#to be clear i am talking about the current gun commander who was a child living onthe ark at the same time as shadow and maria

[sonknuxadow]

i think its funny that people always forget about the gun commander when talking about the stuff that happened on the ark . literally nobody gives a shit about that guy. and i dont blame them

[imaginationmess]

TAKE MY HAND (Zombie Apocalypse) [Bakugou Katsuki X Reader]; ONE

Bakugou Katsuki X Reader

AGED UP AU!

Summary: When you take on the burden to keep the ones living safe, which causes you to become a traitor, but you had to pick a decision, and it cost their trust in you. You reverted to your old violent self. Months later, you find yourself face to face with your old friends. They want you to help them because they know you can handle yourself in this current state of the world. They are still ignorant of the state the world is. They have no idea how more dangerous it has become.

"We are still fucking fighting and won't stop fighting. If you fucking give up, we lose!"

BEFORE READING! PLEASE READ DISCLAIMER!

Previously Chapter ZERO; Masterlist

Chapter One

Word Count: 1,500 

The intruders' hands were tied behind their backs. There is a young woman who sighs out of annoyance seeing them not awake yet from one of the children's quirks. They were doing what they were trained to do to protect their home.

"Why aren't we killing them, yet even torturing them for invading our territory? Miss Glitch." An older man with tattoos all over his body and many burn scars on his face from his old days of being an assassin.

"Daichi. I made a promise a long time ago to their teacher. He wouldn't lose another student. I will admit it was the stupidest bold thing they could ever do. I am not usually here on the main base and taking care of business on the other bases." The [hair color]ed young lady pulls a chair to sit down, knowing they are gonna be waking up soon enough.

"Was it that time? You decide to try to become a hero enrolling in that prestigious school. You were acting to be a normal teenager once in your life to blend in with the normal ones." Daichi recalls when you were 15 years old.

You left the mafia life, having no other choice because there would have been lethal consequences. If you didn't leave, you may have lost your life. He was more of a father than your biological one. He was the one who helped you get a new identity using your mother's last name and getting in contact with your biological mother who left your father to find out how abusive and dangerous he was. She lost the custody battle against your biological father due to him having the money to bribe the judge.

You thought back to a couple of years ago, where it felt like a good dream to be too good to be real. You had a normal teenage social life where you have friends around your age instead of being way older than you and weren't afraid of you. Those connections that you made were genuine, not faked despite everyone thinking it was.

You were just a child who wanted to be accepted and cared about.

There was a knock to reveal the 8-year-old girl that snaps out of your daydream state before ordering her to come inside.

"You can go ahead, wake them up, dear." You smiled at the young child who returned it, before running off to touching their skin.

"Wake up." Her command was crystal clear, causing all four of them to stir awake.

You stand up and reach into your pocket, your knife flicking it up with a snap. The sound of the knife opening cutting through the tense air.

"You can go back to playing with the kids. This is gonna be a conversation for the adults." Daichi walks the young child out of the room. Daichi hands her over a piece of candy that is technically like treasure due to the state of the world.

The four started jumping up and down on their wooden chairs to break them. They have the right to be scared. They realized who was standing in front of them. You had killed their friend in cold blood all those years ago at the beginning of the apocalypse. You were approaching them with the calm expression similar to their encounters with serial killers.

You walk around their chairs despite them moving around attempting to break free. You cut the restraints off of them swiftly. You didn't flinch when all of them turned around to try to land an attack on you.

You let your body become ghost-like letting their punches phase through you causing them to be surprised. You took your hands to make them solid again and grabbed the two colored-haired and the green-haired smash into each other heads harshly. You teleport out from the tight spot a few feet away from them.

Your body reverts to normal and takes a seat casually.

"Are we gonna throw punches at each other or we are going to talk about how stupid the four of you are for walking into mafia base? You only got lucky. I was even here because you would have met your end by my soldiers from the normal protocol when it comes to outsiders invading our base." You laid back on your chair and crossed your arms against your chest.

The green-haired male was hesitant and took a seat on the chair that he was originally tied to. This caused a domino effect among the group.

"We were sent by Pixie Bob and Eraserhead to recruit the leader, but... we didn't know it would be you." He lays out the facts.

"Midoriya, why would they even want to recruit m- Unless you guys are planning to travel in other territories that aren't in my restriction." You voiced your thoughts.

"We may have found a way to find a cure. The downside is we are lacking supplies to complete it." Midoriya stares into your eyes with confidence.

"If you know what you need, I may already have it. I can spare some of my laboratory materials." You crack your neck, relaxing your shoulders from the tension of thinking. You need to fight.

"Don't take us like dumbasses who can't use their brain. What's the price?" The sandy blond male standing up from his chair.

You smirk mischievously. "It's the simplest thing. You can easily provide. Bakugo."

Bakugou's face scrunches up in frustration. He can't read your body language like before. He can't tell if you are teasing or being serious.

"We aren't trading Bakugo. If that's what you are thinking." The two-colored male responds.

"Todoroki, the naive one as always. I don't want him per se. You can keep him. What I want is a gallon of his sweat, in exchange for the materials I have on hand." You say, before standing up.

The shock of all their faces hearing something they never have heard from negotiating with other survivors. Bakugou's sweat.

"Do you even have what we wan-" The black-haired man with the red tips says, sticking his hand into his pocket to find it empty?

You pull out the list of materials that you stole from his pockets. This automatically causes them to search on their person to find out they have been unarmed.

"You are insane if you think. I was gonna leave you guys armed with knives to small pistols and guns. To answer your question, Kirishima. I do have them and you will get your weapons back when you depart from the base. It's a primary rule that is in this haven. No weapons allowed if you aren't on duty." You casually say as you double-check upon the list of materials.

"That's the stupidest thing I ever heard." Bakugou retorts.

"It's to prevent a tragedy if a minor doesn't know how to use a gun. This base is a primary home for families who have young children into orphans and create weapons. But do we have a deal or not?" You look up at them and fold the paper, slipping it back into your pocket.

"What are you gonna do with my sweat?" Bakugou asks.

"Make explosive bombs, of course. What do you think? What it takes to have the amount of territory I possess. I have to have an upper hand on handing the other mafia groups to keep everyone in my territory safe. I am gonna let you four think about it for the night." You turn around and walk to the door to open it. You wave your hand to signal someone to come over.

The same teenager who was in combination with the young child from earlier comes inside with two swords strapped on his back. You clap your hands on the young boy's shoulders.

"Speedy here, will give you guys a quick tour of the base and take you guys to take a quick shower because you four hella stink. Getting something to eat from the cafeteria and where you will be sleeping. He will be taking care of you while I am doing the rest of my business before you guys come interpreting it. He considers him as your watchdog. If you misbehave, he is allowed to knock the fuck out. He may be young, but he is deadly. See you boys later."

You walk away leaving your former classmates speechless. You are in a way welcoming them into your base knowing they don't trust you, which is why. You are using a young teenager to be their tour guide.

"I don't suggest acting out. We were ordered not to harm any of you, but we are still allowed to knock you out and kick you out without your weapons." Speed comments.

"We can take your punk ass down, easily."

"You hesitated because we are minors. We have been growing up in the apocalypse for a long time now. We aren't children anymore. We are survivors for a reason." 

💣-💥-💣-💥-💣-💥-💣-💥-💣-💥-💣-💥-💣-💥-💣-💥-💣-💥-💣-💥-💣

I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter!

Any thoughts/Feelings/Predictions that you have while out reading this chapter.

I would love to hear them! <3

If you wish to be tagged, do comment down below. 

[dragonrajafanfiction]

Dragon Dancer IV: Hollow Victory

It was about 8 pm at night when I got the knock on the door. Ru’Yi was still awake, laying on her stomach and lifting her head from the bed in an attempt to stretch for a small toy that I deliberately placed just out of reach. 

Immediately, my senses were keen. I hadn’t ordered anything and I wasn’t expecting any visitors.

I peered out the peephole. It was Crow!

I undid the chain from the door. 

The Japanese man wore a black trenchcoat with the colored lining that showed that he was a member of the Hydra clan. He gave me a kind smile. “Carli, how have you been?”

“Alright. Staying safe.”

He nodded once. “I need to talk to you.”

I let him in and closed the door, redoing the deadbolt and chain, looking back at him uncertainly.

As soon as he saw little Ru’Yi, his eyes lit up. “Look at how big she is!” He hurried to her and picked her up holding her up into the air. “Hey there!”

Ru’Yi curled her fingers into her mouth and giggled.

I thought Crow would pass out, he was so enthralled. He looked at me, eyes bright. “She smiled at me!”

Crow held her close. “What’s so funny! You think something’s funny?” He cooed at her.

I couldn’t help but laugh to myself. “You’re sure you don’t have any kids?”

Crow sighed wistfully. “Kinda need a woman for that.”

I flinched. “Oh... sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it.” 

I noticed a hint of sadness as he turned away from me but it was gone in a flash. “I actually have something I need to tell you. I’m not here for a casual visit.”

He sat down, cradling Ru’Yi in his lap. “I’m here to take you. You’re completely surrounded by Hydra agents. ”

I gasped. “What?”

He already had Ru’Yi. I trusted him and he just took advantage! I bared my teeth at him. “No...”

“Woah! Easy! Easy!” He tried to reassure me as my eyes had started to burn with Dragon fury. “I’m on your side, remember? I’m going to take you to Lu Mingfei as part of my friendship with him and I will pretend to capture him as well. I would have told you earlier but there was just no way.”

I tried to take slow calming breaths, watching Ru’Yi grab at the man’s fingers, trying to figure out how to take his large ring off. She attempted to use her mouth, but he pulled his hand away, lightly tapping her cheek.

“Don’t worry about doing and saying anything. This is under my control now. You can relax.” He looked down at Ru’Yi. “I won’t let anything happen to this precious little gem here, right?” He tickled her, chuckling at her wriggling.

My heart felt like a stone. My mind understood the plan but, at the same time, I couldn’t stand that he held on to Ru’Yi. 

“You have things to pack. Let’s go ahead and pack them.” He said.

We fit what supplies we could, with an emphasis on diapers and wipes, into the suitcases that EVA had bought me. 

“Don’t worry about the rest of it, I’ll have my men clean out your hotel room and get you the things you need later.” Crow put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “I know it’s scary to trust me but trust me. They really think I’m here to turn you in.”

We stepped out onto a a street that had been cleared out and closed off. On every corner were agents in black trench coats, brandishing bright swords.

I put Ru’Yi in the back car seat. I’d already fed her, hoping that she’d sleep for the rest of the night. While back there I saw the car was full of even more supplies! I gasped.

“Shh...” He said winking at me, “Come to the front seat.”

I nodded, lowering my head and trying to look as guilty as possible. “I got you a few more things... my treat.”

Even though he was being very kind, I watched as we drove, trying my best to remember landmarks as we passed by. But Crow took a circuitous route and it wasn’t long before I was hopelessly disoriented. Finally, we got on the highway headed to Tokyo.

While he drove, he talked to me. “You and Lu Mingfei are close friends of the Hydra Clans and especially my friend, Chisei Gen. But a letter issued by EVA for your arrest has been issued to all branches around the world. You’re to be returned to Cassell. Dead or alive.” 

“Everyone has accepted the assignment of hunting you down, including Hydra.”

“I’ve accepted the hunt as well...” He said.  “But only as the leader of Hydra. I am still your friend. I will not turn you over.  This is my decision and I will be responsible for it alone. In the unlikely event that I fail and you are caught, I will take the full responsibility for my own actions in betraying the Academy.”

“What will they do to you?” I looked up at him, concerned.

“Let me worry about that. You think this is the first time I’ve played two sides?” He glanced at me, the street lamps reflecting off his sunglasses.

I sat back, silent.

He glanced into the rearview mirror and smiled at the sleeping child.

After about an hour and a half, we pulled in front of an internet cafe and inn. He parked and pulled out his phone, speaking in low but commanding tones in rapid Japanese.

One by one, all the shops on the street began to turn their open signs over. Lights went out. In the inn, people were milling about the exits until a man, presumably the owner, opened the doors and let out the staff. Crow opened his car door to get out. I craned my neck to see. Crow was laughing and patting the cafe owner’s shoulder before waving goodbye.

Within a few minutes, the entire street was clear.

Crow returned to the car, leaned inside it and laid onto the horn. Frantic, I flailed at him. “What are you DOING?!”

Ru’Yi startled awake and began to cry. He looked horrified at his blunder while I crawled into the back seat to get her out and comfort her. Crow chuckled. “Oops...”

When I turned and looked again, I saw him waving at someone in the upper floors of the building. I looked down at the sobbing baby and shushed her. She calmed almost immediately, much to my relief.

Crow opened his trench coat wide. “Long time, no talk? Look, no weapons!”

Then he opened the back door and let me out.

I held Ru’Yi to myself as we passed through the corridor. All the rooms in the inn were empty.

Crow stopped in front of me. He faced off with a serious-faced Mingfei. Nono stood behind him.

“Carli!” Mingfei exclaimed. He reached out to me, but Crow’s arm extended in front of me, preventing me from moving forward. Mingfei’s jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing.

I hadn’t seen Nono since she left for Italy over a year ago. She was still as beautiful as ever, not aged a day. But she only glanced at me, unsmiling, clutching a submachine gun.

Crow introduced himself first, giving a slight bow. “Saeki Ryuuji, the current Acting Director of the Japanese Executive Department. I fought beside you once, Mr. Lu.”

Mingfei slid a large dagger from his coat sleeve to his hand, unmoved by such nostalgia. I winced, taking a step back. I’d never seen such a killer look in MIngfei’s eyes before, like he could strike in an instant and kill this experienced gangster.

Mingfei snarled. “You have deployed at least fifty people near this building. They are all elites of the Japanese Executive Department. You are a White King Hybrid. I don’t take that lightly. You come here using Carli and Ru’Yi as shields... right?”

Mingfei’s eyes shifted upward, as though to look through the ceiling. “Oh, and there is a helicopter too, right? There are not many tall buildings nearby, and a sniper doesn’t have a good position. It is different if a helicopter is dispatched. Best to have a good sniper to tie up loose ends.”

My eyes widened. Was this really Mingfei?

Crow seemed to agree. “You weren’t this good before.” He nodded, admitting it. “This time the newly formed Crane Group of the Executive Department has been dispatched and it includes many ruthless characters from the Devil Clan. Now you are a real S-class. If we want to catch you, we have to work hard. It would be unwise for me to come empty handed.”

Mingfei glanced at me.

I kept my silence. My pulse was racing but I didn’t move. Like his meet up with me, there was no way for Crow to alert Mingfei of our arrival. With his being this aggressive and jumpy, he likely he would have fled had their been advance notice.

“So we’re no longer friends?” Mingfei asked, looking back at Crow.

“Are you asking me? Or Hydra?”

Mingfei looked confused and then looked at me. I gave him a slight smile and nod.

“When it comes to the Hydra... of course not! The Hydra is part of the Secret Society which you have been accused of betraying! But of course, you and I are friends.” Crow said.

“Is this how the Japanese do things? Only you’re allowed to kill your former brothers? Other people aren’t allowed to kill them?” Nono asked.

Crow seemed to revel in their skepticism. He smiled broadly. “No. I’m going to come into your room, you’re going to assault me and take me prisoner!” Crow sighed. “Nono, Mr. Lu. You’re not disposable friends.”

Nono and Mingfei stood there stunned for a moment. I finally let myself smile more widely.

Nono was still unconvinced. “Hold on. Saeki... Saeki right? This is too complicated and dangerous. If you want us to escape you should have just told us there was danger and we would have left. There’s no need for this!”

Crow sighed again. “You don’t understand my position. If the Hydra is seen as protecting you, we would be in for a confrontation we can’t afford! We knew when you arrived in Tokyo. I knew the location of Carli! We have to pretend to cooperate with Cassell!”

Mingfei was still hesitant.

“There may even be turncoats in the Hydra who would inform the Academy if we even attempted to contact you. So I pretended to keep Carli safe as bait so she could contact me, and I’m pretending to use her now. Do you understand? I’ve made it clear to the Academy that I would not kill you but deliver you alive to them.” 

“But just as negotiations were going well...” He suddenly grabbed Mingfei’s arm and held his knife against his own throat! “A reversal! You are fierce fugitive! Not only did I not convince you, but you suddenly caught me! How can a bunch of gangsters take on an S-Grade Ace from the Academy? No one will question it!”

Lu Mingfei just stood there, his hand held by Crow. He looked back at Nono, bewildered.

There was the Mingfei I remembered.

Crow’s eyes widened. “Wait. I forgot. It won’t be convincing unless I look beaten up.”

“What?!” I hissed. “Crow...”

“You uh... might want to turn around for this.” Nono strode forward without hesitation, cracking her knuckles. “This won’t be suitable for children.”

I turned around clasping Ru’Yi to myself. I winced with every crack of her fist against Crow’s skull, every grunt, and hiss. Nono had a chance to vent her frustration and took it, unleashing a series of combos worthy of a professional boxer. Just the sound of it made me want to ring the bell and declare her the winner! 

When it was finally over, I looked back. Crow was staggering to his feet, looking like he’d been beaten in a hard fight. “Thank you for... sparing my teeth...” He murmured, wiping the blood from his lips.

He smiled again. “Alright. If you’re ready? We get one chance at this.”

The door opened behind Nono. 

My body reacted first at the sight of the person behind the door. I gasped, the air sucking loudly through my teeth. My throat closed and tears blurred my vision. My heart seemed to leap and drop all at once. I let out a loud desperate cry.

Crow turned to me, his sunglasses eskew at my sudden violent emotional outburst. “Eh?”

Nono look behind her. “Chu Zihang! I told you to stay in the room!”

I ran to him. “Johann! Johann!” 

Johann’s eyes widened and he backed away.

Mingfei had grabbed me, holding me back. “Easy! Carli! Wait! I need you to listen!”

Johann Chu stared at me with nervousness and fear.  I kept pulling away from Mingfei until he had to grab me with both hands. “Carli, stop!” 

“JOHANN!” I collapsed to my knees, sobbing uncontrollably, trying to crawl to him, reach for him while still holding Ru’Yi to me.

Nono pulled Johann back into the room.

Johann asked very quietly. “Who is that...?” Before she closed the door.

“Carli! Please... he doesn’t know you.” Mingfei said.

His words. They were like a death knell. A heavy darkness descended on my world.

“I’ll explain later...” Mingfei was holding me, hugging me, murmurring into my ears. “But for now, we need to get out of here.”

He stood up, trying to get me off the floor, but I had no strength to stand.

“What... the hell?” Crow asked. “Mingfei, You need to take me hostage... can that guy carry her? Nono can take the baby.”

Mingfei nodded and knelt next to me again, looking into my eyes. 

“Carli. It’s okay. It’ll be okay.” He chuckled, his default reaction to anything that made him anxious. “At least this way, you’ll be able to hug him tight okay?”

He stood up and went back into the inn room. I sat on the floor, staring blankly at the door until it opened. Nono emerged first, taking Ru’Yi from me. Johann knelt next to me and picked me up easily off the floor. I wrapped my arms around his neck, my tears soaking his shirt. “Johann... Johann... I missed you. I missed you.”

I heard Crow loudly protesting. “Mr. Lu! No! Don’t do this! You still have a chance! This will break your own retreat! Aaaaaah!”

Who knew he was such a good actor?

With the farce clearly very convincing, we made our way back to Crow’s red sports car. With Crow driving and Mingfei in front, I was forced to hold Ru’Yi in my lap, putting the carseat in the trunk. Nono sat between Johann and I. She and Mingfei brought cans of beer with them. 

I was still too young to drink so she gave me a yogurt.

Johann asked in a meek and quiet voice. “May I have a yogurt drink too?”

Nono obliged. 

I couldn’t stop staring at him. His eyes were black, but he wasn’t wearing any contacts. He seemed lonely, nervous and confused.

Nono turned to me and gently explained. “Johann’s mind stopped aging at fifteen. He may look like the man you married, but in his head, he’s just a fifteen year old boy.”

[peachlolitasevillacourtstuff]

Stratos and Oona (story part 3)

* a full month had already passed since that half of the president's history, pac and his were still curious of who could have been Oona, the mother of cedrick, the afternoon began with pac in classes, waiting for them to end *

Cyli: pac you keep thinking about the president's story

Pac: if you leave me the doubt of your son's mother

Spiral: you could summarize it respectively, I was taking care of drick for a long hour, and I couldn't hear them ..

PAc: ok, after classes ..

* after finishing the lases, they took their flying skateboards, and headed towards the round house, at the same time cyli re-spi the story of Oona and stratos, spiral was somewhat shocked with the story, knowing that the president had They had a relationship that they did not know, when they arrived at the roundhouse Sir.c, together with fuzzbits, they found him doing a few cleaning tasks while he saw Pac and his group arriving at his lab *

Sir.c: hi guys how did you hurt?

PAc: very good sir cunference

Sir.c: ok, they came to hear the third part of the story right 

Cyli: of course because we would miss it.

* after another time, the boys and Sir.c went to the president's office, he was very unoccupied in his paperwork, pac approached with a curious look, which made the president uneasy *

Stratos: hello pacman, how can I help you?

Pac: I could finish his story about you and oona, now that you are unemployed and your son is in elementary school, can you tell us

Stratos: very well, I think the time is good ... going back to my story, I was on a medical appointment to have my wound checked, they prescribed some anti-inflammatory medications, I went to visit Oona at work but she was not there. Excuse me where is Oona winefrida?

Doctor: I don't know, sir, today you didn't report to work.

Stratos: oh something terrible had happened to him! * said nervously * 

Doctor: it is possible, it is not surprising that something like this happens to people, knowing what is currently happening

Stratos: OH GOD! EVEN SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN * said while thinking that it could be her brother who kidnapped her to make her suffer * I was worrying about her absence, I ran to the last place where she was last seen, some of her neighbors told me that all morning she had not been view.

PAc: oh my god!

Spiral: So did you find her or did they capture her !? * said nervously *  

Stratos: hehe, there is a clear spiral that I found, fortunately it was not captured by my evil brother. I had found her in her house the door of her apartment was open for some reason, when I saw some thick and smelly liquids, I came and heard some very bitter noises, at the same time moans. OONA! * he said screaming desperate and goes to the noises and finds oona in the bathroom in her pajamas a little dirty, and sleepy * Oona my god you're fine ..

Oona: WHO IS IT! * Said pointing a gun *

Stratos: oona it's me calm down! * Says as she lowers the gun *

Oona: stratos help me .. I don't know what happens to me * then she passes out *

Stratos: OONA!  

Cyli: wait a moment, dizziness, moans, fainting, then she

PAc, cyli, spiral and Sir.c: I WAS ALREADY PREGNANT!🤯 

Stratos: hehehe, what good fortune tellers are ...🤭Continuing with my story, I took oona to the emergency room, luckily the hospital was not far from her home, after several exams, spheria came to visit me at the same time as her brother-in-law zac, they had received my report that I would be assigned a tanot to mission they stepped aside and we started arguing

spheria: well stratos look nothing else that happens to you for lovebird ..

Stratos: Sergeant by faor in front of zac no .. * says very uncomfortable *

Zac: hahaha well look at nothing else stratos, without a doubt you are a romeo without windows ..

Stratos: shut up and what do you know about this 

Zac: I am married and I love my wife and son, and it is probably your turn to fight for something bigger than this war.🤗

Stratos: I don't understand

Zac: It is literally possible that you and that white sphere is ..

* then was uninterrupted by the doctor *

Doctor: pregnant, congratulations on oona, and who is the father ¬-¬

* both look at stratos *

Stratos: well it was my turn anyway .. hehe ..

zac: well well feicidades welcome to parenthood xD

stratos: (shit ...) that morning was horrible for me, I father, it was my first time in my life I never believed that something like this would happen to me, knowing of my mistakes of my fraternity I did not know what to do, nor did I want to repeat the mistakes from my father, but I had no other choice

PAc: and how my aunt handled it .. 

Stratos: Well, I was a soldier, and she was a nurse, and in those days it was not good to be in that condition to fight.

Oona: I didn't want to do this to you stratos, I just wanted to save you ..

Stratos: I understand what you wanted to do, and I thank you for saving me.

Oona: you will keep fighting ..

Stratos: very likely ..

Oona: and how will your brothers handle it? and your mother..

Stratos: I do not know, I think my sister will understand it very easily, I think it will not be possible to tell Betrayus and my mother ... she will be very disappointed very possibly. 

Oona: I'll help you handle it * he says taking his hands *

Stratos: * sighs thanks oona ... I don't know what I would do without you .. * she said while touching her belly *

Pac, cyli, spiral and Sir.c: AAAAAAAAAAWWWWWW !!!    

Stratos: hahaha, you never change, months passed since the news, I took over oona like any man, we were winning the war against betrayus, and Oona was already in an advanced state of gestation ..

Baby pac: grrrrrr!

Sunny: hahaha pac, you don't growl at oona she has a baby in the pansa .. x3

Oona: hehe how cute is your baby ...

Sunny: it is incredible that after three years he continues to growl at strangers, especially the white spheres .. xD

Oona: I can imagine it ..

Sunny: how do you plan to call your baby?

Oona: I spoke with stratos, we are not sure if cleyssi if it is a girl or cedrick if it is a boy

Sunny: go those names are from your place of origin?

Oona: yes hehe, boy did you guess, cleyssi means "queen of the woods" because of the appointment he and I had, and cedrick means leader in battle "leader in battle" since straos does some good leadership .. x3

Sunny: aaaaaaawww .. you are so detailed

* stratos, zac, spheria and Sir.c arrive *

Stratos: hello oona, how have you been: D

Oona: very well literally

spheria: stop loving giggles let's go with the important thing * she says interrupting her conversation * in the last platoons, witnesses have been heard that there are underground bombs in the battlefields, what is more worrying is that a testimony reported that they have updated a new, being more powerful and sensitive .. 

Zac: god so bad

Sir.c: that commander is a psychopath ..

Stratos: because I have to be his brother .. * says disappointed *  

Sir.c: life can take a lot of turns old friend ..

Stratos: but .. forget it, fate is cruel even for those who once loved ..

Oona: * soba her shoulder * stop worrying, it makes you feel worse ..

Stratos: thanks ..

Sir.c: good and what do you have ..

Spheria: It is possible that the following platoons may have fallen further, but we must continue fighting for freedom and justice * he says inspiringly *

Sir.c: I will give more effort in my inventions, in order to continue winning the war ...>: D

spheria: that is how Sir.c speaks ...

stratos: I am in a war bigger than this .. and it is to give the best future to my future offspring ..

spheria: if you want you can continue to be with your beloved and your baby, the child will need a father ..

Stratos: if I will ... her words inspired me enough to move forward together with my beloved.

Cyli: And when did you have cedrick?

stratos: well she was already 7 months in the middle, and we were already winning the war, and my son was born a week before my brother died

Sir.c: wait a minute that was not born two months after that ..?  

Stratos: well .. hehe

Sir.c: now that I remember it .. your son could not be born so late, something is not sounding right to me ...

Pac: Mr. President, is there something you don't want to talk about?

Stratos: ... me! I ... OH! Look what hours it is time to pick up my son from school, hahaha I am distracted, tell my story made me lose time so fast! 

spiral: but mr president! 

Stratos: no buts guys, I'm going to have my son picked up, and besides remember that I have more paperwork to do  * says as he withdraws from nowhere * 

ac, cyli, spiral and Sir.c: .......... :v?

Continue...

[tgai-spock]

anyway here chapter 1 new trek fic with spock erm. they.

no title

untitled

will find it oh shit its 1 now

The talk of the ship was a book, created by Anna Natasha detailing the events of people in life threatening situations, some of whom were ex-starfleet. It was the newest hit culture sensation. The beginning to the book was filled with the species involved, human, orion just common facts about their species, how long they could go without food, how long they could go without water, It was unneccesery as every moment a person spent in peril the narrator tended to remind you, but it was introsting. The book wasn’t about comparing, it was about pushing the boundaries of surivial, hope in the face of certain death, so it was no surprise the Captain Kirk had managed to devour it.

“I’m just saying” Kirk said with a shrug “I’m forcing the whole crew to read the entire thing.”

Spock, who had stopped and blinked up back to Kirk “I don’t think-“

“It’s logical” Kirk counters.

Spock raises an eyebrow “how?”

“It’s full of surivial tips, in different situations with real people.”

“Hold - hold on. Some of the things people do actively put themselves in a worse situation, take Akala and David, they’d have a few extra toes each if they hadn’t caused that avalanche.”

“True” Kirk nodded “but, we can learn from their mistakes, don’t start a fire beanth a mountain made curly of snow.”

“Jim boy, if there’s some silly folks thinking lighting a fire while inside the mountain thats more snow than stone I don’t think there’s any hope for them.”

“Yet David and and Akala still survived” Spock said.

“Hey, you would agree with me. That said you’ve be awful to have any, the amount of wrong survival decisions you make.”

Spock frowned “I am still alive, therefore I have made all the right survival decisions.”

“Jim, what do you think you should do when your stabbed through?”

“Die? No see a doctor.”

“Great, so you can confirm, you do not run around, and then try to fight people?”

“Objection, I did see you a doctor first, unfortunately it was you-”

“Hey!” McCoy yelled.

“Gentlemen, please” Kirk rolled his eyes “I’ve already made up my mind, it’s mandatory reading.”

“I doubt it will make much difference” McCoy said into his lunch “I think the whole crews already gone through it, I’ve seen Chapel read through it twice. She think Adam Smith cute. Ugh.”

“Was that the Adam in the desert or the one working in the natural disaster relief?”

“The one that got himself lost in the desert.”

“She has bad taste”

“Yeah I’d say” McCoy said grinning, knowing her not so secret crush.

“I bet I could fill an entire book with my near death experiences” Kirk says placing the book down and finished off his stake.

“That’s all my logs are. You drag me down to a damn planet I don’t need to be on, an I almost die.”

“You hardy ever die.” Spock mumbles.

“Thank you Spock, oddly enough the ideal amount of times to die, is once, and it should be perment. But oddly enough I do count people shooting weapons at me as a near death experience.”

Spock frowned “even if they don’t hit you?”

“Why are you acting like thats weird? Yes even if the loaded gun misses my head by 2mm and I am unscathed, that is still a near death experience.”

“Then I could defiantly fill up a book of near death experiences that I didn’t even get whilst on duty” Kirk said.

“Likewise.”

“You should both be dead. I am the only one keeping this ship alive.”

“Fun fact I really should be dead” Spock said.

“I’m signing you up to therapy-”

“A slightly older version of me went back in time, and save me from dying when I was a child.”

“He’s lost his marbles.”

“Really?” Kirk frowned.

Spock looked up to Kirk and frowned “yes.”

“Right. Of course. You’d think time travel would be a bit harder to come by, when I was a kid I never even imagined time travel to exist.”

“That would save us both a lot of trouble.”

“I sure hope your referring to a certain planet, and not your own existence.”

“I was referring to how your up bring and birth would have been completely different but your not wrong.”

“Oh I guess so, any time travel in you childhood Bones?” Kirk asks.

“No Jim. I’m a normal person. Just a country doctor.” He says smugly.

“I’m a normal person. I think, and Spock a normal-”

“The only vulcan humans hybrid.”

“That doesn’t make you unnormal.”

“Mathmaticlly it does.”

“Well I’m not speaking math, your a normal person to me.”

“I have no concept of the words you are saying, but, thank you?”

“That’s it! The only un-normal person I’ve ever known was this boy in my high school, he used to cut open animals and try to frankenstein them back into life.”

A psychopath…or a scientist? Spock psychopath or scientist?”

“You eat dead animals all the time” Spock said “how are you not a psychopath.”

“I’m not just saying that, if theres a lot of animal deaths going on there it’s an early sign that they could later try killing a human.”

“Intresting… then I would suggest an immoral scientist.”

“So evil.”

* * *

He turned the tablet over in his hands, and he turned it again so the email would look at him. He turned it around again, a slow spin, his mind making the same turns. In the end it was a two way choice to accept or reject. To accept would give people a glimpse of himself, it would help home vulcans, and it could mean that his own crew would treat him differently. Worse. Or that look of pity, something that should only be given to a puppy needing a home, a look that should only be given by those stepping up to home the puppy. Not a look to a person about an experience so long ago that it was now apart of their being. To reject would hold off valuable resources to vulcan. Not hold away as such, but he could bring extra to those who need it, for those to rebuild their culture before the older vulcans with knowledge die before the planned regains its true self suficentcy. New vulcan currently had an unbalance, doctors to builders, to skilled to unskilled. Skilled workers needed to be brought in from outside sources and that did cost money. His tablet buzzes, another email from Kirk. He wants to talk.

Spock enters Kirks room at the same time as McCoy. McCoy got that air about him, like a hen puffing up to protect her eggs.

“Whats going on Jim?” McCoy asks.

“You would never believe the email I just got” Kirk said with a smile, and McCoy unpuff a bit sensing his mood.

“What is it?” McCoy asked.

“Anna Natasha has just informed me that she has permission to seek any life and death stories from starlet personal, as long as they haven’t happened while on duty, or involve starfleet.”

“Oh well you said just this morning you could fill an entire book. Are you thinking about accepting.”

“I don’t know” Kirk shrugged “should I? They offered me a lot of money, and whilst there are some situations I don’t want to repeat… I think I have a couple of situations I wouldn’t mind sharing.”

“Well, whatever you do, just don’t accept for the money.”

“I have the same email.”

“Oh?” Kirk says surprised.

“And I was thinking about accepting just for… the donation to new vulcan.”

“Oh. Donating. To new vulcan - hey I could do that? I could get my self a few treats, and then donate the rest.” Kirk said thoughtfully.

“Don’t let me influence how you spend your money” Spock said.

“No, I’d want to, I could split some cash between charities. Do you think my crew would disrespect if I told everyone, about this time I spat in a mans face.”

“Did you do it while also pushing a plane wreck survivor over the edge a cliff?” McCoy asked.

“No, I did not pull a Bella Saurus.” Kirk said.

“Then I think it might be okay. You could always retell me about the situation first, and then I could give you my initial reaction. You too Spock. In fact clear it with both of us first.”

“Is that an order?”

“I’m just saying, you ain’t got emotions, for all I know you could have cut up a corpse to keep yourself warm, and that ain’t going to go over smoothly with there rest of the crew.”

“Firstly thats disgusting, and secondly that sounds logical.”

“Jim, Jim help me.”

“It is not an order Spock, do whatever you like. However if you would like an ear to bat one of your experiences off first to see if that will effect how you interact with your crew, both me and McCoy offer a friendly ear.”

“Thank you.”

“Thats what I just set.”

“No… you said somethings about cutting up copses and living in them. Would that work?”

“It does, many people have survived a cold winter by climbing into the corpse of a dead animal.”

“Humans are weird.”

“Okay.

* * *

Four days after he received his email Spock realised that he not care what his crew thought of him, he had had foul rumour spread across the ship many times before he’d become commander and some after. Half of the rumours were true. But it had never stopped him, whether someone thought he was mean or cruel. If someone decided he was stupid, or a narcissist or selfish psychopath. It didn’t matter. Wether his crew viewed him as evil or good he could still common them, put them in the brig for disobedience, but few disobeyed him know he’d follow through fully on any threats. The only thing that held him back was James.T.Kirk and Leonard McCoy, and a few of the other commanding officers he respected and admired. He did care what they thought of him, and it worried him to think that they might learn of one experience and think of him as evil, though he couldn’t even bring to mind the slightest of experiences that could label him as evil, as least not one he had taken off duty. On the seventh day after receiving the email, he decided he wanted to tell them anyway.

It was an odd experience, he was not what could be described as a talker, and he liked to represent himself as the person he was in the moment. Not to be judged by the past but only by the present an ever turning of events. Not to be judged by the future nor the past, not to allow someone to think that all these past things were an explanation for his present being when in between all of that were countless books, people, and not so threatening experiences, mundane everyday activities which just as much effected his present if not ever more so. He did know Jim had been on taurus, he had told him a long time ago through passing conversation. He didn’t talk about it a lot, just mentioned it. Spock didn’t judge him for it and couldn’t, but that didn’t mean other people didn’t. Yet Spock did not have a taurus. So he wasn’t really sure what he was so worried about, most of the situations he was in, was in part due to his clumsiness. After duty the three gathered to talk for an evening.

* * *

McCoy opened up his medical chest on the coffee table between them. They were in Jims quarters one of the few rooms that allowed a personal place to sit, and these sofas were rarely used.

“Just to be clear” Jim said “I don’t need a hypo.” McCoy grinned and opened the chest to reveal a bottle of brandy.

“Is there any occasion that will not result in you drinking?” Spock asked somewhat unsurprised.

“Brain surgery. Well, I mean I’ll have a shot to keep my nerves down, medicinal helps me work.”

“You’ve done brain surgery on me” Spock said appalled.

“One shot just wasn’t going to help me I did, five.”

“Jim” Spock said seriously.

“He’s joking Spock” Jim said scratching his head, as he took a glass from McCoy.

“I’m not” McCoy mouthed at Spock.

“Bones don’t.”

“Wait Spock, what would you rather, I do brain surgery on you after one shot, or an unknown sober vulcan does brain surgery on you.”

“Neither let me die in peace.”

“Thats it buddy, one more word that some how equates to you not being alive, and I’m putting you back on suicide alert.”

“You had him on suicide alert?” Jim asked appalled “are okay.”

“I am perfectly fine, and not suicidal” Spock says seriosuly.

“I literally don’t know whats going through his head, I have him on it almost every other week. Although it is procedure to put people on suicide alert after they’re toruted or have a near death experience for at least four weeks. And Spock rarely goes without either.”

“They’re should be a maximum amount of near death experiences that can get you put on suidide, and then after twenty five or so, they just shouldn’t apply.” Spock said.

“See that sounds logical to him” McCoy shrugged “when humans get beat up that much they usually get so tired being in pain so often that sometimes, the kill themselves.”

“I haven’t.”

“The procedures are for normal people. Anyway” McCoy swirls the drink in his glass as he points from Spock to Jim “who’s starting? Lets get these death tales underway, I might even throw one in myself. But only one, unlike some people I’m not dying every other day.”

“Fair enough” Jim nodded “Spock, you’ve heard some of mine before now, would you mind starting.”

“That seems fair, although I have decided to go for my youngest experiences as I feel people won’t be able to hold that strong opinion on something a child has done.”

“You? A child? I doubt.”

“Thats true I was just a very short man.” Spock agree and McCoy snorted into his drink.

“Okay I’m sorry. Okay. I am turning into nice McCoy, go on with your story.”

“Well you’ve not nearly drunk enough to turn into nice McCoy but very well.”

The gaps between us

I was nine years old at the time, it was Van’Dra at the time on vulcan. Vulcan has six seasons, Van’Dra is the hottest of them, it is the only season where the desert doesn’t cool at night and the cheikkka bugs can be spotted with their glowing neon wings gathering in groups before coming to their yearly demise. Vulcans schools don’t have a summer holiday as such, but as it is the time of most wildlife, and the occasional festival, this season is used to practice survival skills, or for independent learning and volunteer work, which the majority of all school age children work for to support their own communities and gain outside knowledge of how the world works.

That year I had not applied to work the in any volunteer work as it was pointless, despite my fathers stubborn insistence that I do so. Instead I had decided to spend my time studying, and visiting ‘Vulcans Forge’ by myself.

“Wait is that not obviously dangerous?” McCoy asked. 

“Yes, but not for me I spent a lot of my time there.” Spock said. 

“Why? Just in the outback.” McCoy said.

“I like nature and I like looking at bugs, thats why I’m a scientist.”

“Okay… I guess. no wait loads of fully grown vulcans used to die there. I remember-”

“McCoy are you trying to talk me out of going to a place that no longer exists.”

“Let him talk” Jim moaned who was very much enjoying listening to the info dump on vulcan.

“Well, I’m just saying, that just sounds like a bad idea. Sounds like a Adam in the desert move.”

“I spent more time in the desert than my own home. What I am talking about is probably the worst thing, with a single exception, to happen to me in the desert, and I spent 8 more years visiting the forge without incident.”

“Okay well that-”

“I’ve not even begun-”

“Sorry! Sorry carry on Mr Spock. Stop telling me about the seasons.”

“It’s important.”

“You almost die of thirst? You get heat stroke?”

“Have another drink Doctor.” Spock said and he continued.

My brother-

“BROTHER?!” Both McCoy and Kirk yelled.

“Oh you didn’t know?” Spock said slyly “maybe I’ll tell you about him if you be quiet.”

“A brother? I have so many questions.” Jim said

“Can I answer all of them?” Spock asked

“Sorry carry on.”

My brother, the son of Sarek, and a vulcan princess, had come out of a distant small mountain community- McCoy if you say one more word I will kill you. He had recently moved into our family home as his mother had died. His entire existence had been kept a secret and was a surprise to everyone. No. No McCoy save your questions for later.

Sybok was a truly unique vulcan and one of whom I rarely met. His mother had believed in emotion- if I have to remind you one more time I will end you without mercy. So he was taking time to adjust to the house. My Father always urged the strictest emotional control, more so than any normal vulcan would ask, my mother would go against his wishes anytime he was gone more than a day from the house. Yet she was rarely so emotional with me, she might watch a film with me but or introduce me to a new earth book, but with Sybok she encouraged him to be happy. Since Sybok had missed out on important training in controlling himself at a young age and saw his emotion to the one thing tying him to his mother he found this entire concept very difficult and disturbing.

[monasatlantis]

My thoughts on MLQC chapter 22 to 24

Under the cut, you find my thoughts and feelings about the newest chapters of Mr.Love Queens Choice. Obviously there are spoilers!

- Shaw is one of these characters were you constantly switch between “he is kinda cool” and “I want to strange him” and “What a child”

- Seriously tho, whenever he is angry, or pouty or jealous because MC wasn’t listening he let out a roar of thunder like a child screaming while throwing a tantrum. No offense to his fans, but he doesn’t really fit into MCs harem with that kind of childish behavior…

 - Personally, I felt Victor and Helios were a bit out of Character in this chapter and I mean out of their current “I never had MC in my live before” – characters that were established in the previous chapters

- Gavin felt extremely natural and normal in his behaviors towards MC. He is a “justice” kind of person and mixing that with the fact that all the boys feel naturally drawn towards our Lady makes the way he acted around her feel natural and normal, even under these unusual circumstances

- Lucien too felt normal and real. He needs the Queen, after confirming that MC is in fact the Queen, it was clear that he would go back to be a Lucien that tries to get closer to MC to benefit from it, like he did in the past. Also… using the fact that he knew she needed him for getting something out for himself feels very much like the worst version of Lucien we know, which is the version that tries to suppress his true feeling for MC with all his might and only show his Ares-side. It fit his current “I don’t know MC so I don’t have feelings for her” – state very well…

- But then there was Helios… him trying to protect her even tho he was in a bad state himself and she was in fact still a stranger (that was what? The third time they met in this new timeline?) for him and yet, he shielded her when the car crashed like she was the most precious being to him? He didn’t even question it, when this stranger – a girl whos throat actually met his very own knife not so long ago – blurted out she can’t lose him, like there was any kind of deeper bond between them. Which isn’t the case with this Helios. And as he himself said that he didn’t care about the queen, that could also not be the reason he tried to shield her without thinking about himself.

- And then there was Victor. The same Victor, that basically gave “I knew her” – vibes from the very beginning of us entering that timline. The same Victor that came rushing to her side when the mob was attacking her. The same Victor that saved her from that situation, even gave her a peptalk and affectionately called her “dummy” like usual at the end of the last chapters… suddenly has trust issues with her just because she was at BS, which, by the way, he was too? If Victor would have acted like Lucien did in the first chapters, giving basically no sign he was drawn to her or interested in her, or if that were those very first chapters, then that would have felt totally natural. But the way it was, it felt like our original Victor has been standing in for the Victor of that timeline in the last chapters and in the new ones the true Victor of this timeline suddenly came back not knowing why the hell he should trust that random girl

 - Gavins final scene in that underground dungeon thingy, were he gave MC back her bracelet got me a bit teary eyed. He long lost his second place among my favorites to Kiro/Helios but this time he was the only one getting me emotional and making it feel right and natural on top of it

 - MC can drive herself? So does she not have a car because its more convenient for the story that the guys have to drive her around and that she can get randomly attacked while walking down dark alleys on her way home?

- MC really tried hard to be strong and save herself and others for once and she was great in Gavins-Part and she did relatively well in Helios Part and she didn’t fuck up the Lucien-Part for once and I guess going off on her own in the Victor-Part and short Gavin-Part that followed was also relatively…. good. But all in all it still felt like in the end, she rushed into danger without thinking and ultimately, despite her trying really hard, she failed and once again had to be saved. Shaw saved her after she fucked up the talk with Eli. Gavin had to shield her with his monstrous-powers. Helios had to hold her to lessen the damage she would take from that car-accident that she more or less caused herself (there goes Helios cool SUV… RIP). Victor had to protect her from those cars that followed them when she was trying to get to the ship – and without him she would never had made it that far in time anyway because she spent far too much time listening to the leaders of Black Swan. Gavin had to stop her freaking twice from making herself a living target by yelling that she is the Queen Infront of people who should better not know that. If not for Helios, MC would have fallen into that dream and probably drowned or something.

- And as much as I love our guys being the Heros… I am kind of sick of MC ending up being the Damsel in distress that actual brought most of her misfortune on herself do to acting stupid

- How come MC had spend the last chapters and also the first of the new chapters normally in her flat and then suddenly her key didn’t work anymore? I mean, if that flat would have belong to someone else from the start, shouldn’t she have noticed? And how come that person conveniently was never home when she was until now?

 - I saw a lot of people were disappointed by Victor in those chapters but I don’t really get why? He might had sudden questionable trust-issues but did anyone actually really believe he was serious for one moment when he held a gun to her head? MC herself was joking that she would hold it against his “true version” later, which really indicates she wasn’t really scared of him actually shooting her. And if you didn’t trust Victor or MC herself (which I get) then trust Lucien. He would not have allowed Victor to go with her, if he would have worried that the guy would really harm their Queen.

- Victor killing Hades was…well... why should I care? Seriously, Hades was a dangerous thread already in the old timeline and he tried to kill Victor first. Maybe there would have been other ways, but I seriously see no reason to feel bad in any way because Victor killed that guy.

- The only thing I would maybe dislike about what Victor did, is that he met up with someone from Black Swan at all. But in the end… it was shown pretty clearly that he didn’t fit the likes of Hades. And even tho there obviously is a connection, Victor and BS doesn’t really seemed to think alike. So there is nothing to be disappointed about.

 - The leading people from Black Swan were supposed to be on equal Levels… why do people there respect and fear Ares so much then?

 - It was kind of sad that MC could finally find her answer about Helios being Kiro in that timeline. I would have loved to see the reaction of our “real” Helios if she would have revealed to him that she knows now that he is definitely Kiro

- How did she actually finally overcome Helios spell? Was it seeing him using his “commanding” – power or was the anti-evol-device working on her too? That was not really clear to me.

- Wasn’t Helios the slightest bit confused that a stranger that never met Kiro before actually managed to figure out his true identity? After all, when he woke her from that piano-sleep, he mentioned she called him by the wrong name and in her dream she mentioned Kiro so its likely that is what she called Helios until she was fully awake. Bad timing, I get that, but uh… still I would have taken the time for a quick question there and then if I would have been Helios

- What actually happened to Helios after he tried to shot the Piano-Guy? He was suddenly gone and I didn’t get why.

 - Honestly I didn’t get a lot of things. Still more questions and almost no answers. And a lot more confusion.

 - All in all the chapters were good tho. I really enjoyed them this time – last time I kind of found them boring.

 - So… can we finally go back to our original timeline?

- We still don’t know why Shaw wasn’t affected by all of this…

[stusbunker]

Known: Angels are Assholes

A Supernatural DARK Fan-fiction

Summary: Chloe faces what was following her in the woods. Dean gets a monologue, before going darkside and all knifey on some angels. Crowley toys with our reader. Cas squints in confusion. Somebody wakes up and somebody doesn’t until they’re gone.

Warnings: Suggested child rape (past, unfounded), blood, feelings, mind-fuckery, revelations, character death. This chapter is super long.

Series Masterlist

The clouds rolled in behind her as CC came to a stop in her usual spot, kitty-corner from the porch. Her bike had been miraculously refueled once she found her way back to it. The fog of the subconscious haven thinning as she put her boots on the ground and faced the figures looming in the shadows. She opened her mouth to call out but thought better of shouting at bits of her past. They’d find her anyway.

She stepped through the trees, letting the path unwind itself as she faced what she needed to know. Now that she was focused and no longer running the opposite direction, it all started to come together. Her granddad kneeled along the bank of a dusty river, strong hands timidly comforting a young girl, who was visibly shaking in her sparkling new school clothes.

“It’s alright, my Falling Star,” his voice was low, but CC recognized the nickname he had given her mother. The child whimpered and shook her head, an infant’s cry broke through the forest’s peace.

“I didn’t mean it now,” was all she heard her mother say.

As Chloe turned to look for the baby, she found a weathered neighborhood sidewalk, houses in need of paint jobs and new shutters stretching before her in every direction. A long sedan with police lights on the roof parked in front of a yellow Cape Cod with wooden siding. A woman with oversized glasses held a file in her arms as she talked to CC’s granddad, her mother and her watching them from the front porch. She hadn’t remembered her mother ever being that young, small and nearly fragile.

“Mr. Longfellow, we understand that the original complaint is unfounded, given the child’s other genetic markers, but there has still been a crime committed. Please, let us put the bastard away.”

“I know you mean well, ma’am. But my Candace is fine and we came here for a job, we won’t be staying long enough for any investigation. Thank you for your time.”

“Sir, if you’re protecting someone—,” the officer spoke for the first time. He couldn’t have been older than twenty-five, and he visibly flinched when her granddad’s eyes fell on him.

“The only ones I am protecting is those girls, now get. We’re done here.”

CC stepped forward, wanting to ask what the social worker was talking about and possibly glimpse the blood tests that must have been among her paperwork. But her mind held her in place until the memory faded and she found herself on another street, sleet-slick and freezing. She saw the old station wagon fish tail and the driver try to over-correct, completely losing control and wrapping the car around an old oak tree.

“Chloe!” Her mother screamed against the static of falling ice crystals.

“Mama?” Chloe was frozen watching her mother limp around the hood of the car to get to her.

“It’s okay, doll-baby, it’s okay,” Constance reached her hand in through the shattered passenger side window, to touch CC’s forehead. “You’re going to be fine.”

But she lost consciousness, the blood flowing through her hair as her mother continued muttering in Tsėhésenėstsestȯtse. Then she saw it, the blue magic flow from her mother and coat her in a golden light.

“You can’t die. You can’t die. You can’t die. You’re going to be fine.” Constance inhaled and then fell against the untouched edge of the tree’s trunk, her strength leaving her as she joined her daughter in unconsciousness. The sirens came an hour later, the back roads impassible, but miraculously the woman and the young girl were found in stable condition. CC didn’t even know they had ever been in an accident.

The darkness followed her to the small back bedroom in Montana as she saw her barely teenaged self staring at the ceiling. The argument wafted through the walls like a television left on.

“You’re just going to leave her? Clean up your own mess,” her granddad spat.

“That’s not fair. She’s safer with you, you know that. There are things that I need to do, that only I can do.”

“Yeah, you do too much of that and they’ll find you. They aren’t stupid, Constance. You shine like a beacon and they will follow you home,” his voice was desperate, Chloe couldn’t remember ever hearing him sound so worried.

“Then maybe I shouldn’t come back.”

There was an agonizing pause.

“Maybe not.”

Chloe didn’t realize it, but both versions of her wiped at the same tears of betrayal with the heels of her hands.

“It’s okay, child, just relax now,” Missouri’s voice was soothing, despite her own skepticism. CC opened her eyes, she was in the memory this time, not looking at it from the outside. “Well, this is a new one.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” CC heard herself say it but had more pressing questions at the moment. She began to speak over herself, “What’s happening Ms. Mosley?”

“Girl, you’re going to have to slow down, I can’t hear all of you at once.”

“All of us?” CC remembered eyeing the corners of the room as if this woman was seeing things.

“I’m not the one asking if she’s crazy, so don’t you go thinking ill of those helping you, Chloe Cathleen,” Missouri snipped.

“Yes, ma’am,” CC said in unison with her past self, Missouri always had a natural command of respect and if she wasn’t shown it, she demanded it.

“Now, you’re gonna come back here, in a good long while, but I hope what I say now makes sense to you,” her dark eyes lingered, a burden near pity overtook the psychic’s soft features. “You are a miracle, made unique and uniquely made, but that also means you need to be careful. It’s like you have a glowing vacancy sign on the front door, next to the one screaming there’s nothing to see here. It gets confusing. But know this, you need to fortify your own house, because certain guests are welcome, but most are not.”

“Thanks?” CC’s past self said through squinted eyes, but her current-self locked onto Missouri’s weighted stare, certain she had sensed her the entire time.

A voice sounded behind her and Chloe suddenly remembered who had told her about Missouri in the first place.

“I was right, wasn’t I?” John’s easy grin turned sour when he saw the confusion on CC’s face. “Hey, everything okay kiddo?”

CC nodded, the grief of seeing Dean’s father again brought up the events that had led her to Missouri’s front door. Her granddad’s death and knowing she would have to face her mother again after years apart. “Yeah, or, it will be, in a good long while,” CC parroted Missouri.

“Somethings are like that,” John patted her back and walked her to his massive truck. “Where to? Dean’s got something in Illinois this weekend, but we could probably salt and burn things faster without him, what’d’ya say?”

CC smiled at the offer, but thought better of tagging along with the Winchesters, especially without Sam. “Just take me to Bobby’s, or close enough for me to hitch there,” CC corrected, seeing the tension roll in as John’s hands tightened around the steering wheel. “Thanks, though.”

*^*

May 13, 2014

The Bunker

Dean stalked down the hallway passed his room, ignoring Sam who lingered in front of his own bedroom door. The infirmary was the only place that made sense to keep CC, so that’s where he headed as soon as they got home. Dean hadn’t wanted to put her back in her old room, not after he gutted it. They had her on a simple cot, jacket set on the back of a chair and an old quilt from her truck tucked around her chest. Her gun and her knife rested easily on small bedside table. She never moved, still in a state close to sleep, her heart beat and her lungs expanded, but she never woke.

Dean watched her and chewed over the spreading numbness inside him. Between the two of them, they were a butchered collage of folk stories, each broken parts of different tales, cursed and waiting to be saved or charging the castle and any monsters that stood in his way. He was on a narrow path, one down, two boss fights to go in the grand saga of the Mark of Cain. Dean was alight, focused, up until he tried to start talking.

“Hey, Cease,” Dean’s voice caught in his throat. “I, uh, well, I ganked Abaddon. It was pretty unreal, actually, but yeah, put her down for the count this time.”

Dean had done his fair share of talking to the unconscious, especially if one counted the time spent praying to Cas, listening to his own voice wasn’t as uncomfortable as it should have been. He settled on to the empty cot next to CC and balanced his elbows on his knees.

“You know I had a feeling, about you, about that thing inside you. And I know it was there longer than that day at Magnus’s. But I didn’t say anything, because, hell, who am I to judge, right? But it was worse than I thought, I thought it was just a chip on your shoulder after that case in North Carolina, but I was wrong, and for that, oversight, I apologize.” He shifted and he cleared his throat, “But, I don’t know why I’m sorry. Am I sorry because I missed the obvious? And never tested you? Or because I let you in and got hurt? What exactly is my fault here because I’m used to taking it all on and I can’t really feel it. Any of it. I’m just pissed and the only thing I want to do is the job. Nothing more, nothing less.”

He stood up, energy gnawing at him once more. His voice grew angrier, no waver to his jaw and no moisture in his stern eyes.

“So that’s what I’m going to do. Because I owe you that much, even if it’s not going to bring you back. I am going to gut that black-eyed bitch.”

The certainty hummed along his veins like a tuning fork, vibrating in the key of Cain and the decided fates of his enemies. Blood and destruction his new anthem. Gone was the righteousness and purpose that had carried him this far. Inside, his soul flickered.

He continued to watch CC on the cot, thoughts and memories warring with the need to move. Luckily, Cas called, giving him the excuse he needed, allowing him to walk away.

*^*

The Bunker

Tail end of Stairway to Heaven

“Cas, you just gave up an entire army for one guy,” Dean explained across the table. “No, there’s no way you blew those people away.”

Castiel didn’t realize how much he needed to hear Dean say that, to know that his friend believed in him once again. “Do you really think that we three will be enough?”

Dean gave Cas a company smile. “We always have been.”

Cas cautiously watched Dean as footsteps approached from seemingly out of nowhere.

“Guys!”

“I’m not here to fight,” Gadreel announced with his hands up. Dean locked on to the fugitive angel, his sights set, and his senses primed. Gadreel spoke pointedly to Cas as Sam challenged his honor, but Dean wasn’t listening, he was busy keeping the Mark in check. Then it happened, an olive branch, an opening to add to their numbers. To strengthen and inform their dwindling resolve. Dean reached forward with his lesser hand, extending hope, if a tenuous partnership. The moment their palms touched and their eyes locked, Dean knew. He didn’t hesitate, he swung, blade teeth up, slicing Gadreel hip to collar bone, a broad seam of grace gaping in his chest.

Sam dove for him, but it was already done. Dean pushed on, the Mark craved more, it demanded death. Both Cas and Sam had to hold him as bestial grunts escaped his lips, he wouldn’t be stopped, not yet.

They listened to him, but still left him in the fortified space behind the storage in 7B, the dungeon. There was that other thing they needed Cas’s help with and after Gadreel had escaped, however bloodied, they took the five minutes and headed deeper into the Bunker.

“I can’t believe she was possessed this whole time,” Cas muttered, hand drifting inches above Chloe’s body.

“What? You knew? How long?” Sam spat as he loomed overhead, head tipped, watching every motion of the angel’s fingers.

“Since Nebraska, since the fall, Sam. She, the demon, almost ran me over with her truck,” Castiel explained, huffing against the flickering grace inside him.

“And you didn’t think to tell us?!”

“Dean wasn’t exactly willing to lend me an ear, I suspect it had to do with hiding, who he thought to be Ezekiel, from the other angels, who were hunting me.”

Sam settled back on his heels, processing what that meant for his brother and CC and their, situation. “It’s been a rough year, I’m sorry. But, is she going to wake up?”

“I don’t know, probably. But there are layers to her mind that I can’t get through. She isn’t just dreaming, and she’s not an empty vessel. I don’t think... I don’t think she’s human, Sam.”

Sam froze, “Well, what the hell is she then?”

“Nothing I have ever seen before.”

“Any idea?”

“Some sort of hybrid, when I search her mind it literally tells me she is human, nothing extraordinary.” Cas’s brows pitched up, hoping Sam understood.

“Someone put that there to hide her.”

“More than one person did this.”

“Do you think she knows?”

“No, if she did, she wouldn’t have been possessed in the first place. She probably has no idea who or what she is.” Cas stood up, eyes still on the sleeping woman before them. “Or what she can do.”

*^*

A Demonic Massage Parlor, The Tropics

“You see, Y/N, there are perks to working with the throne,” Crowley muttered into the towel that held his face. The demon working him over was wearing an unnaturally beautiful vessel, every detail coiffed for seduction. Which she used to her advantage as she whispered poorly veiled taunts of demonic unrest.

Graciously, your vessel had died from cardiac arrest shortly after you walked him away from harassing the woman at the bus stop. You couldn’t have bothered letting him live much longer anyway, his mind was two parts alcohol, one-part abuse and a few too many pinches of misogyny. But he had means, even after his license had been revoked, so you kept on his identity and found your way back to being Crowley’s gofer.

The male demon who had been assigned your massage was too busy lusting over the one trying to get in good with the King. You kept having to move his hands as he worked. He was not utilizing his vessel’s muscle memory, at all. The entire scenario wasn’t much of a perk, it was more of one more thing to endure in order to stay on Crowley’s good side. You hummed in agreement, the deep voice still uncomfortable in your throat.

The walls began to shake, and you rolled your eyes at the bimbo’s obvious statement.

“Sir, I believe you’re being summoned.”

The next thing from her lips sent a pitfall through your gut.

“It’s a Winchester.”

You had no idea how she knew who was on the other end of the spell, perhaps it was an acquired skill or an enchantment to the room placed for her own protection. Either way, you remained quiet as Crowley waved the help off and dressed himself.

“Sir?”

“What? You want me to give your regards?”

“I’d rather you didn’t mention me at all.”

Crowley watched you with a slight distaste, “Fine, just don’t let Tarisette clock out, just yet.”

You nodded, rolling over as the man’s large gut shifted uncomfortably to the side. You really needed a new vessel and a plan.

*^*

She hadn’t seen her in eleven years, hadn’t even spoken in five, but her mother was just as beautiful and menacing as she had ever been. She remembered this conversation because it was the one that changed her life.

“What are you doing here? How did you find me?”

Words that were the perfect greeting for someone like Constance Collins to her estranged daughter, Chloe forced a chuckle. Playing tough, her past-self spoke, but she now watched her mother’s wandering eyes, the telltale fear and alarm of a trapped animal. She was scared of her, not just what else could find her. Find them.

“Do you have any idea what’s going on out there?!”

“No, Mama,” both of her replied, the past defiantly, the present sadly.

The edge wore off, maybe it was reliving it, but Chloe had let go of her anger with her mother somewhere between there and now.

“The angels are everywhere, you need to be careful,” Constance mumbled, stepping closer to her daughter, her hand coming up to brush away a strand of hair mindlessly. As if they were familiar enough for such intimacies.

“Is Gram’s angel back?”

“I don’t know, I haven’t heard that name, but we need to be careful. They will find you if they need to.”

“What about you?”

“Me? Me, they’ll kill on sight.” The fear resurfaced in those chilling words, nearly apologetically.

 Chloe turned and faced the bright and unnervingly blue eyes of a weaselly business man.

“Chloe is it?” The man’s voice was nasally but pressing.

“Maybe, depends on who’s asking.” She wasn’t in her body, but this memory wasn’t that old, she had seemed to have travelled sequentially thus far.  The missing memory set the hairs on the back of her neck on end. She watched herself talk to the weird man, confusion burning through her.

“Someone who knows your family, on your grandmother’s side.” He lost all pretense as two more angels stepped behind her past self.

“What do you want from me?”

“Relax, we just need to run a few tests, you won’t remember a thing.”

The scene changed, but she still hadn’t returned to her part in the memory.

“Sir?”

“Yes.”

“The Contingency?”

“What about her?”

“She’s waking up.”

“Well, knock her back out. She isn’t going to tweak herself.”

Chloe couldn’t see most of her body, only a strip of arm behind the angels surrounding her. The room felt like a surgical bay, pure white with lots of metal. A spare bed and what looked like dental equipment remained untouched on a side table. The metal rods looked long enough to pierce both ears, simultaneously. As soon as she arrived, she returned to the street with the presumptuous man.

“You can call me Zachariah. Do me a favor? Reach out as soon as you hear from those Winchesters again.”

“Uh, sure thing,” Chloe pocketed the business card, and before she turned to go the guy vanished. Figured, good thing she never intended to help the creeper in the first place. She crossed her arms over her chest recalling how she hadn’t been able to shake the sense of Déjà vu for a week.

There were ridges along the ground that rose and fell with each new memory, the woods cracking open and rearranging as she navigated the path toward her decision. She watched them sink and settle, unaffected by the new topography she walked on. After an hour or twelve, she came back to the clearing that held her Granddad’s cabin, spotting him eyeing her through the sun-bleached curtains.

She stomped toward the small house, feeling the anger and frustration churn with each step. He could have said something, anything, years before. This wasn’t just on Mama, this was on the Old Man too. She tried to center herself, tried to hold back the rage and the betrayal their secrets created. CC failed at composure, never one to tip toe into an argument.

She yanked the storm door open and stepped inside, eyes like saucers at the state of her granddad, her words sticking behind the latch in her throat.

“There’s our girl,” his voice fell flat, the mutilated side of his face rippling as he clenched his jaw.

“I guess this look is better than the bull elk,” CC mumbled as she took the familiar course to the battered sofa. “Let me have it, what do you have to say for yourself?”

“Nothing. I’m not here to speak for the dead.”

“So, what are you here for then?”

“The choice.”

“Right, well, I want to wake up, figure out just what she got me into.”

“That’s not what you need to decide.”

“Okay, I’ll bite. What do I need to decide?”

“Whether you are going to go back to life as a human, forgetting everything you’ve seen and losing all those burdens and pain from years in the dark.”

Chloe stilled, though her hand reflexively worried the handle of her knife, worn and familiar beneath her callused hands.

Her granddad’s corpse continued, “Or, you go back. With all of the hard truths and the responsibilities of one brought into being by a simple childish wish from a being who had yet to grow into her powers or place in the universe. You can go back knowing who and what you are, but that comes at a terrible cost. For Heaven’s eyes will never be far from you now and the minions of Hell will seek you out as a fortress against the light.

Either way, you wake up. But, first, you must choose.”

His beetle black eyes watched her, the emptiness threatening to consume her as CC realized the elk was her true family. He never wanted her to come here, but now that she had; the choice must be made. Knowing she wouldn’t die wasn’t so reassuring anymore, and twisted laughter erupted from her chest. The part of her mind that became her worst memory watched her, unwavering.

As she closed her eyes, CC inhaled.

And chose.

CC opened her eyes, dragging in a deep breath through her nose as her body protested her every shift. She pulled her hands into fists and clenched her back through the clammy shivers of waking up. The air was cold and stale, a raw discomfort reassuring her that she was back in her body. She appeared to be with the Winchesters, there wasn’t any other place she could think of that had brickwork like theirs. She sat up and looked around, scanning the abandoned sick room. CC stood, staggering on pins and needles, and clumsily took her knife and her gun.  Carefully, she made her way down the hall. Every room was empty, or locked. Every room until the one she remembered. CC almost missed him, he was below eye level after all. But she found him, off to the side and flat on his back. Dean.

Dean sticky with blood and unnaturally still.

Dean.

Dead.

No.

“No.”

She stumbled from her perch in the door frame, reaching the edge of the bed to fall beside Dean. She grasped at his shirts, shaking him.

“What did you do?! Damnit Dean,” she howled, voice cracking from lack of use. She slapped him, the cold skin of his cheek stung as she fell face first against his pillow and fissured. This was not the reality she fought to get back to, she wanted to go back. But there were no more memories to seek out and now there would be no new ones made. Not with Dean. Her arms clutched to his face, pulling him up, his bulk anchoring her as she sobbed. Nothing felt connected, rage, guilt, grief flowed into a noxious mix and Chloe had to step back. Hurling all over the floor as her body rejected the trauma as much as her mind had.

Once the putrid yellow liquid had emptied itself, she focused. Where the hell was Tweedle Dum?

“Sam!” CC walked backwards, keeping her eyes on Dean’s body as if he would disappear at any moment, just another nightmare she needed to pass through. “Goddamn it, Sam, where the fuck are you?!”

She was still crying but clutching the door knob and shouting through the cavernous Bunker had given her some slight release. If anyone was going to hear her, it wasn’t going to be misunderstood for more than it was. There was a faint rumble and the sound of doors closing.

“Sam?” CC’s voice broke and she whispered to herself, “Oh, Maheo’o, please.  He’s okay. He has—”

Sam rounded the corner, dirty and mystified.

“—to be.”

They fell at each other, Sam tucking his gun in his belt before his arms could hold her to his chest, keeping her upright. “I’m so sorry, Chloe.”

She felt his words more than she heard them, her head clouded, ribcage unhinged and gaping. She kept looking over her shoulder, watching Dean’s body, but Sam turned them both away, unwilling to let her dwell on it like he had, the entire drive home.

“What happened?”

Sam swallowed. “Metatron.”

Angels. Of course.

She nodded, trying to remember everything she could about what they had been hunting last. “But what about Abaddon? And Crowley? How long have I been out?”

“Yeah, well, hey are you alright? Do you need anything?” Sam held her at arm’s length, taking in her eyes and her steadiness. “Because I was going to summon Crowley, make him fix this. Since he was the one that started this whole suicide mission with the Mark of Cain.”

“Suicide? Sam, what are you talking about?”

Sam sniffed. “Oh, Chloe, tell me you know. That you--”

“Don’t ‘oh’ me, dumb ass.”

Sam almost laughed at that, inhaling with a mirthful pout. “Let’s get you some water and then how about we see what we can do?”

“How can we just leave him like that?”

Sam gave her a sad smile. “We’re not going to. Let’s go.”

Sam led her to the kitchen, keeping his right arm over her shoulders, at the ready should she lose her balance. But he needed her there more than she ever could.

“Finally,” Crowley muttered as he watched Sam and the empty vessel slink off together.

*^*

This was new. It was as if a seatbelt had been strapped to his soul, barring him from escaping the wreckage that was his body. So much for meeting his new Reaper and getting the spiel that was once reserved for Tessa. He tested the barriers of his body, unsure what would happen if he couldn’t crossover. Would he go vengeful? Was Sammy going to have to go full blowtorch on his ass? He started to separate, slipping from solid to gas and back to liquid as the darkness pulled him apart. He folded in on himself, twice, twenty, two thousand times until he was frayed and knotted and mangled beyond belief. The unscratchable itch remained the same, the Mark the source, but not the remedy. Dean stretched, reaching out to gain control in a space only he could navigate. It was disgustingly fragile to him now. Everything felt, lesser. It still reeked of humanity and its pathetic mortality.

Then he heard him, Crowley. That smug bastard really could spin yarns, but Dean wasn’t convinced, yet. He settled back, as easy as slipping into an old flannel, finding his arms and toes and all the other places he liked to control. Once Crowley made his true offer, Dean knew what he sold to be true, or as available as any other fate to him now.

And so he opened his eyes to bask in their shared damnation.

Next Chapter: Too Good to Be True

[theguidedarts-blog]

How to Wage Gorilla Warfare

A United States military general was giving a pep talk to his soldiers. "Ok boys, today we're at war with some gorillas. Now I know you all have come to me with some concerns, so I thought I'd make one thing clear. Yes, we're supposed to deal with the gorillas. No, that does not mean diplomacy. Diplomacy? Seriously, why did any of you think they'd send the military out for diplomacy! Well, y'all are dumb. But, that's not what the point of this is. The point is to tell you that you're all more than capable of defeating the gorillas, and ya will."

The room filled with a sea of voices but the general very quickly put an end to that by saying as though a father might firmly but calmly, "Settle down! Settle down!"

One voice did not stop, however. This voice came from a man named Timmy. Timmy was 30 years old, but his balding would lead you not to believe it. He was a nervous one who approached life in a very overprotective manner. He's the kind of man you look at and think, "I'm sure he spends his Friday nights at home."

The words that came out were, "How well do we deal with them? Do we kill them or not? Isn't doing that immoral?"

The commander's eyebrow furrowed, and the words that came out of his mouth were, "Of course you're supposed to kill them, you idiot!"

Timmy's eyes and fists clenched, and his facial expression mirrored that of an abused child, although no such thing had happened to him for sure. Timmy had been that abused child once though. In grade school, the other kids would bully him saying things like, "I'm sure even a stupid monkey could beat you up," and throwing him against the lockers from time to time. This kind of relationship was present in many facets of Timmy's life as well, from how the commander treated him, to how many members of his own family had begun to treat him recently. All around, one could say Timmy didn't have a superb life.

This trauma would last until seconds before the troops were sent in. The doors to the encampment were opened, and soldiers came running out of it in all directions. Timmy ran off by himself, and then, he saw it. He had no idea what to do, and it would only be then that he realized he didn't have a gun.

"Seriously?" Timmy said. "How do I even fight this thing?"

The gorilla grunted back, and it was at this time he knew he had no hope. But there was one hope left.

Step 1: If you can't see them, they can't see you.

A commonly misattributed myth to lions is that if you can't see them, they can't see you. However it is not a myth, and it applies to gorillas as well! How convenient.

Timmy took a leaf and covered his face with it. The gorilla looked around for a second. Where did Timmy go? The gorilla would've thought to itself. Oh yes, the plan was working.

Step 2: Get behind the gorilla.

Now that you have evaded his sight, you must stay outside of it if you wish to see him while he can't see you. Note that you can locate where the gorilla currently is by his noises. If you're desperate and not sure which side of him you are on, you can get him to turn around by simply throwing a rock over his head.

Timmy took a deep breath. He was ready to do this. He reached down, picked up a rock, and blindly threw it in the direction of the gorilla. However, he had made one fatal error. As he took the leaf from his face, the gorilla was looking dead straight at him.

What had Timmy done? Well, it turns out that he hadn't thrown the rock over the gorilla's head. Quite a novice mistake on Timmy's part, for sure. But what could he possibly do now?

Step 3: Attempt to gain forgiveness.

Gorillas are in fact actually quite nice, if you're nice to them. It is a deeply mistaken belief that gorillas were ever not nice, indeed. One thing to keep in mind is that, if you should make gorilla angry, you should seek to gain forgiveness through a gift.

Timmy looked in his satchel. The contents were one flashlight, one pack of cigarettes, and of course, his circular flask. He couldn't give the gorilla the flask, that was his only source of water, and he couldn't give the cigarettes either as he was currently addicted. He decided the only logical course of action was to part with the flashlight, so he grabbed it from his bag and walked towards the gorilla, and gave it the flashlight. The gorilla made a happy grunt.

Step 4: Commune with the gorilla.

Once you have made him happy, communion will commence. Your two minds will join together and you will be able to properly communicate.

"You come in pursuit of diplomacy?" The gorilla communed to Timmy.

"Yes, in fact. I do, my name is Timmy and I represent the United States military. I came in light of a recent miscommunication between our two countries, and wish to see that a diplomatic solution is met." Timmy communed back. He had no idea what was going on, only what he must do. He must stop this war from continuing. "Gorilla sir, does it happen that any of your friends might be outside right now?"

"No, it is the first thing in the morning and I am the only one outside."

"Ok thank you, some angry people might be running about causing havoc, so you should be cautious."

"That's good to know, thank you."

Step 4: Go back to the Gorilla's base to attempt a diplomatic resolution.

Once you're in the gorilla's base, you'll be able to properly communicate diplomatic terms. You'll want to know what happened with the gorilla

The gorilla and Timmy then got caught up, and the gorilla led Timmy back to his base. The gorilla king was sitting in a big throne made of wood from the same jungle. The chair had a special red color to it, which was the most beautiful thing in the room they had gone into. The gorillas really had a good sense of design. Next, the gorilla Timmy befriended talked to his leader in the same language the gorillas spoke, and then communed to Timmy in telepathic waves. "My king says your people declared war on us last night. We had been anxiously waiting to receive an attack, but none has happened so far. What's up?"

Timmy communes back to the gorilla, "It seems that you're right, but I disagree with the notion of a war between our factions. I think that it's actually quite pointless in fact, but let us not get into that. What do you think the best way to get a diplomatic solution would be?"

The gorilla talks to his king again, and then responds "Why don't we get your commander in here, and then we can act as the translators between our factions because as of now we don't seem to be on the same page at all."

Timmy liked this idea. "Sure, let me call him."

Timmy called his commander upon his walkie-talkie. "Hey boss, can you come over to where I'm at? I think we can reach a diplomatic solution to this issue!"

"Sure, Timmy... Just... Give me your coordinates."

"Ok boss," Timmy said, and then slowly ran back the coordinates.

The boss tells the coordinates back to Timmy, and then Timmy says "Yup that's right."

Step 5: Wait for the commander to bring in diplomatic reinforcements.

Thanks to your wonderful proactivity you have managed to ensure the best possible outcome for the United States military, and have succeeded where all previous have failed in Gorilla Warfare. Good job!

Suddenly somebody knocks on the door to the chamber Timmy has been sitting in with the king. A guard comes to open the door. It is the commander, he actually came! The commander walks into the room and sits down next to Timmy.

"So, what can we do?" The commander says.

Timmy communes with the gorilla who talks to the king, and then responds back to Timmy who responds back to the commander. "We're going to solve this issue by using diplomacy and not guns. How does that sound?"

"Well, that sounds mighty doable seeing as our missing still says just deal with them, and that means that if we make a deal with them, we're dealing with them alright haha."

"So, why did you declare war on us?"

"It was because a gorilla attacked one of our wild citizens in the jungle. We had to retaliate in some way, and we guessed he was from your country."

"We do not condone the actions of those who come from outside gorilla country, but I apologize for this experience. Was he killed?"

"No, actually, he was only given a scar but the gorilla got away and somebody had to answer for the crimes."

"This sounds like you just wanted an excuse to attack us."

"Look I don't know all the nitty-gritty, all I know is that a gorilla attacked an American, and Americans wanted an answer. But now we're here, so I guess we can get that answer."

"That actually does sound like one of our refugees. Let me see... does he look like this?"

The king holds up a picture of a gorilla. The commander's eyes widen as the features of the gorilla are distinct enough to make a positive comparison. The commander holds up his picture, to realize that the two are the exact same gorilla.

"Could we possibly try him inside an American court?"

"If he committed an American crime in your American country, you may do that in an American court. Let me get him."

The king gets the refugee and sends the commander on his way. However, Timmy stays behind for a little while. He thanks the gorilla for everything, and the king as well. Then Timmy leaves the place with a new-found sense of confidence, and gets promoted to general of his own troops.

[thorne93]

Be Careful (Part 7 - FINAL)

Prompt: Being the wife of Tom, who is a politician, while having an affair with Bill, who is a leader of an anti-government group and is planning to assassinate Tom. (courtesy of @theartofimagining13)

Warnings: language, sex/smut, talk of murder…Think House of Cards, and you’re golden.

Word Count: 1334

Notes: Beta’d by the perfect @like-a-bag-of-potatoes… This is rather different from what I usually do, so feedback would be nice : ) It’s a drabble series, btw.

Inspired by the T Swift Song: I Did Something Bad

~~~~~~~~~

“Senator Hiddleston ordered salmon,” Bill informed to Daniel at the door. Daniel eyed the food, checked the cart, and barely patted Bill down, before letting him in.

“I didn’t order that,” Tom said as he let the newspaper down he was reading.

“Compliments of the hotel,” Bill stated politely as he opened the silver serving plate.

“That’s very nice, but no thank you,” Tom dismissed, his blue eyes on Bill’s green orbs.

Bill reached into his pants, pulling out a Glock 19 with a silencer, aiming it at Tom’s head. “Oh, I insist.”

“What the hell?” Tom said as his brows knitted together. “Da--” he started to shout but Bill put his fingers to his lips.

“Shh. Don’t shout for the bodyguard. It’ll just cause more bloodshed,” Bill advised.

The door suddenly clicked open, Bill assumed it was his henchmen so he didn’t turn around. But Tom on the other hand was slightly relieved.

“Y/N, don’t come closer, he has a gun!” Tom warned.

You smiled knowingly as you pulled your own gun out of your fur coat and shot Bill in the back of calf, the noise barely above a can opening. The feeling that coursed though you felt raw, and wonderful -- it was power.

Bill’s leg twisted to the floor as he cried out. The sound sickenly sweet.

“I know, darling, I gave it to him,” you informed as Sebastian and his men joined you in the room, him looking absolutely mouth watering in an all black suit, power emanating from him.

“What the hell--What the fuck is going on?” Tom asked as he eyed Bill, the guns, Sebastian, and his henchmen.

“I see why you’re leaving him,” Sebastian said, eyeing the confused Senator. Sebastian’s men came in and took Bill’s gun as he gripped his leg from pain. Then moved to Tom to get him on his knees, the two big men keeping them still and on their knees.

Tom’s eyes flashed to yours, betrayal, hurt, anger, confusion all swirling in those pretty eyes of his. “Y/N?”

A wicked grin slowly pulled on your face, keeping your gun aimed at the two men.

“I bet you’re wondering what I’m doing. Let me make it simple. Bill here, was sent to kill you. By me. Well, us. You see we’ve been trying to sabotage you for over a year and a half now, darling. Succeeding. Until Billy boy here had the genius idea of killing you and exposing all of your dirty little secrets. You’re dead, all of your secrets out, and you’re no longer fucking up a country.”

Tom’s eyes widened before going from you to Bill.

“But you see, Bill thought I was working with him, trying to take down the American government. Silly Billy,” you teased as you leaned down and touched the end of the silencer to his cheek but he ripped away, glaring at you.

“You psycho bitch. I thought you loved me. What the fuck are you doing?” Bill demanded, rage burning clear in his voice, face, and eyes.

“Getting what’s rightfully mine, baby,” you said, nearly cooing. “You see, I’m tired of men thinking they rule the show. That they are the be all, end all when it comes to government, politics, morality. All my life, men have walked all over me, thought I was just another pretty face. Bill, you’re just as fucked up as he is. Tom may be a twisted cookie, but, Bill, baby, you were ready to kill for a piece of ass. You fucked another man’s wife to infiltrate the government. What would you even gain if Tom died? Nothing. So you spill some secrets from Capitol HIll. Big deal.”

Both men were staring at you, anger brewing deeper and deeper on their faces.

“So are you going to kill us?” Tom asked. “Just assassinate me like the original plan and say Daniel shot Bill as he got away. Is that it?”

“Clever boy,” you complimented as you stood from your leaned position. “But no. That was part of the small plan but no, we’re thinking big picture here.”

“We?” Tom inquired.

“Well, Sebastian and me, of course,” you said, eyeing your true lover. Your one true love. He was the current president of Russia, the second largest power in the world, with you as his second in command and pulling the strings back here in America, you would soon be the largest superpower.

“Sebastian Stan, the president of Russia?” Bill asked. “I thought you shared a vision with me,” he said, the faintest hint of heartbreak in his voice. Oh, how precious.

You laughed callously. “Bill, darling, no. I never loved you. You just fuck well. You really thought I would settle for an anarchist...or even a senator?” you asked, eyeing your husband as if he were trash. “I am meant for so much more than what you two had planned.”

“Then what the hell was I for? Why not just go with Sebastian?” he demanded, furious.

“Excellent question,” Sebastian said chiming in. “We can’t have a group of your...caliber, trying to ruin our endeavor, can we?” he asked as he eyed your former lover, before clasping his hands in front of him.  

“So you, my beloved anti-government snake,” you cooed, “you get to run your group exactly how you were meant to. You’re going to work your ass off to tear down the government, with our help,” you informed, a smile on your face. “You will be the weapon to crack that regime.”

“Genius, isn’t it? All her idea,” Sebastian noted, eyeing you. “She is the brains behind it all. And a bomb in the sack, eh, boys?” he asked, winking with a mischievous gleam in his eye, making you beam with pride.

Bill’s eyes swirled with something strange. Wonder? Amazement? Anger? Impression? Whatever it was, it settled on disbelieving rage. “So you’re not going to kill me?”

“That would cause a revolution. No, we need you alive.”

“If I don’t do it?”

All humor fell from your face, stone features in its place. “I will personally put yet another bullet in you, but this one will be between your eyes,” you threatened, your voice reaching a tone it never had. Your head twisted to see your husband.

“And, darling, my love, as for you, you’re to be our puppet.”

“I’ll never do it,” Tom vowed.

“Oh won’t you? Darling, I know for a fact that at the right price, you’ll jump on it like a dog in heat. Not to mention if you don’t comply, I still have many things that can ruin your career.”

“What if I still don't?” he challenged.

“Same fate as Bill.”

“Wouldn’t it be easier to kill us?” Bill wondered with fierce venom in his voice as his eyes slowly trailed up to your face.

“Keep up, man,” Sebastian said, crouching down, patting Bill’s face as if he were a small child. “We need men on the ground here. You understand, don’t you?”

Sebastian stood up, kissing you quickly, the inevitable fire lacing in your veins as he touched you.

“приходи, мой голубь,” Sebastian asked, meaning ‘Come, my dove.’

“Yes, dear.” You turned to your husband and ex-lover, winking. “Bye, boys. Я иду домой на родину,” you stated, meaning “I’m going home to the motherland.”

The men were still kneeling, speechless, as they watched you leave, stunned beyond belief. Your plan worked perfectly, and now you were about to board a plane back to Russia, to start the second phase of your plan -- making Russia the most untouchable superpower in the world, with the United States eating out of the palm of your hand.

Men really were stupid, but at least you found one that seemed capable of keeping up with you. Sebastian sat next to you on the plane and kissed your hand.

“Ready to start a new world order?” he wondered, so much promise in his voice.

“I was born ready, darling.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Forever Tags: @capsmuscles @cocosierra94 @essie1876 @magpiegirl80 @letsgetfuckingsuperwholocked @harleyquinnandscarletwitch @iamwarrenspeace @marvel-imagines-yes-please @superwholocked527 @myparadise1982sand @missinstantgratification @thejemersoninferno @rda1989 @marvelloushamilton @munlis @thefridgeismybestie @bubblyanarocks3 @random-fluffy-pink-unicorn @hardcollectionworldtrash @igiveupicantthinkofausername @kaliforniacoastalteens @feelmyroarrrr​ @kaeling

Sebastian Stan Tag: @nedthegay @lostinspace33 @alwayshave-faith @elleatrixlestrange @buenostardissherlock @lenawiinchester @the-red-world-of-jess-chibi @memory-of-a-goldfish @mellsstark

Tom Hiddleston: @camigt1999 @lenawiinchester

BC: @rashinyx2002

[jojuarez26]

We found love in a hopeless place Part 16

I take a moment before opening the door to compose myself after the flood of emotions that just fucked me up. I don't have time to explore it right now.

I take one last look back and close the door putting my lock down code in. As I jog down the hall way ready to call Max I hear the bitch screech my name.

I stop and turn around. Honestly I wish she looked more genuinely pissed than just for show pissed. I know the difference to well.

"You bastard. Give me back my son," she yells in my face.

I take a step back and breath. Damn Dara to hell.

"No. We are getting ready to go into lock down. As my son he falls under my protection and no you cant go with him. OUR son is safe. Go home Dara I will call you later." I turn to go

Dara grabs my arm to swing me around and throw a punch.

Seeing as how I am faster and smarter, she fails as I turn her and grip her arms behind her back.

"You son of bitch. I hate you. I fucking HATE YOU," she is screaming like a damn banshee.

"Yeah I know."

I see Schmidt a guard, heading towards us. Perfect.

"Schmidt take her to lock please. Single cell, low security. Thank you," I had her over ready to go.

"ERIC YOU SO-"

"Dara enough. I don't have time for this. I will talk to you later. I promise." With that I pay her no more mind and start jogging down the hall way again finally calling Max.

"Max," he snaps into the phone.

"It's Eric."

"Damn it Coulter! Where are you and what the fuck is going on." He barked into the phone.

"On the way to my office. Max if you have ever trusted me as a leader I need you to trust me now. I need a state of emergency meeting called for in an hour and we need a compound wide lock down now. Please Max," I actually ALMOST beg.

"Eric I've always trusted you. Your just an asshole so I don't give you the reigns. Right now, I just respected your authority more than I ever have. I hearby give you temporary control of the compound. I'll see you in an hour." Pride fills his voice.

"Thank you Sir," I breath a sigh of relief.

"Don't thank me son. Just make me fucking proud." The line goes dead

This day is unbelievable. I must be stuck somewhere between a nightmare and a perfect fucking dream.

I storm in my office demanding orders of my secretary, booting up my computer and scrambling for files.

The familiar hated fucking number flashes on my phone for the fifth time in seven minutes. I have zero time and even less patient for this bitch right now. I finally decided to answer it.

"NOW IS NOT THE DAMN TIME JEANINE," I bellow into the phone.

"Eric what the hell have you done. You just put my niece and grandson in eminent danger."

My stomach dropped and my world stopped spinning.

"What did you just say?" I almost whisper

I know Sam is her niece, but how in the ever loving fuck does she think she is MY SONS grandmother.

"You miserable ass lieing ass bitch. Fuck you," I spit with malice.

"Dara is unfortunately my train wreck of a daughter. I told her when I found out she was with child with Adam. Trying to keep her from completely fucking up another human beings life. He is not an expirment to me Eric. He is my grandson."

This is worse than a gawd damn nightmare because I know I am fucking awake.

"I don't believe you," I deadpan.

"Check the email you just received," she sounds like nails on a chalk board.

I opened the file and start to feel nauseous as I skim the files.

"I would not lie to Eric. Not about this and not now. You have no idea what you have just done and the danger you just put my family in. You need my help."

Blind rage bubbles up and out my mouth.

"NO! MY FAMILY, MY SON, MY GIRL!! YOU CAN'T HAVE THEM YOU EVIL BITCH!" I didn't realize I was screaming like a child until Jeanine's voice cut me off.

"Now is not the time for foolish pride get in your way right now. I don't want to take them I want to protect them. Where are they right now?"

"Not your business where Sam and Adam are. Your miserable offspring is currently in lockup." I mumble.

"Lockup? Why on earth is that ridiculous girl in lockup?" I can picture her rolling her perfect eyes while tapping her perfectly manicured nails on her desk.

"I put there. I don't have time for her tantrums and games. I knew she'd be safe and out of my way. Jeanine I have to go. I will be in touch" I leave no room for arguments.

"Fine. Three hours Eric. If I don't hear from you I will find you." It is definitely a threat.

"No promises," I end the call

"Your day is hella fucked up today isn't Sir."

I spin around to face my useless, big mouth secretary.

Perfect, just fucking great. I will end this bitch if she runs off at her mouth. I am about to tell her ignorant ass as much too.

"Keilynne. You know I don't like you, can't stand you actually right?" I slowly stalk towards her, grinning as she backs herself into a wall.

"Sir?" She says confused and frankly pretty frightened. Good.

I bet over her essentially pinning her to the wall. I place my lips right on her ear. Then I start to speak again.

"As a matter of fact I would probably enjoy throwing you into the Chasm. So. Hopefully you see where this is potentially going." She swallows hard and just nods, tears welling in her eyes.

"If you so much as even whisper a single word of ANYTHING you just heard, to anyone. I will end you just for shits and giggles. Am I making myself clear," I ask sternly but deadly quiet.

"Y-y-yess Sir. Cr-crystal." Two tears slide down her cheek.

Just to be extra fucking sadistic, I place the ghost of a kiss on her cheek catching one of her tears.

"Perfect. Now.get.back.to.WORK," I take a step back and she ran out of my office.

It's a hard job being a dick, but somebody has to enjoy it. Right? Fuck, a glance at my watch tells me I have twenty minutes left. Better get a move on it.

The halls of the Dauntless compound are all but empty and silent. A patrol passing speaking in whispers here and there. Otherwise. Nothing.

It angers and pains me to see my faction like this. What hurts even worse? Knowing I caused this. This is my fault.

I scan my palm on the first door and my retinas at the second. This is the absolute most secure room in all of Dauntless.

All but two people that are needed are here. One is in my home with my family, where the fuck is Murphy, our second in command engineer? That isn't setting well with me as I take my seat next to Max.

"Four?" Max ask

"Sam and Adam. And Murph?" This isn't going to end well.

"I had hoped beyond hell you knew," he sighs. We both know what this means

"Fuck. For whatever fucking reason we don't know, one of our top engineers is a faction traitor," I grit threw my teeth.

"Well yes and no. He is actually a dead faction traitor as of fifteen minutes ago," Macy speaks as she sits down.

"Come again?" Fuck my life. The universe officially hates me today

It's then I notice the small smears of blood on Macy's cheeks and arm. Just keeps getting better.

"When we started to initiate the lockdown, Amber or is it Audra? Anyway his damn wife noticed he sent out ten encrypted files. So she texted Harrison. I went to confront him. He pulled a knife, I pulled a gun. And well he is currently in the Chasm with three new bullet holes. Oops," Mace shrugs her shoulders.

Macy may not be one of my favorite people, but she is a bad ass bitch and I respect the hell out of her. Well, most of the time

"Any ideas who, what, when, where and why?" Max frowned. This shit just kept rolling down hill.

"Yes, but I doubt you will believe me," she rolls her eyes and shrugs.

"You would be surprised what I will believe at the current moment. Try me," I say leaning back

"He is a plant. From outside the wall."

"Detain Abby," "Audra," "What the fuck ever. Detain that bitch now and lock down there living quarters as a crime scene," I growled.

"So, you believe me?" She ask in a nervous voice.

"Today? Absofuckinglutely," I sneer.

"Oh thank Gawd. I just knew you where going to think I am shot the fuck out," she blows out the breath she was holding.

"Where did the intel come from?"

"He told me. As he threatened to remove my pretty eyeballs and feed them to me just before I filled him full of lead.'

"Son of bitch Max this is bad. Every fucking minute that ticks by it gets worse," I groan.

"Eric fuck you. You're jinx it bro," Macy sighs dramatically.

"Enough both of you. Lets get started shall we?" Max chides.

I clear my throat and stand. I hope beyond all hope my faction will forgive me. I let my personal shit dictate what happened that ultimately affected my whole faction. I look around and I just see people who want and need answers. No anger or frustration. So far. Here goes nothing.

"Thank you all for being here. I want to start by saying I am amazed and proud of you all for serving your faction well when duty called." Looks of appreciation.

"Now I would like to sincerely apologize to all of you personally. I am most of the reasons why are faction is heading into uncharted, dangerous territory." Now confusion.

"How so Eric?" Brandon, head of the patrols asked.

Here goes nothing. I just dive in head first and tell my faction the honest truth of all the events that lead us here.

Forty-five minutes in, Brandon asked for the floor and I hand it over.

"Eric I can't speak for the entire faction, but I am willing to bet most of us would agree, nobody blames you. You reacted as ANY of us would. You have done something alot of people wouldn't. You accepted your responsibility and you have stepped the fuck up. This is Dauntless, this is who we are and what we do. You have my full and absolute support going forward in this situation. No regrets. We are Dauntless," Brandon ends in battle cry.

"We are Dauntless!" Erupts around the room. I am shocked to say the least.

"I told you people like you dick," Max whispers in my ear.

I turn to look at my leader. The look of pride in his eyes sends a wave of emotion over me. I look out to my fellow Dauntless. The looks of pride, respect, commeradery and... acceptance, have me feeling for the first time I truly belong.

Five hours later we close our session out and will reconvene at seven am. I can't help but stop Brandon on his way out.

"I, I just wanted to. Thank you. For believing in me and standing by our faction." The words feel awkward and foreign on my tongue.

Brandon extends his hand to shake mine. I take it gratefully.

"Look man, I'm an asshole. It's just, who I am. But at the end of the day I take my duties to my faction seriously. Until you, today, I felt Max was the only person to take me seriously. It just, I. Once again thank you,"I mumble like a fucking fool

"Eric nobody thought you didn't take your commitment to this faction seriously or that you weren't a good leader. Quite the opposite actually. But I do agree that you are an asshole and more often than night unappoarchable. After today though, I think people's opinions might have changed a little. Nobody expects you to be someone your not or that you will change in a day. But keep stepping in this direction man. You'd be surprised what you will find." Brandon showed nothing but respect in everything he said.

I nodded my head in appreciation and said goodnight.

"Fucking proud son. All the way. You finally have realized you are home," Max boasted clapping me on the shoulder.

[disorderlydva-blog]

Do You Yield? | Ch. 1

Summary: Based on songs from the musical "Hamilton," a glimpse into Gabriel and Jack's final days as Overwatch agents is shown. Gabriel's jealousy turns into conflict with Jack inside the Overwatch headquarters that takes a dangerous turn. The two men have no idea that their lives, identities, and their relationship will be changed forever.

Chapters: 1/3 Rating: T (13+) Words: 2,779 Genre: Angst, Drama Author’s Note: Here’s another broadway-based OW fic! it is not an au! but i hope you enjoy it anyway! also read my symmrat fic where i used heathers as inspiration here! you can read “do you yield” down below or on fanfiction.net

"Reyes."

There it was. That husky tone of a voice that everyone appeared to keel over whenever Jack Morrison uttered the simplest thing. Despite the enticing accent, it was revolting to Gabriel. Jack saying Gabriel's last name used to be nothing. Now, it gave him a resentful chill. With Jack being the Strike Commander, Gabriel was disgusted whenever Jack would walk into an Overwatch meeting and sit at the end of the table in front of the hologram screens that showed current events. He would glare at Jack throughout the majority of the meeting, barely paying attention to what they were discussing as he would imagine himself sitting in that head chair instead.

It should have been him. He deserved it more than Morrison.

Gabriel was in the middle of scrolling through possible missions on the hologram pad in the Blackwatch office on his desk. It technically wasn't Gabriel's office, but it might as damn well be considering he's the only one working in this area. Jack got his own office, with a nameplate on the door and even a hand-scanning lock that only allowed Jack to enter. Gabriel's, or Blackwatch's, office was a simple office. Nothing high-tech on his door. No nameplates anywhere with Gabriel's name engraved on it. Just a small, square office with a regular door that no one knew how to knock on.

It was exactly what Jack did. Without knocking, he opened the door as Gabriel had his back to him while he was standing in front of the desk, scrolling through his pad. He heard him come in, and he already knew it was Jack from hearing the heavy footsteps before he said Gabriel's last name.

Gabriel grunted in response as he closed the windows off his screen. He kept his stance but looked to his right, not even trying to look directly at the commander.

"Is it important enough to interrupt my work?" Gabriel asked.

He heard Jack shuffle, possibly crossing his arms, Reyes assumed.

"I came in here to get you to help me train a new possible recruit," Jack replied. "I need someone to help him in a practice combat."

Gabriel exhaled annoyingly. He took a step to turn around to look at his commander, a title he refused to call him. Jack has his arms crossed just as Gabriel expected. His expression was anything but sincere toward Reyes. The commander was slightly out of uniform, sporting black cargo pants and the belt he wore in battle with his holster holding his shotgun attached to it. He didn't have his blue Overwatch jacket on, but instead just wore a black short-sleeved shirt with a short turtleneck that showed off his fit torso against the thin fabric.

It wasn't an important day in the Overwatch headquarters, but Gabriel still thought it was a bit unprofessional of him to be out of uniform. Unlike himself, in which he always wore his usual Blackwatch uniform every day in the building no matter what was happening. Just another reason why Gabriel should've gotten the commander title.

Gabriel leaned back on the desk and rested his hands on the edge for support.

"Don't tell me you're talking about that Santos kid. Does he need help spinning his records or something?" Reyes smirked at his lame joke. Jack didn't even flinch.

"Yes, Lucio is who I'm talking about. He has amazing support skills we could really use during missions."

"We already have support members," Reyes retorted.

Jack paused for a moment before taking in a long breath. "Yes, we do. But Angela and Ana can't be with us for every single mission. There's nothing wrong with expanding our team. You already knew that was my goal once we were finished with the Omnic Crisis."

"I've told you how I felt about him," Reyes grunted, even though he blocked out everything Jack had just said. "He doesn't seem to take the job seriously. All he does is act like a total child."

"There's nothing wrong with having a bright personality while still doing your job. That's exactly what he does. You're always in this office, so you haven't seen his full potential," Jack remarked.

Gabriel scoffed. "Whatever, just don't come running to me if he messes up or leaves a teammate to bleed to death." He removed himself from the desk and walked toward Jack. He was about to pass him and go out the door before Jack put a hand on his shoulder to stop him in his tracks. Gabriel kept his gaze in front of him.

"You better show him respect," Jack demanded. "The exact same respect I have given to you know matter what you feel towards me."

Reyes snorted and shook his shoulder away before stepping out the door.

"If you're wanting to show me respect, how about knocking on my damn door for once before barging in?"

Gabriel took the elevator to the second floor above his office where the training room was. He stood in the small box with his arms crossed. What a nuisance, he thought to himself. He could be moving Blackwatch forward with a new mission right now, but instead, he was forced to train someone Overwatch didn't even need. Reyes had only met the Santos kid once, and it wasn't a good first impression. The kid was probably as much of a talented musician as everyone made him out to be, but Gabriel just didn't find music talent to be something needed on the battlefield.

The elevator door slid open, revealing a hallway that led to the training room yards away. Once Reyes stepped out, he could hear faint voices coming from behind the training room door. As he walked towards the door, he could make out Angela's voice laughing as a deeper, familiar voice spoke over her. Opening the door, he saw Angela in a long white lab coat holding a clipboard while her other hand covered her mouth as she laughed melodically. In front of her stood the Santos kid finishing a joke that Reyes missed out on.

The room itself was large in size, about half the size of a football field. There were target boards and dummies piled in the corner of the room. The walls and floor were made of a tough metal. It has taken all kinds of practice combat in the past and didn't seem to leave any sign of wear or tear. The entire room was coated in a navy blue with a large white Overwatch symbol in the middle of the floor along with a line that separated the room.

Neither of them acknowledged Gabriel's presence until he cleared his throat. Angela and Lucio looked over at him.

"Gabriel! Have you met Lucio?" Angel asked as she wiped a tear from her eye. She let out one last chuckle. "Sorry, we were discussing supporting the team on the battlefield, and he made this really funny medical joke I have never heard before."

"I'm probably better at making medical field jokes than I am remembering what I learned back at home about healing," Lucio said sheepishly with a nervous laugh, one of his hands scratching his head while the other rested in the pockets of his blue jeans. His thick dreads were tied in a low ponytail behind his neck that rested against his green and blue jersey. The front of the jersey had a cartoon of a frog wearing headphones. "I could definitely use Angela's help with that."

"Don't worry about it," Angela responded, putting a reassuring hand on Lucio's shoulder, "Right now we just need to worry about your combat skills before you sit with me on how we support our team with healing and strength boosting."

"You know what we could use other than boosting strength?" Lucio said, "Speed. I'm currently working on building this aura that can-"

"Morrison sent me here to help him in a training session," Gabriel interrupted, his hands folded behind his back. "I have a lot of work back in the Blackwa- my office, so we should get on with it."

"Yes, of course, Gabriel," Angela said, her smile staying intact. "Lucio, you remember where your equipment is. You can go there and get prepared and meet back here. Gabriel, you do what you need to do. I'll be in the watch room up above analyzing the battle," She pointed to the one-way window that was about fifteen feet above from them.

Gabriel nodded at Angela. "Understood. I should be back here in about fifteen minutes. I just need to get to the locker room to get my gear."

"Move to the beat!"

Lucio skated against the metal walls on the other side of the room. An instrumental, techno tune was being omitted from his weapon that he called a sonic amplifier. With that in one hand, his other hand moved back and forth as he skid and jumped a corner. The DJ turned around and retraced his trail.

Gabriel was standing on the ground on the opposite side of the line. Their battle had yet to begin, but that didn't stop Lucio from skating circles in his side of the room. Gabriel scoffed at his behavior.

"The rules are plain and simple," Angela's voice boomed in the room. She spoke through a microphone in the booth above the two players. "Each soldier has their gun loaded with plastic, painted bullets. The first one to be shot loses the battle. Each player must stay behind the line. If a player passes the line, that player loses. Attack commences in thirty seconds."

The Blackwatch agent pulled his two shotguns out of both of the holsters attached to his belt. With strong, steady arms, he extended them forward with his hands curled around the gun handles. Both of his index fingers barely touched the surface of the triggers. He kept his gaze in front of him, watching as the green DJ hopped and skated laps. Lucio stopped in the middle, resting the back of his weapon against his shoulder and giving a thumbs up.

"I'll go easy on you, sir," Lucio said with a wide grin and a wink. Reyes didn't react. He never took any kind of battle lightly, even in practice combats. For this one in particular, he wasn't about to let his guard down. He was going to prove to Morrison that Lucio wasn't meant to be in Overwatch.

Even if it meant taking drastic measures.

"5…"

The countdown began.

"4… 3…"

Reyes rolled his shoulders back and shifted the weight on his feet.

"2…"

Lucio swiped a finger on the back of his sonic amplifier. The color of his aura went from yellow to green, and the tune of the song playing from his weapon changed.

"1… attack commencing."

One shot from his right shotgun was all it took for the Blackwatch officer to get Lucio on his right shoulder before he could skate away. Lucio cried out and fell back, dropping his sonic amplifier as he went. He held his shoulder and hunched over as he screamed at the top of his lungs in pain.

"S-Shit, man! Are plastic bullets supposed… to…"

His voice trailed off as he removed his hand from his shoulder to see a red liquid dripping from his fingertips. Staring at the liquid with wide eyes, he slowed his breathing and looked up at the soldier across the room before looking at his shoulder to see an open wound. Reyes blew the smoke coming from his shotgun and put both of them back in the holsters, a victorious smirk curling his lips.

"This… this isn't paint… I've been shot. I've been shot!"

The doors to the left of Lucio slid open, revealing Angela and Jack rushing toward the fallen soldier. Angela dropped her medic bag on the ground and kneeled beside Lucio to examine his shoulder, pulling back his hand.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Jack marched over to Reyes and grabbed his arm, his face nearly three inches away from the others. Gabriel cackled silently to himself.

"Lucio," Reyes boasted. "Do you yield?"

The DJ had his eyes squeezed tightly and grunted as Angela was using tweezers from her medic bag to pull out a bullet from the wound. She looked at the item in horror and turned to Reyes, her face ghost white.

"You shot him with a real bullet in a practice combat," Angela stammered, "Of course he yields! Are you satisfied with yourself?!"

Gabriel didn't respond, his smirk not leaving his face. Jack squeezed his arm.

"Reyes!"

The Blackwatch commander side eyed the blonde.

"Sir?" He responded with a cold tone.

Throwing Gabriel's arm to his side, the commander barked, "Meet me in my office!"

Gabriel looked back at Lucio, who looked up at him as if he were a demon. Chuckling, Reyes followed after his commanding officer out of the room.

Reyes walked past Morrison in the office that he felt was meant to be his. Jack closed the door as Gabriel studied the office. White walls and white floors made Gabriel nearly vomit in the back of his mouth. Photos and awards belonging to Jack were grouped together behind his desk. To the right of his desk were multiple screens with different missions and soldier profiles. Gabriel could see one of the profiles belonging to Lucio before Jack walked past him and shut off the screens. The head officer slammed his hands on the desk and looked down at the surface of the table. Nothing but a moment of silence was exchanged until Jack spoke up.

"Son," Jack asserted, not moving from his position.

The nickname sent a cold chill through Gabriel's body. "Don't call me son."

The commander ignored him as he turned around, crossing his arms as he continued to speak.

"Protecting our country is hard enough without infighting," Jack said.

Gabriel nearly interrupted him. "Lucio wouldn't have been a good asset to our team. He is obnoxious and small-minded."

"Shooting him with real bullets solved nothing," Jack objected. "He is a chipper and talkative person, but that doesn't make him a bad soldier. You didn't get to know him like I did."

"Maybe if I shot him in the mouth, that would shut him up."

Jack took a long, deep breath as he pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes tight.

"Son."

"I'm not your son."

"Watch your tone, Reyes," Jack scolded. He looked back up at Gabriel and crossed his arms again. "You are a disgrace to Overwatch and Blackwatch itself. You say Lucio isn't a professional soldier, but he isn't the one that didn't replace his bullets accordingly for practice combat."

"Maybe you should have checked my guns like you're supposed to with soldiers," Gabriel retorted.

"You've been here long enough for us to trust you, but I can tell you aren't even meant to be the head of Blackwatch."

"You're right, of course, I'm not," Gabriel walked over to the wall of Jack's awards and photos of past Overwatch victories. His eyes scanned them as there was only one photo with Gabriel barely in the background. It was the group photo of their victory after the Omnic Crisis. "I was meant for something greater. Something greater than your title," he turned his head to Jack, who was glaring holes through Gabriel's skull. "But, if you-"

"No," Jack snarled.

Gabriel continued, "If you gave me command of Overwatch, your title, your office, I can bring this team higher than you ever did."

"Or I could have you killed for a crime that you have committed against an innocent soldier," Jack retaliated. "I thought I trusted you. I thought you were a good soldier, but these past few weeks have made me think otherwise. Son, I obviously don't-"

"CALL ME SON, ONE MORE TIME!"

Gabriel's scream mixed with a crash interrupted Jack. The crash came from Gabriel throwing his hand against the framed pictures, making them fall to the ground and shatter. Reyes stomped on the group photo as he stared down at his palms with his fingers curled and breathed heavily. He felt Jack's hand on his shoulder and glared up at him. Reyes could see he was angry, but there was also some sort of pain in his eyes that Gabriel could've cared less about.

"Go home, Gabriel," Jack said. "You are hereby banned from Overwatch and your title as leader of Blackwatch. Leave your guns. That is an order from your commander."

Gabriel pushed the blonde's hand off his shoulder and removed the guns from his holsters before throwing them to the ground and stomping out the door.

[peachlolitasevillacourtstuff]

* a full month had already passed since that half of the president's history, pac and his were still curious of who could have been Oona, the mother of cedrick, the afternoon began with pac in classes, waiting for them to end *

Cyli: pac you keep thinking about the president's story

Pac: if you leave me the doubt of your son's mother

Spiral: you could summarize it respectively, I was taking care of drick for a long hour, and I couldn't hear them ..

PAc: ok, after classes ..

* after finishing the lases, they took their flying skateboards, and headed towards the round house, at the same time cyli re-spi the story of Oona and stratos, spiral was somewhat shocked with the story, knowing that the president had They had a relationship that they did not know, when they arrived at the roundhouse Sir.c, together with fuzzbits, they found him doing a few cleaning tasks while he saw Pac and his group arriving at his lab *

Sir.c: hi guys how did you hurt?

PAc: very good sir cunference

Sir.c: ok, they came to hear the third part of the story right

Cyli: of course because we would miss it.

* after another time, the boys and Sir.c went to the president's office, he was very unoccupied in his paperwork, pac approached with a curious look, which made the president uneasy *

Stratos: hello pacman, how can I help you?

Pac: I could finish his story about you and oona, now that you are unemployed and your son is in elementary school, can you tell us

Stratos: very well, I think the time is good ... going back to my story, I was on a medical appointment to have my wound checked, they prescribed some anti-inflammatory medications, I went to visit Oona at work but she was not there. Excuse me where is Oona winefrida?

Doctor: I don't know, sir, today you didn't report to work.

Stratos: oh something terrible had happened to him! * said nervously *

Doctor: it is possible, it is not surprising that something like this happens to people, knowing what is currently happening

Stratos: OH GOD! EVEN SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN * said while thinking that it could be her brother who kidnapped her to make her suffer * I was worrying about her absence, I ran to the last place where she was last seen, some of her neighbors told me that all morning she had not been view.

PAc: oh my god!

Spiral: So did you find her or did they capture her !? * said nervously *

Stratos: hehe, there is a clear spiral that I found, fortunately it was not captured by my evil brother. I had found her in her house the door of her apartment was open for some reason, when I saw some thick and smelly liquids, I came and heard some very bitter noises, at the same time moans. OONA! * he said screaming desperate and goes to the noises and finds oona in the bathroom in her pajamas a little dirty, and sleepy * Oona my god you're fine ..

Oona: WHO IS IT! * Said pointing a gun *

Stratos: oona it's me calm down! * Says as she lowers the gun *

Oona: stratos help me .. I don't know what happens to me * then she passes out *

Stratos: OONA!

Cyli: wait a moment, dizziness, moans, fainting, then she

PAc, cyli, spiral and Sir.c: I WAS ALREADY PREGNANT!🤯

Stratos: hehehe, what good fortune tellers are ...🤭Continuing with my story, I took oona to the emergency room, luckily the hospital was not far from her home, after several exams, spheria came to visit me at the same time as her brother-in-law zac, they had received my report that I would be assigned a tanot to mission they stepped aside and we started arguing

spheria: well stratos look nothing else that happens to you for lovebird ..

Stratos: Sergeant by faor in front of zac no .. * says very uncomfortable *

Zac: hahaha well look at nothing else stratos, without a doubt you are a romeo without windows ..

Stratos: shut up and what do you know about this

Zac: I am married and I love my wife and son, and it is probably your turn to fight for something bigger than this war.🤗

Stratos: I don't understand

Zac: It is literally possible that you and that white sphere is ..

* then was uninterrupted by the doctor *

Doctor: pregnant, congratulations on oona, and who is the father ¬-¬

* both look at stratos *

Stratos: well it was my turn anyway .. hehe ..

zac: well well feicidades welcome to parenthood xD

stratos: (shit ...) that morning was horrible for me, I father, it was my first time in my life I never believed that something like this would happen to me, knowing of my mistakes of my fraternity I did not know what to do, nor did I want to repeat the mistakes from my father, but I had no other choice

PAc: and how my aunt handled it ..

Stratos: Well, I was a soldier, and she was a nurse, and in those days it was not good to be in that condition to fight.

Oona: I didn't want to do this to you stratos, I just wanted to save you ..

Stratos: I understand what you wanted to do, and I thank you for saving me.

Oona: you will keep fighting ..

Stratos: very likely ..

Oona: and how will your brothers handle it? and your mother..

Stratos: I do not know, I think my sister will understand it very easily, I think it will not be possible to tell Betrayus and my mother ... she will be very disappointed very possibly.

Oona: I'll help you handle it * he says taking his hands *

Stratos: * sighs thanks oona ... I don't know what I would do without you .. * she said while touching her belly *

Pac, cyli, spiral and Sir.c: AAAAAAAAAAWWWWWW !!!

Stratos: hahaha, you never change, months passed since the news, I took over oona like any man, we were winning the war against betrayus, and Oona was already in an advanced state of gestation ..

Baby pac: grrrrrr!

Sunny: hahaha pac, you don't growl at oona she has a baby in the pansa .. x3

Oona: hehe how cute is your baby ...

Sunny: it is incredible that after three years he continues to growl at strangers, especially the white spheres .. xD

Oona: I can imagine it ..

Sunny: how do you plan to call your baby?

Oona: I spoke with stratos, we are not sure if cleyssi if it is a girl or cedrick if it is a boy

Sunny: go those names are from your place of origin?

Oona: yes hehe, boy did you guess, cleyssi means "queen of the woods" because of the appointment he and I had, and cedrick means leader in battle "leader in battle" since straos does some good leadership .. x3

Sunny: aaaaaaawww .. you are so detailed

* stratos, zac, spheria and Sir.c arrive *

Stratos: hello oona, how have you been: D

Oona: very well literally

spheria: stop loving giggles let's go with the important thing * she says interrupting her conversation * in the last platoons, witnesses have been heard that there are underground bombs in the battlefields, what is more worrying is that a testimony reported that they have updated a new, being more powerful and sensitive ..

Zac: god so bad

Sir.c: that commander is a psychopath ..

Stratos: because I have to be his brother .. * says disappointed *

Sir.c: life can take a lot of turns old friend ..

Stratos: but .. forget it, fate is cruel even for those who once loved ..

Oona: * soba her shoulder * stop worrying, it makes you feel worse ..

Stratos: thanks ..

Sir.c: good and what do you have ..

Spheria: It is possible that the following platoons may have fallen further, but we must continue fighting for freedom and justice * he says inspiringly *

Sir.c: I will give more effort in my inventions, in order to continue winning the war ...>: D

spheria: that is how Sir.c speaks ...

stratos: I am in a war bigger than this .. and it is to give the best future to my future offspring ..

spheria: if you want you can continue to be with your beloved and your baby, the child will need a father ..

Stratos: if I will ... her words inspired me enough to move forward together with my beloved.

Cyli: And when did you have cedrick?

stratos: well she was already 7 months in the middle, and we were already winning the war, and my son was born a week before my brother died

Sir.c: wait a minute that was not born two months after that ..?

Stratos: well .. hehe

Sir.c: now that I remember it .. your son could not be born so late, something is not sounding right to me ...

Pac: Mr. President, is there something you don't want to talk about?

Stratos: ... me! I ... OH! Look what hours it is time to pick up my son from school, hahaha I am distracted, tell my story made me lose time so fast!

spiral: but mr president!

Stratos: no buts guys, I'm going to have my son picked up, and besides remember that I have more paperwork to do * says as he withdraws from nowhere *

ac, cyli, spiral and Sir.c: .......... :v?

Continue..

[masked-fox-creations]

When the Strangers Blew In, Ch. 21

Whoo! Been a bit, huh? Sorry about that, this would have been up last Saturday but I was too busy visiting my boyfriend in New York. (He was great, the subway was shit.) And this is up on a Monday because, hey, go easy on me I've been really sick. But now here it is, the third to last chapter!

Summary: Stanford and Stanley Pines dream of a different life. One where they’re not just tidying their pa’s shop or helping ma take care of the baby. Where they can live freely as the men they know they are, instead of pa hounding them to marry before they become spinsters. They get a taste of that possibility when two strangers blow into town, but with them comes a heap of trouble.

Pairings: Rick/Stan (stanchez); Fiddleford/Stanford (fiddauthor)

Warnings for this chapter: some transphobia, general misgendering, more child abuse, and choking.

ao3 link

Chapter 21— Watch the Fires Rise Under My Skin

The twins hadn’t spoken a single word since they had started off. Several times Preston and Bud tried to strike up conversation, and several times the twins stared ahead without acknowledging them. When the sun set the group stopped for the night. Stanley and Stanford sat close together, backs against a tree trunk and as far away from the other men as their captors would allow. They still didn’t say a thing.

Rick and Fiddleford were tied in an unpleasant looking position, on their knees and hands behind their backs. They seemed exhausted and miserable. Rick in particular had a perpetual wince and, while both were slouched, he was nearly doubled over.

Of course the twins weren’t allowed within several feet of the pair.

Eventually Preston and Bud approached them. They stared stonily ahead, ignoring the offered waterskins.

“You really should drink something,” Bud insisted.

“Dehydration is awful for the skin.”

Stanley pinched the bridge of his nose, but otherwise the twins didn’t respond.

“You ladies are probably mad,” Bud commented, and the twins snorted. Almost frantically he added, “And I can understand!”

“Yes, we can,” Preston agreed. Both brothers quirked a disbelieving eyebrow. “It must be difficult for you, so confused by your gentle hearts that you can’t bare to leave the banditos who tricked you into loving them. Even as you deep down crave to be wed to real men.”

The twins narrowed their eyes.

Bud, eyes oddly wide in either shock or fear, said, “I can imagine why you’d want to get away from home. Your pa is…intense.”

A similar look came over Preston and he nodded.

The twins glanced at each other. Well, at lest they were catching on to something. Didn’t change that they were narcissistic, power hungry scum that were partially responsible for their current predicament. Neither twin could muster up any sympathy for them.

“Anyway!” Bud said far too cheerily. “Best drink up. You girls must be thirsty.”

Stanford turned his head, glaring at the fire that had just started up. Stanley looked from the waterskin to Bud. Staring right at the other man’s eyes he pointedly shoved the waterskin away.

“Don’t be like that. You have to drink something.”

“Perhaps they’re just waiting until they eat,” Preston suggested. “Don’t worry, ladies, something will be whipped up momentarily!”

Thankfully the pair finally left them alone. The twins snuck a glance at their partners. They liked to think that Rick and Fidds were looking a bit better now that they weren’t walking, but the poor men were still drooped like a heavy weight was on their shoulders.

The scent of cooking meat hit the twins and their stomaches rumbled in unison. Soon Preston and Bud returned, this time offering cooked rabbit. Just as before the twins refused.

“Well now this is just getting ridiculous,” Preston huffed, voiced laced with irritation.

“Don’t be silly girls, you have to eat something.”

The twins glared up at the other men. Finally Stanley spoke.

“We ain’t eating until they eat.”

He jerked a thumb towards Rick and Fiddleford. Preston and Bud turned to them as the pair in question looked up curiously.

“I see now!” Bud sighed admiringly. “Ah, you girls and your bleeding hearts.”

“Is that all you wanted?” Preston gave a fond shake of his head. “How will we ever understand their womanly ways, Bud?”

Stanley and Stanford’s brows pinched together, but the other men headed towards their partners so they held back their retorts.

With how the pair were bound they obviously could not feed themselves. Bud lifted a slice of meat and brought it towards Fiddleford’s mouth.

“What the hell are you doing?”

Everyone paused and looked at Filbrick like children caught breaking the rules.

“Just feeding these criminals,” Preston answered, an uncertain tilt to his voice. “No,” Filbrick said simply.

“No?” Preston repeated, sounding very much like he had never had that word said to him.

“But the girls refuse to eat until these two do.”

“We’re not wasting our supplies on those good for nothing varmints.”

Stanley shot up, his brother following suit.

“What the hell do you plan on doing? Starve them?”

Filbrick settled his stoney gaze on the twins.

“Leah, Leanne. Sit down and eat.”

It was impressive how Filbrick could make such an innocuous command sound ominous. There was an unsaid threat to his words, yet the twins didn’t back down.

“You’ve pushed them to exhaustion already,” Stanford pointed out. “Without food or water you’ll kill them.”

No pity appeared on Filbrick’s face.

“I’m not telling you again. Eat.”

Wordlessly the twins stomped over to Preston and Bud, Stanley snatching the waterskin from the former. Staring Filbrick right in the eye he pressed the spout to Rick’s lips. Even though there was wariness all over his face Rick still drunk greedily. Then Stanley passed it to Stanford who did the same for his partner. Similarly Fiddleford seemed trepidatious but Stanford urged him to drink.

Filbrick stood and stalked over to the twins; they staid their ground, chins held high. Until Filbrick’s fist collided with Stanford’s face, knocking him backwards. Before Stanley could react there were unrelenting hands squeezing his neck.

“Don’t you touch him!��� Stanford snarled, getting back on his feet.

Without turning away from Stanley, Filbrick whipped out his pistol and cocked it at their bound partners. Preston and Bud took several steps back.

“For once you two are going to be quiet and you are going to be obedient. Or else. Do I make myself clear?”

The twins caught each other’s eyes and their defiance instantly deflated. In unison they said, “Yes, sir.”

Filbrick released his grip on Stanley and holstered his gun. Without another word he returned to the fire were Powers was roasting another rabbit. The sheriff hadn’t at all paid attention to the scene, but now called Preston and Bud back over. The pair walked past them, not even glancing at the twins. They were pale. Once again the twins couldn’t summon up any pity.

Stanley and Stanford returned to their spot, as well, before Filbrick’s ire was ignited again. Their partners were watching them closely but the twins couldn’t bare to look back.

——

After the sun set fully, when a chill settled over the land, Preston and Bud came over to them once more. This time they handed the twins a blanket. Their initial reaction was to refuse it; a sudden wind blew in, the trees shielding them little from the cold, and begrudgingly they huddled into its warmth.

“See how much nicer it is when you girls comply?” Preston commented.

“No more nastiness needed at all.”

Briefly they considered throwing the blanket right back in those dirtbags’ faces. Instead Stanley snapped, “Get the fuck away from us now before I sock you both.”

That shut them up quickly, Preston looking especially affronted. After the initial shock Bud simply shrugged, heading back towards the fire and taking his partner with him.

“I’m really gettin’ fed up with those two,” Stanley grouched.

“I was fed up the first time they talked to us as children.”

“I wish I could just push them into the mud like I did back then.”

“That wouldn’t solve anything now. In fact, I think that might have been what enamored them to us in the first place.” Stanley’s face scrunched up, and Stanford patted his arm. “Anyway, you should get some rest. It’ll be a long day tomorrow.”

“I don’t trust any of these crooked bastards enough to take our eyes off ‘em.”

“That’s why I’ll stay up,” Stanford told him. Stanley looked ready to argue and he quickly continued. “It would be wiser for one of us to get full rest, should anything happen. I wouldn’t be able to sleep for a while anyway, you know how I am. Besides, I can sleep some while we ride.”

Stanley considered this a moment before reluctantly nodding. Stanford squeezed his arm.

“If any of them tries something wake me up,” Stanley told him, already closing his eyes and settling in.

It wasn’t long before he was snoring. He didn’t look very restful, but Stanford didn’t believe in miracles anyway.

He glanced first at the men around the fire. Powers was talking quietly, words too low for him to catch. Filbrick was staring right at him and Stanford quickly averted his gaze, instead focusing on Rick and Fiddleford. Awful was the best word he could find to describe how they looked. At least they seemed to be asleep, as well, Rick slumped against Fiddleford.

Guilt welled up in Stanford’s chest. Filbrick was brutalizing them to punish Stanley and himself. Rick and Fiddleford didn’t deserve to suffer for their foolheaded, desperate defiance.

Eventually the other men slept, Filbrick taking first shift. Not once did he take his eyes off Stanford. He was eternally grateful when Powers relieved him. Still, it was a very long night.

——

They set out with the rise of the sun. This time the twins rode on Astra, Stanford’s head falling against his brother’s back almost as soon as they started moving.

Powers saddled up next to the pair. Stanford didn’t stir, too exhausted and apparently feeling safe enough in his twin’s presence.

“How are you ladies doing?”

“Fuck off, lawman,” Stanley spat, staring straight ahead.

The man frowned.

“You may not fully realize this, Ms. Pines, but those men are dangerous criminals.”

Stanley turned slowly, meeting the sheriff’s eyes with a steely look, then motioned towards Filbrick and the other two.

“Trust me, I know.”

He hurried Astra’s pace just enough to leave the sheriff a horse-space behind.

It was hardly an hour after they started riding that something none of them had prepared for, or even thought about, happened.

Of course it was Preston’s fault. While Filbrick would have been fine with letting Fiddleford and Rick soil themselves as they walked, Preston had declared that inhumane. Not to them, but to him if he had to deal with the smell and uncouthness of it all.

So Powers had taken the pair to relieve themselves. The twins gripped each other hard, anxiously waiting. For yelling, or maybe a gunshot, or something. All they got was the men returning a few minutes later.

They held their breath, expecting the sheriff to reveal the truth about Rick and Fiddleford’s bodies at any moment. Instead he gave them a brief look before they all set out again.

The twins shared a glance of confusion, then tried to catch their partners’ eyes. Rick and Fiddleford could only shrug.

Eventually Powers slowed his horse to ride side-by-side with the twins. Watching the other men to make sure they weren’t looking back he told them, “Your boys’ secret is safe with me, ladies.”

“Redemption is not a brief, mild kindness in a slew of horrors and oppression,” Stanford hissed in lieu of thanks.

“Pardon?”

“This doesn’t make you a good man, Powers,” Stanley translated, and then the twins refused to give him another word.

——

For several days they continued on like this. Each mile closer to Gravity Falls added a new bundle of dread to the twins’ hearts. Every attempt by Preston and Bud to win their favor fanned the fires brewing inside them.

They watched their partners carefully. The men were somehow still going. They seemed ready to keel over any second, but by some force—resilience, hope, spite—staid upright and moving. Rick was especially pale, but thankfully the salve’s magic had worked its wonders well enough to keep his wound from reopening. The twins had a feeling Filbrick would let him bleed out otherwise.

Every day and every night was about the same. The twins hardly spoke a word. Preston and Bud kept pestering them, regardless of the cold reception. Filbrick allowed Fiddleford and Rick the barest amount of water a day, and every other day a single meal that wouldn’t fill up an ant. Each night the twins switched off who would guard them until morning. They were quickly getting worn down.

It was Stanford’s night to stay on watch. Stanley had already passed out as had the majority of the party, leaving him alone with Bud. Which was slightly better than if it had been Preston. Much better than if it had been both.

By himself Bud was bearable. Not pleasurable by any means, but at least he spoke less—and the words that came out weren’t as offensive.

Right now he was using the tip of a knife blade to scratch dirt out from under his fingernails. The metal glinted in the firelight enticingly, and Stanford couldn’t tear his eyes away. A plan was forming in his head. Not necessarily a good one; it was incredibly risky and the chances of failure were high. And the consequences could easily put them in an even worse position than they were already in.

Yet it seemed once again foolhardiness was all they had.

Stanford took a deep breath and glanced at their sleeping partners. The sight of the worn pair steeled his nerves. After a brief check on Stanley, he called out softly to Bud.

The other man jumped, nicking the top of his middle finger. He stuck it in his mouth and came over. “My apologies, I didn’t mean for you to hurt yourself,” Stanford said with as much faux concern as he could muster. His voice wavered just a bit; Stanley was the one who had skills in deception, not him. But he had to try.

Bud took his finger out with a pop and grinned. “No worries, little lady. Just a scratch.”

Stanford smiled faintly and replied, “That’s good.”

“I admit I’m a bit surprised you called me over. What do you need, Leanne? Water? Or if you’re hungry I’m sure I could—”

Stanford put a hand up and said, “No, nothing like that. I simply—” he eyed the knife as Bud slid it into a pocket, “wished to talk.”

Bud’s eyes lit up. He sat down in front of Stanford, leaning in eagerly. Low, as though he was afraid speaking too loud would make Stanford change his mind, he said, “Whatever’s on your mind, I’m willing to listen.”

Stanford licked his suddenly dry lips. It didn’t help.

“I…I hope I don’t come across as too forward.” Even half shadowed Stanford didn’t miss the hopeful gleam in Bud’s eyes. “It’s just that I’ve been doing some thinking.”

“Whatever’s on your mind, dear, you can tell me.”

The term of endearment made him wince.

“It’s just…you’re very different, Bud. From the others, I mean. Especially Preston.”

“Preston is certainly his own type of fellow.”

Stanford nodded adamantly.

“He’s a different breed. A richer breed. He has a particular lifestyle I feel more suited to St—my twin.”

“Leanne, what are you saying?” Bud whispered, drawing even closer.

Choking down bile Stanford asked, “Bud, if…if we were to marry you two, would you take me as your bride?”

Bud placed a hand on his cheek and Stanford tried not to flinch away. His thumb brushed gently against Stanford’s bottom lip.

“Leanne Pines, I would be honored to call you my wife.”

Then he was kissing Stanford. Again Stanford swallowed back down bile, thankful Fiddleford wasn’t awake to see this.

Sure Bud’s eyes were closed, Stanford put his hands on him. He started at the other man’s chest and slowly brought them lower, fearful that should he go straight for what he wanted Bud might catch on. It was an agonizing few minutes. Bud kissed him furiously. It made Stanford’s skin crawl, but he steeled himself, continuing the trek towards what he desperately needed.

There. He could feel the knife in Bud’s pocket. Very carefully Stanford’s hands roamed up and down his sides and thighs, trying to ease it out. After a moment it peeked out of the pocket and Stanford quickly snatched it up, hiding it under his dress.

Finally he pulled away. Stanford felt both victorious and dirty; whatever freed them was worth it, however.

A sour look came over Bud, and Stanford’s heart stopped.

“Forgive me for doubting you, Leanne, but it all seems a little too good to be true.”

“Ah, well, the best things in life often seem that way?”

Brow furrowing Bud said, “I’m sorry, Leanne, but I just don’t buy that. I see what you’re trying to do here.”

“Bud, I swear—”

He held up a hand, silencing Stanford.

“You’re just trying to blind me with your wiles and lower my defenses so you can find a way to escape. Now I don’t blame you, but I’m certainly none too happy.” He stood up, not looking at Stanford. “I think I’ll wake the sheriff up for his shift.”

As he turned, Stanford was filled with a fiery anger. He couldn’t stop the heated words that lashed out of him like a whip.

“Don’t you try to guilt me, Bud Gleeful! You and the rest of those bastards over there have done nothing but harass me and my brother! Yes, Bud, brother. You may not understand or accept it but we are both men, and we are not nor will we ever be in love with you. We will never be your wives.”

“You’re a very confused girl, Leanne Pines. You should get some sleep.”

Seething, Stanford watched Bud go back over to the fire and shake Powers awake. He gripped the knife tightly beneath his dress, hoping that their chance to use it would come soon.

[thecoroutfitters]

Written by R. Ann Parris on The Prepper Journal.

Static square ranges and competitions are commonly the only firearm practice available to preppers. Sometimes, those square ranges and competitions – and even classes – actively or accidentally build dangerous mindsets, habits, and complacency.

Knowing it, we can amend our maintenance and practice to get the most out of our gear, time and gunpowder and be more ready for real-world needs.

Home Range

Eventually we have to burn some gunpowder, but the majority of skills can be developed and refined without it.

We’re actually best served if at least some of our training time is devoted to the places we’re most likely to deploy a firearm – home, entering and leaving vehicles, workplaces, etc. House and yard can also amply accommodate training time with our battle rattle.

Get Fit

Core body strength, cardiovascular strength, and drills to strengthen leg joints and arms against sudden movement and – in our case – shifting terrain makes for a better gunfighter. It creates resilience to injury while increasing our accuracy and stamina.

Being able to move is big all on its own. It’s not actually practiced much in classes, but it does get verbalized: Move. We hear it different ways, but frequently.  

A moving target is harder to hit.

Move backward to gain and maintain distance from an attacker. (Remember the ol’ nuggets: “Distance favors the ranged weapon” and “greater distances favor the better shooter.”)

Find and hug cover, and then move from cover to cover while jockeying for advantageous position.

Move to the X, and move the hell off the X when necessary.

The ability to pop up and down behind cover, slide along cover to engage from a slightly different place, advance or retreat, and find an angle where we can end the threat relies on having bodies that will respond to our commands.

Physical Limitations

Age and injuries are among the many things that affect just how much we can move. The same-ol’-same-ol’ information that gets passed around isn’t as effective for us. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t bother.

If we’re stuck in a chair, we’re stuck in a chair. The shifting center of gravity in late-stage pregnancy is huge, and affects a lot of our abilities. If we need a cane or crutches, we’re not bouncing all over.

If anything, it means we need more exercise – retaining current mobility and working the details on how and where we carry.

String It Up

A holster or sling isn’t 100% required, but, gosh, they’re handy – especially if we’re preparing for Big-Time Badness. Even if we start with a shirt-sleeve pouch, doctored purse, and a DIY sling, find a way to get the gun out of our hands but on our person.

Otherwise, the chances of having it and getting it into play when we need it are pretty grim.

Get Off The Bench

Most of us need more work on unsupported shooting. Take a few braced or perfect-stance shots to develop and check zeros. Then shoot however you’ll most likely be firing that gun. If you can’t stand long, sit on the edge of a seat.

Absolutely be aware of opportunistic rests, lean against the vertical divider/post for that hunter’s shot, and develop/maintain knee-braced and – if you’re spry yet – prone stances (for pistol, too).  

Just don’t practice like there will always be something to lean on.

Standing Still

Even in classes, most shooting time is spent upright and static. Since in both defensive and combat scenarios, we’re ideally hugging cover like a long-lost favorite lover, and not all cover lends itself to adults ranging 5’ flat to 6’6”-plus standing squarely upright, work around the restrictions.

Building muscle memory for the ideal shot is great. However, after achieving basic accuracy (hunting and DM work are the only time you need hits tighter than a dessert plate), start moving around.

You can get away with side shuffles and a step or two forward and back at almost any gun range, and crouching at varying heights. Leaning around may look odd, but do it. Hunch (high enough to clear the bench), close your eyes, and open them as you bob up for a shot.

This one is ideal for off-range dry fire practice, but get in some live fire with typical carry gun(s), too.

Guns Move, Too

Rifle and shotgun don’t have quite as much movement as pistols, but there’s some. We’re leaning to check areas, changing grip and position to open a door or pass, lowering our profile/protrusion if we’re slow-checking corners, using cover, etc.

Our carry changes more still when we’re working with partners and teams.

Pistols are even more active. We’re still leaning all over finding exploitable windows or maximizing cover, we move the gun in and out, we go on and off the trigger, we tilt the gun. That puppy is almost never still – or, it shouldn’t be.

That’s something we can and should be working on in our usual spaces.

And, on the pistol-in-motion topic…

Practice Multiple Ready’s

We typically see very few ready positions, but there’s plenty of reason to have others that are equally second nature.  

The “safe” downrange location for pointing the gun changes. It’s not always the original target’s direction. Nor is it always down or up.

We also don’t always have two hands for it.

If we do have two hands, we may be giving directions or instructions to someone with the other, holding a child or animal reins/collar, dragging a victim clear, pausing to perform must-have lifesaving, unlocking or opening a door, sliding over something, or bracing a hand on something.

There are numerous circumstances when we’re not engaged just this instant but don’t want to holster or bag a firearm and don’t have anything that needs to die to point it at just now. Practice for those moments.

(Conditional readies are a good one for even just a mental exercise going through stores/workplaces/homes, too.)

Scan & Assess Requires Thought…

…Particularly the act of immediately snugging a gun all the way up against your sternum for Search/Scan and Assess phases of an engagement.

Scan and assess needs to be nigh-on constant and the act of deciding an engagement is over should be a multi-step process determined by the evolving circumstances, with a ready determined by that situation.

Neither should be trained as some one-size-fits-all habit.

Combat or defense, we stay aware so we can engage a target of higher priority if necessary.

Combat or defense, when our target(s) are down and no longer a threat, that gun should remain at least mostly presented – off the trigger and tilting up-down as needed for non-targets in the area, but at an active, usable state of readiness that allows for discretionary fire.

Combat or defense, with some few exceptions, that gun should really be at least mostly moving with our head and eyes.

Depending on the circumstances, straight and level ahead of us or in the original direction of fire may not even still be the best place to point a gun, even immediately after engagement (household construction standards, other responders and bystanders, limited visibility in that direction).

This is a problem at ranges where “safely downrange” only exists in one direction. That range-safety limitation may be the origin of so many people teaching it that way. Who knows.

Just be aware so you can practice practical responses at home, and mentally work it while out and about in public places. (Little hand motions at most, don’t tactical air-guitar your way through Walmart.)

While we’re talking about awareness…

Look Everywhere

Anytime we practice, and while we’re out and about, change your focal depth.

Our target is somewhere. Without even moving the eyes really, observe what’s between us and beyond it. Lift eyes, just a little left and right. Make sure nothing’s entering the frame. Depending on engagement scenarios, glance around.

It prevents habit-forming, blinding focus on our current target and only our current target, which keeps threats from sneaking into play and others from entering the frame and becoming accidental casualties.

And when it comes to staying aware…

Watch Where You’re Going

Really. It’s not only okay, it’s highly encouraged that you glance around as you maneuver.

Ranges are usually fairly smooth concrete, gravel, clay, and mown fields. (Pretty sure it’s a big time insurance thing that your shooters not be tripping constantly.) In action sports, it’s non-shooting personnel’s responsibility to make sure they’re not in our way. In training, we usually have plenty of room between moving shooters.

So we learn to not look.

I can think of very few spots in my yard and very few sidewalks, streets, medians, and parking lots where there is nothing to trip over inside 3-10 yards. If things go sideways in a school, store, or some other venue, count on them turning into a minefield of hazards, to include people bouncing all over.

If I’m on the ground because I tripped, I am a static target (AKA: easier to hit).

My response capabilities are severely limited until I get up. If I hit hard enough or got run over, I may not be able to recover or respond at all.

If I do not get my finger clear or jerk a shot, I may take out a bystander or another responder. (Making the situation worse is a big time no-no).

So, for real, dude, especially when moving backwards, watch where you’re going. It only takes a glance.

*Psst… That’s one of the exceptions to a gun staying pointed at the target instead of moving with the eyes.

Move Differently?

Yes, we move a little differently in some situations. We can hunker and run if we’re exploiting cover. We might practice off-road or parkour-style running so we can catch ourselves if footing gives way. Some team tactics work best with smaller, non-extended steps, because staying tight is important up until that minute we fan.

And, yeah – I mean, if it has to be said – you hold onto your gun instead of fully swinging both arms.

Mostly, though, no.

Just go, move, as fast as possible. Again: Moving targets are harder to hit. The zippier you are, the better.

Get Training

By no means should any of this suggest that I dislike shooting sports, square ranges, or classes as training aids. They’re vital. Training is the best investment a shooter can make. Ranges and sports allow relatively inexpensive maintenance and development.

Just be aware of the mindsets and habits that are sometimes instilled, and practice to prevent it from becoming a liability in the real world.

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