#ranty drabbles

[rantceratops]

(also fashionably late) Aroace Hunter Week 2023, Day Two: Griffin (Gryphon)

Title: Birds of a Feather, G-Rated

Word Count: 2,263

Summary: Hunter learns something about gryphons, Puddles, and himself while waiting for a gryphon Beast Track lesson to start with Viney.

Characters: Hunter, Viney, Puddles the gryphon, Willow

No Pairings

(This is the first thing I’ve written in ages, so please bear with me. I’m just happy for the inspiration and that I managed to finish a story without losing steam or interest, even if the flow might not be perfect. Enjoy!)

@sergeantsporks​

~~

Hunter felt like he was navigating a field full of traps. Long, wiggling traps that shifted dangerously around his feet as he tried to make his way over to a familiar face amongst all the feathers and shrieking. Viney waved him down as soon as she saw him, and Hunter offered a meek wave in return, nervously pointing down at the veritable sea of gryphon tails between the two of them.

Viney seemed to take a moment to realize his dilemma, then chuckled and patted Puddles’ shoulder, pointing over at the nervous boy. Puddles caught sight of Hunter and shrieked, bounding over like a predator for prey. Hunter yelled in alarm and tried to turn to run; how foolish had he been to think Puddles had finally forgiven him for stepping on her tail!

Fully prepared to teleport away to save himself, Hunter was surprised when Puddles rammed her head under his legs so that he slid down onto her back, nestled right between her large, fluffy wings. Puddles hissed and swiped the air threateningly at the other gryphons, whose tails she had trampled and disturbed as she went to rescue Hunter and whom were cawing and roaring in protest. Hunter grinned apologetically at the Beast Track students who were now having to calm their beasts down as Puddles took slightly to the air and glided them both over to Viney.

“Hi, Hunter. Thought you could use a little rescuing!” Viney chirped, patting Puddles’ flank. The large avian made a sound like a hacking cough and sat down, causing Hunter to spill onto the grass unceremoniously. He picked himself up and dusted off his pants.

“Uh, yeah. Thanks. I didn’t want to make “friends” the same way I did with Puddles,” Hunter said ruefully with air quotes, glancing back over at the still slightly chaotic corral of gryphons, some of whom were eyeing Puddles and Hunter with murder in their striking eyes. The grimwalker flinched, wondering if he still might be in for it, but just then Puddles stood and hissed back, fluffing her feathers out and stepping slightly in front of Hunter. The other gryphons growled but seemed to slowly quell. Puddles turned her head sideways to look at Hunter, her large eye blinking. “Uh... thanks?” he asked, then laughed lightly when she used her beak to preen his hair.

The gesture reminded him of Flapjack, sending both a pang of affection and sadness blooming in his chest as he stroked her with one scarred hand.

“Aww, look at that, I think Puddles really is coming around to you. It’s all over once she starts preening you. A friend for life,” Viney gravely informed him as she grabbed a small bag of dead dire rats and held it open to him, her expression dark. “You better feed her a snack to seal the deal or she might change her mind.”

Hunter looked into the sack of contents and contorted his face, blanching at the thought of touching something dead. Feeling Puddles still meticulously picking through his recently shortened hair, Hunter took the time to dig one of his gloves out of his bag and pulled it on, reasoning that he could wash it later. Or burn it altogether. He had a spare pair.

Sticking his tongue out, he grabbed one of the dire rats, glad that the material on his hands kept him from feeling how soft and squishy and dead it was, and turned to hold it up so that the gryphon could see it. He heard the sound of her sniffing, then suddenly she cawed and snatched it out of his hand fast as lightning, not so much as nipping any of his fingers in the process. She snapped her beak down on it once, twice, then swallowed it whole and began nudging Hunter’s hand roughly.

Viney laughed. “Whelp, you’re in it now! Better feed her the rest of this bag.”

Hunter smiled, despite how disgusting it was, and continued pulling out rats to feed to Puddles while his friend held the bag open.

“Wow. This is... kind of nice. I thought she would hate me forever,” Hunter confessed, averting his eyes each time Puddles devoured a rodent.

Viney tutted. “Nah, Puddles always liked you!”

Hunter shot her a look of disbelief. He very much begged to differ.

“Really! I mean, sure, you probably shouldn’t have stepped on her tail, but she enjoyed playing air chase with you! Those feinting moves of yours? Really something, it kept her on her toes. I’ve been trying to work on them myself to make things more interesting for her, but there’s a reason you’re one of our star players!” Viney praised him, looking sincere.

Hunter felt his cheeks and ears heat up at the commendation, a soft smile forming on his mouth. He hadn’t yet rejoined the Flyer Derby team, but it wasn’t for not wanting to. The Palistrom tree Willow had helped plant still had a lot of growing to do, but Eda had managed to procure another chunk of the precious material--from where, she wouldn’t share, though Luz had confessed the owl lady had looked even more scuffed up than when she’d brought her piece of Palistrom wood. Under the gentle tutelage of Dell Clawthorne, Hunter had been practicing his whittling skills, and thought he might soon be brave enough to bring a new friend into his life.

Not a replacement, he thought, placing a hand on his chest absently. Never a replacement. But a new friend he could bond with and cherish. Being back in the air again without Flap would be hard but... he just had to remind himself that his little buddy was still with him, always, and probably missed the Flyer Derby field just as much as he did.

“And you know,” Viney continued, interrupting his thoughts. “When you sat in on practice last week, I saw you lying against Puddles and reading. I don’t think I’ve seen her lie down for a nap so easy, she must really love your company! Or your voice. It looked like you were having a pretty good time reading out loud to her, or discussing plot details, whatever you were doing.” Viney waved a hand dismissively.

Hunter felt his face heat up again in embarrassment, not knowing anyone had noticed that, but she didn’t appear to be making fun of him. He was still getting used to the fact that his friends wanted to listen to him and encourage his interests.

“Oh, uh, it’s, it’s a habit,” Hunter said, grinning a little and touching the back of his neck (with the non-dire rat feeding hand). “Gus and Willow and Camila and I, we all like the same series of really awesome books, and we talk a lot about them, and I get kind of... passionate about this one character, you see. Chief O’Bai--”

A loud rumbling sound interrupted his explanation, his ears pricking up.

“Oh boy,” Viney mumbled, sighing and closing the bag of treats. “Here we go again.”

Before Hunter could ask, Viney stomped around him on the red grass, holding her hands up and wagging a finger at a new gryphon that had just trotted over behind him. It was eyeing Puddles, but not in a hostile way.

“Oh no, not this again! Puddles isn’t interested, do you want another scratch on your other eye?” Viney scolded, drawing attention to the two faint slashes running down and over the new gryphons left eye.

It seemed to ignore her and stepped toward Puddles, making a high trilling sound and puffing out it’s feathers in a show-off-y way. It spread its wings out above its head, seeming to make itself taller, and fanned them out. It made little steps in the dirt with its front legs, lightly clawing up dirt and looking like a strange little dance.

As soon as Puddles caught sight of it, she shrieked and raked her talons in the dirt, fluffing her own feathers out but in the same threatening display Hunter had seen her use at the angry gryphons earlier. She slashed at the air in front of it, but it seemed to not take heed, shuffling closer.

Viney put a hand on Hunter’s upper arm and moved him aside just as Puddles lunged forward and grabbed a beak full of feathers from the gryphons neck and yanked them all out in a savage tug. It let out a noise of pain and staggered back, a bald, angry red patch flaring up on its chest. Before it could recover Puddles struck again, pulling out more feathers before spitting them out with a loud hiss, wings puffed out the whole time as she advanced forward.

The new gryphon hesitated before backing down, lowering its body and then turning to run back to the other group of gryphons and their witches.

Hunter stared in confusion at the place where it had disappeared, then back to Puddles, who seemed to be instantly calmed down as if nothing had happened. She startled Hunter out of his dumbstruck state by nudging his hand for more rats.

“What... what was that?” Hunter asked, simply petting Puddles’ beak.

Viney brought her fingers to her forehead, the other hand on her hip, and sighed. “Gryphon romantic drama. Or lack thereof.” She added, eyeing Puddles.

Hunter felt his brows furrow. “That was... romance?”

Viney nodded. She picked the bag of rats back up and pulled one out bare-handed, much to Hunter’s disgust, and tossed it for Puddles to catch.

“Supposed to be. You see, the thing about gryphons is that they mate for life. Usually, anyway. Sometimes they form multiple mate bonds, it’s not always just two, but that’s not the point. The point is, they usually wind up in a pair of some sort. But, Puddles... well.” Viney patted her side. “Let’s just say she’s way past the age for it, and she reacts the same way every time.” She gestured to the spot the gryphon had just attempted to woo Puddles in.

“Oh.” Hunter said thoughtfully, looking down at the red grass. He felt suddenly reminded of the fact that he was seventeen, getting ever closer to eighteen, and had never once felt... anything like that toward anyone. One of the first things he’d learned about Hexside had been that everyone was romance obsessed, and that according to Luz and Amity, he’d already been quite the “hit” with several giggling students in the halls. He had a vague idea of what that meant, and it made him feel uncomfortable.

“Yeah. I’m pretty sure Puddles just isn’t interested. That’s probably the hundredth gryphon I’ve seen her reject, and I’ve never once seen her try to impress one herself.” Viney said, feeding Puddles the last two dire rats at once. Puddles trilled happily and actually seemed to chew them a little this time to relish the flavor. (Hunter’s face turned a bit green).

Hunter fidgeted, feeling self-conscious. “Is it... okay that Puddles doesn’t...feel like that? About other gryphons?” He asked offhandedly, gesturing at the gryphon that had finished with her rats and now came back over to nibble Hunter’s hair once more. He tried not to think about her still having rat bits in her beak.

Viney seemed to study him for a second, then smiled and nodded. “Absolutely! It’s not the first time I’ve heard of it. It’s actually fairly common in the beast world. And,” she added, smile widening. “Among witches and demons, too.”

Hunter perked up, ears lifting as he gazed at Viney. “It-it is?”

Viney nodded. “Absolutely. There’s no shame in it! Isn’t that right, girl?”

Puddles cawed loudly near Hunter’s ear and then started purring, nuzzling up against him. Hunter looked down at her as she gazed up at him with one big yellow eye, and felt like there was a strange level of understanding shining through it. Hunter smiled at her softly, petting the feathers near her beak.

“That’s... good to know.”

Viney tapped her chin. “If you’re interested in the subject, I think there might be a book or two on the subject somewhere in the library. Willow’s told me you like your research. You want to go look for it after class?”

Hunter nodded gratefully, soothed by Puddles soft feathers.

~~

Later, when Hunter was tucked away in his room at the Clawthorne’s, he cracked the book open on lack of attraction and felt his chest tighten with each chapter, understanding washing over him.

Thank you, Puddles, Hunter thought, sniffing.

He felt even more understood when he hesitantly told the Flyer Derby team chat that he was sure he’d never felt sexual or romantic attraction for anyone and never could, and that he was happy he’d learned it was normal. Amongst the replies of “That’s great!” and “I’m so glad, dude!”, he noticed Willow typing.

Hello_Willow said: Oh! Hunter, that’s so amazing! I think you checked out the same book I did!

Hunter’s breath hitched.

RulerzReachF4n said: YoU... DID ReSearcH f0R SomeTHng?

Hello_Willow said: Yes! For myself. Luz told me the human realm term for it. Asexual, I think? I don’t feel sexual attraction, I never have. It sounds like you have that part in common with me! Wow, this is great, I wish I had known sooner!

The other Flyer Derby team members chimed in more while Hunter silently laid on his bed and took that information in. Eventually, when Willow grew concerned by his silence and asked if he was still there, Hunter grinned through water-y tears and told her he was just fine.

[breakingdownsomebarriers]

Welcome to the Blog!

Hey there, nice to see you here! I'm Onyx, I use he/him pronouns, and I have been hyperfixating on Star Wars for the last couple of years!

This blog is mostly for me to express my love for clones and their respective shows, as well as write about my characters or other scenarios involving said characters. I've loved Star Wars forever but only recently got the idea to make a place for me to let me ramble and talk freely about the characters I love so dearly.

I do take some writing requests, but before submitting one please look at my guidelines or I will delete/ignore it. If I don't answer a request right away it's either because I'm not in the mood to write for requests, I deleted the request because it was out of my comfort zone or made me uncomfortable somehow, or I'm working on it while battling writer's block which can increase the time it takes to finish writing by a lot. So, be patient, yeah?

This blog is mostly SFW, though some more spicy/mature posts will be made from time to time and they will be labelled as such. Minors, please be wary on my blog and stay safe. If I have to in the future, I will make this blog an 18+ blog and minors will no longer be allowed here.

Before you follow

I am autistic and will unapologetically ramble about things. I also might accidentally say something I don't mean or take something the wrong way because of my tone reading difficulties. I promise it's nothing personal!

I am very, very gay, and I use queer to describe myself in most scenarios. If that makes you uncomfortable then do what's best for you. I won't be tagging the word at all in my posts, though

I do not like clonecest and will not write anything for it. At all. I've always seen the clones as brothers and I don't write for incest either. It makes me very uncomfortable to think about it, let alone write or read about it.

I might not know if someone is problematic when reblogging something or talking to said someone, so let me know if someone falls into that category so I can correct my mistake! The same goes with any language I've used or things I've accidentally said! If I'm made aware of my mistake, I will do my damndest to make sure I don't make it again.

I don't really write for female readers/reader inserts. I lean heavily towards masculine/male readers since there's honestly not a ton of it out there for us to read. I also kind of suck at writing female readers and there are other people out there more qualified to write them then me if that's what you're looking for

I don't use y/n for reader inserts. I don't like how choppy it makes the writing so I use nicknames or things similar to it instead

I block blank blogs because of all of the tumblr bots going around. Indicate that you are human somewhere on your blog or else I'll block you without hesitation. I also don't tolerate hatred on my blog so I will block very quickly if someone is being nasty for no reason.

DNI if you are homophobic/transphobic/racist/xenophobic etc.

Tagging Key

(New tags may be added to this list in the future. Feel free to check back here to see what they mean and/or find any new tags I've made during my time here)

>> #Onyx's Oddments - Personal Headcanons/Opinions/Thoughts

>> #Onyx's Ramblings - Random ideas/concepts that are probably semi-shitposty or ranty in nature

>> #Onyx Draws - Art tag

>> #Onyx's OCs - OC tag, whenever my OCs are being spoken about, drawn, or in a fic

>> #Onyx Speaks - Announcements/Blog updates

>> #Onyx's Archives - Any drabble/story pieces that I make; my general writing tag

>> #Onyx's Inbox - General inbox tag that I use for any answered asks

>> #From the Ether - Answered anonymous fic/drabble/headcanon requests

>> #breaking barriers - For hurt/comfort fics. They are my most commonly produced genre/type of fic (hence why I've made a tag for them lol)

>> #behind closed doors - Suggestive/mature/nsfw tag

Below, you'll find my writing request guidelines if that's something you're interested in.

Request Guidelines

Will Write

Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Fluff, Recovery fics, and a ton of other genres

MLM/MLNB ships, Masc/Male readers, FTM readers, ENBY readers

Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: The Bad Batch fics, for a bunch of different characters. If I have to in the future I'll specify characters I will/won't write for

Character X Reader, Character X Character, or just general scenarios that aren't ship related like "X character and Y character do this thing and laugh about it." or "FTM reader comes out to X character." So, the scenarios/prompts can be platonic or romantic. If you'd like (once I introduce them) you could also ask for my OCs in the fics too if that's what you want.

One-shots, Short Fics, Drabbles, Headcanons, and Scenarios

Third and/or Second person POVs

Some triggering content such as things like self-harm, though it might take me a while depending on the content. I try my best not to romanticize things so please let me know if any fics in this category are doing that so I can edit them/take them down/rewrite them etc.

Suggestive/Adult Content (Minus NSFW or Smut)

Won't Write

Rape, Incest/Clonecest, Master/Padawan ships, pedophilia, sexual assault, stockholm syndrome, yandere, etc.

Star Wars movie fics. I haven't watched them in years so they would be inaccurate as fuck

Fem/Female readers, or ships that aren't MLM/MLNB

First person POV

Smut or full NSFW (I will be making a second 18+ blog for that)

Outline

This is for those who want a sort of direction that they can follow in regards to the formatting of the requests. Without this format it might take me longer to get the request finished or I might have to turn it down altogether.

(Blue means it's highly recommended/suggested, orange means it's optional)

Who: Who do you want to be in the fic? Who is the main pair/group/focus?

Prompt: What do you want to see happen, what do you want people to react to, or what do you want the subject matter to be? The more details you have, the better. You can also use dialogue prompts for these if you found some that you'd like to see appear in the fic

Genre: Hurt/Comfort? Fluff? Or some other genre?

Style: Romantic pairing? Platonic? Do you want it to be more of a Oneshot or something like bullet-point headcanons? Or do you want to see little drabbles of a scenario with multiple pairings reacting to it? Let me know!

Length: A general idea of how long you'd like it to be based on wordcount.

Appearance: If there are elements of the reader (if you want a reader insert) that you want included, put it here! Plus-sized? Long Hair? Short Hair?

POV: I can write in both third or second person, but I won't write first person. You can specify which of them you'd like if you want.

Reader gender: If you don't specify that they are enby, a demiboy, trans FTM/Transmasc, or a cis male (or some other masc/male-aligned gender) I'll default to a cis male and use he/him pronouns for the reader. If you want I can also have the reader using he/they, they/he, or some other pronouns, just let me know and I'll happily do that for you. (I will not be using any fem-aligned pronouns though)

Nickname: If you want a reader insert, giving them a nickname would be a huge help since I don't use Y/N anywhere in fics. If you don't supply one I'll come up with one instead

So, for those who like examples like me, here's a couple of potential requests and what they would look like following this outline. "Hello there! So I'm looking for a fluffy thing of the bad batch (pre-order 66) where [character] has a crush on the male reader (he/they pronouns). I was looking for some headcanons of how the other members would react to learning about the crush? I'd like at least 200ish words per section if that's okay, and the reader can use the nickname Sprocket :)"

You can also do something more detailed, like this:

"Hey! I have a writing request! I was looking for some hurt/comfort for a fic of a transmasc reader (he/him) who is dating [character] and they meet people from the reader's past who purposefully misgenders him and [character] steps in to correct them. Things escalate into a fight and when [character] and the reader get back to their personal quarters they talk about it. Reader is crying and [character] thinks he's upset but then they realize that the reader is just really proud and happy to have them as his partner.

You don't have to include this but I'd love to see the reader have freckles and short hair. He's also kind of short in my head, like 5' 3" ish.

I don't mind the length for the fic, do whatever fits for you! I'd prefer if it was in third person, and you can call the reader Wyatt if you want."

Both of them are fine! I personally like when things are separated more like the second one to make it easier for me to categorize and fit into my brain, but if you don't have a giant detailed idea in your mind then that's fine too!

See you later and happy requesting!

[failgirl-debunker]

To Do List

Picsart Moodboards for All x MC (and a few understated mlm ships like Taiga x Romeo, Lyca x Subaru, and maybe I’ll take requests? Actually yes I’ll just take requests—)

Perhaps solo character moodboards as well

Personal tier list

Assigning deadly sins to each guy? I saw someone do part of this once, but it was primarily for NSFW purposes which mine wouldn’t be

🫢 HC character kinks…?

Characters on social media HCs

Food HCs

Scent HCs

MC Introspective Drabble/fic

Past Relationship HCs

Open to ideas, though I understand if I get none yet since I need to show samples so that you guys know if I’m even any good at this stuff yet. 🫣

I’m also still looking to add to some characters’ playlists. Haru, Ritsu, and Romeo need more songs. 🧡🩵🖤

Feel free to ignore the stuff below, it’s just a little ranty rambling.

Would also like to do open discussion/theory posts once I’m caught up. I’m probably just gonna cheat and catch up via YouTube since I’m struggling with diamonds rn.

It should be said I love love looove Tokyo Debunker’s story and characters, but I don’t condone the way the devs conduct their business, especially the mistreatment of employees and the use of AI generated scenery and images.

It’s a fun comic with fun characters and I admittedly get a thrill when I get cards/characters I like but it’s not very engaging as an actual game.

And don’t get me started on how I only checked it out to see what it actually is since it apparently isn’t the grisly murder mystery game the Instagram ads initially lead me to believe.

Again though I genuinely love it! It reminds me of the days where I still actively loved anime/manga before it got beaten out of me.

[hwajin]

Where's sky?

the deactivated ages ago!

[skyedestiny]

Hoooooly boundless parenting, Batman. So. Legit issue - these last few nights I've been falling asleep for naps?? And over-sleeping. Like I'll be napping to the point that I should really be properly in /bed/, and my mom has, by chance, gotten up these last few days to catch me like this and wake me up. And I'm thankful for that but at the same time, I don't need this - or I don't want to need this. If it's like, everyone else is getting up in the morning, what are you doing? that's different. (But even then though..) Otherwise, let me suffer consequences like a normal person. I wanted to talk to her about this. And also, I've noticed that when she's called me in the morning lately, she's prefaced it with, "Just wanted to make sure that you're up". Like, these things, conjoined, make me feel like I'm incapable of doing this stuff on my own, or just incapable of doing this - normal adults don't need this - and makes me upset with myself, even though I shouldn't be and the source is outside. I put an alarm on my phone so that I could remind myself to talk to Mom about it all once we're up and settled for the morning, even though it's going to be a busy day. I'm supposed to wake up at 8:30 today. Mom comes into my room, tells me to wake up, and (I didn't realize it then) that it's /almost/ 8:30. I get up, think the normal morning things: "I wish I had a few more minutes" but also that I'm glad Mom got me up but at the same time, damn, I should really set my alarm myself. Except then I remember I did. So I check my phone. It's actually a few minutes /to/ 8:30. So I'm like well okay now we have to talk about this now, when my alarm goes off, because it's immediately topical. I try to talk to her but she's rushing me so it sounds like I'm just bringing up issue and issue of the same thing and attacking her. But really, the only reason I'm bringing these situations up is that they're all different but interlinked and I could see how she wouldn't even notice how it was intrusive. I try to say this but she's still rushing me along. I say "Please don't feel like I'm attacking you" and I try to explain why but she insists that that's not how it feels. Except now she has an attitude with me about everything. So I'm like, "Is this all because of the wake up thing?" And she's like, "No, but when you're bringing that up, I'm trying to rush to do a bunch of other things. And I get that you want that, but you're saying that as, you know, I'm paying for your therapy and I'm writing out a check and I don't know where this money is coming from-" I interrupt and say that it's pretty unbelievable that she's pulling that. That I try to just talk to her about this and she decides to bring up a subject that she /knows/ triggers anxiety and guilt in me, that, in the past, when we've talked about this and I've told her how guilty it makes me feel, she's assured me I shouldn't feel that way. She's like, "Well it bothers me though!" And I said that that's fine, but I've told her that I can't be the person she talks about this to. I can't, because it honestly makes me feel awful. But I confront her about the fact that it really sounds like she's saying, "That's nice that you want to be treated like a grown-up, but you're still relying on me for this so you're NOT a grown-up, /hah/" and she tells me that that's not it. Later, however, she admits that 'when I talk about stuff like this, it feels like I'm pushing her away with one hand and pulling her in with the other'. I tell her that in reality, that's NOT what it is, actually, and that this is so that, ultimately, I can push her away with BOTH hands but that, to get there, I have to move slowly and wean myself away from the over-support that's all I've really ever known. So like, it's not going to all happen at once. So that's basically where we are. I refuse to feel bad about putting my foot down about this. I just wanted to explain what I was pretty sure she didn't know she was doing and then she tries to manipulate me in response? Aaaaaabsolutely not.

[mari-strider]

Quickstrike/Reader

(A continuation -I suppose- of my previous Beast Wars x Reader drabble!)

Miraculously you had somehow managed to complete nearly all of your tasks for the day as the evening drew near. The only assignment you had left was to fix a ceiling light in one of the hallways. The only problem: it was 12 feet high and you sure weren’t that tall.

You searched around for anything that would help. Shifting through the nearest storage room for a tall sturdy box or anything that could resemble a stepping stool or ladder. Your efforts turned up fruitless as you gave up rummaging and wandered back to the hallway.

It was then that you saw a familiar face.

“Quickstrike! You busy?”

The fuzor in question turned in your direction at the call of his name. Mirth shone in his ruby optics as you jogged to his place at the end of the hallway. “Hey there, sugarbot. I ain’t got nuthin’ at the moment. Why? You need sumthin’?”

“Yes, please! Do you mind doing me a favor?”

Mischief twinkled in his optics. “Depends, do I get anythin’ for all my troubles?” He playful pinched your cheek, cackling when you yelped in surprise.

You gave him a disdainful look as you rubbed the stinging area. "Nevermind, I think I'll go ask Scorponok instead." Despite his lack of a mouth, it was impossible to miss the change in his expression.

Pride wounded, he puffed up his chassis and scoffed. "You don't need that idjit." He continued as he followed you walk back the way you came. "'Sides, what ya need help with anyway? I'm sure I'd be better help than him."

Standing in the barely lit hallway, you scratched your chin in apparent thought. "Hmm, I don't know."

"C'mon, Toots, you know I was just messin' with ya back there."

You tapped his broad chest. A metal 'thunk' being heard as your finger made contact with his metallic frame. "Hmm, I guess I'll overlook your teasing if you give me a boost so I can fix that light."

Quickstrike's gaze flicked back and forth between you and the broken ceiling light before laughing. "Wot? That's it??"

Without warning he hoisted you into the air, forcing you to land on his shoulders. You screamed, holding onto his snake hand for balance and support as you teeter-tottered for a second.

You bent down to smack the rambunctious bot upside his helm. "Little bit of a warning next time?!" The only response you received was a hearty laugh.

With a huff you began working on the light, begrudgingly chatting with the rowdy bot to pass the time -unaware of the glances he'd sneak your way.

“So what’ve you been up to lately? Haven’t seen you around the base as much.” Removing a panel, you stared at a sea of color-coded wires.

Quickstrike spoke through the sounds of your tinkering. “Oh, I’ve been here an’ there. Mainly building comm scramblers out in the middle of nowhere with ‘Ranty. It’s boring but it gets Inferno off my -hey ya gud?” He paused when he heard you hiss through your teeth. From the way you shook your hand, he assumed you got a nasty shock from an exposed wire.

“Ouch. I’m, yeah, I’m good. Just make sure you don’t drop me.”

His grip around your ankles tightened securely. “Wouldn’t dream of it doll!”

A smile tugged at the edge of your lips as you returned to rerouting the wires. Once settling into a casual conversation with the fuzor, time seemed to fly by and before you knew it you were done.

“Finally! Ugh, I can finally relax.” You looked down at Quickstrike. “Can you let me down, please?”

“Well, since ya asked so nicely.” With a ‘hup!’, he tossed you off his shoulders, only to gingerly catch you bridal style in his arms.

You laughed at the gesture, placing the back of your hand to your forehead as if swooning. “My hero! How can I ever thank you?”

The two of you broke into a fit of laughter. Quickstrike placed you onto your feet to lean against the wall, out of breath from all his laughing. You bent over, clutching your chest as you wheezed.

“Oh lord, I haven’t laughed that hard in months.” You wiped a tear away as you met Quickstrike’s gaze -a gleeful smile lighting up your face.

Quickstrike sharply inhaled. Completely stunned by your visage. He had heard of human and cybertronian relationships before and how close some had been, but he always thought it ridiculous. The only humans he’s ever seen before you were severely underdeveloped and primitive. But ever since you emerged from that crashed space pod he’s understood why his ancestors found your species fascinating.

You quirked an eyebrow at his sudden silence, unable to read his current expression. In the back of our mind, you worried if you had said something wrong. “You, uh, good?”

“Hmm? Y-yeah! Just uh, remembered I hadda do sumthin’. I gotta go now.”

You stared, perplexed as Quickstrike basically ran out of the hall. Shrugging your shoulders you patted yourself for a job well done and headed back to your quarters. There was a light pep in your step as you thought of the pleasant bath waiting for you.

((Ugh I love this mean cowboy sm and I want more content of him so I guess I have to do it myself 😤😤😤))

[infinite-insignia]

Edgy kin drawing/info-sheet for the time after Eggman yoinked the Phantom Ruby away from me, I regained consciousness, and we (me & Ruby) went on a search for prototype shards, featuring my terrible handwriting. Put under a read more bc there’s blood/gore, talk abt death, and just,,,heavy topics in general I guess (at least for me)

tl;dr, the pic shows how I looked at that time, what the wound looked like, and what I remember from that time. (yes, those are bandages covering the wound in the main drawing). I wanna remember more of the details but my mind’s drawing a blank. hard to remember all of it. probably cause I lost control and lost consciousness multiple times throughout,,,but I can’t help that. probably shouldn’t have been moving around in the first place, but Ruby insisted, so,,,I kinda had to. also, after the pic, there’s a venty/ranty kin drabble, just a heads up

sorry for bad quality, tumblr image-inserting always screws the quality over. felt like I should post this on here, so,,,ye. here ya go. do whatever with this info I guess? I don’t remember everything abt that time--and while I’d like to remember more, it’s hard to do so cause all of the pain associated with that time. it’s usually what I remember the most--the painful stuff. just,,,lots of pain and a huge lack of energy. prototype shards were collected over,,,who knows how long of a time, and they were used to form a stronger phantom ruby--the prototypes were deemed too dangerous for use during the war, which is why eggman wanted them destroyed. he didn’t want me having access to enough power to overthrow him--or at least that’s what I assume his reasoning was. bet he didn’t expect me to survive without the original gem,,,no one did, actually. whole world thought I was dead, I remember that much. huge shock when I came back with more power. didn’t even do much with it, I was done with all the ‘war’ crap and the whole ‘Infinite’ thing at that point. what happened between then and when I eventually killed eggman is a total blur. wanna remember that too but it’ll be super hard to remember things that weren’t as significant as the main events. but that’s just how it is I guess.

can’t force myself to remember things--I’ve tried--so it’ll just have to happen on its own. kinda like how I remembered my eventual death--I was pacing around downstairs when the details just. hit me in the face (or chest, rather) and I just stood there shocked for a minute. it was wild. like,,,I had the basic concept down at that point, but not the details.

still dunno how the Phantom Ruby could reincarnate me--and even a super weak version of Ruby itself--into this life if I literally destroyed the damn thing. my theory is that it used the last bit of it’s powers to give us another shot--tho at the cost of my memories, which I now have to re-learn in this life. in this human body on this human planet without any powers. it’s a place where everyone probably thinks I’m crazy abt all this but. I’m not. sometimes I wonder if I am, but,,,then I remember that getting my memories back is my purpose in this life. and, without a purpose, there’d be no point. then I really would be crazy for staying here.

even if I have to hide my true self from the public at school and stuff, I’ll hang in there as long as I have my purpose. currently, after typing all this, I’m now in a bit of an emotionless rut. need some sleep to clear my mind and try not to stress over things. you guys are the only people I can really talk to abt this stuff besides my therapist--and I don’t even tell her everything. she just learned abt it earlier this month, she doesn’t know much. not as much as I type out on tumblr.

my mom says she wants to understand but it doesn’t look that way to me. but oh well. no use trying to prove myself if her opinion won’t change. anyway guys, I’m seriously going to bed now. before my emotionless mood turns into stress.

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Friday, November 13

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Under the Skin (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by zabjade

"Life Serial" limerick (Buffy/Spike, G) by thenewbuzwuzz

pretend that i'm sleeping (Angel/Spike, NC-17) by Anonymous

Dining In (Angel/Spike, NC-17) by girlpire

Shooting Stars (Eddie/Reader, PG-13) by DaturaMoon

something like forgiveness (Angel/Sam Lawson, R) by darthpumpkinspice

Rebirth (Angel/Buffy, PG-13) by Anonymous

there are days we live as if death were nowhere (in the background) (Angel/Buffy, G) by fluffernutter8

let me be & i'll set you free (Oz, PG-13) by seadeepy

Back in the Game (Ensemble, Stargate SG-1, G) by deird1

Spike - V (Vows) (Spike/Reader, Not Rated) by emrysaaryn

Oscar Mayer Wiener (Anya, Andrew, Warren, PG) by Empire of the Words

Slipping into darkness (Lilah/Wesley, PG-13) by Aragorn II Elessar

[Chaptered Fiction]

Nothing Is Finished Chapter 3 (Buffy/Spike, R) by stuffnonsense

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Shadowed Suspicion Chapter 176 (Ensemble, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure xover, PG-13) by madimpossibledreamer

Promiscuous Chapters 1 - 19 (Angel/Buffy, NC-17) by Bangel4ever. Complete story

Twice in A Lifetime Chapter 12 (Angel/Buffy, Outlander xover, PG-13) by Sionell89

Buffy’s Seven Drunken Nights Chapter 3 (Dawn/Spike, PG-13) by steeleye

Hunger, Longing, Jealousy and Guilt Chapter 4 (Ensemble, G) by myheadsgonenumb

These Endless Days Chapter 8 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by violettathepiratequeen

Crumbs Chapter 28 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by HollyDB. Complete story

Buffy: Chaos Bleeds (Twisted Remix) Chapter 6 (Ensemble, PG-13) by TSPking1994

Crazy Chapter 6 (Xander, Buffy, Willow, PG-13) by Are_you_ever_not_going_to_fall_for_that

Marcie Chapter 2 (Marcie, PG-13) by Anonymous. Complete story

Magical Connections Chapter 13 (Ensemble, harry Potter xover, G) by Buffyworldbuilder

Map of the Stars Chapter 5 (Buffy/Jack O'Neill, Stargate SG-1 xover, PG-13) by gracerealized

The Slayer and The Scotsman Chapter 12 (Angel/Buffy, PG-13) by Sarbear312

Time After Time Chapter 4 (Buffy/Spike, R) by Megan

Living Arrangements Chapter 17 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by ChryshCn

[Images, Audio & Video]

Artwork: Seasonal Spuffy Fall 2020 (Buffy/Spike) by teragramm

Artwork:library man (Giles) by smoothandroid

Artwork:Fan art of Angel (and Angelus) by miniimegs-art

Fanvid: Tempt My Trouble (Buffy/Faith) by heda reyes

[Reviews & Recaps]

Video: BUFFY S2Ep20 "Becoming, Part 2" REVIEW by Once More, with Ling-Ling

[Community Announcements]

Reminder: today (Saturday) is a free-for-all! at seasonal-spuffy

[Fandom Discussions]

Buffy 7x19 Thoughts (IT GETS RANTY AND IF YOU KNOW YOU KNOW.) by clumsycapitolunicorn

Top 5 favorite Buffy ships by yourenotademon

Xander and Cordelia's relationship by Willdon231

Angel S1E3 by adrawbridge

A first time watchers Thoughts On Buffy season 6 by lalalegion

Graduation Day by Willdon231

Video: Top 10 Buffyverse Vampires by The Turnout

Joss Whedon Angel episodes - why not as good by HardlyThere and others

The BtVS S7 rewatc by Stoney

What would have happened if Buffy had went to Northwestern University? by vampmogs

[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

Vanity Fair: The Buffy Cast Agrees With Stacey Abrams: Buffy Belonged With Spike

ScreenRant: Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Every Major Filming Location In The TV Show

ScreenRant: Buffy The Vampire Slayer Should Have Dated Willow Says Alyson Hannigan

CBR.com: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Brings [SPOILER] Into the New Buffyverse

[rantceratops]

Threat

So I watched all the Artemis and Jade flashbacks from season 4, and oh my god, they truly showed how horrible Lawrence was, I was terrified for little baby Artemis being left alone with him. Seeing that really adds new weight to her insecurities and things back in season one.

Anyway, seeing those also made me feel pretty validated with this drabble I wrote way back before we even got season 3. I may have posted it somewhere on my blog before but fuck if I’m digging for it.

~~~~~

Threat (word prompt)

The blade clattered to the floor. Artemis cried out in fear, her tiny voice echoing off the walls.

“Quiet, baby girl,” Lawrence commanded in an even tone, satisfied when the small blonde brought both hands to her mouth; her head nodded imperceptibly in understanding, eyes glassy with tears unshed. He turned his attention back on his eldest daughter, whose hand he had snatched up and twisted roughly until the pain forced the knife from her thin fingers.

“Let me go!” Jade hissed out, her free hand trying without success to pry his meaty fingers off her aching wrist. Her dark eyes stared into his own, filled with a defiance that was overshadowed only by the discomfort. 

To the surprise of both daughters, Lawrence promptly released Jade. She stumbled back a few paces with a hard scowl on her features, free hand rubbing at her smarting joint. Artemis watched in terrified silence.

“That was an impressive move, little girl,” he said in a gruff voice, bending down to pick up Jade’s knife by the bloody blade. He tossed it up casually, the weapon twirling once in a glinting arch before he caught it neatly by the handle. Artemis’s features, in her naivety, relaxed slightly at the seeming words of praise; Jade’s expression, however, hardened into an even deeper scowl. “It was ruthless. Good.” 

Jade’s brows knitted in confusion. Lawrence took two deliberate strides toward her, wiping the blade clean on his pants leg and feeling the shallow cut in the flesh of his arm already beginning to crust over. He gazed down at her with neither pride nor anger, merely offering the knife back to her. She looked at the weapon for a long moment, as if she expected it to explode, before tentatively reaching for it.

Lawrence drew the object back slightly, reaching out to grab her wrist again before it came in contact with it. Jade startled and Artemis gasped loudly, though this time it was stifled by her hands. 

Once more, Lawrence’s expression betrayed neither pride nor anger, but his cold tone was laced with the promise of harsh consequences.

“But the next time you decide to try another stunt like that, I hope you think you’re ready, little girl.”

[theloverofdragons]

Valar Morghulis ;) I was just wondering, do you have any A:tLA fic recs, specifically Zutara ones??? Thanks!

Valar Dohaeris 😉

Sure! Here are some more of the gems this fandom produces

Multi-chap:

Together at the Horizon by @dragon-hearted-girl;AU After a century, the Avatar has still not been reincarnated, allowing the Fire Nation to continue its conquest of the world. A young Airbender befriends a Waterbender and Firebender, both of whom are living with a terrible curse. Formerly titled “Tale of the Grey Wolf and Golden Hawk”   

i didn’t know i was lonely (’til i saw your face) by @raisindeatre;The “I hit you with my car and was the only one to visit you in hospital” AU I never thought I’d write. Or: how one car crash, one dancing bear, many, many crossword puzzles and a spot of accidental cohabitation lead to… well, if it isn’t love, it’s certainly something.

Love Story by lynny17;A meeting of nations years after the war leads to an unexpected romance as a love story unfolds. 100-word drabble series. Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender This is in response to the LJ katara zuko winter drabble challenge.

Jasmine and Souchong by @archergwen;It’s the Midsummer Festival, and Zuko’s lone night manning his uncle’s tea shop does not go according to plan. ‘He wants to stay like this forever. Just her and an empty tea shop, sugar and smoke on her breath.’

The Stalking Series by @emletish-fish;- Stalking Zuko: Katara has developed a new hobby. At the Western Air Temple she takes to stalking Zuko. Much silliness and shenanigans follow. In chapter 20: Katara and Zuko return home to the others. Katara hates the F word and she comes to a decision regarding Zuko. - Not Stalking Zuko: Katara keeps a journal of all the shenanigans that the Gaang run into. Chapter 49: there is much talk about the future - now that the war is over and everything is changing. Hakoda and Zuko talk. Katara decides that some things in life are worth the risk.- Not Stalking Firelord Zuko: The immediate postwar period from Katara’s ranty POV. shenanigans abound. Chap 24:Song arrives in Ba Sing Se. Shenaniagns ensue.

Oneshots:

Thicker Than Blood by @akaiikowrites;“You have to love all the facets of their soul, or your love is pointless.” A Story of the Girl Who Bends Blood and the Boy Who Loves Her. –Zutara; semi AU; giftfic for dancingqueensillystring-

Rounding the Edges by @sadladybug;It can take some grit and hard work to grind out the sharp edges, but the effort can produce something that shines. A Zutara oneshot in which Katara learns a few new things about Zuko, including the fact that he may be very difficult to live without. Featuring unexpected teamwork, tense training moments, and more than a few awkward conversations. Canon compliant(ish), Book Three beginning sometime between TSR and EIP.

Tremors by CuriosityRedux;She’s free to choose- if she goes back to the Poles, if she travels, if she stays in the Fire Nation just a little bit longer. She can choose to go back to the life she would have led if she’d never revived the Avatar, or she can choose to forge a new path. And she chooses him. Oneshot. Zutara.

Eye of the Storm by @cowlicklesschick;There is a moment of calm, where the wind dies down and the torrents ease and soften, where thoughts can be heard louder than words. It is a moment of relief, but also of fear and preparation, because there always another side to every storm, and the calm never lasts for long. Zutara B3 immediately following the Agni Kai.

Wooing Zuko by @cabbage-foam;Immediately postwar. During a trip to Ember Island to celebrate of the end of the war, Katara feels the need to affirm her sex appeal. Her target? Zuko.

Drabble Series:

Inside This Ancient Heart by @somuttersthesea;“She and Zuko, on the other hand—she feels like they’ve been old forever, even though they’re still young enough by most standards. The baby in her arms coos and she shifts her gently, cradling her head and smiling, only to see a gratifying, toothless smile beam from rounded cheeks in return.“A series of domestic drabbles written for Zutara Week 2016.

On Love and Lust by @theadamantdaughter;A collection of Zutara drabbles and one-shots. Some smut, some not. NSFW chapters will be labelled as such. Heed the warnings and enjoy.

A Little Bit of This, and a Little Bit of That by @kangaroo2010;No matter the time, no matter the place, no matter the circumstances, deep down, they always knew they were meant for each other. A series of short pieces, written for Zutara Month 2015.

you and I will not be shaken by @beifonc;In which Zuko is an awkward barista, Katara is obsessed with ‘vandalizing’ her customers’ food, and they bond over a love for instant noodles and microwavable food. In which Zuko rambles about space at ungodly hours, and Katara is desperate to shut him up.A series of Modern AU oneshots or my excuse to write drabble and not work on my WIPs.

31 Kisses by @darkelf19;A clumsy Zutara story told through 31 kisses. Written for Official Zutara Month 2016 @ Tumblr. Officially Zutara, but it could pass as any ship. Each chapter will be a perfect 100 word drabble. Enjoy!

Smut:

A Week to Know You Again by @elledix;After the first year of their engagement, Katara felt she and Zuko were already drifting apart. In the Fire Nation, their time always belonged to someone else. Now, in the South Pole for Suki and Sokka’s wedding, they hoped to find each other again.

The Business Trip by @thispieceofwork;Zuko’s been gone for two long months and Katara has needs.Takes places between Ch 10 of Confused and the Epilogue. Some PWP fun.

Agni’s Fever by @sohhng;She decides that she loves him for both the fire lilies and the brimstone on his breath. Oneshot. Zutara. ‘Zuko’s hands snag around her wrists. His body is a long line of tension, and now that he’s reared up on his knees to match her stance, she notices that his chest is as bare as it is soaked. “You can’t even begin to understand what’s happening to me.”“I’m trying to understand,” Katara grits. “Isn’t that what you wanted from me from the very beginning?”’

A Challenge Met by @sharkflip;Katara and Zuko meet and reconcile during Day of Black Sun, with the outcome expected in a story written for Zutarotica. AU for the Eclipse.

Love Amongst the Embers by @mmmisora;After the Ember Island Players’ performance, and with the help of a little rice wine, Zuko and Katara decide to rewrite an alternate ending to their story. Oneshot, Zuko/Katara. Rated M.

Hope this was useful!  I’ve got another fic rec list here, if you want to check that out :)

Happy Shipping!

[mrschiltoncat]

FanFic Ask Meme - G, S, T. Thanks!

G-Do you write your story from start to finish, or scenes out of order?

lol well you know by now out of order.  I write a story in order, but then I may just ahead and do chapters for later in the story, like I did with Someone is Waiting and Love Drabbles.  I find it easier to write for established relationships, creating one and creating characters is more difficult for me.

S-Any fandom tropes you can’t resist?

Not sure I really think about that, I try not to make things too unbelievable though, within the story, I guess?  Would the main character getting hurt and there being some angst, I guess that’s one.  I don’t totally get tropes in general sorry!

T- Tropes you can’t stand?

Overdone cheesy stuff.  No body swapping, no love spells, oh!  And I especially hate stories where couples break up and get back together multiple times.  I’m not sure if this is a trope, but I hate it.  As someone who was in a relationship where there was a lot of fighting, let me tell you, it was hell.  If your leads keep hating each other, having breakups where they are depressed and then they get back together to more fighting…no.  Just….no thank you.  Then I feel like I’m reading a story where even if you write them as being together in the end, I’m thinking, should they be together?  I also don’t wanna read about a couple being mean to one another.  This is not love.  And again, been there, done that. Never again.   Wow, that got personal and ranty lol.

thanks hun!!!

[merwin-me]

This... Turned Ranty. Oops.

I've decided that when I get to writing my novel... Okay, when I get to actually doing the actual outline... I'll emulate JK Rowling. I'll mention basic characteristics, basic looks. Brad has green eyes, blond hair, is a quarterback, sometimes needs shit spelled out for him, gonna get a scholarship cause of his football game. Nameless Boy #1 has brown eyes and curly hair, smart as a whip, doesn't say much but damn can he be sarcastic. Nameless girl #1 is not interested in any of the guys, smart, near 4.0 GPA, likes to read, hates everyone, is only friends with the others because being a popular kid makes other folks leave her be. Nameless boy #2 doesn't have a face yet, whoopdiedoo. Did you know that Brad is an all American whiteass farmboy? Did you know that boy #1 is African-American? Did you know that girl is a latino? Did you know that boy #2 is a white dude that might yet still get scrapped? Did you know that I don't give a flying fuck what ethnicity they are? You want any one of them to be a particular ethnicity, imagine them that ethnicity. I'll be trying my damn hardest to not make all my characters one dimensional, make them interesting, make people love/hate them. I don't care what color skin they have. I care that my story gets told. Fantasy/Supernatural/Horrors/#teenproblems. They don't need no fucking skintone to define them. How's that like JK Rowling? Well, Hermione could just as well have been a poc, if you read the books, couldn't she? The books didn't define her as white (I'm doing thing from memory) and why should they. She's an interesting lady with hella character development, hella smart, hella fucking amazing. It shouldn't matter what the color of her skin is. So why does it in RL? People are awesome, people are jerks, people are weird, people are crazy, people are lovable, people are huggable, people are people. People ain't a color to be picked out of a colorwheel for folks to decide a 'superior color'. Fuck that. I'm gonna be friends with people I like, and I don't care what your religion is, what your skin looks like, how much smarter than me you are, where you are on the sexuality spectrum. So I'm going to do my damnest to show that in my writing. And if I fail, if I am hurtful to people when I don't mean to be (and trust me, I don't want to write a racist character), then tell me! Please, please tell me! Because it was very likely unintended or I didn't know it would be interpreted that way, and I will be happy to look at my writing the way you are telling me to look at it. End my rant of the day here. Boy did I not know this simple post was gonna turn into a rant. I apologize for any mistakes, I've been typing this on my phone and can't be bothered to recheck. Hope it makes some sense at least... Oh hey, I'm also back by the way! Hopefully getting back into drabbles and shit and just posting as well again. ~Toodles!

[rantceratops]

They don’t make it to cover in time. Even his super speed is no match for mother nature.

Lightning flashes and thunder cracks. Fat drops of rain come down sideways on their heads, stinging horribly because he’s got her cradled in his arms as Gotham’s skyscrapers race past in a blur of colors. She thinks he laughs, but it gets caught in the wind, left behind for no one to hear.

He skids to a halt in an alley, of all places, where the buildings are close and the tall fire escape above them provides at least some mild relief from the virtual downpour. He sets her down in the growing flood at their feet, and now his rich laughter is obvious, deep and genuine and curling into the shell of her ear. 

She looks at him with a smirk in place, watches as he pulls his cowl down and shakes out his red hair like a dog. She recoils and protests his actions as drops fly into her face, but he’s just grinning and his face is wet and she’s glad it’s not possible for freckles to get washed away in the rain.

“Someone might see your face!” she chides, even though the Gotham streets are empty and they’re tucked away in a mostly private alley. He ignores her, smile plastered in place, and reaches up to curl his fingers beneath her own cowl. She let’s him do it despite herself, because the feel of his fingers brushing gently across her wet skin as he pools it at her neck sends shivers up her spine.

Her face is exposed and everything inside of her screams that this is way too dangerous, they shouldn’t leave themselves exposed like this, but he cups her face between his palms and pulls her in for a kiss. His lips taste like rain and the Lightspeed bar he ate a few minutes ago, and she lets out a sigh and pulls him closer, slanting her mouth to taste him better.

It occurs to her later, when they’re home and dry and lounging on the couch, that her life can’t possibly get more cliche than kissing in the rain.

She loves it.

[rantceratops]

Just some snippets from a Spitfire drabble I wont be finishing

So much had happened in the last twenty-four hours that she felt as if she’d been awake for a century. The adrenaline that had been fueling her movements for so long had all but drained out of her system, replaced by a heavy weariness that had her eyes itching with the desire to sleep. And that was all she wanted to do, really, just go home and crawl into bed with Wally and sleep for the rest of the day, a week, maybe a year.

But so much had happened, and there was still so much that needed to be done.

In just a mere handful of hours they had screwed over the Light, they’d stopped a Reach invasion with the help of Lex Luthor, and they’d barely avoided a tragedy in the icy depths of the Arctic. She still remembered the despair that had washed over her in those few, terrifying minutes when Wally had been nowhere at all, gone, evaporated right in front of Barry and Bart’s eyes. She remembered the sting of hot tears trailing down her frozen cheeks, remembered her knees growing numb where they rest in the snow, remembered the way M’gann had been there before she’d even hit the ground, pulling her into her arms and trying to comfort her.

And when it had all seemed lost, when everything had seemed to come crashing down around her, when she’d realized she had only just got Wally back and then he was gone, it’d happened. That strange, loud pop, the bizarre shift in the air that had made all the hair on her body stand on end, the way M’gann had shifted and gasped for Artemis to look. And the archer had turned, face streaked with frosty tear tracks, and her heart had leaped in a wild, thumping rhythm at the sight of Kid Flash standing in a pile of steaming snow, the skid marks in the powder indicating that he’d come to a halt in the middle of running. She’d never forget the look on his face, wild and scared and confused as it landed on their friends, and then, on her. Just her.

And she’d torn herself from the martian’s grasp, his name rasping thickly from her throat as she ran to him, and he ran to her, and they’d met in the middle in a crash that nearly sent him backward into the snow. He’d smelled like ozone and Wally, and she’d buried her face in his chest and punched him and told him she’d fucking kill him if he ever, ever did that to her again. He’d pulled her close and promised.

Wally had seemed a little bit different since then; the same, yet strange. He hadn’t divulged anything about what had happened to him yet, and Artemis was just so glad to have him back around that she hadn’t tried to pry it from him, but he kept looking at her a lot, sometimes with a thoughtful expression on his face, or a sad one, or a loving one. They’d been holding hands so much since his return that she was sure they’d fuse together at the point of contact before long.

Not that she minded.

[...]

“Babe?”

The archer blinked, looking up at her boyfriend. She had totally spaced out right there in front of her mother’s apartment door, every awful scenario running through her mind. She could feel the bags under her eyes, and she squeezed Wally’s hand in a reassurance that she didn’t even feel.

“I’m just tired. Let’s get this over with,” Artemis murmured, moving to open the door, but Wally reached out and grabbed her chin, gently guiding her to look at him. There were bags under his eyes too, but they somehow seemed deeper, weighed down with something more, and she felt a pang of curiosity burst to life inside of her, a need to know what the hell had happened to him out there in the Arctic. But she had something important she needed to do right now, and that would have to wait.

(what happened to Wally in the Arctic is based off a fix-it fic idea Veggy had that never came to full fruition. Remember, Veg, the one that spawned Velocity-verse? Yeah, that one :3 I liked the idea so that’s what I had in mind here)

[rantceratops]

RE6 (JakexSherry)- Immortal

(I’m trying to write stuff, much less grasp this new otp, please forgive me I’m rusty at fanfic. This is my first attempt at Jake and Sherry, technically so...)

Warning for language and blood 

This fic has no context it’s just an experimental drabble.

He took her healing powers for granted until she was lifeless in his arms, with blood running in rivulets between closed eyes and matting rapidly on the back of her blonde head. He’d seen cuts mesh back together seamlessly in seconds, he’d seen her blood-slicked fingers frantically squeeze a bullet out so the skin could close over the wound, and he’d had to use his large hands to set her broken arm bones into place while she hissed in discomfort as they melded back together.

There was always so much goddamn blood with her. If he’d let himself worry about it, he’d have gone insane long ago, before this godforsaken and ill-fated mission.

“Sherry,” Jake said, the smell of blood stinging his nostrils. Panic was steadily mounting inside his chest unbidden; the fact that the flow of blood had not started to stem itself was not a good sign. He swallowed and shifted his position, moving Sherry’s body with him quietly, icy eyes flicking constantly from her to the door he’d barred as best he could in the scramble to get her to safety. Satisfied that no B.O.Ws appeared to be trying to break the door down yet, he let his gaze wander back to her face, scared of the ghostly palor she seemed to be taking on. “Come on, super girl,” he growled, patting her cheek with a blood soaked glove. “We’re both supposed to get out of here, it was my turn to escort your ass, remember?”

His voice cracked the slightest on the last word and he quickly cleared his throat.

“Goddamnit Sherry,” he rasped, words taking on a desperation. He took his hands from her shoulders long enough to pull his gloves off and start dabbing at the crimson splotches. It wasn’t hard for him to locate the gash that was the source of the oozing; it was wide and dark and lethal looking. “Fuck. Why the fuck isn’t it closing!”

He was shaking now, his fingers held uncertainly above her still frame, unsure of what to do for her. Sherry always just healed, that was just how things went. A slip up, a wound; Jake’s stifled but present panic, his worry, his instincts to take care of her would surface and he’d quash them down, detain them inside of his chest where the boiled and frothed with the helplessness he felt. All he could do was protect her from further hostiles while her virus did it’s work, and he hated it, hated having to listen to her moan and writhe in pain while he did nothing.

It was maddening, and now Jake realized just how fragile it all really was.

Sherry was not immortal; her blood couldn’t protect her forever, and it may have finally let her down.

He may have finally let her down.

“Goddamnit!” Jake yelled, one of his fists colliding with the solid concrete wall behind him. He looked down at her where she rested on his lap, and it struck him how small she was, how bright her blood was. He felt a sting in his eyes.

She stirred. A fluttering of soft blonde lashes, and a pitiful groan that sounded like music to his ears. Tired gray-blue eyes opened, though they were cloudy with confusion and pain, and did not immediately focus on him.

“Sherry,” Jake breathed in unadulterated relief. Her gaze met his for little more than a second before her face contorted in pain, lids closing once more. He gritted his teeth as he helplessly watched the gaping wound on her forehead slowly begin to close itself, blood gushing from it while she writhed against his knees. He grabbed her hand and felt her fingers curl tightly around his palm. “That’s it, super girl, you got this.”

The pain must have been excruciating, if the tears that welled up and escaped down one of her cheeks was of any indication. He wiped it away with a single swipe of his large thumb just as the virus finished it’s work, the cut disappearing without the slightest trace beneath her red-stained hair.

Sherry let out a sound close to a whimper when it was done, then slowly opened her eyes and looked up at him properly. A swell of affection ballooned in Jake’s stomach as he looked down at who was, without any doubt in his mind, the strongest, most badass woman he had ever met.

“Jake…?” she managed, one of her hands coming up to press against her aching skull, and the sound of her voice had him impulsively bending to press his lips against her temple, heedless of the dried up blood. Then he retreated and pushed some of her bloody hair out of her eyes, a forced, crooked smirk creeping onto his features despite the lingering fear inside him.

“Helluva a hangover, huh super girl?”

[rantceratops]

Random Prompt #1: Lesson

“Team,” Kaldur sighed. “What did we learn today?”

Artemis’s hand shot into the air. One of her eyes was swollen shut but the other darted over to a certain redhead with noticeable malice. He rolled his eyes at her, his split lip jutting out in a pout as her stormy eye flicked to Kaldur. “That Wally should never, ever be allowed within 100 meters of anything priceless and magical?”

As expected, an audible tut burst past Wally’s lips.

Here we go… Conner sighed through the mental link, but the blonde and redhead seemed oblivious as they focused their attention on one another.

“For the last time, it wasn’t magical!”

“Well, we won’t know if it was now or not, will we Kid Klutz?”

“Excuse me, but who’s arrow shattered the urn with some dead guy’s apparently enchanted corpse dust in it?” Wally shot back, his eyes rolling so hard that Kaldur thought they stood a reasonable chance of getting stuck inside his skull; the speedster’s derision was overt.

“Uh, yeah, because someone decided to choose the worst nanosecond possible to run between me and my target!”

“I can’t believe you’re trying to pin this on me!”

Artemis opened her mouth to retort, but Kaldur had had enough. One stern look from him immediately quelled their bickering, but they continued to shoot murderous glances at each other.

“Did anyone else learn anything tonight?” Kaldur prompted impatiently.

Dick’s hand shot into the air.

“We should have left Wally and Artemis in Japan so they’d be forced to get a room?”

“Dude!”

“Like I would even!”

Kaldur sighed deeply and pinched the bridge of his nose.