#poor Barry. he never stood a chance

[waugh-bao]

“I always believed that he had OCD. It was really entertaining. We would mess with him. I can remember getting home and going down to the dressing room and moving one pair of socks and swapping it over with another pair. They'd be colour-coded. You'd time how long before you heard ‘Who's touched my stuff!!’ from down the stairs. ‘Oh no, it wasn't me.’ I broke the espresso machine once and wrote a note in bad handwriting saying sorry from my step-dad. ‘Sorry I broke the coffee machine, from Barry.’ So much fun.”

Charlotte Watts, 2022

[slasherrabbitmadness]

Beach day with the Slashers

Female Reader -Bo- Gender-neutral -everyone else-

Bo- Fingering but no penetration. Dirty talk.

Angst and Fluff with Herbert and Dan (They pronouns used for Y/N) Fluff with Michael and Jason.

Michael Myers (1978 with the extra height of the 2018 one)

> Wants to visit the beach during the day. He’ll even have his mask off. Instead of enjoying the beautiful view of the sun hitting the blue ocean, you spend your day staring at your handsome boyfriend.

> Michael is just there to scan for new victims. He kills people who litter, hates seeing wrappers and cigarette butts littered across nature.

> You egg him on to go swimming, it takes a lot of coaxing. “Please, Michael, just for a little bit.” He points to your belongings on the towel, “They’ll be fine, who’s gonna want to steal some sandwiches and some towels?” He shook his head. You got down on your knees and gave him sad puppy dog eyes. He grumbled then lifted you onto his shoulder, you squealed as you placed your hands on his firm back, rubbing his taut muscles.

> When he got up to his pecs in the water he threw you in. You came up for air, “Mikey, what the hell!?”

> “What? You wanted in the water.” He gave a small smile.

> He made you swim in front of the beach while he just stood in the water and watched. He knew you’d be fine, it was your belongings he was worried for. You caught his eyes, his already dark blue eyes were now matching the deepest parts of the ocean. He barreled through the water, pushing you aside. You watched him as he made his way up onto the beach.

> Some fuck had the bright idea to do some stealing. He just happens to choose the one man’s belongings you don’t fuck with.

> Before that guy had time to react to a six-foot-three man, hauling ass like he is a tiger chasing after a deer, Michael clocked him so hard in the face the man immediately went down.

> People stood around Michael, some congratulating him for knocking out a thief, others gawked “My God he swung that punch so hard.” “Is the thief even breathing?” Michael stood over your belongings, and turned back towards you, just making your way out of the ocean. Michael was mad, but not as mad at what he saw next.

> Some random beach Chad made his way over to you, “Yo, that was wild huh?” You gave a quick, “Ya.” not caring to speak to him, just wanted to get back to your boyfriend. “He just knocked that guy out in one punch.” You made your way up the beach, he grabbed at you “Hey, be careful, probably want to stay aw-”

>The poor sap never stood a chance, Michael swung his fist so hard Chad went flying back into the water.

> “I’ve had enough, we're leaving.”

> You were gonna protest, but when you scanned the crowd, you realized that yeah, we’re gonna go home.

> Walking back home, Michael held your hand, tightly. “Mikey?” He grunts, “You don’t like people touching your belongings, huh?” You turned to look up at him and he caught you in a kiss. He snuck his tongue in, dominating yours, you moaned and he pulled away. You whined and he smiled.

> “what’s mine is mine.”

Jason Voorhees

> He’s the beach’s lifeguard, so if you wanna spend a beach day with Jason, you’ll have to do it after hours. You would, but Jason takes the evening shifts too.

> Everybody loved Jason. Kids loved him, he was always so nice to them after all. He gave them swimming lessons. He was always so patient with them, never getting mad if a kid was struggling to grasp the basics.

> Men and Women loved Jason. His stoic demeanor, his calming presence...his bulging muscles. Jason was oblivious to all kinds of flirting. “Your hands are like, so big!” said a bubbly tanned beach bunny. Jason just grunts. A muscle-bound beach bro asked, “Bet you lift a lot eh, what’s your macros?” Jason just looked at his large bicep, he shrugged.

> When you visit him at work he gives you small waves then his eyes go right back to the water, not wanting to miss anything. Dedicated <3

> He doesn’t take a proper lunch break, he’ll eat his food while watching the beach, scarfing down the food as fast as possible.

> After a long day, you’ll finally have Jason all to yourself.

> Night swimming!

> You and Jason have splash fights, that he often wins, his large palms create huge splashes that knock you back into the water.

> Keeps you incredibly close in the water, will bug you to wear a life jacket if you ever swam without him. He’s very protective.

> Holds you close to him the further out you go. He won’t let you go, so it’s the perfect time to smother him in kisses.

> Jason hums into your kisses, his large hands running up and down your back, the water and his hands feel perfect on your skin.

> Jason couldn’t be happier that you're together.

Herbert West + Dan Cain - Poly relationship or what Derrick Barry calls a ‘throuple’

> “Please Herbert, for me?” He grimaced at you. Don’t you know how busy he is? Perfect specimens don’t just end up dead you know? Someones gotta end a life! You sighed and brought out the big gun. “Well, Dan said-” The moment Dan left your lips, Herbert was pushing you and him out the door.

> You and Dan had a blast, building castles, collecting seashells, playing some beach volleyball with another friendly couple.

> Herbert sulked under the beach umbrella, nose in a large medical textbook.

> “If you come with us, Herbert, we’ll get you a grape freezie!” Dan coaxed but it did not affect Herbert. Herbert waved you both off as if you were two mosquitoes bugging him.

> You and Dan walked hand in hand, swinging them in between yourself on your way to the little concession stand. “You sure it was for the best we brought him, Dan?” Dan looked at you and frowned, your eyes were a little glossy. “He only came because you were coming.” You felt the tears rolling down your cheek.

> “fuck, Herbert, you little monster.” Dan cursed to under his breath. Dan knew Herbert gravitated more towards him. It’s not that Herbert didn’t like you, just Dan was there first. Dan never told you but he often caught Herbert staring at you, a softness in his eyes that Dan knew meant one thing…

> “I’m sorry…” You mumbled, quickly rubbing the back of your hand over your eyes. Dan shushed you and brought you in for a hug, kissing the top of your head.

> “Don’t be, Herbert should be. Some Vitamin D is much needed for his pale little body. I’ll talk to him, okay? In the meantime, focus on me!”

> Dan and you continued with the most fun day ever. You ate your freezies, swapping flavors halfway through. A little boy asked Dan to help with flying his kite, Dan’s height coming in handy.

> Herbert stewed in his spot under the umbrella, watching you and Dan have fun, “Hmph, wasting time.” He kept peeking from his book, eyes on you, how you smiled when you looked into Dan’s eyes, how you leaned in closer, head resting on his shoulder. How Dan wrapped his arm around your waist, lips on your ear whispering...God knows what, Herbert can only imagine.

> “They could just yank me away from this, make me spend time with them...not that I want to. But if they dragged me away from my book then I’d have no choice.”

> When it got late, You and Dan packed away everything into the bags, Herbert supervised. How helpful/s

> Dan had you drop a few of the smaller items at the car on your own, he made Herbert help with some of the heavier items. As your figure became smaller and smaller in the distance, Dan turned to Herbert, “You know, they wer-”

> “I can’t believe you two, frolicking about so openly.” Herbert had cut Dan off. Herbert fumbled with the bags while trying to push up his glasses. Dan fumed.

> “You mean act like a couple, which we are, which you're a part of. Or are you only a couple with me?”

> Herbert snapped “excuse me, you and Y/N are most certainly a couple, which I have no part of.”

> Dan scoffed and shook his head “They want to be with you too, Herbert, They do like you, They feel upset with how you treat them. Now I know deep down you adore them, you best start showing it.”

> Herbert stopped, he looked at Dan and then at you in the distance starting the car.

> Later that night, Herbert had asked if you’d help in the basement. As tired as you were, you went to help. Herbert scarcely looked at you, but he found ways to touch you. Hands ghosting over yours as you handed him some flasks. Grabbing your hips softly to move you out of the way.

> “Everything good, Herbert?” You asked. His eyes looked everywhere but you. He stepped a little closer to you, His face only a foot away.

> He smashed his lips onto yours and wrapped you up in his arms. His hands rubbing along your sides, pulling you in so tight you were surprised he was strong enough to bring pain that way.

> “Don’t cry over me. Okay?” Your face felt hot, you nodded. “You are mine too, not just Dan’s, okay?” You nodded again. “Good. Now kiss me.”

> The kiss started tender but that just wasn’t gonna cut it with all the tension between you two.

Bo Sinclair /Female reader/

> Lookin’ at all the pretty girls go by.

> Catches you catching him staring, flashes his baby blues at you, “C’mon darling, you know you're still the apple of mah eye.”

> Gets pissed when other guys check you out. Strolls on over and wraps an arm around you, sneering at the Chads and Kyles.

> “You just had to wear that sexy little number, didn’t ya?” He snarled in your face. You grabbed your tits in the cute red bikini and gave them a Lil shake.

> Bo yanked you away from the beach, you protested, hitting his large forearm, “Bo, what the hell? Oh come on, you act like a leech an-” He cut you off, his lips slammed onto yours, the kiss was teeth and a little tongue action.

> Bo had yanked you away to some run-down looking bathrooms, the paint was so old it looked like the original coat from the 1960s

> “Now, Darlin, looks like you’ve just been wanting to rial me up now, huh? Wanting those sons of bitches to fuck you?” He leaned in close to your ear, his heavy breathing making you shake with anticipation. He suckled on it, causing you to buckle at the knees.

> “Bo, no I didn’t wan-want ah, the- them to” You were panting as he made small circles on your clit over your bikini bottoms. His fingers were calloused but he could be surprisingly gentle.

> “Now, yah best be quiet so no one hears ya, understood, Doll?” You whimpered and Bo flashed you his pearly whites. “That’s a good girl.”

> You should make him jealous more often.

[theassthatquits]

Blupjeans Week Day Four: Ship

@blupjeansweek2021

Lup sipped her drink slowly, taking in the scene around her. There were definitely a lot more men here than women, which meant that more attention would be placed on her. She could work with that. She thumbed through the many name tags she swiped and started writing a different name on each one and hid them under her leg when she was done. Speed dating was one of her favorite activities to do when she was Taako’s guest on a cruise.

At first it started out as a way to hook up with someone that she would never see again. Pretty easy when it was the last day and everyone came from different places. Very quickly she realized that this was the perfect opportunity to spread chaos. She now had four rules:

No one gets to know her real name

No one gets to know any true facts about her, actually.

On the off chance she did like someone here, no spending the night with anyone.

Definitely no off the ship contact

The bell signaling the start of the night sounded and she pulled herself together, slapping on a name tag reading “Ryn” as her first victim, smirking and a little gross looking, sat down across from her.

“Lucky me, first round with the hottest girl in the room.”

Lup would be lying if she said she had never heard that one before.

“Oh god, I only hope that this will be over soon.”

His face dropped. “A little rude, aren’t we Ryn?” He leaned in close. “Playing hard to get?”

“How can I play hard to get when we’ve only just met?”

He paused, thinking. “Are you...rhyming with me?”

“Whatever do you mean? I’m afraid this I cannot see.”

“Okay, I see what’s going on here.”

“I do not understand, could you explain to a fellow peer?” Lup tried really hard to pull it off but she was grinning ear to ear.

The man rolled his eyes. “I think we’re done here.”

“Hey look who’s rhyming now!” His glare towards her was punctuated with the bell, signaling a partner change and hers couldn’t get away fast enough, done with her antics. She swapped out her name tag for one that read “Liza”.

Her next match was objectively the hottest man in the room and she’d be lying if she had said she hadn’t thought about breaking the rules. He sat down with some finger foods in his hand and took a bite. His face contorted and he spat the bite out in a napkin. “Oh, Gods. I think this is the worst food I’ve ever tasted on a cruise.”

Yeah, she wasn’t going home with this guy. How dare anyone spit out Taako’s food! She smiled sweetly, “Do you go on many of these?”

“Oh yeah, I cruise several times a year. I need something to do with all of the money I make.” He was really laying it on thick and it took everything she had not to roll her eyes.

“Sounds lonely.” She reached out and stroked his arm flirtatiously.

“It can be, sometimes.”

“Do you think I could help with that?”

He smirked. “Yeah, I think you could, babydoll.”

Gross. She almost gagged but smiled instead. She took out her pen and wrote a random room number on his arm. “This is my room. I’ll be back there in 15 minutes. Meet me there.”

His eyes lit up, “oh, yes. Sounds good. I’ll see you soon.” He stood up, winking at her and then he breezed out of the room as the bell rang.

“Ugh, so gross.” Lup made a gagging face trying to get the thought of him out.

“Hello - oh, are you okay?” She looked up to see a man in his thirties wearing glasses, a button up shirt, and blue jeans. He stood out in the room where every other man was wearing slacks and a tie. Lup paused for a second and then realized she had yet to speak and his face was getting more and more concerned for her.

“Uh, yes. Just swallowed down the wrong way, you know how it is.”

“Oh, yes I do,” He nodded solemnly. “Shit!” He yelled under his breath as he spilled half of his drink on himself while sitting down. Lup took this opportunity to switch out her name tag to “Eve”. After she was done he was still trying to clean himself up. His - Barry, she could tell from the tag - face was a deep red. Her heart pinged slightly at that, this poor man was so out of his element and it was kind of endearing.

“Here, let me help.” Lup handed over some napkins and leaned over the table, purposefully giving him a good view down her dress but he was so focused on cleaning up he didn’t even look. Lup didn’t know why she almost felt disappointed about that.

“Uh, thank you. I’m Barry.”

Double-checking her name tag she responded, “Eve.”

“Eve. That’s very pretty.”

“Thank you, Barold.”

He nearly coughed up his drink at that before collapsing into giggles. “Barold? I like it.”

“I think it’s fitting, Mr. Barold Bluejeans.”

“It’s actually Hallwinter -“

“Not in those jeans it’s not.”

He giggled again and damn if that didn’t do something to her. “Got me there. I’m not sure what people wear to cruises, I only packed swim trunks and blue jeans and I was not about to wear my trunks to a singles only event.”

“Oh, is this your first cruise?”

“Yeah, I won a contest at my university. I teach theoretical physics and I guess I had the most positive reviews or something from the students. I didn’t really know the contest was going on until I had won it.”

“Ooooh Professor Barold Bluejeans.” Something about that made her insides ache. “How are you enjoying your first cruise?”

“It’s nice. I haven’t taken a vacation since undergrad, so it’s been pretty great to just relax by the poolside and catch up on paperwork.”

“Did you seriously bring work to your vacation?”

Barry cocked his head, confused. “Yeah, is that a big deal?”

“Barold!! It’s a vacation! You don’t bring any work!” She was getting worked up and heads began to turn towards them. “You: drink a lot of alcohol, swim a lot, read a book by the beach, eat a lot of food, watch the weird as fuck shows they bring onboard, and hook up with a hottie you will never see again.” She listed these off on her fingers.

“Well I’ve done most of those things!”

“Yeah? Hook up with a hottie?” She winked at him and his face got a deep deep red.

“No, not that one. I read and swim and eat and drink. The food here is absolutely incredible, I’ve never had anything like it.”

“Yes! One point for Barold!” She high-fived him. “My brother is the head chef, everything he makes is exquisite.” Lup froze. She’s never revealed anything of herself at these before but with Barry it just felt natural. Maybe the rules didn’t need to be so strict after all. “What shows have you seen?”

“Well, uh, I haven’t seen any. I pretty much only swim, read, and eat.”

“So you haven’t explored the boat??”

“Not really.”

“Oh my gods, Barold. You are squandering this vacation. Cancel your plans tonight, we’re going exploring.”

He raised an eyebrow, amused. “Yeah?”

It was her turn to blush. Damn him. “If you want to, I mean. We haven’t exactly finish speed dating.”

“Hmm true, and I could find someone that loves doing paperwork poolside…”

She swatted at him playfully and he laughed. “I’m kidding! Yes, please, Eve. Let’s get the fuck out of here.”

Lup froze, at first upset that he misremembered her name before she realized that she had given him a fake one. It was too late to go back now, she figured. She could be Eve for the rest of the night. It’s not like she was ever going to see this man again.

“You okay?”

God, he was so observant. It was like he saw right through her. She smiled and grabbed his hand. “I’m perfect. Now come on, Bluejeans. We have a whole weekend of mischief to catch up on.”

[seawolvesanddragons]

AWAE 25 Days of Christmas Day 20: “I guess that means you owe me a kiss.”

Of all of the winter plants that blossomed in the snow, mistletoe was the most fascinating to Anne. It had such a rich, storied history. She loved the old Norse tale of how mistletoe had been the tool of deceit and fraternal betrayal, the bloodied object of a murder most foul turned into a symbol of peace and love by a grieving mother. It was the best type of story, bittersweet and dark with a romantical ending. 

It was also something that Anne found she preferred in theory to actuality. Right now, it was making her life rather difficult. She was at a town gathering the Barry’s were hosting, with several of her friends and their families in attendance. The purpose of the meeting had been something dull and dry- a new minister or something was being selected - but the young adolescents of Avonlea were taking the opportunity to socialize in the parlor. Anne had wandered away from the main hub conversation, instead resting under the window seat with a book Diana had just lent her. She had viewed the mistletoe decor above the window seat as festive, not recognizing the danger the parasitic plant’s proximity put her in. 

She was only a few pages in when a sort of obvious hush fell about the room, interrupted by a few giggles that were swiftly covered up. Anne looked up, her instincts giving off several internal warning bells. She saw the reason for her peer’s odd behavior instantly. Charlie Sloan had just entered the room, and he was heading straight for her window seat. 

Which was seated right under a bunch of that dreaded, awful, horrid mistletoe. 

Anne tried to think of a way out of her predicament. She was tempted to just race the other way, but such a display of poor manners would surely come back to haunt her in the worst possible way. Not to mention it wouldn’t prevent Charlie from just hunting her down later. She chanced a look towards Diana, hoping some sort of salvation may be available, but her dear Diana was too far away. All her friend could do was give her a sympathetic look of horror. 

Charlie was mere feet away. Anne was still grappling with her flight or fight instincts when a second body settled itself onto the cushion next to her. 

“What are you reading?” Gilbert asked casually, feigning ignorance even as he turned his body so that it was partially between her and Charlie. Anne had never before felt such euphoric relief at another person’s interference. 

“The Kings and Queens of Scotland,” Anne showed Gilbert the book. “Diana’s father had it in his library.” Gilbert gave an approving sort of nod, skimming the forward. He asked a few more questions about the little Anne had already read. Anne answered absently, keeping one eye trained on the rest of the room. 

Charlie had deliberated for a time right where he stood, having stopped at Gilbert’s sudden appearance at her side. When it became clear Gilbert wasn’t moving on, Charlie apparently gave up, skulking off to where Moody and Paul were standing with his shoulders slumped. 

Diana, dear, sweet, lovely Diana, began engaging all of the other girls in an over loud discussion on the latest fashion trends, and soon the party was in full swing again, Gilbert and Anne’s presence by the window largely forgotten. 

“Thank you,” Anne said in a low voice, cutting off Gilbert mid question. 

“Not at all,” Gilbert said simply. “You looked a little trapped. There wasn’t much else you could do outside of running straight from the room.” 

“My options were rather limited,” Anne agreed. “I suppose I should find Marilla and Matthew and persuade them to be on their way, lest it happen again.” 

“I’ll go with you,” Gilbert offered. “Else Charlie may just corner you again.” 

“I wish there were a way I could dissuade him,” Anne sighed. 

“I think you’ll be hard pressed to dissuade anyone to stop liking you, Anne.” The sheer honesty that rang through in Gilbert’s words startled her. 

It didn’t take long for them to find Matthew and Marilla, already near the front entrance. Matthew looked ready to bolt. 

“I think I can make it the last few feet safely,” Anne jested, turning to bid Gilbert farewell. “Thank you though, for interfering back there.”

“Like I said, anytime,” Gilbert gave her a mischievous grin. It always amazed Anne how much younger he appeared when he smiled like that. She wished he had cause to do so more often. “Say, Anne?” 

“Hmm?” 

“That was mistletoe over the window seat you were in, correct?” 

Anne nodded, still a little annoyed with the whole scenario. It was utterly preposterous. Who decorated a house with mistletoe, even if it was January? 

“I guess that means you owe me a kiss then,” Gilbert said teasingly. Anne gaped at him, speechless, which only resulted in Gilbert’s grin widening. 

“I’ll leave the specifics of that up to you,” Gilbert tipped his head. “Give my best to Matthew and Marilla.” 

With that, Gilbert melted back into the crowd, leaving a rather red-faced Anne Shirley to the fate of her own overactive imagination.  Anne detested mistletoe. 

[bold-writing]

The One With Whiskey Eyes || 2 || Black Words and Silver Scars

Summary:  Soulmate AU Split 2016. Not everyone had a soulmate, there were many in the world who were unmarked. Iris Mayfair, however, has been forced to hide her skin for nearly thirty years. She doesn't have just one or two soulmates-even three would make people sneer and judge; no, she has twenty-three legible marks on her skin; with a blurry, unfinished twenty-fourth blooming across her flesh.

Warnings: Descriptions of violence, descriptions of abuse, swearing.

Words: 3000

Previous || Next

~2~

Opening her apartment door only enough to slip through, Iris immediately locked the deadbolts behind her as a long sigh blew passed her lips. “Why did I think that was a good idea?” she muttered to herself as her head fell back against the door with a barely audible thud. “I’m insane.” Pushing off the door and stepping into the tiny space of her apartment, barely enough to be called that since it was one large room with a tiny washroom behind a door in the corner, Iris carefully unbuttoned her coat and moved to the closet to hang it up.

Even the closet was just an open alcove with a bar that she’d hung—nearly taking her finger off because she was not a handy person.

Ducking into the kitchen portion of the apartment to make herself a tea, Iris hoped it would be enough to calm her frayed nerves before she had to go to work that evening. When speaking with Dr. Fletcher on the phone, she’d decided that it was best to meet with the woman before she had to go to work instead of taking up her next day off. Of course, now she wished that she had not gone to the building at all but if she had she really should have done so on her day off.

 Her hands trembled when she filled her kettle with water and placed it on the stovetop, causing some of it to splash out onto her hand. Immediately shaking the water off of her mark, Iris flinched like she’d been burned. The thinness of her hand meant that when she spread her fingers out to look more closely at the mark, her tendons lifted beneath her skin and rippled the words.

 Even after everything that she had been through when she was younger, up until she had finally had enough and ran away from home, Iris did not hate her marks. Many times she had sought comfort from them, and even strength. They had withstood so much from her parents; she figured that she could as well. If they were strong enough, deep enough, that her parents couldn’t ruin them or destroy them then she could survive it as well.

 Tracing over the neat writing, with the ring finger of her other hand, Iris smiled faintly.

 The smile didn’t last, however, as the reality of what had happened returned to the forefront of her mind. She had met her soulmate today—or one of them, at least—and she had been absolutely horrible to him. Not only were her first words to the poor man those of rejection, but she had run away from him as well. None of her marks were rude or aggressive, so she could only imagine what he must have felt by her reaction to hearing what he said.

 That was not how she expected meeting her soulmate to go.

 Whatever had made her say those words only caused regret and despair to claw at her insides now, wishing for nothing more than the chance to take those words back.

 A few people she had met over the years had told her stories of their marks, some of which were a statement of rejection. That rejection wasn’t always sorted out and they were left disconnected from a soulmate that didn’t want them. A friend she had in her early high-school years, prior to running away, had the mark that said ‘come on, of all people it had to be you?’ on her leg. Iris couldn’t remember ever seeing her friend in shorts, keeping her mark covered just like Iris’s.

 “I’m a horrible person,” she whispered to the mark on her hand, clenching it into a fist.

 Abruptly stepping back from the counter, Iris pulled off the sweater she had thrown on before she’d left earlier, followed by the long-sleeved undershirt, and soon stood in her bra as she looked down at the scratchy writing on her bicep. Stroking her fingers along the skin, thankfully one patch that didn’t hold scars from her parents.

 The sudden ring of her cellphone jerked her out of her thoughts so abruptly that she leapt in place, hand clutching at the mark on her arm as though desperate for it. Abandoning the small kitchen in favour of snatching her cellphone from the pocket of her coat, relieved that she’d set it on ring otherwise she never would have remembered where it was, Iris pulled it out and glanced briefly at the lit screen.

 Karen Fletcher

 “No,” she mumbled, staring down at the phone as her heart began beating quickly in her chest. Would that man still be there? Was he having the doctor call Iris?

 Hating the thought of ignoring him or the doctor again, Iris tapped the accept button and lifted the phone reluctantly to her ear.

 “Hello, Dr. Fletcher.”

 “Miss. Mayfair, are you alright? I’m sure that today was not what you expected…”

 Sighing softly as she moved to sit on the edge of her bed, the closest thing to sit on, Iris leaned her forehead in one hand while the other clutched at the cellphone. “I’m sorry for running out like I did…and for running away. I…I hope…”

 “Barry understands that it’s overwhelming, to meet a soulmate,” Dr. Fletched offered, the name of the man making Iris lift her head as her hand fell over her lips, the pain and guilt returning. Why was it easier when he didn’t have a name? “I know that it takes a bit of time to adjust to knowing you met your soulmate, especially with how afraid you seem to be of yours-”

 “I’m not afraid of my marks,” Iris interrupted. “I love my marks. But…I never thought that I…”

 The other line remained silent for a moment before Dr. Fletched began again softly, “Iris…there are many things that need to come to light. And I want to assure you that things will work, but I cannot do that if you don’t talk to me. Barry wants to know you, and I’m sure your other soulmates do as well,” she continued to explain calmly.

 “You…know you who they are, don’t you?” Iris struggled out, fidgeting in place as her attention drifted down to her exposed arms and the various marks and scars that were on display.

 “I may,” Fletcher answered hesitantly. “But that is not up to me to say. For now, I want to speak with you again, if you’re willing.”

 “I dunno, Dr. Fletcher. Even if you say he understands…what I said was awful. And to have to share me with so many others?”

 Dr. Fletcher didn’t speak up right away, as though she was trying to think of how to phrase what was on her mind. “You and Barry need to discuss this, not you and I, but I do want to help you, Iris. I can see that you’re in pain, that you’ve struggled through your life, and it’s because of those marks. Those soulmates. I don’t want you to have to carry that pain around with you for the rest of your life.”

 “I don’t think I could afford your services,” she argued, sounding tired. “And as I said, I love my marks. There is nothing from my past that changes that.”

 “You may love your marks, but I can see that they have…caused problems for you, Iris. Please, just meet with me one more time, no charge, so we can discuss this.”

 Knowing that someone could see through her so easily, especially someone that had insight on her marks—and her scars—made Iris’s skin prickle uncomfortably. She trembled in place as her scars itched faintly, her shoulders shaking with the motion, before she clenched her muscles and hunched forward with the effort to remain still and frozen.

 “I can’t,” she struggled out, the crack in her voice feeling like a strike through her vocal cords. “I’m sorry.”

 Hurriedly hanging up with a shaky thumb over the ‘end call’ button as tears burned her eyes, Iris tried not to think of the blue-eyed man that had said one of the twenty-four marks on her body. The phone clattered to the floor without further thought as Iris remained hunched at the edge of her bed, wearing only her bra across her torso as her pale skin pebbled against the cold air. Her nails scraped across her arms, leaving red welts in their wake, unable to control the urge to remove the itches.

 Carefully focusing on her breathing and doing her best to remain as calm as possible, Iris was almost too far gone into her mind to hear a second call come through her phone. The upturned screen once more read Dr. Fletcher’s name, but this time went ignored and unanswered as the pale woman struggled to push aside the panic attack threatening to overtake her.

 Dr. Fletcher sighed as her call went to voicemail, moving to hang up the phone in her office before she sat in front of her computer forlornly. She had done her best to assure Barry that she would talk to Iris again, knowing that he and the other alters were going to have their own ways of dealing with what happened today. She had hoped that speaking with Iris and helping her through some of the struggles of her past may prompt her to seek Barry out again, but Iris had no desire to dredge up what had happened.

 That alone told the older woman that they were old scars, both emotional and physical, and Iris had dealt with them in her own way—no matter how unhealthy that way may be.

 Typing out an email to Barry that she had not been able to get a hold of Iris, hoping to avoid telling him of her first conversation with the woman, she assured him that she would try again and keep him informed before then she signed and sent the email.

 Iris Mayfair, if Fletcher was to assume, had been abused while growing up because of her numerous soulmarks. Whether it was by family or people unrelated to her, she was mostly unsure, but she was leaning toward it having been one or both parents. Knowing for certain would help her to formulate a way of helping Iris, but the first hurdle was to actually make Iris want the help.

 The woman was so accustomed to dealing with her pain and problems on her own, she probably didn’t trust easily—if at all.

 Barry had been the one to say the words, not Kevin. It had been one of his personalities that spoke the words of Iris’s mark, and if Fletcher was so bet she would say that Iris had twenty-three marks on her body—one for each of the personalities in Kevin Wendell Crumb’s body. Kevin’s case was special on its own, having as many stable personalities as he did. But to have a soulmate with a mark for each personality was something that she had been trying to find for years.

 Iris Mayfair was an amazing anomaly, and a perfect match for Kevin and the personalities that had made their reason for being to protect Kevin. The young woman reminded her of Kevin, sweet and gentle and easily hurt by those around her with a past that left her carrying deep wounds.

 Sitting back in her chair she tapped ring-decorated fingers against her lips in thought. Perhaps Iris had some kind of record that she could get her hands on, even just to better understand what she was dealing with.

 It wouldn’t be easy to obtain if she did, but it was at least something to look into.

 She only hoped that Barry was able to keep the alters in control for the time being. She knew quite a few would rather go out and look for the poor woman on their own, and that could be dangerous for an already tender situation.

 She had not met all of them yet, but there were some she knew who would have different ways of handling the situation than what Barry had done just recently.

 Deciding that it was best to let Iris be for the rest of the day, the woman more than likely uncomfortably overwhelmed, Fletcher rose from her desk chair and began preparing for her next appointment. Barry had shown up early, the sole reason for running into Iris, and they had decided to cut the session short when she had constantly caught him going silent and lost in his mind—it made her wonder if he had been speaking with the alters or just thinking on his own about what had taken place.

 Beneath the Philadelphia Zoo, Barry was sitting in the small kitchen of the home that they had created for themselves, the rooms of the abandoned tunnels making up a home of twenty-three personalities. Eyes closed as he rested his elbows on the table, forehead on his fists—ignoring the reprimanding look that he got from Patricia when he did it—Barry sat among the others in their circle of chairs, the light at his back shoulders casting a shadow among them.

 Kevin remained sleeping quietly in his chair, curled up comfortably as the others spoke softly alongside him.

 “Well, well, well, who’d have thought that sweet, innocent Barry would get rejected,” Jade teased, but there was something in her eyes that told him she was sorry for what he had gone through. None of them had wanted to be the ones to hear those words, so even as relieved as she was to not hear them, she felt sorry for him to have been the one.

 “At least it wasn’t him,” he answered, glancing over to Kevin. He looked much younger and happier in his sleep, where he was safe. They knew he couldn’t remain asleep forever, it was cruel to take his life from him, but they only wanted to protect him from the world.

 “Well, that crosses one mark off,” Orwell pointed out, tapping the calf that he had crossed over his other thigh, where the mark lay beneath his pants.

 Dennis remained silent, even though he wanted to mention how they had been so sure he would be the one to hear those words. It did, however, make him curious to know what was going to be said to him.

 If they could ever find this woman again.

 “What did you do to chase her away?” Hedwig asked innocently, rocking his chair to and fro, from front legs to back legs.

 “Stop that,” Rakel ordered, reaching over to slam all four legs of Hedwig’s chair back on the ground. The nine year old pouted and crossed his arms, glancing away from the larger man as he looked over to where Barry was oddly silent. Normally he’d be trying to call them all to order, to bring some kind of conduct to their group talks like this.

 “I did not chase her away,” he answered calmly, ignoring the small issue between Rakal and Hedwig. “Dr. Fletcher mentioned that she was timid and afraid the entire time they were speaking. She thinks something happened to her…something to do with the marks.”

 Mary Reynolds sighed softly from across the circle. “Multiple soulmarks still cause problems for people…twenty-three of them? You all know the difficulty we faced with ours. Kevin had us to help him, we all had each other, she…probably had no one.”

 “She has us,” Dennis finally spoke up, smoothing down non-existent wrinkles on his pant-leg, drawing the attention of the other alters his way. “We protect Kevin. We keep him safe from everything in this world that wants to hurt him…and we will protect her as well.”

 Rare as it was, Barry was nodding his head in agreement. “He’s right,” he answered, getting some looks of surprise. He and Dennis did not see eye-to-eye often, they had such contradicting personalities and dominant mindsets that it often caused them to clash. “She is ours to protect now. She has been hurt and it won’t be easy…but she was meant for us. All of us. So that makes it worth it.”

 “Let’s find her first,” Patricia interrupted calmly. “Then we will go from there.”

 Barry looked over to Samuel, who he had already decided would be the one to next enter the light. Samuel was slightly older, in his early forties, so Barry knew that he wasn’t going to go rushing out to try and find her, probably just scaring her away in the process. Rising from the seat that Barry had claimed, Samuel stepped from the kitchen to go and change into his own clothing, more formal than Barry’s but not nearly as monochromatic as Dennis’s.

 They all knew what Iris looked like now, thanks to Barry and his odd enjoyment with going to see Dr. Fletcher as he ended up running into their fleeing soulmate.

 Now they were all left to wonder where they would go from there; Iris had run, and they had no idea where she went or how to find her. There was a chance that Dr. Fletcher would be able to follow through with her assurances and get a hold of the young woman, but they had their doubts after having lived through the life that Kevin was raised in.

 If she was anything like Kevin, she would want to avoid the problem on her own. It was Kevin’s way of coping and they were born as a result of it.

 Entering his bedroom and beginning to remove Barry’s clothes, making a mental note to drop them off in his room on his way passed, Samuel wondered what their little soulmate was doing in that moment. Was she thinking of them? How was she handling the knowledge that she had found one of her twenty-three soulmates?

 Did she know that all soulmates were housed in one body?

Previous || Next

[yamithediaperdork]

Rescuing the baby (DC)

Barry Allen sighed as he was in the third hour of a 6 hour car trip, wondering for the millionth time why he had let his loving wife talk him into using a stupid car when he was the fastest man alive.

even as he cruised at a solid 55 MPH on the highway, it was like a slow walk to the man who when he wasn't being a CSI or a loving husband, happened to be the flash.

Of course he knew WHY and had agreed with her at the time, that Barry Allen managing to make it from Central city to Gotham in under 10 minutes would of raised all sorts of flag, but still. He hadn't even enjoyed the conference he'd been forced to go to by his supervisor, the highlight of the 3 day event had been hanging out with Batman.

Still it was over with and he vowed to find a way to squirm out of the next conference, even if he had to let a super villain or two out of jail. (Ok, he wouldn't actually do that but it was fun to picture on the long drive.)

Still there was a highlight on taking the long drive, it would give him a legitimate excuse to stop by and check on his favorite (well ok, only) nephew though his marriage to Iris: Wally west.

The boy had made a habit of spending any and all vacation time he could get (within reason) coming out and visiting them and while it made things a little harder on Barry's double life, seeing the freckled smiling face of the boy always made up for the slight inconveniences.

The only downside to making the trip without Iris (who had been kept busy with work) was there was no one to act like a filter between Barry and Rudy west, Wally's very unpleasant father who made his dislike of Barry well know while also never QUITE insulting Barry and giving him a excuse to put the bastard in his place. Barry knew that while Rudy would sight Barry's low income and long work hours as reasons that Barry might wanna find a 'real job', it was more the fact Wally looked up more to Barry then his own father that had turned the man more and more sour.

Barry also couldn't be totally sure, and wally wouldn't talk about it but since the poor boy had started bed wetting again Barry was convinced Ruby had started abusing his son, Mentally if not physically and disguising it as a spanking helped little bed wetters stop (a belief Barry did not follow)

Still he was sure wally would light up when Barry swung by as a surprise and if it just happened to ruin Rudy's day, gee, wouldn't that be a shame.

Rudy was home alone, having a beer (or two or three) and watching a game when there was a knock at the door. he started to call out for his wife Mary to go and answer the door before recalling where she was and got up out of his lazy-boy , cursing slowly as he spilled some beer on his plain white t-shirt.

"Hold your damn horses! I'm coming!" he called.

Already in a bad mood, it got worst as he saw who was at the door and sighing like he had the WORST luck, he opened the front door, sipping his bee that was still in his right hand.

"What do YOU want?" Rudy asked.

"Hi to you too Rudy." Barry said dryly , looking at his watch. "Little early for a brewski isn't it?"

"Don't tell me you drove all the way here to give me shit for enjoying a cold one on my day off." Rudy snorted. the booze took away what little filters he had and well, it wasn't like Iris or Wally or Mary were there to give him any shit.

"..I'm actually on my way back from a conference, and thought I'd drop by and see wally for a bit. and maybe enjoy your charming company." Barry said, then added. "Though PLEASE tell me you haven't been drinking in front of him? That's a bad example Rudy."

"Well Barry, when I want you to tell me how to raise my son I'll ask. Maybe I could give you advise on how to raise YOUR kids..Oh wait." Rudy said, smirking then taking a long drink, not aware the man he was insults could of stranded him in the middle of a city in just his boxers because he'd even know what was happening, and that Barry was fighting the urge to do so at this moment. "in any case, Wally's not here. He's in the ER with his mother. the little Klutz fell down the stairs and pretty sure he broke his ankle."

"Wait what? If he broke his ankle why aren't you-" Barry started, anger and fear mixing.

"Kid shit his pants and smelled something awful, so I stayed behind. wasn't room for me in the ambulance." Rudy paused and anther smirk. "and since I've been drinking I didn't wanna drive, I thought you'd appreciate that Barry."

"..How did Wally fall down the steps?" Barry asked, voice going low as something about the attuide and smugness in the man's voice had Barry worried.

"Stupid little dork tripped over his own pissy diaper when it hit the floor. you know he's wearing 24/7 now? started pissing himself at school!"

"...Rudy I happen to be VERY good at my job, and I'm going to drive over to the ER now and talk with Mary and see how wally's doing. If there's something you wanna tell me now, it'll help you out in the long run." Barry said, pushing his way into the house and the smile vanished from Rudy's face.

"I..I don't know what your-" Rudy stammered out, looking anywhere but at Barry now.

as much as Barry wanted to get the story out of Ruby, maybe go a little batman on him, his biggest concern was getting to wally before Mary, ever the dotting wife could convince Wally to keep the truth to himself.

"This is NOT over Rudy. Think about what I said about helping yourself. It IS what your best at." Barry said and stormed out.

Rudy gulped and slumped to the floor, wondering if it might of been time to call in some vacation time and take a little trip before Barry came back.

Barry's knuckles were going white as he drove to the nearest hospital, he wanted to just zip over but having the flash show up for a kid only Barry should know would of been against secret identity rule number one.

Still the time wasted on getting a parking spot and having to get directions irked him to no end when he knew he could of searched the place in less then 1.5 seconds.

Finding Mary sitting outside of the OR, he walked over to her and was silently counting down in his head as she looked annoyed and mad she was waiting on her only child to get out of surgery then worried.

"Barry, what are you doing here?" she asked, shocked and sounding a little worried.

"I went to stop by for a visit and Rudy told me what happened.." Barry said, then added. "How's Wally?"

"It's taking longer then they thought, they had to stop and change his diapers because he shit himself again. Like it wasn't taking long enough." Mary said and rolled her eyes then caught herself. "I mean, I just.. I'm annoyed he hurt himself is all. he should be really more careful where he puts his toys." She added fast.

Already spotting the difference in stories, Barry just rolled with it.

"Yeah, Rudy said it was a toy truck I believe. " Barry lied., hoping to catch her in the lie.

She looked confused for a second, then nodded.

"well, since he's started needing diaper ALL the time and his friends at school have shunned him, he's gone pretty infantile." she said.

"..Mary with this happening at home you know child services will be investigating right? So as a CSI my advice to you is to make sure you tell the truth. whatever it may be." Barry said, crossing his arms across his chest.

he didn't have the broad shoulders of Batman or superman, but he a twig either and cut a imposing frame.

"W-what do you mean by that?" She asked.

"Rudy told me Wally tripped down the stairs because of his diapers, you told me a toy, I'm damn good at my job Mary but it doesn't take a genius to guess what happened. I SAW the bruises last time me and Iris had him." Barry said flatly.

"I-I swear, it's not me Barry!" Mary said, keeping her voice low and looking around the waiting room now. it was only the two of them and it was clear she was scared now. "if I don't go along with it Rudy wi-" She started to add, But Barry cut her off.

"Iris and you went swimming together not too long ago and she would of told me about any bruises. If Rudy was mentally harming you then you would of taken this chance to out him. So drop the victim act."

"..Oh like you know what it's like, having a promising young boy end up pissing himself and shitting him and looking at his own parents with disdain because he'd rather be with his aunt and her side piece!" Mary snarled.

"watch your tone. Look, I'm willing to help you and Rudy out with this, stay out of jail because I don't want wally to have to visit you in prison..but the price is going to be simple and clear." Barry said.

"Let me guess, you need a loan?" Mary said, a smug smirk on her face reaching for a check book.

"I don't want your Money. I want wally somewhere safe. Me and Iris are going to take custody of him and your NOT going to contest it."

Mary argue, she called the house to tell Rudy about it but he wasn't answering having already taken off, leaving a note for Mary on where to find him and in the end Barry had his way. With Mary taking a taxi back home Barry cleared that he was the impending legal guardian and then located a pay phone. Calling Iris as he wanted on Wally to recover after his surgery to tell her everything that had happened, The only part of the whole thing she disagreed with was Barry letting them off Scott free.

After that he put in a call to a few friends in the DA and family court back in Central city and got assured the whole thing would be settled with minimal fuss.

Wally giggled softly as they wheeled him out of recovery. he was naturally in a wheelchair and dressed in a green gown that fluttered in the AC of the building revealing the thick green tinted diapers he was wearing and his left foot had a sock on it while the right had a thick off white cast around it. The boys freckles stood out as he smiled, his orangish red hair a mess and his eyes totally glazed over.

"Unca Barry! Hiiii!" he giggled and for a second went to get out of the chair before a nurse gently pushed him back down.

"Lizard queen, we talked about this, you can't walk yet." she said with a smile on her face and a amused tone.

"..Lizard queen?" Barry asked.

"Your nephew apparently has next to no tolerance for pain killers and well.." the blond nurse started but was cut off by Wally tossing his arms up.

"I AM THE LIZARD QUEEN! FEAR ME!" He giggled and coo'ed.

Barry snorted and nodded.

"I see. well is her Majesty ready to be signed out yet?" he asked, coming over and patting a head on wally head, a paternal gesture to most, and it was head, though he was also looking for lumps or bruises.

"we'd like to keep him for a little while longer, at least until he's more lucid and well, his clothes are clean and out of the landry. I'm sure the lizard queen would prefer not to drive around in just a diaper." the nurse chuckled."besides, you might wanna go and stock up on some item's Mr. Allen."

"Heh, touche. Wall man, you gonna be ok with the nurse while Uncle Barry goes and gets some supplies for you?"

"I can count to purple." Wally giggled and held out his arms for a hug.

"Oh wow, thats VERY talented!" Barry chuckled and kneeled down, Hugging the smaller boy gently and then feeling Wally slump and pulling back, alarmed.

"Relax Mr.Allen, it's the drugs, he's just been sleepy. Someone will stay with hi in his room to watch him." She said, putting a reassuring hand on Barry's shoulder.

the statement was made to sound like it was because of his drugged state, but the underline was that they were making sure Mr. and Mrs.west didn't come back.

"I'll be back as fast as I can." Barry said and took off.

Getting in the car he drove out to a field where he could park it and felt assured it would be left alone for at least a few minutes. Sliding out from behind the wheel and hitting a special ring he wore out popped a compressed version of his costume and making around in a blur, he quickly suited up and then put his clothes in the back seat of his car.

Experience had taught him that when it came to what he was likely going to need to to to pack a duffel bag for wally, his normal clothes wouldn't of made it.

in the micro seconds it took him to get to the west household a check check confirmed that the doors were locked and not wanting to give them any chance of coming back and getting him or Iris in trouble Barry backed up a few feet in their back yard where the sight of the flash wouldn't be seen(or at least not as easily) for the 2 seconds it would take to ready himself for this.

One of his more useful skills could also be terribly destructive if he wasn't careful so taking a deep breath he readied himself then started to dash at the back door, willing his molecules to vibrate just right and he was able to phase though the door clearly, not blowing it up like he'd done when he'd first learned this trick.

Racing up the stair Barry helped himself to a duffel bag and filled it with some of Wally's clothes, recalling his favorite t-shirts and pants, and as well as the boys gaming devices and a few of his action figures and books, and of course the teddy bear wearing a costume just like Barry's that they'd made at a make bear last year.

with the duffel bag full Barry helped himself to a back pack now, and filled it with the thick, over the top babyish diapers the wests had gotten their son, that while cute and made Barry warm up to a idea he was getting, made him fume as it was clear they had been trying to shame the boy out of his accidents.

he also helped himself to the changing supplies and noted the extra steanght diaper rash cream and made a note to ask the nurse about if wally had a rash when he got back.

Giving the room one last look over, Barry slowed down enough to be hit by the smell of the diaper pail in the corner and grimaced, smell molecules couldn't affect him when he was moving at super speed but they tended to come back with a vengeance once he slowed down.

Looking in the diaper pail the thing didn't even have a bag in it and was set where the sun was sure to hit it as well, and had marking on the inside showing how full it had to be before Wally would of been allowed to change it.

"..Should of smashed the bastard into a pulp when I had the chance." he growled, then sped back up, leaving the room.

he simply unlocked the back door and placed the bags on the grass as they wouldn't of survived the trip though the door then went back in and re locked it and zipped back though it before packing the bags in the car and changing back to his normal clothes, the whole thing taking all of maybe five minutes.

Getting behind the wheel of the car, he fished out a JLA commutator he kept with him at all times (which all Justice leaguer's were required to do, though some like Green tended to forget) and made a call to Batman, for the plan he had to make wally happy and settle in at home and life with the Allen's, he was going to need a bit of finical help.

Once the situation was explained Bruce was only too happy to help though recommended that they take Wally's recovery slowly, but warned Barry he wouldn't hold back if the west's happened to end up in Gotham city.

Barry took Batman's advice and extended his leave, even after wally was discharged from the hospital they didn't go to Central city right away, Barry taking the sullen and emotional boy to several road side attractions on the drive back.

wally had been unwilling to confirm that he'd been pushed down the stairs at first, even when it became clear that his parents had admitted to at least some of it. (as it turned out he'd been pushed down the stairs twice before this.)

The worried about diaper rash had been confirmed and while Wally whined that he could look after his own diaper changes, Barry was having NONE of that and insisted on changing his nephew, teasing the blushing boy about the freckles on his butt that became more clear as the rash faded.

Wally also was embarrassed at first but grew to like how Barry insisted on carrying the boy instead of making him use his crutches, his thin and light frame made it easy enough.

Getting home to central city Barry was all smiles and wally was actually more relaxed and ok, even eager to see Iris as they pulled up, who was in fact waiting in the drive way for them and rushed out.

"Wally! How are you? Are you ok?" She asked, showering the boy in hugs and kisses and fussing over him as he got out of the car on his crutches, having insisted on not being carried into the house.

"I'm fine aunt Iris, just a little sore. Aunt iris I'm.. Iris.. Barry help!" Wally giggled and then gave a mock plea for help.

"heh, Maybe let him get in the door before you shower him with love?" Barry suggested, getting his bags and Wally's out of the trunk of the car.

"Never!" iris chuckled but did back up, while adding. "Just so you know little guy, expect lots of that from me."

"heh, well I suppose I'll allow that." Wally said, grinning like a goof ball as he made his way towards the front door.

Iris and Barry exchanged grins, as if to say 'that's cute, he thinks he has a choice!'

getting the wall man inside Barry put the bags down by the door and swept Wally off his feet.

"wally, there's a little something that me and your aunt have been meaning to talk with you about, and we think it's going to help your recovery a lot." Barry said, heading for a room on the first floor that had been converted into wallies new room since they didn't like the idea of him having to go up and down stairs.

"Oh? what is it?" wally asked, not even fighting it as he was carried on Barry's hip, his thick diaper puffing out his cargo shorts.

"well, we think a bit of regression therapy would help with your recovery so on that note.." Barry said, and opened the door to Wally's new room.

The wall's were painted flash red with little flash symbols on the walls every few feet and there was a light yellow plush carpet on the floor.

what caught Wally's eyes though as the little guy's jaw dropped was the large changing table and a crib in the room, as well as a large toy chest.

"So.." Iris said coming up and kissing Wally's cheek. "what do you think of your nursery?"

[nitannichionne]

Superman: The Rise of Isis (Henry Cavill/Superman Fanfic), Chapter 7: Fortress of Solitude

Chapter 7: Fortress of Solitude

KAL EL POV

I truly had never really brought anyone here. I brought Lois to my apartment, not here. I just wanted her to see Clark, not Kal-El. Sometimes I wondered if Kal-El or Superman portrayed Clark or the other way around. I always felt the same, but I was always seen differently depending on clothes I had on, except for Lois and the League.

I looked at Cyborg. I was relieved when he strongly suggested he  be the one to go. Part Mother Box technology, he had the best chance of talking to Kryptonian technology, and Bruce and Barry seemed best to stay and operate things within the League.

"This is..." Diana looked around. "This is really something, Kal-El." She paused and looked at Cyborg. "What do you think, Victor?"

"I think I am glad Bruce isn't here," Victor replied as he scanned the place with his mechanical eye. "The possibilities are endless."

Bruce called him Cyborg because of his robotic half, but Diana always addressed him by the part of him that was human, Victor Stone. We shared a look. We both seemed to be aware of Bruce's aggression. Though Bruce's motivations are well-meaning, he had a dark side.

"Ah, here we go." Victor frowned. His robotic hand turned into a probe.

"Victor?"

Victor turned to Diana.

"Be careful," she said softly.

He nodded, and plugged in. In seconds he tried to pull out, but the machinery had a hold. "Kal-el! Scan your hand now!"

I put my hand on the panel, and the computer scanned me. He visibly relaxed and did not withdraw. I went over to him. "Victor?"

"Victor?" Diana called softly.

"What information are we looking for?" Victor murmured. "There's a lot."

"Who settled on earth before Kal-El." Diana replied.

"Alright...." A lot of clicks happened. "It's going to take time to do, though."

"Why--"

"There were others here," Victor said, staring at the screens and lights. "There were others here before you."

I knew that. I knew this wasn't the ship I came in, nor the ship that Zod came in. The question was, whose ship were we in now? Diana showed no surprise.

"Kal-El?"

I turned to Bruce's voice. "Yes?"

"I'm getting a call from Africa?"

Diana and I looked at each other. "What is it?"

"Seems our flying female fetale is making another appearance." Bruce reported.

"Where?"

"Floods are worsening, a village could be underwater in hours." He reported. "Boats are struggling to get to them and they are starving."

I stood there for a second.

"You'd better go." Diana nodded. "I will stay with Victor." She looked sad.

"What is it?"

"Poor countries are always in peril," she said softly. "their cries often fall silent because no one comes to help, or come too late. Maybe Bruce is starting to see the Justice League is for more than just one land or place."

I looked at Cyborg, who took a deep breath. I took off, flying as quickly as I could.

@mistress-of-ward @nuggsmum @messyinsomnimaniac @jencanbeyouryengeralt @sweetdreamsofgelato @mary-ann84 @omgkatinka @the-soot-sprite @viking-raider @keanureevesisbae @henryobsessed @summersong69 @sunshine96love @michelehansel @thelastsock @tumblnewby @tenaciousneckpartypainter @rn7rocks @daydreamin83 @ruthoakenshield @musicartmayheminmyheart @kaatelyynn-blog-blog@forallthebrokenheartedthings @alphacancrii @liquorlaughslove @designerwriterchic @tamychm @nikkilynn303 @circesgirl1 @xoxohannahlee @pixie88@fckdeusername @maan24 @kaatelyyynn​ @october505​ @absentmindr​ @introvertedmouse​ @sassy-pelican @griscka75 @kebabgirl67 @its-carlerr @cherry-piee

[barryjeanblues]

taako meets death (again)

(also posted to my ao3)

taako has met two raven queens in his life before now.

well, close enough, at least. most - though not all - of the worlds the starblaster had traveled to had gods, and surprisingly enough, those gods were usually - though not always - strikingly similar to their homeworlds gods. (this was useful, because one of the crews number relied very heavily on a certain nature god for his magic. luckily, the nature or life god of each world always seemed to have a soft spot for little old merle, even if they werent merles traditional cloven-hoofed pan.)

twice, taako had met the death god - someone equivalent to faeruns raven queen. 

this had led to taakos understandable trepidation upon kravitz finally putting his foot down and insisting taako meet his mother boss. 

the first time taako had met a raven queen, she had been… overwhelming. the light of creation had fallen into a forest dedicated to her and her followers, and the head acolyte refused to give the wandering crew the light unless they first received permission from the queen.

the crew had agreed, with no other option, bracing themselves to firmly explain the direness of the situation. surely a goddess would be intelligent enough to understand. 

that raven queen had burst into a forest cleaning in an explosion of black feathers, half illusion, half steel, so that when lup brushed the smoky feathers from her eyes they blurred and dissipated, but when magnus tried the same thing he yelped and brought his hand back bleeding. 

that raven queens laughter had been eerie and echoing, almost but not quite mocking, almost but not quite infectious, almost but not quite joyous. the crew had stood firm and offered their argument, and the queen had given them tests and tokens and bargains and tricky promises with too many clauses and loopholes and at the end of it all the ipres numbers had been halved and the rest were weary and worn as they caught the light of creation and fled with only minutes to spare, the faelike laughter of death following them terribly even through the overwhelming cacophony of the hungers assault. 

that laughter had trailed after them longer, if only in their heads. taako would be making stir fry, planning outfits, swapping merles shampoo for hair-loss potions, when hed have to sit down suddenly and breathe through the musical trills of the raven queens cruel pleasure. it had seemed to bounce in his head the way a rubber ball might, ricocheting off thoughts and feelings until it rolled under a couch to be forgotten about, till some slight movement sent it rolling and bouncing about once more. 

davenport had died in an illusion, thinking he was saving his crew. poor merle had been choked by his own plants, betrayal writ across hos face. barrys skin had grown sickly purple with poison - ten to one odds arent very good odds. taako doesnt forget easily. he decides the goddess of death can go fuck herself. 

the second raven queen taako had met much later in their journey, and taako had met her alone. 

lup and barry had become liches a few cycles back. it was something taako had still been coming to terms with. 

taako loves lup. this is an immutable fact of any and every universe. taako loves lup and lup loves taako and not death or memory or space can separate them, not for long. but seeing your sister die, and then… go beyond death, to twist herself and latch on to a chance that she may never return except in madness and spite - thats a hard thing to grasp, even when she succeeds. taako had still found himself shivering when his sister forgot she had a body again and grabbed a hot pan off the stove, crying out in pain. taako still woke sweating from nightmares in which his sister and his friend flew apart and reformed as cackling red robed horrors of insanity and cruelty, too far for him to reach. 

until that cycle, though, barry and lups choice had only been an asset. 

but some raven queens do not take kindly to anything they see as a perversion of their domain. 

barely a week into that cycle, taako had awoken from the guilty non-elven pleasure of a nap only to find himself in some cold, hard court, fashioned seemingly of steel and silver and concrete, onyx lining the floor and the only color coming from sparse sapphires sparkled throughout the long echoing hall. 

at the end of it - and taako had known his eyes must have played tricks on him, because at first the being at the end of the hall seemed, while large, not much larger than a giant, but when hed called a nervous greeting his voice had echoed so awfully he knew the hall stretched much farther than hed thought and the goddess at the end of it must have been unimaginably huge. 

her eyes had glinted a flinty sapphire in her carven steel face when she ordered him to defend the existence of his sister and his sisters lover. 

taako had tried. he truly, truly had. but while taako is a being of preservation and caution, full of intelligence and cleverness, he is not one of cold hard logic. perhaps lucretia could have convinced this raven queen, the only of their number who had ever been able to grasp true hard reason… but taako doubts it. he had doubted it then and he doubts it even more these days. 

the point is, taako, for all his love for his family and his brilliant wit and devotion (probably, in fact, because of it) taakos arguments couldnt convince that raven queen. she saw past his genuine belief that lup and barry had made a good decision, and into his fears for her, and the goddess of death had based her own argument on those. she won. taako never had a chance. 

he, lup, and barry had woken up in the next cycle, newly resurrected. taako never stops feeling guilty about it. 

so. yes. 

taako is more than a little nervous about meeting the goddess his boyfriend serves so devotedly. but, and youd be hard pressed to convince him to admit it, taako would do anything for kravitz. and despite it all he does actually want to see what the deal is with his sister and his best friends boss, and his patron gods… friend? lover? girlfriend? taako isnt quite sure what fate and death are to each other, but its definitely something.

kravitz lays a warm hand on taakos shoulder, but taako squares them up. he can do this, for fucks sake - hes died a shitton of times, he can meet death. 

the doors open and taakos breath - the only breath in this realm of the dead - catches in his throat.

taako is a die hard istus fan, and shell always be his goddess. but if taako wasnt a taken elf, hed follow the raven queen, he realizes with a startle.

shes beautiful, yes. shes gorgeous, and taakos always been weak for beauty, but hers isnt the cold hard beauty of gemstones and gold, thinks his nimble fingers snatch up and hoard in his endless pockets. the raven queen is beautiful in a way that taako cant describe as anything other than simple.

he cant pin down any features. she has a kind face, gentle hands, bright eyes, but taako can tell she is a goddess because despite staying still the image of her flicks and shifts in his head. at once she seems to have every kind face hes ever seen, even if he doesnt recognize anyone. her hands reach out to comfort him - no more than comfort - but she stands without moving in front of taako and kravitz. her eyes glitter and sparkle and crinkle up with cheerful laughter, except taako isnt entirely sure she has eyes at all, or maybe she has too many. 

he thinks… he thinks maybe she has wings, or maybe theyre arms, or maybe theyre black fabric, draped around and behind and below and above her, shifting with the last breaths of every mortal in the universe. its darkness but its not scary, taako realizes, its solacing, healing, the way that he feels when dusk passes to night and the sky is huge and warm and the brush of lups hand against his as she says goodbye for the night is a relief and a love. 

hello, taako, death says. its lovely to meet you. 

she means it, taako knows. he can tell, somehow. shes just happy to meet him. nothing more, nothing less. 

'oh,' taako says aloud, and kravitz laughs his quiet sweet dorky laugh, and the raven queen laughs too, and its just that. its just a laugh, and its a nice one.

'oh indeed,' kravitz says. 'taako, did you really think id serve a monster or a cruel master?'

'well,' taako replies hesitantly, 'honestly, homie, i kind of thought you were, and id, like, have to start some quest to slay death itself and rescue you.'

the anthropomorphic personification of death laughs again, a note of delight in her tender voice. i like him, my kravitz, she says, good job.

kravitz does the dead-reaper equivalent of blushing. taako grins a little because its very cute. 

'death is different here,' taako hums. 'its… it wasnt like this anywhere else i went. it was cold, or cruel, or empty. i dunno why its different in your world.'

'then i guess we're the lucky ones, huh?' kravitz asks. taako leans up against him and murmurs an agreement. 'its why i love my job so much, why it means so much to me. its not that im some hardass, i just…'

'yea, cha'boy gets it now,' assures taako. 'still.' he looks at the ever-shifting, ever-stable face of death again. 'you better treat my boy kravitz and my lady istus well, capiche? or we will have issues.'

its a deal, taako, the raven queen says, smiling. 

when taako opens his eyes, hes in his home in the material plane, and kravitz is next to him, and theyre both smiling. 

[returningwriter]

Forever By Her Side

The final part of my By Her Side series of stories, the previous part being Suiting Up For Her but this can be read as a stand alone piece of superCorp wedding fluff if you like. As always enjoy!

Lena fiddled with her bouquet of white roses as Ruby, standing in front of her, half-turned and gave her the thumbs up. The teen had jumped at the chance to be her brides’ maid along with Sam, of course, and glancing to her side she received a kind smile from J’onn who was fixing the black bowtie of his tuxedo.

“Ready for this?” he asked her in that deep and soothing voice, and she could only nod because she was worried that if she started speaking now, she might cry.

It had been two years since that day in the DEO hospital room when she’d learned that Supergirl was her Kara. One year since Kara showed up at L-Corp in that damn blue three-piece suit with a nervous expression on her flawless face and fogged up glasses. 12 months and fifty-eight minutes since Kara Zor-El had gotten down on one knee and presented her with a modest diamond ring on a reporter’s salary. Nine months since they’d started planning for this day, and now roughly ninety seconds until she’d walk down the aisle and marry her blonde reporter slash superhero.

“Break a leg,” Ruby whispered mischievously when the doors swung open and the music started playing. Here comes the bride, dressed all in white, escorted by a Martian space-dad and wearing a simple floor-length white dress, with bare shoulders and the shape of the House of El crest on the middle of her breast, and with a garland of white flowers in her raven-black hair.

They were getting married in a small country church outside of Midvale, but the small venue was packed to the rafters with their friends and family. Both sides of the aisle were filled with smiling faces sitting on slightly uncomfortable wooden pews, people she’d met over the last two years, and come to think of as her friends. Barry flashed her an enthusiastic thumbs up which made her laugh especially when Iris slapped him for doing it.

Glancing up at the altar she saw Kara, her Kara, with her blonde hair cut short for the occasion and held up in a tight bun. The statuesque blonde was wearing a fitted and pressed black tuxedo that showed off her broad shoulders and narrow waist via a blue cummerbund, but the blonde was pulling nervously at the collar of her starched white shirt and if she’d worn glasses those would have, no doubt, been fogged up.

The blonde’s sister, also decked out in a black tux, was rubbing her back and whispering words of encouragement. Or knowing Alex Olsen-Danvers it was more along the lines of something like last chance to fly away now. Filling out the ‘groom’s party’ was Kate Kane, grinning from ear to ear at the sight of her best friend being a bundle of nerves, while dressed in a punky looking black suit.

The master of ceremonies that was overseeing this unorthodox wedding was Brainiac himself, or as she called him, Dox, with Nia beaming proudly at her man from the first row of pews. Taking her place with a smile at the flower-strewn altar under white draped silks hanging from the beams in the ceiling she handed Ruby her bouquet. Turning to face her wife to be, she saw that Kara had a House of El crest pin on the lapel of her black tuxedo jacket. She was after all not only marrying Kara Danvers, but also Kara Zor-El, the one and only Supergirl!

“Wow!” the blonde mouthed at her and she allowed herself to blush in front of other people for maybe the first time in her life.

“Thank you,” she mouthed back as Dox cleared his throat and Kara stood up a bit straighter as Kate rolled her eyes.

Kate Kane didn’t believe in marriage, but the Batwoman of Gotham had become one of their closest friends through the years. Even though there had been a bit of jealousy on her part at the start, she’d come to see that the dark-haired woman was honorable, brave and she couldn’t wish for a better best friend for Kara, aside from herself of course.

“Dearly beloved, friends, family and assorted allies of questionable character,” Dox said formally and the crew of the Waverider cheered at that last part.

The poor man had worked on that line for days, Nia had told her in confidence last night when they had shared a glass of wine together in her hotel room while Kara had been secluded with Alex and Kate at the sisters’ childhood home. With tradition dictating that the ‘groom’ was not allowed to see her before the wedding.

“We are gathered here today to join these two…” Dox went on but was interrupted by a shout from the gathered attendants.

“Idiots!” Sara Lance shouted from the right side of the aisle only to be shushed down by Ava.

“These two amazing women in a union of mind and spirit,” Dox went on without missing a beat.

“Now, on Kara’s request I will keep this short,” he then said with a sly smile, and Kara looked like she was about to vibrate out of sight because the poor blonde girl was visibly wracked with nerves. Kara could face down monsters and demons, gods and alien conquerors without blinking, but this moment clearly set her nerves racing.

“Lena, as they say, ladies first,” he said and motioned for her to recite the vows she’d spent the past two months writing and rewriting.

“Kara, my Kara,” she started, and right away Kara’s blue eyes were glistening with tears as a few of the attendants gave various oohs and aaws.

“When I met you, you saw the light in me, you saw past the name, past the bravado and saw the girl hiding behind my walls who only wanted to be loved,” she went on and the church had gone quiet.

“You’ve been my hero, my rock, my darling, and it would take me a thousand lifetimes to fully thank you for what you’ve done for me,” she said softly and paused to take a quick breath for effect. All those lessons learned from doing public speaking as CEO of L-Corp coming in handy.

“When you proposed to me, looking so nervous with your glasses fogging up, you said please,” she laughed at the memory of Kara down on one knee and she would never forget those simple words. Lena Kieran Luthor, you are the most amazing being I’ve ever met, and will you marry me, please?

“Now let me say please, will you please be my wife for forever and a day, and in turn, I promise to have your children and to stand by your side against whatever may come?” she asked and looked into Kara’s glistening blue eyes and the blonde was silently nodding.

“Kara, would you like a moment?” Dox asked but the blonde firmly shook her head and squared her broad shoulders and pulled at the cuffs of her shirt.

“Lena, you are the smartest woman on the planet, yet for some reason, you’re choosing me, so I guess I must be doing something right!” Kara joked in that strong voice of hers and a ripple of laughter went through the gathered crowd.

“Every day I wake up and when I see your face I think how even the sun is humbled by your brightness and beauty. You are my everything and the reason I fight,” the blonde went on and her strong voice carried through the church.

“People call me a hero, but they don't know that you are my hero. You build me up when I’m down, you encourage me to fly higher and you are the giant whose shoulders I stand on,” Kara said and that strong voice rang like a bell in the small church as it was her turn to have her eyes water with unspilled tears. This girl was incredible!

“When I look towards the future, it’s a future with you, it’s always been with you, and now you’ll be stuck with me as we move towards a new dawn. Together we can not only dream of a better tomorrow but make it a reality. Because together we are invincible!” the blonde finished and you could hear a pin drop in the church as the butterflies were swarming in her stomach.

“Someone was putting that Pulitzer to good use,” Dox observed dryly and motioned for Kate to bring the rings.

The short-haired hero padded down her suit theatrically before finding the two golden bands in an inside pocket on her jacket and with a wink handing them to Dox. First, he handed her Kara's ring, a slightly wider and more rugged-looking one for her heroic wife to be.

“Lena, repeat after me,” he said and she nodded, unable to look away from Kara’s beaming face.

“I, Lena Kieran Luthor,” he said formally, and she placed the ring at the tip of Kara’s finger just like they'd rehearsed it.

“I… Lena Kieran Luthor,” she started but her voice caught in her throat before she repeated the line and felt weak at the knees. This was really happening! In a few short sentences, she was going to be Lena Kieran Zor-El .

“Take you, Kara Zor-El, as my wife and partner,” Dox said and she pushed the ring halfway up Kara’s finger.

“Take you, Kara Zor-El, as my wife and partner,” she giggled at that and for some reason, she felt lightheaded.

“Before this gathering of friends and family and in the eyes of Rao,” he declared, and she nodded.

“Before this gathering of friends and family and in the eyes of Rao,” she repeated firmly with all the love and conviction in her being and pushed the ring all the way down on the blonde’s finger. Stuck with me now darling, she thought to herself.

“Kara, can you please repeat after me?” Dox asked while handing the blonde a ring and Kara nodded like an eager puppy.

“I, Kara Zor-El,” he said again just as formally and Kara with a shaking hand placed the thin golden band at the tip of her finger almost touching a manicured red nail.

“I, Kara Zor-El,” Kara said with a huge smile on her face no doubt from using her real name in front of so many people.

“Take you, Lena Kieran Luthor, as my wife and partner,” Dox repeated and she felt Kara’s warmth as the blonde pushed the ring halfway down her finger.

“Take you, Lena Kieran Luthor, as my wife and partner,” the blonde said with such conviction and steel in her voice that again it rang like a bell through the church.

“Before this gathering of friends and family and in the eyes of Rao,” he said again, and Kara’s million-megawatt smile was out in full force.

“Oooh, you betcha! I mean, before this gathering of friends and family and in the eyes of Rao,” the blonde hero blurted out before laughing and pushing the ring fully onto her finger, sealing the deal.

“Since I doubt anyone has the reproductive organs of sufficient fortitude to object to this union, I now declare you joined as partners before Rao and this assembly, you may kiss!” Dox declared and in a rare display of open emotion he raised his arms triumphantly up over his head in celebration as a cheer went up in the church.

Kara wasted no time, grabbing her and pulling her close so their noses bumped against each other which made them both giggle like a pair of schoolgirls. This was real! They were married and now came the fun part!

“Ladies and gentlemen, let's hear it for the Zor-Els!” Alex shouted with her fist in the air and the cheers grew even louder as their friends and family rose to their feet, clapping, whistling, and hollering as they celebrated with them. With a few of them thinking that, yes, the two dorks at managed to do it!

“Stuck with me now,” the blonde whispered, and before she could reply with something clever, she was being dipped down and kissed hard on the lips. Pawing at Kara’s strong arms before burying her fingers in the blonde’s short hair she kissed her back as their friends and family cheered them on.

“Ready to face the rest of our lives together Mrs. Zor-El?” Kara asked when she let her up for air again with her red lipstick smeared across both their lips.

“Of course! I’ll go anywhere with you!” she laughed, as Kara took her hand in hers and she squeezed it.

“Let’s run towards it then!” the blonde declared excitedly to which she nodded with a huge grin while gathering up the front of her dress so she wouldn’t trip over it.

Then, laughing together, they raced down the aisle into the sunshine beaming down outside the church as their friends shrugged before they race after them. Forever by her side, who would have thought when this all started that she would get to spend forever by her Kara’s side!

The End

[countless-dreamsss]

Eobard in a Wells-Stack: Cisco’s Crash

𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬, 𝐂𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐄𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝

𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐡𝐨𝐥 𝐮𝐬𝐞

𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐬: 𝐍/𝐀

𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧/𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧

//If you haven’t read part one, here you go. Shout out to @fandomdancer​, she gave me the idea of the very last line of this chapter.

I'm letting you all know now, parts of the text are lyrics from a few songs:

NI BIEN NI MAL by Bad Bunny

crash by EDEN

drugs by EDEN

sex by EDEN

T.E.A.R. by BTS

You Get Me So High by The Neighbourhood

     Later that evening, a drunk Cisco returned to the pipeline. He stumbled up the ramp as he approached Eobard’s cell. His hair was tied back into a messy bun, and he had a bottle full of alcohol in his hand. Eobard was leaning on the wall, he gave his bottom lip a gentle bite as he saw Cisco come closer. Something told him that this wasn’t Cisco’s first drink of the night.

Eobard’s eyes looked over to the Wellses that were still in the cell with him. Harry had stayed for this, for the possibility that Cisco would come back. Sherloque, though he didn’t have much of a reason to stay, he was afraid of what would happen if he left Harry alone with Eobard. The two looked to each other then back to Cisco.

      “If I know anything about his drinking habits,” Sherloque spoke, “he’s probably been drinking for a while now,” Harry gave Sherloque a puzzled look, “he was a mess after his break-up with Gypsy,” he concluded. 

      “Makes sense,” Harry nodded. Eobard paid them no mind and approached the window once Cisco did.

      “How may I help you?” He sneered as he stood with his hands behind his back. He stared down at the younger male. It wasn’t the first time today that he'd seen the irritated skin around Cisco’s eyes and his flushed cheeks. “You’ve been cryi—” 

     “Callate!” Cisco said. It was normal for his Spanish to kick in once he reached a certain level of being drunk. He brought the bottle to his lips and took a rather long gulp. Harry was taken by Cisco’s aggression.

      “What are you here for?” Eobard questioned, his head tilted. He watched Cisco as he plopped himself down onto the cold metal floor.

      The younger male sat in silence as he tried to gather his thoughts. There was too much running through his head. He has been waiting for this moment for years. All the long conversations he would have with himself, thinking of ways not to be sucked in by Eobard's cunning words when it would finally happen. It was all gone, just erased from his head like a memory meant to be forgotten. His throat was tight and his vision was starting to become a little blurry. A while had passed before Cisco spoke again, trying to come up with the right words to say.

      “It's been a few years since you've been gone," he swallowed hard, "and I w-won’t lie, there have been a few tears, but that was years ago,” Cisco said. “A veces , I feel like this is what you wanted,” he looked up to Eobard. “I grew up to be exactly what you wanted,” he tightened his grip around the neck of the bottle. “Since the first time you left, I’ve been trying my best to live as myself, but it’s been years since I've felt sure of what I want.” 

      “Cisco, what happened all those years ago, wasn’t supposed—” 

      “Yeah? Well it fucking did!” Cisco snapped.

      “Listen to me,” Eobard said.

      “No!" He cut Eobard off. "You were my friend, Dr. Wel—” Cisco took a good look at Eobard then had another taste of the drink in his hand. “T-Thawne,” he corrected himself. “You were my friend,” he repeated. 

      “I was—”

      "How could you do that to me!?"

      “I was your friend,” Eobard finally finished. His eyes watched as Cisco took another sip. Harry took this as his chance to approach the glass again. Not to speak, but to watch. 

      This entire scene felt too familiar to Harry. He remembered when he had first arrived on Earth-1. A few days later, with Cisco still adjusting to the new Wells, his drunk self believed that Harry was Eobard, and he yelled at Harry about God knows what, and then he just exited the room like he just didn’t curse Harry out for the past five minutes. “I was your friend, Cisco,” Eobard repeated. He tapped on the glass when Cisco looked like he was losing focus. “Over here.” 

      “Harry?” Cisco turned his head, believing the tapping was his friend, just to see Eobard shaking his head.

      “Not Harry,” Eobard said.

      “Que tu quieres de mi?” Cisco asked.

      “15 years, Cisco. For the 15 years that I had lived in this city as Wells, I don't believe I can say I had a friend until I met you—”

      “It was a set up!” Cisco yelled. “You had planned all of it,” Eobard tapped his fingers against the windowpane, not trying to get overworked by his impatience.

      “Listen to me, Cisco!" Eobard shouted. He didn't want to get talked over again. “I never meant to hurt you," he started, "I had all my motives. I didn't know they would mix with your emotions,” he looked into Cisco’s doe eyes. “I just had to reach my goals. I just wanted to go home!” He yelled. “I didn’t plan on becoming attached,” Eobard admitted. “You were the closest thing I had to family. You can’t tell me you didn’t feel the same. All those late nights you would spend with me up in the Cortex?” He pointed upwards. “All the movies we watched? The games we played?” He scoffed, “Cisco, you would choose to spend time with me over your own family.”

      “That’s because I thought you were all I had! I thought you were my family!”

      “I was.”

      “No!” Cisco approached the glass, his eyes glazed with tears for another time. “Family doesn’t try to kill each other.”

      “That was in a different timeline," Eobard waved his hand, dismissing the emotions behind Cisco's words entirely. "With all the times that Barry messed with the timeline, at this point it never even happened.” 

      “I don’t care if it was in a different timeline!” Incensed, Cisco pounded his fist on the glass. “You still did it!” He shouted. “I still see it! For years, I’ve had that image stuck in my head, Thawne, and you tried to do it again!” He huffed, trying to catch his breath. 

      “Cisco,” Eobard swiped his tongue over his lips. “There was a point in time where we used to stick together. You were my best friend. I had love for you, and I believe you still do for me, or else you wouldn’t be down here," he confessed. "I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again,” Eobard said, taking in a deep breath. “You were like a son—”

      “Don’t!” Cisco stopped him, his index finger pushed up roughly against the glass. He would never let him finish that sentence again. Not now, not ever. He didn’t want to hear it. He didn’t want to hear his lies. He had no interest in hearing anything that could dig him deeper into the hole of Eobard Thawne. “Don’t you fucking say it,” his finger hit the glass with each word. 

      Eobard could see the hate and pain in Cisco’s eyes. Harry and Sherloque continued to watch silently. It felt like any moment now that Cisco was going to stumble over himself. They saw how Cisco’s mind played with Eobard’s words, bending them so that they said exactly what hurt the most.

      "Why is he doing this?" Harry questioned. He didn't understand why Cisco was putting himself through this. He was just causing himself more pain. He wasn't gaining anything. Sherloque approached the glass as well, but with it being crowded by Harry and Eobard, he stood behind Harry. He clicked his tongue at the somber expression on Cisco's face.

      "Tsk. Poor kid," Sherloque shook his head. "I wonder how long he's kept all this to himself."

      "You're the smartest person I know. There wasn’t a time when you never surpassed my expectations of you,” he said, looking down at him. “I was proud to be working by your side."

      "Stop fucking lying to me!" He pounded his fist on the glass again. 

      “You’re drunk,” Eobard said blatantly, shaking his head. “You’re not you. This isn’t you, and you know it,” he spoke to him like a disappointed father would their child. 

      “That's the point? Isn't it?” Cisco raised the bottle to bring it to Eobard's sight. It was his fuel. It was giving him the words he always wanted to say, but couldn't until now. He returned to the floor. He brought the bottle to his lips for another time, and drank a good amount before setting it down. With all the alcohol and tears, Cisco’s chest was on fire and his head was pounding. At this point, he just wanted to be numb. “You used to say, the powers you gave me were out of love,” Cisco said, looking down at the soles of his shoes. 

      “They were,” Eobard nodded, “but you got rid of them.”

      “To get rid of you,” Cisco protested. “I wanted to break any possible attachment I had to you," he looked up to Eobard, "but it seems like no matter what I do, I can't," he gave a hopeless shrug. "No puedo," he cried. "I can't...I don't know how to-"

      "How to what?" Eobard asked, leaning on the glass once more. “What is it that you can't do?" 

      "No se como olvidarte," he finally said, a tear streaming down his face. “I don’t know how to forget you,” he repeated. “You turned out to be everything I thought you never were, and nothing like I thought you could've been, but still I know you live inside of me,” Eobard crossed his arms as he attentively listened to Cisco’s words. "Everything I've tried to do since you left, was in spite of you. I got rid of my powers. I've been trying to live a normal life, but I can't. I fucking can't because you always find your way back," he said furiously. “I think...I think you fucked me up,” he whispered, his voice brittle. He ran his tongue over his alcohol flavored lips before standing back up. Eobard chewed on the inside of his cheek. How was he to respond to that? He couldn’t help but feel responsible for Cisco's downfall, but as much as he regretted it, he was never going to admit it. 

      "If you came here for an apology, I hope you know you're not going to get it," he shook his head. “I’m not going to apologize for my actions.”

      "You're a fucking asshole," Harry said, looking to Eobard. 

       "Pa'l carajo el perdón! No hay reconciliación!" Cisco threw the bottle at the cell, which caused Harry to flinch just a tad bit. “F-Fuck your apology! No lo quiero!” It shattered, causing pieces of glass to fly in every direction. "I don’t want it! I don't want anything from you!" His burning chest heaved as he tried to regain all the oxygen that had left his lungs.

      "Then why are you here?" Eobard asked, looking past the droplets that now stained the window. "Hm? Why are you down here telling me all these things? You're wasting your time." 

      "Tourner la page," Sherloque said. The other two looked at him confused. Sherloque groaned at having to translate such an easy sentence. "He wants to turn the page," he said. "Closure. He's looking for closure," he simplified, though they still confused faces on both of them. "What? Why else would he be talking our ears off about how les yeux rouges broke him?" 

      "This," Cisco motioned his finger back and forth in between him and Eobard. "This conversation between you and I has been long overdue, and I've said in my head,” he said, taking a deep breath.

      "Told you." Sherloque muttered in satisfaction.

      “I’ve said it over, and over, and over again. I told myself that I would tell you this the next time I saw you. I just didn't know when next time was going to be,” Cisco sniffled, fiddling with something in his hand.

      “What is he doing with that?” Sherloque squinted his eyes to get a good look at Cisco’s hand.

      “With what?” Harry asked. 

      “That," Sherloque extended his arm past Harry’s shoulder and pointed to Cisco’s hand.

      "He has a piece of glass in his hands," Sherloque continued to point. "Look."

      “What?” Worry was written all over Harry’s face. When did Cisco even find the time to pick it up without either of them noticing. “Cisco…” Harry didn’t take his eyes off of him for a second. The way Cisco looked enticed by the glass scared him. “Thawne, tell him to drop it,” he said, looking between Cisco and Eobard. “Tell him to drop it", he repeated. Eobard ignored Harry’s directions. Three sets of blue eyes locked themselves onto the former meta. They watched as Cisco held the shard tightly in his palm.

      "He's not going to do anything," Eobard told the Wellses in the cell with him.

      "How could you be so sure?" You could hear the concern in Harry’s voice. He shook his head, not eased by Eobard's words. "Thawne, he's drunk and he's depressed. He could do anything right now."

      "He's not going to do anything," Eobard repeated. He was certain of it. He knew his little pup; he could be reckless, but not stupid. Sherloque, however, suspected otherwise. He saw how Cisco's hand tightened around it, and as the seconds passed by it was just a matter of time that the sharp edges would begin cutting into his skin. 

      "Who are you talking to?" Cisco asked, using one hand on the cell to keep himself balanced. 

      "A couple of your friends are still here," Eobard sighed. 

      "W-Who?" Cisco asked. "Who's there with you?" 

      "Sherloque" he replied, with an emphasis on the 'loque' part. He smirked as he could see Harry's frustrated expression through his peripherals. "And the one in all black," he rolled his eyes. 

      "Harry," Cisco corrected him, looking down. "His name is Harry. How long have they been there?" He asked.

      "The entire time," Eobard disclosed. Sherloque nudged Harry once he saw the creases in his hand fill with a crimson shade.

      "He's bleeding," Harry whispered softly. Harry knocked twice on the glass, which made Cisco look up. 

      "Was that—" 

      "It was him," Eobard nodded. Cisco’s ears became very hot at that moment. He didn't know if it was because he was drunk or embarrassed, but either way he was short of breath.

      “Is he okay?” Cisco asked, not paying any attention to the pain in his hand.

       "Tell him that he's bleeding," Sherloque ordered, although it sounded more of a simple command. 

      “Do it,” Harry said, hitting the back of his hand against Eobard’s chest.

      “He’s fine,” Eobard responded, his eyes fixated on Cisco’s hand. “Harry’s fine.”

      “Tell him to fucking drop it!” Harry clenched his jaw in frustration as he returned his attention back to Cisco. He really wished he had given Eobard that punch now. “How can you let him do that to himself?”

      “Tell him I’m sorry.” Cisco said, his voice weak.

      “I can’t,” Harry shook his head, “I can’t watch this,” he stepped away from the glass and faced the wall. Just as Harry's eyes filled with tears, so did Eobard's, but he'd be damned to let any of them see him cry.

      Eobard waited. He waited for the first drop of blood to hit the floor before finally speaking, his voice was shaking, but just by a hint, “Cisco, you’re bleeding.” 

      “You’re right,” Cisco nodded, looking down to his own hand.

      “Let go, Cisco,” Eobard said in that low tone of his, pointing at his hand. “I need you to let it go.”

      “What does it matter!?” Cisco retaliated. “I’ve been dead to you for centuries, right?” 

      “Harry,” Eobard muttered, hoping that would get his attention.

      Harry raised an eyebrow when hearing his name, “you’re using me as bait?” 

      “Do you want him to drop it or not?” Sherloque asked, looking back to Harry.

      “What about him?” Cisco asked.

      “He wants you to let it go,” Eobard responded.

      “Is that what he really said, or are you just—” before Cisco could finish, Sherloque knocked on the glass three times in Harry’s place, telling Cisco yes. 

      “Fine,” he said. The second he hit the ground, the three of them exhaled in relief. 

      “Cisco—” 

      "I think," Cisco sniffled, "I think w-we're done here," he pushed himself off of the cell. Even in his drunken haze, Cisco saw himself and Eobard for what they really were. Now that they've seen the end, not even resentment is left. “Oh by the way...” He took a few steps towards the exit.

      “What?” Eobard questioned. 

     “Once you get out, if you ever do that is, there's no point in you coming for me,” he said, shaking his head. “You killed me a long time ago."

Translations 

Callate - Shut up

A veces - Sometimes

Que tu quieres de mi ? - What do you want from me?

No puedo - I can’t

No se como olvidarte - I don’t know how to forget you

Pa'l carajo el perdón - Fuck forgiveness

No hay reconciliación - There’s no reconciliation

No lo quiero - I don’t want it

les yeux rouges - red eyes

Tourner la page - Turn the page

[gogogobarry]

BURN

Chimchar puffs out his cheeks with great focus, determined to impress his new trainer as they begin their journey across Sinnoh together. With Barry half-jogging ahead of him, the young monkey pauses, taking a moment to mentally channel every ounce of fire from his belly up into his throat...it’s heating up, it’s working...!

Buuuurp!

Chimchar’s little “outburst” rocks Route 202, and Barry turns around with surprise, quickly becoming awed by the respectable cloud of smoke swirling around his mortified partner. The scolding that Chimchar expects never comes. Instead, with the help of Barry-branded encouragement, enthusiasm, and practice, the (slightly singed) pair enters Jubilife City hours later with serious amounts of swagger, Chimchar proudly huffing out cute little wisps of flame as they stroll together.

The duo’s pursuit of fire mastery comes to an abrupt end days later, deep in the confines of Eterna Forest. With a single badge now shining proudly on his scarf, Barry commands Monferno to put some poor Bug Catcher out of his battling misery. Eager to show his strength, the rebellious monkey lets loose an overpowering, wild jet of flame. For a moment, Monferno can appreciate the beauty of his created fire--with its orange, rippling hues--before Barry’s alarmed cry snaps him out of his reverie: Stop!

So Monferno stops. And when he does, he’s finally forced to reckon with what he’s done.

The Bug Catcher’s Silcoon is fainted and then some, but Monferno’s damage extends well past the current battle. The Bug Catcher gapes wordlessly at the scorched hole in his net, the towering tree trunks surrounding the impromptu battlefield are flame-scarred, and some of their blackened branches fall to earth from above, placing further emphasis on the destruction. Monferno glances back at Barry--who is looking sadly at his singed scarf and charred Badge--and right then and there, the Fire Pokemon decides to make a pledge to himself. 

Whatever’s happened here...I’ll make sure it never happens again.

“You’re wasting my time now--why is your Pokemon still holding back?” Byron barks as his Bastiodon weathers yet another Mach Punch from Barry’s resilient Infernape. As the Shield Pokemon tosses his partner back with a powerful Take Down, Barry--for once--has no answers. He’s tried everything: a Flamethrower TM, firebreathing lessons on the PC, and even a steady diet of super-spicy Tomato Berries. And despite Barry’s best efforts, even on his third attempt for the Mine Badge, Infernape still isn’t fully utilizing his fiery gifts. Taking a deep breath as the Flame Pokemon narrowly avoids another Take Down, the blond tries one last gambit.

“I know you’re scared!” Barry yells, causing his partner to flinch with surprise. “When you started using fire, I was scared too--but wow, I gotta say that I was more impressed than anything! You’ve got a gift, and we can learn to control it--but we’ve gotta start somewhere! Why not here in the Gym, where we’re completely safe and fighting for a shot at the Pokemon League? I know you wanna win as much as I do!”

Barry’s expression and tone softens as Infernape casts a long glance back at him. Bastiodon paws the ground like a prehistoric Tauros, readying for the finishing blow...

“We can work together on your control--remember back on Route 202, when you were blowing smoke?” Barry reminisces with a smile, his hazel eyes still hard with determination. “But for right now, I need you to give it your all and just...let it rip, okay buddy? You got this...I know you have it in you!”

Bastiodon charges, and it’s Infernape’s turn to take a deep breath, long lost fire swirling within him once again. The fire mixes and burns with internalized feelings of guilt, shame, and frustration...and when the monkey finally releases his pent-up Flamethrower--he seems to erupt. 

Barry and Byron are both blown back by a sudden gust of hot air as Infernape releases a wave of golden flames onto the battlefield, causing the sandy battlefield to crack and glow. Bastiodon never finishes its attack--it never stood a chance, really--and the battle ends right there. In the aftermath, Infernape stands in place numbly, chest heaving as Barry crushes him in his usual Bewear-esque celebratory hug. Instead of trees burning, Byron’s clapping from across the field, offering the monkey a subtle nod of encouragement. Instead of charring Barry’s first Badge, Infernape’s fire is directly responsible for earning Barry’s sixth Badge. Only two more to go.

As Barry continues to whoop it up to Dawn, Lucas, and anybody who would listen over his new Poketch Phone app, Infernape takes a moment to fixate on the smoldering battlefield before him. His scattered fires are beginning to burn away in the sand, kicking sparks skyward in their final moments.

The Pokemon takes another deep breath and clenches his fists. He can feel his own troubles, worries, and guilt burning away with the flames. Just a few moments earlier, Barry unknowingly provided him with a spark, a release, a moment of searing clarity.

And now, Infernape finally feels ready to rise.

[seven-oomen]

Take me to church | Owen Grady/Male OC | Jurassic World Fanfiction

Because I want to share some of my old work I guess? I don’t think this is particularly good, but it’s a way to see how I progressed over the years and I think that’s pretty cool. Also, I’m in my Jurassic World/ Detroit Become Human phase right now. So, have some old Jurassic World fanfic.

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Mentions of mpreg, mating cycles/in heat, Alpha Beta Omega dynamics, canon typical violence, creepy old men.

“Attention all Masrani Corp. employees heading for San Jose, we are now boarding flight eighteen. Please check-in at Gate twelve.”

He stood up with a soft sigh and hoisted his backpack on his shoulders. This was it, the chance of a lifetime. His big shot in getting somewhere in life. For years he had studied and worked his ass off to get where he was now. A smile worked its way upon his features as he slowly sauntered his way to the gate.

Like always, people stared after him wherever he went. It was sort of a given thing if you were 6’8 tall with a muscular frame. People were scared of him and nobody was stupid enough to piss him off by coming closer. Even if he was as harmless as a puppy.

His golden blond hair and bright blue eyes stood out on his angled and well-defined face. Not to mention the faded scar that ran across his face. People were terrified of him, but none of that was going to matter anymore.

Jarek Pitka had done it, he’d finally achieved his dream. Not many vets could say that they worked with actual living dinosaurs, but in just a few hours' time, he’d be one of the first to call himself a Dino-vet.

Jarek chuckled and smiled softly as he thought on the start of his new life. This could be the break he so desperately needs. With the money he would be making he could- He collided with another solid object, so lost in his thoughts that he hadn’t seen what was right in front of him.

“What the-?”

It wasn’t an object, Jarek deduced, as he looked down and cringed at the sight of the man sprawled out onto the floor. “I am so, so sorry.” He quickly apologized as he helped the poor man back onto his feet. Why did these things always happen to him? Big clumsy log that he was.

The man was smaller than he was, like everybody else. Around 6’2 to his own 6’8, with dark sandy blond hair and green eyes. The man was wearing a leather vest with a clean blue shirt under it and a pair of simple jeans and combat boots. He was a pretty average, but yet a good looking man.

The man brushed himself off and looked up at him in annoyance. “Dude, you gotta watch where you’re going.”

“I know, I know. I’m so sorry, I-”

“Hey” The stranger reached for his jacket and tapped the Jurassic World Logo that was stitched onto it rather sloppily “What did they hire you for?”

“What? Oh, yeah. I’m the new lead veterinarian. I got a call yesterday.”

“Really, yesterday, huh?” The man seemed rather amused at his answer, the frown on his face slowly turning into a friendly smile. Maybe he hadn’t screwed this up completely. “So you just packed your bags and jumped on a plane, because you got a call?”

“Well… when you say it like that, it sounds kinda crazy.”

“No offense, man. But it kinda is.”

“Then why are you here?”

The other man laughed and grinned up at him “I like you, you’re funny when you’re not barging into me. I got a call a couple of weeks ago. They hired me outta the Navy, now I get to work with raptors.”

“That’s so cool..” It didn’t explain the ‘why’ though, Jarek had been hired because of his outstanding credentials. But this guy just came from the Navy? Sure that was impressive, but why this guy specifically? “But why were you hired? I mean, no offense, but what did you do in the Navy?”

“I trained the canine unit, and I studied animal behavioral patterns on the side. Got my master's degree six months ago.”

That explained it. Sort of.

“Flight eighteen is now boarding at Gate twelve. Attention all passengers, flight eighteen is now boarding at Gate twelve.” The female voice of the intercom sounded through the gate, urging the remaining passengers to stand up and get onto the plane.

“So what’s your seat number?” The raptor guy looked up at him as he picked up his bag.

“B two, it’s an aisle seat.” Jarek pulled the ticket out of his pocket and showed it to his newfound friend.

“No way.. I got B one. Guess you’re my flight buddy. I’m Owen, by the way, Owen Grady.”

Jarek chuckled and took the hand Owen offered him. “Jarek, Jarek Pitka. And it’s an absolute pleasure to meet you, flight buddy.” He liked Owen so far, the man was nice. Despite Jarek’s initial clumsiness, Owen had been friendly, and he seemed genuinely interested in what Jarek had to say. Owen seemed so different from those he’d met before.

Owen let out a soft laugh and patted him on the shoulder. “Come on, let’s board before they leave without us.”

Jarek shook his head but followed Owen to the boarding desk anyway. He couldn’t wait to see the island or the dinosaurs. His new life was starting right now, with a new friend to support him along the way, and with Owen as a friend he doubted his new life would be a boring one.

~*~ ~*~

Flying was a pretty boring way to travel, even with Owen at his side. Five hours into the flight and he was ready to jank the door open and jump out of the plane. Anything to counter the mind-numbing nothingness that he was experiencing right now. “What time is it?”

“About eight pm, we’ve been in the air for five hours,” Owen mumbled, barely lifting his head off Jarek’s shoulder. The behavioral expert had fallen asleep an hour ago and was now dozing, using the veterinarian as his personal pillow.

Jarek couldn’t stop the yawn that escaped him and groaned softly. “That means we got two and a half hours to kill.” There had to be something he could occupy himself with...

“I’m not gonna tell,” Owen smirked, looking up at Jarek.

“Tell what?” What was Owen talking about? He couldn’t possibly be talking about that one little thing. Jarek didn’t have much to hide, but what he did have to hide was kind of a big thing.

“About what you are, you hide it well, but I can smell it.”

He tensed up, slowly turning to look more closely at Owen. “What?” How did he figure it out? He usually wore scent blockers to prevent anyone from finding out. Would this change the budding friendship between them? Would Owen see him as the others saw him? He didn’t really want to find that out to be honest. He didn’t want anything to change.

“Hey, hey it’s okay. I’m not gonna tell, or try to get into your pants.” Owen gently pushed him back into his seat and squeezed his shoulder in an effort to comfort him.

Not that it was working… “How? I hide it, I block my scent, suppress my cycles…” Owen knew… Owen knew and this little friendship between them was probably shattered until eternity. The raptor trainer had to hate him for what he was, all the others of Owen’s kind did. Jarek knew what he was, he was weak, he was disgusting, an outcast, he should never have gotten this far...

“Hey, cut that out. I just have a freakishly good nose, alright?” Owen sighed and made himself comfortable against Jarek’s side once again. “Now stop squirming, and stop worrying. One, I’m trying to catch some sleep, and two,” Owen leaned a little closer, whispering as he spoke his next words “I don’t fucking care that you’re an Omega.”

Jarek blinked at the smaller Alpha and stared at him for a moment or two. He was studying Owen’s face for any sign of dishonesty, any sign that the Alpha was gonna turn on him. But he found none. Owen was telling the truth as far as he could tell. “Really?”

“Really. Now lean back, a little. I’m trying to sleep you big log.” Owen yawned and made himself comfortable again, curling up against the Omega once more. This was gonna be a long flight, but at least he had Owen at his side. Just as he should be.

~*~ ~*~

It had been nearly one month since their arrival at Isla Sorna and so far, things were running smoothly. InGen had secured an area near the Southern docks and isolated it from the rest of the island. The Lagoon was their safe haven, base camp, the place they returned to every night after a day in the forest.

Jarek looked up from his book as laughter echoed through the camp. Owen and Barry had returned from their observation of the raptors and were having a good time by the look of it. Currently, the vet was sitting on a log right by the campfire. A chirp next to him made Jarek look down with a slight smile. “Who’s that? Who’s coming, Mishu?”

The little Compsognathus next to him chirped again and jumped around in excitement. She had been somewhat of an accident because they usually didn’t try to domesticate the dinosaurs on this island. Their studies wouldn’t be reliable or scientific, otherwise. Mishu was the only exception. Jarek had found her egg, lying abandoned on a small path near the lagoon. Her egg was still warm when he picked it up and he decided to hatch her after recognizing it was a Compsognathus egg. Jarek had been the first creature she ever saw, causing her to imprint on him. And the rest was history.

Mishu rumbled softly and stared up at Jarek, almost as if she was pleading at him to let her go over.

“Okay, okay. Go say hi.” Jarek laughed, grinning as he watched her run across the campsite, dodging and zigzagging her way across. The little Compy jumped in front of Owen and Barry and chirped loudly to gain their attention, much to the amusement of the two humans.

“Hey girl!” Owen bend down on one knee and scooped up the little Compy. The tiny dinosaur made herself comfortable by perching on his shoulder.

“Hello, Mishu.” Barry gently stroked the top of the Compy’s head and chuckled. “N'êtes-vous pas une douce petite fille?” The dark-skinned Cajun petted the Compy one last time before making his way over to Jarek. “She’s getting cheekier every day.”

“Only when it comes to you, my friend,” Jarek answered, smiling at Owen as the Alpha sat down beside him, before turning his attention on Barry once more. “She respects Owen and I.”

The Beta simply rolled his eyes and shook his head in amusement. “Really? Maybe she doesn’t want to upset mama and papa?”

“Oh, haha. Funny. I know Owen’s not as tall as me, but that’s no reason to call him mama.”

“Hey!” Owen elbowed in the ribs and faked an insulted look on his face, but Jarek could see the corners of his mouth curl up, the Alpha was fighting back a smile. “Be nice, or this mamma’s gonna spank both your asses.”

“Yes, dear.” Jarek dodged Owen’s hand and laughed at the Alpha’s pout. That was Owen alright, always up for a good laugh or prank. Usually at Jarek’s expense.

“Well, if it isn’t the little trio..”

Vic Hoskins was a pretty rounded man, particularly around the stomach, and at first glance, he seemed like a normal guy. Mid-forties, grey hair, a little beard and a general air around him that screamed Alpha. One conversation with him though, and you knew just what to expect from the military man. Hoskins was obsessed with the dinosaurs. Jarek couldn’t tell for what reasons, but he knew it wasn’t gonna be a good thing.

“Hoskins, what’s the occasion?” Owen instinctively leaned into him and laid his hand on Jarek’s thigh. Jarek knew what Owen was doing and he didn’t like it one bit. Owen was always saying he wasn’t weak, and yet the Alpha still pushed him to the background and defended him. It was kind of a contradiction, an unintentional one, but a contradiction nonetheless.

“I’ve got a proposition for you boys, one that’ll benefit us all.”

“Not interested.” Jarek glared at the older Alpha, staring up at him in defiance. Oh no, he didn’t like Vic Hoskins at all, but working with him was one of the job requirements. He hated it, but he had to take the bullshit Hoskins was badgering him with.

“Now, hear me out-”

“Sorry man, but the big guy has spoken.” Owen was picking his side again, which wasn’t surprising, considering that Vic had ticked Owen off more times then he could count. And it had only been one month since their arrival at the camp. That had to be a new record.

“Don’t forget who brought you here, Grady. You still work for me.”

“That doesn’t mean I gotta take shit from you, Hoskins. You’re not getting into his pants.”

“He is sitting right here and he can speak for himself, thank you.” Jarek stood up and faced Hoskins right on, he wouldn’t show his discomfort around the man, wouldn’t become weak. “And the answer is still no. Not interested.” He started to walk away from the scene when a thought occurred to him, and he turned to Barry and Owen once again. “You know where to find me.”

And with that, the Omega stalked off. Disappearing into the campsite that housed the tents and bungalows.

[scottishhellhound]

Okay so this was brought on by a conversation I had with @hyperactive-lectiophile about what might happen if Wally, being the genius chemist he is, the guy that recreated the exact conditions that gave Barry his abilities, decided to one day try and create something that would allow him to get drunk.

I'm not sure if this is what either of us originally had in mind, but this is how it went, Haha.

Pairing: Birdflash

Characters: Dick Grayson, Wally West, Roy Harper.

Wordcount: 3100+ ( I really hope the read more tag works! I'm sorry if it doesn't 😭)

Green eyes danced with excitement as Wally nodded to himself, looking over his notes for the formula one more time. Making sure all his ingredients were there and the measurements were correct. He didn't want to risk messing this up. One, the result of slowing down his metabolism enough for his experiment to work could be....well bad would be putting it mildly. And two, he really didn't want to have to try and explain to his friends and family his reasoning for wanting to try this. He was in college, it was just part of the experience, so why not?

Formula and ingredients confirmed, he set his list aside and reaching up with the other hand lowered his goggles over his eyes, an excited grin rapidly spreading across his face.

"This is going to be awesome!"

Several hours later

Dick chuckled, from his position upside down on the sofa, as Roy 'boo'd' at the screen, throwing a handful of popcorn alongside Garfield and Victor. They'd made it a challenge to throw popcorn at the screen everytime the villain was referred to as a monster, once it was said more than 6 times in the first 10 minutes. They were on their third bowl of popcorn already, and they were only halfway through.

He started when he felt his phone buzzing in his pocket, and reached for it. "Hey guys, pause this for a sec, will ya. Incoming phone call."

He waited a moment while Gar scrambled for the remote, quietly laughing when he answered, "Hello?"

"Hi, I'm sorry to be calling so late, but, is this Dick Grayson?"

Dick's eyes narrowed in suspicion, and he used his free hand to balance his weight as he kicked his legs and up into a one handed stand, before dropping his legs back to the floor and standing. "Not a problem man, and yup, that's me. Can I ask how you got this number though? It's not exactly advertised."

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Victor already running a trace on the call.

"I have a rather drunk young man who dialed it for me, before he vanished back onto the dance floor."

Dick frowned. That didn't help.

"Drunk young man? Did they give you a name? What's he look like?"

If it wasn't for the fact that he was currently 4 months sober and sitting on the couch five feet from him, Dick would have immediately guessed Roy. But seeing his second best friend looking at him curiously from his cushion, that was ruled out.

His second thought was Jay. He knew his younger brother had a fake ID, a rebellious streak, and looked older than his 15 years. And thanks to a steady influx of good nutrition for 3 years, growth spurts and puberty had finally hit Jason. A fact that the second Robin was immensely pleased about.

Luckily Roy was on his same thought train and had his phone out, texting quickly, deft fingers flying over the screen.

"Not Jaybird. He's currently in Gotham chasing Penguin with DaddyBats."

Dick gave a silent thumbs up, mouthing back, 'Never call him that again,' and turned his attention back to the phone as the man on the other end started to speak. "No name, but he's tall, red hair, green eyes, and has more freckles than skin."

"That's Wal... wait, Wally's drunk!" Disbelief and fear sunk into the pit of everyone's stomachs at that exclamation.

"As a skunk." The bartender sighed over the line, frustration and empathy clear in his next words. "Look I don't care if you think I'm wrong, or pranking, or whatever, but you need to come collect your friend before I call the cops."

"Don't." Was Dick's panicked reply. He was already leaping over the back of the couch, Roy right behind him, as Garfield and Victor headed for the monitor room, to try and see if they could retrace their friends steps. See who had gotten to him. "I'm on my way. Where's your bar located?"

[[MORE]]

Dick and Roy pull up outside a small bar in New Yorks west end about 30 minutes later. Both jumped out of the car hurrying towards the entrance, hoping their friend was still contained within. They did not want to figure out the logistics behind how they were going to catch and then contain a drunk speedster if he'd managed to escape.

A bouncer met them at the door, holding a hand up to halt the line that was waiting, and waved the pair through.

"They gots him holed up in one of the back rooms. I'll show ya where."

"Thank you!" Dick didn't bother to hide how relieved he was over that, as he and Roy ducked under the burly man's arm and into the bar.

"He hasn't caused any trouble has he?" Roy asked, raising his voice to be heard over the heavy bass and loud chatter that always seemed to fill up places like this. He kept his hands stuffed into the pockets of his leather jacket, left hand spinning and twirling the sobriety chip he kept there.

"Nah, a little handsy, but more...friendly than trying for somethin' if you get my meanin'."

Dick nodded, a fond smile wiping away his worry for a moment. "Yeah, Walls always been a bit clingy."

As they followed the doorman through the bar, Dick nudged Roy's shoulder, raising a dark brow in a silent question.

Roy grinned back, giving a thumbs up, and pulling his chip out of his pocket briefly before replacing it.

Dick smiled back and threw an arm around his friends shoulder, giving him a quick, but heartfelt hug, before dropping his arm back to his side.

He appreciated Roy coming with him, knowing how hard this had to be for him. Especially after everything he'd been through to get to where he was now.

Roy nodded before tapping the shoulder of the bouncer gaining his attention. "So did anyone see anybody slip him something? Was he talkin' to anyone? Get in any fights?"

The man shook his head as he led then through a side door, opening into a well lit, empty hallway. "Not that anyone seen or mentioned. Boss asked around, just in case, ya know? Guy just came in, alone, sat his skinny ass at the bar, and started drinkin'." He let the door fall shut behind them, and the cacophony from the bar floor was cut in half, allowing them to speak without yelling. "Checked his tab, guys had 4 beer and about 5 shots of whiskey. I'm surprised he ain't passed out yet."

"Wally's always been a bit of a heavyweight when it comes to drinking." Dick lied easily as his mind tried to make sense of everything.

Wally's metabolism didn't allow for him to get drunk.

They tried one night after a bad mission.

Dick had had the worst hangover in his life to that point, Roy hadn't woken up until the following evening, and Wally acted as if he hadn't polished off a bottle of vodka on his own.

He ran a hand through his hair, tugging at the strands in frustration. He'd just have to ask Wally what'd happened. Once they got him somewhere safe to sober up.

"I'll say. Haven't seen anyone put the drink away like that in a long time. Anyway second door on the left." He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder, indicating which door to go through. "We left one of our girls in there with him, make sure he stayed put. Send her back out will you"

"Will do."

"Good. You can take him out the back door there. The boss said you squared up with him already."

"Yeah, sent him cash on the drive over. Thanks again for not calling the cops."

"Guy was harmless enough. If alla our drunks were like him, they wouldn't need us, so we don't mind bein' nice nows and again. "

He waved as he walked back out into the bar, the sound echoing down the empty hall before cutting off again once the door closed.

Roy clapped him on the shoulder once before making his way towards the aforementioned door. "Well let's go get your speedster and get the hell outta here."

"Right."

The sight that greeted Dick and Roy had the red head chuckling, hiding a laugh behind his hand. The poor waitress looked bored out of her mind, as Wally waxed poetic about something, hand motions and open expressions being thrown everywhere.

The waitress looked up as they entered, eyes zeroing in on Dick as he stepped in behind Roy.

"Well hey there, sugar," she turned back to Wally tapping his knee and pointing over his shoulder. "Here's your big chance. Nothing like some liquid courage to help love along right?"

Both men gave her a confused look, but didn't get a chance to question her, because at that exact moment, Wally looked over his shoulder and spotted them.

"Roy! Dickie!"

"Hey there Wall-oof!" Dick grunted as he suddenly had an armful of a very happily drunk redhead, face buried into his neck, giggles being muffled into his shoulder. He looked over at Roy, only to scowl when he found the other man with his phone out, recording everything.

"Thanks Harper, super helpful." He pat's Wally's head, sighing as the man continues to giggle into his neck.

"Anytime Dickie, happy to help."

The scraping of chair legs across cement brings their attention back to the waitress as she stands, smoothing her skirt down her legs. "Well you boys seem to have him well in hand." She walked over to where the three stood in the door way, hips swaying gently as she approached the door. She twisted between them and as she passed gave Dick a small smile and a giggled, "Good luck," before slipping out the door.

"What was that about?"

Roy shrugged, turning his phone back to Dick, grinning as the younger man scowled at him. "Who knows. Come on wonder-boy, let's get him outta here."

"Fine." Dick sighed before he poked Wally's forehead, trying to get the taller man to raise his head. "Hey Walls, come on man. Let's get you home okay. "

He felt Wally nod agaisnt his shoulder before he stiffened and stood straight, looking down at Dick like he just remembered he was there.

"Dick?"

"Yeah...Wally you okay, man?"

The taller man nodded, head bobbing wildly, like a bobble head in the middle of a high speed chase.

"Uh-huh, but...Dick, Dickie, I gotta tell you something real quick!"

"Okay, but can it wait until we get you outside? You're drunk and that shouldn't be possible."

He ignored Roy's snickering next to him as Wally seemed to become even more nervous and agitated. "Nope, it's important!"

"Okay, okay Wally. What is it?"

Wally took a deep breath and squeezed his eyes shut, as if waiting for a punch to the face. "I...I have a really big crush on you!"

Roy slapped a hand over his mouth, shoulders twitching and the hand holding his phone shaking, as he tried to contain his laughter.

Dick could feel his own lips start to twitch as he stared at Wally. He gripped the red heads shoulder, shaking him lightly. He waited until Wally cracked one eye open to look at him before saying, "Walls, we're dating."

"We are!!?!"

"Yes, we have been for the last two years."

"Oh... that's good then."

Wally seemed a little lost after that, unsure of what to do or say, now that his proclamation wasn't as climactic as he'd apparently been hoping for.

Dick reached up and ran a hand through Wally's hair, getting his attention. "Wally. Do you remember how you got here?"

Wally tilted his head, partially because he seemed confused, but he was also chasing the feeling of Dick's fingers in his hair. "Mmm, walked."

Dick smiled at the slightly dopey look on his face. "That's good, do you remember if anyone gave you anything on the way here, or before?"

"No one gave m'anythin'. Oh well the guy at the bar gave me my drinks...is that what you meant?"

"No, baby, you're drunk." Dick smiled a bit through his worry at the way Wally's face was crinkled up in thought. Trying to put his usually sharp mind into some kind of order. "You can't get drunk, remember, so we're trying to see if someone-"

"I can get drunk! Or I can now."

"What?" His question was echoed by Roy, who was for some reason still recording this who debacle.

And Wally grinned, clearly proud of himself. " I made a form...formu... I made something to help me get drunk!"

Roy was back to laughing and Dick could feel a tightness forming between his eyes.

"That's, that's great, Wally. Why don't you tell us all about it in the car on the way home, okay?"

"Okay!"

Roy held the door open as Dick, with a hand at the small of Wally's back guided him through it, keeping a hand raised ready to catch him if he tripped.

Which he did.

Several times as the alcohol was finally making itself fully known, affecting the speedsters ability to walk upright.

Dick sighed as he caught Wally's arm, keeping him from tripping into the alley wall as the exited outv the back of the bar.

He tossed an annoyed look at Roy, as he pulled Wally's arm over his shoulder, sinking a bit as Wally rested most of his weight on him. "You gonna help, Harper? Or just play Scorsese for the rest of the night?"

Roy just grinned as he zoomed in on the cross look on his friend's face, ignoring the excellent impression of bat glare he was recieving. It's affect lessened by the fact that Wally was now poking at Dick's cheek, giggling softly to himself.

"You seem to have everything under control. Besides," he turned his phone to focus on Wally now, taking in the flush on his cheeks and the haze in normally bright green eyes. "You know he'd be upset if this wasn't recorded so he could study it later."

Dick was silent as he finally got both of Wally's feet moving in the same direction, and led him towards the car. He groaned and let his head drop. "Dammit, you're right."

"I'm always right, Grayson. When are you just gonna give in and accept it?"

"When pigs fly...or if Raven ever says yes to go on a date with Garfield."

"Ouch. Words hurt, ya know." But Roy's smiling when he finally turns off the phone and steps up to Wally's free side taking his other arm.

Dick laughs and tugs Wally's arm further over his shoulder, sighing a bit as Roy takes some of his taller boyfriends weight. "Zip it and help me get him in the car."

Roy laughed at the scene playing out in the back seat, from his position behind the wheel. His phone propped up on the dash, recording once again. It was partially because he knew Wally would want the data, but also in part because he knew they'd never get to see Wally like this again, and it was adorable. He wished he'd been recording when they'd reached the car. It had taken Dick crawling in first and dragging the drunk redhead in after him, but they had finally gotten him into the vehicle

Once in the car, face tucked back into Dick's shoulder, Wally had seemed to slip into a semi-conscious state and alternated between nodding off and talking their ears off about formulas, melted beakers, and burnt tables.

"Although, that was technically because of a leaking hose, and not because I'd miscalculated."

"That's good, sweetheart." Dick just nodded along as Wally muttered into his shirt, fingers still carding through red hair as he listened.

Wally had just taken a breath to start in on something else when he went absolutely still.

"Wally what's wrong?"

"Oh God..."

"Wal? You gonna be sick?"

"We're dating?"

Roy watched the look of confused hurt flash across Dick's face in the rearview mirror, and started reaching for the phone.

"Yes? Wally, what-"

"I'm dating Batman's kid!" Wally's voice went up several octaves. "Batman is gonna kill me!"

Roy had to pull over he was laughing so hard, and he could hear Dick groaning a laugh as Wally continued to panic.

"Wally, babe, B isn't going to kill you."

"You don't know that!" He was sitting up, straddling Dick's waist, staring down at him in horror.

"Two years, Wally." Dick sat up and cradled Wally's face in his hands, kissing his forehead. "Don't you think, if he was going to kill you, he'd of done it by now?"

"That's just what he wants you to think! He's...he's a master of disintegration!"

Dick blinked up at him in confusion for a moment, "You mean deception?"

Wally nodded, "Yes, that! He's lulling me into a false sense of security!"

Roy managed to get his laughter under control enough to gasp out. "Bats don't kill."

Instead of easing Wally's fears that seemed to make it worse.

"You're right... he'll do something worse!"

Roy couldn't breathe he was laughing so hard, and he could hear Dick echoing him in the back seat, their combined laughter not quite drowning out Wally's ramblings as he came up with wilder and wilder things that Batman was going to do to him for dating his son.

Dick's laughter slowly faded as he saw how worked up and upset Wally was becoming. So he sat up fully and grabbed the back of his panicking boyfriend's neck, and pulled him into a brief kiss.

It worked and Wally's ramblings faded off.

"Dick?" Wally rested his forehead against Dick's when they finally pulled apart.

"Wally West, I love you with every fiber of my soul and I can promise you two things. "

Wally stared at him in awe, nodding his head.

"One, Bruce is not going to kill you, break your legs, sell you to Luthor for experimentation, or anything else. And two," he paused here for a moment, shifting his hand from his neck, to the side of his face, making sure Wally was looking right at him. "You are never, ever, ever drinking again. Got it?"

Wally nodded enthusiastically, head bobbing. "Got it!"

[trashpandaorigins]

The Body Keeps the Score  Ch. 16 Bonds of Blood and Steel

"You said it yourself bitch, we're the Guardians of the Galaxy." Gamora is finally a part of something. But the past always follows you, eats at you and she must come to grips with her deeds as she tries to build a future. Meanwhile Rocket has never cared much for anyone or anything. Together the two of them discover they are more alike than different and try to heal themselves by befriending the other.

*Content Warnings: Mentions of child/animal abuse, trauma, character death, physical torture/pain*

Title of this fic is taken from the book of the same title "The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma," by Bessel van der Kolk

Don't you understand, what I'm trying to say?

And can't you feel the fears I'm feeling today?

If the button is pushed, there's no running away,

There'll be no one to save with the world in a grave,

Take a look around you, boy, it's bound to scare you, boy,

And you tell me over and over and over again my friend,

Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.

Eve of Destruction - Barry McGuire

Rocket sped toward the third sector of the Keystone quadrant with reckless abandon. He made sure there was enough fuel for the long haul, and was of course armed to the teeth. He concentrated on tracking Nebula’s pod and piloting the pod around the thousands of keystones that the quadrant was named after. Harmless pieces of rock floating in space but depending on the size it could really mess up your ship if you hit one. He concentrated on anything, anything but Groot. Anything but Gamora, anything but the Nova Corps or the weapons he’d left behind that Drax had no doubt gotten into by now.

Damn guy can never keep his hands to himself.

The raccoonoid guided the pod around another set of keystones, glancing at the screen for any detection of Nebula’s pod. He counted the rounds of ammunition he’d packed if only for a distraction.

Groot’ll be fine. Quill can barely take care of his ship but he knows better with an actual living creature right? Well at least Drax was a parent at some point he’ll now Groot needs feeding and attention...won’t he?

He sniffed, whiskers twitching, on the small rectangular screen before him he could just make out the marker for the third sector and beyond that the blinking dot of the other stolen pod.

Damn escape pods don’t have any guns on em’.  He hadn’t taken that into consideration in his inebriated plan. Rocket glanced down at the weapons around him, tucked in and around the seat. The only advantage was that Nebula didn’t get the chance to pack.

“Beep, beep, beep, Pod 2 identified, thirty lengths away.”  Rocket reached down, grabbing for Quill’s elemental blaster at his hip, the weight of it heavy. He scanned the endless sky stretching out in all directions, a void of black set against the drifting stones. His fur pricked with anxiety, the Keystone Quadrant was large, but not that large and if what Gamora said was true...there were Halfworlder’s out there right now, looking for him.

But she didn’t give me up to them . Probably because she’s a good person, despite everything that purple asshole did to her. How she’d managed to come out of her torture a better person, he’d never know but he envied it. Oh no, he was much more like Nebula. Hopefully that would work to his advantage.

As if on cue the orange escape pod stood out contrast to the rest of the galaxy before him. He flicked on the communications,

“Nebula, this is Rocket. Land on the nearest Keystone, we gotta talk.”

He held his breath, watching her pod slowly come into focus; though he kept enough space between them and several stones, just in case.

“Nebula! Land on the nearest Keystone! I want to make a deal!”

Her pod swung away, ducking underneath a large stone.

“Shit!”

Rocket punched the accelerator taking off after her. Whipping around a stone and launching over another, the orange light of Nebula’s engines streaked across the pebbled sky. He turned to the starboard side, narrowly missing another stone in pursuit of Nebula.

“Why don’t these things go any faster?!”

He cursed, surging forward. The engines shook sputtering. He turned straining to see the fiery tail of Nebula’s pod. The raccoonoid growled in frustration as his own ship sputtered after her.

Closer….closer...I got yah, I….fuck!

His escape pod shook, the sound of metal against rock crunched and scrapped. He grabbed for the controls, trying to push it forward but the keystone he’d grazed now stuck to the bottom of the pod.

Rocket looked upward, noticing the last bit of bright light from Nebula’s pod fade into the dark. He grabbed for the emergency space suit nestled under the seat and wiggled it on, at least five sizes too large.

“Stars damn it,” the raccoonoid opened the hatch, bracing for the cold. He shifted the  hadron enforcer in one paw, taking aim, leaning out over the pod precariously, took aim and fired.

The pod lurched forward, sending his stomach into a sickening torpor. He slammed the lid down over himself and fixated on the map once more. He tracked her down easily enough and leapt over a large stone, wincing at the way the pod rattled.

It ain’t gonna be space-worthy for long.

He pushed it forward, with a satisfied laugh as Nebula’s ship came back into view.

“Not going so fast now are yah?”

He grinned, steering his own ship higher and ahead, over a large keystone. Nebula’s craft gilded under and he took his chance. Diving down just in front of Nebula’s pod. The stutter of her engines blasted as she struggled to pull up in time. Rocket glared at her from his pod, her own suspicious eyes met his. She bared her teeth, making to steer to the leeward side but the raccoonoid intercepted, knocking his ship against hers with a hot clang of metal and fuel

“Nebula! I just want to talk!”

“Shut up fox, I know you’re with Gamora,” her voice seethed through the poor speaker system. This time she sent the pod flying upward. Rocket tensed, pursuing her. He angled the pod directly under her own and sent the struggling engines to propel upward, the glass of the dome creaked and groaned as he slammed into the bottom of her ship. Pushing it up and up.

Keystone to the right, Rocket noticed out of his peripheral. He tried to steer her pod towards it, as she struggled to break free. The raccoonoid held his breath, bracing himself for the impact as he pulled the throttle down all the way, sending his ship into full speed.

I’m sorry Groot….Quill better keep his promise...I’m sorry Gams. For everything.

He shoved Nebula’s ship into the large stone, metal and fire and fuel colliding with the hard rock. Everything rattled, a muffled scream in the distance he was pretty sure was Nebula.

They hurled into the surface of the stone. Everything shaking, Rocket swallowed the sickness in his stomach, trying to keep his head straight as everything spun. The heat from their engines revved, tumbling and intensifying.

What the hell were you thinking?! Quill could come up with a better plan than this!

Rocket’s cybernetic implants burned with the building heat. The metal conducted heat as swiftly as they launched into the rock. The impact stung, rolling and jostling. The raccoonoid cursed, eyes roving. He curled his paws around the steering throttle trying to control the crash. Nebula’s ship tore away from his with a deafening shriek of metal. The velocity gradually slowed, and the raccoonoid swallowed down his vomit, head in a daze.

When the pod eventually came to a screeching halt he hardly knew it.

“N...nebula?”

He coughed, wiggling his limbs, trying to breath through the pain of his aching back and searing chest. The cybernetics are still hot to the touch, threatening to melt his flesh. He fumbled for Quill’s blaster and a pistol and heaved himself out of the pod via the shattered glass dome. Wincing with the scraps of sharp glass embedding into his fur Rocket fell lamely out of the ship with a thud. Pulling on the hood of the space suit he still worse, he looked around in a fog.

Nebula’s pod was strewn several lengths away, he leveled the blaster in his shaking paws and fired a blast of ice at the dome of the pod where the woman was struggling to open it.

Oh yeah, I see why Quill likes this so much!

“Where is she?!” Nebula growled, Rocket fired again. This time the icy blast shattered the glass. The cyborg woman shielded herself only to lash out and aim to fire back at Rocket with some concealed gun apparatus in her cybernetic arm. The raccoonoid ducked out of the way.

“She ain’t with me! I came alone! Will yah’ just put the dast arm away!”

He waited, watching her climb out of the escape pod, cursing and stumbling out onto the barren rocky wasteland.

How the hell is she still alive?

He wondered upon watching her stalk towards him without any space suit or protection whatsoever. Rocket bit his tongue but slowly lowered the blaster to the ground and raised his arms up.

“I didn’t come here to fight yah.”

Nebula grimaced but lowered her arm to her side, standing stiff and glowering down at him. A Flarken ready to attack.

“Gamora’s not with you?” She demanded hotly.

“If Gamora was with me we wouldn’t be havin’ this conversation now would we?”

The cyborg woman looked around the barren keystone suspiciously, finally looking down at him once more.

Wish there was some sort of rock or somethin’ to stand on, he thought with a pinch of anxiety. It was better, to at least be eye level with the person you were negotiating with. Plus she’d have the advantage of a higher vantage point if she did choose to attack. The small pistol concealed in the space suit did little to reassure him.

“You said you were here to make a deal?”

“Well….you hate Thanos don’t yah? Even more than your sister.”

Nebula’s mouth twitched, face as hard as steel.

“I know you want to kill him and I don’t blame yah. Hell, I’d help you do it. But what if I I told yah I could give you somethin’ better?” He asked, with practiced cunning. He watched her face shift subtly into curiosity.  

There yah go, you got her. Just like Contraxia and Vartor and Pleeta.

Just like every other bargain or blackmarket job he’d taken. Every con, every bet. With that, he continued with easy confidence. He put his arms down, speaking with an old bravado.

“Why kill the big guy when you can undo what he did to you? Kill him, you’re still the same old metal hunk of junk, even after he’s gone. Undo what he did to you, that’s real revenge and you can always kill him after that too.”

He watched her momentarily glance at her metal arm. That agony, that self-loathing, the alienation and disgust at your own body. All familiar.

“What if I told yah...I could undo it all. Everything he did to yah.”

She exhaled a shaking breath. Rocket smiled to himself.

“I can meld over that metal, give you a flesh lookin’ arm. Probably remove that thing all together and attach a real flesh and blood one if you wanted. I could take that piece in your head, make it so it matches your actual skin.” 

Could fix the internal stuff too...It would be risky and take longer but it could be done. But I could leave her mods so she could still fight... his imagination ran wild with the possibilities.

Nebula listened intently, her jaw loosening. She opened her mouth to speak but Rocket was on fire now.

“And that’s just the outside stuff, all those procedures I could make it so you’d no longer remember them.”

The ecstasy of ideas and excitement was suddenly pulled out of him and he swallowed the lump in his throat, looking down at his own augmented legs.

“Make it so you don’t wake up screamin’ no more. It’d be like he never tortured you.”

No wind, no air in the galaxy made for quite the awkward silence between them.

“What’s the catch?” She finally whispered after a time. Rocket’s ears pricked upward, “I said what’s the catch? What do you want out of this rodent?”

Rocket sniffed, tail twitching, then took a deep breath.

“You gotta promise me you’ll give up this murderous revenge spree with Gamora.”

Nebula eyed him incredulously, but didn’t move to shoot him. Rocket continued quickly before she changed her mind.

“She was a kid Nebula. She was doin’ what she had to survive. She didn’t think about what Thanos was doing to yah not cuz she didn’t see it or cuz she didn’t care...it was cuz it would’ve gotten in the way of her own survival.”

He stopped waiting for Nebula to attack him. But she only blinked, frowning. Out here on this isolated rock spinning through the galaxy it felt like they were the only two people in the universe.

“It’s instinct,” he whispered, voice low. “You would’ve done the same.” He paused, breathing heavy with effort. He didn’t dare meet her eyes.

“When I escaped the lab, I blew up buildings, killed whoever was in my way. S….shot at anything that moved. I….I didn’t think about freeing anyone else and I didn’t feel guilty when the o...others got experimented on.” Though he could still hear them, their pathetic cries, whimpering, shrieking, mewling.  

Blackjack...Lylla...all of them in there.

“I...I didn’t feel guilty….cuz it meant they weren't experimenting on me But Gamora does feel guilty an’ she’s a better person because of it.”

Nebula pressed her lips into a fine line. Rocket sighed, more exhausted now than angry.

“She’s tryin’ to make it right. I’m askin that you ever meet her again...that y...you give her that chance. An you know, don’t kill her.”

The cyborg woman glared at him. Black eyes full of intentions Rocket could not discern. The only thing the scientists did not condition into him were emotions. He watched her weigh the options. Standing stiff and staring at the cold grey rock surface between them. Rocket held his breath. He could almost feel the keystone orbiting though the sky. Nebula breathed slowly, he watched her precariously.

“....You better make it worth it, fox,” she growled with conviction.

Light relief flooded through him.

“I will.”

He reached slowly for Quill’s blaster and hooked it into the buckle at his hip, striding past Nebula to her pod.

“Where are we going?” She demanded, following him.

“You think I got a whole med facility hiding under this desolate rock?” He jumped into the pod, fiddling with the controls to distract himself. Nebula climbed in next to him.

“Then where are we going? “

Rocket’s muscles tightened, his stomach churning. He shook his head, running a paw over his eyes, hoping she could not detect the terror in his voice. He tapped in the codes with trembling fingers

“.......the worst place in the galaxy pal.”

Out of the corner of his eye Nebula bared her teeth,

“I’m not your pal.”

“Yeah,” Rocket punched the ignition, bracing as the pod took off. “I’m not my pal either.”

[drinkfantasy]

Anne With an e E Season Finale comments (with spoilers )

First of all

THE EPISODE SELECTION SCENE ON CBC WEBSITE. WTF. I SCREAMED. THEY MIGHT'VE HEARD ME FROM JAPAN. (im not sure but I suppose it’s called thumbnail)

moving on....

• Oh poor Winnie.. she never stood a chance, I knew.. (there was a time when I wanted to make her disappear not gonna lie) but feelings bro.. nobody deserves to have their feelings messed up with like that..

• Unrequited MY AASSSSSSSSSS

• but they way he shrinks away from her when she says it..

• The looks. The thoughts. I can perfectly hear theirs 'he read the note, He doesn't love me' ' I told her, she doesn't love me.'

YOU IDIOOOOOOTS

• "Is there anything else you want to say... to me? "

• ..... "Congratulations"..... kill me

• Oh Diana "it's not your future it's ours" may a commit murderer pls? It would be quick and clean just two people Mr and Mrs Barry, thanks. LET THE GIRL LIVE

I have to keep reminding myself that this is a period drama show and things were different even though my rage against misogyny, racism and all those preconceptions are very much up to date

• "You had one job" I'm gonna make a meme out of that scene. You wait

• Ouch, I felt replaced, and I'm not anne. "SO.. you're getting a boy after all" that messes up with my childhood trauma of abandonment. I am taking that very personal now.

• I'm happy to see Mrs. Lacroix getting along with Bash.. he deserves peace..

• NOOOOO you have to give the pen back to her PERSONALLY gilbert for fuck sake dont screw up my moment I'VE BEEN WAITNG FOR THIIIISS

• ANOTHER FUCKING NOTE??????? ARE FUCKING KIDDING MEEEEEEEEEEE

• oh my

• "You are the fond object of my affection and my desire. You and you alone, are the keeper of the key to my heart"

• At least he was smarter and didnt leave it on the kitchen table. Thank you Gilbert, I wouldn't be able to go through THAT again.

• What the hell with this "practical decisio' Matthew??????????????????

• ANNEEEE NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO J FUKCJNG KNEW SKMEJTJNG WOULD HAPPEN WITH THE BLOODY NOTE !!!!!!!!

• 'I can't fly. I don't matter. I can't fly" oh Diana... T.T

• Awwnn Marilla trying to cheer Anne up it fills my heart with warm. Really

• I really thought the way Bash dashed out like that he would punched Elijah in the face right there and then

• " those of us who can soar to the highest heights can also plunge to the deepest depths. -" it's a balance " - "it's the beauty of it" (*my vision gets blurry* ... I might I have to change my prescriptions sniff sniffs)

• Oh Matthew (hugs him through the screen)

• Anne in those grown up clothes and with her hair up. (*-*)

• Omg the board house

• Just when you thought the representation in this show couldn't get any better.. BITCH YOU THOUGHT

• Those girls.. hahaushuahahsuahshahhaaoajsiishahahabs

• Ok.. they are really good people cuz I'd never trust Elijah again. like evah

• Dellie being the most beautiful baby ever but what's new under the sun?

Almost half an hour through the episode and I'm starting to think that the episode selection scene was a trick. A very mean trick. I'm about to get the wig down from the shelf yall...

• OH Anne who do you think you fooling

• Cole being an amazing friend <3

• "This is for you. This is the money from Pride... the cow. It's a travel fund" oh Matthew "I was afraid to show you my feelings because I didnt want to hold you back but doing so I know I hurt yours, I'm sorry. I'll miss you every day, I love you so" I'm noT CRYING YOU ARE

• Omg that old woman... I'm sorry but I'm laughing

• DIANA'S FAAAAAACEEEEEEEEE YAAALLL TAKING TO GILBERT!!!!

• You tell him DianA YOU TELL HIMMM

• OMG

• "WHAT LETTER?" AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH

• OMGFUCKINGGOOOOOOOODDDDDD

• RUN GILBERT RUN

• OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOOMGMGOMG

• ok

• They look at each other longingly

• One more fucking time

• And

• KIISSSSSSSSSSSSS. THEY FINALLY FUCKING KIIISSSSSSSSSSS YALLLLLLLL

• IM SCREAMING

• WE ARE NOT CLOWNS ANYMORE *burns the wig while doing a ridiculous happy dance*

• "I just had to check. I have a very good imagination so you know" ME TOO ANNE ME TOO I ACTUALLY SLAPPED MYSELF IN THE FACE CUZ OOOH

• "You just got here" yeah, Gilbert,  you don’t just kiss a girl that you've been waiting to kiss for fucking years to just walk away like that!!!!!!!!!

• That hand kiss *uwu*

• "Penpals?"

• DIANA???????????? OMG. What is Diana doing there!!?!?!??!?!?!

• "Can I still be your roommate?" WHAAATTTT SHES GOING TO QUEENS WHAT CHANGED HER PARENTS MIND WHAT MIRACLES HAVE BEEING IN OPERATIONS OMG THIS IS SO FUCKING GOOD IM NOT USED TO SO MANY GOOD THINGS LIKE THIS AT ONCE. I'm scared now.

• *Gilbert goes into the carriage*

*looks at anne* *goes off of the carriage* *kisses anne*

• Oh the Cuthberts being adorable

• "You gave me my wish, my birthday wish, my lifetime wish" oohh I'm so bloody happy that Anne got to know more about her biological parents. She deserved that much.

• "Dear Gilbert... I look like my mother"

My heart burst into happy flames

[brittle-bone-gabe]

The Forgotten: Chapter Two: Missed Connections

Chapter One, Chapter Three, Chapter Four, Chapter Five, Chapter Six,  Chapter Seven, Chapter Eight, Chapter Nine, Chapter Ten, Chapter Eleven, Chapter Twelve, Chapter Thirteen, Chapter Fourteen, Chapter Fifteen, Chapter Sixteen, Chapter Seventeen, Chapter Eighteen, Chapter Nineteen, Chapter Twenty, Epilogue

Summary: Barry Berkman couldn’t remember much of his childhood; he knew he used to live in Derry, Maine, but that was about it, besides being taken by his “Uncle Fuches” at age 16 to move to Cleveland, Ohio. Eddie Kaspbrak moved from Derry, Maine to LA, becoming a police officer, surprisingly enough. Normally things were quiet for the most part, besides the occasional drug busts, but it’s when someone named Barry Block enters his line of sight as a possible suspect for the recent string of murders he has to push the feeling of remembrance to investigate.     Pairing: Adult Reddie  (Richie x Eddie) Or, technically, Barry x Eddie Read on AO3: Here Word Count: 3495

Times like this made Barry kick himself for always parking his getaway car so far away from the scene he had created, but of course he couldn’t park it right in front, otherwise it would look suspicious or it’d be sabotaged. As he was walking down the street to get to the car he could hear police sirens in the distance, he took off his hoodie, wrapping it around his waist, his ski mask was already off by the time he exited the house. Barry watched as two police cruisers and an ambulance came speeding down the street towards the house, making sure that nobody was following him by the time he made it to his car. He sat in the old, beat up crappy car for a few minutes, trying to get his breathing under control so he could drive properly. Barry had no idea why he was trembling, he had no idea why his thoughts kept going back to that night when Janice found out who he was at Gene’s cabin, he had no idea why he didn’t just kill that cop, Officer Kaspbrak, and he had no fuckin’ idea why he looked so familar to Barry. 

Letting out a sigh, Barry finally started the car, making sure there weren’t any more service cars on their way before he made an illegal U-turn to get the hell out of the neighborhood. He pulled out to the main road, the traffic was already getting under his skin as he was trying to make his way back to the hotel that he and Fuches shared. Barry couldn’t help but constantly check all of his mirrors, making sure that nobody was following him there. That’s the last thing he needed right now. All Barry wanted was to get back to the hotel room, get all the blood off from his face, lay in bed and do nothing for the rest of the day. 

Barry was pulling and picking at the skin at his hands that were on the steering wheel, he was staring face forward out the windshield. It was a new habit he picked up on as normally when he was frustrated or angry he would smack himself in the face, punch something, anything to release his anger. Something to just calm himself when he couldn’t do those things, such as driving or in the middle of a conversation, he would pull his skin until he bled. Barry didn’t even realize he was doing that until Fuches asked him about it one day, so the habit just stuck around, and Barry didn’t have any reason to kick it.

“Should’ve killed him…” Barry mumbled, digging his finger nails deeper into his skin, pulling hard. He shook his head at what he just said. “No, no… you did good. You did good…” he continued, “you will never kill another fuckin’ cop.” 

He turned into the hotels parking lot, parking in his usual spot. Before getting out, Barry made sure that there were no suspicious cars sitting there waiting for him. There wasn’t a reason to be paranoid, the whole trip back he knew that nobody was following him, but since there was a cop involved with this mess he had to be 100% sure. Swallowing hard, Barry forced himself to get out of the car, locking it behind him as he made his way inside. 

Surprisingly, the whole way back up to his hotel room Barry had a blank mind. He couldn’t think of anything, he was blocking out all his emotions, he didn’t want to think. For some reason if he did his mind would keep hopping back over to Officer Kaspbrak; he knew that he only shot him in the foot, but now he was worried that he would end up losing it. Yeah, it wasn’t the same thing as dying, but it still made him worried. This is why Barry needed to keep his emotions off. He couldn’t keep thinking about stuff like this anymore. 

Letting out a sigh, Barry stood in front of his room door, pulling out his wallet so he could take out the keycard to get in. Yeah, he was ready to put that mess behind him. 

The moment he walked in he could see Fuches laying on the fold out couch mattress that was supposed to be Barry’s, his feet kicked up as he was playing Xbox on the large TV. Barry stood there for a moment, waiting to see if Fuches would even notice him there. As soon as he did, Barry was going to make sure that he knew this would be the last and final job he’d be doing for him. 

“Starting now…” Barry mumbled to himself, turning around to go take a shower to get the blood off of his face. 

“Did ya say somethin’?” Fuches called, his eyes still glued to the TV, not even noticing that Barry had left the room.

Barry turned the water all the way over to the hot side, he wanted the water to burn his skin. He was feeling guilty, almost as guilty as he felt for killing Janice. He wanted to burn the guilt away, burn the emotions away, he just wanted to disappear from all this. Scrubbing his face until it was raw, Barry wanted to make sure that there weren’t any traces of blood left. He stood with his back to the shower head, it felt like his skin was melting away, exposing only bones when he started to become numb.  

Turning back around, Barry threw his fist against the tile wall multiple times to get some of his anger out. Fuches had always drilled into him mind that he shouldn’t leave any witnesses. Well, he fucked that up today. It wasn’t like Officer Kaspbrak could actually see his face, but he had his voice and what his build looks like, so he could pick him out of the crowd. Not like it’ll be as easy to pick him out like it would’ve been if the officer had his face, but Barry didn’t like having that slim chance. 

Barry opened his eyes as soon as the hot water ran out, now freezing cold water fell over him. He scrambled to turn off the water, stepping, wrapping himself up in a warm towel. After drying off, Barry put on more comfortable clothes; sweat pants, and a black v-neck t-shirt. He moved the towel from around his neck and began drying his hair, looking at himself in the large bathroom mirror as he did. The only thing he could see was a monster, an evil person, someone who doesn’t even deserve to live anymore. It took everything that Barry had to not punch his reflection that stood in the mirror; he hated how he looked, hated what he did with his life, hated that he will probably never change his evil nature. He closed his eyes for a quick moment, but when he opened them again he saw blood covering his entire face, causing Barry to panic, his reached up to touch his face. Pulling back, he didn’t see any blood on his fingertips, so he looked at the mirror again… nothing was there now. 

Shaking his head, Barry left the bathroom, flipping the light switch off as he made his way back into the living room. Fuches was still lying on Barry’s bed, playing the game, looking like he didn’t even move. Fuches was playing some kinda shooting game, surprisingly good at it; well, not that surprising, as he probably spent the majority of his time and day on the damn game. 

Barry stepped in front of the TV to get to the other side of the bed, Fuches, of course, making a huge deal about him getting in his way. He let out a sigh, plopping himself down next to him. He folded his arms over his chest, his legs crossed over each other as he watched the game on the TV in silence. Barry kinda wished that Fuches would go away so he could lay in silence, alone with his thoughts. That wasn’t going to happen. 

“C’mon…. C’mon…” Fuches kept saying under his breath as he was pressing the buttons harder on the controller, as if that was going to make him any better at the game. Barry looked at him and that poor controller that was getting absolutely fucking destroyed by all the abuse it went through. “Fuck!” He yelled, tossing the controller in the space between him and Barry when the big, red, bold GAME OVER message flashed on the screen. “Fuck this game!” He yelled again, flipping off the TV as if that was going to make any difference.   

“When are you going to admit that you fucking suck at this game?” Barry asked, moving so his arms were resting behind his head. 

“Ha. Ha, ha. Very funny,” Fuches said sarcastically, rolling his eyes. He grabbed the TV remote, turning it off. He looked over at Barry with a smile on his face. “Sooooo?” He said obnoxiously. 

Barry shrugged. “Sooo…?” He mimicked, not sure what he was going on about. 

“How’d it gooo?” 

Barry was silent for a moment, before rolling over on his spot on the bed, his back to Fuches. “Fine.” 

He really hoped that Fuches would take the hint and go away. That was that last job he was ever going to do for him, he told him so many times as a reminder, but would get the usual: “uhhuh.” Or: “We’ll see.” Which Barry absolutely hated. It was his last job, he swore it was. He was looking for places to move to, the cheapest places he could possibly find. Of course, he wouldn’t ever tell Fuches or even NoHo Hank for that matter. At least Hank could somewhat respect that Barry didn’t want this life anymore, but Barry also knew that he couldn’t keep his mouth shut and would eventually tell Fuches where he moved to. 

“‘Fine’? That’s it?” Fuches said, lightly shaking Barry’s back for encouragement to keep talking. “C’mon, what aren’t you telling me?” 

“Nothing… it was… normal.” 

“Normal?” Barry nodded. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” 

“I got the job done, isn’t that what matters?” 

“Listen, I know you’re not totally on the fence about this anymore, but, y’know, that guy was a monster.” 

Barry turned his head to look at Fuches. “Really?” He asked hopefully. 

“Yeah, he shorted on a drug deal,” Fuches scoffed, “a monster!” Barry narrowed his eyes, turning back over to his side. “Aw, c’mon, Barry. You did good!” He patted his shoulder. 

“That was my last job, Fuches,” Barry said firmly, making sure the man he considered an uncle remembered. 

“Yeah, yeah, yeah…” he said, waving a hand

“A… cop showed up before I could leave,” Barry started to explain, rolling back over on his back. He couldn’t help it, he needed to get this off his chest. Even if he had to confide in Fuches. 

Barry was shocked when he heard Fuches laugh. He didn’t understand what was so funny about what he said, but okay… 

“What? You kill another cop?” He joked. Barry didn’t say anything, he stared up at the ceiling, not saying anything. Fuches panicked, grabbing Barry’s shoulders, shaking him. “Did you kill another cop?!” He whispered in a frantic tone of voice. 

“No!” Barry snapped, pushing Fuches’ hands away. “I didn’t ki-” Barry paused, lowering his voice, “I didn’t kill another cop.” 

Fuches let out a sigh of relief, letting out a chuckle. “Oh, thank god! You scared the shit outta me, kid.” Barry didn’t say anything, so Fuches felt obligated to figure out what was wrong. “Talk to me, what happened?”

Barry sighed, rubbing the back of his head, his hand now damp from his hair. “It’s not that a cop showed up. I kinda expected that since the asshole made a lot of noise, but…” Barry trailed off, trying to decide how he should word this, if he should even talk about this at all, but whatever, he had already started, “but, I… it felt like I knew him from somewhere, y’know?”

“Did he see you?” Barry nodded. “How’d you get away?” 

“I didn’t want to hurt him, Fuches.” He looked at the older man who was giving him the look that he should continue. “I shot him in the foot. I couldn’t hurt him.” 

“For fucks sake, Barry!” 

“What?! That’s better than killing him, right?”

“Did he see your face?”

“No.” 

“Oh, thank god,” he said again, “well, y’know, he’s a cop, Barry. You’ve probably just seen him around before,” he reassured him, patting his shoulder before getting off of the mattress.

Barry didn’t have the heart to say that it wasn’t just because he was a cop. Mainly it was Officer Kaspbrak’s eyes; something about them was specifically reaching out to Barry. Like he knew those set of eyes before, like they were long lost friends trying to reconnect again. Or… maybe Fuches was right… maybe it was nothing, just someone he’s seen in passing before.

“I’m gonna get food, want anything?” Fuches asked, snapping Barry out of his thoughts. 

Barry shook his head, holding up a hand. “No, I’m good.”

“You did good today, Barry!” Fuches added once more before stepping outside the room, closing the door behind him. 

Well, then why didn’t it feel like it? 

That’s when Barry’s curiosity got the better of him. He grabbed his laptop that he had shoved underneath his fold out bed. The moment he opened it, he saw that he still had the scene was working on was still pulled up from the night before. Instantly he closed it,  heading over to Facebook, he had to know where he saw this officer before. He knew it wasn’t just some random coincidence meeting him if he “saw him randomly passing on the street” before.  

In the search bar at the top of the screen, Barry had clicked on it, watching the cursor blink over and over, waiting for input. Did he really want to look him up? Would he even be on Facebook? Shit, how did you even spell his last name? After trying over and over, it finally came back to Barry how to spell it. 

Kaspbrak. 

To no surprise at all, there weren’t many people on Facebook with the last name of Kaspbrak. In fact, Barry was pretty sure that he found the officer at the top of the People page. 

Eddie Kaspbrak. 

Yeah. That name definitely clicked something in Barry’s mind. 

Clicking on the profile, it was obvious that… Eddie… wasn’t on Facebook much. His profile picture hasn’t been updated since 2016, and it was him at his police academy graduation ceremony that took place in the year 2004 according to the banner in the pictures background. He didn’t have a lot of friends on there, looks like only close family, hardly any posts. What caught Barry’s attention was that Eddie was from Derry, Maine like he was. 

Barry was confused. Now he was 100% sure that he knew Eddie from somewhere. It had to be because he was apparently from Derry. Maybe they were friends from back then. However, Barry couldn’t say that for sure as he didn’t remember much of his childhood. 

Barry closed the browser before closing his laptop, shoving it back underneath his bed. He let out a sigh, that wasn’t too helpful, but it was something. 

Eddie… why did he know that name?

                                                           -----

The loud, repetitive beeping was annoying Eddie to the point where he woke up in a strange, uncomfortable bed. When he opened his eyes they burned from the bright white room, he obviously wasn’t expecting that. It wasn’t until he shifted in the bed was when he felt a sharp pain from his left foot up through his leg. He grunted as he grabbed his leg, what the fuck happened? 

Right… he was checking out a call on gunshots. Looking through the house he had thought everything was going fine, a clear sign of a struggle, but still nothing was in the living room. Then… then what happened? A creaky floorboard. A dark figure with a ski mask trying to leave the house. His leg had felt like it was on fire, his head slammed on the floor, then everything went black. 

Surgery. Eddie remembered that he went through surgery, but not before he had a shit ton of paperwork from the LAPD to fill out, he wasn’t sure exactly what he was signing since he was loopy from the drugs, but he knew it had to be about the injury. All he knew about that was he kept nodding as the chief of police kept talking to him, telling him exactly what he was signing, but truth be told Eddie wasn’t able to process anything he was saying so he just did it anyways. More than anything Eddie just wanted to get out of here, he needed to get back out there and figure out who the hell shot him and take them down. Fuck, he needed pain killers. 

He was about to press the nurse button that was on the remote sitting next to him on the bed, but a man in a white medical coat knocked on his opened door, allowing himself in.

“Officer Kaspbrak,” he said, walking up to the bed, “how are you feeling?”

“I’m…” Eddie trailed off, trying to keep himself awake, “I’m hurting.”

“Well, that’s normal. You went through some minor surgery. Nothing serious, there was no exit wound, so we just dug the bullet out and stitched you up.”

“Will I be able to walk again?” Eddie asked, looking up at the doctor. 

“Oh, yeah. Yeah, you’re totally fine. We are, however, going to have to keep you overnight, just to make sure everything runs smoothly. Alright?” Eddie nodded. “I’ll have a nurse bring you some painkillers and antibiotics, I’ll check back on  you later.” They shook hands before the doctor left the room to move onto the next patient. 

Eddie closed his eyes, his face scrunched up as he was trying to ignore the pain that now spread to his entire left side of his body. Well, that was something Eddie could mark off he knew for sure; being shot hurts. He remembered when he was about thirteen-years-old he broke his left arm and… someone moved it back into place. Yeah, that hurt, this pain almost matched that.  Thankfully it was only his foot though, not anything important. Which… Eddie had no idea why he didn’t cause a fatal shot. He already killed some guy, why not kill a cop to make sure there weren’t any witnesses?

In fact, the guy who shot him just seemed… so familiar. Even though he was wearing a ski mask Eddie could still see his eyes which held something dear to him. Then his voice. Yeah, he knew that voice from somewhere. Fuck, this whole thing was so fucked up. Maybe he didn’t actually know him, but rather was just remembering the moment in the house when confronting the man.  

There was a soft knock at Eddie’s door, so he pried his eyes opened, looking over to hopefully see the nurse with his meds. No. It was Detective Mae.

“Hey, Kaspbrak,” she said with a small smile on her face, walking over to his bed, taking a seat at the chair that was next to him. “How’re you feeling?” 

“Like shit,” Eddie said through a groggy voice. 

“Well… I got some good news for you.”

Eddie’s eyes lit up. “Did you find the guy who shot me?” 

“Oh…” Mae rubbed the back of her neck, “no… but! We did manage to find a computer hooked up to some security cameras up in the attic of the house you were checking out. We haven’t looked through it yet, but that guys face has to be on the footage, right?”

“Hopefully…” 

“We’re gonna leave a copy of what we find at your desk when you come back. Um, when are you coming back?” 

“I get to leave tomorrow, so… tomorrow.”

Mae frowned. “Don’t push yourself, Kaspbrak. If you’re not feeling up for work-”

“I’ll be back tomorrow, Mae,” Eddie cut her off. 

“Okay…” She stood up, “I’m gonna rip the footage for you.” She awkwardly put a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” 

Eddie nodded to her, closing his eyes as he heard her footsteps fade out of the room. The moment his eyes shut it was like Eddie was back in the moment all over again. The eyes… the voice… everything about this was getting under his skin. Why couldn’t he just let this go? 

 Eddie’s eyes shot open, realizing the man's height and build practically matched the figure in Janice’s picture. 

Holy shit… did he come face to face with that fuckin’ killer?

Yeah. Eddie had to find this guy again.