#we knew this site was going to die sooner than later but

[babygirl-riley]

My Future

“Can’t you hear me…I’m not coming home.”

The solo mission that turned both yours and Simon’s life around.

Warnings: angst, fluff, swearing, blood, violence

simon x reader guide

simon x reader fluff/angst list

The heartbeat. Thumping. At first it was fast then slowly it became more like a white noise. You leaned against the tree as you watched the snow slowly. The white was beautiful as it surrounded the trees, animals eventually came around after the shooting ended. It was like a painting. Instead you ruined it.

The white around you was more crimson red. Formed around the area you were seated at. You were surrounded, it was suppose to be a scouting mission. Before you warned Laswell about the Russians being stationed at the base that they were led too. Gun shots rang out.

“Shit Bravo 0-9 I’ve been compromised.” You cursed as you dodged as much bullets as you could.

You felt the hit, felt the bullet getting lodged into your arm. It made you fall from the force from it. As you got up your leg went. You panted as you turned shooting your gun hitting a couple of men, they fell cursing the land red. “Bravo 0-9 how copy?” Laswell asked sorry behind her voice.

You grumbled as you got up, trying to get further away from the site. “Copy.” You whispered hissing at the pain.

“What’s your status?”

You inhaled deeply before feeling the same pain from the shoulder and leg. Instead hitting square in the middle of your back. “Fuck!” You yelled smacking into the ground.

You felt nauseated once your face felt the cold sinking into your cheek. Fuck. Fuck. You heard the footsteps crunching closer. You heard the Russian language blaring through their radios. You waited until they came closer having your pistol out, shooting both.

You laid against the tree trying to get yourself to get up. You had to find shelter sooner rather than later. You had to stop the bleeding, needed to get warm. It was getting dark as well, you could get eaten or worse found.

You hissed as you looked over at your radio. Fuck. Busted. You inhaled deeply finally getting up, you held your side feeling the warmth seeping in your hand. It was freezing, you were getting more and more tired. What if no one finds you? You had to leave clues for the team. If they come to you.

You found your med kit and made a quick bandages for all the areas. You hoped that this would hold until helped arrived. At least you would hope they would. You looked around the bodies licking up ammo and knives then headed in your way.

You eventually attempted to carve 141 on trees. Hoping to god they would find it. Find you. You weren’t ready to die. You thought you would have doing this job. Now you couldn’t. Not since you and Simon. Not since you found your future. Your happiness.

“Ya shouldn’ go alone.” Simon mumbled watching you pack a small bag.

“It’s only a couple of days Si, it won’t be bad.” You answered stuffing more clothing in your small bag. “Plus it’s just observing a couple of fumbling idiots far away. Nothing will happen.”

Simon didn’t like the answer you knew that, just how silent he went you knew. He sighed. “You never know if they know you will be there.”

You looked over at him, he want looking at you, arms folded, staring at the blank wall. “No I don’t, we just can’t think like that Si,” He shuffled his face back to you, you knew that look like the back of your hand. He gave it to rookies that knew the answer to a question when they didn’t answer it correctly. You chuckled sighed. “Simon worst case alright? If they know, I will fight like a bat out of hell. You know I don’t go down easy.”

He hummed and walked over to you lifting his mask up to his nose, ghosting over your lips. “If I have to come and save ya, I will beat you myself.”

You smiled and rolled your eyes before giving him a peck. “Yes sir.”

Don’t go down easy alright. You scoffed out loud from that memory. You couldn’t believe that you said that, you jinxed it. Your blood not staying inside you, not following that one order. You were going to die here. Alone.

You tumbled, you sighed and grunted as you hit the snow. It was cold but felt so nice from the heat coming off of you. You laid there for a moment, before scooting yourself up against a tree. You’re going to die right here. Hearing your heartbeat thump too hard to hear anything else. “I don’t want to die yet.” You whispered feeling tears prick your eyes.

You looked up to watch small specks of white falling and hitting the ground around you. It was beautiful, the green peaking through the white. It was like being in a painting. You had to stay focus if you couldn’t move at least stay wake. You inhaled deeply feeling your lip quiver.

“Maybe just a little shut eye,” Yoh felt your eyes growing heavy. You placed your hand on one of the bandages, crimson seeping through. “Damn it.”

That’s when it hit you, the crimson around you was forming bigger and seeping through the white. Like a plague. You inhaled deeply. Fuck. “Just a small shut eye.” You mumbled letting the darkness take over.

You thought you died until you felt a small push cause you to snap awake. You groaned, eyes not wanting to open. “Cap I found her!” The Scottish accent boomed in your ears.

“So-Soap?” You croaked finally opening your eyes, the shine of a light made you snap your eyes shut.

“Fucking hell yer alive!” Soap said cheering laughing as well. “Bravo team she is breathing barely! Lots of blood loss. We gotta get her out of her pronto.”

You looked over at Soap, pleading not to move. You were stiff. Cold. Yet you felt nothing. Not until a warmth soaked through you. Looking down you saw he placed small packs of heating pads on you. Soap looked up as he also was finding the wounds and wrapping them again once blood oozed out.

“Y/n,” You smiled, that voice. That deep beautiful voice. “Hey. Hey look at up love.”

You slowly turned your head the other way noticing Simon placing his gun down looking over at Soap. Soap frowned and shook his head. “Simon.” You whispered.

He was frozen in spot. Soap basically told him you might not make it. He scanned your body most likely has frostbite. Blood was stained everywhere. Your skin paler than normal. Cracked lips. Glossy eyes.

“No talking right now,” He answered starting to pull things out of his kit. “We gotta get ya safe yeah?”

“‘M serious love,” He followed you as you went into the bathroom. “I will beat your arse.”

You chuckled. “Simon I have done this time and time again. It’s like another day on the beach.”

Simon didn’t have a good feeling about this one. Something was off. The intel didn’t look right. Not at least to him. It could be cause yes you were going alone. Yes he didn’t want you hurt. Price warned him before talking to you about the mission. He wanted to go with you but couldn’t. You were the best for this mission.

“I will be home.” You said kissing his cheek. “Then we can go drink whiskey in the city.”

You coughed blood spurting on your lips. “That’s not good.” You whispered leaning your head back.

“No look at me Sargent,” Simon ordered having your eyes flutter to him. God please if there is one have her make it. “Remember we talked about that dog.”

You smirked. “Si,” You coughed again swallowing deeply. “Don’t coy.”

Soap snapped his eyes at his lieutenant. He even knew that Ghost was distracting you from the reality that was setting in. Simon couldn’t think of it. No denying it until you took that final breath. You’ll be fine. He couldn’t loose you. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.

Simon went on about the dog, you mentioned on getting a puppy since both of you agreed on no kids. A puppy would be a start. Being together would be a start. The future would be the start. You knew your future was ending here. You could feel yourself fading. You were in the snow too long. Blood loss. You had no future. He did though. So you let him ramble as you gripped into his sleeve while he worked.

Simon ignored the stare of you and Soap. Deep down he knew. Right now it’s the dog and blood he has to handle. His mind racing on what the future will hold for both of you. It was always something to talk about between the two of you.

The future was always talked about what to do about it and go about it. Never did he think that it would be you bleeding out in the snow. In front of him. Watching his future becoming more dark each small breath you took. Until your hand released his jacket. That his future took a different route than yours.

[remosdeerica]

A Legacy Remade

Context: Tim and Damian are adults. Tim adopted Terry McGinnis (and Matthew McGinnis tho he is not mentioned), Damian adopted Athanasia al Ghul.

Tim sighed heavily and slumped further down in the chair he was seated in. The warm dessart wind breezing along the terrace ruffling his hair gently.

"I just... I don't know what to do with him, Damian," he said. "I try to stop him, and he just keeps landing himself into trouble."

"Hm," Damian smiled knowngly. "I wonder what that must me like."

Tim rolled his eyes and gave a tired chuckle, "you're one to talk."

"Indeed," he agreed. "The first one of us to die should truly apologize to Pennyworth. That man was far too patient with us when we were children."

Tim laughed softly before his face fell again.

"I don't know how to stop him. I don't know how to keep him safe. He keeps telling me I'm a hypocrite for not making him Robin. But how do I explain to him that it's because I was Robin that I can't let him out on the streets? I can't let him become like us..."

Damian took a long sip of his tea, seemingly deep in thought as his eyes darkened.

"I don't think you can stop him," he said, finally. "He has that look in his eye. The same look we all had. The look of someone who can not stand idly by and do nothing."

Tim leaned forward and put his head in his hands. "I know. I know. God, I hate that look. But we made a pact, all of us: No More Robins. I won't go back on that."

Tim heard the click of Damian's teacup as it was returned to its saucer.

"I wasn't going to suggest you make him Robin."

Tim looked up at his brother, feeling defeated. "Than, what would you suggest?"

Damian stood up and walked towards the railing bordering the terrace. He placed his hands on its sturdy stone and gazed down at the compound's courtyard where Tim could hear their children roughhousing.

In a distant dream, Tim had always hoped that he and Damain could be close like this, truly brothers with children who called each other "cousin" and spent time playing together. Him being Batman and Damian, the Head of the League of Shadows had not been a part of that dream. Funny how life always seemed to get in the way of what Tim truly wanted.

Tim joined his brother and watched as Terry and Athanasia fought over something while holding wooden training swords loosely at their sides. Looking like any other pair of normal children, as if they didn't have the heavy weight of two dark legacies on their shoulders.

"You can not continue as Batman forever, Timothy."

Tim swerved his gaze from the heartwarming site below to stare incredulously at his brother.

Are you suggesting that I make Terry Batman? He's twelve years old!" He cried.

Damian looked at him like he was an idiot. Oh, how he had not missed that look.

"He will not be twelve forever. And you can not keep him from harm forever, either. Sooner or later, he will turn eighteen, and then he is free to do as he pleases. With or without your consent."

Tim felt a heavy weight in his gut. He knew Damian was right. There was nothing he could do to stop Terry from becoming a vigilante. The drive to protect others was practically written into his DNA. Even if Tim were to lock Terry in his room, he knew deep down that the boy would not be swayed. But the thought of Terry being Batman, of having such a dark, lonely life... He wanted so much more for the boy who he already loved like a son.

Tim was shocked out of his dark spiralling thoughts by Damian laying his hands on his shoulders and looking him in the eye.

"The Cowl is not the curse that it once was, Timothy," he said. "It was forced upon you when there was no one else to take it up. But you have taken its symbol, its burden, and made it your own. The Batman no longer embidies Gotham's fear, but rather its hope. Hope for a better, brighter future. That is the legacy he will be continuing, Timothy. Not one of darkness and suffering. But one of hope."

Tim felt his eyes and heart burn. He had never loved his brother more than he did in that moment.

"Besides," Damian continued. "The amount of training he will need to even come close to our calibre will take him nearly a decade as it is. And that's if he is a fast learner."

"He is"

Damian smirked. "As if you would take in a child that were not." He let go of Tim. "It seems like we have some work to do, brother mine."

"We?" Tim asked. A flicker of hope igniting in him.

"Certainly, you didn't think you were going to train the next Batman alone, did you? Please, no one wants that"

There was he Damian he knew and loved. Judgemental as always.

"I've already called the others," he said. Tim could just imagine the looks that were sure to be on Dick and Jason's faces now. " Who knows. By the time we're done with him, he may want to return to civilian life after all."

Tim could only hope.

[kamikoy]

😔

[fanficshiddles]

Tear You To Pieces, Chapter 3

There was a mission that came up a week later, where Kelly was needed. She was good with security work, so was needed to help the team get into a highly secured building.

‘You’ll be able to do it safely from the quinjet. So there’s no risk to your safety.’ Tony said to Kelly on the way to the site.

‘No problem.’ Kelly nodded. She was just pleased to be of help. The fact Loki came along too was totally not part of it at all…

He was sitting opposite her on the jet and kept smirking at her, giving her a few cheeky winks when no one else was looking. Making her blush and a little flustered, so she tried not to look at him too much. Though it was difficult.

When they arrived, the jet was landed amongst the trees to remain hidden from the building.

‘How do we know this is where we need to be?’ Natasha asked.

‘Our radar led us to here, the signal is coming from inside the building. We just need to get access.’ Said Bruce.

‘We will keep them distracted over the back, if you can crack the code and get their defences down then we can get in there.’ Steve said.

‘Shouldn’t someone stay here in-case Miss Hill needs assistance?’ Loki drawled as he stood.

‘She will be fine. It’s safe in here.’ Tony said flippantly. ‘Let’s go. We need everyone out there.’

Kelly smiled at Loki and thanked him silently. He nodded at her once before heading out with the team. She felt a little nervous when she was left alone, especially when she heard the fighting start. She preferred being back at base and just working behind the scenes.

But she focused on what she had to do. She was working away quickly and efficiently on the laptop when suddenly there was a large explosion right on the jet. It exploded into bits and she went flying, badly hurting herself as she rolled to a stop amongst the trees. Some debris from the jet hit her, causing more injuries.

She cried out in pain and tried to focus, but her vision was blurry and she felt a searing pain in her head. But there was a strange man coming towards her with what looked like a machine gun. She was about to die, she was so sure of it, she could sense it. She tried to push herself up, but she had barely managed to get onto her hands and knees when he started firing at her.

It was like slow motion, she knew she was about to die. But there was nothing she could do. She closed her eyes and waited for it to happen. But it never came. Instead, she felt an arm wrap around her tightly and while she could hear the bullets, she never felt any hit her.

Opening her eyes, though still blurry, she could see a green cape covering her and then noticed Loki crouched down by her.

‘L… Loki?’ She whispered weakly.

When the gunfire stopped, Loki whipped his cape down and quickly fired a few of his throwing knives at the man, knocking him down instantly.

‘You’re alright, pet. I’ve got you.’ He scooped her up and that’s when she passed out. The pain from her injuries too much.

Loki glanced at the man he’d knocked down. He hadn’t killed him, just injured him enough. He then stormed off into the woods with Kelly in his arms. He hadn’t exactly planned for her to get injured this badly, never mind almost killed. Which would have been a shame, since she was his best hope for getting what he wanted.

But maybe the extent of what happened would work better for him.

He looked down at the passed-out girl in his arms and had a feeling if he didn’t get her back sooner than later, she would probably die. So, he put all of his energy into teleporting back to base with her.

When he got there, he took her straight to his room instead of the emergency room. He placed her down gently on his bed and went to his cupboard, taking out some healing potion he had received from Thor from Asgard. For emergencies, Thor had said.

Well, this was an emergency. If she died, he would need a new plan. And he was starting to lose his patience.

He managed to open her mouth and poured the liquid into her mouth. He knew she wouldn’t need much, since she was just a mortal. It was powerful stuff and he only needed enough to deal with her more serious injuries.

Within minutes, she gasped awake. She instantly felt the searing pain within her. All over her body. Like she had been in an explosion… oh wait…

‘Easy, pet. You’re injured.’ Loki’s calming voice came from her side as he rushed to sit on the edge of his bed.

‘Loki? It… it hurts. All over.’ She whimpered and closed her eyes, her chest was rising and falling hard as she tried to breathe through the pain.

‘Here, take some of this it will help.’ He held the potion up to her lips and gave her some more. She accepted it and swallowed the liquid without even questioning him.

Foolish girl. That could’ve been anything. He thought to himself. But he was pleased with how trusting of him she was. It would help.

‘It’s healing potion from Asgard, used for the Gods. I’m sure it will help you to recover. Just take it easy.’ He left her for a moment to get some warm water and a cloth from the bathroom. When he returned, the potion had already helped her some more.

She was able to sit up slowly, with Loki’s aide.

‘What happened?’ She asked, her lower lip wobbling slightly. ‘Are the others ok?’

‘Stark is an imbecile and should’ve assigned someone to stay with you, is what happened.’ Loki growled angrily. ‘One of the enemies got passed us, sent a rocket to the jet. Unfortunately, you got the brunt of that.’

Kelly’s eyes widened. But she felt a little warmed that he was angry on her behalf. Even though she knew accidents could happen, sometimes missions could go wrong. That was always the risk.

‘They were still there when I took you back here, so I don’t know how it’s going.’ He said bluntly and started cleaning some of her wounds, surprising her with how gentle he was being with her. But it only made her heart flutter even more for him.

‘Thank you… For saving me. And for helping me now.’ She said quietly.

Loki looked into her eyes and smiled warmly. ‘I wouldn’t let anything bad ever happen to you, pet.’

His sudden nickname for her made her feel really fuzzy inside. Loki, the God of mischief and lies, actually liked her enough to give her a cute nickname?

Loki carefully cleaned up her wounds and put some soothing cream on any ones that would need some extra help to heal.

‘Are you feeling ok?’ He asked as he gently cupped her cheek with his warm hand. She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch.

‘I am now.’ She said quietly and nodded lightly.

Loki gently gripped her chin and tilted her face upwards, so she was to look at him properly. Her gaze was a bit skittish as she could barely keep eye contact, even though she was still sore she was very flustered.

‘I was so worried when I saw the jet blow up… I thought, I thought you were dead.’ Loki said, looking sad at the mere thought.

‘Really?’ Kelly’s eyes widened a little.

Loki nodded and brushed his thumb across her lower lip. He looked at her lips, then into her eyes. He slowly leaned towards her. She didn’t move away, she closed her eyes and a second later she felt Loki’s lips upon hers.

She whimpered slightly against him, making him back away a bit, frowning at her in concern. ‘Did I hurt you, pet?’

‘No! Not at all… I just… uhm, was enjoying the kiss.’ She blurted out shyly.

Loki grinned and brushed his thumb against her cheek as he leaned in towards her again. ‘Well, in that case…’ And he kissed her again, this time with more meaning, moulding his lips against hers. She felt like she was in heaven.

Kelly kept her eyes closed for a little longer when the kiss finished, her heart was pounding and her stomach was a swirling mess of nerves and excitement. When she finally opened her eyes, Loki was smiling so sweetly at her. Like an adorable puppy. He looked just as excited as she felt.

‘Kelly… Would you like to join me for dinner some evening, once you’re feeling better?’ He asked, putting his hand on top of hers, completely engulfing her small one.

She nodded eagerly, giggling. ‘I would love to!’

Loki’s smile grew even larger. ‘I know the perfect restaurant to take you to. I’m sure you’ll love it… But there’s one thing, I think we should keep it a secret from the others. I know they don’t trust me, or even want me around. I wouldn’t want them to think little of you for going on a date with me.’ He said sadly.

‘Don’t think like that, Loki. They’re just imbeciles who haven’t given you the chance. Don’t mind them, please. I really like your company and… I really like you. I don’t care what they think.’ She blushed.

Loki smiled again and looked a little bashful. ‘I like you too, Kelly. A lot… But I would like to keep it quiet, just in-case. I know your sister wouldn’t be pleased, I’d rather not have her after me. Or the others.’

‘I guess she wouldn’t. But they just need a bit more time to see the real you. But I won’t say anything to anyone, if that’s what you’d prefer.’

Loki nodded. ‘Thank you, pet.’ He brought her hand up and kissed the back of it, making her skin tingle.

[hiswhiteknight]

Unbelievably Outlandish– Part 10

Summary:  Before starting down a new crossroads, the Reader goes onto an adventure of literary traveling. Suddenly tossed into an unbelievable story that has swept the world, The Outlander Series itself. How will a twenty first century woman survive?

Note: I own no characters, except reader, clearly this is based off the lovely book series Outlander by Diana Gabaldon and tv show. This follows more the tv show, but it’s far from accurate. I’m going to try to get better with using less proper English, but who knows maybe I’ll get into Scottish slang.

Pairing: Jamie Fraser x Female Reader 

Words: 1400

Warning: Angst, playfulness, cursing, slow start, obvious fighting and violence, mention of suicide

*I’ll be honest, this chapter is more of a fuller, substance chapter. If you wanted to be added to the tag list, please send me a message or chat. Thank you for everyone’s patience!

The hunt still left you plenty in your thoughts. It should be on helping in whatever way you can, but you kept thinking on your role here and how you clearly will never belong, no matter how to try to be kind and open to the culture, no matter how much you push away your own values and morals for these people. It will never matter. Rupert yelled your name, catching your attention. A man got hurt and you help mend what you can before instructing Rupert to bring him back to the village. Another scream, a different type of scream caused you to be pulled from you own thoughts of now and into the times of wartime. You charge to the scream, you found a man losing blood quickly, and a shot pulled you from your thoughts. The boar that did this must have been shot, “Mistress Y/L/N, am I going to die?”

 All the pressure and anger you felt subsided, “Hold of Geordie, let me look at you,” several clansmen surrounded you. Dougal showed up to hold Geordie as you tried to patch up his leg. Dougal and him were exchanging words when you saw the wounds to his abdomen. Dougal made eye contact with you and you knew he knew what you were saying. You pulled off the tourniquet, and grabbed his hand, “Geordie, the pain is going to be go soon, but while we wait, I have a bet with Angus.” Geordie looked at you the way many men have looked at you before in the Marine. You had to bring him peace in the time of his panic, “I bet Angus that the colonies had more beautiful sites than Scotland. Tell me about your home, what’s it like?”

 Georgie perked up as he told you about his home and you gripped his hand with all your might and continue to stroke his hair to help sooth him. And soon he was gone, you quickly got up and made your way to your horse. Before you knew what you were doing, you made your way to the castle. You needed some busy work, like stitching up the leg of the man who was also attacked by the boar. Afterwards, you walked outside to see the men playing field hockey, which you played for a few years in high school. This was far more barbaric, and you could see Dougal taking his rage out on Jamie. He could cope in anger, but if you did this, you would be gutted.

 You wondered who would win in a fight and you had no doubt Jamie would win. When you saw Dougal on the ground, a young girl from one of your lessons tugged on your arm, “Well hello Molly dear, you enjoying the gathering?” There is no reason to take your rage on children, they didn’t do anything wrong. Honestly, teaching them defense things and survival tactics was the most time you felt at peace, well except when you were with – never mind that thought.

 “Aye mistress, very much,” you smile down at her, “I heard about your ill-wish and I know who made it. They did not know it was intended for you when they gave it to the girl.”

Guilt hit your chest again, someone was scared you were going to hurt them for being an accomplice. You were letting the harshness of one person hurt your relationship with the majority, “You know who put it under my bed?”

 “Aye mistress,” she whispered, “You wouldn’t be telling my mother, would you? She wouldn’t be wanting me to get into others business.”

 You bent down to her level, “Tell you what,” you pull out your coin bag with most of the money you made for yourself while staying here – your escape money, “I’ll tell your mother you helped me collect supplies for the gathering, which is why I paid you all this. And you tell me who put it under my bed?”

 “Mistress, I don’t need your money. Girls aren’t allowed to learn the things you are teaching. You don’t deserve any ill-wishes. You’re lovely,” you smile up at her.

 You pass her the bag, “You’ve earned it dear, I keep my word. Give me the name and the money is yours.”

 “Laoghaire,” she whispered. You shot up, looking around completely shocked.

 “Alrighty lass,” you pat her on the shoulder, “If you don’t mind, I have business to take care of.”

 “Be careful, please,” she urged after you.

 You had a hyper focus again, you intended to kick her ass, like you reported. And you found her socializing where most of the clan put up tent for the gathering. You passed Murtagh and Jamie, taking off your sling bag off and your dagger from your waistband and handed it to one of them, “Murtagh, could you mind this for me?”

 “I’m not your errand boy, lass, and where you going that you won’t need this,” he questioned.

 “You’re a pretty face, Murtagh, you ask too many questions,” you sass to him, looking at your target. Jamie and him stopped leaning on a post, both putting their drinks down. They could clearly tell you mean business. “Hey, Laoghaire, you two faced, toxic bitch, I got your gift earlier and I would like show you my appreciation.”

 She had the audacity to give you a glare, before she realized she was in real danger. She started to step backwards, and the crowd started to grow around you as you moved closer to the girl, “Leave me alone, wench.”

 “Oh, you do have words now that you can use. I thought you might be too stupid to speak up and say something since you chose to instead use this voodoo bullshit to get at me. You want to bring me pain lady, let’s go at it,” you finally were within three feet of her. Before you could make a grab at her, she ran in another direction.

 You were about to put your running skills to work, when Murtagh gripped your arm, “Come on lass, you made your point let’s get you back to the surgery.”

 “You know what, I’m a little busy right now. But I’ll meet you in the kitchen in a few, we can have some tea to cleanse our spirit, la de da and all,” you keep her in your eye sights. You were about to start your chase when you were tossed over a shoulder. Murtagh was carrying you back as you banged on his back. You were mad in this moment because you gave your dagger away to this meathead or he would have suffered from a few, no lethal jabs. He dropped you in the surgery room, “Damn it, Murtagh what the hell is wrong with you?”

 “With me, you were about to put a big target on your back. You’re a guest here lass, they don’t take too kindly to guests attacking one of their kin,” he leaned against the counter.

 You started to cry, and you usually do not cry, “Does it mean nothing I didn’t start it? Her action deserves a consequence. I watch all men here fight over nothing and here I am fighting against an injustice and my life is at danger. Do I not matter to anyone where? Should I just go to the tallest tower and jump?”

 “Don’t be so dramatic, an ill wish is nothing,” he urged to you. He didn’t seem too phased by the fact you were crying, though he did soften his voice to show sympathy, “I know you don’t believe any of nonsense. You are a smart woman.” You started to toss things about the surgery, organizing all the stuff you brought out for the hunt. Murtagh walked over to you and stopped you by gripping the top of both your arms, “Y/N, you matter more than you know. Stop this behavior, you’ll get accustomed.”

 “Murtagh, why do I always have to be the one to change? What do I have to do to feel like I belong here, how long will it take for people to believe I’m not an outsider?”

 He took a deep breath again, “I know it doesn’t seem it now and I don’t know how, but you do belong here. It’ll come in time. Until then, stop picking fights.”

 “Yes father,” you rolled your eyes, “Where is Jamie, I assume he has my bags and things?”

 “Aye, right now he is taken care of Laoghaire, so you needed be worrying about her anymore,” he said, making his way to the stairs.

 “Unless he has killed her and hid the body, I’ll keep to worry about her and her no good deeds, thank you,” you shouted at him. “And make sure Jamie brings back my things sooner rather than later.”

 And before Jamie could drop off your things, Dougal Mackenzie came down to share you would be journeying out to collect rent from the clan who wasn’t able to make it.

PART 11

 Taglist:  @doctorwhatwhenandwhere @damnedandbroken @blushingpogue @blancastans @slytherinambitious @kinky-asher @lovesanimals @bilesxbilinskixlahey

[one-boring-person]

Requested by: @80s4life

I hope you like this!😊💛

What I Did To You.

Snake Plissken (Escape From New York/LA) x reader

Warnings: violence, injury, swearing, gun use

Masterlist

I have my gun levelled at his head before I've even closed the door properly, my face drawn into a fierce scowl, eyes blazing with anger. Every muscle in my body goes tense, my hand unwavering as I hold the weapon up, my leg throbbing in memory pain. Across from me, the intruder remains stood silently, his eye fixed on mine, his own hand still resting at his hip, ready to draw his pistol at any point.

"Hello to you, too." He greets me in the quiet way he always used to, his lips barely moving.

Frown deepening, I push the door behind me closed without looking at it, keeping my gun aimed at his head as I look him over. Not for the first time, he's covered in a light layer of grime, his brown leather jacket darkened in places by the dirt and lightened in others by the fraying, his boots caked in dust from the wasteland outside. His golden mane of hair is slightly dulled from exposure to the unforgiving sun outside and falls into his eyepatch, flicked out of the way every so often by a jerk of the head. A shadow of a stubble covers his chin, as it always has, disguising a few new scars I've not seen before...as well as one I know very well. Other than that, Snake Plissken has not changed at all.

My eyes narrow, grip on the gun tightening.

"Leave." Is all I say, shifting my weight onto my other foot.

"You used to have such nice manners." Snake's lip curls, the soldier taking a step towards me.

Instantly, I flick my thumb over the flintlock.

"Leave." I repeat, pulling the hammer down as the gun makes a dull clicking sound.

"No." He moves closer, standing so the gun is inches from his chest.

"You've got a lot of nerve coming here." I growl, oh so tempted to pull the trigger, "I don't know why you don't keep your distance."

A cruel smirk creeps onto his lips, eye narrowing as his head tilts to the side.

"Trust me, I didn't want to come here, either." He reassures me, "But I have no choice."

"I'm giving you a choice. Leave, or I'll introduce some lead into your diet." I retort, ignoring the burn in my arm from holding it outstretched. At this point, it's the only thing keeping us separated.

"I'll pass on both." Snake snorts, shooting a dismissive glance at the handgun pointed at his throat - now that he's standing closer, my aim only really comes up to his chest and neck, "Put the gun away."

I nearly laugh at him then, another surge of anger going through me.

"You're in no position to order me around. Not anymore." I practically snarl at him, keeping the gun where it is.

"Suit yourself. I came to ask for your help, the least you could do is be civil." He replies coldly, glaring at me now.

Again, the urge to laugh in his face goes through me.

"You came here to ask for my help?" I repeat, cocking my head in disbelief at the sheer balls of the man, "You really need to leave before I pull this trigger."

"(Y/n), we both know if you wanted me dead, I'd be bleeding out on the floor already." He points out, unimpressed.

"Maybe I'm waiting for an apology first."

This seems to catch him off guard.

"An apology?" He repeats, frowning in confusion, "For what?"

It takes all I have not to lunge at him and throttle the handsome bastard's neck in my hands, my leg flaring up in pain at the reminder.

"You know damn well what for." I growl at him, shifting off of my leg again, rubbing at it unconsciously.

Snake's eyes follow my movement, realisation dawning on him.

"I already apologised for that." He says quietly, clearly remembering back to the time I'm referring to.

It still plagues me, that one last operation we'd had to do together. Three years ago, back when we were still working together on jobs, good at what we did, the perfect partnership...except for Snake's tendency to protect his ego. It had been horrible that night, rain pelting the ground as we moved on the abandoned construction site, mud slicking our boots and trousers, foggy air making it impossible to see anywhere. I had told Snake we shouldn't go that day,  that it would be better to wait until another, clearer night, but he insisted on the raid. He'd told me that he'd "been in worse" and that this was nothing, so we took our guns, knives and other equipment, and headed out into the wastelands to deal with the threat.

At first, everything had been fine: we'd managed to get in with no problem, creeping around the perimeter, taking out guards as we went, bodies sodden and filthy now, freezing under our light jackets. It was only as we moved to go further into the site that disaster had struck. Suddenly, gunfire was tearing into the ground inches away from us, driving us back behind an old container box, flashes of light appearing in the milky fog around us, our vision obscured by the sheeting rain, the mud making it hard to retreat. We later found out we'd been ratted out to the terrorists occupying the site, and they'd set up a trap for us, hounding us from the place with rifles spewing bullets at us the entire way. We had been close to escaping.

Then I slipped on a landmine.

All of a sudden, I was flying forwards through the air, agony erupting in my left leg as the flash of light and flames exploded behind me, my body crashing to the floor seconds later. Winded and incapable of moving thanks to the pain lancing through me from my leg, I had screamed out to Snake, hoping for him to return to me, the smell of burning flesh soon flooding my nostrils as my foot caught in the blaze. Howling in agony, I had tried to pull myself out, my fingers scrabbling at the slick mud in desperation, only for the pain to become too overbearing. I had looked for Snake, only to see the back of his head disappearing towards our getaway vehicle, paying no mind to me. It was then that I blacked out, my heart drowning in betrayal and hurt.

For a week or so, I'd been held captive by the terrorists, tortured sometimes, my wounds left to fester, bones shattered and out of place, burns turning ugly over the time. Eventually, another team had been sent in to rescue me, the group getting me out before it got too far. Taken to a hospital, it took me weeks to recover, every muscle and bone in my left leg needing to be reformed almost completely, surgeries being done near-daily to realign them all, the skin basically unsalvageable. I'd had four different skin grafts from various parts of my body, only to leave the limb looking twisted and mangled, basically useless to me until I was encouraged to learn how to use it again. That entailed another half a year of time spent working on getting it to full use again, and even now I can't go nearly as far as I used to. Every so often, the leg throbs, memory pain still hounding me since the day I got the wounds themselves, but I suppose I got off lucky: the surgeons hadn't expected me to make it through.

All of that because of Snake's ego.

His apology? A note sent to me whilst I was unconscious in the hospital.

"You and I have a very idea of what an apology is. Especially for something that kept me bedridden for months." I bite out, heart aching now at the memory, "Especially for someone who left me to die."

Snake purses his lips, swallowing tightly.

"I thought you did die." He says, much quieter now, eye roaming my body guiltily.

"You heard my screams. There's no way you didn't." I reply harshly, reminded again of the raw-throated shrieks for help.

He winces, looking down at his feet now, his fists clenched at his sides.

"I didn't think you'd make it. If I went back, I wouldn't have gotten out." He murmurs, sounding somewhat saddened by what he's saying.

"You wanna know how long it took those fuckers to get to me? Fifteen minutes. Fifteen! There was more than enough time!" I spit at him, face twisted in anger.

Once again, he winces at my words, only now realising the extent of what he did.

"And even when you knew I was alive, when I was in hospital, you couldn't even be asked to come and apologise in person. You sent a damn note." I shake my head, looking at him in disgust, "You're a coward. A spineless coward. Why didn't you at least show your face? Why? Why did you leave me to face the pain on my own?"

"Because I couldn't face it! I couldn't face seeing you there, lying in a hospital bed, all doped up, cut-up and bruised because of me! I couldn't face seeing you nearly crippled because of my stupid fucking pride!" Snake finally snaps, voice strained as his eye returns to my face, pain clouding the blue depth, "I thought I got you killed, (Y/n)! I could barely live with myself because of it!"

"Then why wait until now to find me? Why not come sooner?" I question, voice tense.

"I didn't think I'd be able to face you so angry and upset. I cared - care - so much about you, (Y/n), you have no idea how hard this is for me. I've lived with this guilt for so long." He fumbles for words, unable to voice his feelings as he always has been.

"How hard this is for you? Do you have any- argh!" I cut off in pain. As I was speaking, I'd stepped forwards, my leg sending a shock of agony through me as I'd done so, making me stumble forwards.

Snake moves closer, catching me before I can connect with the floor, his arms secure around me as my hands come to rest on his muscular chest. Blushing at the proximity, I try to ignore the butterflies in my stomach, pushing off of him to sit on a nearby chair, dropping the gun to the floor. Stretching out the affected leg, I sigh in frustration, the anger residing into the same loneliness I've always felt since I got the wounds that have left me like this.

Snake watches me silently, expression pained as he finally speaks.

"Can I...can I see? Please, I want to know what I did to you."

Surprised, I give him a sceptical look, before I hesitantly start to pull my trousers down over my legs. His eye widens at the sight of the limb, lips parting slightly.

Gnarled scar tissue crawls up my leg, discoloured and tight, appearing somewhat ghostly in the light of the room. Snake stares at it in horror, grief swiftly clouding his eye now as he falls to his knees in front of me, hands lifting to hover over it. He flicks his eye up to me, asking for permission, to which I nod, gasping as he removes his gloves and gently places his hands on the sensitive skin, a shiver going up my spine. Ever so carefully, Snake runs his palms over the scars, feeling them over with hesitant fingers, his expression becoming more and more open.

After a while, he looks up, pained eye meeting mine.

"God, (Y/n), I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry..." He grasps my hips, pushing his head into my abdomen as he wraps me into an awkward embrace, murmuring apologies over and over. Shocked, I hesitantly place my hands on his head, threading my fingers through his soft hair. An old tenderness springs into life within me, reminding me of why I used to stay with him, and what his riendship used to mean to me. Over the years, I had tried to forget it, but it's impossible - as he holds me close now, I realise I've missed him more than I'd ever let myself admit.

Snake pulls away after a few more minutes, caressing my hip as he looks up at me, thoughtful now.

"What job was it you needed help with?" I ask him quietly, twisting a strand of his hair between my fingers, "I'll work with you, if you drop the ego act."

He looks surprised and glad, a smallsile pulling at his lips.

"Of course." He promises, looking away again bashfully, "I only kept it up to impress you."

I blink in surprise.

"To impress me?" I repeat dumbly.

"Yeah, I, err, I've always felt the need to. Wanted to impress you so you'd consider going out with me." He admits, blushing furiously.

I blink again, head tilting in curiosity.

"Wait, what?"

"I always wanted to go out with you. Always." He chuckles, swallowing, "I've always loved you."

"You...you love me?!"

"Yeah, I do." Snake nods, biting his lip.

"Wow..." My voice trails off in surprise, unable to compute what he's saying, "I wish you'd told me sooner."

He frowns.

"What do you mean?"

I smile sheepishly at him.

"I've always had a thing for you, too. I just never thought you even liked me full stop."

"Really?!" He looks astonished.

"Yeah, really."

He's quiet for a moment, until a cunning smirk crosses his lips.

"In that case..." Snake leans up and connects our lips, kissing me softly but passionately.

A quiet moan escapes me, my lips moving instinctively against his, kissing him back in relief. His lips are chapped, but I can't find it in me to care as I pull his head closer to me, smiling as he pulls my body into him, his chest pressed firmly against my abdomen. In his arms, I can feel the pain of the last few years starting to slip away, still hooked deeply into me but starting to lessen, my eyes falling closed with the movement of his lips.

He finally pulls away, a content smile on his face, eye taking my expression in.

"So what's this job?" I breathe out, stroking his hair.

He grins lazily.

"Ever thought about going to LA?"

[boognish-worshipper]

Remember the Rain

praying this is the final part of “Sunrise, Sunset” by the time i’m done omg ,, lamar finally talks it out with frank. i was tryna keep the titles consistent with a sky theme? wasn’t sure what to name this one at first, but i settled on naming it after a i song that i felt was sorta fitting lol ,, also lamar’s dramatic when drunk, that’s jus how it’s gonna be

oh and i included one last convo w/ that psychic lady bc each character got three opportunities to speak to her lol

//

The night Franklin and him fought was the third night in a row Lamar couldn’t sleep right. Then it became four. Then five. Six. He had hoped after the first couple days of Franklin being mad, that it’d all blow over and things would go back to normal. That he wouldn’t ever have to say anything about what he felt deep down. Even though he told himself he had to, he wouldn’t. He waited it out, and still hoped it would all just fucking blow over. That wasn’t what happened of course.

An overcast sky was spread over LS, light rain tapping against Lamar’s window. As cheesy as it was, it reflected how he felt. Another day had passed. Franklin wasn’t picking up, not even reading his texts, nothing. He called a couple times at first when the fourth day of the silent treatment occurred, then tried a few more times to contact him in the following days. It had grown into a long and sad string of texts.

franklin.

dog

plz

pick up

answer me

plz?

c’mon frank i told you i have nothin goin on with yo auntie

i wanna talk things out with you.

u ain’t let me finish explaining

text me when u read this. plz bro

He sighed. This was hopeless. He set his phone aside, still laying awake. A buzz came right after. Fucking finally, something.

fuck you

we got nothin to discuss

He didn’t know how to feel. This was fucking him up and he couldn’t think straight. He tried calling him once more, the ringing as he waited for a pick up mocking him. Voicemail yet again. How many messages had he tried leaving at this point?

for fucks sake frank pick up

u ain’t doin this to me rn

jus let me explain myself

He stared at the ceiling yet again, like it would have all the answers sprawled out for him. As he did, he focused on how the rain had picked up, coming down harder. Then he felt his phone buzz.

no

now stop blowing my phone up

i’m tryna sleep

Lamar was never one to be sensitive, but he felt so crushed right now that all he could do was cry silently to himself. He didn’t even have Chop around anymore to comfort him like he normally would whenever Lamar was going through something. Would he even see him again? He lived over at Frank’s now. Fuck. Did this mean they’d have to share custody now? If he wasn’t so upset, he most likely would’ve laughed at the idea of it. He was letting bad thoughts consume him, turning to a last minute resort of drinking to try stopping it. This kind of thing rarely happened to him, these kind of feelings weren’t common. He knew no other method of trying to stuff bad feelings down, working through a 6 pack of beer on his own, followed by a bottle of some type of random liquor. Anything to stifle the pain in his chest, although it didn’t accomplish much other than making him feel even more queasy. He left one last voicemail, choking back a sob. Or what he had thought would be the last one. He lost count.

“Franklin. Please jus’ talk to me already man. You- you believin’ what you wanna believe right now, you ain’t even givin’ me a chance. You my best fuckin’ friend, don’t that mean shit to you anymore? We.. homies n shit.” He sniffled, cringing to himself when he said the words “best friend”. Franklin was so much more than that to him.

“Ion… Ion think I can live without you in my life. You can’t hate me man that shit.. that’s fucked. This is fucked. I’m fucked.”

A strong feeling of humiliation hung around him for many reasons, one being that he was fully crying now, over the phone. He couldn’t get any lower.

“You jus’ mad right now. But you.. you won’t be, eventually. Right? Please get back to me soon. Please. I’d rather fuckin’.. die or sum’ than have you hatin’ me n shit. At this point I might as well.”

After hanging up, he decided to visit that site one last time. His tears blurred his vision, making it harder to type. The shit in his system didn’t help either.

lady

i fuckef up

thsi is yo faukt

What now? Why are you back?

frankljn hates me

He does? That’s not right.

damn straighy it fuckign isnt

No, I mean that’s not correct.

There’s no way that he could, even if it seems like it right now.

jus fuckin tell me whst to do

That’s out of my hands.

is not u fuckin wirch

*withc

*witch

Look, I really don’t know how else to help you. I don’t have any other visions to offer. You’re on your own.

They do say though, that dreams are visions themselves.

dont fukcin speak in riddles rn

Precognition, Lamar. Just have faith

prewhatnow

n yeah. faith. bc that helps so fuckn much

All I can say to you is good luck - it’s all coming together. Just wait.

th fuck does that mean?

It means that you’re stressing too much - you better sleep it off. Farewell Lamar. You’re gonna have a killer hangover you know…

SERVICE UNAVAILABLE. PLEASE TRY AGAIN LATER.

The notification did nothing but make him more upset. He calmed down eventually, the crying and alcohol tiring him out. He blacked out soon after, not remembering when he fell asleep.

For the first time in a while, he dreamt about the two of them. The start of the dream showed a radiant sight before them, the sky lit up in a million shades. Chop was laying beside Franklin, head on his thigh. All three of them sat on a grassy knoll, a soft breeze blowing through each blade. Franklin turned, Lamar not taking his eyes off him since the dream started. He only noticed the sky’s wide color palette because the intensity struck Franklin’s face just right. He looked right into Lamar’s eyes, speaking softly.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“What?”

“You had so many opportunities. So many times, I thought that you would. I got my hopes up, you know. I waited. When Tanisha left.. I only had you.”

“Tanisha..”

“I still love her. I.. I think apart of me always will, but I love you just the same. Even if you drive me up a Goddamn wall sometimes. You both mean the world to me.”

Franklin looked back at the view ahead. A heavenly indigo replaced the vivid hues from before.

“But she’s gone now. Shit ain’t the same. All I know is you stayed when she didn’t. Even when she got pulled outta the hood and made some kinda new life for herself, you never left my side. Never changed yo loyalties.”

He turned back to face Lamar again. His eyes were glassy, the glow of the midnight sky reflecting in them.

“So why didn’t you say somethin’ sooner?”

“Franklin.. I ain’t deduce that shit ‘til now.“

“You really didn’t know?”

Even in the dream he could feel that previous frustration occur in his mind. Was he hiding in a glass closet or something? He could only let out a wry laugh.

“Yeah man. I was a fuckin’ fool, jus’ like you always said.”

“Damn straight.” He chuckled, and Lamar came to the conclusion that he could listen to that laugh forever. Franklin’s face then fell solemn.

“Y’know I really thought that.. I really thought that you jus’ got with someone else. Not even jus’ my Aunt. I saw how you wanted to get away from me, and I thought…” He stopped himself, petting Chop’s head.

“I.. wanted to be happy if you was, but the thought of that at all bothered me.”

“Why?”

“Cuz you were all I had, dog. Mike n Trevor, they have their own lives, their own history n shit. I can’t always rely on them. Denise don’t give a fuck what happen to me. You my lifeline dog, I’ve known you for years. I didn’t want you to forget me over a chick or sum’. That day you acted all different n shit, it worried me.”

“Hey man, y’know I ain’t ever gon pull that shit on you. I’m with you for life.”

“Then don’t pull other kinda stupid shit on me.”

“Whatchu mean?”

“You can’t ever die on me bro. That ain’t how this shit works.”

“Ay man, I don’t plan on dying jus’ yet. Not unless yo ass by my side. Not ‘til I tell you I…” He couldn’t finish the sentence.

Franklin got closer to his face, cupping his cheek. His eyes shone as the stars around them fell from the sky, akin to raindrops, hitting them. Everything about him was flooding Lamar’s senses, and it felt surreal, between his aroma and all the other things he loved about Franklin. Golden flecks covered them both, and the stars continued to crash down. The sky was growing darker than before.

“Just say the words Lamar. Say them and this shit’ll be over.”

“How?”

“Well first you need to wake yo ass up.”

“Huh?”

“I said wake up, fool!”

Lamar’s blissful dream had been interrupted by an unknown figure shaking him, literal raindrops hitting his face. He was still bleary eyed, only seeing a vague silhouette in front of him. A wet slap to the face rattled his brain around, the hangover settling in. Shit, was he still drunk? What time was it?

“Lamar! Get up!”

“Oh.. Th’fuck? Who- who that is?” He grunted out.

“It’s me you fuckin’ clown!”

“Frank?”

“Who the fuck else?”

“Why are you-”

He was abruptly yanked out of bed, thudding to the floor with a small “oof”.

“Get up you punk bitch!”

“Franklin what the fuck-”

He was grabbed again, tossed back onto his bed. Franklin straddled him, shaking Lamar by the collar.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?!” He said, Lamar getting another slap to the face.

“What in the fresh fuck is you talkin’-” Another slap.

“15 fuckin’ missed phone calls! 15! Are you fuckin’ nuts?!”

Lamar’s eyes practically popped out of his head. 15? What the fuck did he say to him?

“I did what-”

Franklin shook him even harder by his shirt, stretching the material out. He was straining his voice now.

“You had me worried like fuckin’ crazy! I thought you was in some sorta fuckin’ trouble again! You blew my phone up when I told yo ass not to, and then didn’t fuckin’ pick up after I heard the first couple special messages you left me!”

Oh God. This was it. He told Franklin everything, didn’t he? The color drained from his face.

“Oh fuck me..” He mumbled, putting a hand over his eyes.

“What?!” Franklin yelled, shaking him again. Lamar’s head was pounding.

“Franklin.. what.. what I say on there? I barely remember a thing, let alone callin’ yo ass.”

“You seriously don’t fuckin’ remember?!”

“Yeah. Seriously, man.”

Franklin slid off of him, putting a palm to his face. He breathed through his nose hard, trying to calm down. Lamar realized he was drenched from the small downpour outside. Pellets of rain thumped against the window as a reminder that the storm never went away.

“You.. fuck, man. You started sayin’ all this shit about how bad a fuckin’ friend you was. That you, you was hidin’ all this shit and couldn’t live another day without tellin’ me.”

Okay. Good. He didn’t tell him the truth.

“You told me you wanted to die dog. Didn’t realize yo dumbass was safe n sound asleep in yo fuckin’ bed.”

“Oh.”

“…’Oh’? Is that really all you have to say?!”

“F, I was jus’ drunk. It was dumb of me, I know, but I.. It’s nothing, okay?”

“Don’t do this shit to me man! I’ve already dealt with enough of yo fuckin’ schemes n shit-”

“Frank.”

“It’s 3 am! You had Chop barkin’ his Goddamn head off the whole night!”

“Franklin.”

“Then I race my ass over here to find yo drunkass self passed out in bed-”

“Franklin.”

“What! What?! You finally gonna put yo two cents in for once?”

“Stop yelling. My head hurts like a bitch right now.”

“Good! I’m fuckin’ glad because I know mine does as well you fuckin’ asshole!”

Lamar looked pathetically up at him. This was getting out of hand. He let it go on for too long.

“Why did you come here then?” He croaked.

“Because you were fuckin’ sobbin’ into the phone! All I heard was you cryin’ like mad fuckin’ crazy and it scared me. You don’t ever do that shit, not even when you fucked up.”

“How much I say?”

“I got the first message pretty fuckin’ clear, the rest was jus’ incoherent bullshit. I barely got through the second one before speedin’ on over. You sounded hurt n shit, I thought something happened. I thought you was a goner.”

“No weird shit though right? I ain’t say nothin’ bad?”

“What? Lamar, what the fuck are you on about? I just told you what yo ass cried out to me! I couldn’t even understand any of the other messages!”

“Okay, okay. That’s.. good I guess.”

“That’s good? Fuckin’ hell, why did I come here? You- ugh!”

“Franklin. Can you jus’ sit down before you pop a fuckin’ blood vessel? You stressin’ for nothin’.”

If anything, Lamar should be the one stressing right now. He had been so close to confessing without knowing. Franklin sat next to him, arms crossed.

“Franklin.”

“What.”

“I’m sorry that I scared you. I didn’t mean to.”

“Well good fuckin’ job, you accomplished that real well didn’t you.” He said, sarcastically applauding him.

“I thought you were cutting me off for good homie. You think I was gon’ let that happen?”

“Lamar, that still ain’t a good reason to freak me out like that in the middle of the night.”

“It’s only cuz you hadn’t been listenin’ to me bro. I’ve been wanting to tell you somethin’ so badly lately and I never.. got the chance.”

“Then do pray fuckin’ tell LD, what the fuck is so important that you had to do this shit to me at 3 AM!”

“Franklin man, c’mon-”

“No! Don’t start!”

Franklin stood, heading for the door as he spoke. He stopped in the threshold.

“Tell me what the fuck is goin’ on with you, or I’m leavin’ yo sad ass here to wallow. I mean it L.”

“Don’t be like that. Please man. I want to, but I-”

“Jus’ fuckin’ tell me! Why won’t you tell me?!”

“Frank-”

“I dragged my ass all the way over here for nothin’ didn’t I? You ain’t dead, you ain’t sayin’ shit, you jus’ bein’ so- ugh! Fuck!” He threw his hands up, exiting Lamar’s bedroom.

“I’m done man, fuck this.”

“Franklin wait- don’t go-” He pleaded.

Franklin did nothing but leave him stranded again, thunder rolling far in the distance. Lamar ran after him as he walked out the door, hearing the rain heavily hit the pavement. His mind was racing far ahead of him. Franklin was leaving, he was leaving for good, and he couldn’t. He can’t. That’s not how it’s supposed to work. Franklin can’t do that, he can’t-

His mind had gone so far away, that he didn’t even realize that he had tackled Franklin to the ground. The two of them fell to the ground with a loud splat, followed by sounds of pain.

“Lamar what the fuck?!”

“Don’t go! Fuckin’ hell, I gotta chase yo ass and for what?!”

“Get off me dog!”

“No!” Franklin was pinned beneath him. The raindrops that rolled off of Lamar hit him in the face.

It reminded Lamar of when they were younger, playing football or whatever sport they could outside even as the deluge soaked them both to the bone. The roles had been reversed, with Franklin constantly knocking him down onto the grassy sludge. They got quite an earful from Lamar’s mom as they tracked mud in the house upon returning. It was a memory amongst many that stuck with him like glue. Those memories couldn’t go away. Franklin couldn’t go away.

Tears mixed in with the rain as he yelled out to him.

“You fuckin’ idiot! Why you makin’ this shit so hard for me?! You keep leavin’ before I can even finish!”

Franklin struggled to break free from Lamar’s grip on his wrists, huffing as he looked away.

“Look at me!” Lamar shouted, grabbing his face with a free hand.

“I didn’t wanna fuckin’ tell you like this, but Jesus Christ! For fucks sake you stubborn asshole-”

He was doing it. He bit the fucking bullet.

“You know how we got into that fuckin’ argument last week? When I told you that I was dealin’ with that whole love thing, I wasn’t talkin’ about yo Aunt, a hoe, nobody else! I was talkin’ about you!”

Lamar threw himself off of him, stumbling backwards. Franklin propped himself onto his elbows. He finally said it. He said it, and he was far from finished.

“But you didn’t wanna fuckin’ listen! And now I’ve fucked our friendship over for a second time! All because of you! This whole thing has been drivin’ me fuckin’ insane lately, and I couldn’t do shit about it! I tried so, so hard to avoid this, but nothin’ ever goes my way, huh?! Every time I think a plan of mine’ll work, it doesn’t! You know why?!”

Opening his arms wide, he spoke loud and clear, finishing his rant.

“Lemme remind you: I’m Lamar fuckin’ Davis! The biggest fuckin’ fool, fuckin’ clown, fuckin’ whatever you wanna call me! Lamar Davis, the most naïve bitch on the planet! Fuck me for thinking that this would ever go well!”

Now it was his turn to leave. But he didn’t go back into his house. His legs moved for him, walking in no particular direction. He just needed to get away from Franklin, not caring about how damp his clothes were now. He was shaking, and he didn’t know if it was from the rain or the range of emotions he was flying through.

He could hear a pair of sneakers squishing behind him. Franklin was running, and he was catching up fast.

“Ay Lamar! Get back here!”

Oh fuck. He was chasing after him now. That’s not good. Lamar started running himself, not caring about possibly slipping and falling on his ass. Only a few hours ago, he had told himself he couldn’t be without Franklin. Now all he wanted to do was run away.

“Lamar!”

Fuck fuck fuck.

He wasn’t fast enough. The second time they hit the ground, Lamar had the wind knocked right out of him, the duo splashing right into a puddle. Hands gripped his shoulders, flipping him around.

“Lamar!”

There were only a few instances in his life where Lamar felt small. He’d always been big in character, big in height, and according to him, big in other ways. But this was one of those moments where he couldn’t help but flinch, wanting to collapse in on himself. He was so tired.

“If you gon’ beat my ass or somethin’ jus’ get it over with.” He sighed, shutting his eyes tight.

When he felt nothing but raindrops touch his face, he opened his eyes slowly. His heart sank when he did. Franklin was visibly upset, guilt in his eyes.

“Lamar. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

A wave of déjà vu washed over him. Oh. So that’s what precognition meant. Motherfucking psychic lady.

“You should’ve jus’ told me man.”

“I tried dog. You wouldn’t hear me out.”

“Cuz I.. I thought you got with someone. I didn’t wanna hear it straight from yo mouth if you was.”

He shifted up, Frank sitting in his lap.

“Y’know I always thought that.. Part of me jus’ kinda thought that it’d always be the two of us. I’m never gonna get Tanisha back.. but you..”

Franklin looked away.

“You a crazy ass loyal motherfucker man. You stuck by my side no matter what, and some dumbass part of me was convinced that you… I mean fuck, so many times I thought you would jus’ flat out say something. Somethin’ so I could stop waiting for the one other person I had known forever to just say that they fuckin’ loved me like that.”

Lamar blinked, rainwater getting into his eyes. It wasn’t quite as serene as his dream had been, nor was it verbatim, but Lamar didn’t care. There was something about the way the water droplets sat along Franklin’s face, highlighted by a streetlight behind him that made him look angelic.

“When you started actin’ all weird it jus’.. made me so fuckin’ mad man. I thought you was gon’ pick someone else over me. Jus’ like Tanisha did.”

“Franklin..”

“So why didn’t you jus’ say somethin’ sooner? I waited. Hell, I don’t even know why I did at first.”

“Franklin.”

“But now I’m realizin’ you must not have even noticed yoself what you was feelin’, when I fuckin’ did. I noticed and you didn’t and-”

Lamar grabbed him by the face, grip surprisingly strong after being in the rain.

“How many times do I gotta say yo name for you to hear me?”

The rain kept falling, never slowing for either one of them. Yet, it felt like time stopped. Lamar chuckled lightly.

“Franklin Clinton and Lamar Davis. Two of the dumbest motherfuckers in LS. Homies for life.”

“Yeah. Homies for life.”

His hands never left Franklin’s face. He pressed their foreheads together, lowering his voice.

“I love you, bum ass bitch.”

“Yeah yeah. I love you too.”

He kissed the top of his head, moving his hands down to embrace him in a tight hug. When was the last time they did this? As he thought it over, he could hear Franklin’s voice muffled against his chest.

“Don’t scare me like that again. Next time save us both the trouble n jus’ spill yo heart out. Dramatic motherfucker.”

The words had no malice in them, Lamar feeling him smile as he said it. He kissed him once more, and they just sat in the rain, feeling it bathe them in fond memories.

//plz listen to remember the rain by 21st century it’s so good 💔😭 anyway ya i decided to end it on a sorta happy note !!!!! franklin is a stubborn guy smh,, sorry for any typos lol also i rlly had no idea where i wanted to go with this so sorry if it’s weird or whatever

[imagine-loki]

Tear You To Pieces, Chapter 3

TITLE: Tear You To Pieces CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: Chapter 3 AUTHOR: fanficshiddles ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine Loki was sent to make up for his deeds by helping out The Avengers at the tower. Everyone thinks he’s changed, but he is just biding his time. He manipulates and uses someone who works there, who has a crush on him, to get exactly what he wants.  RATING: M

WARNINGS FOR THIS FIC: DARK LOKI, RAPE/NON-CON, MANIPULATION, MURDER, VIOLENCE, EMOTIONAL ABUSE, KIDNAPPING

There was a mission that came up a week later, where Kelly was needed. She was good with security work, so was needed to help the team get into a highly secured building.

‘You’ll be able to do it safely from the quinjet. So there’s no risk to your safety.’ Tony said to Kelly on the way to the site.

‘No problem.’ Kelly nodded. She was just pleased to be of help. The fact Loki came along too was totally not part of it at all…

He was sitting opposite her on the jet and kept smirking at her, giving her a few cheeky winks when no one else was looking. Making her blush and a little flustered, so she tried not to look at him too much. Though it was difficult.

When they arrived, the jet was landed amongst the trees to remain hidden from the building.

‘How do we know this is where we need to be?’ Natasha asked.

‘Our radar led us to here, the signal is coming from inside the building. We just need to get access.’ Said Bruce.

‘We will keep them distracted over the back, if you can crack the code and get their defences down then we can get in there.’ Steve said.

‘Shouldn’t someone stay here in-case Miss Hill needs assistance?’ Loki drawled as he stood.

‘She will be fine. It’s safe in here.’ Tony said flippantly. ‘Let’s go. We need everyone out there.’

Kelly smiled at Loki and thanked him silently. He nodded at her once before heading out with the team. She felt a little nervous when she was left alone, especially when she heard the fighting start. She preferred being back at base and just working behind the scenes.

But she focused on what she had to do. She was working away quickly and efficiently on the laptop when suddenly there was a large explosion right on the jet. It exploded into bits and she went flying, badly hurting herself as she rolled to a stop amongst the trees. Some debris from the jet hit her, causing more injuries.

She cried out in pain and tried to focus, but her vision was blurry and she felt a searing pain in her head. But there was a strange man coming towards her with what looked like a machine gun. She was about to die, she was so sure of it, she could sense it. She tried to push herself up, but she had barely managed to get onto her hands and knees when he started firing at her.

It was like slow motion, she knew she was about to die. But there was nothing she could do. She closed her eyes and waited for it to happen. But it never came. Instead, she felt an arm wrap around her tightly and while she could hear the bullets, she never felt any hit her.

Opening her eyes, though still blurry, she could see a green cape covering her and then noticed Loki crouched down by her.

‘L… Loki?’ She whispered weakly.

When the gunfire stopped, Loki whipped his cape down and quickly fired a few of his throwing knives at the man, knocking him down instantly.

‘You’re alright, pet. I’ve got you.’ He scooped her up and that’s when she passed out. The pain from her injuries too much.

Loki glanced at the man he’d knocked down. He hadn’t killed him, just injured him enough. He then stormed off into the woods with Kelly in his arms. He hadn’t exactly planned for her to get injured this badly, never mind almost killed. Which would have been a shame, since she was his best hope for getting what he wanted.

But maybe the extent of what happened would work better for him.

He looked down at the passed-out girl in his arms and had a feeling if he didn’t get her back sooner than later, she would probably die. So, he put all of his energy into teleporting back to base with her.

When he got there, he took her straight to his room instead of the emergency room. He placed her down gently on his bed and went to his cupboard, taking out some healing potion he had received from Thor from Asgard. For emergencies, Thor had said.

Well, this was an emergency. If she died, he would need a new plan. And he was starting to lose his patience.

He managed to open her mouth and poured the liquid into her mouth. He knew she wouldn’t need much, since she was just a mortal. It was powerful stuff and he only needed enough to deal with her more serious injuries.

Within minutes, she gasped awake. She instantly felt the searing pain within her. All over her body. Like she had been in an explosion… oh wait…

‘Easy, pet. You’re injured.’ Loki’s calming voice came from her side as he rushed to sit on the edge of his bed.

‘Loki? It… it hurts. All over.’ She whimpered and closed her eyes, her chest was rising and falling hard as she tried to breathe through the pain.

‘Here, take some of this it will help.’ He held the potion up to her lips and gave her some more. She accepted it and swallowed the liquid without even questioning him.

Foolish girl. That could’ve been anything. He thought to himself. But he was pleased with how trusting of him she was. It would help.

‘It’s healing potion from Asgard, used for the Gods. I’m sure it will help you to recover. Just take it easy.’ He left her for a moment to get some warm water and a cloth from the bathroom. When he returned, the potion had already helped her some more.

She was able to sit up slowly, with Loki’s aide.

‘What happened?’ She asked, her lower lip wobbling slightly. ‘Are the others ok?’

‘Stark is an imbecile and should’ve assigned someone to stay with you, is what happened.’ Loki growled angrily. ‘One of the enemies got passed us, sent a rocket to the jet. Unfortunately, you got the brunt of that.’

Kelly’s eyes widened. But she felt a little warmed that he was angry on her behalf. Even though she knew accidents could happen, sometimes missions could go wrong. That was always the risk.

‘They were still there when I took you back here, so I don’t know how it’s going.’ He said bluntly and started cleaning some of her wounds, surprising her with how gentle he was being with her. But it only made her heart flutter even more for him.

‘Thank you… For saving me. And for helping me now.’ She said quietly.

Loki looked into her eyes and smiled warmly. ‘I wouldn’t let anything bad ever happen to you, pet.’

His sudden nickname for her made her feel really fuzzy inside. Loki, the God of mischief and lies, actually liked her enough to give her a cute nickname?

Loki carefully cleaned up her wounds and put some soothing cream on any ones that would need some extra help to heal.

‘Are you feeling ok?’ He asked as he gently cupped her cheek with his warm hand. She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch.

‘I am now.’ She said quietly and nodded lightly.

Loki gently gripped her chin and tilted her face upwards, so she was to look at him properly. Her gaze was a bit skittish as she could barely keep eye contact, even though she was still sore she was very flustered.

‘I was so worried when I saw the jet blow up… I thought, I thought you were dead.’ Loki said, looking sad at the mere thought.

‘Really?’ Kelly’s eyes widened a little.

Loki nodded and brushed his thumb across her lower lip. He looked at her lips, then into her eyes. He slowly leaned towards her. She didn’t move away, she closed her eyes and a second later she felt Loki’s lips upon hers.

She whimpered slightly against him, making him back away a bit, frowning at her in concern. ‘Did I hurt you, pet?’

‘No! Not at all… I just… uhm, was enjoying the kiss.’ She blurted out shyly.

Loki grinned and brushed his thumb against her cheek as he leaned in towards her again. ‘Well, in that case…’ And he kissed her again, this time with more meaning, moulding his lips against hers. She felt like she was in heaven.

Kelly kept her eyes closed for a little longer when the kiss finished, her heart was pounding and her stomach was a swirling mess of nerves and excitement. When she finally opened her eyes, Loki was smiling so sweetly at her. Like an adorable puppy. He looked just as excited as she felt.

‘Kelly… Would you like to join me for dinner some evening, once you’re feeling better?’ He asked, putting his hand on top of hers, completely engulfing her small one.

She nodded eagerly, giggling. ‘I would love to!’

Loki’s smile grew even larger. ‘I know the perfect restaurant to take you to. I’m sure you’ll love it… But there’s one thing, I think we should keep it a secret from the others. I know they don’t trust me, or even want me around. I wouldn’t want them to think little of you for going on a date with me.’ He said sadly.

‘Don’t think like that, Loki. They’re just imbeciles who haven’t given you the chance. Don’t mind them, please. I really like your company and… I really like you. I don’t care what they think.’ She blushed.

Loki smiled again and looked a little bashful. ‘I like you too, Kelly. A lot… But I would like to keep it quiet, just in-case. I know your sister wouldn’t be pleased, I’d rather not have her after me. Or the others.’

‘I guess she wouldn’t. But they just need a bit more time to see the real you. But I won’t say anything to anyone, if that’s what you’d prefer.’

Loki nodded. ‘Thank you, pet.’ He brought her hand up and kissed the back of it, making her skin tingle.

[angstysebfan]

Choices - Chapter 8

Pairing: Steve X Reader, Bucky Reader (not Stucky)

Summary: You fall in love with a super soldier, but after a decision that leaves you heartbroken you find yourself needing to decide where your heart truly lies.

Warnings: Depression, nightmares, wishing for death

It’s been three weeks since Bucky whisked you away from the compound. You are still having bad nightmares, but you are not sleeping the day away anymore. Bucky has had to force you eat most of the time, because you do not have much of an appetite.

You have kept to yourself since your conversation with Bucky about wishing he would have left you. As hard as it is, Bucky has allowed you to take everything at your pace. There are times you want him near you, and times when you want to be alone. 

You have started to sit on the shore of the lake, looking out into the quiet still water, allowing your thoughts to overcome you. How easy it would be to just end everything and take the pain away. You are so tired of being in pain, and yet you don’t know why you are feeling such pain.

Bucky makes sure he is somewhere close by, not trusting you wouldn’t hurt yourself, but you just stay seated, staring off. He loves the times when you want him near, as you normally cuddle in his lap, nuzzling into his neck. He knows you have no idea how much that contact affects him, and he makes sure to keep his composure and just be there for you.

One day, you are both sitting on the edge of the lake, looking out to the other side, where all you see is woods. “It’s so quiet here. It makes my thoughts louder.” you say quietly, as you snuggle closer into Bucky’s chest. Bucky continues to stroke your hair as you speak.

“Did you want to go somewhere else? You know I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.” he says. You sigh, “No. I think I need to hear my thoughts, so I can move on. I honestly don’t know why I feel the pain I do. It’s not like Steve and I were together for years, it was only a few months. I knew he had feelings for Sharon, and I knew that they were doing things behind my back when she returned. I turned a blind eye because I didn’t want to lose him... isn’t that stupid?” you say.

Bucky shifts in the lounger chair and wraps his arms tightly around you. “Just because you didn’t date him for years, doesn’t make this harder. You trusted him, and loved him. Not only has be betrayed your trust, but he was going to allow you to die. You deserve so much better than him.” Bucky says, before kissing the top of your head.

“Why are you so good to me, Bucky? You have always been there for me, and taken care of me. What did I do to deserve you in my life?” you say looking up at him. He gives you a small smile, “I think I should be asking that question, doll. You... you accepted me when you first came to the compound, no questions asked. Most people are scared of me or treat me like I am about to break. You never did. You were like a breath of fresh air, and I think I have improved even more since you came into my life.”

You look at Bucky in shock and then in awe. He always knows how to say the right things, and always did. He was always by your side, no matter what happened. You felt some fluttering in your stomach as you looked into his eyes, but immediately pushed that down. You’re no where near ready to think about Bucky more than friend.

You nuzzled back into his chest and suddenly felt very tired. you felt yourself sinking further into Bucky’s embrace as sleep overtook you. Bucky looked down and saw you asleep and brushed some hair from your face. He thought about how much you better you got over the last few weeks, but knew it was still a long way to go.

--

It was another two weeks later when there was a knock on the door of the cabin. Bucky was in the shower, so you answered it, though you wish you didn’t. Your breath got caught in your throat at the site of Steve standing on the porch. “Y/N,” he said. You felt your lungs starts to close and the panic starting to rise, though Steve seemed to not notice.

“I was hoping you and I could talk for a moment. There is so many things I want to say, and I am sure you want to say back. Can... Can I come in?” he asks quietly. You step back, trying to compose yourself. You walk quickly into the kitchen and grab some water, hoping that will help. Steve sat at the counter, again oblivious to the thoughts and feelings running through your mind.

“Look, I am sure you hate me, and honestly I don’t blame you. I messed up, big time, and I want to apologize for what happened on that mission. I can’t tell you what was going through my head, but I am sorry you got hurt, and are still suffering. How are you doing?” he asks concerned.

You look to the staircase when you hear Bucky’s footsteps coming down, relief coming to you immediately, but not enough for you to breath. “Hey Y/N/N.. do you want... Steve? What the fuck are you doing here?” Bucky says angrily. You step over to Bucky, who immediately wraps a protective arm around you. Steve sees this and his face hardens.

“I came to speak to Y/N, since I have a lot of apologies to give to her.” Steve says. Bucky looks at you and sees the panic in your eyes, “Y/N, go up to your room, okay? I will take care of this and I will let you know when he is gone,” he whispers in your ear. You nod and immediately leave the room.

“Buck, I mean no harm here. I really just wanted to apologize to her, and hopefully help her heal.” Steve says annoyed. Bucky walks up to Steve and punches him in the jaw. Steve falls to the floor with a groan, “Seriously? Bucky, come on! You’re my best friend, and I know what I did was dumb, but I am trying to make it right!” Steve yelled getting up. 

“Make it right?! Please, you are trying to relieve yourself of guilt, nothing more. Tell me, are you and Sharon together right now?” Bucky asks. Steve sighs and looks at the ground, giving Bucky all the answer he needed. “Y/N is trying to heal not only from the poison that almost killed her, thanks to you, but also from the trauma of the man she loves allowing her to die for someone else. She has made so much progress, and you being here might set her back, so tell me, pal, why are you really here?” Bucky again asks stepping closer to Steve.

“Yes, I have guilt but I do care about Y/N! I want to apologize, whether she forgives me or not, she needs to know that I didn’t mean to hurt her and I will regret it for the rest of my life.” Steve says. Bucky just looks at him with an emotionless expression, “I’ll give her the message, now leave and don’t come back here,” Bucky says walking to the door. 

Steve’s face hardens again, “How long have you been in love with my girlfriend, huh? Stop acting like you are doing all of this because you want her to feel better, when we both know you are trying to win her heart too.” Steve says. Bucky grabs Steve by the throat his his metal hand and drags him outside onto the porch.

“Yes, I love her, and it’s because I love her that I saved her life. But everything I am doing now is to help her get better after you destroyed her. She wanted to die, Steve!” Bucky yelled, making Steve pale. “Whether or not she develops feelings for me doesn’t matter, as long as she gets better. I love her enough to let her go if I have to.” Bucky says before releasing Steve.

Steve sits on the stairs of the porch and puts his head in his hands. “Buck, I... I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I almost killed her, I destroyed her, she wants to die because of me! When did I become this... this monster that doesn’t care about anyone else but himself?” Steve says emotionally.

Bucky looks at Steve, “I wish I knew when you changed, cause I would have beat this guy out of you sooner.” he says. Steve sniffs before standing and looks at Bucky with sad eyes, “I’m sorry about what I said, I know that if anyone can lead her from the darkness, it’s you. And I am sorry about just showing up, the guilt was just eating me and I was selfish for coming here without making sure it was okay. And please tell her, it’s okay if she never forgives me, but I am sorry about... everything.” Steve says before turning and walking away.

Bucky watches until Steve disappears and then runs into the house and up into your room. You are lying on your bed, tears falling down your face. He quickly wraps his arms around you, “It’s okay, he’s gone. I’m not going to let him come back and hurt you okay?” he whispers into the top of your head. You wrap your arms around his torso and look up at him. “Thank you Bucky.” you say with a small smile.

Bucky kisses your forehead, “Anytime, you know that. I’ll always be here for you, anytime.”

--

Chapter 7 / Chapter 9

Oh Steve, you should have stayed away. Lucky Bucky didn’t go Winter Soldier on you, but doesn’t mean he won’t next time. And Bucky again being the rock the reader needs. Feedback is appreciated.

Permanent Taglist: @hailmary-yramliah​ @tuiccim​ @comedictragedy​ @cap-n-stuff​ @thefridgeismybestie​ @swiftmind​ @aleaisntcreative​ @lookiamtrying​ @pinknerdpanda​ @morganclaire4​ @iamvalentinaconstanza​ @verygraphicink​ @im-squished​ @joannie95​ @peace-love-hobbitness​ 

Story Taglist: @tweedlydumbtweedlydoo​ @supraveng​ @rebekahdawkins​ @vicmc624​

[gracegriller949]

Shining Devotion

Rating: Mature

Word Count: 1.5k

Pairing: DinLuke

A/N: Read the whole fic on ao3 here

Chapter 2

Luke is rapidly running out of breath as he races towards the smoke that is billowing through the air. All Luke can think about is the burning in his lungs and the pounding in his chest as the forest blurs past his vision. He dodges and weaves through the maze of low hanging vines and branches as his dark robes whip around him.

Realistically, Luke doesn’t know what he’s going to do when he actually reaches the crash. All he knows is that whoever is on that ship is most likely in bad shape; if they’re not dead already. Luke shakes his head to clear that thought and focuses on the movements of his body instead.

Eventually, his running slows as the smell of smoke and gasoline attack his senses. He whips his head around and draws closer to where the smell is coming from. It’s hard to see in the dark of the night, but Luke uses his other senses and his connection to the Force to locate the exact site of the crash.

The tops of the trees have been ripped off by the dozens, their long wooden trunks left splintering in all directions. Luke follows the path of destruction to find the beat-up old red and white ship, Laying sideways on a batch of trees that have been mowed down.

As Luke approaches the Slave I, he quickly assesses the damage done to the exterior. Feeling along the outside, he finds there to be multiple puncture holes that have been ripped into the side of the hull. Luke finds one large enough for him to fit through and quickly crawls into the ship.

He makes his way through the ship, fighting against fallen crates and wiggling wires that Luke twists around to avoid getting electrocuted. He’s sweating and panting by the time he makes it through the wreckage and crawls into the cockpit.

Luke’s heart stutters at what he sees.

A Mandalorian is laying limp against the side of the console, but it’s not the Mandalorian that Luke is expecting. His long gray cape is twisted around his form and his silver helmeted head is lulled to the side.

Luke drags himself over to the Beskar clad form and places his hands on each of the Mandalorian’s pauldrons.

“Mando, Mando! Where’s Fett?” Luke rasps as he shakes Mando’s shoulders.

Mando’s helmet tilts ever so slightly and Luke can hear a faint groan coming through the modulator.

Relieved, Luke’s eyes dart around the cockpit, searching for the other bounty hunter. There are sparks popping from the control board and glass littering the seats.

Luke reaches out with the Force to see if he can sense anyone else on the ship.

As soon as Luke confirms that it is just the one Mandalorian, a flashing light accompanied by an urgent beeping draws his attention. He stands as well as he can in the tilting cockpit and examines the where the beeping is coming from. Luke gasps to find that it is the engine temperature warning light.

“We need to get out of here!” Luke yells over his shoulder.

He turns to glance around the cockpit one more time before he unclips his lightsaber from his belt and ignites it to cut a hole in the viewport at the side of the cockpit. Luke puts away his lightsaber and navigates his way back to Mando.

Luke grabs him by his vambrances and pulls with all his strength to move the Mandalorian towards the hole he made. Devastatingly, the Mandalorian’s Beskar laden frame barely budges under Luke’s grip.

Luke can hear the beeping becoming more and more rapid as he closes his eyes and slows his breathing to focus on his connection to the Force. Slowly, the Mandalorian’s unconscious body rises into the air as Luke pulls on his wrists. Luke ducks his head and jumps down through the hole, pulling Mando with him.

Mere seconds after they are a safe distance away from the ship, the engine erupts into flames. Luke stops cold in his track, losing his concentration on holding Mando up, and sending them both tumbling into the dirt.

He groans as he looks up and watches as the Slave I becomes engulfed in the rapidly spreading inferno. The heat from the flames warms Luke’s cheeks as he cringes away from the fire and looks down at the unconscious Mandalorian below him.

Using his ungloved hand, Luke reaches behind Mando’s head and tilts it towards himself, as if to look into his eyes to see if he’s okay. Finding nothing there but cold metal, Luke gently sets the Mandalorian’s head back down on the ground and when he pulls his hand away, Luke finds it to be drenched in blood.

His eyes widening at the discovery, Luke makes quick work of getting Mando in a better horizontal position. He considers taking off the Mandalorian’s helmet, but Luke decides that there isn’t much that he can do for him until they get back to the camp.

Luke shakily gets to his feet.

Adrenaline still coursing through his veins, Luke lifts Mando with the Forc, this time having him float next to him, and starts the long, stressful journey back to the camp. While also being careful to make sure that the Mandalorian doesn’t run into anything, Luke tries to move as fast as he can, but the events of the night are catching up to him. His concentration is faltering as he tries to work his way through the forest by the light of the stars.

He hadn’t realized just how far he had run away from his hut until he was staring up at the planet of Yavin and questioning all of his decisions. Luke falls to his knees in exhaustion, not knowing if he can make it back to his home.

He looks to the floating Mandalorian next to him and can’t help but feeling like he’s failed him.

He doesn’t even know if Mando is still alive.

Tears sting Luke’s eyes as he falls forward onto his hands, using the last bit of his energy to gently set the Mandalorian. He must have an injury somewhere he can’t see because a rush of fatigue quickly overcomes him. Luke is about to collapse completely to the ground, but a single thought holds him together.

The Child.

Grogu, with his big green ears and innocent eyes; Luke and Mando are all he has.

Luke musters all the strength he can as he rises from his knees and stands to pull the Mandalorian. Focusing on the mental image of his student, Luke takes a shaky breath and concentrates on lifting the Mandalorian once again.

Taking it slower than before, Luke hauls the Mandalorian through the wild brush, and with a lot of grunting and a few stops along the way, Luke finally gets him and Mando back to the camp.

Grogu is standing in the doorway when they arrive. He moves to the side to let Luke and Mando through as Luke floats Mando through the hut and onto the kitchen table.

He leans over the Mandalorian and quickly inspects him for any other signs of injury. He doesn’t find any other signs and since Luke knows that he’s going to have to do something about Mando’s head sooner rather than later, he rushes over to a pile of crates and starts to dig through them to find the Medkit containing the Bacta spray.

It takes Luke a little too long to find the kit because of his shaking hands and aching side. He pushes his pain from his thoughts and turns back to where the Mandalorian lays on the dining table.

Grogu has made his way onto the table with his father and is looking intensely at the Mandalorian. Luke rushes back over to them, Bacta spray now in hand. He sets the Bacta down and reaches his hands towards Mando’s helmet to grasp it on both sides.

Suddenly, a set of hands clamps firmly over Luke’s.

“Don’t…” croaks the Mandalorian.

Luke jumps at the sudden motion and at the deep baritone of the Mandalorian’s hoarse voice.

“I need to take it off to heal you,” reasons Luke as he tries to lift the helmet from the Mandalorian’s head.

“Helmet… stays on,” the Mandalorian grunts and squeezes Luke’s hands tighter.

“But you’ll die,” Luke argues.

“This is the Way,” Mando groans.

Luke slips his hands out from underneath the Mandalorian’s as Grogu makes a sudden grunting noise and waddles his way closer to his father’s face.

Breathing rapidly, Mando drops his own hands as Grogu moves to place his smaller green ones under the Mandalorian’s helmet.

“Grogu, what are you…” Luke reaches out to stop the child but hesitates when he sees the look of determination on Grogu’s face.

The tiny Jedi closes his eyes and wrinkles his forehead in concentration. Luke feels the Force move around him as he watches his student do what he never knew was even possible. Even though he can’t see what Grogu is doing, he can feel it.

Grogu is saving the Mandalorian’s life.

[nyxxon]

Borderland (Midoriya, Todoroki, Bakugou)

(A/N: Alice in Borderland AU one-shot with our 3 favorite boys [few others who just, oof] and reader because a friend live-streamed it on Discord and I actually liked it even though it was a live-action by Netflix, nonetheless, lol.

This basically follows the first episode with similar dialogue that has been tweaked with some additions per character I used—you basically replace Shibuki. It's also a bit longer than I usually make my one-shots.)

———

You didn't know how it happened . . .

     One minute you were at home in your room as you finished an essay for your English college class—your family downstairs. The next, it had suddenly gone dark while the power suddenly shut off.

     You had muttered a string of curse words as you called down to your mom and dad frustratedly; however, there had been no answer as you called them repeatedly.

     In great reluctance, you had started down the stairs—it dark and oddly quiet. Once you had made it down the stairs, you called out to them once again—having had been greeted by silence once again.

     Slowly, you had begun on your way to the kitchen, looking in the living room to be sure neither were there though it was obvious they weren't.

     When you had peeked into the kitchen, you were only greeted with the deafening silence and emptiness that had been accompanying the entire house at that point.

     Sooner or later after constant searching and calling out verbally, you had tried the next big thing: calling them on your phone. However, your phone had refused to work.

     But something had felt off about the whole situation.

     Though at the time, you didn't know just how right you were . . .

     During the first few hours, you had left your home—only bringing a jacket and a backpack—because of the feeling. It hadn't taken you long to figure out the emptiness of the whole city of Musutafu.

     It was like everything had stopped.

     It had been suspiciously quiet as well.

     All the cars had been at a standstill—some in the middle of the road and odd places that'd be much safer if they hadn't been—no bustling of the normal city life . . .

     Just nothing.

     That had been three days ago, however.

     You somewhat understood your situation albeit still rather confused at the same time. But you knew that in order to leave this place, you had to play the games that were randomly set up and also random.

     But there was a gruesome catch to them all: there was no guarantee you'd make it out alive through any of them . . .

     The first few days had been rough, you'd admit even though you had only played one game at this point.

     The first game you had played had been one you had to board a train. There had been two other people who were already waiting at the game site at the time—a midget male with balls-like dark purple hair and another male with blonde hair with a lightning bolt in it with phones in their hands.

     They looked about your age, you were unsure nor cared to find out at the time since it had been unimportant information. You had asked them what was going on though they had no idea aside from some building lighting up and ushering them into this area—similar to what had happened to you.

     But they had said you apparently needed to grab a phone on the table that had been beside you that also had three gas masks and nine cylinders of what you had figured to be full of air sitting near it.

     When you had grabbed the phone, it instantly turned on with the words "Facial Recognition" on the screen with a load bar that soon disappeared before a female AI voice spoke saying “ Game difficulty, two of hearts. ”

     You had been confused and asked them what this meant but they just shrugged in response while saying they had no clue either and that their own phones had said something similar. You had also asked about the other two items but they also hadn't known anything about them either.

     They had eventually introduced themselves to you as Kaminari and Mineta—the blonde had been Kaminari and the purple haired one had been Mineta. In turn, you had also introduced yourself as a courtesy.

    However, any more communication between you and the group had been quickly dispersed as the phones suddenly had booted back up, the female AI voice sounding once again as it had said the "game" was about to begin in thirty seconds and to head to the tracks.

     The three of you had looked at each other before slowly complying and making it to the tracks. Once you had, the phone AI voice had resounded giving you a rundown of what was required.

     The requirements were to board multiple trains and to successfully make it to the last one—the fourth one. It sounded relatively easy when you had heard it described to you from the AI voice.

     That was until it had said the end part:

     “ One of the four cargo trains that would come for you to ride would have poisonous gas in them. There are three gas masks and nine cylinders of air beside the table that are required to pass. Each person gets three, use them wisely. ”

     In shorter terms:

          • If you are able to get through all four carriages, Game Clear.

          • One of the four rooms is filled with a lethal poisonous gas. If you open the door and breathe in this gas, it is Game over.

     The game was basic but with a horrible twist.

     In the end, you had made it—somehow.

     But Kaminari and Mineta . . .

     They hadn't . . .

     By the end of the game, you had gotten a three-day visa pass which was basically that you were free from having to participate in games for that amount of time. However, if you didn't play a game once the time was up . . .

     Well . . .

     You'd die.

     So here you were now heading to the next game. You had no idea what it'd be, nor did you want to know . . . but you had no choice unless you wanted to die—at least with no chance of avoidance as doing a game would give.

     You slowly made your way into the tall building, passing a car and a lot of lighted things on the wall as you followed the arrows to the next gaming area while gripping the straps of your backpack. But as you near the corner at the last arrow, you could hear hushed talking coming from nearby—no doubt in the next game area.

     Once you had made it to the corner, you peeked behind it as you spotted three males. One had ash blonde hair, another toe toned of white on his left and crimson on his right, while the final one had dark green hair. They all looked to be your age, maybe younger or older by a year or two at most.

     "What the hell is this fucking shit?!" You watched as the ash blonde practically snarled at the phone in his hand.

     "It'd be a phone. I'm sure you've seen plenty of those before though." The dual haired male stated bluntly.

     This caused the ash blonde to whip around and face the other male, "That's not what I fucking meant, you half-and-half bastard."

     Half-and-half bastard? What an odd name. Though you were sure that wasn't the dual haired male's real name, it sounded like a nickname of sorts and you were sure it was.

     "C-Calm down Kacchan . . ." The green haired male began to wave his hands in the air as he looked at the ash blonde, "If . . . if we're calm, m-maybe we can figure this o-out."

     This caused the ash blonde to glare over at him, "Shut the fuck up, Deku!"

     "He's right . . ." The dual haired male came in.

     As you continued to peek behind the corner as they continued to bicker amongst one another, it was quite obvious this group of males were new.

     Boy, were they in for a surprise.

     You frowned, but that also meant you were stuck with them. Unless you found another game to partake in . . . but you were running low in time and there was no telling when another game would pop up before your visa expired.

     Things weren't looking too hot for you. But there wasn't much you could do. It wasn't like you could really pick and choose your "teammates" for the games that popped up.

     With a reluctant sigh, you soon popped out from behind the corner as you headed towards the group of bickering males—mostly the one dubbed "Kacchan." It didn't take long for the green haired male to take notice of you, his eyes widening as you neared them.

     "Uh . . ." He shakily pointed to your form.

     This caused the other two males to stop as they looked in your direction, watching as you passed the red sensor and headed straight to the phones. You picked it up and it instantly turned on, showing the all too familiar words "Facial Recognition" and the loading bar before popping up a card.

     “ Game difficulty, three of clubs. ”

     A bead of sweat appeared on your cheek as you tightened the grip of your bag strap. This was really going to be "fun."

     "W-Who are you?" You heard the meek voice of the green haired make ask.

     You hummed as you turned to face all three of the males who were staring at you, the ash blonde more so glaring. As you studied them for a moment, you saw no harm in telling them your name."(Last Name) (First Name)."

     The green haired male instantly perked up, "I-I'm Midoriya Izuku."

     "I'm Todoroki Shouto." The dual haired male said directly after.

     The ash blonde studied you for a moment, looking you up and down skeptically, "Bakugou Katsuki."

     It seemed "Kacchan" was just a nickname.

     Midoriya began to shit in place, "Uhm . . . w-what is this..?"

     "A game." You simply replied.

     "Where is everyone?" Todoroki asked.

     You shrugged, "I'm unsure."

     "This is fucking bullshit." Bakugou grumbled, "I don't want to play any fucking game." He began to stomp towards the red sensor.

     Midoriya's eyes widened, "K-Kacchan, wait!"

     You quickly gripped Bakugou's arm, causing him to jerk back.

     "What the hell?!" He glared over at you.

     You didn't falter at his hard stare, "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

      He narrowed his eyes, "Huh?! What the fuck do you mean?"

     Sighing, you let go of his arm as you searched for something. Your eyes soon landed on an old name tag that had probably been left from previous competitors. You wasted no time in grabbing it before instantly throwing it past the censor.

     Just as you did that, a laser popped up and instantly shot through the old name tag, causing all three of the males' eyes to widen—especially Bakugou's as he backtracked a bit.

     "What the fuck."

     Todoroki blinked, "What was that..?"

     "W-Was that a . . . a laser?!" Midoriya's eyes began to tremor.

     You looked at them, "Once you cross the borderline, you can never return. You have no choice but to participate in the game."

     "You've gotta be fuckin' shitting me." Bakugou frowned, a bead of sweat on his cheek as he continued to stare at the old name tag.

     "Oh!" A random voice started causing you all to look up from the name card and at the periwinkle haired girl who had just appeared from the corner as she soon began to walk towards you all, "I'm so relieved! I thought I'd never find anyone here. I'm Hadou Nejire, It's so nice to finally see actual breathing humans!"

     "W-Wait, Hadou!" Midoriya outcasted his hand to stop her, but it was too late.

     She passed the censor just as he had said those words of warning, giving you all a confused look from the odd expressions you all were giving her.

     You frowned, "You shouldn't have done that."

     Then again, if she hadn't . . . she'd probably die.

     "Fucking idiot." Bakugou grumbled under his breath though anyone could hear it.

     She blinked, "Huh?

     You sighed, as you outcasted a phone you had grabbed. She continued to blink down at it before slowly taking it from you—it doing the basic start-up before a dinging sound soon echoed throughout the room.

     “ Registration closed. The game will now commence. ” The female AI started.

     "Game..?" Hadou mumbled as she stared down at the phone.

     “ Game, dead or alive. Difficulty, three of clubs. ”

     "Three of . . . of clubs..?" Midoriya mumbled.

     A bead of sweat appeared on Todoroki's cheek, "What does that mean..?"

     “ Rule: select the correct door within the stipulated time. ”

     Bakugou scrunched up his nose, "The fuck?"

     “ Clear conditions: leave the building within the time limit. ”

     As the AI finished saying this, an elevator door dinged. This caused everyone in the room to averted their attention behind them as you all stared at the opening elevator, the word start written on the back wall.

     Not hesitating, you quickly walked towards and inside of the elevator as you refaced the others who had confused looks on their faces "You'll die if you keep spacing out."

     They all looked at each other aside from Hadou who quickly trudged inside though in an almost giddily manner.

     "We probably should listen to her . . ." Todoroki muttered as he glanced back to you.

     In reluctance after a few more glances among themselves, the three males all followed suit as they entered the elevator with you and Hadou. Right as Midoriya entered, the elevator closed as it began sending you all to the top floor it seemed.

     After a few seconds, the door soon opened again—revealing a square room with black and white checkered floors—your phones instantly dinged once more.

     “ The time limit for this room is two minutes. ” Right as the AI said that, a timer popped up on the phone as it began counting down the minutes.

     You all slowly shuffled out of the elevator silently, taking notice of the two doors with two different pictures on them: one with a cute anime angel girl, the words "live" above it, and another that was black with a skull, the words "die" above it.

     "What's this..?" Todoroki broke the silence.

     You looked at the cute anime angel poster, "Live: to live . . ." You then looked at the skull poster, "Die: or to die."

     "Tch." Bakugou began to wander around towards the two doors, Todoroki followed along silently.

     Midoriya swallowed as he did the same, "I-Is this really a g-game..? Maybe . . . maybe this is just an event o-or something."

     "Ooh, an event?" Hadou clasped her hands together as she looked around the room in an almost excited manner.

     “ One minute remaining. ”

     Once all the males made it to the "die" door, Todoroki spoke, "Midoriya."

     "Huh?" Midoriya looked at him.

     "Do you have any idea of which one it could be?" Todoroki started making his way towards the "live" door.

     "Well–"

     "I wouldn't choose the skeleton one!" Hadou interrupted.

     "Shut the hell up, airhead." Bakugou growled at the girl who didn't seem phased by his words at all.

     "You're sure a rude one!"

     "Tch."

     "W-What will happen if we . . . we choose the wrong one?" Midoriya mumbled as he looked back at the rest of you.

     You began to eye the two doors as a heavy silence came over the small group. You could feel your heart practically pounding in your chest and pondered the answer.

     There was a fifty-fifty chance in this case scenario. But there was really no logical way to know which door was actually the correct one . . .

     Actually, there was a way.

     You gripped the straps of your bag, "The answer is 'live'." You muttered as everyone looked at you, "Open the door that says 'live'."

     "How the fuck do you know?" Bakugou gave you a skeptical look.

     You looked down and away from his gaze, "Because it's obviously the 'live' door . . ."

     Hadou began to sniff the air as she looked around the room, "Hey, do you guys smell something?" This caused everyone to look at her before gazing around the room yourselves.

     Midoriya soon gasped, "L-Look down!"

     With that, everyone did as he had said, all looking down and seeing the smoke beginning to form up from the tiles of the floor.

     "Fire?" Todoroki started as everyone began to move away from the smoke and began to cough as it got worse and worse.

     “ Thirty seconds remaining. ”

     "The answer is 'live'!" You stated again through coughs, "Open the door!"

     "Open it yourself, you bitch!" Bakugou managed to cough out.

     "What w-will happens when the time runs out?" Midoriya coughed out.

     "We . . . we have no time!" You continued to cough.

     Todoroki looked over at you, "Why do you think that's the answer?"

     "Clearly, we can't choose 'die' can we?" You stated.

     “ Twenty seconds remaining. ”

     "I-I can't stand this smoke anymore!" Hadou whimpered as she passed you all and started towards the 'live' door.

     She quickly began to fumble with the knob before opening it and hurriedly making her way inside; however, once she passed the doorframe, a laser shot out—instantly percent through her. And just like that, she fell to the ground, her body limp and unmoving as the door slammed back shut

     Everyone stood frozen, eyes wide as they just stared at the now-closed door where the girl had gone through.

     Midoriya's eyes tremored, "Did . . . did she . . ." But he couldn't finish the sentence, he didn't want to.

     “ Twenty seconds remaining. ”

     Hearing this, you quickly snapped your head towards the door labeled "die." It had to be that one . . . there was no other to choose from. Not wasting any time, you quickly raced towards it, opening it, and making your way inside—the other three looking at you while they remained where they were at. As expected, no laser did shoot through you.

     “Five–Four–Three . . .”

     Quick glances amongst themselves, they all raced through the door as well as the counter started counting down the seconds. Once it hit one and everyone had managed to get inside, a large fire exploded in the room right as Midoriya had closed the door.

     “ The time limit for this room is one minute and fifty seconds. ” The AI stated once the door had shut.

     You glanced around, it was a similar room to the one you had been in only seconds before. Two doors read the same above them, "live" and "die".

     "She . . . she really died." Midoriya muttered.

     "You were the one who killed that girl." Todoroki bluntly stated as he looked in your direction, a slight glare.

     You just looked at him, emotionless, "You survived because of me, right?"

     Bakugou suddenly grabbed your shoulder roughly, "You little bi–"

     "If you guys keep doing what you did in the room before, you'll die just like her." You muttered.

     His grip tightened on your shoulder momentarily before he let go of you, "Damn it!"

     "What d-do . . . do we do now..?" Midoriya mumbled as he eyed both the doors, "D-Do we choose 'die' here, too..?"

     "Since we chose 'die' last time, shouldn't it be 'live'?" Todoroki offered his suggestion.

     "It can't fucking be 'die' twice in a fucking row!" Bakugou narrowed his eyes at him.

     "It was just a suggestion." Todoroki muttered.

     "But . . . but it is hard to choose 'die' . . ." Midoriya pondered.

     "I'm sure this is a game for us to choose a sacrifice within the time limit." You came in.

     "Sacrifice?" Todoroki repeated the word.

     "There's probably no meaning to the doors." You stated, "It's probably about who's going to be the first to open it. Basically, they're telling us to choose one person in the allotted time."

     Todoroki's eyes narrowed at you, "Like you sacrificed that girl . . ."

     "Why don't you open the damn door then, huh?" Bakugou glared at you, "If you're so fucking high and mighty."

     You glanced at the doors then back to him, "I believe I'm the best suited to survive out of all of you."

     "Huh?" Bakugou suddenly grabbed hold of you and slammed you against the wall rather roughly as he growled at you, "What the fuck did you just say?!"

     If this game didn't kill you, you had a feeling he just might do the job . . . that is if he ended up surviving himself.

     "K-Kacchan!" Midoriya reached out for him though didn't dare get much closer with the look Bakugou gave him.

     Thankfully the AI sounded, “ One minute remaining. ”

     "N-No ones going to open the door at this rate . . ." Midoriya mumbled as he looked between the two doors.

     "So we're all just gonna die from the fucking fire?!" Bakugou looked back at him, his grip loosening a bit but it remained.

     "Then why don't you open it?" You directed the words to him, "Why ask anyone when you can do it yourself?" But as you said this, smoke began to form—coughing beginning to slowly ensue between the group.

     Though Midoriya soon clenched his fists, "I-I'll open."

     This caused everyone to look in his direction with wide eyes, aside from you, upon the unexpected proclamation. Admittedly you were a bit shocked as well given the personality he had shown so far, but you weren't complaining either. As long as it wasn't you opening the door, it didn't matter . . .

     Everyone—unmoving—watched as Midoriya slowly began his way towards the "live" door.

     "The fuck, Deku?!" Bakugou came in but kept his hold on you.

     Midoriya ignored them, obviously trembling, as he eyed the two doors back and forth before heading towards the one that read "die" on top of it.

     "Midoriya, don't be provoked by her." Todoroki warned.

     Midoriya slowly and shakily reached for the handle, gripping it but not opening it as he just stood frozen in his spot—staring down at it.

     “ Thirty seconds remaining. ”

     "Midoriya!" Todoroki shouted right as the male was about to open the door.

     However, Midoriya didn't move and continued to shake in his spot. But his hand soon fell limply to his side as he just stared down at the handle before dropping to his knees.

     He couldn't do it.

     "See." You started, "You can't open it, you'd've even sacrificed that girl, too."

     "Shut the hell up!" Bakugou roughly pushed you against the wall as he let you go.

     “ Twenty seconds remaining. ”

     "I'll fucking do it." Bakugou soon growled as he walked towards the door with '"live" above it.

     Todoroki's eyes widened slightly, "Bakugou–"

     "He has bad fucking luck anyway."

     Midoriya looked back at his friend as he stopped in front of the "live" door, "K-Kacchan . . ."

     "We'll take fucking turns." Bskugou muttered as he stared down at the door handle—his hand hovering over—before looking over at you, "You'll be next."

     “ Ten seconds. ”

     He looked back at the door.

     "Kacchan . . ."

     Taking in a deep breath and swallowing, his hand hovered over the door handle for a few more seconds before quickly opening it and dashing through.

     "Kacchan!" Midoriya quickly scrambled up but stopped upon realizing his friend had successfully passed through.

     Bakugou let out a sigh of relief as he realized he had passed through the door, unharmed, too. It seemed he had made the right call in the end.

     “ Five–Four–Three . . .”

     Once the second countdown started, the rest of you quickly started towards the door. And like the last time, once you had passed the frame upon the last second, a fire exploded in the room right as you shut the door this time.

     “ The time limit for the room, one minute forty seconds. ”

     Midoriya looked at his phone as the counter began, "The time l-limit is shortening each time."

     Bakugou looked over at you, "Now you get the next fucking door." He soon got up from his spot as he trudged over to you, grabbing your arm rather roughly as he started to drag you to one of the doors, "I'll choose the damn door."

     Your eyes widened, "H-Hey!"

     He instantly slammed you against the door with the anime angel, "Live."

     But you didn't budge as you just glared at him from against the door which didn't bode well with him it seemed as he was getting frustrated—though that seemed to be a natural occurrence with him anyway given from what you had seen thus far.

     "Open it, damnit!"

     Your brows began to twitch, "No . . ."

     "You–!"

     "Bakugou, calm down," Todoroki muttered from the other side.

     "Don't tell me to fucking calm down, half-and-half!" He glared over at him.

     Todoroki sighed as he glanced over at Midoriya who had been silent this whole time, deep in thought while sitting on the ground, "Do you have any ideas, Midoriya..?"

     This snapped him away from his thoughts, "Ideas..?"

     Todoroki made his way towards him, "You always say there's a solution for every problem."

      "Uh, w-well yes, bu-but this isn't a game . . ."

     "You're always solving things that seem impossible, you have to have an idea." Todoroki states.

     "But . . . but this is no game." Midoriya's lips began to quiver as he looked down at the phone in his hand, "It's all about l-luck."

     “ One minute remaining. ”

     "Come on, think Midoriya." Todoroki urged, "There had to be a hint somewhere . . ."

     "A hint . . ." Midoriya's muttered as he began to search his mind for something and as he did this, smoke began to come up from the floor—signaling time was growing short. He began to look all around the room, every square inch. His eyes began to widen, "Oh . . ."

     This caused everyone to look at him.

     "What is it?" Todoroki asked.

     "Wait a minute . . ." Midoriya soon got up from the floor.

     “ Thirty seconds remaining. ”

     He walked towards the middle of the room, "BMW 523rd."

     Bakugou's eyes narrowed at him, "The fuck are you spouting on about?"

     "I-It was a BMW 523rd." Midoriya repeated.

     "So?"

     "What are you implying?" Todoroki asked.

     Midoriya looked down at his hand, "It's . . . it's 'die'."

     "How do you know..?" You blinked at him.

     “ Ten seconds remaining. ”

     "There's . . . there's no time." Midoriya muttered, "I-I'll open the door." With that, he quickly headed to the door he had mentioned.

     "Midoriya, a-are you sure..?" A bead of sweat appeared on Todoroki's cheek as he quickly headed to where the other male was.

     Midoriya squeezed his eyes shut as he gripped the handle of the door, "P-Please . . ." With those words, He quickly opened the door, stumbling through.

     No death laser.

     “ Five–Four–Three . . . ”

     Not wasting any more time, everyone else entered soon after him, Bakugou being the one to shut the door this time as a loud sound erupted behind it—no doubt the fore that had been making a presence every time time would run out.

     “ The time limit for this room is one minute and thirty seconds. ”

     "Do you know which it is now?" Todoroki questioned as he watched Midoriya become frantic as he looked around the room,

     "The . . . the BMW 523rd is four meters and ninety-four centimeters . . . there was one parked outside." Midoriya started.

     "What the hell does that have to do with anything?" Bakugou narrowed his eyes over at the other male.

The remainder of the story because of cut off:

[saltedpeppermintmocha]

into the night (bakugou x reader) - chapter 4/?

Summary:

You were born to die.

It is a fact you’ve known since your quirk first manifested, and one you have been denying for just as long. You refuse your supposed fate and try to live the best life you can while remaining undetected.

But maybe fate has another plan. A chance encounter on a mountainside changes your life forever.

Chapter One

MATURE : MINORS DO NOT INTERACT // 18+

The day feels almost dramatically longer than normal. You love your dad and really should be relishing the time you get to spend with him, but your brain is elsewhere the entire time. It swirls with the urge to do more research, to try and figure out who exactly the blond is and why he was here. Especially if he posed any sort of threat to the small town, or if this was a sign of more heroes arriving. Unfortunately, being with Dad meant you couldn’t risk looking him up. It just wasn’t worth the risk of him seeing your phone.

So the day drags on until Dad leaves for his weekly ‘game night’ with the other older men of the village. He offers for you to join, but you wave him off and say that you’ll meet him at home. You remember being forced to go as a kid - at least until he was comfortable leaving you with someone else - and absolutely hating it. A bunch of men drinking, playing card games, and reciting awful jokes was never your style. Or you thought so anyway, but you seem to be spending many similar nights at Naoko’s bar.

There is a bit of extra time before the call with Naoko, so you pop into a nearby restaurant and grab some food to take home. You chat lightly with the man behind the counter, someone you knew vaguely from school, grab your food, and head out. One hand occupied with the bag, you use the other to reopen your search on your phone on the hero. You click the first article that comes up.

The article is dated from about three weeks ago and has a small paragraph at the top which spoke of a villain attack on the western side of Musutafu. Directly underneath it is a slideshow of photos. The first few showcase a rather vicious-looking villain destroying a small street. They seem to have some sort of mutant quirk along with...crystal manipulation? You wonder at the crystals surrounding the villain for a moment before swiping further. The next photo turns out to be a video. You hit play.

It’s a shaky amateur video, probably taken from someone's cellphone, with no sound. The camera follows an explosion in the distance quickly getting closer. The man you now know as Ground Zero appears on the scene almost impossibly fast, sending concrete flying around him as he lands in an explosion. The video ends there. You swipe to the next video. This one seems to be taken from above, out the window of a nearby high-rise building. Ground Zero fights from the air, held afloat by explosions. He calls out to another hero fighting on the ground. The distance is too far to see anything of the other hero other than the colour red. The video stops. You swipe to the next. The last part of the slideshow is a photo. Ground Zero isn’t in it at all, but the villain has been defeated. The red man from before is shown placing cuffs on the villain.

The actual article doesn’t have much information on Ground Zero. Actually, it doesn’t speak of the explosive hero much at all. If you hadn’t seen the pictures, you wouldn’t think he was a big part of the fight. The most the article speaks of is the destruction he caused at the site. The other hero - Red Riot apparent - takes the spotlight in the article, as it goes on about his numerous accomplishments and motivational words. It seems a bit unfair, truthfully.

By the time you have read through the article, you make it home safely. You hang up your coat and scarf, and toe-off your boots before heading into the warm house. Placing the food on the kitchen table, you make your way upstairs to grab your laptop. Laptop and charger in hand, you head back down to the table and get yourself set up. It is only a few minutes to five when you start the video call.

It rings for a few moments before being picked up. Naoko smiles in the video, giving a small wave before sipping from her glass of wine. She looks like she is at home, relaxed on her plush white couch. “So, any run-ins with your mountain boy today?”

“He’s gone.” You grab your food, sliding it closer. “Apparently he checked out this morning.”

She frowns. “So, no autograph then?”

“I guess not.” You shrug. Not like you were planning on asking for one anyway. That would be much too awkward after everything that happened. You begin to unwrap your take-out food, the call silent as you try to figure out what to ask first. “So, any idea why he was here?”

“I’m not sure.” She adjusts in her seat, crossing her legs and taking another sip of wine. “There's been nothing online about it, not even in the groups I’m in. It’s weird, usually, the media is all over him.”

“Why?” You ask, finally freeing the food from its plastic wrapping. You attempt to throw the plastic into the proper recycling bin across the room. It misses. Figures.

She chuckles. “Well, you met the guy for like a minute and determined that he was an asshole.” Okay, that's true. “He’s prone to acting out and gets into trouble with the media a lot. Especially recently.”

“I guess that makes sense.” You pause to take a bite of your food. “Why is a guy like that even a hero?”

Naoko shrugs. “He doesn’t really talk about his motivations or anything in interviews, but he’s good enough to be number six even with that personality of his.”

Number six? You swallow, thinking. Wait. “The number six hero?!” Your voice raises in shock. The hero rankings were pretty important, even you knew that. To be anywhere in the top ten meant you had to be absolutely amazing. “How?!”

She doesn’t react to your question, instead looking off to the side and swishing her wine. Her lips are pressed together in thought. “Maybe...maybe he was on a break.” She finally speaks, her voice trailing off a bit. “After all the drama from the JHBC...it would make sense to disappear…”

“Drama?” You prompt, after a long moment where she does not continue.

Holding up a finger in a ‘wait’ motion, she downs the rest of her glass quickly and stands up, disappearing from frame. A minute later she returns with a full glass and sits down. “The last JHBC was about two weeks ago-”

“What’s that?”

“The Japanese Hero Billboard Chart.” She gives you a look for interrupting but continues. “It's where they announce the new rankings. Usually, you can sort of tell who is going to be where in advance, this is more of an ‘official’ thing, but this year the number five spot was a toss-up between Ground Zero and Deku.”  Ah, one of the heroes you actually vaguely knew about. It was sort of hard not to know of the ‘new symbol of peace’ or to see his merch essentially everywhere, even in Hokkaido. “Deku blew everyone away by not only cracking the top five but moving immediately to the top 4.”

“Ohh, so there was drama between Deku and the old number four hero?” What did this have to do with Ground Zero being in Makkari?

Naoko smiled. “Nah, Edgeshot didn’t really show anything but respect for Deku as he took his spot. I mean, we all saw it coming in a way. That man is going to be number one sooner rather than later. The drama came from Ground Zero.”

She takes another long sip before continuing. “Nobody knows the specifics, although there is a lot of speculation online about it. As Deku was announced as the number four hero, there was a loud scream and a sound off-screen. The entire stream got cut out for a few minutes. When it came back on, Deku was on stage looking really uncomfortable. Ground Zero was called for his spot as number six, but the audience was told that he had to leave for an emergency. The guy has been essentially missing from all media since.”

“Suspicious.”

“Extremely.” Naoko agrees. “The online consensus is that he lost due to his attitude. Around the time of the rankings, almost everything you saw about him was super negative. He seemed to be blowing up at everything. It was everywhere, I’m honestly surprised you never saw it.”  You shrug. It’s not like you had been aggressively avoiding all things hero for all your life. Nope.

“Anyways, after all of the media coverage, it was sort of weird when he just disappeared. Nobody saw him in fights or on patrol. Lots of conspiracy groups popped up that maybe he was injured or undercover or something worse happened at the JHBC, but no official source came forward.”

“And then he ends up here.” You mutter. “But why Makkari?”

“I don't know.” She shrugs. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him in Hokkaido. He’s usually closer to his agency and the other top ten in Musutafu.”

All of that is interesting, sure, but honestly, the only thing you care about is: “Does that mean there's a villain here?”

“Let's hope not.” She sighs. “The heroes here seem to be acting the same. I saw Grand and Turtle Neck on patrol the other day and they seemed calm. Got myself an autograph easily enough.”

“Who?”

“Oh my god.” She pressed one hand to her temples. “You should at least know the local heroes, especially with your job.” You shrug, taking the opportunity to stand up and throw out your crumbs and extra packaging.

When you return, Naoko has a new glass of wine. “Well, no matter what he was doing here, he’s gone now, apparently.”

She hums thoughtfully. “Did he…Did he seem weird? Say anything?”

“I don’t think so.” You think back to your interactions with him. “I mean, I wouldn’t really know.” Drunk-you aside, anytime you spoke to him on the mountain was kind enough...wait.  “I gave him a lecture about his quirk…” You mutter. “Oh my god. I gave a pro hero a lecture about using his quirk without a license.”  You had been worried for him.

Naoko laughs. “Hey, it’s a story to tell at least.”

You think of your dad and shake your head. “No. I don’t want anyone to know. Nobody here seems to know there was a hero, and it's probably a good thing. And if he’s gone, there’s probably nothing to worry about.” Staring into the camera, you continue. “Don’t tell anyone, please.”

“I don’t get you.” She shakes her head, letting out a breath of frustration. “But, whatever girl, it's fine. I won’t tell a soul.” For a moment, neither of you speak. There's a bit of a weird mood between you both after the conversation, the type of mood that comes from two people with completely different outlooks on a situation. You wish you were there in person to break it.

A sound from her end echoes lightly through the computer. She gasps as a big black mass jumps up on her lap. Naoko makes a high-pitched sound and holds her glass above her head, careful not to spill wine on her white couch. “You little shit…” She mutters.

The weird mood breaks. You laugh. “And there is the man of the hour. I was wondering where he ended up."

“The only man allowed on my lap.” She jokes back, carefully placing her wine glass on the coffee table beside her laptop.

The conversation flows away from the topic of heroes and onto daily life. You grab a can of beer from the fridge and join her in drinking. By the time the call ends a few hours later, both of you are tinted red and giggling. You wish her goodnight and close the laptop. Your bones pop satisfactorily as you get up, stretching a bit once fully standing. You grab your stuff and head upstairs, depositing it on your desk before heading to the bathroom.

Nighttime routine complete, you change into warm pajamas and slide into bed. A quick look at the clock on your nightstand shows that Dad should be home in about half an hour, although by the way you’re yawning you doubt you will be awake. Stretching out comfortably in bed, you stare at the ceiling.

Your mind naturally drifts to the blond hero, going over the weird interactions you’ve had. A lot of what he said and did makes more sense in hindsight, like when he asked if you wanted his autograph or his complete shock at your warnings about his quirk and safety on the mountain. Honestly, you had thought he was just being a dick.

Well, it's over now. He’ll go back to Musutafu and you’ll go back to your life of only seeing heroes while on the job. In the end, Naoko was right, it’ll just become a story to tell in the far future.

The ground is covered in snow when you make your way back to Sapporo a few days. It happened quickly, as the weather tends to do this time of year. You had to cut your visit short by three days due to the heavy snowfall predicted for the area. Dad tried to argue that your team doesn’t need you that bad, but you were insistent.

The drive back is peaceful. It’s not too long of a drive, and soon you can see the city in the distance. You can't help but smile as you look at those big buildings looming ahead, lights almost like stars in the dark. The city is as congested as usual, but you make okay time as you drive through the city center towards your end of town.

After dropping off the car at the rental place, you make the walk home. The air here is nothing in comparison to the clear and fresh Makkari, but you’ll get used to it again soon enough. Pulling your luggage behind, you make your way through the city. It’s still early, really, so you decide to make a detour from your house. The sight of the bar, with its non-descript sign and dark windows, fills you with warmth.

It’s a quiet Wednesday night, with a few patrons littered throughout either drinking at tables or playing billiards. It’ll probably get a little busier a bit later. You glance over to the bar. Naoko is there, leaning against the counter and speaking to a customer. She looks up, eyes wide. Her mouth opens in shock, then she calls out your name. Leaving her customer, she rushes around the counter to wrap you in a hug. You return it happily. The customer, a regular that you’ve spoken to a few times, waves at you with a smile. It’s really nice to be back.

You sit on a barstool as Naoko makes her way back behind the bar,  placing your luggage beside you as best you can to not take up much room.

“I thought you were back on Saturday.” She says, a question in her statement.

“Weather.” You reply. “Makkari is supposed to be hit by a pretty bad snowstorm tomorrow.”

“I bet your dad wasn’t happy.” She hasn’t even met the man and knows. Naoko shoves a drink at you. You don’t know what it is, but take a sip. It’s...spicy.

You shake your head, a small smile forming. “He tried to convince me to stay.” It had been...difficult to say the least. He has always hated that you chose to live here. “So, what was I interrupting when I came in?” You smile apologetically at Naoko and the customer. The regular seems to be asleep against the bar. Huh.

“Ah, I was just telling Haru here about the fight I had to break up last night.”

“Oh?” You prompt, running a finger around the top of the glass. “What happened?”

“Just your average drunk assholes.” She replies. “Not regulars, thankfully. I had to use my quirk to get them out.” Naoko lets out a breath and leans against the bar. “I can’t imagine working here and not having my quirk.”

You nod absentmindedly. Her quirk - Calming Touch- does come into use pretty often at the bar. Calming Touch is pretty much what it says on the tin, she is able to calm down anyone she touches when she activates her quirk. It can work on any type of extreme emotion. Luckily, it’s not classified as a dangerous or physical quirk, so she is able to use it without a license.

Hm. There is a weird silence. You look up, locking eyes with Naoko’s. She seems tense. “What?”

“I’m so sorry!” She blurts out. “That was super rude of me.”

“Huh?”

“The quirk thing.” She continues. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

Ohh...you get it now. “You quirkless?”  The voice comes from your right. You turn to see Haru awake, leaning against his arm on the bar. Huh, you didn’t realize he had been awake.

“Ah, uh-” You stumble through your words.

“It's okay,” Haru mumbles, laying his head back down on the bar, facing you. Dark eyes stare at you.“‘ ‘m too.”

“Thanks.” You smile, ignoring the pit of guilt forming in your stomach. You turn to Naoko. “ It’s okay. I’m used to it. Lived this way my entire life.”

“Still…” She sighs. The bar door swings open, slamming loudly against the wall. You turn to look over your shoulder. A large group of people has come in, a few of them looking at the door in shock. Well, it’s not like you haven’t accidentally done the same thing. After a moment they head towards the back where the pool tables are, four splitting from the group to head towards the bar.

“I’ll get out of your hair.” You say, sliding off the barstool. “I should be getting home anyway.”

“Be safe getting home!” Naoko asks.

“Always.” You grab your luggage as the four converge on the bar. “Bye Haru!” You call out, not knowing if the man fell asleep again, and leave the bar.

Leaving the warmth of the bar for the cold outside hits harsher than before. You wonder idly if the temperature went down while you were in the bar. Burying your face in your scarf, you turn left and head down the street. It's busy this time of night, but you maneuver effortlessly through the crowds.

It takes less than ten minutes before you reach your apartment. Looking up at the large building, you make your way up to the front door. It's not an especially nice building, but not horrible either. It’s pretty average, although the landlord is known to never reply to complaints. Still, the apartment takes up a huge portion of your paycheck.

You take the elevator up to the sixth floor and make your way down the hall to your door. Opening the door to a dark apartment, you’re hit by a sense of comfort. It’s always nice to be back in your own space. You toe off your shoes, hang up your coat and scarf, and head inside. Leaving the luggage at the door - a problem for tomorrow- you turn on a lamp and head over to your couch, plopping down.

After a few minutes of molding to the couch, you grab your phone from your pocket.

[Contact: Bossman]

You: I am back in Sapporo a few days early. Let me know if there is anything I can help with.

It might seem a little sad to give up your last day of vacation but you love your job, and it’s not like you have much else to do. Most of your friends share the same job as you, so it’s not like they are free often. You can accomplish everything you need -groceries, laundry, etc- tomorrow. Unless you go back to work, you know you’ll be spending most of the next four days on your couch watching tv.

You let yourself lay in the quiet for a bit longer. The mix of traveling and whatever drink Naoko had given you -and oh wow you forgot to pay, shit- making you a bit more tired than you would have suspected. It’s going to be an early night. Finally, you stand up and make your way to the bathroom. You feel a bit better after a quick shower, the last remnants of cold seeping from your system. But something about that warmth just adds to your tiredness. You don't even put on clothes, you just head straight to bed and fall asleep.

You dream of playing billiards with a bear. You lose.

It’s your phone that wakes you up. Opening your eyes a bit, you stare at the ceiling and contemplate the benefits of not picking up. In the end, the phone wins out. You roll onto your side and grab it, checking the contact.

[Contact: Bossman]

Huh? You pick up on the last ring. “Hello?”

“Hey!” The voice on the other end is way too chipper for this early in the morning. Wait, is it early? You check your phone. 8:35. Hm. Acceptable. “I got your message yesterday. If you want to come back early, I have no problem with that.”

“Really?!” You sit up. Ouch. A crick in your neck.

“Well, there's a bunch of paperwork you need to do.” You groan. He laughs. “Don’t be like that. It’s your paperwork that I’ve kindly allowed you to put on hold during your holiday, but it needs to be done.” A pause. You feel your excitement droop. Maybe a few days of laying on the couch will be better than paperwork, but if you have to do it anyways...“If you get it done early, I don’t see any problem with having you at-ready.”

“Yes!” You say instantly. “But, why?”

“There’s been an uptick in villain attacks recently.” He says. “We need all hands on deck. That’s all I can really tell you.” Ah, the wonders of bureaucracy. He always says the same line when it’s an order from the top.

“Alright.” You conceded. “Can I come in today?"

“Whenever you want.” There's a sound in the background.  “Gotta go. I’ll see you later?” You agree and hang up. After that conversation, you’re wide awake. Part of you wants to go straight to work, but you know you have some stuff you need to do first.

You stretch and slide out of bed. It’s colder than you expect. You shiver, looking down. Oh yea, you’re naked. Right. Heading towards your closet, you pick out some casual clothes and get dressed. You start the day with a quick run to the grocery store, grabbing take-out breakfast on the way home. You eat on the couch, laptop in your lap and check up on emails. After, you tackle the errands around your house by organizing your luggage, laundry, and watering your plants. You hum as you mist the nerve plant on your window, looking out. Your eyes scan the area around you. It's busy on the street below, as is usual for this time.

Your eyes lock onto a building a few blocks down. You can barely see it in between the other buildings, and it looks relatively nondescript from your angle. But that building is the single reason your rent is through the roof. The hero agency. It had been by your Dad's insistence that you moved to this building. It was the only one in the area with a rent that you could possibly keep up with. At first, you thought it was odd that Dad was so insistent upon you being closer to heroes, but the more you thought of it the more you understood. The only thing that man is more worried about than heroes is villains, and villain attacks in the area surrounding a hero agency are extremely rare. None have occurred even close to the area since you moved in.

Your phone alarm goes off, warning you of the time. 12:00p.m, time to go. You get dressed in your uniform, throw on your coat and scarf, and head out. Your workplace is on the east side of Sapporo, so you take the subway most of the way. The building, tall and surrounded by various emergency vehicles, takes up almost a block.  

The receptionist waves at you while on the phone as you walk by. You smile at him and continue to the elevator. The third floor is, as usual, in an organized state of chaos. Coworkers rush past you on their way out to some sort of emergency. Others sit at desks furiously typing away or are on intense-looking phone calls. You head towards the large office at the back, your boss's office. He is on a call but locks eyes with you through the window. The man looks at your uniform, rolls his eyes, and points towards the back of the room. You look over and fight back a groan. An empty desk sits there, a stack of paper already on the edge.

Still, you head over and plop down. The stack of paper looks even larger up close. You wish the department could just go paperless. You log into the computer, then log into your account and take a moment to stretch. A deep breath, and you begin.

Nighttime hits way before you are even close to being done. You take small breaks in between for coffee runs and the occasional small walk for exercise, but otherwise, you remain glued to your seat, determined to finish this work by the end of the day. The idea of leaving more of it for tomorrow is just too horrible.

Eventually, you submit the last of your work. You don't exactly feel accomplished, but the relief hits you nonetheless. Sitting up from your hunched position, you can feel the bones in your back crack happily. You check the time: 8:00 p.m. Not that bad, actually. You essentially did a full 8-hour day.

“Done?”  You look up at the voice. It's your boss. He has a coat on, probably on his own way out. You nod. “Alright, I’ll put you back on the roster. Keep your pager close.” He tosses you a pager and leaves.

At eight hours, you have four more that you could be on-call. Logging out of the computer, you stand up and head towards the elevator. After eight hours in this building, you need to get out for a little bit. You wander around the perimeter of the station, looking up into the sky and missing the stars.

The pager buzzes in your pocket. You startle and grab at it. The display simply reads EMERGENCY and a number. You look at it and break into a run back for the building. Luckily, you’re not far.

The number corresponds to the vehicle that you have been assigned. You find the ambulance quickly, the last of your team to arrive and jump into the back. The team usually consists of four people per vehicle. Two sit in the front, and two ride in the back. It’s a bit surprising when three people jump in the back. You sit down and buckle your seatbelt, looking over the others. The first is a man you’ve worked with before and the second is one you haven't. The new guy barely manages to do his seatbelt up before the vehicle begins to move.

“Hey.” You smile. The man looks over, face nervous. “I haven’t met you before. What’s your name?”

“Eito.” The guy has an adorable voice. Damn. “I’m a new hire.”

“And they stuck you with us?” You ask, raising an eyebrow. New hires don't normally go to your section of the department.

“My quirk.” Eito mutters. “I can create a shield of energy, only for about a minute, and they’re pretty weak but…”

“Ah, I see how that could be useful during a villain attack.” You nod, moving on to ask him questions about the emergency. Apparently, the call itself was vague, although that wasn't unique in your job. The Villain Attack division is called in the moment a villain is reported, so you never had enough information.

The ambulance comes to a skidding stop. You’re quick to unbuckle your seatbelt, gear up, and jump into action. Opening the doors was a weird scene, to say the least. Large cloth-looking dolls walk down the street, hitting buildings. They don’t seem strong enough to destroy them in one hit, but some of the nearby ones are crumbling. You can’t see the villain that must be controlling them.

The vehicle is stopped on the outskirts of the fight, carefully hidden away.

“We have one injured reported to the right.” The coworker in the passenger seat pops around the side of the ambulance holding a radio. “Let’s go.”

You move as a seasoned four-person team, the driver having to stay in the ambulance in case it needs to move. Your team stays on the outskirts of the battle raging on as you walk, ducking into buildings and behind cars to avoid notice. Eito trails behind you carefully. Eventually, you reach the injured woman. She is awake and bursts into tears as she sees your team. Eito and you watch the area around you as your coworkers attend to her. They assess vitals, ask questions and make the final decision that she is okay to move. She seems to have a broken leg, so they help stabilize the leg before helping her up. Your two coworkers are practically carrying the woman as they move, with you at the front and Eito at the back as lookout.

As you move, something catches your attention in the corner of your eye. A shoe on the ground. You pause, looking a bit closer. Shit. That’s a leg. Hopefully connected to a person. They’re mostly hidden behind some rubble, so you can’t even tell if they are alive or not.

You look at your coworkers and tell them the situation. “I’ll help you get her out, then I’m going back in.”

Your coworkers agree, and you all try to speed your walk as fast as possible to the ambulance. The moment you can see it in the distance, you call for a split and turn around. “Eito, come with me.” A two-person team is only slightly better than a one-person, in the case of issues popping up, but you’ll take anything.

Eito nods and the two of you make your way back to the area you saw the leg. As you make your way back, you notice that the fight has gotten a lot closer than it had been previously. You are going to have to be quick. You motion to Eito and the two of you creep up the street until you reach the rubble.

At first, you think he must be dead. The man lying there in a pile of blood just can't be alive. Eito crouches down beside him and checks vitals. “He’s alive!”

“Woah.” You crouch down and begin your own assessment. You use Eito mostly as an assistant, aware that time is not with you for many reasons.

The outcome of your assessment is grim. The man is bleeding heavily from a wound in his stomach, the cause of the blood around him. His whole body is twisted weirdly, likely a spinal injury. You can’t move him. Shit.

Eito works to stop the flow of blood as you reach for your own radio, calling for a stretcher and immediate assistance. Reaching into your pocket, you grab your small flare and light it, watching as the red light floats above the buildings. The flare is used in situations where the EMT needs assistance immediately but is unable to properly communicate their location. Your team will be able to find you soon. You hope. You go back to helping Eito stem the bleeding.

A large vibration echoes through the ground.

crack

You look up again at the sound. A piece of the building above you crumbles, sending large shards of metal and concrete towards you. You think that you could survive this. Your patient won't.

As you stare, a green light overcomes your vision. The metal and rocks hit it harshly, angry sounds echoing throughout the area. Your wide eyes look over at Eito, who has his hand up, a green light emanating from it. A terrified look is on his face.

“I can't hold it!” Eito exclaims, arms shaking wildly. The green aura suddenly disappears. You close your eyes and brace for impact.

BANG

The impact never comes, but it almost feels like it did. The sound, deafening. Hot air forces you sideways harshly into the ground. Dust fills your nose.

You cough through the dust, opening your eyes. A blurry figure stands amongst the debris, covered in the same dust you’re breathing. You rub at your eyes and push yourself up. The figure - probably a hero- is standing with his back to you. You can't see much of him except for...gauntlets on his hands and blond hair.

Wait.

No.

The figure looks back. Your eyes lock with red ones.

No fucking way.

[waveypedia]

“I’m in love…shit” the quintessential gyro

Gyro never meant to get attached to Fenton.

If he had known the bumbling, awkward, cheerful coworker would carve out a little nook for himself in Gyro’s heart, Gyro would have fought his superiors twice as hard on hiring an intern.

He had already given every excuse he had, but Scrooge was worried for him alone in the lab day after day, and the Board was tired of shoving precious funding at doomed inventions that blew up in their faces.

(Gyro was tired too.)

But somehow Gyro’s sheer force of will wasn’t enough, and he ended up saddled with the literal ball of sunshine and energy that was Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera. The duck essentially transformed into a mini hurricane in his precious lab, wreaking havoc and wrecking Gyro’s concentration. He never seemed to tire, both physically and emotionally, no matter how much meaningless work and hurtful insults Gyro threw at him.

Gyro never remembered dancing on Dr. Akita’s heels and shoving his thousand inane ideas in his mentor’s face. Yet Fenton greeted Gyro every morning with his too-bright grin and a plethora of new ideas. He followed Gyro around the lab like an unwanted puppy, asking a million questions a minute, forcing Gyro to multitask and make mistakes on his precious inventions. He also seemed to have a special knack for popping up in Gyro’s personal space right as Gyro was about to finish an important and tenuous process, startling him and, more often than not, making him mess up and have to start over.

Gyro did not regret making the bathroom his workspace, which was rather immature by his standards, but Fenton took it in stride, just like everything else. He didn’t even realize right away! What an idiot.

Although, the personal space and questions may have been the only characteristic of young Gyro that Fenton didn’t adopt. Despite them having zero similar physical characteristics, the younger duck served as a painful window to Gyro’s past self. 

Gyro… didn’t really know how to handle it. He certainly was no Akita; he lacked his old mentor’s eerie calmness and quiet confidence in spades. But Fenton was unmistakably Gyro, but a Gyro lost to time, a Gyro that crashed and burned and died twenty years ago.

Sooner or later, something was going to to go horribly, terribly, miraculously wrong. Something was going to break Fenton’s spirit forever. It would break him, like how 2-BO broke Gyro, and how the Spear of Selene ensured he would never recover.

Fenton was just a disaster waiting to happen, and as Gyro’s intern, Gyro would most likely be there for his failure. The thought of essentially watching a repeat of 2-BO from the outside, watching Fenton’s unshakable friendliness and passion crumble and shatter irreplaceably, terrified him. It was like watching a horror movie with dramatic irony, where the audience knows about the killer but the characters don’t, and the audience just watches them die slowly one by one, with the sickening sensation that something bad is about to happen and there’s nothing they can do to stop it.

Truthfully, there is something he could possibly do. He could talk to Fenton, but the thought of laying all his failures and terrors bare on the table terrified Gyro. For all his scientific genius, he is a disaster in a conversation, and not even Fenton’s inconceivably strong friendliness can save him. He can’t go to Mr. McDuck about it, because his boss would probably tut gently and pat Gyro’s back awkwardly and spout nonsense about rewriting history and we can handle it and good on you, lad, you care about him!

Wait. Since when did Gyro give a shit about Cabrera?

Only because watching Fenton skip and stumble down his old path, knowing only disaster and hardship awaits him at the end, felt like someone cut open old wounds that never really healed.

He didn’t care. No, sir.

And then, the unthinkable happened. 

When Gyro, Fenton, and a few of the McDuck clan ended up in danger, Fenton hotwired Project Blatherskite. It was still under construction and never meant to be used as anything vaguely resembling a superhero, but here they were.

“How could you be so stupid?!” Gyro snapped at Fenton over and over in the aftermath, but he was drowned out by the adrenaline-infused praise of his peers and Beaks’ creepy hero-worship. Scrooge, Dewey, and Launchpad seemed to have somehow developed the idiotic idea that Gizmoduck was prescisely the superhero Duckburg needs, and that Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera was just the duck to wear the suit. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Like all well-written dramatic irony, Gyro saw the picture fall into place before it happens. The Gizmosuit will be Fenton’s downfall the same way 2-BO was Gyro’s. His intern was about to crash and burn, and there was nothing Gyro could do about it since no one seemed to listen to him.

He felt like screaming and screaming until his throat was hoarse and his voice was gone, but it wouldn’t make a difference.

He was only a kooky, crazy scientist with a sharp tongue and a pessimistic, nihilistic worldview in their eyes. 

So he took matters into his own hands and fired Fenton and the first sight of heroic activity.

Really. A robotic suit built by Gyro Gearloose supposedly protecting a city? Yeah, please. Gyro may be an idiot but he’s learned from his mistakes. He knew Gizmoduck would be Fenton’s 2-BO already, thanks universe. He was just trying to minimize the damage. Fenton would have to get hurt whatever happens, but at least maybe the city of Duckburg can remain standing for another day. Unlike Tokyolk.

But the firing blew up in Gyro’s face, and Scrooge, crazy and reckless old man he was, hired Cabrera back. As a fucking superhero.

As soon as Mr. McDuck was out of sight, Gyro slammed his back against the hospital wall outside of Fenton’s room and let his knees give out, sinking into gravity’s embrace on the cold, hard floor. He buried his head in his hands, bunching his fingers into fists under his glasses. Hot tears pricked against his eyelids.

He had failed. Failed to protect Fenton from the casualties of the Gizmosuit. Failed to stop it from happening again, with more fatal results next time, despite his vehement protests.

He was going to watch Fenton’s spirit get crushed, or worse, watch Fenton die, in this stupid suit, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Fenton’s scary mom came around and berated Gyro for firing her son and letting him get into danger. Gyro wasn’t sure if he wanted to laugh or cry. He had been trying to prevent Fenton from getting into danger!!

“Have a heart,” Officer Cabrera had snapped at him. “See if you can find the ability to actually care a little bit about my son.”

That’s why I did what I did, Gyro wanted to scream. And then he froze, because he doesn’t care about Cabrera.

Does he?

Oh fuck, he does.

Gyro would have buried his head in his hands had it not already been there.

Caring only makes it harder.

He cared about Dr. Akita, and 2-BO, and look where that got him. He cared about Della, who was lost to space because of an invention Scrooge trusted him with making. He cared about Lil’ Bulb, which got him stolen by Mark Beaks and twisted into a trashy piece of tech that nearly killed them all.

He still cares about all of them.

As time went on, and Gizmoduck became a household name, no one seemed to catch onto Gyro’s fears. Not even when Fenton nearly died, twice in five minutes, and Gyro had to rebuild the entire suit from scratch instead of letting Gizmoduck die out like a sane person. Not even when Mark Beaks’ insane obsession with Gizmoduck ended with Huey and Webby in danger, Gyro himself locked in a closet and electrocuted (he’d very much like to have a talk with Ms. Dee for that offense) and Fenton’s secret identity in the hands of a very dangerous woman. All so Beaks can feed his stupid ego.

Gyro’s daily nightmares, once filled with images of 2-BO wreaking havoc on Tokyolk and Della vanishing from any and all communications permanently, had a new element to them. Fenton, sometimes in his Gizmosuit, sometimes without, dies and fails and breaks in a million different ways each time. Gyro woke up screaming every night. It never got easier.

He can no longer play at not caring about Fenton.

Then Della came back, crashed a Spear of Selene outfitted with more gold than original parts, but it was a Spear of Selene all the same, and it brought Della, alive and well. The Spear of Selene had doomed her, but Oxy-Chew had saved her. When Della squeezed all life out of him in a tight hug and then punched him in the arm because black licorice, Gyro?!? Seriously?! Gyro didn’t know how to react.

He had always thought his invention killed her, but it turned out to have saved her.

Gyro’s worldview, previously unshakable, was suddenly rocky, cracks winding through the foundations, with this discovery.

Maybe his failures weren’t as black-and-white as they seemed. Maybe he wasn’t an irredeemable monster.

Maybe Fenton won’t fail at all.

It all came to a head one day when Huey brought 2-BO, somehow alive but malfunctioning, into his lab. Gyro shoved down his long-lost, precious memories of 2-BO in Akita’s lab before he- it- destroyed the city it was supposed to protect. They returned to the site of Gyro’s greatest failure, where he broke the way Fenton might will soon, and Gyro’s careful plan falls apart. 

Just like the Spear of Selene, Gyro realized he was wrong. Tokyolk’s destruction was never his fault. It was never his failure or his weight to bear. It was Akita’s, not his or 2-BO’s.

And when he rises from his slapfight with his former mentor to see his invention, riddled with Akita’s corruption, towering over Fenton, helmetless, injured, and vulnerable, he had a lot of decisions and epiphanies to come to in a split second.

2-BO- Boyd- was not evil. Gyro wouldn’t let Akita’s tampering bring death and destruction to Tokyolk, again, and to Fenton.

Tokyolk may have never been a true failure of Gyro’s, but he still won’t let Fenton fail here.

He brought Boyd back in a way he never would have thought of previously. He had acquired a kid now, and that means it’s time to come clean to Fenton.

His intern- no, coworker- accepted Gyro’s terrors more easily than he expected, and somehow weaseled Gyro into promising to call him the next time he has a nightmare.

Gyro didn’t expect to keep that promise, but he did. And he called again, and again, and again.

And somehow that turned into a budding friendship, one based on a mutual passion for science and care for each other.

Because Fenton cared about him, Gyro realized one day with a shock, the same way he cared about Fenton.

Gyro buried his head in his hands and hoped he was done with heart-stopping epiphanies. But he wasn’t, not yet.

He had one more to go, and it came at one of Mr. McDuck’s fancy company parties that his kids and Mrs. Beakley had weaseled him into spending a lot more money than he would have liked. Gyro allowed himself a small chuckle at his boss’ indignation before he dragged Fenton off to make fun of all the frivolities of the party.  

As he and Fenton pushed their way through the mingling crowd towards the food table, Gyro hapazarded a glance back. Fenton, clad in a white-and-lavender tux that he had blushed and fingered at Mrs. Beakley’s inspection of it before the party, claiming it belonged to his father. But it fit him well, and accented the soft color of his feathers. The warm yellow light of the candles and chandeliers did as well, and as Fenton passed Launchpad his face lit up in a brilliant smile that warmed Gyro’s heart and brought a small smile of his own to his face.

Then it dropped just as suddenly.

I’m in love… shit.

Gyro stiffened and dropped Fenton’s hand, causing the aforementioned duck to immediately pause his quick greeting to Launchpad and whip around towards Gyro, his beautiful face twisting in concern. Gyro waved him off and sprinted away, ignoring Fenton’s cries of protest and worry, and dove into a small storage closet stocked with brooms and mops. (Mrs. Beakley would be furious if she found him here.) He slammed his face into his hands and dropped into a crouch on the floor.

Stupid, stupid, stupid…

How on earth was Gyro supposed to handle this?! He had just gotten used to Fenton as a coworker and friend.

Surely Fenton would resent him if he confessed and upended their already tenuous relationship.

A small, hesitant knock sounded on the door. Gyro groaned. Ugh, speak of the devil…

“Uh, Gyro?” Fenton’s voice drifted through the door. “Are you in there? I thought I saw you run in here… I could have lost you in the crowd, but you kind of stand out… I know you don’t like parties, but it’s not like you to run off unless something’s really wrong…”

Gyro stayed poised on his toes to run, despite the fact that he was trapped in a tiny supply closet with nowhere to go. He didn’t trust himself to reply, so he stayed there silently, holding his breath in anticipation.

After a moment of silence Fenton groaned and dropped his head against the door. The bang startled Gyro, his already-racing heart speeding to new heights. 

“Ugh, stupid. Talking to an empty supply closet.” Fenton muttered to himself. Gyro’s heart ached, especially since he really was listening. 

“Fenton, it’s okay. I’m in here,” he called nervously. His voice was quiet, never rising above a whisper, but somehow it reached Fenton’s ears and he heard the other duck slump against the door in relief.

“Oh, good. I was worried about you, Gyro,” Fenton replied softly. Gyro thought he might have heard a bit of affection in his tone, but he scoffed to himself. Obviously not.

Fenton was an idiot, but even he wasn’t enough of an idiot to actually care about Gyro. Not in the way Gyro apparently cared about him.

Ugh, love was stupid. Harder to figure out and navigate than friendships, and that was saying something! And it was on its way to destroying one of the only precious friendships Gyro had managed to secure.

Ugh. If only he was aromantic like Huey, who had nervously come out to him recently. So much easier.

(Huey would happily debate him on this later for sure.)

“Gyro?” Fenton called again, and Gyro realized he had never replied to his worried coworker. Another failure. 

“Yeah, I’m okay,” he replied back awkwardly. His tone was stilted and hesitant in a way that juxtaposed his usual unshakable aggressiveness and bluntness, which gave Fenton pause and only made him more worried. 

Fenton hesitated for another moment before calling a worried goodbye and ducking away, probably to find Della or Mr. McDuck. Gyro groaned and cursed his own misfortune.

He knew he cared about Fenton, and he had for a long time. So why did it have to get infinitely more complicated?

He pulled out his phone to text Della and Launchpad. They both had been through many relationships, and knew the ups and downs well.

Gyro sighed heavily and rubbed at his forehead in frustration. 

Somehow he’d figure this out. He just had to make sure his stupid feelings didn’t get in the way of his friendship with Fenton.

Since there was no possible way Fenton could reciprocate them, right?

~

HI I FINISHED A WRITING REQUEST FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO YEARS DFGHKL;LKHGFGHKL LET’S GO this actually isn’t one of the old ones i got it recently so it doesn’t feel like a full victory but we’ll get there!! I’ve actually been in major writing block recently so I wasn’t expecting to write today, but I woke up this morning with this idea and wrote this in two hours (which is why it’s so bad sdfghgfd) but i finished it and i’m so happy enjoy

this ended up being a little more of a gyro character study than i intended and it feels shitty and a lot like my old writing sorry. it’s unedited mostly, so i apologize for any grammatical errors.

anyway hope you like it! thanks for reading! if you liked this (why) check out my other writing under the #my fanfic or #wavey writes tags, at my ao3 analyticamethyst, or at my wattpad PurpleDragon2003 (I’m not really active there though). I also might open writing commissions soon, so if you like my writing and you’re in a position to commission me please keep an eye out for that! Thank you I love you so much <3 <3

[mistflyer1102]

hallucinate

A/N: AU in that Etain told Darman about the pregnancy sooner. Also, warnings for near-death experience.

Summary: His presence is a comfort.

------------------------

Whoever said your life flashes before your eyes, before you die, was wrong.

The thought passed briefly through Etain Tur-Mukan’s mind as she attempted to nudge herself a few centimeters to the left without falling over completely. Somehow, despite the fact that her body had gone numb and stiff from the cold of the Telosian nights and wintery days long ago, she was still feeling a little bit of pain from the metal fragment, part of the downed larty’s door she’d taken refuge in, digging into her shoulder blades. She had long stopped moving if she could help it, sharp pain lancing through her body every time she moved, and had stopped using the Force to scan for threats long ago. She also had no idea if the Redeemer was still in orbit or not, she had lost contact with the Redeemer days ago, when the attempted invasion of the Separatist-held city went very, very wrong in the matter of seconds. She didn’t even know how many standard days ago the resulting devastation had been, she had drifted in and out of consciousness since then.

I know Intel screws up, Dar, but really? Do they screw up this badly?

General Grievous. No one had warned her, nor the Jedi Knight accompanying her and the troops, that Grievous would be here as well. He’d made quick work of the Knight accompanying them, and she had a few precious hours to draw him away from the troops before he caught up to her. She’d given parting orders to the commander in charge -- continue the campaign without me and alert the Redeemer. Do not come after me -- and began to draw Grievous away from the troops. And her plan worked. Grievous followed her to the crash site where the Separatists had shot down two larties earlier that week. Where she knew there would be no men for Grievous to hurt. 

But he nearly killed her in the process. Even days later -- she couldn’t quite remember the number of sunrises she’d counted anymore -- she was mildly surprised that she had woken up at all after Grievous finally threw her into the air, in the direction of the crashed larty that she now lay against. Her lightsabers were long gone, her wounds from Grievous still untreated and undoubtedly infected by now, there was a dull throb in the back of her skull, her face and hands numbed from the cold, skin tight with barely healed injuries, but she was still breathing. Somehow. In another life, she may have seen it as a sign from the Force, but now, after having lost her faith and trust in the only life she had ever known on Qiilura...she wasn’t so sure.

Force, I miss you, Darman. I know we have our duties, but I’m sorry I didn’t get to see you one last time.

Etain closed her eyes, shifting her thoughts back to Darman and Kad. Darman… she couldn’t tell where he was at the moment, just that he was alert and his attention was narrowed and focused -- on a mission then. She withdrew her awareness, not wanting to disturb him. She could still feel Kad in the Force, through the bond that she’d had with him since his birth. Kad was content, and she hoped he still remembered her and Darman despite the little time the two got with him. Telling Darman that night about her pregnancy, when Kal introduced the baby to Omega Squad, had been absolutely terrifying, and it had taken a few more days for the two to reconcile afterwards. During the reconciliation, she had mentioned leaving the Jedi Order, once the war was over, so they could be a family. Darman had started imagining a future there, for the three of them.

I’m sorry, Dar, that we won’t be able to get that particular future now.

Etain let out a slow exhale, blinking when she slowly realized that the blurred gray-blue line she’d been staring at, for what felt like hours now, was actually the craggy tree line as the sun rose yet again. Another morning. She’d lived through another night. She closed her eyes, a twinge of despair fluttering in her stomach as she slowly realized she had already lost feeling in her fingers and limbs, and could not recall how long it had been like that. Not long now. She let out another slow exhale, watching the white puff of air dissipate into the skies. Her ribs were aching with each breath, she could still feel that. She closed her eyes, slowing her breaths to lessen the dulling pain.

Dar. She could sense him again, still focused and alert on his task at hand. She tried not to distract him in those moments, but she also took a modicum of comfort in sensing his familiar presence. She then tried to withdraw, to let him work undisturbed, but his presence lingered, a calm and steady reassurance that she leaned against for the briefest of seconds before withdrawing her awareness further. But her concentration failed a few seconds later, she felt worn down from fatigue and injury. 

He felt close enough now, actually, that she could almost imagine that he was there, on Telos Six, with his squad. He’d move carefully and purposefully through the trees, unhindered and not slowed down by bothersome Jedi trying to keep up with him. Maybe, he was listening to Fi’s wisecracks in the background comm chatter. Fi, who would be trying to spark a reaction from Atin while also providing a running commentary of any gleaned intelligence. Niner, she knew, would be reminding them to stay focused on the objective that Master Zey had given them prior to their deployment. 

A spike of alertness from Darman brought her wandering thoughts back to reality. He’d spotted something. Etain tried to withdraw her awareness again, as to not distract him. He’d told her once, that he could sense when she was near him. She let a small exhale when her concentration slipped again, and she remained still, unable to summon the focus necessary for a complete withdrawal. Her eyes fluttered closed as she tried to once again pull back her awareness, as to not distract him. The resulting darkness was more...alluring, than she ever suspected, pulling her into its depths even as she clung to the threads of her bonds. Those she could not let go just yet. 

There is no death, there is the Force.

Alertness shifted to determination, and his presence grew stronger. She wasn’t sure if she imagined the sound of soft crunching of dirt, twigs and leaves that was slowly coming close to her. She heard a soft clicking, one she’d heard many times as the men removed or sealed their helmets, but her eyelids felt too heavy for her to check. She tried to send a little reassurance to both Darman and Kad even as she felt her consciousness ebb from her grasp.

The last thing she thought she heard was her name in a familiar whisper.

A whisper that did not stop.

[gothgirlmahi]

All That’s Best (Prologue)

Dark!Steve x Reader

New Dark!Steve series I’ve been working on. Mostly planned out so there should be a few new chapters soon especially since I’m cooped up in the house.

Masterlist

Summary: Steve saves you from a HYDRA base, but who’s going to save you from him? Warnings: Noncon, violence, Steve is crazy and will get crazier.

“Exterior is clear. I think some of them probably went underground,” Tony voice came in through the earpiece.

“Working on the inside. Nat, you find anything?” Steve asked.0

“Nope,” she said, “I think someone might have tipped them off that we were coming.”

“Or they saw Iron Man coming for the base and scattered like roaches,” Sam said. He wasn’t wrong. The Avengers hadn’t taken the most stealthy approach in this mission, but there wasn’t much reason to. They knew the base didn’t have that many people in it and anywhere they could run from this vantage point would get them caught. Even the underground tunnels had to lead somewhere nearby so every escape route was practically a dead end.

Steve crept through the corridor silently, watching for any potential threats. Even with silent footfalls, the halls echoed and creaked of their own accord. As he turned a corner, he noticed a doorway up ahead, with a bit of light emanating from it. Getting closer he saw a handprint of fresh blood staining the wall.

He hurried his gait and peaked through the door, stopping at what he saw. A woman, tied to a chair, covered in blood. Your head popped up when you heard him enter the room. 

“Help,” you begged silently. Your head sported a bloody wound, oozing steadily through your hair and down your neck. Your body was covered with other signs of struggle, ripped clothes and fast forming bruises.

“I found someone,” Steve said into the mic, “give me a minute.”

He approached you carefully.

“Are you okay?” he asked and felt stupid. Of course you weren’t okay. You were going to bleed to death if he didn’t get you out of there.

“They did this to me. I was just...I don’t know what’s going on. Please help me.” Steve ran to untie you and you nearly collapsed in his arms. The metallic smell of your blood hit the air and it smeared against his suit as he held you. Steve grabbed you firmly but gently and headed towards to quinjet.

“Injured civilian. Bringing her out now. She needs immediate medical attention.”

“Why was she there?” Tony asked.

“Maybe I’ll ask her when she’s not about to pass out.”

“Fair enough.”

“The place is empty,” Nat said. Steve could hear her on the other end of the hallway he was running through. That must mean they had cleared the whole base.

Steve looked down and sighed. You were quickly losing consciousness as he sprinted to the plane. When he was in, Banner looked you over and asked Steve to set you down.

Clint and Natasha ran in next, followed soon by Sam and Wanda.

“You guys head back, Rhodey and I are gonna stay and make sure everybody’s gone,” Tony said.

Natasha jumped in the pilot’s seat and began to fly.

Steve looked at you and frowned. You looked so pitiful, barely conscious and so confused about what was going on. Your head wound was horrendous and he had to wonder what exactly you were hit with. Banner inspected the wound for a bit and started applying pressure.

“I don’t think she’s gonna die, but the sooner we get back the better.”

“ETA fifteen minutes.”

They had been staying at a temporary location while they staked out the HYDRA base. There was medical personnel on site and people that could help you. Banner had given you something to stabilize your condition and it sent you right to sleep. Steve sighed, looking at you. It was a shame that someone like you was treated like that.

You were too...perfect. Everything about you, the curve of your lips, the melodic tones of your voice even as you cried for help. Like an angel. He didn’t have time to think on it too long as they were quickly approaching their landing point. As soon as they hit the ground, he would have you seen to in the med bay. Then he could see about getting you home to wherever you were from.

You were in the hospital for a few days. Recovering. The team was still trying to wrap up any loose ends which kept them near the base and near the hospital you were in. Steve came to visit you everyday, bringing flowers or candy or any other thing you mentioned. He found out that you lived in New York. You were supposed to be released soon so he told you not to waste an airplane ticket when you could catch a ride back with the team.

Talking to you made him only hate HYDRA more. They were really the scum of the earth. They had taken you, a young woman with no family and no one to take care of her. No one to look for her when she went missing. Someone who wouldn’t be missed. Your parents had died when you were a teenager which left you mostly fending for yourself. Then HYDRA struck.

Now that you were out of the hospital and back in New York, Steve was conflicted. He couldn’t just let you go home alone. It wouldn’t be right. The streets were too dangerous and you were possibly injured or even traumatized from your experience. He would make sure you got home safe and check in later. Follow you and watch until you got securely in your apartment. Just so you had someone on the planet actually checking on you.It was his job to protect people and make them feel safe. And you had been so grateful when you woke up in the hospital. You thanked him at least eight times and cried and hugged him. Your hugs were warm, loving, welcoming to him. He wouldn’t mind another one. He wouldn’t mind a lot of things coming from you.

It didn’t help that you were so pretty. More than just easy on the eyes. Gorgeous really. Like a personally commissioned sculpture, the ideal of beauty. Aphrodite in human form.Steve had become infatuated with you and he knew it wasn’t to a normal degree. He started following you more often until it became an everyday thing. There wasn’t any woman who ever managed to hold his interest like this, not even Peggy. Maybe it was the dependence you had on him. He had fended off a few unsavory encounters you had never been wiser to. Stayed in the shadows to protect you. Peggy had never needed him in that way. She was always well enough to see to her own safety but the idea of you needing him set him off in a mission to protect you. Because he loved you. 

He had been following you for weeks now. Watching as you went to work, came home, went about your routine. You were his obsession. Thoughts of you filled his waking and sleeping mind. But there was a problem. He knew he couldn’t be there all the time. Couldn’t protect you 24/7. Even though he saw himself as your personal hero, he was still Captain America and had to attend to his business. What would he do when the team needed him? He was starting to consider his options.

It was a shame really. And your apartment wasn’t exactly the pinnacle of safety. Once he watched a man sneak in the key card locked door behind one of your careless neighbors. He hadn’t heard of anything bad happening after the incident but the act filled him with dread. What if he hadn’t been there to watch? What if that man had ill intentions for you? His poor, helpless sweetheart. You had already been made a victim once and he didn’t want to see it happen again. Things had to change.

He asked you out on a whim although he was sure you’d say yes. When he wasn’t secretly following you, he did call you to catch up occasionally. You were always so eager to talk to him, to tell him about your day and to listen to him detail his own. When he called you, you sounded excited. His plans were to take you to a new gallery that had opened up and go from there. Both of you could appreciate good art so he knew it would be a perfect date. Maybe dinner and a movie after. God, he wanted to give you everything.

The date came and went without a hitch. You both enjoyed the gallery and talked about it at length as he drove you to the movies. cracking jokes and having a good time along the way. You saw some generic action flick but Steve wasn’t so interested in that. He was interested in you. Interested in your smile, interested in that tight black dress you were wearing, the swell of your breasts, and whatever was awaiting him between your gorgeous thighs...

...No. 

He could wait. 

He would wait. He had to.

Dinner went similarly, talking about the movie and the art you saw. You were so animated when you talked, it was absolutely enthralling. The way you described things, the jokes you told, Steve was sure you couldn’t get anymore perfect. And he was sure he was in love with you.

And that was when he knew exactly what he had to do. 

..............

Masterlist // Chapter One

[inkribbon796]

Radioactive Ch. 1: Unthinkable

Summary: Science marches on as magic and science mix in the most dangerous way.

A/N: Title comes from “Unthinkable” by Cloudy June and Imagine Dragon’s “Radioactive”. This was supposed to be the season finale but there’s still shorts I want to do with this arc so the season finale will be at the end of September with the wedding, where I assure you nothing unfortunate will happen. Absolutely nothing.

In other news, this is my 200th short, and that makes me very happy. Hope you all enjoy this mid-arc short.

Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

A thunderstorm started in the city, slowly rolling its way towards the north. Time was of the essence. Hours of testing, born from months of planning now culminated in a single moment.

In a bunker in the middle of the woods, two young men were conducting the first test. It was dark out and the city was in a frenzy, but that didn’t matter out here.

Barely anything mattered out here.

Tubbo and Jack Manifold stood in a well shielded bunker in the middle of the woods to the north east of Egoton. They were hundreds of miles into the cursed woods. They wore lab coats over their clothes.

“You know,” Jack Manifold chuckled to Tubbo as they got in place at the computer, a screen in front of them that overlooked the top of the forest. “It would be hilarious if all this thing did was smoke, shake, an’[1] then catch fire.”

Tubbo made an amused chuckle. “Then I guess I got arrested fer nothin’.”[2]

The two of them descended into a fit of laughter before Tubbo sobered up. “Goggles down.”

“Check,” Jack made sure his goggles were securely over his eyes.

“Safety shields one through ten?” Tubbo called next, his eyes and hands already moving to the array of sensors.

“Safety shields one through ten are all stable, an’[1] showin’[3] a steady magical signature,” Jack responded.

“Forest clear?” Tubbo grabbed the microphone and flipped the switch on that sent a signal to dozens of speakers and cameras that the two of them had set up and hidden in the “kill” and “cancer” zones weeks prior. “Attention! Attention! This is a serious warnin’ fer radiation if you are in the vicinity ‘a hearin’ this you must make yourself known so we can safely clear the woods. If you do not, you will die or become severely injured an’ get sick.”[4]

The two of them waited for a couple minutes, flipping through cameras to double check no one was going to get hurt. There was a malfunction from one of the cameras where an audio error was happening but nothing was on the camera and Tubbo sent one of his bee familiars to check it out and it came back with nothing.

Tubbo sent the message again and after nothing, he declared, “Forest clear.”

“Payload in place?” Jack was already checking the sensor.

“Check,” Tubbo double checked it.

“Reason fer[5] use ‘a[6] launch code?” Jack was looking down the button for any sign that something was out of order or going to malfunction.

“Testing payload in a safe environment before storage,” Tubbo answered.

Tubbo took a deep breath. “Here we are.”

Jack nervously swallowed.

The young teen took out a key card with a radioactive symbol and a bee on it. The number 1 marking it. “Ready?”

Smiling, Jack pulled out his own match card with a radioactive symbol and a skull, the number 2 marked on it. “Ready.”

Tubbo hit the sirens as they blared out, a final warning as Jack looked at Tubbo and saw the nervous anticipation.

“Inserting keycards for launch on my mark,” Tubbo announced. “I will count to three, an’[1] then I will say: “go” they are not ta[7] be inserted sooner or later.”

“Understood,” Jack called out, readying to insert the keycard. “Ready.”

“On my mark,” Tubbo called out, copying him. The room was deathly silent as the thunderstorm got closer. “3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . Go! Go!”

The keycards went in and a signal raced along the current until they hit a panel far off into the distance. The pause was a fraction, of a fraction, of a second but it hit the payload and lacked it over the tree line until it struck a random tree on its starting descent.

The two young men had been expecting a small explosion, or no explosion, but the opposite happened. The earth shook the entire town for a couple brief seconds as a pulse of magic mixed with a deadly radioactive payload made a mushroom cloud that rose over the treeline and left a crater in its wake.

Tubbo and Jack screamed in horror and surprise as the tremors quickly subsided and Jack was so frozen in terror and surprise that he thought that it was his tinnitus making that sound.

But that was laughter. Tubbo was letting out a mad cackling laugh. The shields had protected them from the explosion, protecting the city. But Tubbo was so charged with energy, and in their surprise no one had yet to notice that Tubbo’s bad right eye had changed. It had been initially blinded and scarred, along with his hearing in one ear, in a close range explosion a couple years ago. Tubbo had designed a replacement and then grew out his hair to hide it. Now it was scarred again, a permanent radioactive symbol etched into the iris. Forever branding Tubbo for his bastardization of magic and science.

Jack looked over at Tubbo, watching him laugh and fight to collect his composure again with a new wash of horror.

“Tubster,” Jack tried to reach out to what he thought was a young man in desperate need of comfort. “It’s okay, it was just a test.”

“We have two more,” Tubbo said in a giddy tone of voice that terrified Jack.

“Wh-What?” Jack saw something briefly glowing underneath the fridge of Tubbo’s hair.

“We’re more powerful than Techno,” Tubbo smiled before remembering something. “But how’s . . .”

Jack found himself unable to speak as Tubbo reached for a RV control and operated his bee drone to head for the site after getting it ready to collect radioactive samples.

What he got brought the smile back to his face. “Cept fer the larger explosion, this looks better than I could have e’er imagined. The magic is helpin’ ta neutralize the radiation. By tomorrow it’ll be clean.”[8]

Jack leaned in to look at the camera, “Oh my—”

Tubbo’s eyes widened as Jack went slack jawed at the video image of the crater. There was a deep hole where the explosion had dissipated most of its force.

The echoes of another mad laugh bubbled in Tubbo’s chest, but he reigned it in. “I think it’s time ta[7] pack up, don’t you?”

“Ye-Yeah,” Jack said uneasily as Tubbo secured the other two payload cores into a leak-proof led box and made them vanish into his coat with his aura. Then Tubbo grabbed their books. Jack’s keycard was burning a hole in his pocket.

Then, once everything incriminating was cleaned up and stored on either Tubbo or Jack’s person.

When Tubbo double checked the area they set up a portal grid that charged with foaming purple aura. Tubbo felt a comfortable release of tension at the bits of Ranboo’s aura that came from the grid. As familiar as Tubbo’s own aura, and it felt like a refreshing breeze when he passed through the portal and into a nightclub that had three different layers to it. A dinning, dancing area. The VIP room was up a flight of curved stairs, and up at the top was a fighting area with cameras that projected the combatants all over the club.

Dream’s Server, where he was judge, jury, king, and executioner. Frequently Dream stayed in the VIP room unless Techno walked in and wanted a fight, or he had to leave to tend to some business.

Tonight everyone was down on the main floor, a match clearly interrupted and when Tubbo and Jack walked in everyone was staring at them, and anyone looked at Tubbo. Staring at him as if he was covered in human entrails.

“What did you fuckers do?” Sapnap spat.

“Language!” Bad gasped from where he was standing amongst the crowd.

“Nothin’,”[9] Tubbo braced his hands on his hips.

“Quit with those muffin-filled lies,” Bad yelled over several other people who were trying to call Tubbo out on his bullshit. “Where were you, young man?”

“Since when does anyone care what I do?” Tubbo scoffed. “I’m not a captain anymore.”

“How about when we feel a fucking explosion,” Quackity spat.

Bad let out another gasp.

“Skeppy, get him out of here,” Quackity turned to glare at Bad. “Bad, I love you, but I can’t deal with your language issues right now.”

“But,” Bad pouted sadly.

“Come on, buddy,” Skeppy patted Bad’s arm and started to walk back up to the arena. Bad glancing between Skeppy and the group before rushing to catch up to his friend.

“You guys felt somethin’[10]?” Jack asked in confusion.

“Of course we did, you guys were nearby doing weird shit and didn’t expect us to notice?” Quackity snapped.

“We weren’t in town, we were north ‘a[6] Egoton,” Tubbo felt a slow smile creep along his face. “Didn’t think it’d shake the whole town.”

“Did it work?” Dream asked, his mask staring at Tubbo.

Everyone, even Jack, stared at Dream.

Tubbo smiled, “Better than I imagined.”

“Alright,” Dream clapped, a smile in his tone. “I have nothing more to talk to you about, you’re free to go. You need any help sorting out the police?”

“Dream, you can’t just leave it at that,” Quackity snapped as Tubbo shook his head.

“We gotta at least know what they did,” Puffy reprimanded. “Cause[11] if they were anywhere near where they said they were and we felt, you can bet Dark felt it. Him and every other demon in this damn town.”

“Fair, fair,” Dream relented. “Tubbo, you wanna share some notes with the others?”

“I just became the strongest glitch in this fuckin’[12] town,” Tubbo proclaimed. “I put myself on the map. An’[1] Jack was there ta[7] help.”

Jack wasn’t sure if he wanted to take any kind of blame and correct Tubbo. Honestly if Tubbo was planning on using or even threatening his “nukes” against demons Jack knew he was already in too deep, and he needed to bail as quickly as possible.

“I’m gonna[13] go lie down,” Jack told everyone. “I’ve used a lotta magic an’ I need ta clear my head.”[14]

“Wait, you two fuckers are just going to walk off?” Quackity demanded, pissed.

“Quackity’s right, your aura’s will have to be tracked for the next little while,” Dream agreed, an air of disinterest.

“Sure, whate’er,[15]” Tubbo shrugged. “Going ta[7] the lab.”

“I’m not done with you yet,” Quackity followed the young man out to a hallway. “I am trying to run a business and you know what drives business away? Fear. I can’t have fear near my fucking casino. Loneliness and hunger gets people to indulge, and when they indulge they spend money. Fear makes people do crazy things.”

Tubbo stopped and just watched Quackity rant at him before leaning in, looking every bit like a mischievous teen that Quackity often forgot he was. He even had his hands folded behind his back and leaned up on his tiptoes. “Can I tell you a secret, Big Q?”

Disarmed a little bit, but not nearly as much as he used to, Quackity sighed, “Depends.”

“You e’er play Civ 5, Big Q?”[16] Tubbo took another step and Quackity watched mischief turn into malice, that smile never fading.

“Yeah,” Quackity answered hesitantly.

“I just became Gandhi,” Tubbo confessed, leaning in. Then he spun away on his heels. “I think I’ve said e’erythin’[17] I needed to say.”

“Hey, what did you just say to me!” Quackity became furious. “You little bastard, what did you do?”

“Go back ta[7] your card tables, Caesar,” Tubbo waved his fingers back at Quackity who looked so outraged he was shaking. In Tubbo’s glee his eye was glowing a sickly yellow. “Rome won’t build itself.”

Quackity watched the young man go, kicking himself for letting his guard down again. When Tubbo turned into a room and left. “Fuck you, Tubbo,” Quackity sneered.

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

Accessibility Translations:

1. and

2. Then I guess I got arrested for nothing.

3. showing

4. Attention! Attention! This is a serious warning for radiation if you are in the vicinity of hearing this you must make yourself known so we can safely clear the woods. If you do not, you will die or become severely injured and get sick.

5. for

6. of

7. to

8. Except for the larger explosion, this looks better than I could have ever imagined. The magic is helping to neutralize the radiation. By tomorrow it’ll be clean.

9. Nothing

10. something

11. Because

12. fucking

13. going to

14. I’ve used a lot of magic and I need to clear my head.

15. whatever

16. You ever play Civilization 5, Big Q?

17. everything