#she watches chewie cross it easily

[plusthreerabbits]

I think Nyx's most hilarious trait is that she fears neither gods nor death, but she DOES fear tile. Bun Grandpaw watched in disbelief as he tossed a treat to her, but she stopped at the edge of the carpet because the piece landed on the floor.

Someday I will capture this hilarious thing she does where Nyx will attempt to keep as many paws as possible on the rug while stretching out to reach a spinach leaf or carrot slice.

[deniigi]

So @petrichordiam and I are menaces and giggled over our ideal dinluke flower shop AU for like 4 hrs and then I wrote this.

Title: murderer next door

Summary: Din works as a florist and Luke works as a bookseller and they’re both assassins trying to keep the other off their turf.

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

Two times now, Luke had crashed past that flower shop, and two times now, the fucker inside had taken out his mark. Now all Luke had to say about the whole thing was that it was too bad that he was going to have to kill the guy.

Han told him not to turn back. The mark was dead; the mark was gone. They weren’t fast enough this time, but there would be others.

Luke just couldn’t let it go, though. He had rent to pay, and McFloristApron over there was smashing through all his targets and making that nigh impossible—regardless of how many marks there were in the area.

Luke waited until Han had closed up shop for the night and remained there in the dark with his arm slung over the back of the chair in the backroom, surrounded by books. He rolled his shot of whiskey in its tumbler. The sound against the old wood table offered no comfort.

He stood up and left the glass to get his laptop.

He wasn’t losing to some florist, Han, sorry. Only one family could take innocuous cover on this street, and it was them.

 ---

McFlorist’s name wasn’t listed on the florist’s staff page, but then again, none of the people on that page had names. In fact, the website’s whole vibe was all wedding-chic until you clicked on the ‘staff and contacts’ tab. Then, it may as well have been a line of mugshots.

Luke squinted along the row of increasingly involved headgear until he got to someone with a reasonably-sized neck with no tats. The ladies on either side of him appeared to have sapped all the ink out of McFloristApron. He wore a mask over the lower half of his face and gave a stoic thumbs up to the camera.

Under his picture was the number fifteen.

Damn.

Luke was only making eight per pop. Who the hell was this guy eating up all the feeder fish, huh? Them lower division folks had to eat too, you know.

Well.

‘Lower division’ in a sense of the word. Being two times undercover wasn’t super glamorous, Luke had to say. But when your dad fucked it up for the first family, sometimes you had to take what you could get.

Luke pointed at Fifteen on the screen.

“You and me, pal,” he said. “You and me.”

 --

 Step one was to get paid first.

Luke chased down three marks on the other side of town to pay the rent and the medical bills for now. His hand’s new sleeve felt like a dream. It didn’t overheat like the nylon black one did, and the hand was far less shiny now as a bonus. That had certainly reduced the number of people catching something move out of the corner of their eye.

Was it worth fifty grand?

No.

Was it worth the last nine that Luke had left to pay on it?

Yeah. It was definitely worth the nine.

 ------

 Step two was to go make it clear to Fifteen McFlorist that he and his folks needed to back down in the face of the established guard.

Luke put on his biggest sweater and the thickest glasses he could find. He stole Chewie’s messenger bag with all the pins on it. He slung it over his shoulder and rolled the hems of his jeans up just a smidge too much, then scurried over to the florist’s across the way.

Fifteen was off to the side of the register, fucking around with something in the refrigerator. Luke busily and noisily looked through the wall of foliage on the side of the shop nearest the window. He hummed. He hawed. He made anxious nerd-sounds until a voice asked, “Hi, can I help you?”

Luke glanced out of the corner of his eye and found that Fifteen was standing facing his way now. His mask was gray this time. His apron was orange. His boots were too heavy-looking for florist work.

“I’d love that,” Luke gushed breathlessly. “See, my mom just got engaged and I’m on the way to her house.”

Fifteen lifted his chin slightly.

“What’re her favorites?” he asked tonelessly.

Terrible customer service skills, dude.

“Roses,” Luke said.

“Ours are shit today,” Fifteen said. “How about dahlias?”

Luke didn’t know what those were but sure.

“That sounds great,” he said. “You have any in pink?”

 --------

 He watched Fifteen brutalize some pink, orange, and white flowers into a bouquet wrapped with a silver bow and was sure to smile every time the guy looked up.

“That’ll be $37.59.”

Sir, these are dead flowers. There is no need for that price.

“Can I put it on card?” Luke asked. “How long have you worked here, if you don’t mind me asking? I work just across the way is all.”

Fifteen’s dark gaze flicked up. His hair was covered by a gray beanie two shades darker than the mask.

“At the club?” he asked.

“The bookshop,” Luke corrected him with a shy, but widening smile.

Please be gay. Please be gay. Please be gay. Leia wasn’t going to want to cooperate. She thought it was beneath her to establish boundaries like this.

“Blue paint,” Fifteen said. “Yeah, that place. How long have you been there?”

“My brother-in-law’s place, actually,” Luke said. “I started there last year after I finished college.”

Or, you know, maybe even eight years ago when he’d finished college. No one had to know. Baby faces don’t kiss and tell after all.

“Huh. You must like it there,” Fifteen said.

“It’s fine,” Luke hummed. “You like it here?”

“The kid does.”

“Oh, you’re a father?” Luke asked. “How old?”

“He’s three,” Fifteen said. “Godson. His folks were in an accident; didn’t make it.”

“That’s terrible, I’m so sorry to hear that,” Luke said. “He’s lucky to have you.”

Fifteen handed him his card back. Luke’s hand didn’t close in time to catch it and it fell onto to the wooden counter.

“Sorry about that,” Luke said, reaching for it with the other hand. His knuckles bumped into Fifteen’s when he went for the card at the same time. They both paused and went for the card again with the same result. Luke laughed.

“Slippery, am I right?” he asked, flattening his fingers on top of the piece of plastic and snatching it away.

“Very,” Fifteen said. “I hope your mom likes them.”

“Me too,” Luke smiled. “I’ll see you around—What was your name?”

“You can call me Armando,” Fifteen said.

“Armando,” Luke sounded out. “It suits you.”

It was a falsie.

“And yours?”

“James.”

“It suits you.”

It didn’t.

“Bye now,” Luke said. “Thanks for your help.”

He let the door fall closed behind him with the tinkle of the bell.

 --------

 He informed Han that “Armando” had a toddler and received only a warning look and a scolding for all his effort. Han told him not to get jealous. If there was a kid in the balance, then Fifteen, for better or worse, was going to have to see each day after the next until there was no longer a kid in the balance.

Luke offered to call CPS and report “Armando” as an assassin.

“You do that and those folks across the street are gonna call the VA and tell them I’m an assassin,” Han said. “Lay low, Luke. Lay low.”

Never.

“Christ. At least until that thing’s yours then.”

Luke glared at his right hand.

“Gimme a double,” he told Han without looking away from it.

 ------------

 It was never easy to hunt in the daylight, but Luke wasn’t here to do easy things. He needed to get Mark No. 1 alone. The man took the train once a week to a gentleman’s club on his lunch break. Luke needed a change of clothes.

He had a rainbow windbreaker, white boots, and fishnets all ready to go.

He got on the same train as the mark and dropped his phone nearby. It clattered loudly and the case came off. Luke swore and squatted to drop it at the same time that two girls next to him decided to become good Samaritans. They crouched with him and one of them caught the phone first. They handed it back with a smile.

“I like your jacket,” she said.

Luke let his face struggle to find a smile at her kindness to him, a sweet little twink trying to find the pride parade that happened two weeks ago.

“Thanks,” he said. “I like your bracelet.”

He stood up. The girls were pleased with themselves. Luke glanced back to find Mark No. 1 turn his head abruptly away.

Come here, Markie.

Do you like what you see?

  Mark No. 1 didn’t make it out of his hotel room. A pity. Luke took the elevator down and huffed and puffed about a cheap date when he passed the front desk. He stopped abruptly and went back to ask the receptionist what the cross street was. She judged his go-go boots.

He told her she wasn’t his type. Her manager gave him the cross street.

Mark No. 2 had different parameters.

 ----------

 Mark No. 2’s parameters involved chasing him through a maze of boiler rooms and dumpsters. He was chump change towards a hand that Luke hadn’t wanted in the first place, but alas. The anger still roared.

Luke cornered him, still in go-go boots—no need to sacrifice style for speed—and watched those pale eyes look every which way as Mark No. 2 realized that there was no getting out of this.

“You got options, friend,” Luke said. “I can bring you in hot or I can bring you in—”

“—cold.”

His head snapped up and he lurched out of the way just as the crack of a bullet exploded in the alley. A car backfired around the corner in a sympathetic cough. Luke stared at the body then twisted around just in time for a thick glove to latch onto the back of his neck.

“Well, look who it is,” Fifteen drawled.

Luke glared out of the corner of his eye.

“Hands off, Armando,” he warned.

“I like your boots.”

“You’re gonna love ‘em when they’re on your dick,” Luke warned.

“Back off, Nayberry.”

Fucking hell, Han. This is why they should have set up boundaries weeks ago.

“I prefer ‘James,’” Luke said sweetly.

The glock levelled at his face didn’t care.

“You took my mark,” Fifteen said.

“Aw, poor baby,” Luke pouted. “Maybe you should’ve thought about that before you took mine.”

Fifteen’s orange apron was gone. He’d swapped it for an old leather jacket—something he could more easily wipe clean. He should’ve gone for patent leather. The brown really wasn’t working with his grey mask-beanie situation.

“Stay in your lane,” Fifteen warned.

“Only if you stay in yours,” Luke beamed.

Fifteen huffed.

“Bookstore,” he scoffed. “Who’d you give the flowers to?”

Luke tsked.

“Myself, jackass,” he said.

“Do you even have a mom?”

“What the fuck business is that of yours? You even got a kid?”

Fifteen’s stare was deadly—the cooling body before them notwithstanding.

“Take one step near him and we won’t be talkin’ so friendly, yeah?”

Mm. Yeah.

“You owe me four grand,” Luke informed Fifteen as the glock went down and Fifteen left him to go take a pulse.

The man’s back stiffened.

“Four?” he asked. “You took this job for four?”

Luke rolled his eyes.

“I got bills, Armando,” he drawled.

“How do you keep that shed open? Have you sold even one book?”

Rude. Luke was a great sales associate. If he actually cared to put his mind to it, he’d be worthy of a promotion to manager.

He pulled the rising legs of his shorts down and adjusted the weapon in his windbreaker. He couldn’t leave the alley the way he’d gone into it. Someone might have seen. He was going to have to take a side street. Hmmm, which one? Choices, choices.

“I’ll give you a Dad’s discount. Gimme two grand, and you can have him,” Luke negotiated as he thought.

“Two.”

Hey, no need for that tone. This was a great deal.

“What’re you gonna do with two?” Fifteen asked, already knelling down to heft the body over his shoulder as proof for payment.

“Buy some more tights,” Luke deadpanned. “Two, final offer.”

Fifteen stood up all the way and gave him a weird look. A long look. His beanie was pulled down low, but Luke got the impression that he was frowning at him.

“Take the four,” he said out of nowhere. “I’ll bring it tomorrow.”

Luke recoiled a step at first, then recoiled another when the reality of the situation hit him full in the chest.

“Forget it,” he snapped.

He spun around and started to leave.

“Wh—hey. HEY. Where are you goin’?”

“I don’t need your fuckin’ pity,” Luke called ahead of him as he set to climbing the chainlink fence separating him from the adjacent dead-end alley.

“You what?”

“You heard me,” Luke said.

He jumped down. His left hand found his right wrist and squeezed as he walked.

 -------

 The phantom pains kept him up all night, and it was definitely that and not the humiliation that made him call in sick. Han told him to answer his therapist’s emails. Luke told him to go do something useful and hung up. He rolled onto his back on his bed and focused on letting his body relax, his jaw unclench, his joints go limp.

There was sunlight finally streaming through his apartment windows again. It had been months.

Spring was almost here. He just had to hold out a little longer.

 --------

 He came in to work the next day and found an envelope on his chair in the backroom. It was thick.

“McFlorist dropped it off,” he said between aggravated sounds at his spreadsheets.

“Is it tax season already?” Luke asked him as he tried to burn a whole in the center of the envelope with his mind.

“Sure fuckin’ is.”

He stepped forward and snatched up the envelope, then deposited it squarely in Han’s lap. He made an unattractive noise of confusion and alarm.

“For the taxes,” Luke called as he went out to grab his lanyard and name tag. “Gotta keep this place open for another six months at least.”

 ------------

 There were new books in. A new shipment to shelve. Two kids’ displays to set up. And Luke was actually good at this stuff, thanks; he started stacking.

He got peace until he nearly got to the end of the second display, and then what he had was a heart attack. Two liquid brown eyes surrounded by an ocean of ringlets stared up at him from between his knees. The child curled a hand in and out in hello.

Luke jerked himself up to locate the thing’s parents immediately, and promptly found himself in deadly eye-contact with Fifteen.

Armando.

“You were gone yesterday,” Fifteen said flatly.

Luke looked between him and the kid. He was pinned between two enemy parties. How to escape, how to escape.

“Are you sick?”

How to escape. How to escape. How to escape.

“Are you hurt?”

H—what?

“I’m fine, stalker,” Luke snapped with more heat than this present cover allowed. He caught himself and pulled it back. “I’m fine,” he repeated. “Thank you for asking. Is this…?”

Fifteen blinked once. The child blinked once as well. It was creepy.

“He’s mine,” Fifteen said. “And apparently the only thing that will get us through the next two hours is a book.”

Dude.

“Kids are kids,” Fifteen said. “You got any books?”

Luke stared at him, then checked the shelves to make sure he hadn’t teleported into another dimension.

You always had to check.

“We’re in a bookstore,” he said.

“He can’t read,” Fifteen said, pointing.

The kid grinned. His teeth were gapped in that toddler sort of way. He was kind of cute.

“You can’t read?” Luke asked him.

“Hi,” Baby said.

Oh no.

Luke loved him.

“How much?” he asked Fifteen.

“Touch him and you’ll be permanently comatose,” Fifteen said.

“Not if I died out of spite,” Luke said.

There was a long pause. Then Fifteen started laughing? Kind of hard?

“Oh my god, that was so unprofessional. I am so sorry,” Luke blurted out.

Fifteen collected himself and shook his head. His little one giggled and reached for Luke’s fingers.

“Boo,” he said.

Luke couldn’t feel the hand, but he could feel all the heart.

“Book?” he asked, crouching down. “Do you want a story?”

“Mmmm.”

“I have the perfect one,” Luke told him. “It’s about a caterpillar. Do you know what a caterpillar is?”

He got a slow, exaggerated head shake back and forth, back and forth. He stood up straight.

“I’m conducting a temporary kidnapping,” he informed Fifteen. “Do I have consent?”

Fifteen looked from him towards the front entrance and mulled over the merits of leaving his kid with his rival assassin. Then he shrugged.

“Consent granted,” he said. “Luke.”

Luke’s heart stopped.

“James,” he said.

“Your name tag says ‘Luke.’”

Well, fuck.

“Luke Nayberry. It suits you.”

Hhhhhhh. This was karma, wasn’t it.

“Thanks,” he gritted out. “And yourself, Armando?”

“Din.”

Woah, look out. Mr. One-Syllable-Cool-Man had entered the building.

“Din, what?” Luke asked as his arm registered tension. Din’s kid had latched onto his fingers and started pulling incessantly with a chubby hand gesturing in the direction of the wall of children’s books.

“Don’t you worry about it,” Din said.

“Fine, go trip then,” Luke said.

He swore that there was a smile under that mask.

 ----------

[carryonwaywardkansas]

Carry On Kansas

Chapter One: What Riley Saw (Part Two)

Summary: Riley and Sam convince Dean to take her along on the search for their father; as their time in Jericho begins, the search for John Winchester yields more questions than answers, and tensions between the trio only grow.

Warnings: General supernatural warnings apply. Read at your own discretion.

A/N: And here we see a bit little more about how Riley and Sam operate. Enjoy the ride.

Sneaking out of Sam’s apartment unseen isn’t the problem, sneaking into his brother’s car unseen is.

After she climbs through the window and down the fire escape, Riley waits in the shadows just beyond Sam’s apartment building for the perfect moment to make her way to Dean’s car. But Dean talks a lot and her opening never comes. She can’t wait too long if she wants to join them before they leave.

Riley quickly makes her way to Sam’s side and tosses her bag into the backseat before he can close the rear passenger door, she reaches out to keep it from closing, and lightly taps the back of his left knee with the toe of her boot. She chuckles as he whirls around to face her, throwing his hands up defensively.

“Relax, Chewie. It’s just me,” she says, amused. She smiles up at him and gestures to the car.

“What are you doing here, Kansas?” Sam asks.

“I’m going with you.”

“Like hell. It isn’t safe for you.”

“And you think leaving me here is? I’m going.”

Sam narrows his eyes on his best friend; Riley plants herself firmly in her spot before him. This isn’t an argument she’ll willingly give up so easily. If Sam won’t listen to her the easy way, she’ll make him listen the hard way.

Riley’s stubbornness wins out, Sam’s expression melts away. Soon enough, a chilling realization crosses his features and he gently squeezes her left shoulder. “What did you see?” His voice holds a hint of hope that she’ll tell him to quit being such a paranoid dork, but she doesn’t. “Riley. What did you see?”

“You, Sam. I saw you.”

It doesn’t take long for the duo to talk Dean into letting Riley go; promising to explain everything after they figure out where the boys’ father is. But Dean’s unhappiness with bringing along another body greatly sours the mood―“It’s not safe for her. She’ll slow us down, Sam.”

“She’s better off with us than she is staying here.”

“If she gets hurt, that’s on y―”

“Hey! I am standing right here. And I can take care of myself.”

“I’ve got her, I promise.”―but Sam insists.

The discussion drops in favour of brooding silence, the three of them pile into the Impala without another word.

Jericho, California. Riley only ever heard of the small town by word of mouth; even sitting in the back of Dean's Impala on the way there seems like a dream. But she is awake, and she is with Sam, and so far nothing else has occurred. They still haven’t told Dean the true reason why she needs to go along; Sam opted to keep it between them unless absolutely necessary, Riley reluctantly agreed.

She noted the tension between the brothers before they left Sam’s apartment, she wants to ask Sam why but doesn’t want to risk opening a can of worms she can’t close again. Dean’s stiff reception of her presence on the trip only adds to the weight, and Riley knows she’s in for the longest ride of her life.

But the brand new light of day through the California mountains is a sight Riley didn’t expect to find as pretty as she does that following morning. She’s seen the sunrise a thousand times, and yet, somehow watching it from the back window of Dean’s car looks different. The atmosphere between her and the two brothers remains stifling, but when the older Winchester boy pulls into a lone gas station just off the highway inside of town, Riley thanks her lucky stars for the break.

“Are you going to tell your brother the truth about why you brought me along?” Riley asks once Dean goes into the scrappy convenience store and leaves the duo behind.

“Nope, not if I can avoid it,” Sam says. He leans forward and rifles under his seat, pulling out a worn out cardboard box filled with cassette tapes.

“Right.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I just know how you get.”

“Okay. Now what’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means that if you don’t want to do it or if you don’t think it’s important, you avoid it.” Sam scoffs; Riley drapes herself over the front seat. “You avoid things you don’t want to deal with and hope they’ll just go away. That’s why you haven’t called your brother in years.”

Sam opens the front passenger door and focuses his attention on the tapes. Riley can press the issue but knows it won’t do any good then. She lets it go in favour of watching Dean return with his haul from the convenience store.

Riley wonders what it was about Dean that Sam hates so much. He’s unbearable, sure, but she doesn’t see why Sam is so intent on avoiding him. She’d give anything to have her family call her, even just to say hello.

“Hey, either of you want breakfast?” Dean breaks the awkward tension, walking around the back of the Impala.

“No, thanks,” Sam says. He keeps the box on his knees, picking through the tapes. “So how’d you pay for that stuff? You and Dad still running credit card scams?”

“Yeah, well, hunting ain’t exactly a pro-ball career. Besides, we just apply. It’s not our fault they send us the cards. How about you, Riley, breakfast?”

Riley rolls her eyes. “Uh, no. I’ll pass, thanks.”

“Yeah, and what names did you write on the application this time?”

“Uh, Bert Aframian and his son, Hector. Scored two cards out of the deal.”

Sam nods. “Sounds about right.”

Riley shuffles in the backseat, stretches and drapes herself over the front seat again. “So, you’re a fraud, is that it?”

Dean flashes Riley a wide grin. He spent the better part of their drive the night before, flirting with her. Riley was not impressed. “What? It gets the job done.”

“And what job might that be?” Riley reaches over the seat to grab a few of the cassette tapes out of Sam’s hands. She raises her eyebrows at him, silently asking what the hell he plans on doing with the box of them anyway.

“I swear, man, you gotta update your cassette tape collection.”

“Why?”

“Well, for one―they’re cassette tapes, and two―Black Sabbath, Motorhead, Metallica? It’s the greatest hits of mullet rock. Oh, and Riley, you’re gonna love this one.”

Riley frowns, taking the tape Sam offers her. She scrunches up her nose in disgust and rolls her eyes. “Kansas? You’ve gotta be kidding me.”

Dean grins. “I thought it was funny. That’s your name, right?” He snatches the Metallica tape out of Sam’s hand and threw it back into the box, then grabs a different one and put it in the tape deck. He turns to Riley with a wink, nodding to the Kansas tape in her hands. “Keep it. House rules, Sammy―driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cake hole.”

“Sammy is a chubby 12-year-old. It’s Sam, okay?”

“Sorry, I can’t hear you. The music’s too loud.”

Riley smiles softly and pockets the tape before Sam sees, she sympathetically pats his shoulder and settled back against the seat. The rest of the trip is going to be a long one for both of them.

As they drive, Riley takes the time they’re in the car to familiarize herself with as much as she can about the case they’re on. Sam didn’t tell her much about hunting, leaving out the dirtier details but she’s able piece together the rest on her own.

“All right, so there’s no one matching Dad at the hospital or morgue. So that’s something, I guess,” Sam says, hanging up his phone. He's called around to various places, waiting to get word of John’s whereabouts. He quickly sends a text to Riley where she sits in the backseat; they still haven’t told Dean about her secret, and Riley grows more and more aggravated.

Sam: Are you sure what you saw last night was me?

Tink: Positive. I’m pretty sure I know what you look like, Sam.

“Check it out,” Dean says as he slows the car to a stop. Across the street, two patrol cars sit next to each other, blocking off the entrance to an old bridge. He reaches across the seat to the glove compartment and pulls out a box full of identification cards, he grabs the ones he wants and looks up at his brother. “Let’s go.”

Sam turns to Riley before he exits the car behind Dean. “Stay here, lay low. We’ll be right back.”

Riley watches from the Impala’s backseat as Sam and Dean talk to the officer’s at the crime scene. Whatever is happening, Riley’s glad she stayed behind in the car. Dean parked too far away for her to make out what any of them are saying, but she’s positive it can’t be good. A couple of minutes pass and she sees Sam discreetly stomp on his brother’s foot before the two of them politely excuse themselves and head back toward the car. On the way, Dean slaps the back of Sam’s head and the two of them stop again.

“So, where to now?” Riley inquires once the boys join her.

“The daughter of one of the officer’s has been putting up missing person signs across town, we’re going to see if there’s anything she can tell us that they couldn’t,” Sam answers. He turns in his seat so he can get a good look at Riley’s face. “You good? Need anything?”

Riley shakes her head. “Nope, I’m more interested in what you’re gonna tell this girl when you find her? What makes you think she’s just willingly going to talk to a couple of strange men?”

“That,” Dean says, “is the fun part.”

Taglist: @iwantthedean @nyotamalfoy

[winchesterxxi]

Maybe Poe and Skywalker reader being married to each other. Their life together, struggles and everything in between

(force awakens to rise of Skywalker)

WARNINGS: Non-canon content for the sake of the request; Focuses more on the Reader x Poe relationship, so many plot points are left untouched (as in, Reader doesn’t know Kylo is her brother)

THE FORCE AWAKENS

You were stationed in Jakku with your dad and Chewie when a girl and a guy board onto the ship;

“Who the hell are you?” you ask, you and your dad with blasters pointed out to them.

They throw they’re hands up and from behind them rolls out BB8 and you immediately drop to your knees.

“BB! Oh my God, where is Poe? We lost his TIE signal two hours ago, we’ve been worried sick!”

“You know Poe Dameron?” Finn asks you, lowering his hands.

“I’m Y/N Skywalker, his wife.” you eye him, only now noticing he is wearing your husband’s jacket “W-Where is my husband?”

That’s when he gives you the news of the crash and you latch onto your dad, crying.

Days later, on Takodana you are under an attack by the First Order and just as you thought there was no hope left, a fleet of X-Wings come in and save you.

After the fleet landed, you went to meet you mom, knowing that she was the Commander behind this offence against the First Order.

“It’s not me you have to thank honey.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your husband’s the one behind it this time.”

“My...?”

She just nods your head and cups your cheek, stroking your teary eyes, knowing how you’ve been grieving, thinking that Poe had died

“Go find your husband.”

You run past her and your dad to the the landing site trying to spot Poe in the crowd, heart beating hard in your chest

“POE?” “POE!?” you scream is name, trying to find him.

Then

“Y/N?” you stop in your tracks and turn around, spotting your husband.

Your run to him faster than you’ve ever ran until you crash into him in a tight hug, crying.

“I thought you - I thought you had -” you sniff between the tears.

He cups the sides of your face “I know, but I’m here, honey. I’m sorry to worry you. You’d never get rid of me so easily!” He smiles into the crashing kiss.

He helps you blast the FO’s base's thermal oscillator after you witness Kylo killing your father, tears stinging your eyes as you charge ahead.

Afterwards, him being your shoulder to cry on as you mourn your loss.

THE LAST JEDI

Flying alongside him on the dreadnought attack;

“Y/N, FIRE NOW!”

You do as you’re instructed, your shot igniting the explosives that had been set inside the dreadnought making it light up like the 4th of July

“THAT’S MY GIRL!” he shouts over the intercom

When back at the ship, reunited with your mother, you’re the one that spots the Star Destroyer in the radar grabbing Finn’s forearm, alerting him to the map.

“We need to jump to lightspeed!” he states running to your mom, awaiting clearance to do so, hot-headed as always.

“Poe, we can’t do that! We only have enough resources for one jump and if we do so, they’ll just track us again and be without fuel.”

You eye your mother, looking for some help.

“Permission to jump on an X-Wing and blow something up?” he addresses your mom.

“Poe w-” you start

“Permission granted!” your mom agrees as Poe darts running

“MOM!” 

“Go get on one as well.” she comes forward and kisses your forehead “You’re a team now.”

Just as you and Poe are about to reach the X-Wings, him slightly ahead of you the FO manages to blast the platform, sending him flying against you as you both crash to the ground.

He his also next to you when you spot your mother floating in space after the attack and he grips your hand tightly.

You insist on pushing her to the medical wing but he stops you before you can do it

“Poe, I need to be with my mom please.” you grip his arms, sobbing.

He kisses your forehead

“I’ll go with her, you stay here please.” you nod, teary eyed at him “Finn, take care of her for me while I’m gone”

*FASTFORWARD TO HOLDO’S EVACUATION PLAN*

You believe her plan won’t work either so you lead the mutiny alongside your husband

That is until he is stunned against the wall.

You throw yourself on your knees beside him, cradling his head.

Turning back you spot your mom, alive, holding the blaster

“MOM? WHAT THE HELL?”

“I know you love your husband but for once, just drag his ass out.”

You are holding his hand when he springs back to life.

“What - What happened?” he is shaken

“Poe I-”

He pushes past you running to the nearest window

“NO!” he slams on the glass and you come up behind him hand on his shoulder

“Honey,...” he shrugs his shoulder off, facing you, hurt tainting his face.

“Don’t... Call me that.”

“Poe...”

“No! I thought we were in this together!”

“This plan is gonna work, you have to trust me!”

“How can you ask me that after what you just did.”

First serious married fight... yay.

You look at him, biting your lip, tears in your eyes before walking away.

“Poe.” he turns around and finds your mom, calling him and that’s when she shows him Crait and explains him the full and he realizes he was just an asshole to the person he loved the most.

“Oh my god, I’m such an idiot.”

“Yes you are. Now go apologize to my daughter.”

“Yes ma’am.”

*Cue romantic, cute and awkward apology scene*

When the time comes to face the First Order he boards on a speeder and you on your father’s Falcon alongside Chewie

And of course you then help him lead your people out of the cave

THE RISE OF SKYWALKER

So...you’re kind of the captain of the Falcon

Despite Poe being an undeniably better pilot than you, he insisted that you were the rightful captain of the ship now that your dad was gone.

And he loved to call you captain

It made you smile every single time

Fastforward to Kijimi when Poe has a blaster pointed to his head

You are quick to point your own to the armored woman behind him

“Blaster off him, now.”

“She won’t ask twice, I would listen to her”

“Who are you?” you ask, blaster still up as she hadn’t let hers down

“Honey, this is Zorii. Zorii, this is my wife, Y/N”

Her helmet turns to you “Wife? There are actually people out there who go along with what you say.”

“Oh, you’d be surprised.” he retorts and you snap a look at him

“I could pull this trigger right now.” She says, pushing the blaster harder against Poe’s head.

“You do that, my blaster is the last thing you’ll see in this life.”

“We’re trying to find Babu Frik.” Poe tries to ease the situation

“He only works with the crew. That’s not you anymore.”

“What does she mean crew?” you ask him

“Oh your wife doesn’t know?”

you look between her and him confused

“Funny he never mentioned it...”

“Married people are still allowed secrets Zorii - “ he tries

“Your husband was a spice runner.”

Your eyes almost pop out of your eye sockets

“You were a spice runner? In almost 5 years of marriage NOT ONCE did it occur to you to mention that!?”

Once again, next to him when one of the stormtroopers blasts him in the arm inside the Star Destroyer

“POE!”

Standing in line next him, Chewie and Finn

“Were you ever going to tell me you were a spice runner?”

“You’re still on that?”

“OH I’M SORRY, IS THIS A BAD TIME?”

“IT KIND OF IS, YEAH!”

“Well, because later doesn’t really seem like an option right now -”

“You don’t say -”

“And if my husband has some other important life information before meeting me that I should be aware of, I would like to know becasue for all i know, you could’ve even been a stormtr--”

BAM

Troopers dead, you all alive

Hux admits to being the spy

“I KNEW IT” he points out

“No, you didn’t.”

 While on one of the Endor’s moon your mom uses her last breath to reach out to you trough the Force

You are a few feet behind Poe on the grass and fall to your knees with a thud

He looks over at you, face dropping as he runs in your direction

Your face is white and your look is blank and he is trying to shake your shoulders to gain some attention from you

“My mom...” You look up at him and he immediately understands, gulping hardly. He doesn’t say a word, simply pulling you into a crushing hug as you scream into the ground, tears running down.

Later, back at the resistance base, after you’ve said your goodbyes to your mom, Poe is the one sitting next to her linen-covered body

“I... I promise I’ll take care of her. Not just now, or in the near future, just... forever. I’ll stay by her side, always, Leia. Your daughter... Your daughter is the love of my life.”

After you defeat the First Order, during the celebrations Poe pulls you aside to a quiet place and tells you that he wants to settle down.

You agree with him, teary eyed, kiss kiss, you know the drill

BB8 beeps at your feet

POST TROS BONUS

The both of you settled on Yavin 4, his home planet

You are blessed with kids, first a baby boy and then a baby girl, 2 years apart

Who you name Kes and Leia, after Poe’s dad and Leia’s mom, who devoted their lives to the resistance and in one way or another were behind the reason your life path’s ever crossed

Poe cried like a baby when you told him you wanted your first born to be named Kes

Occasional visits form uncle Finn and uncle Chewie

When it’s just Finn, him and Poe tend to go out and do “guy stuff”

While you sit back at home with the kids and BB8 who loves to entertain them 

And it isn’t rare for sometimes you being sitting on a bench, watching the three of them play in the distance, head on Poe’s shoulder, his arms draped around your waist

And you look to the side to be met with the Force ghosts of your family members looking down at you

[atinydise]

Ateez trying to make up to their s/o after ignoring them

❦ Genre: Fluff.

❦ Pairing: OT8.

❦ Word count: 15k.

❦ Masterlist.

❦ Background music: Taeyeon - Happy.

Part 1

HONGJOONG

Immediately after seeing you so mad and obviously hurt because of him, Hongjoong felt really bad. Yuna was still talking to him as if nothing happened but he couldn’t focus on the conversation anymore. After few minutes, he excused himself and left her there. He tried to find you, but you were nowhere to be found. For sure, you wouldn’t go at your apartment. He sat under the bus stop, thinking about where you could go. He snapped when he remembered that you loved to drink one or two bobas* when you are upset. He grabbed his phone to look at the closest shop. For sure, you would be there.

“Can you add a little bit of sugar? In the 2nd one please?” You asked the cashier. She nodded politely and prepared your order. Outside, nobody would notice that you were angry. Inside, you were boiling. You tried to stop thinking about what Hongjoong was doing or saying to this Yuna. “Here’s your order. Do you want to pay cash or card?” “Cas-“ “I’ve got this.” Said Hongjoong, behind you. He smiled widely, like he didn’t yell at you 20 minutes ago. “If you think I’ll forgive you so easily you are wrong.” You said, popping your drink with the straw. Hongjoong followed you outside before finally saying: “I’m really sorry Y/N. I don’t know why I acted this way.” He apologized. “Maybe you still love her.” You suggested. “What? Hell no!” “Are you sure? Because you looked really close.” You looked right into his eyes. “Yes, I’m 100% sure. We’re only friends.” He confessed. You were doubting. If he hasn’t acted this way it would be easier to believe him. But a part of you knew that he’s maybe stupid bit not a liar. He patted the back of your head gently, “you know that I’m yours, right?” You sipped your drink shyly, avoiding his stare. “Yes, but does she know?” Hongjoong giggled, “yes. And she was pretty upset when I left her for you.” “Oh really?” You smirked. “Poor little thing.” “Did I already said that I love when you’re jealous?” He kissed your forehead. “More than I can count.” You smiled. “But if you think I’ll forgive you just because you bought me a boba, you are-“ “Let me guess... ‘you are wrong’?” He finished. “I know it already.”

*Boba/Bubble Tea: is a Taiwanese tea-based drink, which is shaken with ice to create the "bubbles", a foamy layer on top of the drink; chewy tapioca balls ("pearls") are added as well.

SEONGHWA

2 hours later, Seonghwa entered the dorm. Yunho and Mingi were playing in the living-room. “Hello young boys.” He greeted them. “Is Y/N sleeping already?” “Y/N?” Asked Mingi. “She didn’t come here today.” “What? She’s not here?” He repeated. Yunho shook his head, focused on the TV screen. “It’s your anniversary today, no? You shouldn’t be with her?” Seonghwa sighed, “I think I messed up.” “What you did?” Asked Mingi, barely listening. “I met Hyebin in front of the restaurant... Maybe I kind of dumped Y/N for her.” Yunho paused the game. “I’m not a pro at relationship but you should beg her to forgive you.” “No really?” He sighed; a bit done. Seonghwa followed his friend’s advice and walked to your apartment. In front of your entrance door, he quietly knocked. When you opened the door, he could see how mad you were. You barely said anything, just stared at him and went back to the kitchen. Seonghwa ignored if he should come in, but anyway, he needed to apologize. He carefully locked the door behind him and joined you. “Y/N... I’m so sorry. I was a total jerk today...” he apologized. You turned around, washing the dishes you left this morning. Your boyfriend walked in your direction and wrapped his arms around you. You could feel his heart beating on your back. “I’m really really really sorry.” He whispered. “It should have been our night, our moment but your stupid boyfriend ruined it.” “Yes, you ruined it and yes you are stupid.” You answered. “What I can do for you to forgive me?” He whispered in your ear. You smirked and turned around, you were stuck between your boyfriend and the sink. You slowly passed your finger on his chest. “Find it by yourself idiot.” You sneaked out of his embrace, leaving him confused. “What does it mean?” He asked. “If you think that I’ll forgive you so easily after what you did. It’s a no no.” “What but you- we- I-“ he stuttered. “Just surprise me and I’ll see.” You winked, before going in your room. “See what happens when you are an idiot Park Seonghwa.” He facepalmed, talking to himself.

YUNHO

You hesitated to lock the door behind you. What if he was getting angry? Even after this humiliation you were still thinking positively about Yunho. Finally, you just closed the main lock, he could open it with his spare key. Only if he was not busy with this girl anymore. Hardly, you tried to fall asleep. You turned in your bed at least 100 times but you were still incapable to sleep. As you were thinking about a way to kill Yunho tomorrow, you heard the key unlocking the door. You rushed to turn around in front of the wall, so he couldn’t see if you were asleep or not. You heard him entering the kitchen, probably looking for something to drink. Just after that, he came quietly in the room. You heard him removing his clothes to wear his matching pajama. It was the only one he left in your apartment. Finally, you felt the bed tugging behind you. As expected, Yunho wrapped his arms around your waist, gently rubbing your exposed skin. Feeling him next to you, felt different, you were still hurt by how he ignored you. “I’m sorry.” He whispered behind you. “I know we had a movie night. But... I don’t know... it’s been so long since I saw her.” He said. “Do you feel something for her?” You asked. Your boyfriend brought you closer to him. You could feel his breath on your neck. “Not at all. We were just good friends. I didn’t have so much friends in high school because of the trainee schedule.” He started. “She was one of my closest friends. With Mingi.” It helped you to understand the situation. But you couldn’t forget that he hurt your feelings. “I’m still mad at you. You were pretty rude with me.” “I know. If I could go back in past, I would slap myself.” He claimed. “I can do it right now if you want.” You offered him, lifting your hand. He grabbed your hand and intertwined your fingers with his. “Let me just hug you right now. You can do that tomorrow.” You smiled. All of your murder’s intention faded away simply with a hug. How weak you were.

YEOSANG

When you left, Yeosang instantly followed you. He apologized politely at his ex-girlfriend and rushed outside. Unfortunately, he couldn’t spot you in the crowd. He just walked in your apartment direction, hoping to meet you there. Suddenly, on the other side of the road, he noticed you. “Y/N!” He called you. You ignored him, plugging your earphones. “This girl...” he sighed. He started to run again, caring about the cars and the people around. “Y/N!” He called you louder. “Please stop! Wait for me!” You could hear him, but you simply decided to ignore him. As he did though. Trying to run away from your boyfriend, you engaged on the road. You didn’t see the cars coming on your right. Just in time, Yeosang pulled you close to him. Making sure you were okay, he checked your entire face, looking for any scar. “Are you crazy?!” He scolded you. “I guess that you are mad and want to run away from me but at least stay safe.” You stared at him intensely, “so now you remember that I’m existing?” “Young lady, I know that you are existing.” “Really? I didn’t feel it earlier.” You crossed your arms on your chest. “Y/N... I’m sorry okay?” He apologized. “Are you really sorry or are you just sorry to move on?” “No... I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t act like that.” “It’s just that I was so surprised to see her here.” “Yes, I saw that.” You rolled your eyes. “I’m really sorry. I won’t do that again.” He hugged you. “You will need to do more than this Kang Yeosang. Because you can’t imagine how disappointed I am.” “I will. And why not starting now?” “Now?” You repeated. “Yes! I will prepare the best date ever for you.” He winked. “Do you think it would be enough?” “Did I mentioned that we can watch all the Harry Potters movies?” “Okay count me it,” you claimed, grabbing his arm happily.

SAN

San couldn’t think straight after exiting the concert hall. Should he go to your house or wait the next day, so you could probably rest and relax? He looked at the message you sent. It was short and cold. There’s no way he could just let you be mad like this. A bit anxious, but completely determined to make it work, he decided to go at your apartment. In a short time, he was on the hallway, standing in front of the door. Instead of knocking, he simply put his ear against the wooden door to listen if you were there. He lightly heard the TV in the background. “Please Shiber, give me enough strength to confront the dragon.” He prayed. San knocked once. You didn’t come to open the door. He tried again but still nothing. Losing his patience, he drummed on the door. Even if you were asleep, you could hear him. “Y/N! Open me!” He yelled loud enough for you to hear it. “I’ll wait here till you open this door!” He warned you, non-stop knocking at the door. “Please!” He screamed. You opened the door angrily, “are you crazy? They could call the police!” You pointed at your neighbor’s door. “At least you opened the door.” He stated. “Don’t you have something more important to do?” You tugged against the door frame. “Not at all.” He replied instantly. “And I have a surprise for you.” “If you think I’ll forget-” He handed you 2 concert tickets, “Tadaaaa!” You raised a brow, suspicious. “I acted like an asshole, so I want to apologize and enjoy the 2nd concert date with my girl! As I should.” “San...” “I know! You are mad at me. And you have the right to. But please let me make it up to you correctly.” He pouted cutely, using his puppy eyes. Defeated, you nodded, “okay, let’s go there tomorrow.” You ripped the tickets off his hands. San hopped happily, “Yay!” “See you tomorrow.” You kissed his cheek before closing the door in front of him. “What-” 20 seconds later, San’s phone buzzed. [“Thanks for the tickets but I’m still mad at you. Good night.”] San smiled and whispered, “one step by one.”

MINGI

Almost one week. One whole week. Mingi couldn’t join you for one week. You ignored his texts and calls. He even tried to use his member’s phone to call you, but you weren’t stupid. As a last attempt, he emailed you, but as expected you never replied. Because of his full debut schedule, he didn’t have enough time to visit you. “Still no news of Y/N?” Asked Jongho, sitting in the van behind his Hyung. “No.” He simply replied. “This suck...” Mingi sighed, frustrated. “I don’t know what to do anymore and the worst part is that I can’t go to her as I want to.” “But you messed up pretty well.” Added Yeosang out of nowhere. Seonghwa’s pinched Yeosang’s arm, trying to stop him to say something else. “What about borrow the manager’s phone?” He suggested. Mingi’s head tilted instantly, gripping around the managers seat. “I didn’t sign for this...” sighed the man giving his phone to Mingi. “Thank you!” He shouted. Your boyfriend composed your number easily. His heart was beating so fast. “Hello?” You picked up. “Please don’t hung up!” He begged you, playing nervously with the hem of his hoodie. “Mingi?” “Yes. Y/N- Hi-” he stuttered. Seonghwa pocked his shoulder, “you are supposed say few words right now.” “I want to apologize! I really messed up. Even worse! I might break the trust you had for me.” He said. “I’m really sorry.” He heard you sigh through the phone. “What is she saying?” Whispered Jongho behind his friend. “Yes, I understood afterwards that I really hurt your feelings.” “What is she saying? Is she mad? Or is she crying?” Whispered Seonghwa a bit louder. “Really? Yes, tomorrow at 8PM! It’s okay! I’ll be there.” He said surprised but happy. After being sure that you hung up, he screamed in relief in the van, making the driver lose his composure a bit. “Does it mean she forgives you?” “Not even a little bit yet.” He said happily. “Then why are you so happy?” Asked Jongho. “Because I will see my girl tomorrow! Even if she’s going to yell at me the whole time.” He clapped enthusiastically. “Love...” almost burped Yeosang.

WOOYOUNG

When you got back in your house, you immediately went to sleep. You tried your best to not over-think about your boyfriend talking all night long with his ex-girlfriend. Surprisingly, you dozed off easily. Even your brain was done with this bullshit. The next day, you cracked an eye when you smelled a sweet and tasty smell in your room. Probably the bakery in front of your apartment. You turned around lazily on your bed, staring at the blue sky through the window. You could stay there the whole day, but you needed to study. Curiously, you grabbed your phone on your nightstand. Few twitter notifications, some of the group chat you have with your friends popped up but nothing from Wooyoung. You threw your phone furiously on your bed but had a mini heart attack when you saw it just on the edge of the bed. “Y/N! Wake up!” You screamed at your boyfriend, not expecting to see him here. “You scared me! Are you crazy?!” You yelled at him. “What are you doing here? And why are you wearing an apron?” Wooyoung smiled and sat on the bed, next to you, “I made pancakes.” You raised an eyebrow, “yes and?” “Okay seems like you are still mad at me...” he assumed. “Mad? No... I’m furious!” You rectified. “Then pancakes should help a bit! No?” “Do you think I’ll forget that you dumped me for your ex and go eat your pancakes as if nothing happened?” You resumed shortly. “I hoped so...” he confessed. “BUT! I’ll make it up to you even if it takes 2 weeks.” “Yes, you should.” You said, getting up off your bed to go in your bathroom. “So... are you sure you don’t want at least one? I’m getting better at cooking!” “One with maple syrup! And don’t forget the blueberries!” You yelled from the bathroom. Wooyoung smiled, “yes princess.” He knows he would get you with food. He was really sorry and wanted to show you that you are the most precious girl ever for him. Even if it takes times, he would do anything to apologize.

JONGHO

When Jin finally left. Nothing changed between Jongho and you. You were still walking behind him, not looking at the wallpaper anymore. “Do you want to buy the green one?” Asked Jongho. You passed him coldly, “I just want to go home.” He raised a brow, “well okay let’s go.” You put down messily everything you chose and exited the shop. Not even waiting Jongho, you sat on the passenger seat. Most of the way back home, both are you stayed quiet. Jongho figured it out that you were mad because of Jin. He was ashamed to haven’t noticed it earlier. “Are you mad?” He asked shyly. You didn’t reply, focusing on the road. “Are you giving me a silent treatment?” He supposed. “That’s not what you did?” You replied coldly. “I was just helping her.” “There’s a difference between helping someone or focusing completely on someone.” You replied. “Yes, you’re right. I’m sorry sweetheart.” He apologized. “Were you really interested at her to ignore me like that?” “No sweetheart.” “Were you happy to see her?” “No sweetheart.” He repeated. “Are you even listening to me?” You looked at Jongho. “Yes, of course sweetheart.” “Are you going to see Jin again?” “No sweetheart.” Jongho knew that quick and short answers were the best, it would help to reduce your angriness. He grabbed your thigh and squeezed it gently. “I’m really sorry sweetheart. What can I do for you to forgive me?” You hesitated few seconds but finally declared, “let’s buy the coffee table I showed you.” “Now? We are almost home I-” The dead stare you gave him, changed his mind immediately. “You know what? Let’s go!” You smirked victoriously; your living-room will be ready in matter of time.

Part 1

[rexsjaigeyes]

The Bet

Han Solo x female reader

Words: 1.1k

Warnings: jealousy, gambling, really shitty writing lol

A/N: This is one of my older, unrecommended fics, but it’s here if anyone wants to read this mess lmao

You, Han, and Chewie were meeting Lando on Bespin for some business deal. You had met Lando before, and he always flirted with you, but you normally ignored his flirtatious comments. You’ve only ever had eyes for Han, and you’ve been trying to show him that for a while now. But the frustrating man had either been oblivious to your flirting, or he purposely ignored it because he didn’t feel the same way. You really hoped it was the former, because you weren’t ready to be rejected by someone whom you had grown so close to.

Lately, you’d been feeling a bit angry at Han for not seeming to care about you. So you decided that a little harmless flirting with Lando wouldn’t hurt anyone. After playful comments had been exchanged between you and Lando the entire day, you noticed Han’s attitude started to change. He became quick to anger and you chuckled when you realized how grumpy he was acting all of a sudden. Lando also noticed his temper flare, and this only made both of you laugh harder at Han’s expense.

Once the two of you had a moment alone, Lando whispered in your ear, “Han’s really jealous, isn’t he?”

You blushed a little at the thought, but a part of you was still skeptical if you were the cause of his anger. “Is he? I don’t know… he hasn’t shown much interest in me lately. But I’d love to test that theory out.”

“How about we make it a bet, hm?” Lando smiled at you deviously, unable to pass up the opportunity to earn a few credits.

You laughed at his ability to turn anything into another way to gamble, but you gladly shook his hand. “Alright. I bet you 50 credits that we can’t make Han jealous tonight.”

“Ha!” He exclaimed, as if he knew he’d win those credits easily. “It’s a deal, sweetheart!”

Lando let go of your hand and led you out of the room with his arm draped around your shoulders. You met up with Han and Chewie, and Lando invited all of you to some fancy dinner party that he was hosting that night. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Han tense up upon noticing Lando’s arm on your shoulders and your bodies so close together.

Lando smirked at Han and teased, “This lovely lady will be my date. So I guess that means Chewie is your date, Han.”

You swore you heard Han actually growl at Lando’s statement before you were led back to your room so that you could get ready for the party.

~

Han ignored you for most of the evening, and you started to wonder if maybe you had taken this whole jealousy thing too far. Before you could walk over to Han to apologize, Lando grabbed your arm and whisked you away to the dance floor.

“I plan on winning this bet, sweetheart,” Lando grinned widely at you and you giggled at his determination.

~

Han sulked beside Chewie, fuming while he watched how close you were to Lando. He heard Lando’s obnoxious laugh echo through the room after you whispered something in his ear, and Han gripped his glass so hard that it almost cracked from the pressure.

That should be me, damn it, he thought before Chewie roared softly beside him.

“I know I’m jealous, Chewie,” Han responded through gritted teeth. “But do you blame me? Lando knows I like her! That slimy, double-crossing–”

Chewie cut him off with another roar before Han could insult Lando any further.

Han sighed softly. “I know, buddy… but how could she ever love a guy like me?”

Lando twirled you around, and as your body turned to face Han, he saw the bright smile on your face. You looked like you were enjoying yourself far too much. And that’s when Han lost it.

“Hold my glass, Chewie,” he growled and shoved his glass towards the Wookie before stomping over to the two of you.

~

Lando slyly looked over your shoulder, and you were almost scared to look at what was behind you from the smug look on his face.

“He looks pissed,” Lando whispered, and your eyes widened before you strategically giggled loud enough for Han to hear.

Han stopped behind the two of you and cleared his throat with his hands resting on his hips impatiently.

“Hey, Lando... I think you two have had enough fun,” Han chuckled humorlessly and you could tell he was trying not to show how angry he was; he had that concentrated look on his face that still gave everything away.

You made a confused face, not wanting to give up the act just yet. “What’s the problem, Han? I’m dancing with Lando.” You smiled at Lando lovingly to really seal the deal.

Han grabbed your arm and tried to pull you towards him. “Well now I would like to dance with you, darling.” He gave you a strained smile, and you could tell by the tone of his voice that he was losing his patience.

You shrugged your shoulders as if you didn’t care and let Han lead you away from Lando. As Lando walked away from the two of you, you caught him winking behind Han’s back as a way to tell you that he won the bet. You chuckled at him and Han frowned when he realized your attention was still on his friend even with his arms around you.

“So you, uh, really like Lando, huh?” Han looked hurt and your heart almost broke at the sound of his disappointment, but now you finally knew that he actually cared about you.

Although you understood that your little game was over, you still wanted to play coy in order to get Han to finally admit his feelings to you.

“Well of course,” you responded. “He’s handsome,” you watched Han’s face fall and decided to finally put him out of his misery. “And it’s not like anyone else is interested in me anyway.” You smirked and waited for him to realize that you were joking around.

You saw the immediate reaction to your words and tried not to giggle at how happy Han looked.

“Oh, you naughty girl,” he chuckled and gave you one of his signature crooked smiles. “You just wanted to get a rise outta me, didn’t you?”

Smiling, you relaxed in his arms and pressed yourself closer to his chest. “Did it work?”

Han chuckled at your rhetorical question as he started swaying to the music and tightened his grip on your waist.

He brought his lips close to your ear and you had to stop yourself from shivering as he whispered, “Don’t do that to me again, princess. You’re mine.”

[brandyllyn]

In our own image... (15)

Chapter 15

(Poe Dameron x OFC)

Other chapters... My Masterlist

Word count: 2400 words. Read it on AO3.

Rating: Teen & Up (PG) Warnings: gambling

Things changed after that. Ever so slightly. Nothing he could quite put his finger on but the camaraderie they had had, the gentle understanding that seemed to flow between them, no longer came so easily. It was like their relationship became divided into the Before and the After.

They still laughed. They still touched. They still kissed. They still did… other things that made him shift in his seat as he tried to keep his body from reacting to the memories. But that spark - that thread that had seemed to connect her heart to his - wasn’t there.

Last night was the first time she had turned him away. He had stopped by after flight maneuvers, given her a hug and a kiss and stayed with her for an hour before she had gently urged him back to his own bunk. He’d given her the space, almost grateful for the chance to sleep in his own hammock and not worry about the person next to him.

She didn’t mention it today, didn’t act like anything was wrong. Just smiled at him and held his hand as they went to dinner, laughing at Finn’s bad jokes.

"It’s sabacc night right?" Finn announced clapping his hands together. "I invited Rose, I’m pretty sure we have room."

Kina smiled, "I’m going to have to make you all build me a bigger shop if you keep this up."

Finn grinned, winking at her and then acting shocked when he caught Poe’s over-the-top frown in return. "I’m not making any moves, I promise."

"Keep it that way," Poe said with a playful growl, pulling Kina closer to his side. She nuzzled her nose into his shoulder and for a moment things felt a little like Before.

But when they got to the workshop she pulled away from him, crossing to sit at her bench and becoming engrossed in whatever project was there. Poe stood for a moment, watching her, unsure of what to do before Finn jarred him out of his thoughts.

"Rey, Chewie, help me with the table. Poe do you have the cards stashed here somewhere?"

Poe nodded and squeezed around the three moving the table and setting up seats. He saw Rose enter and gave her a wave as he pulled out the cards and slid into place at the table.

Finn was passing a new set of chits to Rose. "Write your name on these," Finn prompted. "These blue ones are small favors, and the red large ones."

"Other way," Poe pointed out as he shuffled the cards, noting that the seat to his left was still empty.

"Really?" Finn asked, eyebrow raised before he glared at Rey. "You let me trade my blue favor for you fetching that fruit for me?"

"It’s not my fault you don’t know how to bargain," Rey laughed and stuck her tongue out at him.

Sighing, Finn turned back to Rose. "The grey ones we decided represent loyalty. I haven’t used one yet so not sure how that one pans out but it could come in handy."

Poe studiously avoided looking in Kina’s direction.

"Kina are you coming?" Finn called out.

"I’m in the middle of something, and you have five," she called back, not turning around from the bench.

Finn gave Poe a worried look but Poe just shrugged. "She can join later if she wants," he said as he dealt the first hand and started the timer.

But she never did. Poe tried not to let it bother him, that she stayed away, but there was something off about her tonight that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. And he was only somewhat certain it wasn’t because of him.

"Rose, your turn. Call or raise?" Finn nudged the woman next to him.

"I, uh, I call?" She asked with a questioning look and Poe saw Finn give her an indulgent smile in return. Poor sap. Even Poe could see that Rose was pretending, faking not knowing her way around the sabacc deck to draw them into a sense of complacency. She already had the biggest stack except for Chewie - even if she kept part of it obscured behind her elbow.

"Chewie, where did you say you got these parts from?" Kina called out and Poe turned to look at her. She was facing them finally, holding a piece of metal in her hand.

"From the aft navigation panels, Cherished One," Chewie replied.

"Cherished One?" Rose looked at them with a raised eyebrow. "What?"

"What is this?" Finn asked at almost the same time.

Poe tried to hide a smile when he saw Kina get flustered, ducking her head. "Chewie has a very high opinion of Kina," Poe explained. "Very high. Something to do with trees."

Chewie turned his head sharply to Poe. "You take the sum total of a person’s culture and heritage and reduce it to 'something to do with trees'? Dameron if we were not companions I would kill you where you sit."

Poe wasn’t phased. "It’s not like either of you explained it to me."

"The Song of Making is sacred. 'Something to do with trees' - how dare you," Chewie was still grumbling, getting himself more riled up with each word.

"It’s okay Chewie," Kina whistled, giving Poe a warning look but obviously trying to hide a smile. "You cannot expect a heathen to know the songs."

"A heathen?" Poe gaped at her. "Now I’m offended."

"Good," Chewie and Kina both replied at the same time.

"I’m confused," Rose muttered and Poe saw Finn nod back at her.

"Is it possible someone could explain for those of us who maybe missed the first part of whatever is happening?" Rey said with a hopeful look.

Chewie crossed his arms, still glaring at Poe. Which left Kina to roll her eyes and sigh. "It’s… difficult to really put into words. For as long as anyone can remember, the Wookies and the Chasinians have worked together to help grow the trees on Kashyyk."

"How?" Finn asked, leaning his elbows on the table. His cards were forgotten on the table. The man had a Pure Sabacc and Poe mentally noted that he should fold when his turn came around.

"Through the Song," Kina replied as though it was simple. "We can touch the Force too, in our own way. Not the same as Rey does, but it’s there regardless. We sing the Song of Making and the trees respond."

"Can we hear it?" Rose asked and then jerked back when Chewie turned to her with a low roar.

"You cannot just ask to hear the Song of Making. It is sacred."

"It is okay, Child of the Trees," Kina held a hand out and Poe noted how she slipped into her more formal role easily when she needed to get the Wookie’s attention. "I could not sing it regardless. I no longer have voice for the songs."

Chewie sat back, mumbling to himself too low to hear. Finn cocked his head, "Could you whistle it?" When Poe and Chewie both looked at him he put his hands up, "What? I’m just asking."

"We’re not allowed to ask questions at sabacc. Remember last time?" Rey said with a wry grin.

"Do you?" Poe asked pointedly.

"I could," Kina interrupted, her whistles considering. "It would be up to Chewbacca really. The Song belongs to his people. Not that it would be the same - but regardless it’s his choice."

Chewie tilted his head. "What would differ?"

"You would have the melody, but not the… there would be no power. I can no longer touch it." She shrugged, "But I could give some of the tune."

The Wookie sighed, "I have missed the songs. If you have wish to play the tune Treesinger, I would not object."

Poe didn’t know what he expected. He knew Kina had a range of noises available to her - far beyond the normal whistles and trills he was familiar with. He also knew that she could whistle into frequencies he couldn’t actually hear. Looking back, part of him was expecting the song to sound similar to binary, just maybe with a tune behind it.

It wasn’t.

It was obvious from the first note that this was different. As the first few bars passed the song became more complex, notes overlaying each other until he realized she was whistling entire chords. Something he would have told you was impossible until a few moments ago. The music filled the workshop, vibrating into his bones, prying his soul away from his body. But not quite all the way - it hung there, in stasis. Not quite gone, not quite ascended. Still rooted to himself.

When she finished it was like the snap of an o-ring. He fell back into himself so hard it jarred him. Looking around he saw similar expressions on everyone’s faces - wonder mixed with a small amount of awe. If this was what she could do when she couldn’t access her talents - what could someone who still had their voice be able to accomplish? Suddenly, the idea of someone singing trees to grow didn’t seem so farfetched.

"That was-" Rey began but a low howl from Chewbacca stopped her. The Wookie stood, upsetting the table before rushing from the shop. Poe noticed the stricken look on Kina’s face before she chased after him, beckoning Threepio to follow.

The four humans remaining shared a look.

"I think," Rey began and then halted, staring after them. "I think maybe that had a greater effect than she knew."

"Dwang," Finn swore, "did everyone else feel that?"

"Like you were floating?" Rose asked, her eyes wide.

"Like you were standing on the edge of a cliff," Poe said quietly. "Right before you were going to jump."

Finn nodded at him, his pupils blown. "Did you know?"

Poe shook his head, "I knew that she could… that her people could do things. But I never knew exactly what."

The sabacc game quickly ended after that. Poe noticed that Finn and Rose got into a small argument over her 'hiding’ her winnings from him as they left together. Rey gathered Chewie’s chits and dropped them in a bag to the side.

"Are you going to wait for her?" Rey asked in a quiet voice.

Poe paused in the act of gathering his things. He hadn’t really considered it. "No, I don’t know how long she’ll be with Chewie."

Rey gave him a concerned look but didn’t say anything in return and they left together. Kina wasn’t in sight when they stepped outside. Sighing, he stuffed his fists into his pockets and started back towards his bunk. He probably would have gone to bed if he hadn’t seen BB-8 veer off to the right and heard a muttered "Bad droid," from the bushes.

"Go on ahead," he told Rey and she nodded at him with a small smile.

He followed the noise, pushing ferns aside to see K-0 nestled into the roots of a large tree. Poe cocked his head before looking up. There she was, about fifteen feet off the ground, back to the trunk and staring out at the night sky. He thought briefly about leaving her there but he had never run from trouble in his life. And this didn’t seem like the time to start.

The tree was easy to climb, large branches at even intervals made it almost as easy as climbing a ladder. He stopped just below her, head at level with her hips. She must have heard him, he wasn’t being quiet, but she didn’t acknowledge him.

"Is there room for two?" he asked.

She didn’t answer, only shifted so he could slide in behind her, holding her body to his chest so they could both look up into the stars.

He didn’t say anything, just held her. Whatever was going on in her head she would tell him when she was ready. Instead he concentrated on the feeling of her, arms crossed around her waist with her hands resting on top of his. He could smell the soap she used in her hair, fruity with an acidic undertone.

"It’s right there you know," the low whistle and BB-8’s translation startled him but he followed the length of her arm to her hand where it pointed at a bright star. "Hosnia. It’s right there. Close enough to touch." She opened her hand as if she might try. Might try to pluck it from the sky, keep it safe. "The light from its destruction won’t reach here for decades yet."

He hadn’t given it much thought. The grief at the loss of the Hosnian system was still raw. They had lost so much to the First Order - and the destruction of the home of the New Republic was by far the largest. But that event was light years upon light years away in the great span of the universe. As far as the night sky was concerned, they were still there - a snapshot of the past hanging amongst the glitter of the galaxy.

He felt her sigh, sinking further into him as she let her hand drop. "They’re all right there. My family. My home. It’s so easy to forget they’re gone when I can still see them."

He kissed her temple, at a loss for what to say. How do you comfort someone who had lost everything? He knew that Leia still mourned the loss of Alderaan, and that had happened before he was even born.

"All I have left is the family I’ve made," she whistled softly and Poe felt a shiver of understanding go through him.

"The droids?"

She sighed, "Yes, the droids. They’re… they’re all I have."

"You could have me," he whispered back, tone carefully neutral. An offer.

"Could I really?" He heard the laugh in her, the doubt that crawled through the notes. "You’re always going to put this… this fight before everything else. You proved that already." She shifted slightly, "I wish I could blame you for that but I can’t. But I’m also not sure I’m willing to settle for whatever is left over."

Poe stared into the night, seeing the gulf that was growing between them with no idea how to span it. "I don’t know what to do about that," he said truthfully, hating the words even as they came from his mouth. "I don’t know how to fix this."

"I know," she replied sadly, turning slightly in his arms and pressing her cheek to his shoulder. "I just wish it was different."

"Me too."

=

Chpt 16

[unpopularly-opinionated]

FINALLY FINISHED NARUTO AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

Honestly, and this might sound harsh, but I think I give the series overall a 6/10. Being generous, I’d say it’s maybe a 7/10, but I’m deducting one point because I’m almost positive the only reason I’d rate it that high is because despite all it’s flaws, after watching 720 episodes across two series and 10 movies, you’re just going to be attached to the characters and show regardless of how you feel about it.

I know it’s super popular, or was anyways, and I can absolutely see why, but there were just too many issues that bothered me personally. It’s frustrating because I want to like it, I really do. There’s so many elements at work here that are so just perfectly me that it’s almost weird that I don’t like it, but I don’t. Obviously I liked it enough to spend hours upon hours watching it, but I think I just kept expecting it to get better at some point, and that point never happened.

More about my issues with it below...

I don’t know how to frame this (I never do) so it’s mostly just off the cuff.

I’ll start with the easily dismissible criticisms, the movies. Obviously all but one of the movies are non-canon (and I’ll get to the canon one shortly...), and they’re made by other studios so it’s not entirely fair to criticize the series based on them. I’m far too used to this weird format from Pokemon and their non-canon movies, so it wasn’t a huge deal to me. I will say that, much like the Pokemon films, almost all of the Naruto films followed the same exact format: Naruto goes to a location we’ve never heard of before and will never hear of again and is forced to protect someone abrasive and annoying until the enemy is defeated and they become BFFs that we’ll never see or hear from again.

I’d say, in order from best to worst:

Road to Ninja - Naruto the Movie

Naruto the Movie 2: Legend of the Stone of Gelel

Naruto Shippuden: The Movie 3: Inheritors of the Will of Fire

Naruto Shippuden: The Movie - Bonds

Naruto Shippuden: The Lost Tower

Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow

Naruto Shippuden: The Movie

Naruto the Movie 3: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom

Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Blood Prison

The Last: Naruto the Movie

Yes, you read that right. The one canonical movie I put in dead last. Originally I thought that position was reserved for Blood Prison, which offended me because of just how utterly contrived the plot was and how out of character everyone needed to act to get it moving. But somehow, The Last took last place because of just how bad of a movie it was that for some reason has the audacity to be canon. And look, I know why it’s canon. It’s where Naruto and Hinata ‘officially’ get together and it ‘explains’ some missing plot elements from the series (more on that...), so of course it’s canon.

But come the fuck on, the last movie in the franchise, the one canonical movie, the one that may or may not take place after the Great Shinobi War, I.E. the big final battle of the series, has Naruto going into the fucking hollow earth through a cave portal that takes him to the moon, which is falling because the man on the moon is an incel and hates earth? What kind of methamphetamines were the writers on for that one. The Hinata and Naruto bits were fine, but holy fuck was that plot bad. They may as well have put Naruto in a spaceship and sent him to Mars to fight Martian Shinobi, I mean if we’ve already crossed the line, why not run a marathon beyond it.

The movie was meant to explain away a one-off line made in the series, that admittedly I did sit and ponder whether or not they’d ever explain it, about the Sage of Six Path’s brother, Homura, who went to go live on the moon after they defeated their mother Kaguya. It was mentioned so briefly and only once that I thought for sure it wasn’t ever going to be brought up again. I also wondered where Byakugan came from since we’d gotten an explanation for Sharingan and Rennigan during the series, but never for Byakugan. I actually don’t mind the explanation that it came from Homura’s bloodline, I think that tracks well enough. The man on the moon bit was...odd, but when I thought of how strong Homura was, I didn’t think much of it. I actually thought he somehow was going to still be alive and he’d come down to earth after they defeated Kaguya, but that never happened.

Here’s the rub though, and one of my issues with the series as a whole, which is that the show seemed to keep writing itself into these weird corners where they’d be forced to do something completely nonsensical, purely because they were the ones who wrote them into those corners. It would’ve been simpler to just say all visual jutsu was derived from Kaguya’s power, or the Homura died so there’s no man on the moon, or that Tsunade died so Kekashi needs to become Hokage, etc. They didn’t have to write themselves into these scenarios, but they did anyway and the end result was them having to write complete and utter nonsense to rationalize why they did it in the first place.

Kekashi becoming Hokage doesn’t really make any sense, like at all. They literally bisected Tsunade during the war but willed her back to life when they could’ve just as easily killed her then and there since she’s largely irrelevant to the rest of the series after the war, and then it would’ve made more sense why Kekashi, the man who on numerous occasions said he didn’t want to be Hokage, would then be forced to become Hokage as he’d be the next strongest (eligible) shinobi after Tsunade. I feel like it was all meant to be a payoff to Obito’s dying words to Kekashi which told him to become Hokage, which even then I found myself asking why the fuck would he say that? Kekashi almost was Hokage once before and was so relieved when Tsunade woke up from her coma so he wouldn’t have to.

Also can we talk about how bad that final episode was? I mean don’t get me wrong, it was cutesy as fuck and actually brought a tear to my eye (when Naruto asked Iruka to be his dad I fucking lost it, I won’t lie), but they cut it off before the wedding? Before the aftermath? Before he becomes Hokage? Like I understand Boruto exists, but I don’t feel like that’s a justifiable excuse for ending your long-running series on merely the assumption that he’ll become Hokage in the future. Maybe if the show was a whole 500 episodes shorter I’d be comfortable with it ending on a vague, yet hopeful ending, but when I’ve spent fuck knows how many hours on this series you bet your ass I’m expecting some mother fucking payoff.

Also do not even get me started on Sasuke. What. The. Fuck?!?!? My guy literally just sends a note via carrier pigeon to the wedding? That’s it? Did I just fucking hallucinate the last 720 episodes or wasn’t Sasuke supposed to be like the second main character??? The absolute absurdity.

This isn’t even much of a comparison because it’s so much shorter than Naruto, but it’s all I got in the moment, but imagine if at the end of Return of the Jedi, Han Solo just decides to fucking dip. He’s just not there. He and Chewie hopped into the Millennium Falcon the moment the Death Star was destroyed and just dipped. No longer in the movie, just gone. Didn’t say anything to Luke or Leia, just up and left. That would be insane.

It’s even more offensive knowing him and Sakura end of together. My. Fucking. Gods. This has been the relationship I’d been dreading since the start when it became abundantly clear they weren’t doing even the barest minimum to actually establish a relationship between them. As it is, when I watched The Last, I thought to myself: “Well, Naruto and Hinata’s relationship hasn’t been the most well-developed relationship I’ve seen, but it’s still leagues better than whatever hatchet job they’re going to pull to convince me Sasuke and Sakura end up together”. We didn’t even get the hatchet job. That’s just how little of a shit they gave. They did not even bother pretending to give any explanation as to how I’m supposed to believe they end up together. I’m quite literally just supposed to believe it because I know it will happen. There’s no rhyme or reason to it, it’s just something that is and therefor I must accept it. Absolutely ridiculous. As it stands, the show gave us more reasons why Sakura and Lee should end up together than they did for her and Sasuke. Fuck, I’d even buy Sakura and Inu before I’d buy Sakura and Sasuke.

I could go on, I really could, but it’s late and I’m just looking forward to putting this behind me. At some point, probably not too soon, I will watch Boruto. As it is, my watch schedule is pretty thoroughly booked up for a while. I can’t foresee myself ever watching this again. I know I sound harsh on it, but I wanna reemphasize that I want to like this show. It’s not a show I think is bad period, it’s a good show I think was just done rather poorly. It all felt very off-the-cuff, much like this shitty review. I don’t know what the manga-to-adaptation pipeline looked like when the show was live, but clearly something got fucked up somewhere.  This really feels like the Fullmetal Alchemist to Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, and I can’t help but want Naruto to get the Brotherhood treatment...if such a treatment even exists.

[reapers-carino]

Beauty in Simplicity ver. 2

“Itadakimasu!”

Genji’s tone was jovial, the excited grin on his face and sparkling eyes set on the large bowl of shoyu ramen in front of him. Giving a small ‘whoop’ of excitement as he pulled his chopsticks apart, he gave a quick, sympathetic glance to his older brother. Hanzo’s brow was furrowed, staring into his bowl of shio ramen with such a contemptuous look, Genji tempted to ask how the meal had offended him. Reluctantly, Hanzo finally picked up his own set of chopsticks, brusquely snapping them apart before murmuring a soft ‘itadakimasu’ and beginning to eat. Genji waited til he was a few bites in before goading him.

“Sooo…?”

Hanzo’s eyes cut towards him, his frown somehow deepening as he bit into the chashu, a brief uptick in the corners of his lips indicating that the food was chipping away at the annoyance. Now was as good a time as any to keep prying; Hanzo’s love of good food had always been the younger brother’s way of cheering his brother up, alcohol coming in as a close second. As Hanzo’s eyes drifted back to the bowl, he grunted as Genji nudged him, wearily turning his gaze towards his younger sibling. Genji had taken several bites out of the tender pork belly from his own bowl and held it up so it looked like a goofy pork-based smile, wriggling his eyebrows at his brother playfully. Hanzo couldn’t help the choked off snort he made, the ridiculousness of the image drawing a small half smile onto his lips as he placed his chopsticks down on the tiny stand beside his bowl. Releasing a low growling sigh, Hanzo knew that Genji would not cease in his attempts to cheer him up until he finally spilled the beans on what was wrong. 

“Let’s finish our meal and then we can talk”, he sighed, picking up his chopsticks once more and beginning to scarf down the noodles. 

Hanzo couldn’t deny the delicious saltiness of the broth and the chewiness of the noodles were having an effect on him, slowly pulling him out of his dour mood and gently nudging him towards simply being cross. As he drank the last of the broth and bits of bean sprouts and garlic down, Hanzo allowed the warmth to spread throughout his body, breathing in deep and letting out a quiet exasperated sigh. Glancing to the side, his brother had drained both his broth and the sickeningly sweet melon soda he chose to go with it, looking at his brother looking at him with expectant puppy dog eyes. Tapping down on the urge to chuckle, Hanzo gave an over exaggerated sigh as he began his story.

“I had a meeting with the board this morning…”

Genji gave a brief suck of his teeth, a scowl tugging at his lips briefly before his smile returned, smaller and sympathetic. Neither one of them were strangers to the board, better known to them as the elders, the near omnipresent, insufferable hivemind of the Shimada-gumi. Gently patting his older brother on the shoulder, he gave it a brief good natured squeeze before responding.

“So how did that go?”

Earlier that day

“Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today.”

Hanzo’s voice was warm, yet professional, the light of the holoscreen gently bouncing off of his skin in the dimmed room. His expression was neutral but not blank, the ghost of a simpering smile tugging at the corners of his lips but never rising into a true one. Shoulders back, posture straight but not stiff, his whiskey brown eyes giving the room a brief once over before continuing. Fake pleasantries and niceties were expected of anyone coming before the board and he was no different, even as the heir to the Shimada Conglomerate. Although, Hanzo wished he could have expected the same from the board. He could see several of the elders at the table flicking through the information transmitted to each of their datapads as they had entered the room, some actually reading the inscribed text while others stared at him, wrinkled faces set in a permanent frown. Years of training, school work and private lessons had led to this moment and he wasn’t going to let their lingering doubts of him deter him from victory. 

Motioning at the screen, the beginning of his proposal popped up, simply titled ‘Partnership Program between Shimada Conglomerate and Caledonia, Co’. He heard the start of agitated murmurs begin around the table before motioning towards the screen once more and going to the next slide. It held images of both the Shimada Conglomerate’s main building in the heart of Hanamura and the shining new Ashe, Inc building located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The next motion he made zoomed in on the section for Ashe, Inc. as he began to go through the history and details of the company.

“Caledonia Co. was started five years ago and is a subsidiary of the larger Ashe Inc. located in Sante Fe”, Hanzo said simply, watching as the facts illuminated on the screen before disappearing and being replaced with information from the company’s annual financial report. “They are currently the quickest growing modular home providers within the American southwest with projected earnings for the year predicted to be just under one billion dollars. There also have been whispers of the company securing a US federal contract with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to create homes for those still impacted by the Omnic Crisis.”

Pausing briefly, Hanzo glanced over the crowd, a small root of uneasiness swiping at his heart as not one board member looked the least bit intrigued by the company. Still, Hanzo refused to succumb to this adversity, flicking to the next screen with bulleted and referential lines about the benefit of partnering with the North American company. 

“The Shimada modular manufacturing subsidiary, Sparrow is both well-known and highly respected within the Japanese market”, Hanzo started, showing the earnings for the company in the last three years before swiping and overlapping that with predicted earnings that could happen if they expanded into other markets. “But we are lacking any power in markets outside of Eastern Asia, meaning we are not realizing Sparrow’s full potential. It is estimated that despite our current hold on the market we may begin to experience 2 to 3 percent profit declines regularly over the next decade due to field competitors and possible housing declines.”

“We do have the opportunity to turn that around”, Hanzo stated as he again showed prospective growth if they partnered up, the charts morphing to show off his estimations. “By supplying the North American company with our modular manufactured materials, we have the potential to grow both companies profits as well as have an established name in North America backing the growth of the Sparrow company into that region.”

The loss of profit statement had earned him a scoff or two, the older members stubbornly believing that the Shimada’s hold on the Japanese market was impervious to competition or outside influence. It had been the Shimada-gumi that had led the underground into helping Japan in its most dire hour during the war; providing housing, clothing, medicine, food and non-perishables as well as shelter across for their countrymen. Hanzo’s father and grandfather had spearheaded those projects almost twenty years ago, transforming the Shimada-gumi from small Yakuza-run businesses into the conglomerate powerhouse with hands in almost all facets of modern society. When the god program was eventually pushed back under sea, the Shimada’s and their supporters and allies were the one that rebuilt Japan and in turn had earned the idolatry of their countrymen. The Shimada name was looked at with adoration and reverence, the name conjuring up images of Japanese resilience and charity in the face of animosity. 

And while all that was true, they forgot that a new generation of consumers was being born, ones that were not as indebted to the Shimada name as the prior generation. People born on the cusp of the war did grow up hearing of all of their good deeds, but their attentions were fickle and easily wavered to newer, bigger things. While they would have a market to sail on for some time, it was not enough to maintain the current state of affairs and so Hanzo would try and better them. Even if it meant further catering to their more immoral heartstrings. 

“Caledonia is also the largest black market weapon supplier in the entirety of North America”, he stated pointedly, pressing another button to fully lock down any possible leaks in the room. “Caledonia is headed by Elizabeth Ashe, daughter of the heads of Ashe, Inc. Although expunged and sealed, my sources were able to find that she had a record of gang activity that was previously connected to the Deadlock Gang. It appears her tenure with the gang never ended and she instead looked for clearer avenues in which to support and conduct business.”

 The surprised looks and murmurs that rippled through the room almost made Hanzo smile for real, the man relishing the ball of pride that fluttered in his chest as he went through the rest of the presentation showing the profits that could grow for both their legitimate and illegitimate markets. The final page was marked with a simple question mark, the lights in the room coming up as he looked over the faces of the elders before finally landing on his father’s. Sojiro was the expert at guarding his true emotions, his eyes locking with his son before snapping down to the datapad that was used for each board meeting. Encrypted and only accessible through both fingerprint and retinal scanning, a security measure that ensured if any information got out, it would have to have come from within. 

“If you would like a more detailed breakdown”, he began, reaching at the front of the long boardroom table and pulling up his own datapad. “Please take a look through these pages. I am happy to answer any questions.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

Hanzo’s hands tightened around his datapad, lips ticking downward ever so slightly as his eyes pulled to Shoto Yamamoto. He was a portly balding older man seated near his father, his official title being Shimada’s general counsel. Unofficially, he was one of the saiko-komon of the Shimada-gumi, his father’s most trusted advisor and provider of counsel to the entire clan. The Yamamoto family’s allegiance went all the way back to the start of the 20th century, the two families intertwined by blood spilt and fraternity. With the exception of his father, Yamamoto held the biggest sway over the counsel and what they approved or rejected. One by one, Hanzo watched as the members turned their datapad’s off, eyes glancing at Hanzo before sliding back to Yamamoto. 

“The board appreciates the time you took to present this”, Yamamoto began, the condescending intonation on ‘appreciates’ making the back of Hanzo neck burn with annoyance. “But the Shimada Conglomerate doesn’t need foreigners interfering with their affairs. Quite frankly, it’s disheartening to think your confidence, not only in the company, but also in our loyal consumers and stockholders, is so low.”

“My confidence in the company has never waivered”, Hanzo snipped back, tone tight as he placed the datapad down. Yamamoto had swiped at the lowest hanging fruit; doubt for the company, and by extension the clan, was an offense that could be punishable by death or expulsion. The accusation was weak, at best, but it shined an ambivalent light on Hanzo’s intention with the project. “My family toiled for generations to build this business into the pinnacle that it is today. I do not want to see it diminish due to the inability to adapt. The risk we face if we do not acclimate to changing times is much higher than the loss we would suffer if we do not. As I stated, the numbers--”

“And as I said we do not need any interference from some ridiculous American company”, Yamamoto snipped before leaning as far forward as his stomach would allow. He steepled his fingers briefly as he looked around at other heads of the family, inclining his head as he looked at Sojiro. “I think I can speak for all of us when I say that while...ambitious, your presentation was wholly unnecessary. When and if we begin to lose profits, we will handle it as we always have. Internally. Is there anyone that objects to this?”

Hanzo listened to the murmurs that rose up from other members, eyes darting over to the future CEO nervously before looking back to Sojiro and then Yamamoto. It felt clear who they felt they were loyal to, his allegiance, ideas and future position not yet strong enough to sway those who sat on the fence to his side. Hanzo’s lips pursed together tightly, the entire back of his neck flushing in anger. Hanzo intended for this project to be his magnum opus, an idea that would show that he was not only deserving but ready to take over the role of CEO when his father finally abdicated the position.  

Hanzo had worked tirelessly to prove that he was the heir the company deserved. He had gained his Masters in Business Administration by the time he was twenty-three, but the young scion had been interning and shadowing his father since the young age of sixteen. His father had made sure he had experienced every aspect of working for the conglomerate;  Hanzo shadowing mail clerks, administrative assistance, accountants, marketing assistants and even human resources. All this while still maintaining his grades in school, practicing several sports and martial arts with his brother and taking care of any jobs  that the clan required. This wasn’t the first time that he had come to them with proposals; his partnership with several of the nation’s biggest trade schools providing their prefabrication and metal fabrication warehouses with a constant stream of skilled workers. It would seem, however, that he still had not earned the respect that he was owed.

Taking in a slow breath, Hanzo gave a short, stiff bow as members of the board began to stand, the dozen men filtering out of the room slowly. Some stopped and gave Hanzo an apologetic pat on the shoulders, others shaking their head in unspoken disappointment.  The chagrin he felt was sickening; head racing as he tried to figure out a way to amend his blunder, to find the mistake or shortfalling he had made so he could correct it. Failure was not an option. He had worked too hard, done too much. His stomach tightened into a ball, the creep of anxiousness in his chest slowly squeezing at his lungs as he drew in a shuddering breath.  His eyes narrowed on the black marble floors, the swirling white in them blurring then vaguely coming back into focus.

“Hanzo.”

Hanzo’s eyes darted from the floor to his father, the breath caught in his throat coming out as a half-cough. Sojiro’s brow was minutely pinched, the concern he held for his son barely contained by the professionalism his position required. Standing straighter, Sojiro approached his son, gently placing a hand on his shoulder before motioning towards the door, clearly meaning to escort his son back to his office. A ghost of a smile touched Hanzo’s lips as he nodded, gathering his materials before starting towards the door, his father following close behind. 

Sojiro had grown softer in his older years, his wife’s brush with death completely transforming him into a man that actually cared about his sons’ well-beings and not just the future they could provide. Yua Shimada had been a safe space for both of the Shimada sons’, each finding brief reprieve in her presence before they were thrown back into training or schooling or dueling. She emphasized how she cared for their mental well-being first and foremost, that she would love them despite what they did for the clan. Often Genji took advantage of this unwavering love, hiding behind their mother when punishment was to be enforced, Hanzo not wanting to burden his mother with any wrath incurred from his father, trainers or tutors. Hanzo often took the brunt of the anger for not ‘keeping his brother in line’, their younger years filled with quiet resentment and constant bickering. 

It took their mother falling ill and entering the hospital during Hanzo Masters program for the family to mend, the men of the family rushing to be at Yua’s side as she was diagnosed with stage two COPD. Her lung function had fallen to 60 percent, a respiratory infection combined with years of smoking leaving her lungs extremely vulnerable. While they wasted no expense in her care, the situation remained extremely precarious for an entire month, both Hanzo, Genji and their father all taking a leave of absence from school and employment so that they could be at her side. Each night when they left their mother’s side, Hanzo and Genji would seek one another's company; drinking, dueling, gaming, anything to get their minds off of her frail body laying in that bed. Their father would even occasionally join them, silent and watching but with no malice in his gaze. Reconciliation was slow but solidified the healthier Yua got, the trials of almost losing their matriarch creating a strong bond amongst them all. 

“So Hanzo…”

Hanzo gave a small sigh as he came to a stop, his father taking a few more steps before turning to look at his son. Sojiro’s dark eyes were calm yet prying as he looked his son over, gently rubbing at his goatee as he studied the boy, Hanzo suddenly feeling like he was under a magnifying glass. Clearing his throat, Sojiro tilted his head towards the datapad that Hanzo held in his hand, Hanzo glancing downward before his brow furrowed as he looked up.

“What do you plan to do with that proposition of yours?”

Hanzo blinked once then twice before his incredulity wrinkled his brow even more, shaking his head and staring at his father in confusion. 

“What do you mean”, Hanzo inquired, tone bordering exasperation and his eyes bore into his father’s. “The board has rejected it, there is nothing I can do.”

“Disappointing”, Sojiro sighed as he turned on his heel and began his walk back towards the offices. “I expected more from you…”

In The Present

Hanzo’s face burned with quiet shame, staring down hard at the black iced coffee Genji had ordered for him as he divulged the tale, the same uneasiness at failure creeping into his stomach. 

“Well”, Genji questioned, stretching out the word and looking at his brother excitedly, the younger Shimada practically bouncing in his seat.

“Well what”, Hanzo asked, brow furrowing deeper as his brother looked at him with wide, enthusiastic eyes. “The board shot down all my plans and father is disappointed in me, what else is there?”

The words left an acrid taste in his mouth, lips ticking down even more as Genji rolled his eyes and grabbed his brother by the shoulders. 

“For someone so smart you can be so blind”, Genji sighed, rolling his eyes dramatically as Hanzo glared at him. He was unsure if his brother was trying to earn his ire but if he was, he was doing a good job at it. Forcing Hanzo to turn and look him directly in the eyes, Genji’s gaze grew slightly serious. “Didn’t you get what father was trying to tell you? Do it anyway! Fuck what the board says!”

Hanzo’s jaw dropped, mouth opening and closing several times before he found the words, confusion and disbelief fighting in equal measure.

“What do you mean fuck the board”, Hanzo hissed out, hands closing then opening as if they held the words themselves. “I can’t just dismiss what the board says. And how?! You expect me to just ignore the elders like y--”

Hanzo bit back his words but Genji rolled his eyes as he stared down his older sibling. 

“Like me”, Genji finished for him, cutting Hanzo off before he could interfect or apologize. “Actually yeah, stop letting them make every single decision for you, aniki! Aht aht, don’t interrupt! Brother, you always followed what the elders said but has any of that ever made you the least bit happy?”

“Well…”

“That’s not a yes Hanzo”, Genji muttered deadpan before releasing his brother. “Think of this like Go, Han. Go has fortresses and if you play smart, what seems like an impenetrable fortress can easily be flipped or wiped out. If you do this brother and plan it out and succeed? They won’t have any choice BUT to listen to you.”

Hanzo mulled over this for several pregnant moments, lips pursed together as his mind raced over the audacious idea, warmth beginning to bloom in his chest as excitement trickled in. He may be able to pull this off. He would have no team or project manager, he wouldn’t be able to rely on the marketing department to make materials nor assistance to work alongside him. But if he took his time, he knew he could pull this off. Fate had been on Hanzo’s side when his father had him trained in every single aspect of the business, the man no expert but far from a greenhorn if the situation demanded it. If he could not only put together a business plan but also convince Ashe to meet with him in Japan, he could taste the sweet sweet flavor of not only success but he could begin to refute and rebuke the elders when the changes brought in profit. The only thing wrong…

“As much as I would like that”, Hanzo began, his Genji’s eyes growing suspicious on him. “I cannot. There is no place I can go where Shimada eyes do not follow.”

Hanzo’s shoulders began to hunch, his head drooping before he felt Genji began to shake him, elation and mischief tainting his tone as Genji force his brother to look up. 

“I know just the place!���

[fireinmoonshot]

REBEL | ARMITAGE HUX x READER | PART SIX

CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE RISE OF SKYWALKER.

PART ONE | PART TWO | PART THREE | PART FOUR | PART FIVE Summary: Armitage Hux finds himself strangely fascinated by you, a Resistance fighter and pilot, even though he knows he shouldn’t. You know that there’s much more to him than you see on the surface. Pairing: female!Reader x Armitage Hux Fandom: Star Wars Word Count: 4273 Warnings: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER SPOILERS A/N: I got thinking today and realised that most of my multi-chapters before have been between seven and eleven parts in length... and this one is going to be way longer. I planned most of the future of the fic out this afternoon while stacking shelves at work and I can easily say there will be parts into the late teens... definitely don’t want to rush this one, and Hux isn’t one that can be rushed! But for now, please enjoy the sixth part – this is the longest one so far and also my favourite to write so far! Read it on Ao3 here.

When Poe informs everyone that you’ll be arriving on Ajan Kloss within a matter of minutes, Armitage takes a deep breath to try and steady himself. He runs a hand through his hair, which is no longer as perfect as he had made it look that morning. With the escape, the crash landing on Kef Bir and the wind on the ocean moon, some of the hair had escaped its confines. He doesn’t quite care as much as he thought he would and happily messes it up a little more in his stress. There’s nobody here to judge him for hair that isn’t perfectly gelled, though he does feel a little like an officer could turn a corner at any second and ridicule him for it.

You’re sat beside him, eyes scanning the pages of a book you’d found on the ship not long after leaving Kef Bir. You’ve been reading it most of the way back, and Armitage has been carefully and quietly sneaking glances at you. The words he’d heard you speaking to Jannah, the woman on Kef Bir, were not missed by him. He’d heard them – several of them. You considered him a friend, and he’d never really had one of those before. He supposes that he considers you as one too.

He watches you as you finally close the book and then stifle a yawn. As you sit the book down on the table and then turn to him, meeting his eyes and catching him the act of him looking at you, his cheeks redden a little and he looks away.

“Are you ready to meet the Resistance?” You ask him, crossing your arms. He’s nervous, and you can tell – not only because he’s been anxiously bopping his knee up and down for the last ten minutes or so.

Armitage finds himself nodding.

“They might take a bit of convincing to trust you, Hux. They’re a good bunch, all of them… but none of them have a particularly good impression of you, what with everything they’ve been through with the First Order these past few years… but give them time. They’ll warm up to you, just as I did.”

He believes you on that, and he tries to focus on your good words, but his mind stalls on one thing in particular – you called him Hux. And he’s suddenly struck with a strange dislike for the name.

“Call me Armitage, if you would.”

You furrow your eyebrows. “Don’t you usually prefer Hux?”

“You called me Armitage once before on Steadfast. When we left,” he reminds you. “Hux… it was my fathers surname. He wasn’t a particularly kind man. Hux… the name Hux, it commands a certain kind of feeling, a certain kind of responsibility and title that I don’t think I want to carry with me into the Resistance. I have been General Hux to everybody in the First Order for years now, and that name holds something dark, something I think I want to forget… being just Armitage… it could be the change I’m looking for.”

It feels strange to ask something like that of you, and he worries for a moment if he’s doing wrong by asking you and confiding so much personally in you. But then you nod at him, and he sees a look in your eyes that makes him want to smile and crumble, both at the exact same time.

“Armitage it is, then.”

–

As you enter the cockpit, you can see Ajan Kloss in the distance. It fills you with a sense of peace as you slowly advance towards it, towards the place you call home. It’s been a long few hours, and you’re ready to just retire to your quarters and take a second to breathe and relax in comfort before jumping back into everything.

Poe looks up as he hears you. “We’ll be landing in a minute. Finn and I were talking before, we’re going to go and tell Leia about what we found on Kef Bir, about Rey, and then I’m going to go to the infirmary to get patched up,” he explains. “You should head there straight away.”

You furrow your eyebrows and shake your head. “Yeah, that’s not happening.”

“It isn’t?”

“No,” you shake your head again. “I’m coming with you all to talk to Leia. I need to introduce Armitage to her, to tell her that he was the spy. To explain why he’s with us. I need to break it to the Resistance. I’m not just going to leave him to fend for himself, no matter how injured I am. And the pain isn’t too bad anymore. The rest on Kef Bir must have done me some good.”

Poe doesn’t seem too impressed, and you understand. He’s protective of those he cares about, and you slot into that category. Ever since you met him and joined the Resistance with him, since you started flying in his squadron. But he understands. You see that in his eyes as he looks back at you, narrows his eyes and then nods.

He turns back to look out at Ajan Kloss as you slowly begin your landing – it’s bound to be a much safer, softer landing than the one on Kef Bir so you don’t bother bracing yourself or finding yourself a seat to settle in. Then, without looking at you, he speaks.

“You called him Armitage.”

“He asked me to.”

The Falcon settles down on the ground of Ajan Kloss. He glances back at you.

“Just… be careful. I trust you, and if you think he’s good, then I think he is too. But… be careful. For your sake. For your safety. And for the sake of everyone else’s.”

–

Armitage stays close to your side as you all exit the Falcon. It’s his first look at Ajan Kloss, the planet you call home, and he’s surprised by it. He didn’t expect it to be this green, this… open. It’s been a while since he’s been in a place this full of colour and this full of light. He would almost call it beautiful, though the word seems foreign when he thinks it.

He knows he looks out of place on the planet next to you. You, in your dark green and browns. Him, in his black. The only parts of him that are no longer First Order regulation are his hair and his allegiance. He watches as people catch sight of him and sink back into themselves. He slightly self-consciously tugs on the bottom of his coat in an attempt to assert some kind of dominance, and then he stops. That’s not what he’s here for. That’s not him anymore.

You glance back at him as Poe, Finn and Chewie push past a Resistance commander he doesn’t recognise, but you do – Larma D’Acy. He gives you a small nod, a nod of reassurance, or the best he can manage of one. This place, it’s your home. The place you command respect. He refuses to let you sink down so low as to be someone like his keeper. To have to constantly be checking on him. You deserve better than that.

“We’ve gotta see the General,” he listens to Poe say to the woman, and he notices how you give her a tight-lipped smile as you slip past her with Armitage in tow.

But then you stop as she suddenly speaks, and he forces himself to a stop just in time to not run into you.

“She’s gone.” The woman says.

He spins around and looks at her as Poe, Finn, Chewie and you do the same.

“What?” Your word is merely more than a breath, and only Armitage hears you because he’s standing so close to you. It goes unheard by everyone else.

And for a moment, Armitage is confused. Gone? As in, gone to see someone, to do something – off planet, perhaps? But then he hears Chewie bellow, and he watches as you stumble sideways away from him and brace yourself on the ladder leading up to the X-wing beside you. He watches how Finn buries his face in his hands and how Poe tries to comfort the wookiee before being pushed away. And he knows that gone means something different to you.

Not gone briefly. But gone for good.

He watches you carefully. As you stand, hands on the ladder, and shudder in your grief. You’re crying, he knows that much. But he doesn’t know how to comfort you. He’s never been good at comfort, and part of him wants to walk over to you, to just try, but the part of him that wins out is the place within him that fears for you pushing him away.

And so he stands still. Allows himself to keep his distance. To let you and the others sit in your grief for a moment without interference. The woman stays standing and watches alongside him, and she gives him a strange look, but the look disappears soon after.

There are more important things to worry about than him right now.

–

He’s surprised at how quickly you compose yourself. Eventually, Chewie joins Finn and Poe and they slowly make their way back to the centre of the base in silence. Poe gives your shoulder a squeeze as he leaves, and it’s only minutes later that you’re standing up a little straighter and taking a deep breath. Armitage watches as you rub your face with your hands to remove the remaining tears as best you can, and then you turn back around and face him.

Your eyes are bloodshot and red, and his heart twinges.

“She was like a mother to me. That’s all.”

“You don’t have to explain yourself.”

That earns him a look of relief.

You take another deep breath and then glance off to the side. “I’ll introduce you to the rest of the Resistance soon. I’ll make an announcement. I just need a second to…” You drift off and pause for a moment. “I’m going to go back to my quarters. I’ll find you some clothes and you can freshen yourself up before I introduce you. Come on, I’ll take you the quick way.”

Armitage joins you and walks alongside you as you lead him around the base. He takes in as much as he can – the people, the locations, the green of it all. It’s entirely different to the First Order, and he hopes that he can one day find a sense of comfort here that he never found in the First Order. He ignores the eyes that fall on him and his obvious black uniform and tries to focus on the future – soon enough, he will be in the Resistance completely. Soon enough, he will properly be fighting alongside you. Not flying, but fighting.

And then, moments later, you’re pushing a door open, welcoming him inside your quarters, and the first thing his eyes fall on is the First Order uniform he’d given you sitting by the end of your bed, folded neatly.

“I knew you didn’t forget them.”

Your eyes fall on the uniform and you chuckle. “It was a choice I made, to not wear them.”

Armitage scans your room. It’s small, much smaller than his quarters back on Steadfast, and he’s surprised by the size of it. It looks like you’re yet to really make yourself at home. The only personal items he sees are several of the small devices he’d given you over the months to give the Resistance information, and your clothes folded on a table beside your bed. There’s a small framed photo above your bed, but he can’t make out who’s in the photo from the door.

“There’s a small bathroom in there where you can freshen up. I’m going to go and get you some clothes. I’ll leave them on my bed and wait outside for you,” you explain, and then you’re gone, leaving him alone in your quarters.

Hesitantly, he wanders towards the room you’d motioned to and sees himself inside. There’s a shower, and he takes full advantage of it, and when he walks back into your quarters he sees the Resistance uniform sat on your bed like you’d said it would be. He picks up the clothes. They fill him with a sense of something he’s never felt before. And he pulls them on and finds himself surprised by how much more comfortable they really are compared to his usual First Order garb.

It’s only about twenty minutes after he first entered your quarters to when he opens the door and walks outside to find you leaning against the wall, fiddling with a bracelet around your wrist. You glance up at him as you hear the door and involuntarily gasp.

Armitage looks like an entirely different person.

He looks less harsh in the browns and greens of the Resistance. He looks much more comfortable. The trousers are a little tight on him, and the shirt a little short on him due to his height. But it suits him. The Resistance look suits him. And his hair– he’s entirely washed out the gel. His red hair falls over his forehead, and it’s a little longer than you thought it was without the gel in it, holding it in place. It looks… surprisingly soft, despite the darker patches which are still a little wet and drying. He looks entirely Resistance worthy.

You clear your throat. “How does it feel?”

He looks down at it and attempts to smooth his shirt down. “Scratchy.”

You laugh at that. “I never denied it.”

Then, you step forward and surprise him by straightening up his uniform a little. He looks lopsided, and the collar of his shirt is buttoned up so high it looks a little like he has no neck at all.

“You’re not First Order now. There’s no need for you to choke yourself with a buttoned up shirt. We’re a lot less strict on the uniform policies here, I imagine.”

He tenses up a little as you start to unbutton the first few buttons on his shirt, and for a moment he thinks he stops breathing entirely. You’re standing closer to him than you’ve ever been before and he’s not sure what to do with that information other than pause. When you’re done, you take a step back but your hands fall onto his shoulders as you survey the look. Then, you nod.

“Better. Much better.”

One of his hands goes to toy with his collar. It’s much looser than he’s used to. He feels strangely exposed… but he also feels freer than he’s ever felt before. It makes a surprisingly nice change from the uniform he’s been wearing for years. He finds he likes it.

He meets your eyes. “Thank you.”

“Oh, only doing my job to make you fit in.”

“No,” he shakes his head. “Thank you for offering your hand.”

Your lips twitch into a smile. “Thank you for taking it.”

–

Armitage is nervous. He can’t bring himself to admit it to you, but as you take his hand and lead him towards where Poe has assembled the entire Resistance, he has to force himself to keep his feet moving. This moment, it’s make or break.

You fix him with a reassuring smile as you stop in front of the Resistance, and as you drop his hand, he quietly wishes you hadn’t. But he pushes the thought of his mind as soon as it entered and, instead, focuses on the way everyone is looking at him. He feels different, better, in his new Resistance uniform, but he can tell that everyone thinks it’s a facade of sorts. That he’s wearing it to fit in. He knows that several people probably just think he’s planning on taking them down from the inside. He, and you, are the only ones that know for sure that he isn’t.

He stands up straighter and remains by your side as you look around at everyone.

Then, you speak. “You all have probably seen him by now, and I know there are rumours floating around about why he’s here. I’m here to set those rumours straight,” you begin. “Armitage Hux, previously known as General Hux of the First Order, has been spying on the First Order for the Resistance for months. He’s the spy that I’ve been flying out to meet with and the one I’ve gotten all the information from.”

In the distance, someone loudly protests. Armitage watches as you shut them down with a look, and he’s impressed at how you take charge. At the respect you command among the Resistance. It’s a side of you he’s never really seen before – a side of you that he’s known has always been there, but one he’s never been able to see in all its glory. He likes seeing it.

“When Chewie and I were taken captive by the First Order, and after Poe and Finn came to rescue us with Rey, Armitage helped us. He helped us escape, and in return I offered him a chance at a new life. A chance at a life within the Resistance, helping us take the First Order down.”

“How could you do that? He’s killed us before! He’ll do it again!” Someone yells. He can’t see who they are or where they’re coming from, but their voice ignites a few cheers of agreement from people around them.

Armitage’s straight posture slumps a little.

You step forward and raise your voice equally. “We’ve lost too many people already! We’ve fought enough! I can’t force you to trust Armitage, but I can ask you to trust me. I know who he is. I know who he is now. And he is here, in our uniform, willing to help us win.” You glance back at him and he nods.

He’s not sure if it’s the right time, nor is he sure if it’s what you want, but he does it anyway. He steps forward, looks around at the Resistance, and decides to address them for the first time.

“When I first started sharing information with you, it was born out of a hate for Kylo Ren. I still remained loyal to the First Order, but I wanted Kylo to lose. I didn’t care for who won,” he speaks, and it’s the first time he’s spoken in this way since leaving the First Order. He commands no respect here, only hatred and minor fear, but he says it anyway. “Over the months, in meeting with her,” he nods towards you, “I have learnt to support the Resistance. I still want Kylo to lose. But now I wish for the Resistance to win. And I am here, alive, thanks to her allowing me to choose a different life. A different path. I intend to fight for the Resistance, and I am here asking you to let me.”

There’s silence after his words, and he steps back and wonders if he shouldn’t have said anything. If his words were just said and not heard. But then a woman he recognises steps out from the crowd and fixes him with a look. He doesn’t remember her name, but he’s seen her before – a year ago, he’d nearly killed her with Finn by her side. His resolve crumbles a little.

She looks between you and Armitage, and then she nods. “I can’t trust you, Armitage,” she speaks, and then looks at you. “But I can trust you. People can change. I trust that. And if we turn away someone wanting to help us, what sort of people are we? No matter where they come from. If we turn them away, we’re sinking to a level I don’t think any of us want to be at.”

You smile proudly at Rose and make a note to thank her later.

–

When the Resistance disbands and goes back to work, you take a moment to turn to Armitage. His appearance is still strange for you to take in, but it’s slowly becoming normal to you, to see him so similarly dressed to you. And you’re proud of him for stepping up and talking to the Resistance, explaining so you didn’t have to.

“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” You cross your arms and look up at him.

He raises his eyebrows. “I thought I was about to be kicked into the nearest X-wing and blasted off into space for a moment, but no, not so bad.”

You flash him a grin and then glance over to where you see Poe’s retreating form – he’s going to where Leia’s body is. “You know the way back to my quarters, don’t you?”

Armitage nods.

“I’m going to go and talk to Poe. I’ll be back in fifteen minutes, tops. Wait for me there, would you? We’re going to have to sort out a few more things,” you hum.

He watches you as you jog off after Poe – your side, he supposes, mustn’t be causing you too much pain anymore after you got it patched up in the infirmary before the meeting. And then, when you disappear, he sighs and turns.

Armitage takes a second to look at the Resistance around him. His new home, if he could call it that yet. But the place he’s supposed to find comfort. There are less eyes on him this time as he walks on his own back to your quarters. He knows that has to do with you. And he’s thankful.

–

Poe taps his fingers together as he stares at the sheet covering Leia’s body. You’re sat beside him, legs crossed on the chair you’re sat on. It’s been a few minutes since you joined him, and neither of you have said a word.

You both find just sitting in her presence is as calming as it always was.

She had been like a mother to you both when you joined the Resistance. And when you’d doubted your flying ability when you accidentally nearly cost a member of Poe’s squadron their life on a flight drill, she had been the one to assure you that you were a valued pilot. Her belief in you had been what forced you to keep trying. To keep pushing yourself to be better. To become the pilot you were today – unafraid, willing to do whatever it took, ruthless, when necessary.

You owe that to her. You wish she knew it.

And most of all, you wish you could tell her about Armitage. About his spying for you, and about how much you’d grown to like his company. How it surprised you – how he surprised you, nearly on an hourly basis these days. How he had come to be a person you considered a friend.

You’re grateful that you at least can share that with Poe.

It’s nearly like he can hear what you’re thinking when he finally breaks the silence and meets your eyes. There are tears in his, and they take you aback, but he’s blinking them away before you can mention them.

“You held your own out there… when you explained everything to everyone. I think Armitage was impressed with you. I was too,” he pauses, and then looks back at Leia. “I think she might have made a mistake in naming me General instead of you.”

“Leia knew what she was doing.”

“Yeah? It doesn’t feel like it.”

You sit up straighter in your chair and knot your hands together in front of yourself. Poe doesn’t look at you as you look at him. He doesn’t take his eyes off of Leia, but you know he’s hearing you when you speak.

“You’ve technically been her second-in-command for over a year, Poe. You’ve been leading missions, saving people. I would never have even met and started communicating with Armitage if you hadn’t made contact with Boolio,” you tell him. He’s the best damn leader the Resistance has now that they no longer have Leia. You only wish that he could see it.

Poe shakes his head at your words. “I’m never going to be the General that you could be.” He doesn’t say what follows. You know what he’s thinking: transferring it to you could be the way to go.

“You’re right.” His head snaps towards you. “You’re going to be better than I ever could be. I’m not built to lead the Resistance, Poe. I’m built to fly in your squadron, under your command. I’m built to be there when you need me, just like Finn is, just like Chewie and Rey and BB-8 and every other person on this base. I’m built to fly into battle on Exegol beside you when you need me to.”

He opens his mouth to protest. You beat him to it.

“I have a healing blaster wound in my side, but I can damn well fly an X-wing when you need me to. I can be anything you need me to be, Poe, but I cannot be General of the Resistance. Leia picked you for that. You’re allowed to do with that what you will, but you will not transfer command to me. I won’t let you.”

Poe fixes you with a look. “I think I need some time to think this all over.”

You smile sadly at him. He’s not wrong, and even if it’s not what he meant, you push yourself to your feet and then lean down to squeeze his shoulder with a hand. He needs time alone to think. To process. And you need to get back to Armitage.

“I’ll fly at your command, General. I trust you’ll do what’s right.”

–

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[i-write-sometimes-blog]

Rescue (Rey x Reader)

Request: Not sure if you have done anything like this before (I’m way too lazy to look😂) but maybe a fic where the reader saves Rey with the others from Starkiller Base then from Kylo? Like in the Force Awakens by anon

Words: 2,800

A/N: I had to see the movie like three times again. But here it is, very long but hope you enjoy it!!!

The room was filled with pure tension as the inner circle of the Resistance gathered around the the map table, the hologram displaying the view of the surface of the Starkiller base, discussing in an urgent and very messy strategy session.

“Okay, how do we blow it up?” said Han Solo attracting all the eyes in the room to lie on him “There’s always a was to do that”

“Han’s right” confirmed General Leia leaving a surprised face on Han.

“In order for that amount of power to be contained, the base would need some kind of thermal oscillator…” you said looking at the hologram, processing the information of the functioning of the Starkiller.

“There is one” Finn, the new guy, rushed to said, all the eyes following him as he moved around the hologram “Precinct 47. Here” he said pointing at a hexagonal structure.

“If we can destroy that oscillator it might destabilize the core and cripple the weapon” you theorized.

“...Maybe the planet” said Major Ematt.

“We’ll go in there and we’ll hit that oscillator with everything we got” Declared Poe.

“They have defensive shields that our ships cannot penetrate” The Admiral Ackbar stated.

“We disable the shields” Han immediately said as if it was an obvious thing to do “Kid, you worked there, what do you got?” he told Finn.

“I can do it” Confidently spoke the young man, you didn’t know much about him except that General Leia trusted him.

“I like this guy” Han Solo said, a smirk forming on his lips.

“I can disable the shields. But I have to be there, on the planet” Finn continued, you glanced at him for a moment, there was something in his face that seemed suspicious to you, he gave you a nervous gaze before his eyes went back to Han.

“We’ll get you there” said the old man sure of his words.

“Han, how?” Leia said unsure.

“If I told you, you wouldn’t like it”

“So we disable the shields, take out the oscillator and we blow up their big gun. All right. Let’s go” commanded Poe.

While everyone splitted you followed Finn, finally stopping him in a not frequented hall grabbing him by the arm and forcing him to face you.

“What the…”

“Finn, right?” you cut him off as he slightly nodded. “Can you really do it? Disable the shields?” you interrogated.

“Yes…” he told you, the confident tone in his voice revealing a lie. You raised an eyebrow and crossed your arms.

“Really? Fine, tell me how?”

Finn looked around scared someone would hear him before he learned to whisper his answer.

“Okay, I don’t know. But I’ll figure it out once I’m there.” he said “My friend Rey is there, I need to save her” he said sincere.

“You want to save her, then you need me” you told him. “I’m coming with you”

“Wait, why? I don’t even know you.”

“I know how to shut it down” you told him. “The shield”

“You worked…there?”

“No!” you answered almost offended by the thought of working for the First Order. “I’m a system engineer” you said as you started to walk towards the hangar, his feet following close.

“Alright” he said behind you. “So, at least I can know your name?”

“Call me Y/N” you told him.

Few minutes later you held tight to your seat as Han piloted his ship with pretty much trouble through the icy planet, crushing against trees more than once, slamming through branches until the ship crashed against the snowy, rocky ground. Not the best fly you’ve been.

“The flooding tunnels are over that ridge. We’ll get in that way” Finn announced as you hid, your bones freezing by the snow, the small blaster secure in your hands.

“What was your job when you were based here?” asked Han, he seemed to really trust Finn.

“Sanitation” murmured the guy.

“Sanitation?!” Han and you yelled at the same time darting at Finn. “Then how do you know how to disable the shields?” Han yelled close to the other man.

“I don’t” he said, his eyes looking over to you. “She knows, that’s why I brought her” Han Solo slowly watched over his shoulder and his gaze finally met yours.

“Please tell me you know how to, girl” Han told you “People are counting on us! The galaxy is counting on us…”

“Yeah, I know, Sir.” you firmly said “come on” you said already walking to the big Starkiller base.

*****

Sitting in the workstation your fingers moved through the controls searching non-stop for the shield.

"How long will this take?" said anxious Finn.

"Relax, Finn" you told him as you pressed some more buttons on the console, suddenly the panel beeped revealing the words 'Shield Disable Initiate'. "There, it's working" you told him proud of yourself.

"Solo if this works, we're not going to have much time to find Rey"

"Don't worry, kid." Han told him "we won't leave here without her"

"So how is this Rey everybody talks about?" You asked out of the blue, the curiosity invading your mind. Han smirked at you.

"As smart as you, Y/N" he said "I think you're gonna like her"

The controls beeped again 'Shield Disabled'

"The girl did it" Han grinned happily.

****

Hiding in a corner of the hall you waited next to the big wookie, Chewie. Finn trying to come up with a plan to find Rey. You kept your weapon close looking in every direction for trooper and then you spotted her climbing carefully inside the wall to the main level while Finn and Hand talked.

"Is it her?" You asked attracting their attention.

"Yeah, that's Rey" you heard Finn said before rushing through the endless and glossy halls of the base. Guiding you for a lot of corridors until you stopped in front of a rifle pointing at you.

The girl who held it, you supposed, was Rey. She looked so shocked, her eyes wide open with the sight of familiar faces, wondering if the four people before her were really there.

"Are you all right?" Han was the first one to approach, slowly guiding her to lower her weapon down.

"Yeah" she nodded

"Good"

"What happened? Did he hurt you?" Rushed to ask Finn.

"Finn. What are you doing here?" She said, by the way her eyes started to watered you could tell she was happy to see him and almost speechless.

Her gaze meeting yours for the first time, you admired her delicate face and her messy brown hair, now you knew why everyone was talking about her.

"We came back for you" you said as she stared at you confused, maybe a little surprised.

"Thank you" she murmured, her light brown eyes reaching for everyone of you.

"We don't have much time" you said.

"Escape now. Explain later" Han said and silently you follow him.

But there was no escape, as you stepped outside you caught the X-Wings flying all around, dodging and blasting the TIE fighters and the cannons. Some of them barely dodging the missiles, others without luck exploited. Your people, your friends dying in the sky as the clock kept moving and the big First Order weapon charged.

"They're in trouble" you told them "We can't leave"

"My friend here has a big bag full of explosives" Hand told you pointing at Chew. "Let's use' em"

***

After a short ride in a snow speeder Finn, Rey and you ran inside a small building, Rey reaching immediately to open a service hatch, you behind her following her actions with your gaze.

"That one" you told her pointing inside the mechanism. Her hand slipped inside and grabbed a piece of tech, easily pulling it away.

She turned to you, the distance between the two of you reduced at the metal piece she took from the machinery.

"You know your way around this tech" you told her smiling

"After years of stealing this pieces, you learn how it works" she said smiling back at you. Maker, what a beautiful smile this girl had. "I'm Rey" she told you.

"Y/N"

You kept looking into her eyes for a moment, Han was right she was so smart.

"Sorry to interrupt, we gotta get back with Han, now" Finn said irritated.

"Yeah, let's go" you said.

****

As the hatch opened your eyes caught a tall masked figure standing in the middle of catwalk that crossed the oscillator structure, the three of you got closer, holding the steel railing to look down at the man in front of this terrible man, there was Han firmly speaking to his son. You could see them, you could clearly hear this strange familiar reunion from the distance, you got to see the face of the man that terrified most of your friends, the face of Kylo Ren.

You stared speechless down at them as Han and his son talked. Then finally the younger man extended his weapon to his father. The hatch behind you suddenly shutted close, extinguishing the soft light that moments before fell in Kylo’s face. His Next move was fatal, as he ignited the dark weapon and it passed right through Han’s chest.

“No!!!” Rey yelled, her eyes already filled with tears that quickly fell from her face while you just gasped seeing the legendary Han Solo as his lifeless body fell into the big oscillator structure.

Chewie cried in agony for his friend and shot at Kylo in the side, his eyes looking in your direction as you contemplated the big explosion Chewie’s bombs blew up. Soon the structure was filled with white figures of stormtroopers blasting at you. Rey filled with pain started blasting back at them as blast hitted around her.

“Rey we have no time for this” you tell her. “Rey!” you told her but she didn’t move, she just kept blasting. In an urge to escape you wrapped your arm around her skinny waist and dragged her towards the exit, leaving the exploding oscillator behind.

“The Falcon’s this way” yelled Finn leading you to the snowy forest, running as fast as the snow and your emotions allowed it.

Until you couldn’t keep running. You slowly stopped out of breath, keeping the distance between the man in front of you. Kylo ignited his lightsaber lighting up the cold woods with a reddish light. Finn held on tight on a lightsaber you didn’t know how he got as Rey and you aimed your blasters to Ren.

“We’re not done yet” Kylo growled, is eyes full of anger glancing at Rey, who answered with pain in her voice.

“You’re a monster”

“It’s just us now, Han Solo can’t save you” Kylo said as if Finn and you weren’t even there.

Rey moved, ready to pull the trigger but with a gesture of Kylo’s hand the blaster flew out of her hand, and with another powerful move she flew back, slamming into a tree. She dropped then, her body landing hard in the cold snow.

“Rey!” you screamed in panic as you saw her body falling, such a big fear ran through your body thinking you had lost this girl, this total stranger you have just met and yet you felt so connected with, even if you have just known her for a minute you already adored her.

Finn ran to her side as concerned as you. With rage in your body you blasted against Kylo Ren, who easily dodged every intent of killing him with a swing of his saber. Annoyed with your desperate tries to kill him he gestures one more time with his hand sending you flying just like he did with Rey.

As your body hitted the hard ground you felt the agony in your body as your vision blurred slowly, the last thing you saw was Rey lying on the ground before the dizziness in your head closed your eyes.

The cold were freezing your bones as your eyes fluttered slowly open, your body aching as you tried to stand up.

“Rey…” were the first words that let your lips as you saw the empty ground space she was just before you fell unconscious. Your eyes looking desperate for her but the only thing you found was Finn’s body. “No, no, no…” you whispered under your breath as you approached to the guy, his back was completely hurt and by the look of it you could tell this was Kylo’s work. You turned him around and concerned placed your ear against his chest. There was a heartbeat, that was all you needed to hear. “I’ll go back for you, Finn, hold on” you told him even though you knew he was unconscious.

Then you grabbed a blaster and started running away through the frozen forest, you needed to find Rey.

The sounds of lightsaber crashing against each other guided you to them, Kylo and Rey fighting merciless lighting the night with the colors of their dangerous weapons, both panting and growling out of anger as the swing their laser swords, you were beyond impressed with her fighting skills, she was a natural with that lightsaber. Rey was having a bit of trouble handling the big man as he held his red saber very close to her.

“You need a teacher” you heard him said. “I can teach you the ways of the force”

“The force” she said and stopped for a moment, the determined she lashed out to him attacking until she turned the weapon making him fall back groaning in pain, the blood already flowing over his face, but that didn’t make him stop, he was immediately on his feet again rushing towards Rey.

“No!” you scream pulling the trigger blasting right at Kylo in his freshly hurted shoulder, he dropped the saber yelling in pain as you got closer to Rey.

"Y/N" she murmured as she saw you, surprised and relieved.

“Come on” you told her already pulling her to the opposite direction.

The ground shook under your feet, cracking before it broke leaving a big space between you and the big bad guy. You pushed Rey to keep going, running close to each other.

Finn was still unconscious, barely holding on to life when you arrived, both Rey and you suffering for the state of your friend. The planet was breaking under your feet, you knew this could happen and you were willing to die if that meant the Resistance would stand. Meeting Rey’s gaze you were sure she also knew there was no escape now. So you took her hand, warm compared with the cold temperature of the forest, unsure at first but then she entangled her fingers with yours and gave un a soft smile as the tears ran down her face.

The forest lighted up with a mysterious was as the engines blew a bit of snow over to you, watching over your shoulder you caught the Millenial Falcon flying very low, as it got closer to you as you saw the ship piloted by Chewie and you smiled at Rey, there was hope in her eyes, more than you have seen in a long time.

After helping Chewie carry Finn to the ship, you sat next to Rey inside the cockpit watching how well she knew this old ship. And finally you were off the Starkiller base that collapsed behind you. It was time to go back home.

“Y/N” Rey said in the middle of the fly.

“Yep?” you said looking into her eyes, a bit red by all the tears that left her eyes.

“I didn’t have time to tell you before” she said and you gave her a confused look “back in the woods… I don’t know what I would have done if you haven’t arrived”

“You would have kicked his ass, I’m sure.” you told her trying your best to cheer her up. She chuckled for a moment before she raised her voice again.

“Thank you, Y/N” she said as if no one ever had done such thing for her, the tears forming again in her eyes. You reached for her hand, giving it a small squeeze.

“Anytime” you told her, a smile finally taking over her lips as the Falcon continued in its way to the Resistance base.

For once everything seemed right, the Starkiller base was gone which meant many planets even systems were safe, the Resistance had won this fight that would be sure not the last but guaranteed a moment of peace, a breath for all of you. And you also had new friends, total strangers that meant a lot to you now, especially this girl sitting beside you with her bright smile and messy air, you were deeply grateful to find her.

[twoidiotwriters1]

Home- Chapter 5 (Kylo Ren/Ben Solo x F!Oc)

A/n: This is the end of The Force Awakenes

Words: 2,134

Chapter 4 // Chapter 6

An alarm causes the lights to turn red and make it harder to see. I take advantage of the situation and hit his face, Kylo complains and moves away and with what I have left of strength and dignity, I get up and run through the halls. The only good idea that could occur at a time like this.

He is clearly better than me, I couldn’t win that battle. I tried, Leia. The plan didn't work, it's time to run away.

I don't know how, but I get to a rather strange part of the barracks, boxes are arranged in different corners… I walk slowly to avoid crossing someone, unfortunately I lost my blaster in the fight, so I ought to be careful. Everything is silent, until I almost had a heart attack when I hit against someone.

"Chewie, you almost escarde me to death!” He just growls, I can understand that he’s scolding me, "I just had to take care of something- it didn't work, now we must go!”

The Wookie explained the plan to me: Han and him were setting detonators all over that sector, they had to me in one place.

"Well, let's go with Han!”

I follow Chewie, we hear voices just before we reach a hall. A single runner crosses a ... cliff? Who designs these things?

"Ben!" Han's voice echoes. The Wookie and I get closer. Han is downstairs and Kylo Ren, who has the stupid mask again, is in the corridor.

"Han Solo, I waited a long time for this day to come.”

Oh, no. I lean on the rail. Han walks until he’s close to Kylo. I have a bad feeling. I look up at the floors above, Rey and Finn have entered and also observe the scene, Chewie approaches my side.

"Take off your mask, you don't need it.” If I were in another situation I’d laugh, Kylo doesn't understand that mask is ridiculous.

"What do you think you'll see if I do it?"

"My son's face," Han replies. Kylo obeys and removes the mask.

“Your son is gone, he was weak and dumb like his father. You all wanted to change me, but you failed, so I destroyed him,” explains Kylo, Han approaches carefully.

“That's what Snoke wants you to believe. But it is not true. My son is alive ”

“Don't. The supreme leader is wise.”

The whole conversation continues in a tense moment, I know that if I approach everything can fall, they’re in a very dangerous position.

“Snoke is using you for your power. When he has what he wants, he will destroy you. You know it's true ”

"It's too late" his voice breaks and my heart does too.

Now I can see how a part of Ben comes out. The memory of when we were young comes and a knot forms in my stomach.

"It is not. Get out of here with Kiara and me. Come home. We miss you"

"I've been torn apart" he says, “I want to get rid of this suffering. I know what I have to do, but I don't know if I have the strength. Will you help me?"

“Yes, whatever you need" His mask falls and my breathing is cut short.

Kylo takes out his saber and offers it to his father. They both take it, but something distracts us all: the light that illuminated them disappears. For a few moments, nobody moves. I feel a tingling in my hands and a little pain in my temple.

Ben.

Kylo looks up and his eyes meet mine for a few seconds, then turns to Han.

Suddenly the red saber lights up and goes through Han's body. I hold my breath. No no no no! Rey screams and Chewie roars in pain.

Han's body falls. Tears fall down my cheeks and intense pain fill my entire body. I step back a few feet away. Chewie roars again and with his gun shoots at Kylo, hitting him on the leg. He screams and falls to his knees. All my attention is focused on Kylo and anger clouds all my senses.

“You! Fucking shit, he was your father!”

I shout as I try to go downstairs, but Chewbacca takes me by the arm. A Stormtrooper starts shooting at us, the Wookie drives me away protecting me.

“Leave me, Chewie, I'm going to kill him. I swear I will!”

My attempts fail and he drags me to a safe place as more soldiers arrive. Then he stops and presses a button that activates the bombs. Everything starts to explode. Chewie gets distracted, I get out of his grip and run back. Despite the explosions I see Kylo's black figure leave the barracks, I don’t hesitate to follow him.

I walk through the snow-covered forest, the darkness makes me lose it, but everything changes when he turns on his lightsaber, its light shines on two other people. Rey and Finn are within walking a little further behind Kylo.

"We aren’t done yet" None have noticed my presence. My body trembles.

“You're a monster," Rey says resentfully.

“We are. Han Solo can't save you.” Rey lifts her blaster, but Kylo throws it through the air and hits a tree. Finn goes with her.

"You're more idiotic than I thought," I said and he stops, turns and share a look.

"No one can defend you anymore"

"I can do it alone” He raises his saber, "How could you do that to one of the people who loved you the most?"

“Everything’s part of the training, it was necessary”

“You're a bastard!" I don't mind being unarmed. I run to him and manage to take him by the shoulders, but he easily pushes me away.

"Stupid girl! Do you really think you can against my power? ”

"Maybe I don’t," All this talk served as a distraction so Finn could get close. Out of nowhere, a blue light comes out behind Kylo. The boy has Luke's saber.

“That lightsaber. It belongs to me,” says Kylo.

"Come find it,” Finn confronts Kylo. The sabers collide producing noise. Clearly Kylo has more experience than Finn.

While they fight away, I get desperate and look everywhere waiting for a miracle.

"Come on, there has to be something... magic, I know-" I frown and sigh. I can't believe I have to do this again.

I sit on the floor on my knees, close my eyes and try to concentrate. It’s time to ask for help. I hear a scream from Finn, causing me to open my eyes. Kylo's saber is hurting him. I get up, but I'm still not sure what to do.

Finn flees the attack and both continue fighting until Kylo manages to remove his weapon and hurts the boy in the back. Finn falls unconscious in the snow.

"Okay, enough of games" I see where the blue saber fell. I sigh, all the noise around me goes away. I raise my arm in that direction. I can feel it.

The snow falling, the trees fallen by the fight, I feel Rey, Finn, I can feel that Kylo also wants the saber.

"Not this time,” Finally, the force allows me to take the saber that belonged to the master Luke. My hand trembles a little and I see the weapon with surprise. I shake my head and return to Kylo.

I position myself, remembering the training of many years ago, I press the button and the saber lights up. Kylo also lights his.

"Let's see your dance steps, Ben," I joke, he growls and rushes over to me. The clash of arms begins.

He’s strong and determined to finish with me, but I am faster, dodge attacks and defend myself.

"Silly girl," he says with difficulty.

"You've said it before,” We run through the forest, cutting trees with sabers. I feel the sweat run down my back, forehead and neck. The fact of not having trained for a long time is already taking account.

While we fight, the ground shakes, I try to see what happens, but Kylo makes it difficult. I see from a distance how far the ground is breaking into thousands pieces. I kick him in the stomach to get away.

Poe. They had to continue with the plan, the planet is being destroyed. I smile, but it doesn't last long. A stabbing pain centers on my right thigh. I let out a shriek and fall to the ground, throwing my gun in the process.

The saber's wound draws smoke, I try to touch it, but the burning is unbearable. I look up and Kylo watches me panting.

"I could destroy you or take you with the supreme leader to finish your training-“

"I'm sorry, I have plans," I say through my teeth.

He growls and tenses his body.

“It'll be the first option then," He raises his weapon, but before he could do anything, Luke's saber is shot in the distance. We both turn to meet Rey.

"You won’t,” She says and runs to Kylo, ​​a new fight begins, but this time they’re in danger of falling into the abyss. In a second, both are on the edge.

"I can show you the ways of the force,” What is it with offering its services?

Something seems to connect with Rey and suddenly, he manages to get out of Kylo's attack. With great skill she attacks, now she’s superior to Kylo, ​​which makes me feel like a proud mom. The girl manages to beat Kylo. I let out a shriek when she hurts Kylo in the face. As I can, I get up and walk limping towards her.

The man is on the ground with serious wounds, the biggest is the one that goes from his forehead, through his nose, under his right eye and through his cheek. The three of us share a look, but mine focuses on him.

It hurts to see it that way… No! He’s no longer that boy I met when I was just a child.

Every connection is cut when the ground shakes again, this time very close to us. My legs fail and the earth is destroyed right where I am. Everything happened too fast.

My body falls and I try to reach anything to hold myself without success. I scream with despair and the last thing I hear is Rey's screams.

"Kiara!" Then I felt a heavy blow to my head, and everything went black.

__________________

As soon as Kylo Ren senses danger, he ignores the pain in his body and sits on the snow, which is shaking by the earthquake.

Then he sees that the black-haired girl screams and her body falls into the abyss, but just before that happens, Kylo uses the force and makes the girl levitate a little, enough to take her hand, pull her body until she’s by his side.

He clenches his teeth at the effort and again the pain comes. He looks up and the scavenger sees him from the other side of the abyss, seems not to believe what she’s seeing, looks everywhere, but sees no other way out, doubts seeing Kiara's body, but in the end she turns and runs away.

Kiara's unconscious body is still close, a thread of blood runs down her forehead to her chin. Kylo growls and kneels beside her. Taking deep breaths and with the help of force, he puts his arms under the girl's neck and knees and lifts her in his arms. He grunts and closes his eyes for a few moments, but then continues on his way. His body trembles with the pain and the destruction of the planet.

Before everything collapsed, Kylo Ren arrives on a First Order ship with a new crew on board.

______________________

Back at the Resistance base, Rey tells everything that happened to General Organa. Everyone feels the intense pain for the losses of a great battle, Han was the most significant loss for some, but what surprised most were the following words of Rey:

“He saved her- Kiara was going to fall, but Kylo saved her. The last thing I could see was that he carried her on his arms and left.”

The others murmur surprised by the actions of the man. But Leia, sitting near the control panel smiles.

“He's going to torture her, we must go," says Poe, drawing attention, Rey nods.

"No," says Leia and they both look at her strangely.

"Poe is right, Kylo Ren won’t hesitate to hurt her,” Leia sees the two young men still with a smile. “You're smiling. Why?"

Leia laughs and gets up.

“She'll be fine, Rey.”

"How can you be so sure?" Poe asks.

"Because my son fell in love with her before the darkness took over his mind.”

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[griff-man]

Okay, so this is just how I feel the 7th episode of Star Wars could be improved. If you all enjoy it I'll do the others in the Disney Trilogy. And I am open to constructive criticism and discussion, this is all in good fun.

So first of all, I want to say I think the actors did a decent job with what they were given, it was the writing that needed work and the cast shouldn't have been dogged like they were. Most of the Force Awakens can actually be salvaged with just a few scene changes, especially towards the end. And though it should be obvious by the title, and you probably already saw it let me say SPOILER WARNING.

So the beginning of the movie goes as is and the first change I would make is when Kylo Ren is informed of Finn, Rey, and BBs escape from Jakku. Instead of throwing a hissy fit and destroying that computer, he uses his light saber to cut off both of the officers arms after he was told that a girl helped Finn and BB escape. He then lifts the officer with the force and says "what girl", the officer replies "we don't know yet", and Kylo uses the force to snap his neck so that the officer's head is completely turned around. He then yells at another officer to find out what happened and to have this mess cleaned up. The scene then transitions to the Millennium Falcon as it did originally. This scene change makes Kylo Ren's character seem more like an actual threat rather then a whiney child, and I think it makes him much more intimidating. After all, he is supposed to be one of the big bad guys of this trilogy.

The next scene change takes place at Maz's bar, when Finn admits to Rey that he was a Storm trooper and then leaves to join those cargo pilots. Rey would still have those visions, and Maz would still give her speech, but toward the end of it Maz would then make a remark to Rey along the lines of "don't worry, he would return when she needed him, and he'll know when that is". A subtle remark, but important for later. Then we have all those planets destroyed, and the the first order invades like before. The only difference is that when Finn starts fighting the "Traitor" Storm trooper, he's not so easily beaten and actually is pretty decent with the light saber making the storm trooper stagger back and go on the defensive a time or two. So he's not an expert but someone who obviously has potential, as if holding the weapon felt natural. He still needs to get saved by Han and Chewy, but its not so one sided. The fight continues like in the movie, but instead of just seeing Kylo kidnapp Rey, Finn gets this look, like he can feel something is wrong, and looks around. That is when he see's Kylo leave with Rey, and we see him run after them and shout her name.

We then skip ahead to Rey's interrogation by Kylo Ren. The big change here is he doesn't remove his helmet. If we're expected to take him as a true Sith Lord, we cant have him so easily persuaded to show his face. That comes later. And everything sort of plays out the same with Rey resisting and escaping with the force (except she doesn't get the storm trooper's blaster) up until we get to Kylo discovering her escape. Instead of destroying the room with his light saber he uses the force while screaming in rage, like the whole room crumples up like like a wad of paper around him while all the computers short circuit and explode. The Storm Troopers turning the corner still see the destruction and turn right around. Once again everything plays like in the movie, with the exception of Finn giving Rey the Light Saber since he has a blaster and she's unarmed. Then we get to when Han is confronting Kylo Ren on that walkway. Han would still tell him to remove the helmet, and he does. This is when we finally see his face and it makes his face reveal much more dramatic. The scene plays out, but now when Kylo kills Han we see his eyes turn that yellowish red color of the Sith. This is to signify that he's no longer conflicted in his beliefs and fully devoted to the Dark Side. Rey still shouts no, and Chewy still shoots Kylo only he's more notably wounded when he's hit.

This time, when the confrontation with Kylo against Rey and Finn happens Rey is the one with the light saber. Finn would be the one force pushed into a tree by Kylo and Rey would activate the saber and charge into battle. Kylo's dialog about the light saber being his would be the same. So Rey and Kylo are dueling and Rey isn't as good as Finn was, but due to Kylo's injury she's holding her own for the most part but is still at a clear disadvantage. We then get to the part where Kylo has her pinned against the tree and is using his saber exhaust port to cut into her. She suddenly uses the force to push him away and make some distance, surprising herself in the process, while Finn starts waking up. Kylo gets right back into the battle and Rey gets that hit in on his arm, right before he's able to knock her saber out of her grasp by twirling thier sabers. This action knocks Rey to the ground, and Kylo approaches her with his Saber raised ready to end it. That's when Finn raises his arm and shouts out "NOOOO". You see, Rey and Finn's saber was knocked in the opposite direction of Finn, with Kylo and Rey in-between. We already saw the force awaken in Rey, well now we see it awaken in Finn as the saber flys towards him, activating as it passes Kylo. Only his training and reflexes keep him from loosing his head, instead it grazes his face cutting off part of his lower jaw and scarring up part of his face. The Saber goes in to Finn's hands, who looks at it amazed. Rey looks at him with a sort of surprised "you too" look. But now Kylo is really mad, and goes for Finn. The fight is back on, but Rey is backing him up with Finn's forgotten blaster. Despite the team up, and Kylo being injured the fight is still evenly matched with Kylo having a slight advantage. This is to show his obvious greater skill with the force given his years of training. Like, its obvious if you really look that if he was uninjured from Chewy in the start and then from Finn and Rey's attacks, he would be absolutely dominating the two of them.

Then Kylo gets an advantage over Finn, slicing his back and throwing him to the ground on his now injured back. He then has him on the ground with his light saber at his throat, boot holding down his hand with the saber in it. He looks at Rey and says the line about being her teacher in the ways of the force. Rey, like in the movie, realizes she could possibly use the force again, and uses it to push Kylo off of Finn and to bring the saber to her. We have the clash between the two of them. She manages to cut off his hand (instead of cutting his face like in the movie, since Finn already did), and pushes him back into a tree with the force. The big ravine opens between them again, only its much bigger so Kylo couldn't force jump it, even if he was still fighting fit. They look at each other, Kylo's face mangled and bleeding as his eyes burn with hatred. Rey with a look that's determined but just a bit nervous. She then runs back to Finn and grabs him, both getting off the planet just like in the movie, as everything else that was going on took place the same way. Kylo meanwhile looks at his bleeding nub, and though you can tell by the look on his face that he doesn't want to, we see him start to head back to base so he can escape.

We get back to the Rebel base, Finn is injured but awake, and R2D2 has revealed the location of Luke Skywalker with BB's help. Since Finn was shown to also be force sensitive he of course goes with Rey and Chewbacca to find Luke. They get to the planet that was on the map, and hike up the mountain where Luke is. Finn is using a crutch and Rey's helping him since he is still slightly injured, but on the mend. They get almost to the top of the mountain, on to a plateau but Luke isn't just staring off into the horizon. Instead they find him meditating with his legs crossed, floating 5 feet in the air with the force, his back to the mountain under a cliff and eyes closed. Finn and Rey slowly approach, as Luke slowly lowers until he is sitting on the ground. Then, he opens his eyes, and Rey pulls out the light saber and holds it out toward him. The camera zooms out. The classic star wars music plays the whole time like in the movie.

Finally, we transition to Hux seated behind a Storm trooper who is piloting a craft like the one Kylo had at the beginning of the movie toward where ever Snoke is. In the back, behind a closed door we see Kylo Ren being treated by a human doctor and a med droid while in some kind of healing pod. He seems unconscience, and the camera zooms onto his mutilated face. Suddenly, we hear the deep voice of Darth Vader say "you have much yet to learn" in side Kylo's head, and his fiery red eyes snap open. Then credits.

Whooa, that took a while to write. Especially since I was watching the Force Awakens again at the same time. So that is how I'd improve Episode 7, and I know that only a few scenes were changed, but that's because I still mostly liked the movie. It's the next two that needed MAJOR overhauling, but I needed to adjust this one for the changes in the Last Jedi to happen. And I know that Snoke and Kylo aren't exactly Sith in this trilogy, but instead another type of Dark Force users, but I used Sith for a reason. Sorry if you guys expected everything written out like a screen play or a story, but I'm just not that good a writer. I have these big general ideas, but am really not good at the small details and dialog. Nor am I good at art, which is too bad caused I'd love to see these scenes drawn out. So tell me what you think, did you enjoy it? What changes would you make? Should I go ahead and share my ideas for the Last Jedi?

[mor3tti]

Boy Wonder & The Young Goddess -Chapter Three-

Dick Grayson (titans) x Reader

(Dick Grayson GIF not mine)

It’s been a long time, I know. But I’m back so I guess that’s good, right?

Please give me feedback on this series! It is my first time writing anything like this so help is welcomed!

Send me an ask if you have any questions/suggestions or improvements!

This will be a series! So stay tuned for more chapters to come!

The plot: When Y/N gets a sign from the gods to go after a troubled girl, she stumbles upon and reconnects with a dear friend from her past.

WARNINGS: SELF DESTRUCTIVE ACTIONS BY CHARACTER

Taglist: @nightshade7117 @yetitty @affection-rabbit @drabby-abby @caitsymichelle13 @caswinchester2000 @petersunderoos96 @sataninsatin @chewie-redbird

Let me know if you want to be added to the taglist!

You weren’t surprised that you both ended up sprawled all over the bed. Both of you had always been rough sleepers, tossing and turning through out the night. What did surprise you was that you woke up on his chest, his arm wrapped around you. He must of pulled you there during the night. The thing is, it was incredibly hard to wiggle out of his grip. Once his arms were wrapped around you, there was no escaping. Yes, it is quite a good thing, it makes you feel safe, you get to be surrounded by muscles and he’s very comfortable to sleep on, but the con of not being able to get out without waking him pushed all of that out of the way. You could easily transport out of there but your body was too tired to even think about it.

It was nice to be cuddled up to someone after being alone for many years, but it wasn’t fair. In the room next to you a woman was lying there that cared deeply about Dick. She fought for him and attempted to kill you just to protect him. She didn’t know who you were or what you were doing here but she knew you were here with Dick and that struck her in the heart. They had been on a break but still, it wasn’t fair.

Eventually you gave up and decided to just lay there. Your head rested on his chest near the crook of his neck. You closed your eyes and took it all in. His breathing had become more stable and you could feel that the intensity of his pain had dulled down. You opened your eyes again and looked to his face. There was still blood there, some stained under his nose. Even when he was at his utmost relaxed position, the stress still showed on his face. Suddenly he took a deep breath in which scared you and he let out a grumbled “Why are you staring at me?” as he exhaled. You felt his arm loosen up and rub up and down your back. You brought your hand back closer to your body and started biting off the three month old nail polish out of habit, trying to avoid his question. Your nose twitched and you glanced back up to him.

“I wasn’t staring, I was observing how badly you got your ass kicked last night.” He let out a soft chuckle as he stared up at the ceiling but then turned his head back to you. He brought his hand up and started playing with your hair. “I was also thinking how we can’t do this to her.” You looked him dead in the eye and he looked confused. “She is right next door and you can’t lie to me and say there’s nothing between you two because I can see it, I can see how much she truly cares about you Dick.” You sat up from his chest and pushed his arm off you. You weren’t angry at him but you had to set this straight. He had a look of frustration on his face as he looked out to the window, slightly ignoring you.

“Are you going to reply or just sit there and grumble to yourself?” You stood at the end of the bed, trying to get him to look at you. He did this when he knew he was wrong, he would take it in and attempt to ignore it but you always got him to give in. You sat near his feet which were trapped under the covers. “We decided to take a break.” He mumbled to you, watching your hands play with the covers. His sigh was low and drawn out. You looked up to him and you could see he was hurt by it. His jaw was grinding a little bit and his eyebrows crossed. He wanted to say more but thought it wasn’t worth it. You patted the bed before deciding to get up. “I’ll leave you with your thoughts then.”

“No just...stay.” He said, the sentence getting quieter as he finished. Dick had a look of guilt on his face. He didn’t know what to do and he thought you would know. The feeling Kory brought to him was warm and gave him comfort and he needed that. Once they decided to take a break he felt off without it. You crawled back up the bed and sat up next to him. His head instantly dropped onto your shoulder, not knowing what else to do in this situation. You reached around his shoulders are scruffed his hair gently, continuing to play with it. Everything with you felt so much easier. He felt balanced and at home, but you were right and he knew he had to sort it out with Kory.

You clicked the button down on the kettle as you offered to make a cup of tea for Gar. Dick, Kory and Rachel had gone out to grab some groceries as the kitchen was just about bare. He sat at the kitchen bench tapping his foot on the stool, his head rested in between his hands with a questioning look on his face. You looked through the cupboards for the tea bags and sugar, which were on opposite sides of the kitchen. His tapping continued and you could feel his wild thoughts even though he was silent. You pulled the cups down from above you and set them down on the counter that you were leaning on. He was silently trying to even out his breathing while more questions popped into his mind. He was a fidgety kid, reminded you of Dick when he was younger. He calmed down as you brought his tea over, the steam opening up his lungs.

Together you drank in silence, sharing a look every now and then. “So I’m guessing you’re not from around here?” Gar asked. In reality he just wanted to know if you were going to hurt Rachel, take advantage of her like everyone else had. You sat your cup down near Gar’s and cleared your throat. “Is there something obvious? It’s not like I have green hair or something.” You teased with a smirk. He reached up to his neck self consciously. A little guilt pinged you so you made up for it. “Don’t worry, Dick dyed my hair red when we were teens. I loved it.” You reminisced on it. It was amusing to see your above shoulder length, fiery red hair turn into the luscious locks of the Goddess, it used to shock everyone even if they already knew it was going to happen. He looked back down to his tea with a soft smile and you went back to yours. “Plus, Batman thinks coloured hair is cool if that helps.” You quirked to him. A bright smile broke out on his face as he gushed over such a badass presumably loving his hair.

You rinsed the cups out and placed them upside down on the drying rack as Gar sat on the couch. He’d taped the cover of the remote back on and got it to work again so he was content. The clock on the oven read 12:34, they’d been out a bit over an hour and a half. There wasn’t much else to do around the apartment. You could only handle watching so much TV so you stared out the balcony instead, the view from the couch was pretty good. You could feel that there was a storm coming and it calmed you. The cool change had swept along with some rolling clouds. The others had stopped for lunch at a bakery not far from the apartment. The rain had kept them there but Dick just wanted to come back and be there with you. Things had eased slightly between Dick and Kory, his plan to go calmly grocery shopping worked and they had a steady conversation. She didn’t press him about you as she knew that the reasoning would come eventually.

The conversation between you and Gar was kept light. He asked about what the superheroes were like, so you answered. You shared some memories of what it was like being raised by them. Training with Diana, having deep conversations with Aquaman on the rare occasion and showing Oliver Queen who’s boss at archery. In turn he told you his story about involuntarily becoming a green tiger, how it felt to become this thing he never wanted to be. He also gushed about meeting the one and only Wonder Girl, Donna to you. You smiled along at his adoration for her, keeping everything else in. He was even blushing over her, but your lack of actual emotions other than smiling gave you away. He slowly silenced and instead tried to catch your gaze. “Not the best of friends huh?” He seemed a bit guilty after saying all this stuff about her. You sighed and looked around the room, looking for a nice answer. “Donna and I grew up together, like with Dick. We were practically raised together but you know how time treats people. We just grew apart.” You shrugged, hoping that would satisfy him. His hand came under his chin and nodded, totally not believing you. “You might want another cup of tea if I’m telling you all this.” You waved your hands around as if you were motioning to an array of stuff. Gar shuffled in his seat and stared at you, giving you the green light with a humble smile.

“When we were kids we used to run around the mansion together. Making fun of the paintings on the walls that Bruce had collected over the years.” You could hear the little giggles erupting from your younger self ring in your mind. “Dick strayed us away from the one of Bruce’s parents because he knew it hurt us both, with his parents being dead and me not even having any to begin with.” Gar chewed on his lip not knowing how to reply, you were over it by now as you knew you already had the only family you needed.

“He would always make up for my lack of parents by re-telling my own ‘origin story’ that’s what he liked to call it. Like Diana, I was made not born. She was made from clay, but I was much more. As a favour from the gods, they sent a meteorite their way. In the centre was a rock of stardust ready to be used, that’s what I was created with. They combined it with the clay they used on Diana and sculpted me.” You looked like a normal person and acted like one, Gar couldn’t quite wrap his head around you being a star. A smirk quipped up on your face. “They say my eyes have never glowed brighter than the day I came into this world.” You walked around the island in the kitchen and pushed the button down on the kettle, Gar spun around the bar stool so he was still facing you.

“The thing is, I’ve always had powers. I’ve been a bursting ball of energy and light my entire life. They trained me on Themyscira until I could ‘handle’ myself.” Exaggerating the air quotes. “This meant that I would be sent into the real world and that I the predecessor, would learn from my master. I just ended up living in the shadow of ‘The Goddess’, the one who came before me. Her name was Adelia Zeru, an Amazon who took it upon herself to train and become worthy of The Goddess’ armour.” Gar then repeated this name to himself, liking the ring of it. “Although I was the next of kin of the armour, she was stubborn to pass it on. To her I was deemed not worthy as I was born for the armour and didn’t train for it as she did. This resulted in her always passing me onto Diana which caused a wall to come between Donna and I. On one of the few occasions that Bruce and I talked, he told me the truth about Donna.” You stood there for a couple seconds, pondering if you should tell this kid who she really was to you, the chance that it could ruin her reputation with him. He had an innocent look on his face and beaming eyes that just wanted to know more.

“She put herself through training which ended up harming her more than helping her. She would push herself until she would collapse and then once regained consciousness, continue on. Any time I saw her I was treated with a cold attitude and frustration.” Your hands slowly crept into fists. “In the mansion there was a training room that us kids were allowed to use. Dick obviously used it the most but Donna was the one most attracted to it. During a Justice League meeting, Bruce noticed Donna was gone and mentioned it to Diana but she knew she could take care of herself. Going against Diana, he looked for her. What he found wasn’t the Donna they were all used to. She was thrashing into the wall, punching it as hard as she could, even past the point of her hands no longer looking human. Bruce ran in to stop her but she said something that held him back. While she was punching she was yelling at herself. ‘Come on you have to be stronger! She doesn’t love you like she loves her! I have to beat her!’ she was screaming with a scratchy voice on the edge of it snapping.

As her hands slowed down she let out a final sentence. ‘You have you be better than Y/N’. She broke herself with this.” There was a silence between you and Gar. It still haunts you. Just imagining Donna beating herself to a pulp because of you. The breath you let out shook through your chest and blew out onto the bench. Your eyes slowly glazed over as you heart tightened for her. “She was crumpled on the ground, crying over her own self worth. Bruce left her there, thought it would be better if he didn’t get involved. Instead he came back to the meeting and told me later that night.” Now the tears were falling. A sigh left you as your eyes met Gar’s, he was nearly crying. He never really thought of the real life of a superhero, what they struggled with. You gave him some time to let it set in as you turned back towards the bench, trying to calm the guilty tears. All you wanted was Dick to be here, even if he just left a couple hours ago.

[midnightartemis]

~Chapter Sixteen Up Now~

Read Me Here

“To understand magic, you must first understand what magic is. The better your understanding of it, the better you can master it. Most of you, if not all of you will never understand magic. You can study the spells and the history and the art all you want, but unless you find that understanding in yourself, in your soul, you will never be a great witch or wizard.”

Rey watched as her fellow Hufflepuff classmates shrugged off Professor Skywalker’s harsh words. Part of it, she thought, was the idea that Hufflepuffs were rarely destined for greatness anyway and that to not be a hero was a weight off their shoulders. It was an absurd idea, one that could be contested with more than a dozen witches and wizards from Hufflepuff that had achieved glory or fame in their own right. She had seen only glimpses of that power— woe betides the man who insulted a Hufflepuff’s friend.

The other half of the classroom, made up of Ravenclaw first years, shared confused and terrified looks. From that alone, Rey knew she was in for an afternoon of Rose overanalyzing and complaining about Professor Skywalker’s remarks. She’d most likely start with the fact that, quote, “Anyone can master anything if they study hard enough.” A fact that Rose liked to bring up whenever Rey or Finn got frustrated over homework.

“Magic flows through all things animate and inanimate. It can be stored, transferred, honed, and warped.” As Professor Skywalker spoke, a piece of chalk floated up from its tray and began to write those four points on the small black chalkboard. Quills began to scratch down the notes on parchment quickly, but Rey was too drawn into the lesson to take any of her own. “Indeed, each of you contains a finite amount of power–”

Professor Skywalker tapped ‘ stored’ on the board with his wand. “Transferred from the magic that runs through the universe. And with your wands, you can hone that power. Ask it to perform different tasks. The most powerful wizards can do this without their wands. Magic changes the reality around you, letting you control and manipulate the seen and unseen. Warping the world to protect yourself. To attack. To transfigure objects. Creature potions. Manipulate the mind. Cause chaos and confusion. Or ease and peace.”

He stored his wand away, grey eyes surveying the classroom with a steely gaze. As he spoke, his voice darkened, those eyes flashing back to a time that Rey had only heard of. “These four things define the way we view and use magic within this world. In the right hands, magic can perform great deeds. Can heal and create. In the wrong hands, magic is the most destructive force in the world. It can tear through minds, turn those who love you against you, bring death and chaos to all who meet it. There are those who would use this dark side of magic to bring the world as you know it to its knees. Who would destroy anyone who got in their way of making a so-called utopia. Once the darkness takes control, it can be difficult, if not nearly impossible, to return to the light. Those who master this path of darkness are known as Sith. They are little more than creatures of darkness, corrupted until they are no longer human. I only hope that you never cross one.”

Professor Skywalker paused, letting his warning fall over the room and silencing them all. “That is why, in this classroom, I will focus our efforts on defensive spells and teach you how to control yourselves as young witches and wizards. A good wizard uses magic for knowledge and defense, never for attack."

Beside Rey, Rose’s hand shot up. Professor Skywalker barely had time to acknowledge her before she asked her question. “If our magic is finite, how do we know when it’s gone?”

Professor Solo raised his eyebrows. “You will know when it’s gone because you will be dead, Miss Tico. Most never get that far. As you all know, or will soon learn, there are limits to magic. One cannot bring back someone from the dead, for instance. Trying to do so would exhaust the warlock who attempted to the point where they, too, would die. Magic can be repleted, however. I find a good night's sleep does the trick.”

“And you said it can be stored. How so? If magic is finite but it can be repleted and stored, can’t people just store enough of it to do something impossible, such as bring back the dead?”

Professor Skywalker’s eyes narrowed into a storm at Rose’s questions. Rey had the very distinct feeling that Rose was going down a path she should not. “There are objects which act much as people and magical creatures do. Take the Sorting Hat versus a regular hat, or one that’s had a spell cast on it to speak. All magic is not equal, Miss Tico. All animate and inanimate objects are not made equal. Storing magic requires more magic than most can stand. It is a very dangerous practice which was outlawed several hundred years ago. Punishment for such a practice is a lifetime in Azkaban as those who wish to store magic often fall to the dark side. I ask that you leave it at that.”

There was something in his voice that left no room for questioning. Even Rose and her million-question mind were stymied by Professor Solo’s response. For a moment, Rey swore the Professor’s eyes flickered to her.

The rest of the class was spent on note-taking from the defensive spells section of The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Qui-Gon Jinn. Notes and reading did nothing but make her squirm. She wanted nothing more than to be with Ben in the Room of Requirement practicing all of the spells and techniques that Qui-Gon Jinn was outlining. As Rey read further, she realized that they had been working on… Yes, practically all of the rudimentary spell work and techniques. Though Ben took a more aggressive approach, she recognized the footwork and wandwork demonstrated in the frustratingly small diagrams. As she read, the words clicked into place in a way they hadn’t before. Her eyes devoured the words as quickly as she could scribble down her notes.

She hardly noticed when class was dismissed, taken out of her intense studies when Rose poked her. “Come on!”

Rey scrambled to put her things away and ran after Rose into the halls. Rose looped her arm through Rey’s and giggled. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you that deep into schoolwork.”

Rey rolled her eyes. “I think you’ve been having a bad influence on me.”

She walked beside Rose as they headed off to the Great Hall and Rose set off on Rey’s predicted tangent of how anyone could become a great wizard if they studied enough. It wasn’t until Rey stepped into the great hall that she stopped and patted the side of her bag. It was definitely lighter than usual.

“Did you forget something?” Rose stopped in her ranting and cocked her head to the side.

Rey dug through her bag. “I think so. I think I had my Astronomy book in here. I must have taken it out and set it down before D.A.D.A. I’ll just run back and grab it. I need it tonight.”

“Do you want me to come with?” Rose asked, but Rey already disappeared down the corridor.

She hurried through the mostly vacant halls, hoping that there wasn’t a class in the DADA classroom during this period. Rey let out a sigh of relief when she found the door standing open and a quiet classroom beyond.

Well, very nearly quiet.

“We are barely into the new semester and, already, not one but two detentions. Talking back to me is one thing. Asking me questions about dark magic is another. But hexing another student? The son of the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot?” Professor Skywalker’s voice hissed loudly from the slightly ajar door to his office. It was filled with barely uncontrolled anger that Rey was loathe to be on the receiving end of. “Do you forget who your mother is? Do you know the kind of pressure she is under?”

“How can I forget when it’s all I hear about every two seconds?”

Rey froze at the sound of Ben’s voice. She could see her book sitting under her desk where it must have fallen. She should just grab it and go.

“Nevermind the fact that Hux deserved it. Nevermind the fact that he was calling students mudbloods. Perhaps next time I’ll just join in. How do you think the Prime Minister will feel about that? Perhaps I should forget when I’m so easily replaceable that she’d rather spend Christmas with a bloody random nobody she picked up off the streets?”

Rey felt a lance through her heart. Is that what he really thought of her? A nobody? She hadn’t meant to hide the fact that Leia had invited her to Chewie’s hut for Christmas. He’d just been so upset at them already. She hadn’t known.

Whatever Luke said next was too low for Rey to make out, but it was enough for the wooden door to his office to burst open and for Ben to angrily storm out. Rey watched as he swept down the small set of curved stairs, his cloak billowing behind him. He got to the bottom and turned. Dark eyes came to meet hers and he stopped.

Rey’s words caught in her throat. She wasn’t even sure of what to say as she tried to process everything.

He hexed Hux?

Nobody.

Perhaps next time, I’ll join in.

Ben steeled his face into a dark mask void of emotions when she didn’t speak. His hands flexed before he resumed his swift exit out of the classroom. It wasn’t until he brushed past her that Rey fell out of her stupor.

“Ben!” Rey turned, catching his hand in hers. Ben paused only for a moment to look down at his hand caught in hers. The mask over his face stayed as he tore his hand from hers and left. Rey stared at the door long after he had gone.

“Miss Niima.”

Rey jumped at Professor Skywalker’s voice behind her. She turned away from the door quickly to look up at him in his grey robes. “Sorry, professor. I forgot my Astronomy book in here and I was just picking it up.”

She hurried over to her desk and picked up her book. With shaky hands, she struggled to shove it into her book bag.

“You’ve been progressing very quickly in your studies.”

“I… I just really enjoy Defense Against the Dark Arts.” Rey looked back towards the door. She wanted to go after Ben, but he was probably long gone. “I’ve been practicing.”

“Practicing?” Professor Skywalker raised his brows. He was trying to draw more out of her. Rey couldn’t help but feeling he already had his suspicions.

“I should go. I’m missing dinner.”

The professor paused for a moment, holding Rey in his gaze before nodding. “Indeed.”

Rey turned and hurried for the door only to be stopped once more by Professor Skywalker.

“Rey?”

“Yes, Professor?” She didn’t want to look at him, but forced herself to meet his gaze anyway.”

“Remember what I taught you today. And be wary of those who ignore it.”

[fialleril]

redcap3 replied to your post “Following this post (months later because this got buried in my drafts...”

...is it crazy I kinda want to see post-Vader Anakin being set up for a blind date?

The whole thing is Han’s idea.

When he first suggests it to Leia, he says he wants to do something nice for the old man, which as cover stories go is frankly terrible. Leia only raises an unimpressed eyebrow.  It’s such a bad excuse it doesn’t even deserve a response.

Finally Han gives it up and admits that, okay, fine, he just can’t stand watching Rustbucket get flirted at every time they’re all dragged to some gala or top brass event. Anakin’s clueless act is just embarrassing, and worse, Chewie thinks it’s funny, that traitor.

Leia just goes on looking at him. Luke, though, says, “Uh, Han, I don’t think it’s an act.”

Han stares at him. “Oh come on, kid. No one is that clueless.” Then he stops to consider this, and who he’s talking to. Luke is a very friendly person, and very bad at recognizing the line between friendly and flirting. Half the Rebellion wants to date him and as near as Han can tell, he genuinely has no idea. But still... “Okay, fine, maybe some people are. But your old man was married. He managed to produce the two of you somehow. So he can’t be completely unaware of how these things go.”

Leia snickers at him. Han has the sinking feeling she knows something he doesn’t, but he knows better than to ask when she gets that look in her eye.

So he decides he’s gonna set Anakin up on a date, and Leia can laugh all she wants. He’ll be the one laughing when it works.

His first attempt is a guy named Rav who used to work maintenance in one of the hangars on Home One. These days he’s planetside on Coruscant. Nice guy, a few years older than Anakin, green eyes, a great ass. Han arranges the date at a bar so chill he frankly hates the place himself, but it seems like the kind of scene an older couple might enjoy. (Anakin’s only thirteen years older than you, a little voice in the back of his head says, but he ignores that. It’s too weird to let himself think about.) He tells Anakin that Rav wants to meet up and talk shuttle maintenance, which is such a damn obvious innuendo that he barely manages to restrain a cringe as he says it.

But hey, it works, and Anakin’s off to meet with Rav and Han congratulates himself on a job well done. Leia’s still smirking, but that’s just because she hasn’t yet learned what a great matchmaker he is.

Anakin swings back by Leia’s apartment about three hours later, early enough that Luke’s still there and Han is just a little worried. But it was only a first date, so...that doesn’t have to be bad, does it?

“How’d it go, Rustbucket?” he says.

Anakin shrugs easily and heads for the kitchen to start a pot of tzai. “Not bad. Rav’s got some great ideas for B- and Y-wing class fighters, but his views on TIEs are woefully misinformed.” He grumbles something under his breath. “I understand that there’s a need to bad mouth the enemy fighters in front of the troops, but you don’t need to buy into your own propaganda.”

Han blinks a little. Luke and Leia are snickering behind their hands, and for once, it’s real damn easy to see that they’re twins. He glares at them both.

“Well, all right, but...what about the, uh, social aspect?”

“Huh?” Anakin comes into the living room and sits in the chair across from Han and Leia’s couch. Han can never get over how the guy just...sprawls when he sits. It’s about the least Vader-like mannerism he can think of.

“Did you hit it off?” Han asks.

A brief frown crosses Anakin’s face. “I don’t know. I wouldn’t mind another chance to correct his opinions on TIEs.” Suddenly he brightens, “I did manage to get him the bartender’s number, though, and I’m pretty sure they’re going out this weekend, so I suppose that’s my good deed for the day.” He says this last very dryly. It’s something his therapist suggested, taking notice of his good deeds and letting himself be proud of them or something like that, and Anakin always snarks about it but Han is pretty sure he’s also following his therapist’s advice, so that’s something.

Anyway, that’s clearly not the important thing here. “Wait,” he sputters. “You...set Rav up on a date...with the bartender?”

Leia looks positively gleeful now and Han is pretty sure she didn’t plan this, but if it turned out she did he wouldn’t even be surprised.

Anakin, though, doesn’t seem to understand what’s got Han in such a fuss. “Sure,” he says with another shrug. “They made a cute couple.”

“I don’t believe this,” Han mutters. What kind of guy plays wingman for his own date? He scrapes a hand over his face and resolves to hold on to whatever dignity he can. “Okay, so Rav’s not your type, huh?”

Anakin only looks at him with an expression of such genuine confusion that Han can’t even convince himself the guy’s pretending. “My type of what?” he says.

A loud snort of laughter escapes Leia, and she tries to play it off as a sneeze. Han isn’t impressed.

“Never mind,” he mutters, and eventually the conversation moves on, but he knows Leia isn’t going to forget about this anytime soon.

*

So okay. Maybe he made a bad call with that first try. Maybe Anakin’s only interested in women? It’s a possibility. Fine. So this time Han will have to find the right woman.

He considers his options carefully. Luke and Leia’s mom was a politician and a founder of the Rebel alliance, smart as hell and also pretty damn stunning. (Leia definitely takes after her mother, he thinks, without the slightest hint of a goofy grin, no matter what Chewie says.) She must have had a terrible sense of humor though. Either that or she put up with Anakin’s awful jokes out of some never before heard of reservoir of patience and goodness. Actually, the way Anakin talks about her, that might be true.

So he’s looking for someone smart, driven, principled, but also somehow willing to endure endless terrible puns. That’s a tall order.

The first person he tries is Mon Mothma. It takes him a couple weeks to work up to asking her, because yeah, there’s nothing about this idea that isn’t awkward. But he’s got to admit, she does fit the profile.

So eventually he gets up the guts to suggest the idea of a date, and Mon Mothma laughs in his face.

Well, Han thinks, muttering to himself and wishing he could erase the last fifteen minutes of his life from existence. In hind sight, that was a pretty stupid idea. He’s never even heard of Mon Mothma going on a date.

“You’ve never heard of Dad going on a date either,” Luke says, smirking. Not for the first time, Han wonders what the hell he was thinking, making Luke his confidant in this. But he needed someone with more insight into Anakin, and he’d be damned if he’d ask Leia.

“That’s different, obviously,” Han says. “He spent twenty years inside a tin can.”

Luke rolls his eyes. “I just don’t understand why you won’t let this go,” he says.

“Because people are always flirting with him!” Han says. “And he’s always pretending not to notice. It’s infuriating.”

“It doesn’t happen that often,” Luke says, and okay, Han thinks, that’s actually true, but still. It happens often enough.

Luke sighs. “If you’re so stuck on that, why don’t you just ask one of the people who’s actually flirted with him?”

Huh. That’s not a bad idea, actually. Why didn’t he think of that.

*

It still takes him a while to plan his strategy, but eventually he manages to set Anakin up on a date with a woman named Meera Yasko. She’s Corellian, he’s pretty sure, but she’s also whip smart and pretty attractive. She’s some kind of attorney at a non-profit or something, and Han’s never been especially keen on people of the legal persuasion, but he figures Anakin might like that.

The old man takes a bit of convincing, but Han is a master of smooth talking (don’t laugh, Leia!) and eventually he gets them set up at a nice swank restaurant and even orders a bottle of wine for the table as a surprise.

*

Anakin comes back from this date a lot more excited, and Han experiences a fleeting moment of smug hope, only to have it crushed beneath Anakin’s heel when it turns out the man is excited for all the wrong reasons.

Apparently, Meera is the chief counsel at a non-profit involved in education for underprivileged youth, whatever the hell that means. They’re an interplanetary organization, too, but it’s not the organization itself that really interests Anakin. Meera has the legal background to cover all of the complicated bits about starting a foundation that Anakin doesn’t really understand (and Han understands even less, if he’s honest), and he thinks they might really be able to get this off the ground.

“Wait,” says Han. “This? What’s this?”

He expects a glare or an eyeroll from Leia and maybe Luke, but instead, they look as curious as he feels.

“Oh,” says Anakin, looking oddly shy. “Right. I haven’t told you yet. I’ve been thinking, well, they’re paying me all this money that I don’t need -” (here he raises a hand to forestall Leia’s usual protest) “- so I want to do something with it. And I thought... Tatooine’s free now, but there’s not exactly a uniform system of education, and many of the communities don’t have necessary supplies or access to training for teachers or -”

“Dad,” says Leia, “I think that’s a wonderful idea.”

As it turns out, setting up an entire school system takes a lot of work. Who knew, right? It also takes a pretty shocking amount of money, much more than Anakin’s supposedly extravagant yearly salary. That’s not a problem, though, because Meera helps him set up a fundraising program that’s frankly terrifying in its efficiency.

They spend an awful lot of time together, but it’s mostly in her office or over working lunches. Still, Han holds onto hope for a while. After all, she at least was definitely interested. He knows that. But after several months, he finally has to admit defeat. Meera and Anakin have a pretty great working relationship, and Han would even venture to say they’ve become friends, but he still hasn’t seen any evidence that Anakin ever realized she was interested, and it’s pretty clear now that she’s not thinking about him that way any more.

Still. The Padme Naberrie Educational Foundation basically exists because of Han, so he’s counting this one a win.

*

He keeps trying.

There’s a woman named Jasta who likes to dance and, apparently, has terrible taste in art. Not his best choice, but hey, Anakin managed to set her up with a guy they ran into at the art museum, and he seems happy about that, at least.

There’s Varin, who’s an active duty lieutenant in the Republic navy and likes to spend her leave time volunteering with animals. Anakin introduces her to the recently defected Admiral Piett, and damn if the two of them aren’t getting married about five months later. So that worked out, Han thinks, rolling his eyes. But hey, Anakin got a cat out of the deal, which apparently his therapist thinks is great for him, so...there’s that.

There’s Piett himself, which Han still thinks made sense in theory, because Anakin is clearly fond of the guy. But, looking back, he can admit that it’s pretty likely even Piett didn’t know this one was meant to be a date, and Han suspects Anakin may have agreed to the whole thing as an excuse to set Piett up with Varin.

His last attempt is a Twi’lek woman named Dinsa Atray who’s frankly just a little bit terrifying, but then so is Anakin, so Han figures it’s a good match. They actually start meeting up pretty regularly, and Han is starting to feel pretty smug about it, even though Leia still isn’t convinced of his matchmaking skills. But his illusions are cruelly shattered a few weeks later, when dramatic and disturbingly well-documented accusations of sentient trafficking and money laundering bring about the abrupt end of Senator Orn Free Taa’s political career and, eventually, the beginning of his exciting new prison career.

(“Well this was fun,” Han overhears Dinsa tell Anakin. “Let me know if you ever want to destroy a man’s life and reputation again. I’m always game.” Yeah. Maybe more than a little terrifying.)

*

Three years into his self-appointed quest, and Han’s sitting at the dinner table staring at an invitation to the wedding of Mon Mothma and Meera Yasko. He has to admit, he didn’t see that coming. He wonders a bit sourly if Anakin introduced them, too. Honestly at this point he wouldn’t be surprised. The universe is trolling him, clearly.

“Hey, Rustbucket,” he says, because no one’s ever accused him of quitting while he’s ahead. “Who are you bringing as your plus one?”

Leia eyes him with fond derision, and Han gamely ignores her.

“Kadee, probably,” Anakin says. “She likes weddings. Why?”

“No reason,” Han mutters.

*

It’s three more months before he finally gives up. But he’s not going to admit that.

“You know,” he tells Leia, “I think I can declare this operation a resounding success.”

“Really,” says Leia with a smirk. “Because from where I’m standing it looks like you set my dad up on a dozen blind dates, and he still doesn’t even realize he’s been on one.”

Han waves a careless hand. “Well, from where I’m standing it looks like Operation Get Anakin Skywalker Some Friends was an unqualified success.”

Leia’s face softens and she leans up to give him a lingering kiss. “That’s sweet, Han,” she says, and when he grimaces she laughs. “But don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone.”