#slash forms a plan/opinion on the goings on other than 'we can protect you'

[hoarding-stories]

Interested to see how this talk goes with Steel, I think it'll kinda set the tone on getting assistance from the Citadel for Ame. She's done it their way and waited to have a conversation, now to see if she gets anything actually useful from it.

[canyouhearthelight]

The Miys, Ch. 148

This chapter got... long. In a good way. I mean, who objects to a chapter that is practically double-length?  Right.

Speed-run shout outs this week go to: @nagisa-666, @crimson-faith27, @colornotes23, @theronisengard, @gam3rgur1.

Beta-reading thanks go to @baelpenrose, along with general thanks to @the-raven-fae, @anotherusrname, and @charlylimph-blog for being amazing people.

A few things I want to note: the technology behind these suits is NOT my creation. They are very strongly based on the suits used by Rifters in Peter Watts’s Rifters triology. I wish I could take credit for them, but honesty is the best policy.

I hope all my readers are okay wherever you are.  There’s been a lot of severe weather in the last couple of weeks, and I just want you all to be safe.

Once we had Charly, Antoine, and Maverick on board to help with our project, Grey and I agreed that a meeting of the Council would be necessary to cover what we were hoping to achieve - especially once we discovered that the original plan behind the bivouac suits was only waiting for our votes for full approval.  For once, I was looking forward to a full, in-person meeting so that I could glare down every one of my peers, face-to-face.

Glaring over video just lost a certain…. je ne sais quoi.  Even Tyche and Arthur agreed.

As I entered the rarely-used Council chambers, the sheer lack of people caught me off guard.  Grey and Pranav had not arrived yet, but the only others present were Xiomara, Eino, and Huynh.  Eino seemed to notice as I stopped short, and smiled gently. “I know it has been quite some time, but it is protocol that when the Council is voting to override our hosts, or one or more Councillors actually oppose an initiative that impacts the entire ship, only the sitting members and Miys are included in the meetings. Not even administrators are allowed.”

I blinked slowly. “When did that start? Even Arantxa’s trial had administrators in attendance.”

“Witnesses,” Huynh shrugged. “This isn’t a trial, it’s a debate, and our votes cannot be influenced by outside parties.”

“And, thanks to you and Grey, we’re sequestered until we reach a unanimous agreement,” Xiomara added, glaring.

“I disagree, Xiomara,” Grey responded as they breezed into the room. “The entire reason we have a Council is to ensure that the needs of the many are being considered.  Sophia already has a back up plan in the event that our hopes do not pan out, one that is quite more agreeable than what you initially took into account I dare say.”

Eino, ever the peacemaker, held up one pale hand. “Please. Let us save our arguments for the actual debate. Instigating hard feelings will only extend these proceedings, and I believe several of us have lives outside of work we would like to return to.”

“What are the two of you bickering about now?” Pranav sighed as he took his seat.  I hadn’t seen him come in after Grey, but apparently he had been in the room long enough to secure a plate of biscuits and what smelled like tea.  The look I gave him only garnered a wink.

“Before they start in again,” Eino responded as loudly as he ever got - which was a firm tone but not terribly loud in all honesty, “The entire Council is present, so we will be starting shortly. I would like to confirm that our esteemed host is present as well?”

“Indeed,” the reply came from the ceiling. “And per human custom, I have only myself to consult with. Councilor Emeritus Rodriguez is not present.”

“Thank you. With that, we may call the session to order.” Eino stood, acting as parliamentarian for the duration. “As you are all aware, Miys recently brought to our attention that humans are, in fact, considered a Class III Biohazard within the greater Galactic community. To protect the Eko-mari fleet that will be escorting us, we are asked to comply with safety protocols which ask that we wear the bivouac suits.”

I stifled a giggle when, rather than showing a projection to the group, he pulled out one of the ridiculously tiny suits.  The only one who apparently heard me was Xiomara, who sat in her customary seat to my left and kicked my shin gently.  For all that we were at loggerheads on this topic, it was apparent that we were both ready to lay it to rest and celebrate-slash-commiserate over a meal.

As he handed the sample-suit off to his left, Eino flicked up a schematic. “For the edification of the group, the bivouac suits are structured from a reflex-copolymer sheath which is selectively permeable, hydrophobic, and resistant to extreme temperatures. Oxygen and nitrogen are able to pass through the suit from the outside, while carbon dioxide is able to pass from the inside. They seal in the back with a semi-intelligent macromolecule, with a second macromolecule across the mouth that allows us to attach nutrient packs so we can eat while in the suit.”

This was so much worse than I expected, and I could feel my heart beginning to race and my gag reflex kicking in. I wasn’t even claustrophobic, but just the idea of putting one of those suits on made me feel like I was suffocating.  Glancing around the table, I could visibly see at least Huynh’s opinion changing from apathetic to… sweaty and fidgety.

Eino continued, dismissing the schematic. “The vote today is whether this is the correct solution for the situation, or if other options should be considered.  Xiomara Kalloe, as you are defending the majority opinion, you have the floor first.”

“Thank you,” she acknowledged as she took the floor. “Council, my acceptance of the bivouac suits is quite simple - this is standard Galactic safety protocol when interacting with a sentient species that could be considered harmful to your own or others simply by virtue of existing in the same atmosphere. As our species is the one considered to be the biohazard,  custom expects that we would be the species in containment.  Otherwise, there is a possibility of danger to not only the Ekomari, but also any other species that stepped on their ship until it is properly decontaminated. While decontam is a simple process for the Ark - as Hujylsogox ships are designed with such measures in mind and largely handle the process themselves, at all times - records indicate that decontamination of an Ekomari ship would require near-complete disassembly, along with replacement of any porous surfaces.”

Even I had to whistle softly at that. Okay, then. We are that gross, got it. Not surprised, given the number of plagues humanity had experienced, combined with some of the people I had dated in the past.

“I believe the impacts of your statement are quite apparent, Councilor Kalloe. Thank you,” Eino stated. “Dissenting opinion is being provided by Councilor Sophia Reid. Questions will be addressed after dissenting opinion has been provided and a fifteen minute recess has been taken to allow consideration. Sophia? Your floor.”

“Thank you, Eino.” I smiled gently before composing myself. “While mine is being considered the ‘dissenting’ opinion, due to the exact reasons that Xiomara herself provided, I entirely agree with the need to be careful and considerate of other species, especially regarding the potential to repeat the smallpox-blanket mistakes of our past.” Without fail, the entire group winced.  “Exactly. We all agree that we aren’t doing that again - not should not, are not.  All that I am asking the Council to take into account is the potential to traumatize members of our own group by only considering the bivouac suits as a possibility.  Yes, the bivouac suits have proven themselves out by the entire galactic community, they are completely safe from a physiological perspective, et cetera.”  

This is where I had to take a deep breath, since this was literally my entire argument, and I had already admitted as much. “I am not arguing the use of them entirely, I am arguing the use of the suits, strictly.  Selfishly, I find myself experiencing a panic response at the idea of wearing them, and that is only by being more familiar with them - I’m sorry, Eino, but before you gave more details, my personal opinion was ‘I will sweat, but I can suck it up’. Now it’s ‘oh hell no and I’m not even claustrophobic, eff this’.”

“Understood,” he conceded gently.

With a nod, I forged on, encouraged. “However, that is just for myself. There are members of the Ark who cannot bear the feel of clothes, who fear restrictions, or the dark… Valuable members of our crew who will experience severe psychological trauma if forced into one of those suits.  And that, I cannot let go unspoken of, or unnoticed, without being remiss in my role as Councilor.” I steeled myself from glancing at Xiomara; she was over Health and Safety, and any form of addressing her directly would be considered a direct attack on her competence. “I have alternatives, to be used in conjunction with the bivouac suits, so that we can all keep those escorting us as safe as possible while also protecting our own people.”

I took my seat, and as soon as my hands dropped to my lap, Xiomara grabbed one and squeezed my fingers. The debate was over, the rest of the Council just had to figure that out.

“Thank you, Sophia,” Eino nodded seriously. “We shall take our break, and then convene for questions. Xiomara and Sophia, we ask that you remain at that side of the room. Councilors, you are asked to stay on the opposite side of the room. You are allowed to speak among yourselves, but any questions for Sophia or Xiomara are to be held until we as a group can consider them at the same time.”

Xiomara leaned over. “Derek,” she whispered sadly.

“Or Nixe,” I admitted. “Can you imagine forcing her into one of those?”

“Not without reinforcements and enough sedative to drop a horse,” she admitted, squeezing my fingers one more time before releasing them.

The break ended quickly, and Pranav was kind enough to quickly-but-silently set snacks and drinks, along with an enormous pitcher of water, in front of me and Xiomara before we picked up with the questions they were allowed.

Without hesitation, Huynh’s hand shot in the air to ask the first question.  While I never quite got around to actually liking him, I could very much appreciate his tendency to get straight to the heart of what he wanted to know, with very little patience for anything he deemed less important. “Clearly, you both agree on the need to quarantine ourselves, there is no argument there. Sophia, you mentioned alternatives to the bivouac suits. What are those?”

Grey gave me a pointed look with a slight squint. They were smug in the knowledge that we had already turned one vote, and I resisted the urge to grin in response. “Absolutely. As I mentioned, there is a significant portion of the population on the Ark that would be psychologically triggered by the bivouac suits. I have already spoken with members of the medical and engineering teams, and there are several options that we can adapt for our use, all of which are already in use within the Galactic community.”

With a flick, I brought up one example on the table emitter. “First, we have portable bioelectric fields, similar to what was used in medical when we first came on the Ark. Our teams have seven-nines of certainty that they can have these ready before rendezvous.” Flick, another example. “For more drastic situations, or simply so that we are not required to wear the suits at all times, even when we are back on the Ark, quarantine procedures in specified areas - similar to an airlock - so that anyone who does not or cannot wear a suit or personal field can remain safely in quarantine to keep the fleet away from our general biological ick.”

Nods circled the table. Xiomara went from drumming her fingers to pressing them down hard enough to turn her nail beds white - she was literally gripping for dear life to keep from laughing. I coughed to hide my smile, and forged on to the third option. “For the next example, I want to be clear: this is an entirely serious suggestion, regardless of how comical it looks.  Even without knowing the composition of the bivouac suits, we did practical tests with the sample that Noah was kind enough to leave with my office. Again, I am entirely serious, this is not a joke, no matter how much it looks like one.”

Despite my warning, I heard a round of snorts and no few giggles as I put the next example up on the emitter. I ignored them, completely understanding how comical it looked, allowing them to compose themselves. Gesturing at the nearly-spherical generic-human shape that was being projected, I soldiered on. “This is one of the bivouac suits, with added atmosphere to avoid claustrophobia.” With both hands, I pivoted the image to point at the back, just where the neck met the spine. “An atmospheric generator has been added here, to re-inflate the suit in the event that the person wearing it needs to eat or otherwise breach the suit.  Obviously, this would be done in one of the aforementioned quarantine areas, not on the actual Ekomari vessel.”

Huynh’s grin was nothing short of feral.  “These are all quite solid suggestions. Thank you.”

“Wait,” Pranav sputtered. “You’re quite serious about the… balloon man?”

Grey slid a pocket-sized atmospheric generator over. “Practical demonstration, if you want to try it on.”

Shaking his head with a smile, he slid it over to Huynh. “I am certain his department can do more with it than mine, but it should prove to be… quite an introduction to our stellar neighbors.”

“Any further questions?” I asked, feeling significantly more confident.

“I have one for Xiomara, and possibly Grey, actually,” Eino asked, clearing his throat. “Despite the fact that this will be readily apparent, I feel like I should preface this would not have been something I previously considered, but now I must know.” Oh, shit. My glance down at Xio revealed a very similar sentiment. “It has been mentioned that humans are considered a Class III Biohazard? We have put a lot of effort into defending the Ark from the potential of pirates, looting, and possible enslavement. If we are a Galactic biohazard, what value would there be in any species abducting us only to potentially die or experience at least a plague if we are encountered? Would that not… deter? Species from attacking us?”

Xiomara pinched the bridge of her nose. “I see where this is going. Please convey this to the person who I am reasonably sure you are asking this for:  Yes, being a Class III biohazard also makes humanity a Class III bioweapon. And while that would initially make others hesitant to abduct us, eventually there are groups that will figure out quarantine protocols, just like we have, and will realize that they can just… smuggle a human on a ship, wait for everyone on board to die or get to ill to function, and then sweep in to just… I don’t know, blow the locks. Who thinks of a weapon as a person? It’s not like they’ll worry about what happens to the human who gets swept into space.”

“And all of ‘the humans’ are on this ship, eventually on that colony,” I added, with all the gravity I could include. “Meaning we all know that ‘bioweapon’. There are seven ‘bioweapons’ in this room, alone.”

The room fell into silence, until Eino was brave enough to clear his throat. “So. If the debate is over, let us vote.  We will await suggestions for stepping up drills and defense training.”

The motion carried quickly in favor of using the proposed combination of containment measures, with unanimous agreement. 

<< Prev  Masterlist  Next >>

[tonystarktogo]

Last part of the time travel crack ‘verse for now (and sorry for making you all worry about the scepter, I didn’t mean it that way, it just seemed like a good cut-off point tbh):

"The scepter! Did anyone keep an eye on the scepter?"

"I assure you," Agent Agent, who looks a little singed and has a bandage wrapped around one ear, yet continues to rock the personality-free drawl that tricks people into thinking he’s not worth paying attention to, speaks up, "that the scepter is still safely in SHIELD custody, Dr. Banner."

Banner scoffs.

Rogers grimaces.

Barton winces.

And oh, all other issues aside, the vindication of this moment is glorious. Tony feels fully justified in the doubtful look he aims at the screen. You know your show sucks balls when even your own operative doesn’t buy what you’re selling.

"That’s great," Banner says in a painfully droll voice. "But I’ll feel a lot better when we hand it over to our resident Asgardian prince for safekeeping rather than put it into a secret high-security facility and hope for the best. Like the one you stored the Tesseract in took Loki what, five minutes to take over?"

Woah, talk about burn. Tony doesn’t bother muffling his snicker. Who’d have thought Banner has it in him?

[continues under the cut]

"Hang on, wouldn’t it be better—" Rogers interrupts before Fury or Coulson can come up with an excuse, which judging by their sour-slash-carefully-blank expressions isn’t as easy as they’d like it to be.

Banner raises one hand. It shouldn’t be a power move on part with his green counterpart squashing a car in his fist, isn’t even particularly aggressive but for some reason Rogers shuts up. Immediately. The bright, eerily green eyes might have something to do with it. 

"If you’re going where I think you’re going, I advise you to reconsider," Banner growls, the vocals deep enough that Romanoff reaches for the nearest weapon. "Even setting my personal issues aside, it’s not worth the risk."

Barton sighs with what sounds less like exhaustion and more like sad resignation. "Hate to say it, Cap, but he’s right. Sending the scepter off-Earth with the Tesseract is probably the safest course of action we can take right now. We can’t count on being that lucky again."

"Agent Barton," Agent Agent’s words drip with such a pointedly polite friendliness, it’s a wonder he doesn’t spear his own tongue on it. "Please desist in trying to hand off objects that pose an immediate threat to global security to an unvetted alien who, while a valued ally, is in line for the throne of a foreign world."

And wow. Tony’s not gonna win a prize for his sensitivity any time soon, but there’s some things you just don’t say to a guy who got brainwashed into doing an alien’s bidding less than forty-eight hours ago. Going by the way Romanoff has gone rigid, she agrees.

Luckily for everyone present, Barton doesn’t bat an eye at the dig. He leans forward instead, elbows placed on his tights, the picture of relaxation. As long as you ignore the expression on his face that could possibly pass for a smile. If you catch sight of it out of the corner of your eye. Through a dirty mirror. 

"Not that I’m not glad to see you alive and well, Phil, because I am. But getting my head rolled once was already one time too many and if the Tesseract is powerful enough to draw fucking aliens to it then it’s too fucking powerful for us to protect." Barton’s voice becomes progressively lower as he continues his little not-having-any-of-your-shit rant. "More people are gonna get killed over that thing. Good people. Because we don’t have the damn resources to keep it safe. So if we gotta bet on Asgard for this, then that’s what we’re gonna fucking do because to be frank with you sir I’d rather lead the hostile aliens to a world ready for interstellar warfare than my own."

Thor straightens from where he’s been fixated on Loki for the past hour or so, trying to crawl into his brother’s skull through willpower alone by the looks of it, and dips his head in Barton’s direction. "Thank you for your faith," he says gravely, as though Barton hasn’t straight up told everyone in this room he wants to use Asgard as a shield-slash-sacrificial-offering. "I hope my people will prove worthy of it."

"Should be fine." Banner shrugs with a nonchalance Tony envies. "’s long as we take care of your murderous sibling first."

Thor winces. Loki’s face loses whatever expressiveness it had left and it already was at state zero: emotions not welcome here to begin with. 

But. Tony tilts his head. Why not just call Loki by his name? Unless, of course, Banner isn’t referring to him. But how would the infamous Hulk-slash-brilliant-scientist have gotten himself wrapped up in alien family drama? And is there a form Tony can sign? Because he hates being kept out of the loop.

"Avengers!" Fury snaps before things can get any more awkward. Which, good for him, but in Tony’s fine opinion he should have taken the win and be done with it. There’s just no winning against whatever type of madness — not to mention feelings — these people are so inconsiderately spreading inside his walls. "You’re not bartering off our best chance to defend ourselves against alien invaders, have I made myself clear? That’s an order."

Rogers scoffs at the screen and damn it, Tony’s determined not to like the guy but the way he just smirks humorlessly as he stares Fury down, all aww shucks did you want the pretty, glowy thing too and well too damn bad for you makes it hard. Especially when Rogers goes that little extra mile and asks with a plain as day air of who fucking cares: "Whatever gave you the impression that this is a negotiation, Director Fury?"

It’s just too great a line to resist and Tony is only human. He makes a sharp gesture with his hand and JARVIS disconnects the call before they witness Fury pop a blood vessel. Let that be Agent’s problem for the time being.

"So," Tony states after a moment. "Besides all but declaring war on SHIELD, the organization two people in this room are officially employed by, for the record, and dealing with Reindeer Games over there, what’s the plan?"

Nervous shuffling. Awkward grins. Badly-hidden glances going back and forth. 

Perhaps most notably, nobody protests the declaring-war-on-SHIELD part. Tony would ask but frankly he’s still on his first glass of scotch — meaning way too fucking sober for whatever madness the answer to that question will undoubtedly raise. It’s a sad, sad day in the history of mankind when Tony is the voice of reason in a room filled with one-person-armies.

"What about Shawarma?" Rogers, apparently the most uncomfortable with the pressing silence, blurts out.

Tony gives that pitiful attempt to change the subject the nice try, have to admit I didn’t see that coming but you’re gonna have to give me more than that look it deserves. As it turns out though, he may have been overestimating his present company’s average ability to read a room.

"I could go for a bite," Barton pipes up, earning himself a soul-shriveling, dead-eyed, where the fuck did I go wrong with you and how have I not killed you yet stare, courtesy of Romanoff that he brushes off with admirable ease. Still not moving an inch away from her either and if Tony’s noticed the way her hand’s been edging ever closer to the knife strapped to her calf, there’s no way Barton hasn’t.

"Sounds good," Banner chimes in with a twisted amusement that makes Tony want to scratch his eyes out. "I know just to the place."

*

They do eat Shawarma together. [All of them, even Loki, because Thor insists his brother is far too thin. Considering Barton doesn’t protest and the only person Loki tries to stab with his salad fork is Thor himself, nobody comments on it.]

As if to add insult to a very long list of injuries that Tony is dying to poke and prod at, the food tastes delicious.

*

Okay so the whole antagonizing SHIELD thing wasn’t planned, but I figured in this AU there was no drawn out battle and no bomb and so there was no ‘thank fuck we’re even alive right now’ relief to take the edge of. Instead everyone is pissed off and frustrated (if for very different reasons) and not outright attacking the helicarrier right now is about all the diplomacy Steve has the patience for at this point.

[hpanimagusfest]

Animagus Masterlist - Creators Revealed

We would like to thank everybody who has made this fest such a success, whether as a prompter, creator, or reader! We hope the featured fics, art, and podfics have brought you happiness in these crazy times we’re living in. Now, without further ado, may we proudly present the HP Animagus Fest 2021 Masterlist.

ART

Title: The Whirling Ways of Stars That Pass Artist: Bluebutter @bluebutter-art Rating: Gen Art Medium: Digital Art Pairing: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter Prompt: #30 Summary:

Being a polar bear Animagi makes Harry crave holidays and time in icy places like Iceland and the North Pole, which is why Harry and Draco decide to spend their first holiday together to see the beautiful Northern Lights. There's just one tiny problem: Draco hates the cold.

That's okay though. He can get warm cuddling in his lover's soft fur.

See on AO3

PODFICS

Title: [Podfic] Harry's Wolves by dracogotgame Podficcer: Thunder_of_Dragons @thunder-of-dragons Original Author: dracogotgame Rating: Gen Length: 12 minutes Pairing: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter Summary: 

Harry wakes up to an empty bed and wolves in the garden.

Listen on AO3

Title: [Podfic] Of mammals, birds and reptiles by Jessa_yeah Podficcer: Thunder_of_Dragons @thunder-of-dragons Original Author: Jessa_yeah Rating: Gen Length: 12 minutes Pairing: Hermione Granger/Ginny Weasley, Rolanda Hooch/Minerva McGonagall/Pomona Sprout Summary: 

Post-war Hogwarts. A small note appears on the announcement board in the hall, offering extracurricular courses. Ginny and Hermione sign up. Something new builds from there - something good. A story about healing, growth, hope, love and comfort.

Listen on AO3

Title: [Podfic] I Loved You Like The Fall Of Rome by pansexual_intellectual Podficcer: bluedreaming @porcelainsalt Original Author: pansexual_intellectual Rating: Mature Length: 1 hour, 24 minutes Pairing: Regulus Black/Lily Evans Summary: 

Lily Evans looks at Regulus Black, across a vast, seemingly uncrossable, expanse, and thinks maybe. Eyes lingering over green-and-silver, and a heartbreakingly beautiful boy amidst them all, she thinks, I wonder.

Listen on AO3

FICS

Title: Old wounds never fully heal  Author: Lillycatdani11 @alyssadani19 Rating: Teen Word Count: 1,008 Pairing: Sirius Black/Hermione Granger  Prompt: #14 Summary: 

Sirius helps Hermione after her bad day at work.

Read on AO3

Title: Saved by a snake Author: Jessa_yeah @thefisherqueen Rating: Gen Word Count: 2,003 Pairing: Minerva McGonagall/Poppy Pomfrey Prompt: #99 Summary: 

Barely a month into her new job at Hogwarts, Poppy Pomfrey spots a kitty in trouble. She rushes to help - but the 'kitty' in question has some opinions on this.

Read on AO3

Title: Keep Me Close Author: MarchnoGirl @drarryruinedme7 Rating: Explicit Word Count: 2,082 Pairing: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter Prompt: #32 Summary: 

Draco Malfoy is always tidy. Perfect. Not a strand of hair out of place. Enter Harry Potter and a certain quality of his…

Read on AO3

Title: Sign Author: Samunderthelights @samunderthelights Rating: General Word Count: 2,511 Pairing: Teddy Lupin/James Sirius Potter Prompt: #124  Summary: When Teddy had rejected his kiss, James didn’t think things could get any more embarrassing than that. But when - after months of hard work - he finally transforms into his Animagus form for the first time, things get a lot more embarrassing.

Read on AO3

Title: What We Find Beneath it All Author: SumthinClever @welcome-to-fandomonium Rating: Explicit Word Count: 4,591 Pairing: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter Prompt: #29 Summary:

 Harry's animagus is an octopus. He eventually convinces Draco to join him beneath the Black Lake and they explore what hides beneath the lake and each other.

Read on AO3

Title: as the crow flies Author: saltwatergarden @talkingtravesties Rating: Teen Word Count: 5,452 Pairing: Draco/Harry Prompt: #84  Summary:

 Harry Potter is a lot of things - hero of the Wizarding World, best friend to Auror extraordinaire Ron Weasley and certifiable genius Hermione Granger, heir to the Sleekeazy potions empire. He is also an Animagus, like his father and godfather before him. Problem is, he hasn't quite mastered the task of transforming back into his human form. Bigger problem is, he's just been captured by Draco Malfoy's owl.

Read on AO3

Title: Hoarding Day Author: Archaic_Nepenthes @mod-and-his-flight Rating: Teen Word Count: 6,133 Pairing: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter Prompt: #1 Summary: 

Dragon Appreciation Day is something else when it comes to appreciating Draco Malfoy.

Read on AO3

Title: Recurring Theme Author: miscnine @unstrrdy Rating: Gen Word Count: 6,736 Pairing: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter Prompt: #27 Summary: 

Draco just wanted to go home. Just as he was gathering himself—at least, enough to go on and do exactly that, he was startled by a particularly harsh ripple in the apparition point—then four things happened.

Draco wants a lot of things. He wants to redeem himself to the public eye as foolishly hopeless as it sounds. He wants his mother to leave him out of her plans to reclaim control over her life. He wants to get his shit together more than anything. At least, he did. Now, he's fallen prey to his own predator and constantly has to reign in the greedy dragon that wanted something from Harry Potter—"who, by the way, had just come back to England after seven years of healing dragon tamers in Romania and finally getting the therapy he needed, did you know that? Did you?”

Read on AO3

Title: The Owl in Myth and Magic Author: Aneiria @aneiria-writes Rating: Mature Word Count: 7,156 Pairing: Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy Prompt: #85  Summary: 

Draco Malfoy has a secret, and if he wants to keep it that way, he’s going to have to show Hermione Granger how to have one too.

Even if it is a secret so complex and dangerous that they’re going to have to spend more time together than either of them had planned for their eighth year of Hogwarts...

Read on AO3

Title: Harry Potter and the Mysterious Snowy Owl Affair Author: Ladderofyears @ladderofyears Rating: Teen Word Count: 8,683 Pairing: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter Prompt: Self-prompt Summary: 

Harry Potter is the newly promoted Head Officer for the Department of Magical Creature Regulation, and he is passionate about his work protecting vulnerable animals who can’t advocate for themselves. An added benefit of the job is the close relationship that he had developed with his colleague, Wizengamot prosecution barrister Draco Malfoy. Harry’s life is happy and he feels satisfied with his place in the world.

Abruptly, Harry’s happy existence is thrown into disarray when a small snowy owl starts dropping tip-offs about magical creature crimes to Grimmauld Place.

Harry isn’t sure what to think. Is his benefactor a friend or foe? Why are they making such stringent efforts to conceal their identity? Draco doesn’t seem concerned, but Harry can’t help but feel intrigued by the mystery. Who is the wizard behind the owl?

Read on AO3

Title: ANI101: Introduction to Animagus Author: Aelys_Althea @aelysalthea Rating: Mature Word Count: 12,314 Pairing: Sirius Black & Remus Lupin (Gen), Marauders (Gen) Prompt: #69 Summary: 

Remus has secrets. Lots of secrets, but one in particular that Sirius is determined to sniff out. When he, James, and Peter put their detective skills to action, they discover a truth far beyond what any of them could have imagined.

What they would make of that truth, though - that was the real question. Sirius was nothing if not a dog with a bone, and he was determined to do something about it.

Read on AO3

Title: Commander Author: Cassiopeias_shadow @cassiopeiasshadow Rating: Explicit Word Count: 14,167 Pairing: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter Prompt: #44 Summary:

There was a hiss to his right. It was him. Potter. The adder with the lightning bolt on his back. Draco nearly cried with relief.

“Potter, thank fuck, let me - oh,” Draco said, once he had crawled underneath the stone, into the crevice where Potter was hiding. It was soaked in blood, just like the rest of the room, and the blood was coming from slashes on Potter’s white, scaly belly. Draco picked the snake up and cradled it to his chest. It wrapped itself weakly around his arm and nestled up to the warmth of Draco’s body, barely moving.

“That’s right,” Draco said, trying his best to sound comforting. The snake’s heart beat against his palm, unbearably precious. Draco’s cheeks were wet.

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Title: Hibou Author: worldcrawler @worldcrawlerhp Rating: Explicit Word Count: 15,075 Pairing: Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy Prompt: #77 Summary:

"Draco Malfoy had squared with the fact that he rarely succeeded in things at first. His whole life could be read as a series of failures that eventually became successes.

It was no surprise then, in retrospect, that he had failed to become an animagus not once, but twice before finally succeeding."

This is a story about failure and understanding, about success and honesty, and about two idiots in love trying to solve two very different mysteries - brought together through a series of chance encounters in the highland forests.

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Title: Dog-Star and Lion-Heart Author: unspeakable3 @unspeakable3 Rating: Teen Word Count: 15,932 Pairings: Regulus Black & Sirius Black, Sirius Black & James Potter Prompt: #98  Summary: 

After Sirius leaves home, the only way that Regulus will allow his brother anywhere near him is when Sirius is in dog-form. Regulus has no idea that the Grim-like creature he shares secrets and bacon sandwiches with is his brother. He has no idea, that is, until he tries to say goodbye to ‘Snuffles’ for the last time, and his canine friend finally reveals his human form.

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Title: Worth Sharing Author: flightytemptress27 @flightytemptress27 Rating: Teen Word Count: 16,829 Pairings: Teddy Lupin/James Sirius Potter, Teddy Lupin/Victoire Weasley, Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter Prompt: #23 Summary:

Despite what it originally seemed, Teddy has inherited his father's lycanthropy. Things are very different for Teddy, but perhaps not always in the best way.

James Sirius Potter loves his best friend Teddy and just wants to do what he can to care for him, even if it's dangerous.

A coming of age story beginning with Teddy's third year at Hogwarts and ending with James' final year. A story in which Harry does his absolute best as a godfather, Teddy struggles to accept himself, and James flies.

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Title: The Last of What the World Left You Author: xanthippe74 @xanthippe74 Rating: Teen Word Count: 25,153 Pairing: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter Prompt: Self-prompt Summary: 

If the wizarding world won’t give Draco a second chance, he has a plan to survive: live in his Animagus form, a carrion crow, in the Forbidden Forest. Not only does Harry Potter come along and ruin it, he’s radiating a strange aura of power that Draco should probably fear, but doesn’t. With nowhere to go and a Life-Debt to his mother that Potter insists on repaying, Draco puts himself into the hands of the reclusive Boy Who Lived. Will the bleak corner of Yorkshire where Potter makes his home be another dead end or an unexpected refuge?

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Title: Night Visitor Author: Kiwi05622 @kiwi05622 Rating: Explicit Word Count: 111,960 Pairing: Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy Prompt: Self-prompt Summary:

His apology came to her on the wings of moonlight. Her response returned to him in delayed indifference. This is Draco Malfoy's journey seeking forgiveness from his past misdeeds and finds redemption through their letters while a prisoner of Azkaban.

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[anjuschiffer]

Amira Wayne - Chapter 18

Chapter 18 is finally here! Damn this was one hard chapter for me...enjoy!

Chapter 18: Heroes

-

P.Tag: @theatreandcomicfreak @damianette-is-life @toodaloo-kangaroo @elijahcrevan @vixen-uchiha @nathleigh

Tag: @we-want-mini-mini @ramos123 @bluesimani @redscarlet95 @greatcatblaze @promiswords @fantasiame @corabeth11 @anonymously-odd @alexandriamw @officiallydarkgeek @galla02006 @maleive07

-

MASTERLIST | FIRST | PREV | AO3

Gris sighed as she watched her various clones run off to different directions, slumping against an empty can of cat food.

It’s been two hours since Marinette became Banshee.

There was no sign of Ladybird and with Queen Bee out of commission, Gris wondered if they were even able to take this Victim down. 

While Master Fu assured her that things will work out, Gris couldn’t help but feel-

“Mice have been deployed. How are things on your side?” Gris said into her comms, waiting for her partners' updates. She let out a deep breath, watching it merge with the fog. 

She can’t let herself lose hope...not yet.

“It’s difficult to ensure that no one will get swept up by my plan.” Ryuuko spoke. “Because I have thought of one.”

“There aren’t any civilians in the streets in our area at the moment. Carapace and I just confirmed that.” Chat managed to answer. “So if you have a plan, go ahead and try what you have in mind.”

“On it.” Ryuuko said, the girl looking at the fog covering all of Paris. “Wind Dragon!” 

She watched herself turn into the wind, flying up until she bursted through the layer of fog. Returning half of her body into her original state, Ryuuko summoned her katana, only to find out it had turned into an epee. 

It reminded her of the one she often carried in her civilian form, a fencing sword that had been passed on from her grandfather to her mother, and then to her. The only difference between the two were the colors. While the family heirloom was red in color, the one in her hands is black.

Only the handle and button were two other colors. The tip was now white while the handle was decorated in gold and white.

Realizing she was distracted by her epee’s elegance, Ryuuko meditated for a while before her eyes shot open.

Letting out a battle cry, Ryuuko let out an attack, the slash not making a single effect at the dense fog beneath her.

Returning to her wind form, Ryuuko decided to move on to Plan B. 

Stretching out her hands, she focused her strength and summoned gusts of winds, the streams of wind circling around all of Paris.

“Ryuuko! What are you doing?” She heard Chat yell at her through the comms. “If you continue to do that, you’ll-”

“Do not worry Chat. I’ll make sure to not exert myself.” Ryuuko promised. With an ‘alright, be safe’ and a click, Ryuuko went back to work.

—

Wally didn’t know how long he was sitting on the cold ground, still trying to process what the hell happened to him.

“-y! Wally! Can you hear me?” Wally managed to recognize Barry’s concern, pulling his hands out of his hair and instead wrapped them around himself. 

He was still shaking. 

He can’t give them a reason to barge in...even if he -and possibly the Miraculous Team- were in dire need of help. “Wally.” He heard him say again. 

Tiredly, Wally chose to finally answer him. 

“I’m alright.” Wally tried to assure. He hated how he was able to hear his own scattered heartbeat despite talking through the comms. 

“Wally. We know-” 

“No, you don’t know what’s going on here.” Wally growled, trembling as he attempted to get up, only for his legs to give in.

“Wally, we do.”

“No, you don’t.”

“A miraculous wielder going out of control is not something to be trifled with.” He heard Diana say in the background along with what seemed to be chairs slightly scraping the floor. 

“Do...do you have me on speaker?” Wally asked, his anger slipping out. 

“Wally. It’s all over international news.” He heard Barry say, Wally feeling his heart stop and anger dissipate. 

Was it always on the news? He was pretty sure Amira-

“She’s the one who was in charge of blocking the media.” Wally muttered, getting up from his spot on the ground. “Amira was doing damage control all this time and-“ Wally let out a groan and a huff. “Barry, I need to go.”

“Wally. Don’t you-“

“Amira is in trouble and you guys aren’t allowed to help because some people decided it was a good idea to force her to join the Justice league…” Silence came from the other end of the comms. “But even if you guys aren’t allowed in Paris, I know of a few who are.”

“Wally, please-”

“I know what I’m doing. They’re the only ones who can help Amira right now.” With that, Wally turned off the comms and took a deep breath. “Forgive me, Amira.”

—

Barbara dropped the cup of coffee in her hand, the chair she was in toppling over when she quickly got up. She listened as fine china got crushed with each hesitant step she took towards Tim.

“Amira...Amira got what?”

“Babs, listen. Amira-” Tim started, only to be grabbed and made to face Barbara.

“Isn’t that bad? To be akumatized? At least that’s what B’s reports say-what exactly-” 

“What happened to Amira is none of your business.” Dick replied for Tim, Selina following right behind him. Judging from their getup and the duffel bags slung on their arms, they were heading somewhere...but she knew where. 

Paris. 

“Let me go with you.” Barbara demanded, setting Tim down. “Please, Richard. Let me help you. Let me help Amira. She’s-”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Selina cut off.

“Please!” Barbara begged. “Amira is my friend, we need to-”

“We,” Dick said, gesturing to himself and Selina, “will be the only ones who will be going. You and Tim are to remain-”

“No.” Barbara said, taking in a deep breath. “I’m going with you.”

“Barbara. You and Amira didn’t exactly end on good terms. If you go and she sees that you’re-”

“So that’s why you don’t want me to go.” Barbara stated, curling her hands. “You think I might agitate her more and cause her to cause more damage if she sees me.” She took his silence as a yes. “Then at least...at least let me help you through the comms. After all, you’re going to need as many eyes as you can in this mission.”

Richard looked over his shoulder, Selina’s huff and smirk being enough to let him know her opinion. 

“Alright. But you are to listen to all my instructions to a ‘t,’ understood?” Dick commanded, Barbara wanting to grin at her small victory.

“Yes!”

Tim watched as the trio walked to the zeta beam, Selina graciously setting the coordinates to the one in Paris.  

Within a few seconds, they were on their way to rescuing Amira. 

--

Carapace hit the back of his head against the brick wall as he leaned back to take a rest. 

“Where the hell can she be?” He asked himself, wondering where Banshee hid Lila. 

He had already checked all the possible places she would have hidden her, but didn’t find the missing girls. 

The school was empty. 

The bakery was empty. 

The park was empty. 

The zoo also held no clues. 

All of the museums had no sign of Lila being there nor Banshee. 

Not even Grévin Museum, Marinette’s favorite place to go during her free time.

He had looked at every possible place Marinette had gone or visited in Paris and he hadn’t found Lila, not even a single clue that could lead to finding her. 

Carapace went to reach his comm to update the team about his dilemma, only to find his hand simply hovering over it. 

“Why exactly did you choose me, Ladybird?” Nino asked her one night, Ladybird looking at him in curiosity. “Why me when there are so many other people who are more well equipped for this?”

He watched as Ladybird hummed, her eyes seeing something he could not.

“Not every person who I saw as a candidate was as loyal and protective as you were. Half tried to stand their ground, only to give up. Some quickly backed down when they realized the possible consequences if they kept trying to defend their beliefs or friends. But you,” Ladybird smiled at him. “You stood your ground while doubt circled around you. You remained undeterred and firm when others criticized your choices. That’s why I picked you.”

“Because you had the courage to protect what was important to you.” Carapace reminded himself, frowning at himself.

He couldn’t just give up...he had to keep looking.

Surging with new confidence, Carapace decided to update the others. “Still got nothing on Lila or Banshee. I’m going to start checking other locations, but if anyone else has any ideas on what other places-”

“What places have you checked? Perhaps we can help.” A new voice said within their comms, startling the team. For Chat, it sounded oddly familiar.

“Chat, what’s going on?” Ryuuko asked, Chat realizing that she asked him through her miraculous’ comm.

Who was this? And...English? Chat thought as he went back to answer the newcomer.

“Identify yourself.” Cat Noir demanded, wondering how this person got into their system.

“Who we are doesn’t matter. We came to help you.” Another voice joined, Chat wondering how many had hacked into their system.

“How do we know you aren’t on Hawkmoth’s side? How can we trust you if you-”

“Marinette is my friend. I can’t just sit by and do nothing while I know there is something I can do.” The second voice said, Gris being able to hear the frustration in her voice.

“Chat, it seems like they actually want to help us.” Chat heard Gris tell him through her miraculous. 

“That isn’t enough to convince me that you’re on our side.” Chat told the newcomers.

“We know how her powers work.” Another voice joined in, this time, male. He sounded as if he was around their age. Perhaps a year or two older than them.

“So do we.”

“We also have an idea of the item where the akuma is hidden.” Another male voice said, caused Chat’s mind to come to a halt. Why did it sound familiar? “Adding on to the akuma power, those are the two main facts we have to help bring Marinette back.”

Carapace waited with baited breath as he awaited for Chat’s response, wondering what exactly was going through his mind. 

“Seems like you’re on our side. But even if you don’t want to drop your names, at least give us some code names we can refer to each of you.” Ryuuko heard Chat say, letting out a breath she didn’t know she was holding.

So they’re allies.

“Alright. I’m Corvus.” The familiar male voice replied.

“Osprey.” The first female voice said.

“Oriole.” The other male responded.

“Felis.” 

“Alright then.” Chat replied, quickly changing over to the miraculous comms. “Team, we have new allies. We’ll be using our translators while using the regular comms to ensure our communications go smoothly and prevent confusion.”

“How exactly do we-”

“Don’t worry. I’ll explain it right now.”

--

“Do you think we got through to them?” Wally asked, watching Barbara not lift her eyes for a second from the monitors in front of her.

Her hands moved quickly across the keyboard, not leaving a single room for error as she hooked up a program to hack into the Parisian street cameras and home security cameras. 

Wally had hesitantly agreed to letting Barbara use Amira’s computer to hack into the team’s comms and then this.  

Hope Amira didn’t mind. 

“I hope we did.” Dick confessed. “Also, why Oriole?” 

“Well, you started with Corvus and then Barbara said Osprey so I said Oriole to keep with the bird theme.” Wally replies, hearing Selina’s chuckle through the comm. “Of course, I should’ve known-”

“Corvus.” Dick heard Chat say, Wally annoyed that he was interrupted..

“Still here.”

“Welcome to the team...now, let’s review what each of us know about the situation while Carapace and Gris continue to search for Banshee.”

“Alright.”

—

It was cold. 

It was dark. 

She hated it...and that’s saying something from a Gothamite who’s used to the dark. 

Amira lifted her eyelids, watching as she climbed stairs she never once climbed. After all, she always used to just zip to the top. She tried to stop herself, but could barely control her own body. 

“Banshee.” A voice whispered to her. She’d recognize that voice anywhere.

“Hawkmoth.” She acknowledged, stopping mid flight.

“How are things going?” 

“Wonderfully.” She answered back...but she knew it wasn’t her... “Lila is getting what she deserves just as we speak. That harlot will pay for-“

“As wonderful as that sounds, there is still one part of the deal that is yet to be completed.”

“Don’t worry. I’m working on it. Just be pa-” She heard herself snarl when she felt a ring pang through her head, causing her to fold over. 

She clutched her head between her forearms, wanting the pain to go away as it intensified with each passing second. 

“Were you just about to say patient? Must I remind you who the one in charge here is?” 

Banshee let out a whimper as she felt her body stiffen. “I suggest you hurry up and keep your end of the deal. After all, I kept mine.”

Banshee growled as Hawkmoth released his control over her, allowing her to relax. But just as she had been let go, she could feel something whirl within her. It was frustrated, annoyed, pissed...hurt.

In that split second, Amira could actually see what was in front of her. 

She was able to feel the vile power running within her. 

Looking down at the pitch black dress on her, Amira let out a horrified gasp, feeling all the memories surge up into her mind at once. She didn’t register the tears that ran down her face nor her raspy breaths as she brought her black laced hands closer to face.

She could feel the rapid rises and falls of her chest as she slowly observed how vile the black felt on her. How disgusted she was in herself.

She finally let out a scream, wrapping her arms around her, not thinking about anything else but the consequences of having shown her emotions earlier that day.

How naive she was to believe she could handle being a vigilante…

How wrong she was…

No wonder…

No wonder her father said those things to her...because he saw...

He saw how flawed she was…

How immature she had grown to be...

How stupid she was to think she was in the right all these years when in reality...he was the one who was right…

Who is right...

She really wasn’t prepared…

Not prepared at all…

She was no hero, not even a vigilante…

She was a damn failure from the very start...

--

“-also check places where- what the hell is going on?” Corvus whispered into the comms as he stopped himself from jumping onto the next building. As much as he feared the shaking ground, there was something else that he feared.

The fog beneath him was starting to thicken even more, spots that were lights were now dimmer, almost invisible. He couldn’t move any further with all of this!

“Everyone! It seems like-” Ryuuko was about to speak, only to be cut off by a shriek in the comms.

“Oriole!” Osprey yelled, Gris hearing screams and things being thrashed around heard in the background through Oriole’s side. “Oriole! What’s going on!”

“Osprey! What’s-” Dick could feel his panic rising.

“Oriole -he just - he just collapsed and started screaming, calling for...Mimi. He won’t stop-” She was cut off by some static, the team wondering what the hell was going on. 

‘Mimi? Must be some dear to him.’ Gris thought to herself, but she couldn’t help but notice how quiet the Birds and Cat Team got, wondering why they weren’t worrying over their teammate.

That made her wonder...

Why were they willing to help them to try and help Marinette so badly? What exactly is their relationship with her? Because as far as Gris knew, Marinette didn’t have many friends. 

But then again, even with the friends she did have, Marinette wasn’t exactly open with them either. Yes, they’ve known her for roughly four months, but even then, they didn’t know much about their beloved friend.

“It’s Banshee.” Gris heard Ryuuko said shakily. “She’s enhancing her strength by using her own powers against herself!”

“We have to stop her!” 

“But how?”

“Leave that to us.” Ryuuko heard Felis say. 

“Is Oriole-” Chat started, only to get cut off.

“He’s alright. But he also confirmed one of our theories that would help us to counter Banshee’s power.” Chat heard Felis say.

“Counter? How exactly-”

“Don’t worry about the how. Worry about the when.” Chat heard Corvus say.

“When? Don’t tell me you plan on going right now?”

“Of course not. If my team heads now, then we won't be able to know where Rossi is hidden.” Chat listened as a glass clinked together on Corvus’ side. “We’ll wait for Carapace, Gris or Oriole to locate the girl first. When we know she’s safe, that’s when my team will strike.

We need to make sure that Rossi is safe or else our entire plan will fail.”

--

Lila clawed at her throat, trying to scrape away the itchiness within her. To try and get rid of the dry lumps that were growing by the minute. 

She couldn’t breath. It hurt. It burned.

Her eyes continued to sting, Lila feeling the tears continuing to pool beneath her. They hurt even with the low amount of light around her.

The only thing that had managed to ground her a bit was the cold ground her body was so desperately against. 

A cold embrace that gave her a break from the endless insults thrown her way for the past...hours? Days?

Lila froze when she heard a sound in the distance, curling into herself. She covered her face with her arms, trying her best to not let out a single whimper. 

She bit her tongue as she heard the sound get closer to her, daring herself to sit upwards.

She listened as the sound began to become clearer...listening as footsteps drew near to her.

Lila didn’t dare to lift her head to see whether it really was someone coming or not. She wasn’t going to risk to keep seeing the illusions, the hallucinations she’s been hearing all this time.

After all, compared to all that she had been going through, this was a nice change of pace.

She listened as the footsteps grew louder, each step echoing throughout the dim place she was in.

She listened and listened, each passing second causing her heartbeat to quicken. 

Then they stopped. 

Stopping right in front of her.

They placed a hand on her shoulder.

So it wasn’t just another nightmare. This was real.

Slowly lifting her head, Lila had wished this was just another nightmare because the minute she saw that needle in the man’s hand, she felt her heart stop.

Letting out a piercing scream, Lila tried to get away from the person in front of her, but her legs gave in.

Lila screamed and tried to claw herself away from the person who pulled her closer to them, but all that she managed to grasp was the gravel that dug into her palms, blood seeping from the wounds.

She continued to scream even as she was then pinned down beneath the man, feeling something stab her arm.

As soon as the needle pierced her skin, Lila felt a wave of relief. A peace so needed, Lila relished in the ecstasy, feeling herself drift to sleep.

--

Bruce looked at the girl beneath him and then at the syringe in his hand. 

To think that Amira was the one who caused all this. And to think that worked perfectly against Banshee’s powers…

He had to report back. Taking out a phone, Bruce quickly typed into it and then tucked it away. 

He looked at the girl who was now peacefully sleeping on the ground, knowing that he had to leave soon despite wanting to take the girl to a safer location.

Squeaks started to become audible, Bruce taking that as his cue to leave. 

--

“Gris! We have a possible clue to where Rossi might be!” Carapace heard Osprey exclaim.

“Where?” And how? She wanted to ask. 

Carapace and her had tried every possible way to track Lila, Carapace having checked different surveillance cameras while Gris deployed all of her clones to search for her, only for their efforts to be in vain. 

How did they easily find her within an hour?

“She’s in the catacombs.” Gris sucked in a breath. The catacombs? As in-

“Are you sure that’s where she’s at?” Gris managed to calm herself, sending a signal to the closest clone to check it out. Why the catacombs of all places?

“Yes. Some home security cameras managed to capture when Banshee took Lila there through one of the many entrances scattered throughout Paris.” 

“I’m on my way!” Gris reported, switching perspectives from her original form and the one closest to the catacombs.

She ran down the dusty steps, running past the narrow tunnel that felt like it could come crumbling down at any moment. But when got to the end of that tunnel, Gris froze. 

Is this why?

Is this why Banshee kept Lila down here?

Gris stood face to face with a wall of human skulls and bones, arranged in symmetrical patterns. Skull, bone, bone, bone, skull. Each skull was placed equally away from each other, the bones in between neatly arranged to be pointed in the same direction. 

The musty air and debris free floor kept Gris from moving forward, but she knew she couldn’t just stand there. She had to find Lila and now.

Taking a step forward, Gris let out a wail as she mustered the courage to take the other. 

But the stare of the eight foot wall of skulls looking back at her…

Prying her eyes from it, Gris ran past the wall, turning corners only to face another structure with the soulless remains of those before her.

Columns, archs, pillars and even crosses appeared before her, causing Gris to feel goosebumps emerge on her skin.

If that wasn’t enough, every corner that Gris took, she just couldn’t seem to get out of the loop she placed herself in. She even tried to stop and recollect herself only to realize that each fork in the path looked the same. Each corner and pillar she passed looked just like the one before.

Was…

Was she lost?

“-is! Gris! What’s going on? You haven’t talked to us in the past half hour. Gris!” She finally heard Chat saying, Gris coming to a halt.

Half an hour? She had been running around this maze...for half an hour? 

Dropping her transformation, Sabrina slumped to the ground and brought her knees to her chest, letting out a shuddering breath out. 

“Sabrina.” Mullo coaxed. “Are you alright?”

“Gris. Are you still there?”

“I...I can’t…” Sabrina sniffled out, digging her head further into her knees. She held back a wail, biting her tongue in hopes to shift her attention from her thoughts. But it failed. “I can’t…” A hiccup escaped her as she hovered her hand over her comms.

“Gris...where are you?” She heard Carapace ask her a second before she turned off her comm, not wanting to hear anyone at the moment. “I don’t know about you, but I asked Ladybird why she chose me.” Sabrina jumped when her burner phone talked, Sabrina taking it out to see the message flashing across the screen.

Chat said Ladybird had planned on giving it to her the next time they met, but Chat saw it just to give it to her now.  

A phone especially created by civilian Ladybird just for those that were part of the team. 

Team...like if she even belonged in it.

“Sabrina, we have to keep-”

“What’s the point Mullo?” Sabrina wiped off her tears, letting out another sniffle. “I’m useless. Worthless. I should’ve been able to track down Lila’s location, but I couldn’t. Osprey, on the other hand, was able to locate her in less than an hour! Don’t you see Mullo? I’m supposed to be the brains of the team like Osprey, but I messed up! I messed up even more when I got lost, mocking Osprey’s hard work of finding Lila’s location. What’s the point of continuing if I’m just going to keep holding everyone ba-”

“Snap out of it!” Mullo yelled, Sabrina feeling paws rest against her hand. “This isn’t like you Sabrina! Not one bit!” Sabrina pursed her lips, throwing her head back into her knees. “Sabrina! Don’t you remember why Ladybird chose you? You, the girl that no one sees?”

“Well, thank you for the-ow!” Sabrina yelped, retracting her hand from Mullo’s mouth. “Why did you bite-”

“Ladybird didn’t choose the quitter sitting in front of me! She chose the girl who’s ambition to make friends through kindness caught not only her attention, but heart as well. The girl who’s info gathering and intelligence flourished and allowed her to achieve the goal she wanted. A selfless girl disguised as a selfish, ambitious one.” Mullo nuzzled against Sabrina’s cheek. “Ladybird needs you to help the team and keep them moving, we need you to make this fight a victory and as for Marinette,” Mullo looked straight into Sabrina’s eyes, “Marinette needs you -her friend- to save her.”

Sabrina watched as Mullo smiled at her. “So then Sabrina...what’s your decision? Will you continue to mope around here or continue to fight alongside your friends to save a friend? Which will it be?”

Sabrina looked down at the mouse miraculous around her neck, placing the pendant in the palm of her hand. The silver locket was opened with ease, displaying Sabrina and her father on the left side while a picture of her, Chloe and Marinette were on the other.

“Isn’t it obvious, Mullo?” Sabrina got up shakily. “Mullo, get squeaky!”

--

“-not picking up.”  Osprey heard Chat say through the comms, wanting to say something to comfort them, but what can she say?

She didn’t know them, neither as the vigilantes they were now nor their civilian forms. What can she say to comfort them in a time like this? When a friend is the force they’re up against?

“Sorry everyone. Had to replenish for a bit. But I found Lila! The target has been secured! Quickly transporting to the designated destination.”

Felis heard an audible sigh of relief echoing within the comms, letting herself smile at this tiny victory. After all, this was just one step towards the big one.

“Phase one has been completed. You know what this means.” Corvus relayed.

“Ryuuko, you’re up.” Chat cleared up.

“On it.”

--

It was cold. Colder than usual.

Heavy fog was sitting all around her, but Banshee didn’t care.

Banshee looked at her hands, finding them covered in tears. Frowning at them, she shook them off before continuing her ascendance up the stairs, smiling at the fact that she was able to make Lila feel the same pain as she did. 

But her victory was short lived. 

The high whistling of wind snapped her attention, her eyes narrowing when she watched the fog starting to gather near the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, watching as the accumulated fog swirled in circles. 

She snarled when a large hole in the cloudy sky appeared, allowing that morning’s sunlight to pierce through, dispersing the fog into nothing.

The city of Paris is now clear of her terror. 

Now there, hovering in the air, was a single hero.

A hero...a ray of hope.

Banshee gritted her teeth together, feeling her annoyance starting to spike. 

“Banshee. It seems as if they’re onto you. But this is it. Takes this chance to engage them and  take their-”

“Banshee!” A voice called out, a voice that sounded...familiar…

Banshee remained still while her eyes darted around to see who dared to face her. As she scanned the area, she found them. Standing a flight above her was a man cladded in black, the only color on him was the blue domino mask across his face. Escrima sticks were prying from behind him.

“Who are you?” Banshee asked, not moving a step. 

“Who I am shouldn’t matter. What should matter is the fight that is about to happen!” 

Banshee scowled as the man charged at her, Banshee managing to dodge all of his attacks. But she wondered, why didn’t she want to touch him? Why did she hesitate to place a hand on him?

In that self monologue, she must’ve gotten distracted, feeling a hand connect with her stomach, causing her to stumble, her side hitting the railing beside them. She felt bile daring to rise to the surface.

“Mi!” The man yelled, grabbing Banshee by her wrist, his hand over-

“You let your guard down!” Banshee grinned, clasping her hand over his wrist, causing the man to let go of her and slump. She watched as the man cowered away from her, murmuring incoherent sentences. 

“Corvus!” A voice yelled, a woman now appearing, wearing a skin-tight unitard, Banshee feeling something in her head begin to ring. She watched as the woman took out a needle with what seemed to be clear blue substance. She began to inject it into the man, something clicking inside Banshee.

“Dad. What’s that?” Amira asked her father, watching as he packed away some vials into his utility belt. It was another day of keeping Gotham safe, Amira already planning on bringing some homework to keep her company while she awaited for her father’s return.

“Antidotes that work against Scarecrow’s Fear Toxin.” She heard her father say, watching as he double checked his equipment. 

“Have...have you ever been...hit by it?” Amira dared to ask, already knowing the answer to that. 

“I have...it’s one of the worst feelings in the world.” Bruce said, placing his belt back into its case.

Amira watched as her father ran a hand over the case before turning his attention back to Amira. “Why don’t the two of us go see if Alfred needs any help in the kitchen? How does that sound?”

“He’ll probably kick us out. Remember what happened last time?” Amira referred to the last time her father tried to help Alfred make pasta. She watched as her father let out a laugh, a laugh that made her follow along and laugh as well.

Banshee was snapped from her thoughts when she felt something mere inches away from her face. 

She tried to avoid the incoming fist coming at her but noticed a whip constricting her movements. So instead of taking a step back, she took a step to the side, connecting her heel with the back of Corvus’ head and twirled her way towards the woman.

Making it seem as if she was about to use her leg again to attack, Banshee let out a laugh when the woman prepared to block her kick only for the two to connect foreheads. With the slight release of hold, Banshee freed herself and held the woman’s hand between her hands, grinning as the woman looked at her with tears pooling in her eyes.

“Mi!” Banshee clicked her tongue as she watched Corvus come for her again, the two exchanging blows, Banshee dodging all of the blows her way but not being able to land one herself. “Mi! You have to stop this! Fight it back!” Corvus yelled, Banshee noticing that he was by the woman’s side, administering the same needle she had seen just moments ago.

“My name’s Banshee. I’m not this Mi you speak of.”

“Mi, try to remember! Remember!” Corvus yelled, this time taking out his escrima sticks, Banshee taking a step back when she saw the tips of them spark. “Mi, I don’t-”

“I’m not Mi! I’m Banshee!” Banshee yelled, charging once more, feeling her mind muddle even more.

She kept fighting, exchanging blows with Corvus and avoiding the woman. She often got close to landing a blow on either of them before someone in the distance would interfere.

Glaring at the hero in the distance, Banshee knew she wasn’t going to be able to win this fight unless she thought of something...and fast!

When Corvus once more charged towards her, she tried to grab him again, only to be grabbed by her wrist and pinned down.

Banshee squirmed as the woman approached Corvus, Banshee glaring at her as she did. 

“Felis. Give the signal.” Corvus told Felis, Banshee remaining still as she watched Felis talk with someone else on the other end of their comms. “Banshee. No...Mi. Just wait a little longer. We’ll get you out of this-”

“Fools, the lot of you.” Banshee said, grinning. “You two were so worried about being touched by me that you forgot one thing.”

Corvus let those words sink in as he watched Banshee look down to her hands that were-

“Don’t do it!” Corvus yelled, watching as Banshee clasped her hands together, letting out a shriek so deafening, it caused both Corvus and Felis to collapse, their screams scattering into the wind. 

--

Just when things were turning for the better, it went back to square one.

Seconds after Corvus and Felis had managed to take down Banshee and gave orders to commence the next phase, Chat watched as fog started to pour down from the top of the Eiffel Tower followed by a piercing screech. 

“Corvus, what the hell is going on?” He demanded, but got nothing on his end. “Corvus! Give me a-“

“He’s down!” Osprey replied, Chat hearing rustling in the background. He could also hear clicking and glass clink against one another. 

“What’s going-”

“Banshee used her power against herself, meaning she revitalized her control on those she’s touched. In other words-“

“She managed to escape our hold.” Chat gritted his teeth. 

Just when they were so close! “We need to hurry and-“

“Don’t you dare go after her right now.” Osprey threatened. 

“You can’t-“

“If I remember correctly, Lila wasn’t the only one affect by Banshee’s power. Wasn’t there someone else?”

Chat froze. 

How did he forget about Chloé? And not only once, but twice! “Guessing by your silence, there is. I’ll be going to your location to drop off an antidote that’s been confirmed to work against Banshee’s power.”

“Antidote? Confirmed?” Chat whispered. 

“Remember how we told you that Oriole was touched and had relapsed? Well, back where we come from, we face a villain with similar powers, but without the magic. When Oriole told us how Banshee’s power worked, we wondered if the antidote we made would work in this case. Corvus managed to prove our theory correct. They do indeed work the same way.”

Chat remained stunned, soaking in the new information.

They weren’t Parisians? They fought against people who were just as powerful as Banshee...but without magic? “Oh! Carapace is right here! I’ll just send Carapace your wa-”

“No. He’ll be giving the straight to both Lila and the other victim.” Chat found himself saying, crouching towards the floor. 

He couldn’t face Chloe right now...he just couldn’t.

“Sure?” He heard Carapace asking him.

“Yea.”

“With that settled, I’m going to be moving to Plan B. Meet you at the rendezvous!” 

With that last order from Osprey, Chat got back up and let a single tear fall down his face.

He’s supposed to be the one in command and yet here he was, just sitting at the sidelines, doing nothing. 

“Just what kind of leader am I?”

--

“Amira.” A voice whispered to her, Amira wondering who was calling her. “Amira.” There it was again, and as much as Amira wanted to know who it was, she couldn’t open her eyes to see who it was. She couldn’t move a single muscle, not being able to respond to the voice that kept calling her. A voice that begged her to wake up.

A voice that she’s never heard before but for some reason, she felt as if she’s heard it once before...many, many years ago.

--

Banshee felt heavy, exhausted, watching another tear drip off of the tip of her nose and join the pool of tears by her hands.

She never registered the yells and shouts of Ryuuko attempting to get rid of the new fog surrounding the Eiffel Tower.

“Amira.” A voice called out, causing Banshee to look up, noticing the lack of a neon purple mask around her face.

Was it not Hawkmoth who called out to her? “Amira.”

There it was again. “Amira.”

“Who’s talking?” Banshee yelled out, getting up to see no one in front of her nor behind her. She walked up the stairs, hearing the metal creak beneath her feet.

“Amira, did you forget me already?” The voice called out, Banshee turning to see who spoke to her.

“Ja...son?” Amira could feel herself losing herself when she saw him in front of her. “Jason...what are you doing here, in Paris?”

“Amira...why are you doing this?” Jason asked her, stepping closer to her, causing Amira to step back. 

“Sta-stay back! I might hurt you!”

“You say that and yet there’s already so many you’ve already hurt before me.” Jason told her, causing her to freeze. “Or am I wrong?” 

Amira felt her voice stuck in her throat. “N-No! I didn’t-”

“Are you really going to deny hurting Selina? Dick? Are you?”

“N-no! I-I! It wasn’t me! It was Hawkmoth! He-”

“He may have given you the power, but in the end, it was your decision on whether or not to use it. And you decided to use it against not only your family, but on friends as well...like Chloe...and Wally.”

Amira hung her head, feeling the tears spilling without her permission. “I didn’t-”

“Stop making excuses, Amira! Open your damn eyes!” Jason yelled at her, shaking her shoulders. “Are you even Amira? The Bat’s daughter, my sister?” Jason asked. “What happened to the Amira I knew? Where did she go?”

“I-I!” Amira tried to find the words, but none came out. “Jason, listen, I- Jason?” She called out when she saw no one in front of her. All she saw was her akumatized bracelet on the floor in front of her.

“-chance Banshee! Use this to get Chat Noir’s mira-”

Had she been hallucinating this entire time? Didn’t matter, she had something far more important to think about.

“NO!” Amira yelled, disgusted by the neon purple mask hovering against her face. “There’s no way in hell I’m going to help-”

She collapsed to the floor once again, her head on the verge of exploding.

“Banshee! I am the one who gave you your powers so you are to do-”

“Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!” Banshee screamed as her head began to ache, a ringing that wouldn’t dare stop. 

“How dare you defile me! I’m the one who gave you power, I’m the one who is allowing you to-“

“You...gave me...nothing.” Amira snarled between waves of pain. “All you’ve done is manipulate me. Nothing more, nothing less. You took advantage of my anger and rage, took it and made it into a weapon. 

A weapon you had planned to use against Ladybird and Chat Noir. Using me to gain some measly-“

“Oh dear child. That’s where you’re wrong.” The neon purple mask hovering over Banshee’s face flowed even brighter, allowing Banshee to see in front of her. “Ladybird and Chat Noir’s miraculouses are more than just magical pieces of jewelry. 

When placed together, they grant a single wish. As for what wish, you will know it once I get-”

“Get your hands on? As, in on the miraculouses?” Amira chuckled. “Well, guess what? I won’t let you.” Amira declared, getting up. “I won’t let you hurt my friends anymore for your own goal, I won’t let you get your hands on those miraculouses! I won’t let you win, Hawkmoth! I wo-!”

Amira screamed as she fell to the floor once again, resisting the urge to clutch her head to soothe the pain.

“Foolish girl! You don’t-”

“It’s you who is the fool!” Amira reminded, sitting up, almost falling back down as her arm almost gave in. She watched as the neon purple light around her face flickered. “You may think you are the one in charge, but you aren’t. I am!” Amira yelled, grasping the neon light mask hovering above her face, causing the mask to shatter to tiny pieces of glass and for her to writhe in pain.

She continued to kick around as her heart was being wrung, silent screaming escaping her as she gasped for air. 

She watched as she continued to flail, wondering if anyone would get to her in time.

She wonder if this is how-

“Amira!” She heard someone yell, but she couldn’t turn to see who it was. Didn’t matter as Wally’s face soon made it to her vision, Amira feeling her chest hurt even more when she saw how red his eyes were. “Amira, don’t worry! We’ll-”

“Smash it.” Amira found herself saying, looking over to where Wally had barely missed stepping on the akumatized bracelet. 

“What?”

“Step...on..it…” Amira said again. “Then take my earrings.” A wince. “Tikki will help from there.” She managed to say in two breaths.

“But what-”

“Hurry!” Amira wheezed out, hating how her vision kept swinging between pitch blackness and her tunneled vision. 

At least she was able to hear Wally crush her bracelet and Tikki’s voice before finally succumbing to the darkness.

“Amira!”

--

“Don’t be bemused! It’s just the news! 

After seven grueling hours, our heroes have finally done it!” The news channel showed off the Eiffel Tower, free of fog and a swarm of ladybugs gathering at the top. “They’ve placed evil back into its place!” Then, the ladybugs dispersed, many Parisians watching how little there was this time around compared to other fights. ”They’ve once more proven to be a team to be reckoned with. 

Thank you. Thank you for keeping us safe, Miracle Team. You guys are truly Paris’ pride and joy...our heroes!”

Next

[hypermanga]

Stuck in the middle (Thorin x reader; Thranduil x reader)

Requested by: @queenofmankind​

Request: Hi can I request an imagine where the reader is a fem elf who’s travelling with the dwarves company and Thorin feels the tug that tells him you’re his One although he never admit it, just to discover later on that you’re Thranduil’s lover when the Company arrived in Mirkwood.

Word count: 1456

A/N: Because today it is Richard Armitage’s - the actor who played Thorin - birthday , I decided to give this fic a happy ending for our favourite dwarf king 

~~~~~~~

Gandalf had asked you to join the Company of Thorin Oakenshield after you told him you wanted to leave any commodities behind and help more people in Middle Earth. Thanks to your long life span, you had seen the rise and fall of many empires, cities and kingdoms as well as many of  Middle Earth's secrets that only someone like you had the time to unveil. 

Convincing the Company of your use in the quest had been difficult to say the least mostly because of your race and the circumstances, given that you joined them in Rivendell.

"A woman in our quest? And a she-elf to say the least?" Gloin had exclaimed, making everyone mumble and complain about it. It seemed everyone apart from Bilbo and Gandalf was not happy about your addition, which you didn't take as an offence: you knew how the Mirkwood elves had treated the dwarves of Erebor in their time of need; In their position, you would've been just as wary, that's why you challenged yourself to change their opinion about you.

"Mithrandir" you greeted him at one of Rivendell's balconies "(Y/N)" "It feels strange to help the Company" you watched how the dwarves had fun laughing at a member who had just broken a table he was sitting on "I know I ask a lot, given their opinion on elves. Specially Thorin's"

Ah yes, Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thrain, son of Thror. He hadn't been ecstatic with Gandalf's announcement, in fact, he had been quite vocal about his opposition to it "Why would I want an elf" his words had venom, especially at the mention of your race "Elves don't approve of our journey, and I wouldn't trust with my life those who have already abandoned my people once" His eyes had been on you all the time, anger and another emotion you couldn't have pinpointed. 

"I understand where he comes from, I only wish to prove him otherwise...That not all elves have the same mentality" "I wish you all the luck to you, he is a very prideful dwarf" Cups of wine clashed together as you enjoyed the Valley of Imladris' gentle breeze.

Disbelief, that's what Thorin had felt when his eyes landed on you and felt a familiar tug in his heart. For years, since he was a young dwarfling, he had dreamed of finding his One but after Smaug's attack, whatever hope he had faded, including the one of finding his one true love. Now, as he had you in front of him, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry: he had found you, yes, but you were from the same kin of those who didn't help his in their darkest hour.

~~~~

Your sword slashed the goblins with scary precision, one only elves could possess. Like a hurricane all fell around you, none coming near enough to inflict any kind of pain or become a menace "Thorin!" You saw a horde of those creatures approaching the Company's leader, who seemed too lost in fighting another group that he didn't notice them. As you made your way to him, you continued executing anyone who went toe to toe with your sword, your eyes trained in the dwarf king; Not even when you ducked or jumped did your eyes leave him. 

As you arrived at his position he turned around with wary eyes, which softened when he saw who you were, catching you off-guard "There are too many! Let's fight back to back!" As you said that, more goblins appeared, obliging Thorin to follow your strategy with a huff. 

His outside mannerisms and attitude, though, couldn't be far more different than how happy he felt that you were fighting together as one, like soulmates who knew exactly how the other fought.

~~~~

"Lady (Y/N)?" Everyone's eyes turned to you when Mirkwood's prince recognized your face "Hello Legolas" You faked a smile, not content at all with your kin's hostility "I demand you let us go" 

"That is not for me to decide, but Ada's" You could feel the hatred pouring from the Company's gazes, especially the Durin's folk, but decided to carry along with your plan, with all its consequences.

"I'm sure he will listen to what I have to say" You smiled, ignoring the guard who was checking you for any possible threats.

You were all guided to Mirkwood, where the Company was imprisoned while you were accompanied to the Throne Room "Ah, (Y/N)" The elf king smiled sweetly from his antler throne "Thranduil" "What can I do for you, Nin Meleth?" "You must set free the Company. Their intentions are nothing but noble, as well as their quest" "(Y/N)...You understand I can't let them go without a bargain right?" "If you were a good king who empathized more with the other kins perhaps" "Watch your tongue. While I hold you very dear in my heart I won't hesitate to raise my voice if necessary" "I understand, but-" 

Your conversation was cut short as the guards brought Thorin up. He looked dishevelled, a far cry from how you had met: his hair was covered in spider webs, and the ends of his coat soaked in dirty water and mud. And even like that, he still stood proud as the rightful King Under the Mountain, with qualities you'd to admit Thranduil didn't possess.

"(Y/N)" You nodded at Thorin, stopping yourself from siding with the dwarf king, scared of making the situation worse than what it was about to become.

The negotiations didn't go very far, as Thorin wasn't about to give Thranduil Erebor's gems in exchange for the other's help, not when he had deceived his people once 

"Imrid amrad ursul!" With those words, you knew Thorin had sealed his fate. for Thranduil was quick to dismiss him, but not before playing another card.

"(Y/N), you will stay here with me. This little adventure of yours ends here" "But-" "I will not repeat myself, dear" Thranduil beckoned you a second time, hand extended which you took with distaste "What?" "Has she not told you? My, my (Y/N), and here the dwarf thought he had any chance with you" Your brows shot up in surprise "My lord, what are you saying?" "I can't believe you have been so naïve my dear" Thranduil smiled, pleased that his pet name infuriated Thorin even more "He's obviously infatuated with you...May I adventure myself to think you are his One?" 

Thorin looked at the other king defiantly "You do not know anything about me!" "Oh but you know I do" He just smiled wickedly "Thorin, I didn't know..." "Don't make this any worse" Thorin's voice cracked, defeat etched in his features "I do not wish to do so! In fact, I want to make everything clear. Yes, I have been infatuated with Thranduil for centuries. He was a good elf, one that seemed to take over the world and protect it from any danger" You turned your head to Thranduil "But not anymore" At that, Thorin's eyes widened, as well as Thranduil's "I'm sorry, but you are nothing but a shadow of what you were: you let the forest fall ill, the darkness has possessed it with the spiders. You didn't take part in defending another kin's kingdom you were allied to, and now that you could make amends you decide to be egotistical!" Thranduil's face was like an open book: he felt betrayed, hurt that you decided to side with the dwarves instead of your lover "I'm sorry, but this ends here" You freed yourself from Thranduil's weak grasp and descended the throne's stairs "Is that quest more important than me?" "Yes, it is the right thing to do, but you can't seem to figure it out"

Next thing you knew, the guards were dragging you to the dungeons alongside Thorin, who thrashed around to free himself before being thrown in a cell "You have been blinded (Y/N). Trust me, this will be for the better" Those were the last words you heard from Thranduil before the cell's door closed. 

"(Y/N)?" Balin exclaimed, upon seeing you "What are you doing here?" "Thranduil and I didn't see eye to eye on some matters. I thought I could put some sense in him, but he's not the man I fell in love with a long time ago. I'm sorry I couldn't be more useful"

It seemed like some members of the Company wanted to talk to you regarding the "Thranduil's lover part", but Thorin quickly shushed them, not wishing to put you even more down "I'm sure everything will be alright" "How?" "We still have a chance"

A chance that would present itself in the form of a very witty hobbit called Bilbo.

MASTERLIST

REQUESTS ARE OPEN!

[necr0bvnny]

I Want To Get Better - Part 1

Pairing: Lady Loki x Original Female Character

Genres: Action, Adventure, Enemies To Friends To Lovers, Slow Burn

Content/Warnings: Needle injection, mention of child soldiers, mention of child deaths

Summary:

A few years after Jacklyne has gotten used to her new life among the Avengers, she's assigned to work with one of their greatest enemies, Loki Laufeyson/dottir. It turns out that because one of his children prefers the company of humans while the other one is a war criminal, Loki's father Odin has slipped into the Odinsleep, leaving her mother Frigga in charge of Asgard. Jacklyne can't imagine ever loving the woman enough to set her free after what she's done to the people of New York, but that's a mother’s love for you. It takes a mission going sideways for Jacklyne to begin to see the value in Loki's company and for Loki’s opinion of humans to gradually turn positive.

A/N: Hi! Loki in this story will be presenting mostly as a female cause. Im gay gjvhmv. Think more like comic Lady Loki, NOT Sylvie from the show. Also ngl the first like 2 chapters or so will be setting up Jacklyne’s character and backstory so sorry in advance about the exposition! I promise we’ll get to the gay stuff soon enough :’)

Link to AO3 post

————

September 1999

After some struggling, the two large men in black combat uniforms finally got their small yet surprisingly strong captive to sit down in the cold chair in the middle of the interrogation room. As they removed their hands from her the girl attempted to bite one of the men but failed, catching only empty air between her teeth. She rattled the oversized handcuffs on her wrists anxiously, growling when she finally realized that there was nothing she could do in this situation but wait and find out what these men had planned for her.

Her large teal eyes scanned the room, observing the odd honeycomb patterns on the walls and unsettlingly shiny table in front of her. Then her focus turned to the men, both tall, muscled and well armed with large rifles in hand. They stood behind her chair, statuesque with their cold eyes glaring down at her, almost daring her to try anything and see what happens. She huffed and turned back around, innocently dropping her bound hands onto the table to show that she would comply.

As if on cue, the door in front of the girl finally opened and in walked an older, fair-haired man with a suitcase. He bared an almost smug grin on his face which made the little one want to lunge forth and slash his mouth open, then see if he'd still smile so brightly. But knowing that would get her nowhere, she resisted and instead kept her dagger-like eyes locked onto him.

"Hello there. My name is Phil Coulson. Can you tell me yours?"

"I'm not telling you anything, puto." She finally spoke up, her little voice thick with a Spanish accent.

Phil ignored the insult which he immediately understood. He pointed at the logo on one of her arms which displayed a skull with six curling tentacles underneath. "So H.Y.D.R.A. uses children for espionage now? Do you understand how much danger you’re in?”

He didn’t intend for that to sound like a threat, but the girl took it as one anyway. “You’ll be in even worse danger if you kill me.”

Phil frowned at her assumption. Did she really think they were going to kill her just because she was a part of HYDRA? “We’re not going to kill you, we just want some answers.”

“Si, I’m sure that’s what you told my family before you slaughtered them!”

His brows furrowed slightly in confusion. “Your family?”

“You know what you did, S.H.I.E.L.D. scum. My brothers and sisters came just like me, and they never returned.”

Agent Coulson suddenly realized what she was talking about. There had recently been several break-ins into the headquarters and other minor bases of S.H.I.E.L.D..Some of the intruders were shot on sight while others were caught but killed themselves via cyanide tablets before they could be questioned. All the bodies wore green and black jumpsuits with the H.Y.D.R.A insignia on their arms. But the strange thing about all of them was that upon closer inspection, all of these intruders were just children between the ages of 8 to 10.

Judging by how this girl had a slightly different uniform with more armor and weapons on her, Phil assumed that within whatever program these kids were in, she must have been in a higher rank. This one knew how to use guns and put up a decent fight with the full grown, highly trained male guards before she was finally subdued and captured, so she was clearly more trained and experienced than the others.

“Ah, your brothers and sisters, right. The ones who failed where you almost succeeded. I must say, you’re clearly more capable than your siblings, but I know you didn’t just teach yourself. Can you tell me who trained you?”

“The best of the best soldiers at H.Y.D.R.A’s disposal. I could kill all of you right now if I wanted to.” She hissed.

Coulson smiled, unintimidated. “I’m sure if you could, you already would have.”

“I can and I will once I get these esposas off.” She rattled her handcuffs.

He ignored this and continued on with the questioning. “Tell me more about your ‘family’. Do you guys have a name?"

"You won't get anything from me. I will protect them until my last dying breath!"

The girl lunged forward, hopping up onto the table and going straight for Coulson but he quickly backed away. Before she could reach him, the guards jumped into action, both grabbing each of her arms.

"Please, calm down. We don't want to have to sedate you." Phil calmly pleaded.

One of the guards shouted out, "Stand down before this turns ugly!"

The girl continued kicking and screaming and growling like a feral kitten, baring her teeth and desperately trying to get out of the man's rough grips but to no avail. Phil begrudgingly placed the suitcase onto the table and opened it to reveal several syringes.

He took one of them out and displayed it in front of her face. "Please, I really don't want to do this."

"Hail H.Y.D.R.A!!"

Agent Coulson frowned, not at all proud of what he was about to do. Glancing up at the two guards behind the girl, he said, "Hold her still."

Suddenly she felt a sharp pinch in her inner elbow, followed by whatever liquid was inside the syringe rushing through her veins. After a few seconds, her muscles relaxed on their own and all her strength seemed to drain from her body. Once the guards felt her stop fighting, they cautiously let go of her and went back to their spots in the back of the room. Tears began forming in her eyes, overwhelmed by how completely helpless she felt. She lowered her head into her crossed arms on the table, heaving and sobbing to catch her breath.

"I'm sorry... Now let's try this again. What is your name?"

She didn't want to say anything, but something in her forced the words out of her mouth. "... J-87."

Agent Coulson smiled, though there was a deep sadness behind it. "Okay. Good. And how old are you, J-87?"

"… I'm 12."

"Can you tell me about your.. family? Your brothers and sisters?"

The girl choked out a whimper at the thought of them. "They're all dead. All 24 of them."

Phil hesitated, but after a moment of silence he couldn't help but lay a reassuring hand on J-87's back. At first she flinched away thinking he was going to hurt her as well, but after a few pets she calmed down and allowed him. She wasn't sure why she did, but it had been so long since someone had comforted her. It may have even been the first time ever. All she knew in that moment was that it suddenly made her relaxed and not want to cry anymore.

"It's okay… If you keep answering our questions, we can find you a brand new family. And a real name, all for you. Would you like that?"

“Mhm..” She whimpered out and nodded.

"Good. Did your family have a name?"

"They called us Project Ocelot…"

[miracul0us-multishipper]

Welcome to the back (Part 10)

First Chapter Previous Chapter Next Chapter

Warning: I am trying not to romanticize Akumatization. Felix’s motives may be noble, but he’s still an akuma and not going easy on anybody. So don’t get your hopes up he might be a chivalrous bad boy who only punishes the evil guys.

- - -

Chat Noir had his baton at hand, camera opened and zooming in on what was happening. He didn’t want his Lady to get hurt, of course. Just to wait long enough that she truly appreciated his arrival.

“That was quick.”, Sentiquill said with raised eyebrows. “How did you...” His eyes widened. “Of course. Marinette still had her phone, right?”

He sighed and raised his quill as Ladybug swung into the room, planting herself between him and the students.

“You have bigger worries now, Sentiquill.”, the spotted heroine declared, then turned towards his terrified classmates. “You guys! Everybody out of here, and take Alya and Madame Bustier with you!”

The class hurried to comply, and Chat Noir purred with adoration. She was always concerned for others, looking out for everybody. It was so cute! Though he didn’t get why she hadn’t tried to lure Sentiquill outside. The classroom wasn’t ideal for a fight, space was limited and furniture created unnecessary hindrances. What was she thinking?

Sentiquill seemed confused as well, suspiciously taking a step back. Ladybug was known for her impossible traps and plans, it was only natural he’d be on edge.

“Felix”, Ladybug called him surprisingly gentle. Caring even. “Give me the quill. We can end this without a fight.”

Chat scowled. No fighting? Then how was he supposed to impress her? And why was she so sympathetic towards Felix of all people? She’d never talked to Chat like that! So... sweetly. It made his nose wrinkle in jealousy.

“Trying to reason with an Akuma, Ladybug? Unusual approach.”, Sentiquill commented, adopting a fighting stance. “What’s the reason for your sudden change of attitude? Gone pacifist overnight?”

“I know you can’t want this.”, his Lady continued unwavering. Did she know Felix personally? Did she visit him after patrol, now that she had forbidden Chat from accompanying her? His claws dug into the ground and bared his fangs when she continued.

“You’re a thinker.” The admiration in her voice made him sick. “You enjoy outsmarting people, you don’t like resorting to violence. Let me help you, please!”

His breathing hitched. Why was she- Why would- Didn’t she think of him at all?! She couldn’t just go around saying stuff like that! It was far too... intimate!

Sentiquill didn’t seem to share Chat’s opinion, instead of flustered, he looked furious.

“Help me?!”

In the blink of an eye he was moving, slashing his sword and shooting ink at Ladybug. She blocked it with her yo-yo, but the force of the attack hurled her through the window into the yard, where the rest of the class ran into hiding. She landed on her feet, sliding over the ground.

“You didn’t care to help Marinette either!”, Sentiquill roared. “All it would have taken was a single word of you and nobody would have listened to Lila ever again!”

“I know, and I regret this, but-“

“Then show it!”

Sentiquill followed her, attacked with his blade from every angle. Ladybug could barely keep up with blocking his slashes with the string of her yo-yo.

“Come on, tell them the truth!”, Sentiquill snarled and gave her a shove that sent her against a wall. “Tell them who Lila really is!”

The students leaned out of their hideouts, curious for what was going on despite the danger. Chat stiffened. Surely she wouldn’t... Ladybug knew how important it was to leave Lila in peace, didn’t she? She wouldn’t say anything rash now, would she?

Ladybug got up again, a fearsome scowl on her face.

“You think Marinette cares about that now? She wants her friend back!”

A bitter laugh got over her lips, so untypical for her Chat leaned back a little.

“But fine! I couldn’t like Lila less! She’s a dirty liar, we’re not best friends and I would be more than glad if she left Paris again. Happy now?”

The yard was dead silent. If Lila was still hiding somewhere, Chat couldn’t see her. He was flabbergasted. Had Ladybug just... Was she insane?! Oh fuck, he should have joined the fight when it hadn’t been too late yet. Now his carefully protected, unproblematic school life would be completely out of control!

Sentiquill laughed in disbelief.

“Why, thank you, Ladybug! I didn’t expect you to actually do that for me.”

He smiled, genuinely. If Chat hadn’t still been so rattled, he would have hissed in disgust.

“I appreciate the effort. Alas...”

His face darkened.

“Too little, too late. The damage is done, and I’ll set things right again.”

He raised his sword.

“Let’s see which dark secrets hide behind that little mask of yours.”

He pounced again, ink swirling through the air. Ladybug held her own skillfully, dodging his slices at her sides, dancing around the ink torrents he sent her way and blocking the thrusts of his blade. Before he realized it, Sentiquill was dangerously low on ink. Hectically he looked around for a potential victim and made a run for Rose, who had leaned out of the girl’s bathroom a little too far. Before he could reach her, Ladybug’s yo-yo wrapped around his foot and kept him in place. That’s when she spotted him on the roof.

“Chat Noir!”, she shouted without sparing Chat a second glance, eyes fixed on her opponent. “Finally!”

Not the greeting he had hoped for. Ugh! This whole day was a disaster, nothing went as planned! Couldn’t life go his way just this once?!

“His quill’s ink comes from negativity others carry!”, Ladybug informed him of what he already knew. “You need to get the civilians out of the way!”

That’s all she wanted of him? Not to fight by her side, to protect her from Felix, but to play savior for classmates he already protected from their own carelessness as Adrien? Who would doubtlessly create nothing but chaos now that Lila was exposed? No, he didn’t think so!

Angry, Chat stood on the roof and watched Ladybug. She really was getting arrogant these days, yelling at him to leave her alone and then expecting him to follow her every command. A decision formed in his mind and he crossed his arms. It wouldn’t do any real harm if he left her to deal with this alone, would it? Miraculous Ladybug always cured everyone anyway. So why not teach her a lesson?

“Wonderful morning to you as well, My Lady!”, he hissed sarcastically. “I thought we shouldn’t work together until absolutely necessary?”

Her face fell. She was still fighting to keep Sentiquill in place, who was hacking at her weapon with his quill. Revenge truly is sweet.

“Chat, this is not the time to-“

“Exactly!”, he interrupted her smugly. “Now is not the time it’s necessary.”

With a satisfied grin he dropped on his butt, watching cross legged as her grip on Sentiquill loosened and he ripped himself free.

Rose had started to run, abandoning her hideout to escape to Juleka. The taller girl was hiding behind the stairs and hectically waved her girlfriend closer.

But Rose had no chance to outrun an Akuma.

When Sentiquill stabbed the hilt of his quill into her back, her scream was drowned out by Juleka’s.

Chat flinched, but forced himself to stay put. He had to do this, Ladybug forced him to. If she didn’t learn to respect him more now, she’d only harm their teamwork and therefore endangered Paris in the long run.

Yes, Chat Noir was in the right. She’d understand that, eventually.

This occupied with his own righteousness, he didn’t notice his ring beginning to pulse in a green glow, reacting towards its wielder’s deeds. Fused with his chosen, a Kwami could not consciously act on their own. But every one of them could feel if their power was abused, it changed their aura in the fabric of reality itself. The change might not be noticeable to humans, but fellow Kwamis would feel it instantly, just like they had felt it with the very first akuma.

Four thousand meters away, a little green creature snapped out of his slumber and flew to his master, warning him of the danger it sensed. The guardian’s eyes closed in resignation as he stood up, ready to do what was necessary.

They had lost Nooroo.

They could not afford to lose Plagg.

-

Ladybug in the meantime was despairing. Juleka had jumped out of hiding to help her girlfriend, who was forced to whimper about being a burden to everyone as Sentiquill dragged her innermost fears to light. If Ladybug tried to save Rose, she’d make herself vulnerable for an attack and Sentiquill had the chance to go after Juleka instead. So she had to make the unfair, horrible choice and intercepted Juleka, stopping her before she could get too close.

“Stay hidden!”, she tried to calm her, “I’ll take care of everything!”

“Rose! ROSE!”, Juleka yelled, not listening. With a groan Ladybug lifted the struggling girl up and ran towards the next classroom in which she found Nathaniel and Mylène, standing protectively over Alya’s and Bustier’s unconscious bodies.

“Take care of her!”, she ordered as she pushed Juleka inside. “Don’t let her out and stay hidden! Do you understand?”

“Yes, Ma’am!”, Nathaniel hurried to assure her. According to his intimidated face, she was sounding harsher than expected. She nodded and closed the door again, turning back to the yard. There was no time to think of a plan, however, because Sentiquill’s ink was already all around her before she could fully face him. At the very last moment she managed to jump up the wall and somersault into safety, milliseconds before the black torrents crashed down on the place she had been a moment ago. She had no time to get to her bearings, Sentiquill’s blade coming at her from left and right.

“Chat!”, she screamed for her partner, desperately trying to avoid getting hit. Rose was laying on the ground a few meters away, drained and crying. How could Chat Noir abandon her like this?! “Stop this nonsense and help me!”

The other hero only crossed his arms and pouted.

“I’m not sure if you really mean that. What’s the magic word?”

She was on the brink of tears when Sentiquill started to laugh at her.

“Looks like Marinette isn’t the only one with friends who won’t stand up for her.”, he said almost pitifully as he brought his blade down on her. “You truly have a prick of a partner, Ladybug. My sincere condolences.”

She ducked to escape the blow, only to be kicked in the chest when she came up again. The impact sent her crashing into a wall again, and she had to cough a few times before being able to breathe again. If it hadn’t been for her magically strengthened suit, she would’ve had a few broken ribs.

To her surprise, Sentiquill allowed her a few seconds of calm to turn towards her par- Chat Noir. In a single, fluid motion he thrusted the Quill in his direction, creating a blizzard of ink headed straight for the treacherous cat. He barely had the time to take out one of his batons, which was promptly knocked out of his hand. The metallic clang told Ladybug it landed somewhere on the upper walkway, out of her sight. Chat Noir screamed when the ink hit him and knocked him straight into the nearest chimney. Cursing, he got up and searched for cover as Sentiquill’s attention shifted back to Ladybug.

“See this as my thanks for exposing Lila earlier.”, he stated matter-of-fact and pointed his sword at her. “Now give me your Miraculous!”

Ladybug inhaled and stood up straight.

This was going to be a long day.

-

Sentiquill was vicious. She was still shaken from being thrown into a wall - again! - and without Chat at her side she was quickly loosing ground. Her supposed partner had started to watch from the sidelines again, continuing to ask- no, demand that she apologized and begged for his help. As if she was some kind of stubborn, disobedient pet.

She was all but sobbing in frustration when Sentiquill cornered her at a wall, with no chance of cover.

“Come on, My Lady!”, Chat patronized her like a parent would a toddler. “You’ll only end up hurt if you keep this up. Just say it already!”

She’d never regarded Chat Noir as anything other than a friend. Nothing more, nothing less. Right now, however, the feeling that burnt in her lungs was dangerously close to hate.

“Please!”, she swallowed down her pride and fought back tears. “I’m sorry for rejecting you! Please help me!”

Sentiquill towered over her, his gleaming blade at her throat. He could hear their conversation, but he couldn’t see from which direction Chat Noir could attack without taking his eyes off of Ladybug - who would use every chance to escape. Behind him on the roof, Chat Noir got up and stretched.

“As you wish, My Lady!”, he beamed smugly and raised his hand. “Cataclysm!”

Sentiquill smiled, just when Chat jumped down on them. Only now she realized he hadn’t been looking at her. The Akuma had watched Chat’s reflection in his blade.

It was too late to warn him. Chat - rash as always - was already descending, his sparking claws aimed at their opponents back. In the last second, Sentiquill moved aside, just when the cataclysmic hand came down on them, not able to stop or avert its course - which now aimed for Ladybug on the floor. He was going to hit her.

She was going to be cataclysmed.

She was going to die, at Chat Noir’s hands.

She didn’t, of course. But it was close. Chat Noir, eyes wide with terror, had pulled his hand aside just when Ladybug had flinched in fear, missing her head by a hairs breadth. Instead, he touched the ground beneath them.

Ladybug recovered first from the shock, rolling aside and throwing her yo-yo around a chimney to pull her to safety. Chat Noir wasn’t as quick. He was still frozen in place when the ground and part of the wall behind them began to crumble, before breaking through completely. He screamed when he fell into the cellar, and then again when he was hit by debris.

“My jaw!”, she heard out of the newly created hole. Carefully, she inched her way foreword. The ground seemed stable enough now - Chat less so. He was back down on the bottom of the whole, trapped by the bricks and concrete debris that covered him. One piece had hit him right into the face, effectively breaking his jaw.

He was yelling and wailing, unable to move beneath all this debris. If it hadn’t been for his suit, he would be dead now, no doubt about it. His ring gave a weak blink and made peeping sounds. Time was running out!

“Take his Miraculous!”, she could hear Hawkmoth’s voice and turned around to see Sentiquill standing over the hole as well, a violet butterfly outline in front of his face. He shrugged.

“That one’s out of commission, he’s not going anywhere. Let him suffer a bit.”

His blood red eyes fixated her.

“For now, I’ll take care of the bug first.”

She had no chance. He was faster than her, and her yo-yo was a limited defense against a sword. Without any hope of back up she was as good as defeated. Still. When he finally hit her with his nib, she was surprised anyway - for a second, at least. Then, her mind and body went numb.

”Gotcha!”, Sentiquill mocked her with her own catchphrase. “Now, show us how perfect Paris’ hero truly is!”

The sensation was... terrifying. Control of her body was stolen from her as his power rummaged through her mind, finding all her dark, hidden places and tearing them out of her.

“I... I am scared... that I’m alone.”, she pressed out between clenched teeth, trying to fight his spell.

In vain.

“That I have to carry all this responsibility alone a-and mess up. I’ll disappoint everyone.”

She closed her eyes as darkness rose around her, feeding into Sentiquill’s weapon. He scoffed, before giving her a malicious smirk.

“Oh, but you already have.”, his painfully familiar voice dictated. The words seeped into her mind, trying to take root. She couldn’t let that happen, she knew it was a trick. The people he drained sank into a despair of his making, it was just Hawkmoth’s magic!

“You currently are, and you won’t stop being a single great disappointment.”, he finished, breaking through her mental defenses. She flinched, realizing he was right. She... had lost. She had been abandoned by her partner, her best friend was fighting her and she was... too weak to save him. Useless.

”You had your fun, Sentiquill.”, Hawkmoth’s voice commented. “Now take her miraculous.”

His champion nodded, but didn’t seem as if he had quite enough yet.

”Anything else you want to fail at?”, he asked her gleefully. “Keeping your identity secret, for example?” He laughed when she lowered her head.

“Come on, tell us who you really are, beneath all that false glamor!”

“I’m...”, her voice began, part of her still trying to resist. “I-I am... Ma-“

A loud clang startled her and Sentiquill’s sword was knocked out of his hand by a flash of silver. He jumped back in surprise and looked at the object that had hit him: a silver staff, clearly belonging to a certain Cat. But Chat was buried beneath tons of debris! Who had...?

She looked around and her eyes, blurry with unshed tears, focused on a splotch of yellow on the metal walkway. Was that... Chloé?

“Hey, Leanne!”, the reckless girl yelled and flung her hair over her shoulder. “Stop being such an obnoxious bastard and get away from the Lady!”

She grinned, propping her chin up on one hand and giving him her most judgmental glare.

“You’re acting utterly ridiculous.”

An angry snarl came from Sentiquill as he picked up his sword and jumped up to the walkway, cornering her. Chloé didn’t even look at him, instead leaned over the handrail to wave at her in excitement.

“Hey, Ladybug”, she greeted without a care in the world. “It’s me, Chloé! Did you see that throw?! Just miraculous, wasn’t it?”

Sentiquill towered behind her like an angry bull, but she only spared him an annoyed glance.

“Oh shoo, get away from me with that ugly hat! Who designed your outfit?! It looks like a toddler made it!”

The violet outline returned to his face.

“Stab her, now!”, Hawkmoth shrieked, having temporarily forgotten about Ladybug. Not that it was of much use to her. She was beaten and on the ground. There was no way she’d get up now. She was a failure, a lost cause.

And so she could only watch as Sentiquill raised his sword and hit Chloé with the nib of the hilt.

“If that isn’t a whole lot of dark thoughts you have. Care to share them, Bourgeois?”

Chloé contorted her face in pain, but didn’t flinch when the inky swirls rose around her.

“I don’t know how to act around the others, after all that I’ve done.”, she admitted openly, with no sign of being forced to. “I don’t want to disappoint Ladybug, and I certainly don’t want to become like my mom. But i can’t apologize either, I don’t know how. And I hate feeling vulnerable like that; to be at the mercy of other’s judgement.”

Sentiquill scoffed, ready to fill her with his poisonous words as he had with Ladybug.

“It’s in vain, Chloé, and you know it. You already are just as horrible and worthless as your mother, and Ladybug is fully aware of that. That’s why she took away your Miraculous for good.”

Ladybug knows what came next; she was experiencing it herself, after all. The doubt, the pain, the horrible knowledge to be useless.

But Chloé surprised her. Instead of crumbling under his scorching glare, she looked him straight in the eye, chin up and back straightened.

“I don’t believe you.”, she declared confidently. “I know my worth. You’ve all already seen me at my worst, and I’ve dealt with Hawkmoth and Mayura at the same day. Your ridiculous power doesn’t impress me, Felix.”

Sentiquill let go of her, visibly taken aback. It took him a moment before he could collect himself.

“Pah.”, he played her resistance off. “Your confidence is admirable, for someone this...”

He trailed off. His gaze had wandered behind Chloé and downwards, where Marinette’s earlier ink prison stood. Ladybug gulped. Now that he was on the walkway, in an elevated position, he could look right inside the cylindrical cell.

“Empty...”, he whispered, his hands clenching to fists. Then he pounced, landing right on the walls to check every angle. “Empty! Where is she? Where is Marinette?!”

He looked around, eyes rabid with fury, searching for the rest of the class.

“Who of you took her?! TELL ME!”

Ladybug flinched as she watched him slice the prison into shards of dried ink, his angry roar echoing off the walls of the yard.

“Don’t get distracted!”, Hawkmoth tried to command. “Give me Ladybug’s Miraculous, now!”

“Shut up! Where is Marinette?!”, Sentiquill yelled back, his sword hacking at bare stones now. He caught sight of Nino, hidden beneath the stairs, who was filming everything with his phone. He growled and stomped towards him, but before he could even take two steps, a flash of purple covered his hand and he screamed in pain. What had happened? Was Hawkmoth punishing him?

She didn’t have time to ponder. In the meantime, Chloé had managed to run down the stairs and shout orders at the rest of the class, before dashing over to Ladybug. The fallen heroine groaned in pain when she was picked up and pulled to the side of the yard.

“Come on, Ladybug!”, Chloé muttered, panting under the weight of her idol. “You gotta kick his ass! Get up already!”

Ladybug closed her eyes, resigned.

“I can’t.”, she whispered. “I’m sorry! I’ve disappointed you. I... can’t.”

Chloé pouted, hands on her hips.

“Don’t be ridiculous! Of course you can!”

She shook her head. Useless, worthless, abandoned.

“Okay, I’ll definitely feel bad about this later.”, Chloé sighed. Then she slapped her - hard!

“Ow!”, she yelled and sat up straight. “What the-“

”Stop the nonsense right there, Ladybug! Look at me, I’m still on my feet as well. If I can fight him, you can do it too!”

”But...”, she protested, still halfway under the spell. “I failed! I’m alone and... I failed.”

Exasperated, Chloé rolled her eyes.

“You haven’t failed yet, and you’re not alone. Look!”

She gestured at the yard, where her classmates had come out of hiding. Some were armed with brooms or mops, Markov flew around clutching a wrench twice his size while Max was carrying an unconscious Rose to safety. Kim had Alix on his shoulders, who held a spray can in each hand and looked ready to bite her way through to Sentiquill. Next to them was Nino, rotating his headphones like a lasso - or like her yo-yo! And was that a knife in Sabrina’s hand?! Where had that come from?!

Chloé flipped back her ponytail, obviously proud.

“We’re all with you. Now get up or my knees will get dusty.”

Ladybug smiled as the last bit of darkness faded from her. It felt like breathing after being underwater for too long.

“We can’t have that, now, can we?”, she chuckled and stood up. “Thanks, Chloé. You did great!”

The blonde blushed and swatted her hand through the air.

“A-alright, alright, I know I’m awesome. Do your thing!”

She didn’t have to ask twice. Now that she was free of Sentiquill’s influence, he would get his ass handed to him on a silver platter!

“Lucky Charm!”, Ladybug yelled and threw her yo-yo, only to catch a long, rectangular box.

“Aluminum foil?”, she wondered when she opened it. How would that help her?

She looked around. Her eyes fell on Ivan and Kim, on Alix’ skaters, then on a table next to the hole Chat Noirs cataclysm had caused. It was missing two legs thanks to the crumbled wall, but maybe...? She looked to the other side, then to Chloé in front of her.

Handrail. Nino’s phone case. Sunlight. Sabrina on the walkway. Quill. Chloé’s sunglasses. Aluminum foil!

“Yes!”, she cheered, then pulled Chloé closer. “I need your help! And your sunglasses!”

The blonde all but sparked with excitement.

“Aye, Aye, Ladybug!”

-

“Sentiquill!”, Ladybug called her opponent, who had only recently recovered from Hawkmoth’s punishment. Since then, he’d been busy defending himself from all kinds of objects that were hurled at him from a safe distance. Whenever he tried to attack one of the students, the others would step in with even more things to throw. They were no match for his sword, of course - it simply sliced through the stones and metals with ease - but it had slowed him down, irritated him. Now however, her preparations were complete. It was time to bring Sentiquill down and get her Felix back!

“Time to end this!”

“Finally something we can agree on!”, he snapped back, quill at the ready. She smiled grimly and put on the sunglasses, then went in for the attack. She was lighter on her feet, this time, her steps elevated by the knowledge her friends had her back. She dove underneath the first blow and jabbed at his face, but he dodged and jumped back a little. They danced around each other in a dangerous game of a fight, a competition to see who would show weakness first. He didn’t notice she was maneuvering him closer and closer to the stairway.

“Now!”, she gave the signal when she had him where she wanted. Sabrina nodded and raised her hand, Nino’s phone case in her hand. It was wrapped in Aluminum foil and reflected the sun like a mirror, blinding the fighters below. Well, one of them, at least. Chloé’s sunglasses allowed Ladybug to get the upper hand and she dealt a rapid series of blows and kicks to his torso. Enraged, Sentiquill blindly slashed in the direction of Sabrina, shooting ink at her. A grave mistake! Chloé pulled her friend out of the way in time, and now Sentiquill had left his sword hand wide open. With all her weight Ladybug threw herself against him and hurled him forwards, until his sword slipped between two bars of the stair’s handrail.

“What the-“, Sentiquill begun but never finished. He had caught sight of his impeding doom in form of three students and a table with roller blades.

“Here I come!”, Alix announced from on top of the table, which had its two remaining front legs tugged in her skates. Behind her, Ivan and Kim high-fived before giving the improvised battering ram a strong shove. It scooted down the stairs towards the exposed broadside of the Akuma’s quill.

“Razzle Dazzle!”, Alix cheered when the table crashed into the metal, shattering it in two.

Sentiquill sank to the ground as his power was drained from him and the corrupted butterfly broke free of his quill’s shards. Triumphant, Ladybug opened her yo-yo.

“Enough evil doing for you today, little Akuma. Time to de-evilize!”

She spun around herself to gather momentum, then threw her yo-yo and let it snap shut around the troublesome akuma.

“Gotcha! Bye bye little butterfly.”

Relieved, she released the purified butterfly into the sky, then she held her hand out towards Nino. Sabrina had returned his phone to him, and now he happily removed the Aluminum wrap from its case.

“That was a close one, dudette!”

She sighed and weighed the balled foil in her hand.

“It really was. Miraculous Ladybug!”

Pink and red lights flashed over the sky, then swirled around the school. Broken doors and windows repaired themselves, ink stains vanished from the walls. The hole in the ground was closed by the Cure as well, just like the adjacent wall. The door towards the other classroom opened and Nathaniel and Mylène came out, followed by a cured Alya and their teacher. Juleka flung her arms around Rose’s neck, who nearly cried into her black shirt. Everyone was unharmed again. Well... almost everyone.

Ladybug stepped next to Sentiquill the moment the purple smoke around him faded, turning him back into Felix.

“What... What happened?”, he asked confused, holding his head. His eyes widened and he jumped to his feet. “Where’s Marinette?!”

“Don’t worry.”, she calmed him, hiding her euphoria at having him back behind a soothing smile. “She’s alright. How are you feeling?”

He blinked, looking at the repaired pen in his hand.

“I’m... fine, I think. Why does Sabrina have a knife?”

Ladybug’s smile turned forced.

“I‘m afraid to ask, if I’m being honest.”

-

A floor further down, Adrien beat the dust out of his clothes and rubbed his freshly healed jaw. Miraculous Ladybug had closed the gaping hole above his head only seconds before his transformation ran out, keeping his identity a secret once again. That aside, this akuma attack had been a single disaster.

“I can’t believe it”, he muttered. “She just left me lying down here! I was hurt and bleeding, and Ladybug doesn’t even come to look after me.”

He groaned.

“This day is a catastrophe! I almost had her admitting she needs me, and then everything went south! That stunt with my Cataclysm? Lord, that was so embarrassing! A rookie mistake; I was looking like an idiot. Do you think she’s still mad at me, Plagg?”

Only silence answered him and he turned to search for his Kwami.

“Plagg?”

The tiny creature floated motionless in front of him, eyes hard as granit and his face absolutely expressionless. Adrien shrank under his burning gaze.

“Look, I know I should have intervened earlier.”, he tried to appease him. Plagg’s expression was creeping him out. “But I already got my punishment, didn’t I? Ladybug exposed Lila, and now school is going to be so much drama. Lesson learned.”

His Kwami was still silent. Slowly Adrien started to get nervous. Sweat was forming on his forehead and he was going for a shifting of blame before he fully realized it.

“It’s not like it was all my fault, you know?”, he desperately tried to fill the quietness. “If Ladybug hadn’t slapped me the last time, we wouldn’t have gotten into this mess!”

His words sounded eerily close to what he’d said about Marinette earlier, he noticed.

“I just wanted her to learn how to treat her partner better! I’ll be nicer next time.”

“There won’t be a next time.”, a commanding voice behind him declared. “And you are in no position to teach Ladybug a single thing.”

Adrien whirled around, raising his hand.

“Claws out!”, he yelled before remembering Plagg hadn’t eaten yet. There would be no transformation any time soon. Realizing his defenselessness, he swallowed and looked at the figure that had ambushed him. As if on cue, it stepped out of the shadows, revealing...

“Master Fu?”

Adrien almost fainted in relieve.

“Oh god, you gave me the scare of my life! What’s the matter? Any new potions to deliver?”

The guardian didn’t blink. Instead he raised his hand, expectantly.

“You have forsaken your partner. You have willfully sacrificed a civilian in order to punish Ladybug. You have abused your powers by choosing inaction for the sake of revenge.”

Adrien gulped when Fu came closer.

“I cannot risk Ladybugs safety anymore. Give me your Miraculous, boy.”

“What?!”, he spluttered, covering the ring with his other hand. “No! You don’t even know the whole story, it was nothing like that!”

Fu’s eyes narrowed.

“I won’t ask again.”

“But I am Chat Noir! Ladybug and I are meant to be together- to be a team! You can’t take that from us!”

He searched for his Kwami, desperate.

“Tell him, Plagg! I was just helping Ladybug grow to be the bigger person! It’s not like there’s any permanent damage anyway.”

The cat Kwami closed his eyes and breathed out. When he opened them again, there was no compassion in them.

“I’m sorry, Kiddo.”

Adrien had no time to react. Fu’s cane had jabbed at him out of nothing, swatting his hand into the air. His ring slipped of his finger and was caught on the wooden staff, just when Plagg began to blur and merge with it again.

Adrien stumbled back in shock, before fury took control of him. How dare he?!

“No!”

With a battle cry he went after Fu, fists clenched and ready to get his ring back by any means necessary.

He was taller than Fu, younger and quicker. The senile guardian wouldn’t stand a chance against him.

“Shelter!”, a voice to his right exclaimed and a green, solid barrier slammed into his side. Adrien yelped when he was thrown against a pipe and fell to the ground, breath knocked out of his lungs. He panted for air and looked up.

A tiny green creature floated next to Fu, hands raised to summon what he knew as Carapace’s superpower. Wayzz, the turtle Kwami, Plagg had mentioned once.

Adrien’s eyes widened. He might’ve had a chance to win against Fu, but a Kwami was another topic. Without his Miraculous, he stood no chance.

“Please!”, he resorted to begging, tears welling up in his eyes. “I need it! There’s nothing I can do as Adrien, I’ll be trapped at home forever! What will Ladybug be without me?”

Fu turned his back on him without hesitation, walking towards the stairs.

“Better off, I hope.”, he retorted coldly. “I regret your situation, but I can’t afford to waste Plagg’s powers on someone out of pity.”

He stopped.

“Adrien Agreste, you were granted the Miraculous of Destruction, a great honor. But you abused this privilege for selfish gains and tormented the one you were meant to protect. You will never again be worthy of its powers.”

He sighed when Adrien let out a helpless sob.

“I hope you can grow beyond what you are now, I really do. But until then... Farewell.”

With that, he disappeared into the shadows of the cellar, leaving Adrien behind.

[zora-moyashi]

First

<---Prev   Next ---> Core

“I’m not a coward.” Killer hissed. Shatter opened a portal

ZM

"Than come on chicken!" She hops through the portal and lands right in front of shade.

Core

Shade jumped. “The hell?!” He hissed at Chara. “Chill out.” Error said with a sigh.

ZM

"Hello to you too shade" she rolls her eyes. "Error! Hello, I didn't get to talk last time. What have you been up to?" She goes over to shine and looks at her pet

Core

Skink has grown quite a bit, he was the same size as Shine “Well, Ink has been complaining on how her game has become dull and needs some ‘spicing up’” Error shrugged. “ Whatever that means.”

ZM

"nothing good I'm sure" she looks around. "Where is she?"

Core

“She left a bit ago, said she’ll be back soon.” Error replied. (2 turns)

ZM

"uh huh," she gets a chill thinking something is going to happen. She looks to shatter.

Core

Shatter seemed to have the same feeling as she looked around. 

ZM

sense she's right by shine all she does kinda go closer to her in a protective mannor

Core

The ground spiked up, hitting Shatter directly in her soulstone.

ZM

chara sees shatters soul stone break. "INK ALL OF YOUR STUPID IDEAS MEAN NOTHING AS LONG AS CAN RELOAD. SO THE JOKES ON YOU" she looks around for her

Core

Ink was on top of the roof. “Not if I overload your save file to now.” She said with a smirk as shatter turned to dust.

ZM

"Good luck trying you piece of sh**! Oh god I hate you! Void cult yeah right" chara climbs up to face her.

Ink paused for a moment. “Where did you learn that...”

ZM

"I thought you knew EVERYTHING." She sneers her eyes glowing

Core

“Not when I’ve been stuck here.”

ZM

"whatever I don't care about your excuses. I'm going to make you hurt, you're going to tell me about this cult. And then I'm bringing shatter back. " chara surrounded ink with red knives

Core

“I can bring her back, but not unless I get something in return.” Ink replied

ZM

"Like you need anything" the knives are right by her skin grazing her

Ink’s blood was black and reformed instantly into new skin. “Enterainment.”

ZM

"Maybe you should stop being a perv and mind your own business for once in your life" she makes the knifes cut back at her, they form jags more like a saw

She saws through inks arm only for it to slowly reform. "Error wanna help me out?"

Core

“Kid, I’ve tried, she doesn’t feel pain unless she gets burns.” Error said.

ZM

"Like, actual burns or chemical burns?"

Core

Ink signaled for Error to be quiet

ZM

"You can speak errz, she doesn't own you."

ZM

( did killer follow or is she still back at the other place)

Core

(She stayed back.) “Yeah but she can certainly kick my ass.” Error responded, remembering last time She got in the way of one of Ink’s games

(I am just now realizing how much Ink is like the other mother from coralline)

ZM

(Yeah that sounds about right) 'I'm surrounded by cowards.' She looks upset. 'Its around this time I wish I was bigger and or could teleport' she tries to tackle ink off the roof anyway with the use of orange magic

Below is a shallow lake so that would answer her question of water Resistance

Core

Ink turned to liquid, dodging.

ZM

chara checks ink

Core

(Endurance 10/10 Speed 9/10 Physical attack 1/10 Special attack 9.5/10 Physical Defense 7/10 Special Defense 9.5/ 10)

ZM

chara puts up a ring of fire around ink

Core

Ink looked at this. “Really?”

ZM

All I can picture is chara saying "go ride a rollercoaster" all angry like in that balloon shop video

ZM

"Just because you're op as fu** doesn't mean you have to make fun of me!" She waves her arms

Core

Ink looked at Chara before her eyes flared and the flames went out.

ZM

"You know, I say 'I hate you' a lot but for you I really mean it." She shoots forward and slashes into her ink that just moves out of the way. "Help me error damn it!"

Core

“Again, I know better than to do that.” Error said. “Yeah? But I don’t!” Shade hissed climbing up.

ZM

chara's pretty shocked that shade wants to help. "Well, ah gee. Thanks kid,"

Core

Ink turned to Shade, a slight glare on her face.

ZM

Chara wonders if she were to fuse with shade and then go back in time if she could revert it. 

Core

 Shade shot towards Ink, who turned to liquid to dodge.

ZM

chara goes in from the other side trying to leave her no where to go.

Ink went in between Chara’s legs and reformed behind her.

ZM

 Chara sighs. And turns to her. "Why did you do it. She's my friend, how is this fun to you!" she looks like she actually might cry.

Core

“Because, it’s illogical.”

ZM

"fun has NOTHING to do with logic. What world are you living in? Why hasn't the protesters of these world's come to destroy you? I've never been justice oriented but you don't deserve to live." She's been attacking her the whole time getting no where

Core

Ink grabbed Chara’s throat. “You can’t kill something that wasn’t truly alive to begin with.”

ZM

Chara struggles kicking and clawing at in not being able to breathe.

Core

Ink then dropped her, not going to kill Chara yet

ZM

Chara catches her breath rubbing her throat. She looks over to shade tiredly

Core

Shade was slipping off the roof.

ZM

she growls and looks up at ink. "What do you want."

Core

“I already told you, entertainment, you play my game, I bring your friend back.”

ZM

 she rolls her eyes and sits down loosing her balance "What does that entail?" She mummbles

Core

“You can continue your little journey, but...” she thought for a moment. “You are to kill all fusions.”

ZM

"That's stupid."

Core

“Think of it as a challenge, 18 fusions, for the eighteen pieces.”

ZM

She growls "That's nothing but a waste of life. Especially sense the fusions I've met aren't even hostile." She pulls up her save file "I'm not playing your game." She thinks of a few minutes ago and starts to try to jump back.

Core

Ink smiled. “I must say, I am impressed.”

ZM

She gives her a side glance as if telling her to go on

Core

“I’ll bring her back. In due time of course, but you do have my word on that.” Ink said.

ZM

"I take your promises as well as I take asy's as to say not at all. But I do want to know what you're impressed by? I'm groveling at your damn feet"

Core

“That you refused my offer, most versions of yourself jump at the idea of a mass genocide.” Ink said.

ZM

"Ah I see, I take pleasure in making those hurt who deserve it. I'm no sociopath. Like you." She puts a hand over the reset button. "See ya on the other side freak." She salutes and pushes it.

Core

She was when they came out of the portal. “I’m not a coward.” Killer hissed.

ZM

"So you say killz, so you say." She grabs shatter's hoodie stopping her from going in the portal

Core

Shatter flinched. “Woah what’s wrong?” “So now you know why I’m not going?” Killer said in a snarky tone

ZM

"You could say that. Okay let's make this simple." She pulls shatter all the way back. "Im going to say a quick bye to the kits, and you open the portal back up after I'm done alright? Just stay here. "

Core

“Ok, will do.” Shatter said, still confused. Ink watched from the roof. “You know, resets are such a pain, ruin so much planning.”

ZM

Chara's through the portal and it shut, she glares up at ink for a moment before saying "Don't talk to me." Putting up a hand and going over to shade

Core

“About time you came back!” He said.

ZM

"Yeeeeeah about that..." she rubs the back of her head trying to think how to say it. "The thing is we're planing on keeping you two with... well with error." She looks to error " you can baby sit right?" She says with pleading eyes

Core

“I have been... I’m not there mother, don’t wanna be either.” Error replies not looking up. “Come on Error. I think it will do you some good.” Ink added. “No way Ink, kits are grabby, and thanks to you, I can’t handle that.” Error hissed softly 

ZM

"I-... I don't even want to know what you mean by that." She shakes her head. "But thank you error, you're a life saver. I'll find. Someone else I guess."

Core

“Yeah, whatever.” (Yeah, ink hurt Error the last time she intervened in one of her games, so much so that Error has ptsd from it.)

ZM

he calls to shine. "Hey kid get over here!" Back to error. "You should get away from ink. She's nothing but a head ache and you know it"

Core

Shine ran on over. “Easy for you to say, you don’t have to clean up after her.” Error said

ZM

"Maybe if you stop giving her attention she'll take a hint that EVERYONE HATES HER" she turns to ink at the last word. She gives shine a hug when she makes it over.

Core

Shine actually started purring softly when she got hugged, extremely happy to have affection. “So? What if they do? Won’t change much.” Ink said

ZM

"Being liked is more enjoyable than anything in the multiverse. Of course you'll never know that." She pats shines head and walks over to where the portal was. "Shatter I'm ready!" She has no clue how shatter's powers work so she just yells and hopes she heard.

Core

Shatter opened the portal. Error looked to Ink, thinking.

ZM

"Bye error, think about it, kay?" She smiles and gets the kits through the portal and follows.

Core

Shine was still nervous about Killer. Shade happily greeted Tonic.

ZM

Tonic looked ecstatic to see them. Chara claps once and says. "So! The whole void cult, ink knows about it. Also ink killed shatter. I feel that keeping the kits with us is kinda awash now. No one's going to be safer or in more trouble if they stay." She shrugs. "Or we could drop them off with nightmare."

Core

“Night would eat them within a week, on purpose or not.” Killer said.

ZM

"Oh yeah I forgot her weird eating problem..." she clicks her tounge. "Well kids what's your opinions?"

Core

“Can we stay with you?” Shine asked “What about that laughing lady?”

ZM

"What the hell is laughing lady?"

Core

(LJ) “No she was creepy!” Shine whined, hiding behind Chara.

ZM

"Oh LJ? Yeah that's not a bad idea"

Core

“Thank you.” Shade said. Shine whined softly

ZM

"Have a better idea kiddo?" She looked behind her to shine. "You don't want to stay with us we're not nice."

Core

“Yes I do...” shine mumbled

ZM

"What is it?"

Core

“I wanna stay with you guys!” Shine spoke up

ZM

"Yeah I heard you the first time. But we're going to be running around killing big groups of cults. I kinda don't want you there for that. Nor would skink."

Core

“Take me with you please!” Shine whined

ZM

"Pfff, why?"

Core

“B-because....I dunno!” Shine whined louder, clearly annoying Killer.

ZM

Chara noticed and lead shine a couple paces away from the group "Listen shine, you deserve to grow up having fun. You don't want to see me and killer mess up the universe and practically brainwash others."

Core

“But-But you are fun!” Shine said 

ZM

"HA fun? yeah no kiddo, you'll have a lot more fun without us. plus you have skink! you'll be fine"

Core

“B-But...” shine stuttered.

ZM

chara looks at shine quietly and then sighs. "we'll come see you later. alright?" 

Core

“Promise?” Shine asked.

ZM

"ehh. sure. as long as i'm not dead by than or something." she shrugs

Core

Shine then hugged Chara. “Okay, as long as you come back.”

(yeah i'm not great either. i'm going to put a couple pics here and i can only do it one at a time so sorry! if you have other ideas for some moves for frisk do tell)

ZM

chara hugs back. "heh, that's funny i thought you guys didn't like me very much

Core

“Shade doesn’t.” Shine said.

ZM

"do you know why?" she lets go and starts to head back over to the group.

Core

“Something about ‘irresponsible jerk’?”

ZM

"the irresponsible jerk being me? i don't get it." she cocks her head."

(for color changes you could have kris and chara and the vessel you make at the beginning of deltarune DANG it would be so cool)

Core

“Me neither.” Shine said. “I said put me down!” Shade hissed at Killer who was holding him up by his foot.

ZM

"i leave you for one second killer" she sighs jokingly. "put him down."

Core

“Not until he apologizes.” Killer hissed. “Never!” Shade hissed back

ZM

"what he do?"

Core

“Called me a ‘blind psycho bitch’.” Killer hissed.

ZM

chara shrugs "i thought you had thicker skin than that killz"

Core

“Oh can it.” Killer hissed. Lifting Shade higher off the ground.

ZM

"let's get the kits out of here before killer does something dumb." she tells shatter.

Core

Shatter’s eyes glowed purple as she freed Shade from Killer’s grip

ZM

"know what hold up, i wanna take them to that island and test out something if that's good with you guys." she stretches and starts picking various plants and putting them in her pockets.

Core

“What island? The one where we fought?” Shatter asked.”

ZM

"nah, the one with the waterfall we were just at"

Core

“Got ya.” Shatter said, opening a portal.

ZM

they go through and chara instantly turns to tonic. "okay!" she sits on the floor infront of them. tonic blinks confused. chara pulls out all of the plants and lays them out. "that thing we read about you said you were a support thing so i wanna see what you can do with dumb materials like these." "okay?" tonic says

Core

Shatter watched, actually interested in the experiment. 

ZM

chara gives tonic a stalk of grass seed, tonic absorbed it into their paws. tonic turns a light green shade and chara makes a grumpy face. "i don't want simple healing! i want some kind of resistance to lava and crud. i know you can do that, it said so." she shoves a few more twords tonic that they take, most of them deepen the shade. leaves and weeds. when tonic got to a mushroom it was different, a bit of blue magic went to tonic's core and stayed seprate from the green. (i must sleep, bye)

Core

Shatter thought for a moment. Before summoning an egg. “Try this.”

tonic had a little sigh not exactly enjoying the little experiment. the egg gave an indigo shade that stayed in their paws.

Core

It was the egg of a lava lizard, an aquatic creature that would dive into lava pools and turn the molten rock into armor. Shatter senses that he was uncomfortable. “You ok?”

ZM

the indigo had a tint of purple to it, almost like it didn't know what color it should be. tonic nods to shatter. "that might be what i'm looking for" chara says. "give me your hand" she grabs tonic's hand

Core

Shatter, just to make sure nothing went horribly wrong, turned into a lava lizard and went into the stream

 chara took off tonic's hand as they held up their arm to not let the liquid out. chara went over to look how shatter was doing holding the potion ready to try it out.

Core

Shatter nodded, the molten rock warming up her scales

ZM

chara drinks the potion and tosses the hand back to tonic. chara's skin glowed purple for a second and she went into the water. she felt perfectly fine. "haha! yess!!" she went to swim down trying to find an opening to the volcano; 

Core

Shatter was swimming much faster than Chara, and allowed her to hold onto her tail.

 she held on and the two of them swam under finding a crack where warm water was coming out of chara let go and started to move away some of the rocks around it.

Core

There was an air bubble, she could hear someone talking. “You feeling better now? Good, you had me worried.”

ZM

she gives a questioning look to shatter and tries to go closer

Core

Shatter broke some of the rocks to allow Chara to surface

ZM

she makes it into the area and shakes her hair and clings to a rock to keep her up. the person who was talking probably noticed her instantly.

The person was facing away, petting a phoenix

ZM

 "hey you, what you doing in here?" she asks. climbing on the rock.

Core

 The person turned to Chara. “Oh I was just helping Rodon here heal.” She said with a smile

ZM

"why are there people everywhere? i swear like what? or stars, whatever." she hops across the rocks over to where neon is. she slides over and pokes the phoenix

Core

“Well, I’m no star,” She said (with a 😅 face). The Phoenix squawked and nipped Chara’s finger.

ZM

chara moved before it could bite her. "alright, what are you?" she looks intrigued.

Core

“Well, a carbon life form, but Ink kinda made the whole, ‘carbon life forms are soulless and evil’ thing seem universal, or I guess multiuniversal.” She replied

ZM

"cool! you're like that jerk! you can tell me how to torcher her!" her eyes sparkle. "error's too chicken to tell." tonic was looking down into the water with the kits and sees shatter resurface.

Core

Shatter shook off the water, turning back into herself. “Well, that’s pretty mean....” the person said. “I don’t even know who you are.”

ZM

"where'd chara go?" tonic's confused. "does it really matter who i am? everyone knows she deserves it."

Core

“She found a pacifist star to chat with, she’ll be fine.” Shatter said. “Well...she can’t really help being the way she is.” The woman said

ZM

chara shakes her head confused. "excuse me? she killed my friend to 'spice things up'. SHE CAN'T EVEN ENJOY a story so she's doing this for no reason. she's the worst thing in existence!"

Core

“Woah, woah, ok, ok. Sorry, I didn’t know that.” The woman said

ZM

"yeah," she folds her arms. "care to share now? i'd be quite grateful." tonic nods and looks to the kits. "do you want to try going in the water?" the bit of potion still off their arm no sure what to do with it.

Core

“Water, it burns carbon, it’s a chemical reaction, hydrogen burns carbon.” The person said. “Me!” Shine cheered.

ZM

tonic happily handed it over to shine. "i was actually thinking about that thank you. too bad she's so hard to pin down in anyway." she pauses. "is this phoenix yours?"

Core

Shine drank it. “Well, I can actually help on that.” The person said. “And no, rodon lives here.”

ZM

"woah really? you'll help? you just said you don't even know me."

Core

“Well, unlike Ink, I’m not soulless. It’s called sympathy.” The person said. “My name’s Neon by the way.”

ZM

"well damn, alright i won't complain. i'm chara." she kinda feels bad she didn't specifically say that her friend isn't dead anymore but... eh.

Core

Neon smiled and climbed out of the volcano, the lava not harming her

ZM

chara not willing to get burned to death doesn't risk going the way neon did and swims up the almost boiling water back to the rest of them. "guys! we've got help!"

Core

“Really?” Shade asked. Shine was splashing and playing in the water

ZM

"yeah she'll get around her soon i assume. she's a carbon 'star' just like ink and she said she'll help us break her."

Core

“And why should we trust her?” Killer hissed. “Because I’m not like Ink.” Neon said.

ZM

"you don't trust anyone killz. you're right we'll keep an eye on her but be positive! cool things could happen with her help"

Core

“I understand your mistrust, but don’t worry.” Neon smiled. Shine yelped and went out of the water as the potion wore off.

( here's a bad idea, swap ink that has too many emotions and has to drink acetone a lot to make them less extreme.) tonic went over to shine "are you alright?" chara nods. "yeah killer don't worry! okay so ink says she's always listening or whatever so the only way that i can even think of finding her is to specifically ask her to come here. so i'm asking. currently." she shrugs knowing it's not going to be that easy.

Core

“Burn...” shine whined. “Yeah not that easy.” Neon shrugged, “she doesn’t literally always watch, she listens to the creators, who are currently rambling about another version of Ink.”

ZM

"i can help you with that, no worries." tonic starts to heal her up ('they're currently rambling about another version of ink, lol i don't know why that's funny to me) "oh" chara says. "wait how do you know that?"

Core

Shine had burns on her legs. (Because it’s what we were doing) “I can hear them too.” Neon explained.

ZM

( that's what I mean! It shouldn't be funny! ) "uh huh... can you like... ask them to shove ink over to us?" Tonic fishes healing and shines legs feel better than ever.

Core

“You two heard Chara, are you gonna make it that easy?” Neon asked seemingly no one. (Which Ink? 😈) “My creator asks ‘which ink’” Neon sighed. “She never makes things easy.”

ZM

( Lol this is so weird, HI NEON) "... know what. I don't trust them at all maybe we should forget them." "You know which ink" she rolls her eyes

Core

“You’re creator calls my ability weird and says hi to me.” Neon explained. “Hello, Zora.” Shatter sighed. “Can I use you as a link to find Ink?”

ZM

Chara's just confused

Core

“Sure you can try.” Neon shrugged as Shatter’s eyes turned purple.

ZM

Tonic trots over to shatter

Core

(is that so?) “She’s at the marble ruins?” Shatter said with a questioning tone

ZM

tonic seems to know that place and looks at their watch thing which hasn't done anything resently

Core

Killer seemed suspicious. “Can’t be that easy.” “Lotus is there...” shatter sighed. “That sounds about right.” The watch was on Draco. 

ZM

Chara cocks her head. "Well let's go!"

Core

Shatter sighed and made a portal

Core

ZM

they get to the marble ruins where lotus is. chara slides up next to her and greets her. "hello! where's that jerk ink!"

Core

She slid next to a teen in a black cloak. “What the hell are you planning to prank us with this time?” Lotus asked in a bored tone. “Hey Lotus! There was some bu-.....” another chars yelled as they rounded the corner.

ZM

"ooo hey a me!" she hops up and down. "HI!"

Core

Lotus looked at them both, her eyes glowing. “Ok, that makes sense.” She said, before going back to tending to the plants. “Uhhhhh... ok, this is weird.” The other Chara said(let’s call him oc for now)

ZM

 "well get used to it, there's a lot more weird where i came from." tonic joins them and so do the kits "but sieriously. i assume you're lotus? shatter was talking about you and I NEED to see ink asap."

Core

“I know already, and I can’t detect ink, she has no soul. I can see people for what they truly are, and see how long they are supposed to live for.” Lotus explained, her voice lacking much emotion. OC huffed. “Yeah, it sucks because you have destroyed three of my hosts, THREE!”

ZM

"pff, sucks for you." turning her attention to lotus "yeah? that's pretty fancy... know what hold on-" chara goes and grabs killer's arm. "tell me about her if you'd be nice."

“Why just tell you when I can show you?” Lotus suggested with a sigh, her eyes glowing as a silhouette off a creature formed around Killer. Inside of that silhouette was one of a girl who seemed to be crying. Killer herself seemed in a trance when Lotus was doing this. “Another corrupted soul... so cool.” OC said with a smile. (Creature in picture)

ZM

"that's not 'cool' that's my friend ya jerk." she sighs. "is there anything i can do to help her?"

Core

“Well, see the lighter part, the girl? That’s her true self, it’s just hidden. She had done this to herself.” Lotus’s eyes stopped glowing, Killer shook her head as the silhouettes disappeared. “They are when ya get to see them fight, so gory.” OC smiled.

ZM

chara glares at oc "... i don't like you." she looks a lotus. "even if she did do this to herself can't i help?"

Core

“You won’t be the last.” OC smiled. “Well yes, there are some traditions to ‘cleanse’ a soul of such corruption, but that would change the person you know.” Lotus explained, before a familiar face showed up; Papercut. “Hey, Lotus, you have the new knife I left here?” She said, yawning like she had just gotten up.

ZM

chara wasn't thrilled to see papercut not wantting to get into a fight with her knowing she'd loose. "i don't want to just 'fix her' i want her to just feel better."

Core

“Have you asked her what she wants?” Lotus asked.

ZM

"i meannnn, not really?"

Core

Neon wandered off, catching Shade’s attention. Shine was nervous. “And I left your knife in that old shop, with the pink roses.” Lotus told Papercut. “Thanks.” Papercut said leaving

ZM

"well aren't you popular." she turns to killer. "well? what do you what?"

Core

“I’ve told you before, I’m fine like this.” Killer said. (A Corrupted shell can also be used to as a safety shell, it makes the host feel protected)

ZM

(got ya) chara stares her down. "i don't think i believe you."

Core

Shatter sighed, looking around. “Believe me or not, it doesn’t change how I feel.” Killer said bluntly.

ZM

chara clicks her tongue. "whatever." back to lotus. "so you said you don't know where ink is?"

Core

“I do.” Oc said, “I pranked her this morning.” He laughed. “It was awesome!”

ZM

"would ya show us?" tonic tapped her foot thinking she should follow neon and so she does that.

Core

Neon was looking around, walking into one of the ruins, “there you are.” She said, finding Ink. “Well I can’t leave until I heal, now can I?” Ink replied her wing was all burnt up, “She went into one of the buildings, I burnt up her whole wing, it was epic.” Oc smiled. (Oc is my headcanon of Chara btw)

ZM

(yee i was assuming that) tonic has the instant urge to heal ink but they refrain. "well damn i guess we better get going before she heals. why are you stronger than me! that's not fair!" she pushes oc forward wanting him to lead to the place

ZM

(you should tell me how oc looks >:3 )

Core

(Well He is after a Genocide timeline, he’s tall, slim build. Massey hair that almost covers his eyes, which are blood red.) Neon sighed. “Well, I can’t say you didn’t deserve it.” OC chuckled, leading them to some of the buildings, looking in each one.

ZM

chara follows, looking back at her group noticing two are gone. "shade where'd those two go?"

(dang it all. i don't even know this kid and i already picked a song for him)

ZM

(i take it back, he's toby)

(i don't know how to express how much i love your ink. she is gorgeous. in fact .... lol. i made a star that's infatuated with her and follows her around.)

Core

(Shine was the one who stayed, and he has a striped shirt with 2 or three stripes, and he is around 6’1” so tall boy.) Shine shook her head. “T-they followed Neon.” “I walk through a doorway and get water dunked on me, yeah I deserve that.” Ink replied “No, it’s a result for messing with this stories flow, your not linked to the creator like the rest of us, so you can affect the flow in ways she doesn’t like.” Neon explained (Actually in the church they talked about expectations, so maybe I should tell you mine about you?)

ZM

tonic nods accepting neon's explanation. chara groans. "well which way?"

Core

Shine pointed to the building.

ZM

chara goes to that building "ah there you all are!" ?? "why are you talking to her neon?"

Core

“Kept her from fleeing, did it not?

ZM

"suppose so." chara throws a knife at her other wing. tonic stepped aside not wanting to watch a torture session.

Core

Ink hissed at this, the wing raw and burnt from OC’s prank.

ZM

Chara throws some purple webs down wrapping Ink up "so so so. Do you feel guilty for any thing you've done?" Under her breath. "Dang it I'm starting to sound like sans"

Core

 “No, of course not, I cannot feel guilty in the first place.” Ink hissed, Shine whined slightlyz

ZM

She goes close to ink and summons an ax. "I'm going to MAKE you feel guilty. You're not above conciquences and I'm going to prove to you that exact fact." She slams the ax ink her leg

ZM

(Into her leg)

Core

“Not gonna happen.” Ink hissed breaking some of the webs and reaching to Chara, she just needed to consume some carbon to get back to full health

ZM

Chara growls and a starts attaking somewhat wildly and signals to tonic who shakes their head not wanting to do what chara asked them to before but after chara threw a knife at tonic as a warning they gave up and used about half of the liquid inside them to cover ink, it basically would react like water.

Core

Ink screeched at this, burning up.

ZM

"that's what you should feel like constantly! You deserve it!" This time as she couldn't move she cut off her boiling leg successfully.

Core

Ink grabbed Chara’s arm her hand almost bone. She pulled Chara in

ZM

Chara tried to form a knife but her magic is low so she trys to claw her hand away from ink

ZM

Around that time a glitchy portal appeared with a defending pop (get ready, template gets annoying, also ink knows template plenty well.)

Core

(Ok, gotcha.) Ink scratched Chara’s arm using the carbon in her blood to heal

ZM

Chara kicks her in the gut managing to get away as ink’s hand snapped off of her arm turning into ink and falling on the ground. Chara whines for someone to help her with ink. Neon, shatter, killer she doesn't care but she needs to get this done before she heals all the way

Core

Neon wasn’t completely okay with the idea, and actually wanted Ink to heal. Shatter felt similar, seeing this as going to far. Killer hated Ink, so gladly joined in with her knife.

ZM

The two of them work on that until chara gets hit in the head and falls to the floor, template was invisible and tried to nullify killer as well.

ZM

Chara tries to get up but passes out

Core

Killer went numb, backing up. Ink’s skeleton was made of diamond like material

ZM

"ink! Oh my god are you alright?!" Template kneels by her though he doesn't have anyway to heal her. "

Core

“I’ll be fine, just need carbon.” Ink said, digging up some carbon from the rocks, using it to remake her body. “Good to see your finally back.”

ZM

"Seems I can't leave you alone for a second anymore!" He growls at killer and tonic who were the closest. Tonic backed away to shatter. "What's wrong with you all?! Leave ink alone!"

Core

“Technically you have been gone for 7 months.” Ink replied. Killer shook off the numb, hissing back. “And why are you defending the squid?!”

ZM

"I cant keep track if time." To killer "Because she didn't do anything to you! She's my ma- my friend. She's my friend." (He was gonna say mate but they're not.)

Core

“Friend?” Killer started laughing

ZM

Template had blush roll over him as he's easily flustered. "Yes. Now get lost unless you want your soul stone shattered."

Chara slowly shook off the bludgeoning she just got and looked at the new star. Chara’s livid as ink is no longer basically only a skeleton. She splashes the water on the floor at ink and slides over to get another hit in. Template stomps down on charas hand and kicks her away to neon.

Core

“Is that a challenge?” Killer hissed before seeing Template attack Chara, she then lashed out, actually trying to bite him. Neon caught Chara, her palms burning at the water.

ZM

Template made killer's soul stone indigo and increased the gravity on her. She's pretty resilient to his attack as she's right by his neck as he guards himself with his arms he pulls at her hair with the arm not pushing her away.

Core

Killer landed a bite, the black dripping from her eyes getting into the wound as she released.

ZM

Chara shook her hand as it almost feels broken. She grimaces and gets away from neon noticing the burns. Template is very defencive but every move he makes he does get weaker. "Toxins. The way of the coward" he states and pulls her down to the ground deforming her soul a little.

Core

“No, the way of brain over brawn.” Killer hissed, resisting as much as she could

ZM

He rolls his eyes and the gravity gets stronger as his hatered slowly grows. "Are we going to have a problem or will you leave my friend alone?" The ground cracks under killer.

Core

“As long as you leave Chara alone...” Killer hissed, cracking under pressure

ZM

The pressure was released seemingly agreeing to killers demand. he went back over to ink and sat by her.

Core

Ink looked at Template. “You sure do know how to make situations interesting.”

ZM

he blushes and looks away shyly "Heheh, I try."

Core

Killer looked at Chara, “You ok?”

ZM

Chara lifted her hand to show killer, it was mangled and a purple shade. "That felt really good." She says sarcasticly.

It kinda flops over grossly. "I don't have enough dt. Someone wants make me a save star?"

Core

 “Sh*t, yeah I know that feeling.” Killer cringed. “Neon, can you repair it?” Killer asked. “Yes, yes of course.” Neon said, fixing the hand. “Although that variant may be troublesome.” Ink hissed softly.

ZM

Chara didn't like the feeling of the healing as her hand was pretty numb before and now the pain is in the main dealing she makes groans and bites her arm to keep her from screaming. "Do you mean the killer or chara variant?" He asks quietly.

Core

“I mean Neon.” Ink replied, watching her heal.

ZM

"...perhaps." he watches as well. " do you want to stay here to watch or do you want me to take you somewhere to heal? " "I can keep an eye on them if you like."

Core

“It would be appreciated if you keep watch while I heal.” Ink said to Template

ZM

He nods. "Will do." Chara snaps "ARE YOU DONE YET" as she holds back tears

Core

Ink turned into a liquid and fled. “And done. Sorry hands are complex...” Neon replied

ZM

Chara pulls her hand away as the pain stops. "It's fine.. thank you."

(Can I just say it's so precious how killer cares for chara ;u; what a good girl)

Core

(If she heard you say that...) “Ok, good. I was worried.”

ZM

( BUT SHE'S SO CUTE! SHE MUST KNOW!) she looks at neon not sure how to read her. "Why didn't you help just now with ink? And you shatter? You guys just stood there!"

Core

“Ink isn’t that much different than me, so it’s... unnerving to say the least.”

ZM

"What about you shatter?"

Core

“Honestly my reasoning is stupid, sorry.”

ZM

"I still wanna hear it."

Core

“Something told me not to.” Shatter explained

ZM

"... huh?" Chara doesn't get it at all. "You're kidding right?"

Core

“No, told you it was stupid.”

ZM

"What told you? I don't get it."

Core

“My gut.” Shatter said. “Always good to listen to that, Papercut said, coming over to see what was happening

ZM

"Well my gut tells me that my friends probably should have helped more than they did." She stands glancing to template. "Now we have to find her again." She looks to papercut, "not that I mind but I also kind of do, what do you want? Frankly you're creeping me out."

Core

“Nothing much, just waiting for Rotten to show up.” Papercut smiles.

ZM

"Uh-huh... Alright so here's the question for shatter and neon. If we find ink again will you help or not. We shouldn't waste our time with it if we'll just get a repeat of what just happened. I'd much rather level up with the kits."

Core

Neon shook her head. “I will.” Shatter nodded

ZM

"Kay~" she stands "i'ma go see if I can find lotus again. Killz would LJ or one of your other friends like to try out that cleansing ritchual or are they all happy how they are like you?"

Core

“Probably Nightmare.” Killer said.

ZM

"Cool. Shall we than?" She grins "maybe she'll give us something for our efforts. Like watching the kits haha." She looks around trying to find oc

Core

OC was sparing with Rurik. “Yeah, I can teleport us.” Killer said

ZM

"Thank you, you're a life saver Yuma." She grins and walks through the portal. Template followed like he said he would from a desent distance.

Core

Killer took them to Nightmare who was asleep again

ZM

"Nightmare!hey boss! We got some cool news!" She shouts up at her.

Core

Nightmare opened her eye. “Yeah? What’s up?” She yawned

ZM

Chara climbs the tree quickly and sits on a branch. "We met a star that can clear you from your corruption! How cool is that!"

Core

Nightmare sat up quickly. “What?”

ZM

"You heard me"

Core

“Where.” Nightmare said sternly

ZM

She looks back down. "Killer, doll, mind taking us back?" She hops down the tree.

Core

“I’m not a doll.” Killer said, before teleporting them all back

ZM

Chara snickers and they're back at lotus. "It's her, she'll help you."

ZM

Template is starting to get impatient, he wants to see if inks healing alright but he knows she'd be mad at him if he just left. So instead he taps his foot and draws in the sand with a stick.

Core

Nightmare went up to Lotus. “You really can help me get rid of... this?” Nightmare asked. Lotus nodded

ZM

(so i totally don't remember what nightmare said happened to her sister, want to remind me?) tonic hopped over interested to see the process

Core

(Well Dream helped save a human child from falling off a cliff, when the father saw this he thought Dream was trying to hurt the child and pushed her. Her impact on the rocks below broke her soul stone.) Lotus’s eyes glowed as she revealed Nightmare’s ‘true self’. Much like Killer, a corrupted shell, a sad center.

ZM

( well gee that's sad.) template is disturbed by the corruption and he kinda scowls in their direction

Core

Lotus then summoned her scythe, carvings of a rose vine was in the handle.

ZM

the watchers stay silent at the anticipation

Core

Lotus slashed through the corrupted shell, Nightmare’s coating cracked and fell off as pieces. Her real self had night black hair and deep violet eyes,

ZM

tonic takes some of the shell that was dropped. chara goes closer to night inspecting her. "how you feel boss?"

Core

Nightmare looked over, before looking at her hands, “a-amazing... I’m... me again.” She smiled

ZM

chara grins back happy that she's pleased. "pretty cool lotus. pretty cool indeed."

Core

Nightmare stretched back, hissing since there was still pain, but was still happy.

ZM

"where'd you learn how to do that?" she asks

Core

“Well, I’m a reaper, so I just reaped the corrupted part of the soul.” Lotus shrugged. 

ZM

"that's really strange. but hey i guess it works!"

ZM

"so night." she's obviously expecting nighmare to do what she asks. "sense we oh so kindly led you to this little reaper and now your feeling good how about you watch the kits?"

 “I can also control souls, including lost ones.” Lotus said

ZM

"oh yeah?" chara being herself instantly wants this power. she makes a scythe. it gets a black hue that radiates off it. simmilar to what lotus's had.

Core

Lotus’s scythe glowed a soft red. “The scythe isn’t the source of my power, kid.”

ZM

(idk if you missed it but chara asked night to baby sit the kits) "well duh." chara says. "ya gotta start somewhere. here let me see..." she spins it and tries to get the shade lotus's magic is.

Core

(Oh I did miss it, Nightmare accepted) “It’s all about the main slash, you need to use your entire upper body.” Lotus instructed

ZM

"similar to an ax i assume?" she does her best slash she could manage.

Core

“Not exactly, you curve more.” Lotus explained.

ZM

"curve more. got it." she holds the sythe back far behind her and leans into the swing. "hows that?" "not to disturb your lesson chara.. but shouldn't we go find ink?" tonic says as they absorb the shell.

Core

Neon thought for a moment, as if listening. (Skull lagoon, 😈) Shatter agreed with Tonic.

ZM

template didn't like the sound of that and instantly goes to the little cave behind a wall of vines that ink was resting in. "but this is fun!" she whines. she sighs "but you're right. this is time sensitive. let's go." she says unhappily. "you two are staying with nightmare." talking to the kits.

Core

“Ok!” Shine smiled. Ink was almost back to her full game. “They are at the skull lagoon.” Neon told the others

ZM

"you're handy." she says to neon. "glad you stuck around" template portaled a little bit away from ink as to not hurt her ears with the pop his portals make. he moves the vines away and is relived to see she's looking alright. "they're on their way. apparently the little agreement we had didn't last long."

Core

“That makes two of us.” Neon smiled. “It’s fine, the soil here is high in carbon,” Ink responded, absorbing just a bit more.

[d3-iseefire]

To Chase The Rising Sun Chapter 3

Note: I was going to post this later but I had several people ask about it so I decided to move it up and post it now! :D

"I don't like this."

Fili ignored his brother and continued to carefully plait the standard four braids back into his hair. It was still wet from the bath, but it would have to do.

It wasn't what he'd expected to be doing, even after accepting Miss Baggins' proposal. For some reason, he'd been convinced they'd have a long betrothal and marry after reclaiming the mountain.

When he'd said as much to Miss Baggins she'd given him a baleful look and said, "do you understand what surety is?"

The deadpan tone had been unnecessary, in his opinion, as had what he was sure was a snide remark Mandar had chirped at him.

In any event, it had been left to him to explain to his uncle that he'd agreed to Miss Baggins' terms in return for her guarantee that she'd rid Erebor of its dragon infestation (her words).

Before his uncle could say something that would probably get them all exiled from the Shire, Balin and Dwalin had unceremoniously grabbed him and dragged him outside. Fili had no idea what was said but, when his uncle returned, he'd grudgingly given his blessing.

After that, Miss Baggins had shown him to a room with an attached bath as he refused to attend his impromptu wedding covered in the dirt and grime of travel. He'd bathed quickly and had barely exited into the small room when Kili had barged in to let him know exactly what he thought about the whole thing.

In some respects, he was worse than Thorin.

"You don't have to like it." Fili scowled at his tunic before grabbing it to pull over the trousers and boots he'd already put on. It was an extra one he'd packed, which meant it was fresher, but it didn't mean it was clean.  

"She can't just force you to marry her!" Kili argued. He was standing in the open doorway of the room, arms crossed, and eyebrows drawn together in the way he got when he was particularly agitated.

"She's not forcing me," Fili corrected. He reached for the first of his weapons and strapped it on. He'd left his swords and a few of the larger pieces at the front door but kept the rest on. He was so used to them that not having them on left him feeling exposed. "She made an offer and I accepted it. I could have walked away."

"You should walk away," Kili insisted, making a slashing gesture with his hand. "We don't need her."

"Then why did we even come here?" Fili demanded. His fingers caught on a knot in his hair and he growled as it pulled at his scalp. "This entire thing is predicated on our ability to get the help from the Shirelings. Without her we don't have a chance."

"Then we'll ask someone else for help," Kili insisted. "Someone who doesn't have unreasonable demands."

"At which point you'd find out I was the reasonable one," a voice said dryly from the hall just behind Kili.

He and Fili both turned as one to see Miss Baggins lounging against the wall on the far side of the narrow corridor, arms crossed, and one foot idly propped in front of the other. Mandar was sitting upright on her shoulder, tail draped behind her neck and trailing down her opposite arm.

Fili cursed under his breath. Wonderful. Barely a half hour and his uncle and brother had both managed to insult her. He was pretty sure it was a new record. "Our apologies," he said, with a glare at his brother when the other looked about to object. "My brother meant no respect. He's simply concerned--"

He trailed off as Miss Baggins pushed upright and came to stand in the doorway. She behaved as if Kili wasn't there, forcing him to step back and make room for her. Mandar hissed at him but settled for glaring when Miss Baggins hushed him.

Unlike him, Fili noted, she appeared to have made no changes. Her dark hair was still tied back into a low bun and she wore the same trousers, boots and blouse she'd had on when they'd first met.

She tilted her head, nodding down the hall toward the living room. "We're ready for you."

"I'll be right there," Fili promised. She nodded and left, Mandar chattering away at her.

Kili shook his head. "Mom and Dad are going to be pissed."

Fili flinched. "They'll understand I did my duty." He frowned at his brother. "Miss Baggins isn't a monster, Kili. You don't have to act as if this is some sort of death sentence."

"You have no idea what kind of person she is," Kili retorted. "For all you know, she could be planning to kill you in your sleep."

"Well, that would just be stupid," Miss Baggins' voice called from down the hall. "I wouldn't do it here. I'd wait until we were in the woods and blame it on a wolf."

Fili shut his eyes and forced himself to count to ten. Twice. Then he opened them and, with a pointed look at his brother, strode past him and out of the room.  

Time to get this over with before Miss Baggins' good humor gave out.

At the rate his uncle and brother were going he seriously doubted he was the one in danger of being killed in their sleep.

                                                         ***

The ceremony was brief.

His uncle went first and had them both recite the traditional vows before each had a small piece of hair cut. The two sections were then braided together, blessed and thrown into the fire to symbolize that their union was eternal, forged in fire and unbreakable.

It was at that exact moment, as he watched the braid disintegrate in the flames that Fili finally, truly got the enormity of what he'd just done.

He'd always been taught that the decision to marry was important and not something to rush into. You chose once and that was it, so you'd better be certain of the choice you'd made. He'd agreed for the good of his people, and to fulfill his duty as their future king and he was confident it had been the right decision.

But watching that braid disintegrate took that decision and really drove home the truth of what he'd agreed to do.

The finality.

The enormity.

Eternal.

He now had a wife. A woman he'd be expected to care for, protect and stand by for all the rest of his days. Every day he'd wake up next to someone who would be his companion, his confidant, someone who was going to know him potentially better than anyone else.

One day there even existed the possibility of children that would be looking to him as their father.

It was such a massive change to his life and the realization that he'd agreed to it so flippantly, that it had happened so quickly rocked him.

It was while he was still trying to process the whole thing that Gandalf stepped forward to perform a ceremony in the tradition of the Shire.

It too, was incredibly short.  

Too short, really, given what it represented.

"Do you, Fili, son of Vili, take Miss Baggins as your mate, to fight for tooth and claw, to guard as your most precious treasure, for now and all the days to come?"

Fili agreed. Or at least he thought he had. His throat was dry and his heart hammered as if he faced a legion of orcs but he must have gotten some form of assent out because the vow was repeated to Miss Baggins who appeared as calm and unflappable as she'd been the first time he'd seen her.

Less than an hour ago.

He heard her agree and then Fili went from starting his day single to ending it married.  

Throughout it all, he could feel the presence of the rest of the company standing in silence behind him, all but Kili who'd been making disapproving noises throughout.  

Fili felt as if he had a better understanding of why they disapproved so strongly.

He'd been thinking of Erebor and the greater good.

They'd been thinking of him, and the magnitude of what he'd agreed to do.

In the end, none of it mattered though, did it? What was done was done. If it led to them getting back Erebor it'd be worth it, wouldn't it?

Besides, it was as he'd told Kili, it wasn't like he'd married a monster.

He'd just married a complete stranger was all.

He turned toward her to say...something, but the spot next to him stood empty.

He thought perhaps she'd had the same realization he had and wished for some time to process, but that belief was soon dispelled by the sound of Mandar chattering in the kitchen and her answering him in a low voice.

Fili stayed where he was, unsure of what he should do next.

Several members of the Company came forward to congratulate him. Most of them seemed uncomfortable, particularly those he didn't know as well and had only really meant about the same time he'd met Miss Baggins. The only exception was Nori who seemed to be fighting a grin as if he found the entire thing hilarious.

"What's done is done," his uncle said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Now let's hope she can hold up her end of the bargain."

He wandered off, which left Fili facing his brother. Kili had his arms crossed and his eyes were dark. "I hope you know what you're doing."

"So do I, little brother," Fili said with feeling. "So do I."

                                                         ***

An hour later, Fili wasn't entirely convinced the marriage had even taken place. It had felt surreal when it happened, and the passage of time hadn't changed that feeling.

He'd barely seen his new wife since they'd exchanged vows. Her near obsession over him had seemingly evaporated as soon as they were married. Suddenly, he was being treated no differently than any other member of their group, as if the ceremony had never even taken place.

Thinking she was still adjusting to her new, married status, he'd held back and tried to give her space as she began to show everyone where they could bed down for the night. His uncle and Gandalf were given rooms, while the rest of the group were shown to spots in the living room or office area.

He and Kili were left standing off to the side, a fact Fili didn't think much about, until she gestured them to follow her down the hall. She shoved the door open to the small room he'd used earlier and said, "you two can sleep here." Then, before Fili could react, she turned and walked out.

Fili followed and saw her stop at a door set in the very end of the hall. She started to turn the knob, only to pause as Mandar chattered at her. "Really?" she said to him. "You couldn't have reminded me earlier?" Mandar made an apologetic noise, and Miss Baggins sighed. She spun back around and headed toward the front of the house, passing by Fili as if he wasn't even there.

"Did she just kick you out of her room before you even got in?" Kili asked from behind him.

"It would appear she did," Fili said. What in the world was going on? She demanded he marry her, immediately, and then promptly ignored him? "Perhaps we've gotten off on the wrong foot." Maybe she'd had time to think about the numerous times his family had insulted her and started to rethink him as a result. He honestly wouldn't be able to blame her.

"You don't know one another enough to know which foot is which," Kili grumbled. "This could be her in a good mood."

Fili frowned. Then he very deliberately went and dropped his pack on the ground outside of what he assumed was her door. He set his jaw and faced the direction she'd gone. "Wish me luck."

Kili snorted. "I think you're going to need more than that." He shook his head and shut the door, leaving Fili in the hall.

Fili sighed and headed back toward the living room. The lanterns had been turned to a dim glow, leaving the area little more than a shadowy chamber filled with various sleeping lumps. Fili didn't see Miss Baggins but a light breeze from the kitchen caught his attention and he followed it to the open back door of the smial.

Through it, he could see Miss Baggins standing on the paving stones that made up her back porch. Mandar was perched on her forearm, wings outstretched. As Fili drew near, he could hear her speaking to him in a low voice.  

"You don't go higher than the hill and you stay in the field, do you understand?"

Mandar chirped at her and flapped his wings, bobbing up and down on her arm.

She started to say something else but stopped as Mandar caught sight of him and chirruped. Miss Baggins didn't turn, but he saw her head incline slightly toward him. Taking it as permission, Fili went to stand near her.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

She scowled at him and then gently grabbed the edge of Mandar's wing and stretched it out. "It's important for younger dragons to fly as much as possible when they're growing. Otherwise the wings can end up weak or deformed." Her scowl deepened and her eyes narrowed at the small dragon. "Usually this is done in groups, during the day while supervised but someone forgot to remind me he hadn't done it today."

Mandar settled back on her arm and chattered at her. Fili had no idea what he'd said but, judging from his smug tone and Miss Baggins's irritated tsk, he imagined it was smartass.

"Fifteen minutes," Miss Baggins growled. She crouched just a bit and then stood up quickly, thrusting her arm up as she did. Mandar leapt off, wings snapping out and fell into a low glide down the hill and into the large clearing below the hill. It was a full moon and the area was lit enough that they could see him as a tiny, shadowy dot darting back and forth low over the grass.

Miss Baggins settled back on her heels, arms crossed, and eyes fixed on the tiny dragon. As he stood next to her, Fili struggled to think of something, anything to say to try and break the ice. His mind chose that moment to go completely blank and, as the minutes stretched, it became harder and harder to think of anything to say.

Before he knew it, Mandar was flying back up the hill. Miss Baggins held her arm out and he landed on it in a whirl of wings, tiny chest tiny chest heaving, large eyes almost snapping with unrestrained energy and excitement.

Miss Baggins carried him inside, and Fili followed, pulling the door closed behind them.

The only noise that greeted them as they entered the living room was the quiet breathing of the rest of the company. The hallway was dark as well, the only light the faintest flicker coming from under Miss Baggins' door.

Miss Baggins paused before it and frowned down at the pack he'd left earlier. "What's this?"

"My pack," Fili explained. He reached past her to grab it and dragged it over his shoulder.

"Your pack?" Miss Baggins repeated blankly. "I gave you the room with your brother."

"That you did," Fili agreed, keeping his tone even. "Is it not customary in the Shire for a husband and wife to share a bedroom?"

He realized as he was speaking that it might in fact not be a custom in the Shire for all he knew. Some humans, he knew, had odd customs where couples would each have their own room connected by a common room between them. Fili had always found it the strangest thing. Why marry someone and then not wish to share a room with them?

Even as he thought it, however, he realized that couldn't be the case here. Miss Baggins hadn't offered him an adjoining room. She'd offered him an entirely different room, which meant...he had no idea what it meant.

She blinked at him. Fili met her eyes and returned her gaze steadily.

"I don't like strangers in my bedroom," she said finally. Her voice was low, and it was almost as if she weren't even talking to him, but to herself.

Then you shouldn't have married me, Fili thought. He didn't say it, but simply raised an eyebrow, trusting her to see the ridiculousness in her own words.

Mandar chattered something and she made a sound that was halfway between disgust and annoyance. Then, with an irritated look at him, she grabbed the doorknob. "I don't like strangers in my room," she repeated, locking eyes with him.  

Fili's eyes narrowed as he tried to make sense of what she was saying. "I won't allow anyone else in," he said slowly. "Just you, and me."

She didn't respond, but it must have been the right thing to say because, with a grumble, she shoved the door open.

Fili was almost immediately hit with a wave of heat. It rolled out into the hallway, washed over him, and instantly raised a layer of sweat on his skin. He almost, almost changed his mind about entering, until he happened to look over at Miss Baggins. She was watching him with a knowing look, and he realized she expected him to back down.

Fili raised his chin, set his shoulders back and then casually sauntered past her into the room. As he crossed the threshold he felt the wooden floorboards give way to a thick, plush carpet under his boots.

The room itself was dim, lit mainly by the roaring fire in the fireplace, and then two small lanterns set on stands on either side of an enormous bed piled high with blankets and pillows. Other than that, the only other furniture in the room was a dresser, overstuffed chair near a bay window adorned with thick, velvet curtains and more pillows, and then a large vanity and a trunk at the foot of the bed.

Fili only vaguely noted all that as his mind was instantly assaulted by the sheer number of things crammed into the room. Every drawer of the dresser was overflowing with clothing, the vanity was so cluttered he couldn't see the surface and a closet was so stuffed with things he doubted the door could be closed. Most of what he could see appeared to be trinkets, boxes, lamps, figurines and a random assortment of items.

Even the floor was cluttered with necklaces, earrings, rings and other bits and pieces of jewelry glittering under the flickering light from the fire.

"Boots off," Miss Baggins ordered as she went past where he was frozen in the doorway, her feet already bare. "You'll damage my carpet."

Wordlessly, Fili knelt to pull his boots off, set them outside the door in the hall next to where she'd set hers and then, steeling himself, shut the door to the room. The heat felt like it increased immediately, and he bit back a sigh. He'd asked for this, he reminded himself.

As Miss Baggins went past her bed, Mandar crouched low on her arm, wiggled in preparation and then leapt off onto the mattress. He sank into the mound of blankets until Fili could barely see his head poking up. He half bounced, half swam to the top of the bed where he promptly burrowed under the blankets and vanished from sight.

Miss Baggins went to the dresser and started rooting through it, pulling out clothing and tossing pieces to the ground when they weren't what she wanted. Fili continued to look at her room, his eyes struggling to process everything that was in it. Scattered amongst the clothing, knickknacks and jewelry he was surprised to see several weapons. He spotted a dagger that looked interesting and retrieved it to take a closer look.

At the dresser, Miss Baggins froze. She looked over her shoulder at him, an odd light in her eyes, before she gave herself a shake and turned back to what she had been doing.

Fili, still in a crouch from picking up the dagger, watched her a moment or two and then turned his attention to the weapon. It had real weight to it, with a hilt of twisted gold, silver and bronze. It was one of the simpler pieces, lacking the jewels adorning many of the others he could see.

It was also very well cared for. Everything in the room was, as a matter of fact. All the weapons appeared sharp with gleaming hilts and polished stones. None of the clothing appeared to have as much as a stain or tear in it, and he couldn't see a single figurine or furniture item that had as much as a scratch.  

Miss Baggins finally found what she was looking for, dragged it out and threw it over the end of her bed. She then, without hesitation, unbuttoned her shirt and slid it off her shoulders to land on the ground behind her. She pulled her trousers off and headed to the bed in her smallclothes, seemingly oblivious to the fact that Fili was even there.  

She grabbed the item she'd thrown on the bed, picked it up and shook it out in preparation to put it on. A shift, Fili's distracted mind informed him as she pulled it over her head. A thin, ivory colored, sleeveless shift that fell to just above her knees and hugged her body in a way that only increased his distraction.

She reached behind her head and, a moment later, thick waves of amber hair were falling across her shoulders and down her back to stop just below her waist. Suddenly the dour, sarcastic, dragon toting owner of Bag End was gone leaving a very attractive young woman behind.

Or at least until she raised her eyes to glare at him but, even then, the image was only muted rather than dispelled.  

"How old are you?" Fili blurted without thinking. He'd thought her older earlier but, now, he felt she was probably younger than him by a few years.

"Old enough." Her scowl deepened. "Are you planning to stand there all night?"

With a start, Fili realized that, aside from retrieving the dagger, he'd pretty much just been standing by the door holding his pack since he'd come in. He set the dagger back on the ground and slowly lowered the pack to sit next to it.  

He shrugged his jacket off and began to remove the various weapons he'd been wearing. He was mildly concerned she'd be offended at him being armed in her house, but she simply drifted over, dropped into a crouch near him and began to inspect the weapons as he removed them and piled them up.  

Fili pulled out the last weapon, a short knife he wore at the small of his back and put it down. Then he grabbed the hem of his tunic and, in one easy movement, pulled it over his head and dropped it over his pack. The room was hot after all and the more relief he could get the better.

Miss Baggins finished studying his last weapon and pushed to her feet. Her eyes slid over him, and then she simply turned away and headed toward her vanity.

Well, that stung, Fili thought. He was aware that members of his own race found him attractive, but it hadn't occurred to him to wonder if Shirelings, or Miss Baggins in particular, would. Of course, if she didn't then it raised an interesting question.

"Why did you marry me?"

Miss Baggins ignored him. She frowned at her reflection in the mirror and picked up a large, ornate looking brush from somewhere on the table. She stared at it for a few seconds, and then suddenly spun to face him. "Do you sleep with those braids in?"

"What?" Fili asked in confusion.

She gave an annoyed huff, put the brush down and came to stand in front of him. She reached up, hesitated, and then lightly ran her fingers down one of the braids that he wore on either side of his face. "Your braids. Do you sleep with them in?"

Her voice was soft and that, combined with the hesitation when she'd first reached out, were the first cracks he'd seen in her armor. Taking the opportunity, Fili put his hand lightly over hers where it was still touching the braid. "Usually. Not the ones in my mustache, or at least not today."

Her eyes flickered to his, and he was startled at the sheer guilelessness in them. She wasn't trying to seduce him, probably didn't even realize her actions could be seen in such a way. It was such a sharp contrast to the in control, fearless persona she'd presented earlier and he wasn't entirely sure what to make of it.

"Why not?" she asked.

"They're a pain in the ass," Fili explained. "I keep them oiled. It lessens how often I have to redo them, and how irritating it is."

From under the covers on the bed, he heard Mandar start chattering quietly, repeating the same sort of sound over and over again. Miss Baggins let out an aggrieved sigh and rolled her eyes.

Guessing at the problem, Fili chuckled and said, "I'll sneak you fish for the rest of your life if you promise to never repeat that word, Mandar."

An excited squawk came from the covers before the small dragon settled down again.

"He'll hold you to that," Miss Baggins said. She sounded distracted, eyes looking off into the distance without seeming to see anything.

Wanting to pull her back to the moment, Fili lightly pulled her hand off the braid and encouraged her to run her fingers over the ones in his mustache. "See?" he said softly. "Oiled."

Her eyes came back to him and narrowed. Her fingers ran gently down the slender braid, before her other hand went back to the ones in his hair, considering the difference in feel and texture. "Can I take them out? The bigger ones?"

Fili raised an eyebrow. "I suppose." A thought occurred to him. "If you'll allow me to braid your hair in return."

She paused. "Why?"

Fili shrugged. "I could ask you the same question."

She whispered something under her breath and then nodded. "All right."

Fili put his arms at his side. "Go ahead then."

Her eyes slid off him and back to his hair. She bounced a little on her heels and reached for the nearest braid. Fili held still as she figured out how to remove the bead. She finally got it off and held it up between two fingers, studying the intricate details. "Do these mean anything?"

Impressed she'd thought to ask, Fili retrieved the bead and showed her the individual carvings. "This shows I'm from the line of Durin. This one shows I'm the oldest son in my family and, this one, shows that I'm my uncle's heir."

"Did you do them?" As she spoke, she undid the braid, gently enough to not pull on the strands, and went to work on the next one.

"I did," Fili said, not bothering to disguise the pride in his voice. He'd done them for his Coming of Age ceremony where his uncle, as the head of the family and the leader of Ered Luin, had symbolically presented them to him and braided them into his hair for the first time.

"They're pretty," she whispered, eyes intent. She handed him the second bead, and then the third and fourth. After, she reached behind him and undid his hair clasp. It was simpler than the beads, carved with a rune that recognized him as Erebor's heir.

His hair fell down on either side of his face and Miss Baggins' eyes fixated on it. She handed him the hair clasp and then ran both her hands through his hair, watching as it ran through her fingers before repeating the process.

Fili's eyes narrowed as a suspicion started to grow in his mind. "Did you marry me because of my hair?"

"I've never seen this color before," she murmured. Her eyes flickered to his. "Are you the only one?"

He wasn't, but Fili had no intention of telling her that. Thanks to a lucky strike from an orc, his father walked with a severe limp that had kept him from joining the quest. If she was this obsessed with him over his hair, he didn't want to imagine how she'd have reacted to seeing him and his father.

"It's like liquid gold," Miss Baggins' said softly. She'd put one hand on his shoulder without seeming to notice and was still running the other through his hair. She was gentle with it, Fili noted, not tugging or pulling on any knots she encountered.

Deciding to push his luck, Fili lightly picked up one of the thick strands of amber hair lying across her shoulder. She started in surprise and looked to where he was lightly wrapping her hair around a finger. This close, and in the flickering light from the fire, Fili could her she had lighter and darker streaks running through it, some gold in color, others ranging from russet orange to deep reds.

"Yours is beautiful too," he said softly. He allowed the hair to run over his hand, back to rest on her shoulder. "Like a river of molten fire."

"Is it?" She picked up the strand he'd touched, frowning at it before letting it fall from her fingers.

"You don't think so?" Fili asked.

She shrugged. "It's just hair."

Fili chuckled. "So is mine."

Her eyes narrowed. "No, it's not." She paced away from him suddenly, before spinning back around to face him. "Why are you here?"

"Excuse me?" Fili asked. "You know why."

"No, I--" she ran a hand through her hair, pushing the thick mass away from her face only to have it fall back into place immediately. "I gave you the room with your brother."

"We're married," Fili said patiently. "Married couples share a room." At least in his culture but she hadn't contradicted him when he'd said it to her earlier.

She shook her head. "You don't know me. Why are you doing this?"

"Because we're married," Fili repeated patiently. He went to her and stood just a little closer than was completely necessary. She barely came up to the bottom of his chin. "You realize that, don't you?"

"Of course," she grumbled. She'd crossed her arms and had her head down, focused on the carpet.

"Do you?" Fili asked gently. He was beginning to get an idea of her, not a clear one, but it was a start. Like having pieces from one of the wooden puzzles children played with and trying to put it together without knowing the picture it was supposed to create. He put the tips of his fingers on the side of her face and gently ran them back into her hair, nudging her head up to look at him as he did. "You're a bit impulsive, aren't you?" She growled under her breath and he knew he'd hit the mark. Something inside him settled and he could feel his wavering confidence beginning to restore itself. "You've heard that before, haven't you?"

She spun away from him. "I'm going to bed."

"You promised I could braid your hair," Fili reminded her.

She froze mid-step. For a second, Fili thought she'd reject him, but then she stomped over to the small bench in front of the vanity and sat down on it.

Fili moved behind her and leaned past her to retrieve the brush she'd been holding earlier. He rested a hand lightly on her shoulder for balance and, as he did, he noticed it was just a bit thinner than he'd have expected. A closer look at her in the mirror revealed just a hint of gauntness in her face, the slightest hollowness in her cheeks and tightness around her jaws and chin.

He started to say something, only to see her eyes meet his in the mirror. For an instant, he saw the barest hint of uncertainty in her eyes before it vanished once again, hidden under a mask of bland neutrality.  

Settling back on his feet, Fili carefully began to run the brush through her hair, gently working out knots and tangles in each section before moving onto the next.

"You only married me for Erebor," she said suddenly, breaking the silence that had fallen.

"I did," Fili agreed, as he continued to draw the brush through her hair. In the mirror he could see her shoulders beginning to relax. "But it's not the only reason I said yes."

"Then why did you?" she asked in confusion.

"The way you treated Mandar." He slowed the rate of his brushing, and saw her eyes slowly grow heavy lidded.

"Why did that matter?" Her voice sounded tired and she started to lean back, only to catch herself and sit upright with a frown.

"It showed you were kind," Fili said, keeping his tone soft. "Which meant there was a chance to make our union a true marriage."

"A true marriage?" she asked blankly.

"Two people supporting one another." he explained. "Who can always trust one another, rely on one another. My parents are like that. Their lives are entirely intertwined to the point I sometimes wonder where one ends and the other begins."

"That makes no sense," she cut in, voice more awake. "And you shouldn't trust anyone that much. They'll only use it against you."

"Not everyone will," Fili said. "You just need to trust the right people."

She snorted in derision and fell silent. Fili set the brush down and sectioned her hair into three plaits to begin braiding. He'd have liked to have done something more complicated, but he had the feeling he'd pushed her far enough for the time being.

Instead he pulled the sections back and began braiding them, making sure to keep the strands separate and loose enough to not pull on her scalp. He reached the end and started to look for a tie, only to find her holding one up, pinched between two fingers. He took it and quickly tied off the end of the braid before letting it drop lightly against her back.

He then rested his hands on her shoulders and began to lightly massage them, slowly working to the juncture of her neck and back out again.

She tensed at first, but then began to relax again, her eyes sliding almost completely closed. "I don't understand you," she said after a few minutes. "I thought you'd be happy to be left alone."

"I want what my parents have," Fili explained, meeting her barely open eyes in the mirror. "I married you to save Erebor, but also because I had the hope we might some day be able to have that."

"All because I was nice to Mandar?" she asked. "That seems like a leap."

"Maybe to some," Fili agreed. He didn't point out that she'd already proven his initial assessment of her. She'd had several chances to reject him but hadn't. She'd kept her word about letting him braid her hair and allowed him the freedom to move about her room and examine what he wished.

She might project a hardened persona, and probably had reason for it, but underneath was a kind, fair, honorable young woman. It was more than enough to build a foundation on. He couldn't promise they'd end up like his parents, or anywhere close, but he was confident he could build a relationship with her, of friendship at least if nothing more.

Under his hands, she tensed suddenly, and her eyes snapped open. She sat up and Fili didn't resist as she pulled away from him and stood.

She scowled. "I don't need a companion like that," she said tersely. "And I don't need a husband."

"Then you shouldn't have married me," Fili replied calmly.

Her eyes darkened. Then she shook her head and went to, thankfully, bank the fire. After that she turned one of the lanterns down before pulling the blankets back and climbing into the bed. She curled up on her side and the lump that was Mandar quickly scurried over to curl against her stomach.

Fili went to the other side of the bed and lowered the light in the second lantern before pulling the covers back and climbing into the far side of the bed. She made no comment and, again, he felt his spirit settle and his confidence increase.

He stretched out on his back, put an arm under his head and draped the other across his stomach. "Do you mind if I call you Bilba?" he asked in a low voice.

There was silence for a second and then, "what have you been calling me?"

"Miss Baggins," he answered. "In my head at least."

Silence again, and then, "Bilba is fine."

"All right then, Bilba," Fili said. "Last question. Do you find me attractive? Besides my hair."

This time she was quiet for so long he almost thought she'd fallen asleep. Then, in a voice so quiet he almost didn't catch it, she said, "Yes, but it doesn't mean anything. I still don't want a husband."

Fili chuckled. "I suppose I should be grateful you didn't just throw me in the closet with the rest of your baubles."

"The closet is full," she scoffed. "I'd have probably put you in the corner and used you as a hat rack."

"That would have covered my hair," Fili said reasonably.

"True." Her voice sounded heavy and only half awake. "Maybe a coat rack then."

"Does it even get cold enough here to need a coat?" he asked.

There was no answer from her, and, upon listening, he could hear the steady, slow sound of her breathing in sleep.

He chuckled, settled into the mattress and closed his eyes.

It was a start, he decided. She wasn't thrilled that her latest acquisition had a mind of his own, but she wasn't outright rejecting him either.

He could work with that.

  Follow on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/21839575/chapters/52120591

[lowkeyaesthvtic]

Evil Karma - Chapter 10

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9

Word Count: 1,922

Summary: Sofi’s feeling a bit angry, but that anger turns to fun when she realizes the Isle has a special visitor

Pairings: OC x platonic!Gil, mention of Ben x Mal, mention of Jay x Carlos

Rating: T 

Warnings: swear words, violence, murder, blood but not gory, choking kinda?

Tags: @descendantofthesparrow @hookedradge @newtshairdryer @curse-brekker @amityravenclawelf AND @batmanwearsabowtie bc they’ve been such an active/amazing follower and I love them with all my heart.

The Isle is usually quieter when night falls. The day had gone by incredibly quickly and it was quite busy to say the least. I looked down at my bronze timepiece. Good, I still had about 15 minutes to get back to the Chip Shoppe before Harry would overworry and send Gil and the crew to get me. It’s not something that I entirely believed he would live up to, especially considering that he’d have to ask Uma first. Still, there was that slim chance that she would permit it. I didn’t think I would have to tell them, but I’m not some kind of princess that needs to be looked after constantly. Was there a chance that my episode in Uma’s room had changed their opinion on that?

I don’t need protection anymore! I had to teach myself nearly everything I knew after realizing that my demonic excuse for a dad wasn’t going to teach me shit. I know a dagger so well that one swift flick of my wrist could slice even the toughest skin as easily as a letter opener would tear a piece of paper! I can fire an arrow from the highest point of the Isle and still hit my target square in the eye! I’ve got the venom of a cobra and the tongue of a rattlesnake luring its prey! The little girl who got scars and bruises and tossed around like a worm on a hook died when she slipped that bottle of thick, black Dreamshade poison into her father’s wine. I will do absolutely anything to prove that.

A smile tugged at the corner of my lips when I saw Gil at a pickled egg stand in the marketplace. The bone-thin, wrinkled lady running said stand was giving him quite some trouble. “Get this through your thick skull, kid! These eggs ain’t free!” The voice was nasally, overly crisp, and far too forward for the woman to be anybody other than - 

“Yzma, Uma said that I get these for free!” Gil continued slipping the thick yolks into the basket. This was exactly the opportunity I needed. I quickly rushed to Gil’s side and place my hand on his shoulder, leaning onto him.

“Hey Gil, is everything okay? I see you’re out for pickled eggs again.” He looks at me with the eyes of a confused puppy. Gil and I hadn’t spent a lot of time together outside of shifts at the Chip Shoppe, but he was someone I wanted to protect. His loyalty towards Harry and Uma is as indestructible as a diamond and as never ending as the open sea. He showed this ray of sunshine type of kindness but Harry and Uma know there’s a sliver of evil somewhere. Maybe I know it’s there too, but I’ve yet to see it. So, for now, I want to protect him.

“Uma said I get these eggs for free!” He looked over to Yzma, a soft yet angry expression forming on his face. “This empress won’t let me take them!” I looked to him, exaggerated shock and hurt in my eyes. Then, I turned my attention to the wrinkled witch in front of us.

“You can go and tell that pirate rat that her words don’t mean shit to me! You pay for the eggs or I throw you to the fish! You hear that, kid?” I wrap my fingers around the handle of my dagger, getting ready for a quick fight. Fire bubbled in my chest and I could feel my smile widening with a sense of madness. Since arriving on the Isle, I tried my best to keep a calm composure. But in cases like this, how else is one supposed to show that they’re not to be messed with?

“Oh, she’s not gonna like the sound of that. Come on, empress, you should know more than anybody how annoying it is when one doesn’t listen to the woman in charge..right?” Yzma gave me a scowl that was semi-threatening at the most.

“I’ve seen you riding around here. You think that just because you’re on the pirates’ good side that people will forget how much of an outsider you are? I’ll break you the news, girl. You can parade around with two buff pirates at your hip and a fancy dagger in your pocket...but it ain’t gonna bring those kids back from the dead.” Before she could let out another word, I remove my dagger from my left pocket and slash her left arm. A crimson trail starts leaking down the small, skinny limb as she goes to grab the arm in pain. I press the dagger against her throat, pushing up her head so I can see the fear and pain starting to taint her eyes.

With a maniacal laugh, I leaned in close and lower my voice. “Oh PLEASE say that again. I haven’t spilled some blood in quite a bit.” I look behind me to see Gil in a way that I hadn’t seen often. His eyes were slightly widened, possibly in shock of what I was about to do. There was a playful smile tugging at the corner of his lips. Not a teasing kind of playful like Harry’s, but like the playful smile of a kid who had found their way into the cookie jar. “You’ll get your eggs, Gil, don’t worry. We just may have to throw a body in the ocean afterwards.”

With the fear in her eyes growing stronger and more blood spilling out of her bony arm, Yzma makes an attempt at a soft smile. “You know what? Maybe giving free eggs to a regular customer isn’t such a bad idea after all...at least somebody would be eating them, right?” Fear shook her voice until it was a quivering mess. The old skeleton of a woman tried everything she could to hide it. It was a valid attempt, I’ll give it that.

“You see, Yzma? Was that so hard?” 

“I did what you asked, girl. Now let go of me!”

I tsked in disappointment and began to tighten my grip on the dagger. I pushed the blade closer to her throat, hearing her breath hitch as she began to lose control. I wasn’t going to let anybody condescend me. Nobody will ever be allowed to make me feel like a street rat ever again! I will make sure of it. “I would...but you pissed me off, empress. Not only did you insult my Captain, but you disrespected my boys. Nobody does that and survives the night. So...Yzma..any last words?” She attempts to speak, her voice coming out much in a much raspier tone than usual. “Oh, that’s right. You can’t talk. Oh well.” With a quick swing of my arm, her skin is broken and blood begins to spray from her throat. Her weak body immediately falls to the ground as she attempts to save herself. But the attempt is futile, and after a minute or so of meaningless flailing, her body goes limp. I look up to Gil with an innocent smile and gently place my hand on his shoulder. “There you go, Gil. She won’t be bothering you anymore. Now come on, let’s go home. I’m sure Harry and Uma are expecting both of us.”

As Gil and I began walking, I feel a harsh bump against my right shoulder. Out of instinct, I pick up my dagger once again and pin it to the man’s throat. Almost immediately, I realize who he is. His hair was light and long enough to nearly cover his light brown eyes. He carried the aura of weakness, of pity and mercy. The thought of it made me sick. “Well, look who we have here. Another street runt that doesn’t know how to watch where they walk.” It’d be perfect to play dumb. Nobody on Auradon had seen my face before. The four VKs who attacked Neverland were gone by the time I made the portal to escape. None of them knew who I was, so it’d be perfect logic to pretend I didn’t know them. But I knew, and I knew well.

“Hey man, hey! H...hey, hey I know you!” I look over to Gil, a grin tugging at the corner of my lip. We had found the King, and if we could find a way to distract the entourage behind him, we could snatch him up. 

“Uh, no...don’t know you either, man.” Ben replied, choking out his words through the firm grip my dagger had on his skin. The three around him were nervous, but they did a lot better at keeping a calm composure. It was easy to tell that they used to have a life here.

“Uh, yeah you do. Come on man, really? Dude, I’ll give you a hint. My dad is quick...slick...and his neck...huhhh..is incredibly thick.” Gil points to his neck as if to give some kind of demonstration. I keep the dagger hilted but look over my shoulder to speak to him.

“Gil. Really?”

“Why doesn’t he know me? Everybody knows me…” Gil asks, a little twinge of both confusion and sadness in his tone. 

“Gil, of course he knows you. He’s lying to you to save his ass. You know him too..right?” Gil took a longer look at Ben, racking his brain to come up with a name, but there was nothing. “Gil. Come on, use your brain.”

“My dad said I don’t have one of those.”

I rolled my eyes and pointed to a nearby poster of Ben and Mal, which had been tagged with our crews’ own ‘we ride with the tide’ tagline. “Then at least use your eyes!” Gil pointed back in forth between the poster and Ben. The entourage surrounding Ben followed Gil’s gaze as he looked back and forth. 

Finally, his eyes widened in recognition and with a gasp, Gil spoke up. “Oh! You’re King Ben!” The four of them immediately tried to reject the claim, but it was far too late. “Yeah, no..you’re totally King Ben! And J-Jay, Carlos, Evie, hey guys!” The three of them stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to do. 

“King Ben, huh? I had a run in with your girlfriend earlier..or should I ex-girlfriend? A bit of trouble in paradise?”

“Mal and I aren’t broken up.”

“Why else would she come to the Isle, huh? She’s not welcome here anymore, and there is no way that Uma would give her back her old territory.” I lowered my dagger. King Ben would be an essential tool in my plan with Uma, just not yet. Not when he has an army around him ready to fight. I looked up at Ben and slowly brought my finger to his neck, wiping off the blood that my dagger painted onto him. “Well then, welcome to the Isle, your majesty. Enjoy your stay.” I mockingly bowed and extended an arm away from the stand. The blue haired girl, who I now knew as Evie, grabbed him by the back of his shoulders and lead him away. Jay and Carlos soon followed, their hands interlocked to as a way of affectionate protection. I looked over to Gil as they left, he soon smiled and jumped up and down in excitement.

“Oooh! Uma’s gonna love this!” He taps me on the shoulder and turns toward the direction of the Chip Shoppe. “Last one to the Chip Shoppe is a bucket of shrimp!” He shouts giddily, and I run alongside him back home.

[ifeveristoday]

team Slow Burn/Burn it All Down

“Real monsters don’t announce themselves or present opportunities. Not here. They enter your head, your heart, tear at you from within.” -- Angel, Hellmouth #2

Are we talking about the demons underground or the demon walking around with Angel’s face?

Hellmouth leans heavy on foreshadowing and having unspoken/underlining meanings that differ from the actual words on the page. It continues using elements from Egyptian and Roman/Greek mythos but the main draw of this issue - and I’m assuming the rest of the series, is the reluctant partnership of Buffy and Angel. I don’t agree with the criticism that taking Buffy and Angel away from their respective apocalypses ruins the flow of the overall arcs. It’s a vast story to tell and the pace of the reboots (which is something I have criticized) makes it difficult to include in the main storylines without sacrificing important character development. There are just so many characters, especially in Sunnydale. Jordie’s writing excels at the character and emotional beats rather than plots, and while we have had some great strides in Willow, Xander and Jenny’s personal journeys, there remains some distance from the namesake characters, which I feel like it was intentional to get to the place that Hellmouth occupies. 

Love it or hate it, the Buffy and Angel relationship is a huge part of both of their stories and character developments and we’ve had inklings of how Buffy is going to change/possibly wreck Angel’s life in Angel, but he’s remained a shadowy figure in Buffy’s story. Hellmouth changes all of that while retaining some of the original canon’s flaws/trademarks but also poking gentle fun at them.

Spoilers from Hellmouth #2 below the cut.

Buffy and Angel are slightly different from their canon selves - Angel is independent of Buffy’s journey at the very beginning and already has his purpose set in Los Angeles. Buffy is a newly minted Slayer, living with her secret for a whole three weeks before wacky Slayer hijinks puts her in the path of Willow and Xander. Their initial meeting/relationship is reminiscent of the very early episodes of Season 1 Buffy - with a reasonable amount of wariness on Buffy’s part and Angel’s dry/slightly cocky attitude with a 2019 update of their anxieties. There’s also a flip in roles as Angel asks Buffy how she’s feeling and what she wants to do in the future at the start. It’s just the feeling of a connection with no romantic overtones. 

The comic recognizes the fucked-upness of Buffy being a child and fighting the forces of evil and sympathizing with her via the character of Jenny. While there is an obligatory nod to Buffy’s desire to be normal, it also makes a point of isolating her from the Scoobies and her frustration at knowing how to be the best Slayer she can be. Giles tells her that he’s to direct her, but not tell her explicitly what she has to do sounds an awful like parents preparing their children for adulthood. There is no handbook. While Buffy is welcomed into Willow and Xander’s circle (and that’s another flip - it is Willow who reaches out to Buffy first and invites her into being social), they’re very much a unit while Buffy sort of floats between their friendship. But I feel due to them being so young, it’s easy to claim best friendship, because - the intensity of feelings and hormones.

This makes Buffy’s character kind of harder to read, and less sunshiney than her OG counterpart. But it’s a shared facade - TV Buffy just hid it better underneath girliness and bouncy hair, while Boom! Buffy is focused, for better or worse to her duty. This is a Buffy that hasn’t quit Slaying before, who gets slightly conflicted guidance from her Watcher and who needs Willow and Xander more than they possibly need her to be a connection to being sixteen. Everyone has their own stuff to deal with.

Hellmouth gives Buffy the spotlight and also drops her into an immediate partnership with Angel. It very pointedly is not a romance - they both get on each others nerves actually, and it inspires A+ bantering while revealing the most of each character so far. Buffy’s venting to Angel (Buffy #8/Hellmouth #1) implies that she’s worried about her friendships and failure to connect, that she’d rather tell a complete stranger this than confide in her friends/Watcher. 

Angel listening and not judging shows an immediate empathy for her - and his actions during Hellmouth show a more vulnerable/less closed off Angel. He doesn’t occupy the same caretaker vibe he has with Fred and Gunn that he does with Buffy, namely because Buffy refuses it. She calls him out on trying to be the mysterious weight of the world Loner who takes on all of the responsibilities. 

Angel quickly realizes he just can’t be That Guy with Buffy, and it makes his character hilariously resigned/looser in response. He warns her about dangers in the Hellmouth but accepts Buffy’s way is different from his, but that doesn’t make it wrong. He’s willing to admit he might have been wrong about demons being upfront when the slithery shapeshifter demon confronts them - and Buffy’s snarky response “Cool, cool. Won’t rub that in.” lightens the tense moment. 

Notably, Angel is the one that gets injured/dragged by the demons while Buffy runs to save him. The fighting sequences are highlighted and Buffy’s scenes, in particular, are very smooth and highlights her Slayer grace. They fight beautifully together and despite their prickly banter, feel a shared responsibility to each other’s well being. Their separate confrontations with the shapeshifter shows their fears - Buffy ‘abandoning’ her family and friends and failing to protect them, Angel seeing the ghosts of the people he’s failed to save. Buffy reacts strongly to how her family and friends need her, while Angel angrily tells the shifter to stay out of his head and that it doesn’t know anything about him. Circling back to Buffy saying she doesn’t know what she wants, the Ominous voice implies Angel doesn’t really know what he’s doing and who he is.

Ah, vague accusations of something evil and upsetting, how I haven’t missed you.

After Angel demands to know who’s blood is needed for the further escalation of Evil Plan, and the Voice doesn’t reply, he immediately realizes Buffy is in danger and runs to find her.

Buffy’s still fighting the shifter and it mentions she could put an end to her family and friends’ suffering with her sacrifice - namely, that her blood will save the world.

While Buffy logically knows that the shifter isn’t her mom (because of course, the shifter would take on the form of Joyce), this emotional blackmail breaks her out of the illusion and she kicks it’s ass. Almost punching out Angel in the process. 

Angel is less emotional about his ordeal and Buffy lets him have it again, telling him that it's unfair that she’s the only one being vulnerable - “I opened up because we need to work together, and you haven’t said a thing.”

Instead of being defensive and defaulting to Sir Mopes a Lot - Angel sincerely apologizes and tells her that his fears were also centered around his friends and him not being able to save them in time.

And it’s Buffy’s turn to reassure him/pass on wisdom - she realizes that the Hellmouth wants to separate them to make them weaker and that Angel deserves a little more empathy from her.

THEY’RE COMMUNICATING THEIR FRUSTRATIONS AND CONCERNS WITH EACH OTHER, Y’ALL.

Angel does have a moment of saying, “Silent suffering is more my cup of tea,” and Buffy’s quick response of “And how’s that working for you?” showcase their differences/similarities nicely. Angel despite making friends doesn’t tell them what he’s thinking because he’s used to being alone, Buffy with her very loud opinions isolates herself (un)intentionally because she’s new to Slaying and being a teenager at the same time. They can’t talk to the people who care for them--- but they can talk to each other.

When they face hurdles, they take turns reassuring/pointing out the Obvious Evil, and then a tiny moment - Angel adds onto Buffy’s observation of not getting surrounded by the demon horde by saying, “Just like Thermopylae.”

As with each issue of the Boom!verse, when names I don’t recognize I obviously google them - and Thermopylae is a reference to both the battle of Thermopylae (think the 300 comic and uh, history) and the “Hot Gates,” and is the cavernous entrance to Hades.

Is my theory/wish that there’s going to be Persephone/Hades parallels and Eurydice/Orpheus vibes in this story going to play out? God, I hope so.

Anyway, back to the moment - when they inevitably get surrounded by the demon hordes, Buffy remarks, “Well, there goes thermometer.”

The. Classic. Buffy. Malapropism.

My heart.

Angel gets slashed in the fight, and Buffy worries about him, but there’s a bigger problem - 

narrated by the Voice - “Are you sure everything is as it seems? You’ve been wrong before.”

“Blood is spilled...vessels are filled...every pretender killed.”

Shot to Drusilla as Prometheus in chains, spouting some of the worst “Dru-esque” dialogue I’ve read. Sorry Jordie, this is up there with the clunky faux Whedonisms of the early issues.

So Dru isn’t the major Big Bad, but rather the unseen Voice, who we, of course, don’t know.

Is she ultimate sacrifice, the vessel (after all she is of Angel’s bloodline) and oh, Angel Still Hasn’t Told Buffy He’s A Vampire which...

Boo.

All of the voice overs hint that the confession when it happens is going to cause Buffy Big Mad - after all, Angel knows more about her than she does of him, AGAIN.

The art and coloring is stunning as ever in this issue - Carlini really knows how to draw action sequences, and the varying light/color schemes really make the sense of Buffy and Angel descending into the Hellmouth feel vivid and real.

tl;dr I loved this issue and each issue the stakes definitely seem higher. The bantering and a slow reveal of their personalities are also excellent. The foreshadowing/double meanings of the dialogues.

The stuff I don’t like - the Dru dialog at the end, Angel being secretive about his Vampire self.

[kacchanislife]

HI BITCH I GOT ANOTHER REQUEST! I’ll probably ask one weekly! So like how about when Both bakugo and his s/o and severely injured during the villain attack and they thought That they finished him but he’s is still there and he starts to attack Bakugo but his s/o save and tied to fight him? And bakugo is too hurt to move so he’s just on the ground screaming in despair? THANK YOUUU ILYY MAYBE WE CAN TALK SOMETIME

HELLLOOOO!!!! Is this what it’s like to have a mutual?! I LOVE YOU TOO!! Thank you for your request, as always!

(I’m so sorry, I cried at the ending)

Warnings: cursing, angst, death, blood, the whole schabang

n/a: the italics are flashbacks. Your quirk is a variation of wind manipulation where you can breathe in deeply to create a vortex and you can exhale to create gale force winds. Psionic can either stop time completely or slow down time in her favor, she carries multiple blades on her like Stain. 

You and Bakugou have been partners in Hero work for some time. Your quirks compliment each other, you offset his higher temperament, and well, you’re lovers. Of course you two work together, Bakugou doesn’t trust others won’t make sure you get hurt on the job and you keep his mouth in check. You love him and he loves you and everything is wonderful.

So today was like any other one your usual patrols. The only real difference was the recent slew of crime that’s been running through the area. Bakugou has gotten a new case to share with you about a villain named ‘Psionic’ who is said to be able to pause time. This basically meant they could do anything and everything while they pause time. You had searched the file and found that what they usually did was steal precious gems; the unfortunate thing was when they were caught because there’s a zone on their quirk they would kill whoever was in the way.

You doubt this ‘Psionic’ could hold up against yourself and Bakugou. You were seansoned pro heroes who knew how to fight both close- and far-ranged. You weren’t worried, you were with Ground Zero and he was with Whirlpool, aka you. There really was nothing to worry about.

Unfortunately, you severely underestimated Psionic. You underestimated your strength and your ability and you underestimated how much Bakugou wanted to protect you over defeating the villain. You messed up, you really did.

You come back from your headspace, where you lay on the ground five feet away from Bakugou and both of you are hardly able to move. You feel the tears start to slip down your cheeks. How did you get here again? You struggle to move and to remember all the fast movements that ended up here.

You remember…

Walking alongside Bakugou talking with him amicably about dinner plans, “I was thinking we can do hotpot with Red Riot and Chargebolt tonight? Maybe Pinky too if we can convince her to make the drive out.”

“Maybe,” Bakugou pauses before he speaks again. Trying to form his opinion on the matter. “I fucking hate Pinky though. We’re not inviting her. And Chargebolt better keep his fucking voice done for once! Swear that guy can’t stop talking and it’s shitty.”

You laugh and shoulder-check him softly as you continue to walk down the street. The two of you were patrolling a street that was usually popular but it was nighttime now and no one was around really. Villains don’t do crime in broad daylight if they want to get away with it after all.

Besides the looming threat of a villain hanging over the two of your heads, it’s a very pleasant night with smells so clear and such visibility you could live your whole life outside. A smile crosses your face and blow out a tiny bit of air, watching it swirl in front of you due to your quirk. You feel so content and like nothing can go wrong.

“Hey Ground Zero, you think we’re gonna catch the villain tonight? Or you think they turned themselves in out of fear knowing they’d have to face off against us,” you move faster than him so you’re now facing him while walking backwards, a few steps ahead. You playfully strike an intimidating pose before you freeze.

A groan leaves your lips as you roll over to look as Bakugou wheezes in what you imagine is a very painful way. You struggle to your knees and crawl towards him. You can hear sirens in the distance and you’re so thankful that despite the weeks the two of you are going to be in the hospital for the villain is dead. Pro heroes don’t normally kill villains, it only happens in extreme situations where subduing them wouldn’t be possible. Like tonight.

“Fuck,” Bakugou curses as your apply pressure to the wound in his side. He’s still bleeding, but he’s alive and help is on the way. “I fucking hate that two-bit villain. That bitch is going to rot in hell and I’m glad we’re the ones who placed her there.”

You give a noise of agreement as you continue to staunch his bleeding. You’re glad Psionic is dead too; that was the most frightening experience of your young life and you don’t know if you could’ve faced someone like that alone. “Hey,” Bakugou’s voice reaches your ears again.

Looking down you see him struggle to move and rush to make him stay still. He had taken a lot more damage than you in that fight and you didn’t want him to hurt himself more or…

Or die.

Tears fill your eyes at the mere thought of him dying. You never want anything to befall Bakugou, you love him too much and you wouldn’t live with yourself if he could never get up again. More tears leek from your eyes as the sirens get closer and you don’t catch the rest of what Bakugou says as you get swept up in the events of the night again.

When time resumed for you Bakugou was alread fighting Psionic. You didn’t realize she was a woman as you look at her now fighting against Bakugou with a sword? Yeah, you realize, it’s a sword and she’s using her quirk to deal blow after blow to Bakugou.

Your body is hardly tired after being frozen in time and you start to activate your quirk by breathing in deeply. The air around your starts to become a vortex with the point of origin at your mouth and you turn to face it toward Psionic as Bakugou makes a hasty retreat. He knows the signs of your quirk whether you were using vortex or gale. Which both were the same thing just one you breathed in and one you breathed out.

Psionic is caught off guard and the panic on her face shows as Bakugou lines up his AP Shot. You two know the drill, he fires his explosions to get sucked up into your vortex and right before they can no longer be effective you shut off your quirk and allow the villain trapped in the vortex to take the damage.

You know you’re taking a great risk of being frozen in time again due to the proximity of Psionic, but you doubt she can activate her quirk while she’s so flustered. Besides, you know your vortex is next to freezing and even moving within them is a task in and of itself.

You shut off your quirk to see Psionic burned on her face and neck. Direct hits, but she recovers fast and punches you in the face. You reel backwards for a moment before meeting her blow for blow. Bakugou is struggling to find an opening with how fast Psionic is moving and how fast you have to move to keep up, you’re usually not this slow.

You realize as she stabs you in the shoulder with a small knife that she knew Bakugou wouldn’t attack with the risk of you getting hurt. And you come to terms with the fact that she’s a lot more proficient with her quirk that you thought and a lot smarter too. Psionic slashes you multiple times and it takes all your concentration not to get fatally wounded. You feel yourself pause again.

It was too late before you realized Psionic was still alive. A belt was around your throat choking you and you could see her hair out of the corner of your eye. You couldn’t believe that bitch wasn’t dead after you personally created a hole in her torso. Bakugou’s red eyes catch yours and you can see the tears streaming down his face. He can’t move and he can’t save you from a villain he couldn’t beat.

You twist in Psionic’s grip elbowing her as hard as the strength in your body can muster in her wound. She growls and holds tighter to the belt. The two of you are shifting on the ground as you try to gain the upper hand and throw her off. She’s not budging and your air supply is quickly dwindling.

It doesn’t help your throat was already bruised from her punching you there and one of her knives still buried in your lung. You know it’s your lung because you can’t activate your quirk. Your quirk depends on your lungs and you can’t activate it. The panic was slowing starting to set in.

You can hear Bakugou screaming and crying still unable to move- helpless as you die right in front of him. No, you won’t die until Psionic stops breathing for good. You won’t let her have the chance to hurt anyone else. No chance to hurt Bakugou. Not him. Not him.

The battle rages on as you time back in. Bakugou has multiple gashes and you could see one of his arms were broken. You can’t let him get hurt anymore, you frantically start searching for something you could wrap in your quirk. You see the sword Psionic was using earlier and grab it, she sees you moving and you freeze again.

You grab her hands with the belt as dark spots dance across your vision and throw her over your shoulder. You don’t know how you do it as all your strength is nearly gone from your body, but you turn the tables around. Psionic struggles underneath you as you dig a painful knee into the hole in her torso.

Your hand hovers over the blade embedded in your skin between your ribs and in your lung. You know pulling it will kill you. You’ve already been feeling the uneasy sensation of air leaking into parts of your body it should not be in. You know taking the knife out will collapse your lung and you’ll bleed out instantly.

There’s no way you make it out of this fight alive and you look into Bakugou’s eyes one last time. They widen in realization and he redoubles his efforts to move and do something. God anything.

“(Y/n)! Don’t! Please fucking don’t,” his voice is raw and it’s painful, but you keep staring as your hand grasps the handle.

Time resumes once more and you nearly scream at the sight in front of you. Bakugou has a deep wound on his right side, multiple lacerations on his legs and arms, and he’s bleeding so heavily. He’s losing.

You spot the sword you were trying to grab before you were stopped lying still discarded. Psionic seemed to have more blades on her than you thought, but that worked out in your favor now. You pick up the sword and you feel the unbridled rage settling inside you as you active your quirk once more.

The sword starts to be wrapped in wind you’re blowing on to it. It’s cold to the touch and you turn to find Bakugou coughing up blood on the ground. Psionic is two feet away from you, you’re a terrible hero to not have noticed and to have continuously been caught in her quirk. She has a longer knife than the one she stabbed and slashed you with earlier, you should fear where she’ll stab you with it, but you're too angry to care about your safety.

You can feel your movements slowing down as she speeds toward you. You have to make this count. All the air in your lungs and in the reserves of your suit come bursting out as you aim the sword at her midsection. Psionic reaches you and you feel the hot pain of the knife piercing your skin. You spin the two of you around so your back is facing Bakugou and you release the wind.

The explosion-like force of pent up wind being let go blows the two of you back. You catch a glimpse of the bloody sword sinking into the side of a building and the hole it left behind in Psionic’s stomach before you hit the ground. Everything is painful and the wind was truly knocked out of you. You feel bones crack, but you won and you kept Bakugou from getting killed like he kept you from tonight.

Bakugou is still screaming as you pull out the knife. Psionic is still struggling beneath you even as she bleeds out and is unable to activate her quirk. “Please god no,” his voice breaks your heart, but you’d rather he lives than you. “(Y/n) don’t leave me. I love you. Please!”

Bakugou is begging you to stay alive. There’s so much pain in his beautiful red eyes and you finally force yourself to look away. You raise the bloody knife and drive it home in one of Psionic’s eyes, you aren’t really sure which. You’re vision is doubling, but you no longer hear her grunts and no longer feel her movement.

Checking her pulse you conclude she is really and truly dead this time. You cough vigorously and the pain of the violent movement wracks your body. Blood gushes from your wound and from your mouth. This is it.

You still can’t look Bakugou in the eye as you speak, “You were always a better hero than me. Keep being the best hero, for both of us. I love you.” Your body collapses on top of Psionic’s and the last bit of strength leaves your body as the pain fades.

The sirens are here, but you aren’t. Bakugou screams and cries into the night, cursing his ineptitude and cursing you for leaving him.

He never does truly recover- 

He never patrols with anyone again,

He never forgives emergency services for arriving late,

He never stops wishing he could’ve traded places.

He never forgets you, and 

He never loves anew.

... 

He wishes he was there with you. 

[icequeenoriginal]

Protection (Dante x Lady Fanfic) Part 1

Crap. That’s all that Lady could think of at this very moment. This wasn’t at all how this night supposed to go. What the hell even happened?

Lady’s night actually began promising. Dante had asked her to go to dinner. They had been dating for a while now so it wasn’t much of a shock but she’d be lying if she say she didn’t have butterflies in her stomach. He had this effect on her. He made her laugh, smile and feeling all warm and fuzzy. That was the last thing she expected him of all people to be able to do. What can she say? She fell for him. Hard.

They were halfway out the door when the phone began to ring. Dante rolled his eyes and picked it up. There was a woman on the other line, begging that Dante clear her husband’s warehouse infested with demons. Dante sighed and reluctantly agreed before slamming the phone down..

“Dammit. I’m sorry babe. Gives me an hour tops. I’ll have the whole place cleared and we can…what are you doing?”

By the time he turned around, Lady had replaced her purse with her guns. “What does it look like? Getting ready for the mission.”

“Lady…”

“It’ll be done faster if there’s two of us.” Dante knew better than to argue with her. Besides, she was right. So they headed out together on Dante’s bike aka how they showed the world they were together. They weren’t public with affection. They never kissed in front of others, only behind closed door. They weren’t ashamed, far from it. It was something special between them. No one else needed to have input in their relationship. That was the only reason.

As far as Lady knew.

Lady wrapped her arms around Dante’s waist and smiled. She loved holding him. This is the closeness they both desire, deserved. Any moment she got to hold him made her so happy. The ride to jobs always seemed so short nowadays.

They walked into the warehouse. There were demons alright. Running around the warehouse, slowly growing. No doubt they had the intention of wrecking havoc through the city. They all froze and turned to face the two newcomers. This made Dante smirk. “Oh, you were expecting us. Sorry to keep you waiting”

The demons immediately reacted and jumped on the two devil hunters. They fired as fast as they could. To their horror, the demons changed form. Their bullets began to go through the demons. Dante switch to his Rebellion and Lady used the back of Kalina Ann. This worked temporarily until the demons changed again. The demon managed to separate the two hunters. Dante turned into his devil trigger form to slash through the demons to get to Lady. He turned so quickly that the demons did not have time to process the sudden change and he was able to kill some of the,, However, when he got her, he saw a sight that was his downfall.

Lady had tried her best to keep the demons off of her but her weapons became useless against them so quickly for her liking. Her grenades did kill a few but she had quickly ran out of them for she underestimated how difficult this job was going to be. Luckily the demons adapted for the grenades so she got a few with her guns but as quickly as the victory came, the demons changed back. With no opinions left, Lady decided to used her athletic ability to get away from the demons. Her plan was to use Kalina Anna’s grapple to get to the open elevated platform in warehouse, fire a few missiles to buy herself some time to find Dante. She figured the demons needed them apart so they could transform more easily. Sadly, as she began to be pull up by the grapple, one of the demons grabbed her leg, broke it and pulled her down. She unleashed her scream second Dante had gotten close to her. To make matters worse, the demon that had Lady was largest demon in the warehouse. Lady and Dante looked at each other for a split second before the demon lifted Lady up again and slammed her into the ground. “LADY!” She didn’t respond, she didn’t move, she didn’t even seem to be breathing.

This completely broke Dante. Every time, every time…anytime he cares for someone, some demon takes them away. Not this time…he wasn’t going to lose her…

He felt himself changing, his eyes were burning from how red they had turned. He didn’t care. He knew the consequences, he was ready. Lady was able to weakly open her eyes t see Dante transform.

It wasn’t like his normal Devil Trigger form. This…thing…had no resemblance to his human form, the real Dante. The Dante she…

Dante smirked evilly as he slowly placed Rebellion on his back. He roared as he grew a pair of wings and four horns. Rebellion became a tail. A dark aura covered his entire body, turning it into a huge dark demon. It took his beautiful face last. The only part that remotely resembled Dante were red cracks that broke through the dark shell. As if the real Dante was trying to break free from this hold. This was what Trish had warned her about, the Perfect Devil Trigger.

Dante quickly disconnected the demon’s limp that had been holding her off from the rest of it and put her in a corner, as far away from danger as he could before going back to slaughter ever demon in the warehouse.

Lady had to stay awake, she had to stop this. She decided to remember the conversation she and Trish had had a few days prior. If she concentrated on the memory, her mind would stay awake and she could possibly figure out how to get Dante back.

Lady, Dante and Trish had returned to Devil May Cry in silence. A demon had gotten a little too close to Lady and Dante quickly killed it and the rest of the hive that had been infesting the farmhouse. Lady commented that she could handled it, she meant it more as a joke but she was also letting him know. Normally Dante would joke back at her, at most he’d gently punch her in the shoulder. This time was different. Dante turned, slowly changing back to normal. His eyes however stayed red. He stared at her, it felt wrong to her. He growled at her and walked to his bike. This pissed off Lady more and it made Trish confused. When he sat on his bike, his eyes returned to their ocean blue. He shook his head and turned to Lady to apologize.

She still kicks herself for riding off before he had a chance to explain. They ignored each other for the rest of the night, he sulking in his chair and her sulking on her bed. Trish rolled her eyes at them. She was supposed to be young, immature one. She first went to Dante and simply told him that she was going to talk to Lady. Dante pretended to not hear her and continued to sip his drink.

Trish wondered if the myth that if you roll your eyes too much caused them to get stuck was actually turn when she rolled her eyes again at Dante. She put her guns away and walked to Lady’s room. She knocked twice before speaking. “Hey L? Can I come in?”

Lady reasoned in her head that she had no reason not to let Trish in. “Door’s open.”

Trish walked over to her and sat next to her on the bed. “Look, about the earlier…”

“You don’t have to apologize for him, Trish.”

“I’m not.” Lady looked at her confused. Trish was glad she was because then Lady would listen to her. She had to listen to her about this. “Look Lady, you know how Dante struggles with his inner demon.” Lady nodded in response, indicating she wants Trish to continue.

“Well, his demon like to use Dante’s human emotions against him. To the point if he’s sad enough or angry enough, the demon will easily breakthrough and take over.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because—” Trish stopped herself, this wasn’t something she could tell Lady. That was up to Dante, though she highly doubted he would ever have the balls to do so. “Because you have to watch him. We all do.” She added that last part to distract Lady from her pause moments before.

“What do you mean?” Lady was now concerned, there was something wrong with Dante and she has to help him. She just had to.

To be perfectly honest, Trish wasn’t exactly sure either. She just had a feeling, a feeling something bad was going to happen. She paused to gather her thoughts before continuing “He choose to be human but his inner demon can also choose to takeover to the point where his humanity is gone. He will be so far that you have to get him out of it.” If she wasn’t worried, she would have questioned why Trish said you. She nodded in agreement with Trish, which satisfied her enough to leave, and laid awake on her bed. She didn’t sleep that night.

Lady slapped her own face hard to keep herself awake. She watch Dante stand over the carnage. She watched him crawl around the room, looking for more prey. She forced herself into her bad leg which caused her to wince in pain and for him to turn around. He seemed to instantly appear next to her. He growled at her, ready to attack. Lady frowned at him and grabbed his face tightly. Dante grabbed her arms and his claws dug into her. She muffled her scream and focused on his face. She searched for his eyes, only finding glowing dots. She hoped he could see her through the blinding light. “Dante! Snap out of it!”

He roared at her, trying to frighten her away. The real Dante was battling his demon, he doesn’t know what he would do if he hurt Lady. Lady wasn’t one to run. “Come on Dante! I know you’re in there!”

The demon paused and let go of her arms. He stared at her and growled put her name. She smiled, he was coming back to her. “Yea, it’s me. Now turn back to normal. The world doesn’t need another rampaging demon. They need you. The real you. I need you…come back to me.” She saw a flash of blue and in an instant, the real Dante was holding her waist and hugging her. “Hey baby…”

She hugged him back, to feel him. To make sure he was back. “I thought I lost you…” Normally she would never be this vulnerable with him but it felt right. They both needed it.

“Well, you did what you do best. You found me.” It was his turn to breathed her in, he needed to know that they were both okay. He swore to himself he would never turn into that again.

After a few moments of just silently holding one another, Dante lifted her up into his arms. “Let’s get you home”

“Dante…”

“Sorry about tonight…I know you hate hospitals so I’ll patch you up and order some takeout.”

“Dante.”

“I’ll take over missions from now on.” He weakly chuckles to himself. “I’m sure you can make money somewhere in this city. And then—”

“DANTE!” Finally, he hears her through his millions of thoughts and pauses to give her his full attention.

“I am tired of this!”

“Of what?”

“Of you treating me like a baby!” This made him angry, is that what she really thought that is what this is?

“I am not!”

“Yes you are!”

“I already apologized for before Lady!”

“I’m not just talking about that! On every mission recently you barely let me fight any demons. Also do you think I don’t notice that you try to take every missions alone now!” Dante didn’t say anything to explain himself which only made her angrier. “I can take care of myself Dante! I have been for a long time!”

“I know that Lady!”

“Then why are you doing this?”

[direwolfd20]

The Adventure Where Rikku Meets Legion

Things were going to be interesting here, that was for sure. Rikku looked around the group, twirling a strand of her long black hair. The group was discussing their earnings from the places they had been. Rikku had next to nothing. She wasn’t prepared for adventure to find her. 

She was honestly surprised when she was handed a traveling stone. She took it, looking between everyone. A way to get to one another quickly. It would be nice, at least, if they should ever get separated again. 

She was even more surprised when she was able to claim a cloak of charisma. It wasn’t much, but any boost was welcomed. Anything that could help her at this point. 

With everything said and done, the group started heading out, walking together. They managed to walk in silence for a while, passing sheaperds and their heards, the meadows ripe with green grass. The sun shined, and everything seemed to be going well. At least for the moment. 

Rikku didn’t know what it was about Lily. Maybe it was fact she had seen so little remourse for her actions, so little from her. Or maybe, it was the simple fact that vampires were evil. 

She had never known a vampire, that was true. But, she had read about them. The stories and tales all seemed to hold true. There was never a vampire that didn’t go evil. Lily was likely to be no different. 

Having the feeling that someone in the group was evil, it didn’t help. Rikku wondered if it was Lily who had done that in the Sanctum. There was the possibility, but it didn’t seem to make much sense. Still, it was the possibility. 

“Can I pet your cat?” The goblin, Stitch asked. Rikku was surprised for a second, and shook her head. 

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” 

“Why? I have a gentle touch.” 

“He’s a little finicky. You might get bloodied.” 

“Ah, it’s because I’m a goblin, isn’t it?” 

“No! It’s because he’s a cat!” 

“I’m a god!” Sir Didymus meowed in protest. “And no, the goblin cannot touch me!” 

Rikku rolled her eyes. 

“For there to even be a second of consideration in that act is horrendous. What kind of Sorceress are you?!”

“Of for fuck’s sake...”

“I’m your charge, those creatures are lowly cannon fodder!” 

“I get it.” 

“Good, than that thing leaves me be.” 

“Yes, that’s what I told him.” Rikku muttered. Sir Didymus huffed, his head still sticking out of the pack. She loved Sir Didymus, but it was hard sometimes to think of him as a cat when she could talk to him. Instead it was like having a spoiled king in her backpack. 

That was when a new issue came up. Vampires. Rikku couldn’t help but throwing a comment at Lily. It was hard to keep her opinions to herself. Even harder to know she was walking alongside a murderer who was free. She had killed many, and their was no excuse for that. She would kill many more. 

Her saying it wrong for her to judge her for being a vampire, it got Rikku’s blood boiling. How could she say that when vampires, as a whole, were evil. It wasn’t like they were dealing with humans, elves, half-orcs and such, it was a vampire. A disease that changed one into an evil creature. It was like saying a demon was a good guy, or that chromatic dragons weren’t the evil members of dragon kind. That her feeding off creatures was just what she had to do to survive. 

“By that logic,” Bo, who Rikku was figuring didn’t much like walking with an evil creature, “the Heretic should be left alone because he is just doing what he feels he needs to.” 

With him joining in the argument, Rikku felt like she at least had someone else to back up her logic, that she was not insane. 

“But, you are part of the group. And as part of the group, I will protect you as long as you don’t do anything evil.” he gave Rikku a pointed look. 

“Fine, I won’t kill her as long as she doesn’t hurt anyone.” Rikku said, turning away. 

“Bad guys.” Bo gave her another look, “You won’t kill her as long as she doesn’t hurt anyone but the bad guys.” 

Rikku took a sharp breath through her nose. “Fine.” she said, her voice barely controlled, her plan found out. “I won’t kill her as long as she only harms the bad guys.” 

With that, silence returned to the group. Rikku glanced around, not so much worried about herself as she was everyone else. More in the way of anyone who seemed ready to slit her throat. Besides the vampire. 

As night fell, and the group set up camp, Jasin and Leotie take watch. Sir Didymus was going around, trying to keep an eye on things. 

“Can I pet your cat?” Leotie asked. Rikku resisted the urge to toss her hands up and roll her eyes. 

Instead, she sighed, “If he lets you.” There should have been no way, and she was already headed to bed. She managed to find Sir Didymus on a weak day, however, and Leotie began to pet him. 

Bo summoned his Celestial lion, Mufasa as well. Sir Didymus looked to the animal, his eyes eyes full of jealousy. 

He accepts Leotie as a follower, thoughts of keeping an eye on camp gone. Leotie promises fish, and Sir Didymus plans to make her regret it as he and Rikku switch places. 

As the sun rose, and her four hours of watch were done, Rikku took down camp, getting Sir Didymus in her pack. Besides there being talk between Leotie and Stitch of riding dogs, or dragon pajamas, neither Stitch was too keen on. It ended in him agreeing to the pajamas. She shook her head, looking to Sir Didymus. 

The day passes, and again they set up camp. Saige and Jacob go to hunt, though she is sure there are other things going on. Rather than worrying about Saige’s personal life she and Sir Didymus went to the side to talk more privately. 

“How did it go last night?” Rikku asked. 

“I, um, well...” Sir Didymus averted his yellow eyes. 

“What did you do?” Rikku demanded. 

“I got caught up in pets.” 

“In pets?!” Rikku had to keep herself from shouting. 

“I understand it was wrong, but I gained a new follower, you are no longer alone. You should feel good about that.” 

“Sir Didymus, I need you. Especially right now.” 

“I know.” Again, the cat looked away, and sighed, closing his eyes. 

Rikku rubbed him behind his ears. “It’ll be okay.” 

They returned to the group as Drax said something about Saige and Jacob having coitus. Rikku shook her head, but agreed. That was the danger of them going hunting. There was no guarantee that they would eat before they scared away all the animals. 

Just then, Saige and Jacob walked through the camp. Both of them looked frustrated. “Oh god, he couldn’t get it up.” she said. She wasn’t sure if Leotie and Bo heard her, though as she was speaking more towards Sir Didymus. 

The vampire starts to complain about her breastplate, and stands, going to take it off. She wanted to roll her eyes, but she did not. If she was in her position it would be uncomfortable for her as well. 

That wasn’t the end of it though. As Rikku stared into the fire, thinking about her father, of a home she wasn’t sure she would ever return to, she heard crying. Knowing it sure as hell was not her, she turned to the tent Lily had gone into. 

Rikku almost cursed herself as her legs went to move. She would not go there. She would not go near what was equal to a red dragon. The flame was her focus, they needed to be her focus. 

Saige stood, and Rikku turned to watch her go. Drax took his sword into the woods. She didn’t know if anyone else had heard, and as torn as she was, she forced herself to stay put. 

It was hard to hear the vampire cry. Rikku didn’t know they were capable. Were evil things capable of crying? It was news to her. She wasn’t far from that life. She supposed she had just guessed evil didn’t cry. Though, she didn’t understand the life Lily had lead, why she had become what she was, or who she was beforehand. It was her choices that lead her to where she was now, the same as Rikku’s choices were laid out in front of her. 

What would the consequences be?

It was still on her mind that night. It unnerved her. It made evil more human, and she couldn’t accept that. She and Bo were on watch, Sir Didymus had come out of the tent, unable to sleep, and sat beside her. He watched her with careful eyes. 

“You’re uneasy.” 

“Yeah.” 

“Remember, that while I understand your hesitation, adding to group tension isn’t something we need right now. Keep your nose clean.” 

“She’s evil, D. She killed so many people with her own hands, orchestrated the death of her village. You can’t do that and not be evil.” 

“No, but you need to understand that it is what it is. She isn’t yours to purify. Unless she turns on the lot of you, or we find out she is the snake.” 

Rikku sighed, looking down at the dirt in front of her. Then she thought she heard something. Setting up straight, her ears focused, she thought she heard her name on the wind. 

Within the next second, she realized there was no wind, there were no night creatures sounding off. At the risk of sounding insane, she leaned back a little. 

“Hey, Bo. Do you hear, and not hear that?” she asked. 

He looked confused for a second, “I thought I heard my name.” 

“Me too, on the wind that isn’t there. And there are no crickets, nothing.” 

The fire raised with a woosh, Rikku got up to her feet, and Sir Didymus, for the first time since he had become her familiar, ran. His form disappeared in the woods. She stared in shock before turning to see a man with almost glowing green eyes, a tight outfit of red and black came up from the fire. 

Anger rose in her, and she glowered at him, “You made my cat run away!” she shouted, and then another issue was raised. More quietly she asked, “How do you know my name?” 

The man, or creature, did not answer. Instead, he fought. With a double bladed sword, he slashed at her, the blades reaching deep in her, across her chest and stomach. 

She called out, felt her world shift for a moment, and then, calling on that anger, it came back into focus. She would not lose. 

Whilst Bo hit the man, Rikku summoned a Fiendish huge snake, letting it push her away from the man. Legion was it’s name, as spoken from one of the group members, everything too chaotic for her to remember who. 

Screaming reached her ears, but Rikku dared not look away, casing mage armor, and healing before sending out force missiles. She didn’t care when the man disappeared. She didn’t care why. 

She looked to Leotie, “You have her?” Rikku asked, realizing the screaming, now stopped, had been from Saige. 

“Yes!” Leotie said, and Rikku was in the woods, yelling for Sir Didymus. 

It didn’t take long to find him, sitting and cursing himself for rushing off. She knelt down, and he ran over to her. Sir Didymus leaped into her arms, and rubbed against her. There were no words spoken, and her heart went out of the cat. She held him on the way back, not wanting to let him go. 

Rikku had been scared she had lost him. Now, she didn’t want to let him go. 

This Legion, a man who kept appearing when he should be long dead, was worse than she could have imagined. Whatever they used against him, whatever defeated him, he became immune to. She held Sir Didymus close, wondering what she had gotten them in to.

[zora-moyashi]

First

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Core

Shine made a star and tossed it at the creature, it exploded, making the creature fall onto it's back. Shade ran out to try and finish it when a much, much larger version of the bird flew down to protect it's young.

 ZM

"whoop, that's bad news." with indigo magic she got to shade quickly and pulled him out of the way just as the mom bird was about to close it's beak around him. with the sudden stop of motion shade was flung away from chara a bit and hits a tree as he's not used to that. "what a pretty bird~"

"the baby was kinda ugly but that grown up is majestic." her eyes sparkle. 

  Core

(this is mom)

 ZM

(hi mom~)

Core

Shade got to his feet, Shine ducked back to the bushes. Shade growled

(this is baby)

ZM

(k i take it back, the baby's not ugly lol he looks like a good boi) "shade, this is what we call a tactical error haha! ideas?" she watches the birds carefully as the mom starts to come over to them

Core

The mother kept her young underneath her, as she screeched at them, Shine blindly threw a star, it going in the bird's mouth,

ZM

it explodes in her mouth and the bird falls to the ground. unclear if the shock made it pass out or if it blew her brains out. chara whistles. "nice throw shine" she goes over not caring about the baby that much.

Core

The mother swung her head, hitting Chara, part of the mother's beak had blown off

ZM

she is hit away but lands on her feet. "well that's no way to live, with that you'll starve to death. now we haveta kill you" she makes a knife and throws it into the wound worsening the crack.

Core

The bird screeched, Shade ran in, sinking his fangs into the birds neck

ZM

chara jumped up and lands on the bird's head she made a heavy mallet way bigger than herself and slammed it down into it's forehead.

Core

The mother fell, dead.

ZM

she pats her hands on her shorts as the mallet disappears and leaves residue on them "cool. the baby's yours you two." she hops down and cartwheels happily as her lv goes higher

Core

Shine looked at the baby, "I'm sorry." She said, Shade struggled getting out of under the mother

ZM

she lays on the ground watching a little bit warn out.

Core

Shade got out from underneath. Shine nuzzled the baby

ZM

"shine, we're not making friends here. you just helped to kill it's mother. it hates you."

Core

"B-But I d-d-idn't mean to.... I thought we were still playing."

ZM

"no, not right now."

Core

Shine looked at the baby. "I'm gonna keep him."

ZM

chara chokes on her spit. "excuse me??? " she sits up. "how do you expect to feed it or just take care of it in general???"

Core

"I dunno, But he is mine now." She said hugging the baby's neck.

ZM

"shade. talk sense into your sister. now."

Core

"If you can think of a name then you c-"

"skink." Shine said

ZM

she goes over to them. "no." she glares

Core

"I named him, I can keep him now." Shine said. Shade just shrugged.

ZM

"i hate to always be the 'bad guy' but." she goes over to the baby ready to slash and kill it.

Core

Shade formed his shield

Skink fluttered his wings, unable to fly yet

ZM

"haha. yeah sure shade. that's not going to stop me." she glances to shine to see if she'll do something to save her bird.

Core

"E-easy Skink." She calmed the bird

ZM

"no pets aloud unless you know what the hell they are." she makes a sword and hits shade's shield pushing him back a bit.

Core

Shade dug his feet into the dirt, pushing back. "Skink is skink, there!" "Actually they are called banshees." A voice said.

ZM

chara pushes shade away and almost cracks his shield as the green from gradient's soul shines through the sword for a second. shade falls against the bird. "who's there?" she looks around

Core

She saw a star in one of the giant trees. She had turquoise hair, a pair of white feathered wings and a tan scarf around her next. (achievement unlocked: Find Ink)

ZM

(haha yay!) she recognizes her as vanta looked like her before. "are you ink?" she turns to her.

Core

"That is correct, miss Dreemurr

ZM

she cringes at the name. "you're a hard one to find. what brings you here." she glares back at shine as to tell her to kill the damn bird.

Core

Shine shook her head no. "I made this world, I might as well stay in it." Ink responded, her eyes glowing as the mother healed

ZM

she shakes her head as the bird heals

shade uncovers his arm and sees it's seared were chara hit. he touches it gingerly and it's plenty painful

Core

Shade hissed at this burn, Shine looks at it

"Well, the two are just kits, and you expect them to deal with a full grown leonoptryx, you've caused so much damage and expect everyone else to follow the rules? Rather naive if you want my opinion."

  ZM

(hehe)"yoooo, i've not broken any rules yet! what are you on about?" chara sneers. i didn't expect them to take down the mom! just the kid! we're training."

Core

"You don't think traveling to different alternate timelines, causing damage and trauma is breaking the rules?" Ink asked, "And as for training, there are much better opponents for kits their age."

ZM

"i'd say not! hey, i'm not messing with code. i just have some powerful 'friends'. and what do you expect them to do? they won't brawl and everyone that would help is on a much higher level than them."

she goes over to the mom and watches as it's beak reforms

Core

Ink's eyes glowed as the mother picked up her young and flew off. "a bone general would be a good start." She said as a skeleton with blue armor and a sword formed. Shine started crying because Skink was gone

ZM

chara hates the sound of crying and holds one ear. "shine please, your bird is better off with it's mom." chara climbs up to where ink is. "so you have kits?"

Core

"That is none of your concern." Ink said, making a smaller version of skink, one the size of a house cat, to get Shine to stop crying

ZM

"one: would you stop spoiling my kits, two: one of your kits destroys the universe so it is my concern. three: who the hell is the other parent. or did you just poof them to existence like that little monster down there?"

Core

"one; I am not spoiling them. Two, Gradient is not technically my kit. Three, I cannot reproduce, so I simply create." Ink said, watching as Shade used his arm-blade against the monster, which blocked with it's shield

ZM

"whatever. you still made her. who are her siblings?" she asks more like a demand.

Core

(she's a lot different than the original, huh?) "I created Fallacy for Gradient to bond to, kits need something to bond with, normally it is the mother, if the mother is unable to care for them, a sibling should suffice, if the kit thinks the sibling could leave at any time, or sees that kit retreat to their core, they will try to quickly find something else to bond with, in your case, the male is bonded with the female, and the female to the banshee. Which tells me the male kit has had to retreat to his core, correct?"

ZM

"woah. that's fkn weird." she kicks her feet around. "well yeah you're right, but he was only out for like... 5 minutes."

Core

"Doesn't matter, that trust can break within seconds, you want to keep them stable, keep those bonds."

ZM

(oh and yeah she sure is different than other ink, it's kinda jarring haha) "yuck"

"i don't want to be a parent."

"kay fine, say i only need one, and i have it bond to me or shatter. that'd work fine right?"

Core

"Then you shouldn't have started your plan, and as for your question, the more bonds that are broken, the less likely they are to bond again, which would lead to aggressive or possible feral behavior." Ink explained as Shade dusted the monster

ZM

"excuse me a second." she hops a ways a way and starts swearing continuously at the top of her lungs followed by a frustrated yell. she slowly makes her way back with the kits looking at her like she's lost it. "cheating would be a lot easier." She says to ink

Core

"But there is no fun in a game with out a challenge." Ink said, spawning a purple spirit monster for Shine to fight against.

ZM 

(okay, also shimp chara)

"by this point i just want to win."

Core

"The longer you wait however, the sweeter the victory." Ink said, watching Shine

ZM

"i wanna live my days at the top of the world with no one to stop me"

"not, getting there."

Core

Then you should have stayed in your world, you had a choice, you decided to enter ours, so now you have to play the game."

ZM

she mutters "i wouldn't really call it a choice." she looks at ink "is it worth it to go with my plan even if i somehow loose and am trapped to serve one of those kids forever?"

Core

"Well that depends, my creator seeks to impress yours, so she may try to show off, if you will. With that in mind, she will make the game much more complex, enough so that logic doesn't apply, chances are however, she'll kill off her own creations like she normally does." Ink explained, as Shine defeated the ghost

ZM

"woah, you talk to the creators? crazy. be that as it may i suppose i'll just have to keep up my determination hm?" she looks over to shine who got an lv. a little confused how all the sudden she's not bonded with shade. she couldn't imagine that happening with her and asriel.

Core

Shine smiled, snuggling Skink

ZM

"well ink, i think gradient wanted to meet you? maybe i'm wrong but you should go check on her either way." she hops down from the tree.

Core

"I have no interest in meeting a variant, if you so desire, I can watch these two."

ZM

she thinks that over. “why would you do that for me? i'm just some random chara you know."

Core

"Is it that absurd to also be intrigued by your little game?" Ink replied coldly.

ZM

she's silent for a second studying her response. "know what? i don't like you. so that's a no." she turns on her heel and goes to the kits. she checks them both including their lv.

Core

Shade was at level 15, Shine at 12

"not too shabby in all honesty, assumptions are being made but can a star's lv be maxed out? perhaps at 100?" she asks them

Core

"No, it can go higher, though it takes much, much longer." Ink explained.

ZM

"hmm i see," she checks her own soul that's only on 10 at this point. she puts it away and ushers the kids up and to go back to the bubble. "so ink. don't mess with the kits please, this is a delicate operation and i don't need any distractions."

Core

"I won't, it's more interesting to just watch."

ZM

"i'll hold you to that" she waves her hand through the unstable part of space where the bubble left them and goes back to shatter. tonic looks at chara warily and goes up to them all apparently growing some nerve. tonic sits infront of them. "i only want to help, chara. i am unsure why you dislike me but at least let me be of some use to you when you need?" chara shakes her head "i'm a stubborn mule, just stay out of my way and your precious little feelings wont get hurt." tonic lets out a huff and goes over to the kits despite chara's protest. "what did you two experience out there?" tonic asks

Core

Shine showed Tonic Skink. "I made a new friend!"

Shade looked at Chara with a slight glare

ZM

tonic smiles "aw, it looks very pleasant" tonic was unsure of what it was but it didn't matter that much to them. "is there something wrong shade?"

Core

"They're up to something, but I'm not sure what..." Shade mumbled

ZM

"are you referring to chara?" they cock their head to the side

Core

"Yeah." Shade said sitting down next to Tonic.

Core

Shine was showing Skink to Dusk, who smiled at the bird

ZM

she looks to chara who is chatting with Olympia she mulls over if she should tell him her intentions, or if their loyalties belong more to chara. seeing as chara won't let tonic help they decide to help the kits instead. "um, yes she does have a plan"

Core

'Well, it isn't wise to trust Ink, she tends to look more for herself than others.' Olympia told Chara. "Do you know what it is? If she's going to hurt Shine I need to know." Shade said to Tonic.

ZM

"yes is would involve your sister. she plans to take both of your soulstones and control them after bonding with you. what will you do about it? you'll get yourself killed if you're reckless."

ZM

"no duh," chara says "in all honesty i hope to never see her again, i kinda feel bad for gradient tho"

Core

"We both know that I don't care if I get killed, as long as Shine is safe." Shade said, trying to think of what to do. 'About her, she really shouldn't be here, I'm honestly not sure but something just tells me that she isn't supposed to be alive.' Olympia acknowledged Chara, looking over at Gradient who was talking, or at least trying to talk with a split of Shatter that chara didn't recognize.

ZM

"i see," tonic stays quiet letting him think after a while they start again "perhaps if you get strong enough to fight her that would be the easiest course of action?" chara looks at gradient as well. "well i mean yeah, her whole world was empty, but i just thought she deserves to get another chance at life. you have a bad feeling about her?"

Core

"Maybe," Shade said Olympia nodded. 'Some things are not meant to be.' (Only one of Shatter's splits has her soulstone)

ZM

(hmm which one?) "should we inform shine?" chara folds her arms. "maybe so but i'm not giving up on her just yet."

Core

(The one that is gonna get rid of gradient.) "No, not yet." Shade muttered. Olympia sighed, looking over to gradient and the split Chara didn't know. The split had grey hair and pale, somewhat fogged over eyes, her mouth was sewn shut.

ZM

tonic quiets again, chara doesn't like olympia's tone so she goes over to check on gradient. "hey you two, how's it hanging?"

Core

"o-oh everything is fine." Gradient smiled softly

ZM

"mmhm." not convinced she looks at the split "so whore you? ghost type? dark?"

Core

The split shook her head for both questions, unable to speak

ZM

she pouts a bit, "normal? ground? steel?"

Core

She nodded at normal, she didn't seem to make eye contact either.

ZM

she makes a confused face turning to gradient "why are you hanging out with her of all the people around?"

Core

"She seems t-the least s-scary."

ZM

she takes another look at the split. "yeah okay?" she doesn't get it, in fact this split is giving her the creeps.

Core

The split's mouth was sewn tightly shut, Olympia teleported over. Gradient seemed intimidated by Olympia

ZM

"hi oly," she gives a little wave. tonic speaks up to shade, "we might be able to convince shatter to help us, she's not happy with chara's plan."

Core

"Which one is Shatter?" Shade asked. 'Her name is Scarlett.' Olympia said to Chara

ZM

"okay hey scarlett, i'll ask again, are you messing with gradient? i'm not trusting shatter's opinion on her."

"shatter is all of them combined." she informs

Core

Scarlett shook her head and pointed to her ears, showing she was only listening. "Really? that sounds kinda cool.”

ZM

tonic nods happily "yes it is cool." chara purses her lips, "you don't mind me listening as well?" she asked gradient.

Core

"O-of course n-not." Gradient smiled. "I bet that means they all care about you, huh?"

ZM

tonic scans all the shatter sisters and lightly shrugs, " i have not talked to all of them one on one so i'm unsure." chara smiles back and sits on the ground.

Core

Gradient went back to talking about all sorts of weird plants, called solar lilies. "Why don't you do that?"

ZM

tonic tilts their head. "you wish for me to do that right now?" chara's enjoying the bit of peace for however short she might cut it.

Core

Scarlett started undoing the string that kept her mouth shut. "Sure." Shade shrugged.

ZM

"okay," tonic turns rubbing their face with the back of their hand and goes over to scarlett seeing she's going to start talking.

Core

Scarlett then whispered something to Gradient before starting to sew her mouth shut again. "I'm s-sorry but I c-could just barely hear you..."

ZM

chara's content just sitting there even when tonic trots over sitting by gradient.

Core

(guess what) Gradient soon went back to talking.

ZM

(what what?) tonic's curiosity of what scarlett just said is gnawing at them. she looks at olympia as if asking for an explanation.

Core

(Scarlett used Perish Song) Olympia stayed silent, as if her mind was preoccupied by something else

ZM

(oh lord >:O dang it scarlet. i was so confused for a second i thought parish song was a ghost move but very wrong i am) tonic fidgets with her hands turning to gradient instead "um- what... what did scarlett whisper to you?"

Core

Gradient was about to answer when her eyes went dull and she turned to dust.

ZM

chara jolts up hearing scarlett's lv raise. seeing the pile of dust she hops to her feet and instantly goes for scarlett's neck with her newly formed knife. "ARE YOU KIDDING ME!"

Core

Scarlett used protect as a bubble pushed Chara away, keeping Scarlett safe

ZM

tonic looked at the pile with no soulstone to be seen in shock. confused by shatter would do that. chara rubs her nose as she's pushed back as soon as the bubble goes down she goes to stab her in the gut hoping that if scarlett goes for another protect it fails. (gotta go bye(

Core

Scarlett got up and moved so quickly it looked like a blur. she was very fast.

ZM

chara growls in a low register and goes after olympia instead trying to pin her down with magic "what the heck man!? why'd you do it!"

Core

‘I already explained to you why.’ Olympia replied, teleporting

ZM

chara grunts irritated, looking back over to scarlett "well crap oly, why do you let me live here than? get your mind in the right way of thinking cause i 'plan' on destroying this world a lot worse than gradient would have!"

"I don't get you at all!" she whines, tonic is a little confused as well.

Core

‘Actually it’s not, your plan won’t alter the code of the timeline, while Gradient’s presence did.’ Olympia then explained. ‘It’s a matter of stability’

ZM

"ah? hahah moku has other plans, is that another reason why you took me away from nightmare's group?" she turns to face her again. "why is the code where you put the line you're not willing to cross?"

Core

‘Because we have seen what happens when timelines collapse, and it isn’t favorable.’ Olympia explained.

ZM

"pfft, sure." she rubs her head giving up on fighting "well she's dead anyway now not much i can do but reset, i have a feeling you'll get around me somehow and kill her either way."

Core

‘She just can’t stay here, there is already an ion cube here,’ Olympia said.

ZM

"there's a bunch of ion cubes somewhere in the multiverse. but whateverrr," she pauses. " I want to go see killer,"

tonic takes some of gradient's dust and stores it.

Core

Olympia sighed and opened a portal

ZM

"thanks!" she hops through and finds killer still hung against the wall.

Core

Horror was teasing Killer about being stuck

ZM

"hi horror," she goes up to them. "nice to see you're still hanging around killz~"

Core

"Oh f*ck off." Killer hissed before Horror destroyed the wall, freeing Killer

ZM

chara giggles, "ya know it's not nice to try to kill your friends."

Core

"I don't have any friends." Killer hissed, Horror whispered to Chara, "she says that yet she hasn't killed you yet." Horror snickered.

ZM

"i know right?" she whispers back with a grin. "can't fool me, horror's your friend, so are the other's. you'd be a mess without them."

Core

"I literally can

't kill Horror, I've tried." Killer said with a hiss, getting her knife

ZM

"doesn't mean you don't like her!"

Core

"I don't, she's obnoxious, annoying and the only reason she hangs out with me is because I am the only one who tolerates her!" Horror shrugged. "You ain't wrong."

ZM

"hey that sounds like me haha, you like annoying people it seems. there's nothing wrong with enjoying someone's company ya know"

Core

"I don't." Killer hissed, putting the blade in her pocket.

ZM

"actions speak louder than words killz~" noticing her standing down

Core

"Stuff it, the element of surprise is gone." Killer hissed.

ZM

"you're acting like an edgy teenager that's rebelling against your own nature. and granted, i don't know what's really going on in your head, if you hate me or horror or not. but, i do know i still consider you one of my best friends," she shrugs "so here i am."

Core

“That’s really a mistake.” Killer sighed, walking out of the castle

ZM

chara looks to horror wondering what she'll do

Core

Horror shrugged. “Wanna see something cool?”

ZM

"uuuuuuuuhh mayyyybe?" she takes a step back

Core

Horror went to the window and jumped out, hitting the rocks below with a splat

ZM

she looks down at her mangled body "well damn, that looked like it felt good." she climbs out the window and joins horror on the ground poking a mushy area of her mangled body with her foot.

Core

Horror slowly regenerated, her body fixing itself

ZM

"must say, that was indeed cool"

Core

“Told ya.” She said, standing up.

ZM

"yes you did." she hums to herself "yo, so what do you think about LJ?"

Core

“She’s fun.” Horror smiled

ZM

"is she one of your favorites to be around? I don't see you around her much"

Core

“Well she’s unstable sometimes and Nightmare is kinda protective of her.” Horror explained

ZM

"unstable how?" She tilts her head and kicks around the dirt under her finding a rock to pickup

Core

“She’ll get all twitchy and starts to babble stuff, all while laughing.” Horror said

ZM

"fair, I thought you might enjoy her ramblings so I thought I'd ask. but night is indeed protective, hmmm you know what would be fun?" she finds one and picks it up "I wanna get the kits to try and mess with LJ and killz. Maybe change their perceptions on life, It'd be good mental training. Know what? Yeah I'ma do that." She calls for shatter.

Core

Olympia opened a portal, surprising the crap out of Horror

ZM

"heyo~" she hops in the portal and goes up to the kits. "New mission, you two ready?"

Core

"Can I bring Skink? Please? Dusk taught me how to train him!" Shine begged.

ZM

"sure whatever" she's not thrilled but is going to deal with it.

Core

Shine smiled and brought the creature in her arms. Shade glared at Chara before walking

ZM

they go back out to horror "have you met the kids? they were dream's" she asks

Core

"Are you gonna eat them?" Horror asked, acting like the kits were fries and not living things

ZM

"hahah nah, and you don't get to eat them either."

Core

Horror raised a brow, "Is this supposed to be a joke?"

ZM

"nope, what do you mean by that?"

Core

"If you aren't gonna eat them, I am." Horror said, "They're food, food is for eating."

ZM

"ahem, no, they aren't food, do you consider yourself food? they're just like you ya know"

Core

"They're an easy meal, genocides are opportunists eaters, I am not one who is gonna pass up a meal." Horror crossed her arms

ZM

"haha, you totally ignored my question, but ey," she shrugs. "point is, touch them and your gonna die a thousand times over. there's plenty of meat around for you without these two."

Core

Horror growled slightly tapping her foot. "I think I know why Killer doesn't like you, you're no fun..."

ZM

"pffffff think what you want hon. do you wantta join us messing with LJ and killer or not?" she folds her arms

Core

"Yeah, yeah." Horror rolled her eye

ZM

"kay," she looks back at the portal which is now closed. she starts walking to the broken city with the kits "you guys wanna race?" she looks over at them.

Core

Shine nodded happily. Shade shrugged

ZM

"sweet," she stretches a little and coats her feet in indigo doing the same to the kids. "ready? "

Core

Shade looked at his feet in confusion, Shine nodded happily

ZM

"go!" she heads off quickly assuming the kits to have a hard time getting adjusted as she moves backwards to watch them.

Core

Shine started moving like a skater, keeping balance, Shade jumped

ZM

chara's pleased with how fast they caught on. they go through the dusty area and are nearing the city. she looks over to see horror wondering what if she is following.

Core

Horror grumbled slightly as she trotted on over

ZM

chara slides across the dirt to stop herself by the clock tower. coughing and waving the dust away.

Core

"Double, double disco queen, heading to the guillotine." She could hear

ZM

she looks around for her

Core

LJ was in the on the roof of a building.