#this was supposed to be a SHORT chapter

[egophiliac]

I'm still processing 7-13, in the meantime have this super quick thing! of all the things that happened that I didn't expect, one of 'em certainly was a not insignificant subplot revolving around Silver unintentionally committing international mail fraud.

[riant-draws]

tw for panic attack, eyestrain (last page), swears

@tsunochizu's backwards through the snow!! this fic is my lifeblood

this scene's from chapter 15, in which iirc sig is like "ok pebbs is acting weird as hell time to get to the bottom of this" and pebbs wants some modified neuron flies for extra storage (which sig can send him the blueprints for), which ends up in them having a very... exciting video call

also I belatedly realized that the author made designs for sig and pebbs in btts but haha I am not redrawing pages~

this took me over a month I'm not even kidding

*dies*

[happypeachsludgeflower]

I feel like I should maybe be ashamed of myself but like… yea this is total a normal length for a single chapter guys 🥸 I’m absolutely 100% normal about these two. Not at all deranged even slightly.

Everything’s fiiinne. This is fine.

[dragonnarrative-writes]

Transferrable Skills Part 4

Transferrable Skills Masterlist

CW: POV depiction of anxiety and dissociation, How It's Made, reader character wearing a wig (positive, protective style), Soap (nosy), mention of sex toys, Simon Riley Is Honesty Just A Big Guy (TM),

Simon and Price are gone for less than a minute before you feel awkward. You’re almost done with the water, so you look around for the TV remote. It’s Gaz, absurdly pretty for some kind of international British SWAT team, who hands it to you with a half smile before wandering off, you assume to the bathroom.

That leaves you clicking through the TV while Soap does something on his phone. All of the local channels are in German, you know, so you look for something to stream. You chance a sidelong glance at Soap, but he’s already looking at you. He grins when you make eye contact.

“So yer LT’s girl, then?”

Fuck, that’s not a question you know how to answer. “Um.”

“Leave it, Soap,” Gaz says, returning from the bathroom. He smiles at you as he pockets his phone. “You don’t have to tell us anything you’re not comfortable with. Lieutenant Riley’s a private person, we understand.”

“That’s… it’s okay.” You tap into the PictureTime channel, since it’s not one you usually have access to. As you browse through the educational options - ooh, How It’s Built! - you say, “I think we’re both… a bit surprised to see each other here.”

“I can’t imagine,” Gaz says, sitting down at the other end of the couch. “Oh, I’ve not seen this one on puzzles and cheesecake.”

You tap into it, because you like puzzles, cheesecake, candles, and paintbrushes. Just in time to finish your water bottle. The armchair is a bit narrow and awkward, so you wiggle the cushion from behind your back so you can plop it, and yourself, onto the ground. You shuffle your legs to start your warm up as the theme song plays.

“How'd'ye come to answerin’ LT like yer military?” Soap asks. “’Acknowledge’, ‘acknowledged’, all o’ that?”

“Oh,” you answer, without thinking about it. “That’s just our protocol, to make sure I understand his directions.”

“’E’s givin’ you enough directions to need protocols?” He gives you a considering once-over. “Interestin’. Impressive that it held up in an emergency. That takes practice.”

Shit. “Yeah, I guess so.”

“’S he your, what’er they called? Dominant partner, then?”

God, Simon, why didn’t you take this one with you? “I’m… not at liberty to say?”

“Leave her alone, Soap,” Gaz says, exasperated. He tosses a throw pillow at Soap’s head. “She’s in shock, Simon’s trying to keep her calm and comfortable.”

“Ghostie adopts a civilian an’ ah’m supposed to have nae questions?” Soap grins at you. “She’s got a signal if she dinnae want to talk. Four fingers, right?”

“Bother Ghost about it, later,” Gaz says. He turns to you. “Do you know what you want to eat? There’s a few places open.”

Soap doesn’t pester you, after that. The three of you settle on Mediterranean food, and then they summarily leave you alone. Gaz seems content to watch the show, though Soap watches you do your floor stretches curiously.

You could probably have moved to another stretch a while ago, but you’re still in your work slacks and blouse. You think longingly of the yoga pants you laid out on your bed before leaving for meetings. And then you cringe to think of Simon coming in to sweep through the room and pack up all of your things. You hadn’t packed a lot, but you’d unpacked into the space to make yourself comfortable.

You realize that your sex toy is charging in the bedside table and cringe. You hope he doesn’t notice it. It’s good quality, but you can always buy another one.

And then you start to worry about your phone. You’d left your personal in the room because of the time zone change slowing down all of your personal messages. You’d lost your work phone and computer today with… everything that happened. Were people trying to get a hold of you? Had news of the incident made it to the US? Would Simon see your embarrassing phone background?

You resist the urge to get up and pace. Instead, you settle into butterflying your legs.

“You need more water?” Gaz’s voice startles you, but you nod and he passes a bottle to you on the floor. “Cap says that they’re done with the official stuff, he’s grabbing food while Ghost grabs your things. Probably less than an hour before they get back.”

Your anxiety shouts that that isn’t enough time. But since you can’t definitively answer the question For what?, you take a breath and let it out slowly. “Okay.”

Maybe it’s because your heart is beating a little faster, muscles a bit warmer, but you have trouble settling Into the show. Your mind races. You have to remind yourself to relax, then have to clamber to your feet and shuffle off to the bathroom because you relaxed your pelvic floor a little too much.

Your eyes in the mirror are a little too wide. The wig - every time you wear a good one, you almost forget you’re wearing it - is holding up admirably, at least. It feathers around your face, a bit squished where you slept on it. But with the smudged eyeliner and mascara you can kind of pretend you’re in an action movie.

Thank goodness agent Ghost rescued me and the other hostages, you think to yourself, pouting your lips dramatically as you wash your hands.

The last time you washed your hands there was a dead body on the floor.

“Nope,” you say aloud, practically flinging yourself into the bedroom. “Nope. Nope.”

You pace in a tight circle, kicking the door closed when you catch Gaz and Soap looking at you with concerned eyes. Two circuits later, the room is too small, so you open the door again and shuffle out to sit in the armchair again, one leg pulled up for you to wrap your arms around.

Throwing your mind into action shots of specialty machinery, you try to force yourself to settle. Your whole body feels like it will shake apart if you pay too much attention to it, so you don’t pay it any attention at all. The episode ends and rolls into the next one, so you learn about bird cages and automated pharmacy drones. You hear Gaz say something soft, and Soap answers, the burr of his voice just as quiet, mixing pleasantly with the murmur of the narrator.

You must lose time, again, because the next thing you know, Simon is crouching in front of you again. Big hands smooth over your arms, and he shushes you as you jump.

“Got y’r stuff,” he says. “Where’s your head at?”

You open your mouth, close it. Hold up four fingers.

“Mm, day’s catchin’ up, again. Go into the bedroom, get changed. No zippers or clasps. Buttons okay. Acknowledge.”

“Bedroom, change clothes,” you confirm, heaving a big sigh. “Comfy. Acknowledged.”

He helps you stand, and you can’t help but tip forward to put your face into his chest. He smells a little. Like stale sweat and gunpowder. His arms stop yours when they come up for an automatic hug.

“Go change,” he whispers into the top of your head, “An’ I’ll get rid of the rest of ‘em, eh?”

The haze around you pops. That’s the only way to describe it. One minute, everything is distantly fuzzy, and the next thing you know you can feel the circulation of the air in the room and his heartbeat against your forehead. The TV is quieter, and you can hear Price and Gaz and Soap talking between themselves.

“Acknowledged,” you say into his sternum. “Gotta go change.”

He has to gently guide you around his bulk. But eventually you shuffle back into the bedroom. Your suitcase is waiting for you in the far corner, and it doesn’t take you long to dig out your lounge wear. Soft, thin pants with cartoon dogs on them and an oversized tee you got from a fundraiser. And then you take both off because that’s not sexy.

Why didn’t I pack nicer stuff? Can I play off these lacy panties as sleep wear? He saw it all and packed it, he probably clocked those as the only sexy thing I have. You shake your head at yourself. He said to wear something comfortable. He knows what you have. This is fine.

Your friend’s son’s basketball mascot grins up at you. You decide to compromise and switch the shirt for a black cami you usually wear under a nice blouse.

When you peek out of the room, Simon’s in the middle of the couch, and he’s blocked one end by dragging the table closer to where he’s sitting. His jeans have been traded for black sweats, but you can’t tell if his black shirt is new or not. Somehow, he looks bigger, but in a nice way. Softer. If a brick shit-house could look soft. A brick book nook.

“’Ey, pretty girl,” he says, leaning enough to put an arm across the back of the couch. “Come sit, we’re gonna eat and then we’re gonna talk.”

When you get close, you realize that there’s not enough room for both of you to sit unless you’re half on top of him.

You want to throw yourself entirely into his lap. But you can smell the food now, and you’re so hungry. So you perch as much of your ass on the couch as you can and swing your legs over one of his. You meet his eyes just as his arm comes down across your thighs. His hand cups the outside of your leg in a way that makes you remember what he said.

He’s not letting you go, now.

[anonymous-dentist]

Bleeding Heart Part Eight

Part One | Previous Part

-

Cellbit paces.

His arm is in a sling, and he can still barely move it even a few days after the incident. He has a killer bruise on the back of his head, apparently, and his wrist is still the color of a grape. His spine is equally bruised, and, according to Pac, he should be counting himself lucky that he didn't end up with a concussion.

Hombre Misterioso hasn't contacted him since Man-Bear's death. Cellbit doesn't know if this is a good thing or not.

After getting back to his apartment, Cellbit collapsed onto his couch and let Pac poke and prod him. Bagi hovered nearby wringing her hands, and, somehow, and for some reason, Felps was in the kitchen making hot chocolate. Thankfully, Richarlyson had been dropped off at Bad's before Pac had made the trip across town from the lab.

It's been a few days since then, and Felps still hasn't left. Bagi has come by every night after she gets off work with takeout. Pac, stuck at the lab, has taken on the family's Richarlyson Duties for the forseeable future.

Without the use of one of his arms, Cellbit has basically been sitting and reading and playing Wii Sports with Felps. He can technically still sit at his computer and work, and he wants to! But Felps changed his Adobe password while Cellbit was in the shower one morning, and so Cellbit has officially been forced into bedrest.

Again.

Felps was with him the last time he was this messed up. Felps has been with him since the beginning, basically, so Cellbit isn't too worried about looking too stupid in front of him as he tries to move around his apartment without actually breaking his spine. If anything, it's a blessing having him around because Cellbit basically has unlimited ice to put on his shoulder.

Felps, being Felps, sits on the couch and watches as Cellbit paces. He watches like he's watching a tennis match, head movements and all.

Cellbit's phone is in his hand. His other hand is limp across his chest in its sling, and his shoulder protests with every step he takes. But-

"Dude," Felps says, "just call him."

But that's the problem, isn't it? 'Just call him'.

"But wouldn't it-" Cellbit starts.

"Relax," Felps firmly says. He crosses his arms, and he crosses his legs, and he smiles crookedly with an eyebrow raised.

"You know," he slyly says, "I haven't seen you this nervous to talk to a guy since-"

Cellbit stops pacing long enough to kick Felps' shin.

He points with his good hand, a frown on his face. "Don't."

Felps just raises his hands defensively. "What?"

"Just. Don't. I'll call him."

Cellbit does not, in fact, call him.

He actually takes a seat next to Felps and groans, leaning forward and hiding his face in his arms on his lap; his sling doesn't quite reach that far, but he makes it work.

Felps pats his back, gentle. His hand, cold, is a welcome presence.

"There, there," Felps assures him.

"He probably hates me," Cellbit mutters. "He was probably arrested."

"He wasn't arrested."

"And Bagi probably went to his place to bother him."

"She would've told us if she did."

"And he might actually be, like, dead because of me."

"Ah, maybe, actually."

Cellbit stomps his foot down onto Felps' toes.

Irritated, he sits up and fixes an unapologetic Felps with a glare.

"You aren't helping," he huffs.

Felps shrugs. "Ice?"

Cellbit's shoulder pinches.

He sighs and nods, and Felps pushes himself off the couch with a groan. He stretches, cracks his neck an impossible amount of times, and goes to the kitchen for a fresh plastic baggie of water.

Cellbit looks down at his phone in his lap. No messages from anyone but Richarlyson, who has apparently figured out how to text from his iPad even with the child lock Bad put on it; the messages are all different combinations of emojis that all roughly translate to, 'I miss you.'

Cellbit smiles.

The screen goes dark from inactivity.

Seeing his reflection, Cellbit stops smiling.

He isn't wanting a call from Hombre Misterioso, but he is expecting one. But maybe they're dead. Maybe they ended up succumbing to their injuries after the fight. It would be a shame, but a welcome one.

But they aren't who Cellbit is worried about.

In the kitchen, the sink turns on. Felps hums the Chume Labs jingle. The refrigerator rumbles.

Cellbit unlocks his phone and looks down at the screen. It's still open on the last thing he was looking at before turning his phone off: his contacts list, and one specific contact right in the center of the screen just asking to get opened.

Roier.

From the kitchen, Felps calls, "What's so special about this guy, anyway?"

"What, besides him saving my life?" Cellbit dryly asks.

He sighs, turning his phone back off and slowly, slowly leaning back into the couch.

"He's a client," he elaborates. "And I think I might have ruined his life?"

The sink turns off.

Felps comes out of the kitchen with a bag halfway filled with tap water. Frost is already forming on the outside of the bag, and the water inside is starting to crackle as it cools.

Gracefully, Felps flops onto the couch with all of his strength. He sidles up next to Cellbit, slings his legs over Cellbit's, throws an arm over Cellbit's shoulders. He carefully presses the bag of fresh ice against Cellbit's bad shoulder, the very picture of a caring nurse.

"You think you ruin everything, dude," Felps points out. "That's, like, your thing. Didn't you take a pen off Bagi's desk one time and freak out 'cause you thought you got her fired?"

Cellbit winces. "Well..."

And then he lets out a quiet moan as the bag digs painfully into a bruised nerve; immediately, Felps lightens the pressure, and the pain goes away just as quickly as it arrived.

Thankfully, Felps knows what he's doing, and so the fresh ice in his hand isn't a solid block. It's more like a slushy or a snow cone, so it's not as painful as a regular ice pack would be.

"Sorry, sorry..." Felps mutters.

Louder, he asks, "What did you even do to this guy? Did you fuck up his pictures or something?"

"I wish," Cellbit groans. He dramatically drapes his good arm across his eyes, leaning his head back against Felps' bicep. "I fucking wish that was all I did. But, no, I probably got him killed."

"Yeah, maybe."

Cellbit bucks Felps' legs off of his annoyedly. "You aren't supposed to agree with me!"

"What!" Felps protests. "I won't know unless you tell me! I've got a sixth sense for this kind of stuff. Remember when you were like-" (His voice pitches down slightly.) "-'Holy shit, Felpsinho, I killed that guy. He's super dead.' But-" (His voice goes back to normal.) "-I was like, 'No, man, look at him, he's alive as Hell.' And guess what?"

"What."

"He was!"

"That doesn't count," Cellbit scoffs. "That was Pac. He's probably immortal."

"You'd know," Felps hums.

Raising his arm to reveal one eye, Cellbit gives Felps a dirty look; Felps just grins brilliantly in response, the fucker.

Staring contest:

Felps crosses his eyes.

Cellbit immediately snorts and drops his arm again, closing his eyes and bathing in the comforting darkness.

"Ceeeellbo," Felps whispers, right against Cellbit's ear. "Tell me about the boy."

"Okay, creep," Cellbit huffs, more of a laugh than a sound of true annoyance.

In the blank space behind his eyelids, Cellbit can see the confused expression Man-Bear gave him when he called for Roier. In the back of his mind, he can hear Hombre Misterioso's voice:

'You called for Roier.'

"He's a civilian," Cellbit explains. "No powers as far as I know. He saved me from Hombre Misterioso that one time. I took pictures of his restaurant. I'm pretty sure he has a kid. And..." (He sighs.) "...I sent the Feds right to him. And then I fucking- Bagi is probably suspicious of him now, and I said his name in front of Hombre Misterioso, and-"

He cuts himself off to breathe. He can feel his blood boiling inside of him, and he can feel the ice on his shoulder start to melt.

Luckily: Felps.

He cools the ice back down, and he sticks his legs back over Cellbit like the world's gangliest weighted blanket.

"Bagi isn't a bad guy," Felps calmly says. "She's just a cop. She's probably just gonna start investigating you, so don't worry about that other guy."

If history is anything to go by, yeah, but-

"And!" Felps continues, interrupting Cellbit's internal spiral. "You told us yourself, this Hombre Misterioso guy doesn't actually give a shit about anyone that's not the Federation. Your boy is fine."

It's true, Cellbit did say that. He sent out a group text to everyone still in contact with him from his days with the Order of Villains just after Bagi left on the night of Man-Bear's death, finally admitting to being in contact with Q City's number one villain and dishing out a detailed report of everything he knows about them.

Sighing in defeat, Cellbit drops his arm back to his side and lolls his head until the top of it is resting against Felps' face.

Felps, annoying, plants a big, fake kiss right into Cellbit's hair.

Cellbit grimaces playfully.

"You're gonna give me cooties, man," he grumbles.

"No, I don't have any. I gave them all to Pac so he could give them to his janitor boyfriend."

"The Fed?"

"Yeah, the super bald one that looks like an anime villain."

Cellbit nods sagely. "Good. I hope Cucurucho gets them next. And they die."

"From cooties."

"From cooties."

Straight-faced, Cellbit opens his phone and his notes app and writes, 'Cucurucho Cooties'.

As Cellbit types, Felps says, "You know, you have your phone open... you can just call your guy and make sure he's okay."

And, suddenly, they're back where they started almost half an hour ago when this crisis began.

Inexplicably, Cellbit feels the urge to get up and start pacing again.

Instead, he manages to move one inch before Felps is yoinking his phone out of his hand and opening his contacts. He holds it far above Cellbit's head, out of reach for someone with an assload of busted bones.

"Felps, no," Cellbit tiredly asks.

"Felps, yes," Felps happily responds. "What's his name, come on, let's get this over with so we can play Wii."

Cellbit glances fondly at the Wii.

"His name is Roier," he tells Felps, because he's a very weak man.

"But I'm going to be the one calling him," he adds, elbowing Felps in the side until he acquiesces and gives Cellbit his phone back.

Cellbit looks at Roier's contact.

He opens it.

He taps on the 'call' button.

And he waits.

...And he waits.

....And he waits.

And he waits until he's two seconds away from pacing again, but then, suddenly:

"Ah, hello? Cellbit?"

Cellbit goes limp against Felps' side, almost dropping the phone in relief.

"Roier," he croaks out. "How are you?"

Felps pokes his ribs supportively.

"I'm- ow, Leonarda, stop it! Stop it! I'm not letting you- I'm fine, Cellbit! Don't worry! What about you?"

"I'm... fine," Cellbit lies.

Felps pokes his ribs disapprovingly.

"Good, good. I was worried, you know? Your sister came over yesterday and said you were in an accident, so-"

"I'm fine! Ignore her, she's stupid and she's a liar."

A laugh: "Okay. But, listen, I told her to ask you this, but I guess she didn't, so, uh... come by the restaurant? Because you're feeling fine. Just any time, I need to get some feedback on this new soup special I came up with."

"...Sure? I'm not a big soup guy, but I can try?"

"Great! I- fuck, Leo, leave me alone, go play Roblox or something, Jesus-"

There's rustling on the other end of the line, and then: "Text me later, I'm babysitting."

And then someone else on Roier's end shouts, "I'm babysitting you!"

And then the call ends abruptly, leaving Cellbit in silence with Felps shaking his head silently next to him.

"You liar," Felps tuts.

Cellbit reaches for a throw pillow to smother him with:

"I hope you get cooties and die."

[dreamersscape]

Hitting 10K in a single chapter: Niiiiice!

At 12K: Wha- hey, whoa there buddy. Where do you think you're going?

14K: No, you- stop! STOP WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU GOTTA SLOW DOWN I'M NOT EQUIPPED FOR THIS--!

[asfodelle]

"July - 2 years prior

“No.” 

It was the very first word He Tian heard from Guan Shan the night they met again.

The southeastern district had barely changed. The maidenhair trees along the road had only gotten thicker, the potholes deeper but this side of town was already grey and deteriorated back when he was in high school, a couple neighbourhoods away. The tiny 24/7 shop with a washed out storefront and messy shelves was still open six years later. They used to get ice cream here after training, twice a week for months. When He Tian, now grown, came by to get a pack of cigarettes, the owner did not seem to recognize him."

Chapter 8 of Little Bit of Lead is out :)

[hitorimaron]

Inspired by my fic Shallow Waters

[doc-art]

This has been a while coming, but I wanted to thank you for introducing me to Assignment Risk. I saw your name on the kudos list for my story, 'In The Wings', and got hyped. Felt like things came full circle, or something.

You're welcome!! I read some of it (like, 3 or 4 chapters in right now?), I really need to get back to it! I enjoyed what I read tho!

Been busy reading a bunch of other stories, along with a lotta art stuff (plus my own lil story based off AR) thats been taking my time.

been doodling bits and pieces as I've been writing it, hoping to have the whole thing done relatively soonish

[moash]

just read the moash interlude. don’t know how to feel about it. anyone else feel like sanderson just like decided he didn’t like the direction he had been going with moash and tried to backtrack?

[seraphinite-siphonophore]

It’s all uphill from here

[aroaceleovaldez]

Hi i've read some posts of you about Tsats and it seems like you didn't like the book.

Honestly i'm with you in this 'cause i find it problematic on so many levels (characterizations, inconsistencies, ableism) but apparently there's gonna be a sequel???? What do you think about it?

i think i can pretty concisely summarize my thoughts about the sequel with:

Longer version: It just feels wholly unnecessary. There's no continuation to use for a sequel, really. The first TSATS was unnecessary to begin with but it was so focused on leaving no stone unturned that it functionally left no loose ends to tie up. There's just nowhere to go with it unless they do even MORE retconning and warping characters OOC to string some kind of plot out of, but even that wouldn't reasonably give them enough to make a full novel's worth of plot out of anyways, which means if this sequel is novel-length like the last then it will drag on SO. MUCH. TSATS1 already had horrible pacing problems. There's no way this won't be worse.

[deiaiko]

#22.8 Badge

Viole sat by the window, watching Mr. Shibisu rummage through the medbay cabinets. Mr. Rak and Khun went to the cafeteria to get food, so there were only the three of them in the room.

Mr. Isu had been doing that the moment Mr. Agni left. And Viole grew curious. "What are you looking for, Mr. Isu? Maybe I can help."

"Oh, nothing. I'm just checking what they’ve got here. A good scout should use every opportunity well." Mr. Isu gave him a thumbs up. "Also, there's no need to be so formal to me, man. Just call me Isu."

Viole felt sheepish. Maybe he should grow out of this habit soon. "Okay, Isu."

Isu flicked his fingers. It seemed like he just remembered something. "Oh, right. Bam. I have something for you." Then proceeded to dig through his pocket. His face lit up when he found the thing.

Isu walked up to him, and handed him a badge. It looked like a feather, but shaped like an odd tree branch. "What is this?"

"That's a wing tree badge, a symbol of the organization called Wolhaiksong. Princess Yuri asked me to give it to you, back on the second floor."

"Miss Yuri…" He hadn't heard about her in a long time. He missed her. He hoped she was doing well. Did she know that he was still alive? Oh. He should apologize for losing the Black March, too. And retrieve it, so he could return it to her. Anaak should have it, right? He'd talk to her later.

"If I recall…she said, 'Urek Mazino is waiting for you on the seventy-seventh floor' when she handed that badge over."

"Seventy-seventh floor?" That'd be a high climb, maybe some years at best. Could he meet Miss Yuri there? "Who's Urek Mazino?"

"He's the co-founder of Wolhaiksong, an irregular, and also one of the top five strongest people in this tower! No joke."

Viole examined the badge. It was white and glossy, small enough that he could hide it between his hands. To think that this small item could hold so much value…It was pressuring. Just like when he was lended the Black March. But still, he was happy to be acknowledged and remembered by such important people. "Thank you, Isu."

"You're welcome." Isu replied cheerfully and sat back next to him, shoulders slouched like an invisible weight had just been lifted off him. "Man… it’s good to finally be able to give it to you."

Masterlist

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☕ Buy me coffee ☕

[coffeebanana]

i don't want to jinx it, but... i finished a scene today?

[phoenixtakaramono]

Truce Ch3 - Preview 5/?

Y’don’t know I toy, briefly, with thoughts of killing the boy, to rid that accursed bloodline from existence, Billy thought. Pictured laying Ryan’s body at the feet of his monster of a father. Homelander would be furious no doubt; he would clutch his prized only son tight against his breast and weep over his corpse. But as soon as Billy thought that, he was surprised to find that he derived no satisfaction from that image, only a cold sensation in the pit of his stomach.

That boy. Billy had looked at that honest face and felt the yawning chasm of time that separated their generation. Glimpsed Becca’s soft features beneath the adolescent traces of baby fat and his father’s near-identical likeliness. Had felt both the revulsion and the joy curl in his veins when those small arms collided against his waist. Killing the boy was not the closure that he wanted. He wanted rage. He wanted revenge. He wanted to gain the upper hand, and reduce the superhero to his truest self. He wanted to see the caped cunt on his knees, and his back—which’d always been straight and proud and imposing—bent over from grief and the helplessness of it all.

Billy wanted him to hurt.

—(snippet from Truce ch3)

[hotcheetohatredwastaken]

Who Heals the Healer? Febuwhump Day 7--Suffering In Silence

Four passed out at last. That gaping wound in his stomach, scraped out and still lined at the edges with singed, blackened flesh, was finally cleared enough that Hyrule could lay his hands over it and touch living flesh. He worked his magic, knitting muscle and skin back together by feel alone, until his magic began to sputter and peter out and Legend pulled him away, already scolding him for overextending himself. Hyrule stumbled after him, his mind numb, as Legend pushed him down onto a log by the fire and ran a rag over his sweaty forehead, yelling for Wind to fetch him a drink and some sugary snack from Wild’s Slate. 

“Rulie, how many times have I told you not to exhaust your magic reserves like that?” Despite the harsh words, Legend’s voice was fond. It took Hyrule’s eyes a while to adjust to find his scowling face. “You’re going to hurt yourself like that one day, I should know.”

“...sorry…” Hyrule got out vaguely. He leaned into the cool palm pressing into his forehead. “Is he…?”

“He’s okay,” Legend answered. He pulled away with a frown, then took one of Hyrule’s hands in his own, rubbing it briskly between his own. Then he paused. “You’re… warm. You’re usually cold after you use too much magic.” He looked up at Hyrule, his eyebrows raising. “Have you been sick recently, Rulie?”

The words took a while to make their way through Hyrule’s exhausted mind. “No…? I don’t think so…” Suddenly, there were two Legend’s looking up at him. He blinked hard, and they solidified back into one. “I’m just tired… I think I might need to lie down for a bit.”

“Okay…” Legend said dubiously. “C’mon, give me your arm, I’ll help you over there.”

Hyrule found himself nearly slung over Legend’s shoulder. The walk to his bedroll seemed to be miles long. He stumbled, and Legend cursed, distantly calling out for Warrior to help him. He was there in an instant, supporting Hyrule’s other arm. Somewhere in the back of Hyrule’s mind, he realized that the outside of his right leg was burning, but he was much too tired to pay it any attention. He took one step towards his bedroll, then another.

“Rulie, this is more than magic exhaustion.” Legend’s voice warbled in from afar. “Are you sure that you’re okay?”

 “I mean, it… it could also be… be where that monster got me.” Hyrule panted out. All he had to do was get to his bedroll. One step. Another. “Didn’t really have time to… to deal with it, before Four was all hurt."

“Hyrule,” Legend said somewhere, his voice growing high. “What do you mean, where that monster got me?”

Hyrule, very helpfully, passed out in answer.