#want to be in team meteor but felt like he had no choice. he was forced to eat cement when he was six. he's bisexual but nobody wants him.

[timegears-moved]

idk how people can choose not to fight taka to get onto the reshiram route and then refuse to have him accompany you while you're in the desert. it's like kicking an abandoned puppy.

[red-elric]

theyre foils theyre foils theyre playing the same type of role theyre holding similar positions among their friends and the narrative their backgrounds and outlooks have fundamental parallels but their dispositions are fully antithetical to one another. this is about vriska and karkat btw.

its about doing their best to play a role in alternian society. its vriska desperately looking up to and imitating mindfang and killing other kids to avoid being eaten by her own lusus, its karkat training to become a threshecutioner and glueing his lips to )(IC's boots despite knowing he'll be killed without a thought when his mutation is discovered. its how both of them felt that pressure to kill and grandstand and become a LEADER but while vriska had the strength to actually follow through with it karkat had the strength to choose not to. its how if either one of them hadnt been there no one on their team would have made it through sgrub. its how every single person hurt by vriska turns to karkat instead afterwards (karkat telling aradiabot hed dedicate a whole team to bringing her back to life if he could in openbound. tavros texting karkat for help when he was paralyzed. sollux being one of karkats best friends at the beginning of hivebent, and seeming to have cut a lot of ties with the rest of the flarp crew. kanaya putting her energy into taking care of karkat after vriska broke her heart. terezi falling into some sort of romance with karkat after cutting ties with vriska. eridan asking karkat for advice over and over again after being dumped by vriska, and actually getting it too.)

its the way they so badly want to BE each other. karkat wants to be feared and respected, vriska wants to be loved unconditionally. vriska, who can see everyone shes ever cared about giving up on her and gravitating towards karkat, but still treats him with as much respect (or more!) as anyone else. she never tries to kill him, she never truly undermines his position among the team, she just faces him head on and treats him like an actual person, even when she takes over leadership post retcon. karkat, who has heard time and time again how much vriska sucks, who fully understands how much she has hurt so many of his friends, who isnt afraid to say to her face his opinion of her, but still gives her the benefit of the doubt to anyone asking. when she's kicked off the blue team and asks him if she can join the red team, he still lets her, and he's always willing to give her a second chance, especially if terezi's backing that choice. its how they want to be seen the way the other is seen, and they offer that respect/clemency to the other, and neither of them really knows how to hold it

its about terezi. isnt everything? its about loving her to the point of obsession, and how terezi feels like she has to choose between them, she cant or wont choose them both. its the flip of a coin, vriska, then karkat, then vriska again, and theyre the same coin really but they cant both be face up at the same time. its about how they both desperately need her attention, her salvation, her protection, her judgement, and they cant both get it, and they know it. its a little about john, too, about being his two guides through sburb, and honestly about how they both had a crush on him.

its about how when vriska died the team fell apart, crushed by inaction. its about how when karkat started to feel irrelevant (because he lost that moment of soothing gamzee and ending the cycle of violence on the meteor. vriska neutralized him instead, and karkat lost his importance) the team stopped feeling like a collection of real people, with strong connections to one another. its the delicate balance between the thief of light, the one who takes all of the narrative relevance she can get and will tear everything apart to make sure its all about her; and the knight of blood, the one who unites the shared feelings and connections of everyone together and heals and protects what has been hurt by her. they complement each other, and they need to stay balanced so that she doesnt burn out too quickly and leave him with nothing to protect, so that he isnt overwhelmed by her light leaving her unfettered.

[lildevyl]

Whumptober Day 23: Forced Choice

QSMP

Summary:  Set during Purgatory 1 QSMP  The Watcher gives Quackity a Choice, see his kid, Tilin again alive and well with all of his memories intact or sacrifice his team?

Inspired by Epic the Musical: Thunder Brigner

A/N: Okay, this is my version of how the ending of Quackity's Purgatory Stream should have gone! Yes, a lot of Angst and pulling at the heartstrings and heavily inspired by Epic the Musical: Thunder Saga! Hope you all enjoy it!

The Watcher hides away and watches the Teams compete for their Eggs.  Willingly to destroy each other just so they can get their kids back.  Willing to stab each other in the back.  The Watcher looks over and sees one particular Player and wonders what he would do to get his Egg back.

(Watcher)

Pride is a damsel in distress

Hiding away where only I can undress her

Try all she can not to confess

In the end, it's all the same once I apply all the pressure

Thunder, bring her through the wringer.

After several days of fighting each other and trying to survive to get out of this hell!  Team Bolas finally made it!  They can finally get their Eggs back and leave!

(Watcher)

Show her

 I'm the judgment call

The one who makes her kingdom fall

That was until the Watcher appeared in front of them.  He looked at Quackity and smiled.

(Watcher)

Lightning, wield her, use and yield her

Show her what she can't conceal

For true nature will be revealed

“Tell me, Quackity, if I could bring back the one person that you always wanted, what would you choose?  Your “friends” and teammates or the one, who you are willing to do anything to get back?”  The Watcher asked Quackity.

“What?  I don’t know what you mean.  What do you mean?”  Quackity answered full of confusion.  He was here to get Tallulah.  To prove to her that he was a better father and a better guardian.

“Papa?”  A small voice said from behind them.  Quackity slowly turned around and behind him and the group, a hidden door began to open revealing -

“T-Tilin?”  Quackity stammered.  “H-how?  T-Tilin?  Is that- is that really you?”

“Papa?”  Tilin called and then he saw him.  Tilin saw his Dad and broke in a huge smile bouncing on his feet, arms open for a hug.  “Papa!”

Before Quackity could rush over and scoop up his kid, the Watcher stopped him.  Putting a hand on his shoulder and then he gave held up a candle in his hand.

“Choose,” the Watcher said handing the Candle to Quackity.

“Choose?  What do you mean, choose?”  Quackity asked.  

“Someone's gotta die today and you have got the final say,” the Watcher said.  “You?  Or your teammates.”

“What?”  Quantity demanded.  He then looked at the candle and realized what it meant.  There were symbols all over the candle that represented the different members of his team.

“Please don't make me do this!  Don't make me do this!”  Quackity begged.  He felt his face was wet and didn’t know that he had tears running down his face.

(Team Bolas)B

When does a comet become a meteor?

When does a candle become a blaze?

“I can take the suffering from you,” Tilin said arms out walking towards Quackity.

(Team Bolas)

When does a man become a monster?

When does a ripple become a tidal wave?

When does the reason become the blame?

“Let me take the suffering from you,” Tilin said now standing in front of Quackity.   Tilin wore the blue hood similar to Quackity, the red ribbon tied in a bow sitting on of their head, scales scattering on their face like freckles, tiny horns beginning to poke out of the dark brown hair. The tail gently swayed back and forth. “Papa?”

(Team Bolas)

When does a man become a monster?

“Quackity?”  Charlie anxiously approached.  Charlie had a feeling of deja vu and he didn’t like it!  This looked too familiar and Charlie had a flashback as to it why!  “Quackity, from Las Navadas of the Dream SMP.”  When Charlie spoke it wasn’t his usual form of voice but something more robotic and everyone on Team Bolas was looking at each other in confusion except for Foolish and Philza.  Realization dawning on Foolish of a forgotten memory resurfacing.  “You don’t have to do this.  We - we were given a second chance.  A second chance to live freely.”

“Papa?”  Tilin asked holding Quackity’s hands.  “Papa, are we going home?  I want to go home!  Can we please go home!”

Quackity fell to his knees sobbing and holding his child, Tilin.  Tilin was real, Tilin was in his arms, Tilin was talking to him and calling him Papa!  Tilin wanted Quackity to be their Dad again, to make up for all of his mistakes and be a better father to them!

“Quackity?”  Charlie tried one more time.

“I have to see her,” Quackity whispered remorsefully.  He wanted to see his kid so badly and now his wish was coming true but at a terrible cost.  He knew what his decision would do, what it would cost him, but he just couldn’t let go!  His son was back with him!

“But we'll die,” Charlie begged.

“I know,” Quackity confessed and still held Tilin close to him.  Afraid that if he let go, Tilin would disappear forever.

(Watcher)

Thunder, bring her through the wringer.

Show her I'm the judgment call

The one who makes her kingdom fall

Lightning, wield her, use and yield her

Show her what she can't conceal

For true nature will be revealed

Quackity stood up, holding Tilin in one hand, the candle in the other.  He looked at Charlie, at Philza, at Jaiden, at Foolish.  “I’m sorry, please forgive me.”

“I understand mate,” Philza said.  “But I will find a way to get my kids out no matter the cost.”

“I know,” Quackity acknowledged.  He then blew out the candle.  A door opened behind the Watcher and Quakcity took Tilin with him.

“You have ten minutes to get off the island before the Nuke demolishes it,” the Watcher said and then disappeared.

****

Tagging: @weirdmixofweirdness, @isa-ghost, @whumptober, @whumpster-dumpster, @tracobuttons, @a-humble-narcissus

[tired-needs-sleep]

what's your favorite thing abt one (or some) of your oc's personalities? do they have any certain behaviour patterns/mannerisms that you love? choose whoever u wanna talk abt, I'd love to hear :]

drops everything runs over to you. some? how about all the main gals.

oh. ih god oh my sweet trauamtized ocs.

i talk so much here. like a lot more than normal. sillies,,

for rhea i think one of my favorite things is actually how i imagine a novelization of their save file. since i think it would be so cool if taka dies, (but technically speaking either taka route can work for them. the choices are both in character for her so it's basically a 50/50 chance she'll lean one way or the other) i want to show just how absolutely fed up and tired of team meteor rhea is, so instead of the usual tone of narrative showing the reader how rhea feels on the inside at the moment, rhea stands up while holding taka's scarf, and the tone changes. from something like, say:

rhea blinked at cain through the window they made in the blanket cocoon they were in. of course he was right. there were more important things than feeling sad over something in the past. that could wait until later.

it would become this if it took place after taka dies:

they blinked at him. “right. there's more urgent things than this. what's the plan?”

i think i can explain a lot better with demonstration than describing it but i'm completely obsessed with this style choice. basically it shuts out about 90% of their inner monologue that is usually in what i write. most feelings and thoughts would be shown through actions and words, but i have not had too much luck with writing that style quickly since i'm so used to adding a “they sighed, irritation ..yadayadayada” to some part of an interaction. i still love it, just takes longer since i would need to go back and filter things out. also i get rid of things like the 'felt' in “she felt the wind on her face” to become “wind blew on her face.” makes it seem less casual and more tense. past me may be a little silly but that was one of the better ideas for them.

also after taka dies they go apeshit because they grew as close friends whole they got lost traveled through the desert. like team meteor killed kiki, someone i imagined rhea would be close to, kidnapped the kids, tried to kill them multiple times, and probably more i can't think off off the top of my head, but then taka? a good friend? nah i think i would be done too lol

that's just the narrative as well. rhea as a character i adore so much. like how they blush at the smallest complement or gravitates towards citrus fruit. or how koa (espeon) evolves to save them again, since they did that on the train too, so rhea returns the favor and ends up with a cool lightning scar as a result. and how they just squeeze their heirloom as a stress response. sometimes she bleeds. sometimes she does not notice. thank you twitter mutual that was an amazing idea

ALSO ALSO ALSO their relationship with amaria. i have a whole draft talking about this. what really sold me on the don't fight taka route was amaria attempting to drown the player. i don't know how the scene goes exactly but i was not about to let that opportunity go. rhea finds themselves looking up to amy and is like "wow. strong trainer. i wanna be like that sometime maybe." and i imagine they got along too. which makes it hurt more when they're both underwater and rhea can't get air. (i like to hc that the dive tm just enhances the trainer's ability to hold their breath underwater depending on how strong the pokemon using it is and at that point it's been a hot minute since resurfacing) so rhea, afterwards, goes from enjoying being underwater and surfing to being anxious when there's other people around. they're okay when alone but is usually on high alert anyway.

nia?!?! nia. so rotten over her. i love how she's just playing pretend basically. she's very hurt on the inside even before nancy dies but she just acts very extroverted and hyper to distract herself. she is still generally a friendly and generous person but it's like, she's pretending it isn't affecting her, when it is. little things like how she flinches when people begin to argue around her or how she has less faith and trust in authority figures, even being a little less obligated to do what they say. (see the time where i think it was crescent told her and ren not to go after melia and nia straight up told them, "nah we just didn't care what you said to us") i haven't thought of too many more but they will be there!!

the biggest thing i've been obsessed over with her is how she deals with the "death" of herself. at first her favorite color is red, since pink is a shade of red and nia and nancy were super close. but that shifts from red to orange and yellow after she comes back. ironically the same color as lava. hm. but it's not just the colors!! she likes wind. and rain to an extent, but not too much rain. her hair type and rain is not a good combination when she just got her hair done. but mostly wind. she can feel the wind. it reminds her she's still there. and that breaks me because she's learning to notice smaller things she didn't before. go girl go enjoy life as much as you can within the circumstance. the relationships with other characters too. it really made rejuvenation for me. playing fetch with aelita. i was dying of fun. nia smiled for the first time after mom died there. playing with her bestie and a cute doggo. goodest boy ever. hanging out with melia. nia found hapi and her meeting very sweet.

also erin saying that nia fidgets a lot in her sleep. makes sense, since nia has bad nightmares. twisted endings to things scare her to the point she dreads going to bed. i like to think melia catches her awake and they talk a little before nia thanks her for what she told tesla at terajuma.

nia may not have an "oh my god. i'm not straight" moment but she will have multiple instances of "wow. i am really gay. shameless even" just like me. should've seen my reaction to medalis' art smh

oh boy. emo girl. kisaragi. she's not nearly as developed as nia and rhea but i still adore her and her seriousness and parental issues

do you know how excited i was when valkyrie gave me the go ahead to make them. went feral. absol aura wielder beloved. i never figured out their hair color since red eyes go well with both white and black hair. they developed some trust issues a lot earlier than the other two ocs because they already experienced fake friends so many times. i was like, it would be cool if sara was from aevium, where most of that au is, and went on the desolation boat with the help of their friends because they were so done with their parents.

so sara tends to come off as sort of mean at first, because she defaults to “this person might just want something from me and leave afterwards, so why get attached in the first place anyway” so it takes a while for them to fully trust anyone, really. they're super soft on the inside though. mega soft. see when they interact with their absol, hasumi. i'm such a heckin sucker for mean/rough exterior but soft characters. they are so shaped. hug shaped. i like how they'd just melt if you say something like how you think they're so cool. they have some self worth issues thanks to their parents comparing them to their siblings often and disregarding what they might want to study at school for whatever they think is better. which is never better for sara.

i also really like what i have for their current dark type behavior (since soul bonded with absol, they can display characteristics similar to the type):

gets a headache that can turn to a migraine with too much exposure to artificial lights.

low sugar tolerance

feels connected to night/darkness as a whole, but in sara's case specifically the moon or a dark forest

can see better in the dark

unusual stealthiness. literally walks silently most of the time

hates bugs, would never admit to being scared of certain ones

practically nocturnal, does better at night but can handle the day fine.

i still don't know how the fighting type weakness can manifest? there's also the general effects an aura wielder has. like being resistant to illness, which i find funny because i hardly ever get sick. i woke up sick one day and was better in 2 hours. why is my immune system made of steel? i've been joked about because of it kashahhasja

also she likes ghosts since like absol, they think they're generally misunderstood. sort of like them. maybe people think they're stuck up or rude or something when that's not who they really are, like how people can think all ghost types are malicious when most aren't. also finds them fascinating how there's no scientific explanation for some of the cool things they can do!! and that's even cooler. how do you phase through the wall haunter do it again. again. again!

tldr i'm soo normal about them all.

[crystalelemental]

Unicorn Overlord round 2 complete. Tried a couple different teams, though a lot of generalized structures remained in place. Teams below the cut. I probably won't do yet another playthrough, I'm...kinda getting burnt out on it. But it's consumed enough of my life that I don't really know what I'll do next, so stay tuned I suppose.

Team 1: Alain/Liza, Eltolinde/Ridiel/Chloe Eltolinde was my choice for Ring of the Maiden this time through, and...look. This was not an effective choice overall. A big problem I have with the Ring of the Maiden is...1PP. This can be offset with something like a 1AP weapon and Amethyst Pendant, getting the 4/4 you want, but Eltolinde has access to no such weapon. For full 4/4, she needs Ruby/Sapphire, but there's not enough equipment for that. Ring of the Maiden is a generally mediocre choice on her. Not that she doesn't make it work, her AoE spam into repetitive Primus Edge is fantastic. Ridiel can freeze, which usually hits the armor knight trying to block her shots, setting up an uninterrupted AoE shot. Chloe was initially set to Active Gift on Eltolinde, but Eltolinde's own Elemental Impetus kinda ruins that plan. I just couldn't separate her from Ridiel. Liza was here because...honestly I just wasn't sure what to do. I kinda threw her in with the intent of healing Alain with a guard when he gets low, alleviating Eltolinde of healer duty. The team certainly worked, just like last run the Alain team basically went undefeated. I had slightly less fun with it this time, solely because I don't feel like I had the best sense of cohesion.

Team 2: Melisandre/Celeste/Umerus, Scarlett/Galadmir Speaking of. Melisandre's Meteor Strike can be good damage, but I found Aubin was not the solution I'd hoped for. Despite War Horn, her problems continued to interfere, and I find her utility much more useful than her damage. A surprising number of teams that pack high evasion and flying units are hard to deal with, and Melisandre is an excellent response to them. It's just that Meteor Strike does not feel like it's doing what it needs to do half the time. She also really wants protection late game. Without someone to shield her, she's relying on her ability to dodge, which is never an ideal approach. Umerus, like Ochlys, is kinda whatever. I don't really respect Feathersword as a class, even if I love Ochlys. Galadmir was attempting to freeze stall. Celeste continues to Fatal Dive, and is very good at it.

Team 3: Berengeria/Gloucester/Hilda, Morard/Primm Finally. Last run, I tried to pick up Berengeria's team late in the game, but they kinda didn't work so well and were behind on level, so they never caught up. This time they did, and as soon as we hit Bastoria, it was basically over. This team was crazy good. Berengeria's Eye of the Warrior Princess sets up the power boost on Gloucester, whose burn kicks off Berengeria's boosts when targets are afflicted. Sanguine Pursuit in particular just becomes ridiculous. Hilda with Aerial Wing contributes with her own Fire Breath. Primm is downright essential. Gloucester needs someone healing, or it becomes a massive problem for him, given the constant HP cuts he inflicts on himself. Morard is an odd one, and truthfully, I think I could've swapped him out, but he worked well and I never felt the need to. Morard got me to respect Berserkers. Mounting Charge into Grand Smash is fantastic. I actually gave him Knot of Ruin. In the back row, the -30 HP is minor, and low Initiative isn't a problem at all when he's the finisher. The +1AP is really nice, because it means his AP and PP considerations are already taken care of for you. With Lionheart and Mirrored Spectacles, he's a lot more accurate than I gave him credit for.

Team 4: Hodrick/Miriam, Yunifi/Tatiana/Yahna Minor changes, but the intent was to aim for freeze. It doesn't really work that well, if I'm being honest. While the Legionnaire/Sainted Knight combo feels right, I find it needs much more power in the back row than what we're actually using here. I dunno. Maybe the class combo just sounds good and I'm just unimpressed by their functional ability.

Team 5: Bryce/Monica/Bertrand, Ramona/Nina Alright, listen. Do I like Bertrand and Ramona? Not really. Bertrand is alright, though the split of one attack with high HP and one with low is really awkward, especially since the high HP one is only at the end of the battle. He's fine, if slightly uninteresting. Ramona, however, is not exactly my favorite. I think it's just misalignment. I felt like Ramona's HP recovery and PP restoration would be good on a more defensive frontline like this, but I kinda disagree with myself. Her sky-high initiative, combined with Extra Heal granting +30 initiative to an entire row, makes me feel like her best use is more offensive in nature. Like, swapping her in for Morard in the Berengeria team likely would've been tremendous, because now they're kicking up high initiative and HP recovery and she's popping in more PP for follow-ups. I do attribute many of her failures to using her wrong. Or at least, sub-optimally. She does die an awful lot, though. And her skills feel very busy without high AP/PP boosting items.

[petalsonfacesnovinesthough]

Sonic Quilford AU Custom "Arcs"

As I slowly descend into madness from making all this from just wanting to rewrite Sonic Forces, I've added some extra bells and changed some of the whistles. And since I think these deserve more than just a simple mention, they're gonna get quick summaries here.

(In between Scrapnik arc and Frontiers) Dark Arm Ops: Two months after some freak meteor shower, Vanilla starts getting suspicious of the blue hedgehog's behavior and lack of any egg-esque scientists. Upon hearing her little girl and Ms. Rose seemingly get beat up, she turns to The Chaotix Detective Agency for help. What is going on with Team Sonic? Who's that strange hedgehog they run into in Soleanna, why did he only show up after Charmy found a Chaos Emerald, and why does he look like Shadow? And where is Robotnik in all this?

Inspired by SONIC.EXE, this story has Vanilla taking the main role, plenty of silly(and not-so-silly) detectives, time loops set up through an alternate take based off this headcanon by @autisticshadowthehedgehog (which are to be explained at a future date), and the return of Mephiles from Non Existence.

(After Sonic's 18th Birthday, but before TMoStH) Lune Kingdom: While still enjoying the downtime as Amy, Knuckles, and Tails have their solo expeditions, Sonic gets a message from Team Amber that he might want to come join them exploring a little island kingdom not far from Christmas Island. Upon getting there, it turns out the royal family could be in need of some assistance, as the Queen went slightly mad, Crown Princess Sonia feels drowned in work, the leader of the local street kids seemed to know something about them, and they want him to talk to some star nosed mole they call the Oracle? And here he thought Blaze had it hard being royalty...

I knew I'd integrate elements of Sonic Underground, and that includes Sonic's family members there. Aleena, Sonia, and Manic all have their part to play, along with the Oracle of Delphius(who gets a real species this time, even if it's with some water trauma for Mr. Needlemouse(Fun fact! Star nosed moles are semi-aquatic!)). Giving the role of Sonic's companions to Mighty, Ray, and Honey just felt right. The latter two have known him the longest, after all.

(Time Jump Fair After TMoStH) Angel Island Fight: Figuring the hedgehog and kitsunefox will be easier to kill off than Dr. Robotnik, Starline decides to try and overrule a choice made by the Chaos Emeralds themselves and supplant the 18yo speedster by getting Surge his role as their guardian. How will Sonic and Tails feel upon learning the platypus has found these two? Will Surge and Kitsunami stick with Starline, or throw him off the floating paradise? On a scale of 1 - 10, just how ticked is the 18yo echidna who lives on this soon-to-be battleground?

I feel like Starline didn't get to do much before his passing(which I'll get to). I mean, he vaguely worked with Robotnik during Metal Virus, tried to kidnap Tails that one time, did kidnap Belle, then broke Surge and Kit and then, BOOM, he's dead. So, he gets to do more! And, we get to see Sonic and Tails know their foes up close and personal, with someone getting angry from what's said as he walks back from Hidden Palace with Knuckles to go support his little brother.

(Time Jump Far After Angel Island Fight) Rush Reef: All of Team Sonic find themselves in hot water when they all end up sent to Blaze's dimension once more. After checking in with the Princess and tanukiraccoon pirate, it appears a trip down to Demon Island to find the Operator's Citrine is needed before Eggman and Egglock(Eggplant warlock, filling the role of Eggman Nega, who is fully Silver's nemesis). But can Sonic take the plunge this time? And considering Knuckles, who lives this far below?

I feel like there needs to be a full Team Blaze, along with a counterpart to Angel Island. Thus, Demon Island and its stressed, scared, oppressed last original inhabitant, Lotus the Sea Sheep(Sea sheeps are rare animals that photosynthesize like plants, as apposed to a mammal who lays eggs). Plus, a Sonic story that's mostly underwater is a rarity!

(Time Jump Fair after Rush Reef) Magic Show of Steel: Wanting a break, Sonic accepts an invite from Espio to join him in Casino Night for a week, because even with the violent reveal of the mayor as a badnik, business still booms. Especially for the city's favorite illusionist, Missy the White Rabbit. Yet, something in her performance rubs the hedgehog the wrong way. Can he, Amy, Shadow, Honey, and Espio figure out just what's happening before they all disappear? And just how close is a certain mercenary group?

Heavy Magician is my favorite Hard Boiled Heavy, and considering my plans for her in my Forces rewrite I'm still working on, I had to give her an arc all her own. Plus, we never get just the Speed characters interacting(and I want more interaction between Sonic and Team Chaotix in general). Plus, pretty lights and a possible Phantom Ruby fight between Magi and Infinite/Dante? Writing, become easier!

(Time Jump Far After Magic Show of Steel) Story Whirlwind: Upon noticing his primary fighter has chosen to fight him more than the blue blur and an impulsive stealing of two things Sonic really cares for, he starts getting paranoid. But, how much power can a book of fairy tales give? And how hard can it be to keep a cat that likes fishing and a government robot in captivity be? Let alone setting up Sonic's own friends to finish him off, and Kit's secret assignment...

Starline's death was too impassioned and having him get killed in a building caving-in was a cop-out. Fight me!

In reality, I really think just having Starline get crushed takes some of the joy out of seeing him stopped. It was just thrown into the Surge arc so they didn't have to bother with what we was doing anymore. Thus, a total change in scenario. And, an actual culprit. But, I think you'd need to ask the Emeralds. Make sure they aren't letting someone channel their darker sides though, or you'll meet Starline's shameless killer face-to-face. ;)

That's all for now. I have more, but I think they should get a part two to this, so I don't overload the post.

[rozetheeuwu]

HI sorry idk if ur still wanting questions but i thoguht of another i rlly wanna know

What characters that didnt get any/very little interactions in game do you wish got to have some time together?

I'm not sure if you time together with the player or with other characters so I'm gonna do both. ;w;

Characters I wanted to have more time in general:

Blake

Elias

Ace

Zero

Sirius

Sigmund

Would've loved to see more of them and learn more about them and their past. We mainly see Blake's childhood from Cal's perspective and what we do learn from Blake is that their father was abusive. I would've loved to see how it was like for him and how he felt more in detail. I also wish there was more than 1 post game quest with him. Don't get me wrong I loved the quest with him and Cal finally just talking about what happened and getting a fresh start, but it would've been fun to hang out with just him some more.

Also really wanted to see more of him in the future >:( Give me (Slightly) mellowed out Blake!

Same pretty much goes for Zero and El. Fuck, both only got a sidequest that's optional depending on the choices you make in game. I pretty much never actually got the Zero sidequest on my own (A friend lend me their savefile to check it out though!) Did you know he got an Articuno just for Lumi? That's so sweet!

We do get an amazing lore from El in the reshiram route, but still kinda sad that we didn't get more.

We did see quite a bit of Ace, but they disappeared after the sewers and wasn't seen again until late postgame!

I wanted to interact with them more and see more of them!

All we know from Sirius's past is told to us by other characters/diaries. And that's not much. Wish we could've seen a bit of him during the celebi or Dialga/Palkia sidequest or something.

Sigmund: We did get a lot of info on him during the Jirachi quest but we didn't get to interact with him at all after the events in Tanzan.

I mean, we can get friendship points with the man, just for him to die no matter what you do.

I wanted him to pay for his actions and see his mistakes during postgame. I wanted him to realize what he did to Saphira, her sisters and the other kids was abusive and that he apologized for it or something.

It just feels... Sad and empty now.

Character interactions with each other I wanted to see:

Cal and Blake:

I know pretty much most of Blake's encounters involves Cal but I just wanted to see them be brother's again working on their relationship, ya know? Or at least a scene in the future where they're close again...

Blake and Heather:

We did see them together in Blake's character ending, but since that's optional I'm putting it here anyway. Would've at least wanted to see one more interaction.

Radomus and El:

Haha, funny old men go bickering.

Titania and Shelly:

I love them so much, I want to see them talking about books or something.

Serra and Shelly:

Same reason as above, but less excited about that.

The rivals:

The shenanigans... We could've had them in a postgame quest where you had to chase a legendary trio or something.

Would've been so funny!

Noel and Shelly:

Idk, they're friends but we never get to see them interact much!! I want to see their friendship!

Zero with any of the fellow (ex) team meteor members:

Would've been so fun to see him be awkward as shit around them

Like they don't know him as his own person, they know him as ZEL

Elias and Taka:

Gimme it, they should talk about Solaris and the past or something idk!!! Let Taka and his other dad El talk!!

Elias and Terra:

Purely because of the future scene.

Ace and Ciel:

This should speak for itself. I need this.

Samson and literally anyone:

Unlike Terra and Ciel he pretty much knows no one there as much as he knows them. Let him and Victoria arm wrestle. Let him and Blake take shots. Let him carry Shelly, Heather, Noel and Anna at the same time.

There's probably a lot more that I can't think of right now, but yeah.

Hope I answered your question properly sdkgjdkflg

[just-dreaming-marvel]

Out Of Time ~ 103

MASTERLIST

< previous chapter

Word Count: 3,320ish

Summary: The team goes to Sokovia to fight Ultron.

“I can’t enter your head anymore,” Wanda stated, standing in front of Y/N.

Y/N had placed herself so that she wasn’t seated near anyone on the quinjet. Her head snapped up at Wanda’s sudden appearance.

“It’s like… something wanted me in there just that once and now I’m not allowed anymore,” Wanda continued. “How is that possible?”

“You show what I’m capable of,” Y/N responded, quietly. “I can’t freeze a whole room of super heroes. Get them to do my bidding…”

“Yes, but how? Does it have anything to do with what Thor was saying?”

“Leave her alone,” Tony ordered, coming up in his Iron Man suit, helmet down.

“I’m just trying to—“

“I don’t care what you’re trying to do. Y/N needs a break and time to prepare for what we’re walking into.” Wanda nodded, walking away, and Tony knelt down in front of Y/N. She looked away as he took her hands. “You going to be okay?” He asked quietly. 

“Maybe if everyone would let me be for a second, I would be,” she responded, quietly as well. 

“Can you look at me, honey? Please?”

She closed her eyes. “I don’t want to look at any of you until after this is over… even then, I don’t know if I really want to…”

“Steve’s just upset cause he feels everyone’s been keeping secrets.”

“And you didn’t do anything to stop him.” Y/N looked at him, eyes full of tears. “You didn’t try to understand or stand up for me…. Why?” Tony immediately felt guilty as Y/N’s voice cracked. “I thought— I don’t know why I even thought that a future would be possible…” She shook her head, looking up at the ceiling of the quinjet. “I’ve seen what is to come….”

“Y/N, you can’t be serious—“

“Stark,” Steve called. “We’re here.”

“One second, Cap, we’re kind of—“ But Y/N disappeared though a portal. “Damn it.”

Y/N had needed a second to herself, so she disappeared into the Sokovia woods. Where they had fought HYDRA before retrieving the scepter. She let out a loud, frustrating scream. 

“I don’t want this!” Y/N screamed, falling to her knees. “Take this.” She clenched her eyes shut. “I don’t want to know what I know, have what I have… please, somebody, help me…”

“I have,” the Ancient One’s voice came out of no where. Y/N’s eyes snapped open, she looked around to see that she was standing in the Mirror Dimension. “I will continue to help you.”

“Can you take this away? Give this burden to someone else? It’s tearing me apart—tearing my relationships apart! I can’t do this.”

“Yes, you can. That’s why you’ve been saved. Y/N, you are stronger than you give yourself credit for.”

“That was the cheesiest, most unhelpful thing you’ve ever said.”

The Ancient One chuckled. “Yes, but that doesn’t make it any less true… Y/N.” The woman stepped forward. “You can do this. But for todays battle, you need to put the future aside, focus on the task at hand. Or there will be no future, for anyone.”

~~~

The team had begun an evacuation of the city. Tony and Vision were headed for Ultron, who was waiting in the church. And Bruce went to rescue Natasha.

“Has anyone seen, Y/N?” Steve called through the comms.

“Not since she disappeared,” Tony replied. “FRIDAY, try accessing Y/N’s comms.”

“On it, boss,” the new AI responded. “It seems that she is in the woods, just outside the city.”

“The woods?” Steve and Tony repeated.

“You’ve pushed her too far,” Thor said, with a shake of his head. “You two shouldn’t have—“

“I’m fine, guys,” Y/N interrupted, making her way out of the woods. “Thanks for the concern but can we focus on the task at hand?”

“Are you sure you’re okay, Y/N?” Steve asked.

“Are you asking cause you really care, or out of familial obligation?”

“Y/N—“

“Not now guys,” Clint scolded. “Stop Ultron now, family problems later.”

“Agreed,” Y/N said. “I’m just exiting the woods. Where do you want me?”

“Help with the evacuation,” Steve ordered. “If you could, um… if you could persuade them to leave—“

“You mean use my mind powers to get them to go?”

Steve sighed. “Yes. It would be helpful.”

“Don’t drain yourself too much,” Tony added. 

“Channel the Stone,” the Vision offered. 

Y/N hurried further into the city. Closing her eyes, she focused on the Mind Stone and the people in the buildings surrounding her.

“Leave,” she commanded them, in their thoughts. “Leave and don’t look back.”

She had moved to her third block with the attacks started. Her eyes were closed, so she didn’t notice an Ultron bot coming at her. The bot kicked her back, throwing her tumbling forward. 

“Uh, guys,” Y/N called over the comms, “anyone else getting attacked by mini Ultrons?”

“Keep the fight away from the people!” Steve ordered.

The Ultron bot began blasting at Y/N. Using the portals, she sent the blasts back at it. Successfully hitting it. But then two more showed up. As she fought them, the ground began shaking. Y/N could hear Tony asked FRIDAY what’s going on.

“Sokovia’s going for a ride,” the AI responded.

“Do you see? The beauty of it, the inevitability,” Ultron said, through his bots. “You rise, only to fall. You, Avengers, you are my meteor. My swift and terrible sword and the earth will crack with the weight of your failure. Purge me from your computers, turn my own flesh against me. It means nothing. When the dust settles, the only thing living in this world will be metal.”

The ground continued to shake as Sokovia was being lifted into the air. Y/N took out the bots near her, trying to help the citizens at the same time.

“The Vibranium core has got a magnetic field, that's what's keeping the rock together,” FRIDAY explained, to the whole team.

“If it drops?” Tony asked.

“Right now the impact would kill thousands. Once it gets high enough: Global extinction.”

A child began screaming as an Ultron bot came up to it. Quickly, she portaled herself over the shielding the child as the bot started firing. Opening another portal, she rushed through with the child in her arms. Y/N wasn’t quick enough though. With a scream, Y/N fell forward, still trying to shield the child from the fall. The bot had fired at them, successfully hitting Y/N’s leg as her and the child went through the portal. The child scrambled away as Y/N looked at her leg. It was bleeding and burned, but she still had a job to do.

“Cap, you got incoming,” Tony warned.

“Incoming already came in,” Steve grunted. 

“Stark, you worry about bringing the city back down safely. The rest of us have one job: tear these things apart. You get hurt, hurt 'em back. You get killed… walk it off.”

“You wouldn’t be saying that if you saw my leg right now, Captain,” Y/N tried to joke, wincing as she stood up.

“What?!” Tony panicked. “Y/N, are you alright?”

“I’ve been worse, I’ve been better. It’s bleeding and burned. But a child is saved, so—“

“Don’t move. I’ll be there soon.”

“No, Tony, I—“

“Stark, we need her help,” Steve interrupted. “Y/N, do you think you can survive?”

“Yeah.” She nodded, breathing heavily. “I think I’ll manage.”

Using all the strength she could gather, Y/N fought off all of the bots near her. Breathing more heavily than she had been before, which she didn’t think was possible, she leaned against a building.

“Alright, we’re all clear here,” Clint told everyone.

“We are not clear!” Steve rushed to respond. “We are very not clear!”

“Alright, coming to you.”

“On my way too,” Y/N replied.

Taking a deep breath, Y/N created a portal to the bridge, or what used to be a bridge. She stumbled into a car, trying to keep herself up. Natasha and Steve were just finishing up the bots near them.

“The next wave's gonna hit any minute,” Steve stated. “What have you got, Stark?”

“Well, nothing great,” Tony answered. “Maybe a way to blow up the city. That'll keep it from impacting the surface if you guys can get clear.”

“I asked for a solution, not an escape plan.”

“Impact radius is getting bigger every second… We're going to have to make a choice.”

“Cap, these pool are going nowhere,” Natasha said. “If Stark finds a way to blow this rock—“

“Not ’til everyone’s safe,” Steve demanded.

“Everyone up here versus everyone down there?” Y/N asked, making her presence known. She limped toward them. “There’s no math there.”

“I'm not leaving this rock with one civilian on it.”

“I didn’t say we should leave.”

“There's worse ways to go,” Nat added with a shrug. “Where else am I gonna get a view like this?”

“Glad you like the view, Romanoff,” Fury teased over the comms. “It’s about to get better.” A helicarrier rose from above.

“Thank you, Coulson,” Y/N whispered with relief.

“Nice, right? I pulled her out of mothballs with a couple of old friends. She's dusty, but she'll do.”

“Fury, you son of a bitch,” Steve smiled.

“Oooh! You kiss your sister with that mouth?”

“This is SHIELD?” Pietro asked as the lifeboats flew towards the city.

“This is what SHIELD's supposed to be,” Steve answered.

“This is not so bad.”

“Let’s load ‘em up.”

The group split up, hurrying civilians to the lifeboats. The second wave of bots hit as they were doing so. 

“Thor, I got a plan!” Tony shouted.

“We’re out of time,” Thor stated. “They’re coming for the core.”

“Rhodey, get the rest of the people on board that carrier.”

“On it,” Rhodey replied.

“Avengers, time to work for a living.”

Y/N portaled her self to the church, immediately grabbing onto the wall to support herself. Her energy was basically drained. She didn’t know how much more she could take.

“Y/N?” The Vision rushed to her. “Take my hand.”

“I’m good, I’m good,” she swatted his outreached hand away. “I just need a second.”

“The Stone will give you some strength.”

“I’ll be—“

“Do it,” Thor demanded. “You need all the strength you can get.”

Slowly, Y/N placed her hand into the Vision’s. Also instantly, she felt better.

“Thanks,” she said, removing her hand. 

The Vision nodded, moving away as Iron Man landed. He made is way to Y/N.

“You okay?” Tony asked.

“I’m fine,” Y/N nodded.

“FRIDAY, give me a reading on her stats.”

“Tony.”

“Agent Rogers is currently running on good energy levels,” FRIDAY began. “The injury to her left leg is still bleeding. If not treated soon, an infection may form from it.”

“You should get on the helicarrier,” Tony said.

“Not a chance.”

Tony sighed, knowing it wasn’t worth the fight. “Romanoff? You and Banner better not be playing hide the zucchini.”

“Relax, Shell-head,” Nat responded in everyone’s ear. “Not all of us can fly.” She drove up in a tractor, jumping out to join the rest of the team. “What’s the drill?”

“This is the drill,” Tony pointed to the Vibranium core. “This is the drill. If Ultron gets a hand on the core, we lose.” 

Ultron showed up, slowly hovering down to them.

“Is that the best you can do?” Thor shouted.

Lifting his metal hand, Ultron summoned his army to join him.

“You had to ask,” Steve sighed.

Ultron held his arms out. “This is the best I can do,” he stated. “This is exactly what I wanted. All of you, against all of me. How could you possibly hope to stop me?”

“Well, like the old man said,” Tony paused, him and Steve looking at each other. “Together.”

The Hulk roared and the next fight began. Everyone was surrounding the core, fighting off every bot that dared to try and reach it. Thor, the Vision, and Tony had the main Ultron bot cornered outside.

“You know,” Ultron began, “with the benefit of hindsight—“ 

He didn’t get to finish because the Hulk knocked him far away. Ultron’s army began to retreat.

“They’ll try to leave the city,” Thor said.

“We can’t let ‘em, not even one,” Tony stated. “Rhodey!”

“I’m on it,” Rhodey responsed.

“We gotta move out,” Steve ordered. “Even I can tell the air is getting thin. You guys get to the boats, I'll sweep for stragglers, be right behind you.”

“What about the core?” Clint asked.

“I’ll protect it,” Wanda offered. “It’s my job.”

Steve ran out one way while Natasha and Clint ran another. Y/N followed her brother.

“What do you think you’re doing?” He asked.

“Right now, protecting your ass,” she responded. 

“You need to get to the lifeboats.”

“And you should have learned by now that I don’t follow your orders well. I’m staying, Steve. We’re in this together.”

The swept the streets, looking for the last of the civilians and guiding them to the lifeboats. They met up with Thor as they headed towards the lifeboats.

“Thor, I’m gonna need you back in the church,” Tony said.

“Is this the last of them?” Thor asked the twins.

“Yeah,” Steve replied. “Everyone else is on the carrier.”

“You know, if this works, we maybe don’t walk way,” Tony stated.

“Maybe not,” Thor replied.

“What? No. Wait,” Y/N rushed. “No, Tony. You’re getting out of this we all are getting out of this.”

“Honey, you know our job isn’t that simple,” Tony said. 

“I’m coming to you then. Where are you? You’ll do what you need to do and I’ll portal us onto the helicarrier.”

Suddenly, a quinjet began flying over, shooting down at everyone. Thor, Steve, and Y/N were thrown onto the ground. Y/N looked up to see Pietro standing in front of Clint and a little boy. He had red marks all over him. He quickly collapsed onto the ground. Thor flew off to the church while the twins rushed over to Pietro and Clint. Clint set the little boy down and checked Pietro’s pulse. The look he gave the twins gave them all they needed to know.

“No,” Y/N gasped, tears filling her eyes. She shook her head. “No.”

Clint grabbed the little boy and Steve grabbed Pietro. They hurried to the nearest lifeboat. Y/N stood off the lifeboat, looking around for anyone else as Clint gave the little boy to his mother and Steve set Pietro’s body down. Steve joined his twin.

“Tony,” Y/N called. “Tony, I’m not leaving you.”

“Y/N, I love you—“

The ground suddenly began dropping. Steve grabbed Y/N, who was kicking and screaming, and jumped onto the lifeboat.

“No!” She screamed, looking down at the city that was falling from the sky.

“Thor, on my mark,” Tony instructed. “Now!”

The city blew to pieces. 

“Tony! Tony!” Y/N cried into the comms. “Tony—“

“I’m here, honey,” he replied. “I’m here…” A sob cracked through her mouth. “It’s okay. Stay with Steve. I’m on my way.”

Steve guided Y/N into the helicarrier. He quickly noted how bad her limp was.

“Let’s get you to the med-bay,” he said.

All she did in response was nod, which made her brother sigh. Steve led her to the med-bay and got her settled into a bed as a nurse began to check her out. He sat down in a chair beside her. Leaning forward with his hands clasped in front of him, Steve watched Y/N. She kept her eyes closed, trying to get some rest without completely falling asleep just yet.

“Say what you need to say, Stevie,” Y/N said. “Your thoughts are giving me a headache.”

“That’s the thing… when were you going to tell any of us about the sudden mind powers?” Steve asked.

Y/N sighed. “When the time was right.”

“And the Infinity Stones.”

“When the time was right.”

Steve scoffed. “So never.”

“I didn’t keep my portals a secret. I wouldn’t have the mind powers either.”

“But the Infinity Stones? You would keep your knowledge of those a secret.”

“For everyone else’s safety yes.”

“How much do you know about them?”

“I—“

“There you are,” Tony came rushing up to the twins. “How are you? Have they seen you yet? How’s your leg?”

“I’m fine, Tony.” She smiled softly at his worries. “Just come here.” Her hands were on his neck, forcing him down into a kiss. “Don’t ever do that again.”

“Can’t make any promises.”

“Agent Rogers,” Fury called, coming into the room. “May I have a word?”

“She’s a little busy at the moment,” Tony replied. “Whatever you need to do can wait.”

“No, it can’t.” Fury stared at Y/N.

“It’s okay,” Y/N said, squeezing Tony’s hand. “Why don’t you and Steve make sure everyone else is okay and find me some food?”

“I think I’d rather stay,” Tony responded.

“Please, Tony. I’ll be right here, waiting for you to return.” 

Tony met Y/N’s gaze. He looked long and hard before giving in with a sigh and a nod. He leaned forward and gave her another kiss.

“We’ll be right back,” he promised. “Come on, Cap.”

The two men left, leaving Y/N alone with Fury.

“You needed something?” Y/N wondered, raising a brow at Fury.

“You’re needed, requested immediately,” Fury stated.

“By?”

“You know I can’t say.”

Y/N nodded, knowingly. “Immediately?”

“They need help explaining the helicarrier and Sokovia.”

“Where?”

“Gonzalez has a ship in the middle of the Atlantic. Hill’s preparing a quinjet for a fly over so you can portal yourself onto the deck.”

“You know the team won’t be happy about this.”

“I don’t care. You have an hour.”

~~~

“What?!” Tony exclaimed. “You just got finished saving the world, you have injured leg and they’re expecting you to leave?! Na-uh, no way. You’re not leaving my sight for a month.”

“I have to go help clear some things up,” Y/N sighed. “This wasn’t my call.”

“You’re not going.”

“I have to.”

“No you don’t!”

“I need to make sure Skye’s okay. We haven’t been able to check in because of all this Ultron stuff. I need to make sure Gonzalez isn’t going to try anything.” She grabbed Tony’s hand. “Plus… I need a break from Steve’s glares and questions. I won’t be long.”

“The minute you get home, we’re leaving. Taking a break, you got it?”

“I got it. I love you.”

Tony leaned down and kissed Y/N. “I love you too.”

~~~

“Rogers,” Maria called, piloting the quinjet, “we’re over the ship. I’m opening the hatch now.” The quinjet ramp began to lower. “Good luck.”

“Thanks, Maria!” Y/N shouted over the wind. “You too.”

Looking down at the deck, Y/N opened a portal onto it. Coulson was there at the door, waiting for her.

“Nice to see you in one piece,” Coulson smiled, eyes checking Y/N over.

“It’s good to see you too, Phil,” she smiled back at him. She followed him through the door and into the ship. “Tony’s not really happy about this.”

“Not surprised.”

“He might be calling you.”

“He already has.”

“Of course,” Y/N chuckled. “Where’s the rest of the welcome party?”

“Waiting in the conference room. You ready to explain everything?”

“I’ll explain what I have to, not everything.” 

Coulson studied Y/N as they walked. “Something happened, didn’t it?”

“Phil—“

“I know, I know. Not now. But later. We’re definitely going to talk about it later.” Y/N nodded as Coulson stopped at a door, hand going to the handle. “You ready?”

“They’re the ones that need to be ready.”

next chapter >

NOTES: from now on the taglist when be added by a reblog. I will reblog it using my second account, @just-dreaming-marvel-2​. Just so that my main page doesn’t get too cluttered.

If you want to be added to the tag list, please dm me or send in an ask. 

[dailybeastarsthings]

Chapter 17 - Revealing Secrets

All the Cherryton clubs were busy preparing for summer’s most anticipated event, the Meteor Festival. Wherever one looked, animals were painting figures, preparing stands and creating posters to invite the audience to them. It was no different for the Drama Club, whose dance team members were preoccupied with practice to perfect the choreography, while the backstage crew was busy painting a large T-Rex statue made from paper. The plan for this statue was to have little lamps placed inside it, to illuminate the beautiful monster.

Legoshi was painting the T-Rex’s right foot in silence. He really enjoyed this task as it gave him a chance to unwind in peace, while focusing on one thing. Suddenly, he heard Kai from behind.

‘Oh, this paint needs more water’ he said while carefully examining the label to figure out the water-paint ratio to have the desired density for the colorful liquid.

‘I can bring you a bucket if that’s fine’ Legoshi offered, while standing up.

‘Sure, thanks!’

Legoshi picked up the nearest bucket and went to find a tap to fill it. As he was walking around, he looked at the many stands already standing, trying to figure out the motivation behind some of the design choices. The Sports Club, for example, had a giant shoe at the top of their stand. On closer inspection, Legoshi saw that the club had a sportswear company as their sponsor. A few minutes later, Legoshi found a tap in the shadow of a large oak tree. He squatted down and filled the bucket to the brim.

As he was standing up, he felt someone tugging his tail from behind. He look behind his back to see, who it was but he saw no one. He felt the pulling again. He looked behind again, but from the other side. Suddenly, Haru jumped in front of him, shouting surprise in Legoshi’s face.

‘I didn’t think I’d see you here’ she said with a wide smile on her face.

‘Well, I’ve got to help out the Drama Club. I’m in the stage crew after all. I heard from Louis that the Gardening Club is also participating’ Legoshi responded while bending down, to have eye contact with the dwarf rabbit.

‘Yeah… I’m the only member so I’m super busy. Would you mind helping out for a bit?’

‘I’m really sorry but I have a lot on my plate, too right now. We have to finish this T-Rex today and we’ll already have to start working on the brontosaurus statue like… yesterday. So I won’t be able to help. I hope you don’t mind’ Legoshi said with an apologetic look on his face.

‘Oh, it’s okay. Good luck with the statues!’ Haru said. And with that, she walked back to organize his pots and plants.

‘I hope I didn’t come across as rude or anything’ Legoshi said while walking back to the other Drama Club members.

‘Here’s the water’ Legoshi said to Kai while handing him the bucket. Together they mixed the perfect ratio of water and paint. It turned into a vibrant golden yellow color, resembling the last rays of sunshine before sunset.

‘Let’s start painting the other leg, shall we?’ Kai suggested.

‘Sure’ Legoshi replied while picking up another few tubes of watercolors to paint the smaller details with.

‘I don’t want to boss you around or anything but with Louis around, I don’t want to slack off.’

‘Oh, he really is here’ Legoshi said. He saw Louis in the distance, walking around. Legoshi’s stomach jumped. He started following him with his eyes.

‘Well, he came here on a whim, acting like he’s so important…’ Kai continued.

‘Is he supposed to practice for the Lighting Ceremony?’ Legoshi asked not getting his eyes off of Louis.

‘No, the actors don’t have rehearsal today. Perhaps he came here for some personal business.’

Kai couldn’t be more correct about his theory. Louis walked in a very specific direction: towards the Gardening Club’s stand to be exact. He seemed to be very familiar with Haru, as she greeted him with an even wider smile than Legoshi. Louis squatted down and petted Haru on her head, who in return blushed. Legoshi saw everything: the gestures, the coy smiles, the blushing. He felt his heart sink.

‘What?’ he thought as he thought back to his conversation with Louis while walking down the stairs of the Gardening Club back at school. ‘I knew I recognized that smell!’ he thought angrily, his hands squeezing the tubes so hard they blew up in his hand. He looked at the colorful cavalcade on his palm, with the envious jealous green being the most dominant.

‘He takes my breath away… I’m always restless around him and try to act my best to don’t bring shame to him. Louis, I’ve never seen you make that smile before… I can’t stop myself… I’ve never been so convinced about this – I’m in love with you!’ he thought while rubbing the paint in his fur on his face, looking jealously at the lovebirds across the park.

***

It took a good few days for the stage crew to finish the T-Rex sculpture but everyone was filled to the brim with excitement to see the results once the final brushstroke was made. It was time to see the sculpture in all its glory. Kibi pointed a remote control towards the paper giant and pressed a button. The statue became illuminated, showing off its wonderful, vibrant colors in the sunset. The guys cheered on, as they looked at the fruit of their labor.

But it was not only the stage crew who were busy preparing for the festival but the actors, too. The others, however, mostly had their minds on the Lighting Ceremony. Legend has it that whoever places a lit-up candle on the meteorite with their significant other will be fated to stay together forever in love. Most of the students were naturally giddy with anticipation to find someone to ask someone out for the ceremony. It was no different with the Drama Club stage crew members either.

‘Guys, listen’ Dom said, pausing the chit-chat about the rendezvous’. ‘We’re going to stop working for the day. We need to pack up the equipment and head back to school.’

‘What?’ Kibi asked in shock. ‘But it’s only 5 o’clock!’

‘It’s probably because of the news, isn’t it’ Fudge commented.

‘Exactly’ Dom replied. ‘We’ve been getting more murders recently, so it’s dangerous to stay out at night.’

‘I did hear about the incident yesterday where five tree sparrow children were killed’ Kibi said a little worried. ‘And the day before that, I read somewhere that they found the corpse of a duck in the neighboring city.’

‘Yeah, so let’s head back to school’ Dom suggested. ‘We have nothing to fear if we move as a group.’ The others nodded in acceptance and started packing everything up.

‘Murders are always at their highest during the summer, but this year seems kind of strange to me…’ Kibi said while stepping to Dom. They each picked up a box and started walking towards the storage to place the equipment there.

‘I heard that carnivores have a bad temper during the summer, what do you think?’ Dom asked while they were walking.

‘Well, I think you’re being harsh right now if you ask me’ Kai replied who joined the conversation not long before.

‘But if it’s not true, then how do you explain that’ Kai replied, while pointing towards Legoshi, who seemingly froze up completely while washing the brushes. He didn’t move and he seemingly didn’t blink either. He just kept staring at the water flowing on the brushes, washing their colors away. Kibi stepped to him to hurry up the process.

‘Well, that doesn’t seem like bad temper to me. It looks more like he is deep in thought.’

‘Seriously though; for the past few days, he’s been prone to freezing. It was really bad yesterday when he froze up during a bucket brigade.’

‘That’s easy to figure out’ Kai chuckled. ‘He probably got a flashback of a bad memory or dream. It has nothing to do with bad temper.’

‘Or perhaps… He got into a little scuffle with Juno…’ Dom smiled to himself.

***

The evening was fast approaching. Haru was about to finish working for the day, too. She suddenly heard someone yelling from behind. It was a large feline.

‘Hey, girlie!’ he said. ‘You’re a Cherryton student, right? The Drama Club members are leaving. You should probably be heading back to school, too. It’s really dangerous outside!’

‘Thank you for the warning!’ Haru replied while trying to hide the fact that she rolled her eyes. She felt belittled by it. As if the others were acting like her parents. As she was putting the last flowerpot to its place, she took a moment to look around, only to realize that she was the last one in the park.

‘Wow, they really are gone’ she said to herself. As she was stretching after a job well-done, her eyes rested on the Drama Club’s T-Rex statue. She was amazed by all the details and even more so, the size. ‘That’s quite the sculpture they made!’ she said.

Haru suddenly felt really lonely. Dark thoughts began to spiral around inside her head…

I’m all alone… Not a big surprise to be honest… Probably no one would notice if I got eaten’ she thought. It quickly turned darker – almost too quickly. ‘Huh… I always thought days were longer during the summer, but it’s pretty dark today.’

Haru felt a sudden gust of warm wind on the top of her head. She turned around to see what was that all about only to see Legoshi arching over her, looking at her intensely.

‘Haru…’ he said, almost growling. ‘Hi…’

‘Legoshi, it’s you’ Haru replied. ‘I swear, this wolf is such a weirdo. He’s been kind of cold to me lately, but now it’s like he wants my attention.’ she thought.

Legoshi quickly realized his mistake and squatted down to be at eye level with Haru.

‘It’s been a while since we talked. Are you okay?’ he asked.

‘I’m good… But, Legoshi… Aren’t you supposed to leave?’ Haru replied.

Legoshi froze up for a moment not being sure what to say. Of course he had to leave but the way Haru said it made him question the situation. Maybe Haru just wanted to get rid of him for some reason – maybe to avoid being seen with Louis?

‘Yeah’ he said while nodding slowly. ‘Would you mind going back to school together?’ he asked.

‘Well, sure but why?’ Haru asked in surprise.

‘Because it’s extremely dangerous outside’ Legoshi replied with an almost growling voice from the depth of his throat.

***

After about 15 minutes, the duo got to the nearest metro station. Haru felt kind of tense because of the situation. On one hand she enjoyed the company. Not only because she had someone to protect her in case of any danger, but she could really use someone to talk to. On the other hand, she didn’t know where to put Legoshi’s sudden change in behavior.

‘He was probably joking when he said that…’ she thought nervously. ‘I probably should’ve followed along and said “Well, you’re kind of dangerous yourself” and laugh it off’. Haru paced her eyes over her company to see any changes in his behavior. Legoshi took a peak at her, too, then quickly looked in the other direction when their eyes accidentally met. Okay, seriously, what the hell is up with you today?’

Legoshi and Haru entered the platform by scanning their travel cards at the entrance. They just missed one of the trains back to school and the next one was scheduled for 7 minutes later. Haru decided not to wait in awkward silence and initiate a conversation.

‘You know Legoshi’ she began ‘ever since the first time we met, I felt like I could never read you.’

‘Oh, really?’ Legoshi asked. He wanted to describe himself to Haru a little but then remembered Louis and Haru seemingly enjoying their time together a bit too much back at the park and his thoughts jumbled in his head. ‘It sure is hot today! I heard it’s gonna be colder tomorrow, so it’ll be more comfortable’ he added.

Haru looked at him kind of confused. Though, she was somehow not surprised by the reaction. An awkward silence began to linger around the two. Haru was anxiously looking at the billboard to see how much time was it left for the next train to arrive, while Legoshi was counting the bricks on the wall to calm himself down. It was all in vain, he couldn’t keep to himself.

‘I need to know! I have to ask her and now is my chance’ he thought.

‘Haru… I’ve been meaning to ask you something’ he said.

‘Sure go ahead’ Haru replied.

‘I just don’t want you to freak out or anything. But it’s really important to me.’

‘Just ask away.’

‘Okay… Here goes…’ Legoshi took a deep breath. ‘Is there something between you and Louis?’ he asked nervously. Haru looked away uncomfortably then he frowned and looked at Legoshi.

‘And what if there is?’ she asked, annoyed.

‘Oh, umm…’

‘I’m not finished yet! You have some nerve asking me this. You should really learn to mind your own business!’

‘I just…’

‘It’s none of your business!’

The train finally arrived. Haru tried to walk away to get into a different car, away from Legoshi. He, however, grabbed her by the arm and pulled her closer.

‘Let go! I’m going to a different car!’ Haru yelled at Legoshi.

‘I can’t, we are not done talking’ Legoshi replied, slightly getting annoyed himself.

‘Yes we are! There’s nothing more to discuss about this topic so let go of me!

‘I will if you stay.’

‘I won’t. I’m not going to discuss this with you. Let go!’

‘No!’

As they were arguing, Legoshi realized that they had audience. They could hear someone calling for the guards. Suddenly, a jaguar appeared in uniform. It was one of the station guards.

‘Hey, wolf! What do you think you’re doing to that rabbit?’ he yelled at Legoshi.

‘Sorry, we were just having an argument’ Legoshi replied, immediately letting go of Haru’s arm. As he was about to explain the situation, though, he felt a tug from his arm. It was Haru.

‘Just run, we’re getting out of here!’ she yelled at Legoshi.

‘What? Why?’ Legoshi asked in confusion.

‘Don’t ask, just do it!’

Legoshi obeyed and he followed behind Haru, who began to run along the platform as fast as she could, not letting go of Legoshi’s arm. They heard the guard do the same, instructing them to stop. They just kept running, however.

‘Why are we running?’ Legoshi asked in confusion, not understanding what was going on. ‘We’re only making ourselves look suspicious!’

‘Stupid! Nowadays, a carnivore can get arrested just for arguing with an herbivore!’ Haru replied. ‘It’ll be all over for you if you get arrested! It won’t matter if they don’t find any evidence; they’ll just throw you straight into juvie!’

The duo was running fast, knocking many others out of their way. The guards were right behind them. It was hard for Legoshi to run behind Haru. He needed to be extra careful in order to avoid kicking her or stepping on her.

‘As I said, it’s really difficult for me to read you. But I guess this is not the right time to discuss this. You should probably lead the way and fast as you can if you don’t want to get caught!’

And so did Legoshi. As they were running, Haru was almost flying behind him, her feet barely touching the ground before taking another step. They managed to gain quite a large distance for themselves before the guards. They ran into a restroom, hiding in one of the stalls. Legoshi even pulled his tail up to completely hide themselves from the guards. They suddenly heard footsteps on the tiles.

‘I don’t think they’re here…’ the jaguar said to his partner. ‘I think they’re probably up by now; we should talk to the ticket inspectors at the entrance.’

They could hear the guards waiting around as if they said that to lure them out from their hiding place but eventually, there were steps again, leaving the restroom.

‘The footsteps are getting quieter, we should get out’ Haru whispered.

Legoshi didn’t move, however.

‘Haru… Do you feel like your life is in danger right now?’ he asked, speaking eerily close to her ears. The feeling of the sudden realization that she was encapsulated with a large gray wolf sent shivers down her spine.

‘Being this close to him made realize something…’ Haru thought, looking back at Legoshi. ‘When carnivores speak, their voices resound with a growl deep in their throat. You have such a deep voice… and yet… how can you look so gentle?’

Haru became frustrated and punched Legoshi in the stomach, who let out a heavy breath as a reaction.

‘Like I said, you’re difficult to read. You should decide whether you’re sensitive or insensitive. You can’t be both. And your voice! That timid tone of yours is creeping me out!’

‘I’m sorry’ Legoshi said while crawling down from the top of the toilet, still in a bit of pain after the punch. ‘We should probably go. It’s getting kind of late…’

Haru climbed down as well and the too quietly walked to the platform, where they jumped on the train, seemingly waiting just for them.

Back at school, Legoshi and Haru sat down on a bench in the school park with juices in their hands, which they bought in the school supply shop. They tried to leave the argument behind.

‘I read in a magazine that carnivores are more popular if they are more cheerful. What do you think? I think it kind of makes sense’ Haru said.

‘Maybe…’ Legoshi replied, while he was half-present for the conversation, while his other half was deep in thought. He thought about that night again.

It’d be criminal to hide it from her any longer. It might cause some irreversible damage, but I need to tell her the truth about that night. This might be the only chance I have. I’m going to just say it flat out – I’m the one who attacked you that night.’

But before he could say anything, Haru was already three steps forward.

‘You know, there was this one time when I almost got eaten by a carnivore’ she said. Legoshi was in shock. To him, it almost felt like as if Haru was reading his mind. He kept silent. ‘It happened back at school but it was very dark, so I couldn’t tell who attacked me…’ she pointed at her arm, where Legoshi’s claws sunk into it. ‘Do you remember how I got bandages on my arm when we first met? I told you that I didn’t know how I got my injury? Well, that was a lie. But I’m so glad I didn’t die back then. If I died I wouldn’t have been able to meet you’ Haru continued while looking at Legoshi. ‘So, to answer your question: no I didn’t feel like my life was in danger or anything… But you should really smile though.’

Legoshi was not very fond of the idea, however.

‘I should probably answer your other question, too…’ Haru continued. ‘You see, we have something between me and Louis. It’s not exactly friendship but it’s not a relationship either. We’re not in love or anything… But it’s a bit more complicated than that.’ Legoshi froze up a little more. On one hand, he felt some sort of relief, on the other hand, he couldn’t understand what does the ‘a bit more complicated than friendship but not love’ status mean… ‘I’m sorry, I can’t tell you any more than that’ Haru added.

Legoshi nodded, acknowledging Haru’s decision and as a thank you for letting him get to understand the situation a bit better.

Some time later, the duo stood up and started walking back to the dorms. Legoshi walked to the herbivore dorm with Haru, where they parted ways, saying their goodbyes and setting a time when to meet next time.

***

Meanwhile in the Drama Club, the actors were busy with rehearsals. During one of the scenes, Bill got a little carried away, didn’t pay enough attention and injured Louis' hand with his claws. The others gasped in shock as the warm red velvety color of Louis’ blood started trickling down his hand.

‘What the hell happened, Bill?’ Ellen asked while running up to them with Sanu.

‘We were in the middle of practice and I scratched him a bit’ Bill responded. ‘Louis, are you okay?’ he asked, turning to his injured friend.

‘I’m fine, it’s nothing serious. It’s just a scratch’ he said.

‘Let’s take you to the infirmary.’

‘It’s fine. I can just use the first-aid kit in the leader room.’

‘Let me at least help you’ Bill suggested. ‘We, felines, are used to getting injured a lot when we play around, so I know a good and fast way to heal injuries.’

Louis was not very fond of the idea but he allowed Bill to follow him to the leader room. Bill took out a bottle of disinfectant and some gauze to apply on the wound.

‘I’m so sorry about that’ he said. ‘I can’t be hurting the lead actor of the Drama Club. Still, you’ve been getting hurt a lot lately’ he chuckled.

Louis sat across him with a deadpan face, trying his best not to break character and show just how frustrated he was slowly becoming from Bill’s attitude and behavior.

‘I thought it was just a tiny scratch, so I was really surprised to see blood coming out’ Bill added. ‘It must be hard being a fragile herbivore… especially for you…’

Louis was enraged. Not only Bill injured him only mere days before the performance, he had the audacity to keep insulting him face to face.

‘Don’t try to provoke me’ he said, maintaining his cool – well, from the outside anyways. ‘Don’t tell me you wanted us to be alone just to tell me that…’

Bill chuckled a little. He, of course, enjoyed teasing Louis. It was all fun and games for him. He didn’t realize the weight of his words.

‘Well, you seem kind of grouchy today, so I’ll just skip to the point. I went to the Black Market and found out about your secret’ he said. ‘It’s actually a pretty bad secret. How can you deal with such weakness?’ he asked Louis, who turned his back towards Bill. He didn’t say a word. He had no expressions on his face whatsoever. From the outside, he treated the situation as if his secret was basically public information. Still, while Bill didn’t pay attention, he had the time to pull out a drawer and take something out of it.

‘Oh, stop looking so sad, Louis’ Bill continued. ‘I’m not trying to threaten you or anything. I actually want us to be equals’ he said while trying to put his hand on Louis’ shoulder.

‘Don’t you even dare try to touch me’ Louis said while pulling out a gun from his pocket and pointing it towards Bill’s head, who was shocked of the sudden turn of events. ‘Don’t make a sound.’

Louis stepped away a little, only to see Bill’s horror, him putting his hands up to surrender.

‘This is the way you should always behave’ Louis thought.

‘Why do you look so surprised?’ he asked. ‘The world is full of weapons for those who are willing to buy them’ Louis continued with an unsettling smile on his face. ‘Get down on the floor’ he ordered Bill. He, of course, followed the instructions and laid on the ground.

‘If the school catches word of my past, I’ll kill you right away’ Louis said while stepping on the tiger’s back. ‘The way I see it, is that your fate is entirely in my hands.’ Louis’ confidence came back. ‘Now try and tell me, that we are equals, I dare you.’ Louis kept pointing the gun towards Bill’s head. He was petrified. He was so scared he couldn’t even move or make a sound. He looked closely at the ground around him, trying to make as little eye contact with Louis as possible.

Louis’ blood kept trickling down the ground.

‘Well, my blood is still dripping. Looks like I do need to go to the infirmary to have this one examined and taken care of properly. Go lick the floor, you filthy cat.’

And with that, Louis left, closing the door behind him. Bill on the other hand, couldn’t keep up with the events, and was terrified not only of the possible consequences but to even move the slightest.

‘Man, that deer is crazy!’ he thought.

[sanchoyo]

danny phantom season 2, eps 1-5 thoughts! opening the new season with episodes like these kinda blew me away. we had multiple serious episodes INCLUDING a two parter!! also, valerie :)

see prev episode thoughts in this tag <3

-I don't know what I expected s2 to open with. but danny portal incident in more detail was not it. (also, I hate to break it to you, sam, but danny's parent's bigass ghost hunting rv def chugs more gas than those vehicles, lmao. unless it runs on ectoplasm or something...)

-WHY WAS DESIREE IN THE SEWER? HAVING TEA WITH IT DOWN THERE?? Her making the giant cow come alive is a boss move, we've almost had all of my fav animals as ghosts now <3 I also don't like how sam was expecting danny to just, haunt the place so the cars wouldn't get sold? I KNOWWW I know she's 14 (and I had a very annoying phase like this, I think I mentioned in a previous post, I GET IT) but they're HIS powers, and messing with (1) dealership will not really put a dent in sales overall because they can just move the cars to another sales lot, and it certainly wont change the industry anyway, it's more of a minor annoyance for (1) location. Also, usually people who work at car sales places work on commission, so if they dont make a sale, they don't have money to pay bills, or eat. sam baby if u wanna be an activist you need to like, actually look into these things. with as much money as her parents have, she could be doing a lot..more useful things for causes she cares about? it's frustrating to see someone with resources who doesn't know how to use them. but shes 14 so again. cannot be really upset :/

-IS THIS A PREDATOR VS TERMINATOR VS FREDDY KRUEGER MOVIE BUT THEYRE ALL WOMEN?? you know, sam is so right to be excited about this. /I/ want to see this movie. that rules

-paulina inviting danny and friends to her quinceañera, aw! even if it is just to get phantom to show up :') and there'll be a meteor shower, and we KNOW danny wants to be an astronaut!! there's not a meteor shower every night!! the tickets are non-refundable, but..she's rich? like. gotta agree with danny, they never get invited!! I KNOW it's the principle of keeping promises, but if she was that upset, she should've said something. directly. I hated how she was like, passive aggressive about it through the episode, like you SAID IT WAS FINE, THAT YOU'D GO TO THE PARTY TOO. MOVIES SHOW FOR A FEW WEEKS IN THEATERS. IF YOU HAD A REAL PROBLEM YOU NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT. WE'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE, SAM. YOUR FRIENDS. ARE NOT. MIND READERS.

-MR. LANCER GOING AFTER THE GHOST WITH THE FIRE EXTINGISHER LMAO

-this outfit is everything . anytime the show does an over the top cutesty pink outfit i WANT IT. it looks like shit I wear JKASDHF I HAVE a bow like that and a pink sweater. I need leg warmers </3

-SAMS GOTTA RE-HALF-KILL HIM??? thats fucked up. but also, he finally got his logo!! it took until s2!!! this episode was lowkey very fucked and I felt like it glossed over a lot. does sam have guilt about like. kinda KILLING HIM?? I know, he also agreed and walked into the portal. but. she made the choice to redo it SO quickly (even if it was because someone had to beat desiree) and danny, during their fight, brought up a lot of stuff sam's done in the past, meaning he was holding onto those memories and resentment was building. (I KEEP SAYING HE LOWKEY NEEDS THERAPY, BUT I THINK MOST EVERYONE IN THIS SHOW KINDA DOES) which...is a red flag? and then they didnt even GO to the party URGH I know she tried to make up for it, but it really felt like Sam fucked up and barely faced any consequences and got everything she wanted in the end. I KNOW it's a kids show obv they aren't going to go too in depth, and she undid the damage, kinda, but...I DUNNO how to articulate it but it rubbed me the wrong way.

-but on a note about desiree, her powers of wishes were STRONG ENOUGH TO ERASE NOT JUST THEIR MEMORIES, BUT DANNY'S POWERS?! fuck, if I was danny I'd be like, trying to make friends with her. I know they always have horrible side effects as most genie-granted wishes do, but...c'mon, I'd at least TRY to be like 'I wish no ghosts would hurt anyone in my town' or 'I wish vlad would lose his ghost powers forever no matter What and also forget about my mom' LIKE. SHIT DESIREE IS SO POWERFUL. rewriting reality powerful, basically!! appreciate her. respect her.

-aww, sam helping tucker pass the nurse's office so he wouldn't see because he's afraid of medical stuff? very sweet. I also don't like medical stuff, I've gotten a lot better at handling it tho. but seeing blood and needles still makes me feel lightheaded x_x

-FOLEY, BY TUCKER FOLEY. I want to make my own perfume, that's so cool. even if his first attempt isn't good, he's pretty consistently shown to have an inventor/entrepreneur streak in the show, so like. I can see him inventing or making something (or several somethings) that make him $$$ when he grows up :) proud of my creative son

-I know the 'creepy abandoned hospital on the edge of town' is a joke and the creepy hospital trope is so Worn Out, but in my town we actually DO have a hospital like that! my dad was born in it, but its not in use and hasn't been for, like, 20 years! it needs to be torn down but I think the city doesn't wanna pay the money. the inside is horrible, spray painted and broken glass and shit everywhere. but there's still like, rusty equipment and fucking DOLLS all over the place. the cops drive by it pretty frequently to make sure no one is like, breaking in. (because of water damage, some of the areas really aren't safe. also, asbestos, but people still go in anyway) but also, some of my town was used in a filming for a stephen king show. So it's lowkey spooky all over. just a fun personal tidbit :) to lead into saying, any hospital abandoned for any period of time is NOT safe to quarantine these kids in JKSAHDKF like I KNOW it's a ghost trying to do this, but NONE of these parents are even like, 'well, why dont we keep them in the regular, working hospital'....YIKES. this hospital looks pretty accurate to the one in town. grungy and spooky.

-fentons are tax evaders confirmed by jack's fear of being audited, lol no one is surprised

-ghost sickness via ghost bugs. horrifying concept. I actually expected it to be a new villain, not dr. spectra again! this is a very elaborate scheme. her new form rules, love the new costume. the way none of the bg kids seem to recognize her as their old school councilor. did we just forget about that completely?

-dash watching romance movies in the fucked up ghost hospital. same.

-'oh please, you're ghosts, do you have any idea what YOU smell like?' no, tucker, what DO ghosts smell like? I genuinely didn't know they would even have a smell, I actually want to know now.

-it feels like a while since we've seen jazz!! i was happy to see her again, even if she was a head in a jar for most the episode. I want another jazz-focused ep!!

-we finally see danny doing space-related stuff!! him and his friends stargazing to open ep 3 of s2. cute :) until, GHOST PIRATES!!!!! ...ghost pirate captain is a small child?? VOICED BY TAYLOR LAUTNER???

-oh, the easy listening is ember's song instrumental slowed. 'vapor drone' THEY VAPORWAVED HER!!! ember in a pirate outfit tho >>>>. and the cruise being called m.bersback JKASDHJK. ember adopting a little pirate brother is also pretty cute. concerning this teen and little kid have such bad opinions of adults, like, who hurt you?? (how did you DIE ALSO?? im always lowkey curious about that. we know desiree died at an old age, but her ghost form is young, probably mid-20s, so I wonder how that sort of thing works...its a more mental thing, isn't it?) but ghost team-ups are always cool to see, even if ember bailed after danny took her guitar. I guess she probably thinks youngblood can handle it (which, he's been owning danny this far in the ep, so...fair)

-tucker got that sponsorship from nasty burger for their radio!!! again, opportunistic money maker king, love to see it!!!

-danny taking control of the kids SO FAST. he makes a pretty great leader. no one is surprised, im pretty sure I said I think he's the most mature of the trio, once again, correct, because he's taken on so much responsibility already. all the teens suiting up in the jumpsuits to go save the adults and taking the ship over with a BLIMP. OKAY LETS GO. this feels like it should be a mid finale or straight up finale.

-...speaking of finales. why is ep 4-5 of s2 combined into a 50 minute episode? I havent even clicked play and im concerned. weird placement, like, this season JUST started and we're getting a two parter? okay...why are the episodes placed like this? why not put this at episode 10 or something, for a mid-season thing?

-this is also a cute dress. possibly my fav dress so far. can her parents give ME cute dresses, I'LL wear them.

-it turns out the castle fright knight was in is called pariah's keep and there's something worse than fright knight in there! lovely! fuck off vlad wtf are you doing <3 your hubris <3 is going to literally get you killed <3 'ring of rage' and 'crown of fire' are great names tho. ...vlad turning into a super polite guy when he was scared of mr. pariah was hilarious. and fright knight doing the same...I mean, it makes sense, he's a knight, he serves a king? happy to see fright knight again either way :) vlad telling him to call him tho, lmfao. you WISH HE WOULD. (I wish hed call me, too. 😔)

-so...jack being genuinely concerned about vlad...maddie really didn't tell him what happened at the cabin, did she. damn. if I was her id immediately come home and be like 'YOU WONT BELIEVE THIS SHITTTT THIS CREEPY GUY--' like, I feel like that stuff you need to tell your partner!!! I know she didnt want Jack to think she was an irresponsible parent putting danny in danger at that time, but STILLLL. maddie spilling boiling tea on him. get his ass. how is jack this oblivious to his wife's discomfort with vlad!! ughhh

-fenton wipe (tm). trademarked toilet paper.

-DANNY AND VALERIE BEING FRIENDS??? :D that was a cute moment. 'hey val <3' and 'if you like him like him, make a move, or someone else will ;)' at sam...damn!! I love her. valerie go for it girl!!! I hate how sam and tucker treat val also, like I GET IT YOURE PROTECTIVE AND DONT TRUST but if anything him befriending valerie will help when she finds out or he tells her like I feel like she'll be more understanding that they think! ALSO I feel like her reason for not liking ghosts is valid, like you haven't really explained the full story to her anyway! she doesn't seem to have any other friends after being booted from the a-listers so im like :( but seeing them kick butt together again was nice <3

-the ghosts all RUNNING FROM PARIAH DARK IS NOT GOOD, I thought he sent them to attack or something, but no. why doesn't someone just tell desiree 'hey i wish pariah dark would die' lol. once again I think she can solve every problem <3 but seeing all the enemies in one place, being civil and hiding together? love it.

-you just know danny's gonna have to clean up vlad's stupid mess. also, jack being willing to put on the ectoskeleton pants to help maddie, as soon as vlad heard it could kill him, he suggested jack do it instead of helping maddie himself? this is why jack got the girl, my man.

-ghost skeletons. how do you end up as a skeleton ghost in your afterlife instead of a humanoid like most the ones we've seen? lmao

-the ghosts just making new homes in various stores. I'd totally be setting up in an expensive clothing store if I was a ghost.

-valerie's dad is possibly the most useful adult so far, with that ghost shield expansion!!! and valerie saving vlad and danny, even tho shes been thru it already, shes still so good!!! this family rules.

-danny: *gently caresses valerie* :)

-*then he immediately TELLS HER DAD ON HER. and his first response is 'are you okay?' :'( such a good dad...

-*me every time fright knight breathes* youre doing SO great sweetie :)

-the fenton suit thing is so silly looking. does anyone take this thing seriously

-ALL THE GHOSTS FIGHTING WITH DANNY <3 AAAAA. and the fact that pariah isn't perma-defeated, but just locked away again. yikes. he'll probably get out again, won't he? it wasn't too clear, but if vlad DID make a pact with fright knight, I am rabid. I will beat vlad to death with the fenton bat (tm). YOU DONT DESERVE A COOL KNIGHT.

-valerie being direct with sam and challenging her? kinda love that, even tho I normally don't like 'catfight' type situations. because sam has been very passive aggressive about it which is annoying. valerie knows wtf she wants and wasn't even embarrassed to tell sam, but she did tell her, giving sam time to make her own move! and sam denied it and got embarrassed/mad! and sam did have a chance when danny was about to go off and fight, and she hesitated and didn't tell him. I feel like she's hesitating because they're friends and it might make it weird between the trio (poor tucker would be third-wheeling) but if u snooze u lose, u gotta GO after what u WANT girl. smh this is a No Tsundere Zone. 😤

[autumnsart22]

Oikawa x reader: Final chapter

Last chapter everyone! Thank you so much if you made it this far, I really appreciate all the likes it makes me so happy if people enjoy it. Love you all 💕💕

Three months later: 

I sat on my bed, fist curled around the letter in my hand. I felt numb, my lips trembling as shock and disappointment seeped down to my bones. I had ended up applying to four large art schools in Japan, not telling my parents about my plans. 

But now...I stared at the crumpled rejection letter in my hand. It had been my second choice, and one of the easier ones to get into. I had sent a portfolio of my best artwork, and with Oikawa and Iwaizumi’s encouragement, I had actually begun to think I could get in. 

Lip trembling, I slowly placed the letter aside and grabbed my phone, dialing before I could think. It was already 1am, but I didn’t hesitate as I began to sob. 

Oikawa answered on the second ring, his voice light over the other end. “Hey Chibi-chan, what’s up?”

I couldn’t speak, not even feeling embarrassed as I sobbed into the receiver. 

“Y/n, what’s wrong?” His voice turned instantly serious and urgent. “Did something happen?”

“I-I-” I blubbered. “I didn’t-”

I heard shuffling over the other end. “Are you at home?”

“Y-yes.” 

“I’ll be there in ten minutes. Stay on the phone ok?”

I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “Thanks, Oikawa,” I whispered, tears still sliding down my cheeks. 

He talked the whole drive, telling me about the alien movie he had seen the other night, and the meteor shower that was coming up. By the time he was in front of my house, I was giggling a little bit. 

The second I unlocked the door for him, he stepped over the threshold and dragged me into a hug. I buried my face in his chest, new tears streaming down my face and covering his shirt with snot. 

“Hey, it’s ok,” Oikawa murmured, stroking my hair. “Come on, let’s get you upstairs.”

I clutched his shirt as we walked up the stairs together, and when we made it to my room, he tugged me onto the bed and hugged me tightly. “What’s wrong?” 

I slowly reached over to the bedside table and handed him the crumpled letter. “I--I didn’t get in.” 

Oikawa read it quickly, his eyes hard. “Chibi-chan…” He leaned over and hugged me, practically squeezing the air from my lungs. “It’s ok. You only got rejected from one, and there’s three more to go. It doesn’t matter.”

“But I wasn’t...I wasn’t good enough--” 

“You’re totally perfect. Your art is amazing, and those fuckers didn’t deserve you anyway.” 

I hugged him, my fingers digging into his shirt. “Ok.” 

He laughed a little. “You’re amazing.” 

I tilted my head back to look at him. “Stop,” I poked him, laughing. “You’re just being ridiculous.” 

“Nope, I’m serious.” 

I hugged him around the waist, letting out a low sigh. “If I’m incredible, then you are too.” 

I felt him shrug. “If you say so, Chibi-chan.” 

I began to tickle him, and he shrieked, falling back. “HAHAHA NO STOP!” 

He wrapped me around the waist and pulled me on top of him, preventing me from tickling him but effectively causing me to be tangled up in his arms, inches from his face. I paused for a long moment, wishing wishing wishing, but he wasn’t interested in me like that. If I made a move, I would ruin our friendship and make things awkward. It was better to just enjoy things how they were now, no matter how much it hurt. 

        ✨✨✨✨

“What time are we leaving?” I glanced over my shoulder at Kiyoko, pausing my makeup application. 

“Twenty minutes! Are you ready?”

“Yeah, pretty much. You?”

“Mhm!” Her smokey eyeshadow made her eyes look catlike and hot, and her booty shorts hugged her legs. 

“Damn girl!” I grinned, and she laughed. 

Atsumu and Osamu Miya were throwing a house party, and Kiyoko and I had gotten invited through friends. 

I tugged my tube top over my head, hiking my jeans up and tugging my hair into a messy bun. It was simple, but apparently the house party was supposed to be pretty casual. 

Kiyoko and I pulled up in front of the house, which was already pounding with music and crowded with people. I followed my friend inside, instantly surrounded by drunk and high people, dancing wildly around the room. 

“Ugh, I need a drink.” Kiyoko said, and I laughed. 

“Ok, I’ll see you in a bit. I’m going to try and find Aoba Johsai.” 

She gave me a thumbs up, and disappeared into the crowd. 

I began my search, scanning the many people standing around and sitting on couches, looking for a familiar face. I spotted Iwaizumi after ten minutes, sitting in an armchair with Matsuwaka, Hanamaki, and Yahaba around him. 

“Hey guys,” I grinned, taking a seat next to Hanamaki. 

“Want some?” Yahaba held up a joint. I grinned and nodded, lighting the end and taking a fat hit. 

The rest of Aoba Johsai joined over the course of the hour, bringing over more weed, cigarettes, and alcohol. I ended up getting so crossfaded, I could barely speak, and ended up just listening and laughing along to my friends’ conversations. 

It didn’t take long for me to have to go to the bathroom really bad, after all the drinks I had passed through to my bladder. “I-bathroom-” I slurred, stumbling to my feet and making my way in the direction of the bathroom. 

It took a lot longer than I expected, since I got distracted a few times. First by Bokuto, who dragged me off to play a round of beer pong, before I failed so badly that he kicked me off the team. The second time was because I spotted Karasuno and hung out with them for a little, almost peeing my pants when Kageyama tried to take a shot of whiskey and ended up spitting it everywhere.

I finally made it to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face and laughing at my haggard appearance. Damn, I looked horrendous. 

After a few minutes, I heard a knock on the door. “Hey, Y/n-chan, are you in there?” 

“Oikawa?” I opened the bathroom door, blinking blearily at the setter. “What are you doing here?”

“Have you been in here this whole time? You’ve been gone for over an hour.”

“Oh,” I began to giggle, hand over my mouth. “No, I just got here.”

“Well thank god you didn’t get kidnapped or something.” He rolled his eyes and smirked. “Damn, you’re really fucked up.”

I shrugged. “Nawwww, not really.” I totally was. 

I gazed at him for a long moment, my eyes moving along his face. His hair was messy and sticking up every which way, his shirt was rumpled, and his eyes were red and glassy, but I had never seen a more attractive person. 

“Oikawa…” I let out a long sigh, fists clenching. I wanted to tell him. I bit my lip and turned to face him, suddenly determined. I finally was going to say what I had been thinking for months.

 “I think I’m in love with you.”  

The setter blinked, his brain clearly not completely there. “W-wait what?” 

My thoughts were catching up to my actions, my sober mind realizing what I had just done. Oh...fuck no. “I-I-” 

“What--” He looked blindsided, as if he had been slapped. Oh god, he wasn’t saying anything. 

Bile rose in my throat so fast, I thought I was going to choke. Instead, I slapped a hand over my mouth and stumbled from the bathroom, needing to get away from the words I wished I could take back. Hadn’t I JUST promised myself I wouldn’t confess? 

I heard him behind me, telling me to wait, but I half sprinted, half careened back into the crowd. Kiyoko, where was Kiyoko? She’d know what to do. 

I spotted Karasuno after only a moment, and I thanked the lord for my luck. 

“Oh god, please hide me, please. I just fucked up so bad,” I gasped. 

Daichi, Tsukki, Asahi, Kageyama, Yamaguchi, and Hinata blinked at me in shock, but Kiyoko moved to help me. 

“What’s going on?” She whisper shouted as she forced Asahi to give up his large sweatshirt. 

“I just accidentally confessed to Oikawa,” I murmured, feeling tears threaten. I pulled on the jacket, tugging the hood up over my head. “I need to get out of here, I feel like I’m going to pass out if I don’t.” 

“Calm down with the dramatics,” Tsukki said, but scanned the room, clearly keeping an eye out for Oikawa to see if he was nearby. 

“I’m sober, I can drive you home,” Daichi said. “I wanted to get going anyway.”

“Y/n, you confessed what?” Hinata asked, and I went red. Kageyama looked shocked, and Yamaguchi smiled sweetly. 

“He’s coming this direction!” Asahi said, and Hinata leapt to his feet without hesitation. 

“Great King!” He ran and jumped in Oikawa’s path, preventing Seijoh’s captain from noticing me. 

“Hey short fry, I’m looking for Y/n-chan. Have you seen her?”

Dachi grabbed my arm, practically dragging me from the party as I heard Hinata continuing to distract Oikawa behind us. 

“Thank you for doing this,” I said to Daichi, who grinned. 

“I can’t believe you told him you liked him.” 

“I--” I could barely say it. “I told him I loved him, actually.”

Daichi looked momentarily shocked. “Oh--wow ok.”

My lower lip trembled. “He didn’t...say anything.” 

“Just blame it on the alcohol!” 

I sighed, leaning my head back against the passenger seat. “I don’t know if that will work.” 

Oikawa POV: 

I think I’m in love with you. 

I had imagined her saying those exact words so many times, knowing it would never actually come true. How could this be real? When she had said it, my mind had gone blank. I didn’t understand. Was she kidding? Did she mistake me for someone else? Being high didn’t particularly help, and by the time I had processed her words, she was already stumbling from the bathroom and disappearing. 

No, I needed to find her. I had to tell her…

Y/n POV: 

27 missed calls from Oikawa. 

“What?” I muttered, glaring at my phone. That couldn’t be right. I buried my face in my pillow, embarrassment making my face burn red. Daichi had dropped me off two hours ago, and I hadn’t stopped receiving calls for the entirety of that time. I had considered answering the phone a few times, but forced myself not to. This conversation had to take place face to face. 

It was Saturday, which meant that I had all of Sunday to come to terms with the rejection that was probably coming my way. I was sure after that Oikawa wouldn’t let me avoid him anymore. 

Obviously, that was easier said than done. I researched “10 Ways to Get over a Guy,” and “Methods for Self Love” but it seemed the two biggest ways to help were distance and time, neither of which I had. Instead, I would have to just toughen myself up. 

Monday came, and I did the best I could to avoid Oikawa. I didn’t talk to Iwaizumi either, quite sure that he knew of what had happened. Instead, I kept my head down, skipped the class I had with Oikawa, and ate lunch in my car. 

Unfortunately, as I expected, it didn’t last. 

I ended up being late to my last class of the day, since my previous teacher had to discuss an assignment with me and kept me over time. The halls were empty as I speed walked across the school, exhaustion weighing heavy. I considered just ditching, but I had already skipped one class, and I didn’t want to rack that number up. 

As I got to the end of the hall, I heard the sound of someone running behind me. Before I could turn around, a hand grabbed me around the wrist and wanked me into an empty side classroom. 

“What the--” 

A hand went gently over my mouth, silencing me, and I blinked in shock as I stared into Oikawa’s brown eyes. 

“Finally found you,” he panted. 

“What are you doing?” I mumbled around his hand. 

“You’ve been avoiding me all weekend.”

I looked away, feeling my face flush. “N-no, I was just busy.” 

His eyes narrowed. “Right.” 

I shoved his hand away and wiped my mouth, glancing towards the door. 

Oikawa’s hand slammed next to my head, effectively blocking my exit with his arm. “Where are you going?”

My breath shuddered out in a loud huff. “No where.” 

He tilted his head, leaning towards me. “What did you mean on Saturday night at the party?” “Huh?” I decided that playing stupid was the best course of action for now. 

With the hand that wasn’t blocking my exit, Oikawa grabbed my chin and lifted it so I was forced to look into his eyes. “Did you mean it?” I was blushing so much, I felt like my skin was probably boiling. “I was drunk I-I don’t know what--I don’t want this to ruin our friendship--just forget it--” 

“Tell me the truth, Chibi-chan.” 

I opened my mouth. 

“I-I love you.” 

Oikawa’s eyes widened, his mouth parting as his cheeks flamed. “You--”

He paused, both of his hands coming to cup my cheeks. I bit my lip, trying to pull away, my embarrassment eating me up inside. 

“Just forget it, it’s not--” I gasped as Oikawa’s lips crashed against mine, effectively silencing me. My eyes drifted shut and I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer as his mouth moved down to my neck, his hands sliding around my waist. 

He pulled away, eyes wide. His fingers ran along my cheekbone and he crushed me in a hug. “I-I’m so happy! I didn’t think...” He laughed. 

I stared at him, my brain slightly short circuited. “Wha--” He leaned down, eyes intense and a small smile on his face. “I love you Chibi-chan, so much.” 

I blinked a few times, before I began to giggle hysterically. Oikawa brushed the hair away from my face and kissed me again, making my head spin. His lips were so soft, and I tugged my hands through his hair, making a small noise as his tongue moved across my bottom lip. 

Suddenly the school bell rang, signalling that we were officially late, and I jumped violently away from Oikawa. 

“What about class?” I asked, still on a weird high and feeling slightly delirious. 

Oikawa huffed a laugh, running a hand through his now-tossled hair. “I guess I’m out of practice with my kissing.” 

“Huh?” I was confused, because he definitely wasn’t…

He leaned down, nose brushing mine. “If you’re thinking about class at a time like this, I clearly have to do better.”

I opened my mouth, my heart practically beating out of my chest. “Do better?” 

Oikawa’s smile turned smug, and he poked my cheek. “You’re so cute! But you’re right, we should probably go to class.” He pulled away, leaving my legs shaking and face red. 

“What? But you just said--”

“Woah, are you saying you want to prioritize me over your education?”

I glared at him, rolling my eyes. “Ugh, can I take back my earlier statement about loving you?”

Oikawa smiled bright as the sun, and he hugged me tightly. “I’ll see you after class.” 

      ✨✨✨✨

Chemistry was one of the longest two hours of my entire life. By the time the bell rang, I was so jittery that I couldn’t keep my hands still. I practically ran out the door, hitching my bag on my shoulder as I went. 

The hall was crowded as I waded towards the door, but I spotted Oikawa outside almost immediately, his eyes scanning the groups of people as they walked by. I instantly felt my face split open into a smile, and I ran over to him. 

“Oikawa!”

He spun around, happiness lighting up his features. 

“Y/n-chan!” He grabbed me around the waist and pulled me into a tight hug. 

I smiled up at him. “How was your class?” “Uhhhh…” Iwaizumi emerged from the crowd, eyebrows raised as he took in Oikawa and I’s close proximity. “Is there something…”

“Iwa-chan!” Oikawa practically bounced over to his friend. “Y/n loves me!” 

I felt my face growing red, and Iwaizumi blinked. “Ok, cool. That took a while.” 

“Huh?” 

He rolled his eyes. “Forget it. I’m glad you guys finally figured it out.” 

Oikawa threw his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his side, and I felt myself relax. I didn’t know I could be so happy. 

1 month later (this is not the actual official canon outcome in the show, but I changed it for my own story): 

“Go go go go go Seijoh!” 

“Go go go go go Seijoh!” 

Oikawa spun the ball in his hands, preparing for his serve. I could see the sweat glistening on his forehead, proof of the exhaustion that the whole team felt. 

It was the third and final set of spring nationals against Shiritorizawa and Ushijima. Aoba Johsai was playing the best I had ever seen, all of our hard work finally paying off. Shiritorizawa was the best team in the prefecture though, and they didn’t disappoint. Both teams had won one set, and we were now neck and neck in the final one. 

Even though I wasn’t out on the court, my heart raced and my fingers shook as I cheered on my team. I was so proud of them, even if they didn’t win. 

Oikawa slammed a vicious serve, gaining our team another point, but the next one was received and set spiralling into the air. 

“Chance ball!”

Watari received it, and Hanamaki sent it in Oikawa’s direction. 

“Iwaizumi!” 

Iwa was already in the air as Oikawa set it to him, and I gasped as the ball slammed through the hands of the blockers and hit the floor on the other side of the net. 

“YES!!!” I screamed, looking at the score board. We were so close to winning…

My heart in my throat, I watched as Ushijima scored a point for Shiritorizawa, but then Hanamaki took one back for us. 

One more point. We just needed one more. 

Shiritorizawa was up to serve, and the ball moved so fast I could barely keep up. Watari, then Iwaizumi, then Oikawa, then Kunimi with a quick attack. The spike was received and sent spiralling, before Shiritorizawa set it and slammed it towards us again. 

I was on my feet, screaming, completely losing my composure. “Get it! Get it!” 

Matsukawa jumped, impossibly getting his hand beneath the ball before it could hit the ground. Oikawa was already moving, running and jumping outside the court in a long set towards Iwaizumi. 

The ace jumped as if in slow motion, his arm coming down in a vicious spike, and I gasped as his hand barely tapped it. The opposing team didn’t seem to expect the soft spike either, because no one was close to the net to pick it up. They were jumping, falling, reaching for the ball but…

The satisfying thump of the ball on the court seemed to echo, and for a long moment, there was utter silence. 

“WE WON!” I screamed, and the stadium erupted. I sprinted towards Oikawa, who crushed me in a hug and spun me around. He was all sweaty, but I didn’t care as he crashed his lips to mine. 

“Tooru, Tooru you did it!” I yelled, squeezing him with all my might. 

“I did it…” He stared at me, shock on his face. “I did it!” 

The rest of the team clustered around us, yelling and hugging each other, slamming each other on the back. Kindaichi and Iwaizumi were sniffling, and most of the others looked either completely aghast or blissed out. 

I glanced over at the other team, watching Ushijima and the rest of his teammates clap each other on the back, shoulders slumped in disappointment. I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pity for them. 

Ushijima turned to look at me, and we met eyes. I gave a strained smile, trying to convey an apology in my eyes. I felt a hand on my shoulders, and Oikawa spun me around, kissing me again. 

“Oikawa!” I said breathlessly as he pulled away. He was looking past me towards Ushijima, a challenge in his gaze, and I punched him in the stomach. “Don’t start that again.”

Oikawa laughed and hugged me again. “I can’t believe we won.” 

“I can. You guys are an amazing team, I’m so proud. I knew you could do it.” 

My boyfriend leaned down, lips pressed to my ear. “Are you doing anything tomorrow?”

I glanced at him in surprise. “No, why?”

He smirked, eyes dark. “Because you’re not going to be able to walk in the morning.” 

✨✨✨✨

“Tooru, guess what?!” I practically yelled into my phone. 

“What?!” “I got in!” The letter was laid out on my bed, its polite words burning into my mind. It was my dream school, the one I never expected to get into. “I got into the Art and Design University of Tokyo!” 

“Oh my god, that’s fucking amazing!” Oikawa sounded almost just excited as me. “Holy shit, sweetheart, you’re going to be in art school!” 

“I know!” I jumped up and down on my bed, laughing. 

Oikawa was going to play volleyball for Japan’s team (not canon) and I was going to become a graphic designer like I wanted. We could get an apartment by Iwaizumi, who was going to a school only an hour away. 

I giggled, feeling giddy. “I love you, Tooru.”

“I love you too, Y/n-chan.” 

The End~

Chapter 14

[soulmate-game]

Oneshot #2

What if Marinette had never won the Wayne Enterprises competition?

Well, her and Damian’s meeting would have probably went something like this.

—*—*—*—*—*

The asian-French hero looked down at her palm, where a plain silver ring sat at the center of the long silver chain around her neck. They had done it. Seven years, lots of reversed deaths, way too many close calls, and Adrien was in a wheelchair for the next few months at least. If he ever got back on his legs at all.

That wasn’t even brushing over the painful fact that he was now an orphan by all rights, his mother finally buried and his father rotting in prison. It was the epitome of a bittersweet victory, and Marinette couldn’t stand to stay in the same city as where it had happened anymore.

It wasn’t like she had a choice, anyway. Marinette was the Guardian now, and the fallout of the last fight led to her parents figuring out her identity. That couldn’t be allowed to stick, so she had asked Plagg to erase their memory of the discovery. She knew Plagg didn’t have the best restraint with his powers, but the effects would never wear off and could never be reversed.

Sure enough, they didn’t just forget that Marinette Dupain-Cheng was Ladybug. They forgot that Marinette Dupain-Cheng had ever been born.

So the Guardian, for she had held that title since her eighteenth birthday, gathered up all her belongings. She emptied her bedroom as if it had never held a child to begin with, sold everything she didn’t need and packed away what she did. She took the Miracle Box with her, of course. And Chat’s ring. He could wear it anymore anyway, and Marinette didn’t have anyone she could trust it to.

Kagami and Luka gave back their Miraculous, too. As did Chloè. They didn’t need to fight HawkMoth anymore, and they deserved normal lives now that the war was over. Marinette was not about to take from them the very thing she couldn’t have.

So she found herself in Gotham City, her hair cut into a long pixie in an attempt to change up her look. She didn’t need people recognizing her, especially since she had no intention of giving up her hero work. She set up a boutique, she already had more than enough of a clientele and solid reputation to keep her in business for at least a few years. She was twenty years old, and the world saw her as a rising star instead of the crashed meteor she felt like.

The Kwamis saw it. Every time they left the Box (and Marinette liked giving them all at least a day or two every week to stretch their legs, so to say), they would see her darkening bags under her eyes and the almost permanent slump to her shoulders. Her bed almost looked brand new even after several months in Gotham.

She closed her hand around the ring for a moment, before slipping it onto her right thumb. The now-familiar coursing energy of Destruction ran over her body like a current of electricity, promising a fatal shock at even the slightest mistake.

Good thing she was a manic perfectionist.

“Plagg, merge.”

The cat Kwami was sucked into the ring, dying it black and giving birth to the green paw on the flat top. Marinette’s already darkened and Gotham-ized Ladybug costume gaining a few spikes, a black leather jacket, her utility belt holding her yo-yo darkened into charcoal gray with green accents and a red-and-Black extendable bo staff. Instead of a domino mask, stylized black ski goggles covered her eyes, the magical glass tinting maroon in the right lighting. The tips of Marinette’s short hair dyed into a dark mossy green.

“Let’s show these Gotham villains that they can’t just toss us around,” she said to the empty air, as if promising to herself that her half-year absence from the hero scene hadn’t filled her skills at all.

(And it probably hadn’t, since she had kept up with her own training regiment during the hours she really should have been using to sleep, but she wouldn’t be Marinette if she didn’t doubt her own skills every now and then.)

With a soft whisper of “cataclysm,” she laid her hand on the metal door that had been slammed shut. It rusted and crumbled away into dust immediately. She wouldn’t let Scarecrow hold her charity gala hostage. Sure, it hadn’t been as extravagant as something thrown by the Waynes, but it was her first gala and had had a surprisingly large turnout. People had fallen in love with their new Gotham celebrity philanthropist.

Surprisingly, she wasn’t alone. Right then, the windows in the rented building shattered, allowing three very familiar masked men to drop in at the three other corners of the room. With Marinette, they made a full square of heroes surrounding the Gotham villain and his screaming hostages.

“Separate,” she whispered, her Plagg-induced accessories fading away to reveal her in just her Ladybug outfit. Her domino mask was replaced by a maroon and black-polka dotted motorcycle helmet with a rose-red visor covering the upper half of her face. She had on matching fitted cargo pants in the same pattern, and a long-sleeved black turtleneck with two large, hot rod red half-circles over both sides of her waist. Calf-High black combat boots with red soles and maroon stripes up the outer edges completed the new Ladybug look. Not including the ever-familiar yo-yo sitting on a thin red utility belt on her hips, anyway.

The three Gotham-native vigilantes observed everything, including the unfamiliar figure in red and black that seemed to be on their side, at least for now.

“Robin,” Batman spoke up. “Red Robin and I will engage Scarecrow. Get the hostages out and administer the antidote for the fear toxin. If we haven’t wrapped things up by the time you're done, come back here.”

The colorful vigilante let out a tsk at being left out of the combat, but knew he would be the fastest at evacuating the victims. They were all under fear toxin and several were having very violent reactions to it, so his no-nonsense approach would be the best match up with wrangling the civilians out of the building.

“I’ll help you,” an unfamiliar female voice crackled over their coms, making the three vigilantes stiffen. “Relax, my suit’s magic patched me in to your frequency. You can call me Ladybird. I won’t get in your way, but I’m not gonna just sit back and watch either.”

“If you slow me down, I’m hogtying you and leaving you for the Commissioner,” Robin warned, her gaze flashing over to the unfamiliar hero right as her ruby-red lips curled up into a secretive smirk.

“Fair enough.”

Batman and Rex Robin rushed into the fight then, seeing as Nightwing couldn’t distract Scarecrow forever. The blue vigilante used their sudden take over of the fight to turn his attention to Scarecrow’s rented goons, and knock guns out of hands.

Ladybird and Robin took over the rest. Working like a surprisingly well-oiled machine, they seemed to know exactly which victim to grab next to avoid getting in the other’s way. Robin noted that Ladybird seemed surprisingly well-versed in handling panicking victims that fought back, easily trapping their limbs to their bodies and carrying them out forcibly yet efficiently. She was also surprisingly quiet, whispering to the more coherent victims and doing her best to keep the evacuation as subtle as possible.

She was equally quick in administering the antidotes that Robin handed out to her, her hands clothed in black motorcycle gloves easily sliding the needles of the syringes into the right arteries without a second of hesitation.

Luckily, they hadn’t had to go back into the fight after getting all the victims rounded up and cured. Ladybird has just finished handing out shock blankets when Robin’s team filed out of the building with an unconscious Scarecrow held limply between them. A few statements and evacuated victims later, and the three met up with Ladybird in a nearby alley.

“Who are you, and why are you in Gotham?”

“Ladybird,” she said calmly, ignoring the beeping in her helmet. She had used her cure discreetly to reverse any physical damage the vigilantes and victims had taken, and hoped they wouldn’t notice until the next day. It had taken her a while to learn how to make the magical ladybugs invisible, but it was a useful skill. “I used to be Ladybug, back in Paris, but Paris doesn’t need heroes anymore. I came here for a new start, that’s it. I don’t plan to get in your way, but don’t expect me to stay out of it when bad things happen.”

“Oh, so we’re just supposed to accept a new vigilante with magic popping up and sticking their noses in our business, are we?” Robin challenged, stepping forward with hostility in every muscle of his body. Ladybird, to her credit, did not even flinch. In fact, even though she was over a foot shorter than Robin, she just straightened up to make the most of every inch of height she had. It was shockingly effective. She petit female could apparently make a very intimidating presence when she wanted to.

“I don’t plan on leaving, so you either play nice or get the nice beat into you,” she said with a falsely cheerful voice. A growl pulled itself from the back of Robin’s throat.

The rest of the BatFam watched with barely restrained tension. None of them were happy about a new, unknown vigilante in town, sure. But Robin was by far the last person they would have chosen to confront the new person.

“I’d like to see you try, shorty,” Robin purred menacingly, a sharp grin overtaking Ladybird’s mouth at the challenge.

“Gladly, little birdy,” She chimed right back. They lunged at the same moment, Ladybird’s hand gripping Robin’s bicep to try and throw him over her shoulder at the same moment that the man’s fist made contact with one of the large spots on her waist.

But before any real damage could be done, a flash of green light erupted around them, surrounding both heroes and separating them with business-like speed. They blinked at each other as they were forced to separate, wondering if Green Lantern had made a surprise visit to Gotham.

But that was not it, they realized, the green was much too dark a shade and proceeded to sink into the skin around their wrists. A mechanical voice sounded in the air.

“WARNING: GAME FOUL. ATTACKS BETWEEN SOULMATES OUTSIDE OF FRIENDLY SPAR ARE PROHIBITED.”

“What the hell—“

“INITIATING GAME START.”

Both heroes’ vision split in half, just as Marinette’s one-hour timer ran out and her transformation dissolved.

“Well. I’m Marinette, I guess. Your soulmate.”

She watched from two different perspectives as Robin’s eyes widened behind his mask and her own star-struck face contrasted starkly with her unaffected tone of voice. Apparently exhaustion saps the emotion from someone’s tone.

“Holy plot point, Batman.”

“I thought we agreed you would never say something like that again, Nightwing.”

—*—*—*—*—*

[rwbyvein]

Firen Lhain: Chapter 307: Evening Star

Blake ran after the Grimm and found it climbing a wall, when she heard a man cry out from pain. She turned to look into the library and her heart fell in her chest. The worst thing she could see was in front of her... it was him... a stone's throw from killing a Human guard. "No..." Blake voiced. "Adam?.."

"Hello, my darling." Adam replied, as if he truly had any affection for her. It was more the tone you would use when a child had run away. All of her history with him flashed before her eyes... his meteoric rise... transcendant glory... and utter destruction of all she held dear... It - was - Adam.

"Running away again?" he said to her, "Is this what you've become... my love..." Despite the sweet words they were dripping with scorn, "A coward?"

* * *

Jaune, Pyrrha, and Ozpin stood on the elevator up to Ozpin's office. This hardly seemed like the time to have a chat. Jaune's left hand was over his shield/scabbard as it was attached to his belt. "Someone want to tell me what's going on here."

"I'm afraid..." Ozpin said, and drank from his coffee cup, "that your dear Ms. Nikos has a choice to make... and unfortunately me must all pay the price for this choice." He once again sipped his coffee.

"Could you?.." Jaune asked.

"Do you think I enjoy doing this, Mr. Arc?" Ozpin asked, "If I could do this under better circumstances, I would... be these are the ones we find ourselves in. The world it seems conspires to rob us of choice."

"Someone want to tell me what's going on here?.." Jaune asked.

"I'm sorry..." Pyrrha bashfully said.

"There is a great deal - going on." Ozpin said to him, "But not enough time to cover even a hair's breadth of it..." He sipped his coffee once again, "The short version of it, indeed, if such a thing even exists, is that I am far more than simply a head master, and Ms. Nikos is far more special than you could possibly know." He sipped his coffee again, "I am also fond of... choice..." he voiced. "It is the most important thing in the world."

"Even in times like these?" Jaune asked.

"It seems these are the only ones we have."

The elevator reached it's apex and the doors opened. Ozpin quickly walked through his office, placing his cup his desk... and this seem to trigger something. His desk moved forward, revealing a stairway. He then looked at Jaune and Pyrrha, "If you two could accompany me?"

* * *

They found themselves on another elevator, this one going down. Deep, down, into the earth. The further the distance they descended, the more nervous Jaune become. At first he just held his hand on his scabbard, but then started to dance to and fro. His stance lowered, his brow furled, his breathing reaching an apex. "Your perceptions, Mr. Arc, are far sharper than most would give you credit for."

Jaune quickly looked at him, sharply, still breathing heavily.

"Mine are far shaper than most give me credit for, as well." Ozpin stated as Jaune looked away, "Mr. Arc." he said, and Jaune quickly, sharply looked back at him. Ozpin was strangely smiling back at him.

"You know?.." Pyrrha quietly asked.

"I know a great many things." Ozpin stated. "For one, Mr. Arc has clearly not attended a combat school. This was something we knew far before you reached this academy."

"Why?.." Pyrrha quietly asked.

"His life was his to throw away." Ozpin stated, and Jaune once again looked sharply at him. "Mr. Arc, Ms. Nikos, would it surprise you to learn that Beacon is never at capacity?"

"But?.." Jaune asked, "aren't there a lot of combat schools?"

"Indeed." Ozpin replied, "but being a Huntsman is far more than simply combat." Jaune looked at him nervously and questioningly. "It's about hope."

"Then?.." Jaune nervously asked, "Why am I?.."

"Here?" Ozpin asked, and Jaune subtly, slowly, hauntingly nodded. "If hope is a requirement?.." Opzin asked, "Then why are you here?.."

Pyrrha reached out to grab Jaune's right hand, and looked him in the eyes.

"This has to be a mistake." Jaune said to Ozpin.

"I have made a great many mistakes in my considerable lifetime," Ozpin stated, "but have not for a moment considered this to be one of them."

Jaune looked between the two of them, his hand still being held by Pyrrha. He saw the confidence she had for him in her eyes, and remembered what his team had said to him. Jaune then looked back to Ozpin. "Alright, if I'm here, then why is Cardin?"

"As you inspire your team," Ozpin stated, "he inspires his... The only problem..." Ozpin said with a painfully quiet voice, "is what he inspires them to... Sadly, this is a lesson I might not have time to teach."

With this the elevator opened up on the bottom, seemingly as far below ground as the tower was above it.

* * *

Cardin looked at his team, his mace over his shoulder. "We're finally together." he said, and paused. "This is our chance."

"What chance?" Dove asked him.

"Our chance to prove ourselves as Huntsmen... and men." Cardin stated. "We see the chaos going on around us, and let's face it... we can't stop it... We could save ourselves, but then what would we be?"

"Less than animals." Sky stated.

"Our mission," Cardin stated, "is to fight... and not die. Don't spread out too much. We fight as a lance. We fight together. We do as much as we can. We do - NOT - stop... until the last Grimm has fallen, or every other team has withdrawn."

"We're going to die here." Russel stated.

"No." Cardin simply said in reply, and turned back towards the Grimm. He shifted his shoulders forward, indicating he was about to move. The others lined up with Russel behind them. Knowing his team was ready he leaned further forward and ran off, the others momentarily behind him.

* * *

Yang wasn't sure what she was feeling. The obvious answer would be pain, but that wasn't it. It was happening too fast to be pain. Suprise, definitely. Regret. Anguish. Disbelief. Oh, there was a lot of disbelief. She couldn't be here, twising in the air, as her arm was missing. Her aura was up. that's how it worked, wasn't it? You had to break aura to hurt a person, didn't you? But if that was true, she wouldn't see her arm floating further away.

She... she hit the ground... her arm hitting the ground a moment later. She just stared at it as she heard screaming. It all seemed to go black when she felt herself being pulled away. It was Blake... the one thing that comforted her at the moment.

* * *

She lay on her back as the medics attended to her... not that they seemed intent on doing much.

"Girl, can you hear me?" one of the medics asked her, and she felt no need to respond.

"Yang." Blake voiced from beside her. Yang wanted to reach over to grab her, but her arm wouldn't move for some reason. She looked over and saw it on her left side. Well, that would explain it.

"Yang?" the medic said, and her eyes finally opened, trying to focus on him. "Obvious damage aside, your Aura is holding. Good thing it is. But strangely, it seems to be working better than normal. I need to know before treating you..." he said, and Yang's eyes closed again, looking away. "Yang?" he shouted and reached for her head, being pulled away a moment before he would have been punched by her.AC

"She is exceedingly protective of her hair." Ren stated, and the medic nodded.

"Yang?" The medic asked, and turned to Ren. "Thank you." he said, before turning back to Yang. "Please, focus on me. I need you to answer a question." Yang opened her eyes and sleepily looked up at him. "Your Faunus nature... can - it - regenerate?!" Yang blinked at him a few times without saying anything.

"Her father," Ren stated, "has apparently said that she can."

The medic looked at Ren and then back at Yang, "If that is the case, then I shouldn't do any treatment at all. The wound was clean, and has already regenerated around it. How are you?"

"Beaten..." Ren voiced, "but not bloody... With rest... we should be fine."

"What about Jaune and Pyrrha?!" Nora exclaimed.

"If... we knew... where they were..." Ren voiced.

"You two don't look like you are in any position to fight." the medic said to them.

"BUT... LEADER?!"

"If you go into battle right now," the medic said to them, "you will likely just be another casualty."

Nora panted as she tried to speak, but wasn't able to say anything. Ren slumped his way over to her and placed his hand on her shoulder. This seemed to be enough to calm her down.

* * *

Pyrrha kissed Jaune, completely breaking down his defences. She maneuvered him over to the open locker. "I'm sorry." she sadly said to him, and used her semblance to force him into the locker. The force of the impact shattered his antlers. He was so stunned by everything he could only stare as Pyrrha closed the locker and launched him away.

* * *

The locker landed, and opened, and Jaune... he didn't so much move as fall out, and stood. He looked about in a daze, completely unsure of where he was, completely unsure of what he should do, and unsure of what was happening. Pyrrha kissed him. Not like his mother had kissed... or like his... MANY... sisters had kissed him. No, it was a kiss to someone loved, as a man and a woman. In that moment, all of his uncertainties faded away. All of his grief and all of his misfortune, but most of all... all of his self-loathing. He stood up and looked about, finding himself in Vale. Where in Vale he wasn't sure. He never was a big city guy. The country was so much less complicated...

He had to stop Pyrrha. Well, he couldn't stop Pyrrha, that was for sure. Nothing could stop Pyrrha... except maybe for the Fire Witch who gavae Ozpin a run for his money. The only thing that could stop her was... sense... from someone who could walk beside her. The only one he could think of was Weiss. He picked up his scroll.

* * *

"We will!" Weiss spoke through Jaune's scroll. "Are you okay?" she asked. In reply, Jaune threw his scroll against the ground and slumped down to his knees, crying.

"Please?" he asked, knowing he would not get a reply.

* * *

His tears shed and his antlers shed, Jaune found his way back to his feet. He once again looked around. He once again had absolutely no idea where he was.

[bekaraar]

Aftermath (AFTG Bingo part 4)

Relationships:its kandreil but unrequited, andreil, jerejean,

Words: 1644

Read on AO3 here

Andrew had thought long and hard about why he did what he did. He has seen the reproving glances thrown in his direction from everyone, from Nicky to Dan.

And somewhere inside him, if he could go back and change what he happened, he knows he would.

But he can’t, so now, he has to deal with the aftermath.

Kevin wondered that if everything hadn’t played out the way it did, would those feelings of his, (the ones for the boys he thought loved him), would they not be unrequited?

Did he ever have a chance, or was just him, alone in every universe as he got lost in an endless cycle of betraying and being betrayed ?

Was there nothing to it?

He knew he had felt something for Andrew, he knew he had. It would be delusional to think otherwise, that he hadn’t felt something for the first person that had looked at him and had pointed out his flaws while also giving him a way to improve, in his own twisted way.

But then, Kevin mused, lying on his bed alone Neil had come, and Kevin saw himself falling in love with this boy that he had fallen in love with years ago (though he didn’t know it then. He never knew anything in time).

But he had seen him fall for Andrew and hadn’t really been able to blame him. Andrew was just like that.

And then the championships had rolled around and Neil had disappeared, and then, Kevin’s world came crashing down.

It’s weird, how he had allowed the people he trusted the most to let him down, not once, but twice.

Because when he had felt those strong hands close around his throat, he had cried, but not because of the pain. (He was horribly numb to pain. It was almost as if he couldn’t feel any of it anymore.) He had cried for another possibility lost, for another mistake that he had signed himself over to, another error that he had seen coming, but was too self destructive to let go. He had cried, because something in his head would not shut up.

Something that said:

Andrew should know th importance of keeping a secret that's not yours to share.

Andrew should know how to keep his promises.

Andrew should know that trust takes a long time to be built.

Andrew should know what abuse looks like.

Andrew should know .

So when they were back in the dorms and he could hardly speak because of the bruises lining his throat like the shackles he had tried to hard to escape, he realized that there was something he needed to do.

He took a deep breath, and went up to the roof.

*

Some say Andrew was suicidal. Others, like Neil, understood why he did it. Today, though, he did it mostly to escape his mind and that feeling of probably having broken another person. He wondered if Kevin also call him a monster now, in place of the carefully worded defenses that he gave to them when they asked him about the maniac on his team.

He looked up in slight surprise as he got on the roof and found Kevin there, with his arms around his legs, looking so so vulnerable, and childish, with those bruises across his neck that he had refused to cover with makeup.

Andrew wondered if maybe, he had misjudged Kevin Day after all.

The man in question looked up, his usually emotional face devoid of any feeling, and said, “There’s no need for the deal anymore.”

He got up after that statement and continued speaking though Andrew knew how much it must be hurting him.

“I kept my end.”

Andrew could fill in the blanks easily.

But you didn’t.

He left after that, but Andrew didn’t register it.

He was too occupied with the chorus of disappointed-letdown- broken breaking.

*

Kevin was back at Wymack’s apartment and Abby handed him a cup of honey tea for his throat and looked at him understandingly as she walked away to attend to her own doctorly business, leaving Kevin alone with Wymack.

Kevin busied himself drinking, more as an avoidance than anything, but he knew he was only putting off the inevitable.

And then Wymack sighed and turned to Kevin, but he cut him off.

“I talked to him,” Kevin said hoarsely, because he wasn’t even going try for normal now.

Things stopped being normal when Riko broke his hand.

“I spoke to him, and I’m moving in Nicky’s dorm.”

Wymack just raised an eyebrow.

“Aaron agreed to Andrew’s dorm?”

Kevin looked away.

“I didn’t give him too much of a choice.”

They left it at that.

Kevin was a master at avoiding people, but not when one of those was his sun and the other one was the planet around which he revolved.

No, Kevin thought. One of them was the meteor that had crashed into him and thrown him so, so off course and the other was the planet that had been saved.

But no one cared about the moon that had been thrown off course.

They were just grateful that the planet was saved.

He didn’t say anything much during practice.

For the first week, he said it was because of his throat, and no one could object to that, not when they had ignored him completely those first few days.

They had been forced to listen then.

Neil wasn’t playing yet, and Kevin hadn’t asked him once what had happened, though everyone had.

He didn’t want to talk to him.

Whatever feeling of friendship ( or more ) he once had was gone now.

Some things were just not meant to be.

And sometimes, Kevin thought, it would have been better if he had never been born at all.

He downed his drink.

*

Neil looked from where he was almost concealed by the shadows as he watched Kevin walk into Nicky’s dorm room, shitfaced.

He had seen Kevin retreat back into the hollow empty shell of the person he had been when he was under Riko.

But, a tiny voice inside his head said. Was it really that different?

Neil turned away and dismissed the thought.

It couldn’t be.

But could it?

*

Kevin had seen Neil in the hallway last night, and hadn’t been able to suppress that feeling, that feeling of rage, that almost bubbled inside him and threatened to flow over as he was reminded again and again by all the foxes just how lucky he was that Neil had negotiated his life away.

He was so fucking lucky.

He stared at the ceiling above him.

He wanted someone to talk to.

He wanted someone who wouldn’t look at him with silent contempt when he couldn’t express just what was wrong.

He inhaled and decided.

He needed to talk to Neil too.

Kevin stood out in front of the dorm building, and realized with a quiet pang that he would have to get his own car now.

It was funny how the little things hurt so much.

He started walking.

*

Neil was at the court, with of course Andrew.

His reasoning for being here so late was that he missed it, but all of them knew he missed more than just that.

Neil had thought a lot about how he had literally signed away two people’s lives, but every angle he considered it from give him the same outcome: there was no other way.

He sat in the goal, where Andrew would be, and remembered what it felt like to play because you wanted to, not because you had to.

*

Kevin walked into the changing rooms, and barely acknowledged Andrew, who stared at him with open hostility.

It does something inside him, a chorus of disappointment and sad and worthless and useless.

“I won’t harm him,” he bites out. “Don’t worry,” in a saccharine voice and he doesn’t flinch when Andrew walks close enough to touch him, but Andrew can sense the aborted move and distances himself, and Kevin hates that it still feels like its favour when he does that.

He hates it and he walks onto the court hating it and what he is about to do.

*

Neil is looking  at the goal, silently, when Kevin walks and sits near him, and it doesn't go unnoticed that he sits just out of reach, almost as if he had calculated it, though Neil knows he did, once.

Neil looks at Kevin in silent surprise and opens his mouth to say something when Kevin interrupts.

“I kept your secret.”

The as long as i could goes unsaid, but everyone hears it.

“Thank you,” Kevin says meeting Neil’s eyes. “For signing away my playing life.”

And Kevin means it with gratitude, and Neil knows he does, and for the first time he understands, that maybe, just maybe it was an overstep. That he could have said thta it was Kevin’s wish. That he shouldn’t have taken away that decision.

It is the closest he’ll come to regret.

And he stares at Kevin, struck by how dead inside he looks, and he stares till Kevin walks away, and that is when he realizes how badly they’ve fucked up.

*

Andrew realized, as he heard Kevin finish his little dialogue, that he was wrong. He was wrong in assuming that he was the one dealing with the aftermath.

It wasn’t him.

It was Kevin.

*

Kevin stared at his phone, at the offending number and picked it up.

“Hey,” Jean says, his voice filling the air around him.

“Hey,” Kevin says back, and he lets himself relax as Jean understands what he needs and fills the space around him with empty chatter.

He takes a deep breath and closes his eyes.

He was dealing with the aftermath, and somehow, it felt like he was going to be okay.

[dimensiontripperhibiki]

The End Is Where We Begin (7/?)

“Director Danvers, we have a situation.” Alex faltered on her way into the DEO, startled by three agents heading toward her. “What’s going on?” “A meteor crash in the Pacific.” The agent in the middle said hurriedly as Alex walked past him. He hastened to follow, looking down at the tablet he was clutching. “We’ve detected high energy levels emanating from the crash site.” Alex sighed in response. Her day just seemed to keep getting worse. “Put together a team and let me know when you have eyes on the situation. I’ll be interrogating our new prisoner.” “Yes, Director.” Alex continued on her way, moving quickly down the hallway with her teeth clenched. She didn’t know how she’d managed to lose a prisoner, how she’d employed yet another traitor but she was going to get to the bottom of it. She let herself into the next room, letting the door swing closed behind her. Walking past the mostly vacated cells she came to a stop in front of an occupied cell. “Let me get this straight. You not only willingly released a prisoner, you then locked yourself up right after?”

Raven looked up in surprise, his brow furrowing at the sight of the director standing in front of his cell. “I knew there was no point in running. Besides, I wanted to stay behind to plead my sister’s case. She couldn’t stay to argue for herself.” “That’s who Hisa is to you? Your sister?” “Yes.” Alex stared at the dark-haired man long and hard for a moment before shaking her head in disbelief. “And why couldn’t she stay to argue her case for herself?” “She has to save our younger sister, Itsuki.” Raven stood up from the hard bed he’d been sitting on and paced across the cell. “She’s not one of the bad guys. We just want to protect our family. You have a sister, don’t you? You should understand.” “Are you threatening me?” Alex stepped close to the barrier separating the two of them, anger flickering in her eyes. “Of course not.” Raven backed away, raising his hands in surrender. “I just want you to understand why we’re doing what we’re doing. We’re not intentionally working against you.” Alex watched him closely for any sign that he wasn’t being sincere but found none. “Where did your sister get kryptonite?” “She doesn’t have kryptonite. She didn’t even know the woman she works for had it until they fought Supergirl and Dreamer….speaking of which, can you tell Dreamer I’m sorry about knocking her out? I tried to make it as painless as possible.” Raven sank down onto the bed once more, figuring it wouldn’t be a good idea to get too close to Alex. Alex ignored him. “Who is Hisa working for?” “A woman who has it out for Supergirl. She calls herself Banshee.” Raven paused, noticing a flicker of recognition cross Alex’s face. “You know her?” “You could say that.” Alex rubbed the back of her neck. She couldn’t help but wonder what else could possibly go wrong today. They already had so many issues to contend with. “How is she linked to Lena Luthor?” “Lena Luthor?” It was Raven’s turn to sound confused. “She’s not. My sister knows both of them, that’s the only connection there. Banshee is the person who’s holding Itsuki and that’s why Hisa is working for her. It’s not what you think though, she’s also working with someone else to take Banshee down.” “Lena?” Raven shrugged his shoulders. “She hasn’t told me and I haven’t asked. I’ve told you everything I know.” Alex nodded reluctantly. She believed him. “I appreciate your cooperation though you should know that what you’ve told me won’t keep us from looking for your sister.” “Right.” Raven smiled, shuffling backwards so he was sitting with his back against the wall. “But you’ll have to catch her first. She won’t fall for the same trick twice.” “Good things I have more tricks up my sleeve.” Alex quipped before she turned to walk away. She hesitated as her prisoner called after her. “Alex?” “Director Danvers.” Alex corrected, turning on her heel. “About Dreamer…?” “I’ll pass your message on. If I remember.” Alex turned and walked away, shaking her head. “Thank you!” ---- Kara lifted her hand, hesitating for a moment before she knocked briskly on the door in front of her. As she waited for a response, her eyes darted toward the empty reception desk. She was grateful Lena’s assistant wasn’t there to keep her from passing at least. The security guards had been alarmingly easy to get by. “Lena?” Kara called out softly when nobody appeared at the door or called for her to come in. “Are you in there? I’m here for our...appointment.” She grimaced as the words left her lips. Appointment sounded so formal but she supposed that would be what Lena wanted now. Formality and nothing else. If she even still wanted to help her. “Lena?” No answer. Kara glanced briefly over her shoulder before she carefully turned the handle to Lena’s office. Finding it unlocked, she let herself in and paused at seeing Lena sitting at her desk. She closed the door behind her and took a quiet step closer to the desk, noticing that Lena’s eyes were closed, her head braced on the heel of her hand while her elbow rested against the desk. Kara listened closely as she silently approached. The sound of Lena’s breathing let her know that the CEO was sleeping soundly and a small smile graced Kara’s lips. She paused, allowing herself a couple of seconds to watch before she turned and slowly started to walk away. Their meeting could wait. Her hand was on the door handle when a voice sounded from behind her. “Kara?” Kara froze, her heart sinking with guilt. She turned to find Lena was awake and sitting up straight in her chair. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you. I wasn’t sure if our meeting was still on after...well what happened last night.” “I was just resting my eyes.” Lena lied, clearing her throat afterwards. “Our meeting. Right, of course. Let’s do that.” Kara stared at Lena in concern. “It’s fine, it can wait. You’ve been so busy lately, you deserve to take some time to yourself.” “Kara, sit down.” Lena stood up and walked around the desk, gesturing to the couch on the other side of the office. “I’m not busy.” Kara did as she was instructed, walking to the couch. She sat down, fiddling with her sleeve. She looked up as Lena sat down next to her. “Before we start, I wanted to apologise for last night. It didn’t happen the way I wanted it to but Alex is doing her job and technically I work for her. I’m not saying I don’t support her decision to arrest your friend because I do but I know it couldn’t have been easy to watch. Trust me, I know what it’s like to watch someone you care about being treated like a...” She paused, taking a breath as Lena slowly nodded. “Well you know. I’m rambling. I’m sorry, I-I didn’t really expect to get this far if I’m honest. Usually at this point you’ve already told me to get out three times. Not that I blame you!” Lena sighed and looked down at her lap. “Maybe you should.” “Huh?” “I wanted to apologise too.” Lena said, her brow furrowing. She didn’t look up, not wanting to see surprise cross Kara’s face like she knew it would. “I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did last night. I was just angry in the heat of the moment. I understand that you didn’t have a choice in the matter of taking Hisa in. I’m not saying I don’t disagree with it. You know that I do. But this is your job.” “Right.” Kara agreed softly, uncertain if Lena was still angry with her. “For what it’s worth, Alex will do everything she can to help her with finding her sister. I don’t doubt that for a second. She’ll do the right thing, she always does.” “I hope you’re right about that.” Lena replied quietly. She cleared her throat and finally looked up to meet Kara’s eyes. “I’m working on a theory so we can avoid what you’ve seen in your vision. If I’m right, we should be able to safely remove the antimatter wave as it approaches the earth. With your help of course.” “Really?” Kara felt her heart leap at the suggestion. “How?” “It’s just a theory at the moment.” Lena warned as Kara leaned forward slightly. “But I think if I fashion a Quadruple-Loffe configuration I can create an electromagnetic trap of sorts. Incorporating a vacuum may help to get the antimatter inside of the trap but I need to figure out-” Lena was cut off as Kara leaned forward and hugged her tightly without warning. “It’s not a guarantee. I still need to find an energy source powerful enough, not to mention materials resilient enough to withstand that kind of heat.” “I know, I’m sorry.” Kara guiltily drew back. “It’s just...there’s hope. I really needed this.” Lena mustered a small smile but before she had a chance to say anything, Kara’s phone started to ring and the reporter quickly fished it out of her bag. “Sorry, it’s Alex.” Kara apologised before answering. “Hey, Alex. What’s going on?” Lena stood and walked across her office to give Kara a moment to speak to her sister. She sat back down in her seat, her eyes darting over the plans on her desk. She worried that she had given Kara too much hope. There was so much to do, so many things they’d need to collect before she even started to construct the trap. Not to mention, that it was only theoretical. “What do you mean, she got out?” Kara’s words caught Lena’s attention and she looked up to see Kara furtively glance at her. She raised a questioning eyebrow. “She’s with me but...yeah. Yeah, I-I’ll ask her.” Kara sounded reluctant. “I’ll call you back if I find anything out. Bye.” “Has something happened?” Lena asked as Kara hung up the phone and walked toward her desk, fidgeting nervously. “Is it about Hisa?” “Yeah. She escaped this morning.” Lena watched as Kara bit her lip. “I didn’t have anything to do with it. That’s what you wanted to ask me, isn’t it? Not that I’m unhappy about her escape but I haven’t seen her since Alex arrested her. If you need evidence of my whereabouts during the breakout, I can give you access to my surveillance equipment. Though I’d hope it doesn’t come to that.” “Of course not, I believe you.” Kara said honestly, her shoulders slumping in release. “But if you hear from her can you…” She paused helplessly. “I don’t expect you to tell me if you see her. I know she’s your...friend. Just please be careful with her. I don’t want to see you get hurt.” Lena crossed her arms in front of her chest. “I’m not going to let that happen again.” “Yeah, I guess not.” Kara said quietly. Her gaze drifted away from Lena’s and a tense silence settled between the two of them. “I should probably go then.” Lena slowly nodded and stood back up. “Probably. I’ll call you if I need anything? I mean...I might need some things picked up for the device I’m trying to make.” “Of course. Anything you need. Thank you, again. I don’t think I’ve said that enough. I don’t think I could ever say it enough.” Kara said honestly, her chest tight. “It really means everything to me that you’re willing to help.” Lena shifted uncomfortably but tried not to let it show on her face. She didn’t want Kara to die. That had become increasingly clear to her the more she pondered the situation and tried to think about how to avoid Kara’s foreseen demise. She had wanted to tell herself that she wanted to keep Supergirl alive but it wasn’t just that. More importantly than Supergirl, she just wanted Kara to still be in the world. She couldn’t say that. “I’m happy to help. I really have to get back to w-” “Wait, wait. I’m sorry.” Kara grimaced at the rush of words from her mouth. “Just one more question and then I’ll let you get on with things.” She waited until Lena nodded for her to go ahead before she tentatively continued. “The other night, at the bar...you told Hisa you trust me. Did you mean that?” Lena mulled that over for a moment while Kara anxiously fidgeted. “I trust you’ll do the right thing for a person in need. I trust you as the protector of the city but as a friend? I really don’t know. It seems trivial in the face of everything that’s happening, I know, but I’m not sure I can move on from what happened. I can’t be your friend again. I’m not sure how. I don’t even know how to stop being angry with you.”

“It’s not trivial.” Kara replied quietly. “I understand. I’ll see you around, Lena.” Lena’s eyes flicked up as Kara turned to walk away from her. “I would like to try.” Her words caused the Kryptonian to freeze in her tracks. “And maybe someday…maybe it’ll be almost like it was before.” Kara clenched her jaw, her eyes misting over. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen. Anything.” “Come by tomorrow.” Lena slowly sat back down. “It couldn’t hurt to bounce my ideas off someone. If you’re free, of course.” “I’ll be free.” Kara’s voice broke and she quickly cleared her throat. “I’ll see you tomorrow!”

Lena let out a shuddering breath as Kara practically ran from the room, closing the door behind her. She closed her eyes, trying to calm the inner turmoil wracking her. As angry as she was with Kara, she couldn’t help but miss her friend. She wanted her back, she just didn’t know if that was possible. --- Lena froze as she stepped out of the elevator into her loft, her skin prickling as the cold temperature of her apartment washed over her. She shuddered, her eyes darting back and forth for what had caused the chill. It became clear as she stepped forward and noticed the door to the balcony was open. “It’s just me.” Lena whirled around, her hand already reaching for the signal watch in her pocket before she saw a glimpse of red hair. “Hisa?” Hisa shielded her eyes against the unexpected light as Lena flicked the switch up on the wall. “Sorry, I uh...dripped on your expensive looking carpet.” “You’re soaked.” Lena’s brow furrowed as she looked at the puddle at Hisa’s feet. “It’s not even raining. What happened? I thought you were locked up.” “I broke out. Their plans for me didn’t really match up to what I had in mind so…” Hisa shrugged her shoulders. Lena sighed and turned, walking out of the room. “Um…?” Hisa stared after Lena in confusion. “Okay, you’re mad. I get that. Supergirl is your friend or whatever and you vouched for me with her and now you’re probably getting a heap of backlash because of my impromptu exi-” She stopped as Lena reappeared, pushing a towel toward her. “Oh. I can’t take this, it’s too-” “Don’t say expensive.” Lena warned, briefly narrowing her eyes before she brushed past Hisa and went to the kitchen. “I believe you were in the middle of an apology?” “I was about done, actually.” Hisa followed Lena, quickly towel drying her hair to keep it from dripping. “I’m just sorry to be causing you so much trouble.” Lena shook her head in response as she set about making some coffee. “You wouldn’t have been in there if it hadn’t been for me.” “Well that’s true.” Hisa grinned as Lena looked at her in surprise. “It’s not your fault. It’s not even Supergirl’s fault, she’s just doing her job. I would have wanted to lock me up too but that doesn’t change the fact that I can’t be right now. When I find Itsuki and she’s safe, I’ll hand myself in. Supergirl can do what she wants with me then.” “Why are you here?” Lena sat down at the counter, staring at Hisa. “Supergirl already asked me if you’d made contact with me. This is going to be the first place they look for you, and if it’s as urgent as you say it is, you wouldn’t be wasting time in my apartment, would you?” Hisa was silent for a moment, her eyes darting to the ajar balcony door. “My contact’s gone AWOL and I need help. I need a way to nullify a sonic scream so I can save my sister. You’re the only person I trust now, you’re the only person who can help me.” “Fine, I’ll help you. But you owe me.” Lena said, slowly nodding her head. “And I should warn you, I’m going to call upon that favour soon.” “You know you could have just asked me instead of making it sound like a threat. I wouldn’t say no to helping you if you need it.” Hisa stretched out her hand to Lena. “Partners?” Lena felt her stomach sink uncomfortably as her mind drifted back to Kara. They had been partners at one point. She could only hope that she wasn’t making a mistake now. She couldn’t be friends with Kara again but she couldn’t let her die either. She’d do anything to stop that. She grasped Hisa’s hand, giving it a quick shake. “I’ll get you some spare clothes. Are you up for a night in my lab?” “I thought you’d never ask.” Hisa smirked, drawing a soft laugh from Lena. --- “What’s the situation?” Alex questioned as she stopped short of the two DEO agents, her eyes glancing upwards towards the large screen on the wall before she looked back at the two agents. “You said the Exploration Team found the meteor crash sight?”

“Yes, Director Danvers.” The first agent nodded quickly, glancing to the screen to her left in a state of panic. “We’ve been waiting for your order to investigate the crash but…”

“But what?” Alex frowned, turning to the nervous agent in confusion. It was rare to see an agent of the DEO worried about something such as a crashed meteor. “What’s wrong?”

“We’ve been detecting strange energy signatures coming from inside the meteor.” The agent answered before taking a deep breath, turning towards the director. “Director, We think something is alive inside of it.”

Alex nodded slowly, taking a moment to think about what she should do. She had no idea if whatever was inside of the meteor was hostile or not and she didn’t like putting her agents at risk. “Fall back, we’ll get J'onn to do a scan over it and see if he knows what’s inside.”

“Copy that, Director.” The second agent nodded and turned back to his screen, gently pressing against the side of his headset. “Seal Team Alpha, Orders are to return back to base asap.”

Alex frowned as she noticed the second agent's eyes widen despite his attempt to hide it, watching as he nodded nervously. “What is it?”

The second agent quickly turned at the Director’s question. “The meteor is opening.”

“What?!” Alex's breath shuddered as she struggled to think about what to do. She had considered calling Kara and asking for Supergirl’s help but considering how little her sister was telling her about what was going on with her she reconsidered. “Are we able to establish visual contact?”

“Yes, Director.” The first agent nodded quickly and immediately started to type on her keyboard, glancing up at the screen every couple of seconds. “Visual contact established.”

Alex frowned in confusion as her video feed appeared on the large screen. She could barely see anything outside of where the submarine’s lights were shining. Inside the light lay a large meteor the size of two large fully grown men resting at the bottom of the sea with a strange green light glowing from small cracks around the exterior. She had no idea why but every part of her was screaming danger. She hurried to speak to her team. “Seal Team Alpha, get away from there!”

“Yes, Dir...wait, WHAT IS THAT?!” 

Alex froze in horror as a large hand the size of a large person’s head tore through the front of the submarine like it was made of tissue, the sounds of the agent’s agonizing screams echoed throughout the entire room until the video feed tuned black with the last thing Alex noticing was the water turning red with blood. Goosebumps crawled their way up her skin and suddenly she felt icy cold. “Wasn’t the...the Submarine lined with Nth metal?”

“Yes, Director.” The first agent nodded slowly, still in a state of shock. She had never seen or heard anything like what she just saw before in her entire life. It was like a horror movie. “The entire exterior was lined with a two inch thick Nth metal lining.”

Alex jumped as the video feed from the submarine flickered back to life, attracting the attention of every DEO agent in the room. The video was covered in a thick red hue, chunks of flesh and bones floating around with large shards of metal from the submarine around it. In the centre above the split open meteor floated a large shadow twice the size of a white martian tearing apart one of the agents, it’s detail impossible to pickout thanks to how dark it was. She gritted her teeth as the creature took off, swimming out of sight before the video cut out. “We need Supergirl.”

---

TBC...

[the-delta-42]

In Plain Sight Ch. 1

In Plain Sight

Chapter 1: Autobot

Fortune scowled at the Autobots around her, after seeing Starscream execute a ship full of neutrals, she’d been questioning her place amongst the Decepticons. She’d been a gladiator in the pits of Kaon, she’d earnt her name by winning her battles through ‘luck’. It wasn’t luck, she had an advanced battle processor.

She was small, silent, fast and deadly. She was built for war and when tensions died down, she’d been tossed aside, left to rust and perish. Then she’d met Megatron, the revolutionary leader that Cybertron needed, he already had the loyal following of Soundwave, Shockwave and Starscream. Ironhide, Deadlock and Jetfire both deserted to join the Autobots, and Fortune had cursed them to the pit for what she saw a cowardice.

Now she was making that same choice herself, she stood before the gates of Iacon and stared. Megatron was about to interrogate a scout that had been captured, Bumblebee if she remembered correctly, and when he had made his intentions known, Fortune fired on her Lord. Saving the scout but damning herself in the process.

Bumblebee was speaking with a red and blue Mech, while a rose-coloured Femme stood not far away. The Mech approached her and Fortune noticed that she was roughly half his size.

“Fortune,” Said the Mech, his voice deep and rumbling, “Bumblebee has informed me of your wish to defect.”

“It’s not like I have a choice, is it?” Snarked Fortune, “Seeing that I shot my Lord in defence of the bugs skid plates.”

“Bumblebee has also told me that you have been questioning your place amongst the Decepticons for some time.” Continued the Mech, as if Fortune never spoke.

Fortune didn’t say anything, only grasping her right arm with her left hand and looked resolutely at the ground. The Femme that had been talking to Bumblebee had made her way over to the Mech.

“What’s your name, young one?” Asked the Femme, stopping next to the Mech.

“Everyone calls me Fortune.” Said Fortune, locking optics with the Femme.

“But what’s your name?” Said the Femme, stressing the ‘your’.

“LB-14.” Said Fortune, looking down.

“She’s a Warrior, Prime,” Came Ironhide’s voice, “She was in the Pits.”

The Mech, Prime, slowly looked from Ironhide to Fortune, “LB-14, we Autobots are not Soldiers designed for war, anyone with battle experience and training is absolutely necessary to our cause.”

“Why?” Asked Fortune, tilting her helm, “Lord Megatron told everyone about how you stole the Matrix from the Core of Cybertron, Lord Prime.”

“What’s with this whole ‘Lord’ scrap?” Asked a red mech with horns.

“Lord Prime is of Higher station.” Said Fortune, as Prime stiffened.

“Your Spark was forged during the Quintesson War,” Said Prime, his voice light with wonder, “You’ve probably been in stasis until recently.”

“If by ‘recently’ you mean a good couple of thousand stellar cycles before this war kicked off, then yeah, I was.” Snapped Fortune, scowling at Prime.

“Perhaps introductions are in order, LB-14,” Said Prime, looking down at her, “I am Optimus Prime, these are my chief Lieutenants, Ratchet, Ironhide, Jazz, Prowl, Bumblebee, Blaster and Elita-One.”

Fortune looked around, already knowing most of their names from intelligence files she’d snagged from Soundwave, “Where’s Jetfire? Since he’s the only known Autobot that can fly.”

“Jetfire has been sent on a mission at my request.” Said Optimus, starting to turn, “Cliffjumper, could you please find CN-15?”

Cliffjumper, the red Mech with horns, nodded and left.

“Why didn’t you just order him to do that?” Asked Fortune, frowning, “You’re the Prime, literally the King or Emperor or whatever our fragging head of state is called.”

“If I do not present my comrades with the respect and kindness, I expect them to show to others, I would not be a good leader.” Said Optimus, as Cliffjumper returned with a black Mech with bright green optics.

“LB!” Yelled CN-15, rushing towards her and pulling her into a crushing hug, “I thought you’d been offlined!”

“Why would you think that?” Asked Fortune, as the spikes on CN’s helm tilted downwards.

“Megatron’s been hunting us all down, one by one, some, Like HM-12 and QB-18, have joined him and those that didn’t, like RR-16 and JT-01 were killed, I only survived because the Autobots found me before the Decepticons did.” Said CN-15, as Fortune’s wings flopped downwards.

“H-how’d you find out?” Asked Fortune, unable to believe that the Lord she’d served faithfully had murdered her brethren.

“A security recording from RR-16 was recovered.” Said CN-15, “I got in contact with the other two and they tricked me into meeting with them. Megatron was there and he demanded I bow down to him. I refused, the only reason I’m still alive is because of Bumblebee.”

Fortune felt a hand on her shoulder, Ratchet started to guide her to the Medical Bay, “I want to run a complete diagnostic on you, Primus knows what those ‘medics’ in the pits did for you.”

Fortune looked down at herself, the black with red splotches looked wrong now.

“Could you, could you also see about changing my colour?” Asked Fortune, making Ratchet freeze for a moment.

“Jazz, we may need your assistance!” Yelled Ratchet, as Jazz rushed to them.

“Sweet!” Cheered Jazz, as he and Ratchet disappeared with the Femme.

IPS

The war had consumed Cybertron, leading to Optimus to order all Autobots to leave Cybertron and search for the All Spark, which had been launched into space at the start of the war. LB-14 and CN-15 joined Optimus and the other members of Team Prime in searching the stars for the cube. LB-14 had struck up a powerful friendship with Elita-One, eventually seeing her as a sister she never had. Elita had been offlined in the wars final days, she’d been expecting a sparkling. LB had met three of the four younglings Optimus and Elita had, the eldest being Skyfyre, she’d taken command of the femme taskforce when her Carrier was offlined, Ultimus, who’d taken command of the Wreckers, and Tempest, who’d taken her carriers place as the commanding officer over the guardian sentinels that were now all destroyed, save for one. The oldest of the four, LB had met back when she was a Decepticon, he’d sided with Megatron, taking to calling himself Nemesis or something along those lines.

Since Optimus and Elita’s eldest had turned his back on his family, Ultimus had been chosen to take his place as the one to replace Optimus when his time came.

LB was drawn from her musing when a light flash from the Earth.

“Bumblebee has found the boy.” Said Ironhide, shifting his weight, as the other Autobots started for the pods, “This better be worth it.”

LB hopped into her pod, CN getting into the one next to her.

“Everyone remember their directives,” Said Optimus, as the Autobots nodded, “LB-14 and CN-15 are to rendezvous with Hot Rod in France, Arcee, Cliffjumper and Bulkhead are to set up a base for us while the rest of us will join up with Bumblebee and retrieve the cube.”

LB and CN nodded and plotted coordinates for Paris.

“Stay safe, Soldiers.” Said Optimus, as they launched towards Earth, “Move out.”

IPS

Alya quietly seethed as Chloe sauntered away to that stupid yellow car her ‘daddy’ bought her. Nino gently guided Alya away from the blonde-haired she-demon that cropped up a few months back. Alya was so busy fuming, she didn’t see the meteor falling to the Earth. Alya suddenly felt Nino grab her and pull her to the side, just as the meteor hit the school.

Everyone stared at the hole in the front of the school, Alya thought she heard a scream and ran inside, Nino calling after her. Another meteor clipped the roof of the school, before impacting on the playing field.

Alya skidded to a stop at the sight of the meteor, and the source of the scream, Alix was crouched near the meteor, curled into a ball. Alya heard Nino slip on the stones behind her, both made their way over to Alix, carefully guiding her out of the small area she’d been hiding in. The three teens froze as they heard a cracking sound, all knowing that it was the ceiling and, as a result, the floor above them. There was a snap, and the three teens were in a pair of giant metal hands. Two bright blue eyes looked down at them.

“Tvg lfg lu sviv!” Yelled the owner of the hands, throwing the teenagers out of the wreck.

It was a giant robot that was red with black dots decorating its armour. The robot carefully made it’s way to the court yard, where it then produced a gun and fire some shots through the ceiling, before climbing out of the hole it made.

IPS

LB was berating herself; her orders were to land somewhere out of sight, not crash into a building and reveal herself to three locals. She carefully lowered herself to the ground and looked around for a vehicle to scan, she froze when she spotted one, a red sports car that had a black and white stripe running from the bonnet to the boot.

LB scanned the car and transformed, before driving off to the agreed coordinates to meet with CN-15 and Hot Rod.

A black sports car with green highlight drew level with her.

“Low profile, huh?” Asked CN-15, getting a growl from LB-14.

“I mis-judged my trajectory when I entered the atmosphere, okay?” Retorted LB-14, as they approached the alley that Hot Rod was waiting for them in.

“What happened?” Asked Hot Rod, ducking behind an abandoned building as fire engines raced past.

“We got our trajectory wrong on entry, we may have made a bit of a scene.” Said LB, joining Hot Rod in robot mode.

CN-15 transformed and looked around, making sure they weren’t spotted.

“We have some humans for you to stay with,” Said Hot Rod, pulling up a map, “LB-14, you’ll be going to the Dupain-Cheng’s, CN-15, you’ll be going to the Agreste’s. Prime didn’t explain your presence to us, but the Order has made accommodations as well as charges.”

LB-14 made note of the Dupain-Cheng’s location, before transforming and driving there. LB internally winced at the sight of the school and the massive hole in the front of it. She activated her holo-form and entered the bakery, looking up as a bell rang.

“Hello, how can we help you today?” Asked a short, kind faced Asian woman, looking at Marinette.

“I’m looking for the Dupain-Chengs,” Said LB, looking around, “A… colleague said that I’d be expected here.”

“I take it you were the one who put that hole in the school.” Said the woman, getting a wince from LB, “I’m Sabine, Hot Rod said you’d be arriving.”

“I’m LB-14.” Said LB, getting a slight frown from Sabine.

“I assume that you’re the sports car out our front.” Said Sabine, making LB turn and look at her vehicle mode, which was surrounded by teenagers taking pictures of it.

“I can move.” Said LB, before Sabine stopped her.

“No, we don’t have self-driving cars here and your hologram is too young to be driving.” Said Sabine, just as one of the teens produced a key and scraped it across the cars paint work.

LB-14 stiffened, before her holoform flickered and the alarm started blaring, making the group of teenagers run away. LB went outside and checked the damage, silently cursing under her breath. Sabine walked out and looked at the scratch mark.

“I’m certain my mother-in-law can fix it without a problem.” Said Sabine, carefully guiding LB back into the shop.

IPS

CN-15 watched as Gabriel and Emilie argued.

“He can’t stay in the house, otherwise people are going to ask where a teenager came from.” Said Gabriel, before CN looked over at Emilie.

“I just don’t think that the garage is warm enough.” Countered Emilie, before CN intervened.

“Mrs. Agreste, I’m not one to complain about temperature, in fact the only time I’d ever feel cold is if I was in this planet’s polar region.” Said CN, making Gabriel look triumphant, “Besides, LB and I are waiting on further orders from Prime.”

“Who?” Asked Gabriel, frowning.

“LB-14 and I are here on orders from our leader, Optimus Prime.” Said CN-15, as a red Ferrari drove up the drive.

The Ferrari got within a few feet of the group, before transforming into robot mode. LB-15 looked at a scratch on her arm, before scowling.

“I’ve already decided, I don’t like this world.” Said LB, her scowl deepening.

“Why, what happened?” Asked CN, looking at his partner.

LB raised her arm to show him the scratch, “Some meat bag scratched me!”

CN was silent, before looking in her optics, “Are you serious?”

“Yeah, that was my reaction too!” Exclaimed LB, walking in circles.

“What are we going to do about the humans?” Asked CN, making LB stop.

“They completely slipped my mind.” Confessed the femme, looking embarrassed.

“We need to alert Optimus, perform some semblance of damage control.” Continued CN, making LB wince.

“Really?” Asked LB, looking indignant.

“I’ll deal with the boy; I suggest you handle the girls.” Said CN, his logic circuits already taking control.

“Then what?” Asked LB, frowning, “Prime would want us to report on the children, and if any Decepticons saw us with them.”

“Prime’s rendezvousing with Bumblebee and other members of his team.” Said CN, starting to contact Optimus.

“Prime, we have a little problem.” Said CN-15, as LB-14 winced.

IPS

Alya looked up at the hole in the front of the school, the robot from the day before still on her mind. Alya lurched forwards, as Chloe sauntered past her, smirking. Her bright yellow Lamborghini sticking out like a sore thumb. Two more sports cars pulled up, one a black and green Lamborghini and the other a red and black Ferrari. Alya squinted and spotted the strange face symbol on both of them. The same symbol had been present on the robot’s shoulder. In the blink of an eye, two teenagers were standing in front of the cars, appearing out of thin air.

Alya bit back and gasp, as the girl looked straight at her and mouthed, “Stay there.”

Within a couple of seconds, both teens were standing either side of Alya, the girl frowned and looked around.

“Where are the other two?” Asked the girl, her voice identical to the robots.

Alya didn’t say anything, silently panicking, thinking the two had come to silence her before she could tell anyone.

“Alya?” Asked Ms. Bustier, approaching the three, the boy and girl looking at the teacher, “Oh, I didn’t realise we had some new students today, I’m Ms. Bustier.”

“Adrien.” Said the boy.

“Marinette.” Said the girl.

“Do either of you have surnames, or shall I just call you Marinette and Adrien?” Asked Ms. Bustier, as she guided the three towards her classroom. Alya quickly made her way to her seat, while ‘Marinette’ and ‘Adrien’ were left standing at the front of the classroom, while Ms. Bustier checked the register.

“It seems you two aren’t fully enrolled yet, but” Said Ms. Bustier, as both hidden Autobots groaned, “I’m sure the Principle won’t have a problem with you sitting in on today’s lessons.”

Marinette immediately clocked Alya, as well as the bespectacled boy from yesterday, before spotting the pink haired girl as well. Marinette sat herself next to Alya, while Adrien dropped himself into the seat next the spectacled boy.

“Hey, I’m Nino.” Said the boy, holding his fist out to Adrien.

“Adrien.” Said Adrien, before looking at the fist. After a moment, Adrien wrapped his hand around the fist and shook it.

Marinette leaned towards Alya and whispered, “We need to talk, urgently.”

Alya paled, feeling that whoever, or whatever, Marinette was, she knew she wouldn’t take no for an answer. Marinette twisted in her seat, looking around the classroom, her eyes pausing on a Vietnamese boy who looked familiar, as if she’d seen him on Cybertron.

The day, for Alya, passed far too quickly, why did it have to be Friday?

Adrien and Marinette lead Alya and Nino behind the school, unknowingly having Kim and Alix follow them. Nino stared at the two cars, confused, while Alya had started crying.

“What’s that thing you’re doing with your face-plates?” Asked Marinette, confused.

“W-we won’t tell anyone!” Wept Alya, making Marinette understand what she thought they meant.

“We’re not going to kill you.” Said Marinette, just as she flickered out of existence, Adrien doing the same the next second.

Nino jumped back, while Alya fell backwards, before the two cars started shifting their parts and, a second later, two robots stood before them, one male and one female.

“Whoa.” Said Nino, as the red one knelt down.

“Hey, we aren’t going to harm you,” Said the female robot, “It’s, kinda, against the rules. I’m LB-14, this is my partner, CN-15.”

Alya took several deep breaths, the two robots looking down at her and Nino.

“LB, what, like Ladybug?” Asked Alya, after calming down and climbing to her feet.

“What?” Asked LB, before CN-15 snorted.

“Ladybug, suits you.” Said CN, his laughter starting to shake his frame.

“What does CN stand for?” Asked Nino, making CN-15 look down.

“It’s my designation, my name.” Explained CN, frowning.

“Well, if she gets a new name, you should get one too.” Said Nino, frowning, “You’re black and I think Lamborghini’s purr… Chat Noir!”

Ladybug started laughing, as CN thought it over.

“Chat Noir… I like it!” Said Chat Noir, his optics brightening.

“Whoa, you came back!” Yelled Alix, running forwards, leaving Kim behind.

Ladybug’s optics zeroed on the other human, before he flickered out, “Oh, slag.”

“What?” Asked Chat, looking at the Femme.

“That extra human was a holoform!” Cried Ladybug, starting to run to the mouth of the alley.

Just as she did, a light brown jeep tore into the area, before transforming and tackling both Ladybug and Chat Noir.

“You won’t believe how happy I am to see you guys!” Yelled the mech, laughing.

“RS-17?” Asked Ladybug, tilting her head.

“Oh, yeah, I’ve been going by King Monkey now, you know,” Said King Monkey, grinning, “new start, new me.”

“This is going to be a headache.” Said Ladybug, frowning, before looking up, “I’ll contact Optimus, until then, everyone pick a partner and stay with them.”

King Monkey immediately grabbed Alix, while Chat picked up Nino.

“I guess you’re with me.” Said Ladybug, collapsing into her sports car alt.

Alya nodded, climbing into the passenger seat of the car. The three Autobots drove out of the alley, unknowingly being watched by Chloe Bourgeois.

“Where are we going?” Asked Alya, as she shifted uncomfortably in the seat.

“We’re taking you to our base, where we’ll then receive transport to take you to our leader.” Said Ladybug, as the three Autobots pulled into the driveway of the Agreste home. The driveway lowered its end, creating a ramp for the Autobots to go down into. Alya tried not to gape at the sight of the humans, and some other robots, in an underground base.

“The funny thing is, this isn’t our main base,” Said Ladybug, as Alya rubbed her eyes, “Ratchet, we’re ready for a bridge.”

A swirling green vortex appeared before them and the Autobots drove through.

Ladybug, Chat Noir and King Monkey all stopped, allowing their charges to step put before transforming. Alya looked around, she counted eight more Autobots, all of varying sizes. The tallest, a red a blue male looking robot, stepped forwards.

“Are these the humans that you encountered, LB-14?” Asked the robot, his voice deep and full of wisdom.

“Yes, sir.” Said Ladybug, shifting slightly.

“Ladybug actually saved up.” Said Nino, getting the robot to look at him.

“I’m sorry, ‘Ladybug’?” Asked the robot, as Ladybug shifted uncomfortably.

“Yeah, LB-14 made her sound like some kind of drone, so we started calling her Ladybug, the same with Chat Noir.” Said Alix, as Chat squirmed as well.

“If that is what wish to be called, then you may adopt those designations,” Said the robot, before turning back to the humans, “My name is Optimus Prime, we are Autonomous Robotic Organisms from the Planet Cybertron.”

IPS

Ladybug dropped Alya off outside the block of flats where her home was located. Optimus had introduced each member of the team, before explaining the Autobot’s presence on Earth and what Ladybug and Chat Noir were doing in Paris.

“So, you’re here to hunt for ‘energon’?” Asked Alya, looking at Ladybug’s dashboard.

“Yeah, there’s an unusually large deposit of it underneath the city,” Said Ladybug, the dash lighting up when she spoke, “I’m actually surprised there aren’t any Decepticons nearby, given how much there is.”

Two Cybertronians stood hidden, watching Ladybug speak with the human.

“At lease we know that Shockwave’s cloaks work.” Said a Yellow Femme, her optics a cold blue.

“We just need to find a way of getting the Autobots away from here.” Said a tall purple Mech, his optics the colour of ice.

“I’m sure we’ll get them away, soon enough.” Said the Femme, before pressing her fingers to the side of her head, “Queen Bee, here, tell Lord Megatron that we’ve found a lead to the energon readings, as well as one of our turncoats.”