#yes I picked her up and put her in a nice place a spider like her would thrive | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

fish-eat-fish · 2 years ago

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⋆ Gwen x f!reader ⋆ Sleep ⋆

request: @hyunslvvr can u pls do one for f!reader x gwen where they have a day in and they just stay in bed:)

tags: fluff, comfort, wlw, cuddling

word count: 2.1k

a/n: im paving away at requests rn, this one had me kicking my feet i LOVE gwen stacy _:(´ཀ`」 ∠): THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR REQUESTING FOR HER, another one for the gays <3

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Un unbelievable stack of homework and two essays due. You couldn’t believe it. The sunlight beamed through your window and shined onto your desk, papers covering its surface as you tiredly scribbled on your assignment papers. Friday night and you had nothing better to do than weekend homework, how miserable. You sighed, tapping mindlessly on your desk when a buzz from your phone interrupted you. Picking it up, you smiled seeing it was Gwen.

It read, “on the way, open ur window!”

You sighed at the words, setting down your pencil and getting up out of your chair to unlock your window. Gwen had a bad habit of breaking in when she wanted to. You’d already assured her your family was okay with her visiting, preferably through the front door. But she always insisted that it was easier this way. Socializing seemed to sometimes stress her out you noticed.

Unlocking your window with a click, you raised it open, taking a nice breather as cold air blew in. The sunset was particularly nice today, and you didn’t quite mind seeing your favorite person right now. Sitting on your bed, you spiffed up your room for Gwen, making the bed and cleaning your cluttered desk. Just as you were about to exit your room to go and grab some snacks, a few knocks on your window sill signaled that your girlfriend had arrived. You turned around and beamed.

“Hey, sorry for the late notice.” She apologized, sitting on your window sill and climbing down from it. Taking off her white mask, Gwen sat down on your bed, crashing down on it. Until she rose up again.

“Oh, sorry.”

“Thank you for remembering.” You teased. Watching her take off her beaten-up shoes, and carefully placing them near the window on the floor. She let out a huff, flopping back onto your bed. Gwen’s suit was a little damaged and scratched. She looked tired.

“I’m not keeping you from anything, am I…?” She asked. It was obvious that she felt guilty about her visit. But you’d reassured her many times before that your room was always available to her whenever she wanted. And so was your company.

Eyeing the homework on your desk, you declared your study session over. It didn’t matter all that much compared to hanging out with her. “Nope. I’m glad you dropped by actually, I was getting bored.” You explained, looking at Gwen as she folded her legs up on your bed. Gwen awkwardly rubbed her arm as she looked around the room.

“So…”

“Yes.”

She raised her eyebrow, “You don’t even know what I was gonna say.”

Rolling your eyes, you responded, “Yes you can sleep over. I don’t mind.”

Gwen smiled at you, relieved. You leaned back against your desk, “I’m glad you’re here.”

She smirked, “What, you missed me?”

“Actually I did, yeah.”

Looking at Gwen, you figured that she didn’t have the best day today, being a crime fighting hero and all. Walking up to her and leaning down, you placed a hand on her cheek and gave her face a quick kiss. She chuckled and peered up at you. You held onto her cheek momentarily, “I’m gonna go and get us some snacks. Have you eaten anything today?”

“Oh uh, I haven’t had the chance yet.”

“Gwen.” You said, sternly.

“I just had to go to band practice, then there was some jerk downtown and-” She spoke quietly, her voice dying down as you stared at her, an irritated look on your face. Gwen sighed and grabbed the back of her neck, her hair falling down to hide her guilty expression.

“Sorry…”

You sighed, smiling at her nonetheless, “I’m gonna go make us some food. Stay put Spider.” Gwen grinned at you, watching you walk out of the room. She took a deep breath, lying down as she observed your room like she always did. She loved the comfort you and your space brought her. Your room was decorated with posters and fairy lights.

Gwen looked around, deciding that she should probably change. It was an unspoken ritual for Gwen to pick out something from your closet. You’d let her do it once, for a sleepover. But ever since, she’d found routine in picking out an outfit of yours for her to wear and potentially keep if given permission.

She walked up to your closet, finding a pair of pajama pants and an oversized tee. She slipped it on as she changed out of her spider suit, carefully tucking it away to where it was out of sight. Just in case. Gwen tugged the shirt towards her face, taking in your scent. Her senses were filled with just you, as she felt at ease.

Walking over to your bed, she noticed a new photo in your little collage of Polaroids. It was from your last hangout. “The Mary Janes Concert–October.” In it, Gwen was holding you by the waist, her drumsticks clasped in her hand. Your arm held her cheek for a kiss, whilst the other held up Gwen’s Polaroid camera. Gwen was laughing as she looked in your direction, feeling proud of your praise of her performance.

That night your throat was so raspy from cheering for her, and Gwen felt absolutely ecstatic as you tackled her after the concert. She was happy to introduce you to her band members after, grabbing you by the hand and speaking with pride to announce you as her one and only girlfriend.

Gwen stared at the Polaroid, taking it in. She smiled and reached out, touching the photo. Moments like these felt surreal, and being reminded that someone as amazing as you were willing to stick by her and be in her life, made her woozy. Gwen loved you a lot.

The door cranked open as you walked in, a plate of sandwiches in one hand, and a mug of freshly brewed tea in your other. You set down the food on your nightstand, glancing at Gwen as she took her hand away from the Polaroid hung up above your bed. You observed her, obsessed with the way she looked in your clothes.

“Being nosy again?”

“Just lookin’ around.” She shrugged, tucking her blonde hair behind her ear.

You sat down next to her, the bed shifting under your weight. You held out the plate towards her, to which she gratefully accepted. Gwen dug in right away, mumbling incoherent words as she ate. You laughed at this, “I can’t understand you when your chewing, you know that right?” Gwen swallowed her bite and smiled at you, gesturing to her sandwich.

“This is seriously good. I’ll never get tired of your food.”

“Glad you like it.” You grabbed the mug off of the nightstand, passing it to her as she finished the last bite of her sandwich. Chamomile is Gwen’s favorite. You’d made an effort to always keep it in stock for her since she liked to crash at yours a lot. Gwen took it carefully in her hands, blowing on the tea to cool it down.

You grabbed a pillow off of your bed and hugged it to your chest, just quietly watching Gwen as she drank her tea. You gently smiled, as she seemed a little bit more energized now. Grabbing your own mug from the nightstand, you drank it quickly, uncaring of how cold it had gotten. Putting the mug down, you patted the bed. Gwen looked up at you curiously.

“I’m a little tired today, do you wanna…?”

Her eyes widened as she lowered her mug.

“Yeah, I wouldn’t mind.” She smiled at your offer, shifting off of the bed, and placing her tea on your nightstand. She lifted the covers off of your bed, carefully moving the pillows and occasional stuffed animals off to the side to make room. As Gwen got into the bed, you turned off your main light, allowing the darkness to consume your room. The sun had set long ago now, and it was time to wind down. You walked up to your fairy lights, switching them on so that only gentle orange light illuminated your room.

Carefully stepping over to your bed, you got in, placing the covers over yourself, noting how you were much colder before. The warmth of your covers had you snuggling into them deeper. You glanced over at Gwen, who looked a little unsure of what to do with herself. You two were still kind of new to the whole cuddling thing. It’d taken a long while for Gwen to be comfortable with physical contact like that on top of that. She let out a small laugh as you snaked your arm around her as you faced her.

“What?” You asked, curious of her amusement.

“I don’t think this position is natural for you.” She teased, noting how awkward your arm felt around her torso. Your body was also pretty stiff. Gwen’s face was gently glowing due to the string lights, her blonde hair fell down into her face as she shifted her body to face towards you. So much for being big spoon tonight.

There was a quick silence between the two of you. Your face was comfortably above the covers, whilst Gwen pulled them up to cover her exposed skin. Her heart was racing, as usual. She’d never gotten used to intimate moments like this, and she’d decided that she’d never get used to it. You made her nervous in all the good ways.

Gwen peered at you, the covers pulled up to half of her face. Nothing was said between the two of you. Leaning in closer, you gently moved her blonde hair out of her eyes. Talking no louder than a whisper, you spoke, “Your hair, I think the pink is fading, you should…”

Gwen shuffled, reaching out and grabbing your collar, pulling you closer to her. Her hair tickled your face as she hovered her face near yours, before carefully connecting her lips with yours. It was quick but intimate. And if not for the dark, Gwen would have definitely taken the opportunity to comment on the rising red on your cheeks. She pulled away, not completely leaving the kiss as her lips brushed over yours. And yet just like that it was over.

She cleared her throat as you lay there speechless, she glanced at your eyes through the dim room, avoiding eye contact as much as possible.

“We should probably sleep now. It’s getting… late.” She blurted. That statement was probably wrong, but you nodded anyways. Gwen’s internal alarms went off, as she criticized her judgment. That took a lot of courage, but she didn’t want you to know. Laying beside her, you stared at Gwen in awe and adoration. You loved this girl so much it was unbelievable.

“Fine.” You sighed. Gwen eyed you questioningly.

“Go on.” You said defeatedly. Gwen laughed at your words, smirking as she saw your expression.

“Finally.” She teased.

Turning over to the other side, you felt her cold hands wrap around your torso, pulling you in closer. Your bodies were snug against each other. Still being wide awake, you hoped Gwen didn’t feel your thumping heart as her hand was placed on your torso. She definitely did notice of course, but she was nervous too, hiding her face in your shirt.

You both lay there, nervous and awkward, as it was usually in the beginning stages of a relationship. You felt her move your fingers, playing with them.

“I think you’re the most amazing girl I know.” She spoke softly, into your back. Your heart fluttered at this. At Gwen’s voice, and the way she gave you affection.

“I love you,” you whispered out.

Gwen only smiled as she planted a soft kiss into your shoulder.

“I love you too.”

Yawning, Gwen mumbled something into your shirt, unable to really keep her eyes open any longer. You hummed, questioning what she said. But she didn’t reply. You’d finally calmed down, letting the comfort of the covers and Gwen’s warmth ease your mind. The city’s ambiance seeped into your room through the open window as you let your mind wander. Gwen’s breathing slowed down, her head placed on your back.

Readjusting yourself and the covers by pulling them up, you froze as Gwen stirred in her sleep. Cautiously, you pulled part of the covers over her. Gwen held onto your torso tighter and moved her face into your neck, her breathing tickling your skin. Holding her hand, you caressed her skin. Her hands were rough and calloused, evidence of her skills as a drummer.

Feeling Gwen twitch in her sleep, she subconsciously intertwined her fingers with yours. The only thing you could remember was Gwen’s touch as you dozed off. Gwen may have needed your comfort and presence the most after every day as Ghost-Spider, but she’d never understand that you needed her more than you let on.

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#across the spiderverse #spiderverse x reader #spiderverse fanfic #gwen stacy x you #gwen stacy x reader #gwen stacy x y/n #female reader #wlw fanfic #atsv gwen #atsv x reader

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yellowwithalisp · 2 years ago

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Okay so like like hobie brown x goth!reader???

Like idk it just works!?!?

( HEAVY BREATHING-

AS A GOTH MYSELF I HAVE TO DO THIS!!! - Yellow 💛🌻) (No proof read. )

• Ok so, as a non-spider. He meets you when he and his drummer are checking out other words. They were checking out The Spectacular Spider-Mans world first, then yours.

• Gwen wanted to looked around at some of the shops. Hobie was just following her around. They found a mall and a Spenver's in it and we're looking around when he lays his eyes on you. Holding up some chockers up to you neck and asking the worker which one looked better on you.

• He of course just casually walks by with his hands in his pockets and says.

❝I think the spider one looks nice on ya. ❞

• You blink and watch him walk be and up to a girl she was looking at sunglasses. Your friend tried to get you to ask for his number, but you were too shy. So you just stocked with trying to sneakily watch him as he walked around the store. He started walking in a pattern around some of the piercings and when you expected him to peak around the corner, he disappeared. You looked around where the man was supposed to be and didn't see him.

❝You lookin' for someone mate?❞

• He said from behind you as he gave you a heart attack. Of course you mumbled no as he had a light smirk on his face.

❝Nice snake bites. They match you're black lipstick.❞

• You barely manage to respond thank you. You friend was talking to the girl who came in with this strange man. You were busy comparing music and he started to help you pick out some new earnings.

• He helped you find a new outfit, some callors, earnings, and he picked out some spider patches for you.

• They soon checked out and he gave you a wave goodbye as he left. The slowly waved good back as you're friend was smirking and leaning over the counter.

"What?"

• She slid over a receipt with a number writen on it. It was the guy's number on it!!

• You two had hung out sencs then. You both have went out shopping and he's even crashed at your place before. Played his guitar for you.

❝Lookin' very peng today.❞

"Oh-um. Thanks?"

• If someone was talking badly about you from behind you're back he was put an arm around him and pulled you close distracting you with some new lipstick brand or something. Anything to keep you from hearing the words other were saying.

• He'll let you do some eyeliner on him but that's it. You claim you wanted to try a new look and be angered to hold still for it. Nice look. He approves.

📱: Hobie, was that you?

📱: Yeah it's me open up. I go' some food.

📱: Hobie it's like- 11:23 pm.

📱: Yeah, it's 11:23 and i go' some food.

📱: Strings, could you come over here for the night?

📱: Sure thing sweethear'. I'm on my woy.

📱: Thanks.

• He makes sure to check in with this worlds Spide when he seen them and ask how your doing every now and then. If something ever did happen he mmaayyeee have built you a watch just in case. Made it so it would match you colors too.

• You try on some of you outfits to go out with him and he just enjoys seeing you happy. Pucks up some random make up that he thinks you would like on his "trips". A Beetlejust eyeshadow paper? Don' know. He thought you would like the colors. Yes, he had walked in on you blasting Bring Me to Life in your room when you thought that you were alone. He even learned some Evanescence songs on his guitar to play for you!

• You wanna get a tattoo but don't wanna go alone? He will be right there next to you holding your hand. A small guitar tattoo in honor of Mister "I hate labels."

• you made a necklace of one of his old guitar pick. Your lucky charm.

#hobie brown x reader #hobie brown #X reader #Spiderpunk #Spiderpunk x reader

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eccentricgrace · 5 months ago

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juice jam || IronDad

summary: peter and tony go out for smoothies, they get interrupted by some annoying paps.

tags: fluff, protective tony stark, banter, paparazzi, tony stark acting as peter parker's father figure

wc: 2,563

cross-posted to wattpad under the same name!

"Your pick is fine, I'm not saying it's not!" Peter argued back quickly, his eyes wide. On his own tongue, the cold icy fractals of his far more delicious Pink Starburst smoothie. "I'm just saying it's not the best one on the entire menu, that's all."

Tony held the foam cup of his Chocolate Moo'd in a protective vice grip— which is basically blended chocolate frozen yogurt —and screwed up his face. He lowered his shades with an inelegant poise and a good serving of disgruntlement. "Pete, you're drinking a smoothie that is literally called 'candy in a cup'. I think I'll take my own advice and hold off from the type two diabetes diagnosis for a few more years."

"Okay," Peter said. "Okay. Okay. But you haven't even tried it. I bet you'll admit mine is better if you try it. Ned did. He didn't believe me at first either, he refused to say anything was as good as the strawberry banana one."

"I'm inclined to agree with him just to tick you off."

Peter huffed and put the half-guzzled cup on the table. He pushed it towards Tony. "Just try it. You're so grumpy, Mr. Stark. For no reason."

"'No reason,' he says," Tony mumbled, reaching for the bright pink smoothie. "As if you didn't come into my smoothie haven, my church of juice, and begin spewing— spewing blasphemy."

Peter hid back his smile.

Tony had picked him up from school today. Plans were to have sitcom-takeout night with May, but as they were getting into the car, Peter had gotten a message about her having to work late. With their plans changed, and both of them damp with the autumnal rain that was nasty and cold the way New York rain usually was: of course the best way to waste time and beat the cold was even colder smoothies.

They were at the Jamba Juice at Rockefeller Plaza, which in itself was a feat considering the company he was in. Tony was wearing his "disguise", which really only consisted of his shades, a hat, jeans, and a hoodie pulled over his head. Nobody had noticed them yet.

Peter couldn't help but wonder what people saw when they looked at them in the corner of the store. The way they bantered sometimes, the ease of which they moved in each other's company— they'd been referred to as "father and son" more than once by cashiers and waiters alike. It was a nice compliment, to be seen that close to someone he looked up to. He could keep it tucked very secretly under his sleeve, for no other purpose than to keep him warm.

(And maybe sometimes he wondered how Tony felt whenever someone said something like that. The casual "I'll get a table for you and your son" or "you and your son look so alike!")

Tony took a sip of the pink smoothie, staring blankly ahead of him. Peter watched expectantly for something dramatic— his eyes to light up, his brows to raise, his hands to be thrown in the air with the angry astonishment of being proven dead wrong.

Instead, Tony sighed, put the cup down. Indignantly went to his own drink, furiously sipping at the straw. Peter's smile grew.

Then, finally:

"Fine."

"Yes!" Peter burst with victorious laughter, reaching over the table and taking his smoothie back. "I told you! I told you so. I would never lie about this. It's too important."

"Oh, so this is too important for you to lie, but when you had that little injury the other day, it wasn't?" Tony asked, a dry smile plastered on his face. "Is that what you're saying to me right now? Your poor old man?"

Peter's grin turned guilty, and he quickly went back to finishing the second half of his smoothie.

"Geez," Tony commented with amusement. "Ease up on that straw, you're gonna go into one of your spider-hibernation things. The middle of a Jamba Juice is not the time or place, kid."

"I think it's the perfect time and place, actually. Really truly. I can feel myself getting sleepy just thinking about it."

"Har har. What a comedian you are," Tony said, sliding out of the booth. He stuffed his phone back into his pocket. "You ready to go?"

"Yep!"

Peter wiped his hands of the sticky, watered-down juice that had dribbled down the side of the cup, and stood.

As he did so, the back of his spine began to buzz. He heard a series of shuddering clicks, and he narrowed his eyes to look around the small space.

"What's going on?" Tony asked casually, but there was an undertone of something distinctive in its quality for fixing things. He had clearly taken notice of whatever changed in Peter's face, because this was the voice he only used when they were dealing with Spidey extracurriculars.

Peter forced his shoulders to relax. He scratched at his face, half-covering his mouth, and lowered his voice to say: "Dunno. Someone's watching us."

Tony hummed impassively, but Peter saw his eyes sharpen, he saw the way the heads-up display of his glasses lit up faintly from behind the dark lense. He subtly scanned over the joint, like Peter did, and finally landed on something outside the window.

"Paparazzi," Tony said simply. He sighed deeply and began to shuck off his hoodie and hat. "Alright, kid. Pop quiz, listening? Trade."

"Uh," Peter helplessly let the trash in his hands be taken, and instead grabbed hold of the hoodie that was tossed into his hands. "I guess?"

"Put those on." Tony walked over and threw both of their cups and napkins in the trash. He walked back and smoothed over the wrinkles on his dress shirt. "Do you smile at the camera people?"

"Yes?" Peter guessed, his voice muffling through the fabric of the thick hoodie he was wrestling over his head. (Funnily enough, Tony's old clothes were all slowly becoming his size. It's crazy what a growth spurt and benching the equivalent of like, forty trains on a daily basis can do to a physique.)

"Wrong. Never smile at the paps," Tony shoved the hat over Peter's head, a baseball cap of the Yankees, which he as a proud Queens born-and-raised local would pretend not to be personally offended by. "They're gonna ask you a bunch of questions, are you gonna answer them?"

"No," Peter said, more sure of his answer this time.

"Good job." Tony reached over and fit the hood snuggly down on his head, drawing the strings in a little. "Are you gonna look at them?"

"No—" Peter squirmed as Tony started to mess with the hat to further cover his head. "Mr. Stark, is all this really necessary? I mean, they already got a picture of my face earlier!"

"Believe me, they're not gonna have that picture by the end of the day, and I don't intend to give them anymore." Tony patted him on the shoulder. "Alright, you're all set. Listen, this part is important: stay close to me, don't get lost in the crowd, and absolutely don't listen to anything they say. They're gonna try to provoke a reaction from you. Don't buy into it."

"Okay," Peter gave a smile, while a weak, uncomfortable laugh bubbled out from his chest. "I think I got it. I still don't get why you think they'd care about who I am, though. I'm not the celebrity, you are. They're not gonna care about some—"

"Spider-baby-asking-questions time is over," Tony said, raising his eyebrows. "The more we stand here, the more cameras there's gonna be when we finally get out on the street. Time to go."

"I—" Peter blubbered for a second, and then followed Tony quickly as he turned to the door. Stay close.

Peter learned quickly that Tony walked very fast when paparazzi were involved. He also learned quickly that paparazzi were the closest human equivalent to mosquitos in the summer heat. They swarmed, an entire bloodthirsty group that materialized out of seemingly nowhere, and they were so loud, all buzzy and everything.

He clumsily dodged through bright flashes of the most cameras he'd ever seen, never less than two feet from Tony at all times. If he wanted to, he could count maybe seven different people shouting questions at him, even more shouting at Tony.

"Kid! Look here! Hey! Hey, over here— Hey! Give me a smile! Can you smile for us? Hey, Tony!"

"Mr. Stark! Few questions for the record? What are you doing with a kid?"

"Hey, look over here! I've got a few questions for— Can you spare a minute of your time?"

Tony was valiant as he weaved through the mob, only glancing back every few seconds to make sure Peter was behind him and in sight. The occasional sarcastic comment that brought Peter back to watching YouTube interview compilations way before all of this.

Anyways, he made it look so easy, all of it practiced and seamless, which made sense after Peter remembered that his mentor practically grew up in all of... this. He wondered if Tony would tell him any horror stories of dodging this when he was a kid— he wondered if he even wanted to know.

"Tony, just a second! What happened with the Accords? Have you heard from Captain America?"

"Look over here! Here! Mr. Stark, who is that?"

"Kid, what's your name? Look here for us! Hey!"

He and Tony had almost made it to the car, and Peter was following all the rules. It was harder to not smile than he thought, solely because this whole thing had rapidly become increasingly intolerable, and Peter had a habit of smiling when he was nervous, but he was doing well so far.

In fact, it helped a lot to focus on how miserable it all was, really. When he felt a nervous smile coming on, he just redirected his attention to the cacophony of camera shudders that were assaulting his very sensitive eardrums, or the people yelling over each other, or even the general sound of several shoe pairs scraping over asphalt and concrete. Sensory hell. Don't even get him started on the flashing lights.

"Hey kid, get his attention for us!"

Peter's whole body buzzed loudly, and then he was yanked back by the wrist.

He was fine. Obviously he was fine. Maybe shaken, maybe even the tiniest bit impressed by the audacity, but he was Spider-Man, and he was capable of simply jerking his arm back— which he did.

The facts above apparently didn't matter in the slightest to Tony, because when Peter met his gaze again in the crowd, there was something in it so angry that his lungs went tight with alarm.

"Did you just grab him?" Tony said dangerously, staring at the offender with a blazing fury in his eyes. "Did you fucking grab him? You do that again you're getting amputated by the fucking limb, you hear me?"

He pushed back through the crowd and took hold of Peter's sleeve. Cameras flashed. Peter's face was a bright, embarrassed, cherry red. Tony was breaking his own rule, mortifyingly, just because of him. Oops.

"I'm sorry," came the voice of a man who absolutely didn't sound sorry. "I apologize sir, I just wanted a few lines for an article—"

"Oh, yeah, you wanted a few lines? I'll give you a few lines, buddy. What's your name? What company do you work for? Huh?"

Tony was yelling. Yelling like Peter had never seen him yell before, and the cameras continued to rattle and blind his peripheral vision. He tried tugging at his arm down to get Tony's attention, because the grip Tony had on his sleeve was firm enough to make his knuckles white and he'd surely notice the slightest movement.

"Mr. Stark, we gotta go," Peter tried. "C'mon."

Tony, his face still snarled up like the protective thorn of a blackberry bush, hesitated then. He schooled his expression into something tight-lipped and lock-jawed, and then steamrolled forward to the car.

As soon as they got in, Tony quickly locked their doors, and Peter let out the breath he'd been holding. He reached up and pulled the hood off, then tossed the hat to the backseat.

"Wow. That was—"

"Are you okay?" Tony asked, the stiffness never leaving his posture.

His eyes were darting all over Peter for any other signs of injury or distress. They lingering especially on his wrist for a moment, then Tony reached for his arm gently and scanned over the area with stressed meticulousness. His eyebrows furrowed, his trembling thumb trailing lightly over the skin.

"I'm all good," Peter promised, his eyes wide. "Really, I'm totally okay, no bruises, no breaks."

Tony looked... bad.

His eyes shot back up to Peter's, and there was a lot of guilt in the way they narrowed. If he didn't know any better, he'd say Tony even looked misty. Admittedly, that was horrifying; like it always was watching a trusted adult break down a little.

He always hated it when May cried, but she did cry— after a bad shift, or a sad movie, or one of those pet commercials on television, Peter always heard the tell-tale sniffle at his side, and the way she always would look up as if it would stop the tears. (It never did.)

But that was May, and Tony was not May. This just was different. Tony Stark didn't cry. Tony Stark was Iron Man, he was invincible, surely he wouldn't shed a tear just because some stranger grabbed his wrist a bit too tight.

Peter frowned. "Mr—"

Tony let go of his arm, then turned the key into the engine. He sniffed once, and didn't look back at Peter. "FRIDAY, I want all those articles and photos deleted as soon as they hit the web. Kid, seatbelt on."

"Yes, sir."

The car went silent, except for the anxious drumming of Tony's hands against the steering wheel. After a few long moments, even that had subsided. Tony seemed calm enough now that Peter's curiosity sparked up again.

"You looked at them," Peter spoke up. He looked at Tony through the corner of his eye. "You, uh... talked back to them too. Kinda broke your own rules."

"Yeah." Tony shrugged. "Well, rules kind of mean jack to me if I think you're in danger. Part of the job."

"The job?"

"Taking care of you. Making sure you're safe, protected, happy, healthy, learned, and whatever," Tony said, one hand coming off the wheel to make aimless gestures as he spoke. "You know, the job."

Peter's definitely heard of all of those responsibilities. The thing is, he heard them in some health class lesson, listed as the job description for a parent.

"The job," Peter repeated quietly.

Tony shrugged again. He turned at an intersection. "Yeah. Whatever, I read mentoring books. I'm a good student."

"Right."

"You sure you're okay?" Tony asked again, glancing over, giving him a quick scan. "Adrenaline should be worn off by now, huh? Still nothing hurts?"

"No," Peter said, feeling like he was in some kind of accidental-pseudo-father-acquisition daze. He blinked a few times at the sudden alarm in Tony's expression. "I mean—No, nothing hurts. I'm all good."

The relief again, palpable in the air as Tony relaxed in his seat. He nodded quickly and finally turned onto the Queensborough bridge. "Good. That's good. Alright. Great. This was fun, kid, huh? You had fun?"

"Yeah, definitely," Peter agreed easily. He let himself smile. He felt light. "It was a lot of fun."

"Good," Tony returned his smile. "Let's get you home to Aunt May, then."

"Yeah," Peter sat back in his seat. He turned the radio on and smiled comfortably. "Okay."

#irondad fanfiction #irondad and spiderson #irondad #peter parker fanfiction #peter parker #peter parker and tony stark #tumblr fanfic #tumblr fanfiction #fluff

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marymary-diva17 · 1 year ago

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My baby you are my baby

spider x mom reader

content : spider x mom reader, navi/avatar spider, mentions of quaritch and the recons, and miles quaritch x reader

avatar masterlist

Your life had greatly changed since the end of the war with the RDA, as you had went through the eyes of ewya to save your life and it good. Given a place in the omatacayia clan as you had become one of the people, that was not the only thing in your life that changed. You had discovered you are pregnant your human body was pregnant, and it seems like eywa was able to save your child life as well. Soon your whole life had changed even more as you were living your new life for yourself and your unborn baby.

y/n " come on little guy we have to go see uncle norm and everyone else" you had gotten ready for the day after having some fruit, you were off to go see norm and the other for spider check up.

y/n “ I know baby I know” spider had become fussy when you picked him up, but soon calm down. You had kissed his forehead getting a smile from him. Soon enough you put spider in his baby carrier and soon left the home and village heading towards the base.

women " good morning y/n and you brought the little one"

y/n " yes we are here for his check up"

women 2 " aww he even more cuter then last time"

y/n " thank you ladies"

women 3 " awww little man will be like his mama"

y/n " well we have to see what he turns out to be like when he older" you soon went towards where a medical tent had been set outside for avatar.

y/n " hey everyone"

norm " hey y/n and baby spider" norm was in his human body today, you soon took spider out of his carrier and place him on the small table.

y/n " hey norm how are you doing"

norm " good now lets see how this little guy is doing" norm had started checking on baby spider, doing some things to get the boy to laugh.

norm " wow he gain weight since the last time he was here you are doing a god job"

y/n " well I have been making sure to feed him well when he hungry"

norm " he is always a happy baby and seems to be full of energy"

y/n " even when getting him to bed he will not sleep that night, because little man rather stay up" you soon kissed spider forehand making him laugh.

max " hey y/n and hey there kiddo" max soon walked towards spider giving the boy a smile.

y/n " hey max"

man 1 " you know the father of her child is him the colonel"

woman 1" yes I heard they were married and she had gotten pregnant"

man 2 " I hope he doesn't become like his dad we don't need his younger version here"

women 2 " hey be nice y/n has always been there for us her relationship with him shouldn't reflect her"

man 1 " oh come on she had the child of the man that did awful thing, are we sure he won't become like his dad"

women 2 " that none of your business baby spider is nice and sweet like his mom"

man 1 " for now wait until his older and we will see if the apple dose not fall far from the tree of wickedness" norm could see you were getting upset and you were about to say something.

norm " hey back off you know we cal all hear you right and you are being rude towards a baby"

max " shame all of you" you soon picked up spider smoothy and soon started put him in the baby carrier, everyone could tell you were upset about the whole situation.

y/n " I think we will be going now"

norm " y/n"

y/n " we will talk later norm I think it will be good to get spider out and about right now" You soon left with spider not looking back but you could hear some fighting going on behind you, but that was not your problem right now.

later that day

y/n " ......." you and spider had arrived at home and he was no in his crib napping, while you were doing some work.

???? " y/n are you home" you soon looked up from your work to see someone was standing at the entrance of your home.

y/n " yes I'm here you can come in Jake and norm" soon the two man had stepped into the home and looked at you. It seems like they were here to speak about something and you were staring to think it was about you.

Jake " I came to speak with you norm and max along with a few others told me of what happened today"

y/n " ......"

Jake " y/n you are good mom and women you gave up everything to help the navi even losing your life in the process as well"

y/n " thank you Jake"

norm " I had spoken to that group and they will come to you once they have worked on a proper apology, for their actions and words they were being rude towards you and your son"

y/n " spider is my baby I will do anything for him, but I know I can't protect him form everyone and everything, I don't know if he is liked among the human and navi"

Jake " the omatacayia love him even neytiri and mo'at love him as he is your son and child of eywa, he is seen as one of the people"

y/n : thank you Jake"

norm " hey I and everyone else on base love he the first ever kid born here, well along with neteyam and kiri they are the first kids born from avatar parents"

y/n " yeah"

norm " look we all know you love ... loved his father but what are you plans for when he gets older he will ask why he doesn't have a dad like all the other kids"

y/n " I have a plan to tell him when he older I know I can't keep the truth from him, but I don't know when he will know"

Jake " we will make sure no one tell him that for you to tell him no one else"

y/n " thank you Jake"

Jake " hey we are his uncles we will do anything for the little guy" you soon smiled and laughed, it was agreed on that day that no one will tell spider the truth unless it was you. Spider is your baby and you will do anything for him, he had a special spot in your place and that will never change. Even due the ones you love and care for are no longer here you will still remember and love them for their good and bad side, always trying to remember them well and prepare yourself for the future that will come when you sons starts asking questions wishing for some answers.

#avatar x y/n #avatar 2 #avatar x reader #avatar #atwow #sully family x reader #neytiri x reader #jake x neytiri #neytiri x jake #miles quaritch x reader #miles quaritch x y/n #spider socorro #miles spider socorro #norm spellman #navi avatar

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ele-sme · 2 years ago

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What if...

What if Mo'at adopted Spider

Mo'at was wondering around new hometree, walking next to her people, that always brought her serenity even after her home was burned down, she and the clan had gone on, fact of she was very pride.

When she arrived at the center of the hometree she spotted her youngest grandkid, which it wasn't difficult to see since he was walking on his hands with his legs up, next to him his brother and sister and another much shorter pink child.

What is a sky person doing here?

As she walked over to the kids she could figure out some more features of the child, his hair were blonde and in locks that remembered her of Jake hair.

As soon that her little girl saw her, the game that Lo'ak was performing finished.

"Grandma, grandma!" Kiri yelled coming over the older woman who easily picked the four year old in her arms.

The other kids followed behind, although the pink child (who seemed to be a boy) seemed to be cautious.

"Grandma, he is Spider" Neteyam said presenting the sky child.

"He is almost six!" Lo'ak said, his tone sounding like being six was the most amazing thing in the world.

"He is veryyyyyy nice" Kiri added giggling in her grandmother arms.

"Is a pleasure to meet you Spider" Mo'at said putting Kiri back on the ground.

The boy made a shy smile at the woman "hi"

As she and the boy exchanged looks, which were strangely comfortable at least for Mo'at, an avatar came to them.

"Mo'at" Norm greated the woman, who made a surprised gasp before standing on her full height to great the younger man.

"It is already time?" Spider asked with his tiny voice.

His voice is adorable

"Yes Spider, you can't stay out this much. It is dangerous" Norme explained picking up the child in his arms, and he rolled his eyes when all the presents children made an annoyed sound.

"Bye bye" Spider said meanwhile in the avatar arms who was raking him away, although he was saying it to everyone he looked at Mo'at eyes, which warmed her heart.

He seems to be such an adorable child.

Later on that day, when Alpha Centauri was on the end of his path Mo'at finded herself at the tree of souls.

As she connected to the tree, she was surprised to be surrounded by the green forest, Eywa not often made her have an encounter with someone, and when she saw her mate, Eytukan she couldn't do anything but smile at him, coming closer to him, to stand at his side.

He was watching as they're childern were playing in the nearby trees.

"How are you" he asked to his old mate, who made a sight.

"Honestly? Really tired. There is this big ceremony coming for the memorial day since it will be five years since it all happened, me and Jake are trying to do something perfect but it is so difficult" she explained quickly, lying her head on the other shoulder.

He maded an unsympathetic sound.

"Things can not be perfect, nothing is perfect" he reminder the woman, who stayed silent watching the little girls play.

"You met someone today haven't you?" Eytukan asked after a while.

"How do you know?"

"Resting with Eywa have is benefits" he responded.

"He is a human child," Mo'at started "he have this long sun hair, and the most adorable voice my ears ever listen to"

"Maybe you should try to talk with him more, since his voice is so adorable" Eytukan said with a mocking tone and Mo'at nudged him lightly.

"Is there a reason I was allowed to see you today?"

"Find it out yourself darling" he have her a kiss on the forehead side.

Then her eyes were open again, her ikran at some meters waiting patiently.

As she got to him, she explained the strange chat with her deceased mate, and as she connected the animal suggested to not go home immediately.

They flew for a few kilometres arriving at the place called hell gates, usually she would go there monthly to met Grace avatar, but this time she asked to be met with the child.

As they tell her the path she needed to do a few questions were raised.

"Why do you want to meet the child?"

"Have him done something stupid?"

"Do we need to put him in time out?"

"Do i need to spank him"

The last one maded shiver her, but ignoring all the questions she simply got to where the child was supposed to be.

As she entered what seemed to be an area of food, she founded the boy to be sit on a chair, drawing.

"It is you!" He said happily.

"It is me!" She responded picking the boy in her arms when he got to her.

Their embrace for some seconds, and as she breathed his smell she was pleased to see that his smell was nice unlike the others of his species.

As he got down her arms, he showed her all of the drawings he was making, and with the most impressed looks she watched each of them.

Her routine became the one of visiting the boy everyday, till the night before his six birthday.

When she came into his small room, she founded a child who had no idea of how to put the shirt of his pajamas on himself.

"Maybe is best if you sleep without" suggested

"But if I catch a cold?"

"Spider, it is mid August, i doubt you will catch one" her reasoning was that good that the boy undressed all of himself leaving only the underwear.

Mo'at carefully placed him in his bed, listening to what he had to say about the day he met and the day he was about to met.

"Would you like to come live with me?" She asked him without even realizing, those words came out of her mouth like it was the most normal thing she could ask a sky person.

"Yes yes yes" His eyes light up in excitement, putting his arms around Mo'at body, who soon hugged back too.

The very next day, she was in the Pod of her daughter, watching as the kids were playing on the ground with their toys.

Spider came in, and when he saw Mo'at he practically runned to her for an hug, which she reciprocated.

"Last night, you were seriously?" He asks her still in her arms.

"Yes, yes i was. Happy birthday sunny boy, now go play with the others" she said giving him a big kiss on the head.

Neytiri and Jake were confused next to her, looked at her for a few seconds before Neytiri could say "emh...Mother, what was that?"

"From December till now, i speded at least every evening with this child, we grown affection for eachother and i decided that he will come and live with me" she responded, her eyes on the kids, who were playing now all together.

"What?! But he is a demon!"

"He is a child. No child is a demon, not in Eywa eyes or mines" she darted back to Neytiri.

"You are trying to replace Sly with him? Don't you?!"

A slap was then spread across Neytiri face, causing all children to stop playing and Mo'at got up.

"Don't you ever say something like that again"

And with that she picked Spider in her arms and got away.

Sorry for eventuals errors, i did it half asleep.

#avatar 2 #avatar spider #miles spider socorro #mo'at #avatar #neytiri #sully family #sully kids

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grimreaperschild · 2 years ago

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bones 2

summary: the group starts to adjust to life, you run into a familiar face on a supply run.

warnings: violence, gore, language if i’ve missed anything lmk

a/n: pls im kinda falling in love w this series 😭 but im exited for what’s to come, hope you guys like the new addition to the group ;) happy reading-🦷

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the first few seconds of waking up are always so blissful, your head tucked into the crook of tara’s neck nuzzling yourself impossibly closer as she raked her hands up your back lovingly, but as soon as you blink the sleep out of your eyes the weight of the say settles itself on your shoulders, digging it’s claws in like some oversized evil bird “good morning sleepyhead” tara’s lips press to the shell of your ear and you snuggle closer, she giggles “you slept in a little today baby everyone’s already awake” you stretch “well everyone’s gonna have to wait for me to brush my teeth” you shuffle around and throw some marvel pj pants on to match your spider-man t when you open the door to your and tara’s room your met with ethan fist raised, he jumped back at the sight of you and opened his mouth to talk you hold your finger up “im brushing my teeth first” he follows you like a lost puppy to the bathroom tara appearing beside you shoving a toothbrush in her mouth and promptly disappearing again.

as soon as your spit hits the basin ethan voice reaches your ears “so i was thinking and there has to be others hauled up in houses i mean if we survived so should other people” you turned the tap, no water great. things are going just great. you push past ethan and into the kitchen in search of your girlfriend she’s stood with sam and mindy, you pick up a pan and spoon and knock them together a couple times “family meeting everyone to there seats” you call thorough the house chuckling as you watch everyone scurry to the living room, it’s been a couple days since the outbreak, a couple days since quin. yesterday you and sam had taken the boards down from her room and thrown her body out the window and you’d all spent the rest of the day cleaning the carpet and making her room as nice as possible, you’d closed the door and boarded it up again out of respect.

you stand in the middle of the room, the coffee table having long been pushed out of the way the only person your missing was anika and you eye the stairs through the door you mentally count to 5 smiling as she rushes down the stairs right on cue “sorry im late sorry guys im here, here” she holds her hands up stepping between people to claim her spot bedside mindy “the waters out sooner than we thought” a collective groan could be heard from the group and you held a hand up to silence them “yes i know, not ideal but we planned for this remember? me chad and sam go scout outside see what it’s like” “im still mad i pulled the short straw if we were measuring dick sizes i wouldn’t have to go out there” “that’s only because me and y/n don’t have dicks, bird brain” you snort and cover your mouth pretending to cough when chad shoots daggers your way “i guess i can’t put this off any longer anyone have any weapon ideas? i atleast wanna be iconic” tara gives you an unimpressed look but you continue on anyway “i was thinking we could hit up the wilderness shop down the way they have guns and stuff good place to loot” sam nods her head “yeah and for the way there i’ve got some climbing gear like picks and stuff” you cock your head to the side “how do i literally live with you and not know we both climb?” her head shoots up “your my sister in law and i don’t know you climb?” excitement lacing her tone “whoa hold your horses im not your sister in law yet” tara gives you another unamused look as sam goes to grab her gear “what do you wanna get married” anika pipes up “i can officiate, chad can be the flower girl” mindy laughs at the statement elbowing her brother in the side “why cant i be a flower girl” liv frowns “because your gonna be the ring bearer” “ethan’s definitely gonna be my best man” ethan’s head shoots up at your words a grin on his face “minds your my maid of honour and sam you can walk me down the isle” “deal” sam agrees having only heard the last end of the conversation.

you grab 2 picks from sam and throw one to chad “let me get out of my pjs and we can go” the light atmosphere turns thick the weight of what’s about to happen, you lean against the door and rest your hands on your knees in out, in, out everything’s ok it’s all gonna be ok you take a shaky breath standing tall, your ashamed to say you jump when you hear 3 soft knocks on the door tara’s head peers in “baby” she breathes and it’s unnaturally soft, it makes you crumble tears cascade down your cheeks “oh, baby” she takes you in her arms “i’ll be waiting for you right here when you get back” she rubs your back softly “when did i become leader” you choke out voice muffled by her neck “i cant do it, why do they all look to me, im not enough” you let yourself cry on her shoulder till there’s nothing left to cry tara whispering sweet nothings in your ear until you pull yourself away turning to get dressed.

when you walk back into the living room dressed in black cargos white t and a light brown knitted jumper tying your hair up in a ponytail chad and sam are waiting shoes already on, you flop onto the sofa as tara brings you your combat boots you tug them off tying the laces tight. “you guys ready?” you look at the faces of the people around you “as i’ll ever be” chad mutters sam nods solemnly in acknowledgement, you stand and make your way to the front door slowly “ethan, liv i want you on door duty, tara mindy i want you on watch” you strain as you move the dresser from the front door you step back and grab your pick as sam unbolts and swings the door open slowly surveying our surroundings “y/n” you turn at the sound of her voice and she presses a soft kiss to your lips your heart flutters at the action “come home, be safe” you allow chad and liv to have there moment before slinging your bag over your shoulders and taking the first steps out the door.

your hands are griping the pick so tight your knuckles are white as the 3 of you make your way down the street towards the hunting store, you’d never seen woodsbrough so deserted some bodys were laying on corners or in the street but you tried not to focus on them as you push on forward, you stifle a laugh as chad bumps into a lamppost while trying to look behind him “good job superman” he rubs his head and shoots you a glare “i don’t see you trying to watch our 6” sam bumps his shoulder “what is this? cod zombies? roger roger” you snort “that’s actually from starwars cod zombies kinda just screech like metal heads” you shudder at the thought “bookie” before anyone can call you a nerd for your starwars comment someone barrels into you knocking you to the floor, you let out a grunt as the person lands an elbow into your stomach effectively winding you “SHIT y/n, fuck i didn’t know it was you im so sorry” the girl stands quickly pulling you to your feet with her.

you stumble into the wall hands falling to your knees pick long forgotten as you suck air in threw your teeth winded for the second time this week it feels like there’s a running theme here. then you look up at your assailant and any air you’d managed to scrape into your lungs was knocked out of you again, amber. my amber, our amber. you blink up at her eyes wild, she was your and tara’s ex of a few months her parents had forced her hand as it “wasn’t normal” or whatever, your thoughts are interrupted as she throws herself into you “tara?” it’s a question you wrap your arms around her “safe, you hurt” you pull away quickly inspecting her “n-“ she’s cut off by chad letting out a yell, you see the brute before she does and you shove her aside diving for your pick in the road, he’s big. easily 6’4 and built he used to be in the biker gang but his leather jacket hangs off him in tatters sam swings her arm back and gets him right in the chest definitely breaking a few ribs by the sound of it she tries to pull her weapon out but it’s stuck he lets out a groan and swings her to the side following quickly as she tumbles to the floor, you make your move while he’s distracted hitting him in the back of the skull, he goes down but you don’t stop 1, 2, 3 hit after hit to his head, brains are smushed onto the pavement and your sprayed with blood as you feel hands on your waist pulling you back “he’s done he’s gone it’s ok” you breath again looking for sam thankfully she’s ok.

the 4 of you make it to the hunters shop with no further incidents sam opens the door for you nodding as you pass by her ok definitely not shaking the title of leader anytime soon better embrace it your eyes land on a hunting knife 7 inches long, Damascus steel with a leather bound hilt you pick it up and it fits your hand like it’s made for you, you smile as you clip it to your belt turning to the pistol rack to choose your gun, gotta pick something iconic you see a revolver not too dissimilar to the one rick in the walking dead has bingo. you silently thank your dad for the shooting lessons he gave you as a young teen clipping the holster to your belt you chuck all the guns and amo in your bag as you can then the gleam of metal catches your eye.

oh, now that, that is iconic overkill? sure but who’s gonna miss out on the chance to carry round a fucking sword you grin as you pick up the roman style sword “really?” you look up to see amber stood with a familiar glint of adoration in her eyes “you telling me i don’t look badass right now freeman?” you smirk as you situate the sword on your hip “im from the fucking roman times, unkillable if you will” she chuckles to herself “you dork” “yeah yeah whatever” she’s armed with a baseball bat and a shotgun good decision. you take a look at everyone, chad is playing with nunchucks and sam is stuffing knifes into her bag “it’s getting dark out, we need to head back ambs you coming with” you wince at the hopefulness in your voice “tar won’t want you out here alone” sam shoots you a knowing look and your eyes fall to the floor “yes. i’ve been in my house alone i was terrified” a pang of sympathy shoots threw you “your safe now, i promise” she holds out her pinky and you interlock it with yours “always?” “always”

oh fuck me. this is going to be the death of me.

#jenna ortega x reader #jenna ortega #tara carpenter #tara carpenter x reader #tara carpenter x yn #tara x reader x amber #amber freeman #amber freeman x reader #scream #zombie #zombie apocolypse au #amber x tara

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adobedragon · 8 months ago

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“So, the saying goes, ‘Something old, something new…” Allura ticked off each phrase on her fingers. “Something borrowed, something blue?”

“Yup,” said Pidge, picking at a loose thread on the bed’s comforter. She, along with a handful of other women, were in Lance’s parents’ bedroom, awaiting the arrival of Lance’s cousin Ignacio, a hairstylist. Ignacio had the herculean task of doing Pidge’s hair and makeup for the wedding.

“Something blue?” chirped Ezor. “Wouldn’t that be Lancey-Lance? Blue Paladin.”

“I thought he was the Red Paladin,” said Zethrid in her gravelly voice. “It’s so hard to keep track of all the Voltron Lion changes.”

Pidge chuckled, though deep down she found the two alien women’s presence a bit off-putting. They had eventually proven themselves good fighting companions but Pidge still hadn’t quite forgiven Ezor for trying to torture her years ago.

“Katie’s dress has blue beadwork and stitching.” Colleen Holt ran her fingers along the dress’s bodice.

The dress was draped over the bed and Pidge, who was sitting beside it, traced the arc of an embroidered vine with a finger. “My dress is also new.” One of Coran’s designs, its basic form was that of a green, 1920s flapper dress, but fashioned from an Altean fabric derived from spider silk. “‘Blue’ and ‘new’.” She grinned wickedly. “My underpants are new too.”

Veronica, Lance’s sister, arched an eyebrow at her in the same manner her brother often did. “Are you wearing boys’ underwear? Under your wedding dress?”

“Well, yeah,” said Pidge. “They’re comfy.” She shrugged. “Lance thinks they’re sexy.” Remembering that Lance’s mother was in the room, she blushed.

Elvia McClain laughed and winked at Pidge, demonstrating the origin of that Lance gesture. “Relax, mija. I have five children and none of them conceived immaculately. You think I don’t know what you and Lance have been doing in the bunk house? In the barn?”

Pidge smirked and blushed, because, yeah, there weren’t many places on the McClain farm where Pidge and Lance hadn’t had sex.

“Here is ‘old’ and ‘borrowed.’” Allura reached toward her earlobe and with a flourish and a hum of Altean alchemy, removed the gem-like earring. “These were my mother’s. From old Altea.”

“Those were Queen Melenor’s?” said Romelle reverently, the Altean woman leaning in to view the earrings closely.

“Yes.”

As Allura reached toward Pidge’s ear, Pidge leaned back. “I, uh, they’re too nice, too nice for me.”

“Nonsense. I would be honored if you wore them.” Allura held the lilac purple gem near Pidge’s earlobe, and the earring hummed, Altean space magic fastening it so it dangled beneath her ear. “Just don’t let Lance swallow them when you two start climbing each other.”

“Thank you,” said Pidge as Allura attached the second earring. She rose from the bed and studied herself in the mirror over the dresser. In her current, typical Pidge state of scruffiness—green tank top and gray sweatpants—the earrings made her look like a toddler playing dress-up with mom’s jewelry.

The McClain’s house shook lightly as the front door opened and shut. “That must be Ignacio,” said Elvia, hurrying off to meet him. Pidge grimaced, not quite ready for this; primping and preening were not Pidge’s default settings.

Earlier, sensing her nervousness, Lance had said, “You don’t have to do this. If you want, we can wear matching tuxes. I don’t care what you wear just as long as I’m the one who gets to undress you later.” This accompanied with his signature flirty eyebrow waggle.

His offer was why she’d asked him to marry her in the first place. Because he loved her as she was, her boy self, girl self and everything in between.

In the mirror, she saw a tall, dark-skinned middle-aged man enter the room. She tensed, then reminded herself she was a Paladin of Voltron, unafraid of anything, including a guy with a kit full of face goop and hair-taming implements.

Turning, she gave Ignacio a wobbly smile. “Hi. I’m Pidge.”

She wasn’t doing this for Lance or out of any need to cling to tradition. She was doing it because even androgynous Paladins of Voltron want to be a princess on their wedding day.

#plance #pidgance #pidge #pidge holt #katie holt #lance #pidge pov #ficlet #art #fanart #my art #people are still hard to draw #not my best but i learned stuff drawing it #krita #post-canon #allura #allura lives #my apology for killing Allura off in all my long fics #vld

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anti-the-glitch-bitch · 6 days ago

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The Phantom Soldier part 5

Chapter 5- I'd burn the world just to see you smile

I just want to preface this by saying this has a lot of trauma in it. There are videos of Danny's torture in here and it's not vague. So keep that in mind as you read.

More days pass by as Danny continues to heal. Someone brought in an Avengers calendar and put it on the wall near his bed. Each morning Doctor Cho will mark off the previous day and then check on Danny. Danny asked why she did it and she just turned her smile on him saying it's important to know how much time has passed. Danny still doesn't understand why that's important but he nods his head in agreement.

Tony stops by on the fifth day since the calendar appeared. He doesn't say anything at first. Just looks around the room and checks his chart. Danny isn't sure if the man is waiting for Danny to say something or not. So, Danny just waits. He waits and watches.

Eventually, Tony pulls up a chair next to Danny's bed and sits down. “So, kid. You've been here for a bit now. You feeling relaxed yet? Ready to give up this whole handler/master thing?”

Danny tilts his head to the side just a bit. Almost as if a different angle will help him understand Tony's words better. “Give up? What do you want me to give up?”

Tony just gives him a disappointed look before moving on. “Never mind, we'll circle back around to that. Are you doing okay? Is there anything you need?”

This is some strange ritual that his doctors have been doing. They will come in and ask if he needs something. They persist until he's come up with something whether he needs it or not. It seems they've gotten Tony to do the same.

Danny licks his lips and takes a drink of the juice on his little table as a means to give himself time. He doesn't need food because they still won't give him the real good stuff. It's all liquids and mushy stuff. He has juice and water on his table…

Danny looks over at Tony and with a small voice asks, “I want to meet Spider-Man.”

The shock on Tony's face is funny but Danny's a little more worried when he starts coughing… and doesn't stop.

Maybe that was too much. He only asked because he couldn't think of anything else and he'd overheard a few nurses talking about how adorable and funny the hero is. He'd rather not meet anybody else but that was the first thing he thought of when Tony asked.

Tony grabs the cup of water on Danny's little table and quickly drains it. Once he's gathered himself he looks at Danny with such open curiosity. “Why him? You could have picked a bunch of other people but you chose him specifically. I thought you didn't know who the Avengers were.”

Danny looks down at his hands embarrassed at having to admit why he said it. He fidgets with his fingers avoiding Tony's stare. “I heard the nurses say they want to meet him. They said he's funny and nice.”

Danny is expecting to be yelled at or hit, not the deep laugh that he does get. Tony is wiping a fake tear from one eye when Danny looks up.

“That's the reason why? Kid, that's adorable. I was planning on letting you two meet just not this soon. I want you to be a little more healed before I sick the squirt on ya. He can be a lot if you're not expecting it.” Tony chuckles. “Is there anything else you'd like? I can send Natasha down here. She's the Black Widow and has been dying to meet you.”

Something in Danny's brain clicks at the words Black Widow. Synapses start firing rapidly and a small gasp escapes his mouth involuntarily. “Yes. Black Widow.”

Danny stares at Tony with a clarity and confidence that hadn't been there before. The barest flicker of suspicion crosses Tony's face before it disappears and calm replaces it. Tony stands up and adjusts his shirt then places the chair back against the wall.

“Yeah ok. I'll go grab her real quick. She's been complaining about how bored she's been. Gives her something to do.” Tony takes one last look at Danny and then rushes out the door.

Danny stares at the door with determined focus. He pushes the table away and rips the blankets off him in preparation. Quietly, he moves to the edge of the bed and sits on the tips of his toes. His muscles are coiled tightly as he waits for his target to enter the room.

His eyes go from blue to a bright neon green and his canines grow to resemble fangs. He waits and waits and waits. There is no thought in his head except to kill the Black Widow.

It seems like forever when he finally hears noises on the other side of the door. Mumbled voices of Tony and Her approaching closer.

The doorknob jiggles and then the door slowly opens. Bright red hair and a delicate face are what Danny sees first. It's the only thing he needs to see before he launches himself off the bed to attack the woman.

Natasha sees the attack and immediately drops to the floor to avoid the body flying at her. Danny hits the door with such force that it slams shut. He whirls around searching for his target only to see her across the room. He snarls and jumps back onto the bed ignoring the sound of the door slamming open. His eyes are on the woman pressed against the further wall.

Her eyes are watching him with the same focus as he's doing. Taking in every small detail. Every shift in body language.

Danny makes to lunge at her again when large arms wind their way around his torso and tighten like a boa constrictor. Danny claws at the arms trying to get them to release him but they don't move. So he resorts to other tactics.

He tries to kick his attacker but they simply grunt in pain. The arms don't loosen even a small bit. Natasha stares him down the entire time. Her expression is blank as she takes everything in.

Danny opens his mouth and starts sucking in air. His lungs draw in as much air as possible and then some. He's so determined to destroy the person in front of him that he doesn't feel the prick of a needle before it's already too late.

The fast-acting sedative rushing through his veins and activating in seconds.

Danny's legs give out and if it wasn't for the arms wrapped around him, he'd have fallen. The scream building in his throat fades and only a small cry is heard. The arms shift and Danny is slowly placed back in the bed with his covers placed back over him.

Danny doesn't stop staring at the woman. Blank determination is clear in his eyes as he follows her movements like a tiger in a cage.

Kill the Widow. Traitor. Kill the betrayer. The heretic must be destroyed. Kill her. kill her. Killherkillherkillherkillherkillherkillher

Those voices demand obedience even as the sedative drags him into unconsciousness.

~~~

Natasha watches as Danny's eyes slowly close before she takes a deep breath of relief. If Tony hadn't seen Danny's shift in behavior then she very well might have died. She's heard Steve talk about that scream of his and he's a super soldier. She never would have stood a chance.

“Well, that was something.” Tony's need to fill the silence shows how nervous the whole thing had made him.

Nat looks over at Steve and isn't surprised to see the sorrow on his face as he stares down at the kid. He always wears his heart on his sleeve and Danny's situation is too close to Bucky's to not affect him.

“Steve, we had to do it. We had to break the trigger otherwise he would have stayed that way.” Nat's words are sharp but she doesn't back down from the truth. It has to be said. “If it makes you feel better I'll stay away until we can figure out how to break the brainwashing.”

“He's so young. He never should have been forced to go through what Bucky did. No one should have.” Steve tucks the kid in and looks up at them.

“How are we supposed to fix this?” Tony motions to the bed with a sigh. “Ughhhh. I'm going to be up all night looking through those files. I just know they're gonna piss me off.”

Tony rubs a hand over his face in frustration.

“I'll look through them with you. It'll be faster with the both of us.” Nat looks down at the broken sleeping boy.

“Oh thank god. I was not looking forward to going at it by myself. I've already seen a few things that make me want to set fire to a building.” Tony says.

“Do you think he'll be okay? He looks so small compared to everything.” Steve asks softly, looking up at them.

Nat smirks, “If he's anything like Bucky then we don't have to worry. He has us to help him through it.”

“Yeah. He might be small but the kid is scrappy.” Tony snorts as he walks towards the door.

Natasha isn't looking forward to what they'll find in those files. She doesn't want to read about the experiments they did on him. Doesn't want to read about the torture they put him through. She doesn't want to be reminded about her own childhood but for this kid, she'll do it. If it means helping fix what's broken inside of him she'll do it. She'll break herself apart so that this kid can grow up healthy and just a little less traumatized than the rest of them.

She meant what she said to Steve. Danny is going to have all of them to lean on even when he wants nothing more than to hide from the entire world.

~~~

Natasha leans to the side as a wrench is thrown, narrowly missing her. She looks up from the Starkpad and files she's been scouring through for the past hour to look at the man who threw the tool. Stark is at his desk with his head in his hands. Nat can see him trembling but she isn't sure from what. Setting the pad down, she gets off the floor and walks over to him.

“Tony?” She asks.

Tony stands up abruptly, picks up the stool he'd just been sitting on, and throws it in a general direction. It crashes against a wall and falls onto an open toolbox, knocking the whole thing to the ground with a clatter. “Who the fuck does something like this to a kid. What kind of parent gives their child away to be tortured?!” He turns to her with rage swirling in his eyes. His fists are clenched as his entire body shakes from anger.

Nat has to process what he says before she can respond. “Tony? What exactly did you find?”

Tony walks around her pacing back and forth as he talks. “There's some sort of government agency hunting down so-called ghosts. His own parents gave him up to be experimented on because they thought he was one. They ripped him apart for months before Hydra ever got ahold of him. Hydra found out and…” Tony picks up a scrap piece of leftover metal from his latest suit and throws it at the wall before continuing.

“Hydra found out about this so called ghost kid and decided they wanted in on the torture. Nat, they managed to convince the government agency and his parents that they had the technology to get them the information they were looking for.” Tony turns to her and if she didn't know him so well she never would have seen the grief underneath all that rage.

“His parents handed him over to Hydra personally like a pig to the slaughter. His parents handed over all the equipment needed to contain him and keep him chained up like an animal.” All the anger seems to drain from Tony as he sags down on the futon couch. He looks up at Nat with the grief of someone who's just buried a child. “They gave Hydra everything, Nat. The tools. The information. Then when Hydra had everything they needed his parents just disappeared. I can’t find anything about his parents anywhere. It’s like they disappeared off the face of the earth.”

Now, Natasha isn't naive. She's done and seen horrible things. She's seen parents sell their children to brothels in exchange for money to feed the rest of the family. She's seen kids murdered for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Parents abuse kids all the time and society does nothing in a lot of cases. She did terrible things for the Red Room. So she knows about true evil but she's never heard of anything like this.

She can feel her own anger rising as she turns and picks up the Starkpad he'd been using. She flips through page after horrifying page of notes that the organization had taken on the whole ordeal.

Tony hadn't even told her the more horrific parts of the whole thing. He hadn't told her that the government agency had vivisected the kid while he was awake. They hadn't bothered with any form of anesthesia as they ripped him open to see how he worked. When Hydra got their greedy hands on the poor kid and put him on their own table, Danny screamed for his parents. He screamed for the people who put him in this situation to begin with.

Nat presses play on a small video file attached to the document and instantly regrets it.

Danny is strapped to a metal lab table with special cuffs around his wrists and ankles. His torso and arms are bare showing off an innumerable amount of scars. Scars that should never be on a boy as young as he is here. He has on a pair of boxer briefs that hide the most important bits but shows off his bare legs and feet. Both are just as scarred as the upper half.

The flesh of his torso is peeled back and held by clamps that dig into the skin still in its proper place.

There's a camera pointed in such a way that she can see things no human was meant to see.

Danny's screams are muffled by the muzzle attached to his face. The muzzle that looks so similar to the one the Winter Soldier used to wear and yet so different in many ways. Nat can tell he's trying to use that scream of his but there's something preventing it. Most likely it's a special muzzle.

His eyes…

His eyes are filled with terror and the desperation of someone who knows that they'll never get out alive. It's something Nat has seen in the innocents she used to be forced to hunt down and kill. A person in a situation they should never have been in.

His eyes are still filled with a small twinkle of hope that there might be someone, anyone, out there who can save him.

There's a person dressed in all white, complete with a white lab coat, digging around inside the boy. They pull out several organs and place them on a metal tray off to the side. Another lab coat writes down whatever they've found.

Nat can't hear anything they say over the sound of Danny's screaming and she can't decide if that's better or worse.

The entire time Danny cries and screams in agony. Nat can see that he's much younger here. Maybe only fifteen. It breaks her heart to see him like this.

The two lab coats turn to look at something off camera. They move to the side and two new people enter. These people are much more colorful giving off the impression that they may not be with this organization entirely.

The woman is shorter and more petite than her male counterpart, who is tall and stocky in a soft muscular way. She has a red bob while he has black hair the same shade as the boy on the table. Both wear a protective hazmat type outfit. The woman's is a light powdery blue and the man’s is as orange as a traffic cone.

They peer at Danny with such hatred and grief until the woman turns toward the male in comfort. The man must be her lover or husband with the way he envelopes her in his arms. She sobs loud enough that it can be heard even over Danny's screams.

Danny's eyes shine with so much hope when they enter. He sobs and screams and thrashes on the table as much as he can. It's no use because the muzzle and restraints stay firmly in place. Nat focuses on his hands as they reach for the couple, straining so hard against the cuffs that she can see blood seeping from wounds around the wrists.

He's so desperate to get to them and that's when it clicks. She knows exactly who these people are and with the revelation comes a sob following so closely behind.

These are his parents. These are the people who turned their backs on him when he needed them most. These are the people who turned him over to Hydra as an easily reformed weapon.

Danny's screams feel like they get louder as he realizes his parents won't be helping him. Betrayal and so much pain clear on his face as he lies splayed open for them to see. Nat covers her mouth with a hand as she chokes back a sob. She can't watch this. She thought she could but it brings back too many bad memories. Too many times when she's had that same look in her own eyes. She quickly turns around feeling sick.

“Friday, turn it off.” She manages to choke out.

The screams are abruptly shut off and then there's only silence.

Nat drops her face into her trembling hands. She fights to hold back the tears as memories of her own stolen childhood flash through her mind. Oh, how her heart breaks for the boy on the table.

She can feel the anger rising at the parents who looked their son in the eyes while he was cracked open and gave him such a hateful stare. These monsters had hunted him down and then given him over to some shady organization to use as an experiment and they acted like they were the victims of the story.

The way that woman sobbed as if her son had died when he was right in front of them made her so insanely pissed that she wanted to punch something. She wanted to burn everything and everyone associated with them to the ground.

Natasha drops her now steady hands and looks up at Tony. It's like looking in a mirror. Her rage reflected in those hazel eyes.

Natasha is going to find these people and turn them to ash. Nobody will ever find their bodies after she's done with them. The look in Tony's eyes says he'll do the same.

“We have to find them. We need to find them and then make sure they get so lost that no one will ever find them again. They don't deserve to breathe after this.” Natasha says, her voice as sharp and as cold as jagged ice. “They don't deserve to live.”

Tony nods his head and drags himself off the couch walking to stand in front of the assassin. “You've barely watched one video but from what I saw there are thousands. Do you think you can watch more videos that are probably going to be worse than that one?”

His voice is spilling with anger but underneath it, Nat can hear just the slightest bit of grief. He's not just asking her this question. He's asking himself the same thing.

She nods her head turning to look at the screen frozen behind her. The frozen screen with the broken boy and his pain filled eyes.

“I have to.” The words are so low that Tony almost doesn't catch them. “Danny was forced to live these videos. The least I can do is watch them.” Nat says as she looks back at Tony with conviction.

“We'll catch them, Nat. Every last bastard that put their hands on him. We'll make sure that kid is avenged in the best way we know how.” Tony says.

~~~~

Hours pass or maybe days. Nat isn't sure how long she's been down here going through files and videos. She wants to curl up in her bed and hide under the covers. She's seen and done so many monstrous things, the Red Room trained her to be a killer after all, but that was nothing compared to what was done to Danny.

She thought the videos of Hydra would be the worst of it but she was wrong. The Ghost Investigation Ward videos were almost worse. The “scientists” in those videos tore Danny apart in ways that should have killed the kid.

Vital organs would be taken out only for them to grow back overnight. Limbs were cut off and then when they'd regrown they were taken again. At one point, Nat is positive she sees them cut out his heart. The organ continues to beat in the scientist's hand as they place it in a jar and take it away.

Nat watches as Danny bleeds, a mix of red and green, so much so that he should have died from the blood loss.

Acid was poured over his hand and she watches it sizzle and melt only for that same hand to be fine a few hours later.

The more she watches, the more she wants to throw up. She forces herself to keep watching so she knows exactly what they did to him. So she'll have a better idea of just how to help him.

Things take a different turn when she gets to the videos with Hydra. There's still experimentation but it's more methodical and less guesswork. They don't keep cutting him open. No, they do worse things.

She watches as Danny is locked in a dark cell and chained to the floor. He has just enough chain to let him sit but never stand. He's left in that room for three months with no interaction. No food or water. Nothing. It almost seems like they've locked him up and thrown away the key.

“Tony.” Natasha manages to whisper as she flings the current folder of videos from the Starkpad to the larger hologram in the middle of the lab. “Tony, you have to watch these. It gets so much worse.”

Tony stops digging through all the paper files and turns to watch the, now enlarged, video.

The time stamp says it's been 5 months since Danny has been locked in the cell. It's so dark the camera is using night vision to watch the boy. His hair is longer, almost past his shoulders. He lays on the floor on his back with his head angled so he can watch the door. He's so thin and still that Nat is positive he's finally died. Until his eyes open and try to focus on the door.

“What the fuck?!” Tony tells but Natasha ignores him.

She can hear papers rustling as she watches the video. Dread fills her with the knowledge that something bad will happen otherwise Hydra would never have kept this recording.

The door opens to the cell for the first time in the 5 months that Danny’s been locked up. Light spills across the boy’s face making him shut his eyes and turn his head. A man enters the room with several guards and for the first time, Natasha can make out what someone’s saying.

“Subject 00, I believe it’s time we finally meet. Hydra has big plans for you and I think it’s time we get started. My name is Doctor Makis and I’ll be the one in charge of your care.” The short man says as he steps in front of Danny, guards fanning around them with guns ready.

Danny doesn’t move. Doesn’t say a word. He lays there with his eyes shut tightly against the bright light spilling in. Nat wants to weep at how broken he looks.

The scientist waves his hand and several guards unchain the kid but leave his cuffs on. One guard on each side of him and they drag him out of the cell behind the scientist. They leave the door to the cell open and then the video ends.

The next video is of Danny strapped to a table. He’s blinking his eyes rapidly as if he’s trying to adjust to the light. This must be when they drag him out for the first time. Natasha can see Danny better in the bright fluorescent lights, though she wishes she couldn’t.

The first thing she notices is how skinny Danny is. Skin pulled so tight against his ribs that she knows he can’t be fully human. No human would survive as long as he has without food and water. She can count every rib and can see faint outlines of organs. A Y scar so jagged and uneven but healed running down his torso. His hair is so long and greasy. Dirt covers him in splotches making it hard to see the boy underneath.

The look in Danny’s eyes is one that Nat has seen so many times before. Children that are starving in war-ridden countries with no signs of stopping. She’s seen that look in women who are trapped in abusive relationships and can’t break themselves free. It’s the look of someone who has lost all hope of ever being free again.

It’s a look she wore at one point.

Danny doesn’t move except to look around at his surroundings. Doctor Makis stands next to the kid looking him over. He barely caresses Danny’s cheek and Danny is chasing after the touch with a hunger in his eyes.

The Hydra scientist chuckles as he turns and pulls a rolling metal tray closer to him. “Your time in isolation has corrected your behavior. If you’re good, I’ll send the guards to get you some food and water.”

Danny just stares at him yearning in his eyes as he trembles. He makes no attempt to move as the scientist grabs a syringe filled with bright neon green liquid and sticks it in his arm. Natasha can see the vein become more prominent as it’s filled with the liquid. The kid is so dehydrated that she can visibly see the liquid as it runs through his veins until it’s completely dispersed.

“Subject 00 was injected with the Ectoplasm gathered by original handlers. It was given 35mgs to start with. Will wait an hour to see results. If nothing happens will up the dosage to 50mgs.” The scientist says into the empty room. Nat’s assuming that’s why this video has sound.

The effects of the Ectoplasm are almost immediate. Danny’s eyes start to glow the same green as the liquid. He looks a little more filled out. He still looks terrible but Nat can no longer see the outline of his organs. Whatever the liquid is, it’s helping the kid.

“From what I’ve read, this Ecto stuff is what ghosts are made out of. It’s their food and essence. These GIW may have been crackpots pretending to be scientists but they detailed their work.” Tony says in the silence. “This is the first session with Hydra. They wanted to see how long they could starve the kid and then inject him with the Ecto. They wanted to know if he could survive on only Ecto so it was less care for the future.”

“Makes sense. If they’d succeeded in turning him into another Soldier, it would have been easier for him to down a vial of this stuff rather than carrying around enough food and water for longer missions.” Nat says, her eyes not leaving the video.

“Looks like they might have been onto something,” Tony says as they watch the scientist inject Danny with another vial.

“Subject 00 has responded well to the first injection. The results are very promising. The subject shows nonhuman traits with the first injection, possibly due to its status. It's showing fewer signs of malnutrition that I’ve documented in the file. I’ve upped the dosage to 50mgs. If this also has good results I will start doubling the dosage every hour.” Makis says.

“Tony look at him. It’s subtle but whatever this stuff is helping him.” Nat says.

The video time-lapses and they watch as Danny’s face fills out a little more. His body looks a lot less dehydrated than before and there’s the tiniest bit of meat on the kid. This stuff is working better than any refeeding plan they have him on. Instead of taking weeks for him to get better, it’s taking minutes.

The video returns to normal speed as the scientist comes back with a full needle of the Ecto. He wastes no time injecting the liquid. He no longer struggles to find a working vein as Danny’s veins rehydrate.

There’s an even bigger difference than before. Danny now looks like a kid who’s been starving for only two months compared to before. He still looks gaunt but his features have filled out a lot more. His face is lean but there’s just a hint of baby fat in his cheeks. Nat can no longer see his ribs and his limbs are no longer more skin than meat. It’s amazing to see the differences as they happen.

The Doctor takes his pulse and looks delighted as he places wires all over the kid. An unsteady beat comes from the machine as it monitors his heart. “The subject is responding just as well to the second injection. It now has a heartbeat and I’m monitoring it now. The beat is unsteady, but I suspect it will become steady with more injections. Suffice it to say that our initial idea will be the way to go. Once its condition is steady and normal for a boy of its estimated age I will have it eat and drink creating a baseline. Then we can proceed with the next steps.”

Danny watches everything, from the Doctor to the guards who shift periodically. He doesn’t make a sound but he doesn’t have to. Natasha understands that he probably doesn’t have the voice for it with all the screaming. If he’s had the muzzle on since his time with the GIW then his throat is most likely too dry for even a whimper.

“Have you found anything in those files about how to get some of this stuff? If it’s working that well on him after all those months with no food and water then it’ll probably work better than anything we can do.” Nat asks Tony.

She hears Tony rustling around with more papers as the timelapse happens again. This time there’s a definite improvement. Meat starts filling the kid out giving him an almost muscle definition some would compare to that of a runner. His body is lean and lithe but slightly defined in the torso and leg area. Yeah, he’s still skinny but if anyone saw him on the streets they’d think it’s just because of his age. What’s even more astonishing to Nat is Danny’s hair flickers between that dark raven black and a pure snow white. Complete opposites. The Doctor notices it too and seems to vibrate with excitement. When Danny looks up Nat can see his eyes shift to a vibrant neon green and she has to wonder what happened to this poor kid that made him like that in the first place.

“Found it,” Tony says coming to sit beside her. “Looks like the Fenton’s created an air filtration device when they first created this portal of theirs. It’s like a glorified air filtration device except instead of filtering out pollen and any other normal particles, it filters out this ecto. They have the specs here and I might be able to create something halfway decent in a few days but this machine is a fucking monstrosity. I see the components of a toaster, an air gun, a peanut butter jar, and hairpins just to name a few. They fucking MacGyvered this shit with household parts and I honestly don’t know how it worked. I can make something that’s more stable but it’s going to take time. Even if I hole myself up in the lab like usual.”

“Subject 00 looks to be in perfect health with this third injection. All vital signs are normal for the half-breed as the previous organization has stated. Its heartbeats are half the amount of an average human and its temperature is at fifty-three degrees. Over the next few days, I shall observe its vitals to make sure it has stabilized. My professional opinion of the subject so far is very shallow. I shall have to do a great many tests to see if it has the capabilities of joining our great Winter Soldier.” Doctor Makis says as he writes in his notes.

The video goes on for a bit longer but it’s mostly Makis observing Danny’s vitals. Danny doesn’t do anything but lay on that metal surface. Nat stares into his eyes until the video ends, her heart aching for the boy she couldn’t save. When the hologram shuts off she turns to Tony. Her jaw clenched and her heart beating quickly from anger at the injustices done to the boy upstairs.

“Do it. See if Bruce can help you with the chemical compounds. If it’ll heal him as quickly as what we saw in the video then we need to do it. Even if he’s healed long before you’ve got the machine up and running it’ll be good for any future injuries he might receive. It might even be vital to his kind and we just haven’t gotten that far in the files to know it.” Nat says.

“We have to be careful with this, Nat. Everything I’ve read so far says this stuff is radioactive. If it’s as deadly as the files say then I need someone with a bit more expertise than a file from crazy Nazis. Except there’s nobody. Nobody knows this shit exists except for two dead scientists, a dead government organization, and a bunch of Nazis that may or may not all be dead.” Tony runs his hand through his hair. “I can get Bruce to run tests on it but the information could take years to figure out.”

Natasha sighs and runs her hand over her face in frustration. Everything about this is a mess and while they have some of the smartest people on the team, that might not be enough for whatever comes next. “Just…do what you can. I’ll talk to Strange and see if he has any idea about any of this. Later. We both need a break from the horrors we just watched. You need to get out of the lab and I. Well, I just need to go.”

Tony sighs and leaves everything right where it is as he follows Nat out of the lab.

It’s going to be such a long miserable night.

#avengers #ghost king danny #danny is traumatized #you can fit so much trauma in this bad boy #clint barton #irondad #danny phantom #tw torture #vivisection #bad parents jack and maddie fenton #guys in white #giw #danny phantom is a hydra weapon #Hydra #big sis natasha #widowsis

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drhaxor · 29 days ago

Text

ENTER THE SCARLET SPIDER #4: RUDE AWAKENING

After coming out hyperspace, Dogday deactivated the hyperengine to bring the ship to normal travel speed and put it on autopilot. Dogady then got up from his seat and told Ben and Catnap "Alright you guys, we should be arriving at HQ in a few hours. In the meantime, we should go to the mess room and have some breakfast." Catnap and Ben got up and followed Dogday to the mess room. Before entering, Dogday stopped Ben and told him to wait while Catnap went ahead & joined the others. "Hey Spider, you doing okay? I noticed you've been really anxious since leaving Borealis." Dogday told Ben.

"I'm just shy of meeting new people." Ben replied. "That's okay. Besides my crew is really amazing and easy to get along with." Dogday said reassuring. "Okay, I guess you're right." Ben said. "That's the spirit!" Dogday said with excitement. Both then entered the mess room where Catnap and 6 other space riders were sitting at a table eating breakfast. Ben saw a green rabbit, a unicorn with light blue curly hair, a pink pig, a blue elephant, a yellow chicken, & a red bear. "Well this is something you'd see out of a kids cartoon." Ben remarked.

"Morning captain, who's that?" the pig said while placing more food onto the table. Dogday then replied "Guys, I'd like you all meet Scarlet Spider. Spider, allow me to introduce my crew. You've already met Catnap. Sorry if he seems sleepy all the time, he's just like that. Next, we have Hoppy Hopscotch, CraftyCorn, Picky Piggy, Bubba Bubbaphant, Kickin Chicken, & Bobby BearHug."

"Hi.." Ben shyly greeted. Hoppy then said "Hey. I like that hoodie." Crafty then greeted Ben with "Hello, it's so wonderful to meet you." "Hi, you've got really nice muscles." Picky said. "Nice to meet you." Bubba said. "Hey man what's up." said Kicken. "Hello. Aww, are you alright sweetie? You seem really anxious." Bobby asked. "Sorry. I'm shy of meeting new people." Ben replied. "That's okay sweetie. Do you want have some breakfast with us? You'll love Picky's cooking." Bobby offered. As Bobby finished, a loud growling sound erupted throughout the room. "Woah, is there a monster in the ship!?" Hoppy shouted in concern.

"No, that's my gut telling me I'm starving. Also, your really loud." Ben explained. "Sorry, she sometimes yells or shouts instead of using her inside voice." Dogday apologized. "Hey! I'm not loud!" Hoppy shouted. "Hoppy please lower your voice." Bubba said annoyed. "Uggggh, fine. I'm gonna go hit the training room." Hoppy said as she got up and left the mess room. "Ugh. Well, since Hoppy left to go training. You can have her seat Spider." Bubba offered. "Thanks big guy." Ben said thanking Bubba. As Ben sat down at the table, Picky handed him a plate and said "Here you go. You can pick out what ever you like. Hope you enjoy." Ben then thanked Picky and started to pick from the array of options that were on the table.

There was scrambled and fried eggs, strips of bacon, sausage patties, hashbrowns, french toast sticks, & freshly made biscuits. Ben took one of everything and made a sausage biscuit with bacon, eggs, & a hashbrown. Now all Ben needed to complete his breakfast masterpiece, was some strawberry jam. However, he didn't see any on the table. "Excuse me Picky, do you have some strawberry jam?" Ben asked politely. "Yes, we do actually." Picky replied. She then went into the kitchen and grabbed a jar and came back out shortly after, handing Ben the jar. "It may not be that much, but it's all we have left. I'll need to get some more when we get back to the station." Picky said.

"This'll do perfectly. Thank you so much Picky." Ben replied. "You're very welcome." Picky replied back. Crafty then added "You have very good manners Spider. I'm very impressed." Hoppy then came back because she was still hungry. "Hoppy, I thought were training?" Dogday asked. "Well I did, but now I'm hungry for more grub." Hoppy replied. Hoppy, noticing the breakfast masterpiece in Ben's hands said "Holy crap! Now that's what I call a breakfast sandwich!" Bubba then told Hoppy "Hoppy could you not yell! You're giving me a migraine!" Both then start to argue while Ben was feeling an incoming panic attack. He quickly got up and said "Sorry, I forgot to wash my hands. I'll be right back."

With that, he ran out of the room in a hurry with Crafty and Bobby both following suite. Meanwhile everybody else was confused why Ben suddenly left the room. "What was that about?" Kickin asked. "I wonder what caused him to suddenly just leave like that?" Bubba pondered. "I don't know Bubba, but he seemed bothered about something." Dogday replied.

Meanwhile, in a corridor of the ship, Crafty and Bobby were still looking for Ben when Bobby heard a sniffling coming from down the corridor. As they reach the end, Both of them could see Ben sitting on the floor with back against the wall. He had his masked half raised and they could see tears streaming down his face. Bobby then approached Ben putting her hand on his shoulder. "Hey there, why are you crying?" Bobby asked gently. "I'm not crying, I just had something in my eyes." Ben reassured. Bobby had look of doubt, but also concern on her face. "I'm sorry, it's just that I recently broke up with someone before I arrived on Borealis." Ben said apologetic. "Could you elaborate more on that please? I'm only asking so Bobby & I can understand what's wrong and help you." Crafty said.

Ben, wiping away tears then told Crafty "You're right Crafty. I need to get this off my chest. It began three nights ago..."

TO BE CONTINUED

Edit Note: I decided to change the part about Hoppy complaining about her favorite chair and Ben snapping back at her. I didn't like were that was going, so I fixed it to where instead, Ben has a panic attack due to Hoppy & Bubba getting into an argument and leaving the room.

AU BELONGS TO @onyxonline

Scarlet Spider belongs to Marvel

#space riders au #smiling critters au #smiling critters oc #smiling critters poppy playtime #smiling critters #dogday #catnap #hoppy hopscotch #craftycorn #picky piggy #bubba bubbaphant #kickinchicken #bobby bearhug #scarlet spider #ben reilly #marvel #marvel comics #mcu

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eilonwiiy · 3 months ago

Text

Bookends ; A Witchlands AU

Chapter 13

After spotting Iseult with Leopold at the library, Aeduan has decided to walk away from their tentative friendship. But a weekend with his sisters (and the impending doom of Valentine's Day) puts his resolve to the test...

Summary: Iseult det Midenzi never expected to go to a top university, so when her mother falls ill and she is forced to drop out to make ends meet, life has never seemed so unfair. But when she starts working at the local library and is unexpectedly assigned in the Children’s Room, a certain monosyllabic man and his thrice-damned demon child start showing up and Iseult begins to wonder if the threads of fate have a plan for her after all.

Previous chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Ships: Iseult/Aeduan, Safi/Merik, and more… stay tuned!

Tags: modern AU, college setting, family, friendship, humor, fluff, slow-burn, romance, eventual smut

Read on AO3: here

* . * . * . * .

From inside the car, Aeduan felt as much as heard the muffled thud of the trunk being closed. A moment later, the passenger door swung open and Libset and Cora piled into the backseat, wearing matching school uniforms that were barely visible under heavy winter coats.

“Do you have everything?” Aeduan asked, closing the book he’d been reading and setting it on the seat beside him.

“Oh it’s nice and warm in here,” Lisbet said a little out of breath. She tugged at her seatbelt and snapped the buckle into place. “Yes, we have everything.”

“Sketchbook?” Aeduan asked.

“Yes.”

“Colored pencils?”

“Yes.”

“Snow pants?”

“Yes.”

“Extra socks?”

“Yes.”

“Pickles and Rook?”

“Yes!” Lisbet and Cora replied in unison.

Aeduan twisted around to look at his sisters. After picking them up from school, they’d stopped at their house long enough for them to grab their belongings for the weekend. Owl, nestled between them in her car seat, was still napping from the car ride to Ponzin.

“You’re sure you have everything?” Aeduan pressed a third time. As he said this, his gaze lingered on Cora. Once, she’d forgotten to pack her favorite pair of pajamas and Aeduan would never forget the shitstorm that followed. However, today Cora only flashed him a toothy smile and nodded, hugging her stuffed elephant to her chest.

Aeduan looked at Lisbet for confirmation. She nodded.

He turned forward in his seat and soon they were pulling onto the sleepy street his childhood home lived on. He glanced in the rearview mirror and caught a glimpse of the climbing rose growing on the side of the house. Once upon a time it would blossom with roses, white with the faintest tinge of pink, its vines climbing higher and higher with every passing year so that its limbs eventually reached the window to Aeduan’s bedroom.

Then his mother died. Now it clung to the side of the house like a long-legged spider, naked and dead.

“He wasn’t home,” Lisbet said as they passed Covent Academy. Less than 20 minutes ago the place had been swarming with children, the air thrumming with excitement for the weekend, while cars sat bumper to bumper on both sides of the road. Now all that was left was a tangled web of footprints immortalized on the snowy lawn and a few cars sitting in the teachers’ parking lot. Lisbet waved to the familiar crossing guard packing up their gear into the trunk of his little hatchback. He stopped, freeing a hand to tip his baseball cap in recognition.

“Da works in Tirla on Fridays now.”

“I know,” Aeduan gruffed out, though in truth he had not. Lisbet said nothing else and Cora pounced on the opportunity to chatter away about her friend Marta and a game they had invented at recess. Aeduan half-listened while the rest of him went through the motions of piloting the car home.

Ragnor. This was probably the longest Aeduan had gone without seeing his father. It didn’t take much maneuvering on his part to avoid crossing paths (Ragnor made it easy by never being around), but what was less easy to avoid was the matter of his own absence, not when he shared his father with two other people. For as long as Lisbet and Cora had been alive, they’d all lived under the same roof together. Until, suddenly, they didn’t.

“Do you have glitter?”

Aeduan blinked out at the highway, having lost track of the conversation. “Do I have - ?”

“Glitter.” The word came out hushed, almost reverent, even in Cora’s eight-year-old voice. “I need it for my valentines.”

His sisters had made it very clear that their weekend plans would require craft supplies - not exactly something he kept on hand. Owl hadn’t yet expressed an interest in expanding her artistic palette beyond coloring (thank god) and as for Aeduan, even with swaths of free time at his disposal, he had not been hit with the sudden realization that the solution to all his problems lay in a cross stitch. His life may have detoured to new lows as of late, but he wasn’t that far gone.

As far as he was concerned, February 14th was just another day in the year. It took little effort on his part to ignore its existence, just another one of the many benefits of reaching adulthood. When he was a kid he had no say in the matter. He’d been forced to participate in every inane ritual the holiday called for, including handing out valentines to all of his classmates whether he liked them or not. That kind of public humiliation was far behind him, but thanks to the exploitations of corporate capitalists everywhere, the spirit of St. Valentine was still very much alive, and unlike him, Cora and Lisbet were more than happy to participate in the annual brainwashing.

“You’re eight,” Aeduan had said over the phone the night before when Cora finished rattling off her list of demands. “How many valentines could you possibly need to make?”

“I have a lot of friends,” Cora had informed him matter-of-factly. Then she’d asked, “How many friends do you have?”

And so ended further discussion and Aeduan reluctantly resolved to stop at the nearest arts and crafts store before picking them up from school. Currently, a sizable chunk of the store’s inventory sat in the trunk of his car, though there was one notable exception.

“I didn’t get any glitter,” Aeduan said. Cora’s crestfallen gasp was an arrow to his heart, but he otherwise managed to look diffident.

“But my cards!”

“They’ll be full of just as much love with or without them,” Lisbet consoled her sagely before Aeduan could say anything.

This was not what Cora wanted to hear. She squeezed Pickles tight and directed a pouty glare to the window. Aeduan reached next to him for a paper bag sitting in the passenger’s seat. He passed it to the backseat. “Sulk or snack? Your choice.”

Cora only held Pickles tighter, expression deepening into a scowl that could rival Owl’s.

“She can do both,” Lisbet said, taking the bag and opening it in her lap. “Oh.”

Aeduan glanced over his shoulder. “What?”

“You got donuts.”

“You like donuts.”

“I know I do.” Lisbet pulled out a rainbow sprinkled donut and took a bite. She chewed it slowly, like she was trying to deduce its molecular makeup from a single taste. Then, “Did something happen to Jitters?”

Aeduan’s foot tapped down on the gas pedal and he pulled ahead of the station wagon in the lane next to them before veering smoothly into the open road in front of them.

“No.”

“This is the second time you’ve gotten donuts.”

The station wagon’s horn blared. Aeduan sped up. 70 mph. 80.

“You usually get Jitters on Fridays.”

“If you don’t want donuts anymore, just say so,” Aeduan said, lifting his gaze to the rearview mirror and giving Lisbet a formidable look that immediately transformed him into their father. Lisbet barely noticed. She picked at the sprinkles on her donut, imparting a pensive hm for him to ponder over.

Aeduan knew that hm. It belonged to his father and, by the laws of genetics or overexposure, it had been passed down to him. Lisbet was far too young to be using it. He jabbed a knob on the dashboard and music flowed from the speakers. Aeduan recognized the song though he did not know the band. It sounded like every other generic pop anthem played on the radio - soulless, but just catchy enough to get stuck in your head for hours after hearing it. They rode the rest of the journey in silence save for the radio, each song bleeding into each other, as indistinguishable as the next, until the familiar skyline of Venaza City appeared.

“Can we stop at the library?” Lisbet asked.

Aeduan had to work to stop himself from visibly bristling. He kept his eyes fixed on the car in front of them, a battered winnebago. Thick exhaust clouds billowed out of its tailpipe, the engine rattled.

“What do you need at the library?” he asked.

“A book.”

“Why didn’t you bring something from home?” Aeduan’s next exhale came out heavy with irritation. “I asked if you had everything you needed for the weekend before we left, Lis.”

“I’ve read all my books.”

Aeduan didn’t say anything at first. It was a solid explanation. She was an even more avid reader than he had been at her age, though her insatiable appetite for make-believe stories was thankfully less tragic than his at the time. Aeduan rapped his fingers along the steering wheel.

“Won’t you be busy making your valentines?” he asked, attempting to appeal to her with reason. “I was led to believe you two had lots of friends.” He eyed Cora in the mirror and caught the tiniest curl of a smile partially hidden behind Pickles’ big ears. Lisbet, on the other hand, frowned.

“Why can’t we just stop there on the way home?”

Why indeed.

A week had passed since Aeduan had last seen Iseult and, to his annoyance, even less time since she��d crossed his thoughts, never failing to have Leopold fon Cartorra rudely in tow. He didn’t know what he hated more. The possibility that Iseult may share something with a moronic halfwit such as Leopold or how the plausibility of that possibility made him feel. In the end, it didn’t matter. He had decided to keep his distance, and with that choice came a strangely freeing sense of relief. At first, he’d been angry with himself for resorting to such drastic action. But then he’d realized what an unnecessary weight it’d been to carry around, that warring feeling he felt whenever he saw Iseult. He barely knew her, and yet, she loomed so big in his thoughts. It was too much. Aeduan didn’t have room for her. He had enough problems in his life, real problems. Like finding a new source of income (he couldn’t stay unemployed forever) or what he would do if the adoption fell through (he never let himself entertain this scenario for too long). Letting go of what he could only describe as a tentative friendship at best was the sensible choice.

But Aeduan wasn’t about to share any of this with Lisbet or Cora. He was an adult. He’d earned the right to not have his life choices analyzed by his little sisters, and someday when Lisbet grew up, she’d earn that right too. He did not want to go to the library. Therefore, he would not go to the library.

“Let’s just go home,” he finally said.

From the rearview mirror, Aeduan saw that Lisbet was giving him a strange look.

“What?” he demanded.

“You’re being weird.”

“Thanks,” Aeduan deadpanned. She’d have to be a lot more imaginative than that to put a dent in his ego.

“I don’t get why we can’t stop there,” Lisbet trudged on. She waved a hand at the window, the storefronts lining the street leading to the city square slowly passing by. “It’s not like it’s out of the way.”

“I’m the one driving. I’ll tell you whether or not it’s out of the way.”

“We’re literally going to pass it in 10 seconds.”

“Lis.”

“I’ll be quick.”

The winnebago in front of them came to a sudden stop and Aeduan slammed his foot down on the brakes. The car jolted forward, startling Cora and waking Owl. Honks of outrage immediately sounded off behind them. Lisbet only stared at the reflection of Aeduan in the rearview mirror, an unmistakable challenge in her bright, pale eyes. Aeduan could feel the traitorous way his heart was racing. He tried to tell himself it was from the near accident he’d almost gotten them in.

“Fine,” Aeduan gritted out, sounding like he was using a very different f-word.

Lisbet leaned back in her seat, smug satisfaction written all over her face. Tugging sharply on the steering wheel, Aeduan swerved the car around the winnebago, sending a venomous look to its driver as they passed.

He didn’t feel much like the adult anymore.

#the witchlands #bookends #iseult det midenzi #aeduan #baeseult #aeduan x iseult #my fics #mine

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deke-rivers-1957 · 3 months ago

Text

Scott's Date with Carmen

It's the day of my date and I'm looking through my closet for the perfect outfit.

"Let's see now. Blue is a nice color. I can just color coordinate with the jacket and slacks then have a plain white shirt underneath."

I go to change and come out looking for Tom.

"Tom, can you check this outfit?"

I see him come out of his room and he checks me over. He lets out a whistle.

"Hey now. You gotta give yourself some credit. I heard it's gonna be a sunny yet breezy 65 degrees today. That jacket fits the weather perfectly."

"Thank you. I need everything to go my way for this date to go well."

Tom shrugs.

"Ah you'll be fine, buddy. You already got an in with Miss Carmen. She wouldn't let you in the door just to kick you out that quickly."

"You're right. Thanks for the support. I'm heading out now to the car garage."

"Alright, Scott."

I go down to the garage and see what type of car to use.

"If it's going to be 65 today, I'll need something with a convertible top so Carmen can tell me if she wants it down or not."

I look over my options.

"The spider should do. It has the soft top I can put on if she wants it up."

I grab the keys to the Alfa Romeo and start the engine. Once I see it's full of gas, I drive out of the garage over to the Moulin Rouge. I check my watch and see that I'm a couple minutes early.

"Good. Now I can just take a couple breaths before Carmen steps out."

Sure enough at exactly 12:15 Carmen comes out of the Moulin Rouge. She is so stunning. I get open her passenger door.

"Carmen you look great today."

"Thank you. This is a nice car. Did you have it imported straight from Italy?"

I have to laugh a little.

"Yes it was imported."

"Well it sure sticks out in a town like this. It seems better suited for a mountain road in California that overlooks the coast."

I sigh at that.

"Sounds like a dream date."

"I'd get through lunch first before planning a cross country road trip to California."

I smile shyly before driving us to a casual Italian restaurant.

"You know there's actually a significant amount of Italians here in Texas."

"Really?"

"Oh yeah. Very similar climate for farming."

I nod as I find a parking space.

"Well that's good to know. I tried to learn Italian in high school but only got as far as Buena Sera. That's why I took French instead. What about you?"

"Eh. My mother was a fresh off the boat immigrant. I know Italian."

I park the car and turn off the engine.

"I imagine you make a lot of Italian food."

She makes an Italian gesture.

"I no cook like a nonna."

I laugh at her sudden change in accent.

"Alright that's fair."

We get out of the car and start walking to the restaurant.

"Italian food is good you know. I mean I could eat spaghetti with cheese bread every night."

"You've never been to Rome then."

"It's on my list of places to go. I'd like to see how they make pizza better than us."

Carmen makes the hand gesture again.

"Of course you think a the pizza. We no even make pizza that big. When you buy pizza you get a personal Pizza Margherita."

My eyes widen.

"No wonder you Italians are so thin. I can never handle just a personal sized pizza."

"That shows you are American. At least you keep us in the business."

I chuckle as we get a table inside. We quickly order and I'm amazed at how Carmen is so sure of herself.

"So Tom told me you ladies all have stage names, but Carmen sounds like a real name to me."

"It's because I picked it from the opera, Carmen. My real name's Carmella."

"Carmella."

I try to say it in an Italian accent just to hear how it'd sound.

"That's a nice name. But if Carmen's your stage name that means you see yourself as a... seductress?"

"Oh yeah. Carmen really symbolizes female empowerment when you consider the time period. Women's bodies weren't really theirs to control. For Carmen to use her body to get emotional power over men, it's like she's regaining that control."

I smile at that well thought out reply. I appreciate her taking the time to explain how she relates to such a famous woman in opera history.

"I've more than lived up to the name you know. I have the expectation of making men feel so exposed that they can't live without that feeling of vulnerability."

I can only nod.

"Then you did pick the right name. I mean Don Jose was willing to do anything for Carmen. Even if it meant going to prison for defying his superior. But hey, at least you're not trying to seduce me so I can join your group of smugglers."

"Oh I'd be careful if I were you, Don Jose."

I laugh thinking she's just flirting.

"Oh you got me there. I wouldn't have a chance would I?"

"You have so much insecurity that a woman being nice to you makes you fall in love. Then you end up spending all your money to make her happy until you're sobbing in the street homeless."

I get shaken up by that.

"Honestly. I'd probably let them. If that woman was you, I don't think I would mind being ruined and exploited. Not one bit."

"Now that's a real tragedy. You have no self worth."

I take my glass of water and gulp it. I can feel my hands shake in the process.

"Hey Scott. Look at me."

I put the glass down.

"Yes?"

"Go to the men's room and get yourself together. Your face is all red."

I nod and do my best to go to the men's room without causing a scene. It's a good thing she said something because I was on the verge of a panic attack. I look at myself in the mirror after splashing some cold water on my face.

"Come on. Get a hold of yourself. You're Scott Heyward, the son of an oil tycoon and famous engineer. Stop acting like a kid about this."

After patting my face with a paper towel, I go back to my table. The waitress must've brought our food because Carmen's eating her Veal Parmesan and my Carbonara.

"Sorry for being a mess."

Carmen looks up at me.

"Yeah you didn't even zip up."

I immediately look down before I realize that she was just joking.

"That's a dirty trick."

"Hey you're too tense, Scott. You gotta relax. It ain't like I'm some prize that can be won by trying to use this date to impress me."

I smile as I sit back down.

"You're right. You're definitely not a prize to be won. I think you're an amazing woman just with what little I know already."

"Good now eat your Carbonara before it gets cold. I know you still have chicken cacciatore coming."

"That's true. I don't want them bringing it out while I'm still eating the Carbonara."

As we eat and talk about our food, I start feeling a little more calm about our date. The waiter brings Carmen a dessert menu while I eat my chicken.

"Have you ever heard of zeppole?"

"No, I haven't. It sounds like an authentic Italian dessert when you say it like that."

"Because it is. They're basically Italian cream puffs. See you fry it like a fritter but then you also fill it with like a custard, pastry cream or a jelly."

I shake my head.

"Oh man. I've had many a profiterole from France. I have embarrassed myself off of profiteroles."

"You don't go to a restaurant like this to stick to a diet."

The waitress takes my empty plate and Carmen hands me the menu.

"Here take a look at the other options."

I look over the names to see what stands out.

"This apple crostata looks nice."

"Yeah but it's small though since you'd otherwise be getting a whole apple pie to eat."

I nod in acknowledgement.

"Well we can always share a plate of zeppole if you're up for it?"

I feel like I made a good move since sharing a dessert sounds romantic.

"Good idea. One of them's filling enough as it is."

"Great. This goes with coffee right?"

"Oh yeah, espresso definitely goes well with a dessert."

I nod as I tell the waitress what we want for dessert. She brings us our espresso cups. I take a sip.

"Wow this is strong."

"That's why the cup's so small. If you had a regular cup of coffee with espresso as opposed to diner coffee, you'd get the shakes."

I laugh.

"You don't know how much coffee I drink. I should consider investing in a fair market coffee farm in Brazil just so I can never run out."

"No wonder you're a nervous wreck."

"Yeah you're right. I usually keep my caffeine intake low when I'm not pulling all-nighters."

She raises an eyebrow.

"How many all-nighters have you pulled recently?"

I put my espresso cup down.

"I'll take the shot. I know I should manage my time better, but that's just how I am. Once I start something, I just want to finish it as soon as I can."

"And that's fine but you just gotta know when to quit for the night."

The waitress brings our plate of zeppole.

"Oh man am I going to be in trouble."

"You will if you don't eat them right."

I look up at Carmen.

"How so? I know better than to try picking up something like this with my hands like it's a simple cookie."

She looks at the small cup of chocolate sauce.

"No see you dip them in chocolate sauce like this to make it easy to chew when it's hot like this."

I try it her way and she's right. This is a great combination that's going to end in trouble for me.

"Miss Carmella, you're a true Italian culinary expert."

"See now you would've been eating them like a tourist if I didn't show you."

"Well thank you. I always appreciate learning about different cultures. I'd rather be embarrassed now about the personal sized Italian pizzas now than when I go to a pizzeria in Rome."

"What's there to be embarrassed about sharing cultural differences? It's not like you're gonna throw a fit in a foreign country over something they invented just because it's different."

I wipe my hands with a napkin.

"I think it's embarrassing in the sense that you have a certain expectation and when it comes out differently because they do it differently you get caught off guard. You never want to come off as ignorant when you take the time to travel."

Carmen shrugs.

"You travel because you wanna learn. Sure you should do some research about basic stuff but you ain't gonna be banned from Italy because you don't know how big they make their pizzas."

"You're right. You're right."

"Besides some stuff is so specific the only way you can know is by living there. It's not like being in Texas is the same as being in New York and I would know."

The waitress brings us our check and we split it. I hold the door open for Carmen as we leave.

"Well you sure had a better time than you thought."

"What do you mean?"

"You didn't end up in trouble because of the zeppoles."

I laugh a little at that.

"I guess I did. Maybe it's because you told me how to do it the right way of eating them."

"Of course you did get chocolate sauce on your pants."

At first I want to look down but I stop myself.

"Nice try, but I'm learning."

"That's good. You're learning how to have confidence."

As we get in the car I can't help but chuckle.

"You know that's something I tried to teach a young girl while working as a ski instructor in Miami. I know it's like the pot calling the kettle black, but this was about going down a slide."

"And did she?"

"She did. You'd think I would've learned how to apply that for myself, but I guess my divorce hit me a lot harder than I thought."

I start the engine and pull out of the parking space.

"Well I'd say this date was a step in the right direction."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. You asked me out and didn't bolt out the door when you had that panic attack."

I nod because she's right.

"I still think I can be even bolder."

"What could you possibly do that's bolder?"

I take a breath and stop at a red light.

"Ask you for a second date?"

Carmen looks at me.

"You're right that is bolder."

"But is that a yes?"

There's a pause and I can just feel all of my confidence blow away into the breeze.

"I gotta check my schedule first. Call me in 2 or 3 days."

I pull up to the Moulin Rouge.

"You know what. I won't take that as a no."

"Good because it wasn't."

She gets out of my car.

"I'll see you around, Scott."

"I hope to see you soon, Carmen."

I make sure she's inside before driving home. Even though I didn't get the answer I was hoping for, I still have faith that I'll see Carmen again one day. I just hope I don't become a Don Jose in the process.

Tagging: @vintagepresley, @your-teeth-glow-in-the-dark, @i-r-i-n-a-a, @thetaoofzoe, @peaceloveelvis,

@tupelomiss, @lustnhim, @urbeatlemaniac, @hooked-on-elvis, @iloveelvis2,

@lucy114505, @sissylittlefeather, @rktismylife-blog, @wildhorseinkansas, @jhoneybees,

@eapep, @kittyyaponia, @xanatenshi, @pomtherine, @atleastpleasetelephone,

@freudianslumber, @iloveelvisss, @thelonelyheart, @angelelvis, @smokeymountainboy,

@swingdownsweetchariot, @arrolyn1114, and @whositmcwhatsit.

#scott heyward #clambake #ecu fanfiction

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skylarmoon71 · 1 year ago

Text

Miguel O' Hara - AU Scientist (Across the Spider-Verse) - Chapter 3

There were things Miguel was always certain of in life. His intelligence, routines, and his ability to always find solutions to each scientific problem that was sent his way.

Love..

That was not something he ever thought he could achieve, much less hold onto.

Not until recently.

“I’ve always thought you were adorable.”

“How do you not see it, you’re built like a machine, it's awesome!”

“Do you want to come shopping with me on Saturday? I’ll get you some of those empanadas you really love on our way back. Promise!”

“You’re a genius, I have no doubt you’ll figure it out.”

These are all statements that have left your lips and further convinced him that you were an angel created just for him. Seeing you that day so flustered and dazed from his kiss had done something to him. Since then he’s been a bit hesitant to initiate anything more. The truth is, he wants you to make the first move, but he knows you’re very conscious of his quirks. You’ve never so much as touched him unless he did so first. He feels like you’re restraining yourself just because of him. He wants to tell you that it’s okay.

If there is anyone he’d like to feel, it’s you.

But how does he put that into words?

“Miguel, hey Miguel!”

He blinks at the call. The redhead standing before him makes him tune in.

“Hi Lyla, did you need something?”

She smirked.

“(Y/N) got you all loopy lover boy.”

His cheeks tinted red and her laughter continued. When you walked in and saw the two, you smiled.

“Lyla, are you picking on Miguel again?” You laugh.

She raised her hands.

“I would never. I just needed to borrow something. See you two lovebirds later~” She walks off with a happy skip and you giggle.

“I swear she enjoys messing with us.”

Lyla was nothing if not invested. After she claimed that she ‘Set you both up’. You shouldn’t have been surprised that she took credit.

Miguel's eyes were directed at the table and you realized then that he seemed a bit out of it.

“Everything okay?”

He nods.

“Yes, sorry. I was just stuck on an equation. But I think I’ve figured it out.”

“Well of course you did, it’s you we’re talking about. "

He lifts his head, and somehow his gaze feels much different. His form straightens and he moves a bit closer. Your heart picks up just a smidge at the unexpected shift in atmosphere.

“(Y/N), would you like to come over tonight?”

An invitation…

“Yes!!”

You’ve long stopped caring about your desperate replies to his invitations. You nod eagerly.

“I’d love.. to come over.”

You aren’t really sure why you’re whispering. It’s just the two of you in there.

His eyes trail to your lips, and when he moves in, your brows knit. The kiss is so soft. Yet passionate. You both stand there for a few seconds and when he pulls away, he lets out a soft satisfied breath.

“Okay..”

He mumbles.

If you were being honest, you’d been wondering why he hadn’t done much since that day in the lab. Every now and then he would leave light kisses on your cheek or lips. It always felt like he wanted more. You could see it in his eyes. It was like he was holding himself back and you weren’t sure why.

Maybe tonight you’ll know.

~~~

Work felt like it would never end. Miguel had texted you to take your time, but you literally couldn’t wait any longer. So after advising him that you would grab dinner, he eagerly anticipated your arrival.

“I’m here and I got the noodles!”

Miguel smiles when he opens the door.

You’re standing there with a bright smile and takeout Chinese. For a moment he almost loses his nerve. He steps aside for you to get in and you begin informing him of the adventure you endured just to get the food.

“Wow, your house is so nice.”

You marvel at the framed awards on his walls. Not that you’re surprised. His wallpaper is an assortment of navy and red. It’s an interesting design. You admire all you can as he guides you to the kitchen. You place the food on the counter as he moves to get the plates.

Miguel is moving around grabbing napkins and whatever else is needed and you begin to explain a theory that’s been on your mind. He’s trying to pay attention, he really is. But you’re standing there, eyes filled with the type of light that always follows when you talk science. You’re wearing a pair of sweats and a baggy sweater. Definitely a product of the chilly weather.

There’s nothing seductive about your attire. Not in the slightest. But when he looks at you, every part of him feels so much that it almost drives him crazy. Nothing other than his work has ever occupied his mind the way you do. Miguel drops the items on the counter.

“I want you to initiate more with me” It’s said so softly, almost like a plea.

He hadn’t even realized the words left his mouth until he saw your hands lower from talking animatedly. Your expression is a mix of shock and bashfulness.

Miguel turns his head.

“Lo siento..”

There must have been a better way to broach that topic. Now he feels like he’s said something out of line.

“You don’t have to apologize, Miguel.”

He feels like he should.

Your steps seem to echo in the room. You reach out for him, and his body turns slowly. Now that he’s facing you, your hand moves a bit hesitant, resting right on his arm. You look almost relieved and it’s then that he concludes that you’ve been afraid of him recoiling from your touch. You’ve seen some of the reactions that he’s had in the past. So you’re careful.

Considerate.

“You should never be afraid to touch me.” Miguel states.

Somehow it seems that’s exactly what you wanted to hear.

“Are you..sure..?”

“I’m sure.”

Your hand grips his arm just a little and you lean unto your toes, matching his height the best you can. Miguel eyes close softly and he pulls you in. Your hands move to the back of his neck and you slide them into his hair. A little sound escapes him, and he’s a bit surprised when your tongue slides past his lips.

“Ngh..”

The soft groan that echoes in his throat has you holding on tighter. Your fingers are massaging his scalp as he’s convinced it’s the best thing he’s ever felt in his life. Your hips are pressed so closely to his. It’s beginning to produce a reaction.

You finally pull back, and your breathing is so unsteady.

“Cariño..”

He murmurs.

He’s still trying to gather his thoughts. Because the tightness of his pants is a bit distracting.

You take his hand, biting your lower lip as you guide him to the stairs. He follows, his gaze hazy with anticipation.

He knows exactly what you want, and he can’t wait to fulfill all your desires.

#miguel o'hara #scientists #cute #differences #care #lover #trust #miguelxreader #understanding #love #au #across the spiderverse #coworkers #feelings

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olsenmyolsen · 2 years ago

Text

That Funny Feeling

Part 17 of On The Inside With Elizabeth Olsen

Word Count: ~8.4K

masterlist

MK POV

It's like Y/N saw a ghost or, in this case, heard a ghost.

"Who's that?" I ask, trying to read her face. She eyes me. "You'll see." What the hell does that mean? She holds her hand to me—a signal to let me know it'll be okay. I hope.

Y/N opens the door in almost a robot fashion before her mouth opens and speaks out, "Hello, mother."

Fuck.

A surprise mom visit.

"There she is! My beautiful daughter!" I watch the older woman walk in with a suitcase and bombard Y/N into a hug. I move my eyes to Y/N, who slowly reciprocates the gesture.

From the side, Y/N and her mother look scary alike at first. Both freckled covered faces. Ridged noses. The same eye color. Good cheekbones.

Okay, that was a weird one to point out.

However, Y/N must get her legs from her dad because she towers over her mom. Like she can put her head on her mom's head. I never thought of it, but Y/N's gotta be 5'9"? 5'10"?

The hug ends, and I'm not sure what to do. Do I get up and introduce myself? Y/N looks a little stressed, so maybe I should leave? I watch Y/N's mother look over Y/N before lightly tugging at the end of Y/N's shirt. "So this is the place, huh?" Her mom begins looking around the studio apartment. Oh no, she's slowly turning her body to me. "I only ever see it when we FaceCh-" I've been spotted.

"Who are you?"

Y/N POV

Okay, rude mom. The proper thing to say would have been, "oh my goodness, I didn't realize you had a guest over because I was too busy not telling you that I was paying you a surprise visit to make you feel bad about yourself!" I think to myself as my eyes roll. I grab my mom's suitcase. I pick it up to move it out of the way, but this bitch is heavy.

I watch MK, and I can see her mind is struggling. I step up and answer for the poor Olsen. "Mom, this is my friend MK." MK thankfully knows how to be formal and polite as she stands up to give my mom a handshake.

"I thought your name was Max?" Okay, it's that kind of day. My mom is going to try to bicker about every little thing.

"I have another friend named Max. This is MK." I state again, so Mary-Kate doesn't have to speak up. They shake hands, and I see MK doesn't know whether to sit back down or not. With my mom's back still to me, I motion for MK to sit. She catches me and puts her butt on the cushion.

"Well, nice to meet you, MK. You're a gorgeous girl. I assume that MK is short for something?" Mom. "Mary-Kate." She speaks up. I mouth the word sorry to her. I watch her eyes dart to me as she gives me a small smile.

"Ahh. I see." My mom now takes a seat on the opposite end of the couch, her eyes still darting around the room as she still talks to MK. "Mary-Kate, like those Olsen girls." Oh, God. "Remember those girls?" My mom looks toward me. "You use to have their VHS movies and copies of Full House. You loved them!" My mom turns to face MK now. "She would go on and on watching them. There was one summer she had to fall asleep watching those movies that those little girls made. I know this because it got so bad and to a point where once the movie ended, her body knew. So she'd wake up and restart the movie."

Praying I get bit by a radioactive spider or something, so I can shoot lasers at my mom. She's so embarrassing and oblivious it hurts. MK's eyes flicker to mine, and she starts to laugh quietly at the death glare my mother is receiving.

"Yes, it happened. For one summer. Please, mom, stop."

"What was the name of the other one? Nash?" I huff. "Mom, you know it's Ashley. Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen. Please stop bringing up my embarrassing childhood moments."

"Ashley. That's right! I wonder what they're up to now." Is she for real? "I'm sure they're doing fine," MK says with a teasing smile that only I see. I go to open my mouth, but my friend stops. "Who was Y/N's favorite, Mary-Kate or Ashley?" I can feel my body tense. I turn my eyes, already meeting MK's. Dead. I mouth to my least favorite, Olsen.

"I think it was that Ashley girl. But Y/N sometimes had a hard time telling those twins apart." Kill me. "Okay, mom! Please stop! Thank you." I shoot daggers at MK. She gets the hint and closes her mouth too.

"My friend doesn't need to hear these kinds of stories right now." I plead.

My mom looks at the tv with Godzilla still on pause. "Is this what you girls have been doing all day?" I have to physically stop myself from rolling my eyes. "No, mom, believe it or not, I worked today. I got up extra early too. I went on a run, went to work, talked to my- some significant people, came home, and THEN I started watching this movie. MK came over 'bout 20 minutes before you did! We also ordered dinner too. I would've had MK order you a plate if I knew you were coming! But did I know that? No!" I take a breath. "It-It's like you thrive off the stress you put onto me!" I exhale. My mom looks at me, shocked. I never go off on my mom, but she's been so frustrating lately, and for her to do this really sent me to the edge.

I want to say sorry. But I stand my ground. I stay standing as she looks at me. I see MK looking out my living room window out of the corner of my eye. She probably wants to jump out of it.

"I thought my own daughter would be happy to see me." Now she's doing this. "Mom-" "No, it's alright. I'll go to my hotel and take the first flight in the morning back to Nashville. Your home." She throws in. I wish she would stop saying that. It's not my home. Where I live is my home. The place where I don't feel people watching me. The place where I actually have friends that I love. The place where I met my girlfriend. New York. This is my home.

My mom goes to get up. I know she's hurt, but I know she's trying to get me to apologize and cave. I may cave, but I'm not apologizing.

"Mom." "It's quite alright, Y/N." My mom states firmly before grabbing her suitcase and leaving out my door, slamming it shut. I take a huge breath in and turn to my friend. Mary-Kate Olsen. She looks like a lost puppy. "It's complicated." She nods at me. I walk over to her and wrap her into a surprise hug. "So big fans, huh, and here I thought you knew nothing about us." I scoff. "It was one summer." "Sure, Y/N." "I knew about you two. I promise you I had no idea there was a third." We stop talking, and I try to relax my body.

"MK?" "Yeah?" I move out of the hug. "Can you go wait in my room?" "Uhh yeah, sure." She quickly gets up without a second thought and heads into my room. I feel a shouting match about to start with my mom, and even if it's outside my apartment, I don't want MK to be able to hear it.

I firmly wipe the palms of my hands off and step out my door, chasing my mom down the hall.

"Mom, stop." She ignores me as she presses the elevator button. I've lived here long enough to know that I got at least 20 seconds before it gets here. "Mom." I finally plant myself next to her. "Can you just come back inside? Please." "I thought you didn't want me here." She spits out. I'm so tired of this. I'm finally in the best place I've been in.. in.. forever? Maybe? I don't know. But I'm finally feeling great about myself, about my life, and today she decides to pull this stunt.

"Mom." I make sure my tone is softer than it was 2 minutes ago. "What did you think was going to happen?" I've observed my mother for too long. I watch as she shuffles her feet continuing to not answer me. She does that when she knows she's in the wrong. Will she ever admit it? No.

"You show up to my place for the first time out of the blue? What's, going on? What is this really about?" I stare at her blank face as the elevator dings. "Fine. It's not like we're on the best terms right now anyways." I huff out before I turn away.

I make it about two steps away before I feel my mom grip my wrist. I sigh and put my head down. I wanted her to tell me what was going on, but at the same time, I wanted her gone.

"Don't speak that way to me." She pulls me, causing me to turn to her. "I am your mother!" I rip my wrist out of her grasp. "Mom-" "I just wanted to see my baby! I wanted to see you! Lord knows you're not coming back home. And fine. That's fine! But I wanted my daughter to look me in the eyes and talk to me. Actually, talk to me-" I can't tell if this is real or bullshit, so I choose to interject.

"So what just 'cause I'm not returning "home," you think you can just barge into my small slice of life I have here?" "A life I gave to you" "Don't! Don't do that." I take a breath and run my hand through my hair. I can feel my hand bounce off my scalp as my nerves work through my body. My mom watches as my eyes begin to water. She reaches a hand out, but I take a step away.

"Yes, mother. Thank you for reminding me for the four hundredth and sixty-second time that you gave me a life. A life that was tailor-made to be better than the one you got. But guess what, mom? Maybe I didn't want that? Did you ever think about that?" I stop and sniff my nose. "Why do you think I went to Syracuse, literally one of the farthest schools I got accepted to, instead of Vanderbilt? I wanted to figure myself out without you!" I take a breath in as I let the tears fall. I shuffle my feet and shift my weight from one leg to the other.

"I turn 25 this year, for fucks sake! I thought I knew for the longest time, but then everything changed." "And I supported you." I hold my hand up to her. "Yes, you both did."

You both did. I repeat to me and only me.

"But, you know that's not what I'm talking about." I sob out as I cover my eyes. "Why are you really here, mom? Don't bullshit me. Because if you're about to say it's because I don't come home or I'm rude on the phone... I can't do this right now. You know the reasons I never want to come back. And so if that's the reason you think I'm short with you on the phone, then guess what, mom, that's not the reason."

My moms eyes are filled with hurt and regret. I know it, and she knows it, but I can't stop my mouth now.

"Sometimes it's because I'm fucking tired and the last thing I want to do is answer your stupid question about why I'm not going back to school, or the do I really want to work at a coffee shop for the rest of my life question? You already know the answers!" I swallow. "Other times, it's because all I get is a look from you that screams every word but joy. And maybe you don't mean to make that face because I know you're worried for me. I do. But guess what? You don't have to keep worrying. I'm in a good place. So maybe sometimes I don't want to talk because I don't want to talk! But then still there you are, and most of the time... i-it's because- it's like you call me up just to put me down. I s-swear it's like you only want me to be happy when it's convenient for you! Like today! I was having a great day! A great fucking day, and look at where we are now."

I can't see my mom anymore through the tears. I'm feeling every emotion in this one second, and I can't stop crying. I've never done this to another person before. I've never felt my chest become so light. I've never felt that funny feeling. I don't know what to do.

"Mom?" I croak out of my sore throat as I feel a person wrap their arms around mine. They shush me and start rubbing my back, letting me know it's okay. This action causes me to break down even more. I'm like full-on hyperventilating now as I bring my head down onto my mom's shoulder. I for sure know it's her because I can smell the coconut shampoo she's used all my life.

"Pumpkin?" My mom pulls out of the hug and gently puts her hands on my face. "I'm sorry, dear." Wow, that's maybe the third time in my life I've ever heard those words escape her mouth. She leans my head down and kisses my forehead. In response, I put my arms around her again and continued sobbing. My neighbors probably heard everything, but luckily no one came out. I can hear my mom saying things to me, but I can't concentrate enough to make out the words. So instead, I give her the tightest hug I've given her since we lost Davey.

My Dad.

That's when it hit me.

"Mom?" I whisper into her shoulder. "Yes, pumpkin?" "Todays, the day, isn't it?" My mom doesn't respond. Instead, she pulls back from the hug and puts her arms on mine. It's like we're standing there supporting each other. She slowly lifts her right hand and brushes my hair out of my face.

I blink, feeling a few tears slip out. "Two years to the day, Pumpkin." How could I forget? No really. How could I fucking forget? I look down at my mom, and I see her face clearer now.

She looks heartbroken. Maybe because her only child just yelled at her and complained that she ruined her life. Perhaps it's because that same child forgot the death date of the only father figure she's ever known. Or maybe she missed her kiddo. She missed having her family. She was tired, and she needed me.

"Do you hate me?" I genuinely ask.

My mom doesn't immediately respond, which makes my brain go crazy. She takes my hands into her own and pulls me to the nearest wall. She makes us sit down and let out bodies lean against the wall.

"Y/N?" I turn my face to the sound of my mother's smooth and soft voice. It reminds me of days when I was sick as a kid, and she took care of me. "I could never hate you." Tears begin to slip out her eyes. "I'm so sorry for ever making you think I did, sweetie. I care for you so much." She places a hand on my face to push back my tears. "I want what is best for you, and I try and push you because I know what the world is like. I was just trying to be the best mom you could ask for. I was trying to be better than my own mother. I never meant to push you away or make you think I never wanted you as a daughter. I love you with every bit of my old heart." I let out a breath of air through my nose and smile at that last part. "You're not even 50, mom."

"But I will be soon, Y/N. I want my daughter in my life for that day and all the years that follow." She thought she had lost me. "I'm so sorry for how I've acted. I didn't want to lose you, Y/N. I just love you so much. I'm so sorry, Pumpkin." "I'm sorry too, mom." I reach over and hug her. I hug her like I haven't seen her in years. I hug her like she'd never see me again. "I love you, mom." "I love you too, sweetie."

MK POV

I'm sitting at Y/N's desk, and it's a lot cleaner than the last time I was over like she's actually using it.

I'm trying to get my mind to focus on anything in this room. I've heard some yelling from out in the hall, but I chose not to listen to the words being screamed. I've distracted myself with my phone, but emails can only be so much fun.

As I skim over the desk, I notice she has a couple of books and journals on her desk. I take note at how similar they look to the ones in the living room. Except some of these are years old. I pick up a journal with the year marked 2019 on it. As I flip through some of the first few pages, it becomes clear what she uses these books for.

It's laced with short stories, poems, and songs. All original, as far as I know.

She never mentioned she was a writer or a musician, maybe? I take a glance around the room, and I don't see any guitars or keyboards. Maybe in her closet? I look towards it, but it's shut, so I won't bother.

I take a chance and try to find today's date in the 2019 journal. After a quick search, I find it and begin reading.

May 3rd, 2019

Death is Watching (Look Who's Inside Again)

Trying to be funny and stuck in a room There isn't much more to say about it Can one be funny when stuck in a room?

Well, well Look who's inside again Went out to look for a reason to hide again Well, well Buddy, you found it Now, come out with your hands up We've got you surrounded

To the man that made me laugh. I love you, Dad. But why did you give up? Why did you let Death take you?

My eyes look over those last three lines again, again, and again. Each time they become more glossy. It's like my heart is in my throat. Maybe that's why I'm struggling to breathe right now. I force my hand to gently grab the bottom of the page and turn it over.

There's no entry. I flip the next page. Nothing. I grab the book, close it, and let all the pages brush past my thumb as I watch each page after the one I read come up empty.

I hear the front door open and close. Oh shit. I put the journals back to where I think they were and stand up, waiting for her. No, I show look relaxed? I quickly wipe my eyes and pull out my phone before jumping onto Y/N's bed. No, wait, is that weird? Should I sit up? All this time, I've been internally debating, and I haven't heard Y/N.

"Y/N?" I call out to no answer. I decide to get up and come out into the main area. She's not there. "Y/N?" I take a quick look. Yeah, she isn't here. I go to pull my phone out; shit, I left it on the bed. That's when I notice the Chinese food sitting on the coffee table.

She was just dropping the food off. Is she coming back? Are her and her mom okay? Should I start plating the food? Does she even want a plate, or does she just eat it straight out of the container?

Y/N POV

I enter my apartment, and it's a little shocking to see MK standing there.. menacingly... staring at the Chinese food. "MK?" I ask, closing the door behind me. "Hey! You're back!" She runs over to me and hugs me. "I thought you left." She mumbles out. I decided not to question her and just let this moment happen.

We detach, and she notices how exhausted my body has become within the last 15 minutes. She thankfully doesn't say anything, but I see the look in her eyes. She sees my face and red eyes. She probably overheard. Crap.

"Where's your mom?" "She went to the hotel." "Oh." I don't want to talk about it now. MK looks away and to the food. "Do you want a plate?" "No, I usually eat out of the container." How much will I eat? I don't know. "Why am I not surprised." MK laughs, putting a smile on my tired face. "But if you need a plate, go grab one." MK walks to the kitchen and begins rummaging through, looking for everything she needs. I start to unpack our food and place it on the coffee table. I look to the tv, and it did the thing where it goes to an idle screen while waiting, so I turn it back onto the movie. I'm not really in the mood anymore, I'm so tired emotionally and physically, but I want to put on a front for MK. Or at least until dinners over.

MK returns with two glasses of water, a plate, and some silverware. I didn't know whose food was whose, so thankfully, I chose right because MK puts her fork into the meal in front of her. So I guess I'm eating Sesame Chicken. Good choice. "Ready?" I ask her picking up the remote and pointing it to the screen.

"Yeah." MK answers looking over at me; she gives me a pity smile before focusing her attention away.

MK POV

Man, I really wanted that Sesame Chicken. But Y/N needs to eat, and I don't want to disrupt her right now. I have no idea what happened in that hallway, but I want the person next to me to be okay.

I'm happy with the amount she ate. Half. But hey, that's better than nothing.

Do you know resting bitch face? What's it called when the person looks worried? Worried bitch face? I don't know, but that's what Y/N's got when she watches movies. I could tell her mind was elsewhere at the beginning, but as the film continued, she got more into it and started to relax. The movies almost over now, and I've been watching Y/N more than the monsters on screen.

She smiled every time Lizzie came on screen. It was so cute until it became annoying. Just kidding, but now she has the dumbest grin I've seen. Are her eyes glossy? What's she looking at?

I turn my head, and it's the scene where Lizzie reunites with her kid and husband. Right now, the kid just ran into Lizzie's arms, and she's holding him, crying.

For the first time tonight, Y/N catches me watching her. "Shut up." That is all she says as she laughs and lets a tear slip out. I throw my hands up in defeat and let the last 5 minutes play out.

Y/N POV

The credits hit, and I turn to MK. "Wow." She laughs and turns the tv off for me. She starts packing up the leftovers. "Wait till you see Avengers!" "Trust me. I can't wait. I gotta tell Liz that I saw this." I pull my phone out and start typing away. From the kitchen, I hear the fridge door close, and "she told you not to watch Oldboy, right?" "Yeah." "Good." Okay, what the heck? It can't be that bad, right?

I finish up my text to my girlfriend as MK entered the room again. "Is it cool if I use your bathroom? I had to go since, like the HALO drop scene, I didn't want you to stop the movie." "Who said I would've paused it?" MK's jaw drops before she pouts and lets out a "rude" before walking away into the bathroom.

It's now after 8, and I was tired before the movie, but I'm exhausted now. I want to just go to bed, but my mind still doesn't want to turn off. I'm thinking about my mom and my dad a lot. I feel a mix of remorse, loss, happiness, and regret. I genuinely don't know what to do. I should've stayed with my mom. I could've done more over the last two years. I'm so stupid. I can feel something happening, but I don't know what's happening. Am I crying? When did this happen?

"Hey, look at me. Y/N, can you look at me?" I hear MK's voice calling out to me. Where is she? I pull my eyes from the floor and up to her face. She's sitting on her knees in front of me. I see her bottom lip trembling. Her eyes look scared. Worried? Her hands start reaching up to me. "Good. You're doing very well. Y/N, is this okay?" She cups her hands onto the sides of my face. I open my mouth to respond, but nothing happens, so I just nod. Her thumbs begin to wipe at the tears streaming down my face. "It's okay. I'm here." I lean my forehead into her own. I can't stop. "Y/N, can you focus on some things around the room? Look at three things and tell me what they are." I lift my head from MK's. She leans more into my knees to keep wiping away the tears. "Umm... the tv..." "That's good, Y/N. Keep breathing in and out and name another thing." I blink a couple of times before looking around. "Your bag.." "One more thing Y/N. You're doing very well." MK gets up from the floor and sits right next to me. She drapes an arm around my waist, takes her other hand, and grabs onto mine. She leans her body onto mine. She's covering me in comfort. She has to have done this with Liz before. "Max." "Can you tell me where?" I nudge my head in the direction of a photo in the kitchen. "Max and I. Couple months ago." "Thank you, Y/N." I hear MK swallow next to me and take in a breath. "You're okay. I got you."

MK POV

She's finally resting.

It's been almost an hour since I asked her to name the things around the room. It's a trick I haven't done in a while. The last person I did that with was Liz before she started to shoot WandaVision.

Over the course of the last hour, I just held her in my arms. She would sob and stop. She'd apologize before drifting off into her mind again. The whole time I just kept her safe. I would brush her hair and tell her that it was okay and that I'm here for her. I still am. I always will be.

I've never seen this side of Y/N before. It didn't scare me one bit. It just made me concerned for her. It also made me so incredibly mad at her mom. Her mom sent her over the edge. Her mom did this.

I hear my phone start to ring from the bedroom, breaking up to silence in here. Shit. Y/N seems like she's out of it, so maybe I can slip away. I unwrap my arm from around her body, and I swear my phone is getting louder. I start scooting from Y/N so that I can get up, but she stops me. "MK?" "Hey, one second, I'll go turn it off," I say, getting up and leaving her. Y/N mumbles something, but I don't catch it.

I pick up my phone, wanting to tear the head off of whoever called me.

Damn it. It's Ash.

MK: "What?"

I move myself into the bathroom and shut the door behind me.

Ash: "Woah, calm down. You okay? Also hiiiii!"

M: "Sorry. Hi. What's up?"

A: "Damn okay. Anyways. I sent you some emails about an upcoming shoot. Models and outfits. Can you go over them and send me your feedback. I need it by 9 tomorrow. Cool?"

"Yes. I can do that."

"Thanks. You're the best! Byee!"

"Bye."

The call ends, and thank goodness I got work mode Ash on a call instead of Sister Ash. Sister Ash would've known something was up and not let me go until she figured out whatever was going on. I quickly look in the mirror and fix my eyes and hair. I put my phone on silent and put it in my pocket before walking back out to Y/N. I walk past the exhausted couch girl and slip my phone into my bag.

"MK?" Her sore throat squeaks, scaring me before I quickly compose myself. "Hey. It's me. I'm here." In a calm tone. I put myself back into my old position. "I should go to bed." "Okay. Y/N, let's get you to bed." I remove my arm from her side and get up quickly. She doesn't move. I move up to her knees like before. "Need some help?" She nods at me. I stand up and hold my arms out to her. She grabs on, and together we lift her up to her feet. I put my arm around her to help support her since I know her body wants to drop.

Once getting her onto her bed, I begin to look through her drawers and closet for any comfy clothes. Oh, hey, there's the guitar!

"Bottom drawer." I turn around and see her pointing to the bottom of her dresser. I open it up and find a black t-shirt and grey sweats. This shirt looks a lot like one I use to have. I bring the clothes to Y/N and excuse myself so she can change. I grab her a water bottle and some Advil for her head during that time. Crying always causes a headache. Remember that. "You can come back." I enter her room and smile at her. "Take this. It'll help." She doesn't put up a fight or say anything. I think she just wants to sleep and put an end to this day. "Thank you." "Of course." Y/N sets her water down and starts getting comfortable on her bed. I look over her room again, and my eyes return to her desk.

She knows.

Sitting on top of a large T-shirt and a pair of black shorts is the 2019 journal. I look back at her eyes, which are already watching me. "MK?" Oh no. "Could you stay the night?" She points to the clothes. Oh! "You sure?" She nods. I carefully grab the journal and set it off to the side. I watch Y/N smile out of the corner of my eye. I grab the clothes and excuse myself to the bathroom to change.

Y/N POV

She didn't ask me what my journal was for or what it meant. She read it earlier. I knew it was in a different position.

But for some reason, I'm not mad. I'm actually glad if she ended up reading what I think she read.

"Penny, for your thoughts?" I look over to see MK changed. "I'll tell you." I gesture for her to crawl into bed. My bed isn't a twin, so thankfully, we're not right on top of each other. It's a Queen. Cuddles can happen, or people can give each other space. MK gets into bed and faces me. "I turned off all your lights and locked your door." "Thank you." "Do you want your lamp off?" "Not yet."

We start to let the silence fall onto us. I'm not as tired as I was before, so I'm just lying here thinking and staring at the Olsen across from me.

"Y/N?" "Hmm." "What are you thinking about?" "That I don't want to be alone right now. That I'm glad, you're here." "Me too." I scoot myself closer to MK. I can tell by how she slightly moved her arm back that she doesn't want to mess up. I rest my hand onto her side. "Is this okay?" She nods to me. My eyes start to look over her body as I continue to think about today. "What did you think?" MK looks at me, a bit confused. "About my journal entry?" I physically watch MK get embarrassed and stressed all at once. She begins to pull away and back up, but I grab onto her hip and pull her closer to me. "MK." I get out in a calm tone. She stops moving. "I'm serious. I'm not mad. It's okay." I reassure her and brush away her hair from her face that softens up so I can see my friend again. "I thought it was" She takes a second. "Beautiful." She smiles at me to let me know she means it.

"I'm sorry for your loss," MK said, the one thing I didn't want to hear. I nod at her. She inches closer to me as this moment between us becomes more fragile each time we open our mouths. "I wrote that the day he died." "What was his name?" "Davey. Well, that's what I called him. He gave me a choice between Dad or Davey. As long as I never called him David, he was cool with it." MK and I bring each closer into a hug, as we both feel the tears coming.

We both let the hug happen until I pull away. If I look pass her and into my room, I'm going to get lost in thought. "He wasn't my real dad." I clarify for MK. "But he treated me like he was." I smile, thinking about the day I met him. "He always had shoulder-length hair, which, as a kid, I thought was funny, but as I grew up, I got jealous of it." I chuckle as some tears land between MK and I.

MK looks like she wants to speak but is afraid. "Spill it," I whisper out. "How?" "Cancer." MK sucks her lips into her mouth and starts to bite. "Hey. No. Don't do that.." I softly lift my hand and pull her lip out. I move my hand from her lips to her cheek. "It's okay, MK. He's gone." She wants to cry for me. She can, but I don't want her to, honestly. She blinks a few times to make the tears go away. Once she's done, she leaves me and switches off the bedroom lamp before coming back to me. She cuddles in hard. She rests her head on my chest as I place my head on top of hers. Both of our arms snaked around each other. "I'm-" "There's nothing to apologize for."

"Is your mom coming back?" The tone she asked that in wasn't sweet. "She might. But you don't have to worry. Her and I are okay." I can feel her go to lift her head, so I let her. She looks directly into my eyes. "We are. I promise. Now please, you were comfortable before." She playfully rolls her eyes and rests her head on my chest again. "There you go." I kiss the top of her head, and I can feel the tiredness wash over me.

"Y/N?" "Yeah?" I answer back with my eyes shut. "I'm really sorry about reading your journal. I didn't know." "I know. It's okay, MK. I'm glad you did." "Really?" "Really." I can feel MK start to make shapes with her fingers on my lower back. It's soothing and something I need right now.

As MK and mines bodies start to slow in breathing and drift off to sleep, the Olsen below me mumbles, "I love you, Y/N. As a friend. Always." I smile because I don't know if she meant for me to hear, but I let her know. "I love you too, MK. As a friend. Always."

Liz POV

Today is the day! The pilot said that we have landed in JFK, so I'm just ready to get the fuck off this plane. The flight wasn't as bad this time. Since I mostly slept and planned out things I wanted to surprise Y/N with.

"If you require deplaning assistance, please remain in your seat until all other passengers have deplaned. One of our crew members will then be pleased to assist you. On behalf of American Airlines and the entire crew, I'd like to thank you for joining us on this trip, and we are looking forward to seeing you on board again in the near future. Have a nice day!"

I pull out my phone and let Max know that the plane just landed. She texted me back a couple of seconds later, letting me know that she was just circling the terminals. I think Max is more excited to see me than to drop me off if I'm being honest. Even though I'm dating her best friend, she still asked me for an autograph and picture when I have time.

I look through my texts with Y/N, and she still hasn't texted me a good morning text or anything usually, by now, I would've heard something. Max did tell me that she texted Y/N earlier, letting her know that she'd be off today, so maybe she's just sleeping in. So if that's the case, I can't blame her.

After collecting my bags, and avoiding onlookers, and wannabe paparazzi, I am finally seated in my girlfriend's best friend's green Subaru.

I haven't told anyone where I am or what I'm doing. The only person that knows is Max. After a couple of minutes into the drive, I decide to give Y/N a wake-up call.

Y/N: "Hello?"

She sounds groggy.

Liz: "Good morning, my Coffee Girl! Did you just wake up?"

I see Max glance over at me before her eyes return to the road.

Y: "Hey, babe! Yeah, I actually did. What time is it?"

Y/N, let's outs a yawn.

L: "Ummm, it's.. almost noon"

"Oh Lizard, you okay? You already done for the day?"

"Yes, I'm fine, love, but, Y/N, it's noon for you."

There's a moment of silence before I hear the phone and her crashing down onto what I assume is the floor. Y/N is on speaker, so Max just heard her eat shit as well and is trying to muffle her laugh. I can't help it, but I feel my lips form into an evil smile too.

"Y/N, are you okay?!" I ask, holding back some laughter.

She doesn't respond, but I do hear another voice ask my same question. I see Max look over, confused, as the smile leaves my face.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Fuck, that's gonna hurt. Thank you."

Y/N responds to the other person. Before I hear the phone shuffle and her voice return to me.

"Hey, sorry I jus-"

"Who are you with?" I try to put in a brave voice, but my mind is going a million miles per hour. Y/N would never cheat. She wouldn't.

"What?"

I hear some more shuffling. That's not the right response.

"I heard someone else, Y/N."

"Can we FaceTime?"

I look to Max. She shakes her head and points to the interior of her car. Y/N would instantly know.

"Not at the moment."

"MK's here. That's who you heard"

So what the fuck? My own sister can barely talk to me but has time to be with my girlfriend.

"Y/N..."

"Liz, this would be a lot easier if we could FaceTime."

"Just tell me what's going on because this isn't sounding good for you." I hear my voice, and it isn't becoming nicer.

"MK and I hung out yesterday. It was an impromptu thing, and I asked her to stay over last night."

I can my heart start to crack. But she wouldn't. She wouldn't!

"Y/N I swe-"

"Babe. Do you trust me?"

"Yes."

I do. I really do.

"I didn't want to be alone. I knew Max was busy, but MK was here."

I turn to Max, confused, and she's returning the same confused look.

"Why didn't you want to be alone? Are you okay?"

"I'm okay.. Umm... My mom showed up yesterday."

Max lets out a very loud gasp. I know Y/N never talks about her family, so knowing this and hearing Max's reaction, this is big.

"And you are safe? Are you at home?"

Y/N doesn't respond right away, which is worrisome. But then I hear her faintly crying.

"Yes, I'm home. I miss you."

My heart breaks because I know she means it, and she's going through all these emotions, and I'm so close but so far.

"When can I see you?"

I look at Max's phone. It still says 30 minutes.

"How about I FaceTime you in like 45? Is that okay?"

"Yes. I love you."

"I love you too, Y/N. How about you get up, get some ice on your leg and eat some breakfast? Pancakes and eggs, none of the frozen stuff."

"You heard me fall?"

"I tried so hard not to laugh."

"Oh my God. That's embarrassing."

She sounds better now.

"It's your body building character."

There's a moment between us where we just listen to each other breath and a couple of sniffles from her. It's an almost reassuring moment.

"4 days, babe."

"It'll be sooner than you think."

The call is coming to a natural close.

"See you, Liz."

"Later, Y/N!"

"I love you!" We both say at the same time, causing each other to laugh before we end the call.

"That was so cute but gross," Max tells me once my phone hits my lap. It was. I keep thinking over the call. I start to play with my rings to prolong the feeling I have coming.

"Can you get that?" Max asks me, holding her phone up to me. "Tell me what it says." It's a text from Y/N apologizing for not making it to today's shift before she realizes that Max told her not to come in. I relay that information as a new text pops up.

Mom showed up.

"Umm.." Max is thinking of what to respond back while I'm waiting to text for her. "Just send a pumpkin emoji first." I do that. "Then, are you okay? At work. Talk later? Type it all just like that." I do just that. "Send?" I ask the redhead. "Yeah, send it." I hit the send button and watch as Y/N with a thumbs up.

"Why the emojis?" "It's basically to let the other person know that we're busy with work or girlfriends. But if you're asking why the pumpkin one, that's what Y/N's mom calls her. Pumpkin. So sending that, let her know that I know how serious this is."

Max is a true best friend. "Pumpkin. Is that why her favorite color is orange?" I watch Max's face try to hide the real reason. "Yeahhh-" "I know it's because of Velma." Max lets out a breath. "Okay, I couldn't lie to you." I snicker at how starstruck Max can be.

"Good," I respond back in my Sokovian accent, almost causing Max to crash the car.

MK POV

I get startled awake but the sound of Y/N crashing onto the floor. I see her phone next to her as she is on the ground holding her knee.

Lizzie.

"Y/N, are you okay?!" She doesn't respond, but I do hear Lizzie's voice ask my same question. "Yeah, I'm fine. Fuck, that's gonna hurt. Thank you." Y/N picks up her phone before shuffling around, grabbing some clothes, and heading to the bathroom.

"Hey, sorry I jus-" "What?" I hear Y/N muffled through the door answer my sister.

Okay, stop listening, MK. I decide to wake myself up a bit more and distract my brain with emails. I already sent Ash all the information she needed from last night. I woke up early this morning to get it done since I knew it wasn't happening last night before returning back to Y/N.

After going through my emails and sending some texts, Y/N returns from the bathroom. She's wearing cuffed jeans and a black bra, she throws whatever shirt she picked up and goes searching for a new one.

Okay, this isn't helping past feelings. Look away, MK. Look away. Just look at your phone.

"Why didn't you want to be alone? Are you okay?" My concerned sister asks. I glance up and watch as Y/N stops her movement, putting a hand on her forehead.

"I'm okay.. Umm... My mom showed up yesterday."

Liz lets out a very loud gasp. I know Y/N never talks about her family so knowing this and hearing Liz's reaction, she knows this is big.

"And you are safe? Are you at home?"

Y/N doesn't respond right away, which is worrisome. But then I hear her faintly crying. I get up and stand next to her to let her know I'm here. Y/N looks to me but talks to Liz. "Yes, I'm home. I miss you."

Ouch. My heart breaks because I know she means it, and she's going through all these emotions, and I'm so close but so far. But I shove my feelings down. This is for Y/N. I push my forehead into Y/N's and wrap an arm around her.

"When can I see you?"

"How about I FaceTime you in like 45? Is that okay?"

"Yes. I love you." Y/N lets go of me and starts searching her room for a new shirt. She finds one and starts putting it on. I take this opportunity to grab my clothes from last night and run into her bathroom.

"See you, Liz."

"Later, Y/N!"

I pop out of the bathroom just in time.

"I love you!" They both say at the same time causing each other to laugh before they end the call.

I head out of her room and to my bag. Making sure I have everything with me.

When I come back, Y/N is sitting on her bed texting. "You okay?" She looks up at me and smiles. "Yeah. Umm..." Y/N puts her phone away. "Do you wanna sit?" She points to the spot next to her, so I join her. She moves one leg underneath her and moves, so her body is towards me.

"Thank you for everything yesterday. It really meant a lot to me that you stayed and cared for me. How you always care for me.. You're a wonderful friend, MK." She places her hands into mine and starts rubbing her thumb along the tops of mine. She stutters and is struggling to say more. I watch as she gives up and starts biting her bottom lip. I slip my one hand out and bringing to her lip, pulling it out. I let my hand slide down to her chin, but she reaches up and brings my hand back to her lips. I freeze, not knowing what to do. Y/N plants two soft kisses on the pad of my thumb. "Thank you, Mary-Kate." Her eyes are glued to my own.

"Always." Whispers out from the back of my throat.

We both know what could happen next. Y/N reached up and runs her hand through my hair. She pulls my head closer to her before we pull each other into a hug. With her mouth next to my ear, she drops this: "My mom got it wrong. You're my favorite twin." We both laugh into each other's shoulder before she pulls away and stands up. She clears her throat and wipes her eyes.

"How do you like my shirt?" My mouth drops at the sight of it. "Oh my God!" It's a black t-shirt with like seven different pictures of Lizzie, and at the chest, it says Elizabeth Olsen in pink. "You're obsessed!" "You're just jealous!" Y/N smirks out before she leaves me to head to the kitchen. "I can get you one for Christmas?" Y/N yells from the kitchen. "Fuck off!"

I had to leave Y/N about ten minutes into her cooking breakfast. Summer is around the corner, so I need to head to the offices to start going over sales meetings, designs, pitches, etc. Plus I still need to change and shower, so heading home first is a must. Y/N understood and promised that we'll hang out again. Plus, I think she mentioned her mom was coming over later? I'm not quite sure Y/N mumbled a bit. But! This is the best outcome I wished for before yesterday. Y/N and I are friends.

Once I settled in my car, I had a couple of missing texts from form Liz. Some ranging from nice to not so nice. The not-so-nice ones were first. She doesn't mean the things she said it's just insecurities bubbling up. I understand. I do. The nice ones followed once she said, "Max explained everything." I didn't know her and Max were that close. I texted my sister back, telling her about last night and the things that I think she should know.

I left out the stuff about Y/N's dad, and how close Y/N and I were because she doesn't need to know that unless Y/N tells her.

I put my phone away and start to pull out of the spot in front of the building. Just in time for this cute green car to take it.

Part 18

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