#we need to start swapping oc info again

[ihamtmus]

revan for my dear friend @ramblingsofachristiannerd 💜💜💜

i hope you have the happiest birthday!

[cookie-crumblr]

The Smell of Smoke

Innocent F! Reader x M!Yandere Bully OC

Part 2~

his info: 🖕✨

part: 1 2 3

!!MINORS DNI!!

CW: !F reader, use of she/her when referring to reader, reader has a vagina, reader in a skirt, NSFW, YANDERE, DEAD DOVE DO NOT EAT, name calling (bitch, slut, ), BULLYING, stealing, use of toys, non con drugging exhibitionism

You make sure to check your peephole before leaving today. You make sure to make it to class early for a seat closer to the front. And by the gods you make sure to bring pepper spray.

You aren’t allowed weapons on campus… but maybe you can talk your way out of it.

“Move it,” You jump upon hearing Ezra’s voice way too close to you and begin to shiver and breathe heavier.

No

The person sat next to you scrambles to get away almost forgetting their wallet and phone.

He flops down in the now vacant seat.

You remain sternly faced forward. Trying and failing to just pretend he’s not there.

*Slap!* His open palm lands square over the width of your thigh. “So, bitch, what’s it gon’ be”

“Wh-what’s what gonna be?”

“Do you wan’ do this the easy way, or the hard way.”

His friends surround you both…

“E-easy way…” you don’t even know what he’s talking about, but you’re catching onto his game.

He snaps and they lift you to your feet by your bicep.

You comply, though they’re all taller than you and your shoulder bends uncomfortably.

They walk you shamefully in front of the group, pushing you when you start to slow down or stumble.

You’re taken off campus, and to a store in a strip, that felt like a thirty minute walk away.

The name on the front reads, “Tease” in big black and hot pink letters.

Ezra now personally pushes you towards the door.

“What a-are w-we do—” you start.

“Steal five things, go bitch! Go!” he claps and bends over you speaking in a higher pitch as if he’s telling a dog to go fetch.

He shoves you through the door.

Whiplashed you simply stand for a second, before taking a deep breath.

You grab a few of the first boxes you see, and head towards the back. there’s curtain covered changing areas… There won’t be cameras back there.

Glancing toward the counter where a woman reading a magazine, stands, you sigh. At least she doesn’t look like she’d care if you were stealing.

You slowly open the packages you nabbed and shove the toys in your pockets. You wore a big hoodie so as long as a hand is in the pouch you can cover up the lump and the other two are snug in the band of your skirt.

You still need two more things… but anywhere else you could put them would be too obvious.

You spot something labeled “anal plug” and have an idea… It’s a pretty terrible one, but it’ll definitely work.

You grab that, and one more box, then open up the curtain for hopefully the last time.

Your face is hot as you peel down your wet panties…

You open the first box and put the plug in your bum, trying to avoid thinking about what you are doing. A warmth spreads fast between your legs because of the pressure.

The next box you open is bigger than the other stuff you grabbed…

You contemplate for a second swapping it with one of the smaller things in your pockets, but it would be way too obvious there.

You try and push it in.

Struggling to even get the tip in you quietly grunt.

After a solid minute of trying again and failing, you put it in your mouth before attempting it again.

Thankfully it goes in this time, albeit rather painfully. You allow yourself time to adjust, and breathe.

You try and compose yourself before you walk out as normally as you can.

The bell jingles as you exit.

At first you don’t see Ezra and his gang, and you feel stupid. Maybe you could’ve just waited them out instead of stupidly stealing everything and shoving toys inside yourself.

A window on one of the cars blasting music out front, rolls down, revealing him with a cigarette between his fingers.

“Took ya long enough. Show us what cha copped,” he takes a drag, and inspects you from head to toe as you walk nervously over. You stumble a little, still not used to the toy intrusions.

“Hurry up, slut! we’ve all been bored as shit, I wanna get the fuck out,”

You drop the three things into his palms.

“Yur missin a couple a things,” His smirk becomes frigid and sinister.

You lean into his ear slowly, at first he scowls, before realizing what you’re doing. Then he lifts a hand to block your mouth from the rest of the guys so you can whisper freely into his ear.

“Th-there—d-down—there…” Your face is burning hot.

He busts out laughing, “Oi that’s fuckin rich! Hey guys! The bitch couldn’t wait!” He looks into your eyes, some emotion you can’t catch flashing across his face. “What’re ya waitin for? Bend over and show us already.” His voice is ravenous.

Swallowing, you do as instructed. Your legs shake as you pull your panties down again, and pick up your skirt then lean forward, keeping your eyes screwed shut tight.

They all woop and cheer and laugh at you, and Ezra smiles with what looks almost like pride.

He slaps your ass hard, and you bite your lip to stifle a cry. Then he stands to block you from them as you fix yourself.

Smiling at you devilishly, he now leans down to whisper in your ear, “You know… There were packs of gum and shit up front…”

He gets back into the driver’s seat and pulls off the lot, the other cars follow.

You’re left in the dust, with toys stuffing your holes, alone and embarrassed.

At least they threw your stuff on the ground before they left, so you can call your roommate for a ride.

She doesn’t question why you’re stranded, why you’re sitting weird, or even about yesterday.

Class the next day is quiet.

So are the hallways, you don’t even see any of Ezra’s gang.

You’re mid sigh of relief the next morning when he struts into class late, sporting some new bandages.

“Ezra! We saved ya a seat~” A girl toward the back waves as she greets him.

“Hey, Ezra~ last night was fun!” The girl sat next to the first, calls after.

You try and block him out, until a paper ball hits you in the head.

You ignore the first, and second… But at the third you turn to see him making a gesture for you to open them.

The first one just says “Bitch” and you hold it up to him with a question written on your face.

He mouths “The other one” while rolling his eyes.

The next one says “slut” and you almost laugh imagining showing him that one and feigning ignorance. But you think better than to irritate him.

The last one you unfurl reads

“I got ya a present”

You turn to mouth “thanks?” while shrugging, before you look back toward the front of the class, you notice each one of those girls have a hand on his chest.

You feel a small pang of jealousy. Why is he nice to them? What did you do to deserve the treatment he’s giving you?

On your way out of the room you hear him call after you, “Forgetting something bitch?”

You let out a long sigh through your nose, “coming…”

The two girls are the last to leave they wave on their way out.

While remaining seated he lazily extends a paper bag to you. His smirk is annoying and would make you angry if you weren’t still so scared.

“Wh-What’s wrong with it…?” You snatch the bag and sniff it first.

It smells like a brownie.

You open it, and it looks like a brownie.

He laughs out his nose, while watching you, “If you don’ wan’ it—”

“N-no… It’s fine, i’ll eat it!” You interrupt before he thinks you’re even more ungrateful.

You’re overcome with hope that this is him extending an olive branch!

You bound out of the room, making it on time, you decide to eat it before class officially starts.

It doesn’t really taste all that good… But you can’t be rude. He probably just… Didn’t know a good place! yeah.

you don’t know how far into the lesson you get to before you feel something in your guts shift.

You need to leave right now.

Luckily this isn’t high school and the professors don’t care if you don’t ask.

You make it to the bathroom in time to throw up.

The entire way there you stumbled, and ran into the walls. It feels as though you’re on a ship, that’s swaying in the ocean.

What the fuck kinda sea sickness feeling food poisoning was in that sweet? He must’ve got it from somewhere really terrible on accident.

When you leave you can’t stop giggling.

The giggling turns into crying, where the fuck are you? A hallway? it’s definitely the college corridor but… It’s reminding you of a hallway you’ve seen as a kid.

You were so small…

Now you’re…

What are you?

“Hahaaa” you’re laughing again.

You don’t even notice right away when you trip over your own feet, now you’re falling down the stairs.

Someone grabs you before you can truly fall, and now you really can’t stop laughing.

“H-hey thanks” You turn in what feels like slow motion and see a strange guy holding you.

“You can let go nooowww thanks~ hahhh haha” You try and shimmy yourself free, his hands remain firm.

[other-cullen-ficrecs]

MLM!Cullen Fic Rec List

Inspired by this post. Here is my fic rec list of some of my favorite fics with queer Cullen. Happy Pride :)  🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍🌈

Cullen/Dorian

Only True in Fairy Tales by Dragonflies_and_Katydids

Summary:  In which Dorian is a special forces operative, Bull is his partner, and Cullen is the guy they're sent to rescue. Hijinks ensue. // Words: 110150

Modern AU. Dragonflies_and_Katydids makes me read the weirdest stuff. But their work is always captivating. The more ridiculous set up the better outcome, I promise. This one is both ridiculous and absolutely perfect. And somehow one of the very few modern au fics in which Cullen's lyrium addiction is well transfered without making it literal.

Fashionably Late by tsurai

For the tumblr prompt: Cullen/Dorian Soulmates AU? <3 "Maker’s breath, this is absolutely the worst timing, he thinks distantly." // Words: 1038

This is but a tiny thing but I'm a sucker for a soulmate AU. Would I love it more if it was 150,000 words? Yes. But I'm just greedy.

COLD HANDS, WARM HEART by spicyshimmy, stonelions

Summary: Cullen and Dorian's friendship deepens. Cullen is a romantic. Dorian is literally cold. Cullen is no longer certain what he would consider surprising. Mages and Templars working in perfect cooperation, perhaps. Evil and corruption disappearing into the ground along with the blight, blood magic falling so far out of favor it ceased to be. A united Thedas: that would be a surprise. // Words: 25369

I think this is most recced Cullrian fic and for a good reason. Slow burn, drama, all the delights. 

Light In This Darken'd Time Breaks by RamonaDecember

Summary: Cullen wouldn't say he hates mages, not anymore, but he can't see himself ever trusting one again. Dorian is no exception. The mage is off-color, self-important, and all together too much for Cullen to deal with. So why is it that every time Cullen is at his lowest, Dorian seems to be the only person by his side? // Words: 121289

Slow burn with 121289 words, what more do you want?

Cullen/Bull

Jump In by Dragonflies_and_Katydids

Summary: In which Cullen is almost terminally awkward, Bull and Dorian are literally brothers (because why not?), and Bull tries really hard to be good. Or: In which Dorian tries to set up his brother and his roommate, if he can avoid killing them for being so clueless. (You might get cavities from reading it. Don't say I didn't warn you.) // Words: 33700

What did I say about Dragonflies_and_Katydids and ridiculous premises? But if you're as delighted with awkward Cullen as am I - enjoy.

Dragons from Stars in an Empty Sky by Midna_Ronoa

Summary: The one in which Bull takes Cullen dragon-hunting. // Words: 10423

Fluff and smut and dragons!

Stuck on the Puzzle by thespectaclesofthor

Summary: Once, back in Kirkwall, Cullen had an arrangement with a member of the city guard that satisfied his needs. But time changed all things, and he despaired of ever finding a similar arrangement again - that was, until he met The Iron Bull. Problem being that Bull seemed to care far more about sorting out the nitty-gritty of such an arrangement than Cullen ever has. // Words: 235586

No fic rec lists that can involve Bullen canot do without Stuck on the Puzzle. If you haven't read it - please give it a try. As far as I'm concerned - the best fic in the fandom. And definately one of the best fics in general. <3

Cullen/Dorian/Bull

Exit Light by Dragonflies_and_Katydids

Summary: In which Cullen is suicidally depressed, Dorian is a high-functioning alcoholic, and Bull just wants them both to be happy, except when he wants to crack their heads together for being emotionally stunted idiots. // Words: 77427

This premise is actually very close to canon, compared to some other stories by the same author recced here. The angst? Delightful. The smut? Delicious. The exploration of issues? Delectable! Cheff kisses all around.

to burn cool and collected by toomanyhometowns

Summary: Dorian hums. "Here is the function of the spell: Upon invocationne, ye caster's spyryt shal sterte to ye form of whomsoever mofte recently achieved releafe by hys hande." He taps the page in punctuation and looks back up. "And then there's a lot of text about the vast joys we may experience together, et cetera, et cetera." // Words: 16121

Ok, this list shows more than anything that my main delight is issues and angst wrapped in with porn. Anyway - cracky premise (body swap!), and angsty, sexy outcome.

Hold by queeniegalore

Summary: Everyone knows Cullen doesn't trust magic. But he trusts Dorian and Bull, so maybe they can make this work. // Words: 6654

Issues? Trauma? Kink? I'm a one trick pony when it comes to recs.

Cullen/Cole

Okay now that we’ve gotten the obvious out, let’s enjoy the trully unexpected enjoyment.

Into The Light (Cole/Cullen Ficlets) by Sinister_Kid

Summary: A series of what I hope are tasteful Cole/Cullen fics that don't exploit or overly sexualize Cole's developing character. Based on a prompt I filled out of boredom in which I imagined the spirit actually hearing someone's pain like a physical noise in his ears that caused discomfort. Explores the option of making Cole more human, with my own original take on how that affects him as a character, and depicts Cole developing romantic feelings for the Commander as he discovers what it means to be human. // Words: 20454

I admit I don't often read Cole shippy fics but this one stays true to the info in the summary and it is careful and tasteful. Also Cullen learning to speak with Cole properly - <333

Cullen/Varric

Verse & Volley Triptych by boycoffin

Summary: POSSIBLE TITLES: This Shit Was Even Weirder: A Surprisingly Not-Doomed Romance In The Shadow of the Apocalypse The Commander and the Rogue already taken, Antivan maritime smut with an elf girl in it How The Hell I Ended Up With That Guy: A Tale for The People Who Keep Asking Me About It In Bars The Short and Curlies that's just terrible Love Among the tropey garbage A Tale of Two Names pretentious and unclear The Penman's Paramour Memoirs of a Moron (That He's Going to Regret Publishing and Will Never Hear The End Of for As Long As He Lives) // Words: 133354

One of the very few fics in which I can not only accept but love 1st person POV. Crack. Slow-burn. Pennames. Lovable OCs. DELICIOUS. Also a fic that made me start this blog, so love all around.

Cullen/Krem

Last but not least, my delightful fave (maybe, possibly, probably) and involving a shameless self-plug because it’s the month of pride.

Swordplay by orphan_account

Summary: The Bull's Chargers are undisciplined, untested, and unprofessional; but Cullen can't stop thinking about their lieutenant. // Words: 3910

I have a soft spot for whoever Krem being shipped with not knowing he's trans at first. But also oblivious, pining Cullen <3

If you have been starving, a creature of bone by missivesfromghosts

Summary: Cullen is content with where he is. He has a life and a purpose. He’s doing the Maker’s work and he’s cut the Chantry’s leash on him. He barely thinks about the fact that he’s trans anymore. The last person who knew he was born anything different, barring his sister Mia, died during the Blight. This works for him. That is, until he starts falling for Krem. // Words: 769

A tiny thing but I have a soft spot for the idea. Also what's better than a ship with trans character? A ship with two trans characters. Keep that in mind for further recs actually.

Sweet, Merciful Andraste by Tainaron

Summary: PWP. Honestly, Cullen should invest in walls and a ceiling that don't have holes if he's going to keep having such loud sex. Pure, unapologetic smut between trans men who love each other. // Words: 4187

¯\_(ツ)_/¯  What more do you want from me? Sometimes porn is just porn. Enjoy.

Champions of the Just by Tainaron

Summary: En route to Griffin Wing Keep before the battle of Adamant, Cullen falls prey to an injury that reveals a shameful secret about his trauma with magic. As Cullen struggles with his past, his duty to the Inquisition, and his love life, he becomes increasingly uncertain if he’s the target of an assassination attempt or just his own personal demons. // Words: 67885

Well, I also have some plottier and angstier fics in my rec disposal. This one actually explores the problems Krem and Cullen could encounter in their relationship and all within the canon plot line. Plus bonus points of Cullen actually interacting with other Chargers.

cabbage: a love story by psikeval

Summary: Krem’s grin fades into a quiet smirk, his eyes warm and amused, and Cullen does not forget how to move his legs because he is a grown man, a leader of soldiers, commander of the Inquisition’s army. He breaks the silence by coughing loudly, because he is also an imbecile. // Words: 18932

Creme de la creme of Krem/Cullen fics <3 Fluff, crack, porn <3 This delightful series has it all! 

[damn-behzinga]

Unconventional Family

Ethan Payne & OC! Sister

summary - Ethan meets his half sister for the first time and he decides she should meet his family, the sidemen.

warnings - abandonment issues, bad dads

request - Can you do a  behzinga imagine where he has like an older sister and the boys meet her. the sister isnt the reader tho

masterlist + request info

a/n - I used the name ‘Naya’ in memory of Naya Rivera because Glee was a childhood favourite of mine. I will forever miss her, Naya, rest easy, fly high with Cory.

gif credit @sdmngifs​

"Ethan Payne?" The woman asked causing Ethan to squint at her.

"Who's asking?"

"Um, there's no easy way to put this but-" The woman took a deep breath. "I'm your sister. My name is Naya."

"I - um-" Ethan struggled for words and instead he spat, "What the fuck?"

"I know this might come as a shock but my dad cheated on my mum with yours and I-" Naya sighed. "You don't look like him."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"You should. He's a complete asshole." Naya snorted.

"Such an asshole!" Ethan agreed, barking out a laugh. They continued laughing until Ethan asked, "So, how did you find me?"

"Your mum still knows my mum and they talked. She was going to tell you but I said that I wanted to meet you myself." Naya took a seat next to Ethan. "Your mum is amazing, by the way. She took everything in her stride, a lot better than my mum."

"Did you keep his last name?"

"As if! There's no way I wanted to be associated with that asshole." She chuckled. "Naya Lounds." She stuck her hand out and Ethan shook it, smiling softly at her.

"So did he leave you too?" Ethan asked.

"Yup. After my mum found out that he had another son and she kicked him out. I don't remember much. I was like seven and all I could remember was the two of them yelling about some woman he had knocked up when I was two." Naya took a sip of her drink. "I saw him on birthdays  and shit until I was eighteen and then I told him that I never wanted to see his ass again."

"Oh, shit." Ethan chuckled dryly.

"So, do you have any stories about the old man?" Naya asked.

"Nothing really. Mum made it clear she wasn't having him around. He forgot my name and mum went ballistic!"

"Holy shit! What an asshole!" Naya chuckled. "Big up your mum though. She's got to be one of the strongest women I've ever met."

"She's the strongest." Ethan smiled.

"Ethan?" Josh called. "Mate, we're ditching this place and going to the pub across the street."

"Okay, just give me a second." Ethan smiled and quickly pulled out his phone. "Put your number in and we can talk about this more."

The friendship group waited outside for their friend. The tattooed man wandered out the door, smiling softly at the men.

"Get her number?" Simon commented, raising his eyes suggestively.

"It's not like that!" Ethan scoffed at his older friend. "She's family. Someone I haven't really known."

All his friends glanced at one and other trying to figure out what was going on. But, with the alcohol buzzing in their system, they shrugged it off and made their way to the next pub.

Over the next month and a half, the siblings quickly got to know each other, swapping stories from their childhood, explaining their jobs, and discussing their passions. They started to meet up weekly, text everyday. The two of them had lost so much and they were determined not to lose each other.

Then, Ethan realised he hadn't even told his closest friends about the new development in his life. So, he called Naya and told her to get ready to meet the six craziest people she'd ever meet.

So, the next week, Ethan placed the floor, biting his nails as his friends watched him from the couch.

"You have nothing to be nervous about," Josh said softly.

"Yeah, we're just meeting your friend, right?" Simon said. "I will say, this is a bit formal for us to meet a friend."

"I need to-" Ethan started and the doorbell echoed throughout the flat.

He bit his lip and walked over to the door, taking a deep breath before he opened it wide.

"Naya." He breathed out, pulling her into a hug.

"Hey. It's good to see you." Naya smiled, pulling away. "Are you friends here already?" 

"Yeah. They're in the living room." Ethan shut the door behind her and guided her to the living room.

"Boys, this is Naya." Ethan took a deep breath. "My sister."

There was a moment of silence as everyone tried to grasp the new information.

"Sister?" JJ sputtered.

"Well, half-sister, technically." Naya chuckled awkwardly. 

"I'm so confused," Harry muttered.

"It's nice to meet you guys, Ethan talks about you a lot. It's nice to put faces to names." Naya said kindly. "I know you must have a lot of questions and as I said to Ethan, I will happily answer them the best as I can."

"Your half-siblings?" Simon clarified. "Like through your dad or-"

"Yep," Naya said. "We have the same asshole dad."

Ethan laughed quietly.

"And how are we supposed to know that you aren't some crazy fan?" Josh asked, squinting.

"I've seen the birth certificate. And my mum confirmed it." Ethan explained. "I saw a photo of her and my dad."

"How long have you known that you were siblings?" Tobi asked

"Oh well, I found out a few years ago that I might have half-siblings but I never wanted to know about know my family through my dad. But I got curious and my mum had met Ruth through a friend and so I asked. And I put off meeting him for a long time, I didn't want to fuck up his life and I was worried he'd be like our dad." Naya shrugged slightly.

"Have you ever seen the video of Ethan smashing a controller into his desk when he got pissed off at a game?" JJ asked.

"No!" Naya barked out a laugh. "Please show me!"

"Or the time he almost broke his neck attempting a bicycle kick?" Harry exclaimed.

"Why didn't I know about these?" Naya laughed, shoving Ethan jokingly.

"That's not exactly the first impression I wanted to leave." Ethan snorted.

"Really? I think that's a really good way to know you." Naya argued jokingly.

"I like her already!" Tobi laughed loudly. 

"Aye, my sister is off-limits!" Ethan yelled and yeah, he could get used to saying that.

[sierraraeck]

Why Dads Suck

Spencer x OC Aundreya

Masterlist | Series Masterlist

(This is my gif so please give credit if used)

Summary: Partially inspired by 4x7 Memoriam. When Aundreya goes with Spencer to talk to his father, she snaps. Story six.

Category: Some angst, some fluff.

Warnings: Cussing. Talk of past abuse.

Word Count: 6.2k

“Listen to me, you worthless piece of shit.”

That was a sentence that I weighted very seriously. I cussed casually in conversation and way too much in my internal dialogue, sometimes I said it just to get people’s attention or stress the situation, but I rarely said it in a meaningful, hurtful, way. But in that situation, I was aiming to be way more than just hurtful.

# # # # # # # # # # # # #

Over the past 14 months, I allowed myself to care. I don’t know what got into me, but it happened. I actually started to care for the people that I worked with. I always faked that to their faces because I wasn’t a complete cold-hearted bitch, and I’m not saying that I never cared about them, I’m just saying that now I care-cared about them. Like, it was no longer ‘hey I’m glad you’re not dead’, but instead was like ‘hey I’m genuinely concerned for your mental and emotional well-being’.

And it terrified me.

When I first hit the streets, I was determined to keep a hold on my humanity. Soon that proved too difficult and my new mission was to look at everyone like a chess piece; some more useful than others but all disposable in the end if they could benefit the long-term survival of the king. That mission continued in prison and became my new everyday mindset, one that followed me into the FBI. So when I realized that that mindset, the entire foundation of my existence and survival for the past 11 years, was dissolving, and there was nothing I could do about it (I’d tried but it was a futile effort and I knew it), I was terrified. And I felt like I was falling apart.

In BAU profiler terms, that would be considered my stressor. What followed would be considered my trigger.

# # # # # # # # # # # # #

Spencer was going to visit his dad.

He and I had grown very close over the course of those 14 months, and I would’ve considered him the closest person to me (with the exception of my mom and sister) ever. He even overpowered Deen and Sydney in my mind. But I guess those two were more of a ‘loyalty-to-the-end-as-a-means-of-survival’ type thing, instead of just simply ‘friends’.

I told him the most out of anyone on the team, and overall just felt like he wouldn’t judge me, which was a complete 180 considering how we started. I just felt like he understood me in a way that I hadn’t experienced, like he understood the roots of who I was, not just who I was in relation to what I’d done.

We even had a couple agreements.

The first was that I was going to make him more ‘culturally-adequate’ while he was going to make me more ‘educationally-adequate’. That took form in a book swap. I would provide him with all of my favorite and popular books (seriously, who doesn’t know the Cullens), and he would provide me with all of the profiling, math, history, engineering, psychology, sociology, chemistry, and philosophy books he’d read, along with any other fascinating topics he’d found in paperback form. We would either swap on the jet, or he’d come over to my apartment to read. We’d tried doing it at his apartment once, but I didn’t bring enough books, so it was just easier for him to be near my library. It also occasionally took form in a tv/movie swap. I would force him to watch some of my favorite shows or movies from my childhood like ‘Supernatural’ and ‘The Hunger Games’ among others, and he forced me to watch ‘Doctor Who’ and ‘Star Trek’. This we always did at his place, as to not get bored of my place. It also worked out well because I wasn’t really allowed to go out much, and he just didn’t want to go out much.

The second was ‘jet talk’. Whenever Reid got going on one of his rants, and the information wasn’t dire to the situation or necessary for understanding, I would just interrupt him and say ‘jet talk’. It was my way of letting him know that he was rambling and needed to get to the point, but that he could tell me all of that extra information on the jet. I’d become his new info outlet that he got to share all of those mind-boggling stats with, without being judged or feeling like he was on a time crunch. I had to smile the other day when he started going down that path and he stopped himself saying, “... it was an ancient ritual started by the Mayans in 500 AD, I’ll skip over all the jet talk, but the main purpose was …” It left me feeling gooey for the rest of the day.

So yeah, we’d grown pretty close, and I would say that I was becoming very protective of him, especially when it came to personal threats he’d already overcome and shouldn’t have to deal with again.

Like his father.

Which was why I was completely against the idea when Spencer suggested it.

“I have to talk to him, I have to know what happened,” he pleaded.

“I understand that, but why does it have to be like this? Why does it have to be you?” I countered. I’d suggested that he stay with either myself, Rossi, or Morgan, while the other two went to talk to that asshat for him.

“I know this case better than any of you. I have to be there.” I looked over to Morgan and Rossi for help, but they were staying completely indifferent, not willing to challenge or support either side. Spencer’s eyes were begging me to agree with him.

I sighed. I hadn’t realized our volume had risen until I brought my voice back down, trying to return to a calming tone. “I know. I just really don’t like the idea of you having to be around him. That’s all.”

He nodded. “I know. I don’t like it either, but it’s the best shot we have.”

I looked back over at Morgan and Rossi, and they both gave me a knowing look. I nodded.

“Okay. Let’s go,” I said.

“Wait, all of us?” Derek paused, his attention on Reid. He hesitated.

“If you don’t want all of us there, we understand that,” Rossi offered.

“No, I want you there,” Spencer said, still a bit hesitant.

“Are you sure? Because if you don’t want any of us there,” he looked over at me, “or you don’t think it’d be a good idea to have one or more of us there, that’s fine.”

What the hell was he looking at me for? I was offended, “Rossi, is there something you’re not telling me that I should know about?”

“It’s just that you being there could be …” he trailed off. I wasn’t sure how to fill in that blank, but whatever it was, it wasn’t good. What was I doing wrong this time?

“No,” Reid said more confidently. “I want you all there.”

“Okay, kid. Lead the way,” Derek said. My mouth was still open, reeling from the shock followed by the suspense.

Rossi and I shared the back seat of the car on our way over to William Reid’s office, leaving an awkward silence looming over the vehicle.

“Look, I’m sorry. I only meant that-”

“It’s okay, Rossi, seriously. I don’t think I want to know anyway,” I said, which was a lie. I did want to know, I just didn’t want to have that conversation in the back of a car on our way to meet Spencer’s dad, stressing him, and selfishly myself, out even more.

Reid had been confident about his decision to talk to his father all the way up until we entered the building. His whole demeanor changed and he seemed frozen in time.

“Can I help you?” the lady sitting behind the front desk offered.

“Yeah …” Reid said. We all looked at him expectantly, but it was like the words were caught in his throat, like he couldn’t get enough oxygen to continue.

“We’d like to speak with William Reid,” Rossi helped.

“Is he expecting you?”

“I don’t think so.” Rossi held out his badge.

“He’s in a meeting right now, why don’t you have a seat and I’ll tell him you’re here,” she said, turning back to her desk.

“You okay?” Morgan asked.

“Yeah,” Reid answered, his breathing labored. “No, um, yeah. I’m, I’m gonna go to the bathroom.” He took off, speed walking away from us.

“I’ve never seen him like this before,” Derek commented. Neither had I. He’d told me bits and pieces about his family life, but that was a topic we both decided to veer away from. In all other stressful or emotionally taxing situations, he was able to keep his composure. Do the job, be objective. He even kept it together when his mom had to get involved with a case of ours. The only time I’d seen him get even a little rattled was when a case had quite a bit in common with his childhood surrounding schizophrenia right after he got some troubling news about his mother’s health, but all the other ones having to do with absent fathers creating killers didn’t get to him. Granted, those were a dime a dozen.

This, however, was a whole new beast.

“... more of a personal matter,” Rossi was saying to a man near the front desk. I must have zoned out.

“It concerns your son,” Morgan said.

“M-my son? Did something happen,” the man said. So that ugly bastard is his father?

“That’s what we’re trying to find out,” Reid said, entering the lobby again. His stood more straight, trying to make himself look as tall as possible, and I could tell it was taking all of his effort to appear professional. I saw his back muscles start twitching.

They stared at each other for a few moments, sizing each other up, before Spencer said, “Hello, dad.”

William cleared his throat, “Follow me.” He led us back to his office, Rossi and Morgan sandwiching Reid between them, while I straggled behind, shutting his office door.

“You don’t look like me anymore. You used to, everybody said so,” William started. It was a lame excuse for a connecting point.

“They say some people look like their dogs, too,” Spencer quipped with an eyebrow raise. “It’s attributed to prolonged mutual exposure. Elderly couples also, they unconsciously mimic the expressions of people they’ve been around their whole life, so it kinda … kinda makes sense that I wouldn’t really look like you, I haven’t seen you in 20 years.” Whenever he got anxious, all of his sentences ran together in one long stream of consciousness.

“Are you here on business?” William changed the subject.

“Just wrapping up a case,” Rossi dryly answered.

“A five year old boy was abducted and murdered,” Morgan chimed in.

“Oh, yeah I read about that, Ethan Hayes, right? That’s terrible,” William responded.

“That case got me thinking about Riley Jenkins,” Reid said, and William turned away. “You remember Riley Jenkins?”

“Of course.”

“I’ve been having dreams about him for a really long time, but when we came back here for this case it jogged something and the dream changed. I saw his killer. It was you.”

“Interesting dream.”

“You don’t seem all that surprised,” Morgan questioned.

“I stopped being surprised by Spencer’s mind a long time ago,” William responded.

“There are certain criteria we consider when looking at this type of suspect. You fit parts of that profile,” Rossi said. He was looking at William like he wanted to choke him out right there. I could empathize.

“Me?”

“We just want your cooperation,” Rossi continued.

“My coop-” William started. He looked around at our faces and realized that we were all dead serious. “You’re not actually saying you think I killed Riley Jenkins.”

Reid gave a slight shake of his head. “We didn’t say that.”

“Good, ‘cause that’s absurd,” William stated. That was it. I couldn’t take it anymore. I couldn’t just stand there, staring at his face knowing what he did to Spencer and not say anything.

“Is it?” I asked. William looked over at me like he was acknowledging my presence for the first time. “You were able to do something as absurd as abandon your own son, who knows what else you’re capable of.”

Rossi gave me a warning look, but Spencer didn’t even falter, his burning gaze set on William.

“Excuse me?” William asked.

“You heard me,” I simply stated.

“You know, I don’t think I caught your name when I first let you all into my office,” he said, a slight threat resting on his undertone.

“Chambers.”

“And how do you know my son, Chambers,” William asked.

“Your son? You’re getting quite possessive considering you’ve only just now met him for the first time as an adult,” I said. I kept my voice a low growl, trying to keep my head on my shoulders.

“What can I say? I’m concerned about his selection of company.” I scoffed. I was starting to realize why Rossi didn’t think it was a good idea having me around. I quickly scanned myself and remembered that I wasn’t exactly dressed like ‘FBI’ today. I’d already worn all of my official-looking outfits and was left with a more casual one, which I figured was fine because we weren’t ‘officially’ on the job. I was wearing a simple, low cut, white t-shirt under a leather jacket, with black pants and combat boots. My hair was in a ponytail, so from where he was sitting, he could probably spot my four visible tattoos.

“You don’t have a say in my selection of company. You gave that up a long time ago,” Spencer jumped in.

“Well, whatever your friend Chambers is implying-”

“Agent. She’s Agent Chambers,” Reid said. I refrained from smirking.

“Regardless of what Agent Chambers is implying I did, I did not kill Riley Jenkins.”

“We’d just like permission to look through your computer, access your records,” Morgan said, trying to regain control and focus over the situation.

“Yeah and, what would you be looking for exactly?” William challenged. He turned and looked pointedly at Spencer. “You want access to my files? Get a warrant.”

Spencer stared him down, but turned to leave. We headed toward his office door when he decided to add one last thing. “I’m proud of you, you know that? You’ve done a lot of good, choosing to help people. I mean, other people with your talents might have sought out different opportunities, a private sector. My god, you could have made a fortune.” He sighed and the message seemed forced. He sounded condescending, disappointed even, that his son wasn’t making millions.

That’s when I snapped.

“No. You know what, actually, no,” I mumbled to myself, shaking my head and turning around to walk back towards William. I couldn’t even stop myself before I punched him square in the jaw. It caught him so much by surprise that he toppled out of his chair and onto the ground. I placed a foot on his throat, careful not to put too much pressure on it, and squatted down so that I could see the fear in his eyes. “You listen to me, you worthless piece of shit.” I knew that one of the three behind me was calling my name, probably to stop, but I was too hyped up on adrenaline to pay attention. I was committed now. I removed my foot and grabbed a wad of cloth at the base of his neck and yanked him up to standing.

“You’re proud of him? You don’t get to be proud of him. You did nothing to help him get to where he is now. The only thing you did was provide him with the feeling of abandonment and anger, which luckily he was strong enough to use as fuel to become the amazing man standing in front of you, instead of letting it rip him apart. He’s way more than your small mind could ever comprehend, and he is worth way more than the bullshit fortune you wish he was making.”

“He’s also worth more than spending time with a slut like you,” he spat at me. I switched my grip to wrap around his throat, and swiftly shoved him up against the wall.

“You’re right. I have been a shitty person for pretty much my entire life. The only redeeming quality I have, is that I know Doctor Spencer Reid, and for whatever reason, he has allowed me to continually be a part of his life. To be there for him. Which is more than I can say for you. A child, especially a son, needs a good male role model, otherwise they grow up with the feeling that they can’t trust anyone, especially men. They have problems keeping healthy relationships because they can’t trust their partner, or worse, they can’t trust themselves not to end up just like their mom or dad. You were mentally healthy enough to raise him, a luxury that some people don’t have, but instead you were too weak. You left him with a mentally handicapped parent that couldn’t take care of herself, let alone a child. You didn’t even bother checking in on them. What if she’d died? What if their house burnt down? What if something happened and he was left all alone? He would have ended up in foster care or on the streets, and could have easily turned out like one of the monster’s he now hunts.” My face was hot, and I quickly swiped at the dampness on my cheeks. Get it together. My voice lowered to a murmur as the next words rolled off my tongue. It felt like it was the first time I had fully comprehended them myself, “He could have easily turned out like me.”

I swallowed, coming up for air, but I wasn’t done yet. “Is that what you would have wanted? Would you have wanted him coming in here, not to respectfully ask you for your side of the story, not even to just arrest you like he definitely could have, but to come in here looking to kill you? Is that what you wanted! Did you even think about that?”

“No,” was all he could manage to get out. He was choking on his words, so I loosened my grip. But only a little.

“No to what? No you didn’t want that or no you didn’t think about that?”

“Both! I wouldn’t have wanted that for him. And I didn’t think about it that way,” he struggled.

“Exactly. But that’s what you should have been thinking about. You should have been thinking about your child, not yourself.” I released his neck with force, shoving him away from me and further into the wall. I stepped back, giving him room to slouch in on himself. “The least you could do is answer a few simple questions for him. You owe him at least that much.”

With that, I turned around, my brain not even fully capable of processing my co-worker’s reactions, and walked out the door. I kept walking at a feverish pace until I reached the bathroom. The moment I closed the door behind me, I broke down into a sobbing mess.

What is wrong with you? You need to get your shit together! This isn’t even about you, but as always, you had to go and make it about yourself. You are supposed to be there for Spencer, not the other way around. He’s the one having to face his absent father and relive his traumatic childhood, not you. Pull yourself together!

I forced myself to deep breathe.

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. In, out. In, out.

I walked over to the sink, careful to avoid the mirror, and splashed my face with water. Once I felt I was sufficiently washed clean of my meltdown, I looked up into my own eyes.

What is happening to you?

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts and refocus on the situation at hand. I grabbed a paper towel and blotted at my face. I took one more quick glance at the mirror, making sure I didn’t look like a complete wreck, and exited the bathroom.

This is about Spencer. Get over yourself. Be there for Spencer.

I walked back out into the main lobby to see that Derek and Rossi were waiting for me.

“Where’s Spencer?” I asked, trying to ignore their worried faces and the urge to just curl up and evaporate into thin air.

“He’s still in there talking to William. They asked us to wait out here,” Morgan answered.

I nodded. “Talking about Riley Jenkins?”

“I’d assume so. You were pretty … convincing,” Rossi commented. I nodded again, not knowing what to say. I stood there with my arms crossed in a self hug, digging into my sides harder than usual trying to control myself and my breathing. I looked down at my feet.

Please don’t ask, please don’t ask, please don’t … wait no. It doesn't matter if they ask because this isn’t about you. This is about Spencer and you all need to be clear headed and focused on him and what he needs.

About 20 minutes later, Spencer emerged looking as pissed as he was before, but now he also looked confused.

“What did he say?” I was quick to ask before the focus could be shifted. Not like I was expecting it to be.

“Not much, just that the three of us should talk about it together,” he answered, voice strained.

“The three of you? Who’s number three?” Morgan asked.

“My mother.”

# # # # # # # # # # # # #

So I was in an awkward spot. I just blew up the meeting between Spencer and his dad, but I also kind of helped get him talking? I couldn’t tell what he was thinking about it. He seemed irritated and up-tight but those were also feelings he had because of his father and the whole situation, so I didn’t know what to do regarding him going to talk to his mother.

Do I come with, to continue to support him? Do I hang back because I don’t want to cause any more problems? If I hang back and he actually does want me there, then I’m being unsupportive. If I go and he doesn’t want me there, then I’m being pushy.

I tried so hard to look for a hint as to what I should do and it never came. I was forced to breach the topic and ask, “Spencer, what would you like me to do?”

He stopped next to the car and faced me. “What do you mean?”

“I just don’t know … I don’t know if you want me to come with or ..?” I trailed off.

“Oh. Um,” he seemed caught off guard by my question. “My mother is a very difficult person to talk to, and this is a sensitive subject so …”

“You’d rather have me stay here?” I completed. There was no malice in my voice, just concern for him. He wasn’t responding, so I assured him, “Don’t worry if that’s the case. I understand.”

He nodded.

“Why don’t I stay here with Aundreya, which will help lessen the stress on your mother, and you can take Morgan with you to go talk to her?” Rossi offered. Oh no. I knew what that meant. Derek and Spencer nodded at his words, and got into the car together. Rossi gestured for me to join him as he started walking back toward the hotel that was only a few blocks from the office.

I quickly caught up to him and he put his arm out, side-eyeing me and giving me that signature Rossi smirk. For real? I sarcastically let out a sigh and rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t help returning the small, closed-lip smile. I looped my arm in his, and we continued to walk. In an alternate universe, he was walking me down the aisle.

We walked in silence for a block before he finally came out with it. “So, would you care to inform me what that little episode was about?”

“I don’t like disrespectful people.”

“Neither do I. That doesn’t mean I’m going to hit every one of them in the face.”

“Well, you tend to have more manners then I do.”

“True. But I also didn’t feel personally connected to that situation.”

“What are you talking about, we are both protective of Reid.”

“We are, but we both know that’s not what I’m referencing,” he said. He stopped walking and turned to face me, taking my hands in his. “Talk to me, Aundreya.”

His eyes were soft but piercing, and his wise-guy aura was getting to my head.

I nodded, squeezed his hands, then dropped them so I could loop my arm back in his. We continued walking as I spoke. “Do you remember what I told you about my family situation about a year ago?”

“You mean when we went to dinner? Yes. You told me that your parents got divorced when you were six, you started living with your mother full time when you were nine, and haven’t had contact with your father since you were ten.” I was surprised that he cared enough to remember all of that.

“Yeah. During those three years that I was splitting time between my parents, my sister and I had to deal with my abusive father. It was mostly verbal abuse and mental and emotional manipulation. Honestly, I’ve dumped most of the memories from that time period,” I said. He glanced over at me, silently inviting me to continue, so I did. “Just the feeling I got every time he showed up to a game of mine when I didn’t want him there, or I ran into him for any other purpose, was the worst mix of feelings I’ve ever experienced. It was terror and discomfort and panic and hatred. I felt physically sick every time and it was like my brain stopped working. Even though I don’t really remember everything that happened to me, that he did to me, I just have this overwhelming feeling of disgust. I guess that Spencer’s dad demeaning him like that, and his situation being kind of similar to mine, just set me off.”

Rossi nodded and his features told me he was deep in thought. He was probably still trying to process everything I’d told him. “You felt the need to fight back.”

“Yes.”

“Can I make an assumption here?” He looked concerned. I just shrugged and nodded. “I think that while you were going through that, your big sister protected you, and you were her support system to fall back on, to keep her grounded. You’ve since become quite the fighter, and somewhere in there,” he gestured to my head, “you regret not fighting back harder when you had the chance. You regret not helping your sister out, and you now feel the need to help Spencer out and fight back like you think you should have with your own father.”

It was stunning to me that he could dissect my thoughts better than I could. Everything he said struck a nerve and made complete sense. I’d been trying to figure myself out for over ten years, and he’d figured me out in under ten seconds. It’s astonishing how that works.

“Damn Rossi. You’re so good at this stuff,” I said, and he offered a gentle laugh. “Seriously. You just described a thought process that I’ve had for ages that I didn’t even know I’ve had for ages until you just now told me about it.”

“Hey, it’s much much easier examining what’s going on with someone else than it is to have to self diagnose. There’s a reason they say that doctors are the worst patients,” he said, raising his eyebrows.

“Am I your patient now?” I asked, returning the eyebrow raise.

“Would you like to be?”

“If you’re going to enlighten me like that all the time, hell yeah.”

He smiled. “Alright then. That’ll cost you $17.99 up front and an additional $5.99 each month after.”

“Oh, well in that case, just kidding. It isn’t that important to me,” I laughed.

“Well, if you can convince Reid to drink half as much coffee, it’ll be included in the budget.” I laughed again. It felt good after a weird and taxing day.

“Well then I’m definitely screwed!” Oh right. Speaking of, “How do you think it’s going?”

“I’m not sure. I hope for the kid’s sake that it’s going well.”

“Me too.” We entered the hotel, and decided we’d wait in the lobby playing cards until they came back.

# # # # # # # # # # # # #

They didn’t get back until 11 that night, during which time they’d talked to Diana, arrested William, released him, found out that Gary Michaels was dead but was the killer, arrested Lou Jenkins for the murder of Gary Michaels, and finally got the whole story out of Diana and William.

“And you didn’t call us?” I accused, grogginess in my voice. Rossi and I had since fallen asleep in the lobby chairs, but only for less than an hour. That was a lot to go through for just the two of them in the back half of the day.

“We had it covered,” Derek answered. I couldn’t help feeling guilty, like it was my fault they didn’t call because they thought I was too unstable.

“So what now?” I asked, trying to brush the feeling off.

“Nothing. We let the local police handle it and we head back tomorrow,” Derek replied. Rossi and I nodded.

“We should all get some sleep,” Rossi commented, surveying our faces.

He had a point, so we headed up to our respective rooms and I just about crashed the moment I entered mine. My stomach growled and I remembered that I’d skipped lunch and Rossi and I forgot to get dinner. Our nerves must have been too amplified to be overpowered by hunger. It didn’t matter now because Reid got his answers, triggering relief to course through my veins and I was much too tired to care about food. I was on the brink of sleep when I heard a gentle knock on the door.

I grudgingly got up and looked out the peep-hole. It was Spencer.

“Hey,” I said with a bit more energy, opening the door.

“Hey,” he said. He stood there in silence giving me an expectant look.

“Oh, yeah, sorry. Come in.” The lack of sleep and sustenance was starting to show. I moved to the side so that he could slip by me. He sauntered toward the bed in the middle of the room and sat down. I followed suit. I waited patiently for him to speak, because I knew whatever caused him to come to my room at 11:30 after a stressful day was important, and he had to say it in his own time.

“Thank you.” His voice was a small whisper and I felt like I hadn’t heard him right. What does he possibly have to thank me for?

“For what?” I murmured.

“For staying with me through this. For trying to protect me and standing up for me. For respecting my space. And for letting me come into your room late at night to tell you this.”

“Of course. I’d do anything for you,” I said. It had come out so casually that I almost missed it. Spencer looked up at me with utter shock, which zapped me right back into reality. Oh shit. Had that really just tumbled out of my mouth?

I panicked and tried to quickly cover it up. “Like I’m happy to be here for you and you are welcome to come bug me at any time, day or night. I’m probably not doing anything interesting and I’m probably not getting much sleep either.” Although I could really use some right now if it would help me shut the hell up and stop spouting stupid shit.

Spencer’s mouth was still hanging slightly ajar from the shock of my initial comment. When he realized that I was just going to sit there staring at him until he did something, he shut his mouth and looked away from me again. “Can I ask you something?”

“Always.”

“You weren’t just talking to my dad in that office, were you?”

I sighed and met his warm brown eyes. I swear those things change color on the daily. Sometimes they’re a perfect hazel, sometimes they’re a light caramel brown, sometimes they’re a dark chocolatey brown, and sometimes, when the light hits right, they look as gold as the soul behind them.

“No,” I admitted, “I was talking to both of them.”

“Do you wanna talk about it?”

“Do you wanna hear about it?” I countered. He nodded shyly. “You know how I told you that my parents got divorced and I lived with both of my parents equally for three years and then my mom got full custody?”

“Yes.”

“Well, those three year were hell. I can’t remember everything that happened to me because I must’ve dumped most of it. I told Rossi that I didn’t remember anything at all, but that was a lie. The really big incidents, I remember. Like I remember him shoving me up against a brick wall giving me whiplash for the next two weeks. I remember him cussing out my mother in the rec center, him screaming at us in the car, especially after going to see the therapist, and leaving my sister on the side of the road because she pushed too many of his buttons. I remember him pushing me down on the bed and forcing my legs open so he could look at the rash between them, even though I begged him to just let my sister help me with it,” I choked. I hadn’t told anyone this. I hadn’t really talked about it with my mom and sister much when they were alive. “I remember having panic attacks and being constantly terrified that he was going to kill my mom or sister. And I just remember this intense feeling of complete hopelessness and dread whenever I was around him or his family. They were suffocating.”

He looked at me, eyes glistening, and he let a heavy teardrop fall. I slowly brought my hand to his face, asking silent permission, and when I got no resistance, placed it softly on his cheek. My fingers barely brushed his jaw as my thumb lightly wiped away the tear. I breathed, “Don’t cry. Don’t cry for me. It was a long time ago, and I am who I am today because of it.”

He put his own hand atop mine, engulfing it, subconsciously applying a bit more pressure which I was happy to comply with.

“It’s just … It’s just that no one should have to go through that. Even if it was a long time ago.” He closed his eyes, leaning into my hand.

“I know. Neither one of us deserved what we got, but we survived and came out the other side. That’s what matters now.” I placed my other hand on his cheek, and tilted his head slightly up towards mine. “How are you doing?”

“I’ll be okay.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

He shook his head. “No. I just want you to know that without you, I couldn’t have solved this or gotten the answers I needed. I appreciate your strength to face my father like that.”

“And I admire yours to do the same.” He leaned out of my touch, leaving me feeling cold and got up to leave. I didn’t even know what I was saying before I blurted, “Wait.”

He turned.

“Do you want to stay?” I was too tired to fight the words, too tired to even be surprised by them.

“I’d like that,” he responded. I smiled and he returned it. I didn’t want him to be alone with his thoughts and nightmares, and I selfishly didn’t want to be alone with mine either. He slipped off his shoes and I kicked off mine and he came to lay down next to me. Neither of us cared about the clothes we were still wearing and definitely wrinkling from the long day. I took big spoon, knowing he needed me more than I needed him at the moment, even if he wasn't ready to talk about what he’d just experienced over the last 24 hours yet.

I was just about to pass out, arms hooked on my own elbows around him when he whispered, “I never explained this to you, but I think deep down the reason I was so resistant to you at the beginning was because I knew you and I were only a choice or two away from living the other person’s life.”

“Spencer,” I murmured, “you don’t owe me an explanation.”

“I want you to have one, though.”

“Thanks. I’m just glad that the one or two choices after that led to our paths crossing.”

“Yeah. Me too.” That was all he could get out before both of us slipped under, able to finally relax in each other’s arms, finding reprieve from the relentless struggles of the waking world.

[steves-on-a-plane]

Double Trouble (Pt 2)

Part One /  Words: 1222 Pairing: Steve Rogers x Bucky Barnes (formerly & eventually) Other Characters: Betsy Sarah Rogers (oc) & Eleanor Roosevelt Barnes (oc) Other Info: Parent Trap AU Inspired by: @caffeinated--writer​‘s Post Summary: Betsy and Ellie come up with a grand plan to get their fathers back together. They spend the rest of the summer teaching each other about their lives and ultimately decide to switch places as part of a plan to get Bucky and Steve back together.

“What’s he like, Bucky?” Betsy asked Ellie. The two were sitting on the steps outside of their cabin where Joss and their other bunk mate were sleeping. Betsy was looking down at the photo of Bucky that she still hadn’t given back yet.

“He’s like a normal Dad I guess.” Ellie shrugged. “He owns a Motorcycle company, but you already know that. He spends a lot of time at the shop overseeing everything. He likes to be available when people need him. That important to him. Some how he always manages to make it to my school events. He never forgets to sign permission slips or pack my lunch.”

“My dad’s not like that.” Betsy shook her head. “Don’t get me wrong, I love him. He’s my favorite person in the whole world, but…” She sighed. “It’s like Steve Rogers is one person and Captain America is another and sometimes it’s hard being Captain America’s daughter. Like when we’re in public I literally always have to be on my best behavior. He doesn’t ever let me leave the apartment in sweatpants and…”

“Some days you just want him to be Steve.” Ellie nodded with understanding. “You know, you said Steve never really got over my Dad.”

“Yeah.” Betsy agreed. “Like I’ve never seen him really look at anyone else, besides Peggy I mean. But that’s different.”

“Right of course.” Ellie nodded again. “And you know I’ve never seen Dad really interested in anyone else either. Like sure men, and women, have tried. The delivery driver who brings gasoline to the shop once a month for example. I mean Dad still has a picture of Steve taped to his toolbox. What if there was a way that we could get them together? Like Together together.”

“So you want to set our dads up?” Betsy questioned.

“Sure.” Ellie shrugged. “Why not? Look I can tell that you really want to get to know Dad, and I really want to get to know…Dad…we’re going to have to find a better way to differentiate between them.”

“Well, we do look a lot alike.” Betsy acknowledged, biting her lip. “I bet we could switch places and they’d hardly notice.”

“Switch places?” Ellie laughed. “They’d figure us out immediately! I mean sure we might look a like but Betsy we’re still different people.”

“I know, I know.” Betsy agreed. “But we have a month before we go home right? We could teach each other how to be more like each other. And If we switch places we’ll get a little time together with each other’s Dads. They’ll have to switch us back eventually, so we just have to make sure that by the time we’re ready to switch back we’ve helped them fall back in love with each other.”

“Do you think that could work?” Ellie asked.

“I think we should try.” Betsy told her.

“Can I think about it?” Ellie was uncertain.

“Sure.” Betsy nodded. “But it was your idea to try and get them back together. I think this is the best way to do it.  Otherwise what are we supposed to do? Go home at the end of camp and pretend that we never met?”

“Couldn’t we just tell them the truth? That we met at camp and we want to stay in each other’s lives?” Ellie suggested.

“Do you think that will work?” Betsy was skeptical. “I mean they’ve kept us apart for the last thirteen years.”

“No, you’re right.” Ellie sighed. “Okay.” She decided, getting to her feet. “Let’s do it.” She held out a hand to her sister expectantly. Betsy jumped up too. She took the hand that Ellie offered and shook it.

Starting immediately the next morning Betsy and Ellie began coaching each other on how to become each other. Ellie walked Betsy through her complicated morning routine, including how she got here eyeliner to look just right. Betsy started telling Ellie everything she needed to know about living with the Avengers. For the next week and a half they worked while doing camp activities to help prepare for their big switch.

“I’ve just realized something.” Ellie frowned one afternoon as she and Betsy canoed around the lake together. “My hair is bleached at the ends and yours isn’t.”

“You want to bleach my hair?” Betsy frowned from the back of the canoe.

“No. I think we should cut it. I’ll cut mine too.” Ellie promised. “If we both cut our hair, we can just tell Dads that it was really hot at camp. We won’t cut to too short, just to our shoulders.”

“I guess.” Betsy continued to paddle. “As long as I can still put it up whenever I’m no pretending to be you.”

“Great!” Ellie squealed excitedly. “We can get Joss to help us! Her Mom’s a hairdresser!”

“Now wait just a minute, I said you could cut my hair, not Joss.” Betsy argued. “She’s so jittery she’ll probably cut my hair crooked.”

“Oooh Do you think we should get bangs?” Ellie was obviously not listing to her sister’s objections as she abandoned her paddle on the floor of the canoe and pulled a section of hair forward in front of her face. She twisted the section of hair trying to imagine what she would look like with bangs.

“Absolutely not!” Betsy insisted. “Pick up your paddle and help me. We’ll never make it back in time for lunch if you don’t.”

“Fine.” Ellie rearranged her hair to its normal position before picking up the paddle and helping Betsy canoe.

“Are you ready for this?” It was the last day of camp. Ellie and Betsy stood inside their cabin. Their bags were packed, and the girls were spending their last minutes together before their big switch.

Betsy had woken early that morning and curled her hair and put make up the way Ellie had shown her. She was wearing a flowy floral dress and impractical open toed sandals that Ellie Assured her were fashionable. Ellie, used to waking early every day lounged in bed most of the morning before running a brush through her hair and putting it up in a Ponytail. She was wearing Betsy’s favorite brown leather hiking boots and her signature denim jacket that she hardly ever took off all summer.

“Ready as I’ll ever be.” Betsy sighed. “I can’t believe you got all of this here on a plane. Actually, I can’t believe I have to take it all with me on a plane now.”

“I can’t believe you went away to camp for a month and this is all you brought.” Ellie commented holding up Betsy’s duffle bag and backpack.  

“I’m going to miss you, El.” Betsy was the first to say.

“Ohh Bets I’m gonna miss you too! We’ll see each other again soon, I promise. Hug?” Ellie opened her arms to her sister. Betsy complied, pulling Ellie into a tight hug.

“Okay, he’s here.” Betsy told Ellie about Steve. “Last thing left to do,” She held her cellphone out to her sister. Ellie took the phone and swapped it with her own. “You’ll text me when you get home, right?”

“Of course!” Ellie agreed. “And you’ll text me when you land?”

“Absolutely.” Betsy nodded.

“Alright, I’d better go.” Ellie decided. With one last look at her sister, She left the cabin.

[obliterus]

OC / SHION’S CLASSMATE

So I’m going to talk about another OC who is also beloved to me, who starts out as Shion’s classmate. He was literally born out of one giant meme @galaxythixf and I came up with when we were chatting about Shion and Neito’s future verse, so literally, two more OC’s were born out of this, I’m going to talk about mine. 

Now of course to start, he’s in the General Studies course at UA in 1-C alongside Shion in Shion’s canon verse. However, he’s only in the GS course because he actually threw the Hero portion of the examination upon seeking entrance to UA. This was a spiteful slap in his father’s face, and he had good reason to do so, which I’ll explain about.

Some general information about him, his name is Miyawaki Ryou and he is the only son of Miyawaki Shinji and Miyawaki (Inaba) Izumi. He is the direct result of a full-blown quirk marriage. This is a concept I wanted to explore more in-depth, so here we are folks. Shinji’s quirk is called Inanimation, which grants him the ability to immobilize objects with his mind. Anything that’s coming at him, he’s able to immobilize and render it useless for a certain period of time. This cannot be used at extremely long range at all, and if he can’t see or hear the object or person, he cannot use his quirk. Shinji is a Pro Hero stationed in Shinagawa but is from Fukuoka.

Izumi’s quirk is called Gravity Bind, which grants her the ability to bind objects or people to any surface ONLY after touching them. (This is very similar to resembling a reverse Ochako quirk.) Gravity Bind is a quirk that’s also passed down from generation to generation by manifesting in the person’s eyes. A child of the Inaba family born with stormy grey eyes will manifest Gravity Bind. I like giving extreme physical traits to quirks, so once again, here I am having the wielder having a portion of it within their eyes. 

Izumi was born in Fukuoka and moved up to Shinagawa when Shinji got his stationed swapped up north. The two met in middle school, started dating in high school and went on to get married at Shinji’s wishes alongside his parent’s wishes. Izumi fell in love with Shinji along the way, while Shinji’s true intention was to seek an heir with power. His view of the Hero world is very narrow, and he believes in the notion that those who are Heroes should be seeking out ultimate power to stay on top, it’s not necessarily about helping people to him. Izumi greatly disagreed with this philosophy and often tried to talk him out of it, to which he’d always remind her that her job was to produce a satisfying heir, not to lecture him. To be fair, Shinji was raised this way, he knows no other way of living, nor thinking. It’s been conditioned in him since he was a child. 

Ryou was born several years later (on October 31st, he’s a Halloween baby AND a Scorpio), with the same dark hair as his mother and her stormy grey eyes. Shinji was slightly disappointed that it seemed to be the Gravity Bind quirk only that he inherited until it manifested at age six. He was an extremely late bloomer with his quirk. Ryou’s version of Gravity Bind differs from his mother’s because Ryou doesn’t need his hands to touch anything he seeks to bind. He can pull objects or people towards him and bind them to a surface through the usage of his mind. So Ryou gained a combination of his mother and father’s quirks, but like his father, Ryou has to be able to see what it is he has to draw and bind. His pull gets weaker if it’s extreme long distance, and if his eyes are closed or he’s temporarily blinded, he cannot use his quirk. 

From knowing the extent of Ryou’s quirk, Shinji took to raising him for the next four years to try and condition him to believe that he was the source of great power and that he had to stay on top no matter what. There was never any room for arguing, and as much as Izumi tried to shield her son from this way of thought, Shinji would often snap at her and tell her not to get in the way, that this was important. At age ten, Shinji left both Ryou and his mother, seeking to continue to groom more children to become powerful heir’s of his, but jokes on you Shinji: He never produced a more powerful child. Ryou, his eldest, was the only one to gain a combination of both. Though, Ryou does have half-siblings out there. 

As a result of the harsh beginnings of his childhood, Ryou has an explosive personality. He’s irrational, reckless, a real smart ass, and very hot-tempered. Yet, he loves his mother so much and sworn to protect her, while raising the middle finger to his father in the process. Ryou is extremely bitter, and every emotion he feels is often at its extremist. The idea of becoming a Hero worthy of the title is so far from his mind, based on his father’s teachings, that it often seems laughable to him. He throws the Hero exam, which probably would make several people angry if they found out that he did so, to land him a seat in the General Studies course because he’d rather be in there than to bother with a Hero course. (Another huge middle finger to his dad, who despite leaving he and his mother, has been watching him from afar as well.) He ends up in 1-C alongside Shion. He’s content shoving himself in the background for a while.

Yet his ideologies start to change when he meets more people, spends some time around Shion, and of course being around the person he loves the most, Kiyomizu Hayato (he’s in 1-D) who he met in middle school. Ryou develops a passion to protect him and his mother at the most, and to re-write what a Hero is to himself and his family name. He does get a second shot at taking the Hero exam and is slated to join the Hero course in 2-B the following year alongside Shinsou. Neito and him clash like nobody’s business, Neito’s endearing nickname for him is ‘Makeinu’ which is basically a stupid dog. Yet don’t be fooled. Ryou can be draft, but he’s an extremely hard worker and will keep getting up even when he’s at his limit. 

His Hero name is Horizon, and he takes his name from an Event Horizon. It’s defined as the ‘point of no return’, and the pull of an object is so great it makes escaping impossible. This is alluding towards his quirk. That once Ryou has a clear hold on an object or a person and pulls them or it towards him, it’s utterly almost impossible to escape. He is the point of no return. Therefore, shorting Event Horizon to just ‘Horizon’ was perfect, and fitting for him. A part of his Hero design is the usage of mirrors, so if Ryou cannot see you, he can use a mirror to see your reflection and meet your eyes through it to still use his quirk on you. This bastard can be sneaky and will pull out all the ropes when going onto the front lines in Hero training or out in the field later on. 

Drawbacks of using his quirk are: Intense migraines. Ryou gets migraines when he uses his quirk too much, and they are fierce. They cause extreme nausea and vomiting when overuse is at its peak. If his focus is interrupted, Ryou’s hold on the object or person can be broken and therefore released. 

More info to come, but I’ve been meaning to write about him, so here he is. You do not know how tempted I am to make Izumi a relative of the Uraraka clan, just based off her quirk. 

[empress-otome]

OCxCanon Week// Day 3: Outfit Swap

(OC info page is found here)

They called it a strike mission. Move in fast on the target, hit several spots of the base at once, move out fast. That was what the plan looked like on the surface, but it looked more like a suicide mission to Rosangela. She knew the many underlying complications and risks that went into it. The snipers had only a small window of time to sneak into position to cover those who were moving in. Intel barely knew a thing about the base they’d be hitting, so nobody knew how much security to expect, just to be “prepared for anything.” Maybe if it was a solo job back in her vigilante days, it’d be easier. Less formalities and people to look after during the mission. Then again, maybe not.

The Overwatch ship landed about half a mile from the Talon base, and the six agents all trudged off and into the chilly night. Everyone looked on edge, though they tried to hide it. Even Winston was tapping his foot nervously. Both Hanzo and Cinder had stayed totally silent the entire trip there, staring off into space with grim expressions. Neither of them had been on a mission this big before. But now that the group was beginning to split up, the two suddenly realized they needed to say something before it was too late.

“Alright,” Winston spoke up as he adjusted his glasses, “Snipers will head towards the south lookout tower,”

Pharah, Hanzo, and Ana all snapped to attention.

“Remember—don’t move in until the exact time. Otherwise you’ll alert the guards long before we get there,” he told them.

The three of them all nodded, and Winston turned to the rest of the team, “Cinder, Mercy; you’ll follow me. Once we get the all clear from the snipers, we can hit the base. All six generators need to be damaged. After that, we need to book it out of there as fast as we can to the south lookout tower. Don’t want to be in the base when it explodes,”

“We still have about a minute before we should head out. Timing is everything in this mission,” he concluded as he checked his watch.

It was then that Hanzo finally looked over at Cinder, a nervous expression etched into his face. She gave him a curious look and approached.

“What is it?” she asked.

“This is going to be a dangerous undertaking,” he sighed, “And I will not be by your side this time,”

“I can take care of myself,” she tried to assure him, but she knew it was bugging her just as much.

What would he do if an enemy got up close and personal with him? She wouldn’t be there to fight them off. And what if a sniper started taking shots at her? Sure, he’d be watching her group during the mission, but there would be a few times when she’d be out of his sight. What if he couldn’t save her then?

“Just…” he mumbled, placing a hand on her shoulder, “Promise me you’ll come back,”

Cinder’s brow creased as she gave him a sincere smile. Dipping her head, she unwound the red muffler scarf around her neck, and handed it to Hanzo.

He looked at the fabric curiously, “What is this for?”

“It’s a nice scarf,” she shrugged, “Custom made. And I—well I don’t want anything to happen to it on this mission. Could get ripped or…”

Her voice trailed off awkwardly as she tried to think of an excuse. But really, he knew the reason, no matter how she tried to cover up its sappiness. It was a promise; a reminder that she’d come back. Giving her a slight smile himself, he took the scarf and felt it in his hands. It was soft and smooth, and strangely warm as well as if it were giving off a strange energy. The tips looked like they were constantly being scorched as little, smoldering rose petals emanated from the fringed ends, floating on the night air. Hanzo had always wondered how her scarf worked or at least what it felt like. The way it floated and burned in the wind looked like magic to him.

“It’s synthetic fiber I think,” she mumbled, a pink starting to dust her cheeks, “Something like that which lets it burn all the time. Don’t worry, it can’t actually catch anything on fire,”

Carefully, he wrapped the scarf around his neck, feeling it warm him up from the cold weather.

“Thank you,” he breathed with a smile.

He reached up behind him and pulled at the ribbon that held his hair up. Rosangela gasped as he took the ribbon out and his black hair fell to the sides of his face. Then he handed it to her, and at first, all she could do was stare at him. It wasn’t often she got to see him with his hair down on duty. But after she finished admiring him, she took the gift and used it to tie her hair up in a ponytail. Now it was Hanzo’s turn to stare. Rosangela didn’t usually wear her hair up, and now he was wishing she did. Seeing her hair pulled off her face was a lovely change.

The two lingered for a few moments more, smiling at each other softly, silently promising with their eyes that they would see each other by the end of the mission. Then Ana called for Hanzo, and Winston called for Cinder, and the two parted. Cinder reached up and felt the silky ribbon in her hair as she left, and Hanzo watched as the scarf left a trail of burning rose petals in his wake.

[xpeachesncream]

Nikki, how was your week?? How was work?? Did you take care of yourself?? I hope you had a great week. Please stay hydrated and eat well bby💖

So I reread off the grid and let me tell you I love it so much. Gosh the fluff, the angst. It's so soft and delicate. Oc and Jimin are so perfect for each other. But at the same time it's so relatable. Sometimes we are just stuck in our lifes. Let's swap places with me stranger I want to visit Seoul now. I want to ask you, how do you picture their future? Will oc stay in Seoul? How will their relationship develop? What's her daily life like (without her family)? I hope you don't mind my questions. I really don't want to bother you with them. I am just excited to know more about them. Anyways I am sending you many hugs and love💕

hi my baby! my week has been good so far, thank you for asking 🥰 work is work, trying to take it day by day. i always try to take breaks and step away if i need to for a moment. i hope you are also taking breathers when you need it and taking care of yourself ❤️ pls pls pls do so. and ahhh! you aren’t a bother, i love these questions! i’m really happy you enjoyed off the grid, i had a ton of fun writing it. it’s my second baby 🥺 if only we could snap our fingers and seamlessly swap places with a stranger, right? i meant to work on some drabbles for it, but put it on the back burner for now. i promise i will get to it though! 

inserting a cut here in case people don’t wanna see all this info about otg!couple.

as for your questions— oc stays in seoul for a little longer, but eventually goes back home to LA and her and jimin do long distance. he’s absolutely smitten with her (as she with him) and is willing to do whatever to make it work. of course, it’s an adjustment since they had gotten used to being around each other. oc has her moments of crying and missing jimin badly, even letting insecurities get to the best of her, but he does what he can to reassure her and make sure she knows shes the only girl he wants to be with. he sends her gifts from time to time, facetimes her often, and even surprise visits her with yana (since her and joon have taken their relationship further as well) when oc can’t seem to get a break from work after her long time off. her daily life as a scientist keeps her busy as hell, she starts early and gets home late. by the time she gets home, she really just wants to talk to jimin over a small dinner. on her weekends, she spends time with joon and yoongi to get her mind off of things, either at their apartment or exploring LA till late. like overall, jimin is really heavent sent and is the best bf ever 😭 just full of love, patience and warmth. not only does he shower his friends and family with it, but he makes sure oc really feels it no matter the distance. she learns a lot from him. hopefully plans work out so that oc can see herself in seoul for good. shes def more independent, even though she has a good relationship with her parents. they support her no matter what. jimin is also supported but he really cant see himself leaving behind his friends and family, especially his family.

hope that helped until drabbles come 🥺❤️ ty again my love, for your support! all my luv and kisses to you!

[mobius-prime]

183. Sonic the Hedgehog #115

Meanie in a Bottle

Writer: Benny Lee Pencils: Art Mawhinney Colors: Jason Jensen

So I haven't really been mentioning them, but in lieu of the intro pages that older issues had, lately most issues have begun instead with a full-page illustration relevant to the story content. This one is no different, except that instead of depicting something that actually happens within the issue, it reimagines Sonic as Aladdin, which is honestly very cute. The actual plot of the main story does involve a genie, but it's a very silly story, a rare thing nowadays. Fittingly, Art Mawhinney is the artist, since his style is very cartoony, but weirdly enough, we've actually got ourselves a new colorist for this issue, one Jason Jensen. I have to say, his coloring style is probably the most interesting and dynamic we've seen so far, and while it looks lovely with its more complex shading and somewhat more realistic colors, the style ultimately kind of suffers from being paired with Art's pencils. Don't get me wrong, Art isn't a bad artist by any means - how could he be, with a name like that? - but his style just clashes weirdly with Jason's colors, making for kind of a jarring combination. But enough of that, onto the story! Sonic is playing fetch with the roboticized Muttski near a lake when he accidentally throws the stick into the water. Muttski obediently jumps in after it, and Sonic, worried for his dog's safety, leaps in after him.

I find it a little interesting, his comment about hating water and the implication that he can't swim. After all, throughout the entirety of the comic 'verse so far, Sonic's and Knuckles' swimming skills have kind of been swapped, with Sonic being a decent swimmer who enjoys a nice dip in the summer, and Knuckles being the one who can't swim and is afraid of water. It seems they're finally trying to align Sonic's swimming skills with that of his game counterpart, but after so many issues depicting him swimming without a problem, it's kind of a weird, sudden loss of ability. Anyway, as soon as he grabs the bottle, it shoots him and his dog safely to the surface of the water. Upon opening the bottle, a genie shoots out, and Sonic excitedly asks if this means he gets three wishes. The genie seems annoyed by this question, and decides to give him a little "present" anyway before flying away, zapping both him and Muttski at the same time.

Sonic realizes in shock that he has quickly run out of energy while Muttski bounds ahead, and gets a checkup from Dr. Quack, who confirms his worst fears - the genie straight up swapped his and Muttski's speeds, making Sonic an ordinary runner and Muttski a supersonic robot dog. Man, what is it about this comic loving to take away Sonic's speed through random happenstance? You'd think he'd kind of be used to it by now. He dejectedly, over the next few days, tries to figure out how to control his dog, who is now racing all across Knothole at ridiculous speeds and even offering some speedy help to people in need. After a few days of these shenanigans, Sonic and Muttski are once again playing a game of fetch in the forest, when Sonic spots the same genie floating around nearby and sics Muttski on him. Muttski swallows the genie whole, because it's the best way to keep him from running (flying?) away, and Sonic promises to let the genie back out if he gets his three wishes, to which the genie irritably agrees.

Wait, Sonic! Are you serious? That's your final wish? First of all I actually kind of find it funny that his wishes in this issue were very similar to the ones at the end of Secret Rings, in that he basically uses the first two as a fix-it for all the stuff that's happened over the course of the story and uses the final one to re-trap the offending genie back into its prison, but second of all, don't you think that third and final wish could be better used on, say, world peace or something? Maybe a guaranteed defeat of Egg… man… hey, wait a second, guys! Has anyone noticed the conspicuous lack of Eggman in the past few issues? I mean, I know his city got blown up pretty hard back in StH#110, but this is a Robotnik we're talking about. He's kind of known for coming back from seemingly certain death to torment the world time and time again. No one seems concerned at all with making absolutely sure that he's gone, but I have a feeling that the destruction of Robotropolis isn't the end of Eggman's story…

The Spaz Sketchbook

Writer/Pencils: Spaz

So here we've got something quite interesting! This isn't actually a story, but rather a collection of concept art by Patrick Spaziante, for various characters and machines of issues past, scrapped concepts that never made it into print, and even a few sketches for some upcoming stories! Unfortunately I can't just post every page here - that would be way too many pictures - but they're free to look at on the Archie Sonic wiki for those who are interested in viewing the full thing. I've decided to only include a couple things here, being sketches that I found the most interesting. First up we have a concept for Rob o' the Hedge that was ultimately scrapped in favor of making him look… well… exactly like Sonic.

Seriously, this design is so much more interesting! I mean, sure he kind of still looks like a recolored Sonic OC with a few details changed to make him stand out, but let's face it, that's what basically every hedgehog looks like in the Archieverse. As it stands, this design is way more unique-looking, and has much more visual interest than just making him a slightly lighter-colored Sonic clone.

A few pages in, we have what looks like a large, segmented train of sorts, which has its description box blocked out with a large "CAUTION: SPOILER INFO" sticker plastered over it. There's obviously relevant text behind it, but only a couple of words at the beginning and end show through, giving us a tantalizing glimpse at something that might come up here in a few issues. There's some references to a scrapped arc that takes place on Mobius twenty years in the future that depicts an older, redesigned Knuckles and Julie-Su - hmm, wonder if we'll ever see anything come of that eventually? - and then some pages devoted to plans for a manga-style alternate universe that never saw the light of day, due to the Sonic Super Special series being cancelled.

I include these mostly because they're really cute! I mean, the series has already been going in a much more anime-inspired direction with its art as of late, so it's interesting to see how that has been an inspiration for the art team for quite a while, even before Ron Lim and Steven Butler started really Nihon-ing it up. We conclude with a final page in which every sketch's text is completely spoilered out, but we can take our best guess at what the art depicts just from looking at it.

Two of those designs are pretty obviously Mecha Sonic and a new Mecha Tails, meaning we might be seeing those two get roboticized sometime in the near future. As for the other robots, given their unique designs, we can safely assume that we're looking at roboticized versions of Flying Frog, Lightning Lynx, and Predator Hawk. The top left robot is a little more ambiguous, but I just cheated and looked at the wiki, which informed me that it's a roboticized Drago. Man, how did this big ol' string of roboticizations happen, huh? It's almost like Eggman might not be truly gone…

Ultimate Power (Part Two)

Writer: Ken Penders Pencils: Dawn Best Colors: Jensen

So, we can pretty safely assume that Mammoth Mogul is up to no good. Harry drops him off at the hospital in Echidnaopolis just as Lien-Da leaves the building, and he walks in, gloating in the doorway over his former enemy lying so helplessly in the middle of all the life support gear.

It's kind of amazing how in the span of barely over a dozen issues, Penders has managed to take Dimitri from a hated villain that we're certain wants to conquer the world, and rebrand him as a tired, ancient old man just trying to do the best for his people using the only means he knows. These issues have really given a much different perspective on Dimitri that we've never seen before, painting him in a much more sympathetic light and even making us root for him in some respects. After all, I know I certainly don't want him to die here, and more and more it seems like the real danger within the modern Legion is Lien-Da, with a whole hidden agenda of her own.

Unaware of the brewing catastrophe, Knuckles, Julie-Su, and the Chaotix are hanging out in a park, generally enjoying the time they have together. Knuckles explains to everyone how his fur color changed from Rad Red to Gross Green, and demonstrates some of his newfound powers by producing a bouquet of flowers from thin air, much to Julie-Su's delight. I can't say she's the type of girl who I would have expected to be so happy with flowers, but hey, I can see her maybe being touched by a gesture that's so normal, in contrast to her messed-up past. Knuckles sobers the mood up, however, by saying that he really needs to go see his father about his powers, which begs the question of why he hasn't done so before now, and leads everyone away to the Brotherhood's new, temporary place of residence, what with Haven being wrecked and all. In the Legion's own secret base within Echidnaopolis, Lien-Da converses with what appears to be her assistant, Gae-Na, about Dimitri's state of being. The base appears to be small-time, something Lien-Da has had recently set up by a few loyal underlings of her own without Dimitri's knowledge, as she discusses that if the echidna's main council votes to not go through with reunification she's ready to go through with her "backup plan." Knuckles and co. enter the temporary Brotherhood base, noting how run-down it seems in comparison, but upon heading into the main room they're met with a nasty shock on screen…

Well, I'm sure nothing but good things will come of this…