#without a dope beat to step to

[iamleandrawwz]

a high school AU!

[already-taekken]

Yall I'm crying!! I wish Hyuk could've been here so we'd have 4-Vixx but that's ok! I'm sure we'll get to see them all together soon!

P.S. Can Ken STOP making those faces while he's dancing?!? Especially the ones around 2:39?! Because I really can't take it!

[turbohellrealestate]

It’s been a long time…

[ghostcat3000]

Sunday Six (6/9/24)

“Talk later okay?” Even nods. They still don’t move and he thinks that their goodbye should have greater punctuation. There should be a kiss or embrace, a whispered word. Isak looks down and kicks a pebble on the ground in Even’s direction; Even stops it with his foot. Isak laughs softly and finally moves toward the house. 

(from Superstar, a SKAM work-in-progress co-written with @irazor)

[spookysanta]

Action Figure. (A.P.)

Pairing: Aaron Pierre x Reader

Warnings: none

i told y’all asses i had a lot to say!! holding off on posting mbj content until more people have seen sinners. y’all got until friday to do your part.

“I was basically an action figure today,” he said, drawing circles along her spine.

She smiled. “Mmhm. And how many times did they throw you across a room?”

“Three and a half.”

She raised an eyebrow. “How do you get a half?”

“The last one wasn’t in the script. I tripped over one of the camera tracks.”

She pulled back to look up at him, water slicking down her cheeks. “You tripped?”

“I recovered,” he corrected, like that was the same thing. “Real smooth. Nobody noticed.”

“Mhm. Except your ego.”

He grinned. “She’ll live.”

“And the rest of you?”

He leaned down to kiss the corner of her mouth, all soft and smug. “Good as new.”

She rolled her eyes but didn’t argue — not yet. “What else did your action figure ass get into?”

“Well…” He shifted behind her, guiding her under the spray as he talked. “They had me do this jump from the scaffolding. Like a leap-catch moment. Looked dope in playback, but they wanted the angle tighter, so I had to land kind of sideways the second time—”

“‘Kind of sideways?’ That sounds fake.”

“It’s a professional term,” he teased.

She laughed, but caught something — a subtle pause in his rhythm as he reached for the shampoo. A small breath caught in his throat.

She tilted her head. “You okay?”

“I’m fine,” he said too quickly, lathering the shampoo into his hands. “Just slipped a little. Tile’s slick.”

“Mhm.” She watched him, eyes narrowing just slightly. “So let me get this straight — you tripped, you did a jump, you landed sideways, and now you’re… slippery?”

He smirked without looking at her. “Is this cross-examination?”

“I’m just saying,” she stepped closer, helping him rub the shampoo into his scalp with slow fingers, “you’ve used three different excuses in under a minute.”

“I didn’t realize I was under surveillance.”

“You live with me, of all people. You’re always under surveillance.”

He laughed, genuinely — but there it was again. As she reached up to rinse his hair, he instinctively pulled back, just slightly, like the movement stretched something the wrong way. His mouth barely twitched, but she saw it.

“What was that?”

He tried to play dumb, blinking soap out of his eyes. “What?”

“You flinched.”

“I didn’t flinch.”

“Aaron.”

He sighed, head tipping back in surrender. “I just tweaked something earlier. It’s not a big deal.”

“Mmm.” She didn’t move. “What’d you tweak?”

He hesitated. Too long.

“Aaron.”

“…Upper back.”

She reached behind him gently, fingers brushing along his shoulder blade until he winced again, barely-there but undeniable. And there — the faintest discoloration beginning to bloom.

She froze.

“You landed sideways.”

“Yeah.”

“And you didn’t say anything because…?”

He exhaled through his nose, voice quieter now. “Because I didn’t want to worry you. And because if I told you during the story, you’d have made that face.”

“What face?”

“That face.”

She crossed her arms. “Oh, the how dare you hide pain from me when I love you and we share a damn mortgage face?”

“That’s the one.”

There was a beat of silence, just the water between them.

“You’re lucky I didn’t elbow it on accident.”

“You wouldn’t.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Try me.”

[toxicanonymity]

the green

WC: 2.4k... I guess to find a scene, I had to find a world, then I didn't want to trim the fat because I liked it 😔

PAIRING: Ezra x f!reader; ft. others.

A/N: For @iamasaddie's writing challenge 4.0. I got Ezra: Aquarius, (i decided dark) Rave AU. Some of you write Ezra dialogue so well and true to character. That is not my forte and I didn't force it, but he speaks differently than others.

WARNINGS (not exhaustive, read at your own discretion): I8+ stefon voice: "this club has everything." drugs, surrealism, dark atmosphere*, sex cult vibes, public nudity, jacking off, manhandling, cumshot (dubcon), slapping, choking, spitting. Infidelity. You have a daddy. *I'd say "mild" horror but there's a mummified body in passing. A few cameos. It gets weird. unrefined chaos.

FIC ART: Amazing visual by @aurorawritestoescape

Drawing by @romana-after-dark

The Green was the one place your daddy explicitly forbade you from going. He never said why, but you assumed because the club entrance was down in the catacombs.

There were countless urban legends of doped up partiers getting lost, only to be found years later. One was discovered in a remote ossuary curled up with a faded can of New Coke. A picture had circulated – The poor soul’s shrunken legs were bent, knees drawn to their chest, yellow leggings stiffened and soiled under a pink leotard which by then fit like a paper bag.

—

When your friend said that’s where you were headed one night, you tried to convince her into going anywhere else. The problem was, she was obsessed with a DJ at the Green.

“I don’t get it,” she protested. “I know it’s not because you’re scared.”

“I just can't,” you pleaded futilely, and then she caught on when you wouldn’t meet her eyes.

Her jaw clenched, and her nostrils flared. “Let me guess,” she spat. “Because you’re letting a married man control your life.”

“Come on,” you pleaded.

“Billy may be a slut, but he's not married,” she bragged of the DJ.

. . .

An hour later, you and your friend were both high, dancing near the front of the crowd. In the humidity, you took off your bra, leaving a snug, mesh crop top and leather miniskirt. By then about 10% of the crowd was nude or close to it.

A song faded out, and a dense fog began to billow into the crowd. The fog smelled thickly of vegetation and masked some of the body odor you had been inhaling all night. The crowd quietly murmured, and with a few scattered whistles of enthusiasm.

As the fog settled, Billy the DJ put on a soothing binaural beat and introduced his mate, Ezra. As the crowd whistles and cheered, Billy hopped down from the booth and made a bee-line for your friend.

“There she is,” he murmured into her neck and wrapped his arms around her. “Is your friend joining us?”

“No,” she answered without looking at you. “Her daddy wouldn't like that.”

“Oh,” Billy looked you up and down, impressed. “Tell me ‘bout that later, love?” Billy winked at you as she dragged him away, leaving you alone.

–

Ezra stepped onto the stage and commenced with. . . spoken word poetry.

You didn't have the presence of mind for it, but the crowd was captivated. They knew him. As he droned on, some of them dropped to their knees, including a tattooed young man next to you in nothing but a sweatband. On the floor, he bent forward in child’s pose, arms stretched toward Ezra as though in worship. Through the remaining fog, the man’s glow-in-the-dark butt plug caught your eye.

Ezra had a mesmerizing voice. “Yes,” he echoed over the beat, and you found yourself tuning in. “Yes, feel my tongue penetrate you. Feel my words inside you!” You felt him opening something in your chest.

You scanned the crowd. The effect he had on these people was — The back of your neck prickled, and your exposed nipples hardened.

And then, you felt eyes on you. Not just anyone's. Your breath hitched. In the corner of your eye, Ezra was looking right at you. His voice became more tranquil: “I am already inside you.” A zing of pleasure shot through your chest, and a tingling heat spread through your loins. “Be not afraid,” he cooed. “Look at me while I penetrate you.” Your knees felt weak with need. You slowly looked up at him. He was sweating profusely through a worn, gray T-shirt and tactical pants. He dabbed his forehead with his wrist and ran his fingers through a shock of white hair. “yes,” he nodded, not taking his eyes off you. “Let me in deeper, little bird.”

“Let him in,” a few people murmured.

Ezra nodded, and his eyes sparkled as they briefly surveyed the crowd before coming back to you. He allowed a moment of silence, and over the beat, you could hear scattered moans. In your peripheral vision, the guy with the glow-in-the-dark butt plug was sucking cock while jerking himself off.

“Eyes on your god,” Ezra sharply demanded, and your face heated up as your gaze snapped back to him. Your eyes connected and locked together. It felt like you knew him. Like he knew you. You knew each other. You had to.

Ezra wet his lips, and everyone watched as he began to rub himself through his pants, looking right at you. Your eyelashes fluttered at the sight. His presence seized your whole body. Your breaths were shallow. The low beat thumped and hummed, with you in the tightening grip of his gaze.

From behind, you felt the wind of a stranger’s breath on your ear. “it’s okay,” she reassured you. “I’m gonna hold you for him,” the stranger slotted her hands under your arms.

“All over you,” Ezra continued, “the hands of my words, sliding over your skin.” He breathed heavily over the beat. You felt him. Pressure swelled in your depths, and you could hardly keep your eyes open. “Your god’s tongue, tasting the salt of your neck.” You really felt him. Your lips parted, and your clit twitched. “Yes,” Ezra nodded as he slowly rubbed himself, and the thick outline in his pants made you squeeze your thighs. Your body went nearly limp for Ezra's voice, and the stranger held you with your back against her chest. You could feel her nipples through the mesh of your top.

Ezra continued, “Your god’s cock, in the cunt of your soul.” And oh, you felt it deep. He unbuttoned and unzipped his pants, and the crowd cheered and pleaded, “yes, Ezra,” “please, God.” He held his cock in his hand, shapely and majestic.

Desire flooded your body, buzzing and throbbing with the beat of his obscenity. Your mind was full of him and so was your body, it felt. You had room for nothing else. Someone stepped toward the stage, and Ezra let them spit on his dick.

The stranger holding you pushed you forward, bringing you closer to Ezra. Ezra pointed at you with his free hand. As you arrived at the stage, a familiar darkness fell over his eyes, and your heart skipped a beat at the weight of recognition.

You snapped out of the spell. There was something off about this, something wrong about him.

He had someone else's face.

Someone you loved.

Your stomach turned as you stood there beneath Ezra, and he pumped his cock, with the crowd cheering him on. His eyes froze you in place. You willed yourself to move, as though stuck in a nightmare. It was just a bad trip, you told yourself. This wasn't real. It was the drugs.

“It's okay,” the stranger reassured you, and somehow, it helped you breathe easier.

Ezra breathed heavier, and his hungry eyes settled on your chest, making your nipples harden nearly to the point of pain. Goosebumps erupted from your chest and spread over your body.

“The seed of your god,” he panted, chest heaving.

“The seed of our god,” a few voices echoed.

Ezra bit his bottom lip and stroked himself faster.

“Especially for you,” Ezra spoke the words right into your soul, and your body throbbed out of control.

If it was a nightmare, if it was the drugs, you had nothing to lose by surrendering yourself to pleasure.

“Open your mouth,” the stranger urged you. And you did. You opened your mouth and closed your eyes. Ezra's sounds of pleasure became more pronounced. You couldn't be sure how long you stood there with your mouth open. The sound of Ezra growing ever closer to climax had you drawing in a deep breath through your nose and shuddering.

Soon, you smelled his musk and felt the humidity of his loins near your face. He groaned, and a thick rope hit the back of your throat. The warmth and tang of it was too much to bear. You squeezed your eyes tighter shut and saw stars. As your body spasmed, the stranger tried to hold you steady, but the cum that followed went all over your face and chest.

“Good,” Ezra praised when he finished emptying himself onto you. “Good,” he repeated.

The crowd cheered.

You opened your eyes and your body cooled with a wave of guilt. This is what Daddy wanted to protect you from. The spell of another man who bore a striking resemblance to him. You weren't yourself, it was the drugs, you repeated in your mind.

“You okay?” The stranger asked and you nodded.

“Now let them feast,” Ezra concluded and stepped down off the stage, his dick tucked away but his pants unbuttoned. People reached out to touch him as he came through the crowd but kept enough distance that he proceeded coolly, slowly toward the cave entrance.

Soon, you had hands all over you, too. Hands and tongues. People swiping at your skin, licking your face, desperate for a taste of him. You shut your eyes as they drew aftershocks of pleasure from your depths. After a minute, the stranger shooed them away. “Congratulations,” she said, and let you stand on your own.

Meanwhile, Billy and your friend had returned for him to resume his DJ duties. Your friend was dumbstruck by the scene. Billy looked more impressed. “Your first night? Alright, wow,” Billy marveled. “You must be special, love.”

It wasn't lost on you how this annoyed your friend. You pushed past both of them without a word and spotted Ezra's silhouette against the cave wall.

—

Ezra was uncharacteristically silent as you approached, simply taking in the vision of you, disheveled from the touch of strangers, unraveled from his words. He looked pleased with himself.

As you opened your mouth to speak, you hesitated, unsure you wanted to know the answer to your question, or how real this was. You asked him anyway, “What's your last name?” and your heart raced in anticipation.

“I don't have a last name,” he claimed.

“Bullshit. Is it York?”

Ezra drew in a deep breath through his nose and observed your face. “Mmm.” He glanced at the ceiling with a chuckle. “Well heavens, little bird.” His eyes turned regretful. “I surmise you belong to a particular agent of the federal variety.” He raised his eyebrows. “And if my calculation is correct, I sincerely–”

“--Apologize,” A handsome black man with short, greying hair interrupted. In an exaggerated motion, the man pulled up his sleeve to look at his watch. “A little late,” he stated with a glare, punctuated by a pout and raise of his eyebrows. Then, his hand engulfed Ezra’s neck with startling speed and precision. Ezra choked, and the man calmly held firm, beginning to explain, “In approximately 30 seconds, the blood flow to your–”

A different man snatched you by the arm from behind. The grip of his large hand was a familiar, painful comfort. You could feel the bruises forming on your bicep as he physically dragged you away.

“Daddy,” you whimpered. “I'm sorry, I–”

Mr. York didn't speak a word to you until he had you well into the catacombs, away from the club. You could only faintly hear the music start up again. He put you against a cold, rough wall, rolled up the sleeves of his powder blue button-down, and put his hands on his knees as he looked you in the face. His gaze was soft but ominous. It unsettled you.

“I'm sorry, daddy,” tears welled up in your eyes.

Still nothing from him.

His nostrils flared with a deep breath. You'd prefer if he yelled at you, smacked you around. As though reading your tears, he slapped you across the face. Your hand flew up to your cheek instinctively but he swatted it away and simply looked at you as the sting faded. He didn't have to ask the question: What the hell were you doing there?

“I didn't want to come,” you cried. “I didn't wanna–”

“You shouldn't be here,” he stated firmly, and you nodded.

“I know, you said not to come, didn't know it was cause, I didn't know about–”

“Who knows best?” He asked.

“Daddy,” you answered earnestly, “Daddy always does.”

He gave a short nod, then grabbed your jaw and studied each of your eyes. “High off your ass,” he grumbled. Then he sniffed the air. Still firmly holding your jaw, he brought his nose to your cheek, then dragged it down to your neck. There was nothing like your daddy’s touch, even when he was mad. Sometimes especially if he was mad.

He growled and stood upright, bringing his other hand to your neck so he had one hand on your jaw and the other firmly but gently on your throat. He demanded, “What did he do to you?”

“Nothing, he–”

He slightly pressed his finger and thumb into the sides of your neck as a warning, then released them.

“He masturbated and–”

“Did he touch you?”

“No.”

Your daddy brought his face almost to yours, just far enough away to still look in your eyes. When he seemed satisfied that he had the truth, he squeezed your jaw and said, “open.”

You breathed a sigh of relief and opened your mouth. He spat on your tongue and you swallowed it gratefully. His hands released you and he cupped your cheek for a moment before looking back behind himself, getting ready to leave.

“I'm sorry,” you repeated.

“McCall will take care of him,” he muttered.

He pulled you off the wall and led you out of the caves with a firm grip on the back of your neck.

–

In the back of the SUV, Mr. York was sitting on the driver's side, and you were face down sprawled across the whole bench seat. You put your head on his lap, facing his crotch. He laid a hand on your forehead for a minute, but you kept crying and rubbing your face on his pants, and he was tired. He stared out the window, despite that your microskirt had ridden up to where your ass was half covered. “Daddy,” you whined.

“Stop,” he commanded with a spank. Then he squeezed his hand between your legs and your thighs opened for him. He pushed your panties to the side and slid his middle finger into your cunt. “Be quiet.” He wedged his other hand under your cheek and fed you his thumb. He closed his eyes and held you still.

For the rest of the ride, you laid still and drifted off with his finger inside you and his thumb between your lips.

--------

-------

Thank you for reading 💚

[archerarchives]

New Girl Blues - 2

Sterling Archer x Fem Reader

((Part 1))

The new hire seems to have earned her place, proving her endurance and loyalty to the agency. She lives another day to get to know her team a little better, one blue-eyed man in particular.

TWs: Sedation, medical talk, medical violence, gun violence, Malory is problematic.

When you finally come out of your drug-induced coma, you're alone in a hospital room. You look over at your side table and there sits a small flower arrangement. The tiny card reads "Danger zone. -A" You narrow your eyes at it, confused. You don't know what it means, but you know they're from Archer. You smile, but it's quickly wiped off your face when you realize how beaten you are. Grinning hurts.

~~~Meanwhile at ISIS

"Where the hell is Sterling?" Malory yells to the entire upper floor.

"I haven't heard from him for a few days," Lana casually inserts, still keeping her distance from the situation.

"He's probably off getting black-out drunk on an island because he got Y/N killed." Ray shrugs, much to Cyril's discomfort.

"He only knew her for a day, could he really be that bent out of shape?" Malory raises a brow. "This is just another excuse to-"

"You were saying?" Archer seems to appear on cue, standing leisurely in the doorway of the elevator as he steps out.

"Where on Earth have you been? Just days of that god damned voicemail of yours!" Archer's mother stares daggers through him.

"I went to get Y/N," he states it like it's obvious. "I said that."

"You said you weren't going!" She rolls her eyes as far back as they can go. "Lana!"

"Nope," the tall, beautiful agent exits the room, extending the 'o' vowel of her one-word sentence.

"Mother," Archer speaks with a chuckle. "You couldn't possibly have believed me." He breaks into a laugh. "That's like, textbook me." He's still laughing as his mother's glare carves holes into his head.

"So," Malory straightens her stance. "Where is Agent Y/L/N?"

"The hospital, duh?" He sets his drink down.

"How is she?" Cyril asks, butting into the conversation.

"Not... Great." Archer shifts uncomfortably.

"Not great as in she's not gonna make it, or...?" Malory takes an "innocent" sip from her glass.

"Malory!" Lana exclaims.

"What? If she's going to live, we need her brought here before she's doped up on morphine, telling every nurse in the east wing where she's been for three days!"

"How are we supposed to get her out?" Archer wants to laugh at the ridiculous notion.

"That's the beauty of defying my orders, Sterling. You figure it out!" Malory slams her door, powerfully punctuating her sentence.

"So, any ideas?" Archer turns to the gang.

"Are we sure Krieger is the best... 'Doctor' for her if she's so beat up?" Cyril shrugs at the peculiar doctor's offended expression.

"Well, mother's right. It's better than letting her compromise the agency... More than I already have and do."

"And something about that weapon trafficking ring tells me they might go looking for an infiltrating witness staying in an unguarded, public hospital." Ray raises a valid point that no one seems to have considered yet. "What would you do without me?"

"Lana," Archer turns to his co-worker turned ex.

"No! Stop dragging me into-"

"Please, you owe me!"

"No, Archer, I don't owe you. Stop saying that." She facepalms. "Look, let's go get her out of there, but it's up to you to get her back here. I'm not risking my life for someone I've only known for less than a day!" She storms off to ready herself for the "mission."

"What about you two?" Sterling faces Ray and Cyril who sit at two unoccupied desks. They glance at each other and then back to him.

"I'm only coming because I like Y/N." Ray stands. "She's the most tolerable out of all of you so far."

"I... I don't know." Cyril rubs the back of his neck.

"Figures. Cyril's half a man, what else is new?" Archer taunts.

"Fine! I'll go. I'm not half a man," he huffs, standing to join the group. Each Agent pitches an idea of how to get you out of the hospital, each plan is shot down immediately by Archer.

"Oh, my God. Let's just get in there, get some scrubs, and wheel her out."

"Seriously? Like a fucking Weekend at Bernie's? They're not gonna let her leave unconscious." Lana rubs her temples, assuming you're in some sort of coma-like state.

"What if she's on life support or something?" Cyril asks.

"Well..." Lana doesn't want to have to say it, but the answer is that they'll have to pull your plug. Archer shakes the idea from his head.

"Good enough. Let's go." He leads the team out of the break room, storming ahead of them with a confident purpose.

"I don't like it when he's serious," Cyril whispers to Ray.

"Me neither. He hasn't been this useful since... Well, ever."

"Shut it, Elton Yawn," Archer snaps.

"Oh, because I'm gay and what? Boring?" Ray crosses his arms.

"Yeah, exactly that, actually." He chuckles at his own joke. Endlessly entertained by his own wit.

At the hospital, Ray acquires two doctors' coats and a few sets of nurse's scrubs. Archer returns to the group with various name tags and stethoscopes. You're dressed as a nurse, taking the set that just happens to be your size. Archer is a doctor, hanging the stethoscope around his neck. Ray slips into a nurse's outfit, self-proclaiming it'd be more appropriate should anyone ask him anything too medically specific, as he's watching the door.

"Oh, no you don't." Lana extends a finger to Cyril who's halfway into the doctor's coat. "Hand it over."

"What? Why?" The accountant turned agent asks, finishing slipping the jacket on.

"Because we're not doing the two lady nurses and a gay routine. It's not even your size." She points to the deflated shoulders.

"A gay?" Ray asks aloud, clutching invisible pearls.

"Honestly, Cyril. Lana's a lot broader than you are." Archer shrugs, earning a hateful glare from Lana. She snatches the jacket from him and slips it on, filling it out nicely.

"Ya' know..." She narrows her eyes. Lana struts inside with a confident demeanor, blending right in. Cyril lingers near the nurse's station, with his shoulders raised in an exaggerated, insecure posture.

It doesn't take long for Lana to acquire a wheelchair. She arrives at your room and Archer lifts you and all the necessary bags of fluids and medications into a jumbled heap on the chair. You look at them with a disappointed expression, too tired and sore to give input. "Archer," Lana gives a sympathetic look. "They're not gonna let us walk through here like that."

"I don't know where all these tubes go and, honestly? I'm scared to find out." The two agents begin untangling your equipment. You do what you can to help, but your body feels heavy in this early stage of the healing process. That is, until a burst of adrenaline courses through you.

"Hey, wait. What's happening?" You repeat yourself over and over until one of them answers. They glance at each other and then back to you.

"We're taking you back to ISIS. You're not safe here." Lana gives a half-comforting effort.

"Yeah, like ISIS is such a safe haven- ouch!" Lana punches Archer's arm with brute force.

~~~Back at ISIS

"Ouch! What the hell?" The resident doctor, Algernop Krieger, rubs the newly sore spot on his head where Malory has just swatted a rolled-up fashion magazine.

"This isn't another cadaver for your iniquitous experiments! You touch her with one of those godforsaken machines, and I'll have you peeled!" The silver-haired woman stands firm.

"Peeled?" Krieger squeaks in terrified confusion.

"What's the big freaking deal? You were just about to let her get tortured to death on Gun Island anyways," Cheryl interrupts, propping her feet up on a desk. Malory swats her feet away with the magazine.

"There are some things we can't fiscally risk at this agency. We can't afford to lose every agent we have. We can, however, lose one new recruit who got taken prisoner on her first mission."

"But it was Archer's fault wasn't it?" Pam appears, eating a bear claw. "Didn't he say that?" Malory stares fire through her. "... Inappropriate."

"Does nobody do their job? Or am I paying you all for binge-eating, glue-sniffing, Sieg Heiling social hour?" Malory slaps the magazine against the door frame as she exits. Cheryl gasps, staring with wide eyes at Krieger.

"So you are a Nazi?" She asks. He rolls his eyes and sighs.

~~~Back at The Hospital

"What? No!" You protest climbing into the back of the poorly cleaned cargo van meant to carry a gurney, but they realized when they arrived that they didn't have a gurney.

"Look, time isn't really a thing we have a lot of right now. Get in the van and as soon as we get back-" Lana's bargain gets cut short.

"We'll double your morphine." Archer chuckles. That's a deal. Almost instantly you climb into the back of the van.

The gang finally gets you agonizingly situated with your bags and IVs, speeding through traffic to get you somewhere stable. The reckless driving causes your stomach to turn, and you squeeze your eyes shut in hopes that it'll still the swirling in your eyes.

Suddenly, your eyes jolt open to the unmistakable boom of gunfire. The van is being shot at. You look at Cyril who has already hit the floor, covering his head. "Oh, you guys weren't kidding." You groan as you pry yourself up off the van floor. Scrambling, you reach under the seat and feel around for any stashed weapon in a van owned by a spy agency. You sigh with relief when your fingers graze the carrying box of a small Ruger .380.

Lana's shooting through the back window from the front seat, causing a few stray shards of glass to scrape you up, but you're indifferent to it. Ray's driving as fast as he can without flipping the entire vehicle and Archer is hanging out the side door, shooting and making a mental note of the faces inside the cars in pursuit. Cyril is... Well, he's still on the floor. You finally steady yourself to rise and you sling open the back doors. A bit of your medical equipment falls out, ripping a tube or two from your arms. You grit your teeth and start shooting as small streams of blood flow down your arms from the IV ports.

With razor-sharp focus, you successfully shoot the driver in the head and kill him instantly. His car quickly veers to the left, crashing devastatingly into a power post. One chasing vehicle remains. It's a man on a motorcycle. His bike zips around the van and tauntingly loops back into your field of vision. You aim at him and shoot a few times, only to miss as your adrenaline begins to slow, and you really notice the lack of painkillers in your veins.

The man on the motorcycle fires in your direction and a bullet grazes your already weakened arm. A gash is left in the wake of the bullet. You throw the gun down and slap a hand over the fresh wound, releasing a cry of frustration more than pain at this point. As if they took your scream as a cue, Lana and Archer speak at the same time.

"Cyril!" They bark and he snaps back into reality. For the most part. Without much more direction, he grabs the gun you've tossed and starts shooting.

"Suppressing fire!" He wails, aiming at nothing. To everyone's genuine surprise, he gets the perpetrator right in the chest. The biker's grip on the steering begins to waver, and he wrecks like a crumpled piece of paper due to how fast he is going. The man is long gone, but Cyril empties the magazine before opening his eyes again. "Did I... Did I get him?"

"Yes!" You yell, slinging yourself out of the opening to grab the door. The still-shaking hero of the moment does the same, helping you get the rear doors secured so you can tend to the ever-growing collection of wounds you're amassing. "God, I didn't fill out my insurance paperwork yet."

Inside the ISIS medical bay, Krieger, under intense supervision, has you right as rain in just a few hours. Once you're stitched up and filled to the brim with morphine, you sleep off the afternoon. Hours upon hours go by and you're sound asleep the entire time.

"It makes no sense that she's still alive. Even if she was meant to bait the team back to the island, she should've been long gone by the time you actually got there." Krieger says, fidgeting with some mechanical nonsense lying around the room.

"Yeah... Three days is," Archer hesitates.

"A really long time to be tortured and drugged on an island?" The doctor finishes his sentence and Archer narrows his eyes at him.

"Yeah, a really long time." The blue-eyed spy turns to leave, ignoring his own minor injuries. "Just keep an eye on her until I get back."

"Aren't you guys sort of at risk of being attacked after that car chase?"

"Yes," Archer huffs. "What about it?"

"Aren't you worried?" Krieger raises a brow, wondering if he should be taking precautions for an invasion.

"If I worried about a fraction of the stuff I should be worried about, I would never get anything done." He leaves to rest his aching body.

~~~Later, ISIS Medical Quarters

"And she didn't talk?" Malory looks down at your sleeping body with raised eyebrows.

"No, mother. She didn't. So we left her there for three days for no reason." Archer scowls.

"Oh, whatever. It's impossible to keep up with your fixations." She tosses her hands up. "Any other time you'd have suggested leaving someone behind before I ever had to say it!" She leaves the room, most likely looking for a drink. Archer knows that's true. He never sees it coming until it's there. It starts with a pretty face and he can't control where it goes from there. Or who this feeling comes out for.

When you finally awaken, the room is dark and empty. It's late at night, peeking into the dark morning. The peace and quiet remind you of how badly you missed it. You'd been beaten, borderline tortured, starved, and sleep-deprived. Yet your lips were sealed. A sense of pride washes over you as you blink in your surroundings. Where am I? You think to yourself.

"Oh, hey. You're awake." Archer enters your medical room and turns on one set of lights.

"I am awake. And, a little blind now." You squint under the sudden brightness. You raise a hand to block the light, but also so you can get a better look at him. You hardly realize you're smiling until it stings the split on your lip.

"I uh, went back for these." He holds up an absolutely wrecked version of the very flowers he left in your hospital room. Tiny card and all.

"Oh, thank God. I was worried about those."

"Really?" He furrows his brows.

"No." You flatten your expression. "What day is it?" Finally, the awkward silence is broken.

"It's the 6th." Archer takes a slouching seat in the nearest chair.

"Oh, wow." A silence falls over the two of you. "Took a while to get back, huh?" You ask, mostly indifferent. Several things could've held the team up.

"That wasn't- I didn't-" he fumbles with his words, reaching dependently for his flask.

"Shut up," you laugh, wincing as you do. "Name of the game." You swallow the lump in your throat that's begging to ask if you were supposed to be rescued at all.

"How many times did you get shot? Like in total?" He attempts to change the subject.

"Only twice. You and that guy on the bike." You rub your arm. "Same fucking arm too." You feel a devious smile spread across your face. "Thank God Cyril was there."

"What? Seriously?" His eyes widen in disbelief. "I chartered a plane back to a compound we had just ransacked-"

"Jesus Christ, I was kidding!" Your declaration silences his whining. "Thank you for coming back for me at all, Archer."

In the following weeks, he's by your side daily, helping you around your apartment or sending his valet to pick up your prescriptions. The whole office is all but disgusted at this strange behavior. After a while, your strength is back up and you're ready to be back in the field.

~~~Your First Day Back

"Thank you for letting me keep all my limbs, doctor." You shake Krieger's hand.

"Wait, was that an option?"

"Whatever you're talking about, shut up." Archer bursts into the conversation. "Y/N," he extends his arm out to you, eyes shining like a smitten puppy. You laugh, and link your arm with his. He guides you to his office, pouring you both a glass of whiskey regardless of the early hour of the day.

"What? No thank you, It's 9 AM." You laugh. "And I'm a vodka woman."

"Vodka at 9 AM?"

"No, nothing alcoholic at 9 AM." You laugh with a sigh.

"Y/N, I feel like I need to apologize, you know, for," he seems to search hard for the words. You roll your eyes, dumbfounded by his arrogance.

"For almost getting me killed? For being the reason my face still looks like I do roller derby?" You huff, crossing your arms. Sterling takes a comforting sip of his drink.

"Well, to be fair, I'm also the only reason you made it back," he shrugs smugly.

"Only? Was no one else coming back for me out there? Is that why it took you so long?" You feel a bolt of unchecked anger strike through your body, quickening the pulse in your chest. "I mean I guess I always knew deep down, but I didn't want to believe it."

"Wait, Y/N," his eyes widen. It becomes apparent he's said the wrong thing.

"Was it just you?" You ask, pinching the bridge of your nose with a macabre chuckle. How mad can you be in an industry like this? His shoulders relax at the sound of your laughter.

"No, well, yes- sort of. Ray was pretty enthusiastic about it."

"Love him," you whisper as you place a hand on your heart.

"Well I mean, come on. Don't be angry at me for saving you." He shrugs.

"Unbelievable," you toss your hands up.

"You didn't even know what the plan was if you were on life support-"

"Oh my God, please stop digging." You're only half serious by now.

"The rescue itself was me, so... You're welcome." He smirks, finishing his glass. You roll your eyes, internally processing how little you must matter to the agency at this stage of your career here.

"Well, thank you Agent Archer," you take the glass he poured you. "For cleaning up your own mess." You down the shallow drink in one graceful gulp.

"World's greatest agent," he proclaims, pouring himself another glass. "Now, the matter of repayment..." He swirls his newly poured drink.

"Repayment? No, I think your coming back for me just about covers it. Albeit three days later." You raise an eyebrow, flipping the script and reminding him not to push his luck.

"Sure, we'll call it your repayment." He leans back in his seat. "My house. Dinner."

"I thought you'd never ask."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author's Notes:

I hope the "finishing sentences with different scenes" trope is translating well on here. If not I'm gonna kill myself. ❤️ Thanks for reading!

Also!!! Next chapter will mostly likely contain smut, so if that's not your wave, keep an eye out for my next stories outside of this series!

((Part 3 coming soon!!!))

[ultimatevocalsonicsongtournament]

ROUND 2 - Pool #109

Live and Learn vs. His World (Zebrahead Ver.)

Reblog to help expand this blog's visibility so that we have more voters!

Listen to them in the following links:

Live and Learn

His World (Zebrahead Ver.)

Lyrics below!

Live and Learn

Can you feel life, movin' through your mind? Ooh, looks like it came back for more! Yeah! Can you feel time slippin' down your spine? Oh, you try and try to ignore! Yeah! But you can hardly swallow Your fears and pain! And you can't help but follow And puts you right back where you came! Live and learn! Hanging on the edge of tomorrow Live and learn! From the works of yesterday Live and learn! If you beg or if you borrow Live and learn! You may never find your way Whoa, oh, yeah! Can you feel life tangle you up inside? Yeah! Now you're face down on the floor! Oh! But you can't save your sorrow You've paid in trade! And you can't help but follow And puts you right back where you came! Live and learn! Hanging on the edge of tomorrow Live and learn! From the works of yesterday Live and learn! If you beg or if you borrow Live and learn! You may never find your way Whoa, whoa, whoa Oh yeeeaaah! Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah! There's a face searching far, so far and wide There's a place where you dream you'd never find Hold on to "what if"! (2x) Live and learn! Hanging on the edge of tomorrow Live and learn! From the works of yesterday Live and learn! If you beg or if you borrow Live and learn! You may never find your way (2x) Live and learn! Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah! (2x)

His World (Zebrahead Ver.)

C'mon and light the fuse, he's a rocket and he's ready to go 'Cause now the countdown has started and it's ready to blow! He's got the dope sounds pumpin' and in stereo! (-eo!) Kickin' ass fast… puttin' on a show! Go on and get yourself together, there's no time to rest And if you put the time in, he'll put you to the test! He's like the runnin' man, in his world more is less And if you wanna test him, best bring your best! You can't stop now, lock and load Don't stop now, c'mon and rock n' roll! (roll… roll… roll…) In this world! (His world!) (Gotta make your own way!) Where one is all In this world! (His world!) (Life is just a game you play!) Never fear the fall! When you leap without a net, you'll find It won't be there all the time So watch your step, now watch your step, don't fall! Runnin' it back again, well, what'd ya expect? Comin' out to win ten outta ten, got a real rough neck! Spikes up his liberty, straps on his shoes! 'Cause he's the best there ever was, haven't you heard the news? C'mon and psyche yourself up, 'cause it's time to play! Bounce to the beats and the rhymes 'cause they're here to stay The one and only marathon man livin' today Rollin' up, comin' fast, and he'll blow you away! You can't stop now, lock and load Don't stop now, c'mon and rock n' roll! (roll… roll… roll…) In this world! (His world!) (Gotta make your own way!) Where one is all In this world! (His world!) (Life is just a game you play!) Never fear the fall! When you leap without a net, you'll find It won't be there all the time So watch your step, now watch your step, don't fall! Intergalactic continental champ, running things Hyperactive instrumental in pulling strings (Hey! Hey!) He is the one who understands when the tides will swing So he's breaking down doors, never following (Hey! Hey!) Because the pressures of this world, they can take their toll The only way to break free is to break the mold! You can't stop now, (Now!) lock and load! (Load!) Don't stop now, c'mon and rock n' roll! In this world! (His world!) (Gotta make your own way!) Where one is all In this world! (His world!) (Life is just a game you play!) Never fear the fall! When you leap without a net, you'll find It won't be there all the time So watch your step, now watch your step, don't fall! (2x) Watch your step! Watch your step! (Don't turn around!) (2x) Don't stop to look back again! Don't fall…!

[dexbian-archived]

today i present to you, my playlist of predominantly black artists, smiles

[jerseyluck]

Batman: No Man's Land: Chronicles (#17): Little Boy Lost (Story #15)

After the adventures of Young Justice last issue, No Man Land goes back to the land of Chronicles.

The issue's main story, Little Boy Lost by Scott Beatty and Pascal Alixe, opens on Man-Bat's family, the Langstroms, hunting for the food in the rubble of No Man's Land. They are helped out by Aaron's Man-Bat mutations allowing him to smell out food. They are doing as well as one can to in a destroyed city.

Because the family drama of Francine Langstrom raising two children (one being a tiny Man-Bat) without her husband in No Man's Land would be dull, the story needs some conflict. And conflict might as be the name of the eye-patch wearing gangster that decides to kidnap Aaron for a higher place in NML.

After the villain beats up Francine and kidnaps her son, she goes to ask for help from the face of Gotham's underworld boss: The Penguin. Oswald says that there is nothing the Langstroms can do for him, especially without Kirk's Man-Bat serum, and he declines to help.

Thankfully this is a Batman story, so when he hears that child is danger, he threatens Penguin to give him information on the lowlife who kidnapped Aaron. And this Penguin interested in stopping the kidnapper because the crime boss does not want to face Batman's wrath for no reason.

Batman offers comfort to Francise before she can do something stupid, but it is too late because she took the Man-Bat serum already. Francise is now the She-Bat! Francise takes flight to find her baby boy!

And not a moment too soon, because Patchy has gotten annoyed with Aaron trying to kill the young bat. Francise saves her son while Penguin's goons kill the villain like he was a sea turtle on a beach. Reunited, the Man-Bat family (including a Man-Bated out daughter) fly away from Gotham... for now.

The second story, Tune On, Tune In, Freak Out is my favorite story of the issue. It is about a television host just broadcasting out to what he assumes is an empty audience because no one has power in No Man's Land. But it turns out everywhere outside is listening to his broadcast about the going-ons in No Man's Land.

This dorky host is capturing the video of people just living in No Man's Land. The existence of this man getting word about the people trapped in Gotham is so important that Batman decides that he needs to protect this host with Oracle's help.

So, when a bunch of gangsters try to break into the studio, Bats goes to beat them down. When the host comes out to be beaten by the gangsters, he finds nobody there except a Batarang. (This still at the point Batman is still an urban legend...for reasons) The TV show the world what happens is a major step to get the outside world to reopen Gotham, so it is a true story about the importance of speaking up even if you think nobody's listening.

The third story, Identity Crisis (no not that one), opens on Batman fighting Killer Croc. But this is just an excuse for Bruce's cowl to be removed, so a psychologist can learn Bruce Wanye is Batman!

Yeah, this is one of those "Person learns Batman is Bruce Wanye and dies immediately" stories. This time the guy tries to reveal the secret to Two-Face, but because this is No Man's Land, the secret identity knowledge is worthless cause Batman is just some poor dope trapped in the city.

Annoyed at the doctor's treatment of him back in Arkham, Two-Face does a coin flip to see if the doctor dies. Batman fights Two-Face's goons away from the doctor's corpse, and he remembers the doctor in past, not realizing that Batman dodged a bullet with his death.

Not my favorite bunch of stories. I think part of it is that I am not a big fan of Man-Bat and his shaky status quos, and that extends to his family. It is hard for me to care, even if the story is fine. The second story does some lifting for the issue's score, and the third story had some fine art. But you can skip this issue.

5.5/10

[lightofraye]

Aaliyah - Try Again

It's been a long time (Long time) We shouldn't have left you (Left you) Without a dope beat to step to Step to, step to, step to (Step) Step to, step to, freaky-freaky It's been a long time (Time) We shouldn't have left you (Left you) Without a dope beat to step to Step to, step to, step to (Step) Step to, freaky-freaky-freaky Baby girl, uh What would you do to get to me? What would you say to have your way? Would you give up or try again? If I hesitate to let you in Now would you be yourself or play a role? Tell all the boys or keep it low? If I say no, would you turn away? Or play me off or would you stay? Oh And if at first you don't succeed (Oh) Then dust yourself off and try again You can dust it off and try again, try again 'Cause if at first you don't succeed You can dust it off and try again Dust yourself off and try again, try again Again, again

I'm into you, you into me But I can't let it go so easily Not 'til I see what this could be Could be eternity or just a week But, yo, our chemistry is off the chain It's perfect now, but will it change? This ain't a yes, this ain't a no Just do your thing We'll see how we go And if at first you don't succeed (Oh, yeah) Then dust yourself off and try again (Again) You can dust it off and try again, try again (Yeah) 'Cause if at first you don't succeed (Ooh) You can dust it off and try again (Try again) Dust yourself off and try again (Yeah), try again Again, again So, you don't wanna throw it all away I might be shy on the first date What about the next date? Huh (Huh), huh (Huh) Huh (Huh), huh (Oh) I said, you don't wanna throw it all away (Away) I might be buggin' on the first date What about the next date? (Date) Huh (Huh), huh (Huh) Huh (Huh), huh (Oh) And if at first you don't succeed Then dust yourself off and try again You can dust it off and try again, try again 'Cause if at first you don't succeed You can dust it off and try again Dust yourself off and try again, try again Again, again And if at first you don't succeed (Uh, yeah) Then dust yourself off (Uh) and try again (You can) You can dust it off and try again, try again (Again) 'Cause if at first you don't succeed (Ooh) You can dust it off and try again (Again) Dust yourself off and try again (Yeah), try again Again, again And if at first you don't succeed (No) Then dust yourself off and try again (Yeah) You can dust it off and try again, try again (Yeah) 'Cause if at first you don't succeed (Baby) You can dust it off (Hey) and try again (Yeah) Dust yourself off and try again, try again Again, again It's been a long time (Time) We shouldn't have left you (Left you) Without a dope beat to step to Step to, step to, step to (Step) Step to, step to, step to (Freaky) It's been a long time (Time) We shouldn't have left you (Left you) Without a dope beat to step to Step to, step to, step to Step to, step to, step to (Freaky-freaky) And if at first you don't succeed Then dust yourself off and try again You can dust it off and try again, try again 'Cause if at first you don't succeed You can dust it off and try again Dust yourself off and try again, try again Again, again It's been a long time (Time) We shouldn't have left you (Left you) Without a dope beat to step to Step to, step to, step to, what? Step to, step to, freaky-freaky (Whoa) It's been a long time (Time) We shouldn't have left you (Left you) Without a dope beat to step to Step to, step to, step to, what? Step to, step to, freaky-freaky (We out) One mo' again The new millennium, baby And we out, you guess who it is

[ir1s-th3viru5]

You wanna fight? Come on, now get ready to hang Cause the Kuzuryu gang about to end with a bang Tough survivor from Jabberwock has unfortunately come to meet his end So take a seat, put your hands up, and say hello to my little friend Why don’t you take a fucking chill pill, baby, your attitude’s overly tight (That's right) 'Cause your rage ended Mahiru’s life and your own little lover slashed open your eye She died, slain by the bear of terrific despair, now you’ve stepped in my lair, so it’s best to prepare You’re pretty ballsy for a kid with no skills, too, but after my verse, you’re gonna wish your parents killed you And what's with your physique? Built like a stick on a tree and a face that just makes you look three Blushing with those rosy cheeks, you belong in a daycare instead of the Japanese streets My gang obeys me, so you won't phase me, wang goes crazy when I bang those ladies And because you're a Gangster baby your cowardice left your girl pushing up daisies

---- I don’t wanna hear shit from the boss baby that they call Guy F Your voice is fucking annoying, that shit goes right through my head I had syphilis yeah, but you're a huge dick, on your scurvy ridden strip filled with bilge rat pricks So allow me to give you a little tip to this man who uses women to deal with his shit You're passionless, your bashfulness is blasphemous and actionless And when I slaughter you and all your dumb little classmates, I’ll make it look like an accident For an abstinent guy you sure like getting fucked over, let me gut your stomach so you’re bleeding like a poser 'Cause when it comes to yakuzas, you're a prime bloke rookie, now I’ll leave you chewed up like your fried dough cookies 'Cause I’m a baller brawler who is here, standing taller and is gonna maul you 'till you’re on the ground as a crawler And I’ll leave another mark coming towards you, you’re the walking definition of a short fuse I’m the MC assassin, slash like Edward Kenway, raps so hard call me Al Dente Used your tool just to kill, now you’re saying you miss her, now I’ll cave your head in like the fate of your sister

/ref

I GET THE REF I GOTCHU

Why do I gotta face this boke? His tactics are a big joke Watch what you're spitting, don't choke! You couldn't even rap without having a stroke Dumbass, I’ll put an end to you Scarface, you couldn’t flee cops in a car chase You’re fucking lame, I’m great, this powdered prick can’t beat me in a footrace I had an impact 'cause I stay tact, meanwhile, you got bitch slapped for not paying taxes I survived the unthinkable and I now have a legacy that’s too unsinkable You spent time in Alcatraz? I’m sure you were fine if you dropped the soap as little as you dropped dope rhymes I’m sure that Mae don’t wanna see ya, with your vile gonnorhea I’m giving your bootlegging business the boot (Ayy), Kuzuryu clan, that shit’s in my roots (Ayy) And if you ever mention Peko again, I will pull out a pistol and I’ll fucking shoot Go ahead Al Capone, spit another witty verse, I won’t be harmed by your bars that occur This bastard couldn’t even battle his heart, guess that’s why they call it a Valentine’s Massacre

----

What the fuck did you say, bitch? I will leave you fucking tore down Keep her name out of your mouth or I’ll sell you to a whore house My heart’s in the right place now but you’re making me fucking pissed off If I hear another word out of your stupid face, I’ll tear your fucking dick off You’re a top gangster? That’s quite hard to see; when you were arrested at age 33! Then you were bullied in prison into mental illness and bribing the cops into setting you free No Tommies or shotguns could bring my ass down motherfucker, I'm the true gangster here Hymie Weiss better come up with new tactics, 'cause I’m the new man that Al Capone fears (Ha, ha, ha, ha)

[x-heesy]

Hell y Ass! V5

Step on the gas, I'm ready to fly

This is my break dance, this is my slam dank

I'm not like your idol, boy

What's the bottom? Where's the vibe? It's not yours, so pass it on

There's no pump on the beats (What's happening, god damn?)

Your pedants are running somewhere

How did you want to play this without talent?

You're like a local under, I'm like a local hunter

Fuck the innovators here

Every club I'm in will be a bit crowded

You say: You are not true. Give them bravado

But I'm so true that I'll wipe you the fuck out. (I'm a fighter)

The fighter is death

I would push through your armor

I would drag you into the compartment

Everyone says that I'm dirty, but the dirtiest one is the cleanest

We will be crushed by the beat, we will fall from orbit

On the slabs of the world that burn constantly when one is not sleeping

Every predator recognizes the style, bitches know what type I am

No, a careless person hanging around here with music, which for me seems like

Doping! What's going on at the party, boy?

It's not your fault, it's us who let the flesh go

Grinds the bones again doping (doping,) doping (doping)

Doping! What's going on at the party, boy?

It's not your fault, it's us who let the flesh go

Grinds the bones again doping (doping,) doping (doping)

Doping! What's going on at the party, boy?

It's not your fault, it's us who let the flesh go

Grinds the bones again doping (doping,) doping (doping)

Doping! What's going on at the party, boy?

It's not your fault, it's us who let the flesh go

Grinds the bones again doping (doping,) doping (doping)

Where are you as a pro?

Show me the style, what will be the profit

I don't want to bullshit, but if the guys are suckers

I'll fuck anyone worse than Loki

Bitches pick me up here and there

But I'm running from the radar deep into the core

It's like you've got us mixed up, you fucking succubus

Come on, check, I’m getting trouble with FrutoNyan

Hey, I'm no stranger to grinding this out

Soon I will be in you like a catheter

Where do they get chicks from such as diligent

I pulled out my dick, exhale of course

Proceed without hesitation

Here I am gentle only for you

You wanted to see me without clothes

I want to see you skip between

(A-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!)

Doping! What's going on at the party, boy?

It's not your fault, it's us who let the flesh go

Grinds the bones again doping (doping,) doping (doping)

Doping! What's going on at the party, boy?

It's not your fault, it's us who let the flesh go

Grinds the bones again doping (doping,) doping (doping)

Doping! What's going on at the party, boy?

It's not your fault, it's us who let the flesh go

Grinds the bones again doping (doping,) doping (doping)

Doping! What's going on at the party, boy?

It's not your fault, it's us who let the flesh go

Grinds the bones again doping (doping,) doping (doping) @bethanythestrange @bigbonzo @seanisnothing

Doping by RAM

Mothatrucking peace in the Ukraine 🇺🇦

[darlingl-19]

There was nothing reassuring about this boxing club. The looks of those present could intimidate anyone. The music loud hurt Eva’s ears.

She decided to come to him for a very important boxing tournament. She didn’t tell him anything, a little surprise seemed like a good idea.

Many men stared at her like she was the easiest prey, she was searching for him but he’s no we’re to be found. His boxing coach invited her to take a seat. She felt uncomfortable whenever someone stared at her.

When he comes out of the locker room, Eva throws herself in his arms, surprised to see her here, he hesitates a few seconds before hugging her back. He puts a light kiss on her forehead.

-Ethan !

-What are you doing here…? He asked, almost like he didn’t want her to be here.

-I wanted to surprise you !

He kept his emotions for himself but seeing her smile melted his cold heart. As she gently caressed his cheek, his eyes turned from love to pure horror. His father was approaching them and immediately he let go of her. He was terrified of his father.

Without a word, his father pulled him away from Eva, she went beck to her seat. He gave her a begging look, like he begged her to help him. While she waited for him, she heard three men talking about Ethan.

There was a lot of talk about him. “Daddy’s son” “Spoiled brat” “He’s doping to get that level”. That’s too much. Eva went towards the three men looking confident. As she was about to say something, Ethan stood in front of her to protect her. She was an easy target for them.

-Let me talk to them ! She objected as he gently pushed her back to the bench.

This time puppy eyes didn’t work. He was pissed. He let out a deep sigh.

-Don’t make waves with them… It’s important to me this tournament, I’m glad you’re here but please just sit tight and don’t get in trouble.

His father called for him and after a little kiss on the cheek, he ran towards his father. She was upset by the annoyed look he had.

The tournament started almost an hour after her arrival and Ethan finally sat next to her. She put her hand on hers and he rested his head on her shoulder.

She kissed his cheek several times, he giggled but when she tried to kiss him, gently he placed his hand on her mouth, she tried again and he checked that her father wasn’t looking before kissing her.

-Are you ashamed of me ? She asked.

-No Eva…He sighed.

He was only terrified of his father. He didn’t want this man to hurt her, he knew she was about to witness such violence but - before his turn - he tried to make her less upset.

The young man’s first fight was already violent and it’s only a start but he won hands down, he came back to his girlfriend but she headed out. He took off his gloves and followed her, putting on a jacket.

-Why are you so upset, Eva?

-You didn’t kiss me the first time.

He sighed and tried once again to make her feel a little better but in vain. He hugged her, he hugged her like it’s the last time they saw each other. Confused, she let herself be done, hearing his heart beat against her ear had something comforting.

-You drive me crazy with your constant challenges and your dumb fights…

She laughed before she looked up at him.

-You are the most irritating, stubborn, arrogant, annoying, frustrating girl I’ve ever met

Another little giggle and she cling to him like a koala, they laughed until someone’s hand landed on Ethan’s shoulder.

Frightened the young man stepped back, the man payed no attention to Eva but his presence is so menacing, she moves away a little from the father and the son. The look on Ethan’s face was heart breaking, he looked so terrified of the man in front of him.

He took his son inside and signed the young woman to follow them. She did without flinching.

The more the fights happened, the more violent Ethan was. The blood stained the ring and his gloves. Nobody moved. As if they were waiting for the worse but Ethan still won this fight. Here he was, one more fight and he would won the tournament.

He came back to Eva, she wiped the blood on his face. He smiled stupidly as she did to him what seemed to be a lecture. In fact, his ears were ringing too much for him to hear correctly what she was saying.

He hugged her, she caressed her hair while he rested his forehead against her belly. He put his chin against her belly to look at her. Her eyes did not leave him indifferent and his cheeks slightly turned red.

-You’re an addiction… I can’t get you out of my head no matter what I do…

The last fight between Ethan and his best friend Alan. Despite their friendship, the resentments of their first battles were still there and their respective father were not there to appease them.

The atmosphere was electric, Eva was afraid but she did not move. Nobody moved. The two boys fought until the blood flowed from their noses, their mouths. Until they were exhausted. They took off their gloves.

Finally the adults threw themselves on them to separate them, Eva watched this show unable to move. She snapped out of her fear when she sees Ethan lying on the ground.

He couldn’t catch his breath. He asked several times where she was, but no one answered. The more he repeated himself, the more angry he got. He saw her and a smile that only she knew from him, appeared on his face. Yet his eyes were empty. It was like he was another person. He was trying to fight the adults restraining him.

His father took him to the locker room, Eva waited for all adults to have their attention elsewhere before sneaking into the locker room.

Ethan looked at her with a smile on his face. An empty water bottle rolled next to him, his hair and his torso soaked. He’s lying on the cold floor of the locker room.

-oh my love…

His hand - still trembling with adrenaline - reached towards her, she hesitated to take it but under his suppliant gaze, she gave in. Ethan pulled her close to him before he got on top of her.

His cheeks turn red. The blood dripped on her shirt and he wiped his face with the back of his hand. The water dripping from his hair stained her t-shirt. Eva looked at him with a loving look.

He kissed her before hiding his face in the crook her neck. His warm breath makes her shiver. He kissed her neck several times, he took a deep breath that does not leave the young woman without blushing.

She didn’t know what to do, so she just hugged him. He put his hands on Eva’s back, almost against her will she arched her back. She felt him smiling as he kissed her neck.

-I remember how you screamed my name… How you took me so fucking well.. How tight you were… He sighed next to his ear.

Her stomach felt like butterflies, he straightened up to contemplate her. She grabbed his shoulders as if she would lose her balance if she let him get up. He caressed her cheek with his fingertips and then traces the fine lines of her mouth with a softness unknown to both them.

-How you kissed me like you were in desperate need of feeling me inside you, feeling skin on yours and my hands on your trembling body…

Her triumphant smile appeared again. She didn’t know what to say, what to do. She simply admired him. His two colored eyes looking at her with so much lust and yet like she was the most beautiful woman he ever saw.

-I hate myself for loving you, but can’t imagine living without you. This is what it feels like to be helplessly, hopelessly, and irrevocably in love… I love you Eva. He whispered before kissing her, his hands going to places they weren’t supposed to.

She let out a soft moan as he touched her chest. He wanted her. He needed her but it was too risky.

[mel-155-a]

Hey! You forgot a very important step! You have to POISON the crystal chips, usually with arsenic!

If you don't poison them, they won't do their very fast flippy motions like when you turned the light switch on and off really fast to the beat of a song so you and your friends could pretend you were at a rave. Without the flippy motions fucking NOTHING happens, they will just sit there.

Don't even get me started on wireless by the way, I will spend my entire lunch break talking about communication protocols and the ISM frequency band and Jesus, I gotta stop myself.

(Also, here is my recommendation of James Burke's Connections series that is mandatory for me to make any time someone mentions the loom to computer connection. That and many other fascinating technological threads are explored in it, it is both engaging and very educational!

https://archive.org/details/james-burke-connections_s01e01 )

Computers are very simple you see we take the hearts of dead stars and we flatten them into crystal chips and then we etch tiny pathways using concentrated light into the dead star crystal chips and if we etch the pathways just so we can trick the crystals into doing our thinking for us hope this clears things up.

[nodslhoesbehatineatadickrealass]

It's been a long time, shoulda met you, without a dope beat to step 2