#they're trying to drag everyone else in their misery too

[windowsillbells]

also yes i get it’s a cultural thing (kind of? i also see this a lot in american and italian shows so maybe let’s just say conservative thinking is everywhere) but when i see a show that tries to force me to pity and empathize with characters who lead miserable lives because of choices made under peer pressure/societal expectations, i get annoyed as all hell, especially when they have a whole social circle supporting them whatever choices they make. i live in italy lol not the most enlightened country. i think a good 75% of my life choices haven’t been made with peer pressure/societal expectations in mind, i’m fully grown and adult now. i still haven’t been dragged through the streets and publicly put to shame, even tho i did some things that were considered very shitty under the traditional moral compass, so i can confidently say caring about what society expects from you is kind of bullshit (and often you don’t even really know, you just assume, so you’ll get it wrong and suffer for the wrong reasons too). so no i won’t pity a person who isn’t able to say “no mother in law i won’t get pregnant again”. i promise you CAN not drink a getting-pregnant-with-a-boy disgusting concoction with virtually no repercussions. i promise you CAN stay single for a few years past 25 without the police banging on your door and dragging you to jail. i promise it’s gonna be alright. i mean we’re not talking about being queer or whistleblowing or shit like that, we’re talking about very basic things you can refuse to do. “ohhhh but then the mother in law won’t speak to them again” oh well i think zhizhi can manage. “ohhhh but then what will the neighbors think about a man living alone in his thirties” listen my guy if your worst fear in life is what the neighbors are gonna say about your love life you gotta do some soul searching

[honey-minded-hivemind]

imagine Nightcrawler ended up finding Sentinel!Reader's body in the frozen lake, in fact imagine he'd be tracking them down through peices of their body they tore off, probably racing to find them and panicking because they could be falling apart of getting attacked by something, hell maybe some delusions sprout from there

Maybe Kurt's found trying to put Reader back together while he's under the belief that they didn't do this to themself, something else must've attacked them- they wouldn't resort to this- right??-

Cube anon

He's panicking.

His heart is pounding, his hands are shaking, tears are starting to stream down his cheeks with each piece found, each drop of liquid, each frayed wire and muddy print...

He feels his heart go cold, plunging like a rock into his stomach, when he sees the lake... and the hole in it, with small drops of liquid by it, and no sign of Reader.

He goes into a blind terrified panic, clawing at the ice and trying to reach his hands in, trying with all his might to feel for Reader, to drag them up, to see that they can't possibly be gone-

Logan, Rogue, Scott, they- they can't be in there! They won't survive! They're wounded, their wires are exposed, they're missing their heating system, please, please please tell him they aren't in there, please, he's begging them-!

They eventually are able to break through the ice, and are able to drag Reader's body out of the water... damaged beyond repair, and broken all over...

***************************************************

The first thing they do, after getting Reader's body back and finding their memory files intact, decide to look through them to see who killed their friend...

Only, to their horror and guilt, find that it wasn't an unknown assailant or an old enemy... but Reader, who did this to themself.

That their pain was too much for them to handle, and feeling like they had no choice and feeling too hurt inside, decided to end their being.

No one takes it well.

Kurt is praying even more now, fervent and pleading and in misery, trying to find any comfort he can over what happened and why he's lost too many friends.

Rogue is there to comfort him, and tries to apologize, now feeling even more despairing because she's lost both Remy and Reader now.

Logan, Scott, Jean, and Ororo are losing sleep, kept up with the memories of Reader, and wishing they'd waited just a bit longer, hadn't said what they'd said, had tried to see the truth sooner... Reader was their own, a friend, a child to them, and they made them feel so bad, that they did this to themself... They get no sleep...

Hank and Charles and Erik are working on growing the bodies for the passed mutants, getting help to bring their spirits back, working on trying to make things right and not lose everything again. It distracts them from Gensoha, it distracts them from Bastion, it distracts them from Gambit and Reader... But the moment all that remains to be brought back are Gambit and Reader... they're making absolute sure no mistakes are made, and feel just a bit better, just a mite of hope, that Reader's spirit is in the afterlife with Gambit, amd had been with the other mutants...

I imagine a few of the extra friends Reader had made, such as Leech amd Jubilee and Roberto and Emma and Madelyn and Omega Red and Sabretooth (look, Reader's really sweet, so why not let them have really nice and really scary friends too?), are ready to see their old friend, who they've missed greatly, and who they think will enjoy this new home and its weird fruit and delicious juice... It would be nice, for everyone tp forget their worries... if they can even remember what they were worried about in the first place... But they can't wait to finally get their little buddy back-! They've missed them so so SO much!!!

Of course, the X-Men, when visiting the spirit realm, are going to have to somehow talk Gambit into letting himself amd Reader go with them, and breach the topic of Reader being a... sentinel... somehow...

Yeah...

Gambit gonna be p*ssed...

[bearsinpotatosacks]

A Heart Can Belong to More Than One - Multi-ship fic

The Bradshaws are very loving people. They're with Maverick, and recently Ron. Maybe they can help Iceman with his dilemma.

~~~

For a prompt list, prompt was "A kisses B in the rain"

Words: 1858

Goose held the cigarette between his lips as he fumbled about trying to find his lighter. Once the cold metal landed in his hand, it was always the other pocket, he flicked it on. Orange flames lit up against the overcast sky. A sizzle came as the cigarette lit, that first inhale always managed to ease any tension. He turned to Ice, leaning on a post as they hid from the rain. 

"Don't tell Carole about this, okay?" He said, taking a drag. "She's not a big fan of smoking."

"Why do you do it then? You seen to do everything for her,"

"Stress relief," he said. "And the past few weeks have been a little stressful, so, I'm smoking."

He then added with a chuckle, "But if you ask her what I do for stress relief she'd probably say 'her'."

He heard Ice laugh. It was a rare occurrence really, even when he knew him in the Academy he was never one to laugh too much. 

"How long are Mav and Slider going to be?" He asked.

Ice shrugged, "They said they had some questions for the doctor, so they could be ages, Ron used to doctors so is usually quite thorough," 

Nick thought back to those days before the Navy. There was one night, in the rain, when Ron came to him in tears and told him everything about his family. His sister used crutches and had seizures, something they told him he could have.

"He really cares about you, and Carole," Ice said. 

"Good, I think I do too," he tapped his forehead. "Had a lot of time to think about it, you know, coma and all."

Ice just gulped and shuddered. He'd been told about how guilty he felt. The Iceman who made no mistakes, responsible for almost killing one of his team? He'd tried to tell him it wasn't his fault, apparently everyone had, it had been ruled an unfortunate accident. Not that he listened, of course.

"Mav cares a lot, too, more than people give him credit for," 

They both knew he meant himself. Nick gave him a reassuring smile that didn't seem to do much.

"Most of what he does is because he cares, just doesn't show it like others do, that's all," he said, taking another drag and tapping the ash off the end onto the floor.

"Yeah, cares-"

There was something strange about the look on his face. A glimmer at the thought of Mav, he knew plenty about those, but another, more uneasy flash told him there was something else.

"What is it?" He asked.

Ice rubbed the back of his neck.

"Look, when you, Carole and Ron hooked up, she might've taken that to mean you two were open to go with anyone, because-" he closed his eyes then blurted out. "-because I saw her kissing Mav when visiting you and thought you should know."

He laughed around the cigarette and watched the smoke puff out of his lips like a dragon. Ice was fairly confused. He guessed he should give him an answer.

"I'd hope so, I mean, they do love each other separate from me,"

He knew it was a tad unfair to say he enjoyed the confused look. Maybe it was because Tom hardly ever showed any sign that he was invulnerable and he wanted to take advantage of that, just a little bit.

After a moment, though, he put him out of his misery, "I've been with Carole and Mav since 1979, Tom, she's not cheating on me," he said. "Although, I appreciate you telling me, not everyone would."

Ice took a second. He moved his hands around and mouthed things to himself. God, it was really entertaining, but open relationships were confusing, so better explain.

"I started dating Carole in early 1979, then we started dating Mav, now we've got a thing with Ron," 

"Right, that kind of makes sense, yeah," he said then looked down.

That glimmer was back. Nick had a feeling there was another reason for this conversation. He could guess as to what it was, he’d seen the looks between him and Mav. Him, Carole and Slider actually put bets on how long it would take for them to get together. Nick was thinking he may win.

"All of your relationship stuff makes my dilemma seem easy," he said, 

Nick nodded at him while taking a drag. Ice sighed and raked a hand through his hair. He met his gaze as if pleading not to talk but Goose wouldn't take no for an answer, not about matters of the heart.

"Fine, I've been hooking up with Ron as long as he's been my RIO, but since Top Gun, and more since your accident, I think I've been falling for Mav," he carried on. "And I've been fighting myself over having to choose when I didn't even realise I could choose both."

Nick shrugged, letting smoke curl up his face, "I mean, they're both up for being with multiple people, so it's not like that'll be much of a problem."

Then, he thought of the nights he'd spent listening to Pete complain endlessly about Tom. Nick was invested in this rivalry, kind of, but not this much. He wasn’t talking non stop to Carole about Ron, well, not in a negative way anyway. 

"I had an inkling, anyway, so I think you may have a shot."

Tom's eyebrows darted up. Hope flashed on his face. For a moment, he was just Tom, not the unbreakable Iceman.

"An inkling?"

"Yeah, it's called Carole Bradshaw." They laughed. "She knows people more than me."

And as if they summoned her, a car pulled into the hospital and stopped outside the doors. Nick tried to put out the cigarette in time but she must've been too eager, as she was already running out of the car. Her look of glee fell as she realised what he was doing.

"Nicholas Bradshaw, what are you doing?"

He didn't say anything as the cigarette hung from his lips. Ice was trying not to laugh behind him.

"Smoking."

"Why?"

"I was gonna say stress relief but that feels silly, now."

"Cancer and COPD and lung disease are not silly, Mister." She plucked it from his lips. "I don't want to see you doing this again, it's a dirty habit."

He nodded, "Uh hu, very dirty."

She gave him a smirk and kissed his nose. 

"Gimme the rest,"

He pouted as he handed over the packet of cigarettes and cheap disposable lighter.

"What were you two talking about anyway?"

Ice stopped laughing all of a sudden. Nick stopped pouting and gave him a grin. He started to shake his head but it was too late.

"Tom was that telling me he's been holding a flame for our dear Peter, oh and his own dear Ronald,"

Her smirk held as she circled his middle with her arms.

"Really?" She said, then looked up at him again. "Means you might win the bet."

"Bet? What bet? You were betting on me?" Ice exclaimed.

"Perhaps."

She nuzzled her nose with Nick, "We may have put a bet on who would make the first move, and Nicky may have said you'd make the first move."

Nick went in for a kiss but Carole pushed him away, muttering something about him tasting horrible from the cigarette. 

"Yeah," he said to Tom, giving up on getting a kiss. "So if you could just go for it I'd really appreciate the 80 dollars, okay?"

Ice chuckled but Nick made sure not to. His smile dropped as Mav and Slider finally exited the hospital. Slider took his place by Nick’s side, slipping his arm behind his back. Mav settled against the post Ice was lent against. 

"I'm serious," Nick said.

Ice tried to get him to shut up but it was too late. Mav didn’t like to be out of the loop, that was one of the reasons behind his imposter syndrome, so turned to him with a wistful gaze.

"What's he serious about?"

It was fun to watch Ice splutter. Red filled his cheeks as he fought about whether he should go for it like Nick said. They met eyes, Goose nodded with a smile.

"What's this about?" Slider whispered.

"I told him about all mine and Carole's relationships and it gave him the nudge to tell Mav how he feels," he said, leaving out the bit where Ice talked about wanting to be with him.

"Right, nothing to do with the bet, then?"

"Nope," he said and kissed his cheek with a wink.

By the time they'd finished talking, and Ron's face had cleared of being flushed, Ice had made his decision. 

"Maverick, Pete-" he gulped, then stood upright as if he'd been called to attention. "I like you, when are you free for a date?"

Ron spat out in uncharacteristic laughter. Nick joined in with his goose honk and soon Carole's giggle was part of the chorus.

"What?" Ice asked.

"Oh my god, you're awful at asking people out," Ron said, wiping tears from his eyes.

Tom snarled, "Oh yeah? Well when are you free, dumbass? I wanna take you out too."

"What with a sniper or something?"

"No, for dinner," Ice went sheepish again. "With Mav, too, if that's cool?"

Ron's mouth snapped shut. Nick knew that look well, he and Carole made him look like that often in the bedroom. 

"Yeah, yeah, I-I'm free Saturday."

"Me too," Maverick said, much more put together, although Nick knew he'd fall apart later.

"Good, we'll sort it out later, yeah?"

They all nodded. Tom avoided all eye contact, Ron was still fumbling whereas Pete seemed strangely pleased with himself. He lent on the post like Frank Sinatra and gazed at Ice for a moment.

Carole smacked her hands together, "Come on, kiddos, in the car, I've got a cake at home and a four year old trying not to eat it, so the clock's ticking as to whether it'll still be there when we get back."

Pete pushed himself off the post as Ron helped Nick to the car. He just saw Pete approach Tom and kiss his cheek. His words, "Looking forward to the date," floated as he was packed into the car.

They waited a minute or two for them to come inside. Rain hammered the ceiling, why did it have to rain when they were in California, as they left them to have a moment. Until Ron got impatient and opened the window to shout at them.

"Get inside, dickheads, I'm going on that date too!"

"Not for long with that attitude," Ice called back as he climbed into the car.

"Yeah, idiot," Mav reiterated while sticking his tongue out.

"Don't start that, pipsqueak, or I'll steal Goose and Carole off you."

Nick rolled his eyes and shook his head at Carole. She pulled away from the hospital, from those horrible memories, and listened to them all argue. 

"Are you done? Are you all done now? Because I'd rather be back at that hospital if you're not."

That shut them up.

Welcome to the Top Gun polycule, all Goose, Mav, Slider and Ice will all end up together. Goose, Mav, Slider and Carole end up together, and Carole gets Penny too. Everyone loves everyone and Bradley gets too many parents.

Also Goose smoking is inspired by Mark Greene smoking in s4 of ER and @emo-machine42 's art.

Thanks for reading!

[h0n3yk1tt3n]

🐝 spare me a dance(in this never ending misery)

Ok before I get into the fic idea I want to highlight a fic my friend did for L2C way back in 2021 bc this title reminded me of it. It was so funny to see my insta followers run around screaming bc I refused to confirm if it was canon or not lmao, but now that the fic is out I can confirm that it's a what-if scenario

NOW FOR MY IDEA(s) FOR THE TITLE

The first one is also L2C related, and could probably be a chapter in Tales From The Lagniappe wherein everyone is on the boat and trying to find ways to keep themselves sane, considering they've been on the water for a few days and they can only play so much Uno before they have to do set the game down.

They can't exactly pull up spotify seeing as they have no service, but there is a record player with a couple of vinyls. They use it pretty sparingly to avoid getting sick of the same twenty-something songs too quickly, but they have a fun time dragging each other around the room to Sinatra in a pitiful display of "dancing." It doesn't change how horribly things have gone throughout the Green Flu, but it does bring some reprieve and comfort that they couldn't get nearly as much of when they were jumping from safe room to safe room.

My other idea... got really long lol

In this one Michael and Jeremy don't reconnect right away and it's full of all this "I wanna see him but idk if he wants to see me, idk if I'm ready to talk abt everything, blah blah blah" all that fun stuff.

Eventually we get to the sweethearts dance (valentines themed), so it's not a Huge Deal like prom but hey it's still a school dance. It's girls choice (classic high school heteronormativity) so Jeremy basically shunts away any idea that Michael will be there. He debates on even going at all but Christine frames it as an excuse to hang out with everyone, and if he hates it they can all just bail and do something else.

Everyone's "dates" are exactly who you'd expect them to be: Chloe took Jake, Brooke took Rich, Chrissy took Jeremy. So they're at the dance. There's music. There's friends. It's a pretty ok time. But this is technically a couples dance and Jenna hasn't shown up yet. How is she getting in? She texted saying she's on her way so she must've gotten someone to come with her. But who did she get on such short notice?

Jeremy gets his answer when he sees her come in with Michael.

Oh shit.

Did everyone else know this was her plan?? Was it part of the plan the entire time??? He's so unprepared oh my god she's bringing him over Michael can also tell whats going on theres no hiding from this fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck the music is so loud the gym is so crowded Michael's right here in front of him and all his friends are retreating and its-

Michael follows him pretty quickly after. They get to talking on opposite sides of the bathroom stall. They never meant to avoid the other for so long, they were just scared, they want to see each other again.

It's a slow song. A slow dance. People are pairing up. It's just the two of them in front of each other. Michael is actually dressed up in front of him in a pink-lit gym with a slow song playing and Jeremy can't tell if the pounding in his chest is anxiety or something else.

But Michael reaches a hand out to him and he can't find it in himself to stop him from swaying him around the room. Jeremy's head is screaming at him to say or do something but nothing comes of it every time he tries. Michael's mouth keeps opening and closing but he's not saying anything either until he finally just whispers "I've missed you."

And Jeremy runs out of the gym into the bathroom. It's too much to see Michael look at him with such a heartbroken expression. Jeremy did that. He caused it. How could he. What kind of a friend was he that he would leave Michael alone to wallow in misery for so many months.

The two of them bail. Jeremy texts Christine to let her know and naturally she's understanding. They continue to talk as they walk back to Michael's place ("Jenna was my ride." "We carpooled."), mostly about how neither of them were too keen on going to the dance but were talked into it. Jenna had openly framed it as a way for the two to reconcile while Jeremy had been left in the dark.

They talk more when they get into the basement. They go more in depth on all the squip stuff and it's the catharsis they need to hug and cry it out. It's at this point that they realize they've yet to change out of their dressy clothes and put on a record to have their own dance. Michael offers Jeremy a hand and, despite the lack of floorspace, share a slow dance that they can actually enjoy.

[hollowfaith]

✧･ﾟ:* PERMANENT RELATIONSHIP/PLOTTER CALL

hi have you ever been touched by an angel anyways you know the drill please like this post to give me permission to:

hop into DMs for plotting (short or long term)

send you starters/minis (with permission)

@ you or drop into your inbox

throw memes + headcanons about our muses

[insert stuff between us here]

as for relationships here's how aurelius would classify potential candidates:

𖤍 FRIENDS (derogatory 💔) - it's easy to be his friend even if you're just a lowly mortal, as long as you're interesting or different in some way. are you motivated by a goal or crippled by expectations? is something about you fundamentally wrong or broken? talk to him, he's a good listener and he loves to ramble, especially if it's philosophical discussions or chats over tea or advising someone after hearing their sob story (humans get emotional over the funniest things). he can't help the holier than thou attitude, but he's great at keeping his condescending thoughts to himself and treating you almost like a real friend! so there's that. most of his "human friends" fit here because of his superiority complex >w>

𖤍 FRIEND (affectionate 💖)* - unlike fake friends you get to be real friends if he sees you as an equal. the easiest way to get there is to be as cool and strong as klaus. or you beat aurelius himself somehow (but you need to convince him to accept the results first). please be okay with murder and cannibalism before you apply. he doesn't have any real friends (not even klaus) so you'd be one of a kind, which makes you special. but do you really want to shoulder the pressure of someone who knows too much for the rest of your days...

*(limited to 1 slot only for now, everyone else is just friends [derogatory] to some extent, alas)

𖤍 ENEMIES 😡 - be a demon (sorry angel prejudice here). ruin his suit one too many times (he believes in 3rd chances but no more). it doesn't matter if you're nasty or mean or sinful (those are interesting), the issue is trying to drag him in with you when he says no (those are annoying). trying to control him in anyway. trying to control or take klaus in anyway. generally getting in his way. not all enemies are kill on sight, most just get demoted to the friends (derogatory) category if they're a waste of time or get more of his time in return, because you can't stand him either and misery loves company.

𖤍 SERVANTS/SUPPLICANTS...? 🙏- do you like to take care of people. do you enjoy the freedom of following orders. are you okay with prostrating yourself at random intervals to offer prayers and praise to some self-entitled stranger. have you given up on life and just want guidance. OK, then submit your hand for the standard brainwashing procedure (a formality for now until it's actually unlocked) and let him look after you, you poor lost lamb.

PROS: he will come to your events in support (like a soccer mom) and protect you while looking great doing it too;

CONS: you're more of a possession than a person so your rights don't really exist (but that doesn't matter too much in normal life anyways)!

YMMV: no insurance package included but you do get complimentary healing/blessings against demons* for life? *this and all other perks pending unlock of abilities

𖤍 DEPENDENTS 🙇 - you don't actually worship him but you sure do rely on him a lot (mentally/physically/emotionally/whatever), and for some reason he humors you because he thinks it's fun. maybe you consider him your mentor or savior, maybe he considers you his pawn or toy. less expectations and responsibilities from both sides but you can still call on him in a pinch, you just won't be his first priority if he's busy. also, he's nice to you. always. because you're just that pathetic worth it. : )

𖤍 TRUE NEUTRAL 🤝 - you're not weak-willed enough to be used but not strong enough to overpower him, you're just there. maybe both of you have something useful (intel. chess games. recipes?) to offer the other and that's why you get along. you might help each other one day and stab each other in the back the next, but that's fine because you weren't friends (or enemies) to begin with, yes? good for...business associates/drinking buddies. less manipulation and minimum disdain (if any) here, there's polite indifference on both sides.

𖤍 "LOVE" RIVAL....? ?? 💀 - for the love of god if you like klaus or have close relations with klaus you are automatically on this list and need to get off it or get a lover so he can ignore you permanently. a better category than enemies because he doesn't try to destroy you on sight, but the guy sure knows how to smile and glower at the same time. danger level expected to increase after he actually starts developing the right feelings towards his "partner." perhaps you want him to remain oblivious indefinitely instead.

𖤍 ROMANCE 😂 - there's only one person he's obsessed with at the moment but if you one-sided crush him obviously enough he will take pity on you and give you token chocolates on valentine's and etc. so that you don't die of a broken heart (or embarrassment). it's only natural for him to have adoration from multiple sources even if he never returns those feelings, so if you're fine with treating him as some otome game boyfriend come to life with no real results he doesn't mind playing along. it's kind of a mercy for you to be loved this way, don't you think?

𖤍 OTHER 🤔- make up your own category lol

[the-firebird69]

You're getting an immediate response and he's saying a lot of stupid things I don't care for that person at all he's such a massive a****** and her son never liked him he's a spaz he's a retard could hardly even remember what they were doing when they were hiking or the two or three days that he saw him he was an invalid and he needed to be told you have to eat something you should go to the restroom it was misery runs around saying those who is doing he can hardly get from place to place it is just total misery and he's in the past as a wild card and now is not really the foreigners have dropped him and he can't tell and he's doing the same antics and they're not backing him up and there's people getting fried. Since you know in our son and friend wouldn't really do much but everyone else will take him to prison and throw them into a furnace and people are so stupid here that's what the punishment is.. there's some more things that are very unsatisfactory going to make a list of because he already sees it in his reporting it to us today is a big day and we anticipate the ships to be up and out tonight and they dragged it out last night and it was not worth it it didn't get anything but we did and our son knows about it. It's a huge number of people that are trying to escape the other parts and they're doing it now.

I'm just going to be more to report in about 20 minutes and then early this evening. But right now there are forces of massing and we're talking about Charlotte county

-outside Charlotte county huge forces are already assaulting the 10 remaining basis of Tommy f and he is dwindling five of them are 50% three are at 70% two are at 90% And that's pretty abysmal his fleets are dwindling the black ship fleet is down to 2 million please don't ship fleet is down to 15 million and the miscellaneous fleet is down to 200 million huge fleets are going to relieve the other fleets that were attacking. The foreigners and Max that samples of the new armor system that the clones have and they tested it and found out that they should be working very hard most of what they have does not work and there's Jack a giant giant ships which can wipe out the majority of their forces which are not a match investors which are too slow and cumbersome and don't handle well they don't keep their trajectory it's requiring constant fuel to move and they also cannot attain maximum speed because of that. And we are at war with these clones and people should know it and everyone here is and they're not really aware of it and it's aggravating as hell

Frank Castle Hardcastle

There's a giant error here by these people it seem to think that he's fighting their battles and that he's going to help them and it's not really the case and our friend says they're sort of weirdos and have to use whatever they have if they have to take a poison that might kill them to get rid of bugs they do it even not knowing the proper dose and I've seen them do it here I understand the mentality but it is terrifyingly bad and illegal foreigners are quite a match already but he's their insisting on doing this and they're still in the mix heavily and they're still fighting in the clones it's Insanity they want them to lift off I didn't want to fight them. So I do see the angle now and it's about damn time it's the Star blazers even the new armor is susceptible to the bigger ships 20s and 30s ships that are 10,000 miles are susceptible to 20s and 30s you have four or five together and they're through in seconds I am currently assessing the situation but the more luck declared awareness and they are asking for it and they have what we need

Mac daddy

We're sitting next door and he's talking about it but we didn't do anything because bja won't let us do anything or have any and he says it's probably a little bit more seedy than that and it probably is

Trump

I'm sorry doing it so we didn't do anything and we know what he was saying you remember we're doing it but thought the clothes took it cuz they're saying that they said it quite a bit and we said it so I guess we're not that bright but the max know about it regardless of who said anything cuz they actually have spies

Bja

Good. What a pain. I'm trying to loop them into it a little so people don't get away with stuff and they saw you and others you know stopping it

Trump

Olympus we give permission to publish now

[bluespiritshonour]

@akiizayoi4869

I think the lack of discussion around Zuko's jealousy in that episode has to do with everyone being uncomfortable to consider that Zuko is that kind of boyfriend. I'd be lying if I said it doesn't make me uncomfortable too.

Especially since it's just left at that.

I sometimes try to look within canon to find reasons for his behaviour. Usually jealousy is either because of possessiveness or insecurity. Zuko's seems to be the latter.

He was already jealous of Ruon-Juan even before Mai enters the equation. While Azula calmly asks them if she and Zuko are invited to the party Zuko gets angry at them.

He sees Ruon-Juan again and declares clearly that he doesn't like the guy. He expected Mai to play along but she really couldn't care less—and why would she? He really doesn't exist to her. That's when he starts accusing her of cheating.

That reads to me like he's miserable and he wants everyone else to share in his misery. He wanted Mai to hate on some rando like he did—and he snaps when she doesn't. Classic Zuko, very IC.

This has the same vibes as him latter egging her on to fight with Ty Lee. The focus shifts from that rando to Zuko's actual complain: Mai being inexpressive, as soon as they're removed from those other kids' presence.

I know The Beach was meant to show them all at their lowest, rawest: Azula being always calm and collected but when all is said and done she doesn't know how to be a normal teenager. She also shows so much vulnerability in this episode: apologising to Ty Lee and accepting she's jealous. Admitting that she craved her mother's love. Ty Lee’s bubble-head façade breaks and you realise that her mask is much more effective than Mai's. Mai takes really low shots at Ty Lee. She also makes light of her problems: the ‘I had a good life, I shouldn't complain’ type. And Zuko's whole deal: he has so much anger; he used to target it at Iroh and since he isn't here, it's Mai's turn now.

But how do we know this isn't default behaviour for him? We don't see him apologising to her: “I was angry and I dragged you into it, it really wasn't about you” or something of the kind.

And no, him accepting he's angry at himself doesn't do it. I feel like I'm grasping at straws if I try to read it as such.

Unlike with Iroh, he never apologises to her. Never. Him leaving her because he had to do the right thing is more forgivable. He did hurt her, but that's forgivable in way his jealousy in The Beach simply isn't.

If they wanted to show that she loves him unconditionally her forgiving him for dumping her over a letter and latter saving his life and getting back together with him without him having to do the work was enough.

However, her getting back with him in The Beach without him doing the work feels wrong. This is his day-to-day behaviour towards her. How do we know this isn't default behaviour for him when there's narry an apology in sight? No narrative repercussions for him? Or even Mai interacting with any boy other than Zuko and him not repeating this behaviour because he's in a better place?—there’s nothing I can compare it with to say that it was an isolated incident.

Maybe it was unintentional on the writers’ part but it really does not paint a pretty picture.

I watched The Beach episode of Braving the Elements podcast hoping that someone would point it out, but no one did. And it does bother me.

It bothers me that Zuko's behaviour in The Beach isn't explicitly addressed the way Sokka's is in The Kyoshi Warriors.

[shygirl-00]

Winter Song Chapter 1: Haunting memories

Song: Control by Halsey; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzoNRAX_SOw

Warnings: Nightmares, mentions of torture, human experimenting, mind-wiping, mentions of murder, blood, some soft fluff, akward conversations.

Disclaimer: I don't own the song or the pictures/GIFs. Credits to the original owners.

They send me away to find them a fortune A chest filled with diamonds and gold The house was awake, the shadows and monsters The hallways, they echoed and groaned

The girl hugged her knees as she stared at the grey wall across the room. She didn't feel the cold of the floor anymore.

How long had she been sitting here in her dark cell? After the numerous times she was thrown in here, she didn't bother anymore to count the endless hours she had spent in isolation. Just as she didn't bother to try to get comfy on the thin mattress she had to get some sleep on. She was lucky one of the rusty springs of the bedframe hadn't yet poked into her skin during her few hours of sleep.

I sat alone, in bed till the morning I'm crying, "They're coming for me" And I tried to hold these secrets inside me My mind's like a deadly disease

Crazy as it sounded, these hours in her cell were the only moments of peace that she knew in this hell hole. In here she could at least try to forget all the torture of needles, shocks and burns she had received on a day.

Here she could be alone with her thoughts for a moment before that door would be slammed open and those Hydra soldiers would drag her out again for another round of torture and experimenting.

I'm bigger than my body I'm colder than this home I'm meaner than my demons I'm bigger than these bones

Hydra... The organisation that had destroyed her life. They had killed her parents and taken her, had dragged her single-handedly into a world of pain and misery. And every time she thought it couldn't get any worse, the next time Hydra would top it. And that over, and over, and over again.

And all the kids cried out, "Please stop, you're scaring me" I can't help this awful energy God damn right, you should be scared of me Who is in control?

Even when she was allowed to have a moment of rest, she could barely close her eyes or the nightmares would already start. The things they made her do, the killing, the spilling of innocent blood...every night she could hear the screams of her victims and when she would wake up, she could still see the blood on her hands, she would smell the smoke of guns. After that she would always taste familiar sourness in her mouth before she would throw up.

I paced around for hours on empty I jumped at the slightest of sounds And I couldn't stand the person inside me I turned all the mirrors around

She had dreamed of escaping. Had even tried it a couple of times, but that only resulted in being captured and being more tortured and experimented on. So it stayed with dreaming. She had heard of the soldier with the metal arm. The man who managed to finally escape Hydra after years. The Winter Soldier...best friend of Captain America...James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes...

I'm bigger than my body I'm colder than this home I'm meaner than my demons I'm bigger than these bones

(Y/n)… Her own name. (Y/n) (L/n)… Hydra had even tried to take that away from her. Her future was already stolen from her, her memories were scrambled, but for some miraculous reason she had been able to cling onto her name. Every time they put her in that torture chair, they had hoped that she would finally permanently forget it and every single time she would disappoint them.

After a while she would remember her name again. Her name was (Y/n) (L/n), no matter how many times thy would fry her brain in that chair, her name. was. (Y/n) (L/n).

And all the kids cried out, "Please stop, you're scaring me" I can't help this awful energy God damn right, you should be scared of me Who is in control?

(Y/n) jumped when the door was suddenly slammed open and a group of five Hydra soldiers barged in, lead by Brock Rumlow. Since the death of Alexander Pierce, by the hands of SHIELD, he sort of became in charge of Hydra on the matter of physical missions and attacks, while Helmut Zemo became in charge of the tests and experiments. Both monsters, not afraid to tear people apart, mentally and physically, to get what they wanted. (Y/n)'s tormentors...

“Good morning Asset.” Rumlow sneered as he stared down at her. Asset...that's all she was to them. A puppet, and Hydra was her puppet master. (Y/n) didn't answer him and looked away.

“I said…”, Rumlow pulled her up by her hair, “good morning. Have you never heard of manners?!” He spat in her face as he threw her back onto the floor in front of the feet of the soldiers who manhandled her to her feet again and held onto her.

People would raise an eyebrow at the sight that five soldiers were holding a girl, but thanks to the experiments, (Y/n)'s strength had majorly increased. The last time she was escorted by only two guards, they eventually had to tranquilize her because she almost escaped them and even now sometimes five guards struggled to hold her down.

Rumlow nods at the guards. “You know where to.” Immediately, (Y/n) was dragged out of her cell into the hallway. She already braced herself for what was to come. Most likely more experimenting and serums being injected into her...

I'm well acquainted with villains that live in my head They beg me to write them so they'll never die when I'm dead And I've grown familiar with villains that live in my head They beg me to write them so I'll never die when I'm dead

But...they went another way. And she knew which way this was...one she dreaded more than any other room in this whole facility... She tried to control her breathing that caught in her throat as she was dragged through the halls.

I'm bigger than my body I'm colder than this home I'm meaner than my demons I'm bigger than these bones

As they entered that dreaded room, (Y/n) was met by the familliar sight of several scientists and assistants walking around the room, working on who knows what kind of projects. But the thing that she was most afraid of stood in the middle of the room: that godforsaken chair that ripped the memories from everyone who was forced into that thing.

And next to that horror device stood her other tormentor, Helmut Zemo.

"Why hello there, malyshka. I hope you slept well.” Zemo cooed as he petted (Y/n)’s cheek. She jerked her head away as she scowled at him. "Tsk tsk, as hostile as ever, are we?” Zemo tutted as he grabbed her chin so she was forced to look at him. He shook his head.

“Well, malyshka, if today is a success, we don't have to deal with that attitude anymore.” He grinned at her as he walked away to retrieve something from the table next to the chair.

“Wh-what do you mean by that?” (Y/n) spoke as she tried to not let her voice tremble too much. She felt her blood turn into ice as Zemo turned, seeing what he had retrieved from the table; a black book with a red star stamped on it. Her 'programming book’ as some liked to call it. Whenever that book came out, she prepared for the worst.

Zemo chuckled when he saw (Y/n)'s scared face. “Oh do not worry, malyshka. I thought these out very carefully.” He held an amused grin as he watched confusion mixed with fear etched onto the girl's face. “And it will not be that difficult. They're just...ten...simple...words…”

All colour disappeared from (Y/n)'s face. Ten words...ten...words...they were...they were going to… Her train of thought was cut short by a short scentence that left Zemo's lips that left her freaked out.

“Prep her.”

And all the kids cried out, "Please stop, you're scaring me" I can't help this awful energy God damn right, you should be scared of me Who is in control?

Never before, in her whole life, did (Y/n) struggle more than at that moment. She screamed, kicked, thrashed, she tried everything she could as the guards hauled her into the chair and began strapping her down. Several scientists began starting up the machine that would soon enough rip her memories from her.

(Y/n) clamped her mouth shut as they approached with the mouth guard. But one firm slam of Rumlow's fist in her stomach left her coughing and gasping for breath, which was used to shove the mouth guard into her mouth. Last but not least, they strapped her head down.

(Y/n)'s breathing came out ragged as her chest heaved up and down. Her eyes flashed from one side to another as she watched the people surrounding her. Then an all too familiar whirring sound filled her ears. Zemo looked down at her.

"Just relax, malyshka. All you need to do is listen...” He purred as the cold metal clamped around her head. The whirring sound became louder and louder. She saw Zemo's mouth move as he read from the book. She knew her brain would process the words as anything else was ripped from her. They would continue this until worked.

But the only thing she heard, a sound that filled the whole room and echoed through the hallways, was her own screaming...

And all the kids cried out, "Please stop, you're scaring me" I can't help this awful energy God damn right, you should be scared of me Who is in control?

Gasping for air, (Y/n) shot up in bed. Sweat was beading her forehead as she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to get her breathing under control. She took shaky breaths as she rubbed her face. Giving herself a moment to calm down, she laid back down on her bed.

The day they implanted her triggerwords...that was the most recurring nightmare that had been haunting her night and night again. Even now, six months after The Avengers had saved her from that hell hole, it felt like yesterday that they put those damn words into her brain.

(Y/n) looked at the time that was being projected on the wall. 04:00 am. With a sigh (Y/n) kicked the sheets off of her and sat up, sliding her feet into her slippers. She knew that, even if she tried, she would not be able to fall asleep again. She wrapped her blanket around herself and quietly shuffled out of her room, on her way to the living room in The Avengers tower.

Ever since they rescued her, (Y/n) had been living with The Avengers at their compound. When they found out that, after they rescued her, she didn't have any family she could turn to, they took her in and they practically became her family. And she couldn't be more grateful for them.

Steve Rogers, the Captain himself, had been acting like a father or a big brother to her. He was usually the person that held her when she was having a panic or anxiety attack, she could cry on his shoulder when the nightmares became too much. He would be one of the first people to notice if something was wrong.

Tony Stark, genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist, together with Bruce Banner, were like the “nerd-uncles” you didn't know you needed. While Tony loved to tease her sometimes, he had a huge soft spot for the girl and he would be there for her whenever she needed him. Pepper Pots, his girlfriend, would scold him often if he teased (Y/n) too much to her liking. She was like the sweetest aunt ever. Bruce regularly checked on her physical but mostly her mental health and treated her wounds if need be.

If (Y/n) needed a hug, she could always count on Thor. Being the God of Thunder or not, he loved nothing more than picking her up and giving her a good hug, mostly one in which she could shield herself from the world for a moment.

Natasha Romanoff and Wanda Maximoff, two women who you didn’t want to get angry, became like big sisters for (Y/n). They and Pepper would chase the boys out of the living room so that they could have a girl's night every once in a while. They would just chat and laugh together every once in a while, but they also trained her in order to get her powers under control.

Pietro Maximoff and Clint Barton, those two were like the chaos cousins whose goal it was to cheer (Y/n) up. Pietro loved to carry her around and then run all over the place until both of them were out of breath, him from running, she because her breath was taken away by the speed. Clint was more serious than Pietro, but he was often in for a prank or two.

Then Sam, the uncle who was sometimes teasing her even more than Tony would, but he would never let anything happen to her. Eventhough him and Tony would not always see eye to eye, they would once in a while tease (Y/n) together about her feelings towards a certain super soldier with a metal arm...

James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes... even after six months, (Y/n) still didn't know what Bucky was to her. They were friends, that was for sure, but she would be lying to herself if she hadn't wished that they could be more than that, more than once. But she would be rather damned than to admit that.

Not only would Sam and Tony not let her hear the end of it, but she would never forgive herself if she destroyed Bucky's friendship with her by admitting what she really felt for him. After all, Bucky had had enough on his plate with his own history with Hydra; he didn't need her damaged life also on his shoulders.

Little did she know, that a certain, metal-armed, super soldier had the same thoughts about himself, and had the same feelings for her...

Damaged. That's what (Y/n) called herself. Improved, that's what Hydra had called her. Well, for their sick games perhaps. Now, (Y/n) was scared of herself. She had seen the file that The Avengers managed to take with them. It stood there, everything Hydra had put in her and what she was now:

(Y/n) (L/n), Asset 107. Enhanced strength, speed, durability and flexibility. Powers of remnants of Mind Stone present. Trained fighter with guns, knives and hand to hand combat.

And there they were, those cursed triggerwords. Steve had quickly taken the file out of her hands. Her nightmares were already enough torment. And he had a point.

Quietly, (Y/n) opened the door to the living room and slid inside. She quickly popped into the kitchen to get a glass out of the cabinet and fill it with water. She took some sips to at least get the adrenaline, that her nightmares always gave her, down. She sighed. Would she ever be able to get rid of those horrific nightmares…? She turned to go sit on the couch.

“Can't sleep either?” A voice called out. (Y/n) jumped and shrieked, letting go of the glass in the process. A quick, silver hand swooped the glass out of the air, catching it before it would break on the ground. "Careful there, we don't want any accidents.” (Y/n) looked up to meet a pair of ocean blue eyes looking into her (e/c) ones.

"You okay?” Bucky Barnes put the glass back on the counter and raised an eyebrow when the girl in front of him stayed quiet. "Hello, Earth to (Y/n)?” He waved with his flesh hand in front of her face.

(Y/n) blinked. “Uh...yeah, fine! I mean...ahum...yeah I'm okay.” She quickly took her glass and went to the living room with it. This was what she always feared. Making herself look like a complete fool in front of Bucky. And now she had just done that...great.

With a soft sigh, she flopped onto the couch, tugging her blanket closer around herself, sipping on her water. She eyed Bucky as he came out of the kitchen with a cup of coffee. When he saw her looking, he gave her a soft smile. (Y/n)'s cheeks coloured bright red. She quickly hid her face behind her glass of water, hoping Bucky hadn’t seen it.

But of course Bucky had seen it. With his enhanced abilities and his training as a spy, he could pick up the smallest details.

He had only one issue; he was never taught how to work with feelings for another person. Sure he knew about friendship and such, his long lasting friendship with Steve never seemed to falter, but no, they never told him how to approach a person when the idea of more than friendship came up. Yes, in his old days, he had flirted with some dames, but that was all it was, flirting, not, Bucky gulped at the tought, love.

“Bucky…?” He was awakened from his thoughts when a soft voice called his name.

He looked up and saw that (Y/n) was looking at him again. "W-what? You said something?” She smiled softly. “I asked why you couldn't sleep. Since you said can't sleep either.”

Bucky let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, taking a sip of his coffee. “Oh, ehm...nightmares doll...same old I know-” Bucky cut himself short when he saw (Y/n)'s face fall. Then he realised he had called her doll. Shit, did she not like that? It just slipped out...

“Well I'm at least not the only one…” she mumbled as she sipped from her water. Wait...she wasn't talking about the word doll, was she?

Bucky could almost hit himself when he realised. She had nightmares, just like him. Logical, she had been in Hydra's hands, just like him. And she had also been damaged...just like him… Bucky clenched his flesh hand around his coffee cup while his metal one squeezed a pillow.

Damaged like him...Bucky immediately pushed his personal feelings away and focused on her. “You have them too, huh?” She nodded. "One recurs more than others though. The one in which they…they implant...” her voice faltered.

"Hey, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to…” Bucky said as he looked at her. Heck, he knew the feeling all too well, when people wanted to know exactly what was going inside his head, wanted him to repeat his nightmares over and over again. Man, how many times he had wanted to bash someones nose in for that...

"How do you do it?” (Y/n) suddenly asked. Bucky looked up. “Hm? Do what d-?” he quickly swallowed the last word.

“Cope with them...the nightmares.” (Y/n) looked at him over the edge of her glass. Bucky sighed.

“I don't know. I just...do it. I do stuff and try to get as much sleep as I can. Steve often helps me by waking me up if he hears me screaming.”

(Y/n) smiled softly. Steve had often done that with her as well. He would hold her as she sobbed into his pyjama-shirt, until she had calmed down enough to talk.

“Yeah...yeah I know...he does that for me as well. Poor guy must have had some rough nights with us heh…” she smiled a small smile that got a bit bigger when she heard Bucky chuckle. His chuckle was like music to her ears...God she had it bad for him...

“Well yeah, he has always been a momma's boy, but I think he missed the memo that that doesn't mean you need to act like a mom.” Bucky commented dryly, receiving a giggle from the girl across from him on the couch. Her smile made him involuntarily blush...man was he head over heels for her.

"Maybe his head is still stuck in the 40's?” (Y/n) chuckled, making Bucky laugh out loud. “Maybe you have a point there, (Y/n).” He still refrained himself from calling her doll.

And that's how the rest of the team found them hours later when they came down to get some breakfast, Bucky and (Y/n) talking on the couch and laughing at each other's remarks.

“Hey Buckaroo, having a conversation with the girlfriend?” Sam commented as he gave Bucky a pat on his shoulder. Bucky swatted him away. “Shut up, Birdbrain!”

Steve focused on (Y/n). “Nightmare again?” he asked. She nodded, sad. “Same one again.” Steve sighed.

“Why didn't you come to me? I told you, you could always wake me up when you need me.” (Y/n) looked down at her lap. “I don't want to be a bother, Steve...”

Before Steve could answer, Sam commented: “She had the perfect talking partner right here!” Immediately after that he had to duck because Bucky had thrown his coffee cup at him.

“You know, just because I can afford it, doesn't mean you have to destroy it, Tin Man!” Tony remarked from the kitchen as the breaking of ceramics could be heard.

"Come on you two, get dressed otherwise no breakfast for you.” Natasha remarked as she ushered Bucky and (Y/n) out of the room. Steve followed Bucky while she followed (Y/n).

“Sam did have a point though, you two talking is a nice sight.” Natasha remarked, sitting on (Y/n)'s bed as the latter was changing behind the doors of her huge closet (thanks Tony).

“I have no idea what you're talking about, Nat.” (Y/n) commented as she threw her pyjamas on her bed and put on jeans and a blouse.

“Just saying, you two would make a cute couple.” Natasha remarked. She received a pair of socks against her head as an answer.

“Come on punk, just drop it allright?” Bucky huffed as he stuck his head through the opening of his maroon coloured sweater. Steve leaned against the doorpost.

"Buck, why are you so hesitant about it? You like each other's company, that's a good start.” "Shut it Steve, don't pretend you're now all-knowing about relationships!” Bucky commented as he folded his pyjamas and put them under his pillow.

“Then tell me what the issue is, Buck!” Steve sighed, eyeing his childhood best friend. The brunette sighed and sat down on the bed. 

"Listen up punk...”

"Nat, I know you mean well, but even if there is a truth behind your remarks...”

“...even if you somehow miraculously have found the answer to helping others with relationships…”

“...why would (s)he want a damaged person like me?”

Holy macaroni, first chapter finally done! I'm nervous as all heck because I love Bucky/Sebastian Stan so much I want to do him justice. Plus I hope that you liked it as well. If anyone wants to be tagged, just let me know. Thanks for reading, lots of love! ❤️

Translation: Malyshka = little girl

Taglist: @jtargaryen18, @sherlocked-bitch, @on-your-left-birdie, @tcc-gizmachine

[amethyst-noir]

Not "your" anon here but. What about something with us seeing Tony fall in love with Stephen first (so many fics make it the other way around with all the futures Stephen saw), being the one looking out for him and caring for him and respecting him and Stephen being clueless about it bc Tony flirts with everyone, bc Stephens not his usual type, bc he didn't think this timeline would have the chance to end up like some of the rare ones where they're together so he never even entertained the idea

I promised something for sunday, didn’t I? So, here it is.

TW for talk about dubious consent in sexual situations and planned suicide.

Tony piningafter Stephen? I can do that! It’s about time I tried the other way round. I’mpretty unsure about this one since got a lot darker than intended, but here weare. At least it has a happy ending! Every warning up there is for the past;they’re both in a much better place when this story takes place and an evenbetter one when it ends. ;) The title is, once again, sponsored by Enigma. (It’s cliché, yes, but it fits and I love it.)

The Gravity of Love

“Bye, Pep!” Tony smiledat Pepper and waved at her until the doors of the elevator had closed behindher. He turned around to his last remaining guest. “That went well, don’tyou think so?” The smile vanished and left behind a tired and exhaustedman who just wanted to fall into bed and forget everything for a few shorthours. He hated parties, even when they were his own and all the guests werefriends. “Stephen?” he asked when he didn’t get an answer.“You’re okay?”

“What? Sorry, I waselsewhere.” Stephen shook his head as if to clear it from unwantedthoughts and looked around. “Am I the last one? I should go, too.”

No, you shouldn’t. Stay here.I don’t want to be alone tonight. The words were there, had been revised forabout a hundred times, and he’d just have to say them. He wanted to reach outand touch Stephen, beg him to stay. He could stay up for a little while longerjust for the pleasure of his company. “Okay,” he said instead,resigned. “Do you want FRIDAY to let you out or will Sir travel viaportal?” He knew the answer but he got a smile which was all he’d wantedin the first place.

“Portal,” was theshort answer. Stephen seemed tired, too, and instant transport was heaven-sent.No that he’d ever come or gone any other way. A short good-bye, followed by theorange glow of magic, and Tony was left alone in an apartment that was far toobig for one person alone.

“Well, let’s dothis,” he whispered to himself. “FRIDAY? Please turn everything down.Wake me up at the usual time.”

“Yes, boss.Goodnight.”

“Night.”

He didn’t have a drop ofalcohol so it was pure exhaustion that made him stumble and crash into thedoorframe on his way to the bedroom.

*

“Yes, that would belovely. Call my assistant to make an appointment.” Tony’s skin crawled buthe was used to being nice and charming to people he just wanted to throw outthe nearest window. He gave the senator the sincerest fake-smile in hisrepertoire and fought to keep it on his face as the guy took his offered hand.If they weren’t in a public setting the man’s hands would be all over Tony andhe really didn’t know how he’d react to that. Not as well as in thepast, he feared. His tolerance for buying his favors this way had droppedsignificantly over the years and by now he preferred to make his deals becausethey were right, not because he threw a lot of money on someone or haddropped down to his knees for another kind of payment.

He was still busy trying todiscreetly wipe his hand on his trousers when Stephen came up to him. “Hada nice chat?” Stephen asked and looked at the departing senator who wasstill radiating an air of satisfaction. “He seems to be happy.”

If there had been even a traceof jealousy in the words the ordeal he’d just went through would have beenworth it. But so? “Yes, the best. We all got what we wanted. More orless.” The tired resignation was creeping in again and Tony fought againstit. The award ceremony had only just begun and he had a speech to make in aboutten minutes. He forced himself into an even straighter posture, hid his handsbehind his back and tried to project an air of confidence.

Stephen didn’t look a Tony, sohe’d missed the moment of weakness. He’d only seen the way Tony had moved intothe other man’s space, how he’d smiled and how he’d initiated the hand contact.Tony was friendly with almost everybody and it was hard to watch. One ofthe reasons why he’d chosen to stay on the sidelines. He didn’t want to bedragged further into Tony’s life and have to watch from even closer distancehow the man flirted with everybody who crossed his path, male or female alike.It would have been too easy to get jealous otherwise.

Tony went away to his speechand Stephen closed his eyes, desperately trying to push aside the memories of atimeline where he’d stood proudly besides him as the accepted his award.

*

“You okay, Stephen?”

“Yes, yes, I’mfine.” Stephen ignored the helping hand being offered to him and forced himselfto stand up unaided. All the while he looked over the battlefield to see wherehe could be of use. Over there! He’d portaled away to put the last of theblue-green monsters out of its misery.

Tony was only glad that theIron Man mask hid the flash of disappointment on his face. “Goodluck,” he whispered before he threw himself back into the fight.

*

Tony had known pretty muchfrom the start that it was futile. Stephen never acknowledged his overturesin any way but he still couldn’t stop. The fragile friendship that had startedin the ruins of Titan had not only survived the temporary death of one of thetwo parties, no, it had risen from the ashes and over time had become the real,solid thing.

Of course, Tony had tosabotage one of the few good and uncomplicated things in his life by falling inlove with his new friend but that was only to be expected. He tended to formattachments quickly and then, after a while, something happened and it allended in flames. Or a bunker in Siberia. One couldn’t be too picky. Only two ofhis friendships had really stood the test of time, the third one had fluctuatedbetween friendship and romance for years before Pepper and he finally realizedthat they worked better as friends than lovers. She was and would always be theonly woman he’d ever truly loved, but she was not the one.

But Doctor Stephen Strange?Became a friend, yes. Tony, predictably, fell in love with him, yes. Butnothing else happened. No big drama that broke them apart, no big revelationthat forced one or the other to confess their feelings. They just stayedfriends. Very good friends but nothing more.

It was what Stephen wanted,Tony told himself and tried to keep his hands to himself whenever he wanted toreach out and touch the other man. Besides, he didn’t even know if Stephenliked men that way. In that regard he was still as much of a mystery as on thefirst day. Maybe even more, because Tony swore that there’d been flirting whenthey first met.

Stephen had known form the momenthe came back from the dead. He’d opened his eyes and looked into the exhaustedbut happy face of one Tony Stark. “You did it,” he’d whispered inawe. Tony had just looked at him and helped him up. Further words weren’tnecessary. Then, Tony had gone away to go back to Peter and Stephen hadshivered, suddenly cold.

But only for a moment becauseTony was back a moment later and dragged him out of the shadows and into thelight to meet the rest of the Avengers.

Stephen had fallen in love inthat moment but Tony was engaged and while Stephen Strange was many things hewasn’t a homewrecker. He didn’t have time for a relationship anyway. He toldhimself the same story again and again when the engagement broke apart and hespent a few nights consoling a grieving Tony. Tony would find somebody else, hewas sure of that.

After a while he managed tobanish his longing into his subconscious and to mostly forget about it.

*

“I used to let guys fuckme just to get what I wanted.” The words dropped into the silence like abomb. “It was always for something. A business-deal, some patent I reallywanted to have, you name it, I’ve let them do me for it. That’s why I alwayswent after women when I had the choice.” The bomb left an even loudersilence behind.

“Tony,” Stephen said,helplessly, after an age had passed. After a moment of hesitation he reachedout and put his hand on Tony’s arm. His hand shook even more than usual. Tonydidn’t flinch, too high on painkillers after his shoulder surgery to care. Itwas Stephen who suddenly needed the contact. He didn’t know how to react, whatto do. Everything he could think of was just too trite and too much of a clichéto be of help. Nightmarish images danced through his imagination and so manythings suddenly clicked into place. He felt sick. He wanted to gather Tony inhis arms to protect him from the undeserving world he had so often protected atsuch a great cost. He wanted to whisper reassuring nothings into his ear, hewanted to be the exception. He wanted to run away and never come back. Was ittoo late to go back and choose another timeline?

Tony didn’t look at him buthis voice was strong and sure. “I don’t tell you that because I want yourpity. I just though you have a right to know. You know, considering the stuffthat was going around… I always knew what I was doing and I was never forced.”He grimaced. “Or at least I still won in the end, no matter what they didto me.”

The pictures, Stephenrealized. The goddamn pictures of a very young and very drunk Tony Stark, onhis knees, while the campaign manager of some long-gone politician held hishead in place, that had surfaced a couple of months ago and almost causedTwitter to crash. Tony had gone on record, gave a very convincing show of itbeing a harmless one-night stand, and the topic had vanished relatively quicklyfrom the media. The other guy had long since died, the photographer too, and Tonyhadn’t tried to hide. It had been old news in record time. Thanks to FRIDAY theevidence had pretty much completely vanished from the web and a man who refusedto be ashamed wasn’t that interesting.

Stephen hadn’t forgotten butwondered. “You don’t have to tell my anything,” he finally said.

“I know. I just wantedyou to know. Pepper, Rhodey and Happy know, too. It’s only fair.”

“So now I’m officiallypart of the family?” Despite everything Stephen had to smile. Heappreciated the immense trust placed into him and vowed to be worthy of it.

“Stephen, you’ve beenpart of my family for a long time now. It’s only right that you’ll know about thecorpses in the bedroom, too.” Tony fell asleep before Stephen could reactto that bombshell.

*

It went on like this. Yearspassed, their friendship was cemented in blood, magic and iron, battles werefought and lost, triumphs were shared.

Tony wanted and stayed silentwhile Stephen managed to suppress every bit of carnal desire he may have feltand channeled everything into his magic.

They weren’t in that kind oftimeline he’d concluded at long time ago.

Too bad that he’d never toldTony that.

*

The next time it was Stephenwho was high on painkillers and couldn’t control what came out of his mouth.

“I gave myself threeyears,” he said. His voice was deep, raspy and barley there. No wonder,some extradimensional thing with too many tentacles had tried to choke himbefore slamming him into the nearest building. The Cloak saved him from theworst but he’d still cracked some of his vertebrae. Wong had him immobilized bymagic while a healing spell worked it’s wonders but it couldn’t do anythingagainst the pain. It fell to western medicine to supply relief in the meantime andto Tony to apply it after careful instruction through Christine who checked inevery few hours. The medication unfortunately meant that Stephen couldn’tescape into his astral form and had to suffer through everything while beingimprisoned in this body. It was a waiting game and Tony was determined to sitthrough it until the end.

“Three years forwhat?”

Stephen’s eyes were open, sohe was still awake, but he was staring into some other world were Tony couldnot follow. Come back, he wanted to beg. I’m here, I’m waiting foryou.

“For me to find some wayto get my hands working again.” The spell impeded him from raising them.It was pure instinct that made Tony reach for the nearest one and hold it. Itwas the left, the more painful, almost always bandaged, one. He hoped thatStephen could feel the light touch through the haze of medication but if so hedidn’t react to it.

“And after that?”Tony didn’t want to hear the answer, feared that he already knew it.

Stephen ignored him andcontinued to stare into eternity. “I should have died in that car. I knewit back then, had no idea what was still waiting for me. I gave myself threeyears to get back where I was before. If I didn’t manage that I promised myselfto finish the job that the accident started.”

“Stephen, don’t,” hebegged but was ignored.

“I had everything plannedout. I had even managed to save enough of my painkillers to finish me off. Itwas hard, back then I was pretty much addicted to them, but I’ve always beenstubborn.” The ghost of a smile. “That’s always been myproblem.”

“Why are you telling methis now?”

“Today is the tenthanniversary of me finding my way to Kamar-Taj. Two weeks before the deadlinewas over.” Tony swallowed. Two weeks and he would never have met thisamazing man. “I’ve brought the pills with me, of course.” Stephenwasn’t finished. “I decided to try this mystic magic something and then goquietly in to that good night. The night didn’t want me.”

“I’m glad itdidn’t.” Tony didn’t know what else to say. He had tears in his eyes andhis throat felt constricted as if he was the one being strangled. He looked atStephen’s bruised throat and had to fight back a new wave of tears. I loveyou. He still wasn’t strong enoughto say the words and hear nothing back.

“I’ve tried dying afterbecoming a Master of the Mystic Arts but you know how that worked out. Death stilldidn’t want me. At least not permanently.”

What the fuck?!“Stephen, what’s going on? Don’t tell me you’re dying on me and this is yourdeathbed confession!”

“No. I just wanted you toknow.” He finally looked at Tony. “About one of my corpses. After tenyears it’s about time. And this is the first time in seven years that I can’tfeel the pain. I’m not allowed to forget about it.”

After Stephen lost his fightagainst the meds and finally fell asleep Tony cried. For Stephen, forhimself, for them. About how fucking unfair life was.

*

“Don’t leave me.”This time it was Stephen who had tears in his eyes, begging an unmercifuluniverse for another, a last chance. Kneeling in the dirt of another world,again, trying to stop Tony from bleeding to death with shaking hands and thelast shreds of his magic. “I love you.” The admission came easilyover his lips, finally. “I have for a long time.”

He didn’t get an answer butTony smiled at him and Stephen could finally see the truth. They’d been in oneof those few timelines all along and he’d been too stupid and blind to see it.

There had to be a way. He’dchosen the timeline where Tony lived, after all. Stephen closed his eyes andsearched for the last remnants of his power. I will save you.

*

Twelve years. They’d selectedthe date on purpose. The twelfth anniversary of the accident that shattered hishands and almost cost him his life; nine years after the moment he’d planned todie at, Doctor Stephen Strange stood on sheltered terrace of the SanctumSanctorum. Behind him the Cloak of Levitation escorted the last of their guestsoff the premises before it came back to watch over them. Stephen stood behindthe man he’d sworn six hours ago to love, honor and protect for the rest of hislife and held him in a lose embrace. “I love you.” He’d said thewords a thousand times in the last year, as if to make up for all the yearsthey’d lost to mutual stubbornness and Stephen’s unwillingness to just look atwhat was right in front of him.

Tony, older, wiser and stillso incredible beautiful that it hurt, turned around and rested his head onStephen’s shoulder. “I know.” He kissed Stephen, slow and gentle,familiar by now. “I love you, too. Tell me again.”

Stephen did.

=/\=

[izzy-b-hands]

Fun/terrifying modern AU one shot idea that refuses to be written rn: airport. Just, all of them, getting to the airport for a trip. why? don't think abt it rn, this is abt The Airport Experience solely.

The chaos of it all. Stede and Izzy are there entirely too early, like my levels of early to the airport (Three to four hours early so I can deal with the pre flight horrors period with my anxiety in a timely fashion prior to take off.)

Those two are a guaranteed mess themselves once on the plane because they've been fucking chugging coffee from the airport coffee shop while they wait. This means the misery of an airplane restroom at least once, but what else could they do, they ask.

Not show up so fucking early, per Ed, who despite spending his nights with either or both of them, managed to still be there juuuussst before it would be risking not making the flight. Izzy swears he was awake before he left for the airport, he specifically told Ed to try and stay awake to not be late.

Naturally, and understandably, Ed went back to bed lmaooo.

Jim and Olu arrive the recommended amount of time early, and they're a smooth running machine: bags are already paid for via airline app, dropped off, and e-boarding pass ready to be scanned, with back ups in the form of actual printed boarding passes.

Buttons calls about this time. He got on an earlier flight last night just to see if he could, so he's already at their destination, much to Stede's overall confusion. He understands how, but not why Buttons wanted to do it. But he sounds happy, so.

Everyone else trails in more or less on time, all glad they weren't the last one there (everyone loves Ed but are well aware that crown is his. The man just likes sleeping in, that's not a crime.)

Finally they should be boarding but no, now we're delayed. Fuck the plane needs to be refueled. How much longer?!

asked by Stede who is attempting to wrangle his crew from the airport shopping center, and failing. and also realllly wants to go look himself tbh, it's killing him that he can't go and has to take care of the flight nonsense. But as their leader, he knows he should. However as soon as Izzy volunteers to take over there is a Stede and Ed shaped set of dust as they shoot towards the stores together

Eventually Izzy wanders to them and casually mentions the delay might be longer. a lot longer. Could they just try a different flight tomorrow? (as if Stede's stubborn ass would ever say yes to that)

But no, so it's night time at the airport for everyone. Ed bemoans the idea of being so stuck, because yeah he could go elsewhere in the airport now and at least be slightly entertained, but Stede insisted they go through security after shopping, and he doesn't want to have to do that twice (v valid)

The endless argument over when and what to eat (is anyone willing to get food and then see if security will let them bring it back? the answer from all is No), if at all in case they get called to board asap (this will not happen.) The scrounging together of a meal from the various vending machines. Izzy and Stede finally crashing from the lack of coffee (coffee shop was only set up before security), out cold somehow on the uncomfortable airport seats. Everyone else pondering what if they just carried Stede out really carefully and quietly and rescheduled for another flight.

Then, an option: If they're willing to sit in different sections from one another, they can get everyone on this other flight.

They fucking run to that gate, Stede waking up in confusion tossed over Ed's shoulder. Izzy is not even remotely aware of what's happening either, just yanked up by Ivan and dragged along by the hand lmao. Frenchie and Wee John have everyone's phones and/or paper passes, scanning them in front of the befuddled desk agent before everyone else is even there (do not ever actually do this, this will only work in fiction im like 90 percent sure. I think if they did this irl security would tackle them or some shit)

They're fully in the air before Stede is awake enough to ask if anyone grabbed the pile of carry on bags they'd set near their seats.

Nope. In all the excitement, they did not.

[honey-minded-hivemind]

No no no, YOU'RE good, I love how intricate your ideas get!

BRO YOUR BRAIN POWER, Everything would only be more heartbreaking (how did you even do that) if reader was the extant child/relative of one the yans, my brain explored the idea with the professor or magneto, someone who wouldn't have suspected reader was their child, what would be worse for reader is if nobody knew and it was found out AFTER they're back. I'm evil :)

I could Imagine the reader, being the sweet selfless thing that they are, and being the only one who can't use their powers to escape like the others can, they might resort to begging the three to run and leave them behind, it's the very last thing any of them want, OH MAN it'd tear them up inside, but especially if reader were the oldest, the kids could be swayed to listen, even if they really really don't want to.

🐑 Anon

🥺🥰☺ Thank you, 🐑 Anon!!! I'm enjoying these small asks posts, as it's helping me discover how I want to write the first main story post! It's helping me think over how each character would act, possible relationships, and exactly how far I want it to go... So thank you, and for everyone else, who keeps asking about this au, and sharing your thoughts and ideas for it😊

And yes, it would involve more angst if they found out Reader was their child after they're back, but I raise you this: What happens if they found out when Reader and the others initially died? (Isn't that a fine wine of angst?) They never suspected and never knew Reader was a relative of theirs, and the pain and guilt over only ever knowing after Reader had already died. It would be worse if, when sorting through some of Reader's stuff after that dark day, they find a few papers in their handwriting, mentioning they know that one of their mentors or guardians is actually their parent/sibling/relative, but that they aren't going to tell them, because they don't want to ruin their relationship... Or if Reader had a DNA test or birth certificate or something else, detailing the fact they're related... The absolute misery the adult/s would be in, knowing they would never be able to right it, that they'd never be able to let Reader know they would have accepted them, no matter what... It breaks them all over again...

If Reader begged the others to go, to leave them, the three would be torn. If Reader is younger than them, they are staying no matter what. Only being forced to leave them would keep them from being by their side, sticking together til the end. If Reader is older, they would reluctantly leave, but only after Reader forces them into a position where that's the choice they're left with. And the three would be doing everything they can to get back to them, to try and rescue them from the strangers wearing the faces and powers of their teams, the people they call family...

I think I've finally decided on how old Reader is, and I say they are the youngest. Not by a lot, granted, but that doesn't stop them from being seen as someone to protect, no matter how powerful or awesome their powers are. They could be able to turn into a beast-like creature, or transform into any animal they want, or have fangs and claws, and they'd still be getting defended. It doesn't mean Reader themself isn't protective. Reader has lashed out before, during the few weeks they'd all been held captive, all to protect their captured friends or to defend the other platonic yans... Reader did suffer for it, though, terribly... It's why their death was a little different than the others. Where the others deaths were rather quick, Reader's was dragged out, made as painful for as long as it took to pass on...

It's really no wonder the adult and older teen platonic yans snapped and took their time destroying the people who'd done it. Who didn't even give them a chance to reach them before it was too late. And what a bloody, long drawn-out mess it is... And when it's finally done, well... There's a new world order on the verge of forming, and when it is brought to fruition... a lot of their enemies realize what a dangerous mistake they made...

[shade-romeo]

:D!! Okay!!!!

So, bc It's the only thing I can think about rn, I'm doing character analysis things for the swapped dark sides (Ro, Lo, and Pat). I would've done the light sides too, but I wrote too much already so you get half, and you gotta ask super nicely for the other half.

@sablesides i don't think you'd get notified of this reblog and I'm assuming you like this au from ur reaction image, so here's something else to use that with as well :>

Reblogs > Likes

Patton

Patton isn't normally one to sulk, but ever since the barriers went up, he's been finding himself sitting in random places, curled up on the floor against a wall as he thinks. And boy does he do some thinking. He thinks about how he could've prevented Thomas' mental spiral that caused this in the first place. He laments about how forceful and brash he was with Thomas. But mostly he mulls over what he lost when they went up. He had finally made amends with the light sides, and even gotten together with the absolute love of his life. And suddenly, it was all stripped away. But of course, he tries not to focus on that part too often, for he knows he has it much better off than the others.

Logan

Logan is trying to keep spirits up, he's found that when Patton and Roman are left alone for too long, they tend to lose themselves to the misery, so he's constantly dragging them around to distract them. Sometimes going to the basement to mess with the knickknacks, or occasionally going to the large dining room and pushing the table aside so they could turn on music and have a dance for themselves! He does his best to keep them in high spirits, but sometimes he finds himself sinking into the gloom as well. And when he sinks, he sinks. He has fears. He fears that what happened to Virgil might happen to one of the others, he fears what exactly had happened to Virgil to make him dissapear without a trace, he fears he won't be able to pull everyone out of this horrible situation, but most of all, he fears never getting to hold Remus again. Sure, they're able to see each other, and speak with one another, but more than anything, he wants to touch him again. He wants to hug him tight, and lift him up while he stutters and laughs. He wants it so much. But he still keeps a smile. He needs to, for their sake.

Roman

Roman had always been a recluse, hiding in the big thick cloak he always wore, hardly showing his face. Until at least, he had finally been welcome in the light side, when the other three started to actually take a liking to him, and treat him as they would one of their own. Gosh, Nowadays those times seemed so far away, almost like.. a dream. So wonderful and beautiful in the moment, but once you awake, it's but a distant memory. Now, in the dark halls of the estate, he simply.. wandered. When he wasn't being swept away to some.. new activity. Though.. that was one good thing to come from this he supposed. He had finally pieced his relationship with Patton and Logan back together. They were practically inseparable once again. They had to be, they were all they had currently. He was often lost in thought, just wandering wherever his legs would take him. Thinking back on the memories with the light sides, the stupid family game nights, the movie nights where they would all cuddle up on the couch together. And.. Virgil. Every time he wandered he tried his absolute best to not let his thoughts wander to Virgil, but.. it had been so long.. they had been meeting in the foyer one night, speaking about nothing and everything, and then.. he stopped coming, without an explanation. At first he tried to hijack Logan and Patton's meetings with Remus and Janus, trying to find answers as to why Virgil had just... dissapeared. But after months with no answer, he stopped asking. He had already come to a conclusion, though he didn't want to believe it. Virgil wasn't tired of him, he couldn't be. He promised he would never be, and he.. he had instructed Roman to think back on all the lovely gestures he had done to prove to himself how loved he was. But now.. now it just.. hurt. It hurt, so bad to think back. He was with Logan and Patton, and they.. they were good, but everything felt so.. dark, without Virgil lighting up the room. He just wants everything back to normal... but he had no idea how to fix it.. and he wasn't sure if he even could...

Sanders Sides Au

Okay, so I'm sure all of you have seen at least one trait swap au. Well this is also kinda a trait swap au. Well more like a swap au with added stuff.

Okay, so first of all, the traits being swapped.

Roman and Virgil switch, Remus and Logan switch, and Patton and Janus switch.

Example: Roman is Anxiety, and Virgil is Creativity.

Also! This au is swapped Prinxiety, swapped Moceit, and swapped Intrulogical. All of them are sad, and it's all pre-established.

Now onto the actual like.. story.

So, our Thomas, the original non swapped Thomas, is thrown into another dimension somehow. He wakes up in the bedroom of a huge estate, with two people standing over him.

Himself, and Virgil.

Wait.

So he gets up, and the other Thomas explains that he was thrown here because of some like.. storm or some shit, and after giving him the most basic info he leaves bc he's kinda a dick.

So this Virgil, who is surprisingly cheery- Explains everything else, what's different in his world compared to theirs, and so on and so forth.

He explains who everyone is, and once he gets to Roman, he gets this wistful look on his face, and talks like he's the most perfect person in the whole world.

Obviously Thomas comments on how head over heels Virgil is, and Virgil just deflates instantly.

He then explains that Thomas has put barriers around the castle, whether consciously or not, that prevent the dark sides and light sides to interact.

The dark sides are forced to stay downstairs, unable to come up without being violently shocked by the barrier, and the lights are the same way, except that they have to stay upstairs.

Thomas is of course devastated, but Virgil smiles and says that they've figured out how to get past some limits. Occasionally they gather in the foyer, the light sides standing at the top of the stairs and the dark sides standing on the floor, so they can see each other and speak.

But because I'm evil and want the angst- Virgil explains that he has been condemned to this room, others can come in and out, but Virgil is trapped. He assumes it's because Thomas tends to "Shackle his creativity" quite literally.

So because he's trapped, he cannot go out into the foyer, and so he hasn't seen his love in forever.

Thomas is of course devastated, and vows to try and get rid of the barriers, however he could.

I'll be honest, I listened to Days In The Sun from 2017 Beauty and The Beast, and this is what came out of it. I'm sad.

But no joke I really like this au... please somebody give me a reason to elaborate a bit more, ask questions whatever just please