#that dumb street lamp always gets in my way when i try to snap sky pics ugh

[mercurytrinemoon]

Guys look at the pretty Moon in between Venus and Jupiter 😍

[themonkeycabal]

WandaVision Episode 9 Spoilers

I can't believe we're already at the finale. 

This has been better than I expected, though I didn't have any particular expectations one way or the other. I had hoped it would be bonkers, and it's had its moments, but I didn't expect it to be breaking my heart. I'm glad Wanda (and Elizabeth Olsen) got this moment to shine. It was very well done, and it's been nice to have fun with a Marvel property again. It's been a little while.

My wishlist for this episode is simply that somebody, anybody punch Acting Director Dick square in the face. And also that Jimmy Woo arrests him. A lot.

Other than that, I don't know what to expect, or how they wrap this up in 30 minutes.

Previously on: Wanda finally earned the name Scarlet Witch after Agatha made her relive the worst moments of her life. Harsh, Agatha. Vision uttered a line that launched a thousand gif sets. And Hayward revealed his genius masterplan which is a reactivated Vision, devoid of color and powered by the energy bleeding from Wanda's hex. I'm sure that will go swimmingly for him.

Let's see how this all ends.

Agatha still has magical tethers around Billy and Tommy's necks, which obviously Wanda doesn't like. Agatha gives the boys a tug, knocking them back, and Wanda lets loose, walloping Agatha. The boys are now free, but Wanda tells them to go to their room. They object, she insists, Tommy grabs Billy and they zoom off. Wanda hits Agatha again with a hex, but Agatha sort of collects it into a little glowy ball in her hand. Oops.

"I take power from the undeserving. It's kinda my thing."

Wanda notices her hand turning gray and gnarly — the look of somebody about to be magically mummified. Agatha hits her with a hex and taunts her some more.

"You're clearly in over your little, red head, so why don't you surrender your magic to someone who knows what to do with it?" Agatha, you're pushing your luck. "I'll let you keep this pathetic corner of the world all to yourself. What do you say?"

Wanda says she will throw a car right at your face, Agatha. I laughed. Didn't see that coming, did you? Knocked Agatha right out of her boots.

As Wanda is investigating, Director Dick's white Vision floats down behind her. He's creepy looking.

Wanda walks over to him, staring at him. "Is it really you?"

He puts his hands on her face, all gentle like, but it's a lie. He starts to squeeze. "And I was told you were powerful."

Gross, AD Dick. I hope you get stepped on by Ant-Man when he's being Giant-Man.

Sitcom World Vision (hereafter just plain old Vision) makes a timely reappearance, and takes out Not!Vision. He wants to know where the boys are, Wanda assures him they're safe, and she apologizes for everything and that she should have told him what was happening, "the moment I realized what I'd done". Poor Wanda. He tells her it's alright. She says she can fix it. Not!Vision climbs out of the burning remains of a camper.

Agatha reappears to note the awkwardness of the situation. She asks Wanda who she's going to choose, the ex or the boyfriend. What happens when Wanda hits you with more power than you can contain, Agatha?

Wanda tells Vision "this is our home." He agrees, "then let's fight for it." I hope for the best for you two crazy kids! Marvel has a dicey record on happy endings, though. Sorry!

Vision takes off towards Not!Vision again. Agatha flies off, too, and Wanda follows.

Across the street Monica is pounding on a window, calling for Wanda. Fietro, lounging with a guitar in his … stoner den?, tells her nobody can hear her. Can we talk about how Monica's SWORD uniform looks like ST:Next Gen unis? I can't stop seeing it and it's distracting. Anyway, she tries to escape, but, Fietro is still all fast and stuff, so she's thwarted.

In the sky, Vision and Not!Vision battle. Not!Vision says Wanda must be neutralized and Vision must be destroyed. Hmm. Not!Vision tries to rip out the stone in Vision's forehead but Vision goes intangible. More fighting with intangibleness. It's pretty cool.

Outside Westview, AD Dick is feeling cocky as he watches both Visions on tracking monitors. I loathe him so much. Jimmy Woo is brought in handcuffed by a pair of SWORD goons. I'm sorry, who the f is SWORD? Like, they have arrest powers now? Dick says "hey, it's my favorite member of the Bureau." New wishlist: everybody gets to take turns punching AD Dick in the face.

Dick asks his minion to reconfirm mission objectives while Jimmy listens carefully, mentally noting each and every violation of federal law and the Sokovia Accords. 

The minion says she can't get through to not!Vision, his system is overloaded. A cellphone rings on a desk nearby and Jimmy eyes it, then tells Hayward that he'll never be able to cover up these shenanigans. 

While Dick is busy boasting and the SWORD goons are doing everything but paying attention to their prisoner (in my head all the SWORD goons applied to SHIELD but Maria Hill laughed at each and every one of their applications and then called Pepper to laugh some more and then texted choice bits to May tagging them "RE: LOL"), Jimmy eases over and grabs the phone.

"Wanda canceled her show,” Dick says with the sort of confidence only an enormous prick can muster, “so there's no footage proving there was ever more than one Vision."

Jimmy points out that that is dumb, because there is other footage, from SWORD HQ and stuff, and probably evidence of tampering. He casually sits on a table, shaking his head, like he's just so disappointed (i'm hoping he's somehow managed to use the phone to record the monolog-ing) .

Dick is still too far up his own ass to notice Jimmy being sneaky. "No one's going to care once I've eliminated Wanda Maximoff. They'll believe that the Vision that emerges from the Westview rubble is the one she illegally tried to bring back to life."

Wait, bringing him back to life is illegal? You're full of shit, Dick. And also, an extremely terrible person, who will destroy a whole town for … something? A Vision weapon? Who are you fighting, Dick? BTW, I award him no sympathy points for surviving in the post-Snap world. So if he's been scarred by that or whatever, I don't care. Trauma doesn't excuse murdery megalomania. As has been said before: Cool motive, still murder. I hope Vision intangibles him into a lamp post that gets peed on every day by a parade of small dogs.

"They'll thank me for recovering such a valuable asset. You could be part of that victory, Jimmy. If only you had a little more … vision" says the smug prick who is asking for it. And by it I mean something both terrible and humiliating to happen to him asap.

Jimmy fake laughs back. "That's a good one, Hayward. Okay, I'm convinced. The trouble is my friends at Quantico will probably have something to say about your plan. When they arrive. Inside the hour." heh.

Oh, poor Dick doesn't like being mocked back. He tells his brain-dead goons to remove Jimmy. The goons throw Jimmy into a … stack of hay? In a fenced in cage thing? As you have on your pop-up military facility. Where he sets to work removing his handcuffs with a clip he also stole, because Jimmy Woo is cool like that. Close Up Magic! See the things you can learn from criminals. "Flourish" lol. 

He calls his friends at Quantico. "I was hoping you could get here … inside the hour?"

Back in Westview. Wanda is looking for Agatha while the town goes about its business. Weirdo delivery guy drives by "Don't shoot. I'm just the messenger. ha ha."

Then she gets hit in the back by a purple hex. Ouch. She has hit the pavement hard kind of a lot in this episode already. That hurts, my dudes, I know this from personal falling down experience. Wanda's hand, by the way, is still looking ashy and not very healthy.

Agatha taunts her from a rooftop. "Did you know there's an entire chapter devoted to you in the Darkhold." How could she know that, Agatha? Also, boo the Darkhold. That bit of nastiness led to the Framework, and I'm still a little scarred by that myself. "That's the book of the damned," says the witch standing in front of a billboard for "Squeaky Shine" lol.

Agatha produces the Darkhold and recites from it, "The Scarlet Witch is not born, she is forged. She has no coven, nor need for incantation." Wanda insists she isn't a witch, nobody taught her magic.

Agatha continues, "Your power exceeds that of the Sorcerer Supreme" Steven Strange will like that. Not much. He's so twitchy about things like that. "It's your destiny to destroy the world." Always with the destinies. FREE WILL FOREVAH!

Wanda insists she's not the Scarlet Witch thingy. Agatha says "oh really?" and uses her mojo on Emma Caulfield. Hi Emma Caulfield! She seems to be 'awake' and introduces herself to Wanda (who knew her as Dottie) "My name is Sarah. I have a daughter, she's 8, maybe she could be friends with your boys. If you like that storyline. Or the school bully, even. Really anything, if you could just let her out of her room. If I could just hold her." Wow, ouch.

Speaking of free will or the lack of, Wanda accuses Agatha of doing this, but Agatha says "She's your meat puppet. I just cut her strings." Poor Wanda. And now Agatha wakes up the whole town, who all head towards Wanda.

And we cut to Fietro's den of manchildness. Monica asks what that place is, but come on Monica, it's clearly a den of manchildness. Fietro is making himself a smoothie and explaining the purpose of a mancave — chillaxing.

Monica ignores him and rifles through his bills and whatnot. She finds a headshot of Fietro with the name "Ralph Bohner" underneath. Because, people just keep their headshots lying around willynilly. Wait, are we saying Ralph is an actor? Lol. 

Fietro meanwhile is planning for a Steven Segal marathon — my dad and I watched all of those movies and for the life of me I could not tell you why. We didn't *like* them. I mean, mostly we laughed, but still. Why?

Anyway, Monica is trying to solve the mystery of Fietro. It's not Agatha's house (obviously) it's Fietro's (Ralph). He's an ass and asks if she wants to fight some more, so she flips him over her shoulder and pins him down, trying to figure out how Agatha is controlling him. With her new glowy eyes, she notices the bead necklace he's wearing sparkles in a magically way. She rips it off and Fietro becomes Ralph.

Elsewhere the Visions are still battling in the sky and the boys are watching from their bedroom. They lose sight of dad, but Billy gets a vision of mom in trouble in the town square. He and Tommy run off.

The townsfolk are confused and scared. Wanda tells them they're all going to be fine. "When you let us sleep, we have your nightmares." Ouch. Wanda insists she kept them safe. Wanda, sweetie, you're very far in over your head. 

"You feel, you feel at peace," she tells them, kind of hoping that works. It doesn’t. "We feel your pain." "Your grief is poisoning us." "Please let us go." This is an awful thing to do to Wanda, Marvel!

It escalates with all those voices begging her to free them and she screams, grabbing her head, and when she does that, red light appears around the throats of the townies, silencing them, choking them. Wanda realizes and puts her glowy hands up "stop, stop, I'm sorry", releasing them all.

"If you won't let us go, let us die." Wanda promises to let them go. Agatha wonders what's stopping her from actually doing it.  

"Heroes don't torture people." Agatha's a very sink-or-swim kind of teacher.

That does the trick and Wanda throws her arms back and yells to the sky, releasing her power up at the hex surrounding the town. "Go, all of you. Now, go." The people run and the town flickers through the eras and the barrier starts to fall.

Outside, Director Dick tells his morons "this is it, we're going in!"

The Visions keep on battling, but as the barrier falls, Vision starts to falter himself. I was afraid of that.

The Morons roll in with their big trucks and big guns because … reasons. I have a very low opinion of SWORD. Maria Rambeau's agency deserves better than this shitshow.

Vision falls and it looks like bits of him are chipping off. He hits the ground hard, he gets up, but he's glitching, too, falling apart as Wanda takes down her spell. He reaches for her. The boys appear now, too, screaming for mom, but they seem to be flickering as well, flying apart in pixelly pieces. Poor Wanda.

Agatha says "Now do you see? You tied your family to this twisted world and now one can't exist without the other." This is terrible. "Save Westview or save your family." TERRIBLE.

Wanda pulls the hex into herself again, recreating the barrier. The kids and Vision recover and run to her. Outside, as the hex closes, Jimmy Woo is, yet again, left to stare at the barrier, cut off from the fun inside. Poor guy, lol. But, his FBI buddies are arriving, so at least he won't get lonely.

Agatha throws a hex at Wanda and Wanda throws up a shield to protect her family. Which Agatha starts to draw towards herself like the magic vampire she is. Greedy Agatha. Wanda's arms are all gray. And SWORD rolls into town square, because that's what this confrontation needed — these dipshits.

Anyway, the Family stands ready to face Director Dick and his morons, in a quality recreation of the Incredibles family pose. "Listen boys, your mother and I never really prepared you for this," dad says. Because your boys are like three days old, Vision, it's okay. "But you were born for it," Wanda assures them very fiercely. Get 'em, sister!  

As they square off, Vision's like "oh crap, it's the other me, back in a mo'" and flies off to tackle Not!Vision who's trying to sneak up behind them.

They destroy the town library and Vision wants to know why Not!Vision gotta be like that. "My programming directive is to destroy the Vision." 

Ha ha, says Vision, a loophole. "But, I'm not the true Vision, only a conditional Vision."

Hmmm, says Not!Vision, and they stop fighting, "I request elaboration". Hey, Vision, move into Not!Vision's body and you can be true Vision again! Problem solved, my work here is done.

Back to the street where we find Dick and his Morons and Agatha who is not making this situation at all better. The morons point their guns at Agatha who magics them up off the ground like thirty feet in the air, "Same story, different century. There will always be torches and pitchforks for ladies like us, Wanda." I'm not going to say you're wrong, Agatha, and God knows these SWORD morons are morons, but you're also a pain in the ass. So …

Anyway, then Agatha drops them and Wanda reaches out to catch them. But once caught, she does let them drop the last five or six feet. They'll be fine, but also they deserved it, so I laughed.

"Boys, handle the military. Mommy will be right back." They're my new favorite family.

Wanda flies up to tangle with Agatha and Agatha is super ready except … Wanda throws a curveball and disappears. Suck it Agatha.

Down on the ground the SWORD morons continue to cover themselves in glory and point their guns at CHILDREN. I don't care if they're powered children, you know what I'd like, I'd like if one of the morons would just be like "um, but … they're kids and how about no? I'm going to get Jimmy Woo! He'll know what to do. Don't try and stop me!" That doesn't happen.

Billy freezes the soldiers in place and Tommy super speeds by and steals their guns and hats. AD Dick, being the absolutely loathsome, vile, lower-than-a-maggot, piece of shit that he is, gets out of his humvee and shoots at the CHILDREN.

Monica, who has just arrived to the party, runs and throws herself between Dick and the boys, taking the bullets meant for them. Her new powers render her sort of … I don't even know. Not quite intangible, but she kind of looks like a ballistics gel dummy and the bullets go through her but they slow down a lot as they pass and then just sort of fall on the ground. Dick, crossing the line into pure evil, fires again, the bullet misses Monica and heads towards Billy, who just raises his hand and stops it with his power then he grins at Monica.

"Nice tricks," she tells him.

"I like yours, too," he says.

Dick tries to fire AGAIN! But he's out of bullets. He only had four? Or maybe his gun jammed. Anyway, like the brave man he is, he runs to the humvee, gets in, reverses at speed, stops and looks like he's going to put it in gear and drive at them because the dude is unhinged. But! Lo! It's Darcy and the funnel cake truck, that is apparently built like a tank, though come to think of it, it probably was an armored vehicle in the real world.

Anyway, she t-bones Dick's vehicle, thwarting his evility for the moment. "Have fun in prison." Lol

Back to the Visions. They're having a philosophical debate. "You are familiar with the thought experiment "The Ship of Theseus" in the field of identity metaphysics," Vision prompts Not!Vision.

  "Naturally." And Not!Vision helpfully spells it out for us. "The ship of Theseus is in a museum. Over time its planks of wood rot and are replaced with new planks. When no original planks remain, is it still the ship of Theseus?"

  Vision presses his advantage, "Secondly. If those removed planks are restored and reassembled, free of the rot, is that the ship of Theseus?"

To sum up, neither is the true Vision, both are the true Vision.

"But I do not have the mind stone," says not!Vision.

  "And I do not have one single ounce of original material," replies Vision. "Perhaps the rot is the memories. The wear and tear are the voyages. The wood touched by Theseus himself."

Not!Vision says he doesn't have the memories, though, but Vision insists he does, the data is still there, hidden. Not!Vision says nah, Vision must be the true Vision because he believes himself to be. But, Vision says that's not true anymore, he plays the reverse card, "upon meeting you, I have been disabused of that notion." This is the most philosophy nerd game of 'not it' ever.

Vision continues to try to get at Not!Vision's memories. "As a carbon-based synthazoid, your memory storage is not so easily wiped. May I?" Not!Vision allows Vision to touch the glowy bit where the memory stone used to be, and Not!Vision is flooded with Vision's memories. Not!Vision's eyes go … normal, I guess you'd say, no longer robot-like and glowy.

"I am Vision" he says and flies off. It was a lot to take in, I guess. He needs a little me-time.

I guess we're going to have to go back to calling Vision Sitcom!Vision, anyway, he goes outside and the boys run over to him and there's hugging and stuff.

Agatha stalks them from the rooftop, but it seems she might have forgotten Wanda for a second, because Wanda appears behind her and does that thing she does where she makes you see your worst fear. Enjoy that, Agatha!

Agatha sees herself bound to the stake in the woods again. Her coven dead. Wanda is there in the vision, too. "You see the difference between you and me, is that you did this on purpose."

The coven rise from the dead and shuffle to her while Agatha begs for it to stop. But, then Agatha gets control of herself, I guess, and the undead mummy witches start saying Wanda's name and pointing at her. You're just no fun at all, Agatha.

Now the coven ties Wanda to the stake. "You can't win, Wanda. Power isn't your problem; it's knowledge." That is, actually, very true. Wanda's Scarlet Witch headpiece appears on her all magical-like, marking her as the Scarlet Witch of myth, I suppose.

"Give me your power, and I will correct the flaws in your original spell. And you and your family and the people of Westview can all live together in peace."

If Agatha is so smart, why doesn't she just take Wanda's power, hmm?

"And no one will ever have to feel this pain again. Not even you," Agatha tries cajoling, but that was the wrong tack to take. Wanda gives her the head tilt of imminent ass-kicking, and her powers explode outward, flinging way the weird creepy coven of zombie mummies. Then Wanda knocks them both back into Westview.

She starts hammering Agatha with her powers. "Take it, I don't want it." Vision tries to fly up to help her, but she blocks him with a spell.

Witch fight in the clouds. Every time Wanda misses Agatha, her hexes hit the shield. Outside Jimmy Woo looks on, concerned.

"There's more," Agatha says, "I want it all." Wanda's looking a little mummified, but she's still flinging hexes left and right while Agatha cackles evilly. Eventually Wanda runs out of steam and just sort of hovers there.

"About our deal. Once case, a spell can never be changed." You're terrible, Agatha. Very cruel. "This world will always be broken. Just. Like. You." Low, Agatha. Lower than dirt

Agatha gathers herself and tries to hit out at Wanda with all that yummy power but it just fizzles. Nothing happens. Oh noes, Agatha, what's wrong?

Wanda starts looking like her normal self again and behind her glows a giant rune. Oh, dear, Agatha, you taught Wanda something. When she was missing Agatha and hitting the shield all those times, she was actually casting runes. LOL to you.

The sky is angry and red and stormy. Monica, Vision, and the boys look on.

"In a given space," Wanda says, "only the witch who cast them [runes] can use her magic. Thanks for the lesson, but, I don't need you to tell me who I am."

 The Scarlet Witch headpiece reappears and now Agatha has her a fright. I like you Agatha, you're rotten in fun way, but you took it too far, sister. Wanda takes her power back with prejudice and she is transformed into the Scarlet Witch. Updated version of the classic costume. Nice, I like it.

"Oh god," Agatha gasps, "You don't know what you've done." Wanda drops her on the ground more gently than she deserved.

Agatha asks if Wanda's going to lock her up somewhere. And Wanda says, yeah, here in lovely Westview. "I'll give you the role you chose; the nosy neighbor."

"You have no idea what you've unleashed. You're gonna need me." "If I do, I know where to find you." lol

And Wanda turns Agatha back into Agnes. "Hiya, hon. Say, that some kind of getup you're wearing. Did I leave the oven on, or is that just you, hot stuff."

Wanda says goodbye and walks over to her family, kissing her boys.

Vision says their dream home has turned into a fixer-upper. "I know you'll set everything right. Just not for us."

"No," Wanda agrees because Marvel likes to hurt us all. "Not for us."

Monica kind of bounces on her toes, trying to get Wanda's attention, but probably also not entirely wanting Wanda's attention. Wanda gives her a hesitant nod as she and Vision leave with the boys.

The field around town starts to shrink, the circus turns back into the SWORD base.

They get home and tuck the boys into bed.

"Big day today," Vision says. "Your mother and I … are very proud of you both."

"Very proud," Wanda agrees. "You know, a family is forever. We could never truly leave each other, even if we tried. You know that right?"

They kiss their boys goodnight. Outside the window, the field flickers and fails. "Boys, thanks for choosing me to be your mom."

The town of Westview returns to its sad old self, street by street. Wanda turns out the lights in their home.

But, Vision turns one back on. "Oh, I read somewhere, that it's bad luck to say goodbye in the dark." "No, you didn't." You guys are killing me.

Why did this have to be so good and sad?

And finally the collapsing field reaches their street, they watch it coming. 

"Wanda, I know we can't stay like this, but before I go, I feel I must know, what am I?"

She touches his face. "You, Vision, are the piece of the mind stone that lives in me. You are a body of wires and blood and bone that I created. You are my sadness and my hope, but mostly you're my love." Stupid show, my screen went blurry there for a second.

Vision cries a bit, they both are a little astonished by the tear. 

"I have been a voice with no body, a body but not human. And now, a memory, made real. Who knows what I might be next." Aww, Vision, I love you.

Here comes the field.

"We have said goodbye before, so it stands to reason—" "We'll say hello again." STUPID SHOW why do you have to make me feel things?

The field collapses and everything is stripped back into nothing. "So long, darling." And Wanda stands in the empty lot, in the foundations of the home that never was.

She walks away again. Poor Wanda. And back into town. The people look at her, they don't seem happy. I don't know why she chose to do that, she does have a car. Ah, she's going to talk to Monica.

"They'll never know what you sacrificed for them," Monica says. "It wouldn't change how they see me," Wanda tells her. "And you? You don't … you don't hate me?" "Given the chance, and given your power, I'd bring my mom back. You know I would." "I'm sorry, for all the pain I caused."

Wanda promises to figure out her power and then files off. The End.

Heartbreaking. Good, but heartbreaking.

Mid-credits scene. Jimmy Woo is large and in charge. He's setting up the incident response in town, ordering folks around (in his good natured way).

Jimmy spots his friend. "Monica!" "Authority looks good on you, Jimmy." "Where's Darcy?" "Something about ‘debriefs are for the weak’?" lol "But we can thank her for that." 

And down the street AD Dick is being arrested. Nobody punched him in the face. I'm sad. Darcy came closest, I guess. What with hitting him with the very large truck. It will have to do.

Monica is summoned to the theater by another agent. Hmm nobody there. The agent follows. "I was sent by an old friend of your mother's." And the agent is a Skrull. "He heard you'd been grounded. He'd like to meet with you."

"Where?"

The Skrull points up. 

What was Fury's Skrull buddy's name? I don't recall. I didn't actually like the Captain Marvel movie. I felt like they told it backwards, and also they should have just cast a younger actor to play young Nick Fury. That bugged me. And I wanted more of Annette Benning’s character. Anyway … I guess we know where we’ll see Monica again. 

Well, that was fun. Like I said, I'm not sure what I expected from this series, just that it be some degree of fun, I guess. But it was much better than whatever I had half-envisaged. AND SADDER, MARVEL.

Thank goodness for the multi-verse. I'm sure we'll see some version of the boys again. And also Not!Vision, who is probably also Vision at this point, knocking around the world, trying to find himself. Talk about identity crisis. I feel you, brother. Stay safe, get plenty of whatever passes for rest for you!

See you guys in a couple of weeks for Falcon and the Winter Soldier. I WANT NO TEARS FROM THAT ONE! Unless it's tears of laughter. 

ETA: FOR THE SECOND POST CREDITS SCENE THAT I MISSED. Stupid Marvel hiding things from me. Thank you, @beelzebufo

Mountains, a mountain lake, a place I’d like to be right now. Wanda sits on the porch of her lonely little cabin. The tea kettle whistles and she goes inside. There’s a rattling and whispering from the other room, where the astral projection(?) of the Scarlet Witch reads the Darkhold and her children call for her. I don’t know, Wanda, seems dicey, that’s not a very nice book. 

FOR REAL THE END THIS TIME

[dalgikiss]

Catch-22 // h. iwaizumi

index

part 11

Iwaizumi wonders if there really is such a thing as ‘best of both worlds’, watching the volleyball bounce off of Hanamaki’s forearms.  

If there is, he thinks it’s in another universe- one where he could hang out with his friends and his girlfriend at the same time, laughter shared between all of them like a bag of his favorite chips and late movie nights that resulted in the rewatching of Tangled or Godzilla for the hundredth time while Matsukawa fell asleep on your lap and Ryuoko wasn’t busy trying to convince Iwaizumi to ditch them all. 

In this universe, however, the ‘best of both worlds’ seems more like a dream, an unattainable goal but he’d much rather eat glass than give up trying. 

He misses the ball, snapping out of his reverie when it bounces off the tips of his shoes and decides to sit out for the rest of the practice game when it almost hits him in the face. 

Oikawa later wonders if he should bring up Past Iwaizumi’s confession-that-wasn’t-a-confession to Present Iwaizumi and after watching Iwaizumi miss the ball again for the third time in a row, he decides he will.  

x.

Matsukawa sits next to Iwaizumi after practice on the locker room bench, towel draped over his head and waits. 

Iwaizumi’s apology is swift, “Sorry about the shit performance back there, got a lot on my mind lately” 

“Wanna talk about it?” Matsukawa asks, not really expecting an answer. Iwaizumi was the type of guy to keep his problems to himself, the only visible sign of stress shown is how much more easily frustrated he got over trivial things. 

Iwaizumi glances at the blue towel wrapped around Matsukawa’s head before tilting his head back to look at the dirty ceiling. 

“If your girlfriend asked you to choose between her or someone you loved, what would you do?”

“Damn, she asked you that? I always knew Ryuko was a bitch but-”

Iwaizumi gives him a pointed look and he holds his hands up in surrender. “Sorry, not my place”

“Anyways, if I was in your place,” Matsukawa continues, “I’d probably find a way to get her to compromise, unless she’s asking me to choose because of a dumb reason”

A dumb reason? 

Was this a dumb reason? 

Matsukawa lets out a groan as he stands up, feeling his sore muscles protest and iwaizumi is vaguely reminded of his dad for some strange reason. The blue towel that was originally on Matsukawa is placed over Iwaizumi, covering his eyes. 

Before he can protest, Matsukawa’s speaking again and iwaizumi is glad his face is hidden behind the slightly damp towel. 

“Is it because of [name]?”

Matsukawa begins to walk away, the sweaty shirt beginning to stick to his chest uncomfortably. “She’s been staying away from you so Ryuoko doesn’t get mad. Do what you will with that information” 

The slam of the locker doors accompanied by the sound of Matsukawa almost catching Hanamaki’s fingers in the process is the only sound that faintly reminds Iwaizumi he has to also get dressed but it’s only when Oikawa smacks his back that he decides to move. 

The walk home is the same as ever, Oikawa goading reactions out of Hanamaki and Matsukawa and it’s almost like nobody notices the mood that Iwaizumi’s in if you didn’t catch the worried glances each one of them cast to his brooding form. 

It’s only after Hanamaki and Matsukawa have left first after their stop at the convenience store that Oikawa says something to him. 

“You know, if you keep frowning like that, you’re going to get wrinkles and them you’ll be even uglier than usual”

Iwaizumi doesn’t even have energy to retort, a deeper frown setting on his face. With a sigh, Oikawa picks up his pace and stops right in front of his sulking friend. 

“Yo, mov-”

“Talk to me”

It’s not the same Oikawa Iwaizumi’s used to seeing- the one that once flirted with the entire teaching staff and had them wrapped in his finger, the one that had more than half the school’s population and then some vying for his attention- no, this was the one that bared its fangs at his nearest opponent, the one that was sneaky, silent and waiting in the shadows. 

“I said, ‘talk to me’” 

He folds his arms across his chest, staring into Oikawa’s eyes. “There’s nothing to talk about” and it takes all of Oikawa’s strength not to take a page out of Iwaizumi’s book and smack the back of his head. 

Instead he clears his throat and moves back to the side, letting the both of them continue their walk home- at least that’s what Iwaizumi thought.

He’s jerked in the opposite direction of where they’re supposed to go, his legs struggling to keep up when Oikawa begins to run and the park where they used to spend their summer days and it’s all he can do to keep one foot in front of the other without tripping over himself.

“Sit” Oikawa commands, practically throwing him onto the sandy floor and he wants to tell Oikawa he’s crazy, our uniforms are going to get dirty But the look on Oikawa’s face makes Iwaizumi decide not to argue. 

He lies on the ground, body relaxing into the floor without another protest with Oikawa following suit. It’s slightly cold, Iwaizumi thinks to himself as he folds his arms behind his head, but it’s comforting. 

It’s getting late, the last of the sun’s rays stretching as far as they could with their best efforts to light up the sky but the two of them don't move, even when the light is long gone and the street lamps have turned on and the silence between the two of them stays.

It’s Oikawa who breaks it first and the sentence makes Iwaizumi take a sharp breath. 

“Remember when you liked [name]?”

“Shut the fuck up”

“I’m being serious” Oikawa rolls over onto his side, propping himself up on his elbow to watch Iwaizumi’s expression. “What happened?”

Iwaizumi sighs, a deep breath released from him and he let his eyes fall shut. “Nothing happened, it never did”

“Is that why you took Ryuoko’s confession?” 

“Yeah”

It hurts, he realizes, looking back. The fleeting moments he thought that something, even the smallest thing gave him hope that you perhaps liked him back- from the first time you grabbed his hand in the middle of some scary movie to how you laughed at even the smallest jokes he said. 

He stares at the sky, eyes fogging over. “I can’t keep waiting for someone that may just never like me back” 

It was easier back then, before Ryuoko was introduced into their lives, when his brain only thought of you. It was always for you, from the shirt he decided to wear in the morning to the brand of body wash he used because you had casually mentioned that Iwaizumi smelled the best out of the four smelly boys you spent all your time with. 

The day Ryuoko confessed outside by the giant Gingko tree outside of the back entrance, it had rained right after Iwaizumi accepted it, as though the skies had cried when they heard him accept it and they had raced back inside, her hand in his, laughing over their damp hair and wet clothes. 

He pretended to like her sharp nails and her too-hot palms that hold on to his and makes it feel like his hands are overheating, convincing himself he would grow comfortable, grow used to it and it still takes him a few seconds to remember not to pull away when it’s her, not you. 

He shivers slightly when the wind blows, picking up bits of sand and gravel that swirl on the ground and Iwaizumi takes it as a sign to go home. He stands up, shaking off his pants and holding his hand out to Oikawa’s who had been uncharacteristically quiet for a long time. 

“Let’s go home, it’s cold”

Oikawa grips his hand in his, letting himself be pulled off the floor to start their walk home. Before they separate, Oikawa grips Iwaizumi’s wrist in his hand, brusingly hard. 

“You should have waited a little longer”

[quixotic-writer]

Does it Scare You At All?

Song inspo: Ribs — Lorde

Both Bailey and Q have held their tongues for years about their repressed feelings for the other for fear of losing the other’s close friendship they’ve built up since freshman year of high-school. But during a college party and a couple of drinks, emotions fall out unfiltered.

———————————————————

The music was so loud they could barely hear their own thoughts running through their minds. They danced without a care in the world, bathing in the colorful lights of a cheap disco ball thanks to the help of some alcohol inside the red solo cups that are held with care. The bounce and twirl laughing as they try their best not to spill anything on the carpet. There was a noticeable spark between them that no one could deny but themselves.

“I’ve known her since high school, we’re just best friends. We’ll never be anything more.” Was the answer Q always had retorted with whenever his band of friends decided it’d be funny to tease him about it. The interrogation about his feelings for Bailey was growing old. While he won’t deny the small level of feelings that he had brewing since meeting her in the high school improv club, he held back and pushed it all down because he felt as though it was a threshold he wasn’t allowed to cross. He always saw her and thought she deserved someone better than him. He tried dating others, but every girl he had dated, it didn’t feel genuine and things wouldn’t last very long. He knew deep down he wanted Bailey, but he didn’t want to destroy the bond he had built with her already.

On the other end of things: Bailey just could never bring herself to say anything. She never once denied the feelings, only her ability to speak them out. Every time she seemed close and comfortable to finally being open, she seemed to find his hands intertwined with another girl. She also knew him well enough to know the patterns of his relationships, she’s been there for each one of his break ups. Every time he said the same thing: it didn’t feel like love. She feared falling victim to the phrase she so often heard, so she never said anything and showed no signs of anything more being hidden underneath. The statement perplexed her and made it feel as though she didn’t know him as well as she thought she did. She bit her tongue, showing him support through everything as she turned down the volume of all of her roaring thoughts and rampant emotions.

They danced through their denial, standing at the edge of the fine line they silently wished to cross like a high-wire. Bailey looks at Q, his lips are moving but she doesn’t hear a thing coming out of them. The only thing she could hear is the intrusive thought in her head that was heightened because of the alcohol in her system saying “kiss him.”

“I’m gonna grab another cup of punch, do you want me to grab you some?” Q raises his voice a little louder over the booming music making Bailey snap back down to earth after being off in the space of her subconsciousness.

“I’ve had more than enough to drink tonight, thanks though, Quinn!” She smiles to him. He shrugs his shoulders and disappears into the sea of sweaty, loud college students. She continues swaying to the music all by herself and her mind begins racing again.

As she begins to reflect on how the night is going, she starts realizing she knows absolutely no one at this party. The only reason she came out to the party was because of Q. She knew he had a tendency to do stupid shit when he had too much to drink, so she came to make sure he didn’t do anything he would regret. She looks over to the drinks table to spot him out and sees him talking to that conventionally pretty red head girl he talked about sometimes that was in his english 100 class. A twinge of anger fills Bailey for a moment until it subsides to just an aching heart.

“Why don’t you just tell him!” Joe sporadically asked Bailey the million dollar question mere days ago as you both sat in the campus coffee shop. All she could do was cover her face in shame. “What’s holding you back? You tell him literally everything else and you guys talk and hang out like you’re already dating.” He had a point. Bailey plays around with her empty coffee cup, rolling it between the palms of her hands searching for the right string of words to convey properly what’s on her mind.

“I just don’t want that dynamic we have to go away, what if he doesn’t feel the same and something goes wrong?” She dreaded the idea of Q being weirded out by her emotions, what if he started closing her off and eventually just stopped being her friend?

“And what if it goes right? You don’t know until you shoot your shot, the worst answer you can get is he doesn’t want to date you. Besides if he drops you as a friend, he’s an idiot. Point blank. He’s an idiot already, but that will be a new level of stupid for Q.” That was very straight forward, but Bailey had never thought about things working out. Things had so often gone awry that she was so quick to jump to negativity and never took a moment to imagine the good that could come out of a scenario. “Besides why should unshared romantic feelings change your platonic feelings? You obviously care and look out for each other.” Joe sits back and takes a well deserved bite of a cannoli.

“Joe, when did you become so insightful?” She says shaking her head and chuckling.

“Must be the coffee and cannolis kicking in.” they both let out giggles and the thoughts continued to loom around Bailey’s head.

She looks at Q and sees how engrossed he is in the conversation, the way he’s looking at her and vice versa made her almost sick. Maybe tonight just wasn’t her night, maybe she’s had too much to drink, maybe just both. She took a deep breath and decided that her night was over. Suddenly, blue lights shine through the window of the house illuminating the room making everyone’s head turn.

“THE PIGS ARE HERE! SCATTER!” Some kid yelled to the swarm of people of which 75% of them are underage drinking, including Bailey and Q. Panic sunk into her veins and Bailey felt herself freeze, watching with wide eyes as everyone clamors and runs to flee the scene. She felt a hand grab her arm amidst the chaos and starts dragging her out the front door, her feet tried carrying her as fast as she could to keep up with whoever saved her from her catatonic state. Amidst the blue lights she looked next to her to see Q was the one that had grabbed her and she felt her heart flutter as he looked back to her.

“You froze like a deer in the headlights! You scared me for a second.” Q says loudly as they continue running down the street. Soon enough, they felt as though they made a safe enough distance where they could slow their pace and start walking again to catch their breath. “Y’know for a couple’a drunk idiots, we ran pretty fast and didn’t fall ONCE!” Q cackles out loud and Bailey snickers and snorts at the comment and she realized exactly how buzzed she’s really feeling. Bailey was a giggly get-real-about-your-feelings type of drunk, Q was a sloppy drunk but thankfully hadn’t had too much to drink tonight or at least not enough to make him act stupid.

“I really am drunk aren’t I?” She starts laughing even harder and Q can’t help but follow in suit because she can’t stop snorting. She hated when she snorted but Q couldn’t get enough of it, it was always his daily mission to get her to laugh so hard she snorted just so he could her it. So whenever they were together, he’d play up his antics and get her to laugh. Nothing made him happier than seeing her happy.

They continue walking through the street lamp lit roads and walked into the community park to sit down and really catch their breaths after their 5 minute track star moment. They sit down on the park bench, looking up at the midnight sky as the stars glistened down through the breaks in the clouds taking in the air that had a cold nip to it that slightly stung the outer part of your nostrils.

“You know I wasn’t even gonna go out tonight.” Bailey admits to the boy sitting next to her.

“Why?”

“Not my scene really. I enjoy fun, I enjoy parties, I enjoy a classic solo cup of cheap beer here and there, but after 5 minutes of talking to strangers I feel socially exhausted. I see you socialize effortlessly, I don’t get how you do it. You’re just so charming and you make it all look so easy. I wish I had your ability to just be a seemingly normal human!” She gushes about him without a second thought or hesitation, all her inhibitions are gone and Bailey becomes completely unfiltered.

“I wasn’t really planning on going tonight either honestly. I only went tonight because Sal told me you were going.” Bailey’s eyebrows furrow together in complete confusion and she sits up straight and her head shoots to Q. He went just because she was? But Sal had told her something different.

“Really? I only came out tonight because Sal told me YOU were going.” Q’s facial expression mirrors hers quickly and slowly everything began to piece together, but neither of them was about to point out the obvious.

“Well... That’s.... Strange? Isn’t it?” Q forces a chuckle and he feels his heart rate rise a little. Sal seriously set him up and he couldn’t believe it. Even though he wasn’t even the same vicinity as him, he could already see that stupid smile he wears when he plots something at the expense of others.

“That dumb son of a bitch.” Bailey busts out laughing and was on the verge of tears, this is just such a Sal move that she couldn’t help but laugh. It destroyed the awkward energy that Q was unintentionally putting out, he looked at her and just saw how care free she was about it and felt himself ease up.

“You don’t know until you shoot your shot” Joe’s voice played like a scratched record over and over in her head in that very moment. Now was her chance to be brave and do what she never thought she could.

“So you really came to a party because of me?” Q could feel his heart beating out of his chest, it felt like it could fall out and run wild at any second. He wasn’t quite ready for an emotional confrontation from his long time crush. If it wasn’t so cool outside, guaranteed he would be sweating as well.

“Y-yeah. I did. I wanted to make sure that you’d be okay.” He twiddles his fingers. Bailey notices the nervous fidgets are persistent, that’s when everything became so clear to her.

“That’s really sweet you know. It’s cute that you care about me.” She smiles and places her hand on his. He looks down at the warm hand resting on his, his heart is beating so loud he can hear it and feel it in his ears. His face feels molten hot and he looks at Bailey who has a cheshire cat smile on.

“I, uh. It’s because you’re my best friend! Of course I do things because I care about you.” He tries to brush it off, but things are just too obvious now.

“Is it really just a best friends thing though, Quinn? Because I know for me it isn’t.” She shifts a little closer to him and they lock eyes for just a moment. Q felt as though time stopped and he felt as though he could see through time. What he saw while looking into her eyes: a future he wanted with Bailey.

“I’ve wanted to say it, but I never could.” Q giggles nervously slowly taking her hand in his and it all just felt like what he’s been aching to find for so long. He chews at his bottom lip but there’s no stopping the momentum of emotions they have going. “I really like you Bailey. I have for a while.” The words finally came out. There they were at 1 in the morning in the cool abandon of the dimly lit community park on a bench sitting beneath the stars that sung from heaven, and it felt like a safe haven from the world. It felt as though they had found their own wrinkle in the universe to hide in and truly unmask their hearts from the masquerade they’ve been living.

They look into each others eyes and slowly begin to lean in closer and closer, heads tilting, eyes closed, the warmth of their faces slowly getting hotter and hotter. The moment their lips finally met, Bailey wanted to fall apart or just let out whatever joyous noise she had trapped inside herself. It felt sweet but it tasted like stale beer, neither of them minded though.

The moment they pulled away, they both began to blush and giggle, they both knew the other had been waiting to finally have that moment, they could just feel it in the air and the way that they kissed each other.

“You know I was worried you had a thing for that red head back at the party.”

“Way to ruin a moment Bail.” Q says letting out a deep chuckle. “I don’t know what else to say... but I do have a question: how long have you felt like this?” Q questions Bailey. She rubs her hands on her pants to rid them of the layer of sweat she built up because of her nerves.

“Since high school junior year prom when your date ditched you and you slow danced with me instead.” That night Bailey had never felt happier and comfortable in someone’s arms. Q’s date had gone to get drunk with some other guy and bailed, Bailey was all alone without a date and he had offered her the final dance of the night. It was cheesy and cliché but that night felt like a fairytale. “And what about you mr. ‘I feel comfortable with telling you all my emotions but won’t tell you that I like you’?” Q rubs his hand across his face in shame at the name.

“Uuuh I don’t really know, the feelings have just been there. It’s been like this since senior year. I never said anything because I was scared to ruin our relationship we have now as friends.” Bailey started laughing hysterically and holding on to Q’s shoulders for support as she bent in half cackling. “What’s so funny?”

“I told Gatto the exact same thing when I was talking to him the coffee shop a few days ago. I told him that I didn’t want to lose your friendship! We’re such stupid love struck idiots.” Bailey composed herself enough to get that out before continuing to roll around in laughter after she said what she wanted to.

Q had, in that moment, then realized that all the guys had known about both their feelings but never said anything. Suddenly a lot of memories began to click together and make a little more sense. All the time Murr, Joe, and Sal had always teased them when they were in their own world and their own conversation whenever they hung out. Anything involving pairing up like beer pong, Bailey and Q were always strung together as a team every time. At movies they would always find themselves sitting next to each other. He had thought it was all coincidence, but now he’s realizing the boys had tried to subtly set them up for a while. Funny, the one night none of the boys are around, their wish had finally come true.

“So, here’s the question that I should have asked a while ago: would you like to go on a date somewhere?” Q wrapped his arm around her shoulder and watched as her smile grew.

“I’d want nothing more than just to finally do that.”

“Would you also like to plan the next prank with me on Sal to get him back for this evening’s mess?”

“Oh hell yes!” Bailey exclaimed as ideas of his torture began brewing in her mind.

“Let’s get you back to your dorm then before more weird things start happening.” With that they both got up and started to leave the park, hand in hand, just as they both had always wanted.

[mimogene]

untitled marichat fluff

Marinette stood at the end of the balcony with her eyes closed as she enjoyed the warm summer night. The sound of chatter and bikes on the street was soothing to her, something she needed from today’s earlier stress. She had told her parents she didn’t want to go to college, and would rather find a job or help at the bakery. Marinette sighed, replaying the scene in her head. Her parents both looked like they pitied her when she said that. She knew they were disappointed in her the moment the words left her mouth. Her parents only smiled and said it was fine, but there’s no way it was fine, right? Everyone goes to college. And anyone who doesn’t go ends up in a miserable part-time job. Right? Marinette slouched and put her forehead on the cool metal railing. She took a moment to halt her spinning mind and just listened to the night with a quiet groan. A vibration down the railing made her glance up. Chat Noir had perched next to her with that playful smirk on his face that he always wore. Marinette half-heartedly smiled back and leaned her hip against the railing as Chat Noir dropped down to join her on the balcony. He took her hand and gently kissed her knuckles. “Hello, Chat Noir,” Marinette hummed. “Good evening, princess,” Chat Noir said, “Or, maybe it’s not so good?” He tilted his head, and one of his ears flattened to the side like a confused puppy. “Ah, no!” Marinette fixed her expression to look brighter, “It’s alright. Everything is alright!” She said with a snap of her fingers. “Just a little stressed, but it’s nothing to worry about!” She exclaimed, waving her hands in front of herself. Chat Noir frowned and squinted slightly, “But-” Marinette cut him off before he could press further, “Um! Anyways- uh, why are you out?” She asked, “Is there an akuma?” She furrowed her brow. There hadn’t been an akuma attack in months, so why was Chat Noir around? “Uh,” Chat Noir took a mental note of the topic change, “No, there’s no akuma,” He said. Marinette’s shoulders relaxed. “I just wanted to go out on such a fine night. Honestly, I was hoping Ladybug was out…” He looked out at the view of the Notre Dame and sighed, “But, I figured I should drop by here to see how you were doing, y'know?” Marinette smiled. Of course Chat Noir was always thinking of her- well, of her alter ego. “Ah, right,” She said, “Speaking of, how’s is Ladybug doing?” Chat Noir side-eyed her and ignored the question, “Is everything alright, Marinette?” He asked, sounding genuinely concerned. Marinette tsked and leaned her elbows on the raining, “Yes,” She sighed and looked down at the street, “It’s dumb. I don’t want to go to college and I told my parents about it-” She sighed again with a roll of her eyes, “Which they were okay with, but, ugh, I don’t know, it just… feels bad.” Chat Noir side-stepped closer to Marinette and nudged her with his shoulder, “Hey, at least you built up the courage to say that. I could never do that,” He smiled at her, “And they’re cool with it, right? Don’t beat yourself up about it, princess.” Marinette opened her mouth to retort, but Chat Noir put a finger on her lips to hush her. “You don’t have to do everything right now. There’s plenty of time to figure out what you want to do, yeah?” He put his hand on her shoulder. Marinette blinked, not expecting such a thoughtful answer from the hero. She looked at him incredulously, “Jeez, Chat, I didn’t know you could be so…” She hesitated, trying to find a good word to use, “… Soft?” Marinette laughed at the odd choice, “Thanks, though. That actually does put me at ease. A little bit. Only a teeny bit,” She joked, pinching the air to show how little. “What about you? Are you going to college? I mean, if you haven’t already, I guess.” Chat Noir grimaced, “If it were up to me, no. I want to keep being a superhero, full time! I love helping people, but my dad- um, my family, they’re making me go. They’ve already chosen a private university for me to go to, and paid for it.” Marinette frowned as Chat Noir’s expression got more frustrated-looking as he spoke. “Oh… Ladybug would miss you- er, I mean, just seeing how close you two are and all-” Marinette stiffened and looked away, “Ha-ha, I mean, who knows, maybe Ladybug is going to university too!” She cringed at the thought of not being able to be Ladybug full-time. Chat Noir was quiet for a while Marinette kept on making up what-if scenarios about Ladybug and him. His ears drooped and he glanced up at the sky, “What if I have to give up my title to someone else? What if we both do?” He looked down at Marinette, “If we can’t protect Paris, then what’s the point of us being superheroes?” Marinette stared at him, holding eye contact. That question was like a punch in the gut. Her mouth felt dry as she realized that wow, yeah, they might have to find the next generation of heroes to take their place. She flashed a small smile and shifted her stare to the street vendors down below. “Y'know what? There’s still time,” Marinette said after a few seconds, “The semester doesn’t start for a few months, so,” it felt like her heart was in her throat, “don’t think of it right now. There’s time,” She said, smiling up at Chat Noir. Chat Noir still looked skeptical- sad, even. Marinette leaned into his space and wrapped him up in a tight hug, pressing the side of her face against his chest. Chat Noir returned the hug after a moment of surprise. He pulled Marinette close to him and closed his eyes, welcoming the warmth. “You can just visit here whenever, okay?” Marinette said, voice slightly muffled. “Whenever you’re sad or angry or stressed out and you can’t find Ladybug. She’s right here.” Chat Noir thought the wording was strange but brushed it off, understanding that Marinette meant that she could offer the same emotional comfort his partner could. And it was true. He always felt comfortable enough to share his personal struggles with Marinette, both as Chat Noir and as Adrien, and she always made him feel better. Marinette sincerely hoped that hint didn’t give her away, but from how Chat Noir simply said ‘thanks’, she assumed he didn’t guess it. Marinette pulled back and put her hands on Chat Noir’s cheeks. “Wait right here,” She said and disappeared through the door to her room. She ran down to the bakery and grabbed some of the day-old pastries in a cloth napkin and made some peach iced tea as quickly as she could, putting a small strawberry slice in the drink. She carefully made her way back upstairs with everything on a tray, being extra cautious as to not spill or drop anything as she got back up to the balcony. Chat Noir was sitting on one of the chairs when she came back up and grinned when he saw the food. “Are those croissants?” He asked, cat ears upright. “Among other things,” Marinette said, putting the pastries down and handing Chat Noir one of the teas as he joined her on the floor. There were croissants, cookies, mini cinnamon rolls, and two packaged macarons. “What are those?” Chat Noir asked, pointing to the macarons. “Oh, uh,” Marinette laughed nervously, “They’re passionfruit-flavored,” She said sheepishly. Chat Noir’s eyes lit up, “Hey, that’s my favorite flavor!” He beamed and unwrapped one, winking at Marinette as he took a bite. Marinette smiled and took a drink of her tea, laughing at Chat Noir’s animated reaction to the taste. “I’m glad you like it!” “Are you kidding? These are awesome, Marinette!” Chat Noir popped the rest of it in his mouth, “Your parents are very talented bakers.” “I made it, actually…” Marinette mumbled, blushing. Chat Noir gave her two thumbs up, “Amazing. Beautiful. Delicious. Correction: you’re an amazing baker, princess,” He said and took a croissant. They talked until the streets got quiet and the buzzing of the street lamps was all they could hear. There was no trace of the sunset in the sky and the air started to get chilly. The teas were finished and only crumbs remained on the cloth napkin. “I wish I could see the stars from here,” Marinette sighed. All the light pollution from the street blacked out the sky and left much to be desired. The Notre Dame was cool, though. Chat Noir grabbed his staff and showed it to Marinette, “Well, want to?” He smiled. Marinette couldn’t help but grin. She practically jumped into his arms when he picked her up. Chat Noir pushed off the balcony and went away from the city, taking Marinette towards the suburbs. Marinette held on tightly, tucking her face into Chat Noir’s neck with her eyes closed. The air that blew through her hair gave her an adrenaline rush and she wanted to put her arms in the air and yell with excitement, but nothing was better than wrapping herself up in Chat Noir’s arms right now. “We’re here, little lady,” Chat Noir said, slightly winded. He set Marinette down on the rooftop and sat next to her. Marinette held onto Chat Noir’s arm and leaned her head on his shoulder, looking up with a soft gasp. As many times as she got to see the same view as Ladybug, something about this was much more beautiful. The view of the Eiffel Tower in the distance mixed with a sky so clear and crisp that the milky way seemed close enough to touch made Marinette’s heart hurt. “Wow,” She whispered. “Yeah,” Chat Noir said, “I want to take Ladybug here- I’ve tried, actually. But she was busy,” He sighed softly. Marinette looked down at Chat Noir’s hand. It would be so easy to just hold it in her’s, but… “Are you still in love with Ladybug?” Marinette asked quietly. Chat Noir chuckled, “Yeah. I guess I’m not as infatuated with her as I was as a kid, but…” He hummed, “I don’t think I could ever stop loving her.” Marinette looked up at him and pat him on the head, “Well, don’t stop trying to get to her, okay?” She put her head back on his shoulder, “Something tells me she might love you back.” Chat Noir leaned his head on Marinette’s and he couldn’t contain his smile, closing his eyes, “I hope you’re right.” “I’m sure I’m right, when have I ever been wrong?” Marinette said playfully, nudging Chat Noir in the ribs. They both laughed and fell into a comfortable silence as they watched the stars. “Marinette?” Chat Noir said after a few minutes of silence. “Yes, Chat?” Marinette replied. “Do you think it’s wrong… if you love two people at one time?” Chat Noir asked. Marinette kept silent for a moment before settling on an answer, “No. But if it were me, I think I would have to choose one to be faithful to no matter what.” “Then, I love Ladybug.” “I know.” “But I also love you.” “I guess I love you, too.” “But-” they both said at the same time. “Go ahead,” Marinette said. Chat Noir knew he was blushing from how hot his face felt, “But I’m always going to be faithful to Ladybug.” “And I’m always going to be faithful to the boy I love, too,” Marinette sighed. They leaned away from each other to look at each other for a moment before breaking down into laughter. “Wow, that was so cheesy,” Chat Noir grinned. “Ugh, that was such a movie cliche,” Marinette smiled so hard her nose scrunched up, “We should star in a drama together.” “Oooh, a romcom for sure.” “We’ll get Hawkmoth involved and have this whole thing-” Chat Noir cackled at the idea. “And the akuma just doesn’t know who to go to because everyone is being so dramatic and crazy,” “And Mayura is there, just like ‘oh no, here’s a sentimonster for your romantic rivalry-” The conversation eventually devolved into laughter and partial sentences. Marinette knew this was a friendship that she never wanted to lose, ever.

[tsw-story]

Chapter 18 - Shadow of a Doubt Pt. 1

The noises of the wild soothed him. At every side was a tree. He made his way down a grassy dirt path to pass a wild stream of water coming down from the mountains. It was crystal clear, and it was calming despite the velocity. Birds were chirping and flowers were blooming, because at long last, it was the time of rebirth—spring. He knew he shouldn't stay out for much longer, however, as his parents were waiting for him back home.

Daveon looked to the sun reaching midway through the sky. Despite the miles of flora, mountains, and more, he never got lost, as he travelled this way often. It was the only place he could be himself, given his powers, but he also had a passion for the natural world.

It was his eighteenth birthday only a week before. He didn't feel any different. Was he supposed to? Often he pondered this. Becoming an adult might have happened already, or maybe it'll come the year after, but will he know?

He asked himself a lot of questions when he was out in the forests, or climbing mountains. His magic allowed him to soar to heights nobody else would climb to, giving him a place to be alone whenever he needed it. When he was sad, he'd come to sit upon a cliff and just breath deeply—a view to rest his soul.

Wizards already felt alone at times. Some blended in well, while others always felt like outcasts deep down. Luckily for him, Daveon didn't focus that much on his magic. It was his family that brought a warmth to his heart.

A hop and skip brought him through the noisy streets of home. It wasn't long before he arrived at the building that functioned as his family's small restaurant as well as his house.

“Hey, Dav,” came a young man's voice as he walked.

“D-Daveon...” muttered a girl.

He was a popular boy. The town itself was small, so everyone knew everybody, though he never really cared much for popularity. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate friendship. He simply preferred having a handful of tight friends over an ocean of acquaintances, but at the same time, he was a dreamer and was often in his own little world.

The druid pushed open the doors and a small bell chimed his entrance.

It was a quaint, cozy place to eat. The shop could only hold a couple dozen patrons at a time, but they got by, albeit barely. They didn't need a lavish life of luxury anyway. On that day, however, it was almost empty. He spotted his mother and father speaking with a man sitting alone at the corner table.

The gentleman was dressed to impress with a fancy black suit and slicked orange hair. It was not a tangerine samurai this time, however. It was a mango freak-show. The newspaper covering his face slowly lowered to reveal three deep scars on his face, vibrant green eyes, and an expression vacant of sympathy.

He carefully folded up the newspaper. This took what felt like an eternity, but once it was placed upon the table, he locked together his hands and looked between the two.

“Mr. Markani,” spoke his mother. “Please. I promise—“

“You will not speak until I've asked you a question,” snapped the man with a twisted glare in his eye. “I have been incredibly patient with you two. I let you open a store in my town, and all I ask is a certain, generous percentage of your profits every month. It's been a week over, and my hands are tied.”

Daveon recognized this man. A kid would call him the town bully. An adult would say this place wasn't run by the mayor. It was run by Bryant Markani alone. Though he had men, he was rarely seen with them, and this confidence terrified people. His money and power was the life blood of Mollepata, whether people liked it or not, but he had no idea his parents had anything to do with it. They always told him not to worry about it—that they would deal with Markani if anything went wrong.

“We'll get you the money,” his father added. “We just barely make any here. The percentage we owe you is most of what we make. If you just give us—“

“I've given you an extra week already,” the suited man snapped again.

“Just a little more time. That's all we ask.”

“You have until the sun sets. If I don't have the money in my possession by then, from the sky will rise a blood moon tonight. Do I make myself clear? And why don't I have my stew yet? Go on. Get out of my sight.”

The two hustled to the kitchen. It was then that Daveon and the man's eyes caught one another. He couldn't help it. The presence of the man caused his knees to tremble. Maybe he wasn't an adult after all. Much to his surprise, Bryant beckoned him over with a single finger, and he knew better than to deny.

“You're their kid, right?” spoke Mr. Markani as he lifted back up his paper to read as he waited.

“Yeah. Daveon.”

He didn't understand. This mobster—this scum—was all by himself. There were no bodyguards around, not even outside. He might have had a gun, but it couldn't be enough. This man was so arrogant that he paraded around the town he claimed to own without any protection, and it steamed Daveon up. He could take him right now and save his parents. It would be so simple. Yet, something deterred him. He didn't understand it but he felt an overwhelming fear when he even thought about attacking Bryant in the open like that.

“Tell me, Daveon. What are you trying to be?”

“I'm not sure, to be honest. Maybe a cook like my parents, but maybe I'll travel the world instead.”

“A nice thought. Travelling isn't for me. I prefer to find a place I can really dig my roots into. This town, it's my home. The whole of it. Do you like this place?”

“I do.”

“Then you'd do best to listen to me. Don't do anything stupid. Don't say anything dumb. Speak when you're spoken to. That's how you get through life when you're in the position you're in.”

“Right.”

“You seem like a good kid. Obedient. You do as your told. You answer questions you're asked.” He scooted his chair to the side and licked his finger, flipping the page of his newspaper to the next. “Clean my shoes.”

“What?”

“I said clean my boots. Use that stupid beanie of yours. Shine them up.”

He reluctantly knelt down and removed his hat, and with both shame and fear eating away at his core, he rubbed it on the top of Bryant's black footwear. This continued for a minute. Suddenly, the man thrust the tip of his shoe into Daveon's upper chest.

“That's enough!” the man shouted. “Good boy.”

Daveon crumbled. He placed his hand upon the bruise left by the strike, but he still didn't attack. Something inside was telling him not to. So instead he waited to the side. He waited as his parents brought Mr. Markani his food. He waited for him to finish. Finally, he departed and the day passed by.

Around the dinner table, Daveon looked furious. It was just him and his parents now, alone with a nice meal of potatoes and chicken, but the day's previous events left a sour taste in his mouth that even his mother's home cooked poultry couldn't erase.

“How can we let him push us around like that?” Daveon barked. “It's unfair!”

“I'm sorry, son. It's just how it works around here,” his father said softly.

“Just because he has money, he thinks he can own this town and force everyone to do his bidding. It's not human. I swear, if you just let me, I can fight him and... I don't know.”

“Son. I know you have a great power within you. But we've worked hard over the years to keep that a secret. Don't waste it now and lose yourself. What if somebody sees?”

“I know. Sorry, dad.”

“You're growing into a great man. But with that comes the realization that things aren't the way they seem when you're a child. This world is run by people just like Mr. Markani, and we have to obey or we'll just fall under-foot.”

“Are you finished eating, Daveon?” asked his mother.

He nodded.

“I'd like to ask something of you. Can you go to the shop and buy some butter? It should still be open a little longer and I need it for a recipe I'd like to try.”

“Of course. But didn't you just go shopping yesterday?”

“Oh. Yes. I forgot to pick some up.”

“You don't usually forget things related to food. All right. Give me just twenty minutes or so and I'll be back. The sun is setting soon so I'll try to be quick.”

“Take your time, my darling son. This might sound strange, but I need to tell you something before you leave.”

“Oh. Okay.”

“Always remember this, no matter what. This is a piece of advice to help you as you grow into a gentleman. Never forget who you are. And when the time comes where you need to move on from this town, and see the world, don't look back. Let the past help you forward, but never look back. If you let old hatred and negative emotions guide your life, you'll find yourself trapped forever.”

“Thanks, mom. I'll try to remember.”

“The world is a large, beautiful place. Find your place in it. I know you will.”

“Don't worry. I'll be back soon!”

“I know you will, Daveon. I know. I love you. We both do.”

On his way he went. It was a peaceful journey down the mostly empty streets. It was lit only by the occasional street lamp, and though the sun hadn't yet completely set, the sky was already filled with gorgeous white specks. He wondered how far away they truly were.

His heart skipped a beat when he stepped directly passed a man in a suit. However, this wasn't just an ordinary gentleman, but Mr. Markani yet again. He shivered. He desperately hoped he wouldn't notice him.

“Daveon. Hello again,” came the voice that chilled his spine.

“Hey...”

“I'll excuse your rude greeting because you did such a good job cleaning my shoes earlier today.” Wide eyes turned to stare down at the druid—piercing. “But if you ever disrespect me, kid, there will be hell to pay.”

“Of course. Sorry,” he muttered.

“Sorry what?”

“Sorry, Mr. Markani!”

“Better. Now hurry along. I'm sure we both have things we should be doing. We're busy men, aren't we, Daveon?”

Bryant slid his hands into the pockets on his dress pants. He was tall, but in the looming darkness, he looked as if he was a cast shadow—a slender man with ginger hair—to Daveon. He lowered his own toque and minded his own business, and hoped the other man did the same. They went their separate ways yet again.

Eventually the sounds of his dress shoes disappeared into silence behind him. He was once again alone, and up ahead, was his destination.

The shop he went to was small. Behind the counter was the older woman he knew as Angelica. He reached into his pocket and placed the necessary coinage upon the counter to trade for a single stick of butter, which he still thought was odd.

“You're out late,” the woman said. Her voice was wispy and hushed.

“My mom needed something. How are things?”

“Not bad. You?”

“Just a little upset.”

“What's the matter, Daveon? You're usually so chipper.”

“It's Mr. Markani. Every time anything happens with him, it's something bad.”

Suddenly the woman seemed rushed. She hurried the exchange, and without saying so, she acted as if she was trying to hurry the young man out.

“Yes, well, I should close up. Work to do. Have a good night.”

“But you're usually open to—“

“Good night!”

With that, he hustled out the door and it locked behind him. He'd think that was strange if people didn't always act afraid to the man's name.

The sun finally set, so he hurried home. The walk was nice but he still knew better than to loiter on the streets after sunset. His gaze turned upwards to see the moon rising up from behind the mountains. It was glowing red.

And that was the last time he saw his parents.