#that said if I ever did get it I wouldn't use it as a mouse pad

[olessan]

Dragon Age nug mouse pad that is out of stock but that I just learned of my beloved...

[aayakashii]

Hii just wanted to say I have read most of your fics and headcanons and I loved them and for this reason I wanted to request if you could do "what petname the tokyo debunker characters use for their s/o in a relationship"

I just want more tkdb fluff🥲

Thank you for reading my stuff!!! 🫂 I'm glad you liked it and thank you for entrusting me with this idea! I hope you like it <3

what petname would they use for their s/o in a relationship?

Kamurai Jin

The good and old fashioned "my love". He probably uses anything he can say it's his, and "my love" is the perfect way to refer to you. You're his, and you're his love after all.

Ishibashi Tohma

"Mouse" 💀 He's standing on the tethering line of being super sweet and mildly threatening lol A tiny little thing he loves and wants to protect but that's also very very squishable...

Fuji Kaito

"Angel". You're giving him the time of the day and being in a relationship with him, so he immediately worships you like you're some holy being. You're 100% his angel.

Lucas Errant

I don't really see Luca using petnames, but if he did, he'd probably call you "dear". And it'd come out very naturally! He'd be asking you for something and accidentally call you dear while doing it. Or maybe one day he said "good morning dear" and it just stuck.

Mido Alan

Alan most probably doesn't use petnames in the beginning, but after he's comfortable in the relationship, he might call you "bug" <3 something a little old-fashioned like that fits him, I think!

Kurosagi Leo

He'd call you something mildly deameaning but shockingly sweet for someone like him as well. Maybe something like "dumbass (affectionately <3)"

Haizono Sho

Oh he most definitely calls you "babe". He is very much a huge flirt and that will never stop even when you two are dating lol

Sagara Haru

Literally every extremely chessy petname ever like sugarplum, buttercup, pumpkin, cutie pie, honey bun 💀 But that's when he's trying to be funny or annoying! When he's serious, he calls you "sunshine" <3

Otonashi Towa

Besides Dandelion, he calls you every flower with a romantic meaning or flowers that mean beauty! Such as rose, daffodil, tulip, camellia, honeysuckle etc.

Shiranami Ren

Not one for petnames, but if he uses one, it'd be some inside joke between you two, like he could call you the name of a character he likes in one of his gacha games and you could do the same.

Hoshibami Taiga

Besides kitten, I could see him using "doll" too, because dolls are cute and compliant, and that's the perfect little toy for him :)

Romeo Scorpius Lucci

He probably would call you "darling" with a mildly threatening tone 💀 it's the type of petname that can sound very sweet but also very ominous depending on his tone. Fits his borderline yandere personality too.

Shinjo Ritsu

He probably thinks "partner" is already a petname, but you'd have to explain to him that it isn't (with a huge document signed and notarized if possible).

Kagami Subaru

He probably feels incredibly embarrassed, but I think he wouldn't mind calling you something sweet and cute, like "honey" or "love" too. I don't think Subaru would go crazy with the petnames, so I'd expect something classic like that.

Kusanagi Haku

Princess/prince obviously, but I can also imagine him saying things like lovely or gorgeous, especially if he can get to whisper it in your ear just to fluster you lol

Kotodama Zenji

Oh god. All of them. Probably a different one every single day. He probably keeps a notebook of petnames just to get ideas for new ones. He refers to you as his beloved when he's talking about you to other people, though.

Edward Hart

Dove, but if you bother him enough, he can call you spider monkey, don't worry *gets shot*

No but seriously, dove is perfect for him.

Mizuki Rui

All of them. Just... all of them.

Lyca Colt

I don't see him using any, but maybe if you call him something, he'll use it as well. That's a HARD maybe though, I think he'd feel too embarrassed to do that.

Isami Yuri

He'd probably overthink about which petname he could use before ever calling you one. And after he decided, he'd have to take his time to gather the courage to even do that. He'd probably settle for something normal and classic, like "darling" or "sweetheart".

Kirisaki Jiro

Does not use petnames. Maybe if you ask him to use one, he'd do it, but you'd have to tell him what he could call you.

[im-totally-not-an-alien-2]

It started back when he was 16.

His parents found out about him and Vlad thanks to the fruitloop being an idiot and practically outing them both. Danny was so lucky that he had planned for a situation like this. He had go-bags ready with a few changes of clothes, a thermos, some weapons, a star projector, lots of money from Sam and enough medical supplies to make a hospital jealous.

It was a good thing too, after crippling the GIW and destroying all the gear they and the Fentons had they destroyed their research and everything ghost related. Vlad at this point was already dead so he wasn't much of a concern.

Dannys had landed in an alley in a new dimension, only problem now was the parting shot his mother gave him on his back. Due to the placement of it Danny couldn't reach to treat it properly and he didn't know anyone in this dimension who could help him.

Thats when his ghost sense went off. He groaned, hoping he wouldn't have to fight a new ghost in this state when a man in a red helmet (Mask?) walked up to him and motioned for peace.

"I'm not going to hurt you." The man said gently, "I just wanna look at that injury, maybe help."

Danny stared at him. He didn't feel anything off about the guy and Danny prided himself on being a good judge of character. "Okay." He scooted himself around so his back was exposed to the stranger.

"Wow, you're really not from around here." Danny stiffened, had he been tricked? The man made no moves to hurt him, just got to work tending to his wound. The man was swift, and aside from the slight sting of an ointment he didn't recognize there was no pain at all.

Once Danny was all patched up the guy made to leave, "Wait!" Danny called out and the man halted, "Who are you?" The man turned his head to look back at him, still facing away from him, "Red Hood."

As it turned out, Red Hood was the new up and coming crime lord who everyone was talking about. He came seemingly out of nowhere and was making a lot of waves in Gothams underbelly. Gotham...so this was Dannys new haunt.

Danny wanted to protect it but...he wanted to protect Red Hood even more. So when he heard about Red Hood forming a gang he made a decision. He gathered up materials to make his own supervillian outfit- basically an all black outfit with a long hooded coat and combat boots- and to add the finishing touch he put on a all white gas mask that he had made himself, complete with a voice modulator, night vision, heat vision, etc. If Hood ever wanted him to prove it was him he could make his mask glow using his ghost powers. Not that it was needed. Hood seemed to be able to sense him in a similar way that Danny could but in a much much smaller range.

With that being said, hoods men didn't trust him at first, which was fair considering he just started randomly appearing at their operations and helping them out...by force usually. They weren't sure what to make of him but Danny didn't want to go through the usual goon enlistment process as Hood would want to know his name and face and everything else and Phantom was...well a phantom.

Danny liked to hide, even in plain sight. He couldn't deny the little game of cat and mouse they had was fun. Hood would try to follow him home or track him or get him to take off the mask and Phantom would dodge his attempts every time.

It took a while, but Red Hood did eventually come to trust him, going so far as to make Danny his right hand man after 3 years of working together, though that may also be because he had rarely failed any of the tasks Hood had given him.

Maybe thats why he never told any of the bats about him. He had picked up that there was something between Hood and the bats but he never could figure out what it was without prying into his bosses personal life. Still, it was rather shocking when Red Hood showed up one day with a large red bat symbol splayed across his chest.

It also made him look at how freaking chiseled his boss was. He couldn't count how many times he had to drag his eyes away from his abs and chastise himself for thinking that way.

Danny was in love with a man whos face he would never see. But that was fine. He was happier standing by this man's side and yearning than he ever was back in Amity and it wasn't like Hood knew his face or name either.

-----------

He felt like a halfa though an incomplete one. He had a core but it felt hollow, like the soul was forcibly removed somehow and only emotions remained. Hood gained a bad reputation for flying into a monstrous rage but was always calm when Danny was near, a fact that even Red Hood himself seemed to pick up on.

Hood began to fall for his second in command pretty quickly, always trying to feed him and take care of him (as is his love language) while Danny was openly obsessed with assuring Hoods safety and well being even going so far as to use his powers (that no one knows about) to overshadow a computer and hack into the bats systems to make sure Hood was okay after a prolonged period of him being MIA.

The bats are freaked but Danny being Danny gets lucky and they always seem to miss his trail by a hair. Lucky ghost.

Things start going sideways when Fenton tech starts showing up in this new dimension only for Danny to find out his parents have remade the portal and are looking for him. The bats are being hunted by his parents and and the now rogue government agency the GIW. Danny tries to explain things to Hood without compromising his own secrets but once the newest Robin gets captured and Hood freaks Danny puts everything on the line to go rescue the stabby bird.

[neteyamssyulang]

† Scandalous consequences †

† Chapter 2 †

† For this story the humans use a shot to breath pandora air †

† Pairing: Aonung aged up x Fem human reader †

† Summary: Adjusting to life in awa’atlu was quite difficult for you since the clan hated you, not even your supposedly mate was helping.

† Warnings: Angst, Aonung caught cheating, clan bullying reader, Reader not feeling worthy of love/being a mother, Mentions of panic attacks, Two faced Aonung, Reader runs away.

† Total word count: 2,671 †

† Translation(s): Rä'ä 'ampi oe vrrtep -> Do not touch me demon, Marui -> metkayina home, Rutxe -> Please, Tanhì -> Bioluminescent freckle/Little star, Pefya kom nga, yaymak tawtute -> How dare you, foolish human, Tawtute -> Human, Kalweyaveng -> Son of a bitch, Nga rä'ä plltxe tsafya tsonta oe -> You do not speak that way to me, Io ou kerusey tokx -> Over my dead body.

Taglist: @papichulo120627 @livvieboo719 @xylianasblog @hannaxtakami @ikeyniofthetayrangi @nattomat @theyoungeagle @blushhpeachh @ohshititsfenharel

Daylight soon turned into eclipse, Tsireya had shown you to Aonung's marui a few hours earlier and you've just been sitting in there ever since, waiting for him to come home.

You didn't like this either but you were willing to put in some effort, the least he could do is the same.

Another hour passes before Aonung walks through the flaps of the marui, his hair once up in a bun is out and disheveled, marks covered his neck, shoulders and back.

Standing up you cautiously walked over to the metkayina reaching your hand out to touch him "Rä'ä 'ampi oe vrrtep!" He hissed moving away.

Pulling your hand back you looked down "I'm sorry..I've been waiting for you" your voice almost quiet as a mouse but just enough for Aonung's impeccable na'vi hearing to pick up.

The metkayina just scoffed instead of responding, walking past you he layed down on his cot turning onto his side so he wouldn't have to look at you.

Sighing you made your way over to cot, just as you were getting comfortable Aonung finally spoke "Lazy human, you left the lantern on"

"Can't you turn it out? I just layed down Aonung.." you did not want to get back up, all you wanted to do was lay with your "mate" and sleep.

Growling Aonung got out of the cot walking over to the lantern turning it off then stormed out the marui.

You cried yourself to sleep that night wishing you never met Aonung, you missed your home back in the forest. Atleast there you were treated as an equal.

Morning finally approached, you awoke to the sound of na'vi walking around outside the marui. As you were getting up Tsireya burst through the marui smiling.

"Good morning tawtute, you slept good I assume?" She asked silently walking over towards you, Tsireya knew her brother was an asshole but to mistreat you for something he knew would have consequences? Eywa knows that's wrong.

Avoiding her gaze you looked down "No, have you seen Aonung anywhere?" , the girl nodded hesitantly "Yes, Rotxo said he saw Aonung in the marui down the way to the right, you'll know it's the right one if you see a spear hanging above the doorway."

Thanking her you smiled before walking out the marui following the directions she gave, you walked down the way turning right and sure enough there was the marui with the spear.

As you approached the marui you heard the sound of moans and groans coming from inside, a female voice could be heard saying "Yesyesyes rutxe Aonung rutxe!"

Bursting through the marui your hands move to cover your mouth, tears threatening to leave your eyes. A woman is on the cot with Aonung ontop of her panting heavily.

Aonung is the first to speak "Get out! You do not belong here!", the woman under him just smirks  "Sorry honey, guess your man likes me more~"

As if pretending your not there anymore Aonung continued rutting into the woman while leaving his marks all over her neck and breasts.

Sobbing you ran out the marui, through the sea of na'vi, till you reached the small forest on the island. With your head down you walked through the forest till you found a small clearing far enough away from everyone.

Sighing you sat down leaning against one of the many trees "Your father is something sweetie.." you murmed gently rubbing your stomach.

Hours have passed now, how many? You didn't know but it had to be around evening time. Reaching into the small pouch you always have on, you pulled out a small needle with some fluids injecting it into your arm.

You needed to take the shot every now and then if you wanted to breath pandora air, it was annoying but it beats wearing those masks. "Tanhì! Where are you?" A voice called nearby.

You'd know your bestfriends voice anywhere "Over here Nete!" You shouted back moving to stand up now.

Neteyam came running from behind one of the trees towards you helping balance you out so you don't fall back down "Where have you been? We were all worrried about you"

Rolling your eyes you scoffed "Not everyone, I'm sure Aonung was too busy fucking that metkayina girl to even care about me."

Confused Neteyam's non existent eyebrows furrowed "What metkayina girl?", "I don't know her name but she lives in the marui with the spear above the doorway."

The omaticaya didn't speak for a few moments but you knew he was upset now, his tail thrashed behind him as a growl could be heard rumbling through his chest.

Finally your bestfriend spoke with a tear threatening to fall down his face "Her name is Meyäi, I chose her as my mate after I passed my iknimaya here."

So, not only did Aonung ruin whatever you guys were supposed to be, he also ruined Neteyam's relationship, someone who was supposed to be his friend.

The walk back was fairly long so Neteyam carried you bridal style the rest of the way till he reached your and Aonungs marui.

Like earlier moans could be heard from inside, he was seriously fucking someone in your home. Neteyam hissed setting you down carefully then bursted through the marui yelling at his so called "friend".

"So, this is what you do now? You have your own mate but no no you choose to fuck my mate?! After everything Ao-" "Cut me the boring sissy shit Neteyam" The metkayina groaned frustrated.

Aonung removed himself from Meyäi who's ears were pinned back against her skull in shame "Ma'Teyam..please I-" the girl tried speaking but Neteyam cut her off "No, I want nothing to do with you, either of you. I'm taking y/n to my marui."

With that your bestfriend grabbed what he knew was yours before exiting the marui taking your hand in his free one "Come Tanhì, you'll be staying with me until that skxawng can get his shit together."

Nodding you followed him hand in hand walking towards his marui.

The rest of the day is spent with your bestfriend just talking and weaving baskets together, it was peaceful until Ronal walked into the marui with a scowl on her face followed by a teary eyed Aonung.

"Pefya kom nga, yaymak tawtute!" She hissed glaring daggers at you before turning her attention to Neteyam "You! You know she's mated with my son so why are you sneaking into his marui to sleep with her while he's out!"

You and Neteyam both looked at eachother then at Aonung who's grinning but goes back to crying when his mom turns to look at him.

"Ma'tsahi-" "No!" She cuts him off "Y/n is mated to my son, you are no longer allowed to speak with her. I have been nice with letting you and your family stay here but you will not ruin my sons life."

Neteyam looked down in defeat, he knew he couldn't go against the tsahik. Aonung walked over grabbing you by your arm yanking you up onto your feet "You heard the tsahik, let's go my beautiful mate."

Aonung practically dragged you out Neteyam's marui towards his own with Ronal following, you didn't understand why he was doing this.. Neteyam had done nothing but help you.

Once reaching his marui Aonung led you inside with his mother still following close behind, he let your arm go only to go and stand next to the tsahik.

"I-" you tried speaking "Save it, pathetic human" she scoffed, "You are not allowed to leave this marui unless it's with my son, understood?"

Is she serious right now? You shook your head no  "No, I refuse to stay with this lying, cheating, son of a bitch" you spat narrowing your eyes at Aonung.

A low growl rumbled through Ronal "Listen here you foolish girl, you are my sons mate not that outsiders! You will obey my son."

Tears started rolling down your face as you nodded slowly, happy with the results Ronal bid her son goodbye then left the marui heading back to her own.

Aonung walked over chuckling softly to himself "Cry all you want tawtute, you are nothing without me now."

The next few weeks are proof of his words, you couldn't go anywhere without Aonung by your side, you couldn't even go see the sullys because of him.

You had no friends now, no freedom, nothing. Everyone in the clan avoided you as if you were a plague, women would call you vulgar names, men would look at you in disgust.

Rumors went around claiming that you weren't worthy to be Aonung's mate, you were just a human after all. A sky demon who is ruining their home.

Aonung kept up his two faced act, he would go see other women while his mother was busy with her tsahik duties but as soon as she was free he would be by your side pretending to care for you and his unborn child.

Every night you'd cry yourself to sleep wanting someone to hold you, to tell you it would be ok, it got to a point where you'd start having random panic attacks and breakdowns throughout the days.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ ✦ . 　

Tonight you finally decided you had enough of this, you packed all your belongings along with some food and left the marui before Aonung could come back.

You walked along the bouncy walkway trying to keep your balance till you reached the sandy beach, picking up the pace you walked faster towards the small forest looking for an area you could hide out in.

Seems like eywa was on your side since while searching you found a cave with a series of tunnels inside, choosing one you followed the path till it opened into a beautiful semi large clearing.

Sighing you walked farther into it laying your backpack full of your belongings on the ground before sitting down yourself.

Tears rolled down your face as you kept thinking you couldn't do this, you can't raise this child by yourself, your not worthy to be a mother, your not worthy of anyone's love.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ ✦ . 　

Two days have passed, the only time you left the cave was to get water and find more food. You were quite happy now, you had more freedom and were far away from that asshole who was supposed to be your mate.

You also rekindled your relationship with Neteyam and the sullys, they had seen you while you were out getting food promising not to tell anyone where you were.

The sullys knew what was happening between you and Aonung, they also knew that things were going chaotic in the village ever since you disappeared.

Aonung had taken Meyäi as his new mate since he wasn't bothered to go and find you, that had apparently caused some tension between him and his parents.

Yes his parents hated you but you were carrying their grandchild, they needed you to be found and brought back immediately.

Their son didn't care though, he never wanted a human as his mate. So he took Meyäi since she was adored by the clan and would make a great future tsahik when the time came.

When Jake told you this all you felt was angry, no furious to which neytiri scolded you on that saying you need to be calm since this wasn't healthy for the baby.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ ✦ . 　

Soon enough Neteyam's parents and siblings left leaving you and him alone gazing out to sea in sweet silence.

You kept thinking about how you could raise this baby on your own, and if there was a safe place to raise your child away from their kalweyaveng father.

Not noticing Neteyam standing up you were suddenly you were pulled out of your thoughts when he leaned down picking you up then began walking towards where his ikran was staying.

Confused you looked at him “Teyam where are you taking me?” Of course you trusted him but where could he possibly be taking you? The cave you stayed at was in the other direction.

The omaticaya sighed “I’m taking you far away from here y/n, you and your child do not deserve to be treated like sh-”

He stops talking as two figures emerge from the trees infront of the both of you “Treated like what forest boy?” a male voice speaks.

Shaking you turned your head to see Aonung with Tsireya “Didn’t my mother specifically tell you to never speak with my little mate?”

Neteyam scoffed “Why the fuck do you care? You took my mate as your own not even bothering to look for y/n”

The metkayina just shrugged “I don’t care, I am simply tired of my parents telling me to go look for the dumb human since she is carrying my child.”

You stayed silent afraid that you’d say something to make your situation worse, Tsireya and Neteyam exchanged glances before she took her brother by his arm “Aonung do not, y/n deserves much better than this.”

Aonung shook his sister off his arm turning to look at her “You will not speak sister, she is only a mere weak human who I would gladly get rid of, her and that child.”

Sensing your nervousness Neteyam held you closer while taking a few steps back, how could Aonung say that?.. It takes two to make a child, if he didn’t want to take the risk he should’ve pulled out.

Tsireya for once decided to stand up against her older brother “That child you speak of is innocent, you contributed to making that baby it is not y/n’s fault!”

Aonung snarled making her back away with her head down “Nga rä'ä plltxe tsafya tsonta oe!” Turning his attention back to you he stepped forward “Hand her over Neteyam.”

Your bestfriend shook his head “Io ou kerusey tokx” , The metkayina chuckled quietly “Oh that can be arranged.”

Before Aonung could unsheath his dagger Tsireya ran up taking you from Neteyam arms “Get her out of her Tsireya” , “Teyam don’t please!” You sobbed not wanting to leave your bestfriend alone.

Placing a gentle kiss to your head he whispered “I’ll come find you when it’s safe tanhì, go now!” Nodding Tsireya took off running towards the beach.

Looking behind her the last thing you saw was Aonung tackling Neteyam to the ground holding his dagger against the omaticayas throat.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ ✦ . 　

You both have been riding on her ilu for awhile now, she hasn’t exactly stated where your going except that you’ll be safe there considering how far away it is.

Another hour passes before you come across a decent sized island, through tsaheylu Tsireya tells her ilu to get close enough to shore so you don’t have to swim.

Once your close enough Tsireya gets off first then helps you off the ilu and onto the beach, you both wander the island till she spots a cave that should be good enough to stay in for now.

“I’m worried for him..” you spoke softly as she guided you into the cave before helping you sit down, “I know y/n, I am so very sorry for my brother but know he would never kill Neteyam. He’s stupid but not that stupid.”

You looked up at her through teary eyes unable to speak, too worried for your friend who could be hurt or even worse. Tsireya always told the truth and you trusted her, it’s Aonung you didn’t trust.

Tsireya sighed leaning down wiping the tears from your eyes “It will be ok, I have to go now but there is a stream here if you need water and plenty of food around the island.”

Nodding slightly you watched as she straightened herself back up then walked out the cave towards the beach.

Now alone you layed down hoping things would turn around so you could raise your child in peace instead of fear.

Unfortunately that wouldn’t be the case.

[evenmoreofadisaster]

Hi, it's me again, I left a note in my reply, but now I have another question or request<3 Can you tell us a little bit more about Kendrtwollo? Like how did those two meet? What kind of dynamic and relationship do they have? How does it evolve until it becomes romantic? And what is their dynamic or relationship like when it's romantic? How does his family (Especially One) react to their relationship? (Please tell me he becomes jealous and overprotective XD) While we're at it, how does the rest of the family react to One and Usagi's relationship? (I already read the post about how Two reacts, and I love it<3) And anything else you can tell us about Mikey's future daughter? Having said all that, if there are things you can't tell because of spoilers or because it's not fully planned yet and you'll change it in the future, I'll understand, thank you very much for your time<3

Lol, yes! Response is under the cut bc it's a bit long lmao

This is a minor spoiler for s2 chatper 3, but Kendra and Two actually meet off-screen, when Two enrolls in April's school as Donnie. He joins the purple dragons before moving into April's class. By chapter 3, Donnie is no longer associated with the purple dragons and knows Kendra's just as deceiving as One.

I imagine Kendra and Two's relationship is kind of like enemies to lovers, but they never quite reach the lovers stage. They're kind of like in an endless game of cat and mouse, where Kendra gives Two the attention or validation he needs, then uses his tech (either with or without his permission, depending on what her angle is). She plays him. Two knows this, and, depending on how Two is feeling depends on whether or not he lets Kendra get away with it.

I don't think they'd ever be lovey-dovey or have an official relationship, but Kendra genuinely thinks that Two is a genius which is probably why Two goes back to her. I wouldn't say they develop 'feelings' for each other, but I’d more of an unhealthy attachment.

I don't think Raph and Mikey would know the full extent of Two and Kendra's relationship, but they're not big fans of her. She's thrown Two under the bus and has gone under his nose to steal from him, which they don't appreciate. One KNOWS. He knows Kendra is a bad influence-- this is how Two got into vaping-- he knows Kendra is using Two for his tech and he doesn't like it. I don't think there's anything for One to be jealous of-- since this would most likely happen in the time One goes to Japan with Usagi (post movie arc), therefore isn't around often enough to be jealous-- but One does get super overprotective.

My version of Kendra does kickboxing, so she can beat Two in hand-to-hand. Against One, though, she'd die without her tech.

For One and Usagi's relationship, everyone is pretty much chill with Usagi except for Two and Raph (at first). Raph knows that Usagi is unpredictable and dangerous, so he's definitely on the fence when One hangs out with him post s2. When Raph sees how One can handle Usagi going nuts (more info about that here) and how he calms him down, Raph knows that there's nothing to worry about. Usagi frustrates Raph sometimes, but not any more than his brothers do. They get along. This drives Two insane. Mikey, generally, is just happy that One can be happy and himself around Usagi. You can read about Draxum's thoughts here.

Yes! So far, I'm thinking that Mikey's adopted kid will be EMD's version of Renet. Mikey finds her as he travels the world to help people in need. The details are still fuzzy, but the idea rn is that Renet lost both her parents. Her mother was the apprentice of a time lord, who's either exiled or imprisoned. The mother stole the time scepter that is now in Renet's possession. Renet has no idea what it is or why people are after it, until Mikey finds her and helps.

[atlasscrumpit]

F*ck me like you hate me

Miguel x Black Cat reader

(let's go for a cliche one for a change) 

You loved this endless game of cat and mouse...literally.

You ran along the roof tops before you were tackled to the ground. You looked up at the spiderman and smirked.

"Come on, it was just a few jewels." You say reaching up and running your finger along his jawline.

"God, you piss me off." He growled as he felt down your sides and grabbed the bag of jewels.

"You know, we would be good together. Us two in bed... Imagine that tension, ever had hate sex?" You said with a smirk as he groaned and shook his head.

"¿Por qué no me pagan por esto?" He grumbled before getting up off you.

(why don't they pay me for this?)

You got up and looked at him before moving closer.

You ran one of your claws down his chest, watching him shiver.

"Why don't we just try it...hmm?" You whispered as he looked down at you before gripping your wrist.

"Enough, Cat. You're a weak criminal and I am a hero, I would never stoop so low." He growled as you stepped away and fake pouted.

"Aww... I'm so sad." You whispered before holding up the bag of jewels you just stole back from him.

You quickly jumped off the building and disappeared.

"Dammit!"

--

You got back to your apartment and secured the jewels into a safe before collapsing onto your bed.

You wouldn't ever admit it, but you had felt a little rejected.

You'd always had a thing for spiderman, always wondering what he looked like under the suit.

"Well, if you won't sleep with me I'm still going to fucking touch myself to you." You grumbled angrily as you unzipped your suit.

--

You walked through the streets of Nueva York, a coffee in your hand as you stared down at your phone.

Suddenly you ran straight into someone, spilling your drink all over him.

"Fuck!" You swore, you were really looking forward to that coffee.

"Watch where you're going, asshole!" You shouted as you looked up at the tall man, your cheeks blushing.

"Says the one who was on their phone." He grumbled as your eyes widened, you knew that voice.

"Oh, for fuck sakes." You growled as he raised an eyebrow before a look of shock came over his face.

"It's you, isn't it." He muttered as you put on a fake smile.

"No clue what you're talking about, sir. I've never seen you in my life." You said, with fake innocence before he grabbed your wrist and pulled you into an alleyway, pinning you to the wall.

"Were you stalking me? What's your goal here?" He growled as you looked at you with annoyance.

"My goal was to go get a coffee and go home but then you ruined that." You growled as he stared at you, panting softly.

"We will never mention this... Right now we aren't them, we aren't criminals or villains." He grumbled backing away from you.

He held out his hand as you smirked and shook it.

"I'm Miguel." He said as you nodded.

"Y/N." You replied, holding his hand for a little longer.

"Just... Two people, that bumped into each other." You muttered, walking closer to him.

He looked down at you, his stone cold face only making you want him more.

"God, you're annoying." He whispered before pushing you back and pinning you against the wall and kissing you passionately.

You moaned and jumped up, wrapped your legs around his waist as you both made out.

So much tension and hate coming out at once.

"I'm not fucking in an alleyway. Take me back to your place." You demanded as he chuckled dryly.

"So you can fucking rob me? We'll go to yours." He said as you narrowed your eyes.

"So you can arrest me?" You growled back as you looked into each other's eyes.

"Hotel?" You both said in unison before laughing and grabbing his hand, running down the street like two horny teenagers.

--

You laid in a hotel bed completely naked with broken furniture all around you.

"So... That just happened." You muttered as he gave palmed.

"Why did I do that..." He grumbled as you chuckled.

"Don't fucking lie, that was the best you've ever had." You said making him chuckle and shake his head.

"I hate you." He said before you straddled him and kissed him again.

"Show me how much you hate me then."

[the-fiction-witch]

Little Mouse

Media - The Artful Dodger Character - Doctor Jack Dawkins Couple - Jack X Reader Reader - Y/n (Brown Hair) Rating - Sweet / Moments of sad / moments of flirty Word Count - 3359

I took my bag and headed out to the front steps of the Port Victory Royal Hospital, immediately met by the heat that still gives me pause even after all this time here. The sun was beating down without the sweet mercy of a single cloud today so I kept on my hat in an attempt to keep myself from burning. I wandered down the steps and sat my bag beside the tables as Hetty finished setting them up, Sneed was already out here being slimy and smug as usual in his suit. I took my seat at my own table and opened up my book flicking through to the right page taking a moment for my eyes to get the fucking letters in line so I knew where I was and what I was doing. I grabbed my pen and gave it a good shake out of habit before writing in the date. Almost as soon as I did I saw crowds begin to gather, wealthy couples hand in hand to watch and laugh at those who come down, those to the right of our tables from businesses in need of workers, here to collect people up to work them into the ground. And to my left the chain of new convicts fresh off the boat, Captain Gains forcing them to walk in chains to our tables even if we were a good mile from the dock. I felt pity for them, all of them. I know at one time I was them, and I know if ever I came by a man of office or importance I was begging him for mercy.

"Good Morning Doctor Sneed, Doctor Dawkins." Captain Gains smiled he seemed cheery to be sending people to be worked to death, which only made me hate the guy even more. I nodded without a word in reply. "Shall we begin then gentlemen?"

"Yes, let's get through this lot." Doctor Sneed snarled almost viciously, I rolled my eyes at him what would he rather be doing than deciding the literal fate of people's lives, having a nap?

The line moved slowly of course through the various new convicts many of them here for the smallest and pettiest of reasons.

"Barely any labour left in them after these sea voyages," Captain Grains snarked with his men following behind him, "Just sea sores and scurvy," he said as he looked up some older frail men, as he walked he picked out sorry souls for the chain gang. I felt guilty in the pit of my stomach for going so slow I could have been done with those people by now and given them jobs so they wouldn't have to be sent on the chain gang but I know he'd have come and cherry-picked some anyway. I had to take a moment looking away, away from the swirling words on the page, away from the faces of people I was condemning, my elbows on the table as I took a moment to collect my head.

"Cheer up Dawkins, you look as if you've swallowed a lemon," Sneed told me as he hurried through another person simply sending them to the first thing he saw they could be used for.

"Hetty, you mind this... pen's starting to go." I lay sliding the book across a little so she could take it and do the rest of the writing out for me, as the officer unchained the next one and brought them to my table, "Name?"

"Milly Wince." The girl nodded,

"and your crime?"

"I stole clothes for me baby, but... he died on the way over."

I took a second to gather myself after that, it wasn't an uncommon tale to hear on days like this. I know Sneed never listens calls them pity stories, and says the prisoners come up with them to try and milk their way somewhere better. But still, I can't risk the idea of it being true. "What was his name?"

"Benji," She nodded, it was obvious she was close to tears as she said it.

I racked my brain a moment knowing we were getting to the end of the line, most jobs were taken. But I couldn't send her to the chain gang or off down to the docks as a storeroom scrubber. I looked over what jobs were left doing my best to work around the swirling words, "She can help the schoolma'am."

The officer escorting her saluted to me, and began to lead her away,

"But I can't read," She whispered,

"It's alright they'll teach you," I nodded to her,

She smiled and thanked me before she was led away, the day grew later and later various prisoners were sent to various fates before finally we got to the last two, one aged man and one young girl. Hetty left me to do the last one alone as she had other business inside to deal with, but as she was the last one I did my best to really look and really listen to the girl.

She stood in the dusty dirt trembling with fear, she was barefoot, her pale skin burnt from standing in the sun all day, she had a long brown skirt, a brown blouse both dirty and ill-fitting, she was caked with dirt, she looked a little younger than me but not much, Y/e/C eyes filled with silent tears, mousy brown hair matted behind her. I know she was afraid of me or more the fate I could give her, that much was obvious.

"Name?" I asked,

She did speak but it was so quiet I could barely hear much more than a mouse squeak, I suppose that did sort of best describe her, she was rather mousy.

"Could you speak up please?"

She nodded and sniffled, "Y/n,"

"Y/n, alright last name?"

"I... I don't- I don't know sir."

I nodded and just crossed through the box on the form, "You're crimes?"

"T- Theivery sir,"

"What did you steal?" I asked, mostly in curiosity to see how bad her crime really was and also to give me more time to actually write it in,

"Bread sir," she squeaked,

"B-bread?" I asked in disbelief,

"Yes sir,"

"They arrested you, and sent you here," I began, "For stealing bread?"

She nodded,

"Di- did it belong to the queen of England?" I asked, I felt so guilty, I had legit stolen worse than that and I'm the one sitting here deciding her fate!

A small smile cracked across her lips, "No sir, I was... stealing often sir. bread, fruit, veg," she explained, "But I always stole the worst of it sir, the burnt bread, the fruits and Vegies almost on the turn. Just so I didn't bother them as much as I could."

"Why were you stealing?" I asked, even if I could guess why.

"For my little brother, mother passed away, and... I never met our father. I did my best for little Sammy, but... he was left behind."

"How old was your little brother?"

"Just two sir." she sniffled having to wipe her tears,

I knew her story must be true, I knew many people like that in London when I was young, and I felt like a monster. I looked over the list of where I could send her but given she was the last one it was slim pickings, I couldn't send her to any of these I know I can't. They'll eat her alive and work her to death. But I don't have a choice I have to send her somewhere, she just stands there patiently waiting for her fate her eyes on the floor.

Then an idea came to mind, so I quickly put it on the paperwork.

"I require a convict servant, do chores for me, help me out with things, sort of like a maid. you think you could do that?" I asked, I don't NEED one but it'll be nice not to have to cook my breakfast,

She nodded wiping away her tears,

"Good, pick up my bag and follow me," I told her as I finished the paperwork and I got up fixing my coat as I did.

The officer let her out of all her chains and she picked up my bag with two hands struggling a little as it was too heavy for her but she followed me without a word.

I sat in my room trying to decompress after such an emotional day, I for a moment glanced at the small bed I had set up on the floor for when Y/n gets back. I had sent her down to Hetty and the nurses to get her cleaned up after so long at sea. She had been done a decent few hours now I would have been happy with them just giving her a bath and a nurse's dress but I suppose they knew what their doing down there.

My door opens and it's Hetty, she never knocks anymore.

"She's done," She said pushing open the door more and a girl stepped in,

I sat up and was frankly floored.

As in stepped a young lady, in a pair of lace-up boots, a grey nurse dress in the crisp white pinafore apron over it, pale skin that shined like moonlight, sweet little freckles across her nose and cheeks, bright Y/e/C eyes, long beautiful mousy brown hair in two long braids down each shoulder, she looks up at me and immediately I felt my heart jump up into my throat and start berating like a jackrabbit, I could barely even believe this was the same girl.

"N- Y/n?"

"Yes sir," she nodded,

"oh my god-" I gasped, "You- you look beautiful, you uhh do you feel a lot better now?"

she nodded with a gentle smile,

"Good, I- uhh I'm glad," I nodded doing my best not to blush even if I knew I was losing my words, "Hetty, you and the girls all get an extra day off this week, you are... miracle workers,"

Hetty nodded and dropped off some extra bits for her, a washcloth, an extra set of clothes, some clothes for bed and such like and left us alone shutting the door behind her, leaving me and Y/n alone,

"So... you are going to be my servant from now on. I won't work you too hard I promise, if you can handle just meals, laundry, maybe a little cleaning up at first?"

"Yes sir," she sheepishly nodded,

"And you don't have to keep calling me sir, just Jack is fine."

"But Doctor Dawkins I-"

"Just Jack is fine Y/n,"

she nodded,

"Good, I've made you up a little bed it's not much I know but just until we can find you a room of your own," I told her showing her the little bed I made up for her,

"It's all for me?" she asked,

"Yes, all for you." I laughed a little at her idea of 'All' given it was two pillows and two blankets. "Perfect for a little mouse,"

"Mouse?"

"Ohh-" I gulped realizing I had said that out loud, "Yeah you uhh, sorry you just kinda remind me of a little mouse," I shrug, "Do you mind me calling you that?"

"No, it alright,"

"Good, you sure you don't need anything else?"

She shakes her head, "Thank you so very much si- Jack. for everything."

"No need to thank me. Anyone else would have done the same. and It'll be nice having someone else around to help me out," I told her,

I woke as usual with a long yawn and stretch as I sat up in bed, the window already open to let in the fresh air, I looked first to Y/n's little bed on the floor but as usual it was made and empty. So I glanced around the room and couldn't hold back my smile, on the table sat a fresh plate of bacon, eggs and hashbrowns, and a set of clean folded clothes on the chair for me. I got up and started to get dressed as a timid little knock came from the door, quiet enough that if I was still sleeping it wouldn't have woken me and of course, I knew who it was.

"Come in!" I called back,

The door opened and Y/n stepped in, with her sweet little smile as usual, her mousy brown hair in pigtails today, the same boots and dress as the other nurses but she had over her time here been embroidering little flowers on the hems and pockets of her pinafore apron, just to give her something a little different from the nurses, given she is my servant and not actually a nurse. Even if she does assist me most of the time anyway. She had a clipboard in her hand, which when she saw me half-dressed she quickly used to cover her eyes.

I chuckled, she's been here a good six months and for god sake, we share a room, she even runs my baths for me I'm positive she has seen me like this before but still she always covers her eyes, "Nothing you haven't seen before,"

"...Still," she says in her usual quiet little tone a bright mousy brown blush across her shy little cheeks keeping her freckles company,

"Morning little mouse," I chuckled,

"Morning,"

"You are so quiet, I didn't hear a single peep when you were making breakfast," I told her as I finished getting dressed and took a seat to eat breakfast,

"Perhaps you couldn't hear me over your snoring," she giggled as she went over setting the clipboard on the side and starting to make my bed,

"I. do not. snore." I protested,

"You do when you're tired,"

"I'm always tired,"

"So thusly,"

"Sorry,"

"You don't wake me, its no trouble,"

"...nothing really bothers you does it?"

"Why would it? I'm alive, I have a job, a roof over my head, and food in my tummy, why would I complain?" she shrugged as she went to take my empty plate, but I took her arm,

"Even little mice are allowed to ruffle a few cats' whiskers every now and again, you're allowed to complain hell you listen to me complain enough,"

"Just... don't have much to complain about, and even if I did rather be here than somewhere else,"

"Alright," I let her go but I picked up the clipboard and gave it a read-over,

"I've already made all the notes for the ward and filed the paperwork, I've put your list for the rounds in order from the east side round so we aren't doubling back on ourselves,"

I chuckled as I looked over the notes for the rounds, she had taken the time to organise the stack of visits we had to do, into an order where we could do town in a circle and not be hopping around house to house. "Such a clever little mouse," I chuckled,

"Ready to go then?" she asked,

"yeah, let's get started, hopefully we can be back in time for tea,"

"Hopefully, I made some scones in this morning for tea when we get back," she smiled fetching my coat for me and giving it a shake as she did,

"Ooohh now we have to be back in time for tea," I smiled taking my coat from her and slipping it on as she loaded up my bag and grabbed the clipboard following along behind me as we headed out for the rounds.

I lay in bed looking over some diagrams in my book for a new surgery, every so often Y/n caught my eye, as she lay on the floor in her little bed, on her stomach with a book on her pillow and a pencil in her hand often tapping it against her cheek, her mousy brown hair pinned up in a bun to sleep. I smiled a little seeing her mouthing the words but she was so quiet I wasn't actually sure if any words were coming out or not. Slowly she's been learning to read, but honestly, she's already better than me. But she happily sits every night with a candle by her side doing some more reading practice. I couldn't not smile at her,

"Are you comfy down there?" I asked,

"Humm?"

"Down there, on the floor? Are you... comfortable?"

"It's better than outside,"

"I didn't ask if it was better than being outside, I asked if, 'you'... are comfortable little mouse?"

She shrugged, "Why do you ask?"

"Curious,"

"you aren't just avoiding reading your book?"

"Don't get smart with me," I playfully warn her, "You can come share with me... if you want?"

"Humm?"

"You are more than welcome to come share with me," I smiled, "I'm sure a little mouse won't take up too much space,"

She looks at my bed rather excitedly, she obviously wants to. "No thank you, Jack,"

"You sure?"

"... Could I?"

"Come on," I smiled putting my book down and opening the covers for her,

She smiled and got up blowing out her little candle before she came over with her little silent steps adjusting her cotton nightie as she did, she slowly climbed in with me laying herself down beside me and let out a little sigh,

"There, that better than the floor?"

She nodded,

"Good, come on then get cosy little mouse. I'm sure you can kick me in the morning when it's time for breakfast,"

"I will," she nodded as she turned to face away from me,

So I turned to get ready to sleep too, but after a little tossing and turning I moved to face her back and slowly slid my hands around her waist pressing a little kiss to her shoulder, "Goodnight Y/n, sleep well little mouse,"

"Goodnight Jack,"

I woke up with the widest smile I had for god knows how long, I squeezed Y/n and peppered some kisses onto her shoulder. I love sharing my bed with her, she hasn't slept on the floor in almost a month now and I couldn't be happier to have less bed. "Good morning little mouse," I cooed,

"Good Morning Jack," Her voice smiled but it sounded strange, like further away than it should have, it was then I noticed the smell of bacon, so I pealed open my eyes and saw her at the little stove making breakfast in her nightie with her mousy brown hair in a ponytail, I was confused and looked noticing I was merely hugging and kissing her pillow.

"How do you do that?" I complained sitting up and putting the pillow back,"

"do what?" she innocent raised an eyebrow,

"Sneak away from me in the morning without me noticing?" I chuckled, "I swear you really are a little mouse, silent and sneaky."

"I didn't want to wake you," she shrugged,

"You can wake me, it's okay." I chuckled, "Come on, back to bed. I want a few more cuddles before breakfast."

"Jack I-"

"Back. to. Bed." I told her, patting her side of my bed,

She rolls her eyes playfully and climbs back into bed so I can cuddle her again, "Happy?"

"Very happy," I smiled, "you think for a moment I can even dream of getting out of bed to begin the day without cuddling my little mouse?" I told her peppering her cute little face with kisses,

"But we have work to-" she began but I kissed her lips to cut her off,

"Work can wait, I just want to enjoy my time with you for a while," I smiled, "Don't you want to just spend a little time with me?"

"Of course I do Jack," she smiled burrowing herself into my chest,

"Good, come on we can have a few more minutes... or another hour," I smiled kissing her head,

"Another hour," she nods,

"Fine by me," I cooed,

"Maybe two," she shrugs giving my neck little kisses,

"oooh... Yeah? no complaints from me," I smirked a little pulling her lips to my own, we shared a few kisses each getting a little longer and more passionate until it became obvious what we both wanted so I pulled back and rubbed the tip of my nose across the bridge of her own, "humm shall we, my little mouse?"

"Mhm," she nodded with an eager little giggle her hands coming to rest on my bare chest and my own snake around her hips, as we pulled our lips back to meet again in a much hotter and heavier kiss.

[middle-earth-press]

Exclusive: Interviews With The Kin And Friends Of Beren Barahirion!

Rian, daughter of Belegund:

- I don't know if there is much I can tell you. He is my cousin of a sort but I was five years old when I last saw him, and what can a child know of a man? He was kind. He paid attention to us when we demanded it — that is already a lot. I —

it sounds stupid, but I remember I saw a mouse run right past me in the barn once, and I was terrified, and he came over and started telling me about animals and what they behave like and what they eat and — I think I wasn't ever afraid of mice anymore after that.

- So he was a good man.

- Was? He's alive. I believe the songs — or what else could I believe? The world is one, after all.

Lady Morwen of Dor-Lómin:

- Do you remember Dorthonion, Lady?

- Everything.

- Everything? You were—

- Twelve. I chose to remember —after. Beren was one of my father's cousins. He was older. We talked once or twice.

- What do you think about your cousin's deeds?

- If half of it is true, then it is certainly more story than one would expect of a lifetime.

- You don't know if it's true?

- Songs are flighty things. My cousin wouldn't like me to say it but it's so. I doubt he's alive. If he was, I'd think he'd have come here.

Irnion son of Lischir and brother to Radhruin:

He taught me swordfighting at one point. He wasn't a half-bad teacher, I think — certainly he was skilled and he could make you understand what you were doing. I liked it... You know, I wanted to stay with my brother, but they said I was too young. I was fourteen — Hathaldir was sixteen. I guess I would have died if I had, but sometimes I still regret I didn't have the choice — not that I'm naive enough to think that sort of life is glorious outside tales —but it's a noble one.

Arthondir son of Eredhir:

It is odd to think that of all my childhood friends it's mostly myself left as the only person to remember them. Beren was always — different. Deeper, somehow. He wouldn't always join on our games... he spent so much time helping his great-aunt, the Wisewoman that we sometimes laughed at him — but when he did... somehow he made them better — more real. And he was the one person who could talk us out of trouble when we got into it — it was never his fault, really, but he never said so.

I remember, for example, the one time we — beat with sticks on Old Arasbor's barn gate, because we were pretending to be the deceased High King and his army arriving in Middle Earth, and Old Arasbor obviously came out in a fury to ask us what we were thinking. And then someone of course has to say — well, we're pretending the barn is Angband, and he's not flattered by the implication — and Beren just talked him down then, said his was the largest and most imposing all round and that's why we chose it — which was true, and Old Arasbor laughs and tells us to run off and that he would give Beren some pastry if his wife had baked any.

And then later, when I broke my hip — it never really healed well, that's why I'm here and not dead, I suppose — he was the person who kept visiting me, even though we weren't the closest of friends. I don't know, he was like that — I'm not saying he couldn't be thoughtless like all children, but he was oddly perceptive of other people.

I think that if any of us were to get into this sort of story it would have to be him — but I'm still surprised at the entirety of it. Everyone, I suppose, is.

Dor-Lómin weekly

[lustrous-dawn]

Zhen's lips thinned as soon as he was away from Caelus. He appreciated the dragon's concern but it was too much to think about right now. Not when his nerves were close to shattering. The grandeur of Reiko and her counterpart. He and his own were nothing like the two. 

“Gods, I'm pitiful,” he groaned, raking a hand roughly through his hair. Was he envious? No… Their power was like nothing he had ever seen. “How could I possibly match up to it…” A small whisper in the hall he briskly walked through. Floorboards creaked as he made his way to his quarters. He should have been more attentive. He wouldn't have missed a blur of white and orange rushing past him, Tora latching onto his shoulder. 

“Argh! Tora! What did I say-” 

“Don't go in!” She exclaimed. Wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, she dangled helplessly, face buried in his shoulders. 

“I'm not in a playing mood tonight!” He attempted to pry her off, to no avail. With a groan, he supported her instead. “What did you do? Did you make a mess there?” 

“No! Just! You can't go in there now!” 

His brows furrowed. Normally she would have fussed up and told the truth if she did something. Neither of the twins were great liars in front of him. “Fine. Let's go outside for a bit.” Knowing the tight grip of the little girl was something fierce tonight, he knew better than to resist, lest he wanted his clothes to be shredded into tatters. 

The two of them emerged upon the patio, a light breeze rolling through to play with the spring sprigs. Sitting at the edge, Zhen looked out, poking her abdomen, exciting a squeal from Tora. “Are you going to tell me?” He can be patient when it comes to them. 

With a giggle, she let go, sitting on his lap. “It wasn't my fault, I swear!”

“I was never going to blame you anyway.” He ruffled her hair. “Now, what happened to my room?” 

“So there was this mouse!”

“Mouse?”

“Yeah! It had the honey! You know! The honey mama uses for treats!” 

Fingers scratching his chin, he knew exactly where this was going but he played along for her sake, a look of confusion in his eyes. “Uh huh. Then what?” 

“And I chased it! Chased all around the house! Arashi tried to help too! But it was sticky! We couldn't catch it!”

“Slippery you mean?”

“Yeah!” She pumped her hands in the air. “Then mama got it and now she and Abby clean your room?” 

“Abby is here?” He half expected her to not show up for a week. He wasn't the greatest company for the Gala. 

“Yep!” She cocked her head to the side, round eyes examining his face. “Are you sad?” 

Zhen smiled. “Sad? I'm not sad, Tora.” 

Small hands reached up and touched the corner of his lips. She scowled as she said, “Not real.” Her eyes darkened. “I don't like him.” 

He blinked. The kids were getting too good at reading his tales. He frowned. “That's not very nice, Tora.” 

“He makes you sad! I don't like that! You don't like him either,” she muttered, sticking out her tongue. “I want to bite him! No one should make you sad! No, no no!”

He patted her shoulder. “I would bite him too if I had sharp teeth like you. But it'll make a scene.” And I'll lose horribly. “We can't go around biting anyone who makes us upset. He's actually helping me.”

A look of doubt. If Tora could see through this much, Zhen dreaded what Arashi might have picked up on. Although the Tornadus was the quieter of the pair, he had the most perception. 

Then she surprised him by saying, “I think he's sad too.” She was looking away as she spoke, opening and closing her small hands into fists. “He looks at me and Arashi and gets sad. But…” She balls them into tight fists. “He's being mean to you. That's not… right.” She turned with a bearing of fangs, teeth glinting. “That's why I want to bite.” 

“That's not the grown-up way, Tora. We talk these things out. Like we're doing now.” His eyes trailed away as he pondered her words. “He's not taking his anger out on me.” Somehow he understood that much whenever he spoke to the dragon. “Maybe he's hurting as well. Yeah it's wrong if he takes it out on me,” he amended as she tried to speak. “But he's not doing that. 

“Tora.” He cupped her face, massaged her ears. “I want you to listen.”

“Listen?” Small hands on his wrist, eyes meeting his own. 

“Arashi listens well. Listen not only with your ears. Listen with your heart too. There's meanness hidden inside. Ask yourself this. Do you think he's really mean as you think he is?” 

A small frown. “...No.” 

A smile from Zhen. “Do you think I'm hurting?” 

A piercing look from the Landorus. “You're hiding…” 

“Being a grown-up is harder than you think. Sometimes we have to put on a smile. Sometimes we have to act polite in front of people. But for now, you shouldn't have to worry about that. You're still growing.” He ruffled her hair. “Keep playing with Arashi for now. You'll see what I mean later. Keep listening for me.”

She leaned and embraced him tight. Small purrs rocked his frame. “I will listen, Zhen. I'll help you too.”

A small smile that threatened to break, Zhen embracing her just as tight. “I know, kid.” 

[max1461]

In the last post I said:

Gödel's second incompleteness theorem says in particular that a system at least as powerful as PA which proves its own consistency is inconsistent.

Writing this sentence makes me wish humans could handle center-embedding. This sentence is a horrible garden path if you're unfamiliar with the topic, as often occurs when trying to talk about math (because of all the restrictive relative clauses, representing the various conditions to theorems). Syntactic ambiguities often pile up too. Cutting out some unnecessary adjunct phrases, we have:

Gödel's second incompleteness theorem says that [ [ a system which proves its own consistency ] is inconsistent ].

vs.

Gödel's second incompleteness theorem says that [ a system [ which proves its own consistency is inconsistent ] ].

The latter of course being ungrammatical, but a tempting initial reading.

If we had head-final CPs with head-initial NPs (or conversely head initial CPs with head-final NPs), there would be no problem. Cf.

Gödel's second incompleteness theorem says that [ [ a system proves its own consistency which ] is inconsistent ]

for the first reading, vs.

Gödel's second incompleteness theorem says that [ a system [ proves its own consistency is inconsistent which ] ]

for the (ungrammatical) second reading. Ignore "that" still being in a head-initial position, it's not relevant for the point I'm making. Anyway, unfortunately, even if English worked this way—as, you know, Sumerian maybe sort of did with its case particles, and whatnot—we still wouldn't be able to phrase complex unambiguous mathematical expressions with it, because the human speech processing doohickey hates this kind of center-embedded structure at embedding depth greater than 2. Uh, for instance we can say:

The dog the cat saw

And we can say:

The dog the cat the mouse feared saw

And it's already starting to get difficult to process, and then if we try to say:

The dog the cat the mouse the chicken pecked feared saw

It's basically unparsable, even though it's nominally grammatical. Compare the relatively unproblematic right-embedded paraphrase:

The dog who was seen by the cat who was feared by the mouse who was pecked by the chicken.

Well, if English had head-final CPs, you'd have:

The dog the cat saw which

Ok,

The dog the cat the mouse feared which saw which

Doable,

The dog the cat the mouse the chicken pecked which feared which saw which

Horrendous. At best, an attempted paraphrase gets you:

The dog was seen by the cat was feared by the mouse was pecked by the chicken which which which

Which is I guess parsable, but I suspect you will not consistently get the right number of "which"s. Which incidentally will also reintroduce syntactic ambiguity.

So, ok, I don't actually know for sure if native speakers of this hypothetical language would have trouble with these constructions. But it's telling that everybody in every language seems to avoid center-embedding, in Japanese you get the reverse sort of center-embedding when relativizing on objects and, I have to dig up the paper, but I'm pretty sure speakers use paraphrase to avoid doing that more than once. And obviously, my pet example, in Sumerian you have the NP structure Noun-Genitive-[Case Clitic], and you apparently almost never see the genitive clitic =ak more then two or three times in a row (I suspect it depends on the complexity of the embedded phrases).

So, we're fucked. We're fucked if we want unambiguous parsing, we're fucked if we ever want to talk about theorems in a way that is both clear and non-circuitous in a single sentence.

Well it's probably fine. Mathematicians are getting along fine. None of this is a real problem.

[bashfullove]

❦I Died With You❦

❦Summary: the gang is over, Arthur has died, after finally arriving at John's and Abigail's doorstep, you realize how much you will now struggle without Arthur

❦Pairing: Arthur Morgan x F.Reader

❦Warnings: established relationship, no comfort what so ever, days after Arthur's death, mentions coughing of blood, character death

❦Notes: hehe >:) (we're acting like I didn't literally start crying while writing this, alright?) This is also fairly short I apologise

The crickets chirped their melody, the creakiness of the front door opening being barely heard over the never ending chirping. As quiet as a field mouse, you walk out of John's and Abigail's house on the farm. Uncle's snoring is heard even from outside but it's become white noise compared to the words in your head right now. The balled up piece of paper is tossed to the ground, a letter that you wished you could address but you never would.

You had once enjoyed the quiet and peacefulness of the night but now it was just a cold reminder of loneliness. The dry ground below you with the dead grass crunches, moths flying in the air, lured in by the lantern by the door. Looking up at the full moon, you used to love staring at it, knowing that he could see the same moon. It was special, a reminder that no matter how far, you could still be close with such a simply, maybe foolish, gesture.

Maybe living so close to someone who reminded you so much of him wasn't helping your grieving process, you could barely even utter his name without feeling yourself fall apart. The hat now on John's head the cruelest of reminders. The hat that once would be upon your head as a joke, the sound of his laughs when it would tip over your eyes.

Blaming yourself had been your worst trait lately, maybe if you did something better, or just done more. Spent more time with him or took the Thomas Downes job for him. He deserved to still be here, you wanted to take his place, you wanted to be the one who felt their lungs slowly start to fail, all if it meant that he would get one more day. One more ride, one more duel, one more sunrise...

"I'd rather die in the next hour than go a million lives never knowing you."

The words haunted you since the day you parted, the day you watched him get on the horse for his last ride. You never thought yourself important to anyone until he came into your life, he was the air that you breathed but now there is no air.

But you’d hold tightly onto those last grains of dust, desperate to keep any shred of his memory close to you. Even if most of the memories now were of his suffering, the days you spent just holding him as he suffered. Combing his hair from his sweat ridden forehead, rubbing his back when he would be coughing and wiping his mouth later of the blood, attempting to catch him before he could fall on the ground hunched over.

“What have you done to me, Arthur Morgan,” you said. The words were demanding but were hollow when paired with the sob that tore through your throat. You walked across the front yard of the house, eyes glued to the moon and the sky. You hadn't said his name since you parted from him on that mountain. Saying his name just meant more pain and more memories of the man that you once loved, and still did love.

“Have I truly lost it all? Is there any kind of up from all of this?” you whispered, a sad smile tugging on your lips and a whisper of a laugh leaving your mouth. You sniffled and cleared your voice, "I suppose not."

Unfinished conversations with Arthur still spoke words, letters that you wrote him daily now only a balled up corner in your room that he would never see. You couldn't even say your heart was breaking anymore, it didn't exist. His last breath took your heart with him to wherever he could even be now. You wished to believe that he had someone became better, that he would show up on the doorstep, that him dying was nothing but a cruel dream. But reality was cruel, he wouldn't ever come and surprise you, not anymore.

A part of you died with him that day, anyone who had known you before his death could see it.

❦Thank You For Reading❦

❦Taglist:

❦Bashfullove❦

[clawsandpaws-creativearchive]

Stockman, I shrunk the Turtles! [1]

A TMNT 2k3 Borrower AU:

In which some tiny turtles make a home in the walls of Stocktronics lab, doing their best to make Stockman's life as aggravating as possible. A wandering night guard by the name of Casey Jones stumbles across them on a supply run, and the rest is history.

(All fluff and hijinks, little to no angst.)

---

The noise cutting through the thick silence of the dark laboratory was scratchy and quiet and kind of high pitched, irregular and staccato, like someone's forgotten phone left stuck on a Youtube video. If Casey hadn't stopped to lean against the railing and itch his elbow with his flashlight he wouldn't have heard it at all, booted footfalls easily drowning it out as he marched by.

But he did, and he did.

Hadn't the Head Honcho been complaining about mice or something? Casey thought to himself, readjusting his grip on the flashlight and shutting it off as he turned to investigate. If it was mice, he didn't wanna scare 'em off too early.

Casey wasn't made for sneaking, exactly - catch him in the middle of a hockey match or Purple Dragon bashing sesh and he was graceful as a prima ballerina, he swore - but as he slid through the doorway and into the darkened break room, illuminated faintly by the blinking numbers on the microwave and the light over the sink, he managed to stay quiet enough that the mice kept squeaking away.

The source of the noise was obvious: some idiots had left some cupboard doors open, and in the dim light, Casey could just barely make out the glint off of the corners of various upended boxes and around the curves of an open peanut butter jar. No wonder they had a mouse problem!

Time to shed some light on the subject...

Like a gunslinger in the wild west, he spun the flashlight around in his hand and flicked it on, illuminating the cupboard in stark yellows and deep shadows, expecting to see little mousey eyes glinting back.

What he got instead was this:

Little green men, only a couple inches tall, frozen in terrified poses on top of and around the peanut butter jar, staring up at him. One of them had their hand shoved under the lid and appeared to be in the process of trying to yank it back out again. As the flashlight beam moved across the scene, their eyes flashed.

He'd almost think he was looking at a bunch of tiny action figures or something, if not for the way the stuck one's shoulders were moving up and down just the tiniest bit as it breathed, faster and faster in its rising alarm.

"Uh..." he said, and that shattered the moment rather decisively.

One of the ones on the ground grabbed the other by the wrist and yanked them into shadows behind the jar, and the one perched on top of the jar turned its whole body to face Casey head on, tiny face contorted in a snarl, gritted teeth and narrowed eyes that would be terrifying if its entire body wasn't as big as a fun size twix.

"Back off, big guy," it growled, and okay, that was a dude's voice. High pitched air whistling through tiny lungs, but Casey could tell. "Just forget you ever saw us and walk away and no one gets hurt."

"Raphy, get outta here," hissed arm stuck guy, giving up on the statue lifestyle and bracing his feet against the jar, tugging with all his might. "You're not gonna fight Giant Man as the Wasp, just save yourself!"

"Whoa, whoa," Casey held up both hands in the universal sign for see, no weapons, I don't hurt tiny guys, forgetting about the flashlight in the one until the shadows swallowed the cupboard again.

When he'd fumbled the flashlight back into position, the peanut butter guy was still stuck and tugging away like his life depended on it, but the growly one was gone. Vanished, kind of like a ninja.

Leaving his defenseless buddy to struggle all alone.

Casey couldn't help but feel for the little guy. He seemed genuinely scared and desperate.

"Hey, uh, little... green... man?" He said awkwardly, "Here, lemme help. I gotcha." He reached for the jar, intending on unscrewing the cap so Peanut Butter Guy could pull himself free, but as he moved forward-

Two searing points of pain on the back of his hand had him shouting and jerking it away, blinking away the shock and almost missing the growly guy flipping backwards off of his hand and over to the peanut butter jar lid.

Casey hissed and shook out the injury; was he bleeding? Yeowch.

"Thought I told you to walk away," Growly guy growled, crouching, looking all squeakily menacing. His incredibly tiny fingers were wrapped around the hilt of red thumbtacks, the points of which were glistening just the slightest bit in the beam of the flashlight. "You need another painful reminder or are you gonna follow directions like a good little guard dog?"

"Raph," the other one whined.

"I just wanted to help 'im," Casey defended himself, "Poor little guy's stuck!"

"Want me to tell you where you can shove-"

Growly's posturing was interrupted by a hand on his arm; one of the other tiny dudes, the ones that had ducked behind the jar, must have climbed up the back. "I want to hear him out, Raph," Third Guy said reasonably. "...then, if he makes a wrong move, we can get back to the stabbing."

Gee. Thanks.

They all looked at him, then. Casey even thought he saw the face of the fourth one peeking out from the darkness behind the jar.

"Listen, I-I'm not a bad guy or anything. Promise! I was only gonna unscrew the lid so your buddy here could get free. Cross my heart." He crossed his index finger over his heart to demonstrate his sincerity.

Third Guy leaned over the edge of the lid to meet Peanut Butter Guy's eyes. "Mikey?"

Peanut Butter Guy was shaking a bit, either from fear or exhaustion or both, as he hung from his single hand off the side of the jar. "'kay," he said, so quietly that Casey could barely hear it at all.

Growly stomped, brandishing his tacks like he thought they were a legitimately threatening weapon. "Give me one excuse, you overgrown bonehead, and I'll-"

"Easy, Raph," Third Guy placed a hand on the lip of Growly's shell, tugging him backwards. "Give him a chance. He can't help while we're standing here, at least, so come on."

Third Guy hopped off the peanut butter jar and Growly followed after a moment of hesitation, a leap that seemed almost disproportionate to their size. They landed on a nearby box, where Growly continued to wave his tacks around, spinning them in his teeny hands.

Okay. Guess they were doing this.

Peanut Butter Guy screwed his eyes shut as Casey's hand drew near. "S'okay, little guy, I'll be gentle," Casey assured him before shoving the flashlight between his teeth.

He grabbed the container on the opposite side of its unfortunate passenger and wrapped his palm around the lid. A slow, careful twist later, and the tiny green dude hissed and dropped, landing on the ground with an almost inaudible thump.

Between one blink and the next, Shadow Dude was at Peanut Butter Guy's side, inspecting his itty-bitty splayed fingers. It was really only then, squinting down at the two of them, that Casey realized they had three fingers on their hands. Not to mention those little round things on their backs, which almost looked like turtle shells? He just kind of stared, holding the peanut butter jar with both hands, his flashlight between his clenched teeth, a little fascinated and a lot confused.

[Where it all started.]

[more to come!]

-Jix

[sunnyisinsane]

seven several-sentence sunday. Day

Thank you @bcbdrums ! :D I uh . Got carried away . Whoops .

The sound of creaking is occasionally heard through the silence.

My view is focused on one thing though, that man, hand gripping the screw in his head. He's gotten taller since I last saw, Spirit was the tallest man in the "group". I was always forced to be around his friends, what luck that they're all faculty of this damned academy. The sound of a leg bouncing is also here, it's familiar and annoying. I'm not focusing on that though, I can see him in the corner of my eye and I wish I didn't, I've grown to hate the color red because of him. My focus is on the freak nonetheless. Nobody has said anything, just sitting silently at this table. There's stitches all over it. Suddenly, to my right he clears his throat.

"Maka's been good, she's top of her class, she's becoming a great meister!" The man exclaimed nervously.

"I don't care." I glare at my ex husband, he bites his lip, making those stupid panicked noises before looking down, nodding. I was hoping that'd be it until a different voice speaks up.

"Figures you wouldn't care, I mean...when was your last visit?" He smirks, the stitching on his cheek gets pulled back freakishly from the movement. I stand up from my seat.

"You have no right asking that! I needed to get away from this asshole over here! Mothering isn't easy!" Spirit gulps, looking at me after I say this loudly. Stein just stands up as well. "How could you know? You've never done it." He says, blankly, still smiling. As if this is funny.

"Oh, please, you couldn't even take care of a mouse! Honestly it's a wonder Spirit moved back in with you! He only did it because he needs someone to give his pathetic ass a purpose! He's only here because I left!" I slam my fist against the stitched table. .

Stein scoffs, "Spirit's a grown man, he does what he wants. You should know, you clearly couldn't please him or keep him in line."

I gasp, horrified, before I can say something Spirit stands up, embarrassed.

"Stein!"

We both don't acknowledge him, continuing on.

"Spirit is a spineless whore!"

"Kami!"

Stein snorts, but shrugs.

"Like I said, he's a grown man, he can do what he wants. It's his choice to stop acting like a child though." I cross my arms, glaring at Stein as he says this. "Okay guys you're just being mean to me now." A sad voice says underneath everything.

At this point Stein and I have gotten closer, emphasizing our words as we speak, both of our hands on the table as Spirit looks at us pitifully.

"Well he chose me over you! You're just a danger to everyone! I'm the one with the daughter with him!"

"how's that going for you?" Stein grins, looking around the room, as if to emphasize the point that Spirit lives with him again.

"I can see your soul, Stein. You're anxious, you're getting defensive and worried! You act so high and mighty but I can read you, way better than anyone could!" I say, grinning, looking at his soul, my words are true too. Stein may be able to give quick responses but he's always been threatened by me. The man's smile drops, he glances away, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Guys! Please, let's try getting along! Why don't we try resonating?" Spirit says, putting a hand between us. We both get caught off guard. It's silent for a moment before I move away from the table.

"You're so naive, so stupid, if you think I'd ever resonate with Franken Stein!"

"I'd say the same about you," Stein says as he lights his own cigarette. Spirit frowns, pouting. "That has to be the stupidest idea you've had yet." The stitched man shoots a look at Spirit as he says this.

I get up, towards the door. "For once, I agree with Stein here." Spirit's about to cry and Stein just smokes his cigarette quietly.

Then I leave.

Yeah I went a bit overboard there .thanks for the @ again bcb :D I didn't proofread this btw anywho uh

@takeyourcyanide , you . You write . Hi. I am TAGGING you btw you don't have to actually . Do these .

[ceruleanmusings]

Blood Diamond; Year Four

Year Three

@partiallypearl @myloveforhergoeson @witchofinterest @raging-violets

"Ouch! James - really, just go sit somewhere and be quiet!"

With a roll of her eyes followed by a scoff, Brooke leaned down and rubbed at her throbbing ankle. Whoever decided to get him a fire truck for last year's Hanukkah gift she needed to have a word with. She made a list for a reason! Nowhere on it were toys that could cause damage. It's why she refused any paint sets, anything sticky, Play Doh, and anything with glitter. She wasn't going to let him cause more damage in the house than he already did.

"Kids, right?" The woman in the chair next to Brooke shared with her a conspiratorial smile.

"I don't get why he can't just sit still," Brooke muttered, sitting straight once more. Her eyes slipped shut when the nimble fingers of her hairdresser started rubbing her scalp. "He always gets into something. Every time I turn my back."

"It's that age. He's about three, right?"

"Four."

"Four? Wow."

Brooke sniffed. She got that a lot. He was s till a touch on the shorter side but he was solid. She knew it well. From all the times he launched himself at her from across the room to give her a hug, nearly wiping her out. No matter how many times she scolded him or told him to be gentle, or at least not run in the house, he didn't listen.

He always wanted to give her a hug for some reason. Her personal space meant nothing to him. He crawled over her, pulled at her, clung to her, followed her around. She couldn't even get her hair cut in peace! Sterling couldn't take him, he was off to some important meeting. So he said. She didn't buy it for a second. What manager or agent would want to deal with a washed-up band of losers who never saw daylight and smelled like week-old booze sweat from the Midwest of all places? But she'd never seen him that animated before, rushing out the door with the promise that this was going to change everything.

Yeah. We'll see.

"It gets easier," the woman continued. Brooke stopped herself from asking "does it?" because it felt more to her that ever year just gave her more of the same. "Mine's seven. It's the best. By that point they're starting to get some independence and they want to be away from you. They can do things on their own without being underfoot."

"That sounds like a dream," Brooke mumbled.

"You'll make it. In the meantime, you just need to keep him occupied."

Brooke snorted. It cut through the sound of metal blades rubbing against one another and the delicious sensation of the teeth of a comb scratching against her head. "That doesn't work. He could be reading a book and the minute I walk away from him he's chasing after me asking what I'm doing and if I want to play. I'm busy running the house and keeping it clean with all the messes he makes. Of course I don't have time to play. I barely had time to come here."

Getting her hair done was a non-negotiable. It was the only time she got out of the house where she could look presentable and stay that way. The grocery store? Forget it. It was a pain trying to shop with James trying to reach for everything, asking what everything was, why people ate it or used it, and then begging to play on the little rocking fire truck at the front of the store when they checked out or begging to get a piece of gum from the machine. No and no. It was gross, dirty, germy, and she didn't want him getting gum in her hair or slobber all over her clothes.

"I'm sure you'll find the right thing in no time."

What did she know? Her kid was seven. She probably already forgot how annoying four-year-olds could be. James had to tell her everything he did that day, even if she was there to see it. And he didn't do much.

Lately all he'd been doing was watching that mouse movie over and over again. American Tail or something. His grandmother, Bubble as he called her—he misunderstood Bubbe—gifted it to him for his birthday and he wouldn't sleep until she put it on for him to watch. Over and over again, he begged and pleaded to start it over from the beginning when the credits started to roll. "Again! Again! I love Five-ul, Mommy!" Sterling would stay up with him to watch the same scenes and listen to the same songs one after another. Brooke would go to sleep. One of them would need to be rested for the next day. She needed her full eight hours of beauty sleep.

"Vroom, vroom!" James ran around the lifted chairs, hunched over a firetruck he pushed along the ground. The wheels spun and squeaked, lights flashed, and a tinny siren poured out front speakers. He pushed it around until he slammed it into the leg of the coffee table holding magazines with wrinkles and coffee rings on the once glossy covers. Plopping himself, down he grabbed two of the firefighter figures off the truck and started bouncing them up and down on the table. "Don't worry, people, I come and help you!"

"I'm sorry about him," Brooke said, her words flat. She directed a look at the back of his head but James ignored her as he extended the ladder on the back of the truck to reach the table.

"It's okay," the hairdresser said with a laugh, cutting off more hair. "We have a lot of space around here."

James took the space, running back and forth from the sinks to the table. Other women in the shop smiled at him as he passed, a couple chuckling and mentioning how cute he was. He didn't mind, having been pulled into his own world of fires and rescues. Finally, he tired himself out and flopped onto the unoccupied couch by the coffee table, clutching the figure of a firefighter in one hand and a lady in the other, bouncing them around the arm of the couch.

Brooke allowed herself to close her eyes and relax again, now that James was quiet. But the silence only lasted a few moments until she heard it.

Some-where out there, be-neath the pale moonlight Some-one's thinking of me and lov-ving me tonight Some-where out there someone's saying a prayer That we'll find one a-nother in that big some-where out there

James was slightly sharp on the higher notes but the rest—the tone, the speed, the cadence, the depth—he had on lock. He should, with all the times he'd played the tape, all the times she heard the same incessant songs. Something about that one he stuck with, though. He sang it every morning at breakfast, he sang it in the bath, sometime she found him staring out the front windows watching the mailman or dog walkers go by, singing with his nose pressed against the glass. She tuned it out at this point, like the droning voices of the fake-happy news anchors or morning talk shows who acted bright and shiny because they didn't have children to look after while they reported "feel good" puff pieces and talked to celebrities.

At least, until it was brought to her attention.

"Excuse me?" It was the woman in the chair next to her again. Her hair was folded up in sheets of foil but her bright blue eyes were trained on Brooke. "Does he always do that?"

"What? Sing?" Brooke heaved a breath. "Is he bothering you? Because—"

"No, he's not bothering me. In fact, he's great. Amazing, even!" The intensity behind the woman's eyes grew. "A voice like that out of a four-year-old? He sounds so mature. I can only imagine what he'd sound like when he gets older."

"Yes, well..."

"Is he in classes? Do you have him training with anyone?"

This time Brooke did laugh out loud. "Of course not! He's just messing around. He's just making noise."

"I think he could do more with that voice when he's not messing around. He knows what he's doing." The woman twisted to her side and it wasn't until she placed a business card in Brooke's hand that she understood what this woman was getting at and she wasn't crazy.

"You're serious," Brooke stated.

The woman nodded. "Dead serious. I have my son in singing lessons and taking classes. He's being eyed to take on the role of Oliver Twist in an upcoming stage production."

Brooke's nose winkled in a sneer. "I'm sure it's local."

"For now." The woman shrugged. "They're looking for funding to have it tour the country. And we already have meetings set up in New York—"

"Meetings?"

"Yes. He'll need headshots and training and he's getting into some model work. This guy"—the woman pointed at the glossy embossed name on the business card, sitting above the words TALENT SCOUT | VOCAL COACH—"is the best you can get in Minnesota. He knows talent. And I think your son will fit right in."

"This isn't a joke?" Or some strange ploy to get Sterling to drop more money they didn't have on another pipe dream or failed business venture.

"We just paid off two cars with the money that's been brought in." The woman shrugged again. "It gives us more leeway in case something comes up. We've been able to travel. Take more vacations. Have more time as a family..." As the woman spoke Brooke's eyes traveled the woman from head to take, taking in every piece of jewelry, every article of clothing, and those shoes. She wasn't dressed like a Minnesota mother, in sensible shirts and pants and sneakers that had no shape and certainly only existed for function. No, she dressed like she was a somebody.

And if anybody was a somebody, it was Brooke Diamond.

"...Thank you." Brooke carefully held the business card in her hand. I'll see what I can do."

Brooke's hair was finished soon after and her head swam as she scribbled her name on a check. More Leeway. Travel. Vacations. Money. The status Brooke always felt she deserved, she was entitled to. All the things her husband just couldn't provide. All just from putting James in some classes?

"James, do you like singing?" Brooke asked as she buckled him in his car seat. Thankfully he got in without a fight today. She couldn't risk sweating out her $750 expense. Sterling said she paid too much just to get her haircut. She always told him looking good was priceless. Boys just didn't understand.

James nodded, his head bouncing off the backrest of his car seat. "It's fun."

"Do you want to sing more?"

"I can sing more?" he asked, kicking his legs.

"Yes. A nice lady in there gave me a card of someone for you to meet. If you impress him, you can sing all the time and make people happy."

He stared at her in that way she found unnerving, without blinking, very focused, as if he was trying to look straight into her soul. He'd been doing that a lot lately. "...Will it make you happy, Mommy?"

"Oh yes, James, it'd make me very happy."

He smiled, showing off perfect rows of little teeth. "Then I want to sing, Mommy."

Taking his face in her hands, she placed a very light kiss to his forehead. "I was hoping you'd say that."

[sunkissedlucida]

as you were: tutoring

Young! Aegon Targaryen x Young!Reader

A/N: Part of my prequel series for my as you are fic. Thought it’d be cute seeing how these two grew to love each other.

— lighthearted, Aegon doing a study montage

Aegon could not give two dungs about history. Why does one need to study petty, dead men with too much time and power on their hands? Apparently you find it interesting.

Learning from past mistakes is fine. He just doesn't see the value of learning about the houses of Westeros for the fifth time this year. That is why the maesters gave up waking Aegon in every lecture. It's not his fault it's always the last lesson of the day.

You sit between Aegon and Aemond while Helaena sits beside her younger brother, already dozing off. You would eye the elder prince occasionally, a little concerned. There will be an upcoming test in a few weeks, and he is infamous for failing almost all of them.

After lessons are done, you stay behind to wake the sleeping Aegon. He is still hunched over the table, using his arms as pillows. No one cares to wake him up, so he's usually always left asleep in an empty study. Eventually, the guilt built up within you over time.

Aegon looks up at you, confused about what you just said after shaking him awake. You? Tutor him? Honestly, you could say he's as unsalvageable as a flaming trash heap, and he wouldn't say otherwise.

He laughs off your proposal to tutor him the whole week. He's familiar with tutors paid by his mother to "help" him. The demeaning, yelling, swatting at the knuckles, and squeezing your face until they resemble a fish are all too familiar. It's partially why he abhors the mandatory lessons.

Unfortunately, you're persistent as always. It felt like déjà vu when you started following him around until he relented to accept your offer. He almost forgot to act annoyed like he used to around you. Instead, he's embarrassed; it's not a secret that he couldn't care less about the subject, and his marks prove that. He would rather have others think he is a lazy student than an incompetent one.

You seemed almost too eager to teach him. You created a schedule for the next few weeks. Two hours of studying before dinner a few times a week. When that didn't work, you relived the old days and started following him like a fly buzzing around his ear.

Holding a book wherever you went, you would try to find the prince just to get him to study. It quickly became a game of cat and mouse, much to Aemond's amusement. Aegon curses his brother for telling you all of his hiding spots.

After the third day, you came to a compromise. He'll let you tutor him for two hours, but not in any library, study, or bedroom if you want him awake. You were quick to favor the gardens and the godswood, of course.

As you review Aegon, he would lay his head on your lap. He denies you the pleasure of knowing how soothing your voice was. It probably wasn't the best, but it was familiar and pleasant as they reverberate down to his ears.

"Did you understand?" You close your textbook to see Aegon surprisingly still awake. "You did listen, didn't you?"

He cranes his head back from where it rests on your lap. "How could I not? Your voice was the only thing keeping me from dozing off." He doesn't know when he could ever hear you speak to him like this again, so he forced himself to listen. It sounds softer, like a warm blanket.

"By that I mean the ravens must have mistaken you for a dead cat—ack!"

You give a sinister smile, choking him with your one hand as you lean over his struggling face. "And soon there will be another corpse to be fed to the ravens."

Jokes and threats aside, Aegon truly never expected you to be so encouraging and patient. Not once did you show signs of contempt when he made a mistake. Only when he wasn't taking you seriously. And when he did get it right, you praised him with a genuine expression. He wanted more of it.

"Should I give you a clue?"

"No! I got this. Give me a minute."

You smile in amusement and watch Aegon scrunch his face in concentration. You sit again by the weirwood tree, and you can tell your pupil is improving, maybe even enjoying the tutoring.

Unbeknownst to you both, shocked but thankful observers watched you occasionally, reminding them of what once was.

Alicent takes in the sight in front of her. The way you smile down at her son with a look that takes her back in time. A look one would give to someone who is beyond friendship, but a soul intertwined with theirs, even when they're not aware of it yet.

The way her eldest looks so relaxed. She knows he can't be drunk, as you've been talking in the same place for the past two hours. No, not when he looks present in the moment and laughing without the need of vice.

She almost forgot there was another by her side, just as in awe.

"They seem to be getting along well," Rhaenyra says, not looking away from the two. "It would be a shame to disrupt them."

The queen nods. "Rarely do we have peace within these walls. Let's give them a few more minutes." She turns to her old friend. "Come, supper can wait a little longer."

Rhaenyra agrees and follows her.

When the exam was a few days away, Aegon started to feel the pressure. The weight of all your efforts was too heavy for him to ignore. He had to do well in this test, and thus he studied past your schedule. He would read long texts to bed, with hidden books scattered in his chambers so the maids wouldn't see them. While you thought he was sleeping as usual, he would mentally answer every question during History. Because he was too embarrassed to ask you, he went to the library to search for a particular book himself.

"Aegon?"

Aegon jumps at the sound of your voice, almost dropping the book in his hands. He scrambles for an answer, but you're more curious what he's searching for. He's never been in the library willingly.

"Why didn't you tell me you needed something?"

"Well, uh, I thought you were too busy."

You try to peek at the book he's holding, but he hides it behind his back. "Busy? I have more free time than the castle's gargoyles. Why do you think I wanted to teach you so badly?"

So that's why you started wanting to spend time with him; was he just a pass time to you?

He scoffs, ignoring the pang in his chest. "So you were just bored. Like you actually cared if I failed this test or not."

You shake your head and step closer to him. He backs up slightly but stands his ground.

"When did I say I didn't care about you?" You ask.

"You didn't have to. Who you choose to spend your time with says enough."

He eyes you accusingly, but the lump in his throat bobs as you lean closer to him.

"And the hours I willingly spent with you aren't enough of a statement?"

He is at a loss for words, holding his breath and stilling his rampant heartbeat.

His reaction lets you reach around and grab the book. It's one you have already.

"Sheesh, you really should have asked me first if you needed something."

You bet your ass he took a few glasses before the test. His nerves have never been this bad for, well, anything. Of course, you can smell the alcohol on him like a bloodhound. You can't say you didn't expect it.

"How much?" You ask

Aegon shifts his eyes from the scrolls to you. "Huh?"

"How much did you drink?"

He shrugs, looking down. "Just two?"

"Bottles?"

"No, no, cups."

His leg continues to bounce anxiously, as he knows it will be his turn in the oral examination after Aemond.

'Seven hells. Maybe I should've drank more,' he thinks.

You place a hand over his knee, pausing his overthinking.

"You'll be fine, Aegon," you say, eyes focused on his shifty, purple ones. "Just take a deep breath and focus on nothing but the question."

Aegon can hear the door open and his name being called. He squeezes the same place you put your hand, praying to the gods he won't fail you, before standing from his seat.

No one is allowed to watch an undergoing exam. Like in the one you took before Aegon, he will only have the strict teacher sit before him. The room was so quiet, your ears rang in every pause. Being a great friend with nothing better to do, you wanted to check up on him. The Red Keep is luckily full of windows.

You finally reached the outside of the castle. Ducking under the windowsill, you eavesdrop the two men inside. You could hear the shuffling of parchments and the nasally, pretentious voice of Maester Stephas.

"...Explain in 5 minutes or less. Begin."

You peek over the ledge, spotting Aegon looking like he's about to shit a brick. His wild eyes find your head poking out from the window behind the old man.

"I'm not getting any younger, my prince," the Maester drawls with his waspish tongue. He doesn't even look up from the paper.

Aegon swallows thickly. He glances at you again. You jut your chin out mockily copy the way the elder speaks.

He bites back a laugh and returns to answering the question.

"What are you doing?"

You almost land on your bottom. Looming above you is your dear friend, who looks unfazed by whatever shenanigans you're up to. You shush Aemond and pull him down to a crouch. You both peek at Aegon, who is still reciting.

"You know it is against the rules to help each other on a test, even someone as hopeless as him," Aemond whispers.

"I'm not helping," you say defensively. "I'm supporting."

"By breaking the rules."

"Oh, you must be in torture," You groan, not looking away from the scene.

His head turns to you. "What?"

"From having a stick up your arse."

He sighs as if he is in deep pain. Not physically, but the mental toll of your friendship is getting to him.

"I forget uncle also raised you."

The day Aegon got his exam results, he felt a pit in his stomach. Scribbled on the paper was a barely passing grade on something you both studied so long for. He worked hard for once, and it wasn't even enough to be satisfactory. Just the bare minimum. He felt like a failure, but you thought otherwise.

"This is great!" You beamed at him. "Good job, Aegon."

"Wha..?"

Did you have too much to drink this time? The last time he checked, you had the eyesight of an archer. But now, you see the clear evidence of his incompetence in History, and you're still congratulating him for it.

Aegon looks around even though he knows you're the only two people in the study hall. He didn't want anyone else to know his results if it went bad, but he has to make sure.

...

Aegon points to himself. "You know I'm not Aemond, right?"

"Uh, yeah? I'm just proud you did your best."

He ignores his heart skip a beat. "Did you start having a taste for strongwine because we're clearly not seeing the same thing. This," he shoves the paper in your face, "was a waste of our time, your time. I really tried, (y/n), truly. The best I could do, and it—it wasn't enough."

He promptly turns around, not letting you see how affected he is. He should be used to failing by now, he thought, but the way you were so supportive made him believe, for a moment, he could be capable of something. Something enough to be proud of.

"I'm sorry."

You stare at the usually carefree prince. You step closer, gently holding his forearm and turning his body to face you.

"Hey." You tilt your head, but he avoids your gaze. "Fail or not, you chose to work for something you know where your strengths do not lie. I thought it was courageous of you."

He scoffs. "Yeah, like I slayed a mighty beast with my bare hands. How courageous."

"If anyone is closest to a beast, it would be Maester Stephas."

Aegon lets out a snort. You and him call the grey-haired tyrant of a teacher that for a reason. Just once, he wishes to defend himself against his vicious words. One too many times the old troll insulted him in front of you and his siblings. If only he had the sharpness of tongue as does a sword.

"It's four marks past a failing grade."

"And it's four marks above the expectations of anyone who's doubted you." You give a reassuring squeeze on his shoulder with your other hand. "Plus, it was partially my fault. We talked about almost everything other than history these past few weeks, so I'm happy for your results."

"You are?" His skin feels warmer where you're holding him. Did you always have that crinkle in your eye when you smile?

"Of course. I'm proud of you, egg."

"Egg?"

You nod. "Short for Aegon. Egg. It's cute."

He gives you a deadpan look. "Your brain must be as smooth as an egg to have thought of that."

His remark doesn't dissuade the wide smile on your face.

"Since you did so well, we must celebrate over a drink tonight. Right, egg? My treat." You head for the exit, knowing he'll be following suit.

He tails behind you. "Stop calling me that."

"Okay, Egg."

He mutters, “Egghead.”

[idontunderstandchemistry]

Uncomfortable - Tim Drake (3/3)

Summary: [...] "Are you saying you are afraid of me?" "I wouldn't say afraid" Dick said, trying to sound casual "It's just the way you've been talking about everything these days. It makes everyone feel..." "Uncomfortable?" Tim asked, with a bitter grin, finally turning towards Dick "The probable consequences of what you all say and do to me make you uncomfortable, Dick?" [...] Extremely hurt Tim Drake living out of coffee and spite.

Wordcount: 2569

Content Warning: Fear Toxin effects; distorted views of reality; swearing; self harm; failed suicide attempt, non-lethal firegun use.

Notes: So... last planned chapter. Maybe I'll write an epilogue about what happens after the events of this chapter, please let me know if you guys would like that. Enjoy!

Reblogs and likes are very much appreciated ❣️

Taglist: @a-night-2-remember @ur--mommy @siminnmsis @neobreakmyback @iceandfireblog

Part 1 - Part 2

My Ao3 account

CHAPTER 3 - THE BOOK

Red Robin must have known this would happen. He just couldn’t ever have guessed that Scarecrow’s fear toxin would feel like fifteen cans of Monster injected directly in his veins, especially since he was severely sleep deprived. If his mind was still rational, he wouldn’t have run away, but the moment he saw the shiny edge of the antidote syringe coming in his direction on Red Hood’s hand, he couldn’t avoid kicking the hooded man between his legs and running. 

The motherfucker was built like a fucking wardrobe, he certainly could outspeed him with a little effort. Well, he did. He wouldn’t ever allow Jason with any sharp object near him again. 

To be honest, it was actually very stupid of Bruce to pair him with Jason on patrol. Tim would never trust a 6’4’’ killing machine full of pit madness and with a history of trying to murder him. Of course, recently Jason wouldn’t hurt a fly and wouldn’t do anything but smoke during patrol, but Tim was ‘safe asleep’ the first time Jason tried anything. Better safe than sorry. 

Running down some dark streets of the narrows, his heartbeat resembled a movie he saw the other day to keep himself awake. Something about war, probably about Iraq or something, he couldn’t really pay attention to it. However, the bullet sounds and his heartbeat was in the same rhythm.

Non-stopping.

Nervous.

Maniac.

Feral.

He could almost smell the blood. That was when he hid in a dark alley and looked at his hands. Covered in broken glass like sprinkles on a milkshake. He didn’t remember falling or breaking any glass, but maybe this was when he grabbed the syringe from Jason’s hand and ran away. Maybe he broke it with his grip.

— There you are… — The voice of the kid echoed on the alley, reverberating on Tim’s eardrums — What the fuck is wrong with you? Why can’t you simply be gone? We’ve been trying to get rid of you for the past few years! Can’t you simply get a hint?

— What? — Tim asked, feeling trapped like a mouse. Another pair of footsteps. Not too heavy to be Bruce’s or Jasons, not light enough to be Duke’s, Cass’ or Steph’s. Dick. 

— You’ve been a rock on our shoes — The older said, he and the youngest came to the light, but the shadows strangely danced around them like they were made of shadows. — How can someone be so fucking stupid? I fired you! We don’t want you here!

— Get away from me! — Tim exclaimed, looking around for something to defend himself. His hands became tight in fists and he shivered. A beer bottle. That would do.

— So fucking useless, all covered in glass, filled with fear — Robin  said, laughing.

— If you step in my direction again, I’ll tear my face with glass, and then you’ll fucking see something that will leave you awake for the rest of your life, your little shit! — Red Robin exclaimed, breaking the bottom of the bottle and getting it close to his face.

— Do it, you prick — Nightwing said and for an instant, Tim let him win. There was a small cut on his cheekbone now. Nightwing tried to get close again and he grabbed a smoke bomb in his belt, throwing it on the ground and escaping again. 

Knowing Nightwing and Robin, they would never guess he simply jumped into the sewer and would rather meet Killer Croc’s ugly face and big teeths than any of them.

[Red Robin, do you copy?] Batman’s voice echoed in the sewers. 

— Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck — Tim said to himself, already knowing of the secret trackers on the communicators. He quickly got it out of his ear and threw it on the ground, jumping on top of it in a desperate attempt to not be tracked. — Fuck you all. 

Gotham’s sewers were Daedalus’ Labyrinth with a special touch: several criminal hideouts, maniac graffiti on every other wall and an unmistakable scent of death and shit. And the shadows and echoes were really giving a spice to the toxin. Scarecrow should really consider moving his operations base to the sewers. Or his labs. Maybe his testing rooms. 

Tim just knew that right now he looked like that skinny rat from Flushed Away and he certainly smelled a little bit like one. That was when he heard that laugh and damn, he got a taste of his own poison. Fuck, his spine was pure shiver ans bone dust pressed together. 

He needed a way out of the sewers before Joker could find him. There was simply no way he would allow that fucker to get him under his power again. No fucking way. 

Getting out of the sewers. Tim realised it must have passed sometime since he ran from Nightwing and Robin. The night was much colder now and he was shivering. His heart slammed his chest with a brutality he shouldn’t expect from such a controlled person. After shutting the sewers again, he heard Jason’s stinky voice again.

— Hey there, fucker! — Red Hood screamed and laughed. Tim looked at him as saw the rifle in his hand. That was okay. He had a broken bottle and if he was going to leave this world, it was going to be on his own terms.

— FUCK YOU! — Tim screamed back before bringing the broken bottle close to his neck, exactly upon the scar that Jason gave him years before — I’m finishing the job way better than you did.

Before he could drag the broken glass through his throat, he fell. He didn’t even hear the sound of the shoot, just saw a man in a suit with a sniper rifle on a window across the street while he was falling. The man sighed and Tim finally could distinguish him from the shadows. Alfred was involved in this fucking hunting too? 

***

Tim woke up feeling his feet hot. That was weird, his feets were cold as a corpse, so why the fuck they were hot right now? He couldn’t formulate an hypothesis. His eyes were still shut and he felt well. He couldn’t remember the last time he slept so well. Maybe, if he pretended to be asleep, this moment could last forever. Then he felt a soft grip on his hand and whimpered a little with pain. What the fuck? Why was his hand hurting? He felt weight shifting on top of him, like someone was lying on his lap and then sat up on the bed. 

— Drake? — Damian’s voice asked in a low, worried tone. Tim forced himself to open his eyes and then Damian’s eyes widened. The young boy bent over his brother’s leg and patted someone’s head lightly — Father, wake up. Drake opened his eyes.

Still staring at Damian, with little to no energy to look around, Tim heard the usual sound of Bruce waking up - almost nothing, just confusion in the air - and some footsteps approaching.

— Why are you on top of me? — He finally asked while Bruce hugged him tightly — And Damian. And is that Titus on my feet?

— You’re up! — Steph’s excited voice exclaimed, getting closer and holding his other hand. She sighed and he could see how preoccupied she had been. Her eyes never lied to him, she’d been crying — Thank god.

— You’ve scared us, Master Timothy — Alfred said, approaching the bed with Jason and Cass — I hope you can forgive me for the shot, but I’m this family's best sniper and you on the Fear Toxin move like a speedster. 

— What happened?

— We were on patrol and Scarecrow got us with that fucking gas of his — Jason said — Thankfully for my mask, i didn’t breath it in, but you did. I tried to apply the antidote and you kicked my balls, broke the syringe and ran away. I guess we’re even now, right?

— Then little D and I found you in an alley and you threatened yourself with a broken bottle — Dick said. He was standing behind Bruce with Duke. 

— And Miss Cassandra followed you into the sewers and manipulated you to get to our abduction point where Master Jason distracted you while I shot you with a tranquiliser dart — Alfred said — You’ve slept for almost three days. 

— That still doesn't explain what he is doing on top of me — Tim replied as Bruce finally let go of him.

— I… wanted to make sure you were breathing — Damian said, embarrassed, but the embarrassment wasn’t enough to make him get off of Tim. Somehow, Tim didn’t want him to. It felt mostly nice, like an weighted blanket

— Fucking liar — Jason said — He was worried with you. This little brat hasn’t showered since you were put in this bed. Stinky baby.

— Go find something useful to do, Todd — Damian spat, angrily.

— For god’s sake, can’t you guys try to be nice for once? — Duke said — Do you want something, Tim? I can bring you some water or those snacks you like, do we still have them Alfred?

— For sure, Master Duke…

Tim’s chest was filled with a crippling sensation as his eyes got warmer and his sight blurry because of the water accumulating on his eyeline.

— Timbo? — Dick asked, breaking the silence when everyone just stared at Tim’s tears rolling down his cheeks. 

Nobody said nothing until Stephanie, silently, cradled his head on top of her cleavage and, through her shirt, he could hear her heart. She kissed the top of his head and he felt two tiny arms embracing his waist and a head laying on his stomach. While he cried, Tim only got the energy to gently stroke Damian’s hair and feel his hot tears soaking his shirt. 

— I’m… i’m sorry guys I should have — Tim started to say, trying to find the words and failing miserably.

— Sssh… its okay, little bird — Dick said, touching his upper arm, smiling tenderly.

— We should let you rest — Bruce said, silently drying one of his tears.

Steph stepped away and Cass kissed Tim’s forehead while Bruce tried to take Damian off of Tim, unsuccessfully.

— Please don’t leave me alone — Tim said, almost in a whisper, when he realised his family was starting to walk away.

— You’re not going to be alone, Tim — Jason said, dragging a chair closer to the bed — If you don’t mind, I’d like to stay here. Gotta finish this book and I don’t really feel like walking downstairs. Little brat seems to want to stay here too.

— Yes! Get off, baba! I’m not leaving — Damian said, annoyed, to Bruce, that simply gave up.

— We’ll be back in some time — Bruce said, looking at his son. His hand reached to Tim’s cheek and gently rubbed it, extra tenderly over his little cut. Tim felt his heart so warm that he felt he could die if he leaned his face towards Bruce’s hand, but he did it anyway. He needed that affection more than anything — We love you, Tim. I mean it. 

Tim said nothing, just bit his lower lip ashamed of his behaviour in the previous weeks, completely conscient that it wasn’t his fault. Not completely, you can’t really blame yourself for your reactions when you’re as depressed as he is, but  it never stopped him from blaming himself either way. 

“What if we go get bat-burgers for the whole family and then come back and eat it here with Timmy?” Cass suggested.

— Brilliant idea, Cass! — Duke exclaimed — Last one in the car will have to wear a pointy-eared crown and imitate Bruce the whole way!

Like this, Cass and Duke stormed out of Tim’s bedchambers, followed by Bruce.

— I want veggie nuggets! — Damian exclaimed, his head still buried on Tim’s stomach.

— And I want a Poison-shake, please — Jason said, starting to open his book.

— Noted. Riddler combo for you, son? — Bruce asked, and Tim nodded lightly.

— Well, I would appreciate a little help with the laundry while we await for Master Wayne to come back — Alfred said.

— I can help! — Steph said, getting closer to the elder.

— I’ll pick the Gordon’s up, they wanted to know the moment you woke up — Dick said, getting closer and messing Tim’s hair — You’ve got us worried, little wing. But everything is going to be okay now, ok? We are going to take care of you, liking it or not.

— I’d like it very much, thanks — Tim got to say, half smiling, before Dick left.

Once the elder brother got out of the bedchamber, Tim felt Damian’s grip on his clothes get tighter.

— Hey — He said, trying to get the boy calmer — Hey, you’re going to suffocate if you keep your head buried on my stomach. 

— I can hold my breath for almost eight minutes — Damian said, but ended up looking up at Tim — I’m sorry I’m not a very good brother. I’m working on myself and trying to be more approachable and kind, but I’ve always felt like you don’t like me and you wanted Robin back and…

— I’d never take Robin away from you — Tim interrupted the boy, holding him by his shoulders — I don’t want it back, and, if my opinion means anything, I think you make a pretty good Robin.

To be honest with himself, when he was saying that, Tim was pretty sure he didn’t mean it and was just saying what he wanted to have heard from Jason when they met. However, when Damian almost smiled and hugged him again, laying with his head looking towards Jason, Tim knew he actually thought that of him. The resentment and the pain were just too strong for him to get to say that without hearing Damian apologising first.

— What are you reading? — Tim asked Jason, still playing with Damian’s hair while the younger boy simply laid calmly on top of his older brother.

Jason looked up from his book and showed the cape to his brothers.

“Little fires everywhere” 

— Would you… 

— No, I don’t mind. Reading it for my baby brothers will please me very much. — Jason said. After adjusting himself on the chair, he started — Sometimes you need to scorch everything to the ground and start over. After the burning the soil is richer, and new things can grow. People are like that, too

Listening to Jason’s voice while playing with Damian’s hair, Tim could only realise, as Titus shifted position on his feet, that this was the first time he was alone with them and didn’t feel the unsettling need to run away. Finally he had peace, at least for a while. Maybe, whoever wrote this book was right.

After burning, the soil is richer, and new things can grow .

The Fear Toxin certainly was the fire that had burned Tim to the ground, and now that he was aware of that, he was richer, and new things could grow on him.

He took a deep breath and felt every centimetre of his body relax, melting under Damian’s weight. 

For the first time in months, Timothy Jackson Drake-Wayne did not fight when sleep came sneaking into his eyes. He let himself be put to sleep by his big brother’s voice and his baby brother’s hugs. 

Tim Drake stared sleepy at the ceiling of the room where some days ago, Red Robin fighted to stay awake. Tim Drake closed his eyes and let the sands of Morpheus guide him to the unconsciousness, knowing he did not have to fight anymore.

End notes: I don't care what everyone else says, Damian is a cuddly baby and is trying to be a better person. The following day, when Tim wakes up, Jason comes up to him, a bit shy, and hands him a card of this psychologist he knows and recomends Tim to try it because it helped him a lot after everything that happened. Also, in my mind, everyone in the batfamily will be in therapy and the one recomending it will be Jason because I said so. I know this chapter isn't as well written as the others, I think that it is mostly because I'm not used to write "action" scenes, my writing is more "character development" focused, but I couldn't get to the point I wanted without the whole chase scene, so... Well, anyways, I hope you guys have enjoyed it! Please, let me know your opinions about it, if i missed any important tag or things to work on future revision! Stay hydrated, wear sunscreen and seek professional help if you relate to any symptom exibited by Timmy here. Remember, you're not alone and looking for help is the bravest thing you can do!