns to her friend, “so what are you gonna do now?”

“When I get home later, I’ll ask Virgo to take me to see the King.” Lucy bounces on the balls of her feet and smiles, “but first let’s get back to finding your book.”

It’s not until the following week that Lucy finds an opportunity to learn more about the keys. She and Levy had stayed until nightfall before finally finding a book that the script mage believed was what she was looking for and when Lucy had returned home, a certain slayer was waiting. Natsu wanted to go on a mission soon since funds were running low. Not that she didn’t disagree, Lucy maybe had enough to cover expenses for 3 months at the most. She tried to convince him that if needed money now, he could always go on his own, but he insisted that she come along. Typical Natsu dragged her off to another mission.

Finally, back home with spare time, she found herself in the Celestial Realm, courtesy of Virgo. “Hi King!”

“Hello Lucy, what brings you today?”

“I found a book talking about the Fairy Elemental keys and Grandpa Crux said I needed to talk to you. How does one get them?”

He rubs his mustache, “Oh, well nothing special, in your case you simply need to ask.”

“Really?! But why so easy?”

“Well, it’s not normally this easy. I keep them here, so they do not fall into the wrong hands because they are the most powerful of the Celestial Spirits and they require a Wizard strong enough to handle all four. There hasn’t been a wielder powerful enough like that in over 300 years until you, my dear. That you could summon me means you have become strong enough to control them.” He grins, “and I would trust them in your hands.”

“S-So you’re giving them to me?”

“Yes.”

“Wow! So, are they like the other spirits where I set up contracts with them? Can I use my Star Dress form with them? Exactly what are their powers?”

He chuckles. “Yes, yes, and you can discuss that all with them.” The four keys materialize before her.

The moment Lucy takes hold of the keys she can feel the power thrumming through them. She holds them close to her chest, “Oh my, thank you so much King!!”

“You are welcome my old friend but just remember, they require a lot more energy to summon than you are used to with the Zodiacs. Be good to them like you are with your other spirits and they will work hard for you too.”

“I found Crateris’ key, so his power boosts will come in handy.” Virgo appears at her side and motion’s that they are running low on time. Lucy nods and waves her goodbyes to everyone. “Thank you again King!”

Back at home, Lucy wastes no time in wanting to seal the deal. It was exciting! Well, it was always exciting each time she contracted with a new spirit, but it’s been a long time since she’d found any of such power significance. Lucy pulls all four keys out of her pouch ready to make her contracts with them. She knew it would be a serious drain, but to make things quicker she opens all four gates at the same time.

“Open Gate of the Firebird! Phoenix! Open Gate of the Winged Horse! Pegasus! Open Gate of the Dragon! Draco! Open Gate of the Water Serpent! Hydrus!”

A blinding light, greater than any of the others had been, blankets the entire apartment causing Lucy to shield her vision. “You’ve summoned us master?” She slowly opens her eyes as the light fades away and sees the four spirits standing before her. They were beautiful!

She does her best not to act too giddy, throwing on a warm and inviting smile. “Hi, I’m Lucy your new owner, but please don’t call me that or master, or anything like it, just Lucy is fine. I’d like to set up the contracts with all of you and learn more about your magic.”

“Hello Lucy,” the smaller of the two male’s steps forward. “I am Phoenix,” he bows with one palm placed upon his chest and the other arm hanging at his side, “the leader of the Celestial Fairies.” Standing straight again, “I speak for all of us in saying we are available whenever you need us. But tell me for I am curious, how is someone as young as you able to summon four spirits at the same time? That takes a powerful mage.”

Shrugging her shoulders, “I guess I’ve gotten strong enough over the years and Crateris gives me a boost when I need it. I can only hold the four gates open for so long, but I figured it would be okay just for the introductions.”

“Amazing,” Phoenix smiles, “and are you the one that had summoned the King?”

“Yes, that was me.”

“Now it all makes sense. Please, let me introduce us. We each can control a different element, I,” motioning to himself, “have fire,” he also gestures to each spirit as he names them off, “Pegasus has air and wind, Draco earth, and Hydra water. And when I say control, we can generate or manipulate anything based on those elements...” As Phoenix explains, Lucy stares awestruck at the four standing before her and commits to memory as many details as she can.

Phoenix, the leader of the elementals is a tall, maybe 6 foot, lean but toned, darkly tanned gentleman who appears around the age of his late 20s or early 30s. His ruby red hair is pulled into a low-hung ponytail, falling till the middle of his back; not quite wavy but with a feathery-like texture. And his eyes are a yellowish to light hazel color that is striking against his darker hair. For clothes he has on a simple, black vest, and gray slacks that cuts nicely to his frame. Dapper might be a good way to describe him.

Pegasus is a curvaceous and very statuesque woman with flowing white hair that ripples down to her mid-thighs and sky-blue colored eyes that seem to get more brilliant the longer you gazed into them. She looks to be around Lucy’s height, maybe a couple inches taller and wearing silver winged earrings. For clothes she has on a flowy, floor length white dress that is one-shouldered and cinched at the waist with a hanging silver cord. Lucy notices the cord's end in miniature silver horses.

Draco, the more handsome of the two males, is taller than Phoenix by at least 3-4 inch’s and seems closer in age to her, maybe early 20s at the latest. He has a muscular build that’s not overly developed but just perfect and sports a medium tanned skin tone, with cocky forest green eyes that seem to peer into your soul. As an outfit he wears a somewhat fitted, short-sleeved, button down eggshell white colored shirt but with the first few buttons left open, dark brown khakis, and a matching suede or leather jacket. His dark, reddish-brown spiked hair was long, messy and untamed. In fact, the longer she stares at him, the more he reminds her of when Natsu had returned after his year long hiatus.

And last, Hydra is a thinner but still very buxom beauty with straight teal colored, waist length hair, and light sea-green colored eyes, who stands about the same height as Pegasus. She wears a loose, cream-colored halter top that ends just above the navel and dark green skin tight leggings that have a slight scaled appearance. At first glance Lucy hadn’t noticed, but as she shifts her focus, she swore Hydra’s eyes had become more serpentine in appearance. ‘Duh,’ Lucy chides herself, it’s a sea serpent so what did she expect?

Over all, the one thing they all have in common are the translucent wings coming out from their backs; though each shimmered with their element’s colors. The wings themselves ranged in size and shape, matched to the spirits innate being. Phoenix’s wings were more bird-like, while Draco’s was rougher in appearance with jagged edges like a bat. Pegasus had rounder, fuller wings that reminded Lucy of a butterfly, and Hydra’s, the closest correlation was to a fish’s pectoral fins but larger.

“Wow! That’s all really amazing! So, are these your normal forms? Or do you have another that you also use? Like Phoenix can you change into an actual fire bird? or Hydra a winged serpent?”

Phoenix chuckles “Yes, most of the time we will be in these fairy forms because it is less threatening and requires less energy to summon, but we can shift into our true forms as needed.”

“I’m also able to use the Star Dress spell, does that work with you spirits too?”

“Yes. And we well know of whom your other spirits are, and they’ve assured us you have been one of the best owners they have ever worked with.”

“Awe, that’s so sweet of them! I don’t treat my spirits like tools to fight for me, I prefer to fight alongside them as much as possible, which is what I love about the Star Dress form. It allows me to do that more easily.”

“Well miss Lucy, I can sense that we are taking up a lot of your energy so since we have established the contract, I believe we should go for now. When you are ready to train with our magic, please call on us.”

“All right, well it was great meeting you all and I look forward to working with you!”

“As do we, good bye Miss Lucy!” As the other three disappear, Draco lingers walking up to her and takes her hand. She blushes lightly from the gesture.

“He forgot to tell you, we are fiercely protective over our owner, if we sense you are in danger one or more of us may appear on our own to assist you.”

She squeezes and pats the back of his hand, “Thank you Draco, I’m kind of used to that from Leo so don’t worry, I don’t mind.” She smiles sweetly at him.

Lifting the back of her hand to his lips he gives it a kiss, “Till we meet again princess,” then disappears.

With a sigh, she throws herself onto her bed. ‘I’m so excited to get to work with them! And Draco, he’s so…… attractive… Wait till the others see my new spirits!’

Lucy sneaks away every chance she could to train with the fairies. For about a month, one by one she works with them individually to both learn what they can do and what she’ll be able to do in their Star Dress forms. The whole experience had taken her back to the days after Tartaros when she’d honed her other spirits forms. It was exciting! For the first time since their fight with Acnologia, Lucy was feeling alive again and finally independent!

And she loved working with them. Lucy realized from day one of training why the King didn’t allow just any mage to get their hands on these keys because they were powerful. Someone like Leo, the most powerful of the Zodiacs couldn’t turn into a real lion, but Phoenix could turn into a firebird. Taurus was physically strong, but he couldn’t hold a candle to Draco towering overhead like a real dragon. Even though she still wanted to get more training under her belt, Lucy decided it was about time for her to reveal them to her friends and the guild. But not before a small test. Just a small one, something easy that even the most basic of what she has learned would be effective.

Looking around the guild Lucy doesn’t see her pink haired teammate, perfect, so she sneaks over to the mission board. Standing in front of it and perusing the options, she looked for one that could test the basic skills of the Fairies. She reaches for a flyer that looks promising, but not before it’s snatched away by Natsu.

“Luce, that’s too hard for you to do all by yourself.”

She snatches it back, “Ugh! Says who, you?! I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself!”

He laughs, “Why don’t I go with you?”

“Because I don’t want you to!”

“Why not!” He whines, “And why have you been avoiding me lately?”

“You seriously are an idiot!” They’re attracting attention, but she doesn’t care. “I don’t understand why you keep insisting on coming along on my missions, or showing up unannounced at my apartment, or, or… Ugh! Why am I avoiding you, you ask!? It’s because I finally realized that I can’t wait around forever for you to decide!” Lucy crosses her arms over her chest as all the anger and tears she has held back rush forth. “You don’t wanna be my boyfriend that’s fine, but with that choice, you need to give me some space so I can move on and find someone who’ll love me back!”

Natsu is stunned at her explosion. Yes, he knows he can be an idiot sometimes, but he knows exactly what she is ranting about. He knows she has a crush on him, but he was afraid. He had watched Macao’s marriage end badly, he’s seen two others get into relationships and if they broke up, so went the friendship. It may not be much experience to base his thoughts off of, but it still worried him immensely. Losing her for any reason was not something he wanted to have happen. But, even now as Lucy confronts him on it, those fears are still holding him back.

“But Luce,” he reaches out for her, but she steps out of his reach. “You’re my best friend, that’s why I wanna go with you on missions. That’s why I enjoy hanging out with you at your apartment, and I don’t think you’re not capable, I don’t wanna see you get hurt, or….”

“Don’t you get it Natsu, I value our friendship, but I also want to feel…. Feel romantic love, like Levy or Juvia! I’m tired of being the one left out!”

Just as Natsu is about to respond Draco suddenly appears at Lucy’s side. He puts his arms around her waist pulling her in tight so she can sob into his chest while he glares at Natsu, “Is this guy bothering you my Princess?”

“YOUR Princess!!!” roars an incensed and literally smoking Natsu. “Who the Fuck are you!! Get your hands off My Lucy!!”

Bellowing, a deep laugh, “She is not Your Lucy. Did I not just hear her say you didn’t want to be her boyfriend? So, what gives you the right to demand I let her go? Clearly, I am not holding her against her will.”

“And what are you to her!” Natsu lights his hands on fire. “No matter, I’ll make you back off!”

“Natsu stop it!! Draco is one on my spirits! He came because of how upset I am.”

Gritting his teeth, “Not even Leo holds you like that so who the hell is he really?! I-I’m the only one who can hold you like that! So, tell him to let you go!!”

“I’m sorry Natsu but I can’t do that.”

“What!!” Natsu is even more livid, “Why not!”

Without responding to the question, Lucy looks back up into Draco’s eyes and puts her arms around his neck. Taking her cue, he leans down and kisses her on the lips; smirking the whole time with his eyes still trained on Natsu.

Natsu’s jaw drops simultaneously as a loud growl emanating from him. He makes a grab for Lucy when Draco’s wings suddenly extend out, whisking he and Lucy out of his physical reach.

“I’m sorry Natsu, but there’s nobody else you can blame but yourself for all this.” A single tear falls, “It’s time you give me some space.” In that moment, she and Draco disappear.

Standing alone Natsu just hangs his head, a crowd of his fellow guild mates surrounding but staying at a distance from him as his anger mixes with despair. ‘S-she kissed him? S-she kissed him! No, No, No! And space? That would kill me…’ Seeing their dejected friend, Gray and Erza rush over but he pushes them away and runs out of the guild. He wants no one to see his tears.

He had to make things right, there was no way he would let a spirit or any guy take Lucy away from him! Together forever…. The words rang back through his mind. He wouldn’t have said it if he hadn’t meant it, and he meant every meaning of those words. ‘Okay,’ he berates himself on the run to her apartment, ‘maybe I should have followed through after I said it, but there’s no turning back now and if that damn Draco wants a challenge, this dragon was gonna give him one!’

Draco teleports them into Lucy’s apartment and set her down on her feet. She sits down on her couch and let’s out a loud exhale.

“Thanks for playing along with that Draco,” Lucy blushes at the memory. “I kinda wanted to see his reaction.”

“You’re welcome Princess.”

“Sit, you’re making me nervous just standing there.” She pats the couch seat next to her and he obliges. “By the way, is there a reason you call me Princess?”

“You don’t like it?”

“I don’t mind it, Leo sometimes calls me that, and Virgo too.”

“You’re like a beautiful Princess.”

Lucy’s cheeks heat up. “Don’t tell me you really a sweet talker like Leo.”

Draco just chuckles, “No I’m nothing like Leo, that guy is on his own playing field with the ladies.”

“Well,” she whispers, “you aren’t so bad yourself.” He turns to look at her, but she averts her eyes and stares at the ground.

He turns her chin towards him and speaks softly, “Are you trying to tell me something?”

“N-No…” she stammers but he continues to look at her with his piercing green eyes. Sigh, “I’m sure you’ve been around long enough to know girls find you attractive.”

Subconsciously they both lean closer to each other, “Yes, but in all my years, I don’t think I’ve ever come across anyone like you.”

With just an inch of space left Lucy realizes their distance and pulls back. “I-I don’t think it would be appropriate to… There must be rules against an owner and their spirit… And I still care about Natsu…”

“There are no rules against it. But you’re right, we probably shouldn’t… move so quickly. Let’s focus on your training and working with us.” He stands up, “But at least you have someone else to comfort you now when you need it.” He winks to her before he disappears.

Sigh, “Why couldn’t Natsu have been more like you Draco…” She pulls her knees up and wraps her arms around them, sobbing lightly. “Ugh, why’d I have to fall for that pink haired idiot! I should have known he’d break my heart. I mean he’s so dense with other people’s emotions! And what was with his attitude today, I mean who the hell does he think he is calling me his! If he wanted that kind of power over me, he should have picked me for his girlfriend!” “Argh!” she throws a book against the wall.

Unbeknownst to Lucy, Natsu has been standing under her window listening, and hearing her rant about him shakes him up more.

A call comes in from Levy through the lacrima-com. “Oh, hi Levy, huh? Yeah, I’ll be okay. No, no, you guys need not come over. Who? Draco? He’s one of the spirits I told you about. I’m sorry I…. No, I should have told you guys sooner, but I wanted it to be a surprise. The King was so right about how powerful they are…. Yeah, he said I’m the first in over 300 years that qualified.” Lucy chuckles, “thanks, I’m proud of it too. Wait till you guys see them, they can transform…. Yeah that’s what makes them different. Mmm…. He reacted like he was jealous…”

Natsu eavesdrops from below her window, ‘How’d I not know about these new spirits, god maybe I am an ass, definitely an idiot. If she’s supposed to be my best friend, how did I not know so much about her? Was I really that oblivious?’ He hears Lucy sigh.

“I do still love the idiot. I’ll always love him but…. No, I don’t know what it’ll take…. No, I have no real interests in Draco…. Well yeah, he is handsome, but it would be wrong for a master and a spirit… I know Lev, you’re right, maybe he will. Okay, I’ll see you later too. Bye.”

He slumps against the wall, running his hand down his face. He had to do something but what? It’s not like he was the most romantic person. Scratch that, he had no clue what romance really was. All the flowers and candies thing, was that even real or was it stuff dreamed up for those books the girls love to read cause he’s seen none of the guys show up with bouquets at the guild? Natsu sighs, as much as he didn’t want to ask for help, he would need it. Maybe Bisca and Al are a good start since they’ve been married for so long…

After their fight, Lucy avoids Natsu, but he would not leave her alone. Oh, he gave her two days to cool off, but that’s when he really started his campaign to win her back. Thanks to all the advice from their friends on top of all the fix this situation threats levied at him, Natsu felt he’d come up with a plan of action sure to win her back.

And it started with flowers.

Early one morning, there is a knock on her door that drags a tired Lucy out of bed. She’d been up late the night before working on her latest book. The sudden intrusion was highly annoying!

“Ugh, who is it?”

“Flower delivery ma’am.”

Lucy opens her door to find an older gentleman in a messenger uniform. He hands her a bouquet of a dozen pink roses and tulips, her two favorite flowers. “Have a nice day.” He tips his hat and walks away.

Closing her door, she stares at the flowers, ‘who sent me flowers? It’s not my birthday, or a holiday…’ she finds a small envelope stuck in between the blooms.

“Luce, I don’t know if you’ll believe me yet, but I really meant what I said. You’re my best friend in this entire world and I didn’t mean to make you cry. I hope you’ll forgive me. –Natsu.”

There’s a small uplift in the corners of her mouth as she takes in the scent of the flowers, “Well it’s a start I guess, but you’re not off the hook just yet, mister!”

The morning sun was barely peeking over the horizon on the following day as Lucy stretches her arms through a big yawn. She turns over to hug onto a pillow when a flat rectangular box shifts next to her forehead. ‘What’s that?’ Lucy pulls herself into a sitting position and picks up the box. Her eyes flash wide for inside she finds a beautiful silver charm bracelet. ‘Wow….’ She maneuvers the bracelet to look at each charm piece; a flame, a key, a star, a letter “L”, a heart shape, a letter “N”, a cube with the letters “BF”, a Fairytail emblem, and pink stones in between each charm. Securing it on her right wrist she smiles…

Another morning, and Lucy is getting ready for another lazy day of writing since the weather was ugly and there wasn’t a major reason to go to the guild that day. She heads over to her desk and laying on top there was a brand-new journal with a folded letter waiting for her. Three days in a row, she muses, Natsu was sure working overtime to gain back her attention.

Good morning beautiful. Maybe our future adventures will help inspire a new story for you to write about. <3 Natsu.

She runs her fingers over the leathery grain, “Awe, that was sweet of him! Since when did he get so romantic?”

She was almost disappointed to not wake up to a surprise, but that afternoon, and another delivery of flowers shows up at her door. This time, the stakes have risen for it’s a dozen long stem red roses and another small jewelry box. After placing the roses in a vase, she sits down with the box and card and opens it. She gasps, ‘Oh my god what the hell is he trying to tell me?!’ The box contains a custom silver ring with the Fairytail emblem inlaid with small white and pink diamonds. When she looks closer inside the band there are her initials and a date.

Ripping open the card, tears flow down her cheeks as she reads the letter,

In July of X784 you entered my life and joined Fairytail. I still remember how excited you were when you got your guild stamp… Despite what you might think, I care about you as more than just a friend. I was just afraid… I treasured our friendship above anything else and I had seen friendships die because of breakups and I never wanted to lose you like that. But I should have realized that by holding back, it was only causing you the very pain I was trying to avoid… I’m so sorry Luce.

Seeing you… with Draco… another man holding you and kissing you…. I died a little that day. You were right, I only have myself to blame for it all. But I hope I’m not too late. If you forgive me, please meet me for dinner at Our Magnolia tree in South Gate Park at 5pm. Love, Natsu.

There were moments she almost turned around and went home but reminded herself that she needed to see him too. But by the time 4:50pm had rolled around Lucy was making her way through the park’s entrance. As she nears the tree, she can see Natsu standing with his back towards her. While he still has his scarf on, the rest of his attire takes her aback. Natsu dressed up for her, something he’s never done before on purpose! Lucy’s heart beats faster. He was so handsome in a suit!

Hearing a racing heartbeat approaching, Natsu slowly turns to see who it is. Heavens, Lucy looked spellbinding! As she makes her way over, he takes in the sight walking towards him. The blonde mage was absolutely stunning in a black, plunging halter style top ending in a red miniskirt and black 3-inch wedge heels. The charm bracelet and ring were catching some late afternoon rays, and her hair had been left down, straight and parted in the middle to frame her face. “Y-you look gorgeous, Lucy…” he chokes out. Hints of pink line his cheeks and ears.

She giggles, “You look handsome too Natsu. Thank you for all the gifts they were really sweet. So,” a light blush alighting her cheekbones, “why d'you wanna meet here?”

“I um, needed to see you, and wanted to talk. But first, I have reservations for dinner nearby.”

“All right, shall we get going then?”

“Yeah!” he grins, the toothy wide smile he often has plastered on his face when he is nervous.

Clasping her hands behind her back Lucy walks alongside Natsu. For a time, they walk in silence through the park until they reach the street and need to turn left or right. “So Natsu, where are we going?”

“This way,” he points to the right. “We’re going to Café Concerto, the foods good but I picked them for the private dining rooms.”

“Private rooms?” Some naughtier ideas pop into her head.

“Yeah, so we can talk easier.”

“Oh,” She exhales still trying to get the images out of her head. “Sounds like a good idea.”

Continuing on in silence, Natsu notices a dreamier look on Lucy’s face. Her hands have drifted away from her back and now sway along with her steps. He wonders what she is thinking about, but instead of asking, takes advantage of the fact she’s not paying attention to what he wants to do.

Lucy lets her mind drift during the brisk walk. ‘I don’t want to get my hopes up, what if he’s doing all this to just placate me, to just let me down gentler… No, can’t be? If that were the case the gifts would have been different right? He wouldn’t have sent red roses, or such an expensive ring… Maybe he was telling the truth, maybe he really has feelings for me! Sigh… That kiss I shared with Draco was my first and I had wanted that to be with Natsu. There was only a lukewarm chemistry from Draco’s kiss, no butterflies, no fireworks. I guess when I kiss Natsu, that’ll tell me…’

“We’re here Luce.”

“Huh?” she turns her head and sees they are standing in front of the restaurant. “Oh, sorry I guess I wasn’t paying attention.”

“You seemed to be in your own thoughts,” he chuckles. “Let’s head inside so we don’t lose the reservation.”

“Right.” She takes a step forward but stops when she realizes something important had happened. Lucy looks down at her left hand which is being held by Natsu’s right one. “W-When did…”

He smiles, “About halfway here. You didn’t seem to mind.”

Her face heats in a blush. “I, um…”

“If this is making you uncomfortable I can…”

She cuts him off with a smile, “N-no, it’s okay. I-I don’t mind, was just surprised is all.”

Grinning back, he squeezes her hand and opens the door.

The maître’d leads Natsu and Lucy into a cozy little room where a table had been set up for two. After being seated across from one another, she takes in the visuals of the place. The walls are paneled in a warm chestnut brown wood finish. Bronze sconces along the wall providing a warm, ambiance type lighting. On the table between them, the dark, almost black table cloth seems to match well against the wall’s colorings. And finally, a single long tapered white candle added to the romantic feel.

With their dinners ordered, and a glass of wine now perched at her fingertips, Lucy takes a few sips to help calm her nerves. Averting her eyes from his, “Natsu, I want to apologize for my outburst. It may have been a little uncalled for…”

“No, don’t apologize Luce. I needed that slap in the face.” She looks up at him and sees a seriousness in his eyes she’s rarely ever seen from him. “The truth is, I’ve had a crush on you since we met but it worried me that if we got into a relationship and ever broke up, we’d stop being friends. I had seen it happen to others, and I was so afraid of it I decided to just keep you in the friend zone. But I didn’t realize how much pain I was causing you, how much keeping you at a slight distance was hurting our friendship more.” He sighs,“I don’t like it when you go off on missions by yourself because all I do is worry the whole time. What if you got hurt or didn’t come back at all… I—I, don’t know what I would do.”

“But you’ve never even given me a hint about how you really felt. I think if I had seen something, even just a glimmer of hope, I wouldn’t have felt so much heartache.”

“I guess I hid it well. I mean every time a guy tried to flirt with you, Gray, Leo, strangers; I had to use every ounce of willpower not to beat them to a pulp. But then when you kissed Draco… and seemed like you meant it… I-I lost it.”

Lucy feels her heart sinking by the millisecond. She may have endured years of heartache, but that didn’t mean she enjoyed seeing it in others, especially the man she loved. She looks down at the table, her fingers fidgeting with themselves on her lap, “I shouldn’t have done that… Please forgive me Natsu but I wanted to see how you would react… I wanted to see if it would make you jealous because maybe if you were that meant there could be hope...”

Natsu stands up and walks around the table kneeling in front of her. “I told you, I deserved that wake-up call.” Placing his hands on hers to stop her fidgeting, “But, do you believe me now Luce, that you mean everything to me?”

“Yeah…” She whispers

Lifting her right hand he slides the ring off of the finger she has it on. “Can we start over then?”

“Yes…” she murmurs, wondering what he was about to do.

Now taking her left hand he slides the ring onto her ring finger as he continues to speak in an expectant tone, “where you’re my girlfriend?”

“Y-yes.” She squeaks out. Her brown eyes becoming more vivid but glassy.

Grinning, “I’m sorry I didn’t hear you, was that a…”

“Yes!” Lucy screams, grabbing his face and locking onto the lips she has ached to kiss for so long. This throws him slightly off balance, but he quickly catches himself and braces by entwining his fingers into her hair adding pressure to the kiss. She cocks her head slightly to the side to deepen their closeness, groaning as he nibbles her bottom lip and allowing his tongue to venture and twirl with hers in a minuet. All of time laid down it’s ticking clock as they stayed locked together, and Heaven help her, Natsu’s smoky tang mixed with the spicy scents of his natural redolence was carrying her away in a spell of its own. Forgotten were the days past and longing for Lucy finally got what she had dreamed of. This is the very fireworks she had wished for!

At that moment the waiter walks in carrying two plates, pausing just within the threshold. “I’m sorry is this a bad time?”

Breaking apart, Natsu stands up and walks back to his chair smiling and staring at his red-faced girlfriend, “No,” he grins, “it’s a great time.”

Over the next three months Lucy’s been too busy being dragged out on team Natsu missions to train further with her new spirits and she really wants to get her Star Dress spells down pact before she summons them in a real fight. Erza and Gray she didn’t mind so much but it was Natsu that was driving her crazy. She couldn’t understand his insistence on either her going with them on all of their missions or him tagging along on hers. They were officially a couple, so why was he still acting this way?

While their relationship was getting better in some aspect’s, there were the days where his jealousy would just control him and in other words, her. The worst were the times she suggested training with her spirits. Such rollercoasters of emotions were taking its toll on the Celestial Wizard and eventually something had to give.

“Ugh, Natsu I need to train with my new spirits to get the Star Dress forms down solid! Phoenix could even be helpful to you since he can generate fire!”

“It’s not the other three I mind. I don’t trust Draco!”

“You’re just jealous! And I can’t believe you don’t trust me to handle him myself. All this time, Leo didn’t get under your skin, why is Draco?”

“Leo’s different, I know he flirts with every girl cause it’s his personality. But with Draco, it’s a… it’s a dragon thing okay! It’s like two animals wanting to claim the same mate and I can sense that from him.”

“Tch, that sounds crazy,” Lucy crosses her arms, “he’s a spirit.”

“Who is a dragon.” Natsu drops onto the couch with his head hung and hair shielding his eyes. He didn’t want to keep having this argument with her, but he would not let it go either. “Lucy please just understand, it’s not just simple jealousy, in the eyes of a dragon you are an unmarked, unclaimed, potential mate. If his attraction to you becomes unchecked that primal side could reveal itself and some dragons will take their mates by force.”

Lucy sighs. She didn’t want to keep fighting either. “Natsu I don’t think that’ll happen, but I’ll relent for the sake of peace.” Lucy sits on the arm of the chair, running her fingers through his hair in a manner she’s come to learn soothes him. “How about you come along during the training sessions as long as you don’t get in the way.”

He places a hand on her knee, gently thumbing the skin while looking back up at her face. “Thank you. So, where do you wanna train?”

The following week, Lucy and Natsu are standing at the base of a mountain where the vegetation is sparse, and the chance of fire damage will be a minimum. He nods at her with a smile, motioning for her to start. She pulls out Phoenix’s key and summons him. “Open Gate of the Firebird! Phoenix!”

“Hello Lucy.”

“Hi Phoenix, I’d like to work with you today.”

Phoenix looks to the man standing at her side. “As you wish, but who is this with you?”

“Natsu’s my boyfriend, he’s a Fire Dragon Slayer.”

“Ah,” Phoenix smiles warmly and sticks out his hand in a gentleman’s fashion, “fire, that’s right up my alley.” Natsu shakes his hand firmly.

Lucy smiles, “I hoped you two would get along…”

It turned out to be quite handy having Natsu around to train with, because now Lucy had an additional sparring partner while the spirits taught her how to use their magic effectively. He had a lot of fun working Phoenix even remarking that the spirits flames had an interesting flavor to it. Maybe like chicken he had teased, while being slapped by Lucy over the comment, but even Phoenix had laughed and responded that it made sense that his flames would taste like a bird.

For the training with Hydra and Pegasus, once they had realized that having another strong mage around that knew similar magic would come in handy for the training, they had enlisted the help of Wendy and Juvia. The two women were happy to assist and play sparring partner for Lucy and similarly to how Natsu got along with Phoenix, the mages and spirits had a good time. The Celestial Fairies had been stuck in the Celestial World for so long, that being able to interact with the mages and peoples of Earthland again seemed to thrill them.

Two days of training with three days off in between to recuperate for Lucy seemed to be the successful formula. It took four days of training total with Phoenix, the same with Hydra, but eight for Pegasus. Lucy assumed that it was because out of the three spirits, it was an element she had not worked directly with before. The styles and magics were different, but at least with Leo’s flames or Aquarius’ water, those were more comfortable for her. But as the training with these three spirits ended, it would be the next looming issue they had been avoiding.

Draco. Not only did he wield an element that Lucy hasn’t dealt with before, it was also one that no one in their guild really did either except Jellal and he was away on a mission. Saint Wizard Jura was another possibility, but he too was busy with Counsel duties. Lucy knew that having to deal with Natsu and Draco alone may be a bigger hassle, as much she hated to admit it, so they wait until Jellal returned.

Humming quietly to no one, Lucy wraps the towel around her body and releases her hair from the haphazard bun perched on her head. Natsu had been gone all day helping with some kind of renovation at the guild but now it was time for her to get ready and head over to meet him and their friends for dinner. After a final check of herself in the mirror, she gathers her dirty clothes and steps out of the bathroom.

“Princess.”

Startled, Lucy gasps and almost drops her clothes, “Draco! What are you doing here?” Fidgeting and using the extra fabrics to hide her body more, “y-you shouldn’t just drop in like this.”

“But I came to check on you,” he walks closer unperturbed by her state of undress. “I’ve been waiting patiently for you to call me to train like you did the others,” Draco places his hand on her shoulder, “but when you did not after two weeks, I worried something may be wrong.”

“I’m fine,” Lucy flinches out of his touch, “as you can see. I’m just waiting for my friend Jellal to return from a mission, so I have a sparring partner.”

Again, he tries to reach out. Lucy flinches but realizes she’s been backed against the wall. She tries to avoid eye contact, but his time Draco caresses her cheek then tips her face up, so she’s forced to look at him, “You need no one but me to be there.”

“I-I dis-disagree, now you should let me go Draco, I need to meet Natsu, my boyfriend for dinner.”

“That slayer is your boyfriend now?” He lets Lucy go and steps back, “my mistake.” And just like that, he disappears.

Lucy lets out the collective breath she’d been holding and braces against the wall. ‘It’s fine, it’s fine,’ she reassures herself, ‘he was only acting that way because he didn’t know about Natsu and I.’ She brushes her fingers over the area Draco had touched… “not even Leo holds you like that…” Lucy shakes the memory from her mind, that was her doing, she had prompted Draco into acting that way and at least that time, she really was upset…. ‘he could tell I was upset… I never really asked before,’ Lucy ruminates, ‘how much can the spirits really sense of me?’ Now wasn’t the time to ponder. Just to be cautious, Lucy takes a second quick shower and rushes to the guildhall before Natsu came to check on her too.

Thank goodness Jellal came back to Magnolia a few days later and she could get the last leg of her training under way. It would be the first time Natsu and Draco would be face to face again, and Lucy only hoped and prayed the two men could be cordial with each other for her sake. She confessed to Jellal her concerns before they left on the training and he assured her he would help to make sure things stayed that way.

The rocky, desert-like area they found was perfect for training with Earth magic for they could warp the ground without disturbing much of anything living. But, the one downside to picking such a place was there were no towns in the immediate vicinity. They had to bring as many provisions with them as they could carry or one of them would have to travel a few miles to gather more. At least there were a few caves suitable for a makeshift campsite in case it rained.

Lucy stood flanked by Natsu on her left and Jellal on her right as she summoned Draco to appear.

“Open gate of the Dragon! Draco!”

In a flurry of light, he appears with his arms crossed, “You’ve finally summoned me master?”

Her eyebrow twitches as she tries to remain calm. “Yes, I’d like to complete our training Draco. First, I should introduce you to my friends here.” She motions to her right first, “this is Jellal, he uses earth magic, so I’ve asked him to help me as a sparing partner.” Jellal nods to the spirit. Lucy then motions to her left. “You know Natsu, my boyfriend. He’s here to help in training.”

The tension in the air was palpable as the two men stared each other down. Both Lucy and Jellal holding a collective breath as the seconds tick by at an agonizingly slow rate… it was the longest pause of her life. Finally, it was Natsu to Lucy’s surprise or relief that broke the stalemate, holding out a hand in gesture. No words pass between them, but the two men shake hands.

She lets out an exhale, “we should just get started then, shall we?”

In the other training sessions, Natsu played less of a bystander role and more of a guide for Lucy, especially when it came down to learning the ins and outs of making a technique work. He was amazing with analyzing fight strategies. But this time, he stepped back and observed every move that Draco made. Training in proximity was fine under his watchful eye but if Draco got too close or lingered near Lucy in the wrong way, Natsu stepped in.

Oh, he didn’t snap which was a scenario that Lucy had dreaded and prepared herself mentally for. No, it was a surprise that Natsu entered the training at just the opportune moments and spun things in a way to get Draco away from her again. It impressed Lucy that her boyfriend was controlling most of his anxieties.

It was a relief at not having to play referee between her boyfriend and her spirit considering by day 3 this magic was the hardest for her by far to learn. Usually by this point, Lucy had the basics down but learning to control a dense mass such as earth was much more difficult than the airier elements. But that was only part of the magic, Lucy still needed to learn to control plant life.

By the eighth day, the next two-day break was a welcomed relief. All Lucy wanted to do was relax with a book or sleep, so Natsu and Jellal took a trip to the nearest town for more supplies. He really didn’t want to leave Lucy by herself but, Natsu knew that if he and Jellal went, the trip would be faster, and they could carry more, hopefully negating the need for another.

She curled up on her bedroll with a book, catching up on a few chapters, letting the story take her mind off the slow progress of her training. The story was one that Levy had recommended because she knew Lucy would like. A bit of fantasy mixed with a love story, lots of action, heartache, and lust. But with the heat of the day working its spell, it didn’t take long for exhaustion to claim her, Lucy’s eyes growing heavier and heavier...

Draco kneeled beside her, watching his master sleep peacefully. She looked so beautiful to him. He couldn’t blame the slayer for wanting to keep this woman for himself, when he’s desired her since the moment they met. Deep down Draco knew that it was wrong, that it was frowned upon for spirits to meddle in their master’s lives, and definitely a no, no to wish for a romantic relationship with one. But he couldn’t help it, spirit or not he still had basilar emotions that drove him.

He leans over Lucy and takes in the wondrous scent she gave off. It annoyed him that the slayers scent commingled with hers. Draco frowns. Every fiber of his dragon soul wanted to sweep her away from this world to anywhere he could hoard her all to himself. It would be easy, just pick her up as she slept and before she awoke, he’d have her whisked away to his corner of the spirit world.

A fanged grin peaks through, ‘well why the fuck not,’ he muses. ‘Three hundred years I’ve waited for a master and to get one as perfect as this one…’ Rational thought was losing the battle in his mind, yes, he’d be in a lot of trouble with the Spirit King, not to mention the others, but the longer he stared at Lucy, the more his lust grew.

Draco wanted her.

And before his consciousness could catch up, he was scooping her into his arms.

The sudden movement causes Lucy to stir. “Natsu?” her worn out mind barely comprehending what was happening.

“Not Natsu.”

That woke her up. Lucy’s eyes pop open wide. “Draco?! Draco what are you… why are you here?” She shifts and tries to get out of his arms. “Draco, what do you think you are doing?”

“I can’t let that slayer have you, he doesn’t deserve you!”

“Draco!” Lucy fights his grasp, “let me go right this second! I-I am not going anywhere with you!”

The spirit narrows his eyes, his pupils shifting into a more reptilian form, “no.”

Lucy fights harder, but her strength is no match for the stronger male. She twists and hits him as much as she can, cussing him out. Just when she thought there was no hope, Lucy hears a voice outside of the cave.

“Lushee? Natshu? Where are you guys?”

“Happy!” she cries out. “I’m in the cave!”

It wasn’t as if an exceed was any match for the spirit, but she hoped it would change Draco’s mind if there was a witness.

And she was right.

Just as the exceed came walking in through the entrance, she felt herself fall back onto her bedroll, hitting the solid floor hard. Her body stung from the impact, but not wanting to alarm Happy, she bit down and gritted against the pain.

“Lushee? Where is Natshu?”

She forces herself to sit up as if nothing had just happened. With a smile, “they went to the nearest town for supplies, they should be back soon,” she hoped.

“Oh, okay then I’ll just wait here with you.”

“That… would be great Happy. Maybe you could help me get dinner started for the guys…”

What was she going to do now? As Lucy went to bed that night with Natsu sleeping beside her, she couldn’t fall asleep. Over and over she replayed what had happened that afternoon trying every which way to explain or justify her spirit’s actions. In one more day, they were supposed to resume her training, should she cancel it? But that might make Natsu suspicious. What if Draco didn’t show up? Or, what if he did? How would he behave? Chances were, with Natsu and Jellal around he would behave as if nothing had happened, but would she be able to set that aside?

Lucy wanted so desperately to believe it was all just another misunderstanding. Maybe Draco had gone weird, kind of like when the spirits went a little mad after the whole Eclipse gate debacle. That probably wasn’t true but how else could she rationalize it? The other explanation was…. Natsu had been right all along. Sometimes they forgot that Celestial spirits had feelings just like humans did, and maybe Draco had developed feelings for her, driven further by the dragon spirit dwelling inside of him.

She didn’t want to alarm anyone yet, so in the end, she let the training commence. ‘Hopefully he shows up and behaves!’ Then when they return home, Lucy will come clean to her man.

For the next two weeks, Lucy pushes herself harder than she has ever pushed her body and mind because she was determined to get control of the earth magic Draco wielded, plus she didn’t want to deal with him longer than necessary. Her focus on the training gave her enough of a distraction to shove her concerns to the side until a later date, and Draco behaving as if he hadn’t just tried to kidnap her, helped to lessen her worries at least consciously. Internally was another story.

The night before their trip back home, Lucy had a rather disturbing dream. It was so real that when she awoke the next morning, the emotions, nay, the fear it created in her mind still carried through and Lucy realized something. What if she had to be alone after they’d gone home?! She and Natsu were still maintaining separate homes and he couldn’t be with her every minute of every day. Will Draco try to kidnap her again as soon as he gets an opportunity?

It made her shudder. The idea of a rogue spirit taking her away from not just Natsu but her friends, family, her home, made Lucy almost wish she’d never found that book in the library. Why did she have to ask the King about those keys? Was it foolish of her to have used Draco as a pawn to make Natsu jealous? All these questions, all the obvious answers leading her to blame herself for the mess she now found herself in. But there was no turning back the clock.

She steeled herself for the conversation she was about to have with her boyfriend. Lucy knew that would only be normal for Natsu to get upset with what she would have to tell him. He will undoubtedly object to the plan she had come up with during the journey back home because she knew he wouldn’t want to rush into something that could never be undone. Hell, even she thought it was crazy.

*When they returned to Magnolia, it didn’t take much effort to get Natsu to stay at her apartment without giving an explanation. He was there most of the time anyway, and with the excuse that after such a vigorous training, Lucy wanted to relax alone with her boyfriend made sense. But the conversation she needed to have with him wasn’t something one could simply bring up. What was she supposed to say? Over dinner one evening, “Hey, by the way Natsu, Draco tried to kidnap me so I think you should do that ritual marking thing you didn’t want to do.” ‘Su—re, that wouldn’t be a great idea!’

Natsu himself never told her what happened during the event, he might even be surprised that she knew, but Levy had given her some general details. The marking itself was simple, a bite to the wrist, like a physical imprinting upon the dragon’s mate and voila, all done. Once imprinted, they were married without the legal formalities. And therein lies the scary part. Was she, were they ready for that level of commitment? After thinking about it, Lucy had decided she was so, now that just left Natsu’s decision.

Over the course of a week since they had returned, Lucy had the odd sensation that Draco was somehow watching her. Since Natsu was always around, she knew that he wouldn’t come close or Natsu would smell him and yet, those feelings never subsided. Frankly, it was creeping her out. Lucy did her best to talk herself out of the worries, surmising that the whole situation triggered those feelings.

One night after dinner, Lucy and Natsu lounged on the couch with a movie, but Lucy couldn’t focus on the screen. That afternoon Natsu had pointed out they need to take a mission soon since their funds had run low from the training. It wasn’t the mission Lucy was concerned about rather the chances of abduction.

Natsu laughed at the antics of the characters on the screen, turning to Lucy to get her opinion on it. But he notices a glazed over expression as if she was deep in thought, and definitely not watching the screen. He pokes her arm to gain her attention. “Lucy, do you not like this movie?”

“The movie is fine.”

Now he shifts to face her better, “then why do you look bored or…” tilting his head, “annoyed?” Lucy fiddles with her fingers in her lap, nervous about something. He places his hands on hers and squeezes, “just tell me what’s bothering you.”

In a quiet, almost inaudible tone, Lucy mumbles, “first, promise me you won’t get upset.”

Oh, now he was not only curious but anxious as all the horrible things that could elicit a response like that funnels through his mind. “You… you didn’t cheat on me, did you?” Lucy shakes her head. Natsu exhales, that was the worst thing he could think of. “Okay, I promise.”

“I’ve been thinking maybe…” Lucy pauses and takes a long deep breath. “Maybe we should do the marking….” Looking up at him, “now.”

He hadn’t seen that coming! “H-How do you even know about that? And why would you bring it up now?”

“Levy. And is it really important why?”

Natsu may have been inclined to just drop it, but when she averted her eyes before the second answer, he knew she was holding something back. Lucy wasn’t one to hide stuff, at least not about important things. “Luce,” he places a hand on her thigh and leans in. “If you know what it is, then you know why I’d want to know. It’s not something I’ll do unless we’re absolutely sure we want…”

“I do,” she grabs his hand, “I’m ready for it, but are you?”

“Lucy, I will not mark you unless you tell me what brought this up!”

“Draco tried to kidnap me okay!” she turns away from him, her face brightening from embarrassment, anger, and fear. With her hands covering her face to hide the moisture clouding her eyes, “it happened during the training. And I’m so scared he’ll do it again! That’s why I want you to mark me! That way he must leave us alone!”

Natsu forces Lucy to look at him and the fury in his eyes sent shudders throughout her body. He was so furious he was beyond snapping. His eyes narrow, “I don’t care if he’s your spirit I’ll fucking kill him if he touches you again!”

“I-It’s not just because of that,” Lucy’s cheeks heat further, “I want you to do it.” She reaches out and caresses his cheek, her eyes softening into a smile, “no matter what, I know that I’ll never be happy with anyone else Natsu, that’s why I came to this decision.” Lucy exhales, “but that’s only if you agree too.”

After a few agonizing seconds, Natsu finally lets out a deep exhale and pulls her into a soft kiss. “Lucy, you’re it for me too,” cradling her cheeks, he swipes his thumbs against the smooth skin. “It would honor me to take you as my mate.” As a few tears trickles down, he wipes them away and seals the vow with another sweet kiss.

He takes her left hand and places a kiss upon her guild mark, then holding it parallel to the floor, Natsu brings it closer to his mouth. “Ready?”

“Ready,” Lucy breathes out.

Suddenly, a loud explosion sounds off, and the building vibrates and trembles. The interrupted couple spring from the couch, Natsu running to the window to see what’s going on. Was someone attacking Magnolia? He throws the window open, scanning over the area but something strange was going on. None of the other buildings were shaking as badly as the apartment.

A shriek fills the room. Time slows to a crawl as Natsu turns to where Lucy was just standing and sees her tossed over Draco’s shoulder. She’s screaming for Natsu, screaming at Draco to let her go… and just like that in a flash, they were gone. The building’s shaking ceased, and all that remained was the cocky grin the spirit had sported burned into Natsu’s memory. “LUCY!!!!” The slayer roars into the empty room, furious that Draco had kidnapped her right from under his nose. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! How was he supposed to get to the Celestial world?!

Thinking quickly, Natsu rushes down to his cottage where he knows Happy should be and the pair take off for Sabertooth.

Natsu explains the situation to his friend on the way, talking aloud of his plan to get to the Celestial World, find Draco, beat him to a pulp, and get his girl back. The exceed pushed his aera abilities to its maximum output, flying Natsu to their ally’s guild in under an hour. It was late but thankfully Yukino was there and she readily called for one of her spirits. Libra brought Celestial clothing for Natsu and Happy, then whisked them off to the spirit world. Sensing that something serious had happened to their master, all of Lucy’s spirits were waiting for Natsu when he arrived.

“What the hell happened?” Leo and Phoenix demand at the same time. As leaders of their respective spirits, they felt an obligation to help save their master.

Natsu’s growl is low and deep, “Draco is what happened! That fucking spirit kidnapped Lucy and I’m damn sure he brought her here!”

“Ugh, I knew he was up to something,” Phoenix runs a hand over his face. “He’s become obsessed with her recently.”

“Recently?” Leo chimes in, “I got the sense he’s been pining over her since they met. I told her to be careful, but she said she could handle it.”

Natsu cuts them both off. “Look, he tried to kidnap her before and now he’s succeeded. I don’t care about your bickering. We just need to figure out where they are so I can beat the life out of him and get her back!”

Phoenix steps forward, “I believe I know where he might be.”

“But I think we should consult with the King first,” chimes in Leo.

“You’re right,” the firebird spirit sighs, “Draco is as powerful as any of us fairies, maybe the King will know a better way to deal with him.”

“Look, whatever we do we just need to hurry! So, go get the King!” Natsu steps closer to the two spirits shaking his fist, “Draco already has a head start, and if he succeeds in imprinting on Lucy, there won’t be anything we can do to reverse it!” He was beyond caring that these were Lucy’s beloved spirits or that he too liked them. This was Lucy they were fighting for and nothing would get in his way of getting her back!

In another part of the vast spirit world, Draco tipped his head back, closed his eyes, and let his senses reach out into its void. He had felt the ripple of an outsider breaching their plane, normally considered a violation, but if it was the slayer, undoubtedly the King would not force him to leave. ‘Just great.’ Draco opens his eyes again, staring at the woman he had bound and gagged on his bed. He knew he wouldn’t be able to keep Lucy here for long because even with the Celestial attire, her body could only withstand this world for a short amount of time. Maybe a day or two tops since she had a connection to this world, but still, it was just to give him more time to think.

Just like the last kidnapping attempt, his desire for Lucy had trumped all rational thought, and he’d reacted without hesitation to stop the marking process. If the slayer had been successful, Draco knew that the imprinting would have triggered Lucy’s heart to forever belong to Natsu and that he would never have a chance to win it. For that was the secret to all this. Despite being a dragon spirit, because he was no longer of the earthly realm, those marking rituals didn’t work for him anymore. It wasn’t fair! Draco was similar in many regards, he felt passion as they did, and yet lacked that one component. Oh, he knew the reason, spirits were not meant to intermingle with humans on that level.

‘Well,’ he sighs and grins at Lucy, “looks like the only way to settle this is a fight…”

In another area of the Celestial World, Natsu had been brought before the Celestial King and along with Phoenix and Leo, explained the whole situation.

“I am sorry my friend, I knew that Lucy was here with Draco, but I assumed she was visiting. I did not know he had kidnapped her.”

“Well now, you know mustache man. So, are you going to tell me where they are?”

The King leans back with his arms crossed as if in contemplation. “This is a serious matter, to have a spirit kidnap a human, his master no less,” scratching his chin, “it has never happened before.”

“Just tell me where he is, and I’ll make him sorry for taking Lucy!”

“Be patient my young friend, he will not harm her. In this world, Draco cannot be injured, so there is no point in you fighting him.”

Natsu crosses his arms and mumbles, “well it would make me feel better.”

“I am his creator and therefore I must step in to right this wrong. Draco is keeping her in his lair, Leo, Phoenix, take Natsu to her. Bring Draco back to me and I shall deal with him.”

Draco could smell them coming, and not surprisingly, Natsu wasn’t alone but both Phoenix and Leo were with him. As leaders and the two most powerful of the spirits, Draco knew that if all three were to come at him at once, he didn’t stand much of a chance. But that didn’t mean he would give Lucy up without a fight to the death if necessary. As they arrive, he stands in front of Lucy, leering at the trio.

“Stand aside you two,” Draco growls at the other spirits under his breath, “this is a fight between Dragons.”

As Phoenix moves forward to speak, Leo tries to grab hold of Natsu. But the moment the slayer had seen Lucy gagged and bound like an animal he flipped out. He could smell her tears, hear her heart beating rapidly, and worst of all he could smell the tiniest hints of blood. Lucy’s blood!

Natsu roars an ungodly bellowing, so deep and guttural it shakes the very core of Leo or Phoenix. They had never seen his transformations before, but Lucy had. His eyes grow serpentine in appearance, his body shifts, scales forming, wings… Fire erupts from his body and the two spirits must jump out of the way for the heat was like a volcano’s inferno. Even the Firebird’s flames could not reach such temperatures.

Then quicker than a blink, Natsu had flown directly at Draco, scooping the spirit up and power-bombing him into the ground….

Lucy fights at her bindings, knowing this was going to be like Stella all over again. Natsu’s END dragon side was going to take over and she had to stop it! Draco may have done something horrible, but if Natsu wasn’t stopped they may level this area. She looks towards Leo and Phoenix, screaming through the gag. Those two were so awestruck by the dragon’s fighting they had forgotten about her! She bounces in her chair, pulling, still screaming as much as she could in a garbled and muffled manner until finally, Leo sees Lucy and rushes over with Phoenix. They untie her and help her to her feet.

Natsu was relentless. Over and over he went at Draco with everything he had. And the speed at which he was doing it was so fast, the other dragon couldn’t keep up or switch into his own dragon form. Lucy, Phoenix, and Leo could barely think straight through the cacophony of sounds. Loud, rumbling roars coupled with bone crushing hits and earth trembling displays. Lucy realizes this was much worse than Stella. She screams at them, screams for Natsu to stop. But he wasn’t hearing her. He was too far in the zone of utter rage to see past Draco.

“You guys…. You guys,” she grabs Phoenix and Leo’s arms, “we need to stop them!”

“But how?!” they ask at the same time.

She shakes her head for frankly, she wasn’t really sure. “Just you guys grab Draco the moment you get a chance and let me handle Natsu!”

“Oh no,” Leo waves his hands, “in that state Natsu will end up hurting you too!”

Again, she shakes her head, “he won’t,” though the trembling timber of her voice denoted otherwise. “I can do this, you just need to get Draco away from him and here, quickly!”

Phoenix tries to grab Lucy’s arm to stop her, but Leo stops him. “Just believe in her brother, Lucy is stronger than you have yet to see for yourself, trust me. If she says she can do it,” he exhales, “she will, now let’s do our part.”

The moment Natsu stops, Lucy rushes up and grabs him from behind, wrapping her arms around him screaming for him to stop. That second was just enough time for Phoenix and Leo to do the same, each taking hold of one of Draco’s arms. They dematerialize in an instant, taking Draco with them.

Natsu roars one last time as Lucy holds on tight, furious that his enemy had been taken away from him. “Natsu stop!” she screams. “I’m here! I’m safe! You can stop now!”

It takes several more minutes for Natsu to finally drop to his knees utterly exhausted. The wings and other transformed areas revert back to normal until all that is left is the normal Natsu. “L-Lucy?” he places a hand over the ones she’s wrapped around his waist. “Is it over?”

Lucy sighs and lets her head rest against his back. “I think so.”

Leo and Phoenix had transported Draco directly to the King who sighs and immediately snaps his fingers. Spirit chains materialize and immediately restrain him. He roars at the King, wrenching at his fetters, “what is the meaning of this! You should have left us alone!”

“I need not explain anything you shouldn’t already know Draco. You kidnapped a human, your master, and one that is very dear to me. How could you not realize that once I found out you would be in trouble!”

“That stupid slayer,” Draco sneers under his breath, “this is all his fault!”

“No, it is not, this all falls upon your shoulders. To think, that one of my most powerful of spirits would let their emotions drive them to the point of madness,” the King sighs, “my only dilemma is what punishment would fit this crime. Should your fate become what Leo had endured once upon a time? Shall I make you live amongst the humans, unable to return here to be restored where you will wither away in a couple of years? If I did not have to worry about you trying to kidnap Lucy, I would consider it. However, under these circumstances you leave me no other choice but to…”

“Wait!”

Both the King and Draco turn to the voice.

“Please wait!” Lucy yells again. Despite being held back by Natsu and buffered by Leo and Phoenix, she fights to be heard by the King. “Please don’t be too hard on him, it’s only his nature he is fighting. He didn’t hurt me badly, and,” she hangs her head, “I blame myself for leading him on in the beginning to make Natsu jealous.” Just like she had done for Leo, Lucy’s affinity for her spirits was stronger than anything they may have done when she felt their punishment wasn’t right. “Please, King there must be a way Draco can control his emotions, isn’t there?”

The King’s bellowing laughter rocks the group standing before him. “Oh, my friend, you are always the purest of heart. Do you see Draco, even after what you’ve done to her, your master still wishes to spare you? It is her honor that earned my trust all those years ago.” He smiles down at Lucy, “as for your question, yes there is. Please, my friends go home, and the next time you must call upon the Celestial Fairies I promise, Draco will no longer be a problem.”

Natsu was skeptical about it all, but the King was right. They were pushing the limits of how long they should stay in this world and it was time to go. He glared at Draco, but the spirit just stood there with his head hung too low for him to look into his eyes. Taking Lucy’s hand, “come on. Like the King said we should just go home.”

“Yeah,” Lucy too glances over at Draco, wishing he would just give her one more look, but the dejected spirit never gave what she hoped for. She squeezes her eyes shut, ‘I’m so sorry Draco.’

#nalu #nalu novella #Natsu dragneel #Lucy heartfilia #nalu fanfic #fairytail #dragon #celestial spirits #OC characters #slightly angsty

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wheredidhiseyebrowsgo · 6 years ago

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Hi! Thank you for all the work you do on this wonderful blog! I’m looking for fics similar to an exaltation of larks by llassah and phoenix by unloyal_olio. Sort of medieval, sort of romance novelish, a/b/o but that’s not necessary. Very dreamy. Do you have any recs that fit that?

Yeah! - Anastasia

Phoenix by Unloyal_Olio

(1/1 I 9,376 I Explicit)

Stiles is a prince with a secret lost in war.

an exaltation of larks by llassah

(1/1 I 25,370 I Explicit)

There are times when he feels as if they could fall into bed together, easy as breathing. If Stiles were not highborn, if he were an omega without connections, Derek would be sorely tempted. As it is, he resists. Derek wants, he yearns, but he resists. Still, the sight of Stiles in his cot is enough to test him, even now that it is familiar. At the end of each lambing season, he sleeps for a week, worn down by months of hard work, of relentless struggle. He doesn’t know how he’ll feel by the time Stiles leaves, how he’ll feel after long days and longer nights spent resisting the insistent tug of Stiles’s scent and the inclinations of his own foolish heart.

All Derek wants is to get through the lambing season with his body and spirit intact. He had thought that the blizzards would be the main danger, not a highborn omega with beautiful eyes and a stubborn streak.Wolf Winter by

***

Heat by mznaughty01

(1/1 I 3,044 I Explicit)

They were Alpha and Omega.

They were the beginning and the end.

They were fated to be together.

I'll make an alpha out of you by ElisAttack

(2/3 I 6,873 I Mature)

"Did they send me omegas, when I asked for men!" Peter Hale shouts.

Stiles clenches his fists in anger. The scar tissue along his side where he burnt away his omega mark itches. Stiles may be pretending to be an alpha, but he knows deep down what he really is. Once an omega, always an omega.

Or the one where Stiles takes his father's place in a war he doesn't believe in.

To Find Your Name by orphan_account

(3/? I 9,573 I Explicit)

The race of men have taken everything from the wolves of the North, the dragon people, and all others who they deem inhumane. The wolves of the North have started a rebellion, with King Derek Hale as their leader. Lord Stilinski of the dragon people has offered his only son as the King's mate to form an alliance.

Stiles must discover who he is, who he was meant to be, and who he used to be. Being at Derek's side seems to bring something out of him, stirring memories and pain he didn't know existed.

King Derek must keep his new mate safe from threats of the King Argent in the West, but doing this might mean losing himself.

Stiles is the key to a world that is free of evil. He has great power inside of him, if only he can unlock it.

Memories are a powerful thing... and sometimes it's the things we can't remember that truly define who we are.

The Lost Kingdom of Lis by queen_of_OTPs

(1/1 I 10,056 I Teen)

Stiles was thankful that Lis was a private and isolated kingdom, so no one in the other lands he was sure to travel to would know his face. Not the characteristic set of moles on his jaw, or the bright honey-golden eyes that shone like spun gold in the sun, nor the characteristic babble that the servants in the palace had found endearing. He was allowed to recreate himself, just as a smith was allowed to reforge a blade after a harsh battle.

Stiles was going to take every opportunity thrown his way, and make himself grow.

bend bridges, mend bones by Thealmostrhetoricalquestion

(1/1 I 20,588 I Mature)

They burst through the portal in a gust of stale air and violet light, landing hard on the outskirts of a swamp. Stiles feels his knees buckle, both from the magic required to keep the portal open and from the force of their landing, but he grits his teeth, determined to stay standing in the presence of Derek Hale and his pack. Christ, it would be just his luck to rocket through his own portal at neck-breaking speeds and collide face-first with a puddle of sticky, disgusting mud.

Thankfully that doesn’t happen, which is good because Stiles can’t really afford to add useless to the list of things that Mage’s are; untrustworthy cowards, meddlers, monsters.

(In which there's an awful lot of fighting, people learn to trust people, and Stiles saves the day. Repeatedly. Over and over again. And he would like some credit, goddamnit, Derek.)

My Kingdom For You by Long_Time_QT

(7/? I 32,053 I Teen)

Long ago in the historically inaccurate vaguely medieval past, wolves ran rampant through Stilinski lands, killing and maiming this way and that. The gracious Argent kingdom offered their aid... for a price.

Eight years later, Stiles and Allison dread their upcoming nuptials until a highly strange incident occurs: Stiles vanishes.

Trapped in the mountains with monsters, Stiles is forced to wonder what will become of him and his kingdom. Why is he there? What does the Beast King have in store for him? Will war between Argent and Stilinski kingdoms break loose? Are the monsters truly monsters after all?

Heart Stone by Stickythings

(9/? I 50,406 I Explicit)

Mieczyslaw ‘Stiles’ is a sheltered Prince trapped in a siege. Derek Hale of the Wolf Clan is a mercenary leader searching for a mate. Their paths cross, and the Prince must learn to create his own power and find his own voice to live the life he desires.

The Demands of Duty by Reiya_Wakayama

(22/22 I 58,428 I Explicit)

With the threat of war hanging over them, Stiles and his people are caught in the middle and must chose a side before they get smashed between both and with the threat of winter and a bad harvest weighing them down, he must chose quickly.

Wolf Winter by DarkAthena (seraphim_grace), seraphim_grace

(29/29 I 71,524 I Mature)

Stiles is the legitimate omega son of King Deucalion, tricked by his brother Theo into running away he is trapped, ruined and unable to return home he finds himself stuck, captured as a poacher by the infamous Hale clan he claims sanctuary in their small chapel and Peter puts him to work, with Derek just returned from the crusades he needs a new healer and the only option they've got is the boy in the chapel who is pretending to be a beta

This Was How Legends Were Made by Delta_Immortal

(8/8 I 108,501 I Explicit)

Caught between the Hales and the Argents in their war, Stiles finds himself a slave of the great Hale pack. Stiles spends each day working hard, hoping to earn his freedom and see his sick father. It also seems each day he’s capturing more and more attention from Derek, the young Hale lord. Stiles tells himself it’s mostly because Derek is merely trying to figure out how to send the annoying, useless slave away- not because of affection, despite the tales coming from the rumor mill.

It doesn’t matter what Derek's intentions are. Stiles can’t bother with love right now. He's got to keep his head down and survive long enough to keep his promise to Kate Argent. After all, she's promised to keep his father safe.

#teen wolf #sterek #stiles stilinski #derek hale #medieval au #alpha/beta/omega #Anonymous

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usopp-writes · 5 years ago

Text

@one-piece-25

A long drabble that have spooked around in my head for a while.

“You love her, don’t you?” Thatch looked at Marco, hurt evident in his eyes.

Marco sighed and let a hand go through his hair. “Yes, but that doesn’t change the fact that I love you and you’re the one I want to be with, yoi.”

Thatch was hurt. Marco hadn’t told him about her, as she was saved by Haruta. For three weeks had she been on the ship, recovering from her wounds, both physical and mental. Even if the cook now knew that she had been Marco’s first love and something happened when Marco left her behind, Thatch was hurt that he had to drag the truth out of his boyfriend.

He looked away, not feeling like looking at the man he loved and thought he knew. Of course, Thatch knew that he wasn’t Marco’s first love or partner, but he would like to think he was the last. Now he wasn’t sure, as she was back in Marco’s life and his boyfriend had spend a lot of time with her. And with this confession, Thatch wasn’t sure where he had Marco. That hurt. A lot.

“How can you say that? You just told me she was your first love and you always regretted to leave her behind. Now she’s here and you’ve spend so much time with her. I just …” Thatch was 99% sure that Marco wasn’t cheating on him, but there was a nagging jealous devil in his heart saying he was. The cook hated that devil, he knew Marco only wanted to help her, but he just couldn’t shut the devil up completely.

Marco didn’t know what to say. Thatch was right, he’d spend a lot of time with her, but it was not that he wanted to get back with her. That bridge was too damaged, maybe even completely destroyed, for him to go there. Still, he couldn’t help his feelings. He still loved her, had always loved her and would always love her.

Thatch sighed, before walking out from their room. He needed to clear his head, needed to get control over his jealousy. If he couldn’t do that, he would destroy the relationship with Marco. It was still new, they’ve only been a couple for two months. They were still learning how to be a couple and jealousy would only kill it faster. He trusted Marco, he really did, but that didn’t stop his heart from hurting.

“Thatch…” The name was just a whisper on Marco’s lips, as Thatch went through the door. The Phoenix had seen it come, yet he hadn’t stopped it from happening. He should have done something. Spend more time with Thatch, but he couldn’t turn his back on her. Couldn’t leave her alone, as he feared her soul wouldn’t heal.

With another sigh, Marco left the room. His feet brought him to the Whitebeard’s door and before he knew it, he had knocked. As he heard his father call him in, Marco opened the door.

The morning was quiet as usual. Only the men on watch duty and Thatch was awake. The cook always got up early to start the preparations for breakfast and would take a nap later. Even though he was used to this, he was tired. He hadn’t slept well after Marco’s confession. The pain still stung in his chest, kept him from sleeping. It was silly, it really was, but Thatch couldn’t help it.

Suddenly the door to the mess hall was opened. He looked out and saw her entering. She looked like she hadn’t slept for days and it was probably the truth. A frown was on his face. He had rarely seen her alone or rather, he had rarely seen her at all. Now he took a good look at her, she looked too thin and like the wind would blow her off the ship.

Not liking what he saw, he went to her. “Good morning Selena. You’re up early.” He said in his most soft and friendly voice. She wasn’t responsible for Marco still loving her, Thatch couldn’t hold her responsible for his lover’s feelings.

She jolted lightly and looked at him. Her purple hair covered half of her face, the right side. “M-morning.” She mumbled, her eyes looking at his foulard. She sounded insecure, lost, scared and tired. Thatch’s heart clenched with sympathy. This probably wasn’t easy on her. From Haruta he knew she’d been a slave.

“What would you like for breakfast and can I bring you something to drink?” He asked ignoring the jealousy in his heart. She shook her head lightly, making him frown, but she spoke before he could. “Not now. Maybe later…” He could hear she was close to crying and he wondered if she cried ever day. Her voice was hoarse as if she had cried a lot. Or maybe that was just how she sounded.

“That’s fine. As long as you eat a little, I’m happy.” He smiled and went back to the kitchen, as he still had a lot to prepare. Still, he kept an eye on her, as she sat there, looking so lost. How could he be mad at her? She looked so vulnerable and lost. Maybe that was why Marco and Haruta spend so much time with her? To help her through the transition from being a slave to be free and could decide over your own life.

Haruta was the third commander to be awake and get into the mess hall. Jozu was always the second and sat at the table not far from the kitchen and her. Haruta nodded to him and sat next to her. “Morning Selena. It’s good to see you outside your room by yourself.” He smiled, before grabbing her empty plate. Walking to the buffet, he grabbed a tray, before getting breakfast for both.

“Here you go. Green tea, some toast with jam and a banana.” He placed the tea and the plate in front of her. She looked at it with a hopeless gaze, before taking the toast. Thatch observed them with a worried frown. He knew she had trouble eating, most due to her not getting food every day. As cook it hurt to know she had been starved on purpose. Also because he knew how it felt and it wasn’t something he would like anyone to feel.

As Izo and Marco came to sit at the table - an hour later - Thatch finally sat next to Marco. He gave his boyfriend a smile, though there was some pain in his eyes. Not that his brothers noticed, they were busy talking, but she did notice it. She stopped eating, had taken a long time to eat the toast and she’d eaten half of the banana. “Thanks for the tea and meal. I’ll…” She shrugged and walked out.

“Well, she ate more today for breakfast than yesterday.” Haruta commented, looking at the plate. Marco nodded, worries written in his eyes. “I believe she’s doing batter thanks to your care. Keep it up.” Izo smiled softly and patted Marco’s hand. Again Marco just nodded, looking at Thatch from the corner of his eyes. “That’s good news. It takes some time to get a normal eating habit after long time not having one.” Thatch smiled lightly, actually feeling better after the news, but he needed to talk to Marco.

Silence fell over them for a brief moment, the room buzzing with life. Thatch gave them a smile before heading back to the kitchen. “Either he’s very worry about Selena or something else is bothering Thatch. You should talk to him, Marco.” Izo commented, as he rose from his seat. Marco’s head jolted towards Izo, but the man was long gone. “He’s right. You know what’s bothering Thatch and so do I. Talk to him. Tell him about what happened back then. It’s not a big deal, but if you won’t tell him, she will. You know she wants you to be happy.” Haruta said, before leaving the first division commander.

It was after lunch when Marco walked into his and Thatch’s shared office. The latter was sitting there, working. He didn’t even look up, which made Marco’s heart clench. “Hey... I need to talk to you. Do you have time, yoi?” He sounded a little uncertain and insecure, which had Thatch turning around, as he had never heard that tone from Marco before.

“Yes.” He placed the pen down showing Marco that he had his full attention. For a few moments silence filled the room and Thatch knew instinctively that this was something that wasn’t easy for Marco to tell. “Until yesterday, only Selena, Haruta and I knew this. I told Oyaji this, short after you walked out on me. Haruta knows this, because Selena told him about her past and about how we met, yoi.” He wanted to make Thatch understand that it was because it was something Marco didn’t like to talk about. Thatch nodded to show Marco he was listening.

“It happened a few months before I joined Oyaji and up until a week before I met him. I … I was enslaved…” Marco trailed off. Thatch looked surprised. Marco had been a slave? That was kind off a shock to the cook, but he didn’t say more, as he didn’t want to interrupt Marco. It was truly hard for him to speak about this and if Thatch spoke, it would only make it harder.

Marco sighed and let a hand go through his hair. “I was bought by a noble. He’d two sons and a daughter. First I hated them all, but then I noticed how the daughter treated all us slaves with kindness whenever her family wasn’t around. An older slave told us she’d been like this since a child and was threatened by her father to be enslaved herself, if she treated us nicely. Hence why she treated us poorly whenever her family was around, but made up for it later, yoi.”

A small smile played on his lips and Thatch knew Selena was that daughter. So she had been a noble? “Slowly I got to know her and she was like a trapped angel. I fell in love and she in me. I had my first kiss with her and I can still remember it. Maybe because I thought I had lost her forever when I left her behind, yoi.” A sadness was in his tone and Thatch dreaded what had yet to come.

“She had just turned 13 when her father announced she would now get to know her fiancé. I never forget her face. Shocked is a mildly description. Her father had made an arrangement when she’d turned 3. He’d planned her life out for her, never giving her a chance to have anything to say in it. That is why she did what she did. To show that she was not caring about the future her father had arranged for her, yoi.”

Marco’s voice had started to shake lightly and Thatch’s heart sunk. What had she done? It must have been awful. “The night of her engagement party, she freed all the slaves, before setting the house on fire, making sure no one else escaped. She stayed in the burning house and I … I had promised her to bring the kids to safety. I didn’t see her again and I thought she’d died. Had I known …” His voice cracked, tears slowly falling from his eyes.

Thatch’s eyes had widened. She had murdered her family and other nobles, while planning on suicide, just to get free of the chains her father had put on her? As he saw Marco’s tears, he went to hold him close, kissing the top of his head. “I’m so sorry, love. It must be horrible for you to handle all the guilt you must be feeling after now seeing her alive. Sorry for yesterday, I wasn’t fair to you. I love you so much.” He said, letting Marco cry onto his shoulder.

Marco held onto Thatch’s shirt, feeling relieved to have told his boyfriend this. Sure, there was more to tell about his time as a slave, but that was for another time. He just wanted Thatch to know, to understand, why Marco spend so much time with Selena. She had saved him and he had repaid her with leaving and never looking back. Had he looked back, he might have found out she had survived.

“So... Has she told you how she survived?” Thatch was curious to know, but Marco shook his head. “She doesn’t want to talk to me about it at all. All we’re doing when I’m with her, is cuddling and reading. Though I know she talks about it with Haruta, yoi.” He said.

Thatch nodded lightly, still holding Marco close. “She might not want to burden you further or make you feel even more guilty. If she’s as kind as you say, then she probably doesn’t want you to feel guilty at all and she’s right. You did nothing wrong, love. You helped the children as promised and she had decided to die. How could she know that she would survive? You lived your life in freedom and I’m sure she’s happy about that. If she talks with Haruta about it, then it’s good. She doesn’t hold it in. I know you would like to know, but she’s not ready to let you know. She might feel guilty for not having giving you a sign that she survived.”

Marco felt better. Knowing he’d hurt Thatch’s feelings, hurt the man he loved, because he was trying to help the woman he also loved, had been draining him. It wasn’t like he did it on purpose, he was just trying to sort out his emotions, which had become a mess ever since Haruta brought Selena onto the ship.

“I love you. This is why I love you so much, Thatch. You’re so understanding and kind, besides strong and a great cook, yoi.” He leaned against his lover, not wanting to leave this warmth. A hum left Thatch, feeling better to know that Marco did love him and why. “Let’s sort this out together, okay? I want to help her too, because she deserves it.”

Looking up at Thatch, Marco was just half a head shorter, he gave his lover a soft smile. “Together, yoi.” He didn’t want to lose Thatch, he wanted to be with him like this for all eternity. Thatch smiled back and leaned down for a loving kiss. He was sure they could work this out, because they did love each other and while it was still so new, Thatch was sure their love was strong enough to get through this.

#my writings #fanfic #marco #thatch #match #haruta #izo #oc #long post

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sublimediscord · 5 years ago

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Tagged by @galaxyparchment (here) (HAHAHAHA THREE FOUR YEARS LATER SORRY)

Rules: Use five minutes, and only five minutes, to write a drabble. No re-reading, no editing. (HAHAHAHA I CHEATED SO MUCH AT THIS)

Based on Crywolf’s “Stay”

(tagging @phoenix-angel-suyari and @setsailslash because bite me I love you both <3)

Your eyes open to dawn, to the feeling of the bed tilting empty. To the sounds of feet padding across the thin carpet and a the slide of wood-on-wood. You blink, arm stretching over the expanse of cotton to your right and fingers curling to catch at the sheets as your other hand knuckles the sleep from your eye.

“Shit, sorry Rals.” You blink again, gaze tracking the word to its source in the faint light. “Didn’t mean to wake you, kiddo.”

“Y-Y-Yancy,” his name is cut to pieces by a yawn, “wh’ time’s it?”

You don’t wait for an answer though, roll over through the still-cooling sweat spots on the bed. Grunt when you prop your head up on the same arm you’re using to rub at your eyes and bear down a little too hard, squinting to read the dim numbers on the clock. You’ve been meaning to replace its batteries for probably three months now. That or get a wired one.

“Six thirty?” You roll back, arching your shoulders as you do and popping your back. The action makes something lower throb lightly, and you can’t help but shiver in a way that isn’t entirely unpleasant. “What’re...you’re never up this early, Yance. Why--”

“Rals,” The bed dips the way it should when Yancy’s knee meets the mattress, the weight of it finally right in your mind as he sits, “you know why.”

You reach out to him without thinking, eyes closed once again. Your fingertips skate through the dusting of red-blond hair on his arm, and you follow it up, up, up, until you reach his bare shoulder. You trace lines between the freckles you know are there without even having to look, can feel his skin rising into goosebumps. Can feel something deep in your gut rising with it, both of you shivering at the same time.

“Yance,” you mumble as you throw your free arm arm over your eyes, trying to keep out the sunlight that’s still beneath the horizon. As if doing so could prevent it from crawling up over the mountains at all. The want, the need, to make this moment last, to stretch it like a rubber band until it’s on the verge of snapping, throbs in your chest - pulsing in time with your heart. “c’mon, come back to--”

“We can’t do this, Rals.”

The rhythm in your chest turns cold. Drops into your stomach.

“I don’t c--”

“Raleigh, please.”

There’s something in Yancy’s voice. Something you don’t want to think about. Your mind doesn’t care what you want, though, and your arm drops as your eyes crack open again. In the near-dark, it’s hard to make out your brother, but his eyes are impossible to miss. The same pleading, the same begging, that’s in Yancy’s voice is buried deep within those twin pools.

“Please don’t let a mistake screw up the one good thing you already have.”

Yancy shifts until the hand you have on his shoulder falls to the sheets. The cold in your stomach freezes. Sharpens. You swallow reflexively. It doesn’t help.

“Yance, please don’t--”

“You have Chuck.”

“But--”

“No, Raleigh. We’re not doing this. We can’t.”

He turns his back on you and stands, the bed righting itself. Everything suddenly feels wrong, wrong, wrong, and fear roars in your ears.

“Yance, c’mon--”

You cut yourself off this time, eyes coming fully open as you sit up. The sheets tangle around your legs as you try to free yourself. A pressure wells in your chest, burning its way up your throat and threatening to spill out, and you only just barely manage to hold it back.

“Yancy. Please,” the word breaks whatever wall you’d been trying to build, the pressure finally winning, and a single sob rips its way out of you. “This doesn’t have to be hard, or weird, or,” you trail off, trying to think of the right words to say, the words to get your brother back in your arms where he’d felt so right. Where nothing had felt complicated, nothing had felt out of place--everything had, for the first time, felt like it’d belonged.

“Please,” you whisper. “Please, just stay.”

“I can’t.” He says it like a fact. Like it’s something immutable and unchangeable, as simple as one plus one equaling two. His posture shifts, though, drawing in on itself, his shoulders hunching. “This was a mistake. You don’t want this.”

“But I do, Yance. I do. I have, for years, just--you gotta believe me Yance, please--”

Yancy’s entire back stiffens, his shoulders flying up to near his ears. You can see a flush creeping up his neck and into his ears--

(And, oh, doesn’t that just remind you of the firsthand knowledge you now have of exactly how far down that red tinge really goes)

--before he’s whirling back to you, his eyes--

His eyes.

You’ve known your brother all twenty-two years of your life, were practically put through high school by him when your genetic donor--you refuse to think of that walking pile of horse shit as your father--walked out on the pair of you. You’ve learned how to read him. Have gained such an intuitive awareness of him that even now, years after he moved out to “give you your own space, kiddo,” you can still feel his presence like an extension of your own arm. Can tell where he is from the soft sounds he makes when he walks, when he thinks, when he sleeps. Can tell what he’s thinking from the tilt of his hips, the part of his lips, the swirling currents behind his eyes.

Deep within your brother’s eyes, there’s more than just pleading. There’s pain. Agony. And, so quickly you almost miss it, the worst possible thing.

Hope.

Hope that you watch Yancy snuff out with a small shake of his own head.

“You don’t want this, Rals.”

He says your name like he’s begging. Like it’s a prayer. His hands move toward your shoulders, and you can feel the warmth radiating from his palms brushing against your skin before he seems to realize what he’s doing and drops his face forward into his hands.

“You can’t want this. Please kiddo, go be happy with Chuck. Don’t,” there’s a hitch in his voice then, and it splits your chest wide open, “don’t become me, Rals. I-I couldn’t live with myself if--”

Blood roars in your ears--not in anger, but the same way it had when Chuck’d taken you skydiving for your second date.

“You don’t get to decide that for me,” your voice sounds steadier than you feel, your arms and spine the consistency of jello even as you somehow manage to remain upright, “because I already decided for myself.”

But Yancy is still shaking his head, because, you realize with a start, he doesn’t get it.

“I told Chuck.”

Yancy’s eyes are on you with a suddenness that makes a kernel of fear in your guts pulse coolly. When he speaks, his voice is strained.

“What?”

You have to swallow past the lump in your throat. One of your hands reaches out to grasp at his wrist where it’s hanging limply at his side. You manage to your fingers behind the gentle curve where hand and arm meet, curling them to keep your grip; you can feel Yancy’s pulse racing through the contact.

“I told Chuck how I feel about you. How I’ve felt about you my whole life. And,” another swallow, your eyes darting away from your brother’s face before you force them back, “and he doesn’t mind.”

The denial is clear in Yancy’s face, mouth opening to make it real, so you continue speaking as if you hadn’t noticed.

“He said he won’t make me choose if you won’t. And, I love Chuck, I do, but,” you squeeze Yancy’s wrist lightly, the fear in your gut writhing like a living thing, “but I love you too. I don’t regret what we did last night. I’ve wanted it for so long, wanted it so much, I don’t know how I’ve survived the past few years. I--”

Your voice cracks at the edges, and you couldn’t stop it even if you wanted to.

“I just know I won’t--I can’t, I--I don’t want this to be the last time. I can’t do this without you, Yance.”

There is resolve in Yancy’s eyes. You watch it--the need to sacrifice of himself to do what he thinks is right for both of you, and especially for you, his little brother--war with your words. Watch it war with the hope that refuses to be crushed, the same hope you feel fighting the fear deep in your belly.

“I know it won’t be easy,” you whisper, “I know it’ll be hard, and that sometimes it’ll suck, but we can get through it the way we have everything. Mom dying, Richard leaving, all of it. We got through it together. So, please Yance.”

You tug at his arm lightly. Can feel his pulse zip.

“Just...stay. Please.”

Through the haze of tears gathering at the bottom of your lids, you watch the resolve in his eyes crumble. His head bows, eyes closing, and you feel something cool and wet land on the back of your hand. When he speaks, it sounds like a little like relief, a lot like love, and, maybe, just a little bit like the future.

“Okay, Rals. Okay.”

#robert writes drabbles #holy shit #I want to tag this but GOD this is old #becketcest

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my-love-peterp · 5 years ago

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Mistaken Chapter Five

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO THE TAGLIST DROP ME AN ASK

please like and rb/comment <3

Word Count: 2721 (this actually comprises chapters 7 and 8 on Ao3)

THERE ARE NO ENDGAME SPOILERS, THIS IS A DELAYED UPLOAD FROM AO3

Fic Summary: Peter Parker has been given the responsibility of bringing in a new recruit. Now, as an adult, he realizes that none of the trashy YA novels he read in high school could have prepared him for this. There was a storm on the horizon, and all they could do from the Tower is watch.

Chapter Summary: Lol updating within a few hours after weeks of not updating at all? It’s more likely than you think. HOnestly, not my finest work but I’m so tired and I feel so bad about not getting anything out there sooner. I want to change bits and pieces of this story but my goodness, yeah. So if you’d like to Beta read shit for me, y’all would be much appreciated.

Warnings: honestly idk, if I missed something besides language hmu friends

Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four

I ran. There was no stopping me. I stole a cowl from a closet and drifted into the shadows, just long enough to leap from the window.

I materialized and flitted down back alleys until I hit Park Ave. I didn’t know much about this area of New York, but every borough has their drinking holes, right?

Minutes later, I was staggering into a quaint little bar that wasn’t quite the dive that I was looking for, but it would do. This was probably better in any case, fewer leering eyes and a hefty, red-haired, Irish woman who kept my drink full and men away.

Hydra was just one of the many skeletons rattling around in my closet, but they were the Rosetta Stone to my trauma in a lot of ways. Not the foundation, but the guide.

Two more glasses of Lagavulin and those pressing thoughts were kicked to the wayside.

Behind me, the grandfather clock chimed five o’clock. Just call me Jimmy Buffet and saddle me up with a margarita.

What no amount of alcohol could do, unfortunately, was erase the people I’d… met with Hydra. Or lost with them. Most of all, I could never forget my sister.

Brave and stupid drunk, I left my drinking post and headed down Park Avenue rather aimlessly. It felt like I was being drawn in a certain direction, meant to be there, which is absolutely absurd, but I was just drunk enough to believe it.

My feet halted half an hour later outside of a quaint little tattoo parlor. I’d always wanted a tattoo but I’d never had the time nor the money to get one. Fortunately, as a runaway Avenger-in-Training, I had both of those in spades now.

And, as fate would have it, the shop was advertising that they were available for walk-ins today.

Whipping out my new cell phone, I pulled up a picture of what exactly I wanted. My sister and I had always fancied we'd get matching ones someday.

The overly muscled and extremely tattooed man just nodded his ascent and began freehanding a design for the Phoenix on my right side. I was decently numbed from the booze, but as time passed, the more my sides protested in pain. Occasionally, I would feel a quick rush of air push cold wind over my aching skin and nearly groan in pleasure.

Finally, three hours later, I was gingerly easing my shirt back on, sides to be kept wrapped for the next hour or so, in case they started bleeding or weeping plasma and ink.

I stood, signed my name along the dotted line for the payment and stepped out on the street to find none other than Pietro standing, back resting against the side of the building with his arms crossed, obviously waiting for me.

Rather than acknowledge his presence, I moved to hail a taxi. He took that moment to wrap his arms around my middle, sending bolts of pain shooting from my fresh tattoos, and bolted down the street.

Fate, should it exist, obviously had a sense of humor. Minutes later, we were standing in the lobby of Avengers Tower.

Hesitantly, I moved for the elevator doors, wincing with every step as it pulled along my aching muscles, both from the walking and the movement of inked flesh. Pietro followed loosely behind me, as I anticipated. Once he had retrieved me, he certainly wasn’t going to let me escape. He was perhaps the one Avenger I couldn’t simply evade or trick, his eyes caught things as though they were moving half the speed they actually were.

An uncomfortable silence ensued as Pietro pressed the button to take us up to the Penthouse, the de facto floor for team meetings.

Despite receiving an equal number of concerned and suspicious glances, most of the team paid me little to no mind.

Peter gestured to Pietro, eyes questioning, and nods were exchanged. What I wouldn’t give to be able to hear what they were thinking. And maybe it was vain of me to assume that they’d been communicating about me, but I was almost positive.

Lost in my reverie, I almost missed the command Cap gave to Wanda to put me under. I hadn’t even taken a step by the time I was falling to the ground, unconscious, caught in lean arms.

It would be the best rest I’d get for weeks to come.

________________________________________________________________

I woke up in my own rooms, restrained to the bed. What had happened was fairly obvious, considering the only person who was in my rooms besides me was Tony. And he had an Iron Gauntlet trained on me as I came to. I hacked to clear my throat before speaking. “Seems like a bit of overkill Grandpa.”

Tony just glared down at me, not moving a single inch or softening in any way.

I tried again. “So I take it Witchy rummaged around in my head and found some… Not so savory things. Perhaps my stint as a Hydra assassin. Maybe the length of my kill list even. Let me guess, you’re currently prepping a room for me at whatever new and improved raft you built to keep Thanos locked up and never coming back. Fair warning, I’ll never go willingly and I can put up one hell of a fight.”

“Fortunately for you, that decision’s not up to me and would require the input of the feds, which, knowing what we do now, I can fairly certainly say, you’d prefer if they stayed out of it. 12 US government officials assassinated in less than three months by yours truly. Wow. Talk about a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Were I not a better man, I’d shoot you right now.”

“So why are you here Tony, if not to kill me?” I snarled back at him. “What good does me being alive do? To anyone.” That startled him a little bit, shell shocked enough to look up and into my eyes, where I saw my own feral irises reflected.

But he steeled himself again within moments. And then, out of the breast pocket of his blue blazer, he grabbed a sheet of paper.

Not a sheet of paper I realized as he folded it out for me. A picture of a skinny redheaded woman. One I recognized intimately. “Target 17. What do you need to know?” I questioned coldly, unfeeling. That made him jerk backward in his seat and hastily stand, panting and heaving, murderous intent glinting in his brown eyes.

“Her name was Pepper. And she was killed three days before our wedding, carrying my child. So I’d like to know. Was it-,“ he spat out like the words were physically fighting to escape from his body.

“Was it me? No. I was in the wind with my sister for a few months after our covers were almost blown taking out a diplomat in Indonesia. For what it’s worth, I truly am sorry Tony. Especially,” I said, voice dropping to a whisper, “about your son.”

“Excuse me, my what?” Fists clenched, he strode up to the side of my bed, closer to my head. I shied away from him as he bent down and got into my face. “What did you just say to me?”

Fuck. He didn’t know and I just made it ten times worse. The sound of his repulsor charging broke the most pregnant silence I’d ever heard. Before he could fire, though, Thor and Steve burst through the door and caught him as he collapsed in anguish, taking him away, leaving me alone. They knew everything about my time with Hydra. The evil I’d done and the evil I’d allowed to happen. I was the enemy. And I had no backup.

So back to normal.

Hours later, I gave in to my bone-deep weariness and collapsed into sleep. Dream after fever dream encased my drained mind, ephemeral and diaphanous. Most images were forgotten immediately, flighty and fragile as a butterfly’s wing. Others though, others stuck like mosquitos stuck in amber. Flashes.

Light, blood, destruction. Tattooed stars and deep, harrowing scars on ragged faces. Sobbing little boys with green eyes and silky hair.

Despite the intense lunacy and deep feeling of realness, I felt while dreaming, I was aware of a deep, striking pain within myself. It settled in my chest, buried deep, as though I’d replaced my stomach with Mjolnir. The ache was both sharp and dull, full and waning. It signaled that a harsh reality awaited me in the waking world. When I was dreaming it was like the pain had no anchor, no reason for tormenting me, as hapless and defenseless as a newly hatched bird.

When I’m half-awake, like I am now, I know why the pain is here, understand the presence of gut-wrenching guilt and searing hot shame and thus can accept them. I’m not sure which is worse to experience.

Sometimes I’m fully awake, being handed crackers or grapes or bottles of water by a person whose name I don’t know because I’m never cognizant long enough to catalog their face. Seconds later, I’m again drowning, pulled into the depths of my dreamscape.

My reality blurs and the cycle continues, vicious unto the end. And every time I wake, my cheeks are embarrassingly wet. It feels like weeks before I’m awake long enough to realize I’m not alone. That every time I wake, a new face is staring back at me from a different chair in my room.

I come to recognize them again in time. Wanda, Pietro, Bucky, Steve, Vision, even Peter. But never Tony.

I sit up for the first time after what feels like a month, though the limited aching emanating from my bones tells me, logically, that it’s only been a fraction of that time. One either side of my bed is a Maximoff. Wanda looks more concerned than wary. Pietro looks like a lion who caught the scent of an enemy pride.

“Go slowly Kaida,” Wanda urges, “you must be weak. It’s been a few days since you rejoined the land of the living. Her continued inquiries and entreaties fall on deaf ears. As vulgar as it now sounds in retrospect, I knew I had to move or else an accident would occur. I stumbled into my en suite, knowing even without needing to look that they would have removed anything that would have made a suitable weapon.

I also know that, should my biology betray any sign of shifting to make use of my abilities, F.R.I.D.A.Y. would alert the others and the full might of the Avengers would fall upon my head. And Wanda would have me back out in seconds. What couldn’t be stopped of measured for, of course, were things such as my superhuman hearing, that was currently picking up on the muffled conversation the twins were having in my bedroom on the other side of the bedroom door.

“Why are you blocking FRIDAY, we should be alerting the others that the prisoner is awake and ready for their attention.”

“Pietro! She’s not our prisoner,” Wanda reprimanded. “Besides, I wish to have a moment alone with the girl. Even if she is not a child of Strucker, she is what Hydra made her to be, somehow. I just… I’d like for her to have a sympathetic listener at first. We never got the benefit of the doubt. If you remember we weren’t exactly unwilling in our crusade against the Avengers.”

Pietro just grunted in agreement but remained tense at his sister's side. I quickly twisted off the faucet and reentered the bedroom. Rather than speak, Wanda simply patted the seat of the chair across from hers, indicating that I should take a seat. It was the gentlest command ever issued. I slid back until my shoulders brushed the high back of the chair.

Wanda opened her mouth to speak, but I cut her off with a gesture of my hands. I leaned forward, extending my head towards her.

“Just look, let my mind answer your questions. I don’t know that I’d have the strength to or that we’d have the time before the others come charging in. If I’m going to die, I need at least one person to know and believe the truth. Maybe help persuade Captain Rogers to end my life swiftly. It’s more than I deserve.”

With that Wanda, eyes shining, placed her hands on my temples and breathed deeply as we were both transported to an infinitely darker place, many years ago.

Sinking through my memories was like drifting uncontrollably through a minefield. Tiny bursts of anguish shot through my mind as Wanda relived my upbringing with my sister, the house of horrors that was our home, being tapped to join Hydra and agreeing without ‘persuasion'. The missions, targets and our downfall. My sister's son. And finally, the mission that sent us both running for the hills...

The time since then. One dead-end job to another, sisters working to support each other, all while looking for the last remaining piece of our family. And, then that day had come. The snap and dust. Guilt flooding me and overwhelming a sense of horror as time passed.

Homeless until my… boyfriend. The horror that home turned into, one that I do still feel as though I deserved. Until one night he went too far and I left. The night Peter found me. Of course in the midst of all this, you had my ‘heroics' that mostly consisted of helping women out of situations I understood all too well. And that damned school. So Peter was looking for me at the behest of the Avengers after the most recent event had even landed on the front page of the New York Times.

My deeply buried need to have somewhere to call home, to have not just someone on my six but to have a family. All the emotions that Hydra and I, through my conditioning at their hands, thought of as compromising and weak.

I had agreed, understanding that I could play the role of Asset for the good guys for once, maybe correct some of the horrific circumstances I had had a hand in creating. My mission would be protecting others for the first time. Only in my wildest dreams had I imagined I'd ever have a family again, but they had begun to feel like home, in spite of the secrets I kept. Now that was ruined. That was inevitable, I reminded myself. Because of who I am, I could never have a family. I didn't deserve one.

“No,” Wanda said, interrupting our shared stream of thoughts, "not ruined, just a little, broken. They accepted us in time." Pietro nodded, eyes alighting on his sister and then on me. Curiosity burned in his soul-deep gaze. He leaned forward and used his abnormally large hand and rough fingers to cover his sister's hand, which I just realized was now twined in mine.

Connected like this, I felt the smallest flicker of hope come to life in me, setting my heart aflutter. Understanding and acceptance filled their eyes and I did tear up a little. I never expected this.

“You are not the monster your parents created. Nor the asset that Hydra trained. You are more than that Kaida. Let us help you find it. Find yourself.”

I nodded, leaning into her embrace as she gripped me by the shoulders and kissed my cheek.

At Wanda’s urging, I stepped into the shower, running my hand through my hair as nearly a week’s worth of grime was stripped off my body. I think it was safe to say that I’d never felt more confused and well, vulnerable in my life.

For the time being, I didn’t have a mission or a purpose. My handler, or the surrogate my mind had appointed was questionable at best now that all had been revealed. I didn’t like being left to my own mind and devices. Too many thoughts would rattle around inside my head. After a few hours, the twins left again, gentle eyes and kind reassurances.

Later and not seconds after my stomach rumbled with a fierceness I had forgotten it had, my door opened and a tray of food entered, held by Bucky, the Winter Soldier.

A/N: I’m uploading another chapter tonight that I am formatting and scheduling right flipping now so I don’t flake again. Really pumped for the new fic I’m starting though!

taglist: @peeterparkr @laurfangirl424 @private-bucky-barnes

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