#thank you for spoiling me with leonard

[izzysarchivedblogs]

@thefleetsfinest

Linda had not initially been part of the away team, she had not been needed at the start of her mornings. It would not be until later in the day while she's worked from her top of priority, gotten to research work that she would be summoned.

On any other day involved would normally see Leonard being beamed down to the planet much to the Chief's grumblings. It had nothing to do with her own capability as she had been front lines and a field physician on her previous assignment. That had everything to do with the Captain's profound trust and respect for the Chief.

Contact with a people, with a civilization, had been made and it had been going well; than a few hours later the Captain had contacted the Bridge that they were offering aid, which than followed with Medical being informed that aid was needed from one of their doctor. . . . with stipulation. The culture had beliefs and law, they needed a lady doctor. Based on the fact, Linda had volunteered and was transported on planet to meet with the Captain and the First Officer.

She understood what she was there to do, what she had to keep in mind and she had told the Captain to worry not and as a doctor one of the thing most important things she needed to have was respect. That had been all been well and fine. Linda had met with the people here's doctors, offered her assistance and was brought in on a private matter.

That was when the day start to unravel, to not make as much sense or maybe her memory ⸻ what the Captain, the entire away team had stumbled into was a civilization under politic unrest and divide thinly masked and aggravated by contact that was invited.

Linda had been the unfortunate victim, the outsider doctor in the room and she had just been trying to help ⸻ that is where her memory fails. That often means trauma, shock, adrenaline; her mind working in ways to protect her. Panic had ensued, a situation that the crew of the Enterprise was not prepared for.

It could not be recalled entirely, but there was pain and blood ⸺ her patient's? She. . . . She had been trying to protect someone ⸺ so the blood ended up being her own. Attacked or a blast ⸺ something with and by what and who? ⸻ Linda starts to stir.

Awakening from unconsciousness brought on by blood loss and. . . . she knows the reasons as to why that could happen. It matters not at the present moment as her eyes are open. Greens meet Leonard, first thing that she sees even before she sees the room. A jolt, startled, as she's not where she last remembers she was.

A hand over hers, the lightest of squeeze and it helps her find focus. Heart rate is up, breathing heavy in momentarily panic. Her lip quivers before she can speak ⸻ CLINT? That's right, he had been a part of this away team and he had. . . . was there, saved her, in the panic and chaos? Thank God for Clint. What else ⸺ it didn't matter she was back on the ship in medical.

HOW YA FEELIN' LIN ⸻ He called her LIN, he's started doing that and Linda's never done nickname before. Does he realize he does that? She likes it. ⸺ REAL SCARE. She was scared too, what was she thinking but it. . . . no other option, the patient.

He called her LIN, and he's right there by her side, she was not alone. How long had he been there? It wasn't just shock making her heart race now. ❝ Le ⸺ Leonard, I, uh, mhn. ❞ She takes a breath, than tries to calm herself down. This was going down as one of the days she could go without. ❝ ⸻ like I had a really bad day, Len. ❞ Just to try it out, he did it with hers and if there was something that should be known about anything about their friendship; she'd go match for match with him.

Linda turns her hand, and lightly grasps at his hand in return. There's a over a dozen questions she has, which she doubts he would have all the answers. ❝ Everyone else, are they okay, and ⸺ and there was someone I was helping, is he? ❞ Start with that, get through the confusion and the residual panic.

❝ I'm sorry. ❞ She didn't mean to scare anyone, but than no one foresaw this. Well, maybe, someone had thought that outsiders like the crew of the Enterprise simply being here might further upset a tense situation. ❝ It was my blood, wasn't it? ❞ a pieced together thought. Least of all she had wanted to worry him.

✧˖° → @oceansfirst

"How ya feelin' Lin? " He had been watching her the ENTIRE time she had been unconscious, from the MOMENT they had beamed her aboard the ship he had been at her side, monitoring and seeing to ALL of her medical care himself. Of course he didn't want to think TOO DEEPLY into all of the why he needed to be the one to do it.

Leonard knew himself all TOO WELL to know that when he got insistent about a person's care when they got sick or injured to this degree.. that meant they were someone IMPORTANT to him, and he knew EXACTLY how and why she was.. but, right now his main concern was making sure SHE WAS OKAY.

God he needed a drink..

"Ya gave everyone a REAL scare there, I thought for sure they were gonna have to claw Clint off the guy."

If he closed his eyes he can still remember all the BLOOD that covered her and Clint who had been the one who had CARRIED her and handed her off to Leonard in the transporter room. They had shared a look, one of PANIC and REASSURANCE mixed together in a silent conversation that they have only ever been able to have.

But she was STABLE..

Without even fully realizing he had done it, his free hand reached out.. finding hers and giving it the GENTLEST of squeezes.

[awkward-tension-art]

Remain By his Side

Chp.2 Chp.3 Chp.4 Chp.5 Chp.6 (Smut) Chp.7 Chp.8 Chp.9

You didn't expect that during your last year in undergrad, your entire life would shift. The military grabbed you, questioned you, and now you were someone they had on their radar.

Your cousin, Sherry, was as well.

And through all of this, you met Leon Kennedy. The man you'd fall in love with, and remain by his side.

~

This is gonna start off rather slow burn, but, and i'm going to go ahead and spoil, that reader and Leon DO get together. I want to write a series on Leon's relationship through out his years because of how his mental state changes through the RE series. also i'm actually a sucker for angst. a lot of angst. Also I didn't proofread, lol.

Enjoy! there will be more chapters added.

warnings: Reader is biologically female, but I try and keep pronouns gender neutral. If i ever slip up, i will need someone to tell me. This chapter has, probably, a lot of military inaccuracies. also a lot of FBI inaccuracies. Reader is a scientist and is Sherry's cousin.

Two people, a man and a woman, had walked into the class you assisted. They were wearing sharp, black suites. Their critical eyes swept over the lecture hall of about 40 undergraduate students. 

Your professor stopped the lecture on microorganisms, “I’ll give you time to write these for your notes,” He said before walking to the back of the hall.

Your attention was taken by a student raising his hand. Looking away from your professor and the strangers, you focused on the student's question. Before you could answer properly, your name was called softly and you looked up, “Keep your question, I’ll be right back.” you told him before walking to where your professor was. 

“Hi, can I help you?” You asked, unsure what was going on. Who were these people? FBI? CIA? Why’d they want to talk to you? You were just in your 4th year at the university. Did you accidentally commit a crime? Did you somehow sneak 3 pounds of heroin across the border in your sleep?

Ok, maybe not. But having two individuals with suits ask for you was weird.

The man, with cool blue eyes and dark brunette hair, confirmed your name before commanding, “Come with us. We need to ask you some questions.” Without waiting, he turned and walked out the door. The woman, a blonde with warm green eyes, followed, but turned back to make sure you were close behind. Luckily, you managed to grab your backpack before leaving.

You heard your professor begin his lecture all over again just as you walked out of the class, “Can you tell me what this is about?” You asked them as you sped up your steps to keep up with them.

“No.” 

“Who are you?” You asked them.

Wordlessly, the woman reached into her pocket and pulled out a shiny metal badge. 

FBI.

FBI?!

You shut the fuck up extremely quick.

The three of you left the building, you looked back, hoping whatever was going on would be settled quickly.

It wasn’t. At all. 

You were taken into the back of a black van. The agents sat in front of you, staring. 

“So…” You mentally cringed at how awkward you sounded, “Can I get your names?” You asked, hoping you didn’t irritate them.

“I am agent Olivia Dunham,” The woman stated, “This is agent Peter Bishop.”

Your next question was a shot in the dark, “Where are we headed?” 

“Fort Leonard Wood.” agent Dunham answered. You were pleasantly surprised she actually gave you the truth. You half expected her to say ‘classified’.

That’ll take a couple hours… you realized. Thank god you grabbed your bag. You could at least look over some of the students' papers you were supposed to grade. Besides, it’ll keep your mind busy from the anxiety you felt. 

Fort Leonard Wood was a military base. It clicked in your head, “Is my brother…” Was he ok? What happened to him? He had been sent to deal with a situation in Raccoon City. but since then, he hasn’t been heard from, “He’s in Delta Force. Did something happen?” 

“It’s not your brother we are concerned about.” Bishop responded, “It's your aunt Birkin.”

Aunt Annette?

“What-?”

“Any questions will have to wait until we get to Fort Leonard Wood.” Dunham snapped, shutting down your questions. 

Great… You swallowed and nodded before opening your bag to read and grade students' papers. You were a teacher's assistant, despite being your 4th year in undergraduate. Your professor luckily didn’t expect much heavy lifting from you. Just attend the classes to answer questions and help grade papers. It fit with your class schedule, which was a blessing considering your double major with immunology and microbiology. 

Despite your desperate attempt to focus on grading, you thought about your aunt Annette. 

You spent the summer with her, her husband and your cousin in Raccoon City. She gave you an internship for those months at Umbrella Corporation, to help your resume once you graduated. It was a wonderful summer. You were able to learn hands-on skills with research and lab work. 

You weren’t moving mountains, not in the slightest. Your tasks were mostly shadowing the other scientists, fetching them their reagents and samples, and passing along messages.

Still, the experience was one you held close to your heart.

If something was wrong with your aunt…where was Sherry?

“Is my cousin OK?” You looked up, “Please…can you tell me that much?”

Agent Duhman had sympathy for you. Thankfully, she bent and answered, “Your cousin is alive.” 

A tightness settled in your chest and wrapped around your heart. Sherry was alive? Why did the FBI establish her as alive?

Was your aunt dead? What about your uncle William?

What the fuck happened!?

The hours it took to get to the military base ticked by way too slowly. By the time the van came to a stop, you felt sick. Your hands were starting to shake and you had tunnel vision. You barely registered that you were taken out and walked into one of the facilities. Was this an administrative building? Garrison? Or was this a military prison?

The floors were white tile. The walls were painted brick. The hallways felt too small and too long. The lights felt too bright. Armed guards were at every door. You were scared. Stressed. 

What the hell was going on!?

“Wait in here.” Agent Bishop opened up a door to a small side room. There were some padded chairs and sofas. A countertop with a small coffee machine and cabinets. The door closed behind you, and you heard the door lock.

Lounge? Is this a lounge?

A small, shrill voice called your name, snapping you out of your stupor. Your cousin hopped up from one of the couches. She rushed to you and hugged your legs.

“Oh my god, Sherry!” You cried, kneeling to wrap your arms around her. You pulled her back to inspect her. She looked…filthy. Her blonde hair was crusted with grime. Her skin was covered in dirt and god knows what else. She had an unfamiliar red jacket over her shoulders. You held her face, “Sherry…what happened?”

“Sherry? Who is this?” An unfamiliar voice, masculine, grabbed your attention. He had approached and you looked up at him. The first thing you noticed were his eyes, clear and striking blue. His light hair was darkened with mud. His uniform, RPD riot gear, was torn, bloodied and soaked with…god was that sewage? His left shoulder was bandaged with filthy, graying gauze. Underneath the gore you’d consider this stranger boyishly handsome. 

This stranger was in a worse off state than your little cousin.

“Sherry is my cousin.” You said carefully, wrapping your arms around her small frame.

Your little, blonde cousin pulled back. She gained your attention and held the dirty police officer's hand, “This is Leon. He saved me.”

“Saved you? From what?” You stood, making eye contact with Leon, “I…I don’t know what's going on. I was brought here from my college…they mentioned my aunt Annette-”

“Aunt?” Leon stopped you, “you’re related to Annette Birkin?” 

You nodded, “My moms sister. What happened?” 

So Leon told you. His explanation of last night. Undead. Zombies. Carnage and chaos. He told you that your uncle had become a mutated monster. Your aunt had been killed, crushed to death by his claws. He told you what he knew of the virus called ‘G-virus’. He was sparing you details, you knew that. Everything was vague enough that you had to assume some details on your own.

Halfway through his talk you had to sit down. 

The destruction of Raccoon City. Your aunt had a hand in the deaths of thousands. You did too, to a degree. You had that summer internship…

You held your cousin tightly. Silent tears slipping down your cheeks. Your emotions were haywire. Now, countless questions bounced around in your skull. 

Did your family know? Where was your brother? What will happen to Leon and Sherry? Why did this have to happen? 

You didn’t have much time to ask Leon any questions, because agent Bishop returned and took you away. You were questioned for over an hour by him, a soldier and then agent Dunham. Apparently you were a person of interest because of your internship. According to the FBI, it was suspicious that you worked for Umbrella and left a month before Raccoon City fell to undead. 

You had to convince them that you didn’t know that this would happen. You didn't know what the N.E.S.T was. You didn’t know the G-virus existed. You didn’t know your aunt was even doing something with such a dangerous virus.

Finally, you were released. You were taken back to the lounge, and told to wait. Your parents were on their way to be questioned. As well as your other siblings. You still haven't heard anything about your brother…

You sat on the couch, Sherry asleep next to you. Across from you on the other one was Leon. He was leaning back, eyes staring up at the ceiling. He was waiting for…something. Family, perhaps? A girlfriend? Hell, maybe a boyfriend?

“Thank you,” You spoke softly, “For keeping Sherry safe.”

He perked up and looked at you before he nodded, “I’d do it all over again if I had to.” Leon said with a small smile. Though, you could detect that it was hollow. Empty. He was in pain both mentally and physically. 

“You're a good man,” You said, feeling the need to give him something close to reassurance before you continued, “What's going to happen to you and Sherry?” That question had been in your head the moment you united with your cousin.

He shook his head, “I don’t know.”

You frowned, “Where will you go once all of this is said and done?”

“I don’t know.”

“Don’t you have any family?” Looking back, it was definitely an insensitive question. But you didn’t know how someone like Leon could have no family. 

He shook his head and your heart broke. 

“I’m sorry…” You mumbled, “I..I didn’t mean to assume-.”

“It's OK.” the officer gently said, “You didn’t know.”

There was a lot you didn’t know. 

You didn’t know your aunt and uncle were making biological weapons. You didn’t know you worked for a company that destroyed a whole city. You didn’t know what a bioweapon was. 

You didn’t know when your family would get here. You didn’t know where your Delta Force brother was.

You didn’t know when the government decided to bomb Raccoon City. You didn’t know when the city was wiped off the face of the earth. You didn’t know how many souls were burned away and obliterated.

There was a lot you didn’t know.

[lucreziaq2001]

•TV show: "Criminal minds".

•Content warnings: A book about a 40-year-old murder case being published and presented in a theater, an elderly woman being severely ill and dying after she found out who murdered her daughter and joining her late daughter and husband in Heaven (her daughter even coming to get her to take her to Heaven) and the man who made the investigation about the girl's case possible having passed away before he could see the book about it be published.

•What happens in this chapter is inspired by "Boy crazy"'s ending, which is one of my favourite parts of the episode. Here's the link to it: https://youtu.be/7h55JaUYuqc?si=eo4SkPLkSkOig50G .

•I don't really know what a book's presentation is like, so I kind of took inspiration from the last chapter of the fanfiction "Little talks" on fanfiction.net, and also made some things up.

•JJ is there because thanks to Emily's mother, she was pardoned and didn't go to jail for her crime. I couldn't mention it in the chapter.

•As you know, I'm a religious Catholic, and in this chapter I've basically described Heaven. If you don't believe it exists, that's fine, but don't make fun of it, please.

•Thank you very much to my friend @lex13cm for suggesting to me to use the story's title for David's book too. It was a very good idea.

•Tags: @lex13cm, @golden1u5t, @avis-writeshq, @rynwritesreid, @chrrysgirl, @amerrymango, @marie-sworld, @iluvreid, @babygirl-garcia, @hugyourlungs, @strangermoonlove.

The bridge to Heaven

Chapter 22: Finally at peace

On June 12, 2004, exactly one year after Matthew's phone call to David, which had made the writer's investigation about Emily's case begin, a very important event occurred at John W. Engeman Theater, in Long Island.

It was the presentation of the last book Dave would have published in his life.

It was entitled "The bridge to Heaven", and what it talked about were the last weeks of Emily's life as told by her mother, former boyfriend, friends and acquaintances.

But it also included David's investigation about her death, and was dedicated to Emily herself, but also to Matthew, who had died on December 9, 2003, before being able to see the book his extremely brave choice had allowed Dave to write be published.

Aaron, Derek, Elle, Jennifer, Penelope and Spencer, along with their families, were there, though, and of course Declan, his grandmother and his wife and daughter had come too.

And then, in addition the majority of David's relatives, Pauline Leonard was there as well.

The woman had remained unsure whether to go or not almost until last minute, but then she had chosen to do it not only for Emily, but also because in a way, she felt like she owed it to her sister Abigail.

"If at the beginning of last year, someone had told me that I would have soon discovered and brought to light a fourty-year-old secret, I almost certainly wouldn't have believed them" David began talking, starting the presentation, after getting on the stage and inviting Aaron, Derek, Elle, Spencer, Jennifer and Penelope to join him "It happened, though, and if we are gathered here tonight, it is also and above all thanks to the men and women who are now on stage behind me, as well as Emily's mother and former boyfriend, former nurse Pauline Leonard and Matthew Benton, who can't be here today, but whose decision allowed me to give Emily the justice she deserved. So, first of all, I have to thank them for what they were courageous enough to do".

At the end of his short speech, everyone in the room clapped, then, taking turns, first David, then each of Emily's former schoolmates told a little part of that story.

They didn't say much, so as not to spoil too much of the book, but listening to their speeches, Elizabeth was still deeply moved.

As Emily's former friends and acquaintances spoke, however, a strange thing happened to Emily's mother.

For a few seconds, as each of them gave a brief speech, she seemed to see the teenagers they were when Emily was part of their lives in them again.

It didn't last long and the woman was aware that it couldn't really have been happening, but at that moment, it still seemed so real to her.

What happened next, however, was even more emotional for Elizabeth.

Suddenly, while Jennifer, the last person to speak, was talking, she thought she saw her daughter on stage with David and her former schoolmates.

Emily was wearing a white shirt and pants of that same colour, but, most importantly, she was smiling, something she hadn't done often in the last few weeks of her life.

She seemed happier than she had been in at least the last three years of her life, and she almost immediately spotted her mother in the crowd and waved to her.

"My little girl" Elizabeth couldn't stop herself from whispering with tears in her eyes "You just couldn't not be here today, right, Emily?"

"I'm okay now, Mama" Emily told her a few seconds later, moving closer to her, then disappearing.

Elizabeth didn't know for sure if what she had just seen was real, she couldn't know that, but deep down, she felt like it was.

Wherever she was at the moment, her beloved daughter was now at peace, so she could be too.

She could finally stop suffering and holding on and just join her.

She had been ill for three years, her family knew it, and she felt like she couldn't take it anymore.

She didn't have much time left, she was aware of it, but she had always felt like she had one more thing to do before leaving this world.

That thing was finding out what had actually happened to Emily, she now knew it.

And now that she had found that out, she could be free too.

That night, shortly after 3 am, Elizabeth's heart stopped beating.

She was alone in her small apartment in the retirement home, but weirdly, she wasn't scared at all.

At her last breath, she saw a big white light, stronger than any other one she had ever seen, then Emily appeared before her.

Her daughter had come to get her, just what the woman had waited for for fourty-one years.

"Come on, Mama, let's go. Daddy is waiting for you" Emily told her, taking her hand and starting to walk with her into that light.

Elizabeth could reunite with her family, and the three of them would now be together forever, finally at peace.

[supervillain-smut]

Hoss we about Captain Cold being a little too warm 😉 and decides that being naked with you is more fun

Thank you ☺️

"Fuck! Oh, god!" Leonard Snart, aka Captain Cold, and your boyfriend, groaned for the 15th time in about an hour. "Too hot, fuck I'm too hot! WHY IS IT SO HOT IN HERE?! MICK! I'M BLAMING YOU!" Len shouted loud enough so hopefully Mick could hear him while he was working on the AC in the backyard of your shared house.

"YEAH, YEAH, I KNOW! YOU TOUCH THE THERMOSTAT ONE DAMN TIME, AND NOW IT'S YOUR FAULT IT'S BROKEN!" Mick yelled back, throwing a bolt at the window he'd regret throwing later as he'd have to find it in the grass.

You, however, sat relatively cool in front of a box fan working its hardest, peeking over at the two men every time they spoke or made a noise. Apparently, this time Len had accepted the AC would take longer than him getting heat stroke and chose to shed his iconic parka. A rare sight indeed. You took the time to admire Len in his joggers and black thermal shirt. The shirt was tight to his body, to effectively trap his body heat, but its main purpose right now was leaving very little to the imagination of his torso.

Len was no Olympic athlete; no six-pack to be found on the Rogue who did almost nothing but sit around planning heists, drinking beer, and watching the latest hockey game until there was action to be had. He was no slob when it came to him and his body, personal hygiene included. His outline from his shoulders to his waist still formed a V, and his arms got enough work holding that cryo-gun all the time, let alone his strong legs from constantly moving around to avoid getting hit while trying to hit back. He was soft and comfortable, while still being fit for his job. It was perfect for you to lay on him but now wasn't the time.

You had shed your own long-sleeved shirt and joggers that were usually required when living with the Captain Cold, and had traded them for a tank top and shorts; they'd shrunk in the wash last time James did laundry, so you were fighting to keep them covering your butt completely. "Babe, can you grab me a water from the fridge? I'm dying over here." Len always asked you so nicely for things. He mostly liked to spoil you, so asking was a big deal for him.

"Sure, Len. I was just about to grab one anyway." You fibbed as you got up and sauntered to the fridge, feeling eyes on you the whole way, especially when you had to crouch to reach the coldest ones on the bottom shelf. When you turned back around, you stopped in your tracks at what was in front of you. Len, while you were busy, had taken off the thermal and was now sitting leaning back on the couch bare-chested and patting his face dry with a damp towel. You walked over and handed the water bottle to him.

"Thanks, babe, you're the best. Could you maybe do one more thing while you're up?" "Sure, Len." "Could you run this under cold water again?" "Yeah, of course." You had to stop yourself from muttering or whispering your responses as you grabbed the towel and ran it under the faucet, wringing it out so it wasn't soaked, and handed it back to Len, who pulled you into his lap for a quick kiss. As much as you loved the sight and feel of him half-naked, the sweat was not a great feeling, and you really wanted to get back to your fan, so you brought your cold water bottle to the back of his neck.

This, however, backfired when Len straightened up for a second in shock before letting out a moan. "Oh, that feels so good..." The sentence had sent a wave of heat straight to your core, and you tried to laugh off the awkward feeling. Len pulled you even further into his lap and leaned his head back into the water bottle to cool down. "I hate this heat. I wanna just strip and lay on an ice block. Anything would be better than this." Len groaned.

"Why don't you put that cold gun to good use?" You suggested, gesturing to the weapon sitting on the workbench. "I told you, the gun's not a power to abuse. Besides, it's going to leave an even bigger mess once the ice melts." "... What about a small layer? Wouldn't it just evaporate after some time? We could lightly frost the bed and just lay on it." Len looked at you amused for a moment before he changed to thought. "You know what, that would work; and it sounds like a capital idea. Come on." Len said as he got up after you and grabbed the gun, following you up to your shared room, his eyes never leaving your ass.

As soon as you were both inside, you shut the door only to squeak in surprise as Len pinned you against the door, attacking your neck with kisses. "Fuck, those shorts look so good on you. Just can't keep my hands to myself. You want me to stop, now's the time to say so." Len panted as he looked you in the eyes and loosened his grip on your wrists, giving you space and wiggle room; neither of which you wanted.

"Stop? I say go. Why don't we put that bed idea into action?" You spoke in a sultry tone as you gently pushed him backward towards the bed. "Fuck, I love you." Len breathed as he turned around long enough to lightly frost the bed, immediately throwing you onto it, and dropping the cold gun on the floor. You gasped at the sudden cold as Len climbed over you, resuming his attack on your neck.

You wrapped your legs around his hips and he began to grind into you half-erect. Len's hand drifted lower and lower down your body before pulling your panties to the side and dipping a finger into your heat, curling it. "Fuck! Len!" You cried out as he delved another finger past your folds. "That's it. You're being so good for me."

He continued to finger you for a while, and just when you felt that coil starting to tighten, he stopped. "Len! No! Please, don't stop!" "Sorry, darling, I have to if you want me to fuck you properly. You want me to fuck you, or do you wanna come like this?" You lay there panting as you thought. "I want you to fuck me. Please fuck me, Len." "Atta girl. Come here." Len kissed behind your ear as he pulled his boxers down and pumped himself a few times, a bead of pre-cum spilling from the tip before he pushed into you with a groan.

"Fuck, you feel so good. All mine. So beautiful and perfect, just for me." Len groaned into your ear as he pushed in until he couldn't anymore. He slowly drew back until just his tip was sheathed, then slammed back into you, nearly knocking the wind out of you with pleasure. You locked your ankles around his hips, encouraging him to set a steady pace as he fucked into you.

the smell and sound of sex filled the room as you went at it, coaxing a few orgasms out of each other, not noticing the temperature cooling as Mick had fixed the air conditioner. By the time you were both spent, you were shivering. Len pulled you into him and kissed the top of your head. "Here, lemme go get your robe. Keep you warm until you wanna get dressed." Len said as he pulled his joggers on, commando underneath, he left and quickly returned with your favorite fluffy bathrobe and helped you into it before climbing into bed and scooping you towards him, nestling your face into his neck as he massaged circles into your hip and lower back.

[daughter-of-melpomene]

For the if they were canon ask game: 🎬 + Genesis Welton, please??

@dancingsunflowers-ocs ✨💙✨

Always happy to answer asks about my babe Genesis! Thanks a bunch, Alexandra!! <3

HOW THEY'D BE INTRODUCED:

The really good thing about the original series, I think, is that it really sort of just drops us into the Star Trek universe and tells us to play catch-up with learning about the world and the characters. So I think Gen's introduction would just be a shot of her in the medical bay, filling out some forms on their holopad and trading banter with Bones, before Jim comes in needing something.

WHO THE FANDOM SHIPS THEM WITH:

Despite how closed off she is as a person, Gen is actually very shippable. Obviously a good portion of the fandom would ship them, Kirk, and Spock, but there would also be people shipping her with solely one or the other, as well as those who ship them with Uhura and Sulu. (There would also, of course, be those few wayward souls who would write fics about her and Bones, but those people are weird and we do not speak of them.)

WHY THE FANDOM LOVES THEM:

In addition to being a total badass, they'd be the first explicit representation of genderqueer people in media ever, as well as her relationship with Kirk and Spock being the first explicit representation of polyamorous relationships in media, and I think that would give hope to a lot of people.

WHY THE FANDOM HATES THEM:

I honestly feel like most of the hate around them would just be from hateful people - those who didn't want to see any queer representation or those who didn't want to see a female-presenting character being strong and powerful (though I will say anyone like that just shouldn't watch any Star Trek media at all). I also feel like a lot of people wouldn't like how distant and cold she can be at times, even after their past has been explained and the audience can understand why she is the way they are.

WHAT THE CAST RELATIONSHIP WOULD BE LIKE:

Bryce Dallas Howard is pretty awesome, so I can definitely see her getting along with the cast! She and William Shatner would definitely be good friends, and she would definitely be besties with George Takei.

WHAT WAS THEIR AUDITION SCENE:

Probably a scene of her and Kirk talking about their Starfleet days and just exchanging back-and-forth; it would be good for seeing how a prospective actor's chemistry with William Shatner would be, and for seeing how well they could deliver Gen's snappy dialogue.

DEPENDANT UPON THE FANDOM, WHO THEY'D BE AT A PRESS TOUR/AT COMIC CON WITH:

Probably William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and DeForest Kelley. I can definitely picture them all together in interviews and cons, laughing and sharing filming stories.

IF THEY SPOIL THINGS:

I can definitely picture Bryce spoiling a couple things purely by accident (😅). Nothing too major, though!

IF THE SHOW/MOVIE HAS ENDED, ARE THEY HAPPY WITH THEIR CHARACTER'S ENDING AND THE ENDING AT LARGE:

I mean, the story of Star Trek is never going to be fully over, I don't think, but I can definitely see Bryce being happy with Gen's ending from the original series and movies. They end it retired from Starfleet, married to the men she loves, and at peace for once in their life - what better ending than that could you ask for?

send me 🎬 + an oc!!

[leslie-lyman]

I posted 1,583 times in 2022

That's 878 more posts than 2021!

310 posts created (20%)

1,273 posts reblogged (80%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@oonajaeadira

@magpie-to-the-morning

@whataperfectwasteoftime

@radiowallet

@ezrasbirdie

I tagged 1,302 of my posts in 2022

Only 18% of my posts had no tags

#lovely people saying lovely things - 265 posts

#answered asks - 247 posts

#comment reblog - 239 posts

#emma you beautiful tropical fish - 64 posts

#pedro pascal gifs - 60 posts

#samg!inspo - 58 posts

#les loves cat - 35 posts

#ask game - 29 posts

#pedro pascal - 27 posts

#adira my beloved - 26 posts

Longest Tag: 134 characters

#also speaking of beloved talented mutuals who could write circles around so many published authors jess please look in the mirror babe

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Punchbowls & Pincushions (Congressman Marcus Pike x f!reader)

summary: The duly elected representative from Texas’s 27th congressional district has a meeting, takes a walk, and meets a woman.

pairing: Congressman Marcus Pike x f!reader

rating: general audiences for this installment, though this series will be explicit and my blog and its content are only for those 18 and up

warnings: none

word count: 2.7k

a/n: Y’all, I’m excited for this one. This is the first installment of what I hope will be a more relaxed fit-ish series I’ve been thinking about for a long time: an AU in which Marcus Pike decides to turn in his badge and his gun and try a different kind of public service. I’ve just been waiting for the right excuse to finally get this first bit down on paper, so thank you as always to the lovely folks at @writer-wednesday for the photo prompt! Big thank yous also to @ezrasbirdie, @whataperfectwasteoftime, @magpie-to-the-morning, and @the-ginger-hedge-witch for letting me ramble at them about this idea for far too long, and to Birdie for looking this over for me!! ❤️

punchbowl: the Secret Service’s code name for the United States Capitol Building.

pincushion: the Secret Service’s code name for the Rayburn House Office Building, one of three main buildings where members of the House of Representatives and their staffs’ offices are actually located.

Main Masterlist. | Series Masterlist. | Taglist.

———

It’s not going to happen.

The words play on a loop in Marcus’s head as he tries to calmly traverse the halls of the Capitol.

Leonard, I campaigned on this.

I know, Marcus, I’m sorry.

Look, if this is about HR 86 -

It’s a matter of cost, Marcus.

Bullshit. The whole package is $57 billion. You’re telling me $100 million to expand drug treatment courts is the straw that breaks the CBO’s back?

It’s a miracle we got all the things in that we did. It’s gonna be hell trying to get this through the Senate as it is.

And what am I supposed to tell my constituents in the meantime?

To get used to disappointment. Or just blame the Senate. I always do.

See the full post

218 notes - Posted July 14, 2022

#4

Stranger At My Gate - Chapter 10 (Pero Tovar x modern!OFC)

A time-traveling Pero. A modern woman trying her best. A kitchen full of possibility. A helping of Midwestern kindness. A dash of magic. And a whole lot of Christmas spirit.

pairing: Pero Tovar x modern!OFC

rating: E 🚨 [18+ ONLY, minors DNI]

warnings: at the risk of spoiling things, SMUT; unprotected PIV; oral (f receiving); blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Pero having a pain kink; Pero having a lil bit of a breeding kink; ungodly amounts of fluff; one (1) instance of your author taking liberties with language history

word count: 7.3k

a/n: Here we are, folks. This is it. I’ll have more to say at the end of this chapter, and I’d strongly advise you to read all the way to the end. 😉 Also a reminder that going forward, I will only be tagging folks in my writing who have signed up via my official taglist form.

Extra major helpings of thanks and forehead kisses to @whataperfectwasteoftime for looking this over for me and for tolerating me tearing my hair out in her DMs over this chapter. ❤️❤️❤️

Previous chapter.

Masterlist.

———

Ten.

Panic seizes Tessa’s chest, robbing her of breath. A chorus of thoughts rise loud in her head, jumbled and half-formed -

He can’t have gone back

I’m late, I’m too late

So stupid, should have told him before I left

Too late too late too late

There’s no way to tell how old the footprints marking Pero’s path towards the woods might be, but after only a moment of paralysis, Tessa’s off like a shot.

He could have left hours ago, he could already be back in his own time and there would be nothing more that Tessa could do.

But she has to know for sure.

There’s no conscious moment of deciding - one second she isn’t running as fast as she can in the direction of the trees and the next second she is, never mind that it’s well below freezing with the snow coming down with an increasing vengeance. Never mind that she’s still dressed for air travel, in nothing more than jeans and a sweatshirt and cute little ankle boots that are definitely not meant to go trudging through more than half a foot of snow. Her coat’s still in the back seat of her car but she can’t stand to make even the smallest detour for it. Pero may be long gone, but if he isn’t, if there’s a chance she could still stop him and ask him to stay, who knows how long she has. Ten seconds to grab her coat could be the difference.

Pero’s footsteps get more difficult to follow once she hits the tree line, but her Gift is not called intuition for nothing. She can feel some sort of instinctual pull towards the Gate, or maybe it’s towards Pero, aided by the faint ghosts of memories of her childhood spent playing in these woods. She tries to yell Pero’s name, but the freezing air burns in her throat as she attempts to draw enough breath to keep moving as fast as she can.

An eternity somehow fits into the handful of minutes it takes her to make it to the small, perfectly round clearing where the two trees that make up the Gate stand. She’s never been this close to the Gate before, and certainly not when it’s been open. Apart from the slightly unnatural placement of the trees, there’s nothing that gives it away on sight. But it throbs with power, emitting a warped vibration Tessa cannot truly hear but rather feels deep in her bones. Something about it calls to her, as though its magic recognizes the kindred spirit of her Gift. But whatever being or force created the Gate was many times more powerful and ancient than the source of her Gift, and if she looks directly at it for more than a few seconds a vague sense of vertigo starts to make itself known at the edges of her vision.

What small amount of light was left in the day is almost completely gone, the snow on the ground doing little to reflect it back as fat flakes continue to fall. Tessa can’t tell if Pero’s footprints continue across the circle to the Gate. She takes two deep breaths, then opens her mouth to let out the scream she’s felt building since she walked in her front door to find her house cold and empty -

“I’m here, Tessa.”

Her head whips around at the sound of his voice so quickly she hears her neck crack. She squints through the snow and darkness and sure enough, sitting on a fallen log just outside the edge of the clearing, is Pero. Tessa has to make a hasty grab for the nearest tree to keep from collapsing in relief.

“Pero,” she croaks, her voice nothing more than a cracked whisper.

He stands and comes closer. He’s dressed in his original clothes, the hilts of his swords visible over his right shoulder. The only modern item on him is the thick wool coat he’s been using the past few weeks.

Even once he’s close enough to see his features his face is unreadable. Tessa likes to think she’s gotten fairly good at interpreting Pero’s expressions, having learned just how much this man can say without any words at all, but apart from the tightness at the corners of his mouth, it’s like he’s purposefully trying to keep his face as neutral as possible.

Seconds tick by without either of them saying anything. It’s like Tessa’s emotions are all laid out on a roulette wheel - panic, joy, despair, relief, exhaustion - that’s spinning too fast to figure out what she’s actually feeling at this moment. Then the little white ball falls from the track and sticks in the groove of one emotion in particular.

See the full post

274 notes - Posted May 15, 2022

#3

Euclidean Geometry

Summary: They make no attempt to define what this is, who they are to each other. All they know is that now they are together.

Pairing: Modern!Pero x Frankie x Jack x f!reader (sort of, this is in the third person, reader is referred to only as she/her)

Rating: E 🚨 absolutely no minors

Word count: 1.4k

Warnings: smut, M/M and M/M/F; some implied D/s dynamics; allusions to the lingering trauma of military service

A/n: I don’t know what this is (other than absurdly self-indulgent nonsense), but this idea hooked its claws into me and this is what resulted. It’s just kind of a series of snapshots, really. No plot, just vibes. There may be more after this, we’ll see.

Masterlist.

———

They don’t meet each other until after their time in the service.

Thank god, Pero tells them. I surely would have otherwise murdered you both long before now.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one: three veterans walk into group therapy…

A Delta Force pilot in recovery. A surly Field Artillery officer. A cocky Air Force fighter pilot with a name as ridiculous as his skills in a jet. All here because they are each too full of anger with nowhere to put it.

Talking at therapy turns into talking at a bar after each session. They circle each other, like a pod of killer whales, or maybe like galaxies, pulling closer and closer together over bottles of beer and games of pool.

None of them can say the exact moment it became more. Was it the first time Jack accidentally brushed a hand across the small of Frankie’s back as they walked out of the bar one night, and he felt the shiver that went up the other man’s spine? Was it the night Pero finally spoke about the loss of his first love, his description of William and his death on a desert battlefield making all three men shed silent tears in the privacy of a dark corner booth? Surely it had to have been long before they found themselves in Jack’s bed that first time, letting their bodies say what they could not yet find words for: I want you, I trust you, I know you, I see you.

They make no attempt to define what this is, who they are to each other. All they know is that now they are together.

They each crack the others open, the process of healing as painful and beautiful as filling in their scars with gold.

And then there is her.

The relationship between the three men had not been a closed loop, not at first. There had been times where one of them (Jack, more often than the others) had gone off and for a one- or two- or (never more than) three-night stand with another person. And there had been other times where two or even all three of them had shared a temporary partner. But with her, it clicks, it solidifies. They stop searching for more, for new, for other.

If three’s a crowd, what is four? A square, a shape beautiful in its simple perfection, a shape that can only be composed of equals - each line and each angle taking up equivalent space, none more or less important than any of the others, and each one essential.

See the full post

291 notes - Posted July 25, 2022

#2

Waterproof

Pairing: Dieter Bravo x f!reader

Summary: Watched The Bubble. Had a thought. That thought was: I wanna edge Dieter Bravo until he cries and ruins that silly eyeliner.

Rating: 🚨 E for explicit, folks. NO MINORS.

Warnings: edging, obvs; unprotected PIV; dom!reader and sub!Dieter; Dieter Bravo being soft and respectful and having puppy dog eyes that are impossible to resist

Word count: 1.3k

a/n: Yeah I dunno what happened here, either. I intended for this to be a drabble to get this idea out of my head and practice writing some smut, and it ended up being over a thousand words. None of us is immune from this man, it seems. Not beta’d, barely edited. The gif above is an edging joke.

Masterlist.

———

“Do you wanna have sex with me?”

It’s so direct that it catches you off guard.

There’s something in the way he says it, too. There’s no arrogance in his tone. He isn’t smug or suave like you’d expect. He’s a movie star. He’s an Oscar winner. He’s Dieter Bravo, for fuck’s sake. But instead of a smirk and a smoothly delivered pickup line, he’s looking at you over the bar top of the fancy estate chosen to house the cast of ”Cliff Beats 6” with huge brown eyes that are full of hope, not expectation.

It’s a simple enough question.

It’s also a bad idea. You’re hotel staff. He’s the fifth-billed actor on the sixth installment of the 23rd biggest action series of all time.

But he asked so politely. There’s an open earnestness on his face that tells you he doesn’t want you to say no, but he’d respect it if you did. And it all makes you suspect that this man, with his broad shoulders and large hands and soft eyes, may enjoy the same kinds of things you do. That he may make a rather complimentary bed partner. You decide to test your theory.

“That depends, Dieter.” You rest your elbows on the bar top and lean closer to him like you’re about to share a secret. “Would you be a good boy and do exactly what I say?”

His eyes go black. He swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down.

It’s a simple enough question. He gives you a simple answer.

“Yes ma’am.”

———

You don’t get to cum until I say you do, Deiter, is that clear?

Crystal.

You got a safeword?

Academy.

Jesus Christ.

You push him down into a fancy armchair covered in embroidered silk in the corner of his suite, a set of rooms that probably costs more per night than you make in a month.

Dieter still has his makeup on from today’s shoot, a not-terribly-subtle dark smudge under each eye, and it enhances the eager puppy look he has going on, almost like he cannot believe his luck. You clamber into his lap and feel him already starting to harden through his sweatpants. An experimental grind of your hips draws a little moan from his throat so you do it again, and again, the soft friction against your clit and the increasing size of his erection making your core start to throb with arousal.

“Please,” he murmurs, “I want - can I - ”

You run your thumb over his bottom lip, stilling your movements.

“Easy, sweet boy. What is it?”

See the full post

360 notes - Posted April 7, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Rights and Wrongs

summary: “I’m not keeping it, Jack. I knew that before I called him and told him. I don’t know if I want kids, but I do know that I don’t want them now. Not like this. And not with him.”

Or: Whiskey helps you get an abortion.

pairing: Whiskey x f!reader

rating: M

word count: 6.4k

warnings: possible dead dove do not eat; unplanned, unwanted pregnancy; early pregnancy symptoms including vomiting; descriptions of what pregnant people have to go through to get an abortion in the state of Kentucky; abortion clinic protestors and physical and verbal harassment of patients; reader has a medically unnecessary but state-mandated trans-vaginal ultrasound; use of moderate anesthesia and recovery from anesthesia; allusions to past loss and trauma (it’s Jack, I’m assuming know his backstory); not super-explicit description of reader getting a surgical abortion; Jack being a little naive in the way well-meaning straight white dudes often are but also being pro-choice as f*ck

Author’s note:

*Fleabag voice* This is a love story.

Hey there folks. Please read the warnings on this one. I know that pregnancy can be a tough topic for a lot of people to read about. Everything I’ve described here is what you actually have to go through to get an abortion in Kentucky. (Or, well, it was, until two days ago when the Kentucky legislature overrode the Governor’s veto of HB 3, which has resulted in a complete stoppage of all abortions in Kentucky.) If this is not a thing you want to read about, for whatever reason, I respect that completely.

However, if you read this fic and think it might be a good idea to spout some anti-abortion nonsense at me in response, I am going to pre-emptively suggest you kindly shove it up your asshole instead.

Abortion is health care. Abortion is a human right. You will not move me on this. I wrote this fic because I have a lot of anger and fear and frustration that the human right to bodily autonomy is about to be completely gutted in my country. But I also wrote it because abortion is normal. People get abortions every day. And I wanted to write and read a fic where reader gets her happy ending with Jack and an abortion is how it happens.

Additional note: This fic is also a fundraiser! April is when many abortion funds host their biggest annual fundraisers, and you can help! For each note this fic gets between now and the end of April - every like, reblog, and comment, even the ones that are me replying to someone, and hell, I’ll include asks and DMs about this fic too - I’ll donate a dollar to the Kentucky Health Justice Network, a fund providing direct financial and other assistance to people in Kentucky who need abortions.

If this sounds like a journey you’d like to go on with me, then let’s go.

Masterlist.

———

This afternoon has been taken up by two phone calls you never thought you’d have to make.

The first to the Kentucky Women’s Health Clinic. The second to your ex-boyfriend.

The call with the clinic goes well, better and easier and kinder than you’d expected, even if their first available appointment is further out than you’d prefer. The call with Michael goes even more poorly than you’d thought it would.

He hadn’t been your ex for very long; only about two weeks. Your breakup had not been amicable; nearly three years of dating had come to a car wreck of a conclusion when you’d discovered explicit texts and photos of several other women on his phone, going back months. He hadn’t tried to argue with you when you’d confronted him; instead, he’d blamed you for his forays into infidelity. You worked too much. You were too focused on your career. You didn’t devote enough time or effort to your relationship anymore, so no wonder he’d started to look elsewhere. Never mind that this was the first time you were hearing these complaints.

You weren’t heartbroken so much as furious. Furious with him, but also furious with yourself for not seeing the signs and ending things sooner.

And now, calling to tell him about the…situation you find yourself in only leaves you feeling humiliated.

“So this is your ploy, huh?” He says after you’ve explained. “This is how you’re gonna try to get me back?”

Your mouth hangs open, and for a moment all you can do is splutter wordlessly in rage.

See the full post

523 notes - Posted April 15, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[whatdoyoumeanitsnotcanon]

Hi! Your blog has become one of my absolute favorites super quickly! I love how much thought you put into your work whenever you post, it’s wonderful! You’ve even gotten me into characters I hadn’t even put much thought into previously, and it’s been a joy to explore your interpretations of them.

With that being said, I’d love to know if you have any hcs for what marriage and “official consort” life would be like with Radahn and Morgott, and anyone else if this happens to resonate with you for other characters.

Anyways, thank you for your time, and I hope you have a lovely rest of your night!

Morning, anon, and thank you so very much for your kind words. I try my best and I'm truly glad you enjoy my blog!

Now, without further ado:

Regarding Morgott:

Morgott never thought he'd get married. In fact, he was certain he'd remain alone for the rest of his life.

So when he actually does get married, not only is he shocked (despite proposing and his consort saying yes, quite happily might I add) during the engagement period, but maintains his disbelief even after the vows have been said and the ink is dry. Even years after the wedding, I can see him having moments where he's like, "By the Erdtree, I am married." Yes, Morgott, you are married.

It's an adjustment period for both parties. Morgott because he's so used to being alone and his days filled with relative silence. It was deafening, really. Now he's never known a livelier household. For his consort, I'd imagine the idea of being Lord/Lady of Leyndell is so daunting. What if they don't make a good consort? What if they never connect to the people? WHY ARE THERE SO MANY STEPS? Not to fear, however, their lovely King is there to help them.

The day-to-day affairs can be (read: are) boring, though. Even Morgott admits to that, but his consort spends the first couple of years getting to know the logistics and responsibilities of co-ruling and Morgott is there every step of the way.

Eventually, they become confident enough to voice their own opinions regarding certain legislation. I can see his consort being particularly vocal when it comes to the treatment of Omens and the Shunning Grounds.

Morgott is the Brains and his consort is the Heart. They make a pretty effective team.

They also teach Morgott the value of self-care and adequate sleep.

Their mornings and nights will always be spent with each other.

Making out in the throne room is pretty hot, too.

Regarding Radahn: (Spoiler alert: my next Radahn x Reader fic is actually about him proposing.)

WHOOO, boy, he's like a kid in a candy shop.

His loved ones have never seen him so excited before. He may get a bit too excited sometimes because random objects in his vicinity start gravitating in midair.

One of the best damn days in his life was his wedding. He may or may not have cried.

Radahn is so damn honored that his consort said yes. He promises to make them the happiest spouse in the Lands Between. And he will make do on that promise.

Actually, both parties promise each other that and given how Radagon and Rennala's marriage ended, they hold each other to it.

Nothing really changes in their relationship other than Radahn becoming more protective even if they know how to defend themselves. And he continues to spoil the shit out of his consort. Wherever he goes, they will be at his side. Or in his arms. Hell, their feet would never touch the ground if he had his way.

Double the attention for Leonard.

Double the kisses and laughter for the couple.

If they argue, of course, it'll never last long.

Now his men have another parent. One who also blesses them with horrible dad humor.

Radahn has something to truly fight for. He fights with all the ferocity in the world so he can come back to his consort's arms once again.

I also like to think that it was also during his engagement that he had one of the most open conversations with Radagon since marrying Marika. Of course, he doesn't get the whole story though I think Radagon would have alluded to it. Radahn leaves the conversation with renewed conviction and Radagon silently prays their marriage is a loving one. But then he remembers how determined his son is and knows he has nothing to worry about. Radahn carries his lovely mother's spirit after all...

[madhattervanessa]

Pain Management (Part 6)

Chapter 6! We’re almost there, I have 2 more chapters planned at most and I can tell you, the next chapter is already dabbling into spicy stuff! (Finally) At this point I am really motivated to finish this series again - I hope you enjoy yourself!

Warnings: alcohol consumption, otherwise none, it’s just a chill date night, babes

Words: 3240

(Chapter 5) - (Chapter 7)

Masterlist - Mobile Masterlist

Doc: I'll come pick you up around 7.

Doctor Leonard McCoy is a terrible tease and utterly stubborn to a fault. It had been endearing at first but now the messages still glaring at you from the afternoon had put you into a tough spot.

Me: Where are we going?

Doc: It's a surprise, can't spoil it.

Me: I need to know how fancy I need to dress!

Doc: It's not going to be dramatically formal. You will look beautiful either way.

You sigh as you look at the phone screen again before looking back into your suitcase.

You'd opt for a little black dress - can't be over or underdressed with that - right?

While you're still trying to decide what jewelry to wear, you hear the electronic doorbell.

"Shit", you mutter, threading an earring through your piercings as you walk over to the door to answer it.

"I'm almost ready, hang on-"

"I'm going to wait right here, don't worry."

You smile to yourself and take another look out the window before you glance at the clock.

7 sharp.

With the weather on the station in mind, you grab a jacket, just to be sure, before you swing open the door.

You are in the process of picking at your hair again when you meet his eyes.

"Good evening."

"Hey-", you mutter, your eyes drinking him in immediately, a wide smile on your face as you spot the bundle of flowers in his hands, contrasting the blue button down and the leather jacket. You see the glint of a necklace peeking through the first two open buttons of his shirt before you fix his eyes again. "You look great. Nice leather jacket."

He rubs the back of his neck and clears his throat, seemingly doing his own part in taking you in.

"Thanks. I got nothing on you though... You look stunning."

You grin and take a step back into the apartment.

"Yeah? Want me to do a little spin?"

Leonard takes a deep breath and feels the weight on his chest lighten at your cheeky behavior, the way you seem so excited at the prospect of your date tonight.

"Yeah, go on."

-

You slowly twirl in your spot and god, Leonard had forgotten what a little black dress can do on the right person. The fabric accentuates your waist and curves, flattering you perfectly - you look stunning.

You look so different off duty, relaxed and without that pinch in your brow - you stop and your eyes meet again, and this time, his own smile comes much easier.

"You're- you look perfect. But I've got to warn you, it looks like it might be raining later."

"Well, I'm not made out of sugar, so I think I will survive." You pause and take another lingering look at him. "Though I'm worried about you."

A wink, a quirk of your lips and Leonard thinks his heart might have just stumbled out of his chest.

You, however, don't seem all that sold on that fact.

"Sorry, it's- uh- it's a german saying- are those for me?"

He looks down at the blooms out of sheer reflex alone, his thoughts ripped away from just how pleased he is that you might be nervous, too.

"Yes. I had to bribe Chekov to get him to spill about what flowers you like." He withstands the urge to rub the nape of his neck again and instead watches you closely.

"Well... I gotta say, Chekov played you like a fiddle, Leonard..."

You bite your lip, fiddling with the hem of your dress.

Did he really just mess up getting flowers for you?

"...Seriously?"

"I'm kidding. I like these. I'm just not really great at keeping anything alive besides my patients."

"Oh."

"But like I said, these are very pretty- is there a special meaning behind these?"

You brush his hands as you take them from him and it’s like a little spark passes between the two of you. He is tempted, suddenly, to just stay in with you.

“There really isn’t- I didn’t really think about that when I picked them out.”

“You picked them out yourself?”

He spots a slight flush working its way up your cheeks and feels his confidence return at the prospect of being able to fluster you.

“Yeah.”

“That’s really sweet”, you mutter and you look up from the flowers again. “You’re all heart, Doc.”

Why is he even this nervous? He has dated before, damnit, you two had already kissed. Twice.

“I’m going to put these away really quick.”

“Sure, yeah, go ahead.”

You turn and he watches as you grab a large glass to put the flowers in. He glances down at his shoes, rubbing at the nape of his neck.

The two of you really shouldn’t be doing this, it’s complicated and-

“Alright, sorry for that. Are you alright?”

His head snaps back up and there you are again. He nods and you close the door behind you before extending an arm towards his back, your arm winding around him so you can press closer.

He gets a whiff of your shampoo and the perfume you’re wearing and finds it pleasantly subtle as you fit together.

“Alright. Let’s go.”

He extends his arm across your back as well as you walk towards the elevator. After pressing the button to go down, he glances at you to find you fiddling with an earring. His nose bumps against your temple and you meet his eyes before shily turning away from him again, your eyes flicking down to the floor, then to the windows.

It reassures him, to find you a little nervous, as well.

As he looks out the window with you, he remembers the last night; the way you had looked at him, how your lips had parted as he cornered you against the cool glass... The soft kiss you had shared before you had pressed back, a hand of yours in his.

The elevator snaps him out of his reverie and he guides you out of the elevator towards the lobby.

“We might have to hurry a bit to catch our reservation- have you ever been on a motorbike before?”

You tilt your head and chuckle.

“I can’t say I have.”

-

You’re baffled when Leonard guides you out of the lobby and towards a motorbike.

He hands you one of the helmets from the seat.

“Well, this certainly explains the leather jacket, Mr. Bad Boy.”

“Alright, you’re feisty tonight.” Leonard mutters under his breath and you laugh  at the grumble. You nudge him with your elbow, briefly considering pressing a kiss to his cheek.

“Do you know how to put the helmet on?”

You consider the black helmet in your hands, briefly considering lying.

“Actually, I could use some instructions.”

“Of course”, he mutters and steps a bit closer, lifting his helmet to put it on as he speaks. “You start on the crown of your head and push it down over your nose with a little pressure.”

He lifts the visor so you can see his eyes and you nod, looking down at your own hands.

“Alright. I’ll try - can’t guarantee you won’t have to help though.”

“If you want, I can just do it for you.” He is already reaching out to grab the helmet out of your hands but you are quick to lift it out of his reach.

“No no, I want to try”, you stop him in his tracks and set the helmet on the crown of your head with determination. You pull it down your head but after getting it over your forehead you get it stuck.

“Some help?”

“I got this!”, you grunt and give it another shove until it plops down over your head fully. “Told you so”, you breathe out. 

“Fair enough, just missing something-” Your helmets touch as he reaches out under your chin. An uncomfortable hard piece of plastic slides across your cheek before you feel two straps touching your chin. Leonard's hands are remarkably warm as he closes the chin straps for you. “-there you go.”

“Thanks, Leonard. Are yours closed, too?”, you feel up his neck and chin, checking the chin strap like he had with yours. The corners of his eyes crinkle as he smiles at you.

“This ain’t my first rodeo, darlin’.”

“Well, I sure hope so, Doc. Wouldn’t want you falling off.”

“I think that will be your worry in a second. Ready to mount?”

“I’m not sure but I do know where to keep my hands so that’s a good start, right?”

He just nods, sitting down on the machine. It’s intimidating but at least he can balance that goddamn thing.

He turns to look at you and lets his eyes trail down your body before looking up again.

He holds one of his hands out.

You zip your jacket closed and take it.

-

“We’re here.”

You look around the place. There’s just skyscrapers and some bars around, nothing special, it seems.

You keep slowly rolling towards a parking bay.

You know you would feel your heart sink a bit if it weren’t for the adrenaline from the motorbike ride.

You stop in a designated spot and you do your best to keep close to Leonard as the balance tips to your right side. People in fancy dresses are practically flying through in cars or by foot.

“Alright- you’re going to have to get up first.”

“Uh- Leonard… I might need your help.” 

He turns his head to you, an eyebrow cocked in question.

“You can use me as support, no need to be shy.”

You huff out a laugh and squirm as you loosen your arms from him. After tugging your dress down again, you swing your leg backwards over the machine while holding on to Leonard’s shoulders. You stumble and feel like all blood is rushing out of your head as you prepare to embarrass yourself, but Leonard secures you with a hand on your waist. 

Your helmets almost bump and he smiles brightly.

“There. Everything okay?”

“Just nervous… After all, I didn’t know the CMO of the Enterprise is a motorbike kind of guy with a leather jacket…”

He takes the keys out of the ignition and turns to you as he takes off his helmet.

“What did you think, then?”

He gets up, tugging off his helmet in a smooth and to be honest, very bad boy kind of fashion before turning towards you.

“Well, I expected less of a bad boy and more of a well mannered southern gentleman to be perfectly honest with you.”

He steps closer and starts undoing the chin clasp of your helmet. It makes your cheeks flush to see that concentrated, warm expression on his face, his full attention on you.

“Those do not necessarily exclude each other, you know?”, he retorts in a mumble and pulls the helmet off before guiding you down the sidewalk with a hand on your lower back. “Just like being able to dance in the club and dancing like a lady aren’t exclusive.”

The added comment makes you grin.

“Touché.”

You grab the helmet again and take it in your right hand as you take another look around the parking lot.

You almost jump as Leonard gently puts his hand on your lower back.

“C’mon, it’s just a minute walk from here.”

“Alright, then”, you just smile and let yourself be led down the sidewalk by him, comforted by the hand on your lower back that wanders to your waist, holding you to his right as you walk. You can feel his body warmth like this and get a whiff of cologne. He smells really nice.

“Still tired from yesterday?"

"Huh?" You look at him again, brow wrinkled in confusion. 

"You woke up pretty late."

"Ah, well-" you bite your lip and think back to what had actually kept you from your PADD so long.

"What? You don't have to be shy about being hungover you know? Jim whined at me the whole morning all about it."

Of course he did. You smile at the visual your imagination provides you and just chuckle. 

"Well, I can assure you I was not hungover, just lazed around in bed."

After handing over your jackets as well as helmets you follow your waiter through the restaurant and past a room divider. You feel your jaw slackening at the view you’re suddenly met with: 

There’s a beautiful, deep orange sea with a fine white beach extending over the planet- the skyscrapers you thought were spanning the entire city alwaysity stand in considerable distance to the beach where little houses are situated. They seem tiny from here and you think you can see a few children playing somewhere near the coast to the west. 

The evening sun basks everything in blue hues which makes for a spectacular view with the brilliance of the stars already coming out. 

Your awe is interrupted by Leonard gently pushing you further.

“You should see your face. Priceless.”

His breath fans against your ear as he whispers to you, a hand on your lower back guiding you further. You are seated at a window spot, the benches comfortably plush. You don’t really have time to take in the whole setup, still taking in the view through the window you are seated right against.

“It’s so beautiful, Leonard…”

“Yeah…”, Leonard mutters, trying hard not to be impressed by the view after seeing it while checking for a good place for dinner but in person it’s a whole different experience. He glances at you, who is, even after the few minutes you had already been here, still awe struck and illuminated by the setting sun.

It’s surreal to him. Really being on a date… The black dress you are wearing is mirroring the color shifts of the scenery. Another reason Leonard won’t get the picture of you in that dress out of his head for a while. He is still thinking about that kiss. The way you had looked at him, how you had felt against him…

-

Dinner is lovely- the conversation keeps flowing between the two of you. 

At some point, one of the straps of your dress had fallen off of your shoulder as you both laughed at what Leonard had just said.

"You can not be serious!"

"I am! Trust me, I never lived that down. I'm lucky Jim wasn't around to witness that."

He can't stop trying to make you laugh - you're gorgeous and he thinks he might be able to admit it's what had been drawing him to you from the very beginning - that laugh, the way you smile at him, tease him.

When he leans back, he is quick to hide his smile behind his glass of wine, his eyes falling to the black strap of your dress losely falling down your shoulder.

As he sets his glass back down, he decides to fall back to what Jim had told him.

He can still do this.

Otherwise you wouldn't be looking at him like that right now.

He carefully leans over the table until he can hook his finger under the slim strap on your shoulder. He can see the hitch in your breath, your eyes on him as he tugs it back in place on your skin.

Trailing his fingers along your collarbone may be unnecessary but the way you lower your eyelids just like in the elevator last night, makes it worth it.

“Thanks.”

“Yeah, sure.”

His eyes fall to your empty plate and he smiles briefly.

“Do you want to order dessert?”

“Oh- uhm you’re sure?”

“Yeah, yeah, uh,” he laughs faintly and god why are his hands all sweaty. That was a perfectly normal question.

“But I also know a very cute little ice cream spot. They also have churros. Which I was saving for tomorrow morning buut… I don’t do well in fancy dinner spots.”

You reach out to his hand on the table, letting the tips of one of your fingers gently rub over one of his - a shy gesture, something so unusual of you, at least in his eyes, before you catch his gaze again.

 “And I feel like you’re not a big fan either.”

-

After leaving the bike behind at the apartment complex you’re staying in, you’d slowly made your way around a few corners, your hands busy with trying to operate the digital map while Leonard had held you close with one arm around your waist, carrying your jacket in the other due to the humid air on the station.

Now you’re sharing bites of the churros and ice cream on the edge of the artificial lake. He’s been quiet ever since you’ve left the restaurant, more reserved. But you chose not to dig into that. He had smiled a bit when you jokingly said you should be even after paying for the sweets.

You had washed off your hands under the frigid water of a drinking fountain, before continuing your stroll along the edge of the water next to each other.

Afterwards he had offered you his jacket, murmuring something about the evening chill. You had little choice but to let him layer the jacket around your, admittedly cold, shoulders.

Instead of asking anything stupid you let your hand swing close to his, your pinky nudging into the palm of his hand, not rushing, just… suggesting.

He turns his head towards you and looks down before taking it and firmly intertwining your hands.

You bite your lip and avert your gaze towards the lake, deciding to push your luck and scooting closer.

His nose nudges your temple and you feel goosebumps spreading over your skin as his warm breath hits the shell of your ear.

“This was a great idea, by the way. I like this a lot more than the restaurant.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Though I gotta say, the view was a lot better.”

You both come to a halt from your slow walk, his arm pulling you a bit closer.

“I’m not sure about that. I’ve been having a great view all evening.”

You turn your head towards him, lips already apart to ask what he means only to find him staring at you with a fond expression; a gentle smile and the faintest hint of the crow’s feet around his eyes as he searches your eyes for a reaction.

You feel yourself flush and your heart stumbles as you catch his meaning, a faint chuckle escaping you.

“Wow- uhm... alright-” your eyebrows rise and you seem to fight against the smile lighting up your face as you shily look away, then back at him. “-very smooth.”

“I did warn you last night.”

“Yeah, yeah, you did”, you agree and there’s that moment again, where everything stretches and he gently lets his thumb trace over your hand as he turns towards you, his warmth and the weight of his jacket sending a warm shiver through you.

It’s a short kiss, sweet and soft, and you both linger for a moment, afterwards. When you look at each other again, you feel your heart warm in your chest.

His hand finds your cheek and gently caresses it as you keep his other hand in yours, your thumb rubbing against his skin.

You walk back with his arm around your waist, an easy silence settling between the two of you.

-

Tagging!

@bkwrm523​, @medicatemedrmccoy​, @ladylizzieofdarbyshire​, @star-trekkin-across-theuniverse​, @tea-earl-grey-thot​, @lauraaan182​

if you want to be added/removed from the tag list, shoot me a quick message!

[danpuff-ao3]

43, 45, 49

Hi Anon! Thanks for the asks! <3

43.) What's your favourite headcanon about Snape? Is there a movie/song/book that reminds you of Snape?

Oh goodie! Let's see. I'm such a sucker for him being Draco's godfather, I'm sorry. It brings me so much joy. I also headcanon him being pretty good friends with Narcissa, more so than Lucius, and Narcissa overruled Lucius when it came to choosing a godfather. Between pregnancy hormones and labor pains. Severus was not a "good" choice (status, money, blood), but at the time, Narcissa didn't care and wasn't thinking rationally, she just knew she loved her baby and she didn't trust anyone the way she trusted Severus.

I think Severus wasn't thrilled or prepared to be a godfather, and he thinks Draco is a spoiled brat, but he's also very fond of Draco. It's sort of morphed into that "you annoy the heck out of me, but we're basically family" kinda thing. And his whole relationship with all of the Malfoys is really convoluted and complicated and weird, but there's love there.

I also headcanon him having a love for music. He plays the piano and the violin. He wrote really angsty teenage poetry. As an adult, he thinks he's above such things, though he still finds himself composing poems in his head. He really likes flowers, but he'll never admit to it. He's also secretly very sentimental. The sort to keep old letters, ticket stubs, etcetera.

Two songs make me think of Severus: "Darkness" by Leonard Cohen and "Paint it Black" by The Rolling Stones. For the obvious dark/black reasons, but also...with "Paint it Black" it's the depression and angst of it. So overtaken by those bad feelings, and this need to react in some way. And with "Darkness" it's surrender, and seduction. The worst sort of temptation.

As for books, it has to be Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. The dark, twisted romance and tragedy of it. Plus, like...the Snarry vibes of that book?? C'mon.

45.) Your opinion on Snape's sexuality?

Hmm. Generally I'm in the "this man is gay" camp. Specifically, demiromantic homosexual. Sometimes I see him as fully demi-romantic & sexual. I see him as being closeted for a while, and taking time to figure it out. He probably saw a lot of homophobia (especially from his father), and the intensity of his friendship with Lily may have confused him a bit ("surely I'm straight...or maybe bi...") And I think he probably experimented a lot (with peers at Hogwarts and among Death Eaters, maybe, but primarily with sex workers.)

49.) Do you prefer tall!Snape or short!Snape?

I have respect for short!Snape, I do. And I can appreciate the "why can't he just be average height?" crowd. But I'm fully in Camp Tall!Snape, sorry. (Especially paired with short Harry.) (Smol & tol -- hello size kink.)

This man is tall and thin as a rail and he looms.

Snape asks

answered: 22, 25, 27; 43, 45, 49

[sebstanseabass]

Afterglow (A Bucky Barnes AU fan fiction) - Chapter 11

Afterglow chapters

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x reader

A/N: I am not from the US and I've only been in New York once when I was a kid (I don't remember much lol I was six, I think), so I apologize if some of the places are inaccurate but I tried my very best to do my own research. Anyway, this is one of my favorite chapters I've written and I hope you guys enjoy it as well!

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The first whisper of the Monday air, brushed among the streets of the Upper West Side as you and Bucky decided to grab your running shoes and spend this day outside in the open air, hoping to burn all the calories you consumed last night. With a bottle of water in both your hands, you reached Central Park, catching your breaths. With sweat dripping down your forehead to your eyes, you saw a vacant bench and took the liberty to sit on it with Bucky behind you.

"Do you," Bucky sat beside you, panting and squinting his eyes and shaking off the sweat on his face, "do you run everyday?"

"Not everyday." You chuckled, taking a sip of water. "Four times a week."

"Why do you even like running? I feel like I'm in hell." He sighed, resting his neck on the brace. His breathing was restless and uneven but soon calmed down after a few moments.

"It takes my mind off things. I got a lot going on up here, y'know." You replied with much honesty. "Other people do it to keep in shape but I do it because I need it."

"I've never considered running. I just go to the gym and lift weights. Well, I have my own gym but if I'm being honest with you, I've been slacking off since the day I got here in New York."

You smiled and lifted your eyes to look at him. His face was glistening under the bright morning sun.

"Maybe it's a good thing we ran today." You nudged his shoulder with yours, his sweat-drenched skin rubbing up against your own. "You should run more. The more you do, the less you'll hate it. Trust me."

"You know what, as long as I'm with you, I will." He chuckled. "Ain't running with anybody else but you, doll."

There was a warm sensation moving up towards your cheeks. You didn't know if it was the heat of the sun or the warm blood rushing in but either way, you just knew that a pink flourish was becoming visible on your cheeks.

During that moment all you could muster was: "S-sure."

You hid your face by facing the opposite of Bucky and looked at the crowd that Central Park held. There, across the field lay a dozen picnic blankets on the bright green grass where a bunch of families and couples were reading, eating and talking audibly. Some were sitting underneath the tree for some shade. Some were walking their dogs on a leash and a poop bag ready on hand. Some were tourists with heavy backpacks just walking around. The chirping birds soaring in the air grabbed my attention, making you look up at the sky in which the bright sun hurt your eyes. You closed your eyes after that, trying to regain most of your vision. Once you did, you opened your phone and checked if Peter had left any messages. Unfortunately, there weren't any.

Peter was very vague about where his corporate retreat was, sticking to his notion that in order for him to take his mind off things, he also needed to be away from his real world, whatever that meant.

You sighed, texting Peter anyway, telling him everything was fine and that Bucky had been with you ever since he went away. You asked him how he was and hoped that everything was fine and well, and that he was enjoying his corporate retreat.

"Hey, let me take you somewhere nice today." Bucky said while tapping your sweaty shoulder, making you look up from your phone.

"Why? Where are we going?"

Bucky stood up, typing on his phone and looking around the park. "Wherever my car takes us. I figured since the bar doesn't open on Monday, you and I could do something fun that'll help you relax. Come on, you can go shower in my penthouse. I already have clothes sorted out for you in the guest room."

Your mind was still processing the part where he said that you could go shower in his penthouse.

Confused, you asked. "Wait, now?"

"Yes. Now, get up on your feet. My car's waiting on the road."

He didn't give you much time to comprehend his words, and respond, as he grabbed your hand, pulled you up from the bench. And as you ran, hand in hand, amidst the crowd, there it was again, that after feeling of spontaneity, fleeting; that same feeling you couldn't seem to explain really well — that same feeling you were wishing to avoid.

You and Bucky jogged towards the streets where a black and white Maserati with fully tinted windows was waiting on the side of the street. You thanked Bucky as he opened the door for you. He gave you a cheeky smile in response then hopped in beside you, introducing you to the driver named Howard. Howard nodded his head and smiled at you through the rearview mirror.

Once the car revved forward, you shifted uncomfortably in your seat, weary that your sweat was getting all over the expensive leathered seats of Bucky's car. You moved a bit forward in an oh-so-subtle movement, pushing your body against the strap of the seatbelt across your chest and did your best as you could to avoid sweating all over the seats. With one strong swift move, Bucky pulled your arm back, throwing your back against the seat and told you to relax.

You greeted Leonard with a smile and a wave once you arrived in White Wolf. You and Bucky exchanged some small conversation in the elevator which led right into the penthouse, something about the last time you were here. You both laughed at the memory as you teased him about it.

The penthouse didn't change as much the last time you were here; the only difference was there was no woman with little to no clothing waiting for Bucky to arrive. You looked towards the huge glass windows, your lips curved downward as you were hoping to get a good view of New York that was hiding behind the draped curtains. Bucky led the way towards the guest room in a well-lit hallway on the second floor. You walked under little chandeliers hanging from above. On the walls were duplicate Van Gogh paintings, and framed photographs of nature that blended well with the color scheme of the paintings, as well as the penthouse.

"I picked out some clothes for you that I thought you might like and had my assistant bring them over here." Bucky said, opening the door.

Feeling a bit guilty, you said: "Bucky, you didn't have to."

"I insist. Besides, I'm in charge of you for the whole week." He smiled, leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed.

You playfully rolled your eyes. "I told you, I can take care of myself."

"I'm older than you so you do what I tell you." He just dismissed your remark, and added: "Now go shower. I'll meet you downstairs for some brunch."

With that, Bucky closed the door behind him, leaving you in a state of awe as you looked around the guest room which was twice as big as your room. It was like a duplicate of the living room but smaller, and with a king-sized bed in the middle on the far back with clothes and some towels draped along the edge. A telescope stands near the glass walls. Beside it sits two dainty cushioned chairs, and a miniature coffee table. There was a flat screen 32-inch television facing the bed.

You walked near the curtains, slithered your finger between the noticeable gap and took a small peek outside.

You stepped into the insides of the bathroom which was near the size of your room. Everything felt so unfamiliar to you but you bathed everything in and relaxed as soon as the small prickle of the cold shower water hit the soft spots of your body.

You got out of the guest room, feeling fresh from the cold shower. You wore some cropped halter top, heathered trousers and slipped on some fuzzy slippers that were quite big for your size, even though your feet were already big. You quickly assumed it was Bucky's.

"Did you, by any chance, get me some shoes too?" You joked as you approached the kitchen, eyeing the bagels on a big plate on the rectangular island in the center. You hopped on one of the high stools, grabbed one and smeared cream cheese on it. "Just kidding, I love these fuzzy slippers."

Bucky's back was facing you, busy flipping some pancakes on the stove. "You're not wearing that outside. And yes, I do have some but they're mostly Peter's. Don't worry he hasn't used them yet."

"That's alright. We're the same size."

Bucky turned around, a big pan on his right hand. He approached you and flipped a pancake on top of a tower of pancakes on a plate.

"You like the clothes I picked out for you?" He asked and sat down on the high stool.

"Yes, thank you. But seriously, you didn't have to."

"Okay, so let me get this straight... You let me pay for food and alcohol but not clothes?"

You laughed. "It's a different thing! Those were cheap, these," you touched the fabric of your shirt and trousers, "are obviously expensive. They don't have that thrift smell my clothes have. And besides, I need food but not clothes so you paying for my food was a big win for me."

Now, it was his turn to laugh, shoving a piece of pancake into his mouth. "Okay from now on, all I should hear from you when I give you stuff is thank you."

"But... why?"

"Because social convention dictates us to."

"I know, but, why are you giving me stuff?"

"How else am I going to keep you around?" He winked as he continued to chew.

"Bucky." You warned.

"Okay, okay." He chuckled. "The thing to know about me is I love spoiling people — people that I trust and I'm obviously comfortable around you."

Not knowing any other way to answer, you just said: "Oh, well... Thank you."

"And of course, the thing I said before too." He laughed and you threw a bagel at him in response.

You and Bucky enjoyed your little brunch while planning the day ahead of you: go around Fifth Street, and perhaps Broadway, maybe go to the Chelsea market and as Bucky said: "Just go wherever our feet take us!"

Once both of you were done, you headed down White Wolf, with Bucky's Maserati waiting in front. You greeted Howard as you climbed in.

"You know what would be nice?" You started once the car moved forward. "Capturing people's moments in a crowded street." You said, picturing Fifth Street in your head.

"Oh, that's right." Bucky replied. "Here." With his large hand, he handed you a camera. But it wasn't just any camera. It was yours.

"Wait, is this my camera?" You asked, taking it from him. He nodded in response. "Bucky, what the hell, you went through my stuff?"

"Not me. Howard."

"Howard?!"

"Don't worry, miss," Howard spoke, glancing through the rearview mirror where you saw your own reflection, "I didn't take anything else and put everything back in place. I just did what Mr. Barnes told me to do."

"James." You scolded.

"What are you James-ing me for?" He said, leaning against the seat, clearly stifling a laugh. "He's the one who went through your stuff!"

"You are such a child." You rolled your eyes. "You're the one who told him to."

"You heard him, he didn't take anything else."

"Next time you pull something like this, you ought to let me know okay?"

He lifted his eyes to look at you, teeth biting his inner cheek, a smile wanting to reveal itself. "Okay."

You sighed but you also couldn't help but smile at your camera. It had been a long time since you've operated it as you have been so busy in the bar and hadn't had clients for a while now. You closed it immediately, seeing as the battery was just at fifty percent.

You and Bucky got out of the vehicle as soon as Howard reached Fifth street and entered the Lacoste building with no rush. You held your camera close to your chest, the strap feeling a bit heavier on the back of your neck as the hours passed but the weight of pleasure of taking photos of the street from the inside of the glass windows overwhelmed that.

All the stores looked so unfamiliar to you. The stores you usually go to had dimly-lit rooms with low ceilings, and instead of tiled floors and walls, they had chipped to almost rotten wood walls. The smell of new clothes in these designer stores filled your lungs, the bright incandescent lights nearly caused blindness to your eyes, the amount of men and women dressed in suits, stockings, and skirts were nothing you had ever seen before, designer clothes were hanging on racks color-codedly, or by season, or by new and old collection, the eyes of the security guards in each entrance lurked from miles away until you get inside the store, and today, you have seen Bucky's sleek, black credit card get swiped into the little machines a hundred times. He bought some clothes for himself, and Peter, whom he actually promised to.

Bucky even handed you some clothes, told you to put them on and when they did fit you, he immediately went towards the counter.

Feeling as if everything was too much, you refused but all he said was:

"From now on, when I buy you things all you have to say is thank you."

Overpowered, you just nodded and said exactly what he wanted you to say: "Thank you." And as hours passed more shopping bags were in my bags (yes, you insisted to carry what he had bought you, and when he refused, you gave him back his words, a little taste of his own medicine: "From now on, when you buy me things all you have to do is let me carry them.")

"Ah, throwing my words back to me. I see."

As you walked around a whole lot more, side by side, exposed elbows and lonely fingers constantly brushing against each other, you talked about things you both loved. Nothing about Bucky's hotel business, nothing about the bar, just the things in life which made you both happy — photographs, paintings, and everything about art. He saw the world through yours. You were just beginning to see his but the details weren't enough for you. You craved more of what was in his mind and in his life — no, not the business, parties, booze and all that.

But the things that separate him from that world, and the things he grew up with before that.

A lot of questions swarmed in your head, trying to think of ways to ask them but Bucky merely insisted on knowing you. All of you. But just like him, you too had your guards up, especially around your family issues.

Then you reached Chelsea market. You didn't know how but you did. You spotted Bucky's car parked on one street and told you to leave all the things he had bought inside. After saying your goodbye to Howard who, afterwards, drove towards the bumper-to-bumper traffic in Manhattan, you and Bucky headed to wherever your feet you. You were feeling a ton lighter without the shopping bags dragging your hands and you could now freely touch and open your camera.

Bucky, with a Grande Starbucks cup in one hand, looked around with a big smile planted on his face. You walked around, seeing the art district of New York through your lenses. You grabbed Bucky's attention by calling his name and when he turned around, you snapped a shot of him. Eyes wide. Brows furrowed together. Lips in a state of bafflement.

"Hey, delete that!" He protested.

You laughed, turning your body in the opposite direction. "No way! It's a good picture!"

"No, it's not!"

You kept on laughing, mumbling a bunch of "sorry"s and "excuse me"s along the way, the camera still shoved in your face.

Your lens caught a familiar name from afar, printed in neon red: Wanda. You stood there in the middle of the crowd, leaving Bucky to wonder what had happened.

"Let's go there." You said, making your way across the street where it was.

"Where?"

"Just follow me."

Bucky held no questions no more as your feet treaded towards the building of Wanda's studio. Once you reached it, you merely stood meters away from it, looking at the sign.

"Wandavision." You mumbled under your breath then bit your inner cheek afterwards, contemplating if you should go in and say hi but that didn't matter anymore because standing behind the tall glass windows was Wanda herself.

Again, she gave you that oh-so-sweet smile of hers, long red locks cascading down her shoulder as she walked towards the door. You gestured to Bucky to come with you, no questions asked.

"Y/n!" Wanda exclaimed, wrapping her arms around you as you and Bucky entered the building. "Oh, it's so good to see you."

"You too, Wanda."

"And who's this dapper man of yours?"

Beside you, Bucky's body vibrated, a chuckle coming out of his mouth as he offered his hand. "I'm Bucky Barnes. Nice to meet you."

Wanda shook his hand. "Nice to meet you, too." She gave you a knowing smile, taunting you, but you dismissed her assumptions by shaking your head no, and then she pouted.

Wanda led you further down her large, wide studio, giving us a tour.

"I'm quite surprised you came by, Y/n."

"We were just walking around the market and saw your studio." You replied. "Wanda, what you have here is... so beautiful."

"Thank you. I really appreciate that. I've wanted this since I was a little girl. It's always been the dream."

The inside was bright, with fair white walls, floor and ceiling, and smelled of fresh lavender. On one corner, it smelled of fabrics, make-up, and hairspray. Framed photos of Wanda hung on the walls. There was a dressing area on a corner, and a comfortable couch, perhaps, for visitors as well as the models. A mini kitchen stood in the far back. On top of the cute marbled island was a coffee maker, and a mini fridge. There was one room solely for the post-production process, her main office. A giant paper backdrop had taken a huge space on the floor. Around it were different kinds of large lights, tripods, chairs and other expensive equipment for photography.

She had it all. Everything you've pictured yourself having.

Wanda had it all.

"You've come at the right time. There's not much going on today but I have tons of clients coming for the next few days but really, feel free to come by anytime you want."

"I will, thank you."

Howard picked you right up outside Wandavision. The whole ride was filled with uncomfortable silence.

"Your friend's really nice." Bucky said, trying to clear the atmosphere. "She's a bit too chatty for me but she's nice."

"Yeah." You answered, your head pressed against the window. "Really nice."

"Are you okay, doll?"

You hummed. "I am. Just a bit tired s'all."

"Listen, I just have to head to the White Wolf but Howard will drop you by the apartment, okay? The shopping bags are already there but you don't have to worry about them, I'll take care of them as soon as I get back. Just take a rest, okay? Maybe a short nap. I'll grab you dinner on the way. How does that sound?"

Tired to even tell him you didn't need to babied, you just said: "Okay. Thank you, Bucky."

You did as Bucky told you to. You ignored the bags sitting on the couch, placed your camera on your nightstand and took a damn nap. When you woke up, instead of feeling better, you felt sick to your stomach. Your phone lit up, a message from Bucky displayed on the screen:

"Sorry for the delay. I'm currently stuck in traffic. I'll see you in 20."

You sighed and with an empty stomach, and an occupied mind, you put on your jacket, anticipating a cold rush, grabbed your keys to the bar and headed down. You went straight behind the counter, jumped over it and found an unopened vodka.

You drank the vodka, drank all your troubles away and as you sat there on the floor, weeping, the place you worked at felt too much familiar to you. So much so that you began to hate it and to hate the kind of life you had been living. Who were you fucking kidding? No, you didn't like juggling two jobs. It sucked. Even though it had been giving you the ability to pay half of the rent, it still sucked.

This wasn't what you wanted.

A few moments have passed. You were already on your second bottle. There was a sound coming from the back which began to startle you. A certain Steve emerged from his office, a look of concern evident on his face.

"Stevieeee!" You stood up, well, tried to anyway. "You're here!"

"Y/n, what the hell." He took you in his big muscular arms, his one hand carefully yanking the bottle of vodka on your hand and placing it on the counter. "You're drunk. You should go home. Where's Peter?"

"He's away. He left. Wait, why are you here?"

"I just had to take care of some things."

"Is Nat back there with you? It's okay, shh, shh, I know about you too."

"Oh, God. Did she tell you?"

"Puh-lease! You imprinted your scent on her like a werewolf."

He just sighed. "Let's get you to your apartment."

"Don't worry, Stevie, I won't tell. Hey, call Bucky. Grab my phone. It's on my ass." You giggled and then hiccuped. He carefully grabbed your phone from your back pocket, let you enter my password which took forever, and then called Bucky.

"He'll be here in a minute or two." Steve said, sliding your phone back in your pocket. "Let's get you seated, alright?"

He sat you in one of the booths. "I'll get you some water, okay?"

You didn't respond. Your eyes were fixated on the photos on the wall. With your breath rapidly increasing, you stood by your knees, and grabbed as many photos as you could. Steve slid in the booth with you, handing you a glass of water. You took a small sip, avoiding his eyes.

"What happened, y/n?"

You didn't give him an answer to his question and just downed the water. But you did ask him something. "Why'd you buy my photos, Steve? Is it because you pitied me that day?"

"What? No, I truly believe you have amazing photos."

"But what?"

"What?"

"There's always a but. What is it, Steve?"

"But nothing, y/n."

"Liar." You muttered. "You're a liar."

"Look, I can't help you if you don't tell me what's going on."

"I don't need help. I'm not a child!"

"You clearly are, especially when you're behaving like one. You come in here, drink an expensive bottle of whiskey, cry on the floor and ask me a bunch of ridiculous things. It's okay to ask for help sometimes."

"I'll pay for the bottle if that's what you're asking."

"No, I don't care about that. I care about what's going on with you right now because this isn't you, y/n."

"Oh please, you don't. You just pity me! That's why you bought those two photos, that's why you let me put my photos up here in the bar. I'm no good, Steve! I'm no good."

"Y/n — "

Then, a door slammed, a running Bucky coming inside. "Hey, doll. I'm here. Hey, hey, what happened?"

"Let's just go, Bucky." You stood up beside Bucky who held your waist for balance.

"Thank you for calling me." Bucky told Steve.

"Just take her home safely."

"I live right upstairs." You groaned.

"And make sure she doesn't drink anymore or do anything stupid." Steve scolded, his eyes locked on yours.

Bucky held you all the way towards the outside of the bar, and guided you towards the steps that led to the sidewalk. A black limo was on the street. With the windows rolled down, Howard asked, "Is everything alright, Mr. Barnes?"

"Everything's okay, Howie. You can go back now."

"Wait!" You exclaimed, slipping away from Bucky's arms and headed towards the limo. "Howard, take us somewhere."

"Y/n, what are you doing?"

You didn't give him time to wait for an answer as you opened the door and climbed inside the spacious limo. Bucky climbed in, confused.

"Y/n, are you going to tell me what's going on?"

You gave no answer, instead, you gave Howard the address. "450 West 15th Street."

The ride was more silent and shorter. He tried offering you food he had bought but you kindly refused, dreading to get out of the limo. You held on to your photos so tight that marks, scratches and folds were visible even in the dark.

When you reached your destination, you quickly hopped out, with Bucky following you.

"What are we doing back here?"

You were standing in front of Wanda's studio, the red neon lights illuminating on the concrete street, giving a bit of life on this side of New York.

You sat down on the floor, against a big pot of plant, your eyes never leaving the sign. Bucky, still confused, followed suit anyway.

"You know, my parents told me I'd never make it here. The day I left my home to live here, they told me, 'you'll never amount to anything. You'll never have a good life in New York. You'll never make it as a photographer. That's not a real job.' And I told them I will make it that I'll work my ass off, blood, sweat, tears, I'll do anything to prove them wrong. But don't you just hate it when they're right? I left my family, lost my communication to my siblings for this ridiculous dream I've been chasing for years. Everything I've done here feels like nothing."

At this point, you didn't want to hear anything or anyone besides yourself. So you were more than glad to hear nothing from Bucky, and to feel his fingers interlaced with yours.

"Wanda and I met in college; a year younger than me. We shared a love for photography and arts. Then we kind of just lost touch after I graduated. And then I saw her a week ago. She looked so happy and so content and I could feel her pity on me, her eyes, her touch. It was the first time I felt so small and I didn't think I could feel smaller but then we went here. Everything I wanted for myself, the things I pictured myself having and doing... She's living it. She's out there and I'm not. And I really hoped that by now, I've proved my parents wrong but turns out they're right. They were right all along. I don't amount to anything. I'm nothing."

"Wandavision." You laughed bitterly. "Wanda's vision. That right there. That's fucking clever."

"Let's get you home, doll. Please?"

"I want to stay, Bucky."

"We'll talk when we get back. Please, y/n."

You didn't agree to anything but he lifted you up anyway, guiding you towards the limo which was still on the street.

The partition was up. Even though Howard was inside the limo as well, at that moment it was just you and Bucky.

So, you cried, like how the skies cried, in Bucky's arms. You wept for all the unpaid rent and debts, for the menial job that you ended up in, for your failed career as a photographer, for your selfish parents, for your isolation from your college friends, for your insecurities, for your dog that died when you left for college, for your former lover that abused you, for the books you left unread, for all the wrong choices, for all the money you wasted during your college days, for all the toxic people you've ever met, for all the alcohol stains you had to wipe for years, for all the food intake during your peak of stress in school, for the only cherries you tasted, for the drunk sex you've always regretted, for the drunk kiss with Peter you've always regretted, and for the incoming mistake you were about to do.

"Kiss me." You whispered, lifting your head from his chest. "Kiss me, Bucky."

He shook his head no. Your noses touched. "Why not?" Your breaths moved together.

"Because right now, you're a mess." He whispered. "You're very vulnerable and drunk. I can't."

"I'm giving you all the consent I need. Kiss me."

"Not like this, doll."

Instead of going for your dry lips, he placed his lips on your forehead, his mouth and breath lingering. "Not like this."

[dajaregambler]

HeliosR - Keith Max Card story “Worried old man Keith”

Translation of Keith Max’s 3* “The Night Pool Party” card story from ‘Helios Rising Heroes’.

Little Faith: I dun wannaaaaaa~! I wanna play games~~

Faith: So annoying…. Don’t go around throwing a tantrum now….

Junior: Ain’t it fine, Shitty DJ. We got games here anyway, so he’ll be quiet if we let him play, yeah?

Faith: Haah? You can’t just easily let a spoiled kid like this do what he wa--

Little Faith: There’s games!?

Junior: Hell yeah★ It’s not one of ‘em new ones but… I’ll go get it

Faith: Wha- ….Ochibi-chan! Wait a sec!

Little Faith: Uwaah, so fun...♪

Keith: Geez, all of ya are running around and making a ruckus. Makes you wonder who’s the brat here…

Little Faith: ……...

Keith: ….Mh?

Little Faith: !

Keith: (...Did he, just blatantly look away?)

Jack: “It seems that he got intimidated by seeing Keith. Please look a bit more cheerful.”

Jacqueline: “A happy smile is important-nano! Especially in front of a tiny child, if you don’t smile it’s no good!”

Keith: (Uum, uuhuuh…)

Keith: Is...is there anything ya wanna drink~? Ah, just so you know, can’t give ya any alcohol okay~?

Little Faith: …….

Keith: There’s no need to be afraid of this ol’ man here~~? Look…. happy happy smile~♪

Little Faith: ………..

Keith: (Wha- He ran away!?)

Keith: (I was all smiley to him and yet it had the opposite effect….!)

Keith: (Actually, the hell’s up with “ol’ man”!? Never thought something like that would come outta my own mouth…)

Junior: Ooooi, Chibi DJ! I got that game here♪

Little Faith: !!

Faith: Sigh….  Ochibi-chan will have to act if he starts acting selfishly or throwing tantrums, because I don’t know what to do anymore at this point

Faith: Eh, Keith? What are you looking so defeated for?

Keith: Huuh~? I ain’t though~?

Keith: I’mma, head off to the prof’s lab for a bit. Wanna ask ‘bout that machine… you guys behave and play nicely, got it

Faith: …..?

-

Keith: Oooi, prof. I’m coming i-

Nova: Nuhuuuuuuh~! I dun’ wanna, I dun’ wanna take a bweak~~!

Jack: You must! I beg of you to take a break and quietly listen to what I have to say

Nova: NoooOOooOOooo~!!!!!!!

Keith: Wh-what the….?

-

Nova: Ah man~ I showed you something embarrassing. Sorry, Keith-kun

Keith: Nah… My bad for walking in when you’re this busy

Keith: Came to see how the machine reparations and investigation is going but… Already got most of it, so I’ll just go back

Jack: No need to. You may take it easy here, Keith

Jack: Nova finally took a break thanks to you coming here. Please, have some coffee together.

Keith: …….

-

Nova: ----I see~ So, you ended up calling that boy “Little Faith”-kun

Nova: That’s a pretty good name for him. Although I prefer Jack’s “Pocket-sized Faith”-kun more~♪

Keith: Still, taking care of some kid is seriously hard. I knew what it was gonna be like so I didn’t want to take ‘em in...

Keith: It's a hundred times more of a pain in the ass than I thought to take care of him, to the point of it being absurdly tiring….

Nova: Ahaha, got your hands full, eh~

Keith: Well, the other’s are good with that, I just sit by and do nothing

Keith: That lil’ Faith’s still scared just by seeing me though...

Nova: Oh no, that hasn’t changed?

Keith: ….I did my best and tried to smile like Jack and all told me to, yeah?

Keith: But it didn’t work out at all, if anything he ended up running away

Nova: Uwah…. That must’ve been heart-breaking….

Nova: It was suuuuuuuch a big shock for me I had hurt Marion’s feelings and he ignored me when he was little!

Nova: I had panicked because I didn’t understand why, and then begged Victor to give me advice...

Jack: What had Victor said?

Nova: For the most part it was advice containing information he got based on general theories, psychology and the like.

Nova: In the end, after trying various things, Marion came to me and apologized, saying “Sorry for ignoring you”...

Nova: We hugged each other reaaaal tightly, and both burst out in tears…. Fufu, it’s still nice to think of♪ 

Keith: Naw well, that’s only something you and Marion could do

Jack: No, perhaps that might be wrong

Keith & Nova: Huh?

Jack: Despite Nova’s appearance he is easily loved by children. With the exception of Marion, there’s also the children of his acquaintances and those in town that are quick to get along with him, isn’t it so?

Nova: Aah, now that you mention it, that might be it? I did notice I was being treated as a friend rather than an adult

Nova: Like I’m poked fun at and taken care of…. even though I’m an old man who’s age is showing~?

Keith: Dunno ‘bout that… That tantrum from earlier wasn’t all too different from Little Faith’s

Jack: Keith, how about trying it out too?

Keith: ...Eeh?

Jack: Your behaviour might be too “adult”-like

Jack: Why don’t you try to deceive him by following Nova’s example?

Keith: Nah, naw, there’s no need to…

-

---The next morning

Little Faith: Leonard-oniichan! I finished washing my face and brushing my teeth!

Junior: Ooh, how good of you. Then, guess we’ll continue playing that game

Little Faith: Yaay♪

Keith: ……….

Faith: Haah, games in the morning again….? Ochibi-chan’s totally way too soft with him

Faith: Keith, bathroom’s open. Did you wash yourself yet?

Keith: ……..

Faith: Keith? Are you listening?

Keith: NoOOooOoO~! I dun’ wanna, I dun wanna wash my fwace~~~!!

Faith & Junior: !!!!???

Keith: ……………

Junior: Are… are you okay, Keith?

Keith: ….Hm?

Faith: Just how much did you have to drink this early in the morning? This is seriously scary, I’ll go get Dino…

Keith: !? Wait that’s not-, I ain’t dru-

Junior: Chibi DJ, don’t look at this. Ignore it, ignore all of it.

Little Faith: Yeah, okay….

Keith: Why!!!???

Keith: Why did it turn out like thiiiiiiiis-!?

[strangebrainrot]

Got tagged by @achangeinpriorities to share my 5 favourite fics I've written. This is like choosing between my children, but I'll do it. In no particular order:

1. All That Glitters

Mature, major character death. Lisa Snart/Bette Sans Souci, a ship that I didn't know I needed until achangeinpriorities created it. I always love the fics where I make people cry and this was certainly one of them.

2. How to Save a Life

Teen, wee bit of Max Mayfield/Eleven | Jane Hopper. It's basically just a fic where Max is coping with Billy’s death through music and holding on to his belongings and ends with her writing to him about the fic's namesake. Another one that made some people ugly cry.

3. Mini Marshmallows

General, Barry Allen/Leonard Snart/Mick Rory. Barry spends the week leading up to Christmas seeing what he can get away with in regards to the marshmallows in Len's cocoa. 3000 words of tooth rotting fluff (heh) and these idiots being in love. May also make people cry, but from cuteness.

4. Sit Pretty for Me

Mature, Barry Allen/Mick Rory. My very first kink fic as well as my first fic of just this ship. This fic is a lot of firsts for me as it's also the first in a series. Mick taking care of others and Barry being taken care of both have very special places in my heart.

5. 525,600 Minutes

Teen, Barry Allen/Leonard Snart/Caitlin Snow/Mick Rory. I wrote this for my birthday and is just Len, Mick, and Caitlin (and Frost) spoiling Barry on his birthday. I had a lot of fun with this and thinking of what each of them would get him

Thank you again for the tag. Now as for who I want to inflict this decision upon...

I'm tagging @blueelvewithwings @mediocre--writing @whistlemist if you want

[remmushound]

Mud Dogz rising, chapter 4 - On the Streets

Life on the street wasn’t anything like Daniel’s life before. In the first days he had tried to find his way back home, but now home just seemed like a lost dream. He felt many things that he had never felt before; hunger, cold, bodily pains. He had slept in the shelter of alleyways in the first weeks before he grew to realize that stone stole the heat from his body, and since then he had sought out alternate solutions to the problem of sleeping. Resting in trash or on bins or, when the opportunity showed itself, slumbering with generous families in positions like him willing to share their blankets. Out of everything that had gone wrong and continued to go wrong, there was always one upside.

He was a rat, and a rat was built to find food. He grew to recognize the hot spots for fresh food, as fresh as trash could be, by scent alone, and bit by bit it helped him to figure out a routine of when and where food would be available. He would be one of the first ones there, among other rats, and they’d have first dibs. The rats never rejected him; they were all rats, and they all shared the spoils together, and they had to do it fast before bigger, stronger yokai arrived to bully their way in. It didn't take long at all for Daniel to get into the habit of stuffing his cheeks with as much as they could hold before the bigger yokai could show up and send the rats scattering.

This morning, he got a pleasant surprise when he was the very first one to arrive at the trash bin. No rats, no other yokai, and a whole assortment of goodies just for him! He grabbed the first bag, grunting under the weight of it as he pulled it away from the trash bin trying to get better leverage to rip it. He gasped, and would have screamed if he had not covered his mouth, at the sight of a mound of fluffy green fur resting just under the dumpster. The ogre was just a cub, sure, but where there was a cub there had to be a mother nearby. Daniel knew he had to be gone before the mother came back for her cub, but he couldn’t just leave! Not without something to show for it.

Slow and tedious, he took the trash bag between his teeth and tried to pull it out of the alleyway. The trash bag stretched and stretched, and then there was a splitting riiiiiiiiiip.

“Oh crud.” The onesie-wearing rat gulped.

***

Leonard opened his eyes. There had been some sound that had woken him up and, while he would usually just disregard something so minor, the change in the scenery around him was enough to alert. He crawled out from under the dumpster, shaking out his fur to the point he looked more puffball than yokai, and turned his attention to the other he found in the alleyway.

The rat cub didn't look like much, and he was alone. His fur was just as grimy as Leonard’s was, his tail kinked and right ear missing almost half of its velvety interior. Leonard raised a paw to what was missing of his own right ear, and he gave a soft laugh. Then his eyes searched down until he found the bag of trash the rat had been attempting to pull away, split down the middle and spilling out its contents.

Food. Glorious food, and so much of it too! More than Leonard had seen at one time in the year he had been on the streets, and this rat was trying to take it?! Not on his watch. Leonard flashed the yellow of his fangs, holding his arms far apart and kneading his claws through the air to show just how sharp they were.

“That’s mine…” Leonard snarled.

“Ah… I didn't know! I’ll just be going—“

He was bigger than the rat, and he was stronger, and the rat was terrified. The rat tried to run and Leonard, being a predator, pursued.

Leonard pounced on the rat and both young cubs rolled out into the sidewalk. Daniel, not willing to simply be ripped to shreds, tried to fight back. His thin, broken claws were no match for the ogre’s thick, well-sharpened ones. The thickness of Leonard’s pelt offered him protection from the scratches and bites that the rat tried to inflict while his own claws and teeth tore through the rats thin furred defenses. Even when his teeth didn't meet flesh, they snapped the air with enough force to resemble clashing two large rocks together. Hot spit was sprawled across Daniel’s face and he scrunched up his features at the putrid odor of the breath while using every muscle he had to fight off the attacker.

“Thank ya, madam~”

The struggle ceased when both yokai smelled the warmth of something delicious, something Daniel recognized immediately. Hot dogs! They were nothing like the food he had in his old life but, once when he was really really lucky, a very kind yokai had bought one for him. It was the best thing Daniel ever tasted!

Both ogre and rat were quick to find the source of the smell; a kind tengu had just given one of the delectable treats, piled with all sorts of goodies, to a tiny eel yokai coiled on the streets. The eel had a good little setup going, with a small tent, several blankets, and signs with multiple misspellings asking for food and money. The eel ate the hotdog in one bite and then gave a blissful bubble that made the tengu coo over him and drop a few yen into the eel’s tin can.

Fight forgotten, both Leonard and Daniel looked at each other, and then made a beeline for the smug-looking little eel.

“Hey, how’d you do that?” Leonard asked eagerly, his corgi-like tail wagging enough to knock his pants a little lower.

“Do what?” The innocent toddler, years younger than the rat and ogre, tilted his head.

“How’d you get him to give you a ‘dog?” Daniel asked eagerly.

“D’ya threaten him?” Leonard asked.

“Does he know you?”

“Uhhh…” The toddler considered the questions as he sucked mustard off of the nubs of his hands. “Noo… I just be cute and dey gibs me stuff.”

“What do you mean they just give you stuff?” Leonard pulled his lips back, “That don’t make no sense!”

Seeing another yokai heading to pass by, the eel said, “Watch.”

When the yokai walked past, he slowed to watch the eel. The toddler sat back on the tip of his tail, his eyes wide and watery and sticking his lip out for added effect.

“Escuse me sir… can... can I has… I sorry I just… need some food…” The eel sniffled and cried on command, wiping his eyes as he melted into himself. “S...sowwy fer asking sir…”

“Aww…” The yokai melted, dropping a few loose coins into the eels can, “There you go buddy.”

“Tank you mister…” He watched as the yokai walked away, then turned back to the other two with an evil smirk. “Is easy! Try it on them!”

He pointed at another yokai headed their way. Leonard bullied his way to the front and sat up straight, clearing his throat to get the yokai’s attention. The kitsune stopped to criticize the ogre with a sharp glare as Leonard held out his hand demandingly.

“Give me food!”

The kitsune stuck up her nose and walked away, leaving Leonard standing there with his mouth hanging open. He snapped it closed when he heard the laughter of the cubs behind him, and him turning to them silenced the laughter.

“I’d like to see you try!” He pointed at the rat.

Daniel considered, and then nodded. “Gladly.”

Another yokai was coming up, so Daniel took up his position at the front of the group. He stood up perfectly straight, arms folded behind his back as he faced the yokai.

“Excuse me kind sir, I am a simple street rat and I would like to ask if you could…”

The yokai walked right past him, not even looking at Daniel. It was Leonard’s turn to laugh, and Daniel’s turn to lay his ears flat and blush. Mickey sighed and rubbed his hands through his frills.

“We got a lot of work to do.”

[ladyideal]

reader fem telling Leonard McCoy that this pregnancy with twins .what would be the doc's reaction pleases

Eeek! So cute.

He already has a kid, but it doesn't mean the kiddos aren't gonna be spoiled. It's a surprise, but not unwelcome.

You and him would be snuggled on the couch together, him completely oblivious.

He's already suspicious of all the morning sickness and puking.

But he knows better than to swoop in every other second with his tricorder

Seeing him occupied, you finally turned to him and placed your PADD down.

"Len, there is something I have to tell you." you start.

"I know about you goofing off in the Engineering decks, darlin'."

Oh, how this man could be both lovable and insufferable at times.

"Okay, fine. But take me seriously right now."

He angled an eyebrow at you, his curiosity now piqued.

"You know how I've been puking a lot lately?"

"Geoff said everything was fine. Just some food poisoning."

You made a mental note to thank your doctor for being discreet. Leonard learning he was going to be a dad again had to come from you, not his coworker.

"Weellll, not quite," You reached underneath the couch, pulled out a pair of baby shoes (courtesy of Nyota's work), and placed it in between him and you.

Leonard was silent, staring at the pair of shoes in shock for a long time. His gaze was faraway, as though he was in a memory. His PADD clattered to the carpeted floor, and you twiddled your thumbs in waiting. Slowly his fingers looped around them, and focused back on you.

"You're-you're-pregnant?" He choked out his words.

You nodded.

"We're having a kid?" His hands wrapped gently around your stomach.

You nodded again.

"I get to be a dad again?"

You wanted to correct him to say that he already was a dad to Joanna, but nodded like a bobblehead would. The anxiety grew in you as you watched.

Suddenly, he pulled you in for a passionate kiss. "We're pregnant! God, I love you Y/N. You would be the best mother for our child."

"Ah, um," You tried interrupting him around the kiss and the happiness. "About that..."

A second pair of baby shoes appeared.

Another shocked silence.

"TWINS?!?! We're having twins?!"

You nodded, a small smile on your face as he rushed forward, picked you up effortlessly, spun you around, and kissed you once more.

"Good God Y/N, I can't wait for them."

Send a headcanon in!

[toutallyahoe]

Hey, it me, a dumb sleeby bitch. I know you're not taking requests. So I'm gonna leave this at your doorstep and if you ever want to do it, go for it. No pressure. But pls if you ever have time and motivation, could you give me some cute sleepy headcanons for any of our very good cowboys? Thanks in advance and I love you and everything you do. You're amazing.

i would literally write a fucking book for you-- i have told you this so many already asdfghjkl

but ya want some of the good boahs and some cute sleepy headcanons? BOI I AM IN!

also, before i continue-- CALL YERSELF DUMB BITCH AGAIN AND I WILL gently KICK YER ASS and hug you to death because ya ain't dumb or else i am more dumber than a fucking rock you sweet, talented smort, beautiful fecker!

AND ANOTHER THING !!! *sobs* HOW CAN YE DO THIS TO ME?!? SHOOTING ME WITH A SURPRISE COMPLIMENT-- ACK ME HEART! I FEEL M U S H ASDFGHJKKLXNBSOHD

okay, i calmed down now... onto the headcanons! btw, multiple characters because ya didn't specify who you want in this headcanon and because i knew yer beautiful ass would like more than one boah

⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃

Arthur Morgan

• first off, best boah right here

• second off, this bitch won't admit he is sleepy even if his life depends on it

• is it pride???

• probably...

• definitely

• i dont know, i see Arthur as one to not really say anything he feels because he doesn't want to be a bother or thinks he'll be a dead weight

• because life as an outlaw? it ain't really the best life

• so, when there are jobs that takes a few days and he volunteers to take watch, Arthur won't admit he is tired and would continue on be on guard no matter how many times he is asked to get his ass some rest

• it'll be a pain in the ass if you aren't patient enough or very worried about him

• because knowing Arthur, he'll just suck it up

• so, if he is sleepy, his [Name] is on his ass immediately

• "you need rest"

• "don't need nothin"

• he IS stubborn as fuck

• and also incredibly more sassier when he is sleepy

• it honestly sometimes annoy [Name]

• "Arthur, you look like you're goin to pass out-- jesus christ! just rest already!"

• Arthur is too stubborn for his own good

• and it sometimes lead to some arguments really

• but [Name] will be the first to give up when he just sees Arthur and sighs

• [Name] will sit by his side and just talk about stuff

• trying to make Arthur relax and at ease

• he'll be sassy at first but will ease up and comment genuinely

• Arthur will then unconsciously place his head on his [Name]'s shoulder as the [Hair color] haired man's voice drowns his thoughts with stories of the past (either his or [Name]'s past)

• before you know it, Arthur "sleep is for the dead" Morgan is fucking asleep

• [Name] notices how quiet Arthur and will turn his head to see the outlaw asleep

• [Name] just smiles at Arthur and place his head on Arthur's and let a content sigh as he close his eyes

• they'll be fine sleeping for a bit

John Marston

• best greasy dumbass raccoon looking ass bitch

• but-- ahem

• like Arthur, John will be stubborn at first

• it's pride and John doesn't want to get babied really

• he already gets that enough from the rest of the gang since he is a real life predatory bait and gets mauled by a lot of animals

• honestly, this man has the shittiest luck

• but also lucky in some way...?

• but yeah... ANYWAYS

• when John gets tired, he is functioning with no braincells (like he doesn't already)

• [Name] is honestly tired with it

• just fucking glaring the shit outta that greasy raccoon boi

• then maybe...just maybe, you can get him to rest his greasy ass

• John will be a bit of a whiny bitch to be honest

• like, he'll whine he ain't sleepy

• but as if it was on cue, he'll yawn

• John looking a bit embarrassed and [Name] looking at him with that "really?" look

• [Name] ain't dealing with yer bullshit raccoon boi

• i can definitely see [Name] restraining John from running away and carry the guy to his tent and slam his in the cot and glare and order John to stay and sleep like a damn dog

• John would be honestly pissed because DAMN IT [NAME]! YA HAVE TO DO THAT IN FRONT OF EVERYONE?!? ARTHUR AND SEAN AIN'T GOING TO LIVE THIS DOWN (because those two are bastards... lovable bastards though asdfgghjkl)

• but also turned on but pfft-- he won't admit that

• but yeah, [Name] just sitting on the side of his bed and will not leave until he makes sure John rest

• "you ain't leavin, are you?"

• "i aint leavin till i see yer ass sleep, Marston"

• yikes, getting called his by his last name? usually his [Name] does that when he is annoyed or angry at time

• that when John know he ain't getting out of this

• "aight... fine! i'll sleep! happy?"

• "very"

• to be honest, John feels happy when [Name] does that

• it's because this is how his [Name]'s care for him and it is sweet

• a bit annoying but sweet

• John sleeps and [Name] softly sighs and place a soft kiss on John's forehead and leaves the tent to do his work

Leonard "Lenny" Summers

• pure child

• pure child who can never do anything wrong

• just, this fucking boah is pure child who can never do anything wrong and y'all can fight me is ya say he aint

• ANYWAYS

• Lenny is adorable when he is sleepy

• just utterly adorable as fuck and his [Name] just smiles at how cute he is

• like, Lenny is reading a book under a tree and the day was just a lovely day despite it being so fucking boring

• Lenny planned to read but as the calm breeze pass by him, it didn't take long for Lenny to be yawning and his eyelids dropping but the young man is trying so hard to fight the sleep off and stay awake

• honestly, [Name] saw Lenny sleepy but being too stubborn to admit defeat with sleep will try to stay awake

• [Name] is just amused by it and found it adorable

• always adorable with Lenny

• but anyways, Lenny would be one of the submissive out of everyone if you ask him to go to sleep when he is tired

• will literally not fight back on it because his mind shuts down from the sleepiness

• honestly? will act like a baby

• because he is a baby and [Name] loves him so much and spoils him

• "come on Lenny, let's get ya to yer cot"

• "hmmm, [Name]? can you carry me there... please?"

• just adorable akdbjqjdjsjfjjsjd

• me baby

• aNYWAYS

• Lenny is just a good boah

• like, he gives up rather quickly because he knew his [Name] is looking out for him and besides, if he says yes? he gets cuddles

• so yeah, that's good for him

• Lenny gets warm cuddles and sleeps well in the arms of his [Name] who holds him very close and just being soft boahs

Sean MacGuire

• loud and dumb irish bastard who stole me heart

• i adore him asdfghjkl

• but ON TO THE HEADCANONS

• Sean is a whiny loud ass bitch when he is sleepy

• he acts like he seems drunk

• and it is both hilarious and tiresome for [Name] because he is the one dealing with this shit

• i can see Sean just clinging to his [Name] and yelling on the top of his lungs on how tired he was

• and his [Name] rubbing his temple and tell Sean to get to bed then

• "[Name]! there ye are ye beautiful fecker! i have been looking all over fer ye"

• "and why is that?"

• "i'm sleepyyy"

• "then rest Sean"

• "but i dont want to!"

• honestly acts like a kid

• a loud ass bratty kid...

• it's not even cute

• kinda

• okay, [Name] finds it adorable but he ain't telling no one shit because he already suffers from a sleepy Sean who acts like a drunk toddler

• he doesn't want to deal with everyone teasing him on being soft with his drunk toddler lover

• but yeah

• like John, i can definitely see [Name] try to restrain this dumb bastard

• probably had to hoagtie Sean if i had to be honest

• which may or may not have the sleepy minded Sean blurt out something that made [Name] exasperatedly sigh and a bit flustered

• because-- goD DAMN IT SEAN! stop being a thirsting bastard for a bit and get some sleep?!?

• "Sean, keep this up and I'm goin to hoagtie you..."

• "that's a bit kinky [Name]-- but yer boy is always happy to please ye--"

• "oh my lords-- Sean!"

Charles Smith

• stronk hunt boah

• he is just so beautiful-- im gonna cry asdfgghjkl

• bUT ANYWAYS

• Charles won't admit it outloud when he is sleepy

• he is usually reserved and quiet anyways so his [Name] has to pick up some signals when Charles is sleepy

• but Charles won't be so stubborn about it though

• like, he is kinda like Lenny, a bit submissive and giving in on his [Name]'s words if the man tells him to sleep

• well, if [Name] finds out he is sleepy that is

• when this boah is sleepy, he usually sits in a somewhere in a shade and looks at the sky

• preferably under a tree and away from camp for a bit because honestly, the camp is just too noisy at times

• so yeah

• [Name] will notice him not doing anything and just cloud watching and will sit by him

• Charles would send him a small smile and a nod

• the two would just be quiet and after sometime, Charles would lay his head on [Name]'s lap as the [Hair color] haired man braids his hair and then undoing it again, repeatedly doing the action for a bit

• it honestly soothes Charles a lot

• just his [Name] playing with his hair which he is the only who can

• it was nice and with him already be sleepy, Charles would be lull to sleep

• and with that, Cahrles is softly snoring in his [Name]'s lap as the [Hair color] haired man undoes the braid again and then look at Charles' sleeping face fondly then look at the view in front of him with a gentle smile

• it doesn't take long for [Name] to sleep too with that

Javier Escuella

• a man after me own heart

• honestly, this man is just gorgeous asdfghjkl

• BUT BACK TO HEADCANONS

• Javier would probably be the only one who ACTUALLY goes to his tent and sleep in his cot

• maybe drag [Name] there because the mexican just want a nice cuddle you know?

• honestly, sleepy Javier is adorable to his [Name]

• Javier's mind just shuts down and he forgets how to speak in english and mumbles in spanish until he falls asleep

• i can also see Javier being one to plop himself down on his [Name]'s lap when the guy is sitting somewhere (below a tree or on a seat) because when is sleepy-- he loses his braincells and all functioning

• Javier just searches for his [Name] and throws himself because one, his boah can carry him alright anyways and two, he just loves too

• his [Name] is honestly amused because Javier won't be like this when he is functioning well

• well, not all the time

• but yeah

• [Name] thinks it's cute and will hug his lover

[truecrimeweekly]

Richard “The Iceman” Kuklinski

This week’s post is about my favorite hitman/serial killer to read about. This man scares me more than any other monster I have researched because I find something comforting and familiar about the way he looks and the sound of his voice. His story actually scares me so much that it’s taken me a couple days to write this post even though I’ve already done the research because it triggers my anxiety, specifically writing about his family life. Hope you guys enjoy, feel free to send me any feedback or requests.

TRIGGER WARNING: mentions of child abuse, death of a child, animal abuse and death, murder and domestic abuse

Richard Leonard Kuklinski, also known as “The Iceman” was born on April 11, 1935 in Jersey City, New Jersey. It seems as though he never had a chance to be a child. His father, Stanley Kuklinski, was a very abusive alcoholic and beat him and his siblings daily. When Kuklinski was six years old, his father beat his older brother, Florian, to death while intoxicated. After this, Stanley abandoned his family. Unfortunately, Kuklinski’s life did not get any better with his fathers absence. His mother, Anna Kuklinski, believed her children should grow up in a strict household so she hit him routinely. Kuklinski even claimed his mother broke a broomstick over his back. On top of the abuse he suffered at home, he was a target for bullies thanks to his small size. This all made Kuklinski a very angry person. In order to cope with that anger and give himself a sense of power, he would mutilate cats and dogs. 

When Kuklinski was thirteen, he set out to get revenge on the leader of a small neighborhood gang that had been bullying him. He beat the boy to death with a wooden dowel then, to prevent authorities from identifying the body, he cut off his fingers with a hatchet and pulled out his teeth with pliers. Kuklinski claimed he hadn’t planned on killing the boy but proceeded to seek out the rest of the members and beat them almost to death with an iron rod. 

As time went on, Kuklinski became a well-known pool shark who was heavily feared because of his short fuse. He claimed to have killed anyone who he felt rubbed him the wrong way, but had one rule. He would not kill women or children. Unlike most serial killers, Kuklinski did not abuse drugs or alcohol and he did not kill out of lust. He only killed out of anger and later on, for money.

It seems as though Kuklinski was as transparent as can be right? Except he wasn’t. His crimes were kept a secret from his family. His own wife had no idea what he did for a living, though by the time he met her, he was already an experienced killer. When Kuklinski was twenty-five, even though he was already married and had a little boy, he met and fell in love with the eighteen-year-old secretary, Barbara Pedrici, at the trucking company he was working for at the time. Barbara said Kuklinski was charming and always told her he loved her. As their relationship got more serious, Barbara grew worried that she was becoming isolated from her family and friends. She decided to try and end their relationship. When she brought this up to Kuklinski, he took a hunting knife and stabbed her in the back. He told her, “This is an object lesson: never leave me.” After this incident, Barabra found out she was pregnant with his baby. She decided to marry him in order to protect her image. Her family even paid for his divorce. They ended up having three children, two daughters and a son. While Kuklinski adored his family and even said that the time with his family was some of the happiest moments of his life, Barbara said there were two sides to her husband, describing them as “bad Richie” and “good Richie.” She said she never knew which one was going to walk through the door. Good Richie was loving and caring. He spoiled his children, took his family on expensive vacations and regularly visited Disney World with them. Barbara enjoyed these times, living with no worries about finances. If she wanted anything, good Richie made sure she got it. She didn’t know how he was able to afford their lifestyle but she knew better than to question him. Bad Richie was angry and violent. He never hit his children but he beat Barbara so bad, it caused two miscarriages. 

Kuklinski gained a connection to Roy DeMeo(let me know if you guys want to hear about him too) and began pirating pornographic films for the Gambino Crime Family. He was quickly noticed by the higher-ups thanks to his now very intimidating look. The small, weak boy who was bullied for his height now stood six feet, five inches and weighed over 300 pounds. He became an enforcer for the family, making sure debts were paid. He became DeMeo’s favorite enforcer so he decided to put him up to a test. DeMeo randomly selected a target on the streets for Kuklinski to kill. He walked up to the man walking his dog and shot him in the back of the head with no remorse. From this point on, he began doing hits for the Family. He continued this life for thirty years, going out of his way to keep his “work life” away from his family. He claimed to kill anyone who threatened his family, sometimes even entire rooms of people. Since he didn’t have a preferred weapon or style of killing, it was very hard to catch Kuklinski. He also used different methods of hiding the bodies. He earned his nickname “The Iceman” from hiding bodies in a freezer after killing them then dumping them years later. This made it almost impossible to determine the time of death. In 1986, an undercover agent finally caught up with Kuklinski. On December 17, 1986 investigators set up a staged cyanide purchase deal and arrested Kuklinski.

In March of 1988, a jury found him guilty of five counts of murder, though he claimed to have killed over 200 people. He was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences. He would turn 110 before he would be eligible for parole. On March 5, 2006, Kuklinski died from Kawasaki disease, a disease most common in Japanese children. His death was deemed suspicious because it was right before he was supposed to testify against Sammy “The Bull” Gravano(again, if you’d like to hear about him, let me know), a former mobster being tried for murder. One of the things Kuklinski was known for was poisoning some of his victims. Kawasaki disease has almost the exact same symptoms as mercury poisoning. Though his autopsy determined he died from natural causes, many people believed he was poisoned to keep him quiet. What do you think?

As for Barbara and their children, Barbara has changed her name and lives anonymously in New Jersey with her youngest daughter, Christin, and Christin’s boyfriend. Barbara has told an interviewer, “Look at me! I used to shop at Bloomingdale’s. We had a pool. I had the best of everything. I had a cleaner and a housekeeper. I wanted for nothing. If I wanted it, Richard saw that I got it. Now, I worry about the price of paper towels. But I have never been happier in my life. My husband’s dead and gone. Thank God!” Kuklinski’s oldest and favorite daughter, Merrick, keeps his ashes and has done a few interviews about her father. She is the only person to love him until the day he died.