#stay away from those damn turkeys

[endless-ineffabilities]

give thanks, America.

[the-entitie]

Why didn't you say anything?

Poly TF 141 x sex-demon reader (male intended but has depictions of fem):

A|n: Based on this writer's amazing work and this artist's au. And now this is very long.... I can't just write porn can I? Of well.

Prt:2 is done <3 》》》》》

Be warned I use more Catholic or deamon depiction of our succubus(male) reader, so please expect some body horror esk depictions. Also, the 141 are all in a polycule in this story.

CW: NSFW halfway through after the line break, sex addiction or dependence depicted for reader, threats to health, kind of eating disorder esk, talk of threats/acts of noncon and dubcon to reader (not focused on), polyamory, some talk of religion, why is this so long? And angst??? Ok....

Thinking about being a demon who became the 141's spy. The blood of the damned that ran through you, making you that much more dangerous and that much better at your job.

You fell under the deadly sin of lust, but it's been so many decades that you can't quite remember how you came to be. Maybe reincarnation, maybe you were summoned. It doesn't matter anymore, but it still hindered your intake into the military. You were practically a veteran by the time Price picks you up and drags you into his team.

None of the 141 had ever worked with anyone demonic for an extended amount of time. There had been the call ins and times when they picked up failed missions, but none of them ever really worked with a demon.

Ghost, as a wraith, was the closest any of them had gotten to working with anyone similar to you.

You started out as someone they called to scope out information before a particularly threatening mission. You were just the help, the one they called when they needed a spy. Until they leaned about how every other task force would drop you within a month of calling you thiers.

Price had worried that it was something to do with you or your attitude towards teamwork when he had taken you in, made you one of his men.

That was before he noticed this kind of cycle you would go through. Just when a mission would start, you would pull back. You would separate from everyone, not cold turkey, yet you just wouldn't be present. The training room was one person short, or their would be one less person here on the quieter afternoons he didn't even know this team had.

It was after the missions that you would be more than present again.

You were there again when Soap wanted to run his lycanthopic body to exhaustion just so he could feel just a little more human with the pains it brought. When he was hyper, feeling like he needed to move, you were there to shove him. Drag him into a game of tag or chase or anything to help him move. Soap has never been good at sitting still.

When Gaz needed to be called from the purch he picked to preen his damp or irritated feathers on that was away from the busy noise of the base. Or when his Avian blood told him to take to the sky, you were happy to be taken for a flight or watch him loop around, watch him stretch his wings, across the star splattered skies.

And there you were outside with the nocturnal Ghost, saying you didn't need the sleep most nights and got bored. Even when his form would flicker, tendrils of shadows lashing around his open skin, something that made most run. You stayed with him, hummed a tune you can't remember the origin of, in a language probably only those as old as you would remember.

When Price was struck with phantom pain, when he would feel this pang on his wing only to realize it was from the one that didn't exist anymore. You were there with him. Happy to share a cigar with the smoke that smoldered was neither from his drag nor you. There to sit and fill in paperwork long into the night shift, to just exist around Price when the team was still settling in, or licking wounds.

In the more common areas where Soap would annoy Gaz into another game of cards. You were there to keep the peace.

It had taken Price longer than he was willing to admit to know what was going on. It wasn't some manipulative, carrot and stick, trick no. And it almost seemed like you hadn't consciously been doing it. Before it clicked.

You were a demon, a succubus, to be specific. You fed off of the emotion or the intent of sex.

And you only got that when you needed to get someone to talk. You only lean into it when it's needed for a mission.

He honestly felt stupid, like a leader that failed, but he was quick to right that failure. It wasn't like this team didn't run off and blow off steam together or that they left soap to struggle through his heat alone, nor did they leave Gaz to sit and brood alone. None of that.

And if you were a part of his team, this team, then you can't be starved. Can't be left to weaken, to crave, no. Price wouldn't stand it.

So he talked to the team. Told them his theory, his plan to fix it, and when the team had gotten over the hurt of leaving you alone and weak. They jumped at the opportunity.

Starting small.

Being more openly affectionate around you, never quiet reaching out but still letting the emotions linger.

Those play fights that Ghost would tap out of suddenly just kept going, and those thick visceral emotions none could quiet place the origin of; would hang so heavy in the air you could practically catch it between your teeth.

Those days Gaz would pull back, preen his wings alone; became fewer and far between. Now, the nearest team mate had a lap full of fluffled up wings and pleading eyes. And could Gaz use those honey coated eyes of his to glance up through his lashes and beg.

The quiet chuckles and this ever so pleased emotion would wind around Price's incisors, a satisfied thrill of the dragon flooding a palpable semblance of the satisfied job.

Price started talking about to the team, and they started trying to be more connected, more present, with you so you could have that nourishment. And if that meant that private room doors were left ever so lightly ajar during late nights spent with each other. No one mentioned it.

Soap was the first to notice the actual change.

Your eyes would flicker, puplis vibrating softly before it was shut down, and you would disappear. Or you would actually pull back. He was also the first to tell Price. And thier leader waisted no time.

"You good there, lutenent?" His voice calls softly into your quarters.

"All good Cap."

"Not so sure about that one soldier." Price presses on, taking a step further in to push the door more closed, "You don't play well with this team?"

"No, I have no qualms with any of you. Sorry if it seemed so."

"Ya do always talk so proper like you know?"

"Apologies, old habits."

Price steps closer, easily taking the space offered my your open thighs. Letting that simmering feeling flush his skin.

"Maybe we should start making new ones. What do you say, Sugar?"

His hand hovered just over your throat, careful to keep you feel safe. Price of all people knows what a demon can do when cornered, and it wasn't like he wanted you to feel put off.

He sees what Soap saw, just as his palm cups the edge of your jaw, your pupils flicker. Body dropping almost leaning agaisnt him.

"Why didn't you say something, Suguar?"

"Not of my use in this team."

"You don't need to be useful to eat." He sounded almost angry, calming all the more when you do lean into him, "you never need to earn a meal. Just ask. We all want to help."

That night, he let you ride him.

Laid back against your bed, held your weight by your thighs, and let you set the pace. Even if he was so hard it hurt, or if your dark lion-esk tail would flick across the sensitive inside of his thigh. Or when he's come twice and is practically drooling before he notice just how much more like your kin you look.

He doesn't stop you from flicking a forked tongue over the overwhelmed tears, he only noticed the change at the hitch of your breath when Price tangles his scared hands in your hair. Accidently tracing the curving rams horns that has twisted around your more pointed ears.

Singing your praise, even as you tried and failed to explain that you don't matter in this, just his pleasure.

He shut that down real quick.

[sketchy-rosewitch]

Ambrose means Eternal: Bo Sinclair x feminine!gn!reader

Warnings: allusions to abuse, reader and Bo have an age gap of 2 years (reader is older), reader gets called Mama, other than that reader is gn, let me know if I missed anything.

A/N: Oh this is one I’m really proud of, been a wip for awhile.

A loud knock and your doorbell is heard as you do the dishes making a small sigh escape your lips. You shut off the water and take off your dish gloves before making your way towards the door.

Peeking through the eyehole you see the toothy grin of a twelve year old boy.

You open the door. “Did you at least check to see if Vincent and Bo were havin’ issues before makin’ your way over.” You ask, Lester was already making himself at home, shoes off, backpack on the floor, and walking towards the kitchen with you quickly following behind to finish what you were doing.

“Yeah, Ma and Pa were beatin’ Bo real good. Vincent wasn’t nowhere to be seen. Don’t remember what they were yellin’ at him about but I got out of there cause I knew I wouldn’t be gettin’ fed. Probably would’ve gotten a board to my ass too.” You hiss at him swearing and point at him then the cross that hangs on top of the entrance of your kitchen. He gives as innocent look and you sigh. This situation is unfortunately very casual for him. The kid would come home more often than not to Bo and even sometimes Vincent getting yelled at and beat with a belt or a wooden board or whatever Trudy and Victor could get their old wrinkly hands on. He’d stay quiet, more quiet than Vincent ever was and turn around to make his way to your house.

It was practically routine at this point.

“Sick of your damn parents kid.” You growl, turning on the kitchen. Out of anger you put a little force on the handle of the faucet causing it to squeak.

You continue to do the dishes and look out the window, it’s sunny and breezy outside. “You wanna play on the swings while you tell me about your day after I’m done?”

“Yeah, but I gotta tell ya. I’m gettin’ too old for those things. Soon enough we’ll be in rocking chairs on your front porch!” Lester jokes, you snort and listen as he opens a bag of chips, setting some on his plate.

“Give it 60 years at least kid. Though, I bet you’ll be out of this town by the time that comes around. You’ll probably be outta town in the next 6 years really.” You smile, hoping he finally leaves everything behind, you know he deserves a fresh start away from the hurt and neglect he receives.

“Will you come with me?” The kid asks as he stuffs the Turkey sandwich he made in his mouth. You let out a small laugh and finish washing the last dish in the sink.

“How am I supposed to take care of the other neglected kids in town if I leave?”

You turn off the sink and sit next to the youngest Sinclair brother. He squints and purses his lips.

“I’m the only neglected kid in town and you know it. If you leave that means you’re still taking care of them. Cause you’re going to take care of me. Make sure I’m alright.” He stuffs a bunch of chips in his mouth, crumbs fall onto his plate.

You let out a soft laugh and shake your head at the kid. “Maybe I will, but most people’s time for leavin’ this town passes after they turn 18, that’s 2 years since I’ve missed my opportunity.” You rub Lester’s back as he finishes up his food. Once he’s done he sets the plate in the sink and the two of you head outside.

The breeze and sun feel good on your skin as you push Lester on the swing and go to sit on yours. You give yourself a light push to get going. “What’d you do at school today?”

“Started on some clay art projects. I like playing with it. It’s like mud.” Lester explains. You nod your head to indicate you’re listening to every word he says. It’s honestly the least you could do for him. Not that you wouldn’t listen, he’s more interesting than one would think. “I think next week we’re gonna start another book. I don’t really care for the stuff we read in class. I like comics and stuff. But Mrs. Gerringer says they ain’t actual books so they don’t count for reading. I disagree. But don’t tell her I said that.”

You laugh, “Yeah like I’m going to tell a teacher I absolutely despised that, ‘Lester Sinclair disagrees with the fact that comics aren’t actual books.’” You shake your head at how silly Lester can be. Even though it is just the mind of a 12 year old.

“What else are you doing?”

“Well, we played dodgeball durin’ gym. Apparently everyone wants me on their team. I think it’s just ‘cause I’m good at dodgin’. I’ve been told I’m very fast.” The twelve year old says matter of factly.

“I’d have to agree with whoever said that.”

Lester gives a toothy grin and he slows himself down on the swing so you can see it.

“Bo gave me some money for lunch today. Said it’s from him workin’ at the gas station. Bought myself a zebra cake and a milk. Savin’ the rest to get whatever I want later.” At this point the youngest Sinclair had stopped swinging altogether just so he could show you proof of the money he had in his pocket.

“That’s sweet of him.” You smile and watch as he pockets the money and starts to get up, still talking but this time he’s walking around the yard. You swing lightly, and watch as he talks about Bo and Vincent moving out with him and you.

You honestly wonder how Bo is doing right now. Vincent usually isn’t the one you worry about, he learned young to just stay quiet and out of things.

Bo never learned that, he didn’t want to learn that, not when starting shit could get his parents to finally notice him, not when the attention he craved was one broken wax vase away.

Lester didn’t stay out of shit, he got into it too just not as deep as Bo. Still, his parent’s attention never faltered from giving praise to Vincent and condemning Bo as Bo would get blamed for Lester’s faults and chaos making the youngest Sinclair the Invisible Man.

Bo would probably come and pick up Lester tonight or tomorrow. Seems the only time Lester isn’t ignored is 8-12 hours after he’s gone.

You hope this time Bo will let you out ice on his bruises and kiss him better. You’re sure the kisses wouldn’t come as easily, he hasn’t let you do that since his sophomore and your senior year of high school.

“How many marshmallows do you think I can fit in my mouth?”

You squint at Lester, who is now in the grass trying to look for bugs. He looks up at you, that same gapped toothy grin comes across his face. You raise a brow and smirk.

“I dunno. You wanna go see?”

“Fuck yeah!”

“Lester James Sinclair!”

The look on his face reads as an innocent apology making you playfully roll your eyes and grab his shoulder wrapping your arm around it as the two of you head inside.

-

“Gotta say it after each one or it doesn’t count.” You cross your arms and raise a brow at Lester.

“Chuhvee Buhnee.”

“That’s 12.”

He stuffs another marshmallow in his mouth.

“Chueee, Buhhnee.”

“13.”

He spits them out onto the kitchen floor and both of you let out a laugh.

“Better than your last one. That’s three more.”

The kid smiles at you and is already going to grab some paper towels to clean up the mess he made. You wrap up the marshmallows and store them back in the cabinet for later.

“Can we watch a movie now?” He asks.

“Yeah let me get a pizza in the oven and we can do that.”

-

Lester is passed out on your couch when Bo shows up.

From the knocks and the time you can tell it’s him. So you get up and open the front door.

“Is he here?” Bo asks, hands stuffed in his pockets, he slouches but the porch light still illuminates his face and you can see his eye forming a bruise around itself.

You nod and open the screen door to let him in.

He looks over at his little brother and sighs, shaking his head. “Les-“

You make a quick decision to let Lester sleep for a little longer and to take care of Bo. You touch the older Sinclair’s shoulder. “Let him sleep.” He looks at you. “Come on.” You take his hand and guide him towards the kitchen. The chair squeaks underneath Bo’s weight as he sits down. He wears a frown on his face but you don’t care, instead you grab an ice pack from the freezer and move the other kitchen chair so you’re facing towards him.

“Did you eat tonight?” You ask, pushing the ice pack onto Bo’s eye. He flinches from the coldness, his face turning from a frown to a scowl.

“Why do you-“

“Just answer. You know why I care.” You say. Bo rolls his eye.

“No.”

He knows what you’re doing next, so he takes the ice pack from your hand and holds it there. You get up and plate some pizza then set it next to him on the table.

Your body relaxes a bit as you sit on the chair and watch him eat.

“Lester talked to me today about all of us leavin’ town.” You say, Bo scoffs.

“You and him can leave town. Vince and I ain’t.”

“Why’s that.” It’s not a question.

“Vincent is taking over the museum and I gotta take care of him. Someone’s gotta take the blame for somethin’.” Bo explains between bites.

“You guys ain’t obligated to do any of that.”

“Well you ain’t obligated to watch over Lester yet here we are.”

When you bite, Bo bites back harder. You sigh. “Guess I’m not.”

“Vince won’t change his mind. I know because I’ve tried to get him to. Even Lester has. Guess he’s still convinced things will change in 6 years..“ Bo finishes his pizza and shoves it away. “I gotta take care of Vince though. I know Lester will be fine, especially if you go with him.”

“I can’t go without you. You know that.” Your voice sounds calm and hushed, but your emotions are anything but that. Bo Taos his fingers on the table. He thinking. “Quit actin’ like you’re unloveable.” Slowly, as if you’re trying not to scare a bird away, you lean in.

“You love someone you don’t even know.”

“I’ve known you your entire life Bo Sinclair.”

His breathing hitches as you get closer and he takes the ice pack off of his eye. You kiss Bo. He takes you in hesitantly, eventually moving his hands to hold your face. One of them is cold but you don’t care.

“I’m gonna take good care of you and your brothers.” You whisper as Bo pants. He nods and kisses you again, this time he doesn’t hide his desperation. He lets a tear fall down his cheek and you’re quick to wipe it away without any words. Bo’s hands move down your body and so do his lips.

“Don’t leave me here alone, Mama.” Bo whispers. Your heart stops at the name, but you nod your head and run your fingers through his curls. “Say it.” He commands. You swallow.

“I won’t leave you here alone. I’ll always be there for you. I’ll be there for Lester and Vincent too.”

He kisses you again and looks into the living room. “I should probably get Lester home. We have school in the morning.” Bo mumbles.

“Of course.” You stand up and Bo follows after you. He kisses you on the cheek and grabs Lester backpack before making his way over to the couch. You smile as Bo picks his little brother up instead of waking him and you walk to the door opening it and stepping into the cool night to hold open the screen door.

Bo steps out after you and kisses you goodnight. You rub Lester’s forehead and kiss it. “Sweet dreams little man.” You say before looking at Bo. “Goodnight Bo.”

“Night Mama.” You kiss him one more time and he walks to his truck, opening the door and placing his little brother in the seats. He gets in and starts the truck, driving back up the road and back to his house.

You smile sadly and go back inside.

No one ever leaves Ambrose past the age of 18. You tried and tried. First your grandmother got sick, then she passed, then your home became a safe haven for the Sinclairs to get away, then you promised Bo you wouldn’t leave him.

Lester only moved 20 minutes out of town. You had already married Bo by then, and now there really was no escape, not when Bo and Vincent still felt like they had to prove something to their deceased mother.

The hole kept getting deeper and deeper when Bo and Vincent began killing people. Started with folks around town, then they made a detour and lured them in. Bo said you’d never have to do any of that and he’s take good care of you.

He kept his promise and you kept yours.

What a good Mama.

[boygiwrites]

Harley D. Dixon 12

An amazing edit inspired by this story! (Cred to Cora_Line99) Harley D. Dixon's Pinterest Board! Harley D. Dixon's Playlist!

📖Chapter List.

Author's Note. I am SO HAPPY to finally be updating!! Please enjoy reading!

Rick and my Dad return alone in the afternoon.

I only have a short moment to be disappointed that they didn't find Sophia before something else steals my attention. After I recounted my time in the woods to all the adults, and how I almost ran into Jim right before being attacked by a walker, everyone's moods have gone from tense to tenser — especially Shane's. As soon as Rick and Dad make it back, he bounds down the RV steps and makes a beeline for 'em with those angry, balled fists'a his, and that stressed-out walk that makes his dog-tag sway. I crack the window open an inch so I can listen in on what he has to say.

"Listen," He huffs as he approaches. "We got a problem."

Rick cringes lightly. "Another one?"

My Dad, as he crosses his arms over his chest and leans against a nearby truck, lets his gaze wonder over to the RV, where he knows I'm staying. He glances at the tyres, the side-mirror, the roof, but never the window.

"Not a new one. An old one." Shane scoffs lightly. "Jim."

Suddenly, my Dad's all ears.

"Hell you mean?"

"Jim Davison. Your daughter just told me she almost ran straight in'a him while she was alone out there." He says. "Said she found his clothes hangin' on a line by a tent, his cap, the knife, the rope. And the way she described this thing — I believe her."

"Jim?" Rick frowns.

"Ain't nobody else wonderin' around out here with a Detroit Tigers cap and one'a Dale's steak knives." He shrugs. "It's him."

"Damn it." My Dad grumbles to himself, sounding exhausted.

"We knew there was a possibility he'd make it out." Rick sighs, as if that helps anythin'. "Hell, I mean, we banked on it."

"We banked on it, alright, but only 'cause the alternative was a whole lot worse." Shane retorts. "I mean, we were one peanut butter jar away from leavin' him there to starve, Rick, and I'm honestly startin' to wish we had. Them last couple days he was with us... the shit he was sayin'—"

My Dad interrupts him. "She almost ran into him, she said? He ain't get to her?"

Get to her, makes it sound like Jim wants to do somethin' bad to me, which is a scary thought. Me gettin' scratched was the whole reason he got abandoned in the first place, and even before then, he weren't my biggest fan. I always wondered why that was.

"Y'know, Daryl," Shane scoffs to himself, "How 'bout you go ask her yourself?"

Dad stiffens.

"Bendin' over backwards to find one lil' girl, while there's another'un back here wonderin' where the Hell her Daddy's gone off to." Shane argues, almost disgusted by the sight of my Dad right now. "You even seen her since yesterday?"

Dad has nothing to say to that, 'cause the answer's no.

"You even care how her wound's healin'? She could be on her death bed right now and you wouldn't even know."

"Shane, back off a little." Rick says quietly, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"I say we go kill him." My Dad suggests randomly, and with passion. "I say we go and find that damn camp and finish the job. Harley should know where it is. It's just the one tent, right? Easy fucking pickings. I've killed turkey's tougher than that lil' wimp, and I'll do it again."

"I ain't so sure that a wise idea." Rick disagrees.

"I'on give a shit about wise." Dad warns. "I give a shit about my kid."

Shane scoffs at that, 'cause of course he does.

Dad catches it. "What? You got somethin' you wanna say?"

"Oh yeah, I got somethin' I wanna say." He sasses, mirroring my Dad as he begins to straighten; begins to plan where exactly on his body that'll hurt and bleed and bruise the most. "I ain't got nothin' you wanna hear, though, 'cause—"

"Oh, who am I kiddin', you always got somethin' you wanna say."

"—you're livin' in denial, Daryl."

"Well, you ain't gonna be livin' at all in a minute, if you ain't careful."

"Oh, how classy's that?"

"Guys." Rick intervenes.

As the argument escalates, I pull the curtain back across the window to hide away from it all, pulling the covers over my face. All I can do is hope that Shane doesn't decide to blurt out anythin' stupid like, Remember when you belted your kid, Daryl, in front of Rick, 'cause Rick's a cop, too, and I already got one too many'a those things pokin' around me and my Dad's business. I lay there for about five minutes, after which the shoutin' stops, and then I lay there for about twenty more minutes, wondering once more where my Dad's gone off to. I wonder if he's gone to kill Jim.

I'm fiddling with Matilda's hair when I hear talking coming from outside the RV, this time much quieter than before. I lift the covers to hear better, confused. It sounds like my Dad's voice. Footsteps approach my door, and those also sound like they belong to him.

I sit up just in time to see my Dad standing in the doorway.

"Knock, knock." He says tiredly.

I'm shocked.

"Dad?"

He comes forward and sits on the edge of the bed, looking down at me placidly; wordlessly. I catch myself studying his face for new scrapes or bumps, but it looks like the fight didn't have the chance to turn physical, 'cause all I see is a single grape-colored bruise around his tender-looking eye. It feathers all the way up to his brow, paling to sickly yellows and greens as it goes. A stain of revenge. It's good to see his face in the light again. It's good that there's no anger there. He takes in my sun-burnt face; my bug-bitten neck. He reaches out and sets the warm palm of his hand — Not a nice hand or a mean hand. Just a hand — down on my stomach through the covers, over my wound, where just one day ago I was bleeding buckets of blood all over him. He frowns to himself and pulls away. Then he leans forward and pecks me gently on the brow. 

I don't even flinch. I don't stiffen, or gasp, or nothin'.

"I'll sing for you tonight, chicken." He tells me softly. It's not a suggestion, it's a statement, just like how I'm sorry is a statement. "So don't go nowhere."

That almost makes me giggle; almost makes me forget about the way my side is aching and my friend is missing. I think Dale and Lori, the worry-warts that they are, would have heart attacks if I tried to leave the RV.

He almost smiles, too.

"There's somethin' I gotta do, but I'll be back by dark."

"Okay." I happily agree. "I'll wait."

It's not a lot, but I'll take it. I'm just glad he visited me at all.

If Shane saw this — My Dad tryna be nice, and me lettin' him without question— he'd go mad. I don't know why I consider this, though, 'cause when have I ever cared about what Shane thinks? When'd he sneak into my brain?

After giving me one last kiss, this time on my forehead, my Dad gets up and hesitantly leaves the room.

"Look after her." I hear him tellin' Dale.

"Will do." He responds softly.

The door to the RV shuts.

I know my Dad wants to murder Jim like he murdered Ronnie, and he would shoot Shane without hesitation, and he yells at me and belts me and avoids talking to me, and that Shane thinks he's a monster, but even monsters can love — And love from a monster is better than no love at all.

I fall asleep with a fuller heart than usual.

"With tails in the air, they trotted on down past the shops and the park to the far end of town." Dale reads over the rims of his spectacles, the Hairy Maclary book propped up in his lap. "They sniffed at the smells, and they snooped at each other, when suddenly, out of the shadows they saw—"

"Scar-face Claw." I snarl with a grin.

The page turns, revealing... Scare-face Claw, the toughest Tom in town. Yes! I knew it. I love this part. I've read it a hundred times.

Dale, sitting next to me on the sofa, grins and sets the book down.

"You know what? I'm starting to think you know every page off by heart, young lady."

"I used to have almost all the books." I proudly say.

"Oh? Did you have this one in your collection?" He asks.

"Yeah," I nod, "It's my favorite."

"Lucky you," He bumps me gently. "Out of all the books in the world, your Dad found this one just for you."

I smile. He resumes reading, putting on a silly, not-very-Dale-like voice for Scar-face Claw like he always does when we reach this page. I never thought I'd hear Dale Horvath, deep-thinker and RV-fixer, go Meeeoow before, but I never thought my Dad would be nice to me ever again, neither, so today is just full of happy surprises.

We're near the end when T-Dog comes in.

He spots me and Dale on the sofa and chuckles. "This place is turnin' into a damn infirmary, ain't it? How you doin', little nerd?"

He juts his chin in my direction.

His forearm is wrapped in a red t-shirt that I'm pretty sure ain't actually meant to be red, and there's a subtle grimace built into his usually very cheery features. I guess he hurt his arm that day I went missing. It's good to see him standing at least, which is more than I can say for myself.

"I ain't so bad," I shrug, smiling.

"Had it pretty rough out there, huh?"

"I killed a walker." I tell him, 'cause it's fun to say. "Killed it dead all by myself."

He seems to find that funny. "I heard. Maybe I should start callin' ya little badass, instead."

I giggle.

"We're making the most of house-arrest by doing some reading." Dale says. "Gotta take it easy on those stitches before getting back out there, right?" He winks at me before turning back to T-Dog. "And how are you? The arm still giving you grief?"

"I's just lookin' for them clap-pills Daryl found. They in here?"

"The Doxycycline?" Dale deadpans.

"Yeah. The Doxy-whatever."

"Idiot... I suppose it is coming up for your third dose." He concedes with a great big sigh. "They're in the right cupboard, top shelf."

He pulls open the kitchen cupboard and retrieves the white bottle of pills that Jacqui made me take a couple hours ago. It's got my Uncle's name printed on the tag, which means it weren't picked up from a pharmacy or a dumpster — It came from my Dad. Jacqui said he offered 'em up the second I was outta his arms last night. It also had his birthday on it, which made me feel all bad on the inside, 'cause people don't get birthdays once they're dead, and the word Doxycycline, but it ain't had no clap on it. I thought clap was somethin' you did with your hands.

As T-Dog pops the cap, I ask, "What's clap?"

Are clap-pills for people who can't stop clapping? But T-Dog ain't clapping, and neither am I... Hm. Weird.

"Oh, Lord." He says, before downing two pills.

Dale answers more gracefully. "It's definitely not something you need to know about, that's for sure."

"Why not?"

T-Dog gives me an amused look as he puts the bottle back. "Trust me, kid, let's leave it at that. Ignorance is bliss."

Hm. I guess I'll never know.

"How many of those are left, anyway?" Dale asks him.

"Uh... 'Bout a handful." He guesses, sitting down in the booth. A hiss leaves his mouth as he peels the shirt back, revealing a line of thin, black X's stitched into his skin that look exactly like mine. He shakes his head, as if he just disagrees with his entire arm. "If they start to run out and we still ain't any better, I gotta say — The pills can go to Harley. I ain't gonna hog her chance at healin'."

"Don't be silly," Dale scolds him, taking off his glasses, which means he means business. "You're both gonna heal."

"Yeah," I parrot, "I don't mind sharin'. Not one bit."

"I'm just thinkin' rationally, here." T-Dog shrugs.

"I'm not too sure you are." Dale hums. "I think you're being pessimistic."

"Man," He tsks, annoyed, "Ain't we been worryin' about runnin' outta stuff since day one of this shit? We know how this goes. It goes in ya mouth, it ain't comin' back out again — Not in any useful way, at least... Same goes for pills. Simple as that. And when that happens, I'm sayin' Harley can have 'em. I'll be damned if she don't."

"Don't give up just because you can. Who's to say we won't find more medicine by then?"

"Common sense."

Dale looks like he's tryin' really hard to not roll his eyes.

"Okay, fine." He unhappily agrees. "For your peace of mind — Okay. But I'm telling you, this whole go-on-without-me thing is starting to get old."

He looks unconvinced.

"You believe this guy?" Dale murmurs to me funnily.

This makes him crack a smile. "Whatever, man."

"Oh, no, please. Keep offering your noble word to us, your highness." Dale jokes, making me giggle. T-Dog shakes his head, goin' okay, okay, okay, as Dale really rubs it in. "It was just getting good. That part about 'give them to Harley', oh, that was a clincher, that was. Almost made me tear up."

"Okay, old man, I get it." T-Dog chuckles. "Dang. You believe this guy?"

"I think you're both unbelievable." I say.

Dale grins. "That's it, then. You heard the girl."

"'Sides, you got more stitches than me." I tell T-Dog. "I bet it hurts worse, too. You were awake when they did yours, weren't you?"

I got lucky, 'cause I was knocked out when I got my stitches done.

He nods, tracing his wound with a finger. He makes himself laugh by saying, "Awake and screamin', that is."

"Oh, you weren't that bad." Dale dismisses.

"When they brought out that damn spool of fishing line, I just about squealed like a little girl."

"Fishing line?"

"Oh, you don't know?" He asks, and I shake my head no. "Oh, yeah. The pills weren't the only thing your Dad offered up. When Jacqui saw how deep your wound was and started talking 'bout stitches, he got out his tackle box like Mary Poppins and gave her a bunch of fishing line to make it happen. Needle came from a sewing kit we found in a car. If that's not the definition of making the best of what ya got, I'on know what is."

I pull a face, glancing at my side. "So I got fishing line in my belly right now?"

T-Dog takes great joy in saying, "Yep."

"Eugh. That's weird."

"Well, we had to use something."

I never really gave too much thought to how the stitches got there.

"I guess we won't be catchin' fish anytime soon." I muse.

"It's a good thing we got plenty of pretzels and yoghurt bars, then." Dale jokes. 

T-Dog groans. "Oh, that's right! I forgot about those!"

He suddenly starts digging into the large rucksack sitting on the table, pulling out three blue packets and a couple pink and white bars.

"You hungry over there?" He asks me, before throwing some pretzels into my lap.

I catch 'em, smiling. "You're right. These are way better than fish."

"And skunk." T-Dog adds under his breath, ripping open a packet for himself. "Definitely better than skunk."

"Nothing to get the immune system back into shape than unhealthy amounts of sodium, huh?" Dale chuckles lightly, settling his spectacles back onto the hump of his nose. He re-positions the forgotten story book on his knees, thumbing through the pages. "How about we pick up where we left off, Harley? And T-Dog, you can stay, too, if you'd like. You're not too old for picture books, are you?"

"Hell, no." He enthuses. He makes himself comfortable in the booth, ready to indulge in the wonders of Hairy Maclary with us. "Read away, gramps."

I tear the packet apart and pop a pretzel into my mouth.

"Alright, then." Dale clears his throat. "Off with a yowl, and a wail and a howl—"

I'll be back by dark.

That's what he said, weren't it?

Then why is it night-time and he still ain't returned?

Story-time with Dale and T-Dog was fun and all, but now it's dark and the moon is out.

I think something's wrong.

This is when I realize, as cold chill crawls down the back of my neck, that I don't actually know where he is. He didn't say where he was goin', or what he was doin' — He just said I'll be back by dark, and that means nothin' to me, 'cause it ain't true. He could be in the woods, he could be somewhere along the highway, he could be hurt, or dead, or lost, or in some type of trouble that would keep him from comin' back—

"Dale," I nervously call out from the bedroom, nibbling on my fingernail. "C—? C'mere, please?"

I watch the darkened horizon become even darker by the second through the window, disturbed that I don't see my Dad there at all.

The door opens, but it's not Dale who pokes his head in — It's Rick.

"What's wrong, honey?" He asks me, glancing around the room as if expecting the bogeyman to have wriggled out from under the bed.

I tense.

"Where's Dale?" I ask, 'cause bein' alone with Rick is like bein' alone with a semi-poisonous gas. He's too much — even if he tries to make himself too little, like he is right now by speaking gently and sticking to standing in the doorway, 'cause he knows that any little thing could set me off. With enough pretending, he's a Dad and a leader and a friend who's saved my life twice over, but one little slip and he's the man who killed my Uncle again. I've gotten used to him by now, but my old English teacher used to say that frogs get used to boiling water if you heat it slowly enough.

"I don't know, actually." He seems to regret saying. "He was just on his way out and told me to keep an eye on things in 'ere."

Rick's been 'keeping an eye' on me?

Shouldn't he be out looking for my Dad, who said he'd be back by dark?

For somebody who's got two people unaccounted for right now, Rick's pretty calm, which makes me think he don't actually know my Dad's missing at all, which would mean Dad didn't tell anybody else he was leavin', which means it was a secret he only told me. Why would he do that?

"You want me to get Lori?" Rick offers nicely. "She's right outside. She'll be happy to help out with whatever you need."

I must stay quiet for some time, staring out the window, 'cause Rick speaks up again.

"Harley, are you alright?" He asks, clearly concerned.

Not really, I want to say, but I'm supposed to keep Dad's secrets. I've kept the CDC a secret, why can't I keep this one?

He steps inside, now, and cautiously sits on the edge of the bed. He even reaches out to feel my forehead, but I lean away a little.

"Is it your side?" He guesses. "You hurtin' again?"

"I'm worried." I whisper, a bit cryptic, like breaking little pieces off the secret won't make it as scary.

Rick frowns. "About what?"

"About— About my Dad."

I can keep the CDC a secret 'cause it's only me who was hurt, but it might be my Dad who's hurt this time, and that's worse.

"Why're you worried about your Dad, honey?" He asks, tilting his head, utterly confused. He might be thinking about last night, in the woods with my Dad. He knows something is up between him and Shane, and he's right. That's the other secret I'm keeping. I almost wish I could spoon feed him little crumbs of that one, too, 'cause it would be so easy, but I gotta remind myself I'm not doin' any of that. Not ever. "What's wrong?"

"I think he went somewhere." I say think, even though I should say know, 'cause I wanna be wrong so bad. "I think he should be back by now."

"Did he tell you he was leaving?"

I nod lightly.

"Leaving where?"

Chewing on my lip, I shrug.

I don't know where he went.

Rick stares down at his boots like there are little equations etched into the leather, and then turns to me again.

"And you didn't tell anybody?" He sighs.

Is he frustrated with me right now? I should be the one who's frustrated! It's my Dad that's missin'.

"No, I didn't tell anybody." I say angrily. "'Cause I thought he told everyone he was gonna leave! He always does!"

"You — You're absolutely right." Rick soothes me. "That's why I'm just a little confused right now."

"Well, you gotta go look for him." I whine.

"You're certain he should be back by now?" He makes sure. "Did he say that?"

"Yes!"

He takes a long exhale. "Okay. I'll... go talk to Shane, okay? He's on watch. Maybe he knows where he went but forgot to let us know."

I don't care about maybes. 

You don't find people with maybes, even if you're a Sherrif.

"Just find him." I bring myself to say to Rick. I try my best to glare at him, but I fail, 'cause there's all these stupid tears burning the corners of my eyes and this big lump in my throat. I just want my Dad. I just want him and he's not here, even though this time he wants to be. "Please."

I can't believe I'm askin' Rick for help. 

"I will." He promises, and I hope this one isn't empty like all his other ones. "Just wait here. I'll ask around."

"Okay." I grumble, watching him leave.

I go back to gazing out the window, watching the forest quiver and rustle in the hot night breeze.

I imagine Sophia out there, and in my mind, she's both curled up underneath a bush like a kitty cat and being ripped to shreds at the hands of a walker at the same time. I hold Matilda tighter, wishing I just knew which one it was, 'cause guessing is worse than knowing. I miss Sophia, too. If she was here, she'd braid my hair while we waited and tell me not to worry about my Dad. She'd be able to go through the Pokémon cards with us. She'd be safe and happy and there wouldn't be any guessing.

"What do you mean he's gone, too?" I hear Rick exasperate outside.

I perk up suddenly.

"He just left, man, like a couple hours ago." Andrea replies. "Said we was searching for Sophia."

Who? Who else left?

I crane my neck to catch a glimpse of them, but I can't really see much from here — only their shadows.

"Who left?" Lori asks.

"Well, first Daryl." Rick answers, stressed. "First Daryl and now Shane."

Shane.

All of a sudden, I get this feeling in my stomach that makes me wanna hurl.

As I gape, a single gunshot pierces the forest.

BANG.

A flock of tiny white birds shoot up from the trees.

They're gonna kill each other.

I know it.

This is it.

I feel sick. I feel totally, completely head-to-toe sick, and I'm not supposed to be walking right now but I'm already out of bed, anyway. The covers get caught on my foot and I almost trip, which hurts real bad — "Dang it," — and then I'm shoving past the bedroom door and then the main door and I really shouldn't be walking, 'cause this hurts even more, and just as I hit the tarmac, there are arms reaching out for me. They catch me like a bag of bricks. I try to stand again, 'cause I need to know what that was — I need to know who got shot, why, how, where — If it was my Dad.

If it was in the stomach, or the heart, or the leg or the foot or the head. Oh, please not the head.

"What the fuck was that?" T-Dog yells.

Anything but the head. You can stitch up anything but the head.

"Dad!" I shriek, as if begging him to come back; to appear on the horizon line, like the sun after a long, long night. "He's out there!"

"Shh. Shh, it's alright."

"No! Get offa me!" I shriek again, 'cause that's Rick — It's Rick who's holding me. "Get off!"

"Harley—"

It's Rick, not a Dad or a leader or a friend who's saved my life two times over — It's the man who murdered my Uncle and who's standing and doing nothing when my Dad needs his help. Rick, with that dumb badge that says King's County, but should really say Liar.

"You think it's them?" Lori worries, her face white as a sheet.

Glenn runs over. "What's going on?" 

"Who did that?"

"Was that a gunshot?"

"He's out there!" I cry loudly, choking on nothing as I struggle against Rick. "He's out there! He's out— He's out there!"

"I know. I know." He says, and then to someone else, "Go get your gun."

"Oh, God." Lori moans.

"He's out there!"

"I know. I know." Rick hushes. "I know. It's alright."

Jacqui rushes over and grabs me from the other side.

"Baby, you're gonna tear your stitches open." She warns. "You gotta be careful."

I think they've already torn open, 'cause it feels like there's red-hot lava oozing outta my skin, but I don't care. My Dad's out there. He's out there and he didn't tell nobody where he went and Shane's out there with him and they wanna kill each other. Jim's out there. They wanna kill him too and I think Jim wants to kill 'em back 'cause— 'cause that's what angry people wanna do. They wanna kill. It could've been him. It could've been a walker, 'cause there are walkers out there too, or the gun might've slipped, or they might've been fighting, or arguing, or, or, or— 

"Should we go look?" Andrea asks. "I mean, how do we—?"

"He's out there." I cry, breathing heavily through my clamped jaw, wrestling Rick, wrestling Jacqui, bleeding, wanting my Dad.

"It might not've been them." Lori nervously comments. "Might've been somebody else."

"No." Rick looks up at her, a dark look in his light eyes. "It was them."

That's all he needs to say to convince Lori.

"Then I'm with Andrea." She says. "Do we go look? We don't even know where they are."

"That's a whole lotta forest out there." T-Dog agrees.

I think I can hear Carol in the background, mumbling Sophia's name tearily as she paces back and forth.

"What the Hell are those fools even doin' out there in the first place?" Jacqui butts in. "And at night, no less. Are they stupid?"

"They gotta be." Says T-Dog.

Glenn comes running back with a rifle.

Rick stands.

I squeal like someone who's being branded with an iron poker as Glenn passes Rick a box of ammo and Jacqui wraps me in a hug, 'cause I know what's about to happen and what's already happened is nothing good. I cry as Rick throws a pistol to Andrea, and I cry as Lori bends down next to me, murmuring it's okay, it's okay, it's okay, and I cry some more as Jacqui tries getting a look at my stitches, which burn like scorpion stings.

"I'm gonna have to re-do these," She mumbles to herself.

On my other side, Lori brushes my hair back from my wet face. "Breathe, sweetie. Breathe."

What are they gonna find out there? My Dad, dead? My Dad, a walker? Are they gonna put him down like they put down Morales?

They're gonna kill each other.

I know it.

Either they've shot each other or they've shot Jim, but either way, someone's dying tonight.

Please be Jim, I selfishly pray. If it has to be somebody, please be Jim.

"You got a flashlight?" Rick checks.

"Yep." Glenn answers.

"Compass?"

"Yes."

"Fall in, then. Let's go." He says. "Andrea, guard this place 'till we get back."

"Wait—" Lori shakes her head, but there's no time.

Rick and Glenn hop over the guard rails.

They cross the field and the forest swallows them up.

My sobs fill the silence.

I just want my Dad.

The very last thought I have before I collapse with grief into Jacqui's arms is, He was gonna sing for me tonight.

My Dad, who I think might be dead, used to tell me, sometimes little girls don't get what they want.

He used to say it when I'd ask for an extra five minutes of TV before bed, 'cause I'd be cuddled into his side with my favorite stuffed animal, and it wouldn't be the end of the world if I watched just five more minutes, would it? And he said it all the time whenever I tried to pick up a snake on our walks in the woods behind our house, and also when I begged him with a laugh to stop tickling me. He used to say it all the time.

I think he'd say it now, too, 'cause all I want is for him to come back right this second, but I have to be patient.

If I was a little girl who got what she wanted, my Dad would emerge from the forest, and he'd do it right this very moment, and he would be a little banged up, 'cause I'll allow that, but he wouldn't be shot. No, he wouldn't be shot. Not in the foot, or the leg, or the head. Not anywhere. I would run up to him and I'd hug him as soon as I could reach, and I'd smell dirt and sweat and maybe some blood, but I'd also smell home. I'm sorry, chicken, he'd tell me, and I'd be a little confused on what exactly he's sorry for, but I'd forgive him anyway and he'd ask me, What've you been doing while I was gone, and I'd answer, I was brave and I waited and I wasn't worried one bit. If I got what I wanted, this would all be true.

But sometimes little girls don't get what they want.

I'm sitting under the RV awning, bleeding out in a blanket as I watch the horizon line for movement.

Jacqui says she needs to re-work my stiches, otherwise I'll be in an even worse way than I already am, but every time she gets close to me, I tell her to go away and she does. She and Lori have been spending all morning figuring out how to get through to me, and it's a perfect copy of that morning back at the quarry where I was rooted to that chair by the fire, refusing to talk because one of my family members was prolly dead.

I keep hearing that gunshot in my head. It's the sound of a door slamming shut, or a balloon popping.

A single BANG.

The sun rolls across the sky like a yellow marble, and the day slips away like loose sand in a timer.

I don't even know how long I've been sitting here by the time Jacqui approaches for the tenth time today.

"Go away." I croak before she has a chance to say anything.

"Damn, girl. Not even giving me a chance, huh?"

I frown, looking up from the trees.

"If you hear me out for just a minute," T-Dog says, "There's a bag of pretzels in it for you. The last bag of pretzels."

I squint at him.

"You ate all the pretzels?"

"I'm a stress eater." He simply says, before deciding it's safe to take a seat beside me at the little fold-out table.

I glance over at Jacqui and Lori, who are pretending not to watch.

"Remember what Dale said to me yesterday?" He asks.

"You're an idiot?" I deadpan.

"No— Well, yeah he did say that." He mutters. "But he also said, don't give up just because you can. You can't just sit here all day just because ya can. You need new stitches. You need food. Hell, you ain't even drank water today, I don't think. I know your Dad's been gone for a while, and ya sad an' stuff, but I'm telling you that man's a cockroach. It's only a matter of time before he comes crawling back, and when that happens, I'm not gonna have him breaking my nose when he finds out I let you waste away in that chair. No, sir."

I look up at him, confused at this strange tactic.

"Man, Dale too." He adds. "Guy's gonna be heartbroken if he finds out you didn't take his advice."

He gives me a very exaggerated look.

Whatever this tactic is, it makes me smile a little.

"Nobody ever takes Dale's advice." I dismiss.

"I did." He shrugs. "I thought this damn gash was gonna kill me, but there's a chance it won't. I ain't giving up."

"What happened, anyway?"

"Snagged it on a car door."

I pull a face.

"Hey, it ain't a knife in the guts, so I'm happy." He jokes. "But if I'm taking my meds, you gotta take yours, too. Let's start with that. You can have the pretzels after for dessert. How's that sound?"

I consider the offer. "Can I stay here while I take 'em?"

I can't leave this chair. I have to keep an eye on the horizon at all times, in case they come back.

"I'on care. Do whatever." He smiles. "We got a deal?"

"Sure."

When I glance over at Jacqui and Lori again, they look like they've just seen witchery.

T-Dog goes inside and comes back with Dale, who's holding a mug and two round pills.

"I heard someone's ready to take their meds?"

In the afternoon, I see someone coming — But it's not one of ours.

It's a woman.

She's riding a horse.

As soon as she spots us, she steers the horse in our direction, and even though Andrea points a rifle at her head, the woman ignores her. She draws near and pulls on the reigns, coming to a stop. The horse whinnies and clip-clops on the spot, a brown-gold thing with a shiny coat.

"Is there a Harley Dixon here?" She asks, looking us over.

Everybody goes still.

I don't know this woman. Nobody knows this woman.

She knows us, though.

Andrea cocks the rifle. "How do you—"

"Her Dad's been shot."

Lori gasps.

My Dad's— My Dad's been—? So, it's true? How does she know that?

I try to stand from the chair, suddenly immune to all the aches and pains in my body except this woman's words in my ear.

"Yeah?" Andrea challenges. "And how do you know that? Was it you who shot him?"

"No." She replies firmly. "It was a man."

"Is his name Shane?" Dale asks with distaste on his tongue.

"I don't know." She says. "But he's alive. I just got sent by a Rick Grimes and a Glenn Rhee to come and get his daughter. Is she here?"

I stumble forward, only getting a glimpse of her studded cowboy hat and purple shirt before being blocked by Dale, T-Dog, and Jacqui, who begin to argue with the woman, but I shout over them. I need to see my Dad. He's— He's alive, she said. My Dad is shot but alive. I'll let this woman whisk me away on a horse to a place I've never been if it means I get to see my Dad again. I'd go with her even if she didn't know Rick and Glenn's names.

"How do we know you're not lying?" Dale questions the horse-lady. "We're not just going to let you take a child on pure hearsay."

"Whether I take her or not doesn't change nothin'." She tells us. "Daryl Dixon will still be on his death bed."

It's a leap of faith, but we've gotten used to doing those.

Jacqui squeezes my shoulder, silently communicating with Dale before nodding down at me. "Go."

Go.

Where, exactly?

I got no idea.

The direction my Dad is in.

That's enough for me.

"Come on then, Harley Dixon." The woman beckons, reaching out a hand.

"Go," Dale agrees. "We'll catch up. Where is it you're taking her? When can we get there?"

Jacqui helps me up onto the horse.

"The Greene farm. Backtrack to Fairburn road from here; head two miles down. You'll see the mailbox."

He nods. "And just who are you?"

"I'm Maggie Greene."

"Thank you, Maggie." I tell her quietly, taking in her rust-colored hair and her green eyes as she smiles at me over her shoulder, thinkin' she must be an angel. I don't think angels get around on horses, 'cause they got wings for that, but this one does.

"We'll be waiting for you." She tells everyone.

The horse whickers and rears as she kicks her heels into its side, and then we're racing down the highway together.

The Greene farm looks like a watercolor painting.

It reveals itself like a pretty canvas as we trot through the thicket into a sprawling field.

"Pretty enough place to get stranded, am I right?" Maggie smiles, warm as the sun.

I see sheeps and cows slowly grazing in soft-looking pastures, and white clouds fan-brushed onto a baby-blue sky. I'm reminded of the wooden doll house I used to have, and how you could tell just by looking at it that someone has loved it very much for a very long time. We wind down a pebbled path lined by wildflowers. The beating of the horses's hooves sound like a steady heartbeat. I try my best to take a deep breath to match its pace, but my heart just won't slow down. I'm too nervous, too out of my depth, too scared. Shot but alive, is what I chant in my head.

The wrap-around deck becomes easier to see the closer we get.

There's one, two, three, four people standing and sitting around the stairs, watching us approach.

Two of their shirts are soaked in blood, like two red roses in the distance.

"Everything's gonna be okay." Maggie Greene tells me.

Shot but alive.

Shot but alive.

Shot but alive.

Author's Note.

Oh my gosh, this one was a ride and a half. I've been working on it on-and-off for like 2 weeks. How was that Ao3 crash, huh? I wasn't able to access my drafts for two whole days! Torture!!

I really, really hope you enjoyed this chapter. It's a pretty pivotal one, and it finally kicks off the main part of season two - The Greene Farm! I LOVE the Greene farm. I would 100% live there.

Who do you guys think shot Daryl? Was it Shane, Jim, Otis, or someone else? Hmmmm

Thank you so much for reading, and thank you even more for your patience. <3

Sending lots of love :)

[cruesuffix]

It was a warning....hehehheAHAHAHHAHAHAH

So your almonds fic got me thinking....with my big ole brain...what if his painkiller addiction started earlier? Like the oxy and the other ones I don't remember the name of. I feel like in the crüe days when Mick was doing cocaine and other things I'm sure he was doing (him being high on acid, staring into space in that one interview is an example) it could have been way worse if he was just like "oh, when I'm high I feel somewhat okay..." And then (broken) lightbulb moment when he decides that a line a day apparently keeps the doctor away.

Like I feel it would start off small, then he starts distancing himself from his wife and kids when he realizes it's a problem, and he doesn't wanna burden his poor kittens with a druggie as a dad. Like maybe he wears his sunglasses more to hide his eyes, or stops eating dinner because the pills/powder kills his appetite, and then his wife or his friends (I like to think at least him and Jack stayed friends) start to pick up on what's happening and they're immediately confronting him about it, asking him if he's okay, and when they somehow get him to spill they're immediately telling him to go to rehab. I don't know if he'd originally be on board with it, because he's feeling better(even if it's slowly killing him). Maybe they also call his parents and let them know what's going on, and they give him that same damn look they did when he was strung out in his teens, the disgust, disappointment, concern. He finally realized he needs help, because he'll be damned if he lets his own issues affect the people he loves.

oomfie… i don’t even think i can add anything of importance to this complete masterpiece!! <333

i guess if i could, i’d like to just compliment the realistic aspects of this. like first of all, i would say he kinda did have a sort of addiction to pills back in the day too, he did mention he was taking a lot of pills during the 80’s (i would say girls era), mainly pain pills and antidepressants. and if i recall correctly vince even gave him the nickname “the pharmacist” because of it. also, he was definitely a little coke fiend back in the day, he wasn’t called “eightball mars” for nothing. (also what was up with everyone calling him nicknames based on his vices lmaooo). also if that interview you’re talking about is the one i’m thinking of… lmaoo i would say he was either drunk af or high… possibly both. i love the comments on that interview in particular because they’re quite literally clocking the bands shit hardcore! also the comments about him wearing sunglasses to hide the fact that he’s high af… kinda probably one of the reasons he did wear his shades all the time! besides the whole “too much light will hurt my eyes” thing. like i love all these little details you throw in here cause… you’re right these are all things he would do! also boy would he not be on board with the whole rehab thing, seeing as though he conned his way into not having to go when the entire band went in ‘88. he’s more likely to go cold turkey and just deal with the withdrawals. though i do know he didn’t really do that in ‘03-04 cause… you’re not actually supposed to go cold turkey with opiates. lmaooo here i am hypothesizing about things i’ve never seen!! oh and i’d love to add on to the little inside joke the rest of the crüe had at the time; mick feeling like he needed to drink whole bottles of wine to get a guitar solo out! maybe that also complicated things in this little idea of yours!

besides all this, i just think this is absolutely amazing. i’m in awe of your mind oomfie and wow am i glad my silly little fic inspired this!!<333

(also im thinking about this in context of girls mick. like that man was going through it during that era the most and even his bandmates noticed it… those Crüe bastards!! but still, he wasn’t as bad as nikki so they’d never confront him about it. it would probably be his family trying to get through to him, with the help of old friends ofc.)

[theseancekid]

i know you're more season one focused [ur so real] BUT if/in your own interpretation of s4 where klaus were to lose all his powers and be stranded in ordinary normyville cold turkey, how would/did he handle the life change? canon didn't really get into it beyond germaphobia cause they're cowards, but i'd love to hear your thoughts on if/how the change might've changed him

Headcanon Questions | Always accepting!

OKAY so like, I’m gonna try to be organized in this response and respond to this in a sort of chronological order of what I think Klaus' timeline would be after arriving in a powerless timeline...

I think, for the most part, Klaus would be totally fine without his powers?? He wouldn't relapse back into his addiction like the show seems to suggest, that's for damn sure. And I mean, of course it would definitely be an adjustment— in the first few years, Klaus would definitely still rely on his siblings (he’d probably still wind up at Allison’s place, or maybe even with Five or Luther) just because, like, my dude has never had a job in his life?? he doesn’t know what the fuck to do now that he’s not running this constant, decades-long marathon???

Because like. The thing is: aside from maybe Luther and Ben, Klaus is the only sibling who couldn't turn his powers off at all. Klaus has spent over 30 years living with something that he couldn't avoid and couldn't dampen without hurting himself in the process and idk I think somewhere along the line he just got so used to hurting himself and numbing himself, so to take away that pain is liberating, but I also think there's a part of Klaus that would genuinely kind of mourn the life he could have had all these years if he'd never had the power to begin with :(

So all of that is to say: there’s definitely an adjustment period where he realizes that actually he doesn't know who the fuck he is outside of his addiction and his powers. Maybe he hops around from sibling to sibling, or maybe he stays with Allison and takes up knitting again, and writing, and maybe he starts to pick up Claire from school and help her with her school projects and he finds that actually, he kind of likes that kind of thing. And that doesn't mean he turns into a bubble-wrapped grandpa overnight— Klaus is still Klaus. He's still impulsive, he's still weird and curious and mischievous. But maybe instead of going out on a bender, he prefers to do karaoke night with Claire.

Like, the longer I think about the germaphobia thing, though, the more I realize that I actually don't prescribe to that characterization...at all. Because that entire concept hinges on two predications which are: 1. the idea that Klaus, without his powers, is afraid of death. And 2. that Klaus has something to live for.

And I don't think either one of those things would be true, at least at the beginning of s4. Even without the guarantee of immortality, Klaus is never truly afraid of death. In his mind, he never really planned on living past the age of 20. In fact, every time Klaus has gone into the void, he never wants to leave. The void is where Dave is, and his mom, and all the crap television his heart desires. He's died a thousand times by this point, what's one more?

Plus, if we're being honest...before his relationship with Claire and Allison really forms, there's not a whole lot that he would even be motivated to stick around for in the first place. like sure, his family would be bummed if he kicked the bucket but like, they don't need him?

So ANYWAY yeah I mean I think powerlessness would be a genuine lifesaver for Klaus, even if it has comes with some complications! On the one hand I think it would give him the opportunity to get clean and really grow into a version of himself that he's happy with (and YEAH maybe he does clip coupons, and maybe he's a little softer around the edges), but on the other hand, I think adjusting to powerlessness would also force him to realize that if he only has one life to live, he has to make his own meaning out of it.

[queen-of-writing-bad-things]

Henry Danger Reader Insert | Captain Man x Reader: SEASON 5

Episode 38: The Beginning of the End

Season 5 Masterlist

*LAST FOUR EPISODES. i swear im not crying. LET'S SAY GOODBYE TO THE GANG IN STYLE!!! here we goooooo*

~The Man Cave~

Deep underground, things in the Man Cave ran as smoothly as they always did. Charlotte was doing something innovative; Piper was doing something on the computer to appear helpful; Jasper was off doing God knows what, and Schwoz...he was doing something complicated. 

That was nothing new, but this seemed extra complicated. Full of wires, flashing lights, and zappy things. He was engrossed in the last few details, soldering and superheating the circuit board as the girls watched, wondering what he was doing. The heroes were out doing heroic stuff, so (y/n) wasn't around to explain it, not that she'd approve of this project, given its sensitive nature. 

"Schwoz, what is that thing?" Piper asked as his zapping and sparking distracted the girl from her little arts and crafts session. 

"Oh, nothing. It's just the Omega Weapon," the genius replied, pushing his face shield onto his brow so he could look at her. He said it like it was nothing, just another passing fancy or a strike of creative ingenuity that he had to materialise, and not a weapon of mass destruction that could destroy Captain Man. 

"The one from the blueprints Ray, (y/n), and Henry got from all those bad guys in No Man's Land?" Charlotte frowned, popping up from behind the couch. It seemed like she'd come from nowhere, but after dropping a few eaves, she knew enough to warrant her concern, terrified of what could happen if Schwoz's little plaything got into the wrong hands. Did (y/n) know about this, or did she need to text her?

"Yes!"

"The one that can take away Ray and possibly (y/n)'s superpowers?!" Piper asked, worry also strewn across her pretty features as she rose from the supercomputer's chair. 

"The same!"

"Why would you build that?" Charlotte snapped angrily, her fury contrasting the man's happy, uncaring grin. He didn't care about his creation's consequences or understand why they were so mad. The Omega Weapon presented him with a challenge, and no one ever told Michaelangelo not to paint or De Vinci not to invent - why couldn't he do the same?

"Because Ray told me I couldn't, and I hate when people tell me I can't do something."

"I thought (y/n) said you shouldn't build it," Piper argued, vaguely remembering her friend giving the genius one of her infamous stares, pointing at him, and shouting to stay away from that damn weapon. She didn't like the idea of her doofus being vulnerable or herself, but Schwoz took her words personally. 

"Yeah, well, her doofus shouldn't pinch my cheeks and steal my cereal every morning, but I guess we all do things we shouldn't," Schwoz replied bitterly, picking up a steak of cereal boxes lashed together with a thick metal chain. He had to keep it closely guarded; otherwise, Ray would sneak a few bowlfuls after a solid start to the morning with his sweet girl. 

Speak of the devil, an alarm sounded, and suddenly, the tubes dropped from the ceiling, signalling the return of Ray, (y/n), and Henry. Schwoz hugged his boxes tighter as they fell into the main room, looking funny and outdated in their peculiar outfits. For some reason, the trio were dressed like ancient Romans, draped in crisp, white togas, crowns of laurel leaves, and brown, strappy sandals. 

"See? Eating turkey legs makes me feel more manly," Ray shrugged as they stepped out of the tubes. (y/n) clung to his side, thinking he looked particularly dashing in his toga since it revealed a healthy chunk of his broad shoulders and one muscly arm. She couldn't help but squish and feel them up, practically salivating at how huge they were, making him smirk with every bite of turkey he took. 

"See, that's how I feel about grilled cheese."

"That's how I feel about these freakin' hot arms..." (y/n) muttered, lovingly stroking her doofus as they floated down the steps like mythical gods. Ray thought she looked ethereal in her costume, like a goddess from a historical movie, but he didn't mind the compliments--or how she drooled.

"What?" Henry frowned, confused by her words, but he figured she was too distracted by the man's biceps to follow the conversation. 

"Ooh, hey, Schwoz! Gimme some of that cereal!" Ray exclaimed as they approached the man, his eyes glazing over at the sight of the boxes. It had been two hours since he had some cereal, and his turkey no longer cut it. 

"No!" Schwoz growled, protectively shielding his sweet cereal from the man. Even the chains wouldn't be enough to stop him if he wanted a snack, but something caught his eye before Ray could step forward and throttle him. 

"Wait...are you building the Omega Weapon again?!"

"Yes," the genius said defiantly, bravely standing up to the hero and his glare, which was no mean feat with his small stature and lack of power. 

"The one that can take away Ray's superpower and possibly mine?!" (y/n) hissed, stepping in front of her doofus like she could save him from that...thing. She didn't care if she lost her super-regeneration, but she wouldn't let anything happen to Ray, and she didn't trust him being in the same room as it - just in case. 

"The same!"

"Damn it, Schwoz! I told you to stay away from this stupid thing! Why do you keep building it?!" The heroine growled, stroking Ray's bicep. She couldn't bear the thought of something hurting him, terrified of living in a world where his beautiful, strong arms were marred by scars and wounds. 

Well, why does Ray keep pinching my cheeks and stealing my cereal every morning?!" The handyman replied indignantly, making (y/n) step forward like she wanted to drop-kick him. Luckily for Schwoz, Ray held her back, holding his precious girl against his chest because the little bastard wasn't worth her time or energy. However, that didn't mean he couldn't annoy him; his Omega Weapon could hurt his precious fiancée, and he wouldn't stand for that. 

"Because you're so cute when you get mad! Now, gimme some of that Sweet Booty Crunch!" He snapped; this time, it was (y/n)'s turn to hold him back as the large man charged to grab the cereal. His strength was immense, meaning she needed Henry, Piper and Charlotte's help to restrain him and prevent World War Three. 

"It's got ten essential vitamins and minerals and is part of a balanced breakfast! Get that away from me!"

"Point that thing at us, Schwoz, I'll shove it right up your ass!" (y/n) growled, her eyes narrowing when Schwoz sneakily turned the Omega Weapon so it was aimed at the hero. It was a good defence but too cruel for the woman's liking, thinking if her doofus didn't kill him, she would. 

"Okay, stop! Stop! Everybody, stop!" Henry shouted, pushing the couple away from the genius, who diligently stood beside his invention whilst Piper and Charlotte acted as his referees. 

"Look, he's so cute! Look at his face!"

"I'm not cute. You're cute!"

"Hey, only I'm allowed to call him cute! And he's not cute! He's adorable!" (y/n) remarked moodily, coveting her doofus when Schwoz tried to argue back. But it ended in her losing her thread, ranting about mindless gibberish about his general cuteness, not that Ray cared. She could call him sweet names, especially with her hands trailing down his chest. 

"We're all cute, okay?! We're all cute!" Henry stated firmly, leaving no room for argument since he didn't want it to continue. No one could argue with that, agreeing to disagree, although Ray would say his sweet girl was the cutest. Just look at her...she was adorable in her pretty little toga. 

"Wait, why are you, (y/n), and Henry all dressed like half a ghost?" Piper asked, watching as her friend leered over her lover, clearly enamoured with how his weird bedsheet outfit showed off his body. All she had to do was remove the ornate brooch pinning the sheet together...the thought made Piper shiver in disgust. 

"Oh..."

"These are togas. We were fighting The Time Jerker," (y/n) explained, brushing her fingers down the soft cotton she'd hastily wrapped around her body to blend in with a bygone age.

"Yeah. Chased him all the way to Ancient Rome. Ate some pretty good food there," Ray shrugged, wrapping his arm around his fiancée's shoulders as he tore another bite off his turkey leg. 

"Ooh..."

"Nice..." The girls nodded appreciatively, thinking the heroes got to have all the fun whilst they were stuck in the Man Cave. 

"Watched a bear fight a flock of turkeys..."

"Yes, we did. The turkeys actually won," Henry said, chuckling at the funny memory of a dozen birds descending on a helpful grizzly, which was smart enough to back off once they got their surprisingly sharp talons into it. 

"Oh my God, and an emperor wanted to marry me! He said I was like an endless fountain of beauty for a weary man to drink from. How cool is that?!" (y/n) giggled, thinking it the compliment of a lifetime that an actual Roman emperor wanted her to be his companion, thus making her an empress. Of course, she declined, saying some waffle about how Cupid's arrow made her fall in love with the warrior by her side, not that it made Ray any less salty. 

"For real?!"

"Seriously?!"

"Yeah, yeah! He tried, but ultimately, he failed! So, you know, I'm better than an emperor!" Ray bragged, puffing his chest out and strutting around the room like a peacock as he wrapped himself around his sweet girl. She rolled her eyes and snuggled into him, knowing the almighty sovereign didn't compare to her doofus and his God-like body. 

"Yes, you are, doof," she smiled, turning her head to the side so he could find her lips, happily tasting her honey-like kiss. That Emperor Jerkus would never know what her kisses were like or how she shivered against his body when his tongue crept in. 

"And then, he threatened to execute us..." Henry groaned, eyeing the couple in disgust as Ray hungrily devoured his precious girl, who was happy to let him indulge in her sweetness. Ray couldn't be noble and manly; he just had to threaten the emperor and his unmentionables if he dared to lay a finger on her, and he didn't take kindly to that. 

"So? We escaped...stumbled across some pretty good statues," Ray smirked coyly, breaking away from (y/n) to look at his sidekick. His reply gained him several groans, mainly from his helpers, who were tired of hearing him drop statues into every conversation possible. The hero had a bee in his bonnet, namely that he wanted the city to unveil a statue in honour of him, and he felt the time was nearing...

"All right, you can all roll your eyes and groan now, but when the city of Swellview finally builds me my own statue of Captain Man--"

"We'll roll our eyes and groan harder," Piper retorted, and her friends agreed. They were tired of hearing Ray bragging about his statue and how much the people adored him - it was his latest obsession, second only to (y/n). 

"Considering everything I've done for this city, it's the least they can do for me," Ray exclaimed, nibbling some more turkey as (y/n) slid her arms around his neck and chuckled. She agreed, but it's not like Swellviewians weren't grateful. 

"Doofus, you already have your own holiday. They just opened Captain Man Stadium. There are twelve streets named after you..."

"Which makes driving very confusing!" Schwoz butted in, agreeing with the woman that Captain Man already had plenty of recognition. So much that you couldn't walk two steps without seeing a pile-up because everyone wanted to be on Captain Man Street - or one of them - simultaneously. 

"Anway, we captured The Time Jerker, and we took this new time-ray he built," Henry moved on, showing off a large, fancy, gun-type device in his hand. It glowed bright blue and instantly took Schwoz's fancy as he marvelled at the thought of a time-ray...whatever that did. 

"Oooh, how does it work?" He asked, eyes wide and bright with curiosity. 

"The same way any dark matter fluxuator does," (y/n) shrugged, eyeing the ray cautiously. It wasn't as bad as the Omega Weapon, but she still didn't trust it in the hands of a teenager. She believed some things, like time travel, should be left alone to avoid unfortunate accidents. 

"You just point and shoot!" Henry grinned, straightening his arm as he prepared to test the time-ray. Aiming for Ray's turkey leg, he turned up the power, making the device beep and glow brighter. 

"No, no, no, I'm eating this!--" Too late. Despite his protests, Henry shot the leg in his boss' hand, coating it in the brilliant blue light before it disappeared from their time. Whilst Ray frowned grumpily, the others clapped softly and nodded, mildly impressed that he'd managed to deliver the turkey to someone in the past or future. 

"Okay, where'd you send it?"

"To, uh...right about now!" Henry grinned at the grumpy hero, and his snack reappeared no sooner than he said that. It emerged in the same place he'd been holding it, but with no doofus to grasp its greasy bone, the leg fell onto the couch with a dull thud. A very dull thud--like it had hit something dense yet...empty. 

"What the heck?!" An angry voice grumbled, belonging to Jasper, as he sat up from where he'd been napping on the couch. No one had noticed him as he quietly lay under the table, minding his own business, until the turkey leg hit his head and woke him up. 

"Hey, I'm trying to study! Quit throwing stuff at me!" He snapped, tossing the leg back to Ray. However, since he'd been napping, his sleeping mask really screwed up his aim, meaning the meat hit Schwoz in the face instead. Still, not one to miss an opportunity, the genius sunk his teeth into the smoky flesh, holding onto it for dear life as he turned and ran away from his boss. 

"Hey! Hey! Schwoz! Schwoz, get back here! Dang it!"

"Raymond, just leave--and they're gone..." (y/n) sighed, watching as her doofus chased after the smaller man, disappearing into the back of the Man Cave without regard for anyone shouting after them. Now she'd have nothing to stare at without his muscles on show and all over a turkey leg...

"Would you guys keep it down? I'm sleep-learning. Or s'learning..." Jasper remarked, smirking at Henry as the boy removed the itchy, leafy crown from his head. He'd been doing it all week, napping here and there whenever (y/n) looked at him, and it was starting to worry her. 

"What are you talking about, Curly?" She asked, but the boy didn't say anything. Instead, he yanked the PearPhone from his back pocket and tossed it to Charlotte, who noticed an open app on the screen for her to read. 

"Learn To Fight While You Sleep. And Also Spanish," she read out, raking her eyes over the thing he was listening to - in his sleep, apparently. It sounded like a load of mumbo-jumbo to her, a con to make people think they were learning, but Jasper swore it was the real deal. And it was definitely working. 

"Mm-hmmm. It's a one-hundred-hour audiobook that teaches you to fight while you sleep."

"Those books don't work," Henry scoffed, walking over to the supercomputer to rest his weary body. If it were that simple, he wouldn't have to train with Captain Man weekly to maintain his tip-top sidekick condition. 

"Yeah, they do! And I want to learn to fight, so I can go on a mission with you, (y/n), and Ray before I head off for college," Jasper replied, making (y/n) internally whimper. Why did he have to remind her? After all, she'd ignored the steadily growing elephant in the room for five years. 

Her babies were always destined to go on to do and see better things. She couldn't keep them in the Man Cave forever, and it seemed like forever when they were growing under her wing. But now, time had run out, and she was facing letting them go into the big, wide world, which seemed to creep up on her all of a sudden. Since when did her babies become adults? 

"Well...I think you've got plenty of time, Jasper, because we don't graduate high school for another year. Right, guys?" Yet she wasn't the only one confused by time. 

Henry slumped onto the chair with a satisfied grin, convinced they had nothing to worry about because they were still young and free. It wasn't entirely his fault; working with Ray meant the days blurred into one, so he hadn't noticed the grains of sand slipping through his fingers...until he caught the worried faces of his friends. 

"Right? Guys?"

"Does he not know?" (y/n) whispered to Charlotte and Jasper, worrying the blond boy at the computer when they exchanged guilty and perturbed looks. It was like they had something to hide, even though the secret was right in front of his face. 

"Not know what?" Henry asked, smiling nervously as the teens debated telling him some bad news. 

"Someone's gotta tell him."

"Tell me what?" He asked again when Charlotte whispered back, conferring with the others in what felt like a conspiracy against him.

"You tell him!"

"Uh, I can't! I'm s'learning!" Jasper argued, ignoring Piper's demand by sliding his headphones over his ears. He dove onto the couch and curled up to resume his nap, terrified of facing his best friend with something that would surely make him murderously angry. No one could hurt him if he were hiding...

"Okay, what's going on?" Henry asked, wanting the truth, not his friends walking on eggshells around him. So, he stood up from the computer's chair and stepped over to his sister and friends, feeling his heart sit in his throat when Piper worriedly looked at (y/n/n). Even if it would be nice to keep him around, (y/n) knew this wasn't what the kid wanted...

"Henry...we're graduating this week," Charlotte said slowly, not knowing how to say it. She'd gone to school, sat her exams and passed, but Henry Hart had been too busy living his other life. His childhood was gone, adulthood was calling, and he didn't even know it. 

"What? We did it, guys! Seniorrrrrs!" He cheered, thinking he was one of the crew, despite avoiding school and homework for the last few months. His ignorance was heartbreaking...

"This is just sad..." Piper sighed. 

"Henry..." Charlotte said firmly, holding her clueless friend's gaze as he fiddled with something on the console. (y/n) tangled her fingers together, feeling unbelievably nervous as the girl sighed and broke the news. He needed to hear it, even if she felt like she would throw up. 

"We are graduating from high school. But you aren't."

"Hmmm?"

"But you aren't."

"Hmmm?" The kid hummed, looking like he was about to explode as the whites of his eyes became visible. 

It was like the world was crashing down around him, making his body feel numb, and no matter how many times she said it, he couldn't accept what Charlotte was saying. How could his friends graduate without him? When did that happen? How could he have missed an entire year?

"Hen, we know you can hear us," (y/n) said, poking the boy's shoulder to try and snap him out of it, but Henry was too far gone. Maybe he was having an aneurysm - it sure looked like it, his synapses fizzing and snapping as he tried to come to terms with the fact that he wasn't graduating. Like a loser...

"Hmmm?"

"You're just using our hmmm thing as a defence mechanism," Charlotte stated flatly, but he still said nothing. No words meant he could freeze time forever and stay young and free of responsibility. 

"Hmmmmm?!"

"Hey! Snap out of it, kid!" (y/n) snapped, grabbing Henry by the shoulders to shake his body and mind back into the present. Meanwhile, Piper sidled off to the auto-snacker to get some food, wanting dinner and a show as the gravity of the situation truly hit her brother. The kid descended into a mini panic attack, debating all the possibilities that came from high school failure, starting with his parents killing him and any job prospects dying before him. 

Pacing back and forth, he faced (y/n) and Charlotte, who stood side by side to explain how it happened. It wasn't anyone else's fault, just his own, but they figured he wouldn't want to hear that, not with his pale yet furious expression. 

"What do you mean I'm not graduating? How could I not be graduating?!" He questioned once he regained the use of his brain and tongue. 

"You've missed too much class fighting crime over the years. You don't have enough credits to graduate," Charlotte explained, and (y/n) looked at her feet guiltily when all the hope faded from the boy's features. Perhaps she didn't force him to attend school, but she didn't exactly say anything when he joined her and Ray at all hours of the day as Kid Danger. 

"I mean, honestly, when was the last time you were at school?" Piper asked, stirring a spoon around her bowl as Henry tried remembering when he was in class. God, those halls felt like a distant memory, and suddenly, a cold, spine-chilling feeling washed over him when he realised they were right. 

"The other day...when I broke my arm and Ray, (y/n), and Schwoz came in with the trebuchet?"

"Henry...that was over a year ago," (y/n) told him softly, recalling the day and all the whacky things that happened. She thought the kid would remember, given that it was after he lost his superpower and broke his arm. How could he forget something like that? 

"Wha--?!" Henry gasped, brushing a hand through his hair in disbelief at how the months had flown by. The worst part was that he hadn't even noticed, wrapped in what felt like a betrayal because no one had warned him. Why didn't the adults in his life tell him to start studying? Why didn't his friends remind him about classes?

"Why didn't anyone tell me I'm not graduating?!"

"School's been sending you warning letters every week for a year," Piper argued, remembering how the same pale envelope with the school's crest was pushed through their letterbox every Monday morning with his name on it, but Henry never paid them any heed. 

"Did you open any?"

"No, I just tossed 'em aside 'cause I assumed they were bad news!" Her brother muttered, pacing to the other side of the room so he didn't have to look at her. He knew she was smirking smugly, and he didn't need that right now, not when he knew ignoring the letters was his massive mistake. 

"Well, good news...you still have...perfect teeth?" Charlotte suggested, trying to find the storm cloud's silver lining, but it came out strained and unsure. His teeth? Yeah, they'd help him get a career and secure income later in life. 

"Yes, thank you, Charlotte. My teeth are great, but also, are you about to move away and go to college?" 

"Don't say it out loud! I'm not ready yet!" (y/n) cried, clamping her hands over her ears like the words tortured her--and they did in a way. Of course, she was happy for Charlotte and Jasper. She actively encouraged them to go after helping with their applications and telling them college was the second-best thing that had happened to her. Still, she hated goodbyes, especially when they involved her babies. 

"Yeah, I'm leaving for Dystopia the day after we graduate," Charlotte explained, placing a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder as she blinked back tears. She'd miss (y/n/n) the most, her oatmeal raisin cookies second, and her warm hugs third. 

"You're going to college in Dystopia?!" Henry exclaimed as Jasper slept on, wondering why she'd want to go to a festering stinkhole like that to study. That city was bad news, infamous worldwide for its high crime rate and dirty, dangerous streets, so not somewhere he expected his studious friend to go. 

"No--:

"That place is a crime-ridden toilet on the other side of the world!"

"I said, don't say it out loud!" (y/n) snapped, hugging Charlotte tightly and petting her hair like she only had a few more minutes with her. She didn't agree with the location either, wanting to send her babies off to a college made from cotton wool with bodyguards for professors. Still, the girl had a noble cause and refused to let anyone dictate her decisions. 

"Do you even speak Dystopian?"

"When did you learn this?! How much have I missed?!" Henry panicked, trying to work out exactly when life began to pass him by. It didn't feel fair that his friends were moving on to do better, grander things than him, learning new things behind his back, planning stuff without him, and all while he was stuck in the same old job. A job that no longer sparkled like it used to. 

"I'm taking a gap year to run a charity in Dystopia. After that, I'm going to Harvard," Charlotte explained calmly, bringing another tear to (y/n)'s eye because how could she argue with that? Mama Bird was so proud, even if she didn't want to say goodbye. 

"Well, what about Jasper? Is he going to Dystopia, too?!" Henry asked, eyeing his napping friend on the couch. Despite how annoying and weird he was, the kid couldn't imagine life without Jasper there. 

"No, he got into Harberd, which sounds like Harvard, but is a very different school. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I'm very proud of him too--" (y/n) rambled, hating the thought of her beloved Curly leaving too, but that was life. And even if he wasn't as bright as Charlotte, she knew he'd be great. 

"Hey, we gotta roll. Are we all packed up for One Night In The Desert?" Piper announced, looking at Charlotte, who suddenly baulked at the time. It was one last chance to have some fun before everyone went their separate ways, even though it meant leaving Henry behind. 

"Yeah, you load up your car, and I'll wake up Jasper!"

"Are you sure you'll be all right? I hate the thought of you all being in the middle of nowhere, alone, with no adults..." (y/n) pouted whilst Charlotte prodded the boy on the couch. Piper smirked at her and went to open her mouth before Henry interrupted. He'd heard of the yearly event and was sure his sister wasn't allowed to go - she was still so young. 

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa--One Night In The Desert is an all-night party for graduating seniors only," he said firmly, looking at Piper with his typical, big-brother scowl for when she was doing something reckless and illegal. A senior party meant drinks, vomit, and suspicious substances; not the place for a girl in middle school. 

"I'm graduating, too," she shrugged, knowing she was perfectly entitled to attend the all-night rave, much to her brother's shock. 

"Hmmm?"

"Going to Florida State!" 

"Oh, come on! Rub it in, why don't ya?!" (y/n) wailed, her face crumpling into a sad frown as Piper beamed brightly. 

The woman snatched her into a tight hug, too, having thought she'd have a few more years with her youngest baby, only to find out a few weeks ago that the girl had beaten the system. She'd only have one baby bird in her nest - a furious, hurt bird who didn't like being smothered alone. 

"Hmmmm?!"

"Don't start!" Charlotte warned the boy, who'd returned to his defence mechanism as he discovered that even his annoying brat of a sister was better than him--doing what he couldn't even when it should've been impossible. It made him an even bigger loser. 

"Y-y-y-you're my younger sister! How could you be graduating already?!" Henry spluttered, knowing that Piper was street-smart, but she wasn't clever. Would she survive amongst those college kids and their fancy brains? 

"I did bad things. Spent a looooot of time in summer school. Ended up earning enough extra credits to graduate early. Seniorrrrs!" She explained, and Charlotte and Jasper matched her chant, making Henry gulp in disappointment. 

With his friends gone, that would leave him alone and useless, one of life's rejects all because he didn't go to school. All that crap his parents said about attendance was true, and now, he was facing staying in the job, earning nine dollars an hour, for the rest of his life. And they'd find their own fame, not leech off someone else's... When did their lives become better than his, the legendary sidekick?

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no..." he panicked as they barked like dogs, pumped at the idea of starting college and finally finding some freedom. (y/n) tried to reach out and comfort him, but the boy had resumed his pacing, lost in thought as Ray emerged from the secret door with Schwoz still biting his turkey leg. 

"Release! Release! Release!" He ordered the small man, yanking the leg like a dog's chew toy as Schwoz's jaw clamped down on the toughest meat, refusing to give it up. 

"Ray, I got a big problem here..." Henry started, wanting to talk to his boss and get his opinion on his predicament. But, as always, Ray was distracted with his own petty problem, even though he didn't fancy eating Schwoz-covered turkey. 

"One thing at a time, Henry!" 

"Okay!" The boy said through gritted teeth, backing off as the man fought against his handyman. When he realised that Schwoz's tenacity wasn't ending soon, Ray switched tactics, letting go of the leg with one hand to grab The Time Jerker's time-ray. 

"Doofus, what are you--" (y/n) frowned, watching her lover curl his greasy fingers around the device as he pointed it at the small man. Before she could tell him off or Schwoz could give up, he blasted him, fading the guy from existence in a singular blue haze. All that for a turkey leg. 

"Raymond!" (y/n) exclaimed, eyes wide with concern now that Schwoz had disappeared into the abyss. Her doofus seemed unbothered, tossing it playfully in his hand as he sauntered over and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He silenced her complaints with a sudden kiss, swallowing her gasp and dizzying her head so any remaining thoughts of that fuzzy weirdo flew away. 

"Problem solved!" Ray said joyfully, pulling away with a satisfied smile and a smear of lipgloss on his lips as (y/n) blinked, dazed and confused. She wished he'd warned her before he went in with a kiss like that...

"What's your deal?"

"My deal is that everyone's graduating from high school except me!" Henry said as Ray casually walked across the room to wipe the turkey grease off his fingers with a rag. He didn't want to get his girl's beautiful dress dirty when his hands were on her waist...or elsewhere. Still, Henry didn't care about what he wanted, nor was he impressed with his apathetic attitude. 

"So? You don't need to graduate from high school to be a sidekick," Ray replied, thinking the kid was looking for a problem when there wasn't one. After all, in his head, it was agreed that Henry would commit to being his sidekick for as long as Captain Man needed him--and he still did. 

"But I don't want to be a sidekick for the rest of my life!" Henry exclaimed, looking at (y/n) for backup. However, she was frozen, glancing anywhere but at her friends and lover as she sensed the tension looming over them. 

Henry had the right to a normal life, but unfortunately, Ray didn't understand that, no matter how often she'd approached the topic with him. Life was being a superhero to him - what was the kid's deal?

"And you won't be! You can take over and be a full-on superhero when I retire with (y/n) in thirty years!" The hero replied cheerfully, slapping the kid on the shoulder and walking off to see what Ancient Roman women wore under their togas, with (y/n) behind him. 

But she sided with Henry on this one, although for a different reason.

"Thirty years?!" They exclaimed together. The boy didn't know where he was supposed to have a life between all the plans he had made for him. And (y/n)...she wondered where her dreams were supposed to go, struggling to fit in her ideal house in the country and perfect little family next to a few more decades of fighting crime. What happened to settling down and having children? A dog? A peaceful life together?

"Okay, you got me. More like forty years. I'm in fantastic shape," Ray smirked, flirtatiously curly his biceps before his sweet girl to try and lure her back to their bedroom. 

As much as she appreciated the offer - God, she wanted to take him up on it - she couldn't leave Henry behind, nor did she want to string the poor kid along. Being a superhero was Ray's dream, not hers or Henry's, and even though she was committed to staying with the doofus until their dying day, the boy didn't sign up for that. 

"Dude, I don't want to be stuck in Swellview being a sidekick for the rest of my life!" He declared, meaning it in the nicest way--that he had bigger dreams and expectations for himself that weren't tied to an after-school job he took as a child. 

But in his panic and frustration, it seemed offensive, especially to a guy whose life was just that, stuck in Swellview as a superhero for his entire life. 

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realise that you were stuck in Swellview with me," Ray mumbled, the happiness draining from his face as Henry glared back, with (y/n), Charlotte and Piper awkwardly staying in the background. 

"Yeah, I guess I didn't realise it, either!"

"Why don't we all just calm down? We don't have to get into an argument--we'll end up saying stuff we don't mean!" (y/n) interjected, pushing herself between the boys like she always did. 

She was (y/n) - the referee. Nothing ever upset (y/n). (y/n) always knew what to do. (y/n) kept everyone together because she loved her family and hated seeing them bicker. With one hand on each of their chests, she tried to keep them separate, hoping this would blow over and they'd work out a way to allow Henry to go to college with his friends.

"No, (y/n)!" Henry spat, slapping her hand away with more force than he meant. The woman gasped at the slight sting, holding her wrist like it pained her, not because of a pathetic slap but because he never got angry with her. She was (y/n) - the glue that held them all together. 

"I've been too busy down in the Man Cave for six years answering emergency calls!" And, just as he said that the same-old red siren sounded. 

"Emergency call!"

"See?!" He looked at Ray, thinking the constant blaring was the perfect example for his argument because it had been back-to-back calls since the minute he fell down in the elevator. But the man wasn't buying it, not after watching his sidekick--his sidekick--slap his sweet girl when all she wanted to do was help. What was wrong with him?

"I'll answer it."

"Let it go to emergency voicemail. Henry and I aren't done here yet," Ray told Charlotte coldly, stopping the girl in her tracks before she reached the supercomputer. His gaze never left Henry's, and in all her years of seeing them together, (y/n) had never seen her fiancé go toe-to-toe with the boy like that. Oh, her tummy didn't like it...

"Doofus, the emergency voicemail is full," she said quietly, stroking the shoulder his toga didn't cover to try and calm him down. She'd been meaning to clean it out, but this was more pressing - stopping the cracks in what should've been an unbreakable bond. 

"Really?" Ray asked flatly, wondering how it could be full when it had a billion bytes of data or whatever. 

"Yeah, remember that girl, Mika? Who saved you when Jack Frittleman trapped you inside that escape room?" Charlotte recalled having answered the phone a million times to hear the same girl begging down the line. Ultimately, she had to put a warning next to her number, telling everyone to let it go to voicemail. 

"We saved her, but yes," the man nodded, full of ego as usual, but he allowed them to carry on. 

"Well, she leaves us about ten messages a day asking if she can help us fight crime," (y/n) sighed, squishing his bicep one last time before heading to the supercomputer. Pushing a few buttons, she opened the full voicemail and clicked on the first message, knowing it would be chirpy and enthusiastic but totally unneeded. 

"Hi, it's Mika! Just want to let you know that I'm here if you need me to help fight crime." The girl's friendly voice sounded, and Ray remembered her try-hard attitude and know-it-all smarts. As if he needed her help to fight crime - what with his muscles, incredibly hot fiancée, and...young sidekick. 

"Hey, it's Mika again--"

"Here if you need me!"

"Here if you need me!" It didn't stop. (y/n) cycled through the never-ending messages, which all seemed to follow the same pattern, repeating similar sentences until the voicemail sounded like a stuck record. Perhaps Mika was there if they needed her? Not that they did. 

"Hey, this is Miles. Could you call my sister back? She's losing her--" That was the only one with variety, coming from Mika's twin brother, who was just as tired of listening to the endless phone calls as they were. 

"Okay, I don't know what Miles told you--"

"This is the vice-mayor!" A different, gruffer voice said, catching their attention amongst the dozens of calls the heroine skipped through. Great; (y/n) liked Mika, thinking she was sweet if a little excessive, but Vice Mayor Willard was an asshat--so far up his own ass that he never remembered Miss Danger's role in the Man Cave, even though she'd been Captain Man's sidekick for five years. 

"Oh, oh! That's probably about my statue! Press play! Press play! Press play, sweet girl!" Ray gasped, recognising the vice-mayor's voice anywhere. He was in charge of giving out statues to worthy citizens, and Ray was confident he'd get one, so he draped himself over (y/n)'s body and held her close as she hit play. 

"I need you, Kid Danger, and uh...uh... uh..."

"Oh, come on! All these years, and this guy still doesn't remember my name..." (y/n) grumbled, folding her arms grumpily as Ray chuckled and pecked her neck, distracting his pretty girl from the mean man's forgetfulness. 

"Uh...Miss Danger..uh...ma'am...to come to my office right away!"

"Ha, you hear that?! He just said he's gonna give me my statue!" Ray squealed, laughing and clapping his hands like a schoolgirl as his friends frowned in confusion. 

"He didn't say a single word about a statue," Piper corrected him, knowing Vice Mayor Willard could've been talking about a million other things, not just a statue. Her boss was just an obsessive man-child; why (y/n) loved him was beyond her. 

"Pfft--well, what else could it be about?"

"Literally anything, you big doofus," (y/n) chuckled, leaning on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek because he was adorable. Dumb but charming - she didn't mind if a statue was dedicated to his name as long as she got to worship the real thing once the show was over. 

The moment was ruined when, in a flash of bright light, Schwoz reappeared from his little jaunt through time, materialising next to Ray. The man had thrown his arms out, welcoming his sweet girl into his embrace, but the meat of his forearm provided the perfect amount of squishiness for the genius to bite into in place of the discarded turkey leg. 

"Ow!" He screamed, gently pushing (y/n) away since he didn't want to hurt her in the fracas as he sneered at the relentless weirdo. "Release! Release! Release! Drop! Drop! Drop!"

It was safe to say that Schwoz wasn't dropping any time soon, so it was a good thing Ray was indestructible. He'd squish him like a bug for refusing to let go, feeling the genius' teeth create indentations on his flawless skin. There was only one person he'd let bite him, and she hadn't even taken her toga off yet. 

~Swellview City Hall~

Unfortunately for (y/n), togas weren't welcome in a grand estate like the city hall. It was undignified, apparently, so she, Henry, and Ray had to change. And so went the muscles. Her lover's beautiful, huge muscles. 

Parting was such sweet sorrow, and it wasn't that she didn't like his Captain Man suit. He was so handsome in it...but he wore sleeves. Stupid sleeves--couldn't he get those guns out? The heroes marched through city hall and eventually made it to the vice mayor's office, (y/n) skipping behind Ray, hand-in-hand, with Henry trudging behind them. 

He didn't want to be there, feeling like he'd hit an all-time low with his sidekick life. Ray acted like nothing was wrong, ignoring the apparent tension and Henry's grumpiness as they burst through the doors, only to see that no one was in the room. 

"Maybe I can talk to the vice mayor, and he can pull some strings and let me graduate or something--"

"What? No, no, no, no, no, no, no, Henry! No, no, no!" Ray snapped, spinning on his heel to face the kid when he brought that subject up again. He'd been told to drop it in the car after nearly reducing (y/n) to tears when she tried to give him her best advice, only to receive some choice words. The man didn't want to hear it, fearing disloyalty and abandonment, but Henry wasn't done. 

"Why?!"

"The vice mayor only grants one wish per meeting, okay? So, if anyone is going to be rubbing his little belly and getting a wish granted, it will be this guy..." Ray told him sharply, frantically waving his arms about as he described his elaborate trickery to convince Willard to give him a statue. However, one small problem with his plan was that the vice mayor wasn't in his chair. Someone else had taken his place. 

"Who's Henry?" A squeaky, boyish voice asked, making the heroes whip around with wide eyes to see a little boy in a bright orange shirt sitting in the chair of office. He seemed pretty content on the plush leather, grinning cheekily, showing off his cute dimples as his thick, long hair caught in his eyes. He was adorable, but he'd heard too much...

"Noooot meeee?"

"Not him..." They replied uneasily, unconvincingly trying to tell the little boy that Captain Man hadn't just called Kid Danger Henry, even though he'd heard him say it. This was complicated, and the boy squinted his eyes like he was suspicious... Oh, no.

"...Okay," he shrugged, giving them a sweet smile before kicking his feet against the floor to spin the chair. 

Their faces dropped, and hearts slowed, wondering how the child could drop it so quickly when he was talking to the city's greatest superheroes. Everyone was usually so nosy, but not this kid. He was... unique. 

"Wait, wait...come back, little boy!" (y/n) called out, not wanting the conversation to end there because she had a lot of questions. 

"Comin' back!"

"Where's the vice mayor?" She asked once he'd spun around, looking at them with a blank stare with no hint of intelligence or interest. He seemed vacant like he imagined a big blue sky, fluffy clouds, and a scary green dragon - a fantasy land and not what was happening in front of him. 

"On vacation with my mom," he replied simply, which bore two new questions. Firstly, had Willard actually pulled a lady friend? And secondly, what parent left her child alone in a fancy, important office to go on holiday with some dude? It was scandalous. 

"What?... Nice."

"Raymond." (y/n) sharply, hearing his little victorious whisper. It made her nose wrinkle, thinking he was proud of another guy for landing a mom when he was stuck with little old her - a non-hot mom. She was salty, but the doofus was quick to soothe her after his mistake. 

"What? He gasped again, snaking an arm around her waist to pull his sweet girl close - his way of apologising. 

"He told you to play this for you when you get here," the kid said, turning a PearPad around for them to look at. It already had a video ready to play on the screen as the boy hit the play button. Willard sat at his desk, appearing as grumpy as ever but wearing a brightly coloured Hawaiian shirt and baseball cap. He looked so strange...

"Kid Danger...Captain Man... Uh, Miss...uh...uh...m--ma'am...Miss Danger!" The politician stuttered as the video began, having the heroine's name on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn't quite grasp it. Seriously, did six years count for nothing? Or was she not as memorable as the boys?

"Whatever. I'm the vice mayor, not the record-it-twice mayor, so I'm just gonna keep going," he shrugged, already in his holiday mood, so he didn't want to start again, not when his hot lady friend was waiting. 

"Fellas...uh, ma'am...this here is Bose," Willard said, introducing the cute little boy, who suddenly appeared in the frame, and boy, the vice mayor, didn't look happy. Something told (y/n) that he didn't like the kid very much, which made her feel sorry for the long-haired boy. 

"Hey, Captain Man, Miss Danger, and Kid Danger! Hey, Future Bose!"

"Hey, Past Bose! That's me!" Bose, apparently, grinned, pointing happily at himself on the screen with a childlike innocence that made Miss Danger smile softly. He was so dumb, but in a good way, although Ray didn't like where this video was going. 

"I married Bose's mom yesterday, which means I get to go on vacation. With her, not Bose, he's your responsibility now."

"What?" The hero asked flatly, suddenly deeming that asshole politician and his new trophy wife the worst parent/step-parent in the world. He had enough trouble babysitting the four kids he already had, especially Henry, let alone one more. And no offence, but Bose seemed a few sandwiches short of a picnic - he had enough of that with Jasper. 

"Watch him, feed him, change his diapers, whatever," Vice Mayor Willard said tiredly, knowing nothing about caring for a prepubescent child who did not wear diapers. 

"I'll be back in two days, and his mom assures me that she'll know if you try and swap him out for another kid, so don't even try that."

"Dang it!" Ray hissed as the mayor shot down his sneaky plan with Henry, the boys scheming to replace the boy with a lookalike should anything unfortunate happen to him. (y/n) glared and nudged their ribs, telling them to knock it off in front of the kid because she wouldn't let anything bad happen to him, not after he'd been abandoned by his own mother. 

"If you keep him safe and mostly unharmed, there miiiiight just be a statue of you in your future, if you know what I'm saying. And I'm saying, I'll give you a statue."

He still wasn't happy about babysitting duty. Still, judging by how he happily tapped on the desk and grinned at his sidekicks, Ray would do it if it meant he got his statue. He was experienced at this point, fully equipped to handle any kid, and his sweet girl was the most motherly figure he'd ever encountered - another thing that made her so hot. 

"Yes! Yes!"

"See you in two days. Now, turn this thing off or look away unless you want to see me in the tiniest beach-legal swimsuit in the world," Willard smirked, making (y/n) squeal and slap her hands over her eyes before she saw the vice mayor's...deputies. She'd never recover and buried her face in Ray's shoulder as he and Henry quickly pulled the laser remotes from their belts. 

"Ew, ew, ew!"

"Nope, nope!"

"Hard pass! Hard pass!" The boys said before swiftly shooting the PearPad, killing the video before they saw anything damaging and obscene. He could buy another one, and besides, their main priority was looking after Bose--but not changing his diaper. 

"Come on, buddy," Ray grinned, placing a warm hand on the child's shoulder in his most fatherly manner when he stepped around the large, ornate desk. 

(y/n)'s heart warmed at the sight they made, her ovaries skipping a beat at the thought of her doofus caring for a child. Now she was broody again, longing to settle down and fill a house with giggles, snotty noses, and mismatched socks. Her babies were leaving, so she couldn't help it, but that didn't mean she was irresponsible. 

"Doofus, we can't take this kid back to the Man Cave."

"So, we find some excuse to dump him with Schasper, Schiper, and Sharrlotte. Sharrrr--Charlotte--I couldn't stop myself!" He groaned, clutching his throat as his attempt to conceal his helpers' identities failed. He couldn't think that far ahead, proving he was a doofus, which at least made his pretty girl smile. 

"I feel like you could've," Henry shrugged. Now, the kid knew a little bit more, like someone was called Henry, and someone else was called Charlotte. 

"Cat's outta the bag. We know someone named Charlotte."

"Great! Can't wait to meet her, Schasper, Schiper, and Henry," Bose said enthusiastically, making Kid Danger squirm for some reason--like the mention of that last guy made him uncomfortable. Still, Ray brushed over it, sharing a tight smile with his sweet girl, who wasn't sure if having a kid this dense in the Man Cave was a good idea, but he wanted that damn statue. 

"Let's go."

"Doofus, no! We can't stick this little boy with any of those schpeople because they're all at One Night In The Desert," (y/n) explained, looking at his handsome face as his eyebrows knitted in confusion. He vaguely remembered her mentioning something like that, but it was probably when he tried to get her naked, so things seemed blurry. Was that why she was so weepy lately?

"Huh? Even Schiper?"

"Yes! She's graduating already!" Henry interjected through gritted teeth. If only he'd listened to him, Ray would know why his sidekick was so angry with the world--or mostly him--and why it wasn't fair that his much younger sister could go to college before him. God, he wanted to punch him in his perfect teeth right now...

"Before shoo? She's schgraduating before shoo?"

"She took a lot of schummer shhcool, and I can't schtinkin' believe this is schappening to me!" The boy growled, losing his cool and zapping the ceiling a million times as the emotion flowed into his veins again. He'd stamped it down after leaving for the emergency call, but it had festered, and he wanted to hit something - preferably, someone. 

"Oh, God!" (y/n) gasped as the plaster cracked and fell after the gunfire, falling all around her, Ray, and Bose as Henry paced. 

Luckily, she had a strapping, big doofus to shield her head and keep her safe. However, Bose wasn't so fortunate, nor was he indestructible, so when a chunk of plaster hit him on the head, he collapsed on the floor, not two minutes into Captain Man's official care over him. Wow, that had to be a record. 

"Careful! You could have severely injured my chances of getting a statue!" Ray hissed, glaring at his reckless sidekick. Of course, the statue was everything, but one stern look from his beloved fiancée and Ray cared about the kid too, releasing her waist to let her kneel by his side and check his head for any wounds. They couldn't give him back if he was...dead. 

"I don't think he's too hurt. Just concussed," (y/n) muttered, smoothing Bose's hair out of the way and only seeing a small lump, no cuts or blood, thank God. 

However, Henry didn't take too kindly to Ray's tone or how he predictably cared about himself and no one else. It was always the same story with him; his problems came before everyone else's, and as long as he was okay, no one mattered, sometimes not even (y/n). And he was supposed to love her. Henry was tired of cleaning up after him, apologising, guiding him down the right path--acting like a grown-up but being treated like a child. 

So, he shot him. Not dangerously, just a little green flicker to the man's abs to make them sting, but Ray didn't take any insubordination. Not from his sidekick, and not when it wasn't in a playful, friendly-fire way. 

"Ow!" Ray exclaimed, holding his stomach from the mild pain, but Henry was already running out of the door when he and (y/n) were gawking in shock. This kind of rebellion was new to the couple, who felt like they were dealing with their first troublesome teen, acting out against his parents, and he wasn't even theirs. They felt useless - like their sweet, little Henry was gone...and he hated them. 

"Come back here!" He shouted after him, zapping a few lasers after him, but the kid was gone, running down the stairs and leaving (y/n) to handle Bose alone. 

She could patch up one kid, help him into the Man Van, and care for him. She'd been doing it for so many years. But her heart wept while she gently rubbed his sore head and told him to relax when he stuttered in Miss Danger's intimidating presence. 

Bose was cute and young, yet he reminded (y/n) of another kid she used to care for, one who had her heart forever...but he wasn't the little boy she made cookies for, hugged, or sobbed over a movie with. She longed to spend one more day with thirteen-year-old Henry, leaving part of her wondering if he was slipping through her fingers. 

~The Man Cave~

Having returned home, the argument was still going. They bickered in the car, and now, Ray and Henry were going back and forth as they came down the tubes. 

(y/n) was sick of hearing it, wishing they could return to the fun, playful mood they'd shared for the last six years. It wasn't like Ray and Henry to argue like that, and it was tearing her apart, making her nervous because nothing good came from arguments like that. But, there wasn't much she could say; neither wanted to listen, and she was busy entertaining Bose. 

That wasn't difficult - the kid was the intellectual equivalent of a goldfish, but she liked him. He just needed to grow up--as did the quarrelling hero and sidekick. 

"Albert Einstein."

"Doofus, what are you talking about?" The heroine grumbled as they touched down and stepped out of the tubes. He'd started listing random people for no apparent reason, confusing her and Henry. 

"LeBron James. The Pope. None of these people graduated from high school," Ray explained as his tube fell again, only this time, Bose came down. For security reasons, the man told him to wear a sack over his head, preventing the boy from seeing the Man Cave, its residents, or its secret location. 

"I am positive all those people graduated from high school," Henry argued, believing that even if they didn't, they were part of the lucky few who made something of their lives. Something else helped them become wealthy and successful, but what did he have? Nothing substantial, but, of course, Ray didn't care. He was distracted again...

"Oh, my God! Is that my statue?!" The hero exclaimed as (y/n) wiggled out of his grasp to attend to Bose, making his eyes drift across the room. Schwoz hovered near the elevator, fiddling with a vast crate delivered while they were out. New things always caught his attention, and given its size, there had to be something huge in it--and huge things excited Ray. 

He raced past his sidekicks, almost knocking poor Bosey over as he galloped down the stairs, uncaring if they had removed his hood. All that mattered was the supposed statue, even though it could've been anything. 

"Oh, wow. I thought it'd be bigger. Shut up. I don't care. Just open this crate--I wanna see my statue!"

"There's no statue inside," Schwoz replied, remarkably calm in his boss' excitement. And he was really excited, practically bouncing off the walls, even though it was his job to check every unknown package that entered the Man Cave. 

"Huh? Then what is this thing?" Ray asked. He hadn't ordered anything, and his sweet girl hadn't, so it suddenly seemed even more mysterious. And he wasn't the only one in awe of their surroundings; with the sack removed, Bose got his first glimpse of the Man Cave, which was everything he'd imagined and more. 

"Whoa! Is this the Man Cave?!"

"Who's that?" Schwoz asked confusion and slight fear written across his face. He wasn't used to strangers, and it had long been drilled into him that new faces didn't belong in his home, not even harmless little boys. 

"Uh, this is Bose. He's the vice mayor's stepson. We've got to watch him for a couple of days," (y/n) replied, petting the kid's amazingly soft hair as he smiled at the fuzzy weirdo. He didn't seem very threatening, and Schwoz didn't see the harm in the woman having another kid to look after for a bit. She could adjust to the changes around them - maybe it would stop her whining and moaning about her eternal loneliness. 

"Who's this guy? Schiper? Schasper?" Bose asked.

"Oh, no. That's...Schhhhhhhhwooooz. Schwoz! I did it again!" Ray slurred, not realising that his plan wouldn't work for half his helpers. Bose was slowly learning more and more about the Man Cave, causing (y/n) to facepalm at how he kept making things worse. 

"Nice to meet you, Schwoz," the boy said politely, offering his hand for Schwoz to fist-bump, which confused the genius. He wasn't up-to-date with the ways of the modern youth, so he just grasped his fist and awkwardly shook it as Ray mumbled to him. 

"You may wanna grab the Memory-Wiper."

"On it..." Schwoz nodded, even as (y/n) gave her doofus a stern stare. She hated that thing, but it was good compensation; after all, Bose and all his dumbness had a knack for knowing things he shouldn't. 

"What does the Memory-Wiper do?"

"Ooh, we might not need it, Ray," Henry muttered, agreeing with (y/n) that hurting the boy didn't feel right. Although, he wasn't as subtle as her, name-dropping his boss before he or anyone else realised what he'd done. 

"Who's Ray?" Bose asked innocently, making them all cringe since it didn't feel right hearing their names whilst in uniform. 

"Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Go get it," Kid Danger coughed, having a sudden change of heart as Ray squeezed his girl's hand - a small gesture to stop his temper from exploding. 

"Wait, wait, wait, Schwoz. What is this thing?" (y/n) asked, analysing this crate and coming up with nothing. It made her feel uneasy, like it had something to hide because there was no shipping note, stamp, or any other indication of who sent it or where it came from. She didn't like the unexpected, not when it could jump out and take them all by surprise. 

What was with her tummy today? It was suspicious of everything...

"It's for the meeting Kid Danger set up with the Mayor of Neighbourville," Schwoz replied, leaning against the wooden box as the boy's stomach dropped like a heavy stone. 

"Oh, no..." he groaned quietly, suddenly terrified as he stood before Captain Man and Miss Danger, who knew nothing about the little scheme he'd planned behind their backs. In hindsight, it didn't seem like such a good idea, not when he had to say it to their faces, but he was too deep now. 

"What kind of meeting?" Ray asked, holding his pretty girl's hand even tighter now because he sensed another argument coming. The nature channel told him it was natural for young males to challenge authority. Still, he'd never expected to have this much trouble with his loyal sidekick. 

"Is that today?"

"He's being recruited to be a superhero!" Schwoz hissed excitedly to the bewildered couple, despite Henry's subtle hints to shut up. Their mouths fell open like they were catching flies, staring at the boy like he'd betrayed them--and in a way, he had. He should've discussed it with them, but he'd been sneaking around instead, treating it like a big secret that Schwoz could know about but not them. 

"For Neighbourville!" Schwoz finished, a giant grin on his face whilst the couple felt the blood drain from their faces. It wasn't exactly lying, but...it felt like it. 

"Go get the Memory-Wiper, Schwoz!" Henry ordered the genius, getting a feeling that they would need it, judging by the deep frown on Ray's face. He didn't know what was worse, knowing his boss was angry or seeing the pure hurt on (y/n)'s face--knowing he'd hurt her by not talking to her about it. 

"Let me know if you take the job! Byeeeee!" The handyman scampered off, leaving to find the device as Bose waved goodbye. The heroes didn't offer him the same thing, too busy staring each other out with bleeding hearts and wounded pride. Ray was the first to talk, (y/n) feeling conflicted like she wanted to yell at the kid for being so conniving but protect him from the tongue-lashing her doofus had in-store. 

"Oh, yeah?" Ray said through a tight smile, their hands like a lifeline for them as they clung to calmness. Bose stood in the middle, having done nothing wrong, looking so innocent like a lamb in a war zone; he didn't know what he'd wandered into. 

"Listen, I can explain..."

"Oh, yeah?" Ray squeaked, trying to keep his emotions from bursting out. One wrong move, and he'd say something stupid; he was not used to being emotionally intelligent, but that was why his sweet girl was with him, her free hand stroking his arm as she tried to remain rational. 

Could he explain everything? It seemed so cruel, but Henry was done lying to them...

"Previously in the Man Cave...Captain Man and Miss Danger were upset to find out that Kid Danger had set up a meeting to be recruited by the Mayor of Neighbourville. Schwoz was off finding the Memory-Wiper--whatever that is. Bose was a little hungry. Let's see what happens..."

"Uh, you okay there, buddy?" (y/n) asked awkwardly once the boy's random monologue finished, having come out of nowhere before Ray could chew Henry out. It neatly summed up everything that had happened since they'd entered the Man Cave, but was it necessary?

A small part of her was grateful because it had diffused some of the tension, easing nausea settling into her stomach, but it was so jarring. His tone sounded like a television recap, which was weird...because they weren't on a TV show. 

"Sorry. I watch a lot of TV," he replied sheepishly, but the cheesy grin he gave her was enough for them to forget the interruption. Ray had bigger things to worry about like his sidekick jumping ship to work for some losers in a subpar city. 

"So, how long have you been thinking about leaving us?" The hero asked, unable to meet Henry's eye as he rocked on the balls of his feet.

(y/n) cleared her throat at his words, not liking the bitter taste they left in her mouth because that wasn't true, right? This whole thing was just getting blown out of proportion - her Henry wouldn't do that. She tried to be strong for her doofus, remaining steadfast in her knowledge that Henry knew they loved him, and he returned that feeling, even if he was angry with his lacking graduation. 

"Look, I'm not trying to leave you, okay? Look, I don't even want the Neighbourville job."

"What's with the crate, then?" She asked, not trying to be abrasive or defensive like Ray was, but she was genuinely confused--and a little hurt. She was a big girl; she could learn to let go and teach Ray that it was okay too, but he'd handled everything pretty poorly, inflaming everything until it was painful. 

"The Mayor wouldn't stop calling me, okay?! So, I thought I'd just let him come here and make his case, and then, I'd say no, and he'd never ask me again," the boy explained, feeling a little prickly at her tone - as if she was accusing him of misbehaving. Out of everyone, he wanted her to understand--the last person he ever wanted to hurt. 

"Yeah, okay! Yeah! Hey, let's hear his pitch! I mean, if he's come from Neighbourville, it's probably lame," Ray sniffed bitterly, thinking his own sidekick had snubbed him, even if he planned to decline the offer. 

Yet Ray was the king of cutting his nose off to spite his face, so he pushed open the crate, allowing the front panel to fall to the side so whoever was inside could say their piece and leave. However, he never expected them to be desperate, willing to pull out all the stops, and genuinely persuasive, so when a party drone flew out of the surprisingly roomy box, he and (y/n) stepped back. 

The device entered the room with beams of multicoloured light shining down on them like a disco whilst a speaker played some song from the eighties. (y/n) thought Holding Out For A Hero by Bonnie Tyler was a bit much, but she couldn't say the Mayor had no flair, quirking an eyebrow when confetti fell like the first snow. And that was before the guy's big entrance. 

He popped out of the crate in his usual crisp, navy suit and Mayor's sash, a microphone in his hand and a board wedged under his arm. He had ten times the personality of Vice Mayor Willard, and he danced - an immediate improvement on any politician in Swellview. 

"Hello, Kid Danger!" He greeted the gobsmacked boy, who didn't know what to say as his eyes flickered from the dazzling show to Bose and his elated face to Ray and (y/n) in all their bafflement. 

"Neighbourville needs a hero, and it could! Be! You!"

"This doesn't seem lame!" Bose shouted to Ray over the music, shimmying his shoulders as the man's sad eyes longingly stared at his sidekick. His sidekick...maybe he didn't have music, lights, or killer dance moves, but their years of friendship had to count for something, right?

"Doofus..." Oh, and his sweet girl. She didn't feel inferior often, having grown comfortable in her skin, especially regarding the little family she'd collated. But, standing there with nothing to show or present, just her and her lover, made her feel stupid, like she should've brought it back up because if she was Henry and that man offered her a job...she'd be tempted. 

"First up. You're gonna love you're very own D-D-D-Danger Caveeeee!" The Mayor said, waving his arm wildly as the drone played a holographic video of what would be Kid Danger's secret hideout. He wouldn't have to play by Ray's rules under his own roof...

"And you'll never be lonely with your new roommates--these cheerleaders!" The man went out, pointing to the crate, where two boys and two girls came skipping out. They wore matching gold and green uniforms, swarming the boy with bright smiles and pom-as he stared at them in bewilderment. No one cheered his name like that now; it was usually all about Ray...

"Who cares about cheerleaders?" Captain Man asked bitterly, wrinkling his nose at their pep and enthusiasm as the squad gathered around his ecstatic sidekick. 

Whilst she wanted him to have the best opportunities, (y/n) couldn't help but feel jilted too, deeming these perks to be overkill, sullying the superhero job and elevating Henry to more like a celebrity than a saviour. It went against their shared morals - a superhero could enjoy the limelight, but he didn't need an entourage to bolster his image. 

"I'll tell you, who cares!" The Mayor replied in his stupidly loud, cheerful voice, "Kid Danger's new sidekick! Oh, Lil' Dynomite!"

"You've got to be shitting me," (y/n) mumbled as her body went numb, watching a short, lanky, blond boy run out of the crate. How big was that thing? First, a hideout, then cheerleaders, and now, Henry got his own sidekick, making him a hero in his own right, even though his supposed helper looked about eight years old and as much use as a hole in a parachute. 

"Hi, sir! Are you ready to have someone follow you around and tell you how great you are?" Lil' Dynomite asked in a squeaky, Mickey Mouse-like voice that screamed prepubescent child. 

He missed what made a sidekick because Henry never did that with Ray, nor (y/n). They told him straight, whether he was a role model or an asshole, and they certainly didn't just follow him around. They were superheroes, not The Kardashians - it required some skill and talent. 

"I mean, kind of, yeah..." Henry grinned, suddenly liking the job offer more after seeing the great perks for himself. Ray and (y/n) stood silently and watched, feeling bile rise in their throats when he fell for the glitz and glamour, hook, line and sinker. 

"Okay, wow! That's so great! And you're great for saying it!" Could he put up with such a gratin, little grub? That's what Lil' Dynomite was - an annoying, buzzing little insect, stealing their Henry from them, and Ray couldn't bear to let that happen. 

"You shut your lil' mouth!" He snapped, bearing his teeth angrily as he fought back tears. (y/n) had already lost, wiping her damp cheeks as she saw her precious baby high-five his potential sidekick, looking as happy as anyone about to enter a great job. She couldn't blame him for anything, but this wasn't how she'd expected things to play out. 

"And finally... What would you say to having your very own...statue?!" The Mayor asked, whipping the board from under his arm to show the kid. They'd drawn a rough schematic of his likeness in the middle, showing Kid Danger grinning on a plinth with his arms folded, much like Ray had envisioned himself forever set in stone. 

"Okay, that's enough!" The upset hero growled, deeming the statue to be the last straw. He could brush off the entourage and stupid, annoying sidekick, but Henry wasn't at statue level yet. He hadn't earnt it, and Ray didn't want to see his fiancée cry anymore. 

It was time to put an end to this farce. 

"That's right! A statue!--" Before the Mayor could pitch anything else, Ray blasted the drone, killing Bonnie's beat and the disco lights as it hit the floor in a smoking pile of nuts and bolts. The party atmosphere died instantly, making everyone glare at the hero for ruining the mood with his jealousy because that's what Henry saw it as. Not that he was upset or terrified of losing his best friend, but that he was jealous of his lowly sidekick finding better things in life. 

"You know, maybe you should take the job, Henry," Ray sniffed, shaking in anger as (y/n) looked at him with red, puffy eyes in concern. She knew he was resentful, but they were walking on a knife's edges, swimming in dangerous waters, and she didn't like where this was going - in front of too many people. 

"Who's Henry?" The Mayor asked, frowning at the loose-lipped hero. 

"Well done, doofus," (y/n) sighed, rubbing her blotchy face because now they'd have to wipe many memories, including Bose's. The kid didn't know when to shut up. 

"I think it's him," the clueless boy said, pointing at Kid Danger, who did nothing to deny the allegations. This had been a long time coming, and maybe it was the wrong way to end things, but he was tired. So damn tired of everything the Man Cave brought. 

"Where's that Memory-Wiper, Schwoz?!"

"I don't want the job," Henry told the Mayor, feeling a bit bad because it was a fantastic opportunity, but it wouldn't be right. 

"Oh, really? Because I'm starting to question your commitment to Swellview!" Ray hissed, not in his right mind from his pain and doubts, but he'd always reacted this way when things went wrong. He didn't know how to sit down and talk things through, and he thought it was easier to lash out and push things away than watch them leave, so he did.

He snarled at his sidekick in a manner that left Henry and (y/n) shocked, wondering where all this was coming from. He'd turned it down; that was what he wanted, right?

"Captain Man..." (y/n) said quietly, knowing it was time for her to step in and diffuse the situation before it blew up. God, she wished Charlotte or Piper were here; they could kick these stupid Neighbourville people out whilst she got the boys to calm down because this was what she was scared of. Emotions were running rampant, making her want to drag Ray away so he could take a few deep breaths before talking to the kid - not shouting. 

She wished for a lot of things. She wished she'd done things differently, intervened sooner, or thought of something smarter. But nothing happened. Just her worst nightmare unfolding before her eyes. 

"My commitment to Swellv--are you kidding me?!" Henry scoffed, not believing his boss just said that because he may have been a lot of things, but no one could dare accuse him of not being committed. That was an absolute joke.

"Well, you don't seem very committed to me!"

"Why don't we just--" (y/n) tried to butt in, yanking on Ray's arm to get him to move, but he refused, shaking her to confront the boy. Her heart was thumping in her ears, tears pooling in her eyes again for the fiftieth time that day, and she swore she was having a panic attack as the onlookers witnessed the heated exchange. 

"I'm not graduating from high school because of how committed I am to this job!" Henry argued, thinking he'd sacrificed so much for people he didn't know, forsaking his friends as they moved on without him. He never got any thanks, not even a well done for his efforts - was it so wrong that he'd considered other options? 

"Oh! My friends are leaving, and I'm stuck here in Swellview being a sidekick and saving lives!" Ray retorted, feeling like it was a personal attack on him. He'd dragged the kid into it, but need he remind him that this was what he wanted? He made it sound like such a bad thing when any kid would've died to have his job - talk about ungrateful. 

"Captain Man, that's enough! Kid Danger, that goes for you, too! Now, both of you--"

"No, it's not enough, (y/n)!" Henry growled, yelling louder than he ever had at the woman, who couldn't help but meddle. Interfere or help; it was a blurred line, but the kid didn't care. He didn't care who he was talking to or who was listening - she was supposed to understand. He'd given up everything for his city and had nothing to show for it, not even a future. 

"Who's (y/n)?" The Mayor frowned, figuring it had to be Miss Danger since that's who Kid Danger was talking to, but that couldn't be right... Why did it feel like they'd stumbled into something personal?

"I've been too busy saving everyone else's lives, I forgot to have one of my own!"

"You swore an oath to defend this city!" Ray spat, emotion thick in his voice as his precious girl weakly tugged at his arm, wanting to hide in his arms or run somewhere safe. He didn't know who his heart was bleeding for more, the one he always had or the one he was losing, making him feel helpless. 

She didn't deserve this after pouring her heart and soul into raising that kid- the same for him. They were a team. What had they done to deserve such hostility?

"When I was thirteen!"

"So?" (y/n) croaked, seeing nothing but fuzzy outlines from the water on her lashes, but she had to say something. So what if Henry was young? Her heart wanted to return to when things were simple and easy, when he followed her around with wide, innocent eyes full of wonder for everything she showed him. 

She kept saying it - she didn't want to hold him back. But, dear God, she couldn't let go, not like this. She wasn't...ready. She wasn't strong enough. 

"So, maybe I don't want to do it anymore!" Henry shouted back, hating seeing her so upset because it was true; they raised him. He learned more from them than school could have ever taught him. But he wasn't a baby anymore, and if she couldn't see that, then maybe it was time to rip the bandaid off. 

"Yeah, 'cause you're obviously terrified of being stuck here in Swellview with us!" Ray sniffed, hugging his trembling girl into his side as she tried to stay strong, but it was impossible. Hearing the sadness in his voice was one thing, but seeing the shiny streaks on his mask left by his tears broke the dam. 

"Yeah, Ray. I am!" 

"Who's Ray?" The Mayor asked again, thoroughly confused because they kept using these unknown names, and everyone knew Captain Man and his sidekicks didn't have real names. They were just superheroes...not people. 

"Dang, it!" 

"I think it's that guy. The one next to (y/n), who I think is Miss Danger," Bose explained quietly, unwittingly exposing everything like some goddamn soap opera. Still, luckily, it wasn't anything they couldn't fix. Unlike Henry and his mutiny...

"Where is that goddamn Memory-Wiper, Schwoz?!" (y/n) screamed, making her voice grow hoarse and raw, but she couldn't feel it. Her body felt numb, searching for a solution to a problem she couldn't solve, and that wasn't like her. It was her little party trick, healing everyone's wounds, patching things up with a sunshine smile, but what could she do once the music had stopped? No one was laughing now...

"I don't want to be your sidekick for another thirty, or forty years, or fifty years!" Henry said exasperatedly, his tone dying down to a tired sigh. He was tired of literally and emotionally fighting, pretending that his life was good when it really wasn't. 

"But, man, that was always the plan! You'd be my sidekick, and then you'd take over as Captain Man when I retire with--with my sweet girl," Ray mumbled, feeling like his empire was crumbling around him, all the plans he'd laid out once he'd found serenity. 

His future was secure in Henry because he'd allow him to live out his days with (y/n) peacefully, knowing he'd left the city in good hands, safe. He'd have the family he'd always dreamed of, and Henry would be his legacy.

"I don't want to be Captain Man, okay?! I don't ever want to be Captain Man! I will never, ever be Captain Man! I don't care if your dream is to settle down with (y/n)! What about my dreams?! Huh?" Henry stated sharply, spitting venom that poisoned the bond between the hero and sidekick with each cruel word. 

Ray glared at Henry, clenching his fists as a sob escaped (y/n)'s throat, her hand pressed to her mouth to stop herself from being sick. Their breathing was ragged, unbelievably hurt by the boy's words, but they'd done the same to him. They wanted different things, and it was heart-wrenching to think that this was where the path split into two, leaving nothing but bad blood and unrealised dreams behind. It wasn't supposed to end like this...

"Pssst...he's right there," Bose whispered to Kid Danger, his naivety contrasting the malice in the air as (y/n) gave him a watery smile. How do you explain to a child that sometimes even the best intentions aren't enough?

"Then, why are you even here?" Ray asked quietly, a frostiness settling over the Man Cave, banishing the usual warm, secure tranquillity it provided. The cold pushed out the good memories of fun and laughter shared between a family as they broke their bonds and shunned any love, making (y/n) blink in surprise because this was bad. 

She knew that; she knew she had a problem. But she could fix it, right? She was a thinker, so give her a pencil and she'd figure something out, discover a solution, and then, they could return to normal. Ray and Henry were her family, as were Schwoz, Piper, Charlotte and Jasper. She'd only just found them...it couldn't be over. 

"No, Ray..." she muttered, shaking her head as if denying what he was saying, but Henry took it as his cue to leave. 

"That's a good question..." he nodded bitterly before fumbling for the gum tube tucked into his belt. He yanked it free and took out a gumball while never breaking eye contact with his steely-eyed boss, who nervously glanced at the swarm of Neighbourville losers. What was he doing?

"Henry, no..." (y/n) whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks as he calmly brushed past without giving them a second look, merely slapping the tube against Ray's chest for him to take. The coldness in his eyes...that wasn't her boy, yet she wouldn't let him leave without a fight. 

"What are you doing?" Ray asked quietly, clutching the tube against his pounding heart as (y/n) reached for the kid, her fingertips missing him by a few centimetres. He chewed slowly, giving the couple a stoic expression as he debated his following words, but he'd already decided. 

"Quitting," Henry said simply, knowing his sidekick's career had ended the minute it ruined his life. Maybe Ray could live a joyless life, and hey, he'd been lucky to find someone like (y/n) willing to live with his sacrifices, but Henry wouldn't be like that. He refused to take that risk. 

"Henry, no! Please, no--not like this! Please!" The heroine begged, holding out her arms to bring the kid into a hug, terrified that she was losing him for good. Not a see you later, or I'll visit you soon, but his way of cutting all ties and leaving without a goodbye. She hated those, but this was so much worse. 

Sobs wracked her body, making her shoulders shake as Ray limply placed a hand on one, hoping to comfort her, not that it helped. He felt the same heartache, wishing he could take it all back now that he knew it would lead to this - watching his best friend and beloved sidekick walk out his door. 

"I'm sorry, (y/n/n)," Henry sighed, gently grabbing her forearms with the tenderness she deserved. He didn't hate her; he didn't think that was possible, but he couldn't take one of her hugs right now. Her warmth and kindness would change his mind, and the thought of working another six years in the same routine pained him more than the idea of hurting her. 

So, he relented momentarily, paused chewing his gum, and pecked her on the cheek in a solemn offer of goodbye. After years of being a second mother to him, it wasn't much, but it quelled her sobs, making the woman release a shaky breath instead. Her tears were silent as he stepped back, leaving her cold and numb again, longing to yank him back and squeeze him tight. 

'I'm not ready...' she thought again painfully, knowing she'd reflect on that moment in future years and scold herself for making it all about her, but what was she supposed to do? She'd wake up tomorrow and realise Henry Hart wasn't in her life anymore, forever haunted because she never gave him one last hug. 

Stepping away from the distraught woman, Henry calmly blew his bubble for the last time, removing his uniform in front of everyone, not that he cared. Kid Danger was a thing of the past, and there was just him in his place. Henry, as it always should have been. 

"Hey, everyone. I'm Henry Hart," he said cooly as the onlookers gasped, and he removed his Whiz Watch, throwing it for Ray to catch - the last thing tying him to his old life. 

"And I used to be Kid Danger." His hand hit the elevator button, and without another word, the boy turned his back on his former boss and his fiancée and stepped inside. This was it, his last time in the Man Cave before he was just another kid; honestly, he never expected to feel this salty over it. 

"Oh, and Ray?" He called out after pressing the button to go to Junk-N-Stuff. He had one last thing to say, even if it was just a cheap shot. 

"What?" The man asked throatily, unable to move a muscle as betrayal and regret took root in his stomach. 

"I'm taller than you," the kid smirked, feeling a hollow victory as the door slid shut, taking him away from Ray, (y/n), and everything associated with the Man Cave. If he heard the name Captain Man, it would be too soon, and right now, all he wanted to do was go home and sleep for a million hours. 

Had he really just quit? The hazy knowledge made him feel like he was floating above the ground, feeling freedom he hadn't felt in six years...but also an emptiness. If he wasn't Kid Danger, who was he? What did Henry Hart stand for? Who was he without the mask?

"Doofus..." (y/n) cried, whirling around and throwing herself against Ray's chest to weep, his strong arms crushing her against his body. He had to stay strong for her, refusing to be weak when she needed him most, but he couldn't. Henry was gone...for good. 

Ray didn't know what to do for the first time. He had no one to turn to, just the broken woman shaking in his embrace. They were alone...but they weren't. Even when grieving, the heroes never had a moment to themselves, surrounded on all sides by laughing hyenas and court jesters. 

"Excuse me, sir... Can I get a ride home?" A squeaky voice asked, causing Ray to slowly turn his head and see Lil' Dynomite smiling up at him. Of all the nerves...was this kid asking for a smack in the mouth?

He wouldn't be saying that when Schowz finally found the Memory-Wiper. And Henry wouldn't be laughing when he came crawling back to him. That's right; he'd be back. His sweet girl didn't have to cry over anyone, especially not a little kid who didn't know a good thing when he had it. 

Kid Danger was the best thing that ever happened to him, so Ray knew he wouldn't just walk out on it. He'd be the one laughing in the end, and not just because he was taller--which he most definitely was. 

Henry would be back. He was sure of that, and when he finally crept through that elevator door, an apology on his tongue, Ray would give him an offer he couldn't refuse--better than anything Neighbourville had to offer. 

He'd come back. He had to. The Man Cave didn't feel like home without him. 

~ A while later~

(y/n) wouldn't say things were okay. But she wouldn't say they were bad, either. 

An hour had passed since Henry stormed out, and she'd come to terms with the horror of never seeing him again. Maybe. At least, that's what she told herself to stop crying. She'd cried enough for one day, getting through an entire box of tissues after Ray gently placed her on the couch and kissed her salty lips. 

He promised to fix everything, telling her to wipe her pretty eyes, wait, and see because Henry would return. She didn't see it herself, wailing that he hated them and she should've tried harder, been kinder, and helped him sooner. It broke Ray's heart to see her so upset, so he vowed to get that kid back in his Man Cave, grovelling on his knees for her forgiveness. 

His (y/n) was too lovely to be hurt like this, so the hero got to work.

While Bose hovered around the upset lady, patting her head and saying silly things to make her smile, Schwoz wiped a few memories, starting with Neighbourville's Mayor and resident cheer team. The ditzy airheads didn't have much to erase, but it made for a quick job while Ray tapped away at the supercomputer. 

"Okay, I'm almost done wiping everyone's memories," the genius said, dashing around the room as he stood Lil' Dynomite underneath a tube. He'd be ejected from the room once his mind became mush, but Ray didn't care. He was too busy with other, more important things. 

"Hey, handsome," (y/n) mumbled as she slinked over from the couch, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and pressing a long kiss to his cheek. Bose wrinkled his nose at the affection, thinking it was icky, grown-up stuff. Still, he didn't say anything. He was too curious about what all the flashing buttons did on the console to walk away and mind his business. 

"What a cutie!" Schwoz giggled, too, making the woman throw a confused look over her shoulder since, usually, she was the only one to compliment Ray's gorgeous features. Huh...he sure wiped Lil' Dynomite's memory quickly; the boy had already gone up a tube by the time she turned around, making her slightly suspicious...

Whatever: Ray distracted her soon enough. His incessant tapping and beeping dragged her attention back to the computer, leaving Schwoz to happily do whatever he was doing - releasing irritating wannabe sidekicks without wiping their memories. All that jazz. 

"Hey, sweet girl..." the man muttered, a pang of happiness hitting his heart when she curled around him. Seeing her on her feet and knowing she'd stopped crying was good, but he wouldn't rest until everything was normal. They had a wedding to attend at some point, and there was still a seat with Henry Hart's name on it. 

"Whatcha doin'?" Bose asked before (y/n) could, staring at the computer and making Ray jump because he was too lost in his work and lover to notice him. God, that kid was quiet...

"Buying a school," he replied after some debate, wondering if he should tell his darling girl when she was so teary, but he couldn't hide what was splashed across his monitors. It sounded stupid, but it was part of his master plan to get his youngest sidekick back, so he didn't expect anyone to understand. After all, a desperate man seemed insane to anyone else. 

"A school? Why, Ray? Why?" (y/n) asked, tilting her head to the side as she studied the buildings he'd listed on-screen. This wasn't a whimsical purchase; some were listed for millions of dollars, and she wasn't sure if she wanted to ask where he was getting the money--or why a school would help them. 

"A school of fish? Good idea," the child beside them said solemnly, baffling them with his overactive imagination. Out of everything he could've thought of, that's what he went with?

"You gonna ride 'em or race 'em?"

"No, it's a school for people," Ray told him, thinking he'd found another weirdo as he kept scrolling, kissing his girl's cheek. He hadn't returned the gesture when she did it, and he really needed the affection, feeling abandoned and loveless after Henry's loss. 

"Good idea. You gonna ride 'em or race 'em?"

"What? No, I'm buying a fake school so that when Henry comes crawling back in, begging me for his job--" Ray explained, losing (y/n) as she failed to see his logic. A fake school - what would that do? She wanted to ask or at least let him finish. But, Schwoz had other ideas, sneaking up to the supercomputer with the Memory-Wiper in hand to complete his task. 

"One last memory to wipe!" He exclaimed, aiming the contraption at Bose, who, unlike the others, didn't run, scream, or cower when faced with losing everything they'd ever known. He just stood there, showing off his dimpled smile like he didn't have a care in the world - (y/n) almost wanted to tell Schwoz to spare him, not knowing the genius had already done so with one little boy. 

"Won't take long. Not a whole lot going on in the old...um..."

"Brain?" She said for him when Bose stumbled, tapping his forehead like he couldn't remember what gave him his limited intelligence. 

"No..." The boy shook his head, thinking harder as the correct word escaped his grasp. 

"Head?" Ray suggested, thinking that he was dumb but not this dumb. It was embarrassing...and something would pop if the kid thought anymore. 

"No... What was the first one?"

"Brain?" (y/n) said, wondering if she'd displeased some god and was trapped in an eternal hell with the world's slowest child and her heart in tatters. 

"No..." Bose shook his head again, and Schwoz took that as the final straw. He took aim, ready to fire the green beam at the kid and get him out of the Man Cave, but suddenly Ray had a thought. As much as he wanted to be free of the troublesome boy, there was a small problem, and although it pained him, he couldn't let the genius carry on. 

"Wait, wait, hang on, hang on..." he groaned, rubbing his tired eyes with his thumbs, "If I'm gonna get my statue, we gotta return this kid like we found him."

"Sitting down! On it!" Bose grinned, quickly diving into the computer chair after Ray stood up, pulling his sweet girl against his chest. He needed some time to think and hug her, always coming up with his better ideas when she was in his arms--or more like, (y/n) ended up thinking of something for him. 

"Hmmm..." the woman paused, rubbing her little grey cells together before leaning up for a kiss. She needed his peppermint-bubblegum flavour to kickstart some inspiration in her. After lingering for a few seconds and licking at his lips, it struck her, making her face light up in a way Ray adored. 

"Schwoz..." she said, turning to the genius with a crazy but not impossible idea.

"How hard would it be to alter the Memory-Wiper so it only erases specific memories? Like only memories involving me, Ray, or things we've said or done?"

"Yeah, there's a setting right here," Schwoz shrugged, ignoring her question and turning it into a statement as he casually pointed to a small button on the device's main body. The couple stared at it, blinked a few times, and looked back at him, wondering who would strangle him first because what the fuck? Did they hear him correctly? A setting?

"I'm sorry, what?" Ray asked in a tight, polite voice. Hopefully, he'd heard him wrong; that way, Schwoz would keep his life and head on his shoulders. 

"It's easy! I can adjust this setting, and it will only wipe the memories of you," he replied, not knowing what he'd said to make them look like that. He'd used it many times before; it wasn't his fault they'd never noticed. 

"Then why the hell haven't we been doing that this whole time, Schwoz?! Do you know how many vegetables we've had to dump on street corners because of this thing?!" (y/n) exclaimed, angrily pointing her finger at the wretched invention. Karma was gonna get her for all those poor souls they destroyed, not that Schwoz cared--rather, the opposite. 

"'Cause it's so funny! Oh, no! I don't know who I am! I've lost all knowledge of my life and the people who love me!" He chuckled mockingly, imitating the idiots who were dumb enough to stumble across Captain Man's secrets. 

It didn't affect him, so why should he care? In fact, Ray agreed with him, breaking out into a fit of giggles with Bose that had (y/n) slapping their arms and frowning at them. She had to scold them; someone had to keep them in line, but she was so busy being responsible, and they were so busy being slightly evil that no one noticed the strange thing happening behind them. 

"That's true... So funny."

"No, it's not, you doofus!" (y/n) said, too fixated on his rugged handsomeness and the stress of wiping a child's memory that she didn't see the thick, leafy vines lowering from the ceiling. 

"Schwoz, just wipe his memories of me and Ray. Just me and Ray, okay?"

"Got it!" The small man nodded, flicking a few switches to adjust the setting as Bose stood still. He didn't have much going on in his brain, so he would face anything with naïve bravery, meaning all Ray had to do was step back and shield his sweet girl's view. She never liked watching...

Backing away from the two, Ray and (y/n) didn't watch where they were going, their gazes fixed on Schwoz and Bose. Their boots hit the vines, which had been twisted and tied, so there were two loops at the end, and by then, it was too late. They were snagged before they knew what was happening, turning the world upside down as it hauled them off their feet. 

"Ayyyyyeee!" Schwoz shrieked at the surprise attack, but the figure that dropped from the ceiling turned his blood to ice. He was tall, dark, and menacing, dressed in black clothing with a face that could turn milk sour. This day had been a long time coming, but it had finally arrived...and it began with swiping Captain Man and Miss Danger's laser remotes. 

Two orange bolts sent Schwoz and Bose to the floor, perfectly unconscious and harmless, as the man grabbed the hero by his shoulder and turned his face to his. What (y/n) saw frightened her because she'd written him off as a forgotten, faceless ghost she only ever saw in her nightmares. He wasn't supposed to exist anymore, yet here he was...as much of a bastard as the day she met him. 

Infiltrating Kid Danger's house was easy, but he'd always thought the Man Cave would be more challenging. Still, it was nice to see that the old man had lowered his guard after so many years--walking himself and his precious cupcake into his trap without any encouragement. 

"Remember me?" He growled, smirking at Ray's pale face as he clawed for breath, reeling from the second punch to his gut that day. His hand felt for (y/n)'s, instinctively fighting to protect her, even whilst hanging upside down, but it was useless. She was flailing just as much as he was, trying to kick, punch, and run away simultaneously. 

One word fell from her mouth, a whimper escaping at the vulnerable position she found herself in. She'd always sworn that he'd never get the better of her again, but he tricked them. Goddamn it, he tricked them, and she knew his game - head over heels for him, just as he liked her. 

How could she forget the bastard that left her in ruins? He stood before her, foul breath hitting her face as he reached to cruelly grab her jaw, twisting her face to look at him. He wanted the great Captain Man and the woman he stole--the woman he lusted for--to witness his eternal glory. 

All he'd ever taught her was pain and misery, making her relive it as a sick grin jerked across the bastard's face when she whispered...

"Drex."

[thisandthat-whatever]

I will be 100 years old and still waiting for American and British movies and TV shows stop presenting the same dirtied-up, rankiest, disgusting parts of Istanbul because that is what they view Turks and Türkiye as, an “ethnic” and “different” place when in fact majority of Istanbul is NOT what they show and is actually no different than any western city, but they serve to their audience what they “think” Turkey is like instead of what Turkey is really like.

It is the same stupid shit as when someone asks if we ride camels or if Turkey is a desert country.🙄 🤪 No, this is not Saudi fucking Arabia. We don’t have no freaking desert. It has more greenery and lush mountains than your country.

And majority of buildings in Istanbul are super modern, not some rundown , decaying old buildings they show on the foreign movies/shows that don’t even look like Istanbul but that is what ignorant people want to view Istanbul to be as.

I am just tired of it happening ALL THE TIME. Like I re-subscribed to Apple+ today and was watching the first episode of the third season of Slow Horses, and again predictably it was shot in some ugly ass, dirty , decaying building in the nastiest part of the city which in my many years of living in that city I never went to, but you know, who cares about truth of the city when you have an “old ethnic” image you have been serving to your worldwide audience for many many decades. Every single time, same thing happens. Different movie/TV show, but the same disgusting two or three places they always shoot it at when the city is actually nothing like that and is a stunning and gigantic city. I am just tired of it so much so that at this point I cringe when I read a plot line on an American or British movie/TV show that has a few scenes in Turkey because those damn producers and directors are so predictable. 🙄🙄🙄

I am on the first episode of the third season of Slow Horses. Hopefully those first few scenes are all the scenes that “take place” in Istanbul because I want to be able to watch the rest of the season without cringing .

And do me a favor, American/British filmmakers , don’t shoot any more shit in Turkey from now on. Every single time you still do this lazy thing that reeks negative propaganda and I can’t take it any more. …. Just kindly stay away; cheerio. ✋

[sinvulkt]

Terror in War, Ornament in Peace by WerewolvesAreReal ( @werewolves-are-real )

After bringing the cure to France, Napoleon points out that the execution of a Chinese prince - even an adopted one - may well spark a war between China and England. Laurence grudgingly agrees to stay in France with the expectation that he and Temeraire will live a long and boring life away from any fighting, but he doesn't expect Napoleon's persistence. Completed, 53k words.

Chap 1:

“Temeraire,” acknowledges the Emperor; he is mounted, and he and Lien depart. Temeraire has gone very still. “Laurence,” he says quietly. “I am sorry. It was not my intention - “ “Hang it all,” Laurence says. “We are traitors.” And, finally, he puts his head in his hands and weeps.

Chap 2:

On the field soldiers brandish their bayonets and rush at the enemy. Screams and cries of pain rise with renewed energy. Those who cannot reach any foe simply raise their swords in salute. Vive L'Emperour. Laurence closing his eyes and leans back his head. Chosen, Murat said. He takes a breath. The cheers are endless, endless. It is, he thinks, not terrible to be deluded. And beside him Harcourt says, “Oh, Laurence - What have you done?”

[...]

Laurence stiffens. He half-turns to where Napoléon is smiling pleasantly at the watching assemblage. His mind scrambles, but at last he swallows past the sudden dryness in his throat. “Mother,” he says. “I introduce to you His Imperial Highness Napoléon Bonaparte – Lady Allendale, Napoléon.”

[...]

Someone in the crowd steps forward. He is carrying in his limp grip a dinner knife, dull and greasy, as one might use for chicken or turkey. “God, we will not have it,” he says. “We will not just stand here - “ Laurence pulls out his sword and steps in front of the Emperor. “Sir, I would not advise that,” he says grimly. Silence stretches on. People are shifting away, but the overwhelming aura is not one of anger – not one of rebellion. It is fear. No one else tries to challenge them *** “Why the devil would you bring him?” George asks. They are standing in the kitchen. Frightened servants duck around them, more than necessarily need to be present; no one wants to be in the main hall right now where Napoléon is making his rounds and trying to charm his resentful new subjects. “It was hardly a matter of choice; he invited himself.”

[...]

“No. I have considered the matter at length, and I shall send along my brother Louis when the time comes. He has made noises about courting, though I do not think he will truly enjoy it; there are many rumors that he prefers the company of men.” “ - I see,” Laurence manages. [...] “Do you never break tradition?” “With good motive,” say Laurence unthinkingly. “Then you shall have it,” says Napoléon, “If it shall take me a hundred years to convince you of the fact.” Stepping closer, he touches Laurence's neck before leaning in and kissing his cheek so closely that his lips skim the corner of his mouth. Laurence says nothing; without another word Napoléon exits, and the door clicks quietly behind him. Laurence is not a fool. Slow in the realization, perhaps, but not a fool. He stares at the shut door, and as his wits return he can only think to say: “Oh, damn it all.”

[...]

“I am a traitor,” Laurence says. “Well, yes,” says Granby. He pours himself a cup of tea – ignoring Gardinier's cluck of disapproval from long habit – and sits down at the nearby table with Laurence and Tharkay. “No – I am a traitor.” Granby looks at him a moment. He blinks slowly. “Oh,” he says. Tharkay... sighs. “Will. Are you only just learning this?”

[...]

It has been settled,” Napoléon says. “ - We are going to war with Spain. I would be gratified, dear William, to have you by my side in that campaign – to have you as a Marshal of France. Will you oblige me in this?” Laurence says nothing for a moment. “How could I do otherwise?” he says at last. Napoléon smiles and pours him another drink. Laurence looks into his glass for a moment, thinking of England, his family, his old vows lost and forsaken. He drains the glass and thinks of France.

[will-you-pick-me]

my mc is going to be the most innocuous person and then they open up the can of worms that is it's crazy, im SO excited !!!! also the yn playlist is so fun already eheheee!!! Here's a specific question for each of them: ideal outing?

Super glad you're enjoying the playlist! A few songs are references to how the LI's treat them in their bad endings... I wonder if you can figure out who had what ;3 And yessss I LIVE for an unhinged Y/N, make him WORSE honey!!! Or become the worst... Y/N is only one character away from "yan", after all >:3c

As for ideal outings---

Mikey is the stereotypical take-you-on-a-joyride-on-his-motorcycle-and-paint-the-town-red type of guy. Go movie hopping, steal snacks from a convenience store, maybe tag a rich guys house with some spraypaint - it's chaos, but DAMN do you feel alive while doing it.

Ulrich will likely just take you out shopping, until you have a fancy enough outfit - WITH accessories, and a handbag if you're femme, he's not a plebian - and then it's off to the hairstylist, and only THEN will he take you out to dinner. And it's a ridiculously fancy place, too - crystal chandelier hanging over a dancefloor, each table only meant for two, the linens probably the brightest and cleanest white you've ever seen, and at least one of the walls is entirely dedicated to an expensive-looking wine collection. It's easy for most average people to feel stifled and uncomfortable in a place like this, especially knowing you probably would have been treated like you were homeless if you'd shown up in your normal clothes. If Ulrich noticed your discomfort though, it's impossible to tell - he carries on with dinner as if you're just another one of the business officials he works with.

Zach is perfectly happy to just stay at home with you. They have plenty to offer right in their own living room, after all, so unless you ask for something specific and bring your own ideas to the table, they're not going out of their way to leave the nest. They feel much more comfortable when they know you're here, and safe, anyways. But if there's nowhere you want to go explore, then go ahead and pick out a movie or TV show, and they'll gladly tuck you into chunky yarn blankets and bring you your favorite hot drink.

Jessica, it depends on the season. In colder weather, she's reluctant to leave the fireside, preferring to sit in the flame's light with you in peaceful silence with a good book. But when warmer weather hits, she's all revved up to get outside, see the sun, hear the birds, and maybe even do a little foraging for wild raspberries - they taste SO much better than those bloated things in the store, trust her - and to visit faires and carnivals and parks.

Jack is a little bit of a yes-man - he'll automatically defer to anything you want to do, but if you insist that you want to do something he enjoys... You're paying a visit to the woods with him. Now might be a good time to keep an eye out for any other signs of life. ... I mean, wildlife is beautiful, right? Imagine seeing a wild deer or turkey after all! Ahahaha...

Narrator will also be content doing whatever makes you happy, as long as he gets to hold you and reassure himself that this is really real. Assuming this is after you set him free, then being outdoors where there's wind and sun will be his favorite thing - but even the moon and stars will hold importance to him, even if the inky black they swim in reminds him of the void. You might catch him pausing to just touch all the plants, a quiet sort of wonder and awe in his expression. You might also recognize that expression from when he looks at you.

[trashcanflagic]

Food fight

Danny wondered why he thought anything would be any different.  He sometimes wondered if the only reason Sam and Tucker hung out was because of him.  They two had started the same argument they did in freshman year, basically the day after he died!  Danny didn’t know why he expected anything different to happen. 

He thought that maybe by moving away from Amity and all the stress from highschool would help.  He thought that maybe if they moved to a city with its own heroes, they wouldn’t have to do anything or worry.  He thought that maybe they would be able to have a normal college experience.  But of course, his damn Fenton luck caused this.  

The fight had escalated, there was no coming down from this.  He was exhausted and couldn’t deal with this.  His ghost sense went off and he almost cried, too tired to put up with anything.  He felt a gentle hand on his shoulder.  “Don’t worry love.  I’ll take care of these troublemakers.  Interrupting lunch…those hooligans…”  Lunch Lady said.

When Sam and Tucker turned to him, asking his opinion, he glared, eyes flashing green.  He stood up with his bag.  He pointed and they turned, spotting Lunch floating there, drumming her fingers on her arm, glaring.  Danny then disappeared, leaving the cafeteria and going ghost, flying off.  Sam and Tucker looked at one another and back to Lunch.  “Shit…”  They said.  

“You should all be ashamed for interrupting lunch!  Lunch is sacred!”  She yelled, raising her arm as meat surrounded her.

Sam and Tucker quickly dodged the meat she launched, years of practice giving them a leg up.  They had to find Danny.  “What the heck is that?!”  Poison Ivy yelled, blocking the meat with a plant.  

Nightwing dodged, as did Red Robin.  Sam and Tucker chose to leave, running off to search for Danny.  “Hey wait!  You know her!  What is she?!”  Red Robin yelled.

Sam and Tucker ignored him, leaving the cafeteria.  Lunch glared at the two of them but refocused on the people in front of her.  Some students kept eating in peace so she gave them a cookie for their troubles.  They thanked her.  

Danny landed on a building, switching back to human form.  He sighed and sat down, pulling out his laptop and notebook.  Might as well get something done while he stayed away.  His phone was buzzing but he ignored it.  His ghost sense went off.  He looked up.  A cookie appeared in front of him.  He smiled, taking it from the air in front of him.  He felt something ruffle his hair.  He chuckled and began to munch on the cookie.  

Red Robin and Nightwing were trying to deal with the meat monster.  Ivy and Waylon ran, leaving the two vigilantes to handle the problem.  They called in assistance, the fight having moved outside.  They couldn’t even touch the woman.  Nothing they did worked.  It just went through her.  She glared, slapping Nightwing with a steak.  She grabbed Red Robin around the ankles with sausage, throwing him across the street. 

Signal was the first to show up to assist and he was rightfully confused.  A flying, somewhat transparent woman with the ability to control meat was attacking.  That checks out.  Just a normal day in Gotham.  She was bright as well, a strange glow in his vision.  Batman showed up next, equally confused.  Nothing they did worked at all.  The woman just got angrier, yelling about them disrupting lunch, how food fights were not allowed.  “If food fights aren't allowed then what are you doing?!”  Red Hood yelled as he arrived.

She instantly threw a whole turkey at him, sending him crashing to the ground.  Batman helped him up.  They were all covered in meat juice at this point, the ground slippery.  Civilians were confused and scared.  How were they supposed to beat something they couldn’t even hit?!

Sam and Tucker were looking for Danny, frantic.  The boy just vanished and they realized their mistake.  They had promised each other they wouldn’t do this anymore, they wouldn’t pull Danny into their arguments, they wouldn’t have arguments.  Or at least they wouldn’t let them escalate to where they did.  But they did, and Danny ran off.  “I think I found him!”  Tucker said, holding his PDA.

They were lucky that Tucker saved his ecto signature in the PDA.  They began to go to the location.  The dot moved.  They paused.  They scowled at it.  Danny probably saw them coming and was still annoyed.  They didn’t blame him.  They had been trying to text him and call him, but he didn’t respond.  They heard a noise behind them and turned around, spotting Danny sitting on a ledge, leg dangling, eyes glowing slightly, an unimpressed look on his face.  “Danny…”  Sam started.

“Ah.  If you are going to ask me whose side I’m on, you can go ahead and shut up.  I’m so tired of this.”  Danny said, holding up his hand.

“Look dude.  We are so sorry…”  Tucker said.

“You always say that!  Yet shit like this keeps happening!  I sometimes wonder if you two even like each other!  You're always fighting and I can’t take it anymore!”  Danny cried, pulling on his hair.  

They both realized just how stressed he looked.  The boy had been walking on eggshells and finally broke one.  He was just so tired.

“I don’t want another empty apology.”  Danny said.

“Then we will give you a promise.  We promise to never, ever drag you into our arguments.  We promise to make sure they never end up like this.”  Sam said, taking Danny’s hands.

“We promise to do better with not having these arguments in the first place.”  Tucker added, putting a hand on Danny’s shoulder.

Danny smiled.  He could take improvement.  He could take work in progress.  He hugged the two of them.  His eyes widened.  “You two left Lunch to terrorize the vigilantes…”  He said.

“Fuck…we did.”  Sam said.

Danny facepalmed, white rings traveling him as he switched into ghost form.  He sighed, running a hand through his white hair.  “I’m just gonna go tell her to knock it off.”  Danny said, floating up.

Sam and Tucker nodded as Danny flew off.  

The bats were at a loss for what to do.  The floating meat controlling lady was causing chaos.  Ham and steaks layed on the street as she continued to attack them.  They didn’t know what to do.  All of a sudden a green blast of energy shot the arm of meat that was coming down at them.  “Hey Lunch, knock it off please?  I really don’t want to do this.”  An echoing voice said.

Lunch Lady looked up at the floating boy.  She smiled and floated up to him.  She handed him a cookie, patting his head.  She opened a portal and went through, leaving the floating boy.  He looked at the heroes, cookie in hand.  “Seriously?  Aren’t you guys like, professionals?  How could you not deal with her?  She was my first opponent, and she wasn’t even trying.  She was just upset.”  The flying glowing boy said, white hair blowing in a wind that wasn't there.

The boy took a bite of the cookie.  The vigilantes started trying to ask questions.  He groaned and held up a hand.  He finished his cookie, gave them a peace sign, and flew off.  The bats were left wondering what the hell just happened.

New place, same fight

Danny loves his friends, they have been with him since they were little and they have experienced too many things together, things that have helped them grow, things that only strengthen their friendship. Because Sam and Tucker were everything to him, as he was everything to them.

But at the same time, Danny could admit that he hated his friends; not always, but there were times where they wouldn't stop fighting, where they forced him to choose. The halfa could understand, Sam and Tucker had different world views, they saw different things and occasionally Danny thought they only got along because of him.

That was okay, he learned to live with them, to be the center of their arguments. And when they moved from Amity to Gotham, when they decided to rent an apartment together and go to the same college (which miraculously had all their majors), he thought everything would be fine.

It was idiotic of him. Because at the time he could only see a repeat of what had happened in high school; Sam was having a protest about the cafeteria menu and Tucker had organized the meat lovers (again), and the halfa knew how it was all going to end.

The point is, Danny was tired of repeating the same cycle, a cycle that apparently included Waylon and Poison Ivy fighting in the cafeteria at his new college (and how the hell did his friends manage to get the Rogues of Gotham into their fights?), so when he saw the people in bat suits he exploded.

When Sam and Tucker turned to ask his opinion he shook his head, pointed at Lunch Lady, who had her arms crossed and decided it wasn't his problem before disappear. Literally, no matter if half of Gotham was calling him meta, he was tired.

Red Robin gawked at him before turning his attention to Lunch Lady, who was gathering all the meat around her to form a giant meat monster. And Danny decided it wasn't his problem.

Apparently, Sam and Tucker decided that the bats could take care of it before they looked worried and started looking for Danny. It became obvious that the bats needed help when Danny looked at a giant meat monster two hours later, the halfa arched an eyebrow in dismay, weren't they supposed to be professional heroes? Lunch wasn't even trying...

[keefwho]

March 13 - 2024 Wednesday

10:51pm

5/10

This morning before cleaning I found out that the damn insurance that doesn't even cover me charged me again so I might have to cancel my card. I tried joining Bramble's server while cleaning but she left instantly because she was feeling sick. I put away my clothes, vacuumed, and took out the garbage. Breakfast was corned beef hash, an egg, and toast with a bunch of onions and bell peppers.

For work I lacked direction with warmups as usual. I want to refine what it is I'm actually trying to do with my warmups aside from loosening up my hand and mind. It used to be for studying so I could try that again. Also commission sketching but I should probably save that for commission time. I also finished that commission today. We couldn't watch Ed because of poor internet.

After work I used the bathroom and did my workout. Like last time I put on my workout playlist and jogged for every other song. I think I got unlucky and all the jog songs were longer than the walking ones. It meant I got those 4 miles in pretty quickly though. I was winded. I took my shower without my phone to get some mental peace. It's something I was afraid of but I don't want to be so thats why I did it. For lunch I made tuna stew using the nasty oil tuna. It turned out edible, but not great. 5/10. It filled me up at least. I watched Turkey play Minecraft with this guy while I cooked and ate. Then I drew today's request. I left while working on my animation because the call got kinda loud and she switched to Valorant. I drew on my own for awhile. When I was done I meant to work on Aether's avatar in call for him but he wasn't online yet and I wasn't feeling great both mentally and physically. I put a tiny bit of time into his avatar before stopping for the day. I was so tired at this point from my workout and work.

I decided like yesterday that I'd try to get in VRchat and socialize to keep myself from spiraling. It didn't work very well this time. I had trouble maintaining perspective, partly because I was so focused on how NOT to talk about my problems/headspace. Also there were some VERY annoying people clogging up the conversations I was trying to have. This one person actually would not stop talking about their life, no one was able to get a word in. Boodle joined who I was excited to try and talk to but I couldn't with this person around. This person and their friend both stuck around the whole time until Boodle left and then I left because I couldn't put up with them anymore, as much as I wanted company. I figured with how I felt that maybe I needed some quiet time, at least until Daisy got on.

When she got on we watched the next Monster High which was good as usual. Then a Chris Chan reading but unfortunately this was the last issue of Sonichu. In bed we did puzzles and Kingdom Hearts. I tried joining Boodle after Daisy fell asleep just to say hi but she must be busy. Other than that I've sat here trying not to think so much and enjoy the silence.

~~~

Today I had a bad case of feeling like everything is stagnant. There was a time loop situation in the Monster High episode today and I realized thats kinda how I feel in my day to day life. I had that same sort of dread of being unable to move forward and everything losing meaning because of it. Tomorrow, I don't know how but I wanna try to start reconnecting with why I even draw. The other thing I've been thinking about is my values and what I live for. All I know right now is that I want to be a good friend which has helped me stay focused the past few days. Hopefully I can find another intrinsic motivation to pull from and guide my life forward.

3 things I liked about today:

Finishing my workout.

Minecraft with Turkey.

Kingdom Hearts with Daisy.

[father-time-and-baby-new-year]

Hey bestie can u make a eren x reader one shot where eren just won’t let the reader move on🙃

thank u anon for this lovely idea

scumbag!eren x crybaby!fem!reader

WARNINGS: dubcon/noncon, past toxic relationship, slut-shaming, possessive behavior, yandere tendencies,

WC: 1.8k

He pins your wrists against the dingy bathroom tiles with an unrelenting grip, and you swear you've never felt more claustrophobic in your life.

The dark-haired boy eyes the glitter on your cheekbones, the neon-colored eyeliner, the rogue on your lips, and the black satin of your mini dress exposing a substantial amount of plush thighs. He's never seen you like this-never allowed you like this before.

You almost feel like uncharted territory but nothing escapes his observant nature. From the tremble of your lips, and the water starting to collect in your lower lash lines, Eren knows this you. Maybe not who you were pretending to be in the strappy heels, low neckline, and the party-girl masquerade you put on in front of your shallow ditzy friends, but he knows who you really are. Vulnerable. Scared of your own shadow.

"E-eren,' You stammer, "Please let me go." You try not to think about the voice cracks, trying to sound as assertive as you could without meeting his eyes. Eren, of course, thinks you look like a baby mouse. Hopeless and trapped.

"Don’t you miss me?" He mummers into the nape of your neck. You have an explosive No prepared in the roof of your mouth, ready to sound out the single syllable, until his hand, adorned with chunky silver rings, covers your mouth, muffling your whimpers. You could taste the metal.

“It’s a rhetorical question.” He’s smirking, green eyes lit up dangerously under the too-white bright lights, “Let me talk okay? I just want you to listen.”

All you’ve ever been doing is letting him walk and talk over you. And then when you finally got the nerve to stand up for yourself-

“I haven’t seen you the past three months” his low voice interrupts your contemplation, “It’s like you’ve been ignoring me.” He finishes flatly, his thin lips stretched into a line. His multitude of ear piercings catches the light, glinting sharply.

It’s too overpowering, his close proximity after going cold turkey. His presence is like a drag of a cigarette after not smoking for months. Hurts your lungs but the remnants of what you used to feel with the sudden rush of nicotine bubbling up again. Because when all is said and done, you’re still deliriously attracted to him. And you hate yourself for it.

You try to focus on the other sensations, sensations that aren’t busy on the feel of his warm breath or his hands holding yours down. You can still hear the song playing from the club.

All my bitches feel like I dodged the county

Fucking with you feel like jail n——-

Yeah, it really did.

Changing tactics, he holds you by your neck instead, giving your aching wrists sweet relief but that relief is nothing compared to the panic of having his beefy hand on your thrumming pulse.

His grasp wasn’t tight. You could breathe, but it was the kind of tight that let you know he would go tighter if you didn’t listen properly. React properly.

“You’re fucking ignoring me again” he’s practically growling the words out, baring all teeth, “I know I’m pretty difficult to tune out, so I would like to know what the fuck you’re thinking about.”

His hand leaves your delicate throat- his knee between your thighs keeps you in place- to roam down the satin of your dress, the fabric clinging to every curve. You hate how scrutinizing his viridian eyes are, feeling a wave of insecurity wash over the previous hot-girl-summer confidence.

He hated how good you looked on the dance floor, laughing with your stupid friends like you had lost all your inhibitions. Hated that you looked so good, everyone could see it. Hated how you didn't notice his eyes boring holes into you. Do you remember the time how you used to be hyper-focused around him? Aware of every movement, aware of every tonal shift?

And now you didn't even look at him.

"Are you thinking of other guys? I saw you grinding on those men like a slut." He presses his body deeper, "Have you fucked any other guys since we broke up? You must have. I know how slutty your pussy is"

You bite down on his hand. Hard.

You're counting on his reflexes, for him to retract his hand and give you an opportunity to run to the door. But Eren has been fighting for years and predicts your maneuver. With a calculated sidestep, Eren lets go of his hand, before promptly slamming you against the bathroom wall again but this time front-first.

Clouds dance in your vision, and you're sure you would have fallen by now if not for him holding you up. Eren uses this newfound position to his advantage by groping your ass, rutting his dick against your backside.

Deciding to be petty, you let the spite-coated venom escape your pretty lips, "Yeah. I fucked so many boys, and they were so much better than y-"

Anger blinded him. Roughly, he turned you around to face him once more, forcing you to look up at the green-eyed monster. He flipped your dress up, nearly ripping it during the process, shoved your lacy panty aside, and plunged his fingers inside. He felt a visceral sense of validation course through him at finding wetness coating his slender fingers to your utter mortification.

"Liar. I know you haven't been fucking anyone else." His smile is all teeth, pearly white and sharp,

You gulp, feeling sweat beading down your neck and arousal pooling at the bottom of your stomach. Damn yourself.

"You don't know that."

He looks almost feral, green eyes in slits and hair all mussed up, falling out of his usual bun. The top few buttons of his black button-up are left unfastened giving you a gracious view of his smooth muscular chest, and the dangling silver cross-chain.

"No, I do. See a little birdie told me all you've been doing the past few months is crying yourself to sleep, and eating frozen meals. This is the first time you've been out since I broke up with you, huh?" Condescension drips with every word.

He thumbs away the tear falling down your cheek with a mocking kindness and adds, "There, there. Don't cry. Good thing I happened to be here tonight, right?"

You're full-blown crying now, too upset to care if you're smudging your make-up. This is the real you. This is how Eren remembers you.

"Awe, my precious little crybaby, don't worry. You came here tonight looking for dick? I'll give it to you. It's okay," He coos, breath tickling the shell of your sensitive ears. Well, every part of you felt sensitive right now.

You're rubbing your eyes, sniffling, "E-exactly. You b-broke up with me, so why are you here? Why can't you just let me be?"

The dark-haired boy sighs, and with an uncharacteristic softness, leans his head down to press his forehead against yours, and intertwines his hand with yours, noses almost touching.

"To be honest, it was just to teach you a lesson." A soft exhale, "I didn't think you'd actually stay broken up with me." He's crushing your fingers now, "Didn't think we'd be broken up with for real."

Your eyes flash with indignation, feeling your body surge with an emotion you couldn't qualify, "I don't care. Yeah, I was sad but god, you were a terrible boyfriend! I'm so much better off without you. All those lonely nights are still better than any night I've ever had with you!"

You're breathless by the time you're done.

"Done with your little monologue?"*

You can feel your shoulders shaking, and you almost want to laugh from the indecorousness of it all. How could he not care? Was this how little you mattered to him?

"I know you're lying because" Without any preamble, he shoves his fingers inside of you again, finding that spongy spot that made your knees weak, eliciting a soft moan from your downturned mouth, "You're wet. And you want me."

"In fact," an edge of excitement colors his voice, "I bet your insides are still molded to fit my dick."

It's hard to talk when one thumb is violently brushing over your clit, and his tongue is forced into your mouth, drowning any whines of protests. You close your eyes, focusing and unfocusing. A hand snakes up your dress to fondle your tits and tease your perky nipples.

It's just one sensation over another, and your sex-deprived body was welcoming all these feelings with open arms. Eren knows your body like it came with an instruction manual and that manual advised him to bite your earlobe, which was especially sensitive. He knew where on your collarbone you liked to be marked, how hard you wanted your nipples pinched, and how you could ride his face with complete abandon.

But right now, he didn't want to pleasure you. He's coaxed enough orgasms out of you throughout your relationship.

He unbuckles his belt and frees his long slender cock, the head a flushed angry red, dribbling with precum. He lines his full-mast cock to your entrance. Fully alert as to what was about to happen, pretty pleas of "no Eren, please don't, no" are falling out of your mouth, wide starlit eyes dotted with pearlescent tears. He kisses the top of your head like the way he always used to.

And then he thrusts himself inside. You give up so easily, he thinks. Do you even realize how you're swinging your hips on your own accord? How you're wrapping your lush legs around his waist to pull him deeper?

His pace is ruthless, making your head bob up and down. Moans and grunts drown out the music from the club. You're begging him to slow down.

"You're mine. Always mine. Always were. Can't fucking believe you really thought-" He doesn't even finish his thought because a violent shudder rips throughout his body.

Your nails are digging into his back, so sharp it could have been clawed. You could feel yourself right on the edge-

The door shakes to reveal a tall young man with slicked-back blond hair with a frat-boy laugh.

"Holy shit! Eren?!"

fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckcufkcufkcufckfuckfuckfuckfuc

Shame burns your face. You have no choice but to cover yourself behind Eren's broad frame. You're just hoping to every god he'll go away, and keep this to himself.

Your dark-haired ex-boyfriend turns around to face the blond, "A little busy here, Porco. Shut the door. I'm uh, getting reacquainted with someone."

"Goddamn. Is that ___" You don't even have to look at Porco to recognize how impressed he was.

"Get out Porco." Eren growls.

The door closes with a loud thud.

You're borderline hysterical at this point begging Eren to get out of you, but his grip on your hips is iron-tight.

Outside you hear stunned gasps, but one phrase stands out to your straining ears: "Yeah, I guess they're back together."

Eren kisses the top of your head once more, "After I fuck you, we'll go home together girlfriend."

----------

* {A/N}: This line "Done with your little monologue?" is inspired by this delicious fic by @hotwings0203.

[thatgirlstrawberry]

The Shape Of You

In which Spencer absolutely praises Y/N's body

Spencer Reid x plus size!fem!reader

Request: Hi!! I saw your Spencer November post and I’m veryyy excited!! Can I request a spencer x plus size fem reader with fluffy body worship🥺💗 - @ready-4-spencie

Warnings: talk of insecurity, Fluff, Spencer being an absolute cutie, mentions of sex, lmk if anything was missed! (This one's also a bit of a shorty)

Spencer and Y/N were getting ready for a big Thanksgiving party at Rossi's mansion. Spencer could smell the aroma of Y/N's pumpkin pie scented candles as he tied his tie in front of the long mirror. He smiled as he heard her voice sing from the bathroom where she was getting ready.

Y/N had never been insecure. She never felt the need to. Not even when she was called fat as she was followed through the halls of her school. She was so glad those days were over. They fucking sucked. Now, she was a successful, beautiful and very happy woman who was with the love of her life.

She was always happy that Spencer never seemed to care that she wasn't as skinny or as tiny as the other women that ogled him wherever they went. In fact, he praised her body. He said he liked the way her thighs move in skinny jeans. He liked the way her thighs felt when his head was in between them. He just loved her body no matter what anyone else said.

"Spencer, can you come zip me up?" Y/N called from the bathroom.

The doctor finished tying his tie and ran his fingers through his hair, knowing Y/N would fix it before they left. He opened the door to the bathroom and she was standing there in a satin floor length y/f/c dress. She looked absolutely stunning. Spencer's feet stayed in the doorway, he felt like he couldn't move. He felt like he could honestly just drop dead.

"Well, what are you standing there for silly? Come zip me up." She said, turning her back to him. Spencer gulped and nodded, slowly walking towards her.

He leaned down and kissed her shoulder and put his fingers on the zipper. "Y/N it's taking everything in me not to rip this off of you right now." He whispered.

The woman's brows furrowed. "What? You don't like it?"

"W- No, Y/N I love it." He stuttered. "I think you look so fucking good, baby." He told her.

Y/N bit her lip. "Y-you don't think my stomach looks a little too... out there?" She asked, lightly brushing her hands over her stomach.

"No, of course not Y/N." He told her. It was true. He literally couldn't find anything bad about this woman. "You look great and I think you should think so too."

Y/N smiled at him. "Are you sure? Because I can totally put a jacket over it or some-"

Spencer cut her off by turning her around and kissing her roughly. "You look so damn good, I'm willing to skip this dinner just so I can fuck you in this dress." He said breathlessly after pulling away. Y/N blushed and bit her lip omce more but this time, teasingly at Spencer.

"Too bad your boss is expecting us." She shrugged with a smirk on her lips.

Spencer rolled his eyes with a sigh. "Fine. But when we get back-"

Y/N nodded, narrowing her eyes with a smile. "Oh, I know, Spence. I know."

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

Hey you guys! Injust wanted to thank @ready-4-spencie for this awesome request! I hope it's what you wanted!

Also, I wanted to let you know that each and every single one of you are beautiful. There is no need to change yourself or what you look like unless it's what you feel comfortable doing and want to do.

I love you all and happy turkey month!

Taglist: @spngirl05 @shamelessfangirl-3 @simone1234557 @gspenc @bunny-script @percabethfangirl @peppamultifanimagines @measure-in-pain @starbooty @violetflowerswrites @jenny885108-blog @beepbooptoop @spencerr3id @spookydrreid @sydneekomspacekru @spencersmagic

[pagetreader]

Her correction of professional honorifics was sharper than a blade, causing Levi to flinch as though she’d stabbed him in the gut. Still, this didn’t stop him from replying with a smirk, rolling the cigarette between his middle and ring finger. 

“Ain’t you still legally Mrs. Lieberman? Maybe you ought to fine yourself for using a false surname.” 

Fuck. There was no denying it. Seeing her now forced him to entertain how much he missed her, despite their constant bickering. If anything, their incessant arguing only fueled his adrenaline, making him want to do so more.

Gillian was like a damn drug he’d quit cold turkey – and now he was being handed a whole bag of her god forsaken angel dust. If he had the chance, he’d shoot the lot of it without a second thought. It’s why it was better to just stay the fuck away from each other. They only encouraged each other to make a whole lot of bad decisions. 

"You think this is some kind of joke, Levi? I'm on the clock."

“Oh, my mistake, meter maid,” he replied, feigning remorse before giving a mock bow, “Don’t let me get in the way of you serving justice to petty law breakers. Better get back out there before you fail to deal a ticket to those degenerate, day drinking, double parking house wives down the block at Carlo's.” 

Levi’s jaw tightened, clocking her partner. He was no stranger to the hammer and saw, so he knew Bud White's face. It was possible he’d even spoken to him a time or two in the past. One thing was certain though, he didn’t like cops, and cops sure as fuck didn’t like him. 

"A dime in the meter and you can rip that ticket up. And I'd better make it quick before my coworker reaches us in about thirty seconds."

“Yeah, yeah, your meat-headed sidekick doesn’t scare me, Gill.” Levi sighed, letting his vice balance on his lower lip as he fiddled with his wallet for change, “Let’s just get this square and call it quits. I ain’t got time for unpleasantries.”

"Officer Upshaw," she corrected harshly, her tone all but a snap; she felt almost vindicated, like she was capable of having the upper hand even if it didn't matter at all; just because she used her maiden name at work didn't change the fact her own driver's license read Gillian Leigh Lieberman. She hated this, all of this; the only car on the fucking block parked at an overdue meter and it had to belong to Levi. They'd done a good job; L.A. was a big enough city but with her shifts being thrown around the day-calendar like shit to a fan, it was a wonder they'd managed not to cross paths until now.

Gillian wanted to be infuriated but when Levi carried on with nonchalance, his tone even, taking the time to calmly light a cigarette, she found her anger dissipating if only for a moment; before they'd broken ties, this was a part of him she always liked; the uncharacteristic steadiness.

Her gaze flickered to his lips as he inhaled smoke, her eyes tracing the sharp pattern of his mouth; swallowing, she didn't want to think about his mouth and what it was capable of; about the cruel things they'd said to one another, about the good times when he'd told her sweet nothings, turning her into an affectionate puddle. There was a reason they hadn't stayed living together.

“As if I ain’t capable of feeling torn up over us. Hell really hath no fury like a woman scorned.”

"What?" she set her jaw in irritation, struggling not to roll her eyes, "You think this is some kind of joke, Levi? I'm on the clock."

Ever-aware of her surroundings, she glanced in the direction of where Bud was walking only to catch sight of him circling back, heading in their direction.

"A dime in the meter and you can rip that ticket up. And I'd better make it quick before my coworker reaches us in about thirty seconds."

[ayo-wheres-the-pxprika]

bo sinclair with an s/o who’s a fucking CLOWN and loves to annoy him

summary: this one is for those who simultaneously wish to give Bo a kiss, and also put him in a snow globe and shake it vigorously.

bo sinclair x gn!reader | scenario

word count: 2,292

warnings: atrocious puns; a bit suggestive at certain points, but nothing happens.

reader portrayal: i wanted you to be an absolute scallywag... and a scallywag you shall be.

~ ♡ ~

Bo didn’t know what he was signing himself up for.

When he was smitten by the friendly, cute tourist that passed through Ambrose, when he found himself genuinely smiling and chuckling at this stranger’s jokes and small talk, when he cracked, realizing that he didn’t have the heart to let you die and forced you to stay... 

... he did not expect you to be the biggest dumbass he had ever met.

And he certainly didn’t expect to like it either.

It was a gradual transition. At the beginning you kept your head low, did what you were told, and stayed out of the brothers’ way. You were well aware of your part; a bystander, an outsider, and an unexpected guest granted a twisted act of kindness. However, once you befriended your new housemates and your true colours began to show, the Sinclairs realized that they had awoken something evil.

Pure clownery.

It started off as stupid jokes -- maybe even a small, but lighthearted jab at them from time to time -- but the next thing they knew, they found you attempting to duct-tape yourself to the ceiling. They once came home to the sound of hotdogs exploding in the microwave, accompanied by your shrieks of glory. Your maniacal cackle seemed to constantly echo through town, signaling yet another troublesome act committed.

Lord help him if Lester ever got involved in your antics... whenever he was in town and you guys got together, it was practically Dumbass Central. Tweedledum and Tweedledumber. Absolutely insufferable, the both of you.

Vincent wasn’t any help either, he enabled it. Sometimes Bo would exchange a look with him, silently begging his twin to support him in his efforts to discourage your tomfoolery, but he was always met with that expressionless mask and a shrug. Bo could even tell he was hiding a shit-eating grin behind his mask, that bastard.

You and his brothers were, as you liked to put it, “Ambros 4 Lyfe”, and Bo hated it.

Well, at least he tried his best to hate it. Tried his best to hate you.

You were a menace, but someway, somehow you won Borthalemew Sinclair’s heart along the way.

He’ll never forget the time when, after a long strenuous day of working on stolen abandoned cars and maintaining the town, he arrived home only to be met with you attempting to slide down the staircase with a mattress. You beamed up at him with bright eyes, sitting on your makeshift sled, greeting him with a “Sweetie, hi, c’mon you gotta try this-”

Or the time you made a pun out of ‘beautiful’ with his name, oh how you flattered him. Or how you would always counteract his smartass comments with a joke and a smile. 

That damn smile that made his heart swell every single time. How you managed to cast light upon it, and no matter how much he wanted to shy away from the beams, he couldn’t help but be so drawn to you. Merely a sunflower to your sun, as cliché as it sounded. You always left him with flushed ears, his heart in his throat, and the lingering taste of your kiss on his lips. 

No matter how badly he wanted to push you away, there was one thing he could never deny… you were something special, and he wanted you all to himself.

~ ~ ~

It was around one in the afternoon and you decided to pay your boyfriend a visit in the garage. Vincent was busy, Lester was out of town, and your household chores were done. With nobody else to annoy and nothing else to do, you made some lunch for Bo and headed down to the garage.

The meal was nothing fancy -- a turkey sandwich, some cut-up fruit, and a glass of cool tap water -- but it was put together with love, so that had to count for something. Besides, you couldn’t have Bo overwork himself and forget to eat.

“Hey, it’s me!” You announced as you entered the station, struggling to hold a plate of food, a drink, and open a door at the same time, “You in here, Bo?”

“Yup, in ‘ere.” His voice called from the garage. 

You were met with Bo laying underneath the car, resting on his creeper, only the bottom half of his body visible. It was a position that you had taken advantage of a couple days earlier, when you had pulled him out by his legs and attacked his face with kisses.

As if he could read your mind, he warned, “Don’t... you even think about it,” and tucked his legs inward. He knew you well.

“It’s only funny when you’re not expecting it,” You responded, earning an irritated sigh from him, “but I made you something! Figured you haven’t eaten yet.” You cleared a spot on the cluttered counter nearby, and placed his food down.

“I ‘ppreciate it.” He droned rather absentmindedly, not like it bothered you, you knew how invested he could get in his work. “Could’ja pass me that screwdriver?” His hand appeared from below the car, finger pointing at said tool laying abandoned by the front tire.

“What’s the magic word?”

“The magic word is, could’ja pass me that damn screwdriver?” He retorted. There was no venom in his voice, only the cold, harsh Bo “humour” that you knew and loved -- well, tolerated.

“Ooh, I don’t think I like your tone,” You purred, leaning back against the counter, “wanna try that again?”

You could see the bottom half of Bo’s body stiffen, silence falling upon the two of you for a couple moments, before he thrusted the creeper forward and revealed himself. He sat up, giving you a proper look at his hard stare.

Did he really expect you to take him seriously with that grease stain on his forehead?

“Oh, you won’t like me in a second, darlin’, I’ll tell ya that-” He growled, a wicked grin creeping its way across his face.

“Wow, nice threat, too bad it fucking sucks.” Haha, got ‘em. You switched your tone up a bit, making it clear your intention was to piss him off, not seduce him. 

Bo narrowed his eyes and in one flash of movement, he got to his feet, swiped the screwdriver, and took a brisk stride toward you. You immediately yelped and retreated to one side of the car.

“Aw, hey, nah nah nah nah,” You couldn’t fight the large dumb grin plastered to your face. He had you backing into a corner, but even with the malicious glint in his eye and the screwdriver in his grasp, you knew you weren’t in any danger. If anything, your stomach only twisted and churned in excitement. If he wanted to hurt you, he would have done so a long, long time ago. 

“I was just playing, I promise-” You let out a yelp when you felt your back press up against the wall, effectively trapping yourself. He simply glowered [up/down] at you, watching you crumble under his gaze.

He hovered inches away from your face, “Y’stay outta my way, got it?” he snarled, pointing the tool at your chest. At this point, you knew the difference between Angry Bo and Actually Angry Bo. This was very much the former, which only fueled your confidence (and desire to cause problems).

“Yes, sir.” 

As if that was enough to stop you.

His eyes flicked down to your lips for a split second, then back up to give you one last glare. With a final light jab to your chest, he spun on his heel to continue his work.

‘You fool.’ You thought, did he really think it was going to be that easy? Once his back was turned, an opportunity had presented itself -- oh, it was perfect -- you pushed yourself forward, swung your hand back... 

... and slapped his ass.

He paused.

It wasn’t a cheeky, flirtatious spank. No, no, it was so much more, it was a power move. The sheer magnitude of that ass slap was monstrous.

He turned around so slowly, it was almost comical.

Silence had never sounded so loud before.

Bo looked at you like he had just witnessed you take the fattest shit on his mother’s grave.

You thought of the most heinous thing you could possibly say to him in that moment, and with the fakest pout you could muster, you purred, “Aww, kitten’s grumpy.”

And with that, an atomic bomb materialized out of thin air and (y/n) was absolutely obliterated on the spot. 

You might as well have just strolled right up to Death’s door and kicked it down.

Once he got over his initial shock, Bo’s eyes narrowed into something despicable; it was a predatory gaze that often fell upon the unfortunate tourists who stumbled into his town, once he knew he had them right where he wanted ‘em. 

To you however, that look meant the fun was just about to begin. That look was your cue to make a mad dash to the main room.

“‘Ey!” He barked after you, “(y/n), get yer ass back here, now!”

Man, he was so much fun to piss off.

You had made it to the far end of the checkout counter, taunting him from a safe distance, “Gonna have to catch me first, honey.” Your taunt only made his scowl deepen.

You were either the stupidest person alive, or had some serious balls of steel... and Bo, admittedly, loved that about you. He always liked a good challenge, and he certainly loved a good fight. As much as he wanted to punish you, to ruin you, he couldn’t ignore the weightless feeling in his stomach, nor the exhilarating rush through his veins.

He leered at you from the other end and attempted to circle around to you.

Only for you to circle around the other way.

He walked back around...

Oop, then you were too, lips curled into a devilish grin.

You two found yourselves in the middle, eye-to-eye, only the counter keeping you separated.

“I ain’t your fuckin’ kitten.” He practically spat at you.

“Oh, sorry, is someone feeling a lil’ butthurt?” (Y/n)’s here all night, folks.

The way his expression got more and more exasperated filled you with a sick sense of joy. Call it sadistic but you found it absolutely hilarious. You wondered how long it would take before he snapped- well, look at that, he vaulted over the counter.

Not even a single warning. 

One moment you were safe and sound on your side, the next, this dude was pouncing right at you. 

You let out a squawk, attempting to make a break for the front door, but alas, you felt his strong arms wrap around your waist from behind. The sudden impact caused both of you to tumble into an awkward heap on the ground; Bo on his back, you trapped in his hold, your back to his chest, and your legs tangled together.

“Alright, alright, you got me,” You groaned, chest heaving as you caught your breath.

“You’re real fuckin’ lucky, y’know that?” He drawled, the sinister undertone in his words biting into you, “With all the trouble you’ve caused, I woulda dumped you at Vincent’s door by now.”

“Then… what’s stopping you?” You asked, turning your head to make eye contact with him. You didn’t miss how his breath got caught in his throat, or how his gaze softened as he met yours.

Christ, he loved you.

You were so goddamn infuriating, and his backside stung like a motherfucker, but he loved you. The rush you gave him, how his face would hurt from grinning at your jokes, how he would catch himself chuckling when he recalled one of the many ridiculous things you said.

His favourite, however, was the way you smiled at him. Despite all the things he had said and done, you looked at him like he was worth your heart and soul. 

Bo Sinclair had fallen in love.

“...I think you already know the answer, darlin’.” 

He was right, of course you knew, but you loved hearing him say it. There was nothing you enjoyed more than watching Bo, the volatile, calloused man that he was, turn to putty in your hands. Not because of some power trip, or because you were “taming the beast”, but because you knew he deserved it. He deserved your love. He deserved to have fun for once. 

Not to mention his smile, his real smile, was nothing short of stunning.

His loosened grip allowed you to turn your body and plant a soft kiss on his lips, to which he immediately accepted. It was chaste, no heat or hunger, just an expression of love in its purest form. No longer having the energy to fight it, he allowed himself to melt into you.

Vulnerability was disgusting, but damn did you make it feel so good.

A groan escaped you when he finally parted and pulled you off him, “Come onnn, all that fight just for a small kiss?” 

“Y’want me to starve?” Couldn’t argue with that. 

He pretended not to see you reach your arm out for him to help you up and strolled to the garage, smirking to himself when he heard you huff. It was only fair for him to annoy you back, wasn’t it?

All you could do was send a fond smile to the back of his head, before pulling yourself up and jogging to his side with a “Hey, wait up!”

The game was over, but it wouldn’t be long before your next one began.

.

.

.

“Y’know you got a giant stain on your forehead, right?”

“Fuck off already, will ya?”

~ ♡ ~

(a/n) this is what bo’s bitchass gets for constantly making the reader submit to him in x reader fics. he gets the “kitten” treatment. i cast malice upon ye, boardwalk sinclair.