#polka dots and panic attacks don’t really match

[nelliecom3t]

Just to clarify, I wear black when I’m having a depressive episode so when I’m sobbing uncontrollably in my school’s hallway or am having a panic attack I draw less attention than when I wear my neon blue jacket.

I just feel a lot less stupid when my mental breakdowns line up with my wardrobe’s aesthetic.

[nour386]

Meeting the not Heroic Family

My submission for @pinesconessecrets as the santa of @mothmanfactkin, His prompts included super hero au and awkward dinner. So I combined them together into one massive fic. I hope you enjoy this because I enjoyed writing this. (Also on Ao3!)

"Dipper, I'm not sure about this," Wirt tightened his grip on his boyfriend's hand.

"It'll be fine!" Dipper awkwardly bumped Wirt with his elbow. "They don't need to know that I'm dating the legendary 'Spirit of the Plants'."

"Dipper this is serious." Wirt said. "If your Uncle is half as smart as you say he is, he should be able to figure out my identity in an instant."

"Don't worry about that, we have your cover story remember?" Dipper grinned, "a humble library part timer fresh out of college, looking for work. It'd cover most of our bases."

Wirt didn't look convinced. He bit his lip and looked away. His mind raced with all the ways this evening could go wrong. A villain somehow reconsigning him, and attacking them through the window. A giant monster bursting through the ceiling, crushing everyone and splattering the walls with their blood. Or worst of all, his boyfriend's uncles deciding that he was a bad influence. Cutting his time with Dipper short.

"Hey, look at me." Dipper pinched Wirt's cheek making the lanky man wince.

"What was that for?" Wirt rubbed his cheek.

"You were doing that thing where you panic and over think everything and worry that the end of the world will come about because you dropped a spoon." Dipper rolled his hand as he spoke.

"There was no apocalypse this time." Wirt said in a small voice.

"That's not the point Pilgrim." Dipper sighed. He placed both his hands on Wirt’s shoulders. "I know you're worried, and in truth, I am a little as well; but nothing helpful is going to come from sitting here and stewing in our sweat. Let's go take this thing down together."

Wirt took a deep breath, and let himself be held by Dipper. The weight of his hands on his shoulders helped ground the young man. He looked into his boyfriend’s eyes and gave a small smile. 

“I think. I'll be fine.” Wirt said slowly.

“I’ll be with you every step of the way.” Dipper smiled.

The pair made their way down the long walk up to the mystery shack. Normally Dipper would have insisted on flying the pair over, but decided that letting Wirt get excited over the natural beauty of Gravity Falls might help him calm down enough to face his uncles. That judgement worked out swimmingly in his favour as Wirt awkwardly asked to stop every few minutes to observe some flower or shrub that he didn’t quite recognise. 

“I know you said the town was bustling with the unknown, I didn’t think that would include plants.” Wirt carefully touched the leaf of a shrub. 

“Is a small bush that impressive?” Dipper squated next to Wirt to observe the plant. The stem looked like it was covered in red polka dots. 

“Look! This shrub adapted its stem to look like it's covered in red ants to avoid being eaten!” Wirt said in an excited voice. He gave the leaf at the tip of the stem a small poke and gave a small twitter of delight as the stem curled up perfectly to make the polka dots look even larger. 

“Huh, I never noticed that.” Dipper taped his chin.

“Probably because you spent the better part of your time running for your life.” Wirt tapped a nearby tree. A sturdy branch grew out, just high enough along the trunk to help him stand up without groaning. “Thank you.” He whispered to the tree.

“You know, for a superhero you sure do use your powers haphazardly.” Dipper teased. He stood up, and led the way to the shack.

“You’re just jealous that your yearbook photo this year was captioned ‘plant killer’.” Wirt smirked,   following Dipper along the path.

“I told all of our friends to not get me house plants as gifts. But they never listen.” Dipper threw up his hands in exasperation. “I can hardly take care of myself. You think I can take care of a plant?”

“Thank your lucky stars that I didn’t decide to incarcerate you for crimes against greenery.” Wirt said.

“That’s not a thing and you know it Mr.’Hero’.” Dipper punched Wirt’s arm.

“Well it might be!” Wirt shot back. “And now the charge has changed to battery.”

“Oh no. how could you have stopped my dastardly crimes.” Dipper rolled his eyes.

“Who’s talking about crime?” came a gruff voice.

The pair looked ahead to find an older looking man. Greying hair that lay flat on his head, a red nose and square jaw. He wore a serious expression, his face behind his square glasses was twisted into a serious scowl as he looked at the two young men. 

“I-uh no-one Sir.” Wirt squeaked. 

Dipper on the other hand rolled his eyes. “Why? You want a cut of the goods?” “You’re damn right.” The old man smirked. 

“I wha-” Wirt looked between them.

“Are you sure you’d want to be associated with horrible criminals like us?” Dipper asked. “Wouldn’t want the press to find out and cause another scandal.”

“Those paparazzi cronies will swarm after anything. It’ll blow over in less than a day.” The old man chuckled.

“What?” Wirt tilted his head.

Dipper grinned. “Wirt, this is my Great uncle Stan, retired hero and ever active conman.” 

“Hero?” Wirt stared at the man. His mind raced to put a mask to the face.

“Autographs cost 50 and pictures with me are 100.” Stan gave a showman’s grin. “Keep in mind that those prices are mutually exclusive.”

“And if you want him in costume you’d be footing the tailor’s bill.” Dipper elbowed Wirt.

“Wait, who were you?” Wirt asked.

“Who was I? Who was I?” Stan looked as though he had the wind knocked out of him. “What kind of cave dweller did you bring to my house?”

Dipper rolled his eyes at Stan’s theatrics. He was well used to his uncle’s inflated ego about his hero career. Wirt on the other hand found difficulty picking up on Stan’s very subtle hints at playing a bit. He felt his stomach sink to his feet as the man’s voice grew in volume, his life flashing before his eyes as he tried to figure out which hero this angry looking man could have been. 

“Grunkle Stan, tone it down, you’re going to give him a heart attack.” Came a sweet as sugar voice from inside the shack. A young lady with her hair done in a long braid opened the mesh door and punched Stan in the arm. Aside from rosy cheeks and the lack of a beard, her face was identical to Dipper’s. It didn’t take long for Wirt to recognise his boyfriend’s twin sister, Mabel. 

She turned to Wirt and gave a warming smile. “Sorry about this old grump. He thinks his comedy routine should double as a horror show.” 

“It’s only horror if they’re too sensitive.” Stan rubbed his arm. 

“You promised Dipper you’d play nice while Wirt was visiting.” she crossed her arms.

“I also promised your uncle Shermie that I wouldn’t let you do any hero work while staying over. And look how that turned out.” Stan rolled his eyes.

“Stopping someone from stealing a car isn’t hero work.” Mabel shot back. 

“Sorry about Stan,” Dipper muttered under his breath. “He’s just jealous that his hero career was cut.” 

“Jealous?” Wirt stared at Dipper. “You said you didn’t tell them anything”

“He’s jealous of your youthfulness” Dipper squeezed Wirt’s shoulder. He leaned in close to whisper into his ear. “I haven’t told them a thing, I promise.”

“So he’s not mad?” Wirt clarified. 

“Nope, just a really bad comedian.” Dipper smiled.

Wirt closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He held onto Dipper’s hand to ground himself. It took a couple of moments but he felt his heart rate slow down. 

“Hey, is the kid okay?” Stan called from the porch. Wirt could hear the audible smack of Mabel’s fist against Stan’s meaty arms, followed by a hushed. “Ouch!”

“Ready to go in?” Dipper asked patiently, ignoring his relatives and their antics.

“I think so yes.” Wirt opened his eyes and gave a weak grin. 

***

The pair had wanted to spend the wait for dinner in the living room, enjoying the terrible public access television that Gravity Falls had to offer. However, Stan had other plans. Apparently Dipper’s second Grunkle, Ford as Stan called him, had failed to arrive in time to help like he had agreed. And now the couple were forced into the kitchen to help with dinner preparations. 

“Honestly you don’t need to help too much.” Dipper insisted as he kept an eye on the bubbling stew.

“I don’t mind. It’s nice to see the shack you talk so much about.” Wirt smiled. He carefully peeled an onion before dicing it. Dipper could have sworn the onion grew plumper when he handed it to Wirt.

“So he talks about this place huh?” Stan looked over his shoulder and away from his chopping board. “Better be talking about how great it was.”

“Oh but of course.” Dipper rolled his eyes. “The 5 star accommodations, and food to match? How could I complain?”

“Didn’t you say that the walls were riddled with splinters?” Wirt asked.

“They add character!” Stan insisted. He banged his fist on to the chopping board, launching sliced up carrots into Dipper’s bubbling pot.

“And a surprising amount of fiber.” Dipper said. He placed a lid on the pot. 

“What?” Wirt looked at Dipper. 

“The kid chews just about anything. I’m surprised his power wasn’t something like eating anything.” Stan said, he took the onion slices from Wirt and poured them into a pan with some oil.

“I don’t think that’d be very fitting.” Wirt said. 

“Oh? And why’s that?” Stan snapped his fingers, summoning a small flame at the tip of his finger, which he then used to ignite the stove. He raised an eyebrow as he stared at Wirt. Challenging him to back up his claim.

Wirt could feel his stomach twisting under the gaze of the older man, but a gentle hand on his shoulder helped the practising hero ground himself. He took a deep breath and put on what felt like a confident grin. “Well, for one thing Dipper would need an appetite for such a power to be useful.”

There was a beat, Wirt held his breath, expecting some snide remark about how he didn’t know what he was talking about. Instead, Wirt watched as Stan slapped his knee in laughter. The old man’s wrinkled face lifted with glee as his hoarse laugh filled the shack. He accidentally knocked over the pan he had just put on the stove. 

Acting quickly, Wirt grew a strong vine from the flowers on the window sill, easily catching the pan.

“And here I thought you were all talk about him being a smart alec!” Stan grinned. He clapped a hand on Wirt’s back.

“Thank you?” Wirt looked to Dipper for help.

His boyfriend gave him a small smile and a thumbs up. “Told you he could hold his own.”

“He still looks scrawny as hell.” Stan pulled his pan out of the vine’s grasp. “Pretty good with his powers. You sure he ain’t some mask behind your back?”

“Grunkle Stan, Wirt would never lie to me like that.” Dipper frowned. He looked disgusted at the suggestion.

“Not many regular people are quick enough to catch something that fast. Especially with powers they don’t use regularly.” Stan said.

“I do use my power often.” Wirt said honestly.

“And what does a librarian need chloromancy for?” Stan asked.

“It helps me put away books faster.” Wirt said. “Not to mention I had a very excitable younger brother. If I wasn’t keeping an eye on him, there was no telling how much trouble he’d get in.”

Dipper held his breath as he watched his Uncle’s reaction. The old man eyed Wirt up and down, before shrugging and moving back to his cooking. “Jeez you really are dating a goody two shoes, aren’t you?” 

“You know me. Can’t help but stick to the rules.” Dipper said with an awkward chuckle.

“Only when it suits you.” Stan remarked. “Now toast the bread, I didn't bring you in here to play 20 questions.”

***

‘Ford’ was still nowhere to be seen, but the family had decided to start dinner without him. 

“If he thinks I’m going to wait for him to eat then he’s got another thing coming.” Stan said. 

With the use of his plant powers, Wirt was able to set the table rather quickly. He wondered why Mabel hadn’t been asked to help, but when he saw several burn marks hidden under the table cloth, he realised the risk the ever glitter throwing Mabel could be to the kitchen. It wasn’t long before the table had been set and all food was served. The three Pines and Wirt sat together at the table, enjoying the delicious food. The sound of clinking plates filled the air.

All was peaceful until a loud crash came from the living room, followed by an angry shout.

“Stanley what did you do to my mirror!”

Stan didn't get up from his seat, in fact he  acted as though he didn’t hear what had just transpired. Wirt remembered seeing the old man reach for his ears before they began eating. ‘Perhaps he turned off his hearing aids?’.

Dipper gave Wirt a smile. “We’re in the kitchen Grunkle Ford!”

Wirt turned to the doorway just in time to see a man with a similar face to Stan’s but with a much deeper cleft in his chin and much poofier hair. He wore a trench coat and red sweater over black dress pants. His clothes were scuffed and were burnt in multiple places. To the untrained eye it would have looked like the man had run wildly through the woods from some kind of monster. However Wirt was familiar with markings like those that were all over Ford’s clothing. They were from stray bullets that had nicked his clothing, narrowly avoiding him. 

“Stanley, what was the big idea with putting my mirror behind the couch!” Ford marched right up to his twin, his face red with rage.

Stan lazily looked up at Ford, his mouth full of mashed potatoes. He raised a finger and swallowed his food. “I can’t hear anything you're saying Sixer.” Stan pointed to the kitchen counter, where his hearing aids sat, keeping him deaf to the world around him.

“You knucklehead! I almost got crushed!” Ford reached to punch Stan, but he was stopped by Dipper. The young man had jumped out of his seat and grabbed a hold of Ford’s arm. Dipper also summoned a vine from the window sill to keep his uncle restrained.

“Grunkle Ford, I’m really happy you’re back in one piece. I was hoping to introduce you to my boyfriend, Wirt.” Dipper said. He nonchalantly gestured to Wirt.

“Ah, yes. I had forgotten we had guests.” Ford’s cheeks turned red as he collected himself. “I apologise for my outburst. I’m usually much more composed. However, someone’s pettiness has affected that.”

“Still deaf as a post.” Stan pointed to his large ears. His mouth full of half eaten stew.

Ford rolled his eyes and walked over to Wirt. The old man wiped his hand on his dark pants before offering a six-fingered hand shake. Wirt politely returned the gesture with a firm hand. But as the pair shook hands, a painful realisation dawned upon them both. 

“You…” They both breathed. Their eyes locked into one another. 

Before Wirt could say anything, Stanford ran out of the room, and out of sight. 

Stan, Dipper and Mabel stared at Wirt, all thinking the same question. Wirt could feel their eyes boring into his skull, so he stood up, and excused himself. The young man made his way to the bathroom, closing the door behind himself. He splashed his face with some cold water and breathed deeply. He looked at the mirror above the sink, screamed, and tripped back into the bathtub.

“Calm down!” Dipper whispered. He stepped out of the mirror.

“How did you-”

“I’ve been copying Grunkle Ford’s power for ages.” Dipper said. “Now, would you mind explaining what that was just now?”

“So, remember how I thought I never met your uncles and was worried about a bad first impression?” Wirt asked. His tone sounded jovial despite his rattled nerves. “Well I don't need to worry about that anymore.”

“When did you meet Grunkle Ford?” Dipper asked. He sat on the side of the bathtub.

“I was doing a nightly patrol of our campus. The security guards had asked for some help from the local hero guild. Someone was breaking in and taking the latest data found by the scientific teams. I was already on campus so the hero guild put me to the job.” Wirt said. He kept in his awkwardly sat position in the tub as he spoke. The shower curtain tangled with his long limbs. 

“So as I was walking around, I heard the guards calling for help, turned the corner and saw the tail coat of a man run down the hallway. ‘The light of the moon shone through the windows, guiding me through the dark to his eventual capture’. Is what I thought when I saw him turn down a dead end. But instead there was no one. There was the one way glass of the nearby lab door; but it was securely locked. The guards checked it anyway and found no one.”

“Right.” Dipper nodded along, tapping his chin.

“I walked along the floor, looking for any signs of the intruder; but alas he had slipped my grasp. The only person I found was one of the professors leaving after a late night at work. I had thought he was the intruder at first, since the first thing I saw were the tails of his coat, but it was a lab coat.” Wirt continued.

“But where does Ford fit into this?” Dipper asked.

“That professor dropped a roll of paper he was carrying. I thought it was some of his research, but when I reached down to pick it up. I noticed he had six fingers, which was not mentioned in the staff listings. And when I looked at his ID, it was a crudely faked card.” Wirt said. 

“Ooooh.” Dipper sucked in a breath. “And he realised you were the hero from that night?”

“There’s no way he didn’t.” Wirt said.

“Okay, things are messy, but, there’s nothing to worry about.” Dipper clapped his hands. “He knows that you know, but we don’t know he knows. So we can use this to our advantage.” 

“If he knows that we know, then he won’t try to deal with me to make sure I don’t blab?” wirt asked.

“But he can’t be sure that you know.” Dipper said. “As far as your story goes, you’re only a librarian. Just keep your cool and things should smooth over.”

“Considering how annoyed your Uncle Stan is, I doubt he’d want to cause too much more trouble.” Wirt said.

“Exactly.” Dipper smiled. “Now come on, dinner’s getting cold and trust me when I say you don’t want to fight Mabel for seconds.”

 Wirt watched as Dipper stood up offering his hand. The young man took a deep breath before accepting his boyfriend’s hand.

“That sounds lovely.” he agreed.

[iloveitwhen]

First Meetings

I really should have posted this a long long time ago but.............. oh well.

@jasonette-july-2k20 

Sibling Jasonette

The first time he met Marinette he was pissed, she looked nothing like him! How dare she claim to be the daughter of his mother. 

“Listen, little girl,” he snarled at the dark haired teenager who stood calmly in front of him, “I don’t care how you got that name but I do not have a sister.” 

“Don’t the eyes match?” she asked emotionless, staring at him in a challenge. Jason was startled and took a better look at hers and felt the blood drain from his face. She was right, despite only meeting his mother for a short time he committed the face in his memory, the girl shared the same shaped rose lips, small nose, and shade of blue eyes that matched not only his mothers but his own. 

“My father was another doctor in Ethiopia, I was five when Shiela died and I was sent to live with my biological father’s sister and her husband in France.” She took a deep breath, “look. You don’t have to believe me but I wanted to let you know, I think people deserve the decency to know these things.” She adjusted the strap of her backpack on her back and turned to leave. “I’m sorry you didn’t want me for a sister.” she says as she walks away. 

Jason stands there for a moment, he doesn’t know if he wants to believe it, but she had proof on her face that held his mother’s features. Could she only be after him for his connection to Bruce? Was she really his sister? 

Sister. 

He had to make sure.

“Wait!” he stepped outside of his apartment and looked down the hallway the way she walked but she was already gone. He quickly shut his door and chased after her, letting his long legs bound over the running children down the hall. He skidded to a halt when he came to the reception desk. 

“Did a teenage girl with black pigtails just walk out of here?” he shouts at Riley, the receptionist who nods vigorously noticing his panic. He runs out and looks around the small area, luckily he was taller than most people and could easily look over the heads of the few people who were around in the early morning. Unluckily she had disappeared just as quickly as she had appeared. 

“Shit!” 

“You know it’s not polite to curse.” Jason whipped around and found the girl was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. 

“You played me.” 

She shrugged, “you wouldn’t listen to me and I wasn’t sure if you’d come down or not to be honest.” then she pushed herself off the wall and gave him a bright smile and laughed a little, completely different from how she was acting before at his door, “I am glad you came though!” 

This girl was throwing him for a loop. 

“How do I know you're telling the truth? And what do you want?” she gave him a quizzical look. 

“We can do a blood test, and I don’t want anything from you!” she said as if it was the most scandalous thing. “I would never do such a thing, I just wanted to meet you.” she gave another, more soft smile, it was quite disarming and Jason got the distinct realization that this girl could be very dangerous. 

---

The first time he met Ladybug he was quite confused. She was standing in front of him in the filthiest part of Gotham in a strange red and black polka dotted superhero spandex suit with thick brown accents. Just who did she think she was running around in that suit. He eyed her warily, she had a similar face shape as his sister except she was taller and had big brown eyes and white hair crafted into twin braided tails that fell down to her waist. 

“Please, Red Hood.” 

"Look. I don't know you, you could be some evil mastermind for all I care, and besides, I'm really not the person you should ask. Even if this all is real I have anger issues and hearing about this guy really fuels my desire to kill the bastard." He shakes his head and shrugs. "I don't know what to tell you, I'm not even the best detective, actually, I might be the worst out of the bunch." He turns to leave but the girl calls him back. 

"Wait. You can help, I sought you out specifically, and you are also quite good at keeping secrets and this definitely needs to be kept a secret. We already know who is behind the mask but we need proof and that's where you come in. We need help, please, just think about it. I'll be here in two days at the same time for your answer. If you decide to help bring a bag with a few changes of clothes and whatever you need." 

"I'll think about it." 

She nodded and gave him a sad smile before turning and yelling, "voyage!" And stepping through a portal. 

Weird. Well at least he’d be able to see his sister, she did live in Paris after all. For a moment he thought that Ladybug could be Marinette but shook his head she would have told him about bleaching her hair, not to say that she wouldn’t be the type to hero around but there was just no way, Jason wasn’t that unlucky. 

---

Red Hood waited at the agreed upon spot with a duffle bag on the ground at his feet when the weird hero chick opened a portal and stepped through. 

“Red Hood!” she says, relief passing through her features and she spots his duffle and looks at him with excitement in her eyes. “Have you decided to help?” she asks with a hopeful smile. 

Red Hood grunts in response before threatening, “look, I don’t kill kids but if this is some sort of joke I might break my rules.” But instead of looking scared she sighed in relief, keeping her smile. 

“Thank you Red.” Jason’s heart broke a little at the utmost gratitude from her voice, like no one ever bothered to help her when she asked for it. Before she could say another word the round thing on her hip beeped and when she opened it she grimaced. 

“We have an akuma attack. Come on, I want you to watch but stay out of sight.” she called “voyage” again like last time and a portal appeared but she looked back at him and added, “please stay out of this fight, we have this handled and you will get in the way.” He nodded and they stepped through.

She had portaled them to the top of a tall building, it was nighttime in Paris when it was dusk at Gotham  and in the distance he saw the Eiffel Tower getting picked up by a giant kid who looked about six years old but was half the size of the Eiffel Tower itself that he just chucked. Behind the mask Jason's brows went high and his jaw dropped. 

“Don’t worry,” the girl reassured him. “Gigantitan isn’t too bad, just a poor kid who gets akumatized regularly. Dismount.” 

“Dismo-?” Jason began but was caught off guard by the flash of teal colored light surrounding the girl. In place of the suit from before she stood in a mostly black suit with red and black polka dots covering her arms and torso, the bottom was black with a thick red stripe around her ankles and black under her forearms and palms. Her hair had changed to black with short pigtails and her eyes blue. 

“What the f-”

“Stay out of sight, I’ll come back for you.” She pulled the round thing off her hip and started swinging it in a circle by a string, was that a yoyo?, and swung off after the giant baby child. Jason was slightly panicked, she just transformed in a flash of light and looked like his sister when they first met. Marinette had outgrown the pigtails and now usually wore her hair down, in braids, or in buns. And her eyes were blue. Jason shook his head of the thought, this Ladybug must have just made the pigtails popular, and plenty of people have blue eyes. He then ran after the hero to get a closer look without getting in the way. 

He saw two more heroes trying to keep the monster contained when they converged to meet up with the Ladybug. He decided to get closer and leaped across the rooftops till he could see and hear the heroes working clearly but was also out of the way. 

It was clear Ladybug was the leader, she barked orders while joining the fight as well. It was a quick win but the weirdest part wasn’t when the giant-baby-thing was enveloped in purple goo and shrunk to reveal a young six year old boy, it was when the girl tossed something in the air and a burst of little flying things came out of nowhere and magically fixed everything, including the destroyed Eiffel Tower. Jason was very confused. Sure he’d seen some crazy things over the years but that didn’t mean it was any less strange. He observed how they surrounded the boy and comforted him, soon the blonde haired man in the all black suit and cat ears gathered the boy in his arms and bounded away, likely taking the boy home. The black spotted hero with her third partner, pointing to the place he was told to stay and they both sprouted wings and flew in that direction. 

“Hey!” he called out, stepping into the light. The two heroes looked over and started in his direction. They landed softly on the roof and their wings disappeared into wisps of white smoke. 

“Red Hood I told you too-”

“I know, I know, I just wanted to get a better look. I think I need a lot more explaining.” 

The leader nodded then gestured to her partner, “this is Hornet, Hornet, this is Red Hood.” 

He looked her over as she did him, her suit was mostly black as well, her torso was black with burnt yellow along the seams in honeycomb shapes and in the same color she had several diagonal lines down her legs. She also had a mask like his though it resembled a bee’s head. 

“Nice mask,” Hornet commented, her voice wasn’t muffled as it should have been and Jason nodded his thanks. 

“Yours is a lot cooler.” He paused for a moment then continued, “I know it’s late here so we can meet up some other time so you kids can get some rest, I can have an explanation later.” Ladybug’s eyebrow quirked up but she nodded. 

“Thanks. Hornet will lead you to the hotel you’ll be staying. Don’t worry, it’ll be safe, no one will find your identity.” 

---

The second time he met Marinette, well, let’s just say the magic that conceals the identities of the Miraculous holders did not work on Jason. 

I did a second part that technically follows this and explains how Mari and Jason are related 

Soulmates Day 2

[sdottkrames]

I’m Not Afraid (I know who I married)

@comfortember prompt 6: afraid to sleep

Summary: What happens after that scene in IM3 when Tony admits he can’t sleep and he and Pepper take a shower (spoiler alert, nothing happens).

Notes:  this was interesting to write. I tried really hard to incorporate some metaphors after @joyful-soul-collector asked if I used any, and it was definitely a ton of fun. Besides, I just adore Pepperony.

Also, please be careful. Nothing is too detailed or graphic, but of course, this is during Tony’s post wormhole days where he’s having panic attacks and not sleeping. So please be careful, alright?

Read on AO3: Here

Tony had been working in the lab all day. Two days? Three? A week? He wasn’t really sure. He’d gotten lost in the ever present panic, the tightness in his chest that just wouldn’t let go, the all consuming need to protect. He was no longer Tony, but a coffee, self-loathing fueled sentinel whose sole purpose had become to protect the ones he loved.

He couldn’t stop it.

Then the one who could walked into the house. 

Tony had tried to pretend he was okay. He tried so hard to not let it show how broken he was because then she would leave. She would see he was even more of a mess than he had been when they’d gotten together, and she would decide it was too much and walk away. Again.

So he’d done what he always did: he hid.

His newest model suit could be controlled by his brain, connected to his thoughts, but he should’ve known that his brain was no match for Pepper’s. She saw right through the suit he’d sent to distract her so he could work on more suits in his lab and hide the fact that his only thoughts now were protect protect protect. 

She forced the words out of him. As she turned to walk away, frustration evident in the firm click of her heels on the stairs, the air left Tony’s lungs and he realized he needed her. She was the only one who could release some of the pressure, the noise in his brain. He needed her to stay.

“I admit it. My fault.” Everything was his fault, wasn’t it? “Im sorry. I'm a piping hot mess.” He was desperate for her to turn around, for her to just look at him. The words came out in a rush. “It's been going on for a while. I haven't said anything. Nothing's been the same since New York.”

Pepper turned, and he was able to suck in a breath. “Oh, really? I didn't notice that at all,” she said, voice thick with sarcasm.

A dam had broken, and suddenly Tony realized he couldn’t hold back the words anymore. Finally freed, they flowed out of him, rushing and colliding with one another and he forced himself to channel them into coherent sentences. 

“You experience things… and then they're over, and you still can't explain them. Gods, aliens, other dimensions. I'm just a man in a can. The only reason I haven't cracked up is probably because you moved in. Which is great. I love you. I'm lucky. But honey,” he gasped, ”I can't sleep. You go to bed, I come down here. I do what I know. I tinker. I... Threat is imminent. And I have to protect the one thing that I can't live without.” He looked at her, pleading with her to understand. “That's you. And my suits, they’re, uh-”

”Machines,” Pepper interrupted, gently. 

“They’re part of me.”

“They’re a distraction.” 

For a moment they stood there, her expression unreadable and his the most honest it had been in months. Then she slowly moved closer, her beautiful white suit striking against her red hair and he couldn’t help but think how lucky he was to have her. And as she wrapped her arms around him, his face falling into her collarbone, he realized that thought wasn’t overshadowed immediately by a knot in his stomach and a trembling in his arms like it had been lately. A miracle.

She kissed his forehead and then, “I’m going to take a shower.”

He blinked, leaning back against the cool tool bench in surprise. “Okay.”

“And you’re gonna join me.”

“Better,” he said, and followed her eagerly to their room. 

But, actually, nothing happened. Tony was so exhausted by the day (days? weeks?) he’d spent in the lab that the minute the warm water hit him, he began to lose the fight against his eyelids. The tension in his shoulders washed down the drain with the shower droplets, and Pepper ended up having to wash the shampoo out of his hair for him as he leaned heavily against her. 

Bundled in his comfiest pajamas (which Pepper brought to him) Tony started to curl up under the covers. However, the minute he touched the sheets, his body tensed. He knew what happened when he slept. Nightmares. Falling. Death. Death of his loved ones, not his own. Never his own. He was never so lucky. 

He had to get down to the lab. Had to build another suit to protect, protect, protect.

As he shot up in bed, hands, tough and gentle, gripped his shoulders and pushed him back down.

“No you don’t.” 

Tony looked up and allowed Pepper to overwhelm his senses. Her voice, her polka dot pajamas, the smell of her lavender shampoo. He breathed in, breathed out. 

“We’re okay, Tony. We’re gonna be okay.” She released his shoulders to climb into bed, and they situated themselves so that she was curled up next to him, her chest against his back. She threw an arm over him protectively, kissing his shoulder.

Then she did something that surprised him (would this woman ever not be remarkable?): she sang.

Tony didn’t know how she learned the song. He didn’t really care. The minute she started singing, tears wet his eyes. It was the song his mother used to sing to him. He let out a sigh, and closed his eyes, the fear of sleeping finally loosening enough to let him rest as the love of his girlfriend and the love he’d once felt from his mother surrounded him.

And Pepper continued to sing. 

Ninna nanna, ninna oh

Questo bimbo a chi lo dò ?

Se lo dò alla Befana, 

Se lo tiene una settimana.

Se lo dò all'uomo nero,

Se lo tiene un anno intero.

Ninna nanna, ninna oh,

Questo bimbo me lo terrò!

He was asleep halfway through. Pepper kissed his hair, and prayed that for his sake he would sleep through the night.

[acefrogmonarch]

My Turn :) Pt.3

(❁´◡`❁) (❤´艸｀❤)(✿◠‿◠)(✿◕‿◕✿)~(￣▽￣)~*(❤ ω ❤)

Tags @vivilakitty @mystery-5-5 @northernbluetongue @thatrandomfandomsgirl @vixen-uchiha

I hope that’s all of you guys in the tags if not then eh.

Tell me

1 | 2 | 3 (You’re here) | 4 - ao3

Uh heavy warning.

‼❌‼  WARNING ‼❌‼ WARNING ‼❌‼ WARNING  ‼❌‼ WARNING  ‼❌‼ WARNING  ‼❌‼ WARNING   ‼❌‼ WARNING  ‼❌‼ WARNING  ‼❌‼

A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE

Diana had just landed her invisible plane on the outskirts of Paris and makes her way to the inner workings of the city.

Bruce had called her to notify her of the situation in Paris. She, herself, had never been present when an Akuma was and always missed the chance to fight one.

Every time she was either off-world or on a mission. Finally, after ranting to Bruce about it, he seemed to inform her that he was taking the initiative within the following week. "Finally some good news after all this time!" Stretching out her limbs, Diana wasted no time in arriving in Paris.

Diana went to her boutique first, she trusted the girl that ran it when Diana left for her 'business trips'. リリーパッド regularly left her school books in the back of the storage. Scribbled post-it notes on her desk as she checked out every few months. A mess within the mess but always order within that chaos.

リリーパッド was, already is, family and often asked if she could help lighten the load of Diana's work or hide from her friends and family at her store.

'From embarrassment.' Is Lily Pad's excuse but Diana still teased her, she wasn't safe anywhere. Diana had sent a message an hour ago when she passed the Atlantic ocean but had yet to receive a text.

It was well past bedtime and Diana couldn't get mad at her little helper's very wise decision to sleep on a weekday. Taking out her keys, Diana opened the door to her boutique to find her helper there. "Marinette!" The girl jumped, started awake and focused her eyes at the door. "Mademoiselle Prince!"

Wiping her mouth, in case she drooled, Marinette checked around the surroundings on her desk. "Mari, it's 22 at night why-" Diana didn't bother to check the time, striding to Marinette's table, beginning to scold her. Marinette bites her lip, hesitant to speak up, but does so anyway.

"Uh, Actually, it's 21:57." Diana looked at Marinette with an unapproved stare and a hand on her hip. "You are not sassing me out リリーパッド." Marinette smiled at the small nickname. She rubbed the back of her head. "I hope you're not mad, I stayed without your permission."

Diana smiled at her helper and went to drop her purse in her office. "Not at all, what's happened since I last left?" Marinette fumbled with her collar and shrugged, looking away.

At the lack of response, Diana looked through the doorway. "Marinette?"

Marinette had taken off her turtleneck and revealed her fading light purple, gruesome green, and yellow hue of a healing bruise crawling on her neck.

From the doorway, Diana froze at the sight of the small women in front of her. "リリーパッド, Who did this to you." Marinette walked over and held her hand, slightly smiling.

"It was the most recent Akumatized victim." Quickly recovering at the memory, Marinette smiled at her. "But don't worry! I won't let that stop me from work!"

Marinette loosely wrapped her scarf around her neck. Marinette wanted to change the subject and noticed the texts from her boss. "Why, are you back so early mademoiselle?" Diana turned to look back at her desk.

"I have something that's caught my attention." Crumbling an old piece of paper, Diana controlled her growing anger. "Marinette, stay away from here."

Marinette in the meantime slipped on a jacket and entered Diana's office. "But Madam. What about work?" Diana shakes her head 'No'. 

"You were already caught up in this. I don't get caught up again." Marinette gave a small smile and walked up to Diana. "It's very hard to do that when your classmates are shit."

Diana smiled back and hugged her. "Maybe, but if you see one. Run away." 

.

.

Marinette had tried, really she did. But she couldn't stop helping people even if she didn't want to.

'Thank god, Royal is alright.' The white noise dimmed around her and she regained consciousness. In a colder place, good. From experience, Marinette could tell this grogginess is from blood loss. Looking down at her stomach she saw the torn clothing and Chat Noir's arm.

'Never again, screw this." Blinking at her surroundings, Marinette grabbed onto the arm that's wrapped around her. "How long was I out?" A little louder than her normal tone. She was right to panic a little, they were in the middle of an Akuma attack! "Not long."

Both Chat Noir and her aren't there to take care of it and Mademoiselle Prince! Struggling to move away from Chat Noir's, Ladybug instead leans into her partner. "I don't know who is Mdm. Prince but she doesn't matter right now, the Akuma has been dealt with, those two strangers helped me deal with it."

Chat Noir placed Ladybug on a chair and went to go get supplies. "You know the drill, don't move." Ladybug waved her arm in his general direction. "Whatever you say. Cat boy."

Ladybug held her stomach, in her hand was her yo-yo. "Lucky charm." Weakly throwing it up the air, Ladybug caught the polka-dotted burner that fell back down.

Marinette laughs at the situation. "Not even right now? Really" Sighing as she waited for Adrien. She needed it anyway and she was already guessing that Adrien did too. "Thank god this doesn't happen often."

Adrien enters the lobby, his hands full of items. A pot, a sewing kit, Alcohol and a couple of water bottles. "I got everything." Marinette nodded and sat up to ease her head.

"In a pot?" Adrien briskly walked back to her. "Y-yeah." Adrien was stopped to stare at her open wound. "Hey." Marinette smiled weakly and held out her hand.

"I'm going to be okay." Adrien grabbed it and fell to his knees again. "How come the Miraculous could cure me but not you." Gripping her hand and quietly letting his tears flow.

"Easy there, I won't be back up to my usual self if I don't hurry." Sniffling, Adrien nodded and took the burner and turned it on. Adrien gives her the cold water bottle and alcohol.

Wordlessly he moves to help Marinette. Adrien boiled another water bottle and took the sewing kit he found and waited for the water to boil. Once it's boiled, Adrien takes the thread and washes it in the hot water, the same with the needle.

Marinette in the meantime detransformed. Tikki went off to guard the place, She couldn't bear to see her companion hurt. Marinette lifted her shirt to lather the areas around the slashes with-- Marinette checked the bottle. "Bourbon?" Adrien didn't reply to her, too busy watching water boil. Marinette shrugged and took a sip.

"Better than last time." Grabbing a few tissues, Marinette covered the gaps and applied pressure. Dousing the outside of her stomach with bourbon she continued. Adrien stood up from the pot delivering the disinfected needle and thread to Mari with a pair of pliers and eyebrow pluckers.

Marinette takes them into her hand, she bends the needle into a hook. Pausing to look up to her partner, he hasn't expressed disconcert since he gathered the supplies. "You don't have to look, you know." Marinette tied the knot on the needle.

Adrien shook his head. "I passed out last time, I have to look." Marinette stared at him. "Don't push yourself 纯儿." Adrien grimaced and breathed out slowly. "G-got it."

Marinette took the plier in one hand and the bottle of bourbon in another. Taking a big gulp of the bourbon and steadying her hand, she slowly worked to tie the first throw together.

After successfully getting the first know she continued on the smaller parts of the claw marks. Catching her breathe, Marinette stops and takes a sip of the water and bourbon. "The pot."

Wordlessly Adrien hands the hot item to her. Adrien gags and covers his mouth with his hand. Marinette pulls the two strips of skin together and presses the hot iron on it.

Melting the skin together and the agonizing burn makes it difficult for her to be awake. Adrien stands up abruptly and runs out, covering his nose and moth with the palm of his hand. The smell of burnt skin and seeing his friend in pain makes him puke.

His lunch comes up as Marinette finishes her first claw mark. "A" Marinette bites back her cries and throws the pot away. "Ah, Merde." Adrien cleans up his puke and makes his way back to the Marinette.

"Looks like I can't wear a two-piece bathing suit anymore." Marinette lightly jokes, Adrien doesn't smile at her attempt to lighten the mood. His somber state brings Marinette worry, a silent beat passes.

"You looked better in a one-piece any way." Marinette snorts but quickly develops into pain. "Ow." Adrien detransforms and looks at Plagg. He floats closer to Marinette's face and nuzzles her cheek.

"Mari-bug, get some rest. I can handle it from here." Marinette giggles at his whiskers, lightly grazing her cheek. "Got it Plagg." Grinning softly at Plagg and Adrien; Adrien held her hand and rubbed the back of it. Marinette closed her eyes, letting the pain and sorrow consume her body.

"Adrien, get the pot and reheat it." Plagg barked orders at Adrien's inability to move. He nods and scurries off to fetch the pot. "Sorry about this baby bug." Repeating the procedure for the claw mark above the first one, Adrien and Plagg worked tirelessly to ensure the rest of the injury closed.

.

.

After finishing and closing the wounds, Adrien went to Marinette's side. "We're are ready to finish the Purification of  the Akuma." Plagg went off to find Tikki at Adrien's words.

When Plagg found her, she was looking onto the city, sitting in the gutter. "Sugarcube." Turning to find her partner, Tikki doesn't cheer up. Plagg spins around her and grabs ahold of her paws.

"She's all patched up!" Plagg strived to match Tikki's endless cheery euphemism. It didn't work and it got out a sad smile from her. "You should leave the optimism to me, sock." 

Plagg nudges her, leads her back to Marinette. Tikki hovers at Marinette sides, Plagg drifts from afar. Leaving enough space for Tikki to take in the sight of her little ladybird. "When knowledge when is used to help others and not yourself, then is it a gift."

Tikki wasn't wise, that belonged to Wayzz for a reason. But by any means is she naive. Tikki dreaded the injuries she couldn't heal and how restricted her powers were without a proper vessel.

"Don't be so tough on yourself love." Plagg grabs a paw from Tikki and floats around her. Almost like dancing, Adrien couldn't help but stare at the little gods dance. "Oh no, you are not calling me those nicknames again." Tikki took back her paw and crossed her arms.

Plagg nudges her again and holds her. "Come one sweets, how long are you going to be mad at me." Tikki flies off and goes to Marinette. "I will stop being mad when you give me a reason too." Adrien catches Plagg with his hands.

"Maybe we should leave the girls to themselves." Plagg stares at Tikki from a distance and sighs. Then flips the switch from crushed to apathy in an instant. "Gender is a fake construct and time isn't relevant."

"Uhh" Leaving Adrien in a dazed and confused state. Plagg floats off for some food. "Okay?" Adrien trails after Plagg into the kitchen.

Tikki glides down to Marinette's sleeping form and proceeds to nest on her hair. "Everything is going to get better, I promise Крошечный жук" Tikki pets her hair slowly.

[ayahne]

i can’t write, i say as i write 8 pages on Word

I discussed this simple little idea i had with @adelmortescryche from 2AM to 5AM and now it’s not a little idea. A lot of ideas thrown mostly randomly together on the same fic idea i will never write cause i write baaaad.

I call it : EdRi!!! On Para-Ice

- When Yuuri arrives at Wayne State to major in buisness and become a pro skater, he meets the four people with who he's going to share lodging.

- Ling is his age, he's a Xingian diplomat son that want to keep it low-key, and he's majoring in political science. He's a funny, eccentric kind of guy, and he makes Lan Fan mad.

- Lan Fan is « totally not » his body guard, and she's majoring in chemistry. She's a strange blend of calm and hot-temper. He likes her.

- There's also Phichit, ; he's younger, but so nice and enthusiastic ; he wants to do photography. (he's Thai and doesn't speaks much english, but everyone helps him and stick colored notes cards to everything and he learns quickly).

- And there's Edward Curtis, who is half cyborg, hot tempered, foul mouthed and full of shit and loyalty. He's younger than him, but more advanced than him in his studies. (« He's a genius », explains Lan Fan.) They got on like a house on fire.

- Strangely, even if they're so different from each other, they share the apartment fine. Lan Fan and Ed go run in the mornings, Ling cooks, Yuuri and Phichit go to the ice ring... They fit.

- Ed is a bit hyperactive, and when Lan Fan is too occupied to spar with him, he gotta finds something to do. (« No Ed, you can't punch people in the face. ») He visits Yuuri and Phichit at the ice ring, and he tries a bit of skating ; it's challenging, he likes it.

- Yuuri starts to teach him simple figures : a single-toe-loop, a sit-spin... Ed spend his time falling on his face because the automails are destabilizing him, but he's tired and happy when he masters a new move. From there, you can't stop him. Skating becomes the escape to his problems, and the guilt he feels.

- He comes to every of Yuuri's event to cheer him on ; he manage the panic attacks like it's nobody's buisness, and Yuuri starts to feel more confident. It's great time, they have fun.

- But one day, there's an accident ; the huge score board fall on Yuuri that just finished his routine. They have to amputate his arm.

- Ed has lived this before, and acts quick. He's there through everything, the hospital ride, the hospital stay, the therapy. With the others, he persuades Yuuri to get an automail (« Hey, we match now. ») He never let him wallow in his depression, and he puts him back on his skates with his therapist acceptance.

- They fight, with all the others, through Yuuri's terror of the ice, and slowly, slowly, he finds back his love for the ice ; he starts to skate again, to being confident. Ed does it all with him, he's his crutch. (« I miss two limbs. If i can do it, you can do it better. » And Yuuri does.)

(beware of the cut)

- "dude you can fucking make a quint and fly on the ice " says Yuuri "dont care still jealous" answer Ed, and they laugh and Phichit posts it on instagram

- Yuuri's like, welp, if you can do it, I should at least try and everyone screams NO because he's older than Ed. Except Ed, who's rolling his eyes being like, he could totally do it, he's older than me and just as flexible.

- They're both ULTRA flexible

- Cue Ed teaching Yuuri how to make some of his fighting moves on ice

- Cue Yuuri teaching Ed more quads

- All those EdRi comments. The first few are just fujoshi slobbering over them and their bromance, then someone who actually knows something about skating figures out what they're seeing and they sCREAM.

- And the skating fandom has a meltdown.

- Phichit posting out of context photos, like warming up when they're in weird yoga poses, and it seems a bit more intimate than it is.

- With tags like '#MySmolSonsBeFlexi' '#MustNotLetEdSeeTagsHeWillSlayMe'

- Phichit and all the others being DEADLY TIRED than his frighteningly prodigious friends not getting recognition just because they've got automail.

- Doesn't people realise that automail makes it harder ?

- “It's easier with automail ?” * Ed proceeds to detach his own arm and dump it on the stupid fuck's lap who crumble under the weight. * “Try lifting something that weight more than yourself higher than your head, and even spin with something ressembling grace when you have a brick instead of an arm”.

- Pole dancing class as part of the automail recovery therapy. Yuuri smiles, and he's like, this was totally for medical reasons.

- The ports gets cold and hurt when they're too long in the ice ring, so for when they train Phichit knitted them horrible arm socks (and leg sock for Ed). Knitting is not Phichit forte, and the mitts are ridiculous at best.

- Yuuri's favorite is a kaki monstruosity with purple polka dots, orange stripes, and some brown squiggles that are supposed to be flowers.

- Ed's are one atomic pink with red hearts on it, and a blue one with barely recognisable hamsters.

- The photos of them with it become viral.

- He decides to go back to competing, and he slays the handisport section. He wins all of the gold medals in the juniors, and then in the seniors.

- He's got a new coach ; she's pretty, kind and maternal, attentive to his anxieties and the fact that Ed is basically is contra-phobic object ; she's perfect, and exactly what he needs. Her name is Gracia Hugues.

- For his galas, he always do something with Ed (and either they do funny shit things, either they some mind-numbing show of skills mixing Ed's talents in flying martial arts and Yuuri's adaptability- anyways they're breathtaking)

- There's a fanbase dedied to their bromance, and some people do RPF with them.

- Ed browsing deviantart and diying a little bit (but save the nice, bro, safe ones on his phone.)

- Yuuri reading fanfictions, selecting the crack fics and the AUs to laugh with Ed, Phichit and Lin. (and Lan Fan. She's there, silently laughing)

- They're so much more low key about the bromance than Phichit and Yuuri that people have a lot more opinions about their bromance. And are sure it's a romance.

- Yuuri obviously finds it hilarious.

- Ed and Yuuri doing shit like this on purpose.

- One day on tv, some jackass ask if he doesn't miss his limbs, and Ed answers "thats equivalent exchange" while looking at Yuuri. The shippers goes mad, Yuuri goes awww cause he knows Ed meant it very innocently

- They only pop up in Phichit, Ling, and Yuri social medias because they dont take vids themselves or photos and even less post them

-  One day, there's an hORRIBLE rant made by a dude that says that Ed and Yuuri are lucky to have found the other because who would want any of those disgusting cripples

- and they're a bit hurt but not much because they told themselves the same thing since they got their accidents

- But Phichit sees red. He takes THE photo.

- the one after the showers after practice, where you can see skin, soft scars, glinting metal, muscles and cloth making it SFW, and no comment under it like he use to.

- It broke twitter

- (Yuri totally roasted the guy that DARED insult his idol.)

- Roy Mustang is an ex-man-single prodigy. He was adored by the public. When he retired, he decided he wanted to go into Amestrian politics (ie, the Army).

- He's the one that presented his old buddy from the army, Maes, to Gracia. (people all around the world whined when they announced that it was Maes marrying Gracia and not him.)

- Roy isn't sure if he's happy for both his friends because Maes became 1000% more annoying after meeting Gracia. (That's a lie, he loves them both and is more than happy.)

- When he became a state alchemist, his fans where like “fire alchemy ??? U SURE ?”

- Yuri Plisetesky is a die-hard Yuuri Katsuki fan, and he finds it unfair that

    1. no same sex couple on the ice, and it sucks because those two could do some pretty awesome shit

    2. Ed doesn't compete because not enough money and he don't care much for the competition ; he's there for the fun and for Yuuri

    3. he'd love to skate on the same ice as Yuuri but, eh, handi sections and mainstream ones doesn't mix. He hates the federation so much.

    4. no one knows about the handi athletes apart of Yuri and Otabek (because he whines at him) and he finds it the most irritating thing in the world, it's a TRAVESTY.

- And just, one day, he goes to Yuuri's ice ring, and he watches him, film him for future reference and manage to catch on film a *quad axel*.

- And the regular skaters, they're like "wait what" when they see the video of the first quad axel in history

- "but we don't know that guy"

- and Yuri goes in a screaming rant about how they're all stupid, it's “FUCKING YUURI KATSUKI YOU HEATHENS HOW DARE YOU FORGET HIM HE COULD HAVE BEEN THE BEST RIVAL FOR GOLD IF NOT FOR THAT ACCIDENT HE HAD TO LEAVE MAINSTREAM SKATING AND NOW YOU DON'T EVEN REMEMBER HIM?!”

- And one day, Viktor, dense fridge that he is, find irl EdRi doing some figures in a public ice ring. He goes to Yuuri, says something like you skate nice, have you considered going pro, and ed punches him because the dunce doesn’t remember sharing the ice with Yuuri

- "I was too fucking kind i should have decked him with the metal one"

- Yuuri is nrgh between "he punched Viktor" and "am i that forgettable"

- Yuuri's also like Ed No Ed Stahp. While smiling happily because spiteful savage Yuuri. Who doesn't want Victor to get hurt, but he forgot.

- "We said no punching, Ed"

- ”Ed we talked about this.”

- ZE discussion they have all the time ; "Can i punch that dick in the dick" "No u cant"

- And he can only punch people if Yuuri is okay with it because everyone deem that if Yuuri thinks a dude deserve to be punched then he deserves it.

- If Yuuri thinks it's time to punch someone then it's time. Yuuri's everyone's moral compass. Except he isn't a good moral compass, because sometimes he's sassy and spiteful.

- Yuuri with really long hair after he stopped mainstream mens singles.

- First he was too depressed to cut it, then he realized it's easier for the automail. The hair gets stuck less in the joints and if they're long you can take them out easier.

- Phichit doing artistic© photos of tanned light hair Ed and pale dark hair Yuuri and destroying Instagram

- Al and Ed have been apart since they were 8 and 10 and they had the failed transmutation that left Al in a coma for 3 years with nearly no memories of his brother, and Ed without limbs.

- They went to different foster families ; Ed with Izumi and Sig, Al with the Rockbell. And Al doesn't remember Ed much, only what Pinako told him (he loved you more than anything, he was persuaded the accident is his fault)

- Olivia Armstrong is Ed social worker. The whole Briggs team work in social services.

- Ed refusing to search for his bro cause he's sure Al hates him, and, sure, Ed hates himself but not to the point of subjecting himself to that.

- Yuuri comforting him when he has nightmares about it, not saying a thing when Ed cries at night cause he misses Al.

- Phichit  stalking the whole internet to update Ed on how Al is doing.

- Al being so admirative of E.Curtis works in "Alchemy Actual". Pinako wince in the background.

- Al finds it hard to connect E. Curtis to his brother because E. Curtis is notoriously secretive. No one knows anything about him.

- Al doesn't watch ice-skating, and isn't much a fan of phichit-chu. And no matter how many times he falls on a video of Edward C. he can't connect either of them to his brother. Pinako's starting to wonder if he's ever going to realise Ed-on-screen and Ed-the-alchemist is Ed his brother. She shighs in exasperation and wonder why he's so dense.

- May being Ling's pint sized badass little sister (one of many but his favorite even if loves giving her shit)

- May is irritating and wonderful and god he wishes he could introduce her to Al.

- May find Al by herself and is like “... most beautiful boy i've ever seen in my entire life omg”

- She posts photo of her and him on insta, and Phichit send them to Ed, he becomes crazy.

- Al being in a perpetual state of “Wait what” concerning her.

- “Beautiful girl came out of no where to talk to me and flirt with me and take pictures with me what'

- She starts talking alkahestry and suddenly he doesn't register her pretty face anymore she's clever who cares about pretty I can talk about alchemy with her !!!

- May finds him adorable

- Cue budding romance while their big brothers are having aneurisms on the side. Yuuri, Phichit and Lan Fan finds it hilarious.

- And at LEAST Ling can interact with his sister and NOW AL but ED REFUSES and he is sad and frustrated so he goes skating cause he has too much energy and "you can't punch people for the lolz Ed"

- Yuuri just sighs and pats him on the back while Ed screams at the sky and goes throwing quads all over the place.

- So frustrated he tries a quint toe loop, but "not a quad axel, i'm stupid but not dumb, only quadsuki can do that"

- Ed having super nice automail that Yuuri offered him with the skating money ("look, we match !", he says, a twinkle in his eyes, echoeing what Ed told him a few years ago.)

- Since Ed doesn't want to see the Rockbell and has a « 0 interaction » policy, Yuuri found that guy that lives in a remote part of Australia that does incredible machinery. They go once a year with the gang.

- Ed considering himself « toxic » to those he loves. Lan Fan decked him in the gut, Ling rolled his eyes so hard it had to be inscribed in a book of records, and Phichit insulted him in Thai. He tried this bullshit with Yuuri exactly once and never did it again.

- Mari straight up hit him with a pan. She reminds Ed of Izumi.("My foster mom hits me with her pan, too.")

- Following that sentence, people start to be suspicious about his foster mom, until they figure out Izumi and Ed love each other. Their love is just... violently displayed. And filled with martial art montages.

- Izumi and Sig already have a biological son when they adopt Ed. Aoi is totaly enamored with his « big brother »

- They adopted another child, a little girl named Nina. Her dad tried to kill her, and as of such she's sick. Her and Al are the reason he started studying organic alchemy in more depth.

- Envy is Ed biological punk rock but so nice older half-brother. He's androgynous and loves confusing people. ("Are you a girl or a boy ?" "no.")

- Envy avoids Al cause he feels guilty too. He felt he shoud have been there for his two lil bro, no matter how angry with their dad he was.

- When Ed and Envy gloom together, Lin/Phichit/Yuuri/Lan Fan comes to hit them and like "no we love you yes we said love shut up, up, we going petting rabbits"

- Hiroko, Izumi and Minako being BFFs and drinking together. It terrifies everyone. They comiserate about their spawns.

- Izumi's kid is in awe of Mari (as he should)

- EdxAngst + Yuuri/coming-to-terms-with-his-anxiety

- "Where did your... special style of skating came from, Mister Curtis ? *behind, a video extract where Ed is doing a double backflip on the ice, before launching into some capoara moves while Yuuri smiles and just cartwheels for the lolz*"

- Roy calling Ed “a backflipping maniac”

- Cuts to Ed doing a triple back flip and a single hand cartwheel or something right after. Just to see the expression on Roy's face.

- Roy having ten cardiac arrest a day. Riza laugh in the distance. (She laughs at his pain all the time)

- "Curtis, when your in an ice ring you spend more time in the air than on the ice, it's not natural"

- One of Phichit most liked photos is one of Yuuri and Ed twirling Elicia around

- Even if Ed isn't an official competitor, he has die hard fans, that calls themselves « Ed's Homunculi », and they're led by 5 people that nicknamed themselves with the primary sins.

- Yuuri snickers at just their mention. Ed complains all the time. (« NO FUCK LET ME GO IM NOT EVEN A PRO DONT PuT YOUR BOOBS IN MY FACE DONT EAT MY HAIR WTF. Why are you all so DISTURBING »)

- Envy founded the fanclub because he finds this deadly funny, now he’s mostly in charge of the social medias.  Ed is horrified.

- Scar is married to Lust and follows her everywhere, to every competition sighing all the time.

- THE PRESIDENT OF HIS FANCLUB IS THE FUCKING FURHER OF AMESTRIS

- The idea of Amestris’s Furher being enamored enough with Ed's skating to give himself a stupid nickname kills all of his friends of laughter inside

- Aerugo is near greece

- Xing is in east asia

- Creta is near italia

- Drachma is between finland and sweden

- Amestris between germany and poland, and Ishval between poland and Austria

- Father couldn't arrange another full country array, and eventually decided to let it go.

- Envy's real name is Nichola Elric

- Lust is Veda Campos

- Wrath is King Bradley

- Pride is still Selim Bradley

- Gluttony is named Emilio Abatucci

- Scar is Luca Campos

- Izumi’s kid is named Aoi Curtis

[delirium09]

MATCHING

So I have been meaning to try my hand at fan fiction for a while so please be gentle. Summary: When an Older Ladybug and Chat Noir get Matching tattoos and it in turn causes an accidental reveal. Marinette awoke to the blinding harsh and unforgiving rays of sunshine that filtered through her window onto her sleeping face. She groaned and winced as the sudden noise of her own voice was too loud for her pudding head and sensitive ears. “Oh my head!” She rolls over and places a pillow over her head as a small red ladybug-esque being floats towards her bed. “Marinette wake up, I placed some pain killers on your side table next to a glass of water for you. Please drink it you’ll feel better.” Tikki, her kwami said as she floated underneath the pillow to look at the heavily hungover girl. “Shh… Tikki, not so loud. Wait what happened last night? Last thing I remember is going out on patrol with Chat Noir and deciding to celebrate our two years of friendship now then nothing.” How did I even make it back home she thought. Slowly she sat up and drank the pills as her kwami gazed down at her worringly, “you really don’t remember anything marrinette?” The girl slowly shook her head trying to finger comb her long blue-black locks into a ponytail. “No Tikki but my body feels heavy and my chest stings!” Marinette complained as she slowly moves off the bed to head toward her bathroom to shower away the soreness in her body and hopefully give time rid her headache to calm down. “Well you and Chat Noir got progressively drunk after the battle with BrewMeister and as a thank you and apology the Akumatized victim gave each of you a bottle of twenty year old fine wine. -Oh and you might want to look at your chest.” Tikki said with laughter in her eyes. Marinette frowned in confusion and turned to her mirror and took off her sleeping shirt. She gasped at her reflection as there over her heart sat a freshly inked modified yin yang symbol about two inches in diameter with a green paw print in the black side and a red circle with a line down the middle and five black dots sat in the white side. Needless to say her scream could be heard throughout the surrounding apartments. A few apartments down Adrien awoke almost similarly to the girl with the exception of his kami laughing at the boy’s hangover. “Plagg, knock it off will you!” He said as he stared at his reflection finding the same freshly inked tattoo right over his heart as well. He groaned as he turned to the small floating black cat, “are you going to continue laughing or are you going to tell me what happened last night other than me getting a tattoo?” “Isn’t it obvious kid? Ya got drunk with your Ladybug and both got matching tattoos amongst doing other things.” Plagg said as he took a huge bite out of a wheel of camembert. Well atleast I don’t model anymore or else this would have been hard to explain, adrien thought as he turned away from the mirror “Wait, what else happened?” He asked but the kami was already to busy eating cheese and ignoring him to answer. He headed to his shower to get ready for the day as he had planned to hang with Nino later on. Marinette was having a small panic attack she wouldn’t stop staring at her chest. Ok, she thought, this isn’t so bad I just have to make sure no one sees it but I need to have a talk with that damned alley cat tonight! Determined the girl got ready for her day and after a call from Alya complaining her boyfriend Nino was going to be having a bro day with Adrien the girls decided to go and do some shopping for their upcoming last school year at the university. Later that night both had transformed and after interrogating their Kiwanis about the previous night, ladybug and chat had met up at the top of the Eiffel tower after ensuring no Akumas were around. They sat back down staring out towards the city with Chat Noir laying his head on Ladybug’s lap so she would play with his hair. A habit that had developed over months of constant patrols over a sleepless city. A comfortable silence fell between them both thinking of their civilian lives. High school was over and both just a week away from starting their last year of university. Marinette looking forward to studying fashion and Adrien who at 18 had quit modeling in favor of perusing a career in business and minoring in physics as a compromise he reached with his father when he gave up modelling. By fate or coincidence they ended up in the same university as Alya and Nino. Allowing all four friends to be able to hang out constantly. “Kitty, are we going to talk about last night?” Ladybug asked as she stared down at her partner with a faint blush on her cheeks. Chat slowly opened one eye to stare at her, he sat up and smirked at her, “my Lady, are you by any chance refurring to the matching tattoos we both have? I think they are pawsitively inkredible!” Ladybug groaned at the puns as he continued, “ Or maybe it’s the fact that we both got so drunk we don’t remember much of it.” He stated a bit more serious. “It’s both chaton, I mean not that I don’t like it, I just am not sure why we did it, he’ll I don’t remember even getting home or anything really what do you remember?” She asked looking at him closely to see if he would know anything else she didn’t. “My lady I remember as much as you do.” He smiled at her only half lying about it. Remember a vague conversation they had the previous night FLASHBACK: TWO drunk super heroes walked out of a tattoo parlor holding another up laughing as they walked toward the park that sat by the Dupain-Chen Bakery. Reaching a nearby bench they clumsily sat down still laughing. “I can’t believe we actually did it!” Chat said still amazed as he stared at his bare chest from his open jacket. “Oh man, this night has been inkredible!” Their costumes had changed as they got older to fit their age and style as Ladybug developed more curves and larger breasts and Chat Noir gained height and a more defined muscular body. While Chat’s was almost the same in style his leather outfit was reinforced with Kevlar type material to absorb some of the damage from the battles, Ladybug’ s changed to look more like a zip up jacket in the same polka-dot red but her arms were in a solid black and with palka-dot red skin tight pants that tucked into knee-hight lace up black combat boots. “Mon minou, this was awesome! And why not we are partners! We are showing it!” Ladybug slurred as she clung on to That’s side on the bench. Her jacket open enough to show the freshly inked skin on her chest that chat couldn’t stop staring at either. They both giggled uncontrollably but soon Ladybug quieted down turning to him and startling him with a fierce hug. “My Lady, are you feline ok?” Chat asked as he looked at his partner’s head nuzzling his neck. “Promise me,” she mumbled still holding on to him. Still confused he slowly untangled her from him and silently waited for her to continue. Her eyes bright and her cheeks flushed from the alcohol and their closeness. She took a deep breath and said, “promise me you won’t let me regret this when I’m sober. You are my partner and other half. I wouldn’t be Ladybug without you. So make sure that sober Ladybug doesn’t freak out over the tattoos because trust me she will!” Slightly amused Chat answered his affirmative as he, while still drunk had been more accustomed to drinking than she was, started to notice the lateness of the hour. They had been out all night and had only a few hours before sunrise. Making sure she was ok and wouldn’t pass out they parted ways heading home for the rest of what was left of the night. PRESENT: “Are you Kitten My lady? I love our matching tattoos and you know friends get matching tattoos all time it’s not a big deal is it?” Chat asked. Ladybug shook her head and smiled relieved that he didn’t regret the tattoo as she had secretly feared. She had grown to love the damned kitty and was worried he might regret it. She had already gotten over it and decided she liked the Tattoos. Both heroes having cleared as much as possible of the previous night, had decided that unless they were alone together to keep the Tattoos hidden from all others lest they risked exposure. They parted soon after that. Reaching home, Adrien detransformed as an idea hit. He now knew he could identify his lady with the Tattoos. He smirked and went to bed. Weeks later their courses at the university had started and Adrien was still no closer to finding out who Ladybug is. Dejectedly he sat down in their usual booth at the cafe where he, Alya, Nino, and Marinette usually met after class. A few minutes later they three other showed up. Marinette noticing Adrien’s mood, sits across from him next to Alya, quietly asked him in anything was the matter. He just sighed, “nah, just thinking of a few assignments I have to do," he lied. They places their orders and soon all four were laughing along exited for Nino's birthday pool party the following day. Both had the same worry: how would they hide the tattoo. Marinette had of course designed her swim wear with a slight chat noir theme. The bottom piece was all black with a high waist while the top was black as well but had the the same color green paw prints bordering the top as Chat's eyes. Unfortunately it did nothing to cover the tattoo which sat proudly visible. Not knowing how she would get away without exposing it , marinette sighed and reached for the rounded green cover up with black pom poms bordering the edges and tied a black sash around her waist. Now the tattoo was only visible if you knew it was there to look for it. Satisfied she headed to the party where she found many of their former high school classmates. Many of whom were either dancing, swimming or chasing each other with water guns in some sort of heated battle. Dodging them, she headed over to the DJ birthday boy and Adrien who was standing next to him with a red tank top and black swimming trunks to congratulate Nino and hand him his present. What the poor girl did not count on was her best friend coming up behind them and blasting to blast her with water. She tried to turn and dodge as she noticed the boys expressions but was too late and only succeeded in soaking her front instead of her back. "Alya!!!! I swear you better watch out I WILL get you back!" Marinette threatened as both Nino and Alya laughed at her. "Oh girl, you are as terrifying as a new born bunny. What S the worst you can so?" Alya taunted with a playful smirk on her face. Nino laughing went to hug his girlfriend, "Nette, she has you there. You are just too adorable to be vicious." He said with a slight apologetic smile. Marinette scaled as she began to notice how quiet Adrien had been and turned to him surprised to find him with a dumbstruck expressing on his face. Staring at he now slightly visible tattoo through the fabric covering it. Her face paled before becoming red as she fixed her hair to cover over it which seemed to snap him out of his trance. As the party progressed the girl forgot about the incident, the boy did not. He kept his eye on her the whole time and it did not go unnoticed by a certain blogger. "Girl, Adrien has not stopped stating at you since you got here, maybe he finally has noticed you crush on him!" Alya stated excitedly. But for Marinette who had grown to understand that there might not possible be anything more besides friendship shrugged it off and sat on a reclining chair, " I'm not sure that is true Alya maybe you are imaging it?" "Girl I know I'm not but continue to delude yourself," she laughed, "oh I see Nino calling me over I'll be back in a bit." With that Marinette was left alone but soon enough she felt someone drop into the seat that Alya had just vacated. She turned to find Adrien the giving her a rather familiar smile. "Hi, Adrien enjoying the party?" she quietly asked. "Yeah it's a lot of fun so far!" He smiled and stretched his arms over his head causing his tank top to shift allowing for Alya and Nino to see a certain tattoo peak out as they neared them. "Dude cool Tattoo! I had no idea you had one!" Nino exclaimed as Marinette turned to look at him surprised Alya asked,"you have got to let us see it when did you even get it?" He took one look at Marinette and smirked. "Well I must say, the cat's out of the bag now huh," he said as he shrugged out of his tank top to reveal a lean but very muscular torso and one yin yan tattoo over his heart. "Had it done a few weeks ago," he turned and winked at Marinette who by this point had her whole body turn tomato red. Her brain still in shock from the tattoo that sat over her own heart. "But if you must know Mari and I had decided to get matching tattoos," Adrien continued with a loving look as he sat slightly behind her to reach around and tug her hair out of the way. Having snapped out of her her shock Marinette narrowed her eyes at him promising retribution at the smirking guy, "so much for not telling, kitty." She sighed and pulled off her cover up to reveal her matching tattoo. Alya squealed exitedly and took out her phone to get a picture all the while exclaiming, "Oh my god, Mari when we're you and Adrien going to tell us and why keep it a secret are you two dating?" Turning the blogger caught aight of the two friends eyeing each other ignoring her so instead she for once decided to let it be for the moment and enjoy her boyfriend's party. She would hound the for details after. They walked away to leave the two alone. "Hmm looks like we lost them for a bit huh princess?" He said and he hugged her waist from behind her on the chair and she leaned into him. "Shame on you Kitty I won't here the end of this from her later. When did you realize, are you disappointed it's me?" She asked some of her old insecurities coming back a bit. "Are you Kitten princess? I'm so glad it's you! There is no one else I would have wanted to be my Lady but you." He stated lovingly as she groaned. "No, I have to deal with your puns as Adrien now too?" "Buginette stop lying you love my puns! Besides are you ok with this?" He asked a bit more serious. "She turned and cupped his cheek and smiled up at him, "as you said Chaton, I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm glad it's you too."

[3rdgymbros]

When the Ghosts Get in Your Head

( PROMPT: Can I please have Peter comforting the reader? With forehead touches/kisses SLAY ME. )

A/N: So. I’ve decided to make a Tom Holland/Spiderman fanzine, and if anyone is interested to contribute (and tell me how the heckie to go about doing it ), please PLEASE send me a message and we can work this out!! I actually want to send the fanzine to Tom Holland himself, but I also have no idea how to send it to him so PLEASE SEND HELP. Because I have no idea what I am doing. *sobs*

WARNINGS: Panic attacks/anxiety, so I’ve put it under a read more!

Taglist (permanent): @mainspidey | @x-wing-starwriter | @tomsleftbrow | @tryn25| @tanglefire | @midnight-memorial | @tiny-friggin-human | @tacklemyackles| @fangeekkk | @beamagtuto | @captainaudreystark | @hellosuperewczi

“I – I can’t do this,” Your voice comes out all croaky and weird; your stomach is a hard, twisted knot. “This is my fault. I helped Ultron. Oh, no no no –”

Your legs are shaking. With sorrow. Helplessness. Regret. Pain.

You should never have aided Ultron, should never have bought into his lies.

He’d promised peace.

And what of it?

The people in Sokovia had been happy. Normal. But Ultron had attacked, changing joy to terror in a blink of an eye. Another explosion, closer this time, shakes the earth upon which you stand so much that you lose your balance.

You can hear it; the screams of anguish, the chaos. You’re drowning in all of it: The thoughts, the emotions, the voices. Dorothy’s mother is in the Shady Pines Retirement Home; Dorothy wonders if she’s been evacuated yet. Sheldon can’t find his little sister; he’s scared. Tom’s vacation is not going as planned.

A high pitched ringing scrapes at your ears. Sweat breaks over your brows and palms and trickles down your back. I’m scared, you try to say, but no sound emerges. Your heart speeds up, faster, and faster. Your lungs constrict far more tightly, the burn intensifying. Your hands and feet mutate into blocks of ice.

Dust mushrooms through the air. BOOM!

“(Y/n)?”

Male voice. You recognise it. The Spiderman? Peter. Right. Peter.

Help, you try to say, but again, no sound emerges.

A muffled curse. The sound of metal being thrown onto concrete. Then footsteps racing over.

Still struggling for breath, you focus hard as you can on the only face you can see. Warm eyes the exact colour of milk chocolate, brown hair that sticks up in five directions and eight little freckles across the bridge of his nose. Peter leans forward, until his forehead gently rests against yours.

Everything is brown.

“Breathe,” Peter’s saying gently. “Do it with me, okay?”

And from the sea of chaos, you find that lighthouse guiding you to shore. It’s the one thing keeping you from unravelling completely. You cling to it; cling to that one thread of relative calm and quiet like a lifeline. You don’t mean to peek into his head, but, unbidden, images float into your mind.

He seems like a good person – or someone who strives to do the right thing, anyway. Though his thoughts, for some reason, are as difficult to penetrate as a rain forest. Some people are like that. Some have minds as dry and as arid as a desert, and just as easily navigated. Others have psyches like Peter’s, only accessible with a machete.

There are images of Sokovia, of the ashes and the rubble, but surprisingly, you’re in there, too. There’s the shadowy plane of your face, obscured by the shadows of your hoodie and your hair. You stand perfectly still, uprooting trees and hurling them at Peter, who dodges them all effortlessly. 

There’s one of you in Korea, too, helping Wanda to stop the train. You’re dressed in a pair of shorts, and a white T-shirt. A flannel shirt is tied around your waist, and a pair of duct-taped Converse on your feet. Your hair streams back, away from your face, your mouth agape, eyes shining an unsettling shade of blue. It’s the first glimpse he’s gotten of your face, and even now, you can feel his emotions. There’s a smudge of dirt on the bridge of your nose, and a bloody gash on your collarbone, but all Peter can think is a chorus of beautiful beautiful beautiful, rising up in his mind like the most beautiful song.

Then you at the Avengers Headquarters, huddled in a corner, your arms wrapped around your knees, your face hidden by a tangle of hair. Water had turned your white top totally transparent, leaving your bra (polka-dotted) and all the bones of your spine completely visible. He’s weirdly happy, yet apologetic and embarrassed all at once, for peeking at your intimates when he should be looking away like a gentleman would. He wonders if you’re wearing matching underwear as well, and has to awkwardly shuffle away before anyone notices the hot flush stealing across his cheeks.

And then you now. Your hair pulled back away from your face. Your eyes set wide apart, the smoothness of your skin, and the soft, shell-pink of your lips. It’s the first time Peter’s ever really seen your face, unobscured by your wild, matted tangle of hair, and his emotions spill onto you, a tidal wave. There’s a quiet sense of awe, a much louder voice that’s whooping wordlessly in excitement, and a nervous churning in the pit of his stomach that hasn’t quite managed to settle itself.

You cling to these feelings, strange and unfamiliar, and just breathe in tandem with Peter. And, at last, your heart begins to slow. Your lungs fill. The sweat stops pouring and the chill kisses you goodbye.

You blink back into the real world. Peter’s still whisper-close, so close that you can smell the smoke clinging to his suit, mingling with the faintest scent of cinnamon and vanilla that lingers on his skin. Concern bathes his handsome face.

“So you’ve made mistakes.” Peter says gently, forehead still resting gently against yours. “We all have. That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? To try and make up for it?”

“But there’s too much,” You say, voice ragged, your mind briefly flashing back to all the destruction, the mess you’d made. “There’s too much. I’ve done too much.”

There’s something infinitely soft in his gaze as he drinks in your every feature, brown eyes warm and soft. “That’s why we’re the Avengers. That’s why we try to save people. It’s why we’re the good guys.”

Avengers. Being thought of as one – well, being linked to them, anyway – is foreign, after so long of thinking of them as being the enemy. First Hydra. Then Ultron. And now, the Avengers. It’s a change you can live with.

There’s an explosion that buffets every nook and cranny of the little shop the two of you have taken shelter in. A metal hand breaks through wood, inches away from your thigh, and you scream. Peter jerks away from you as though he’s been electrocuted, his hand shooting out a sticky stream of web that sends the robot flying backwards.

“Listen. The city is flying, and there are some killer robots – okay, these robots are pretty cool, of course they are, I mean, Mr Stark designed them and all –” If you aren’t so frazzled, you might laugh at his ability to go off on a tangent. “– But we’re the only ones who can do anything about it. So. You can either sit here and mope, or we can go out there and kick some metal ass.”

You wonder if you should tell him you know that he’s ripped this speech off Mr Hawkeye. You have to bite the inside of your cheek to keep from laughing hysterically. Peter’s trying his best to look serious and grown-up and Avenger-y.

Who are you to spoil his fun?

Warm brown hues darken, take on a serious edge. Peter pulls himself up to his fullest height, and thrusts his shoulders back dramatically. “But the moment you walk out that door, you are an Avenger.”

His speech would have had a better impact if Peter hadn’t practically sprinted out said door before that last sentence had even left his lips, you think dryly. Inspiring speech or no, you choose to mope, leaning back against the crumbling wall, focusing on the breath entering and leaving your lungs so that your mind can’t wander back to destruction and damage and freak out.

But suddenly, you’re scrambling to your feet, your mouth open in a silent scream. You don’t know if it’s because you’ve been inside Peter’s head, but you can taste his panic, sharp and bitter on the tip of your tongue. He’s pinned down, he can’t move, and they’re coming –

Your feet are carrying you towards the door before you’re even aware of having made a conscious decision to move. The door splinters away into nothing at your approach. You keep your head held high, the wind chaffing your cheeks and lashing your hair about.

You’re calm, scarily so as you turn large, determined eyes onto the robots. There’s no nervousness, no panic, no fear. The only thought looping through your mind as the Ultrons disintegrate into nothingness is that you’re an Avenger now, this is your job, and you’ll be damned if you let Peter die while you’re around.

Only when the last Ultron has been ripped apart do you turn to Peter and offer him a hand up. He’s awed, taken aback, his thoughts are pulsing onto you again, and all he’s thinking is beautiful beautiful beautiful, over and over again.

“T-Thanks.” Peter stutters shyly, and your heart actually reindeer prances in your chest.

You answer, a tad shyly, “Anytime.”

Ignoring the warmth rushing to your cheeks, or the heat of his fingers on your wrist, you focus instead on Peter, who’s rambling, telling someone over the comm-link in an excited rush that “(Y/n) destroyed every single robot with her cool mind powers”, but even that makes you smile, unused to hearing the words ‘cool’ and ‘(Y/n)’ in the same sentence.

“We’ve gotta head to the Blue Bridge,” Peter says, still breathless, still holding onto your wrist. “Mr Barton and Ms Maximoff are already there.”

“Okay.”

His hand is still on your wrist, catching you, holding you in place. You’re drowning in that endless sea of brown. Ask her out, he’s thinking. Coffee, a movie, say something, Parker! Don’t make this even more awkward than it already is!

“I don’t like coffee,” You say slowly, carefully, watching his already pale skin blanch even further, and his eyes widen comically with the realisation that his thoughts are on full display for you to hear. “But I have always wanted to visit a ‘mall’. America has those, right?”

“Yeah!” His face lights up, glowing like the sun against his shock of brown hair. “After – After this is over, we could go? Just – Just you and me?”

“I’d like that.” You have to smile at his enthusiasm. Your cheeks smart at the unfamiliar motion. “A lot.”

If you do make it out of Sokovia in one piece, a relationship with Peter is definitely something that you can get used to.