#tw: guilt

[in-love-with-writing-whump]

"Whumpee asked for you specifically, A. I'll let you in to see them," Whumpee's medic and lover, Caretaker, said.

A couldn’t believe it. Whumpee wanted to see them? Before their best friend, B? After they sacrificed themself and were tortured by Whumper for months because of them?

They followed Caretaker, refusing to let them down, even as their face burned with shame, guilt gnawing at their insides.

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

Leader Whumpee sat in the wheelchair, whiteboard sitting across their blanketed lap as Caretaker opened the door for A, the younger, sibling-like member of Team. A's breath hitched, eyes widening.

"They’re okay, A," Caretaker assured them. "Their throat is still healing, and they're still weak, but they're going to be okay."

A nodded, Caretaker letting out a deep breath. "Now, if you excuse me, I'm going to give the two of you some privacy. I have some things to attend to." The door shut behind them, leaving A standing before Whumpee, unable to meet their eyes at the sight of matching wounds from Whumper.

Whumpee's eyes burned with the shame of being unable to even give A a hug, or tell them that none of this was their fault. They attempted a smile, scribbling on their board.

"I missed you."

A's eyes welled with tears. "I'm so sorry, Whumpee," they whispered, hands curling into fists.

Whumpee shook their head vigorously, scribbling big letters on the board before tapping it when their marker. A looked up, hiccuping when they saw the message.

"It’s not your fault. They would've just killed you and taken me anyways. It's not your fault."

As A sank to their knees, they wrapped their arms around Whumpee in a hug, holding back tears as they pressed their face into the blanket.

[anon911andbuddie]

Prompt: Ravi injured himself and has to stay man behind for a bit. He’s surprised and then grateful when Buck goes above and beyond taking all care of him at work and even showing up at his place. Eddie get a bit jealous and the rest of the team are curious about Buck’s behavior. Ravi asks him one day and they overhear Buck wishing someone had given him such assurances when he was recovering. Eddie and firefam realize they could’ve done a better job being there for Buck. Buddie

I know it has been awhile since anyone answered a prompt but I couldn't resist this one. A bit shorter than my usual but I wanted to get it out. Hope it's worth the wait. - Scarlet 📕

It's not a chore if you're a friend

Buck tries to warn Ravi but it's too late. The strap that had improperly secured the load on a truck that had been in a crash snaps. Thankfully, the cargo only shifts, the strap the team had placed for just this type of occasion caught the pallet. But it didn't stop the original strap. And Ravi had been just a bit too slow to get out the way. The strap hit the younger firefighter across the chest and shoulder. The buckle ends up breaking his collarbone. 

Buck and Eddie are quick to haul him out of the way. Buck apologies because that has to be painful as they do. Hen is there to check him over. But Buck hovers. Eddie has to drag him back to secure the scene. By the time the wreck is cleared Ravi is already on his way to the ER. They load up and head out to check on him. 

Buck volunteers to stay with Ravi. They offer to do shifts but Ravi’s mom took over, but Buck came back after his shift to give Ravi’s mother a break. The probie repeatedly tells Buck he's fine and the firefighter should go home. Buck isn't having it. He says he's there to help. Even offering to run and get them something decent to eat. 

Chimney teases Eddie that the probie might be stealing his bestie, since Buck usually only makes that big a fuss over Eddie. Eddie brushes him off. But he argues it's just Buck being Buck. 

Ravi remembers what Hen had told him about Buck when the probie had first joined. It might be the painkillers but look back now it seems silly. Because Hen was right. Everything Buck does is because he cares about Ravi. He is a devoted friend who has been there every step of the way. Especially now. Even Ravi’s mother cannot believe how supportive his teammate is. She is proud her son has such a good friend. It helps her feel more confident in her son's well-being on the job. It was honestly amusing how much Buck was going above and beyond to make sure Ravi is okay. It was annoying at moments, but he means well. So the probie tries to stay focused on that. 

Eddie is a bit irritated when Buck cancels on him to help take care of Ravi happens a lot while Ravi is off duty until he heals up. 

And Ravi’s first shift back is a celebration, the usual 118 welcome back. But Eddie is getting increasingly annoyed. Buck had spent half the shift fussing over Ravi. Buck is quick to take up any task Ravi is given. He takes the grunt work the probie usually gets stuck with. And Eddie thinks it's overkill. 

Ravi worries that Eddie might crack a tooth with how tight his jaw is clenched. The older firefighter was obviously irritated with how Buck was acting. Ravi had been thankful that Buck had helped with the cleaning. Ravi may be back to work but every now and again he'd reach for something and his muscles would pull just the wrong way and ache. Most, if not all, of his teammates understood. They all had injuries on and off the job. Especially Buck and Eddie. Those two were like accident magnets. So the fact Buck was so quick to help him made Ravi remember why he was glad the 118 accepted him back. He hadn't screwed up his shot at working with what is well known as one of the most tight knit houses in the department. Once you are in, you are IN. And apparently they had decided Ravi was in with or without his knowledge. And Ravi appreciates it now. But the way Eddie is acting makes him doubt that this is just how Buck is with everyone when they come back. He is tempted to ask Hen, but with as close as he has gotten with Buck, he just goes straight to Buck.

“Why are you being so nice, Buck?” Ravi asks. “Not that I'm complaining, but I'm cleared for duty. And you've already been there since it happened. You even have my parents’ numbers in your phone.” 

Buck shrugs. “I just know what it's like to be where you are. When I was initially recovering from the truck, I had help. And when I came back, well, I just wish someone would have helped me. Had my back. So…” he shrugs again.

“Oh, thanks, Buck,” Ravi smiles. Buck heads off to empty the bucket of suds from helping wash the truck. Things get a bit awkward when the probie turns around to see a few members of the team in the truck bay. Eddie looks like someone had punched him in the stomach and Chim’s brows were furrowed. Eddie quickly leaves. 

When Bobby and Hen ask what happened, Chim tells them. And it was like someone had dimmed the lights in the station. It felt gloomy. 

Eddie feels stupid. He'd been being a jerk again. And Buck was just proving again that he is the best of all of them. As usual.

Bobby makes Buck's favorite dish for dinner because he feels bad. Hen and Chim are quieter than usual but just as helpful, if not more so than usual. 

If Buck notices how things have shifted he doesn't mention it. His focus is still on making sure Ravi feels supported. And it just makes Eddie feel worse. Eddie approaches Buck as the younger man gets ready to leave. 

“I've been a jerk,” Eddie says.

Buck turns and looks at him. The shocked look on his face gives the former medic confusing feelings. Something that has been happening more and more as time goes on.

“To who? Why?”

And Eddie should be surprised that Buck hasn't even noticed how the he and the team had been acting. 

“You, Ravi, in general.” 

“Me? What? Why?” Buck asks then gets this look on his face as if he is going over every interaction with Eddie. 

And something in Eddie shifts as he stares at this beautiful and oblivious man. The one he already co-parenting Christopher with. The one he gets irrationally jealous over when anyone takes his attention from him and Christopher too long. He thinks about how petty he gets when Buck is dating anyone and yeah. It's obvious to him now.

“Why?” Eddie repeats. He looks around, glad that most of A shift has cleared out. “Because I miss you.”

“Miss me? We work the same shift, and we had dinner like…”

“Last weekend, I know, but it's…it just is. No excuse.”

“So you've been a jerk because I don't spend everyday with you?” Buck asks, amusement clear in his tone. 

“Yes,” Eddie says without hesitation. 

“Okay, wow,” Buck chuckles. To give himself a moment to process that he grabs his bag from his locker. 

“Dinner tomorrow?” Buck asks, his pulse beating a bit faster than it usually does when they make plans. Everything had changed in such a short conversations. But he's a bit scared to say it out loud. 

“Christopher will be thrilled,” Eddie smiles. And Buck gets the same feeling he always gets when Eddie smiles at him or brings up Christopher. It's a confusing combination of somehow going home but also wanting. 

“Good, because I did promise him that penne dish Bobby gave me the recipe for.” 

“Bring it all over, he loves when you guys cook together.”

“He's not the only one,” Buck says fondly.

“So, see you tomorrow,” Eddie says as he closes his locker. His truck keys in hand. 

“I’ll be there,” Buck grins, he watches Eddie leave. 

Ravi had caught the tail end of his friends talking. The fact that those two were clearly made for each other and they are both oblivious about it was amusing. 

“Sounds like you're in for a busy day off,” Ravi says.

Buck tries to shrug it off but the slight tint to his ears betrays him. 

“Well, you've earned some fun,” Ravi admits. “Been stuck taking care of me.”

“Helping a friend out isn't a chore, Probie,” Buck assures him. 

“Well, I appreciate it anyway,” Ravi insists. “But, you should just tell the guy you missed him too.”

“I think I might,” Buck admits.

[sortofanobsession]

Beyond Frustration (Buddie AU)

I was going through old works and drafts and this idea wasn't exactly requested but it jumped out at me. And figured I hadn't done an Alpha Beta Omega in a while. May do a part 2 if anyone wants it.

Do me a favor and help me with this poll please & thank you!

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911 Masterlist

Summary: Lawsuit Era A/B/Ω AU where Alpha Eddie marks and bonds Omega Buck after Buck was trapped under the truck. The lawsuit puts their bond, and unknowingly to Eddie, their unborn child, at risk. Eddie learns how big of a mistake he has made in almost the worst way possible. Almost.

Paring: Alpha!Eddie Diaz/Omega!Evan "Buck" Buckley

Word count: 2k+

Content Warning: Anger, Neglect, Hospitalization, A/B/Ω mpreg, Fear, physical violence (Eddie gets slapped), Fear of Miscarriage, High Risk Pregnancy.

Eddie's inner alpha clawed at him as they left the deposition. And all it did was piss him off further. Buck had told that asshole things he'd sworn to keep to himself. The alpha had seen the way his omega's betrayal hurt the whole team. The team that was also very much their pack. Their family. But his alpha clawed at him. He didn't understand why it was acting like that. His mate had betrayed them and their pack. The mate he had taken care of and protected after the omega was injured in the bombing. The one he had bared his soul to and bonded with. No, his inner alpha may be driven by the baser instinct to be with his mate at any cost, but Eddie wasn't going to give in. He should have known better, especially after what happened with Shannon. Shannon had been the mother of his pup. And then came back just to ruin his life again. He had tried to make it work for his secondary nature. To have a real family, a true pack. And that had gone to shit. He'd let his alpha nature trick him again. But fool him once and all that bs. He wasn't going to give in a third time. No.

Buck was struggling. It wasn't unheard of for an omega to be a single parent. But it was well known that a strong bond and loving relationship for a mated omega was ideal. A bonded omega, separated from their mate, especially an alpha mate, under great stress, and being a somewhat rare male omega, was a high risk pregnancy in the making.

During a shift Eddie's inner alpha goes damn near feral. Something is wrong and he knows it. But Eddie had been suppressing his secondary nature for so long, even using medication to further subdue it, his alpha isn't strong enough to make Eddie's more stubborn and supposedly logical side understand. And Eddie does not realize how big a mistake he has made until he gets a terrifying call from Christopher. Carla had gotten a call from the hospital. Buck was not well. And since Carla was the only contact Buck had allowed them to reach out to. Eddie finally realizes what his alpha had been trying to tell him over the last few hours. His alpha nature has been reacting to the bond the shared with his mate. Eddie was just too numb to feel it. And that was a terrifying thought. As mad as he and the others were with the no contact order because of the lawsuit, they still had the slight comfort that Eddie would know if something happened to Buck. When Eddie tells them about the phone call they rush to the hospital.

The second Eddie steps into the hospital he is met with a hard slap. He recoils at first and nearly lashes out when he realizes it’s Maddie. His mate’s beta sister.

“You were supposed to protect him!” She shouts at the alpha. Before Eddie can say anything she has turned her ire on the captain. “You too!” She looks from face to face, every member of the 118. “All of you! You told him he was family! That you would be there for him!”

“Maddie,” Chimney starts but she turns on her heels and disappears behind a set of doors.

The receptionist stone walls them when they try to get any information. Eddie can feel his inner alpha suffering. Eddie was so close to his mate he could just start to feel him. His omega's scent had clung to Maddie. And it tore at the alpha’s heart.

“Eddie,” Carla says as she meets them.

“If you're here, where is Christopher?” Bobby asks. As upset as the captain and his inner alpha was he knew it was nothing compared to what Eddie was feeling. Guilt and fear clouded Eddie's usual scent. Bobby could understand that. The captain had lost a mate before. He knew the panic not knowing created. Eddie wasn't in his right mind now.

“He's with Buck, since they had a sort of bond they hoped it would help. Maddie too.”

“Did it?” Hen asks.

“He's stable, but there is something I need to tell you…”

Eddie hates himself. He would never forgive himself for what he had done. He would grovel and beg Buck to forgive him. He prays to any higher power that would listen to let him fix this. To not take his family from him. He couldn't lose his mate. It would destroy him. He'd spend the rest of his life begging his pups to forgive him. He'd be there for every major milestone for both Christopher and their unborn miracle, if they let him. He was a mess by the time they reached Buck’s room. Maddie glared at the alpha as he entered.

Christopher made his way over to Eddie and buried his face in his father's shirt. Eddie drops to his knees.

“I'm sorry, buddy, I'm so sorry,” the alpha begs. “This never should have happened.”

Once Christopher had calmed down, Carla took him out into the hall to go see the rest of the team.

Maddie leaves to call her parents. She glares at the alpha as she does. The alpha goes over and carefully takes the omega's hand in his. The barely there curve of his pregnant mate’s stomach breaks something in the alpha. It wasn’t prominent, but he had known Buck's body as well as he knew his own. And he could see it now. He doesn't know how he could have missed it at the deposition. Even the omega's scent smelled sweeter. Had his anger clouded his senses that much? He now understands why his inner alpha had been so distressed that day. His pregnant mate was just a few feet from him and he couldn't go to him. The omega had looked so tired and sad, but Eddie had been too bitter to see what the entire situation had been doing to his mate. And Eddie could see it now. Buck was too thin, too pale, for a pregnant omega. He looks fragile and broken. And Eddie just wanted to crawl in the bed beside him. He wanted to scent his mate. Hold him. Do whatever he needed to repair their fragile bond. But before he can do anything but take a shattered breath a woman in a lab coat walks in. She's a beta that smells overly sterile.

“He's sedated,” she says before she even introduces herself. Once she has she levels the alpha with a weary look. “You are his mate, correct? His alpha?”

Eddie nods, barely trusting his voice. “Y-yeah, yes, I am.”

“His sister said you two are bonded, correct?”

“Yes,” Eddie answers, his hand gripping Buck's a bit tighter as he does.

The doctor nods and after making a note in the omega's file she checks Buck’s vitals and compares them to his chart and updates it. Eddie watches her carefully. Only when she is done does she give the alpha any attention again.

“How are they?” Eddie manages to ask.

“He is stable and his condition is slowly improving.”

“So they're okay?”

“As a medically trained first responder, I'm sure you can understand the gravity of the situation at hand,” the doctor starts.

Eddie nods but hopes that by saying nothing the doctor will actually answer his question.

“Did you know about your mate's condition?”

“No,” Eddie half sobs. “I had no idea.”

“Okay,” the doctor says and seems to be considering something before she speaks again. “In cases of neglect like this there is a full investigation,” she says and the alpha has to sit down because to have it put so bluntly was jarring.

“Whatever needs to happen, just please, don't make me leave.”

“Oh as his bonded mate you need to stay, it may be the only thing that keeps his condition from worsening. But I have to legally inform you that your behavior will be heavily monitored and any signs of distress will be dealt with in whatever manner we deem necessary, which may include asking you to leave, and getting the authorities involved if necessary. And if your mate or his family wish to seek legal action, we are obligated to assist them.”

“I don't care what you have to do, I’ll do anything,” Eddie insists. “I just want him to be okay.”

The doctor seems to study the alpha for a full minute.

“I believe you, Mr. Diaz,” she finally says. “And I trust that you being here will not worsen the situation. And if it does that you will act accordingly. I understand that there have been some strenuating circumstances in this particular case. I hope for your sake, and your mate's, that things only get better from here. We will be keeping a close eye on him.”

The doctor excuses herself after that. And what little control Eddie has on his emotions fails. He buries his face in his mate's neck and sobs. He is nothing without Buck. He isn't even a good dad these days without him. He's been trying, but Christopher is still suffering from the after effects of the tsunami and not having his Buck there has made it all the more difficult. The omega had been with him during the terrible experience. It had made the bond the two already had stronger. And Eddie had denied both of them that much needed connection. He was a failure as an alpha. He was a failure as a father. Worst of all, he was a failure as a mate. He neglected his bond and his bonded mate and it nearly cost him everything. He could have lost both his mate and the unborn pup he didn't even know existed. Now that he knows he can't possibly let go. The only reason he would ever leave now was if Buck wanted him to. If his mate couldn't forgive him, the alpha would understand. Eddie sure as hell wasn't ever going to forgive himself.

Eddie wakes up to fingers in his hair and he almost doesn't want to move, but as he inhales the chemically tainted smell of his mate he remembers where he is and why he is there. His head snaps up and he looks into the tired blue eyes of his mate.

“Buck,” is all the alpha manages to say in a broken tone. The numbness that he had felt the past few days gone as the wave of emotions hit him. He can feel their bond again. And it shatters something in him. “I'm sorry.” It's half sobbed and shaken.

Buck had woken up to a weight on his arm that hadn't been there before. The more he thinks, the more he realizes it was a familiar weight. Paired with a feeling he had longed for. His eyes tear up as he inhales and takes in the familiar scent of his mate, but there is something off about it. It has the omega opening his eyes. His alpha is distressed. And yeah, that tracks. The omega blinks tears away as he looks around the hospital room. He has no idea how long he has been there, but by the way Eddie is passed out curled against him it had been a while. And he let his tears fall because Eddie was there. His mate had not only come to his bedside, but was pressed against his side like any distance between was unbearable. After so long without his mate, and now his senses were flooded with him, the omega finally felt some semblance of home. He felt complete again. His hands itched to feel that electricity he always felt when they touched. His hands card through the alpha's unkempt mess of hair.

The omega’s heart clenches at the the sheer level of pain and devastation in the alpha’s voice. Buck gets a real good look at his partner’s face and he looks so raw and broken that the omega wants nothing more than to make things better. But Buck can't forget the reason they are there. His eyes move to his own stomach. Before he can even voice his fears, fears Eddie must feel through their bond, the alpha’s hand rubs along the sheet covered swell.

“Pup’s all right,” Eddie says, his voice now filled with conviction. The alpha's voice is in Buck's ear. The omega can feel the heat of his mate's hand through the fabric on his stomach. The combined sensation and the renewed feelings coursing through him sends a shiver down his spine and sends his heart soaring. It must show in his heart monitor at the way the alpha beside him chuckles. It nearly doubled when he feels Eddie's lips gently brush across the bonding mark on the omega's neck. The feeling of love and safety he has missed for weeks is damn near overwhelming.

“I’m sorry,” Eddie tells him again. And between the look on the alpha's face and the feeling of guilt that flows through their bond has Buck believing him. Combined with the omega's heightened emotions and hormones, Buck couldn't imagine holding any of it against the alpha. Not really.

“I know,” Buck tells him, his own tone a little sad. It's sad, because this whole situation could have been avoided if they had just tried to talk. And he thinks Eddie must feel the same way at the way the alpha’s hand shifts from rubbing the omega's swollen belly to pulling Buck closer to him. And Buck goes willing shifting until his back is flush against the alpha's chest. The alpha protectively curled around him.

“I love you, you know that right? More than anything in the world,” Eddie says.

“Except Christopher,” Buck corrects.

“I love him and this little one,” Eddie states, his hand gently pressing against the swell of the unborn pup. “But that's a different kind of love,” the alpha insists.

The omega swoons a bit at that. He had spent the last few weeks terrified of Eddie rejecting not just him but the pup as well. The relief that Eddie still loved him and wanted him, but that he wanted their pup too was amazing. That the alpha was happy to not just claim the pup as his but say he already loved them. It was like having a large weight removed from the omega's shoulders. That fear had been like an albatross around his neck. And Eddie must feel it all through the bond because, again, Eddie holds him tighter. The alpha’s lips press against the skin behind the omega's ear.

“I'm here now. Not going anywhere.”

The alpha holds the omega as he cries but it doesn't last long. Because Buck is still exhausted and Eddie is warm. The omega is more comfortable and feels better than he has in weeks, maybe months. Buck falls asleep sheltered in his mate's arms.

The alpha tenses as the door opens. The former army medic might hate having his back to the door but the alpha was protectively curled around his pregnant mate. That was way more important than his own comfort.

“Well, don't you two look cozy,” the nurse, a lovely middle aged omega, says as she comes in.

“He woke up for a bit, but fell back asleep,” Eddie tells her as she goes to check the machines. The alpha goes to move to get up so she can check Buck’s vitals but she waves him off.

“You're fine,” she smiles. “The closer you stay the quicker the bond can help him feel better.” She gently checks Buck's pulse and nods.

“I’ll let the doctor know he was awake for a bit,” she says before leaving. Once she is gone he looks over at the clock. It early, but not too early that his pack would be mad at him texting them. As much as he hates the idea of moving from his comfortable spot, he needs his phone which is charging on the table next to the bed. Eddie gets up, stretching as he does. Buck whines in his sleep at the loss and rolls over as if to chase the alpha's fading warmth. It makes the alpha’s heart flutter. He quickly grabs his phone and returns to the bed. Buck now curled into his side with his face tucked in the alpha's neck. Eddie's inner alpha was happier than it had been since the pair bonded at the feel of the omega's bump against his side. And the feeling was heady. The alpha just wants to sit there and bask in the feeling of home that came from watching his vulnerable and trusting mate sleeping in his arms. But he knows he has a number of unanswered messages to deal with. So he silently, and slowly only having one hand to type with, lets Maddie, Carla, and the team know that Buck was doing better. He had woken up for a bit, but was resting now.

They had a lot they needed to sort out, but they would do it together. Lawsuit be damned. His mate and their family was now Eddie's primary focus. And he wasn't willingly going anywhere any time soon. Not unless Buck wanted him to. Even then the alpha wouldn't like it. He loved Buck too much to walk away now. He loved the family they had made. He was sure the others would understand.

When he was done with the messages he settled back down beside his mate and closed his eyes. He would dream of the life they were only just starting as a family, as a pack.

[arecaceae175]

Shield, with Warriors and hurt/comfort? Thank you!!

(TW: mention of blood, injury, concussion, mention of broken bone, Wars is an unreliable narrator and feels bad in the beginning)

Time sighed, and Warriors was pretty certain it was his disappointed sigh. He couldn't blame Time, really. If Warriors had been paying attention like he was supposed to, he would have noticed the trio of moblins hiding in the forest, and there would be three less injured heroes.

Four's ankle was being wrapped. The red potion put the bone back together, but it was still swollen and painful. Sky was curled up underneath his sailcloth, nursing a nasty concussion. His head was pillowed on Twilight's lap, and Twilight was rubbing comforting circles on his back.

It could have been worse, Warriors reminded himself. Sky had just taken a club to the head, so he didn't see the sword coming. If he hadn't jumped in front of Sky, the sword would gone right across his throat. Instead, Warriors had a gash across his shoulder.

They were running low on potions. Warriors refused to take one. Time was cleaning and wrapping his wound, so Warriors had his full, undivided, disappointed attention.

Warriors curled his hand into a fist and turned his head away.

"Captain," Time said quietly.

"Hm."

"I can practically hear your thoughts," Time said. "Stop it."

Warriors sighed a weary sigh and glanced at Time. "Stop what?"

"Stop blaming yourself. None of us saw the other monsters, and you saved Sky's life," Time said.

Warriors shook his head. "I-"

"Nope. None of that. I would like to thank you for saving Sky's life, and alerting the rest of us to the monsters in time. Alright?" Time asked.

Warriors frowned.

"Alright?" Time stressed.

"Alright, fine," Warriors said.

"Good," Time said. "So thank you. I'd rather you use a shield next time, though."

Warriors huffed out a breath. It was close to a laugh, at least.

[system-vent]

tw: slight cursing , dormancy (?) idk. im so tired.

sometimes we'll see videos of when we were younger, or pictures and i always feel like we failed to protect that little kid who was once here. she isn't here anymore, we know that for sure. and it hurts so much to think about, because she had dreams and aspirations and wanted to be someone, even if she was so small and innocent. i want to say im sorry to her. we failed to protect you. you deserved the world and more and you deserved to be a kid. im sorry we couldnt save your childhood, im sorry. im sorry that you had that ripped away from you. someone should have been there for you, someone should have protected you. but they hadnt. im sorry. i wish you can have had the chance to grow up into the person you wanted to be. i wish you had a chance in this world, but we were dealt a crappy hand and i just wish you were given chance, an opportunity. but you werent, and im sorry. i feel so much guilt for it, its so unfair. she deserved so much better, we deserved so much better. but she didnt have a chance when i think about it. she was so small, and innocent, and tiny. so young and i cant bear to think about it for too long because she was a living breathing person and she had her traits that made her unique and shes gone because the adults in her life failed her. i wish i could have done better.

.

[vvaywardhunter]

I’m sorry. Did I step on your moment? (based on this scene)

@unheald

Dean hadn't really intended to fall in with Rosita and her people when they met, but he could admit it was nice to have a few more people he could trust at his back, a little more safety in numbers when things got hairy. He'd had his doubts about Alexandria from the start, and hardly a day passed that he didn't think about bailing, friends or not. In his experience, anything that seemed too good to be true probably was, and he and Sam had always done fine on their own.

Then there was Negan. Dean still probably could have walked away if he hadn't gone out of his way to make it personal from the start. There had been something deeply satisfying about watching Rosita point a gun at him, even if it had all promptly gone to shit after that. It had taken two of Negan's guys to hold him back while he had a knife on her, and if he was being honest, he hadn't expected either of them to live through it.

Of course, Negan somehow managed to make it feel worse than dying would have. "Pretty sure that was your moment. I'll never forget you pointing a gun at that prick for as long as I live." The corner of his mouth turned up in a smile, but it was hard to feel very good about it with the dirt from digging Olivia's grave still under his fingernails. Dean had killed more monsters and walkers and humans than he could count at this point, but there was a very specific cruelty to Negan's kills that he could never replicate. He always hurt the people who least deserved it.

[xdefendingandy]

andy + matt

@defectivexfragmented

A little over a year after the deaths of his wife and son, and Andy had relocated from Massachusetts to New York City and more or less settled into his new job. The firm was a significant step down from District Attorney, but at this point, he was grateful to be practicing at all. It hadn’t been a sure thing in the aftermath, and losing his license might have been the thing that finally tipped him over the edge. He’d been dangerously near it for a while there anyway, until he realized he had to become someone else to survive. Gone was the joint career and family man, and the one that remained was a little rougher around the edges, a little more prone to gritted teeth and bruised knuckles and abrupt ends to conversations.

After being at the epicenter of a small-town scandal that nevertheless made national news, he appreciated the anonymity afforded by a larger city, although it was far from foolproof. The renewed media circus over the one-year anniversary had involved a few bottles of whiskey and at least one patched-over hole in the wall of his apartment. It had mercifully died down except for the occasional paparazzo who didn't have anything better to do, but Andy gave them nothing. Everything he’d intended to say about it had already been made public.

The fact that his statements barely scratched at the surface of the truth was irrelevant. He wasn't sorry for the lies he'd told, not to the press or the courts, not even to his family. The truth had killed them, the weight of it too much for them to hold, and those bonds were more fragile than he'd ever imagined. If there was a single moment in all of it that he regretted, it was sharing his doubts with Laurie. He'd been holding everything together until that night, but he'd slipped and let his fear overrule his sense. If he'd just kept his mouth shut, knowing full well she couldn't handle the reality of it, things might have gone differently. Instead, that moment of weakness cost them their lives.

He could die in that wreckage with them, or he could stand up and walk away from it, and for whatever reason, Andy had never been the type to quit, even when he knew he was beaten. His life had narrowed down considerably, his days filled with therapy, swimming and boxing at the gym (the latter a new hobby meant to channel some of that pent-up aggression), and work. It was mostly the worst cases that came his way these days, but he still put everything he had into them. It was maybe the one point of pride he had left, and it filled the endless empty hours to focus his mind on familiar, solvable problems. His success rate was better than it should have been, all things considered, but it wasn't like he had a lot of other things distracting him.

And then there was this. When a case failed to keep his interest and he couldn’t stare down another sleepless night, counting the hours until dawn, he found himself in a bar. It was rarely the same one twice, nothing about his existence right now geared toward making lasting connections. It had been so long since he’d done this one night stand shit, just a couple years in college before he met Laurie and things got serious. It was almost uncanny how easily it came back, picking up strangers and deleting numbers from his phone on the sidewalk as the sun came up. He smiled when he said he wouldn't call to take the sting out of it, but he was never anything less than honest about exactly what it was (if not about who he was, if they didn’t already know). Still, people heard what they wanted to. He didn’t feel guilty about it, but he didn’t feel good about it either, and that was okay. He wasn’t sure he was going to feel good ever again.

This place was new to him and a bit of a dive, which suited him fine. He'd found he could no longer stomach the kind of upscale place where lawyers in nicely pressed suits congregated for happy hour, if he’d ever really had a taste for it. He had nothing to say to those people, and they sure as hell didn't have anything to say to him anymore. Happy hour had long since passed anyway, night having fallen outside the tinted windows. He was on his second drink and had just caught the bartender's attention for a third. "Do you mind? Thanks." He nodded toward the man at the other end of the bar, signaling to send him another of whatever he was drinking as well. A long shot, but fuck it. He was easy on the eyes, and Andy was just buzzed enough to not care if he got punched by a homophobe.

[tiffonacid]

ghost/human angsty bad ending prompt [tw: memory loss, death by illness]

A ghost who falls in love with someone in their old, old house. However, there’s asbestos* or some sort of similar issue that has grown in the house a long time after the ghost died, and neither are aware of it. The living person starts losing their memories, forgetting things from the simple to entire people. The living person dies due to the illness and becomes another ghost to haunt the house, all the while the original ghost is forced to grapple with the fact that their loved one doesn’t remember them, never will, and it’s all their fault (in their mind, at least) because they were the thing that kept their love there.

*based on a story I heard yeaaaaars ago about a family who started having mental troubles due to living in an infested house (including forgetting things like where they parked their car in the grocery lot and how to get home)

don't remember when or where I heard it, but it stuck with me. looked up if asbestos actually caused memory loss and google said "not directly" so ??

[in-love-with-writing-whump]

TW: Implied Abuse, Strong Language

Caretaker couldn’t find Whumpee anywhere. They'd been searching the seedy part of the city— this is where they lived?— all night after they had stormed out after an argument, and still nothing. Caretaker didn't like this place, all grimy and full of faces that smiled with too many fangs to be human. The bars clamored with the worst type of clientele, and though their coat did little to protect from the cold, and the warmth enticed them, they ignored it.

They heard some murmuring from a small crowd, and their stomach turned to lead. They pawed their way through the crowd, glaring up at the jostling gossipers. They parted through the sea of people, finally able to see.

Whumpee laid there, still dressed in the less-than-winter-appropriate outfit from earlier, blood matted into their hair, skin all scraped up and bruised. One of their eyes appeared swollen shut, blood dripping from their split lip as they trembled in their unconscious state.

Caretaker shoved the people around them back. "Get the fuck out of here! Don't you have places to be?!"

The crowd grumbled but dispersed upon seeing Caretaker's gun. They crouched before Whumpee, cautious not to touch them. They didn’t want to scare them, instead letting Whumpee see their hands.

"Whumpee?"

They let out what sounded like a whimper, eyelids fluttering but never fully opening. Caretaker had a million questions, but sighed, pinching the bridge of their nose. They already knew have the answers, and besides, they weren't going to get much out of them like this anyway.

Caretaker stood up, shrugging off their coat, thankful for the thick top they had on underneath. They laid it over Whumpee, holding back a cry at how small they looked like that. They weren't supposed to be small.

"Whumpee, I'm going to pick you up now. I'm going to bring you home, alright?"

Their face scrunched up, voice too hoarse. "Whumper... No, please..."

Caretaker knelt back down, eyes burning as Whumpee's arm flailed, not hitting anything, just revealing more bruises and cigarette burns.

"I'm here now, Whumpee. Whumper won't hurt you while I'm here. I'm right here."

They gingerly scooped Whumpee up into their arms, wincing at how hollow they felt, like a strong breeze would blow them away. Whumpee's face nestled into Caretaker's shoulder, and as Caretaker carried them back home— their real home— they let that act as the smallest insurance that they might be okay.

[anon911andbuddie]

Hi I was wondering if you where still taking prompts if so I had an idea for a Eddie and Buck one where it’s after the lawsuit and Bucky is back working but everyone is avoiding him and when they get a call they leave him behind to clean. All the stress gets to him and one day while everyone is out on a call Bucky had another embolism. He calls 9-1-1 and another house saves him and the 118 comes back to blood on the floor and two fire fighters waiting to tell them what happened.

This one is long overdue. It has been started in my drafts for a long time. And I finally got to finish it. Hope you guys enjoy it.

-Scarlet 📕

Content warnings: Blood, coughing, struggling to breathe, panic, fear, passing out, intubation, pulmonary embolism, ambulances, hospitals, pain, guilt, anger.

Away Team

Buck looked around the empty station and felt the pain in his chest get worse. The call had the full crew out. As the pain persisted Buck realized it wasn't the usual ache that came with working these days. No, this was a different but familiar pain. It hurt, and he felt a cough in his throat, even deep in his chest. He reached up to where his radio should be and remembered he didn't have his radio on him. Why would he? It was just another way for them to yell at him. So he grabbed his phone, and as stupid as it made him feel, he dialed 911. Coughing as he did. He did his best to explain between choking coughs and gasping breaths. He somehow managed to get his location out as he dropped to his knees in the vacant truck bay. He looked down and frowned. He'd just cleaned that floor, and now it had blood on it. Bobby was going to be so pissed. Buck could hear the dispatcher's voice through his speaker, but he was no longer able to understand her. He blacked out.

His consciousness returned with a sudden jolt. The coughing made his chest burn, and something was in his throat. It all hurt. A firm hand stopped him from pulling at the tube in his throat. 

"Easy, Buckley," an unfamiliar voice told him. "You're having a hard enough time already. No need to make it worse." How did they know his name? Where was he? Buck looked around and realized he was in an ambulance. He looked up to see a paramedic he didn't really know. The confusion must have been clear on his face because the paramedic sighed but smiled. 

"You called 911, do you remember?" He thought about it, and he remembered what had happened. He nodded as much as he could. 

"Okay, that's good," the paramedic smiled. "I'm Mel. I work with the 122."

Buck nodded again in acknowledgment.

"I have to ask, Buckley," Mel said. "Dispatch said you told her it was an embolism. You have one before?" 

Buck nodded. 

"You on blood thinners?"

He nodded again. 

"You take your meds today?"

Buck tried to remember if he did. He half shrugged, an action that didn't help his sore and exhausted body. 

"Okay," Mel nodded as she began to check his vitals again. "That is honestly more than I figured I'd get with the tube in. Just relax now, Buckley. We'll be at the hospital soon."

"You seeing this, Bobby?" Chim asked as they neared the station and saw a fire engine that didn't belong to their house in front of the bay's open doors. 

"Yeah," Bobby said as he eyes the truck as they got closer. 

"What the hell is the 122 doing here?" Eddie asked as they pulled in beside the engine. 

"Let's find out," Bobby said as he got out and approached the pair of firefighters that were blocking them from pulling into the station.

"Captain Nash?" One of the men asked.

"That's me," Bobby looked between the men. 

"Is that blood?" Eddie asked as he joined them. He looked around the empty bay. "Wait, where's-"

"Buckley will hopefully be at Good Samaritan by now," the second firefighter said.

"What happened?" Bobby asked, his heart rate picking up as he took it all in. There were discarded gloves and blood on the floor. 

"We were going to ask you the same thing," the first said.

"Who are you?" Chim asked.

"Morris and Jameson from the 122." The one named Jameson said.

"What happened to Buck?" Bobby asked.

"He called 911," Morris said bluntly. "Never had a call to another station before. Our captain said it never really happens.

"Why? Is he alright?" Eddie asked.

"He was coughing up blood," Jameson answered, gesturing to the spots on the floor. “Heard something about an embolism.”

"That can't be right," Eddie said. "He is on blood thinners." 

Morris eyed Eddie skeptically. "Diaz, is it? That's why we're here to talk to Captain Nash. Our captain has a few concerns."

"Where is your captain?" Chim asked. 

"He decided it best to go with Buckley," Jameson told him. “Said the guy sued the department once already and that he wanted to make sure he didn't have any reason to do it again. Best care and all that." 

"He dropped the suit," Hen said. 

Jameson shrugged. "They said that, but we're still confused on how an embolism risk is not only on duty but alone. That seems a bit-"

"He isn't working calls. That is why he was here," Bobby said. "A sort of light duty."

"So you're a man down on calls?"

"For now," Bobby said. 

"Riiight," Morris said. "Might be for a lot longer now."

"So he had another embolism?" Bobby tried to get the conversation back to how Buck is now. 

"It was what dispatch said he managed to say," Jameson answered. "She wasn't sure because sounded like the guy was coughing up a lung, and from how we found him, I believe it. The guy was collapsed on the ground struggling to breathe and coughing up blood. So seemed right to the medics. They got a tube in, we loaded him up and got him out of here."

"Oh, Buckaroo," Hen said as she shook her head. She reached over and gave Eddie's shoulder a squeeze. He'd gone quiet and a bit pale as they listened to them talk. 

"But honestly, we're a bit confused because Deluca used to talk about how close you guys are, but your own guy had to call for us? How does that even happen?"

"It is a long story," Bobby sighed. 

"We got until the boss calls us out, and I'm sure the chief will want to hear." With that, Bobby took the two firefighters to his office.

"You okay?" Hen asked Eddie.

"He is on the blood thinners. How could this happen?" Eddie asked, his eyes glued to the blood splatters on the ground. 

"Well, meds can fail," Hen said.

"But they usually don't-"

"He couldn't remember if he took them," they all looked up to see another member of the 122 come through the doors.

"What?" Eddie asked. 

"Or at least that was what I could figure out with just yes and no questions in the rig," she said. "He might be on them, but he had to have missed more than just one dose for this to happen." She gestured to the mess on the ground.

"He was awake? Is he okay?" Eddie asked. 

"He was conscious and as okay as someone can be with a tube shoved down his throat, though I guess his sister said he'd had a trach before, so I guess he has had worse."

"Maddie is there?" Chim said as he pulled out his phone. 

"If that is his sister, then she was on her way last I heard from my captain."

"But is he-" 

"As fun as this game of 20 questions is, where are Morris and Jameson?"

"In talking to our captain," Hen said.

"Can you take me to them?" The medic asked. 

"Sure, he'll be glad to hear Buck was awake." Hen said as she leads her toward Bobby's office. 

Chim pulled his phone from his ear. "Maddie's not answering."

Eddie rubbed at his face and looked down at the blood again. "Why wouldn't he call us?" 

"You're seriously asking that?" Chim said, causing Eddie to look up at him.

"What the hell does that mean?" Eddie said. 

"I mean, if you haven't noticed, this whole situation is a disaster. I thought that scene at the store was bad, but been more than a bit frosty around here since he came back."

"Don't you put this all on me. That’s-" Eddie said, a sharp edge to his tone.

"I'm not. I just-" Chimney started. 

"This is on all of us," Bobby said as he approached them. "But mostly me. I should have been keeping a closer eye on him." They all watched as the 122 went back to their vehicles and left. 

"Can we go see him?" Eddie asked. 

"After we get this place cleaned up."

Buck woke up to the sound of harsh whispers.

"No, this is all your fault. You had one job, to keep your team safe, including my brother. You don't get to pick and choose who on your team you care about. You are their captain, his captain-"

"Mads," Buck managed to call out. His voice sounded off to his own ears, and his throat felt like someone sandpapered it. But at least the tube was out. 

"Hey, take it easy. Your vocal cords took a bit of a beating," Maddie said as she rushed back to his side and held up a styrofoam cup with a straw. He took a drink, and it helped soothe his throat a bit, but not much. He looked up at the door and saw Bobby standing in it. Buck forced himself not to flinch but must have failed when he felt his sister squeeze his hand. 

"This is what I didn't want to happen," Maddie glared at Bobby. "You-"

"I know this is my fault," Bobby said. "I know I failed Buck. I figured he'd be fine at the station, that he-"

"He is sitting right here," Buck grumbled.

"I know, and I am so sorry Buck," Bobby said. "This should never have happened I-"

"If the 122 hadn't read you the riot act, would you even be here?" Maddie asked.

"Of course, he is still a part of the team, still one of us." Bobby nodded.

"Got a funny way of showing it," Maddie huffed.

"Maddie," Buck cautioned. 

"No, Evan," Maddie held his hand between hers. "They treated you terribly. You dropped the suit and did everything they asked, and they still let this happen."

"They didn't make me miss my meds," Buck admitted.

"About that, Buck, when did you stop taking them?" Bobby asked.

"I didn't intentionally do it. I just ran out and couldn't get to the pharmacy because I had to work."

"You should have told me. I would have-" Bobby started to say.

"Don't," Maddie cut him off. "Do not make him feel bad about this. You assigned his shifts. You assigned him every chore in the book. He could have died, and you guys would have come back and found him dead in the station. The one you are supposed to be in command of."

"I know, and that is something I have to live with,” the captain admitted, “Knowing how close we were to losing Buck, and it was absolutely preventable. If we had just paid more attention."

"Damn right you should have," Maddie said, glaring at him. 

"I know, and you can't possibly know how sorry I am." Bobby turned to look at Buck and took a few steps closer. "If you want to transfer out, I would understand, we all would, and I know nothing can change what we did, but I promise if you come back things will be better."

"Why would I transfer? What house would want the guy that sued his boss and the department?" Buck said, his face reflecting his depressive state. 

"Well, the 122 was quick to call us out. One of the old 118 crew had told them about us, and what they saw didn't mesh with that idea, and they had a lot of questions. You made quite an impression on them. I'm sure you could-"

"You promise if I come back that everyone won't hate me, and I will get to do more than grunt work, right?" Buck asked. 

"I assure you most of the team has already changed their tune," Bobby said.

"I don't know,” Buck said, his doubts clear in his tone. “Eddie was so pissed before-"

"I'm sure if Eddie was still angry he wouldn't be out in the waiting room,” Bobby informed him, “the others too."

"Unless he came to yell at him some more," Maddie grumbled.

"If his reaction when we got back to the station was anything to go by,” Bobby said to try and assure them, “I doubt he'll do much yelling, but only Eddie can really answer that."

"So you are really sure they don't hate me?" Buck asked.

"We don't hate you, Buckaroo," Hen replied. They all looked up to see Hen, Chim, and Eddie at the door. 

"Right," Buck said, not really believing her. 

"Buck," Hen started but was stopped by Eddie.

"You might not believe us now, and that's on us," Eddie said as he moved closer to Buck's bed. "And if we have to earn that back, we will.”

Buck looked up at his sister. “Is this really happening? I’m not dead, right?”

“They’re lucky you aren’t dead, or your lawsuit would look trivial compared to the hell I would have raised,” Maddie admitted without hesitation. “And as tempting as doing it anyway seems and as much as I’d love to see these 3 sweat it, I won’t do that to you.” She squeezed her brother’s hand. “You’ve been through enough.”

“I just want to go back to normal,” Buck said. 

“Evan…” Maddie started.

“We can’t go back, can’t change what is done,” Bobby admitted. “Believe me. I wish I could. But we can do better going forward.”

“And we will,” Eddie stated.

“All of us,” Hen added.

“Yeah, what they said,” Chim nodded. 

Maddie shook her head but asked, “And you’ll make sure he gets back on his feet and stays that way?”

“Of course,” Bobby agreed.

“You swear you’ll actually have his back this time?” Maddie looked at Eddie.

“On my life,” Eddie answered. 

“I will hold you to that, Diaz,” Maddie told him.

“Maddie, please, I just-” Buck started.

“I’m not going to be sorry about holding them accountable, Evan. You wouldn’t be here if they did their jobs. I’m not going to stand here and listen to them make empty promises. They don’t get to try and save their own asses just because another crew called them out.”

“We won't make the same mistake again,” Bobby assured her. 

“I’ll make sure they don’t.” They turned to see Athena standing in the doorway.  

"Good," Maddie says. She did still trust Athena.

"I just want to go back to work," Buck says.

"And you will after you're cleared for duty," Bobby says.

"But they will not be standing in your way this time," Athena says. “Their superiors have assured me.”

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that even I got a call from the fire chief and the captain of the 122. And they will be keeping an eye on things. And so will I."

Buck groans and drops back against the pillows. 

"Evan," Maddie says. "It means they are taking this as seriously as it should be. This sort of thing should never have happened." She glares at her brother's team. "The chief probably just wants to make sure it doesn't happen again."

"And it won't,” Bobby insists. “We'll take whatever punishments the department sees fit. If that's having to put up with inspections and even an investigation, that's fine. We'll do it."

"Technically, I don't think we broke any written rules," Chim points out. Earning a glare from Maddie. "But it was still wrong," he adds. "Hen and I should have stepped in when you came back." 

"We should have been checking in with you on how you were feeling and how the meds were going," Hen adds. "We're the medics on the team. Everyone's well-being is supposed to be even more important to us. And we botched that."

"We never wanted this to happen," Chim says. "No one wants you to suffer."

Buck huffs, but it turns into a cough. 

Eddie is at his side before he can even get a breath in.

"Slow breaths, as deep as you can without it hurting," Eddie tells him. He goes to put a hand on Buck's back, but the younger man flinches. And Eddie pulls away like he was burned. Maddie rubs her brother's back instead. 

"Thank you for the update, but Evan needs his rest," Maddie says sternly. Shutting down any further conversation. "Athena, you are welcome to stay, but I must ask the rest of you to leave."

"Understandable," Bobby acquiesces. "Let us know when you're feeling better, Buck. Then we can discuss your schedule." Buck nods. Bobby turns to the team. "Let's go." He can tell Eddie wants to fight him in this. "We can discuss this later."

Once back at the station, Eddie stares at the now clean spot that was the only hint that Buck had ever been in trouble. 

"Eddie," Bobby starts. "You need to give him time. Maybe we both need to start by telling him why we've been so hard on him. I know you hate seeing him hurting as much as we all do, but Maddie is right. We owe him an explanation. We owe it to him to fix this. To be better. I'm going to go call the chief. We may be in for a tough few weeks, but it's…well, it's deserved. We made this mess. I made this mess. Now it's time to face the consequences." He gave Eddie a pat on the shoulder before heading to his office. 

Bobby was right. They needed to fix it. And Eddie had a good idea of where to start. If Buck was still in the hospital in the morning, Eddie was going to bring Christopher to see him. If he was back home, then he and Christopher would bring him breakfast. Either way, starting tomorrow morning, Buck would have Christopher back. It may take Buck longer to let Eddie back in, but this would be a start. A peace offering. Yeah, that was a good plan. But first, he needed to call Carla and endure whatever lecture he was about to get. She has been Buck's friend longer than Eddie was. She would not be happy about what happened, but he was sure she would help him. She would help for Christopher's and Buck’s sake. She cares for them both. Eddie might have to work to get back in her good graces now too, but maybe a few added paid days off might help. Maybe. Either way, he had a plan.

[sortofanobsession]

It's an Art (Angel Torres x Reader, Nope Reader Insert)

A/N: This may seem random but I watched Nope with my husband the other day and wrote a thing. (More than one but this is the one I posted.

The dirt in the air was brutal on your lenses but you tried not to think about it. You focused on getting the best shots. You back up camera ready to go in case the canon failed. The main issue you faced was the shutter could only work so fast. You had to try and anticipate the actions of an unpredictable creature. Sure, you had practice in the field, but this was unlike anything you had seen before. You honestly doubted your own skills for this one. It was increasingly frustrating. You almost wish you had just brought your old Bell and Howell 8mm motion picture camera. But your uncle had said that even if you just got photos documenting everything else it was worth it. So you kept at it. You shot multiple rolls of film.   “The light,” Antlers says. You look up from where you were changing the film in your canon. You tuck the finished film in the case and into your bag. You are just snapping the camera casing closed after placing the new one when he continues. “The light, it's going to be magic soon.” Your stomach dropped.  “What?” You started as your uncle began walking away. “Wait, no, you can't mean-” Your uncle doesn't even acknowledge you begging him to stop. “Please don't.” “Where are you going?” Angel asks him. “No! Just no!” You shout at him. Angel is confused but knows something bad is happening. You try to block him. Your uncle just puts a hand on your cheek. “Kid…” he starts.  “Please don't do this,” you say, and your own voice sounds weak. “It's going to be alright,” your uncle says to you. He looks over at Angel. “We don't deserve the impossible.” He moves past you.  You went to try and follow him but Angel manages to catch your wrist as he tells the Haywoods what was happening over the walkie. Both Em and OJ try to reach him over the device. You see Angel move towards the mounted camera. And you can't let it end like this. You have to try. You pick up your backup 35mm and hand it to Angel. It was set up primarily for black and white but it was better than nothing.  “Lens cap,” you tell him as you take over the motion picture. You blink away tears as you attempt to orient the shot.  “Stubborn bastard,” you mutter as you glance back towards where your uncle was.  You hear Angel shout and you weigh your options. You pull the scarf and goggles over your eyes. You could barely see but they might save more than just your vision this time. Mentally thanking your journalist friend for having gifted you the snow goggles for a Yukon shoot. The tornadic force hits you and you wonder if you might actually die for this. You feel a piercing pain in the side of your head and the world goes black.

[in-love-with-writing-whump]

Febuwhump 22: Can't Scream

Caretaker pressed their hand to Whumpee's mouth, not meeting their eyes. A looked up at them expectantly.

"Be quick."

A held the fire to the open wound, cauterizing it as Whumpee cried out into Caretaker's hand. Tears stained their face as Caretaker hushed them.

"I know, I'm sorry, Whumpee. But you can't scream or Whumper will hear us."

Whumpee whimpered, blinking slowly, as if to say they understood. Caretaker hated themself for it.

FEBUWHUMP 2023 IS HERE!

the prompts this year were chosen through a suggestion poll and subsequent vote, where over 350 people voted for their favourites. the top 28 make up the core prompts, and a mixture of the next most popular and this blog’s personal favourites have become the alternatives!

i’m so excited to see what you all create with these prompts, and hope they’re inspiring enough to trigger a whole month’s worth of creativity for you! if you have any questions, make sure to check out the blog’s FAQ, or check out the previously asked questions on the blog before sending one of your own!

please note: this year, notifying the blog of completionist status will happen through a google form that will be released closer to the end of febuwhump.

full write-up of prompts and rules under the cut:

Keep reading

[vvolfstare]

@alwaysxinxtrouble

Watching Steve fall to his death had been the worst moment of Bucky's life. He knew--everyone knew--that it should have been him, and he would have gladly traded places with him in a split second. Many times, he'd wished the shield had fallen with Steve and the Captain America legacy had died with him too. Bucky had vehemently rejected picking it up when Stark, Phillips, and Carter first started talking about it, and it was only the threat of Red Skull and them passing it along to someone like Hodge that had him relenting. It was a relief to put the Valkyrie under the ocean and himself with it. He'd lived most of his life with Steve. Was it so wrong to want to die with him too?

He hadn't counted on how very hard he would be to kill. He'd known for a while that German scientist must have done something to him in that lab. He was too fast, too strong, to say nothing of what he could see and hear now, or the way alcohol didn't really affect him no matter how much he drank. Seeing the future would have been grand with Steve by his side, but without him it was more like one never-ending nightmare from which there was no waking. The pressure to take up the shield was still there, and Bucky numbly submitted to it. At least with SHIELD, he had a place in this new world, and he could spend his life trying to make up for the fact that he'd failed to save the only person who mattered.

So, in short, he was handling it fine.

He couldn't even muster any surprise when it turned out HYDRA had infiltrated SHIELD. He'd warned them, hadn't he? Back in the 40s when they were cutting deals with scum like Zola. The man on the bridge was no more human than Bucky was. It was taking all his skill to keep him at bay, and having to fight for his life was the first time in a long time he felt awake. He actually let out a grim chuckle while they exchanged rapid-fire blows against the side of the van. "Is that the best you've got?" When they ran out of room, he lunged for the shield again, grappling once more with the soldier. Snatching off the match was an accident, but he could admit he was curious to see who was underneath.

The smile melted off his face, the sight of him knocking the air right out of him.

"Steve?"

[thorfromwork]

⚡ @fortitudina liked for a starter

Thor had failed before on a fairly grand scale. Just look at the fact that Asgard as a planet no longer existed--and yes, he could argue all he wanted that it was a people, not a place, but that didn't erase the fact that the place itself was gone because he'd failed to protect it. That was almost trivial compared to his failure to defeat Thanos. He could still taste it in his mouth, bitter and burning, even months after the fact. If he'd thought chopping that ugly purple head off would make him feel better, he was mistaken. There was little satisfaction in it, and it didn't change anything. All those people were still gone.

It would never be an easy decision to leave his people, but at heart, Thor was a warrior more than a king. Brunnhilde was better suited to it, and he knew she would be a fair and just ruler. He couldn't sit in one place and let the guilt shrivel him from the inside out. The universe might be down half its population, but there were still going to be people who needed help. He sometimes joined the Guardians of the Galaxy, sometimes went solo, and now he found himself alongside Captain Marvel. They should have been celebrating another success, but try as he might, the mood never stayed with him long. He'd stepped away from the revelry for some fresh air, the clouds rumbling distantly with his mood.

[vvaywardhunter]

🍻 a local dive bar/pub

@occulticmusings

Losing people on a case was always hard for Dean. It didn't matter if he knew them or not. Obviously, it was harder if he did, but in some ways, watching strangers die left him with even more guilt. They hadn't chosen this life the way hunters did. Most of them didn't even know what was happening to them or why, but the fear on their faces would haunt his nightmares. The monsters were dead, too late to matter. Sometimes he felt more like the cleanup crew than the hero.

He had no intention of celebrating that failure, but if he didn't find a way out of his own head soon, he couldn't be responsible for what happened next. He'd strode into the dive bar--indistinguishable from every dive bar in every small town in every state he'd ever been in--downed three shots, and challenged some rando to a game of pool. Even well on his way to tipsy and still drinking, though he'd switched to beer, Dean was able to smoke him easily, pocketing the money as he leaned on the bar by what looked like a terrifyingly sober Bobby. "I think you need to get on my level."

[timeguardians]

Nightmares: Brianna & Alfred

@palaceofmuses

Alfred stops just inside the doorway, having woken and calmed Brianna down from yet another nightmare late at night.

He smiles gently as he makes his way to the edge of her bed, smoothing the blanket on her before sitting on the nearby chair. "I'm not going anywhere," he promises.

__________________

Bri launches upright, tangled in sheets, with her pallored face dripping in a frigid sweat. Strangled breathes struggle for a release from aching lungs. A release that does not come easily. Shaking uncontrollably Brianna's tiny hand moves to find his.

They're still GONE. Wayne Manor is EMPTY without them. It's a shallow shell, devoid of the vivacious life it once carried.

Two very tangible absences are whispered in every agonizing heartbeat. They're dead and it's HER fault. Her's alone. If Brianna hadn't been so scared of bats or the acrobats at the theater, maybe, just maybe, they'd still be alive. That internalized thought gnaws upon her spirit until it becomes embedded in the marrow of her bones. Tears follow in it's brutal wake.

"It w--wa-- was my fault," the eight year old rasps. "If I wasn't so scared--" If fear hadn't gotten the better of her, they wouldn't be alone. They wouldn't be subjected to this. Alfred would never have had to carry the financial and emotional burden of her misstep.

There is a measure of comfort found in Alfred's steadfast presence. Even more-so when he smooths the tangle of blankets from it's strangle-hold over her small form. Choking on a breath, she softly prods. "Will you read to me?" Of course, she hadn't truly required anyone to read to her since she was four. But the sound of Alfred's voice is what she desperately needed to hear. It alone could drown out the negative one rattling well within her cranium.