#ruble collapse

[narrative-theory]

Richard Wolff: The West's Major Miscalculations in the Ukraine War

My latest video upload: Richard Wolff: The West's Major Miscalculations in the Ukraine War https://youtube.com/shorts/VKLv6Bpk_2U?feature=share

[emma-d-klutz]

for the record, I'm not going to act like I've been betrayed by the Watcher boys. I'm not entitled to see their work for free if they don't want to do that.

But I do think this is a really stupid idea with a longstanding precedent as a really stupid idea

[newshare24]

Ruble collapse devalues currency to less than a penny

The ruble has come off its lows from earlier in the week after the central bank halted all foreign currency purchases for the remainder of the year, but it remains battered—and resources for preventing a further collapse are shrinking. On Friday, the central bank set the official rate at about 108 to the U.S. dollar. While that’s improved from Wednesday’s rate of 114 on the spot market, that’s…

[simpee9000]

Not Just Friends - 11 -

M.List : Previous Part : 6.7k words

Childhood best friends turned into something more, at least with the label. Katsuki Bakugo, a fast-rising hero and fast-learning guy who is ever so slow in getting attached to and loving someone. Even three long years into a relationship, and your friends even forget you're even dating. Nothing happening, spare a few kisses.. like 3 kisses, during high school. Graduated and living together, and you guys have done absolutely nothing to further the relationship. Are you sure you're not just friends? Also not edited!! CW: Smut, brief domestic violence discussion, virginity loss, aggressive flirting from creeps, gore with pro hero stuff (lmk if i missed any) Applies to all chapters regardless of it is in said chapter.

---

Small beeping machines filled the silence between you and Katsuki as you waited for the doctor to walk in. Your condition wasn't bad so you only had a small room that was used for typical check-ups. The only reason you got the room was to avoid the public due to the status you and Katsuki shared.

The only reason you were in the ER was because even over the course of two months and a handful of weeks, your injury from the break-in was still thin. All healed but the skin was still pink and raised. A wound that goes straight through never fully heals. Katsuki still had issues with his from first year.

You often woke up to him grasping his chest and reaching for pain meds in the middle of the night. Mumbling that he was fine and that you could go back to sleep.

With how closed off he was about his pain, it reminded you of high school, how he avoided any conversation that dared to mention his pain. If you even suggested a support item that put less strain on his arm, he would snap and tell you to do what he says.

Always claiming he didn't need your help.

In the second year, he broke his leg. More so, it shattered it. It was a stupid mistake on his part during a practical exam. He was helping a 'citizen' escape a collapsing building and tripped on the way out. Everything was fine before he tripped but his foot was caught under cement when a support beam fell on his leg.

He pushed the citizen out of the way before they got hurt, everyone saw him get crushed by the building instead. You were watching his class do the practice so you could get a closer look at what might help them.

The practical didn't stop for anyone else, his classmates helped him from the ruble, mainly Kirishima and Uraraka. Lifting the support beam off him and analyzing his condition before taking him out of the exam.

You met them in the hallway, seeing the way Katsuki bit his lip in pain, face entirely scrunched.

He passed out from pain when he was set down in Recovery Girl's room. She rushed you out after that, telling you that he'd be fine when he woke up.

When he did wake up, you were by his side to help him out of the bed. His entire leg was in a cast, that he'd luckily only have to wear a week. At first, he pushed you away and refused any help. But after he got settled in his dorm room, he gave in the slightest bit.

"This is fucking stupid."

"I know," you sighed, sitting next to him on his bed.

"I hate this."

"I know," you adjusted the pillow that was placed under his injured foot. Him lifting it to make it easy.

He sighed heavily, letting his head fall into his pillow.

"Are you in pain right now?" you asked softly, his face was scrunched as if he was in pain.

"No."

You placed your hand on his gently. He had his hands folded together on his stomach. "Do you wanna talk about it?"

"Not really."

You hummed, not knowing what path to take. He was always strange after he was in pain, always running from how he actually felt.

His hands opened for yours, grasping your fingers in his as he stared down at them. "Did you get that new book you were talking about?"

"Hm?" you shuffled to face your body towards him, careful of his legs as you sat on your own.

"The shitty romance one."

"Everything I read is shitty romance to you," you teased, "But yes, I grabbed it before school today."

"What is it now? The fifth fucking book?"

A gentle laugh left you, "Almost, it's the fourth one."

"God damn, you've been reading it since we were 10."

"You've been reading your comics since you could read and I don't tease you for it," you squeezed his hand playfully.

"Mines about blowing shit up, yours are about blowing people."

"Bakugo!" you flushed.

"What? M'Not wrong," he snickered.

"The third book is the only one that went there," you defend, "I only read that one last year. Shouldn't have told you about it."

"Didn't need to, literally caught you red-faced as you read it," he teased.

"Shut up!" you slapped at his shoulder with your free hand.

"It's not like that's the only book like that you read," he laughed, "You have thousands of that filth."

"Do not!"

"Do too!"

"Shut up!"

Katsuki settled his laughter. Thankfully letting the topic go.

He let go of your hands for a moment to wipe them on the bed next to him. He's always been paranoid of his sweat, you assumed a girl in middle school teased him for it and he's been embarrassed since. But you knew he'd never admit it, so you didn't bother to comfort him about it.

"Why do you read that stuff anyway?"

"What? Porn?" you flushed, not really wanting to talk to him about this. You've been dating for a month at this point. Your nerves were on edge at the thought of that territory. No amount of books could prepare you for taking that step with him. You weren't oblivious to how other relationships progressed, you knew how guys thought.

"No," he blushed, "Like the romance shit."

"Oh," you sighed, either in relief or disappointment that the untouched territory remained untouched. "I guess because it's thrilling?"

"How is that thrilling?"

"Like-" you fumbled your words for an example, "Our first kiss."

"What about it?"

"It was thrilling," you paused, embarrassed, "At least for me."

He hummed in agreement, letting you continue.

"Books do the same, in a way. It brings all the excitement and thrill you feel in real life if it's good enough. I get really immersed in it though, I read as if I'm actually there," you rambled.

"You crave that shit or something?"

"Romance?"

"Yeah."

"Of course I do, don't you?"

He changed the topic with a flush of red on his face, too proud to admit his emotions to anyone as he let his hands drop from yours.

The doctor entering your room now, in the present, ripped your thoughts off the past.

She greeted herself gently, talking to both you and Katsuki about your condition, "Thankfully it's only a surface burn, just needs a week or so to heal. Change the gauze after a shower and avoid getting water directly on it for the first couple of days."

Katsuki's shoulders sagged in relief as he ran his hands over his face.

You knew it wasn't bad, but he was worried. It obviously hurt like a bitch, but you weren't too concerned about it. He had it worse currently. You knew just from the face he was making now. He rushed you to the hospital after he realized what he did. Seeing you collapse onto the coffee table, gasping as you held your side in pain.

"If you could step out for a moment, I can finish checking her over and get you guys out of here," the doctor spoke calmly towards Katsuki, "Sir?"

He snapped his attention towards her, clearly having zoned out after she said you were okay, "What?"

"Would you mind waiting outside? We'll meet you on her way out after I ensure everything is set in place."

"The hell?" he pushed himself off the wall.

"I don't mind him being in here," you informed the doctor.

"It'd be best if he stepped out," she gave you a concerned look.

You sighed, she was kind and you didn't want Katsuki to get riled up, "Kats?"

He glared at you for a moment before giving in, "Fine." He walked out of the room with no extra fuss, grabbing your jacket for you on the way out. Making sure to stand so you could see him through the small window provided.

The doctor cleared her throat, "I have some protocol questions for you." You nodded your head for her to continue. She flipped a page on her clipboard, "Do you feel safe at home?"

"Yes," you took a breath in, prepared for the rush of questions.

She looked up from her clipboard, you already answered these questions with Katsuki near you. "This is a safe place, I understand his status might be frightening but I assure you-"

"Stop, he doesn't abuse me."

"Ma'am-"

"I'm safe at home, I promise. I know hero abuse cases are commonly untold but this isn't one," you knew that it was unfortunately common for heroes to get away with abuse. Abusing people who were scared of their status and denying any claims of it. They got away with it almost every time too.

"I apologize," she eyed you, still unsure of if you were telling the truth or not, "I'm just going on what's provided, the wound is shaped as a hand, on both sides."

You winced at the realization, hoping it wouldn't scar. Katsuki saw it already and you knew it didn't help his guilt. "Am I good to leave?" you huffed, annoyed that the healthcare thought your boyfriend abused you, and that your boyfriend thought he did too.

"Yes, but just know," she frowned, "Regardless if you need it or not, there are many resources available for help if needed."

While you were happy she cared and protected her clients, you felt horrible about leaving Katsuki alone to his thoughts. He likely knew the questions the doctor was asking, so you wanted to be by his side to assure him that wasn't what you thought of him in the slightest.

You followed all her steps to leave, having Katsuki tag along behind you until you got to the car. He opened the door for you, hesitating to help you sit down. Rather than offer a hand, he offered his forearm.

When he shut your door, going around to the driver's side, you let yourself relax. You hated hospitals with a passion. They always put you in the worst mood. The air was always stale, and tragedies were always happening in it. It reminded you that any day now, it'd be you facing those tragedies. Katsuki often made you sit in waiting rooms as he got healed from a nasty injury, and you hated it more each time.

But he was here now, that's all that matters. So you scolded your face as you smiled at him. Happy to have him sitting in the driver's seat next to you.

"I'm so glad to be out of there," you hummed. They gave you some pain meds to get through today, so you weren't in any pain. The situation didn't even bug you, though you knew others would disagree.

Katsuki shared no words as he started the car. He's hardly spoken since the two of you left the apartment. Only frantic questions to determine if you were okay or not.

"You okay?" you asked softly.

"Hm?" he hummed, entirely unfocused as he pulled the car out of the parking garage.

"Are you okay?"

"Mhm."

"Katsuki."

"What?"

"It's obvious you're not."

"M'tired," he shrugged.

You huffed in reply. Sure it was late, especially for him, but you knew that wasn't it. You knew somewhat what he was thinking already. You also knew how he would process it. He'd hold this guilt to himself until It was too much to carry himself, and he'd still carry it. His process was predictable but also unpredictable in the same ways. Sometimes he'd want you near, just your presence. Other times he wouldn't want you anywhere near him.

All you could do was show him he had someone if he wanted it. You'd avoid pushing him until you knew he needed it.

So in an attempt to do just that, you let the hand closest to his fall to reach his forearm and squeeze, a small squeeze that was just meant to show love.

He jolted away, moving away as if your hand was the touch of death.

"Sorry," you mumbled in shock, your hand reeled back and held to your chest in surprise. He's reacted negatively to your touch before, but nothing near this. It scared you about how he'd process this.

"Just-" he took a breath, flickering his eyes onto you for a moment before looking back at the road, "Don't."

"Okay."

---

Changing the gauze that night was awkward.

You called him into the bathroom once you were done with your shower and dressed. He padded into the room slowly, his head down as he got the gauze ready.

"You didn't take the wrapping off in the shower?" he asked once you lifted your shirt for him to see your sides.

"Um, no?" you looked down, "Just rip it off for me."

"I don't wanna hurt you," he shook his head.

With a huff, you carefully took your bandage off yourself. Peeling it off your skin before throwing it away. You hopped to sit on the counter, letting him get a clear view of your side.

The wince at your bare skin was obvious. His face furrowed, "You can't change it yourself?"

"Just change it, please? I can't get a good look at it."

"You can just use the mirror-"

"Bakugo," you scolded, "Just bandage it please?"

He huffed, looking from your side to the bandage, then to his hands. "Can I call Mei to do it?"

"You can't avoid touching me forever," you pointed out. 

"I'm not avoiding shit," he glared at you.

"Then change it yourself," you challenged.

He bit his tongue, obviously looking for another excuse to use, "Isn't this too personal?"

"Huh? Literally how?" you asked confused. Out of all the excuses he uses that one?

"I mean, I'm under your shirt-"

"These are your handprints-" you spoke without thinking, stopping when you saw his face drop further, "You've seen me get off, I don't think bandaging a burn on my side is too personal."

His face flushed, "Don't."

You took his warning and didn't bring up anything more 'scandalous' for his sake, "Can you just patch me up so we can go to sleep?"

He nodded before washing his hands off quickly, it reminded you of how he reacted to you. It was reassuring in its own way. It felt nice to know that you gave him butterflies even though he'd never admit it. He was so soft for you, it was sweet.

The wound didn't hurt too much as he put the gauze over both sides, bandaging it after. The drugs were doing their job, tomorrow you'd have to remember to take Advil or something to help.

Katsuki stared while he bandaged your side, traumatizing himself from how he hurt you.

Not wanting him to be in his head, you spoke, "Not too bad."

He offered his arm to help you off the counter, supporting your weight as you hopped down.

Even though you didn't need it, you let him help in the ways he wanted. Letting him pull back the sheets for you, and letting him tuck you in before going to his side. 

If you mentioned how much he was babying you, you knew he'd stop. You also knew that he would pout and fully push himself away from you. So you'd take what you would get.

He was being sweet after all, no harm in letting him continue like this.

"Thank you," you mumbled after he placed his phone down, alarm set for the next day. 

He grumbled out a noise of confusion before he shuffled to face you better. Wanting eye contact despite the dark room. 

"For fixing me up," you spoke softly.

Katsuki just kind of looked at you for a moment. Expressionless before a frown slowly turned his lips, "I'm the one that did it."

"It was a joint effort," you smiled, trying to lighten the moment.

"It's my handprints."

"That may be true but-"

"No buts."

"I was the only one pushing you to get so worked up," you defended him.

He rolled his eyes, moving to lay back down, "Doesn't matter, I know better."

Not wanting him to hold this to himself you tried to argue, "Kats-"

"Go to sleep," his voice was shot dry, only an inch of his actual emotion showing.

"Okay," you whispered. You lightly placed your hand on his back, trying to comfort him. His body trembled lightly.

He often shook when upset.

So you ran your hand soothingly up and down his back.

Despite his claims of wanting to be left alone, to not have any help, he fell asleep quickly with your hand rubbing his back. You followed suit. Letting your thoughts run wild.

You didn't get a single negative from the interaction, you were more so wrapped in the before. Before he burned your sides, which you knew he didn't mean to.

But before, he was kissing you with fever. Like a man starved. One simple challenge had him riled up. Grabbing onto you roughly to pull you closer to him. Letting you lick into his mouth before taking over the kiss more roughly. Moving his hands down so he could guide your hips.

If the moment didn't end so roughly, you liked to imagine the route it would take. The way he would groan into your lips. His arms flexed as you ran your hands over them, trying to grasp how real it could have been.

You'd let him have anything he was willing to take. You wanted him to want you, and in those small fleeting moments, he showed it. He showed just how much he wanted to ruin the both of you.

Sleep came easy, but with the arousal of your dream, you woke up at the small movement of him next to you.

It's only been an hour or two since you've fallen asleep, but you made yourself cozy. Ignoring the pain in your side to lay half on top of him. The movement you woke up to was him hugging you closer, his arms wrapped around you with the comfort of sleep on his mind.

You squeezed him tighter in response, selfishly soaking up the closeness while you could get it. Nudging your head into his neck to get closer to him.

"What are y'doing?" he mumbled, groggy with sleep.

With him awake you regretted your actions, he was a light sleeper when he was stressed. "Nothin," you murmured into his neck, leaving a light kiss.

"Doesn't feel like nothing," he hit his chin to your head, making you rise up, his hands falling off your body.

"I love you," you whispered, looking down at him slightly with how you hovered over his side.

He scrunched his nose, "What are y'doin?" he asked again.

You pecked at his face, leaving a light kiss on his nose before peppering kisses on his cheeks. The dream had you more loving than you'd like to admit. He was moving through the steps slowly but surely.

"Knock it," he grumbled. His hands stretched away from you in precaution. 

"You love it," you backed away for a moment to say, when you returned his face was warm, clearly flustered.

You moved your kiss closer to his lips until you hit them, kissing him softly for a moment before he gave in more. Letting you kiss him a couple of times before he locked your lips with his, biting your lip gently to keep you close. Your lips slowly moved together when you moved to get a better position. Your hips straddled his, just like it was in your dream, and just how you were before. Hands lightly cupping his cheeks as you kissed with loving intentions.

When you let your hands drift down to his chest, holding yourself up, you felt his heartbeat. It was racing against your touch, it ran a thrill through you, a smile gracing your lips as you kissed him a little harder.

His hands sparked up, grabbing your attention for a moment before you went to return to kissing. He has his hands placed far enough away that it couldn't hurt both of you. But his face was still scared. His lips kiss-swollen but his eyes were terrified.

"It's okay," you murmured, kissing him lightly, "I'm okay."

"My quirk-" he spoke between your lips.

"Can't hurt me," you stopped for a moment, "Just keep them over there, it's fine.

"The bed," he tried to find a way out.

With worry that he wasn't enjoying anything, you sat back, "We can buy new stuff," you tried to soothe, your hands running up and down his chest. He was breathing heavily. "If this is more worrying than anything, we can stop, Kats."

"Not scared?"

"Not in the slightest."

"Promise not to touch my hands?"

"I'd say pinky but that'd break it," you joked lightly.

He rolled his eyes, "Fine."

"Fine?"

"We can kiss, or whatever," his hands sparked, his eyes averted towards the ceiling.

"I know what you meant, but fine? Sounds like you're not into it, Kats-"

His hips rutted into you harshly, his feet bracing the movement, you lost your balance and were back to hovering over him. "Shuddup," he grumbled before lifting his head slightly, meeting you halfway. 

The thrill that you read for, lit up all your nerves. 

He was fully kissing you despite his quirk. He was fully kissing you. You think if he was more awake, and sat on the thought of hurting you again for longer, then he'd refuse. But he wasn't.

His movement early proved how into this he was. The length of him hard against his boxers. You were thankful that he was a hot sleeper, the thin clothing letting you feel all of him. You've seen him before, felt him underneath you before, but this felt better somehow. It was probably the reassurance that his quirk was fully there. Going off every couple of moments or after a particularly rough kiss. 

Each spark heightened the thrill of it all. 

His lips were pressed against yours, his tongue slipping between to catch you by surprise.

Your hands traced over his chest but settled on his biceps, feeling them twitch roughly before each bout of his quirk.

"I fuckin' love you," he muttered against you. Voice rough with the kiss.

You couldn't help the smile that crossed over your features as you moved your hips over his. Starting the cherished moment that you lost hours ago.

"I love you too, Kats," you whispered into his mouth. 

He groaned at the action, "Wanna touch you."

A spark shot up your spine when you heard his quirk go off again. You needed a breath and with the way his chest was heaving, you could tell he needed one as well. So you took greedy breaths in as you trailed kisses down his jaw and to his neck. Leaving pink marks behind that you knew would bruise. 

The state he was in right now was disorienting, but encouraging. He looked wrecked. His head tilted back so you could kiss more of his throat. His arms strained and fist clenched as he refused to risk touching you. It made you want more. So as selfishly as this started, you continued down that path the same way you continued down his chest. Leaving marks on his pecs before you shifted your body to kiss further down.

"What are y'doing?" he mumbled, tilting his head down to look at you, wanting you closer.

Talking about what you were planning was more embarrassing than doing it. "Can I suck you off?" you asked quickly.

He rolled his head back, "Jesus Christ."

You swallowed nervously, "Can I?" if he rejected you now, it'd be humiliating, but you'd listen.

He tilted his head back down again, looking into your eyes. "Skipping a couple bases, aren't you?"

You sat up straight again, getting more composed than before as you sat on his thighs. "Well yeah- but if you want me to jack you off first-"

A loud spark of his quirk shut you up. "Can't just say that," he hissed.

"Well, what do you want me to do?"

"You don't have to do anything."

"But what do you want?" you pushed.

You watched as his atom's apple bobbed as he swallowed, "Anything you're willing."

"But you commented on me skipping bases-"

"We can do those later," he cut you off, flustered.

You hummed, leaning back into his space and kissing his lips. Steadily going back into making out with him again. Moving your hands off his arms, squeezing at his muscles as you made your way down. Still working your lips against him as you slipped your hand underneath his boxers.

His entire body was tense as you moved down, but he jolted lightly when you wrapped your hand around him. The touch was probably still foreign to him. Knowing that he's only gotten off once with his own hand. You knew what he looked like from head to toe, but now you knew what he felt like. A steady vein on the underside, connecting to his tip. Veins lightly graced the rest of him. Not only did his dick surprisingly look good, but it made you want more.

When he bit your lip, you remember to focus on the kiss again. Your tongue tangled with his as you moved your hand over him before you moved it away, taking him out of his boxers for more movement.

Returning with less nerves than before. Grasping him lightly before you ran your hand fully over his dick.

After a few motions of your hand, it was clear he was losing it. The motion became familiar quickly so you were able to focus on his reactions. His hips were gently rocking into your hand. Letting you pump his length as he kissed you messily.

He was entirely unfocused, groaning into the kiss in a desperate attempt to keep you close. To give you anything he would.

"Wanna touch you," he whined into the kiss, hips rutting into your hand quicker.

"I know," you mumbled back.

His abs were tensing and untensing constantly, his hands doing the same.

You were surprised he was lasting this long. Probably more stuck in his head rather than the moment. Hardly even noticing when you stopped kissing him, he started breathing heavier.

Steadying your nerves was difficult as you moved further down his body, placing a kiss on each of his abs gently.

He was out of it, his hips rutting desperately to reach the high he craved.

Throwing yourself into your actions was commonly something you did, so it was only fair you did it now. Hesitantly placing a kiss on his tip when you were able, continuing to pump your hand along his length. It was just the extra push he needed, a broken moan left his lips and his hips slowed as he came in your hand. Quirk going off loudly.

"Fuckin' hell," his voice was shot.

It was unintentional, but he came over your lips, covering parts of your face in his cum. You couldn't blame him, it was as unannounced as you kissing his dick. So you continued to slowly pump your hand. 

"Enough," he basically whined.

Seeing him this wrecked was horrible, it made you want him more. But with a look at the alarm clock on his side, you knew he needed sleep. So you pulled away, moving to sit up straight. Wiping his cum off your lips with the back of your hand.

"Where y'going?" he grumbled, voice rough and eyes half-lidded when he managed to open them.

"Bathroom," you mumbled, you would kiss him, but you didn't want to disgust him.

When the small amount of light from the windows hit your face, his eyes widened, quirk popping off again.

"What?"

"Your face," he choked out, "Sorry."

You laughed lightly, "It's fine."

"Did it get in your mouth-"

"No."

"So you didn't taste-"

"No," you laughed at his questions, leaning down to whisper in his ear, "didn't want spoilers."

His quirk popped off as he moved his head to connect your lips. Wincing away after a moment.

"What?" you asked concerned.

"Don't fucking taste that," his face was sour.

You laughed at his face, moving off him to grab a towel from the bathroom. Cleaning your face before tossing him a wet rag. Him catching it easily from where he was sitting on the bed. "Sorry," he mumbled out.

"Hm?" you hummed, not entirely hearing him.

"Can't get you off and shit," he grumbled.

You laughed lightly, "We'll work around to it eventually I hope, if not, I'm happy just like this with you."

His frown deepened, quickly putting himself back in his boxers before you sat by his side again.

But you paused at the side of the bed. Where his hands were lying was burnt to pieces, a hole being singed into the mattress.

---

Unfortunately, you had work the next day. Though you could use the day off, you didn't want to get behind on work. Or spend another day alone in the apartment. Katsuki left without a goodbye. Only a short text saying he was at work. That was sent two full hours before he normally went in.

You shuffled into your office as usual, looking over the text again. Trying to wrap your head around his behavior since the hospital. It made complete sense for him to be wavery of his quirk, but you've never seen his quirk go off for small touches and he was avoiding those after you returned to bed. Having romance off the table for a while was fine, but everything else? That would be harder to live with. You shared small touches ever since you can remember, so going without that would be beyond weird.

The last two months were like that, and you didn't want to go back to that in the slightest. Sure your career progressed a lot, but you liked having Katsuki around. Even though he hardly gave them, his hugs were the highlight of your week. He flushed anytime you said that, and you didn't want him to take that away.

"What the fuck?"

Mei's pissed-off tone dragged your attention off your phone.

"Huh?"

"You fucking broke up with Bakugo?" she glared at you.

"What are you talking about?" you continued to your desk, throwing your stuff on it without a care.

"Why are you limping?" she did a quick scan over you.

"Sprained ankle," you shrugged off, she already seemed pissed enough, telling her Katsuki blew a hole in your side wouldn't help.

"Deserved, probably broke his heart."

"Since when did you care about his heart?" you glared at her, annoyed at the way she was taking your 'break up.' She was supposed to be your best friend, not his.

"Since you wrongfully broke it."

"He's fine-"

"Deku said he has been moping around all day."

You stopped for a moment, "He has?" you'd need to call him during your lunch break if so.

Mei threw her hands up, "Yes! Obviously! His girlfriend of three years dumped him because she can't get off!"

"Mei, you were telling me just a couple of days ago that I should dump him for that."

"I didn't mean it! There's plenty of other ways to get your rocks off."

"I don't want to hear about it," you cringed.

"You could probably make one-"

"Mei!"

The rest of the day followed on a similar footing. Not so much as ways to get off, but questions on why you and Katsuki broke up. People stopped by constantly asking about it, trying to get their taste of the office gossip.

They took your winces of pain as sadness, somehow, saying apologies and asking their questions after.

You couldn't catch a break, when you called Katsuki he let the call go straight to voicemail. Taking away your small bit of peace.

It made you leave work early, tired of the questions and wanting to meet Katsuki sooner rather than later. You also forgot to take pain meds to deal with your side, so you felt horrible. Regretting slightly how late you stayed up.

In a similar manner of how you entered work, you threw your keys on the table and stepped into the living room. Seeing Katsuki's stalk blonde hair.

"Kats," you placed your hands on his shoulders in greeting. Surprising him from behind the couch.

He jumped out of his skin at the feeling, "When'd you get home?" he turned to you frantically.

"Just a second ago? Did you not hear me?" he could normally sense someone's presence a mile away.

"No," he frowned, turning back away from you, shrugging your hands off his shoulders.

You frowned, moving around the couch to sit next to him, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," he dismissed, looking down at his phone. Headlines with his name filled his screen, all negative.

"Z' said you've been moping."

"Nerd doesn't know shit."

"Katsuki, it's obvious."

"No, it ain't."

"Really?"

"I'm fine, knock it."

---

Though you hoped that he was just grouchy and sleep-deprived that day, he continued to be off. Obviously not fine, even a week after everything.

He was constantly avoiding your touches, no matter how small he jumped away from them. The light touches you used to place on his arms, even before the watch, were no longer okay.

Fully distant and he made no move to talk about it no matter what.

You tried to make small nudges towards him but he wasn't having it.

It was like you truly were just friends at this point. Even with you stood behind him as he cooked for the two of you, in your home together.

"Are you not going to talk to me?" you asked after the silence got too heavy for you to bear.

"What is there to talk about?"

You rolled your eyes, "You act like I shocked you when I was just grabbing the plate next to you."

"What about it?"

"Bakugo."

He turned to face you, abandoning the vegetables he was chopping. With the opening you stepped closer to him, cornering him into the counter.

"What are you doing?"

Slowly, you reached for his hands that were clenched at his sides.

"Stop," he moved his hands further behind him.

"Kats," you spoke softly, voice broken. Seeing the one you loved since elementary school back away from you hurt. For them to act like your touch was poison? It was a different type of pain that was heart-wrenching.

He was taking every step backward. Even in high school, he let you hug him, but now it was nothing. You didn't want that. Not in the slightest.

"Can you back up?"

You shook your head, looking down to gather yourself a touch more.

"You can't do this Kats."

"Do what?"

Tears brimmed your eyes when you looked up, "You said you were going to try."

"Yeah? Then I fuckin' burned you," his voice was rough, eyes were just as watery as your own.

"I'm fine-"

"You weren't."

"What about after that? You let me touch you then."

"It was a mistake."

You stepped back, thrown for a loop at what he said. "A mistake?

He swallowed nervously, "No- I meant me risking it. That was the mistake. Nothin' else."

"But you didn't even hurt me?"

"You saw the hole I left in the mattress. If I moved my hand for even a second, that would have been you."

You huffed, "Running away from it won't help."

"Don't care, not risking hurting you."

"I care Katsuki," you reached for him again, grabbing his hands even with his reluctance, "You never hurt me before with simple touches."

"I don-"

"Even in middle school, you let me hug you. Before all the training," you tried, "You know your limits."

"I thought I did," he spoke as if he was a failure.

"Because you do, I just pushed them. Look, no watch and no flirty touching?" you asked, begging internally.

He furrowed his brows, looking down at your hands, debating. He was giving in and it lightened the weight you felt on your shoulders, "Are you okay with that?"

"Yes, I just can't deal with none of you. I need your hugs," you laughed lightly, trying to brighten the mood with a tease at him.

"Fine," he sighed.

You hugged him tightly at the opening, thrilled that he agreed. Even if you were pushed off him moments after, his hands being held away from you to keep you safe.

---

Being back at square one was strange. The two of you figuratively danced around each other. Fleeting touches as if you were just friends. The romance was ripped from the relationship regardless of the agreement. You said no flirty touching, but every touch felt flirty.

It had you staring at him in longing.

"What?" he snapped after you stared at him for a solid minute. He was just trying to wash the dishes.

"Can we kiss?" you asked without a thought.

The plate he delicately held blew up into pieces.

"Fuck," he glared at you as he threw away the pieces of glass, "No."

"Come on," you pushed lightly, "You only sparked up when we kissed last because things went further."

He rolled his eyes, "Ain't risking it."

"We don't have to risk anything, you can hold your hands behind your back or something," you suggest, "Can't hurt the air."

"No."

"Can we try once?" you pleaded.

"You agreed no flirty touching."

"It's less flirty and more loving," you tried.

"Bullshit."

"Please, Kats?"

He glared at you for a moment, biting his lip in thought, "Will it make you shut up?"

"Yes."

"C'mere."

You pushed yourself closer to him, lifting yourself off your chair so you could lean far enough across the counter to meet him. You felt stupid when he only gave you a peck.

"Really?" you huffed.

"You said a kiss," he shrugged, washing the dishes with a smirk. Obviously happy that he annoyed you.

Even though he was happy he annoyed you, he seemed more happy about the kiss than you. Any interaction after that ended with a kiss.

Adding it onto his morning goodbyes, even with you sleepily accepting his small touch of love. Leaving a small kiss on your cheek was also another go-to of his.

He merged it into his daily routine and you couldn't be happier that you pushed him to do it. You often felt like you were pushing him too far, breaking through his consent. It made you feel horrible. The only thing that kept you from caving in on yourself was that he voiced many times that he loved touching you in any way possible, his only fear was his quirk.

That was the only reason you kept pushing, he'd tell you to fuck off if he wanted you to.

So you kissed him for longer each time.

When you got too into it, he'd gently pull away, "Can't."

"I know," you replied softly, your pain must have been obvious.

"I would trust me-"

"I know," you smiled at him. You didn't want him to feel bad about something he couldn't control.

He huffed, clicking his tongue in annoyance at himself, "Wish I could use this fuckin' watch. Then I could fuckin' do something."

You eyed his watch, "What exactly did the doctor say?"

"Hah?"

"About your watch?"

"Said I shouldn't have my quirk fully off."

"So you can have your quirk partially off safely?"

"Fuck do I know, why does it matter?"

"Well if your quirk is mainly off, you couldn't hurt me."

He eyed you for a moment, "So I can use it again?"

You looked at his watch-clad wrist in debate, "Once the doctor clears it, yes."

"Fuckin' finally," he smiled, kissing you roughly in excitement, "You have no idea the things Imma do to you," he whispered into your lips.

---

-Next Part-

In them m.list of this fic (I won't add you otherwise, sorry) comment if you want to be added into a tag list <3

@supersecretsamm @maeveorsomethinggg @zoast32 @54fangirl @ellielover69 @aomi04 @mithicakurogo @ez4raa @suki0 @wildernessflora @dumbbitchenergy17 @schniti-is-in-the-house @xbieditz @poemzcheng @jaxyy219 @truwaifu @111june111 @eyesforbkg @mushroomsneedystuff @kazuumii @keiva1000 @atashiboba @ofcqdesi @americasass1942 @kaboomkayla @ilovedenk-i @iamyoursonly @albakugo @fairiesgloss @limitedstar @i-bitch-you-bitch @drageonix24 @sinyaaa @oddball08 @imsuperawkward @lomlchi @anime-manga-fanatic @irlpadfoot @chocoyanchan @gollumsmygel @yuptha-tsme @icedemon1314 @alstrums @andysdrafts @your-mum3000

[slayfics]

Katsuki saves you.

You felt anger boil up inside of you. You promised yourself you'd never cause Katsuki any trouble, but here you were captured by some villains bound to a chair.

They had purposely kidnapped you to use you as bait for Katsuki, and now were holding a camera to your face.

"Do it! Call for him!" They demanded.

They had set up the building as a trap specifically to counter his explosions. Now they were sending out their location and filming you as a way to provoke him to come.

"I SAID DO IT!" One of the villains said grabbing a hand full of your hair as the other continued to film. "Call for him to come and save you!"

"Katsuki- stay away it's trappe-" You started to say to the camera but just as you spoke the villain pulled you down pining your head against the floor. The chair broke at the strength that the villain had used to throw you down.

Another villain now stepped on your back crushing the air out of your lungs, while the other kept the phone camera in front of your face. Your cheek had burst open at the force of your face hitting the floor and blood now stained the concrete below you.

"LAST CHANCE! TELL HIM TO COME SAVE YOU!" The villain yelled.

The other villain pressed even harder on your back, to the point that you were seeing stars now. You weren't able to get any air into your lungs.

"Katsuki-" you yelled in a voice that didn't sound like your own as you used up the last of your breath.

Everything started to blur and you weren't sure of how much time had passed but just as you were beginning to slip into unconsciousness you felt a burning warmth touch your face. The room was illuminated with a bright light.

You saw it before the sound had met your ears. Ruble exploded every which way into the building, finally the sounds caught up to your ears but only left a sharp ringing.

The explosion had left you momentarily blind, but you could feel that the pressure on your back had been released. You gasped for air quickly filling up your lungs again.

You could hear more explosions and yelling go off around the room, but your vision hadn't returned yet. You tried to sit up on your knees but collapsed back down not having the strength. You continued to take breaths and try to regain yourself.

The next thing you felt was a familiar embrace.

"Are you badly hurt?" Katsuki asked panting, as he pulled you into a sitting position in his arms.

You tried to look up at him, but your vision was still entirely lost.

"Katsuki?" You asked.

"Yeah, it's me," He responded analyzing you concern overwhelming him with the state you were in. Had he been too late? He noticed how your eyes helplessly scanned the room as if they couldn't focus on anything.

"I can't see," you responded.

"That's probably my fault from the explosions- Your vision will come back I promise," He said, and as he spoke you started to be able to vaguely make out shapes. The first thing you saw was his recognizable spiky hair.

"I'm so sorry Kats-"

"No don't this is my fault, they were after you because of me." He spoke hastily cutting you off.

"That- That was so scary-" You said honestly feeling the shock from the event begin to wear off and tears swell in your eyes.

"I know, I know, I'm so sorry," he said pulling you into a tight embrace. "I was worried this would happen- I think that maybe you need to leave me," He spoke.

"What-?!" You exclaimed astonished blinking away tears. "No- No! I don't want that! I'd go through this a hundred more times just to be with you- you idiot," You yelled back.

"But they took you because of me-"

"And you saved me! Maybe they did take me because of you but I know one thing for certain- no one on this Earth would protect me as well as you Katsuki."

Katsuki looked away from your intense gaze blinking away tears of his own.

Finally, letting out a laugh he looked back down at you. “Of course, what was I thinking. One of those villains must have kicked me in the head or something. I promise I won’t ever let his happen to you again.”

[in1-nutshell]

Elita One's twin sister with the personality of SG! Blackarachnia with reactions from Team Prime

This is a continuation of the previous request.

SFW, Angst, Hurt and Comfort, Romantic hinted, Cybertronain (techno organic) reader

TFA

Winter had rolled in for the season.

Optimus had been very closed off since the interaction with the Spider Con. The team had tried to get him to talk about it, but he didn’t want to.

Not yet at least.

He wanted some time to think about this.

Buddy clearly didn’t want to be found by the Elite Guard, which to a degree made sense, especially since she had sided with the Decepticons.

His team however took the silence as something else.

They thought that the spider had done something horrible to their leader for him to be so reclusive.

“What do you think the Con did?”--Bumblebee

“Maybe they scared him? He is scared of spider’s.”--Bulkhead

“It can’t be that! That Con is too nice.”--Sari

“Oh, please! All Cons are bad!”--Bumblebee

“Not this one! You saw what happened last time! She saved me, twice!”--Sari

Suddenly Fanzone started calling.

One of the older buildings in the city had started collapsing and people were still inside.

“We are on our way!”--Optimus

“Well, I hope so, you’re friend went inside to help but they haven’t gone out yet.”--Fanzone

“Wait friend?”--Optimus

“You guys got a new Bot on the team, right?”--Fanzone

“Fanzone, we don’t have any recruits…”--Optimus

“Then who just went in there and started getting people out? That seems like a very Autoboty thing to do.”--Fanzone

“Wait, can you describe the Bot who went in?”--Optimus

“Umm… white, orange, a bit on the skinny side for a bot—”--Fanzone

“Fanzone this is important, did you see something spiky poking out of the back side?”--Optimus

“Yeah—Hello? Prime?”--Fanzone

Optimus sprinting out the door with his team following behind him.

The old building had cracks all around the sides, deeper ones at the top were created by the snowfall piling up on the roof.

Right now, their main concern was to get the humans out of the building before addressing the new bot somewhere.

A huge part of the building started coming down.

That’s when Optimus heard the yelling.

Without a second thought, he jumped into the collapsing building despite his team yelling otherwise.

Ratchet deciding, he had enough of staying in the sidelines charged in after the young Prime, using his magnets to get rid of stary debris.

Optimus kept on following the now muffled sounds of screaming until he got to the middle of the building.

Buddy was pinned on the floor with a huge chunk of the ceiling on her pedes, there was a pile of snow partially burying her helm.

“HELP! HELP! Please, someone!”--Buddy

“Buddy! Buddy, I’m right here!”--Optimus

“Optimus!? Optimus! I’m stuck! I can’t move! I can’t move!”--Buddy

“Its going to be okay Buddy!”--Optimus

As Optimus starts getting the debris out the ceiling starts cracking.

“No… not again… not again…”--Buddy

“Buddy just hold on! Keep talking to me!”--Optimus

“Its going to fall… Its going—”--Buddy

“It’s not going to fall on you Buddy. I will not let that happen, I promise you will get out of here! But right now I need you with me. Can you do that?”--Optimus

Buddy, close to tears, nodding, trying to help as much as she could.

Ratchet finally came in to see Prime trying to get rid of the debris from the Con.

Now normally he would try and get Prime out of there, the con wasn’t worth it.

Cons were harder to kill than the Earth’s roaches.

But he saw the determined and terrified look on his faceplate trying to keep the Con awake and getting the debris out with one servo while propping the con to lean on his.

He used his magnets to lift a bit of the ruble.

It was enough for Prime to pull the con out and gather them in his arms and the three got out just as the rest of the ceiling started caving in.

Buddy had passed out as soon as they all made it out of the building.

 Prime quickly started running towards the plant with the other 4s in tow.

Everyone was confused but followed the Prime.

There was a lot of protest to have the Con come into their home, but Prime wasn’t having it.

“We can’t have a Con know where we live!”--Prowl

“Prowl’s right! Look Prime I’m agreeing with him!”--Bumblebee

“She isn’t going to tell anything.”--Optimus

“And how do you know that?”--ratchet

“It’s not like you know her Prime! How do you know what she is or is not going to do?”--Prowl

“…”--Optimus

“Guys, she might be a Con and all, but look at her! She is hurt and she tried to save a bunch of humans. I don’t think a Decepticon would do all that without a good reason. I say we give it a chance.”--Sari

“Really, Sari!?”--Prowl

“I agree with her.”--Bulkhead

“Bulkhead?!”--Prowl

“Me too.”--Bumblebee

“…”--Ratchet

“Still—”--Prowl

“THAT’S ENOUGH! If anything, bad happens to this team it will fall on me and you can have the last ‘I told you so’ if something bad does happen! Right now Buddy needs help and I don’t—I don’t…”--Optimus

“…You do know them…”--Prowl

“I’ll get the medbay ready Kid. You take her in when I say it’s okay.”--Ratchet

Ratchet didn’t know what history Prime had with this Con, but he was choosing to trust the Prime.

Thankfully the wounds looked worse than what they really were.

Optimus told the team a short version of the story between him and Buddy, while Buddy rested.

“The three of us thought she was dead when we left that planet. When we met again not too long ago, it turned out that the organic part of her had masked her signature…”--Optimus

“And that’s why you could find her?”--Prowl

“Yeah…”—Optimus

“What happened to you guys when you got to Cybertron?”--Sari

“I… I took the blame—”--Optimus

“You did what?!”—Bulkhead

“Optimus!”—Bumblebee

“Prime!”--Ratchet

“I felt it was my fault and I took all the blame so Elita and Sentinel could continue with their training and end up in the Elite Guard.”

“That’s how you ended up on Space bridge repair.”--Ratchet

“Yeah…”--Optimus

“Well, if we are getting everything out now, I know that bot too.”--Ratchet

“Wait you know Buddy?”--Optimus

“Does everyone know this Bot? Bulk you know them?”--Bumblebee

“Nope.”--Bulkhead

“Good I’m not the only one.”--Bumblebee

“As I was saying, she used to come into some of the clinics to help when things were a bit hectic. She studied under me while she was taking her medical exams. She always said it was all for her friends.”--Ratchet

“Did she now?”--Optimus

“You three numb nuts always got hurt in the worst ways doing the dumbest stuff. What do you think I needed to do?”--Buddy

Buddy leaning on the wall.

“Kid! What are you doing up?! Are your circuits fried!”--Ratchet

“Not yet Doctor…”--Buddy

“Wait how much did you hear?”--Optimus

“Enough to make me wish I was at full strength so I could pummel you for taking the blame!”--Buddy

“But—”--Optimus

“Hold it Prime! And then punch Sentinel in his big chin and kick Elita in the behind!”--Buddy

“Buddy why don’t you sit down.”--Ratchet

“…Fine.”--Buddy

A blizzard had been forming outside.

Prime absolutely banned Buddy from going out in that weather.

Buddy really couldn’t complain.

Now she was stuck in the Autobot base until the storm at least passed.

She was constantly watched.

Many bots did try and question her, but to her surprise Optimus shut that down immediately.

Sari was the first one to approach her.

She didn’t have to fear this Con. Buddy had helped her before and had helped those people get out of the building.

She wasn’t a bad guy.

Bulkhead, a believer in second chances also jumped at the chance to connect with Buddy.

“What do you do for fun?”--Sari

“Fun?”--Buddy

“Yeah! Like watch movies, play games, that stuff.”--Sari

“Well, I do like looking at art sometimes.”--Buddy

“You like paintings!?”--Bulkhead

“Yes?”--Buddy

“I have some, you wanna see?”--Bulkhead

“Sure.”--Buddy

“Full warning Buddy, but they aren’t exactly… well you’ll see.”--Bumblebee

“Umm… okay?”--Buddy

“Here it is! What do you think.”—Bulkhead

Bulkhead presenting a painting full of colors.

“…Bulkhead…”--Buddy

“If you’re gonna say it stinks—”--Bulkhead

“Woah, woah, woah! Who said anything about it stinking? Art is in the optic of the beholder after all. I like the hues you used and the brush strokes you did here. I’m just sorry I can’t take this with me!”--Buddy

“You’re just saying that.”--Bulkhead

“What no! Why would I do that?”--Buddy

“You really like it?”--Bulkhead

“Bulkhead I wish I could bring it with me.”--Buddy

Bulkhead looking at Prime.

“Where have you been keeping them from me.”--Bulkhead

Bumblebee soon joined in showing Buddy some of his video games and may or may not have asked for some stories about the old Boss bot.

Buddy was happy to comply with that much to Optimus’s dismay.

“You have any stories about Boss-Bot?”--Bumblebee

“That’s not important—”--Optimus

“Absolutely!”--Buddy

“Buddy, no.”--Optimus

“Buddy, yes. Sit down kid, I got a whole bunch of stories. If you tell me a funny story about Optimus here from the time here on Earth, I’ll even throw in a story about Sentinel too.”--Buddy

“So, there was this time Optimus tried swinging from the rooftops one time and fell into the harbor.”--Bumblebee

“Bumblebee!”--Optimus

“Kid you are officially on my good side.”--Buddy

“Buddy…”--Optimus

“Yes…”--Buddy

“You wouldn’t…”--Optimus

“And what if I do?”--Buddy

“No… not that one!”--Optimus

“Yes, that one! Now Prime here—”--Buddy

Optimus tackling Buddy down.

Ratchet joined in after checking over Buddy’s wounds again. He is glad to see one of his unofficial official students are still kicking.

Prowl joined in when she retold some of her adventures on this planet without the Cons. The two ended up having an in-depth conversation about rocks.

“Thank you Ratchet. Prime needs to remember some of us are still injured.”--Buddy

“Again, I said I’m sorry!”--Optimus

“Yeah, yeah.”--Buddy

“… You’re the Decepticon’s new medic aren’t you.”--Ratchet

“…How did you know?”--Buddy

“Call it a hunch… and you have several tools in your subspace with several rocks.”--Ratchet

“Rocks?”--Prowl

“Yeah, it’s a past time of mine. I think the humans call it a ‘rock collection’.”--Buddy

“Can I see?”--Prowl

Buddy popping one of her subspaces and taking out all sorts of rocks.

After the conversation, Sari declared it a movie night. Optimus was the last one to sit down.

The only place left was next Buddy.

Buddy looked at Optimus and patted the spot next to her, he sat down.

Neither of them looked at each other for a bit.

As the movie continued, Buddy took a glance at him seeing the sad look on his face.

She reached out and grabbed his servo.

“Thank you.”--Buddy

“Hm? For what?”--Optimus

“You kept your promise. You came for me.”--Buddy

“… I… I…”--Optimus

“It’s okay Prime. I forgave you a long time ago.”--Buddy

Optimus sniffling a bit while squeezing Buddy’s servo in response.

Buddy leaning her helm on his shoulder.

Prime moves a bit closer, just glad to have his friend back.

This was a start, a small one, but a start.

Buddy left the base that night while everyone went to recharge to go and meet up with the Cons.

She left a note telling them where she went and thanks for the help.

Right now, Buddy had another problem to deal with.

“Hey I’m back—”--Buddy

Buddy getting plowed to the ground by Blitzwing.

“Where were you?!”—Hot head

“Are you hurt?!”--Icy

“Did you make snow bots?”—Random

“I’m fine—“—Buddy

Lugnut running in and pulling Buddy into a crushing hug.

“Buddy, you have been gone for too long! Too many things have happened since you left!”--Lugnut

Starscream walking in and sighing in relief.

“Finally, you decided to come by. As your second in command, I demand you to tell us where have you been.”--Starscream

“Well, I got caught in the snowstorm—”--Buddy

“Snowstorm?!”—Blitzwing, Lugnut, Starscream

“Do you know how dangerous that was?!”—Starscream

“You could have been offline if—“--Blitzwing

“Yes? I know that, but I’m fine now.”--Buddy

“Yeah, one of you has to tell Lord Megatron now.”--Starscream

“Megatron? Wait is he mad?”--Buddy

“Not exactly, he has been worrying where you have been, which you still haven’t told us yet!”--Lugnut

“What is all this blundering—Buddy?”--Megatron

“Hello My Lord—”--Buddy

“…”--Megatron

Lugnut releasing Buddy from his hold as she stands up straighter.

“I’m sorry for being so late. I got caught in the snowstorm and I had to wait it out until I could leave.”--Buddy

Megatron walking up to Buddy stopping in front of her.

“Megatron?”--Buddy

Megatron picks up Buddy into his arms and carrying her to the medbay.

“Starscream get the heat pads! Blitzwing help him! Lugnut lock the doors!”--Megatron

“Megatron! There is no—”--Buddy

“If you say that ‘there is no need for this’, I will further put you under base arrest.”--Megatron

“What?!”--Buddy

“I will do it. Do not test me.”--Megatron

“Fine…”--Buddy

Megatron reaching to the medbay and closing the doors.

“…You did give us all a fright when you did come back… especially with the drop in temperature.”--Megatron

“Megatron—”--Buddy

“No. Let me finish. Buddy, we were worried. I was worried.”--Megatron

“Why were you worried? I’m just one medic in your army. I don’t--”--Buddy

“You are not just some medic!”--Megatron

“Then?”--Buddy

“You…I…”--Megatron

“Yes?”--Buddy

“I—”--Megatron

Lugnut kicking down the door.

“I have successfully locked the doors, Lord Megatron!”--Lugnut

Megatron looking like he is about to scream.

“Thank you…Lugnut…”—Megatron

Buddy giggling a bit in the background.

[pastelghoul]

Three Simple Words - Kylo Ren x Reader

Imagine Kylo Ren breaks your heart and doesn’t seem to care

There you stood, tired but with a stoic look on your face, glaring at the man you now called the Supreme Leader. He stood ahead of you, looking out into the vacuum of space; the stars twinkled so brightly against the darkness, beautiful in their own destruction as they burnt up thousands of lightyears away.

“Tell me you love me, Kylo.” You said firmly, watching him intently. Yet there was no reply. As though you didn’t even exist to him.

“Kylo, i need to hear you say it. Tell me, please.” Again your pleas were met with silence.

“Fine. I won’t stand here and let you use me as your play-thing any longer. We’re through.” You turned around to walk away, only getting so far before his voice brought you to a halt.

“Ok.” He said nonchalantly, not even turning around to face you.

Venomous, boiling hot anger rose up inside of you, bubbling in the pit of your stomach and threatening to choke you as you fought the urge to scream at him.

Spinning around, you marched up to him and forced him to turn around and face you. That stupid mask blocked his face from your view.

“Take that damned thing off.”

Calmly, slowly, he removed the helmet with a mechanical hiss, placing it on the table beside him. Once he turned to face you, you laid into him.

“How dare you, you toy with me, humiliate me in front of staff, make me out to be a fool, your play-thing to be-“ you were cut off as his lips crashed into your own, his hands forcefully cupping your face as you stood on your tip-toes to reach him.

Normally you’d melt into his embrace, welcoming the aggressive show of affection, however not today. You pushed him off of you, glaring death at him.

“I am not yours to be toyed with. I have waited so long for you to say those three words, every time you brush me off as though it doesn’t matter. Well it does matter - to me. If i mattered to you at all, you’d give me those three simple words.”

Kylo looked down at you, brows furrowed as his eyes scanned your face. Then he cupped your face gingerly with one hand, lifting your chin with the other.

“I don’t care.” Tears brimmed your eyes, threatening to spill over. How could he? For months you’d been by his side, his intimate confidant, only for him to turn around and say it meant nothing?

“You’re a monster!” You cried, ripping away from his grasp. “How could you act like what we had meant nothing to you?” You nearly choked on your tears, the feeling of your body being torn apart with three simple words was almost too much to handle.

If you knew loving someone could hurt this badly, like the feeling of your entire being collapsing in on itself, tearing apart from the inside out as your heart pounded with a fiery, sorrowful ache, why you’d have never allowed yourself to fall for him in the first place.

Your throat tightened as did your chest, an endless array of thoughts rushing through your head of what-ifs and why. Why he chose you to torment mercilessly for months, why he chose you to intimately torture at late hours of the night, why he chose to make you fall for him.

“When you’re finished, get out.” Kylo said, grabbing his helmet and brushing past you as though you were just another member of the sanitation crew.

Outside, Kylo stood still for a moment, now breathing deeply as he bit his lip in frustration. With a loud bang, he slammed his helmet into the wall, over and over again as sparks and shards of metal flew in all directions.

“DAMN IT!” He shouted, crushing the remnants of the helmet and dropping them to the floor like ruble. His face was red with fury, his dark curls partially obscuring his vision as he blinked away tears; All because he couldn’t say three simple words.

Three simple words, having torn you down in an instant.

[adrl-pt]

First Russian Military Operation Outside Its Territory. Ukrainian Armed Forces Combat Operations in Kursk Region.

You are watching the news from the weekly rally at the Russian Embassy in Lisbon. Today is August 10, 2:30 PM.

The five-day war in Georgia from August 8 to 12, 2008, was Russia's first "special operation" outside its territory. Journalist Georgy Kobaladze says that Georgian authorities commemorate the anniversary on August 7, marking the Ossetian army's attack on a Georgian village near Tskhinvali as the beginning. https://www.svoboda.org/a/kapkan-i-vtorzhenie-15-let-s-nachala-rossiysko-gruzinskoy-voyny/32538906.html

The Ossetians trace the origins of the war with Georgia back to 1989, when the USSR was collapsing. https://www.bbc.com/russian/features-45106205

After the Dagomys Agreement, Georgia maintained difficult but peaceful relations with the regions of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia). In 2008, Georgia began to consider joining NATO. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mE7_p7WISo4

Matthew Bryza, who was involved in the US mediation plan for this war, told Dozhd in an interview how steps to contain Russia were removed during the process of working with the German Foreign Ministry. https://youtu.be/uK6pyU5DuQM?feature=shared&t=294

The human rights organization "Human Rights Watch" in its research discusses violations of humanitarian law on both sides, including systematic arson, robbery, and beatings of residents of Georgian villages by South Ossetian forces after the withdrawal of Georgian troops. https://www.hrw.org/reports/georgia0109ruweb.pdf

In 2021, the Strasbourg court found that Russia exercised control over Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region and therefore bears responsibility for these violations. The Russian representative stated in court that the fragments of the Iskander missile used by Russia, presented by the Georgian side, were stolen, dismantled, and planted by the CIA. https://www.bbc.com/russian/features-55737376

Volunteer and activist David Katsarava said in an interview with Dozhd: "For us, the war against Ukraine is a continuation of ours." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK6pyU5DuQM

Since August 6, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been conducting an operation in the Kursk region. The combat zone has already reached 430 square kilometers. The YouTube channel "The Insider" reported briefly on the situation: people are evacuating on their own, Putin is distributing the usual 10 thousand rubles, and Russian generals ignored reports of Ukrainian forces concentrating on the border. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vbljcaYy1k

On August 9, politician Yulia Navalnaya stated: "Putin's war has finally come to Russia." She addressed those aiding Putin's war efforts: "No one will forget what you did to our country. You are working for a killer, but it's never too late to stop." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-HoR9OJ6mU

On August 7, Vladimir Osechkin held a stream on his YouTube channel in memory of Oleksandr Ishchenko, a member of the Azov regiment who was killed in Russian captivity, and called for information about this crime to be sent to him for investigation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBi3sO5Rq5M

Azov commander Svyatoslav Palamar published a forensic medical examination report on his Facebook page confirming the brutal murder and violation of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/FWoEAf9XxGmrShd2/

On January 12 of this year, the Memorial Human Rights Center recognized prisoners of war from the Ukrainian Azov Regiment as political prisoners, as they consider the Supreme Court's decision to recognize the Azov Regiment as a terrorist organization to be unlawful. https://memopzk.org/news/my-schitaem-politzaklyuchyonnymi-voennoplennyh-iz-ukrainskogo-polka-azov/

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[charlieeenby]

whumptober '24

day 24: collapsed building/lyric

what would you do for your family? for your home? Duke has to answer that question.

warnings and tags: canon typical violence, hurt duke, duke saves gotham (and the world) collapsed building, angst, some sibling bonding, good sibling jason todd, mention of injury but nothing graphic

His ears were ringing. Everything hurt and his ears were ringing, which was all he seemed to be able to focus on. But, after a… well, he didn’t know how long, but after some period of time, he started to get his awareness of the world back.

At first, he could feel nothing but pain, but now he could feel the pinch of his body armor from an awkward position and what he assumed to be a rock pressing into his back. Then he could feel a chill in his bones, which wasn’t good.

He didn’t get cold, why was he cold?

Duke’s suit was ruined, not that he really noticed. He was more focused on the giant demon destroying Gotham, and also, coming straight at him for another fight. One Duke didn’t think he could win.

As he stood there, teeth gritted in determination, he thought of his parents. Bruce made sure they were well taken care of, in a home more than qualified to do so. And Duke was grateful for that, for everything he’d gained since Bruce took him in. But he missed them. Missed the life he had before him, before Batman, before Signal. Before Bruce.

And as he stared down this demon, he remembered when his powers first appeared, the day he lost his parents.

He remembered laying on the ground and staring up at the sky. All he’d been able to think was “I never knew daylight could be this violent.” though, that was before he’d realized that the daylight he was seeing was him, was his abilities coming to life to save his.

It came to him then, how to stop this demon. So, he took every last ounce of strength in his body, and pulled light into him as the demon came to a stop in front of him.

Then he became the sun, expelling light, more than he’d ever done before and brighter than he ever had. And he killed the demon, though he did cause a few buildings to collapse, the force of his light too strong. Then he promptly blacked out, falling with the building he’d been standing on.

Duke frowned, still not understanding why he was so cold. Was it because he’d used his powers so intensely? Was he dying? Was he already dead, but been unable to come to terms with it?

He decided that whatever the case was, he needed to get up. That would answer his questions, or at least rule out him being dead.

So he gritted his teeth, and tried to roll over, crying out as fire licked up his back, but managed to get onto his belly. “Dad!” he sobbed. He didn’t know who he was calling for.

Slowly, he forced himself to get onto his hands and knees, then to stand up. When he turned around, his body wasn’t laying in the ruble, so he wasn’t dead, which, in the grand scheme of things, seemed good.

Now to get out.

Over the course of a few hours, which he knew because he kept checking his watch, he managed to climb and dig his way out of the collapsed building. When he stumbled onto the street, he sat down on a piece of rubble and waited for someone to find him.

As he sat, he realized he was still cold. In fact, he was shivering. So he tried to draw his powers up because they always warmed him up when he used them.

But they didn’t come.

Nothing happened.

Why wasn’t anything happening?

Duke started to hyperventilate, panic filling his mind. Why didn’t they work? They came from a genetic variation, it wasn’t like they could be taken. At least, he didn’t think they could.

As he stared at his hands, trying to calm down and think, the world started to flicker around the edges, and he looked up, shadows dancing in all the wrong ways. Then the shadows receded, disappeared.

A flash of light, blinding him.

Duke was standing on a building in a ruined suit, staring down a rampaging demon.

Oh.

He’d been seeing the future. If he used his powers like that, if he became the sun, he’d kill the demon, but he’d lose his powers somehow. That part wasn’t as clear, but he knew that’s what would happen.

“Signal, do you copy?” Batman’s voice over comms startled Duke a bit.

“Yeah, I copy. What’s wrong?”

“The demon. Can you see it?”

Duke looked up. “Yeah, I can.” Glancing around, he found street signs. “It’s heading down Main. I’m on the corner of Main and 22nd.”

“Get outta there, Signal!” Nightwing’s voice was loud, scared. “We can’t beat it!”

But he could. He could kill the demon and he knew this part of the city had already been evacuated. There’d be no deaths, maybe a few injuries, minus himself.

And if he had to lose his powers to save the world, he’d do it. Batman, his brothers, his sisters, they all defended Gotham without powers. He’d be fine.

“I can.” he said quietly. “B, a couple buildings are going to collapse. It’ll take me a few hours to get out, but I’ll be okay.” Duke didn’t mention the part where he’d lose his powers.

He heard yelling over the comms, but ignored it, pulling light into his body, so much more than he’d ever done before, and then, he did what he’d done when he’d seen the future.

He became the sun.

Almost four hours later, Duke dug himself out of a collapsed building, and was met by Red Hood, which surprised him. “Hood?” he croaked.

“Signal.” Jason whispered and pulled Duke into a hug, carefully holding him to his chest. “You’re okay. You’re okay.”

Duke was pretty sure Jason was comforting both of them, but he didn’t care. His brother was here and he was alive and he was okay.

“Where’s B?” he mumbled after a beat.

“Helping to pick up the city. I volunteered to wait for you. Scared the shit out of us, kid.” Jason said, voice gentle.

“Thanks.”

“You’re my brother. And...and I know what it’s like to dig yourself out of a grave.”

He did, didn’t he? “Thank you.” Duke said again, pulling back to look at Jason. “Can we go home?”

“Yeah, course we can, kiddo.” Jason pulled Duke with him, and once they were both settled on his bike, he sped off towards the cave, Duke pressed against his back.

And as they drove through Gotham, Duke knew that no matter what happened, he’d be okay.

[vdgmilitaria]

VDG Militaria Post: Imperial Russian Bond

Title: 1916 Imperial Russian 50 Ruble War Bond

This rare war bond, issued by the Imperial Russian government in 1916, carries a significant historical narrative as it was released during World War I, just before the Russian Revolution that would change the course of the country’s history. The bond was part of a larger effort to raise funds for the war effort against the Central Powers, showcasing the financial strain and political turbulence Russia faced at the time.

Features:

• Issuer: Imperial Russian Government

• Denomination: 50 Rubles

• Date Issued: 1916

• Interest Rate: 5.5% short-term war loan

• Serial Number: No. 119069 (Series II)

• Significance: A wartime financial instrument, representing Russia’s final attempts to fund its military campaign before the collapse of the monarchy in 1917.

Historical Context:

By 1916, the Russian Empire was deeply entangled in the First World War, suffering heavy losses on the Eastern Front. This bond was part of a desperate fundraising effort by the Tsarist regime to support the war. The bond offered investors a 5.5% interest rate, payable in rubles, which was a competitive rate at the time. The bond’s ornate design includes the Imperial Russian double-headed eagle, a symbol of Tsar Nicholas II’s government, and is adorned with detailed patterns reflecting the elegance of Imperial Russia.

However, within a year of this bond’s issuance, the Russian Empire would be overthrown in the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, and the value of such bonds would be wiped out in the aftermath of the ensuing civil war. Today, this bond stands as a stark reminder of the end of Imperial Russia and its financial struggles in the final days of World War I.

#ImperialRussia #RussianRevolution #WarBond #1916 #WorldWarI #TsaristRussia #RussianHistory #VDGMilitaria #MilitaryCollectibles #HistoricalArtifacts #VintageCurrency #Numismatics #CollectibleBonds #FinancialHistory #RareCurrency #AntiqueBonds #MilitaryHistory

[narrative-theory]

How Russia's Military Defied Expectations: Lessons from Richard Wolff

I have posted another video on Richard Wolff: How Russia’s Military Surprised Everyone: A New Reality

In this short video, Richard Wolff explains how Russia's military and economy defied global expectations during the Ukraine conflict. Discover insights into their adaptability, the role of oil and gas exports, and what this means for geopolitics. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more updates!

[shewrites02]

Tears for Me | Zoro x Sanji |

Thriller bark. What happens after Kuma leaves?

Zoro x Sanji

Request : Open

Word Count : 2.1k

Leave a comment if you enjoy ! :)

"CHOPPER ! "

His voice reaches the crew before he does. Heads turn to the mountainous piles of ruble as Sanji emerges on top of it , Zoro's limp body held in his arms like an unfortunate bride.  Was he dead ? The cook's fingers tremble against the swordsman's skin. He could barely keep himself up. All the strength he had used to keep Zoro in his arm, and the pirate was not a light load to haul .  Especially when the cook's right leg trailed behind him . Nothing but dead weight.

"Don't die ! Don't die ! Don't die !"

The cooks thoughts raced to the same cadence as his heart .

"CHOPPER ! "

Sanji let out another woeful cry ! This time igniting his crew into action. Luffy arrives at the scene first, his hands immediately reaching for his first mate . Sanji doesn't move . He tightens his grip around Zoro burrowing white fingertips into his tattered body . For the first time since he'd emerged Sanji's eyes leave Zoro to meet his captain's. Luffy doesn't recognize the cook . He's never seen the broken expression that laid on his face . Tears flowing down his cheeks in rivers.  Luffy's hands retreat to his side and he takes a step back.

Chopper arrives next.

"W- what happened?"  Chopper stutters out . His mouth drops agape and he briefly hesitates taking a step closer. His breath caught in his throat. Red stained every inch of the strawhats clothing. Droplets fell from their bodies onto the rocks, red splatters trailing behind them like a treasure map leading to X. 

"Help him !... He ne- Hel-"

Sanji couldn't breathe. Despite every bone in his leg churning to dust the only pain the cook felt was in his chest . He takes a sharp breath in accidentally forcing his knees to buckle beneath him . He stumbled, but didn't fall .

"We've got him !" Luffy reassured , settling his hand on top of Sanji's.

Sanji released his hold on the swordsman. Not really having much strength to do anything else . Even if he had wanted to. Luffy takes Zoro into his arms at the request of the doctor and they rush towards the sunny.

The cook can feel the blood seeping into the cotton of his suit. It's still warm . The swordsman was still bleeding . Another sharp breath leaves his lips . Sanji collapses to his knees, his wheezing evidence of his lungs betrayal.

Nami and Robin arrive next .

"SANJI!" Nami cries out . Her arms not long enough , and her feet not fast enough to catch Sanji before his body hit the ground .  She clings to his arm . Both hands gripping his bicep fervently.  Sanji shuts his eyes in an attempt to regain some control over his breath. The women continue to speak at him . Their voices muffled in the background of Sanji's thoughts.

"Breath! Breath ! Breath !"

"The Swordsman didn't sacrifice himself for you to die here."

Finally ! Air enters his lungs with a deep inhale. The new sound of his crew mates voices' draw his eyes open . It takes Sanji a few blinks to clear the tears from his vision before he was finally able to see Nami. Her lips trembled. Tears filled her eyes as her brows furrowed to the middle of her face . Sanji couldn't help his scowl in return. How could she be worried about him when the swordsman looked like that?

"What if he dies?"

Nami's breath gets seized before it has the opportunity to pass her lips. She doesn't know what to say . Fearful of offering her friend false promises, that were beyond her powers to keep. Nami had never seen Zoro injured this badly before. She examines the look in Sanji's eyes then decides not to speak. Instead her hands tighten around him.

Franky , Brook , and Usopp arrive last.

"Let's get you looked at."

The navigator waves the men over to help Sanji to his feet.

—

The cook sat and watched the swordsman's chest slowly heave up and down , as if the weight of the air was too heavy for his chest to bear . Each breath rigid , and sounding more labored than the last.  Scratches and scrapes littered his body , the bandages only able to conceal so much from chef's gaze.

"Stupid ! Stupid ! Stupid Marimo !"

The tip of the cook's dress shoes clack against the wood as he tapped his foot . He drives his palms into his eyes dragging his hands down his face. An attempt to wipe the exhaustion away .  The cook wanted to sleep . But Images of the ex bounty hunter's limp body plagued his dreams. Some nights he couldn't even make it to the swordsman's body. He was forced to watch from afar as his crew-mate drew his last breaths. Some invisible and unmovable force keeping him away. Better to stay awake . Where he could watch the air fill and leave the green haired pirates lungs. 

"It should've been me. " The words were a whisper in the wind . Leaving the room just as quickly as they left the chef's lips . "You couldn't even let me do this one thing for you."

-

"Have you talked to Sanji ?" Nami asked .

The navigator was picking tangerines , while the swordsman laid against the foremast feigning sleep.  He opened his right eye at her inquiry  , his brows scrunched into a scowl.

"Why do I need to talk to the cook ?"

An exasperated sigh left Nami's lips. She refused to believe a man as observant as Zoro hadn't noticed the changes in Sanji's demeanor.  Shifting the weight of the wicker basket to her hip , she turned her torso to face him. No words , just a glare .  When she didn't answer his question , Zoro opened both eyes allowing them to meet hers . The two stare at each other before Nami breaks the silence.

"You're gonna make me spell it out for you ?" She scolded.

Luffy, Nami, Usopp, Chopper , Robin , Franky, and Brook : Everyone who had come to see Zoro while he laid bedridden in the retched infirmary.  The ones who changed his bandages  , Feed him his meals , and read to him while he could do nothing but stare at the ceiling .  Those are the ones whom cared for him. Not the shitty cook. Weeks later and still the blonde only had the fewest of words to spare Zoro , if any at all.  If he hadn't known any better he'd go as far as to say Sanji was avoiding him . He couldn't help but take note of his disappearance from the deck. His usual outside smoke breaks seemingly less frequent . But Zoro smelled the fresh smoke that lingered on him when he served their meals.

The cook had even decreased the snide comments and insults he hurled Zoro's way . Even when the swordsman provoked him the best he could conjure were eye rolls and disapproving scoffs. Zoro couldn't understand the way his blood boiled at the lack of acknowledgment.  And now Nami stood in front of him subtly inquiring if he had noticed... Of course he did.

"Feel free."  Zoro shuts his eyes closed , allowing his head to rest against the mast yet again.

"Damn it Zoro!" Nami grabbed an orange from the basket it and chunked it as hard as she could at the green haired pirate.  "You didn't see the way he carried you back to us ... the tears he cried!"

Zoro's brows shot to his temples before his eyes opened. an immediate wave of heat crawled its way down his skin. Tears ? The cook had shed tears for him? The swordsman didn't recognize the feeling that swelled in his chest. Butterflies ?... No. What he was feeling was much more violent than that.

"Sanji sat there every night until you woke up. Every. Single. one." Nami continued .  "Don't think you're the only one hurting." - Zoro knew where to find the cook . The same place he had been hiding for weeks . He pushes the door to the galley open and is surprised when he doesn't immediately see the blonde in the kitchen.  Where else could he be ? 

The faint scent of smoke lingers in the air. Zoro follows the scent until he see its source. The bar. Sanji sat at the edge of the cushioned seat , a cigarette in hand and a half finished drink on the table .

"So this is where you take your smoke breaks now?"

"Why do you care?" Sanji grumbled removing the cigarette from his mouth ashing it into the tray on the table.

"You're avoiding me."

"I'm doing no such thing!"

Sanji scoffs , rolling his eyes. A failed attempt to distract the swordsman from the way his shoulders tensed at his words . He had noticed. Sanji brings the drink to his lips finishing it in a single gulp before placing the cup back on the table . He's hoping it'll be the cure to the tension his body is so desperately fighting off.

The swordsman narrows his eyes decisively before taking a few strides closer to the cook. He brings his hand to his chin forcing his eyes to meet his . "Don't lie to me." Zoro's voice was stern , but also soft . What he had hoped would read as anger only came off as concern. 

Sanji jerked his head out from Zoro 's hands. He stands then  shoves him away with the bit of strength he could muster . The wince  is automatic when he hears the painful grunt the swordsman unsuccessfully suppressed.

"Tell me why you would shed tears for me and then act like I don't exist!" Zoro demanded grabbing Sanji's wrist to keep him from wryly fleeing the scene. Although bandages still wrapped his body , he had the strength to pull the cook back to face him. 

Sanji adverted his eyes turning his head to the fish in the aquarium refusing to meet Zoro's attentive gaze . His stare already threatening to consume him. Despite not being able to see his whole face Zoro still noticed the red tinge on the blonde's cheeks. Had he embarrassed him ?

"I thought you were dead idiot!" Sanji's voice breaks at the proclamation. "Why cou- why couldn't you let me do that for you?"

For the second time today Zoro's eyebrows reach his temples. He is stunned . The cook wanted to trade his life for his. Genuinely distraught that he hadn't allowed it. That blood boiling feeling Zoro was beginning to familiarize himself with had returned. The marimo border-lined enraged at the question. Sanji asks as if it were a trade of a chore, a switch of night watch. Zoro had told him then "it's a warrior's job to risk his life in combat" and the ex pirate hunter was the only warrior on this crew.

"You spoke of my dreams and ambitions but , what about yours ? Why does your life mean anything less than mine ?!" Zoro barked . "Does Luffy not need you too?!"

It was Sanji's turn to be stunned. Mouth slightly open while he searched for the words to say. He couldn't find any he thought would satisfy the swordsman, so he spoke the truth.

"I'm just the cook."

Sanji had boiled his life down to those three words. Said it like it was reason enough to justify his death, like no further explanation was required. As though it was a common belief held among the majority. "Just the cook", worthy of no other titles or accolades. Zoro grimaced at the declaration.

"Don't fucking say that!"

Zoro's teeth were clenched. He brought his hand back to the cook's face and squeezed his cheeks forcing his eyes to meet his yet again, this time not allowing the cook any room to escape.

"You are so much more than that ! Do you understand? To Luffy, to this crew.... to me."

Zoro doesn't hesitate before leaning in and smashing his lips into the cook's. The kiss soft , but passionate. Zoro can feel the tears that now covered Sanji's cheeks against his own. The cook curled his fingers into the black fabric of Zoro's shirt as though he would disappear if he didn't. When the two finally separated, Zoro leaned his forehead against the chef's .

"Sanji." Zoro's voice was a whisper. Just loud enough for the two of them to hear. "Don't you ever say you're just the fucking cook again!"

--------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: Is there a such thing as too many thriller bark fics ?... Please tell me no. lol I think its only fitting that my first Zosan fic be thriller bark inspired ! I rewatched the arc after hearing about 103 mercies dragon damnation ,and just had to write this self indulgent piece lol (btw if there are any Ryuma fics in the works or already published , I would love a tag)

{If you would like to be added to my tag list just comment / message me. I would love to have you!}

@dinuxia-bhm

[pizzabox-box]

I'm already imagining scenario's for the Dead Man Walking AU where members of the main cast find out what happened...

What if say Noise went to hang around the remains of the tower, y'know just cus he was bored or something, and then he saw Peppino's dead corpse from underneath the ruble.

And then the panic attack sets in.

"T-This isn't Peppino, right? I-It can't be, I- I saw Peppino escaping the tower with me! I know he escaped!! I-I've seen him several times after the tower collapsed!! B-But if that isn't Peppino, then who is it...? A-And if it is Peppino, then... t-then who was that person that escaped with us...?"

Ohoho, oh boy. That's a good scenario! Unfortunately Fake Peppino made sure to hide the remains well. He didn't want to take the risk of someone finding it. What did he do with it exactly? I will leave this ambiguous for now..

But still, if somebody is going to find out it's l probably going to be the Noise. Why? Because Noise knew real Peppino for years. And would be able to tell when somethings off. And another thing Noise is an actor, and I'm sure he could tell when somebody is just acting.

[dizzymoods]

People are starting to ask the question "Are we replicating colonial violence by sharing images of Palestinian martyrdom."

This is a question borne out of the decolonize movement which in practice restates the neoliberal, pro-capital status quo in radical language.

This question not only fails to employ the basic principles of media literacy but also fails an understanding of national liberation movements. It's an unnecessary and dangerous question.

We have a 56 year history of Palestinians using images as part of national liberation. 55 years of an international standard for the use of images in national liberation movements (Third Cinema).

When we hold these images to those standards, we don't even need to ask that question. It's been answered for us already. The answer is no. In the context of national liberation, images are supposed to shock the consciousness of the people. These images did that.

What didn't happen is that we didn't do the necessary and effective work of organizing those who have come to support the Palestinian cause into affecting a ceasefire. That is not the image's fault. That is an indictment of our organizing.

The principle point of Third Cinema is that the image is a detonator. It is a spring board for direct action. An excuse to gather people. Third Cinema is not delusional. It knows that only such action can stop colonialism.

The question that needs to be asked is one of tactics.These images would not still be circulating if there was a ceasefire. And the Palestinians have told us this time and again.

This is why that question is dangerous. Because we can circle the drain all day talking about the epistemic violence of the camera, the camera as an a priori, always already, in perpetuity, ontological white supremacy machine.

The question asks us to investigate our individual consumptive habits. Not what can be done to materially support the Palestinians. You can answer that question without engaging with the history of Palestinian political images. Without reference to the directives the Palestinians have given us on the ground. With no knowledge of politics.

The Palestinians are creating, sharing, contextualizing these images. The Israelis are cutting hasbara to discredit these images. In no way can these images replicate the violence of colonialism bc the colonized are producing them and the colonizer is trying to stop their circulation. In fact, by asking this question we invite people to do the work of the colonizer by stopping the circulation of these images. We proudly delude ourselves into thinking that we are helping the Palestinians when we are materially aiding the israelis.

The AnsarAllah showed us what to do politically. Stop the weapons manufactures and stop the shipment of arms. They took over the red sea by hijacking only 3 ships. Evergreen & BP stopped using the red sea after that.

Last tuesday America and ~10 other countries declared that they would retake the red sea. But by that friday, the mission collapsed before it started.

And, quiet as kept, we knew Biden and congress would not yield to mass demonstrations. We spent the last decade doing mass demonstrations to stop police violence but the only action that lead to a guilty verdict (which did not stop the violence) was the burning down of a police precinct.

If it is true what Fanon says about violence yielding to a greater show of violence, and that is the level of violence necessary to put one cop behind bars then.... 🤷🏾‍♂️

But, ironically, this question does replicate the very violence that it attempts to not engage in.

The Palestinians who take photos of Palestinian martyrs are the same photographers who take images of Palestinian life and the resilient spirit of the Palestinian people. Palestinian kids playing in bombed out ruble, Palestinians sharing scraps of food with others who have none, doctors "adopting" children whose families israel killed, Palestinians dancing. Why aren't these images worthy of our anxiety? I mean they condemn us to hell, don't they? "We are alive! Please keep us this way" and everyday there isn't a ceasefire is a day we fail them.

Why aren't the images of the al-Qassam brigades wiping out israeli encampments in minutes worthy of discourse?

Why does this question exceptionalize the image of a helpless, pitiful weak, dead people? Is that not how the colonizer sees the colonized? Is this not the same hubris israel had by ignoring all signs of Al Asqa Flood for a year and a half?

If we understand the principles of montage, then we know the images of Palestinian martyrdom do not mean anything outside of the context of the other images coming out of Gaza. And taken as a whole, the images lead to the same conclusion as our political analysis. The Palestinians have the ground. It's israel's air power that allows it to commit this genocide. We must stop that air power by any means necessary.

Decolonize wants you to think, not act. It wants you to forget about the socialist history of national liberation movements. Lenin put anti-imperialism at the heart of the socialist project in 1916. Every single anti-colonial, national liberation movement was either spearheaded by or had the necessary participation of Marxists. The practitioners of Third Cinema made reference to socialism and many had party affiliations with socialist movements.

Decolonize, like critical theory, is explicitly anticommunist. It doesn't want us to engage in real socialist politics which directly oppose and break from this neoliberal hellscape. Instead it channels our anger into a discursive, metaphysical effigy that we can sacrifice so we can sleep at night. But tomorrow will be 85 days and 75 years of the Palestinian genocide.

edit: changed houtis, a colonial designation, to their proper name the AnsarAllah.

[thepenultimateword]

Prompt #205

Villain picked her way across the rubble remains of the hero agency. Supervillain’s burning, smoking triumph. A message to every other agency in the area to back off and accept Supervillain’s coming reign.

She kicked a scorched piece of drywall out of the buildings frame, turning it to powder on the collapsed roof tiles.

Huh.

She wasn’t going to find anything after all. Usually she benefited from following in Supervillain’s wake, picking scraps off the bones of places like a vulture, but every once in a while things turned out unsalvageable. What a waste.

She turned on her heel to exit when the hic of a stifled sob penetrated the silence.

Villain frowned, spreading her arms and balancing across a fallen support beam to a small alcove.

She ducked her head sideways under the debris, blinking a couple times in the dusty shadow before picking out a curled up figure swathed in stained orange.

“Hey.”

The figure jolted, scrambling out of their cape cocoon to face Villain head one. Overgrown blonde curls were streaked ashy and his eyelashes were heavy with building dust. Pale streaks marked where tears had cut through the grime on his cheeks. It took a two seconds to identify him: a hero.

He pressed himself further against his ruble shelter, causing the pile to groan.

Villain held up her gloved hands. “I’m not one of the bad guys. I’m like…the rescue crew. Yeah.”

The hero’s shiny eyes drifted up and down, weighing the truthfulness of that statement. Apparently it wasn’t too ridiculous because he slowly uncurled his knees, scooting a few inches closer to the opening.

“You’re alright. Just come towards me. That’s right, step by step. Just come—“

The hero collapsed into her arms.

His cape draped over Villain’s elbows, exhausted limbs splayed at odd angles. And Villain just held him, circling him in false safety as he fully, truly broke.

“It’s ok,” she shushed. “I’m going to keep you so safe.”

Maybe this scavenge wasn’t a total dead end after all.

[insuke69]

hii, can you make a miguel x female spider reader where it’s like enemies to lovers, and she was like recruited, kinda like gwen (during a anomaly, by accident???) she could be v badass

Okay but deadass: I love that context sm, Idrk how to start that off so ima just- . Idk

Recruited

_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•

(This is sm longer then I wanted it to be, I’m gonna sob, btw this don’t have any smut more like how the ‘y/n’ specifically met Miguel, I’ll do a part 2 with actual smut though)

It was a regular night in earth 652 for Spider-woman, until one day there was a loud crashing sound coming from the mall of her Manhattan

𝖳𝖧𝖶𝖠𝖯 went the web as she swung over to the mall, she half-expected her Archnemesis: Doc-oc, also known as Olivia Octavius, she continue swinging as she webs building after building until she arrives

“Doc-ock, what’s with all the ruckus?” Spider-woman announces playfully as she webs into the mall where the crash was heard from to find the food court collapsed along with the escalators around it.

Suddenly she felt a tingle on her upper neck, she jumped out of the way as a piece of rubble from the torn McDonalds counter was thrown at her, making a big crash on the wall, Spider-woman whips her head to look in the direction it was thrown from to see a familiar masked face, but on a different ..Person? Who was this man, he had the metallic tentacles, the dark green suit and goggles, but he wasn’t the familiar Woman Spider-Woman usually battled with..

Spider-Woman began webbing to him, dodging the large rubble that was being thrown at her.

“Would you mind introducing yourself? It’s be boring to fight a stranger.”

Spider-Woman says as she dodges the strange-villain’s attacks, occasionally shooting webs to catch the rubble that’s thrown at her and throwing it back with force.

“I could say the same to you, where’s Spider-Man?”

The man retorts as he keeps on with his attacks, using some tentacles to hold him up, some to throw things at Spider-Woman and some to personally attack her

‘..Spider-Man? Who’s that? There’s just me, Spider-Woman..’ Spider-Woman thinks to herself for a moment before speaking up:

“I asked you first, tentacles.”

She responds, she’s damn stubborn enough to not even introduce herself until she learns who this rando is, she shoots webs to move herself closer and starts to try and web his tentacles

“It’s Doc ock you imbecile! You guessed it at first, now where is Spider-Man?!”

He says in a harsh tone as he avoids the webs and Keeps throwing in his metallic tentacle punches, he grabs her by the ankle and slams her into a pile of ruble, making a loud crash.

“There’s no Spiderman, i don’t know who the hell that is but I’m Spider-𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻.”

She responds as she gets back up and shoots more webs at him which he avoids while walking closer on his tentacles, the sound of the heavily metallic limbs hitting the ground.

They continue to fight, Spider-Woman getting good hits and kicks in but Doc ock doing the same, after a while of this Doc ock manages to her pinned on the wall by his metallic tentacles holding her by the abdomen and her arms at her sides

“You seem to be feisty in these things, Shame that not even you can beat me.”

Doc Ock comments sarcastically as he tightens the grip his metallic False limb tights on her abdomen, causing a small grunt to escape Spider-Woman’s throat

“Can you chill with that? It’s hella uncomfortable right now.”

Spider-Woman says as she squirms to escape his metal arms but to no avail

𝗪𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗵

A weird sudden portal slits open and Doc Octs head spins quickly and stares over to where the noise came from, Spider-Woman seized the opportunity and quickly threw a kick at his face, supporting herself with her wall sticking ability, the kick throws him to the side

She webs the ground on the sides of the man and throws herself at him leg first and kicks his chest down while webbing him onto the ground and then kneels behind him looking at the portal.

A large man jumps through, he has a dark blue suit with talons and a large red and nearly glowing red spider that makes lines that go by his arms and seems to be about 6’9, he doesn’t say anything but look Spider-Woman with an obvious cold and blank expression.

“Who- wha-“

She clears her throat and points her webs at him to be cautious, not planning to actually shoot him.

“Who are you?”

She asks as she stares up at him and keeps her other web shooter pointed to Doc Ock, who is webbed to the ground by his tentacles and torso.

“That’s classified.”

The man huffs in a deep and serious voice, he glances at the web shooters and at Doc Ock.

“Excuse me but it’s kind of only fair that you introduce yourself to be polite.”

Spider-Woman says as she gets up and lowers the web shooter she had pointed at him.

“I don’t know you so why should I introduce myself first?”

The man responds with a smug tone as he goes on a gadget he has on his watch and shoots his own red laser webs at the man.

“What kind of Spider-Man are you anyways? Why do you look like that.”

Doc Ock asks in a harsh and rude tone as he struggles and trys to escape the web, Spider-Woman slightly snickers at his comment.

“You two shut up, cállate.” The Spider-Man says to both of them as he picks up Doc Ock, the ‘Cállate’ more directed to Spider-woman with a slight annoyed look under his mask.

Spider-Woman feels a tingle on her upper neck as she see’s a strange green device where Doc Ock was webbed, she realizes what it is, she expects the other ‘Spider-Man’ to have a noticeable reaction, once she realizes he doesn’t, she instinctively jumps and shoves him onto the ground and crouching beside just before that strange device blows up with a loud pop that launches debris everywhere, Spider-Woman holds onto the ground to keep her from launching as well.

She watches as the Spider-Man claws to the ground, slightly sliding on the cracked mall tiles below.

Doc Ock slides along and try’s to break free but can’t with the Laser web layer that the Spider-Man put on him.

Spider-Woman’s ears start ringing from the blast, she was right beside the thing, she shuts her eyes and cups her hands over her ears, after a few moments she glances up to find small drones that are scanning the area and Doc Ock in a holographic and orange bubble-like thing

“Mind telling me who you are 𝗡𝗼𝘄?”

She asks once the ringing fades before standing up and looking at him, his taller figure that practically towered over her.

“Miguel O’Hara, leader of an elite spider task force over the multiverse.”

“..Multiverse? So you’re a Spider-Man and I’m just ‘a’ Spider-Woman?”

Miguel nods slightly, not glancing at her, a holographic woman appears from his watch-like device

“No further anomaly’s, ..and I was checking out this gal and she could have a good thing going.”

She says to him, her holographic figure glitching a bit as she speaks.

“Huh? What do you mean ‘good thing’? And where did you get the watch goober thing?”

Spider-Woman comments, slightly reaching out to his wrist.

“Its a multi-dimensional traveling device.. a bit cooler then a watch.”

He responds slightly moving his wrist back as she reaches out for it.

“..how do I get one? It’s only fair.”

Spider-Woman says with a shrug and a playful tone

“To join the Spider-society.”

He retorts before dramatically groaning and tapping a few things on his watch, another portal opens as he says something into the watch, after a moment he tosses a watch at her.

“Hurry before I regret this.”

He says before turning and stepping into the portal, Spider-Woman following after him

She looks around her at the pristine walls and hallways of many spider-people around her.

“So, mind telling me more about you Spider-Woman?”

He asks sarcastically as the two step through the busy halls of Spider-people.

“Spiderwoman, aka y/n.”

She says as she keeps looking around, the seemingly infinite halls of Spider-Woman and Spider-Men

“So this place is pretty much a bunch of spiders”

She comments playfully as she glances up at him through her mask, he doesn’t respond other then a small nod.

They walk into his office, Spider-Woman looks around and decides to take off her mask and rubs her eyes as they step inside, Miguel glances at her, taking in her features and beauty, like she were blessed by a Greek goddess, and then removes the holographic part of his suit that is over his face.

Spider-Woman hardly stops herself from staring at his chiseled features, his jawline sharp as a tack and his defined cheekbones and brown serious eyes.

“You seem fun.”

She says sarcastically with a small chuckle.

“Sorry for not messing around when the fate of the multiverse is often at stake.”

He retorts not sounding at all amused

“Fate of the multiverse? Damn you’re definitely fun at parties I see.”

She retorts with a small eye roll as she looks around

“I’m fun when I need to be.”

He responds looking down at the Spider-Woman beside him

“And when do you need to be fun? Why don’t you prove it now Mr hot-shot?”

She jokes in a challenging tone with a playful smirk.

“Why should I? What do I even- no.”

He responds not wanting to waste his time on something petty

“You’re no fun.”

She says with an eye roll.