#the day maddie defeated doug

[thewanderingace]

Evan Buckley + The Significant Objects in his Coma Dream

9-1-1 6x11 "In Another Life"

[mxnightdaydreamerx]

Crossover Story Ideas

Crossover story ideas that I may or may not write but they're all also up for adoption if you ask.

MDZS x BNHA Jiang Cheng kills himself and is reincarnated in the BNHA world. The only issue is that while he grows up, his memories begin resurfacing causing him issues. WWX, LZ, JL, etc. are all immortal so they're all still alive and have been mourning him until they see him in the news or something and come to make up for the past.

MDZS x BNHA Bakugo Mitsuki adopted Xue Yang after he was injured by a hero during a villain attack and left to die. Xue Yang grew a resentment for heroes after the event (except for a select few). Mainly just Mitsuki and her gremlin children.

Genshin Impact x BNHA The archons are still followed and regarded by the public although no one has seen a single one in years. The archons all came to an agreement to not interfere in human affairs as they had to learn on their own. Nahida hates this but knows that because they all made contracts with Morax, she can't break the deal. Instead, she goes into Aizawa's dreams and helps lead him that way so that he can make sure that there class 1a doesn't suffer loses during the war and AFO is defeated.

The Black Phone x 9-1-1 Hating the empty nest (and Buck), Margaret and Phillip decided to have another child, Vance, when Buck was around 13-14. Buck did his best to care for his little brother the same way that Maddie did for him but by the time he was 18, he had to leave. He sent postcards to Vance the same way he did to Maddie but their parents move and he is unable to find the address so they stop. Because of Doug, Maddie doesn't have contact with her family. Vance began acting out because of the neglect from his parents and ultimately when he fails to show up at school or home for a few days, they just brush it off as him being rebellious. After a week of him not showing up, they assume he ran away and move back to Pennsylvania. After the kids (who all survive) escape from the grabber, no one is able to contact Vance's parents. The other victim's parents are all willing to take him in but for it to happen they need to meet with Vance's family so they can relinquish custody of him. It's during this meeting that Buck and Maddie learn for the first time that there brother had even been missing.

Duty After School x Weak Hero Class After realizing how much time he spent alone, Bora pseudo adopted Sieun as her little brother, even if he didn't want it. When she found out the truth about the spheres, the first thing on her mind was making sure that Sieun was safe. Instead of the science school students breaking into their hideout, it's a group of freshmen asking for help. It's revealed that all the refugee centers were attacked and anyone who was able was put through last minute training and forced to join the military. Sieun had been at the hospital with Sooho and his grandmother when the spheres began attacking and was separated from the two.

Outerbanks x 9-1-1 When Maddie was still in HS, she got pregnant with Doug's baby. A few weeks left until her labor and she gets into a car accident. She's told the baby didn't make it but later learns that's a lie. After the pogues come back after being stranded on an island for 6 weeks, it is revealed that Luke is gone. CPS investigates and finds out that Luke wasn't even JJ's real dad and find out that his real parents are Maddie and Doug and he is sent to live with Maddie.

Six of Crows x 9-1-1 x Weak Class x Outer Banks The LA firefighters are entering a program to where inmates will become temporary firefighters in order to earn time off of their sentences. As this is the first time that 118 is participating, they're giving juveniles as a trail so they can learn what to do and what not to do. Sieun, JJ, Ilha, and Jesper are all added into the program.

Kinnporsche x Manner of Death The story of Manner of Death but if Tan was the second youngest/youngest Theerapanyakun and had their backing the whole time. (would take place at beginning of MOD and middle to end of KP)

KP x My Beautiful Man Gun knew how his brother operated so he had a fail safe plan in motion. While he had Venice who was only a baby, he had another child hidden in Japan, Kiyoi, who would become his heir if both Vegas and Macau failed him. Before he can set his plan in motion, he is killed in the raid and Vegas is put in a coma. Before Macau can get to Kiyoi, Korn learns of his existence and brings him to the house essentially trapping him not knowing this now puts him at the mercy of Hira.

Genshin x BNHA Kingdom AU! where lumine is the abyss princess and aether is presumed dead (or in a coma). her kingdom has been all but destroyed after it was ravaged by afo and his army. teyvat and ua used to be aligned but after lumine learned that all might knew about afo's impending attack the entire time and did nothing to warn a single kingdom so they could also prepare, she cut all ties with the kingdom. years later when his kingdom was on the brick of collapsing and when afo began resurfacing again, all might tries to send a few of his loyal subjects to persuade lumine for assistance as she successfully rebuilt her kingdom.

Genshin x BNHA Dottore tried to emulate the portals the traveler was able to make but messed up along the way. His mess up, however, allowed for him to travel between worlds where he met with and aligned with afo who he worked with on his experiments and vice versa. because of the constant use of their portals, the two worlds end up collapsing into each other and the citizens have to learn how to not only survive but also if it's possible to fix things.

[princessfbi]

➥: nap and/or +: being led back to bed with patient whispers? Maybe with some Buckley sibling feels?

And finally... because Tortured Musician Buck wouldn’t have been a thing without you participating in the last prompt game... I give you a bonus scene if you will.

➥: nap and/or +: being led back to bed with patient whispers? 

Sometimes, Maddie couldn’t even believe it. Couldn’t believe that she’d finally left him. Couldn’t believe that she got out. That she got Buck out. That she’d worked up the courage to pack a bag, grabbed her brother, and ran as far away from Hershey as possible. 

She didn’t have a choice. Seeing Buck, her baby brother, looking at her so broken and so defeated had been the final straw. 

“Well, what about music? Your guitar?” She had asked and felt her heart rip to pieces at the quiver of his lip. 

“They sold it, Mads,” Buck had said. “When I went to school, Mom had Dad take it to a pawn shop. I-It’s gone. I’m so sorry!”

Buck was eighteen and in the eight years she’d left him alone with their parents, they’d all but destroyed the layers of self worth he had and she vowed in that emergency room then and there that she wasn’t going to leave him with them for one more second. If she couldn’t leave for herself then she would leave for Buck. She would leave for them. 

Maddie was just thankful she’d been able to buy it again before someone else had. It’d taken her engagement ring and three hundred dollars but she had a feeling the pawn shop owner had been able to sense her panic and taken pity on her rather than advantage. 

Maddie couldn’t even begin to imagine what would’ve happened if she hadn’t been able to get Buck’s guitar back. He’d held onto it with tight fingers for nearly four states before she’d convinced him it would be safe in the back of the jeep with their meager belongings. 

And when they finally decided on LA, they’d hit the ground running. They’d found a small apartment, it was only one bed room but it was more than enough for the two of them, and she’d been able to find a job at a 9-1-1 dispatch center that would leave her anonymous but still useful. 

They’d been there, in their new lives, for a few months now and Maddie was doing better but some nights were hard. Some nights she couldn’t sleep and she found herself staring out the window down at the street half expecting to see Doug or her parents storming into their world and trying to take it away. 

“Mads?” Buck called, shuffling into the living room where she was curled up on the couch. 

Buck had been forced to swallow a lot of bitter pills for so many years that the first fresh air he got had ended with him getting a cold. It was like when those people who take vitamin C supplements every day suddenly stop and their immune system collapsed. Buck’s had been kind of similar. Too much pent up stress and anxiety had left him congested and sniffly and Maddie had bullied him into taking the bed until he got better. 

His nose was pink and made his bed head look even softer in the wild fluff of his curls. He rubbed a hand over his chest and coughed, low and deep and thick enough that Maddie winced in sympathy. 

“What are you doing up?” She asked. “Does your chest hurt?”

Buck cleared his throat and coughed again as he nodded. She unfolded from her curl and met him half way before she steered him back towards the bedroom. 

“C’mon,” she said. “Back in bed. Try and sleep a few more hours and then I’ll go get you some congestion medicine in the morning.”

Buck had knocked back the last of the cold meds they’d had only a few hours before. It was a testament to how bad he really felt that he didn’t even fight her as she pushed him back onto the mattress and tucked him in under the quilt she’d taken from the guest room in the house she and Doug were going to share. When money wasn’t so tight she was going to get a new one and throw out everything that he’d ever touched so she never had to see it again. 

“Just try and sleep, Buck,” she said as she brushed back his curls and hummed through the nerves of their newfound freedom. 

[crazybagelbitch]

6. “This is ridiculous, how are you not sick and I am?”

Look at me remembering that I used to write for Madney.

"This is ridiculous, how are you not sick and I am?" Maddie asks with a huff, rubbing at her cracked red nose with a tissue for maybe the seventieth time that day-- not that she's being dramatic.

"Well, considering I've pulled two 24 hour shifts in a row," he says with a sly yet sympathetic smile, "so my daughter saw more of you than she did me while she was fighting off this thing... and let us remember I offered to take off work so you wouldn't be stuck with her but nooooooooooo you said that--"

"Being a nanny means getting stuck with the hard days, too, I know what I said," she snarls, huffing again which just leads to another coughing fit.

And she had meant it, too, even if it royally sucks to have caught his two year old's cold. Being a nanny at age 35 was not her plan at night but she was too afraid to go back to work in a hospital in fear of Doug or one of his friend's strolling into the emergency room, and Buck had mentioned that his coworker was a single father looking for a nanny... and Chimney just so happened to be nice enough to pay her under the table in cash so Doug, or a private investigator should he be crazy enough for that, couldn't track her down that way. So while less than ideal considering she has a nursing degree and would much rather be using it, it's the best deal she could get considering her on the run from her abusive ex situation.

And besides, it gives her a way to sort of live out her hopeless dreams of motherhood and not feel like she's completely missed out on it since she married Doug and now is likely towards the end of her fertile window. Of course, it's not the same thing. She knows she isn't Mara's mother, but it's another best deal she's ever going to get situation.

"Look, you're not in any state to drive yourself home," Chimney sighs, "you're late and you're sick as hell. You can have my bedroom and I'll take the couch for tonight. Or better yet, I'll sleep on the floor in Mara's bedroom because now you're off the clock and sick toddler duty is once again my job."

"No, it's fine, I can drive," she says stubbornly, suddenly feeling self conscious about the redness in her face and the sweat that is probably wreaking havoc on her hair.

"Yeah, I don't want to take any chances with that," he says warily, "just take my bed for tonight, it's no big deal. It's the least you deserve for absorbing all of my two year old's germs."

"But--"

"Maddie, please? I don't want anything to happen to you."

"...Well nothing would, but I guess I can stay over if it would make you feel better."

"I'll take it," he laughs, throwing his head back and it's probably just the mild fever that she's sporting but for a moment she feels all warm inside as opposed to the chills that she's been battling all day, "now, bedtime for you, young lady."

"You're only two years older than me, don't young lady me," she protests, but she finds herself grinning back at him as she clumsily makes her way off of his couch.

"Would you rather me call you old lady?" he teases, smiling that brilliant smile of his at her-- wait, when did she start to think of it as brilliant; this cold is really messing with her head.

"How about you just call me Maddie," she says, stammering a bit which just makes Chimney cock his head at her and oh, there's that warm feeling again when she notices how well his burnt orange sweater compliments his skin tone, he looks really... no. Stop it, Maddie.

"Alright, suit yourself. Sleep well, Maddie. Wake me if you need anything, I'll probably be up most of the night anyway. It's a miracle you got my sick toddler to sleep in the first place."

"I-I won't need anything, it's just a cold and I'm 35."

"So stubborn," he laughs, and it's annoying yet somehow endearing how he's never afraid to call her out on that, hypocritical as it is given he's also one of the least likely persons to ever admit defeat, "well then, don't get me if you need anything. Just suffer, I guess."

"Idiot," she snorts, which turns into a disgustingly big sneeze and Chimney laughs his whole journey down the hall and into Mara's room.

God damn it. She'll have to think of something witty to say in the morning, when she has breakfast with Mara and her handsome father.

Stop it, Maddie.

Her fever must be higher than she thought.

[katelides]

Walking on sunshine - Bechloe Mini Fic pt 9

The next morning arrives sooner than anyone would want. Chloe is sleeping on a bench at the airport where she had arrived the night before so she could leave Italy and let her sister finally have the wedding she deserves.

The PA system blasts a new announcement through the speakers; Last call for departure flight 2901 to Atlanta, immediately boarding at Gate 3.; startles Chloe to instantly wake up. The redhead looks over at the screen, still slightly disoriented from her sleep, feeling horrible, knowing she would not be able to make it in time.

Chloe hears a familiar voice and sits up straight to see where it’s coming from. “This plane… Onward… Whoa!” The young woman looks down in defeat when she sees Fat Amy being pushed in her direction by the 3 pilots that were at Maddie’s bachelorette party last night.

“Stop, stop. Doors to manual, emergency.” The blonde shouts and the three men instantly oblige. When Amy gets up one of the pilots tries to stop her. Amy shrugs her shoulders and says: “Ciao, bello.” (Bye, beautiful.) And leaves the three disappointed pilots behind to go check on her friend.

Chloe barely dares to look up, knowing that Fat Amy, as chaotic as she might be, is very loyal to other friends, and will not go down without a fight. The two look at each other for a solid minute, waiting for the other to start the conversation. 

Amy is the first one to break the silence. “You are in love with her.” She says with a heavy sigh, knowing that Chloe would push everything she knows and feels aside to make sure her sister is happy.

When Chloe breaks down in heavy sobs, the blonde let out a sigh. “Oh, C,…” She walks up to her and sits down, the redhead scotching over to give the blonde some more space.

“I've made a… small fortune writing books about love. I feel like I should have some wisdom to impart. All I can think is 50 different ways to say orgasm.” 

Chloe snorts at the funny moment of honesty coming from her friend. Knowing that the blade does not do serious conversations or real emotions.

With a heavy sigh, Amy turns to face her best friend and collects her thoughts, something she has never done before. “Everything I know about real love I’ve learned from you and Maddie. You know, you’ve got me through some really tough times, and I know you two have had it tougher than most. But we’ve always got through it together. We’ve always had each other, haven’t we?”

Chloe nods, looking Fat Aly straight in the eyes. The blonde was right, they had been through a lot together.

“When your mum dies… Maddie told me that what really broke her heart was that your mum would never be on your wedding day.” Amy continues. “You’ve done the hard part now. Don’t you wanna be there for her?”

Chloe thinks about it, sits ups straight, and wipes away her tears. She grabs her bag and puts it around her shoulder. “Well, how long have we got?” She asks with straight determination in her voice.

Fat Amy’s face breaks into a huge smile and looks down at her watch. The face of pure excitement turns to one of horror when she sees what time it is. “Shit!” She gets up and starts running towards the exit, with Chloe right behind her.

The two are running through the airport like two madwomen. Trying to get to a taxi as soon as possible. “Hey, little sister, what have you done?” Amy asks while they keep running, pointing any blame at the young girl.

Meanwhile, Maddie wakes up with a terrible hangover, clutching a picture of Beca in her hands. “Hey, little sister, who’s the only one?” She questions Beca’s picture. When she realises what time it is she jumps up in a panic, knowing she’s late… very late… to her own wedding.

Somewhere up in the dunes, a stripper in police uniform sits up. “Hey, little sister, who’s your superman?” He asks. 

Revealing a second stripper sitting up next to him, covered in kisses who says: “Hey, little sister, who’s the one you want?”

In between the two men, Titziana sits up with a smile almost as big as her face saying: “Hey, little sister, shotgun!” As she says that she pulls the two men into her boozems.

At the same time, Chloe and Amy are in a taxi on their way to the church. “It’s a nice day to start again,” Amy says while trying to zip up Chloe’s bridesmaid's dress. Chloe stares out of the back window, guilt still eating her alive.

At the church, people are slowly walking in, excitedly chatting about. “It’s a nice day for a white wedding.” You hear many whispers, as none know any of the drama that had ensued the previous night and morning.

“It’s a nice day to start again!” Maddie shouts as she burst into Chloe’s room, expecting to find her sister still sleeping, wanting to clear the air between them before the wedding. With a groan the brunette closes the door, not having the time to worry about her sister and needed to get dressed for the wedding. Her wedding.

So she runs to her best friend's room, only to find Fat Amy missing as well. “Hey, little sister… Who is it you’re with?” She asks herself, finding it very strange that both are missing at the same time.

Meanwhile, Beca is taped to a tree, naked for the world to see. “Hey, little sister!” She screams at two passing nuns who see her.

“What’s your vice or wish?” They ask concertedly. Beca just looks around and asks them to untie her so she can make it to her wedding.

Mike, Benji, and Jesse are running around the town, retracing all of their steps from last night as they have forgotten where they had left Beca and the wedding is about to start.

“Hey, little sister, shotgun…” Jesse groans, knowing he should have payed better attention to his little sister. 

Mikey’s eyes light up as she remembers where they had left the brunette and pulls his friends towards the location.

At the church Doug walks in with his designer sunglasses, smiling at the priest. “It’s a nice day for a…” The priest starts.

“…white wedding.” Doug finishes smugly.

Emily is standing in front of the church, passing nervously as no one had shown up yet. All of her friends are missing. She’s on the phone with someone, trying to figure out what is happening.

Unbeknownst to her, Jesse, Mike, and Benji are still looking for Beca. Beca is running around the town naked, trying to go unnoticed so she can get home and get dressed. Chloe and Fat Amy are still in the taxi on their way to the church. While Maddie is stranded at the side of the road, in her wedding dress, while here taxi driver is changing the spare tire.

“There you guys are!” Emily shouts when she sees her boyfriend, Mike and Jesse arrive at the church. “Where’s Beca? She asks when the brunette is not with them. The boys all shrug, not knowing the answer and all being out of breath.

Meanwhile, Beca had managed to get home and grab her suit and had started to run towards the church, to her wedding. Trying to find a way to explain to her fiancee why she’s late.

As if on queue, both Maddie’s and Chloe’s taxi arrive at the church. The second the car stops, Maddie is rushing out. Fat Amy instantly does the same, knowing that if Chloe gets to her sister first it could end in disaster.

“Where have you been?” Maddie asks, trying not to be angry at the pair.

“It’s all my fault.” Amy starts. “She had to stop me from performing an ill-advised aviation stunt, which is never a good idea after 12 sambas and a minestrone.”

Maddie rolls her eyes with a sigh, knowing that this ridiculous story has to be true… because who else would get into a situation like that? “You look beautiful. Just one sec.” The blonde says and walks away towards their friends, leaving Maddie and Chloe eye to eye.

The two sisters slowly walk up to each other with cautious smiles. Maddie sighing gently. 

“You look beautiful,” Chloe says sincerely, feeling happy that she had decided to come back with Fat Amy for her sister’s wedding. 

Maddie smiles for a brief second to then turn serious almost instantly. “Chloe, am I making a fool of myself again?” She asks, needing to know what her sister thought.

Chloe lets out an amused sigh, knowing she needs to convince her sister that everything will be just fine. “Beca’s not like anyone you’ve ever dated. She’s a keeper. You done good.” 

“Yeah?” The brunette asks just to double-check one last time. When she sees her little sister nod she continues. “And what about you? Are you… really okay with this?” She asks, still unsure after what had happened last night.

Chloe takes a deep breath, knowing that whatever she says next would set everything between them in stone for the rest of their lives. So the redhead decides to make a gesture instead. She takes off her mom’s necklace and puts it around her sister’s neck.

Maddie smiles gently and hands Chloe a small bridesmaids bouquet. “Come one.” She says, motioning towards the church. 

The redhead hesitates for a moment, feeling nervous all of a sudden. “Maddie,” Chloe says loudly but not shouting. 

Maddie stops in her tracks and turns to face her sister again. 

“No matter what, you’ve never given up on love.” Chloe starts with tears in her eyes. “You followed your heart wherever it leads. That’s how I want be.”

Maddie playfully shoves her sister. “Christ, don’t make me cry now!” She says, trying to contain her tears with a sniff. “I know it’s out there for you. You just have to grab it when you see it, okay?” 

Chloe cannot contain her tears and a single big one rolls down her cheek. 

Maddie grunts when she sees Fat Amy walk towards her. “Oh, where’s your dress?” She asks, not wanting to start crying either and rather wants to distract herself with something else.

“Sorry..” The blonde apologises. “Er… it’s not the only thing that’s missing.” She says, trying to find a way to tell the bride that her bride is missing. 

Maddie and Chloe look at each other in confusion, and then back at the blonde. “Er…” Fat Amy continues.

In that moment both Fat Amy and Chloe see Beca running towards the church and slipping in chaotically yet still unnoticed to Maddie. With wide eyes Amy looks at Chloe and continues, trying to find a plausible lie. “ Er.. my thong has gone!” She shouts.

“What?” Maddie questions with a confused smile. “This is news?” She asks with a roll of her eyes. 

“Right. Are we ready?” Amy asks Emily who is still standing infant of the church in pure shock and confusion about the entire ordeal.

Emily puts her thumbs up, to say let's do this before anything else happens.

Inside the church, Mike and Benji try to make Beca look slightly more presentable. “You alright, ragazza (girl). You look a bit perduta (lost).” Mikey asks in concern. 

“No, I’m fine.” She says with determination, almost as if she’s trying to convince herself it’s the truth. “I was just running naked down the street missing my own wedding because some idiot left me duct-taped to a tree with a donkey.” She adds angrily.

“Ah, the donkey!” Mikey says to Benji, in a voice that suggests that they had completely forgotten they had done that to poor Beca, who is not amused.

Emily walks in and signals to the boys that the bride is ready to go.

[evanbuckbuckley118]

Golf On TV (Songfic - Maddie x Chimney)

Hello everyone! This is my first fic for the 9-1-1 fandom, I appreciate all critiques!

Prompt received:  “Hey. I noticed that you said you enjoy writing song fics. Could you write one based off of the song Golf on TV by Lennon Stella? Could you make it Madney centric?” (From @maddiehans)

Inspiration: The parts of this song that stand out to me are the themes of healing from past relationships, being confused at how things are in a new relationship because of previous learning experiences, and being confused about people’s tendencies. I took these three themes and tried to incorporate them into this fic!

Lyric: “Some people think it's supposed to hurt/Like it couldn't be real/If it's putting you first/But some people watch golf on TV/And neither of those things make sense to me”

Word Count: 1740

Cross-posted on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/23604478

Dating Doug had taught Maddie a number of things. First, chivalry was dead - so there was no need to expect any kind gestures from her husband. Every gift or minuscule kindness Doug gave came with conditions, adding up to a score Maddie could never repay even if she dedicated a lifetime to doing so. There was also no room for Maddie to shine. Instead, in public she became the figure that stood behind Doug, hiding behind his shadow because that was where he made her feel as though she belonged. Due to this, Maddie had spent a good portion of her adulthood trying to shrink herself. The goal always became to hide, to disappear, to avoid any reason for punishment.

But then she met Howard.

It'd be a cliche to say everything changed, because it didn't really. Maddie still had remnants of the girl Doug had shaped her to be, but her growth was undeniable. She was attempting every day to learn her worth, and a lot of that was because of Howard’s encouragement. 

Dating Howard forced Maddie to confront the pieces of her identity left behind after Doug. The way Howard insisted on opening her car door for her at her every entrance and exit confronted the belief that had been instilled in her that she wasn't allowed to have others put her before themselves. The way Howard seemed to only have eyes for her and refuse interest in women who made advances on him when they went out to karaoke made her wonder how Howard didn't find interest in having multiple partners, because prior to their marriage (and suspicions and threats during) Doug had always expressed interest in other women, pointing out the flaws in which Maddie didn't match up to his standards. The way Howard showed her off in public didn't make her feel like a piece of property being owned, but rather Howard showed her off with a pride and adoration that left Maddie floored. There was no reason or opportunity to hide when she was with Howard, and she wasn’t used to the spotlight after years of walking in Doug’s shadow. 

Every aspect of dating the man known by the 118 as 'Chimney' was in direct opposition with everything Maddie had learned about love. There was a kindness, a patience, and a sense of equal footing and stability that were never present previously in her life. Howard never raised his hand (he hardly ever even raised his voice), he didn't treat everyday gestures as an constant adding score that had to be re-payed, he never pressured her many boundaries and treated the progression of their relationship with such patience, and he treated every person he met with endless compassion.

Maddie finds herself overwhelmed sometimes, and unable to fully express the honesty of the feelings she has for Chimney, even when she knows those indescribable feelings are reciprocated. These emotions were too foreign for her to find the words to properly describe, and she didn't want to use the kneejerk terms she'd used to defend herself in the past from her abusive husband. Doug always told her that a lesser man than himself would have left Maddie a long time ago because of her mannerisms. Yet, throughout everything, Chimney remained. It puzzles her on the best of days. There is a part of her that's been ingrained to feel unworthy of Chimney's love.

The intensity of these differences and her own feelings catches her off guard some days more than others. Like today.

Maddie had come over in the evening for their regular weekly date night. It was too easy to remember the nights that Maddie had previously spent alone slaving in front of a stove, struggling to make a quality dinner before Doug came home - but those nights were being rewritten in real time as Maddie and Chimney split the work of preparing dinner while recounting their work days and cracking jokes. There were no worries about the mess on the counters, or if the final outcome tasted less than spectacular. It was about time spent together, and there was nothing Maddie loved more than her time with Howard.

After dinner, the two of them traveled to the couch. Before they moved, Chimney had grabbed two glasses and a wine bottle from his cupboard. As he sat down, he looked over at Maddie with one hand under the bottle and another behind its neck, showing it off with a signature smile. "I figured we'd end the night with your favorite white wine," he stated, before attempting to pull out the cork.

Maddie attempted to tell him that pulling it out wasn't going to work, but was cut off by her own giggles. The cork remained stubbornly in place, certainly not for a lack of effort on Chim's part. She loved how tough Chimney was, but even his strength was no match for the task at hand.

He hung his head in defeat, and with a small laugh said "My apologies Maddie, I'm going to have to grab the corkscrew from the kitchen."

While Chimney rummaged in the kitchen, Maddie turned her eyes to the television. The television had been left on some sports channel since her arrival, possibly long before. The muffled sportscasters had been the soundtrack to their night, but the volume was so soft that Maddie had muted it in her mind during their previous conversations. "I didn't know you liked golf?" She questioned, not taking her eyes off the screen. 

"Oh, yeah. I almost forgot that was on. I like watching the tournaments sometimes," Chimney lightly shouted from the kitchen, his voice just raised enough to reach across the distance without booming in the small square footage of the apartment.

Maddie pursed her lips. "Have you ever played yourself?"

Rounding the corner of the couch, he stepped in front of the coffee table to be able to pour the wine. "God no," he laughed. "This is a sport best left to professionals, I'd probably let go of the club mid-swing and cause an injury."

"But you still like to watch it?" Maddie questions.

Placing the bottle down, he wipes his hands on his dress pants before moving to sit down. It was endearing to Maddie how nervous he still felt around her, wanting to impress her, oblivious to how much he impresses her every minute just with his presence. "I know a lot of people think it is boring, but these guys sometimes play in grueling weather conditions for hours on end," Chimney explains while passing Maddie her filled glass. "The game is so competitive, every shot is crucial. Sometimes the players hit the bunker or the water, and that sucks. But, I think it's fascinating how they pull themselves out of their heads and shake it off. They continue to aim for that coveted hole in one. There is no greater excitement than that."

Maddie sipped her drink longingly, fascinated how this man can conceptualize such a deep life message out of what she considered to be one of the most boring games imaginable. "That's really beautiful Howie."

"We don't have to stay on it though-" Chimney started, leaning forward to grab the remote.

"-No, if you want to we can watch it-" Maddie interrupted, shifting herself to lean into his side as he leaned back again. She slotted herself under his arm, looping one of her own around his waist as she pillowed her head on his chest.

"-I don't want you to watch anything you don't want to watch," Chimney finishes with passion, passing the remote with a light grip over to Maddie.

Maddie couldn't help but tense. There had been nights with Doug where she'd criticized his viewing choices for the night, and ended up with a remote thrown at her temple in retaliation. The instances where she had gotten to choose their entertainment choice for the night were few and far between.

But as she looked up at Chim with confusion on her face, she realized while looking into Chim's eyes that his words and gesture were genuine. Maddie could only guess that the look in his eyes was adoration, still not having enough experience to trustingly label it as such. Chim's vocal tone and subtle handover of the remote weren't vicious in the way Doug's had often been. Instead, by saying that Maddie shouldn't watch something she didn't want to, what he was really saying was more generalized - he was saying you shouldn't be forced to do anything you don't want to.

And that's the true difference isn't it? Maddie is working hard on her recovery, but the hardest thing has been learning to ask for what she wants. She's spent so long being submissive to others that she's forgotten how to ask or take from others. Maddie knows that Chimney knows this, and probably knew it before even she could acknowledge that part of herself.

The truth is that Maddie does know what she wants. Pushing aside the selfishness and the realization that her growth does involve leaving the guilt her younger self would feel for taking what she wants behind, Maddie slowly pushes upwards to steal a kiss on his lips. She focuses on nothing else but cherishing the moment, while simultaneously breathing all the trust she has for Chimney into the kiss.

"The game is almost over anyway, we'll switch it after," Maddie compromises when they break. As she sinks back into his side, Chim slowly brushes one of her curls over her ear.

His classic smirk breaks across his face at her antics, knowing she wants to appease him as much as he wants to treasure her. "Sounds like a plan.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After the night is through - there are two things Maddie still cannot understand about the men who have been in her life. With Doug, she cannot comprehend what part of him thought it would be okay to treat Maddie the way he did. With Chimney, she cannot comprehend why the man prefers to watch golf in his free time.

What she can understand is which of these issues she'd rather have to deal with, and which man she'd rather have by her side. This was the next chapter in Maddie’s fresh start, and if Chimney could put up with the remnants of her trauma - she could put up with his choice of television, regardless of how boring.

[kurtty-drabbles]

Pirate au Redone (Final Part)

@dannybagpipesarecalling @djinmer4 @bamfoftheundead @everykurt @muninandhugin

Jean Grey gather all the survivors of the X-men- Rogue gets the credit for her quick thinking as well Cap Pryde because a majority of the X-men is no longer among them, the worst circumstance ever faced by them is not knowing if the other party is dead or just lost- and her brave face is not enough, and right now, she needs to be more than brave. She needs to be what she used to be. Pheonix. Jean almost laugh at such silly thought, after all, she rejected Pheonix to be Jean again...

"How the situation?" Scott asked breaking the silence and Jean thank him inwardly as the man is once again her rock, at the same time, Jean doesn´t want to be on the sideline of this situation. "Krakoa is a real thing or an illusion by Pheonix?" Jean directs this question to Cap Pryde -ignoring Emma Frost smirking and her skimpy outfits barring on classy and whorish, of course, this is Emma´s trademark look- and Kitty watches the room who is now largely thanks to the smaller number of people present.

"Krakoa, the one we knew, was destroyed years ago. Pheonix seemed to have made a new one and enslaved this creature to obey her commands" her tone is earnest and spares no sugar coating. "Pheonix puts all our traumas there...the idea is to torture us and...she succeeds" in the corner of her eyes she can see Kurt curling away and avoiding small talks- Kurt is the one to notice Logan is not present and is the one to have an inkling about his fate- and Kitty can feel pity, but, pity won´t save anyone.

"And Pheonix even make as you´re the one behind tracking young mutants and taking them from their families...Governments´re hating you even if I managed to save all of them..." and Jean can nod at this-it makes sense, Madeline Pryor insinuate something like that and replies is better for her to not watch TV anymore. Jean agrees- and she sighs.

"Pheonix is upset because I reject her." Jean clarify to everyone. Goblin Queen is all in name now- no longer wearing something so salacious, but, is still able to identify herself as Goblin Queen- and the situation is dire enough to prompt Jean and Maddy to work in a sort civil way. "Madelyne, can you ...send Pheonix away?"

Maddy scoffs at her and retribute a sneer of her own-far too similar to Emma, but, not quite- and responds. "Of course...not. The Pheonix is an Outer God...not even Magik could do such thing" and Yana has to agree-powerful as she is, one can´t ignore what Pheonix is, and if she even dares to try...it could only worsen the situation-and Cap Pryde takes the lead once again.

"I know someone who may be able to send Pheonix away, but, since Hope Summers is dead" Scott inhale and exhale but remain wordless. "she may need help from a different source...but, she expels Pheonix once...and can do it again"

Someone pipes in- Kitty is not sure who, the room is bigger and there´s few X-men now- saying the word Pretender. And Kitty can clench her fists and remember M day. "Well, if anyone has a better idea, I´m all ears"

Rogue is saying more stuff about the Pretender, but, is Yana who defends her case. "I can do. I have defeated her once. Together we can get rid of Pheonix...and now...what we shall do with Rachel?"

Jean is saved by reply to this question since is Scott who speaks now. "She´s my daughter, an alternative daughter still counts, and I´ll go after her...talk with her, maybe...we won´t need to ask for Scarlet Witch´s help...maybe, I can ...do something" Scott states and some murmours of doubt are rushing in.

"I can go with you too." Cap Pryde suggested and Scott shakes his head. "No, she loved you" he doesn´t even look at Kurt for many reasons "and was in the closet for longer to properly understand this...I´m her father, Kitty, I own this to her"

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Avengers formed their own cult- according to Tony is not a cult per se, but, anyone can see they´re coping Krakoa´s style-and are watching as Pheonix is no longer being subtle. The image of the living island burning and the shape of Pheonix are glaring at the ocean, no, at all the other mortals.

"Tony...We lost 3 of our powerful members because of your arrogance, you want to continue?"

"Look, the X-men can´t think they have any monopoly of Pheonix...sent the missile. That thing can kill any space worm...I used before and I know.." his words die off as a woman with flaming hair appears -her eyes are pure darkness while only her hair is the source of any light- looks at the man with literal fury in her dark eyes.

"Space Worm? How dare you..."

The Cult of the Avengers is no more.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Meggan Puceanu Braddock is not the image of resilience -if you do happen to see her for the first time and see her bubble smile and flawless hair- could let this one slice and be home- in fact, she could watch TV and pretend this has nothing to do with her and carry on with her routine at the best she can, yet, it wouldn´t be Meggan if she didn´t do anything- and Brian remains on her side.

"You want to do this?" he asks in a low tone and Meggan has no words. She only nods and in a matter of minutes, she´s facing the X-men once again. "I´m Gloriana. I´m the Headmistress of Excalibur Academy...and I want to talk about the X-men"

Cap Pryde, Rogue, Jean, and Cap Britain(Betsy) are present and Meggan prefers to give attention to them. "What will happen to the mutants of the US now? The X-mansion is nothing but ashes now" her tone is firm and she refuses to look at any other direction.

"We can rebuild the school" Jean promised and has wide eyes as Meggan shakes her head. "Pheonix makes sure that would remain a dead land, so, I ask again, what you will do with the students?"

Cap Britain gives some suggestions, but, those won´t work in the US territory. Cap Pryde offers a temporary solution. "The Hellfire Academy is still untouched and since Shaw is...as Emma put, more dead than the '80s, we have a backup plan....for now, but, is just as accidental as most of our plans" Kitty confessed and is at the verge of asking how Meggan is doing, when, someone else beats her into.

Kurt asks how Meggan is dealing and this makes the woman react in a way not typical from her time in Excalibur. Her fist is more than ready to slam into Kurt´s face- judging by the size of the fist and her anger, Meggan is wanting to do more than one punch- and Kitty pushed herself to be in the middle.

Meggan´s eyes widen as she sees Kitty´s black eye and a broken nose and shielding Kurt Wagner- who is incredulous by this action- and Meggan looks remorseful at the other woman. "Kitty, I´m so sorry...I just ..."

"I know...you´re angry"

"I just came to say...the Excalibur Academy still opens its door for any mutant who needs help"

"After all ..."

"I´m a heroine...not a great one right now, but, still one and I want to help as many people I can...and yes, I know I´m sounding hypocrite. Sorry, Kurt, I just...you´re a terrible memory to me, please, don´t ever talk with me" and she didn´t even look at the azzure man who is hiding behind Kitty. "And please, you´re no longer my daughter´s godfather. You´re not part of Excalibur ever again"

And she leaves feeling a bit ashamed and frustrated. She wanted to punch Kurt, but, if she had done that...she would have murdered him...and Meggan can understand he´s not completely at fault for what happened to her, but, can ignore it.

Cap Pryde promises the black eye and nose are nothing new and Kurt is left alone with his thoughts.

Such a dangerous thing.

________________________________________________________________________________________ Kurt is on the beach- not Krakoa, Emma Frost´s private island is just an island and nothing more-re-thinking many of his choices. Is he blameless? No, but, he´s not entirely guilty either. This middle term is not something he can work.

"Are you ok?" Kitty inquires sitting next to him and Kurt is once again incredulous- is her always this strong or is she oblivious to her own question?- and Kurt mutters how he´s fine but Kitty isn´t convinced. "I think I know you a bit better than that, Elf, so, talk with me"

"Why you protect me? You should have let she hit me...I deserve it"

"Yeah? Why? Were you and Cable in agreement to rape Meggan?" and Kurt denies this violently and looks offended by this suggestion, Kitty, however, is not changing her tone. "So, is not your fault" and is said as is something simples.

"But...why me? Why you protect me?"

"Do you no want me?" Kitty asked back and her gaze bore into his golden eyes. "We used to be friends, elf, and friends grow apart, but, I think you´re once my best friend...I´m impulsive and brash and you´re slutty and deny the problems in your life...but, once I thought fondly of you and thought you did the same"

"I always think fondly of you, Katzchen...I sent emails...but..."

"Doug hack them, not by choice, he was working with the theory you were one of Pheonix´s clones...you write pretty things about me, but, I don´t think you ever mention this to my face"

Kurt wants to deny and pretend everything is alright- he wants to be angry at Kitty to be a pirate without him or congratulate her for being one- yet, looking at her doe eyes. Kurt can´t lie. "I have a problem, several of them can be tracked to my foster mother and my biological mother, and I can´t deny anymore"

"Kurt?"

"Do you still want to be my friend?"

"We both drift away...and we both can found our way back" she grins and Kurt never felt relaxed as now. "You think Scott can do it?"

"I think Scott is the only man Rachel ever care for"

"Sorry"

"Don´t be...I should know and not jump in a relationship...I don´t think I know what a healthy relationship or love truly is"

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Scott Summers always thought he could fix things in his life- maybe it is a wish-fulfillment from his young age- but looking at Rachel engulfing in the flames of Pheonix and relishing every minute proves otherwise. "Rachel...please, stop this"

"Hello to you too, dad, enjoying paradise?" Rachel asked using her gimpy outfit and looking radiant as she never did before. "Oh, don´t look like that, I wanted to punish Jean Grey...not you"

His jaw clench and he tries again. "Yeah, consider yourself avenger Rachel, now, please, stop this madness..." he would say something else but Rachel stops him. "The X-men are family? Not really...and only if is convenient, but, relax father I got what I want...oh no need to bring your witches here" and Rachel knocks Scarlet Witch and Magik with a psychic blast - they have hidden thanks to magic, but, Pheonix is above such tricks- "I´m leaving"

"Please...don´t. You´re my family..."

"I may be your family...but I gain nothing but pain and misery here" her expression soft a little. "I´m still your daughter ...but Earth is not my home. I´m going to Shiar...tell Jean Grey she´s no longer welcome"

And she flies away finally realizing the family she so much wanted to recreate in this universe is nothing but a futile dream and if she wants to be happy, and Rachel wants nothing more than happiness, realizes she needs to move on.

[crazybagelbitch]

“Can I have one last kiss?” Taking a minute Madney, one of them decide to leave LA and the other hopes they can convince them to stay.

A part of him wants to scream at her-- to yell and ask her when did she know, when did she know that it wasn’t only a moment, but she was completely done with him?

He’s angry, angry that she’s leaving him, leaving LA, leaving all of them, and angry that he had to hear about it from her brother.

She hadn’t even planned on saying goodbye to him.

“Maddie, please, just stop for a minute,” he begs, getting between her and the driver’s side door, her suitcase already back in the trunk.

“I have to go.”

“But why?” he asks incredulously, she had tried to explain it to him already, but it just doesn’t make any sense. She insists it’s for the good of everything, but he can’t see how her leaving fixes anything.

“I-I have to go. All I did was cause a mess here.”

“No, that’s not-- Maddie, that was Doug. And I helped him, even if I didn’t mean to... you didn’t do anything wrong. Just please, stay.”

“Your blood stain. Your blood stain on the brick. I keep seeing you laying there.”

“So move apartments, not leave the city,” he says desperately, and he knows it’s more complicated than that, he knows, but it’s not like her trauma is just going to magically disappear if she moves back to Pennsylvania, especially considering that’s where she lived with her husband in the first place.

“Not that simple.”

“You think it’s just going to be all better if you go back there? You think being in a different state can just--”

“It can help. It’s easier than being here.”

“But I love you, Maddie,” he blurts out, not meaning to put it in those words, but my God does he mean it, “y-you don’t have to say it back, but just... please stay. I need you and so does Buck, and your family, your real family is here. Stay.”

“I can’t.”

“Yes, you can!” he shouts, waving his hands in frustration, “we can... whatever it is that’s making you want to leave, we can fix that.”

“Oh? You think you can just snap your fingers and fix me?”

“You know that’s not what I meant,” he growls, crossing his arms before softening, his entire body slumping in defeat, “Maddie, I’m begging you.”

“Move. I’m going. You can’t change my mind. Let me go.”

“No--”

“Howie. Please.”

If you love someone, let them go.

“Can I have one last kiss?”

“And then you’ll let me go?” she asks after a moment, eyes shining with unshed tears.

“And then I’ll let you go.”

She sighs, staying put and he thinks it’s about to be a rejected request before she steps forward, cupping his face in her hands and pressing her lips to his.

It’s over far too soon; there’s never going to be enough time before she says goodbye.

But she does.

“Goodbye, Howie,” she whispers against his lips.

And true to his word, he lets her go.

.

When he gets hurt on the job, when he gets badly hurt and he’s lying in his hospital bed a few weeks later, he can see the hope light up in Buck’s eyes, and he knows what he’s thinking. He knows he sees an opening to try and get his sister back in LA, if only for a few days.

“Don’t call her,” he shakes her head, “she doesn’t want me. So I don’t want her here. Don’t want her to come back out of pity.”