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naavispider · 1 month

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💙💞Survivor: bonus scene💞💙

Read Survivor on AO3, my cop au where Quaritch is a high ranking police officer who finally works out the street kid he's had multiple run-ins with is his son.

For everyone who wanted a scene from Quaritch's point of view! Here's the moment he worked out Spider is his ✨ (I changed it from the main story so that Spider told the precinct his full name the last time he was arrested, instead of telling the hospital the day Q found him. It's not a huge change, just run with it).

It was grey, blustery Thursday morning in downtown St Mark’s, the wind whipping against the windscreen of the PD’s Ford Explorer as Miles Quaritch patrolled down another empty street. At 6am, no one was out yet. The world was quiet apart from himself and his partner sitting in the passenger seat.

“She was a beauty,” Lyle Wainfleet reminisced, vastly overestimating how much Miles actually cared. “That was the one that got away, I’m telling you.”

“Is that so?”

“I should message her again.”

Quaritch rolled his eyes without looking at his partner. He’d known Lyle for a long time and there was no one more reliable he’d rather be on shift with. However, their differing attitudes towards Lyle’s hunt for a woman was sometimes a point of contention between them. “Should you now?”

“You don’t think it’s a good idea?”

“It seems to me she made her feelings pretty clear.”

“Well aren’t you a ray of sunshine today? Come on, Colonel, I’m trying not to get my heart broken, here!” Miles shrugged, surveying the bleak street ahead of them. It had been an uneventful night shift, which is exactly the kind that Miles should have hoped for. However, he couldn’t deny that a huge part of him still missed the action and danger of the marines. Rain had just started to spit from the overcast sky, forcing him to turn on the wipers. This part of town was known for its drug involvement, most of which Miles himself had uncovered. Now though, the street was empty, not a single sign of life in the dawn light. There was nothing amiss here.

“You wanna get a coffee?” Lyle’s bored voice drifted over from the passenger seat. He’d already switched off for the shift.

Miles sighed, thinking they may as well, but then he saw it. A shapeless lump on the floor in one of the archways that lined the shopfronts. “Hold up,” he said. “Let’s deal with this first.”

Unfortunately, the homeless were nothing new to the pair. They had time to check one more over. Miles pulled the car over to the curb, gently bringing it to a stop a few feet away from the sleeping figure. Now that they were closer, the Colonel could make out that it was someone small, maybe young, but their face was hidden in the concrete. Miles frowned as he realised that the person wasn’t huddled up in a blanket or sleeping bag like usual, but instead they were lying almost completely exposed to the wind and the cold, limp and seemingly lifeless.

“Oh, shit,” Lyle articulated as he too clocked that this could be something serious.

Without wasting time, Miles opened the door and cautiously approached where the person lay. “Hello, there,” he called loudly, as per protocol. “Are you alright?”

As he knew there wouldn’t be, there came no response. Lyle joined him and they stepped closer, Miles’s heart thudding at the expectation of finding a body. Since joining the police force, it had happened once before to Miles. It was nothing like the death he’d seen in the warzone, but it was almost… sadder. These people had nobody with them, no one waiting for them at home and possibly no one that would miss them when they went. At least there was honour in dying in combat.

He grasped the young person’s upper arm and shook firmly. “Hello? This is the police, do you need help?” In doing so, he finally caught sight of the person’s face. It was a teenager - and one he recognised at that. The boy had a young face, dirty blonde curls that covered most of his head and a peaceful expression that remained unresponsive. He remembered the teen from a couple of run-ins they’d had over the past few months. Once for underage drinking and then again for stealing. He was a runaway foster kid, barely sixteen if he remembered correctly. “Shit,” he murmured, a pang of something anxious striking his insides at the thought that he’d had the chance to help this boy and he might now be dead. “We know this kid. Wake up!” He pulled the boy by his arm and the teenager rolled over limply, completely out of it. His lips were blue and there was dried vomit on the side of his face. Ignoring the smell, Miles put his ear to the boy’s mouth, checking for breathing. He couldn’t see or hear anything for several torturous seconds. Lyle was already radioing for an ambulance.

Suddenly, a gurgled cough escaped the boy’s lips. “There, we go,” Miles murmured, trying to rub the kid’s back as he racked his brains for the alias the kid had given them. “Can you wake up, kid? It’s the police, we’re gonna get you some help.”

He knew the boy couldn’t hear him, but he kept speaking anyway. Once he was confident the kid was taking semi-regular breaths, he cast around the scene for the drugs packet he knew he’d find somewhere. “Here,” he said, handing the tiny bag to Lyle, who got the drugs kit out. A few seconds later, they had their answer. “Cocaine,” Lyle confirmed. “Isn’t this the kid we picked up a while back for stealing?”

“That’s the one.” The boy was cold to the touch. “What’s the ETA?”

“Four minutes,” Lyle responded. “There’s a camera up there. That could be interesting,” he nodded towards the CCTV placed not too far away. It was pointing in their direction and would have covered the boy while he slept.

Miles nodded, pulling the boy’s thin blanket over his frame while they waited for the ambulance to arrive. “Kid, can you wake up? You’re in a bit of a rough state.” He raised his voice as if he was speaking to someone who was deaf. “Kid? Can you hear me? Try and wake up.”

He could tell he’d broken through by the wince in the boy’s features, his body seeming to spasm for a moment before his chest heaved and vomit spluttered from his mouth.

“Easy, tiger…” He rubbed the kid’s shoulders, making sure he was on his side. “At least he’s alive,” he glanced up at Lyle.

Eventually, the ambulance arrived with flashing lights. It couldn’t have come soon enough, as far as Miles was concerned. Every second felt like the kid was slipping further away from them. “What’s happening, then?” a kind woman with brown hair asked as she and another paramedic hurried over, bags over their shoulders.

“Sixteen year old boy, found unresponsive. Cocaine on his person.”

“Okay,” the paramedic nodded her understanding. “My name’s Janine, this is Sarah. We’ll get him on board as soon as we can. Do you have a name?”

“Spider.” It came to Miles like a flash of lightning, the strange nickname finally illuminated in his brain. “We’ve met before.”

“Spider?” Janine asked, taking Miles’s place at Spider’s side. “Can you hear me? We’re here to help you. I’m just going to put this Pulse Ox on your finger…”

Miles stepped back to allow the medics to assess Spider. He was a marine, he was used to chaos and stressful situations, normally the picture of calm as he navigated the safest and most efficient way back to safety. But he had to admit this one had thrown him. He was glad that someone else was here to take charge because his concern for Spider was growing by the minute. It somehow felt like his fault the boy had ended up here, and he couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling. As he watched them work, it struck him that he felt responsible.

Which was ridiculous, of course. This wasn’t his responsibility in the slightest. He’d done his job the previous times they’d met. He’d tried to help the kid as much as he could. But something deep inside was nagging at him. It wasn’t enough.

He didn’t like it. He looked at Lyle, hoping for one of his usual unfunny quips to take his mind off the feeling. His partner was speaking to the other medic and it was all Miles could do to help Janine heave Spider off the cold concrete.

“Get off me!” Spider suddenly burst out, surprising everyone. His eyes were still closed, but at least he was gaining consciousness.

“Spider? I’m trying to help you,” Janine continued. “You’re okay… Let’s get you into the ambulance. I need you to stand up. I’ll help you.” She glanced at Miles for support, and he quickly pulled one of Spider’s arms over his own shoulder in tandem with Janine. The boy was extremely weak, relying totally on their support. It would have been easier if they’d just left him sleeping, because like this Spider could lash out at them in his disorientation. Together, they heaved him onto the ambulance and the gurney. He groaned and angry tears began to slip from under his closed eyelids. “Fuck!” he slurred as he curled up on the bed.

“He’ll be alright,” Janine said, slightly out of breath as she turned to Miles. “He’s dehydrated and has a high blood pressure, but I’m more worried about his temperature. He should be frozen, but he’s burning up. He might have taken something else.”

Miles took this in, thinking what the procedure was for this kind of thing. This was a minor with no known relatives, so he knew they’d have to accompany him to the hospital. At least until they could contact CPS.

“Okay, we’ll meet you at the ER. You going to St Mark’s?”

She nodded, holding the back of the ambulance open for Miles to exit. “We’ll do our best to hold him until you guys get there, my guess is that you’ve got a few hours at least until he’s lucid.”

Miles thanked her and pressed his radio as she pulled the heavy ambulance door closed. “Fike, can you get me any info on that kid we bought in a few weeks ago?” He retreated to the car as the ambulance sped off down the empty street. He watched it go, feeling like it was carrying precious cargo. Then he realised how ridiculous that feeling was and shook himself.

“Which one? Can you be more specific, Colonel?” Fike’s voice came crackling back over the radio.

Lyle slid back into the passenger seat. “Good spot, Colonel. Now can we get coffee on the way?”

Miles let his annoyance settle quietly in his stomach, ignoring his partner in favour of the radio. “Kid bought in for stealing an iPad from the Apple store. Sixteen.”

“Copy that, I’ll check for you.”

“There’s no way the kid told them anything,” Lyle commented, listening to the exchange. “It’s real sad, but he's on a one track road and it’s going nowhere good.”

“And that’s okay is it?” Miles surprised himself for his response. He was never normally this invested in a case. “We should just let it be?”

Lyle had the decency to look abashed. “What are we supposed to do, Colonel?”

Miles shook his head. He knew it wasn’t their individual responsibility to take in every lovable stray, but it still felt like a failure of the police department that a kid like Spider had been allowed to deteriorate to such an extent. “I don’t know,” he relented.

Thankfully, Fike was quick. “Miles Socorro, ward of the state.”

Miles’s heart stopped.

For a moment he thought… but it must have been radio static. “Can you repeat that, officer?”

A few seconds of confused silence went by as Lyle stared at him and they waited for Fike to get back to them. “Copy, Miles Socorro, ward of the state.”

Dread filled his stomach.

Vile nausea rose in his throat and he needed air… he needed to step out… Miles Socorro. She’d called the baby after him?

This couldn’t be right. This was a mistake, a coincidence. It had to be a common name.

“Colonel, you alright?” Lyle's voice was far away.

He was outside again, leaning against the car door, his head in his hands. He just needed some deep breaths. Miles Socorro. Miles Socorro. Miles Socorro. Miles Socorro. Miles Socorro.

It wouldn’t stop.

The name swirled around his brain incessantly, each time with more veracity and more vengeance, over and over again until he realised it would never let him go. The baby. The baby.

It was him.

Of course it was. He’d known it from their first meeting when the kid had squinted at him against the blinding sunset with an empty cider bottle in his hand.

“Holy shit.”

He felt a hand on his shoulder and vaguely registered that Lyle was concerned about him.

“I fucked up,” he said. “I fucked up. I messed it all up.”

Of course it was Miles. His son. Suddenly he thought of nothing else, gaining a sense of clarity for just long enough to press his radio once more. “Can you look up Paz Socorro?”

He didn’t care what anybody was thinking right now.

“Is this a relation, Colonel?”

“Just look her up!”

“She’s not on our system… Hang on, let me search…”

Miles held his breath, the nausea hot at the back of his throat, burning him from the inside out.

“Paz Socorro, deceased. Died in 2013.”

Miles couldn't stem the surge that retched its way up his throat. He bent double over the sidewalk, vomiting feet away from where they’d found Spider.

She was dead? Why hadn’t they contacted him? His son… the baby he’d made… had ended up here!

“Colonel, steady!” That was Lyle.

“Everything okay over there?” That was Fike.

Miles’s chest was imploding. He’d failed. He’d failed. How had he not been made aware? How could he have not bothered to check? They’d agreed it was for the best they had no contact, but Miles could never, never have imagined…

Suddenly all he wanted was to be by Miles’s side. His son’s side. Spider.

He didn't bother replying to either man, instead wiping his mouth roughly on his cuff and slamming the door behind as he climbed back into the driver’s seat. Lyle quickly followed him back inside the car but seemed too stunned to address anything. “Er, Colonel…”

“We’re going to the hospital.”

A moment of silence passed. “Who’s the kid?” Lyle asked in a low voice.

Miles gripped the steering wheel tighter than he had in his life, his knuckles turning white. He couldn't say it. He couldn't say it out loud. Then it would make his failure real. His life’s failure, real. “I think you know,” he said in a voice that sounded nothing like his own.

Lyle sat back in the seat and allowed Miles to drive the short distance without pressing any further. “All good here,” his partner replied when Fike radioed back.

Miles’s voice had stopped working. He wasn’t sure any of him was working any more.

#miles spider socorro #miles quaritch #recom quaritch #spider socorro #avatar 2 #avatar the way of water #atwow #avatar modern au #lyle wainfleet #my stuff: survivor #bonus scene #quaritch pov

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allieebobo · 1 year

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Eid Mubarak :)

I'm so sorry this is a little late, but Eid Mubarak to everyone who celebrates! (And Selamat Hari Raya to folks who come from where I come from! <3)

Here's a little snippet of Rayyan and MC back home, celebrating :)

Part I.

Rayyan's family have just gotten back from their neighbourhood mosque, and now they're busy with the finishing touches to the meal preparations.

Little Mahaila is still a little too young to help out, but she doesn't wanted to miss out on all the fun, so Rayyan hoists her up to the kitchen counter, and Mahaila keeps up a constant stream of chatter directed at MC, while Rayyan and their mother busy themselves with the cooking.

Already the counter is laden with huge colorful dishes, and the smell is to die for. Mahaila's pointing out each of the dishes to MC one-by-one, and Rayyan and their mother occasionally chime in with details and little family anecdotes and recipe instructions.

There's Mahshi—stuffed peppers with tomato sauce, her grandparents' favorite, Batatis bil frakh—potatoes with chicken, her dad's favorite, and Mesaka’a—oven roasted eggplant with ground beef, which is Rayyan's favorite. Rayyan no longer quite remembers how it had tasted, back in Cairo, but ever since they'd moved to Seattle, the dish has become a family specialty, mostly because all the ingredients can be easily found in the grocery shops in Seattle.

Part II.

Rayyan's mother holds a spoon out to Rayyan. "Come, help me taste the Molokhia," she says. "Does it need more cilantro?"

Rayyan takes a big mouthful of the thick green soup which always tastes a little too healthy, in their opinion. They scrunch up their face, swallow, and nod—a little weakly.

Their mother smacks them on the arm and snorts. "I don't know why I bother," she says, shaking her head and bustles over to offer it to MC instead.

The shock of the taste makes MC blink, then breathe out softly, before allowing it to swirl around their tongue, delightfully distinct from anything they've ever tasted. They detect chicken broth, which forms the strong, comforting base, then the delicate and familiar layers of cilantro, garlic, salt and pepper, but there's another taste—strong and clean—cutting through everything else. "Wow," they breathe, genuinely astounded. "It's amazing. What is it?"

Rayyan's mother beams at MC. "I think what you are tasting is the leaf of jute tree. I am happy you like it. It is my favorite too." She nudges Rayyan in the ribs. "We have good taste. Unlike this one."

Rayyan makes a face at you. "Suck up," they whisper, for your ears only, but even their usual knitted brows can't hide the big grin that's spreading across their face.

Part III.

A loud clatter interrupts your conversation, and Rayyan looks up in alarm, still swiping at their mouth with an arm. Ishaq, one of Rayyan's twin brothers, pauses guiltily mid-stride, about halfway to the kitchen door. You hadn't noticed him come in. In his hands, there's a big bowl of kahk—nut cookies dusted with sugar. A bunch of cutlery lie on the floor, knocked over in his rush to escape with the loot.

Mahaila, beaming, lips also stained with the evidence of powdered sugar, helpfully points a finger at her brother.

"You already ate like five of them," Rayyan's mother scolds, taking the plate from Ishaq and placing it firmly on the table. "Shoo now! Before I ban you from kahk for life!"

His jaw drops, and he quickly scurries away obediently.

Rayyan snorts at you, and sees you eyeing the cookies curiously. They pick one out of the plate, then close the distance between you, smiling. "Would you like one?" they ask, voice dipping low as they lean in closer to you.

Part IV.

MC's heart flutters, and they hop off the counter, face now inches from Rayyan's. "If it's as sweet as you are," MC says, grinning, "then yes."

Rayyan bring a hand up, then pop the sweet treat into MC's mouth, studying their expression closely.

There's an immediate burst of rich, nutty sweetness. MC lets out a soft groan of appreciation.

Rayyan laughs, then brings their thumb up to wipe the sugar from MC's bottom lip, green eyes sparkling. MC catches their hand. That's when Rayyan leans in for a quick kiss, tasting the sweetness of soft sugar on MC's lips. When they finally step back, there's an infuriatingly smug smile on their face. "The cookies are good this year, aren't they? I helped make them."

#CT:OS #college tennis: origin story #interactive fiction #rayyan #bonus scene #eid al fitr #eid mubarak everyone

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thelastarchangelaskblog · 4 months

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Seventh Year: Reconciliations Bonus Scene 7

Oh, I finally did Gabriel's POV of the thing! The thing! That scene where the breakdown happened.

Love to hear your thoughts! :)

Bonus Scene 1

Bonus Scene 2

Bonus Scene 3

Bonus Scene 4

Bonus Scene 5

Bonus Scene 6

Bonus Scene 8

When Raphael returned sans Michael and in too little time for anything to have happened, Gabriel was simultaneously disappointed and also resigned. Of course.

“Well?” Draco demanded. It felt rude calling him by his last name after everything. “What happened?”

Raphael looked and felt a little discomfited. “He says he would like time.” She glanced at Gabriel.

“We’ve been giving him time. It’s not been doing anything,” Gabriel pointed out.

“Not long enough,” Raphael disagreed. “We had so much time, Gabriel. Time he hasn’t had.”

On the surface level…sure. He could see that. He glanced at Samael. Ne looked unconvinced.

To the side, Draco and Luna seemed like they were about to gear up to protest.

“What exactly did he say, Raphael?” Gabriel asked. “Wasn’t it you who told us he’s masking?”

“Yes, but I understand that. I went through it myself. He and I – we’re very similar.” On noticing Gabriel still expected the details, Raphael sighed, obliging him. “He said there’s no issue. Pointed out we’re very similar and that he needs time. The same time I needed. He was…reassuring.”

There was a dry laugh from Draco. He rubbed a hand over his face.

“He asked that we trust him,” Raphael continued speaking. “Trust that he knows what he’s doing.”

Gabriel let out a hiss through his teeth, scrubbing a hand over his face. He’d spent some time with Michael here now. Time trying to get him to relax and come out of his shell. Just…anything other than the damn blankness that they were dealing with.

Their own conversation had gone so well, though even then Gabriel knew he was hiding something. Whatever Michael had shown him was true enough but it wasn’t the entire truth. It couldn’t be. Not when it felt so different from his other siblings.

There’d been a glimpse of it with Samael during that disastrous conversation after his friends came here. A glimpse of something Gabriel hadn’t seen since. That exhaustion and that all-too-familiar self-blame. It was a game Gabriel was intimately familiar with.

Gabriel rolled his shoulders, then turned towards Raphael. He tucked himself in, then reached out reassuringly, warmly. “Like this, sister?”

Raphael startled, giving him a wide-eyed look. Samael didn’t look that surprised, more resigned.

“It’s going to be okay, right?” Gabriel said, smiling, keeping his tone gentle, fitting the energy of his Grace. “Hey, I got it handled.” He laughed, giving a quicksilver grin, and shifted once more, bringing out boldness. “It’s all good, yeah? There’s nothing I can’t handle.”

“Gabriel—”

And he shifted once more, throwing aside the nervousness of what he was about to do. Tony sharpened his grin. “I got this.”

“This might make things worse,” Raphael cautioned.

Tony glanced at Draco and Luna, both of whom looked faintly bewildered. He gave them a reassuring smile. “Things are already fucked, Raphael. Besides, fixing things is what I do.”

He didn’t wait for a response, taking off to where Michael was. He found him standing in the forest, looking up at the sky and very carefully not feeling. Yeah, no. He landed right by Michael, taking hold of his shoulder. “So! That’s enough of that.”

Michael jolted, startled, even though there was nothing in his Grace. He was satisfyingly wide-eyed, though. He tried to twist away, but Tony held onto him tightly. “Gabriel—”

“If the next words coming out of your mouth are ‘I’m fine’ I will set your pants on fire.”

Michael narrowed his eyes, seeming to consider how serious Tony was. “I wasn’t going to.”

Tony had felt the incoming “I’m fine” coming a mile away. It was ridiculous. “And I’m the king of Asgard. Seriously. Michael.”

“What?”

“Don’t be obtuse.” It was like Samael all over again. Just…less moody. Or at least less moody in the open. “Sure, you can take all the time you want, but I don’t see how that’s actually going to help you when you keep flagellating yourself.”

“I’m not—”

“You are. You think I can’t recognize it?” It wasn’t quite the same, but Tony knew what it was like. Of not being good enough, of not being enough. Of needing to leave because no one would ever listen to him and it was all broken anyway. He gave Michael a pained smile. For this to work, he was going to need to share a little. So Michael knew he wasn’t in this alone – that he wasn’t being judged or pitied. “Take it from someone who did a deep dive into identity politics because I couldn’t stand being me.”

There was no response from Michael. He was just staring at Tony, wide-eyed and still so damn blank.

“I’m not going to tell you how I did it,” Tony said, “trade secrets being what they are and all, but it happened. I get it, Michael. I also know that all the time in the world did jack shit with helping me out.” Being Loki hadn’t helped. Being the Trickster hadn’t helped. It had just shoved it down further and further – how he ran from being him. Ran from his responsibilities.

Michael huffed, something like irritation flickering across his features. “And you’re going to tell me what did?”

Tony was hit with a sudden rush of nostalgia for teenage Sam. Down to the irritated little scrunch between the eyebrows. He shrugged. “Talking did. My friends did. My family. It still took time, but it wasn’t quite so painful with company.” He didn’t look away from Michael’s eyes. “You’re not as fine as you’re telling us you are, and you’re not as fine as you think you are.”

There was a flicker there. Something like fear in Michael’s Grace, but it disappeared so quickly Tony almost missed it. But his face did something else, flinching back.

“Don’t give me that look,” Tony said, aware he was pushing but this needed to happen. “I’m just saying. Anyone who went through even half of what you did would be a mess, and you’re claiming you’re just fine? Can handle it on your own?”

Michael looked away, though it seemed to take an effort. He was as stiff as iron under Tony’s grip, trying to move but Tony wasn’t having it. Not now. If he ran now, this wasn’t going to work. Tony was done with this entire affair; he’d had it.

But it seemed like a little of it had gone through. Maybe. He still wasn’t getting anything concrete off Michael beyond the very clear air of do not want to be here.

It seemed fitting that Michael’s vessel was that of a teenager. He certainly behaved like one at times.

Even if he wasn’t one, and Tony knew why Michael was behaving like this, even if it was frustrating. He sighed. “You probably can manage it,” he acknowledged. “Muddle your way through it. It’s what you’ve done all this time, isn’t it? Alone. I’m going to say it again, and this time maybe it’ll sink through your thick skull. We’re here for you.”

“You shouldn’t have to be,” Michael said immediately.

He hadn’t expected the quick answer, not when Michael had seemed to shut down. But this seemed to be something he could use. “There’s no should about it. There’s no ‘should’ about any of this. We are.”

Michael dropped his eyes to the grass.

“What should you do?” Tony asked after a moment, since the “should” seemed to be a sticking point. If Michael thought they shouldn’t help him, then there had to be something Michael thought he should do. He’d mentioned it before back during the argument with Samael.

There was a startled, almost suspicious side-eye from Michael. He seemed to be gauging Tony’s sincerity. Considering Tony was being 100%, bona fide sincere here, Michael wasn’t going to get anything else.

After a long moment of this, Michael slowly responded. “I should protect you.” He paused, then added, “I should have protected you.”

“Okay,” Tony agreed easily. This was expected. Michael had mentioned this before. “What else?”

There was another suspicious side-eye here, like Tony was leading Michael into a trick. “I should be fine.”

Oh, this was new. This was something different. “Ah, acknowledging you’re not?”

“I am—”

“Pants. On. Fire.”

Michael thankfully did not continue that statement, which would have been a blatant lie to anyone who knew him. He also clammed up, no longer looking at Tony and instead staring off into the distance.

But it was a relief that Michael had the awareness that he wasn’t fine, even if he kept insisting he was. And maybe on some level he was really fine, but on so many other levels he wasn’t. That was the issue and that was what Tony was trying to finagle here. “There’s something else as well, isn’t there?” he asked, gentling his tone.

Predictably, there was no response. Tony waited several minutes, counting it down, before realizing Michael had said what he was going to. If there was going to be anything else, Tony would have to push a little more. He’d have to give just a bit more. “Is it… ‘I should be better than this’?”

That did get a reaction, Michael immediately looking up at him.

Tony smiled ruefully. “I’ve thought that, too,” he admitted. “There’s a lot of things I should have done differently. A lot of things I failed at because I wasn’t good enough.” He rubbed the side of his neck with his free hand, shrugging loosely. “You’re not the only one to think that, Michael. Not the first and not the last.”

“Isn’t it different?” Michael asked.

Tony didn’t ask what Michael meant by what should be different. Michael’s intention was clear in their link. They may have been angels, may have been other, but that didn’t mean they were infallible. But he didn’t want to just answer him; he wanted Michael to have his own answer. “Who says it is? Who says you should be fine or better?”

Michael tilted his head, something distant crossing his expression for a moment before he looked back at Tony. “Isn’t it expected?” He gestured vaguely between them.

Tony raised an eyebrow. “Expected? Bro, since when have I ever done what was expected of me?”

Tony didn’t need to read minds to know that Michael was thinking of answers and coming up with nothing.

“So why can’t you do the same?” Tony pressed. “Because you’re the obedient child? How well has that worked out for you?”

There was no response from Michael, but the non-answer was as good as one for him.

Tony nodded, adding, “It hasn’t worked out for any of us. So throw away ‘should,’ Michael. There’s no ‘should’ in free will. Which is a thing we have. I know I mentioned this to you before.”

“And what of our duties, Gabriel? Like it or not, there are things we can’t lightly abandon even with free will.”

Of course it came back to that. It usually did, though this was a question Gabriel had to deal with before. He nodded, then shrugged. “Yeah, sure. But we’ve got all the flexibility in figuring out how we can do those duties. I can do my job just fine here; no reason for me to go back to Heaven to stay. So there’s no reason for you to do whatever you’re doing because you think you should.”

It looked like there was a question on the tip of Michael’s tongue, but what he ended up saying instead was “I don’t know.” He turned away again.

“That’s okay,” Tony said quietly. “You don’t have to. I didn’t either. The only reason I do now is because I’ve been doing this a lot longer.”

A muscle twitched in Michael’s jaw, just about the only sign of frustration Tony could pick up from him. “You’ve had all the time in the world,” he said, no sign of that frustration in his voice. “You don’t seem quite so willing to extend me the same.” It was a very reasonable tone. One which he’d probably used on Raphael.

It would probably have worked on Gabriel before, too, but he had the experience to not believe that tone now.

Tony shot him a sharp look, poking his neck with a finger. “Oh, I know that tone. That’s the whole ‘I’m being very reasonable right now and you better listen to me’ tone.”

“I don’t – I don’t have that tone.”

“You do. It’s also the ‘I’m your big sibling and know better so trust me’ tone.”

There was a frown now, Michael’s lips twisting.

“Unfortunately for you,” Gabriel continued, “that tone stopped working on me a long time ago.”

“Did it.” Michael’s tone was bone dry.

“Oh, it did. You see, I like to be contrary. Tell me one thing, and I’ll do the opposite.”

There was a beat before Michael actually said, “Then don’t go away and don’t give me time.”

It took Gabriel several seconds to actually comprehend that Michael had really just said that, like a petulant child, before he burst into laughter. “Ha! Nice try there, buddy.” He leaned an elbow on Michael’s shoulder, pressing him down slightly. He poked Michael’s cheek. “I raised four kids and took care of multiple others. You’ve got nothing on me in terms of pulling the wool over my eyes.”

There was a rueful smile from Michael here, the smallest quirk of his lips, before it disappeared. He didn’t otherwise react.

Tony refocused, breathing slowly. “My point is,” he said firmly, “that might work on Raphael, but it sure as hell won’t work on me. I mean, sure, we can leave you on your own. Give you all the time you’re asking for and more. But what’s that going to do? Leave you to stew in your thoughts?”

“It worked before,” Michael muttered, still sounding like a petulant child.

Tony had to do his level best not to pinch Michael’s cheek, settling for slinging his arm around Michael’s shoulders and poking his cheek. Not pinching. Poking. The goal wasn’t to piss him off. Ideally he’d do this without holding onto him, but he had the strong suspicion that if he let go Michael would just up and flee and having a conversation like this while running didn’t really work. “That’s the problem, isn’t it? Before sucked. Before left you alone. Before led to this mess. There are a lot of things we’re doing now, and we’re doing our best not to repeat our past mistakes.”

Michael shot him a glance before turning away. He didn’t say anything, just drawing in a slow breath. He was still, annoyingly, blank. There was nothing Tony could pick up from him.

“Hey.” Tony tugged him in closer, nagging him. “Talk to me.”

There was just a head shake.

“You were doing well before. What happened?”

Michael didn’t even shake his head, eyes fixed on the grass. It wasn’t even that he was looking at something else off in the distance; his gaze was intent. He was also ignoring Tony to the best of his ability.

Again, Tony was hit with the image of a young Sam, downcast and stubborn and terrified of being rejected. None of his other kids had ever had those moments, except for the gods, but even they’d felt comfortable talking to him.

But he’d gotten through to Sam. He could do the same with Michael.

“Michael.” He tapped Michael’s cheek, repeatedly, until he definitely had Michael’s attention. “I can be very annoying. I can be so annoying. You’re not getting out of this.”

There was an instant of stillness before Michael broke, a frisson of anger sparking through his Grace. He spun on his heel, throwing Tony’s arm off with a burst of unexpected strength. “What’s the point?”

There was a moment of almost-panic before Tony got hold of it. He was very used to pissing off people. Michael could join the ranks. “What’s the point?”

“Yes, Gabriel. What’s the point of this? What exactly is this supposed to do?”

Michael wasn’t going to hurt him. He wasn’t. Tony refocused on Michael, on what he was here to do. “The point is to get it through that you’re not alone and you don’t have to deal with things by yourself. You don’t have to bottle it up. You don’t have to hide.”

“I’m not—”

“You are. Think I can’t see it? Think I haven’t seen it on others? I don’t know what you’re hiding there, but I know it’s not anything pleasant. I know that it’s not something you should deal with alone.”

“There’s no should in free will,” Michael said, irritating the fuck out of Tony and eerily sounding exactly like a mulish teenage Sam.

Tony winced, groaning, rubbing a hand over his face. “Of course that’s what you take away from this,” he muttered into his hand. He dragged in a long breath, doing his best to quell the frustration, the grief, because that wasn’t going to be helpful here. They were back to “should.” Fine. He could use that. “Who says you should deal with it alone, Michael?”

There was no verbal response, but Michael’s Grace flickered. It wasn’t steady. Michael’s jaw clenched, and he took in a breath that seemed to steady his Grace.

Tony stepped in closer, only for Michael to take a step back. Tony didn’t take another step but instead leaned in. He wasn’t going to let this go. “Who, Michael?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Michael’s tone was flat.

“Spell it out to me like I’m five.”

Michael’s frown was confused now. “You’re not five.”

Fine, he’d give Michael that. “Irrelevant. Pretend I’m a human kid and need small words.”

Michael swallowed, pulling in another breath that steadied the tell-tale flickering of his Grace.

“No.” Tony just restrained himself from reaching out, thinking that it might actually break something. “No. You’re not hiding.”

“You don’t need to see this,” Michael ground out. “None of you do. This isn’t your responsibility. It’s not your responsibility to deal with my mess.” His Grace flickered but it wasn’t enough for Tony to pick up what Michael was hiding.

They were back to responsibility. Something else Michael had brought up to Samael. “Then this isn’t something dear old Dad told you to do, is it?” he asked softly.

“He told me to protect you,” Michael said. “He told me to protect all of you. You know how well I succeeded with that.”

“And this is protecting us?” Tony gestured to all of Michael.

“My mess is my own. It’s not yours to take on.”

“Then whose is it?” Tony waved around wildly at the trees around them. “Samael? You can’t even stay in the same room as nem. Raphael? You sent her away. Gadreel? Balthazar? Castiel? You can’t even look any of our other siblings in the eye. Just who is supposed to help you take this on?”

“No one is,” Michael snapped.

“Because it’s your weight alone?”

“Yes.”

Oh, fuck it. This was going round in circles. This was so incredibly frustrating that Tony felt bad for Michael’s friends for having had to deal with this for years on end. The even more frustrating piece was that despite Tony’s own aggravation at having to deal with Michael stonewalling, he also got it. That was even more ridiculous.

“Do you even hear yourself?” Tony dragged a hand over his face and through his hair. “Ugh, I hear you and I hear myself and I can’t believe no one punched me in the face.” He was sure Rhodey had come close to it at times. Natasha would have just stabbed him. But he couldn’t just leave this. “Michael. I know your friends wouldn’t have let you keep thinking this. They certainly reamed us out for leaving you alone.”

There was a flicker over Michael’s face now, something resignedly fond.

“It’s not a weight you should bear yourself,” Tony said, gentling his tone slightly. “None of this ever should have been. And I know…I know bridges have been burned that may not be rebuilt. I know what I’m asking you to do isn’t easy. I know that.” This wasn’t pain easy to share; this wasn’t a weight one felt comfortable sharing, not when sharing it made one vulnerable. His throat ached, and he winced, rubbing over it briefly. He didn’t meet Michael’s eyes, struggling with this next piece. He had to – had to if this was going to work. For Michael to even feel comfortable sharing with someone he saw as a little brother. “I…I was so ashamed that I had to rely on Gadreel. That because of my weakness, he had to shoulder my pain and figure out what to do.”

A flicker ran through Michael’s Grace, something darkening it. “That wasn’t…that wasn’t your fault.”

Tony smiled weakly. “Maybe not. My choices led me to that position, and I’d do it again. I would.” That scar still ached, partly phantom, partly actual pain. He rubbed over his throat once more before dropping his hand.

“I wouldn’t.” Michael looked slightly startled at the admission.

Tony’s next smile was a little wry. “But you can’t go back. You can’t go back, can’t change what happened, so what’s the point? You – Michael – everything that happened, it wasn’t just you. I made my choices. Samael made nir own. And Raphael made her bed and lay down in it. We all did. What happened wasn’t just on you. It’s not just your weight, and even if it were, let us share it with you.” Tony extended a hand. “Let me share it. No one else is here; no one else is looking. That’s what you’re worried about, isn’t it? The others watching? Judging? They won’t; they can’t. It’s just us. And, Michael, I’m not. I’ve been there. I get it. I really, really do.” He’d tried to make that clear; he didn’t know how much clearer he could make it. “And if I have to keep you here until it gets through your damn head, I will keep you here because it’s gone on long enough.”

There was no response for a long moment, but Michael wasn’t shutting down. He was studying Tony intently, likely once more gauging his sincerity. It was all he was going to find.

Tony didn’t move, keeping his hand outstretched in that figurative and literal offer to help. He just hoped Michael was going to take it because he was almost out of ideas at this point beyond chucking Samael at his head to see if something blew up.

“And if it’s my choice not to?” Michael asked eventually, quiet. “Would you take that from me?”

Oh, that sucked. Tony twisted his mouth, pulling back slightly. Michael’s face was still unreadable, as was his Grace.

This was the awful piece for free will. That while he could disagree with someone else’s choice, that was still their choice to make. Even if it was a fucking stupid one.

Tony considered his options here, what to say that wouldn’t give Michael a clear out. “If you can tell me honestly, openly, that you’re choosing it because you absolutely want to, and not because you think you should. Only then, Michael.”

Michael wouldn’t be able to wiggle out of that quite so easily as with English. It was the last card he had to play here.

And it seemed to make Michael stop, something else flickering over his face and his Grace. He swallowed, his next breath shaky and loud to Tony’s ears.

“Can you?” Tony asked.

Michael seemed mute, staring blankly at him. There was something else about him now, something that was almost difficult to pin down but seemed…heavy. It was an unbearably long moment later when Michael shook his head.

Oh, thank the universe. He relaxed slightly, stepping closer, relieved when Michael stayed in place. “I’m here, sibling.”

“You don’t want to be,” Michael whispered. “I don’t.”

Wasn’t that a familiar sentiment? Not wanting to be stuck in his own skin – his own Grace? But for all they could jump vessels, they couldn’t stop being themselves. Not really. Gabriel gave Michael a wry smile. “No one can make me do anything I don’t want to. You certainly never could, no matter how much you tried. I’m here because I want to be.”

Michael didn’t respond, but Gabriel hadn’t expected one. He also didn’t move, which was another positive. He hadn’t looked away from Gabriel. That heavy sensation was still around him, just…lingering.

“Trust me,” Gabriel said, half-pleading. He extended his hand once more. “Trust me as your equal.” He wasn’t Samael; he wasn’t even Raphael. He had to hope that just being him would be enough.

Michael didn’t take his hand, but something else shifted as he breathed, his attention moving from Gabriel to something else – something inside him.

There was no physical movement, but they didn’t need to move to see each other. And Michael’s Grace – his true form – was motionless, no change but for something that had Gabriel on the edge because he could tell he was trying.

Tension seeped into Michael, his vessel’s shoulders tightening and his breathing quickening.

“Relax,” Gabriel murmured, keeping his tone as calm and gentle as he could. They had time for this. This wasn’t going to happen quickly, not if Michael had kept himself this tightly controlled for so long. “It’s okay. There’s no rush. I’m not going anywhere, I promise. Take your time.”

Michael’s next breath was shaky, sharp grief hitting Gabriel with all the force of a spaceship. It was there for a moment before disappearing, Michael hiding it, but there was panic now, too.

“It’s okay.” Gabriel kept his voice calm, soothing. “I’m here. You can let it out.” He didn’t physically reach out but did send reassurance towards Michael, hoping it would help.

Michael’s flinch was both physical and with his Grace. He reeled back from Gabriel, still panicky, wildly uncontrolled in a way Gabriel had never seen before. And yet, in that brief touch, Gabriel knew it wasn’t something he deserved, it wasn’t okay, why did he need that?

Gabriel stepped in closer, reaching out to try and steady Michael, but Michael took another step back, and this seemed instinctive, like he wasn’t even aware he was doing it.

There was a dull burst of aching pain that hit Gabriel in the chest. He winced, his own Grace aching in sympathetic pain. He couldn’t even fully tell what it was, only there was grief there, before it was gone as Michael clearly attempted to pull it back.

“It’s okay, Michael,” Gabriel murmured, though he wasn’t sure how much Michael was registering or even processing right now. But he could at least make this as reassuring as possible, make sure Michael knew he wasn’t alone. “You’re not alone; I’m here. Let it out; you’re doing great. You’re doing so great.”

He thought he was better prepared this time for reaching out to reassure Michael, but the gut-wrenching grief, loathing, disgust, disappointment that hit him left him almost gasping. And there was more. There was so much more that hadn’t yet come out yet and the grass was browning at Michael’s feet and the earth cracking ominously, the trees shaking and groaning as their bark split.

Asgard was not going to make it if this continued. The only reason Gabriel was still as fine as he was could be attributed to his new position.

Gabriel reached out again, this time to gently take hold of Michael so they could leave Asgard. He met instant resistance (too gentle, too gentle, not for him), Michael flailing and struggling and it was only because Gabriel technically didn’t need to fly anymore that they even made it off Asgard to begin with before he lost his grip and Michael crash-landed on a planet.

Well, he wasn’t about to hurt Michael and with how Michael had struggled, he would have needed to hurt him to restrain him.

Gabriel landed a split-second after Michael did and was hit with blazing anger that felt like a Wolf-Rayet star at its hottest, barely bracing through it before he was choking on acidic and sharp guilt.

It wasn’t anger at others. It was anger at himself, and that was terrifying.

Michael didn’t think he deserved gentleness. He didn’t think he deserved sympathy. He thought he deserved the pain.

And that – that was – no. Fuck it, Gabriel muttered. You’re going to like this and take this.

He reached out again, making sure to keep it as gentle as possible because Michael did deserve that, and this time he held on tightly and didn’t let go. He pulled Michael into him, hugging him physically and wrapping himself around his Grace.

The exhaustion was next, so unbearably heavy and awful that Gabriel really did just feel like lying down and not getting up. He could scarcely find the energy to breathe for air, though that wasn’t altogether bad considering how awful this planet’s air was. It didn’t disappear, magnified by feelings of utter helplessness and hopelessness that he was worthless, wrong, it was all because of him.

The earth around him cracked, but Gabriel wrapped himself around Michael further, making sure it wouldn’t affect the planet. He buffeted the anguished energy from Michael’s Grace, breathing through the slight sparks of pain in his own as the heat scorched him; it was far more bearable than it had been before, and this was manageable.

At least Michael wasn’t pulling away anymore. He was holding Gabriel back tightly, burrowing into his Grace and thankfully no longer rejecting the reassurance. His vessel had also gotten the memo, arms wrapped around Gabriel’s stomach.

The exhaustion still soaked into Gabriel and he had trouble seeing how Michael even had the energy for anything with that always dragging him down. The self-loathing, though… Yeah, that tracked; it was more familiar.

Thankfully that was the last of it. The grief, self-loathing, anger, guilt, disappointment, exhaustion… There wasn’t anything else that came out from behind the discarded mask.

Michael still didn’t seem to entirely have awareness of where he was or who he was with, just clinging and shuddering. It was almost frightening, but Gabriel had asked for this and this was what he wanted. He just stayed still, holding onto him.

A volcano erupted in the distance, the earth rumbling beneath their bodies in a pattern that was solely the planet’s. He was not going to get the stench of sulfur out of his clothing anytime soon unless he cheated.

There was another eruption closer to them and a minor earthquake before Michael jolted back into proper awareness, shuddering and whining in the back of his throat. He was panicking now, Grace writhing against Gabriel’s (too much, too much, hide it).

Hush, Gabriel said quietly, not letting him go. Breathe. It had worked well enough for Michael before. Focus on that.

Michael did breathe, though he struggled and choked on the toxic air of the planet. He didn’t quite seem to have the fine control necessary to breathe and heal the damage to his lungs so clearly gave up and just held his vessel in stasis. He felt vaguely reproachful.

Yeah, that was definitely Gabriel’s bad. Sorry. Not my first choice but you didn’t give me a whole lot of options.

Michael didn’t respond, but Gabriel wasn’t surprised given the level of exhaustion he was still picking up off Michael. But he was so much more open, everything clear for Gabriel to read if he wanted. And like this, pressed close, it wasn’t even an option. It just was.

And the protest from Michael was as clear as day.

Gabriel laughed, then regretted it when the air scraped against his own throat and lungs. Hey, I was all for taking you somewhere else but you ejected early. So…here’s where we’re at.

Michael didn’t physically move but Gabriel could feel him evaluating their surroundings.

He rubbed a hand over Michael’s back, watching the dust wipe off the black fabric of the robes he continued to wear. He did the same with Michael’s Grace, though Michael shrank back from that, radiating shame and guilt.

No, they weren’t going to deal with that. Hey. Look at me. Do you see any pity?

Michael had a similar connection with Gabriel’s Grace given how they were pressed together. He would definitely notice pity, and that was the last thing Gabriel felt for him. There was no pity.

There was a silent negative from Michael, along with a cut off but that Gabriel knew the rest to.

You deserve this, Gabriel said flatly, firm. Get that out of your head. You do.

Michael’s response was to pull back. He didn’t let go of Gabriel, but his Grace withdrew slightly. He seemed to be trying to regain some of the stability he’d shed, though it wasn’t quite working.

Gabriel could feel him shaking where he was lying in his lap. He rubbed over Michael’s back again. You don’t have to hide, he said reassuringly. Not from me. I’ve already seen it all, and I don’t care. Wait, he might take that the wrong way. Well, I do care, but I don’t care that you’re feeling that way. No, shit. No, I do, but not in a way that’s bad. I mean that it’s okay for you to feel that way and I don’t care if you show it. Michael wasn’t laughing but he seemed close to it. Hey, stop laughing!

The sense of laughter didn’t fade, the amusement warm and fond.

It was catching, Gabriel laughing now despite the earlier experience with this planet’s air. Stop it. You know what I mean. There’s no need to hide here. Not from me.

He only knew Michael heard him because of how he no longer attempted to shy away from Gabriel. He just lay there, letting Gabriel hold him.

Which was great. Gabriel didn’t want to disturb him, but this was the wrong sort of planet for something like this. He did let it be for now, until the constant erupting of volcanoes was all he could hear and would likely continue to hear for the foreseeable future. C’mon. Let me take you somewhere better.

It took a while for any kind of answer from Michael, but eventually he had one, and Gabriel shifted them to the planet he’d selected. It was nice and verdant, moist and rich. The sound of water bubbling filled the background, which was nice compared to the last planet.

Gabriel rubbed over Michael’s shoulders. “Try breathing now. Should be decidedly less toxic.”

It took a minute before Michael did start breathing, restarting his body’s biological processes. He otherwise didn’t move, just breathing and existing.

It wasn’t quite so terrifying anymore, seeing Michael like this. It was almost a relief, because this seemed more like Michael than he’d ever been before. And Gabriel wanted him to stay like this, open and not closed off and hurting.

Maybe he could be.

There were a lot of things that seemed possible now.

#first born #the last archangel #my writing #bonus scene #seventh year: reconciliations

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angelleplaytoonbeary · 1 year

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No one can forget this great and hilarious scene, but something occurred to me :0

Many rubbish later...

Anyway enjoy XD 🧸💜

#cartoon #art #mickey mouse #oswald the lucky rabbit #photo edit #the wonderful world of mickey mouse #walt disney #disney brothers #canned #bonus scene

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sarcasmsweetie · 2 years

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Accepting the Bond

“A Better Life” Bonus Scene

Warnings: this is just... the smuttiest smut I have ever smutted. Friends, when I put the “18+” warning in my bio, it was like it was waiting for this moment. oral (f. receiving), pet names, praise kink, breath play... But also soft and lovey-dovey Azriel that makes my heart flutter. Let me know if I missed anything else!

Azriel x Archeron Sister

Word count: 4.5k

Masterlist

“The honor is all yours, Lady Archeron.” I narrowed my eyes at Azriel’s cheeky grin, pulling the key he gifted me a year and a half ago from my pocket. As I had promised him, I began getting things sorted in Winter once we started designing our new home. I couldn’t make it out to the mountains in Night that frequently because of the bakery and working on selling my cottage and any other knickknacks I wouldn’t be bringing with me, so I haven’t seen the space since construction first started 8 months ago. I was here when they first poured the foundation, but haven’t been here since. I was involved in the design of the space, as well as picking out some furnishings, but I have not laid eyes on our home until this moment.

I looked at the large, black door with stained glass inlays depicting a reindeer with Velaris’ mountains between the reindeer’s antlers. Azriel had kept the door that belonged to the key a secret for so long, I felt tears forming at the crossover of our two lives. Sniffling a bit, I said quite seriously, “You know that Fenrir can never see this, right? His ego would get so inflated he’d be able to fly everywhere he wants to go for the rest of his life.” Azriel laughed before placing his arm around my shoulders.

“It’s our little secret, then.” Now that he’s made physical contact with me, I could practically feel him buzzing with excitement (or nerves) at the unveiling of our house. Looking up at him with a smile, I turned the key and opened the door.

The house was two stories with high ceilings that dark wooden support beams kept sturdy. Matching hardwood floors covered the space, and a mix of white drywall and stone walls made up the barriers to the rooms. The back exterior wall was made entirely of glass, opening up to the breathtaking views of the mountains. The living room, dining room, and kitchen were an open concept, and all of the bedrooms lined up against the wall of windows on the second floor so that anyone who slept here would wake up to the sight of the sun rising over the mountains. We also made sure we had both a massive home library/office as well as my own piano room. Every room was designed with space in mind to accommodate any number of Illyrians who may be roaming the halls, but ensuring the space did not mean any sense of homey comfort was diminished.

Walking through our home, I felt the air leave my lungs at finally seeing our little sketches come to life. Azriel stepped up behind me to wrap his arms around my waist and rest his chin on the top of my head. “Welcome home, sweetheart. I hope it’s everything you dreamed of.”

I turned in his arms, wrapping my own around his neck and looked into his bright hazel eyes. “It’s so much more than I could have imagined.” With a smile, he kissed my forehead and my eyes closed at the contact.

“There are some little additions the designer added if you want to walk through and see everything.” I pretended to consider his offer, but instead made a counteroffer.

“We could take the time to do that now, but I do have to admit that I am starving.” His eyes darkened and I didn’t bother hiding my grin. “I think a little visit to the kitchen is first on the list, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Now that you mention it, I could have a bite.” I laughed as he scooped me in his arms and made his way into the kitchen. I was temporarily distracted looking out the massive windows as the sky began to turn gorgeous shades of purple and orange with the sun setting.

“I don’t think I will ever tire of this view.” He followed my gaze and smiled as well.

“I look forward to every sunrise and sunset we’ll share for the rest of our lives.” I gently directed his face to meet mine in a brief kiss, sighing at the feel of being completely surrounded by everything that is Azriel. I pulled away with a smile.

“Time to get cooking, yes?” Like a switch flipping, his gaze turned dark all over again and I laughed. He set me down before he took a seat in one of the stools at the breakfast bar. I took a moment to appreciate this gorgeous, spacious kitchen that is mine for the rest of my days, before diving into tonight’s dinner.

I wanted to make something special for tonight, but something that wouldn’t take hours on end, which would only exhaust me when all was said and done. Wanting to outshine my sisters’ meager soup and crackers, I decided on salmon with asparagus and roasted rosemary potatoes. Wanting the final decision to be kept a secret for as long as possible, I trusted the twins to take care of including everything I’d need for tonight when they stocked the kitchen for us earlier today.

Dicing up the potatoes, I glanced up at Azriel. He had been watching me like a hawk as I moved around the kitchen, already feeling like I’ve spent my life up until this point working in it. “Can I get you anything to drink while I work on dinner?” I watched his throat bob as he swallowed, eyes unblinking as he continued to watch me.

“I’ll get myself some water for now.” I raised an eyebrow, glancing at the fully stocked wine rack. Following my gaze, he shook his head. “I don’t want anything to even minutely dull a single sense tonight.” My eyes widened as I began to feel my heart beat significantly faster than it was before, and I turned my gaze back to what I was doing. I highly doubt accidentally cutting a finger off due to distraction would set the right tone for accepting a bond…

With potatoes diced, I seasoned them and the asparagus, placing them in the oven before pulling the salmon filets from the ice box in order to prepare them. Sharp utensils far out of reach, I risked a glance at Az. “What do you think of the house?”

“I think it’s perfect. Even more so now that we’re both here.”

“Did you spend a lot of time here while it was being built?” Az smiled, looking down into his water glass.

“I suppose you could say that. Someone needed to get up into the high ceilings, after all, to paint and install the support beams.” I gaped at him.

“Wait, you actually helped with construction?” Az shrugged, trying to act as if it wasn’t a big deal, but the blush across his cheeks said otherwise. “How much time did you spend here?”

“Every day.” He looked up at me from beneath his eyelashes, and I felt the air leave my lungs. This strong, beautiful male sitting in front of me is so incredibly perfect. “Because of work, some days were simply just passing through to see how everyone was doing. But I otherwise spent the majority of my time here, making sure everything was perfect, not a plank of wood or stone out of place.”

I bit my lip as I turned to place the salmon in the oven along with the vegetables, tapping my fingers on the counter. “Cook faster, cook faster…” I continued muttering under my breath. I heard him laugh, but paid him no mind. I need this bond to be accepted pronto because the confessions from this male are doing things to me, and I don’t think I can wait if he keeps it up.

Opening the oven door, I found the potatoes and asparagus were ready, but that the salmon needed a couple of more minutes. Taking the two dishes out, I took the time to plate them while waiting for the salmon to finish. Once everything was ready, I took a deep breath and turned to Azriel. He was back to watching me like a hawk as I approached him, setting the plate down in front of him. “I hope you enjoy.”

He continued watching, waiting as I took the first bite of a potato before diving straight into the salmon. Neither of us broke eye contact as we continued eating in silence. I wasn’t sure if what I was feeling was anticipation for what follows the meal, or if this was the bond settling in place. Either way, it was an almost pleasant pressure in my chest, nearly making me lightheaded. He was eating much quicker than me, and I felt myself become a little bit more breathless the closer he got to clearing his plate.

The moment he swallowed his last bite, I dropped my fork and moved around the counter. He remained seated, but pushed his stool back. I think he anticipated that I would step between his legs, but not wanting any more distance between us, I straddled him, weaving my fingers through the ends of his hair behind his neck. He shuddered at the sensation, eyes closing slightly before shooting back open when I tugged the hair gently.

“I’ve cooked you a meal, I served it to you, and you ate every crumb. What’s next in accepting this bond of ours?” His hands gripped my waist, tugging me against a hardness growing in his pants. I bit back a groan at the thought and he grinned.

“Now? I take you on every surface of this house.” I gasped before his lips crashed against my own. Feeling a frenzy take over, I tightened my grip in his hair in order to pull myself even closer to him. He groaned as I ground against him, feeling like I already lost complete control over my actions and senses. I felt his shadows slide along my body before the weightlessness of winnowing startled me.

When I opened my eyes, we were in our new bedroom. I was still straddling him as he sat on the edge of a ginormous bed. I felt his hands tighten, and I pulled back. “Wait.” He tensed, even holding his own breath, as if I wanted to put a stop to everything. In an attempt to calm him down, I traced my hand along his cheek. “It’s my turn to offer a gift to you.” His brows furrowed in confusion.

“Y/N, you’ve already given me the greatest gift – “ I raised a hand to stop him. My other hand pulled a scrap of black lace from my pocket, and I tied it around my neck. The hazel in his eyes was completely gone as he watched me. Once it was secure, I raised both hands above my head.

“Would you like to unwrap your present?” I internally cringed, wishing I thought of something more clever, but clearly the action meant more than the words if his grin was anything go by. He quickly removed my sweater, showcasing the majority of the black and cobalt lacy teddy lingerie I wore beneath my clothes, the black lace matching that of the choker I just tied on while the cobalt matched his siphons. He growled from deep within his chest, flipping me onto the bed so he could quickly remove my pants.

Standing at the edge of the bed, he silently looked me over, noting every dip and curve of my body. Before I could begin to feel self-conscious given how long he stared at me, shadows began trailing up my body, starting at my ankles and moving upwards. I shivered at the sensation before realizing some of the shadows remained at my ankles, and the rest moved up to my wrists. Spreading my legs and pinning my hands above my head, I began panting as I watched him slowly sink to his knees. Ever so gently, his fingers traced shapes along my thighs, causing my muscles to tense at the feeling. He began kissing a trail from the inside of my knee upwards and I gasped at the feeling of him sinking his teeth into my upper thigh.

“So beautiful. So unbelievably beautiful.” He recreated the path he took on one leg on the other, ending by sinking his teeth into my other thigh and I moaned. With his mouth still attached to my leg, I felt him smirk. “Did you like that, bunny?” His teeth grazed my skin, causing a smaller moan to escape. “Do you like knowing that I’m marking you, making it clear to every other male in existence that you are mine and mine alone?” I closed my eyes at his words, my panting growing. The shadows tightened their grip on me, causing me to look down at him between my thighs. He had an eyebrow raised. “I asked you a question, bunny.” I moaned at his tone, getting the sense that I won’t survive a night with him, but finding I didn’t really care.

“I love knowing that when the world looks at me, all they’ll see is proof that I belong to you.” When did my voice get so breathy? He groaned at my response, placing gentle kisses around the marks he’s left.

“Will you be a good girl and let me finish opening the rest of my present?” His nose gently grazed where I needed him most, and I clenched around nothing.

“Please,” I gasped as his nose continuously brushed over my clit. “Please unwrap the rest of your gift. It’s just for you, only you.” His hands moved from my thighs to my waist, gently grazing over the lace. I bit my lip as his hands continued to wander.

“Eyes on me, sweetheart.” As I met his gaze, his hands made quick work of tearing the fabric apart. I arched my back against the sensation, and he groaned at my newly unveiled skin. He quickly put his mouth on my hips, alternating between kisses and nibbles as he removed the remaining fabric from my body. “So. Fucking. Beautiful,” he murmured between kisses. He moved from one hip bone to the other, lips gently trailing against my lower stomach at the movement, and I tensed as his chin grazed the top of my mound in the process.

I began squirming under his teasing mouth. I pushed against the restraining shadows, wanting nothing more than to guide his head where I so desperately need him. “Please, Az. I promise you can tease me another time, I swear it, but I need you – “ I was cutoff by a gasp as his tongue swiped up along my slit, circling my clit ever so gently. “Thank you, thank you, thank you…” I raised my hips as high as they could go out of instinct, and his hands pushed them back down and kept a hold on them to pin me further into place.

“Such good manners, bunny. And you best believe I’m going to take you up on that promise later.” Before I could respond, he pressed forward to continue licking up my folds, groaning at the taste. All teasing was gone as he licked, sucked, and flicked around my cunt like I was the offered meal and not his earlier dinner. I felt myself beginning to clench and as if he felt it as well, he pushed one finger inside me, and I let out a low string of moans at the sensation. I continued to try to buck my hips against him, wanting him to somehow be even closer to me. He added a second finger, stretching me more than my own fingers ever could and I cried out. With each pulse of his finger and each flick of his tongue, I felt myself coming closer and closer to a release, and I just knew it would be one to break me.

“Az, please, I’m so close,” I whispered. He let the shadows around my wrists go, and my hands immediately found purchase in his hair. I pulled onto his hair and his groans caused enough vibrations to finally push me over the edge. My legs tried to close around his head, and I instead used my hands to hold him against me as I screamed out his name. I felt like I could float away, but his small kitten licks to my clit jolted me back into the moment. I tried to push him away, but only managed to redirect him back to my thighs, where he continued to kiss and nibble the skin while I continued to come back down to earth.

I glanced down to see he was watching me, cheeks flushed as he spread some of my wetness across my thighs with his kisses. “You are absolutely divine, Y/N. Everything I’ve ever dreamed of? You shattered them by being infinitely better. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you.” Remembering how he seems to like it when I pull his hair, I tugged it slightly and smirked when a groan escaped his lips.

“Good thing I’m here for the taking, Shadowsinger.” I watched his eyes flare, and the shadows quickly came back to pin my arms back to where they were before. He stood and stepped back, looking over me with a glint in his eye. With a nod of his head, a small shadow broke away from the large one holding an arm in place, and moved to rubbing ghostly circles over my clit. I gasped, arching my back in surprise, and trying to keep my eyes open on my devilish mate.

“Cauldron, you’re so perfect. Knowing to keep your eyes open without me needing to ask again. Such a good bunny.” I moaned at his words paired with the shadow toying with me. Almost as if in reward, he began stripping himself of his own clothes, quickly removing his shirt and undoing the laces on his trousers. He had been in casual clothes today, no need for Illyrian leathers, so the removal of his clothes was swift.

My gaze darkened as I looked over his strong frame, feeling an intense urge to kiss every scar that littered his body, but feeling an ever stronger urge to wrap my lips around his lengthy cock. As if reading my thoughts, I watched him twitch and I groaned at the thought of it laying heavy on my tongue. I licked my lips, bringing my gaze back to his face. He walked towards me slowly, almost as if a predator. “Never stop looking at me like that, bunny.”

“Like what?” He pressed a knee on the bed beside me.

“Like you want to completely devour me.” He moved me higher up on the bed so that my legs weren’t dangling over the side of it, and the shadows locked my limbs back in place. I whimpered as his fingers traced the upper part of my body, every part of me he has yet to explore. While he briefly teased the sides of my torso, his hands quickly moved to my breasts, where he flicked, pinched and soothed my nipples. I cried out in pleasure, only being quieted when his own mouth slotted over mine. I tasted myself on his lips, and my hips jerked in response.

As his tongue explored my mouth, he placed a knee between my legs, and I immediately began rutting against him. He chuckled, though that turned into a groan when I bit his lower lip. He moved his lips along my jaw and neck, biting and marking every bit of available skin as if he were trying to brand me with his own version of a choker necklace. He flexed his thigh against my rutting and I cried out his name.

“Please, Az. I need you.” He looked into my eyes before releasing all of the shadows holding me down. I immediately wrapped my legs around his waist, trying to bring him closer to me while I let my fingers trace the muscles of his arms that were holding him above me. “I need my mate inside of me.” He kissed me again, almost frenzied, as he moved my legs up to push them between our chests. I shivered as I felt him line himself up with my entrance, and we both groaned at the feeling of him slowly sinking into me.

Each time I tightened around him, he groaned into my neck, tightening his hold along my thighs. I was certain I’d have Azriel-shaped handprints there in the morning, and I clenched at the thought. “Y/N, you’re killing me here. Cauldron, you’re so tight, you’re so perfect. Let me fill you up, yeah? Please?” I moved my hands to his hips and pulled him the rest of the way in. He bit into the junction of my neck and shoulder as he adjusted and I continued clenching around him at the sensation of him finally being inside me.

“So full. Gods, you make me so full Az.” He pulled back from my neck to look at me. He kept one hand braced by my head, but his other pulled back to trace the patterns of the lace of the necklace.

“You’ll let me know if anything is too much, right?” I nodded, not fully processing what he was saying as his hips began making small circular movements while he was still fully seated inside me. “That’s my good girl.” Next thing I know, his hand circles around my throat, gently tightening around it. He didn’t completely cutoff my airway, but it was just tight enough to prove he’s in control of how much air I get and when. He began thrusting his hips in time with tightening his hand, and almost immediately, my eyes rolled to the back of my head at the sensation.

I moved my hands to his back, nails scratching at the skin just beneath his wings while he rocked into me. His grip at my neck tightened slightly when I brushed the base of his wings, but loosened his grip completely as I continued to stroke the sensitive joint. He groaned as he dropped his head into the crook of my neck, slamming harder into me with each pass of my finger along his wings. “Fuck, don’t stop doing that.” Almost as if he wants me to understand what he’s feeling, he moved the hand that was around my neck to my clit, mimicking my same movements along his wings. I cried out and arched my back, tightening around him as his actions immediately brought on another climax. “Yes, Y/N, fuck you’re taking me so well, such a good girl,” he continued to mutter into my ear, and his words only encouraged my orgasm to either extend into one long one, or caused me to dive straight into another.

Tears started to form at the intensity of everything I was feeling, and as he reached his own climax, I truly felt the bond in my chest. Open to everything we were feeling, I felt his pleasure, gratitude, love, and so much more for me as he groaned, indicating he was feeling what I was in the moment.

Not wanting to collapse on top of me, I felt him bring his wings in before rolling us so that I laid on top of him. I rested my head on his chest, hearing and feeling his beating heart, as we each took a moment to catch our breath. He was still inside me, and the feeling made me twitch a little, causing him to groan and tighten his grip on my hips, almost as if in warning. I giggled at his reaction, choosing to gently kiss every bit of his chest I could reach while lying here. His arms wrapped around my waist completely like a hug, and I lifted my head so I could look at him. Resting my chin on my stacked hands, I smiled at him.

“Hi.” He smiled back, his skin still flushed and eyes half-lidded. If I had Feyre’s ability to paint, I would paint this moment in a heartbeat, never wanting to forget the look of utter happiness and calm on his features.

“Hello there.” I moved one of my hands to trace his face, and he turned his head slightly to kiss my palm. That small little action had my heart beating all over again, and if sensing it, he sent me a wolfish grin. I laughed fully at him, and he joined in with a chuckle. I leaned forward to softly claim his lips with my own, smiles still in place for both of us.

“You’re incredible.”

“I love you.”

We spoke at the same time, but he pulled back, eyes wide as he looked over me. I kept my small smile in place, knowing he’s trying to look for any semblance of doubt or uncertainty. I felt an odd tugging sensation in my chest, and realized it was coming from him, as if he were sorting through what I was feeling, so I pushed every bit of love and adoration I felt for him down the bond and I swear the male stopped breathing.

“Say it again.”

“I love you.”

“Again.” My smile brightened, matching his own.

“I love you, Azriel.” His hands grabbed my face in order to pull me into a breathtaking kiss, where we continued to smile brightly, essentially making the kiss incredibly messy and almost certainly incredibly difficult.

“I love you. So much, Y/N. You’re my everything, my equal, my mate. My beautiful, wonderful mate who I will love and devote my entire being to for all of eternity.” To hide the fact that the bastard started to make me cry, I leaned forward to capture his lips in another kiss. Feeling his love paired with my own through the bond was almost overwhelming, until I began to feel a trickle of his lust feed down the bond. In response, I squeezed his still-hard cock that was still inside me, and he groaned. He planted his feet into the mattress, and I sat up to look over the most gorgeous male that I still cannot believe is mine for all time.

Once I was seated, he gave a quick thrust up into me. I placed my hands onto his shoulders for balance as he looked up to me with a wicked gleam in his eyes. “Oh, bunny. I hope you’re ready for a long night.”

I began to move hips over him in small figure eight motions and he jerked up. “I believe I was promised to be fucked on every surface of this house, no?” He sat up as well, wings flaring out and I grinned at the sight.

“What my mate wants…” he trailed off so that he could continue nibbling along the marks he’s already made on my neck.

“My mate gets,” I finished for him. I laughed as I felt him winnow us somewhere else in the house, not even knowing where we’d end up, but finding that so long as I had him, I didn’t care.

#azriel x reader #azriel smut #acotar #acotar smut #bri's writing #a better life #bonus scene

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stiles-o-dylan24 · 19 days

Note

NOT YOU JUST CASUALLY DROPPING NEW STADDY CONTENT ON A RANDOM FUCKING TUESDAY

#it’s always been you #iaby #bonus scene #Staddy #sweet nonnie words #answered #anon

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askstevella · 4 months

Text

See you again event bonus scene / Earth 65

—-

A couple of hours after Steve return home with Thiego, he gave himself some time to breathe. To let Thiego hang out with his little sister, as you can hear some laughter, a light sense of sobbing and chatter coming from down the hallway. Hell he could hear Natasha and the girls rolling into a little conversation with his wife, Liane even mentioned she is gonna paint her nails a pretty teal color.

Yes it sounds horrible to some that he didn’t see his own wife right away the moment he returned but he wanted to freshen up properly before he did. Which meant he took a quick trip to the flower shop downtown and the farmers market, then came home to have a nice little shower. As he showered, all he could think about was the memories that the other version of Stella placed to the forefront of his mind as he smiled softly at the mere thought. He forgot about the tiny yet memorable moments he shared with his wife.

The day they met in 2010 to him asking her out on a date as she gladly said yes, to their soft dating period where he kept that secret time away from the team. He didn’t bother to tell his teammates about dating the SHIELD nurse yet for 2 years, it never came up until 2012 when the battle of New York came Natasha noticed how he kept his gaze every once in a while on a few agents and nurses on the Helicarrier. She smirked but didn’t say a word until after the battle was over and jokingly teased Steve, along with Tony and Bruce about who it was that he liked.

He was even shown his period from 2013–2015, where SHIELD and The Avengers members worked alongside one another to do good. His time in Washington DC for 2 years living with her as Stella and his friend down the hallway who pretended to be a nurse was actually a agent called Sharon Carter. Finding out about SHIELD being compromised with Sam Wilson, Natasha, Fury and Maria. Bucky being alive and searching for him.

They took a lot of hits but everything turned around as Sam and Steve found Bucky, able to coax the man into coming to get some real help after a couple of visits to his apartment. Bucky said yes, coming to live at Avengers Tower with the others, meeting Elle and after a long while starting to date Sam.

Steve remember the whole Ultron thing with Elle, 2015 was a great year having been together for 6 years at that point as the idea of marriage and kids started to roll around in their heads. Especially after the whole Clint Barton farm visit, talking with Laura and meeting his beautiful family. Bucky was teased by Sam about having little monsters running around the compound.

And they did talk about it, as 2016 he got down on one knee in front of everyone during a dinner party, giving a sweet speech and asking who to be his girl til the day he died, as she said yes. Bucky, Natasha and Tony were the first ones to think of a engagement party, as all the girls and guys gushed. It was also the year of the accident for Elle, as she was pretty banged up and went in and out of surgery, as he stood by her and did everything he could to nurse her back to health. In which she did, getting a dose of magic added to her system. Months later the two were married having a little celebration at the compound.

Years later, The Accords happened (nothing bad since the avengers were able to fool and outsmart the government. Hell Black Panther was on their side along with The X-Men), Thanos never really came in full force as he was a huge one and done, but Ultron did make a few returns across the years. Yet the series of heroes and anti-heroes, young and old were able to defend their world every time.

As of now in the—

“Daddy?”

~~~

Steve was in the kitchen in his thoughts already, creating a simple meal and organized a special bouquet of flowers when he heard the small voice. He looked over his shoulder to see a pair of brown eyes and rich light blonde curls meeting him halfway. Her cute little dress and wearing indoor shoes, as she held up her notebook.

Sarah Theodora Rogers. She was a spit image of his mother from the first name to her short blonde curls. However her eyes and nose were all Elle’s and her facial expressions were a clever mix of both parents. Her middle name was inspired by Thiego Strange, her uncle.

He smiled, placing her on the kitchen counter pushing the curls away from her faces.

“What are you doing here? I thought you and Pietro were spending the day together.” He asked with a smile, looking at the sandwich that was being grilled in the frying pan.

She shrugged with a smile, “Oh I was! But then we got sidetracked at the park after he realized he had to guy groceries and then he met a pretty girl…”

“And then he went a date with her?”

“No, he asked her where he could buy some donuts, so he can give them to Ji-Hoon.”

“Ah okay, what about afterwards?”

“Then he dropped me off at Wanda and Ethan who were watching Sitcoms. Uh, I got bored and found you.”

“And found me you did. I’m making lunch, you hungry?”

She nodded with a grin as he went to work making her a grilled cheese and ham sandwich. He would have mad something more grand but he knew she would have liked something more simple today. Besides she adored his sandwiches more than anything!

Sarah noticed the two sets of flowers. She pointed out the daisies and tulips, asking, “Who are those for?”

“The daisies are for you. The tulips are for mama. You like ‘em?” He asked, placing two plates next to the frying pan ready to put the sandwiches on them.

“Very! I um..uh daddy, I have a question. Is momma gonna be okay? Like get better?”

He put the sandwiches on 2 different plates and paused. He couldn’t lie to her in a sense, he was smart enough to notice and braver than he could believe, being very proud of her for it.

He tried to find the words and nodded, “..okay. Uh, honestly sweetie, i don’t know the true answer to that. I like to believe she will get better and push through it, especially with how much love and support we all give her..there are days where she doing better than most, there are days where she weaker than others..but she will get better.”

“And if she doesn’t? I know about life and death, Grandpa Stephen says that he sees it a lot in the hospital..auntie Nat says it is part of life..” Sarah repiled with a curious look on her face, as if trying to make sense of it all.

“Well, remember that birdie you and Theigo found one day after school?”

“Yeah?”

“And how she was hurt really badly so you tried to take care of her? Then afterwards she was doing fine and once the world made it clear, she flew away into another life..”

“Yeah it was sad but she looked calm when she died.”

“Mhm exactly, she wasn’t scared. Remember what happened a few days later?”

Sarah smiled this time and nodded, “My teacher got us a class bird! Her name Ruby, even though she is blue. It was like she was meant for our class, or least that’s what my teacher said.”

Steve chuckled, “Exactly. What happened with your birdie, is that she moved on but her spirt stayed to bring joy. So her next life, she must’ve became that bird to watch over your class, like a mascot.”

“So what I’m hearing is that Mommy is gonna turn into a bird?”

“Hahaha, maybe. Depends on what life has in store for her but I know for certain that she will be watching over us and let us know she’s still around in her own way.”

“How do you know so much, Daddy?”

“I just do. Just like I know your grandma Sarah, who you’re named after, is doing the same thing right now.”

Sarah smiled brightly and hugged her father, as Steve wrapped his arms around her tightly showering her face with kisses as she giggled. Once the father-daughter duo pulled away, Sarah brought the flowers to her room then came back following her father into the living room as he requested of she can bring the tulips to her mom for him as he carried the sandwiches.

~~~

In the living room, sat Elle on the couch with a blanket over her legs to keep her warm as she flipped across channels looking for something entertaining enough to watch. She looked very much less pale than when he left as she got a lot of color back, she laughed like herself again at the movie silly slapstick humor and her hair looked to be in a low ponytail.

She was playing with a old colorful fan in her hand, waving her around making silly flirtatious eyes as the paired walked into the room.

It made Steve’s smile grow at the sight. She was doing a lot better today and he thanked the universe for that gift. He winked at her doing so.

Sarah was the first to reach the couch, holding the flowers up to her mother giggling as she curled into her arms. Elle wrapped her arms around her daughter kissing her cheeks and thanked her for the bouquet, giving the fan over to her to play with. She knew how much Sarah loved that fan as she stayed twirling it around, resting her head on her shoulder.

Steve sat down on the other side of his wife, pressing a kiss to her cheek and handed her the plate. She thanked him, watching Sarah take her own plate and started to dig in, looking up at the silly film as she did so. Elle took a bite of her sandwich, humming at the delicious food in front of her and rested her head on her husband’s shoulder.

Midway through eating, Elle stopped and looked at her husband. Steve glanced over as he locked eyes with her alert, asking, “Are you okay? You need anything?”

She scoffed chuckling, “Relax! I’m fine..I feel better today.”

“You look better. You’re cheeks are rosy and your not as pale.”

“I noticed. A little tired but I’m fine. I know what you did earlier.”

He raised an eyebrow as he click onto what she meant and sighed, “Elle, doll, I’m sorry it’s just…”

“I know..” She simply replied, with a half hearted smile, “I overheard Thiego and Bruce talking with Nat down the hall when Liane was painting my nails. They weren’t subtle enough about it..you are insane, you know that?”

“I had a plan! Make the plan, execute the plan and expect the plan to not go off the rails. Yes, I was a little extreme the last 48 hours..”

“A little?”

“A lot. I broke a few short grids, bruised a rib or two..then made a mistake to take ones life over another..not my best move. I was not thinking straight, baby..and ran past a few stop signs as well to buy myself some time.”

“You broke into another Earth’s SHIELD headquarters and tricked a few people to get to another version of me..meanwhile Thiego was searching across the fields of earths causing some damage to strike a deal. You two could’ve been arrested for that.”

“I know. I know! I made that version of Cap to look like public enemy to SHIELD by causing that damage..I’m sorry, I messed up but it was because I was afraid..”

“..of losing me? Instead of staying with me and enjoying whatever time the universe is giving us..”

“Well if you say like that, I sound even worse.”

This time Elle snorted and chuckled shaking her head at his comment. She didn’t blame him for it, she knew the people in her life would do anything to make things right, find another way to fix things. Even if it meant getting hurt or something.

Steve rested his forehead against hers, a simple yet gentle move he does plenty of time before during moments like this. She leaned into his touch. He sighed and smiled, letting out a chuckle.

After a moment tears came to the blink of her eyes as he spoke, “I got your note today..it was lovely. Bittersweet like a poem, almost like a song. You’re my first love, Elle. I don’t want to see you gone yet..but when it comes I won’t be as scared or furious as I think I would be..”

She smiled had her eyes wet and asked, “Why’s that?”

“Because I know you won’t be alone. None of us will. You gave me the greatest gifts I could ever ask for. I could not thank you enough for being my wife and friend from the day I woke up in this century. You gave me a beautiful little girl who laughs like you and has my mother’s name.”

“And Thiego likes to brag about her being his mini me.”

“This is about me, not him.”

Both of them laughed, snorting at the joke. She knew he was joking. Steve was being humorous with that last comment, of course he was happy that his brother in law got a wonderful gift as well.

She smirked, waved for him to continue his lovely speech, “Go on, Mr Rogers. I like where this is headed.”

“Don’t get cheeky with me now, Elle.” He replied with a smile and winked, “If you do, I might have to take you to bed later. In all seriousness, you are always gonna be my light in dark. Despite the problems we have had over the years, we always find a way to make it home to one another.”

“You are my home. My family.”

“And you’re mine. I know when the time comes I will see you again any form. Even if we’re both two little birds flying in the park.”

Elle paused for a second to understand what he meant by the birds reference, noticing his gaze fell to Sarah who was minding her own business watching the movie, as it clicked what he meant. She smiled at that, knowing that no matter who it is that goes first to fly around in heaven their daughter will be safe and sound.

She nodded at her husband and chuckled, “Yeah, two beautiful birds. I love Mr. Rogers.”

“I love more Mrs. Rogers.” He replied, leaning forward to cup her face with a hand and press a long awaited kiss onto her lips.

She leaned into his touch placing a hand to the back of his cheek as she returned kiss in full force.

They stayed there for a couple of moments, locking lips with one another whispering sweet nothings, resting their foreheads together out of old habits. Steve lazily wrapping an around her body, bringing her in closer using the other hand to reach over to tickle Sarah’s side grabbing her attention as she giggled trying to wiggle away from her parents.

Elle opened her arm, wiggling her fingers to tickle their daughter as tried to crawl away but Elle gently reached forwarded lifting Sarah into an embrace. The little girl giggled and smiled, curling into her mother’s arms in glee stealing a bite of the sandwich her mom didn’t finished, then placed the sandwich in front of her father who took bite himself humming.

Elle mock gasped, “Hey that was mine!”

Steve finished chewing and chuckled, “You didn’t finish it! And I’m hungry.”

“You’re always hungry.”

“Are not.”

Sarah giggled, “Yes you are, daddy! You and uncle Thor and uncle Bucky always are hungry.”

Steve gasped and tickled her, “Who’s side are you on, young lady?”

“Mommy’s side!”

The small family laughed smiling, deciding to enjoy the film that was placed on the TV.

——

Thank you so much for reading! Hope you enjoyed it! Tell me what you think about?

Tags: @missstrawbs2001 @purpleprincessonfyre @meiramel @gcthvile @rickb-chaos @gaminggirlsstuff @wizzzardofoz @mallowbee4 @thechoooooosenone @luna-d-marsh @rooster-84 @sherloquestea and etc

#see you again event #steve rogers x oc #ask the super spouses #event story #bonus scene #dad steve rogers #sarah rogers

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dominimoonbeam · 11 months

Note

[gently knocks your door down]

domini!!! may i ask for [ HAIR ] and [ BEHIND ] from the 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐌𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐌𝐄 𝐆𝐎 👀. and [ DEFEND ] and [ PULL ] from sexual tension prompts. for sam and darlin???

ZOZO!!!! Your asks often lead to some of my favorite things. <3 I ended up doing this as a bonus scene in Scars That Remind! I hope you don't mind! It's during that phase where Darlin and Sam are pretending to date but already head over heels. <3 <3 <3 Hope you enjoy it! <3 <3 <3

Sam/Darlin

tags: idiots in love, flirting, vampire harassment, some violence

Scars That Remind: Bonus Scene

Darlin got to the blood club and knew almost instantly that Sam wasn’t there yet. They could spot him easily and though they liked to joke that it was because he stuck out in a crowd that fetishized lace, silk, and velvet, it wasn’t true.

Darlin could have spotted Sam in a crowd of cowboys. They tried not to think about way, or that little pang of disappointment when he wasn’t there yet.

They made their way to the bar, sliding in between a couple making out and a group. The bartender was down at the other end, so Darlin waited. It wasn’t like they were in hurry. When Sam go there, they’d talk and pretend to be a couple. They’d lean close and dance and kiss. Darlin knew they were enjoying this game more than they should be. They cared less and less about getting Quinn’s attention.

A hand slid up their back and Darlin tensed, knowing instantly that it wasn’t Sam. It moved all the way to the back of their neck, splaying fingers across their scarred neck.

Darlin swatted the hand away and turned to glare at the vamp. They’d never seen him before and weren’t sure if that was a relief or a reason to worry. Most of the biters they had met, knew Quinn and to stay away. Most had been watching them with Sam like they were lighting dynamite. And the ones that knew Darlin outside of Quinn, had known them for a fighter, for getting into scraps, breaking up brawls, and for being David Shaw’s sibling.

The vampire grinned, flashing those fangs like Darlin might like them…or fear them? Either way, he was going to be disappointed. “You’re an interesting one,” he said, gaze sliding to their neck again. “I can’t tell if one vampire really really wants to mark you as their own… or if you just get around.”

Great. At the blood club for a whole minute before getting into a fight…

“So, which is it?”

“Which answer will make you go away?”

He laughed and stepped closer, one boot nudging Darlin’s to wedge his thigh between theirs, pressing right up into their space. “Neither. I don’t mind if you’re a slut for teeth,” he cooed, like he was being tender, his hand on their hip. “And I’m not scared if someone made a claim…”

You should be, Darlin thought, only they weren’t thinking about Quinn. That realization startled them, freezing them up in a way this biter interpreted as fear. Sam was only pretending to date them. He definitely hadn’t claimed them in any way. The dating wasn’t even real. It was just for show.

The hand on their side squeezed, fingers bruising in against their ribs. “Let’s get out of here, dog.”

Darlin blinked at the idiot, still leaning back against the bar. “Are you trying to trance me, dipshit?”

He snarled, squeezing harder, straining a rib in a clear threat now. He clearly didn’t know how casually Darlin had broken those ribs in the past. They were about to shift, right there, and give him a face full of real teeth, when he let go. His whole body was jerked back and they had a front row seat to watch the complete surprise of it ripple across his features.

Sam had grabbed him back the hair and hoisted him back, kicking his leg hard enough to snap bone and put him on his knees with a wail of surprise. The other vampires jumped back, hesitating over how to react. Sam looked straight at Darlin. “I’m sorry I’m late. Give me another minute?”

Darlin blinked surprise but nodded, heat slowly climbing their face along with a smile.

Sam tipped his head to them before turning and dragging the offending biter through the bar. Someone grabbed the door and held it for him at the back.

“Everything okay?” the bartender ask, drawing Darlin’s attention.

They shrugged and ordered two beers.

They’d just taken their first sip when Sam came back. He stood behind them, a breath between Darlin’s back and his chest, when he reached around them to snag the other bottle. “You okay?” he asked, voice low like they could tell him the truth if they weren’t.

Darlin turned around in that small space, leaning back against the bar and finding that they liked having Sam up in their space just fine. “Yeah. You saved me from getting banned from this club.”

He frowned at that but took a sip of his beer. His eyes searched them, like he was looking for signs of physical damage.

Darlin laughed. “You’re really worried? I’m fine, doc.”

Sam nodded slowly. He reached out toward them, never using that vampire speed when he was about to touch, always giving them plenty of time to bring it to a stop. He tucked strands of their hair carefully behind their ear. “Maybe we should meet up someplace else next time and come in together.”

Darlin snorted, putting their beer down. “Are you serious? Oh, Sammy… You would have lost money if you’d bet on that vampire to win against me.” It wasn’t hubris. It was experience.

Sam put his beer down with theirs. “I would never bet against you.” To their surprise, he reached down and slowly lifted their shirt up their side, looking down at the red marks that would become bruises from where the biter had been gripping them. He frowned. “I’m sorry I was late, Darlin,” he said again. His bare hand settled over their side, over that same spot, only he wasn’t squeezing or trying to hurt them. A soft wave of magic against their skin and that low ache was gone, bruises averted.

Darlin grinned. “You spoil me,” they said, knowing well that others were listening and watching them.

“Do you want to go home?” he asked.

They knew he meant bailing on pretending to date. He was giving them an out. Darlin’s grin grew. “Sammy! You have to dance with me before you take me home,” they reminded.

His expression softened, his hand slowly sliding down their bare side, letting their shirt fall back into place. “Anything you want,” he said, and their heart fluttered. They hoped he didn’t catch it over the crowd and the music. They pushed off the bar and started toward the dance floor, the vampire at their side, his arm easily around their waist to keep them against him, guiding them both through the crowd.

#sam/darlin #scars that remind #bonus scene #prompt fic #redactedverse #<3 #vampire harassment #vampire violence #dominimoonbeam #fanfic

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dsafenthusiast · 5 months

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Random bonus Scene of the previous ask

I officially shall confirm that Legacy and 🖤 Anon are MARRIED!

Legacy!Jack: "WHAT- NO- NO!-

Jack and Dave: *fucking laughing*

#dsaf jack #davesport #dsaf #dsaf dave #dsaf au #dayshift at freddy's #dsaf henry #Bonus Scene #Haha 🖤 x Legacy go brrrrr

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away-ward · 7 months

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WinterDamon bonus for DN 2023 > https:// pendouglas.com/2023/10/30/damon-and-winter-alternate-scene/ (delete the space in between / and pen...)

first of all, why the fuck can winterdamon get a bonus, AND it was even updated on their official website? Why can WinterDamon get proper bonus, but not willemmy? What is their problem with brunettes? Because at this point their bias is really showing. Made me hate WD and MR frfr.

and did you notice that their blondes get mfm scenes, and their brunettes fot fetishised ff in front of men who hate them scenes? And those ff scenes are always between two women that were pitted against each other. The fuck? PD legit made me hit this series

The above link is for a bonus scene from PD regarding Damon and Winter. It explores the possibility of what could have happened if Damon was able to take Winter with him to a cabin after the video was released in Kill Switch. It contains nsfw material.

Ah thanks for sharing. I'm not watching PD at all so when these things pop up, I'm completely unaware.

As for this bonus, I didn't love it but it doesn't ruin things for me like the other two have. PD doing an AU on their own work is interesting and it made me curious as if if this was the actual storyline, what would have changed for the series. Damon never going to prison means that the cases for Kai and Will might not have been as strong. They could have all avoided prison. They would probably try to get revenge sooner, allowing Rika to explain herself before the miscommunication really became an issue, and then Michael not being able to resist her, immediately starts up a relationship. Banks wouldn't have a reason to hate Kai, which means with a happier, more balanced Damon, we get Kaibanks (with ahappier, less whiny Kai!!!). The only thing left would be Will.

What would he do? He's already burned the gazebo?! Honestly, if we have to get a willemmy, I'd much rather we get a willemmy scene that's more along the lines of an alternative storyline rather than a post epilogue.

But that's all best case scenario. Evans, Trevor, and Gabriel might try something else. We could have a complete different series.

Anyway, it also sort of highlighted why Winter bears some of the burden for what happened between her and Damon. She knew she didn't know her "ghost" but now we also see that even if she did, it wouldn't have changed things for her. She was still in love with him.

You know, I didn't notice the blonde vs brunette scenes that way. It's certainly odd.

Thanks for making sure I get this! It was really nice of you.

-KO

#asked and answered #devil's night series stuff #bonus scene #damon torrance #winter ashby #Damonwinter #asked and answered 173

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kitsmits · 2 months

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Mono no Aware Bonus Scene!

25.5: “Plans and Purple Elephants”

This is a scene I originally wrote to include either in Chapter 25 or 27, but it didn’t really fit tonally in either. However, I still really like the scene and it does establish the start of some important character dynamics, so here it is! Enjoy :)

There was something strange happening.

Earlier that day, Sorano Kaede had arrived at Urahara Shoten bearing something entirely unexpected: food. Hot, homemade food. Ikkaku and Yumichika trailed in after her, arms laden with bowls and plates; they must have been on Kaede-watching duty, something Renji was glad to be exempted from on account of his training with Chad.

“Thought we could all use a pick-me-up for training,” she explained, directing Ikkaku and Yumichika to lay everything out. The smells alone drew Renji closer, despite his wariness of the woman. Everything just smelled…irresistible. There was some sort of shredded meat, still steaming and coated in a spicy sauce; fresh chopped vegetables and herbs; and was that rice yellow?

“Are those….tortillas?”

Renji nearly jumped at the sound of Chad’s voice behind him. Kaede looked up at the tall teen and smiled. “Yes - flour, not corn, I’m afraid. I couldn’t get the masa here.”

Chad’s eyes were wide under his thick bangs. “You made all of this?”

“Well, I couldn’t really sleep last night,” she admitted, tucking her hair behind her ear with a shrug. “And to be honest, I get kind of bored with Japanese cuisine after a week or so. Guess I’m just used to spicier food.”

“I haven’t had fresh tortillas in years,” Chad said, looking at the food like he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing. “Not since I left Mexico.”

Kaede’s brows shot up. “¿Eres de México?”

Chad blinked in surprise. “Crecí allí. ¿Tú hablas español?”

That was when the weirdness really began. Renji looked on, growing ever more perplexed as the two spoke with mounting enthusiasm. He couldn’t believe his eyes, much less his ears; Chad had said more in the past couple minutes than Renji had heard, well, ever. Not only that…“The hell are they even talking about?”

“Beats me,” Ikkaku said through a mouthful. Clearly, he had no qualms about eating food made by Aizen Sousuke’s freakin’ wife. “Sounds like gibberish.”

“It’s Spanish,” Yumichika said with an exasperated sigh. “And they’re talking about some festival called the ‘Days of the Dead.’ Apparently, it’s coming up in a couple of weeks.”

“They have festivals for the dead? That’s creepy.”

“Says the Shinigami,” Yumichika retorted. “It makes sense, though; death is a universal truth, even for us.”

“Yeah, fair enough,” Renji conceded. Then something hit him. “Wait - how do you understand what they’re saying?”

“Because unlike some,” Yumichika answered, delicately picking at a tortilla, “I actually listen. You’d understand them too if you just opened your ears a bit. Shinigami don’t have language barriers; technically, we aren’t even speaking Japanese right now, it just seems like we are because it’s the predominant language for the Humans around us.”

“Wait, we can do that?” Ikkaku scratched his shaved crown. “I had no idea…”

“More like you just never noticed it before,” Yumichika corrected. “Also, the food is perfectly safe. I watched her make everything. It’s a bit spicy for my taste though, and far from what I’d call ‘aesthetically pleasing.’ The appearance alone puts me off.”

“I think I’ll pass, then,” Renji grumbled even as his stomach did the same. “Not a fan of spicy stuff.”

“More for me,” Ikkaku said, though it was barely intelligible as he shoveled a filled tortilla into his mouth.

As Ikkaku continued to stuff his face and Yumichika continued to sit and watch, Renji decided to pay more attention to the conversation between Chad and their mysterious new ally. At first, their speech continued to sound like fast-paced gibberish, but with a little concentration, Renji started to make out the words between the two of them.

“…have to show you some photos I took the last time I was there,” Kaede was saying. “They came out beautifully, if I do say so myself! I always found it fascinating that the calaveras for el Dia de los Muertos resemble skulls - kind of like Hollow masks, don’t you think?”

”I never considered that,” Chad admitted.

“Makes me wonder if at some point, people were more aware of Hollows’ existence around them, you know?” She smiled. “Or they’re just another classic ‘memento mori,’ and I’m thinking too much about it!”

”I haven’t seen a Dia de los Muertos celebration in years,” Chad reflected.

“Do you miss it? Mexico?”

“Sometimes. Mexico is a beautiful country, and it's where I made all of the memories I have of my Abuelo. But if I hadn't come back to Japan, I would never have met Ichigo, Inoue, and Ishida, and I probably would have never gained the powers that allow me to fight alongside them. I wouldn't trade that for anything.”

Kaede’s smile turned wistful, even sad. “I can get that.”

“What’s going on here?”

Renji, Ikkaku, and Yumichika spun around to attention at the sound of Hitsugaya’s disapproving voice.

“S’e bwa foo,” Ikkaku tried to explain with his cheeks stuffed like a chipmunk’s.

“Ooo, what kind of food is that?” Matsumoto asked at the same time, darting around her captain with an excited smile.

A vein visibly throbbed in Hitsugaya’s forehead. “How many times do I have to say it? This is a meeting to discuss Aizen Sousuke, not a dinner party!”

“Pretty sure you only said that once,” Renji pointed out. “Just now.”

“Well, I think all meetings would be better with a meal,” Matsumoto declared, already armed with a full tortilla. She took a bite and moaned, her eyes rolling up into her head. “It’s so good!”

“I hope I haven’t offended you, captain,” Kaede herself said, turning from her conversation with Chad. “I just wanted to do something nice for everyone, since our first meeting was…what it was.”

“An’ you can’t train on an empty stomach,” Ikkaku added while reaching for another tortilla. Yumichika slapped his hand away. “Ow! What’s that for?!”

“Save some for others,” Yumichika admonished.

“Why? You aren’t eating any of it!”

“Are Inoue-san and Kuchiki-san joining us?” Kaede asked, ignoring the Shinigami squabbling over her food.

Renji almost answered, but caught himself. He didn’t care if this woman brought a whole tray of taiyaki to win them over; he wasn’t about to divulge Rukia’s whereabouts to Aizen Sousuke’s wife.

Someone else did that for him.

“Oh, Inoue-san and Kuchiki-san went to Soul Society last night,” Urahara announced, sauntering over with his fan in one hand and cane in the other. “I believe they plan to train together at the 13th Division’s grounds.”

Renji wanted to strangle the man. That was privileged information, and he was just declaring it willy-nilly in front of an associate of their enemy?! Sure, Urahara claimed she was a former associate, but when it came to Aizen, Renji had learned not to trust anything on the surface. He remembered that day on Sokyoku Hill all too well, still saw Aizen’s hand puncturing Rukia’s chest in his nightmares.

He was about to give the hat-wearing man a piece of his mind when he spied the look on Hitsugaya-taicho’s face. The diminutive captain was positively glaring at Sorano Kaede - well, Renji was pretty sure that was a glare; he wasn’t overly familiar with the range of Hitsugaya’s expressions. The captain squared his shoulders and walked over to the woman with such deliberation that everyone around them had stopped speaking. Sorano Kaede watched him with a look of resignation, like she was expecting whatever dressing-down he was surely about to give her.

He stopped a few feet away from her - and bowed.

“Sorano Kaede,” Hitsugaya began in a formal tone, “please allow me to apologize for my behavior the last time we met. There was no reason for me to attack you out of malice.”

Renji’s eyes went wide as saucers. This was turning out to be a weird day. He wasn’t the only one surprised; Yumichika’s tailored brows had risen, and even Ikkaku had paused mid-bite. Only Matsumoto didn’t seem overly shocked by the scene, a small, affectionate smile on her face as she watched her captain’s actions.

Kaede’s face was difficult to read at first. She seemed surprised as well, but there was something deeper to it, something Renji couldn’t quite place but that resonated with him nonetheless. Then her eyes softened, and she lowered her own head.

“You have every reason not to trust me,” she said. “There’s nothing to apologize for. I do appreciate you doing so, and the humility and self-awareness it takes. Your division is lucky to have you as their captain. I’ll do my best to be the asset I promised to be.”

She bowed back to Hitsugaya, and when she straightened back up again, she smiled. "Now that we've gotten that out of the way, would you care for a tortilla? There's plenty of food left to go around."

"No, thank you," Hitsugaya replied stiffly, although Renji thought he could detect a bit of reluctance in the child-sized Captain's tone. "I'd prefer we all begin talking strategy as soon as possible. We're on a deadline."

"That is true." Kaede began resealing the containers. "The food will still be here when we finish."

"Ugh, but I'm still hungry!" Ikkaku complained loudly; even so, he shoved the last of his second tortilla into his mouth and stood up.

“As we are all aware,” Hitsugaya began once they'd all gathered in Urahara's small back room, “we only have an estimated three months before the Hogyoku awakens fully and Aizen comes to destroy this town. Considering the vastness of his reiatsu alone outclasses nearly every Shinigami in Soul Society, it is essential that we spend what little time we have honing our individual skills to as high a level as possible and preparing strategies that will give us the best odds of defeating him. To that end,” Hitsugaya's eyes slid to Sorano Kaede's, who sat directly across from him, “we require all the information you have on his abilities, especially in regards to his Shikai, Kyoka Suigetsu.”

Kaede met Hitsugaya's gaze evenly. “What do you know about it so far?”

”That he can create illusions that trick all five senses,” the young captain answered, “and that you only need to see it once to be affected.”

”That’s…well, it’s partially correct,” she conceded with a small frown. “But it’s not that he creates illusions; it’s called kanzen saimin, perfect hypnosis, because it relies on the power of suggestion.”

Ikkaku scratched his head, his brows forming a deep crease in his forehead. “So…like…does he make you see things, or does he…what the hell does he actually do, then?”

She sighed. “Purple elephants.”

“….eh?”

“What are you thinking of right now?”

Ikkaku blinked. “Well…purple elephants, I guess…”

“Are there any in this room?”

“No!”

“But could there be?”

“I mean - no! They wouldn’t even fit!”

“But now you’re imagining that there are purple elephants in this room.”

“Of course I am! You keep talking about it!”

“That’s the power of suggestion,” she said. “If I were using Kyoka Suigetsu right now, you’d actually see purple elephants in the room, exactly as you’re seeing them in your mind now. And it wouldn’t just be sight: You’d smell them, hear them, you’d even be able to touch them. Every sense you have would tell you that there are purple elephants in this room right now, no matter how illogical that idea is. That is what Kyoka Suigetsu does: it tricks your senses. But in order for it to do that, you have to have the idea in your mind in the first place.”

“Okay,” Ikkaku shrugged. “So…I just don’t think about purple elephants.”

Kaede shrugged. “Okay. Then don’t think about a shirtless Yamamoto, either.”

“Wha - ugh!” Ikkaku doubled over, clutching his bald head as though in pain. “Why the hell would you - I can’t stop thinking about that now! Agh, I need to bleach my brain!”

Hitsugaya grimaced, unable to stop his own mind from conjuring an image of the head captain without a shirt. “Okay. We get it.”

“You sure? ‘Cause I hear that Unohana-“

“Yes! We get it!” Hitsugaya crossed his arms. “So how do we counter it?”

“You don’t,” Kaede answered bluntly. “Or rather, you can’t. You’ve all been exposed to it at one point or another, right? You’ve all seen his Shikai release?”

“I haven’t.”

Renji started a bit at the sound of Chad’s voice again. For such a large, imposing figure, the teen was way too easy to overlook. Then he blinked, realizing what Chad had just said. “That’s right - you never saw him release his Shikai, and neither did Ichigo or Orihime! So we just have to make sure none of you see it!”

“And what do you expect that to do?” Kaede countered. “Sorry to burst your bubble, but if you think Kyoka Suigetsu is the only thing to worry about, you’re sorely mistaken.”

Renji’s brow twitched with annoyance. “Then why don’t you tell us something useful for a change, instead o’ just telling us how wrong we are about everything?”

She sighed. “It’s not just a matter of closing your eyes when you hear him say ‘Shatter.’ He can release Shikai without the incantation, so you’d have to close your eyes every time he draws his sword. Not exactly practical in an active fight. And if you think that you’d have the upper hand by simply avoiding the hypnosis, you’re again mistaken. Remember that every Shinigami fighting at your side is already under its thrall - and he doesn’t have to reactivate Shikai in order to use it on them.”

A chill hit Renji like a sudden cold front as her words sank in. “Wait…you’re saying that he can use that power without releasing his Zanpakuto? Just because we’ve already seen it?”

”That’s exactly what I’m saying,” she replied.

He wasn’t the only one shaken by this; even Hitsugaya had gone a little pale, though he tried to keep his stoic facade. “Even so…battles are decided by reiatsu. The full force of the Gotei, even just the captains and lieutenants…we’d dwarf him. He can’t control all of us at once, no one has that kind of reiatsu volume or control.”

“First of all,” Kaede said, holding up a finger, “he can, and he does. Back when we were…together, he was able to trick the senses of captains and lieutenant-class Shinigami from a wide distance. Once the suggestion’s been planted, it’s just a matter of spending a little more reiatsu to keep it active, and he’s got more than enough to spare. Second, Kyoka Suigetsu isn’t the most dangerous thing you’ll face from him.”

”You mean the Arrancar?” Hitsugaya asked. “They’re strong, but if we fight without limiters-“

”I don’t mean the Arrancar,” she said with a shake of her head. “And I don’t mean his own battle skills, either. It’s the mind games.”

A shadow came over her eyes as she spoke. “He will get inside your head - in fact, he already has, in one way or another. If you have any sort of grudge against him, he will use it to misdirect your gaze. If you have any fears about facing him, he will use them to psyche you out. He will rile you up to make you reckless, and in the next breath, he will make you feel overconfident or hopeful. He will use your own comrades against you, and even if you realize what’s happening in real time, there will be nothing you can do about it. You can’t warn them, or vice versa, because he’ll make it so you can’t hear each other’s words or see each other’s signals. You can’t even be certain of who you’re really fighting; all it takes is a bit of misdirection to alter your perspective.”

Cold dread sank low in Renji’s stomach. He hadn’t considered the full breadth of Aizen’s abilities; even having felt the man’s monstrous reiatsu, he couldn’t imagine the scale of power Kaede was describing.

But it seemed she wasn’t finished. “It’s not just that he can manipulate your senses; he can, and will, manipulate your mind and your feelings, and that, he can do without a Zanpakuto. For him, it isn’t enough to simply defeat an enemy physically; he wants to break you down psychologically first, shattering your sense of self, security, and sanity before he ever strikes your body.”

Something about the way she spoke chilled Renji to the bone, and not just because of the scenarios it put in his mind. It was something deeper, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on.

Matsumoto spoke up then, her voice almost uncharacteristically quiet and reflective. “Is that what he did to you?”

That. That was what Renji couldn’t put his finger on. The way Kaede spoke of Aizen wasn’t just as someone experienced in working with him; from the sound of it, she’d been on the receiving end, too.

“I thought you said you weren’t deceived by him,” he pointed out, trying to wrap his mind around these new, conflicting bits of information.

It was Urahara who responded, speaking so low and with such ice that, for a moment, Renji didn’t recognize the shopkeeper. “Deception isn’t the only way to manipulate someone.”

“The point is,” Kaede plowed forward, “it’s not something you can just train for. There are a few people among the Gotei who might be able to counter his reiatsu, but he will have planned for that. He always has a plan.”

“Which is why keeping Kaede secret is so important,” Urahara interjected. “You all focus on preparing for the battle you can fight: the Arrancar. We will deal with Aizen Sousuke.”

#mono no aware #bleach fanfiction #aizen x oc #bleach #toshiro hitsugaya #kisuke urahara #chad yasutora #renji abarai #ikkaku madarame #yumichika ayasegawa #aizen sousuke #bleach oc #rangiku matsumoto #bonus scene

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