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mezzy-1 · 1 year ago

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Radiant Recruit (Valorant x Reader)

Name: Y/N

Class: Radiant

Callsign - Nomad

You had been at odds with Kingdom for causing your abilities, and saw Valorant as nothing more than another group trying to reign you in. Your power store radiant energy and unleash it proved difficult to contain. Even worse, you could turn to pure energy and phase away. It was a trick you used to escape Valorant time and time again. Where you came from was only for you to know, until you were captured.

(An idea of what Nomad can do // source: Infamous: Second Son)

Fade

“Stop Y/N! There’s no place you can run to that I won’t find you!” Fade yelled down the hallway. She had you cornered in Bind, inside the Kingdom refinery

“Leave me ALONE!” you screamed, unleashing a wave of radiant power at nearby pipes. Steam filled the hall and you sprinted further away

A screech behind you caught your attention as one of Fade’s nightmares spotted you. A terror trail led from your feet

Snarling prowlers rushed towards you and lunged. You raised a hand and blasted them as they pinned you down

One sunk its teeth into your leg and darkness filled your vision. Whispers surrounded you as memories of Kingdom spying on you resurfaced

Radiant power surged into your eyes before blasting through your body. In your fear, you burnt through the last reserves of energy

Suddenly a voice cut through the chaos

“I have you now, ”

Weak sparks shot from your palm in an attempt to block the ball of tendrils Fade tossed at your feet

Seized by her power, unable to destroy the bindings, you found yourself resorting to struggling against the tethers

Fade took a Sheriff from its holster, the gunmetal gleaming in the red alarm lights. She began to raise it upward towards you

Then turned and emptied the cylinder, catching the bullets and storing them in a pocket

“Valorant is not what you think, we are trying to do something important for the world!”

“So was Kingdom, I don’t care about what your cause is.”

“I was where you are right now, Y/N. I was hunted by Valorant too.” Fade’s tone softened

“What are you talking about?” You were slightly intrigued

“I…blackmailed them. They sent a squad to catch me and could’ve killed me. They gave me a home instead. I trust them.”

“Prove it, how do I know you aren’t lying to get my guard down.”

“You can’t, but you have my word that we will let you go if you want to leave.” She reached a hand to you. “Deal?”

Against your better judgment you decided to come along. In an hour you were being flown to a remote island in the middle of nowhere

“So you know my name, but what’s yours?”

“Hazal. Memnun oldum.”

Hazal sat with you, either for security or reassurance, in the conference room with Brimstone

“Y/N, I apologize for the methods we used but Valorant doesn’t have time for delicate approaches. Fade has first hand experience with that.”

“I didn’t offer you another choice Brimstone,” Hazal seemed to feel some regret

“We wanted to get your help with Omega Earth,” he directed you to a hologram that showed all current information

It was unnerving, the doppelgangers and your personal clone trying to destroy the world. The situation didn’t leave you feeling like you could run away

“So…are you in Y/N?”

“Count me in,” you went over to shake Brimstone’s hand. He took it and handed you a keycard to your room

“You’re part of Valorant now Y/N.” Brimstone nodded to Fade and you exited the room with her

“You’ll be assigned a callsign Y/N,” Fade said as she led you to your quarters. “Did you have anything in mind?”

“Uh, I guess we should figure it out while we have time.” Your opened the door to your room and took a seat on the bed

Fade took a seat at your desk, looking around at the sparse interior before settling on you

“Y/N, what do you think about going by Nomad? It would fit, don't you think?”

Iso

“Oh shi-” you were surprised by a bullet ricocheting past you and putting a hole in the elevator controls

“Nice try Y/N, but you aren’t getting out of here unless you come with me.” Iso chambered another round. “Or else.”

“Go to hell!” you triggered a maelstrom of energy inside your body. Radiant pulses fired from you and Iso lept to cover

Shifting into energy, you charged straight at him, ready to plant your glowing fists directly into his face

Hexagons spilled out under your feet. Violet light blinded you before placing you into a strange space made of similar shapes

“You’re all mine Y/N.” a familiar voice echoed. Iso had somehow captured you

The structures around you disappeared and a single shot rang out against the silence of the realm you were in

A bullet hit your chest, but the ballistic plate underneath stopped it. It didn’t stop the force from slamming into you though

“Y/N, I admire your spirit but you lost this fight. I won’t hurt you, I just want to show you what Valorant is trying to do.”

“And if I refuse?”

“You won’t leave here. Ever.”

He wasn’t bluffing, but he didn’t seem like he wanted to condemn you to that fate either. His aim was steady but his eyes were more focused on your response

“I’ll go with you, but if you try anything you’ll regret it.”

Iso sighed something in Mandarin

Purple energy wrapped you and placed you back in the building. Iso waited for you to get to your feet and led you at gunpoint

The elevator controls were shot, so you and Iso took stairs to the roof. When you arrived at the helipad, the VTOL was just landing

“Remember, I can trap you at anytime Y/N. Don’t try to escape until we get to the island and we brief you.” Iso was dead serious

He left you in the cargo hold of the VTOL while it took off. He returned later on his phone and looked over at you

“Any requests for music? I don’t like silence.” Iso pointed at the phone

“(Your favorite artist).”

“I have a playlist for them, tell me what you think.”

The ride to the HQ was more pleasant than you expected

Subsequently, you were lead to a room with the leader of Valorant for more information

Brimstone finished explaining the situation. Needless to say the Omega Earth version of you destroying city blocks was a frightening prospect

“Y/N, if you help us out you’ll be giving us the advantage. We can let you go but we can’t guarantee your mirror won’t try to come after you.”

“I’ll join your protocol if it means I can protect people from my double.”

“Welcome to the fight Y/N. Iso, take Y/N to the armory and get them fitted for their gear and run a basic shooting test.” Brimstone shook you hand warmly

Iso and you walked down the hall, passing a few other agents that gave you a wave or raised an eye at your presence

Once you were in the armory, Iso went over ballistics and you did some basic target practice

“Y/N, have you given any thought to your callsign?” Iso finished marking your grade in a tablet

“Not really, I do want something that sounds good and makes sense.” you placed your rifle down and began a field strip test

“Since you were constantly on the run, how does Nomad work for you?” He raised the tablet with the name entered in

“Sounds good.”

“I can’t wait to work with you, Nomad.” Iso nodded to you and handed you a magazine

Viper

“Oh Y/N it’s precious that you think you can hide from me, but I like games of cat and mouse.” Viper purred as you crept around Icebox

The woman had managed to cut off every escape from you, a fact she reveled in

“I assume you’re thinking that if you attack me, you can shut the toxins off and leave.” she was trying to draw you out, so you continued to sneak around

Viper turned and left

Green fog began to empty from the vents everywhere, catching you off guard. It was then you realized she had been waiting for the toxins to get in the system

“Is it hard to breathe? Try not to die before I find you, I don’t want to explain that to Brimstone.”

Coughing loudly, you attempted to crawl away as vertigo set in. The toxins smelled like acetone mixed with acrid sweetness

Viper’s silhouette appeared as you lost consciousness. Her figure towered above you as your eyes shut

“You’re awake, good. I need you to listen to me Y/N, can you do that?” Viper had unmasked and was now looking you directly in the eye

You nodded your head weakly while taking account of your surroundings. Toxins had rendered your powers and muscles useless

“What do you want from me?” you hissed

“Join Valorant, we could use your-”

“NOBODY’S using me.” you spat back. Viper glared at you

She removed a vial of poison and opened it. She tilted the glass over your head, letting a drop hang over your eye

“Don’t interrupt me,” Viper narrowed her gaze, “Understood?”

“I’d rather die than be some kind of weapon for a bunch of sociopaths.”

“You aren’t in a position to argue, but we are going to play nice and show you the protocol.”

“Easy to do when I’m your prisoner.”

“Exactly Y/N.”

Minutes later you were being flown somewhere new, but had no idea what was waiting for you once you regained your motor functions

Viper and Brimstone sat with you, going over confidential files on Omega Earth and their agents. It was shocking to your face among them as well

“We know they’ll end up using your mirror against us, so we need all the support we can get.” Brimstone passed a keycard to you

You took it and shook his hand

“I’ll take Y/N to the medical wing and run biometrics so we can plan countermeasures against their double.” Viper motioned for you to join her

The biometrics were mainly just scans and a blood test, but Viper took time to explain what each piece would be used for

“Y/N, you need a callsign for me to enter your information under. Any ideas?”

“Not really. I guess there’s the fact I was always escaping, that could be something.”

“Well you didn’t escape me,” Viper smugly raised an eyebrow. “But I do like that idea, how about Nomad?”

“I like that, it sounds mysterious.”

“Perfect, now let's get you to your quarters and finish the tour so I can get back to my lab.”

“Can I see the lab?”

“No.”

Neon

“I thought you were supposed to be fast! So much for the protocol’s ‘Sprinter.” you taunted as you sped away down a street in your energy form

Neon trailed behind you, each pace pulsing with electricity. She had almost caught you but a quick energy burst saved you

Now it was a matter of running, which was easy for you to do because you could move through obstacles

That was your thought until you ran out of radiant power in the middle of the street

“Slow huh?” Neon was on you quickly. You decided to fight, unleashing what little energy you had left in missiles of force

She dodged and closed the distance, using her speed to shift her target faster than you could aim

In the blink of an eye Neon grabbed your arm. Volts spasmed down your body, paralyzing you

“No more running Y/N.” Neon dragged you to the side of the road and away from the public. She hid you under a bridge, seating you on a bench

“So Valorant sends you to catch me and then what? Lock me in a cell until you need to destroy something?”

“No, we want you to learn how to control the power before you hurt anyone.” Neon trailed off, lost in thought

“Do you really control your power or is it just them letting you loose on anyone they want?” You needled at her doubt

“So you must have lost control at some point then, did they show up and lock you away? Just like what you want to do to me?” Provoking her was the only thing you could do

“It wasn’t like that! They found me…but after I had lost control,”

“Don’t lie to me, they can’t help me and they can’t you either!”

“SHUT UP!” Sparks scorched the ground near Neon’s legs

Neon’s anger turned to regret “They gave me training for it and helped me make the best of it.”

Neon began to smile a bit as an arc of electricity moved up her hand

“I’m sure we’ll do the same for you.”

Once you could move, you and her walked back to a extraction point

“Do you really think they don’t want to use my power for themselves? You were sent on this mission right?”

“I volunteered for this, Y/N. You won’t have to fight unless you want to but we have Radiants that want to help you control your abilities.”

It wasn’t much reassurance without definitive proof, but it was good to hear as you stepped onto the VTOL

“Plus you’ll train with me Y/N. So I’m hoping you decide to stay with us so we can have a rematch.”

Neon fidgeted in her chair at the conference with Brimstone and Sage. Reyna stood in the back eying you over and occasionally muttering something in Spanish

“Y/N, your power is going to make the difference in the fight against Omega Earth. We need you to back us up.”

“I- I want to but I’m not,”

Neon looked over at you and her nervousness switched something in you

“I can get ready for the field. I’m on board sir.” Neon relaxed at your response

“Good Y/N, glad to have you here. We’ll enter some information for your file, in the meantime Neon can show you to the gym for a physical assessment.”

He passed her a tablet

Neon led you around the protocol and took you to the training area. She took the tablet Brimstone gave her and had you start the tests

It wasn’t a great couple of hours, especially because Neon kept her eyes on you struggling the entire time

Finally the running test came up, and Neon readied a stopwatch

“Y/N, do you want to race?” Neon tossed the stopwatch in the air towards you

“Sure,” you caught the watch and readied it. “Go!”

She cleared the mile in under 7 minutes without her power before taking the watch

“Beat that Y/N.”

Your mile was about 9 minutes, which was expected from someone who didn’t run often. Neon did tone her taunting down during the run which was a welcome change

“So…Y/N what callsign do you want? I have to put one here so what do you want?”

“I don’t really have anything. I would pick something about running or escaping-” Neon looked up disapprovingly “-but I guess that’s your thing right.”

“Well you aren’t fast, just hard to keep in the same place. Like a nomad. Oh that could work!”

Neon put down Nomad in name entry

“We even sort of match too. I like Nomad, enter it in!” You nodded to her and got ready for the next step in becoming an agent

Reyna

“Tienes miedo? I love a good chase Y/N.” Reyna’s voice barely held her sadistic excitement back

Carefully, you hid behind cover while Reyna stalked through the courtyard of Sunset. Loading your pistol, you sprang from the cover and opened fire

A glaring eye filled your vision, and you shot blindly at the space. The bullets dissipated the eye, but Reyna was gone

“I’ve heard so much about you, your power. Don’t disappoint me.” Reyna’s skin turned to shadows and glowed with unnatural energy

“I WON’T!” you bellowed. Particles of radiant energy spiraled around your body and blasted straight through Reyna

She made no effort to dodge your most powerful blast as it corkscrewed into her. At first you thought she was going to die

It was much more terrifying than that

Reyna walked calmly through the beam toward you, her intangible state keeping her from damage. The blast lost power and stopped

“Que fuerte, but not enough.” Reyna grabbed your throat and slammed you to the ground

“If you struggle, I will continue to have fun with you.” Her grip tightened to emphasize the point

“I’m not joining your damn organization. You and Kingdom are all the same, just preying on Radiants.”

“QUE DEMONIOS ME DIJISTE?” Reyna yelled, she drove her nails into your neck. “I- We are nothing like them.”

Her outrage was enough to quiet you down

“Kingdom is our enemy Y/N, we can bring them down together. Join me and we will destroy them.” Reyna reached a hand out

You took it

Reyna leaned in and whispered in your ear

“Somos unido, contra el mundo. Do not forget they are terrified of us.”

Reyna sat at your side at the table in the conference room. Brimstone and Sage went over the situation with Omega

“If Omega uses the mirror version of you, we would have a hell of a fight ahead of us without you to help us out.” Brimstone gave a worried look to the holographic files

“Don’t worry, I’ll join the protocol if I can make a difference.”

“Come with me Y/N, we will see how useful you can be to us.” Reyna took your arm and moved you to the training room

A few bots appeared and Reyna took a seat

“Go on, end them Y/N.”

It took little effort to turn the bots into scrap metal and burnt plastic. In your elation, you blasted a hole in the window near Reyna

“Que increible Y/N, you certainly have potential.” She ran her fingers over the scorch marked bots

“The protocol requires a callsign,” she passed you a tablet with an input. “I would put in my suggestions but I don’t want to speak for you.”

“Wait, what did you have in mind?” you looked over to Reyna while she leaned against the exit

“Pues, I was thinking something that felt unburdened. Something freeing. Viajero, no como se dice,” she paused feeling for the English word, “Nomad.”

“It means someone on the run or that moves around. That does sound like me.”

“Claro, I think it suits you perfectly Y/N. Now, let's begin your training and sharpen your strength.”

She sauntered across the room and started up more bots

“Mataremos, Nomad.” You and Reyna tore into them together

Sage

“Do not make me pursue you further Y/N, I wish no harm on you.” Sage cried to you

“Then let me leave,” you readied an energy bolt, “I doubt you could even hurt me!” You shot, directly into her chest

“So be it.” Sage muttered

Jade, tougher than steel, coated her hands and began to work into her skin. Life energy flowed in and she rose up

Her skin healed as she charged you. You burnt through your power to launch a vortex of radiant energy

The sphere engulfed her, but when it passed she was completely gone to your surprise. A hand landed on your shoulder, then a chop connected to your temple

Sage had catapulted herself over the vortex using her wall, and gotten directly behind you

As a monk, she was adept in martial arts. It didn’t help that the barrage of fists, palms, and kicks was hard as iron

You tried to swing back, but couldn’t move. Sage coated you in jade, effectively restraining you with every blow

“Do you doubt I could hurt you now Y/N?” Sage’s tone was retributive but took satisfaction in her position over you

“I don’t care what you try, you can’t force me to work with Valorant. You chased me down like an animal, just like Kingdom.”

“We did pursue you Y/N, but we aren’t like Kingdom. We want to help you, not use you.”

“I’m not interested in what you have to say, I’ll break free eventually.”

“No you won’t, it is unmoving and you are too. I want you to see what Valorant truly is, not what you think it is.”

“I don’t give a shit what Valorant is, you tracked me and trapped me in this.”

“We tried to bring you in but you refused because you thought we were Kingdom. I want to prove we’re better than them.”

“By encasing me in rock and hauling me somewhere against my will? Just like Kingdom tried before?”

“You’d run away otherwise, and I went easy on you. I could have broken your legs and healed them later, but I wanted you to see we aren’t cruel.”

It was true, she had held back enough not to render you unconscious or cripple you. Plus she didn’t sound like she was lying, her tone was honest

“I don’t know if I can fully trust you, but if you want to show me Valorant I don’t really have a choice do I?”

“Not particularly, but I promise you are safe while under my watch.”

She had your petrified body loaded onto a VTOL and flown to the HQ

Once you had been briefed, and Sage released you, she passed you a keycard. Brimstone finished his report on Omega

“Y/N, please lend us your aid.” Sage pleaded

“I’m in, don’t worry. I was wrong about you all, I’m happy to join.”

“Sage, take Y/N to the clinic and give them a check up. I’ll finish Y/N’s file and send word to the agents that we have a new member.”

You and her went over to the clinic and she sat you down on the table before taking a few instruments out

“Y/N, please remove your clothes.” she took a tablet and started marking things as you cautiously took your clothing off. You blushed the entire time

Sage moved quickly, giving you questions while she looked you over. She finished her check up and had you dress back up

“Y/N, do not worry I have seen the entire protocol naked. I am just doing my job.”

“I know, it’s just strange because I don’t know you that well.”

“Then I hope we become close,” Sage smiled at you, “I must ask you about what you want to use for a callsign.”

“I didn’t think about that. Do you have any ideas?”

Sage responded with a long pause

“I suppose something that suggests your strengths. You are flexible and spirited.”

“Do you have anything that sounds like either of those?”

“Would you accept Nomad? It is the word for people that have no single place they call home.”

“Nomad…” you thought about it for a second.

“I love it!”

“Wonderful, now let’s finish your recruitment Nomad.”

Jett

“I’m not gonna work with the woman that destroyed Venice!” you screamed as you launched a volley of energy at Jett

The backstreets of Split had turned into a storm of bullets and radiant explosions, Jett was lurking in the rafters while you stuck to the ground

She nimbly dashed from cover to avoid the bursts of plasma, then took aim with her Vandal

“Shut up! You don’t know what you’re talking about!” Jett’s serious tone cut through the chaos. Her gun ran dry and she began to reload

“You can’t lie to me! I’m never joining Valorant!” A gathering of particles rushed through your hands, charging a pulse of energy that blasted Jett from cover

Her body flew through the air from the force, and you watched with satisfaction. Then she suspended herself in midair, turning to you

“I’m done with your shit, Y/N.” Jett summoned her knives, and sent them for you

Acting quickly, you used the rest of your energy to blast the knives from their paths. Each failed to connect as the knives moved on their own, weaving around

Blades sped past you, then sinking into your clothes and pinning you to the ground. Jett drifted down and knelt next to you, a smug grin painted on her face

“So,” a blade twirled over her finger, “care to correct what you said about me and Venice?”

“I saw the footage, it was you. I won’t work for people who shelter a monster.”

“IT WASN’T ME!” Jett’s control slipped and the knife embedded itself next to your neck

“She took everything from me,” a few tears fell down from Jett’s cheek. “You of all people should know what being slandered feels like!”

It was true Kingdom had done their best to scare the public after they lost track of you, and wasted no time showing how dangerous you were

“You want me to feel bad for you when you’re hunting me like them? They took so much from me and you’re no different.”

“Y/N, you don’t have anywhere to go. Valorant stood with me against the world, I stay with them because they know I’m not the enemy.”

Silence gave you time to digest how genuine she was being. You could see how wounded she was and what Valorant meant to her

“I want them to help you Y/N. We both had our lives ruined but Valorant is our second chance.”

“I’m not against it, but even if I was you’ve already caught me.”

Jett rolled her eyes and helped you up

“Valorant will help you, it’s like a second family to me. I hope it becomes that for you too.”

The fact Jett’s double had ruined her life was made clear to you once you were in the care of Valorant

Her anger flared whenever the photo would appear in the report Brimstone gave you. Wind would pick up in the room, moving papers about

You signed on immediately when you realized that you could make a difference and stop the mirrors from unleashing more Spikes

“Jett, I’m sure Y/N is going to need some help navigating the protocol. Do you mind giving them a tour of the premises?”

“Yeah, let’s go Y/N. This place is huge so we should start now.”

You and Jett took a walk through the corridors of Valorant. Jett took you first to the training room and showed you the scoresheet

“As you can see, I have some high marks but no big deal.” Jett gloated, making sure a nearby Phoenix could hear here

She took you next to the living quarters and introduced you to Killjoy and Raze, both of whom greeted you excitedly

Jett next took you to the cafeteria, mainly to flex the fact she cooked last night

“I bet you’re hungry after everything, we can probably take a minute here and have some of the chap chae I made.”

You and her reheated the noodles and added some onions and carrots to it

“So Y/N,” Jett practically inhaled her food, “what were you thinking for a codename?”

You finished a bit of food, “I don’t really know what I’d go with.”

“How about Nomad? I mean it makes sense ‘cause you’re hard to catch. Plus it sounds cool.”

“It does, we should use that!” you agreed

You and her finished up and cleaned your plates, then finished the tour

“Y/N, Nomad, tomorrow Phoenix, Neon, and I are gonna get together for movie night. You should totally join us!”

“I’ll be there!”

Deadlock

“Don’t try and run Y/N, you can’t escape me.” Deadlock’s eyes trained on you, watching for any movement

She had you at gunpoint, pointing a Phantom at your chest ready to fire. Her finger was slightly above the trigger

“Nobody is taking me prisoner!” you shouted before leaping out of the way and phasing into energy

Deadlock fired through you, the bullets disintegrating as they passed through you. You sprinted through a wall and detransformed

That wasn’t so bad you thought to yourself as you began to make your way across the room you had entered

A beeping noise caught your attention as you exited, you searched for its source. Then you looked to your left and saw the Sound Sensor

It concussed you and sent you reeling into the main room of the Kingdom outpost. You spotted the exit on the second floor and dashed up the stairs

“YOU’RE NOT LEAVING MY TERRITORY Y/N!” a yell caught you off guard. A blue string floated in front of your face for a single second

Then an onslaught of fibres wrapped your arms and legs, restraining you. You did everything you could to escape but it was too late

The cocoon floated somewhere, but a brief minute later you felt yourself being picked up and carried outside

Bitter cold crept in through the gaps in the nanowire, causing you to shiver. Then you felt yourself being rested on snow

A knife cut through the web, a centimeter from your face. It opened your face up to the chilling weather and Deadlock’s stoic expression

“Are you cold? You keep moving like you’re shivering.” Her voice was flat, unbothered by the freezing winds

“I-I’m f-f-fine, I don’t, n-need any he-help.” you did your best not to let her notice your teeth chattering

“You are an awful liar, we’re going back to the station.” Deadlock began a march back and threw you over her shoulder

“Put me down!”

“You’ll freeze Y/N, I don’t want you to get frostbite.”

“Why? You opened fire at me why does it matter if I get cold?”

“I know you don’t deserve to suffer out here, and I didn’t shoot to kill. Valorant sent me to collect you but we won’t mistreat you.”

“You’re part of Kingdom, I know you are.”

“I’m not, when our extraction arrives we’ll take you to our headquarters and you can see that we have your best interests at heart.”

You went silent, confused at the fact she was taking you back to the outpost instead of directly to her allies. It wasn’t something a typical mercenary or Kingdom would do

“How long until they arrive?”

“A few minutes from now.” Deadlock shut the door and laid you against a wall near a heating vent

“Rest Y/N, I don’t want you to freeze.”

Hours later, you were in the tropics at the Valorant HQ

You exited Brimstone’s office with a newfound appreciation for Valorant. Your Mirror concerned both you and the agents around you

Brimstone had finished signing you up with the protocol, and you agreed to go to the armory to get an idea of what you would be training with

Deadlock led you through the headquarters, giving you a brief tour of the base before stopping at the weapon room

“Y/N, we are going to go over weaponry while the others finish notifying the protocol about you and readying your quarters.” Deadlock handed you a Guardian

“Take it and see how it feels.” She watched you explore the rifle and attempt to take it apart. Field stripping was not your strength

Deadlock began to help you, as well as go over the rest of the armory’s collection. You learned how to clean the guns which seemed to be enough for Deadlock

“I’ll have a kit sent to your room, but I have to ask what were you thinking for a code name?”

“Codename?”

“Every agent gets one, so we have to assign you one.” She referred to her own ID card and took a seat at the firing range

“Come on, I don’t have the slightest idea of what to put for one. What would you put?”

Looking upwards in thought, Deadlock paused for a second before meeting your gaze

“They gave me my name because I can stall the enemy. You specialize in moving and being unpredictable.”

You nodded in agreement

“Perhaps, Nomad?” Deadlock shrugged her shoulders

“You know that sounds good. Put Nomad as my codename please.” You felt the name around a bit before settling into the callsign

“Hey Deadlock,”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for the name and for not letting me freeze.”

“It was no trouble at all.”

(This might be the first of many -X Reader things, so follow me if you're interested. Comment your favorite parts so I know what people like to see!)

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honorarysimp · 5 months ago

Text

Chapter 2: None the Wiser

series masterlist

You navigate your motorcycle down a quiet suburban street, the sun beginning its descent towards the horizon.

The houses lining the street all have a sense of tranquility about them, each one seemingly occupied by a picture-perfect family.

Eventually, you come to the correct address, the number nailed to the mailbox in front of the home. You kill the engine of your motorcycle, the silence that envelopes you as it dies almost soothing.

A frown tugs at your lips as you remove your helmet, your fingers running idly through your hair.

The sight of the house Lorraine calls home surprises you, the image of the "American Dream" lifestyle seeming at odds with the person you knew her to be. The white picket fence, meticulously kept lawn, and cozy abode all seem too perfect, too generic.

But then again, five years can change a lot.

You kick down the kickstand, the sound of the metal connecting with the concrete almost too loud in the still air. You swing your leg over and slip off the bike, the metal still warm from the overbearing sun of the afternoon.

With your helmet still in your hand, you nervously fidget with it, the metal of the strap cool against your fingers.

Taking a deep breath, then hooking your helmet on your handlebar, you approach the fence surrounding the home with a mixture of trepidation and curiosity.

You reach the gate, its white paint unblemished and gleaming beneath the fading sunlight. Hesitantly, you grip the latch and pushes open the gate, the hinges creaking slightly. You carefully step through just as a shrill caw cuts through the air, boots thumping against the manicured lawn.

The house stands in front of you, its pristine exterior almost unnaturally perfect. The windows sparkle, the white paint of the siding gleams, and there's a manicured rosebush that borders the front walkway that has been neatly trimmed into a small ball. A stone walkway leads to the front door, its brass knocker polished and gleaming.

You raise your fist, ready to knock, when a sense of wrongness suddenly washes over you. Something about this house doesn’t sit right with you, though you can’t quite place your finger on what it is.

Just as you’re about to shake off the feeling and knock, the door suddenly swings open.

Your brain processes the sight in front of you in an instant. The perfectly styled blonde hair, the picture-perfect smile, the air of false politeness.

Oh, no now this makes more sense.

You feel none the wiser with exactly who would greet you at the door, and you should’ve known better than to think this was Lorraine’s residency.

Bobby-Lynn, prior captain of the cheer squad back when you were all in high school, stands before you. Her blue eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief.

You barely manage to mutter a disbelieving "you've gotta be fucking kidding me" before she envelopes you in a fierce hug.

The scent of her perfume fills your nostrils, the sickly-sweet scent almost suffocating. You stand there awkwardly, your arms remaining stiff at your sides as she grips you tightly.

“Oh my gosh! Well aren’t you a sight for sore eyes! Lorraine said you were comin’ but to be honest, I didn’t believe her-“

Lorraine? Oh. Oh, that little shit. She’s got some explaining to do.

After what feels like an eternity, she finally releases you, her perfectly manicured hands remaining on your arms as she steps back, her smile still plastered on her face. "I haven't seen you in years!" she exclaims, her voice dripping with false enthusiasm.

You forcing a smile, the gesture feeling more like a grimace than anything else. You take a step back, putting distance between yourself and her sticky sweetness. With a bluntness that masks your discomfort, you reply, "that was sorta the point”.

Her smile falters for a brief moment, not expecting your blunt response. Her gaze flickers for a moment, her eyes studying you closely, before that false smile returns, wider than before. "You never change, do you?" she quips, her voice dripping with artificial affection.

You ignore her question, the memories of high school and her presence causing your stomach to twist with unease. You glance over her shoulder, scanning the interior of the tidy living room for any sign of Lorraine. "Is Lorraine here or not?" you ask, your tone bordering on curt.

Bobby-Lynn’s false smile dips once more, but she quickly recovers, maintaining her sweet demeanor. "She’s in the kitchen, helping cook dinner as usual," she replies, her voice annoyingly cheerful.

You can’t help but make a face, your thoughts racing as you prepare to ask about Lorraine. You're about to speak, but before you can even ask, she links her arm through yours, the action nearly making you stumble.

“A lot has changed since high school, Rooks. Wipe that look off your face,” she says with a faux-chiding tone, her voice grating on your nerves.

You find yourself being pulled into the house, the door shutting behind you with an ominous finality. You cast a glance over your shoulder at the closed door, a frown tugging at your lips.

But before you can dwell on it, Bobby-Lynn guides you into the living room, her arm still linked through yours. As you look around, the space feels more like a lion's den than a comfortable living area. Every inch is meticulously arranged, the decor designed for maximum aesthetic appeal, yet everything feels cold and sterile.

Before you can even process your surroundings, the sight of Jackson — the once-star quarterback and now serving your country last you’d heard — standing to greet you catches you off guard.

His broad frame stands tall, his face a bit more weathered than when you last saw him in high school. But his greeting is what's most surprising, his face lit with an enthusiasm you've never witnessed him direct at you before.

“Rooks! You came!”

Jackson steps forward, his arms outstretched, and pulls you into a firm hug. You can smell a hint of his aftershave as he clasps you tightly, his broad chest pressing against yours. He pulls back slightly just as you register what’s going on, his hands remaining on your shoulders, and offers his condolences for your Pop.

"I'm real sorry for your loss," he says, his voice sincere as he gives your back a firm pat, your frame going rigid under his touch “best goddamn Mayor this town ever had”.

You remain still, your body taut as a bowstring, the forced embrace and pat on the back causing your skin to prickle with discomfort. You offer a nod of acknowledgment, but your expression remains stoic beneath his gaze.

Just as Jackson releases you fully, another voice intercedes, a familiar tone that causes your stomach to sink further. "Is that Rooks? Well, I'll be goddamn," the voice echoes, their tone filled with a mixture of surprise and a hint of mockery.

You turn, eyes landing on the source of the voice, and nearly laugh aloud at the sight of the man who stands before you. It's Wayne, his familiar face now sporting a hint of stubble and a few new lines around his eyes. But it's the woman who stands behind him that shocks you even more—Maxine, her red hair still as vibrant as your memories serve you.

Wayne continues speaking, his smooth voice layered with sarcasm and wit. "Well, look who decided to grace us with their presence again. Rooks, back from the dead. Never thought I'd see the day," he quips, a smirk on his lips.

Meanwhile, Maxine stands silently beside him, her gaze fixed on you. Her eyes study you intently, that vixen look you remember from high school still present beneath her lashes.

Bobby-Lynn's voice cuts in, admonishing Wayne. "Wayne, that's not funny. The poor thing’s Pop just passed. Show some respect," she says, her words laced with a hint of irritation.

Wayne's smirk falters slightly, and he offers a half-hearted apology, "sorry, Rooks. Didn’t mean to ruffle feathers”.

Your irritation mounts at Wayne's sly remark, and you respond curtly, your eyes narrowing.

"Clever," you mutter dryly, voice dripping with sarcasm. The sound of them using your old nickname only further adds to your annoyance.

You’ve never been fond of it, the name representing a part of your past you've been trying to leave behind.

Which gets brought to attention as Wayne sidles up to you, slinging his arm around your shoulders with a familiarity that sets your teeth on edge. He grins as he says, "I gotta ask, do you still see ‘em? Or did you finally grow out of that?"

His words sting, reminding you of the countless times he teased and belittle you for your ‘hallucinations’ way back when. A part of you wants to shrug off his arm, but you remain still, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.

You push past your discomfort, your words filled with bitterness and sharp with anger. "I haven't been 'seeing things,' Wayne. That was just your and everyone else's bullshit way of making my life a living hell" you snap, your voice dripping with venom.

His arm drops from your shoulders as you step away, creating distance between you and the unwelcome touch.

Wayne raises his hands in a mock surrender, a smirk still on his lips “whoa, relax, Rooks. I was just messing around," he says, his voice dripping with false innocence. His apology is insincere, the sarcastic tone he uses making it clear he hasn't changed one bit.

Just as you're about to lose your temper, the front door opens and Lorraine appears from around the corner, her presence making you feel even more on edge.

Your eyes flicker to Bobby-Lynn, a sense of betrayal washing over you as you realize she lied to you. You shoot her an accusatory look, your expression giving away your anger.

Lorraine steps into the room, her sweet and timid demeanor immediately defusing the tension in the air. Her voice echoes through the room, asking with gentle concern, "everythin’ alright?"

The sound of her voice instantly has a calming effect on you, even though you're still seething on the inside.

Maxine, whose gaze has been studying you almost hungrily, finally pipes in, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "Oh, we was just catchin’ up," she says, her gaze unabashedly raking over your form.

Yeah, definitely still the same manipulative snake she was in high school.

You turn your gaze to Lorraine, preparing to ask her about why she made you come here, only for your words to die in your throat as you spot another familiar figure behind her. Your heart drops as you recognize the face of the man you thought would rather be caught dead than be around this crowd.

It's RJ, a scrawny band geek from high school. He was the epitome of ‘weird’ back then, always lingering on the outskirts of social groups. Oddly enough, he stands right behind Lorraine now, his presence here seeming completely out of place.

As your eyes roam over his figure, the last person you would've expected to see in this gathering, you can't help but feel a mix of surprise and old memories resurfacing. After all, you were just as much a ‘freak’ to everyone in the room at one point in time.

The sudden appearance of RJ toting up and showing off two bottles of wine awkwardly, stuns you into silence, your mind struggling to catch up with the unfolding situation. Everyone else, seemingly used to RJ's odd behavior, voices their approval with enthusiasm.

Everyone except Lorraine, who remains unnervingly silent, observing you intently as her eyes studying your every reaction.

You're still trying to wrap your head around RJ's appearance at this gathering when Wayne pipes up from beside you, putting his hand on your shoulder once again, this time his touch slightly less mocking. He speaks with a more sincere tone, his voice lacking the previous sarcasm.

"I'm sorry, Rooks. I was just tryna cut the tension a bit. I didn't mean to come off so harsh," he offers apologetically, his eyes locking onto yours.

You take a moment, trying to sort through the whirlwind of thoughts and feelings swirling in your mind. As you stand there, RJ leads the others with a surprising confidence into the kitchen, leaving you feeling lost in a sea of unexpected emotions.

You remain frozen, your mind struggling to process the flood of emotions coursing through you. Wayne's hand drops from your shoulder as he follows the rest of the group into the kitchen, leaving you standing alone in the living room.

Too much. Too much. Where do you even start?

Lorraine silently approaches, her gentle presence having an unexpected calming effect on your tumultuous emotions. She looks at you intently, observing your expression and demeanor with a careful eye. For a brief moment, the two of you simply stand there, the silence filling the air as she waits for you to speak.

Your voice is tight, almost strained, as you whisper to Lorraine, "are you fucking kidding me? Them? Of all people?" Your body is tense, your chest feeling like a coiled spring as you take in the situation at hand.

The sight of all those who tormented you both from your past all gathered in one place, is overwhelming, and you're struggling to keep your composure.

Lorraine's voice is soft and earnest as she whispers to you, her gaze never leaving yours. "I'm sorry," she says quietly, her tone conveying a sense of understanding. "I know it must be overwhelming seeing them all here, but they've changed. You'll see”.

Her words cause a ripple of uncertainty to cross your features, but she adds a final thought, her tone gentle “you need people right now, and you wouldn't have agreed otherwise."

You clench your jaw, struggling to keep your emotions in check. A mixture of anger and disbelief washes over you as you glance towards the kitchen, where the sounds of boisterous laughter and conversation fill the air.

It's almost surreal to think that these people, who use to verbally crucify you on the daily, are now considered Lorraine's friends. Your anger and frustration bubble just beneath the surface, a bitter taste settling in your mouth.

Lorraine's gentle voice breaks through your thoughts, her soft "hey" drawing your attention back to her. Her eyes, wide and innocent, bring an unexpected sense of reassurance, grounding you for a moment.

"I'd never lead you astray," she says, her words filled with conviction. Looking into her earnest eyes, you can't help but believe her.

Your heart is racing, torn between anger, disbelief, and the unexpected comfort Lorraine manages to bring. You stand there, feeling the inner turmoil that threatens to spill over.

As Lorraine walks past you, her eyes never leaving yours until the last second, she offers a knowing look, as if she understands the whirlwind of emotions swirling within you.

With that, she continues on towards the kitchen, joining the others, leaving you alone with your thoughts.

You stand there for a moment, undecided. This is the point where you'd normally leave, walking away from the people who caused you so much pain. You don't owe them anything, including Lorraine.

The words echo in your mind as you think about the decision you're facing. Why on earth would you stay in this situation, surrounded by people who had made your life miserable in the past? But then you think of her.

It's Lorraine, for Christ sake.

She has never been anything but kind and true to you. She's the only one you consider anywhere close to a friend, the only one you could ever… is trust the right word?

You feel a strange pull, as if some invisible force is urging you to stay, to give it a chance. Your mind races, trying to evaluate the situation and reason with yourself. Despite your reservations, you can't help but wonder — what exactly do you have to lose?

You take a deep breath, running your tongue along your teeth and clicking it against the roof of your mouth. You shake your head, sighing in frustration.

But Lorraine's words echo in your head, and as much as you hate to admit it, you can't deny that you do need people right now.

You may have despised your Pop, but he was still your father. Besides, it’s either this or return to that goddamn house of horrors.

With a clenched jaw and stiff movements, you slowly pivot on your heels, forcing yourself to move forward towards the kitchen.

Your reluctance and trepidation are evident in every step, but you push yourself onward, accepting the reality of your situation.

As you get closer to the kitchen, laughter and chatter grow louder in your ears, and you mentally brace yourself for what lies ahead.

You must be out of your goddamn mind, that has to be the explanation. This town, this fucking town.

Internally, you pray this won’t be a mistake.

____________________________________________

Over the past two hours, you've silently observed and taken mental notes on this odd group of friends, your inner investigator at work. You've noticed the subtle changes in their personalities, the unexpected friendships, and the hints of something lurking beneath the surface.

It's clear that time and circumstances have altered these people, and they're not the same ones you remember from high school.

But then again, they are. It’s strange.

Through your observations, you've noticed that Bobby-Lynn and Jackson are a couple, which isn't surprising given their past. However, the revelation that Wayne and Maxine are together comes as a surprise.

But what truly shocks you is the revelation that RJ and Lorraine are a couple now. You never saw that one coming.

You've noticed how RJ tries so hard, but it seems like an uphill battle. His overzealous and awkward enthusiasm clashes with Lorraine's quiet and soft-spoken nature. It's like watching a fish and a bird try to dance together, it just doesn't quite fit.

You observe the group from the sidelines, sipping on the same half-filled glass of red wine you've been nursing for what feels like days, always the outsider looking in.

Your eyes roam over the scene in front of you — the raucous laughter and the growing tipsiness of your old classmates. The familiar feeling of being the quiet onlooker takes hold, keeping you firmly on the fringes.

While observing the group, you’ve noticed the subtle glances exchanged between Bobby-Lynn and Maxine, each silently communicating something unknown.

It disturbs you, how its sole focus seems to consistently shift to Lorraine, who has also been sipping the same glass of wine since the first bottle was opened. There's a strange energy in the air between all three women, and you almost want to assume there's something deeper going on beneath the surface.

You don’t trust Maxine nor Bobby-Lynn as far as you could throw them, and that’s not saying much considering you don’t even trust them at arms length.

Lorraine's fingers toy with the stem of her glass, her eyes darting between Bobby-Lynn and Maxine. The air is thick with something, and you can almost feel the undercurrents of unspoken words that linger in the air.

The way Lorraine glances back and forth between the two women, her gaze never quite settling, leaves you with a sense of unease. There's something going on here, but you can't quite figure out what it is.

You’ve also been observing RJ's behavior with Lorraine; he's being more touchy than necessary, and every time Lorraine responds with a forced smile, one you recognize as her plastering on a facade.

It makes you uncomfortable, you don’t like it.

Suddenly, your eyes inadvertently meet hers, gazes locking for a moment almost as if she’s finally begun to feel the weight of your attention.

You quickly look away, feeling like you've stumbled into something you weren't supposed to see, something more complicated and strained than it should be.

You find yourself looking back at Lorraine, your eyes drawn to her against your will, like a magnet pull. To your surprise, she's still looking at you.

When your eyes meet, she shakes her head subtly. A clear message telling you to drop it, then looks away herself. But for some reason, you can't seem to break the magnetic pull, your gaze remaining locked on her for a moment longer than it should.

You mindlessly fidget with the stem of your wine glass, your eyes darting around the room. Finally, they land on Maxine, who is watching you with a calculating gaze.

As soon as your eyes meet hers, she takes a sip from her own glass, her knowing look making you feel like she can read your thoughts. You quickly look away, trying to seem casual, as conversation continues around you.

You excuse yourself, citing the need to use the bathroom. Bobby-Lynn motions down the hall, informing you where it’s located before leaning back against Jackson, who’s engaged in a boisterous banter with Wayne.

You refuse to look at Lorraine and RJ, avoiding the sight of his possessive hold on her. You tell yourself that it’s their business, not yours, and yet the fact that it’s continuing to bother you makes you angrier than ever.

It’s maddening, this irrational sense of anger and protectiveness towards Lorraine, over a relationship that should mean nothing to you.

As you make your way down the hallway, you involuntarily stop just short of passing a bedroom. A strange feeling, almost like a tug on your awareness, makes you pause, as if something is drawing your attention.

Something about the room beyond the half-open door tugs at the back of your mind, an ominous undercurrent that raises the hairs on your arms. You stand there, staring at the door, feeling an intense sense of unease. Your heart races, the air almost heavy with a feeling of foreboding.

Something feels amiss, something that fills you with a sense of impending danger or revelation. Every instinct screams at you to turn away and keep walking, but you can’t, your feet rooted to the spot.

Against your own better judgment, you find yourself moving towards the room like a puppet on strings, your body acting on its own accord despite your logical mind protesting.

This unnerving sensation, the feeling of being tugged by something other than your own volition, is becoming a disturbingly familiar occurrence for you more and more these days.

You slowly step inside the dimly lit room, your eyes darting around the surroundings. There's a faint hint of burning sage in the air, mixed with the scent of herbs. As you tentatively walk around, your gaze lands on a small, worn velvet pouch resting on the bedside table.

It looks innocuous, but there's something about it that catches your attention. You walk over to it, almost in a trance, and pick it up. Feeling the weight of the contents shifting around inside.

Your eyes flit towards the open door, a brief moment of indecision passing over your face. Every instinct tells you that you shouldn’t be doing this, that it’s wrong, but your curiosity and strange compulsion propel you forward. With a sense of both trepidation and determination, you ignore the nagging guilt and pour the content of the pouch out and into your free hand.

As the contents of the pouch spill out into your palm, you're taken aback for a moment.

The first thing you notice are several strands of hair, clearly someone's locks collected and tied together with a thin strip of leather.

Then there's a collection of small bones, which range in size and shape, some from small animals and some human-looking, like phalanges. There are also a few dried and crushed herbs mixed in, the unmistakable scent of sage among them.

Your eyebrows furrow and your mind whirls, searching for a reasonable explanation.

What on earth would snooty, picture-perfect Bobby-Lynn have an assortment of witchcraft material on her nightstand for?

It doesn’t make sense, it all clashes with the image you have of her in your mind. Sure, she’s a snobby bitch, but this?

You hastily put the components back into the velvet pouch, taking care to place it back exactly as you had found it.

Your mind is a tangle of thoughts and conclusions, but you shake your head, refusing to let your thoughts jump to conclusions based on such limited evidence.

You take a deep breath and exit the room, cracking the door just a hair behind you, being mindful to leave everything as undisturbed as possible.

Yeah, no, fuck this. Time to go.

You feign nonchalance, forcing a yawn as you reenter the room. Upon rejoining them, you quickly offer up an excuse to leave, "I think I'm gonna head out," you announce, avoiding eye contact with no one in particular.

Liar.

The protests come all at once, a chorus of voices blending together as everyone tries to persuade you to stay. Amidst it all, the sound of RJ’s drunken voice stands out, loud and slurred. Your gaze drifts to Lorraine, who looks obviously disappointed.

Your better judgment tells you to stay silent and mind your own business, but you find yourself gesturing towards RJ and locking eyes with Lorraine. In a soft but resolute tone, you ask her, "did he drive you here?"

RJ, already a bit disheveled, attempts to defend himself, but he’s clearly inebriated. "I’m not that drunk-" he slurs, attempting to justify himself.

However, you cut him off and shut him down. "You're not driving anywhere tonight," you say resolutely, your tone brooking no argument.

A tension fills the air as Lorraine begins to speak, her voice soft and resigned. "It's fine, I'll drive us home," she says, attempting to brush off the situation.

It’s logical, because she’s a grown woman who can handle herself. Yet, it doesn’t sit right with you, the image of her driving home with a clearly intoxicated RJ in tow sends a jolt of unease through you.

You can’t help but blurt out a reason why it’s a bad idea, your concern for Lorraine’s safety overriding your usual reserve. "That’s not a good idea," you say, your voice firm ��RJ’s in no condition to be a reasonable passenger, considering how he can’t keep his fucking hands to himself. It’s not safe for either of you or the people on the road”.

Your own outburst catches you off guard, and a wave of embarrassment should wash over you. But you find yourself surprisingly unbothered, too invested in the situation at hand to care about your lack of filter. The room goes silent as everyone looks at you, a bit taken aback by your vehemence.

Maxine mutters under her breath, just barely loud enough for you to hear, "loose cannon”.

Bobby-Lynn gives her a disapproving shush, which only has her roll her eyes. Wayne then speaks up, a sensible solution in his voice, "hows about I drive RJ home? It's on my way anyhow”.

The tension in the room rises as RJ puffs up his chest in protest, his inebriated state making him more volatile. But before even he can respond, Lorraine steps away from him and starts gathering her belongings with a steady and firm resolve.

RJ, still puffed up and tipsy, begins to ask "what are you—“ only for Lorraine to cut him off with a firm "stop, don’t even with me right now."

Her gaze then flicks to you, her expression unreadable, almost guarded. Without another word, she swiftly exits the kitchen, shaking her head in what appears to be frustration or disappointment.

RJ, still agitated, tries to follow Lorraine — shouting her name in anger. However, your actions are almost instinctively protective. You step in his path, creating a barrier between him and Lorraine as she exits the kitchen.

In his inebriated state, RJ becomes brutally honest, spitting the words in your face as he says "you don't get to just show up back here and think you have a place with us."

His words are harsh, fueled by a combination of alcohol and resentment. The sting of his words momentarily catches you off guard, but you recover quickly, hitting back with a truth of your own.

"That's rich coming from you," you reply, "considering I watched Wayne shove you into a locker Sophomore year”, your blunt response is delivered with a hint of bitterness, a reminder of old grievances and past tensions.

The others in the room murmur, no one is surprised by this revelation, simply watching with growing intrigue. RJ’s face colors with embarrassment, clearly not expecting his own past to be brought up like this. Wayne, uncharacteristically avoids your gaze, a flicker of guilt on his face.

As the tension in the room continues to mount, a soft touch on your arm brings a moment of clarity. Your head turns, and your gaze meets Lorraine's dark brown eyes. Her steady presence instantly has a calming effect on you, making you feel grounded and less on edge.

Her eyes remain locked with yours, a silent understanding passing between you. Lorraine’s gentle tug on your sleeve, accompanied by her simple request, "take me home?", is enough to make you snap out of the tense exchange.

You quickly nod your agreement, the thought of leaving Lorraine alone with RJ in his current state and driving off with him not the ideal situation. You know she needs a safe ride home. Without another word, you turn away from RJ and the others in the room, guiding Lorraine towards the exit.

As Lorraine and you make your way towards the front door, RJ clumsily tries to follow, stumbling and calling after Lorraine in his drunken state.

However, Jackson steps in this time, stopping him from tagging along. Sensing RJ’s aggression, you cast a sharp glare their way, not keen on having any further confrontations.

You and Lorraine silently descend into the front yard, the sound of the gate creaking quietly as you pass through it. The night air is crisp and quiet, a stark contrast to the tension and noise of the house you've just left behind.

Before you can mount your motorcycle, Lorraine gently catches your arm, drawing your attention back to her. You turn completely to face her, your motorbike momentarily forgotten.

The streetlamp across the road casts a soft, warm glow on Lorraine, illuminating her delicate features. Her usually stoic eyes are softened, and in the dim twilight, they almost seem to sparkle.

In this moment, with the gentle light playing across her face, she looks truly beautiful. Your thoughts are momentarily muddled, caught in the spell her gaze seems to cast on you.

With a hint of frustration and genuine curiosity, Lorraine asks, "what the hell was that? Huh? It's been five years, haven't you changed any? Or did you just leave for nothin’?" Her voice is firm, a hint of irritation behind her words. She's not looking for a fight, but she wants to know what drove you to such a display back there.

You find yourself opening your mouth to provide an explanation, but the words get stuck in your throat. You feel like a teenager again, flustered and unsure how to articulate your thoughts.

Your mind races, but nothing coherent comes out, leaving you just staring at her, your mouth hanging open uselessly.

Lorraine's expression softens, her doe eyes studying yours intensely. A sigh escapes her lips, and she turns away from you, but casts a look over her shoulder at you.

She then murmurs a soft request, "I don't live far, could you walk me?" her voice is quieter now, the annoyance replaced by a hint of vulnerability.

There's a sense of frustration and confusion swirling through you as you struggle to make sense of your emotions and actions. You feel unsteady, off-balanced, as if walking on shifting sand.

It would mean walking there and then all the way back here for your bike.

Yet, at Lorraine’s request, you step up next to her without hesitation, falling into familiar steps beside her, just as you used to. The silence between you is both comfortable and strangely tense.

You walk together, the only sounds being the soft crunch of gravel under your feet and the occasional bird call in the distance.

But you ignore it, you always ignore it when they call to you.

After a few more minutes of silence, Lorraine finally breaks it, clearing her throat and adjusting her bag on her shoulder. She looks at you with a sincere expression, her voice soft and slightly apologetic. "I'm... real sorry about that," she says, her voice sincere.

"I do mean it when I say they've changed. They're good people, y’know?” she speaks genuinely, trying to reassure you that the people you just left behind are decent, despite tonight's display saying otherwise.

Your mind drifts back to the odd bag you discovered in Bobby-Lynn's bedroom, filled with items that made your hairs stand on end. You haven’t had much a chance to process it, what it could be, what it means.

These thoughts spark a question to your tongue, which leads you to ask Lorraine, "how long have you been hangin’ around with them now?" your voice lacks accusation, yet hints at curiosity and maybe even a slightly protective tone.

Lorraine lets out a soft laugh, the sound echoing down the dark street. Her laughter prompts a reluctant smile to tug at the corners of your lips.

With a knowing look in her eyes, she replies, "long enough now that you ain't got nothin' to get your ass in a twist over” her response is playful yet resolute, asserting that she can take care of herself.

You hum and nod, shoving your hands into the pockets of your jacket, trying to appear nonchalant.

Then in a feigned casual tone that doesn't quite hide your curiosity, "and RJ?" you question, laced with subtle care as it falls from your lips despite knowing it's none of your business.

Perhaps you ask because despite the fact it’s been five years, you do care, more than you're willing to admit.

Dare you say, you always did care? Never.

Lorraine gives you a playfully chastising look before turning her gaze forward along with you. Her response, typical of her, is short and to the point.

She simply shrugs and says, "it’s good," her voice carrying a hint of resignation and perhaps a bit of frustration.

The ambiguity of her answer leaves you wondering if she really means it's ‘good’ or if she's just trying to downplay any issues.

Seeking to bring a bit of humor to the moment, you give her a lighthearted tease. "Good? Lorraine, that's about as vague as a politician's promise. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're holdin’ back on me," you say, your voice filled with a touch of playful banter.

Your words seem to hit the mark, as Lorraine lets out a soft, amused scoff, a hint of a smile on her lips. "Oh, shut up," she responds, but her tone is lighter now, less guarded. There's a sliver of familiarity in her reaction, a flicker of the old spark between you.

Maybe your friendship did somewhat survive the wreckage you left in your wake before you abandoned the ship that is this sinking town five years ago.

As you continue walking side by side, a comfortable silence envelops the two of you. After a moment, conversation begins to flow effortlessly. It feels natural.

You catch up on the past five years, sharing stories, news, and everything in between. The conversation is light, filled with laughter and genuine connection. Despite the years of separation, it's as if no time has passed at all.

The easy banter and familiarity between you make it clear that some things, like your bond, never change. It was rare for you two to talk like this back then, but now?

It’s nice.

As the conversation continues, you realize that you've reached the heart of the town, having slowed your pace without realizing it. You look around, taking in the familiar surroundings, trying to figure out your exact location. The realization hits that you must have arrived at Lorraine's place.

Your curiosity prompts you to ask, "you live around here? In town?”

Lorraine nods her head in affirmation, gesturing upward towards the upper part of the small town library.

"Yeah, I got the loft up there, all to myself," she replies. The revelation gives you a mix of surprise and a sense of familiarity. It feels strange yet fitting that Lorraine would live above the library.

As Lorraine reveals her living situation, you let a playful smile tug at your lips, unable to resist a little teasing. "Livin’ in the library, huh? It's like you were meant to be a resident bibliophile," you jest, a hint of friendly mockery in your voice.

Lorraine instinctively swats at your arm, a gesture that is unexpected but also far too familiar, making the both of you laugh.

As the laughter slowly dies down, you find yourself taking in Lorraine's smile, watching how her brown eyes glimmer in the soft light. In this moment, you realize that you've never fully noticed just how pretty she is.

Has she always been, and you just never noticed?

The realization catches you off-guard, and you question why this thought is suddenly so prominent in your mind. Confused, you wonder what's wrong with you, why you're suddenly so focused on her beauty.

“Thank you,” her voice softer now as she tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Before you can respond, she continues, her voice filled with gratitude.

"It's nice havin’ someone around that makes me feel normal again," she says, her words carrying a hint of vulnerability "I… feel like I can breathe”.

The honesty in her confession reaches you, and you can't help but feel a pang of guilt for the years you've been away. The implication that she hasn't felt normal all this time sits heavily on your shoulders.

You recall her isolation on her family farm, the strained relationship between her parents, and the weight of the unreachable expectations she faced from them both.

The realization hits you how deeply this town has affected her too, how it's left a lasting impact on her psyche as much as it did you.

That wasn’t your fault, you were drowning, you did what you had to do.

But this is Lorraine, you may not have been close but… maybe you were. More than you want to admit, and to admit that to yourself? That might shatter you.

You meet her eyes, your heart heavy with remorse "I'm sorry, Lorraine," you say, your voice sincere and filled with empathy. "I never meant to leave you here alone, dealin’ with all of... this... on your own” your words hang between you, the weight of your absence evident in the air.

There's a moment of silence as Lorraine looks away, her gaze drifting to the side as her thoughts race. The energy between you feels off, strained and awkward. You can't quite put your finger on what's causing this sudden shift, but the tension is palpable.

The words escape your lips before you can even think about it, “you should come by the manor whenever” you blurt out, the words leaving you like they have a mind of their own.

"I'll be there, gettin’ things together the next couple days. I wouldn't mind your company” you stumble over the words as they leave your mouth, surprised by your own impulsiveness.

Surprise flashes across Lorraine's face, but she quickly softens her expression into a small smile.

Concern fills her voice as she asks you, "are you doing okay? Bein’ there after everything?" Her eyes search yours, looking for some kind of confirmation that you're truly alright.

You start to open your mouth, intending to reassure her that you're fine. You're about to brush off her concern, even though you spent the night sleeping on a park bench with your backpack as a makeshift pillow. But something stops you. Instead of speaking, you remain silent, closing your mouth without a word.

Old habits die hard, you suppose.

After a moment of studying you, Lorraine gives you a small smile and reassures you, “I’ll stop by” her voice is gentle and sincere. She then follows it up with another “thank you”.

The weight of her words hangs in the air, and her gratitude seems to go beyond this conversation. It feels deeper somehow, as if there’s a hidden understanding between you.

As Lorraine turns to head up the stairs to the library, you find yourself lost in thought. The understanding you have between the two of you has always been there, but you never quite had the words to define it.

Perhaps it was a connection born from shared experiences, a bond that defied explanation.

As you consider this, you realize that even now after all this time, you still can't find the words to describe it.

And when she turns to give you one small departing wave before slipping inside, you find yourself forgetting what you were worried about in the first place.

previous, next

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Tag List: @thatshyboy1998

if you’d like to be added just let me know!

#lorraine day x y/n #lorraine day x you #lorraine day x reader #lorraine day

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neoarchipelago · 1 year ago

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This is the first chapter of Paws and Claws (a long ass fic about Konig x reader with a tint of psycho Konig.)

I'm posting this to get a first impression on what you guys think... Bear in mind it'll take a while for you guys to get the full thing...

Bear with me this isn't even edited and proofread

Warnings: blood, gore, cursing, obsessive Konig.

You looked out of your window, eyes fixed on the house next to yours. The mountain of a man held the heavy boxes as if they weighed nothing at all. You shouldnt be prying. Shouldn't stare at the way his big arms flex. The man wore a black cap, hiding his hair, and a black surgical mask that partially hid his face, his eyes being the only thing you could see. From up there, in your room, your tried to figure out their color. They looked light, perhaps… blue? Green? Hazel? You bit your lip, trying to shake your head away from the curious character.

The house had been empty for so long that it was unusual to see a new neighbor next door. You lived in your small house with a roommate as you waited for the third room to get a tenant too.

Paws tapping the floor in a hurried pace made you glance at the door. You smiled in advance, thinking about the orange tabby cat who would soon jump on your bed. The cute pink nose and green eyes saw you and immediately darted to your bed, making you giggle. The fun was short term when you heard footsteps behind. You frowned as you looked at your roommate now angrily standing at the door.

"When are you getting rid of that rat?!" He screamed.

"What are you talking about?!" You yelled back.

"He keeps putting fur everywhere!"

"And you keep putting your dirty laundry on the living room floor, not doing the dishes and smoking weed with your friends on Tuesday nights!" You snapped back.

He scoffed before turning around and walking out. You shook your head, turning to Sneaky who looked at you with a glint in his eyes. No. You wouldn't abandon him.

–

For Konig, it was a drastic change to move into a house. At Kortac, dorms were the norm no matter the ranks. Now that he was part of squad 141, he was allowed to his own home, as long as it wasn't too far from base. He had found the perfect house, albeit too big for a single man, but the big garden with a pool was great. He had moved all his stuff, realizing how little things he truly had.

Rain poured outside, he walked through the house, making sure that everything was in order before slumping down on his couch to turn on his tv. It was odd to have such a moment of peace where he could indulge himself in such a normal activity.

He sighed, feeling something twitch next to him. He blinked down before gazing again at the TV just to turn his eyes back to the couch next to him. A ball of fur sat there, looking up at him.

"Ah… " he started, the cat's ear twitching. "Hi.." he added in a softer voice.

The cat stretched before walking to him, climbing on his lap and rolling into a ball.

Konig stared, slightly shocked. He turned his head trying to figure out how he possibly walked in? The two french doors were obviously open to the garden. He realized it. The cat must have been outside and searched for shelter once it started raining.

Konig looked down at the cat on his lap, unsure of what to do. It seemed friendly. His large hand met the soft animal, petting it behind his ears. The cat purred, only spreading himself more comfortably on his lap. Konig snorted, letting the animal rest on him while he turned his attention back to the TV.

A good hour later, a shy ring on his doorbell echoed through the house. He gently picked up the cat, smiling when he barely awoke before turning into a ball and resuming his nap on the couch. Konig grabbed a black facemask, heading for the door. He wasn't expecting the sight before him.

A cute lady, hair wet, little droplets falling onto her shoulders, looking up with a worried expression. Your pretty soft eyes, looking up, accentuating his much larger size compared to you.

"Hum… hi. I'm sorry to bother you sir.." you tried. He immediately noticed the slightest shake of your voice, the tiny sniffle that could have been hidden as the cold from the rain but he knew were from tears. He smiled, trying to ease your discomfort, his eyes wrinkling even though the lower part of his face was hidden.

"Did you, happen to see a cat-?" You asked.

Konig blinked.

"Ah. The orange ball of fur?" He answered.

—-

You were slightly mesmerized by the green orbs of the man. It was the first time you saw him without his cap, his shoulder length brown hair half tied up in a bun. A small scar across his eyebrow. He was huge. Towering over you. His frame imposing, muscles bulking underneath the tight t-shirt. If you weren't so worried about Sneaky, you might have stepped away apologizing for even bothering him. So when he described your precious furry friend your face lit up.

"Y-yes!" You didn't expect your voice to sound so happy.

Something flashed in his eyes before he composed himself so fast you barely noticed it.

"Ah.. já, he's here." You noticed now his slight accent. German perhaps? "Is it your cat?" He asked.

"Yeah… my.. hum, roommate…" you pointed at your house, just next to his. "He, let him escape…" you said, the last word dripping sarcasm, clearly not believing the story.

A flash of lightning eclipsed your frame before the thundering sound of the storm made you jump. You heard the man growl as he looked up at the sky before he extended a hand towards you. You shouldn't. You barely know this man. But, his eyes seemed to pull you in as your hand met his. He softly pulled you inside, the warmth of his home making you sigh. The door closed behind you, a pinch of fear running through you.

"You're wet. I'll get a towel. You can stay until the rain calms." He smiled under the mask. "You should drink tea. You'll catch a cold."

"I don't want to bother you…" you tried in a small voice.

"You don't at all. But if you don't feel comfortable, I understand." He caught himself, raising his hands a bit. You thought a little bit, another fit of thunder rolling outside. Sneaky won't let you bring him home under the rain. You nodded softly.

"Thank you sir…"

"Konig." He corrected. You took a few seconds to think, printing his name in your mind.

"Y/N…"

—

Konig's eyes were glued to you. You sat on the couch, the cat, Sneaky as you had told him, rolled up in your lap. He had chuckled at the name, then clenched his fists as you explained to him how he had been abandoned. Konig had seen you outside before. He knew you lived next door. He had often trailed your pretty features with his eyes but never got closer.

He had indulged in small talk as you spoke to him. Your medic studies while you worked at a small cafe to pay for the school. You had already guessed he was in the army, seeing him arrive with his military gear once. Your amazed expression when he told you he was a colonel made something shake in him.

It was dangerous. The way your pretty laugh seemed to be addictive. The way you curled up on his couch, mug of warm tea in hand, a blanket over your shoulders. He couldn't erase his memory of the soft blush on your cheeks when he had wrapped it around you. The rain slowly stopped, heavy gray clouds lowering the light of day in the living room. He had turned on the light, just to be able to look at you better. Cute little Hase.

He had walked you back to your house as you held the cat in your arms. You had bid him goodbye before your roommate appeared behind you.

"You got that shitty-"

—

You turned to your roommate ready to cuss him out when you stopped at his expression. Wide eyed, mouth slightly agape as he was stopped in his trail. You turned back to Konig, your breath catching in your throat. The dark gaze he was throwing at your roommate made your blood run cold. Through his pretty long lashes, green piercing with a murderous look. Yes. You were sure you had witnessed a glimpse of what he could be on the battlefield. You weren't sure how you felt about it and you honestly tried not to think about it.

Your roommate cleared his throat before walking away. You couldn't take your eyes off of Konig, his dark gaze locking on you. It was as if on cue that the lighting shone behind him, eyes shining as his frame was darkened by the bright light. You felt tiny in front of him. In front of a beast, who's hands probably murdered many men. It was a split second, a split second where you felt in the presence of someone entirely different from the soft smiles and tender eyes. It wasn't cold, it was freezing. It felt like frozen air in a deep cave, where no sun ever shone and where the damp air felt heavy.

As soon as it came it vanished, back to the soft gaze as he held your hand in his, kissing the back of it through the mask.

"Have a good evening Hase.." he said before walking away.

You needed a moment to catch your breath when the door was closed, Sneaky jumping from your arms, stretching softly before going on his merry way, not once shaken by the last few minutes.

"Who the fuck was that?"

You blinked, turning to your roommate.

"That's… the neighbor." You simply answered.

"Try not to bring him here again…" he mumbled before walking away.

After that day, you had met often with Konig. Unfortunately, since your roommate 'accidentally' let Sneaky out, the cat had managed to find various ways to actually escape to your neighbor's house. You both had explained it by the fact he probably missed his old home. Konig was absolutely thrilled to see you at his house. He was slightly worried he had scared you that first time but he made sure to draw you in again by being the softest he could. Truth be told, he wanted to keep you there in his house, where he could see you and make sure you were ok.

He was furious when he heard that simple beginning of scolding from your roommate. He wasn't entirely sure how this had escalated so quickly but he found himself overprotective of you, only a few weeks after your official encounter.

You, on the other side, tried to remain a step back. You truly enjoyed spending time with Konig, ending up spending time at his house everytime you tried to retrieve Sneaky from his place. You enjoyed the talking, the tea and the company. You enjoyed the small baking sessions. But something always made you remain at bay. That hungry terrifying look on his face when you held the brownie tray up to him as he was answering a work call. The way he brushed a strand of hair from your face with a look that made you freeze on the spot. The black facemask stayed on. It did.

You had sauntered away upstairs once, looking for something in the upstairs bathroom when something caught your eye, draped on top of what seemed to be Konig's bed. You had stepped into the wolf's den, eyes glued to the piece of fabric. It was a mask. Roughly cut and tainted under the eye holes. The black fabric seemed to be tainted with droplets, the obviousness of what it was making your tension rise. You were about to grab it when a large hand wrapped around your wrist.

You jumped before remaining still in his hold. He was behind you, the hulking man holding your wrist in a soft grasp, with hands you knew could probably snap it easily.

"No.." his voice was firm, but he obviously was trying to hold back. You looked back at him, questioning. "Don't want you near that." He said firmly again. "Scheiss…" you recognized the curse he whispered under his breath. Often hearing him spur out words in German. You turned in his grasp, looking up at him. You were playing with fire. Taunting the wolf. He could hurt you. You barely knew him. Curiosity filled you, laced in between the fear.

"Why..?" You asked.

You didn't know if it was your soft innocent tone or gaze that made his breath hitch and quicken. But he gazed down at you hungrily again.

"That… is dangerous Maus." He warned.

"Dangerous?" You asked, just as innocently. He hummed in agreement.

You looked down, biting your lip before looking back up. You wanted to ask him. Needed to. Absolutely needed to know.

"Are you going to hurt me?" You asked, voice barely above a whisper.

"Never." He growled. Your skin filled with goosebumps. "That. Is for the battlefield. Not for you. It's soiled. Don't want you to touch it." He said, accent heavy on his tongue now.

That new piece of information sent a delightful shiver through you. You weren't exactly sure why. He was clearly telling you that was the mask he wore when he was slaying his enemies. But the way he wanted to keep you safe from it, away from the bloody thing.

"Ok.." you answered, almost out of breath. "I won't touch it. Sorry…" you added.

"Good.." the praise made you bite your lip.

He let go of your wrist, grabbing the hood before walking to go shove it in a big duffle bag on the ground. You held your hands behind your back, waiting for him to come back to you. He smiled down at you.

"Come on Hase. Let's go back down, got cake for you."

He held your hand, his other one on the small of your back, walking you out of the bedroom. He had to get you out of there before the thought of pinning you down on his bed and fucking you senseless managed to fully materialize in his brain.

You felt a sense of safety you weren't sure was truly founded. As you sat down at the counter, eating a small piece of chocolate fudge cake, his eyes stuck to your frame. Watching you eat. His stance alone had changed since the interaction in his bedroom and you wondered why.

"Konig..?" You called. He groaned, signaling you he was listening. "Why are you looking at me like that?" You asked, tilting your head to the side.

"I won't let anything hurt you Hase.."

His voice was deep, almost a growl, eyes back to the darkened one he had pierced your roommate with. You tried to keep your heartbeat from making you deaf.

"Konig…" you called again. "You're a bit scary like that…" you told him honestly.

"Don't be scared maus. I'll never hurt you." He reassured again.

You took a deep breath. Two voices fought in your head, one wanting to simply give in and let him do as he wishes, and the other screaming to run away

#fanfics #fanfiction #fanfic #konig mw2 #konig cod #konig x reader #konig call of duty #konig modern warfare #konig

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kokoshfts · 2 months ago

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Just finished my odd squad script (imma have a ball in these tube things) I'm finna work overtime too (I'm only 9) ROOKIE NIGHTTTTT

#shifting script #kpop shifting #shiftblr #shiftingrealities #shifttok #anti shifters dni #shifting antis dni #shifting community #shifters #reality shifting

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ducktoonsfanart · 9 months ago

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Darkwing Duck and Duck Avenger (PKNA) with their families as superheroes in action (redraw) - Darkwing Duck, Duck comics and Quack Pack AU - Duckverse - Happy my birthday!

I haven't contacted you for a long time because of my problems, but here I am to say that the day has come, that is, today is my birthday (5th April). Yes, I celebrate the same day, when Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball, the best manga and anime for me, was born on this day. Certainly a big thank you to him for that!

Well, considering that most people don't know about it, I'm going to publish my tribute, i.e. a redraw of my drawings and that I drew what I like the most. This is a redraw of an old drawing where I drew Duck Avenger (Donald Duck) and Darkwing Duck (Drake Mallard) together in action along with their wives, partners and their children as superheroes. By the way, it's part of my fanfiction that I'm currently writing and it's about that crossover between Duck Avenger and Darkwing Duck. For more stuff see my old drawing code: https://ducktoonsfanart.tumblr.com/post/666638654144446464/ducklooney-now-a-big-surprise-especially-for

Yes, Drake and Donald have similar personalities and have the same angry jerk ego that puts them at odds together (and I love that), but they are also great superheroes and protect their towns (Duckburg and St. Canard) from various villains. And then there's Morgana Macawber, a witch from Transylvania and sometimes Drake's love interest who mostly deals with magic, Daisy Duck as She-Wenger (Paperinika, Super Daisy) as a special version, Uno (One-Uno Ducklair A.I. duck who helps and tasks Paperinik ), Launchpad McQuack, Gosalyn Mallard as Quiverwing Quack (yes Gosalyn is a teenager here and is the same number of years as HDL) and of course Donald's nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie (they are teenagers as from Quack Pack) as T-Squad superheroes (my version). Huey is the Red Shadow, Dewey is the Blue Cyclops and Louie is the Green Avenger. Similar to the old drawing, but significantly modified which I did in my own ways by combining various styles into one. I hope you like it! Also Happy Anniversary Darkwing Duck and PKNA Version Duck Avenger!

If you want to see more of this and if you liked this drawing, feel free to like and reblog this, but please don't use these same ideas and versions without my permission and without mentioning me! Thank you! And it's time for action! Let's Get Dangerous! And happy birthday to me!

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tesalicious2 · 6 months ago

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Freaks of the Corscant Guard Part One

Slick in the CG:

So obvi Fox saves Slick from decommissioning and is like ‘u work for me or die’

Slick chooses life and is like ‘what’s needed’

Fox doesn’t trust slick like at all, so he is forced to wear a shock collar and has a tracker implanted that’s attached to his intestines (slick doesn’t know where it is only that it’s there)

Slick essentially does Fox’s dirty work and he doesn’t mind, fox isn’t a bad boss at all

Slick becomes a part of the ‘crazies’ squad which is made up of a Psychopath (psycho), a sociopath (socio), a narcissist (narc), a pathological liar (false), and a serial arsonist who burned several natborns (burn)

All of them have trackers in them (diff locations) but burn is the only one who has a collar as well

Slick does enjoy these partners and their craziness

Psycho and socio are the only ones who’ve left the planet and worked with other squads

Fox has gotten them to cooperate by making the squads in question ‘their’ pets

Despite what that means, Socio and Psycho like their pets happy and healthy so completing the mission and keeping them all alive is perfect for their pets

Socio prefers to be alone so often solo missions on Coruscant that are off the books

Psycho enjoys working with new pets and has actually been able to keep one

On an off world mission, Psycho was given charge of a squad with the 41st

It went bad and Psycho was only able to save one pet (he was very upset at his pets being taken), a shiny that survived

The shiny (that Psycho named Baby) had asked for a transfer after the mission and Neyo decided to just let Fox have him

After all, if Baby liked Psycho and wanted to be his vod’ika, there must be something really wrong with Baby

Psycho was absolutely delighted to have a permanent pet! Usually, he kept pets for the length of the mission and then satiated with solo off the books missions on Coruscant

Psycho wanted nothing more than his pet to be happy and healthy, otherwise he’d look like a bad ori’vod and Baby would become a broken toy (no one likes a broke toy)

Baby (under Stone’s command) is given similar shifts as Psycho, well he has the same break times and days off. Otherwise he’s in the prison

Narc hates Baby, as Baby takes away attention from him (as Baby is something new and taking all of Psychos attention)

Narc ends up tormenting Baby when Psycho isn’t around which Psycho catches on too

Baby, who now sees Psycho as a safe place, ends up developing a dependency on Psycho that’s extreme when he’s not on shift

When he’s working, he’s fine, but when he’s free, he’s attached to psycho like a tumor

Slick likes Baby and attempts to get Fox to stop Narc (bc he’s not getting involved in that, no way) and leaves it at that

False gets along very well with Narc, as he is a great liar and has no problem inflating Narc’s ego

False mostly does info handling and spec ops, as he’s a great liar and it’s practically impossible to tell what’s the truth and a lie

It’s not hard for commanders to get the truth from him though, as False is entirely trustworthy and normal besides his lying

The problems only came when troopers stopped trusting him, not understanding that False pathologically lies when the information either doesn’t matter (so he’s lie through entire conversations) or he’s deflecting (captured and asked for info) but when it comes to commanders and brothers lives on the line, he’ll be truthful

Burn is surprisingly the odd ball of the group, as he gets along with everyone and no one

He’s likable enough but he has a habit of going absolutely psychotic around fires and sometimes he just wants to watch something burn

#crack #clone wars #clones #coruscant guard #star wars #commander fox #sw tcw #clone trooper slick #psychopaths #sociopath #and arsonists #what’s not to love #shinies #clone troopers

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samlssms · 2 years ago

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Odd Ball Squad chibi pin designs! Here they are with a bit of info about each member of my little fictional band

The asshole who can never take a hint; nobody really likes him, he pesters everyone, but he never really leaves for good. Invites himself everywhere and is extremely cocky and flirts with EVERY FEMALE HE SEES. He is straight as fuck. (But is an ally)

Romp's shy girlfriend, she's very soft, and sweet! She tries to keep everybody out of dangerous situations, and often gets anxious over small dangers (maybe even a small bee) She is bisexual.

The angry and sarcastic drummer. Ask him anything and you'll almost always get a sarcastic or angry response. He almost always speaks sarcasm. Nobody knows what his problem is. Also plays drums. He is gay but still in the closet.

A soft beaver boy who has a country accent and plays acoustic guitar. He is also bisexual. Sometimes has a jinkies moment when he loses his glasses though.

Very energetic and LOUD. She's a lesbian and a very affectionate lover, though she shows her affection through quality time, and a bit of horseplay (such as wrestling). She plays electric guitar.

A comedian flamingo who never lands a punchline. When he actually gets someone to laugh, he almost cries of happiness. He's very unfunny. So unfunny, he carries around a little button to press that plays a sound effect of laughter to make things less awkward. (It does not help). Sexuality not yet decided.

A blind mouse who just roams around and vibes to the music that the band plays. He is also mute. He communicates via tapping patterns. It's a unique way to communicate, but the gang has learned how. Sexuality undecided.

A very shy guy who plays piano. He uses he / they pronouns. They blush easily when their piano playing is complimented (which is often, he is quite good, and often gets song requests). Sexuality not yet decided.

Chipper (left) very cocky and snarky, often makes smartass remarks to his sibling (Skit) and other band members to screw with them. These remarks often give Skit anxiety. Chipper is asexual homoromantic.

Skit (right) often very anxious due to their brothers remarks. Skit uses they / them pronouns, while their brother uses he / him. It's a bit complicated, since they're both attached to the same body. They're asexual panromantic.

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honey-minded-hivemind · 11 months ago

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(I may send in a few more requests for Dino squad as well-)

what about in the Dino squad a reader who is a Compsognathus (one of if not the smallest dinosaurs) who has hidden from everyone that they are anything less then human, and don’t know about the other Dino kids either? I’m thinking they were at the beach that day as well but at a different time then the others

Ahaha, yes! Let's see what I can whip up for ya:

You aren't sure what your life had come to.

You'd been with your biology class on a fieldtrip, down by the beach, and somehow, someway, it turned into something a lot more than just a quick trip to the shore.

Because by the time you'd gotten home, you discovered you could turn into something new. Something impossible to be.

A dinosaur.

A small one, a Compsognathus, but a dinosaur nonetheless.

It was... insane.

Scary.

It started to become worse when other dinosaurs started popping up.

And they were a LOT bigger than you.

So, with all the reasoning you had, you kept hidden. No need to reveal yourself and possibly get eaten, right? Nope, not you.

The situation died back a bit, things going back to a weird, settled normal... Yet somehow that didn't last, either...

They saw you.

There were a few of them, fighting mutated plant thingies, and you'd been helping on the sidelines, guiding animals to safety, when you crossed paths with the carnosaur. It locked eyes with you for a moment, then something burst inside your mind:

There's another one?!

That caught the attention of the other dinosaurs, who came thundering over, all tall and imposing. You took the opportunity to dart between their feet, aiming to escape into the streets.

Woah, woah, WAIT!

We're like you!

You ignored whatever the h*ck was grating at your thoughts, letting your feet carry you swiftly to safety. The rest of the night, you slept in a curled-up ball, hidden amongst your blankets, trying to keep your fears at bay...

After that incident, the dinosaurs always seemed to be looking for you.

Well...

Dino you.

And your classmates seemed a little rattled in class. The class was full of odd, strange kids, but these five tended to stick together no matter what. But something seemed to have excited them, because now they were talking with others in class, asking questions, listening to the biology teacher, who only sighed at their antics and told them to be careful.

They ended up talking with you.

You had Lance, a team leader of sorts, into sports, and always wearing shades of brown and black and red. A cool guy, but a little intense.

You had Fred, large and adept with plants, who enjoyed working at animal shelters and helping strays, in overalls and camo. Sweet, and didn't tolerate bullying at all.

You had Wanda, stoic, unstoppable, and dressed in red. She put any person to shame in the intimidating apartment. A twin, but the older, more scary, of the two. She tended to study medicinal plants and animals.

You had Pietro, fast, loud, talkative Pietro. Never seen without pale blues or greens, with a white shirt or blouse, he was someone who was quite popular with the school. He was also a bit of a diva. Wanda's twin, the ... less scary... one. He knew how to talk with people, how to make them feel welcome.

And there was Todd, or Toad, as people called him. Short, long legs, shaggy hair, and always wearing green. The guy loved amphibians, wore bracelets, and seemed pretty chill. Not too bad to round the whole group out.

You weren't sure how you caught the attention of all five of them. To be fair, you don't think they knew either.

Asking how long you'd been in the class, what animals and/or plants you enjoyed, what you thought might help the environment... Basic questions. Until they weren't.

"So, you remember that field trip awhile back, right? Went down to the beach, note the environment, clean up anything hazardous... Teach says you also happened to be there. Which group were you assigned?"

"I was... assigned to your group, actually. I just, hung back a bit. Stuck closer to the shoreline."

That seems to cause a ripple effect amongst them, some unspoken agreement.

"So... did Teach tell you anything about how to earn extra credit?"

"No...?"

"It's quite simple: You join up with one of the class groups, and we do a presentation on one of the prehistoric creatures who they've mentioned. We already have one in mind, if you're game."

"Sure! Sounds good."

"Okay. How does a ... Compsognathus, sound?"

And suddenly you believe your secret isn't so secret anymore.

#honeycomb thoughts #platonic yandere marvel #yandere platonic marvel #platonic yandere xmen #yandere x-men #platonic yandere #platonic yandere x reader #platonic yandere marvel x reader #platonic yandere xmen evolution #platonic yandere xmen evolution au #🦖dino squad🦕 au

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sisterpaw125 · 3 months ago

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Serial Designation A and Serial Designation B

Drawing characters from @thetwinsontheinternet 's fanfic series! Starting off with the Series VI Disassembly Drones! They'll be drawn letter by letter according to the English alphabet.

Series: Before it all started...

SD-A: He has short and spikey hair, wears a black half-zip fleece. He has a bad attitude, always tough but really he is just a lacky as well as an underdog. His role of squad leader is the only thing that gives him balls, without that he wouldn't feel the power that he really doesn't have.

SD-B: He is a cowboy, he has a Stetson hat and is dressed like a gunslinger from the west. He has a hugely bad temper and doesn't talk, only mumbles and grumbles and because F is his usual translator, without him nobody can really understand the guy.

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Me: I am aware that B's cowboy pants look odd, but this was the only way for me to make holes without it being NSFW. Also his "facial hair" is more of a style choice, cuz robots.

#murder drones #murder drones fanart #murder drones oc #ao3 author #murder drones au #murder drones art #ao3 fanfic

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duhragonball · 2 years ago

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Dragon Ball Super Manga Ch. 77-80

When I first read this, I was pissed because I’m sick of Vegeta just knowing everything that happened to every Saiyan before they were wiped out. I mean, he was a kid back then, how would he know Goku’s dad?

Then I finally remembered Vegeta grew up with Goku’s brother, and it suddenly made sense.

Okay, so let’s back up a bit and go over why Granolah wants revenge in the first place. About forty-odd years ago the Cerealians were invaded by Frieza’s forces, including a lot of Saiyans. I think they showed some other aliens in Frieza uniforms, but it’s mainly Saiyans using Oozaru forms. The Cerealians managed to neutralize the giant ape business, but the Saiyans were still strong enough to kill them all. There was also a small community of Namekians living on the planet Cereal, and they all died as well. There were only two survivors: The Namekian Monaito, who inherited the Cerealian Dragon Balls from the village elder, and Granolah, who found refuge in a building with his mother.

However, Granolah and his mom were discovered by a Saiyan named Bardock. He probably would have killed them on sight, except they happened to remind him of...

His wife and newborn son, whom he saw recently before this mission. Turns out Bardock was the one who came up with the name “Kakarot.”

So instead of killing the two Cerealians, Bardock tells the rest of his squad that he’s going to stay behind to take out any survivors. Then he scans the area and locates Monaito. He then takes Granolah and his mom to Monaito and asks him to take them in. Then he leaves, or he tries to, anyway.

Afterwards, Granolah grew up craving revenge on the Saiyans and Frieza, and he must have had no memory of Bardock’s act of mercy. Monaito’s known all along, and he kept it a secret this whole time, but he’s telling Granolah now because he wants him to stop his attack on Goku and Vegeta. And as he explains all this, he notices that Goku bears a striking resemblance to Bardock, and that’s when Vegeta explains that Bardock was Goku’s father.

But wait, if Bardock saved Granolah’s mother, then who killed her? Ah, well you see...

Shortly after Bardock saved those guys, the Heeters showed up. They worked as planet brokers under Frieza, so once Planet Cereal was vacant, they started making plans to sell it to the Sugarians. Naturally, they planned to overcharge the Sugurians and give Frieza a modest cut.

But then they happened across Bardock, Monaito, Granolah and his mom, and Bardock had to pretend that he was preparing to take Monaito prisoner to cover his tracks. Elec then shot Granolah’s mom just to simplify things. This infuriated Bardock, who then attacked the Heeters, which led to a fight with Gas. Bardock won that day, although Monaito didn’t get to see that part, for some reason.

So why didn’t Monaito tell Granolah about the Heeters? Why didn’t he say anything when Granolah started working for them?

Because Monaito knew he’d go off on some half-baked revenge scheme and get himself killed. This is probably why Monaito allowed Granolah to believe it was the Saiyans who did it, because once Frieza destroyed their home planet, there was no one for Granolah to go after, and he seemed to understand that Frieza was too strong. But that backfired on Monaito, because once Granolah found out about Frieza returning and some Saiyans still being alive, he... went off on some half-baked revenge scheme.

Anyway, Elec knew Granolah had talent, and since he never knew about the whole murdered-his-mom thing, Elec thought he could recruit him for his organization. After that, Monaito couldn’t tell him the truth, because Elec would kill them both.

Anyway, while all this exposition is happening, the Heeters find the Cerealian Dragon Balls and make their wish...

... which is basically the same wish Granolah made at the beginning of this arc, only they asked for Gas to become the strongest warrior in the universe. And since the wish was granted, that means Gas must be even stronger than Granolah is.

So they fight, and Granolah gets his ass kicked. Gas’ whole deal is that he uses energy constructs, sort of like Green Lantern but without the ring. This isn’t a new power he got, it’s something he’s always been able to do, and through much of this battle, he tries to win with the power he had before Elec made the wish.

Goku comes up with a plan to handle Gas. He wants Vegeta to eat his senzu bean and fight with Ultra Ego again, but Vegeta left the bean in his armor, which he took off while fighting Granolah. So first he has to go find it, and Goku will try to hold Gas off in the meantime.

But Vegeta gives the senzu bean to Granolah instead, insisting that he’s the one who wants revenge on these guys, so it should be him who settles things.

On his way to fight Gas, Granolah makes up with Oatmeel and puts him back on, assuring the computer than they’re a team. Awww.

So this is just Gas vs. Granolah, with Goku and Vegeta reduced to spectators. It’s an interesting choice to say the least. Gas should have the advantage on power, but Granolah stays competitive for a few reasons.

1) Gas doesn’t want to use his full strength, because he thinks he should be able to win with the power he had before the wish. That doesn’t work, so he eventually relents and uses his full power, but he wastes a lot of valuable time and energy this way.

2) Gas hasn’t fought much at all in this arc, mainly because Elec always wanted to keep him in reserve as a last resort. We know he fought Bardock decades ago (and lost), so he’s clearly gotten a lot stronger, even without that wish to beef him up, but he lacks experience with this power. Granolah had the same problem when he fought Goku and Vegeta, but now he’s got the advantage, because he... just got done fighting Goku and Vegeta. If he can beat those two, he can hold his own against Gas.

3) Granolah has his Cerelian perception, which makes his attacks far more precise than anything Gas can do.

It’s also possible that Gas’s heart just isn’t in this. He seems distant from the priorities of the other Heeters. When he has difficulty fighting, Elec removes the headband of teeth from his head. The other Heeter wear these like necklaces, and apparently they’re not decoaritive. Somehow they restrain their powers, and if you remove them, they become stronger, but also go berserk. Wonder Woman’s bracelets used to work this way. If she lost them, she’d go apeshit and kick everyone’s ass.

According to Monaito, the same thing happened when Bardock fought Gas forty years ago. Gas took off his headband thing and transformed into a gonzo monster. Bardock won somehow, but Gas is far more powerful now, and this time he attacks everybody. But Elec isn’t worried, because if Gas is truly the strongest in the universe now, then he ought to be able to regain control over himself.

And that’s exactly what he does. Not sure how he got his clothes back after he hulked out of them, but maybe the dragon gave him the Clothes Beam technique along with all the other upgrades.

And this brings me to the end of volume 18 of Dragon Ball Super. Volume 19 won’t be published in English until September, and I don’t want to wait that long, so I guess I’ll have to find the next several chapters elsewhere. So hopefully I can pick this up tomorrow...

Oh, right, Bardock.

So, Bardock showing up in this arc caused a lot of agitation in the fandom. I think this was mostly because of lingering frustration with Dragon Ball Minus retconning all the Bardock lore from the 1990 TV special. That, and there’s also a lot of Bardock Fatigue in the fandom, because the franchise has been shoehorning Bardock into every video game and merchandise possible. For many, working him into the DBS manga was just another crass marketing ploy.

Also, chapter 77 marks the moment when Goku finally learns about his father, which is a big deal for the character, but a milestone like that is always going to be controversial, because there will be fans who think the series was better off when Goku didn’t know. It’s like when Clark Kent told Lois he was really Superman. You can’t unring that bell.

I... don’t particularly care about any of that. For my part, Bardock’s a cool character, and I don’t mind seeing him or his cute wife. Anything Toei or Shueisha does with Goku’s parents is a fair play in my book. It’s no different from having Tien or Android 17 show up. But there seems to be this special status that’s been assigned to Bardock, where he’s either too cool or too overexposed, and that makes him off-limits. Well, I don’t buy into made-up rules like that.

I get the sense that there’s this edgelord contingent of the fandom that wouldn’t accept any version of Bardock short of him murdering Granolah’s mom and eating Monaito’s face or something. I don’t understand these fans, because the “Father of Goku” special is just Bardock getting the shit kicked out of him from start to finish. Tooru kicks him in the head, then he goes to Planet Meat and Dodoria beats him up, then he flies to Planet Vegeta and dies to Frieza. How is this guy a badass? Because he dominated Dodoria’s goon squad? Well Guldo could one-shot all of them, so why isn’t everyone fawning over Guldo then?

People got mad because Bardock said “tummy”, which isn’t a very badass word to use. You never hear Guldo say “tummy”, and he’s hard as nails. My thing is, if you imagine Sonny Strait delivering the line in that cool voice he uses, it sounds a lot more natural. Yeah, if he said it in the Krillin voice, it’d be goofy, which is why he doesn’t use the same voice for both characters.

I’d chalk it up to a translation issue, really. I mean, it’s probably accurate, but the people at Viz should have used different wording. Sometimes you have to punch up the dialogue, make it sound more like something Guldo would say.

The point I’m trying to make is that Bardock isn’t some sacred cow, and he’s also not a third rail that the franchise is forbidden from using. Dragon Ball Super brought back the Mafuba and the Grand Supreme Kai and the guy Zarbon kicked on Namek. Of course they were going to do something with Bardock. I’m more surprised that they didn’t just have him time travel to present-day Earth and live in Goku’s house for a while.

#dragon ball #dragon ball super manga #2023dbapocryphaliveblog #goku #vegeta #granolah #monaito #elec #gas #oil #macki #bardock #gine

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