#she's the 'hey they asked for no pickles!' kind of friend full stop

[galaxy-fleur]

I think one of my favorite things about Ashley is that she's actually kinda... spunky when you stop to think about it? It can sorta fly over your head because she's not in a directly combative role to show off that trait of hers directly, but through the course of the game we see her:

A) full-on attack an armed, bulky, scary guy with a candlestick, not once, but TWICE. (And you can't tell me Leon doesn't look scary as hell to someone who doesn't know him, I'd be raising my hands up in surrender STAT)

And she was dead set with that, too, regardless of her - admittedly - very flimsy chances of actually overpowering someone like that. You seriously gotta admire her resolve. And she did that while still terrified out of her wits. She's not the type to just sit and not do anything about her circumstances, and we see that right off the bat. And this trait of hers gets more pronounced once she and Leon grow closer to each other, and he encourages her to keep fighting despite her fears.

B) Ashley actually get all feisty and fired up on the armaduras when you first figure out how they function. Her helping out is sweet, but I just love how it got played off as her being kind of reckless. Leon even goes: 'Ashley it's okay, just stay safe!' at her because she won't quit. All while she's all fired up and determined to help him out. And her angry: 'Stay away from Leon! >:(' is so cute honestly. I love how she can be a bit rash to try and help him out where she can.

C) This is a very tiny, minor detail, but nevertheless, Ramon points out to Leon directly: 'your princess is a... spirited individual. I must say, she gave us a considerable amount of trouble!' I'm guessing she did not take her capture lying down and fought tooth and nail with what she had.

D) The entirety of the wrecking ball sequence, honestly. She will help out, and Leon doen't get a say, now stand back and watch! Her expressing having fun with it after the fact, despite her being in direct danger the entire time, is both impressive and amusing to me.

E) Her killing off a regenerator for Leon by making the bridge retract is badass and no one can tell me otherwise.

And after all that sheer insanity, she still laughs a little during that wild escape from the island. Not to mention her playing along with Leon's quips. Shows off the trust she has in him, but it's still crazy that she can actually be genuinely playful in such a chaotic moment.

She's so great, I love her.

[numberonetacostan]

SO

hear me out of platonic Taco and balloon

- They'd probably meet (again) after balloon gets kicked out of a party at hotel OJ (because that's something that canonically happens) and accidentally catches Taco in a bush or spying on everyone in the hotel.

- They'd both probably freak out at first, Taco bc she literally just got caught, let alone by someone she used to compete with, and balloon bc.. she's Taco, and he knows how she acted in the season one finale

- but, balloon, being the push-over that he is in season two, still tries to apologize for he acted towards her in season one, because, like her, he was putting on some type of act or whatever he said in that one episode

- .. and I feel like They'd somewhat bond over that, as they both acted a certain way to get father into the competition

And that's all I've really came up with for now :3

Taco and balloon are literally two of my favorite characters, and I ended up wondering, "Hey, I wonder if they'd end up getting along after season one.."

Hi there!!!^^ Welcome, and thank you for submitting an ask!!! :] Especially one about Tacloon friendship they are everything to me oh my god there's so much potential there are thematic parallels!!!!!!

Them accidentally running into each other while Balloon is banned from the hotel is so funny dheudh. Depending on how soon after the season 1 finale they meet, I can see Taco still being in her bitterness, guilt, and a lot of raw feelings she does not know how to deal with era and just walking past him without a word. Balloon, despite being kind of scared of her, would probably try and go after her since he's very alone and maybe a tad desperate for connection right now.

Balloon trying to apologize to her would be what makes her stop though. An... apology? To her? After everything? Then they might bond a bit!!!!!!! Someone is showing her kindness after everything!!!!!! Her walls are still very very up but they can interact peacefully and go from there <3.

I don't know if this is supposed to be a full au in which they become friends for the rest of the show, or if they split up before the start of season 2 to stick closer to canon, but the idea of Balloon getting accepted back into the group and just... not mentioning that Taco is in the woods is lovely to me. He thinks they know already. I mean, letters for Pickle come in pretty often, so of course they know she's still nearby. He casually mentions her being in the woods once and everyone is very surprised!!!! What do you mean she lives out there. We though she left. Sent letters from an actual home. What the hell. If they ended up finding her after this, she would be rather upset with Balloon for ratting her out, yeah? Even if it wasn't his intention.

[mikkomacko]

So not sure if you’re going to understand this but here’s my idea: the team not knowing that the reader is dating both Bucky and Steve (Stucky) and they confront her and say some awful things like she’s using them, a cheating wh*re etc. and she just starts crying and runs and locks herself in their room (or whatever you’d like). Then Stucky comes back or out from somewhere looking for her and then they ask the team and the team tells them that she was “cheating” on both of them with each other and then they’re like no we’re all dating each other and the team feels all bad and you can end it how you want lol. You don’t have to do this and sorry if it’s bad.

A/n: Sorry it took so long! Hope it's ok! <3

~

Two Avengers dating would cause enough gossip in itself, but three Avengers? Two of which have been best friends since the 40s? She can't imagine what kind of reaction that would get out of Sam or Nat who have always teased Steve and Bucky about being really good friends.

So when y/n, Bucky, and Steve made their relationship official, they kept it as low-key as possible. Anything beyond cuddling was reserved for the privacy of their rooms, flirting had to be subtle, and all dates were far from the Avengers compound.

They just had to pray they could follow the rules and keep their hands to themselves when others were around.

~

Drumming her fingers on the folder, y/n heads up HR to submit her latest mission report. It was simple surveillance mission, nothing exciting to report on but she'd been gone for over a week and wanted to get the report in asap so it could be done with. Dropping it off on the incoming desk, she promptly turns on her heel to head to lunch but is stopped just outside of the doorway by a hand on her bicep. She's tugged into the hidden corner before she can even react, two strong arms caging her against the cool wall.

Bucky, dressed for a training session, stands before her, blue eyes sparkling and lips smiling. Immediately, her guard falls, lips widening into a smile that reflects the same love shining through Bucky's.

"Careful Barnes," she teases, "next time I won't be so kind about ya pawing at me."

He clicks his tongue. "Wouldn't be pawing if you'd come to see me as soon as you got back."

"Paperwork waits for no one. Not even Cap and Sarge."

He sighs playfully. "Damn doll, that hurts. Think ya should kiss it better."

So she does. Cupping his jaw between two soft palms, y/n seals their mouths together in a tender kiss, completely blind to Bruce and Tony who have just caught sight of them from down the hall.

~

Bucky heads down to the gym and y/n heads to room to clean up before lunch, ignoring his pleas for her to join him. She's technically on recovery from her last mission and she's definitely going to milk that for a day off. She's approaching her door when one just down the hall opens, a familiar blond head of hair coming into view.

She pauses, leaning her shoulder against the doorway and smiles at him. "Hey Cap, fancy seeing you here."

He lifts his head, soft blue eyes meeting hers and he smiles that cute little smirk only Steve Rogers could smile. "Hey, heard you got back early this morning."

"Yeah, way early." She laughs, tilting her chin up as he moves closer.

"How'd it go?"

He stops in front of her, crossing his arms over his chest and tilting his head. It's his typical go-ahead-I'm-listening stance but by the way he's eyeing her mouth she knows he doesn't actually want to hear it right now. Steve always tries to hide the fact that he's just as clingy as Bucky.

"Is that really what you're going to ask me, Rogers? After being gone for so long you want my mission run down right now?"

He chuckles, dipping his head and lightly shaking it. "No not really."

"So what's your real question?"

Bashful, he meets her eyes again. "Can I have a hello?"

Y/n laughs, butterflies fluttering in her chest as she rises on her tiptoes to kiss him. He gently grips her waist, pulling her just the slightest bit closer and humming in content. She throws her arms around his neck, fingertips shifting into the hair at the base of his neck, once again too caught up in her boyfriend to notice Nat and Sam have just spotted them from the end of the corridor.

~

"You'll never believe what we just saw!" Sam shouts, hightailing it into the kitchen with Natasha hot on his heels. Bruce and Tony both startle in their seats at the table, water sloshing over the edge of Bruce's mug.

"Nuh-uh, we're first." Tony says, shaking his head.

"No we are." Sam insists, Tony opening his mouth to continue the argument but Natasha cuts him off.

"Rogers and y/n are together."

And that makes Tony and Bruce pause. Sam whoops proudly, smirking at the two as they share looks of confusion.

"Steve and y/n?" Bruce confirms, eyebrows pinching together when Nat nods firmly.

Tony sighs. "Well that puts us in a bit of pickle because we saw Barnes with his tongue down her throat."

Sam's jaw drops. "What? When?"

"Earlier today!" Bruce exclaims, motioning towards the HR department. "She was dropping off paperwork and he just grabbed her and kissed her."

"Well we just watched Steve pin her against a door and kiss her not even ten minutes ago." Nat exclaims, anger building up in her veins. "Which means we've got a problem."

Sam turns to her, just as angry. "Damn right we do!"

~

Bottom lip between her teeth, y/n attempts to hide the giddy smile that's been plastered on her face since her reunion with her boys. It's a weak attempt because she's practically as bright as a ray of sunshine but she doesn't really care. She's happy. She's so incredibly happy and she wants it to last forever.

Unfortunately for her, the feeling is cut short far too soon because as soon as she enters the kitchen, 4 pairs of eyes are glaring at her.

"Hey everyone," she says tentatively, slowing to a stop. "what's going on?"

Sam scoffs, crossing his arms over his chest. "Why don't you tell us what's going on?" He says coldly, "You know besides you macking on our friends."

Macking on his friends? Oh god, Steve and Bucky! They found out about their relationship...

Her jaw drops, cut-off guard. "Wait! I can explain-"

"Cheaters don't get an explanation." Nat cuts off, eyes mean and piercing. Y/n heart sinks into her stomach. Cheating? She'd never cheat in her life, especially not on Bucky and Steve.

"Cheating? I'm not-"

Tony rises from his seat. "Save it y/n. We know you're cheating on Bucky and Steve with each other. How could you do that? They're like brothers and your just using them-"

"No I'm not!" She insists, panicking under the hateful gazes. "You guys don't understand. Just let me-"

"No!" Sam cuts off. "Bucky and Steve have both gone through so much. Do you realize how difficult it must have been for them to open up to you? And you thew it all away. You hurt them. You're a bitch y/n, full honestly."

Tears sting her eyes. Sam's never said anything like that to her let alone anyone they know. He's always been so kind and welcoming so to hear such hurtful words from him has her stunned. She can't even think of anything to say to defend herself.

"Y-you really think that lowly of me?" She sniffles, "That I would do something like that?"

"We saw it, y/n." Banner responds, nose scrunched in disgust. "Now get outta here before we throw you out."

Insulted and insecure, she shakes her head. "I can't believe you all." Then she turns on her heel, running to the safety of her room.

~

Bucky's spotting Steve on the bench press when the foursome of Avengers walk in, somber looks on their faces.

"Steve," Bucky says, gaining his attention. Immediately the super soldier is setting down his weights, sitting up to look at their friends.

"What's going on? Is someone hurt?" Steve asks, rising to his feet. Sam shakes his head, smiling sympathetically.

"No one's hurt," he assures "but we've got something to tell you."

Bucky swallows nervously, something in him going on high alert. He knows that this is about y/n, that something's happened and it makes him anxious. Where is she?

"What?" Bucky asks, noticing the lingering anger in Nat's eyes.

"It's y/n," she says "she-"

"She what?" Bucky interrupts quickly, readying himself to sprint upstairs.

"She's cheating," Tony says, eyes flickering between the two men. "On you two. With each other."

Oh, Bucky wasn't expecting that. He turns to Steve, the two sharing a silent conversation between themselves. They know? Looks like it pal. How'd that happen? I told you to be careful...

"Don't worry, we already gave her a piece of our minds-"

"You what?!" Steve suddenly asks, finally realizing what they're saying. They think y/n cheated on them because they don't know they're all three dating each other. And they confronted her about it.

"What did you say?" Bucky asks lowly.

"The truth," Sam says proudly. "that she's a bitch for using you both."

Before anyone can react Bucky is rushing towards the doors, abandoning his belongings in favor of checking on y/n. Steve doesn't mind, knowing that when it comes to being emotional and open, Bucky is typically the one she leans on. He's good at being a comforting shoulder.

"Oh god Sam," Steve sighs. "Y/n isn't cheating-"

"Yeah-"

"No she's not!" He shouts, startling them. "She's not. For the past few months we've been dating. The three of us."

The silence is almost amusing if Steve wasn't too busy thinking of his girl upstairs, upset.

"Like a throuple?" Bruce asks, confused.

Steve nods shortly. "Thanks for accusing her instead of talking it out. Appreciate it." He says icily, pushing around them. Stalking towards the exit, he calls over his shoulder. "Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a girl to go check on."

~

Bucky has wrapped her up like a burrito in the comforter from his bed on the floor of her room, leaning back against the side of the matress with her sat between his parted thighs. Her eyes are still wet and swollen but she's giggling through her sniffles, a spoon hanging out of her mouth and a bowl of soup in her lap. They both look up when he enters the room, Y/n smiling shyly and Bucky relieved.

"We ok sweetheart?" He asks, waiting for her nod before looking to Bucky.

"We're good Steve," he promises, sweeping her hair over her shoulder with his hand and brushing his fingers through it. "She was just frustrated. Didn't know they could think she'd do something like that."

"That's because she wouldn't," Steve says firmly, sitting on the floor next to them. "and we know that y/n. We know you'd never hurt us like that."

"I love you Steve," she swears, resting her head on his shoulder. "And I love you Buck. Thanks for doing this for me."

"Course doll," Bucky says, kissing the side of her head. "Don't have to thank us for loving you." Steve hums his agreement.

"But..."Bucky quickly adds, "you can thank me after I beat Sam's ass for calling you that."

Steve sighs, rolling his eyes. "Buck..." He says warningly but he doesn't even finish the scolding thought because their boyfriend's threat has made y/n smile and that's all they could ever ask for.

[y0itsbri]

gallavich week 2021 - day 7 - meet ugly

thank you to @ianandmickeygallavich for the inspo // @gallavichthings

Prompt: Ian and Mickey are neighbors in an apartment complex. They haven’t ever interacted, but one day they get stuck the elevator. One of them doesn’t like confined spaces but doesn’t share this so the other one assumes he is freaking out for no reason.

Words: 3.5k

--

"I'm going out tonight, dickbreath!" Mandy announced, popping her head out of the bathroom. She was wearing a short sequined dress, fitted tightly to her body and only halfway zipped up so it slipped part way down her shoulders.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't!" Mickey called from his recliner in the living room with an Old Style in hand. Work has been absolutely kicking his ass this week and he wanted nothing more than a chill night in.

"Oh, c'mon, now that's no fun. You don't do anything," she accused.

"That's not true!" Mickey grumbled, remote in hand and flicking past some news channels onto some good shit -- finally. Rerun of Jurassic Park.

"What're your plans for the evening then, hot shot?" Mandy teased as she applied yet another layer of mascara on her already blackened eyelashes, "Dinosaur movies all night?"

"Might go to the corner store for some smokes."

"Please get something to eat while you're at it. We have like nothing in here." She waltzed to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door and grimaced. He could admit that a grocery run was, in fact, long overdue.

"Yeah, yeah."

"Serious, Mick." Mandy gave him the look. The Look being the same Look that his mother used to give him when he was being a little shit.

Fine. "Got it. I'll eat something." She smiled at that.

"Thank youuu," Mandy dragged the word out as she leaned over to kiss his forehead.

"Gross."

"Ditto. Zip me up?"

--

Mandy had headed out awhile ago -- long enough ago that Mickey was now halfway through his second 'dinosaur movie.' He should really visit his dinosaur guy again soon, he's probably got some cool new shit. Mickey sighed and got up, idling over to the kitchen.

He downed a full glass of water and opened the fridge. Yeah, unless he wanted to eat a pickle with ketchup and beer, he needed to go out. He debated ordering in, but he needed to go to the corner store anyways. Two birds one stone kind of situation.

Mickey threw on his favorite pair of sweatpants and his Davie Bowie tee shirt with the sleeves cut off. It was a good shirt. Mickey thought Bowie was hot -- fuckin' alien-looking, but hot, nonetheless.

Mickey shoved his wallet and phone in his pockets and locked up his apartment. Maybe Ernie would have the good roast beef sandwiches today.

His thoughts about dinner plans subsided as he noticed the guy waiting for the elevator.

Mickey had seen the ginger around. He was hard to miss -- fuckin' tall, always going out for runs early in the morning in short shorts and coming back all sweaty, always had a million fucking people coming and going from his apartment. They lived on opposite ends of the hall, but Mickey had never actually spoken to him before.

Mandy had given her brother lots of shit for acting so goddamn unapproachable and that's why he has no friends. Mickey didn't want to be friends with everyone, but he wouldn't mind spending some time with the hot red-head down the hall... eventually.

But he was waiting for the elevator with him right now. He couldn't bring himself to make eye contact in fear that it would lead to small talk which would then lead Mickey to inevitably embarrass himself. He couldn't blow his shot. Mandy did the small talk, not him. He took out his phone and scrolled through Instagram even though none of the photos were loading.

He hardly looked up when the elevator arrived and he stepped into it, leaving plenty of space between the two of them. Maybe it was an unreasonable amount of space, but it still wasn't enough for Mickey. He could still smell the guy's cologne. And it was infuriatingly attractive.

"Ground floor?" The man's voice practically sent heat down Mickey's spine. This was going to be a long ride.

"Uh, yeah." Nice, Mick. Not embarrassing at all.

"Great." It hung in the air, a tinge of awkwardness to it.

Out of the corner of his eye Mickey could see the the man leaning against the elevator wall, crossing his ankles as he not-so-subtly stared Mickey's direction.

Mickey was running out of things to check on the his phone and he was about to give in and finally make eye contact when he felt a shift. Then an ungodly clanging of metal. And a stop.

Fuck.

He glanced up at the dial. Sure enough they were stopped between floors, and not at all near the ground.

"The fuck?"

"What?" The red-head locked confused eyes with Mickey's.

"We're stopped. Why the fuck are we stopped?"

"Hm," The guy poked around at the open doors button and nothing happened. "I don't know."

All hopes of positive small talk was out the window as Mickey went into full panic mode. He did not like small, confined spaces -- which happened to be exactly what his current predicament entailed.

"You open the doors!" Mickey practically shrieked.

"Why me!?" The attractive guy spit back.

"You work out and shit -- do I look like I could pry those fuckers apart?"

"Well..." The red-head took a moment to size up Mickey's smaller form. "Yes, you do actually- but these doors are heavy as fuck. We don't have like super strength."

"Fuck you."

"Uh, fuck me!?"

"Yeah, fuck you. Not even tryin' and now we're both going to fuckin' die in here. Any last words, Red?"

He rolled his eyes. "We're not going to die. Don't you think you're being a little dramatic?"

"Don't you think you're being a little too calm considering we're stuck?"

"Oh. You're freaking out."

"No shit I'm freaking out, Sherlock." Mickey ran his hands down his face. This was not fucking happening to him right now.

"Hey, take deep breaths."

"Can't. Gonna die." Mickey gasped.

"Well, if you can't breathe, you're definitely going to pass out."

Mickey shot him panicked eyes.

"Hey, hey it's okay. Just look at me."

Mickey could do that.

"Copy me. In-" He inhaled, chest expanding.

"Out-" Mickey felt his breath on his face. In any circumstance, a stranger breathing on him would warrant a punch in the gut, but now it was more grounding than anything else. They repeated that motion a few times.

"Good. See, you can breath."

"What are you? A fuckin' doctor?" Mickey huffed a laugh in disbelief.

"Been to enough," he chuckled.

"Huh?"

"Never mind. But, uh- look, see, I'll hit the emergency button and someone will come get us soon. It'll be okay."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm positive. Got stuck in one of these with my sister when I was little, kinda scary at first but we were out in practically no time. She sang to me to pass the time, but I take it you don't want me to sing to you?"

That earned a full-bellied laugh from Mickey, "Not yet."

The man grinned goofily like a golden retriever.

They were silent for a moment.

"So, uh, what's your name?" The red-head asked, gazing curiously at Mickey.

Mickey just stared back at him.

"Your name?" He repeated gently.

"Mickey."

"Mickey," He said it so soft like a prayer. "I like it. I'm Ian."

He had no idea what he expected, but it wasn't Ian. Ian was fitting, though. Ian was good.

--

Ian had hit the emergency button a few times for good measure while Mickey had tried to call Mandy to no success. They settled onto the floor, leaning against opposite walls, feet nearly colliding in the center. Neither made a move to completely avoid that.

After Mickey had calmed down a bit, they fell into bouts of comfortable conversation and comfortable silence.

"I thought you just hated me." Ian mumbled after a bit.

"What I hate is being trapped here." Mickey stared at the walls threatening to enclose around them. He closed his eyes so he didn't start to panic again.

"Even before this."

"Oh?" That was news to Mickey. That was never his intent.

"Yeah, I always see you around, but you never seem to see me." Ian looked to the ground when he said it.

"I've seen ya plenty. You're the dork with the short ass shorts."

Ian smirked, "I guess I am."

"Hard to miss, man."

"You too. I've wanted to say hi for like months, but you always looked like you were ready to snap me in half or something. I kinda like my limbs in tact."

Mickey swiped his thumb against his nose and sniffed, embarrassed, "Sister says I scare everyone away. Used to be a good thing."

"Sister... wait, wait, wait, hold up. You're Mandy's brother, aren't you?"

"You know Mandy? Oh god, you're not banging her, are you?" That would throw a wrench in his plans.

"Oh god, no!" Ian threw his hands up in a mock surrender like that was the most repulsive thing he's ever heard.

"Something wrong with my sister?" Mickey grew defensive. She may be a lot to handle at times, but she was still his sister.

"No, no, she's great! 'm just not into... well, uh- I'm- let's just say that if you had a brother, maybe I'd be banging him." He grimaced.

Watching Ian stumble over his words after being so confident about everything else was a bit amusing.

"Oh -- cool." Mickey wasn't used to such obvious disclosures about sexuality with strangers.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." Mickey avoided all eye contact.

"So?"

Ian paused until Mickey was able to look at him again.

"So, what?"

"Do you have any brothers?" A playful flicker in Ian's eyes made it obvious that he was just being a little shit now.

"You're an idiot."

"Maybe so, but that doesn't answer my question still."

"Yeah, I have brothers, but they'd uh- let's just say definitely not be into that."

"And you're... not not into that?"

Mickey rolled his eyes. His lack of denial was basically a confession and they both knew it.

Ian smirked and knocked the toes of their shoes together.

--

Help announced itself to be coming soon over the tiny intercom embedded in the elevator. Sometime shortly after that, Ian had made his way over to the wall next to Mickey's, rather than across.

"Where were you going tonight?" Ian asked, turning to fully face Mickey.

"Nowhere." Nowhere interesting at least.

"Really? So you just take an elevator down to nowhere?"

"Alright, smart ass, I needed to get dinner. Gonna be a late dinner now that's for sure, fuckin' starving."

"Shit."

"What about you? Got a hot date or something?" Mickey eyed him up and down. Ian's outfit wasn't fancy by any means, but he still looked damn good in it.

"Oh, I wish," he winked, "Just going on a walk to clear my head. But this is working just as well."

"Good for you, man. My head is fuller than ever."

"What're you thinking about?" Ian's heavy breath practically bounced off his face. His gaze flickered to Ian's pouting lips. This was ridiculous.

Kissing you. Kissing you. Kissing you. "Nothing."

"Riiiight." Ian's eyes mimicked the same trail that Mickey's had just followed.

"Yup."

Ian scooted closer to Mickey and he swore his heart was beating so loud that even Ian could hear it. If he could, he made no indication. Instead, he eyed Mickey's hand resting on the floor. Gently, careful not to spook him, he caressed Mickey's fingers, nearing his tattooed knuckles.

Mickey fought the urge to yank his hand away. No one ever touched him so delicately, so sweetly. He figured that Ian would have guessed that, seeing his crude tattoos, but he wasn't acting like this was strange. So Mickey let him.

"Fuckin' hate them." Mickey murmured, watching Ian's fingertips tracing over the back of his hand.

Ian frowned.

"The tattoos."

"They're you. I'm sure they have a story."

"Wish I could forget it."

"If it makes you feel any better, I have a pair of tits on my shoulder."

"Ex-fucking-cuse me?!" Mickey pictured literal tits growing out of the man's back.

"Here, look," Ian turned, pulling his shirt up, revealing an insanely toned and insanely freckled back. Surely he was not about to be flashed in an elevator. But sure enough, tattooed on his shoulder was a pair of double-D's.

"Shit! Dude, what the fuck is up with that?" Mickey laughed.

Yeah, this made him feel better. At least he didn't have fucking titties tattooed on his knuckles, though he was sure someone in his family must have something like that. They're fucking idiots like that. Like Ian, apparently. But Ian was good.

"It was supposed to be my mom." Ian winced, pulling his shirt back down to cover it again.

"Mom must've been a banger." Mickey joked, still hardly containing his laughter.

"Ugh," Ian groaned dramatically. "Never gonna live that one down."

He threw his hands back on the ground, near Mickey's but not touching this time.

Experimentally and slowly, so slowly, Mickey hooked his fingers with Ian's and rubbed his thumb against Ian's hand. It was calloused, but so soft. It was a movement so gentle he hardly recognized himself, completely contradictory to the message literally written across his hands.

He was practically holding hands with a man in an elevator. Oh, if dear dad could see him now.

Moving out of his hell house with Mandy had been a good step, but it had taken Mickey years to unlearn his self-hate, allow himself to be. He still wasn't perfect, and he still felt years behind. But with Ian, it felt normal. It felt right and warm.

Right then, he felt the elevator shift again. He tightened his grip on Ian's hand. Ian returned the hold. If he was going to die, at least he wasn't going to die alone.

Mickey realized that they weren't falling down, but rather moving upwards.

They released their hands and leapt up to their feet as the door dinged open, revealing a small staff of maintenance personnel, not looking at all concerned that two men had just been trapped inside for an unspecified amount of time.

"Fuckin' finally!" Mickey ran out. He resisted the urge to drop to the floor and kiss the ground. He was dramatic, but he wasn't that dramatic.

Ian thanked the maintenance people then hurried along beside Mickey. They weren't on their floor, but they sure as hell weren't about to take the elevator again after all that.

"Hey, Mickey, wanna come back to my place? I think I still have some leftover lasagna if you're still hungry."

Mickey checked the time. Yeah, Ernie's place was definitely closed by now. Plus he really did just want to go back to Ian's. He glanced up to see Ian in almost full puppy-dog eyes. The dork was needlessly persuasive, he'd give him that.

"Yeah, sure. I could eat." He grinned like an idiot.

Ian nodded his head towards the stairwell, holding the door open for Mickey, who obediently followed up the steps.

--

Ian's apartment wasn't too different than Mickey and Mandy's, mirrored and maybe smaller, but it looked oddly inviting and definitely way more lived in -- almost too much décor and family photos hung up around the space.

"Uh, make yourself comfortable," Ian called as he rummaged through the cabinets, grabbing a couple plates to reheat some food for Mickey and himself.

Mickey was no stranger to feigning confidence in unfamiliar locations, but this felt different, more genuine. He actually respected Ian, the man having been kind and patient with him in a less than ideal situation.

He sat himself on the barstool at Ian's countertop and watched him. The gorgeous man who he had been eyeing in secret for months, who had helped him through a small panic attack, who had held his hand and traced his tattoos like they were art. Like Mickey was art.

"So, Bowie, huh?" Ian leaned against the counter, waiting out the timer on the microwave.

"What?"

"Your shirt," he pointed, and Mickey looked down.

"Oh, yeah. He's cool as fuck. Dope music."

"Got great hair, too."

"You would think so."

"Self-love, baby."

"Good for you." But there was no edge in his voice.

Ian smiled. The microwave beeped and they settled in, eating together with nothing but the awkward clanging of silverware and chewing. Mickey was too fucking starving and too fucking tired to care about formalities to give a shit at this point.

"Bet you didn't think you'd spend your night eating lasagna with a David Bowie look-alike, huh?" Ian teased over a mouthful of pasta.

"You wish, man."

"Hey, it's at least a little true."

"Yeah, you're both fuckin' aliens."

"Maybe so, but at least we're hot."

They both smiled around their forks, glancing over at each other a little too frequently with nothing but fondness.

--

Ian collected their plates when they were done, taking them over to the sink to wash them later. Mickey got up and followed him into the center of the kitchen, still sipping on his beer before setting it on the counter to his right.

In a move that shocked Ian, and even himself, Mickey moved into Ian's space and pressed his chest against Ian's back. He wrapped his arms around Ian's waist, feeling up the plains and softness of his stomach, feeling his breath hitch and his heart beat faster. Mickey's warm breath bounced off of Ian's neck and back onto his own face.

Ian sighed and placed his hands over Mickey's again. He leaned his head back onto Mickey's shoulder for a moment before wiggling free from Mickey's grip enough to turn around and face him, carding one of his hands through Mickey's dark hair.

"Mickey." He said it so soft. With so much admiration. Mickey couldn't take it anymore. He leaned up and pulled Ian's head down so they were the same height.

"Fuck, c'mere," he murmured, lips practically touching Ian's with the words.

Ian pressed their lips together. For all his gentle touches throughout the night, his kiss was anything but. Like he needed him to breathe.

Ian pushed him backwards towards the living room, stumbling over each others' feet in the process. Mickey greedily pulled down on Ian's neck, desperate not to let him go. Ian smiled into it and dropped backwards onto the couch cushions, pulling Mickey on top of him, making out like dumb teenagers.

--

Eventually, they settled and Mickey rested his head on Ian's chest while Ian rubbed his back and head comfortingly. Truthfully, he was beginning to panic a bit. He hadn't liked anyone in awhile, and Ian was very hard to not like.

"Are you good?"

Fuckin' mind reader.

"I don't know." Smooth, Mick.

"You don't know what?" Ian probed gently.

Mickey sighed, "How to do this," he answered honestly. There was no point in lying to Ian.

Ian kissed Mickey's forehead, "We can do this any way you want, alright? No rush, no pressure."

"Yeah?"

"Absolutely," Ian scratched Mickey's head for a moment, "I've been waiting for you for awhile, Mick, I'll wait for however long you want."

Mickey leaned into his touch and then kissed his shoulder, "I want you, this."

"Me too." They smiled into each other. Safe together.

--

Neither made a move to push things further for the night. Ian had flicked on the tv to the same channel Mickey had on earlier, the Jurassic Park marathon still playing. After whatever movie was on now, Mickey decided he should head home. He was utterly exhausted after the day, and as much as he liked Ian, he didn't want to pass out in the guy's apartment -- though he was sure Ian wouldn't mind at this point, kind bastard.

After Ian had pulled Mickey into one last embrace, Mickey wretched open Ian's door, only to come face to face with his sister, makeup smudged and heels in hand after her night out.

She gasped way louder than fucking necessary, "You slut!"

"Shut the fuck up," he grumbled pushing past her to head back to his own apartment.

"See ya later, Mick!" Ian called down the hall. Mickey didn't respond, but Ian took no offense. To be fair, he had just been caught red-handed by his very dramatic bitch of a sister.

Mandy grinned and looked between Mickey's retreating form and Ian's blushing face. "Oh my god, Ian! I knew it!"

"Hi, Mands." He ducked his head, scratching the back of his neck.

She gave a cheeky, knowing wave goodbye and took off barefoot after Mickey, "You fucker! I want all the details!"

"You ain't gettin' 'em, bitch!" He stormed inside, but left the door open for her behind him.

Mandy threw her shoes on the floor and met up with him in the kitchen, punching his arm lazily so he spilled his newly-opened beer down his hand. "The fuck?!"

"I'm so proud of you!" She made grabby hands at Mickey in attempts to smush his cheeks, but he weaseled out of there quick enough to avoid her gross hands. She may be fuckin' drunk, but she was still quick.

"Yeah, will well ya stop screaming it from the rooftops. Ian's gonna think I'm a fuckin' loser."

"Awww," She chased after him as he headed down the hall, "You are a loser, but that's besides the point! I've been waiting for this for weeks!"

"Night!" Mickey shut his bedroom door in Mandy's face. She'd get over it in a minute. Hell she was probably well on her way to passing out already. Maybe she'd get some details out of him tomorrow.

But tonight -- he reveled in the fact that he spent the night making out with his very kind, very dorky, very hot red-headed neighbor.

--

And when Mandy eventually moved out from their apartment and in with her girlfriend, Mickey had absolutely no problem finding a new red-headed roommate.

[moribundanchor]

The Pelle/Dani Receipts, Post 11: The May Queen

The last lap of the film is the culmination of two separate tracks: one, Dani breaking with Christian, coming to terms with her grief, and sloughing off her old life, and two, Dani being embraced by her new family and, with that final, slightly-mad smile, finding joy with them. Much as in the “Do you feel held by him?” scene, Ari masterfully keeps the final scenes of Midsommar walking that tightrope between validating the Pelle/Dani romance and minimizing it in order to center Dani’s broader character arc and story, and to that end, he doesn’t even wobble. Still, he can’t get out of this without some explicit (though not explicit) mushy stuff for the OTP, and that, of course, is why we’re here.

We already mentioned the dance competition in the context of Pelle and Team Hårga winnowing Christian real good so he can be Maja’s baby daddy, but this is yet another opportunity for Pelle to demonstrate to Dani the contrast between him and Christian. As Dani begins to dance, Pelle is right up front, attentively, patiently, smilingly watching. She has every bit of his attention and support. Meanwhile, Christian stumbles into the audience late, burdened and internally roiling after his meeting with Siv. 

Now, we don’t know how Christian ultimately answered the Matriarch when she asked if he would mate with Maja. Ari, the imp, cuts away. Not to taint our favorite scene with comparison, but very like Dani’s protests in “Do you feel held by him?” Christian’s evasions, more pronounced in the Director’s Cut (“I’m here with somebody,” “We haven’t even talked.”) are frail, toothless things against the truth joined with temptation. He doesn’t love Dani. And he does want Maja. By the time he comes to watch the dance competition, Dani dancing is the furthest thing from Christian’s mind, even though betraying her is the crux of his dilemma.

And do please remember that Siv proposes this ritual snuggling to Christian as something Dani will not know about, so he really is contemplating betraying her, as opposed to what Pelle suggests to Dani. 

This is the contrast that waits for Dani during a break in the dance. Pelle smiles at her flirtatiously, even proudly, and silently applauds--totally here for you, Dani--while Christian is literally looking the other direction, back towards where Maja--oops, I got myself eliminated, teehee!--has taken her seat. During the dance, Dani is, yes, tripping balls and speaking gibberish, but she is still having the best time ever. So, initially exhilarated, Dani wilts the moment she sees Christian, and if we were going to argue that Dani doesn’t reciprocate Pelle’s feelings, the visible heartbreak on her face here would be Exhibit A. Except people are more complicated than that. Relationships are more complicated than that. Dani is definitely more complicated than that. Letting go still can hurt long after you know it’s over.

All that being said, even the most complicated relationship stuff can get simple real quick with a grand, unambiguously romantic gesture, and as Dani is crowned May Queen, finally, finally, finally, we get one. No evasions, no apophasis. Stunned, still kind of high, Dani’s new family washes her away in a tide of congratulations. Odd welcomes her home again, in Swedish this time, and it’s just a lovebomb lovefest all the way down. The only ones who don’t hug and/or paw at Dani are hallucinations (or are they) of her parents in Hårgan garb, her mom laying one surrendering caress on Dani’s shoulder as she passes by, and, of course, Christian, poor dope, standing by the maypole, looking every bit as alone and lost as Dani probably has felt up to this point. The Fire Temple is a ways off, but he will never again be allowed close to her. They are over.

At the end of the procession, for maximum dramatic effect, Dani’s happy Hårgan sisters tilt her toward OHAI PELLE. As Pelle bends down to her, initially he appears to be in supportive friend mode, (“My God, Dani! May Queen!”), but then he just sweeps Dani up in a kiss that isn’t long enough to stop the ceremony, but just long enough to be undeniably romantic. In the script, the kiss is actually described as a “blunt, passionate kiss.” While so much of the Pelle/Dani ship is not scripted, here it is plain: Pelle, now wearing the Wunjo rune, is Dani’s wish for an understanding, loving partner come true, and for the minute she can be spared from the procession, he is kissing her for all he’s worth. Let’s just watch this on a loop for a while.

This is the moment that has launched several thousand “Did Pelle like Dani?” Google searches, and it looks like a freaking wedding because it kind of is. Look at all the Hårgans bursting with happiness, not just for Dani, but for them. We are all Hårgans because all Hårgans are clearly Pelle/Dani shippers. (Okay, there’s something going on with Inga, but that’s a different analysis post.) Dagny in particular looks like she’s going to cry. My sweet brother birthmate found him a newblood and they are the cutest. Both Pelle and Dani are in full Hårgan dress for this kiss, as though their relationship always had to be consummated with Dani fully planted in the fifth panel of the spoiler tapestry. Also note that the pink flower in Dani’s crown reflects her heartbeat. Notice how it speeds right on up while she’s in Pelle’s arms. At this point, Dani might yet equivocate--not that she’s very equivocal in the moment--but crown flowers don’t lie.

Christian probably doesn’t see this moment. In addition to succumbing to “the tea with special properties,” he’s watching from the maypole, and Dani and Pelle would have been obscured from that vantage by a few dozen white-clad bodies. But if he cared enough about Dani to celebrate her triumph instead of blankly witness it, if he had been able to refuse the tea...but then, if he cared that much, we wouldn’t have had a movie.

Once Pelle surrenders Dani, the happiest and proudest of all possible soft cult boys, she’s urged toward a litter in the shape of the sun and lifted high off the ground. The Hårgans serenade their queen in a procession to the dinner table, Pelle prominent among them, his hands arranged in a cradling gesture previously seen when the Hårgans burned Dan’s body. This is an assumption, but it seems a fair one, that the gesture conveys Pelle bearing Dani’s spirit, even if he’s not one of those physically carrying her litter. In the wide shot, you will notice they are sailing Dani right past an image of Terri hidden in the trees. In this scene, Dani is very literally leaving her birth family and Christian behind. When Dani takes her throne at the head of the mirrored banquet table, Pelle will placidly sketch the moment, and as previously mentioned, we’ll see him reflected in the table surface, indicating how he’s still plotting even in that idyllic moment which would seem to be the culmination of all his hopes and dreams. After all, Christian’s still breathing.

Sadly, this concludes the dramatized Dani/Pelle content. We know. We’re sad, too. In the major scenes around the kiss itself--the serenade, the photograph, the dinner after her crowning--Pelle is near Dani, but not next to Dani. No more close communicating reaction shots. We can see Pelle enthusiastically toast Dani at the dinner table, and she seems to trade a sly, flirty smile with him immediately afterward, but that’s it. We can’t even see Pelle’s reaction when Dani gags on the pickled herring. In the final ceremony, Pelle’s crowned, too, just as the movie has been promising all along, but he and Dani don’t share the stage or even a single shot. Blocking and camerawork, so suggestive of their love story up to the point Pelle lays a good ‘un on her, suddenly becomes a blue-nosed chaperone. But consider what the film would be like, what it would have to become, otherwise. Midsommar isn’t primarily a romance anymore than it’s primarily a horror movie. Nope, it’s not a horror movie either, not really. It’s Dani’s story; it just happens to have smooches and blood eagles in it. So the kiss is a great moment, but it’s going to have to last you. (Hey, would you like to see our fanfics?) 

Green Man/May King or not, it would appear there’s more post-canon wooing for Mr. Pelle to do (though Ari has confirmed more than once that Pelle has an excellent chance with Dani, wink.) The script specifies that Pelle is one of the Hårgans that bears Dani’s throne to scoop her up after she stumbles in her May Queen raiment before the film’s final shot, but like so much Dani/Pelle content in the script, that doesn’t actually end up on film. The last we see of Pelle, he’s on his knees scream/crying as the Fire Temple burns, and the last we see of Dani...well, the last we see of Dani is the final, iconic shot of the film. Insane? Eh, maybe. She’s synced up with her new family and having her unholy affekts burned away. Probably should check back later for that one. Happy? Definitely. Ever after? Sure looks like. And why not? Girl got her wish.

Oh, but there’s one more topic we have not quite explored. The writing on the wall. And the ceilings and the tapestries and the clothes and the footwear and the decorative flourishes and the furniture and the tables and plinths and the...

For more, click on The Pelle/Dani Receipts Masterpost

[olivia-anderson-fanfic]

A Miraculous TikTok Account

Part 13

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Chloe sat on the bridge overlooking the river, her feet swinging absently as she watched bubbles streaming to the surface.

She’d love to help.

No, really. On top of just being bored out of her mind, she could also rub it in the other miraculous holders’ faces. That would be fun.

But, alas, things never worked out for her. Master Fu hadn’t whipped up a new batch of powerups quite yet, and even if he had she doubted that he would have given it to her of all people.

(Well, in all technicality they could go underwater and not die. The suits gave them some protection. But have you ever tried punching someone underwater? It’s quite the disadvantage.)

So, she settled for eating some ice cream and watching.

It was kind of fun, if she was being honest. She watched with bated breath, waiting for the occasional moments where Carapace would be thrown out of the water and hit a wall so hard it collapsed on him. He noticed her the third time this happened and now made a point to throw chunks of building at her every time.

Someone was in a bad mood. Who knows why. Couldn’t have anything to do with her, surely.

After about twenty minutes of fighting the buildings started mending themselves and she smiled as her ice cream reappeared in her hand.

Carapace jumped out of the water, a young woman in his arms. Once they were safely on land he detached her from the oxygen tank hidden in the shell on his back. If some of the water on her face wasn’t from the river, neither of them were going to say anything about it.

He walked over. Chloe thought he was just giving her some space to cry (the person looked foreign, if their confused frown was anything to go by), but then she saw the annoyance in the slight set of his jaw and she groaned mentally. Great. She was going to get chewed out again.

“Thanks so much for your help, Chloe --”

“Queenie or Queen Bee when we’re on the job, remember?”

He raised his eyebrows before shrugging and continuing on like he hadn’t heard her: “-- were you here to just watch and laugh?”

She scoffed. “No, that was just a fun little bonus.” She handed him the newly reformed ice cream. “I came here to take the akuma home. Didn’t know she was foreign, though.”

That made him pause, his previously annoyed expression quickly changing to a more confused one. “Wait, really?”

“Yeah?”

“You wanted to help me? You?”

“... yeah?” Said Chloe, crossing her arms over her chest. He was clearly looking for some sort of ulterior motive in her eyes, and she figured she’d give him one because she didn’t know how long she could stand to have him look stunned about her doing something mildly nice. “I feel like I owe everyone one for getting us all into this mess.”

He didn’t seem fully convinced (was he really that surprised that she was a decent person? She was a hero! It was her job!), but he let the subject go.

“Thanks, Queenie.”

She smiled a little. “Your ice cream is melting.”

“Damn it --!”

She snickered and walked over to the foreigner, who was just now coming out of their shock.

“Hey!”

The foreigner stared at her for a few minutes before whispering a: “What happened?”

“Um...”

What was the official spiel? Dang. She wracked her brain, trying to remember anything from the many hour long session where Master Fu had drilled it into all of them. Maybe she shouldn’t have slept through it.

“You got turned into a monster by an evil butterfly because we have a magical super terrorist.”

The lady stared at her for a few seconds before laughing and shaking her head. “Okay, what actually happened?”

Chloe gave her a shrug. “I don’t know. You fell in the water and my friend got you out.”

She jerked her head towards Carapace, who was casually eating the ice cream on a nearby bench and not going to class like she’d expected but whatever.

The foreigner nodded. “Yeah, I am a bit clumsy. Why’re you dressed like that?”

Chloe looked down at herself and hesitated. Usually her dad wanted them to say that they were filming a movie so they would still get tourists, but Nadja Chamack wasn’t there to make it sound realistic (no one wants to watch still water on the news for 10+ minutes), so…

“My friend and I cosplay.”

“Oh! Cool!” Said the foreigner. “Thanks for helping me! Hope your outfit didn’t get too damaged!”

After Carapace assured her that it was fine, she relaxed. They gave her directions to her hotel and watched her leave.

He cracked a grin once he was sure the foreigner was gone. “Maybe there’s something in the Paris air that makes people stupid. I still can’t believe anyone actually falls for that.”

“The alternative is believing there's a guy who’s going around with evil butterflies. I’d believe anything over that.”

“America has superheroes and stuff, too, y’know.”

“Yeah, but the heroes are adults and the villains actually show up.”

He sighed. “Lucky them.”

Chloe couldn’t help but agree.

He polished off his ice cream. When asked, she turned away so he could detransform and put his mask on. She didn’t know why he bothered detransforming when he was still wearing a green hoodie as a civilian. What was the point? Did he really want the sleeves back that badly?

Whatever. She detransformed as well.

“Ready to head home?”

“For someone who was so annoyed about leaving class, you don’t seem all that eager to go back to it,” said Chloe, crossing her arms over her chest as they started on their way.

He raised an eyebrow at her, unimpressed. “The excuse I used isn’t one that would let me go back. Or, at least, if I did everyone in class would think I was a terrible friend.”

She nodded her understanding.

“Thanks for trying, though.”

She chanced a look back and scoffed a little at the soft smile on his face. “Don’t expect anything like that again. I just owed you.”

The look melted into a cheeky grin. “Well, actually, you didn’t actually do anything to help, so don’t you still owe me?”

“... no? I gave you ice cream. Debt gone. That's how it works.”

“Okay, but it was previously eaten ice cream.”

“Like you can tell the difference.”

He rested a hand over his heart. “I happen to have a very refined palette, thank you very much.”

“I’ve seen you eat pickles with peanut butter.”

“You’ve dipped a burger in honey!”

“I have an excuse,” she reminded him. “What’s yours?”

He was silent for a moment. There was no excuse for pickles and peanut butter.

“... you still owe me.”

“No, I don’t!”

Would you believe me if I said that they continued debating this the entire twenty minute walk home?

And maybe even a little bit afterwards?

~

Chloe glanced out the window. It was nearing October, and…

“Hey, guys, we need to use these vegetables before they go out of season.”

Chat looked up from where he was watching a cartoon. Rena stopped doing pushups.

(Ladybug was on patrol and Carapace was doing homework in his room. Unfortunate, because now both of the people assigned the role of ‘group impulse control’ were absent.)

“What even uses a lot of vegetables?” Rena said.

“Salad,” said Chat with a knowing nod.

“Ew,” said Chloe, shaking her head. She stared at everything they had, a tiny frown playing on her lips, then snapped her fingers. “Salsa uses vegetables, right? Let’s just make a bunch of that.”

There were a lot of vegetables, but hey! More for them.

Rena went back to doing pushups. “Sure. Just make sure it isn’t white people stuff. Try asking for the recipe in Spanish.”

“Smart. Chat, can you look it up? I have dirt on my hands.”

Chat groaned as if she were asking him to do some great task and then stretched for his phone on the coffee table. He refused to leave the couch, so he ended up with his feet hooked over the arm of the couch for support as he stretched himself to the phone. He broke into a wide grin when he finally managed to grab it and then pulled himself back onto the couch.

It was probably more effort than just getting up a bit to grab it then sitting back down, but whatever.

He started typing, then he paused. “You guys know the Spanish word for salsa?”

Silence stretched between them as the two women looked at each other, trying to gauge whether or not he’d actually just asked that. Chat was steadily sinking into the couch as if hoping it would swallow him whole.

“The… the spanish word for salsa?” Repeated Rena.

“It -- I -- shut up!” He said. “Do you want salsa or not?”

Chloe snickered. “Sure. Can I see the recipe?”

He showed it to her and she squinted for a minute at all the words. Were some of them similar to French words? Yes. Was she completely sure about anything? Not at all.

She briefly considered asking Chat to translate everything for her, but she couldn’t. Not after she’d laughed at him for temporarily forgetting that salsa is salsa. He’d at least known the word for ‘recipe’ in Spanish, he had that over her.

Whatever. She’d guess. She’d had salsa before, surely that was enough to figure it out.

She started picking vegetables and after making sure to wash them off properly, they were set to start cooking.

Rena raised her eyebrows at the sink full of vegetables, opened her mouth to say something, snapped it shut. Her lips curved into a fox-like grin.

“What is it? I don’t like that smile,” said Chloe. She could feel that Rena was getting mischievous, she just couldn’t figure out why.

“Ah, don’t worry,” said Rena, waving her off as she pulled on an apron.

This worried Chloe more, but whatever.

“We don’t have a food processor or a blender, what do we do?” Said Chat, his eyes scanning the recipe.

“Just cut them real thin. It’ll be fine,” said Chloe with a vague wave of her hand.

She had a lot of confidence for someone who had never been in a kitchen in her life.

… It went great. Obviously.

The resident rich kids actually had been trying to be helpful, which kind of makes their failures worse in a way.

Chloe had been cutting tomatoes with the dull end of the knife for ten minutes before Rena had thought to look over and turn it around.

Chat had thought that it would be a good idea to chop jalapenos before onions and had rubbed jalapeno juice in his eye while trying to stop crying, which had not helped.

While Chat was attempting to get that out of his eyes without actually touching them, Chloe had taken up cutting onions. It was harder than she’d thought it’d be. The onion kept falling apart no matter how hard she tried to hold it together.

Chat had come back, eyes irritated and red, and started trying to cut tomatoes. This would have been fine if he could actually see the seeds enough to get them out.

… it was at this point that Rena had made them go sit down so she could just cook without a disaster happening every few seconds. She may have liked mayhem, but she actually wanted to eat some of the food they were working so hard for, so it was in her best interest to get them to just sit down at the kitchen table and watch.

A good while later Rena walked over. “I finished. Want to see?” She asked, her voice a little wobbly, as if she was on the verge of laughter.

Chloe squinted suspiciously at her before looking at the counter.

Ah. So that was what Rena’s mischievous smile had meant earlier.

They might have made about seven mixing bowls full of salsa (actually, it was more pico de gallo if you consider consistency, but that’s neither here nor there).

Chat groaned quietly. “Well, I hope Ladybug and Carapace really like salsa.”

“We don’t.”

The three problem children looked up to see Ladybug and Carapace leaning in the doorframe. Ladybug looked like she was fighting back her amusement, Carapace just looked tired.

Ladybug managed to pull herself back to her normal formalness as she crossed her arms over her chest. “According to the internet, salsa goes bad in about a week. I do expect that you won’t waste any.”

“Please help,” said a slightly distressed Rena. Their diets were SCREWED.

“Nope. This was your mistake,” said Carapace.

Oh, so NOW he has a backbone?

Ladybug gave Rena a cold look. “You should have told them.”

“... it was my miraculous’s fault.”

“Unfortunate,” said Carapace, unamused. He looked at the bowls on the counter and shook his head with a sigh. “Guess I need to go buy some tortilla chips for everyone.”

~~~

Taglist

@nathleigh @mialuvscats @sassakitty @th1s-1s-my-aesthet1c @blueslushgueen @woe-is-me0 @ladybug-182 @cas-and-their-refusal-to-write

[insomniamamma]

Liminal: Ezra and Cee

A/N: Contemporary AU in which Ezra becomes his niece, Cee's caretaker after an automobile accident kills his brother, Damon, and costs him his arm. Same AU as "Ferris wheels are for old people." No reader insert character, just Ezra and Cee on the road. Written for @autumnleaves1991-blog​ ‘s Writer’s Wednesday.

Warnings: Mentions of past trauma/injury. Drug references in a song. Some language. I tried to research body powered transhumeral prosthetics to get some idea of how Ezra's prosthetic arm might work, but then I fell into an overthinking morass, any inaccuracies are mine.

"Willin'" is written by Lowell George. The version referenced in the story is recorded by Linda Ronstadt.

lim·i·nal /ˈlimənl/

adjective: liminal

   1.relating to a transitional or initial stage of a process.    2.occupying a position at, or on both sides of, a boundary or threshold.

--"Willin'"--

          "’... been warped by the rain, driven by the snow,’" Cee sings along with the music rattling through the truck's speakers, "I'm drunk and dirty, don't you know. But I'm still willin'..."

        The road stretches long and straight in front of them, harsh, rust-colored land dotted with scrub under the arc of an impossibly blue sky. Ezra asked Cee to compile the playlist. You are my co-pilot for this mission, he'd told her, and as such your duties include, but are not limited to, navigator, snack supervisor and DJ. DJ? Really? Make us a playlist, Little Bird, every adventure needs some good road music. And she had really delivered.          "’...Out on the road late last night, I'd see my pretty Alice in every headlight, Alice, Dallas Alice...’"  Ezra'd expected hours of auto-tuned pop or loud screamy music where he couldn't understand the words, and while there was some of that, Cee had taken her duties as DJ very seriously, creating a huge genre-bending list that all worked together.

     He knew a lot of it. When he was still weird Uncle Ezra and not Legal Guardian Ezra, Cee made a habit of pawing through his vinyl collection when she and Damon would visit, picking a record to play and then peppering him with questions about it. Still, some of the tracks she picked surprised him, like this one, Linda Ronstadt's version of "Willin'" a road trip anthem if there ever was one, but something he didn't expect Cee to be familiar with.  On their first go through the playlist, he'd asked her, where'd you hear this one, Birdie? You remember that movie, The Abyss? It's in that movie, the director's cut though, not the theatrical cut, the theatrical cut is bullshit--and he'd just listened to her go off about all the things wrong with the theatrical cut, the movie itself he barely remembered, something about divers finding aliens underwater, he'd listened and grinned, Cee could go so quiet sometimes. It was always a relief to hear her sound alive and interested, especially after--          "’And I've been from Tucson to Tucumcari," Cee sings and Ezra joins her, "Tehachapi to Tonopah...’" Cee's voice is sweet. Ezra's voice is not, but that's never stopped him. They've got the windows down. The AC started smelling funny a couple days ago, and, in this part of the world, a breeze to evaporate the sweat is just as good as AC. Cee's hair makes a flyaway halo as they sing--          "’Driven every kind of rig that's ever been made, Driven the backroads so I wouldn't get weighed. And if you give me...’" Ezra and Cee smile at each other, suck in deep breaths for the big chorus, "’...Weed, whites and wine, and you show me a sign...And I'll be willin' to be movin'"

--Petroglyph--

       The rust colored forms on pale stone walls peer out at them. Some loom large in the foreground, others recede into the background as if the weathered rock is a portal a window into some other place that lives just below the skin of the world. The back of Ezra's neck prickles. Sometimes the world is thin. Sometimes he feels as if there is a larger world moving and shifting beneath the surface of this one. Sometimes he feels like things are happening out of order, reality stripping and skipping like a loose bicycle chain--        Cee's warm hand creeps into his, "They're a little scary, aren't they?" She says.        "Indeed they are," says Ezra, "One has to wonder what they were thinking. What they were trying to say. Are these gods in these pictures? Or just regular men?"        "Does it matter?" Asks Cee, and he jerks his head to look at her. She is utterly entranced by the red figures and sigils.        "Of course it does," he says, "You don't think so?"        "I mean, it matters, I guess, but what matters more is that people made these," she says, "People like us. People with hands. Not that Ancient Aliens bullshit." Ezra laughs. Cee squeezes his hand.        "C'mon," she says, "let's see more."

--Rest Stop--

       "Hey MOM!," a child's voice snaps Ezra out of his reverie. Cee is in the truck stop, using the restroom and restocking their snack supply. At these stops he fuels up and then gives her some cash and sets her loose inside. And then they stretch their legs and sit outside for a spell. Ezra sits at a picnic bench letting the sun hit his closed eyelids, "MOM! That guy's got a ROBOT ARM! Like WINTER SOLDIER!" Ezra opens his eyes to a little boy, maybe four with a bunch of curly hair and big eyes, pointing at him.        "Daniel!" His mother hisses, and pinches at his arm, "That's rude. I'm so sorry. Danny, what did I tell you about staring--"        "Ma'am? It's quite alright, Ma'am," says Ezra, and hunkers down so he's eye level with the little boy.        "Hi there," he says, "Daniel, is it? I'm Ezra." He offers his right arm, the double hook at the end open, titanium alloy padded with silicone. Daniel solemnly grips the hooks and shakes.        "You've got stickers!" Says Daniel, and for a second Ezra is confused, and then he grins, looking down at the bedecked black plastic of his prosthesis. He stands.        "My girl decided that I must have a sticker for every state we stop in," says Ezra, he stands and smiles at Daniel's mom, "Like an old steamer trunk. I'm afraid I didn't catch your name--"        Cee steps out of the air-conditioned cavern of the truck stop, slits her eyes against the brightness of midday sun glittering up from the concrete, plastic bags full of crap-snacks and energy drinks threaded over her arms. Ezra handed her a couple twenties and told her to go nuts. Re-supply runs have turned into their own sort of game. She always grabs the usual stuff, chips and Snickers bars and Paydays (Ezra has an absolute weakness for Paydays. They don't taste like they used to, he'd griped, but that didn't stop him from eating them), but somewhere along the line, Cee decided to turn this into a battle of the wills. Her unspoken mission is to find something so utterly weird at one of these stops that Ezra won't eat it. So far, she has been unsuccessful. The closest thing was an aloe juice and cucumber drink that smelled amazing, but felt like swallowing cold snot. That one was a draw. She has high hopes for the dill pickle-sriracha gummy worms nestled in the bottom of the bag. The packaging looked like Christmas in hell. More important than the snacks is the plain, flat paper bag she holds.                                                                                     Ezra's near the picnic benches chattering at some lady with a kid. Menace, she thinks, but smiles. Ezra was always the extrovert before, and it's good to him smiling so big and open in the sunshine, making friends with random people at a truck stop. She sees an echo of her and him before, when she and Dad would visit when she was small and he'd tell her some outrageous tale and she'd say Uncle Ezra, you're so weird, and he'd scoop her up and swing her around, planting a prickly kiss on her cheek and saying oh, little bird, you have no idea, and this always made Dad laugh.

       "Oh, Ez-ra," Cee calls, and when he turns, he sees her devilish grin, holding a small brown paper bag up beside her face like it's contraband, "Look what I found."         "So I get to witness the sacred stickering?" Asks Ezra's new friend.        "Indeed you do," says Ezra, "This is Cee. Cee, meet Jody, and that little man playing in the dirt there is Daniel."        "Nice to meet you," says Cee, "Stick your arm out, old man."        "Don't you want to document this momentous occasion?"        "Oh, right," Cee pulls out her phone, "Hey, uh, miss Jody? Can you take some video? I got it all set up."        "Cee is documenting our adventures for posterity," says Ezra. He extends his prosthetic, already covered in overlapping ovoids, enough that they are starting to resemble dragon scales, "What do you think?" Cee and Daniel circle round.        "How bout here?" asks Daniel, tapping just above the articulated elbow.        "That's a good spot," says Cee and peels the sticker from it's backing with a flourish. She smiles up at her phone recording in a stranger's hand, "We have now infiltrated the state of Nevada," she grins, "Evil-doers beware."        "Yeah!" Says the little boy, pudgy hands planted on his hips for the benefit of the camera, "Or Winter Soldier will KICK YOUR ASS!"        "Daniel!"

--Stars--

       Cee wakes in the dead of night, disoriented, a darkness so thick that for a moment she's not sure where she is, and then she hears Ezra's rhythmic snoring off to her side, reaches out and brushes fabric of the tent and lays back, puzzled, muscles pleasantly sore from a day spent scrabbling up and down eroded granite boulders that looked like they belonged on Mars or Tatooine, walking trails and marveling at the strange ecology of the high-desert, so unlike back home. Bad dream? She wonders, probably. She feels her eyes getting heavy, feels herself lulled by Ezra's sleep sounds, snores punctuated by mumbles. Sometimes full sentences, his side of whatever dream-conversation he's having. Probably has no idea he does it--        Cee sits bolt upright, hands clutched in fists against her chest, a high-pitched wail cuts the cold night, a sound like a woman screaming, and another wail threads through the first, so loud it could be right outside the tent, and then a sound like gruesome laughter. The back of her neck prickles and her heart pounds in her throat. She tells herself that it's just some wild animal making noise, some desert bird maybe, but wasn't the California desert the last known home of the Manson family? Maybe not this desert, but still--        "Ezra," she hisses, and he mumbles something incoherent, "Ezra, wake up!" She reaches and pokes him hard, "Ezra!"        "Whazzit birdie?"        "Listen!" The screams rise and fall again like something from a horror movie.        "s'just coyotes," says Ezra, "probly next county over. They don't hurt people, they're just loud."        "You sure?"        "Go back to sleep, Cee."

       "Ezra," He's dreaming, some place with Joshua trees the size of skyscrapers, spiked limbs under a red sky. Cee's with him somewhere in the bloodlight but he can't see her, just hears her calling--        "Ezra!" He blinks awake, the red sky receding. Cee is shaking him.        "Yuh. M'awake birdie,"        "I gotta pee," she says.        "You know where the outhouses are, just right down the trail,"        "I'm not going by myself! Not with those things out there!" Ezra pushes himself up and shakes his head, blinking the sleep from his eyes. He can just make out Cee's form against the faint light of the sky leaking through the tent.        "Alright, just gimme a second," he says.        "I'll get the light,"        "We don't need it," he says.        "Ez-"        "We got night eyes now," he says, "No light pollution out here. You'll see."

       Ezra stands transfixed in the chill dark, head cocked upward. The more he looks, the more he can see. More stars than he's ever seen in his life spread across the vast inverted bowl of the sky, no summer haze out here, no light-wash from streetlights. He is dizzy with it, the vast sweep of the sky, and as he stares and his eyes adjust further, he can see the arm of the Milky Way angled across the black, can actually see the dark band of dust threaded through the silver-blue light. He doesn't hear the outhouse door shutting, doesn't notice Cee beside him until she folds his hand into hers.        "Look up, Little Bird," he breathes and it feels like a prayer, his heart suddenly full, squeezing in his chest, Cee small and warm next to him.        "Oh, wow," she says, barely a whisper, "That's the Milky Way isn't it?" Tears blur the stars and fall hot against his cheeks.        "It is." He looks at her, her face upturned, cheeks and hair frosted in star shine, limning her eyes, her smile. They've lost so much, him and Cee, but they've gained each other, and that's not nothing is it?        "We're so small," says Cee, "Us. People. This whole planet. All of us. We're just a little dot." Ezra smiles in the dark, even as tears dry in his lashes. He squeezes her fingers in his.        "C'mon, let's get back in the tent before we freeze."

--Hoodoo--

       Cee sleeps in the passenger's seat. She'd helped break camp and pack everything up even though it was early for her. They had spent an extra night in Joshua Tree and now had to make up the difference. It's time to go home. There are things he wants to do before Cee goes back to school, things they need to take care of. So he woke them early, promising Cee that she could sleep in the car as long as she needed. She'd helped him get ready, half-peeling a couple candy bars and putting them were he could easily reach.        "You want the playlist?" She asked, "I can get it going."        "Not right now. I want some quiet."          “'Kay," and Cee was asleep before they were to the next mile marker.

       Hoodoos rise on either side of the highway, striated red cliffs against the slowly lightening sky, cut into improbable formations by long gone rivers, thin spires topped with boulders, first glints of sun hitting the higher cliffs while everything else still exists in that liminal space between day and night. Ezra glances over at Cee, hair in a messy halo, face slack in sleep, cheeks sun-reddened and newly freckled, closed eyes moving, dreaming. Ezra thinks of those first days, wracked with pain and trying to navigate the new, dark-shrowded territory of her and him, each of them crippled by loss, each willing to lash out at the other. Ezra thinks of how far they've come since then, uncurling like relaxing fists and learning to be with each other. They drive into the dawn and the first bit of light touches her hair, turning it to fire. She shifts in her sleep, turning away from that first hint of sun. He doesn't know if she's awake or not.        "I love you, Cee."        "Love you to, Ez," she murmurs and settles back into sleep. Ezra looks out over hoodoo country spread red tinged and stark against the rising light, the miles of road ahead. We're gonna be ok, he thinks and means it.

[buckaroosboogara]

911 week - Day 2:

“Why are you sitting in a tree?” + fun 

@911week

(1900~ words, Eddie, Hen, Karen and Buck.)

Eddie explained his plan to Karen. It was easy, two swings hanging from a simple wooden structure and another hanging from a branch of the only tree in their, very beautiful in Eddie's opinion, backyard.

Of course, things had to go wrong the day before he went to the Wilson's place and arranged the swings. With wrong being Buck knowing his little secret.

He would be the death of Eddie.

Hen had accidentally slipped it in a conversation at the station.

She said that Denny and Nia wanted a new swing because the one in their house was old and worn out and then Buck had jumped with an anecdote about how he ended up with 5 stitches on his lips because a swing had crashed into them as Chim just shook his head with fond disappointment.

Eddie though, Eddie just thought that maybe a surprise visit to Hen's place wouldn't be a bad idea.

Later that day he messaged Karen, asking if he could swing by, no pun intended, in a moment when Hen wasn't around because he wanted to talk with her. Karen agreed, she always liked the mystery.

So, some days later and with the excuse to take Chris to a sleepover at the Wilson's, Eddie explained his plan to Karen. It was easy, two swings hanging from a simple wooden structure and another hanging from a branch of the only tree in their, very beautiful in Eddie's opinion, backyard.

Karen was thrilled with the idea and she offered to pay but Eddie declined it. He would gift it to his friends, after the hell year that was 2020 they deserved a nice surprise.

He had to be quiet about it though. If he told Buck he would tell Bobby and Maddie, who would tell Athena and Chimney who would tell Hen (the latter rather than the police Sergeant) and he didn't want that.

With Karen's okay he sketched the structure and made a note to himself to go and ask for an estimated budget at his to-go hardware store next time he went to his Abuela's.

So there he was, a week later.

"Hey Eddie," the store manager, Nico friendly greeted him.

"Hey Nico," He said back.

"It's good to see you here again, does Isabel's fence need another repair?" And without a beat, Nico reasoned, "No, no it's only been a month since the last repair. So it has to be paint for the deck? See, I can lower the price for you if you buy more tha-

"Uh, I came here for another reason Nic," Eddie chuckled after cutting him. "I was wondering if you could make a budget for this..."

He showed Nico the rough sketch and the materials he needed and the other man smiled.

"Ah, I see. I have some of the things you need, but the poles will be another story. I can recommend you a lumber company to get the wood." Nico said, taking the paper and looking for appropriate screws and ropes.

"That would be amazing, thanks."

"And while I do that, tell me how did that skateboard thing for your kid go,"

Eddie smiled and unlocked his phone to show him the pictures Carla had taken of that day.

"Well..."

...

Of course, things had to go wrong the day before he went to the Wilson's place and arranged the swings in their backyard.

Well, wrong would be exaggerating. More like things didn't stay as quiet as Eddie wanted.

He had just woken up on Saturday for a shift, his mind a groggy and grumpy mess until the coffee hit his lips, so he was in the kitchen trying to make his old coffeemaker work.

He really needed a new one, Eddie thought just as he heard a key on his doorlock and then said door opening.

His mind just assumed, oh it's just Buck.

OH, IT'S BUCK.

Eddie's mind got a moment of clarity. 

He could hear Buck taking his shoes off and ranting an excuse for being there so early as he helplessly looked around his dining and living room, both full of ropes, screws, papers, and God-knows-what-else.

He needed to clean everything but he did not have time.

"Hey, are you hearing me, man?" Buck said as he stepped into Eddie who was in the middle of the room looking like a deer caught in headlights, only wearing underwear and a t-shirt and lots of things on his hands.

He snorted and started laughing loudly while Eddie blushed hard.

"Oh, oh- please, what the-" Buck tried to talk but got cut by a wave of laughter that had him letting go of the box with pastries he had brought and held his belly and chest.

Eddie's embarrassment turned into slight annoyance. He tried to place his hands - and the things - lower so he could cover his underwear, and then cleared his throat. "Are you finished or you will laugh for the next five minutes?"

"I'm- I'm sorry man, it's just that-" Buck cleared his throat to stop the laughter and get serious. It didn't work as he snorted again.

Eddie gave him a look.

"Okay, okay," Buck breathed in slowly picking the pastry box again. "So, what's up with all this mess?"

"Dios, dame paciencia." Eddie muttered as he placed the things back on the couch. "Okay so, A, I'm so glad Christopher is at a sleepover because I'm sure the neighbors could hear you laughing. B, this is my house so I ask the questions darling which takes me to D,"

He stopped to take a breath. "What the fuck are you doing here so early?"

"Has anyone told you you have a damn good pulmonary capacity?" The other man asked.

"Buck."

"Okay, I was passing by to pick you up to go to our shift." Buck shrugged. Eddie knew there was more to it but let it go.

"Now go and put on some proper clothes and then answer what's going on with all this and the poles outside. I'll be here preparing a breakfast-to-go."

Eddie begrudgingly accepted and went to his room and changed clothes.

On their way, Eddie explained Buck his plans for the swings. They were arriving at the firehouse when he made Buck promise he wouldn't tell anyone about it.

And the other man put a condition, Eddie would call him if he needed help the next day.

Eddie rolled his eyes and agreed, while he had experience building things with his father he knew Buck equaled his experience.

Now he needed to survive a shift with Buck trying to keep a secret.

Great.

...

Things didn't go as bad as Eddie thought they would go.

The next day when Hen arrived at the firehouse for her shift, Eddie greeted her and Buck was vibrating suspiciously when it was his turn.

Hen quirked an eyebrow at Eddie who made his best effort to seem normal and shrugged. She made a weird face in return and let them walk away.

Once in Buck's Jeep both let out a breath they didn't know were holding. The drive to Eddie's place was filled with an excited air.

A quick morning nap was all it took for Eddie to recharge batteries and soon enough he was on his truck, poles, ropes, and tools in the trunk, and on his way to pick up his son from his Abuela and then to Hen and Karen's house.

Their garden was a view that always made Eddie's breath hitch.

Karen had an excellent hand for plants, unlike Eddie.

She had climbing plants and trees on their fences to keep away nosey neighbors, a garden of blooming roses and another with tulips, and a mini forest of growing trees in flower pots filling the place with a cool air that was much needed in the Californian summer.

Almost in the middle, there was a medium-sized oak where he was planning to hang a swing.

He put his hands to work and decided to start taking the poles out of the trunk and onto the backyard.

Of course, when he almost got crushed to the ground by one of the poles he called Buck, and in the meantime, he took his tools to the garden and climbed the tree to start attaching the rope.

The youngest firefighter arrived some minutes later, scanning the place until he found Eddie.

“Why are you sitting in a tree?” Buck asked, his head inclined to get a better look.

"Maybe because a swing is going to hang from here, but you already knew that." Eddie answered back struggling to stay seated.

"Be kind and pass me that rope?" He pointed at a rope on the floor right under him.

"Sure."

Hours passed, the tree swing was ready and strong enough to support Buck so it was safe for kids, and the support structure of the other two was almost done.

Karen invited them to go inside and eat some sandwiches the kids had helped her make for them.

"Oh, Buck these don't have pickles. I know you don't like them." Karen pointed at the ones on the left side of the plate and Buck felt warmth spreading inside him because she remembered.

Buck ignored Eddie's teasing look and moaned at the taste of the ham and cheese sandwich. "Oh my God, this is awesome Karen." 

"Is this homemade bread?" Eddie asked before Karen could say they were just sandwiches.

They were heavenly sandwiches.

"Yeah, we learned to do it during the lockdown." She answered, smiling proudly. "How's the project going?"

"On track and almost done. We just need to put the swings on the upper pole and then attach it to the supports, we put it straight, and ta-dah! Ready to have lots of fun!" Buck smiled with his hands shaking on either side of his face.

"You did it faster than I thought." Karen commented. "And tomorrow you two will come after Hen's done with her after-work nap. You have no excuse."

"Yes ma'am." Eddie answered as the other man nodded.

"Great. Oh and, thanks again. I appreciate it."

"Nonsense, it's our pleasure to do this. You are family." Eddie assured.

...

"What's this surprise you're telling me about?" Hen asked Karen the next day, as she hugged her from behind.

"Good morning darling." Karen answered while she turned around to kiss her, purposely avoiding the question.

"Please?" Hen teased.

"Well-" Karen was cut by a squeal and many laughs from their backyard. Hen tried to look outside but she grabbed her hand to have her attention.

"Come with me."

And so she did.

The last thing Hen imagined to see when the door opened was Denny, Nia, and Chris playing in the swings with Eddie and Buck taking care of them and having as much fun as the kids, but there they were.

"Surprise!" They all exclaimed.

"What in the-" Hen gasped as she walked into the garden with wide eyes. "Eddie? Buck? What are you doing here? What is this?"

Eddie chuckled as he got closer to the couple, "And here I thought it looked like swings and not just a mess."

"How?" Hen asked breathlessly.

"Well, it was all Eddie's idea." Buck added from the swings, watching the kids.

"Really?"

Now Eddie was blushing slightly, "Yeah. I heard you some weeks ago in the firehouse and I thought it would be fun to do it."

"Oh Eddie, I love it." Hen got out of her shock and hugged the man tightly. "Thanks. It means more than what you think."

"I'm glad you like it because there are no refunds!" Eddie chuckled, still in the hug. "And I know."

He let go of her and stepped aside, watching the kids enjoy the new swings.

Eddie let out a contented sigh. "I know."

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

She [3]

Warnings: non-consent sex (series)

This is dark! Steve and explicit. 18+ only.

Series Synopsis: Steve Rogers’ life is turned upside down by a reporter.

Chapter Summary: The reader finds herself at the center of even more unwanted attention

Note: This is a slow slow creep but that’s always the best kind. Thanks everyone who is reading this. The series is in full 10 chapters and they are all DONE! So we will have a smooth ride from here on out.

Thanks to everyone for their patience and feedback. :)

I really hope you enjoy. 💋

<3 Let me know what you think with a like or reblog or reply or an ask! Love ya!

Reader

The morning was more hectic than any before. There was a brief lull, right after the story drop. The long wait for the verdict. Was it a hit or a flop? You sat at your desk, typing away at your latest assignment. Nothing so glorious as the famous super soldier. Merely a fluff piece on a local foundation for children in need. The usual fare.

Then it began. The comment section on the article was overwhelming and the coverage of the printed article was just as fervent. The Google alerts on your phone threatened to drain the battery and the stationary phone on your desk began to flash. You answered.

“My office. Now.” Poppy’s demand was followed by a click.

You stood and tucked your cell up your blazer sleeve. You knocked on her transparent door and she waved you in as she remained sitting. One leg was crossed over the other as she leaned back and swiveled back and forth.

“Do you know what you’ve done?” She asked. Your eyes rounded. “You’ve set the world on fire. I have been on the phone all morning and who do you think I’ve been talking about?”

“I don’t--” You began.

“You. And Steve Rogers.” She trilled. “Even heroes must be mindful of the press.”

“What do you--?”

“Tell me haven’t been divulging in all that praise, hun,” She chimed. “What are you working on right now?”

“Um, well, I just went down the Centre for Advocacy and Assistance and I’m--”

“Drop it. Throw it on an intern’s desk,” She interrupted again. “You’ll be much too busy for that.”

“What do you mean?” You stood just behind the acrylic chair.

“Interviews!” She almost shouted. “Everyone wants to know what it was like to face down Captain America.”

“Interviews? No, no. It wasn’t like that.”

“You know what you wrote,” She jabbed a pointed nail in the air. “I think you might be as hot a commodity as he is.”

“I don’t want to be interviewed.” You said. “I’m a reporter. I don’t--”

“This is an opportunity,” She insisted. 

“It’s one article. I can’t just depend on that.” You said.

“Think about it.” She said. “Even so, clear out your desk. We’re moving you to the features department. I hope you know what that means.”

You nodded. That was a win at least.

“Long hours. Better pay.” She leaned an arm on her desk. “But it’s hard work. One wrong pitch and your back down to blurbs.”

“I know,” You assured her. “Thank you.”

“Thank me if you make it a year,” She adjusted her glasses. “And keep those eyes open. You might not want the attention, but you’re going to get it.”

🖋️

You headed out for your usual midweek lunch. As you stepped out the front doors, you were surprised by a lens. In your effort to find the card to collect stamps for your sandwiches, you stumbled and your bag fell to the pavement. You knelt to gather the scattered contents and quickly righted yourself.

You flitted past the photographer as he called after you. “Miss, miss, are you afraid of Steve Rogers?”

You rolled your eyes at the question and dipped into the sandwich shop. You got your usual turkey club on rye but not to go. Instead, you ate in, still on edge at your run-in. As a member of the press, it was startling to get a taste of the other side. You were determined in your work, but never the one to unnecessarily hound a subject.

You wiped your mouth and sat back as you checked the time. You wondered how bad it was for him. You had underestimated yourself; your article. You had ignored Poppy’s prediction that the article would be a best-seller and let your self-doubt get the best of you. And now, it was all a mess.

You hadn’t meant to villianize Steve Rogers, merely humanise him. To make him more than the man behind the perfect smile and golden hair. You thought a glimpse into his internal dilemma would be grounding, not ostracizing. You were wildly mistaken.

You tidied up and threw away your garbage. You set off back to work and passed another photographer, her curly hair barely contained under a wool cap.

“Miss, why did you smear Steve Rogers?” She asked as you tried your best to ignore her. “Can you confirm--”

You hurried through the front doors and tripped on your own foot as you entered the lobby. You cursed under your breath and caught the elevator before it could close. Your bag shook as your phone began to dance once more. You cringed and gripped the slender strap of your purse. You didn’t feel too sorry for yourself, you were sure it was much worse for him.

🖋️

The rest of your day dragged on. You were greeted by the same probing photographers but evaded them in the subway. The crowded train had you even more on edge than usual. You kept your eyes on the phone, your notifications muted but for your work e-mail. You played the little farming game as you waited for your stop.

The same walk as any other day. Short but it saw the sky greying by the time you reached your building. Your keys jingled with the overzealous keychains and attachments, an empty bottle of sanitizer clung to the mess.

You climbed up the stairs, one at a time. The wood was old and warped beneath the mats. Your door jammed and you fought the thick barrier until you forced your way inside. You flipped on the lights and locked the door behind you. You kicked off your shoes and dropped your purse. You wriggled out of your blazer and stretched as you looked around the cramped space.

You went to the buzzing refrigerator and pulled out your leftover shawarma plate from the night before and a can of sparkling water. You popped open the styrofoam and took out your phone. You leaned on the counter and at the chicken and rice cold and scraped up the last of the pickled turnip and cabbage.

Poppy wanted you in early the next morning. That couldn’t be good. Your junk box was quickly filling too as you redirected e-mails from your cohorts asking for statements and explanations. You didn’t feel the need or desire to justify what you wrote. It was the truth.

You thought of how quickly the meeting with Steve Rogers had turned tense. The mere mention of his old friend was enough to rile him but you had continued to poke. Well, that was your job. To follow the scent until you could latch onto the sinew of a story.

You tossed the container and went to the couch. You turned on the television and stretched out. You listened to the re-run of an early 00s sitcom and your eyes slowly closed. You were exhausted and expected to be more so after tomorrow. You only hoped the news cycle spat you out sooner than later.

You turned onto your side as the breeze rattled the fire escape outside your window. You switched the channel as the credits rolled and yawned against the pillow. As tired as you were, you knew you’d spend too much of your night on the couch; wakeless and watching episodes you’d seen a dozen times before.

🖋️

You knew something was off as you walked into the office. It was earlier than your usual start time but several others were already at their desks. You wondered if a few had even left the night before. You passed your old desk and looked at your vibrating phone.

‘Where are you?’ Poppy’s text popped up and you didn’t even stop to stare at the shell of your former workspace.

You continued onto her office and froze as you peered through her transparent wall. A man stood by her desk, his back to you and a bald head with a crooked thin strap around it. His long leather jacket hung to his knees and Poppy sat upright as she watched him tinker with the hummingbird ornament she kept on the corner.

You held back a gasp and continued forward. You raised your fist to knock but Poppy caught the movement with her seafoam eyes. She pushed her glasses up her nose and waved you in impatiently. The man turned to watch as you entered.

“Hey?” You said confused. “What’s--”

“Ma’am,” The man interjected and looked back at Poppy. “This is her?”

Poppy nodded as her lips formed a thin line.

“Hello, I’m--”

“Nick Fury.” You finished for him. “And I assume you know who I am already.”

“I know who everyone is.” He assured you and held out his hand. You shook it and felt a crushing strength in his grip. “And you know why I’m here?”

“About the article but I don’t know what you would want from me.” You said.

Poppy’s eyes widened. You’d never seen her so rattled. It was usually her doing the rattling.

“A conversation.” He said. “I understand you must be busy but I’m certain you can spare me a couple minutes.”

“I guess,” You shrugged.

“If you find yourself too busy, I can return with a subpoena.” He offered.

“A subpoena? Really?” You blinked at him. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”

“I would agree,” He put a hand on his hip and you spied the sidearm there. Was that intentional? “Is there somewhere private we might talk?”

“Take the conference room,” Poppy offered. “Just over there.” She pointed through the wall.

Fury nodded and you turned back to the door. He followed, his boots heavy on the floor behind you. You led him to the conference room and he closed the door swiftly. You didn’t sit as he began to pace around the long table. You stayed by the wall and hugged your purse.

“Look, I don’t know what you want. The article’s already out there and I didn’t write anything by the truth.” You said nervously. “I can’t control how people react to--”

“You have the recording still?” He asked as he stopped sharply. You nodded. “Good. Can I listen?”

It wasn’t really a question. He stared you down with his single eye and you took out your phone. You searched the files and hit play. You set the phone on the table as it began. You listened silently as your voice began and Steve replied. 

The conversation filled the airy conference and Fury crossed his arms as he listened. He wasn’t happy as Steve’s tone deepened and his words turned venomous. You felt a chill roll along your spine. You’d almost forgotten how hateful he’d sounded. You felt as if he was there now, his eyes boring into you as his lip curled.

As it ended, Fury nodded and rubbed his chin.

“Well,” He snatched your phone off the table. “Thank you.”

“What?” You neared the table as he tucked your cell in his pocket. “Wait, that’s my phone. I need that!”

“Your phone? Under the authority of… well, me, I am seizing it.” He declared. “For your security and every one else.”

“You can’t be serious.” You huffed.

“I can’t have this leaking.” He said. “I hear Best Buy’s having a promotion on iPhone’s. Looks like you need an upgrade anyways.”

You frowned and kept your lips sealed. He didn’t need to know about your cloud back-up. You’d have enough time to download the file before he could find it for himself. You rolled your eyes.

“Is that it?” You asked.

“I got what I wanted, like I always do,” He said. “But there is one more thing.”

You watched him. He was worse than any nosy photographer or internet troll.

“I don’t take these things lightly. You’ve sidelined one of my best men and compromised my team.” He hooked his thumb in his pants pocket. “But we’ve taken note of you and we are always vigilant of our enemies.”

“Enemies?” You shook your head.

“I suggest you steer clear of any public statements,” He warned. “Or I would consider some legal representation in the near future.”

You squinted at him in disbelief. You rubbed your forehead, tired and unprepared for your early morning interrogation. You still had a full day ahead of you. 

“Are we done?” You uttered. “I know my work isn’t as important as yours but I do have a job.”

“For now,” He said. “The public has a short attention span, miss, I suggest you find a new subject soon.”

With that he rounded the table and left you in the conference room. You sighed and grabbed the back of a chair. What the fuck were going to do without your phone?

🖋️

With your back-up done and a five minutes crash course in being a features writer from a new cohort, you felt entirely lost. You hid the flash drive in your purse and headed out on the guise of research. No one seemed to care very much, they all just thought you were off to search out a pitch to keep hold of your new position.

What you were truly off to do was sit in line for one of only three mobile associates at the electronics shop. When it was finally your turn, you asked for the most affordable yet reliable option. You brushed away the offer for the latest Apple shill and walked out with something a lot more comfortable next to your wallet.

You dreaded a return to the office. You were thankful for your sudden step-up as it meant a longer leash. You could check in once a week at most as long as you presented something to explain your absence. You weren’t so concerned about that anyway. 

You were more worried about getting this phone set-up. Oh, and creating new accounts because as it was, Fury and his people now had every drop of info on you. That meant, at some point, you would have to visit IT and get a new ID. For now, you forwarded all your messages to your new private e-mail and stopped by the coffee shop around the corner from your building.

You hated this new normal. Not only did you have to be aware of those who thought they could jump on your cloud, but those who would label you an enemy of the people. You were certain Fury would be keeping tabs on you and judging by the influx of bings from your phone, you were fairly certain the blow back was building by the second.

You didn’t bother delving into the chaos of the comments section. People arguing with each other over your exposure of the heroes versus those who felt it was a betrayal and misrepresentation. You had never expected the spotlight to include you but you were centre stage alongside the American hero. You only assumed it was much worse for him.

You thought on what Fury said. ‘Sidelined’. Did that mean Steve Rogers was no longer an Avenger? Had he stepped down or been forced out? Hmm… you were tempted to dive down that rabbit hole but did the flames need any more fuel? And yet, it was your job to prod and poke at the vague. 

However, it would be better to steer away from that and not rely on that one trick. Besides, you didn’t truly think there was anything particularly deceptive about Steve or his associates. They were secretive only because they had to be. They were doing their jobs as you did yours.

You sat by the window and picked at the curled lip of the paper cup. What would you pitch then? If you couldn’t grasp onto your momentary high, you might find the way down steep. You leaned your chin in your hand and watched the steam rise. The door chimed and you kept your eyes on the dark brew.

Maybe it was best to move along and sniff out your next bone. It would help you forget about the mess you had created while keeping your career alive. The only thing you could do was move forward and hope that this was all just buried by the next headline.

[thejolexgroupchat]

the one where they met in med school - part thirteen

roomates and sex noises

Hi!!! this part was SO MUCH FUN to write. I think we laughed one too many times while planning this part out. -- @iamtrebleclefstories​ @doc-pickles​ and Nat

If you haven’t read parts 1-12, you can find them on our Master List!

Happy reading :)

———

(March 2008)

It was kind of embarrassing to be honest. When they showed up at Meredith’s doorstep with a couple bags and boxes full of their belongings as the rest got hauled off to storage, they couldn’t help but feel the heat rising in their cheeks. Because leave it to them to leave the water running in the bathroom while they were too busy have sex in the living room. The tub overflowed and flooded causing water damage all over the small apartment. 

After some laughter and teasing, Meredith opened the door and allowed them inside, pointing up to Alex’s old room, “Rent is due on the fifteenth.” 

“Do you think we’ll get our security deposit back?” Alex asked as they unpacked their things. 

Jo raised her eyebrows, “You’re kidding right? We’re never getting that money back again. Be glad we were able to save our couch.”

A few hours later, the two were lounging on the couch when Izzie walked in, “Oh, hey guys. What are you two doing here?”

“Moving in,” Alex replied simply and grabbed another handful of popcorn from the bowl in Jo’s lap. “Our apartment flooded.” 

“Wait, you didn’t move back into your old room did you?” Izzie narrowed her eyes as she watched Lexie come down from the attic. 

“They sure did,” Lexie crossed her arms. “I got kicked out and banished to the attic.” 

“You didn’t get banished,” Jo rolled her eyes. “It just made more sense because we have more stuff.” 

“What? No, no, no,” Izzie shook her head. “Absolutely not.”

“Izzie. It’s my house. I decide who gets to live here,” Meredith looked at Izzie in surprise. “You’ve lived across the hall and shared a bathroom with Alex before. What’s the issue?”

“Last time he lived here, he was practically celibate and quiet. Now Jo’s here and you know what means,” Izzie scowled in disgust. “The last thing I want is to be living across the hall from sex-crazed monkeys while I am very much single and not getting any.”

 Her response garnered a few laughs from the group. Lexie shrugged her shoulders, “You get used to it after a while. Invest in wax ear plugs.” 

***

Living in the frat house wasn’t so bad. Sure, privacy was few and far between, but there were definitely some benefits to living under the same roof as so many people. Alex would disagree and say that it was too much estrogen for one guy alone, and got excited anytime Shepherd was around to talk to. 

In just a couple weeks, Jo had gone from being friendly with Meredith and Izzie, to actually considering them friends. The girls would often be found sharing the bathroom and getting ready together in the mornings before having to make it in for their shifts at the hospital. 

“Jo! Are you coming with us today? Because we’ve got to go now!” Meredith yelled down from the kitchen as Jo made her way down the stairs.

“Yes! Alex was on-call last night so he’s got the car,” Jo reached over for one of the apples in the fruit bowl and dropped it into her purse. “Okay, I’m ready. Let’s go.” 

Jo piled into the car with Meredith, Lexie, and Derek looking around in confusion, “Where’s Izzie?”

“She’s got the day off,” Lexie explained. 

“Lucky her,” Jo clicked her seatbelt in place as they pulled out of the driveway. “I wish I were still sleeping.”

“At least you get sleep,” Derek looked into the rearview mirror. “Meredith snores. Loudly.” 

“I told you about the wax ear plugs,” Lexie pointed out. “How do you think Izzie gets sleep every night living across the hall from Jo and Alex?” 

“We’re not even that bad,” Jo rolled her eyes. “Besides, he’s been pulling lots of night shifts the past two weeks, so we haven’t really had a chance to be loud.” 

Meredith chuckled, “It’s okay, Jo. You don’t have to explain yourself. Lexie isn’t allowed to talk since she’s sleeping with Sloan.”

“I still don’t like it,” Derek shook his head. “Mark should know better.” 

“I appreciate your concern Derek, but I’m a big girl,” Lexie narrowed her eyes before breaking out into a smile. “It is nice to have a big brother, though.”

The rest of the ride was done in a comfortable silence. When they got to the hospital, Jo and Lexie made their way over to the locker room to get ready for the day. 

“Who’s service are you on today?” Lexie asked. 

“Your boyfriend’s,” Jo gave Lexie a sideways look as she stripped out her street clothes. “Which means I get to spend the day getting him lattes and not doing surgery.”

“I can talk to him if you want,” Lexie offered. “Sure, he can be an arrogant asshole at times but he’s really sweet if he wants to be. Kind of reminds me of how Alex was with you.” 

“So, it’s serious then? Between you two?” 

“Maybe? I don’t know,” Lexie shrugged slightly. “I introduced him to my dad, so…” 

“Wow,” Jo raised her eyebrows and pulled her scrub pants on. "I didn't even meet your dad until a few months ago."

"We just got here a few months ago," Lexie pointed out. "Anyway, the point is, I could ask him to actually teach for once. He's actually pretty good at it."

"I don't know if it's the age difference, but that definitely sounded dirty," Jo made a face.

"What sounded dirty?" the girls were interrupted by Alex who came behind them and placed his hands on Jo's bare waist. "You know, I don't know how I feel about you undressing in front of everyone. You're too hot."

"Okay, now I'm leaving," Lexie rolled her eyes. "You guys are too much. I'll see you at home later."

The couple giggled lightly as they watched Lexie shut her locker and leave. Jo put her scrub top on, "How was last night? Anything interesting come in?"

"There was a trauma that came in at around 2am. A sixteen year old and a couple of his friends got into a car accident trying to sneak out of the house. They got pretty banged up, but everyone made it out okay." 

"That's good," Jo looked up at Alex. "Are you sticking around

or going home?"

"I'll be here until lunch and then I'm going home to sleep,” he replied. "I'll see you tonight, okay?" 

"Yeah," Jo nodded and said goodbye to Alex, making her way to find Sloan.

***

Later that evening, the doctors arrived home absolutely exhausted, everyone going to their respective rooms to sleep. Somewhere around 2am, Jo found herself being poked awake. She turned and saw Meredith looking up at her. 

"Meredith, what the hell?" Jo whispered so as not to wake up Alex.

"Hi. I need your help with something," Meredith explained in hushed tones. "I had an idea after reading my mother's journals and I need your help."

"Why me?" Jo grumbled.

"Because you're the smartest person I know," Meredith stated plainly. "Don't tell Cristina or Lexie I said that."

"Fine," Jo huffed and slipped out of the bed, following Meredith downstairs.

After about an hour of sifting through the journals and coming up with a plan to pursue in the future, Meredith and Jo both heard their pagers go off. They made their way back up the stairs to change when they heard a loud moan. 

“Ah!”

Meredith and Jo exchanged a look, “Is that Izzie?”

“Did you guys get paged too?” Lexie walked out of the bathroom and stopped in her tracks, “What the hell?”

“Wait, we’ve been up for over an hour. If no one walked into the house, who’s in there with her?” Jo furrowed her brow in concern. 

“Derek!” Meredith shouted, eyes wide, hoping not to find her boyfriend in the room with her friend.

“What? What’s the matter?” Derek rushed out of their bedroom into the hallway. 

“Nothing, nothing—is wrong,” Meredith shook her head. “I just—“

“What are you doing up? It’s three in the morning,” Derek froze when he heard the groans, face scrunching in confusion. “Who’s making a porno movie  in Izzie’s room?”

Jo’s eyes flitted over to the door of her room. She walked over and opened it, peering inside, “Alex?” 

Jo’s heart dropped when she saw the empty bed. She turned back to her friends and gulped, “He’s not in there.”

Three sets of eyebrows raised and Jo felt a couple tears prickling at her eyes. She felt her breaths grow more rapid and shallow as she started to panic. 

“Oh my God,” Lexie gasped in shock. “No… he wouldn’t. Right?”

“He’s in there with her,” Jo placed a hand on her chest in hopes of slowing the rapid beating of her heart.

“Jo. Look at me,” Meredith grabbed her shoulders. “I need you to breathe.”

“I can’t,” Jo shook her head as she begged the tears not to fall. “I can’t. He’s in there with her. I can’t believe Alex would—.”

“Can’t believe Alex would do what?” Alex asked as he trudged up the steps, fully clothed. “What did I do?”

“Wait, what were you doing downstairs?” Meredith asked. 

“I got paged and went to use the bathroom, but someone was already in this one. So I went to use the one downstairs and saw you and Jo flipping through your mom’s old diaries, but I didn’t want to bother you. Why do you guys look so relieved to see me?” Alex tilted his head to one side. 

“That’s why,” Lexie made a motion to Izzie’s bedroom as another loud gasp of pleasure made its way to their ears.

“Oh crap,” Alex’s face donned the same look of shock as the rest of them. Realizing what must’ve been going through everyone’s minds, he turned to Jo who looked positively ready to cry. “Jo. You really think I'd cheat on you literally across the hall from our room? Do I look that stupid?”

“I opened the door to our room and you weren’t there,” Jo averted her eyes. “I didn’t know what to think. No one’s entered the house.”

“Wait, you didn’t see anyone come in?” Alex scratched his head slightly before pressing his ear up to the door. “Guys, she’s the only one making noise.”

“She’s flying solo?” Lexie gasped once again and clasped her hands over her mouth. “Oh my God.”

“I’m gonna go,” Derek made a face and walked back into his and Meredith’s room.

“Damn... that’s hot. How do I get in on that?” Alex joked, ducking when he felt a slap on his head. “Ouch.”

“You pig,” Meredith rolled her eyes. “Okay, everyone get dressed if you’re going to the hospital. We’re leaving in five minutes. And someone go knock on her door and find out if she’s coming with us.”

“Not it!” Lexie ran back up to the attic to get ready. 

Sighing, Alex banged on Izzie’s door, “Izzie! Party’s over. Let’s go. We’ve got a trauma coming in.”

“Oh, hey. Hi. I’m not going. I’m not feeling too great, actually,” Izzie panted as she cracked the door open and poked her head out. “I think I have the flu or something.”

“You sounded just fine to me,” Alex muttered, the beginnings of smirk tugging on his lips. “Okay, then. Get some rest I guess.”

“Uh huh. Thanks,” Izzie shut the door quickly.

Alex followed Jo back into the bedroom and watched as she changed into her clothes. She avoided his gaze and silently began to pull on a pair of jeans. He watched her for a minute before speaking, “Dude, did you really think I was cheating on you? With Izzie?”

“I told you, I didn’t know what to think. I saw that you weren’t in bed and then I heard her moans and it just brought back all of my insecurities,” Jo shared softly.

“What do you have to be insecure about?” Alex narrowed his eyes at her.

“You’re kidding right?” Jo scoffed. “She’s a model. An actual model. And we live with her. She’s hot and smart and funny and tall, and she’s everything I’m not.”

“So what?” Alex shrugged. He placed his hands on her waist and pulled her close. “You are hotter and smarter and funnier. You’re not tall, but that’s okay because you’re already perfect. Do you really think I care if she was a model? She’s not you.”

“So, you still think I’m hot?” Jo asked shyly.

“Dude, I literally told you earlier today that it shouldn’t be allowed for the interns to see you change because you’re way too hot. The guys are drooling and the girls are probably jealous.”

“Oh please,” Jo rolled her eyes.

“I’m serious, babe. You are way too hot to handle,” he leaned in to give her a kiss. “But you know, you are always welcome to model for me. Any time, any place, any state of dress.”

Jo laughed, “Shut up.”

[spidernerdsblog]

Homecoming

A/N : What if will be my personal take on Spiderman movies. This is an oneshot on Spiderman: Homecoming showcasing a platonic relationship between Peter Parker and Stark reader. Their relationship will evolve as per the sequels. Most of the original scenes from the movie is included. Trying something new hope you like this. Feedback and suggestions are always welcome.

Pairing : Peter Parker x Stark reader ( platonic)

Summary : After the events of Civil War the Avengers have broken Tony Stark is busy being a mentor to his new recruit Peter Parker aka Spiderman  who wants to prove that he is worthy to be a part of the Avengers. Things get interesting when he crosses path with none other than the heiress of Stark Industries Y/N Stark aka Ironheart. What does the future hold for them?

Warnings : mild language, suggestive themes.

“What?! I have to go to Midtown High!” You couldn’t believe your ears. 

“Whyyy?! What’s the problem with my present school?" 

"It’s my decision and it’s final.” Tony said firmly. 

“Mooom! You agreed to this?” you turned to Pepper with a puppy face. 

“Don’t look at me, it was your father’s decision." 

"But you are literally the CEO of Stark Industries, you are the one to decide.” You whined. 

“Uh uh little miss I still own Stark Industries and being your father I’m the CEO of your life. So Y/N H. Stark you are going to Midtown High to complete your studies.” “Besides Parker will be there you’ll be fine." 

"You mean the spider boy, your new recruit?" 

"Your dad thinks Peter will be a good influence on you. Taken for your ever growing rebellious behaviour." 

"He’s a nerd and how are you so sure that your pretty little daughter won’t corrupt your young apprentice.” You smirked, raising an eyebrow. 

“He’s a nice kid Y/N you’ll like him. And one more thing you are not allowed to carry your suit or any of the Stark tech during school hours." 

"You gotta be shitting me! This is so not done!" 

"Uh uh language young lady" 

"Now you also don’t start like Cap." 

Peter had resumed his studies at the Midtown School of Science and Technology after Tony Stark told him he is not yet ready to become a full Avenger. He made it a daily routine to report everything he does the whole day ` to Happy. 

Happy scoffs at the numerous incoming messages. 

"Who is it?” you wiggled your brows sitting at the backseat of your posh car. 

“Ain’t that lucky kiddo. As usual our Spiderling." 

"He’s quite dedicated I see."  You chuckle. 

Your car pulls over in front of your new school. Happy opens the door for you as you step out of the car and let out a deep breath in anticipation of the new life ahead. Happy followed you as you walked inside. You felt a little embarrassed and stopped him. 

"Happy you don’t need to escort me inside the school. I’m not a 5 year old. You can leave, I’ll be fine.” You assured him. 

You walked past the hallways you could feel all eyes were on you students whispering to themselves to see none other than Y/N Stark in their school. You kinda felt overwhelmed with the attention you got.

You walked a little when you caught sight of that familiar mop of brown hair. You never met Peter in person but you have seen him quite a few times in the compound you went and placed your hand on Peter’s shoulder. 

“Hey underoos!” Peter jumped back as he turned to look who called him by this name. And he was dumbfounded to see you. He had seen you in magazine covers and ofcourse in your social media handles but you were breathtakingly beautiful in real life even in just a simple sweatshirt paired with jeans and sneakers. Your hair let loose cascading down your shoulders. 

“Hey- hi you.. You must be Miss Stark. I’m Peter.. Peter Parker.” He fumbled 

“I know and it’s Y/N no need to be formal as we are gonna be classmates. Anyways how are you by the way after that whole…” He cut you off 

“Yea.. Yeah I’m fine. The Stark summit was really hectic but I got through it” He widened his eyes and nodded his head sideways. You got the hint and played along. 

“Great! Hey I was hoping you could show me around your school?" 

"It will be my pleasure to give you a tour of our school.” Flash dropped in between your conversation from nowhere pushing Peter aside. 

“Who the hell are you?” you looked at him sceptically. 

“Oh sorry where are my manners, Flash - Flash Thompson.” he said with a smug face. 

“Oh! nice to meet you but I’m not currently into flashy things so if you would excuse us.” You shut him up. 

“Shall we?” you turned to Peter. 

“Yeah - yeah sure.” Peter stuttered. 

“You are Ned Leeds right? Nice to meet you too.” You gave a smile and walked past them. 

“Oh she knows my name.” Ned freaked out. 

**************************************

“Students I would like to introduce you to your new classmate Miss Y/N Howard Stark.” Ms Warren introduced you.

“Hello everyone would really appreciate it if you call me by my name.” You said coyly and then went back to your seat. Ms Warren carried on with the class. 

“An object is thrown vertically with a velocity of v. What is its velocity at the highest point…" 

"0m/s.” You answered casually while taking notes in your notebook even before Ms Warren could finish her question. The whole class stared at you for your lightning speed answer. You felt intimidated with their stare. 

“Umm when examining vertical motion, the vertical velocity will always be zero at the highest point. At this point, the acceleration from gravity is working to change the motion of the ball from positive to negative. This change is represented by the x-axis on a velocity versus time graph. As the object changes direction, its velocity crosses the x-axis, momentarily becoming zero.” You explained your answer. You were indeed beauty with brains. 

“Thank you Y/N" 

"So let’s move on to the next question, how do we calculate linear acceleration between points A and B? Flash raised his hand. 

"Flash”

“Uh it’s the product of the sine of the angle and the gravity divided by the mass.”

“Nope”

“Peter you still with us?” He was busy looking at his own spiderman footage. 

“Umm yeah, yeah" 

"Uh mass cancels out so it’s gravity times sine”

“See flash being the fastest is not always the best, if you’re wrong. The whole class burst into laughter. 

During recess Peter kept staring at Liz with lovestruck eyes who was busy organising for the homecoming. 

"Did Liz get a new top?” he asked Ned. 

“Oh no you have seen it before but not with that skirt." 

"Probably we should stop staring before it gets creepy though." 

"Too late.You guys are losers.” MJ quipped. 

“Then why do you sit with us?" 

"Because I don’t have any friends." 

"Hey who said you don’t have friends. Mind if I sit?” you chirped. 

“No not at all." 

"It’s Y/N by the way Y/N Stark." 

"Michelle Jones, call me MJ." 

"And you creepos are really hopeless. Just go and tell her what you feel.” You snickered. 

“No I’m fine.” Peter got up abruptly flustered.

************************************** 

The school decathlon team was practicing in the hall whilst Peter tried to make Mr Harrington understand that he would be unable to participate. 

“Peter, it’s nationals. Is there no way you could take one weekend off?" 

"I can’t go to Washington because if Mr Stark needs me then I have to make sure that I am here." 

"You have never been in the same room with Tony Stark.” Flash jabbed. 

“Wait, what’s happening?” Cindy asked. 

“Peter’s not going to Nationals." 

"No, no, no.” Cindy said

“Why not?” Abraham smacks the bell.

“Really, right before Nationals?” Liz scowled. 

“He already quit marching band and robotics lab.” MJ pointed out as all the students stared at her. 

“I’m not obsessed with him, I’m just very observant!” MJ clarified. 

“Flash you’re in for Peter." 

"Pfff…. I don’t know, I gotta check my calendar first. I gotta hot date with black widow coming up.”

“That is false!” Abraham smacks the bell again. 

“What did I tell you about using the bell for comedic purposes? Mr Harrington warned him. 

You mistakenly stumbled into the room where the practise was going on, everyone’s attention shifted towards you. 

"Oh! sorry I was just looking for the robotics lab.” You apologized. 

“Hey Y/N can join us too.” Flash suggested. 

“Join you where?” you frowned. 

“Our academic decathlon team as Parker has chickened out." 

"No, no Flash there has been strict instructions from Mr Stark that Miss Stark should not be engaged in any kind of extracurricular which requires her to go out of the school premises for safety reasons.” You cringed internally.

“Umm first of all Mr Harrington with all due respect please call me by my name I am just a normal student of yours like others over here. And secondly screw my old man I’m in only if you are okay with that." 

"We will be glad to have a genius like you, welcome to the team Y/N." 

Peter was just waiting for the school bell to ring. As soon as the bell rang he ran out of school jumping off the gate. 

"Nice jump.” You appeared from the side startling him. 

“Sorry didn’t mean to startle you again." 

"Uh it’s OK. You didn’t go home?" 

"Nah my dad is on a trip to India so no one there to watch over me. And I’m not going to miss this opportunity so thought of exploring Queens today as I’m new here." 

"And this place will be my second home till I graduate but first I need to grab something to eat I’m starving." 

"I know a place that has the best sandwiches in Queens.”

“Great! Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go.” You chirped. 

You followed Peter as he led you to the place. 

“What’s up Mr. Delmar?” Peter greeted him as you entered the store. 

“Hey Mr Parker, no. 5 right?" 

"Yeah and with pickles can you squish it down real flat? Thanks.”

“And who is this pretty lady?" 

"She is Y/N Stark, our new classmate." 

"You got lucky kid.” Mr Delmar smirked. 

“Oh no it’s.. It’s nothing like that.” Peter got nervous. 

“Yeah I’m new here he is just showing me around.” You backed him up. 

“How’s your aunt?" 

"Yeah she’s alright." 

"La tía de este, es una italiana que está buenísima.” Mr Delmar says to his co-worker. 

“¿Cómo está tu hija?” Peter stuck out his tongue a little. 

“Damn!"you giggle, smacking Peter’s arm slightly shocked and impressed by his comeback. 

”$16" Mr Delmar demanded. 

“It’s $8" 

"For that comment $16”

“Hey C'mon I was joking, I was joking. Here $8." 

"So how’s school?" 

"Ah you know boring got better things  to do." 

"Stay at school kid, stay at school otherwise you’re gonna end up like me.”

“wow this is great!" 

"Best sandwiches in Queens!" 

You turned to leave as Peter got the sandwiches. 

"She’s beautiful,” Mr Delmar mouthed to Peter. 

Peter raised his hands dismissively and mouthed “no”. 

Peter handed you the sandwich after coming out of the shop. 

“Thanks I owe you a sandwich.Okay then see you at school tomorrow." 

"You can go on your own right?” Peter asked before leaving. 

“Yeah Peter I’m Ironheart I can take care of myself." 

"Then I better go." 

"Yeah bye goodluck with your spidermaning." 

That very night you saw the news of Spiderman preventing criminals from robbing an ATM with their advanced weapons. On the other hand as Peter tries to sneak into his apartment after stopping the robbery, Ned discovers his secret identity. 

Ned was so excited to know that his best friend is an avenger he bombarded him with questions the next day. During gym class Ned and Peter overhear Liz’s conversation with Betty about her crush on spiderman. Ned tries to help Peter. 

"Peter knows Spiderman!” Ned blurted out garnering everyone’s attention towards them. 

“Uh - no I don’t no I - I mean.” Peter stammered. 

“They are friends.” Ned added. 

“Yeah like coach Wilson and Captain America are friends.” Flash made fun of him. 

“I - I met him yeah a couple of times but it’s a- through the Stark internship. 

Yeah well I’m really not supposed to talk about it.” He glared at Ned. 

“That’s awesome! hey why you know what may be you should invite him to liz’s party right?" 

” Yeah I’m having people over tonight more than welcome to come.“

"You’re having a party?" 

"Yeah it’s gonna be dope you should totally invite your personal friend spiderman.”

“Umm”

“It’s okay I know Peter is way busy for parties anyways so”

“Oh c'mon he’ll be there right Parker?" 

You were standing beside MJ irritated with Peter and Ned’s childish behavior witnessing the whole drama unfold. When Flash tried to woo you again. 

"Hey Y/N you are very much welcome too. I know these are not your kind of parties but I’ll make sure you’re comfortable.”

“Thanks Flash will give it a thought.” you gave a tight lipped smile. 

“What are you doing?"  Peter snapped at Ned. 

"Helping you out. Did you not hear that? Liz has a crush on you!” Peter opened his mouth to say something stopping midway realising Ned was right. 

“Dude you’re an avenger if anyone of us has a chance with a senior girl it’s you." 

As everyone was leaving you briskly walked towards Peter pulling him aside. 

"What the fuck was that?!” You muttered in his ears. You were about to say more but you stopped seeing Ned coming near. 

“He knows.” Peter pointed towards Ned. 

“Okay so what the fuck was that?! You said out loud this time to both of them. 

"We are not supposed to swear in school.” Ned interrupted you. 

“Ned better not make me open my dictionary.” You glowered at him. 

“You do know right what my dad is capable of doing if he comes to know that you are using your superhero identity as a trick to woo some girl?” you snapped at Peter. 

“But- but I didn’t say anything. It was Ned.”

“C'mon Y/N don’t be a buzzkill Peter really likes Liz this is his only chance.” You huffed rolling your eyes. 

“Do whatever you please but being a girl myself I can assure you that this won’t work you dumbasses." 

******************************************

Though you didn’t want to come to this party because this is nothing to the parties you are used to attending but you gave in for MJ. You two sort of have become really close friends so you couldn’t say no to her. 

” Oh my god hi guys, cool hat Ned.“

’‘Hi liz” Ned and Peter both greet her.

“I’m so happy you guys came." 

"There’s pizza and drinks. Help yourself.”

“It’s a great party” Peter complimented.

“Thanks. Have fun.” Liz goes to attend other guests.

“Dude what are you doing? she’s here spider it up" 

"No, no, no I can’t - I cannot do this”

“Y/N was right, spiderman is not a party trick." 

"Look I’m gonna be myself" 

"Peter nobody wants that” Ned said bluntly

“Dude!” Peter seemed offended. 

“Penis Parker what’s up?” Flash quipped. 

“Where’s your pal spider man? Let me guess in Canada with your imaginary girlfriend." 

Flash as usual started bullying him, you felt like punching him right at his face but then you thought Peter brought it upon himself and why are you even feeling sorry for a boy you have known for just a few days. Peter went off to the terrace to change into his spiderman suit. He didn’t feel right about what he was doing. Just then he saw an explosion far away and he went off to see what’s the matter. After sometime you noticed Peter was nowhere to be found. 

Later in the night when you came back home you got to know about Peter and how he came across a gang of criminals selling high tech weapons. He went to save the guy who was buying the weapons and got caught in a fight with a vulture guy who dropped him in a lake, he nearly drowned after becoming tangled in the parachute built into his suit for his safety. Thanks to your dad, who was monitoring the Spider-Man suit sent a rescue bot to save him.

Next day at school Peter was trying to dismantle the weapon as he repeatedly hit it with a hammer to separate the glowing core and study it. 

"Hey thanks for bailing on me.” Ned grimaced. 

“yeah well something came up.” Peter muttered showing Ned the glowing core he retrieved from the crime scene. 

“Woah! what is that?" 

"I don’t know, some guy tried to vaporize me with it.”

“Seriously? awesome!” Peter frowned. 

“I mean not awesome, totally uncool, that guy so scary." 

"I think it’s a power source" 

"Yeah but it’s connected with these microprocessors that’s an inductive charging plate that’s what I use to charge my toothbrush.” Ned explained. 

“Whoever is making these weapons is obviously combining the alien tech with ours." 

"It’s literally the coolest sentence anyone has ever said. I just wanna thank you for letting me be part of your journey into this amazing." 

"Hey I heard you were dunked into the lake by some flying vulture guy. How are you now?” you suddenly walked in. 

Peter jumped out of his skin in fear as he and Ned scrambled to hide the glowing object from you. 

“Yea..yeah I’m..I’m fine.” he said nervously. 

“What’s the matter?” you frowned looking at their horrified expressions. 

“Uh- nothing" 

"Why do I have a feeling that you guys are hiding something from me?” you eyed him sceptically. 

“Hiding, wha…what will I be hiding from you?” he stuttered. You narrowed your eyes in suspicion. 

“It’s boys stuff girls can’t know.” Ned backed him up. 

“Huh! Okay.. Whatever…” you scoffed rolling your eyes.

“Anyways the reason I came to you is Dad is back from his trip and he asked me to tell you to stop by the compound today after school." 

"What!? Really??Any new mission?” His face lit up in excitement. 

“Oh no, no he has something to do with you in the lab." 

"Oh okay.”

Later in the day after school you were in the lab engrossed in working on some new upgrades for your suit. 

“Hey” Peter said timidly. You turned. 

“Oh hi there, was waiting for you only." 

"You said Mr Stark had some work with me." 

"Yeah he has but an urgent meeting came up so he told me to do the work instead.He’s probably making some new upgrades for your suit and told me to take a body scan of yours." 

"Oh that’s cool." 

"Okay now take off your clothes."  you turned and continued working on the control panel.

"What?!" 

"FRIDAY needs to scan your body so hurry up we don’t have the whole day” you reasoned. 

“Bu..But” he stammered. 

“Oh C'mon don’t be so confident about yourself I won’t swoon over seeing you in just your boxers.” You scoffed. 

“Umm okay.” Peter turned around and started taking off his clothes hesitantly. 

You turned around and instantly regretted because the sight for you was to behold. You actually thought you would swoon over seeing his chiselled back muscles. He is definitely over dressed to give away what’s underneath. You were grateful Peter wasn’t facing you to see you all flustered.

“Okay Peter you stand on that platform.” You instructed. 

He turned around facing you and now you could see his toned abs in full glory. 

“Fuck!” you cursed under your breath. For a moment you felt the air was knocked out of your lungs. You felt your chest tighten as you gasped for air, a heat rising in your body. You cleared your throat trying to ease the tension. 

“Man you are ripped why don’t you wear a little less clothing at school maybe it can help Liz to notice you.” Peter blushed at your comment. 

You tapped some buttons on the panel as FRIDAY did the scan. 

“So what upgrades is Mr Stark working on?” Peter asked, putting back his clothes on.”

“I don’t know, he said he’s working on something and I’m least interested in things which aren’t related to me." 

"Okay then see you later.” Peter pursed his lips smiling. 

“yeah bye” you got busy with your work. Peter turned to leave as he stopped in his tracks and turned back. 

“Y/N" 

"Yeah?" 

"Best of luck for the decathlon.” he smiled softly. 

“Oh thanks.”

“Okay then bye.”

“Hmm bye.” You smiled. 

*****************************************

Back at Peter’s apartment, he and Ned were tracking the homing beacon that Peter attached to the arms dealer. The tracking device on Schultz leads to Maryland which was not far away from D.C., which makes Peter reconsider his decision to join the decathlon team. 

Next day when the team was about to leave for D.C. Peter showed up. 

“Hey it’s Peter.” Cindy exclaimed

“Peter?” Liz frowned.

“Hey I was hoping if I could rejoin the team.”

“No, no way you can’t just quit on us and stroll up and be welcomed back by everyone” Flash protested.

“Hey Peter! welcome back! Flash you are back to first alternate." 

"What?!”

“He’s taking your place.” Abraham laughed. 

“Uh excuse me, can we go already? I was hoping to catch in some protesting in front of some embassy before dinner .” MJ quipped. 

“Protesting is patriotic. Let’s get on the bus." 

Flash was furious as he took off his blazer and threw it at Peter. 

You became suspicious with Peter’s sudden change in plans and kept an eye on Peter the whole bus ride. 

At the hotel room after a lot of pleading Ned agreed in helping Peter disable the tracker your dad  implanted in the Spider-Man suit, and unlock its advanced features. Peter sneaks out of the hotel room but is stopped by Liz who asks him to loosen up a bit and have fun with everyone near the swimming pool. He was first tempted in spending time with his crush but his duties as spiderman stopped him from doing so and he also wanted to prove his worth to his mentor Tony Stark. 

With a heavy heart he swings off to stop Toomes from stealing weapons from a D.O.D.C. truck, but instead gets trapped inside, causing him to miss the decathlon tournament. When he discovers that the power core is an unstable Chitauri grenade, Peter races to the Washington Monument. 

Midtown High won the competition and Mr Harrington took you all for a visit to the Washington Monument. Peter tries to warn Ned about the explosive he’s been carrying around but it goes in vain. The Chitauri core gets unstable as it gets exposed to radiation in the x-ray scanner during security check in. You all boarded the elevator whilst the tour guide gave you the details about the Monument.  

Ned threw his bag away as he felt some vibrations coming from it. The core detonated causing a massive explosion shaking the whole building as a crack developed on the roof of the elevator. Everyone cried out in panic as you all got trapped inside it. You immediately put on your AI powered glasses that you snuck off from the lab incase of emergency. 

"FRIDAY??” you asked for the status report. 

“The emergency exit is blocked by debris of rubble Miss Stark.” FRIDAY informed. 

“So I need to blast off the blocked exit.” You activated your custom wrist watch which just like your dad’s watch turned into your Ironheart gauntlet giving access to your suit’s repulsor.

“Everybody duck down and cover your heads.” You commanded aiming your repulsor to the blocked exit and blasting it off. 

The door was cleared and slowly the rescue team started pulling you all out of the elevator one by one. But you knew very well the commotion had reduced the impact time for the elevator to fall. You really wished you had your suit with you. The cables snapped as the elevator started falling with Ned, Liz and Mr Harrington in it. Fortunately Spiderman was right on time as he webbed it up and pulled the elevator up eventually saving everyone. 

The news of the whole incident was everywhere as you all were escorted out of the building by the security officials. MJ came running and hugged you. 

“Oh! Y/N I was so scared. You okay?" 

"Yeah fortunately.”

A few minutes later Happy arrived at the place, he hurriedly came to you. 

“Oh God Y/N you alright?" 

"Yes Happy I’m fine see not a single scratch.”

“Save that for your dad he is so mad at us for letting you come here alone." 

"I’ll handle him, don’t worry. Let’s go home then?" 

*******************************

Back at the compound you were about to go to your room but was stopped by your dad he looked angry. 

"Where do you think you are going young lady? Don’t you think you have got some explanation to do?" 

"For what?” you asked bluntly. 

“For participating in a school event and carrying the stark tech with you which I had forbidden." 

"Tony I don’t think it’s the right time, we should be glad she came home safe and sound from that horrifying accident, let her rest. We can do this later and I was the one who gave her permission. It wasn’t even her fault." 

"Uh uh Pepper don’t guard her. Let her speak because this wouldn’t have happened if she didn’t defy my orders in the first place.”

“Dad, what is the use of going to school if I don’t participate in the co curricular activities? It’s better you homeschool me if you have got so much problem." 

"Because unlike others your life is always under mortal danger because of your father’s job. And he is always trying hard to protect the only two precious things in his life. But you have made it a motto of your life to defy each and everything I say." 

"Oh yeah and if I hadn’t carried my repulsors with me then your precious daughter would have been dead by now.” You jabbed. 

“You are not using that tone with me little miss you are grounded for two weeks." 

"What! That’s outrageous!” you protested. 

“You heard me now go back to your room.”

“Why did you even bring me back? I was better off at my boarding school." 

"Because your father cares about your safety." 

"The only thing you care about is your reputation. That is why the avengers broke up in the first place. That is why Cap is not with us nor is Nat." 

"Now you are crossing your limit girl.”

“You never saw me as your daughter dad, admit it you just see me as your heiress. It has always been about you and your goddamn ego!!” your face reddened with anger. 

“That’s it I had enough of your reckless behaviour go to your room now!” Tony lost his temper. 

“As long as you are under my roof you are bound to follow whatever I say!" 

"Fine then I’m leaving!!” tears spilled out your eyes. 

“Where do you think you are going at this hour?" 

"Wherever my eyes lead me to!!” You yelled. 

“Y/N! Wait!” Pepper called you back but you ran off rubbing your eyes. 

Tony collapsed on the couch holding his head. Pepper sat beside him rubbing his shoulder. 

“Was I hard on her?” he asked weakly. 

“I think you might have gone a little overboard with her Tony." 

"It was for her good only.’' 

"I know Tony you were just trying to protect her.”

“I think I failed to be a good father.”

“No Tony you have tried your best but she’s growing up now you have to understand that you can’t always keep her away from danger. You have to let her go, she has to learn to deal with the world on her own. Just have a little faith in her.”

“I mean if it wasn’t for Y/N carrying the repulsors with her they would have been trapped in the elevator for how long god only knows.” Pepper made him understand. 

“I know and I’m really proud of her." 

"Then show her that you are, everything she does is just to get a little appreciation from her dad.”

“Yeah you’re right maybe I have been a little cold towards her. I should go find her.”

“Don’t worry she’ll come back once she cools down. She is a Stark with the brains; she has inherited your stubbornness too, gotta deal with that.” Pepper chuckled trying to lighten the mood. 

“Didn’t know parenting will be so hard.” He chuckled. 

“Think about my condition then, I have to take care of a headstrong teenager as well as a man child." 

You had your earphones on as you walked briskly down the busy road. You weren’t paying much attention to your surroundings so you couldn’t hear the honking of the truck behind you but before it could hit you, you were swooped from the ground. You found yourself in the arms of none other than spiderman. 

"Peter if you drop me I swear I’m gonna blast your ass off.” You wriggled in his arms. 

“Just stop moving will you? Or else we both will fall.”

“Oh! my god I’m not looking anymore.” You buried your face in the crook of his neck panicking. 

He finally put you down on the terrace of a building and took his mask off. 

“What were you thinking?” He frowned. 

“What was I thinking!? Why the hell are you even here?!” you huffed 

“I just saved your life and you are yelling at me!”

“Nobody asked you to but thank you spiderman. Happy now?! “ You jabbed. 

"You could have got hurt Y/N” Peter said softly. 

“Why do you even care?!" 

"We are friends Y/N and that’s what friends do, they care." 

"Nobody cares about me Peter! Nobody!” you screamed. 

“Hey everything alright?” He asked with concern placing his hands on your shoulders. You soften a little bit as tears brimmed your eyes. Peter pulled you closer embracing you in a hug. You cried your heart out. 

“Hey it’s gonna be okay you can tell me.” He said caressing the back of your head. 

“I’m sorry I shouldn’t have yelled at you like that. Was in a bad mood, had a fight with dad.” You sniffled pulling yourself back from him. 

“Yeah I understood." 

"Care to tell why?" 

"You know my dad how control freak he can be. He was mad at me for carrying my repulsors and participating in the decathlon. So had an argument, things got heated and I ran out of the house." 

You both sat on the edge of the terrace. You took out two beer cans from your bag and handed one to him. 

"Here take" 

"I don’t drink plus it’s illegal" 

"Jeez you are really the embodiment of a perfect good boy just like my mom said.”

“Mom?”

“Yeah I know people get confused that why do I call Pepper mom but she is the best.”

“You are really close to her aren’t you?”

“That’s true.. Umm where to start actually. First of all I’m a product of one of my dad’s crazy night escapades which pretty sure didn’t go well because I’m here in front of you.” You chuckled. 

“My mom I mean my biological mother left me at his doorstep in a casket when I was around nine months as per I was told with a note." 

She’s yours. I can’t take her responsibility. 

"My dad initially was shocked and worried about his image and reputation in public after they would get to know about his secret daughter. He was up for giving me for adoption but then Pepper I mean my mom stepped in. She was ready to take up my responsibility while working for my dad. My dad agreed eventually. And since that day I have known her as my mother. My biological mother wouldn’t have done half of the things she has done for me all these years.”

“You and I are on the same page then. After my parents’ disappearance aunt May and uncle Ben looked after me as their own son. For me they will always be my parents.”

“At least you don’t have daddy issues, you didn’t have to wake up one fine day to know your dad has been kidnapped by the ten rings set up by Stane and then in no time the world knows him as the Ironman. Then he shipped me off to a boarding school citing my safety. Which I initially thought he didn’t want me around him but then our house got blown by the Mandarin and then I realized he maybe is worried about me. And then Avengers broke up and you came into our lives. Dad never praised me or even said that he liked me and I hated it when he praised you like non stop Peter is this, Peter is that. Can you imagine I was transferred to Midtown High because he wanted me to be with you so I could learn something from you.”

“I would say that’s an exaggeration. 

But now I get it why is he so fond of you. You are really a good guy Peter.”

“Thanks I guess.” Peter blushed. 

“Okay enough of my sob story. Now can you enlighten me spidey why was Ned carrying an explosive Chitauri core in his bag?" 

"Uh explosive.. What explosive??” Peter stammered. 

“Did anyone ever tell you that you are a terrible liar? Plus I had the place scanned by FRIDAY, now tell me the truth." 

"You can’t tell Mr Stark about this okay. I have come across a gang of criminals who are making illegal and deadly weapons with alien tech. I told Mr Stark about this but he despised me for getting involved in this." 

"Holy shit!! Dude you are sneaking behind my dad’s back. And he thinks you’re the purest soul on earth. So how much have you progressed with this?” you asked excitedly. 

“Not much actually.”

“Okay then best of luck detective Parker. By the way it was nice talking to you.”

“Anytime” Peter smiled

“One thing I can say Mr Stark loves you a lot Y/N that is why he’s so protective about you. Trust me I know sometimes it might feel a little annoying but when that person is gone from your life forever then you get to understand his worth. Don’t do anything that you might have to regret later.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Okay then let’s get you home shall we?”

“Yup need to apologise to my old man." 

You hold on to Peter tightly as you swinged across the city back to the compound. You tiptoed to the lab to find your dad working. 

"Hey Dad” you called out softly. Tony turned to see you standing at the door he got up and rushed to you hugging you tightly, heaving a sigh of relief. 

“Oh! Y/N you’re back! I’m so sorry for yelling at you like that.”

“I’m sorry too I should have listened to you.”

“No honey you did the right thing you saved so many lives and I’m proud of you.”

“Really?!” you were overwhelmed and shocked to hear that, this was the first time your father actually praised you. 

“Of course dear I’m so lucky to have a daughter like you. I know I have become a sort of overprotective father but can you forgive your old man? He just fears that you don’t turn out like him." 

"Hey I will be glad if I become just like you. You are the best.” You snuggled into him. 

***************************************

Spiderman became a hot topic in the whole school . Peter was overwhelmed with how everyone was talking about him. But to his luck the Principal sent him to detention for ditching the team. But Peter decided to sneak off from there to catch the bad guys. At home with the help of Karen he came to know about Aaron Davis the buyer he saved the other day. He went to confiscate him and persuaded Davis to reveal Toomes’ whereabouts that they were having a deal at the Staten Island Ferry at 11 am. He reached spot to catch them red handed. 

“Incoming call from Tony Stark.” Karen notified. 

“No, no, no. Don’t answer!” Peter panicked. 

“Mr. Parker, got a sec?" 

"Uh, I’m actually at school." 

"No, you’re not!” Karen said

“Nice work in DC, my dad never really gave me a lot of support and I’m just trying to break the cycle…" 

 "I’m kinda in the middle of something right now." 

"Don’t cut me off when I’m complimenting you. Anyway, great things are about to happen." 

The Staten Island Ferry horn goes off

"What is that?" 

"Uh, I’m at band practice." 

"That’s odd. Happy told me you quit the band six weeks ago. What’s up?" 

"I gotta go. End call!” Peter abruptly ended the call. 

“Hey!…”

Aboard the Staten Island Ferry, Parker captures Toomes’ new buyer Mac Gargan, but Toomes escapes when the FBI reaches the scene and interrupts Peter’s plans. A malfunctioning weapon explodes, tearing the ferry in half. Peter desperately tried to keep the ferry from falling apart by webbing them up but it went to vain as it wasn’t strong enough to hold the two halves. He held onto the ends of his webs in a last attempt to save the passengers in the ferry. Just then he felt the tension easing as a man shouted. 

“Yeah it’s Ironman and Ironheart!”

“Hi spiderman band practise was it?” Tony quipped. 

As soon as you got the news you and your dad came to the rescue. You both flew to the opposite sides and pushed the two halves of the ferry to join them together. Your dad then welded the joints with lasers to prevent them from falling apart again. 

“Mr Stark!”

“Hey Mr Stark! Can I do anything? What do you want me to do?” Peter asked. 

“I think you have done enough.”

“You can handle it from here right?” Tony asked you. 

“Yeah dad.” you assured him. 

“Talk to the feds and call in the Stark Relief Foundation.” he instructed. 

“Okay dad.”

“Let me go and have a word with our young rebel. Gosh you teenagers!” Tony scoffed and then flew to the high rise building where Peter was sitting sadness clouding his features. 

“Previously on Peter Screws the Pooch, I tell you to stay away from this. Instead, you hacked a multi-million dollar suit so you could sneak around behind my back doing the one thing I told you not to do." 

"Is everyone okay?” Peter asked weakly

“No thanks to you." 

"No thanks to me? Those weapons were out there, and I tried to tell you about it, but you didn’t listen. None of this would’ve happened if you’d just listened to me! If you even cared, you’d actually be here.” Peter ranted out. Tony  steps out of his suit to reveal that he is actually there

“ I did listen, kid. Who do you think called the FBI, huh? Did you know that I was the only one who believed in you? Everyone else said I was crazy to recruit a 14-year-old kid.”

“I’m 15." 

"No, this is where you ZIP IT, all right? The adult is talking! What if somebody had died tonight? Different story, right? 'Cause that’s on you. And if you died, I feel like that’s on me. I don’t need that on my conscience." 

"Yes sir. I’m sorry." 

"Sorry” doesn’t cut it.“

"I understand. I just wanted to be like you.”

“And I wanted you to be better. Okay, it’s not working out. I’m gonna need the suit back." 

"For how long?" 

"Forever." 

"No! No, no, no! Please, please, please.” Peter begged. 

“Let’s have it.” Tony was adamant. 

“You don’t understand. This is all I have. I’m nothing without this suit.” Peter said desperately 

 "If you’re nothing without this suit, then you shouldn’t have it, okay? God, I sound like my dad” Tony scoffed. 

"I don’t have any other clothes.” Peter said quietly. 

“Okay, we’ll sort that out." 

Peter went home all exhausted. Aunt May was hell worried about him. Peter finally broke down in front of her revealing that he lost the internship. May consoled him and asked him not to worry. Peter was sent to detention, MJ used to accompany him to cheer him up. 

You were talking to MJ as you saw Peter across the hall all gloomy. You excused yourself and went up to him. 

***********************************

"Hey you’re not going to talk to me also?" 

"Why no- why would I do that?" 

"I heard about what my dad did so I thought maybe you are angry about it. I swear I didn’t tell him anything." 

"Hey I’m not blaming you for anything Y/N instead you saved so many lives and you’re my best friend. I trust you the most." 

"Best friend?” you were slightly taken aback by the new tag he gave to your relationship. 

“Umm sorry I thought maybe after that night we are good friends now.”

“Hey no it’s fine I actually never had a best friend or even actual friends so it’s kind of overwhelming for me.”

“I just thought maybe he told you to stay away from me." 

"What? No! And even if he did, when have I ever listened to him?" 

"I think he is right. I really put him down." 

"Hey it’s gonna be fine you didn’t mean any harm. I know my dad you’ll get back your suit. He’s just a little upset that his young apprentice would turn out to be such a rebel.” You tried to cheer up his mood. 

“So what about homecoming? Did you ask Liz yet?" 

"No not yet.” he said meekly. 

“Then go and ask her out before it’s too late.” Peter eventually asks Liz to go to the homecoming dance with him. On the night of the dance, Peter discovers that Toomes is Liz’s dad. Deducing his secret identity from Liz’s account about him, Toomes threatens retaliation if he continues to interfere with his plans. During the dance, Peter realizes Toomes is planning to hijack a D.O.D.C. plane transporting weapons from Avengers Tower to the team’s new headquarters he leaves Liz alone during the dance to stop him. You see Peter running away and decide to go after him. Peter dons his old homemade Spider-Man suit. Though he is ambushed by Schultz, he defeats him with Ned’s help. 

You catch sight of Ned in the hallway. 

“Hey where’s Peter?" 

"Oh Y/N!” Ned sighed a relief seeing you. He explained to you the whole situation. 

“Wait let me call Happy.” You tried calling him but every time it went unanswered. 

“Happy for God’s sake pick up the damn phone!” You groaned in frustration. 

“Maybe we can hack in the mainframe.” Ned suggested. 

“Good idea Ned I’ll help you with the codes.”

In the meantime Peter stole Flash’s car and asked you to track his phone he left in Toomes car. Ned provided him the location. 

Suddenly Ms Warren barged in, you quickly hid under the table. She saw Ned and asked

“What are you doing here? There’s a dance" 

"I’m looking at porn.” He replied awkwardly 

You slapped your forehead listening to his lame excuse. 

At the lair Peter confronts Toomes, but he destroys the building’s support beams and leaves Peter to die. Peter escapes the rubble and intercepts the plane, steering it to crash on the beach near Coney Island. He and Toomes continue fighting, ending with Peter saving Toomes’ life after the damaged Vulture suit explodes, and leaving him for the police along with the plane’s cargo.

You were back in the compound pacing back and forth in your room when you heard a knock on your window. 

“Oh god! Peter!” you sighed a relief as you ran to open the window and let him in. 

“Oh my god! you are hurt very badly" 

"Oh it’s nothing, I’m used to this.” he winced limping on his feet. 

“Okay tough guy sit down now let me bring the first aid and clean your wounds." 

You sat in front of him as you dabbed a cotton ball in the disinfectant solution and gently cleaned his wounds. Peter winced at the stinging sensation. 

"Sorry but it will sting a little.” You started smiling while cleaning his wounds. 

“What is the matter?" 

"Nothing just thinking about the luck you have got. The girl you liked, her father, turned out to be a criminal doing business with stolen high tech weapons.” You let out an airy laugh. 

“Oh no this is bad.” Peter tensed up.

“Why? you did a good job in catching him red handed.”

“No but in a way I ruined Liz’s life. She would be so devastated after knowing about her father.” Peter said with remorse. 

“Peter it wasn’t your fault she needs to know about the real face of her father.” Peter got up and started pacing in your room. 

“No Y/N it isn’t her fault that her father is a criminal. I really feel sorry for what I did, she doesn’t deserve this. I have to apologise to her tomorrow." 

He continued rambling, you were getting frustrated with him blaming himself for doing the right thing. And you did the unexpected to stop him. You grabbed his face and kissed him, catching him off guard. Peter’s eyes went wide in shock, his heart racing a million miles per hour. After you pulled away, his heart was still pounding at an alarming rate. 

"That shut you up.” You said casually as if the kiss wasn’t a big deal for you, you wiped your lips with the back of your hand and scrunched your face with the taste on your lips. 

“Strawberry lip balm? What are you a little girl?” you quipped, finally noticing the mortified look on his face as he stood there like a statue, eyes blown wide still recovering from what just happened. You narrowed your eyes. 

“Wait, was this your first kiss?” Peter was snapped out of the daze as his face turned red. 

“Umm..” he was at a loss of words. Your mouth went wide as you realized it was indeed his first kiss. 

“Oh I’m so sorry Peter! I ruined your first kiss!” you apologized. 

“No it’s OK it was.. It was.” Should he say it was good? Because for an unknown reason he really felt good. But how can he say that to you. You’re Y/N Stark, the Tony Stark’s daughter. Why would you like a nerd like him? 

“I know it was awkward. I know you didn’t imagine your first kiss to be like this, that too someone you don’t have any feelings for, sorry for ruining it. Just forget something like this happened okay." 

"And don’t tell my dad if your life is dear to you.” you warned. 

“Umm okay I should get going then.”

“yeah.” he swung out of the window. 

“Be careful!” you cautioned and then turned around flattening yourself against the wall of your room letting out an exasperated sigh. The casual attitude you were putting up in front of him was all fake. You were bothered, your cheeks started getting heated up for a reason that you can’t put a pin on it. This wasn’t to happen; you have had your share of fun with boys at your previous school without any feelings involved but why did kissing Peter give butterflies in your stomach? You are Y/N Stark, you can’t fall for a nerd like Peter or did you? 

**********************************************

After her father’s arrest, Liz and her mother decided to move to California. Peter apologizes to Liz before she leaves. MJ is appointed as the new captain of the decathlon team. You skipped school today because your dad asked you to stay for a press meet and of course you wanted to get over your lingering feelings for Peter. 

Tony sent Happy to bring Peter to the compound. Peter was in awe when he arrived at the Avengers facility. Tony went and patted Peter’s back like a proud dad. 

“Sorry I took your suit. I mean, you had it coming. Actually, it turns out it was the perfect sort of tough love moment that you needed, right? To urge you on, right? Wouldn’t you think? Don’t you think?" 

"I– I guess.” Peter said nervously. 

“Let’s just say it was." 

"Mr. Stark, I really" 

"You screwed the pooch hard. Big time. But then, you did the right thing. Took the dog to the free clinic, you raised the hybrid puppies. Alright, not my best analogy– I was wrong about you. I think, with a little more mentoring, you could be a real asset to the team." 

"To the– To the– To the team?” Peter couldn’t believe his ears. 

“Yeah, anyway. There’s about 50 reporters behind that door. Real ones, not bloggers. When you’re ready– Tony reveals the Iron Spider suit. 

"Why don’t you try that on? and I’ll introduce the world to the newest official member of the Avengers: Spider-Man." 

Peter was at loss of words seeing the new suit Tony made for him. He couldn’t be any happier but something clicked in his brain. 

"Thank you Mr Stark but I’m - I’m good." 

"You good? How are you good?" 

"Umm I would rather stay on the ground for a while just being a friendly neighbourhood spiderman somebody got to look for the little guy." 

"You are turning me down? You better think about this, look at that, look at me last chance yes or no?" 

"No”

“Okay.”

“Where’s the kid?”

“He left”

“Everybody’s waiting”

“You know what he actually made a really mature choice." 

"He told the kid to go wait in the car." 

"Are you kidding me?" 

"Did you guys screw this up?" 

"What’s the matter? Everyone’s waiting there” you came out of the room too. 

“These two had one job and they failed miserably." 

"Let me guess Peter declined your offer. Good for him only” You smirked. 

“And now I’ve a room full of people waiting for some big announcement what am I going to tell them?”

“Think about something,” Tony said. 

“What about your engagement? That’s been long due.” You suggested. 

“What?!" 

"Great idea! Happy still got the ring?" 

"I got the ring? Yeaah, I have been carrying it since 2008.” Pepper gave a weird look.

“Okay" 

"I think I can come up with something better than that." 

"Well it would buy us little time” Tony kisses pepper. 

“Like we need time.” Tony mumbled with a smirk. 

“Jeez! get a room you guys.” You gagged. 

“And maybe give me a sibling it’s really boring over here being all by myself.” You added. 

Pepper cleared her throat and strides back to the room muttering. 

“I can’t believe you had it in your pocket." 

"Why aren’t you having fun with Peter?” your dad asked you out of nowhere. You choked on your spit as the memories from last night flashed back. 

“We rarely see each other after school he is mostly busy with his neighbourhood patrolling plus he’s no fun." 

"But I think you have started to like him.” Tony smirked. You understood his reference. 

“What! no way! And- and he’s not even my type.”

“Good I’m not even allowing you to date anybody before you turn 50.”

“Huh! As if I need your permission in this matter.” You gave a sly grin. 

“What is that supposed to mean?” Tony frowned. 

“Dad, you are 'The’ genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist Tony Stark and I’m your daughter. Is it that hard to figure it out?” Tony’s eyes widened as a sudden realization dawned upon him. 

“Wait on a damn second! Which weasley scumbag defiled you? Tell me his name! I’m gonna blast his weener off!”

“Uhh…I think mom is calling me, let me go and check.Okay bye!” You ran inside. 

“You come back right now! We are not done yet young lady!” your dad yelled from behind. 

[all-for-shitz-n-giggles]

Sorry-

Hi there take this one-shot I'm working on for Halloween while I suffer at school

It was Halloween night Axle city, and all the kids and trucks were trick-or-treating. There were jack-o-lanterns dimly lit on every door step, and everyone was doing something to celebrate this spooky, spooky month! Clive, was dressed as the gingerbread man (despite it being halloween) and he was handing out free candies, and baked treats to all who passed by. Officer Anna well, she was on patrol being a police officer and all… But she showed the spooky spirit by either giving kids a piece of candy or two, or showing them a couple of tricks. Bump Bumperman on the other hand was hosting a special halloween race in the monster dome, with the prize being a whole trophy filled with candy (with the trophy being made out of candy too of course)!

You may be thinking where are Blaze and AJ during all of this surely they’re at the race right? That is where you are wrong dear reader, AJ was out trick-or-treating with Gabby. AJ was dressed up as a skeleton, while Gabby went with a zombie. Now this leaves one question unanswered, where was Blaze?

Our Blazing hero was hosting a Halloween costume party, and of course he invited his closest friends. Blaze himself was dressed up as a dragon with wings and a tail. And of course his friends were costumed up too, Darington for some odd reason was dressed as a ghost, while Stripes went as a lion, Starla was a wolf, Watts was dressed up as a witch, and Zeg was dressed up as a mummy. The party was in full swing and currently the final guests were about to arrive.

X X X “Can you believe it Crusher?! We’ve been invited to a party on Halloween night!” Pickle squealed, practically startling his companion.

“Pfft… It’s not that big of a deal, considering who invited us…” Crusher mumbled.

“But it is a big deal! It’s a costume party, plus I bet everyone will like our costumes!” Pickle exclaimed.

“Eh… I’m just not too sure about the costumes…” Crusher muttered.

Pickle had been begging Crusher ever since last Halloween if they could celebrate it normally instead of stealing candy or just ignoring it. And well… let’s just say Pickle had ways of making Crusher talk… He ended up saying yes in the end… But then Pickle wanted to do a bit of matching theme, if you ask why you probably won’t get an answer… But the duo ended up going through tons of ideas, before settling on one. An angel and demon theme. And if you couldn’t already guess who was who, Pickle was the angel with a halo and wings. And Crusher unfortunately got stuck with being the demon or an imp with horns and a tail, along with a pitchfork.

“What’s wrong with our costumes? I like them!” Pickle beamed.

“I mean it seems kind of stereotypical, and predictable to do matching costumes…” Crusher hissed.

“Hey no one said you had to come to this party with me or that you had to do a matching theme with me.” Pickle stated.

“You literally wouldn’t stop bugging and begged me using puppy eyes.” Crusher deadpanned, while rolling his eyes.

“Hey you chose to say yes! Now I’m sure everyone won’t mind our costumes, plus there’s no turning back now we’re already here!” Pickle exclaimed while pointing at the house painted in red in front of them.

“I guess you’re right…” Crusher sighed. “Let’s just get this over with…”

The blue cheater and his companion drove up to the front door of the house and much to Crusher’s annoyance Pickle decided to knock on the door softly and to wait there for a good ten minutes.

“Huh that’s strange, it seems like nobody's home!” Pickle said backing up from the door.

“Maybe you could’ve used the doorbell, instead of knocking..” Crusher replied with an eyeroll.

[crimsonwitchcraft]

beware the coming storm

“Wanda?”

“In here,” Wanda replies. She is curled over the toilet in the downstairs bathroom, one hand braced against the lip of porcelain, the other resting on her swollen belly. She coughs once, weakly, and then looks up as the doorknob turns and Vision enters the bathroom.

“Wanda, are you all right?” Vision asks, voice overflowing with concern.

Wanda flaps the hand that had been resting on her belly. “I’m fine,” she says, trying to sound dismissive.

A new wave of nausea overtakes her at that moment, though, and for the next few minutes she can only retch into the toilet. Vision kneels down beside her, gathering her long hair up behind her back and holding it away from her face, rubbing soothing circles into her spine. “Shh,” he croons, and, “It is going to be just fine.”

Finally, though, Wanda straightens, wiping her mouth on the back of one hand. “Sorry,” she mutters.

Vision smiles. “Morning sickness is common within the first trimester.”

“But it’s not morning,” Wanda points out.

“It is morning in name only,” Vision says. “According to my books, morning sickness can hit at any time during the day.”

“Oh,” Wanda mutters. “Phenomenal.” She squints up at Vision. “How much longer until I’m out of the first trimester?”

“I really could not say,” Vision tells her. “I do not have enough data to project how far along your pregnancy is, or how much longer it will be.”

“Great,” Wanda says, and heaves herself to her feet. “Well, I think it’s done for now, at least.”

“Good!” Vision exclaims.

Wanda rinses out her mouth, washes her hands, and pats them dry on the pink towel hanging by the sink. “Thanks, Vis,” she says.

“For what?” Vision asks.

Wanda hesitates, then says, “For always being here for me.”

Vision smiles. “Always, Wanda my dear. Now, let’s go get some food into you.”

---

Vision sits Wanda down at the table, proclaims, “Today I make lunch,” and bustles into the kitchen. Wanda watches him dither for a moment, opening cupboards and closing them, searching through the pantry, and exploring the spice rack, before she hauls herself to her feet and crosses into the kitchen as well.

“Can I help?” she asks.

“Absolutely not,” Vision says. “I told you I was making lunch today.”

“Well, what do you want to make?”

“I do not know,” Vision hesitates to say. 

“Well,” Wanda says, all patience, “what do we have?”

Vision opens the pantry once more and sticks his head and shoulders in. “We have,” he says, pulling back out so he can turn to look at Wanda, “uncooked noodles, three kinds of beans, parmesan cheese, a full bottle of ketchup, and can of diced tomatoes.”

“I really need to go to the store,” Wanda comments, as Vision returns to the pantry.

“Oh,” Vision says from within. “And a single potato.”

“A single potato?” Wanda repeats—and then bursts into tears.

Vision recoils out of the pantry as if he had been shot, and he hurries over to Wanda still standing in the doorway. “Wanda,” he says, placing his hands on her shoulders, worry filling his voice with tenderness. “Wanda, what is wrong?”

“Th-the potato,” Wanda manages to say through her tears. “It’s all alone.”

“It’s okay, Wanda,” Vision says. “It’s a potato. I don’t think it even knows it’s alone.”

“But I kn-know,” Wanda sobs.

Vision hesitates, pulls Wanda into a hug, then says, “All right, well then we’ll just have to go to the store and get the lonely potato some potato friends.”

“S-stop s-saying potato,” Wanda begs into Vision’s chest.

“All right. Then…we shall go to the store to get more…tubers?”

Wanda sniffles, laughs, then sniffles again. “Tuber?” she asks through snot and tears. “Really?”

“I could not think of what else to call them,” Vision says.

Wanda smears the tears away from her cheeks with her hands, and nods. “Okay,” she says, finally entering the kitchen properly and grabbing a paper towel from the counter. She blows her nose once, twice, and throws the paper towel in the trashcan. “Were you being serious?” she asks Vision.

“About what?”

“About going to the store to get more…tubers.”

“Absolutely,” Vision says. “Let me go get the keys.”

---

The store is bustling. Everyone in the whole town seems to be there, buying bread and toilet paper.

“Is it supposed to storm?” Vision asks Wanda, grabbing a basket from the stand by the door.

Wanda frowns, hugging the too-big coat she’s wearing closer about her chest. “Not that I know of,” she says.

They go to the produce section, and find the potatoes. They are next to the onions, and Wanda snags two of those as well as a bag of “tubers”. 

“What are the onions for?” Vision asks.

“Well,” Wanda says, “I figured you could make spaghetti. We already have the noodles and the tomatoes.”

“Ah!” Vision says. “Wonderful idea. And while we are here, we might as well get some other food as well, so that we do not have to come back to the store again for a few days at least." Wanda nods, and Vision says, “Perhaps I should have gotten a cart instead of a basket…”

“It’s not too late,” Wanda points out, and Vision nods.

“I will be right back!” he exclaims, and hurries off toward the front entrance once more to snag a cart.

He returns only a few minutes later, pushing a cart whose front, right wheel squeaks. “It was the best one I could find,” he says, sounding apologetic.

“It’s fine,” Wanda says with a smile. Vision smiles in return.

They meander through the store over the next quarter of an hour. Wanda does most of the actual shopping, though Vision tries to help.

“Do we need any sauerkraut?” he asks, holding up a bag.

“No,” Wanda says—then, “Yes, actually,” she amends, and snatches it from Vision’s hands. 

“Do we need bubblegum?” Vision asks a few minutes later, as they pass the candy aisle.

“Only if it’s grape flavored,” Wanda says.

Vision squints. “You don’t like grape flavoring,” he points out.

Wanda squints back. “Yes I do,” she says.

Vision frowns. “I suppose maybe this is an example of pregnancy cravings?” 

“I just want grape bubblegum,” Wanda almost snaps. “Is that too much to ask for?”

“No,” Vision says slowly. “I was just surprised is all.”

They make it another five minutes before Wanda stops abruptly, staring at the cheese selection. “I need cheese,” she announces. 

“What kind?” Vision asks.

“Uhm,” Wanda says. “I really don’t know.”

“Munster? Mozzarella? Cheddar? Swiss? Pepperjack?”

“I don’t know,” Wanda retorts. “Just….get them all.”

Vision looks at her, and looks at her—and then shrugs. “All right,” he says, and scoops five bags of cheese into their cart.

They finish getting the ingredients for the spaghetti, as well as whatever else Wanda decides she needs—hard-boiled eggs, chocolate chip cookies, watermelon, pickles, Ritz crackers—and then head to the checkout.

“Well hey there,” a familiar voice calls as they get into line at the register.

“Oh,” Wanda says, turning, “hey there, Agnes.”

“And what are you two doing here?” Agnes asks.

“Oh, just stocking up on groceries,” Vision says.

“You know it’s supposed to storm real bad today?” Agnes asks.

“No,” says Wanda, frowning. “We hadn’t heard.”

“Oh, it’s supposed to be a real doozy,” Agnes said, winking. “Nice coat,” she adds, and then whisks away.

“What was that all about?” Vision asks.

“No clue,” Wanda replies. 

“Next,” the cashier calls, and Wanda and Vision hurry forward.

---

“We should practice some of the things we’re going to need for the baby,” Wanda says over their spaghetti, an hour and a half later.

“Like what?”

“Like diapers, for one thing,” Wanda suggests.

“Oh, fantastic idea,” Vision says. “Breathing for another.”

“True,” Wanda agrees.

Vision smiles, and reaches across the table to seize Wanda’s right hand with one of his. He squeezes gently, then says, “I am so very happy about this. I am so very happy to be having a child with you.”

“Me too,” Wanda says softly. “It’s more than I could ever have dreamed of.”

Vision pulls her hand to his lips and kisses the back of it softly. “I love you, Wanda Maximoff.”

“I love you too, Vis,” Wanda replies, smiling through what feels like tears. “Always.”

“Always,” Vision replies. He squeezes her hand again, then stands. “Well,” he says, “I should clean up.”

“Thanks,” Wanda says.

“For what?” Vision asks.

“For everything,” Wanda tells him.

Vision smiles, brilliant and broad. “Of course, my dear,” he says, and heads into the kitchen.

Wanda watches him go, and smiles to herself, resting a hand on her belly. More than I could have ever dreamed, she thinks to herself—and Wanda Maximoff feels what she has not felt in a long, long time: pure joy.

[marypsue]

I cracked the last couple of questions I still had for the monster longfic I’m working on and filled another notebook, so I’m celebrating by posting another teaser for the sequel to the kids aren’t alright!

...

It starts, because of course it does, on Halloween.

If she was feeling more like herself, Barb would have some very sarcastic comments for the universe about that. About cliches, and being a little too on-the-nose, and how the original horror movie she had to live through really wasn’t good enough for a sequel.

But she’s not feeling like herself. She’s feeling cold, and shaken, and she keeps thinking she smells rot on the late-October air. Keeps thinking she can see flecks of drifting white moving in the corners of her vision.

Barb had fled fifth period biology when it had first started to seep in, an icy, somehow slimy, unwholesome cold creeping into every crack and crevice of everything yet to come. Had lost ten or fifteen minutes on the grimy tile floor of a bathroom stall trying to heave up something that wasn’t actually in her stomach, nauseated by the slick shivering inevitability of it in every direction she turned. She’s still got no idea how it hid itself from her at all, let alone so completely, so that by the time she got the first hint of a warning about it, it was already too late.

Unless – unless there were warnings, and she’d just brushed them off as paranoia, after what happened last November. After that – place. It had had the same kind of cold about it, the kind that chilled her almost feverishly, clammy and damp and sickening. Barb’s spent a full year trying to shake the memory off. If some of it hadn’t been memory –

But it doesn’t matter now. It’s too late. There’s nothing anybody can do to stop it, not anymore.

Whatever this is, it’s coming.

Nancy, loyal to a fault, had followed Barb to the bathroom, rubbed her back, and made sympathetic noises while Barb lost her lunch. Now she’s sitting on the concrete steps outside with Barb, breathing in the autumn chill, and Barb can tell she’s waiting for an explanation. Loyal to a fault, maybe, and brilliant and beautiful and determined, but one thing Nancy Wheeler’s never been is patient.

“Sorry,” Barb manages, pulling off her glasses so she can rub a hand against her left eye. The fresh air’s helping the dull throb that’s settled behind it, but the low, bright afternoon light isn’t. At least the nausea’s settled. “That – I wasn’t expecting it.”

Nancy just gives her big melty puppy-dog eyes and puts a slim hand on her arm. “Are you feeling any better now?”

Barb manages a nod.

Nancy glances back over her shoulder at the school before leaning in closer to Barb. Her voice goes hushed as she says, “I saw your nose start to bleed before you bolted. What happened?”

For a second, Barb considers lying. Blame the nosebleed on the dry air and the nausea on the pickled frogs they’d been dissecting or a bad egg salad sandwich or something. Whatever this thing is that’s coming, it’s bad. And there really, really isn’t anything anyone can do now to stop it before it starts. But if Nancy finds out – she’s going to try.

Barb doesn’t want to see what happens if Nancy tries to stop it. And not just because she’s got nothing left in her to throw up.

But then the door behind them is swinging open, with a metallic chunk and a squeal of put-upon hinges. Barb whirls around, heart in her throat even though she knows that it’s not that – that thing –

“Heard you left fifth period sick,” Jonathan Byers says, a crease of worry between his eyebrows, and Barb lets out a long sigh of breath as she relaxes. She won’t be able to keep the truth to herself now, but at least this takes it out of her hands. And – even with everything, it’s good to see him. If Barb had known what a sense of humour Jonathan’s been hiding under that hard shell of misanthropy, they might’ve been friends sooner.

The little twist of smile that crosses Jonathan’s face at that vanishes in an instant, that worry furrowing deeper. “What the hell was that?” he asks, with a piercing look at Barb’s face, settling down on the step on her other side.

Nancy shoots him a confused frown, and Jonathan bobs his head in Barb’s direction. And then they’re both looking at her, waiting for an explanation.

Barb swallows. She can still taste the bitterness of bile on the back of her tongue.

“I don’t really know,” she admits. “But it’s coming here.”

Nancy looks from Barb to Jonathan and back again. “Your vision?”

“Not a vision,” Jonathan says, before Barb can, and flashes her another twist of a smile when she turns to scowl at him.

“Something bad?” Nancy asks, her jaw starting to set in that way Barb knows means she’s got hold of an idea and she won’t let it go until she’s done something about it.

“Something weird,” Barb stresses, even though she’s pretty sure it’s already too late to change Nancy’s mind.

“You were throwing up. That sounds bad to me.”

“What sounds bad?”

Barb turns her head to look, just in time to get a faceful of Steve Harrington’s hair as he ducks down to plant one on Nancy. The smell of hairspray is overpowering. Barb coughs, leaning back out of range of the chemical assault, and collides with Jonathan’s shoulder.

Nancy makes a muffled, annoyed noise and pushes Steve off her, glowering. “Steve! This is serious.”

Steve shrugs, and claps Jonathan on the back with one hand before he settles down on the steps on Nancy’s other side. He tucks an arm around her waist, pulling her against his side, and Nancy shoots him a look that’s just a little too fond to really be annoyed before she settles against him. “Okay. It’s serious.” He leans forward a little, looking around Nancy to Barb. “Hey, you all right? Nicole said the frog dissection made you blow chunks. Don’t feel bad, there’s always one.”

“It wasn’t the dissection,” Barb says, as Nancy smacks her boyfriend in the chest with the back of one hand, not taking her eyes off Barb’s face. “It was the future.”

The joking grin drains out of Steve’s eyes before it fades off his face. “No shit? What was it?”

Barb fumbles for words, before turning a pleading look on Jonathan, who grimaces.

“I don’t really want any more of that slime in my head, either,” he says, which gets a quirked eyebrow from Steve and a thoughtful frown from Nancy.

“It – it feels like – that place,” Barb tries, which gets a look of understanding and what she thinks is a little bit of guilt out of Nancy, and a shake of the head from Steve. “The – Upside Down or whatever your kid brother called it. Where Jonathan’s brother was.” Her throat’s gone dry again, and she has to swallow before she can add, “Where that monster took me. And it’s coming here.”

“Not if we stop it,” Nancy says, after a beat, all flashing eyes and fierce determination, just like Barb had known she would.

“Nancy – we’re not going to stop it.” Barb has to look down at her interlaced fingers, away from her best friend’s face. “I ignored all the early warnings because I thought they were just bad memories, and now it’s too late. It’s coming here. Maybe we can – get rid of it, send it back, once it’s here, but I don’t know yet. And I don’t want to have to look at it again to find out.”

She can feel three pairs of eyes on her, but Barb doesn’t dare look up.

“That is bullshit,” Nancy says, at last, vehemently, and Barb puffs out a sigh. “No. I’m sorry, Barb, but I’m not buying it. If it hasn’t happened yet, then there’s still something we can do to stop it. Got to be. Right?”

“Nothing I could see. Nancy, I don’t want you getting in trouble trying to fight the inevitable, okay?”

“That’s our Nance,” Steve says, a little too fondly, tilting his head down to press a kiss to Nancy’s temple and putting both hands on her waist. Her whole face scrunches up, but she looks like she’s trying not to smile. “Always fighting the inevitable.”

“Steve Harrington, I swear to god if you try to tickle me -”

“Hadn’t even crossed my mind, right, Jonny-boy?”

When Barb looks over, Jonathan’s watching Nancy and her boyfriend with a crooked half-grin, like he doesn’t know if he’s allowed to laugh. “He’s an innocent man, Nancy,” he says, with mock solemnity, and Steve breaks into a huge, shit-eating grin over Nancy’s head at Jonathan before he leans over and blows on Nancy’s exposed neck, making her shriek. He follows it with a loud, smacking kiss to the same spot, and comes up looking like the cat who got the cream.

“See? You should trust me more.”

Nancy shoves him, but she’s laughing. “You’re an idiot, Steve Harrington!”

Barb looks back, sees the fond, soft smile Jonathan’s turned on the two of them, and abruptly feels a million cold, dark, rotting miles away from them all.

She pushes herself to her feet, deliberately looking away from Jonathan so she won’t have to watch his face fall. “I’m feeling better now. Think I’d better go apologise to Mr. Neal for running out on his class before algebra starts. Thanks for checking on me.”

“Barb,” Nancy says, but when she tries to get up, Steve yanks her back down into his lap. “Steve!”

“Oh, oh no, I’m – I’m trying to let you go, but – it seems like – kinda seems like – you ending up in my lap is inevitable?”

“Let me go, you Neanderthal -”

The school door slams shut behind Barb, muffling their voices.

[anotheronechicagobog]

The Crackship Sails to Molly’s

Sylvie Brett x Jay Halstead

1

written by @anotheronechicagobog​

Warnings: swearing, implied smut, Daswon sibling bashing, background manstead

A/N: Please comment :)

Jay was on the floor, in pain. The area around his socket was throbbing in pain, and his lower back was definitely going to have a bruise. He didn’t have time to react before Antonio was back and punching him in the face again. “Oh my god, Antonio stop it!”

He wasn’t fighting it, he just didn’t have it in him to try and stop the man he called his friend, though Jay supposed they wouldn’t be friends much longer. 

Antonio had managed to get in a few more punches before he was hauled off of Jay by Voight and half of the members of 51. Jay exhaled and went to close his eyes, but was interrupted by her entering his line of vision.

Sylvie.

Her mouth was moving, and Jay could vaguely hear her speaking over the shouting men and women. “Sylvie? Are you okay?”

“Me- What? Jay, I’m not the one who just got mauled by Antonio.”

“So you’re okay?”

“Alright get up, I’m taking you to med now. No arguments.”

“Okay.”

“Oh pickles, you’re actually agreeing to go to the hospital, something must be really wrong with you.”

“As long as you’re okay.” His voice was so hoarse he almost didn’t recognize it. Sylvie sighed as he looked at her dazedly while she buckled him up in her car. “I’m okay, I promise. I just have to make sure that you’re okay too.”

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SIX MONTHS AGO

It had been months since Erin left, and months since Sylvie had to dump Antonio because of his ex-wife. Jay and Sylvie ended up at a table together, neither one was feeling particularly happy at the moment and didn’t want to be around their romantically successful friends. So they sat together, nursed their drinks, and talked about Harry Potter. They’d bumbled around in discussion for a while, not having a whole lot in common, before finding out they were both Harry Potter fans. Will, the rest of the intelligence unit, and 51 weren’t big fans of the book series, sure they’d seen the movies but that was about it. They both found it relaxing to just talk about something that wasn’t about their important work or love. 

They started to spend more and more time together. It started because Sylvie mentioned how she hadn’t grown up in Chicago and was so busy she never got to see the sights, so Jay took it as a challenge and started showing her his favourite parts of the city. Restaurants, theatres, parks, museums, galleries, all of it. He even took her to a restaurant in Canaryville where everyone who worked there had known him his whole life. Sylvie was enthusiastically told stories from Jay’s childhood. Hiding behind curtains buck naked, exposing everyone on the street to his six-year-old butt while he and Will shook in giggles. Block-wide water gun fights. Years of ding dong ditch. Sylvie was in stitches before she even got her food.

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THREE MONTHS AGO

There was a fire. A bad one. And after receiving a patient on a gurney, something in the basement exploded, Sylvie and the patient were thrown several metres away. No one else had been injured, but Sylvie wouldn’t wake up, was bleeding profusely out of a cut on her head, and she had shrapnel in her back. It didn’t look good.

“Alright everyone, gear up. 51 just responded to a fire at a suspected meth lab, it was confirmed five minutes ago by an explosion. A paramedic, Sylvie Brett, was critically injured and is currently fighting for her- Halstead? Halstead where do you think you’re going? Halstead get back here!” At the words ‘Sylvie Brett’ Jay’s blood ran cold. At ‘critically injured’ he went into autopilot. Just stood up and left. Didn’t even grab his jacket. He ignored his boss’s enraged screams. He just got in his truck and drove to Med.

He ignored the odd looks he got from those at 51. He ignored his coworkers and boss when they came by to talk to their witnesses/ask him what the actual fuck was going on. He ignored his brother and sister-in-law when they asked him why he was there. He just stayed sitting in the uncomfortable chair for hours, watching nurses and patients flitter between the doors to the ED. It had been six hours when Platt came by to yell at him too only to be interrupted by Dr. Rhodes. “Sylvie is awake and stable, I expect her to make a full recovery. We can only allow one visitor at a time, and she has been asking for Jay since she woke up, she’s pretty frantic, so you’ll have to come quick.” He stood up and almost ran past Rhodes into her room, ignoring the confused looks from everyone at firehouse 51 and Trudy Platt.

“Jay, Jay, Jay, Jay, Jay-”

“I’m here Syl, I am right here.” She sobbed as he wrapped her hands in his. “I am right here, and it’ll take an army to get me to move. Or you, but that’s basically the same thing if someone denies you chocolate.” The laugh that briefly interrupted her sobs made his day, releasing the tension he’d been holding all day. Jay sagged in relief, and just held one of her hands as he used the other to gently hug her, hold her as she cried, sobbed, hiccuped and, whimpered from the physical pain expressing her emotions was causing her. “I thought I- w- was goi-i-ing to-o die-e.”

“I know,” he choked, “I thought you were going to die too.”

Jay had refused to leave the hospital until Sylvie ordered him to. “At least shower and change, ooh, get something to eat too.”

“You just want me to bring you mac and cheese don’t you?”

“You know me so well.”

“Alright, I’ll be back in an hour, don’t watch ‘Say Yes to the Dress’ without me.”

“You will take at least three hours to come back here.”

“Sylvie-”

“You have been sitting and worrying for the past three days, take some time for yourself. Don’t make me get Maggie involved.”

“Okay, fine, I will be back in three hours. Can you still wait to watch ‘Say Yes to the Dress’ with me?”

“Duh.”

“Okay, see you later.” He kissed her on the side of her forehead that wasn’t bandaged, and left, starting an alarm on his phone for three hours. He would be back on the dot.

The second he got to the lobby, however, he was met with all of firehouse 51 and the 21st district standing up, expecting news from him. “I’d love to stay and chat, but I have orders to shower and change from Syl. Apparently I smell.” Trying to use his charm to get out of a situation he didn’t feel like explaining. But, he knew everyone glaring at him well enough to know that they needed some kind of answer. “Sylvie has become a very important friend to me, that day was one of the worst I’ve had in a long time.” Fewer glares, more confusion, and a free Jay Halstead.

He returned to his favourite person on the planet exactly three hours later with two containers filled to the brim with homemade macaroni and cheese, his laptop, and a box set of the Harry Potter books. “You, are an absolute angel, Jay Halstead.”

“No more than you, Sylvie Brett. Here is your food.”

“Oh, it’s still warm. Okay, time for bridal drama and lots of carbs!”

Sylvie was still in the hospital with Jay at her side as much as possible for another week. When she was given the all-clear to leave, no one seemed satisfied with the answer that Jay was taking her home. “Gabby I’ll be fine! Jay is one of my best friends, okay? He’s gonna drive me home, insist he stay longer than he needs to, before eventually leaving me with Otis and Cruz.”

“Okay, seriously, when exactly did you become friends with Jay Halstead? And are you sure that’s all you are?”

“Three months ago, and yes, I am sure that we’re friends. I am gonna hang up now, because I really do not appreciate the third degree.”

“Oh, come on Sylvie, I’m just looking out for you and Antonio, I just want to make sure Jay’s not moving in on you guys.”

“Gabby, there is no me and Antonio. And there hasn’t been for a while. He was great, Eva and Diego were great, it was fun, but he in no way protected or prepared me for Laura. He kept from me how erratic and impulsive and rude her behaviour was. He told me that she knew about me and was fine with cause she’d dating a few guys since the divorce. But it turned out a lot of that wasn’t true. He lied to me, leaving me to fend for myself when she came barreling in on a warpath, and then yelled at me for reacting in a scared and shocked way. He was actually the one who suggested we break up. Whether he likes it or not, she is still a significant part of his and his children’s lives, as well as a significant hindrance. And please, don’t act like we’re getting back together. I loved him, but I’m done with him.” And she slammed her finger on the touch screen much harder than she needed to. “Gabby again?”

“Yes, I love her, and I know she means well, but she doesn’t know everything.”

“And she has a lot of audacity trying to tell you she does. It’ll be okay, I think that everyone is just really stressed out and confused. I think that if we just tell everyone that we bonded over Harry Potter they’ll understand and leave us alone pretty quick.”

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ONE MONTH AGO

Intelligence had set up a meet with a coke dealer to arrest him and get some intel. The buy wasn’t until 1 am and they didn’t have to start gathering equipment and double-checking everything for another three hours, so everyone was just going to eat and try to relax until then. But then Jay’s phone rang. Luna appeared on his screen with a picture of Sylvie staring at a tank of baby jellyfish with complete and utter fascination. “Hey Syl-”

“I need your help.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I know you’re working tonight, but- oh I probably shouldn’t have called-”

“Sylvie, what’s wrong?”

“The blind date I’m on right now? I- he was fine at first but I’m scared. There are red flags everywhere and I’m afraid I’ll end up in a ditch.”

“Marco’s Bistro, right?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll be there in ten minutes, you’re hiding in the bathroom, right?”

“Yes.”

“Good, stay there until I get there.”

“Of course.”

He nodded at Voight and ignored a livid Antonio. When he got to the restaurant, he told the hostess he was here to rescue his friend from a dangerous date and she didn’t even blink. “She’s still in the bathroom but you might wanna deal with her date after, he’s getting agitated.”

“Green dress shirt by the painting of the heron?”

“Yup.”

“Got it, thanks.”

“Hey,” he knocked on the door, “Sylvie I’m here.”

She exited and before he could even make eye contact with her she wrapped him in a bone-crushing hug, despite her shaking body. “I am so scared. He picked me up, saying that I couldn’t refuse him, he knows where I live.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.” 

 Jay watched her until he could see her in safe his truck before he approached the man, and he knew that Sylvie had every right to be worried. Sharp eyes, nasty temper, tan line on his ring finger, and he looked one second away from just grabbing the next person and caving in their skull. “Excuse me-”

“And just who the fuck are you pal? I’m here on a date so leave before I kick your ass.” Jay pulled his badge out from underneath the collar of his shirt and sat down across from him. “Give me your driver’s licence, please.” The douche (as Jay would call him for the rest of his life) handed it over pretty damn quick, he waved the waitress over. “This man is going to need his bill immediately, please.” She nodded quickly and darted off, then Jay pulled out his phone. “Hey Burgess, I need you to run a name for me. Arthur Garrett. Two t’s. Okay, thanks. Can you send down a couple of officers for me?” He waited until the bill was paid and backup arrived before speaking again. “Mr. Garrett, stand up and turn around. You are under arrest for failure to pay child support and failure to attend court. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you.” After the handoff, he saw his least favourite thing in the entire world. Sylvie crying.

“He had an arrest warrant out, he’s being taken to detainment now. I’m sorry this happened to you Syl, you don’t deserve it.”

“I just feel so stupid.”

“Well don’t, you weren’t even the one who set up the date. Can I ask you a favour though? Let me do a check on everyone you go on a date with, please. I’ll worry a lot less.”

“After tonight? You have a deal.”

“Oh thank God, I was worried I’d have to try and convince you.” He leaned over the console to kiss her cheek, he looked into her expressive eyes and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ears. Neither of them realized how close their faces were until Jay went to speak and their lips brushed together, in a feather-light touch. “We, uh, we were going to order a bunch of pizzas for dinner. It doesn’t look like you got to eat, would you like to join us?”

“That sounds great.”

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THREE WEEKS AGO

Sylvie had gone back to Fowlerton to spend the holidays with her parents and brother, and Jay stayed in Chicago to celebrate with his brother’s family. Will was in the kitchen with Helen, he and a very pregnant Natalie were watching the looney tunes version of ‘A Christmas Carol’ in the living room with Owen. It wasn’t until Jay thought, about ten minutes into the movie, that Sylvie would love to watch this and he’d have to add this to their movie marathon lost for when she got back that he realized just how much he missed her. Her demeanour, her personality, the way she made him feel warm and fuzzy without much effort. And then he had another, much more startling realization. “I’m in love with Sylvie.” Beside him, Natalie snorted and Helen called from the kitchen “congrats on being literally the last person to know.”

“What? How did my brother’s mother-in-law-in-law know before I did?”

“She follows you on Facebook, remember? Basically everything you post is Sylvie, about Sylvie, or Sylvie related. And vice versa, I see the way she looks at you, she’s into you too.”

“It’s only been a few months, how am I in this deep?” Jay completely ignored his brother’s observation, he could barely register his feelings, he didn’t want to get his hopes up about hers.

“Take it from me, Jay, when the right person shows up it doesn’t matter how long you’ve known them or had a bond with them. If it feels good, go with it. It will only cause you pain to move away from it.”

“I don’t know if either of us are ready for that. The timings just not right.”

Nat covered Owen’s ears, “timing is a bitch.” She released a confused Owen who immediately zoned out looking at the tv again with a kiss on his tiny head, “if you don’t think that you’re ready, that’s fine. But don’t put anything down for timing or the universe, they’ll just mess you up.”

“Yeah... I’ll think about it.”

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ONE WEEK AGO

Sylvie had been all set to go camping with Gabby and Stella, she’d been so excited and Jay had spent the last three days with her helping her pack and hanging on to her every word. Watching flit around in a flurry of excitement for a girls week. He was sitting on her bed rolling up her light blue sleeping bag with white polka dots when she got a call from Gabby and her face fell. Lines and bumps moved their way on to her face which was carefree and bright only seconds ago. “Okay, Gabby. I hope you and Matt and Stella and Kelly have fun.”

“She cancelled the trip? Or cancelled you out of the trip?”

”She decided to make it couples only. She also took the opportunity to tell me that Antonio’s single again.”

“You know what? You are not going to be sad. Because you have a week off of work, and so do I because we worked too much OT the past two months. Let’s go to Universal studios, I hear they expanded Harry Potter world.”

She smiled again. Bright and beaming and in a way that was just so, so her. “I’ll look at flights.”

Thanks to a bunch of last-minute deals, coupons, and first responder discounts they were on a plane bound for Florida in three hours. And when they got there, they went into prep mode for the next day, making sure that everything was ready to get up and go to the park, and they were so busy that neither of them noticed that there was only one bed until they were both drifting off to sleep, centimetres apart.

Waking up entangled in each other hadn’t been as awkward as either of them thought it would be. It was nice, warm. And it only got better as the week went on. They spent three days at Universal Studios, three at Universal Island Adventure, and one at Disney. Taking as much time as they could at each place. They went on every ride they could, multiple times, enjoyed all the themed food, took far more pictures than they had ever taken in their entire lives, and waited until the last day to buy any souvenirs because of how expensive everything was. They even held hands every day, Jay’s reasoning was so that Sylvie wouldn’t get separated from him but because of the time of year the population of the park was sparse compared to what it could have been. Sylvie knew this, knew that she didn’t have to hold his hand, but she wanted to. Badly. She didn’t care if it was only for while they were in Florida, she could pretend while they were there that they were more than friends. Because once they went home, she had to pretend that she didn’t love him with all her heart. But honestly, they had the time of their lives. Fun, food, and unresolved romantic tension. What could be better? It was their last day in Florida, their rental car was already loaded up with their stuff and after the fireworks display at Disney they were headed back to Chicago. 

Sylvie’s hair was mussed from the long day, and while she looked tired, she couldn’t take her eyes off of the display. And Jay couldn’t take his eyes off Sylvie. The multi-coloured lights were reflected in her eyes and the wind was blowing her hair gently. Sylvie could feel him staring at her and when she turned to ask him was what wrong, she stopped, her words dying in her throat. Jay’s entire soul was playing through his eyes. It was as if there was a tether connecting the two of them. Neither of them could turn away or blink. And Jay just went for it. He leaned down and kissed her with all the emotion his body possessed. The kiss making Sylvie feel weak in her knees. She wrapped her arms around his neck in part to stabilize himself, and in part to pull him closer. They’d missed the rest of the display just holding each other, but neither of them could bring themselves to care.

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PRESENT DAY

Dr. Choi had been assigned to Jay. He raised an eyebrow at Sylvie seated on the bed beside him but made no comment, paying heed to the words of wisdom Maggie had just bestowed upon him, “she’s the only reason he’ll behave and accept treatment.”

“Alright, while I’m happy you’re not here with a bullet wound detective Halstead, coming back after a fight wasn’t exactly what I had in mind when I said ‘avoid lead’.”

“And deprive you of my charming personality?”

“Yeah, yeah. Now follow my finger, let’s hope you don’t have a concussion.”

It had only taken about twenty minutes to determine that Jay, miraculously, didn’t have a concussion or any broken bones. Just a lot of swelling and bruises. “Thanks, Choi.”

“No problem, while you are discharged and free to go, you can’t travel yourself, I’m actually you can see with how swollen the areas around your eyes are.”

“That’s no problem, I’ll drive him home.”

“Alright, good. Remember Jay, desk duty for a week.”

“Ugh, I’m already bored.”

“I’m sure you are, now let’s go. I want to leave before a Dawson comes barreling in here, cause I might start swinging punches too.”

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

The next week Jay avoided Antonio, not intentionally though. After hearing what happened Voight decided to keep Halstead in the basement as much as possible for his desk duty. While it was boring and agitating not being in the field, Sylvie made sure to send him as many hilarious snapchats as possible, many of which consisted of her hiding in ridiculous places to avoid Gabby. The photo that had offended the Dawsons so greatly sat framed on his temporary desk. Apparently, the people behind them at the fireworks display their last day there thought they were so cute that they took a couple of pics during and after their kiss, but the new couple had left before they could be asked for contact info for the pictures. Luckily, they’d overheard them before the fireworks display talking about how while they were sad to go back to Chicago that night, the fire and police departments desperately needed them to keep their partners in line. It had been an amusing joke to Sylvie and Jay, but a way to post the photos for the people behind them. The Dawsons were already pissed that Jay was ‘moving in on Antonio’s girl’, but when they saw the photos on Facebook, with that mother posting the, admittedly gorgeous, pictures with the tags for CPD and CFD, looking for them so that the ‘adorable couple’ could have pictures from their first kiss, they were both livid. Gabby unleashing all of her fury, most of which was for unrelated things, on Sylvie at Molly’s, while Antonio just started punching.

It all came to a head when Jay was picking up Sylvie from her shift after he had finally been cleared to drive and go back to work. “Hey, you.”

“Hello, gorgeous.” Their quick peck was stopped by Gabby darting in between them and physically pushing them apart.”How can the two of you do this to Antonio? He still loves you Sylvie, even after all this, how can you-”

“Okay, you know what Gabby? You need to shut the fuck up.”

“Brett-”

“Uh-uh. I am talking now. Antonio screwed up. He lost his chance with me. So not only do you need to stop trying to meddle in my love life, but you need to stop feeling entitled to it. You have no say in who I do or do not date. End of discussion. No, ifs, ands, or buts. I am honestly at my wit’s end with you. I don’t even consider you a friend anymore because of how poorly you’ve been treating me.”

“Bu-”

“And don’t pull any more of that ‘but you dated my brother’ crap. I only did so at your encouragement. And I seriously regret dating him because of how much trouble you two are causing for me now because I choose to have a life and not let the end of my relationship with Antonio be the end of me. You need to leave me alone. I’ve already reported you to HR. I had no other choice after you locked me in the ambo for hours today without my phone or radio and wouldn’t let me out unless I got back with your brother. Goodbye Dawson. I’ll see you next shift.”

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THREE MONTHS LATER

Sylvie and Gabby were finally back on speaking terms, but took them a while to get there. Natalie and Hailey had become her best friends. They both understood how awful it was for someone to feel entitled to your love life, and how much gossipy coworkers who were closer than peas in a pod knew how to affect you more than anyone else. 51 had originally been avoiding taking sides, something that Sylvie was grateful for, and she made sure they knew she’d never ask them to choose. Everything, barring their relationships with Antonio and Gabby, went back to normal. Stella was asking for details about Jay, Cruz, Otis, Hermann, and Boden cornered him at Molly’s one night and threatened him, Upton told Sylvie plainly that she wasn’t allowed to hurt Jay, and the two made each other their emergency contacts. Jay also made stops by the firehouse with doughnuts from the place just around the corner from the 21st district. Sylvie, a secretly amazing cook, also dropped by the station with homemade food for the unit and Trudy on long nights.

Molly’s, in a bid to get more customers, started having trivia nights. Sylvie and Jay were practically vibrating in excitement because the trivia night that night was for Harry Potter.

“What did Draco steal from Neville during flying lessons in the first movie?”

“A remembrall!”

“What was the name of Hermione’s cat?”

“Crookshanks!”

“What was the device Hermione used to go back in time during the third movie?”

“A time turner!”

“Okay, and the winning pair is... Sylvie Brett and Jay Halstead! And can I just say that even though I work at 51 and not at the 21st district, I feel like I should have known that detective I-am-a-badass-army-ranger-and-can-kill-you-twelve-different-ways-with-a-pencil-eraser Halstead was such a nerd!” There was a roar of laughter from everyone including Jay. “Laugh all you want, being a nerd is how I got my amazing girlfriend.”

“Damn right it is.” A celebratory kiss was met with cheers from the tipsy group. “Alright, alright, stop making out with my honourary sister and come get your gift card to the aquarium.”

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EIGHT MONTHS LATER

Jay was trying to be sensitive to Antonio, really, he was. He put his photos of Sylvie in his locker, not on his desk, he took calls from her in another room. He didn’t talk about her with anyone from the unit. Sylvie was like an entity of golden light, anyone would be a fool to mistreat her or let her go, and Jay knew that both of the Dawson siblings were beating themselves up over their mistakes. But now Jay was pissed. Did he really think that Jay was so stupid he wouldn’t spot him at the table three rows down from them? That he wouldn’t make sure to take a closer look at the man sitting alone in a restaurant designed for dates, wearing all black, with a baseball cap and shades? And that was seriously the worst disguise, too. He could see numerous other couples and the staff take notice of him and they all looked concerned. Hell, even Sylvie noticed him the second he walked in! So they had decided in a little bit of revenge. They normally wouldn’t display PDA above hand-holding or a quick kiss, but tonight they’d made an exception. They were going all out, even choosing to sit on the same side so not only did Antonio have a clear view of both of them, but Jay would lean down and nibble on Sylvie’s neck, Sylvie would lean close to his ear and whisper in his ear, far, far too much physical contact. Oh, and kisses with tongue, can’t forget those when trying to make someone immensely uncomfortable.

They kept it up all throughout dinner and dessert. At some point in between appetizers and receiving the dessert menu, the PDA stopped being an act. They started riling each other up, enjoying what they were doing to each other. They finished dessert incredibly aroused, and paid the bill as quickly as possible. Jay was vaguely aware of Antonio following them but he couldn’t bring himself to care.

They made it to Jay’s apartment in record time and started ripping off each other’s clothes the second the door was locked. Jay lofted Sylvie up and carried her into his bedroom with Sylvie distracting him, kissing and biting his neck. Once they made it there everything happened slow and steamy, with Sylvie screaming Jay’s name multiple times, Jay purring and growling in her ear. They were vaguely aware of someone pounding on the apartment door, whoever it was (Antonio) had been doing so since Jay and Sylvie locked the door. But they didn’t care. They only focused on each other. They let him knock.

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

*Brring, brring*

“Mhm, Halstead.”

“Halstead, we caught a case in Humble Park. Meet Upton there.”

“Sure thing Voight.” He hung up and stared at Sylvie for a moment, taking in her soft skin, mussed hair, and even breathing. He kissed her forehead and closed his eyes as he wrapped his arms around her. “I love you, Sylvie Brett.”

“Mmm, I love you more, Jay Halstead.”

“Did I wake you?”

“Your phone did. You want me to make you some breakfast while you get in the shower?”

“That would be great.” He kissed her, revelling in the feeling of his naked body against hers first thing in the morning.

Jay walked onto the scene with a spring in his step, homemade breakfast in his stomach, and a reusable take-out cup filled with amazing coffee. “You’re looking happy Halstead. How’s Sylvie?”

“She’s great. She made these egg muffins, they’re really good, she sent a few in a container for you if you want them.”

“I absolutely want them. Sylvie is so sweet.”

“She really is.”

“You are so smitten.”

“I am, I uh, I’m actually thinking about proposing.”

“Oh my god, that’s huge!”

“Do you think she’d say yes?”

“Oh, she definitely would.”

“I haven’t had a chance to talk to Nat yet, but would you come with me to help pick out a ring?”

“You got it.”

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

Jay was beyond nervous, but he was ready. He was ready for Sylvie to be his fiance, then his wife, then the mother of his children. Sylvie was just getting dressed and then they were heading to the park for an Irish festival, which would end in green fireworks. “Hey!” Sylvie jumped out from their bedroom in a deep green knee-length dress. “What do you think?”

“You look absolutely gorgeous. Seriously, I have absolutely no idea how I got lucky enough to date you.”

Later, just before the fireworks were about to begin, after they’d spent the whole day dancing and eating, Jay led Sylvie to a spot on a hill that two officers had been guarding for him, courtesy of Trudy. “This is an amazing spot, Jay. What did you have to bribe Trudy with to keep it?”

“Permission to take pictures and a speech if you say yes.”

“Yes to what- oh my god.”

“Sylvie Brett. You are the light of my life, I have never been this happy before and it’s all because of you. I love you so much and I want you to be my everything for the rest of our lives. So please, Sylvie, will you marry me?”

“Yes, of course, YES!” Jay slid the ring Natalie and Hailey had help him choose onto her finger, then he jumped up, wrapped her in his arms and twirled her in the air. He stopped, still holding her, Sylvie caressed his face lovingly before leaning down and kissing the love of her life. Completely ignoring the fireworks behind them, and the camera shutters in front of them. They were getting their happy ending, and they were going to love every second of it.

[kumawrites]

hi!! idk how requests work but coffeeshop au with oikawa as the flirty barista and you're just trying to find a place to study okay bye 😶😶

iced vanilla bean latte

☆ oikawa tooru x reader ☆

☆ - 1.7k words

☆ - a/n: i based this 100% in a local coffee shop in my area that i frequent except i h8 coffee

☆ - taglist: @miceonmars

//

“Y/N, Obama was the last president of the United States, not the third.” Kiyoko looked at you with a pitiful gaze in response to your answer.

“Oh.” You blinked once. Twice. A third time for good measure. So your American Politics class was needless to say, not going very well. Honestly, you didn’t even know why you were taking an American politics class when you lived in Japan. Actually, you knew why. Because of your horrible habit of procrastinating literally anything that can be procrastinated, you foolishly waited until the very last day that you could to register for classes. And unsurprisingly, most of them had been completely filled, leaving American Politics to be the only history class that you were able to take. Which would have been just fine, had you not procrastinated studying and even taking notes.

You stared blankly down at your notebook that was barely a quarter full. Instead of taking notes and actually paying attention in class, you either skipped or distracted yourself playing games on your phone. Your professor never notified you since you sat right in the middle of the lecture hall, not drawing much attention at all. Maybe, that wasn’t a good thing, however. You had no connection to your professor at all, and asking for help this late in the game just didn’t feel right, which is extremely irrational but you really didn’t care.

Your problem would really just have been solved if you did care. Too bad you didn’t. However, you’re stuck in a bit of a pickle now, not knowing even the basics of the class, with midterms coming up and a frighteningly fast rate. You were bound to fail, and your parents would not be very happy about that. So, you decided that it was finally time to actually study. Except studying really meant learning all of the material that you had covered for half of the semester in about a week.

Luckily for you, you had great friends who were super smart and actually studious to help! Kiyoko had already taken the class, being a grade ahead of you, and had graciously blessed you with her notebook full of her beautiful notes. It was truly astounding how notes could be so pretty. Yachi, on the other hand, gave your studying tips and ways to actually study well. Without those two, you would have failed the midterm for sure, and most likely the course all together.

You were currently studying with Kiyoko in the library, well trying to at least. Apparently, you knew less than you actually thought.

“Wait, what’s a Conservative? Is that a branch of Congress?” You weren’t doing too hot.

“It’s a political party. They’re a more extreme version of a the Republican Party.” You nodded your head, slowly understanding. Why were politics so complicated?

“Oh, okay. I think I get it. So, Liberals are Democrats but more extreme?”

“That’s right.” Kiyoko nodded her head as you scratched down some of her notes into your own notebook. Kiyoko’s phone pinged and she grabbed it from the table, turning it on. She read the message, sighed, replied, and began packing up her things. “Sorry, Y/N, but my boss just messaged me. I have to go in tonight, Hana got sick.” You nodded and gave Kiyoko a slight smile and a wave as she left. Now it was just you, left to your own devices. You were half tempted to close your books and play Fire Emblem, but that seemed like a poor long term choice.

You kept at it for a surprisingly long amount of time, around an hour, until a rowdy group came in. Even though it was a library, it wasn’t the most quiet of places on campus, and many groups liked to come in to work on group projects. You had no problem with them, until they set down their bags and their bodies at the table right next to yours, still chatting loudly. Unfortunately for you, you didn’t bring your earbuds with you. Since you assumed you would just be studying with Kiyoko the whole time, you didn’t bother to pack them. The one moment in your life when you needed them the most. A tragedy.

You sighed and packed up your things, considering giving up studying for the day, until you realized you were running out of time and were still extremely confused. And tired. You yawned as your left the library, wondering where to go from there. Going back to your dorm would only lead to you playing video games and ignoring everything else, so that was off the list. Every other place you could think of would be far too noisy to actually study. You were in quite the pickle.

You were really close to giving up for the hundredth time until you passed by a coffee shop that you had never seen on campus before. Was that always there? No, it couldn’t have been. It was in the middle of a route you used all of the time to get across campus. But how did you never notice that this was there? The shop had large windows that you could peek through to see a very classy interior. Everything seemed to be made of a walnut coloured wood, excluding the black chairs and stools. There weren’t too many people in the shop, just a small crowd. It looked peaceful. You stood there for a bit before deciding to walk inside. Maybe this is where you could study in peace.

As soon as you opened the door, you were greeted with the smell of fresh roasted coffee beans. You stopped a vacant table and placed your belonging on it and took a seat. The chairs were surprisingly comfortable, even though they seemed to be made of metal. The vibe in the entire shop was very calm. You could get used to this.

You took your notes out and began to study, creating flashcards and making your notes a bit cleaner and more cohesive. This was the kind of productivity that you needed to have on a daily basis. Too bad that this energy was for sure going to leave your body once you finish your midterm. Another yawn left your body, and you turned your head towards the counter. You could buy a coffee. That wasn’t going to break your bank account. Yeah.

You stood up and headed towards the counter, staring at the menu. Everything on the menu sounded fine, but you didn’t know exactly what you wanted.

“Hey! What can I do for you today?” A cheery voice broke you form your thoughts and you brought your eyes back down to look at who was speaking to you. The barista that greeted you had a charming smile on his face, one that you knew just drew people in. He was pretty, for sure, but you didn’t have time to think about pretty boys, too focused on trying to pass your class.

“Hi there. I’ve never been here, so I’m not too sure what to get. What would you recommend?” You have him a polite smile in return, and shifted your gaze back to the menu. There were so many options that you were a bit overwhelmed with choices

“Hmm..” The barista tapped his chin and scrunched his face a bit. “What about the vanilla bean latte? It’s really good iced!” He suggested and you nodded your head.

“Okay, sure. I’ll have that as a 24 ounce, then.” You ordered such a large drink since you assumed that you would be here for a while, having so much material left to study.

“Oh, it’s Y/N.” You replied and he hummed, typing it into the tablet on the counter. Your total came up and you handed him your card, making sure to leave a tip.

“That’s a cute name, just like you!” You stared at him. It was like someone had just stopped a record right in the middle of a song. What? Did you hear that right?

“Sorry, um, what?”

“I just think you’re super cute. We’ll have that vanilla bean right out for ya, Y/N.” He winked and walked over to his coworker who was making your drink. You vaguely remember his coworker scolding him, telling him to ‘stop flirting with the customers shithead’, but you really weren’t listening. Were you just, flirted with? Is that how this works? You for sure were not expecting that to happen.

You returned to your seat and opened up your notes, trying to forget the flirting(?) and focus on your studies. That’s what you came here to do, not flirt with a cute barista that you would for sure go on a date with. But, he was probably just a flirty person, you figured. If his coworker scolded him like that, it was probably a common occurrence, meaning you shouldn’t take it to heart or anything. He was just super cute.

Only a few minutes after you began to actually focus in on your work, you noticed that a large plastic cup full of iced coffee and a plate with a muffin was placed down at your table. Looking up, you saw the cute barista with a beaming smile on his face.

“Here you go, Y/N. Hope you like it.”

“Oh, I didn’t order a muffin.” You tilted your head up at the man who chuckled in response.

“I know. It’s on the house.” And with that, he gave you a tiny wave and disappeared into the back room, leaving you shook. Was this protocol? No, definitely not. Was this protocol for him flirting with every female customer? His boss wouldn’t let him give out that much free food. Was he really, for sure, actually, flirting with you? Was this real? Are you real? Okay, not time for an existential crisis.

You picked up the muffin on the plate, and noticed a small note that was placed under it.. It read, ‘text me!!!! :) xxx-xxx-xxxx - oikawa’. At this point, you were pretty damn sure he was flirting with you. Holy shit. He was flirting with you. Oikawa, you assumed his name was, still hadn’t come out of the storage room, so you couldn’t gauge his reactions or anything. You stared at your phone that you picked up like it was an explosive, ready to detonate. Were you actually going to text him? Was this actually a good idea? You know what, fuck American politics, you had something far more pressing to deal with at the moment.

y/n: hey is this oikawa? this is y/n

oikawa: hey cutie!! ;)