#tw: paparazzi

[schrijverr]

Tomorrow Will Be Different 25

Chapter 25 out of 26

Instead of managing to meet up later, Oliver has to keep running with Akio. The only way to keep them safe is to go public with Oliver being alive, leaving him back home in charge of Akio, while Tatsu and Maseo are still in the wind

In this chapter, they face pushy paparazzi outside the courthouse, which sends Oliver into a spiral. As the future for the Yamashiros becomes clearer, his own becomes more terrifying.

On AO3.

Ships: Tatsu x Maseo

Warnings: pushy paparazzi, ptsd flashback + panic attack

~~~

Chapter 25: Panic at the Courthouse

After that first night, it all goes very fast. They release a vague statement to the press about not answering any questions and requesting privacy in these times. It is not necessarily respected, but the security of the mansion is good, so they keep to the house.

Moira sets to work in getting Tatsu and Maseo the right paperwork to be reinstated officially as Akio’s guardians and to get back home.

The two are very grateful to her for that. Oliver decides not to mention that her actions are probably not out of the goodness of her heart, but because she wants them to get away, before they suddenly change their mind and try to make a grab for their money.

It irks Oliver to hell that she still thinks like that after all their talks, but he lets it go. She hasn’t said anything about it and it might be between his own ears. If he’s rebuilding bridges, he should give her the benefit of the doubt.

Besides, the lawyers she hires for them are the best and he can’t argue with providing his friends with the best. This whole process should be as smooth as possible, they’ve been through too much for anything less.

Going to the courthouse to get everything finalized is an interesting experience. They have all been avoiding cameras as much as possible, going incognito whenever they are on the streets. So, the paparazzi is going wild trying to get to them.

Since the process has gone smoothly, the interest in the story hasn’t died down too much between the news breaking and the court date. And the news of said court date has fanned the flames of interest once more.

Oliver sees them before they even pull up to the curb. He turns to Tastu and Maseo and says: “Just keep Akio between you, Dig will cover you best he can. Keep your head down and don’t say anything.”

Both Tatsu and Maseo eye the crowd warily. “I don’t like this,” Tatsu says.

“No one does,” Oliver snorts. “But they’re more interested in me than you. Sure, you two are still an interesting target, but they’ll likely flock to me. Use that to get inside, they won’t follow you there.”

“This is normal for you?” Maseo asks concerned, eyeing the crowd again.

“My birth was in the news, I’ve been in the spotlight for as long as I can remember,” Oliver shrugs, going back to observing the paparazzi getting pushed back by Dig and thus missing the disturbed looks Tatsu and Maseo share.

Diggle manages to get the car door open and ushers them out. Oliver is glad the man returned, this would be hell without him.

Akio is practically sandwiched between everyone. Diggle is in front of him, with Tatsu on his left and Maseo on his right, Oliver taking the rear.

Tatsu and Maseo turn in defensively, covering Akio better and taking Oliver’s advice to keep their heads down. Oliver makes sure to keep his head upright, he won’t be cowed and he has an image to maintain, not to mention a target to paint on his back.

His strategy is successful and a dozen microphones appear under his nose as flashes go off in his eyes, disorientating him, while questions come from all sides.

“Mr. Queen were these experiments just chemical or physical as well. There is still no comment on your alleged deformed torso.”

“Is it true you refused to see an American doctor, because you have secret China government medical implants, Mr. Queen?”

“Are Mr. and Mrs. Yamashiro selling Akio to you?”

“Would you describe the experimentation as torture? Were you tortured, Mr. Queen?”

“Will you be seeking psychological help after the trauma, Mr. Queen? Are you sane enough to be in the public after what you’ve been through?”

Oliver is doing a pretty admirable job of keeping it together, if he does say so himself. He is almost at the door when one last question ruins it. A reporter holds up a photo of a man and asks: “Can you confirm the identity of other victims on the boat? Do you recognize the man in the photo?”

Fyers and Wintergreen appear in front of his eyes, the sounds of the reporters turning into the sound of the base camp as the flashes become flickering sunlight that comes in as the entrance flaps in the wind.

He barely manages to stumble into the courthouse after the others, the door being pushed close behind him, as he takes a few more wobbly steps, trying to get to a bench in the hallway. The urge to curl up into a ball is strong, but that would leave him defenseless so he locks his knees.

A hand appears to support him, but he can only feel Fyers backing him towards that pole where Wintergreen tortured him. So he starts to fight back. However, the sensation of his clothes don’t match Lian Yu and if he concentrates, he can make out that the voices he’s hearing are ones he knows and not voices he should fear.

“Keep breathing, Oliver. Breathe in… breathe out… just follow me, breathe in…,” Diggle’s voice is the first that fully penetrates his senses into making sense.

Shuddering Oliver tries to follow, slowly realizing that Diggle is holding him upright in a restraining hold, though as to not block his airways. Following his instructions is not easy and every time he thinks he has managed, he chokes up again and feels breathless. However, he’s breathing semi-okay after a bit.

“I’m gonna move you to a bench, that okay?” Diggle says when he notices.

Words sounds incredibly difficult right now, but Oliver manages a nod. He braces himself for the movement, repeating in his mind over and over again that he’s getting moved to a bench by a friend, not tied to a pole by an enemy.

He knows it is going to suck and send him right back into the panic attack, but staying like he is now isn’t an option. Everyone is moving around him, being near the door as he is, which doesn’t help him calm down. He needs to be somewhere a bit more quiet if he wants to shake this off.

Indeed, Diggle grabs him and Oliver can only feel a combination of Wintergreen tying him to that pole, Ivo strapping him to a table, and Amanda pushing him onto that chair.

It takes all his concentration not to snap Diggle’s neck, struggling slightly against him as he is dragged to a bench and plopped down. In the back of his mind, he can only imagine the kind of rumors the press will be fed by those who are witnessing this, bitterly he remembers the reporter inquiring him if he was even sane enough to be out and about.

Tatsu appears in front of him, kneeling on the floor so that she can look into his down turned eyes. She says: “I need you to follow Maseo’s breathing and listen to my voice.”

Maseo sits down next to him, enough space between them to not feel like he is crowding him, and starts breathing regularly and loudly.

Much like with Diggle earlier, Oliver tries his hardest to follow, slowly getting more successful as time goes on. Tatsu’s voice helps. Her tone is soothing and he is instead reminded of when they meditated together, a better memory to latch onto until he can drag himself to the present.

When he finally blinks his eyes into the present, Tatsu gives him a kind look. “Welcome back, Oliver.”

He smiles back tiredly.

“Is he okay?” Akio asks worriedly.

Oliver wants to tell him he’s all okay, even if that would be a lie, because he is kind of freaked out himself still and scared, this hasn’t happened to him before. However, he can’t find it within himself to speak, his tongue like lead.

Maseo answers for him: “He will be okay, Akio. He just had a nightmare, while he was awake. Just give him a few moments.”

“Okay,” Akio says, believing his father, but still watching Oliver worriedly, from his place next to Diggle, who has been keeping people away from them.

Oliver gives Maseo a questioning look, because that answer came really easy to him.

“Like your loss of appetite, I know this feeling,” Maseo explains, making Oliver feel less alone.

“Did you have an attack like this before?” Tatsu asks.

He shakes his head no. It came out of nowhere and it scared him. He doesn’t know exactly what happened and he’d like it to never happen again.

Tatsu’s eyes grow sympathetic and understanding. “You’ll feel tired and need to rest. Your body is starting to feel safe again, letting your mind process what happened.”

“It is nothing to be afraid of,” Maseo adds. “Once you know what triggers you, you can avoid it, and start to work through it, so they don’t happen as often.”

Oliver completely disagrees. The whole thing is terrifying, he nearly killed Diggle. If this is what his body does when it starts to feel safe, he’s never going to let it feel safe again. However, he doesn’t let that show, just nods again.

“Mr. and Mrs. Yamashiro? The judge is waiting for you,” Laurel’s voice comes as a shock to his system and his face snaps up, likely unable to hide the horror at her witnessing this.

Both Tatsu and Maseo look reluctant to leave him alone, which can’t happen. He forces himself to speak: “Go. I’ll be okay. I’ll join you when I can.”

“I’ll stay with him,” Dig promises when they look apprehensive.

Oliver would prefer it, if Diggle protected Akio, however, Akio will be with his highly skilled parents and the thought of being alone right now doesn’t sound very appealing. So, he just forces a smile and gestures: “See, I’m in good hands. Go.”

Reluctantly, the Yamashiros follow Laurel, who has offered to show them to the right court room.

Once they’re out of sight, Oliver sags again, forcing himself to take a deep breath and slapping his face a few times to stay awake and alert.

Diggle sits down next to him, thankfully also leaving space like Maseo did. He lets Oliver collect himself a little, before he asks: “Want to talk about it?”

“Not really,” Oliver answers.

Knowing Diggle, he would’ve spoken regardless of the answer. “I used to have flashbacks all the time when I first got home. Lyla made me join a support group, before we divorced. She attended a different one, so we wouldn’t drag it home, regardless of the rules. It helped.”

“I’m not joining a support group,” Oliver scowls. “I can’t even talk about what actually happened to me.”

“And I’m not saying you should, just saying that talking about it helps.”

He’s saved from answering by Laurel, who returns with a glass of water. “I don’t know if this will help, but some water is always good,” she says as she offers it to him.

Oliver takes it gratefully, sipping the water with small sips to avoid triggering a flashback to being waterboarded. “Thank you.”

“Are you okay?” Laurel asks cautiously, sitting down next to him on the other side, a little too close for comfort.

“You don’t have to do this. I wouldn’t want to keep you from your work, I’m sure you’re busy,” he tries to deflect.

Laurel knows what he’s doing, but doesn’t comment on it directly, instead giving him a smile as she says: “I’m actually done here for today, I’m taking my lunch hour, before going back to the office. I figured I can keep you company for a bit.”

“Oh, that’s- that’s good,” Oliver says, shifting away slightly as Dig makes more space on his other side.

“Are you okay?” Laurel asks again, smile now gone and replaced by worried brows. Oliver tries to convince himself it wasn’t better when she fully hated him.

“I’m fine, Laurel.”

“Ollie…”

“Ms. Lance,” Diggle cuts in, saving him from further examination. “Just give him some space. He doesn’t have to talk, if he doesn’t want to.”

Laurel flushes slightly and says: “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean-”

“It’s okay,” Oliver assures her, not wanting her to feel bad for being concerned or listen to whatever she’ll say next. He can’t handle other people feeling bad about him being… about him going through… well, everything.

She sits in the silence next to him and he feels a little bad about it. He owes her some sort of explanation, if she is sacrificing her lunch hour to sit with him after his break down in a public place.

However, no words come to him. He can’t explain that the question of a reporter send him spiraling, he can only sit there, feeling ashamed, not meeting anyone’s eyes as they pass, yet hyper aware of every movement everywhere.

He is truly relieved when Laurel gets up, saying: “I need to leave to make it back on time. I hope you’re alright.”

“Much better already,” Oliver says with a tight smile.

She walks away and he can feel himself unclench a little. The time just sitting in silence has helped a lot and he can now properly watch the people passing. Most have lost interest in him after he calmed down, which is good. He doesn’t want this to end up anywhere. At that, a thought pops into his mind. “Did anyone film me?” he asks Dig.

“No, made sure they didn’t.”

“Thank god for that,” Oliver breathes out. “Thank you, Dig.”

“Of course,” Diggle replies with that kind stoic expression he wears often.

There is a lot Oliver wants to express in that moment. How he is still kind of terrified of that happening, how grateful he is to Diggle for keeping people away, how he is sorry for nearly killing him, how he never wants it to happen again, how he wants to know how Diggle deals with it. However, he doesn’t know how to verbalize any of it and before he can think of a way, they’re interrupted by the Yamashiros returning from court.

Guilt crashes over him that he didn’t go see their trial, too caught up in his own head. He hopes they’ll understand and this isn’t the place for it.

Akio is running over to him, stopping short in front of him as he excitedly yells: “The judge approved everything. We’re going home soon!”

Despite knowing this moment was coming since he got Tatsu and Maseo out of that cage and officially back, he doesn’t feel prepared for the reality of it actually being here. He has spend the past two weeks helping them prepare for the courts and making the final memories, but it is real now. They’re actually leaving soon

Oliver knows he has their numbers and is always free to call or text and that he knows their address and can always come by. However, not being able to go see them is still weird.

It’s crazy that only eight weeks ago they were saying goodbye on the docks of Hong Kong. Then it seemed much easier to see them leave. Funny how fast things can change.

He has told himself to work on his relationships with everyone from home. Yet those relationship will never be like what he has with the Yamashiro family. They know him in a way no one here knows him.

They know him as he is now, what he has been through, the effects it can have on someone. They do not look at him and try to see who he used to be. He can talk to him and they aren’t horrified, but understand instead. He doesn’t know how he is going to connect like that to those he knew before, even if he has known them longer.

But he doesn’t show all that, instead he smiles back as brightly as he can manage. “Wow, buddy, that’s amazing!”

[minkookie95]

can you link the paparazzi video?

Couldn’t find it on tumblr but he’s a link to it posted on Twitter 🤍

https://twitter.com/_cinediccion/status/1622395385548341248?s=46&t=vLTsKtA9yULwsJo0HnTQUA

[mangyraccooon]

It should be noted that the shirt is also the reason Luffy was conceived

[bouncytrait]

Life of a million dollar baby

[muffin-snakes-art]

Idk why but every time I hear this song I think of Susie murdering Parallel Susie or vice versa. Or just Susie in general haha I feel they'd hate each other's guts maybe

[thegalaxyinapaperbag2]

messy bobutter doodles + redraw of the esteemed crossover episode (click on images for full quality obviously)

[batfamficrecs]

hi I'm currently going out of my mind trying to find this fic. the premise is that the Gotham media found out about Tim/Bernard's relationship and he's currently freaking out. there's fic about him screaming in a closet and saying it's symbolic. I'm fairly certain there's a line 'at least [the reporters] didn't get a picture of Bernard's face'. Jason is the one that comforts him

Could this be your fic?

Thinking That No One Else Could Know by Sohotthateveryonedied

When Tim sees the headlines, the train screeches to a spark-spitting halt. His brain stops operating. No feedback, can’t compute. BREAKING NEWS: BILLIONAIRE SON TIM DRAKE IS A SECRET HOMOSEXUAL? TIM DRAKE SPOTTED LOCKING LIPS WITH BLOND MALE LAST NIGHT!! EXCLUSIVE WITH LEX LUTHOR: “TIM DRAKE’S PUBLIC DISPLAY OF AFFECTION WAS UNPROFESSIONAL AND SHINES A POOR LIGHT ON THE WAYNE FAMILY”

[heyy-dont-mind-me]

I'm your BIGGEST fan! ❤️ I'll follow you until you love me!

Papa-paparazzi~ . .

Baby, there's no other superstar ⭐ You know that I'll be

Your papa-paparazzi.. .

.

"Promise I'll be 'kind'..."

But I won't stop until that boy is mine(?) . .

Baby, you'll be famous! Chase you down until you love(?) me!

Papa-paparazzi....

[melsshenanigans]

Paparazzi Murder Party (gore + blood warn)

[biogarfield]

[HEAVY CARTOON BLOOD AND GORE]

"Offer your heart like a drug

We'll open it up, twist it up with a shrug.

Offer your mind like a shot

When you think you're safe, with a camera:

YOU'RE CAUGHT."

(I spent 7 hours on this so id appreciate if y'all could please rb ty /nf)

reference image yay

[twolovelyberries]

lights they blind me!!

[terrence-silver]

Terry and beloved being papped when they’re on vacation together

---

Honestly, if we're being realistic, I see Terry Silver (and generally, people like him) as the type to take vacations on private islands he owns, travelling via private jets, retreating to private super-yachts nobody has access to but those he specifically chooses to invite and include, VIP resorts of the closed variety and private beaches that if you trespass unto you're technically trespassing in his property and could very well have a hefty lawsuit on your hand for it, so really, if this man doesn't want to be seen, he simply won't be seen; absolute privacy is something the mega wealthy can afford themselves and he's hardly the kind of man just travelling, vacationing and arranging his holidays at some commonly commercial place everyone else vacations on too, just out in the open, running into plebians left and right. His standards and tastes are far too high, precise and particular for that.

No.

His vacations throughout life are undoubtedly the type of lavish, super secretive affair that never lands in the newspaper or the mainstream media unless he wants it to land in the newspaper and the mainstream media. So, if he does end up papped, it is undoubtedly because he specifically arranged for himself to get papped, having absolute control of the situation and who photographs him and his surroundings, why and when. At what angle. During what time of day. With what quality of equipment, for all it matters. Of course, he could, technically, pretend he is clueless as to how this happened, but truth of the matter is that he ain't. He's just an excellent actor. That Paparazzi is on his payroll. Terry allowed them to do this. Terry allowed the papers to buy the story and spread it around. Terry allowed the world to see beloved and by extension, himself. Funnily enough, once he does, it is akin to announcing to everyone that you're his and claiming you in front of everybody, because it is right there, on the front pagers of every periodical in the country and wider. Now the whole world gets to see you belong to him and he can innocently act like he absolutely didn't mastermind the whole photoshoot all along. Could very well shake the Paparazzi's hand once the job is well done and give them a handsome bonus too.

-"You pulled off your part of bargain perfectly. I'm impressed."-

Terry might say carefully looking through the set of pictures he commissioned.

Picking and choosing which ones he wants to plaster to the media and which ones he'll keep for a more private collection all of his own.

-"Just remember,"- He warns, wagging a bejeweled finger.

-"This stays between us and I'll repay your silence with gold."-

Terry means it too.

This was the most lucrative project of that photographer's entire career.

[caroldantops]

dark version of the paparazzi au (i think it was called?) where you're kates biggest fan, running stan accounts and in the fan forums talking about how hot she is. and you're surprised and excited when she happens to walk into your favorite bar, and you get the courage to introduce yourself and talk to her, and she seems so happy and humble to meet a fan, just as nice in person as you expect, and you don't even question if the drink she buys you is drugged with anything.

until you wake up hours later, naked and chained to her bed, sore from how she's been using your holes, and all she says is "isn't this your dream come true?" and you find out later that meeting her wasn't an accident, she stalked you after seeing your posts about her bc she figured if she was gonna capture someone to keep as a pet it might as well be one of her adoring fangirls who spend their time hornyposting about they want kate to do to them

[selineram3421]

🚧Under construction🚧

Paparazzi🕸

Prologue

Romantic: Angel Dust X Reader

From: Paparazzi Headcanons

Warning! ⚠

⚠ implied/suggestive, paparazzi being creeps, reporters, social media stalking/harassment, Valentino being a bitch, outraged fans, blood, descriptive injuries, murder spree ⚠

~

"Hey!", you greet your boyfriend, sprinting over with a grin. "How was your day?"

"Same old shit. I stole some guy's wallet though!", he says and lifts it up, pulling you close with one of his lower arms and walking.

"Anything good in there?", you ask and walk with him.

"Kinda? I mean, there was a condom and two hundred bucks.", the spider demon shrugs and puts the wallet away.

Angel Dust.

One of Hell's most famous porn stars and your boyfriend.

You've been with him for a good while now. Meeting his friend Cherri Bomb and also participating in whatever the two got into sometimes. Dating was a blast, but you had to keep it on the down-low. With him being a star came paparazzi, and he didn't want you mixed up in that mess.

"What do you wanna do tonight? Wanna watch Hellflix and chill?", Angel asks you.

"That sounds good, let's do it.", you agree and take out your hellphone. "Want take-out? I'll order something."

"Hell yeah! Can we get burritos?", he says and leans over to look at your phone.

"Sure Fluff-ti.", you say and scroll to look for your favorite burrito place.

What you two didn't notice was the demon following you since Angel got out of the club.

.

Currently you both were "watching" a movie. Hours had passed since dinner and now it was just some time for the two of you, Fat Nuggets was asleep.

"Damn it Angel, you're too pretty for Hell.", you say in between kisses.

"Shouldn't I be doin' the sweet talkin'?", Angel asks, holding you closer.

Then there's an odd sound, making you pause.

"What was that?", you ask and look around.

"Probably the movie.", he says, pulling you for more.

There's another noise, like metal and you sit up, finding a light coming from the front door.

"What the hell? Why is the mail slot open?", you say and squint to figure out why.

A second later you jump up and cover yourself with a robe before rushing over to the door. Pulling it open, you Sparta kick a demon in a face and their back hits the wall across.

"Fuck off you creep!", you yell.

"Ack! You piece of shit! You broke my nose!", the demon cries out, holding their bleeding nose.

"I'll break more than that if you don't leave.", you threaten.

"No you would-", they start.

"One.", you start counting down. "Two.."

The demon scrambles getting up and runs down the alleyway.

"You ok hun?", Angel says from behind you, wrapping his arms around your neck and waist.

"I'm fine, but someone was looking through the mail slot.", you say and both of you head back inside, closing the door.

"I can't keep count how many times that's happened.", he says with a scoff and a roll of his eyes.

You make sure its locked and hug the spider demon, burying your face in his fluffy chest.

"Sounds like a nightmare.", your voice is muffled.

"Let's go back to bed.", he says with a certain tone.

Movie had finished a while ago.

🕸

You know that invisible pressure you get when being watched? That feeling like someone is just around the corner or in the shadows?

Yeah, that's been going on for two weeks now.

Angel thought you meant the usual stares he got from others but then there were demons sitting in cars for hours across the apartment.

Feeling a hint of paranoia, you wrote down all the license plates of the cars that stayed a little too long or any that seemed to follow you when outside.

Eventually you start having a panic attack, working on autopilot when packing an emergency bag.

Angel finds you pacing.

"Hey, whoa! Calm down babe.", he stops you with a hug and rubs your back. "You're ok, you're ok.", he whispers.

"Three cars followed me today. They were recording.", you tell him, hands clutched onto his top. "I don't wanna go through that again. Not again-", you mutter, remembering being in a similar situation when you were alive.

"Shh, shh..", he holds you tighter. "Its ok."

He makes a call to Cherri to help out get rid of them.

But its too late as all hell breaks loose when an article with pictures of you and Angel comes out.

~

Listening to Paparazzi by Lady Gaga.

~Seline, the person.

Part 1

Taglist@

@ducky-died-inside @c4rved-pumpk1n @stolas-thebirb

ML for Angel Dust🕸

[youjustdontunderstandmymusic]

lady gaga for paparazzi music video

[chordsykat]

Dudes, why we always get new Dethklok news a day after the 2009 VMA Performance of Paparazzi by Lady Gaga starts circulating again, out of the blue?

I'm serious. This is twice now in like, 60 days. O.o