#wayne reedy

[nerds-yearbook]

The California Justice Department released the educational short Auto Theft: Hot Cars, Cold Facts in 1991. The short about car theft featured Johnny Five and took place right after the events of Short Circuit 2. Russell Turner took over as the voice of Johnny Five. ("Auto Theft: Hot Cars, Cold Facts" TV Event)

[penny00dreadful]

Part 11 - Complete

[Part 1] [Part 10] [AO3] [Cover Art] [Eddie&Chrissy Art] [Steve&Robin Art]

By the time Steve made it back to his room, Eddie, Robin and the guards were gone. His wardrobe had been raided, no doubt under Robin’s supervision and the only person left was Chrissy.

She didn’t seem to register them coming in, staring out of Steve’s bedroom window in much the same way he had only a few hours previously. 

He had to call her name three times before she came back to herself, jumping with surprise and whipping around, eyes red and puffy and face pale.

Steve worried for a moment, as she stared at him, like she was staring right through him, that she was about to start screaming at him, angry that he had sent Eddie away without having the authority to do so, all but kidnapping someone from the castle and sending them over the border but that was not the case.

As bundled up as he was in Robin’s cape, he was still freezing cold and dripping wet, but that didn’t seem to matter much to Chrissy who shot forward and wrapped him up in a crushing hug, squeezing him as tight as she could.

Steve had to wrestle against the bindings of the cloak to get his arms out but when he did, he held Chrissy just as close in return.

“Thank you.” She muttered into his chest. “I’ve wanted to get him out of here for so long and I was never able to, he refused to leave me and now… just thank you for getting him out.”

“I’m going to get the both of you out.” Steve muttered back through chattering teeth.

“Oh!” The sound came soft from her mouth but concerned all the same. “I’m sorry, here.” She took him by the elbow and led him towards the fire.

“I’ll wait outside while you change into something warm and dry.” She said, shooting him a weak smile before disappearing out of the door.

With shaking and almost numb hands, Steve took the clothes Hopper offered him and they were both silent as he helped Steve get dressed again, feeling the warmth surrounding him doing a little to lift the heavy weight that had settled over his heart. 

When Hopper let Chrissy back into the room, Steve holding out a hand to her, he faced the two of them with a sombre look in his eye.

Chrissy took Steve’s hand in both of her and stood at his side. Her skin felt burning hot against his own, still seated and chilly as he was next to the roaring fire of his room and he squeezed her fingers. 

Until they got back to Torthúil, they were all each other had. They’d both lost their best friends and their romantic interests in one fell swoop and Steve knew he’d do what he could to at least try to keep her sane, keep her company until they were all reunited.

“As long as they got out of the castle without being seen, no one would know that Eddie survived.” Hopper’s entire being was grim and resigned, even the gleam of his armour seemed to have been dulled. “I think it’s best if we keep it that way.”

“What?” Chrissy’s voice was high and reedy, her hand starting to squeeze a little too tight around Steve’s.

“Unless we find out that they know he survived, we keep up the charade that he drowned. For his safety as well as our own. At least until we’re out of this fucking hell hole-” Hopper caught himself, clearing his throat. “Apologies, Your Highness.”

Chrissy had opened her mouth, the tiniest amused tilt to the corner of her mouth when Steve’s bedroom door burst open.

The three of them stood there staring in shock. 

It was one thing for soldiers to force their way into Eddie’s room, but Steve was the crowned prince of another kingdom and with that came a certain sense of security and decorum.

But apparently not any more.

The soldier stood there looking at the three of them, panting and with a wild glint in his eye.

Hopper’s hand snapped to his sword but Chrissy had flown across the room before he could even unsheath it.

“Wayne!”

Ah, so this is Eddie’s uncle. 

“Chis- Your Highness,” Wayne corrected himself mid-word, eyes darting up to take in Steve and Hopper as well. “Your Highnesses. They told me my boy ran away in the middle of the night. But he wouldn’t do something like that, Your Highness,” he turned back to Chrissy, “you know he wouldn’t. Something’s happened to him, we need to find him.”

Steve pushed himself to his feet, waving Hopper off who moved to help him.

“Close the door, please.”

Even though he had just been told to pretend like Eddie had died, drowned in the sea behind them, therefore go along with what Wayne had been told, that Eddie had run away in the middle of the night, it wasn’t right.

Wayne was Eddie’s family and he clearly cared about his nephew, so it was with his shoulders pushed back and his shaking hands clasped behind his back that Steve told Wayne all of what had happened to his nephew, including kidnapping him and sending him into the woods with his soldiers and advisor.

Wayne approached him, with an unreadable look on his face, Hopper taking a step to the side, almost to block Steve off before Steve stopped him.

Wayne came to a stop just in front of him and stood stock still for a few seconds, eyes darting between Steve’s as though examining him.

Without warning his arms shot out and Steve found himself crushed to a plate armour chest, squeezed tight with a rough pat on his back and a gruff “Thank you, Your Highness.” before Wayne let him go like he’d been burned, taking a step back and standing firmly to attention again, almost waiting to be chastised for touching royalty.

Steve smiled at him. “Call me Steve. And you’re more than welcome. I’ll do anything in my power to keep Eddie safe.”

Wayne only looked at him, giving him a sharp nod before something was communicated silently between himself and Hopper, almost like two wolves sizing each other up.

Their staring contest was broken when there was another knock at Steve’s door and with a sigh, Steve stepped across the room to open it.

Apparently his bedroom had now become their war room for the upcoming day ahead until they could leave tomorrow.

He was surprised but relieved to see Lucas on the other side, looking a little breathless but there was no panic on his face so whatever he had to say was hopefully not going to shatter Steve’s whole world.

Once he’d been waved in and the door had been closed behind him, Lucas gave Wayne a wary up and down, only conceding once Hopper told him he was an ally.

“They got out okay.” Lucas breathed, a wave of relief rippling throughout the room. “They weren’t spotted by anyone apart from Max who pretty much demanded to go with them.”

A small bittersweet smile spread over Lucas’ face, like he was smitten with her tenacity but sad to see her go at the same time.

“She refused to be left behind. Said that they couldn’t stop her from following, even if they said she couldn’t come.”

“So Max has gotten out too?” Chrissy asked, her arms pulled in tight to her body, nestling herself in between Wayne and Steve.

“Yes.” Lucas nodded, his smile getting a little brighter.

Now with the confirmation that Eddie had gotten out safely if not still a little exhausted and panicked, at least he knew he had Robin and Max with him and hopefully that would be enough to keep him sane until they were all reunited again. 

“Wayne.” Steve said, looking up from where he had been staring at the flagstone floor as they spoke around him. “Can I ask you a favour?”

Steve kept his eyes peeled as the two of them moved swiftly and quietly down the hallway. He had a small wooden box clutched in his hand, one that Wayne had watched with wide eyes as Steve had ripped the luxurious velvet lining from, leaving only the bare untreated wood on the inside.

The hallway was empty and Steve could only hope it would remain that way for the next five or so minutes it would take for them to get in and out.

Steve gave the door in front of them a gentle push open and found Eddie’s room beyond.

He was sure there were many things here he would have loved to take with him, but they were on a time limit and if they were spotted it was going to be very difficult to explain stealing from the castle they were due to leave the next day.

Steve stopped just inside the threshold, taking a big breath in through his nose, smelling the lingering scent of Eddie and his flower, hoping it wouldn’t be too long before he’d be able to smell it again.

The room was a little unseated, Eddie’s jewellery and regular clothes strewn about and there were a few plants toppled over and broken on the floor as if there had been a struggle in here and Steve had to push down the rage bubbling inside of him, thinking of it.

Despite what he had just thought to himself, he couldn’t help himself from snatching up Eddie’s rings, his earrings and necklaces, the chains that he usually hung from his belts while Wayne watched him with narrowed eyes.

Steve silently held his hand open, offering them to him.

“I think he’d like to have them with him. You can give them to him when we meet again back home.”

Wayne’s mouth was still a hard line, but he took the jewellery with delicate hands and stowed them away carefully in a pouch on his belt.

“You didn’t come here just for a few trinkets, did you?”

Steve shook his head and waved Wayne over to the wardrobe in the corner.

“I don’t know much about plants or flowers, I’m hoping you know more than I do.” He said, pulling the door open slightly, trying not to let too much light in. “I’ve seen Eddie move these before,” he pushed some clothes to the side, revealing the Nightbloom flower nestled in at the back and Wayne sucked in a breath behind him, “but I just want to be sure I don’t damage them. Could you help me?”

Steve turned back to Wayne and nearly jumped at the look in his eye, his gaze harder and more critical than Steve had ever seen it.

“What’s your relationship with my boy?” Wayne almost growled out and Steve had no doubt, despite their differences in station, that Wayne would do anything to protect Eddie in that moment, no matter who Steve was.

“Ed wouldn’t have shown that flower to just anyone. You tell me now and you tell me true, are you playing with my boy?”

“No!” Steve squeaked out. “Wayne, Sir, I… I love him. I would never do anything to hurt him, I swear.”

The frown stayed on Wayne’s face for a few moments more and Steve didn’t know if he needed to say something else, anything else to convince Eddie’s family that he meant him no harm but Wayne just gave him a short nod and nudged Steve out of the way.

He reached into the back of the wardrobe himself and gently pulled the flower from the wood, depositing it with careful fingers into the box Steve was holding open, feeding the roots into the grooves of the wood.

Once all of the flower was out and safely tucked away in the box that used to contain Steve’s circlet, he closed the lid and held it out to Wayne for him to take.

It looked like it almost pained him to refuse but Wayne said “I won’t be able to justify carrying a wooden box around the barracks without it being examined. Swear to me you will keep it safe.”

“With my life.” Steve responded, trying to put as much conviction as he could behind the words, hugging the box to his chest. 

Things were starting to look a little more hopeful for him now that the Nightbloom was safely tucked away in a satchel over Steve’s shoulder. He knew Eddie would have wanted it kept safe and away from the people here. No doubt if they had found it nestled in the back of the wardrobe they would have probably been able to surmise that it needed darkness and wood to grow and Steve wouldn’t let that happen, not when Eddie had worked so hard to keep it hidden from them.

He should have known that that hopefulness wouldn’t last.

Or at least that it would have been soured a little.

Hopper was waiting for them at his bedroom door, rather than inside, almost half in half out. His shoulders were tight and his moustache was twitching with irritation and Steve faltered in his steps wondering just what the fuck was it this time. 

Hopper held a hand out, stopping Wayne from following Steve inside and something must have passed between the two of them to tell him to listen because Wayne took a step back, not visible from inside the room.

Steve clenched his jaw and stepped in to see both the Queen and Billy had arrived in his absence, making themselves comfortable in his room, on his chairs in front of the fire while Chrissy hovered near the door, like she was ready to run at any second. 

“What an unexpected surprise.” He said to the room at large, unable to keep all of the coldness out of his voice and just barely stopping himself from lunging across the room to break Billy’s neck while Billy watched him like a hawk.

The queen shot him a wide smile, apparently delighted with herself and unable to keep it at bay.

“It’s unfortunately something unexpected that brings us here. We thought it would be best to deliver the news ourselves.” She sighed, as if the weight of her words was too heavy but her smile persisted. “It appears the Outsider has up and absconded in the middle of the night.”

“Indeed?” Steve asked, his teeth clenched.

“I know you two were terribly fond of him, but I suppose people like that just can’t be trusted.”

Steve couldn’t even dignify that with an answer. 

“And you?” He asked, his eyes turned to Billy. “You were quite fond of him too, weren’t you?”

The queen’s face immediately fell into something sour and, dare Steve even think it, jealous?

Billy opened his mouth to respond, no doubt something snide and smug but the queen cut over him.

“A passing curiosity, really. It is unfortunate that we will have to part ways on such a sour note of a member of our castle stealing off in the middle of the night but I hope that it will not change your perception of your welcomed time here.”

So the queen thought Eddie had disappeared in the middle of the night did she? Steve had no doubts that it was under her command that Billy had set out to assassinate Eddie. But apparently Billy was too much of a coward to tell her that Steve had been there. That he’d seen it happen and he knew that she was talking out of her ass. 

He didn’t seem happy that he wasn’t given a chance to speak, no doubt wanted to spread his oily words to try and convince Steve to keep his mouth shut but Steve was going to do that anyway.

After all, they had all agreed to pretend that Eddie was dead.

And Steve wasn’t going to give the queen a chance to send out a hunting party after the group he had sent off only a couple of hours ago.

Regardless, she would find out eventually that Eddie had survived. The king and queen would be travelling to Torthúil in a few weeks time for the wedding but by then Chrissy, Eddie, Wayne and Max would be safe and under the unwavering protection of Steve’s entire kingdom, so he could wait to rub it in her face. 

“Not at all.” He smiled.

Watching the Stoirmeach castle get smaller and smaller in the distance behind them had Steve feeling like he could breathe again for the first time in a month.

The king and queen had barely shown any interest in coming out to see their eldest child off for what would probably be the rest of her life and Chrissy herself didn’t seem surprised by it. She looked almost unbothered at the way they carelessly waved her off.

But now that they were finally on the way home, Steve felt his shoulders drop in relief and tried not to think about anything too hard.

It would have been proper for he and Chrissy to ride together in a carriage by themselves but luckily for them, they had plenty of people around to pay chaperone for what was going to be an entirely platonic marriage. 

Eddie, Robin and Max were probably only hitting the border now while Steve, Chrissy and the rest of their party were still a couple of weeks away.

He just hoped that Robin would be able to introduce him gently to the whirlwind that was his home life because no doubt, all of the kids and especially Dustin were going to attach themselves like leeches to both Eddie and Max.

Time seemed to drag, day in day out travelling through the woods went so much slower than they had a month previous.

Back then Robin and Steve had been nervous and not exactly looking forward to their month away from home. After they had met up with Chirssy and Eddie at the border, then their travels were a bit easier but still uneasy, made more hopeful by new company.

Now, however, Steve and Chrissy were without their best friends and desperate to see them again, spending most of their week travelling with each other, talking quietly and sharing embarrassing stories to lighten the mood.

When they made it to the border between their two kingdoms, Steve wasn’t sure what he was keeping an eye out for, like there was going to be a carving on the wood somewhere to let him know they had safely made it across.

But there was no such message carved into the wood because of course there wasn’t.

Hopper rode ahead of them, stopping in at the border village that they passed by and he came galloping back within a half an hour, a letter clutched in his fist.

Steve nearly ripped it from his hand and he and Chrissy huddled together, reading over Robin’s signature chaotic but somehow streamlined scrawl.

They had made it across the border. They were safe. They weren’t followed.

She’d left that letter with an innkeeper over a week ago.

They would have been back in Torthúil for a few days now.

Steve nearly cried with relief and he tucked Chrissy into his side with a squeeze when she did begin to weep.

All that was left for them now was to make it home. Steve brushed his hand over the satchel on his hip, the same one containing the little box with the Nightbloom, the one he had not let out of his sight since he’d first tucked it away safely.

The first hint of colour pushing in through the windows of their carriage, rows and rows of the Rainbow Sea cresting over the hill backed by a bright blue sky almost had Chrissy pressing her nose up against the window in awe.

Almost as far as they eye could see, out into the horizon the Rainbow Sea stretched, a wash of bright hues and strong floral smells nearly brought a tear to Steve’s eye, this more than anything telling him that he had finally arrived home.

Poking up just beyond the horizon were the tall gleaming white towers of his home, barely cutting into view against the blue sky when a shadow of horses began to ride towards them from the distance.

Chrissy’s body went rigid beside him, fear and anticipation coming off of her in waves but Steve could feel nothing aside from excitement.

Because there would only be one group of meddling little shits who had no doubt been keeping watch over the horizon for their arrival and had probably snatched whatever horses they could get away with from under the stablehand’s nose.

With a wide smile he turned to her, holding his hand out.

“Come on, they won’t bite, I promise.”

Chrissy blinked her big blue eyes up at him only for a moment before she slipped her small hand into his own.

Their caravan had come to a slow halt at the sight of the party riding out towards them so Chrissy and Steve were free to step out of their carriage along with Lucas who had been chaperoning them under Hopper’s strict instructions.

Though Steve thought it was less Hopper’s instruction and more that Hopper knew Steve wouldn’t get up to any ‘canoodling’ when one of the kids was around.

As Steve, Chrissy and Lucas stood, watching the horses and their riders get closer Steve’s heart leapt up into his throat at the sight of dark curls and leathers astride the black horse, Thunder.

Eddie looked as light as Steve had ever seen him, riding with a power to him that Steve didn’t know he’d possessed. He was followed closely by Robin on Bimmer and Steve could make out all of his kids on horses behind, some doubled up, some like Max on her own.

Steve nearly took off in a sprint towards them but for Chrissy’s hand in his, reminding him that he was her only tether here between what lay behind her and in front of her.

But he needn’t have worried.

No sooner had she caught sight of Eddie than she was racing towards him, Eddie barely managing to pull his horse to a stop before he flung himself down to the ground and into her arms.

Steve would have felt almost bereft if it wasn’t for the wave of people that were coming right for him, Robin and Dustin at the front of that pile, already down from their own horses.

Robin reached him first, throwing her arms around his shoulders and it was when Dustin joined the fray, bowling into him, sending all three of them toppling down to the ground.

Lucas received the same treatment from the rest of the kids, Will, El, Mike and Max all piling on top of him talking a mile a minute, same as what was happening all around Steve, Dustin speaking at such a pitch and volume he thought his eardrums might burst, Robin babbling alongside him.

From then it was almost like pass the parcel. Dustin abandoned Steve to tackle Lucas back down to the ground, El disappeared from the pile of kids to hug Hopper tight around the middle, Robin and Chrissy shared their own soft and long lasting hug in which Steve was sure they were whispering to each other.

Eddie himself had looked down at Steve for a moment but his gaze had been drawn upwards when someone else stepped out from in between the carriages and wheelhouses stacked behind them.

Eddie’s eyes went wide and before Steve could even turn to look he’d been off like a shot, running into the open arms of his uncle Wayne and clutching on just as tight as El had to Hopper.

Steve smiled to himself and let his head fall back into the grass, the blue sky above him, the smell of flowers around him, happy to let the celebrations and reunions swirl around him, comfortable and familiar.

He would have loved his own sweeping reunion with Eddie but he’d never pull him away from his uncle and from Chrissy.

He must have been sick with worry the entire time, it was no wonder that-

“You gonna stay down there all day, Stevie?”

Eddie’s head popped into view above him. His cheeks were rosy, his eyes were bright and alive, he was dressed in not the same dark leathers that Steve had been used to seeing him in but mismatched pieces from both Steve and Robin’s wardrobe made up of the darkest items they had.

It suited him.

Steve grinned up at him as he held a hand out and he let Eddie pull him to his feet, landing upright in Eddie’s space and not allowing himself another moment away from him, he took him into his arms, wrapping him up in a tight and far too intimate hug but he could not find it within himself to care at that moment. 

“I’m so happy you’re okay.” Steve whispered to him, his voice getting a little choked up as he felt that same fear that had surrounded him for the last week take hold of his heart again.

“I am,” Eddie muttered back, running a soothing hand up and down his spine. “I am okay, thanks to you. You got me out, it’s okay. I’m here. I’m alright.”

Steve could only hold him tighter.

“I want to kiss you really bad.” Eddie half laughed to him, still keeping his voice low.

“Soon.” Steve breathed, enjoying the shudder that he got in return.

“Robin’s put me up in her room. So I can come and sneak into your bed as often as I like.”

Steve clutched on a little tighter, his mind going to all manner of places, none of which were appropriate in the middle of a field of flowers.

It was like Robin had read his mind. He hadn’t even spoken to her about it.

He’d have to thank her for it later.

Steve couldn’t resist, with a turn of his head he brushed his lips against the shell of Eddie’s ear, keeping the motion out of sight of everyone else.

“Can’t wait.”

The ride back to the castle was slower than the way the group of them had raced out to meet Chrissy and Steve.

Robin had jumped immediately at the chance to offer Chrissy to ride with her on Bimmer and it only took a glance for Steve and Eddie to swing onto Thunder, Steve using the excuse of holding onto the reins to press up tight against his back as they, along with the whole of the retinue made the last leg of the journey towards Steve’s home.

All of their homes.

Lucas and Max were packed onto the same horse as well, away in their own world, Lucas looking like he was on cloud nine able to hold Max close to himself and Max unable to keep the irritated scowl on her face, transforming into a bashful smile. 

Dustin was yapping away, full of enough words for all of them, talking about the things that had transpired in the castle over the last month, how Robin, Eddie, Max, Callahan and Powell had arrived at the castle in the dead of night, exhausted and grim.

How Eddie and Max had appeared unusually apprehensive of everything around them despite Robin’s attempts to assure them they were safe.

And just as Steve had predicted, Dustin had attached himself to Eddie’s hip. Though he explained it like they were just a pair of study buddies, the little laughs Eddie let out whenever Dustin mentioned ‘quizzing’ him on his homeland and the ink in his skin and the Nightbloom flower, Steve could tell it had probably been more of an interrogation, though Eddie seemed to have taken it in good humour.

“That reminds me,” Steve rumbled into Eddie’s ear, low in his chest, holding onto the reins one handed to pull the satchel around to the front. “I have something for you.”

With a steady hand, he pulled the box out and handed it to Eddie who looked down on it, confused.

“What’s this?” He asked, only barely opening the lid, enough to catch sight of what was inside and snapping it closed again, keeping the sunlight out.

“Oh. Stevie.” Eddie almost whimpered, leaning back into his chest, hugging the box close to him. “Thank you.”

Steve took the risk, placing a small and fleeting kiss into Eddie’s curls.

The stairs leading up to the front doors of the Torthúil castle were full of people, in much the same way they had been when they arrived at Stoirmeach, but this time it was not only the staff in the castle but a few of the townspeople as well as Steve’s mother and father, waiting for them to arrive.

People had already begun to break away, running to greet their family and friends who had travelled with them as part of their household staff to Stoirmeach, reuniting with kisses and hugs and cheers of celebration.

Steve’s own parents along with Claudia and Joyce raced down the steps to meet them, sweeping Steve up into their own crushing hugs as soon as he alighted from his horse and he was so incandescently happy to be home.

When they all pulled back, Joyce removing herself from the fray early to dart off in Hopper’s direction, Steve turned back to find Chrissy standing close to Robin, almost tucked under her arm, unable to hide the wide apprehensive gleam in her eye.

Steve smiled back at her and held his hand out, squeezing her fingers tight in support as she took a step forward and he introduced her to his parents, who, for all their faults, were not even half as bad as her parents had been.

“You’re most welcome here, Christine.” His mother smiled down at her.

“Yes,” his father agreed with his own smile. “We hope you’ll be most comfortable here.”

“Tell me, dear,” Claudia piped up from the side, “are you hungry at all?”

Chrissy stared wide eyed between the three of them, squeezing Steve’s fingers back before answering back with a nervous smile. “Please call me Chrissy. And I am alright, for the moment, thank you.”

“Well then, Chrissy, you must tell me all of your favourite foods so I can be sure to have them on hand.”

Chrissy gave Claudia a bashful smile and a little nod of the head.

“Come, come now.” Queen Josephine puffed out her chest. “We don’t want to overwhelm the poor child. Robin and Eddie dears, would you help our darling Chirssy to get settled in her rooms?”

Chrissy nearly jumped as Eddie slung an arm over her shoulder and Steve was just able to catch him muttering to her, “weird, right? Took me a while to get used to it too.”

King Robert let out a little snort, clearly also having heart what Eddie muttered but he just clapped a hand on Steve’s shoulder.

“Those are some odd ones you’ve brought back.”

Steve grinned and nodded back. “They are but they’re good people.”

“Oh, we don’t doubt it.” His mother said, turning to lead them back up the steps. “Chrissy seems very nervous, poor dear. Were things very different back in her home kingdom?”

Steve grimaced to himself. “You have no idea.”

Having Eddie, Chrissy, Max and Wayne in Steve’s home was like filling a hole that he didn’t even know was there.

Max had become fast friends with El and both she and Lucas seemed to immensely enjoy the game of cat and mouse they had going on with each other. 

Wayne had apparently expected to start out in the Torthúil barracks as a common footsoldier, same as he had been back in Stoirmeach, but once Hopper had become aware of the depth of experience he had both in battle and his knowledge of other more secretive lands, he quickly rose up to be something of an envoy between them and the people of the Abyssal Forest who were slowly warming up to… maybe not any kind of trade agreements but at the very least conversation.

Chrissy was brighter than Steve had ever seen her. 

She took to the freedom Torthúil offered her like a duck to water, almost jumping at the chance to regularly ride horseback with Robin and take part in more strenuous activities she hadn’t been allowed back in her home. Archery, jousting, ball games she wanted to try all of it and Steve was more than happy to join her whenever he could.

Robin and Chrissy’s rooms were right next to each other and more than once in the last few weeks he had gone looking for one of them, only to find their respective bedroom empty. He often waited a couple of hours after that to go looking for them again, lest he come upon something he could never unsee. 

And then there was Eddie.

What could Steve really say about Eddie that could possibly encompass all that he was?

He was the most alive that Steve had ever seen.

He hadn’t known Eddie was interested in music but as soon as it had become apparent that he wasn’t going to be scolded for going near the instruments they kept in the music room, he tried them all.

And he was quite good at a great number of them, though he seemed to harbour a particular love for the violin. 

Much in the same way Robin and Chrissy did, Eddie rarely spent his nights in his own room.

Many of his days were also spent with Steve in his room too, if they could get away with it.

Days like today where Steve was glaring into the mirror, trying to get his hair to sit properly, artfully draped over his circlet.

It was going to be a long day. And not only because it was his wedding day but because it would also be the first time he would have to face Chrissy’s parents again after everything they had all been through.

“It’s gonna be okay, Stevie.”

Steve turned back to his bed, wanting to keep the scowl on his face but as always, he was completely powerless by the sight before him.

Eddie was comfortably sprawled back in his plush mattress, dappled in early morning sunlight, catching in his curls and eyes, propped up by an obscene amount of pillows, almost melting back into them, a book propped up in front of him and naked as the day he was born save for a thin sheet that was doing very little to hide his tall and lithe figure. 

Steve had to fight himself off from jumping back into bed to join him. He had only just gotten his hair looking right again, after all.

“You’re very calm for someone who’s about to come face to face with a monarch who tried to have you killed.”

Eddie shrugged with a mischievous little grin sprouting in the corner of his mouth. “I’m not calm at all, I can’t wait to see her face.”

He glanced up at what must have surely been a pout on Steve’s face and with the grin spreading, slipped out of bed, letting the sheet fall away and approached.

He raised his hands up, giving the circlet on Steve’s head a minor adjustment while Steve’s hands were magnetically drawn to Eddie’s hips, fingers digging into the soft pale flesh.

“You can’t do this to me the morning of my wedding, it’s unfair.”

Eddie just grinned at him, pressing his body flush against him.

“We’ve got your whole wedding night to celebrate. I’m sure Chrissy and Robin will be doing the same.”

The only saving grace Steve got was a knock at the door, Robin’s signature beat and with a little mocking pout Eddie pulled back, turning and disappearing through the door adjoining their two rooms. 

Steve huffed, trying to get himself back under control.

“Come in!”

Robin poked her head in through the door, sprigs of flowers woven through her hair, ready for the festivities. 

“They’re here.”

Steve groaned out to the ceiling. 

“Fine.” He grumbled. Let’s go see these assholes.”

If there was nothing else he could be glad for, then he’d be glad that Chrissy wouldn’t have to face them on her own. She was hidden away until she’d be walking down the aisle toward him and she wouldn’t have to face her parents unless she wanted to.

The great hall was decked out for the event, swaths of delicately woven and fine fabrics hung from the ceiling and windows in bright colours, complimenting the flowers that had exploded around the room, all matching up with the intricately stained glass windows and mosaiced floors all combined together to look like something out of romantic legend. 

And in the centre of it all were Chrissy’s parents, her father looking around with a vague but distant amount of interest while her mother’s lip curled at all of it, her head held high and her nose pointed in the air, as if she were above all this pomp and circumstance.

It appeared that Steve had gotten at least one of his wishes. Billy wasn’t here. He’d been left rotting back in Stoirmeach where he could stay forever in his own conniving misery as long as Steve was concerned.

One of the hall boys, carrying a bouquet of flowers nearly as tall as he was nearly collided with her, Queen Laura pulling back with a snarl, almost spitting at him in her vitriol, telling him to watch where he was going and to know his place.

Steve couldn’t get down there fast enough.

“Excuse me!” His voice almost boomed out across the hall. The boy’s wide and scared eyes looked up at him and he started babbling his apologies, the flowers shaking along with him.

“It’s alright, Jack, it’s okay.” Steve said to him, patting him on the shoulder. “You’ve done nothing wrong.”

Steve cut his eyes back up to Queen Laura and was almost gleeful that he didn’t have to pretend to be pleasant to her anymore.

“We do things differently in this kingdom, Your Majesty. I would thank you to have more respect than that.”

The queen almost growled at him, opening her mouth to snarl something back but Steve just grinned at the figure that had appeared behind her.

“Stevie.” Eddie said, smug smile firmly in place to go along with his beautifully braided hair, dark leathers and a few flowers tucked into his curls. “We’re ready to begin.”

The queen turned, her face pale and shocked and Eddie’s smile only got wider, prractically leering down at her, begging her to say something else.

But she had been shocked into silence, only able to stare at him with an open mouth as Steve pushed his way past and followed Eddie up to the front of the great hall, Robin waving the king and queen away to take their seats with just as much care and respect as they had shown her previously.

Both Steve and Chrissy were endlessly thankful that the ceremony went quickly, not really wanting to stand at the top of a packed great hall for hours but they were in luck, the feast approaching quickly, everyone stuffing themselves to bursting before starting to properly enjoy themselves amongst the music and the mead.

It was a testament to how happy Chrissy was that she barely even glanced in her parents direction that night as she shared dances with Steve, Robin, Eddie, Max and El, her face bright and delighted.

The night only began to wind down as Steve and Chrissy were sent off to their ‘marriage bed’, as was tradition and Steve had managed to stash another bottle of mead up with them, so while they waited for the crowd to disperse and forget about them, they sat on Steve’s bed, drinking and giggling together, taking bets on who would be the first to burst through the doors once it was safe, Robin or Eddie.

The both lost when Robin and Eddie came in together, looking like they had been hovering outside the door for a while before they had the opportunity to come in, Robin taking Chrissy’s hand in hers and stealing the last of the bottle of mead from Steve’s hand before disappearing out of the door. 

Eddie took a leaping jump, landing in a pile on top of Steve’s bed, grinning up at him with rosy cheeks.

“Did you enjoy your wedding day, Stevie?”

“I did.” Steve grinned back, brushing a curl from Eddie’s face. 

“You want to enjoy your wedding night too?”

Steve leaned down, nuzzling his nose into Eddie’s neck, tracing those patterns of leaves and vines with his lips.

“Absolutely.”

[Part 1] [Part 10] [AO3] [Cover Art] [Eddie&Chrissy Art] [Steve&Robin Art]

As always, major thanks and much love to @hbyrde36 for the magnificent beta work, @arelliann for their beautiful artwork, dividers and header, and to all my cheerleaders helping to keep me motivated. 🥰

[thesandsofelsweyr]

HIS

《 CHAPTER 4/4 // READ ON AO3 // TAG 》

Jason has been beaten half to death with a crowbar, shredded by barbed wire, strung up for so long his shoulders ripped from their sockets, shocked, starved, branded… It's only a wooden paddle, it can’t hurt more than any of the Clown’s other toys… right?

《RATING》 🔞 Explicit 《WORDS》 2,399

《CHARACTERS》 Jason Todd/Robin, Joker

《TROPES》 Hurt No Comfort, Angst, Whump, Dead Dove: Do Not Eat

《WARNINGS》 Humiliation, Forced Nudity, Non-Consensual Spanking, Paddling, Genital Torture, Ownership, Master/Pet, Blood and Injury, Non-Consensual Touching, Scars

《SERIES》 Part 2 of My Arkhamverse, Part 2 of Ruined

《TAGLIST》 @aaliyah-wayne @ladytauria @betty-1880 @hlg8 @plantixst

《NOTES》

This fic is dark so please be aware of the tags

Kudos & comments on AO3, as well as reblogs here, are greatly appreciated 💛

《 READ ON AO3 》 (excerpt below the cut)

“And one to grow on!”

Several minutes passed before Jason realized the beating had stopped. His mind was still consumed by the dull throbbing in his abused genitals. He didn’t know how many times the Clown hit him with that paddle. He remembered the beating ending at 207, but was that the second 207 or the first?

“C’mon kiddo. Ease up. You can let go now. That’s it.” Joker soothed, prying his white-knuckled fingers from the edge of the desk.

He moaned as his limp body slid off the desk and collapsed into a quivering, piss-stinking heap of bloody meat. His tailbone was broken and his backside was bruised and burning from the small of his back to the hollows of his knees. But the agony in his testicles eclipsed all other pain, reaving through his head, dominating his awareness. He clasped trembling hands around them and curled his body in on itself. 

“Thank you for paddling me, sir,” he said softly, his jaw working against the grimy floorboards that reeked of piss and shit, blood and vomit. Joker had taught him to be grateful for his punishments, if he didn’t want to be punished further.

The paddle tapped against his ass again and he wailed: “THANK YOU SIR!” as loud as his ravaged voice would allow.

The taps only grew harder. “I heard you the first time, kiddo.”

Fear clutched at his raw throat as shivers raced up and down his spine. He had no idea what he was supposed to do or say. “Please,” he whimpered. “What do you want me to say?” he asked in a small, reedy voice.

“Did I give you permission to move your hands?”

“No sir, p-please. I’m sorry,” he pleaded as he rethreaded his crooked fingers behind his head, praying that his obedience would spare him further punishment. It never does, you fool.

Joker squatted in front of him, placing the paddle across his knees and resting his elbows on the blade. Jason’s shriveled cock and balls drew up tight again, fearing further abuse. He couldn’t take his wide eyes off that paddle. He was terrified of getting hit with it again.

“Aww. Bet those are pretty sore right now, aren’t they, little guy?” Joker asked in that faux-gentle tone of his that sent invisible spiders skittering across his naked skin.

Jason swallowed hard as dread bloomed inside him. “Yes s-sir.”

Joker suddenly leapt to his feet, and Jason recoiled from the man. “Let’s play another game then, shall we? You’ll like this one, yessiree. It’ll cheer you right up, get your mind off that painful nonsense down there.” The rounded end of the paddle prodded at Jason, causing him to draw his fleshless legs to his chest and press his forehead against his bony knees—a futile attempt to shield his balls from more agony. “We’re gonna roleplay, you and me. It’ll be just like old times, like when the Bat and his Bird pretended to be superheroes. But this time will be more fun, I can promise you that. This time I’m gonna play the—ugh, are you paying attention?” Joker huffed indignantly, prodding at Jason again.

“Yes sir,” Jason answered wearily. He hated these games, mostly because he always found a way to lose.

“As I was saying, I’m gonna play the veterinarian, and you’re gonna be my adorable puppy patient. Okay? Now,” Joker whistled twice then clicked his tongue, “up boy!”

Jason slowly unfurled, not quick enough for the Clown’s liking, which earned him a hard kick to the gut. He yelped, struggling not to move his hands from the back of his head as fresh pain surged through him. Then slender fingers twisted in his matted nest of black hair, tearing at his scalp as he was dragged upright. “I said ‘up’ ya dumb mutt,” Joker growled before shoving him back down to the floor. Jason grunted as he landed on a chest full of broken ribs. “Hands and knees, kid,” Joker motioned upward with the paddle. “You know, doggy-style,” he chuckled.

Jason cringed at the creep’s sexual innuendo but dutifully obeyed. Joker crouched beside him, then a fist tightened in his sweat-soaked hair again, wrenching his head back so blood red lips could brush against his ear. “You know Uncle Joker doesn’t like when his little birdy doesn’t play along,” he warned, his voice suddenly low and sinister, his rotten breath hot and humid against Jason’s cheek. 

The unspoken threat chilled him to the bone. “I-I know. I’m sorry sir.”

Joker shoved his head back down then flamboyantly whacked the back of it with his hand. “Nuh-uh-uh! That’s not what puppies are supposed to say, silly. Now, what do puppies say?”

[veryace-ficrecs]

Stephanie Brown Fic Recs

This list will include all ratings and tags, so read at your own discretion! :)

closet space by adelfie - Rated T

“Hi,” she says in a breathless rush, then takes a moment to swallow and wet her lips. “I, uh, need your help?” “Are you dying?” “N-not exactly.” “Then you don’t need me,” comes Jason’s lazy, uninterested reply. The call ends with a click. -- Steph doesn't know what's more embarrassing: that she's been locked in a closet during a party, or the fact that her "friends" aren't really her friends. And to top it all off, Jason's the only one who can come rescue her.

heroes and thieves at my door (i can’t seem to tell them apart anymore) by Hinn_Raven - Rated G

Bruce really can’t help but think that Stephanie Brown, pre-medicine, piano player, and honors student, with Leslie vouching for her, would be a far better girlfriend for his daughter than Spoiler, the new vigilante in town.

Spoiler Alert: It Gets Better. by carolinaa - Rated T

Red Hood's been running Robin's Nest, a secret youth shelter in Gotham, since he came out of his murdery craze. He wants it to be a place to stay, no questions asked, with a hot meal provided if you stick around for breakfast. The kids of Gotham deserve that much. Enter Stephanie, whose new name isn't the only secret she's keeping. (or: how steph outsmarts her dad, makes gay friends, and gets the guy)

DON'T YOU CRY, DRY YOUR EYES. by orpheusaki - Not Rated

After inhaling her food before Bruce's even halfway through his vanilla milkshake, Stephanie seems to have sobered up a little. She's looking less green, and more like she's trying to develop x-ray vision and look into Bruce's soul. Or maybe she's still drunk, because she very suddenly and very bluntly tells him, "I used to wish you were my dad," drowning her chips into a little pot of ketchup. Bruce pauses. He slowly drops the chicken nugget he was about to put in his mouth — since now is probably not the time to complain about how the nuggets are a little dry today. (Bruce Wayne is not Stephanie Brown's father, not at all.)

No Body Nobody by snackbaskets - Rated M

Now, worst case scenario: What’s so bad you call Jason? Easy. You call him when you need someone beaten, killed, or otherwise met with incredible violence. You call him when you’re running away for a week because Bruce is being a dickhole. You call him when you want to eat food by someone who can cook Gothamite comfort, and to yell really really loud. When she spoke again, it was with a whisper, strained as if it were creaking its way out of her body, wasting away all the air in her lungs and making her voice into something high and reedy, splintering on the last word in her mouth. “Don’t tell Bruce.” You call Jason when you need to hide a body. This fic contains graphic depictions of violence/gore, mentions of sexual assault (NOT to Steph or Jason), and POV dissociation. Proceed with care.

Before the World Was Big by luckyymoth - Rated T

Stephanie Brown is back and better than ever! Well. Okay she's back. And is trying to cope the best she can, especially with her best friend leaving her behind with nothing but a hand-me-down costume. She just can't help but wish for the way it was before the world was big.

Stephanie by revstarbrainrot - Rated T

Stephanie is thrown to the ground, something cracking beneath her. No. No, she wasn’t Robin anymore. This is different, Stephanie is different. She’s trained with Cass more since then, she’s stronger, she- Rubble falls from the ceiling, landing on the center of her back. The air is knocked out from Stephanie, and this is looking horribly familiar.

paranoid android by SnappleSnapSnake - Rated T

“Hello, Stephanie. Or should I call you Spoiler?” A woman’s scrambled voice rang out, talking like a fucking Bond villain. Okay, so, yeah. Probably a mob boss. Play it cool, Steph. “Um, how exactly do you know my name? Or where I live?” She asked instead of screaming or swearing or literally anything else she wanted to do. To be fair, it was a really good question. “That is unimportant,” the woman (who steph hereby dubbed as ‘voice lady’) answered, definitely more collected than Stephenie was. And why wouldn’t she be? Voice Lady had all the power here. “I am here to ask for a favour.”

[distracted-obsessions]

Fanfiction Masterlist

Batman:

You're too Busy Talking Over Me to Hear What I'm Saying

Damian Wayne Angst, finished,

Timothy huffed a laugh then raised a hand. "Your mother didn't like you enough to keep you, Jason didn't like you enough to protect you, Dick didn't like you enough to stay, Bruce doesn't like you enough to hold a conversation with you, and don't even get me started on your grandfather." Every statement was accompanied by a finger counting each one.

Damian stumbled over his own feet, barely catching himself on the railing. He stared down at the darkness without seeing it as all his defenses failed him. He opened his mouth to rebuff him but all that came out was, "And you?"

"Do you really want to know about me right now?"

-

Damian and Tim get into an argument after a bad mission and Tim says something that upsets Damian's worldview. It doesn't matter though. Damian just has to prove that Tim Drake, the super genius, is wrong. It can't be that hard, can it?

Wolf 359:

It Hurts but I Won't Fight You. You Suck Anyway. (You Make Me Want to Die)

Doug Eiffel Angst, finished,

“When is it going to break you?”

Eiffel laughed, a high-pitched, reedy sound. “When is what going to break me? I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to be more specific. The star? E.T.? The crushing void of space? This fucking space station?”

“The others.” .... I just realized that Eiffel is the Scapegoat character and had to write him getting what he deserves. i.e. an apology.

Polite Company

Jacobi Angst, Christmas, unfinished,

Jacobi wasn't one for calm, happy Christmases. At least, he had never been good at having them. He was more the 'explode the neighborhood kid's new Christmas gift and burn down the town Christmas tree' sort of Christmas haver.

...

A handful of Christmases with Jacobi.

Currently writing chapter 2

The Penumbra Podcast:

We Can't Really Help Who We Are

Peter Nureyev/Juno Steel, kind of poetry, angst, finished, one shot,

We were alive. By a miracle, we were alive and I had him in my arms. He was in my arms and breathing and laughing and he was everything.

...

Peter Nureyev's thoughts after they escape Miasma.

[corrodedcoughin]

I’m sorry but the thought of Eddie putting on a TERRIBLE cockney accent is the funniest thing to me. Imagine he speaks with one for a solid MONTH when he’s involved backstage with the community theatre production of Oliver Twist. Wayne and Steve tearing their collective hair out because Eddie is scream singing ‘I’D DO ANYFINK! FOR YEW DEAR ANYFINK!!!’ And ‘FEWD GLORIOUS FEWD!!! HOT SAWSAGE AN MUSTA’D!’

Eddie pretending to steel from everyone ‘I’m just a li’tol pick pocket ain’t I sir?’ As he he’s caught with his hands in Dustin’s backpack looking for snack.

In the middle of the night steve thinks eddie is asleep when he hears a little reedy voice ‘awrigh guvna, shine ya shoes? Penny a pair!’ Steve hits him with a pillow but then Eddie is pulling him into his arms and Steve is hiding his laughter in Eddie’s neck.

Eventually Oliver Twist wraps up, everyone is grateful for the end of cockney Eddie. Until one day Gareth almost knocks down Steve’s door and shoves the poster for the next community play: Mary Poppins. Of course Eddie makes it a personal goal to create an accent more obnoxious than Dick Van Dyke as he works on the costumes for the cast

[nina-vision]

2017 was a year of educational excellence. Reedies teaching science to local elementary school kids. Lewis & Clark Pioneers helping new students move into their dorm rooms. PSU CUPA graduates bringing an entire room to tears with their passion for change & possibilities. University of Oregon Wayne Morse Scholars visiting the Capitol in Salem and meeting with Gov. Brown and Attorney General Rosenblum. Meeting these young adults, talking with them about their hopes and fears, hearing the determination in their voices to make this world a better place, has kept my spirits buoyed through this year. I got to photograph so many of these intelligent, compassionate, empathetic and ethical young people, and I hope I get to photograph them all again as they put their marks on this world.

[chartedrights]

i hope i'm not too late to the "made-up fic title" ask game (if i am, my apologies), but i am quite curious; "The Strangest Standoff In A Graveyard We've Had Yet"

You’re not! As long as people keep sending them in I’ll keep taking them! It’s a really good exercise tbh.

So we’re going to go back to the Wild West AU because a very particular image came to mind and it’s this: Bruce Wayne, a man dressed all in black, standing opposite Clark Kent, a stubborn, reedy preacher. In a graveyard.

Bruce is a sheriff- his family was wealthy, before they were murdered, and he had to work his way back up to literally just “a livable wage.” He’s bitter about it, and he’s a harsh man with a harsh temper, but he does what he can to protect his city.

Clark went to seminary school because he thought he could help people. Clark also went to the general store and bought a rifle because he knew that would help people. He’s a kind man, but he’s practical. And very alone.

Just two guys, sitting in a church pew, five feet apart because they’re hella gay.

The graveyard is where all the duels go down, because more often than not you can just toss a dead duelist into a fresh grave and have done with it. Sure, Bruce finds them all eventually, but in the meantime the other duelist gets away.

Sweet Tooth, on this particular day, is holding Clark hostage in the graveyard. Bruce is deeply upset by this, but he’s also emotionally crippled, so he’s not sure why. He’s also not certain why Sweet Tooth chose Clark over say, his deputy, Dick, or his uncle, Alfred. Clark is barely even his friend. Right? Hardly even his friend. They don’t even get along.

Sweet Tooth gets knocked out quickly, but Bruce is shot twice, and Clark is a combination of angry and worried that would scream “he’s in love with you” to anyone with two working brain cells. Bruce has one and its working overtime.

“Bruce! Stop trying to throw yourself into the first open grave you can find and understand that there are people who care about you here!”

Bruce blinks. “Alfred?”

“No- well, yes, but- no! I- ugh- fuck it. And fuck you.” Clark storms back to the church. Bruce takes another three minutes to inwardly work through the idea that Clark cares about him and his single working brain cell finally makes the connection.

“Oh,” he says to himself.

Then he goes up to the church, cold stone and soft light, so very much like Clark- and he pins Clark to the wall and they make out in the confessional. It’s very brooding and emotional.

Bruce almost dies of blood loss, but like. It’s worth it.

[cyberrat]

30th Batch Of Fics: 4th Fill

Jason Todd/Bruce Wayne – Rapey (but kind of with consent?); fighting to not quite fucking; ABO; Omega!Jason; Alpha!Bruce; virgin!Jason; triggered rut; violence – Bruce hates dealing with Jason but Jason is so slow tonight there is no way he can pretend to just let him go... what is up with him?

---

There’s barely a muted pop to be heard, and the Alpha that had tried to force himself on the young woman goes limp in Bruce’s hands. As he still stares and tries to comprehend, his HUD is already making calculations as to where the sound came from, doing sound measurements and figuring out the angle of the shot wound from the Alpha’s temple.

Bruce opens his fingers and lets the corpse slump to the ground. The lady has long since vanished, spooked like a horse and freaked out of her mind, and he follows the lead of his HUD without thought, brain still stuck on the sudden, unlikely death of the Alpha.

Possible perpetrator: Red Hood

He stares at the bold declaration and his heart sinks. Still, he shoots his grappling hook and follows up onto the rooftop. There is no way he will catch Jason, but… it is his duty. He should have known that the kid wouldn’t be far when there was a young Omega to avenge. He should have done a rudimentary scan of the surroundings, but the sharp, acrid stench of fear had penetrated even the filters of his mask.

There hadn’t been enough time. Just as there hadn’t been enough time when Jason…

There’s a flicker of a jacket and the brief shine of the blood red hood just a few rooftops ahead. Bruce almost falters in his steps, but doubles his efforts instead.

Something was wrong. Jason should have been just gone by now (...yeah… yeah he should be… gone…) but there he was, sluggishly running and weaving his way as if drunk.

As Bruce watches, the kid comes to a halt next to the small booth of a rooftop staircase, bracing himself on it with one arm, hunched over. As he advances, eyes on his target while his HUD searches the surroundings for traps, Jason reaches up and wrenches his red mask off of his head. Strawberry blond. He’s stopped dying his hair.

Bruce’s body is moving even as his mind tries to crack this nut, and he is there in seconds, grabbing the back of Jason’s short jacket and jerking him around. Jason’s face is flushed, his eyes glassy, but he reacts on pure instinct nonetheless, grabbing Bruce’s arm and throwing him in one smooth motion.

The throw is… nothing special. Bruce lands on his feet and twists around, arms lifted, waiting for more to come, but Jason is doubled over, arm pressed against his stomach. Bruce falters again. He hates dealing with Jason. He hates dealing with his insecurities; the incessant doubts that cripple him whenever he interacts with the young man.

Jason’s mouth is open, drool dripping to the floor. He seems close to collapsing to the ground, but before Bruce can ask, he is suddenly catapulting himself forward and digging his shoulder into Bruce’s stomach.

They both go down like a sack of bricks.

Bruce grabs him in turn, and they begin a tussle full of knees and fists and low grunts. Jason is radiating heat like a furnace, his motions slow and heavy, and when Bruce pins him to the ground he just keeps lying there, pupils dilating and contracting worryingly.

“What is this?!” he grunts. He pushes Jason around onto his front and starts to search through his person. “Are you on drugs?!”

“Fuck off,” Jason groans. He moves sluggishly, trying to push Bruce off, but only managing to awkwardly kneel on all fours. He makes a reedy little sound like a whine, and Bruce freezes and slowly takes his hands off of him. Just like with the acrid stench of fear before, scent slowly starts to permeate through his filters.

He sits back with an oof, shaking hand lifting to push his mask up because… he just has to make sure. He is sure this isn’t possible but…

Jason’s thick, sickly sweet stench hits him like a hammer right in his diaphragm. He reels, trying not to inhale too much, but he’s been done in even before taking off his mask.

Jason makes the reedy sound again. It ends on a sob that sounds… utterly heartbroken. He lowers his upper body to the floor while he swears up a storm, voice rough and out of it.

“Fuck… fuck… fuck!”

He’s presenting.

The cool rooftop air ruffles Bruce’s hair and alerts him to the sweat on his neck. He can see how dark Jason’s pants have become.

“What the… why are you out here in your heat?” he asks gruffly. He scruffs Jason and shakes him like a wet cat. Jason tries to elbow him in the guts but can’t do shit when his abdomen is rioting and he just wants to be fucked and filled and feel nice and safe.

“Someone’s gotta take care of stupid fucking Alphas thinking they can…” he has to breathe through what Bruce assumes is a wave of pain, “...they can just get their dirty paws on a l-lady…”

He quiets down. Bruce is pressed across his back, hips slotted against Jason’s ass.

He wants to admonish him; that he can’t go around putting bullets in Alphas’ heads because he feels like it, but what he does his reach around him while scruffing him and fumbling with his belt.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Jason whines, voice small and pained.

“I’m helping you,” he answers gruffly. His head is swimming. He never has trouble controlling himself with Omegas; even heating ones; but Jason smells sweet and… untouched.

Jason garbles something but it is unintelligible. It could have been something like ‘Don’t think this changes a damn thing’, but he is not sure.

The young man is drawn tight as a bow when he gets his pants down. He is also trembling; like a plucked string on a guitar.

Bruce palms his ass, and Jason starts clawing at the ground as if wanting to pull himself away. His trembling becomes harder, his breath coming in wheezing little bursts.

Dark spots dance in front of Bruce’s eyes. He is aware, dimly, that his rut has been triggered. Without his mask on, the system does not recognize the signs and doesn’t administer emergency treatment. His fingers find Jason’s hole, but he can’t feel a thing through the thick gloves, so he pulls them off impatiently with his teeth.

Jason weakly bucks but the scruff does its part to make him drool onto the concrete rooftop and have the fight drain out of him.

His hole is tender and buttery soft. His muscles are nervously clenching on Bruce’s thick, intruding fingers. Jason whines reedy and soft.

“I hate you,” he sobs and Bruce presses his lips together. He knows. He pushes two fingers in and fucks him carefully on them. Just enough to get him off. To get him functioning enough to scurry off into whatever little hidey-hole he’s got and lick his wounds in the peace and quiet of his nest.

He smells so soft and clean. His insides are squeezing down on him fluttery every now and then as if to test out the intrusion.

Testing out what it is like to be filled.

Static fills Bruce’s ears. He lightly squeezes the back of Jason’s neck.

“Ever done this before?” he grunts.

Jason slams one fist against the ground, his answer trembling and soft but uttered with feeling: “I’m going to kill you, Batman…” before gently arching his back down and lifting his hips further up for the deep, careful fingering.

[victoriousscarf]

For the writing meme, #22 w/ jaydick or any pairing you like. :)

Jason didn’t think he was an obvious sort of person. Sure, he wore a mask, and a helmet on top of that, but he was trained by Bruce Wayne. He knew how to control his expressions. 

Usually.

Honestly, he might have hated Dick Grayson just a little bit less if he didn’t mess with Jason’s control so much, with his goddamn expressions. Jason felt like a kid mooning after the goddamn sun when Dick was there. Dick was a constant unknown because Jason never knew what he was going to do around him, a target painted on his heart and Jason hated him all the more for it. 

It was easier when he could hide behind that.

He just, apparently, didn’t hide enough. 

“I’ve seen the way you look at me when you think I don’t notice,” Dick slurred, bleeding on Jason’s couch and Jason stopped, bandages in hand. Maybe he should have left Dick to bleed out on the street where he found him.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said, and maybe he shoved Dick a bit too hard, getting him to roll to his side so Jason could take a better look at him.

“Bullshit,” Dick said, but his voice was thin and reedy. 

“Dick,” Jason said, pulling the edges of his uniform apart. “Shut up before I rethink my decision,” and he thought Dick passed out because he couldn’t imagine Dick actually shutting up. 

In the morning he left before Dick woke up, and he avoided him for months. When he showed back up, with information and a gun pointed at Dick’s face, he thought maybe that was actual sorrow on Dick’s face, even if it was hard to tell past the screened out lenses of his mask. 

Like Dick thought they were past this perhaps. 

Jason wasn’t sure how he’d ever gotten the impression that he was going to make an inch of this easy on either of them. If Dick wanted to pursue what he thought he saw in Jason’s expression, he was going to have to work for it. 

Even if Jason wished, maybe, he could be a little less terrible about the whole thing. He just didn’t know how. 

[whumpbby]

Wooo, listen - LISTEN. What if Jason takes the part of the race - BUT he was never a Wayne? Catherine is very sick and Jason, say 16-17 years of age, thin and reedy, made of whipcord and spite, signs himself up for the Chase, because he has no other way to get money to pay for medical bills? Selling himself out to some rich alpha is a horrifying idea, but to save his mom he will do anything he can. 

He turns out to be the youngest omega in the game and some alphas take notice. Some are disturbed, but some are twice as interested (the creeps). Bruce is there as some airhead socialite, seemingly interested in the game, in reality monitoring the whole thing, intending to shut it down as Batman, but he needs evidence - and the thin, obviously lower-class and underaged omega? Yeah, that’s a reason to close the whole operation... after he saves the kid from the creepy alphas that are just salivating at the sight. He signs up to snatch him up before anyone else does. 

Ra’s is also there. He’s not looking to take part in the game, he’s there to network - it’s all rather distasteful to him, alphas should never be as desperate for a fuck to drool over adolescents and chase them down like animals. One more reason to hate humanity and want it gone. Except, then he sees the young scrappy omega and how, during the first ten minutes of the race, he lays down an alpha twice his size - the child was the last one in the line to be ‘released’ since he’s obviously a low-class and set up to fail quickly so the better, more desirable prospects can be the focus. 

Surprise, the omega fights back and keeps going! Ra’s is certainly intrigued. He watches some more and the interest grows. It’s been a while since he’s seen an omega worth their salt...this one is obviously of inferior lineage, but there’s potential just spilling out of him. And, what is this, the Detective in disguise is also going for the kit? Well, well... 

Jason never finishes the race - Ra’s uses his influence to quietly pull him out of the game and offers him a choice - he can return to the ‘game’ to be hunted down and mounted like an animal by some rich dog, or he can work for Ra’s and his mom will be healed and supported indefinitely. And if he doesn't wish to, he won't be touched by anyone... And of course Jason isn’t stupid, he doesn't believe promises too good to be true... Except he’s been running non-stop for the last four hours and he knows he’s about to drop, the alphas terrify him and this guy, even if he’s mafia (Jason is SURE the guy is mafia, he has too much style to be a run of the mill socialite) he’s an alpha of a completely different sort, poised and handsome and he bleeds charisma... and somehow knows about his mom, knows her name... 

In the end, it comes down to the fact that Jay had done many dumber things in his life and the choice is really non-existent. He signs the contract with the shady gentleman and is promptly knocked out - not surprising, really. 

He wakes up a week later to the sight of the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen in his life, has a conference call with his mom, who is currently treated in a high-class medical facility in Dubai, and then meets the five year old he’s supposed to be training with. The fuck. And how in the holy fuck of dick is this toddler effortlessly kicking his ass??? What the fuck did he sign up for back there? This doesn't look like a shady brothel on the border with Mexico...  

Two years later Catherine is on the way to full recovery and dating a handsome Iranian doctor, Jason can speak 6 languages, knows 4 different fighting styles, is a chosen baby of the luxurious omega harem, and Talia’s brat still scares him to death... and then one day the master of the clan, Ra’s, shows up looking inexplicably younger, hotter and still charismatic as all fuck - and Jason’s hormones take notice. Ayyy. 

Ten years later he’s in his late twenties, a head of his own harem, co-parent of Talia’s little demon (still sometimes scared of him, but really, no kid should have that reptilian stare) and a proud owner of half of Gotham’s criminal world... living the life, flirting with Nightwing whenever they cross paths, micro-managing his subjects and slowly considering a kit of his own... he’s not getting any younger. He may just challenge his alpha master to a chase next time he visits and - maybe - this time he’ll allow himself to be caught.              

[rockinnews]

Gira de Bob Wayne acompañado de Pat Reedy

[futuristicallytoocollectorworld]

Apartments.com "2D Ted" from a52 on Vimeo.

Client: Apartments.com Agency: RPA

Chief Creative Officer: Joe Baratelli Executive Creative Director: Pat Mendelson Creative Directors: Hobart Birmingham, Perrin Anderson Associate Creative Directors: Erin Costello, Jeff St. Jean Art Director: Rik Patenaude Copywriter: Scott Ellman Junior Art Director: Ashley Cardwell Junior Copywriter: Nick Vukasovich Associate Producer: Madi Miller Executive Producer: Kay Lynn Dutcher SVP / Director, Video Production: Selena Pizarro ____________________________________________________________________________

LIVE ACTION Production Company: Hungry Man Director: Wayne McClammy Director of Photography: Bryan Newman Producer: Rick Jarjoura Production Supervisor: Yuki Wakano Production Designer: Robb Buono Executive Producer: Caleb Dewart Managing Partner / Executive Producer: Mino Jarjoura ____________________________________________________________________________ VFX VFX Studio: a52 VFX Supervisor: Andres Rafael Barrios CG Supervisor: Andrew Romatz Art Director: EJ Kang Lead Flame Artist: Steve Wolff Flame Artists: Richard Hirst, Michael Vaglienty, Chris Riley, Kirk Balden, Hugh Seville, Rod Basham, Richie White 3D Artists: Ariana Ziae Mohseni, Dustin Mellum, Jaemin Lee, Andrew Wilson, Bryan Cox, Josh Dyer, Jade Smrz, José Limón, Michael Cardenas, Jun Kim Matte Painters: Jie Zhou, Whitman Lindstrom Designers: June Cho, Tnaya Witmer Animators: James Hurlburt, Mark Feldman, Haram Jung, Laura Reedy, Trix Taylor Concept Artist: Marc Samson Producer: Jillian Lynes Production Coordinators: Sara Dotson, Shane Hoffman Head of Production: Stacy Kessler-Aungst Head of CG Production: Michael Steinmann Executive Producers: Patrick Nugent & Kim Christensen Managing Director: Jennifer Sofio Hall ____________________________________________________________________________

COLOR Color Studio: CO3 Los Angeles Colorist: Sean Coleman Color Producer: Matt Moran _________________________________________________________________________ EDITORIAL Editorial Company: Cut+Run Editor: Steve Gandolfi Assistant Editor: Moss Eletreby Producer: Jared Thomas ____________________________________________________________________________ SOUND Sound Mix: Lime

[whitejeweler]

Welcome to Music Monday when we bring you fun songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, country star Cody Johnson’s hands are shaking like a canebrake rattler as he pops the question in his 2011 release, “Diamond In My Pocket.”

In the song, Johnson portrays a young man who realizes, despite his anxiety, that there will never be a better time to make the ultimate commitment to the love of his life. He can’t afford to take her to a Broadway play, so he opts for a midnight ride to Kickapoo Creek, where the crickets are singing to the radio. With a shooting star flashing across the sky, Johnson lays it all on the line.

He sings, “Cause baby, there’s a shooting star, / That was for me and you. / So, hold me tight, and make that wish, and pray that it comes true. / I ain’t sure of much, / But this I know… / I got a diamond in my pocket and my baby’s got a heart of gold.”

Written by Johnson, Trent Wayne Willmon and Thomas Daniel Green, “Diamond In My Pocket” appeared as the third track on Johnson’s self-released album, A Different Day.

Johnson is credited with six self-released albums, the last of which made its debut at #2 on the Billboard U.S. Country Albums chart without the benefit of major label support or widespread radio play. His seventh album, Ain’t Nothin’ to It, was released via Warner Bros. Records Nashville and reached #1 on the Billboard U.S. Country Albums chart.

The 33-year-old country star’s road to success was hardly paved with gold. Born in Sebastopol, Texas, Johnson discovered his passion for music as a pre-teen and started writing songs in junior high school. In 2006, at the age of 19, he formed the Cody Johnson Band with his dad, Carl, and drummer Nathan Reedy. The group played the rodeo circuit and sold albums out of the back of Johnson’s pickup truck.

The struggling artist worked as a corrections officer in Huntsville, Texas, but his wife, Brandi, encouraged him to pursue his dream and record full time. In 2011, Johnson got a big break when he won the Texas Regional Music Award for New Male Vocalist of the Year. That accomplishment landed him better gigs at larger venues. He became the first unsigned independent artist to play to a sold-out crowd at the 74,177-seat Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Please check out the video of Johnson’s live performance of “Diamond In My Pocket” at the Troubadour music room in Dallas. The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…

“Diamond In My Pocket” Written by Trent Wayne Willmon, Thomas Daniel Green and Cody Daniel Johnson. Performed by Cody Johnson.

Saturday night and the moon is out Just shinin’ over top of the pines I’m headin’ on down to my baby’s house Gonna take her on a midnight ride Down those backroads winding down to Kickapoo Creek Dancin’ and singin’ to some good ol’ boys like me

Baby, there’s a shooting star, That was for me and you. So, hold me tight, and make that wish, and pray that it comes true. I ain’t sure of much, But this I know… I got a diamond in my pocket and my baby’s got a heart of gold.

I brought along a little courage and Coleman cooler just to help me out My hands are shaking like canebrake rattler, Nothing’s gonna save me now Might as well jump in head first, lay it all on the line What am I worrying about never gonna be a more perfect time

Cause baby, there’s a shooting star, That was for me and you. So, hold me tight, and make that wish, and pray that it comes true. I ain’t sure of much, But this I know… I got a diamond in my pocket and my baby’s got a heart of gold.

Well I didn’t have money for a Broadway show but the crickets are singing to the radio. And we got tickets, on the very front porch.

Baby, there’s a shooting star, That was for me and you. So, hold me tight, and make that wish, and pray that it comes true. I ain’t sure of much, But this I know… Well, I got a diamond in my pocket and my baby’s got a heart of gold.

I got a diamond in my pocket and my baby’s got a heart of gold. Yeah, my baby’s got a heart of gold.

Credit: Screen capture via YouTube.com.

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[waynecasualty-blog]

         the light words set his teeth on edge — already walking the tight rope that rested in between flight and fight, mental backflips done in the pursuit of mapping out all the exits only to come up short.

boy wonder’s chest finds itself in a vice grip as he fumbles desperately for a sentence; anything to say that won’t tear apart the stitches he’d given himself six years ago. a wound only growing in severity lurks beneath the bandages, infection festering in a simple cut that should have could have been fixed so easily. it’s going to leave an awful scar once it heals — and that’s if he can stop picking at it for that long.

         ❝ i was a kid, ❞ dick manages at last, voice only lightly mangled. it sounds wrong, even to his own ears, on so many levels. a part of him had expected reedy, adolescence-tainted vocals to come tumbling out of his mouth; already unused to maturity, even moreso when presented with such a strong tie to his life before. ❝ i thought almost everything about this place was stuffy. ❞

he doesn’t remember it being quite so hard to breathe in here. then again, it was a different time. different circumstances. now, it’s more like a mausoleum than bruce wayne’s office.

         ❝ given up on retirement? ❞ finally, he brings himself to turn fully towards his father guardian, a neutral set to his mouth though his eyes and posture are telling a much different story. eyes deadened, shoulders tensed, and chin raised, telltale signs of quiet emotion and pridefulness carved into every part of his physique — both inherited.

waynecasualty‌:

he knew bruce wasn’t dead. alfred had that much information to offer, and dick hadn’t pried further. quite frankly, he didn’t give a shit. there wasn’t much the eldest robin could say on the matter — even less he actually cared to share.

          truth be told, he didn’t like to visit. he was good with children, yes, and he missed alfred, but something about the manor felt empty. even with all the new additions; even with all the warmth and life that the manor hadn’t held in god knows how long. this had absolutely nothing to do with bruce’s absence. nothing.

( that wasn’t true. far from it, actually, but telling himself that made him feel a lot better about the matter. it was easier than having to reconcile the half of him that missed his guardian and the half that couldn’t — for the life of him — stop being angry with him. )

          regardless, here he was; alone in said guardian’s office. somehow, he always ended up here and resenting himself all the more for it. it hadn’t changed whatsoever, and he almost wished it had. everything else sure did.

and then the door opened behind him.

no knock. no master richard?

          cue the ice flooding his veins and the stiffening of his posture — breath catching in his throat as he stares straight ahead, listens to familiar footfalls and damns himself for not skipping the sentimental ritual and bailing.

// a starter for @becomesfear !

         it  had  taken  the  news  of  a  NEW  BAT  flying  rampant  across  gotham  city,   his  former  city,   for  him  to  put  the  retirement  plan  on  pause,   bid  selina  a  short  goodbye,   &  call  for  his  jet.   this  wouldn’t  be  the  first  time  bruce  wayne  had  supposedly risen  from  the  dead.   this  time  was  different.   he’d  killed  the  batman,   left  a  life  behind  to  form  a  new  one.   one  that  didn’t  involve  the  loss  of  family.   loved  ones.   everything  he’d  never  truly  had.

         the  smell  hit  him  first.   he’d  almost  forgotten  the  c o n s t a n t  stench  that  filled  the  streets  of  gotham,   streets  he  knew  as  well  as  the  c o u n t l e s s  rooms  in  the  manor  he  now  drove  himself  to.   his  office  would  be  untouched.   room,   too.   the  addition  of  children  in  need  of  a  home,   however,   had  him  both  anxious  &  intrigued  at  the  prospect  of  his  return.   him  &  children.   that  never  did  end  well.

         the  reunion  with  alfred  was  short,   he  saw  him  often  when  he  came  to  visit  him.   they’d  have  coffee  together,   he’d  berate  him  for  not  asking  selina  to  marry  him.   he’d  say  he  was  waiting  for  the  right  time,   but  truth  be  told,   he  wasn’t  sure  there  would  ever  be  one.   &  her,   with  his  mother’s  pearl  necklace  around  her  neck,   was  more  than  content  being  just  where  they  were.   a  wife,   a  child,   he’d  let  go  of  that  dream  when  he’d  lost  his  first  love.   &  when  he’d  lost  his  first  son.

         a  son  he  was  unsurprised  to  see  when  he  turned  the  knob  of  his  study  &  pushed  the  heavy  door  open,   chest  clenching  quietly  for  a  moment  before  he  opened  his  mouth  to  speak.     ❛   from  what  i  remember,   you  never  liked  this  room.   something  about  it  being  too  stuffy  ?   ❜

[nuadox]

New technique transforming human skin into brain cells

- By Dom Galeon , Futurism -

In Brief: Researchers have developed a method to turn skin cells into pluripotent stem cells which are then reprogrammed to become microglia cells. These brain cells play a crucial role in the development of neurological diseases, like Alzheimer's disease. Studying them could help scientists discover new treatments.

From skin to brain

The brain is one of the most vital organs in the human body, so damage to the brain from injury or aging can have major impacts on people’s quality of life. Neurological disorders represent some of today’s most devastating medical conditions that are also difficult to treat. Among these is Alzheimer’s disease.

Usually, research involving Alzheimer’s rely on brain cells from mice. Now, neurobiologists from the University of California, Irvine (UCI) have developed a method that could allow the use of human cells instead of animal ones to help understand neurological diseases better.

In their study, which was published in the journal Neuron, the researchers found a way to transform human skin cells into stem cells and program them into microglial cells. The latter make up about 10 to 15 percent of the brain and are involved in the removing dead cells and debris, as well as managing inflammation. Micgrolia are instramental in neural network development and maintenance, explained researcher Mathew Blurton Jones, from UCI’s Department of Neurobiology & Behavior.

“Microglia play an important role in Alzheimer’s and other diseases of the central nervous system. Recent research has revealed that newly discovered Alzheimer’s-risk genes influence microglia behavior,” Jones said in an interview for a UCI press release. “Using these cells, we can understand the biology of these genes and test potential new therapies.”

A renewable method

The skin cells had been donated by patients from UCI’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. These were first subjected to a genetic process to convert them into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells — adult cells modified to behave as an embryonic stem cell, allowing them to become other kinds of cells. These iPS cells were then exposed to differentiation factors designed to imitate the environment of developing microglia, which transformed them into the brain cells.

“This discovery provides a powerful new approach to better model human disease and develop new therapies,” said UCI MIND associate researcher Wayne Poon in the press release. The researchers, in effect, have developed “a renewable and high-throughput method for understanding the role of inflammation in Alzheimer’s disease using human cells,” according to researcher Edsel Abud in the same source.

In other words, by using human microglia instead of those from mice, the researchers have developed a more accurate tool to study neurological diseases and to develop more targeted treatment approaches. In the case of Alzheimer’s, they studied the genetic and physical interactions between the disease’s pathology and the induced microglia cells. “These translational studies will better inform disease-modulating therapeutic strategies,” Abud added in the press release.

Furthermore, they are now using these induced microglia cells in three-dimensional brain models. The goal is to understand the interaction between microglia and other brain cells, and how these influence the development of Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases.

This is all made possible by reprogrammable stem cells. Indeed, this study is one more example of how stem cells are changing medicine.

References: Newswise, Neuron

This article was originally published on futurism.com as “A New Technique Transforms Human Skin Into Brain Cells”. The title has been changed to reflect Nuadox style considerations.

WRITTEN BY

AUTHOR Dom Galeon

EDITOR Christianna Reedy

Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

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